US687379A - Knitting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 687,379. Patented Nov. 26, l90l. W. S. MILLS.

KNIT-TINE MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 27, 1960.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets--Shee'tV l.

No. 687,379. PatentedA Nov. 26, I90l. W. S. MILLS.

KMTTING MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 27, 1900.)

nnlml No. 687,379. Patented Nov. 26,- I90I.'

W. S. MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application fixed Mar, 27. 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

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KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led. Mar. 27, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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W. S. MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application med Mar. `27. 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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:PATENT WILLIAM S.MILLS, CF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

KNlTTlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere Patent No. s873379, aerea November 2o, 1901. Application filed March 27, 1900. -ISerial No'. 10,335. (No model.)

T0 all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MILLS, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting- Machines, of which the following isa specification.

Myinvention relates to what are known in the art as straight-knitting machines, and is designed more especially as an improvement upon United States Letters Patent No. 624,065, which were granted lto me May 2, 1899, although it 'is obvious thatit is applicable in Whole or in part to machines of the circular class, its object being to not only simplify and increase the efficiency of various of its parts, but likewise to provide means whereby to insure of the commencement of each article of the series with the same color of stripe when striped Work of two or more colorsis being produced, and this, too,whethe`r the number of stripes in the article be odd or even.

To these ends my'invention consists, first, in the means through which the movement of the cams back and forth across the needles to reciprocate the latter is effected; second, in the means made useof for moving the front needle advancing and retracting cams toward and away from the inner edge of the needlebar of their coperating needles to vary the length of theloops knitted by such needles, and thereby vary the thickness of the article or fabric being produced; third, in the means whereby the rear needle-advancing cam may be automatically carried out and brought back into operative relationshiprto its respective row of needles as the knitting of a welt or the other portions of the article or fabric may require; fourth, in the means employed for raising the needle-elevators into operation when the widening of the fabric is required and holding them in that position'during the widening operation; fifth, in the means made use of for insuring the commencement of each article of a series with the same-colored stripe when striped work of two or more colors Vis being produced; sixth, in the means employed for operating the pattern-chain barrels and the devices for insuring thecommencement of each article of a series with the same-colored stripe when striped work of different colors is being produced, and, seventh, in certain other constructions and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Referring to the accompanying five sheets of drawings, which form a part of this specication, Figure lis a front elevation of a knit.- tin'g-machine constructed in accordance with my invention, certain of the parts being broken away for convenience of illustration and others omitted; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof with certain of the parts omitted for the same reason; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the machine looking from the left in Figs. l and 2; Fig. 4, a

vertical transverse sectional elevation of cer- 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5, a detached under face View of the front cam-plate and cams; Fig. 6, a detached upper edge View of the rear cam-plate and cams, showing certain of the parts through which the rear ad vanci n g-cams In ay be carried out of and brought back into operation when required in'elevation and also showing the saddle for carrying such cams and cam-plate in transverse section; Fig. 7, a detached side elevation of the pattern-chains through which the selection of the yarn-guides and the control of their movements are accomplished to eect the striping of the article or fabric being produced and the commencement of each article of a series with the same-colored stripe with the drums or barrels upon which they are supported and operated and certain of the parts cooperating therewith, one of such drums or barrels being shown in transverse section; Fig. S, a 'plan view thereof; Fig. 9, a detached longitudinal sectional elevation of the frontcameplate and cams, taken in the plane 'y y of Fig. 5 and looking downward; Fig. 10, ardetached side elevation of the yarntake-up devices with portions of the guiderods upon which they are supported and slide; Fig. 1l, a plan view of these devices; Fig. 12, a detached side elevation of the appliances through which the work-take-up devices are operated with a portion of the saddle and one of its guide-rails shown in section; Fig. 13, a detached longitudinal section of the main pattern drum or barrel with the stud upon which it is mounted and rotated ICO and the pattern-chains shown in elevation and with certain of the levers cooperating with the latter illustrated in section; Fig. 14, a detached side elevation ofa portion of the pattern-chain through which the movements of the rear advancing-cam out of and into operation are controlled to effect the knitting of awelt and the other portions of the article or fabric; Figs. 1 5'and 16, diagrammatic views showing the several positions occupied by certain stops in effecting the withdrawal of the rear advancing-cam from and the return of the same into operation as the knitting of the welt and the other portions of the article or fabricmay require; Fig. 17, a similar diagrammatic view showing the different positions occupied by certain other stops in efiecting the movements of the front cam-plate and cams toward and away from the inner edge of the needle-bar carrying their coperating needles to lengthen and shorten the loops as the eXigencies of the article or fabric being produced may demand; Fig. 18, a detail, taken principally in the plane e' e' of Fig. 4, showing a fragment of one of the needle-bars, the butts of some of the needles, one of the needle-elevators, a portion of one of the lower keepers for the needles,and a portion of one of the needlestop-bars; Fig. 19, a detail showing the connection between the pattern-chain for controlling the movement of one of the needle-elevators and the operating-bar of the latter; and Fig. 20, a detail showing devices at the right of the needlebars in Fig. 2 through which the lengthening of the loops may be effected when the advancing-cam of the needles of the rear needle-bar is withdrawn from action, as when the knitting of a welt is required.

In all the figures like letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts.

A A indicate end standards or supports which are or may be constructed of any convenient form and design and which connected and held at the proper distance apart by a front tie-rod B and a back tie-rod B constitute with them the main framing or housing of the machine in and upon which the .various parts are arranged and supported.

Secured to the respective upper ends of these standards or supports by screws a or otherwise are stands A2 and A3, which sustain and carry a front rail C and a rear rail C. These rails are preferably arranged in parallel relationship to each other and are either secured at their respective extremities to the upper ends of the stands by screws or otherwise or are formed integrally therewith, as desired, and it is in this latter form-that I have shown them constructed.

D D indicate the front and rear needlebars, respectively, which are also arranged in parallel relationship to each other, with a narrow passage-way between them through which the article or fabric being knit may be passed and with their upper surfaces inclined upward and inward toward each other, as

shown. As thus arranged they are respecttively secured to the upper sides` of the front and rear rails C and C by screws c and are provided in their upper surfaces with the transversely-arranged grooves d for reception of the needles d', which are reciprocated therein during the knitting operation. These needles are preferably of the latch form and are provided with suitable operating-butts d2, projecting upwardly from their upper sides, with the grooves d for their reception so disposed with respect to one another that 'the grooves of one needle-bar are brought opposite the spaces between the grooves in the other, whereby in the operation of the machine the needles of the one bar may be reciprocated across and between the needles of the other bar, and vice versa. The needle-grooves d being thus disposed, the raising or tilting of the needles upward or downward therein is prevented, while they are yet left free to be longitudinally reciprocated by keepers d3 and d# To this end the keepers d3 are each provided with beveled upper edges d5, whereby to prevent injurious engagement of the latches of the needles therewith when such needles are withdrawn from operation, and as thus equipped they are each located in a suitable depression formed near the upperedge of its respective needle-bar, in which position it is rigidly secured by screws or otherwise. The keepers d4, onthe other hand, are each constructed with an elongated recess d6 in its upper edge and each is located near the lower outer edge of its respective needle-bar. Instead, however, of being directly secured to the upper side thereof in a depression provided to receive them, as is the case with the keepers cl3, each of these keepers d4 is either' formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the upper edge of one or the other of the stop-bars dT, which are severally secured in an adjustable manner to the lower outer edges of the needle-bars by screws or otherwise, whereby to adjust and limit the backward movement of the needles when withdrawn from operation and at the same time afford a space between their inner faces and the outer edges of their respective needle-bars into which the dirt and other foreign substances from the needle-grooves may be carried and from which it may be removed when desired. t

