Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1887
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th July, 1888
We, GEORGE FREDERICK STURGESS, of Wilne Street, Highfields, Leicester, Hosiery
Machinist, WILLIAM BROWN, ERNEST BROWN, and FREDERICK BROWN, of No. 9
Charles Street, all in Leicester, in the county of Leicester Hosiery Manufacturers do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in Knitting Machines, and refers to the
improved construction of the various working parts in connection with Knitting
Machines wherein the cam for operating the knitting needles may be made to revolve
or rotate continuously about the needle bed to operate the needles to form a circular, or
flat web, or may be made to reciprocate about a portion of the needle bed, and needles,
so that gussets, heels or toes, may be produced automatically either in plain or rib.
machines by the means and employment of the several improvements hereinafter
described. This invention is an outcome and connected with the application filed by
George Frederick Sturgess one of the Applicants in the present case, dated
December 3rd 1886, and numbered 15794, for "an improved needle."
Our
improvements relate in the first place to the employment of an oscillating cam
working in conjunction with the improved needle, so that we are enabled to form the
gussets, heels or toes, without lifting the needles by hand to get them out of action
which is now the case with ordinary needles, also to dispense with the clasp ring
now in use. The said cam derives its oscillating motion from racks carried by two
ratchet rings, or sections of ratchet rings working in opposite directions on the base
or bed of the machine, the teeth in the rings, or sections of rings, corresponding to
the guage of the machine, the ratchet rings are moved a tooth at a time, or more as
may be needful. Rack levers are pivoted to a vertical rocking shaft fixed to the rear
of the machine or in any suitable position, the said rocking shaft receiving its motion
from a projection on the cam box, to impart motion to the rack levers which actuate
the rings on the base, so that they are racked continuously in one direction or each
reversed as may be desired. We may employ two or more oscillating cams,
according to number of feeders required or shape of cams used. We may employ this
oscillating cam to-ordinary needles, or jacks, in this case we secure a perfect tension

page_text: to the needles by employing an elastic band round the outside of the needles to tension
cach needle in the cylinder or we may insert in a groove cut out round the needle
cylinder a spring, or elastic band coming at the back of the needles, or jacks to press
the feet of the needles, or jacks on to the cam box, or to steel bits fixed in the cam
box which gives the desired tension, or in place of the steel bits inserted in the cam
box, that are employed as stated, to tension the spring needle from cam to cam, we
employ, when using ordinary needles, steel bits in a similar manner-only instead of
their being fixed they are adjusted so that a steel spring from the outside of the cam
box presses the steel bits on to the feet of the needles thereby preventing the needles
falling between the cams. To obtain a reciprocating motion to the machine
automatically to produce heels, toes and straight fabric, we employ two bevel wheels,
one on each side of the machine geared into the teeth of the cam ring, running loose
on an horizontal shaft so that when revolving the bevel wheels always move in
opposite directions.-Upon the main horizontal shaft we key a double clutch between
the two bevel wheels so that by turning the shaft continuously in one direction, and
gearing the clutch to either of the bevel wheels alternately we get a reciprocating
motion. To slide the double clutch from one wheel to the other, we employ a lever
on the bottom end of the vertical rocking shaft. The said rocking shaft projecting
below the base in the rear of the machine on a level with the main driving shaft, that
when the projection on the cam box strikes against the arm on the vertical rocking
shaft, to rack the ratchet rings. The lever having one end connected to the bottom
end of the rocking shaft, and the outer end engaging in the double clutch, causing the
double clutch to slide disengaging with one bevel wheel, and engages with the other
bevel wheel simultaneously causing the machine to return in an opposite direction till
the projection on the cam box strikes the other. arm on the rocking shaft and again
returns by this means one needle is thrown out of use in every course and when
sufficient needles to form the narrowings have been thrown out of action, the motion
of the ratchet rings is reversed and then a needle in each course is again brought into
work until the heel or toe is completed-having completed the narrowings which form
the heel or toe we throw the arms on the rocking shaft out of the way clear of the
projection on the cam box. The machine then moving continuously in one direction
until it is required to form or shape another heel or Toe when the arms are thrown
into action with the projection on the cam box and the fashioning commences as before
described. We e may impart a sliding motion to the double clutch from the cam box,.
independent of the rocking shaft if desired, we may also provide reciprocating motion
to the machine by the employment of an auxiliary shaft we may also employ a chain
wheel for changing the machine from revolving to a reciprocating motion or vice versa.
