Patent GB-659997-A (GB)
Title: Knitting machines
Inventor: LUDWIG JOHANNES PAUL
IPC: D04B11/00
Filed: 1947-09-04
Abstract: 659,997. Knitting. PHOENIX HOSIERY CO. Sept. 4, 1947, No. 24440. [Class 74 (ii)] In a straight bar stocking knitting-machine there are provided a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; a device serving to actuate the needles during the knitting of portions of the leg and instep of a stocking blank so that the beards of all the needles are in contact with the presser ledge; an auxiliary device serving to actuate the needles during the knitting of the heel cheeks to prevent contact of the beards of the instep needles with the presser ledge; presser elements co-operating with needles of two groups reserved for heel cheek knitting and respectively situated at the two ends of the series; a device for selecting the presser elements and serving to select the latter firstly in progressively increasing numbers inwardly from the corresponding ends of the two groups and then in progressively decreasing numbers during the heel knitting; and a device serving to actuate the selected presser elements to cause closure of the beards of the corresponding needles during heel knitting. In order to knit substantially square heel cheeks H, defined by sutures, substantially at right angles to each other, the inward movement of the needle bar is decreased so that needles are no longer pressed by the presser ledge 17, auxiliary presser elements 61, 61a (each co-operating with one or two heel cheek needles) are selected in progressively increasing numbers, corresponding to progressively increasing numbers of suture-forming needles 9b, and the traverses of the heel yarn guide carriers 51, 52 are progressively increased from the line a, b, c, d, to the line e, b, c, h; the operations are then reversed down to the line g, b, c, i, whereafter the machine again operates normally. A few full-width courses may be included in each heel cheek, between the lines e b, e<SP>1</SP> b<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 39, to provide greater fullness and narrowing may be carried out at n<SP>2</SP> for rounding purposes. The auxiliary presser elements are selected by slides 106, 106a, which are progressively slipped in and raised to lift the elements above them to a position in which their heads come between the associated needles and the presser ledge, to cause these needles to press. The slide 106 is connected positively to the inner stop-nut 46, but the slide 106a is connected to stop-nut 47 through a delay mechanism which ensures that the slide shall not be moved in until the commencement of a draw to the left; the pressing-off loops L of main yarn from pairs of suture needles, for example the needles at 9n, after the preceding draw to the right, is avoided. The delay mechanism comprises a member movable vertically, under pattern control, on an arm 118 extending from nut 47, to bring either a neatly fitting part 119 between collars 128 on a rod 115a connected to a bar actuating the group of elements 61a; or a waisted part 123 therebetween, so that movement of nut 47 does not cause movement of rod 115a. The knock-over bits 12 are notched at 12x and are moved to push the heel cheek fabric away from the needles each time new loops are formed. The single common stop-nut spindle 43 may be replaced by separate spindles. The main yarn carrier may operate as one of the heel yarn carriers.