Patent GB-873308-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for and method of knitting and product derived therefrom
IPC: D04B11/04
Filed: 1957-10-30
Abstract: 873,308. Knitting. PHILIP, M. Oct. 30, 1957 [Nov. 8, 1956], No. 33893/57. Class 74 (2). The needles of each of two groups knit with one group in each of two positions between which it may be swung relatively to another group whilst retaining the yarn loops on needles of both groups; and, in one of the positions, needles of both groups form their loops on the same side of the fabric whereas, in the other position, needles of one group form their loops on one side of the fabric whilst needles of the other group form their loops on the opposite side of the fabric. In the arrangement of Figs. 1-3, needle bars 10, 11 may be juxtaposed as at " nine o'clock " in the Figure, with a rib 14 of the one engaging a groove 15 in the other, and the two reciprocated as one, so that their needles 12, 13 operate as in one bed, to produce plain knitting. To change to rib knitting, the bar 10 is swung clockwise through about 270 degrees, to the position shown at "six o'clock," each of its needles being, at the same time, rotated about its axis through 180 degrees. The reverse movements restore the machine to the plain knitting position. The bar 10 is borne at each end in a slot 30 of an arm 31 and is biased to the outer ends of those arms (corresponding to the retracted position of needles 12) by spring 42. The arms 31 are borne by their other ends on shafts 32, 33, rotatable to swing the bar 10 between its two positions. As the bar 10 swings, annular cams 38, 39 cause endwise movement of a rack 24, to rotate the needles 12 through spur gears 23. In the arrangement of Figs. 5, 12 and 14, the one needle-bar 51 is reciprocated by a cam 70, lever 66, and bar 65 and, through interengaging groove 58 and rib 57, takes with it the other needle bar 50, when plain knitting is being carried out. The bar 50 is carried at each end in a slot 60 in a bar 59 swingable about a shaft 61 through 270 degrees, to move the bar 50 between plain and rib knitting positions; but the shaft 61 is itself mounted at the upper end of an arm 62 which, by means of a cam 76 can first be swung about a shaft axially aligned with the shaft 64, so to position the members of the machine that there shall be no interference with the swinging of the needle bar. In the rib knitting position, a cam 70<SP>1</SP>, acting through a bar 651, reciprocates the needle bar 50. As the needle bar 50 swings from one position to the other, a rack 84 engages a gear 82, so rotating a wheel 110 and, through a belt 111, a wheel 821. As a connecting-rod 81 is thereby taken past its dead-centre position, it is snapped by springs 105, 106 into one or other of two positions against stops 104, 104<SP>1</SP>. Cranked lower ends 112 of the needles 52 rotatably carried in the needle bar 50, are journalled in holes in the connecting-rod; and the needles are thus rotated about their axes through 180 degrees between their two positions. Releasable detents, in place of springs, hold the bar 50 at the outer ends of the guide slots 60, during swinging of the arms 59. The fabric is characterized by a twisted loop 207<SP>1</SP> or 211<SP>1</SP> at every change in a wale between plain loops and rib loops.