Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
I, JOSEPH BENNOR of No. 661 Hawthorn Street, in the City of Macon in the
County of Bibb and State of Georgia, United States of America, Machinist, 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 to that class of straight knitting machines wherein the
knitting cams are reciprocated on oppositely arranged needle beds in such a manner
as to effect the production of stockings in connected series, the knitting of each
stocking being commenced at a point near the extremity of the toe part, and
continued down and around such part, thereupon completing the toe and proceeding
with the knitting successively of the foot, the heel and the leg of the stocking.
The present improvements relate, first, to mechanism for rendering certain
needles idle and active at predetermined intervals to effect the requisite formation
of a full-fashioned stocking; secondly, to sinker mechanism; thirdly, to the cam
carrier and its knitting cans; fourthly to yarn guide mechanism whereby threads
of variable size or colour may be periodically thrown into and out of operation;
and, finally, to various features of construction whereby advantages are gained;
all of which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.
In the annexed drawings-
Figure 1 is an end view of a machine embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, part of the right-hand end of the machine
being omitted.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the machine, part of the left hand end
thereof being omitted.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section, enlarged, as on the line s-s of
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an underside view of one of the cam carriers.
Figure 6 is a plan thereof.
Figure 7 is an end view of the same.
Figure 8 is a section, as on the line t-t of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a transverse section through a portion of the needle-bed (1) in which
the toe and heel fashioning needles are contained, the plane of the section being
indicated by the dotted line u in Figure 4.
Figure 10 is a similar section through the opposite bed (2) as on the line v in.
Figure 4.
Figure 11 is a similar section, as on the line wo of Figure 4.
Figure 12 is a similar section through one of the beds on a plane directly in
rear of the sinker frame.
Figure 13 is an elevation of one of the thread carriers.
Figure 14 is a view of two of the needle-supporting jacks;
Figure 15 is a view of one of the division plates as detached from the needle bed.
Figures 16 to 20, inclusive, are sectional views illustrating modifications
hereinafter referred to.
The oppositely-inclined needle-beds 1, 2 are supported upon the usual frame
work 3. Each of the beds is provided with a series of parallel transverse ways in
which is supported and guided a corresponding series of peculiarly constructed

page_text: needle-controlling jacks 4, such ways being preferably, though not essentially,
formed by and between parallel plates 5 which are let into the recessed bed and
are separated or spaced by strips or "leads" 6. The lower ends of the plates are
provided with spuds 7 which are fitted to a longitudinal groove 8 in a bar 8ª bolted
to the lower portion of the bed, while the upper ends of the plates are provided
with corresponding spuds 9 upon which rests a longitudinally disposed bar 10. By
this construction a strong and substantial needle bed of very fine gauge is provided.
The lower portion of the bed is cut entirely through, as at 11, to permit the down-
ward passage and longitudinal reciprocation of depending tail pieces on certain of
the needle controlling jacks hereinafter referred to, which latter jacks each comprise
a slotted or bifurcated plate, the lower member (a) of which is reduced and
elongated forwardly, its basal portion (b) being expanded and being provided with
an appropriate cam slot (c) and with the depending tail piece (d). In the
remaining jacks the tail pieces are omitted for reasons hereinafter appearing.
Fitted to the longitudinal slot (e) in each of the jacks is the shank of the
knitting needle 12, such slot being of sufficient length to contain the shank during
the reciprocation of the needle by the superposed knitting cams. Extending
through the cam slots (c) of the several jacks in cach bed and through opposite
perforations 14 in the division plates, is a longitudinally-arranged rod 13, the
extremities of which are affixed to the underside of the bed by means of set
screws 15, or the like. The several cam slots in the series of jacks are uniform in
shape, and they are so formed that if said jacks, or any of them, be moved in one
direction longitudinally, the rigid rod will act upon the slots to effect the depression
of the lower portion of the jacks or jack so moved, and thus drop the corresponding
needles or needle below the path of the knitting cams; and that if said jacks, or
any of them, be retracted the parts will be returned to their original condition.
The upper ends of the jacks, in each bed, rest upon the bar 10, such ends being
preferably rounded as seen, so as to facilitate the oscillatory movement of the
jacks. The cam slots of the jacks in one bed are the reverse in form of those of
the jacks in the opposite bed, for a purpose hereinafter appearing.
The number of jacks raised and lowered during the knitting operation is
determined by the number of stitches required in each course of the wide and
narrow positions of the leg of the stocking, the number of jacks being equal to
the difference between the stitches required in the courses of the two portions
plus the number of courses to be fashioned in the formation of the toe or the heel
of the stocking. The leg fashioning jacks are marked, and they are arranged in
equal numbers at each end of each bed, and the toe and heel fashioning needles are
marked y and they are applied to the intermediate needles in the bed 2 only, as
seen most clearly in Figures 9 and 10. The remaining jacks perform no function
other than to support the needles in active position. They are constructed with
the cam slots similarly to the other jacks for economy in manufacture.
