Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I, JAMES EGAN ROWE, of the City of Pawtucket County of Providence and
State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates more especially to automatic rotary knitting
machines used for knitting stockings, and has for its object the improvement of
the various mechanisms used in machines of this class whereby the number of
parts are reduced and the speed of the machine increased. To this end the
invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and particularly set
forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of said
improvements,
Fig. 1 is a plan view with the parts above the knitting head removed.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine with the take-up
mechanism removed.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.
Fig. 4 is an end view looking toward the left in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, showing a portion of the speed changing
mechanism.
Figs. 7 and 8 are an elevation and plan view respectively of the controller and
pattern chain.
Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is an end view looking toward the left in Fig. 9.
Figs. 11 and 12 are details showing a portion of the driving mechanism for
shifting the clutch.
Fig. 13 is an elevation of the driving mechanism for the controller and pattern
chain.
Fig. 14 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 13.
Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views showing the ratchet for driving the controller.
Fig. 15 shows a modification of the ratchet.
Fig. 17 is a plan view of the clutch and devices for shifting the same.
Fig. 18 shows a development of the clutch shifting cam.
Fig. 19 is an elevation of the cam cylinder with the narrowing and widening
cams removed.
Fig. 20 is an elevation of the cam cylinder with the narrowing and widening
cams mounted thereon.
Fig. 21 is a vertical section of the cam cylinder showing the knitting cams.
Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on line o, o, Fig. 20.
Figs. 23 and 24 are detail views of the narrowing cams.
:
Fig. 25 is a plan view of the cam cylinder showing the widening cams and the
means for controlling the same.
Figs. 26 and 27 are details showing the widening cams in and out of operation.
Figs. 28 to 30 and 32 to 34 inclusive are details of the mechanism for controlling
the widening cams.

page_text: Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine is the driving shaft A
carrying the pulleys A', A2, A', and the pinion A', the pulleys A1, A2, and the
pinion being secured to the shaft, and the pulley A being loose on the shaft.
The pulley carries a pinion A secured to its hub and meshing with a smaller
pinion A mounted on a stud projecting from the frame. The pinion A is secured
to a larger pinion A7 which meshes with the pinion A. The gearing is so pro-
portioned that the pulley A is driven at a slower speed than pulley A.
A belt A transmits motion from pulleys A2, A3, to the pulley A loosely mounted
on a shaft A. The speed is controlled by the cams C by the following
mechanism. A sliding bar a supported by the hanger as has one end in the
path of cams C8, and the other end pivoted to the upper end of the belt shifting
lever a. The other end of the lever a' is pivoted to the end of the rod a¹ which
slides in the bearing a and carries at its other end the belt shifter a. The
belt A is normally held on the fast pulley by the spring a secured to the belt
shifter and the frame, and is moved onto the slow pulley against the tension of
the spring by the action of cam C on the bar a³.
The pulley A is connected to the shaft A by means of a friction clutch A"
keyed to the shaft in a well known manner.
A hand lever A12 pivoted to the frame and to the clutch serves to throw the
clutch into engagement with pulley A. For holding the clutch in engagement a
...bar A is pivoted to the rear end of the lever A1 and is provided with a hook or
shoulder which engages a lug A" on the frame of the machine. This shoulder
may be disengaged from the lug by pressing the bar A or by a lug on the pattern
chain in any well known manner, and when so disengaged the spring A draws
the clutch from engagement with pulley A' and thus stops the machine.

page_text: MOTION CHANGING MECHANISM. (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, and 17.).
Fast to the shaft A10 is a pinion A" which meshes with an intermediate gear A18
secured to shaft A2. The gear A18 in turn meshes with and drives a pinion A"
loose on the clutch shaft A. Also loose on the clutch shaft is a pinion A
which is oscillated by means of a rack A connected to a crank pin on the gear A18
by means of an adjustable connecting rod A20. Keyed on the shaft A" between.
the pinions A1 and A2 is a sliding clutch B provided with spring pins, one adapted.
to engage a recess in the hub of pinion A, and the other adapted to engage a
recess in the hub of pinion A" according as the clutch is shifted in one direction or
the other. Secured to the end of shaft A2 is a bevelled gear A23 which meshes:
with a bevelled gear A24 secured to the cam cylinder. When the clutch is in
engagement with the pinion A" the cam cylinder is given a rotary motion, and
when the clutch is shifted into engagement with the pinion A2 the cam cylinder is
given a reciprocating motion.
The shifting of the clutch B to change from rotary to reciprocating knitting
and rice versa is controlled by the cams (7 through the following mechanism.
Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine is the shaft B₁ which
carries the clutch shifting cam B3 secured thereto. The cam B³ is provided with
a cam groove which engages a bowl secured to the rear end of the clutch shifting
lever B and actuates the said lever to shift the clutch in either direction. Loosely
mounted on the shaft BI is a disc c which is oscillated bv means hereinafter
described. Secured to the shaft B' adjacent the disc c is the disc B³ provided
with notches B in its face. The disc e carries a sliding pin B provided with
bevelled ends and arranged in position to be acted on at the proper time by the
cams C. The operation is as follows: One of the cams C being in position to be
struck by the pin B forces it into one of the notches B, thus connecting the
oscillating disc to the disc B2 and causing the shaft B₁ to be turned a step,
thus turning the clutch shifting cam. On the return oscillation of the disc c the
bevelled end of the pin B rides up the inclined end of the recess B, thus forcing
the pin back into its normal position, where it remains until again acted on by one
of the cams C7.
