Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
We, CHARLES JAMES MILES of 33 Gladstone Street, Leicester, Hosiery mana-
facturer, and WILLIAM SPIERS of 36 Berners Street. Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This inventon relates to knitting machines and embodies improvements which are
applicable to circular knitting machines.
We will describe the improvements in connection with circular knitting machines,
and as applied to that class of machine wherein the needle cylinder is stationary.
The needles are mounted on one end of a suitably shaped plate or jack the opposite
end of which works in a groove in a jack cylinder of larger diameter than the needle
cylinder and fixed concentrically with the needle cylinder, the said jacks being
retained in their elevated position by suitable springs. The needles receive their
rising motion from a revolving cam ring at the lower end of the needle cylinder.
This cam ring is provided with teeth on its under surface which gear into a toothed
wheel on the driving shaft.
The depressing or stitch cam is mounted near the inner end of a slotted horizontal
plate the opposite end of which is secured to and carried by an annular ring or
equivalent at the upper end of the jack cylinder actuated by a toothed wheel on the
driving shaft.
When knitting ordinary tubular fabric the depressing cam is placed in close
proximity to the needle cylinder so as to come into contact with and operate all the
jacks carrying the needles, but when it is desired to automatically form the heels and
toes, the cams i.e. the depressing cam and cam ring are caused to reciprocate about
the front portion of the needle cylinder.
On the front part of the machine where the heels and toes are formed, the upper
ends of the jacks are constructed in such a manner that each succeeding jack projects
outwards a greater distance from the needle cylinder, than the next adjoining jack,
and this is continued to a given point and then the reverse is the case, the upper parts
of the jacks becoming gradually shorter and nearer the needle cylinder until the jacks
are of the same size and shape as those in the remaining portion of the needle
cylinder.
When the cams are caused to reciprocate about the front portion of the needle
cylinder for making the heels and toes, the following mechanism may be employed
to render the process automatic.
A vertical stud is fixed to the top of the depressing cam and projects through an
opening in a horizontal cam plate or equivalent fixed on the upper end of the jack
cylinder. The opening in the horizontal cam-plate is formed of a series of zig-zags
or equivalents preferably equal in number to the needles to be thrown in and out of
action during the process of making. the heels and toes. As the stud is caused to
enter one of these depressions or zig-zags the depressing cam is moved outwards
from the needle cylinder and out of contact with certain jacks, thereby rendering
the needles on such jacks inoperative. This process is continued until the whole of a
desired number of jacks or needles have been placed out of action and then the process
is reversed. The zigzags in the cam plate inclining towards the needle cylinder,
the vertical stud as it enters a depression or zig-zag gradually conducts the depressing
cam nearer to the needle cylinder and brings it at each reciprocal movement in contact
with jacks which had previously been rendered inoperative, this being continued
until the whole of the needles have again come into action.
To cause the vertical stud on the upper part of the depressing can to enter the

page_text: zig-zags on the horizontal cam plate we employ a suitably cranked lever and clawker
fixed in such a manner that a pin or stud on the revolving ring carrying the
depressing cam strikes the outer end of the said cranked lever and causes the inner
end through the medium of the clawker to engage with a tooth of the racking wheel
fixed on the upper surface of the horizontal cam plate thus causing the latter to
a sufficient distance to allow the vertical stud on the depressing cam to
enter into a fresh depression, and by this means render a needle inoperative as before
described.
move
We may employ any suitable means or mechanism for the purpose of giving the
lead to the thread carrier during the reciprocating motion of the machine while
forming the heels and toes.
It will of course be understood that we do not confine ourselves strictly to the
structural details set forth above as these may be altered, varied or modified in a
number of instances to effect the same result or purpose without in any way departing
from the main lines or principle of the invention.
Dated this 18th day of Nov 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
We, CHARLES JAMES MILES 33 Gladstone Street Leicester, Hosiery Manufacturer
and WILLIAM SPIERS 36 Berners Street, Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, 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:-
This invention has reference to circular knitting machines wherein the needle
cylinder is stationary and the cams for operating the needles are revolved continuously
round the needle cylinder for producing tubular seamless fabric, and reciprocated
about a portion of the needle cylinder for fashioning a fabric, as in the production
of heels and toes.
The needles are mounted on the inner ends of suitably shaped plates or jacks, the
opposite ends of which work in grooves in a jack cylinder of larger diameter than
the needle cylinder and fixed concentrically therewith, the said jacks being retained
in their elevated position by springs. The needles receive their rising motion from
a revolving cam ring at the lower end of the needle cylinder, the said cam ring
being provided with teeth on its under-surface which gear into a toothed wheel on
the driving shaft.