At the beginning of the knitting operation all jacks marked are depressed to
throw their needles out of action. The knitting cams hereinafter described are
then thrown into the active position and they are moved one stroke to throw
upward simultaneously, the remaining needles in both beds. Yarn is then delivered
to the needles, to the end that the cams in the reverse stroke shall retract the
needles with the yarn. The cams are then moved to the tube knitting position
(one set active and the other set idle) and a round of stitches is formed. One set
of cams is then maintained out of action, and the kuitting to and fro is carried on
by the other or active set on the bed 1, the needles at the respective ends thereof
being alternately thrown out of action by the act of depressing their supporting
jacks respectively, so as to produce a gradually narrowed web the desired length
of the toe pouch, whereupon the said needles are returned to action in inverse
order by the upward movement of the jacks. There is thus formed a toe pouch.
Both sets of cams are then thrown into the tube-knitting position, and the
formation of the foot is effected. The heel pouch is then formed similarly to the
toe, following which the lower portion of the leg is formed similarly to the foot.

page_text: The jacks marked are then raised to throw their needles into action, after which
the remainder of the leg is formed in the usual manner by means of all the needles
in both beds. This being completed, the web is cast off from the needles as usual
and the foregoing described operation is repeated.
If all the jacks marked a be thrown into action before the actual knitting
operation is continued, there will be formed in the resultant web, in each side of
the leg, at the parts where the end needles were thrown into action, an open
projecting portion, which portion, when the web is removed from the machine, is
cut off diagonally with the lateral edge of the leg portion, and the gap or slit is
sewn or otherwise closed. If, however. the jacks and their needles be thrown
into action at predetermined courses of knitting, the web will be gradually widened,
thereby obviating the necessity of trimming the sides of the web which would
otherwise project. By returning the successive jacks at the end of each second,
third, fourth or other course, the lateral lines of widening may be more or less
extended, as desired.
The following is a description of the mechanism for controlling the jacks to
effect the periodical operations above mentioned. The numerals 16, 16 designate
two followers which are arranged beneath the needle beds and are constructed to
be moved toward and away from each other at predetermined intervals. These
followers are preferably in the form of sectors which are centrally mounted on a
longitudinally-disposed shaft 17 fixed in and between the end heads of the main
supporting frame. The inner peripheral edge of each of the sectors is off-set to
receive a corresponding segment 18 which is reciprocative in an are described from
its centre. Lateral displacement of the segment is prevented by means of an
offset cap-plate 19 secured to the sector. Fulcrumed on a boss on the inner face of
the follower is the lower end of a vertical arm 20, the upper or free enl of which
extends between the cap-plate and the segment. This upper end of the arm is
slotted or recessed, as at 21, to receive a projecting pin 22 on the segment, whereby
the act of oscillating the arm will effect a corresponding movement of the segment.
The body of the arm is provided with an elongated opening 23 therein to receive
an eccentric 24 on a longitudinally arranged driving shaft 25, whereby said
eccentric, during its rotation, will impart the requisite oscillations to the arm in the
longitudinal traverse of the latter, as hereinafter described. There are
eccentrics on the shaft 25, one for the arm on each of the followers, said eccentrics.
At
being oppositely disposed so as to effect contrary movements of the two arms.
or near the respective ends of each of the segments is affixed a bifurcated plate 26,
the up-projecting members of which are arranged to act upon the depending tails
of the jacks (a and y) during the oscillation of the segment, in such a manner as
to impart the requisite movements to said jacks to effect their depression or
elevation, that is to say, if each of the segments be moved in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, the lower member of the left hand plate will
act upon the opposed tail-piece in its path and advance the connected jack, the cam
slot therein thus riding upon the rod and lowering the jack, and, at the same time,
the upper member of the right hand plate will take against the opposed tail piece.
of the jack on the opposite bed and correspondingly move the said latter jack, the
cam thereof riding upon the rod and similarly depressing the jack. In view of
the fact that the lengthwise movements imparted to the oppositely-disposed jacks
by the plates on the segments are opposite-one upward and the other downward-
the form of the cam slots in such jacks is reversed, as above mentioned.
two
Supported in the end heads above and parallel with the shaft 25 is a shaft 27,
the same extending through the vertical openings in the arms 20, and through the
followers, in a manner to support and guide the latter in their longitudinal traverse.
Fixed to the outer side of each of the followers is a sleeve 28, part of which is
externally screw-threaded, as at 29. The threads of the respective sleeves are
oppositely pitched, and they are provided with correspondingly threaded nuts 30,..
by the act of turning which the sleeves and, perforce, the followers with their
appurtenances, are advanced toward, or retracted from, each other, as desired.

page_text: The nuts are embraced by jaws 31 on the ends of sleeves 32 which are affixed
to the respective end heads, said jaws thus maintaining the nuts rotatably in place.
These nuts, as will be observed, comprise gear wheels which are engaged with
corresponding wheels 33 on the shaft 25, respectively, whereby motion will be
transmitted from the latter shaft to the gear nuts to effect the desired operations
of the engaged screws. The pitch of the screw threads and the relative positions
and throw of the eccentrics are so timed that during the inward traverse of the
followers the segments in their strokes from left to right engage the bifurcated
plates with the respective jacks in a manner to occasion the depression of the jacks,
and in their return strokes to move said plates in the spaces between the jacks, and
that during the outward traverse of the followers a reverse action of the plates
occurs.
