US956820A - Knitting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. T. NICHOLLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOAIIOH FILED KAY 6, 1909.

Palfented May 3, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MIT N55555:

G. T. NICHOLLS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

LPPLIGATIOX FILED KAY 6, $09.

Patented m 3, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Z Z JQIWUA /NVEN TUR:

- as szo.

funirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. NICHOLLS. OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed May 3, 1910.

T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE '1. Nita-tonne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode island, have inventrd certain new and useful improvements in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like reference characters indicate like.

parts.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved knitting machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the same, seen partly in top plan and partly in section on line .r .r of Fig. t. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal. t'liameirit-al .vtU- tion of the needle tube, UUllhlliHtlllfj an clemerit of my said machine. and showing in combination therewith the thread and the thread carrier, and also one of the needles, as scen'ili the positions of these parts at a certain time during the knitting operation.

other PUFlll llStllll'lllgllltllUlltl'tlllhlt. Vie

said thread carrier and needle bring represented in side elevation. Figs. 4. .3, (i. T and t are similar views of the needle. lit-Milt tube. thread and thread earrit s in certain 9,10. ll. l9. l3 and 14 are top plan views of said needle. needle tube. thread and thread carriers, correspoinlin". respectively. to Figs. 3. 4, 5. 0. 7 and S. 1'8 and it) are \iews similar to Fi s. fl. l l. 12.13 and 14, but represent. intermediate positions of the needle, needle tube. thread and thread carrier, that; is to z-F'ig. represents a position between those shown in Figs 9 and 10; Fig. 16 represents a position between those shown in Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 17 represents a )osition between those shown in igs. 11 and 12; Fig. 18 represents a position between those shown in Figs. 12 and 13; and F ig. 19 represents a position between those shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Figs. 20 and 21 are diagrammatic views showing the interlocked stitches formed by this machine.

represents the bed of the machine.

My invention relates to the class of knit.- ting machines, and consists of the novel construction and combination of the sercral elements hereinafter dewribed and claimed.

In the drawings. the reference numeral '24 There are two horizontal operating shafts. Of

these, the mail hat't. driven by power. is dean! :ted as .5 and a second shaft. parallel to the mam shaft is marked 1. i. The

hearings of these shafts are not hown in the drawings. The main shaft 23 has a driving gear .27. whose hu is fastened on the main shaft 25hr a set screw The sha t 26 is turned by a gear 30. wliesc hub 31 is I seemed to the shaft 26 by the s t screw E32. The gears 27 and 30 have such i't lation to each other that the gear 97 rotates twice while the gear 30 rotates onc On the shaft '26 is secured a cam drain 33, having on its periphen' a train way 34, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A cam lever is mounted at one end by a pivot 3 on tht= bed of the machine. and is provided with a tin stud 37. which is located midway its ends and projects loosely in the cam way 34. A link bar connected at one end to the. cam lever 3.3 by a pivot 39, and is connected at its opposite end by screws to a rack gear 41.

A vertical needle tube 42 rests at its lower end on the bed 24' of themaehine and is snl'ipt'irted in a standard'-l. Screws 44 pass through flanges "l of the standard 43 and fasten it upon the bid '24. The standard 3 is shown only i-ia'l ig. l., The needle tube 42 is rotatable iua bore of the standard 43.

A collar 40 surrounds the! needle tube 42, and is held-'in position th reon by a setscrew tl ig. 1). The editor as is provided with a segmental geat"-itQ-, which engages with the rack gear 41. Thus the rotation of the shaft 25 and its gear 27, causes the rotation of the gear 30-and its shaft 20. The cam drum 33 rotates with the shaft 26 and in its cam way 34 and the vain stud 37. which projects therein, gives an oscillating -inoveinent to the earn lever 35. which movement. is communicated by the link bar 38 to the rack gear 41, and by the engagement of the rack gear 41 with the segmental gear 47. the. needle tube 42 has a slight periodical oscillation.

On the main shaft 25 is a cam drum 4.55, which has a hub &9. A set screw :30 passing through the hub 49 secures th cam drum upon the shaft The cam drum 48 has a peripheral (aim way 51.