Connected to the rear end of the clutch shifting lever is an arm B'. When the
motion of the cam cylinder is changed from rotary to reciprocating, the arm B
engages the belt shifting lever a and holds the belt on the slow pulley until the
motion is changed back to rotary.
PATTERN CHAIN AND CONTROLLER AND DRIVING MECHANISM THEREFOR.
(Figs. 9 to 16.)
A sleeve C¹is secured to an arm C extending from the frame by means of a
bolt C. Loosely mounted on the sleeve C¹ is the sprocket wheel C carrying the
pattern chain C. The driving mechanism for the sprocket wheel consists of a
ratchet wheel C secured thereto, and a pawl co which works on the ratchet wheel
and advances it continuously, as will be more fully described. Loosely mounted
on the sleeve C adjacent to the pattern chain is a disc C. In the form shown
this disc is also a ratchet wheel, but the ratchet wheel might be formed on a
separate disc and disc C' be attached thereto. The disc C has lugs C" secured to
it on the side adjacent the pattern chain, which are in position to be struck by
lugs C18 on said chain. The disc C is recessed on its opposite side, and a disc C
carrying two cams C is adjustably secured in said recess by means of bolts Co.
The sleeve C carrying the cams C8, C, is also secured to the disc C by means
of a hub projecting from said disc and the parts carried thereby form a con-
troller for controlling either directly or indirectly the operation of certain of
the other mechanisms.
The driving mechanisms for the controller may be of any suitable form and in

page_text: the form shown it consists of the ratchet teeth formed on the disc and a pawl c
for engaging said teeth, which pawl is operated by mechanism to be described.
This driving mechanism is normally inoperative by reason of the fact that the
disc C is provided with dwells in which the pawl c works, and said mechanism is
periodically thrown into operation by the lugs C18, (Figs. 7 and 8) engaging
lugs C and moving the dwell from under the pawl and allowing said pawl to
engage the teeth on the disc C³.
Friction is applied to the ratchet wheel C by means of spring pressed shoes C¹³
and to the controller by means of a spring washer interposed between the hanger a
and the end of sleeve C¹ and engaging the end of sleeve C".
The pawls co and c are actuated by the following mechanism. The gear A18 is
provided on its face with a cam groove c in which runs a bowl on the end of a rock
arm c¹ secured to a stud mounted in the frame, said arm being provided at its other
end with a segmental gear e². This segmental gear meshes with a segmental
gear c secured to a rock shaft which. has secured thereto another segmental
gear c. The gear c meshes with gear teeth formed on the disc e before referred
to, and to which the pawl e' for actuating the disc C is pivoted at. c. Projecting
from the pawl is a stud c carrying the pawl co which actuates the disc C. By
the above described mechanism the disc c will be constantly oscillated, thus
causing pawl 10 to constantly feed forward the pattern chain and the pawl c to
actuate the disc C when said disc is turned by the pattern chain to carry the dwell
from under the pawl. A spring guard c" is fastened to the frame to prevent the
pawl e engaging more than a predetermined number of teeth on the disc C. With
the arrangement shown wherein the pawl eo is pivoted to the pawl c. should the
pattern chain become clogged for any reason, and prevent the movement of the
ratchet wheel C4, the pawl e will rock on the pivot and a breakage of any
of the parts be prevented. It will thus be seen that by pivoting the pawl co
to the pawl e a yielding member is provided in the driving mechanism for the
pattern chain for preventing breakage of the parts should the pattern chain become
clogged.
In the preferred form of controller shown, the disc C' carries two duplicate sets
of cams, each set comprising the three cams C7, C8, C, and said disc is provided
with two dwells and twelve teeth, there being six teeth between the dwells, and
the controller makes three revolutions for each stocking. It will be understood,
however, that the present invention is not limited to the exact form of controller
shown and described, and that the number and arrangement of cams may be varied,
and that the number and arrangement of teeth and dwells on the driving disc may
be varied or other means used for driving the controller without departing from
the scope of the invention.
In using a short pattern chain it will sometimes happen that the lugs C in
being carried around by the disc C would engage one of the lugs 18 on the
pattern chain and feed the chain along at the speed of the disc C. As the disc C
is fed at a greater speed than the ratchet C the proper operation of the machine
would be interfered with. To guard against this I prefer to mount the lugs on the
disc C in the manner shown in Fig. 15. The lugs P which correspond to
lugs C in Fig. 15, are pivoted to the disc C at P1 aud are held up in position
to be engaged by the, lugs on the pattern chain by a cam C16 formed on the
flange of the sleeve C. A pin P2 serves as a stop to limit the outward movement
of the lug P. With the above construction, should the lug P engage one of the
lugs on the pattern chain it would yield and pass by without effecting the feed of
the chain.
KNITTING HEAD, CAM CYLINDER, AND MECHANISM CARRIED THEREBY.
mu
11
-1 amand and shrood uide D pivoted

page_text: sinkers G are guided in the usual sinker ring G secured to the needle cylin ler H.
The needles H are guided in grooves in the noedic cylinder, and are held in place
by spring bands H', some of the neetles baing formid with longer butts than the
others, as is common in this class of machines. The base plate H is provided
with an annular rib H which engages an annular groove H in the gear A".
The cam cylinder is secured to the gear A" and moves therewith as is usual. The
plates H', 'H', are secured to the base plate and overhang the gear A" to hold it
in place, and also to form supports for certain parts hereinafter referrel to.
