Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
A communication by WILLIAM HENRY ZELLERS, of No. 1237 Randolph Street,
in the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Machinist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to that class of
circular knitting machines, wherein automatic mechanism is employed for
periodically effecting the disengagement and re-engagement of certain needles from
and with the knitting cams for the purpose of narrowing and widening the web,
respectively, the same being requisite during the formation of the heel and toe
parts of a stocking.
The present invention applies more especially to those machines wherein iş
employed a vertically-movable needle controlling device constructed and arranged
to co-operate with a series of needles to maintain the latter normally engaged with
the knitting cams, together with means for operating said device, to render such
needles idle and active at predetermined intervals.
The leading features of the invention herein embrace, first, certain improvements
in the construction and arrangement of the needle cylinder, the bit cylinder and the
cam cylinder, and of their adjuncts, respectively, whereby advantages are secured:
secondly, automatic means whereby the continuous rotary and the rotary recipro-
cating movements are imparted to the cam cylinder at prescribed stages of the
knitting operation: thirdly, means whereby the requisite step-by-step movements
are imparted to the needle-controlling bit mechanism during the reciprocating
operation: fourthly, means for periodically supplementing an additional or splicing
thread with the main thread or threads: fifthly, a novel and advantageous
construction of the pattern chain, and finally, various features of construction
and organization of the several parts of the mechanisms referred to, whereby
a compact efficient and comparatively simple automatic knitting machine is
provided.
An elongated peripherially-grooved cylinder, termed the bit cylinder, is
supported on the bed plate, the upper portion of the cylinder being reduced to
receive the usual needle cylinder. Surrounding the lower portion of the needle
cylinder is the cam cylinder, the flanged bottom of which is supported upon the
bed plate and is provided with bevel gear teeth which are engaged by the teeth of
a bevel wheel on the horizontal driving shaft as usual.
On the interior of the bit cylinder is a latch device whereby the bit and needle
cylinders may be locked together or released. Fitted loosely on the periphery of
the needle cylinder is a ring which rests upou an internal shoulder on the cam
.

page_text: cylinder being held in place by suitable latch plates. While this ring rotates with
the cam cylinder it closes the space between the latter and the needle cylinder to
the exclusion of dust, &c. It performs the additional function of preventing the
needles from being thrown too high by the knitting cams. Supported in a bracket
contiguous to the depending portion of the bit cylinder is a shaft, termed a tension
shaft, on which are formed gear teeth that mesh with corresponding teeth on the
cylinder whereby the act of partially turning said shaft, to the right or to the left,
will raise or lower the bit cylinder and perforce, the needle cylinder, in consequence
of which the length of the stitches may be increased or diminished as required.
The tension shaft is adjustably connected with, and operated by, a rock arm under
the influence of the pattern chain.
The grooves in which are contained the half series of needles that are thrown
out of action preparatory to the knitting of the heel and toe parts, as also the
grooves containing the two series of needles, (usually each one-sixth of the entire
needles) which are manipulated during the operations of widening and narrowing
such parts, are of sufficient depth to permit the needles therein to be moved
backward out of action from the knitting cams. These needles are held
normally in the track of the cams by means of vertically-arranged bits which
are fitted to the grooves in the bit-cylinder and are extended into the deepened
grooves in the needle cylinder in'a mauner to support the backs of the proximate
needles.