A vertical shaft 52 is rotatably mount d in proper supports or bearings (not shown At ts lower end the shaft 52 has a titted a H! or crank 53, at whose free end is a cam st u'l arm or crank 53, and this movement is com- 163, whose edge isbeveled. "There arc-several rods or standards 64,

"fastened to the bed 24 by bolts 6 Thus the in the no u-r and timel verti al llmh'iu" t r: l l

54, entering lcoselfy in the cam way 51. At 2 the upper end 0 the vertical shaft 52 a collar 55 is fastened by a set screw 56, and this collar 55 is provided with a segmental ear 5'1.

The head of the machine com rises two pnrts-a ring-shaped base 58 an a cap or I cover 59 having an annular flange, which fits over the same and engages the periph- 3 cral rim thereof. The cover 59 has a segmentel gear 60, which meshes with the segmentel gear 57. The cover 59 has a central 0 enmg 51, whose edge is beveled, as seen in 1 5g. 1, and is loose upon the base 58 and capable of a slight oscillatory movement thereon. The base 58 has a central opening upon whose upper ends the base 58 is rigidly supported, bein fastened thereon by screws 65, and has a plurality of radial grooves, rs illustrated in Jig. 1. The standards 84 are rotation of the main shaft 25 causes the rotation of the cam drum 48 with it, which, by its cam way -1 and the cam stud 54' therein, gives an oscillating movement to the radial municntcd by the vertical shaft 52 and se mental gears 57 and 60 to the cap 59 of t ie machine.

The needle tube 42 has a. plurality of equispaccd, exterior, longitudinal grooves 67', in each of which grooves a needle 68 is slidnbly mount d. At the upper end of each needle (-5 is a hooletitl, and a latch 70 is mounted by a pivot 71 on the needle 68. when the latch 7 i.-. in contact with the end of the hook 69, ihcv form a closed needle 0 'e, as illustrated in Fi 3, 6 and 8; but w en the latch T0 is directed downward, as in Figs. 4, 5 and I, there is no needle eye,-but the stitch or loop is dropped. As these needles and their operation are well-known in the artv they need not here be further explained] l'lach needle 68 has a needle hub 72. The lower cud of each needle roove tapcrs outhe insertion of the needles 68 in said moves and their withdrawal therefrom. he mechanism for 11in to llltft'll' needles (ll as follows: On tinmain shaft 23 is an eccentric wheel 73, which has hub 7-1. A set screw 75 secures the hub Tl on the shaft J5. A. strap or collar 75 is lo 'cly fitted up n the rim of the ccccntric \vh l73. A vertical rod 76 extends up from and is carri d by the culhu or strap. On one oi the supports 64 a bracket or collar 77 is fits-toned by a setgwrew T8, and this bracket has a b aring 79 attending thcrcirom. through which the rod 76 pass s loosclf. A collar 80 is adju tably mounted upon the rod 7; by a s t screw 81 and has a yoke 82, whose ends are bifurcated, as shown at 83. A coll lar .5 surrounds the needle tube 4 2 loosely and has two diametrically opposite trunnipns H5, which extend loosely into the bifurcated emls'uf linyoke 8;! of the collar M. A ring 86, ('ulu'cnlrlc with the collar 8 is mounted parallel with the uppcr surface of the collar 34 by mcans. of Sitl't'Ws 87. The n t-die hubs 7:5 cxtcnd loos-l) beneath the ring i l and above th collar 54. Thus, the rotation of the shaft 12.? (:HIH'S the eccentric wvhccl T3 to rotate therewith, and so imparts to the rod 76 a reciprocating vertical movemcnt. The collar 50, l'a tci'u-cl to the rod 76, rises and descends with it. and by the yoke 82 causes the collar 84, (whose trunnions engage with said yoke) to move up and down accordingly, together with the ring so. This movement of the collar 84 and ring 86, as they engage with the hubs 7-2 of all the needles 68, causes all said needles to rise and descend at the same time, periodically and to'the same extent, the limitto such reciproeating movement heingequal to the ecccntricity of the wheel 73.

