Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
I WILLIAM INGRAM JAMES, of 8 Brunswick Terrace, Stafford in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist firstly, in adapting to circular knitting machines an
appliance for producing what is commonly known as "splicing" .e. during the
process of knitting the introduction at will of an extra yarn during any desired
proportion of one revolution of the machine, and secondly in the use of a device for
facilitating the narrowing of stockings and other similar articles knitted on circular
knitting machines.
For the first of these purposes I use a supplementary yarn carrier to carry the
splicing" yarn and I impart to this yarn carrier a movement inwards and outwards
with reference to the axis of the needle cylinder in such manner that the "splicing"
yarn is at one time presented in front of the hooks of the cylinder needles and is
then knit into the fabric together with the main yarn, at another time this splicing
yarn is drawn back behind the cylinder needles out of the way of their hooks.
The movements of the supplementary yarn carrier are regulated by means of a
cam to take place at any desired point in the revolution of the machine..
In order to separate the "splicing" yarn from the fabric, as soon as it has been
knit in as far round as desired, I provide a splicing yarn holder which at the
proper moment takes hold of the splicing yarn and holds it fast so that, the machine
continuing its revolution, this splicing yarn is broken off and the end is held fast
by the "splicing yarn holder" until it is desired to knit in the "splicing" thread
when the end is again released.
Instead of allowing the splicing yarn to be broken off from the fabric I may
arrange a cutting knife to make the required separation.
Both the splicing yarn carrier and the holder and cutter may conveniently be
placed upon the cam cap of the knitting machine and the cams for communicating
to them their respective movements at the desired moment cau be conveniently
attached to the dial spindle of the machine.
In regard to the second part of my invention. It is well known that stockings
knitted on the Griswold or similar knitters are narrowed in the ankle by intakes on
each rib.
To effect an intake of this kind it is necessary to remove a cylinder needle and
transfer its stitch to the adjacent needle.
This is an inconvenient process and if accomplished successfully, must be done
with great care, otherwise the stitch which is being transferred will be broken or
so stretched as to make imperfect and unsightly work.
To avoid this difficulty a portion of the shoulder of the cam shell of my improved
knitter, on which rest the butts of the needles when not knitting, is cut away for a
distance of 3 or 4 inches in length and to such a depth that the hooks of the ucedles
when they have no stitches on them will stand only a little above the top of the
cylinder.
I bevel off each end of this depression so that any needles that may have dropped
down or been depressed while narrowing will be brought again to the normal height
before the knitting cams come round to them.
When narrowing the stitch can be transferred much more quickly and safely
from one needle to another, if the latter is thus depressed, than if it stood at its
normal height.
Dated this 21st day of November 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
I, WILLIAM INGRAM JAMES, of Green End House, Stafford, formerly of
8 Brunswick Terrace, Stafford aforesaid, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, 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:-
In the first part of my invention I provide an improved form of apparatus for
introducing automatically a splicing or thickening yarn round the whole or part of
a piece of tubular web when desired as for instance at the knee or above the heel
of a stocking.
Hitherto the splicing yarn has been caused to be knit in with the main yarn by
causing it to pass through the same yarn eye as the main yarn to which it adheres
and is thereby drawn with it to the needles, until it is desired to knit with the main
yarn only when the splicing yarn is seized by suitable mechanism and consequently
is broken off the breakage generally taking place at the needles. The disadvantage
of this system is that the splicing yarn does not invariably stick to the main yarn
and consequently is not always drawn in to the needles at every revolution of the
machine or is not drawn in always at the same point of each revolution the result
being that the part intended to be thickened is not equally or regularly thickened.
In my improved apparatus I carry the "splicing "yarn through a separate yarn
carrier and I impart to this yarn carrier by suitable means a movement to and from
the hooks of the needles in such manner that the splicing yarn is always presented
to the hooks of the needles at exactly the same point in the revolution of the
machine and is likewise also always withdrawn from the hooks of the needles at the
same point in the revolution of the machine, the fabric produced being thereby
thickened equally over the whole of the part desired.
