Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1899-Accepted, 14th June, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
I, HEINRICH STOLL, of the Knitting Machine Factory, Rentlingen, Wurtem-
berg, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the present invention is an apparatus by means of which open-
work articles can be made with left-and-left mechanical knitting machines.
The number of patterns obtainable is unlimited as they are made by means of
the cards of a Jacquard apparatus, no alteration in the machine being necessary.
The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shews a Lamb's knitting machine with one needle bed and the new
apparatus.
Figure 2 shews a left-and-left knitting machine with the new apparatus.
Figure 3 shews the auxiliary latch opener and locking piece on the sliding
block of a left-and-left knitting machine.
Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus for the withdrawal and engagement of the
auxiliary latch locking piece.
Figures 6 to 14 illustrate the mode of operation of the apparatus.
The apparatus forming the object of the invention is intended to supplement
flat parallel knitting machines and can be applied to any kind thereof.
The apparatus comprises the combination of a Jacquard apparatus, a cover-
ing point bar fully set with covering points, and two sinker bars. The Jac-
quard apparatus consists of an endless chain 1 of Jacquard cards of the length
of the machine, which are perforated to correspond with the pattern to be
knitted so that when the apparatus moves forward only the needles to bo
uncovered come into action, and of a polygonal roller 2 over which passes the
chain of Jacquard cards. This roller is revoluble and adjustable in the forked
guide of a lever 3 between two bars 4 and 5 connected by means of springs, for
the purpose of firmly supporting the roller 2 in the given position. The said
lever 3 is pivoted on a common axle 7 with a second lever 6 which is set in
oscillation by the rotation of a cam on the shaft 8, whereby the Jacquard appa-
ratus, that is, the roller 2 with the cards, is brought towards or taken away
from the needle-bed. By means of the adjustment of the roller on the
sloping bar 4 the arm 6, in consequence of the weight of the roller, is steadily
pressed against the cam.
The point-bar extends across the whole machine and consists of a bar 9 in
which are placed as many covering points 10 as there are knitting needles. The
points 10 are prevented fica dropping out by a bar 11 screwed on to the bar 9.
The bar 9 is fixed at each end to a lever arm 12 which oscillates together with
a second lever arm 13 on the common axle 14. The lever arm 13 receives an
oscillating motion by means of an elbow lover 15, 16, of which the arm 15 is

page_text: connected with the lever arm 13 by the link 34 and pivot or guide roll 35,
while the arm 16 by its own weight presses against a cam on the shaft 8. The
oscillation is such that the point bar 9, 10, 11 receives a reciprocating move-
ment towards and from the needle bed H. The pivots 14 and 17 of the
levers 12, 13, 15, 16 are on a large angle lever 18, 19 the axis of rotation of
which coincides with the axle 17. Arm 19 of the angle lever 18, 19 rests by
its own weight against a cam on the shaft 8, and by the rotation thereof
receives an oscillating motion which is transmitted to the arm 18 and to the
bars 9, 10, 11 in such a manner as to bring the latter towards or take them
away from the needle bed H.
The two bars 20 and 21 serve for moving the needles while they are being
covered after the Jacquard has been put out of operation. The bar 20 is in
the form of a hook and engages over the ends 36 of the needles 37. The push
bar 21 is straight and pushes against the ends 36 of the needles 37. Thus
while the bar 20 draws back the needles 37, that is, away from the point bar,
the bar 21 pushes the needles 37 forward, that is, towards the point bar.
The bar 20 is fixed at each end to one of two bars 22, which are drawn for-
ward under influence of a spring 23, that is, towards the point bars 9, 10, 11.
This spring counteracts a cam on the shaft h which acts on the arm 24.
The arms 22 are located with the arm 24 on a common axle 25 placed in the
arm 26 of an angle lever 26, 27. Again, a cam on the shaft 8 acts on the
arm 27 by means of which the angle lever 26, 27 is oscillayed on its pivot 28
in order to give to the hooked bar 20 an up and down movement with regard
to the needle bed H as well as a backwards and forwards movement with
regard to the point bars 9, 10, 11.
