US687380A

US687380A - Knitting-machine.

Info

Publication number: US687380A
Application number: US3795700A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Mills
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-11-28
Filing date: 1900-11-28
Publication date: 1901-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1918-11-26

Description

No 687,380. Patented Nov. 26, I901.

W. S. MILLS.

v KNITTING MACHINE.-

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

7 Sheets-Sheet I.

(NoModeL) m: mama mans co. n'acma-umo. WASNINGTON. a. c.

No. 687,380. Patentad Nov.- 26, l90l.

W. S. MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets$haef 2.

W. S. MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applicationflld Nov. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

FL J.

Patented Nov. '26 IQOL Emilia "m: NORRIS PEYERS ca, PHOTO-L|THO., wgsmns'rori. n, c.

No. 687,380.. .Patented Nov. 26, l90l. W. S. IMLLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

mammals mews o0, mm'cxumou wuumoron, n. c.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 25, I9OI. W. S MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed Nov. 28, 1900,)

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

THE "cams PCTER! 0a.. PNOYO'LITHOH wnsnmamn, u. c.

No. 687,380. Patented Nov. 26, l90l. W S MILLS KNITTING MACHINEQ (Applicatiun filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

-- ma uonms warms 0a.. woumu wismwmu, u. c,

Patented Nov. 26, IQDI.

W. S. MILLS.

' KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

' "m: "cums PETERS co. momrmm wAsmuu'Yon. b. c

PATENT K mes.

WILLIAM s. MILLS, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNEOTlCUT.

KNITTING- MACHINE.

srncr'nloetriolv' forming-part of Letters Patent No. 687,380, dated November 26,1901.

Application filed November 28; 1900. Serial. 110.37,!357- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM S. MILLS, a citi-J 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 is a specification.

Myinve'ntiomwhile relating to knitting-machines generally, has reference more particularly to that form thereof which are employed in the production of articles that are provided with appropriate welts and fashioned portions and are or may be ornamented with transversely-arranged stripes of diife'rent colors or materials. In an application for Letters Patent filed by me in the United States Patent Office March 27,1900, Serial No. 10,335, I have shown and described a knitting-machine of this class in which the article being knit is continuouslyreproduced in a connected chain or series and the various operations necessary to the forming of the welt, the varying of the length of the loops, the ornamentation of the articles, and the bringing of the suc cessive needles into operation for widening the same are all accomplished automatically and in the required order through the instrumentality of appropriate pattern mechanism. This construction, while eflicient in accomplishing the results thus specified, has been found more or less deficient when applied in the production of certain articles, principally because of the factthat no means are provided for automatically withdrawing the needles from operation when the knitting of the narrower portions of the article is required, and as a consequence of this their withdrawal therefrom when those portions are to be produced can only be eifected byhand. To supply this deficiency, therefore, and render the machine automatic in all its operations, as well as more simple and efficient in construction and operation, are the objects of my present invention.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in the peculiarities of construction of the needle-ad vancing cams and in the means whereby they are adjusted; second, in the means by which the necessary needles are automatically withdrawn from operation when the knit ting of the narrower portions'of the article is required, and, third, in various other constructions and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knitting-machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

certain of the parts being broken away for convenience of illustration and others omitted Fig. 2, a horizontal section thereof, taken in the line y y of Fig. 3, with certain of the parts similarly broken away for a like reason and the several pattern-chains also omitted; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the machine with certain of the parts likewise broken away for a similar reason; Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section taken in the plane 00m in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the front cam-carrying plate with the parts supported thereby; Fig. 6, an under side elevation of the rear camcarrying plate, showing the needle-operating and needle-withdrawing cams, the needleelevator, and the various other parts supported thereby; Fig. 7, a corresponding under side elevation of the front cam-carrying plate, showing in like manner the needle-operating and needle-withdrawing cams, the needle-elevator, and the several other parts supported by it; Fig. 8, a detached side elevation of the rear needle-elevating cams and their operating-slide, showing the relative position occupied by these cams when the slide is at the limit of its movement in one direction; Fig. 9, a similar detached side elevation of the same parts, showing the relative positions occupied by these cams when the slide is at the limit of its movement in the opposite direction; Fig. 10, a diagrammatic View of the needle operating and withdrawing cams, the needle-supporting ledges, and the needles, showing the operation of the parts and the movements of needles during the knitting operation; Fig. 11, a similar View of the same elements, showing the operation of the parts and the movements of the needles during the withdrawal of the end needles of the series in effecting the narrowing operation; Fig. 12, a transverse sectional detail, partly in side elevation, of a portion of the front needle-bar and of certain of the parts cooperating therewith, taken in the plane to a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 13, a detail plan of one of the occupied by certain other stops relative to.

their respective coeperating bars in accomplishing the required adjustments of the advancing and retracting cams of the needles of the front needle-bars to effect both the reciprocation of these needles and the lengthening and shortening of the loops produced by them; Figs. 17 and 18, diagrammatic views showing the difierent positions occupied by still other stops relative to their cooperating bars in accomplishing the required adjustment of the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-bar, whereby those needles are not only reciprocated, but carried out of and brought back into operation at the required times; and Fig. 19, a detail isometric projection of one of the sliding bars for operating the advancing-cams ofa slightly-modified construction, with the stops for cooperating therewith and portions of the arms in which these stops are supported.

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

AA' indicate the end frames or standards, upon which the various parts of the machine are arranged and supported and which, connected and held at the proper distance apart by appropriate tie rods or rails, (not shown,) have secured to their respective tops by screws or or otherwise the stands A and A that support and carry a front rail 0 and a rear rail 0'. 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 respectively secured to the upper sides of the front and rear rails C and O by screws 0 and are provided in their upper surfaces with the transversely-arranged grooves 01 for reception of the needles d, which are recipro- 'cated therein during the knitting operation. These needles are preferably of the latch form and are provided with the usual operating-butts d ,projecting upwardly from their upper sides, with the grooves (Z for their reception so disposed with respect to one another that the grooves of one needle-bar are brought opposite the spaces betweenv 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 are prevented, while they are yet left free to be longitudinally reciprocated by keepers d and d. To this end the keepers d are severally provided with beveled upper edges d 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 severally located in suitable depressions formed near the upper edges of their respective needle-bars, in which positions they are rigidly secured by screws or otherwise. The keepers 01 on the other'hand, are severally located near the lower outer edges of their respective needle-bars; but instead of being directly secured to the upper sides thereof, as is the case with the keepers d they are either formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the upper edges of the stopbars d 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 substance from the needle-grooves may be carried and from which it may be removed when desired.

