US645332A

US645332A - Knitting-machine.

Info

Publication number: US645332A
Application number: US58513696A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ferdinando Rosati; Corradino Petrini; Ruggiero Petrini
Original assignee: Berliner Taxameter Ges Francke & Co Ges mbH
Current assignee: Berliner Taxameter Gesellschaft Francke & Co GmbH; Berliner Taxameter Ges Francke & Co Ges mbH
Priority date: 1896-03-27
Filing date: 1896-03-27
Publication date: 1900-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1917-03-13

Description

No. 645,332. Patented Mar. [3, I900. F. BOSATI & c. & R. PETRINL KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet l,

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No. 645,332. Patented Mar, I3, I900. F. ROSATI &. C. &. R. PETRINI.

KNITTING MACHINE.

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No. 645,332. Patented Mar. l3, moo. F. ROSATI & c. & a. PETRINI.

KNITTING MACHINE.

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No. 645,332. Patented Mar. l3, I900. F. BUSATI &. C. &. R. PETRINI.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-$heet 4.

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F. RUSATI & C. 8:. R. PETBINI. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1896.)

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No. 45,332. Patented Mar. l3, I900. F. B0sAT|-& c. & B. PETRINI.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application mean. 27, 1896.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Games.

FERDINANDO ROSATI, OF MILAN, AND CORBADINO PETRINI AND RUGGIERO PETRINI, OF CHIETI, ITALY, ASSIGNORS TO THE BERLINER TAXAMETER GESELLSOHAFT, FRANCKE & CO., HAFTUNG, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

GESELLSOHAF'I MIT BESCHRANKTER KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 645,332, plated March 18, 1900.

Application filed March 27, 1896- To all 1072 0121 it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FERDINANDO ROSA'II, residing at Milan, in the Province of Lomhardy, and CORRADINO PETRINI and RUG- GIERO PETRINI, residing at Chieti,in the Province of Abruzzo, Kingdom of Italy, subjects of the 'King of Italy, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin or Connected with Sewing-Machines, (for which we have ob- IO tained a patent in Italy, dated September 7, 1893, Registro Generale, Vol. XXVII, No. 34,484, Registro Attestati, Vol. LXVIII, No. 133; in Switzerland, dated January 6, 1894:, No. 7,883; in Belgiunu,clated January 31, 1894,

No. 107,999; in GreatBritain, dated February 10, 1894:, No. 2,985; in Spain, dated February 13, 1894:, No. 15,538; in France, dated March 28, 1894, No. 235,303, and in Argentina, dated July 11, 1894, No. 1,475,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knitting mechanism, and more especially to mechanism for producing knitted goods of plain or fancy design, the same being adapted to and operated by a sewing-machine.

An object of the invention is to combine with a sewingmachine a reciprocating comb, a knittingneedle, and means for forming loops, a loop-catcher for catching the loops 0 so formed and placing them on the teeth of the comb, and a loop-lifter for stripping the completed loops from the comb to be replaced by newly-formed loops, and mechanism for operating these several parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby the above mentioned instrumentalities are operated from the drive mechanism of the sewing-machine.

A further object contemplates manually- 0 operated means for reversing at will the movement of the comb and associated parts.

A further object is the provision of means for automatically reversing the movement of the comb and associated parts.

A further object is the provision of means for reversing the movement of the comb Without reversing the loop-catches.

A further object is to provide a regulator Serial No. 585,136. (No model.)

adapted to cause the reversion of the comb at any predetermined point to produce a fancy design in the knitted fabric.

