US649021A - Knitting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

, No. 649,02I. Patented May 8, |900. C. J. A. WARDWELL.

KNITTING MCHINE.

. (Appliazion mad nu.. v, 189s.) (Ilo-Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet -I.

his* .AV/army' mi Hemus Pneus no.. moro-Lma., wAsHmmoN, n4 c.

Patented May 8, i900.

No. 649,02l.

C. J. A. WARDWELL. KNITTING MAGHINE. (Application led. Mar. 7, 1898.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 049,021. Patented may s, |000. c. .1. A. wARDwELL. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application ledar. 7, 1898.) Y (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

1H: Nonms PETERS co. Fuero-mwa. WASHINGTQN. n. c

No. 649,02I. Patented May 8, |900. C. J. A. WAHDWELL.

KNITTI'NG mAcHmE.

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No. 649,02l.

' -Patented May 8, i900.. C. J. A. WARDWELL.

' KNITTING MACHINE.

(App1ica.tion ed Mar. 7, 189B.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet 5 (No Modal.)

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lrZeJ J. Waldweg No. 649,02l.

. Patented May 8, |900. C vJ. A. WARDWELL.

KNITTING MCHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1898.) (N o M o d el.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet 6 TH: No'nms PETERS co. woamlno.. wAsHlNa'roN. u. c,

No. 649,02l. v Patented-May 8, i900.

l C. J. A. WARDWELL.

K'NITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed-Mar. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.) v I3 sheets-sheet a.

me Nomus Pneus oo.. PHQTOLITHO., wAsNlNuroN, DA c.

No. 649,021. Patented may 8,1900.

c. .1. A. wAnwELL. l

KNITTING MACHINE.

(App1ication led Mar. 7, 189B.)

(No Model.)

No. 649,02l. Patented May i8, |900. C. J. A. WARDWELL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

I3 Sheets-Shee I0.

(Application filed' Mar.' 7, 189B.) (No Model.)

71:5' Harney No. 649,021. Patented May 8, |900.

c. .L A. wARDwELL.

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(No Model.)

ma' rnnms PETERS co. PNoroLlmov. wAs

No. 649,02I. Patented May 8,1900. C. '.I. A. .WARDWELL KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med Mar. 7, 1898.) (No Model.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet l2.

No. 649,021. Patented May', |900.

c. J. A. wAnnwELL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiledV Mar. 7, 1898.)

(no Model.) I3 sheets-sheet la;

alf/n lll/1| CHARLES J. A. WARDVELL, OF LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO NITE STATESj .PATnN GEORGE H. TILTON, OF SAME PLAGE, THOMAS S. FULLER, OF GILFORD, AND THE ASHLAND KNITTING COMPANY, OF ASHLAND, NEW HAMP- SHIRE.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,021, dated May 8, 1900i Application filed March 7, 1898.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. A. WARD- WELL, of Laconia, inthe county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Seamless-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention consists in certain improvements in a circular independentlatchneedle knitting-machine which is capacitated to knit automatically a string of indefinite length f completelyknit stockings, each stocking having a seamless heel, a seamless toe, a foot, and a leg. The string of stockings after beingl knit is cut apart into individual stockings, the cut being between the toe of one stocking and the top of the leg of the adjacent stocking, thus requiring the toe to be subsequently seamed across its top to complete the stocking. The foot and leg of each stocking are knit in circular courses, the appropriate parts of the machine then rotating continuously in one direction, whereas the heel and toe are knit while the appropriate parts of the machine are reciprocating. Then the heel is to be knit, somewhat 'less than one-half of the needles are thrown out of action, the loops being retained thereon, and the heel is knit by the usual narrowing and widening operations, one or more needles on each side of the heel-forming needles being first thrown out of action at each reciprocation, and then after the narrowing has thus proceeded sufficiently the needles are again brought into action in the same manner until all are restored. The toe is knit in the same Way as the heel except that fewer needles are employed, so. that the toe is smaller than the heel. During the reciprocating movement the machine is run at less speed than during the continuous circular movement. The toe and heel are knit more loosely than the foot and ankle and less loosely than the leg, thus conforming the shape of the stocking to its requirements, this being done by lengthening and shorten-l ing the stitches. The toe and heel are knit with two yarns,'whereas the foot and leg are knit with a single yarn and preferably with* Serial No. 672,857. (No model.)

a yarn separate and distinct from the two yarns for the heel and toe.