The sinker cam ring is driven from the cam cylinder by means of a pin F¹ which
engages the shoulders F, F, formel. by the enls of a recess in a plate F sec rad
to the sinker eam ring, Figs. 3, 31. In placing the sinker eam ring on the
knitting head it has hitherto been necessary to bring the recess above the pin
before the cam ring could be placed in position. It is preferred, therefore, to
make the pin F a yielding pin and provide it with a bevellel end, so that the cam
ring may be placed on the knitting head, without regard to the recess, and the cam
ring then turned axially until the pin enters the recess.
In Fig. 31 is shown the manner of mounting pin F. In the arm F* carried by
the cam cylinder in a recess provided with a shoulder F and a spring F is
interposed between said shoulder and a shoulder on pin F. The small end of
pin E outside the arm F is provided with a collar F having a lug which
engages a recess in arm F and prevents the pin F' turning on its axis.
The inner face of the cam cylinder E is provided with a rib E which serves as
a rest for the butts of the needles when they are in lowered or operative position.
The cams for the knitting operation are as follows. Between the ends of the rib E
are the two bevelled cam plates E3 and the inverted V-shaped car plate E.
Just above the bevelled ends of the plates E' are the fixed cams E, E, which are
provided with depressions E' E', for the narrowing cams, as will be more fully
explained. Two pivoted switch cams E, E, are disposed at the ends of
plates E, E, and rest on the bevelled ends of plates E. Disposed above the
cams E, E, are the fixed plates or guard cams E10, E", and pivoted between the
adjacent ends of cams E, E, is the pivoted automatic switch cam E", Above
the cam E2 is a fixed plate or guard cam E¹³
The position of the cams above described during the forward motion of the
cam cylinder either in rotary or reciprocating knitting is that shown in Figs. 21
and 36, and the course of the needle butts is as indicated by dotted lines y-y,
Fig. 36. During the reverse motion of the cam cylinder in reciprocating knitting,
the course of the needle butts is above the cams E E, and under the cams E', E'.
MECHANISM FOR THROWING OUT AND INTO OPERATION THE NEEDLES
NOT USED ON THE HEEL AND TOE.
Secured to the outer face of the cam cylinder, and on the opposite side of the
.cylinder from the knitting cams are two spring arms d and e carrying at their free
ends the cams " and "e respectively, which cams play through openings in the
cam cylinder. These cams are normally held by the spring arms, so that their
inner faces are substantially flush with the inner face of the cam cylinder, but
are adapted to be projected into position to engage the butts of the needles. The
cam d is projected in only lar enough to engage the long butts, while the cam i
is preferably projected into position to engage both long and short butts. The
cam d consists of an inclined plate, its lower end extending below the upper edge
of the rib E and its upper end terminating in the plane of the upper edge of the
plates E and E", (Figs. 35 and 36). When the cam is projected into operative
position, the needle butts ride along the rib E' and the long butts engaging the
inclined edge of the plate d pass up this incline into the path - (Fig. 35) and
out of position to be operated on by the knitting cams, while the short butts
continue along the rib E...The cam is an inclined plate similar to plate d', but
inclined in the opposite direction, and its upper end extends above the upper

page_text: position of the needle butts, and its lower end terminates just above the lower
position of the needle butts. When this cam e' is in operative position, it engages
all the needle butts, whether long or short, which may be in the upper or non-
knitting position, and carries them down into the lower or knitting position. The
action of the cams d' and e' is controlled through mechanism which will be described
hereafter.
NARROWING MECHANISM.
Pivoted at on the outside of the cam cylinder, and in a plate f' attached
thereto, is a triangular plate f by which the narrowing cams f1, f are carried
(Figs. 22, 23, 24). The cam f in the form shown consists of a pin provided
with a notched end. This pin is mounted to slide in a bearing in the plate f
and is provided with a pin / extending through a slot in the bearings and acted
on by a cam groove formed in the plate. A spring is attached to the
plate f, and a pin on the plate and tends to hold the plate fat either end of its
throw. The cam is the same in construction and operation as cam f¹. These
cams project through a curved slot in the cam cylinder and are normally held.
in the position shown in Fig. 36 by the spring /8, with the cami resting in the
recess E and the cam 1 below the upper path of the needle butts, and drawn
back of the plate E13. While I prefer to use a spring f" to hold the cams f¹
and in the recesses E', E, respectively, this spring may be omitted and the
inertia of the parts alone relied on to keep the cams in position. In rotary knitting
the cams f, are in the position indicated in Fig. 36, out of the path of the
needle butts. When the cam cylinder is reversed, however, in changing from
rotary to reciprocating knitting, and after the needles with the long butts have
been thrown out of action, the short needle butts pass over the switch cam E,
between the plates E10 and E, and the butt of the first needle engages the notch
in the narrowing cam f, causing the cam carrier f to swing on its pivot and carry
the cam fup into the position before occupied by cam / 1. By this movement the
cam is carried down into the recess E7, that is, into position to be engaged by
the butt of the first needle on the movement of the cam cylinder in the opposite
direction, when the parts will be returned to their former position. As each of the
cams passes from its lowest to its highest position the cam groove facts on the
pin to draw the cam back of the plate E3 and the needle butt which is carried
up with the cam is delivered onto and passes up over said plate and over either the
plate E⁰ or E. Thus it will be seen that a needle is thrown out of operation at
each reciprocation of the cam cylinder so long as the reciprocating motion continues,
and that when the cam cylinder changes from reciprocating to rotary motion the
cam is left in position to begin the narrowing operation immediately the motion
is again changed to reciprocating. It will seen that no mechanism is required for
throwing the narrowing cams into or out of operation, but that as each one of the
cams is moved to throw a needle out of operation, the fellow cam is, by reason of
the connection between the two, thrown into position to engage the butt of the
first needle at the next reciprocation of the cam cylinder, and that thus the action
of said cams is entirely automatic. While the preferred construction of the
narrowing mechanism is that shown and described, in which the connection
between the cams is a rigid connection, and is in the form of a pivoted plate, and
in which the cams have a longitudinal movement and transfer the butts to a
stationary plate which completes their upward movement, it will be understood
that this construction is not essential, and that the stationary plate may be omitted
and the cams have no longitudinal movement, and that the connection between the
cams may be of any construction which will cause the movement of one cam to
throw the other cam into operative position.