\Vith such and other objects in view the invention comprises the parts,arrangement,and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In order that our invention may be fully understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect; but we desire it to be distinctly understood that we do not limit our invention to the particular construction which for the sake of illustration we have therein delineated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the front cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2, Fig. 4, seen from above. Fig. 3 is a plan of the driving'mechanism as mounted on the hinged base-plate D, Fig. 1, and seen from below, the oscillating shafts and parts carried thereby being removed and their position shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a side view showing the driving mechanism above referred to, showing the base-plate in section. Figs. 3 and 43 are detail views showing the loop-catches apart on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view and cross-sections of the toothed comb. Fig. 7 is a plan of the front part of the plate covering the toothed comb, and Fig. 7 is a similar view on a larger scale. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and sectional view showing the attachment of the cranklever carrying the pawls. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 7. Figs. 11 and 12 show a broken plan and a side view, partly in section, of the disk, serving as a regulator to reverse the movement of the comb. Fig. 13 is an elevation and plan ofthe small star-wheel 56, acted upon by the pins inserted into the regulator. Fig. 1% shows the connection between the wheel 56 and the oscillating shaft 58. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the part 60, showing its relation to the

bars

29 and 30, which are shown in section. Fig. 16 is a cross-section of one of the reversing-teeth 71. Fig. 17 shows a detail of the loop-lifter, and Figs. 17 and 1'7 show its connection with the comb and the vibrating cross 45 with disk 46. Figs. 17, 17 and 17 are enlarged views showing in section the different positions it takes to catch the loop on the comb-teeth. Figs. 18 to show different relative positions of the loops, needle, and loop-catches as referred to in the course of the following specification. Fig. 26 shows a view of the plain knitting as obtained on the machine. Fig. 27 is a detail of a portion of the regulator of associated parts. Fig. 28 is a sectional view on line 28 28, Fig. 2, looking in direction of arrow. Fig.

29 is a detail section showing the bars'29 and 30 held out of operative, relation to their actuating-cams. Figs. 24 and 25 show that the first loop of the second row is already formed. Figs. 22, 22 and 22 show in detail difierent phases of the formation of a loop. Fig. 30 is a side elevation of the shuttle-carrier. Fig. 31 is a bottom plan view of the regulator.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, A B represent the main supporting or base plate of the machine on which the various parts are mounted and which is preferably hinged at one side to its support in order that it may be turned up torender accessible the mechanisms carried thereby. In a suitable housing 2 on this plate is mounted the main driving-shaft 3 of the machine, on one end of which the fly-wheel and pulley (not shown) are placed.

11 is the needle-bar, reciprocated in suitable guides by a crank on the shaft 3 and a connecting-rod 10. At its lower end this needlebar is provided with a suitable clamp for the sewing-needle 12.

9 represents the usual presser-foot bar carrying the presser-foot and operated from the shaft 3 by means ofan eccentric 9 on the latter. The presser is lifted from operative position when the machine is to be used for knitting, and any desired means may be employed for accomplishing this. In the housing 2 is a vertical shaft 6, passing down through the base-plate, receiving its rotation from the shaft 3 by means of a bevel-pinion 5 thereon meshing with a bevel-pinion 4 on the shaft 3. Below the base-plate A B the shaft 6 carries a crank 18, connected by a rod 17 to the shuttlecarrier 14, which is thereby reciprocated in'suitable ways 15 on the base-plate. This much of the machine is quite similar-in most respects to the corresponding parts of wellknown sewing-machines and need not be further described.

The shuttle is removed from the carrier in case of the machine being used for knitting, but the shuttle-carrier remains in place and is made use of in connection with the knitting apparatus, as will be seen hereinafter.

Slidably mounted below the base-plate in suitable brackets Ct Z), depending from the base-plate, are

bars

29 and 30. These bars are respectively moved in one direction conveniently by means of

eccentrics

27 and 28 on the shaft 6 and are provided with any suitable means for returning them to their normal positions, such as

springs

29 and 30, interposed between said bars and some fixed part of the machine.

The

bars

29 and 30 are respectively provided with

notches

25 and 26, which when the bars are at the forward limit of their movement are brought into alinement below an aperture 24 in the base-plate,and by means of a pin 24, passed through said notches and aperture 24, the bars can be held away from the

eccentrics

27 and 28 and from reciprocation when the machine is being used for sewing. (See Fig. 29.)

