Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY KELLY, of Woonsocket, in the County of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, One of the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates more especially to that class of circular knitting machines
known as the "Branson" machines which are employed in the manufacture of
stockings and other similar articles; and it consists in a novel construction and
arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth by which a more effective device of
this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.
In forming the heel or toe of the stocking on the ordinary machine of this kind
one-half of the needles (those on the back side of the cylinder opposite the cams) are
first drawn up until thrown out of action. The narrowing is then performed by
pulling up the right-hand needle of those remaining down, or in action, and revolving
the machine from left to right one revolution; then pulling up the left-hand needle of
those remaining down, or in action, and revolving the machine from right to left one
revolution; then pulling up the right-hand needle, revolving the machine, and so on
until two-thirds of the needles in action are pulled up or thrown out of action, one at
a time, the needle on the left being withdrawn last. The widening is then accomplished
by pushing down or bringing into action, the last needle pulled up on the right-hand
side, as described, revolving the machine one revolution, pushing down the last needle
pulled up on the left-hand side, revolving the machine, and so on until all of the
needles which were pulled up or thrown out of action, one at a time, as described,
are pushed down, or brought into action again, one at a time, excepting the last one
on each series of needles (being the first ones pulled up).
The pulling up and pushing down of the needles in the manner described, in order
to narrow and widen on machines of this character, has, heretofore usually been
performed by hand, thereby rendering the process very slow, laborious and costly.
To overcome this difficulty or objection is one object of my present invention, and
to that end I make use of means which will be readily understood by all conversant
with such matters from the following explanation.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view showing a portion of the cylinder, cam-
plates and switch-cams of an ordinary knitting machine of this class..
Figure 2 is a like view, showing a portion of the cylinder with the cam-plates,
switch-cams, tumblers and switch-plates of my improved machine; and
Figure 3 a diagram showing certain details of construction.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the
drawings.
C represents the cylinder; B, D, A, A² the lower cam-plates: J, H, H² the upper
cam-plates E, E the switch-cams, L, I² the switch-plates, and K, K² the tumblers.
The upper and lower cam-plates B, D, A, A², J, H, H are rigidly secured to the
main cylinder C of the machine, by rivets or screws in the usual manner.
The switch-cams E, E2 are pivotted at t, and the tumblers K, K² at m to the
cylinder C.
The cam-plate J is V-shaped, and is arranged mid-way between the plates H, H³,
with its apex or point downward.
The tumblers K K are pivotted between the upper ends of the switch-cams E, E2,
and so arranged that when depressed, as shown in Figure 2, the tumbler K will rest
on the upper end of the cam E, and the tumbler K2 on the upper end of the cam E²,
and when elevated to their fullest extent will rest against the inclined sides of the
plate J.
The tumbler K is provided with a rebate or shoulder a, which extends across it from.
front to rear nearest its upper end and adjoining the switch-cam E, the tumbler K²
being provided with a corresponding shoulder a on its side adjoining the cam E².
Projecting upward from the cylinder C is a standard Q, to the inner side of which
a switch-plate L is pivotted at, the upper edge of the cylinder being cut out or
concaved, as shown at , to receive the lower end of said plate and permit it to swing
freely.
An arm projects downwardly from the inner face of said plate, at that side of
its centre which is nearest the plate H, said arm being adapted to strike the plate H
when swung towards the plate J, and to strike a stop d, secured to the cylinder C,
when swung in the opposite direction.
g
A coiled spring is secured at one end to the plate L, and at the other to the
cylinder C, said spring acting contractively to swing said plate in the direction of the
plate J and keep the arm in contact with the plate H.
A thumb-screw N passes through the standard Q, and is adapted to hold the plate L
in any desired position.
A corresponding switch-plate L is also disposed at the opposite side of the machine,
but, as it is constructed and arranged to operate in substantially the same manner as
the plate L, a more particular description is deemed unnecessary.
The tumbler K is provided with a screw which passes through the cylinder C and
is adapted to hold said tumbler in any desired position, the tumbler K² being also
provided with a corresponding screw.