In order also that the splicing yarn when withdrawn from the needles shall be
properly severed from the fabric I provide a shears which cuts the splicing yarn
as it is withdrawn from the needle hooks. I also provide a holder for holding the
end thus severed until the splicing yarn is again presented to the needles by the
movement of the splicing yarn carrier when the end is released for the purpose of
allowing it to be knit in by the needles.
If found more suitable 1 may combine the shears and holder.
I provide suitable mechanism for accomplishing all these various movements
automatically whilst the knitting machine is being revolved.
In the second part of my invention I provide a modification from the usual con-
struction of the cam shell of a circular knitting machine whereby the transference
of stitches from the dial to the cylinder needles or vice versa or from one cylinder
needle to another is greatly facilitated.
For this purpose at a suitable part of the circumference of the cam shell I lower
the ledge or shoulder which supports the butts of the cylinder needles at the normal
height sufficiently to allow the cylinder needles at that point to be depressed until
their hooks are level or nearly so with the hooks of the dial needles, the stitches
can then be transferred from one to the other without unduly stretching the loops
formed on the needles and without danger of breaking these loops. Figs. 1 to 14
shew my improved splicing apparatus applied to a circulur knitting machine in
which the movements are given to the "splicing yarn carrier" and to the shears
and holder by cams carried upon the dial spindle of the machine.
Figs. 15 to 19 shew the same device but the splicing yarn carrier and the shears
and holder are moved by appliances placed on the outer circumference of the body
of the machine, this latter arrangement is more convenient to apply to those machines
which run by power and in which the splicer is required to be put in or out of
action automatically whilst the machine is running.

page_text: Fig. 20 shews an interior view of a cam shell of a circular knitting machine with
the ledge or shoulder cut away to allow the cylinder needles to be depressed for
facilitating the transference of the stitches from one needle to another.
The machine revolves in the direction shewn by the arrows.
Fig. 1. is an elevation and Fig. 2. is a plan of a portion of a circular knitting
machine with my improved splicing apparatus attached.
The apparatus being shewn in the position it assumes at the time when the
splicing yarn is first presented by the yarn carrier in front of the hooks of the
cylinder needles for the purpose of being knit into the fabric.
Fig. 3. is an elevation and Fig. 4. is a plan shewing the same apparatus in the
position when the splicing yarn is being released by the yarn holder.
Fig. 5 is an elevation, Fig. 6 is a plan shewing the same apparatus in the position
when the splicing yarn having been knit into the fabric for the required
distance is drawn back by the yarn carrier behind the hooks of the cylinder
needles.
Fig. 7. is an elevation and Fig. 8. is a plan of the same apparatus at the time
when the yarn carrier having drawn the splicing yarn into the yarn holder the
yarn is severed and the end held by the holder until the splicing yarn again
commences to be knit into the fabric.
Figs. 9 and 10 are views of the cams by which the yarn carrier and yarn holder
are operated.
Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the yarn carrier.
Figs. 13 and 14 are views of the yarn holder.
Figs. 15 is an elevation and Fig. 16 is a plan shewing an alternative construction
of the splicing apparatus.
Fig. 17. is an elevation of the same shewing the yarn carrier and
Fig. 18 is an elevation shewing the yarn holder.
Fig. 19 is a front view of the appliance by which the yarn carrier and holder are
operated.
The splicing yarn "a" is carried upon the arm "&" of the machine and is led to
the yarn carrier "c" through the guides "d." "d.”
c
دود
The yarn carrier "c" is arranged so as to be capable of sliding in and out in a
line radial to the centre of the cylinder "e." It is fitted in a slideway "" on the
top of the ordinary cam cap "g" of the machine. The cam cap 9. is driven
round in the ordinary manner by the pin "h" which passes through a hole in the
arm "" and engages at its end "i" in a hole prepared for it in the driver "j"
attached to the cam cap "g." The dial "k" is held stationary in the ordinary
manner by means of a piece carried up from below inside the cylinder "e and the
dial spindle "" is fast with the dial "k."
