US694382A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

0.694.382. C Patented Mar. 4, I902.-

' H.'A. HOUSEMAN. I

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.)

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No. 694,382. Patented Marl4. I902 A. HOUSEMAN. v

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applicatioh filed Apr. 18, 1901.

(No Model.) 5 Shank-Sheet 2.

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' H; A. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

. (Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Shets-8heet 4.

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Patented Mar. 4, i902.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFrIcE.

HARRY A. IIoUsEMAN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MACHINE ooMPANY, A coRPoRATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,382, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed April 18, 1901. Serial No. 56,348. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRYA. HOUSEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a IO part of this specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a stocking which at the apex of the heel and toe portions shall have a difierentcolored thread from that of the remainder of the heel and toe.

My invention consists, speaking broadly, in providing mechanism which shall during the reciprocation of the machine in forming the heel or toe automatically change the thread-carrier, so that at the apex of the heel or toe a different-colored thread from that of the remainder of the heel or toe may be introduced.

I will first describe the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then specifically point out the invention in the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a knitting-machine cylinder with my improved device at- 0 tached. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail rear view of the cam-plateand connections for raising the thread-carrier cams. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5 5 of 5 Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the thread-carriers. A Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrams showing the operation of the threadcarriers. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10 10 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the rack-plates with all the needles in action.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the rack-plate with the pivoted raising-cam attached. Fig. 13 is a diagram of a portion of a stocking, showing a partially-colored 5 heel and toe.

The machine in which I have embodied this invention is that patented to me April 30, 1895, No. 538,518.

In this specification and in the accompany- 5o ing drawings I will neither describe nor illustrate the details of construction of the machine, but will merely illustrate and describe such parts thereof as are necessary to an understanding of this invention.

A is a portion of the main frame of the machine; B, the cam-cylinder support; 0, the. cam-cylinder; D, the needle-cylinder.

E E are the rackplates, which in accordance with my patent before mentioned are in operation during the formation of the heel and toe for the purpose of automatically. throwing out and in certain needles for the purpose of producing the heel or toe ofastocking. These rack-plates are respectively operated by the pawls e e, as in my previous patent. The pawls e e are pivoted to the arms e 6 respectively, which arms are attached to the ring a. As in my previous patent, the ring e has the projecting arms 6 having rollers 6 operated by the cams F, which cams are given a reciprocating motion at the proper time by the gear X and rack 00, which rack and gear also reciprocate the cam-cylinder during the formation of the heel and toe, as fully disclosed in my previous patent before mentioned. Connected to this ring 6 is an arm G. V This arm G during the reciprocating work of the machine by the ring e is given a constantly-reciprocating movement.

H is a cam-plate pivoted to the frame h, secured to the frame of the machine. Within this cam-plate H and vertically movable therein is the slide 71., having at opposite sides and different elevations projections k h The lever G in its reciprocation will strike either projection h or projection h dependent upon the position of the slide 72, and thus move the cam-plate H in one direction or the other. On the side of the cam-plate II is the high 0 cam surface H and low cam-surface H Upon these cam-surfaces rests the end of the vertically-movable plunger I. The lower end of this plunger I is beveled, as at 2'. When the cam-plate H is moved in one direction 5 through the action of the arm G upon the projection 71. the plunger is carried from the low portion H to the high portion H, and when the cam-plate moves in the opposite direction the plunger will by gravity descend to the low portion or surface H It will thus be seen that, dependent upon the position of Cam I is at a higher level than cam 1 k Theface of each cam has a out-away portion 6 6 respectively. The portion 2 of the cam I is at the oppositeend of the length and heightfrom that of the portion 2' of the caml are the two thread carriers proper. The thread-carrier J is the one normally in action, and the thread-carrier J is the one to beused to introduce the special thread at the heel-or toe apex." Thesethread-carriers are movable in frame J The thread-carrier J is fixedly attachcdto the lever J pivoted at- J and having a rolle'rJ atthe opposite end from the thread carrier. The thread-carrier J is pivotally' attached to the lever J which lever J is pivoted to the frame at J". Beyond this pivotpoint is connected'one arm of the I operation.