Said needles are held against the bits by spring pressure, the same, for instance,
being attained by the hair-pin like devices which straddle the ribs or walls of the
alternate needle grooves, the depending limbs of the devices being pressed
yieldingly against the respective needles by means of an encircling spring band, or
instead, the hair-pin like devices may, in themselves, possess elasticity, the band in
that case being rigid or non-elastic. Hence when a bit or bits are dropped below
the contiguous needle or needles, the latter, being unsupported rearwardly, is or are
pressed out of action. The bits are connected at their lower ends to a segment,
whereby they may be raised or lowered as a unit. Those bits which co-act with
the half series of needles are of uniform length, while those which co-act with the
two fashioning sets of needles are graded in length, that is; they are gradually
increased in height from the uniform set of bits. During the knitting of tubular
work, the bits occupy the extreme upward position, so that they support the
respective needles and maintain them in action. Preparatory to the knitting of the
heel, the bits are dropped one step, the tops of the uniform bits thus being below
the highest point to which the lower extremity of the needles are raised during the
knitting operation. Hence, during the traverse of the cam cylinder, the half
series of needles are raised above their supporting bits and, in consequence, said
needles are pressed out of action by the spring devices above mentioned. There-
after, during the knitting of the heel, the cam cylinder is reciprocated by mechanism
hereinafter described. During each reciprocation the bits are dropped one step to
the end that in each stroke of the reciprocation the first or outside fashioning
needle in the path of the cams will be thrown out of action, continuing which
operation the outside fashioning needles will be alternately thrown out of action
and consequently a gradual narrowing of the web will be had. This being
accomplished the bits are correspondingly moved upward, thereby returning the
needles to action in inverse order to the preceding operation, and, perforce, effecting
the requisite widening of the web. In the final upward movement of the bits the
uniform set will co-act with the first out-thrown series of needles to return the
latter simultaneously to action. Tubular knitting is then performed to knit
the foot similarly with the leg, following which reciprocating work is carried on to
knit the toe similarly with the heel. The bit supporting segment is provided with
a depending rack with which engages a pinion on a shaft, termed a bit controlling
shaft, by the act of intermittently rotating which shaft the requisite movements
will be transmitted to the bits. The mechanism for actuating the shaft at the
proper intervals will be hereinafter described.

page_text: In view of the fact that the corresponding bits of the respective graded series
are of uniform length and that said bits consequently at all times occupy the same
position relative to each other, it is obvious that in order to effect the disengagement
of the initial fashioning needle of the first set in the path of the knitting cams,
during the stroke of the latter, without correspondingly disengaging the last or end
needle of the other set during the stroke, it is necessary that provision be had to
elevate somewhat above the summit of the lateral stitch cam the first opposed
needle during each stroke of the cam cylinder, which needle is, perforce, thrown
out of action. Hence means are provided, to insure the increased ascent of the
needles above the lateral cams alternately during the successive strokes of the
reciprocating cam cylinder, which means are of the following construction. On
the exterior of the cam cylinder, opposite to the internal knitting cams, is fixed a
bracket which is provided near its respective ends with orifices that register with
radial perforations in the cam cylinder, said perforations opening into the cylinder
at the summits of the lateral stitch cams respectively.
Fitted to these openings are radially reciprocative studs respectively, the outer
ends of which extend beyond the bracket and are pivotally connected with the
respective arms of a horizontal rocking lever, which is fulcrumed midway of its
ends to a lug on the bracket. The length of the studs is such that if the lever be
oscillated the inner ends of the studs will be alternately projected and retracted
above the summits of the lateral cams respectively. The forward faces of these
inner ends are bevelled co-incidentally with the adjacent working edges of the
lateral cams.
Pivoted to the lug is an outwardly extending tappet arm, which is connected with
the respective arms of the rocking lever by pin and slot connections, to the end
that if the tappet arm be moved to the right or to the left said lever will he
correspondingly actuated. Secured to the pivot is a spring one end of which is
fastened to the tappet arm so as to maintain the latter in a central position
irrespective of the position of the arm. The lost motion occasioned by the pin
and slot connections enables the arm to assume such central position relative to
the lever and, moreover, it enables said arm to be moved further than is requisite
to operate the studs.
Located on the bed of the machine, opposite the space intermediate the fashioning
needles, is a bracket provided with inwardly turned ends, which project into the
path traversed by the tappet arm during the rotation of the cam cylinder. During
the traverse of the cylinder in one direction the tappet arm will abut against the
opposed end of the bracket and be thrust rearwardly thereby to effect the withdrawal
of the leading pin from, and the insertion of the rearward pin into, the
interior of the cylinder. In the reverse motion of the cylinder said arm will
impinge against the other end of the bracket and the several parts be conversely
actuated.
During the knitting of tubular work, as, for example, the leg of the stocking,
the forward or leading pin is maintained retracted in order that the needles will
be unaffected thereby. The rearward or inwardly projected pin does not effect
the needles owing to the latter passing under (and not over) the rearward
lateral cam.