Motion is imparted to the shaft 25 at the prescribel stages of the knitting
operation by any appropriate mechanism. In the present instance one end of the
shaft is extended outwardly beyond the head and is equipped with a bevel gear
wheel 35. This wheel engages two similar wheels 36, 37, loosely mounted on a
vertical shaft 34 to which motion is imparted from a suitable source of power.
Said wheels 36 and 37 are constructed to be alternately fixed to and removed from
their shaft by means of an interposed clutch 38, that is connected with one end of
a longitudinal shaft 39 under the control of pattern mechanism such as hereinafter
described. The shaft has on its opposite end a depending arm 40 that bears upon
the upper end of a lever 41 resting upon the periphery of a pattern wheel 42 and
being held thereon by the action of a suitably-disposed spring. Thus when the
arm bears upon a low part of the wheel, the clutch is engaged with the upper
bevel gear 36 which latter thereupon rotates the shaft in one direction. When the
arm bears upon a high part of the wheel, the clutch is disengaged from the upper
wheel aud engaged with the lower wheel, which latter thereupon rotates the shaft
in a reverse direction, and when the arm bears upon a medium part of the wheel
the clutch is thrown into its normal or intermediate position, in which case it is
disengaged from both wheels and the shaft 25 is at rest.
The pattern wheel is loosely mounted on the outwardly extending end of a
longitudinal shaft 43 which is supported in the end heads of the main frame. This
wheel, in the present instance, comprises three parts or discs fastened together face
to face, their respective peripheries being formed with relatively arranged risers
and depressions to control the operation of the several elements engaged thereby,
as below explained.
On the inner face of the wheel, concentric therewith, is fixed a ratchet wheel 44
which is actuated at predetermined intervals to advance the pattern wheel.
Loosely mounted on the shaft 43, adjacent to the ratchet wheel, is a sprocket
wheel 45 around which passes a chain 46 whose peculiarly-formed links determine
the governing positions of the pattern wheel. This sprocket wheel has affixed
thereto a ratchet wheel 47, which is similarly mounted on the shaft 44. Adjacent
to the last-named ratchet wheel there is fixed on the shaft a disc 48 with an eccentric
groove 49 in the face thereof, to which groove is fitted a block 50 on a pivoted
arm 51, whereby, during the rotation of the shaft, said arm will be oscillated. On
the upper or free end of the arm is fixed a laterally extending pin 52 upon which
are supported two pawls 53, 54, which are adapted to engage the teeth of the
ratchet wheels 44, 47 respectively. It will be seen that if the pawls be engaged
with said wheels the latter will be intermittently rotated during the oscillation of
the arm, the chain thus being advanced step-by-step and the pattern wheel being
correspondingly impelled.
Projecting from the inner side of the pawl 53 is a stud 55 which is acted upon
by the successive links of the chain, at predetermined intervals, to raise said pawl
out of action, in which case the pattern wheel remains idle while the chain is
advanced. Certain links of the chain are cut away or reduced, to the end that
when such links pass under the stud the pawl 55 will drop into engagement with
the ratchet wheel and thus effect the advancement of the pattern wheel to bring

page_text: the desired peripheral portion or portions of the wheel into action. This being
done, the pawl is raised and held out of action, as before, until a change in the
work is required, whereupon the pawl 53 is brought into play in the manner above
stated. In this way the links of the pattern chain govern the determinate
positions of the pattern wheel during the successive stages of the knitting
operation.
The vibratory sinkers D are supported in kerfs in longitudinally disposed bars 56-
arranged along the opposed edges of the needle bels respectively. These bars are-
preferably superimposed on longitudinally slotted bars 56 affixed to the respective.
beds, the forward under portions of the former bars being recessed or cut away, as
at 56, to communicate with the slots 56' in the bars 56". Hence any lint, etc., that
may enter the kerfs in the bars 56 will pass through the slotted bars 56 into and
through the throat of the machine, instead of lodging within the kerfs and
interfering with the free action of the sinkers.
The sinkers alternate with the needles and they are held normally engaged with
the web by means of springs 57 which are interposed between the backs of the
sinkers, individually, and the backs of the kerfs to which the sinkers are fitted.
These springs are preferably shaped similarly to a cotter-pin, the bends or loops-
thereof extending above the tops of the respective bars 56, to the end that the
springs, or any of them, may be readily removed from, or applied to, the sinkers
without disturbing other parts of the machine. That limb of the spring whic'i
bears against the sinker is preferably bent. slightly to form a teat which enters a
notch in the sinker, as seen.
The sinkers are retracted at the proper times relatively to the knitting cams, by
means of cams 58 which are appropriately connected with, and impelled by the
reciprocating can carriages hereinafter described.
Those sinkers which co-act with the end needles under the influence of the jack
marked are moved out of and into action simultaneously with said needles..