All of the foregoing results which are accomplished by a machine embodying the present improvements have heretofore been accomplished by automatic Wholestocking knitting-machines; and the present invention consists in improved mechanism for achieving these results, the purpose of the improvements being to produce a rapid, efficient, economical, and serviceable machine which is capable of turning out uniformlygood products, thus requiring the minimum care and attention, so that a single attendant can run a large number of machines.

The present improvements, besides including the general construction and organization of the machine and some special features of construction to be hereinafter more specifically mentioned, relate, first, to the mechanism for imparting alternately-reciprocating and continuously-rotating movements to the appropriate parts of the machine and for shifting automatically and at the proper times from one movement to the other; second, to the mechanism for imparting a slow speed during reciprocation and a rapid speed during continuous rotation and for changing automatically and at the proper times from one speed to the other; third, to the mechanism for automatically throwing into and out of action the appropriate needles in forming the heel and toe; fourth, to the mechanism for automatically stopping the machine after any given or predetermined cycle of movements; fifth, to the mechanism for automatically lengthening and shortening the stitches at the proper times; sixth, to the mechanism for automatically changing the yarns at the proper times; seventh, the mechanism for automatically taking u p the slackyarn during reciprocation and for automatically slackening the yarn while changing yarns; eighth, to the mechanism for automatically relieving the tension on the heel and toe yarns when changing yarns, and, ninth, to the mechanism for shifting the sinkers to enable stitches to be placed on or taken olf from the needles.

For the purpose of illustrating one concrete nplane surface.

embodiment of the present improvements they are shown in the accompanying drawings as embodied in a machine of the wellknown type wherein the needle-cylinder is stationary and the knitting-cams rotate, and the illustrated machine is so organized as to knit the toc, foot, heel, and leg in the order named.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is afront view of the upper part of the machine, none of the parts above the plane of the yarnchanger being shown. Fig. 1 is a front view of the lower part of the machine, a portion at one side being broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the upper part of the machine, none of the parts above the plane of the yarnchanger being shown. Fig. 3 is a right side view of the upper part of the machine, looking at the same from the side which is at the right when facing the machine, and hence looking at the side which is shown at the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3n is a vertical section of the` lower part of the machine, looking at the parts shown from the right. Fig. 4 is a left side view of the upper part of the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine, the parts above the plane of the yarn-changer being removed. Fig. G is a vertical section through the needle cylinder, knitting cam ring, and bed-plate. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of a part of the drive-pulleys. Fig. 8 is adetail view of apart of the yarn-changeroperating mechanism. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one side of the needlecylinder and knitting-cam ring. Fig. 1() illustratesa development ofthe knitting-cams on a Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the section of the cam-ring which carries the widening-cams. Fig. 12 shows details .of of the widening cams. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the ring which controls the movement of the parts which move the needles into and out of action. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the said needlecontrolling ring. Fig. Y 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the patternactuating devices. Fig. 16 is a vertical cross- Section of the time-shaft, showing the initial portion of the pattern-actuating mechanism. Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-section through the main and time shafts, illustrating a portion of the mechanism timing the action of the needle-governin g devices. Fig. 1S is a partial development on a plane surface of the periphery of the needle-cylinder, illustrating the different kinds of needles employed. Fig. 19 is a detail View of a portion of the take-up.

Figs. 2O and 21 are detail views of the tension mechanism.