Just before the completion of the leg, the speed of the cam cylinder is reduced,
to the end that the succeeding reciprocations of said cylinder, during the knitting
of the heel, shall be steady and easy. The last three courses, say, of the leg are
knit at the slower rate of speed, during which time the bits are lowered one step.
The knitting cams, preparatory to their reversal for reciprocating work, are moved
sufficiently to engage about one half of the semi-circular series of celles, so as to
raise the same above the tops of the contiguous bits and permit said needles to be
thrown out of action. Thereupon the stroke of the cams is reversed and the same
continued until the remaining half of the circular series is similarly raised and
moved out of action. During this reverse stroke the tappet arm abuts against the
opposed end of the bracket so as to reverse the positions of the studs, that is, the
"

page_text: rearward one becomes active and the leading one idle.
At the same time the bits
are lowered another step. During the first stroke of the knitting cams in the next
reciprocation the first set of fashioning needles rides upon the inwardly projecting
end of the leading stud, the initial or outside needle in that set thus being raised
sufficiently to clear the end of the bit, and, in consequence, being moved out of
action. As the cams in this stroke traverse the space occupied by the intermediate
set of active needles, the tappet arm abuts against the opposed end of the bracket
and is moved thereby to effect the reversal of the positions of the studs. Hence
the other set of fashioning needles is not raised by the leading stud, and, therefore,
the outer needle thereof is not freed from its bit. In the return stroke of the
knitting cams, the leading stud (being projected) acts upon such outer needle and
effects its disengagement from the cams. During this stroke the tappet arm is
actuated by the bracket, as in the other instance, to reverse the positions of the
studs; and so on during each succeeding stroke of the knitting cams, whilst knitting
the hecl, the positions of the studs are reversed. The heel being completed, the
studs are set in their last stroke, to the positions occupied by them during the
knitting of the leg, whereupon the foot is formed (with quick speed), following
which the toe is produced (with the slower speed), the studs in the latter operation.
being actuated as described in regard to the formation of the heel.
The sinker or web-holder mechanism herein comprises a radially-grooved annulus
surrounding the needle-cylinder, near the top, and encircled by a rotatable cam-
ring. This ring is connected with the cam cylinder by means of laterally-disposed
posts which rise from said cylinder and extend between lugs on the cam ring. One
of these posts supports the usual thread carrier. The sinkers are fitted to the
respective grooves of the annulus so as to alternate with the needles as usual, and
they, the sinkers, each comprise a vertically-arranged lever provided with a lug or
spud on its inner edge, the same being engaged with a circumferential groove in
the annulus, which constitutes the fulcrum of the lever. The upper end of the
lever is provided with the usual notched finger which is adapted to be engaged
with and disengaged from the stitches during the knitting of the successive courses,
the cam
on the ring during its traverse engaging the depending arm of
the lever and effecting the requisite movements thereof. By constructing the
sinker in the form of a vertical lever a compact arrangement of the parts
is had, without impairing the throw of the upper or stitch engaging portion of
the sinker.
The driving shaft herein before referred to, is mounted in suitable bearings in an
appropriate frame work or housing, to which the bed-plate is secured. On the
outer end of the shaft are the fixed and loose pulleys respectively. Adjacent to
the loose pulley is loosely mounted on the shaft a pinion, the body of which is
elongated and provided with a peripherial flange, that takes against the web of
said pulley. This pinion engages with a spur wheel, fixed on a lower parallel
shaft, whereby when the pinion is made fast to the loose pulley, as hereinafter
explained, and power is thereupon applied to the latter, motion will be transmitted
through the co-acting gear wheels to the lower shaft. Surrounding the pinion is a
sliding collar, or clutch member, on which is a stud that extends into a perforation
in the flange of the pinion. On the opposed face of the web of the pulley is a series
of sockets into which the stud may be projected by proper movement of the clutch
member, to lock the pinion and the pulley together. Said clutch-member is
connected with a yoke on one end of a longitudinally-movable shaft, which shaft is
fitted to perforated brackets on the frame. On the shaft is a collar between which
and one of the brackets is an encircling spiral spring that acts to force the shaft
normally inward in a manner to maintain the clutch disengaged from the loose
pulley. Fitted to the other bracket is the stud or pivot of a lever, one arm of
which is connected with the yoke by means of a link, whereby, by properly.