To facilitate the holding of the work down when forming the heel or toe, instead of
the hooks or heel wire now in use, we employ hooks fitting in Tubes connected to each
hook being a spring fitting in the tubes that each hook holds the fabric down
independent of the other and according to the tension necessary the tubes are fitted in
a frame and made of a shape to correspond with the needle cylinder. If desired, we
can obtain the same result by employing a cord running round pulleys connected to
the weight employed and attached to the stem of the hooks, or we may dispense with
the weights, for holding down the fabric by the employment of a clearing or prevention.
wheel, or wheels attached to the cam box in front of the needles having teeth or leaves
on their circumference which works by the rotation of the cam box in and out between
the needles to prevent the fabric rising, when the needles rise, or in lieu of the fixed
teeth or leaves we may cut out radial slots in the periphery of the wheel and put jacks,
or their equivalents therein, which are forced out between the needles by a cam fixed
to the spindle that supports the wheel in position these wheels can be attached to work
on the front, back or top of the needles. Or another plan is to employ hooks having
springs on their shanks and working in slots on the inner surface of the needle
cylinder, the stem of the hooks coming below the needle cylinder are pressed upwards
by any suitable means derived from the rotation of the cam box, the spring giving
each book an independent pressure upon the fabric. To hold the fabric down better
we press alternate hooks, while the remainder is held to the fabric to give a fresh hold

page_text: each time the pressing motion takes place, the hooks obtaining a fresh hold with every
rotation of the machine, or when pressed up. To facilitate the removal of the ribbing
machine from the frame portion to set up, or run on, we employ the ribber arm much
taller than usual, the spindle supporting the dial also being much longer so that we
are able to draw it up through the boss of the ribber arm for running on, or setting
up, and the spring pin which carries the ribber round also supports it when drawn up
out of action; by springing into a groove cut out round the spindle. We determine
the vertical position of the dial to the needle cylinder by a screw upon the top of the
ribber spindle for the adjustment of the dial to the cylinder, the underside of the dial
being provided with a lug as usual. For the post we employ an angle piece, one part
of the angle extending up on the inside of the needle cylinder to engage with the lug
on the dial, the other end of the angle passing through a bearing secured to the base
of the machine, by turning the outer end of the angle piece the inner end is moved
either way, as desired, so that we are enabled to adjust the dial from any accessible
point on the outside of the machine. We fasten the said angle piece in position by a
wing nut, or a spring on the outer end that springs in to the teeth of a rack, an
indicating finger and scale being provided so that it is seen on the outside of the cam
box. To facilitate the working of a small dial needle in the needle cylinder we reduce
the cylinder to the level of the top of the cam box and dispense with the clasp ring, or
any other ring, and employing in the cam box all fixed cams, so that when the needles
are at their highest point in the needle cylinder they find support on the cam box,
sufficient room being provided between the cam box and cylinder for the free working
of the tumblers, thereby we are enabled to use in a dial rib machine to make rib
fabrics, needles of the same length as in the cylinder. We make fancy mis-stitch
or tuck stitch patterns by fixing needle depressing wheels in the place of the oscillating
cams which are tricked on their outer edge for the formation of any variety of patterns
that may be required, one or more feeders being employed, the said wheels receiving
their motion from a circular rack on the base of the machine. The oscillating cams
hereinbefore described may be employed to machines using sliding bearded needles.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1887
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD.