page_text: carriers g', and as these arms and the devices carried thereby are duplicates, a
description of one only will be given. The arm g is provided with a groove or
guide-way g3 in its inner face, in which a slide 9 carrying the cam g' is held by
means of a screw g' which passes through a slot also formed in the arm g. A
second screw passes through a slot in the under face of the arm g and is engaged
hy a spring g attached to the arm g at 9. This spring tends to hold the slide 9*
toward the free end of the arm g and the screw engages the end of its slot and
forms a stop to limit the outward movement of the slide. A spring 98 has one end
attached to the arm g and the other to the plate f, and tends to hold the arm g
against the stop g' formed on the plate f. A pin glo extends from the arm g in.
position to be engaged by a shoulder or hook on the end of a strap or slide g
guided in a groove in the cam cylinder. With the strap gl moved into the
position shown in Fig. 26, the shoulder g engages the pin g and holds the arm g
down away from the stop g and the cam g is in inoperative position. When,
however, the strap g is moved into the position shown in Fig. 27, the shoulder g
is moved away from the pin g10 and the spring g' draws the arm g up against the
stop g* and throws the cam g¹ into operative position. The straps are moved in
the proper manner and at the proper time by mechanism which will be hereinafter
described. The widening eams in the form shown consist of Ings or projections gl g³
extending from the slides y through openings formed in the cam cylinder, and are
provided with overhanging projections g" (Fig. 36). These projections g" are
of sufficient length to engage and draw down two needle butts at each reciprocation.
of the cam cylinder. The operation of the widening cams, when the slides g" have
been moved to throw the cams g', 92 into position to be struck by the needle butts,
is as follows: On the forward motion of the cam cylinder the last needle thrown
up in the preceding stroke together with the one adjacent thereto passes under the
projecting portion g of the cam g' and engage the vertical portion or shoulder g
forcing the cam to slide down the groove in the arm g, the needle butts being
carried down with the cam by reason of the projection 93. The cam gl passes
back of the cam plate E" and delivers the butta under said plate. The inclined
end of the cam E forms a stationary cam to complete the carrying of the needle
butts into knitting position. As the needle butts pass from the cam g¹ the
spring * returns the cam to its normal position at the free end of arm g. On the
reverse movement of the cam cylinder, the cam g² acts in the same manner to draw
down two needles. It will thus be seen that during the time the widening cams.
are in operation two needles are drawn down and one needle thrown up at each
reciprocation of the cam cylinder, thus increasing the number of needles in
operation by one at each reciprocation. While the preferred construction of
widening mechanism is that shown and described, in which the cams pass back of
and transfer the needle butts to stationary cams which complete the depressiou.
of the butts, it will be understood that such construction is not essential, but that
so far as the stationary plates act as cams for drawing down the needle butts, they
might be omitted and the sliding cams alone be used for this purpose. Nor is it
essential that the guide-way in which the cams slide should be formed in a movable
carrier, as other means could be readily devised for holding the sliding cams in
inoperative position.
The mechanism which controls the operation of the various cams for operating
on the needle butts will now be described (Figs. 1, 37 and 38). Pivoted to the
frame of the machine at i is a lever i provided at the rear end with a pin which
is engaged at the proper time by the cams C and with its forward end engaging a
pin on a segmental slide . The slide is operated in one direction by the
cam C through the above connections, and is returned to its normal position when
released by the cam C by a spring, one end of which is secured to the plate H,
and the other end to the slide (Fig. 5). Pivoted to the plate H' is a plate
pressed toward the cam cylinder by the spring, and normally held away by a
pin on the slide i, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The plate carries at its free
end a pivoted arm which is provided with a hook or shoulder and carries an

page_text: abutment in the form of a roll", Secured to the plate H is an arm provided
with a hook or shoulder 1 with which the hook 10 engages. When the slide * is
moved into the position shown in Fig. 37 by the cam C the pin rides down an
incline (see Fig. 1) on the plate, allowing the spring to swing the plate it
and the arm in towards the cam cylinder. This movement brings the roll 5
into the path of an arm d pivoted to and carried by the cam cylinder. When the
arm d strikes the roil in the forward movement of the cain cylinder, it forces
the shoulders into engagement with the shoulder i" and thus locks the parts in
their inward position, as shown in Fig. 37, and the arm d' is swung on its pivot.
On the reverse movement of the cam cylinder the arm d strikes the roll from
the other side and throws the shoulders 0, 2 out of engagement and the arm 1³
yields and allows the arm to pass the roll without moving said arm d*.
