Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1889
We SAMUEL HENSHALL and JOHN WESLEY HEPWORTH both of Mascher Street
and Lehigh Avenue in the City of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania United States
of America Manufacturers of Knitting Machinery and JOSEPH HANSON of Mascher
and Somerset Streets in said City of Philadelphia Dyer do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention to be as follows:-
One of the objects of this invention is to provide simple mechanism whereby some
of the needles may be thrown into and out of action for the purpose of effecting the
formation of a heel or toe pocket or protuberance upon a knitted tube intended for a
sock or stocking further objects being to provide means for readily changing the
stiffness and gauge of the work, and for accurately taking up the work, either when
plain knitting is being done or a toe or heel pocket is being formed and still further
objects boing to provide for holding down the work upon the needles and for
shifting the thread guide when the direction of movement of the machine is
reversed.
The invention is hereinafter described in combination with a circular machine,
but certain parts are also applicable to rectilinear machines.
The needles are operated by a rotary cam box provided with fixed elevating cams
and moveable or adjustable drawing down cams and directing cams controlled by an
expanding or adjustable rib hereinafter described. The drawing down cams are
provided with springs tending to throw them out of action or raise them into an
inoperative position and hooked levers controlled by the aforesaid rib act on a pin or
part connected with the said cam or spring to retain the cam in the depressed or
operative position. The directing cams are provided with pawls which engage with
the rib in one direction only and when acted on by the rib raise the directing
cans into a position which enables them to direct the needles on to the central or
fixed cam.
The rib is constituted by projections on a series of rings capable of being rotated

page_text: in opposite directions by a pinion or pinions engaging with teeth on the rings, but it
is not necessary to form teeth on every ring the other or intermediate rings being
operated by pin and slot connections for example-By rotating the pinions the rings
can be displaced relatively to one another so as to place all the projections in one line
or to spread them out one in advance of the other so as to occupy any desired extent
of the surface of the combined rings. By these means the rib is expanded or
lengthened and its action upon the cams can be regulated with precision so as to cause
them to remain in or out of action for any desired period according to the nature of
the work.
The drawing down cams are also controlled by a cam ring provided with inclines
acting on bolts connected to the cam blocks whereby the said cams can be raised or
depressed, but when the cam ring is adjusted in a certain poitions the cams, are free
to be operated by the expanding rib.
When it is desired to perform the narrowing and widening operation (such, for
instance, as may be required in forining the hcel or toe pocket on a tube for a stocking);
the cam ring is turned-until-the-directing cams-direct the needles beneath the-central
cam instead of over the same.
The rib having been previously expanded the cam box is vibrated to the extent of
say three-quarters of a turn, and the support formed by the rib is carried back and
forth beneath the cams. The directing cams then direct the needles to the fixed cam
around so much of the cylinder as corresponds to the extent of the rib.
In the same manner the drawing-down cams are alternately held down in operative
position by the action of the rib. The drawing-down cams are held in action only
while the rib is passing beneath the levers controlling the same, so that there is no
stretching of the work upon the needles out of action; that is to say, the needles
beyond the limits of the rib.
The number of needles elevated on each vibration of the cam box depends upon
the extent of the supporting rib, and as this rib is gradually contracted in length and
-then--gradually-expanded-again, it follows..that.on each vibration of the cam Lox, an
end needle or needles of the set will be dropped, or allowed to remain down, these
end needles being then gradually brought into action again after the contraction has
been carried to the proper extent.
If it is then desired to form a pocket or tapered strip on the other side of the
knitted tube, the locking bolt of the needle cylinder may be withdrawn, the cylinder'
turned half-way round, and the above-described operations repeated.
When it is desired to change at once from continuous fabric to a narrow strip and
then widen the latter, the sections of the supporting rib are contracted before
commencing the vibration of the cam box, and the pinions heing operated so as to
effect the expansion of the rib as the cam box is vibrated, the movement being changed
when the expansion is complete, so as to effect a gradual contraction of the rib if the
web is to be narrowed again after widening.
The upper slotted portion of the needle cylinder in which the needles are guided is
made conical or tapering, being widest at the base, and the needle cylinder and cam
box are both capable of rotation.
The shaft carrying the pinions for adjusting the rib may be rotated by hand so as to
impart movement in opposite directions to the rings, in order to effect the expansion
or contraction of the rib for operating or serving as a stop for the cams. In this case
the shaft is adapted to bearings in a frame which is screwed or otherwise secured to
the underside of the frame.
To the said shaft are secured two ratchet wheels, one right-handed and the other
left-handed, and hung to the shaft is a swinging frame having an operating handle
and a pin, to which are hung two pawls, one for each wheel.
The swinging frame also carries a pin, on which are two cams acting on the
toes on the pawls, the effect of this motion being to remove the pawl from engage
ment with its ratchet wheel, but the cams being such that when one pawl is under
control of one of said cams, the other pawl will be free from the control of the
other cam.

page_text: The said frame is vibrated by hand so as to impart movement to a like extent to
one of the ratchet wheels, the direction of the movement thereby imparted to the
shaft depending upon which of the pawls is in engagement with its ratchet wheel,
and this, in turn, being determined by the adjustment of the pin on the frame.
The ratchet wheels are provided with retaining pawls carried by shafts adapted to
bearings in the fixed frame and having arms acted upon by a cam free to turn on
the lower portion of the pinion shaft, this cam having a segmental rack, which is in
gear with a similar rack secured to the lower end of the aforesaid pin and provided
with a handle, by which it may be operated, the effect of this construction being to
throw the retaining pawl into gear with each ratchet wheel as the operating pawl is
thrown into gear therewith.
The limits of expansion and contraction of the supporting rib, and the extent of
the widening and narrowing operation, may be governed by adjusting pins on the
frame nearer to or further from each other.
•
The pinion shaft may be provided with a pinion gearing into a segmental rack on
an arm, and a suitable dial may be used to indicate the proper extent of each movement
of the arm to effect a proper movement of the rings.
On the other hand, imeans may be employed for operating the pinion shaft
automatically.
In this case, the cam box is stationary, and the needle cylinder rotates, and said
cylinder carries the rings and their operating pinions. On the underside of the
cylinder is a frame forming a bearing for a counter shaft, which is geared to the
pinion shaft, and carries at its outer end right and left handed ratchets. On the under-
side of the main frame is a depending hanger, and to a slot in this hanger is adapted
the threaded stem of a slide, which carries right-handed and left-handed pawls
engaging alternately with the aforesaid ratchets.
When the ratchets therefore are moved towards the pawls, one of said ratchets will
be moved, depending upon which of the pawis is in engagement, and the direction of
movement of the counter shaft, and hence, of the pinion shaft, can be readily governed
by the adjustment of the slide, one pawl turning one ratchet in one direction, and the
other pawl turning the other ratchet in the opposite direction.
.
To prevent the accidental movement of the pinion shaft it is furnished with a
notched disk and a detent is hung to the cylinder, so that it will engage with said
notched disk, a spring tending to keep it in engagemont therewith.
The needle cylinder is provided with an independent head, which can be adjusted
vertically in respect to the main cylinder, this adjustment being effected, by the
engagement of the threaded lower end of said head with the threaded upper end of a
sleeve, vertically confined to the needle cylinder, but free to turn therein, the head
being prevented from turning, so that the rotation of the sleeve will effect the raising
or lowering of said head.
In order that the diameter of the knitted tube which is being produced may be
expanded or contracted to form the calf and ankle portion of stocking, the needle
cylinder is provided with an adjustable conical expansion ring, located some distance
below the top or head of the cylinder, this ring being adjustable vertically, so that it
acts as a wedge to expand radially the cylindrical series of needles, and thus increase
the effective diameter of the head at the point where the stitch is formed.
upper end
This movement is effected without changing the vertical position of the
or head of the cylinder in respect to the needles, so that the set of needles, although
expanded radially, will still continue to draw the stitches to the same extent below the
top of the cylinder. The said expansion ring may be connected to an internal ring,
which is threaded at the lower end for adaptation to the threaded upper ond of a
sleeve, confined vertically to but free to turn in the needle-cylinder, so that by turning
said sleeve the internal ring, and with it the expansion ring, will be raised or
lowered.
.
In order that the raising or lowering of the expansion ring may be effected auto-
matically, the sleeve has around its lower end a rack, with which engages aªpinion,