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
We, GEORGE FREDERICK STURGESS, of Wilne Street Highfields, Leicester,
Hosiery Machinist, WILLIAM BROWN, ERNEST BROWN, and FREDERICK BROWN,
of No. 9, Charles Street, all in Leicester, in the county of Leicester Hosiery
Manufacturers, 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 :—
Our Invention relates to improvements in knitting machines, for automatically
making gussets, heels or Toes, which will be well understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings to which we will now refer.
Figure 1. is a front view, partly in section, with our improved appliances for
automatically making heels and Toes, and modifications embodied in this Invention.
Figure 1 in combination with the other improvements is a contrivance for
tensioning the yarn thread by placing the thread in the projecting arms to stiffen the
fabric.
Figure 2. is an inner view of one of the bevel wheels, showing the rigid and loose
clutches.
Figure 3. is a side view of the central double clutch, which is keyed on to the
driving shaft.
Figure 4. is the front of the same shewing the lugs, on either side.
Figure 5. is a view, in section; of one form of wheel revolving on a bracket, fixed
to the cam box, for preventing the work from rising on the needles, the flat view of
the wheel is shown in dotted lines, the leaves thereof coming between the needles.
Figure 6. is another form of wheel for the same purpose, having grooves into which
are placed jacks radially, operated by-cams.
Figure 7. is a flat view of our improved machine, constructed in accordance with
this invention.
.
Figure 8. is an internal view of the cam cylinder, with the cams, and oscillating
cam adjusted therein.
Figure 9. is another view of the upper part of the cam cylinder, showing the
different positions of the needles, when the oscillating cam is in, or out of action.
Figure 10. is an upper view of the ribbing dial shewing the cams for operating the
ribbing needles.
Figure 11. is a sectional view of the ribbing spindle, broken off; which carries the
cams and supports the ribbing dial.
Figure 12. is a view of the top of the ribbing spindle, with the tricks thereon,
numbered consecutively.

page_text: Figure 13. is part of the contrivance for performing the shogging operation.
Figure 14. is a spring holder, for holding down the work, the hooks being held in
their cases, by coiled springs.
Figure 15 is a portion of the interior of a needle cylinder showing the position of
the hooks in their slots for holding down the work.
Figure 16. is a forked lever used in connection with the projecting pins in the rack
plates for throwing them in, or out of contact with the pinion which actuates the
oscillating cam.
Figure 17 sheet 3. is an external view of a needle cylinder with the cams laid
thereon for the use of the dial and cylinder needle, the tension bits, shown in solid
black also slots for securing the cams, figure 17" is a side view of the centre draw or
stitch cam D. D. Figure 18 is a modification of the preceding figure 17. Figure 19
is a top view of a needle cylinder, cams E E and cam box, and semi-circular needle
heel guards G G. the drawings on Sheet 3 is to better illustrate the steel bits ³ and
to show the difference between the inner view of a cylinder as shown in figure S
sheet 2. wherein the draw or stitch cams are of the dual type while those on sheet 3
in an outward view are of the single draw or stitch cam type, two of the oscillating
cams being necessary for this arrangement one on either side of the draw cam not
shown in drawings as against the single one shown in figure 8 the steel bits v³ shown
in figures 8. 17 and 18. when adjusted prevent the needles falling between the draw
cams- The oscillating cam is made to revolve, or rotate or reciprocate about a
portion of the needles in the needle cylinder or bed for operating the knitting
needles in making gussets, heels and toes in plain or rib machines-employing the
combination dial and cylinder needle of George Frederick Sturgess's application
No. 15794 A.D. 1886. The grooves in the needle cylinder and ribbing dial are cut
We will now
deep and countersunk to better facilitate the use of the spring needle.