The push bar 21 which like the bar 20 extends over the whole width of the
needle bed is pivoted at both ends by means of the bars 29 to the axle 30 sup-
ported in the bearings 31. Each bar 29 is long, in order to give as straight a
movement as possible to the push bar 21. The movement of the push bar 21
actuates a lever arm 30 which is fixed on the common axis 30 with the bar 29
and is set in reciprocal motion by a cam on the shaft 8. The action of the cam
which tends to advance the bar 21 is opposed by a spring 33 attached to the
bar 4 and bar 29 which draws back the bar 21 from the needle bed H.
In the left-and-left knitting machine illustrated in Figure 2 the construc-
tion of the separate parts of the apparatus for making openwork goods by
machine is the same, but the devices for operating the parts vary slightly in
construction.
The movement of the Jacquard is effected compulsorily in the left-and-left
knitting machine (Fig. 2) because the oscillating motion is produced by means
of an angle lever 6, 6 pivoted on a common axis with the supporting lever 3
of the roller 2, and between the arms 6, 6 thereof rotates the respective cam
thereof on the shaft 8.
The point bar takes another position on account of the horizontal position of
the needle beds H and V, so that the arms 16 and 19 cannot affect the move-
ment of the levers 15 and 18. Consequently an upright 36 is fixed to the
arm 18 from which the lever arms 13 and 15 are suspended by means of a
spring. The cams on the shaft 8 counteract the spring 37, the cams acting
with the arms 16, and 19. The spring 37 can of course be replaced by a weight
connected with the lever arms 13 and 15 by means of a cord or wire.
As will be seen from the following explanation of the method of operation,
the point bars 9, 10, 11 must be moved axially. For this purpose a pair of
rollers 38 is fixed to the frame of the machine between which can revolve a
stepped cam 39. The steps of this cam are on the front thereof and are of
varying height and number according as to whether the covering points are to
cover with loops one, two, or more needles springing over sideways.
A handle 40 is attached to it to turn the stepped cam. The positions of the
point bars are fixed by a spring pawl 42 engaging in the rests on the periphery
of the stepped disc 39.

page_text: The movement of the bars 20 and 21 which in the left-and-left knitting
machine act on the sinkers 43 is effected in the following manner:
The hooked bar 20 is as before placed in the arm 26 of the angle lever 26, 27,
which is pivoted on the axle 28, but the lever 24 is in this case pivoted on the
axis 28 and is connected with the bar 22 pivoted on the axis 25 by means of a
connecting link a. The bar 29 which is set in motion by the lever 32 pivoted
at 28 and not at 30 which is connected with the bar 29 by means of a connect-
ing link 6, operates in a like manner to the above.
The action of the cam on the shaft 8 operating the lever 32 of course counter-
acts that of the spring 33.
These constructions and devices for operating the parts of the apparatus can
of course be variously modified and form no essentially distinctive part of the
invention.
The method of operation of this apparatus will now be described.
As the action is the same for knitting machines of the "Lamb"
type as for
left-and-left knitting machines, the operation will be described for the latter
with reference to Figs. 2, 6, and 13 of the drawings.
The row of loops is formed and is to be patterned by taking off the loops
from certain needles. The Jacquard 1, 2 is adjusted for the pattern and is
swung against ine needle bed H by means of the cam on the shaft 8 which
acts on the lever 6. The whole of the cards 1 press against a push bar 49
guided in the needle bed H, which in turn presses against the sinker 43, which
presses against the needles 50. In this manner all the needles 50 which are
to be uncovered, that is to say, the loops of which are to be put on another
needle 51, are moved into the bed until the loops on the hooks of the
needles 50 are removed on to the open latches 52 of the needles 51. Hereupon
the points 10 of the point bars 9, 10, 11 which are actuated by the cam of the
shaft 8 working on the lever arms 16, 18, and 19 with the angle levers 12, 13, 15
are inserted in the needles 50 (Fig. 6) and draw the latter still further in to the
bed V until the loops are caught behind the latches 52 of the needles 50. During
this operation the hooked bar 20 has been acted upon by the spring 23 and cams
operated by the lever 27, and swung over the butts of the sinkers 43 so that
these latter, when the needles 50 are drawn forward by means of the point
bars 9, 10, 11 push against the hook of the bar 20 (Fig. 7).
