Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I ADOLF HEIDLER, Siegmar near Chemnitz Germany Machine Maker do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES" and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
66
My said invention relates to improvements in straight knitting machines of the type
commonly known as Lamb" machines and in order that it may be fully understood
I will at once proceed to describe my said invention with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in all the figures of which the same letters refer to the
same parts.
Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of the principal parts of an ordinary "Lamb"
machine. If in such a machine the two rows of needles F and G are working simul-
taneously the thread coming from the thread guide K will be distributed on
both rows of needles and the loops will be cast off on both sides so that the
loops will be produced alternately to the right and to the left and flat web will be
produced.
If it be desired to produce plain goods in a tubular form the two rows of needles
must be caused to act alternately as for instance by allowing first the row F to form
loops and then the row G.
The object of my said invention is to so arrange the parts of a straight knitting
machine of the "Lamb" type as to enable tubular goods to be kuitted while both sets
of needles are simultaneously at work and in this manner to double the capacity of the
machine.
Fig. 1 is an end view partly in section and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a knitting
machine constructed in accordance with my said invention. I so incline the needle
beds P9 (Fig. 1) to each other that although the needles fg cross each other as in
the ordinary machine (Fig. 5) the point where they cross is somewhat higher than in
the ordinary machine. Over the needles Fig. 1 I use two thread guides k and
which respectively supply the thread to the rows of needles 9 and f. At each stroke
of the slide each row of needles produces plain loops and in this manner two separate
fabrics are produced. In order to unite these at their edges so as to produce a fabric
closed all round the two thread guides k and I change their positions at the end of
each stroke of the slide. To enable this to be effected the thread guides are secured
to a spindle m which is free to rotate in bearings carried by the bracket b. A groove m¹
is formed in. the spindlé m near the top into which takes a thin strip m² so as to retain
the spindle m at the proper height and yet allow it to rotate freely. The spindle m
is also provided with two lugs or projections c d one over the other (shown in plan
in Figs. 3 and 4). Behind the thread guides and carried by the back slide S is a
frame a carrying a horn plate W (Figs. 3 and 4) provided with horns vw arranged
at different heights so that the height of the horn w may correspond to that of the
lug c and that of the horn v to that of the lug d.
As is well known the thread guide moves a little bebind the centre of the lock at
each movement of the slide thus in Fig. 2 the thread guides are slightly to the left
of the centre of the lock so that on the reversal of the slide S the thread guides kl
remain stationary for a short time while the slide moves some distance in the contrary
direction; the centre of the lock when moving to the left therefore passes the thread
guides. This is effected by the point of the drag bolt r having a certain amount of
play indicated at x Fig. 2 between the stops ¹¹ in the sliding piece which carries
the bracket b. In this manner as the slide S moves to the left the horn w Fig. 3
comes into contact with the lug e and turns the spindle and thread guides partly round
to the left into the position shown in Fig. 4. This is the full extent of the motion

page_text: produced by the action of the horn to on the lug c for at this stage the point of the
drag bolt has traversed the distance represented by a and the thread guides and
the horn plate W are then both carried forward by the slide S. In order to ensure
the complete reversal of the position of the thread guides.it is necessary that the
spindle in should turn through an angle of 180° and to effect this flats M are formed
on opposite sides of the spindle m and a spring M Fig. 2 bears strongly against
these flats so as to complete the half rotation. At the next stroke the horn v acts on
the lug d and the thread guides klare brought back to their first position.
At each reversal of the thread guides the threads cross as at Z Fig. 6 but in closely
knitted fabrics this is not perceptible. The two thread guiles kl which at the end of
each stroke make the half turn in the manner described are set so far apart that the
threads cannot pass direct under the hook of the needle. The thread from the guide k
therefore passes behind the needle f and that from the guide passes behind the
needle g.
As however the thread runs in a straight line from the guide to the loop
last formed in the manner indicated by dotted lines below the guide k in Fig. 1. it
would be beyond the reach of the needle hooks and to overcome this I make the
.knives hi Figs. 1 and 2 (which as is well known serve to prevent the springing back
of the tongues of the needles) of a suitable width to serve as guides for the thread.
If the knives were arranged in the ordinary manner it would be impossible to bring
the threads behind the needles in the manner described or to use the knives as thread
guides. I therefore set each knife as shown in Fig. 1 that is to say in such a way
that it acts on the tongues of those needles which are on its own side.
When it is required to change the machine from plain tubular to flat web work
the reversing motion of the thread guides k and is disengaged by throwing out
of action the horn plate W Figs. 2 and 4. A spring u serves to keep the horn
plate W in its proper position when in action. The thread is then drawn through the
guide and passes between the needles where it can be taken hold of by both rows.
The other parts of the machine not described or referred to may be of the usual
"Lamb" type.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a knitting machine the use combination and arrangement of parts for the
production of either tubular web by means of two threads or of flat web substantially
as herein before described and shown.
2. In a knitting machine for the production of tubular web by means of two threads
the reversible thread guides klin combination with the knives hi each of the latter
acting on the row of needles attached to its own side substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown.
3. The reversible thread guides k l acting substantially as and for the purpose
herein before set forth.
4. The means for reversing the thread guides & consisting of the horn plate W
the lugs c d the flats m and the spring M' substantially as described and shown.
5. In a knitting machine the use of the knives hi each of which acts on the row of
needles attached to its own side.
Dated this Eleventh day of February 1890.
JULIUS ALLMANN & Co.,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.