US542055A - Knitting-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. HOUSE.

KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented JulyZ, 1895.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. A. HOUSE. KNITTING MACHINE.

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no Model.) -12 Sheets-Sheet 5.

- J. A. HOUSE. KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented July 2, 1895.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 6.'

J. A. HOUSE.

KNITTING MACHINE. Y

Patented July 2,1895.

(No Model.) 12 Sheet'sShet 7. J. A. HOUSE.

-,KNITTING MACHINE. No. 542,055. Patented July 2,1895.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 8.

J. A. HOUSE.

' KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented July 2, 1895.

'wivoe sses. invert/Z07? (No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 9.

J. A. HOUSE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented July 2, 189.5.

H hl l l l llllillllllll I Liz 7216s ll'ouse.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 10.

J.A .HOUSE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented July 2, 1895.

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J. A. HOUSE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented July 2, 1895.

0/. Ji'ouse,

12 Sheets-Sheet 12.

(No Model.)

J. A; HOUSE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 542,055. Patented-July 2, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE.

JAMES A. HOUSE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,055, dated July 2, 1 89 5.

Application filed July 2, 1894. Serial No. 516,335- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. HOUSE, of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Knitting-lVI-achines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and numerals on the drawings representing like parts. I

This invention has forits object to simplify and improve the knitting-machine shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 479,986, dated August 2, 1892. The machine described in said patent contains a conical needle-bed provided at its upper end with a series of pivoted sinkers, the needles being moved in the grooves of the saidbed by a cam-ring adapted to be rotated for circular knitting and to be reciprocated for narrowing and complemental widening, as when knitting heels and toes, said cam-ring containing crossing grooves, one being designated as the knitting and .the other as the non-knitting and topping groove, said cam ring or plate having at the junction of the crossing grooves needle-selecting devices, whereby any desired needle of the entire series of needles may be employed as the first needle of a narrowing or widening course and any desired needles may be made to knit in the course and be then returned into the nonknitting groove before knitting a second narrowing or widening course. i

It will be understood in the machine herein to be described that, in knitting, each needle, whether circular or flat work is being done, is taken from the topping or non-knitting groove into the knitting-groove, and, having made a stitch, is put back again into the nonknitting groove before making another stitch, the two grooves having a common crossingpoint between the usual drawing-down cams, and at this crossing-point are located the needle-selecting devices, composed essentially of a somewhat triangular or heart-shaped directing-cam andtwo points, each directed toward the other and located at opposite sides of the point of the directingcam, said selecting devices having relative movements one with the other, such as at times to open and close the passages leading from the non-knitting to the knitting groove. In this instance of my invention I have chosen to show the directing- -No. 531,062, dated December 18, 1894, and effect the opening and closing of the passageways leading from the knitting to the nonknitting groove, and vice versa.

In accordance with my invention I have de vised novel means for efl'ecting this relative change of position of the points and the dirooting-cam to open and close the passages leading from one to the other groove, according to whether it is desired to knit with the cam ring or plate moving in one orthe other direction.

In the patent referred to the cam-ring was provided with a series of beveled teeth to be engaged bya bevel-toothed wheel, to thus impart movements to the cam-ring; but herein 1 have simplified that construction by providing the lowerend of the cam-ringwith a flange, which is secured to a toothed ring adapted to slide about the neck of the conical needle-bed, such construction greatly simplifyingand reducing the expense of the machine. f

The devices for effecting the relative change of position of the needle-selecting devices derive'their movement from a lever device mounted upon the cam-ring, and this 1ever device must be moved at times in one and the other direction, and this device must be moved sooner orlaterin the movement of the cam-ring, according to the number of needles to knit in a given course, the mechanism employed for effecting this purpose being designated broadly under the term shogging mechanism.

The shogging mechanism represented in the patent referred to consisted essentially of two rings encircling loosely and carried by the cam-ring, said ring having pins which were adapted to be moved by or through stoprings mounted upon a part of the bed-plate, said stop-rings being moved in opposite direc- ICG " --of the guides for the curb in its vertical tions by means of toothed gears adapted to be rotated in one or the other direction, as desired, the pins being thus made to approach each other or to separate one from the other, according to the length of the course being knitted, so as to rotate a cam device carried upon the cam-ring. Instead of the four rings referred to I, in this instance of my invention, employ two rings provided with cams to cooperate with a lever having toes and mounted upon the cam-ring.