Arranged in front of the front needle-bar D and in rear of the rear needle-bar D are the respective guide-rails E E, which are secured at their opposite ends to the stands A and A or other convenient support by screws e or otherwise and are each, provided in its inner edge with a groove 6' for reception of a lip fof a saddle F, that is fitted to slide therein. This saddle extends across over both the front needle-bar D and rear needlebar D and in the operation of the machine is reciprocated back and forth longitudinally of the same. The means whereby this reciprocation is effected may be of various forms. In the drawings, however, I have shown it accomplished from the cross-shaft G and through the intervention of connecting rods and appropriate sprocket wheels and chains, which are preferably located on opposite sides of the machine. To this end I make use of the supporting-rods A and A which, fixedly secured in the stand A extend outward horizontally therefrom and support in the proper positions thereon the bearings g, g, and g for the various shafts. The

bearings 9 project downward from the under side of these supporting-bars and carry near their lower endsthe cross-shaft G, which is provided on one of its ends with a hand-wheel 9 that is equipped with a handle g ,-and on its other end with a fast pulley g and a loose pulley 9 through which handle and fast pul ley the rotation of the shaft G may be effected either by hand or by power, as may be desired. The bearings g and 9 on the other hand, project upwardly from the supportingbars A and A at the proper distance apart and respectively support the shafts G and G which are journaled therein, with the former shaft operatively connected with the shaft G through the intervention of spurgears g and g and provided with sprocketwheels 9 and g, and the latter shaft equipped with corresponding sprocketwheels and g, of which the former is connected with the sprocketwheel g and the latter with the sprocket-wheel g by sprocketchains "9 and 9 respectively, as shown. The sprocket-chains g and g being thus supported and operated from the shaft G are connected with the saddle F through the intervention of connecting-rods g and g", of which the former is connected at one of its ends to the sprocket-chain 9 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 9 and at its other to the rear thereof. 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 upon the under side of the saddle F over and in parallel relationship to the upper surfaces of the respective needle-bars D and D are the cam-carrying plates H and H, which support upon their under surfaces the cams by means of which the reciprocation of the needles to effect the knitting operation is accomplished. These cams may be modifled in various ways. In my preferred form of construction, however, they consist of a pair of advancing-cams I and I and a retracting-cam I for the needles of each of the needle-bars, of which the advancing-cams I and I are preferably constructed of a general trapezoidal form and the retracting-cams of a general V form, with the walls on opposite sides of its lower angular portion recessed, as shown. As thus constructed these cams are supported upon the under surfaces of their respective carrying-plates H and H, with the advancing-cams arranged on opposite sides of their cooperating retracting-cams, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, whereby to engage with the butts of their respective needles in being carried over them to advance such needles before their butts are brought into engagement with their cooperating retracting-cams to be retracted by them. In order, therefore, that the leading advancing-cam of each of the carrying-plates may be brought into proper position to engage with the butts of its respective needles to advance the latter as it is carried over them in whichever direction the saddle F may be traveling and its following companion advancing-cam so disposed as not to engage therewith, these advancing-cams instead of being fixedly secured to their respective carrying-plates are severally secured to the inner ends of the short shafts i, which are journaled in their respective carryingplates and are provided at their outer ends with crank-arms i. As thus supported the rotation of these cams about the axes of their supporting-shafts may be effected through the medium of the crank-arms 2', whereby to bring them into and carry them out of operative relationship with respect to the butts of theirappropriate needles, as may be desired. When in their operative positions, the

advancing-cams will be so turned as to bring their upper operative surfaces in an upwardly-inclined relationship with respect to the paths of their travel and the butts of the needles to be operated by them, as shown by the cam I in Figs. 6,7, 10, and 11. On the other hand, when carried into their inoperative positions their upper'operative surfaces, with the remaining portions of these cams, will be disposed in parallel relationship to their respective paths of travel, as shown by the cams I in those figures, and in that relationship they will be wholly above and reconnection with the cams for operating the needles of the front needle-bar and the latter in connection with the cams for operating the needles of the rear needle-bar. As thus employed these bars are fitted to slide longitudinally in suitably-formed seats in the respective carrying-plates H and H and are connected with the crank-arms 1 of their respective cams to impart to the latter the required movement as the bars are slid back and forth in their carrying-seats. The means whereby this connection is effected may be of various forms. I prefer, however, to employ slots and pins for the purpose, and to that end I provide each of the bars with slots '2? and i which are constructed with oppositely-arranged diagonal middle portions and longitudinally-extending ends and severally engage with pins 2' extending outward from the crank-arms 2". By this arrangement, as will be seen,when either of the bars is moved IiO to the limit of its movement in one direction--; as shown, 'for instance, in Fig. 7the pin '5 projecting from the crank-arm i of the advancing-cam I will be carried up into the upper extremity of the slot 2' and the cam I thereupon brought into an inoperative position, while the pin 2"- projecting from' 'the crank of the cam I will be similarly carried down into the lower extremity of the slot i and that cam thereby carried into operative position. On the other hand, when this bar is moved in an opposite direction then the position of the pins will be reversed and the pin *6 of the cam I will be carried down into the lower extremity of the slot i and that cam thereby brought into operative position, while the pin '5 of the cam I will in likemanner be carried upward to the upper extremity of the slot i and that cam thereupon carried into an inoperative position, as shown by dotted lines of that figure, and so on in alternation, the sliding of the bar in one and then in the other direction bringing one and then the other of the cams I and I into and carrying them out of operation in that order and positively holding them in those positions. When the knitting of the body portion of an article or fabric is being eifected, the advancing-cams of the needles of both needlebars will be required,- and their positions will be changed, as above explained, at every back-and-forth reciprocation of the same, whereby the needles of both needle-bars may be rendered active and coeperate in the production of every course. On the other hand, when the knitting of a welt'or other similar portion is being accomplished then as the needles of but a single -needle-bar are required the advancing-cams of the needles of that particular needle-bar will alone remain in action, and the advancingcams of the needles of the other needle-bar will be withdrawn therefrom. In some instances the advancing-cams thus withdrawn from action may be those of the needles" of the front needle -bar, while the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-bar may remain-in action, and in these cases the welt will be knit by the needles of the rear needlebar. I prefer, however, to withdraw the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-b'ar from operation and to knit the welt or other similar portion with the needles of the front needle-bar. In order, therefore, toeffeet the withdrawal of the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-bar from operation when the knitting of a welt or other similar portion is required and return them into operation when it is completed, the slot '6 in'the bar I is constructed with the diagonally-arranged portion 1 which extends upwardly from its lower end and is provided at its upper extremity with a longitudinally-extending portion, while the slot i therein is constructed with an elongated portion "L which extends from its upper extremity longitudinally of the bar, as shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9. As thus constructed when ever the extended portions 2' andi of the slots '5 and 7: are brought into such relationship with respect to the pins i in the crankarms 7 of the respective cams I and I that these pins rest in the outer extremities thereof by moving the bar I in the required direction these cams will both be brought into the bar'is so reciprocated that only the slots 1' and i proper are caused to travel back and forth over their respective pins 11 Thus through the bar I and the slots i and Hand their respective extended portions '5 and t not only are the advancing-cams I and I brought into and carried out of operation in the required order to efiect the proper reciprocation of their appropriate needles, but these cams are retired from and returned into operation as desired and locked in those positions. While the advancing-cams of the needles of both the needle-bars are thus pivotally secured totheir respective carryingplates H and H, the retracting-cams I of the needles of both the needle-barsmay be either fixedly or adj ustably secured to theirs, or one of the cams may be fixedly secured to one of the plates and the other adj ustably secured to the other plate thereof. I prefer, however, this last-mentioned arrangement, and in conformity thereto I secure the retracting-cam I of the needles of the rear needle-bar fixedly to the carrying-plate H and secure the retracting-cam I of the needles of the front needle-bar adjustably to the carrying-plate H, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. For securing the cam I to the plate H, I make use of a screw it, which, extending through a suitable aperture formed in the cam, engages at its end with an appropriately-threaded orifice formed in the plate, While for adjustably securing the retracting-cam of theneedles of the front needle-bar to the carrying-plate H, I employ the carrier h, which, fitted to slide transversely of that plate in suitable guideways hi formed on or secured to its under side, has the cam I secured to its face by a screw h that extends in like manner through a suitable aperture formed in the cam and similarly engages at its end with an appropriately-threaded orifice formed in the carrier h. In most instances the screws h and h will be found 'suflicient for securing the respective rear and front retracting-cams I to the carrying-plate H and carrier h. In order, however, to more fully insure of their being held in those positions without displacement, as well as to aid in their accurate location upon those parts, I

