Improvement in Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Circular Knitting Machines.
1, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by the Providence Knitting
Machine Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Rhode Island, United States of America, and having its principal office at the
corner of Bassett and Butler Streets, in the City of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a circular knitting machine for the continuous knitting
of seamless stockings.
The objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character which is
entirely automatic in its operation, which is comparatively simple in its construction,
and one in which the several mechanisms are not liable to get out of order or out
of time, and in which the changes from rotary to reciprocatory and reciprocatory
to rotary motion are effected without shock to the machine.
The invention consists in improved mechanism for throwing one half of the
circular series of needles out of operative position; in improved mechanism for
changing the motion of the cam cylinder from continuous rotary to reciprocatory
movements and the opposite; in improved mechanism for throwing successive
needles out of operation in narrowing and for bringing them into operation in
widening; in improved 'mechanism for changing the speed of the machine for the
rotary and reciprocatory movements respectively; in improved automatic calf-
enlarging mechanism; in mechanism for lifting the needle cylinder to elongate the
stitches; in improved mechanism for actuating the cam shalt and pattern chain for
imparting motion to a plurality of auxiliary mechanisms; in improved yarn feeding
mechanism; in improved means for supplying and cutting off the reinforcing yarn;
in improved means for retaining the cut off end of the reinforcing yarn ; in improved
means for effecting a slack in the yarn preparatory to the subsequent feeding
thereof; in improved means for loosening the stitches in narrowing and widening;
in improved means for clamping the needle cylinder to hold it steady during the
narrowing and widening operations.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of this
knitting machine, the legs being broken off and the yarn stand omitted.
Figure 2 represents this elevation at the right hand end thereof including ta
portion of the yarn stand.
Figure 3 represents a rear elevation thereof, the legs being broken off and the
yarn stand omitted.
Figure 4 represents a vertical transverse section thereof looking towards the right.
Figure 5 represents a plan of the bed-plate for supporting the knitting head.
Figure 6 represents a vertical transverse section thereof.
Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the clamping mechanism for the needle
cylinder.
Figure 8 represents a plan view of the knitting head.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation thereof.
Figure 10 represents a plan view of the cam cylinder
Figure 11 represents a side elevation thereof.

page_text: Figure 12 represents a side elevation of a portion of the cam cylinder, the
narrowing cams being in inoperative position.
Figure 13 represents a vertical transverse section of the needle cylinder and the
needles therein having elongated butts.
Figure 14 represents a vertical transverse section of the cam cylinder, showing
the ordinary cams, the narrowing cams, and the widening cams, the narrowing and
widening cams being in inoperative position.
Figure 15 represents a diametrical section of the cam cylinder, showing the
ordinary knitting cams, the narrowing cams in operative position, and the widening
cams in inoperative position.
Figure 16 represents a plan of the needle cylinder showing a semi-circular series
of needles having elongated butts and a semi-circular series having shorter butts.
Figure 17 represents a segment of the interior of the cam cylinder showing the
switch finger for elevating one half of the needles into inoperative position and
depressing them into operative position.
Figure 18 represents a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a segment of said
cam cylinder.
Figure 19 represents a transverse section of a portion of said cam ring showing
the lever for throwing into and out of position the narrowing and widening cams.
Figure 20 represents a horizontal section of a portion of a section of said cam
ring showing the narrowing cams and a plan of the cam actuating lever and spring
actuated latch therefor.
Figure 21 represents a perspective view of one of the widening cams.
Figure 22 represents a perspective view of one of the narrowing cams.
Figure 23 represents a perspective view of the rock shaft for actuating the belt
shifting lever.
Figure 24 represents a perspective view of several cams on the cam shaft for
actuating a number of the auxiliary automatic mechanisms, two sleeves and the
pattern chain.
Figure 25 represents a longitudinal section of the clutch and clutch shaft for
changing the motion of the knitting head to impart a reciprocatory or continuous
motion thereto.
Figure 26 represents a transverse section of the cam shaft at the left of the fixed
sleeve carrying the starting arms for said shaft.
Figure 27 represents a side elevation of the left face of the cam disk at the left
of the standard 20.
Figure 28 represents a side elevation of the yarn feeding mechanism.
Figure 29 represents a perspective view of the top of the standard constituting
a part of the yarn feeding mechanism.
Figure 30 represents a plan view of the lever for cutting off the reinforcing yarn.
Figure 31 represents an enlarged front elevation of the guide block for the main
and reinforcing yarn and the clamp therein for the reinforcing yarn.
Figure 32 represents a plan view of the yarn tube for the main and reinforcing
yarns.
Figure 33 represents a horizontal section thereof.
Figure 34 represents a horizontal section of the guide block.
Figure 35 represents a plan view of the underside of the cam ring attached to
the cam cylinder showing the cams for operating the sinkers.
Figure 36 represents a transverse section of said ring and an elevation of a
sinker disposed therein.
Figure 37 represents an elevation of one of the sinkers.
Similar numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

page_text: ear legs, one of which, leg 4, appears in the drawings. This base is provided
with a central opening 6, preferably circular in form, for the passage of the work
which is knit by the machine. A dependent hanger 7 is supported at the left end
of the base 1, and a corresponding dependent hanger 8 at the right thereof. These
hangers are preferably supported in sockets in the base and are preferably
adjustable therein, their shanks being adapted to be turned or swivelled in their
sockets, so that the hangers may be brought into accurate alignment. The
banger 7 is clamped in its socket by a set screw 71, and the hanger 8 is similarly
clamped by a set screw 8'.
as 23.
Two standards 10 and 20 in the form of vertical plates are mounted on the
base 1 near opposite ends thereof. These standards are secured in any suitable
manner to said base. The standard 10 is shown as provided at its lower end with
outwardly projecting feet, as 11, through which the standard is fastened by means
of bolts, as 12, to the base 1. The upper end of the standard 10 is arc-shaped, and
provided with laterally projecting lugs, as 13. The standard 20 is also provided
with feet 21 and 22, and is secured to the base 1 by bolts passing through said feet.
The upper end of this standard is also arc-shaped and provided with inward lugs,
These standards are respectively provided with shaft bearings 15 and 25
at the front side of the machine, which bearings are in alignment, and an inclined
bracket 28 attached to the standard 20 projects upward therefrom at an inclined
angle, and is provided with a shaft bearing 29 at its upper end which is in align-
The standards 10 and 20 are also
ment with the said shaft bearings 15 and 25.
provided respectively on the rear side of the machine with shaft bearings 16 and 26.
The standard 20 is also provided on its front side with a socket 27 at a point
above its shaft bearing 25. One-half of each of these shaft bearings is preferably
cast with the standard to which it belongs.
An annular bed-plate 30 is mounted on top of the standards 10 and 20 and serves
to support that part of the machine which does the knitting and which is called
the head or the knitting head. This annular bed-plate is secured to the standards
by screws 31, 32, 33 and 34, which pass through said plate into the lugs, as 13 and 23,
at the upper end of said standards. This annular bed-plate is provided on its upper
side with two concentric ribs 35 and 36, forming an annular groove 37 between
them, the bed-plate being provided with a slot 38 at the bottom of said way at
the right end of the machine. The bed-plate is provided at its central opening 39
with an inward flange 40 having notches, as 41, 42, 43 and 44.
A yarn stand 50 is attached to the bottom of the bed-plate 30, and extends
rearwardly therefrom. This stand is provided with two or more spindles 51 and 52
for holding the bobbins which contain the main and reinforcing yarns. An upright
standard 53 is supported on this yarn stand and carries certain parts of the yarn
feeding and guiding mechanisms. Two arms 54 and 55 are secured to the top of
this standard and extend rearwardly therefrom, said arms being provided at their
outer ends with yarn guides 56 and 57 respectively which are disposed vertically
over the bobbin spindles. A horizontal bracket 60 adjustable on said standard 53
extends forward therefrom to a point over the center of the bed-plate, being
provided with a yarn guide 61 at its forward end.
THE KNITTING HEAD.
This head comprises a needle
A knitting head is mounted on the bed-plate 30.
cylinder 200, a rotary cam cylinder 240, encircling the needle cylinder, and a
rotary cam ring 330 encircling the top of the needle cylinder.
The needle cylinder 200 has on its outer periphery the usual series 221 of
vertical grooves in which a circular series of knitting latch needles are disposed
in the usual mauner and in which said needles are adapted to reciprocate
Botionll This needle exlinder normally rests at its bottom on the notched

page_text: short studs as 222, 223, and 224 which project through the notches 41, 42, 43 and 44
in said notched flarge. These studs serve to lock the head against rotation and also
enable it to be elevated more or less to elongate and loosen the stitches as hereinafter
described. The needle cylinder is also provided with the usual circumferential
groove 225 about midway of its height and with an outward flange 226 above
said groove, said flange being provided with radial slots 227.
A semi-circular series of needles 230 is provided with elongated butts 231 and
the other semi-circular series of needles 232 is provided with shorter butts 233.
A spiral spring band 238 resting in the circumferential groove 225 serves to
clamp the circular series of needles in the vertical grooves of said cylinder and
permits them to move up and down therein. The top of the needle cylinder and
the flange 226 are provided with a circular series 234 of radial slots and a
circular series of radially sliding sinkers 235 move in said radial slots and play
at their inner ends between the needles, co-operating therewith in the knitting
operation.
The rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided with an outward horizontal flange 241
at its bottom which fits within the outer annular rib 35 of the bed-plate 30.
This flange has on its underside a dependent toothed flange or bevelled gear 242.
This rotary cam cylinder turns upon the inner annular rib 36 of said bed-plate,
and its toothed flange or gear 242 meshes with a bevelled gear hereinafter
described, by which rotary and reciprocatory motions are imparted to the cam
cylinder, said bevelled gear travelling in the annular space 37 between said
inner and outer annular ribs of the bed-plate. Buttons 39 on the outer rib 35
are swung over said flange to hold the cam cylinder in position. The cam
cylinder is provided on its outer periphery with an upwardly inclined bracket 243
which extends to a plane above the top of the cam cylinder. This bracket is
provided at its upper end with a cylindrical boss 244.
The inner face of the rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided near its bottom
with a rib 245 which extends about three-fourths of the distance around the
cylinder and serves as a shoulder or rest for the butts of the needles when the
latter are in lowered position, the ends of said rib being bevelled.
The cams
for the ordinary knitting operation comprise an inverted approximately V-shaped
fixed cam 246 disposed between the bevelled ends of said rib, and two fixed side
cams 247 and 248 disposed just above the bevelled ends of said rib and the
inclined ends of said V-shaped cam. These fixed side cams are provided with
recesses 247¹ and 248. Two latching cams 250 and 251 are disposed between
the lower ends of the fixed side cams 247 and 248, and the bevelled ends of said
rib. Disposed over the fixed cams 247 and 248 are two small fixed cams 252
and 253. An automatic switch cam 254 depends from a stud on the inner face of
the cam cylinder and is adapted to oscillate between the adjacent ends of the two
side cams and said fixed cams have recesses on their upper faces near their inner
ends. The cams just described constitute the knitting cams for raising and lowering
the needles in forming the loops or stitches. The course of the butts of the needles
in the ordinary forward rotary motion of the cam cylinder is along the path -x,
to wit off one end of the inner rib or shoulder 245 over the small latch cam 250,
over the fixed side cam 247, between it and the smaller fixed cam 252, against the
central loosely swinging cam 254, which is swung by the action of the needles over
against the inner end of the other fixed side cam 248, and switches the butts down
between the fixed side cam 248 and the V-shaped cam 246 thence up under the
latching cam 251 onto the other end of the rib 245. When the cylinder is reversed
during the reciprocating motion the butts of the needles travel in a reverse
direction through the path indicated by the dotted line y-y to wit: off the
rib 245, over the latch cam 251, over the side cam 248, between it and the small
fixed cam 253, thence against the automatic switch cam 254, thence downward
through the action of said switch cam between the fixed side cam 247 and the
inverted V-shaped cam, thence upward on the other bevelled end of the rib 245,
and under the latch cam 250 onto the top of said rib. A number of needles are

page_text: thus raised and lowered in an ordinary manner, and during such raising and
lowering, they co-operate with a corresponding number of radial sliding sinkers and
form the loops which constitute the knitted fabric.
A switch finger 260 is adapted to swing on a pivot 261 on the inner face of the
cam cylinder at a point above the rib 245 and opposite the free end of said switch
finger said rib has a notch 262. This switch finger when its free end is swung
down into said notch serves to switch and elevate the needles having elongated
butts into inoperative position, and when the free end of said switch finger is
elevated it engages said needles by their elongated butts and lowers them into
working position. This switch finger is provided with a stud 263 which extends
through a slot 264 in the cam cylinder, being adapted to play therein.
A mechanism for automatically actuating this switch finger in the proper direc-
tions at the required intervals of time will be described hereafter.
Two narrowing camis 270 and 271 are attached to shanks which are pivoted on
studs 272 and 273 on the outer face of the cam cylinder, and play in slots in said
cylinder and when in position for elevating the separate needles to effect the
narrowing operation, they lie in the recesses 247' and 248' in the fixed cams 247
and 248. These shanks are provided with weighted arms 274 and 275 which tend
to hold the cams in said recesses and permit them to swing under the action of the
needles. These cams are provided with lips 276 and 277 at their lower edges and
when lying in their recesses, in position for action, are in the path of the needle
butts, and as a butt of a needle strikes one of these cams, it swings said cam on
its pivot and the lip of the cam engages said butt and elevates said needle out of
its course into inoperative position. As the cam swings out it leaves the ordinary
path free for the passage of the succeeding needles. Means hereafter described
are provided for holding them in inoperative position when they are not required
for use.
The widening cams for bringing into action successively the needles which were
thrown out in narrowing will now be described. Two small brackets 280 and 281
are attached to the outer face of the rotary cam cylinder at the upper edge
thereof and two dependent oscillatory arms 282 and 283 are pivoted on screws 284
and 285 which pass through said brackets. The lower ends of these arms carry
inwardly projecting studs 286 and 287 which play in slots 288 and 289 in the cam
cylinder. The widening cams 290 and 291 are attached to the inner ends of these
studs.
These cams are approximately oval in shape, and are respectively provided
with recesses 292 and 293, and near their upper ends with hooks 294 and 295 at
the top of said recesses. Torsional springs 296 and 297 on the pivots 284 and 285
tend to throw the dependent arms 282 and 283 in upward position, in which
position the widening cams are clevated and are in position to engage and cause the
down drawing of successive needles into operative position. The upper ends of
these arms are provided respectively with lugs 298 and 299 which are engaged
by an actuating device for swinging the widening cams into inoperative position
when not required for use. The rotary cam cylinder is provided with guards 2821
and 283 which form ways in which the lower ends of the oscillatory dependent
cam carrying arms 282 and 283 play. A T-shaped slide 300 having a vertical
slot 301 in its shank or body is adapted to move vertically on a fixed stud 302 on-
the outer face of the cam cylinder midway between the cam carrying arms 282
and 283. The outer ends of the top of this T-shaped slide engage the lugs 298
and 299 on said arms and when said slide is raised said cam carrying arms are
swung downward and their cams are brought into inoperative position. A fixed
bracket 303 is attached to the cam cylinder and extends radially outward and then
vertically upward in front of the body or shank of the T-shaped slide. This
bracket 303 is provided with a vertical slot 304 extending from its bottom to a
point about midway of its height and on its outer face on the opposite sides of said
slot with vertical cheeks 305 and 306, the left cheek having a notch 307 in its outer
edge. A contractile spring 308 connected at its upper end to said T-shaped slide
and at its lower end to said angular bracket 303 tends to draw down said slide and