manipulating said lever, the clutch member may be engaged with, or disengaged
from, the loose pulley as desired. Loosely mounted on the driving shaft at an
interval apart, are two wheels, one of which is a pinion and the other of which is a

page_text: sprocket wheel. The pinion engages a spur wheel, which is loosely mounted on
the lower shaft adjacent to the first named spur wheel, the hub of one of said spur
wheels being provided with a spring-controlled pin which is projected yieldingly
against an inclined circular tooth on the opposed hub of the other spur wheel,.
whereby if the latter be turned in one direction the tooth thereof will engage the
pin and correspondingly turn its wheel, but if one of the wheels be driven in a
reverse direction, the pin will ride idly upon the tooth without effecting the coupling
of the two wheels. The sprocket wheel is geared by means of a chain with a
larger sprocket wheel fast on the said lower shaft. Fixed on the driving shaft
between the flanges or collars of the pinion and sprocket wheels is a block or head
to which is fitted a longitudinally movable clutch bolt. The ends of this bolt
comprise pins which are constructed to be engaged with and disengaged from
sockets in the opposed faces of the collars respectively, that is, when the bolt is.
engaged with one collar it is disengaged from the other, and vice versa.
Hence by
properly moving the bolt, either the pinion or the sprocket wheel may be locked
upon the shaft, as desired. The means for automatically actuating the bolt at
predetermined intervals will appear further on.
Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame rearward of and parallel with the
driving shaft, is an intermittently-rotatable shaft, on the outer end of which is a.
sprocket wheel which carries the pattern chain. Suitably located on the inter--
mittently rotatable shaft are four adjacent ratchet wheels, the two outer wheels-
being fast on the shaft, and the two inner wheels being connected by a sleeve
which is loosely mounted on the shaft, said last-named wheels thus being practically
one wheel. All the wheels have a corresponding number of oppositely-disposed.
teeth, but the inner wheels are larger in diameter than the others. The alternate-
teeth in one of the inner wheels are deepened so as to register with the corre--
sponding teeth in the adjacent outer wheel, while in the other inner wheel only two
diametrically-opposite teeth are deepened to register with the proximate teeth of
the adjacent wheel. Engaging with the wheels are two pawls, which are connected.
with corresponding eccentrics on the driving shaft, whereby during the rotation of
said shaft the pawls are reciprocated and the said ratchet wheels intermittently
rotated. Each of the pawls is wide enough to extend over two adjacent ratchet.
teeth. Hence when the alternate deep teeth of the inner wheel are engaged by
the pawl, said wheel and, perforce, the adjacent wheel and the intermittently
rotatable shaft will be thereupon advanced, that is, said shaft will be advanced one-
step during every second stroke of the pawl, while the latter is in action. Similarly
the other pawl will engage the two diametrically opposite deep teeth on the other
inner wheel during each half revolution thereof and thus engage the adjacent outer
wheel. While the shaft is being intermittently rotated the pattern chain is
advanced link-by-link to control the various parts of the machine, the links having
appropriately formed surfaces thereon to effect the end in view. During tubular
or straight-ahead knitting the chain is at rest, otherwise a multiplicity of uniform.
links would be required. The action of the intermittently rotatable shaft is-
arrested preparatory to the commencement of the leg of the stocking, by raising
one of the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheels, which operation is.
effected by means of a suitably-disposed rocking shaft having on one end a.
crank-arm provided with a projecting pin, which is adapted to take against a lateral
lug on the pawi arm, and having on the other end a toe that rests upon the pattern.
chain. When a link with a riser thereon co-acts with the toe, the shaft is turned
sufficiently to raise the pin against the lug on the pawl arm and thereby throw the-
latter out of action. Meanwhile the other pawl engages the teeth of its loose-
ratchet wheel and moves the latter idly on the shaft half a revolution, whereupou
said pawl engages the deep tooth in the outer fixed wheel and advances the latter
and perforce, the intermittently rotatable shaft a distance of one tooth. The
raised link is thus moved beyond the toe on the rock shaft and a plane
or low link
takes its place. The toe drops and, in consequence, the pin is removed from the
pawl, whereupon the latter re-engages the ratchet wheels, and operates the same as.