Arranged in front of the front needle-bar D and in rear of the rear needle-bar D are the individual members, respectively, of a IIO side of these supporting-bars and carry near` their lower ends the cross-shaft G, which is provided on one of its ends with a handlwheel g4, that is equipped with a handle g5, and on its other end with a fast pulleyg6 and aloose i pulley gl, through which the rotation of the shaft G may be effectedV either by hand or by power, as may be desired. The bearings g and g2, on the other hand, project upward `from the supporting-bars A4 and A5 at the proper distance apart and respectively support the shafts G and G2, which are j ournaled therein, with the former operatively connected with the shaft Gthrough the intervention of spur-gears g8 and g9 and provided with sprocket-wheels g10 and g, and the latter equipped with corresponding sprocket-wheels Q12 and gw, of which the former is connected with the sproolietwheels g1@ and the latter with the sprocket-wheel g by sprocket-chains Q14 and Q15, respectively, as shown. The sprocket-chains Q14 and Q15, being thus supported and operated from the shaft G, are connected with the saddle F through the intervention of connecting-rods g1 and Q17, of which the former is connected at one of its ends to the sprocket-chain g1* and at its other to the front of the saddle, while the latter is similarly connected at one of its ends to the sprocket-chain Q15 and at its other to the rear of such saddle. By this arrangement, as will be seen, not only will a smooth and easy reciprocating motion be imparted to the saddle when the shaft G is rotated, but in consequence of the power being communicated thereto both at its' front and at its rear the length of the saddle itself may be very much shortened.

Supported on the under side of the saddle F, over and in parallel relationship to the upper surface ofthe respective needle-bars D and D', are the cam-carrying plates H and H', which are provided with the cams through which the reciprocation of the needles is effected. These cams consist of an advancingcam I and a retracting-cam I for the needles of each of the needle-bars, and these are arrangedupon the under side of their respective carrying-plates in such a relationship to each other as to form an inverted-V-shaped groove h between the advancing and retracting cams of each of the carrying-plates for engagement with the operating-butts d2 of the needles of its respective needle-bar as such groove is passed back and forth over them in its travel with the saddle F. As thus arranged the advancing-cam I of the carrying-plate H is iixedly secured to the under side of its plate by a screw i, which passes through the former and engages with a threaded orifice formed in the latter, while the retracting-cams I of both of the carrying-plates Hand H are secured to their respective plates by screws i', which pass through the latter and engage at their ends with threaded oriiices formed in the former, appropriatelyshaped adjusting-screws t3, extend-ing down- Ward through threaded orifices formed in the respective plates and engaging at their ends with the screws i', being likewise employed in connection therewith to aid in the adjustment of these cams toward and away from their respective cooperating advancing-cams, if desired, as shown in Fig. 5. The advancing-cam I of the carrying-plate H', on the other hand, instead of being secured directly to the under side ot' that plate is secured by a screw 4 and suitable dowel-pins, if preferred, to the lower end of a carrying-bar 5, which is fitted to slide perpendicularly through said plate in a suitable orifice i6, formed therein, whereby to render such cam capable of being n ot only lowered below the under surface thereof to bring it into the plane of its respective retracting-cam I for coperation therewith in the reciprocation of the needles, but raised above the same to disengage it from the butts of the needles when their retirement from action is required, a recess t7 of the proper shape and depth being formed in the under surface of the carrying plate for the reception of this cam when the latter is in its retracted position. The several cams being thus arranged, the advancing-cams for the needles of both needle-bars may be either "brought into cooperative relationship to their respective retracting-cams or one of such advancing cams withdrawn therefrom, as may be desired. When both of the advancingcams are brought into relationship to theirrespective coperating retracting-cams, the needles of both needle-bars will be successively advanced and retracted from one end of the series to the other at each forward-andbackward movement thereof and a fabric produced by the conjoint action of the nee dles of both bars when a yarn or thread is properly supplied thereto. When, on the other hand, one of these advancing-cams is withdrawn from that relationship, then the needles of but one of the needle-bars will be thus operated during each back-and-forth movement of the cams, while the needles of the other bar will remain inoperative in a re- .tracted position and a fabric will be produced by the operation of the vneedles of but'one bar alone, and thus by simply lowering or raising the advancing-cam for the needles of the needle-bar D' a fabric may be produced by the operation of either the needles of both needlc-barsor of but one, as may be desired.

When in the position for advancement and IIO retraction by the cams I and I' to effect the knitting operation, the needles d are held at the proper height in their supporting-grooves CZ to bring their operating-butts d2 into line with the lower ends of their respective operating-grooves Zi, as shown at the right in Fig. 4, by theV strain of the loops of the fabric thereon or the friction between themselves and their grooves. When, on the other hand, these needles are not required in the formation of the article or fabric and are withdrawn from coperation with those cams-as, for instance, when the narrowing operation is being performed or the narrower portions of the article or fabric are being knit-they rest lower down in their supporting-grooves, with their operating-butts below the ends of such grooves and the cams, as shown by full lines at the left of Fig. 4, andin order'to insure their maintenance in the one or the other of the positions to which theymay be thus adjusted at all times, except when being carried from the one to the other to effect the narrowing or widening operation, I provideeach of the carrying-plates H and H on its under side with the supporting-ledge K. These ledges are preferably constructed with parallel npper and under edges that terminate at their outer ends in downward and upward inclined surfaces, respectively, and are secured in place on opposite sides of the advancing-camsLwith their upper edges in line with thelower ends of the grooves Zt, by suitable screws Zr and coperating dowel-pins, if preferred. As thus arranged they en gage with the butts of the needles and serve in the back-and-forth movements of their respective carrying-plates to raise and lower such of the needles as may have been accidentally lowered or raised to any slight extent from the respective positions to which they may have been adjusted and insure their retention therein.

For carrying the needles from their upper or operative position to their lower or inoperative position, as in the narrowing operation or when the narrower portions of the fabric or article are being. produced, any of the well-known means may be employed. I

prefer, however, to effect this movement by hand and to move such of the needles as are to be retired from operation from one to the other of these positions in the required order thereby.

For carrying the needles from their inoperative into their operative position to effect the widening of the fabric, on the other hand, I make use of a needle-elevator L for the needles of each needle-bar and em ploy in connection therewith the grooves k', which severally extend upward around one and the other of the lower angles of the advancing-cam I, from its under side to the groove Zz, as shown. By these means the raising of the needles from their inoperative position andV their return into operation through the grooves k are automatically effected by the elevators, which in turn are operated by the butts of the needles that are being raised. l In order to permit of this result being accomplished, the elevators are preferably constructed in the vform of an arm, with the inner end of each extending through a Iiattened V-shaped orifice Z, formed in its appropriate carryingplate H or H directly below the advancingcam I, and the outer end thereof pivoted upon a short shaft or stud Z, that is supported from such plate above and in parallel relationship toits upper side by a stand or bracket Z2 and suitable screws Z3. As thus arranged itis adapted to be swung back and forth upon its supporting shaft or stud Zl in the direction of the travel of the operatingcams by the action of the butts of the needles upon its free end, and in order to provide for the engagement of these butts therewith this end is constructed with a head Z4, which in its normal operative position is held in line with the former and is provided on its opposite sides with notches Z5, with which the butts engage as the elevator is carried back and forth over them with the cams in the operation of themachne. Y

When the widening of the fabric or article being produced and the return of the needles from their inoperative to their operative position are not required, the elevators are held with the heads upon their free ends near the upper edge of the orificeZ in their respective carrying-plates H and I-I, above the butts of the needles then in an inoperative position, as

shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Vhen, on the other hand, the widening operation is to be performed and one or more of the needles is or are to be carried from its or their inoperative into its or theiroperative position or positions, the elevators L are lowered until their heads rest in the apexes of the lower portion of the V-shaped orifice Z in their respective carrying-plates H and H upon the surface d6 of the keepers d4, as shown by dotted lines at the right in Fig. 18, when the notches Z5 in such heads will'be brought into line for engagement with the butts of the needles of their respective needle-bars, and in order to provide for the raising and lowering of the elevators from one to the other of these positions and the automatic return of their heads to the -apeXes in the lower edges of those orifices when disengaged .from the butts of the needles, without interfering with their freedom of vibration back and forth upon their respective supportingshafts or studs Z', and the elevators are each provided with a hub Z6 upon its upper side and is fitted to both oscillate and slide longitudinally uponV its respective supporting shaft or stud, being normally pressed downward along the same, with its head in the apex of the V-shaped under edge ofv'its orifice Zup'on the surface d6 of the keeper CZ4, in line with the butts of its appropriate needles, by al coiled spring Z7, which, surrounding the shaft or stud, bears at one end against the stand or bracket Z2 and at the other against a shoulder Z8 on the hub ZG.