proceed to describe the oscillating cam by which we are enabled to make heels and
toes without the needles having to be lifted up to put them out of action with the
cams, which has not hitherto been effected. Be it understood that in machines of
the single draw cam type we may retain the ordinary upthrow cams in place of our
fixed cams F. F.--It will be noticed that the needle cylinder U. is made to suit the
small needle described by "Sturgess" in his Provisional specification Queens printers
copy No. 157948 lines 27 and. 28. the cylinder and cam box being of the same height,
and semi-circular heel guards G G. provided, which fit on to prevent the needles
being absolutely lifted out of the cylinder slots. Letter A. is the casting or frame of
the machine, figure 1. carrying the main driving shaft B upon which are placed loose
and fast pulleys C. and C and the fly wheel D. One or more machines can be driven
at one time by power or by the hand wheel C2 or crank as the case may be, the
backward and forward motion of the large bevel wheels E is determined by alternately
sliding the double clutch H. keyed on to the driving shaft B from one bevel wheel to
the other propelling either wheel alternately by the clutches 2-figures 3 and 4
engaging with the clutch G figure 2 the sliding motion being imparted to the
clutch H. after dropping the front ends of the displaceable arms figures 1, 7, and 13,
bringing the lugs into the circle traversed by the pin e² which is done by
lifting the opposite ends "see q² figure 7-" when the pin e² on the loose spring
tensioned incline ring F. figure 2 mounted on the boss of and revolving with the large
bevel wheel coming in contact with the displaceable lugs e³ the arms recede sufficiently
to give motion to the rocking shaft when they stop and cause the disengaging
incline F, to be retarded in its forward movement with the bevel wheel when the
incline 1. figure 3 and 4. continuing its revolution strikes the retarded incline F and
still continuing its rotary movement with the shaft slides off the end of the incline F
thereby shogging the sliding clutch H into engagement with the opposite bevel
wheel disengaging the driving lugs G figure 2. and Q figure 4. on one side of the
machine and engaging the corresponding lugs on the obverse side of the clutch when
the action of both bevel wheels is reversed, the clutch H propelling the other wheel
forward until the same motions take place on that side of the machine, when the

page_text: clutch H is again shogged to the opposite wheel, each wheel being provided with
corresponding driving clutch and disengaging incline-it will be readily seen that the
bevel wheels E having twice the number of teeth on their circumference to the cam
ringe they only have to go a portion of a revolution when it returns by reason of the
stud e coming in contact with the lugs e³ the head meanwhile having made sufficient
traverse is reversed. One of the studs e² approaching the clutch es while the opposite
stud e² is receeding from the opposite clutch e³ the bevel wheels E continually mesh with
the teeth of the cam cylinder and are mounted independent of each other on the main
shaft so as to revolve loosely on the shaft in contrary directions, neither of the bevel
wheels ever being required to be disengaged from the teeth of the cam ring e¹ to effect
the reciprocation of the head of the machine, the reciprocating motion being obtained
by alternately clutching the bevel wheels to the revolving shaft as described, the
double clutch H. propelling the wheels forward the backward motion being transmitted
through the cam ring, having completed the reciprocating movement we cause the
head to revolve continuously in one direction by the front ends of the displaceable
arms being lifted out of action by depressing the back or bowed cross piece q2 which is
pivoted to the ends of the displaceable arms either in rear or in front of the machine,
"shown in rear figure 7," the rocking shaft ceasing its movement until the arms are
again brought into action the clutch H remaining in gear with one of the driving lugs
on the bevel wheels E. the said displaceable arms are secured to the cross piece 1.
fig. 13. by screws 1 and jointed at I to allow the arms perfect freedom, that they
may be raised or lowered, and have the backward and forward motion for actuating
the rocking shaft and rack levers, we may fix the displaceable arms independent of
the rocking shaft, but we prefer to fix them to the rocking shaft to obtain the shogging
motion of the clutch H. and the rack motion of the rings (or may be sections of rings) K
and L simultaneously the rack rings receiving motion through the rack levers and k²
and, which are adjusted to the upper part of the rocking shaft and tensioned to
the racks by a spring the levers and are jointed at so that when their outer
ends ride up on the inclines which having prongs on their under side can be set at
any desired distance from each other in the holes in the rack rings the said inclines * being
adjusted determine the distance the rack rings shall move before returning, by changing
the working position of the rack levers, by reference to figure 7 it will be seen that
the rack lever is riding on and clear of the teeth of the rack ring K. the other
lever being engaged in the teeth of the other ring L. the other levers at the same
time being in a contrary position, each set changes its position when the plates M
and N have gone far enough in one direction and the studs or pins m' come up to the
lever ¹or and it is knocked up and falls into the teeth of the rack ring either by
its own weight or may be by a spring pressing on its upper face, the opposite levers
being simultaneously put out of the teeth of the rack ring by contact with the inclines l¹
when levers and are in the teeth of the rack rings the levers 12 and 12 are clear.
