Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I, JOSEPH BENNOR of Macon, in the County of Bible and State of Georgia, one
of the United States of America, 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 relates generally to straight knitting machines of the kind in
which latch needles are employed; and more particularly to that class of machines
designated "automatic," in which are provisions for relatively operating certain end
needles during the fashioning process, as, for example, whilst knitting the heel and
toe parts of a sock or stocking.
In some of these machines the knitting is commenced at the toe of the sock or
stocking and continued therefrom through the foot, heel and leg portions thereof,
whereas, in others, the order of operation is reversed, the knitting in the latter
being commenced at the top of the leg and concluded at the toe portion.
The present invention comprises various improvements in the general construction
and organization of such machines, the precise nature of which improvements will
be more clearly understood from the following description and claims, reference being
had to the annexed drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knitting machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, the yarn take-up mechanism not being
shown.
Figure 3 is a partial plan of the machine.
Figure 4 is a partial end view.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line x-x of Fig. 3.
Figure 6 is an under-side view of one of the cam carriages, detached, the knitting
cams being represented in the down or active position.
Figure 7 is an end view of Fig. 6.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the lower or cam-supporting section of the carriage,
the cams being represented in the up or active position.
Figure 9 is a like view of said section, the cam-supporting plate being removed
therefrom to expose the oscillatory arm or sector and its adjuncts.
Figure 10 is an end view of one of the yarn carriers as mounted on its rock-shaft.
Figure 11 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 12 is a detail of one of the end bracket plates and adjuncts.
Figure 13 is a transverse section through the yoke which connects the cam
carriages.
Figure 14 is a sectional elevation of the duplex screw mechanism for operating
the needle-actuating levers.
Figure 15 is a separate view of the sinker frame and adjuncts, inverted.
Figure 16 is a side elevation of a modified construction of yarn-guide devices,
and their supporting parts, a bevelled end-plate for laterally moving the guide-heads
being shown.
Figure 17 is a plan of Fig. 16.
Figure 18 is a transverse section, as on the line 2-3 of Fig. 16.
In these drawings, the numeral 1 represents the framework of the machine,
comprising the end-heads 2, the supporting legs 3 and the oppositely-inclined
needle-beds 4, 5. 6 represents the cam-carriages that traverse the needle-beds,
these carriages being coupled by means of a reciprocating yoke 7. The yoke is
connected by means of a pitman 9 with a crank-wheel 10 which is fast on a suitably-
disposed vertical shaft 11 geared with an adjacent shaft or stud 12 upon which the
pulleys 13 are mounted.

page_text: The cam-carriages are supported and guided in their longitudinal traverse by
means of a pair of parallel rods 14, which are supported in bracket plates 15, 16,
fixed to the respective end-heads 2. Borne in the latter is a longitudinal shaft 17,
which is provided on one end with two bevel wheels 18, 19, one of which (18)
engages with a bevel pinion 20 on the stud 12, and the other of which engages a
similar pinion 21 on the vertical shaft 11, whereby the latter and the shaft 17
are operated in concert. The shaft 17 is provided on its opposite end with a
sprocket wheel 18" to which a step-by-step movement is imparted by any suitable
mechanism, such, for example, as that shown in the drawings, that is to say, a
grooved face cam 23 is secured fast to the shaft 17, a ratchet wheel 24 is affixed
concentrically to one side of the sprocket wheel, and the pivoted pawl-supporting
arm 25 is engaged with the cam-groove by means of a stud or block 26.
Passing around the wheel 18 and also around suitably-disposed pulleys 27 is the
endless pattern chain 28, the links of which are properly formed to control the
operation of the knitting and yarn guide mechanisms, as hereinafter described.
The bracket plate 15 is grooved or channelled transversely, for the reception of
a horizontal slide-bar 29, the ends of which project beyond the edges of the plate
in the path of the tappet or shifter devices for controlling the positions of the
knitting cams; these ends thus constituting stops or abutments for such devices.
The bar is provided on its inner or acting face, near its ends, with studs 30
and openings or offsets 31, which are each adapted to be brought into the paths of
the said shifter devices at certain stages of the knitting operation, as hereinafter
explained. The bar is operated through the action of a vertical lever 32, fulcrumed
on a stud 33, on the end-head; the upper arm of the lever being slotted and
connected by a pin 34 with the slide-bar, and the lower arm being provided with a
foot 35 that rests upon the links of the pattern chain. This foot is maintained in
operation with the links by means of a strong retracting spring 36 which is connected
with the arm and with a stud 37 projecting from the end-head. By this construction
it will be seen that when the sprocket wheel is intermittently rotated, the links of
the pattern chain will be brought successively into engagement with the foot 35,
which latter will thereupon rise or fall in accordance with the height of the faces of
the links, and thus impart the predetermined movements to the abutment bar 29.
When the reciprocating knitting cams are to be alternately thrown into and out of
action, the position of this bar is such that the studs 30 lie in the paths of the cam-
shifting devices. When the cams are to be thrown into an intermediate position,
the bar is shifted longitudinally so as to move the studs out of said paths, in which
case the shifter devices abut against the face of the bar; and when one set of cams
is to be permitted to remain in action and the other set to remain out of action, the
position of the bar is such that the openings or offsets 31 are in line with the shifter
devices; all as hereinafter more fully set forth.