page_text: on a shaft having a ratchet wheel, the latter being operated by a pawl hung to a
lever, which is actuated on each rotation of the cylinder by contact with any suitable
stop on the frame.
In order to obtain a differential take-up the needle cylinder is provided with a
depending frame having a series of rods, which serve as guides for weights, each of
which has an upwardly projecting take-up hook. The weights are arranged in tiers,
each weight in the lower tier being over-lapped by two weights in the tier above,
and each of the latter weights being over-lapped by a weight in the top tier,
whereby the elevation of either of the lower weights will lift two weights in each of
the tiers above the same, so that all the weights can be lifted to take a fresh hold by
simply lifting the two lower weights. The lower weights, however, can descend
independently of those above, and the weights in the second tier can descend inde-
pendently of those in the upper tier, so that by applying the hooks to the fabrics so
that the hook of one of the lower weights is at or about the centre of the toe or heel
pocket which is being formed, the slack formed by said pocket will be taken up as
fast as made, and uniform tension upon the fabric at the top of the head will be
preserved.
In order to properly feed the thread to the needles of the machine the thread guide
is mounted upon a segmental guide bar secured to the cam box, a pin on the guide
being under control of a sliding bar which is guided on a pivoted plate, and is acted
upon by a spring, the tendency of which is to maintain the toothed front end of the
bar in engagement with the notched ring, or other notched or grooved part of the
needle cylinder.
The slotted lever formed by the sliding bar and pivoted plate will be shifted in one
direction or the other on each change in the direction of movement of the machine,
and the thread guide will be moved on the bar, so as to keep the thread constantly in
advance of the rising needles on either movement.
The work is prevented from rising on the needles by means of rollers arranged one
in advance of the other.
--One-roller-is-carried-by-a-stud-on a sleeve, which is guided-in-a-tube, supported..by
brackets above the needle cylinder, the sleeve being acted upon by a spring, which
tends to ilepress the same to the extent permitted by contact of a collar on the sleeve
with the upper end of the said tube.
The other roller is carried by a stud on n rod, which is guided in the same sleeve
and is acted upon by a spring, vertical play of the rod in the sleeve to an extent
limited by a pin and slot, being thus permitted.
The collar has a lug, adapted to a recess in the tube, the recess being of slightly
greater width than the lug, so as to provide for lost motion on each change in the
direction of movement of the machine, thus permitting the roller which follows the
descending needles on one movement of the machine to assume a proper position
in respect to the ascending needles on the succeeding movement in the reverse
direction.
The automatic stopping of the machine is effected by means of a belt shifter carried
by a rod, suitably guided on the fixed frame of the machine, and acted upon by a
spring.
When the machine is running, this rod is held so as to direct the driving belt to the
fast pulley, a catch lever engaging with a notch in the end of the rod, to retain it in
this position. When the lever is tripped, however, so as to release the rod, the spring
drives said rod inward, and the shifter carries the belt from the fast pulley to the
loose pulley, thus stopping the machine. In order to effect the automatic tripping of
the lever, a screw shaft is mounted in bearings in a frame, at one side of the machine,
a ratchet wheel on this shaft being acted tipon by a pawl carried by an arm acted on
by a spring and by a toe on the needle cylinder. Free to slide on the screw stem is a
sleeve having levers, the upper arms of which are threaded for adaptation to the screw
shaft, these levers being acted upon by springs. By pressing inward the lower arms
of the levers, the threaded upper aruis of the same are removed from engagement

page_text: with the screw shaft, so that the sleeve can be adjusted by hand to any desired position
thereon.
The sleeve descends the screw shaft as the latter is turned until a bar carried by the
sleeve trips the lever, so as to release the shifting rod.
The length of plain fabric produced by the machine therefore depends upon the
position to which the nut is adjusted above the knocking-off point, and for
the guidance of the attendant in effecting this adjustment, the frame is graduated and
the sleeve has a pointer.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn.Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: We, SAMUEL HENSHALL and JOHN WESLEY HEPWORTH both of Mascher Street
and Lehigh Avenue in the City of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania United Statos
of America Manufacturers of knitting machinery and JOSEPH HANSON of Mascher
and Somerset Streets in said City of Philadelphia Dyer do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly 5
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
--
One of the objects of this Invention is to provide simple mechanism whereby some
of the needles may be thrown into and out of action for the purpose of effecting the
formation of a heel, or toe pocket, or protuberance upon a knitted tube intended for
a sock or stocking, further objects being to provide means for readily changing the 1
stiffness and gange of the work, and for accurately taking up the work, either when
plain knitting-is-boing-done-or-a toe or heel pocket is being formed, and-still-further..
objects being to provide for holding down the work upon the needles, and for shitting
the thread guide, when the direction of movement of the machine is reversed..
These objects are attained in the manner and by the means hereinafter fully set 1
forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the
Invention applied to a circular machine but certain parts are also applicable to
rectilinear machines.
Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a knitting machine constructed in
accordance with the Invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view, with the needle cylinder removed.
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the needle cylinder.
Figure 4 is an end view of the machine.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the same minus the work pressers, thread guide and
driving mechanism.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 1-2 Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-4 Figure 2 on a reduced scalo.
Figures 8 to 11 inclusive are sectional elevations and sectional plan views of an
expansion rib and rings, forming one of the features of the Invention.
Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating the action of the expansion rib upon
the cans of the machine, the latter for their better illustration, being shown in a flat
plane, instead of in the curved plane in which they are arranged in the machine.
Figuros 14 and 15, are respectively, a sectional plan view and a bottoin view of
mechanism for effecting the operation of the expansion rib by hand.
Figures 16 and 17 are respectively, a side view partly in section and a sectional
plan view, showing mechanism for effecting the operation of the expansion rib
automatically.
Figure 18 is a sectional plan view of a detail of the machine shown in Figures 1
and 2.
2