To make the fashionings by the means herein described one needle discontinues
knitting every course alternately on either side of the machine and when sufficient
needles have been put out of action to form the narrowings the motion of the rack
rings are reversed and a needle in each course recommences knitting until the heel,
or toe, or gusset is finished, the set pins J¹ determine the amount of movement to be
given to the rack levers it may be desired to rack more than one tooth at a time of
the rack rings, these are steadied in their movement by the plates O and O¹, and the
springs 02 and 03 which have projecting pins on their under side and spring in and
out of the holes in the rings as they are racked round, the holes and teeth in the
rack rings corresponding to the guage of the needle cylinder, the rack plates M and N
are so fitted that they can be shifted from hole to hole with the studs m¹ and the
inclines, for varying the size of the gusset, or fashioning required. When it is
not required to make gussets, heels or toes the machine revolves continuously in
one direction, the rack plates or a portion of them which carry the teeth is thrown,
or is made to slide out of the way of the spur wheel or pinion R. when no motion
is to be given to the oscillating cam, by the forked lever and pin q¹ fixed in

page_text: the upper portion of the rack plates which open out on their hinges see figs. 1 and 7,
being operated in the following manner, the levers are connected to the displaceable
arms under the machine and when the shogging contrivance is disengaged a chain
wheel in rear of the machine, not shown, depresses the bowed cross piece at the
same time lowering the front end of the forked lever Q which depresses the outer
end of the horizontal pin and opens the upper part of the rack plates M and N.
see dotted line figure 1-the spur wheel or pinion R is carried in the box or
bracket attached to the cam cylinder S. upon the same spindle as, and to give
motion to the oscillating cam T. that when the pinion R rides over the teeth of
the rack plates, or their equivalents the oscillating cam is put in and out of action
with the needle butts, and that it may remain in the position that the racks leave
it in the flat part of the spring 2 presses on to a can attached to the pinion R.
see figure 1. The oscillating cam T. is to determine which needles shall or shall not
knit at every revolution of the cam box, and when held in the position as shown in
figure 8 of the drawings all the needles it passes over in either direction pass down
the stitch cams and form their loops, but when the oscillating cam is up out of the
way as shown in dotted line" figure 9. the needles springing on the tension bits
pass over and by the stitch cams without knitting until the oscillating cam is again
brought into action. We will suppose the cam box is reciprocating to form a gusset
on the front part of the machine the oscillating cam T in passing from left to right
is thrown into action at a given needle by the left hand rack, when the knitting
takes place across the front part of the machine until reaching the right hand rack
when it goes out of action at a given needle having completed the first course in
the heel, when the rack ring which carries the right hand rack is racked one tooth
forward the oscillating cam T. returns and is brought into action by the rack plate
one needle later and knits across the front part to the left of the machine, when
the rack ring carrying the left hand rack is also racked a tooth forward, the
oscillating cam T. in its return enters into action also a needle later on that side of
the machine, and so continuing to operate upon a needle later in this manner until
the narrow part of the gusset is arrived at, the rack rings then returning a tooth at
a time causes the oscillating cam T to be put into action a needle sooner on both sides
of the machine until the broadest part of the gusset is reached when the rack plates
are displaced as hereinbefore described and the oscillating cam remains in the knitting
position shown in figure 8. the ordinary knitting then taking place until the next
gusset is to be made, the knitting position of the oscillating cam T is shown firstly in
figure S, the cam depressing the needles below the tension bit and into a line with
the stitch cams when the needles complete their knitting-when the oscillating cam is
in the position as denoted "in dotted line" figure 9 it is clear of the needles a, b, c,
and d "in full line" which are between the stitch cams, and will glide over the tension
bit" fig. 8," up above the stitch cam and keep the position as shown by a, b, c, and d.