The
At the beginning of the knitting operation, the cams are thrown into the inter-
mediate position above mentioned, in which case both sets are active. The came
then make one stroke, thus throwing upward simultaneously the needles in both
beds. At the same time the yarn delivered to the needles, whereupon the cams
in the reverse stroke retract the needle with the yarn engaged therewith. At
the end of this second stroke, the cams are moved into their tube-knitting positions,
that is, one set is in the extreme down or operative position, while the other set is
in the extreme up or inoperative position. The cams then make a complete
reciprocation,-i.e., two strokes,-thereby forming a round of stitches.
positions of the cams are reversed at the end of the first stroke of this movement,
and then, at the end of the second stroke, returned to their previous positions.
In the succeeding strokes of the cams, they are maintained in these relative
positions that is, one set active and the other set inactive. Hence, the knitting is
carried on by one set of needles only. During the operation, the end needles of
this set are alternately thrown out of action with the cams so as to produce a
gradually narrowed web, the desired length of the toe pouch, whereupon the out-
thrown needles are alternately moved back into action with the cams.
There is

page_text: thus formed the fashioned toe-pouch of the stocking. This done, both sets of cams
are thrown into the tube-knitting positions, and the formation of the foot effected.
Reaching the heel the pouch therefor is formed similarly to the tubular portion of
the foot. When the article is completed others may be likewise started and formed
successively.
Examples of machines for producing socks according to the above-described
process are illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States of America to
John Nelson, No. 214,308, dated April 15, 1879, in England, No. 1529 dated
April 18, 1879 and in my assigned Letters Patent of the United States No. 440,389,
dated November 11, 1890, to which reference may be had.
In the present case, the cam carriages are each made in two sections instead of a
single piece as formerly. One of these sections, marked a, supports on its under
face the cam-bearing slide-plate 39, which latter rests upon the needle-bed. The
other section, marked a', is let into a transverse guide-way in the upper face of the
section a and is provided on its inner edge with a post or arm a³ through which
extends the longitudinal rod 14. There are two of these rods, as afore-mentioned,
one above each needle-bed, and the upper sections of the two carriages are respec-
tively connected therewith in the manner just described. The lower section a of
each cam carriage is so conjoined with the upper section that the former section
may be adjusted transversely in respect to the latter in order to vary the position of
the cams in relation to the throat of the machine, and, as a consequence, change the
throw of the needles and the size of the stitches formed thereby. The connection
comprises an eccentric a let into the upper section and fastened to the lower section
by means of a screw a', this eccentric being furnished with a flange or disc a' that
rests upon the face of the upper section. When the disc is turned the eccentric
will cause this under section to be moved transversely in respect to the upper or
fixed section. By tightening the screw the disc may be fixed in any predetermined
position of adjustment. The face of the disc may be graduated to a proper scale and
the adjacent face of the section may be provided with a suitably-located arrow
head or pointer, whereby the movement of the disc, and perforce the range of throw
of the cams, may be accurately determined.
Instead of employing a transverse slide-bar, as heretofore, to control the positions
of the knitting cams, I use an oscillating arm or sector 38. This sector is pivoted
at c on the under-side of the lower section, just back of the transverse slide-plate 39
on which the knitting cams are mounted. It is connected by means of a pin 40
with an appropriate cam-slot 42* in the said plate, whereby when the sector is
oscillated the plate will be reciprocated transversely. The sector is superior to
the slide-bar in that less force is required to operate the former than the latter,
and hence the wearing action upon the cam-slots in the slide plate and upon the
other elements which co-act with the sector, is reduced to a minimum. The
sector is provided with a projecting arm 41, which extends outwardly beyond
that edge of the cam carriage which approaches the fixed end stop 42, this edge
being suitably cut away to permit of the oscillatory movement of the arm.
When the arm abuts against this stop, and the sector occupies the position
indicated in Fig. 9, the latter is moved forward. The arms of the sectors in
the two carriages, as they approach the end stops in the position thus indicated,
are inclined upwardly; but when they abut against the latter the arms are
moved downward to a horizontal plane, or nearly so. The stops 42 comprise
blocks affixed to the faces of the beds, respectively, the acting edges of which
blocks are curved coincidently with the arcs described by the ends of the arms 41.
Inasmuch as these arms project from the adjacent ends of the two carriages, the
positions of which upon the needle-beds are reversed, it follows that when one
set of cams is moved upward out of action by the operation of the arm
just described, the other set is moved downward into action. Fitted to
offsets 43 in the opposite edges of the cam carriages are tappet pins 44 which
lie in line with the edge of the sector, whereby when the outer ends of said
rods impinge the abutment bar their inner ends forcibly strike the opposed edges

page_text: of the sectors, thus returning the latter to their former positions and reversing
the positions of the knitting cams. Of course, when the openings or offsets in the
abutment bar are brought into the path of the tappet pins and held therein, the
positions of the sectors are unchanged during the succeeding strokes of the cam-
carriages.
During the knitting operation hereinbefore described the sector is caused to
assume three positions, viz., the extreme right and left positions to throw the cams
entirely up and down, and an intermediate position to throw the cams only
partially up.
