IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: We, SEYFERT & DONNER Manufacturers and OTTO FLOSS Mechanician all of
Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony, do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES, to be as follows:-
This improvement relates to knitting machines and has for its object to modificate
the same so as to manufacture not only coloured fabrics, but also woven or so called
reversible fabrics.
In manufacturing coloured patterns with the hitherto known knitting machines
(for instance the knitting machine, described in the specification of German Patent
N° 21375) all needles of both rows are acting with each stroke of the slide, and
so, that the needles of the inner row work up the pattern threads, which are
conducted as a weft, while the needles of the other row work up the usual plain
thread.
The pattern-needles b work meshes separately during a few strokes of the slide
and form therefore short pieces of smooth fabric (V. Fig. 4.) from the warp-threads,
conducted to them by the warp-machine k, while all other needles a and c are out
of action. After two to four rows are finished, all the needles work together any
right and right row W with the usual plain thread, which row, of course, is con-
nected to the last row of V, so that the pieces V project from the surface of the
fabric as narrow strips. The breadth of these elevated parts depend on the
distribution of the pattern needles 6 (Fig. 2 and 3) in the row a b.
If the patterns, which occur periodically in plain fabric appear at certain parts.
only of the breadth of the fabric, the needle row a b must be composed of short
and long needles, one part of which (here the long ones) form the patterns.
In the annexed drawing the other needle-row is also supposed to be furnished
with short and long needles, therefore with two needle-carriers (on account of
different use of the machine). The needle-carriers for the usual needles a and c
(Fig. 1.) have the usual design, but contain, as shown by Fig. 1 and 8, two carrier
slides c c, which act by means of slots 4, 5 in opposite directions upon the inter-
mediate triangle 6, in order to allow of the needle carrier being opened or closed,
only one (the right) side of the machine by the slide c¹ or or c³ coming in contact
with a suitable bolt de f.
The pattern needle carrier Fig. 1, 5, 6 has generally the known arrangement;
but the pattern needles are not put on to it by pressing down a pattern rail,
but by drawing it down by means of two separate lateral triangles s, and 7,
corresponding to two separate carrier-slides 7 and 8, which can be connected, if

page_text: Another,
required, by the latch 82, so that also these triangles generally can only be regulated
from the side of the machine. If the latch 83 is not intended to catch the slide r¹,
it is lifted by means of the arm 83, which rests upon the pin 15. Fig. 1.
but less important, difference between the ordinary and the improved pattern
needle carrier is, that in the latter the lateral triangles y y¹ are each divided into
two parts and transformed into so-called edge-triangles.
The improved lateral triangles r 8 act as follows: When, for instance, the needle
carrier, Fig. 5, is shifted to the left, and the triangle is lifted and s lowered, the
pattern needles b are lifted by V' in the direction 14, into the highest working
position, as a in Fig. 1, but immediately lowered by 8 (as b in Fig. 1) as much as
to allow the eyelet needles i to lay their warp threads into the opened hooks of
the pattern needles b. The latter have therefore been brought to the height t
Fig. 5, by the triangle s. When the needle carriers are shifted to the right, the
pattern needles b after having received the loop threads, are lowered by V' for
taking off the meshes and again lifted as previously by W¹ so much, that
subsequently V can bring them into the highest position.
In the meantime r has acted upon b in the same manner, as 8 did with the
previous lifting. When both triangles r and s are lifted, they do not act upon the
pattern-needles b, and the latter work ordinary fabric; they are standing, for
instance, in the highest position at t (Fig. 5) are lowered by z, y³ y¹ for taking off,
and again lifted by v¹.
The bolts d e f g Fig. 1, of the needle carriers, which bolts cause the regulation
of all the four needle carriers, are situated at one plate D, which is on the right
side wall of the machine, and rendered movable thereon. It is shifted by a lateral
cam p (Figs. 1. and 3), (Fig. 7 shows the developped circumference) with three
stages or nests, so that the bolts can occupy the three positions, shown in Figs. 9
to 11, with regard to the double needle-carrier slides. By means of the pins.bl
(Fig. 1 and 3) the plate D surrounds this cam, which is turned on the bolt F by
The wheel o has
the crank-axle E of the machine by means of the wheels o¹ o.
only two teeth for drawing the wheel o¹, provided with six teeth. The cam p
therefore turns at every stroke of the slide for half a stage or division only and
with two strokes for a whole stage of its circumference (a course) and displaces the
bolt-plato D after two strokes always at the moment, when the slide is in the
middle of its way. The plate D, carries a fifth bolt h (Fig. 1), which can eventually
displace the thread-guide-slide 11.Fig. 1 and 12 and disengage the catch 9, 10 for
the thread-guide 8, 7; for only the warp threads are working for the piece of
fabric V. 7 therefore is disengaged and, for the connection of V with W, 7 works
separately with the plain thread.