In the patent referred to the hollow spindle on which are pivoted the thread-carrying arms, is rotated by a large gear mounted on a shaft having a pinion engaged by a sliding rack having connected to it a shifting-bar located between two cam hubs or plates, and the shears are closed by a sliding wedge. I-Ierein I have provided novel devices for retating the said hollow shaft and for operating the shears and have supported one of the thread-feeding rolls in a yielding bearing. I have also devised novel means for actuating the rack-bars of the shogging mechanism and have provided means whereby the change of motion is effected at desired intervals by or through a pattern-surface.

Figure l is a left-hand side elevation of a knittingmachine containing my improvements, the framework being partially broken out, the needle bed being omitted, and the thread-feeding mechanism beingalso omitted;

Fig. 1*, a detail to be described. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aright-hand side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the circular curb and parts to contain the needle-bed being broken out. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the needle-bed and cam-ring in place, together with the thread-guide for presenting thread to the needles, said figure being somewhat enlarged from the scale represented in Figs. 1 to Fig. 5 is a sectional detail through part of the machine shown in Fig. 4 in the line x 00 ofthat figure, the portions of the machine outside of the curb, to be described, being omitted.- Figs. 6 and 7 are details to be referred to of parts carried by the main shaft and instrumental in changing from rotary to reciprocal knitting, and, vice versa. Fig. 8 is a top view of the bed-plate of the machine and the parts attached thereto below its top, said figure showing the spider for receiving the neck of the needle-bed. Fig. 9 is a detail to be referred to, it showing one movements, and the raceway instrumental in changing the tension or length of loops to be knitted. Fig. 10 is a section in the line 00 Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail showing part of the cam-ring with its attached thread-guide. Fig. 12 is a detail showing part of the camring opposite. the threadguide. Fig. 12 shows one of the points or guiding-gates detached; Fig. 13, a detail showing the interior of the cam-ring at the point where the knitting and non-knittinggroovcs cross, with part of the ring containing the gates used to direct the needles from the knitting to the non-knitting grooves, and vice versa, for narrowing and widening and for circular work, as provided for in the Patent No. 479,986; Fig. 13, a detail of the slide for moving the points of the selecting device; Fig.14, a detail showing the lever for moving the points; Fig. 14, a detail of part of.the sinker-actuating cam-ring to show its adjustable shoes. Fig. 15 is a detailshowing part of the devices instrumental in raising the curb. Fig. 15 shows one of the strikers co-operating with the lug on the sinker-actuating ring. Fig. 16 is a detail showing the lever device and cam instrumental in moving the liftingcircle. Fig. 17 is another view of the parts shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 isadetailshowingthe spline 227; Fig.,19, an enlarged right-hand side elevation of the thread-presenting mechanism' omitted from Fig. 3; Fig. 20, an under side view of the thread-presenting mechanism shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21, a rear end view of the thread-presenting mechanism shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 22, a partial top view of the parts shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 23, an enlarged detail showing the thread-holding rolls. Fig. 2% shows a modified form of plate to be'used instead of plate 0 of Fig. 22. Fig. 25, on an enlarged scale, shows the gearing of the shogging mechanism; Fig. 26, a view of the parts shown in Fig. 25, looking from the left; Fig. 27, a section in the line m Fig. 26, the two shafts 168 and 171 being shown in elevation; Fig. 28, a top or plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 27, some of the gears and the hollow.

shaft 16st being shown in section.