IOS)

IIO

The parts being arranged as thus described, when the elevators L are in their lowest position and the needle-operating cams are moved in one direction over the needles CZ by the saddle -F the butt of the first inoperative needle of each needle-bar on the opposite edge of theseries of operative needles will engage with the foremost notch Z5 in the head of its respective elevator as this elevator is brought opposite thereto and such elevator swung backward on its supporting shaft or stud Z as the movement of the cams continues. As a result of this swinging movement ofthe elevator on its supporting shaft or stud Z the under side of its head will ride up the inclined portion of the V-shaped inner edge of the orifice Z in its respective carryingplate H or H, thereby raising the elevator as a whole and carrying with it the needle with whose butt (Z2 its notch Z5 is engaged. This duplex movement ofthe elevatorwillcontinue until the butt 0f the needle has been forced upward into the groove Za', that is in its rear, when the head of this elevator in its curvilinear travel will have been carried back into the orifice Z away from the butt of the needle, which will then pass up through its appropriate groove 7c to the groove Z2, for operation by the cams I and I' at the next movement thereof in an opposite direction. The elevator having been thus swung backward by the action of the butt of the needle thereon will when released therefrom be forced downward by the spring Z7 in the orifice Z, and by the action of the inclined side of the latter upon it during this movement it will be swung forward, the result of which and of its forward movement with the cams will be to carry its head forward upon the higher surface d8 (see Fig. 1S) of the keeper (Z4, as shown by dotted lines at the left in Fig. 1S, upon which it will travel on its outward and return movement untilin itslatter movementitpasses back over the butts of the inoperative needles on that particular edge of the operative series,when it will be forced downward upon the lower snrface d6 by the spring Z7 ready for engagement with the butt of the needle on the opposite edge of the series, when the same operation will be repeated, and so on, the higher surfaces d8 serving to hold the elevator from engagement with the butts of any of the needles but the proper ones and the lower surfaces cZ serving to properly guide it and insure of its engagement with the latter as it is carried forward toward it in the operation of the machine. When, on the other hand, the needle-operating cams are moved in the opposite direction by the saddle F, then the notch Z5 on the opposite side of the head of each elevator will be brought into engagement with the butt of the first needle of its respective needle-bar on the opposite edge of the series of operative needles, and thereby the elevator swung backward inan opposite direction and similarly raised, carrying with it such needle-butt and delivering it to the other groove k for passage upward into the groove 7L for cooperation with the advancing and retracting cams I and I, respectively, at

their next movement in a reverse direction, and so on, each elevator at each back-andforth movement of the needle-operating cams engaging with and carrying into operation a single needle so long as the widening operation is continued. The widening operation having been completed, the elevators will be raised to the upper edges of the orifices in their carrying-plates II andI-I and there held until the widening operation is to be again performed, when they will be lowered into operation, as before explained, and so on.

Tothe end thatthedescent ofthe butts of the needles through the grooves Zo' m ay be prevented while they are yet left free to move upward therein when required t-hese grooves are severally provided at their upper ends with gates k2. These gates are preferably constructed of a length to extend across the upper ends of their respective grooves and are each secured to the inner side of a bar-like carrier 1.53, that is fitted to slide in a suitable guideway formed in its appropriate carrying-plate H or H', whereby to be capable of movement toward and away from its appropriategroove to close or open the same. Vhen in their closed position, the gates of each of the carrying-plates are held pressed downward into the upper ends of their respective grooves with their uppersurfaces in line with the upper surface of the ledges K by a slight spring 104, with which each of the carrying-plates is provided, and which, secured thereto by a screw 7.95, extending through a ring or loop formed near its middle portion, engages at each of its ends with a screw or pin k, projecting from the carrier 7c3 of one or the other of the gates 7a2 of the carrying-plate to which the spring is secured. While thus the upper ends ofthe grooves Zt' are normally held closed by the gates k2 and the passing of the butt-s of the needles downward therethrough at all times prevented, the gates are yet left free to be raised and the upper ends of the grooves thereby opened, as will be seen, by the action of the butts of the needles on the under side of the former as they travel upward along the latter inthe widening operation. With the carrying-plates H and II' thus equipped it may be found desirable in some instances to iixedly secure them both to the inner side of the saddle F in the required positions they are to occupy thereon by screws f. I prefer, however, to secure only one of such platesin that manner and to so mount the other that it shall be capable of an adjustable movevment thereon toward and away from the upper inner edge of its respective needle-bar, whereby to permit of varying the length of the loops during the knitting operation and thereby not only thin or thicken the fabric or article being produced, but narrow or widen it as well. In the form of the invention which I have selected for the purposes lOO IIO

.carrying-plate may be fixed and the rear plate rendered movable if so desired. The

means through which the mounting ol" the carrying-plate upon the saddle is etr'ected to allow of this adjustable movement thereon may be modilied in various ways. In my preferred form of construction, however, it consists ot' the parallelly arranged rahbeted guide-bars f2, which are'secured to the under side of the saddle F at the proper distance apart by screws f3 and receive intheit" respective rabbeted portions f4 the lips f5, formed on the ends of the carrying-plate H, that are fitted to slide up and down therein, as shown in Fig. 9. By this arrangement the ready adjustmentor" the knitting-cams to vary the length of the loops being knit is effected by simply moving the plate H up or down in the rabbeted guide-bars as the case may require. i

Sustained above the needle-bars D D' in suitable stands M, that are secured to the guide-rails E E', near their ends, by screws m, are the guide-rods M M', upon which the yarn-'carriers N N are fitted to slide. In practice there will preferably be as many ot these yarn-carriers as there are kinds and colors of yarn to be incorporated into the fabric or article to be produced. In the present instance, however, I have shown but two, and each of these is preferably constructed with a thin springy depending body portion n, having its lower end fn thickened and provided with an eye n2 for the passage of the yarn therethrough and its upper end secured to a headlike portion n3, which is titted to slide upon its respective guide rod M. As thus arranged the eyes n2 of both yarn-carriers are brought approximately over the line of crossing of the needles as the latter are reciprocated in the operation of the machine, and in order to 'maintain each of them in this position during the time it is being separately carried back andforth over the same the car- Aable stands ns, extending upward from the latter rod, as shown. The eyes n2 of both of the yarn-carriers N being thus maintained in approximately the line of crossing of the needles d are separately brought into action and operated in the required order to present their respective yarns to the needles for incorporation into the fabric or article at the points demanded and are adapted to pass each other as they are successively brought into operation and reciprocated past the other by the springy construction of their depending body portion fn, which permits of the eyes being carried outward laterally as the thickened lower ends n of the carriers arrive opposite each other and which, to permit of this 'lateral action being effected, have the ends of their inner contacting sides rounded ott or beveled back to aid in the passage of the one by the other when brought opposite thereto.

