Knitting machine

A double flat-bed knitting machine comprises four needle beds disposed in two mutually opposed pairs which are themselves disposed each in two mutually bisecting planes. A slide carrying cam means is arranged for actuating the needles of the four needle beds, and the needles are double-headed tongue needles. The machine further comprises transfer plates in the needle beds remote from a knitware take-off point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a knitting machine with four oppositely disposed 
needle beds and a slide carrying cams for actuating all the needles, the 
needle beds being disposed in mutually bisecting planes, and being 
provided with double-headed needles and associated plates for moving the 
needles. 
In a known knitting machine of this kind (U.S. Pat. Specification No. 
1,797,436), the double-headed needles are of the pointed type. For the 
purpose of pressing in the needle heads it is necessary to provide 
pressure plates which occupy considerable space in the zone where knitting 
occurs and the production of even simple patterns requires complicated 
means for controlling the pressure plates associated with the various 
needles. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide a simplified form of 
machine of this kind and to render it suitable for the production of 
patterns. 
The present invention provides a knitting machine comprising four needle 
beds disposed in two mutually opposed pairs, and a slide carrying cam 
means for actuating the needles in the needle beds, said two pairs of 
needle beds being disposed each in one of two mutually bisecting planes, 
said needles being double-headed tongue needles movable by associated 
plate means, and said machine further comprising transfer plates at least 
in the needle beds remote from a knitware take-off. 
The double-headed tongue needles enable patterning to be carried out with 
the aid of the cam means, and they obviate the need for specially 
controlled pressure plates. 
Knitting machines having two oppositely disposed needle beds disposed in 
one and the same plane are known as evidenced by German Patent 
Specification No. 702 370, the double-headed needles of these machines 
being formed as double-headed tongue needles, and transfer plates being 
provided in each of the needle beds. However, in these machines the 
transfer plates only serve the purpose of enabling transferring to be 
carried out between adjacent needles so as to form the pattern, but the 
transfer plates in a knitting machine in accordance with the invention are 
provided for producing circular goods, since, when the double-headed 
tongue needles are each moved into the opposite needle bed, the stitches 
have to be moved from the shaft into the already opened hook, and this is 
achieved with the aid of the transfer plates. 
In contrast with a known double V-bed knitting machine, the double flat-bed 
knitting machine of the present invention possesses the advantages of the 
greater simplicity attached to the nested flat-bed knitters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a knitting machine known as a double flat-bed knitting machine 
which includes four needle beds 1, 2, 3 and 4 (N.B. 1, N.B. 2, N.B. 3 and 
N.B. 4). The needle beds 1 and 2 are disposed in one plane and the needle 
beds 3 and 4 in another plane which intersects the first. The needle beds 
1 and 2, and the needle beds 3 and 4 constitute the two pairs of needle 
beds of a flat-bed knitting machine and the needle beds 1 and 3 together 
form the pair of needle beds of a V-bed knitting machine. The needle beds 
1 and 2 are fitted with left-hand needles 9, and the needle beds 3 and 4 
with left-hand needles 10. The lower needle beds 1 and 3 have needle 
plates 5 and 11 and the upper needle beds 2 and 4 are provided with needle 
plates 6 and 12 as well as transfer plates 7 and 13. 
The knitting machine embodying the invention can be regarded as a 
combination of straight and circular knitting machines by means of which 
it is possible to produce two-ply flat-bed circular cross-knitted goods. 
Examples of a number of patterns that can be knitted will now be 
described. 
FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 5, explain the mode of operation of 
the knitting machine when producing a right/right knitted circular piece. 
In producing a knit of this kind, two portions 8 and 14 are first cast 
onto the needles 9 and 10 of the needle beds 1 and 3 as shown in FIG. 1 
and diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 6a. Each of the left-handed 
needles 9 and 10 receives a stitch. The slide, not illustrated, is located 
at the right for example, and the needle bed 4 will have been previously 
retracted into the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 during travel of the 
slide to the right. 
The slide is then moved from the right to left. As this happens the first, 
third, fifth, etc. of the left-hand needles 9 are moved in the customary 
manner from the needle bed 1 into the needle bed 2 by the needle plates 5 
and 6 and the cams shown in FIGS. 9 and 15. FIG. 2 shows the position 
after these left-hand needles 9 have been shifted. At the same time the 
second, fourth, sixth, etc. left-hand needles 9 in the needle bed 1 are 
pushed out over the engagement distance and are retracted into the needle 
bed 1 again. During these needle movements, the filaments are inserted 
into the left-hand needles 9 at specific points so that stitches 15 and 16 
are formed on both needle beds 1 and 2. This is illustrated 
diagrammatically in FIG. 6b. 
Casting-on in the needle bed 2 is illustrated in FIG. 2, and casting-on in 
the needle bed 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3, and the left-hand needle 9', 
the needle plates 5' and 6' and the transfer plates 7', shown in FIG. 3, 
are each time located in the adjacent left-hand or right-hand channel of 
the left-hand needle 9 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. 