The legs or standards A, the power-shaft driven in any suitable manner from a proper counter-shaft and having a set of fast and loose pulleys controlled by a belt-shipper g, the gear it, fast on said power-shaft and engaging a larger toothed gear 77., fast on the main shaft 6 of the machine, the snailwheel 6 adapted to engage the teeth of a gear 6 on the monitor-shaft (Z provided with a monitor-wheel adapted to receive and carry a pattern-chain 61, represented as a broad chain having several rows of indications suitable to act upon the fingers arranged about it, as will be hereinafter described, said chain being but partially shown, theleverf controlled by said pattern-chain and moving the shipperlever, the notched disk 71 also fast on said shaft 6 and having alongside of it a gear 71 loose on said shaft, the sliding plate or carriage h, connected to said wheel 71. and sliding therein transversely with relation to the shaft 2 and having a roller 22, which in practice is normally pressed outwardly through a notch in the flange 23 of said wheel by suitable springs if, said sliding plate having a coupling-pin 21, the shoe e, the vibrator h, loose on the, shaft 6 and having a notch 23, adapted to be entered by the pin 21, said vibrator having a suitable locking-dog 71 which in the rotation of the wheei h is depressed IIO .against its supporting-spring by the contact A made as levers and supported upon a suitable wire A or equivalent device sustained in the upper end of the conical bed, each of said sinkers being adapted to move in a slot cut in the top of the bed between the usual needle-grooves, the raceway 19 having a projection I), suitably joined by a link 19 to a block 11 adjustably held by screws in a slot of a pattern-linger f (see Fig. 1) and adapted in its rotation by or through the control of a pattern-chain to rise and fall, the tension-lever 0, pivoted upon the cam-ring and having at one end a screw or equivalent device to ride upon the said raceway and atiitsinner end engaging a pin on and moving the knitting-cam, to thereby cause it to move the needles to make a longer or shorterstitch for a slack course or for giving greater orless fullness to the knitting in the production of circular Work, are and may be all substantially as provided for in the said patent, wherein like letters and numerals are used to designate the parts hereinbefore specifically re-, ferred to by letters and numerals. In this instance of my invention the vibrator h derives its movement from the link connected to an arm of a rock-shaft it having jointed to it a connecting-rod 7.0 fitted at one end over a crank-pin on a crank it", fast on the continuously-rotated shaft c and when the coupling-pin 21 is in engagement with the vibrator h then the vibrator oscillates the gear 71 and it, in engagement with pinion it rotates the shaft h in one and then in the other direction for reciprocal knitting or for knitting a fiat web, as when narrowing and widening; but when the pin 21 of the plate it enters the notch 16 of the continuously-rotating plate 71 then the gear' h will be rotated continuously for roundabout or circular knitting.

\Vhenknitting is to be changed from reciprocal to circular, the shoe a, connected to arm 232 of rock-shaft 233, is turned to throw said shoe aside out of the path of movement of the roll 22, letting the springs 72, act to pull the pin 21 from the notch 23 in the vibrator and cause it to enter notch 16 in the plate W, said notch at that time being opposite the notch 23. The shaft 233 is turned for the purpose statedby or through lever 235, then' letters in said patent.

chain 61 meets the finger h ,such movement of the lever 235 causing the shoe e to be thrown into position to meet the roll 22 and cause the pin 21 to leave the notch 16, and after the pin leaves said notch it travels over the surface of. thelocking-dog h which is normally held up toward the plate 72 by a spring, and, passing said locking device, the latter rises under the action'of its spring and closes one side of the notch 23, so that the pin 21 during the oscillations of the vibrator h is held firmly at each side. i

The devices for moving shoe 6 will be hereinafter described.

I have briefly referred to a means used to rotate continuously or in one and then in the opposite direction the shaft 72 but this invention is not limited to the employment of the means shown for imparting the motions described to the shaft 72. and instead I may use any other usual or suitable devices commonly found in knitting-machines of the circular class adapted to automatically narrow and widen for the production of heels and toes.

The table-top A mounted on the legs A, has a flange 100, inside of which is fitted the raceway before described, it having a series of studs Z7 which enter inclined grooves of cam-stands b secured to the top plate, or a part thereof, by suitable screws 101. (Shown in Figs. 4 and 9.) This raceway will, in this present invention, be moved as and for the exact purpose fully set forth in said. patent.

The table-top, attached to the legs by suitable bolts 105, as shown best in Figs. 8 to 10 and in Fig. 3, has a spider composed of depending arms 102, radial arms 103, and a ring 104, said spider for cheapness of construction, durability, and stiffness being cast as an integral part ofthe table-top; but this invention is not limited to making the spider and the top in one piece.

The spider is shown as having attached to it by screws 106 suitable bearing-trusses 107 to support parts to be described.

The depending arms 102 have attached to them steel guide-plates .108, having slots 109, which are entered by projections 110 (see Fig. 5) on a circular curb 112, containing the shogging or racking bars 11 and b toothed at their under sides and corresponding substantially with the shogging-bars represented by like In the saidpatent the shogging-bars had only a motion in a circular path; but herein the shogging-bars are carried within the curb 112, and the latter has imparted to it at suitable times a vertical movement-that is, it'occupies the position shown by full lines in Figs. 3 and 5 when cirthe shogging-bar b by a pinion 162.

115, and 116 on the shogging-bars to be put into the range of movement of the toes 117 and 118, connected to a lever 119, mounted on a stud 8 connected to the cam ring or plate B, the upper end of said lever having a compound cam-slot s s, which receives in it a stud 3 attached to a slides, fitted into a guiding-groove 5 cut transversely in the inner side of the cam-ring, (see Fig. 13,) said slide having (see Fig. 13) notches s, which receive projections 8 (see Fig. 12) from the rear sides of the points a a said slide when moved effecting the movements of said points.