sometimes find it expedient to severally provide them with flanges or ribs h on their backs, which respectively enter correspondingly-shaped grooved orseats formed in the carryingfplates and carrier, and also with screws 7L5, that are threaded in the respective upper edges of the carrying-plate and carrier and engage by the overhanging portions of their heads with the upper edges of their respective cams, as shown. As thus disposed the retracting-cam of the needles of the rear needle-bar is fixedly and immovably held with respect to its carrying-plate H, while the retracting-cam of the needles of the front needle bar may be adjusted transversely with respect to its carrying plate H to lengthen or shorten the loops produced by those needles, and thereby thicken or thinthe article or fabric by simply sliding the carrier hin one or the other direction in the guideways W, as the requirements of the particular adjustment may demand. For sliding this carrier in its guideways when required various means maybe adopted. I prefer, however, to employ for this purpose a crank or an eccentric 71 which, engaging with a slot h in an car 71 extending upward from the carrier, is formed on or secured to the inner end of a short shaft in, that is rotatively mounted in a suitable bearing formed in the upper edge of the carrying-plate H, in which it is held by a cap h through the intervention of appropriate screws h. With the crank or eccentric h engaging with the slot in the ear h, as thus explained, the sliding of the carrier downward or upward to lengthen or shorten the loops being produced or otherwise may be accomplished by oscillating the shaft h in the required direction. To elfect this oscillation, I preferably make use of the crank-arm it, which is fixedly secured to the outer extremity of the shaft h and has jointed to its own free end by a pivot h a bar I1 By these means, as will be apparent, the oscillation of the shaft in the required direction may be effected by simply moving the bar H longitudinally forward or backward, as the requirements of the oscillation may demand, and in order to maintain this bar in parallel relationship to the path of its travel in whatever position it may be thus moved I make use of a link 71 which, constructed of the same length as the crank*ar1n 7t, is pivoted at one of its ends to the carrying-plate H at some distance from the crank-arm and p at its other end to such bar, as shown.

plished by the conjoint action of the needles 7 of both needle-bars. On the otherhand, when the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-bar are withdrawn from operation then the needles of the front needle-bar will be thus actuated alone during each backand-forth movement of the cams, while the needles of the rear needle-bar will remain inoperative in a retracted position, with the result that the knitting will be accomplished by the operation of the needles of the front needle-bar alone, and thus by simply retiring from and bringing back into operation the advancing-cams of the needles of the rear needle-bar a fabric may be produced by the operationof the needles of either one needlebar or of both needle-bars, as desired.

When in the position foradvancement and retraction by the cams I, I, and 1 to effect the knitting operation the needles d may be held at the proper height in their supporting-grooves d to bring their operating-butts d in position for engagement with the lower portion of the operating-surfaces of the advancing-cams I and I, as shown at the right in Figs. lOand 11, by the strain of the loops of the fabric upon them or the friction between themselves and their respective grooves. When, on the other hand, any of these needles are witl'idrawn from operation during the knitting of the article or fabric, as they are, for instance, when the narrowing operation is being performed or the narrower portions of it are being knit, then these latter needles rest lower down in their supportinggrooves, with their operating-butts (1 below their respective advancing-cams, as shown at the left in Fig. 11, and in order to insure of their maintenance in one or the other of the positions to which they may be thus adjusted at all times except when being carried from one to the other to effect the narrowing or widening operation I construct each of these needles with an elongated tail (Z which is provided near its lower end with a second butt d and employin connection with them supportingdedges J. These ledges are pref erably constructed with parallel upper and under edges that terminate at their outer ends in downwardly and upwardly inclined surfaces, respectively, and as thus constructed they are preferably secured some distance below the advancing and retracting cams of each of the carrying-plates by suitable screws j and appropriate dowel-pins, if desired, with a space between the inner ends of the ledges of each of the carrying-plates. As thus arranged they engage with the butts d of such of the needles (1' as are carried out of and brought back into operation during the narrowing and widening of the article or fabric being produced and serve in the back-and forth movements of their respective carryingplates to raise and lower such of these needles as may have been accidentally lowered or raised to any slight extent from the respective positions to which they may have been adjustedand insure of their retention therein.