Extending laterally from the needle-bar 11 and detachably secured thereto in any preferred manner, is an arm 11, carrying at its outer end a needle-clamp 11 for detachably securing the knitting-needle shown at 13. Extending from the base-plate are two projections 51, between which the knitting-needle passes and on which the thread is placed by the needle to form the loop, which is released from the projections by means hereinafter described.

lVorking in a suitable way or grooves 26 in the front portion of the base-plate is a reciprocating comb 36, provided with depending teeth 37, in the front face of each of which isa substantially-vertical groove 37, (see Figs. 17 and 22",) adapted to receive and guide the knitting-needle 13. The comb is provided, preferably on its near edge, with a toothed rack 38. The mechanism which we preferably employ for reciprocating the comb comprises a bent lever 41, fulcrumed on a stud or pivot 44, depending from the base-plate above the reciprocating bar 29. One arm 41 of this lever extends forwardly in proximity to the rack 38 and carries a double pawl 42,

pivoted to it in such manner that when the arm 41 is inclined in one direction one of the pawl-teeth will be brought into operative relation to the rack 38 and when inclined in the opposite direction the other of the pawlteeth will be operative. On the bar 29 is mounted on a vertical pivot 32, so as to have a limited lateral swing, a device which we term a horned piece 34, having a pointed or double-wedge-shaped free end and laterally-extending arms or lugs 34*, one on each side. The horned piece 34 is so positioned on the bar 29 that when its point is inclined to one side of the line of movement of its pivot one of its wedge-faces will engage the other arm 41 of the bent lever 41 and swing the latter on its pivot in one direction and cause one of the pawl-teeth to engage the rack 38 and feed the comb 36 in one direction. When the horned piece 34 is inclined to the other side of the line of movement of its pivot, the other of its wedge-faces engages said arm 41 and the lever 41 is oppositely inclined, thus causing the comb to feed in the opposite direction. This change in position of the horned piece 34 is accomplished manually or automatically by mechanism to be hereinafter described. A spring orsprings 41, Figs. 4, 8, and 9, is or are attached to the same'stationary part of the machine and bears or bear against the end of the arm 41 to return the latter to its normal position after it has been moved by the horned piece 34. To insure the proper position of the horned piece 34 relative to the bent lever 41,we preferably provide the same with two oppositely-arranged set screws 34, adaptedto strike against a stop 34, projecting from the bar 29 into an aperture in the horned piece.

- Pivotally mounted on a vertical stud or pin 46, below the base-plate A B, and preferably above the bar 30, is a lever which in this specification we term a cross 45, having oppositely-extending arms 45, one of which projects into the path of a horned piece 35, carried by the bar 30, and which is in all respects similar to the horned piece 34 on bar 29. This horned piece 35, according to its position relative to the cross 45, is adapted (like the piece 34) to swing the cross 45 laterallyto either side of its normal central position. At its free end the cross is provided with two studs or pieces 45", on each of which is loosely mounted, so as to swing in a vertical plane, a loop-catcher 47 of novel construction. The loop-catchers (see Figs. 3, 4, 3, and 4) are similar and each is provided with a beak 47* and an upwardly-extending arm or projection 47*,which engages a fixed stop 47 on the baseplate when the cross 45 is swung on its pivot, and thereby the loop-catcher is turned on its stud 45*. It will thus be seen that each loopcatcher has a compound movement-that is, both a lateral vibrating as well as a risingand falling movementto catch the loop from the needle and place it on one of the comb-teeth. Only one loop-catcher is operative at a time, according to the direction of movement of the cross,and this is determined, as before stated, by the position of the horned piece 35. On each stud 45 is a spring 45, exerting sufficient tension on the loop-catchers to prevent their dropping from operative position.

73, Figs. 3,17, and 17", is a loop-lifter situated transversely of the lines of movement of the comb 36 and shuttle-carrier 14 and loosely supported at its rear end in any preferred manner, as by a reduced portion 73 thereof engaging in an apertured bearing-lug 74, dependingfromthe base-plate. 'lheloop-lifteris so formed that its forward portion is on a horizontal plane above the plane of the rear portion, whereby it is located above the cross 45, and the rear portion passes below the shuttlecarrier 14. The forward end of the loop-lifter is yieldingly supported, as by a leaf-spring 37 secured thereto and hearing at its free end on the upper face of the bracket-plate 45 In the front end of theloop-lifter, which lies 7 adjacent to the teeth 37 of the comb and is suitably guided, as by the lugs 47 on the baseplate, is a notch 37*, adapted to engage the thread of the completed loop on one of the teeth 37 and by a downward and slight horizontal movement of the loop-lifter to lift (or more properly lower) the loop from the tooth.

The loop-lifter is pushed forward into engagement with the teeth 37 by a spring 74 between the bearing-lug 74 and a shoulder on the loop-lifter. As a convenient means for accomplishing this movement of the looplifter we provide the shuttle-carrier 14 with an inclined plane 75, which engages a projection, preferably in the form of a set-screw 7 3, carried by the loop-lifter.

The mechanism We preferably employ for reversing the comb and bringing into action the inactive loopcatcher will now be described. by the bar 30, and in a bearing 58", hanging from the base-plate, is a rock-shat t 58, to which is secured a fork or substantially U-shaped piece 60, straddling the

bars

29 and 30, and adapted when the shaft 58 is rocked in one direction to have one of its arms brought in the path of one of the arms 34 on the horned piece 34 and when the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction to have its other arm.

brought in the path of the other arm 34 of the horned piece. From each arm of the fork projects a pin 60, extending parallel with the

bars

29 and 30 and adapted to be placed in the path of the arms 35f on the horned piece 35, which is located in advance of and below the horned piece 34. \Vhen the shaft 58 is thus rocked, the movement of the

bars

29 and 30 brings one of the arms of the horned pieces 34 and 35, respectively, into engagement with one arm of the fork and the corresponding pin 60", and are thereby on the continued movement of the bars turned on their pivots to bring one or the other of their wedge the shaft 58 and providedwith an inclined face 59 at or near its end, Figs. 4 and 28. Pivoted at 68 to a stationary bearing-plate is a lever 68, carrying at its free end a pin or projection 69, having an inclined face engaging the inclined face 59 of pin 59 and adapted bya lateral movement of the lever to ride on said face and move the outer end of the pin 59 downward, thus rocking the shaft 58, which is rocked in the reverse direction by the spring 30,(see Fig. 4,) sleeved thereon,and secured at one end to the fork 60 and at one end to the bearing 58.

is a lever pivoted to the base-plate and carrying a pin 64, which extends above and below the lever. At its upper end the pin 64 is provided with a thumb-piece 66, working in Mounted in a bearing 58, carried an aperture. 66 in the base-plate. (See Figs. 7 and 7 The lever 65 is loosely connected with the lever 68 by means of the lower end of the pin 64 entering an enlarged aperture 68 in the latter lever. Consequently the lever 65 can be moved initially by the thumbpiece 66 without changing the position of the lever 68. When the lever 65 is so moved, the pin 64 is brought into the path of one or the other of two oppositely-inclined faces 67 on a projection 67, carried by the bar 30, and the lever is thereby moved and with it the lever 68, thus causing the rocking of shaft 58, as above described.

To automatically reverse the movement of the comb and loop-catchers, the above instrumentalities are also made use of, the preliminary movement of the lever 65 and pin 64 being conveniently effected by a bent lever 72, (see Figs. 10 and 7 3) pivoted to the baseplate and provided with two arms 72*, projecting through slots in the base-plate on each side of the knitting-needle above the comb 36, and having its third arm 72 loosely connected to the pin 64. I

71 represents stops or reversing teeth adapted to be adj ustably secured to the comb 36, so as to strike the projecting arms 72 and move the lever, and consequently reverse the movement of the comb and shift the loopcatchers at any predetermined position of the comb.

To reverse the movement of the oombwithout shifting the loop-catchers, which is done when it is desired to leave a loop out of a row, we provide the base-plate A B with an aperture 76, through which a pin 76 is adapted to be passed into the path of a stop, which we have shown as the projection 67, so positioned on the bar that when it engages said pin 76 the bar is prevented from being retracted sufficiently far by its spring 30" to cause the horned piece to engage the fork-pieces 60, and thereby have its inclination changed. The bar 29, however, returns to the full limit of its movement and the horned piece 34 is shifted.

The object of leaving out a loop in a row of knitted fabric is to gradually diminish the width of the fabric if the loops left out are at the ends of'the rows, (such as, for instance, the case with stockings to suit the profile of the leg,) while if the loops are left out intermediate the ends of the rows a perforated fabric is obtained suitable for fancy work.

The loop is released from the projections 51 by a sliding plate 50 above the said projections. This plate is provided with shoulders 50, which are engaged by upwardly-extending pins 48 on the arms of the cross 45, and is thereby moved forward by the rocking of the cross 45. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 10.) A spring 49, interposed between said plate 50 and the loop-lifter 73, returns said plate to its normal position.

The regulator for causing the automatic reversion of the parts to produce a fanciful design in the knitted fabric we have shown to be of the following construction: 53 indicates a plate or disk movably mounted, preferably rotatively in a hole in the base-plate, on a suitable axle 54. On the disk 53 is a series of ratchet-teeth 53, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 52, carried by some reciprocating part of the machine, as the bar 80, and be thereby rotated step by step. Suitably mounted adjacent the disk is a rotatable shaft 56, (see Figs. 13, 14 and 28,) carrying at or near its lower end a star-wheel 56, which when the shaft is rotated strikes an arm 57, secured to the rock-shaft 58, and rocks the latter, which through the mechanism before described causes the reversion of the comb and shifts the loop-catchers. The shaft 56 carries a second star-wheel 56", projecting into the path of one or more stops adj ustably secured to the disk 53, preferably in the form of pins 53, removably placed in holes 53 in the disk. Each of these pins is adapted to engage the star-wheel 56 and partially rotate the shaft 56 to rock the rock-shaft 58. It will thus be seen that the shaft 58 can be rocked and the parts reversed in any desired order to produce a special design, according to the number and position of the pins 53 in the regular disk.

To throw theregulator out of operation, all that is necessary is to hold the pawl 52 from engagement with the ratchet-teeth This is conveniently accomplished by means of a pin 62, having a tapered end and adapted to be passed through an aperture 62 in the baseplate and engage said pawl 52 and force it from engagement with the ratchet-teeth 53.

From the foregoing description it is believed the operation of the machine will be clearly understood, it being further necessary only to describe several steps in the formation of the loops.

The loops are formed in the following manner: The needle descends in the groove 37 of a tooth 37, and in so doing places the thread upon one of the projecting pieces 51 onthe fore part of the base-plate of the machine and continuing in its downward movement forms a loop in the thread. As soon as the needle rises one of the loop-catchers 47 is brought by the swinging movement of its carrying-lever to and seizes the loop, and being turned on its pivot by the projection 47 its beak moves upward and places the loop upon the tooth of the comb, which precedes the needle in the direction of movement of the comb. The loop-catcher 47 acts in the same manner for every other tooth until a row of loops has passed the needle, as can be seen in Figs. 18 and 19. Figs. 20 and 21 show the loops last formed while the needle descends, the movement of the comb being this time reversed in order to begin the second row of loops. When the movement of the comb is reversed, the needle descends, passing through the loop on the comb-tooth in alinement with the needle, the loop-catcher again seizes the thread car- ISO ried down by the needle, the loop is lifted or moved off the comb-teeth by the loop-lifter 7 3, while the loop-catcher 47 places the thread which it has seized in the form of a loop upon the comb-tooth preceding the needle. Thus it will be seen that the first completed loop is formed and lifted from the comb-tooth and the first loop of the second row is placed on the comb-tooth.

Figs. 22 and 23 show the knitting mechanism in the position in which the movement of the comb is reversed. The first loop has been removed and another loop of the second row is about to be put in its place.

Figs. 24 and 25 show the first completed loop of the second row.

The difierent phases of the formation of a loop is clearly shown in Figs. 22, 22 and 22.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the needle, of a movable toothed comb adapted to hold the loops, a loop-catcher adapted to place the loops formed by the needle on that tooth of the comb which precedes the needle in the direction of the movement of the comb, and operating mechanism for the several parts.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a movable toothed comb and two loopcatchers, operating means for the needle, means for moving the comb, mechanism for operating either loop-catcher, and means for reversing the movement of the comb and throwing one loopcatcher out of and the other into action.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the needle, a reciprocating comb, loopcatchers, and their operating mechanism, of a reversing mechanism comprising stops or reversing-teeth movable with the comb and spaced a distance apart substantially equal to the width of work to be knitted, and means operated by said teeth for reversing the combfeed mechanism and for throwing one loopcatcher out of and the other into action.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a movable-toothed comb, and two loopcatchers for placing said loops on the teeth of said comb, operating mechanism for the needle, means for actuating one of said loopcatchers while the other remains inactive, and mechanism for throwing out the active and bringing into action the inactive loopcatcher.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a movable toothed comb for holding said loops, and two loop-catchers, means for operating the needle, means for actuating either one of said loop-catchers, means for moving said comb, and means for reversing the movement of the comb withoutthrowing out of action the active loop-catcher.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-formin g mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb for holding the loops, and a loop-catcher for placing the loops on said comb-teeth, means for operating said needle, a lever fulcrumed on a fixed pivot and on which said loop-catcher is pivoted, means mounted independently of said lever for moving the same on its pivot, and a device for engaging said loop-catcher for turning it on its pivot,-substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination .of a loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb for holding the loops, and a loop-catcher for placing the loops on the comb-teeth, means for operating said needle, a lever fulcrumed on a fixed pivot and on which said loop-catcher is pivoted, means mounted independently of said lever for moving the same on its pivot, a stop on the machine, andan arm or projection on said loopcatcher adapted to engage said stop whereby the loop-catcher is turned on its pivot, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-formin g mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb for holdin g said loops, and two similar loop-catchers for placing said loops on the comb-teeth, operating means for the needle, a lever on which said loop-catchers are pivoted, means for moving said lever on its fulcrum to bring one of said loop-catchers into active position, means for changing the position of said lever to bring the other loopcatcher into active position on the movement of the lever, and devices, adapted to engage the active loop-catcher and turn it on its pivot.

9. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb for holding said loops, and a loop-catcher for placing the loops on said comb-teeth, a lever on which said loop-catcher is pivoted, operating means for the needle, a reciprocating bar operated from the driveshaft of the machine provided with an inclined face adapted to engage a portion of said lever to move it on its fulcrum, and a device adapted to strike said loop-catcher and turn it on its pivot.

10. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb for holding the loops, and two loop-catchers for placing the loops on the comb, a lever carryingsaid loop-catchers and fulcrumed to a fixed part of the machine, operating means for the needle, a reciprocating bar, operating means therefor, a device movably secured to said bar having oppositely-inclined faces one of which faces in one position of the device is adapted to engage the loopcatcher-carryin g lever and the other of which faces is adapted to engage said lever in another position of said device.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a movable toothed comb for holding the loops, a rack carried by the comb, a lever pivoted to the machine-frame, a pawl carried by said lever, a reciprocating bar, means for operating the same, and a device carried by said bar and adapted by the movement thereof to engage said lever and move the same to carry the pawl into engagement with the rack to move the latter.