page_text: before. In this operation the intermittently rotatable shaft is rotated half a
revolution, the links as they are successively advanced controlling the mechanism
for producing the heel of the stocking. Upon the completion of the operation a
link with a riser is brought below the toe on the rock-shaft as in the other instance
above described, and the pawl is thus likewise raised out of action to render the
chain quiescent. The knitting of the foot is now pursued, the other pawl racking
the wheel idly on its shaft a half revolution until the deep tooth is engaged, where-
upon the riser link is moved onward and a plane or low link is brought below the
toe on the rock shaft. The pawl thus becomes active as before, the chain is
impelled and the operation of knitting the toe of the stocking is carried on.
Following this the knitting of the leg is taken up, and the foregoing described
operations are repeated in the order named.
to
During tubular knitting the belt runs upon the fixed pulley, so as
impart continuous rotary movement to the driving shaft, and, perforce, to the
cam cylinder, the clutch bolt being engaged with the pinion, so as to lock the
latter on the shaft. Hence the pinion turns the co-acting spur wheel idly on
the lower shaft.
The shipper frame is supported on one end of a longitudinally-movable horizontal
shaft whereby the belt may be transferred from one pulley to the other. This
shaft is fitted to a sleeve which is fixedly supported on the free ends of a pair of
rearwardly extending arms that are loosely mounted on a transverse shaft borne in
the frame, said arms being under the control of the pattern chain. The sleeve is
partially slotted longitudinally, and the shaft is provided with a pin that extends
through the slots in the sleeve. Interposed between the pin and one of the arms
is a spiral spring, the tendency of which is to move said shaft toward the cylinder
and thus maintain the shipper frame adjacent to the loose pulley. Suitably
disposed on the shipper shaft is a fixed head, the function of which will directly
appear.
During tubular knitting the shipper shaft is forced outward against the stress of
the spring in a manner to maintain the shipper adjacent to the fixed pulley. The
shaft is held in this position by, an arm bearing against the head on the shaft. This
arm is fixed to the upper end of a vertically arranged rock-shaft which is mounted
in brackets on the frame. On the lower end of the rock-shaft is an arm which is
held yieldingly in contact with the periphery of an eccentric on the lower shaft, by
the torsional action of a spiral spring. During tubular knitting this shaft is idle
aud, consequently, the eccentric maintains the parts in the relative positions
described.
Upon the completion of the leg of the stocking, the shipper shaft is raised. The
head is thus lifted above the rocker-arm, and the spring expanding, returns the said
shaft to the inward position and thereby transfers the belt onto the loose pulley.
The latter thereupon rotates the connected pinion which, in turn, impels the
co-acting spur wheel on the lower shaft. This latter shaft and, perforce, the
eccentric thereon are thus rotated in concert with the pinion, said eccentric in its
motion effecting the continuous oscillation of the vertical rock-shaft. Immediately
before the first turn of the said lower shaft, the clutch bolt herein before referred to
is engaged with the sprocket wheel to lock it on the main shaft. Hence the motion
is transmitted from the lower shaft to the main shaft through the sprocket gearing
such motion being timed to effect the movement of the cam cylinder one stroke
This done the clutch bolt is disengaged from the sprocket wheel and engaged with
the pinion, in which case the motion is transmitted from the lower shaft to the
main driving shaft in a contrary direction, such motion being timed to effect the
reverse stroke of the cam cylinder. Thus the clutch is alternately engaged with
and disengaged from, the sprocket wheel and the pinion, aud, in consequence,
rotary reciprocating movement is imparted to the main shaft and is transmitte
therefrom to the cam cylinder. By means of the system of gearing above described
it will be obvious that the can cylinder is driven at a reduced rate of speed whils
reciprocating.