page_text: Figures 19 and 20 are enlarged diagrams illustrating the action of the devices' for
expanding the diamoter of the head, and changing the gunge of the machine.
Figures 21 and 22 are views illustrating a modified construction of the devices for
changing the top of the head to regulate the stiffness of the work.
Figures 23 and 24 are, respectively, a transverse section and a sectional plan view
of the devices for taking up the work and causing an even tension upon all portions
of the same.
Figures 25 and 26 are, respectively, a sectional view and a perspective view of the
devices employed for preventing the rise of the work upon the needles of the
machine.
Figures 27, 28 and 29 are perspective views illustrating different forms of devices
for effecting the automatic shifting of the thread guide, when the direction of move-
ment of the machine is changed..
Figures 30 and 31 are enlarged views of part of the automatic stop motion
employed upon the machine, and shown in Figures 5 and 6, and
Figures 32 to 38 inclusive, are detached views illustrating various modifications
in the means whereby the expansion rib of the machine is caused to actuate the cams.
The fixed frame of the machine has suitable bearings for the main or driving
shaft 2 and for the needle cylinder 3 and cam box 4.
•
The lower end of the needle cylinder is provided with a bevel wheel 5 gearing into
a bevel pinion 6 on the shaft 2 which is also provided with another bevel pinion 7
adapted to gear into a bevel wheel 8 on a shaft 9, which has a bearing in a bracket 10
on the frame 1 and is provided with a spur wheel 11 gearing into an annular rack 12
on the cam hox 4.
The shaft 2 is movable in its bearings, so that either of the pinions thereon may
be thrown into gear with its respective bevel wheel and rotary movement may thereby
be imparted either to the needle cylinder or can box, a bolt 13 serving to lock the
cylinder to the fixed frame when the cam box is being rotated and a bolt 14 serving
to lock the cam box to the fixed frame when rotary movement is being imparted
to the cylinder.
Within the cam box 4 in the present instance are five cams 15. 16. 16 and 17. 17.
The cam 15 is permanently secured to the cam box 4 and its function is to elevate
the needles. which must always be raised to the same height. The cams 16. 16 are
drawing down or depressing cams, and are carried by blocks 18, 18, guided in
the cam box 4 and provided with bolts 19 adapted to slots in the cam box, so that
said cams 16 can be adjusted vertically to regulate the descent of the needles and
govern the length of loop drawn thereby, as usual.
The cams 17. 17. are carried by blocks 20, 20, also guided in the cam box 4 and
each of these blocks is provided with a bolt 21 adapted to a slot in the cam box so
that the block and the cam carried thereby can likewise be raised and lowered in the
cam box when desired.
On the outside of the cam box is guided a cam ring 22 which has openings 23 for
the reception of the bolts 19. and 21 of the cam blocks 18 and 20, these openings being
enlarged at one end to an extent which will permit free vertical play of the cams 16
and 17.
The cam ring, however has inclined portions 24 and when the ring is turned so
that these portions act upon the bolts 19 and 21 the cams 16 will be depressed and the
cams 17 raised to their full extent, which is what may be termed their acting position,
being that assumed when all of the needles are in action and plain continuous tubular
work is being produced.
When the cam ring 22 is adjusted however as shown in Figure 5 so that the bolts 19
and 21 occupy the enlarged portions of the openings in the ring, the cains 16 and 17
can be moved to operative or inoperative position by means of the devices described
hereinafter.
The lower end of each of the cains 17, 17 rests upon or is connected to an arm 25
which
pivoted by a bolt 26 to the cam box, and to each arm 25 is pivoted a pawl 27,

page_text: is free to swing in one direction, as shown in Figures 12 and 13 but cannot move in
the opposite direction, owing to the bearing of the upper end of the pawl against a
lug 28 on the arm 25.
The fixed frame or bed 1 of the machine has formed therein an annular recess for
the reception of two rings 30 and 31 and each of the rings has a rack formed upon it
the internal rack of the outer ring 30 gearing into a pinion 32 and the external rack
of the inner ring 31 into a pinion 33 so that by turning the pinions a movement of the
rings can be effected, the movement of the rings being in opposite directions, owing
to the fact that one has an internal and the other an external rack.
Both of the pinions 32 and 33 are carried by a shaft 34 adapted to bearings in a
frame 35 below the bed which shaft is operated as described hereinafter.
Carried by the ring 30 are three rings 36 three similar rings 37 being carried by
the inner ring 31 and each of these rings 36. 37. has a projection on the top, the
projections serving to form a rib, which can be expanded or contracted in length by a
proper movement of the rings as described hereafter.
The outer one of the three rings 36 is secured to the ring 30 but the other rings 36
simply rest thercon, a pin on said outer ring 36 being adapted to a slot in the adjacent
ring 36 and a pin on the latter to a similar slot in the innermost ring 86.
In the same manner, the innermost of the three rings 37 is secured to the ring 31
the other rings 37 resting on said ring 31 and a pin on the inner ring 37 being adapted
to a slot in the adjacent ring, a pin on which is adapted to a like slot in the outermost
ring 37 (See Figures 10 and 11).
By this arrangement of rings with pins and slots the rib can be expanded from the
condition shown in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 9 or contracted from the con-
dition shown in Figure 9. to that shown in Figure 8 by simply rotating the pinions 32. 33
in one direction or the other.
Thus supposing the rib to be fully expanded, as shown in Figure 9 the rings 36
and 37 being then in the positions shown in Figure 11 by rotating the pinions so as
to move the outer and inner rings 30 and 31 in the direction of their respective
arrows-figure-11.-the-outer-ring-36-and inner ring 37-with-their-rib-sections, will-be-
moved likewise until their pins reach the ends of the slots in the adjacent rings 36
and 37-the-movement being then transmitted to the latter and this movement being in
turn transmitted to the inner ring 36 and outer ring 37 when the pins of the inter-
medinte rings reach the ends of the slots in said inner and outer rings 36 and 37,
the rib sections being all in line with each other as shown in Figures 8 and 10 by
the time the movement is completed. A gradual expansion of the rib as will be
evident can be effected by a movement of the pinions and rings in the opposite
direction.
The drawing-down cams 16 are under the control of levers 38 hung to pins 39 on
the cam box and acted upon by the supporting rib which acts upon the pawls of the
arms 25.
As long as the lever is under control of the rib, the drawing-down cam will be
held in the depressed or active position shown in Figure 12 but as soon as the lever
passes from under control of the rib, it permits the elevation of the cam 16 to the
inoperative position by reason of its spring 40 as shown in Figure 13.
The lever may act upon a pin projecting directly from the cam 16 but it is pre-
ferable to cause the lever to act upon a projecting end of the cam spring 40 as shown
so that if there is any obstacle to the descent of the cam the spring will yield and
prevent breaking of the parts.
The operation of the machine is as follows :-
For the production of plain work, the needle cylinder is revolved continuously in
one direction (say in the direction of the arrow Figure 1) the cams 17 being elevated
and the cams 16 depressed and secured in these positions by means of the cam ring 22,
so that all the needles will, by the right hand cam 17 be directed to and compelled to
pass over the central cam 15 so as to be raised to take the thread.
When it is desired to perform the narrowing and widening operation (such for

