Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
CODEIN DI MOITICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I, EDWIN HENRY BROWN, of Washington Life Building, 141, Broadway, New
York, United States of America, Counsellor at Law, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to circular plain knitting machines on which I am enabled
to knit full fashioned hose, sleeves or drawers. This I accomplish by adding to
the machine and in a different plane, extra needles which are automatically thrown
into operation to knit when the fabric is to be widened, and automatically thrown
out of operation when a narrower portion of the fabric is to be knitted."
I accomplish this by employing means for raising the needles to such a position
that they can be operated upon by cams and caused to knit. These means are
so arranged that they will throw in a needle to take a loop and then allow it to
momentarily drop, so as not to be operated by the cam, while a few courses are
knitted by the vertical needles to cover the eyelet hole made by adding a needle,
after which it is operated constantly to add a new wale and thus widen the fabric.
These means are operated by a step by step mechanism, which in turn is operated
by a cam moving the vertical needles, and at certain times, preferably when the
widening of the fabric is to be discontinued, this step by step mechanism operates
a mechanism which shifts or changes the position of the cam to cause the added
needles to cast off. This second mechanism referred to, is so timed that it will
shift the cam to cause the needles to cast off and then reset the cam so that when
the added needles are again moved by the raising means, the cams will again
operate to cause them to knit. The step by step mechanism comprises a pattern
chain which controls the movement of the means for raising the added needles
so that they may be operated, thereby determining the length of widened fabric
to be knitted.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a knitting machine embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a top view thereof, partly broken away to show parts beneath the
top.
Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 4 is a detail top view.
Figure 5 is a detail view partly in vertical section of a portion of a chain for
moving the added needles to such a position that they may be operated.
Figure 6 is a detail view of a chain for operating the mechanism to shift the
chains operating the horizontal needles.
The
Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views.
A represents a suitable frame-work on which a needle cylinder B rests.
needle cylinder, as usual, is provided with vertical grooves in which are located
vertical needles b. These needles are put in operation by a cam cylinder C,
which has a bearing on the needle cylinder. The cam cylinder is provided with
Dies R17

page_text: engage
gear
teeth C, which
with a
c¹ carried on a shaft 2. The shaft is journalled
in the frame work A, and is provided with fast and loose pulleys 3, 4.
6¹ represents a cam ring carried by the cam cylinder C, and a web holders that
are moved back and forth by the cam ring as the cam cylinder is operated. This
is accomplished by a cam groove in the cam ring operating on a shank on each
web-holder. 63 represents a hold down ring that is grooved on its under face to
receive the web holders. It is prevented from rotating by reason of the web
holders being projected into slots formed in the upper edge of the needle cylinder,
as the cam ring is rotated. 6 represents gibs for preventing the hold down
ring being raised off the web holders. The operation of these web-holders is, as
they move forward they push the web forward to allow the needle to come up
through the loop just formed, so that when the needle comes up to take a new
loop, the loop on the needle will be moved back of the latch. The needle then takes
yarn and is moved down by the cam cylinder allowing the old loop to slip over
the head of the needle, which loop is moved forward by a web-holder to free it of
the needle.
D represents a needle plate, which is supported by the frame work A and
posts d projecting upward from a flange on the needle cylinder. A portion of the
under face of the needle plate is cut away so as to clear the hold down ring.
The upper face of the needle plate is formed with a number of inclined and hori
zontal grooves d' in which are located the horizontal needles ³, these being the
added needles. The grooves of the needle plate near its outer periphery are pre-
ferably of such a depth that the shanks d³ of the needles will be clear of a cam
ring E. The tail end of each needle is held in its groove, free of the cam ring E
by a spring d, which may be secured to the needle plate. A stop, having a nib,
fitting in a groove is provided under each spring so as to avoid any liability of
the tail of the needle catching when it is being raised.
The tail end of each horizontal needle has to be raised before it can be engaged
for operation by the cam ring E. This may be accomplished by a chain d.