The warp machine k with the eyelet needles differs moreover from the known
contrivances by the fact of its lying with the pivots horizontally movable in the
frame-arms C, and is displaced laterally by the lever ll, and spring kk (Fig. 2.),
but turned by the arm ki, for allowing of the eyelet needles i arriving over the
tongue-needles at for laying the loops. These movements are produced by the
cams n and m on the crank-axle E, n drawing the machine k laterally by means
of , and m turning the same by means of ³, and ¹. The nave m, of the cam
is fastened by a groove and feather on E and can be displaced by the plate q,
enclosing the cam p by the pins 2, whereby the cams m and n are engaged or
disengaged.
The working takes place as follows:
1) In the position Fig. 9, the bolt-plate D has opened the three needle-carriers (a¹ a²
and both c c²), and in the pattern needle carrier 61 62 lifted both lateral triangles r 8,
so that each of the four carriers work ordinary plain fabric, therefore the ground
tissue W (Fig. 4). During this period, the cams n m Fig. 1 have been shifted side-
ways out of contact with the lever l'k, and only the plain-thread is working.
2) When the bolt plate D is standing in its mean position, Fig. 10, it is still
acting on c¹ c¹ a³, as in Fig. 9, these needle-carrier-slides being below of the double
thickness, but in the pattern needle carrier it acts with 9 on b³, whereby it causes

page_text: (the slide standing on the right side) a lowering from the triangle s, that is to say,
the triangle in action for the next out-stroke.
This triangle now brings, during this stroke, the laying needles b into the laying
position (b in Fig. 1. and t in Fig. 5).
During this stroke of the slide to the left, the laying cams n m are set in action,
that is, placed in contact with their levers k³.
The slide, arriving on the left, the only left-side needle-carrier-bolt 16 (Fig. 1)
regulates the pattern-needle-carrier so, that r is lowered and s lifted, by this bolt
advancing and, through the connection 18, also s¹. At the end of the stroke
forwards to the left, the warp-needles i surround for the first time their pattern-
needles b. During the stroke forwards to the right, these pattern-needles form
their first smooth meshes, while the other needles still work one ordinary row;
during this stroke also D is advanced.
3) Near the extreme position on the left, (Fig. 11.) and when the slide arrives
on the right, the ordinary needle-carriers c ca a¹ are closed and the pattern-
needle-carrier is again lifted, and a lowered; subsequently the thread-guiding
slide 11 comes in contact with the bolt of D and the catch 9, 10 is disengaged,
leaves therefore the guide 7 now on the right.
Towards the end of this stroke to the right, the warp-needles i surround for the
second time. During the stroke to the left, the pattern-needles b only form their
(second) row; the other needles are out of action; their carriers being disengaged
The slide coming to the left, the guiding-slide 11 comes in contact with a bolt,
situated on the left, the catch 9, 10. is therefore lowered; but the guide, standing
on the right, can not yet be taken along by 9 10 during the next stroke.
Towards the end of the just finished stroke to the left, the warp-needles i
surround for the third time their pattern-needles b; also r is again lowered, and 8
lifted, and during the stroke to the right, again only the pattern-needles bare
working. But at the same time the plate D is again shifted, during this stroke,
into the initial position Fig. 9. When the contact on the right takes place, there-
fore each of the three ordinary needle-carriers a a¹ and both c c are opened; the
needles surround the pattern-needles b for the fourth time, also the guide 8. 7 is
again caught by the catch 9 10 and, at the next stroke to the left, the fourth pattern-
row of V is worked, and simultaneously a row of ordinary fabric W. Both triangles ?*
and s are also lifted, and for the next row, the pattern-needles are not brought into the
laying on position; also the laying on eccentrics n m are disengaged, the next row
therefore is worked by all needles a b c with the plain thread and connects V to W.
This improved construction of the knitting machine can also produce the
so-called Jacquard coloured patterns. For this purpose only the lateral eccentric p
is to be replaced by another one, for instance as p¹ Fig. 7, which eccentric is
provided with but two stages or rests and brings the bolt-plate D always into the
first two positions Fig. 9 and 10, as to change regularly from one to the other, and
which also engages and disengages alternately the laying on cams for one or
more rows.
The raised patterns will have still another arrangement, if they are combined
with oblique patterns, that is to say, if both needle-beds are connected with each
other during work, and are displaced laterally under the laying or warp-machine k.
ated this 20th dow of Tune 1885

page_text: We, the firm of SEYFERT & DONNER, Manufacturers, and OTTO FLOSS,
mechanician, all of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
These improvements relate to knitting machines and have for their object to
modify the same so as to manufacture not only coloured fabrics, but also fancy
frame work knitting or so called thread layer patterns.