page_text: instance as may be required in forming the heel or too pocket on a tube for a
stocking) the cain ring 22 is turned until the holts 19 and 21 occupy positions in the
enlarged openings in said ring, the cams 16 being permitted to rise and the cams 17
to drop so that they will direct the needles beneath the central cam 15, instead of
over the same.
The rings 36 and 37 had been previously adjusted so that the cam-actuating rib
was fully expanded the rib in this case extending around as much of the circumference
of the cylinder as contains the needles that are to remain in action this being usually
about one half of the cylinder. The cylinder being secured in position by its bolt 13
the cam box 4 is now vibrated to the extent of say three quarters of a turn and the
support formed by the rib is carried back and forth beneath the pawls 27 of the
arms 25 and beneath the levers 38. In moving in the direction of the arrow
Figure 12. the right hand cam 17 will be elevated as shown so as to direct the needles
to the cam 15, around so much of the cylinder as corresponds to the exient of the rib,
said cam 17 being held in this position as long as the supporting rib is passing under
the paw! 27 of the arm 25 which acts upon the eun, the pawl of the arm which acts
upon the left hand cam 17 however yielding during this movement as shown, so that
said left hand cum is not elevated. On the backward movement however the left-hand
cam 17 will be elevated and the right hand cam allowed to remain down.
In the same manner the left hand drawing-down cam 16 is held down in operative
position by the action of the rib upon the lever 38 of said cam while the cam box is
being moved in the direction of the arrow Figure 12 the lover of the right hand
cam 16 yielding so as to impart no movement thereto while on the backward move-
ment as shown in Figure 13 the right hand cam 16 will be operative and the left
hand cam out of action. The drawing down cams are held in action only while the
rib is passing beneath the lovers controlling the same so that there is no stretching of
the work upon the needles out of action; that is to say, the needlos beyond the limits
of the rib. After the first operation of the cam box forward and back there should
be a slight movement of the pinions 32. 33 so as to cause a movement in opposite
directions of the rings 30 and 31. This movement is in the direction of the arrows
Figures 9 and 11, and effects a slight contraction in the length of the supporting rib
so that on the next vibrating movement of the cam box the cam 17 will be held up and
the cam 16 will be held down for a shorter time than before and one or more needles
less than were before in action will be this time acted upon. The gradual contraction
in the length of the supporting rib continues until the rib has been shortened to
the dosired extent and the desired limited number of needles only remains in action
whereupon the direction of movement of the pinions 32. 33 is reversoil so as to causo
a gradual expansion in the length of the supporting rib, this expansion continuing
until the rib has been restored to its full length.
It will thus be understood that when the cams 17. 17 are down, the bits of the
needles will pass beneath the cam 15, hence the number of needles elevated on each
vibration of the cam box depends upon the extent of the supporting rib, and as this
rib is gradually contracted in length and then gradually expanded again it follows
that on each vibration of the cam box an end needle or end needles of the set 'will
be dropped or allowed to remain down, these end needles being then gradually
brought into action again after the contraction has been carried to the proper extent.
If it is then desired to form a pocket or tapered strip on the other side of the
knitted tube, the locking bolt 13 of the needle cylinder may be withdrawn the cylinder
turned half way around and the above described operations repeated.
When it is desired to change at once from continuous fabric to a narrow strip.and
then widen the latter the rings 30 and 31 should be moved so that the sections of
the supporting rib will be in the contracted position shown in Figures 8 and 10
before commencing the vibration of the cam box and the pinions 32 and 33 should
he so operated as to effect the expansion of the rib as the cam box is vibrated, the
movement being changed when the expansion is complete so as to effect a gradual
contraction of the rib if the web is to be narrowed-again after widening.
12

