US664266A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 664,266. f Patented nec. la, |960.

u. HAnsAuGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.)

w l GD q w 'mz Nouns PEYzns' cui, Pumauwo., WASHINGTON, D4 c.

Pa'fented Dec. I8, |900.

H.- E. HARBAUGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med occ. s, 1900.) (N o Il o d a l 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 664,266. Patented Dc. I8, |900; H. E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 5, 1900.)

7. Sheets-Shaet 3.

(No Modal.)

Patented Dec. I8, |900.

H. HARBAUGH. CIRCUL'AR-KNITTING MACHINE.

' (Appuation med oct.- 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4A jtm: Norms vETEns co4. Pummumo., WASHINGTON. o. c,

No. 664,266. Patented Dec. I8, |900.

H". E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheeis-Sheet 5.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

Patented Dec. I8', |900.

No. A 664,266. n

H. E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

` (Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.) (No Model.)

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1HE veras op. mamma., wAsNmm'oN, nv c,

N6. 664,266. l Patented 066. la, |900.

. H. E. HAnBAuGH.

CIRCULAR KNIT'TING MACHINE.

- (Aplicmon mea oct. 5, 1900.) (No Mader.) 1 sheets-sheet 7.

vthe same.

UNITED STATES l ATENT 'l Ormes.

HOWARD E. HARBAUGH, OF KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO-ROCKFORD I-IOSIERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 664,266, dated December 18, 1900. f C Application filed October 5, 1900. Serial No. 32,197. (No model.)

ment of that class of circular-knitting machines which are well illustrated by the specification and drawings of Letters Patent of the United States No. 461,358, granted to the Sulloway Mills October 13, 1891, to which reference is hereby made as fairly disclosing the state of the art in thatlclass of knitting-machines on or about that date.

My invention consists of certain new and useful features of construction and combinations of devices contrived and arranged to adapt knitting-machines of the class hereinbefore mentioned to knit wide and deep heels.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figures 1, la, and 1b are top plan views of a machineembodying my improvements, some of the parts thereof being in different positions in each of the views. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, a portion of the latch-v opening ringv of the same being sectioned away, with the parts thereof in the positions shown in Fig. 1a. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cam-cylinder thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe cam-cylinder. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6is an elevation of the interior of the cam-cylinder, half-size, developed on a plane. Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, are detailed top, side, and face views, respectively, of the needle elevating and depressing switch of the machine and a part of the mechanism for operating Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, are detailed views of the needle elevatingand depressing switch and one of the devicesA for operating the same, all of which will be fully described hereinafter. l view of certain needles having heels of different lengths. Fig. 15 is a detailed view of two alternately-acting cams.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

- A is a yneedlecylinder having nee'dle- 1 Fig. 14 is a top plan grooves a, therein containing needles d CL2 d3, provided with heels or* d5 a6. l

B is a cam-cylinder encircling `the needlecylinder A and provided interiorly with a circumferential ledge Ba, upon which all the needles of the machine rest while knitting round and round, and exteriorly with a bevelgear Bb. In the interior of the cam-cylinder B, above the ledge Ba, are guide-plates B2 B3, above and below which the heels a4 a5 a6 of the needles a' a2 d3 are carried as they are retired from and brought back into action, while to the outside of said cylinder B and working through slots B4, formed in the walls thereof, are pivoted elevators and depressors B5 B6, by means whereof the needles concerned in the nai rowing and widening operations are respectively carried out of or brought back into action as one or the other of these operations is being eected. In their normal positions these elevators and depressors rest with their free 4or hooked ends B7 B8 in line with the heels of the needles in connection with which they are to coperate, and when carried ont of operation by the elevation or depression of such needles they are engaged by latches C, also pivoted tothe outside of the vcam-cylinder B, and by them prevented from' returning thereinto until again released aforesaid latches; but when one or the other of these operations is to be accomplished either the elevators B5 or the depressors B6, or both, as the case may be, will be released from their latches C and allowed to return into action ready for engagement with their appropriate needles as the cam-cylinder is reciprocated in the operation of the machine.

