Patent GB-521670-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in knitted fabrics and process and apparatus for making same
IPC: D04B11/00
Filed: 1938-11-24
Abstract: 521,670. Knitting. IMPROVED PRODUCTS & MACHINERY CO., Inc., and LUHN, H. P. Nov. 24, 1938, No. 34241. [Class 74 (ii)] The invention seeks to eliminate " sinker lines " or needle lines " in knitted fabrics; the attainment of this object may result in. a patterned knitted fabric. To this end, in the " idle " interval bebetween the knitting of successive courses the position of at least one of the series of knitting elements (e.g., needles, sinkers and dividers, or knock-over bits) is altered relatively to the fabric loops. For example, the following may be shifted two or more needle spaces longitudinally of the machine:- (a) The needle bar, with or without the knockover bits; this involves shifting the end stops for the thread carrier rods and, if used, the narrowing rod stops: (b) The sinkers and dividers: (c) The loops, which are transferred to other needles; this may be followed by a shift of the needle bar to the same extent as the loop transfer but in the opposite direction so that the loops are opposite the same sinkers &c. as before and there is no need to shift the thread carrier stops or narrowing rod stops: (d) all the knitting elements, together with a loop-transferring operation : (e) the sinkers, dividers and knockover bits. The result of these shifts is that imperfectly formed loops caused by, e.g., a worn sinker or an improperly aligned needle, do not occur in the same wale but are spread over staggered wales and rendered inconspicuous, as shown, e.g., in Fig. 3, wherein a are imperfectlyformed loops forming a pattern. Fig. 13, shows means for shifting the needle-bar 11. The bar is secured to a shaft 15 the end of which is secured to an interiorly screw - threaded sleeve 18 engaging with a stationary screw 19. The sleeve 18 is rotated by another sleeve 21 rotatably mounted on the screw 19. The sleeve 21 carries oppositely-cut ratchets 22, 23 which are rotated by ratchet mechanism similar to that shown in Fig.. 9. Fig. 9 shows means for shifting the thread carrier-rod end-stops. The carrier-rod screw 30 carries oppositetly-cut ratchets 32, 33 which are engaged by spring-pressed pawls 31, 36 pivotally mounted on opposite forks of a member 37 which straddles and is cam-operated from shaft 26. The length of time during which a pawl 31 or 36 is in engagement with its ratchet on the upward stroke of the member 37 is selectively determined by the coaction of levers with a cam 40 or 41 secured to a shaft 43 mounted on the member 37. The narrowing stops are moved together with their spindle by means similar to that shown in Fig. 13. The knockover bit bed 85, Fig. 16, is secured to the needle bar 11 by lugs 91 which engage forks 93, 94, and has at each endtrunnions 86 journalled in brackets 87 secured to the sinker bed 86 but allowing play between the bracket. and knockover bit bed; alternatively, the presser cam 80, Fig. 13, effecting the usual horizontal movements of the needle bed (in a Cotton machine) may readily be modified to clear the needles from the bits before shifting the needle bar. During shifting,of the needle bed and knockover bits the lever 83, Fig. 13, which moves the needle bed horizontally slides on a stud 81b carried by the presser lever 81 which is operated by the cam 80, and the lever 16 which moves the needle bed vertically. Fig. 18, shows means for shifting the sinkers and dividers. The sinker bed and jack bed are supported on a member 106 having threaded lugs 110 engaging screws 111 on a shaft 112 which is rotated by means of ratchets 113, 114 and apparatus similar to that of Fig. 9. Transfer points 116, Fig. 16, are mounted on a bar 115 urged to the left by a spring 127 and selectively urged to the right by a stop 123 on a shaft 124 moved by ratchets 125, 126 operated by mechanism similar to that of Fig. 9. For patterning purposes certain of the' sinkers or dividers may be modified to draw relatively long loops.