For imparting a back-and-forth reciprocating movement to theyarn-carriers N N, I make use of a locking-lever O, which is preferably constructed in the form of a bell-crank, with an upwardly-extending arm o and a laterally-projecting arm 0l, and is pivoted by a pivot o2 to the upper end of a stand P, that is secured to and extends upwardly from the saddle F, whereby to move with the latter as it travels back and forth over the needles d in the operation of the lnachine. As thus constructed and arranged the upwardly-extending arm o ot' this locking-lever coperates with studs O O', which are severally secured to and project outward from the headlike portions 'n3 of the carriers N in parallel relationship to each other and are severally provided with recesses o3, with one or the other of which the upper end of the upwardlyextending arms o ofthe locking-lever engages as such lever is vibrated back and forth on its pivot at the upper end of its carryingstand P. IVhen thus engaged with one or the other of the recesses o3, the yarn-carrier answering thereto will be locked to the saddle F and caused to travel back and forth with it to lay its yarn in the hooks of the needles IOO as such saddle is reciprocated in the operation of the machine, while the other yarn carrier or carriers will remain inoperative, and in order to provide for the movements of the yarn-carrier thus locked to the saddle in rear of the needle-operating cams in whichever of the two directions the `latter may be traveling the yrecess o3 in its stud O', instead of being constructed of a length to just receive the upper end of the upwardly-extending arm o of the locking-leverO, is constructed of a length sufticient to per-mit of the cams moving the required distance in one or the other direction to bring them into the proper relative' position with respect to that carrier before the upper end of the upwardly-extending arm of such locking-lever is brought into contact with the shoulders or walls 04 of therecess o3 ofits stud O', when the two will be moved together and their relation thereafter maintained throughout the traverse. Thus by properly engaging the u pwardly-extending arm o with and disengaging it 'from the re- IIO in any required order and their travel in proper relationship to the travel of the cams insured as well.

The yarn-carrier being constructed and operated as above described, the yarn is conducted from a suitable bobbin or spool (not shown) to the eye n2 of each through a guide-- eye n, formed in anupward-extending plate n30 of the head-like portion 71,3 of the carrier, thence under a rod or pin nl, likewise secu red in such upwardly-extending arm, and thence to and through an eye its, formed iu the free end of a take-up ui. In the construction of this take-up various forms may be adopted. I prefer, however, to construct it in the form of a bell-crank with one of its arms very much longer than the other and to pivot it at the junction of the two arms by a pivot n10 to the upper end of a stand all, which is supported at the outer extremity of a rod N12, that projects outwardly from the head-like portion n3 of the carrier with the longer arm of the bellcrank projecting inward toward the upward extending plate n30 and the shorter arm,which projects downward, connected at its lower end with the rod w12 through the intervention of an extensible coiled spring w13 and a clip H14. From the guide-eye ns of each of the take-ups uf the yarn passes to the guide-eye 'n2 of its respective carrier N and thence to its appropriate needles, where it is incorporated into the article or fabric being produced. With the yarns conducted from the bobbins to their respective needles, as thus described,the tension upon them is ordinarily rendered uniform by the action of the takeups ng, which in consequence of the difference in the length of the arms of each of the bell-cranks and the great length of their respective coperating springs als requires a considerable movement of the longer arm to change the resisting power of the takeup to any appreciable extent.' In order, however, to prevent this tension of the yarn from falling below a given limit and the consequent kinking of the yarn, as when, for instance, the yarn-earrier has passed beyond the needles in4 completing its movement in one direction and is commencing its return movement in the other, I make use of a yarnclamp with each of the take-ups, which is preferably composed of the upwardly-extending plate n30 and of a rod or bar n, secured at its upper end thereto by a screw 7116, with this upwardly-extending arm provided with a recess or bend opposite the lower portion of the rod or bar, whereby to form an inverted- V-shaped notch between it and thelatter. As thus constructed and arranged when the tension of the yarn is kept above a certain limit the eye Ang in the end o f the take-up a9 will be depressed to such an extent that the yarn will pass directly from the rod or pin nl to the eye ns in the take-up below the clamp and will be unaffected thereby, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10. When, on the other hand, the tension on the yarn falls below that limit, the eye in the end of the take-up will be caused to rise through the resiliency of the spring m13 and carry the yarn up into the notch formed in the yarn-clamp, as shown in full lines in such figure, thereby positively holding the same and preventing any more from being passed to the eye 'n2 in the carrier until the tension upon the yarn is increased sufciently to depress the take-up to near the lower limit of its movement, when the eye ns of the latter will withdraw the yarn from the clamp aud thc same be passed to the take-up directly from the rod or pin u? below the clamp, which will then cease to act upon it, and notreturn again into operation until the tension is again reduced below the desired limit, when it will be again brought into operation, and so on.

Supported upon the tie-rods B and B are stands S S',in which is journaled the take-up roll T, by means of which the article or fabric being produced is taken up and a uniform tension 'upon it maintained. This roll may be roughened on its periphery by sanding or otherwise, if desired, whereby to take a firmer hold upon the material passing around it, and is provided on the end of its supporting-shaft t wit-h a ratchet t', through which it may be rotated from a pawl t2, that is jointed to the upper end of an upwardly-extending arm t3 of an appropriate carrier, which is journaled upon the supporting-shaft t. For imparting the required oscillatory movement to this carrier'to effect the rotation of the take-up roll various means may be employed. I prefer, however, to impart it thereto through the instrumentalities of au inclined surface t4 and a coperating extensible coiled spring ta. When these devices are employed, I preferably secure the inclined surface tothe under side of the saddle F near the rear edge of the latter and employ in connection therewith a rod or bar t6, which, fitted to slide vertically in a suitable hanger t7, that depends from the underside of the rail C', is arranged in such a position with respect to the line of travel of the inclined surface as to be struck on its upper end and depressed thereby as it is carried over the same. As thus disposed this rod or bar rests at its lower 'end upon the outer free portion of an arm t8, that is fixedly secured to one of the extremities of a shaft T, which, mounted ina suitable hanger t9, that likewise depends from the under side of the rail O/,is equipped atits other extremity with a second arm 251, that is connected at its free end by a suitable connecting-rod t with the free end of a third arm tm, which extends outward from the pawl-carrier, as shown. With the inclined surface and cooperating devices thus arranged I connect the spring t5 at one of its ends to the upper extremity of the upwardly-extending armt3 and at its other to a stand 13, that is secured to and extends inward from the standard or support A, the connection between the spring and this stand being effected through the intervention of an adjusting-screw t and nut 15, whereby to allow of the adjustment of the tension on the spring and the consequent strain upon the article or fabric being produced as may be desired. By this arrangement, as will be seen, the oscillation of the pawl-carriers in a direction to draw the pawls IOO IIO

t2 backward over the teeth of the ratchet is i face I make use of a detent 1516, which, pivoted ina suitable hanger t1?, projecting upmechanism thereto.

ward from one of the stands S, is held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet by the action of gravity communicated through a backwardly-extending weighted arm t18, with ythat it is struck and depressed by the latter as it is carried over the same bythe saddle in the' operation of the machine. -As thus arranged the lower end of this rod or bar rests upon theupper side of an arma", that is lwhich it is provided.

Vith the take-up roll T is employed a fabric-roll T2, upon which the article orl fabric taken up by the take-up rollTis wound, and which, resting upon and rotated-from the take-up roll itself, has its journals resting against an upwardly-inclined abut-ment 19, formed on thel stands S S. In addition to this roll T2 there is also employed in connection e with-the take-up roll T a guide-bai-T3, which extends across from one to the other of the stands S S', in which its ends are secured, and which serves to properly conduct the article or fabric coming from the knitting The fabric being thus conducted to the take-up roll and the latter rotated by the pawl t2 from the spring 5not only is the efficient taking up of the same effected, but aunitorm tension upon itat all times insured.