To lock the sector in these positions, its under or convex edge is provided
with three suitably-disposed notches 45, with each of which is successively
engaged a spring-controlled pin 46 fitted to a perforated lug 47 on the under
section. The cams which are borne by that carriage which traverses the bed 4,
are caused to actuate the needles upon each stroke of the carriage during the
formation of the heel and toe parts of the sock. I have mounted upon the slide
plate of this carriage a rocking guard cam 47, the function of which is to
insure the engagement of the reciprocating knitting cams with the needles.
This guard cam comprises a piece pivoted to the slide-plate 39 at a point mid-
way between the wing cams 48, the ends of the piece being oppositely-bevelled
or inclined similarly to the outer edges of said wing cams and being extended
below and slightly beyond the lower ends of the latter. The disposition of the
pivot is such that when the piece is rocked its extremities will be alternately
brought into and out of contact with the lower ends of the wing cams respec-
tively; that is to say, when the piece is tilted, as represented in Fig. 6, its
advancing end will abut against the adjacent wing cams; the needles in the
path of said end thus being directed thereby onto the leading wing cam, while
the opposite end of the piece will be below the end of the other or following
wing cam, so as to leave a gate or way by which the needles may escape.
When the knitting cams are moving in the reverse direction, the inclined
position of the piece is reversed, its action thereupon corresponding with that
just described. A means whereby I oscillate this guard-cam at the end of each
stroke of the knitting cams, in order to throw it into the requisite positions, is
clearly represented in Figs. 6 and 7:
It. comprises a longitudinal slide-bar 49, let into the plate, just in rear of the
knitting cams, the ends of the bar being extended beyond the outer edges of
the carriage. This bar is provided at points between the wing cams with two
studs 50, and the piece is provided on its upper edge, in line with the pivot,
with a stud 51 which extends between the studs 50. The upper edge of the
piece is inclined slightly downwards or each edge of the stud, whereby when
the bar is reciprocated the studs 50 thereon will ride upon the inclined edges
alternately and thus oscillate the guard cam. The central stud 51 limits the
movement of the bar, while the frictional action of its studs upon the inclined
edges maintains the parts positively in position. The bar is actuated at the end
of each stroke of the knitting cams by its striking the abutment stops.
52, 52 are bevelled blocks fixed to the lower section of the carriage in near
relation to the ends of the guard cam, which blocks are designed, during the
active traverse of the carriage, to direct the needles up above the plane of the
lower edge of said cam.
The mechanism which I employ for throwing the end needles in the bed 4 out
of and into action, during the formation of the heel and toe parts of the sock,
is illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 14, of the drawings. Its construction is as
follows Mounted in and between the end-heads of the supporting frame is a
shaft 53, one end of which is extended outwardly beyond the adjacent head and
is equipped with a bevel gear wheel 54. This wheel engages two similar
wheels 55, 56, loosely mounted on the vertical shaft, which wheels may be
alternately fixed to and released from the shaft by means of an interposed
clutch 57, that is connected with one end of a longitudinal shaft 58, under.

page_text: the control of the pattern chain. The shaft 58 has on its opposite end a
depending arm 59 that bears upon the upper end of a lever 59 that
rests upon the links of the pattern chain, being held thereon by the action
of a suitably-disposed spring 60. Thus, when the arm rides upon a low-faced
link of the chain, the clutch is engaged with the upper bevel wheel 55, which
latter thereupon rotates the shaft in one direction; when the arm rides upon a
high-faced link, the clutch is disengaged from the upper wheel 55 and engaged
with the lower wheel 56, which latter thereupon rotates the shaft in a reverse
direction; and when the arm rides upon a medium-faced link, the clutch is
thrown into its original or intermediate position in which case it is out of
engagement with both wheels, and the shaft is at rest. As the construction and
operation of the devices just last described are known, minute description thereof
is unnecessary. On the shaft 53 are two oppositely-pitched screws 61, which are
movable longitudinally, the shaft being provided with a spline 62 to prevent
their rotating independently of the shaft. These screws work in internally
threaded nuts or bosses 63, fixed to the inner faces of the end-heads, the con-
struction being such that when the shaft is properly rotated the nuts or bosses will
effect the movement of the screws toward or away from each other.
Fixed in and between the end heads in proximity to and parallel with the
shaft 53, is a shaft 64, on which are mounted a couple of vertical plates 65 that are
provided on their outer faces with flanged bosses 66. The flanges of these bosses
extend into circumferential grooves 67 on the headed ends of the screws; whereby
when said screws are moved longitudinally the plates will be correspondingly
impelled. The upper portions of the plates are supported and guided in their
traverse by means of a longitudinal shaft or rod 68 suitably disposed between the
end-heads of the frame. Fulcrumed on the shaft 64 contiguous to the inner faces
of the plates are two levers 69, 69, respectively; the longer arms a of which extend
diagonally to or near to the under side of the needle-bed 4, and the shorter arms b
of which levers extend to and against the end-heads of the screws respectively.
These shorter arms are bifurcated so as to straddle the shaft 53 and receive small
rollers or wrist pins 70 on the ends of the adjacent screw-heads, respectively,
whereby when the said shaft and screws are rotated the rollers or pins, acting
against the members of the shorter arms b, will oscillate the levers. The longer
arms a of these levers are held against the faces of the plates 65 so as to be moved
therewith. For this purpose I employ bracket pieces 71 secured to the plates and
extended in front of said armɛ a. Secured to or formed on the upper end of
each of these arms is a plate 72, the upper edge of which is recessed to form end
teats or shoulders 73, 74, that lie in close relation to the under-side of the bed 4.
