US650376A - Knitting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 050,370. Patented May 20, |900. H. 00NNE0.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led July 10, 1899.)

(No Model.) I2 Sheets-Shelli 2.

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No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med July 10, 1899.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. (No Model.)

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No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Appxicmon med .my 1o, 189m- I2 Sheets-Sheet 5 (No Model.)

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No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER. KNIT-rma MAcHlNE.

(Applqation led July 10, 1899A I2 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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No. 650,376. Patented may 29, |900. H. norman.` KNITTING MACHENE.

(Application tiled Juiy 10, 1899.`)`

I2 Sheets-Sheet` 7.

(No Modal.)

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No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900.

H. DONNER. KNsTTlNG MACHINE.

(Application Bled July 10, 1899.) (No Model.)- l2 Sheets-Sheet 8.

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No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900.

Hf DONNER. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application mea .my 16, 189s.)

(No Model.) I2 Sheets-Sheet 9.

Patented May 29, |900.

H. DNNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Ju1y 10, 1899,)

I2 Sheets-Sheet Il) (No Model.)

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No. G50-,376. -Pam'nwl may 29, |900.

H. normen.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July-l0, 1899.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet Il.

(No Model.)

'U' ffy, 35g2 No. 650.376. Patented My 29, |900.

H. DONNER. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled July 10, 1899.)

(No Model.) A l2 sheets-sheet |2,

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UNITED STATE-s 'PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN DONNER, oF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

KNITTING MACHINEL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,376, 'dated May 29, 19002 Application tuta July 1o, 1899'.

To @ZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN DONNER, a subject of the King of Saxony, and a resident of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, have invented a new and Im- .proved Automatic Straight-Knitting Machine, (System, Lamb,) of which the following is a full and exact specification.

This invention is designed to admit by means of a new combination of mechanism in a Lamb straight-knitting machine for the entirely-automatic production of a sock or stocking, the characteristics of such stockings being their seamlessness and perfect shape obtained by combining therein the socalled Griswold heel (bag-like ware) with the regularly-narrowed toe andinstep in front of the heel and calf. l

My invention is calculated to admit of the entirely-automatic production of full-fashioned stockings in an uninterrupted sequence of different operations. The process of forming the so-called Griswold heel by rendering certain needles idle and active by lowering and raising their feet at predetermined intervals is known from United States VLetters. PatentNo.57,6etl,of 1896,to Bennor, and English Patent No. 13,126 of 1891 to Rowlett, and that of regularly narrowing and Widening by transferring meshes to adjacent needles with the aid of points is also known from United States Letters PatentNo. 391,011 to Beyer, transferred to me; but never before have these two methods for imparting a desired shape to knitted fabric been executed automatically and conjointly in one machine and in such a. manner that the mechanism employed for disengaging and engaging mesh-holding Working needles during the formation of the heel can be used in combination with the automatic narrowing apparatus for knitting a toe thoroughly narrowed down to the last mesh. In the case of widening by transferring stitches to empty needles the same mechanism serves to render such needles active one after the other, as required, by raising their feet out of the needle-bed into the path of the knitting-cams.

The present invention, briefly stated, comprehends, first, a construction of a new automatic straight-knitting machine (system, Lamb) combining the two methods of narrowserial No'. 723.402. cro modem ing and widening by rendering idle or active certain needles by plunging their feet and by transferring stitches to adjacent needles with the aid of points; secondly, means for allowing the fabric-as, for instance, in the case of a toeto be narrowed down to the last mesh, and, finally, it comprehends various minor features of construction whereby adinafter particularly described.

In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a plain seamless sock with ribbed top and the so-called Griswold i heel and regularlynarrowed toe. shows the same sock with ribbed leg and shaped instep. Fig. 3 shows a plain seamless sock, as per Fig. 1, but with shaped inless stocking with the so-called Griswold heel and regularly-narrowed toe and calf, the narrowings of the leg for forming the'calf being effected at both sides of the same. Fig. 5 shows a similar stocking with shaped leg and instep, the leg being ribbed, the narrowings of the leg in this case running down at the back in the center of the calf. Fig. 6 represents a fully-fashioned seamless stocking with the so-called Griswold heel and regularly-narrowed toe, instep, and leg, the narrowings of the leg running down at the back in the center of the calf. Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of the machine, showing four heads. Fig. 8 is a section on line A B, Fig. 7, some accessory parts being omitted for more clearly illustrating the most important parts of the machine. Fig. 9 is a left-hand end elevation of said machine on Fig. 7, yarnstand and weight-relieving device being not shown. Fig. 10 shows in a cross-section -on line C D of Fig. 7 the relation of patternchain to the eccentrics to x7. Fig. 10 is a view of one set of coacting ecceutrics c c2 c3, forming one such set, one of the disks being in section and partly cut oi. Fig. 11 is a plan view of an eccentric 1/4in conjunction with one of the cam-displacing bars o to o7. Fig. 11a is a cross-section thereof as on the line E F of Fig. 11. Fig. 12 is a side view of the eccentric @f7 at the commencement of its run, relieving the pulling-off weight during Fig. 2'