Two of these chains are employed and they travel in grooves d' provided for them
in the needle plate and around sprockets d³, d, mounted on the needle plate.
The sprockets are carried by vertical studs do which are provided with inter-
secting cogs d, so that they will be rotated simultaneously. One of the studs d¹º
is provided with a second pinion ** that is engaged by a pinion Figure 3 on
a vertical stud journalled in a part of the frame work A. This stud is also pro-
vided with a ratchet d, which is moved by a step by step mechanism controlled
by the pattern chain.
Each chain is provided with a number of high links d which pass under the
tails of the needles to raise them, and so long as they are under the needles, the
needles will be operated. The movement of these chains is so timed that they
will come under the needles when it is desired to put in the extra wales.
The following mechanism may be employed for operating the ratchet d¹³ A
lever is pivoted to the needle cylinder and at one end it is provided with a
pawl, which engages the ratchet to turn it. A roller 7 is also carried on the
lever which travels in a cam groove 18 in the cam cylinder. The groove is
so shaped as to swing the lever on its pivot and move the ratchet a step at a time.
The lever is operated all the time, but it does not at all times operate the
ratchet. An auxiliary lever pivoted to the lever 15 has one end in engagement
with a pin 20 on the pawl while its other end is in engagement with a stop
piece di carried by a weighted lever Figure 3. The end of the stop piece d
is rounded and when it engages the end of lever it rocks this lever on its
pivot and thus moves the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet. The
lever which is pivoted to a part of the frame work is controlled by a pattern
chain passing over a sprocket wheel 2, which is moved with a ratchet 25.
This ratchet d is moved step by step by a pawl d carried on a lever d27 pivoted
to the frame work of the machine, the free end of which is connected with a
block 28 sliding in brackets (29. The end of the lever d engages this block and

page_text: thus the ratchet and sprocket are operated to move the pattern chain. This chain
is provided with a number of high links 30 which engage with the lever d² to
lift it, and as it does so the auxiliary lever is disengaged from the pawl which is
then allowed to engage with the ratchet and thus operate the chains do to lift
the horizontal needles. When the ratchet is not in operation the vertical needles
are operated to knit the ankle of the stocking and when the ratchet is moved
the chains are moved to throw in the horizontal needles which with the vertical
needles knit the leg. The high links then move from under the weighted lever,
which drops and allows the auxiliary lever to throw the pawl out of engagement
with the ratchet d¹3. When this operation occurs the high links of the chains d
are in such a position as to have all of the horizontal needles in operation and thus
knit the extra wales in the leg of the stocking. The pattern chain 23 is still
being moved step by step by the mechanism herein before described so as to bring
links higher than the links d0 under the lever to move up higher than did
the links 30. These high links are shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.
The ratchet 33 is moved and with it the chain d³ a step at a time by means
of a pawl d carried by the block №28. As the chain 34 is moved its high link d
engage with a roller on a lever to raise it, and with it a vertical rod d40
carrying a roller d. This rod controls the movements of a cam which operates
upon the horizontal needles as hereinafter described. As the pawl d is operated
all the time and the chain d need be operated only when the horizontal needles
are to be thrown out of operation, it is necessary to provide for lost motion between
the pawl and ratchet when it is desired not to have the ratchet move.
This may
be accomplished by having the pawl ride on a long tooth in the ratchet (33 (see
Figure 3) which tooth comes under the pawl just before the vertical rod is to be
moved upward to operate the cam to throw out the horizontal needles.