The needle-grooves in this bed are open as formerly, and the needles therein are
provided with depending tails 75 which project into the planes of the recesses in the
plates 72 respectively. The thickness of each of these plates is about equal to the
width of a needle groove so that the plates may be moved below and caused to act
upon the needles individually, that is to say, as the arms are moved inward and
upthrown by the action of the screw devices, the teats will impinge against the
opposed tails of the end needles in the bed 4 successively, and throw them up out
of action; while on the other hand, when the arms are retracted or drawn away
from each other, after the requisite number of needles have been up-thrown, the
opposite teats of the plate will impinge against the tails of the needles and return
them successively into action.
The back or return strokes of the oscillating arms b, during the inward traverse
of the levers, and the forward or return strokes of said arms during the outward
traverse of the levers, take place, in each instance, in the spaces between the
needle-grooves, the pitch of the screw-threads and the .general organization of the
parts being designed to this end. The levers 69 are each maintained normally in
the intermediate position represented in Fig. 5, by means of a spring-actuated
plunger 76 which bears against a suitably-shaped cam surface 77 on the outer edge
of the lever. This plunger is disposed in line horizontally with the center of the

page_text: shaft 64. It is fitted to a bracket 78 on the inner side of the adjacent plate 65,
and is preferably equipped on its inner end with a small anti-friction roller 79 that
acts upon the cam-surface.
The letter D Fig. 15 represents a series of vibratory sinkers or loop-holders
supported in a frame or bar d that is fixed to the needle bed in such manner that
the work-engaging portions of the sinkers extend over and beyond the inner edge
of the bed and alternate with the needles, as is common in all knitting machines in
which sinkers or loop holders are employed.
The cam-device for retracting the sinkers immediately before the back stroke of
the needles, whilst the stitch is being formed, comprises a grooved end-bevelled
head D fitted to a rib d' on the under-side of a transverse bar d' on the arm d.
The ends of the bar are provided with lips that limit the end-wise movement of
the head D'; the space between these lips being equal to the length of the head
plus the distance of lost motion thereof, requisite at the initial movement of the
carriage in each stroke, in order to throw the head into proper time with the
knitting cams.
The sinkers are pivoted in the same horizontal plane so that normally their
up-projecting members are in alignment. They are strung on a rod db so as to be
operative independently of each other, and this rod is disposed on the under-side of
the frame and fastened in place by means of screws de that take against the ends
of the rod. Thus, by loosening the screws, the rod with the entire series of sinkers
may be readily detached from the frame.
When the sinkers are positively vibrated by the cam-bar, as formerly, that is to
say, moved inward and outward thereby-the sinkers in their inward or active
movement may cut or draw the yarn, particularly if the yarn be irregular or knotty,
or the stitches be very tight. Hence, to overcome this objection, I have devised
a specific construction whereby the inward movement of the sinkers is effected by
spring-pressure in such manner that the action of their hooks upon the yarn is
yielding, or, so to say, automatically adjustable to the various grades or conditions
yarn.
of
In carrying out this feature, I drill in the back edge of the sinker frame, a series
of holes corresponding in number with the sinkers and being in line with the
up-projecting members thereof respectively.
In each of these orifices, I insert a small spiral spring s, the springs being con-
fined by means of a back bar d fastened to the edge of the frame by screws or the
like. The length of the springs is such that they act with considerable pressure
against the sinkers and the back bar, thus tending to throw the sinkers inward
independently of each other.
grooves
As a simple and efficient means whereby the needles may be held in their
under spring pressure for the purpose more especially of obviating the otherwise
liability of their jumping immediately upon being freed from the knitting cams, I
cut in the outer edge of the back-bar d' a series of kerfs coincident with the grooves
in the needle bed, and I bore in the top of the bar a corresponding series of recesses
that intersect the kerfs. I then insert in each of the kerfs a longitudinally-movable
bits which rests upon the needles below the same, and I next insert in each of the
recesses a spiral spring s² which enters a slot in the bit. I cover the kerfs and
recesses by a plates that is securely fastened to the bar, the upper ends of the
springs bearing against the underside of this plate, and thus pressing the bits down
upon the needles to insure the frictional action above referred to.
As the move-
ment of the bits is at right angles to that of the needles, this action is most
effectual.
The construction and organization of the yarn-guide devices and of the mechanism
for controlling and operating the same, are clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, 11
and 12 of the annexed drawings, as follows:-
:-
80, 80 represent a pair of parallel rock-shafts disposed longitudinally above the
throat of the machine and supported at their extremities by the end brackets 15, 16.
These shafts are provided at suitable points near to one (16) of the end-brackets,

page_text: with depending pins 81 that are connected by a spiral spring 82, the tendency of
which is to draw the pins toward each other. Fixed to the bracket 16 is a
block 83, the ends of which act as positive stops to limit the inward movement of
the pins. On each of the shafts 80 there is mounted a yarn carrier 84 which is
adapted to travel to and fro thereon. The carrier comprises a sleeve-like device 85
provided on its under side with a projection 86 to which is secured a short depend-
ing rod 87 that supports the yarn-guide 89 normally above the throat or median
line of the machine. The guide is a narrow head pointed or tapered preferably
toward both ends and provided with a laterally projecting lug 89 to which the
rod 87 is secured. This head is perforated centrally for the passage of the yarn.