As herein provided for, when the stud s is in the upper part 8 of the said cam-slot the points a a will stand as represented in Fig. 13 with relation to the directing-cam a and will cause the butts of the needles to be moved from the non knitting into the knitting groove; but the directing-cam may touch either the point a or a according to the direction of movement of the cam-ring.

When all-around or circular work is being knitted, the directing-cam will stand next the point a but when reciprocal knitting is being done the said directing-cam will rest in one direction of movement of the cam-ring against one and then against the other of said points.

When the stud 8 stands in the lower part 8 of the compound cam, then the points a and a occupy their farthest position from the directing-cam and all the needles are put from the knitting-groove into the non-knitting groove. Theshoggingbarb theinnerone is engaged and moved by a pinion 161 and The pinion 161 is fast on a shaft 163, while the pinion 162 is fast on a sleeve 164, surrounding the shaft 163. The shaft 163 has a wormtoothed wheel 165 fixed to'it, while the sleeve 164 has fixed to it a worm-toothed wheel 166, the worm-toothed wheel 165 being engaged and rotated by a worm 167, loosely splined on a shaft 168, (see Fig. 27,) having an attached bevel-gear 169, the worm-toothed wheel 166 being rotated by a worm 170, loosely splined on a shaft 171, having an attached bevel-gear172.

The bevel-gear 169 is engaged by two wheels 173 and 174, either of which may be the driver for the shaft 168, according to the requirements of the pattern-surface, for it Will be understood that the gears 161 and 162 must be moved when narrowing is being done in one direction intermittingly and when widening is being done must be rotated in the opposite direction intermittingly. The bevelgear 172 on the shaft 171 is engaged in like manner by two gears 175 and 176, either of which may be the driver for the shaft 171.

The vertically-movable curb 112 has bolted to it a stand 112*, said stand having the bearings for the shafts 16S and 171 and also supporting between its upper and lower members the worms 167 and 170, such construction enabling the curb to be moved up and down with relation to the shafts 168 and 171 and yet always maintain the engagement of the toothed gears 161 and 162 with the rack-bars b and b The shaft 71. (see Fig. 25,) which when circular knitting is being done is rotated continuously in one direction and which when reciprocal knitting is being done is rotated in one and then in an opposite direction, has fast on it two pawl-carrying arms 302 and 303, each provided with two spring-controlled pawls, the said pawls being adapted to co-operate respectively each with its own ratchet-wheel 308 309 310 312, the ratchet-wheel 308 being fast to a hollow hub of the gear 174 and the ratchetwheel 312 fast to the hub of the gear 175, said gears174 and 1-75 being mounted loosely on like hubs 313 of a casting 314, surrounding the shaft h loosely, which latter is suitably supported in bearings of its own on the frame of the machine, said casting also having bearings for the shafts 168 and 171.

The ratchet- wheels 309 and 310 are secured respectively to the bevel gear- wheels 173 and 176, as shown, by like screws 313 and 314 said gears being loosely mounted on the hubs of the gears 174 and 175.

The entire set of gears 173, &c., are inclosed in a circular casing or shield 315, preferably made of sheet metal and having near each end a suitable slot, as 316, (see Fig. 27,) of a width sufficient to let one of the two pawls of the two sets of pawls enter therein and engage the ratchet-Wheel which it is designed to actuate, and by moving this casing longitudinally the said openings maybe put in the range of movement of either of said pawls,so that they in their stroke may engage either of the sets of ratchet-wheels to rotate the shafts 168 or 171 intermittingly in one and then in the other direction, another or third position of the casing 315 preventing any of the pawls from engaging any of the ratchetwheels, as when the machine is doing circular work and the curb 112 is lowered, the pawls then resting on the bridge m. y

The casing 315 may be designated aptly as a pattern casing or shield, and it is secured for strength to disks n n, surrounding the hubs of the bevel-gears referred to, the said disks having openings at their centers large enough to permitthem to slide unobstructedly in the movement of the casing. The casing has in this instance of my invention a stud n, embraced by a lever n mounted pivotally on a stud n and having at its outer end a suitable link it, which is connected to a suitable finger n adapted to be struck at the proper times and moved by a protuberance on one of the links of the pattern-chain 61.

I have herein shown and described an improved and novel mechanism for imparting the necessary intermitting movements step by step in one and then in the opposite direction to the bars of the shogging or racking mechanism; but this present invention is not limited to the exact means shown, although the best known to me for moving the same,

IIO

and I may instead employ anyother usual or suitable mechanical devices.