n In all cases when the narrowing of the fabric'is to be effected the elevators-alone will be released from their latches and returned into operation. On the other hand, when the widening of the fabric is to be accomplished the depressors will be released from vtheir latches and similarly returned into action, the elevators in some cases being retired from operation when the depressors are brought IOO tion therewith. When the elevators are retired from operation at the same time that lhe depressors are brought into action, the hooks B8 of the depressors will be made of the same length as the hooks B7 of the elevators and each will at each reciprocation of the cam-cylinder engage the heel of but a single needle; but when both the elevators and depressors are retained in action the hooks BB will be made of a length toA engage the heels of two needles, while the hooks B7 will be made of a length to engage the heel of but a single needle, whereby during the widenin g operation the depressors wil-l at each reciprocation of the cam-cylinder bring down into operation two needles and the elevators at the next reciprocation thereof carryone of the, needles thus brought down out of operation, and so on throughout the entire operation of widening.

In the drawings the hooks. BS are shown of a length to engage the heels of two needles and the hooks B7 of a length to engage the heel of but asingle needle; but the hooks B8 may be so proportioned as to engage the heel of but a single needle, if so desired.

In addition to the long-heeled and shortheeled needles shown and described in the specication and drawings of Lettersl Patent No. 461,358, referred to hereinbefore, I ernploy two groups of intermediate-heeled needles a2, located between the long-heeled and shortheeled needles. The intermediateheeled needles a2 coperate with the rest of the needles of the machine to knit the legs and tubular parts of the feet ofthe stockings; but their particular function is to supplement the short-heeled needles a and cooperate with them in knitting the heels of stockings in order that such stocking-heels may be formed wider and deeper than the toes thereof or of any desired width and depth Within the scope of the short-heeled needles a plus the intermediate-heeled needles a3. The intermediate-heeled needles a5 are not employed in knitting the toes of stockings, the shortheeled needles a' being the only ones employed for that purpose.

To provide for releasing the elevators B5 and depressors B6 at the proper times to effect the narrowing and widening operations, the latches C are each equipped with a stud c, extending ontward therefrom, with which suitably-arranged cam-surfaces C2 C3, under the control of a cam-controlling ring, cooperate. The cam-surfaces C2 C11 for acting upon the .studs c, the pattern mechanism, and the devices made use of for operating the cam-cylinder are or may be the same as the corresponding parts shown and described in an application for Letters Patent filed by William H. Mayo and George D. Mayo October 3, 1888, Serial No. 287,063, to which reference may be had therefor.

Dis a recess formed in the interior of the cam-cylinder B. v

D2 is a switch consisting of any suitable body having formed in its inner face a longitudinal groove D3, which, extendingthroughout its entire length and tapering gradually from its outer and wider to its inner and narrower end, has its under walls Dl1 cut away to such an extent as. topermit of their engagement, Fig. 8, with the long-heeled and intermediate-heeled needles only, while its upper walls D5 are extended inward toward the needle-cylinder A- suliciently to engage all the needles of the machine. The switch D2, Fig. 13, is mounted in proper relation to the guideplates B2 B3 and in the recess D in the camcylinder B on the inner end of a rock-shaft D5, that is fitted both to oscillate and to slide endwise in a bearing D6 in the supportingbracket D7.

D8 is a semipinion mounted on and secured to the free end of therock-shaft D5 by means of a feather D11 and spline D10.

D11 is a screw-stud provided with ahead D12, having a peripheral groove D13 therein and turned into the longitudinal screw-hole D11 in the rock-shaft D5.

D15, Fig. 2, is a rack mounted in the vertical slideway D1G in the bracket D7, provided with an actuating-stud D17 and meshing with the semipinion D8.

D18 is a shifting-cam provided with oppositely-inclined faces D19 D20, engaging the opposite sides of the peripheral groove D18 and pivotally mounted on a bearing D21, Fig. 2 on the cam-cylinder B.