The machine being thus provided with the various mechanisms described, the adjust- `ment of the carrying-plate H for the cams of the needle-bar D upward toward and downward from the inner upper edge of such bar and the bringing of the advancing-cam I for the needle-bar D with the needle-elevators L for both needle-bars and the yarn -carriers N into and the carrying of them out of operation n in the required orderand at the required times to automatically produce the desired article or fabric may loe eected by any of the wellknown forms of pattern mechanism that are adapted thereto. I prefer, however, to employ for this purpose the pattern-chains U, U', U2, U3, U4, and U5, which are severally j constructed with' appropriate high and low pattern-surfaces u and u', that are arranged thereon in thek required order, and to support Athem upon suitably-constructed sprocket wheels or barrels u2 and ua, which are respectively mounted upon the studs a4 and a5, that are secured to and extend outward from the stand A2, with the first five of these chains arranged side by side upon the former wheel or barrel and the sixth upon the latter thereof. The pattern-chains being thus supported and arranged are moved progressively forward to bring their respective high and low pattern-surfaces into operative positions by a step-by-step movement from their appropriate fixedly secured to one end of a shaft T1, which, rotatively mounted in the stand A2 and in a hanger 11,10, also depending from the under side of the rail E, is equipped at its opposite end with a second arm u11, to the upper end of which are loosely jointed the pawls M12 and e013, that respectively engage with the ratchet- wheels 11,14 and 11,15, that are severally secured to their appropriate sprocket wheels or barrels u2 and us. On the other hand, to

withdraw the pawls after they have been moved forward to rotate their respective sprocket wheels or barrels and return the rod or bar ui' to its normal position ready for contact with the inclined surface ue as it is carried over the same I make use of the spring u16,which,coiled around the shaft T4,is iXedly securedat one end thereto and at the other to the stand A2 or other convenient part by a screw or pin u". By the arrangement of the parts as thus described the forward rotation of the sprocket wheels'or barrels the distance of one tooth will be positively effected at each forward-and-back reciprocation of the saddle yF, which rotation will be of sufcient extent to bring the required high and low patternsurfaces'on the pattern-chains into operative position, and in order to prevent such sprocket wheels or barrels from moving backward after having been thus moved forward by their respective pawls the ordinary detents p85 for engaging with the ratchet-wheels, asis now common, 'may be employed, if desired. l

The pattern-chain U2 is employed for controlling the movements of the cam-carrying plate H of the needle-bar D upward toward and downward from the inner edge of the latter torespectively shorten or lengthen the loops of the article or fabric being produced, as desired. To this end I make use of the shaft H2, which is journaled inthe stands A2 and A3 and, provided with an arm 7L', that carries at its outer free end a roll h2 for contact with the pattern-chain, is equipped near its opposite ends with arms h3 and h4, that respectively carry stops h5 and h6. These stops are preferably constructed in the form of inwardly-proj ectin g pins and coperate with the plate II through the intervention of the eccentric'cams Wand ha, which, fitted to rotate IIO "in the respective slots 719 and, 7110 formed in the plate H longitudinally of the same, are

respectively secured to the lower ends of shafts 7111 and 7112, that extend upwardly through the saddle F and the respective stands 7113 and 7114, secured to its upper side, in which they are rotatively mounted, and are respectively provided at their upper ends with cranks 7115 and 7116, which are connected.

bya connecting-rod 7111, whereby' they are caused,with the eccentric cams and their supporting-shafts, to move in unison. parts constructed and organized as thus explained the connecting rod 7117 will be so disposed that in its travel back and forth with the saddle F one or the-other of its ends will be brought into contact with and be moved by one or the other of the stops 715 or 1 716, the eccentric cams 717 and 718 thereby rotated in one or the other directions, the plate H moved upward toward or downward from the inner or knocking-over edge of the needle-bar D, and the loops of the article or fabric produced correspondingly shortened or lengthened. In order, therefore, to provide for the requisite moving of the plate auto' ing-rod, as it is reciprocated back and forth with the saddle F, will strike and be moved by the stop 715, thereby rotating the eccentric cams 717 and 712 and through them raising the plate H and the knitting-cams thereon, with the consequent effect'of shortening the length of the loops being knit. On the other hand, when the high pattern-surfaces 11 are carried beneath the roll 712 then the stop 71G will be moved into line with the connecting-rod 7117 and the stop 715 carried to the opposite side thereof, whereupon the rod will be struck and moved by the stop 716 as the former is reciprocated back and forth with the saddle F, the eccentric cams 717 and 712 thereby rotated in an opposite direction, and through them the plate H with the knitting-cams thereon moved downward, with the result of lengthening the loops, and so on, the movement of the plate and cams to accomplish this shortening and lengthening effect being thus determined by the arrangement of the low and high patternsurfaces upon their pattern-chain and by a cooperating spring 7118, which, coiled around the shaft H2, is connected at one end thereto and at the other to the stand A2 or other convenient part. The pattern-chain U3 is in like manner employed for controlling the retraction and protrusion of the advancingcam I of the needles of the needle-bar D', whereby to render it inoperative and operative as may be required in the formation of a welt or of 'With the welts in the article or fabric being produced. In order to render it capable of accomplishing this result, I make use of a shaft I2, which is preferably mounted in the stands A2 and Asand, provided with an arm 18, that carries in its outer free end a roll 19 for contact with the pattern-chain, is equipped with two additional arms 110 and 111, that respectively carry stops 112 and 113. These stops, like the stops 715 and 7111, are preferably constructed in the form of inwardly-projecting pins and coperate with a bar 114, which, fitted to slide in a suitable stand 115, projecting upward from the saddle F, is provided with a longitudinally-arranged groove or slot 1111, that engages with a lug or pin 111, projecting outward from the side of the cam-carrying bar15, with the middle portion of this groove or slot inclined vertically to the line of travel of its carrying-bar and its opposite ends disposed in parallelism thereto. With the parts through which the pattern-chain operates thus constructed and arranged the elevation and depression of the carrying-bar 15 and the consequent retraction and protrusion of the cam I, carried thereby, is edected by simply sliding the bar111 longitudinally in the stand 115, which may be accomplished by the stops 112 and 113 as this bar is carried back and forth by the saddle F in its reciprocation during the operation of the machine. In order,there fore, to permit of this bar 114 being moved from that source and when so moved in one or the other direction left during a number of reciprocations of the saddle F without disturbance, the stops 1.12 and 112 instead of being arranged in line with each other are, as with the stops 715 and 716 and connecting-rod 7111, so disposed with respect to eachother and to such bar that when one is brought into line therewith the other is carried to one side thereof, and vice versa, as shown in Fig. l5. As thus related when the low pattern-surfaces 11 are passed beneath the roll 1f in the arm 18 the stop 112 will be carried into line with the bar 114 and the stop 113 carried to one side thereof, the result of which will be that when the bar is reciprocated by the saddle F it will be brought into contact at its end with `the former stop and moved into the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby forcing the camcarrying bar 15 downward and protruding the cam I on its lower end into operative position. In this relation it will remain as long as the low pattern-surfaces are interposed beneath the roll 19 in the arm 18 and the knitting of the main body portion of the article or fabric will be effected. On the other hand, when the high pattern-surfaces 11 are passed beneath the roll 19, as when the knitting of a welt is required, then the stop 113 will be brought into line with the bar 111and the stop 112 carried to one side of it, when the bar in its reciprocation with the saddle F will be carried at its end into contact with the former stop and moved to the left in Fig. G, with the consequent result of raising the cam-carrying IOO IIO

IZO

l bar '125 and retracting the cam I into ah inoperainterposed beneath the roll 9 and the knitting of the Welt requires, but will be returned to its operative position by the stop 12 as soon asA they are removed from under it by the action of a spring 19, which, surrounding the shaft I2 and connected at one end thereto, is connected at the other with the stand A2, and so on. In most instances the cam I when retracted for forming a welt or otherwise will be retained in that position during the knitting of.

a number of courses of loops by the needles of the other bar, in which cases a number of high pattern-surfaces arranged in sequence upon the pattern-chain will be required. In other instances, on the other hand, it is found desirable to retract the cam and hold it with its cooperating set of needles out of operation during the knitting of but a single course by the needles of the other bar, which in consequence of the fact that the pattern-chain is only fed forward at every second course of knitting to change the pattern-surfaces beheath the roll @'11 cannot be accomplished by the low and high pattern-surfaces u and u, respectively. To eiect this result, therefore, I provide the pattern-chain U3 with a single pattern-surface ux, which is made of the proper height to just bring the stop 13 into position to strike the end of the bar 7214 near its side when brought into contact therewith, while yet leaving the stop @'12 inl position to strike the other end thereof` near its other side, as shown in Fig. 16. ment, as will be seen, the bar @'14 after having been struck and moved in its reciprocation by the stop 'i12 and the cam I carried into operative position will in its next reciprocation in the opposite direction be struck and moved in a reverse direction by the stop 13, thereby retracting such cam into an inoperative position, in which it will be held until the bar 11 is again reciprocated in the other direction, when it will be struck and moved by the stop '12 and the cam again carried into operation after having been withdrawn therefrom during the knitting of but a single course by the needles of the other bar and the knitting of the body or main portion of the article or fabric resumed and continued with both sets of needles, as before, and so on.