The depending portions 102 of the spider have suitable projections 210, (see Fig. 10,) upon which may rest the 'liftingcircle 212, said lifting-circle havejointed to it at sui able intervals, as at 213, (see Fig. 5,) the lower ends of struts 214, which in turn are jointed at their upper ends to studs or projections 215, connected to or forming part of the curb 112, and the curb derives its vertical move ment by imparting a partial rotarymovenient to theliftingcircle 212 to carry the pivotal point of the struts 213 to the right, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 5, the rotation of the curb being restrained at such time by reason of the projections 110 in the slots 109, before referred to. To move this lifting-circle 212, I have provided it with a slot 216, (shown in Fig. 8,) in which may enter a toe 217 (shown best in Figs. 16 and 17) at the upper end of a lever 218, having a cam projection 219, and entering by its lower end loosely and-being guided in a hole in a crossbrace 220 of the framework. The lever 218 is connected by a stud-screw 221 with a fulcrum-lever 222, mounted upon a stud 223, (shown partially by dotted lines in Fig..16,) which is screwed into a hub 22 1, fast on the bearing-brace 107, said, fulcrum-lever having a cam-toe 225. i I

I have combined with the levers 218 and 222 a cam 226, which is applied to the shaft 71 before described, so as to he slid thereon, the hub of said cam in this instance of my invention sliding on spline-pins 227, connected to a collar 228, adjustably secured to said shaft, as by a set-screw,as shown, the use of the collar and spline-pins enabling the splines to be adjusted about said shaft, to thus put the working-surface of the cam 226 in exactly the proper position.

It will be obvious that when the cam 226 acts against the cam projection 219 of the lever 218 the lifting-circle (see Fig. 3) will he moved from the position therein shown to the right to lift the curb and that when the cam 226 is in position to strike the cam-toe 225 of the fulcrum-lever 227 the lever 218 will be moved inthe opposite direction to bring the lifting-circle back intothe position shown in Fig. 3 to lower the curb, this being done when reciprocating knitting is to be stopped and circular knitting is, to be commenced. To move this cam, its huh will be suitably slotted to be embraced by the forked end of a lever 229, pivoted at 230 on a suitable part of the framework,apart of said lever being engaged by a link 231, (see Figs. 3 and 15,) jointed to an arm 232-, fixed to a vertical rock-shaft 233, having at its upper end an arm 234, having a pin which is engaged with a lever 235, having its fulcrum at 236 in a suitable-stand 235*,at-

tached to the framework, said lever having at its rear end a suitable rod 237, which is connected to a lever-like finger 17", that at proper times will be acted upon bya suitable roll or projection carried by said patternchain 61, said finger I) also moving the switchbar 19 instrumental in effecting the thread change, as will be described.

The lever 235 is acted upon by a spring 238, (see Fig. 15,) which serves to normally hold the rock-shaft 233 in such position (see Fig. 15) that the shoe 6, pivoted to the end of the arm 232, stands at one side of the range of movement of roll 22 during circular knitting, and when said lever 235 is moved to eifect the raising of the curb, as described, the said shoe is swung aside and put in the range of movement of the roll 22, so that it will strike the shoe and cause the coupling-pin '21 to enter the notch in the vibrator h to thuseffect the reciprocation of the cam-ring. The shoe has connected to it a rod 264:,surrounded by a Spring 265, contained in a hollow arm 266, fast on the lower end of rockshaft 233, said spring normally acting to keep said shoe pressed toward the flange 23 of wheel h The ring 104 of the spider receives in. it the neck A of the conical needle-bed, thesaid neck being connected to said ring by suitable screws 260, (see Fig. 5,) and surrounding this neck loosely so as to slide about it is a ring 261, having out upon it at its under side a series of bevel-teeth 262, which are engaged by the teeth of the bevel-wheel B before scribed. Thering 261 has aflange provided with suitable holes to receive a series of screws 263, said screws being extended through an outwardly-turned flange at the lower endrof the cam ring or plate B. t

The cam-ring is a rather difficult member of the machine to manufacture, and it may be made of less weight and more quickly by omitting from it the bevel-teeth with which it is usually supplied and by making the camring detachable from the ring 261, having the teeth. The cam-ring can be'taken off without unmeshing the teeth 262 from its driving-- tion contains, as illustrated inthe present embodiment of my invention, a pivoted directing-cam a, points a and 8 pointing toward each other and leaving a space between them, in which may be moved -the directing-cam, the directing-cam closing one or the other of the crossings from the non-knitting or topping groove a into the knitting-groove a the points a a in this instance of my invention being pivoted, as described of the guidinggates in the patent referred to, and being moved positively by appliances at the outside of the plate, as before described, different devices, however, from those employed in the said patent.