bell-crank'J the other end of the bell-crank carrying the roller J As may be seen, if a horizon-talrmovement in the same direction be given to the'rollers J and J the threadcarriers J- and J-will he oppositely movedto move one-into, the other out of, operative position. These rollers J and J 9 are at differentlevels and,in the operation of the machine, when the plunger I is in the low cam-surface H are influenced by two cam-surfaces of the cam 1 When the plunger I is elevated, (which, as will hereinafter be described, is accomplished automatically at the desired pointin the formation of the heel or toe,) the cams Valid 1 are elevated and the upper surface-of cam I influences the roller J 5 and the lower surface of said cam influences the roller J". 'The arrangement of the cam-surfaces I? and l are such that when the cams are-elevated and rollers J and J moving in the direction efarrow, Fig. 1,- in passing between-these cams for a portion of the passage no elfect'will be produced upon the roller J or its corresponding thread-carrier J due to the cut-away portion 2' but the high portions. of cam I will act upon the roller J 9 and its corresponding thread-carrier J to move it downward into operative position. Thus for a time both thread-carriers will be in The further movement will maintain the thread-carrier J in operative position and the end of the cut-away portion 0' having been reached the upper surfaceof the cam I will withdraw the thread-carrier J from oper ation. When the cams I and I are brought to their low position and the rollers J5 and J moving in the reverse direction, the reverse operation takes place-that is, the roller J 5 travels over the upper portion'of cam 1 and the thread-carrier J is broughtinto operation. The thread-carrier J by means of 'the'cut away portion i of the lower portion of cam I is maintained in operation until it passes be= yond the cut-away portion t when the threadcarrier J is by the lower portion-of cam 1 withdrawn from action.

From the foregoing it will thethread-carriers J and J can be thrown into and out of action only during reciprocation that is, while machine is making the heel or toe-as the shift of the cam I and I are dependent upon the movement of the cam-- plate H, which in-turn is dependent upon the movement of the arm G, which is operated only during reciprocation. The cams I and I are each,'in efiect, two cams, each cam I and. 1 having portions acting on rollers J and'J but the cut-away portions 2' 2' cause the cams to operate upon one roller, the one controlling the carrier to be thrown into action in advance of the operation upon the roller controlling the carriers to be thrown out of action.

I provide the followingmechanism for shifting the plate 71. at the proper time during reciprocation to 'cut in and out at'the proper time the special thread-carrier J. Upon the plate It is the pink.

K is a'lever having a slotted end embracing'the pin 70. The lever K is pivoted to a projection is on the frame of the machine.-

At the end of the lever opposite to the pin it is connected theplunger L. The plunger L extends vertically through the frame of the machine and has on its upper surfacethe projecting head- L. Secured to the rackplate E so as to be adjustable thereon is the plate M, having at its outer end the inclinedcam-plate m. The cam-plate m is pivoted to the plate M, so as to be capable of moving inward, andis held normally in its outward position by means of a spring m; "The lowest point of the inclined cant-plate is such as to pass under theprojectin g head L when the-plunger L isat its lowest point, and thev highest point of the cam-plates m M are such as to raise the plungerL'a distance sufficient to lowerw the plate h to bring the'projection' h under the influence of the lever G. Thus when the plunger L is in its elevated position, supported upon the top of the plates mand M, the special thread-carrier J is thrown into action, and when the plunger is free from the plates m M the special thread-carrier J is thrown out of action. The plunger L is acted'upon by the inclined cam-plate m during the'movement of the rack-plate in forn1- ing the first part of the heel or toe, and'by adjusting the plate M with reference tothe rack-plate E the special thread-carrier J may be introduced at the desired point in the formation of the heel or toe. When the rack the rack-plate will move in the opposite direction to widen out to form the remainder of the heel or toe, and when in this operation be'apparent thatmovement of the rack-plate E in advance ofnarrowed-the needles are again one by one thrown into action before the knitting-cam acts. As aconsequence and in order to make the use of the special thread symmetrical on both sides of the apex it is necessary that the plunger L should be released at a point in the that which inthe reverse movement of the cam-plate the plunger was operated upon by the cam-plate. It is for this reason that the cam-plate m is pivoted to the plate M, as described. In the path of movement of the plate m is a pawl 0, inoperative in one directionof movement of the plate-the forwardmovement-and operative in the other direction of movement of theplatee-to wit, the re-' turn movement.