The arm d' is pivoted on a stud d³ secured to the cam cylinder and carries a
spring pressed pawl d which engages a ratchet d also loose on the stud d'.
spring d' serves to hold the arm d' in its normal position. Secured to the ratchet
so as to turn therewith is the cam for projecting the throw-out cam d¹ into
operative position; the cam 2 for projecting the throw-in cam el into operative
position, and the two eccentric or cam discs h for operating the slides g₁ to control
the widening cams (Figs. 28, 30, 33, 34 and 38). As shown in the drawings the
cams d and are secured to the ratchet d by being made integral therewith.
The discs h may be secured to the top of cam e by means of pins or screws in any
well known manner. The discs h are provided with segmental ribs h' which work
in openings in the straps & secured to the ends of slides g". The lower disc
rests on the top of cam d and serves to support the lower strap ³ as shown in
Fig. 28. The upper disc rests on the rib ' of the lower disc and serves to keep
the lower strap in place and also to support the upper strap A, as shown in
Figs. 29 and 30. A washer h¹0 is held against the top of the rib h¹ of the upper
disc by a nut and serves to keep the upper strap in place (see Figs. 25 and 38).
With the parts in their normal position the ribs 4 engage the points 4 of the
straps and hold the slides g¹ with their free ends in the position shown in Figs. 25,
and 26, thus holding the widening cams out of operation. When the discs are
turned a half revolution the ribs engage the points on the straps and move the
free ends of the slides g" towards each other or into the position shown in Fig. 27,
thus allowing the widening cams to be moved into operative position by the
springs 9.
The operation of the parts is as follows: The first movement of the slide by
the cam C allows the roll to be moved into the path of the arm d, thus
swinging said arm on its pivot and causing the pawl d to advance the ratchet and
cams carried thereby one step. This movement causes the cam d to project the
throw-out cam d into position to engage the long butts and throw out the needles
not used on the heel or toe. The cam C' then releases the slide which is
returned to its normal position by the spring , the pin 28 riding up the incline on
the plate and moving the roll out of the path of arm d. The parts remain
in this position until the narrowing is completed, when the slide is again moved
by the cam C' and the ratchet de advanced another tooth. This movement throws
cam d' out of engagement with cam d' aud allows the spring arm d to return the
cam to its normal position, and also moves ribs & into engagement with points A
and allows the widening cams to come into operation as above explained. The
third movement of the ratchet which occurs at the end of the widening operation
and about the time the machine is changing from reciprocating to rotary knitting
causes the came to project the throw-down cam e into position to throw down
the needles not used on the heel and toe, and also to engage and throw down any
of the needles which may not have been drawn down by the widening cams. Th
fourth movement of the ratchet which takes place immediately after third move
ment, by reason of the fact that the machine has changed to rotary knitting an
the roller is thus engaged by the arm d twice before the slide is released
releases the came, moves the ribs into engagement with the points, thu

page_text: growing the widening van
position to operate on cam d' at the next movement of the ratchet d®.
THE FASHIONING MECHANISM.
In knitting certain kinds of stockings it is desirable to use a long stitch at the
top of the leg, and to gradually reduce the length of stitch over the calf. In the
present machine this change in the length of the stitch is effected by raising and
lowering the needle cylinder. Long stitches are also used at the heel and toe.
The mechanism for raising and lowering the needle cylinder for fashioning the
stocking at the calf and for raising said cylinder at the heel and toe will now be
described.
The needle cylinder is clamped to the ring I by means of a set screw j carried
by a boss secured to the ring I. A pin is interposed between the end of the
set-screw and the needle cylinder to prevent the raising of the cylinder in turning
the set-screw (Figs. 39, 40 and 41). The ring I is provided with a laterally
extending boss I which is secured by means of a set-screw to a rod I sliding in
suitable bearings and supported at its lower end by an adjustable screw 11. The
boss is supported from the cam 13 mounted on a stud 1 which carries at its
other end a ratchet wheel I. The stud I is mounted in a sleeve 1 and a spring I'
is interposed between the ratchet wheel 1' and a shoulder on said sleeve to form a
drag or friction brake and prevent the rotation of the ratchet except when engaged
by its pawl. This ratchet is operated at intervals by the following mechanism
(Figs. 1, 2, 5, 41). Secured to the end of the oscillating rock shaft c is an arm 18
carrying a pivoted pawl 1° which is supported by an arm 110 loosely pivoted to the
end of shaft c. The arm 110 is connected to an arm 1" on the end of a rock
shaft I by means of the link consisting of the part 1" and the rod 113. The
rod passes through two projections 115, 116, on the part I and is provided with
a coiled spring which bears against the projection 11 and a collar secured to the
rod, and holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5. The rock shaft 11
extends across the back of the machine and is provided with a rock arm 1" which
overhangs the pattern chain and is in the path of pins 118 thereon. When a
pin 118 strikes the arm 1 it lifts the arm, and through the shaft I", rock
arms 1, 10 and their connecting link, raises the pawl I into yielding engagement
with the ratchet 15 and holds it there long enough for the ratchet to be alvanced
one tooth. The cam I is thus turned and the ring I and needle cylinder H
gradually lowered to shorten the stitches over the calf of the stocking. As shown,
the cam has two swells and is turned a half revolution for each stocking,
remaining stationary during the knitting of the remainder of the stocking. It is
obvious that a cam with any number of swells could be used and would make a
corresponding part of a revolution for each stocking.