Forcarrying the needles which are em ployed in'the narrowing and widening operations from their upperor operative position to the lower-or inoperative position when the narrowing operation is effected various means may be employed. I prefer, however, to accomplish that result through the intervention of withdrawing-cams K, of which there is one for the needles of each of the needle bars. These cams are preferably constructed'of the form shown in Figs. 6,7, 10, and 11 and are supported upon the under side of the carrying-plates H and H below their respec-' tive retracting-cams 1 in proper position to engage with the butts d of their cooperating needles when brought into proper relation- Instead, however, of being ship to them. fixedly secured to the under side of their respective carrying-plates these withdrawingcamsare severally secured by screws k or otherwise to the lower ends of carrying-bars 79', which are fitted to slide perpendicularly through those plates in suitable orifices formed in them, whereby to permit of the cams being moved downward toward and upward from their cooperating needles to bring such cams into and carry them out of engagement with the butts (i as required. In their inoperative position, as when the needles are employed in the knitting and widening operation, these cams will be raised above the butts d of the needles with'which they respectively cooperate, as shown in Fig. 4, and in these positions they will not engage with those butts when carried over them. On the H and H, are severally provided with slots: k that are constructed with diagonally-an ranged middle portions and longitudinallyextending ends and engage with appropriate pins 70 withwhich the respective carryingbars 10' are severally provided. As thus arranged the raising and lowering of these withdrawing-cams may be effected by simply sliding their carrying-bars K and K in one and the other direction, and in order to permit of the upward movement of these cams whereby to bring them above the butts of the needles the respective carrying-plates H and H are severally provided on their under sides with-suitably-recessed portions la into which these cams may be withdrawn, while In order, therefore, to effect the raisto insure of the needles being. withdrawn when the narrowing operation is performed before the butts 01 enter the recesses in the retractingcams .1 and engage with the yarn to form new loops the upper operating-corners k of these withdrawing-cams areso disposed with respect to those recesses that they engage with the butts d3 of the needles .before their butts (1 enter them, and thereby cause their respective needles to be retracted before the yarn is carried across their hooks, as shown in Fig. 11. By these means, therefore, as will be seen, I provide for the withdrawal of the needles that are to be carried out of operation when the narrowing of the article or fabric is to be efiected before'they engage the yarn for the production of new loops, while leaving those needles that are to continue the knitting operation and are unprovided with butts (Z to continue in action undisturbed.

For carrying the needles from their inoperative into their operative position to effect the widening of the fabric or otherwise, on the other hand, I make use of a needle-elevator L for the needles of each of the needle-bars. These elevators are severally constructed'in the form of arms and are rotatively mounted upon short shafts or studs Z, that are respectively supported u pon the cam-carrying plates H and H above and in parallel relationship to the upper sides of these plates by the stands 70 and the cooperating plates Z ,'with the inner ends of the arms extending through flattened V-shaped orifices Z formed in their respective carryingplates directly below the retracting-cams I As thus arranged these elevators are each adapted to be swung back and forth upon its supporting shaft or stud Z by the action of the butts d of the needles upon its end, and in order to provide for the engagement of these butts therewith this end .is constructed with a head Z which in itsnormal operative position is held in line with those butts, and is provided on its opposite side with notches Z with one and the. other of which these butts engage as the elevator is carried back and forth over them with the cams in the operation .of..the machine. When the widening of the article or fabric being produced and the return of the needles from their inoperative to. their operative position is notrequired, the elevators are held'with the heads upon their free ends near the upper edges of the orifices Z in their respective carrying-plates H and H above the butts d of the needles, then in an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. \Vhen, on the other hand, the wideningoperation is to be performed and one or more of the needles of each of the neetile-bars is or are to be carried from their inoperative to their operative positions, the elevators L are severally lowered until their heads rest in the apexes of the lower portions of the V-shaped orifices Z in their respective carrying-plates II and H upon the surface (1 of the keeper d, as shown by dotted lines at the right in Fig. 14. In these positions the brought into proper relationship for engagement with the butts of the needles of their respective needle-bars, and, in order to provide for the raising and lowering of these 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 neodles, without interfering with their freedom of vibration back and forth upon their respective shafts or studs Z, each elevator is provided with a hub Z upon its upper side and is fitted to oscillate and slide longitudinally upon its respective supporting shaft or stud, being normally pressed downward along the same with its end in the apex of its respective V-shaped orifice Z upon the surface d of the keeper d in proper position for engagement with the butts d of its appropriate needles by a coil-spring Z7, which, surrounding its supporting shaft or stud, bears atone end against the plate Z on the stand k and at the other against the shoulder Z on the hub Z. The parts being arranged as thus described, when the elevators are in their lowest positions and the needle-operating cams are moved in one direction over the needles d by the saddle F the butt d of the first inoperative needle of each of the needle-bars on the opposite edge of the series of operative needles will engage with the foremost notch Z 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 las the movement of the cams and saddle continues. As a result of this swinging movement of the elevator on its supporting shaft or stud Z the under side of its end will ride up the inclined portion of the inner edge of theV-shaped orifice Z in its respective carrying-plate H or H, thereby raising the elevator as a whole and carrying with it the needles with whose butt (1 its notch Z is engaged. This duplex movement of the elevator will continue until its head in its curvilinear travel may have been carried back into the orifice Z away from the butt d of the needle, which will then be engaged by the supporting-ledge J, that is following and which is provided at its inner end with the upwardly-inclined surface j, whereby to aid in that engagement, and thereby insure of the needle being raised to the proper elevation to permit of its butt d being engaged by the advancing-cam I or I in its next reciprocation in the opposite direction. The elevator having been thus swung backward by the action of the butt d of the needle thereon will when released therefrom be forced downward by the spring Z 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 cam Will be to carry its end forward upon its higher surface (1 of the keeper (1, as shown by dotted lines at the left of Fig. 14. In this position it will travel on its outward and return movement until in its latter movement it passes back over the butts 01 of the inoperative needles on that particular edge of the operative series, when 'it will be forced downward upon the lower surface (2 of the keeper (1 by the spring Z 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 surface d serving to hold the elevator from engagement with the butts d of any of the needles but the proper ones, and the lower surfaces (1 serving to properly guide it and insure of its engagement with the latter as it is carried forward toward them 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 Z on the opposite side of the head of each elevator will be brought into engagement with the butt (1 of the first needle of its respective needle-bar on the opposite edge of the seriesof the operative needles, and thereby the elevator swung backward in an opposite direct-ion and similarly raised, carrying with it that needle-butt and delivering it to the upwardly-inclined surface 3' of the other supporting-ledge J for cooperation with the advancing and retracting cams at their next forward movement in a reverse direction, and so on,seach elevator at each back-and-forth movement of the needleoperating 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 respective carrying-plates H and H 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.