These sinkers are rendered inactive in order to prevent their engagement with the
yaru when the co-acting needles are out of operation.
In the present construction, 59 represents one of two brackets which are fitted to
the throat of the machine at the respective ends thereof. Each of the brackets
comprises an arm 60 rising between the needle beds from an inclined lug 61 which
is bolted to the underside of one of the beds. Extending inwardly from this arm
is a pin 62 upon which is supported and guided a longitudinally-movable bead 63,
the forward or acting edge of which is bevelled, as at 64. Encircling the rod,
intermediate the outer end of the head and the opposed arm, is a spiral spring 65.
which acts to force the head normally inward beneath the tails of the two sets of
end sinkers for the purpose of raising said sinkers out of action. Depending from.
the head is an arm 66, the lower end of which is engaged by a set screw 67 on a.
vertical arm 68 rising from the adjacent follower.
When the followers are moved inward to effect the dropping of the end needles.
out of action, the springs 65 force the respective heads inwardly simultaneously
in a manner to advance the beveled ends thereof beneath the tails of the siukers,
thereby raising the latter out of action. When the followers are retracted, or
moved outward, to effect the raising of the needles into active position, the arms on
the followers correspondingly retract the heads and thereby permit the sinkers to
become active. By properly adjusting the set screws 67 the positions of the heads
in relation to the sinkers and to the respective followers may be nicely determined..
To hold in position the needles in the respective beds, mount on the outer-
edge of each of the sinker supporting bars 56, a longitudinal bar or gib 68, which
is provided near its ends with inclined slots 69 to which are fitted suitable screw
pins 70 on the bar 56. On one end of the latter is fastened a flat spring 71, which
bears against the adjacent end of the gib in a manner to thrust the declining slot
walls against the pins and thus normally depress the gib. When it is desired to.
remove a needle or needles from the machine the gib bar is pressed longitudinally
against the force of the spring, the slots thus riding upon the pins.

page_text: The knitting cams are mounted on a plate 72 which is connected with a
superposed plate 72 sustained, as below described, by a hinged section 73 of the
cam carriage. The upper face of the plate 72 is recessed to receive the plate 72",
the lateral parts 74 of which are provided with elongated holes 75 through which
pass the connecting screws 75°, such holes permitting to be had the requisite
adjustment of the lower or cam-bearing plate to determine the throw of the
knitting cams in respect to the needles, and, in consequence, the tension or size of
the stitches produced. The lower portion of the section 73 is hingedly commutel
with the sliding recessed section 76 of the carriage by means of a longitudinal
guide rod 77 which extends through suitably-disposed bosses on said sections.
Secured to the lateral flanges of the section 76 are upwardly extending screws 78, 78,
respectively, by which are freely held the respective ends of a transverse
plate 79 between which and the heads of the screws (or pins) are interposed spiral
springs 80. The tendency of these springs is to press the plate upon the hinged
section, and thus maintain said section, with its knitting cams, normally in the
down or active position. One of the orifices in the plate 79, through which the
screw extends, is cut through the edge of the plate, (as at 81) to the end that
the latter may be readily swung, on the other screw as a pivot, to permit the
application of the hinged section to, or its removal from, the slide section. See
dotted lines in Figure 6.
Extending through the lateral walls of the section 76, and through a recess or
channel 82 in the under side of the latter, is a longitudinal slide-bar 83, on which
is a beveled stud 84 that registers normally with a socket 85 in the hinged section.
When the slide-bar is moved in one direction the stud bears against the underside
of the hinged section in a manner to raise such section and thus throw the cams out
of action, and when the bar is returned the stud enters the socket and permits the
parts to resume their previous or operative position The requisite movements of
the bar are effected by the usual end stops 86, 87, one of which (86) is movable
into and out of the path of the bar at predetermined intervals, the other stop (87)
being a permanent one. The movable stop is connected with one end of a vertical
lever 88 which is controlled by the pattern wheel hereinbefore described.
The plate 72 to which the lower or cam bearing plate is secured, is provided
with a projection 72 which extends freely through an opening 73° in the section 73,
so as to have some little play therein longitudinally of the needles, to the end that
the said cams may be primarily set or adjusted to effect the knitting of a course of
comparatively close stitches, such stitches being desirable at the commencement of
each stocking. Fitted to sockets in the lower edge of the projection 72b and the
opposed portion of the hinged section are spiral springs 89, the tendency of which
is to advance the former. Co-acting with the upper edge of the projection to
depress the plate against, or to permit it to be raised by, the force of the springs 89,
is a longitudinal slide-bar 90 that is fitted to the upper portion of the hinged
section. The opposed edges of the projection and the bar are provided with
steps 91, 92, respectively, that are so arranged in relation to each other that the
step on the bar may be slid upon or off the step on the projection by the act of
reciprocating the bar, thereby depressing the plate, or permitting its elevation, as
above stated. The movements of the bar are effected by its impact at certain
intervals with the usual end stops before mentioned.
The sinker supporting arm 58 is secured to the projection of the plate 72° to the
end that the sinker cam 58 shall be rendered active and inactive concertedly with
the knitting cams.