In separating contiguous stockings knit on a machine of the class described, it is
necessary to leave a number of courses of rotary knitting beyond the toe to prevent
ravelling the toe during the handling of the stocking. To insure the separating of
contiguous stockings in the proper place, and without unnecessary loss of time or
material, means are employed in the present machine whereby the knitting
mechanism is controlled to knit a row or rows of characteristic stitches between
contiguous stockings to form a guide in severing the stockings. The means which
is preferably used for this purpose consists of a projection on the fashioning cam
which raises the needle cylinder to an unusual height for several courses after the
completion of each stocking thus inserting several courses of unusually long stitches
between successive stockings.
A projection is provided at each sweil of the cam 13 and the pin 118 which
holds the pawl 1 in engagement with the ratchet I' after the completion of each
stocking is broad enough to keep the pawl in engagement while the ratchet is
advanced two teeth, that is, long enough for the projection I to raise the needle
cylinder for an instant and then lower it again slightly. So far as the mechanism
B

page_text: the arm in the position shown in Fig. 45. The sleeve n has a portion of its lower
periphery cut away to form a recess n, the curl of which forms a projection or
abutment which is engaged at the proper time by a pin "secured to the upper
end of the collar n fast on the shaft L. Near the outer end of the arm n is a
V-shaped recess over which the main thread passes. Coacting with this recess is
a clamp formed by a pin or projection on a lever 16 pivoted at 18 to the arm n¹,
and provided at its rear end with a projection or pin n.
The main thread passes through guides ", ", under pin " and guide
through the loop and guide to the knitting hend or to the extra thread
mechanism when one is used. The extra thread when one is used passes up through
the guide and through guide a to the extra thread mechanism. The operation.
during the reciprocating knitting is as follows:
n
During the knitting "peration the lever m' is passing over the high portion of
the cam m and bell-crank lever m holds sleeve n with its pin a bearing against
pin m and holding the arm n in the position shown in Fig. 44. With the take-up
in this position it engages pin a" and holds the clamp pin a" away from the thread,
and there is no tension on the thread, but it is free to be drawn from the bobbin as
in rotary knitting. It is obvious that cam m may be made of such a shape that the
high part of said cam will not engage arm m' until after the take-up has been
drawn down by the tension on the yarn or until after a portion of the active needles
have operated, in which case said cam operates to relieve the tension on the yarn
during the remainder of the stroke of the cam cylinder. It is preferred to so
construct said eam that it will positively operate the take-up when the point of the
heel or toe is being formed and will merely serve to relieve the tension during the
latter portion of each stroke of the cam cylinder at other portions of the heel or
toe. When the motion of the cam cylinder is changed from reciprocating to
rotary, the shaft L is rocked in the manner hereinbefore described and the pin n¹³
engages the end of cut-away portion n", turning sleeve a into position to hold the
parts as shown in Fig. 44. When the motion of the cam cylinder is again changed
to reciprocating, the shaft L is returned to the position shown in Figs. 43 and 44,
and the take-up mechanism thrown into operation again. It will thus be seen that
the take-up is held out of operation during the knitting operation whether rotary
or reciprocating, and the thread is drawn fro.n the bobbin under the same tension
in all parts of the stocking.
GENERAL OPERATION OF THE MACHINE IN KNITTING FASHIONED
STOCKINGS.
Considering the parts to be in position to begin the knitting of a stucking, the
pawl C will be working in one of the dwells on the disc C; the paw! C¹º
constantly feeding the pattern chain forward; the belt AB on the fast pulley; the
clutch Bin engagement with the pinion A; the take-up mechanism, widening
cams, and throw-out and throw-in cams out of operation, and the fashioning
mechanism in the position shown in Figs. 40 and 41. The cam 13 is gradually
turned as above described until the needle cylinder is supported from the lowest
portion of said cam or by the set-screw I19, as the case may be, and the parts
remain in this position until the heel is reached. One of the lugs on the pattern
chain then engages one of the lugs C moving the disc C until the pawl C
engages the first tooth beyond the dwell, and moves the controller a step forward.
This movement of the controller causes one of the cams C8 to engage bar a and
shift the belt A onto the slow pulley and reduce the speed of the machine. The
engagement of the pawl with the second tooth beyond the dwell causes one of the
cams C to shift the slide and throw out the needles with the long butts in
the manner above described. This movement of the controller also brings one of
the cams Cinto position to be engaged by the pin B and thus shift the clutch
into engagement with the pinion A and change the motion of the cam cylinder
from rotary to reciprocating, the bowl ou the clutch lever moving from 1 to 2 in

page_text: Fig. 18. The parts are so timed that the throwing out of the needles is completed
before the shifting of the clutch is completed. It will also be noted that the speed
is changed several courses before the clutch is shifted. The shifting of the clutch
throws into operation the take-up mechanism, and also brings the holding arm B'
into engagement with the belt shifting lever at to hold the belt ou the slow pulley.
The movement of the shaft B' also causes the needle cylinder to be raised as above
described. The third movement of the controller carries the cam C9 out of
engagement with pin and allows the slide to return to its normal position. The
fourth, fifth and sixth movements are merely for the purpose of bringing the second
dwell under the pawl C.
The parts remain in this position until the second lug C" is struck by a lug on
the pattern chain when the controller is again fed forward. The seventh
movement of the controller has no effect on the other mechanisms.
During the time the controller is stationary, and during this seventh movement,
the narrowing operation takes place.