With the heads 1* of the elevators sliding over the butts d of their respective needles in passing from the surface (1 of the keeper (1* to the butts of the next needle to be brought into operation by them these elevators will be caused by the friction between their respective heads and those butts to swing backward somewhat, as shown in Fig. 13, if no provision is made to prevent it instead of maintaining a perpendicular relationship with respect to their carrying-plates, and as a consequence thereof when the number of needles of each needle-bar that remain in operation is small the heads of these elevators sometimes fail to pass downward properly into the narrow spaces between the inner inoperative needles of their respective needle-bars and engage with the needles to be next carried into operation. To obviate this and provide for the holding of the elevators perpendicularly to their respective carrying-plates, or approximately so, in approaching these narrow spaces,I make use of the latches L, which are pivoted at one of their ends to their appropriate carryingplates H and H by pivots Z and are severally provided on their under edges, near their opposite ends, with notches Z for engagement with their respective'elevators when the latter are brought into relationship to them, Figs. 1, 5, and 14. As thus arranged, whenever either of the elevators has carried a needle of its respective needle-bar into operation and has itself been returned to its normal positionvby its spring Z it will be engaged by the notch Z of its respective latch L, which will be forced down over it by a spring Z In this position the elevator will be held until it is brought over the space between the inoperative needles of its respective needlebar, when it Will be forced downward into that space by the action of its spring Z and lts engagement with the next needle to be carried out of operation insured. In thus moving down into the space between the inoperative needles the elevator will be followed by its appropriate latch L until its head Z has entered that space, when the further downward movement of the latch will be arrested by a pin Z extending outward from its respective carrying-plate, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and the elevator then left free to swing backward and travel upward along the inclined edge of the V-shaped orifice after 'therethrough and is secured near itsupper end to a head-like portion M, which is fitted to slide upon its respective guide-rod M. As thus arranged the eyes n of both yarn-car riers 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 and forthover the same the body n of the carrier in which it is employed extends upwardly from its head-like portion n and engages at its upper extremity through the intervention of a sleeve '12, to which it is secured with a second guide-rod M which is supported above and in parallel relationship to its respective guide-rod M in suitable stands at, extending upward from the latter rod, as shown. The eyes 02 of both the yarncarriers N being 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 .re'ciprocated past each other by the springy construction of their depending body portions or, which permits of the eyes being carried engaging with the butt ol of the next needle.

Immediately, however, it commences to travel upward along this inclined edge and is swung slightly to one side it will contact with the under edge of this latch at one side or the other of the notch Z therein, and in its further upward movement it will carry with it the free end of such latch, whichresting upon and moving upwardly and downwardly with it, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, will in turn engage by its notch with the elevator whenever the latter is in its normal position upon the butts OZ of the needles or in perpendicular relationship to its respective carrying-plate above them. By this arrangement, as will be seen, provision is made for positively holding the elevators in proper positions for entryinto the spaces between the inoperative needles of their respective needle-bars, and thereby obviating the trailing of those parts as a result of the friction between them and the butts of their appropriate needles.

Sustained above the needle-bars D and 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 of 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 inoutward laterally as the thickened lower ends at of the carriers arrive opposite each other, and which, to permit of this lateral action being eEected, have the ends of their inner contacting sides rounded off 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 of these yarn-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 0 and a laterally-projecting arm 0, and is pivoted by a pivot 0 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 (1 in the operation of the machine. As thus constructed and arranged the upwardly-extending arm 0 of this locking-lever cooperates with studs 0 O, which are severally secured to and project outwardly from the head-like portions n of the carriers N in parallel relationship to each other and are severally provided with recesses 0 with one or the other of which the upper end of the upwardly-extending arm 0 of the locking-lever engages as this lever is vibrated back and forth on its pivot at the upper end of its carrying-standP. By this arrangement, as

esrgso g;

which may be accomplished by vibrating the locking-lever in the proper directionon its carrying-stand, when the two will be locked together and their movement in unison insured, and in order to provide for the movement of each of the yarn-carriers in rear of the needle-operating cams, in whichever of the two directions the latter may be moving, the recess in its respective stud 0 instead of being constructed of a length to just receive theupper end of the upwardly-extending arm 0 of the locking-lever O is constructed of a length sufficient to permit of the cams moving to the required distance in the one or the other direction to bring them into the proper relative position with respect to the carrier before the upper end of the upwardly-extending arm of the locking-lever is brought into contact With the shoulders or walls 0 of the recess 0 of its appropriate stud O to move such carrier, when the two will be moved together and their relation thereafter maintained throughout the traverse. The yarncarriers being constructed and operated as thus explained, the yarns may be conducted from suitable bobbins or spools (not shown) to the eyes 12 of their respective carriers through suitable guiding, taking-up, and clamping devices; but these, with the devices for taking up the article or fabric as rapidly as produced, form no part of my present invention and are or may be the same as the corresponding parts shown and described in my before-mentioned application for Letters Patent and require no further description herein.