page_text: A means which has been devised for reciprocating the clutch bolt is as follows:
On the body, of the clutch bolt is fixed a plate having two oppositely disposed
cams or inclines that may be designated and y respectively. On the inner wall
of the housing or bearing in which the block is contained is a fixed pin which is so
arranged relatively to the path of the cam, that during the rotation of the block
the incline, impinges against the pin and thrusts the bolt toward and into
engagement with the pinion. Fitted to a perforation in the said housing laterally
of the stud, is a radially-movable stud, the inner end of which may be projected
into or retracted from the path of the cam, as required. During tubular knitting
this stud is, retracted so that it does not act upon the cam, but during reciprocating
work it is projected into the path traversed by the incline y, in the reverse stroke
of the shaft, said incline in that case abutting against the stud and being forced,
1ogether with the bolt, toward the sprocket wheel for the purpose above described.
The outer end of the stud is pivotally connected with a crank arm on a suitably
located rock-shaft, by the operation of which shaft the positions of the stud are
determined, as will duly appear.
Following is the mechanism for imparting the requisite intermittent rotary move-
ments to the shaft that is geared with the bit-supporting segment herein before
alluded to. On said shaft a suitable distance apart are fixed two wheels, the teeth
of which are oppositely pitched. Between these wheels there are mounted on the
shaft two levers the rearwardly extending arms of which extend upwardly and
downwardly respectively. On these arms are pivoted pawls respectively, which
are adapted to be engaged with the respective wheels adjacent thereto at pre-
determined intervals. The forward arms of the levers are rounded concentrically
with the shaft and are provided with gear teeth with which engage toothed sectors
respectively, on a stud affixed to the frame in advance of the bit-controlling shaft.
These sectors are each provided with two forwardly extending yoke-like arms
which straddle the lower shaft. On the latter shaft is fixed a cam which engages
the respective arms of the sectors, said cam being so constructed that during the
rotation of the lower shaft they will oscillate the yoke arms in opposite direction
and thus correspondingly actuate the respective sectors. In consequence said
sectors will simultaneously oscillate the levers by which the pawls are carried..
Now if one of the pawls, be engaged with its ratchet wheel, and the other pawl
be thrown out of action, the active pawl will co-act with the ratchet wheel to turn
the bit-controlling shaft step-by-step in one direction, and if the condition of the
pawls be reversed, the lower pawl co-acting with the ratchet wheel will turn the
shaft step-by-step in a reverse direction. When the lower pawl is in action
the shaft is turned to raise the bit-supporting segment, and when the upper pawl is
in action the shaft is turned to lower said segment.
Preparatory to the narrowing operation, that is, at the commencement of the.
heel or the toe of the stocking, the upper pawl is thrown into operation, thereby
effecting the requisite movements of the shaft to lower the bit-supporting segment'
during each reciprocation of the cam cylinder. Upon the completion of the
narrowing, and preparatory to the widening operation the upper pawl is thrown
out of action and the other pawl is brought into play, thereby effecting the
requisite reverse movements of the shaft to raise the bit-supporting segment
periodically.
As a means to control the relative positions of the pawls automatically, there
is fulcrumed on the bit-controlling shaft, intermediate the pawl-bearing levers a
vertically disposed lever, the upper arm of which is connected by means of a link
with a depending arm on the rock-shaft. On the outer end of this shaft is a toe:
that rides upon the links of the pattern chain, the high and low link faces of which.
effect the oscillation of the rock-shaft, the resulting movements being thereupon
imparted by the intermediate connections to the vertical lever. The extremities
of this lever are provided with oppositely disposed steps and the pawls are equipped
with studs, that take against such extremities.
Gravity maintains the stud on the upper pawl in engagement with the lever,
i
:

page_text: while a spring maintains the stud of the lower pawl normally against the lever.
Hence when said lever is moved in one direction, the lower step bears against
the stud on the lower pawl, and throws the latter out of engagement with the
ratchet, while, contrarily, the opposed step is removed from the stud on the
upper pawl, which latter thereupon drops into engagement with its ratchet wheel,
and vice-versa.
