Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
I, JAMES BETTNEY, of 66, Robinhood Street, Nottingham, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to circular knitting machines, and its object is to effect
improvements in the method of, and in the mechanism for, feeding threads of
various colors thereto, for the purpose of producing striped fabrics and the like.
According to my invention instead of applying Jacquard cards for causing the
rise and fall of the feeding levers, I make use of an endless chain which is caused
to travel intermittently at a suitable speed, the chain being stretched or kept
taut by a roller of sufficient weight, or by a roller and spring. To one or more
link or links of this chain I fit one or more adjustable stud or studs, arranged to
suit the required pattern, and also corresponding studs to operate the shear blade
described in my former Specification No. 17,622 80. The former stud or set of
studs are each arranged to raise the back or short end of its respective feeding
lever and to support the same, thereby feeding the next thread in such a manner
that the threads overlap one another, and thus secure the manufacture of a
continuous fabric. The stud, while still supporting the back end of the feeding
lever, throws back a spring catch plate and liberates the first mentioned feeding
lever, after which the spring catch plate is released, falling under a projection
on the back end of the feeding lever, which is then released by a further motion
of the stud. The shearing studs are arranged to operate connections and appliances
whereby the shearing mechanism is thrown in and out of action at the required
moments. This is effected by a lever pivoted to the frame and linked at its upper
end to the shear blade. On this lever, immediately below its pivot or fulcrum, I
arrange a horizontal lever carrying a roller or stud, the other end being linked
to a lever pivoted to the frame, which is operated upon by the stud and by a
spring. On the upper surface of the cam plate I fit an adjustable cam which
is capable of operating the shear blade. The action of the chain stud upon the
mechanism in connection therewith, is such as to throw the roller or stud at one
end of the horizontal lever, (which has both vertical and horizontal motions) into
the path of the adjustable cam, until the mechanism is released from the chain
stud, when the roller is again removed, in a horizontal direction, from the path
of the adjustable cam by a spring.
Spiral and other springs are fitted to the mechanism, where necessary.
Datel 91st Wahr 1908
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
I, JAMES BETTNEY, of 66, Robinhood Street, Nottingham, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 to circular knitting machines, and its object is to effect
improvements in the method of, and in the mechanism for, feeding threads of
various colors thereto, for the purpose of producing striped fabrics and the like.
According to my invention instead of applying Jacquard cards for causing the
rise and fall of the feeding levers, I make use of an endless chain which is caused
to travel intermittently at a suitable speed, the chain being stretched or kept
taut by a roller of sufficient weight, or by a roller and spring. To one or more
link or links of this chain I fit one or more adjustable stud or studs, arranged to
suit the required pattern, and also corresponding studs to operate the shear blade
described in my former Specification No. 17,622 89. The former stud or set of
studs are each arranged to raise the back or short end of its respective feeding
lever and to support the same, thereby feeding the next thread in such a manner
that the threads overlap one another, and thus secure the manufacture of a
continuous fabric. The stud, while still supporting the back end of the feeding
lever, throws back a spring catch plate and liberates the first mentioned feeding
lever, after which the spring catch plate is released, falling under a projection
on the back end of the feeding lever, which is then released by a further motion
of the stud. The shearing studs are arranged to operate connections and appliances
whereby the shearing mechanism is thrown in and out of action at the required
moments. This is effected by a lever pivoted to the frame and linked at its upper
end to the shear blade. On this lever, immediately below its pivot or fulcrum, I
arrange a horizontal lever carrying a roller or stud, the other end being linked
to a lever pivoted to the frame, which is operated upon by the stud and by a
spring. On the upper surface of the cam plate I fit an adjustable cam which
is capable of operating the shear blade. The action of the chain stud upon the
mechanism in connection therewith, is such as to throw the roller or stud at one
end of the horizontal lever (which has both vertical and horizontal motions) into
the path of the adjustable cam, until the mechanism is released from the chain
stud, when the roller is again removed, in a horizontal direction, from the path
of the adjustable cam by a spring.
Spiral and other springs are fitted to the mechanism, where necessary.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of a circular knitting machine constructed in
accordance with my former Specification No. 17,622 89, with my present improve-
ments added thereto.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the same, and Figs. 2 and 2" are
detail side views.
Figs. 3 to 7 are detail views.
8, 8, are two endless chains carried by a sprocket wheel or cylinder. These
chains consist of a number of links, flexibly hooked together, each pair of links
carrying a wire cross-bar 9, which cross bars may be formed integral with the
links or otherwise, as preferred, the combination of the chains 8 and the bars 9
being herein generally referred to as the chain. The sprocket wheel is integral
with a ratchet wheel 10, which, together with a sprocket wheel, is caused to travel
intermittently at a suitable speed by means of the pawl 11 pivoted to one end of a

page_text: double-armed lever 12. This lever is pivoted to the frame at 14, and is actuated
by a roller 16, attached thereto, in contact with an undulating surface formed
under the revolving plate 47, against which the roller 16 is held by the spring 15.
This action causes the pawl 11 to rise and drive the ratchet wheel 10 through an
angular distance equal to that of one ratchet tooth, the sprocket teeth 17 carrying
the front part of the chain an equivalent distance upwards. The chain is stretched
or kept taut by a roller 18 of sufficient weight, or by a roller and spring.