With the parts above described for knitting welts at the required places in the article or fabric being produced I make use of devices for causing the lengthening of the loops at the times these welts are being knit, which in my preferred construction consists of the spring arm or bar @'18, that is secured at one of its ends to the arm 11 of the shaftI2 by being clamped thereto by the stop @'13 or otherwise and, extending across the machine, has its free end disposed across the front of the arm h4 of the shaft Ilz. In its normal position, as when the advancing-cams I of the needles of the rear needle-bar are in operative position By this arrangeand the main or body portion lof the article or fabric is being knit, the free end of this arm or bar @'18 is disposed beneath the axis of the stop h6, as shown in full lines in Fig. 18, and is inoperative. On the other hand, when this cam is carried into its inoperative position and the arm 11 of the shaft I2 is moved outward by the operation of the high pattern-surfaces on the pattern-chain then the free end of this arm or bar @'18 will be raised across the axis of the stop 71.6, as shown by dotted lines in that ligure, and afford an abutment across the same, which willthen be struck by the connecting-rod 71.17 as it is reeiprocated in that direction and moved thereby, the result of which will be to cause the rotation of the eccentric cams k7 and 71,8, the movement of the plate II downward from the inner edge of the needle-bar D, and the lengthening of the loops being knit by that needle-bar. In this position the arm or bar 0118 will remain so long as the advancing-cam I is held in an inoperative position, but will be carried down across the axis of the stop 7111 and out of action when that cam is returned into operation and the connecting-rod in its reciprocation.thereupon moved'in the opposite direction by contact with the stop h5, with the consequent eect of raising the plate H, and thereby shortening the loops, and these several operations are repeated as often as the knitting of welts is required. The pattern-chainsU and U', on the other hand, are availed of for permitting the return of the needle-elevators L L into and for carrying them out of operation at the required times, the chain U being employed in connection with the elevator of the needles of the needle-bar D and the chain U in connection with the elevator of the needles of the needle-bar D'. To permit of these chains accomplishing the resultthus speciiied, the shafts L' and L2 are made use of, which are rotatively mounted in the stands A2 and A3 below and outside of the needle-bars, respectively, and are severally provided with outwardly-extending arms Z111, (see Fig. 19,) that are jointed at their outerfree ends to the outer free ends of the levers Z11,which mounted upon the studs i12, extending outward from the stand A2, are severally provided in their other ends with rolls Z13, which rest upon and are supported from their appropriate patternchains. As thus arranged and equipped these shafts are each provided at the proper distances apart with a number of outwardly and upwardly extending arms 2.14, that support and carry at or near their outer free ends, in parallel relationship to their respective supporting-shafts, a rod Z15, which coperates with its appropriate needle-elevator through the intervention of a sliding connecting-bar Z1, that is fitted to slide in a suitable guideway l", formed in the saddle F to receive it. In their normal positions these elevators L L are held with their free ends raised above the butts of the needles that are to be carried into operation to effect the widening IOO IIO

of the article or fabric by the mechanism above described, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and in these positions the rolls 15 rest upon the low surfaces uof their respective pattern-chains. On the other hand, when they are to be lowered to bring them into operative positions then the high surfaces u on their appropriate pattern-chains are passed beneath the rolls Z15, carrying the rods Z15 in directions away from their respective elevators and allowing the latter to be carried downward into their operative positions with their coperating connecting-bars Z16 and there held by their respective springs Z7 until these high surfaces are carried from under theircoperatin g rolls Z15, when they will be again raised and carried out of operation, and so on, the high and low surfaces on the respective pattern-chains thus determining when the elevators shall return into and be carried out of operation. The shafts L and L2, with the parts connected therewith, being thus moved in the one direction by the high surfaces on the patternchains are returned in the other, when the high surfaces are relnoved from under the rolls Z15 by the action of gravity through the Weighted arms Z112, one or more of which is or are fixedly secured to each of the shafts or by springs, as preferred. With the needleelevators connected with their respective cooperating pattern-chains as above explained not only are the movements of the former into and out of operation controlled by the latter, but in consequence of the sliding connection between them and their respective cooperating rods Z15 they are yet left free to slide back and forth with the needle-operating cams without the operating continuity of the mechanism between them and their pattern-chains being broken at any time. While the pattern-chains U2, U2, U, and U are thus respectively employed in connection with the cam-carrying plate H, the advancing-cam I, and the needle-elevators L, the pattern-chains U1 and U5 are utilized to control the movements of the yarn-carriers N N, as the exigencies of the pattern being produced or materials employed may require. To this end I make use of the switch N', which, provided in its 'face with a longitudinal tapering groove 01,51 for engagement with the laterally-projecting arm o of the locking-lever O, is iiX- edly secured to a shaft N2, that is rotatively mounted in the stands M M and is oscillated in one or the other direction, as the requirements of the particular pattern may demand. When oscillated to its limit of movement in one direction, the outer end of the laterallyprojecting arm 0 in passing through the groove i115 in its travel with the saddle F will tilt the locking-bar O on its pivot o2 and carry its upwardly-extending arm o out of engagement with the recess o3 in the stud O of one of the yarn-carriers and into the recess o3 of the stud of the other. On the contrary, when this shaft is oscillated to the limit of its movement in the opposite direction then the outer end of the laterally-projecting arm vin passing through such groove will tilt the locking-bar upon its pivot in an opposite direction, thereby disengaging its upwardly-extending 4arm fromthe recess in the stud of the last and carrying it into engagement with the recess in the stud of the rst mentioned carrier, and in order to'yieldingly hold the lockingbar in either of the positions into which it may thus be tilted I make use of a spring w22, which is secured to the side of the stand P and coperates with the cylindrical hub o1 of the locking-bar through a suitable frictionpad o5.