With the parts constructed and arranged as above described the longitudinal movements of the bars I, K, K and H may be controlled and the needle-elevators and yarnguides brought into and carried out of operation at the appropriate times and in the required order by any of the well-known form of pattern mechanisms that are capable of those results. I prefer, however, to employ for this purpose the pattern-chains S, S, S S S S and S, which are severally constructed With appropriate high and low pattern-surfaces s and s, that are arranged upon them in the required order, and to support such chains upon a suitably constructed sprocket-wheel or barrel 8", which is mounted upon a stud 5 that is secured to and extends outward from the stand A The patternchains being thus supported and arranged are moved progressively forward to bring their respective high and low pattern-su rfaces into operative positions by a step-by-step movement from their sprocket-wheel or barrel 8 which is intermittently rotated from an inclined surface 8 secured to the under side of the saddle F, near the front edge of the latter. To permit of this rotation being effected therefrom, I preferably make use of a rod or bar 3 which is fitted to slide vertically in a suitable hanger 5 that is secured to and depends from the under side of the rail E, with the upper end of this rod or bar so disposed with respect to the line of travel of the inclined surface that it is struck and depressed by the latter as it is carried over the same by the saddle in the operation of the machine. As thus arranged the lower end of this rod or bar rests upon the upper sideof an arm 3 which is fixedly secured to one end of a shaft S which, rotatively mounted in the stand A and the hanger 5 also depending from the under side of the rail E, is equipped at its opposite end with a second arm 8 to the upper end of which is loosely jointed a pawl that engages with a ratchet-wheel s, which is secured to the sprocket-wheel 0r barrel 5*. On the other hand, to withdraw the pawl after it has been moved forward to rotate the sprocket-wheel or barrel and return the rod or bar 8 toits normal position ready for contact with the inclined surface 3* as it is carried over the same I make use of a spring 8 which, coiled around the shaft S is fixedly secured at one end thereto and at the other to the stand A or other convenient part by a screw or pin 8. By this arrangement, as will be seen, the forward rotation of the sprocket-wheel or barrel 8 the distance of one tooth will be positively elfected at each forward and backward reciprocation of the saddle F, which rotation will be of suificient extent to bring the required high or low pattern-surfaces on the pattern-chains into operative positions, and in order to prevent it from exceeding that limit by the momentum imparted to it by the pawl .9 as the latter is reciprocated forward to rotate it or of being moved backward therefrom by accident or otherwise I make use of appropriate restraining devices-as, for instance, a brake 3 which, provided with a stem 3 and supported from the stand A through the intervention of a bracket 3 in which its stem is fitted to slide, is pressed against the periphery of the wheel or barrel 5 by a spring 8", as shown.

The pattern-chain S is employed for controlling the movements of the bar I, by means of which the advancing-cams I and I of the needles of the rear needle-bar D are brought into and carried out of operation successively and together as the requirements of the artiticle or fabric being produced demand. To this end the shaft I is made use of, which is journaled in the stands A and A and which, provided with an arm 1' that rests at its outer free end upon the pattern-chain through the intervention -of a roll i ,.is equipped near its opposite ends with upwardly-extending arms i and 1' of which the former is provided near its upper end with a stop 2', while the latter is similarly provided near its upper end with a pair of these stops r and 15 These several stops being thus supported are preferably constructed in the form of inwardly-projecting pins and are so disposed as to bring the stops 1) and into axial coincidence and the stop 6 which is constructed of somewhat greater ICO side thereof, as shown in Fig. 18.