12
"
cr 33
"
"
23
12
Upon the dial spindle "" is secured the cam m" which occupies a position
immediately over the yarn carrier "c" upon which is formed a projection "n
which takes upon the edge "" of the cam "m." A spring "p" keeps the
projection "n up to the cam edge "o." If the machine be revolved the cam
cap "y"will carry round with it the yarn carrier "c" while the cam m being
held stationary upon the dial spindle "/" will as the projection 22 moves round
upon the edge "o" operate the yarn carrier "c" accordingly as the edge "o is shaped
and will cause the yarn eye "q," in the outer end of the carrier "c" and through
which the splicing yarn ። a passes, to move alternately outwards in front of the
books "" of the cylinder needles for the purpose of presenting to them the splicing
yarn "a" and inwards behind the needle hooks "y" for the purpose of withdrawing
he splicing yarn "a" from their reach.
22
27
። 22
32
"
The cam cap
carries also the combined splicing yarn shears and holder.
The shear blade ። S "is mounted on the lever "t" and is opposed by an edge "u
on the cam cap "g" between which and the blade ""the yarn a is severed.
The holder " v is mounted on the same lever "t" and is opposed by a
"the yarn
surface"" on the cam cap "y" between which and the holder "v
22
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a

page_text: the cam
"
"
*
m
21
"
is held. The lever "t" is mounted on the pivot ""in the cam cap "9" and its
inner end "y" is adapted to engage with the cam path "z which is formed upon
m. The spring "acts to maintain the lever end "y" in contact
with the cam ". "and serves to press down the shear blade " 8 "and holder " v
upon the yarn "a" when the lever end "y" is freed from the cam "z." So that
the splicing operation may be made to come into action at any desired part of the
circumference of the tubular web, as at the knee or heel of a stocking the cam
is secured to the dial spindle ""by the intervention of a piece "." The
piece is made fast upon the dial spindle "/" and is provided with holes "1:
through which the pin "" may be dropped into an opposing hole or holes "B"
in the cam and by this means the position of the cam "m" may be adjusted
relatively to the cylinder "e." If the pin ""be withdrawn from the hole "d"
and inserted in the hole " "
so as to engage its lower end with the hole "" in
the cam cap "g" and thus connect the cam "with the cam cap "g" so that both
revolve together the cam tr
77 "will cease to act upon the yarn carrier "e" and
yarn holder "" and the splicing apparatus will remain out of action. The
circular yarn guard "e" is applied on the top of the dial spindle "1" for the
purpose of preventing the entry of the splicing yarn a in the slot "e" of the
nut "e" or otherwise interfering with the machine.
።
m
13
.f
CE 23
23
In the alternative arrangement shewn in Figs. 15 to 19 the yarn carrier "c²
and the yarn holder "" are carried in a bracket "y" attached to the gear ring""
or some revolving part of the machine and are operated by appliances attached to
some fixed part of the machine as the body
E
The yaru carrier "c" is arranged so that it is capable of sliding in and out
radially to the centre of the cylinder in a way "f" prepared for it in the
bracket "It is actuated by a wedge g" carried upon a vertical sliding
rod "g" in bearings "9" formed in the bracket "g." The vertical movement
of the rod "y" is derived from a cam "2" carried on a shaft "" in the
bracket "g"."
33
*
The outer end of the shaft "3" carries a star wheel ""which is acted on by
a peg ""carried in the bracket "" which is fixed to the body "k" of the
machine.
When the machine is revolved the bracket "g" and all that it carries revolves
also.