I do not desire or intend to limit myself to the particular form of device just described for sliding the rock-shaft D5 endwise, as obviously other common and well-known devices could be substituted therefor without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I will now describe the instrumentalities employed to operate the switch D2.

l is a ring fast to the base-plate (not shown) of the machine.

2 is a cam-controlling ring resting on the upper end of the base-ring 1, whereon it may be slightly turned back and forth. The ring 2 has the cams 2" 2b, stop 211, and lugs 2e 21 projecting from the upper face thereof.

3 and 4 are respectively downwardly and upwardly sloping cams fast to the free and adjacent ends of the two arms 5 and 6, Fig. 2, which are also provided with cam-surfaces 7 and 8 on their inner edges and mounted one above the other on the pivot 9.

10 is a lug fast to the free end of the arm 11, which is mounted by its other end on the pivot 12.

13 is a stud supporting a spring 14, which normally holds the free end of the arm l1 into contact with said stud 13.

15 is a vertical rock-shaft provided with an arm 16, projecting horizontally therefrom against the arm 11. The rock-shaft 15 is turned at predetermined intervals by appropriate pattern mechanism (not shown) sunflciently to cause the free end of the arm 16 to IOO IIO

press the free end of the arm 11 inward [tha-n the t-oe of t-he stocking, the knitting of against the action of the spring 14 until the lug 10 is projected into the path of the lower end Y of the shifting-cam D15. After the latter, acting through the rock-shaft D5, has moved the switch D2 endwise from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 7 the arm 16 is turned by said pattern mechanism out of engagement with the arm 1l, which is then swung in the opposite direction,by the action of the spring 14,over against the Stud 13, where it will remain until again pressed inward, as before, by the arm 16.

185is a stop-lever mounted near its central portion on a stationary horizontal pivot 19, supported by the Vertical lug 19a on the machine-frame. (Not shown.)

20 is a spring normally elevating the inner end of the stop-lever 18 into the path of the stop 2d.

21 is a vertically-moving releasing-pin located below the outer end of the stop-lever 18. The lower end of the releasing-pin 21 is in contact with appropriate pattern mechanism which forces it at predetermined intervals upward against the outer end of the stoplever 18, thereby tilting the inner end of the latter downward against the action of the spring 2O out of engagement with the lug 2d. The pattern mechanism also at predetermined intervals so acts as to permit the pin 21 to descend, and the spring 2O again forces the inner end of the lever 18 upward into the path of the lug 2".

22 is a cam mounted on a vertical pivot 22a on the base-ring 1. The function of the cam 22 is to turn the cam-controlling ring 2 a short distance against the action of the spring 23, which normally acts to turn said ring 2 ashort distance in the opposite direction.

24 is an arm pivotally connecting the outer end of the cam 22 at 25 with appropriate pattern mechanism, which at predetermined intervals forces the cam 22 against the lug 2d on the ring 2 and turns it a short distance against the action of the spring 23. Also at predetermined intervals the pattern mechanism permits the spring 23, by disengaging therefrom the cam 22, to return the ring 2 to its normal position.

When it is desired to retire the long-heeled needles 0.2 from operation preparatory to knitting the heel of a stocking, the -switch D2, being in the longitudinal position shown in Figs. 7 and 9,-will be turned downward until the outer and wider end of the groove D3 therein is brought into linewith the heels a5 as they rest upon the ledge B, in which position its under walls D4 as the cam-cylinder is rotated engage such heels` a5 only1 and deflect them upward above the guide-plates B2 B2, thereby carrying them, with their respective needles, out of action. The longheeled needles d2 having been thus returned, the intermediate -heeled and short-heeled needles d2 a' are left to knit a heel wider by ten stitches and deeper by ten rows of stitches which will be described hereinafter. After the heel has been knit by the intermediateheeled and short-heeled needles a3 a the switch D2 will be turned upward and slid inward endwise to the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10. Thereafter its upper walls D5 as the cam-cylinder is rotated engage the heels 0.6 of the long-heeled needles a2 and deflect them downward onto the ledge B2, thereby leaving all the needles of the machine in proper position to knit the tubular portion of the foot of the stocking. When the tubular portion ot' the same is completed, the switch D2, still being in the position shown in Fig. 8, will be turned downward to the position shown by solid line in Fig. 10 until the outer and wider end of the groove D3 is brought into line with the heels a5 a6 of the intermediate-heeled and long-heeled needles 0.3 a2 as they rest upon v the ledge B, in which positionits upper walls D5 as the cam-cylinder is rotated engage such heels `a5 et@ only and deflect them upward above the guide-plates B2 B3, thereby carrying them, with their needles a2 a2, out of action. `The short-heeled needles a alone are thus left in action, and the machine proceeds to knit the toe of a stocking, which will be narrower by ten inches and shallower by ten rows of stitches than the heel to the knitting i of which reference is made above.