. stitches and for governing the operation of the tension devices. Fig. is a detail View of a portion of the needle-shifting mechanism for controlling the action oit' the needles. Fig. 2G is a detail view of that portion of the cam ring where is located the narrowing mechanism and of the parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 27 is a plan View of a portion of the yarnchanger-operating mechanism. Fig. 28 is a vertical longitudinal section of the yarnchanger. Fig. 29 is a detail View of the yarnscparator and the actuator for the yarn gripper and cutter. Figs. 30 and 31 are detail views showing different positions of the yarn-cutter. Fig. 32 illustrates in detail the several parts of Ithe yarn-twister. Figs. 33 and 34 illustrate details of the yarn-gripper. Figs. and 36 illustrate details of the links of the pattern-chain. Fig. 37 is a cross-section of the reciprocating pitman, showing the means for rendering the time mechanism inoperative. Fig. 3S is a cross-section of the main shaft, showing a part of the reciprocating pitman. Fig. 39 is a plan View', and Fig. 40 a side View, of the clutch-carriage. Fig. 41 is a sectional View of the reciprocating pinion. Figs. 42 and 43 are detail views of the sliding clutch. Figs. 44. and 45 are detail views of the needle-controller. Fig. 46 is a detail View of the narrower. Fig. 47 isa detail View of the latch for the belt-shipper. Figs. 4S and 49 are detail views of the needlelifter-actuatin g mechanism. Fig. 50 is adetail View of the needle-deprcssor-actuating mechanism. Fig. 51 is a detail lsectional view through the main and time shafts, illustrating a portion of the yarn-slackener-operating mechanism. Figs. 52 and 53 are detail views of cams which operate the yarn-clamp. Figs. 54, 55, and 5G are detail views of parts of the yarn-clamp-operating devices. Figs. 57 and 58 are detail views of the sinker-rinfr. Fig. 59 is a detail view of a part of the yarnclamp-operating devices. Fig. 60 is a detail View of a part of the tension-operating mechanism. Figs. 9, 11, 32 to 37, inclusive, 41, 42, 43, 4G, 48, 49, 50, and 52 to U0, inclusive, are drawn to a scale double, and Figs. 44 and 45 to a scale four times, that of the remaining figures of the drawings.

K'fititfing yns-trumentalitcs.--Reierrin g first to Fig. 6, 10 is the non-rotary needle-cylinder, which is mounted upon the bed-plate A of the machine by means of intervening instrumentalities, which will be hereinafter more fully described when considering the means for tightening and loosening the stitches. The bed-plate Ais mounted upon a suitable frame 1l., which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 1, 3, 3, and elsewhere.

The needles are reciprocating latch-needles and are guided in needle-grooves in the needle-cylinder in the usual manner and are maintained in place in the needle-cylinder by the commonly-employed circumferential coiled-spring band 12. The needles are of three kinds, as shown in Fig. 1S. The short needles a occupy one-half the periphery of the needle-cylinder and are those which are employed in knitting both the heel and the toe. The long needles a', having heels 13, occupy nearly one-half the periphery of the needlecylinder and are those which are always IOO IIO

thrown out of action when knitting both heel and toe. The long needles a2, having no heels, occupy the remainder of the needle-cylinder and are thrown out of action when the toe is to be knit, but are used in knitting the heel, so that the heel is knit larger than the toe. These needles a2 are located on opposite sides of the needle-cylinder between the needles c and d and are of such number as may be desired, depending upon the desired difference in size between the heel and toe. Six, three on each side, is a suitable number of the needles a2. All of the needles are used in knit-l ting the foot and leg. Since the need-les ct are employed in knitting the toe, they may be conveniently called the toe-needles. Sin ce the needles a knit the instep portion of the foot, they may be conveniently called the instep-needles,7 and since the needles d2 are used in knitting the heel, but not the toe, they may be conveniently called the heel-needles, and these designating terms will be hereinafter employed. All of the needles have the usual knitting-nibs 14 cooperating with the knitting-cams and have swells 15, which cooperate with the spring-band to hold the needles elevated, which is of utility when the instep and heel needles are moved upwardly into their inactive or idle position.

B is the rotating cam-ring, (see Fig. 6,) which surrounds the needle-cylinder and rests and turns on a bearing 16, constituting part of a top plate 17, which is secured to and partly overlies the bed-plate A. The cam-ring has,

as usual, a beveled gear 1S,which meshes with a beveled driving-gear 19 on the shaft C, Figs.

1 and 17, which will hereinafter be called the main shaft. The cam-ring is equipped with the usual knitting-cams 20 20 and 21 21 and switch-cams 22 22, (see Fig. 10,) the knitting-cams being duplicated and the switch-cams being provided to permit knitting during reciprocation, as is usual. The cam-ring is likewise equipped with devices to effect narrowing and widening and to throw the instep and heel needles into and out of action, which will be hereinafter specifically described.

The machine is equipped with web holders or sinkers 23, (see Figs. 6 and 57,) which cooperate with the needles and needle-cylinder verge in the usual manner to feed along the completed fabric and apply tension to the loops on the needles. These sinkers are carried by a sinker comb-ring 24, mounted in the needle-cylinder, and are operated in the usual manner by a sinker cam-ring 25, which is operatively connected with the cam-ring 3, so as to partake of the movements thereof. To this end the cam-ring carries a vertical bracket 26, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, which is straddled by two radial projections on the sinker cani-rin g, each of which carries an adjustable screw-tappet 27, against one of which the bracket 26 comes in contact, (depending upon in which direction the cam-ring B is traveling,) thereby carrying the sinker camring with it in the same direction. The two tappets 27 ,with a space between them greater than the width of the bracket 26,areprovided, so as to time the operation of the sinkers properly with reference to the action of the knitting-cams, whichever way the cam-ring B turns, and the screw adjustment of the tappets compensates for wear and enables the timing to be regulated to a nicety.