vantages are gained, all of which will be here- K step. Fig. 4 represents a full-fashioned seamformation of the heel. Fig. 121L is a section thereof as on the line G H of Fig. 12. Fig. 1 2b is a side view of said eccentric during its run. Fig. 12c is a section thereof as on the line I K of Fig. 12b. Fig. 13 is a plan View of the pattern-chain and intermediate mechanisms forreciprocatin g eccentrics 0c' to :07. Figs. 14 to 2O show in transverse Vertical sections through the needle-beds and needle-operating bars,'pointcarriers and followers being represented in side view, the empty needles being thrown inactive by having their feet plunged into the needle-bed. Fig. 21 is a transverse section through a needle-bed with jacks and needles in connection with follower and reciprocating mechanism as on line R S of Fig. 28a. Fig. 22 is a plan View thereof.' Fig. 23 shows ina vertical section through a needle-bed the carriage guide-bars and carnregulating bars, the segment mechanism for raising needles in receiving position thrown out of action. Fig.. 24E is a section through a sprin g-controlled pin carrying needle-operating segment and eccentric projection. Fig. 25 is a plan view of the needle-operating segment mechanism, with its reciprocating bars. Fig. 26 is a plan view of one of the springactuated segments, with eccentric projection in conjunction with its displacing-bar. Fig. 27 is a vertical section through a 'needle-bed, they carriage guide-bars, and cam-regulatin-gbars, the segment mechanism for raising needles into receiving position thrown intoaction. Fig. 28 is a plan view of a needie-bed, with its needles, showing the knitting-cams in relation with auxiliary triangle e0. Fig. 29 shows in side view the end step cu in relation to the abutment-bar, throwing into and out of action the segment mechanism for raising the needles into receiving position. Fig. 30 is a plan view of the camcarriage and the bars for reciprocating the segment mechanism and the knitting-cams. Fig. 2G.a is an end elevation of the mechanisms actuating point-carriers and followers seen from left-hand side of Fig. 7. Fig. 27a isa cross-section on the line N O of Fig. 26, showing the regulating-screw, with its sliding block and ad juncts. Fig. 28 is a partial topview of the machine, taken from the righthand side of Fig. 7. Fig. 29=L is a transverse vertical section through the needle-beds seen as 'on the line PQ of Fig. 2S, showing the per Fig. 7, showing the coupling engaging with the yoke of the cam-carriage. Fig. 32 is a partial side elevation thereof. Fig. 32

is a section through. the coupling in direction Fig. 33 is a plan View of T U of Fig. 32.

showing the disengaging fork no no thrown out of gear; Fig. 34, the same, but thrown into gear. Fig. 35 is an elevation of the wheels reciprocatingthe cam-shaft appertaining to the narrowing apparatus. Fig. 36 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 37 is a crossseetion of the needle-bed, needle and needle-controlling jack being in side view. Fig.

,38 is a section of the solid foundation-plate of the needle-bed, showing in side View transverse groove for division-plate and longitudinal recess n3. Fig. 39' is a plan View of a needle-bed holding separate division-plates. Fig. 40 is a cross-section of the knocking-over comb of the needle-hed. Fig. 41 is a plan view of one of the longitudinal toothed crossplates securing the transverse division-plates against displacement. Fig. 42 is a side View of a division-plate. Fig. 43 is a side View of a needle-controlling jack, with its basal clawshaped projection no.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a framework of appropriate form to support the various parts of the machine. Upon this frame are fixed the oppositely-inclined needle-beds B B, the needles of which are reciprocated to effect tubularand other knitting by means of the knitting-cams traveling thereon. These cams are supported on carriages b, sliding between grooved bars b2 b3, Fig. 8, and

connected through rods b', Figs. 7, 32, and 32, by yoke n2, which in turn is reciprocated in the manner as hereinafter described. Mounted transversely in the machine and extending through the frame at either end is the main driving-shaft d, Figs. l7 and 8, carry-ing loosely on one end the iy-wheel r8,with

8, further carries beveled wheel T2, gearing with beveled pinion r3. Fixed coneentrically upon the same axis as r3 is spur-wheel rw, which is destined to rotate the cam-shaft t,

.j longitudinally mounted in the framework A, by being thrown i nto gear with spur-wheel tir, fixed on shaft t'. rived the rotary-motion of cam-shaft c by i cog-wheel r4 engaging with the intermediary i wheel m5, which rotates wheels fr and rl, the

From axis d3 is also delatter being fastened upon eam-shaf t e, which is, like shaft t, longitudinally arranged in the frame. right-hand end elevation of the machine, as