During travel of the slide to the left, the left-hand needles 9 are again 
extended out of the needle bed 2 and back into the needle bed 1, and the 
transfer plate 7 receives the stitch 15 that falls from its needle, as 
illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereupon the stitch 15 is immediately passed to 
the left-hand needle 9 by further advance of this needle by the transfer 
plate 7, this stage being shown in FIG. 5. 
Before the slide leaves the needles, the latter are brought into register 
by the cams. All the left-hand needles together with their stitches are 
then located in the needle bed 1. Left-hand stitches are suspended from 
each first, third, fifth, etc. left-hand needle 9, and right-hand stitches 
from each second, fourth, sixth, etc. left-hand needle 9, as shown in FIG. 
6a. 
The slide occupies the left-hand position. The needle bed 2 is retracted 
and the needle bed 4 is brought into its "basic " position. The slide is 
then moved from left to right. As this happens, the left-hand needles 10, 
the needle plates 11 and 12 and the transfer plates 13 of the needle beds 
3 and 4 cooperate in the same manner as described above in connection with 
the needle beds 1 and 2. FIGS. 6d and 6e are the corresponding needle and 
stitch diagrams for the left-hand needles 10 of the needle beds 3 and 4. 
Finally, FIG. 6f shows the path taken by the threads in the needle beds 1 
and 3, this Figure illustrating the right/right circular knit after 
completion of the cycle stroke of the slide. 
FIG. 7 shows the mode of operation when producing a left/left circular 
knit. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7a, two portions 8 and 14 of material are 
cast onto the left-hand needles 9 and 10 the needle beds 1 and 3. The 
needle bed 4 is retracted. Each of the needles 9 and 10 carries a stitch. 
The slide is in the right-hand position, for example. 
The slide is now moved to the left. While this is happening, all the 
left-hand needles 9 are led from the needle bed 1 to the needle bed 2. 
During movement of the needles the thread is presented to the left-hand 
needles 9 at the corresponding point, and a row of stitches is thus 
knitted on the needle bed 2, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 7b. 
During the same travel of the slide, all the left-hand needles 9 are 
extended from the needle bed 2 into the needle bed 1, and a second row of 
stitches is knitted by means of a second thread insertion, but this time 
in the needle bed 1 as illustrated in FIG. 7c. 
The needle bed 4 is then brought into the "basic" position and the needle 
bed 2 is retracted, whereupon the slide is moved from left to right. As 
this takes place all the left-hand needles 10 are extended from the needle 
bed 3 into the needle bed 4. During the movement of the needles, the 
thread is presented to the left-hand needles 10 at the corresponding 
point, and a row of stitches is thus formed on the needle bed 4, as shown 
in FIG. 7d. During the same movement of the slide, all of the left-hand 
needles 10 are again extended back into the needle bed 3 so that a second 
row of stitches is formed by means of a second thread insert, as 
illustrated in FIG. 7e. 
FIG.7f shows the stitch diagram after completion of the first knitting 
cycle, in which, left-hand stitches, as seen from the exterior, can be 
observed. FIG. 7g on the other hand shows the stitch diagram after 
completion of the second knitting cycle. in which right-hand stitches can 
be seen throughout on the outside. The constant alternation between 
left-hand and right-hand rows of stitches gives the non-patterned or plain 
left/left product. To enable knitting to be carried out to any required 
pattern, mechanical, electro-magnetic or electronic needle-selection 
devices, not illustrated, are used. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of 
the needle beds 1, 2, 3 and 4 together with a slide 17 shown 
schematically. Finally, FIG. 9 is a side view of a portion of the needle 
beds and the slide as seen in FIG. 1 and a double cam can be seen on the 
slide 17. The double cam enables the capacity of the straight and circular 
knitting machine of the invention to be increased for certain knits, for 
example, in producing a circular right/right knit. Using a double cam and 
the arrangement shown in FIG. 6b, the first, third, fifth, etc. left-hand 
needles 9 are extended from the needle bed 1 to the needle bed 2 while 
knitting proceeds at the same time, and a second knitting operation takes 
place in the same slide cycle. Then, as shown in FIG. 6c, the left-hand 
needles 9 are again collected in the needle bed 1. After the slide cycle 
has been completed, two right/right circular runs are knitted instead of 
one, as shown in FIG. 6f. 
When a circular knitted piece is knitted on the knitter shown, the diamter 
of the circular piece can be adjusted by varying the working width by 
appropriate selection of the needles or needle plates. 
The foregoing knitting steps which were explained with reference to the 
schematic diagrams of FIGS. 6 and 7 will now be explained in more specific 
detail by reference to the sequential needle position views of FIGS. 
10-14, 16 and 17 and the detailed view of the operating cams in FIG. 15. 