page_text: bold it in its low position. A lever 309 pivoted in said bracket is adapted to
swing in the slot therein and between the cheeks 305 and 306. The inner end of
this lever is pivotally connected to outwardly projecting lugs 310 and 311 on said
slide. When the outer end of said lever is depressed said slide is raised and the
widening cams are thereby swung into inoperative position. The shanks of the
marrowing cams 270 and 271 are respectively provided with teeth 278 and 279
which extend respectively under the lugs 305 and 306 on the T-shaped slide and
when said slide is in depressed position said outwardly projecting lugs engage said
teeth, and the narrowing cams are thereby held in inoperative position. A spring
latch 312 is pivoted on a lug 313 attached to one of the cheeks 305, and when the
outer end of the lever 309 is depressed, said spring latch shuts over said lever into
the notch 307 on the cheek 305 and locks said lever in depressed position until the
spring latch is actuated to release it. Thus it will be seen that a single movement
of the T-shaped slide in the upward direction permits the narrowing cams to fall
into operative position and swings the widening cams into inoperative position;
whereas a movement of said slide in the downward direction swings the widening
cams into operative position and simultaneously locks the narrowing cams in
inoperative position.
The mechanism for actuating the lever which controls the cam operating slide
and for actuating the latch for releasing said lever automatically will be described
hereafter. In widening the fabric being knit, by means of the widening cams 290.
and 291, one of said cams engages the butt of the first needle of the widening
series, and the resistance of the needle operates to swing backward and down-
ward said cam, then the needle passes under the breast of said cam into the
working channel or path x-x or y-y according to the direction of movement of
the cam cylinder.
The bracket 303 has an upward extension 315 and a pivoted arm 316 is hinged
to the upper end of said extension and is held by its spring 317 in either vertical
or horizontal position. A guard ring 320 having a slotted arm 321 is adjustable
on said hinged arm 316. This guard ring surrounds the top of the needles when
they are in elevated position and protects them. This ring has an eye 322 through
which the yarn is fed to the needles.
A flanged cam ring 330 is adapted to rotate on the flange 226 on the needle
cylinder and operates to throw in and out a certain number of the radial sliding
sinkers, 235. This cam ring is held on the flange 226 by means of flanged
lugs 331, 332 and 333 attached to the flange of the cam ring and projecting inward
under the flange ou the needle cylinder. Two radial lugs 334 and 335 are disposed
apart from each other in the usual manner on the cam ring and having adjustable
screws 336 and 337. When the cam ring 330 is disposed on the needle cylinder
the boss 244 on the cam cylinder is between the adjusting screws 336 and 337, and
during the rotation of the cam cylinder said boss engages one of said screws and
causes the cam ring to rotate with it, and during the reciprocation of the cam
cylinder, said boss engages said screws alternately and causes the cam ring to
reciprocate. The cam ring 330 is provided on its under side with a cam groove 330¹
formed between the outer flange 3321 of said ring and an inner rib 331'.
A segment of the outer flange 3321 is omitted forming an opening diametrically
opposite from the radial lugs 334 and 335 which enables the sinkers 235 to slide
out and in. The ends of the flange at opposite sides of the opening are bevelled
forming cams 334 and 335' to push the sinkers inward. On the inner edge of the
cam ring opposite this opening is a cam-plate having bevelled ends forming
cams 333 and 336' which serve to throw the sinkers outward. The vertical lugs
on the shanks of the sinkers travel in the annular groove 330' and when the
machine is knitting continuously in continuous rotary motion, the sinkers are thrown
out successively by the cam 333 and inward by the cam 334 and when the cam
cylinder reciprocates for the knitting of the heel and toe, the sinkers are thrown.
outward and inward on the forward stroke by the same cams and in the backward
stroke are moved outward by the cam 330¹ and inward by the cam 336¹. A number

page_text: of sinkers, about fourteen more or less, adjacent to the active needles are moved
inward and outward co-operating with said needles.
THE DRIVING MECHANISM..
:
The driving shaft 100 is supported in the dependent hangers 7 and 8, and it is
provided on its left end with three pulleys 101, 102, and 103, the intermediate
pulley 102 being a loose pulley, and the others being fixed on the shaft.
Two
belts 104 and 105 play at their lower turns on these pulleys, and at their upper
turns on a stepped cone or speed pulley 106, which is fast on a counter shaft 107
located at any convenient point, from which power is taken to drive the machine.
The other end of the driving shaft 100 is provided with a broad faced pulley 108..
Motion is communicated from the driving shaft to the rotary cam cylinder of the
knitting head in any suitable manner. A shaft 110 is journaled in the shaft
bearings 15 and 25, and projects to the right some distance beyond the standard 20,
being supported at its outer end by the bracket 28 attached to said standard. This
shaft is provided with a fast pulley 111, and a loose pulley 112, and a belt 113
passes over the broad pulley 108 on the driving shaft, and over the pulley 111
or 112. An arm 114 extends from the standard 20, and a belt shifter lever 115;
pivoted to the outer end of said arm beneath the fast and loose pulleys referred to.
This belt shifter lever serves to shift the belt from one of these pulleys to the
other, enabling the operator to control the machine without shifting the main power
belts 104 and 105. A spring 116 connected to the rear end of the belt shifter
lever 115 and to the standard 20, tends to throw towards the right the front end.
of said belt shifter lever and to keep the belt 113 on the loose pulley 112.
A rod 117 is preferably pivoted at its outer end to the inner end of this belt
shifter lever and slides near its inner end in a hole in the standard 20.
This rod is provided with a notch 118 near its inner end. An angular lever i19 is
pivoted on a stud 120 on the inner face of the standard 20, and its lower arın
projects to the front of the machine. A contractile spring 121 connected at its
upper end to a stud on said standard and at its lower end to said lever tends to
hold said lever in contact with the inner end of the rod 117 which is connected
with the belt shifter lever 115. When the belt shifter is in position to hold the
belt on the fast pulley 111 the rod 117 is drawn out, and the notch 118 thereon
comes opposite the bell crank lever 119, said lever engaging said notch and acting
as a latch to hold said belt shifter lever in this position. When it is desired to
stop the machine, the bell crank latch lever 119 is pushed down by the attendant
and passing out of the notch 118 of the rod 117, releases said rod and the spring 116
operates the belt shifter lever 115 whereby the belt 113 is shifted onto the loose
pulley 112. A pinion 125 fast on the shaft 100 engages a gear wheel 130 journaled
on a stud 131 supported in a socket 27 of the standard 20. This gear wheel
is provided on its outer face with a wrist piu 132. This gear wheel is
provided on its inner face with a cam 133, the purpose of which will hereinafter
appear.
A clutch shaft 140 is journaled near its inner end in a bearing 141 near the top
of the standard 20 and near its outer end in a bracket 142 attached to the upper
end of said standard 20. A clutch sleeve 143 is disposed on this clutch shaft 140,
and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, but locked to turn therewith by a
feather on the shaft which engages a longitudinal groove in the sleeve 143. This
sleeve has clutch faces at its opposite ends and a peripheral groove 144 whereby it
is engaged by its actuating device. This actuating device consists of a forked
lever 145 journaled to swing horizontally on a dependent bracket 146 formed on or
attached to the rear side of the bracket 142. The forked end of this lever is
provided with studs 147 and 148 which engage the peripheral groove of the clutch
sleeve 143, and the rear end of said lever is provided with a stud 149 which is
engaged at proper intervals by suitable cams hereinafter described or other suitable
mechanism. Two pinions 150 and 151 are disposed on the clutch shaft 140 apart

page_text: from each other, the clutch sleeve 143 being arranged between them. These
pinious are provided with clutch faces on their ends adjacent to the clutch sleeve
and when said sleeve is moved to the left and engages the pinion 150, said pinion
is thereby locked to the clutch shaft 140 and the right pinien 151 is loose on said
shaft, but when the sleeve 143 is moved towards the right, the left pinion is
released and made a loose pinion and the right pinion is engaged and made fast
with the clutch shaft. The inner end of the clutch shaft is provided with a
bevelled gear 152 the upper edge of which projects through a slot 38 in the bed-
plate 30 and engages the toothed flange of the rotary cam cylinder of the knitting
head. The left pinion 150 is always in gear with the gear wheel 130, and when
said pinion is fast with the clutch shaft continuous rotary motion is imparted to
said cam cylinder. A toothed segment 153 is journaled on a stud 154 projecting
outward from the standard 20 and this segment is always in mesh with the right
pinior 151 on the clutch shaft 140. A connecting rod 155 extends from a stud 156
on the rear end of the toothed segment 153 to a wrist pin. 131 on the gear
wheel 130 whereby the segment is constantly oscillated when the machine is in
operation. When the right pinion 151 is made fast with the clutch shaft by the
sliding clutch sleeve 143 the segment is the means of transmitting motion to the
clutch shaft and the usual reciprocatory movement of the cam cylinder of
the knitting head is thereby effected. A spiral spring 157 is disposed on the
* clutch shaft 140 between the standard 20 and the left pinion 150 and a spiral
spring 158 is also disposed on said shaft between the dependent end of the
bracket 142 and the pinion 151. These springs tend to impart elastic contact
when the clutch sleeve engages said pinions respectively whereby sudden jerkings
and breakage is avoided.
The mechanism above described is in its general features similar to that usually
_ employed in circular knitting machines.
THE CAM SHAFT FOR ACTUATING AUXILIARY MECHANISMS.
This
A cam shaft 350 carries a variety of cams for bringing into and throwing out of
action certain mechanisms at proper intervals of time. This shaft is journaled in
the bearings 16 and 26 at the rear of the machine on the standards 10 and 20, and
projects to the right beyond the standard 20. This shaft is provided with a
driving ratchet wheel 351 fixed to the shaft just outside said standard 20.
ratchet wheel has three blank teeth or dwells 352, 353 and 354, the second
dwell 353 being the tenth tooth distant from the first dwell 352, and the third
dwell 354 being the fourth tooth distant from the second dwell and the eighteenth
. from the first dwell.
A lever 355 is pivoted to the outer face of the standard 20 and carries at its
rear end a pawl 356 which engages the teeth of said driving ratchet wheel.
The
front end of this lever is held in contact with a heart-shaped cam 357 on the
shaft 110 by means of a spring 358 connected at one end to said lever, and at the
other end to said standard. This lever and pawl move the ratchet wheel 351.a
distance of one tooth at each rotation of the shaft 110 and thus actuate inter-
mittently the cam shaft 110 except when the pawl 356 lies in one of the blank
teeth or dwells on said ratchet wheel. In that case the cam shaft is started at the
proper time and moved the distance of one tooth by other mechanism hereinafter
described.
A sleeve 360 is loose on the cam shaft 350 between the standards. This sleeve
is provided at its right end with a ratchet wheel 361 and at its left end with a
sprocket wheel 362. A lever 363 pivoted on a stud 364 on the inner face of the
standard 20 has a lateral stud 365 at its inner end projecting towards the left, and
a lateral stud 366 at its outer end projecting towards the right in front of the
standard 20. A pawl 367 pivoted on the stud 365 at the rear end of the lever
engages the ratchet wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 and a stud at the front end of said
lever is engaged by the cam 133 on the gear wheel 130, this stud being preferably

page_text: provided with an antifriction roller with which the cam comes in contact.
A stop
pin 369 is disposed in the edge of the standard 20 above the stud 366. A spring 3691
connected at its lower end to a stud on the standard 20 and at its upper rear end to
the pawl 367 passes over the rear end of the rear stud on the lever 363 and tends
to hold the pawl in contact with the ratchet wheel and to depress the lower end of
said lever to enable the pawl to engage a new tooth, and also to raise the outer end
of the lever and normally hold it in contact with the stop pin 369 in the edge of
said standard. At each revolution of the gear wheel 130, the cam 368 thereon
depresses the front end of the pawl carrying lever, and the pawl turns the
wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 the distance of one tooth.
A bracket 370 projects rearwardly from the rear side of the base 1 and carries
an inclined arın 371 which is provided with an elongated slot 372 extending
throughout its lower part, and with a short slot or hole 373 at its upper end.
A stud 374 is disposed in the short slot 373 and carries a pawl 375 which is
actuated by a spring 376 and operates as a check for the ratchet wheel. An
arm 377 secured to the slotted arm 371 near the bracket 370 at the upper end of
the elongated slot 372 extends upward therefrom and carries at its upper end a
stud 378 on which a grooved pulley 379 is journaled. A spring spider plate 380
is secured to said stud 378 and presses on the left face of said grooved pulley,
serving as a brake to prevent undue movement thereof. A stud 381 is adjustable
in the elongated slot 372 of the inclined arm 371 and on this stud, two grooved
pulleys 382 and 383 are journaled side by side. An endless pattern chain 390
which controls the several mechanisms passes over the sprocket wheel 362 on the
sleeve 360 disposed on the cam shaft 350, thence downward under the left grooved
pulley 382, thence upward over the grooved pulley 379 on the stud at the upper
end of the arm 377, thence downward under the right grooved pulley 383, and
thence upward to the sprocket wheel 362 on the sleeve on the cam shaft. The
adjustable stud 381 carrying the two lower grooved pulleys may be raised or
lowered in the slot 372 to suit endless pattern chains of different lengths for the
knitting of stockings having longer or shorter legs. Sometimes the upper grooved
pulley 379 is dispensed with, and in that case a short pattern chain will pass over
the sprocket wheel 362 and over one of the lower grooved pulleys only. This
pattern chain carries various lugs, studs, and cams which actuate different
mechanisms as hereinafter described.
An inclined bracket 384 is secured to the horizontal bracket 370 and this inclined
bracket is provided with a groove 385 on its front face through which the sprocket
pins of the pattern chain 390 pass, said grooved bracket serving as a guide for
said chain and holding it with sufficient rigidity to ensure its action upon the belt
shifting mechanism hereafter described.
A sleeve 400 is locked on the cam shaft at the left of the sleeve 360 and is
provided with three radial arms 401, 402, and 403 adjacent to the sprocket
wheel 362. These radial arms are provided at their outer ends respectively with
notched plates 404, 405, and 406. These notched plates are severally engaged by
certain projections in the form of studs or lugs on the pattern chain at proper
intervals as hereinafter described, such engagement serving to turn the cam shaft
sufficiently to carry either one of the dwells of the driving ratchet wheel 350
away from the driving pawl 356 and enable said pawl to turn the cam shaft. The
notches in the plates permit the said projections to pass the arms which they are
not designed to engage.
The cam shaft 350 is provided with a brake to prevent momentum and avoid
movement of the shaft except as it is positively actuated by the actuating pawl of
the driving ratchet wheel, or by the pattern chain. This brake as shown in the
drawings comprises a grooved pulley 600 disposed on the left end of the shaft
outside the left standard 10, a spring band 601 passing over said pulley and a
bracket 602 attached to the standard 10 to which the ends of said spring band are
secured. One end of the spring band is hooked over a hook 603 at the front end
of said bracket and the other end of said spring band is provided with at 604
B

page_text: The machine is provided with an auxiliary automatic mechanism for elongating
the stitches for enlarging the stocking over the calf of the leg. This automatic
mechanism, when constructed as herein illustrated, is controlled by the pattern
chain 390. To effect this elongation of the stitches or loops in the knitting the
needle cylinder 200 is slightly raised when the knitting begins at the top of the
stocking, permitted to remain in this raised position until that portion of the leg
desigued to cover the calf is finished, and then the needle cylinder is gradually
lowered during the formation of the succeeding portion of the leg of the stocking.
The elevation of the needle cylinder loosens the tension of the yarn and results in
the elongation of the stitches, the elongated stitches being gradually shortened as
the cylinder is lowered after the passage of the calf part of the leg. As before
stated, the bottom of the needle cylinder normally rests upon the notched flange 40
of the bed-plate 30 for supporting the knitting head. This bed-plate has below
said flange a dependent fixed ring 31. The lower edge of this fixed ring is
provided with detachable inwardly projecting lugs 321, 33, and 34' screwed thereto.
A cam ring 35¹ having cams 36, 371 and 381 on its underside is disposed concen-
trically within the fixed ring 31 beneath the flange 40 thereof, being supported on
said detachable lugs and being loose to turn within said fixed riug. When this
cam ring 35 is turned in one direction the cams on the underside thereof ride over
the supporting lugs and operate to lift said ring, and when the ring is turned in the
opposite direction, the cams are shifted away from the lugs and the ring falls.
When the cam ring is lifted it comes in contact with the studs as 222, 223, and 224
on the bottom of the needle cylinder and lifts said cylinder for the elongation of
the stitches as required, and when said cam ring is lowered the cylinder falls and
rests upon its usual supporting flange 40. The means for shifting the cam ring 35¹
through the arc of a circle to raise or lower the needle cylinder comprises, when
constructed as herein shown, a bent arm 391 attached to said ring and extending
horizontally therefrom toward the left, a sliding rod 410 supported in a dependent
lug 411 at the front side of the bed-plate, and in a dependent bracket 412 at the
rear side thereof. This slide rod has a notch in which the projecting arm 39' of
the cam ring enters. This slide rod is provided at its rear end with a projection in