The detachable section 267 is suitably grooved for the reception of slides a and ad, provided with drawing-down cams, one of said slides, as (L23, having a pin extended outwardly from its back, which is engaged by the tension-lever 0, having a screw to regulate the position of the slide. I have shown the said tension-lever as provided with a spring 268, interposed between the end of the screw and the top of the raceway, to thereby obviate one trouble arising from the wearing of the screw or of the raceway, and also red ucing friction upon the raceway.

The slide 0. has a suitable pin or projection, which is extended outwardly through the section 267, where it is engaged by a slotted plate 269,1)y which to enable the said slide to be adjusted as desired, according to the length of stitch required, it being remembered that the drawing-down cam on the slide a acts on the needles only in heel-and-toe work and when the cam-ring is moving in the direction opposite that in which it moves for circular knitting. The section 267 also has connected to it usual steel plates 0. a to elevate the needles, and switches a and a are employed to prevent the passage of butts of needles from the non-knitting or topping groove into the knitting-groove, but to let said butts pass freely from the knittinginto the non-knitting groove.

The section 267, below the points a a has fixed to it a plate 0., provided with a lip 0. located in line with the directing-cam (1 said lip being provided with a concave face opposite the directing-cam, the curve of said concavity being described substantially from the center of oscillation of the directing-cam, the points a and a being shielded by the shoulders at each of the sides of said li-p when the said points are down, as when the needles are being moved from the knitting into the nonknitting cam-groove during widening and narrowing, substantially as in said patent.

This invention is not limited in all instances to imparting positive movements to the points a a and the same effect might be produced by positively oscillating the directing cam a.

The section 267 is attached to the cam-ring by suitable screws 270, and at each end of said section I have attached by screws-400 (see Fig. 4) blocks 401, the removal of either of said blocksleaving a space between the said section and the body of the cam-ring, through which a needle may be taken out or a needle put in in usual manner.

The cam-ring (see Figs. 4 and 11) has set upon it the slotted foot of a stand 271, the said foot being frictionally mounted on the said cam-ring by means or screws 272, extended through a thin steel plate 273, laid upon the said foot, the screws passing through a slot 274 in the said foot.

In Fig. 11 the friction plate has been broken out to show the slot below it.

The extent to which the foot may be moved on or with relation to the cam-ring, or the extent that the cam-ring may be moved after the foot comes to rest, is determined by means of adjustable stops 284:, attached to the camring. The frictional stand 271 receives a cross-bar 276, pivoted at 277, receiving at its other end a movable bolt or stud 278. The cross-bar 276 receives the screw-threaded shank 279 of the cone-shaped thin metallic thread-rest 01 common to the said patent, said shank having upon it at opposite sides of said bar suitable nuts by which to adjust the shank longitudinally in said bar to properly center the thread-rest 61 to the upper ends of the needles used in the machine. The shank 279 referred to supports an arm 280, upon which are mounted suitable sheaves 28 l, about which the thread or yarn going to the needles is passed, said yarn also being passed preferably between roller-studs 282, fixed on said th read-rest. The thread-rest and threadgnide 280 281 perform in this machine the samepurpose and function with relation to the needles arranged inthe conical bed as fully described and provided for in the said patent.

I have shown the frictionally-supported stand 271 as provided with a tail-piece 283, which in the rotation of the cam-ring may strike the stops 275, made as pins set in holes, thus shifting the relative positions of the thread-guide with relation to the knittingcams,in order that the thread to be delivered to the needles when narrowing and widening is being done may be properly presented to the first needle to knit in the course to be made, and preferablyl mounton the cam-ring (see Fig. 4) stops 284, between which the stand 271 slides.

I have herein shown (see Fig. 14) the sinkeractuating ring A as provided with adjustable shoes to to bear on the upper end of the projection A of the needle-bed, said shoes being acted upon by screws to, the rotation of which enables the cam edge 10 of the said ring to be raised or lowered with relation to the fulcra of the sinkers to thus give to the sinkers the properstopping and starting point in their movements. The shoes are guided by pins 10 extended through the ring, and the set-screws have combined with them suitable locking devices. (Shown as springs 10 The sinker-actuating ring has a removable gate (1.33 to enable a sinker to be taken out or put in.

The shogging-bar b has fast on it two ad-' justable cam projections 115 116, the projection 115 being in the range of movement of the arm 117, while the projection 116 is in the range of movement of the arm 118. The bar 5 the inner one, is provided with two adjustable cam projections 114 and 113, the projection 114 being the lowest and in range of movement of the arm 117, while the cam projection 113is in the range of movement of the arm 118. The two cam projections 115 and 116 are set close together, because the heels or parts of the arms 117 and 11S nearest the fulcrum-stud :9 meet them; but the projections 113 and lletare separated somewhat one from the other, because the toes or points of the said arms contact with them.