page_text: It will be observed on reference to Figures 1 and 3 that the upper slotted portion of
the needle cylinder in which the needles are guided is made conical or tapering, being
widest at the base. The object of this construction is to provide an increased cir-
cumference of cylinder at the lower portion where the devices for operating the cams
are located so that the machine may be made of fine gauge without unduly contracting
the space in which these cam operating devices are compelled to work.
It will also be noticed that the can operating devices are carried back and forth
over the supporting rib only at such times as the operation of narrowing and
widening upon a portion of the needles of the head is being performed. During
the greater portion of the time that is to say when plain continuous tubular fabric
is being produced the cam hox and cam operating devices are stationary, the neelle
cylinder rotating, and carrying the needles around so that their bits successively
engage with the cams, there being no wear of the rib or cam operating devices
during this time, and no friction, such as would be caused by carrying the cam-
operating devices over the rib.
In carrying out the invention it is not absolutely necessary that the construction
of cams 15 and 16, shown in Figure 2, or the pivotted arms and pawls for operating
said cams, as shown in the same figure, should be adhered to in all cases, as
various modifications of these features may be adopted without departing from
my invention.
For instance, where a very quick movement of the cams 17, 17 is desired, it is
preferable to adopt the construction shown in Figures 4 and 35. In this case, each
movable portion of the cam is made in two parts. each carried by a block 20, these
blocks being suitably guided in the cam box 4, so that in adjusting the cam, the blocks
may be moved in opposite directions, the necessary movement of each part being only
half that which is required in moving the single cam; for instance, a movement of
each of the parts of the cam to an extent of one half of the width of the cam slot
is needed to change from the position shown at the left of Figure 34, which directs
the bits of the needles beneath tho_cam 15, to the position shewn at the right of said
figure which directs the needles over said cam.
The two cum blocks are hung to the opposite ends of a lever 65, pivotted to the cam
hox 4, anil having an arin 66 for bearing on the arin 25.
The use of the arms 25, however, is not absolutely essential to the proper currying
out of the invention, in every case, as the cam blocks 20 may have pawls 27, as shown
in Figure 36, to be acted on directly by the supporting rib.
Figure 37 illustrates an arrangement in which the fixed central cam 15 is
dispensed with, the two cams 17, 17, being placed side by side, and being lifted or
allowed to remain down, according as it is desired to operate the needles or allow
them to remain out of action.
Instead, also, of providing means whereby the cams 17 are automatically lifted by
means of the supporting rib, I may permit the latter to act simply as a stop for a
pivotted pawl 27 on the cam when the latter has reached the position at which it must
be raised (see Figure 32), the elevation of the cam being effected by means of lovers 68,
one for each cam, these levers being hung to the cam box 4. and projecting therefrom,
so as to be readily operated by the attendant (see Figure 33).
This operation can be readily performed by one hand while the cam box is being
vibrated by the gearing operated by the other hand, so that the operation of widening
and narrowing to form a heel or toe pocket can be effected quite rapidly, even without
the use of the automatic cam-lifting devices.
As shewn in Figure 32, thoro are two movable cams 17, arranged one on each side of
a central fixed cam 15, as before, one cam 17, acting upon the bits of the needles when
the cam box is moved to the right, and the other cam acting when the cam box is
inoved to the left.
The pawl 27 of one cani swings in one direction, and that of the other cam in the
opposite direction, so that in moving to the right, one cam will be stopped by the
expansion rib, the toe of the other cam yielding and passing freely over the rib, while

page_text: in moving in the opposite direction, the other cam will be stopped, the toe of the first
can yielding to pass over the rib.
In Figuro 2, 14 and 15, are shewn the means whereby the shaft 34 carrying the
pinions 32, 33, is rotated by hand so as to impart movement in opposite directions to
the two rings 30, 31, in order to effect the expansion or contraction of the rib' för
operating or serving as a stop for the cams, as before set forth.
The shaft 34 is adapted to bearings in a frame 35, which is screwed or otherwise
secured to the underside of the frame 1, the opening in the latter being large enough to
permit the pinions 32, 33, to be passed up from below into gear with the racks of the
rings 30, 31, so that no accurate fitting is required, such as would be necessary if
the shaft 84 had a bearing in the frame 1.
The frame 35 in the present machine is simply secured to the frame 1 in the position
which it assumes when the pinions are properly meshed with the racks of the rings 30, 31.
The frame 35 carries the gearing whereby movement is imparted to the shaft 34.
To said shaft are secured two ratchet wheels 41 and 42, one right handed and the
other left handed, and hung to the shaft is a swinging frame 43, having an operating
handle 44, and having a pin 45, to which are hung two pawls 46, 47, one for the
wheel 41 and the other for the wheel 42. Each pawl being acted upon a spring
which tends to keep it in engagement with its respective ratchet wheel.
The frame 43 also carries a pin 49, on which are two cams 50, 51, the former being
adapted to act on a too of the pawl 46, while the cam 51 is adapted to act upon a too
of the pawl 47, the effect of this motion being to remove the pawl from engagement
with its ratchet wheel, but the cams being such that when one pawl is under control
of one of said cams, the other pawl will be free from the control of the other cam.
The frame 43 is vibrated by the attendant to an extent permitted by the contact of
projections 52 upon said frame with stops 53 upon the frame 35, so as to impart
movement to a like extent to one of the ratchet wheels 41, 42, the direction of the
movement thereby imparted to the shaft 34 depending upon which of the pawls 46, 47,
is in engagement with its ratchet wheel, and this, in turn, being determined by the
adjustment of the pin 49.
The ratchet wheel 41 has a retaining pawi 54, and the wheel 42 a similar pawl 55,
these pawls being carried, respectively, by shafts 56, 57. adapted to bearings in the
frame 35, and having arms 58, 59, acted upon by a cam 60, free to turn on the lower
portion of the shaft 34 this cam having a segmental rack 61, which is in gear with a
similar rack 62 secured to the lower end of the pin 49 and provided with a handle 63,
by, which it may be operated, the effect of this construction being to throw the
retaining pawl into gear with each ratchet wheel as the operating pawl is thrown into
gear therewith.
In the machine shown in Figure 1, the frame 1 carries an adjustable pin 105, the
inner end of which projects into an annular recess in said frame, and serves; by
contact with pins 106 carried by the outer ring 0, to limit the extent of movement
of said ring, and consequently, determine the limits of expansion and contraction of
the supporting rib, and the extent of the widening and narrowing operation, and these
limits may be governed by adjusting the pins 106 nearer to or further from each
other, the ring 30 being provided with a number of openings for this purpose (See
Figure 18.)
In machines for making coarse work, however, much simpler mechanism than this
can be used for instance, the shaft 34 may be provided with a pinion gearing into a
segmental rack on an arm 70, as shown in Figure 38, and a suitable dial 71 may 'be
used to indicate the proper extent of each movement of the arm to effect a proper
movement of the rings 30 and 31.
On the other hand, means may be employed for operating the shaft 34 automatically,
and in Figures 16 and 17 is shown one form of mechanism which may be adopted for
this purpose. In this case, the cam box is stationary, and the needle cylinder 3
rotates, and said cylinder carries the rings 30. 31; their o, erating pinions 32, 33,
and shaft 34.
On the underside of the cylinder is a frame 73, forming a bearing for a counter