The depressing or stitch cam is mounted near the inner end of a slotted horizontal
plate the opposite end of which is secured to and carried by an annular ring at the
upper end of the jack cylinder and actuated by a toothed wheel on the driving
shaft.
When knitting ordinary tubular fabric the depressing cam is placed in close
proximity to the needle cylinder so as to come into contact with and operate all the
jacks carrying the needles, but when it is desired to automatically form the heels
and toes, the cams, i.e. the depressing cam and cam ring, are caused to reciprocate
about the front portion of the needle cylinder.
On the front part of the machine where the heels and toes are formed, the upper
ends of the jacks are constructed in such a manner that each succeeding jack projects
outwards a greater distance from the needle cylinder than the next adjoining jack,
and this is continued to a given point and then the reverse is the case, the upper
parts of the jacks becoming gradually shorter and nearer the needle cylinder until
the jacks are of the same size and shape as those in the remaining portion of the
needle cylinder.

page_text: When the cams are caused to reciprocate about the front portion of the needle
cylinder for making the heels and toes, the following mechanism may be employed
to render the process automatic.
A vertical stud is fixed to the top of the depressing cam and projects through an
opening in a horizontal camplate fixed on the upper end of the jack cylinder.
The opening in the horizontal cam-plate is formed of a series of zig-zags or
equivalents preferably equal in number to the needles to be thrown in and out of
action during the process of making the heels and toes.
As the stud is caused to enter one of these depressions or zig-zags, the depressing
cam is moved outwards from the needle cylinder and out of contact with certain
jacks, thereby rendering the needles on such jacks inoperative.
This process is continued until the whole of a desired number of jacks or needles
have been placed out of action and then the process is reversed. The zig-zags in
the cam plate inclining towards the needle cylinder, the vertical stud as it enters a
depression or zig-zag gradually conducts the depressing cam nearer to the needle
cylinder and brings it at each reciprocal movement in contact with the jacks which
had previously been rendered inoperative; this process being repeated until the whole
of the needles have again come into action.
To cause the vertical stud on the upper part of the depressing cam to enter the
zig-zags on the horizonial cam-plate we employ a suitable lever and clawker fixed in
such a manner that a cam plate on the edge of the jack cylinder operates the outer
end of the said lever and causes the clawker to engage with a tooth on the peripheral
edge of the horizontal cam-plate and move it a sufficient distance to allow the vertical
stud on the depressing cam to enter into a fresh depression, and by this means render
certain needles operative or inoperative as before described.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is made to
the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a
plan of a circular knitting machine, constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line Z Z of Figure 4:
Figure 4 is a plan with the cam-plate and jack cylinder partly removed to shew
the arrangement and disposition of the jacks or needle carrying plates.
Figure 5 is a detail view.
Figure 6 is a view partly in section on the line X X of Figure 7, shewing the
depressing cam and relief cams.
Figure 6 represents the cam ring detached.
Figure 7 is a plan of the slotted horizontal plate F' carrying the depressing and
relief cams.
Figs. 3 to 7 are drawn to a larger scale than figures 1 and 2.
The bed A of the machine is fixed or carried upon standards or any suitable
framework and has rigidly secured thereto by screw-bolts B¹ fig. 3 the needle
cylinder B provided with the usual grooves or tricks to allow of the vertically
reciprocating movement of the needles.
The needles B are fixed on the inner ends of jacks or plates C and C the outward
ends of which move in vertical grooves on the internal face of a jack cylinder (2
Figs. 3 and 4. fixed concentrically with the needle cylinder and provided with lug
pieces C³, Figure 1, through which screw bolts C pass into the bed-plate to connect
it therewith.
The cam ring D, Figs. 3 and 6ª, for actuating the jacks for the purpose of elevating
the needles, rests and revolves on an annular seating formed in the bed plate, as
shown in Figure 3, and is partly retained in its working position by the overlapping
of the tricks or dividing plates B³ of the needle cylinders.
It is also furnished on its under edge with teeth D¹ gearing with a tooth wheel E'
on the driving shaft E from which it receives motion.