To impart rotary motion to the main driving-shaft d, thus actuating the depending mechanism, the following arrangement is lQmade: Parallel to -and close beneath handwheel shaft CZ is disposed a longitudinal shaft 5w?, with a certain number of hand-levers IIO IZO

rmly secured upon it. The end lever ho, Fig. 8, is provided with a projecting arm b4, the extremity of which, being slotted, straddles a pin s, let into bar s, arranged vertically movable on the side of the frame. Bar s has at its upper end an oifset or recess jo, into which extends the spring-controlled rod s', that forms the connection with the boss of cone o, which is disposed longitudinally movable upon shaft CZ, but is prevented from turning independently of the latter by a spline fixed therein and fitted loosely into a corresponding internal slot in the boss of cone o. Said cone o works vin a corresponding cavity of the iiy-wheel pulley rs and impels, when steadily pressed into said cavity, shaft d to rotate in the same direction as fly-wheel rs. To press cone o into the cavity of said pulley, lever 7L has to be raised into the position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8. downward, whereby rod s' is pressed into the direction of the arrow, Fig. S, by offset jo acting upon the extremity of rod s', and thus cone o is pressed into its cavity, shaft CZ is forcibly rotated, thereby rotating crankwheel r', pinion r3, cam-shafts e' and e, and handwheel shaft CZ. The relative sizes of the different wheels is arranged in such a manner that one revolution of cam-shaft eis equal to one revolution of crank-wheel shaft c12011 one movement to and fro on the needle-beds B .B of the cam-carriage b. Between the two standards on the right-hand side of the machine is arranged the well-known pattern-chain device, Figs. 7 and 8. It consists of a ratchetwheel m2, securely fastened upon a pin m3, a sprocket-wheel m4, fixed upon the same axis as the ratchet-wheel, and the endless chain m, with its studs n, passing around the wheel m4. The pattern-chain device receives its intermittent step-by-step motion by cam-shaft e, which for this purpose carries disk y. This disk, rotating with shaft e, is provided with a semicircular incision which actuates pawlsupporting lever 7L (bearing upon said disk) in such a manner that pawl 7c with every revolution of shaft e moves ratchet-wheel m2 one tooth, and consequently sprocket-wheel m4, which latter moves pattern-chain forward by one bar or link. A notched disk m5, firmly secured to pin m3 bythe side of sprocket-wheel m4, is designed by means of spring m6 entering the notches to regulate and steady the step-by-step motion of said wheel and prevent it from racking the pattern-chain more than one link or bar at the time. The manner in which the studs n upon pattern-chain mcontrol the operation of the knitting and other mechanisms will be more fully described hereinafter.

C C in Fig. 7 represent the slide-bars dcs` construction of the automatic narrowing device are likewise known from United States Bars is pushed' Letters Patent No. 391,011 to Beyer, transferred to me. The arms 71.197120, Fig. 8,support ing the longitudinally-movable bars that hold point-carriers bo, as well as the arms 6 Z7, Fig. 9, supporting the grooved needle-operating bars l Z2, are fulcrumed on longitudinal rockshafts d4 d5, the depending arms being reciprocated by eccentrics upon cam-shaft z'.

I refrain from giving a detailed description of the automatic narrowing device in this specification. I shall only mention it incidentally and in so far as it has been improved in my present invention.

I-Iitherto in making entirely-seamless fashioned socks or stockings in automatic straightknitting machines (system Lamb) the work is usually commenced at the toe part of the foot. The toe is formed either by rendering certain needles idle and active (Bennor) or by widening, as described in English Patent No. 13,126 (Howlett) of 1891, whereupon the formation of the plain portion of the foot is continued in the ordinary way by throwing the cams into the tube-knitting positions. Afterward the heel is lnade by working backward and forward upon one needle-bed only and with a number of needles varying successively, so as to produce a bag-like shape, what in the art is known as Griswold heel. Articlesmade in this way, however, exhibit many imperfections, especially with regard to shape and fin-` ishing, which detracts from the marketability of such articles.

To produce a well-proportioned and perfectly-finished sock or stocking, I reverse the order of operations by making the leg portion first and subsequently in making the foot by forming an improved heel of bag form, (Griswold,) an instep close to the heel, and a toe, which latter I fashion by narrowing down to the last needle,as it is done with hand-wrought stockings. For this purpose I construct a needle-bed, as shown in Figs. 37 to 43, with a solid foundation-plate n2, provided with a certain number of transverse grooves of the gage desired. In these grooves are mounted par-A allel to one another plates n4, constituting guides for the needles and the needle-controlling jacks a, which are movably arranged between said plates. The bifurcated needlejacks employed by me in this instance differ from those generally used in so far as they are provided on their bases with a claw-shaped projection a0, which serves to fix said jacks when sunk into the needle-bed by entering a corresponding recess n3, cut longitudinally into the foundation-plate a2 of the needlebed. The knitting-needles, which are tted to the longitudinal slot of the controllingjacks, are consequently forced to follow the jacks with the effect that during the formation of the heel the feet of the needles knitting the heel are infallibly either plunged into the needle-bed out of the path of the reciprocating cams or they are raised into the path of the said cams, with the effect that those needles which during narrowing process withthe IOO IIO

aid of points were emptied of their stitches are rendered idle by plunging their feet without their heads obstructing the motion of the points.