The yarn is conducted to the needles by a leading-in yarn-guide 28, pivotally connected with the bracket 26, secured to the cam-ring B, (see Figs. 4 and 26,) so as to partake of the movements thereof. The yarns are supplied from three bobbins, one for the leg and foot and the others for the toe and heel, which are carried by three bobbin-plates 29, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3f, 4, 5, and 27,) which are supported by a yarn-stand 30, secured L-to the bedplate A. The several yarns are conducted from their respective bobbins to the leadingin yarn-guide 28 by suitable instrumentalities, which will be specifically set forth when describing the yarn-changer, yarn-slackener, and yarn-tension.

The mode of operation of the parts thus far described in knitting a fabric is similar to that common to circularlatch-needle knittingmachines.

Driving mechanism-'Phe main shaft C, which drives the cam-ring B through the bevel-gears 19 1S, is adapted to be driven continuously in one direction when the foot and leg are to be knit and to be oscillated or rocked when the toe and heel are to be knit. The change from one movement to the other is effected automatically by pattern mechanism.

At the lower part of the machine, Figs. 1 and 3, is a drive-shaft D, which is actuated continuously in one direction by devices which will be described when considering the speed-changing mechanism. This shaft carries a large sprocket-wheel 31, which constantly drives at a greater speed a smaller sprocket-wheel 32, loose on the main shaft C, by sprocket-chain 33. A sliding clutch 34, splined to the main shaft C, Figs. 1, 5, 42, and 43, cooperates with the hub of sprocketwheel 32, and when clutched therewith the main shaft and with it the cam-ring B are rotated continuously in one direction.

The drive-shaft D has a crank 35, Figs. 1 and 3, to which is pivoted a pitman E, having a rack 36 at its upper end, which meshes with a pinion 37, Figs. 3 and 5, loose on the main shaft C. The rack 36 is maintained constantly in mesh with the pinion 37 by means of a guide 3S, which is hung loosely in the main shaft C, Figs. 1, 3, and 38, so as to compensate for the swing of the lower end of the rack-pitman E. The clutch 34 also coperates with the pinion 37, so that when the clutch is engaged therewith the main shaft C and with it the cam-ring B are reciprocated. The clutch 34 is arranged to reciprocate on the main shaft C between the` pinionV 37 and IOO IIO

the sprocket-wheel 32, so that the cam-ring B may be alternately reciprocated and rotated in accordance with the requirements of the knitting, and when it occupies the intermediate position it is out of engagement with both pinion 37 and sprocket-wheel 32, so that knitting then ceases. When the clutch thus occupies its intermediate idle position, the cam-ring B may be operated by hand, the main shaft being equipped with a hand-crank 39, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, for this purpose.

Pattern mechanism. The clutch is automatically moved between the pinion 37 and sprocket-wheel 32 at the appropriate times by means of a pattern mechanism, which also governs all the other movements of the machine. Parallel with, behind, and slightly below the main shaft` C is a time-shaft 40, earrying near one end a sprocket-wheel 41, loose thereon, around which passes a pattern-chain 42. The pattern-chain also passes around a supporting sprocket-wheel 43, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, journ aled on a stud 44, carried by the frame 11. The greater portion of the links of the pattern-chain carry projecting wings 45, Figs. 35 and 36, which aii'ord a substantially-continuous elevated path or pattern-track, Figs.

i 3 and 3, except where it is interrupted by the omission of the wings from certain of the links at appropriate intervals, as shown in Figs. 35 and 36, the occurrence of these intervals or interru )tions determining a variai chine, and one of which, 49, is attached at its tance at each revolution of the drive-shaft D.

In order to properly adjust the length of the working stroke of the pawl-lever so as to move the pattern-chain the proper distance at each step, the inner arm 52, Fig. 1G, of the pawl-lever F is a stift spring secured to the pawl-lever and adjustable by a screw 53.