The depressing or stitch cam F, shown most clearly in figs. 3 and 6, is movably
carried in a slotted horizontal plate F₁, fig. 7, formed preferably integrally with and
carried by a semi-annular ring G' carried on the annular plate G and revolving in
a circular groove or channel C formed on the upper extremity of the jack cylinder (

page_text: and provided on its under surface with teeth G2 gearing into and actuated by a
toothed wheel E2, figs. 2 and 3, on the driving shaft E which may be operated by
crank, handle, or power.
On each side of the depressing cam F is a relief cam F³ the object of which is to
partly lower the jacks in advance of the depressing cam F so as to prevent the
yarn getting under the latches of the needles.
The toothed wheels E and E² are relatively constructed to drive the cam ring D
and the semi-annular ring G¹ carrying the depressing cam F at the same speed.
The thread carrier H is secured to a plate H by a screw H².
The jacks or needle carrying plates are supported by the cam ring D from which
they also receive their rising motion, the depressing cam F and relief cams F³
effecting the lowering of the said jacks.
The jacks carrying the needles to be separately raised and lowered during heel and
toe knitting comprise about one third, more or less, of the whole number, this pro-
portion being made up of two one-sixths of the front jacks nearest to the ends of the
series of back jacks which are inoperative during the knitting of heels and toes.
These variably operative jacks, carrying the needles upon which the heels and toes
are produced, are thrown out of motion alternately from each of the two series which
make up their total number, beginning with the end of those series which are nearest
the back jacks and proceeding successively until the inner ends of the series are
reached and all the variably operative jacks are out of action; the narrowest course
in the heel or toe pouch being then reached.
The jacks are then thrown into action in the inverse order from that in which they
were thrown out, and widening progresses until, when the widest part of the pouch is
reached, all of the variably operative jacks are in action and tubular knitting with all
of the needles is resumed.
All of the needles are connected to jacks or needle carrying plates as before
described which at the back of the machine are all of the same construction, and such
as shown at C fig. 3; at the front, the jacks carrying the needles which remain in
action when the narrowest course in the heel or toe pouch is reached, are whole and
such as shown at C fig. 3; the variably operative jacks are of different lengths as will
be noticed in fig. 4.
The amount cut away or removed from the upper parts of the variably operative
jacks varies in each jack.
Each of the jacks in the two series numbered 1 to 14 and 27 to 40 respectively, are
equal distances apart, there is also one uniform difference in length between each
successive jack; no two jacks in either or both of the series being of the same
length, i.e. extend outwardly the same distance in the direction of the jack cylinder;
this being provided for in the fact that the end jack of one series viz.:-that marked 1
projects or other pre-determined distance from the needle cylinder, and the end jack
of the other series .-that marked 40 being " or other pre-determined greater or
less distance from the needle cylinder.
From this it is apparent that no two jacks extend radially the same distance from
the needle cylinder and would therefore never be depressed in the same reciprocal
movement of the machine.
Each jack is provided on its side with a small horizontal pin or stud C fig. 3,
which may or may not be in contact with the side of its neighbour, the object of the
said studs being to impart rigidity to the jacks when brought under the influence
of the depressing cam F; a spring is also in contact with the side near the
outer end of each jack to retain it in its elevated position when raised by the cam
ring.
When knitting ordinary tubular fabric the depressing cam is placed in its innermost
position close up to the needle cylinder, as indicated in figs. 3 and 4, so that its lower
end will come into contact with and operate all the jacks at each revolution of the
machine.
In heel and toe knitting the cams, i.e. the cam ring D and depressing and relief
cams FF are reciprocated about the front portion of the machine by means of the

page_text: crank handle, and the following mechanism is employed to render the process
automatic and thereby to avoid the necessity for the operator to raise and lower the
needles individually by hand to place them in and out of action as is necessary in
some circular knitting machines.
To the upper face of the depressing cam F there is fixed a small vertical stud F²
projecting upwardly through an opening J in a horizontal cam plate J.
"
The opening is preferably of the shape indicated by the dotted line in fig. 2 and is
composed of a series of steps or zig-zags, as shown in fig. 4, preferably equal in
number to the sum total of the needles to be thrown in and out of action during heel
and toe knitting and of equal sizes, each step having a more outwardly inclination
until the outermost part of the plate is reached, when one half of the opening is
formed; the steps in the remaining half having an inverse inclination until they reach
the point where the first half of the opening commences when an approximately heart-
shaped opening fig. 2 will be formed.
When heel and toe knitting is to be performed the vertical stud F2 is placed close
up to the needle cylinder, as illustrated in figs. 3 and 4, and at each reciprocal
movement of the machine the said stud is caused to enter a fresh step or zig-zag,
which as is clearly apparent will thereby move the depressing cam F further outwards,
so that one of the jacks does not lie within its path and is therefore not depressed and
consequently remains inoperative.