In those cases where the nature of the desiguor article being fabricated is such that it is wholl y unessential which of the various yarns is employed to form the initial stripe the pattern-chain U4, with the proper arrangement of high and low pattern-surfaces thereon, may be used alone with a spring 'm25 to control the oscillation of the shaft N2 to produce it, in which case the connection between the chain and the shaft will preferably be effected through a lever m22, which, fulcrumed upon a suitable stud 97,17, extending outward from the stand A2 and provided at its inner free end with a roll w12 for resting upon the pattern-chain, is connected at its outer end through the instrumentality of a rod 1219 with the free end of an arm 71,20, that is xedly secured to the end of the shaft, as shown. On the other hand, in those cases where from the peculiarities of the design or otherwise it is essential that the rst or initial stripe of the successive articles in the series be invariably of the same color then both the'pattern-chains U1 and U5, with the spring 0125, are required. When thus employed, the chain U5 is preferably lnade use of for controlling the oscillation of the shaft N2 and the chain U4 for controlling the movements of the chain U5. To this end the chain U5 is constructed of a length to contain any convenient number of repetitions of high and low pattern-surfaces u and u', and, mounted upon the sprocketwheel or barrel us, is connected with the shaft N2 through the intervention of a lever i121, which, fulcrumed upon a stud '11.17, extending outward from the stand A2 and carrying at its outer free end a roll 1121, that rests upon the pattern-chain U5, is connected at a point intermediate its ends by a connecting-rod 0222 with the outer end of an arm w22, which is fiXedly secured to the end of the shaft N2. By this arrangement, as will be seen, the oscillation of that shaft and the bringing of the yarn-carriers into and the carrying of them out of operation in the required order are effected, and in those cases wherein the number of repetitions of the stripes or other elements composing the design in the article is even the commencement of each succeeding article with the .same-colored stripe or element will be effected without assistance. When, on the other hand, the number of stripes or other elements of the design are IOO IIO

odd, then it is apparent that unless some other means are employed to prevent it the first stripe or element of the design of the first article produced will be of one color, that of the second of a different color, that of the third the same as the first, where but two colors areemployed, and so on in alternation to the end' of the series. To obviate this and insure the yarn-carriers being brought into and retired from operation in the required order, I provide such of the pattern-surfaces lwand u of the pattern-chain U5 as may be necessary with pins 1124, projecting outwardly from their sides, and employ in connection therewith a lever fa25,which, fulcrumed at one end upon the stud n with the levers m53 and w54 and carrying at its other end a projection or shoe w for contact with the pins, has fulcrumed upon its upper side, transversely of the same, a second lever n27, that has one of its arms extended beneath the overhung portion 'n.28 of the lever n35 and has secured to its other a depending hook 9129 for engagement with the pawl U15. As thus arranged, whenever the pattern-chain U5 is progressively moved forward by its carrying sprocket-wheel or barrel under the impulses of the pawl 'w13 the lever w25 will be raised at its free end as the successive pins w24 are passed beneath its shoe w25, carrying with it the lever w27, fulcrumed to its upper side, which, engaging at one of its ends with the overhung portion m28, will be tilted on its fulcrum and the depending hook w25 at its free end raised upward toward the under side of the pawl m13. When the roll n on the lever n35 is resting on the low surfaces u of the pattern-chain U4, however, the tilting of this lever n2? upon its fulcrum will not be sufficient to raise the pawl w13 from engagement with the teeth of its cooperating ratchet-wheel w15. On the other hand, when this roll 'm15 rests upon one of the high surfaces u of the pattern-chain U4 then the overhung portion w28 of the lever w53 will be so depressed that when the lever w27 is raised by the lever w25 under the inuences of the pins 7124 it will be tilted to such an eX- tent as to raise, through its depending hook '1129, the pawl als from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet M15, and thereby suspend the forward movement of the chain U5. In this condition the chain U5 will remain so long as the high pattern-surfaces u on the pattern-chain U4 are interposed beneath the roll fns, but its forward movement will be again resumed as soon as those surfaces are withdrawn and the low surfaces u substituted in their stead, and so on. Thus by properly arranging the respective high and low surfaces u and u on the pattern-chain U4 the raising of the pawl um Afrom the teeth of the ratchet-wheel m15 may be effected to control the movements of the pattern-chain U5 and such chain either held from forward movement, if the appropriate yarn-carrier is in position to produce the desired stripe, or allowed to move forward to bring it intooperation, as may be required. While thus the movements of the cam-carrying plate H, the advancing-cam I, the needle-elevators TJ, and the yarn carriers N are individually controlled by their respective pattern-chains, the mounting of the chains U, U', U2, U3, and U4 upon a common sprocket-wheel or barrel and the employment of the pattern-chain U5 upon a separate sprocket-wheel or barrel, but operated from the same source, permits of the movements of those several parts at all times in the required order with respect to one another to produce the desired article or fabric and properly locate the design or pattern being knit thereon.

In some instances wherethe pattern to be produced is not too long the pattern-chains U, U', U2, U5, and U4 may be made of a sufficient length to permit of being moved forward at each forward movement of the pawl uw, in which cases the links of each chain intermediate those carrying the pattern-surfaces that determine the movement of the respective part controlled by it will be provided With pattern surfaces of the same height as that of the surface last operated to determine one of those movements. It is preferred, however, to construct these chains of approximately such length as will permit of their respective links carrying only those pattern-surfaces that are operative to determine the movements of the respective parts controlled therefrom and such further inoperative surfaces as may be required and to employ in connection with these chains an additional chain U5, whereby to permit of their being brought into operation by the pawl uw when the movement of the part or parts controlled by any one or more of them is or are required and to interrupt and suspend such operation when the movement of that part or those parts is or are not demanded; but as this arrangement forms no part of my present invention and is or may be the same as that shown in my before-mentioned Letters Patent no further description thereof is re quired herein.

With the parts above described may be employed any of the ordinary and well-known forms of friction devices for preventing the sprocket-wheels or barrels u2 and us from being carried forward beyond the required distance by the momentum communicated to them from their respective actuating-pawls. In Fig. 13, however, I have shown them constructed in the form of a concave springwasher o and a brake c5, and these may be employed either alone or together, as may be preferred. When used together, the brake U5 will be preferably availed of to impart the principal amount of resistance to the rotation of the wheel or barrel and the spring-washer i; made use of to vary and adjust the resistance to the particular requirements demanded. To this end the brake o5 is supported from the stand A2 through the intervention of a rod o4 and stud 05, with its con- IIOA caveupper surface pressed' against the periphery of its respective sprocket-wheel or barrel by a spring c, while the concave spring-washer c is applied tothe end of the supporting-stud of its appropriate sprocketwheel or barrel and is forced against the latter with the required pressure by a nut fu', threaded upon the former and acting through a sleeve Q12, which may be constructed of yielding and elastic material or otherwise, as preferred. These resisting means, however, constitute no part of my present invention and may be modified in various ways or omitted, as the exigencies of the machine may require.

By the construction and arrangement of parts above described a machine is produced in which not only is the mechanism for severally bringing certain of the needles into action to eifect the wideningof the article or fabric being produced to fashion the same, for throwing the needles of one'needle-bar out of and for bringing them back i-nto operation to form welts, and for carrying one and then the other of a plurality of yarn-carriers out of and for returning them into operation to form transverse stripes greatly simplified and rendered more certain in its action, but the adjustment ofthe knitting-cams to vary the length of the knitting -loops and the control of the yarn-carrier pattern-chain to insure of the rst or initial stripe or element of a design in each of the articles of a series being formed of the same color or material automatically eected.

Although in the foregoing I have described the embodiment of my invention which I have applied in practice, I wish it distinctly understood that -I do not limit myself strictly thereto, but reserve the right to modify the same in various ways and still be within the spirit thereof.