The length of the inward or return stroke of the pawl-lever F is limited by a stop 54, carried by a suitable fixed part of the machine," such as the bracket 55, Figs. 2, 3, 5, and

15, which is encountered by a detent 5G on the pawl-lever when pulled inward by the springs 49 50. The pawl-lever hence has a definite length of stroke, thus advancing the pattern-chain by uniform steps.

It is sometimes desirable to throw the pattern mechanism wholly out of action as, for example, when it may be desired to knit a circular web of indefinite length-and this object is effected very simply by making the tappct 51 on rack-pitman E movable, so that it may be maintained in a position where it will not encounter the arm 52 of the pawl-lever F. The tappet 5l is a pin sliding in the pitman E and a bracket 57, attached thereto, Figs. 1 and 37, and a spring 58 tends to hold the tappet in and restores it to its idle position. A hand-controlled latch 59 locks the tappet in its active position when moved thereto by hand. By manipulating the latch to release the tappet the latter is thrown to its idle position by the spring 58.

The pattern-chain controls the movements of the machine by raising and lowering a rider 1, Figs. 3 and 15, which normally rides upon the pattern-track formed by the link-wings 45, and is thereby held elevated, and which drops down'by gravity when an interval or interruption in the pattern-track arrives beneath it, this downward drop being its e'liective movement. This rider 1 is carried by a lever GO, pivoted to the bracket 55, so that the rider is capable of rising and falling. When the rider drops down, there is brought into action mechanism for rotating the timeshaft step by step. This mechanism includes as its primary instrumentality a ratchet-wheel G, which is adjacent to the ratchet 46 and fast to the time-shaft 40. The ratchet-Wheel G, and withitthe time-shaft, remains stationary for the greater part of the time, but is brought into action by the drop of the rider 1, which releases the normally-idle pawl 61 of the ratchet G. This pawl G1 is pivoted at the outer end of the pawl-lever F on the side thereof opposite to where the pawl 48 is located, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The spring 50, heretofore mentioned, is connected to the outer end or tail of pawl (il and tends to force the free inner acting end of the pawl into operation with the ratchet G; Normally, however, the acting end of the pawl G1 is held uplifted out-of contact with the ratchet G by means of a pin G2 thereon, Fig. 15, which rests on a horizontally-projecting iiange b on the rider-lever 60, so that although the pawl constantly reciprocates with the pawl-lever F it has no eiect upon the ratchet G and timeshaft. When, however, the rider and its lever ICO IIO

drop down, the actingend of the pawl 61 de- .j

soends into its active position and then actuates the time-shaft ratchet G step by step in consonance with the pattern-chain ratchet 4G. Owing to this arrangement, which brings the time-shaft into operation only when needed, the time-shaft is arranged so as to make but a single revolution for the completion of one stocking, and at the same time it becomes possible, as will be shown, to provide for the movement of the time-shaft through a large arc when needed, so as to render its effective movements easy and smooth. The iirst effect after the dropping of the rider and the bringing of the pawl 61 into action is to move the ratchet G a few steps in consonance with the ratchet 46 until a change in the knitting is to be made. This change (or changes) is effected by cams, as will presently appear, and to render the cam rise gradual and its action smooth and easy the ratchet G is moved through a large arc, which in the illustrated machine is seven times the length of the are through which it moves in taking its usual step. This long step is taken by giving a long throw to the pawl-lever F. When such a long throw is to be given, a cam 63 on the side of the ratchet G, Figs. 2 and 16, encounters a depending tongue 64 near the outer end of the stop 54, (which is made resilient or as a spring for this purpose,) thereby lifting said stop out of the path of the detent 56 of the pawl-lever F, so that the springs 49 50 thereupon pull the pawl-lever inwardly a greater distance than usual and until an outwardly-projecting abutment 65 on the end of the pawl-lever encounters the stop 54. Then when the tappet 51 again encounters the inner arm 52 it gives the pawl-lever F its long` stroke, (in the construction shown seven times the usual stroke,) thus moving the ratchet.