The long
tooth is moved from under the pawl by means of a plain wheel provided with a
tooth into which a pawl d drops. The pawl d31 is carried by the block 28 but
it is held out of engagement with the plain wheel by means of a projection dão
carried by the lever (22. When the highest links in the chain (shown in
dotted lines, Figure 3) come under the lever d this lever is rocked enough on its
pivot to move the projection d50 from under the pawl 31 to permit the pawl to drop
into the tooth on the plain wheel to move it. When this plain wheel is moved it
carries with it the ratchet wheel d³, so as to have the long tooth thereof move
from under the pawl d. The pawl d then engages with the teeth of the ratchet
to move it a step at a time until the long tooth again comes under the pawl. There
need be only a few high links in the chains and they are so positioned in the
chain as to come under the lever at the time when the lever d38 is to be raised.
The links 36 allow the pawl to move to its lowermost position which in turn
allows the vertical rod to move to its lowest position, in which position it shifts
or changes the position of the cam on the cam plate so that it operates on the
horizontal needles much sooner than when they are knitting, thereby preventing
the thread being taken by the horizontal needles, thus casting the work off.
The cam ring E has a turning bearing on the needle plate D. It is rotated by
a pinion F, fixed on a vertical shaft f, which engages with the toothed periphery
of the cam ring. The shaft f receives its motion from the main shaft. On the
under side of the cam plate there is provided a cam comprising two parts e e¹
which rotate with the cam plate but they are capable of being shifted on the
cam plate. The face e² of the part e engages the shanks of the horizontal needles
to move them forward so as to take the yarn. As the cam plate is rotated the
face of part e engages the shanks of the needles to move them back a short
distance on to a dwell e so as to have the yarn in front of the latch, after which
they engage the face e, which moves the needles back the full distance to allow
the old loop to be thrown over the new. The old loop is knitted off the horizontal
needles by a knitting plate e Figure 1 which is carried by the cam cylinder. e
represents a projecting piece carried by the cam ring E which has a hook end es,
the edge of which is sharp and inclined. This travels in advance of a hold back

page_text: to open the latches of the horizontal needle. e represents a hold back for pre-
venting the old loop coming forward with the horizontal needle when the needle
is moved forward to take a new loop. It is also for the purpose of moving the
loop on the needle back of the latch. represents the yarn guide, and elo a plate
carried by the yarn guide which serves as a means for holding the latch open so
that the needles can take the yarn. It is provided with a ledge portion c¹¹, which
flattens the latch in open position to insure the yarn getting in front of the latch
just before the shank of the needle moves on to the dwell of the second part of
the cam.
As the second part of the cam moves the needle back to its farthest
position, the old loop on the needles that is being knit off by the knitting plate
closes the latch on the thread.
The parts e, e¹ of the cam which operates the horizontal needles are so arranged
that they can be moved or shifted on the cam plate, so that the horizontal needles
may cast off the work. That is to say, they are so arranged that they may be
shifted with a varying action thereby causing the horizontal needles to be moved
forward and back without taking thread to make new loops. This casting off
is done when the leg of the stocking is finished, and is accomplished by the
chain, permitting the vertical rod to drop, which causes a mechanism to shift
or move cams, and to lock them in position.
The pattern chain is still being operated when the cams are shifted, so as to
move the ratchet and thereby the chains de, the high links of which move from
under the horizontal needles, thus allowing the springs to move the tail end
of the needles out of the path of the cam which operates them.
The parts e, e¹ of the cam are preferably carried by a plate e2 which is oscillated
by a lever e¹³ pivoted on the cam ring, and connected at one end to a lever e¹ which
is connected to the said plate. The other end of the lever e¹³ is engaged by the
lower diameter of the roller d on the rod when the rod is in its lowermost position
thus moving the plate and parts of the cam forward to have the needles cast off.
The lever e Figures 2 and 4 is pivoted at one end to the cam ring, and it is
connected with the plate e¹² for moving the said plate back to its normal position,
to permit the horizontal needles to act when they are raised again by the chains de.