In the head of the machine, in the space between the base 58 and the cover 59, is a cam way 88, which forms a series of ungularly directed or zigzag communicatingchannels. This cam way or channel is formed by two cam rings 81'), 90, which are attached to the cover 55), and is best illustrated in Fig. 2, where it is shown in plan or top view. in this cam way are loosely mounted radially movable thread carriers 91, whose form and position are best seen in Fig. 1. These thread carriers are movable in the radial the screws (35 upon the standard (34, and the cover 5.) has an oscillatory movement, and

the thread carriers are confined to a straight movement by the radial slots in the base .78 as shown in Fig. l. a radially-diru-tcd 1eciprocaling movement is im arted to the thread carriers by the oscil ntion of the cover 59, caused by the operation of the Sc mental gearing 5i and (30 The inward y directed end of the carrier 91 is formed into a thread-feeder arm 93. which is parallel to the central part or body of the carrier, but slightly above the same in the same vertical plane. This threud-f ecder arm has an eye 5' 4. Threads 95 (from a reel, not shown' passlln'ough the eyes 94 of the thread feeder arms 92.. of these thread carriers, and pass thence to the needles (18.

Having thus described the different parts of my improved knitting machine. I will proceed to explain. the manner of itsopcrutiun.

The p'oduct. of this machine iu knit lube, useful for shoe lacin'gs. corset lacing". for the textile coverings of eleotric wires, and nth-'31 similar purposes; By a method presently explained it is adapted also to knit flat. textile fabrics. such as tapes. carpet brains, dress braids, and similar goods. First, 1 will describe its usual operation in the mamtfiictnre of tubular textiles, the formation of the stitches being i lustrated by Figs. 3 to 19, inclusive.

In Fig. 3 and its companion l i 9. the needles G8 are down. the hook it!) of each needle hein; helm:v the upper end of the needle tube 42 in the groove 4 thereof. The thread. carrier J1. 5- is in position to begin the operation. The thread 95 passes through the eye 94 of the thread-feeder arm 93 and also between tho'ncedle hook 59 and the needle lat h T; the latter two being then together and n tituting a.closed eye The timed-feeder arm at that time extends between two ltmallts designated in the draw lugs as A and ll. as shown in Fig. 9. The needle. tube oscillates until the. needle B has Passed tinder-the thread (arr "r. as saown in Fig. 15. The needles then rise, as shown in Fig. l. and the thread carrier moves outwardly. as shown in Figs. 4 and 10. The

' thread has now passed around thensedle B,

and the previous loop has hoen cleared from the latch by the onward movement of the needle. A thereoinnd hangs upon 'tlhesl-iatt of the needle. The Ila-milks still remain in ileir elevated position and the needle tuhe oscillates so that the thread carrier comes into position clear of the needles A and B, but in a line directed radially between them, as shown in l-ig. 1 The needle lube then moves haci; to the position shown in Fig. 9

' The thread mutter then mores inwardly between the needles A and B. as seen in Figs.

and 1-1. the needles still being in their elevated position. At this time the thread has been looped around the needle B. as indited in Fig. 17. The needles then descend helow'the top of the needle tube and opera tion is completed on the needle B. The needle tube then oscillates and passes beneath the thread carrier. as shown in Figs. 6 and 12. to the position shown in F in. 12. whereupon the threat carrier witlnlrai xs until clear of the. needles A and B. as seen in Fig. 18. The thread has now been passed around the needle A. The needles then rise and the needletuhe oscillates until the thread carrier is directed radially lJQlWet"? the needles A and B. as shown in Figs. T and t3. ihc thread chrrier th n moves inshown in Fig. :9. The needles then "lest-ind. as in Figs. 8 and H, which this same pt sition as in Figs. 3 and 8. This operation is'contiimousyfhe tlilllltfl' (as the tube oscillates) carrying the same thread alternately to the needles B and A, others to t and B. l) and L. -etc. 'lliesc periodical vertical movements of the needles. up and down, result from the rotation of the eccentric wheel 73 on the shaft 2.3. and said rotation is converted by the strap r collar 75 and rod 76' into a reciprocating movement which is convcrted. as already explained. into a rise. and fall of the collar 84 and ring B6. and these operate the needles (38 by their hubs 3'2.

Tilt? periodical oscillations of tip; n -p ll; tuhe 42 are caused by the rotation of the cam drum which by its cam way 34 rocks the lever 35 and so giv s a reciprocatin; movementto the link bar 38 and the nick gear 41. the latt r moving the segmental gear 47 of the collar 46. which is fastened to the needle tube.

