Patent GB-190402111-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Straight Bar Latch Needle Knitting Machines.
Inventor: SMITH JAMES HILL
Filed: 1904-01-28
Granted: 1905-01-28
Abstract: 2111. Smith, J. H., and Hill, O. A. Jan. 28. Parallel knitting-machines. - In a straight-bar latch-needle machine having two parallel needlebeds a, a<1> arranged at any angle, the needle-beds are cut in the usual manner, but the needles are arranged in sets d, d<1>, Fig. 3, with a separate cam to each set, and the butts d<4>, d<5> are formed on the needles of adjacent sets d, d<1> at different distances from the hooks, so that the cam actuating one set of needles slides over the needles in adjacent sets without actuating them. The needles of each pair of opposite sets are fed from one thread-carrier, in the same manner as in ordinary rib knitting-machines, and the connections between the narrow widths knitted by the various sets of needles are formed by actuating needles d<3> between adjacent sets by two adjacent cams, so that two loops are formed on these needles at each traverse of the knitting-cams. The needles d<3> have two butts d<6>, d' at the same distances from the hooks as the butts d<4>, d<5> respectively. The needles d<3> may be all in one needle-bed as shown, or there may be some in both beds, but, when sinkers are used, the needles d<3> are preferably all in that bed with which the sinkers are arranged to act. The needle-beds a, a<1> are carried by bed-plates b, b<1>, and are adjustable longitudinally by means of screws at their ends. The distance between the beds is regulated by ordinary means. The separate knitting-cams e for the sets of needles are carried by arms e<1>, which are mounted on, and are traversed by, shafts e<2>. The cams are provided with movable knocking- over pieces provided with screws, so that their positions may be relatively adjusted. The shafts e' have longitudinal grooves e<3>, and slide in end bearings e<4> fitted with adjusting-screws e<5>, whereby the position of the shafts e<2> and of the cams e can be adjusted relatively to the needle-beds to regulate the quality of the work. The shafts e<2> are prevented from turning in the bearings e<4>, and the arms e<1> from turning on the shafts e<2> by means of keys e<6>, fitting in the grooves e<3>, and provided with adjusting-screws e'. There is a separate spring f for each needle, and these springs act on the end butts of the needles to hold the needles in the positions in which they are left by the cams. In an alternative arrangement, when the needles are left at the knocking-over position, there may be a bar or plate below the ends of the needles, to prevent the butts from falling below the entrance to the cam-groove. The sinkers g slide in a sinkerbar g<1>, fixed at each end upon the needle-bed, and supported by one or more intermediate arms g'. The sinker-cam bar g<3> slides on the sinker-bar, has a separate cam for each set of needles in one needle-bed, is held in position by clips g<5>, and is driven by an arm g<4> attached to one of the knitting- cam arms. The thread-carriers h are adjustable vertically and horizontally in the usual manner, and are carried by a bar h<1> mounted upon, and driven by friction from, the sinker-cam bar g<3>. The length of traverse of the thread-carriers is, however, limited to approximately the width of a set of needles by screw-stops, but if the needles are left at the knocking-over position, and particularly so if sinkers are not used, the traverse of the thread-carriers may be equal to the traverse of the knitting-cams. The bosses of the arms e<1> are prevented from sliding on the shafts e<2> by collars fixed on the shafts, which are reciprocated by cranks or cams at one end of the machine, either directly or through intermediate levers and links. For each thread-carrier there is a separate tension appliance, and separate take-up rollers k, which are driven frictionally at such a speed that the necessary tension is maintained on the work to prevent the work from rising with the needles when sinkers are not used. The width of each set of needles is preferably equal to, or greater than, the width of the knitting-cams, and the traverse of the cams is approximately equal to the sum of the width of a cam and the width of a set of needles.