Its pointed end in the movements to and fro not only retains the latches of the
up-thrown needles in the open position, but fully opens any latches that may not
have been completely thrown open by the usual latch-opening plates.
The carrier is guided in its longitudinal traverse by means of a spline 90 on the
rock-shaft. Projecting inwardly from the opposite end head 15 is a pin 90*, the
forward bevelled end of which extends slightly beyond the limit of the advancing
stroke of the yarn-carrier devices, and lies in such respect to the paths of the latter,
that the projections thereon as the carriers advance will bear forcibly against the
sides of the bevelled end and be pressed outward laterally thereby. When one of
the carriers is drawn back or outward sufficiently far to escape the bevelled point of
the pin, the shaft of this carrier assumes its original position and thus returns the
guide-head to the median line of the machine for a succeeding operation. The yarn
carriers are laterally deflected as above described, so that the inactive one will not
obstruct the path of the active one; it being understood that only one of the
carriers is in service at a time. Said carriers are each provided on their upper
side with two projecting studs 91, 92, the function of which will hereinafter
appear.
The mechanism for reciprocating these carriers comprises a slide-rod or bar 93
fitted in the side walls of the yoke and provided about midway of its length with a
depending lug 94, which, when the rod or bar is properly operated, may be disposed
directly above either of the shafts 80 or between the same, as desired. Thus, when
the two carriers are engaged with the pin 90, as above stated, and the yoke
properly moved over and above the same, the said lug 9+ may be slid between the
studs 91, 92, on either of the carriers; whereupon in the outward stroke of the
yoke, this stud will abut against the opposed stud 91 on the carrier, and perforce
impel the latter in concert with the knitting cams. Obviously, when the lug 94 is
in the intermediate position, the yoke may be reciprocated independently of the.
yarn carriers. I prefer to make the stud 92 of each of the yarn carriers, somewhat
longer or higher than the other stud 91, so that the edge of the yoke will abut
against the former stud in the reverse stroke. This edge of the yoke is offset to the
slide-bar or nearly so, the adjacent face of the former being slightly bevelled or
inset as seen in Figs. 11 and 13, so that it will not come in contact with the studs 92
during the advancing strokes. Hence, the yoke itself and not the slide-bar, will
impel the carriers forcibly against the deflecting pin. The slide-bar thus being free
at this end of its traverse may be readily slid to and fro to engage or disengage its
lug 94 with or from the carriers as above described.
The means which I employ for shifting this bar at the predetermined intervals,
comprises a horizontal lever 95 pivoted on a block or post 96 on one edge of the
yoke, one arm of the lever being connected with the projecting end of the bar 93
and the other arm of said lever being provided with a V-shaped opening or
recess 96. There is fulcrumed on the stud 33 on the end-head 2 of the frame, a
vertical lever 97, the lower arm 98 of which is provided with a foot 99 that rests
pon a link of the pattern chain, while its upper arm is extended above the plane of
he needle-bed in a manner to intersect the path of said horizontal lever during the
eciprocation of the cam carriages. The foot is held in contact with the pattern
hain by means of a strong spring 100, the ends of which are fastened to the arm 98
nd the stud .37, respectively, whereby the position of the lever will be directly

page_text: under the control of the links of the pattern chain; that is to say, when the foot
rides upon a medium face link the upper arm of the lever will be in a central
position, and when it rides upon a high or low face link, it will be moved either to a
right or left inclined position, as the case may be. Hence, when the V-shaped end
of the horizontal lever 95 approaches the arm, the inclined or flaring sides of the end
will embrace the said arm, which latter, according to its position, will thereupon act
upon and move the horizontal lever to the central position or deflect it to the right
or left. When the horizontal lever is in the central position the lug 94 is central
or inactive, and when said lever is in the right or left inclined position, the lug is
engaged with one or the other of the yarn carriers as above explained.
In Figures 16, 17 and 18, I have illustrated a modified construction of the yarn-
guide devices. In this form the shafts or bars 80 are fixed instead of being rocking,
independent provisions being employed for permitting of the lateral movement of
the guide-heads 89, at the proper stages, as follows: Pivoted at a point on the
under side of each of the slide-blocks is one end of an arm b, the opposite or free
end of which is provided on its lower side with a stud or roller 6. The arm is
pressed toward the median line of the machine by means of a spring 63 which is
interposed between the arm and a depending tongue or rib 63 on the outer side of
the slide-block. Fixed to this arm is the depending rod 87 which carries on its
lower end. the yarn-guide head. Secured to the under-side of the bars 80 near that
end of the machine at which the pattern mechanism is located, is a block which is
equipped with a plate 90 having its sides forwardly bevelled, as indicated. These
bevelled portions extend slightly beyond the limit of the advancing stroke of the
yarn-guide devices in such manner that the studs or rollers on the pivoted arms
abut against said bevelled portions and thus deflect the guide-heads from the central
line of the machine.
