Patent GB-190400078-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Knitting Machines
Filed: 1904-01-01
Granted: 1904-09-01
Abstract: 78. Lake, H. H., [Standard Machine Co.]. Jan. 1. Circular knitting-machines.-Improvements are applied to the machines described in Specifications No. 18,644, A.D. 1892, and No. 8559, A.D. 1895, and relate chiefly to mechanism, by acting on which a travelling pattern-chain throws the threadcarrier out of action ; displaces the instep needles radially, free from the knitting-cams ; and finally stops the machine. The cams come to rest opposite the displaced needles. All the needles are then at the same level and are thus in a convenient position for receiving the loops of a fresh piece of work. The Specification also describes driving- mechanism for obtaining rotary, reciprocating, and fashioning motions ; and means for gradually altering the length of the loops while knitting a stocking-leg. As described in Specification No. 18,644, A.D. 1892, the instep needles are held with their lower ends in levers having long tails resting in a groove in a movable plate, by lifting which the needles are moved radially. The plate rests on a frame c, c<1>, c<2>, Fig. 1, carrying a foot c<3> which rests on a rocking frame sleeved on a shaft E. When the latter rotates, as described below, the thread-guide is thrown up ; the frame is rocked, lifting the frame c, c<1>, c<2> ; and a stop-motion is actuated. The shaft E carries a ratchet-wheel I with a long tooth on which plays a pawl of shorter traverse than the tooth, driven by a rod pivoted to a wheel gearing with the wheel f on the driving-shaft F. At predetermined times a lug on a pattern-chain strikes an arm T carrying a pawl acting on a one-tooth ratchet on the shaft E, rocks the latter and causes the pawl to leave the long tooth and rotate the shaft one revolution. The rocking frame on the latter carries a pivot on which is mounted a lower lever d<11> carrying a spring latch lever. As the shaft E rotates, a projection h on the disc H causes the spring latch lever to engage a cam on the shaft F and so to rock the frame. The thread-guide travels in a circular path and is mounted on a horizontal axis carrying a geal-wheel meshing with a toothed pivoted segment bearing a long tail. On the shaft E is a cam the rotation of which lifts the inclines k, k<1>, Fig. 1, on the piece L, against the action of a spring, into the path of the tailpiece. The latter then strikes the incline k<1>, which rocks the pivoted segment and throws the threadguide out of action. When the piece L is again lowered, the incline k brings the thread-guide into action. The stop-motion is actuated by a cam on the face of the ratchet I. The belt-fork is fixed to a sliding rod 0<1>, Fig. 1. While the belt is on the fast pulley, projections on a flange on the rod 0<1> are locked by notches in a pivoted forked plate. The cam rocks a lever pressing on a link which then rocks the forked plate. The latter then releases the flange and allows a spring to shift the rod 0<1> to the right. The driving-pulley N, Fig. 8, is mounted on the sbaft F carrying a bevel-wheel 3 gearing with a wheel fixed to the spur-wheel 1. Rotary motion is imparted by the latter to the cam-cylinder through the gear 4 loose on shaft 5, Fig. 9. and clutch 9 and gear 7 both fast on shaft 5. Reciprocating motion is imparted by a crank-rod 10, crank 11, toothed segment 14, clutch 15, gear 17, and gears 6, 7 fast on the shaft 5. Clutches, 9, 15 are depressed by a clutch lever, for rotary, and raised for reciprocating motion, and cannot both be in action at once. A clutch 35 is also raised so as to drive an eccentric 33 for rocking the fashioning rack-plates described in Specification No. 18,644, A.D. 1892. The eccentric 33 is embraced by arms 30 of a lever 27 carrying the racking-pawls 25, 26. The lever 27 is mounted on a bush round the needle cylinder. The latter is lifted up so as to shorten the length of the loops in fashioning a stocking-leg, by an adjustable camsurface rotated by the pattern-chain. The needlecylinder is carried by a rod 41<a>, Fig. 10, adjustably screwed in a bracket attached to a lever 45 the free end of which rests on the cam 52. The patternchain first strikes the lug 55, rotates the cam, and gradually raises the lever 45. When the stocking- leg is finished, the chain engages the lug 56 and brings the lower part of the cam under the lever 45.