G and time-shaft through a large arc. This long stroke frees the cam 63 from the tongue 64, thereby permitting the stop 54 to resume its norm al position, so that but one long stroke is made at a time. It is not expedient or desirable, however, to move the pattern-chain ratchet46 more than its usual step, and hence its actuating-pawl 48, although partaking of the long stroke, is arranged so as to then feed the ratchet 46 only its usual step. To this end the free inner end of the pawl 48 has a beveled projecting stud 66, Figs. 3 and 15, on one side, in the path of which when the long stroke is taken is an inclined lifter 67 on the bracket 55, which is sufficiently far away as to have no effect when the pawl 48 takes its usual stroke. When, however, the long stroke is taken, the stud 66 rides up the lifter 67 out of the way, and consequently on the working or outer stroke operates upon the ratchet 46 only sufficiently to move it the usual step. In Fig. 16 only one cam 63 is shown on the ratchet G. There are, however, as indicated in Fig. 2, a plurality of such cams, there being a sufiicient number and properly spaced to give the desired number of long strokes at the proper times. 4

Direction-changing mechum'sm.-The automatic change between continuous rotation and reciprocation is effected by moving the clutch 34, and the principal instrumentalities for this purpose are acam-Wheel H, loose on the pattern-shaft, a laterally-sliding shifting carriage I, mounted on the framework, and a shifting-fork J carried by the carriage and connecting with the clutch.

The carriage I is a slide, Figs. 2, 39, and 40, having slots 68, embracing screw-studs 69 on the frame l1, which constitute the ways for the carriage. At its inner end the carriage has a depending operating-arm 70, having a bowl 71 at its lower end close to the periphery of the cam-wheel H. The cam-wheel has on its periphery two pairs of cams 72 and 73, the cams 72 actingy upon the bowl 71 to shift the carriage I to the right, Fig. 2, to bring the reciprocating mechanism into action, while the cams 73 act in the opposite direction to bring the continuously-operating mechanism into action. The cam-wheel H is rotated from the pattern-shaft ratchet G by means of two laterally-projecting studs 7 4,mounted on said parts,respectively. The wheel H and ratchet G might, however, be fast with each other.

The shifting-fork J is pivoted at c, Figs. 39 and 40, at its rear end to the carriage I, and its front forked end embraces a peripheral groove d in the clutch 34, Figs. 1, 5, and 42. Stiff fiat springs 76 and 77, secured at the rear to the carriage I, bear at their forward ends upon opposite sides of the fork J, and consequently the fork and clutch partake of the lateral movements of the carriage, and

hence the wheel 32 and pinion 37 (controlling the rotary and reciprocating movements, 1espectively) are alternately brought automatically into action at the proper times, as determined by the pattern-chain. The purpose Vof the springs 76 and 77 and of pivoting the fork J is to insure the proper action of the clutchin case,when the shift occurs,the proper clutch-face of the clutch is not exactly coincident with the corresponding clutch-face on the wl1eel32 or pinion 37. For example, in case the position of the pinion 37 should be such that when the shift of ther clutch takes place the clutch projection 78 on the clutch should encounter the clutch projection 79 on the pinion the carriage I would still be moved positively its entire distance by the positive action of one of the cams 72, and the result would be to swing the fork J against the spring 7 7 thereby increasing its tension, the other spring 76 being then prevented from acting upon the fork, because it is carried out of contact therewith by the -stop-arm 75, forming part of the carriage. Then as soon as the pinion 37 turns sufficiently far to bring its clutch-recess into coincidence with the clutch projection 78 on the clutch the spring 76 snaps the clutch into place.' Similarly the other spring 77 acts to insure the engagement of the clutch with the wheel 32.

For the proper timing of the mechanism to insure a perfect product by avoiding` the skipping of the needles by the yarn the clutch should engage the pinion 37 only when the pinionNis oscillating in the right direction, and hence the respective members are properly constructed to insure this correct engage- IOO IIO

ment. The opposing clutch projection 7 8 on the clutch has a sliding tongue 80, Figs. 42 and 43, which is normally projected by a spring Sl, thus making the clutch projection 78 normally larger than the corresponding recess on the pinion 37 and rendering the clutch projection contractible. Consequently when the pinion is oscillating in the wrong direction the projection 7S will not enter the pinion-recess, being too large. lVhen, however, the pinion is oscillating in the proper direction, the then leading end 82 of its clutch projection 79 (which extends laterally outward farther than its tail end) encounters the tongue SO of the contracti-.

ble clutch projection, thereby pushing it in against its spring, thus contracting the projection 7S sufficiently to enable it to fit within the pinion-recess.

,S'peetZ-chcmgiug mechanism.-It has already been stated that owing to the relative sizes of the sprocket-wheels 3l and 32 the speed of the cam-ring is greater during rotation than during reciprocation. It is desirable, however, to still further reduce the speed during reciprocation, to effect the slowing down before reciprocation begins, and to afterward start rotation before speeding up, so that the operation of the clutch St in both directions shall occur during the slow movement, thereby avoiding shock to the machine.

