Improvements in Splicing Mechanism for Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1595
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Splicing Mechanism for Circular Knitting
Machines.
1, GEORGE ARCHIBALD CARTWRIGHT of Limehurst, Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to circular knitting machines and is designed with
the view of producing a contrivance or mechanism. by means of which, a splicing
thread may be incorporated in parts of a knitted fabric, (such as the knees, heels,
toes and foot-bottom of a stocking) with more .certainty and regularity than 19
possible by the contrivances or mechanism at present in use for that purpose.
My invention comprises as its essential features, a sliding arm or thread eye
through which the splicing thread passes: a sliding thread trapper, moving at
right angles, or substantially so, to the splicing thread eye and connected mechanism
to operate the said thread eye and trapper in the manner and for the purposu
hereinafter described.
When the splicing thread is to be knitted into the parts of the fabric herein before
referred to, the splicing thread eye moves towards the needles and becomes located
in close proximity thereto, so as to admit of the said thread being engaged by
certain of the needles: and when the splicing thread is to be withdrawn, the
splicing thread eye moves away from the needles, and the trapper, which, under
the influence of a spring, has been kept pressing against the said thread eye, 18 now
suddenly released and impelled against the throad and traps it between the side of
the passage or guiden ay in which the said thread eye moves, so that the said thread
becomes severed.
The trapper is moved away so as to release the thread and permit the eye
through which the latter passes, to travel towards the needles, when the said thread
18 to be again re-engaged by the Intter.
Both the thiend eye and the trapper move in guideways formed, preferably in a
plate supported by a stable bracket connected to and revolving with the machine;
and levers or other suntable intermediate mechanism operated by projections or
surfaces on the bed of the machine, may be employed to move the thread eye to and
from the needles and to cause the trapper to release the splicing thread.
Dated this 27th day of December 1891.
BOULT & WA
WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Splicing Mechanism for Circular Knitting
Machines.
1, GFORGE ARCHIBALD CARTWRIGHT of Limehurst, Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to circular knitting machines and is designed with a

page_text: view of producing mechanism for use therewith by means of which a splicing or
additional thread may be fed to the needles thereof with greater exactness and
regularity thau is possible with the apparatuses at present in use for the same
purpose
The invention is mainly designed for use on circular knitting machines for
producing stockings and socks, so as to permit of the heele, toes and foot bottoms
and heels thereof being knitted of a thicker substance than the other parts which
are subjected to less stram and wear.
The invention comprises as its essential features the combination of a sliding
thiend eye or carrier through which the splicing thread passes and a sliding thrond
trapper moving at an angle to or whose lines of motion intersect each other.
The invention also includes mechanism to actuate such sliding thread carrier and
sliding trapper at the desired times and in the desued manner.
When the splying thread is to be knitted into the parts of the fabe before
mentioned the splicing thread cauer moves towards and becomes located in close
proximity to the needles, so as to admit of the splicing thread being engaged
thereby, and when the requned number of the needles (usually one half or there-
abouts of the complete ciirle of needles) have taken the said thi cad, the latter is
prevented feeding to the needles for which purpose the sliding thread carrier
recedes or moses away from the needles and the sliding thread trapper (which
under the influence of a spring has been kept pressing against the thread carrier) is
suddenly released and impelled against the splicing thread and traps it against the
Ride of the passage or guideway in which the said thread carrier moves so that the
said splicing thread becomes held thereby.
This operation is repeated each course in the fabric until the required length has
been thickened at the parts of a stocking or sock before mentioned.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following further
description and the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 a plan of so much of a circular knitting
machine of the reversible type as is necessary to illustinte my improved splicing
apparatus which is shown as applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of my improved splicing apparatus detached from
the kuntung machine
Figure 4 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings and only so
much of the knitting machine will be described and referred to as is requisite to
make clear the invention.
A represents the usual post which supports the main thread guide in machines of
ordinary construction and which is screwed in the usual manner to the cam cylinder B
so as to revolve therewith.
Upon the upper end of this post I fix by means of scrows C Figures 2 & 3, a
horizontal plate D in which are cut two grooves or passages for the recoption of a
eliding splicing thread carrier E and a sliding splicing the ad trapper F respectively
which in the instance are shown as at right angles to each other.
Although this appears a most useful form of construction yet the saul thread
carrier and trapper may be movable at any other convenient angle to each
other.
The splicing thread passes through an eye E' Figures 2 & 3 in the care and
the latter, when the splicing thread is being taken by the needles is moved into the
position shown in Figures 1 & 2 so that the said thi cad is in such close proximity
to the hooks of the needles as to be certam of engagement thereby and when the
sphong thread is to be withdrawn from the needles so as to avoid being incorporated
in the loops being formed thereon the thread catch is moved backwardly into the
position indicated in Figure 3 whereupon the trapper Funder the influence of the
sping immediately moves into the position shown in the last named hgure and
traps the thead ngamist the side of this groove in which the said thread carrier
moves.