In manufacturing coloured patterns with the knitting machines, hitherto known
(for instance the knitting machine described in Specification of German Patent
No 21375) all needles of both rows are acting with each stroke of the slide and so,
that the needles of the inner row work up the pattern threads, which are con-
ducted as a warp, while the needles of the other row work up the usual plain
thread.
Reference being had to the drawing filed with the provisional specification.
The thread layer or patterns are made as follows:
The pattern or reversing needles b work meshes separately during a few lifts of
the slide and form therefore short pieces of smooth fabric (V. Fig. 4.) from the warp-
threads conducted to them by the warp machine i, while all other needles a and c
are at rest. After two to four rows are finished, all the needles work together any
1 and 1 ribbed row W with the usual plain thread, which row, of course, is
connected to the last row of V, so that the small fabric-pieces V project from the
surface of the fabric as narrow ribs. The breadth of these elevated parts depends
on the distribution or the pattern needles b (Figs. 2 and 3) in the row a b.
If the reversed or counter patterns described above are intended to occur
periodically in plain fabric and to appear at certain parts only of the breadth of
the fabric, one needle row (a b) must be composed of short and long needles, one
kind of which (here the long ones) forms the reversed patterns.
In the drawing, the other needle row is also supposed to be furnished with short
and long needles, therefore with two needle-locks (on account of different use of
the machine). The locks for the ordinary needles a and c (Fig. 1) have the usual
design, but contain, as shown by Figs. 1 and 8, two lock slides c¹ c², which act by
means of the slots 4, 5 in opposite directions, upon the intermediate triangle 6 in
order to allow of the lock being opened or closed only on one (the right) side of
the machine by the slide c² or c coming in contact with a suitable bolt de f.
The reversing lock or cam, which works the needles, upon which the thread
layer acts, Figs. and 5, 6, has generally the known arrangement described in the
German Patent No 21375 but the pattern-needles are not put on to it by pressing
down a pattern-rail, but by drawing it down by means of two separate lateral
triangles 8 and 7 corresponding to two separate lock-slides and which how-
ever can be connected. with each other, if required, by the latch 2 so that also
these triangles generally can only be regulated from the side of the machine.
If the latch s is not intended to catch the slide r¹ it is lifted by means of the
arm 83, which rests upon the pin, 15, Fig. 1. Another, but less important,
difference between the ordinary and the improved lock for the reversed needles is,
that in the latter the lateral triangles y y¹ are each divided into two parts and
transformed into so-called riffling triangles. The improved lateral triangles r a act
as follows: When, for instance, the needle lock, Fig. 5 is shifted to the left and the
triangle is lifted and s lowered, the reversed needles b are lifted by v¹ in the
direction 14 into the highest working position, as a in Fig. 1, but immediately

page_text: lowered by 8 (as b in Fig. 1) as much as to allow the eyelet-needles to lay their
warp threads into the opened hooks of the pattern needles b. The latter' have
.therefore been brought to the height t, Fig. 5, by the triangle 8.
:
When the locks are shifted to the right, the pattern needles 6, after having
received the loop-threads, are lowered by v¹, for taking off the meshes and again
lifted as previously by w¹, so much, that subsequently v can bring them into the
highest position.
In the meantime r has been lowered and s'lifted so that now acts upon bain
the same manner as s did during the previous stroke. When both triangles and 8
are lifted, they do not act upon the pattern needles b, which therefore work
ordinary fabric; they are standing, for instance, in the highest position at 't',
(Fig. 5) are lowered by y³, y' for taking off and again lifted by v¹.
1
The lock bolts d efg, Fig. 1, which cause the. regulation of all the four needle
locks, are situated at one single plate D, which is on the right side wall of the
machine and rendered movable thereon. It is shifted by a lateral cam or eccentric.p
(Figs. 1 and 3), (Fig. 7 shows the developped circumference) with three stages. or
rests so that the bolts can occupy the three positions shown in Figs. 9 to 11, with
regard to the double lock-slides. By means of the pins 1 (Figs. 1 and 3) the
plate D surrounds this cam, which is turned on the bolt F by the crank axle E of
the machine by means of the wheels o¹ o. The wheel o has only two teeth for
driving the wheel o¹ provided with six teeth. The camp therefore turns at every
lift of the slide for half a stage or division only, and during two lifts (a so called
course) for a whole stage of its circumference and displaces the bolt-plate D after
two strokes always at the moment, when the slide is in the middle of its way.
The plate D carries a fifth bolt h. (Fig. 1) which can eventually displace: the
thread guide slide:11: (Figs. 1 and 12) and disengage the catch 9, 10 for the thread
guide .8, 7; for only the warp .threads are working for the piece of fabric.v,
7 therefore is disengaged and for the connection of V with W, 7 works separately
with the plain thread.