page_text: 5
he form of a bent arm 41 or otherwise.
rms 415 and 416 is attached to the underside of the yarn stand near the inner end
hereof, the left dependent arm being some longer than the right arm 416.
rock shaft 417 is journaled in said arms and provided at its left end with an
pwardly projecting arm 418 which is adapted to come in contact with the slide
od 410 or with the bent arm 413 or other projection attached thereto for pushing
orward said slide rod. A contractile spring 419 connected at one end to the
ependent bracket 412 and at the other end to the slide rod 410, operates to pull
back said slide rod when the latter is released from the action of the mechanism
which pushes it forward. An arm 420 is fixed to the right end of the rock
haft 417, and inclines downward therefrom, being provided with a lateral lug 421
at its lower end which rides over the series of cam plates 422 attached to the links
of the pattern chain. A collar 423 of the rock shaft 417 adjacent to one of the
supporting arms operates in connection with one of the arms to hold said shaft in
position. Just before the knitting of the stocking begins at the top of the leg, the
initial bevelled cam-plate 422¹ of the series of cam plates 422, comes in contact
with the lug 421 on the arm 420 and swings said arm slightly upward whereby the
rock shaft 417 is turned through the arc of a circle. This turning of the shaft
swings the arm 418 and this arm pushes against the projection on the slide rod 410
and forces said rod forward. This forward movement of the push rod operates.
through the medium of the arm 391 on the cam ring 35¹ to turn said ring a
sufficient distance to bring the cams as 36¹ on the underside of said ring entirely
over their supporting lugs on the bed-plate, whereby the said ring and the needle
cylinder is elevated to its highest point for the formation of the elongated stitches.
The dependent arm 420 continues to ride upon the series of cam plates of uniform
height on successive links of the pattern chain until the calf portion of the leg
knit, and then it rides upon the rear portion of the series of cam plates which
gradually recede in height until they disappear entirely. As the tapering cam
plates pass under the lug of the actuating arm, said arm is slightly lowered and the
spring 419 operates to pull back the slide rod 410 as fast as said tapering cam
plates will permit, whereby the cam ring in the bed-plate is gradually turned back
and the bevelled portions of said cams rest upon their supporting lugs so that said
cam ring is gradually lowered, and consequently the needle cylinder is gradually
depressed and the elongated stitches gradually shortened during the formation of
that portion of the leg immediately below the calf.
BELT SHIFTING MECHANISM.
is
In the knitting of the leg in continuous circular courses, the high speed driving.
belt 105 turns the cam cylinder about 225 rotations a minute, more or less, as
desired, while the low speed driving belt 104 runs on the intermediate loose pulley.
I have used a speed in the continuous circular knitting of 250 and sometimes
280 rotations per minute. Both of these belts pass through a forked shipper
lever 430 which is pivoted at the outer end of a bracket 431 attached to the base 1
of the frame. Just before the continuous rotary movement of the cam cylinder is
changed to a reciprocatory movement, it becomes necessary to lower the speed in
order to avoid danger of breakage incident to sudden stoppages and reversals at
the end of the reciprocatory strokes. To effect this change any suitable mechanism
is employed. A horizontal rock shaft 432 is journaled in bracket bearings 433
and 434 on the base 1 at the rear side thereof. A collar 435 at the outer end of
said rod is provided with a pin 436 which engages a slot 437 at the end of the bell
crank shipper lever 430. This collar carrying the pin is provided with a set
screw 438 for fixing it in position on the shaft and by this means the collar may be
The shaft is
properly adjusted to give the proper throw to the belt shipper lever.
provided on its inner end with a disk 439 having on its outer face a stud 440 and
at a different point an, augular lug 441.
At or about the time that the cam shaft is started, as hereinafter described,

page_text: being the time when the leg is nearly completed, and just before the reciprocating
movements for the heel knitting are begun, the cam 442 on the pattern chain
engages the short stud 440 on the disk 439, and turns the shaft 432 through an arc
of about forty degrees more or less, and the peripheral pin 436 on the collar 435 at
the outer end of said shaft acting on the bell crank shipper lever 430 swings said
lever towards the left whereby the high speed driving belt 105 is shifted onto the
intermediate loose pulley 102 and the slow speed driving belt 104 is shifted onto the
left fixed pulley 101 on the driving shaft 100 and becomes the driving belt. As
this left belt runs over the small step of the cone pulley 106, the machine is run at
a slower speed. The reciprocations of the cam cylinder for both the narrowing
and widening operations for the knitting of the heel are performed while the belts
are in the positions last named, and the cam cylinder is ordinarily driven at a
speed of from seventy-five to ninety reciprocations per minute more or less,
including the movements in both directions, a course being knit in each
movement.
THE PRIMARY STARTING OF THE CAM SHAFT.
The cam shaft 350 which actuates various auxiliary automatic mechanisms
remains stationary from the beginning of the knitting at the top of the leg until
the leg is finished or nearly so, the pawl 356 being in the first dwell 352 of the
driving ratchet wheel 351 on said cam shaft. As the machine completes the
knitting of the leg, a stud 445 of the pattern chain 390 cngages the notched
plate 404 on the radial arm 401 which is attached to the sleeve 403 splined on the
cam shaft 350. The contact of this stud with the radial arm operates to turn the
cam shaft, and its driving ratchet wheel is carried a sufficient distance to take its
dwell 352 away from its actuating pawl 356 and permit said pawl to engage the
working teeth and the cam shaft 350.is then actuated by said ratchet wheel and
pawl until the second dwell 353 reaches the pawl.
The teeth on the driving ratchet wheel of the cam shaft are larger than those on
the ratchet wheel 361 which actuates the loose sleeve carrying the ratchet disk by
which the pattern chain is actuated; consequently the cam shaft is rotated more
rapidly by its driving pawl and ratchet wheel than the wheel of the pattern chain,
and the arms 401, 402 and 403 on the fixed sleeve are thereby moved more rapidly
than the actuating studs of the chain which engage said arms so that each of the
arms is taken out of the way of the immediate actuating stud and the next arm
carried into proper position to be again actuated by its actuating stud. During
this partial rotation of the cam shaft the several automatic mechanisms necessary
to effect the changes incident to the passage from the knitting of the leg to the
knitting of the heel are effected, some by this partial turning of the cam shaft and
others by other means.
NEEDLE THROWING OUT MECHANISM.
The first of the auxiliary automatic mechanisms to be actuated preparatory to
the knitting of the heel is that mechanism which throws one half of the needles
into inoperative position. The needles of this half of the circular series of needles
are provided with elongated butts 230. An arc-shaped slide plate 450 is disposed
on the cuter face of the cam cylinder between the bottom flange thereof and a
block 451 secured to the top thereof. This slide plate is provided with an inclined
cam slot 452 and the stud 263 attached to the switch cam pivoted on the inner face
of the cam cylinder 240 projects through the cam slot. The slide plate is also provided
with a notch 453 at its upper edge. A bracket 454 is secured to the cam cylinder
1
IT
1
11
1

page_text: ner end engages said slide plate by entering the notch 453 at the upper euge
When the outer end of this lever is
ereof and its outer end has a stub fork.
vung on its pivot in one direction, the inner end thereof moves the slide plate in
he opposite direction, and this movement of the slide plate lifts or depresses the
witch cam on the inner face of the cam cylinder. A bracket 457 is secured to the
ed-plate at the rear of the machine near the right end thereof and at a point over
he cam shaft. This bracket has perforated ears 458 and 459 at its upper end and
ower end respectively and a vertical rod 460 is adapted to slide vertically in said
ars. The lower end of this rod rests upon the periphery of the cam disk 461
isposed on the cam shaft 350 at the left of the standard 20 and overhangs the
uter edge of said periphery. A spring 462 disposed between the upper ear 458
nd a stud on the slide rod tends to depress said rod and hold it in contact with
aid cam disk. This cam disk is provided on its right face with two cams 463
and 464 which project beyond said periphery and when the cam disk is rotated so
s to bring one of these cams under the overhanging end of the slide rod 460, said
rod is lifted and its upper end is projected into the path of the lever 456 which
actuates the arc-shaped slide plate 450 on the cam cylinder which controls the
switch finger for throwing out of action that half of the needles which is rendered
inoperative during the knitting of the heel and toe.
When the cam shaft is partially rotated as aforesaid to effect the necessary
changes for knitting the heel, the cam 463 on said cam disk elevates the slide
rod 460 as aforesaid and the outer end of the horizontal lever 456 comes in contact
with the upper end thereof, whereby the outer end of said lever is swung backward
In this
and its front end forward, and the slide plate is thrown towards the left.
movement of the slide plate the stud attached to the switch cam is thrown
downward by the inclined cam slot 452 and the free end of the switch finger is
lowered into position to engage the outer ends of the elongated butts of the needles
to be thrown out of action, and all of said needles are immediately elevated into
inoperative position during the next rotation or semi-rotation. The other half of
the needles which are utilized in the knitting of the heel have shorter butts which
do not come in contact with the switch finger.
NARROWING MECHANISM.
The automatic mechanism next brought into operation by the turning of the cam
shaft from the first to the second dwell of its driving ratchet wheel 351 is the
mechanism for narrowing and widening the web to form a bulge to constitute the
heel of the stocking. The narrowing of the web to form the upper part of the heel
is effected as regards the needle head by throwing out of action successively a
number of needles at each end of the semi-circular series of active needles. The
outer face of the driving ratchet wheel 351 is provided with a thick cam 470 and a
thin cam 471. A lever 472 pivoted on the lug 473 attached to the outer face of
the right standard 20 swings laterally in an inclined plane. The lower end of this
lever bears against the outer face of said driving ratchet wheel 351 and is engaged
by the lugs thereon. A spring 474 connected at one end to said lever below its
pivot and at the outer end to said standard tends to hold the lower end of the lever
A slotted block 475 provided
in contact with said ratchet wheel and its cams.
with a longitudinal recess on its underside and with a slot at its inner end is
disposed on the bed-plate at the right end of the machine, and forms a guide-way
for a radial slide 476 which is provided at its outer end with a pin engaged by the
The inner end of this slide is provided with a short
upper end of the lever 472.
standard 477 which carries an arc-shaped cam plate 478 having an inwardly
projecting stud 479. The thick cam 470 on the outer face of the ratchet wheel 351
comes in contact with the lower end of the lever 472 during the rotation of said
ratchet wheel between the first and second dwells thereon and the lower end of said
Jever is thrown outward and its upper end inward and the radial slide 476 is
5 thereby pushed inward its full stroke. The arc-shaped cam plate 478 attached to

page_text: lever comes round again its outer end engages said iuclined cam surface and it is
thereby depressed and its inner end raised whereby the lifting cams 270 and 271 of
the head are released and fall into active position for lifting successive needles at
the ends of the semi-circular heel knitting series of needles. Just after the outer
end of said lever is depressed by the edge of the cam plate 478, the stud 479 on the
inner face of said can plate engages the stud 314 on the spring actuated latch 312,
and said latch is drawn back against the tension of its spring, and before the outer
end of said lever is released from the lower edge of the cam. plate, the latch is
released from the stud and quickly closes under the tension of its spring, shutting
into the notch 307 over the depressed end of said lever and locking said lever in
this position. The needle listing.cains 270 and 271 are then free to act upon and
raise the needles successively at each end of the semi-circular series of needles
during the reciprocation of the cam cylinder 240. The thick cam 470 on the
ratchet wheel 351 then passes the lever 472 and the radial slide 476 carrying the
cain plate 478 is drawn back out of active position by the spring 474.
CHANGE FROM A ROTARY TO THE RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT.
Another mechanism brought into operation by the turning of the cam shaft
from the first to the second dwell of its driving ratchet wheel the clutch shifting
mechanism which changes the line of power transmission between the driving
shaft and the rotary cam cylinder. The bevelled cam 482 on the right of the
periphery of the cam wheel 480 comes in contact with the stud 149 on the rear end
of the clutch lever and the clutch sleeve 143 is shifted from the left towards the
right, releasing the left pinion 150 and permitting it to turn loosely on the clutch
shaft and engaging the right pinion 151 and locking it to the clutch shaft so that
the line of power transmission from the shaft 110 is through the gear wheel 130
then acting as a wrist wheel and through the segment 153 to the clutch shaft. By
this means the motion of the cam cylinder 240 is changed from a continuous rotary
to a reciprocatory movement.
THE REINFORCING YARN MECHANISM.
Automatic mechanism for feeding a reinforcing yarn during the knitting of
the heel is brought into action during the first movement of the cam shaft from
the first to the second dwell of its driving ratchet wheel. This mechanism may
be of any suitable construction. In the mechanism herein shown for this purpose
a yarn tube 490 which is mounted on the horizontal arm 60 attached to the
standard 53 and through this tube the main and reinforcing yarns pass, the
reinforcing yarn when supplied being carried along by fibrous contact with the
main yarn.
A guide block 500 is disposed in the rear of the yarn tube on said arm.
This guide block has a central slit 501 and is provided on the left side of said
slit with an eye 502 for guiding the main yarn into the rear end of the yarn
tube, and on the other side of said slit with an eye 503 for guiding the reinforcing
yarn into said tube. The yarn tube 490 has a longitudinal slot in its top from a
point near its center to its rear end, and it is provided with a fixed diametrical
shear blade 491 at the front end of said slot. A sliding ring 492 is disposed on
the exterior of the yarn tube and a yarn separating blade 493 is attached to said
ring and extends rearwardly therefrom, its rear end playing in the slit 501 in
the guide block. This separating blade serves to divide the yarn tube longi-
tudinally throughout more or less of its length according to the position of the slide
ring, the upper edge of said blade projecting through the slot in the top of said
tube. The tube is provided with lateral pins 494 and 495 which serve as front
stops for the slide ring 492. This slide ring is provided with a shear blade 496
which acts in conjunction with the fixed shear blade 491 of the yarn tube. When

page_text: said slide is at the end of its forward stroke, these shear blades serve to cut off.
the reinforcing yarn when the heel or toe is completed. The slide ring 492 carrying
the yarn separating blade and one of the shear blades is moved backward and
forward on the yarn tube 490 at proper intervals for supplying and cutting off the
reinforcing yarn by any suitable automatic mechanism for that purpose. As
shown the slide ring is provided with lateral studs 497 and 498 and spiral springs.
as 499 are connected at their rear ends with said studs and at their front ends to the
bracket 60. These springs tend to pull forward the slide ring and bring the yarn
separating blade and the shear blade into operation. A bent lever 510 is pivoted
on a dependent lug 511 on the bracket 60, this bent lever having a lateral arm 512
at its upper end which extends over the horizontal bracket 60, said arm having a
down turned lug 513. A headed stud 514 is disposed at the upper end of this
bent lever over one side of said horizontal bracket and a similar headed stud 515-
is disposed on the down turned lug 513 over the other side of said horizo ital
bracket. Connecting rods as 516 engage at their front ends the studs as 498 on
the slide ring 492 carrying the separating and shear blades, and are provided at
their rear ends with loops 517 which are engaged by the headed studs of said
lever, whereby said slide ring is drawn back as hereinafter described to permit the
feeding of the reinforcing yarn. A lever 520 pivoted near the rear end of the
horizontal bracket 60 is adapted to play in a slot 62 in said bracket and is pro-
vided with a yarn guide 521 at its front end, through which the reinforcing yara
is fed to the eye 503 of the block 500 on the right side of the separating blade 493,
said lever being in horizontal position and its yarn guide in alignment, or
substantially so, with the eye 503, when the reinforcing yarn is being supplied
A rock shaft 525 is journaled on the yarn stand in the rear of the standard 53 and
an arm 524 is fixed to said rock shaft and is inclined upward and forward there
from. A connecting rod 522 connects the upper end of this inclined arm on the
rock shaft with the rear end of the yarn guide lever 520 on the bracket 60. This
connecting rod has a lateral- stud 523 and the lower end of the bent lever 510-
is provided with a slot. which engages said stud. A downwardly extending arm 526
is also fixed to said rock shaft and its lower end is engaged by means of its
stud 527 or otherwise by a segmental cam plate 528 fixed to the left face of the
cam disk 461. A contractile spring 529 connected at one end to the standard 53.
and at the other end to the pivot between the inclined arm 524 and the connecting
rod 522 tends to hold the dependent arm 526 in contact with the cam disk 461 and
its segmental cam 528.
The main yarn a passes from the bobbin on the left spindle 51 through the yarn.
guide 56 on the arm 54 at the top of the standard 53, thence downward and
through a yarn guide 58 supported on an arm connected to said standard, thence
through the left eye 502 in the guide block 500, thence into and through the yarṇ
tube 490 on the left side of the separating blade 493, thence through the eye of-
the take-up hereinafter described, thence downward through the eye 61 at the
front of the horizontal slotted bracket 60, thence through the eye 322 in the:
guard ring 320 mounted on the cam cylinder 240 to the needles.
A reinforcing yaru b passes from the bobbin on the right spindle 52 up through.
the eye 57 on the arm 55 at the top of the standard 53, thence downward behind
a bent arm 57' supported on said standard some distance above the horizontal
bracket 60, thence through the eye 518 on the lever 510, thence through the yarn
guide 59 attached to a collar on the standard 53 in a plane about in line with
the yarn tube 490, thence through the yarn guide 521 on the horizontal lever 520,
thence through the right eye 503 in the guide block 500, thence through the yarn
tube 490 on the right side of the yarn separating blade 493, thence through the
eye of the take-up and thence downward through the eye 61 at the front end of
the horizontal bracket 60, through which the main yarn passes, and through the
same eye in the guard ring on the cam ring to the needles.
During the actuation of the cam shaft from the first to the second dwell of its
driving ratchet wheel, the segmental cam plate 528 on the left side of the cam.