The needle-jacks have at their foot end a cam-slot a a, through which a rod passes, common to all of them, suitably disposed in the needle-bed, and which rod, coacting with the cam-slots a a, determines the position and movement of the jacks in the needle-bed bevide a facile replacement of the knocking-l over portion of the needle-bed, which in the course of work has to suffer the greatest wear, this part n' consists of a separate piece suitably attached to the solid foundation-plate n2. This construction of a needle-bed combines utmost durability with the advantage of permitting such needle-bed to be adapted for the Iinest-gage machine of the kind, while it renders the machine more efcient and its work more perfect.

As' already mentioned, the shank of the knitting-needles is fitted to the longitudinal slot of jack a, by which latter they are held and controlled in such a manner that they may move lengthwise between the divisionplates, but never vertically, independent of the jacks. lf jack a, Figs. 21 and 22, is brought into position a', the needle governed or held by said jack must follow its vertical motion, being consequently drawn into the needle-bed. The foot of the needle disappears completely below the surface of the needle-bed in theposition shown by f and can therefore no longer be reciprocated by the knitting-cams. If, on the other hand, jack a is brought back from position a into position a, then needle-foot f is raised again out of the guideways of the needle-bed into the path of the knitting-cams, and the needle is consequently rendered active. The displacing of jacks a and, corresponding with it, the putting into and out of action of the needles, is eifected by followers t" i4, Figs. 28a, 21,' and 22, by means of shoulders a' u2, Figs. 21 and 22, impinging against the upprojecting foot extremities of the jacks and by'either pulling them downward or pushing them up again into their original position, in the manner as hereinafter more particularly described.

The working of socks or stockings, as illustrated on Sheet 1, either can be commenced by forming the net (Fig. 4 at A d) or by transferringto the needles a rib top (Figs. 1 and 3 at B b) or stocking-leg (Figs. 2, 5, and 6 at C c) by means of my transferring apparat-us,

pattern-chain.

United States Letters Patent No. 527,674, dated October 16, 1894. This done and after mounting a setting-up comb and lattaching thereto a pulling-oft weight, Fig. 30% the machine is set to work, as described, by raising lever ho, Fig. 8. The oscillatory stops c co, Fig. 8, disposed in proximityto the needlebeds and projecting into the path of the reciprocating cams, are regulated in such a manner by means of studs upon pattern-chain m, acting upon the intermediate levers and links, that said cams are thrown into the tubeknitting positions-z'. e., the set of cams appertaining to the front needle-bed is active while that of the back needle-bed is idle, and vice versa. The machine now knits a straight tubular plain web, the top part of a leg of a stocking, or any other certain and predetermined number of courses regulated by the After knitting the straight tubular piece the narrowing of the calf portion would have to be eifected, carried out on both sides of the leg, as in Fig. 4, and to throw the narrowing mechanism into action, Figs. 10 and 13, a stud 'n is fixed upon pattern-chain m, which stud raises lever 100, Fig. 8, and lever h2 by means of the conn ecting-rod z5. The wedge-shaped projection a, Figs. 35 and 36, upon a rectangular enlargement of the boss of'lever h2 upon shaft 7l depresses a similar but oppositely-beveled projection upon the springcontrolled clutch @,which is pivoted at q' upon the boss of wheel r9 within reach of stud q2, affixed to the rotating wheel rw, with the effect that said stud q2, bearing against clutch fu, moves wheel r9 a short but sufficient distance to cause the teeth of wheel r9 to engage with those of wheel r1, Now wheel r9, with camshaft will make one revolution, after which it will stop again, as from that part ofwheel r9 marked j, the teeth have been cut away and as clutch i: has resumed its normal position, lever p0, Fig. 8, having passed over stud n and having reciprocated the intermediate levers and links accordingly. During this revolution of cam-shaft i, which causes the narrowing operation to take place, carriage b must not move, but must discontinue its course at the end of its stroke. To this end cam y@ upon cam-shaft t', Figs. 3l and 32,k raises pivoted lever g5, which by means of connecting-rod t0 reciprocates lever g4in such a manner that wedge Z3, secured to lever g4, is forced between the spring-retracted ends of pivoted fork `n0,thus causing the closing of the opposite ends of said fork, Figs. 33 and 34. Fork n0 being closed, or rather the two sides brought parallel to one another, cross-bolt Q0, Figs. 32, 32, 33, and 34, slides upon its tapered ends and lifts spring-impelled pin Q3 out of its recess in the lower portion of the coupling ko, Fig. 32a, thus liberating the latter from the upper coupling n2. Now the lower portion alone continues its to-and-fro motion, while IOO IIO