The lever e is provided with a pivoted lever e¹ the tail portion of which el
engages the lever e¹³ to lock it, thus preventing the cams being shifted when
they are set to have the horizontal needles cast off. The locking of these levers
is accomplished by means of a pin on the lever e¹³ engaging a groove in the tail
portion of the lever el. The lever e¹5 has a head e7 which is first engaged by
the lower diameter of roller " of the vertical rod when in its highest position for
unlocking the lever e¹5 and permitting the upper diameter of the roller du to
engage the lever e¹ to shift the cams to normal position. A piece e located in an
inclined groove e18 in the part e¹ of the cam is caused to slide in said groove when
the parts of the cam are shifted. This is provided to save a long throw on the
part e, it being necessary to have such a means provided to take the place of the
face of the part e¹ to throw the horizontal needles out their distance.
piece is caused to slide in the part el by means of a pin carried by the piece
moving in an inclined groove in the cam plate.
The
In Figure 5 I have shown the chains provided with a depression *** in the
high links. This is to permit each needle to drop momentarily out of the path
of the cam operating the horizontal needles and permit the vertical needles to knit
a few courses to close the eyelet hole made by the needle. The tail of each needle
is again raised by the incline d**** to permit the cam to operate it.
It will be seen, therefore, that my invention comprises vertical needles b, a
cam C operating said needles to cause them to knit, horizontal needles, a cam,
which preferably comprises two parts e e¹, operating said needles, the needle
chains de which control the co-action of the horizontal needles and their operating
and a mechanism comprising a rod d40 and concomitant parts which act to
move the cam operating on the needles to such a position that it will move the needles
in and out in the usual manner but without taking thread, thereby enabling
cam,

page_text: them to cast off the work. This mechanism comprising the rod 40 and con-
comitant parts is also adapted (under the control of a pattern chain, which, as has
been stated, controls the time of co-operation of the horizontal needles and
their operating cam,) to reset or move back the cam to the position from which
they were shifted so that it will be ready to again operate the horizontal needles.
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 circular knitting machine, the combination of vertical needles, a cam
operating said vertical needles, horizontal needles, a cam operating said bori-
needles
zontal needles means controlling the co-action of the horizontal
and their cam, and a mechanism
last mentioned
for shifting the
cam with a varying action to cause the horizontal needles to cast off and to reset
the cam to permit the horizontal needles knitting again, substantially as described.
2. In a circular knitting machine for knitting a circular fabric of varying
diameter, the combination of vertical needles, a cam operating said vertical
needles, horizontal needles, a cam operating said horizontal needles, means for
controlling the co-action of the horizontal needles and their cam, a pattern chain
operating said means at predetermined times, and a mechanism controlled by said
pattern chain for shifting the last mentioned cam with a varying action to cause
the horizontal needles to cast off and to reset the cam to permit the horizontal
needles knitting again, substantially as described.
3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of vertical needles, a cam
operating said vertical needles, horizontal needles, a cam operating said needles,
means for controlling the co-action between the horizontal needles and cam
operating them, a mechanism comprising a chain, a rod and concomitant parts
operated by said chain for shifting the last mentioned cam to cause the horizontal
needles to cast off and to reset the cam to permit the horizontal needles knitting
again, substantially as described.
4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of vertical needles, a cam
operating said vertical needles, horizontal needles, a cam operating said needles,
means for controlling the co-action between the horizontal needles and cam operat-
ing them, a mechanism comprising a chain, a rod and concomitant parts operated
by said chain for shifting the last mentioned cam to cause the horizontal needles
to cast off and to reset the cam to permit the horizontal needles knitting again, and a
pattern chain governing the said means controlling the co-action of the cam
and horizontal needles and mechanism for shifting the cam operating the horizontal
needles, substantially as described.
5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of vertical needles, a cam
operating the vertical needles, horizontal needles, a cam operating the horizontal
needles, means controlling the co-action of the horizontal needles and cam, means
for moving the horizontal needles out of co-action with their operating cam when
the horizontal needles are to cast off, and a mechanism for shifting the last men-
tioned cam to cause the horizontal needles to cast off, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of September 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.