page_text: ough a swan are. I his turning or the rock shart pulls down
the connecting rod 522 and raises the lever 520 which swings in the slot of the
bracket 60 into horizontal position and brings the yarn guide 521 at the front end
thereof in alignment with the right hole 502 of the block 500 at the same time the
bent bracket 510 is swung backward by the downward movement of the said
connecting rod and the slide ring 492 on the yarn tube 490 is drawn backward,
whereby the yarn separator blade 493 is also moved backward, and the reinforcing
yarn b which lies in the yarn tube 490 is thus permitted to come into contact with
the main yarn a for some distance in front of the drawn back separating blade 493.
The fibrous contact of the two yarns causes the reinforcing yarn b to adhere to the
main yarn a and the reinforcing yarn is thereby fed forward to the knitting needles
by the draft of the main yarn. The segmental cam 528 on the disk continues to
hold the separating blade in drawn back position during the knitting of the heel..
THE YARN TAKE UP MECHANISM.
In knitting in reciprocating courses the take-up 530 for the slack yarn at the end
of each course is brought into operation during the partial rotation of the cam
shaft through which the aforesaid changes are effected. A segmental cam 531 on the
cam shaft 350 comes in contact with the forward end of the lever 532 which is pivoted
on the elongated leg 415 of the bracket 414. The rear end of this lever is connected
to the lower end of a spring tensioned rod 533 and the action of the cam 531
depresses the rear end of said spring tensioned rod which slides in holes in collars 534
and 536 disposed on the standard 53 whereby the yarn take-up is elevated into
position for active operation. This take-up is a swinging arm of substantially the
usual form having a thread eye 537 at its free end, and it is pivoted at its rear end
and connected by a spiral spring 538 and a wire 539 with said slide rod 533. The
yarn tends to pull down the forward end of the take-up against the tension of the
spring and at the end of each course the spring lifts the forward end of the take-up
taking up the slack yarn at the end of each course.
MEANS FOR LOOSENING STITCHES IN NARROWING AND WIDENING.
The take-up 530 puts a tension on the yarn which tends to draw it tightly in
forming the loops on the narrowing and widening needles and to avoid this excessive
tension, auxiliary means are provided for actuating the mechanism for lifting the
needle cylinder so as to slightly raise said cylinder and thereby loosen the
stitches during this operation. The rear end of the slide rod 410 heretofore
described is provided with a stud 540 in addition to the bent lug 413 heretofore
described. A lever 541 pivoted in the bracket 412 heretofore described
engages at its upper end said stud. The lower end of this lever rests by a
lateral stud 542 or otherwise on a segmental cam 543 on the cam shaft 350. This
segmental cam comes into operative connection with the lever 541 at or about the
same time that the cam cylinder is changed from a continuous rotary to a recipro-
catory movement and the lower end of said lever is raised, whereby the slide rod 410
is pushed forward by the upper end thereof. This forward movement of the slide
rod 410 turns the cam ring 351 through a short arc and the cams as 36' on the
underside of said ring ride partially over the lugs as 321 on the fixed ring of the
bed-plate, whereby said cam ring is slightly raised and the needle cylinder lifted
a sufficient distance to maintain the proper length of stitches during the narrowing
and widening operation. The stud 540 which connects the actuating lever 541
with the slide rod 410 is adjustable in the slot of said rod, so that the throw of said
rod may be regulated to raise the cylinder more or less as desired.
MECHANISM FOR CLAMPING THE NEEDLE CYLINDER

page_text: the leg and body of the foot there is comparatively little strain on the needle
cylinder and its own gravity is sufficient to hold it steady, it being always held
against rotation by the studs as 222 which project through the notches as 41, in.
the fixed cam ring 40 on the bed-plate 30. When, however, the reciprocatory
motion is used in the formation of the heel and toe there is more or less peripheral
strain on the needle cylinder at the reversing points and some vertical strain due
to the lifting and lowering of the needles. Therefore the machine is provided with
automatic clamping mechanism for holding the needle cylinder steady during the
narrowing and widening operations. This clamping mechanism may be of any
suitable construction. The construction herein shown will now be described. The
inner annular rib 36 on the bed-plate 30 is provided with a recess at the rear
side and a slot extends downward from said recess through said bed-plate. A
T-shaped clamp 550 has its head disposed in said recess and its shank depending
downward through said slot, the head being slightly curved to correspond with
the curvature of the needle cylinder. This clamp is hinged at its lower end to
the lower end of an L-shaped bracket 551 depending from the underside of the
bed-plate 30. A plate spring 552 is fixed at one end to the underside of said
bracket and extends forward, then upward, then rearward, its upper end pressing
against the shank of said T-shaped clamp and tending to hold it normally in back-
ward position out of action. Mechanism is provided for automatically throwing
the clamp into active position for clamping the needle cylinder at or before the
reciprocatory movement for the knitting of the heel and toe begins, and to
automatically release the clamp from the cylinder when the reciprocatory move-
ment ends. This mechanism constructed as herein shown, comprises a horizontal
lever 553 having a lateral slot 554 by means of which it is loosely pivoted on
a flat-headed screw stud 554' which passes through said lateral slot and takes
into the underside of the bed-plate in front of the vertical portion of the L-shaped
bracket 551. A lug 555 depends from the underside of the bed-plate and an
adjustable screw 556 extends from the rear through said lug and comes in
contact with the right end of said horizontal lever and serves as an adjustable stop
therefor. The left end of said horizontal lever is connected with an inclined
lever 557 pivoted to a lug 558 on the dependent bracket 412, said inclined lever
being adapted to swing in a vertical plane. The lower end of this inclined lever
is actuated by a segmental cam plate 559 attached to the segmental cam 545 which
operates to raise the needle cylinder, the cam plate being somewhat shorter than
the cam.
After the needle cylinder is lifted the segmental cam plate 559 comes in
upper end
contact with the lower end of the inclined lever 557 and swings the
thereof forward, whereby the horizontal lever 553 is also moved forward, sliding on
its pivot. This movement of the horizontal lever brings it in contact with the
shank of the T-shaped clamp 550 at a point near the top thereof, and said clamp
The said adjustable screw 556
is thereby pressed against the needle cylinder.
is used to regulate the throw of the horizontal lever for adjusting the movement
of the clamp. The clamp continues to hold the needle cylinder until the narrowing
and widening operations are finished, and then the segmental cam plate 559
passes out of contact with the lower end of the inclined lever 557 and the clamp
is released from the action of the horizontal lever 553 and the plate spring 552-
presses said clamp backward out of contact with the needle cylinder, and then
the needle cylinder is lowered and raised upon the notched fixed flange 40.
WIDENING FOR THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE HEEL.
When the narrowing for the heel is nearly finished as above described, a lug 392
on the pattern chain comes in contact with the notched plate 405 on the second
radial arm 402 attached to the sleeve 400 which is fixed to the cam shaft 350 and
said shaft is thereby turned a sufficient distance to take the actuating pawl 356
out of the second dwell 353 in the driving ratchet wheel 351. The pawl then
5 actuates said ratchet wheel a distance of three teeth to the third dwell 351 and
'

page_text: the cam shaft is thus turned through a small arc. During this partial rotation of
the cam shaft, the thin cam 471 on the outer face of said ratchet wheel engages the
lever 472, and the radial slide 476 is pushed inward a partial stroke sufficient to
bring the inwardly projecting stud 479 on the arc-shaped cam 478 into the path of
the vertical stud 314 on the spring latch 312 while leaving said arc-shaped cam
plate a sufficient distance outward to permit the outward end of the lever 309 to
rise. The contact of the stud opens the latch 312, releases said lever 309 and the
spring 308 pulls down the T-shaped slide 300 and throws the lifting cams out of
operation and the lowering cams into operation. The lever 309 is then immediately;
released from the cam 478 and the radial slide 478 is drawn back.
The machine continues to operate and the cam cylinder to reciprocate and the
knitting of the lower part of the heel in successive widened courses proceeds. The
last needles thrown out at the ends of the knitting series engage respectively
the breast of one of the throwing down cams as 290, and forces said cam backward
against the tension of the torsional spring 296 which controls the arm to which the
cam is secured. This downward movement of the cam 290 carries the withdrawn
needle downward into the cam track x-x, whence it passes under the automatic
switch cam 254. This operation continues without change of the parts of the
machine until the knitting of the lower part of the heel is nearly finished.
A needle at each end of the working series is pulled down into operative position
successively in each reciprocation of the cam cylinder until the widening is
completed and the heel finished.
When the
After the heel is completed as aforesaid, a stud 393 on the pattern chain comes
in contact with the notched plate 406 on the third arm 403 on the sleeve 400 fixed
to the cam shaft 350 and turns said shaft and its ratchet wheel until the pawl
comes out of the third dwell 354 thereof. The segmental cam 528 on the cam
disk 461 then releases the arm 526 and the mechanism which supplies the
reinforcing yarn. The slide ring 492 on the yarn tube is then drawn forward under
the action of the springs as 499 and the shear blade 496 in said ring closes against
the fixed shear blade 491 in said tube and cuts off the reinforcing yarn b.
A holding device is provided for holding the end of the reinforcing yarn in the
yarn tube. This device, when constructed as herein shown, consists of an inverted
U-shaped clamp 560, one leg of which is elongated. The long leg extends through
a hole at one side of the eye 503 in the guide block 500 and serves as a guide for
the clamp. The short leg plays in a hole which extends into said eye. This
clamp is provided with a lateral stud 561 which is engaged by a cam 562 in the
sliding yarn separating blade 493 and said clamp is elevated by said blade when
the latter is drawn back to permit the feeding of the reinforcing yarn.
blade is in forward position and the reinforcing yarn cut off, the clamp falls by its
own gravity or by a spring, and the end of its short leg clamps the end of the
reinforcing yarn against the bottom of the eye 503. When the reinforcing yarn is
cut off and clamped by said clamp, the free end of the lever 520 carrying the yarn.
guide 521 falls and draws from the bobbin some yarn for slack. When the
reinforcing yarn is to be again supplied and said lever rises to a point opposite the eye
in the block 500, an inch or two of slack yarn is left between said eye and the end
of the yarn guide. This slack yarn enables the end of the reinforcing yarn to be
drawn forward by fibrous contact with the main yarn when the separating blade is
again drawn back without tension or frictional resistance. This third actuation of
the cam shaft as aforesaid brings the cam 464 on the right face of the cam disk 461
under the spring depressed rod 460 and lifts it into the path of the horizontal
swinging arm 456, and as said arm makes its last backward reciprocating stroke, it
comes in contact with said raised rod and pulls the slide plate 450 forward, thereby
lifting the switch finger 260 into position to engage the elongated butts of that
half of the needles which were thrown into inoperative position at the beginning of
;

page_text: the knitting of the heel and said needles are lowered into active position during a
balf rotation on the cam cylinder.
The
During this third movement of the cam shaft a cam 483 on the left of the
periphery of the cam wheel 480 engages the shifting lever 145 of the clutch, and
the clutch sleeve 143 is moved towards the left, releasing the right pinion 151 and
engaging the left pinion 150, whereby continuous rotary motion is imparted to the
cam cylinder. Then the cam 531 controlling the lifting lever 532 for lifting the
take-up 530 releases said lever and the take-up falls into inoperative position.
The segmental cam 545 releases the mechanism for raising the needle cylinder for
loosening the stitches, and said cylinder resumes its forward position upon the
flange 40, and the segmental cam 559 also releases the needle mechanism.
machine continues in operation and the body of the foot is knit in continuous
circular courses, the butts of the needles passing through the path x-x of the
cam cylinder. The actuating pawl 356 continues to engage the active teeth of
the ratchet wheel 351 until the cam shaft is turned a sufficient distance to bring its
cams into operative positions for the succeeding operations. As or shortly after
the continuous knitting in circular courses for the formation of the body of the
foot is begun a lug 394 on the pattern chain engages the angular lug 441 on the
disk 439 of the rock shaft 432 which actuates the shipper lever 430, and the driving
belts 104 and 105 are shifted; the slow speed belt onto the intermediate loose
vulley 102 and the high speed belt 105 onto the right fixed pulley 103 so that the
During the knitting of a stocking the cam shaft makes two complete rotations
and after the operations above described which relate to the knitting of the leg
and heel and body of the foot are completed, the cam shaft begins its second
rotation, and its cams and the pattern chain again actuate the same mechanisms,
and in the same manner for knitting the toe as was heretofore done for the knitting
of the heel.
The first starting of the cam shaft for the toe knitting is effected by the
stud 391' on the pattern chain, this stud coming in contact with the notched
plate 404 on the first radial arm 401 which was first actuated by another stud on
the pattern chain for the heel knitting. The cam shaft 350 is thus again actuated,
the aid of its driving ratchet wheel 351 and the pawl 356, through the arc corre-
sponding to the distance between the first and second dwells of said ratchet wheel.
By this movement of the cam shaft the mechanisms which were heretofore actuated
for the narrowing for the heel and again brought into operation include the
mechanism for throwing half the needles into inoperative position; the mechanism
for changing the motion of the cam cylinder from a continuous rotary to a recipro-
catory movement; the narrowing mechanism; the mechanism for supplying the
reinforcing thread; the yarn take-up mechanism; the stitch-loosening mechanism;
and the clamping mechanism for the needle cylinder.
At or about the time that the stud 391 on the pattern chain comes in contact
with the radial arm 401 and starts the cam shaft, a lug 442' on the pattern chain
actuates the belt-shifting mechanism, whereby the speed of the machine is reduced
as in the heel knitting.
When the narrowing operation for the toe is completed a lug 392' comes in
contact with the second radial arm 402, and the cam shaft is again actuated by
said arm and its ratchet wheel 351 and the pawl 356 through the short arc corre-
sponding to the distance between the dwells 353 and 354 of said ratchet wheel,
whereby the thin cam 470 thereon operates the lever 472 controlling the narrowing
and widening mechanisms for throwing the former out of action and bringing the
latter into action, and the knitting of the top of the toe in successively elongated or
widened courses is then effected. When the toe is completed a stud 393 on the
pattern chain comes in contact with the radial arm 403, and the cam shaft is again

page_text: started, and is then driven by its ratchet wheel 351 and the pawl 356 through its
longest are corresponding to the distance between the dwells 354 and 352 of said
ratchet wheel. During this movement of the cam shaft the mechanism for
supplying the reinforcing yarn is thrown out of action; the mechanism for con-
trolling the semi-circular series of needles, which are sometimes operative and
sometimes inoperative, brings said needles into operative position; the yarn take-up
mechanism is thrown out of action; the stitch-loosening mechanism is also thrown
out of action; the needle cylinder is released by its clamp; and the motion of the
cam cylinder is changed from a reciprocatory to a rotary movement.
During this last actuation of the cam shaft a bevelled lug 394' (shown in the
drawings in dotted lines) comes in contact with the angular lug 441 on the disk
439, and causes the shifting of the belt shipper 430, whereby the rapid driving belt
is moved into operative position.
The moving parts have then resumed the positions indicated in the drawings,
and the machine is ready for the knitting of another leg as herein before described.
The several mechanisms herein before described may be varied more or less
and some of them may be dispensed with without departing from the scope of this
invention.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1895.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvement in Circular Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Providence Knitting
Machine Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Rhode
Island, United States of America, and having its principal office at the corner of
Bassett and Butler Streets, in the City of Providence, Rhode Island, United
States of America), 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 a circular knitting machine for the continuous knitting
of seamless stockings.
The objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character which is
entirely automatic in its operation, which is comparatively simple in its construction,
and one in which the several mechanisms are not liable to get out of order or out
of time, and in which the changes from rotary to reciprocatory and reciprocatory
to rotary motion are effected without shock to the machine.
The invention consists in improved mechanism for throwing one half of the
circular series of needles out of operative position; in improved mechanism for
changing the motion of the cam cylinder from continuous rotary to reciprocatory
movements and the opposite; in improved mechanism for throwing successive
needles out of operation in narrowing and for bringing them into operation in
widening in improved mechanism for changing the speed of the machine for the
rotary and reciprocatory movements respectively; in improved automatic calf-
enlarging mechanism; in mechanism for lifting the needle cylinder to elongate the
stitches; in improved mechanism for actuating the cam shaft and pattern chain for
imparting motion to a plurality of auxiliary mechanisms; in improved yarn feeding
mechanism; in improved means for supplying and cutting off the reinforcing yarn ;
in improved means for retaining the cut off end of the reinforcing yarn; in
improved means for effecting a slack in the yarn preparatory to the subsequent
2.1.