the top portion n2, which is connected with carriage b, is held fast. After finishing the narrowing operation fork n0,Fig. 33, is opened again by cam y0. Pin g3 being released catches in the recess in the lower portion of coupling ko and establishes again connection between the upper and the lower portions of said coupling, whereupon carriage b resumes its usual to-and-fro motion imparted to a2 by means of ko. The narrowing process itself takes place in a similar manner as described in United States Letters Patent No. 391,011 to Beyer, transferred to me, dated October 16, 1888, only that in the present instance the throwingout of action of the needles emptied of their stitches during said process is done in a different and in this combination entirely new way. For this purpose are disposed lengthwise and on both sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 30, rock-shafts d d?, upon which are fixed a certain number of arms a5 fn, perforated at their upper end and forming bearings of rods d.8 d". Upon shafts d d? are also fixed levers ha h4, coming into contact with cams y' upon cam-shaft z'. The levers h3 h4 are held in their positions by suitably-disposed retracting-springs. Followers t" to t4, which are supported in their respective positions just above and parallel to the needle-beds by slide-blocks i5, are provided at their ends with slotted -up projections, into the slots of which rods d8 di are fitted, reciprocating said followers, with the eect that the shoulders u u2 upon the under side of the followers on the latter being moved outward impinge against the turned-up foot extremities of jacks a and pull them downward, whereby, as shown hereinbefore, the respective needle or needles are thrown out of action, Fig. 19. The followers t" to 114 are immediately after having pulled down jacks Ct brought back by the reciprocating mechanism into their original inactive position, Fig. 20. The movement of the followers t" to i4 in opposite directions across the space of one needle on each side of the needle-bed (see arrow in Fig. 22) has to take place immediately after the needles have been emptied of their stitches during the narrowing process, and it is transmitted by connecting-bars .s3 to s, (see Figs. 21, 26, and 2823) which are movably fitted in longitudinal supporting-bars i i7. For the purpose of reciprocating bars s3 to s the following arrangement is made: At each end of the machine and parallel to the needle-beds are mounted in fast brackets oppositely-pitched screws to i0, Fig. 7, carrying -correspondingly-threaded bosses g g2, which are oppositel y displaced every ti me the screws are actuated. Bosses g g2, Figs. 26, 27a, and 2S, are provided with rigid arms a, extending on both sides transversely and parallel to the needle-bed. By means of these arms the connecting-bars s4 S5 are actuated by screw @'00, and s3 s by screw i0, whereas the connecting-bars s3 to s in turn reciprocate followers t" to i, of which 7l' is joined to s3, 2 to s, 'i3 to si", and t* to s6.' In order to reciprocate screws 120 00, a cam on cam-shaft z' is brought to bear upon rollers w, Fig. 8, 10, Fig. 9, os-

cillating levers hh, fulcrumed on shaft d4, in such a manner that lever h5, by means of its depending hook, which engages with the studs upon the head of screw 0, turns the latter, and boss g' is moved across the space of one needlein the needlebed,while lever h6 impels screw 0 simultaneously, and which latter in turn reciprocates boss g2 in a like manner. course followers t" to 4 are moved through connecting-bars s3 to s accordingly, either inward or outward. In the same manner as followers z" to 4 are also point-carriers bo reciprocated by screws 0 00. In this case the movement of bosses g g2 is transmitted by arms 0,5, which extend between the down-projecting anges a6 and a7, Figs. 26fL and 2S, to which bars S7 and ss, connecting point-carriers 190, are fixed.

The process of narrowing can be seen from Figs. 14 to 20. The points bo take hold of the needles and pull them, supported by needleactuating bars Z Z2, so high that the loops slip below the latches of the needles, whereupon the motion of the points is reversed and the stitches are consequently transferred to the points, Figs. 14 and 16. Subsequently the points are raised and carry their stitches over one needle inwardly, while the feet of those needles emptied by this 'operation are being plunged into the needle-bed by shoulders u' of followers 7l' to 714. In completing the narrowing operation the points transfer their loops upon the needles beneath them in the well-known manner, returning afterward, together with needle-operating bars Z' Z2, in their original or idle position, Fig. 8. This operation is repeated as many times as narrowings are required for the fashioning of the leg of the stocking, and for every narrowing a stud n has to be fixed on pattern-chain m, which consequently, in accordance with the number of studs, regulates the number of narrowings in the fabric at predetermined intervals.

After the narrowings of a stocking or after the leg portion of a. sock have been made the working of the heel ot' the foot is commenced. The mechanisms devised for this purpose are likewise actuated by pattern-chain m; but before going into details respecting their construction or order of working it is necessary that the several and particular workings of cams fc' to x7, Fig. 13, should be eXplainedi Cams so' to wl are mounted upon shaft e in close proximityr to the pattern-chain device. Each cam consists of three disks c' c2 c3, Fig. 10a, of which c' is fastened upon shaft e, o2 being disposed loosely upon boss of c, whereas o3 is arranged laterally movable upon boss of c' and prevented from turning independently of disk c bya spline fitting into a slot in the bore of disk c3. Disk c3 is held in its normal position by astrong buffer-spring f?, Fig. 13, upon shaft e, compressing c3 constantly against c2. To render disk c3 susceptible to be displaced, the opposite inner side faces of disks c3 and c? are provided with wedge-shaped steps co0,