I shall proceed to describe the novel features of the stop motion devices which I
prefer to employ in conjunction with the foregoing described mechanisms. Such
devices appear very clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to which reference will now
be had. 101 represents a longitudinal rocker shaft mounted in suitable brackets 102
on the front of the machine. One end of this shaft extends beneath the pulleys, and
bears a suitably-disposed belt shifting frame 103 through which the driving belt
passes, whereby when the shaft is properly rocked the belt may be transferred from
one to the other pulley. Fixed on the opposite end of this shaft is a vertical
arm 104, the free end of which extends up to a double notched or shouldered
lever 105 fulcrumed at y on the end-head 2. The arm is kept in a normal or
retracted position by means of a strong spring 106, secured thereto and to a pin on
the head 2. The position of the shifter frame relative to this arm is such that when
the latter is in the position just mentioned, the belt is upon the loose pulley, and the
machine is at rest.
In that case the end of the arm bears against the shoulder on the lever 105.
When the arm 104 is thrown forward against the action of the spring to transfer
the belt from the loose to the fast pulley, the end of the arm engages the forward
notch or shoulder in the lever 105, and is locked therein. This being done, the
machine is in operation. It will be obvious that if the inner arm of the lever 105
be depressed, the outer arm thereof will be raised so as to free the end of the
arm 104 from the notch z, whereupon said latter arm will be retracted to its first
position to stop the machine. This lever is operated by means of a vertical drop
rod 107 supported at the end of the machine by the outwardly-exteuding bracket
arms 108, the latter being sustained by the fixed end rod 109. The lower end of
the drop rod is equipped with a stud 110 that projects directly above the inner arm
of the lever 105, while its upper end is provided with a cross-bar 111, that extends
into the paths traversed by the spring actuated take-up levers 112 when they are
moved upward. The drop rod is also provided, at a point above the lower bracket
arm 108, with a stud 113, that rests normally upon a post 114, rising from said arm.
When the stud is supported upon this post the stud 110 lies above the arm of the
lever 105, but when the stud 113 is tripped or moved off the post, the rod drops by

page_text: gravity. the stud 110 thereupon striking and depressing said arm with the enect
bove described.
Normally the inner arms of the spring controlled take-up levers are held down
by the yarn on its way to the yarn carriers, the yarn passing through eyes 114* on
the ends of the levers and through suitably-disposed check fingers 115 hereinafter
described. By this construction it will be seen that if one of the yarns should
break or terminate during the actual operation of the machine, the inner arm of
the take-up lever will be released, whereupon the other or outer arm thereof will
be drawn back by the spring 116. The inner arm thus being thrown upward will.
strike against the arm of the cross-bar in its path, thereby partially thrning the
drop rod and releasing or tripping the same.
Secured to the vertical rod which supports the take-up levers 112 is an inwardly-
extending arm 117 on the free end of which is a cross-bar 118.
This bar has
attached thereto at suitable intervals apart the lower ends of two pairs of fingers 115
(above referred to), preferably of porcelain or vitrified material, the upper ends of
cach pair being inclined toward and in close contact with each other. In this way
two A-shaped openings are formed. The fingers are fastened to the bar by means
of set-screws t, so that the fingers may be relatively adjusted, as occasion may
require, to compensate for the wear of their contiguous points. The inner ends of
the take-up levers are bent downward, forwardly of these openings, and are
provided with the eyes 114. The yarns on their way from the bobbins to the
yarn-guides are preferably passed over properly supported frictional, drags t¹ of
textile material or the like located in advance of the openings formed by the
fingers 115.
When the machine is in operation that yarn which is being consumed will, as it
is delivered to and carried beyond the needles, draw down the end of the take-up
lever through which it passes, the yarn thus playing freely through the lower or
enlarged part of the A-shaped openings. When, however, the cams have cleared
the needles in one stroke a portion of the yarn is drawn out beyond the needles by
the yarn-guide, which drawn-out portion is taken up in the reverse stroke, of the
cams by the automatic raising of the inner arm of the lever. In this upward
movement the yarn is drawn into the point or apex of the opening and held therein
by friction. When the yarn is delivered to the needles in this stroke the said arm
is drawn down. by the tension of the yarn, and the latter is perforce freed from the
apex of the opening. This operation is repeated at the initial movements of the
successive strokes of the knitting cams.
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:
1. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle beds, the needles, the
knitting cams, and shifting devices therefor, of the sliding abutment bar so disposed
that its ends normally project into the paths of said shifting devices, respectively,
and provided with the openings or offsets, the pattern mechanism, and provisions
intermediate the same and the abutment bar whereby the latter may be moved
end wise at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
2. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle-beds, the needles, the
knitting cams, and shifting devices therefor, of the sliding abutment bar provided
with the openings or offsets, the pivoted lever connection with said bar, and the
pattern mechanism for operating said lever, substantially as described.
3. The combination of the knitting cams, the sectional carriage therefor, and
devices adapted to guide the carriage in its longitudinal traverse, one of the
sections of the carriage supporting the knitting cams, and being movable
transversely in respect to the other section and the latter being confined to a
longitudinal path, together with means for the transverse adjustment of the cam
supporting section, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the sectional carriage and its guiding and operating
B

page_text: devices, of the knitting cams on the lower section of the carriage, the eccentric in
one of said sections, and means for connecting said eccentric with the other section
and locking said eccentric in positions of adjustment, substantially as described.
5. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle-beds, its needles, the
cam carriage and the knitting cams, of the oscillatory arm or sector mounted in
the cam carriage and provisions whereby said arm or sector is operatively connected
with the knitting cams, together with means for operating said arm or sector,
whereby the knitting cams may be thrown into and out of action, substantially as
described.
6. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam carriage, and the knitting
cams therein, of the oscillatory sector provided with the operating arm, provisions
whereby the sector is operatively connected with said cams, and the tappet pin
adapted to act upon said sector, substantially as described.
7. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam carriage and the
knitting cams therein, of the oscillatory arm or sector, means whereby it is
operatively connected with said cams, means whereby it is oscillated, and means
whereby it is locked in positions of adjustment, substantially as described.
8. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam carriage and the knitting
cams therein, of the oscillatory arm or sector provided on one edge thereof with
notches or recesses, means whereby this arm or sector is operatively connected
with the cams, and means whereby it is oscillated, together with the spring-
controlled locking pin adapted to engage the said notches or recesses, substantially
as described.
9. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam carriage and the knitting
cams therein, of the vibratory guard cam mounted below the knitting cams, and
means for operating said guard cam during the traverse of the carriage,
substantially as described.
10. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam carriage and the knitting
cams therein, of the guard cam pivotally mounted below the knitting cams, and
the studded slide-bar adapted to operate said guard cam, substantially as described.
11. The combination with the supporting frame, the needle beds, the needles,
and the knitting cams, of the fixed nut or boss secured to the frame, the shaft, the
travelling screw thereon engaged with said nut or boss, the vibratory needle-
actuating lever fulcrumed in proximity to the screw, provisions whereby this lever
is impelled by and with the screw, and provisions whereby it is vibrated in its
traverse, substantially as described.
12. The combination with the supporting frame, the needle-bed, the needles and
the knitting cams, of the fixed nuts or bosses, the shaft, the travelling oppositely-
pitched screws thereon, the vibratory needle-actuating levers fulcrumed in
proximity to the screws respectively, provisions whereby the levers are impelled
by and with the screws, and provisions whereby they are vibrated in their traverse,
substantially as described.
13. The combination with the supporting frame, the needle bed, the needles and
the knitting cams, of the fixed nuts or bosses, the parallel shafts, the travelling
screws on one of said shafts, the vibratory needle-actuating levers fulcrumed on
the other shaft, the plates mounted on said latter shaft, provisions whereby these
plates and the levers are impelled by and with the screws, and provisions whereby
the levers are vibrated in their traverse, substantially as described.
14. The combination of the supporting frame, the fixed nut or boss, the shaft,
the screw provided with the grooved head and the end pin or roller, the plate
engaging said groove, a supporting device for said plate, and the needle-actuating
lever fulcrumed in respect to said plate and pin or roller, substantially as
described.
15. The combination of the supporting frame, a shaft, a lever supported thereon
and provided with a pair of needle-operating teats or projections, means for
reciprocating said lever lengthwise of the shaft, and means for oscillating said
lever, substantially as described.

page_text: 16. The combination of the supporting frame, a shaft, a lever thereon, one of
the arms of said lever being provided with needle-operating teats or projections,
and the other arm being bifurcated, means for acting upon the said latter arm in a
manner to oscillate the lever, and means for maintaining said lever in a normal
position, substantially as described.
17. In a knitting machine, the combination with the supporting frame, a shaft, a
needle-actuating lever thereon, and means for operating said lever, of the spring-
pressed plunger supported in proximity to said lever and adapted to act upon a
V-shaped cam surface on the edge thereof, together with means for supporting said
plunger, substantially as described.
18. The combination of the rock-shaft, the yarn-carrier thereon, means for
reciprocating said carrier, and means for rocking or oscillating said shaft, at
predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
19. The combination of the slide block or carrier and its supporting and
operating parts, of the yarn-guide, means whereby it is connected with said block
or carrier, and provisions whereby said guide is deflected from its direct path at
the end of each reciprocation of the slide block or carrier, substantially as
described.
20. The combination with the needle beds, the needles, and the knitting cams, of
the slide-blocks or carriers mounted above the needles in the respective beds, the
longitudinal guide devices for said blocks or carriers, the laterally movable yarn
guides connected with the latter, so as normally to be in line with each other
longitudinally, and the end device adapted to deflect said yarn guide laterally at
predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
21. The combination of the shaft, the sleeve or block thereon, the yarn-guide
head depending from said sleeve or block, and means for oscillating the said sleeve
or block at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
22. The combination with the rock-shaft, the yarn carrier thereon, and means
for reciprocating said carrier, of the spring operating to maintain said rock-shaft
in a normal position, and the end-device adapted to act upon said carrier to deflect
it laterally, substantially as described.
23. The combination with the needle beds, the needles and the knitting cams, of
the rock-shafts mounted above the respective beds, the yarn-carriers on said shafts,
the depending pins, the stop therefor, the spring, and the end deflecting device,
substantially as described.
24. The combination with the needle-beds, the needles, and the knitting cams,
of the rock shafts mounted above the respective beds, the sleeves or blocks on said
shafts, the depending projections on said sleeves or blocks, the yarn guide heads
connected with said projections, the spring adapted to maintain said shafts in a
normal position, and the end-pin adapted to act upon the said projections to deflect
the guide-heads and their connections laterally against the action of the said spring,
substantially as described.