page_text: dening,
πηρεσ
luring the narrowing and widening operations.
Figure 1 of the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification represents a
ront elevation of this knitting machine, the legs being broken off and the yarn
tand omitted.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of the right hand end thereof including a
portion of the yarn stand.
Figure 3 represents a rear elevation thereof, the legs being broken off and the
yarn stand omitted.
Figure 4 represents a vertical transverse section thereof looking towards the
right.
Figure 5 represents a plan of the bed-plate for supporting the knitting head.
Figure 6 represents a vertical transverse section thereof.
Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the clamping mechanism for the needle
cylinder.
Figure 8 represents a plan view of the knitting head.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation thereof.
Figure 10 represents a plan view of the cam cylinder.
Figure 11 represents a side elevation thereof.
Figure 12 represents a side elevation of a portion of the cam cylinder, the
narrowing cams being in inoperative position.
Figure 13 represents a vertical transverse section of the needle cylinder and the.
needles therein having elongated butts.
Figure 14 represents a vertical transverse section of the cam cylinder, showing
the ordinary cams, the narrowing cams, and the widening cams, the narrowing and
widening cams being in inoperative position.
Figure 15 represents a diametrical section of the cam cylinder, showing the
ordinary knitting cams, the narrowing cams in operative position, and the widening
cams in inoperative position.
Figure 16 represents a plan of the needle cylinder showing a semi-circular series
of needles having elongated butts and a semi-circular series having shorter butts.
Figure 17 represents a segment of the interior of the cam cylinder showing the
switch finger for elevating one half of the needles into inoperative position and
depressing them into operative position.
Figure 18 represents a plan, partly in horizontal section of a segment of said
cam cylinder.
Figure 19 represents a transverse section of a portion of said cam ring showing
the lever for throwing into and out of position the narrowing and widening cams.
Figure 20 represents a horizontal section of a portion of a section of said cam
ring showing the narrowing cams and a plan of the cam actuating lever and spring
actuated latch therefor.
Figure 21 represents a perspective view of one of the widening cams.
Figure 22 represents a perspective view of one of the narrowing cams.
Figure 23 represents a perspective view of the rock shaft for actuating the belt
shifting lever.
Figure 24 represents a perspective view of several cams on the cam shaft for
actuating a number of the auxiliary automatic mechanisms, a sleeve and the
pattern chain.
Figure 25 represents a longitudinal section of the clutch and clutch shaft for
changing the motion of the knitting head to impart a reciprocatory or continuous
motion thereto.
Figure 26 represents a transverse section of the cam shaft at the left of the
fixed sleeve carrying the starting arms for said shaft.
Figure 27 represents a side elevation of the left face of the cam disk at the left
of the standard 20.
Figure 28 represents a side elevation of the yarn feeding mechanism.

page_text: Figure 29 represents a perspective view of the top of the standard constituting
a part of the yarn feeding mechanism.
Figure 30 represents a plan view of the lever for cutting off the reinforcing yarn.
Figure 31 represents an enlarged front elevation of the guide block for the main
and reinforcing yarn and the clamp therein for the reinforcing yarn.
Figure 32 represents a plan view of the yarn tube for the main and reinforcing
yarns.
Figure 33 represents a horizontal section thereof.
Figure 34 represents a horizontal section of the guide block.
Figure 35 represents a plan view of the underside of the cam ring attached to
the cam cylinder showing the cams for operating the sinkers.
Figure 36 represents a transverse section of said ring and an elevation of a
sinker disposed therein.
Figure 37 represents an elevation of one of the sinkers.
Referring to the sheet of drawings filed with the present Specification-
Figure 38 represents a plan of a section of a needle cylinder and sinker bed.
Figure 39 represents a radial section thereof.
Figure 40 represents the several notched plates on the radial arms attached to
the fixed sleeve on the cam shaft.
Figure 41 represents a side elevation of the left notched cheek of the bracket
supporting a part of the mechanism for actuating the fashioning cams.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures.
This circular knitting machine contains the principal elements usually found in
circular knitting machines for the knitting of stockings, to wit: A suitable frame,
a knitting head comprising a needle cylinder having needles disposed in vertical
grooves in a circular series and sinkers disposed in radial grooves, also in circular
series, and a rotary cam cylinder and cam ring encircling the needle cylinder and
containing cams acting on the needles and sinkers to cause them to perform the
knitting operations; mechanism for manipulating the needles to narrow and widen
the fabric during the knitting of the heel and toe, and mechanism for imparting
continuous rotary motion to the cam cylinder for the knitting of the leg and foot,
and reciprocatory movements for forming the heel and toe.
The terms "right" and "left" as used in the Specification are to be understood
as referring to the relative positions of the parts with respect to a person standing
in front of and facing the machine, as illustrated in Figure 1 in front elevation.
THE FRAME.
The
The working parts of this machine are mounted in any suitable frame.
frame shown comprises a base 1 supported on front legs 2 and 3, and corresponding.
rear legs, one of which, leg 4, appears in the drawings. This base is provided
with a central opening 6, preferably circular in form, for the passage of the work
which is knit by the machine. A dependent hanger 7 is supported at the left end
of the base 1, and a corresponding dependent hanger 8 at the right thereof.
These hangers are preferably supported in sockets in the base and are preferably
adjustable therein, their shanks being adapted to be turned or swivelled in their
sockets, so that the hangers may be brought into accurate alignment. The
hanger 7 is clamped in its socket by a set screw 71, and the hanger 8 is similarly
clamped by a set screw 81.
Two standards 10 and 20 in the form of vertical plates are mounted on the
base 1 near apposite ends thereof. These standards are secured in any suitable
manner to said base. The standard 10 is shown as provided at its lower end
with outwardly projecting feet, as 11, through which the standard is fastened by
means of bolts, as 12, to the base 1. The upper end of the standard 10 is arc-
shaped, and provided with laterally projecting lugs, as 13. The standard 20 .is
also provided with feet 21 and 22, and is secured to the base 1 by bolts passing

page_text: at its bottom which fits within the outer annular rib 35 of the bed-plate 30. This flange
has on its underside a dependent toothed flange or bevelled gear 242. This rotary
cam cylinder turns upon the inner annular rib 36 of said bed-plate, and its toothed
flange or gear 242 meshes with a bevelled gear hereinafter described, by which
rotary and reciprocatory motions are imparted to the cam cylinder, said bevelled
gear travelling in the annular space 37 between said inner and outer annular ribs of
the bed-plate. Buttons 35" on the outer rib 35 are swung over said flange to hold
the cam cylinder in position. The cam cylinder is provided on its outer periphery
with an upwardly inclined bracket 243 which extends to a plane above the top of
the cam cylinder. This bracket is provided at its upper end with a cylindrical
boss 244.
The inner face of the rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided near its bottom with a
rib 245 which extends about three-fourths of the distance around the cylinder and
serves as a shoulder or rest for the butts of the needles when the latter are in
lowered position, the ends of said rib being bevelled. The cams for the ordinary
knitting operation comprise an inverted approximately V-shaped fixed cam 246
disposed between the bevelled ends of said rib, and two fixed side cams 247 and 248
disposed just above the bevelled ends of said rib and the inclined ends of said
V-shaped cam. These fixed side cams are provided with recesses 247' and 248'.
Two latching cams 250 and 251 are disposed between the lower ends of the fixed
side cams 247 and 248, and the bevelled ends of said rib. Disposed over the fixed
cams 247 and 248 are two small fixed cams 252 and 253. An automatic switch
cam 254 depends from a stud on the inner face of the cam cylinder and is adapted
to oscillate between the adjacent ends of the two side cams and said fixed cams
have recesses on their upper faces near their inner ends. The cams just described
constitute the knitting cams for raising and lowering the needles in forming the.
loops or stitches. The course of the butts of the needles in the ordinary forward
rotary motion of the cam cylinder is along the path x-x, to wit: off one end of
the inner rib or shoulder 245 over the small latch cam 250, over the fixed side
cam 247, between it and the smaller fixed cam 252, against the central loosely
swinging cam 254, which is swung by the action of the needles over against the
inner end of the other fixed side cam 248, and switches the butts down between
the fixed side cam 248 and the V-shaped cam 246, thence up under the latching
cam 251 onto the other end of the rib 245. When the cylinder is reversed during
the reciprocating motion the butts of the needles travel in a reverse direction
through the path indicated by the dotted line y-y, to wit: off the rib 245, over
the latch cam 251, over the side cam 248, between it and the small fixed cam 253,
thence against the automatic switch cam 254, thence downward through the action
of said switch cam between the fixed side cam 247 and the inverted V-shaped cam,
thence upward on the other bevelled end of the rib 245, and under the latch
cam 250 onto the top of said rib. A number of needles are thus raised and lowered
in an ordinary manner, and during such raising and lowering, they co-operate with
a corresponding number of radial sliding sinkers and form the loops which
constitute the knitted fabric.
A switch finger 260 is adapted to swing on a pivot 261 on the inner face of the
cam cylinder at a point above the rib 245 and opposite the free end of said switch
finger, said rib has notch 262. This switch finger when its free end is swung
down into said notch serves to switch and elevate the needles having elongated
butts into inoperative position, and when the free end of said switch finger is
elevated it engages said needles by their elongated butts and lowers them into
working position. This switch finger is provided with a stud 263 which extends
through a slot 264 in the cam cylinder, being adapted to play therein. A
mechanism for automatically actuating this switch finger in the proper directions
at the required intervals of time will be described hereafter.
Two narrowing cams 270 and 271 are attached to shanks which are pivoted on
studs 272 and 273 on the outer face of the cam cylinder, and play in slots in said
cylinder and when in position for elevating the separate needles to effect the

page_text: rrowing operation, they lie in the recesses 247' and 240
ILJ
d 248. These shanks are provided with weighted arms 274 and 275 which tend
hold the cams in said recesses and permit them to swing under the action of
e needles. These cams are provided with lips 276 and 277 at their lower edges
ad when lying in their recesses, in position for action, are in the path of the
eedle butts, and as a butt of a needle strikes one of these cams, it swings said
am on its pivot and the lip of the cam engages said butt and elevates said needle
Means hereafter
ut of its course into inoperative position. As the cam swings out it leaves the :
rdinary path free for the passage of the succeeding needles.
escribed are provided for holding them in inoperative position when they are not
equired for use.
:
The widening cams for bringing into action successively the needles which were
hrown out in narrowing will now be described. Two small brackets 280 and 281
are attached to the outer face of the rotary cam cylinder at the upper edge thereof
and two dependent oscillatory arms 282 and 283 are pivoted on screws 284 and 285
which pass through said brackets. The lower ends of these arms carry inwardly
projecting studs 286 and 287 which play in slots 288 and 289 in the cam cylinder.
The widening cams 290 and 291 are attached to the inner ends of these studs.
These cams are approximately oval in shape, and are respectively provided with
recesses 292 and 293, and near their upper ends with hooks 294 and 295 at the top
of said recesses. Torsional springs 296 and 297 on the pivots 284 and 285 tend to
throw the dependent arms 282 and 283 in upward position, in which position the
widening cams are elevated and are in position to engage and cause the down
drawing of successive needles into operative position. The upper ends of these
arms are provided respectively with lugs 298 and 299 which are engaged by an
actuating device for swinging the widening cams into inoperative position when
not required for use. The rotary cam cylinder is provided with guards 282¹
and 283 which form ways in which the lower ends of the oscillatory dependent :
cam carrying arms 282 and 283 play. A T-shaped slide 300 having a vertical
slot 301 in its shank or body is adapted to move vertically on a fixed stud 302 on
the outer face of the cam cylinder midway between the cam carrying arms 282
and 283. The outer ends of the top of this T-shaped slide engage the lugs 298
and 299 on said arms and when said slide is raised said cam carrying arms are
swung downward and their cams are brought into inoperative position. A fixed
bracket 303 is attached to the cam cylinder and extends radially outward and
then vertically upward in front of the body or shank of the T-shaped slide. This
bracket 303 is provided with a vertical slot 304 extending from its bottom to a
point about midway of its height and on its outer face on the opposite sides of said
slot with vertical cheeks 305 and 306, the left cheek having a notch 307 in its outer
O edge. A contractile spring 308 connected at 'it's upper end to said T-shaped slide
and at its lower end to said angular bracket 303 tends to draw down said slide and
hold it in its low position. A lever 309 pivoted in said bracket is adapted to swing
in the slot therein and between the cheeks 305 and 306. The inner end of this
lever is pivotally connected to outwardly projecting lugs 310 and 311 on said slide.
5 When the outer end of said lever is depressed said slide is raised and the widening
cams are thereby swung into inoperative position. The shanks of the narrowing
cams 270 and 271 are respectively provided with teeth 278 and 279 which extend
respectively under the lugs 310 and 311 on the T-shaped slide and when said slide
is in depressed position said outwardly projecting lugs engage said teeth, and the
A spring latch 312 is
50 narrowing cams are thereby held in inoperative position.
pivoted on a lug 313 attached to one of the cheeks 305, and when the outer end of
the lever 309 is depressed, said spring latch shuts over said lever into the notch 307
on the cheek 305 and locks said lever in depressed position until the spring latch
is actuated to release it. Thus it will be seen that a single movement of the
55 T-shaped slide in the upward direction permits the narrowing cams to fall into
operative position and swings the widening cams into inoperative position; whereas
a movement of said slide in the downward direction swings the widening cams into
D

page_text: operative position. and simultaneously locks the narrowing cams in inoperative
position.
The mechanism for actuating the lever which controls the cam operating slide
and for actuating the latch for releasing said lever automatically will be described
hereafter. In widening the fabric being knit, by means of the widening cams 290
and 291, one of said cams engages the butt of the first needle of the widening
series, and the resistance of the needle operates to swing backward and downward
said cam, then the needle passes under the breast of said cam into the working
channel or path x-x or y-y according to the direction of movement of the cam
cylinder.
The bracket 303 has an upward extension 315 and a pivoted arm 316 is hinged
to the upper end on said extension and is held by its spring 317 in either vertical
or horizontal position. A guard ring 320 having a slotted arm 321 is adjustable on
said hinged arm 316. This guard ring surrounds the top of the needles when they
are in elevated position and protects them. This ring has an eye 322 through
which the yarn is fed to the needles.
A flanged cam ring 330 is adapted to rotate on the flange 226 on the needle
cylinder and operates to throw in and out a certain number of the radial sliding
sinkers, 235. This cam ring is held on the flange 226 by means of flanged
lugs 331, 332 and 333 attached to the flange of the cam ring and projecting inward
under the flange of the needle cylinder. Two radial lugs 334 and 335 are disposed
apart from each other in the usual manner on the cam ring and having adjustable
screws 336 and 337. When the cam ring 330 is disposed on the needle cylinder
the boss 244 on the cam cylinder is between the adjusting screws 336 and 337, and
during the rotation of the cam cylinder said boss engages one of said screws and
causes the cam ring to rotate with it, and during the reciprocation of the cam
cylinder, said boss engages said screws alternately and causes the cam ring to
reciprocate. The cam ring 330 is provided on its under side with a cam groove 330¹
formed between the outer flange 332¹ of said ring and an inner rib 331. A
segment of the outer flange 332 is omitted forming an opening diametrically
opposite from the radial lugs 334 and 335 which enables the sinkers 235 to slide
out and in. The ends of the flange at opposite sides of the opening are bevelled
forming cams 334' and 335¹ to push the sinkers inward. On the inner edge of the
cam ring opposite this opening is a cam-plate having bevelled ends forming cams 333'
and 336 which serve to throw the sinkers outward. The vertical lugs on the
shanks of the sinkers travel in the annular groove 3301 and when the machine. is
knitting continuously in continuous rotary motion, the sinkers are thrown out
successively by the cam 3331 and inward by the cam 334' and when the cam
cylinder reciprocates for the knitting of the heel and toe, the sinkers are thrown
outward and inward on the forward stroke by the same cams and in the backward
stroke are moved outward by the cam 330¹ and inward by the cam 3361. A number
of sinkers, about fourteen, more or less, adjacent to the active needles are moved
inward and outward co-operating with said needles.
THE DRIVING MECHANISM.
The driving shaft 100 is supported in the dependent hangers 7 and 8, and it is
provided on its left end with three pulleys 101, 102, and 103, the intermediate
pulley 102 being a loose pulley, and the others being fixed on the shaft. Two
belts 104 and 105 play at their lower turns on these pulleys, and at their upper
turns on a stepped cone or speed pulley 106, which is fast on a counter shaft 107
located at any convenient point, from which power is taken to drive the machine.
The other end of the driving shaft 100 is provided with a broad faced pulley 108.
Motion is communicated from the driving shaft to the rotary cam cylinder of the
knitting head in any suitable manner. A shaft 110 is journaled in the shaft.
bearings 15 and 25, and projects to the right some distance beyond the standard 20,
being supported. at its outer end by .the bracket 28 attached to said standard..