The warp machine k with the eyelet needles differs moreover from the known
contrivances by the fact of its lying with the pivots k horizontally movable in the
frame-arms C and being displaced laterally by the lever ll and spring kk (Fig. 2),
but turned by the arm k¹, for allowing of the eyelet-needles arriving over the
latch-needles to for laying the loops. These movements are produced by the
cams m and n on the crank axle E, n drawing the machine k laterally, by means
of, and m turning the same by means of ³k and . The nave m, of the cam
is fastened by groove and feather on E. and can be displaced by the plate 9
enclosing the cam p by the pins 2, whereby the cams m and n are engaged or
disengaged.
The working takes place as follows:
1) In the position Fig. 9, the bolt plate D has opened the three locks (a' a' and
bolt c¹ c²) and, in the reversing lock 61 62, lifted both lateral triangles r 8, so that
each of the four locks works ordinary 1 and 1, or rib fabric, see W Figure 4.
During this period the cams n m, Fig. 1 have been shifted sideways out of contact
with the levers, and only the plain-thread is working.
2) When the bolt plate D is standing in its middle position, Fig. 10, it is still
acting on c¹ c¹ a¹, as in Fig. 9, because the lower part of these needle lock slides has
a double thickness, but in the reversing lock it acts with g on b2, whereby.it causes
(the slide standing on the right side) a lowering of the triangle a,.that is to say
the triangle, which acts for the next outstroke.
This triangle now brings during this stroke the laying needles b into the laying
position (b in Fig. 1 and t in Fig. 5).
During this stroke of the slide to the left, the laying cams m n are inserted, that
is placed in contact with their levers
³.
The slide arriving on the left, the only left side lock-bolt 16 (Fig. 1) regulates
the reversing lock so that r is lowered and s lifted, by this bolt displacing r¹, and
through the connection r¹ 8², also s¹. At the end of the stroke towards the left,

page_text: the warp needles i lap the thread for the first time round their pattern needles b.
During the stroke towards the right these pattern needles form their first smooth
or plain meshes, while the other needles still work one ordinary row; during this
stroke also D is advanced into the extreme position on the left (Fig. 11), and when
the slide arrives on the right, the ordinary locks c ca a¹ are closed and in the
reversing lock is again lifted and s lowered; subsequently the thread guiding
slide 11 comes in contact with the bolt of D, and the catch 9, 10 is disengaged,
leaves therefore the guide 7 now on the right.
Towards the end of this stroke to the right, the warp needles i lap the thread
round for the second time. During the stroke to the left, the pattern needles b
only form their (second) row, the other needles are out of action, their locks being
disengaged. The slide coming to the left, the guiding slide 11 comes in contact
with a bolt situated on the left, the catch 9, 10 is therefore lowered, but as the
guide stands on the right, it cannot yet be taken along by 9, 10 during the next
stroke.
Towards the end of the just finished stroke to the left, the needles i lap the
thread for the third time round their pattern needles b, also is again lowered
and a lifted, and during the stroke to the right again only the pattern-needles b are
working. But at the same time the plate D is again shifted during this stroke
into the initial position, Fig. 9. When the contact on the right takes place,
therefore each of the three ordinary locks a a¹ and both c and c¹ are opened; the
needles lap the thread round the pattern needles b for the fourth time, also the
guide 8, 7 is again caught by the catch 9, 10 and at the next stroke to the left
the fourth pattern row of V is marked and simultaneously a row of ordinary
fabric W. Both triangles r and s are also lifted, and for the next row the pattern
needles are not brought into the reversing position; also the reversing eccentrics n m
are disengaged, the next row therefore is worked by all needles a b c with the
plain thread and connects V to W.
is
This improved construction of the knitting machine can also produce the so-
called Jaquard coloured patterns. For this purpose only the lateral eccentric
to be replaced by another one, for instance p¹, Fig. 7, which eccentric is provided
with but two stages or rests and brings the bolt plate D always into the first two
positions Fig. 9 10 so as to change regularly from one to the other, and which also
engages and disengages alternately the thread layer cams for one or more rows.
The elevated reversed patterns will have still another arrangement, if they are
combined with oblique patterns, that is to say, if the two needle-beds are connected
with each other during work, and are displaced laterally under the laying or warp-
machine k.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that, what
we claim is :
A knitting machine on Lamb's system, adapted to produce raised reversed
patterns by periodically causing certain needles (pattern needles) to work alone
several rows of plain fabric by means of special fancy work threads (warp threads)
laid on by eyelet needles, while all other needles are at rest, after which, by the
united action of all needles with a single plain thread conducted to the same, the
plain strips of fabric produced are united with the ground fabric.
Dated this 27th day of Januo 1000