"in dotted line, and allow the stitch cams to pass, the needle e "in dotted line"
shows the position of the needle e "in full line" after having passed down the stitch
cams and drawn its loop. If widening the oscillating cam T in re-entering the cam
box would take the needle marked a as the last needle to knit during that movement-
but if narrowing the oscillating cam T would then operate upon the preceding needle
to e. as the last needle knitting, the corresponding action taking place on the other side
of the machine at the same time.-It will be well understood that when the oscillating
cam T is up out of action the automatic spring needles support themselves over and
from cam to cam without knitting by springing on the tension bits which are always
in action, the tension bits are made of steel plates or blocks and are fixed to the inner
surface or inserted from the outside of the cam box purposely to make the inner
surface of the cam box to stand prominent at any desired place upon the cam part of
the cam box and between the fixed cams as shown so that the needles rub on them to
prevent the needles falling down between the fixed cams thereby doing away with the
greater friction caused by the needles rubbing upon the whole of the inner surface of
the cam box-In combination with our other improvements we fix over the arms of

page_text: the bracket and running partly round the needle cylinder an angle strip V. which
is provided with two inclined slots "not seen in drawings" through which the pins of
the stitch cams pass, the said angle strip being adjusted by turning the set screw v¹
engaging in the female screw in the side of the bracket which regulates the length
of loop drawn by the dual stitch cams 2 figure 8. or the single stitch cams D. D.
and EE figures 17, 18 and 19. the single stitch cams D. D. are in three parts and
overlap each other, the wing parts H. H. being firmly screwed to the cam cylinder,
the extreme ends of which contrary to former methods project further over the up-
throw cams F F and are shaped into needle dividers I. I. which prepare the needles
for knitting before the needles reach the upthrow cams, the wing parts H. H. may
constitute one piece vertically slotted in the centre to receive the sliding piece D. D.
or the several parts may be composed in one piece as shown in figures 18 and 19. E E.
the upthrow cams figure 8. overlap the dual stitch cams v² but they may constitute
one piece acting as upthrow and stitch cam. The tension bits or plates and v may
be formed out of and constitute a part of the cams.
The oscillating cam T may be employed in machines using ordinary rigid needles,
in this case the tension bits or plates are fitted loosely in the cam box instead of
fixed and having a spring or springs at their back to press them on to the ordinary
rigid needles to tension them in their passage from cam to cam. Another part of
our invention refers to the holding down of the work in making heels and toes for
which we employ the hooks X. either placed in a case, or tubes a figure 14. the said
case being weighted as desired to draw out the hooks, the coiled springs Y. put upon
their stems, each hook obtains an independent hold of the fabric, we can employ any
number of the hooks at one time in a case which may be if desired, made and
provided with latches to more easily disengage them from the fabric we may also fix
a number of the hooks in a frame shaped to correspond with the inner part of the
needle, cylinder, or we may entirely dispense with these detachable contrivances by
making the needle cylinder (P figure 15.) the inside projecting and having slots X2
wherein the head of the hooks X. just come above the inclined surface of the projecting
part, and held in their slots by the coiled springs Y. when by their being pressed
upwards from the base of the machine by any suitable means alternately each hook
gets a fresh hold of the fabric each time it is moved up-the back part of the hook
remaining in the slot to prevent the fabric being pushed up by the upward movement
of the hooks which when pressed down by the springs, catches again and re-hooks
the work, in their descent; we may have a number of hooks employed either on one,
or any portion or the whole of the interior of the needle cylinder.