page_text: This shaft is provided with a fast pulley 111, and a loose pulley 112, and a
belt 113 passes over the broad pulley 108 on the driving shaft, and over the
pulley 111 or 112. An arm 114 extends from the standard 20, and a belt shifter
lever 115 is pivoted to the outer end of said arm beneath the fast and loose pulleys
referred to. This belt shifter lever serves to shift the belt from one of these
pulleys to the other, enabling the operator to control the machine without shifting
the main power belts 104 and 105. A spring 116 connected to the rear end of the
belt shifter lever 115 and to the standard 20, tends to throw towards the right the
front end of said belt shifter lever and to keep the belt 113 on the loose pulley 112.
A rod 117 is preferably pivoted at its outer end to the inner end of this belt
shifter lever and slides near its inner end in a hole in the standard 20. This rod
is provided with a notch 118 near its inner end. An angular lever 119 is pivoted
on a stud 120 on the inner face of the standard 20, and its lower arm projects to
the front of the machine. A contractile spring 121 connected at its upper end to
a stud on said standard and at its lower end to said lever tends to hold said lever
in contact with the inner end of the rod 117 which is connected with the belt
shifter lever 115. When the belt shifter is in position to hold the belt on the fast
pulley 111 the rod 117 is drawn out, and the notch 118 thereon comes opposite
the bell crank lever 119, said lever engaging said notch and acting as a latch to
hold said belt shifter lever in this position. When it is desired to stop the
machine, the bell crank latch lever 119 is pushed down by the attendant and
passing out of the notch 118 of the rod 117, releases said rod and the spring 116
operates the belt shifter lever 115 whereby the belt 113 is shifted onto the loose
pulley 112. A pinion 125 fast on the shaft 110 engages a gear wheel 130
journaled on a stud 131 supported in a socket 27 of the standard 20. This gear
wheel is provided on its outer face with a wrist pin 132. This gear wheel is
provided on its inner face with a cam 133, the purpose of which will hereinafter
appear.
A clutch shaft 140 is journaled near its inner end in a bearing 141 near the top
of the standard 20 and near its outer end in a bracket 142 attached to the upper
end of said standard 20. A clutch sleeve 143 is disposed on this clutch shaft 140,
and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, but locked to turn therewith by a
feather on the shaft which engages a longitudinal groove in the sleeve 143.
This
sleeve has clutch faces at its opposite ends and a peripheral groove 144 whereby
it is engaged by its actuating device. This actuating device consists of a forked
lever 145 journaled to swing horizontally on a dependent bracket 146 formed on or
attached to the rear side of the bracket 142. The forked end of this lever is
provided with studs 147 and 148 which engage the peripheral groove of the
clutch sleeve 143, and the rear end of said lever is provided with a stud 149 which
is engaged at proper intervals by suitable cams hereinafter described or other
suitable mechanism. Two pinions 150 and 151 are disposed on the clutch
shaft 140 apart from each other, the clutch sleeve 143 being arranged between
them. These pinions are provided with clutch faces on their ends adjacent to the
clutch sleeve and when said sleeve is moved to the left and engages the pinion 150,
said pinion is thereby locked to the clutch shaft 140 aud the right pinion 151 is
loose on said shaft, but when the sleeve 143 is moved towards the right, the left
pinion is released and made a loose pinion and the right pinion is engaged and
made fast with the clutch shaft. The inner end of the clutch shaft is provided
with a bevelled gear 152, the upper edge of which projects through a slot 38 in
the bed-plate 30 and engages the toothed flauge of the rotary cam cylinder of the
knitting head. The left pinion 150 is always in gear with the gear wheel 130,
and when said pinion is fast with the clutch shaft continuous rotary motion is
imparted to said cam cylinder. A toothed segment 153 is journaled on a stud 154
projecting outward from the standard 20 and this segment is always in mesh with
the right pinion 151 on the clutch shaft 140. A connecting rod 155 extends from
a stud 156 on the rear end of the toothed segment 153 to a wrist pin 131 on the
'gear wheel 130 whereby the segment is constantly oscillated when the machine is

page_text: in operation. When the right pinion 151 is made fast with the clutch shaft by
the sliding clutch sleeve 143 the segment is the means of transmitting motion to
the clutch shaft and the usual reciprocatory movement of the cam cylinder of the
knitting head is thereby effected. A spiral spring 157 is disposed on the clutch
shaft 140 between the standard 20 and the left pinion 150 and a spiral spring 158
is also disposed on said shaft between the dependent end of the bracket and the
pinion 151. These springs tend to impart elastic contact when the clutch sleeve
engages said pinions respectively whereby sudden jerkings and breakage is
avoided.
The mechanism above described is in its general features similar to that usually
employed in circular knitting machines.
THE CAM SHAFT FOR ACTUATING AUXILIARY MECHANISMS.
A cam shaft 350 carries a variety of cams for bringing into and throwing out
of action certain mechanisms at proper intervals of time. This shaft is journaled
in the bearings 16 and 26 at the rear of the machine on the standards 10 and 20,
and projects to the right beyond the standard 20. This shaft is provided with a
driving ratchet wheel 351 fixed to the shaft just outside said standard 20. This ratchet
wheel has three blank teeth or dwells 352, 353 and 354, the second dwell 353 being
the tenth tooth distant from the first dwell 352, and the third dwell 354 being the
fourth tooth distant from the second dwell and the eighteenth from the first
'dwell.
A lever 355 is pivoted to the outer face of the standard 20 and carries at its
rear end a pawl 356 which engages the teeth of said driving ratchet wheel. The
front end of this lever is held in contact with a heart-shaped cam 357 on the
shaft 110 by means of a spring 358 connected at one end to said lever, and at
the other end to said standard. This lever and pawl move the ratchet wheel 351
a distance of one tooth at each rotation of the shaft 110 and thus actuate
intermittently the cam shaft 110 except when the pawl 356 lies in one of the
blank teeth or dwells on said ratchet wheel. In that case the cam shaft is started
at the proper time and moved the distance of one tooth by other mechanism
hereinafter described.
A sleeve 360 is loose on the cam shaft 350 between the standards. This sleeve
is provided at its right end with a ratchet wheel 361 and at its left end with a
sprocket wheel 362. A lever 363 pivoted on a stud 364 on the inner face of the
standard 20 has a lateral stud 365 at its inner end projecting towards the left,
and a lateral stud 366 at its outer end projecting towards the right in front of the
standard 20. A pawl 367 pivoted on the stud 365 at the rear end of the lever
engages the ratchet wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 and a stud at the front end of
said lever is engaged by the cam 133 on the gear wheel 130, this stud being
preferably provided with an antifriction roller with which the cam comes in
contact. A stop pin 369 is disposed in the edge of the standard 20 above the
stud 366. A spring 369¹ connected at its lower end to a stud on the standard 20
and at its upper rear end to the pawl 367 passes over the rear end of the rear
stud on the lever 363 and tends to hold the pawl in contact with the ratchet wheel
and to depress the lower end of said lever to enable the pawl to engage a new
tooth, and also to raise the outer end of the lever and normally hold it in contact
with the stop pin 369 in the edge of said standard. At each revolution of the
gear wheel 130, the cam 133 thereon depresses the front end of the pawl carrying
lever, and the pawl turns the wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 the distance of
one tooth.
A bracket 370 projects rearwardly from the rear side of the base 1 and carries
an inclined arm 371 which is provided with an elongated slot 372 extending
throughout its lower part, and with a short slot or hole 373 at its upper end. A
stud 374 is disposed in the short slot 373 and carries a pawl 375 which is actuated
by a spring 376 and operates as a check for the ratchet wheel. An arm 377

page_text: secured to the slotted arm 371 near the bracket 370 at the upper end of the
elongated slot 372 extends upward therefrom and carries at its upper end a
stud 378 on which a grooved pulley 379 is journaled. A spring spider plate 380
is secured to said stud 378 and presses on the left face of said grooved pulley,
serving as a brake to prevent undue movement thereof. A stud 381 is adjustable
in the elongated slot 372 of the inclined arm 371 and on this stud two grooved
pulleys 382 and 383 are journaled side by side. An endless. pattern chain 390
which controls the several mechanisms passes over the sprocket wheel 362 on the
sleeve 360 disposed on the cam shaft 350, thence downward under the left grooved
pulley 382, thence upward over the grooved pulley 379 on the stud at the upper
end of the arm 377, thence downward under the right grooved pulley 383, and
thence upward to the sprocket wheel 362 on the sleeve on the cam shaft. The
adjustable stud 381 carrying the two lower grooved pulleys may be raised or
lowered in the slot 372 to suit endless pattern chains of different lengths for the
knitting of stockings having longer or shorter legs. Sometimes the upper grooved
pulley 379 is dispensed with, and in that case a short pattern chain will pass over
the sprocket wheel 362 and over one of the lower grooved pulleys only.
pattern chain carries various lugs, studs, and cams which actuate different
mechanisms as hereinafter described.
This
An inclined bracket 384 is secured to the horizontal bracket 370 and this
inclined bracket is provided with a groove. 385 on its front face through which
the sprocket pins of the pattern chain 390 pass, said grooved bracket serving as a
guide for said chain and holding it with sufficient rigidity to ensure its action upon
the belt shifting mechanism hereafter described.
A sleeve 400 is locked on the cam shaft at the left of the sleeve 360 and is
provided with three radial arms 401, 402, and 403 adjacent to the sprocket
wheel 362. These radial arms are provided at their outer ends respectively with
notched plates 404, 405, and 406. These notched plates are severally engaged by
certain projections in the form of studs or lugs on the pattern chain at proper
intervals as hereinafter described, such engagement serving to turn the cam shaft
sufficiently to carry either one of the dwells of the driving ratchet wheel 350 away
from the driving pawl 356 and enable said pawl to turn the cam shaft. The
notches in the plates permit the said projections to pass the arms which they are
not designed to engage.
The cam shaft 350 is provided with a brake to prevent momentum and avoid
movement of the shaft except as it is positively actuated by the actuating pawl of
the driving ratchet wheel, or by the pattern chain. This brake as shown in the
drawings comprises a grooved pulley 600 disposed on the left of the shaft outside
the left standard 10, a spring band 601 passing over said pulley and a bracket 602
attached to the standard 10 to which the ends of said spring band are secured. One
end of the spring band is hooked over a hook 603 at the front end of said bracket
and the other end of said spring band is provided with a bolt 604 which passes
through a hole in the rear of said bracket and is provided under said bracket. with
a nut 605. A spiral spring 606 is interposed between said bracket and said nut and
imparts a yielding pressure to the brake band 601. By means of the nut the
tension of said band may be increased or diminished to suit the requirements of the
machine.
THE OPERATION.
The operation of knitting a stocking from the point of beginning at the top of
the leg to the point of finishing at the tip of the toe, will now be described and the
several auxiliary automatic mechanisms which are intermittently brought into action
during this operation will be hereinafter described substantially in the order in
which they perform their functions.
,
In starting the knitting of a stocking the moving parts of the machine are in the
positions indicated in the main figures of the drawings and the knitting begins at

page_text: Small 40, so that a continuous rotary motion is imparted to the cam cylinder 240
through the gear wheel 130. The pawl 356 of the driving ratchet wheel 351 is
in the first dwell 352 of said wheel from the beginning of the knitting of the leg to
'near the end thereof. and the cam shaft 350 remains stationary during the leg
knitting. The leg is knit solely from the main yarn.
THE CALF ENLARGING.
The machine is provided with an auxiliary automatic mechanism for elongating
the stitches for enlarging the stocking over the calf of the leg. This automatic
mechanism, when constructed as herein illustrated, is controlled by the pattern
chain 390. To effect this elongation of the stitches or loops in the knitting, the
needle cylinder 200 is slightly raised when the knitting begins at the top of the
stocking, permitted to remain in this raised position until that portion of the leg
designed to cover the calf is finished, and then the needle cylinder is gradually
lowered during the formation of the succeeding portion of the leg of the stocking.
The elevation of the needle cylinder loosens the tension of the yarn and results in
the elongation of the stitches, the elongated stitches being gradually shortened as
the cylinder is lowered after the passage of the calf part of the leg. As before
stated, the bottom of the needle cylinder normally rests upon the notched flange 40
of the bed-plate 30 for supporting the knitting head. This bed-plate has below
said flange a dependent fixed ring 31. The lower edge of this fixed ring is
#provided with detachable inwardly projecting lugs 32', screwed thereto. A cam
ring 35 having cams 36', on its underside is disposed concentrically within the fixed
ring 31 beneath the flange 40 thereof, being supported on said detachable lugs and
being loose to turn within said fixed ring. When this cam ring 35¹ is turned in one
direction the cams on the underside thereof ride over the supporting lugs and
operate to lift said ring, and when the ring is turned in the opposite direction, the
cams are shifted away from the lugs and the ring falls. When the cam ring is
lifted it comes in contact with the studs as 222, 223, and 224 on the bottom of the
needle cylinder and lifts said cylinder for the elongation of the stitches as required,
and when said cam ring is lowered the cylinder falls and rests upon its usual
supporting flange 40. The means for shifting the cam ring 35' through the arc of
a circle to raise or lower the needle cylinder comprises, when constructed as herein
shown, a bent arm 39' attached to said ring and extending horizontally therefrom
toward the left, a sliding rod 410 supported in a dependent lug 411 at the front of
the bed-plate, and in a dependent bracket 412 at the rear side thereof. This slide
rod has a notch in which the projecting arm 391 of the cam ring enters. This slide
rod is provided at its rear end with a projection in the form of a bent arm 413 or
otherwise. A bracket 414 having two dependent arms 415 and 416 is attached to
the underside of the yarn stand near the inner end thereof, the left dependent arm
being some longer than the right arm 416. A rock shaft 417 is journaled in said
arms and provided at its left end with an upwardly projecting arm 418 which is
adapted to come in contact with the slide rod 410 or with the bent arm 413 or other
projection attached thereto for pushing forward said siide rod. A contractile
spring 419 connected at one end to the dependent bracket 412 and at the other end
to the slide rod 410, operates to pull back said slide rod when the latter is released
from the action of the mechanism which pushes it forward. An arm 420 is fixed to
the right end of the rock shaft 417, and inclines downward therefrom, being
provided with a lateral lug 421 at its lower end which rides over the series of cam
plates 422 attached to the links of the pattern chain. A collar 423 of the rock
shaft 417 adjacent to one of the supporting arins operates in connection with one of
the arms to hold said shaft in position. Just before the knitting of the stocking

page_text: begins at the top of the leg, the initial bevelled cam-plate 422 of the series of cam
plates 422, comes in contact with the lug 421 on the arm 420 and swings said arm.
slightly upward whereby the rock shaft 417 is turned through the arc of a circle.
This turning of the shaft swings the arm 418 and this arm pushes against the
projection on the slide rod 410 and forces said rod forward. This forward movement
of the push rod operates through the medium of the arm 39¹ on the cam ring 35¹ to
turn said ring a sufficient distance to bring the cams as 36' on the underside of said.
ring entirely over their supporting lugs on the bed-plate, whereby the said ring and
the needle cylinder is elevated to its highest point for the formation of the elongated.
stitches. The dependent arm 420 continues to ride upon the series of cam plates of
uniform height on successive links of the pattern chain until the calf portion of the
leg is knit, and then it rides upon the rear portion of the series of cam plates which,
gradually recede in height until they disappear entirely. As the tapering cam
plates pass under the lug of the actuating arm, said arm is slightly lowered and the
spring 419 operates to pull back the slide rod 410 as fast as said tapering cam
plates will permit, whereby the cam ring in the bed-plate is gradually turned back.
and the bevelled portions of said cams rest upon their supporting lugs so that said:
cam ring is gradually lowered, and consequently the needle cylinder is gradually
depressed and the elongated stitches gradually shortened during the formation of
that portion of the leg immediately below the calf.
BELT SHIFTING MECHANISM.
In the knitting of the leg in continuous circular courses, the high speed driving:
belt 105 turns the cam cylinder about 225 rotations a minute, more or less, as
desired, while the low speed driving belt 104 runs on the intermediate loose pulley...
I have used a speed in the continuous circular knitting of two hundred and fifty
and sometimes two hundred and eighty rotations per minute. Both of these belts.
pass through a forked shipper lever 430 which is pivoted at the outer end of a
bracket 431 attached to the base 1 of the frame. Just before the continuous rotary
movement of the cam cylinder is changed to a reciprocatory movement, it becomes,
necessary to lower the speed in order to avoid danger of breakage incident to:
sudden stoppages and reversals at the end of the reciprocatory strokes. To effect
this change any suitable mechanism is employed. A horizontal rock shaft 432 is
journaled in bracket bearings 433 and 434 on the base 1 at the rear side thereof.
A collar 435 at the outer end of said rod is provided with a pin 436 which engages
a slot 437 at the end of the bell crank shipper lever 430. This collar carrying.
the pin is provided with a set screw 438 for fixing it in position on the shaft and
by this means the collar may be properly adjusted to give the proper throw to the
belt shipper lever. The shaft is provided on its inner end with a disk 439 having
on its outer face a stud 440 and at a different point an angular lug 441.
At or about the time that the cam shaft is started, as hereinafter describe.l,.
being the time the leg is nearly completed, and just before the reciprocating
movements for the heel knitting are begun, the cam 442 on the pattern chain.
engages the short stud 440 on the disk 439, and turns the shaft 432 through an.
arc of about forty degrees, more or less, and the peripheral pin 436 on the
collar 435 at the outer end of said shaft acting on the bell crank shipper lever 430
swings said lever towards the left whereby the high speed driving belt 105 is-
shifted onto the intermediate loose pulley 102 and the slow speed driving belt 104:
is shifted onto the left fixed pulley 101 on the driving shaft 100 and becomes the
driving belt. As this left belt runs over the small step of the cone pulley 106,.
the machine is run at a slower speed. The reciprocations of the cam cylinder for ›
both the narrowing and widening operations for the knitting of the heel are
performed while the belts are in the positions last named, and the cam cylinder is.
ordinarily driven at a speed of from seventy-five to ninety reciprocations per
minute, more or less, including the movements in both directions, a course being.
kuit in each movement.