On the underside of the carriage section 76 are arranged longitudinal cam³ 93
which are adapted to engage lugs or projections on the jacks, during the traverse
of the car carriage, when the jacks are raised or active, and thus obviate any
liability of such jacks accidentally dropping while the knitting cams are passing
over them.
Heretofore the cam carriages have been fixedly connected by means of a yoke or
saddle, no provision being made for their relative adjustment to compensate for

page_text: wear or for inaccuracy in fitting. To overcome this defect I adjustably connect
the yoke, noted 94. with the sliding sections of the carriages respectively, as
follows:-On the sides or flanges of the two sliding sections are screw-threaded
studs 95 respectively, to which are fitted the respective perforated ends of the
yoke, said studs being equipped with suitable set-nuts 96, whereby the requisite
adjustments of the parts may be effected.
The yoke is connected with, and impelled by. a positively driven crank wheel 97
on the vertical shaft 34 as usual. Supported in suitable brackets 93 on the enl
heads is a longitudinal rod 99 which extends through and affords a guide for the
yoke.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 13, 100, 100 designate a pair of parallel bars
extending lengthwise of and above the throat of the machine; and 101, 102
designate the rarn carriers mounted on the bars, respectively, and adapted to be
reciprocated longitudinally thereon. On the inner si le of each of the carriers is a
vertical rod 103 on the depending end of which is formed the yarn-guide head 104,
the same being disposed directly above the median line of the machine. The rod
on the carrier 101 is reciprocative vertically, while that on the other carrier is
fixed in place by means of a suitable set-screw. The bar 100 is provided on its
inner face with a longitudinal groove 105 which extends parallel with the edge of
the bar, excepting at one end where it is inclined upward, as at 106. Engaged
with this groove is a pin or roller 107 on the underside of the adjacent rod, which
pin or roller following the conrse of the groove during the traverse of the carrier,
is directed upward by the inclined portion of the groove in a manner to elevate the
rod and its guide head. The latter is raised and maintained above the track of
the other or fixed guide-head, so that the heads will not interfere with each other,
it being understood that one of the carriers is idle, at this end of the machine,
while the other is active, the carriers being thrown into and out of operation at
predetermined intervals.
As a means to adjust the roller on the rod so as to regulate the position of the
yarn guide head in respect to the needles, I extend the stud of the roller through
an elongated slot 108 in the rod, and secure the stud in place by means of a
nut 109 thereon, the face-plate of the carrier being cut away, as at 110, to receive
the nut and permit the requisite vertical play thereof, (see Figures 4 and 13).
The upper ends of the rods extend above the respective carriers in a manner to
be engaged by improved devices for reciprocating the carriers, which devices I
shall now describe. On the inner side of the yoke head is an elongated boss 111
through which the guide rod .99 freely extends. Surrounding this boss is a.
sleeve 112 which is partially rotatable; its range of movement being determined.
by means of a set screw 113 extending from the boss through a peripheral slot 114
in the sleeve. Clamped on this sleeve, a suitable distance apart, are two split
collars 115 which are provided with depending studs 116. These studs are so
relatively arranged that they may be disposed to embrace either of the up-projecting
ends of the rods on the yarn carriers in a manner to reciprocate the engaging
carrier in concert with the yoke and the cam carriages; or the studs may be moved.
in a plane between the two rods so as to be disengaged entirely therefrom, in which
latter instance neither carrier will be impelled. The split collars are clamped on
the sleeve by means of set-screws 117 fitted to lugs on the ends of the respective
collars, so that said collars, or either of them, may be nicely adjusted on the sleeve.
On the outer or free end of the sleeve is a similarly clamped collar 118 which is
provided with a depending ball-shaped lug 119 that is adapted, during the forward
strokes of the yoke, to engage a V-shaped cam head 120 on the opposed end of the
machine, and to be moved thereby to determine the position of the sleeve and its
depending lugs in respect to the yarn carriers. This head is mounted upon a
horizontally sliding plate 121 which is connected with the upper arm of a lever 122
pivoted on the adjacent end head of the machine, the lower arm of the lever being
provided with a foot that rests upon the periphery of the pattern wheel. The foot
is held yieldingly upon the wheel by means of a spring 123, to the end that the

page_text: appropriately formed surfaces on the wheel will control the plate, and thus
-determine the positions of the cam head relatively to the path of the lug 119.
Respecting the yarn-guide heads, it will be observed that their lower ends are
expanded laterally and oppositely beveled, so as to travel adjacent to the knitting
needles in the respective beds, by which construction the bevelled surfaces during
the traverse of the heads, co-act with the latches of the needles to insure the
opening of partially open latches.
in Figure 16 is illustrated a modification of the needle controlling mechanism
wherein the needle jacks in the respective beds are normally supported upon
longitudinally extending bars 16" on the outer or free ends of laterally-extending
arms 16 on the follower 16. These bars are so arranged that during the inward
traverse of the followers they are disengaged from the jacks successively, so as to
free the latter and permit the jacks to drop or to be depressed in their needle
grooves, and that during the outward traverse of the followers said bars return
beneath and sustain the jacks as the latter are raised to their active position.