In the use of my improved machine the narrowing is accomplished as follows,
to wit:-
The switch-plates L, L² are first pushed down until their arms ff respectively
strike the stops d, d², in which position they are secured by the set-scrows N.
One-half of all the needles (those on the back side of the cylinder opposite the cams)
are then pulled up or withdrawn from action by hand, after which the machine is turned
from left to right, causing the butts of the working needles to pass upwardly over the
switch-cam E and under the plate H2, until they strike the tumbler K2, when the butt
of the first or advance needle will be caught by the shoulder or notch a of said
tumbler, and, as the machine continues to revolve, the tumbler will be swung or turned
on its pivot m and thrown upward against the plate J thereby pulling up said advance
needle and withdrawing it from action.
The butts of the other working needles, as the machine continues to revolve, will
then pass under the tumbler K2 and over the cam-plate B, until they strike the switch-

page_text: cam E which will be raised thereby, the butis passing thence over the plate A onio
the plate or ledge D.
After the butts of the working needles have passed on to the plate or ledge D, as
stated, the machine is reversed, or revolved from right to left, causing the butts to pass
upwardly over the switch-cam É and under the plate H until they strike the tumbler K,
when the butt of the first or advance needle will be caught by the shoulder or
notch of said tumbler, and, as the machine continues to revolve, the tumbler will be
swung or turned on its pivot m and thrown upward against the plate J, thereby
pulling up said advance needle and withdrawing it from action.
The butts of the other working needles, as the machine continues to revolve, will
then pass under the tumbler K and over the cam-plate until they strike the switch-
cam E, which will be raised thereby, the butts passing thence over the plate A² onto
the plate or ledge D.
It will be understood that the machine is to be revolved from right to left and left
to right, or its reciprocating rotary movements continued until the desired number of
needles have been withdrawn from action or until the harrowing process has been.
accomplished.
As the advance needles of those in action are withdrawn one at a time by the
tumblers K, K2, as stated, they are added to the ranks of the needles out of action,
including those drawn up by hand on that side of the cylinder opposite the cams at the
commencement of the process.
The widening is accomplished on my improved machine as follows, to wit:-
The tumblers K, K² are first turned up against the cam J, and secured in that.
position by the set-screws. The machine is then revolved from left to right, causing
the butt of the first or advance needle to strike the arm on the switch plate L,
thereby swinging said plate on its pivot until said arm comes into contact with the
fixed stop d, when the butt will escape from the arm f; pass under said stop onto
the plate or ledge D, and be brought into action.
The machine is then reversed or rotated in the opposite direction, causing the butt
of the first or advance needle to strike the arm on the switch-plate I, thereby
swinging said plate on its pivot until said arm comes into contact with the fixed
stop d, when the butt will escape from the arm f, pass under said stop onto the plate
or ledge D, and be brought into action.
=
A shoulder or notch is formed in the arm, by which the butt of the advance needle
is caught and the needle forced downward and discharged under the fixed stop d² onto
the plate D, when the plate I is swung on its pivot as the machine is revolved from
right to left. The arm is also provided with a corresponding notch or shoulder, for
catching the butt of the advance needle, forcing it downward and discharging it in
under the fixed stop d onto the plate D, when the machine is revolved in the opposite
direction or from left to right.
The arms respectively project below the plates H, H2, a sufficient distance to
readily engage the butts of the advance needles when the machine is revolved or moved.
back and forth as described.
j
It will be understood that when the butt of the advance needle strikes the arm
or as the case may be, the spring y of the switch plate to which said arm is attached
will be overcome, and that when the butt has passed the arm and has been forced
downward beneath the stop d or onto the plate D, said spring will return the switch-
plate to its normal position.
It will be obvious that in my improved machine the advance working needles are
withdrawn from action and brought into action again. automatically in narrowing and
widening to form the heel or toc of the stocking, instead of by hand, as in the ordinary
machines of this character, thereby enabling the work to be performed more perfectly
and with a great saving in time and labour.