Having now described my invention and specified certain of the ways in which it is or :may be carried into effect, I claim and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The combination, with a pair of parallellysarranged shafts, the knitting-cams', and the support or carrier for such cams, of apair of sprocket-wheels on each of said shafts, one of which wheels is located in relation to the front and the other in relation to the rear of the cam support or carrier, a pair of sprocketchains for connecting the sprocket-wheels of one shaft with the sprocket-wheels of the other shaft, connecting-rods for connecting each of these sprocket-chains with the cam support or carrier whereby the power for reciprocating such cam support or carrier is communicated thereto from such shafts at the front and rear thereof, and devices through which the shafts may be rotated, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the parallelly-arrangedshafts G' and G2, the sprocket-wheels Q10 and 911 secured to the former, the sprocketwheels g12 and g13 secured to the latter, and the sprocket-chains guand 915 for respectively connecting the sprocket-wheels 5710 and Q12,

vand Q11 and Q13, the saddle F, and connectingshaft G provided with fast and loose pulleys and a hand-wheel,and supports for said shafts substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a needle-bar, the needles carried thereby, a cam-carrying plate provided with longitudinally-disposed slots, a needle-retracting cam mounted thereon, a saddle for supporting such cani-carrying plate and needle-retracting cam, and devices for reciprocating the saddle, ot' a pattern mechanism, eccentric cams for engaging with said slots, means by which these eccentric cams are connected and caused to rotate in unison, and intermediate devices between such pattern mechanism and the means for connecting the eccentric cams, whereby the cam-carrying plate with the needle-retracting cam thereon may be automatically adjusted upon the saddle upwardly toward and downwardly from the upper or knocking-over edge of the needle-bar to vary the length of theloops being knit, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a cam-carrying plate provided with longitudinal slots, the needle-retracting cam carried thereby, the saddle to which the cam-carrying plate is adj ustably secured, mechanism for reciprocating t-he saddle, a pattern-chain, and actuating devices therefor, of a shaft provided with an arm for co peratin g with the pattern-chain and with oppositely-arranged stops disposed in parallel relationship to each other, eccentric cams for engaging with the slots in the cam-carrying plate, shafts upon which these cams are secured journaled in the saddle and provided at their ends with cranks, and a rod through which these cranks are connected, whereby, upon the rocking of the first-mentioned shaft by the pattern-chain, one or the other of the stops thereon is brought into line with said rod and this rod moved therefrom, and the cam-carrying plate thereby adjusted up or down on the saddle by the rotation of its engaging cams in one or the other direction, substantially as described.

` 5. The combination, with the saddle F provided with guideways, the cam-carrying plate H fitted to slide in such guideways and provided with slots h and hw, the retracting-cam I secured to such plate, the eccentric cams k7 and hs, the shafts 71,11 and k12, the cranks 7115 and hw, and the connecting-rod 7L, of the shaft I'I2 provided with stops lr? and h6, and with arm h provided with a roll 712, spring h18, pattern-chain U2, and mechanism for ac` tuating the same, substantially as described. 6. The combination, with a needle-support, the needles carried thereby, a needle-advanc- IOO IZO

erated by this mechanism, whereby, when responding lengtheningand shortening of the ing cam, a carrying-bar to which this cam isy secured, and a support in which this bar is carried and by which it is reciprocated back and forth across the needles, of a second-bar carried by such support and arranged to slide across the cam-carrying bar, a pin-and-slot connection between such bars through which the sliding ofthe former back and forth across the latter will positively retract and protrude said cam, a pattern mechanism, and devices intermediate such pattern mechanism and lthe second bar, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a cam-carrying plate H', a saddle F, the means through which this saddle is supported and reciprocated, a needle-ad vancing cam I, a bart'5 to which this cam is secured provided with a pin 11, a bar @'14 provided with a longitudinally-arranged groove '71 with which such pin engages, and a stand-in which this bar is fitted to slide transversely of the cani-carrying bar 75, of a shaft I2, provided with an arm 78 and with the oppositely-arranged stops 712 and 713, a spring t1, a pattern-chain U3 provided with appropriate high and low pattern-surfaces u, and

low pattern-surfaces to anda and with Aan intermediate pattern-surface ux, andV mechanism through which the pattern-chain may be moved forward, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the-needle-bar D, the needles arranged therein, the cam-carrying plate H, and the knitting-cams carried thereby, the saddle F, means for supporting and reciprocating it, devices through which such cam-carrying plate may be moved upon the saddle upward toward and downward from the upper or knocking-over edge of said needle-bar, a rod 7L11 through which these devices are operated, and a stop 71.6 for coperating with said rod, of a cam-carrying plate a needle-advancing cam I, mechanism for retracting and protruding this cam in and from such carrying-plate, and an arm 718 opt-he advancing-cam carried by the plate H is retracted and protruded the free end of this spring-arm is respectively carried between and-from the rod 7t17and stop h6 to causeacorloops being knit, substantially as described.

l0. The combination,with the front needlebar D, the needles c7' arranged therein, the cam-carrying plate H provided with slots 7L9 and 7t10, the needle advancing and retracting cams carried by such plate, the saddle F, means by which this saddle is supported and reciprocated, cams 717 and hs and shafts 71117112, respectively, through which the cam-carryin g plate may be adjusted upward toward and downward from the upper or knocking-over edge of the needle-bar D, the rod It by which the cams h1' and 778 are connected and caused to rotate in unison, and the shaft H2 provided with the stop 776, of the cam-carrying plate H', the needle-advancing cam I carried thereby, the shaft 12 provided with an arm is, devices intermediate this shaft and such advancing-cam, a pattern-chain, devices for actuating it, a spring 715, and a spring-arm '71S carried by saidshaft `I2, whereby upon the retraction and protrusion of the advancingcam carried by the cam-carrying plate II', the free end of the spring-arm 1S will be respectively carried inward between and outward from the stop h6 and connecting-rod 72.11, to cause-a lengthening and shortening of the loops being knit, Substantially as described.

ll. The combination, with a cam-carrying plate provided with a V-shaped orice 7, the saddle F, means by which this saddle is supported and reciprocated, ashaft 7', a stand 72 by which such shaft is-supported, a needle-elevator L carried by said shaft and eX- tending through the orifice 7, and a spring 77 for, normally pressing the needle-elevator downward against the lower edge of such oritice, of a shaft provided with outwardly and upwardly extending arms 711 and arranged below the cam-carrying plate, a rod 715 supported near their'outer free ends in parallel relationship to the shaft, a pattern-chain, devices for actuating said pattern-chain in the direction of its length, Weighted arms 718, a lever connection between the pattern-chain and said shaft, and a sliding connecting-ba 716, substantially as described.

l2. `The combination, with the shaft N2 provided with a switch, a pattern-chain provided with a plurality of rows of pattern-surfaces, devices through which this pattern-chain may be actuated in the direction of.its length, a lever coperating with one row of these pattern-surfaces, connections between this lever and the shaft N2, and a second lever coperating with the other row of pattern-surfaces, of a second pattern-chain, devices through which it is actuated in the direction of its length, a third lever cooperating with this last-mentioned pattern-chain, and a fourth lever fulcrumed upon and transversely of the second lever with one of its ends engaging with the free end of the fourth lever and its other end engaging with actuating devices of the first-mentioned pattern-chain, whereby when the appropriate pattern-surfaces on the two pattern-chains are brought beneath the second and the third of such levers the fourth lever will be tilted upon its fulcrum and the movement of the first-mentioned patternchain thereby' arrested, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the shaft N2 provided with an arm n.23, and with a switch N', a pattern-chain U5 provided with high and low pattern-surfaces, a Wheel or barrel upon IIO which such pattern-chain is mounted and actuated provided with a ratchet uw, a pawl M13 l for rotating such ratchet, devices through which this pawl is reciprocated, a lever n.34 for cooperating with said pattern-surfaces, a connecting-rod 'i122 between this lever and the arm 71,23, and a spring 71.36, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the patternchain U provided with pattern-surfaces, a

.sprocket-Wheel us upon which it is mounted provided with a ratchet w15, a pawl uw, devices through which this pawl is reciprocated, and a lever 72.25 for cooperating with such pattern-surfaces, of a second pattern-chain U4, provided with high and low pattern-surfaces, a sprocket-wheel u2 upon which this chain is mounted,devices through which this sprocket- Wheel is rotated, a second lever m33 for coperating with this pattern-chain, a third lever 97.27 fulcrurned upon and transversely of the lever 9125, with one of its ends engaged with .the free end of the lever m33 and its other end provided with a depending hook n2 for engagement with the pawl um, whereby, upon the passage of appropriate pattern-surfaces on the two pattern-chains beneath the levers m and 'm53 at the same time, the'lever 1127 will be tilted upon its fulcrum and the pawlu13 thereby raised from engagement with the ratchet u and the motion of the sprocket- .Wheel 'w3 arrested, substantially as described.

WILLIAM S. MILLS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. APPLETON, R. F. SWEENY.

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