12. .In a knitting-machine, the combination with a movable toothed comb for holding the loops, a rack carried by said comb, a bent lever fulcrumed to the machine-frame, a double-ended pawl pivoted intermediate its ends to one arm of said lever, a reciprocating bar,

a device movably secured to said bar having two oppositely-inclined surfaces one of which in one position of the device engages the other arm of said bent lever and the otherof which inclined surfaces in another position of the device engages the said bent lever-arm, for the purpose described, and means for shifting said device on the bar.

18. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a movable toothed comb, a rack carried thereby, a double pawl for moving said rack and comb in opposite directions, a bent lever to which said pawl is pivoted, a reciprocating bar, means for reciprocating the same, a device pivoted to said bar havingan arm on each side extending laterally beyond the bar and a pointed end adapted to engage said bent lever, a rock-shaft below said reciprocating bar, a substantially U-shaped piece secured to said rock-shaft and straddling said bar, and means for rocking said shaft to bring either of said arms of said U-shaped piece in the path of one arm of said device carried by the reciprocating bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a toothed comb, and two similar loopcatchers, means for operating the needle, a lever on which said loop-catchers are pivoted, means for turning said loop-catchers on their pivots, a reciprocating bar, a device pivoted to said bar having on each side an arm eX- tending beyond the side of the said bar and a pointed end adapted to engage said lever, a rock-shaft below said reciprocating bar, a fork secured to said shaft straddling said bar, and means for rocking said shaft to bring either arm of said fork into the path of one arm of said device carried by the reciprocatingbar,substantially for the purpose set forth.

15. In a knitting-machine, the combination of loop-forming mechanism comprising a needle, a movable toothed comb, and two loopcatchers, means for operating the needle, a

, lever carrying the loop-catcher, a rack carried by said comb, a double pawl for moving said rack and comb, a lever carrying said pawl, two reciprocating bars one above the other, means for reciprocating the same, similar devices one pivoted on each of said bars provided each with arms projecting to the sides of said bars, a rock-shaft adjacentsaid bars, a fork secured to said rock-shaft straddling said bars each arm carrying a projection or pin, and means for rocking said shaft to bring one of said fork-arms and projections in the path of one arm of each of said devices, substantially for the purpose set forth.

16. In aknitting-machine, the combination with a movable comb, and mechanism for operating the same, including a reciprocating bar, of mechanism for reversing the movement of the comb comprising a rock-shaft, means operated by said rock-shaft for changing the position of parts of the comb-operating mechanism, an arm secured to the rockshaft, a lever fulcrumed to the machine-frame provided with a projection engaging said arm, a second lever having a loose connection with said firstmentioned lever, a handpiece for initially moving said second lever, a projection carried by said reciprocatingbar having an inclined surface adapted to move said second lever.

17. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle, means foroperating the same, a movable toothed comb, mechanism for moving the comb in either of two directions, two loop-catchers, and mechanism for actuating one of said loop-catchers during the movement of the comb in one direction and the other loop-catcher in the movement of the comb in the other direction, of a regulator comprising a rotary disk, means for rotating the same, one or more stops adjustably secured to said disk, a shaft rotatively mounted in the machine, a star-wheel thereon adapted to be engaged by said stop or stops to rotate said sh aft,a rock-shaft,an arm thereon in proximity to said rotary shaft, a starwheel on the latter adapted to engage saidarm and rock said rock-shaft, means actuated by the rockshaft for reversing the movement of the comb and throwing into action the inactive loopcatcher.

18. In a knitting-machine, the combination with loop-forming mechanism, of a toothed comb, a loop-catcher for placing the loops on the comb, a loop-lifter yieldingly supported in proximity to said comb-teeth and movable independently of the needle, a reciprocating member provided with an inclined plane for moving said loop-lifter, and mechanism for driving the several parts.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FERDINANDO ROSATI. [n 8.] CORRADINO PETRINI. [L 8.] RUGGIERO IETRINI. [L. s}

Witnesses for Ferdinando Rosati and Corradino Petrini: OTTILIO Mozzntrri, ENEA SEMENZA. Witnesses for Ruggiero Petrini:

LUIGI TORTORETO, FRANCESCO MARTELLI.