in the neXt reciprocation into operative posi-' length, to one side of the latter. As thus constructed and arranged these stops cooperate with the bar I and serve to move it longitudinally in one and the other direction as one and the other of its ends are respectively brought into contact with their appropriate stops by thereciprocation of the bar back and forthwith the saddle F. When the roll i in the outer free end of the arm 2' is resting upon one of the low pattern-surfaces s, the stops i and i will be brought into line with the bar I and the stop 2' will-be carried to one With the stops disposed in these positions the opposite ends of the bar I will be alternately brought into contact with their respective stops 2' and 6 as the bar is reciprocated back and forth with the saddle F and the bar thereby moved back and forth longitudinally the length of the slots i and 2' with thejconsequent effect of bringing the advancing-cam that is to lead tion, as shown at the right in Fig. 8, and carrying its companion advancing-cam into an inoperative position, as shown at the left in that figure, and so on, the bar I being moved in one and the other direction as its respective ends are brought into contact with the stops i and 1 and the advancing-cams thereby alternately brought into and carried out of operation so long as the reciprocation of the bar with the saddle F is continued. On the other hand, when the roll 2' in the outer free end of the arm 71 is resting upon one of the high pattern-surfaces s then the longer stops 13 will be broughtintoline with the bar I and the stops 2' and 2' carried to one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 17. In these positions the stop 2' will contact with the end of the bar I when'the bar is reciprocated toward it, and as a consequence of its greater length it will move the bar the length of the slots 1' and t and of their respective extended portions 71 and 1' with the result of carrying both of the advancing-cams into inoperative positions, as shown in Fig. 9. The cams having been carried into these positions will be retained in them as long as the roll i is resting upon the high pattern-surface s; but immediately this high pattern-surface passes from under that roll the stops i and 1' will through the action of a retracting-spring 1' be brought into line with the bar 1 which'at its next reciprocation with the saddle F will contact at its end with the stop i and be thereby moved into the position shown in Fig. 8, with the consequent effect of returning the cams into operation and permitting of their subsequent actuation by the stops 2' and W, as before explained. Thus through the mechanism described the control of the bar I is efiected from the pattern-chain S and the advancing-cam of the needles of the rear needle-bar not only brought into operation and properly actuated when the knitting of the body of the article or fabric is being effected, but carried out of operation and there held when the knitting of a welt is being accomplished. The pattern-chain S is in like manner employed for controlling the movements of the bar H by means of which the adjustment of the retracting-cam I of the needles of the front needle-bar upward and downward transversely of its carrying-plate is accomplished to shorten or lengthen the loops that are being produced. In order to render it capable of accomplishing this result, the shaft H is made use of, which, like the shaft 1 is journaled in the stands A and A and which in addition to an arm it, that rests at its outer free end on the patternchain through the medium of a roll 71 is equipped near its opposite ends with two upwardly-extending arms h and it, that respectively carry at their upper ends the stops h and W These stops, like the stops 2', 2' and W, are preferably constructed in the form of inwardly-projecting pins and cooperate with the bar H which is moved longitudinally in one or the other directions therefrom as it is carried back and forth by the saddle F in the operation of the machine. In order, therefore, to permit of this bar H being moved from that source and when so moved in one or the other directions left during a number-of reciprocations of the saddle F without disturbance, the stops h and 71. instead of being arranged in line are so disposed with respect to each other and to the bar that when one is brought into line with it the other is carried to one side thereof, and vice versa, as shown in Fig. 16. As thus related when the low pattern-surface s is passed beneath the roll h in the outer free end of the arm 72 the stop 71, will be brought into line with the bar, as shown by dotted lines in that figure, and the stop 71 carried to one side thereof, the result of which will be that when the bar is reciprocated by the saddle I it will be brought into contact atits end with the former stop and moved into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, thereby raising through the crank-arm 77. the shaft h", and crank or eccentric h the retracting-cam I with the consequent effect of shortening the lengths of the loops being knit. On the other hand, when the high patternsurface s is carried beneath the roll it then the stop h will be moved into line with the bar H as shown by full lines in Fig. 16, and the stop 71 carried to the opposite side thereof, in which'positions the former stop will be struck by the barI I and such bar moved thereby into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 as it is reciprocated toward it with the saddle F, the crankvor eccentric 71. thereby rotated through the crank-arm 72. and shaft h and the retracting-cam I thereupon moved downward, with the result of lengthening the loops, and so on, the movements of the retracting-cam to accomplish this shortening and lengthening effect being thus determined by the low and high patternsurfaces upon the pattern-chains S and by IIO a cooperating spring h which, coiled around the shaft H is connected at one end thereto and at the other to the stand A or other convenient part. While the upwardly-extending arms h" and h are thus employed for supporting the stops it and 71 by means of which the bar 11 is operated, they are also availed of to support the respective stops 71 and 723 through which the bar 1 that cooperates with the advancing'cams I and I of the needles of the front needle-bar D, is moved longitudinally in one and then in the other direction as it is reciprocated back and forth with the saddle in the operation of the machine to bring one and then the other of these cams into and then carry them out of operation in the same order, accordingly as one or the other of them is to lead and the other to follow. As thus supported these stops, which are preferably constructed in the form of inwardly-projecting pins, are so disposed as to bring them into axial coincidence and into line with the bar 1 whereby to be struck by the respective ends of the latter as it is reciprocated back and forth between them. When the roll 71, in the outer free end of the arm h is resting upon the low pattern-surface 8, these stops will contact with the ends of the bar near its under side. On the other hand, when this roll is resting upon one of the high pattern-surfaces 8 then these stops will contact with its ends near its upper side; but into Whatever position they may be moved, by the pattern-chain one and then the other of these stops will be invariably brought into contact with its respective end of the bar and such bar thereby moved to the required extent as it is reciprocated back and forth between them, as shown in Fig. 16. The pattern-chain S, on the other hand, is availed of for controlling the movements of the bar K by means of which the lowering and raising of the withdrawing-cam K of the needles of the rear needle-bar D are effected, while the pattern-chain S is similarly employed for controlling the movements of the bar K, through which corresponding depression and elevation of the withdrawing-cam K of the needles of the front needle-bar D are likewise accomplished. To permit of the control of these movements from those sources, the shafts K and K are made use of, of which the shaft K is employed in connection with the patternchain S and bar K while the shaft K is similarly em ployed in connection with the patternchain S and bar K. As thus employed these shafts are journaled in the stands A and A and along with an arm that rests at its outer free end upon its respective patternchain S or S through the intervention of a roll k they are-each equipped near its opposite extremities with upwardly extending arms 70 and 70 which respectively support at their upper ends in wardly-extending pin-like stops k and 70 for cooperating with their appropriate bar K or K and moving thesame i ll longitudinally in one or the other direction as it is brought against them in the operation of the machine. In order, therefore, to permit of these bars being thus moved from those devices and when so moved in one or the other directions left during a number of reciprocations of the saddle F without disturbance, the stops is and 70 appropriate to each of the shafts K and K instead of being arranged in line are so disposed with respect to each other and to their respective bar K or K that when one is brought into line with it the other is carried to one side of the same, and vice versa, as shown in Fig. 15. As thus arranged whenever the low pattern-surface s of either of the pattern-chains S or S is passed beneath its cooperating roll 70 the stop 70 answering thereto will be brought into line with its respective bar, as shown by dotted lines in that figure, and its cooperating stop 7r, 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. 2, with the efiect of raising, through the slot-and-pin-connection k and 10 its respective withdrawing-cam from operation. In the position to which the bar is thus moved it will be retained as long as the low pattern-surface 3 remains under the roll 70?; but immediately a high pattern-surface sis substituted therefor, as when the narrowing operation is to be performed, the stop 70 will be moved into line with the bar, as shown by full lines in such figure, and the stop it carried to one side thereof, when in its next reciprocation the bar will strike the former stop and be moved thereby into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which through the pin-and-slot connection above described its cooperating withdrawing-cam will be forced downward into position for engagement with the butts d of its respective needles as it is carried over them, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Hav= ing been thus forced downward into this position, it will be retained therein as long as the high pattern-surface is beneath its roll 10 but immediately it is removed therefrom the stop It Will through the action of an appropriate retracing-spring 7c ,with which each of the shafts K and K is provided, be brought opposite its appropriate bar K or K which will then be moved in an opposite direction at its next reciprocation toward it with the saddle F and its appropriate withdrawing-cam thereby raisedinto an inoperative position, and so on, the longitudinal backward and forward movements of these bars K and K being thus determined by the high and low pattern-surfaces on their respective pattern-chains, and their cooperating withdrawing-cams thereby raised and lowered, as the requirements of the article or fabric being produced may demand. Similarly the pattern-chains S and S are made use of for controlling the movements of the needle elevators L, whereby their respective needles are brought into opoutside of the needle-bars, respectively, and are severally provided with outwardly-extending arms Z (see Fig. 2,) that are jointed at their outer free ends to the outer free ends of corresponding levers 1, which, respectively mounted upon the shafts K and K so as to oscillate upon them, are severally provided in their inner ends with rolls Z which rest upon their appropriate pattern-chains. As thus arranged and equipped these shafts L and L are each provided at the proper distance apart with a number of outwardly and upwardly extending arms 1", that support and carry at or near their outer free ends in parallel relationship to their respective shafts a rod Z which cooperates with its appropriate needle-elevator through the intervention of a sliding connecting-bar Z that is fitted to slide in a suitable gnideway Z 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 d of the needles that are to be carried into operation to effect the widening of the article or fabric bythe mechanism above described, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and in these positions the rolls 1 rest upon the low surface s of their respective pattern chains. On the other hand, when they are to be lowered to bring them into operative positions then the high surfaces 8 on their appropriate patternchains are passed beneath the rolls Z carrying the rods Z in directions away from their respective elevators and allowing the latter to be carried downward into their operative positions, as shown in Figs. 7 and 12, in which they will be held by their respective springs Z until these high surfaces on the patternchains are carried from under their cooperating rolls Z when they will be again raised and carried out of operation, and so on, the high andlow surfaces on the respective pattern-chains thus determining when the elevators shall be brought into and carried out of operation. The shafts L and L with the parts connected with them, being thus moved in one direction by the high surfaces .9 on