The Jacquard apparatus 1, 2 has already been returned to its original posi-
tion. As soon as the needles 50 from which the loops are to be taken off are
drawn forward, the bar 21 (actuated by the cams on the shaft 8 operating on
the lever 32 and connecting rod b counteracting the pull of the spring 33)
pushes against the butts of the sinkers which move the needles 51 which are
to receive the loops. Hereupon the needles 51 are pushed into the bed V until
the loops in the hooks of the needles 51 pass over the latches thereof touching
the same (Fig. 8) The needles 51 are now in the position which was given
to the needles 50 by the Jacquard apparatus (c.p. Fig. 6). The hooked bar 20
now draws back into the position of the needles 51 the needles 50 (the loops
of which are to be taken off) after the point bars 9, 10, 11 had been raised
so that they do not touch the needles 51 when the needles 50 are drawn back.
All the needles 50 and 51 are now in the same position with the front hooks
in the bed V and their latches are open. The loops of the needles 50 are
under the open latches, while those of the needles 51 are on the latches.
The points 10 of the point bars 9, 10, 11 are inserted in all the needles 50
and 51 (Fig. 9). The hooked bar 20 draws back the needles 50 and 51 into
the bed H and the point bars 9, 10, 11 follow this movement. As the knit-
ting hangs down between the beds V and H the loops of the needles slip for-
ward thereon, close the latches 52 of the needles 50 (Fig. 10) and gradually
pass on to the points 10 of the point bars 9, 10, 11 until they reach the wide
eyes of the poits 10 where they remain suspended (see Figs. 11 and 6).

page_text: The point bar 9, 10, 11 is now caught in the needles 50 and 51 and moves
firstly towards the bed H and thus reopens the latches 52 of the needles 50;
when this is done the point bar with its points 10 releases itself from the
needles 50 and 51 and moves towards the bed V until the knitting hangs down
smoothly in the slit between the two needle beds V and H (Fig. 11) when the
point bars are moved sideways to the right or left. This displacement of the
point bars 9, 10, 11 is effected by the stepped cam 39 described above which is
turned by means of the handle 40 between the rigidly journalled pair of
rollers 38. The point bars 9, 10, 11 are moved more or less to the right or
left according to the side of the cam on which is the step coming between the
pair of rollers 38. The points 10 of the point bars 9, 10, 11 on which are the
loops to be taken off owing to the displacement of the point bars 9, 10, 11,
now of course rest over other needles than the former ones on which loops are
still hanging. The point bars are depressed and all the needles 50 and 51 are
moved partially into the bed by means of the bar 21 and the point bars 9,
10, 11 moving towards the needle bed. The loops on the points 10 are taken
off by this movement and fall on to the needles 51 underneath (Fig. 12).
The points are now caught in the needles again, and move first towards the
needle bed H and then upwards, thereby opening any latches 52 of the
needles 50, 51 which may have become closed, and return to the position of
rest when the space over the needle beds V and H is free for the movement of
the sliding block.
The bars 20 and 21 likewise return to the original position after the hooked
bar 20 has drawn back the needles 50, and 51 into the bed H.
The operation of forming the pattern is now finished and either a fresh row
of loops is formed when the sliding block is moved from its original position
on the left side of the machine (if the operator is opposite to the Jacquard
apparatus) to the right and back again, or else the operation described above
for taking off the loops is once more repeated and then the new row of loops
formed. This is left to the judgment of the person who decides the pattern.
The sliding block for forming the loops is of the construction usual in the
left-and-left knitting machines but owing to the type of goods requires supple-
mentary parts in order to avoid mistakes in the pattern which would diminish
the value of the knitted article.
Figures 3 and 4 shew these supplementary parts on the slide which consist
of an auxiliary latch opener and locking piece respectively.