Commencing with the first jack in one of the series of variably operative jacks the
process is continued, rendering one jack inoperative in each of the series of variably
operative jacks alternately at each reciprocal movement of the machine, until the
whole of the jacks in the two series have been rendered inoperative, by which time
the stud will have reached the step or zig-zag outermost from the centre of the
machine and the narrowest course in the pouch reached.
The stud being then caused to traverse the zig-zags or steps in the remaining half
of the opening, the jacks will be operated in the inverse order from that in which
they were rendered inoperative until the stud reaches the last and innermost zig-zag,
by which time all of the needles will have again come into action and tubular knitting
resumed.
The opening in the cam plate J necessitates the latter being formed in, two parts,
cach part, however, is screwed or otherwise secured to a circular plate J³, fig. 3,
which not only serves to keep the cam-plate in working position but covers in the
internal mechanism and hides it from view.
In order that the stud F may enter a fresh zig-zag at the end of every
reciprocatory movement of the machine the cam plate J is caused to move on its
centre by means of a clawker K, figs. 1 and 2, engaging the teeth J on the peripheral
edge of the cam plate J.
The outward end of the clawker K is pivottally connected at K' to a two armed
lever, the longer arm K2 of which is movably connected to the annular ring G while
the shorter arm K³ is furnished with a roller K or equivalent, in contact with the
peripheral upper edge of the jack cylinder (2.
At each reciprocal movement of the machine the shorter arm K³ is forced outward
by the roller K moving in contact with the cam-plate L attached to the outer edge of
the jack cylinder (².
This outward movement on the part of the arm K³ forces the clawker K inwards
thereby causing it to rack the cam plate round one tooth, each movement of the plate
causing the stud F2 to enter a fresh zig zag.
Immediately the roller K' passes out of contact with the cam plate L and into its
normal position the clawker K engages another tooth of the plate J and this process is
continued until the toe or heel has been completed by which time the cam plate will
have made a complete revolution.
In order to prevent the racking of the cam plate J during tubular knitting one of
the teeth J is omitted, as shown in fig. 2, so that, although the clawker K is
constantly in contact with the cam plate J, the fact of it being out of engagement
with a tooth allows the said plate J to remain stationary, until reciprocating knitting

page_text: is required when the clawker may be placed by hand into gear with the first tooth
and the plate will be racked as before described.
A detent M fixed to the annular ring G is employed to prevent any accidental
movement of the cam plate J in the contrary or wrong direction during the working
of the machine.
During reciprocating knitting the traverse of the thread carrier H is restricted by
the employment of upwardly projecting stops N fixed to the upper face of the jack
cylinder and adjustable by the slots N¹.
The plate H¹ figs. 2 and 5, carries a sliding plate H which when in the position
shown in figs. 2 and 5 travels outside the jack cylinder and clear of the stops N, but
when moved into its inward position so that the tongue of the spring N² enters the
notch H in the plate H, the lower end H of the plate H, fig. 5, comes into contact
with either of the stops N, according to the direction of the reciprocation, thereby
arresting the traverse of the thread carrier.
It will be understood that a similar arrangement of jacks to that hereinbefore
described may be employed in straight bar knitting machines in conjunction with
apparatus for altering the position of the cam in relation to the jacks or needles for
the purpose of narrowing and widening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a circular knitting machine the combination with the needle cylinder B of a
concentrically fixed jack cylinder such as C² provided with vertical grooves Cand
channel C substantially as and for the purpose berein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a jack cylinder such as C
of an annular ring G and semi-annular ring G¹ operated by a toothed wheel E
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a knitting machine the employment of a jack such as C or C substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a circular knitting machine the use of a cam-plate such as J provided with an
opening J formed of a series of zig-zags for conducting the depressing cam F out
of and into contact with the jacks substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a cam-plate J of a spring-
controlled clawker such as K K2 K3 and cam L for operating tho cam-plate J
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a jack cylinder such as C
and cam ring 1) of a series of jacks for raising and lowering the needles substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a jack cylinder such as C
and cam ring 1 of a series of jacks for raising and lowering the needles; a cam-plate
such as J for regulating the movement of the depressing cam F which operates the
jacks, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and general arrangement of parts constituting the complete
machine substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 15th
1800
CHARLES JAMES MILES.
WILLIAM SPIERS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.