page_text: shaft 75, which is geared to the shaft. 34 by pinions 76, 77, and carries at its
outer end.right and left handed ratchets 78, 79.
On the underside of the frame I is a depending hanger 80, and to a slot in this
hanger is adaptel the threaded stem 81 of a slide 82, which carries a right-handed
pawl 83, and a left handed pawl 84. so arranged that when the slide 82 is depressed
the pawi 83 will engage with the top of the ratchet 78, the pawl 84 being free from
engagement with the hottom of the ratchet 79, but when the slide is elevated the
pawl 84 will be brought into engagement with the ratchet 79 and the pawl 83 will be
out of engagement with the ratchet 78.
When the ratchets 78, 79, therefore, are moved towards the pawls 83, 84, one of
said ratchets will he moved, depending upon which of the pawls is in engagement,
and the direction of movement of the shaft 75, and hence. of the shaft 34, can be
readily governed by the adjustment of the slide 82, one pawl turning one ratchet
in one direction, and the other pawl turning the other ratchet in the opposite
direction.
When it is desired to operate the shaft 34 at-each-end of the movement of-the-
cylinder, the slide, with its pawls, may be duplicated, as shown in Figure 7.
The pawls, it should be understood, are elastic, so that they will act on their
respective ratchet wheels only when the latter are moving towards the pawls, and.
will yield so as to have no effect on said wheels when the latter are moving
backwards.
To prevent the accidental movement of the shaft 34, the latter is furnished with a
notched disc 85 and a detent 85 is hung to the cylinder 3, so that it will engage with
said notched disc, a spring 87 tending to keep it in engagement therewith.
As the needle cylinder is rotated in either direction, however, the detent is struck
by cams 88 on the underside of the frame 1, so as to release the disc 85 from the
control of said detent just before the shafts 75 and 34 are turned by the action of the
pawl and ratchet mechanism described, the disc being again locked by the detent,
however,.as.soon-as-the-movement-of-the-shafts-is completed.
In Figures 16 and 17, also, is shown, a thumb-nut on the bolt 21, which-projects
from the block 20, carrying the cam 17, this thumb nut taking the place of the cam
ring 22, as a means of holding the cam in operative position, and it will be readily
understood that the bolts of both blocks 20, and also those of the blocks 18, carrying
the cams 16, may be provided with these thumb nuts if desired.
As before stated, the needle cylinder 3 is tapered, so as to provide ample room for
the cam-operating devices in the lower portion of the cam box without corresponding
coarseness in the gauge of the machine. Owing to this tapering of the cylinder,
however, there can be no adjustment of the same for the purpose of regulating the
slackness or stiffness of the work, hence the cylinder is provided with an independent.
head 90, which can be adjusted vertically in respect to the main cylinder, this
adjustment being effected, in the present instance, by the engagement of the threaded
lower end of said head with the threaded upper end of a sleeve 91, vertically confined
to the cylinder 3, but free to turn therein, the head 90 being prevented from
turning, so that the rotation of the sleovo 91 will effect the raising or lowering of.
said head 90.
In order that the diameter of the knitted tube which is. being, produced may be
expanded or contracted to form the calf and ankle portion of a stocking, the needle
cylinder is provided with an expansion ring 92, located. some distance below the top
or head 90 of the cylinder, this ring being adjustable vertically, so that it acts as a
wedge to expand radially the cylindrical series of needles, and thus increase the
effective diameter of the head at the point where the stitch is formed, as shown in
Figures 19 and 20.
As will be seen, however, this movement is effected without changing the vertical
position of the upper end or head 90 of the cylinder in respect to the needles, so that
the set of needles, although expanded radially, will still continue to draw the stitches
to the same extent below the top of the cylinder.
Various means may be employed for adjusting the ring 92 As shown in Figures 1

page_text: and 3, said ring is connected to an internal ring 93, which is threaded at the lower end for
adaptation to the threaded upper end of a sleeve 94, confined vortically to but free to
turn in the needle cylinder, so that by turning said sleeve 94 the ring 93, and with it
the ring 92, will be raised or lowered, the ring 93 being prevented from turning by
means of pins or screws 95 which connect the rings 93 and 92 and pass through
vertical slots 96 in the vertical portion of the head 90 of the cylinder, the latter being
thus likewise prevented from turning in the cylinder.
In order that the raising and lowering of the ring 92 may be effected automatically,
the sleeve 94 has around its lower end a rack 95, with which engages a pinion '96, on
a shaft having a ratchet wheel 97, the latter being operated by a pawl hung to a
lever 98, which is actuated on each rotation of the cylinder by contact with any
suitable stop on the frame (see Figure 3) the pawl being thrown out of gear when it
is desired to turned the sleeve 94 backward, or reversible pawls and right and left
ratchets being used when the backward movement of the sleeve is to be effected
automatically. The adjusting sleeve 91 of the head 90 also has a rack engaging with
a pinion 99 on a shaft provided with a milled head 100, by which it may be readily
manipulated.
Other means of adjusting the head are, however, available; for instance, the
head 90 may be adjusted by means of set screws, as shown in Figure 21, or other
means of adjustment such as will readily suggest themselves to those familiar with
this class of machinery may be employed, and the head may be splined to the
cylinder to prevent it from turning, if desired, as shown, for instance, in Figure -22%
In making heel or toe pockets on knitted tubes for the manufacture of stockings,
slack is necessarily formed on that side of the tube in which said pocket is made,
hence the necessity of a differential take-up in order that this slack may be properly
drawn down into the cylinder and uniform tension upon the fabric insured.
The cylinder 3 is, therefore, provided with a depending frame having a series of
rods 101, which serve as guides for weights 102, each of which has an upwardly
projecting take-up hook 103.
There are, in the present instance, ten weights arranged in three tiers, four on each
of the upper tiers and two in the lower tier, each weight in the lower tier being
overlapped by two weights in the tier above, and each of the latter weights being
overlapped by a weight in the top tier, whereby the elevation of either of the lower
weighis will lift two weights in each of the tiers above the same, so that all the weights
can be lifted to take a fresh hold by simply lifting the two lower weights. (See
Figures 1, 23 and 24.)
The lowest weights, however, can descend independently of those above, and the
weights in the second tier can descend independently of those in the upper tier, so
that by applying the hooks to the fabric so that the hook of one of the lower weights
is at or about the centre of the toe or heel pocket which is being formed, the slack
formed by said pocket will be taken up as fast as made, and uniforin tension upon-
fabric at the top of the head will be preserved.
n-the
In order to properly feed the thread to the needles of the machine it is necessary
that the thread guide should be in advance of the needles as they raise to take the
thread, hence it is necessary to shift the position of the thread guide at the commence-
ment of each vibrating movement of the cam box when the machine is forming the
heel or toe portion upon a knitted tube.
The thread guide 110 is, therefore, mounted upon a segmental bar 111 secured to
the cam box 4, a pin 112 on the guide being under control of a bar 113 which is
guided on a pivotted plate 114, and is acted upon by a spring 115, the tendency of
which is to maintain the toothed front end of the bar in engagement with the notched
ring 92, or other notched or grooved part of the needle cylinder. The construction
of the thread guide and its operating devices will be understood on reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 27.
As a result of this construction, the lever formed by the sliding har 113 and pivotted
plate 114 will be shifted in one direction or the other on each change in the direction