By'this construction when in the return movement of the rack-plate. the

plate m strikes the pawl O it'(the plate) is. moved out of line of movementqof the head- L of the plunger L, and the plunger Ljdescends. This enables the descent of the plunger L and the consequent removal of the special thread-carrier to take place in advance of the point where it was elevated by. the action of the plate m. By varying the extent of-the projection of the plates M m beyond the rack-plate E the point at which in the formation of the heel and, toe the special thread will be thrown in and out may be varied. As may be seen bythis construction,

when the machine is forming the. heelan'd toe at any desired point therein a special thread-carrier is. automatically thrown into action. Both the special and regular threadcarriers are in action for a few needles. Then the regular thread-carrier is thrown out of action. Then at the corresponding point in the widening the regular thread-carrier is again thrown into action, and finally the special thread-carrieris thrown out of action.- As may be seen by reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the regular thread-carrier J and. the special thread-carrier J are side by side in the frame J The position ofthe thread-carrier J is such that it occupies when down a position in direct alinement with the needles and at.

the center of the knitting-cams. I have devised mechanism whereby when the special thread-carrier is in operative position and the center of the knitting-cams. The lever J 6 ofthe thread-"carrier -J-is--made in two parts. Each of these parts has at its end an orifice. In oneof the orifices-thatin the inner part of the-lever J is placed a pin;j which has a threadedend. This threadedqendcoacts with a thread on the interior of'th-e otherof said orifices. The spring j? tends to turnthe outer; part; of the: lever onthis screw, and thus move the end of the-carrier J 'throughwhich the thread passes laterally, as shown in Fig. 9. When the twothread-carriersare in. action, Fig. 8, the thread-.carriersrJ-J 00-. When the. thread-carrier J is elevated,'the spring j .Wlll

cupy=the position there shown.

cause the lower end of the carrier J to move inwardandassume the'position shown in Fig. 9. When the thread-carrier J moves down, it willovercome-the action of the spring.

j forcing the lower end of the lever J .into the position shown'in Fig; 8.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a-circular-knitting machine, incombination a :main. threadcarrier normally in action and a supplemental threadmarriernor mally' out of action and needle-controlling mechanismto render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence .to' form the heel and toe of'a stocking, interme-* diate devicesoperated by said needle-controlling mechanism after said operation com-:-

thread-carrier into action and the-supple mental,threadrcarrier-out of action. w r

2. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally-out of action andneedle -controlling.

mechanism to render certain needl es-inoper'- ative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, inter-' to the termination of the movement of said needle=controlling mechanism to return the main thread carrier into action and subsequently remove the supplemental thread-carrier out of action.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, in com bination a rack-plate adapted in its movement'in one direction to move certain needles out of action in a regular sequence and in .the movement in the other directionto returnsaidneedles'into action, a main thread carrier normally in action and a supplemen tal thread-carrier n-ormally'out of action, in-- termediate devices operated by the rack-plateinterm'ediate of its operation in onedirection:

of its movement to move the supplemental &

thread'carrier into operative positionand the main thread-carrier out of operative position and intermediate of its operation in the other direction of its movement to return the main thread-carrier out of operative position.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a rack-plate adapted intermediate of its movement in one direction to move certain needles out of action in a regular sequence and in the movement in the other direction to return said needles into action, a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, intermediate devices operated by the rack-plate intermediate of its movement in one direction to move the supplemental threadcarrier into operative position and subsequently to move the main thread-carrier out of operative position and intermediate of itsmovement in the other direction to return the main thread-carrier into action and move the supplemental thread-carrier out of action.

5. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder and mechanism operated during the reciprocation of anism operated during the reciprocation of said cam-cylinder to bring the supplemental thread-carrier into action after one or more courses have been knit and move the main thread-carrier out of action, and subsequently to return the main thread-carrier into action and move the supplemental thread-carrier out of action.

7. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder and mechanism operated during the reciprocation of said cam-cylinder to bring the supplemental thread-carrier into action after one or more courses have been. knit, and subsequently to move the main thread-carrier out of action. 1

8. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination Witha main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder and mechanism operated during the reciprocation of said cam cylinder to bring the supplemental thread-carrier into action after one or more courses have been knit, and subsequently to move the main thread-carrier out of action, and subsequently to move said main thread-carrier again into action and subsequently to move supplemental thread-carrier out of action.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally.

in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing the main threadcarrier out of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine and mechanism operated during said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit to move said cams in line of movement of the thread-carriers.

10. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental carrier normally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing-the main thread-carrier out of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine and means to move said cams in line of movement of the thread-carriers during said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit, the supplementalthread-carrier cam bein g in advance of the main-thread-carrier cam, whereby the supplemental thread-carrier is thrown into action before the main threadcarrier is moved out of action.

11. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing the main threadcarrier out of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine, a cam for returning the main'threadcarrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action and means during said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit to first move the first set of cams into line of movement of the thread-carriers and subsequently return said first set of cams and move said second set of cams into line of movement of said threadcarrier.

12. Ina circular-knitting machine, in com bination with a main thread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing the main threadcarrier out of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine, cams for returning the main threadcarrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action and means during said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit to first move the first set of cams into line of movement of the thread-carriers and subsequently return said first set of cams and move said second set 0t cams into line of movement of said threadcarriers, the su pplemental-tln'ead-carrier cam being in advance of the main-thread-carrier cam in the first set of cams and vice versa in the second set of cams.

13. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination With a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a cam-cylinder and means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, and means during the reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have been knit to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line of movement of the threadcarriers.

l-LL. In a circular-knitting machine, in con1 bination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental threadcarrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the firstmen'tioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a camcylinder and means to reciprocate the camcylinder, and means during the reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have been knit to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movement of the threadcarriers, and subsequently to reverse the position of said sets of cams.

15. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate said cam-cylinder, and means during the reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have been knit to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movement of the thread-carriers.

16. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action said second pair of cams beinginadiffereut position from the firstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, the main-threadcarrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of the supplemental-thread-carrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams, a cam cylinder, means to reciprocate said cam-cylinder, and means during the reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have been knit to move the firstmentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the secondmentioned set of cams into line of movement of the thread-carriers, and subsequently to reverse the position of said sets of cams.

17. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, needle-controlling mechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediate devices operated byvsaid needle-controlling mechanism, to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movement with the thread-carriers.

18. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said lastanentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action said second pair of cams beingin adifferentposition from the firstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, needle-controlling mechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediate devices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism, to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line of ,movement with the thread-carriers, and subtal thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned setof cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams, needle-controlling mechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediate devices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism, to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line of movement with the thread-carriers.

20. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action, and the supplemental thread-carrier into action said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread carriers, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams, needle-controlling mechanisms to render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediate devices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism, to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movement With the thread-carriers, and subsequently to reverse the position of said sets of cams. I I

21. In a circular-knitting machine, in com bination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a difierent position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a rack-plate adapted in its movement in one direction to move certain needles out of action in a regular sequence and in the movement in the other direction to return said needles into action, of intermediate devices operated in one direction of movement by the rack-plate to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line of movement or" said thread-carriers and in the other direction of movement to reverse the positions of said sets of cams.

22. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being ina different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a rack-plate adapted in its movement in one direction to move certain needles out of actionin a regular sequence and in the movement in the other direction to return said needles into action, of intermediate devices operated in one direction of movement by the rack-plate to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movement of said thread-carriers and in the other direction of movement to reverse the positions of said sets of cams, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams.

23. In a circular-knitting machine in com-' bination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pairof cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemen tal thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set ofcams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental threadbarrier into action,said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carryingsaid cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at different levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in lineof movement of said lever, and mechanism adapted during the reciprocation of said cam-cylinder to move said slide in one direction.

24. In a circular-knitting machinein combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental threadcarrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a difierent position from the firstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at different levels, a camcylinder mechanism to reciprocate the camcylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of'movement of said lever, and mechanism adapted during the reciprocation of said cam-cylinder to move said slide in one direction, and subsequently return said slide to its initial position.

25. In a circular-knitting machinein combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunge-r carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate hav ing cam -surfaoes at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at (lifterent levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of saidlever, needle-controlling mechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in aregular sequence during said reciprocation, intermediate devices operated by said needle controlling mechanism to move said slide in one direction.

26. In a circular-knitting machine in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second loo first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivotedcamplate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at difierent levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of said lever, needlecontrolling mechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence during said reciprocation, intermediate devices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism to move said slide in one direction and subsequently-return said slide to its initial position.

27. In a circular-knitting machine in combination With a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrierinto action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned 'set of cams being adapted to move the main threadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrierinto action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at different levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of said lever, a rackplate adapted in its movement in one direction to move certain needles out of action in a regular sequence and in the movement in the other direction to return said needles into action, intermediate devices operated by the rack-plate in one direction of its movement to move said slide in one direction and in the other direction of its movement to return the slide to its initial position.

28. In a circular-knitting machine in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action,ofa pair of cams,one ofsaid cams being operative to move the main threadcarrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental threadcarrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the firstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the thread-carrier, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at different levels, a camcylinder mechanism to reciprocate the camcylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of said lever, a lever connected to said slide, a plunger having a projecting head connected to said last-mentioned lever, a rack-plate having an inclined cam adapted in the movement of the rack-plate to pass under said head and move said plunger.

29. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a main thread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams connected together one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of the threadcarriers, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of said surfaces,a vertically-movable slide having projections from opposite sides at different levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of said lever, a lever connected to said slide, a plunger having a projecting head connected to said lastmentioned lever, a rack-plate, an inclined cam pivotally connected thereto, and adapted in the movement of the rack-plate in one direction to pass under said head and move said plunger, a pawl attached to the frame of the machine operative in one direction, in line of movement of said inclined cam and adapted when operative to move said inclined cam laterally and a spring to return said inclined cam to its initial position.

30. In combination, a thread-carrierframe, two thread-carriers supported in said frame side by side, one of said thread-carriers having a pivoted operative portion adapted to move toward the other carrier and a spring tending to move said pivoted portion in that direction.

31. In combination, a thread-carrier frame, two thread-carriers supported in said frame side by side, one of said thread-carriers having a portion adapted to move toward the other carrierand aspring tending to move said movable portion in that direction.

In combination, a thread-carrier frame, two thread-carriers supported in said frame, side by side, one of said thread-carriers having a portion adapted to move toward the other carrier.

33. In combinatiomtwo thread-carriersand means to move said carriers in and out of operative position, one of said carriers having a portion adapted when said carrier is in operative position to move into the operative position of the other carrier when the lastmentioned carrier is out of operative position.

34. In combination,t wo thread-carriers and means to move said carriers in and out of operative position, one'of said carriers being adapted when said carrier is in operative po sition to move into the operative position of the other carrier when the last-mentioned carrier is out of operative position.

35. In combination, two thread-carriers, means to move said carriers in and out of operative position, and means to retain both IIO said thread-carriers simultaneously in operahereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on tion, one of said carriers beingadapted'when this 9th day of April, 1901. said carrier is in operative position to move 1 into the operative position of the other car- HARRY HOUSEMAN' 5 rier when the last-mentioned carrier is out of Witnesses:

operative position. M. F. ELLIS,

In testimony of which invention I have M. M. HAMILTON. v

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