23
One of the points of the four pointed star wheel "" in passing strikes upon the
peg"" which communicates a revolving movement of a quarter revolution to the
star wheel "" and to the cam "" which pushes up the rod "g" and wedge "y"
the inclined surface "g" of which acts upon the yarn carrier "" so as to draw
the yarn eye "q" outside or to the front of the needle hooks “” and present the
splicing yarn "a" ready for the hooks to draw it in to the fabric as shewn in
Fig. 17. This position of the yarn carrier "" is maintained until the revolution
of the machine brings the next point of the star wheel "" into contact with the
peg ""carried in the bracket "" on the opposite side of the body of the
machine when another quarter revolution is given to the star wheel "*" and
"a" which releases the rod "9" and allows it and the wedge """" to drop
(assisted if need be by the spring "9") and frees the yarn carrier "
cam
"
is
then drawn by the spring """ inwards towards the centre of the machine until the
yarn eye" is inside or behind the hooks "" of the needles in which position
the yarn "u" is maintained out of reach of the needle hooks "" until the star
wheel "" is again operated on.
yarn holder "gl
"
are carried on the lever "" which
The shear blade "s" and
is pivotted in the bracket "g" on a pin ""."
The outer end of the lever is jointed to a vertical sliding rod "" carried in the
bracket "g" and a spring" serves to hold the yarn holder ""shut upon the
yarn a.' In the lower end of the rod "" is a peg or projection "" which as
the machine revolves is acted upon by the cam or inclined surface "" of the
"
13

page_text: brackets """" so as to draw down the rod "2" against the pressure of
the spring "" and open the holder "y" so as to release the end of the splicing
Jarn a or allow of its entry according as may be required.
The peg
"" is fast in a vertical rod "in the brackets "3" and "**" and when
required to act upon the star wheel "" lies in the notch ""formed for it in the
**
bracket "."
When it is desired to put the splicing apparatus out of action the rod "*" is
raised and given a half turn by the head " which causes the peg
"to pass
through the slot "28" when it may be dropped into the opposite notch ""where
it is out of the path of the star wheel"."
To facilitate the transference of stitches from needle to needle I lower the
ledge or shoulder "" on which the butts of the needles rest, as shewn in Fig. 20
which is an inside view of part of a cam shell, so that the cylinder needles may be
depressed and I incline the ends "o" and "o" so that when the machine is again
revolved the needle butts passing over these inclines are again raised to their
normal height and rest on the ledge "."
કર્
My improvements are equally applicable to those circular knitting machines
which revolve continuously in one direction and also to those which are capable of
receiving a reciprocating rotary movement.
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 use of a separate yarn carrier for carrying
a splicing yarn independently of the main yarn carrier.
2. In a circular knitting machine the use of a splicing yarn carrier which may
be moved so as to present the splicing yarn in front of the needle hooks for the
purpose of knitting the splicing yarn into the fabric and again moved so as to
withdraw the splicing yarn out of the reach of the needle hooks for the purpose of
preventing such splicing yarn from being knit into the fabric.
3. In a circular knitting machine the use of a separate yarn carrier moved
automatically for the purpose of alternately presenting a splicing yarn to the
knitting needles so that it may knit into the fabric and withdrawing the splicing
yarn from the needles so as to prevent its being knit in.
4. In a circular knitting machine the use of a shears for severing the splicing
yarn.
5. In a circular knitting machine the use of a combined shears and holder for
severing the splicing yarn and holding the severed end.
6. In a circular knitting machine the use of a separate yarn carrier and a shears
and holder moved automatically for the purpose of knitting in a splicing yarn into
the fabric.
7. In a circular knitting machine the mechanism shewn and described for
automatically moving a splicing yarn carrier for the purpose of alternately
presenting the splicing yarn to and withdrawing it from the hooks of the needles
and a shears and holder for cutting off and holding the splicing yarn as required,
and the means adopted for throwing the said mechanism in and out of action at
will.
8. In a circular knitting machine constructing the cam shell with the shoulder or
ledge which supports the butts of the needles lower in one part of its circumference
than in the other to enable the needles at that part to be depressed for the purpose
of transferring the stitches from one needle to another.
Dated this 10th dow of 1801
W. INGRAM JAMES.