It will be observed that the ordinary machine, as shown in Figure 1, is provided
with a cylinder C, cam-plates A, A2, B, D, and pivotted switch-cams E, E², these
parts, when in and of themselves considered, being old and not claimed broadly by

page_text: me. There is also a superposed cam-plate M attached to the cylinder of the ordinary
machine above the switch plates E, E, which I do not claim broadly, the same being
in common use.
In place of said last-named plate 1 employ the separate plates H, H², J, and
pivotted tumblers K, K², which, although they perform some of the functions
accomplished by the plate M, also serve other and very important purposes for which
the plate M is not adapted.
From the foregoing it will be obvious that the principal features of my improve-
ment consist in the cam-plates H, H2, J pivotted tumblers K, K², and switch-
plates Li, L.
I do not confine myself to the use of the screws for securing the tumblers K, K,
or the screws N for securing the plates L, L2, as any suitable means may be employed
for that purpose. Neither do I confine myself to the use of the coiled spring for
returning the switch-plates L, L2, to their normal positions, as any suitable means
may also be employed for that purpose; nor to the use of the stops 7, ², constructed
and arranged as described, as stops of any other suitable construction may be employed,
and they may also be arranged in any convenient position. The switch-plates L, LF,
may also be constructed and arranged differently and still perform the same functions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a knitting machine of the character described and having the pivotted
switch-cams E, E², and plate H, a tumbler or device disposed intermediately of said
cams and adapted to engage the first or advance needle as it passes over the cam E
and pull it up or withdraw it from action, substantially as described.
Second. In a knitting machine of the character described and having the pivotted
switch-cams E, E and plate H2, a tumbler or device disposed intermediately of said
cams and adapted to engage the first or advance needle as it passes over the cam E²
and pull it up or withdraw it from action, substantially as described.
Third. In a knitting machine of the character described and having the fixed cam-
plate H², pivotted switch-cam E2, and plate or ledge D, a switch or device disposed
near the outer end of said plate,. and adapted to engage the first or advance needle as
it passes the plate H2, push it down or bring it into action, and discharge its butt
onto the plate D, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a knitting machine of the character described and having the fixed
cam-plate H, pivotted switch-cam E, and plate or ledge D, a switch or device disposed
near the outer end of said plate and adapted to engage the first or advance needle as
it passes the plate H, push it down or bring it into action, and discharge its butt onto
the plate D, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the pivotted tumbler K²
provided with the notch or shoulder in combination with the pivotted switch-cam E
and plates J, H, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the pivotted tumbler K, in
combination with the pivotted switch cam E, and plates J, H, substantially as
described.
Seventh. In a knitting machine of the character described, the pivotted switch-
plate L provided with an arm or projection for engaging the needle and a spring for
returning it to its normal position, in combination with the plate H2, pivotted switch-
cam E², and a stop for said switch-plate, substantially as described.
Eighth. In a knitting maching of the character described, the pivotted switch-
plate provided with an arm or projection for engaging the needle and a spring for
returning it to its normal position, in combination with the plate H, pivotted switch-
cam E, and a stop for said switch-plate, substantially as described.
Ninth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the arm, provided with
the shoulder or notch i, in combination with the pivotted switch-plate-L and a stop
for said plate, substantially as described.

page_text: Tenth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the arm, provided with
the shoulder or notch i, in combination with the switch-plate I and a stop for said
plate, substantially as described.
Eleventh. In a knitting machine of the character described, the set-screw N, in
combination with the pivotted switch-plate L and spring g, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Twelfth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the set-screw N, in
combination with the pivotted tumbler K substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Thirteenth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the cylinder C cut
out or provided with a cavity in its upper portion for receiving a movable switch, in
combination with a switch disposed or partially disposed in said cavity, a standard or
support for said switch, and a spring for returning the switch to its normal position
after it has engaged and pushed down the needle, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. In a knitting machine of the character described, the cylinder C,
fixed cam-plates A, A2, B, D, H, H², J, pivotted switch-cams E, E, pivotted
tumblers K, K provided with shoulders, the screws N, 1, stops d, d², springs g,
standards Q. pivotted switch-plates L, L, and arms, provided with the shoulders i,
constructed, combined and arranged to operate substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.