page_text: of movement of the machine, and the thread guide 110 will be moved on the bar 111,
so as to keep the thread constantly in advance of the rising needles on either
movement..
The guide controlling lever need not be formed of a sliding-bar and pivotted plate, as
the plate 114 itself may, if desired, constitute a lever controlling the thread guide, the
inner end of the plate being acted upon directly by the needle cylinder, and its outer
end forming a bearing for the spring 115. the plate being slotted for the reception
of the pivot pin, as shown in Figure 28. or the plate constructed in this way,
so as to constitute a lever, may itself carry the thread guide, as shown in Figure 29,
but the use of the independent thread guide carried by a segmental bar is preferred.
The work is prevented from rising on the needles by means of rollers 116 and 117,
one of which acts on the work in advance of the ascending needles when the cam
box is moved in one direction, the other roller bearing on the work in advance
of the ascending needles when the cam box is being moved in the opposite
direction.
The roller 116 is carried by a stud 118 on a sleeve 119, which is guided in a
tube 120, supported by brackets 121.above the needle cylinder, the sleeve being acted
upon by a spring 122, which tends to depress the same to the extent permitted by
contact of a collar 123 on the sleeve with the upper end of the tube 120.
The roller 117 is carried by a stud 124 on a rod 125, which is guided in the
sleeve 119 and is acted upon by a spring 126, vertical play of the rod in the sleeve
to an extent limited by a pin 127 and slot 128, being thus permitted. (See Figures
25 and 26.)
The collar 123 has a lug 129, adapted to a recess 130 in the tube 120, the recess
being of slightly greater width than the lug, as shown in Figure 4, so as to provide
for lost motion on each change in the direction of movement of the machine, thus
permitting the roller which follows the descending needles on one movement of the
machine to assume a proper position in respect to the ascending needles on the
succeeding movement in the reverse direction.
The rollers are preferably clothed_with_rubber or other yielding material; and-are
independent of each other in their pressing action, owing to the yielding connection
between the rod 125 and sleeve 119.
It is an advantage, in many cases, to provide for the automatic stoppage of the
machine after a certain length of plain tubular fabric has been produced, and a point
is reached where the formation of a toe or heel portion upon the tube is necessary.
This automatic stopping of the machine is effected by means of devices shown in
Figures 4, 6, 30 and 31.
The driving shaft 2 of the machine is driven by spur gears 131 and 132 from a
counter shaft 133, on which are the usual fast and loose pulleys 134 and 135. A belt
shifter 136 is carried by a rod 137, suitably guided on the fixed frame of the machine,
and acted upon by a spring 138.
When the machine is running, this rod 137 is held in the position shown in
Figure 6 so as to direct the driving belt to the fast pulley 134, a catch lever 139
engaging with a notch in the end of the rod 137, to retain it in this position. When
the lever 139 is tripped, however, so as to release the rod, the spring 138 drives said
rod inward, and the shifter 136 carries the belt from the fast pulley to the loose pulley,
thus stopping the machine.
In order to effect the automatic tripping of the lever 139, a screw shaft 141 is
mounted in bearings in a frame 140, at one side of the machine, a ratchet wheel 142
on this shaft being acted upon by a pawl 143 carried by an arin 144, acted on by a
spring 145 and by a toe 146 on the needle cylinder, so that on each rotation of the
latter, the ratchet wheel will be moved to the extent of one or more teeth.
Free to slide on the screw stem 141 is a sleeve 147, having levers 148, the upper
arms of which are threaded for adaptation to the screw shaft 141, these levers being
acted upon by springs 149, which tend to keep the threaded arms in engagement with
said screw shaft. By pressing inward the lower arms of the levers, however, the

page_text: threaded upper arms of the same are removed from engagement with the screw shaft,
so that the sleeve 147 can be adjusted by hand to any desired position thereon, the
threaded arms of the levers forming, in effect, a releasing nnt.
The sleeve descends on the screw shaft 141 as the latter is turned by the action
of the pawl and ratchet mechanism under control of the needle cylinder, this
movement continuing until, at a certain point in the descent, a har 150 carried
by the sleeve, strikes the lever 139 and trips the same, so as to release the shifting
rod.
The length of plain fabric produced by the machine therefore depends upon the
position to which the nut is adjusted above the knocking-off point, and for the guidance
of the attendant in effecting this adjustment, the frame 140 is graduated and the
sleeve 147 has a point 151, as shown in Figure 4.
In machines devised prior to this invention an expanding and contracting rib
has been used to throw needles into and out of engagement with an operating cam,
but the present machine differs from such prior machines in its provision for moving
the cams themselves into and out of operative position, instead of moving the needles,
the position of the latter in the needle cylinder not being disturbed except so far as
regards their normal or longitudinal movement necessary to effect the knitting
operation.
Various features of the invention may be applied to machines of that class
in which the needle carrier is straight instead of circular, as will be readily
understood.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1st. The combination of the frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its needles,
needie actuating cams movable into and out of operative position, a supporting
rib for the cams, and means for contracting and expanding said rib, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2nd. The combination of the frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its
needles, needle actuating cams movable into or out of operative position, the
supporting rib, means for expanding and contracting the same, and pivoted
pawls, through the medium of which the rib acts, so that the cam is only lifted
when the rib moves in one direction past the saine, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Bril. The combination of the frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its
needles, needle actuating cams moveable into or out of operative position, pivoted
arms acting on said cams, and having pawls, the supporting rib acting on said
pawls, and means for expanding and contracting the rib substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4th. The combination of the frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its
needles, needle actuating cams movable into or out of operative position, a fixed
liſting cam located between the inovable cams, a supporting rib for said movable
cams, and means for expanding and contracting said rib substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5th. The combination of the frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its
needles, needle actuating cams movable into or out of operative position, the supporting
rib for the cams, mechanism for expanding and contracting the rib, and means for
locking one or both of the movable cams in the elevated or operative position,
substantially as herein before described.
6th. The combination of the 'frame of the machine, the needle carrier and its
needles, needle actuating cams movable into or out of operative position, the
supporting rib, a series of rings, each carrying a section of the rib, and devices
for moving the rings of one set in one direction and those of the other set in
the opposite direction, so as to expand and contract the rib, substantially as
herein before described.