Referring to Figs. l, 5, and 7, it will be seen that the drive-shaftD has a xed clutch member S3 fast thereto and carries a loose sleeve S4, having a clutch-face 85, adapted to the clutch member S3. The purpose of this clutch arrangement is to provide for the automatic stopping of the machine, as hereinafter set forth. Ordinarily, however, the said parts 83 St are clutched together and are now to be so considered. The sleeve Sl carries an intermediate pulley S6, fast thereto, and two loose pulleys S7 8S on opposite sides thereof. With these pulleys cooperate two constantlyrunning belts, Fig. 5, one of which runs faster than the other, as by passing around a larger pulley on the usual overhead power-shaft. Both belts run in turn over the driving-pulley SG, and the fast belt coperates with the inner idler SS, while the slow belt cooperates with the outer idler S7. The action of these belts is immediately controlled by a beltshipper S9, which is centrally pivoted, Fig. 1, at 90 to a suitable part of the frame 11. The lower end of the belt-shipper has two forks 91 92, the former for the fast belt and the latter for the slow belt. In one position of the shipper the slow belt runs on the drivingpulley S6, and in its other position the 'fast belt runs thereon. The movement of the shipper from one position to the other is automaticall y controlled at the proper moments by cams 93 94 on a cam-drum K, which is fast to the time-shaft 40, a bowl 95 at the u pper end of the shipper being in the paths of the said cams. The cams 93 move the shipper in its proper direction to slow down the machine, and the cams 94 move the shipper in the opposite direction to speed it up.

The movement of the cams 93 94- (since their drum K is fast to the time-shaft 40) is controlled by the ratchet G, which in turn is governed, as already set forth, by the patternchain.

Vhen a change is to be made from fast to slow preparatory to knitting a heel or a toe, the pattern-chain brings the ratchet G into action, which then proceeds several steps in consonance with the pattern -chain ratchet a6, and during this time one of the cams 93 is brought into action and shifts the drivingbelts so as to bring 'the slowly-running belt into action. The length of the cams 93 (and also of the cams 9a) is such as to require several steps of the ratchet G to effect the throw of the belts, thus rendering the transition from fast to slow gradual and without shock to the machine and at the same time enabling the incline of the cam to be made gradual and easy. As soon as the speed of the machine is thus slowed down the long stroke of the pawl Gl. occurs, thus shifting the clutch Stand changing from rotation to reciprocation, the movement of the clutch thus taking place when the machine is running slowly. The pattern-chain then throws the pawl 6l out of action, so that the time-shaft stands still. As soon as theheel or toe, as the case may be, is nearing completion the patternchain again brings the pawl Gl into action and a long stroke is made, thereby changing back from reciprocation to rotation while the machine is still running slowly. This movement also preferably brings one of the cams 94 into operative position, so that a few short steps of the pawl Gl shifts the shipper and brings the fast-running belt into play, thus driving the machine rapidly during continuous rotation. The pattern-chain then moves the pawl 6l out of action, so that the timeshaft remains stationary while knitting circular courses. Owing to this arrangement both movements of the clutch 34E take place while the machine is running slowly.

fl'w'ow/ng the nsiep-izeedle-s out of action- The change from rotation to reciprocation occurs when a too or a heel is to be knit, and when the toe or hcel is completed the reverse change from reciprocation to rotation occurs. Now during the knitting of the heel or toe and during reciprocation only a portion of the needles are in action, and the idle needles are thrown out of action when the change from rotation to reciprocation occurs, and they are again brought into action when the toe or heel is completed and when the change from reciprocation to rotation occurs. The only difference in the knitting of the heel and toe is that when the heel is knit only the instepneedles a are thrown out of action, whereas when the toe is knit the heel-needles a2 arc also thrown out of action.

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The governance of the instep-needles c will be first taken up and then that of the heelneedles c2.