The eighth movement of the controller causes the second cam C' to engage pin 2³
and again move the slide to throw into operation the widening camз as above.
described. This movement also causes the second cam C' to act on pin B³ and
cause the shaft B' to be turned, but as the bowl on the clutch lever moves in a
dwell in the cam B3, or from 2 to 3 in Fig. 18, at this time the clutch is not shifted.
The ninth movement of the controller serves to release the slide i*, and the tenth,
eleventh and twelfth movements simply serve to bring the first dwell again under
the pawl C. The controller then remains stationary until a third lug on the
pattern chain engages lug C", when the controller is again fed forward. The
thirteenth movement effects no change. The fourteenth movement causes
the slide to be moved to throw all the needles down or into operative
position, and throw the widening cams out of operation, as above described,
and also causes the shaft B¹ to be moved a step forward to shift the clutch,
the bowl on the clutch lever moving from 3 to 4, Fig. 18. This movement of
the shaft B' lowers the needle cylinder, and also throws the take-up mechanism
out of operation. The movement of the clutch shifting lever also moves the
holding arm B' out of engagement with the lever a. One of the cams C³, how-
ever, is now in position to engage slide a and hold the belt on the slow pulley.
The fifteenth movement of the controller releases the slide and the slide a, and
the parts are in position for rotary knitting. The sixteenth, seventeenth and
eighteenth movements of the controller merely serve to bring a dwell under
pawl C. It will be noted that the change from slow to fast speed is not effected
until several courses after the change from reciprocating to rotary knitting. The
parts remain in this position until the toe is reached, when the same cycle of
operations again takes place, the bowl on the clutch shifting lever moving from 4
to 5, from 5 to 6, and from 6 to 1, in Fig. 18, as the shaft B¹ is fed forward.
After the toe has been completed and the machine has knit several courses of
rotary knitting, the cam 1 is advanced two steps as hereinbefore described to
raise the needle cylinder to an unusual height for an instant, and then lower it
slightly for the formation of the characteristic stitches referred to. The parts are
then in position to begin another stocking.
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 1
claim is :-
1. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism,
and a speed changing mechanism, of means operated from the motion changing
mechanism for locking the speed changing mechanism, substantially as described.
2. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a clutch shifting lever, and a speed changing mechanism comprising a
belt shifting lever, of an arin secured to the clutch'shifting lever and arranged to
engage the belt shifting lever, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a shifting clutch member, of an independent speed changing mechanism,
a controller for controlling the shifting of said clutch and said speed changing
mechanism, a driving mechanism for said controller, and means for periodically
throwing said driving mechanism into operation, substantially as described.
4. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a shifting clutch member, an independent speed changing mechanism,
and needle controlling mechanism, of a controller for controlling said mechanisms, a
driving mechanism for said controller, and means for periodically throwing said
driving mechanism into operation, substantially as described.
5. In a knitting machine the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a shifting clutch member, an independent speed changing mechanism,
a cam cylinder carrying a needle engaging cam, a controller comprising a plurality
of cams rigidly supported to revolve about their axis, a driver for said controller
and means for periodically throwing said driver into operation, substantially as
described.
6. In a knitting machine the combination with a, cam shaft, a disc secured to
revolve with the same and provided with notches, a reciprocating member carrying
a sliding pin, and means for periodically projecting said pin into said notches,
substantially as described.
7. In a knitting machine, the combination with a fashioning mechanism com-
prising a cam for raising and lowering the needle cylinder, of a driving mechanism
for the cam, a controller for said driving mechanism, driving mechanism for said
controller, and means for periodically throwing said controller driving mechanism
into operation, substantially as described.
8. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a clutch shifting cam, a disc secured to revolve with the cam and
provided with notches, and a reciprocating member carrying a sliding pin, of
means for periodically projecting the pin into said notches, substantially as
described.
9. In a knitting machine, the combination with a clutch of a lever for shifting
the clutch, a cam secured to a shaft, a disc provided with notches on its face also
secured to the shaft, an oscillating disc loosely mounted on the shaft adjacent said
notched disc, a sliding pin carried by said oscillating disc, and a cam for projecting
the pin into said notches, substantially as described.
10. In a knitting machine, the combination with a pattern carrier provided with
lugs, of a controller yielding lugs mounted on said controller adjacent to said
pattern carrier, and means for preventing the yielding of said lugs when engaged
by the lugs on said carrier, substantially as described.
11. In a knitting machine, the combination with a pattern carrier provided
with lugs, of a controller adjacent said pattern carrier, lugs pivoted to said
controller, stops for said lugs, and a cam for holding said pivoted lugs in the
path of the lugs on said pattern carrier, substantially as described.
12. In a knitting machine the combination with a motion changing mechanism,
an independent speed changing mechanism, a cam cylinder carrying a plurality of
needle engaging cams, a controller comprising a plurality of duplicate sets of cams
rigidly supported to revolve about their axis, for controlling sail mechanism and
said needle engaging cams, substantially as described.
13. In a knitting machine, the combination with a motion changing mechanism
comprising a shifting clutch member and an independent speed changing mechanism,
of a controller for said mechanisms comprising a plurality of duplicate sets of
cams, substantially as described.
14. In a knitting machine, the combination with a speed changing mechanism,
a motion changing mechanism independent of said speed changing mechanism, and
a needle controlling mechanism, of a controller comprising a ratchet disc provided
with dwells and a plurality of duplicate sets of cams carried by said ratchet disc,
substantially as described.