Three feeding levers 19, 20 and 21 are shown in Fig. 1, pivoted at 22 to a
block 23; but any other number of levers may be provided, according to the
required pattern. Corresponding studs 24 are arranged to raise the back or short
ends of the respective feeding levers, their positions upon the chain being arranged
to suit the positions of the feeding levers. The block 23 has recesses 25 formed
therein, in which spiral springs are placed, which raise the long ends of the
feeding levers when their back ends are released from their supports. The spring
catch plate 26 is shown in plan view in Fig. 1: in front elevation in Fig. 2: in
separate plan view in Fig. 3, and in end view in Fig. 4; and consists of a steel
casting having a spindle 27 integral therewith. Two lifting levers 28 project
behind the plate, of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The spring catch plate 26
is slotted, (as shown in top view in Fig. 1, and in front view by dotted lines in
Fig. 2) to receive the catches 30 at the ends of the feeding levers. Springs 29
are screwed to the front side of the catch plate 26, covering the slots in the latter
and acting as temporary supports to the catches 30. 31 is the shear blade and 32 the
lever described in my said former Specification No. 17,6228), and therein shown in
the drawings by the letters of reference n and n².
The studs 24 are each arranged on the chain in the desired position according
to the pattern or width of stripe, and are each carried by the intermittent motion
of the chain up to and under its respective feeding lever, whereby the latter is
raised. In Fig. 2 the stud 24 has moved in the direction of the arrow, from the
dotted position of dwell to the full line position of dwell, and is shown supporting
the back end of the feeding lever 21 which it has raised, and which lever has
pushed back (indicated by dotted lines) and passed the spring 29 of the spring
catch plate. Therefore the feeding levers 21 and 20 (the latter being behind
lever 21) are both in a feeding position simultaneously until the next motion of
the stud 24 trips the catch plate, by contact with the lever 28, and liberates the
lever 20. This latter position is shown in Fig. 2", the stud being in motion
towards its next dwell position which is indicated by dotted lines to the right
in Fig. 2 on the stud reaching its dwell position the catch plate again falls
under the projection 30 of the last raised feeding lever. It will thus be seen that
the stud raises the back end of the feeding lever and supports it in a feeding
position for a short time before and after the previous feeding lever has been
released from its catch plate support, thus enabling the two threads to overlap
one another whereby a continuous fabric is ensured.
36 is
A suitable number of studs 34 are attached to the chain for operating the
shearing mechanism 31, 32, for shearing the threads at the proper moments. The
studs 34 are shown in edge view in Fig. 1 in plan view in Fig. 2; and in end
view in Fig. 6. 35 is a pin attached to the upper end of a vertical lever.
a connecting rod whereby the oscillatory motions of the pin 35 are communicated
to the shearing mechanism. The lower end of the vertical lever carrying the
pin 35 is integral with the boss 37 pivoted to the fixed pin 38 which is rigidly
attached to the frame of the machine.
39 is a lever pivoted to a pin integral with and underneath a vertical lever carrying
the pin 35. The lever 39 is thus capable of receiving horizontal radial motion,
as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and vertical radial motion about the centre 38.
The horizontal radial motion is communicated to the lever 39 by its connection
with the vertical lever 42 by means of the connecting rod 41. The vertical
lever 42 is pivoted to the frame at 43. 44 is a stud attached to the lever 42,
and 45 is a boss attached to the upper end of the same lever 42 to which the

page_text: connecting rod 41 is pivoted. 46 is an adjustable plate fitted to the revolving
cam plate 47 by a screw 48 passing through a slot 49. 50 is a diagonal rising
surface which acts as a cam to lift the stud or roller 40, attached to..the lever 39,
when the latter is in the position shown by dotted lines. 51 is a horizontal spring,
shown in Fig. 2, but omitted in Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness. This spring
returns the lever 42 to the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 after the con-
tact of the stud 34 with the stud 44 has ceased. 52 is a plate having holes 53
through which the threads pass to the levers 19, 20 and 21.
When a stud 34 is carried upwards by the chain, and comes into contact with
the stud 44, attached to the lever 42, the upper enil of the lever 42 is carried out-
wards, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This motion causes the connecting
rod 41 to move the lever 39 upon its pivot 35 so as to cause the pin or roller 40
to move into the path of the cam 46. The action of this cam 46, as it is carried
round by the plate 47, is such that the pin or roller 40 is raised in a vertical
direction, and with it, the lever 39, vertical pin 35, connecting rod 36 and shearing
mechanism 31, 32, whereby the thread is cut, and the end held in position, as
described in my said Specification No. 17,622 89.
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 application and use of an endless chain,
caused to travel intermittently at a suitable speed, and kept taut by means of
a roller of sufficient weight, or by a roller and spring, one or more link or links
of such chain being fitted with one or more adjustable stud or studs for effecting
the rise and fall of the feeding levers and operating the shear blade described
in my said former Specification No. 17,622 89, substantially as and for the pur-
poses described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a circular knitting machine fitted with an endless chain and studs in lieu
of Jacquard cards, the combination therewith of a ratchet wheel and sprocket
wheel driven by a pawl 11 and lever 12, operated by means of a roller 16 held
in contact with an undulating surface formed under the revolving plate 47 by
a spring 15, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
3. In a circular knitting machine as aforesaid, the combination therewith of
a spring catch plate 26, spindle 27 and lifting levers 28, whereby the feeding
levers 19, 20 and 21 are caused to rise and fall in accordance with the arrange-
ment of the studs upon the endless chain, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In a circular knitting machine as aforesaid, the combination therewith of
the shearing mechanism 31, 32, studs 34, levers 39 and 42, stud 44 and adjustable
plate 46 fitted to the revolving cam plate, with their connections and fittings,
together operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of an endless chain carrying
studs 24 and 34, sprocket and ratchet wheels and pawl for intermittently driving
said chain, feeding levers 19, 20 and 21, formed as described, catch plate 26,
levers 28 integral therewith, shearing mechanism operated by levers 42 and 39
and links 41 and 36, an adjustable cam plate 46 for lifting one end of the lever 39,
severally operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
6. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts constituting
my improvements in circular knitting machines, substantially as set forth.
Dated 15th Novambor 1908
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.