Patent GB-484454-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in knitting machine and method of operating same
IPC: D04B9/20
Filed: 1937-10-06
Abstract: 484,454. Knitting-machines. HADDAN, R. (Scott & Williams, Inc.) Oct. 6, 1937, No. 27112. [Class 74 (ii)] A circular machine is modified to knit one or more fully fashioned blanks such as are normally knitted upon a straight-bar machine. The machine is of the stationary needlecylinder type with either latch or bearded needles, and can, as in the form shown, knit simultaneously two fully fashioned stocking blanks with French feet. The needles are arranged in two spaced groups, and two knitting-cam blocks 44 are arranged at different levels to actuate butts 52, 53 on the needles 50 or jacks 51 therefor. Each cam block rotates continuously in the same direction, but the two blocks rotate in opposite directions and are so timed as to pass each other at the space between the groups of needles. A reciprocating yarn carrier 73, 74 is provided for each group of needles, the carriers 73, 74 being mounted upon rings 71, 72 oscillated in opposite directions. The sinkers 85 of each group of needles are actuated by a cam plate 87 driven by a pin'88, which to permit the sinker cams to lag behind the corresponding yarn finger in each direction of rotation, engages within a slot in the yarn carrier. The needles are selected for transferring the loops thereon to other needles in fashioning by jaw units 100R, 100L. One of each kind of unit is employed for each group of needles and each unit comprises an upper jaw 117 and a lower jaw 118. The upper jaw of a unit 100R can be moved laterally to the left of the lower jaw, while the upper jaw of a unit 100L can be moved to the left. The jaw units can be moved vertically and circmnferentially for transferring the loops, and radially into and out of operative position, these movements being controlled by cams upon fashion cam shafts 96. Co-operating with the needle selecting mechanism are transfer points 150 mounted so as to be moved vertically, circumferentially and radially above the needles, these movements being also obtained from cams upon the shafts 96. The points 150 are carried in slotted blocks 151 mounted upon a horizontal pivot 152 in slides 153. The slides 153 are movable circumferentially by ratchet and pawl mechanism controlled by cams on the fashion shafts 96, and vertically by jaws 158, 160. Micrometer means are provided for adjusting the points circumferentially of the needles. The clutch 35 on the countershaft 33 which drives the knitting cam blocks 44, and the yarn carriers 73, 74, and the clutch 97 controlling the fashion cam shafts 96 are operated by cams 113 of a shipper drum 114 so that one clutch is always operative, the two clutches working alternately. The knitting cams are thus stationary while the narrowing mechanism is in action. To enable the two heel tabs of each stocking to be knitted with separate yarns, two yarn fingers 83 are provided on each yarn carrier and are moved alternately into operative position by slides 89 actuated by cams 90 mounted upon a pin 91. The pin 91 is rotated by the engagement of a pattern controlled lug 93 with levers 92 on the pin. The instep needles on the jacks beneath them are provided with shorter butts, and the cam blocks are adjustable radially under pattern control so that only the longer butted heel needles or jacks are actuated. Tight stitches at the selvedges can be avoided by laying the yarn around the last needle but not knitting it thereon. To facilitate removal and replacement of the loops of the needles during narrowing, the sinkers in the fashioning are provided with butts 186, and cams 188 are arranged beneath the sinkers to retract these sinkers. The cams 188 are carried upon a circumferentially movable ring 187 so that when the machine is not fashioning the cams 188 are in register with the needles not provided with butts 186. Spring take-up mechanism may be provided for taking up slack yarn when the yarn carriers change their direction of rotation.