On bosses g g2 being reciprocated of IIO s Y 65eme is provided withsteps, and opposite each disk c2 is arranged a spring-actuated plunger- 7c', Fig. 13, which slides in a grooved block with inwardly-projecting edges and which block is.

permanently fastened to the frame. Plunger 7c', Fig. 10, is connected with lever p5, riding upon pattern-chain m, by lever Z4. lf, for instance, lever p5, Fig. 10, is raised by a stud n upon pattern-chain m, then plunger 7.o is pressed, by means of lever Z4, toward disk c2, whereby the head of plunger 7c', engaging with one of the steps in the rim of said disk, arrests it in its motion, with the effect that disk c3 is displaced laterally upon shaft c, as described. ln conjunction with disk c3 is also displaced rod v2 by disk c3 bearing against lug goo, secured upon said rod, which latter carriesy also fork g3, embracing eccentric y, Figs. 11 and 1l, disposed laterally movable upon cam -shaft e. Eccentric g/l on being moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 13 is brought to bear upon roller 104, which it reciprocates, together with the depending mechanisms. Said eccentric gf* will remain in this position until lever 135 has passed over stud n, by which it was raised, plunger' k has receded from disk c2, and disk c3 has been pushed back by spring fo into its normal position, followed by rod o2, impelled by spring go, Fig. 13. All motions are now transmitted from cam-shaft e. After every row of stitches formed cam fr', Fig. 13, consisting of three disks c' c2 c3, by displacing rod n' causes eccentric e', Fig. 30, to bear upon roller 'zu' of lever 71,4,which being fulcruined upon shaft d reci procates followers 'i3 i?. This contrivance, as already explained, serves to throw out of action those of the needles which are emptied during the narrowing process with the aid of points, whereas now it is employed for rendering idle and Vactive those needles which are destined to knitthe bag-like heel (the so-called Gris- Wold7 heel) by plunging and raising their feet. When set to work, said contrivancc begins first by rendering idle the extreme working needle on the left, after the subsequent row of stitches the extreme working needle on the right, dac., constantly alternating one needle on the left with one on the right. vIt should be noted that the needles rendered inactive in this fashion keep their stitches until moved again into activity and that the hooks of said needles remain in line andv on the saine height as the working or active needles, as may be seen from Fig. 29a. Followers i3 t4 are laterally displaced toward each other by bars 35 s6, Fig. 28, in conjunctionwit-h screws o 00, as described hereinbefore. Said screws are,while the narrowed part of the heel is being knitted, actuated by levers h5 h6, Figs. 8 and 9. Rods v2 r3, the. be-

ing displaced by cams x2 :153, die., (each consisting of three disks c to ci) reciprocate eccentrics z2 e3, rbc., in such a manner that they are brought to bear upon the depending arms of levers h5 71,6, thus rocking them. All of the cams zr' are alike, and each one in turn operates its respective rods fu', of which o' effects the right-hand outward movement of the sliding boss g', while o2 causes the return of same. o3 moves the left-hand sliding boss outward, and ful again returns the saine. 'rs and r6 effect the sinking and raising of the jacks, and o7 brings the pulling-olf apparatus into action. The operation of knitting the heel is continued until the narrowed part of the.

heel has attained its desired length,\vliereupon the outthrown needles are alternately and in inverse order moved back into action, with the followers i3 4 reversing their motion. For this purpose cams fr mi .rare thrown idle and cains mi 005 c6 substituted, with the effect that after every row of stitches formed lever IL10, firmly fastened upon shaft d, is pushed in an upward direction byeccentric e, the latter being actuated by rod yn in connection with cain at, Fig. 3W. Vith lever hl are likewise reciprocated forks n upon shaft d and rod d8, coacting with followers 3 i4, whereby shoulders u2 iinpinge against the tail projections of jacks ci, and thereby bring them back again, together with their needles, inactive position, Figs. 2l and 22. The followers i3 "i4, as already hinted, have no longer an inward motion toward each other, but move outward away from one another. This motion is iinparted yby screw 7200 being turned by pawl-supporting lever hg, which is reciprocated by eccentric 55, Fig. 9, acting together with cam and rod v5, Fig. 13, and by screw to being actuated in the like manner by pawl-supporting lever hs, .eccentric e4, Fig. S, cam Q34, and rod o4, Fig. 13. As soon as all the needles pre-V viously set idle have been brought backinto work cams a# :t5 0c are thrown out of gear again, while steps c o0, Fig. 8, are so regu-r lated as to resume their original position. This means that the cams are throwninto the tube-knitting position and that the machine once more knits tubular plain fabric. It should be remarked that to pull off the bag-like fabric forming the heel a speciallyconstructed pulling-off apparatus is required, the nature of which can be apprised from my United States Patent No. 629,892. This pulling-off apparatus is actuated by cani m7, reciprocated by pattern-chain m.