their respective pattern-chains are returned in and out of operation controlled by the latter,

esmso but in consequence of the sliding connection between them and their respective cooperating rods Z 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. Vhile the patternchains 8, S S, S, S and S are thus employed for the purposes above explained,the patternchain S is 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 the switch N is made use of, which, provided in its face with a longitudinally-disposed tapering groove n for engagement with the laterallyprojecting arm 0 of the locking-lever O, is fixedly secured to a shaft N that is rotatively mounted in the stands M M and is oscillated in one direction by the pattern-chain S and in the other by a cooperating retracting-spring vi. To permit of this being accomplished a lever n is employed, which, loosely fulcrumed upon the shaft and provided on its inner end with a roll n for engagement with the pattern-chain, is jointed at its outer end to the lower extremity of a connecting-rod n which is jointed at its upper extremity to the outer free end of an arm n, that is fixedly secured to the shaft, while the retracting-spring is preferably coiled about the shaft N and connected at one end thereto and is connected at its other to the stand M. By this arrangement, as will be seen, the movements of oscillation of the shaft are determined by the patternchain 3*, and when it is oscillated to the limit of its movements in one direction, as will be the case when one of the high surfaces 3 on the pattern-chain is passed beneath the roll 02*, the outer end of the laterally-projecting arm 0 in passing through the groove n in its travel with the saddle F will tilt the lockingbar 0 on its pivot 0 and carry its upwardlyextending arm' 0 out of engagement with the recess 0 in the stud O of one of the yarn-carriers and into the recess 0 of the stud O of the other. On the other hand, when the shaft N is oscillated to the limit of its movement in the opposite direction, as will be the case when a low surface s on the pattern-chain is carried beneath the roll 12?, then the outer end of the laterally-projecting arm 0 in passing through such groove will tilt the locking-bar O on its pivot in the opposite direction, with the consequent effect of disengaging its upwardly-extending arm 0 from the recess 0 of the last and carrying it into engagement with the recess 0 of the stud O of the first mentioned carrier and so on, the particular carrier to be brought into operation and the length of time it is to remain therein being thus determined by the pattern-chains.

It will thus be seen that through the mech anism described the various adjustments of the needle-operating cams and the carrying of the needle-elevators and yarn-guides into and out of action are all eifected from appropriate pattern-chains and a machine produced in which not only may ornamented fashioned articles of various forms be produced in sucplaces, and of ornamenting the same, necessary to their production, be automatically accomplished in the required order.

While in the foregoing I have described the form of my invention which I prefer to employ in practice,I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is obvious that such form is merely illustrative and may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof-as, for instance, instead of employing the extensions 2' and t in connection with the respective slots i and 11 of the bar I alone I may, if I so desire, also employ them in connection with the respective but reversely-arranged slots 2' and i of the front.

sliding bar 1 in which case the needles of the front needle-bar may be rendered inactive and the needles of the rear needle-bar rendered active when the saddle F is reciprocated in one direction and reversely when reciprocated in the opposite direction to produce a tubular fabric, as is common to the knitting-machines of the Lamb class, by substituting a longer stop in place of the present stop if in the arm h, whereby it may operate upon the sliding bar I as the stop operates upon the sliding bar I and so disposing the respective high and low pattern-surfaces s and 5' upon the pattern-chains S and S that the longer stops e and 72 as well as the shorter stops i and 71 shall be brought into line with their respective sliding bars I and I as these bars are reciprocated toward the one or the other in the operation of the machine. In like manner instead of constructing the reversely-arranged diagonal portions of the slots 11 and 2' straight or rectilinear I may, if I so desire, provide them with short longitudinally-disposed middle portions t*, as shown in Fig. 19, in which case I may produce what is known as tuckwork by respectively equipping the appropriate stop-carrying arms, as t and 11 with suitable stops t and't of the proper lengths and so disposing the high and low pattern-surfaces s and s of the cooperating pattern-chain S or S as to alternately bring these stops, with the stops 2' and 11 or it and h as the case may be, into line with their appropriate sliding bar I or I to be struck by it as it is carried back and forth with the saddle F in the operation of the machine. By these means when the stops 2' and are brought into action upon their cooperating sliding bar I or I and the movement of such bar thereby limited to the distance between the lowermost portions of the slots 2' and t and the longitudinally-disposed middle portion i the leading advancing-cam I or I will be swung from its inoperative toward itsoperative position onlysufficiently far to cause its cooperating needles to be advanced only the required distance to engage the yarn to form new loops without causing the old loops carried by them to slide below their respective latches, While when the stops i and 2' or 72, and 72, are brought into action upon such bar its movement will extend from the lowermost to the uppermost portion of those slots 11 and 2' and the normal movements of the needles and knitting operation be thereby effected, all as is common to knitting-machines when this character of work is being produced.

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 States 1. The combination, with the needles of a knitting-machine, a support for these needles, a cam-carrier, and a retracting-cam carried thereby and stationarily supported with respect thereto, of pivoted advancing-cams arranged on opposite sides of the retractingcam, and means independent of the needles whereby one and then the other of these advancing-cams may be automatically swung upwardly into, and downwardly out of, operative position as the carrier is moved in one and the other direction, and be positively held in those positions, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the advancingcams, a reciprocating carrier in which such cams are pivoted, and crank-arms secured to the pivots of such cams and provided with projecting pins, of a sliding bar provided with slots for engaging with such pins constructed with oppositely-disposed diagonal middle portions and longitudinallyextending ends, whereby as said sliding bar is moved longitudinally back and forth first one and then the other of these cams will be brought into and carried out of operative position and be positively held in the positions to which they may be thus brought and carried, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a reciprocating carrier,a plurality of advancing-cams pivoted in it, crank-arms secured to the ends of the cam-pivots and provided with outwardlyprojecting pins, and a slidingtbar provided with slots for engaging with such pins constructed with oppositely-disposed diagonal middle portions and longitudinally-extending ends, of stops with which the opposite ends of the sliding bar contact as it is carried back and forth with the reciprocating carrier and is moved longitudinally thereby, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a reciprocating carrier, and a plurality of advancing-cams pivoted to it, crank-arms seen red to the campivots and provided with projecting pins, of a sliding bar provided with slots 2' and t for engagement with such pins constructed with oppositely-disposed diagonal middle portions