Arranged on the inner face of each of the followers so as to be vertically movable
thereon is a plate 18 from the respective sides of which extend arms 26. The
outer ends of these arms extend beyond the needle beds, respectively, and they are
provided with upwardly projecting portions 26 that are recessed or bifurcated on
their inner edges to receive the projecting ends of the jacks for a purpose herein-
after explained. The plates are provided with elongated openings 23 to which are
fitted eccentrics 24 on a power driven shaft, whereby when the shaft and the screws
thereon are rotated the eccentrics will vertically reciprocate the plates 18", and,
perforce, the outwardly extending arms 26. The thickness of each of the recessed
portions of the arms corresponds with that of a jack, to the end that such portions
may be engaged with the jacks individually; that is to say, as the plates are
reciprocated horizontally in their inward traverse, the upper shoulders of the
recesses will impinge against the opposed ends of the jacks successively (which
have been freed from their supports as above stated) and positively depress them
to throw the needles out of action, and as they, said plates, are similarly actuated
in their outward traverse the lower shoulders of the recesses will take against the
ends of the jacks and return the same with their needles to the raised or active
position, wherein they will be sustained by the passage thereunder of the bars 16ª
above described.
In Figures 17 and 18 is shown a modification of needle-controlling mechanism in
which the jacks are omitted, the end needles being normally supported upon
longitudinally movable plates P fitted to the needle beds. These plates are
provided with a series of transverse grooves in their upper surfaces which are so
disposed that when the plates are moved inward the end needles are pressed or
dropped out of action, and that when the plates are returned the needles are raised
into action. The plates are held in the outer or active position by means of
co-acting arms 16 rising from the followers, suitably disposed springs h advancing
the plates when the followers and their arms are moved inward.
In Figures 19 and 20 is shown one of the longitudinally movable plates as
provided with two acting surfaces s s', arranged in different horizontal planes and
connected by a bevelled or inclined portion s³, whereby the end needles which rest
while in action upon the raised surface, may be moved successively out of action
by advancing the plate step-by-step, and which needles may subsequently be
returned to their active position by similarly retracting the plate. In Figure 19
the needles are represented as in action i.e. supported upon the raised portion of
the plate, and in Figure 20 they are represented as out of action, i.e. supported
upon the depressed surface of the plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is
1. In a knitting machine, e combination, with the needle bed, of the oscillatory

page_text: needle-supporting jack provided with a cam slot therein, and a support co-acting
with said slot, substantially as described.
2. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle bed, of a series of
independently-movable needle-supporting jacks provided with cam slots therein,
and a rod extending through said slois, substantially as described.
3. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle bed, of a series of
needle-supporting jacks therein, the same being longitudinally and vertically
movable and being provided with cam ways, and a fixed rod co-acting with said
cam ways, substantially as described.
4. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle-bed, of a series of
needle-supporting jacks therein, the same being longitudinally and vertically
movable and being provided with cam ways, a fixed rod co-acting with said cam
ways, and means for longitudinally reciprocating said jacks, substantially as
described.
5. In a knitting machine, the combination, with a needle bed provided with a
longitudinally-disposed jack-supporting bar therein, a series of needle-supporting
jacks contained in said bed, the upper ends of the jacks resting upon said bar and
the lower ends thereof being provided with cam ways, a rod co-acting with said
cam ways, and means for reciprocating the jacks, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the needle bed, the jacks therein, the needles, and
provisions whereby the jacks are temporarily sustained in the raised or the
depressed position, of the follower, the rocking device thereon having provisions to
act upon the jacks, means whereby said follower and rocking device are inter-
mittently impelled, and means whereby the latter is rocked during its traverse,
substantially as described.
7. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the oppositely arranged needle-
beds, oscillatory needle-supporting jacks therein provided with cam ways, those of
the jacks in one hed being the reverse of those in the other bed, rods co-acting
with the said cam ways respectively, and means for longitudinally reciprocating the
jacks, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with the needle beds, their needles; the cam carriers and
their cams, a pre-determined number of needles at the end of each bed being
laterally movable in respect to the bed, of a support for each set of needles to
maintain them temporarily in action, a screw, a follower thereon, and a connection
between said follower, and the needle support, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the needle beds, their needles, the cam carriers and
their cams, a predetermined number of needles at the ends of each bed being
laterally movable in respect to the bed, of a support for each set of end needles, to
maintain them temporarily in action, a screw, a follower thereon, a connection
between said follower and the needle support, and provisions for throwing certain
of the remaining needles out of and into action at certain intervals, substantially
as described.
10. The combination, with the needle beds, the jacks therein, and the needles,
of a follower, a reciprocative plate thereon having provisions to act upon the
individual jacks of the respective beds, means whereby said follower and plate are
impelled, and means whereby said plate is reciprocated during its traverse,
substantially as described.