The general construction and mode of operation of the machine to which I have applied my improvements are the same as Ythose shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 461,358, granted to the Sulloway Mills October 13, 1891, to which reference has already been made in the second paragraph of this application and to which reference may be had therefor.

Fig. 1 shows the parts of the machine in position to knit the leg of a stocking, the camsurfaces C2 C2 being beyond the reach of the studs c, the switch D2 being in the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10 and the shifting-cam DSin the position shown in Fig. 2. Supposing the leg to be finished and that the machine is about to begin the knitting of a heel,the pattern mechanism, acting through the arm 24, disengages the cam 22 from the lug 2e and the spring 23 turns the cam-controlling ring 2 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, until the stop 2d thereon strikes the stop-lever 18. As the riug 2 is turned by the spring 23 the edge conformation of the cam 2a permits the camsurface C3 to move inward into the path of the two studs c, which, acting through their latches C, release the needle-elevators B5, the spring 25 presses the 'downwardly-sloping cam 3 inward into the path of the actuatingstud D17 on the rack D15, and the lug 2f, acting on the cam 8'on thearm 6, forces the cam 4 outward against the action of the spring 26. Simultaneously with changes just described the pattern mechanism turns the rock-shaft IOO IlO

l5 in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. l, and forces the free end of the arm 16 against the arm 11, thereby throwing the lug 10 into the path of the lower end Y of the shifting-cam D18. As the cam-ring B makes its last rotation, ,traveling in the direction contrary to that traveled by the hands of a watch, to knit the leg of the stocking, the lug D17 strikes the downwardly-inclined cam 3, which forces such lug and its rack D15 upward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 9. Theupward movement of the rack D15, acting through the semipinion D2, turns t-he switch D2 from the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10 to the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 10. Immediately after the switch D2 has been turned down in the manner already indicated the lower end Y of the shifting-cam D1S strikes the lug l0, which rocks such cam D18 from the position shown in Fig. S to that shown in Fig. 7, which rocking motion disengages the inclined cam-face D19 from and forces the inclined cam-face D21 into engagement with the opposite walls D22 D23, respectively, of the groove D13 in the screw-head D12, thereby sliding the switch endwise from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Figs. 7 and 9 show the switch D2 in proper position, with the broad end of the groove D3 turned down to the ledge B, Fig. l0, for the cam-cylinder B2 to continue its operations. Fig. 8 shows the switch B2 turned upward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10. Suppose now the switch D2 to bein all respects in the positions shown in Figs. 7 and 9 and that the calnring B has begun to oscillate. At the end of the first complete oscillation of such camring B, the long-heeled needles a2 will have been deflected, by the switch D2, above the guide-plates B2 B8, and out of action; but the intermediateheeled needles a2 and all but about the middle thirty of the short-heeled needles d have gone up, out of action, to join the long-heeled needles a2, through the operation of the needle-elevators B5, the releasing-pin 2l of the stop-lever 18, and the inner end of the same is thus depressed a corresponding distance, below the stop 21 against the action of the spring 20. The cam-controlling ring 2, being thus left free to turn, is turned by the action of the spring 23 until it is stopped by the cam 22 coming in contact with the stop 2e. The movement of the camcontrolling ring 2 just described permits the the cam-surface C2 to swing inward into the path of the two studs c, which, acting through their latches C, release the needle-depressors B8, which depress into action the short-heeled and intermediate-heeled needles d a8, that went out of action when the first half of the heel was being knit. The return of the lastmentioned needles having been completed, the heel will have been completed also. The pattern mechanism, acting through the arm 24 and cam 22, then forces the cam-controlling ring 2, against