Another improvement consists in the ribbing apparatus by employing the ribbing
dial A A constructed so as to hold the automatic spring needles that the same pattern
of needle may be used in the vertical cylinder, as specified in printed, copy lines 27
to 30 of the provisional application No. 15794 A.D. 1886 of "Sturgess," one of the
present applicants. The ribber arm Z is attached to the cam cylinder shown by
dotted lines in figuré 1. The ribbing spindle ¹ is recessed at its lower end to receive
the shank end of the ribbing needles shown in figure 11, and is held in the boss of
the ribber arm, 22, and when not required for use it is held up by the heel pin
springing into the groove in the ribbing spindle, the said heel pin being worked
in or out of the spindle by the triangular lever a side view of which is given in
figure 1. when the lower or wide end of this lever is moved upwards by depressing
the handle, the heel pin is drawn outwards, thus releasing the ribber spindle.
The ribbing dial A A is set for the adjustment of the ribber cams to the cylinder cams
by the indicator 2 shown in figure 11. being put to the scale which is marked on
the ribbing spindle just above the boss of the cam plate. The arrangement of the
cams carried therein is shown in Figure 10 Nos. 1. 2. 3 and 4. with the needles in
their respective positions radially, when the ribbing spindle is down with the ribbing
needles in the dial, the adjustment of the said dial to the needle cylinder is carried
out in the following manner, the disc at the top of the ribber spindle is provided
with a female screw, and carries on its upper face a spring latch which fits in the

page_text: grooves or tricks formed in the head of the ribber spindle which are numbered or
otherwise marked consecutively as shown in figure 12. and when the disc is turned
a trick or so in either direction the dial is raised or lowered to or from the needle
cylinder, the pin enters the hole 10 to hold the ribber spindle in the knitting
position. We arrange for throwing the needles out of one part of the circle to
facilitate the taking out or transferring the needles to the cylinder the cam 1.
figure 10. which slides into the boss of the camplate when at work and only being
shogged out when changing the needles, but we may throw out the needles by any
properly shaped cams whether pivoted or otherwise. The dark lines 2 indicate the
feet of the needles as they pass through the cams 3 and 4. and the positions of
the ribbing needles are given preparatory to their being transferred. We effect
the adjustment of the dial needles to the cylinder needles by the employment of a
double angle arm, or ribbing post B B the outer vertical end of which comes inside
the needle cylinder and rocks in either direction, to shift the lug under the ribbing
dial in the following manner, the horizontal arm of the post rocks in a bearing secured
to the base of the machine shown by dotted line in figure 7. the top of the inner
vertical end being slotted and mounted on the pin of the thumb screw bb and held
by the spring c c. to a lock nut d d. so that when the thumb screw is moved the outer
vertical end of the post B B. rocks in either direction to shift the lug, thereby
adjusting the dial needles to the needles in the cylinder.
Another part of this invention consists in preventing the work rising up on the
needles for this purpose we employ the prevention wheels S₁ working in brackets S2
secured to the machine the leaves or jacks S³ coming between each needle in the
needle cylinder or bed, shown in figures 5 and 6, the jacks S³ being operated by the
cams a and b.
We provide also a suitable device for measuring the fabric while coming down
from the machine and place a flat or round measuring rule cc beneath the machine,
which is marked in inches, and parts of inches so that the length of the articles
required can be readily ascertained, and shown in figure 1. thus the work can be
taken off accurately to a given length.
Another improvement in combination with our invention consists in effectually
tensioning the yarn thread or threads to the machine that the work may be gradually
stiffened or slackened during the knitting of the fabric which is shown in figure 1ª.
A post is provided with arms to take the yarn threads from the cops or bobbins, the
tension being obtained by passing the thread over one to another of the projecting
arms, pins, or may be hooks, or glass coils or other equivalents to be employed to
obtain the same result, the extra length, or number of arms used giving the extra
tension that may be required from time to time.
It will be well understood that by the clutches H. being adjusted upon an horizontal
main shaft relative to each machine, that sets can be mounted upon one stand.