As the fabric of a heel produced in the inanner as described would show holes at those places where needles were thrown in and out of action, it has been devised to prevent the occurrence of such holes by closing them up with an additional loop. For this purpose the needles of the back needle-bed are pro-` vided with a second foot f2., Fig. 2l. Immediately after such a needle has been thrown idle, as hereinbefore shown, it is alone and IOC IIO

be thrown in and out ot' work, as desired.

independently, before the beginning of the next following row of stitches, thrown up again into receiving position, where yarn is delivered to it at the same time as to the remaining active needles. The needles are brought singly into this receiving position by segments d10 and d alternately, Figs. 23 to 27. The segments d10 d are disposed on either side of the back needle-bed, mounted on horizontal spring-controlled pins e' e2, which rest in bearin gs fixed to rods i and t2, respectively, these rods being attached to sliding bosses g g2, governed by screws i0 00. The pins bearing segments d10 d are provided on the opposite ends with eccentric projections m7 m8,

lbeveled inwardly,whieh serve to oscillate said These eccentric projections, ex-

segments. tending into the path of the cam-carriage, are reciprocated in the following manner: rlriangle do, being supported on cam-carriage b, makes, with the latter, the to-and-fro motion and depresses projections m7 m8, thus forcing segments d10 du to turn upon their respective axes e e2, whereby one needle is thrown into receiving position, where yarn is supplied to it simultaneously with the working needles on the return stroke. As an additional loop is formed only upon that. needle which during the production of the Griswold heel has been set idle by plunging its foot, it is necessary that on every stroke of the machine only one needle should be raised. For this reason the eccentric projections mYmS have been beveled inwardly, with the effect th at, on triangle do sliding over the one or the other, segment d'0 or d turns in opposite direction-viz., away from the needles, Fig. 23. The needle thrown up by segment d10 or d is immediately'at'ter receiving yarn moved back again into idle position by triangle e0 depressing its second foot f2, Fig. 28. Triangle e0 works conjointly with the needle-reciprocating cams and is for this purpose fixed upon cam-carriage b hy means of a suitably-adjusted support extending into the plane of the needles. The travel of this device is, like that of the followers 3 i4, regulated by screws i0 00. As the formation of an additional mesh to prevent the occurence of holes in the fabric is only required when and where needles are thrown out of action in forming the heel by Widening and narrowing, triangle do is in work solely during the knitting ot' the heel and is for this purpose arranged in such a manner that it can To this end a longitudinal bar z is devised, carrying wedges k2, Figs. 23, 25, 27, 29, and 30, which are adapted, on bar a being laterally displaced, to raise triangle d0 into a recess in the cam-carriage b, thus removing it out of the path of the eccentric projections m7 m8, that are fixed on e e?, respectively. The operation of this device is, like that of others in this machine, controlled and actuated by pattern-chain m, which to bring. about this efiect is provided with studs that are alittle higher than the ordinary ones, wherebylever p', Fig. 13, regulating stops c a0, is lifted in such a manner that stop co assumes position 3, Figs. 29 and 30, and bears against projection e3, and consequently displacing rod .a in the direction of arrow l, and triangle d0 is brought into active position, as shown in Fig. 30. lt', on the other hand, triangle d is to be rendered idle, then an ordinary stud is employed, which moves stop o0, by means of lever p', in position 2, Figs. 29 and 30, in which position it bears against projection c4, pushing rod .c in the direction of arrow 2, and thus moving triangle d0 out of action. When now, proceeding with the making of the foot, an instep is to be produced, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 2, the requisite studs would bring the narrowing mechanism into action, which would operate in the manner as hereinbefore described-viz., to overhang meshes to adjacent needles with the aid of points and render the empty needles idle by plunging their feet. The instep finished, the needleoperating cams continue in the tube-knitting position and after the plain tubular part of the foot has been formed begins the shaping of the toe. The narrowing mechanism,together with the coacting follower device, is consequently thrown into action by means of a stud or pattern-chain m, actuating the depending mechanisms. For every narrowing required in closing the toe of the foot stands a stud upon the pattern-chain m.' Hitherto in closing the toe automatically and with the aid of points the narrowing continued until the point-carriers bo, Fig.7, on their laterallyopposed movement abutted against one another-viz., until the points correspond in number exactly with that of the stitches still to be transferred. In order to close the point farther than this and to the last needle, the respective feet of sliding bosses g' g, Figs. 26, 27, and 28, supporting the arms regulating the lateral travel of the follower device and the point-carriers, which feet so far were made in one solid piece, are constructed in two parts independently movable and coperating by means of screws fio @'00 and. a springactuated pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. It acts in this way that the lower part Z0, bearing arms a4, reciprocating followers i' to i4,