the action ofthe spring 23A, into the position shown in Fig. l, and all 'parts of the machine are thereby restored to the positions there shown. As the cain-controlling ring 2 turned to the last-mentioned position, the lug 21, engaging the cam 7 on the arm 5, forced the downwardly-inclined cam 3 back against the action of the spring 25 and out of the path of the lug D17 on the rack D15 and passed down the cam 8 on the arm 6, the spring 26 forcing the upwardly-inclined cam 4 inward into the path of the lug D17 on the rack D15. As the last course of stitches on the heel was being knit,the upwardly-inclined cam 4 passed overthe lug D17on the rack D15 and forced it down to the position shown in Fig. 2. The descent of the lug D17 and rack D15 also rocked the shifting-cam D18 to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby turning the switch D2 and sliding it inward endwise to the positions shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l0. When the camring B began to rotate, the switch D2 deflected the long-heeled needles a2 down onto the ledge B, where the intermediate-heeled and shortsheeled needles d3 a4 had already gone through the operation of the needle-depressors B8. The cam-ring B,continues to rotate until the round part of the foot of the stock ing is completed. rIhe machine then knits the toe of the stocking in precisely the same manner that it knitted the heel thereof, except that only the short-heeled needles c remain in action and are employed to knit the toe. The arms 1l and 16 remain in the positions shown in Fig. l during the knitting of the t-oe, the rock-shaft l5, in fact, being operative only just before the machine begins to knit the heel, and since the switchl D2 will remain in the endwise position shown in Fig. 8 until the lug l0 on the arm l1, acting through the shifting-cam D18, slides the switch D2 endwise outward again, and since the lug D17 on the rack D15 will pass over the downwardlyinclined cam 3, which turns the switch D2 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the p0- sition shown in solid lines in Fig. 10, just before the machine begins to knit the toe of the stocking, obviously, the switch D2 being inV the positions just indicated, the longheeled and intermediate-heeled needles a2 a8 will be deflected by the groove D3 therein up above the guide-plates B2 B3 and out of action, thus leaving only the short-heeled needles a in action to knit the toe of the stocking.

Having described my invention and indicated of what it consists, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

l. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, a needle elevating and depressing switch mounted, on the interior thereof, on a rock-shaft adapted to be reciprocated endwise, and means for reciprocating such rock-shaft and switch endwise, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a knitting-machine, in combination,

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a cam-cylinder, a roekshaft adapted to be slid back and forth endwise in a bearing in the interior thereof, a needle elevating and depressing switch mounted on the inner end of said rock-shaft and a switch-cam for slidingsaid rock-shaft and switch back and forth,

substantially asand for the purpose specified.

ward upon the guide-plates, leaving the in-4 termediate-heeled and short-heeled needles to knit a wide and deep stocking-heel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, needles having heels of three dierent lengthsthe intermediate heeled needles being located in two groups, between the group of long-heeled and the group of short-heeled needles-and aswitch consisting ot' a body provided in its face with a tapering groove, the inner walls whereof are cut away to reduce their height, said cam having an endwise movement outward, whereby it is caused to deiiect thelong-heeled needles upward out of action, leaving the intermediateheeled and short-heeled needles in action to the heel of a stocking, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, a rock-shaft adapted to be slid back and forth endwise in a bearing in the interior thereof, a needle elevating and depressing switch mounted on the inner end of said rock-shaft, and a switch-cam for sliding said rock-shaft and switch back and forth,

an d means for operating said switch-cam, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HOWARD E. I-IARBAUGH. Witnesses:

L. L. MORRISON, NELLiE BUNKER.

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