25. The combination with the needle beds, the needles, the knitting cams, the
yoke connecting the same, the yarn carrier and its supporting parts, of the trans-
verse slide rod or bar mounted in respect to the path of said carrier, and means for
operating the said rod or bar to engage it with or disengage it from said carrier,
substantially as described.
26. The combination with the needle-beds, the needles, the knitting cams, the
yoke connecting the same, the yarn carrier and its supporting parts, of the
transverse slide rod or bar mounted in the said yoke, and adapted to be engaged
with and disengaged from said carrier, the horizontal lever mounted in proximity
to said rod or bar and connected therewith, and means for operating said lever,
substantially as described.
27. The combination with the needle-beds, the needles, the knitting cams, the yoke
connecting the same, the yarn-carrier and its supporting parts, of the transverse
slide-rod, or bar, mounted in the said yoke, and adapted to be engaged with and
disengaged from said carrier, the horizontal lever mounted in proximity to said rod

page_text: or bar, connected therewith and provided with the bifurcated end; the vertical lever
extending into the path of said bifurcated end, and the pattern mechanism adapted
to operate said vertical lever, substantially as described.
28. The combination with the needle-beus, needles, the knitting cams, the
yoke connecting the same, the yarn carrier provided with the up-projecting studs,
the transverse slide-bar provided with the depending lug, and means for operating
said bar to move its lug between and away from said studs, substantially as
described.
29. The combination with the needle-beds, the needles, the knitting cams, and
their supporting parts, of the reciprocative yarn carriers mounted above the
respective beds, a transverse rod or bar, a support therefor and means for operating
said rod or bar at predetermined intervals to engage it with, and disengage it from,
said carriers, respectively, substantially as described.
30. The combination of the needle beds, the needles, the knitting cams, and the
yoke connecting the same, the reciprocative yarn carriers, their supporting parts,
and means for laterally deflecting said carriers at one end of the machine, said
carriers having each provisions whereby they are impelled toward this end of the
machine by the action of the yoke frame, and having provisions whereby they are
impelled in the opposite direction by the action of a movable member supported
on the yoke, together with said member and means for operating the same,
substantially as described.
31. The described yarn-guide and latch-controller for straight knitting machines,
said guide comprising a centrally-perforated end-pointed head provided with the
lateral lug at its upper end and with the securing rod projecting from said lug,
substantially as set forth.
32. The combination of the series of sinkers, their supporting frame provided
with a corresponding series of transverse holes in line with said sinkers, the spiral
springs in said holes, and the bar secured to the outer edge of said frame to confine
said springs, together with a cam-device for out-throwing said sinkers at predeter-
mined intervals, substantially as described.
33. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle-beds, the needles, the
knitting cams, the sinkers and their supporting parts, of a grooved end-bevelled
sinker-actuating head, and means for supporting and operating the same in respect
to the knitting cams, substantially as described.
34. The combination with the cam carriage and the arm extending therefrom, of
the sinker actuating head having a sliding connection with said arm, substantially
as described.
35. The combination with the supporting frame, of the series of vibratory sinkers
and the rod upon which said sinkers are mounted so as to be operative inde-
pendently of each other, said rod being applied to the under side of the said frame,
together with the set-screws bearing against the ends of the rod to secure it
detachably in place, whereby the said rod equipped with the sinkers may be
directly applied to or removed from the under side of said frame, substantially as
described.
36. The combination with the needle-bed and its needles, of a series of bits
bearing upon the latter, and a series of springs acting upon said bits individually,
together with means for supporting said bits and springs, substantially as described.
37. The combination with the needle bed and its needles, of the bar, the series
of bits therein in line with the needles and the series of spiral springs acting upon
said bits, substantially as described.
38. The combination of the needle-bed and its needles, the bit-supporting bar
with its slits or kerfs, the series of frictional bits therein, the springs acting upon
said bits, and a covering plate confining said springs, substantially as described.
39. In a knitting machine, the combination with the driving mechanism, a rock-
shaft mounted in proximity thereto and equipped with means whereby said
mechanism may be thrown into or out of action, a locking lever, an arm upon the
rock-shaft adapted to be engaged by said lever, a drop-rod adapted to operate said

page_text: lever to release the rock-shaft, means for conditionally supporting said rod, together
with the take-up lever through which the yarn passes, and means, such as a spring,
for maintaining said rock-shaft in a normal position, substantially as described.
40. In a knitting machine, the combination of the fast and loose pulleys, the
rock-shaft, the belt-shipping frame thereon, the vertical arm on said shaft, the
notched lever adjacent to said arm, the drop-rod, means for conditionally
supporting the same, the take-up lever adapted to operate said drop rod, and means,
such as a spring, for maintaining the rock-shaft in a normal position, substantially
as described.
41. The combination with the take-up lever and the vertical supporting rod
therefor, of the separate oppositely-inclined fingers supported in proximity to said
lever, substantially as described.
42. The combination with the take-up lever and the vertical supporting rod
therefor, of the inclined fingers adjustably supported in proximity to said lever,
and means for adjustably securing said fingers in place, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of October 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.