According to FIG. 10 the last stitch of the knitting 8 is suspended on the 
needle 9. The knitting plate 5 is engaged into the left-hand needle hook 
35, whereas the plate 6 and the transfer plate 7 in the needle bed 2 are 
in waiting position. The feet 20,21,22 (FIG. 1) of the knitting plates 5 
and 6, and the transfer plate 7 respectively, are positioned in the cam 
channels 23,24,25, respectively. (FIG. 15, Section X) at this moment. 
The knitting and transfer plates 5, 6 and 7 have high or low feet and are 
inserted into the needle beds 1 and 2 in a ratio 1:1, FIG. 6b. During the 
run of the carriage to the left, the feet 20 slide up on the cam members 
26, 27 and the high feet 21, 22, i.e., of each second knitting and 
transfer plate 6 and 7, slide up on the half-active cam 48 and the cam 28. 
The knitting plate 6 is connected with the transfer plate 7 at the 
coupling position 46, FIG. 10. Both plates necessarily carry out the 
movement, regardless of whether this movement is caused by foot 21 or by 
the foot 22. First, the high knitting plate foot 21 is driven out by the 
half-active cam 47. During this upward movement, the transfer plate foot 
22 is led into the cam channel to the cam 28. From there, the foot 22 
takes over the further driving out and leads the foot 21 to the channel 
29. The cams 18 and 19 are out of action and the cam 30 is half in action. 
In the further course of procedure, the cam 30 drives out the knitting 
plate 5 with high foot and the associated needle 9 until the needle 9 is 
positioned in the middle of the front needle bed 1 and rear needle bed 2, 
FIGS. 16 and 15, Section XVII. In this position, the knitting plate 6 with 
high foot is engaged into the right needle hook. During this procedure, 
the knitting plate 5 with low foot is not actuated by the cam member 30; 
it remains in the closed position, FIG. 17, in which the stitch 15 comes 
to rest behind the tongue. 
When the carriage moves further to the left, the knitting plate 6 with high 
foot is drawn off by the cam 32 and the knitting plate 5 with high and low 
foot is drawn off by the cam 31. A holding down member 33 secured to the 
carriage is provided over the plate 6 and hinders a decoupling of the 
knitting plate 6 from the needle 9. The needle 9 is now drawn into the 
needle bed 2 by the knitting plate 6 with high foot and the knitting plate 
5 with high foot without needle as well as the knitting plate 5 with low 
foot with needle 9 are drawn into the needle bed 1. During this action the 
knitting plate 5 with high foot with an inclination 34 slides over the 
needle hook 35 and releases the needle 9. The plates and the needles are 
moved into the position shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 15, Section XI and FIGS. 1, 
2 and 6b. 
Before the lowest point of withdrawal was reached, the yarn guide means 48 
inserted the yearn into the needle hook as shown in FIG. 2. The old 
stitches 15 slide over the needle hooks closed by the latches and form new 
stitches together with the placed yearn on the needle beds 1 and 2. 
During the same carriage run the needles are now in a trailing manner 
accumulated in the needle bed 1. The needle 9 from the needle bed 2, FIG. 
11, must be brought into the needle bed 1, without forming a new stitch 
and without the old stitch being cast off from the needle 9. The knitting 
plate 6 with the coupled transfer plate and the needle 9, FIG. 12, 
together with the knitting plate 5 with high foot are driven out by the 
cams 37,38,39 and 40, which are half in action (FIG. 15, Section XII) to 
the extent shown in FIG. 12. The needle 9 is positioned in the middle of 
the two needle beds and with its left hook 35 in front of the point 36 of 
the knitting plate 5 with high foot. 
During further carriage run to the left, the transfer plate 7 is pushed 
further forward by the cam 41. The knitting plate 6 is held with its foot 
21 in the cam channel 42 and decoupled from the transfer plate 7. The 
transfer plate 7 pushes the needle 9 into the needle bed 1 until it 
engages into the knitting plate 5 with high foot and is pushed with same 
even further, namely, until the stitch 15 suspended on the needle 9 slides 
over the right needle head into the transfer plate notch 50, FIGS. 13 and 
15, Section XIII. Subsequently, the knitting plate 5 with high foot is 
driven out by the cam 43, which is half in section. It pushes the needle 9 
and the transfer plate 7 into the needle bed 2 until the stitch 15 slides 
out of the notch 50 and into the needle hook 44, FIGS. 14 and 15, Section 
XIV. The cam 45 brings the knitting plate 5 and the needle 9 back into the 
basic position of FIG. 10. 
All the needles and the newly formed right and left stitches are now 
located in the front needle bed 1, FIG. 6c. 
During movement of the carriage from left to right the phases and actions 
are performed but with the needles 10 and the knitting and transfer plates 
11, 12, 13 in the needle beds 3 and 4. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been particularly 
described by way of example, it is to be understood that variations and 
modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.