The instep-needles u.' are thrown out of action by being elevated so far as to raise their knitting-nibs 14 above the path of the knitting-cams, and this elevation of the needles is immediately effected by a needle-lifter 96, Figs. 9, 10, and 49, which is mounted on and carried by the knitting cam-ring B. This lifter is normally Wholly outside of the plane of the needles, so that it is normally idle. Vhen, however, the inst-ep-needles are to be elevated out of action, the lifter 96 is pushed radially inward at the proper moment. This inward push occurs when the needle-lifter is opposite a portion of the short toe-needles a, which are wholly above the highest partof the lifter. -When thus pushed in, the heels 13 of the instep-needles a are in the path of 'the elevating-incline constituting the upper edge of the lifter, and consequently when the lifter reaches the instep-needles it lifts them all up to their inactive position. As soon as this is accomplished the lifter retires into its idle position.

In order to avoid making the elevating-incline of the needle-lifter so high as to interfere with the regular knitting action `of the needles, as would be the case if in the construction shown the entire lift should be accomplished thereby, a supplementary lifter 961 is employed, whichA is fixed to the camring B, Fig. 10. The needle-lifter lifts the instep-needles high enough to `bring their usual knitting-nibs 14 into the path of the supplementary lifter 961, which thereupon completes the lifting action.

It Will be observed, Fig. 10, that a guardcam 14S is extended over the leading points of the needle-lifter 90 and auxiliarylifter 961, so as to prevent theirstri ke throwing the needies up too far. l

The needle-lifter has a stem 97, which eX- tends outwardly through a block fixed to the cam-ring B, and a spring 98, surrounding stem 97, holds and pushes the lifter outwardly. The needle-lifter is pushed inwardly to its acting position by needle-lifter-operating cam 99, Figs. Sand 5, which is mounted to slide radially in a slot in the stationary top plate 17. This cam 99 normally occupies its outward position where it is out of the path of the needle-lifter stem 97, and it is pushed inward at the appropriate time by the action of the pattern mechanism, so as to be within the pathof said stem 97, whereby thel needlelifter is pushed inwardly, and thus acts to elevate the instep-needles.

Beneath the top plate and turning in an stud 100 normally stands in a concentric portion 101 of the cam-path; but when the needle-controller is oscillated in the direction of the arrow 102 the cam-rise 103 encounters the stud 100, which is moved radially inward, thereby bringing the needle-lifter-operating cam 99 into the path of the stem 9G of the needle-lifter.

The oscillation of the needle-controller L is governed by the ti nie-shaft. The needle-controlleris capable of oscillation through strokes or arcs of different lengths for purposes which will hereinafter appear, one of which strokes in the direction of the1 arrow 102 (which direction is that of the forward strokes) is that which controls the movement of the needle-lifter to lift the instep-needles.

The needle-controller L is connected by a pin 104, Fig. G, with a slide M, Figs. (i and 25, which is mounted beneath the bed-plate A to slide back and forth, and thereby oscillate the needle-controller. The slide M is moved forward by a lever 105, pivoted to the frame 11 and connected at its upper end to the slide, and is moved backward by the spring 106, which spring maintains a bowl 107 at the lower end of the lever in contact with cams 10S, 1081, 109, and 110 on a ratchetwheel N, which is loose on the time-shaft 40. This ratchet-wheel N, which will be hereinafter termed the needleattern wheel or y ratchet, as shown in Figs. 2, 17, and 25, has ratchet-teeth 111, consisting of the heads of screws which are inserted at proper intervals in threaded holes 112 in the periphery thereof. Cooperating with this needle pattern ratchet is a pawl 113, Fig. 17, maintained in cooperative relation by a spring 114 and pivoted to a rocking arm 115, which swings on the hub of the ratchet N. The outer end of the arm 115 is held by the spring 114 in contact with an eccentric 11G on the main shaft C, so that the pawl 113 is constantly oscillated during the operation of the machine. Normally, however, the tooth of the pawl plays idly between grou ps'of the ratchet-teeth 111 without moving the ratchet N, and it is brought momentarily into action from time to time by the action of the pattern-chain.

The needle-pattern wheel N is rotated step by step from cam-wheel H (which, as already shown, moves in consonance with the patternshaft ratchet G) by means of pins d on the wheels N H, respectively, which arrangement enables the wheel N to be advanced by its actuating pawl 113 without affecting the wheel H, the wheel N being afterward unaffected by the advance of the wheel H until the pin d on H catches up with the pin d on N.

During the circular knitting of a stockingfoot the bowl 107 rests on the dwell 117, Fig. 25, on the wheel N, thereby maintaining the slide M and needle-controller L in a position of rest, with the stud in the dwell 101 of the controller L. Just before the patternshaft-ratchet pawl 61 makes its long stroke to produce the reciprocating movement for IOO IIO

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