page_text: 15. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder carrying a throw-out
cam, a throw-in cam and widening cams, of a device for controlling the operation
of said cams, substantially as described.
16. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder carrying a
throw-out cam, a throw-in cam and widening cams, of a device for controlling
the operation of said cams also carried by the cam cylinder, substantially as
described.
.17. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder carrying needle
engaging cams, of a stud carried by the cam cylinder, a series of cams mounted on
said stud for controlling the operation of said former cams; and means for operating
said latter cams, substantially as described.
18. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder carrying a
normally inoperative needle engaging cam, and a stud carried by said cylinder, of
a cam on said stud for controlling the operation of said needle engaging cam, a
ratchet attached to said cam, an arm pivoted to the cam cylinder and carrying
a pawl engaging said ratchet, and an abutment movable into and out of the path
of said arm, substantially as described.
19. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder carrying a
normally inoperative needle engaging cam, and a stud carried by said cylinder, of
a cam on said stud for controlling the operation of said needle engaging cam, a
ratchet attached to said cam, an arm pivoted to the cam cylinder and carrying a
pawl engaging said ratchet, an abutment movable into and out of the path of said
arm, a slide for moving the abutment, and a cam for moving the slide, substantially
as described.
20. In a knitting machine the combination with a cam cylinder of a cam carrier
pivoted to said cam cylinder, a needle engaging cam carried by said carrier, and
means for moving said cam radially of said cam cylinder, substantially as described.
21. In a knitting machine the combination with a cam cylinder, of a cam carrier
pivoted to said cam cylinder, needle engaging cams carried by said carrier, and
means for moving said cams radially of said cam cylinder, substantially as
described.
22. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder, of a stationary
cam and a needle engaging cam carried thereby, and means for moving said needle
engaging cam radially of said cam cylinder whereby said needle engaging cam
passes back of the stationary cam, and the needle butts are transferred from said
needle engaging to the stationary cam, substantially as described.
23. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder, of a cam carrier
pivoted thereto, needle engaging cams mounted to slide in said cam carrier and a
stationary cam carried by the cam cylinder, and to which the needle butts are
transferred, substantially as described.
24. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder, of a guide
carried thereby, a needle engaging cam arranged to slide in said guide, and means
for automatically throwing said cam into operation, substantially as described.
25. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder, of a movable
guide carried thereby, a needle engaging cam arranged to slide in said guide, and
means for moving said guide to hold the said cam out of operative position,
substantially as described.
26. In a knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder, of a cam guide
pivoted thereto, a needle engaging cam arranged to slide in said guide, a projection
on said guide, a slide carried by said cam cylinder and engaging said projection,
and a cam for operating said slide, substantially as described.
27. In a knitting machine the combination with a knitting mechanism of a take-up
independent thereof and means operative during reciprocating knitting for
intermittently holding said take-up out of operation, substantially as described.
28. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up, of means for positively
operating said take-up, and means for throwing said operating means out of
operation during rotary knitting, substantially as described.

page_text: 29. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up, of means com-
prising a cam for operating said take-up, and means for rendering said can
inoperative during rotary knitting, substantially as described.
30. In a knitting machine the combination with a spring actuated take-up, of
means operative during reciprocating knitting for intermittently holding said
take-up out of operation against the tension of the spring, substantially as
described.
31. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up, of means operative
during reciprocating kuitting for intermittently holding said take-up out of
operation, and means for rendering said holding means inoperative during rotary
knitting, substantially as described.
32. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up, of a sleeve engaging
said take-up, a cam, connections between the cam and sleeve for oscillating said
sleeve, and independent means for oscillating said sleeve to hold the take-up out
of operation during rotary knitting, substantially as described.
33. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up and means for
intermittently holding the same out of operation comprising a cam and a lever
engaging the cam, of means for holding the lever out of engagement with the cam
during rotary knitting, substantially as described.
34. In a knitting machine the combination with a take-up independent of the
knitting mechanism, of a clamp, and means operative during reciprocating knitting
for intermittently holding the take-up and clamp out of operation, substantially
as described.
35. In a knitting machine the combination with the knitting mechanism, of
fashioning mechanism for controlling said knitting mechanism to knit fashioned
stockings, and means carried by said fashioning mechanism for causing said kuitting
mechanism to knit a series of characteristic stitches between contiguous stockings,
substantially as described.
36. In a knitting machine the combination with the needle cylinder, of means
for raising the same to an unusual height after the completion of each stocking ani
immediately lowering the same, whereby a series of unusually long stitches are
inserted between contiguous stockings, substantially as described.
37. In a knitting machine the combination with the needle cylinder, of a cam
for raising and lowering the same, and a short projection at the swell of said cam,
substantially as described.
38. In a kuitting machine the combination with a pattern chain or carrier,
a ratchet wheel for feeding the same, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, an arm
to which said pawl is pivoted, said arm being free at one end, and a reciprocating
member to which the other end of said arm is pivoted, substantially as described.
39. In a knitting machine, the combination with a controller and a pawl for
actuating the same, of a pattern chain, a ratchet wheel for feeding said pattern chain,.
a pawl pivoted to said controller pawl, and an oscillating disc to which said
controller pawl is pivoted, substantially as described.
40. In a knitting machine, the combination with a can cylinder provided with a
radially yielding pin, of a sinker cam ring provided with shoulders adapted to be
engaged by said pin, substantially as described.
JAMES E. ROWE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.