We are aware that three bevel wheels which gear with each other alternately and
at intervals have been shown in connection with circular knitting machines, but three
wheels gearing constantly with each other, two of which run in opposite directions
independent of each other on one shaft and are imperatively twice or more than
twice the size of the third bevel wheel e¹ and also having the auxilliary disengaging"
incline wheel mounted on their bosses as herein before described and set forth have
not hitherto been accomplished, It will be readily understood that the oscillating cam
in conjunction with the other assessories can reciprocate over the needle bed of a
straight bar knitter, to determine which needles shall or shall not knit when making
gussets, heels or toes, at every traverse of the cam carriers, such knitter being provided
with modifications of the rack plates M and N. and racks K and L. the other essential
parts being likewise made to conform with the construction of the needle beds to
operate the oscillating cam, which is arranged relative to the stitch cams and acting
on the needles as set forth the difference being the oscillating cam traverses from left
to right and vice versa instead of cylindrically in accordance with this invention but
the oscillating cam to each set or division of needles.
B

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. Automatically making gussets, heels or toes, substantially in the manner as
herein before described and set forth.
2. The arrangement of the several knitting parts to receive the combination small
central footed spring needle.
3. The construction and combination of the deep grooved countersunk tricked
needle cylinder and dial, the ribbing spindle, and cams wherewith to facilitate the use
of the spring needle, actuated in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore
described and set forth.
-
4. The employment of the ribber spindle ¹ shown in figure 11. recessed at its
lower end to receive the shank end of the needles in the ribbing dial.
5. In combination with the other improvements tensioning the yarn threads by the
post having extended arms or their equivalent, shown in figure 1", that any part of
the fabric can be stiffened or slackened by degrees which will produce a difference in
width without shewing the exact point of change.
6. The needle tensioning bits or plates as described.
7. In knitting machines of the character described the employment of an oscillating
cam to traverse in front of and over the needle butts to determine the number of
needles the stitch or depressing cams shall operate upon, in the revolution or
reciprocation of the head of the machine by the means substantially as described.
8. Transmitting motion to the oscillating cam by the toothed wheel R. in the
bracket and contact with the rack plates M. and N.
9. In combination with the other improvements the angle slotted piece V. fitted
in the manner described for the adjustment of the cams.
.
10. The displacement of the hinged rack plates M and N out of the track of the
toothed wheel R. by the means hereinbefore. described.
11. In knitting machines of the character described, the combination of rings, or
sections of rings with adjustable rack plates or their equivalents mounted thereon in
their relative positions.
12. In the means for effecting the return motion or reversing the motion of the
head, or heads of knitting machines, and imparting the contradictory movements to
the rack rings, or straight racks, substantially in the manner herein before described
and set forth.
13. The mechanism for alternately clutching the bevel wheels to the main shaft,
consisting of the loose inclines F mounted on the boss of the bevel wheels E. and
tensioned to the clutch G by the spring to engage with the double clutch H. in
combination with the disengaging lugs moving vertically and horizontally as herein-
before set forth.
14. In combination with the other improvements the employment of a measuring
rule cc to indicate the length of work as it courses down from the machine.
15. The arrangements for holding and supporting the ribber spindle. In the
manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and set forth.
16. The spring hooks for holding down the work in making heels or toes as herein-
before described.
17. In knitting machines of the character described the means and appliances
hereinbefore mentioned for vertically adjusting the ribbing dial, and set forth in
figures 1. 10. 11 and 12, of the accompanying drawings.
18. The throwing in or out of the ribbing needles to facilitate their transfer to the
cylinder.

page_text: 19. In combination with the other improvements the means of ascertaining the
relative position of the ribber cams to the frame cams by adjusting the cam cap to
the indicator and scale on the ribber spindle.
20. The arrangement or relative adjustment of the dial needle to the cylinder
needle by the aid of the angle rod B B. controlled by the spiral spring on the trick-
headed screw b b. shown in fig. 7.
21. Preventing the work rising up on the needles by the prevention wheels shown
in figures 5 and 6.
22. Improvements in knitting machines consisting of the various details and
arrangements, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and set forth.