IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patont Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBULAR KNITTED
FABRICS " 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 to the manufacture of tubular knit fabrics and com-
prises an improvement in the knitting of widened tubular fabrics with two
yarns on two distinct sets of needles, which consists in simultaneously knitting
a course on each set, upon all of the needles in operation, with a different yarn on
each set; then, at the end of such course, crossing the yarn from each set of needles
to the other and knitting back another course on each set of all the needles in
operation; then bringing an additional needle at the end of each set into operation,
feeding yarn thereto, and then dropping such ad litional needles with yarn thereon
out of action; then crossing and twisting the yarn from each set of needles to the
other and knitting one or more courses on each set upon all of the needles in
operation, as before; then bringing into action the additional needlos previously
dropped with yarn thereon, and completing the stitches previously begun but not
completed; and, after knitting any desired number of courses upon all of the
needles in operation, repeating the steps before described as often as desired,
whereby a widened tubular fabric is knitted, as will be more fully described
hereinafter.
The object of this invention is to produce a tubular knit fabric which is widened
during the process of knitting, and in which the two yarns are twisted together
where they cross on one side of the fabric, for the purpose of tightening the seam
which is formed down that side of the fabric on which the widening takes place.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 represents a stocking leg or other widened tubular fabric produced by
this improved method.

page_text: Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating how the yarns are crossed at one end
and crossed and twisted at the other end of the stroke of the carrier.
In carrying this invention into practice a common flat Lamb knitting machine
having two sets of needles may be used by connecting therewith a suitable yarn
carrier adapted to feed two yarns, one to each of the two sets of needles and to be
oscillated at each end of its stroke so as to cross the yarns at one end, and cross
and twist them at the other end of its stroke.
This yarn carrier and its operation need not be further described here as it forms
no part of this present invention.
At the side of the fabric where the widening does not take place the yarns are
simply made to cross from one set of needles to the other as shown at a in
Figure 2.
The carrier after shifting the yarn from one set of needles to the other leaves
the yarn crossed as shown at c Figure 3 and then after moving back over the
needles when the carrier is again moved about its axis the yarns are twisted
together for the purpose of tightening the seam, which is made down that side of
the fabric where the widening takes place as shown at b in Figure 2.
In carrying out this improvement two yarns are passed through the carrier onc
at each end thereof one yarn for each set of needles, the cams which operate the
needles being placed in such relation to each other that one set of needles knits in
advance of the other. The two flat webs are united by crossing the yarns at the
end of one stroke of the carrier and feeding said yarns to the opposite set of needles
on the return stroke and twisting said yarns together at the end of said return
stroke, one of these effects being accomplished at every approach of the carrier to
the end of its stroke in one direction and the other effect being produced at every
approach of said carrier to the end of its stroke in the other direction.
When the fabric is being knit the yarn carrier travels over the needles and feeds
separate yarns simultaneously to the two sets of needles, and the alternate course
of the completed fabric will run in opposite directions-one yarn or thread travelling
around to the right and the other to the left, crossing the yarns at one end as at c
Figure 3, and twisting the yarns together at the other as at 6 Figure 2, for the
purpose of tightening the seam which is formed down that side of the fabric on
which the widening takes place, whereby a widened tubular fabric is produced.
The work is set upon, say, for instance, one hundred and twenty needles which
form the smallest part of the fabric to be knit. The knitting is then carried on for
any required distance—say, for instance, seventy rounds, and then the widening
begins. The first empty needle at one end of each row of needles, is then thrown
into action and these two empty needles catch the yarns the first course and hold
them but do not knit. These two needles holding the yarns are then drawn back
by the action of the cams carrying with them the yarns engaged therewith in the
form of loops and then are dropped out of connection with the cams so as to remain
stationary until one, two or more courses are knit, according to how rapidly the
widening is to be done; the yarns being made to cross from one set of needles to
the other, and twisted at each course knit.
The two additional needles are then again brought into action, still holding the
stitches they caught before they were dropped, and when another course is knit
these two needles knit with all of the others that are in action upon each side, and
complete the stitches previously begun but not completed.
These steps are continued until any desired width of fabric is reached, when no
more needles will be brought into action.
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 :-
The improvement in the knitting of widened tubular fabrics with two yarns on
two distinct sets of needles, which consists in simultaneously knitting a course on
each set upon all of the needles in operation with a different yarn on each set, then

page_text: at the end of such course crossing the yarn from one set of needles to the other and
knitting back another course on each set of all the needles in operation, then
bringing an additional needle at the end of each set of needles into operation,
feeding yarns thereto and then dropping such additional needles with the yarn
thereon out of action, then crossing and twisting the yarn from each set of needles
to the other and knitting one or more courses on each set of all the needles in
operation as before, then bringing into action the additional needles previously
dropped with yarn thereon and completing the stitches previously begun but not
completed, and, after knitting any desired number of courses on all of the needles
in operation, repeating the steps before described as often as desired, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 94th day of Ontahan 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.