, projection 115 is lower than the projection 116 and its point goes under and overlaps the projection 116.

When the knitting is to be changed from circular or roundaboutto reciprocal knitting for heel and toe work, the curb 112 is raised quickly, as stated, while the cam-cylinder is moving in the direction of arrow 1, and the casing 315 is moved to let the pawls referred to, on the pawl- carriers 302 and 303, act to commence and move the projections 113 and 114 toward the projections 115 116 to thus narrow course after course until the narrowest course for the heel or toe has been knitted, the first course on less than the whole number of needles for narrowing being knitted when the cam-cylinder is movingin the direction of arrow 2, and, the narrowest course having been knitted, the said pairs of cam projections are gradually separated course after course until the widening complemental to the narrowing has been completed and circular work is to be resumed. The instep needles are located at the side of the machine. 7

cam-ring is continued in the same direction until all the needles have their butts in the non-knittinggroove. Then thecam-ringisre- V versed, (see arrow 2,) and as the heel of arm 118 meets the cam projection 116 and restores the lever 119 to the position, Fig. 4, the points are shifted up to the directing-cam to thus catch the first needle of the number to knit in the course then to be made. Now, as the cam-ring is moved in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 4, the arm 118 passes over cam projection 113; but the point of arm 117 hits cam projection 114, and thus againshifts the points to effect the putting of the butts of all the needles in the further movement of said ring in the direction of arrow 2 intothe nonknitting groove, and this done the cam-ring is reversed, and on its movement again in direction of arrow 1 the point of arm118 meets the cam projection 113 and causes the'pointsto be moved to bring the desired number of needles from the non-knitting into the knitting-groove. I

The movement of the rings with their cam projections toward each other for narrowing and away from each other for widening is effected substantiallyas the cam-cylinder completes its strokein either direction.

The sinker cam-ringA has a projection 25, which is acted upon by horns t of stop-plates 19, connected to the cam-ring B by screws 6 The shipper-lever 9 may be moved by hand The through the hand-lever t rock-shaft t and slotted arm t embracing the shipperdever.

To keep the rack-bar b from rising in the curb 1l2, it is grooved at its outer side as at 0, (see left of Fig. 5,) and said groove is entered by theinturned lip of a plate 0', (see Fig. 1%) attached to the outer side of the curb 112 by a suitable screw, said lip being extended through a slot in the curb, as shown in Fig. 1. To keep the rack b from rising in rack Z)", the inner side of rack is also grooved, (see Fig. 5,) and said groove is entered by a plate or lug 0 attached to ring I) by a screw 0 11 represents the frame of the thread-presenting mechanism, it being shown as provided at one end with hubs 11, mounted loosely on a rotating-shaft 1-1 having bearings ina cross-head H", adjustably mounted cross grooves having combined with them a v suitable switch, (herein marked b 1), both shown as secured to a rod 19 which is adapted to he slid at right angles to the grooves 2 3, or' parallel to the shaft H one orthe otherot' the said switches lying in and stopping or bridging part of one or the other of said an nular grooves 2 3, as best represented in Fig. 21, where the switch 1) stops the annular groove 2, one or the other switch being madeto stop a groove, according to the position in which it desired to keep the lever G, pivoted at O and provided at its outer or free end with a toothed segment 0, said segment engaging a pinion a on the hub of a gear a, which engages the-gear a to be described, fast on the hollow shaft a, common to said patent, the movement of the lever O effecting the rotation of the shaft a in one and then in the opposite direction.

The rear end of the lever O is provided with a pin or stud 300, having at its lower end a shoe 6, which runs in the grooves of the hub H The grooves in the hub H and the switches b I), co-operating therewith, are such as to enable the shoe to stand for a longer or shorter time in one or the other of said annular grooves 2 or 3, the hollow shaft a, carrying the thread-arms a a beingthen at rest with one or the other, or it may be both, the said arms supplying thread, said thread or thread passing from the eye or eyes of the thread arm or arms a, a to a suitable thread'guide 281, located substantially above the center of the needle-bed; but when the lever O is to be moved to rotate the shaft a and twist the two threads in the thread-arms together, preparatory to using either the main thread m or the splicingthread 92 or the main thread and reinforcingthread, then the slide-rod b will be moved to cause the switch nearest the annular groove in which the shoe 6 then rests to enter said groove, so that the point of the switch will pass to the outer side of the shoe as the cam rotates, and will cause the switch to enter one of the cross-grooves and pass entirely into the other annular groove, such movement rotating the shaft d and the thread-arms to twist the thread; but before such rotation takes place the thread-arm having the thread being used is moved, as will be described, to cause its thread to be carried laterally in be tween the rolls d and 61, common to said patent, and put it against the other thread next to be used, and then held out of action between said rolls, and the two threads are twisted together, so that the then active thread may engage and carry with it the inactive thread, and later the thread which is not to be used will be cut off, as will be described.