page_text: THE PRIMARY STARTING OF THE CAM SHAFT.
The cam shaft 350 which actuates various auxiliary automatic mechanisms
remains stationary from the beginning of the knitting at the top of the leg until
the leg is finished or nearly so, the pawl 356 being in the first dwell 352 of the
driving ratchet wheel 351 on said cam shaft. As the machine completes the
knitting of the leg, a stud of the pattern chain 390 engages the notched plate 404
on the radial arm 401 which is attached to the sleeve 403 splined on the cam
shaft 350. The contact of this stud with the radial arm operates to turn the cam
shaft, and its driving ratchet wheel is carried a sufficient distance to take its
dwell 352 away from its actuating pawl 356 and permit said pawl to engage the
working teeth and the cain shaft 350 is then actuated by said ratchet wheel and
pawl until the second dwell 353 reaches the pawl.
The teeth on the driving ratchet wheel of the cam shaft are larger than those
on the ratchet wheel 361 which actuates the loose sleeve carrying the ratchet disk
by which the pattern chain is actuated; consequently the cam shaft is rotated
more rapidly by its driving pawl and ratchet wheel than the wheel of the pattern
chain, and the arms 401, 402, and 403 on the fixed sleeve are thereby moved more
rapidly than the actuating studs of the chain which engage said arms so that each
of the arms is taken out of the way of the immediate actuating stud and the next
arm carried into proper position to be again actuated by its actuating stud. During
this partial rotation of the cam shaft the several automatic mechanisms necessary
to effect the changes incident to the passage from the knitting of the leg to the
knitting of the heel are effected, some by this partial turning of the cam shaft and
others by other means.
NEEDLE THROWING OUT MECHANISM.
The first of the auxiliary automatic mechanisms to be actuated preparatory to
the knitting of the heel is that mechanism which throws one half of the needles
into inoperative position. The needles of this half of the circular series of needles
are provided with elongated butts 230. An arc-shaped slide plate 450 is disposed
on the outer face of the cam cylinder between the bottom flange thereof and a
block 451 secured to the top thereof. This slide plate is provided with an inclined
cam slot 452 and the stud 263 attached to the switch cam pivoted on the inner face
of the cam cylinder 240 projects through the cam slot. The slide plate is also
provided with a notch 453 at its upper edge. A bracket 454 is secured to the
cam cylinder outside the slide plate 450, said slide plate being recessed on its
lower edge to straddle the attached end of this bracket. This bracket carries a
vertical stud 455 at a point some distance from the cam cylinder, and in front of
the slide plate. A horizontal lever 456 for actuating the slide plate is pivoted on
said stud, and its inner end engages said slide plate by entering the notch 453 at
the upper edge thereof and its outer end has a stub fork. When the outer end of
this lever is swung on its pivot in one direction, the inner end thereof moves the
slide plate in the opposite direction, and this movement of the slide plate lifts or
depresses the switch cam on the inner face of the cam cylinder. A bracket 457
is secured to the bed-plate at the rear of the machine near the right end thereof
and at a point over the cam shaft. This bracket has perforated ears 458 and 459
at its upper end and lower end respectively and a vertical rod 460 is adapted to
slide in said ears. The lower end of this rod rests upon the periphery of the cam
disk 461 disposed on the cam shaft 350 at the left of the standard 20 and overhangs
the outer edge of said periphery. A spring 462 disposed between the upper
ear 458 and a stud on the slide rod tends to depress said rod and hold it in
contact with said cam disk. This cam disk is provided on its right face with two
cams 463 and 464 which project beyond said periphery and when the cam disk is
rotated so as to bring one of these cams under the overhanging end of the slide-

page_text: rod 460, said rod is lifted and its upper end is projected into the path of the
lever 456 which actuates the arc-shaped slide plate 450 on the cam cylinder which
controls the switch finger for throwing out of action that half of the needles
which is rendered inoperative during the knitting of the heel and toe.
When the cam shaft is partially rotated as aforesaid to effect the necessary
changes for knitting the heel, the cam 463 on said cam disk elevates the slide
rod 460 as aforesaid and the outer end of the horizontal lever 456 comes in contact
with the upper end thereof, whereby the outer end of said lever is swung back-
ward and its front end forward, and the slide plate is thrown towards the left. In
this movement of the slide plate the stud attached to the switch cam is thrown
downward by the inclined cam slot 452 and the free end of the switch finger is
lowered into position to engage the outer ends of the elongated butts of the
needles to be thrown out of action, and all of said needles are immediately elevated
into inoperative position during the next rotation or semi-rotation. The other half
of the needles which are utilized in the knitting of the heel have shorter butts
which do not come in contact with the switch finger.
NARROWING MECHANISM.
The
The automatic mechanism next brought into operation by the turning of the
cam shaft from the first to the second dwell of its driving ratchet wheel 351 is
the mechanism for narrowing and widening the web to form a bulge to constitute
the heel of the stocking. The narrowing of the web to form the upper part of the
heel is effected as regards the needle head by throwing out of action successively
a number of needles at each end of the semi-circular series of active needles.
outer face of the driving ratchet wheel 351 is provided with a thick cam 470 and
a thin cam 471. A lever 472 pivoted on the lug 473 attached to the outer face
of the right standard 20 swings laterally in an inclined plane. The lower end of
this lever bears against the outer face of said driving ratchet wheel 351 and is
engaged by the lugs thereon. A spring 474 connected at one end to said lever
below its pivot and at the outer end to said standard tends to hold the lower end
A slotted block 475
of the lever in contact with said ratchet wheel and its cams.
provided with a longitudinal recess on its underside and with a slot at its inner
end is disposed on the bed-plate at the right end of the machine, and forms a
guide-way for a radial slide 476 which is provided at its outer end with a pin
The inner end of this slide is pro-
engaged by the upper end of the lever 472.
vided with a short standard 477 which carries an arc-shaped cam plate 478 having an
inwardly projecting stud 479. The thick cam 470 on the outer face of the ratchet
wheel 351 comes in contact with the lower end of the lever 472 during the rotation
of said ratchet wheel between the first and second dwells thereon and the lower
end of said lever is thrown outward and its upper end inward and the radial
slide 476 is thereby pushed inward its full stroke. The arc-shaped cam plate 478
attached to the standard 477 on said slide plate is moved inward a sufficient
distance to bring its inclined cam face within the path of the outer end of the
lever 309. When this lever comes round again its outer end engages said inclined
cam surface and it is thereby depressed and its inner end raised whereby the lifting
cam 270 and 271 of the head are released and fall inte active position for lifting
successive needles at the ends of the semi-circular heel knitting series of needles.
Just after the outer end of said lever is depressed by the edge of the cam plate 478,
the stud 479 on the inner face of said cam plate engages the stud 314 on the
spring actuated latch 312, and said latch is drawn back against the tension of its
spring, and before the outer end of said lever is released from the lower edge of
the cam plate, the latch is released from the stud and quickly closes under the
tension of its spring, shutting into the notch 307 over the depressed end of said
lever and locking said lever in this position. The needle lifting cams 270 and 271
are then free to act upon and raise the needles successively at each end of the
semi-circular series of needles during the reciprocation of the cam cylinder 210.
L'

page_text: Automatic mechanism for feeding a reinforcing yarn during the knitting of the
heel is brought into action during the first movement of the cam shaft from the
first to the second dwell of its driving ratchet wheel. This mechanism may be of
any suitable construction. In the mechanism herein shown for this purpose a yarn
tube 490 which is mounted on the horizontal arm 60 attached to the standard 53
and through this tube the main and reinforcing yarns pass, the reinforcing yarn
when supplied being carried by fibrous contact with the main yarn.
A guide
block 500 is disposed in the rear of the yarn tube on said arm. This guide block
has a central slit 501 and is provided on the left side of said slit with an eye 502
for guiding the main yarn into the rear of the yarn tube, and on the other side of
said slit with an eye 503 for guiding the reinforcing yarn into said tube. The
yarn tube 490 has a longitudinal slot in its top from a point near its center to its
rear end, and it is provided with a fixed diametrical shear blade 491 at the front
of said slot. A sliding ring 492 is disposed on the exterior of the yarn tube and
a yarn separating blade 493 is attached to said ring and extends rearwardly
therefrom, its rear end playing in the slit 501 in the guide block. This separating
blade serves to divide the yarn tube longitudinally throughout more or less of its
length according to the position of the slide ring, the upper edge of said blade
projecting through the slot in the top of said tube. The tube is provided with
lateral pins 494 and 495 which serve as front stops for the slide ring 492.
This slide ring is provided with a shear blade 496 which acts in conjunction with
the fixed shear blade 491 of the yarn tube. When said slide is at the end of its
forward stroke, these shear blades serve to cut off the reinforcing yarn when the
heel or toe is completed. The slide ring 492 carrying the yarn separating blade
and one of the shear blades is moved backward and forward on the yarn tube 490
at proper intervals for supplying and cutting off the reinforcing yarn by any
suitable automatic mechanism for that purpose. As shown the slide ring is pro-
vided with lateral studs 497 and 498 and spiral springs as 499 are connected at
their rear ends with said studs and at their front ends to the bracket 60. These
springs tend to pull forward the slide ring and bring the yarn separating blade
and the shear blade into operation. A bent lever 510 is pivoted on a dependent
lug 511 on the bracket 60, this bent lever having a lateral arm 512 at its upper
end which extends over the horizontal bracket 60, said arm having a down turned
lug 513. A headed stud 514 is disposed at the upper end of this bent lever over
one side of said horizontal bracket and a similar headed stud 515 is disposed on the
down turned lug 513 over the other side of said horizontal bracket. Connecting

page_text: rods as 516 engage at their front ends the studs as 498 on the slide ring 492
carrying the separating and shear blades, and are provided at their rear ends with
loops 517 which are engaged by the headed studs of said lever, whereby said slide
ring is drawn back as hereinafter described to permit the feeding of the reinforcing
yarn. A lever 520, pivoted near the rear end of the horizontal bracket 60 is
adapted to play in a slot in said bracket and is provided with a yarn guide 521 at
its front end, through which the reinforcing yarn is fed to the eye 503 of the
block 500 on the right side of the separating blade 493, said lever being in hori-
zontal position and its yarn guide in alignment, or substantially so, with the eye 503,
when the reinforcing yarn is being supplied. A rock shaft 525 is journaled on the
yarn stand in the rear of the standard 53 and an arm 524. is fixed to said rock
shaft and is inclined upward and forward therefrom. A connecting rod 522
connects the upper end of this inclined arm on the rock shaft with the rear end of
the yarn guide lever 520 on the bracket 60. This connecting rod has a lateral
stud 523 and the lower end of the bent lever 510 is provided with a slot which
engages said stud. A downwardly extending arm 526 is also fixed to said rock
shaft and its lower end is engaged by means of its stud 527 or otherwise by a
segmental cam plate 528 fixed to the left face of the cam disk 461. A contractile
spring 529 connected at one end to the standard 53 and at the other end to the
pivot between the inclined arm 524 and the connecting rod 522 tends to hold
the dependent arm 526 in contact with the cam disk 461 and its segmental
cam 528.
The main yarn a passes from the bobbin on the left spindle 51 through the yarn
guide 56 on the arm 54 at the top of the standard 53, thence downward and through
a yarn guide 38 supported on an arm connected to said standard, thence through
the left eye 502 in the guide block 500, thence into and through the yarn tube 490
ou the left side of the separating blade 493, thence through the eye of the take-up
hereinafter described, thence downward through the eye 61 at the front of the
horizontal slotted bracket 60, thence through the eye 322 in the guard ring 320
mounted on the cam cylinder 240 to the needles.
A reinforcing yarn 6 passes from the bobbin on the right spindle 52 up through
the eye 57 on the arm 55 at the top of the standard 53, thence downward behind a
bent arm 57 supported on said standard some distance above the horizontal
bracket 60, thence through the eye 518 on the lever 510, thence through the yarn
guide 59 attached to a collar on the standard 53 in a plane about in line with the
yarn tube 490, thence through the yaru guide 521 on the horizontal lever 520,
thence through the right eye 503 in the guide block 500, thence through the
yarn tube 490 on the right side of the yarn separating blade 493, thence through
the eye of the take-up and thence downward through the eye 61 at the front
end of the horizontal bracket 60, through which the main yarn passes, and through
the same eye in the guard ring on the cam ring to the needles.
During the actuation of the cam shaft from the first to the second dwell of its
driving ratchet wheel, the segmental cam plate 528 on the left side of the cam disk 461
engages the downwardly extending arm 526 of the rock shaft 525 and turns said rock
.shaft through a small arc. This turning of the rock shaft pulls down the connecting
rod 522 and raises the lever 20 which swings in the slot of the bracket 60 into hori-
zontal position and brings the yarn guide 521 at the front end thereof in alignment
with the right hole 502 of the block 500 at the same time the bent bracket 510 is
swung backward by the downward movement of the said connecting rod and the
slide ring 492 on the yarn tube 490 is drawn backward, whereby the yarn separator
blade 493 is also moved backward, and the reinforcing yarn 6 which lies in the
yarn tube 490 is thus permitted to come into contact with the main yarn a for
some distance in front of the drawn back separating blade 493. The fibrous
contact of the two yarns causes the reinforcing yarn to adhere to the main yarn a
and the reinforcing yarn is thereby fed forward to the knitting needles by the draft
of the main yarn. The segmental cam 528 on the disk continues to hold the
separating blade in drawn back position during the knitting of the heel.