page_text: 7th. The combination of the rings carrying the rib sections, racks formed on two of
said rings, one rack being external and the other internal, pinions engaging with said
racks, and a shaft carrying said pinions, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Sth. The combination of the rings carrying the sections of the supporting rib,
means for positively moving two of said rings, and pin and slot connections between
each of said moved rings and others of the series, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
9th. The combination of the rings carrying the sections of the supporting rib, the
racks, pinions engaging with said racks, a shaft carrying said pinions, and a lover or
arm and intermediate gearing whereby said shaft can be operated by hand to move
the rings, substantially as hereinbefore described.
10th. The combination of the rings carrying the sections of the supporting rib, the
racks, pinions engaging with said racks, a shaft carrying said pinions, ratchet
mechanism, and adjustable pawls for effecting automatically, intermittent movements
of said shaft.in, one direction or the other, substantially as hereinbefore described.
11th. The combination of the frame of the machine, needle actuating cams movable
into and out of operative position, the supporting rib and its expanding and con-
tracting devices, and a needle cylinder and cam box adjustable circumferentially in
respect to each other, so as to effect the widening or narrowing operation on either or
both sides of a tube substantially as herein before described.
12th. The combination of the frame, the conical needle cylinder and its needles,
needle actuating cams movable into or out of operative position, a supporting rib for
the movable cams, and devices for expanding and contracting the rib, said rib and its
operating devices being located adjacent to the lower portion of the cylinder, where
its diameter is greatest, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described:
13th. The combination of the fixed frame of the machine, the needle cylinder and
cam box, cach capable of rotation, needle actuating cams movable into and out of
operativo position,a cam-supporting rib guided in the fixed portion of the frame,
memus for expanding and contracting said rib, and gearing whereby either-the-needle
cylinder or cam box can be rotated, substantially as herein before described.
14th. The combination of the needle carrier and its needles, the cam box and its
needle-elevating and drawing-down cams, and a cam-supporting rib capablo of
expansion and contraction and acting upon both the lifting and drawing-down cams,
substantially as heroinbofore described.
15th. The combination of the rings carrying the sections of the rib, the shaft 34
having pinions for actuating said rings, right and left ratchet wheels for operating the
shaft, a swinging frame having pawls adapted to said ratchet wheels, and cams for
acting upon said pawls to throw them out of gear, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
16th. The combination of the ring-operating shaft 34 and its right and left ratchet
wheels, retaining pawls for the ratchet wheels, a swinging frame having operating
pawls for said wheels, cans for acting upon the operating and retaining pawls, and
gearing for operating said cams in unison, substantially as hereinbefore described.
17th. The combination of the needle carrier, and cam box of the machine, the
shifting thread guide, a slotted operating lever connected to said thread guide and
engaging with the needle carrier, a spring acting on said lever, and a pivot pin
adapted to the slot of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
18th. The combination of the needle cylinler, the segmental guide bar adjacent
thereto, a thread guide adjustable on said bar, a slotted lever connected to said guide
and engaging with the needle cylinder, a spring acting on said lever, and a pivot pin
adapted to the slot in the lever, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
19th. The combination of the needle cylinder, the segmental guide bar adjacent
thereto, a thread guide adjustable on said bar, a guide-operating lever comprising a
pivoted plate and a bar engaging with the cylinder and having a slot for the reception

page_text: of the pivot pin, so that it is free to slide on the plate, and a spring acting on said
bar, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbofore described.
20th. The combination of the tapered needle cylinder, with a head separate there-
from, and with means for adjusting said head vertically on the cylinder without turning
it in respect thereto, substantially as heroinbefore described.
21st. The combination of the tapered needle cylinder, the head free to move
vertically thereon and having a threaded end, a sleeve threaded for adaptation to the
head, and means for confining said sleeve vertically to the cylinder, and for preventing
the head from turning in the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose herein
before described.
22nd. The combination of the needle carrier, needles and thread guide, with the
presser consisting of two rollers, one in advance of the other, a presser carrier hung to
the frame, but free to swing thereon, and means for limiting the extent of movement
of the carrier, substantially as herein before described.
23rd. The combination of the needle carrier, needles and thread guide, with a
presser consisting of two rollers, one in advance of the other, and an independent
spring support for each roller, substantially as hereinbefore described.
24th. The combination of the expanding and contracting rib, and the rings
carrying the same and having projecting studs, 106, with means for moving said
rings, and a stop pin for the studs, substantially as herein before described.
25th. The combination of the driving gear, the belt shifter and the catch therefor,
with the screw shaft and its operating mechanism, and a nut constructed to engage
with or to be released from said shaft, and having a tripper, substantially as heroin-
before described.
26th. The combination of the driving gear of the machine, the belt shifter and the
catch therefor, the screw shaft arranged vertically at one side of the machine,
operating mechanism for said screw shaft, a nut carried by said shaft, and having
a tripper and a pointer, and a gauge bar serving in connection with the pointer, to
regulate the adjustment of said nut, substantially as hereinbefore described.
27th. The combination of the tapered needle cylinder, the cam box fitted on the
surface of said tapered cylinder, cams guided in said box and free to slide in an
inclined plane parallel with the surface of the tapered cylinder, a cam-operating rib
contained in a chamber beneath the cam box, means whoreby said rib is caused to act
upon the cams, and mechanism for expanding and contracting the rib, substantially
as herein before described.
28th. The combination of the needles and needle-operating cam of the machine,
the needle and cam cylinders, an expansion rib serving as a stop for the cam, and a
hand lever for moving the cam into operative position, substantially as herein before
described.
29th. The combination of the needles and needle-operating cam of a knitting
machine, the needie and cam cylinders, a toe pivoted to the cam and free to swing
thereon, an expansion rib serving as a stop for said toe and a hand lever for moving
the can into operative position, substantially as herein before described.
30th. The combination, in a knitting machine, of a conical needle cylinder and its
needles, with an expansion ring acting upon the needles and free to move vertically
on the cylinder below the upper end of the same, whereby the expansion of the
needles may be effected without changing their draft, substantially as herein before
described.
31st. The combination of the conical needle cylinder and its needles, the conica!
expansion ring, a carrier therefor, a threaded ring engaging with said carrier, and
pawl and ratchet mechanism whereby said threaded ring is moved on each rotation of
the cylinder, substantially as herein before described.
32nd. The combination of a series of take-up hooks, with weights carried by said
hooks, said weights being arranged in tiers, and the weights of one tier overlapping
those of the tier below and resting thereupon when their hooks are free from the
fabric, substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 33rd. The combination of the take-up frame having depending rods, with weights
guided on said rods and arranged in tiers one above another, so as to overlap, each
weight having a take-up hook substantially as hereinbefore described.
34th. The combination of the cylinder having an adjustable top section for
regulating the stitch, the threaded ring for operating said top section, and rack
and pinion mechanism for operating said ring, substantially as hereinbefore described.
35th. The combination of the conical cylinder with an adjustable top for regulating
the stiffness of the work, and a conical expansion ring below the top for regulating
the gauge of the work, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Date: 1- CA 1000