The periodical movements of the thread carriers 91. 93, are ziusedby the rotation of the cam drum 48, whose cam Wu 51 rocks the crank arm and gives a corrcspomling oscillation t0 the vertical shaft. 52. The same movement, being comnnn'iicated to the segmental gear 57. operatesthe segmental gear of the circular cover or up 59 and the cam Way formed by the can: rings 8! and 90. This oscillating movement of the cover or cap 59 and its cam way 88 moves the thread carriers 91 radially. in and out. by the loose engagement of the projection 92 thereof in the cam way 88. These moremcnts of the. needle tube 42, needles (38 and thread carriers at are carcfullyiimed to cooperate as described. As the tubular" fa ric is thus knit. it is drawn down through the here of the needle tube 42. by the usual drawing rolls and take-up mechanism in the manner usual and 'well-known in this class of machines and which therefore I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate in the drawings.

The stitch, made ashereinbefore described, in the form of a figure 8, as shown in Fig. 24. In this figure and in the explanation of the stitch-forming I have assumed that thencedles are worked in gangs of two each, the needles being designated as A and B. It is to be understood. however. that while said needles A and B are so knitting, the needles B and C (and C and D. and so on all around the needle tube are knitting also) and that while an 8-shapcd stitch is forming upon the needles A and B. another 8-shaped stitch i forming. at the same time. upon the needles B and C. as shown in Fig. 25. and so on. The result is that the stitches interlock and cannot be unraveled. and the fabric is stronger and loss stretchable than knitted fabrics generally are.

It is ob ious that instead of forming gangs may have three needles each, or any desired number of needles, provided the cam a way operating-the needle tube is modified to cause the requisite oscillations of the nee, die tube, but the mechanical principle involved is the same.

The shape and extent of the loop or stitch upon the needles is seen in Figs. :20 and 21, and a continuous series of such loops or stitches necessarily results in the formation of a tubular fabric.

In Figs. 24 and 25 the stitches are represented as round and separated a little space from the needles, which they respectively inclose. This, however, is for the purpose of showing the 8-sha of the stitches but it is t be 'understod ti f-l in. practice the stitches hug the needles closely. When, however any two adjacent needles 58 are withdrawn from its groove 67 in the needle tube 4-2, the-- continuity of the fabric is broken. and the product of the machine is a flat tape, with two selv'ages. I

It. is evident that these knitting; mechanisins are interchangeable, and parts which are of different sizes or diameters and which car and operate a rlif 'erent number of nee les and threads, or a ditl'erent style or pattern in knitting, whether a simple spiral, continuous, or straight. or diamond-shaped, or other design, may be substituted from time to time, thus making the machines capable of at variety of work, with but little loss 0 time and with no increase of floor space. Thus one machine can do the work, which hitherto has required several diti'erf ent machines, of different sizes, styles and capaciiee.

I claim as a new and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a knitting machine. the combination of a rotatable shaft; a needle tube; means to i oscillate t e tube operated from theshaft: needles hi mounted on the tube; means actuated the shaft. for giving alternately u and tie--51; movements to the needles upon the tube; astationary ringshaped base concentric i131 but above the needle iuheu l supported by standards from the bed of the Ina-chine ml provided with a plurality of radial grooves; 21 ring-shaped cover conceu trio with said base and mounted movably or. the base 3191 having a zigzag cam way (l posed in a circle concentric with said cove. means actuated by the shaft and adapted to give an osciilatory movement to said cove and a plurality of radially directed three 1 carriers siirlahly mounted respectivelv the Vase each having projection slidahiy mounted in said can way and err-h provided at its inner end with an eye for "rrying thread.

2. In a 5? fitting machine, the combination of a rotatawlc shaft; a needle tuhe: needle; mnvahlv Im'mnted on the tube; a horizon: lull; sn tax-ted base with a central aperture fllul provided with a plurality of radi ally directed grooves; a plurality of thread carriers radially directed and slidable in said grooves; means actuated by the shaft ts? gi eoscilintory movement to the needle tube: means actuated by the shaft to givivertical reciprocation to the needles; and means actuated by the shaft to give periodical movements to the thread carriers in said grooves alternately to and from the needle but ab ve the needle tube.

- In testimony; whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEQRGE T. XIClUHiLS.

Witnesses:

Es-1:12): R. PERCE, As am) S. J onrzsox.

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