The parts shewn separately in Figure 3 are in reality combined in a sliding
block both parts being joined by a loop (not shown).
The auxiliary latch opener can be thrown in and out of operation. When it
is in gear it lies close over the needle bed V so that the point of the opener
can pass into the aperture between the needles and the latch.
The latch opener is only operated when the operator who stands opposite the
Jacquard apparatus side of the machine, moves from right to left. Of course
the latch opener will also be on the left side of the slide. The latch opener
consists of a plate 54 sloped in the direction of the movement and ending in a
point which is attached to a slide 55. The slide 55 works in a guide 56. A
pin 57 is screwed in the side of the slide which moves in a slot 58 of the
guide 56 so that the latch opener 54 when it is taken away from the slit 59
between the two needle beds V and H is raised at the same time. The slide 55
is moved automatically in the guide 56 at the end of the motion of the sliding
block by means of two triangular pieces 61 and 62 attached to the frame of
the machine, of which the one 61 on the right side, has its apex directed
inwardly, that is towards the needle bed, and the other 62, placed on the left
side, has its apex directed outwardly, that is towards the operator. The posi-
tion of the two triangular pieces 61 and 62 with regard to each other is such
that one arm 63 of an angle lever (the other arm 64 of which is connected with

page_text: the slide 55 by means of pin 65 and slot 66) must always touch the other trian-
gular piece when the arm 63 is moved by the preceding contact with the other
triangle. The positions of the slide are fixed by means of a spring pawl 68
engaging in notches 67. The method of operation of this apparatus which
secures the continuous working is as follows:-
-
The auxiliary latch opener 54 is out of operation when the sliding block at
the left hand of the machine is in the position of rest, that is when the slide 55
is drawn back and its pin 57 rests in the top notch of the slot 58. The arm 63
of the angle lever 63, 64 is in such a position with regard to the triangle that
its contact roller passes by the apex of the triangular piece when the sliding
block is moved from left to right. When it has nearly reached the right end,
the arm 63 presses against the triangular piece 61 and is turned (Fig. 4) in the
direction of the hands of a clock until the contact roller of the arm 63 can
pass by the apex of the triangle. In consequence of this turning of the angle
lever, the arm 64 thereof, and with it the slide 55 are moved towards the centre
of the machine that is towards the opening 59. Owing to the guiding of the
pin 57 in the guide slot sloping downwards in this direction the slide 55 sinks
at the same time, and with it the latch opener 54 descends to the needle bed
so that the point rests in the top of the opening between the latch 52 and
needle 50.
If now the sliding block moves from right to left, the arm 63 does not touch
the triangle 61, and the latch opener 54 remains in the lowered position in
which opens all the closed latches 52 of the needles 50 and 51, that is, raises
them from the hooks of the needles and turns them back when it has nearly
reached the left end, the arm 633 pushes against the triangle 62 and (see Fig. 4)
turned in the direction opposite to that of the hands of a clock, whereby the
slide is drawn back by the arm 64 of the angle lever and raised in consequence
of the slotted guide 58 rising in this direction. The latch opener is at present
out of operation. An auxiliary latch locking piece works in combination with
this apparatus in the side frame, which moves the sinkers 43 of the needles, so
that the needles in the bed H are first brought within range of the latch
opener 54 in the needle bed V, and then after the latch opener has passed the
needles they are again drawn back into the bed H.
The auxiliary latch locking-piece can also be thrown in and out of operation
with the latch opener.
The said locking piece consists of a triangle 69 which
is held by means of a bolt 70 in the slide frame 71, and is depressed by a
spring 72 down to the needle bed H, without however touching it."
The locking piece forms with the sides 73 and 85 of the slide frame an
angular slotted guide 74 in which the butis of the sinkers 43 are guided. In
the bolt 70 is a notch in which a slide 75 can be reciprocated. The slide 75
possesses a tappet 76 which is sloped on its upper surface. The tappet 76
inoves with the slide 75 in the notch of the bolt so that the bolt 70 is raised
as soon as the tappet 76 comes into the notch of the bolt 70.
The movement of the slide 75 is effected automatically. For this purpose
an arm 78 having a slotted guide 79 and pivotally placed on the slide frame 71
with the bolt 77, engages with the pin 80 of the slide 75 and moves it as soon
as the bolt 77 is turned. The bolt 77 receives rotary motion by means of the
triangular projections 81 and 82 on the frame of the machine, which projec-
tions are exactly opposite to the triangles 61 and 62 for throwing the latch
opener in and out of operation and in the corresponding position, that is, the
apices of the triangles 81 and 82 point the same direction as the apices of the
triangles 61 and 62. These triangles 81 and 82 at the end of the movement
of the slide frame turn the lever 83 which is attached to the bolt 77.
also the position of the triangles 81 and 82 with regard to each other is such
that the lever 83 turned by the one triangle must touch the other triangle in
order to be turned back by it.
Here

page_text: The method of operation of this apparatus is as follows:-
In the original position of the slide frame on the left side of the machine,
the slide 75 is in such a position that the tappet 76 (see Fig. 4) rests in the
notch of the bolt 70, and holds this with the latch locking piece 69 in a raised
position, that is, out of operation. The lever 83 is turned until its guide
roller 84 passes the apex of the triangle 82 when the sliding frame is moved
from left to right in order to form loops. When the sliding frame nearly
reaches the right end of its course, the guide roller 84 of the lever 83
pushes against the triangle 81 and is turned towards the left side of the
machine which results in the slide 75 moving to the right side of the machine.
The tappet 76 comes out of the notch of the bolt 70 so that the latter is
pressed down by the spring 72. The locking piece 69 rests close over the needle
bed H and is consequently thrown into operation. The slide frame is now
passed back from right to left into its original position.
The lever 833 passes without touching the apex of the triangle 81. The
locking piece 69 takes hold of the butts of the sinkers 43 which are pushed
forward and brings the needles 50 and 51 within reach of the latch opener 54
in the needle bed V. As soon as the latch opener 54 has passed over the
needles and opened any latches which have possibly remained closed, the closing
piece 85 draws the sinkers and these latter the controlled needles 50 and 51
back again into the needle bed H.
The sliding frame travels to the end of its course on the left side of the
machine and the lever 83 pushes against the triangle 82 so that the lever 83 is
turned to the right. This turning movement effects a rotation of the arm 78
and a displacement towards the left of the slide 75. The tappet 76 passes into
the notch of the bolt 70 and lifts it up together with the latch locking piece 69
in opposition to the spring 72. The auxiliary latch locking piece is again out
of operation.
As soon as a new row of loops is formed the operation described above for
the auxiliary latch opener 54 and locking piece 69 is repeated. If the left-and-
left knitting machine is used for making plain knitting, which can be done by
releasing the lock moving the needles into the needle bed V, so that the needles
then always remain in the bed H, the loops can be taken off the needles after
the sliding frame has only moved along half its course, that is to say, when
the sliding frame is on the right side of the machine.
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. Improved apparatus for knitting by machinery an unlimited number of
openwork patterned articles in which a Jacquard in combination with a cover-
ing point bar fully set with points to correspond with the number of needles
on the machine executes the patterning, the Jacquard pushing forward the
needles from which the loops are to be taken off and the point bar completing
the operation, substantially as described.
2. In a knitting machine with Jacquard mechanism the combination of a
draw-and-pusher-bar mechanism which after the Jacquard has returned to its
position effects the movement of the needles during the operation of taking off
the loops, substantially as described.
3. In a knitting machine with Jacquard mechanism, the combination of an
auxiliary latch opener on the slide frame capable of being automatically thrown
in and out of operation by means of triangles on the frame of the machine, for
the purpose of opening the closed latches of the needles together with an
auxiliary latch locking piece likewise automatically operated by triangles on
the machine frame, by means of which the needles are brought within reach of
the latch opener and afterwards drawn back again, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination of devices forming the improved knitting machine con-
structed and operating substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.