page_text: The thread thus held and prevented feeding becomes severed by the straw and
leaves a short piece of thread F hanging loose as in Figure 3 to be taken by the,
needles, when the said thread is subsequently released by the backward movement
of the trapper into the position indicated in Figure 2.
In order to move the shading thiend carrier to and from the needles, a pin E'
Figuro 2 on the side the cof is located in a slot G na lever G fulcrummed at G' to
an arın II connected by a screw H' to the post A.
When the machine is in motion and the splicing mechanisin revolving therewith
the lever (18 moved on its fulcrum G' to move the thread carrier to and from the
needles by means of projections of netuating devices JJ' fixed to the bed of the
machine.
The thread caries actuating devices J Jas will be noticed occupy differcut
positions relatively to the centre of the machine so that at one time the lever G
comes into contact with the projection J Figure 2 and moves the thread carrier E.
to the needles to let the splicing thread be fed theicto and subsequently the said
lever collides with the projection and the reverse action takes place, the thread
carrier being thereby withdrawn from the needles and the splicing trapped by the
trapper as before described.
Just immediately prior to the lever G striking the projection J to move the
thead cater towards the needles, the trappel F is moved out of the tinck of
the thread cairie Eie, from the position indicated in Figure 3 to the position
shown in Figure 2.
The withdrawal of the trapper as stated is effected by means of a lever K,
potted at K(Figures 2 & 3) thereto coming into contact with a jointed projecting
am L Figure 1 or its equivalent, connected to the bed plate.
The lever K is fulcrummed at K' to a plate K' connected by a screw K' to the
plate D.
Almost simultaneously with the thead carrier moving towards the needles the
lever K passes out of contact with its actuating arm L so that the spring F¹ keeps
the trapper pressed against the head of the said came ready to move forward and
trap the thread immediately the caniter is withdrawn.
The thread carrier E and the trapper Fare maintained in then grooves and a
too free or accidental movement of same prevented by plates D' and D³ respectively
seemed to the plate D by screws D D the extent of the movement of the said
care and trapper being limited by stop pins D³ D' abutting against the plate D'
and D respectively.
During the time splicing of the fabric is taking place the actuating devices J J'
occupy the positions in which they are shown in Figures 1 and 2 but when ordinary
unspliced work is to be made these devices are partly rotated on then centies 38
and thus placed out of the track of the lever G so that the latter is not actuated
thereby, and the arm is moved on its centie L' and folded downwards so as to
miss the lever K
The actuating device is connected by a screw J' to a plate B secured by
screws B to the bed plate B' and the device J' is secured in a summla manner by
the screw J.
The aim is pivotted at L' between the bifurcated end of a vertical rod N
which is screwed at N' to a plate Narrowed to the under side of the bed
plate B'.
A two armed plate O connected by a scies 0 to the plate N has fixed on its
lower member two prongs (not shown in the drawings) which pass under the
plate N and embrace the lower end of the rod N so that by loosening the screw O'
and slightly moving the plate O the position of the rod L can be adjusted so as the
strike the lover K sooner or later.
The aim is provided with a shoulder 1 which beats against the rod N and
keeps the arm L rigid when struch by the lover K and a spng P in contact
therewith prevents any rebound.

page_text: The man knitting thread passes through two eyes in the plates M M¹ in the
plate D before reaching the needles
Figure 3.
RTD
By fixing a spring E³ one end to the pin D and the other end to a pin D' the
thread cater E may be moved forward towards the needles (without further
actuating mechanism) immediately the trapper F releases the thread and normally
the said sping will keep the camer pressing against the trapper as
The essential features of the invention as before described are the combination
of the sliding thread carrier and the sliding trapper and the invention is not limited
to the precise mechanism shown for actuating these devices as within the skill of a
mechanic versed in the art of knitting machines, various modifications in the
actuating mechanism might be readily made, one of which modifications for
instance might consist in dispensing with the lever K and connecting the carrier E
and trapper by a bell cranked lever pivotted at a suitable point on the plate D
so that both E and F would thereby be actuated by the lever G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same 18 to be performed I declare that what I
claun 18.-
1. In a splicing apparatus for circular knitting machines, a sliding thread carrie
and a sliding thread trapper movable at an angle to each other substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. In a splicing apparatus for circular knitting machines, a sliding thread carrier
and a sliding thread trapper whose lines of movement inter-ect each other and
mechanism for actuating the said carrier and trapper in the manner and for the
purpose described.
3. In a splicing apparatus for circular knitting machines a sliding thread carrier
and a sliding thread trapper whose lines of movement intersect each other,
mechanism for moving the said trapper out of the path of the said carrier aud
the latter towards the needles and of subsequently returning the said trapper
and the cunner to their former positions substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. In a splicing apparatus for circular knitting machines a sliding thread carrier
and a sliding thread trapper means for keeping the said trapper pressing against
the carter during the time the splicing thread is feeding to the needles and for
causing the said trapper to trap the thread immediately the carrier withdraws from
the needles substantially as described.
5. In a circular knitting machine the combination with the main thread eye of a
sliding thread carrier for periodically presenting and withdrawing an additional
thiend to and from the needles and a sliding trapper for trapping the said thread
and preventing it feeding to the Beedles when the said carnet is withdrawn from
the latter.
6 In a circular knitting machine the combination with the usual thread eye of a
sliding thread caries and ineans to move the said carer to and from the needles
to present and withdraw an additional thread to and from the latter, a sliding thread
trapper and means to cause the said trapper to trap such additional thread when
the carriet
18 withdrawn from the needles and to release the said thread
immediately prior to the carrier again moving towards the needles substantially as
described.
7 lu a circular knitting machine the combination with the main thread eye of a
sliding thread carrier and a sliding thread trapper whose lines of movement
intersect each other, means for automatically moving the thread earner in close
proximity to the needles immediately the trapper releases the thread and also for
causing the trapper to trap the thread immediately the carrier withdraws from the
needles substantially as described.
8. A splicing apparatus for circular knitting machines consisting of a sliding

page_text: thread carrier and a sliding thread trapper constructed, arranged and operating
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 20th day of May 1895.
Witness-
E. N. LEWIS,
GEORGE ARCHIBALD CARTWRIGHT
Berudge Street Chambers, Leicester.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.