page_text: clamp 550 has its head disposed in said recess and its shank depending downward
through said slot, the head being slightly curved to correspond with the curvature
of the needle cylinder. This clamp is hinged at its lower end to the lower end
of an E-shaped bracket depending from the underside of the bed-plate 30. A
plate spring 552 is fixed at one end to the underside of said bracket and extends
forward, then upward, then rearward, its upper end pressing against the shank of
said T-shaped clamp and tending to hold it normally in backward position out of
action. Mechanism is provided for automatically throwing the clamp into active
position for clamping the needle cylinder at or before the reciprocatory movement
for the knitting of the heel and toe begins, and to automatically release the clamp
from the cylinder when the reciprocatory movement ends. This mechanism con-
structed as herein shown, comprises a horizontal lever 553 having a lateral slot 554
by means of which it is loosely pivoted on a flat-headed screw stud 554¹ which
passes through said lateral slot and takes into the underside of the bed-plate in
front of the vertical portion of the L-shaped bracket 551. A lug 555 depends
from the underside of the hed-plate and an adjustable screw 556 extends from the
rear through said lug and comes in contact with the right end of said horizontal
lever and serves as an adjustable stop therefor. The left end of said horizontal
lever is connected with an inclined lever 557 pivoted to a lug 558 on the dependent
bracket 412, said inclined lever being adapted to swing in a vertical plane. The
lower end of this inclined lever is actuated by a segmental cam plate 559 attached
to the segmental cam 543 which operates to raise the needle cylinder, the cam
plate being somewhat shorter than the cam. After the needle cylinder is lifted
the segmental cam plate 559 comes in contact with the lower end of the inclined
lever 557 and swings the upper end thereof forward, whereby the horizontal
lever 553 is also moved forward, sliding on its pivot. This movement of the
horizontal lever brings it in contact with the shank of the T-shaped clamp 550 at
a point near the top thereof, and said clamp is thereby pressed against the needle
cylinder. The said adjustable screw 556 is used to regulate the throw of the
horizontal lever for adjusting the movement of the clamp. The clamp continues
to hold the needle cylinder until the narrowing and widening operations are
finished, and then the segmental cam plate 559 passes out of contact with the lower
end of the inclined lever 557 and the clamp is released from the action of the
horizontal lever 553 and the plate spring 552 presses said clamp backward out of
contact with the needle cylinder, and then the needle cylinder is lowered and
raised, upon the notched fixed flange 40.
WIDENING FOR THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE HEEL.
When the narrowing for the heel is nearly finished as above described, a lug 392
on the pattern chain comes in contact with the notched plate 405 on the second
radial arm 402 attached to the sleeve 400 which is fixed to the cam shaft 350 and
said shaft is thereby turned a sufficient distance to take the actuating pawl 356 out
of the second dwell 353 in the driving ratchet wheel 351. The pawl then actuates
said ratchet wheel a distance of three teeth to the third dwell 354 and the cam
shaft is thus turned through a small arc. During this partial rotation of the cam
shatt, the thin cam 471 on the outer face of said ratchet wheel engages the
lever 472, and the radial slide 476 is pushed inward a partial stroke sufficient to
bring the inwardly projecting stud 479 on the arc-shaped cam 478 into the path of
the vertical stud 314 on the spring latch 312 while leaving said arc-shaped cam
plate a sufficient distance outward to permit the outward end of the lever 309 to
rise. The contact of the stud opens the latch 312, releases said lever 309 and the
spring 308 pulls down the T-shaped slide 300 and throws the litting cams out of
operation and the lowering cams into operation. The lever 472 is then immediately
released from the cam 471 and the radial slide 476 is drawn back.
The machine continues to operate and the cam cylinder to reciprocate and the
knitting of the lower part of the heel in successive widened courses proceeds. The

page_text: last needles thrown out at either end of the knitting series engages the breast of
one of the throwing down cams as 290, and forces said cam backward against the
tension of the torsional spring 296 which controls the arm to which the cam is
secured. This downward movement of the cam 290 carries the withdrawn needle
downward into the cam track -, whence it passes under the automatic switch
cam 254. This operation continues without change of the parts of the machine
until the knitting of the lower part of the heel is nearly finished. A needle at each
end of the working series is pulled down into operative position successively in
each reciprocation of the cam cylinder until the widening is completed and the heel
finished.
KNITTING THE FOOT.
After the heel is completed as aforesaid, a stud 393 on the pattern chain comes
in contact with the notched plate 406 on the third arm 403 on the sleeve 400 fixed
to the cam shaft 350 and turns said shaft and its ratchet wheel until the pawl comes
out of the third dwell 354 thereof. The segmental cam 528 ou the cain disk 461
then releases the arm 526 and the mechanism which supplies the reinforcing yarn.
The slide ring 492 on the yarn tube is then drawn forward under the action of the
springs as 499 and the shear blade 496 in said ring closes against the fixed shear
blade 491 in said tube and cuts off the reinforcing yarn b. A holding device is
provided for holding the end of the reinforcing yarn in the
yarn tube. This device,
when constructed as herein shown, consists of an inverted U-shaped clamp 560, one
leg of which is elongated. The long leg extends through a hole at one side of
the eye 503 in the guide block 500 and serves as a guide for the clamp. The short
leg plays in a hole which extends into said eye. This clamp is provided with a
lateral stud 561 which is engaged by a cam 562 in the sliding yarn separating
blade 493 and said clamp is elevated by said blade when the latter is drawn back
to permit the feeding of the reinforcing yarn. When the blade is in forward
position and the reinforcing yarn cut off, the clamp falls by its own gravity or by a
spring, and the end of its short leg clamps the end of the reinforcing yarn against
the bottom of the eye 503. When the reinforcing yarn is cut off and clamped by
said clamp, the free end of the lever 520 carrying the yarn guide 521 falls and
draws from the bobbin some yarn for slack. When the reinforcing yarn is to be
again supplied and said lever rises to a point opposite the eye in the block 500, an
inch or two of slack yarn is left between said eye and the end of the yarn guide.
This slack yarn enables the end of the reinforcing yarn to be drawn forward by
fibrous contact with the main yarn when the separating blade is again drawn back
without tension or frictional resistance. This third actuation of the cam shaft as
aforesaid brings the cam 464 on the right face of the cam disk 461 under the spring
'depressed rod 460 and lifts it into the path of the horizontal swinging arm 456, and
as said arm makes its last backward reciprocating stroke, it comes in contact with
said raised rod and pulls the slide plate 450 forward, thereby lifting the switch
finger 260 into position to engage the elongated butts of that half of the needles
which were thrown into inoperative position at the beginning of the knitting of the
heel and said needles are lowered into active position during a half rotation of the
cam cylinder.
During this third movement of the cam shaft a cam 483 on the left of the
periphery of the cam wheel 480 engages the shifting lever 145 of the clutch, and
the clutch sleeve 143 is moved towards the left, releasing the right pinion 151 and
engaging the left pinion 150, whereby continuous rotary motion is imparted to the
cam cylinder. Then the cam 531 controlling the lifting lever 532 for lifting the
take-up 530 releases said lever and the take-up falls into inoperative position.
The segmental cam 543 releases the mechanism for raising the needle cylinder for
loosening the stitches, and said cylinder resumes its lowered position upon the
flange 40, and the segmental cam 559 also releases the needle cylinder clamping
mechanism. The machine continues in operation and the body of the foot is kuit in
continuous circular courses, the butts of the needles passing through the path x-x

page_text: of the cam cylinder. The actuating pawl 356 continues to engage the active teeth
of the ratchet wheel 351 until the cam shaft is turned a sufficient distance to bring
its cams into operative positions for the succeeding operations. At or shortly after
the continuous knitting in circular courses for the formation of the body of the foot
is begun a lug 394 on the pattern chain engages the angular lug 441 on the
disk 439 of the rock shaft 432 which actuates the shipper lever 430, and the
driving belts 104 and 105 are shifted; the slow speed belt onto the intermediate
loose pulley 102 and the high speed belt 105 onto the right pulley 103 so that the
knitting of the foot is
ted rapidly.
THE TOE KNITTING.
During the knitting of a stocking the cam shaft makes two complete rotations.
and after the operations above described which relate to the knitting of the leg
and heel and body of the foot are completed, the cam shaft begins its second
rotation, and its cams and the pattern chain again actuate the same mechanisms,
and in the same manner for knitting the toe as was heretofore done for the knitting
of the heel.
The first starting of the cam shaft for the toe knitting is effected by the
stud 391 on the pattern chain, this stud coming in contact with the notched
plate 404 on the first radial arm 401 which was first actuated by another stud on
the pattern chain for the heel knitting; the cam shaft 350 is thus again actuated,
by the aid of its driving ratchet wheel 351 and the pawl 356 through the arc
corresponding to the distance between the first and second dwells of said ratchet
wheel. By this movement of the cam shaft the mechanisms which were heretofore
actuated for the narrowing for the heel are again brought into operation including
the mechanism for throwing half the needles into inoperative position; the
mechanism for changing the motion of the cam cylinder from a continuous rotary
to a reciprocatory movement; the narrowing mechanism; the mechanism for
supplying the reinforcing thread; the yarn take-up mechanism; the stitch-
loosening mechanism; and the clamping mechanism for the needle cylinder.
At or about the time that the stud 391' on the pattern chain comes in contact.
with the radial arm 401 and starts the cam shaft, a lug 4421 on the pattern chain
actuates the belt-shifting mechanism, whereby the speed of the machine is reduced
as in the heel knitting.
When the narrowing operation for the toe is completed a lug 392¹ comes in
contact with the second radial arm 402, and the cam shaft is again actuated by
said arm and its ratchet wheel 351 and the pawl 356 through the short arc
corresponding to the distance between the dwells 353 and 354 of said ratchet.
wheel, whereby the thin cam 470 thereon operates the lever 472 controlling the
narrowing and widening mechanisms for throwing the former out of action and
bringing the latter into action, and the knitting of the top of the toe in successively
elongated or widened courses is then effected. When the toe is completed a
stud 3931 on the pattern chain comes in contact with the radial arm 403, and the
cam shaft is again started, and is then driven by its ratchet wheel 351 and the
pawl 356 through its longest arc corresponding to the distance between the dwells 354
and 352 of said ratchet wheel. During this movement of the cam shaft the
mechanism for supplying the reinforcing yarn is thrown out of action; the
mechanism for controlling the semi-circular series of needles, which are sometimes
operative and sometimes inoperative, brings said needles into operative position ;
the yarn take-up mechanism is thrown out of action; the stitch-loosening
mechanism is also thrown out of action; the needle cylinder is released by its
clamp; and the motion of the cam cylinder is changed from a reciprocatory to a
rotary movement..
During this last actuation of the cam shaft a bevelled lug 394' shown in the
drawings in dotted lines, comes in contact with the angular lug 441 on the disk 439,
and causes the shifting of the belt shipper 430, whereby the rapid driving belt is

page_text: moved into operative position. The moving parts have then resumed the positions
indicated in the drawings, and the machine is ready for the knitting of another leg
as herein before described.
The several mechanisms herein before described may be varied more or less and
some of them may be dispensed with without departing from the scope of this
invention.
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 combination of a needle cylinder, a fixed
support therefor, a movable support for said needle cylinder, and means for shifting
the movable support to bring it into and out of engagement with the needle
cylinder for elevating and depressing the latter.
2. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a bed-plate for a knitting
head provided with an internal notched flange, a needle cylinder provided on its
bottom with studs which project through said notched flange, a cam ring disposed
underneath said flange adapted to engage the studs on said needle cylinder for
elevating the latter, and two separate actuating mechanisms for said cam ring, one
of which operates during the knitting of the calf of the leg, and the other during
the knitting of the heel and toe.
3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a bed-plate for a knitting
head provided with an internal notched flange, a needle cylinder provided on its
bottom with studs which project through said notched flange, a cam ring disposed
underneath said flange and adapted to engage said studs on said needle cylinder for
elevating the latter, said cam ring being provided with a radial arm, a spring
retracted slide rod engaging said radial arm, and two separate mechanisms for
actuating said slide rod at different periods, one of said mechanisms imparting a
partial stroke to said rod to actuate the cam ring and the other operating to
thrust said rod and gradually withdraw it whereby said cylinder is gradually
lowered.
4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a
vertically movable cam ring disposed below said cylinder and provided with cams
on its underside, studs between the needle cylinder and cam ring, detachable
supports for said cam ring engaged by said cams, and means for shifting said cam
ring to raise or lower it and the needle cylinder.
5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head whereof
the rotary cam cylinder is provided with separate sets of narrowing and widening
cams, and with means for positively throwing the widening cams into operative
and inoperative positions, a spring actuated lever for actuating said means, and a
spring actuated latch for locking said lever whereby on disengagement of the lever
by the latch the lever moves under the stress of the spring.
6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head whereof
the rotary cam cylinder is provided with separate sets of narrowing and widening
cams and with means for positively throwing the widening cams into operative
and inoperative positions, a lever for actuating said means, a spring actuated
latch for locking said lever, and an automatic mechanism for actuating said lever.
7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head whereof
the rotary cam cylinder is provided with narrowing and widening cams and with
means for rendering either set of said cams operative while rendering the other set
inoperative, a lever for actuating said means, a spring actuated latch for locking
said lever, and automatic mechanism for actuating said lever, and an automatic
mechanism for releasing said lever.
8. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head whereof the
rotary cam cylinder is provided with separate sets of narrowing and widening cams
and with means for rendering either set of said cams operative while rendering the
other set inoperative, a lever for actuating said means, a spring actuated latch for

page_text: locking said lever, a radial slide carrying a cam for engaging said lever, a stud fór
releasing said latch, and automatic means for actuating said radial slide, said
mechanism being adapted to actuate said slide a full stroke for acting upon said
lever, and a partial stroke for releasing said spring actuated latch.
9. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, a yarn tube adapted
to pass the main and reinforcing yarns, and a sliding yarn separating blade within
said tube adapted to separate the main and reinforcing yarns when the latter is not
required for use, and to permit fibrous contact thereof when both yarns are required.
10. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, a yarn tube adapted
to pass the main and reinforcing yarns, a sliding yarn separating blade within said
tube adapted to separate the main and reinforcing yarns when the latter is not
required for use, and to permit fibrous contact thereof when both yarns are
required, a fixed shear blade in said tube, and a movable shear blade whereby the
reinforcing yarn is cut off when not required.
11. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, a yarn tube for
the passage of the main and reinforcing yarns, a slide ring on said tube, a yarn
separating blade connected to said ring, automatic mechanism for operating said
slide ring in either direction at the required time for separating said yarns or
permitting fibrous contact thereof.
12. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, a yarn tube for
the passage of the main and reinforcing yarns, a slide ring on said tube, a yarn
separating blade connected to said ring, automatic mechanism for operating said
slide ring in either direction at the required time for separating said yarns or
permitting fibrous contact thereof, and a cut-off for the reinforcing yarn.
13. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, a yarn guiding
tube, a guide block provided with eyes for the yarn passing into said tube, a yarn
separating blade adapted to slide in said tube to separate the main and reinforcing
yarns or permit fibrous contact thereof, a cutting-off mechanism for the reinforcing
yarn, a clamp for holding the cut off end of said yarn, and automatic means for
releasing said clamp when the blade is drawn back."
14. In a knitting machine, the combination of a knitting head, mechanism for
raising the needle cylinder to elongate the stitches, and mechanism for clamping
the needle cylinder in elevated position.
15. In a knitting machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a knitting
head, mechanism for imparting alternately continuous rotary and reciprocatory
motion to the cam cylinder of said knitting head, a cam shaft provided with a
number of cams, a stitch enlarging mechanism operated by a cam on said cam
shaft, a needle throwing out mechanism controlled by a cam on said cam shaft, a
narrowing mechanism controlled by a cam on said cam shaft, a reinforcing yarn
mechanism actuated by a cam on said cam shaft, a yarn take-up mechanism actuated
by a cam on said cam shaft, a clamping mechanism for the needle cylinder actuated
by a cam on said cam shaft, and a widening mechanism controlled by a cam on said
cam shaft.
16. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder carrying
needles which are provided with lateral butts, the butts of a number of needles
being longer than those of other needles, a cam cylinder having a cam groove to
actuate the needles, a pivoted switch finger arranged to engage the longer needle
butts, a slide having a cam-way coacting with said pivoted switch finger, a lever
engaging said slide, mechanism for actuating said cam cylinder, a siide rod, and
means for periodically projecting the slide rod into the path of the lever.
17. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a cam
cylinder movable around the needle cylinder, a shaft in gear with the cam cylinder,
two pinions loose on said shaft, a rotary gear in mesh with one of said pinions, a
sector in mesh with the other pinion, and connected by a pitman with said rotary
gear, a double clutch splined on the shaft between the pinions, a shipper lever
engaging said clutch, a cam wheel coacting with said shipper lever, a pattern chain
F

page_text: and suitable connections between the pattern chain and the cam wheel for
periodically: moving said wheel.
18.. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a cam
cylinder movable around the needle cylinder, a shaft in gear with the cam cylinder,
two pinions loose on said shaft, springs on said shaft acting against said pinions, a
rotary gear in mesh with one of said pinions, a sector:in.mesh with the other pinion,
and connected by a pitman with said rotary gear, a double clutch splined on the
shaft between the pinions, .a. shipper lever engaging said clutch,. a cam wheel
coacting with shipper lever, and mechanism for periodically moving said cam
wheel.
Tthis on Ontaha 1905
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.