-In Fig. 21 the shoe is shown in the groove 3, and to cause said shoe to enter the groove 2 the switch I) must be moved to the right. The movement of the switclrcarrier b is determined automatically by a switch-changer (shown as a slide-bar Z2 having two horns 1) b said bar having, as shown, projections 13 Z2 between which plays one end of the finger or lever I), acted upon in practice, as before described, by a suitable projection on the pattern -chain. Preferably the projections Z1 19 will be adjustable on the bar [9 and by shifting said bar just in advance of the time it is desired to move the lever 0 one or the other of the horns Z7 b will be put into working position to be struck by the switch-carrier b the latter as soon as it in the rotation of the cam meets a horn being slid in the camslot.

.The shaft 11 has fast to it at one end (see Fig. 21) a bevel-gear 19 which is engaged and rotated constantly by the bevel-gear Z2 fast on a vertical shaft I), having suitable bearings b", the lower end of said shaft being in practice provided with a bevel-gear Z3 Fig. 2, which will be driven from a suitable pinion b mounted on a stud b Fig. 3, said pinion being engaged by the gear h, fast on the continuously-rotating shaft 6 The gear a referred to has attached to it an arm 0 (shown best in Fig. 22,) provided with two horns 10 12, each of which when said gear is at its extreme stroke acts on the lever c of the two like levers c 0 common to said patent, and pivoted on the arm 11 of the frame H, said levers having at their lower ends like cam-segments 13, which are adapted to be struck by pins 14 at the upper ends of the thread-arms a or 03, pivoted on the head 16 of the shaft 11, the particular pin to strike the segmentdepending upon which thread-arm is at the front and is to have the thread carried by it removed from between the feed-rolls.

When the thread-arms a a are merely to present a knitting and a splicing thread, as required, to be knitted, one to the exclusion of the other, in a stocking, then .the lever 0 may be omitted, but it will be required when it is desired to insert into the work with a main thread a reinforcing-thread.

NVhenever a pin or projection lat of the thread -arm meets a cam-segment 13, the thread-arm will be thrown outwardly away from the center line of the shaft a and the thread carried by the arm will be removed from between the rolls d d and the thread of said arm so moved out will go to the needles and be knitted into the fabric.

In Fig. 19 the thread in arm a is supposed to be going to the needles, while the thread in the arm a has its free end held between the said rolls. Now, if it is desired to use the thread of arm a the lever C will be started and start the gear a ,and.with the gearstarts the arm 0 and the horn 10, then holding the lever 0, will retire quickly from said lever, letting the then contracted U-shaped Wire spring 416 expand and act'quickly to move the arms toward each other and put the thread 72 in the arm a between the rolls d d, and as the said running thread n is brought against the stationary thread m then held between said rolls, the rotation of the shaft or will cause the two threads to be twisted together, so that the running thread will catch and drag the other thread with it,and as the gear a completes its movement the horn 12 of the arm 0 will again meet the lever c and throw its lower end inwardly, so that the pro jection 14 of the thread-arm (1 then being brought to the front, is moved to lead the thread m out from between the rolls, and the other thread left in the rolls is cut off, as will be described, close to the lower side of the rolls.

The journals of one of the thread-rolls (herein shown as the roll (1) are supported in a carrier d mounted loosely on part of the arm H of the frame H, said carrier being acted upon by a very delicate spring (i thus enabling the roll 02 to be pressed slightly toward the roll (1, such construction enabling the rolls to readily adapt themselves to the thickness of the thread and hold and control the same better than when the said rolls are in fixed bearings.

The frame H has a cutter-actuating lever D, suitably pivoted thereon at D, and having at one end a pivoted shoe 22 (shown by dotted lines in Figs. 19 and 20,) it entering and.

traveling in the grooves of the hub H as described, of the shoe 6, the shoe of lever D following in the same path as the shoe of lever G, for immediately the lever O has been moved to effect the rotation of the hollow spindle a, to twist together the threads carried by the arms a a and has then separated the arms, the lever D must act to effect the cutting off of the thread which is not to be used. The lever D has at one enda segmental series of teeth D which engage the teeth of a pinion

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