vmoves uninterruptedly from needle to needle, whereas the upper portion, with arms a5, that control the motion of the point-carriers bo, returns after performing one narrowing outward again over one needle impelled by screws i0 to". For the subsequent narrowing it is moved inward again,whereupon it is retracted once more, and thus it continues until the toe has been closed to the last needle. The construction can be seen from Fig. 27a and is as follows: On the head of boss g and below screw i0 is pivoted a spring-depressed pawl g, pointing with its prolonged end toward the defiecting-stop t3, the top of which is tapered od, inelining in the path of IOO pawl gf. The base of boss g is furnished with a ratchet o0, into the teeth of which tits spring-supported catch, that is pivotally connected with 70, the lower separate portion of the foot of boss g. The block Z0, with rigid arms CL4, is guided between bars and carries on one end a tooth-like projection s0, against which pawl g6 impinges in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter described. Fig. 27* represents the right-hand screw and follower device with screw i0. The left-hand device with screw 00 being identical is not shown. As soon as the web of the toe has been narrowed down to eight needles the prolonged end of pawl g6 will have slid upon the tapered surface of t3 so high that projection Z upon block 70 has been liberated,with the effect that, the narrowing device being moved inwardly over one needle on either side, said projection Z0 glides away below pawl ge, and thus permits boss C', on screw i being retracted by lever 718, to be drawn outwardly without reciprocating block l, which remains in exactly the position transported to catch fr, and ratchet V0 being arranged in such manner that boss g may move outwardly without impelling bloc-k Z0 as the teeth of ratchet no, depressing pawl tr, slide over it; but on being displaced inwardly pawl 5c registers firmly with one of the teeth of V", and consequently block 70 is forced in the direction of boss g'. These operations are repeated until the web of the toe has been narrowed down to the breadth of two needles,when the left-hand screw device,together with follower arrangement, is retracted, but not advanced again, and only the right-hand one is actuated in the manner as described, transferring the one loop to the last needle. Now, the fashionin g of the toe being accomplished, the machine stops by itself, and it remains only for the stocking or sock to be taken out of the machine in the usual manner.

The stopping of the machine when required is brought about automatically and is caused by pattern-chain m. For this purpose lever p3, Fig. 8, fulcrumed at d10, is connected with pivoted lever b5 by rod t4. Lever b5 is provided at its free end with a projection M0, against which presses a similar projection m upon lever b3, securely fastened upon shaft tuti-carrying likewise lever 7t0 and its slotted continuation b4, that engages with rod s by means of pin s, as described. Springfs, at-

tached to lever b3, has the tendency of constantly keeping the latter in its normal position-t'. e., the position it assumes on the machine having been stopped. To throw the machine out of gear, a stud upon patternchain rm. raises lever p3, which, by means of rod t4, depresses lever b5, so that projection m0 liberates lever b3, which, being impelled by spring f3, causes rod s to rise, whereupon rod s' enters recess joand cone o recedes from its cavity in iiy-wheel pulley T8, thus stopping themachine, as hereinbefore set forth.

In proportion as the breadth of the web is diminished during the formation of the toe the weight pulling oif the fabric has to be reduced also. To this end an automatic weight-relieving tackle at the left end of the machine has been arranged, as shown, consisting of three vertical rods held in one stand, two of which serve as guides for the pulling- 4off weights, while on the third one at certain intervals several brackets c4 are fixed, which arrest the weights on their downward way. To render the discharging of such weights automatic during working process of the machine, the distance s0 between the arms of the different brackets c4 is differentiated in such a manner that it decreases in every bracket downward. The weights 7c3 to 705, suspended on a chain passing over a roller at the top end of the vertical rods, are of various lengthsin conformity with the distances s0 between the arms of brackets c4. The weights in descending are arrested one after the other, the longest iirst and by degrees the shorter ones, without requiring any manipulation by hand, and in this manner the strain of weight on the fabric is reduced as its breadth is diminished. y

During the action of pulling-onf apparatus, as per specification of my United States Patent No. 629,892, and while the heel is being made the action of weights 7c3 to 705, Fig. 30a, must be arrested. To do this automatically without interrupting the run of the machine, a stud upon pattern-chain m will actuate 'a certain mechanism and cause roller r11,which stands under the in tluence of weights 7.53 to 755, to be arrested. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 12, l2, 12b, and l2, cam-shaft e carries laterally movable a disk and eccentrically iixed to it a cam p7. On the disk being displaced by eccentric moving rod n? in the manner as hereinbefore described with regard to &c., spring-actuated roller w3 of lever f4, Fig. 80a, is .pressed against the side of the disk until the face of eccentric y? reaches the le vel of the face of the disk at jm, when roller w3 is forced and kept onto it by spring f5. Lever f4 is no longer rocked by cam 1/7. Pawl 7i:6 engages with ratchet-wheel ro, fixed upon the same shaft (713 as roller r11, completely7 arresting the latter, and consequently also the action of weights 7c3 to 7t5. Roller r11 is in due time automatically released again by the disk of @/7 being shoved back into its normal position, and roller w3 is once more being reciprocated by yh So as to save the lifting by hand into active position by the sliding frame of the pulling-off apparatus, as per specification of my United States Patent No. 629,892, a ratchet-bar m9, Fig. 9,suitably arranged beneath each frame at the back of the machine, has been provided,which bar is raised step by step by means of pawl e5 engaging with the teeth of that bar and by moving lever c714 up and down by hand. The bar m9 is prevented from dropping, on pawl IOO IIO

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