11. The combination of the supporting frame, a shaft, a follower thereon, a
rocking segment having provisions for effecting the action and inaction of the
needles, and being fitted to a guide in the follower, screw devices to impel said
follower and segment, an oscillatory arm, provided with an elongated opening
therein, provisions whereby it is connected with the segment, an eccentric fitted to
said opening, and a shaft for the eccentric, substantially as described..
12. The combination, with the needle beds, the jacks therein, their supporting
parts, and the needles of the follower, the segment thereon provided with means to
act upon the jacks in the respective beds, means for impelling said follower and
B
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page_text: segment, and means for oscillating said segment during its traverse, substantially
as described.
13. The combination, with the needle beds, the jacks therein, their supporting
parts, and the needles, of the follower, the segment thereon provided with means
to act upon the jacks in the respective beds, an oscillatory arm on said follower,
provisions whereby the arm is connected with the segment, means whereby the
follower is impelled, and means whereby the arm thereon is oscillated, substantially
as described.
14. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the follower and its supporting
parts, of the screw-threaded sleeve on the follower, the shaft for said sleeve, the
gear nut on the sleeve, means for holding the nut in place, a pinion engaged with
said nut, the shaft for the pinion, and means for actuating the shaft, substantially
as described.
15. The combination, with the follower, oscillatory needle-controlling mechanism
thereon, a shaft upon which said follower is supported and guided, a screw-
threaded sleeve on the follower, a shaft for said sleeve, a gear nut on the sleeve,
means for holding the nut in place, a pinion engaged with said nut, the shaft for
said pinion, means on the latter shaft to oscillate the said needle-controlling
mechanism, and means for actuating the shaft, substantially as described.
16. The combination, with the needle beds, the jacks therein, their supporting
parts and the needles, of the follower, the segment thereon with means to act upon
the jacks, an oscillatory arm on said follower, provisions whereby it is connected
with the segment, the screw-threaded sleeve on the follower, the shaft for said
sleeve, the gear nut on the sleeve, means for holding the nut in place, a pinion
engaged with said nut, the shaft for said pinion, an eccentric on the shaft to
oscillate the said arm, and means for operating the shaft, substantially as
described.
17. The combination, with the needle bed, of the open or slotted bar thereon,
the sinker frame on said bar, and the sinkers in said frame, substantially as
described.
18. The combination, with the sinker frame, vibratory sinkers therein, the
sinker cam and its supporting and operating parts of the independent looped
springs detachably fitted to kerfs in the frame rearward of the sinkers so as to act
upon the sinkers individually, the looped portions of the springs extending above
the upper side of the frame in rear of the path traversed by the sinker cam,
substantially as described.
19. The combination with the needle beds, their needles, the cam carriers, their
cams, the sinkers and their supporting and operating parts, of provisions whereby
a predetermined number of needles at the ends of the needle beds respectively, and
their co-acting sinkers, may be rendered idle and active at predetermined intervals,
substantially as described.
20. The combination, with the needle beds, their needles, the cam-carriers, their
cams, the sinkers and their supporting and operating parts, of devices for
temporarily supporting out of action a predetermined number of sinkers at the
adjacent ends of the beds respectively, and means for operating said supporting
devices to permit said sinkers to become active, substantially as described.
21. The combination of the needle beds, their needles, the cam carriers, their
cams, the sinkers and their supporting and operating parts, of a support for a
series of sinkers at each end of each needle bed to maintain them temporarily
inactive, oppositely pitched screws, followers thereon, and connections between
said followers and the sinker supports, substantially as described.
22. The combination, with the needle beds, their needles, the siukers, and their
supporting parts of the reciprocating head fitted to the throat of the machine so
as to act upon the sinkers in both beds, and means for operating said head,
substantially as described.
23. The combination, with the needle beds, their needles, the sinkers and their

page_text: supporting parts, of the reciprocative head fitted to the throat of the machine so as
to act upon the sinkers in both beds, the bracket support for said head, the spring
tending to force the head inward, and means for forcing the head outward against
the action of the spring, substantially as described.
24. The combination, with the needle beds, their needles, the sinkers and their
supporting parts, of the reciprocative head fitted to the throat of the machine, so
as to act upon the sinkers in both beds, the follower, means for impelling the same,
and connections between said follower and the reciprocative head, substantially as
described.
25. The combination, with the needle bed and its needles, of a bar or support on
said bed, a gib bar connected with said bar by means of a pin and cam slot
connection, and a spring acting upon said gib bar to effect its depression,.
substantially as described.
26. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles,.
the knitting cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sections supporting the
knitting cams and being bodily movable toward and away from. the needle bed,
longitudinal guide devices for the carriage, a sinker cam, means whereby it is
connected with said movable section, provisions whereby said section is operated
to throw its cams into and out of action, together with the sinkers and their
supporting parts, substantially as described.
27. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles,
knitting cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sections supporting the
knitting cams and being pivotally connected with the other section, an arm
extending from said pivoted section, a sinker cam on said arm, and provisions
whereby the pivoted cam-supporting section is operated to throw the cams into
and out of action, together with the sinkers and their supporting parts, substantially
as described.
28. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles, a
sectional cam carriage, one section thereof being movable toward and from the
needle bed, a transversely reciprocative plate on said movable section carrying
the knitting cams, provisions for reciprocating said plate, and provisions whereby the
movable section is operated to throw said cams into and out of action, substantially
as described.
29. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles, a
sectional cam carriage, one section thereof being movable toward and from the
needle bed, a transversely-reciprocative plate on said movable section carrying the
knitting cams, a slide-bar, provisions whereby it is operatively connected with said
section, a spring acting on said plate against the operation of the bar, a slide-bar
having provisions whereby it is operatively engaged with the movable section, and
a spring acting upon said section against the operation of the bar last-named,
substantially as described.
30. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles, a
sectional cam carriage, one section thereof being movable toward and from the
needle bed, a transversely reciprocative plate on said movable section carrying
the knitting cams, provisions for reciprocating said plate, provisions whereby the.
movable section is operated to throw said cams into and out of action, an arm.
connected with said plate, a sinker cam thereon, the sinkers and their supporting:
parts, substantially as described.
31. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles,
knitting cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sections being arranged at
the lower portion of the needle bed, and the other section being pivotally
connected therewith and supporting the knitting cams, a rod pivotally connecting
said sections and affording a longitudinal guide for the carriage, and provisions
whereby the pivoted cam-supporting section is operated to throw the cams into and
out of action, substantially as described.
32. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles,
knitting cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sections being a slide

page_text: section and the other section supporting the knitting cams and being pivotally
connected with the slide section, a latched spring actuated plate arranged on the
slide section to depress the pivoted section, and provisions whereby the latter
section is thrown out of action, substantially as described.
33. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle bed and its needles,
knitting cams, a sectional carriage therefor, one of the sections being arranged at
the lower portion of the needle bed and the other section being pivotally connected
therewith and supporting the knitting cams, a rod pivotally connecting said
sections and affording a longitudinal guide for the carriage, a sinker cam, means
whereby it is connected with said pivoted section, provisions whereby said pivoted
section is operated to throw the cams into and out of action, together with the
sinkers and their supporting parts, substantially as described.
34. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle bed, the longi-
tudinally reciprocative needle-supporting jacks therein provided with upward pro-
jections, and the cam carriage provided with a cam to co-act with said projections,
substantially as described.
35. The combination of the reciprocative carrier, the supporting bar therefor
provided with a longitudinal groove, 105, 106, therein, a vertically-reciprocative
rod in said carrier, and a pin or roller on said rod engaging said groove,
substantially as described.
36. The combination, with the needle beds, the needles, and the knitting cams,
of the reciprocative carriers mounted above the needles in the respective beds, the
longitudinal guide devices for said carriers, the yarn guides connected with the
latter so as normally to be in line with each other longitudinally, and means
adapted to raise one of said yarn guides above the path of the other at pre-
determined intervals, together with longitudinally reciprocating means for engaging
one of the carriers and releasing the other at the position where the carrier is
raised, the released carrier remaining at rest until it is re-engaged, substantially as
described.
37. The combination of the reciprocative carrier provided with a vertical
opening in the face plate thereof, the supporting bar for said carrier provided
with a longitudinal guiding and raising groove therein, a vertically-reciprocative
rod in said carrier bearing a yarn-guide head, a pin or roller engaging the groove,
the stem of which roller extends through a slot in the rod, and a set-nut on said
stem, substantially as described.
38. The combination, with the needle beds, the needles, the cam carriers and
their cams, of the projecting pins on the carriers, the yoke, and means for
adjustably securing its ends on the pins, substantially as described.
39. The combination, with the needle beds, the needles, the cam carriers and
their cams, of the screw-threaded pins on said carriers, the yoke having its ends
fitted to the pins, respectively, and the adjusting nuts on said pins, substantially as
described
40. The combination, with the needle beds, the needles, the cam carriers and
their cams, of the yoke connecting said cams, the partially rotatable sleeve on said
yoke, the collars thereon provided with depending lugs, a reciprocative yarn
carrier, supporting means therefor, and provisions whereby the sleeve is actuated
at predetermined intervals to engage the lugs with or disengage them from the
carrier, substantially as described.
41. The combination, with the needle beds, the needles, the cam carrier and
their cams, of the yoke connecting said carriers, the longitudinal guide rod for the
yoke, said yoke being provided with a boss or extension, the sleeve on said boss
or extension, the collars on said sleeve provided with depending lugs, the
reciprocative yarn carriers, supporting means therefor, and provisions whereby
the sleeve is actuated at predetermined intervals to engage the lugs with or
disengage them from the carriers, substantially as described.
42. The combination, with the needle beds the needles, the cam carriers and
their cams, of the yoke connecting paid carriers, the partially rotatable sleeve on

page_text: said yoke, the collars 115 and 188 on the sleeve provided with depending lugs 116-
and 119, respectively, the reciprocative yarn carriers mounted above the respective-
beds, the reciprocative cam head at one end of the machine and means for laterally
setting said head at predetermined intervals in respect to the path of the lug 119,.
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant..