Improvements in Automatic Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Circular Knitting Machines.
JOHN CHARLES MOORE of 18 Crafton Street Leicester in the County of
Leicester Hosiery Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates especially to the class of machines, known as circular
reversible knitting machines and more particular those which produce the
narrowings and widenings for heels and toes, and the like, automatically, or
semi-automatically.
One of the principle features of the present invention, consists of a novel and
improved method of placing the needles in and out of action for the purpose of
narrowing and widening heels and toes of stockings, and the like, or it may be
employed with suitable modifications for making a variety of fancy patterns, or
designs.
A combination cylinder of peculiar construction is first fixed vertically upon the
bed of machine that is suitably designed to receive the same.
Longitudinal grooves are now cut in the cylinder to receive the needles that form
the stitches of fabric, also grooves of a special character are cut in the lower part
of cylinder to receive the levers that place the needles out of action when narrowing
and widening takes place. These levers are constructed so that the lower end
forms a fulcrum, and are arranged so that the upper part' can swing to and away
from the needle cylinder.
A combination cam cylinder is fitted upon the outside of the needle and lever
cylinder, this cam cylinder is made to revolve either direct, or backwards and
forwards, in a somewhat similar manner that is usual with this class of machine.
(Although there are machines which work in the contrary way, that is to say,
have the cam cylinder fixed and the needle cylinder made to revolve either direct,
or backwards and forwards, and the various parts of this invention are equally
applicable to machines of this description.) On the inside of this cylinder, and at
the lower end a cam, or its equivalent is fitted and made to slide in a vertical
manner up and down the cylinder, and is controlled by a screw and catch wheels
and catches, or other suitable device, so as to slide a given distance for the purpose
of operating upon the levers which have graduated projections upon the outer edge,
and when any of these projections come in contact with the aforesaid sliding cam
the upper part of these levers are immediately depressed into the slots, or spaces
that the needles slide in.
Another important feature of this invention consists of a combination jack and
spring needle, this spring holding the tail, or projection of jack in operative position
in the cam groove which controlls them while knitting, but admits of the tail, or
projection of jack being depressed completely into the groove of needle cylinder,
and below the surface, for the purpose of placing the needles out of action from
the cams, at the same time owing to their special construction the main stem of the
needles lie at the bottom of the needle grooves, whether they are in operative, or
none-operative position, in the same manner as machines of the common class that
use ordinary needles.
And this combination spring needle and jack being worked in conjunction with
the aforesaid depressing levers, I am enabled to controll the placing of the machine

page_text: needles, in and out of operation, for the purpose of making heels and toes, and the
like, or if desired a variety of fancy-designs.
I also may employ a needle which is composed of one peice of wire, and is so
shaped that it forms the spring, and the butt, or projection that can be operated
upon by the cams; this butt or projection admits of being depressed by means of
the aforesaid levers into the grooves of the needle cylinder, and the main stem of
needle lies flat at- the bottom of groove in exactly the same manner, as the com-
bination spring needle and jack, and although not quite so desirable, is equally
applicable for the purposes of this patent.
Special cams are fitted into the upper part of the combination cam cylinder for
the purpose of operating upon the tails of jacks, or butts of needles while knitting
is in process. These cams are of simple construction and firmly fixed to the sides
of the cylinder.
A further part of this invention relates especially to the sinker, or holding down
device, whereby I obtain greater simplicity and offer facilities for making machines
sufficiently small in diameter to suit every possible requirement.
This sinker is shaped so that the lower end forms a fulcrum, or centre, this
allows the upper part, (which is in the shape of a hook and holds the fabric down)
to swing in and out of action, being controlled by a suitable cam on the one side
and a spring on the opposite side. A specially shaped projection is on the back of
sinker near the spring, which comes in contact with a projection in the needle
cylinder of a corresponding curve, and this allows the sinkers to swing without in
anyway rising out of their proper position, but the projection of the sinker is of
such a width that when the key, or slide is taken out of the small cam ring which
holds them in position, they can be immediately removed by pressing any of the
sinkers slightly forward.
Another improvement is in regard to the novel manner that I propose to securely
hold the needle latches down and completely out of danger whether the machine
has any fabric on or not, this is of considerable advantage when it is desired to run
rib tops on for making half bose.
To do this. I employ a specially shaped yarn guide and needle guard; having
small brushes, or their equivalent attached, or working in conjunction with the
yarn guide.
I am aware that brushes have been used for a similar purpose on flat knitting
machines, but I do not know of brushes of any kind being used for the same
purpose on either ordinary circular knitting machines, or circular reverseable
knitting machines of any description.
T'also apply mechanism which has for its object the inserting of an extra thread
of yarn in those parts of stockings, and the like, that are subject to the greatest
wear, such as ankles, heels and toes, and the sole or bottom of feet; this improved
splicing device being arranged to splice half way round when the machine is
making ordinary circular, or tubular fabric, the various parts being so constructed
that it inserts the splicing and breaks it of again automatically, but upon arriving at
the heel, or toe, and the backward and forward motion being put in operation, the
breaking of the splicing yarn is arrested and allows both the heel and toe to be
spliced in a somewhat similar manner that is customary with machinery of this
class, when only the heel and toe are spliced.
I propose to obtain this in the following manner.
First I fit up a yarn trapper for breaking off the splicing, in combination with a
suitable yarn guide, this trapper either to work on the lever, or direct action method,
under this device I arrange an incline cam in the shape of a semi-circle, which when
coming in contact with a pin, or roller that is attached to the trapper it immediately
releases the same, and allows the extra splicing yarn to go in the hole of guide that
the main yarn feeds through. This semi-circular cam is capable of being thrown
out of action at suitable intervals, when not required, by a combination catch and
cam wheel, levers and catches, which are brought into operation by means of small
cams fixed on a chain that is placed in a convenient position for the purpose.

page_text: I may also use several modifications such as a pattern wheel arrange nent, in
place of chain device; or it might be preferable to have the whole, or part only,
of the semi-circular inclined cam stationary, and some part of the actual splicing
motion, such as the roller on the trapper moveable for the purpose of putting the
splicing apparatus in and out of operation, and similar results would be obtained.
But modifications of a like character to these I hold are equally applicable, and do
not in any way avoid the novelty of the combined mechanism by means of which
I propose to obtain the half-round splicing result.
I propose to introduce supplementary mechanism to work in conjunction with
the beel and toe narrowing cam wheel arrangement whereby it admits of a larger
heel than toe being made if desired.
This device is so constructed that it allows the machine to work several plain
courses of fabric after the narrowing process has been, performed and before the
widening takes place when making the heel, this makes the heel much larger than
the ordinary style, and upon making the toe these plain courses are not put
between, but upon the completion of the narrowing the widenings immediately
take place, and when finished the toe is of similar style to those which are made on
ordinary knitting machines of this class, that are in general use.
This is a great improvement over the old plan of having the heel and toe the
same size, although if required this supplementary part may he so adjusted, or
regulated that it will either dispense with the plain courses of fabric between the
heel narrowing as aforesaid, making the heel and toe in the ordinary way, or it is
capable of putting the plain courses of fabric between the narrowing and widening
of both the heel and toe making them much larger than is usual if prefered.
This result may. also be obtained by having a narrowing, or heel wheel, a chain
arrangement, or its equivalent device in a two fold manner so that half of the
device is arranged to make the heel and the other half the toe, but as this method
would be more costly to produce it would be preferable to use the former plan,
although the result in both cases would be identical and equally applicable for the
purposes of this invention.
And by these means I claim that 'I not only produce a machine which is
simple and positive in action and has unusual durability combined with great speed;
but I am also enabled to produce an article of superior manufacture and more in
conformity with the shape of the human foot.
I am aware that this style of heel is common with one particular automatic
machine of this class, but this machine also makes the toe in exactly the same
manner; but I am not aware that the ordinary method of toe made on this class
of machine, as ever been produced in conjunction with the special heel as aforesaid
in any class of koitting machine.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Circular Knitting Machines.
JOHN CHARLES MOORE Hosiery Machinist 18 Crafton Street Leicester in the
County of Leicester do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates especially to the class of machines, known as circular
reverseable knitting machines and more particular those which produce the
narrowings and widenings for heels and toes of stockings, and the like, automatically,
or semi-automatically.

page_text: The principle features of novelty in the present invention consist of the
following.
An improved method of placing the needles in and out of action for the purpose
of narrowing and widening heels and toes of stockings, and the like, or it may be
employed with suitable modifications for making a variety of fancy stitches in tuck,
lace, or other designs in open work fabric.
A combination cylinder of peculiar construction is fitted upon the bed of machine,
which is suitably designed to receive the same, longitudinal grooves are cut in this
cylinder to receive the needles which form the stitches of fabric, also grooves of a
special character are cut in the lower part of cylinder to receive the levers that
place the needles out of action when narrowing and widening takes place, these levers
being constructed so that the lower end forms a fulcrum and the upper part is free
to swing towards or away from the needle cylinder.
"
A combination cam cylinder is now fitted upon the outside of the needle and
lever cylinder, this cam cylinder is made to revolve either direct, or backwards
and forwards in a somewhat similar manner that is usual with this class of machine.
Although there are machines which operate in the contrary way, that is to say,
have the cam cylinder fixed and the needle cylinder made to revolve either direct,
or backwards and forwards and the various parts of the invention are equally
applicable to machines of this description." On the inside of this cylinder and at
the lower end a cam or its equivalent is arranged to slide in a longitudinal direction
up and down the cylinder, this being controlled by a screw and catch wheels, and
catches, or other suitable device, so as to slide a given distance for the purpose of
operating upon the levers which have graduated projections upon the outer edges,
and when these projections come in contact with the aforesaid sliding cam, the
upper part of these levers are immediately depressed into the slots, or spaces, that
the needles slide in.
Another important feature of this invention consists of a combination of jack and
spring needle, this spring holding the tail, or projection of jack in operative position
in the cam groove which controls them while knitting, but admits of the tail, or
projection of jack being depressed completely into the groove of needle cylinder,
and below the surface for the purpose of placing the needles out of action from the
cams, at the same time owing to their peculiar construction the main stem of the
needles lie flat at the bottom of the needle grooves, whether they are in operative,
or none operative position, in the same manner as machines of the common class
that use ordinary needles. And this combination spring needle and jack being
worked in conjunction with the aforesaid depressing levers, or their equivalent such
as a revolving tuck pattern wheel or similar device, I am enabled to control the
placing of the machine needles in and out of operation for the purpose of making
heels and toes, and the like, or if desired a variety of fancy designs, such as tuck,
lace, or other open work fabrics.
I also may employ a needle composed of wire, which is shaped in such a manner
that it forms the spring and the butt, or projection, that can be operated upon by
the cams, this butt, or projection would admit of being depressed by means of the
aforesaid levers into the grooves of needle cylinder, and the main stem of needles
would lie flat at the bottom of grooves in exactly the same manner, as the com-
bination spring needle and jack, and although not quite so desireable, is equally
applicable for the purposes of this patent. Special cams are fitted into the upper
part of the combination cam cylinder for the purpose of operating upon the tails
of jacks, or butts of needles while knitting is in process these being of very simple
construction and only consist of two cams, viz." one upthrow, and one depressing,
or knocking over, being arranged so as to operate in which ever direction the
machine is revolving, hitherto machines that contain only one depressing or
knocking over cam, have an oscillating yarn guide which is given a forward
movement in order to obtain the necessary lead for feeding the machine needles
with yarn, this is necessarily accompanied by a violent shock each time the

page_text: machine reverses in the backward and forward motion while making heels
and toes.
By my improved method this objection is over come as follows; The upthrow
cam is firmly fixed to the inside of the upper part of the combination cam cylinder,
a section of this cam is cut away so as to form two distinct points of operation,
a depressing cam is now fitted between these points, and owing to its special
construction it recedes automatically and noiselessly in the opposite direction to
which the machine revolves, this enables me to employ a fixed yarn guide in
conjunction with only one depressing cam in which ever direction the machine
revolves, all other machines of this class when the yarn guide is a fixture have
two depressing cams which is a great disadvantage owing to one cam wearing
more than the other, causing the heels and toes of fabric to be irregular, "viz."
loose and tight rows of stitches alternately, but by the employment of my
improved cams this is obviated and we also have the advantage of a fixed yarn
guide.
;
A further part of this invention relates especially to the sinker or holding
down device, whereby we obtain greater simplicity and offer facilities for making
machines sufficiently small in diameter to suit every possible requirement; this
sinker is shaped so that the lower end forms a fulcrum, or centre, this allows
the upper part "which is in the shape of a hook and holds the fabric down" to
swing in and out of action, being controled by a suitable cam on the one side and
spring on the opposite side a specially shaped curved projection is on the back of
the sinker near the spring, which comes in contact with a projection on the inside
of needle cylinder which corresponds in shape, and this allows the sinkers to swing
freely without in anyway rising out of their proper position, but this projection of
the sinker is of such a width that when the key, or slide is taken out of the tube,
or cam ring which holds them in position, they can be immediately removed by
pressing any of them slightly forward.
Another improvement is in regard to the novel manner that I propose to
securely hold the needle latches down and completely out of danger whether the
machine has any fabric on or not; to do this I employ a yarn guide, and needle
guard having small brushes, or their equivalent attached or working in conjunction
with the yarn guide. I am aware that brushes have been used for a similar
purpose on flat knitting machines, but I do not know of brushes of any kind being
used for the same purpose on either ordinary circular knitting machines, or circular
reverseable knitting machines of any description.
Another part of this invention is in relation to the method of placing all those
needles that are not required to make the heel and toe, in and out of action auto-
matically. There are several ways this may be effected; one method would be
to arrange round the cylinder and opposite those needles that are required to be
thrown out of action simultaneously, depressing levers similar in character to those
that are arranged for a like purpose for placing the needles out of action which
make the heel and toe, these levers having spaces cut away at the top part would
only allow the needles to come in operation when the sliding cam that depresses
the narrowing and widening levers, was in its neutral position, and out of action,
the other part of these levers being practically a continuous projection, when the
cam commences to slide and operate upon the narrowing and widening levers it
would also depress the whole of these which would hold the needles out of action
that are not required to make heels and toes. A further modification would be
to have only a narrow projection near the upper end of levers and the lower parts.
of same cut away for clearance, and by fitting a cam inmediately over the sliding
depressing cam, which would be arranged to only move on to the narrow projection
and remain there while the heel or toe was being made, this would allow the sliding
cam to work freely by these depressing levers, and thereby cause less friction while
the machine is in operation.
Another method that I employ to obtain this result, is to have a specially
shaped projection on all the jacks which fit upon the butts of those needles that

page_text: are not required.to be in operation while the machine is making heels and toes,
1 now fit immediately over the lever depressing cam a supplementary cam specially
shaped to fit upon the aforesaid projection of jacks, this cam is arranged to slide
up and down a given distance and parallel with the needle cylinder, and is controled
by the rising and falling of the lever depressing cam, this latter plan offers several
substantial advantages and upon the whole would be the one I should prefer, but
any of the aforesaid methods, or modifications of the same I hold are equally
applicable for the purposes of this patent.
I will now proceed to describe the drawings so that the foregoing improvements
may be more readily understood.
Fig. 1 is a spring needle with steel jack attached.
Fig. 2 is a modification of the same.
Fig. 3 a spring butted needle composed of wire only.
Fig. 4 is a further modification of Figs. 2 and 3 shewing a spring ended needle
soldered in a steel jack at q.
Fig. 5. is a steel jack with a special projection which is for the purpose of
being operated upon directly by means of the supplementary cam which places
the whole of those needles out of action that have this kind of jack attached,
while heels and toes are being made, usually a little less than half the number in
machine.
Fig. 6 is the sinker, or holding down bit, with the curved projection at d, and
straight slot g, having a spring soldered in at g', which presses the sinker in the
direction of the fabric while the machine is in operation, thereby holding the same
.down.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of 3 depressing levers shewing the graduated projection on
the edges, commencing at o, o, o, and continuing the full length of levers to the
points o¹ o¹ o!.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the depressing lever cylinder, shewing the depressing
levers in position and the graduated projections on the outer edges of same.
Fig. 9 is a plan of the depressing lever cylinder, and the relative position of
the depressing levers.
Fig. 10.the needle cams and fixed yarn guide, hh the double action upthrow
cam, the oscillating depressing, or knocking over cam, the upper part of this
cam is extended rather more than half the circumference of the needle cylinder,
so as to grip the same, this causes it to recede automatically which ever way the
machine revolves, ³ is the jointed fixed yarn guide.
Fig. 11 is an elevation of the combined needle cam cylinder, and the 'lever
depressing cam cylinder, shewing the narrowing screw and nut which is attached
to the cam that depresses the levers, and is situated on the inside, also the supple-
mentary cam that places all the needles out of action which have those jacks
attached with the special angular projection, and the notch wheel, spring bolt, and
catch wheel attached to screw, this catch wheel being moved at suitable intervals
by means of catches that are fixed in convenient positions for the purpose. A is
the needle.cam cylinder, A' the lever depressing cam cylinder, fis the narrowing
screw, n the catch wheel, and m the notch wheel, m¹ the spring bolt that holds the
same in position, p is the nut fitted upon the screw f, and attached to the slide pl
this slide having the lever depressing cam fixed upon it on the inside, r is the
supplementary direct acting depressing cam which is controlled by the narrowing
screw, but only falls a limited distance, being held in position by the coil spring a. a.
el and e² are the brushes attached to the jointed fixed yaru guide h².
C
Fig. 12 is a section of the various improvements as herein specified, shewing
their relative position and method of operation. A is the needle cam cylinder
A' the cylinder that the needle depressing cam slides along, c is the sliding cam
which depresses the narrowing levers and is here. shewn in operation depressing the
lever o, which operates upon the steel jack V and spring needle a' depressing the
butt or operative projection of the steel jack at V¹ below the surface of the needle
cylinder; thereby causing it to pass clear of the depressing, or knocking over cam h¹

page_text: that forms the stitches of fabric, is the slide attached to the sliding cam c, p the
nut fixed upon the slide p' and fitted upon narrowing screw f, n is the catch wheel,
and m the notch wheel attached to the narrowing screw f, is the supplementary
direct acting depressing cam shewn in operative position, o' is a depressing lever
out of operation which allows the steel jack V2 that is attached to the spring
needle all to press forward and admits the butt, or projection at V" to project
through the needle cylinder B, and to be operated upon by the needle cam h,
D is the cylinder that the depressing levers work in, and E the bed of machine
grooved to receive the circular end of depressing lever o and o', is a pipe, or
sleeve firmly fixed to the needle cylinder B, and has the upper end cut the same
number of tricks as there are needles in the cylinder, to receive the ends of
sinkers F, which rest upon a peice of steel wire that is inserted into the cutting on
the upper part of the sleeve l at the point S, the curved projection of this sinker
at d is here shewn fitting under a corresponding curve on the inside of the needle
cylinder B, this sinker is held in position by the tube i which passes down the inside
of the sinker pipe I, and is attached to the boss of the inside bevel wheel at the
point this wheel being geared to a suitable wheel on the main shaft; upon the
upper end of this pipe is fixed the cam X that presses the sinkers away from
the needles which is here shewn in operation upon the sinker F1 these sinkers are
now forced back again by means of the spring that is attached to the sinker F
at the point X, a sliding key is also fitted on the upper end of the tube
which when taken out allows the sinkers to come forward and be clear of the
curved projection on the inside of needle cylinder, and this admits of them
being taken out as may be required, h2 is the fixed yarn guide with brush e for
opening needle latches fixed in position, it is fitted upon a joint and can be
placed out of the way for transfering purposes, and the like when required.
I have now described the various improvements in the foregoing invention,
and as this class of machine is capable of performing a variety of work, it may
be that only a part of the improvements as herein specified are required for any
particular machine, and that other movements may be added, in conjunction with
the whole, or part only of the foregoing improvements in the present invention but
I hold that the application of any of the improved parts as herein specified for a
like purpose in circular knitting machines would be equally as liable as if the whole
of the same were used. And further I do not confine myself to the exact devices,
or to the exact form, or shape, of the various parts herein shewn, but would have
it understood that each claim includes any device substantially like those
specified, and especially do I include any mechanical equivalent for the devices
claimed.
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:
1st. The combination of the jacks and spring needles, or any modification of
same which allows the butts, or projection of jacks being depressed below the
surface of the needle cylinder, while the main stem of needle lies flat at the
bottom of the grooves, for the purpose of making heels and toes of stockings and
the like, or a variety of fancy designs, substantially as specified.
2nd. A needle made from wire having a spring butt which is capable of being
depressed below the surface of the cylinder while the main stem lies flat at the
bottom of grooves, by means of levers, presser wheels, or any other mechanical
device substantially as illustrated and described.
3rd. The combination of the depressing levers that have graduated projections
on the edges, or their equivalent, such as a revolving tuck presser, or pattern
wheel, and the like, with the spring needles and jacks, or with spring butted
needles, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
4th. The combination of the needle cylinder with the depressing lever cylinder,
substantially as specified.

page_text: 5th. The combination of a single needle depressing, or knocking over cam with
a fixed yarn guide and a double upthrow cam, the needle depressing cam retarding
or falling back independently and automatically in order to give the necessary
lead to the fixed yarn guide to feed the needles, substantially as illustrated and
described.
6th. The combination of the upper needle cam cylinder with the lever depressing
cam cylinder, the sliding lever depressing cam, the narrowing screw and nut, catch
wheels, notch wheel and bolt, or their equivalent; the supplementary depressing
cam which acts direct upon those needle jacks that have a projection as specified,
and is fixed immediately over the lever depressing cam, or its equivalent,
substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
7th. The sinker, or fabric holding down device, having a straight open ended
slot, the upper portion being semi-circular in shape, and forms the fulcrum from
which the sinker oscillates; the curved projection, this curve being part of a circle
the centre of which is located in the centre of the upper part of the aforesaid
slot, substantially as illustrated and described.
8th. The combination of the sinker and its support, and the inside of needle
cylinder that has a specially shaped curved projection corresponding to the curved
projection of sinker, and is for the purpose of holding the sinkers in their proper
place while in operation, but admit of their displacement when necessary, substan-
tially as, and for the purpose specified.
9th. The combination of one or more brushes fixed to the yarn guide, or working
in conjunction with the same, for the purpose of opening the needle latches on all
kinds of circular knitting machines, substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of July 1896.
JOHN CHARLES MOORE.