Patent GB-190611481-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machinery for Knitting either Ribbed or Plain Webs and Changing from one Style of Knitting to the Other
Inventor: SCOTT ROBERT WALTER
Filed: 1906-05-16
Granted: 1906-10-25
Abstract: 11,481. Scott, R. W. May 16. Circular knitting- machines; straightb a r knitting - m achines.-The object is to effect automatic transition from one description of rib to another, or from rib to plain stitches or vice versa, the plain web having the same, a greater, or a less number of wales than the ribbed. This is done by means of needles which are ordinary in the sense that there are no side projections or devices for laterally expanding the loops, the transference being effected by simply projecting the needles into position, and, if necessary, shogging or springing the needles of one set laterally to the other set. It is possible therefore to employ a varying number of needles in one set, as the tricks of the dial need not register with those of the cylinder. The dial needles can be arranged equidistantly or otherwise, provision being made in the latter case for obtaining uniformity of loop. The details are described mainly with reference to a type of machine with straight cylinder needles, and swing-jack dial needles, but the invention is applicable to the reverse arrangement, and to straight machines. Ribbed fablic can first be made in the cylinder by ordinary needles 12, Figs. 17 and 18, without jacks ; in the transition to another description of ribbed fabric or to plain work needles 13, Figs. 19 and 20, provided with jacks 14 come into action and receive loops from the dial needles, while the needles 12 may or may not receive loops. The needles 12, 13, disposed round one half of the cylinder, and some of the jacks 14, are provided with longer butts than the rest. The cylinder can be moved vertically in order to adjust the length of the loops. The transference is effected by cams 32, 33, Fig. 3, sliding radially in the cam shell. The needles 13 are thereby raised above the level of the ledge 36, to enter the loops on the corresponding dial needles, and are then depressed to remove the loops. When a cam 34 is projected inwardly, the needles 13 clear their loops and their jack butts return to the ledge 36. The cams are operated by slides connected by means of bell-cranks and links to pattern - controlled levers. Connected to the cam 34 is a cam 145, and when the former moves outwardly in making plain work, the latter raises the cylinder needles to clear their loops, The dial is rotated in unison with the cylinder by gearing, and is adjusted circumferentially by varying the position of one of the driving-pinions. The swing jacks 50, Fig. 11. of the dial needles work on a circumferential groove of a sleeve 42 and are secured by a clasp spring and a ring 52. The tails of the jacks are graduated in length, and some are missed by the dial cams when a transfer cam 60, Fig. 21, under control of the pattern drum, is above its lowest position. The longer-tailed jacks are brought in by the transfer cam, towards the centre of the dial, and the corresponding needles are thus projected beyond the clearing point, their loops being stretched on the bend of the needle stem in a suitable position for being transferred. Generally it is possible to transfer, either the loops on the needles or the stitch in the preceding course. The empty dial needles are brought to the inside of the knitting-ring, by a movable cam 61 under control of the pattern drum, a guard-cam 58 and a fixed cam ring 63. The cams 60, 61 are so operated by pattern mechanism that after a transference of loop the cam 60 can be first lifted out of engagement with the long jacks, without lifting the cam 61, which can thus still project the jacks and keep the corresponding needles in inoperative position. The jacks of the needles which remain in knitting pass through the welt cam 54 and over a stitch cam 55 in the usual way. The welt cam is pivoted and is normally retained in an outwardlyswung position by a lever with a pin-and-slot connexion, a friction roller on the lever being held between jaws on a pattern-controlled lever. In a modified arrangement of the dial cams, the cams corresponding to 60, 61 are made to swing instead of being slidable, and are rocked out in an approximately radial direction so that the jacks remain under control during this period. In 'another modification, the cams 54, 55 are made to slide, the former radially and the latter circumferentially. When the number of the dial needles exceeds that of the cylinder needles it may be necessary to shog the dial before transferring takes place. In this case, some of the dial stitches are transferred to needles 12, which do not go out of action at any time thereafter. The cam 33 is therefore dispensed with, and the cam 32 for the jack butts of the needles 13 is shortened, the lift of needles being completed by a cam acting on their butts. The latter cam works all the needles, until the cam 34 is put in, whereby all the needles 13 are drawn down, while the needles 12 not being provided with jacks are unaffected. Where the dial stitches are to be transferred straight across to inactive cylinder needles, the dial needles are supported in the projected position by a tricked ring mounted to slide on a fixed cam ring 72, Fig. 11, for operating the web-holders 70. These slide radially in a tricked ring 71, which also carries a set of cam-operated latch-openers 74. The latches are also protected by a spring - actuated plate 78 mounted on a recessed part of the yarn-feeding ring, opposite the yarn-feeding point. Where the dial needles have to be shogged before the transference takes place, the needle-supporting ring is dispensed with, and also a part of the thread-guide ring which would otherwise interfere with the operation of the shogging-apparatus. This may comprise a pair of wheels 90, 91, Fig. 9, with bevelled teeth, driven by gearing at the same speed as the jacks 50, to engage the latter, and spring them laterally into transferring position as they pass. The apparatus is mounted on a swinging arm 94. In an alternative method, a half set of radial bits bevelled at the points act on the needles, and a second set restore them to their original position. In a modified apparatus, the dial needles are projected between jaws on a set of elbowed rocking bits which pass over a fixed cam and spring the jacks sideways. In some cases, the lateral shogging of certain needles prevents the formation of eyeletholes in the fabrics. In a modified form of machine, the cylinder needles are provided with yoked portions in the shank, enabling them to receive dial needles and transfer loops thereto. This construction may be applied to the dial needles instead. In some cases, both sets of needles may effect transfers, and transition may thus be made from plain web to ribbed web, or from ribbed web having a given number of wales, to ribbed web having a greater or less number of wales. Thus change can be made from the 1/1 rib top of a stocking to a 2/1 rib leg, and to plain web at the ankle.