During the knitting of the heel or the toe of the stocking, the bit-controlling
shaft is reciprocated, that is, it makes a partial revolution intermittently in one
direction while narrowing, and a reverse revolution while widening. On this shaft
is fixed a peripherially notched wheel, the number of notches therein corresponding
with the number of teeth on each of the ratchet wheels. One of these notches is
much deeper than the others for a purpose presently explained.
On the adjacent end of the rock-shaft to which the afore-mentioned movable, stud
is connected, is fixed a rearwardly extending pawl, the tooth of which bears upon
the periphery of the notched wheel, being maintained thereon by gravity, or by the
action of a suitable retracting spring. The parts are so constructed that during
tubular knitting the pawl is engaged with the deep notch in the wheel, and the
movable stud is thus retracted from the housing, but during the heel and toe
fashioning operations the pawl rides upon the periphery of the notched wheel,
engaging the notches successively, and in that way it maintains the stud
projected into the path of the cam on the clutch bolt as for the purpose above
set forth.
In order that the bit-supporting segment may be lowered or raised by hand,
should occasion require it, without disconcerting the pawl and ratchet mechanisms
on the bit-controlling shaft, the pinion is connected to the latter by means of a
clutch pin device that may be readily manipulated to lock or release the pinion
on the shaft.
The thread reinforcing mechanism is of the following construction :-
Rising from the bed of the machine is a post or standard which supports an
inwardly extending arm, the forward end of which is preferably drooped and is
provided with an eye for the passage of the main thread on its way to the thread
guide. Fulerumed on a suitably disposed lug on the arm is a take-up lever of
usual construction, the shorter or rigid arm thereof being connected by means of
a link with one arm of a tri-armed lever, which, in its turn, is fulcrumed in a rear-
ward lug on the supporting arm. One of the arms of the lever is extended
rearward, and is provided at its extremity with an eye for the passage of the
reinforcing thread, the third arm being connected by means of a pin and slot with
a vertically movable rod which is guided in suitably disposed brackets. The lower
end of the rod rests upon the free end of a rearwardly extending arm on the pawl
bearing shaft, so as to partake of the movements of the pawl, that is to say, when
the pawl is engaged with the deep notch in the wheel, the arm and therewith
the rod, are lowered, the spring controlled arm of the take-up lever thus being
depressed, and when the pawl is riding upon the periphery of said wheel the parts
occupy a reverse position.
Supported in a pair of perforated lugs on the arm is a horizontally-movable tube
on the body of which is a projection which is connected by means of a link with
the longer arm of a bell-crank lever, the latter being fulcrumed to a suitably-
disposed collar on the post. The shorter arm of this lever is connected by means
of a link with the rod, to the end that when said rod is lowered the tube is moved
forward, and when the rod is raised the tube is retracted. On one side of the
tube near its forward end is an opening which is preferably in the form of an
inclined slot or kerf, while in a suitable lug on the forward or drooping portion
of the arm, in line with said slot or kerf, is supported a similarly-inclined guide or
tube. On the lug is a fixed blade on which is pivoted a co-acting blade, the
latter being, in effect, one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is
pivotally connected with a horizontally reciprocative rod. On this rod, a suitable
distance apart, is a pair of collars between which extends the piece on the tube, to

page_text: the end that when the latter is moved forward, as above described, the piece will
abut against the opposed collar and thereby advance the rod in a manner to move
the pivoted blade upon the fixed blade with a shear-like action. When the tube
is retracted the piece abuts against the other opposed collar on the rod and returns
the parts just named to their previous condition.
Suitably disposed on the fixed blade is a collar which I term a "stripper," into
which the forward. end of the tube is adapted to enter freely. Fulcrumed on a
lug on the inclined portion of the arm is a lever which is termed a "trap lever,"
the upper arm of which is provided with a lip which extends over the tube and is
adapted to act upon the main knitting thread, while the lower arm of said lever is
provided with an eye, to receive said thread on its passage to the take-up lever.
On its way from the bobbin to the thread carrier, the thread passes in the first
place through one of the guide eyes on the usual cross-bar, thence through a guide
eye into and through the slot or kerf in the tube, then through the inclined tube,
next through the eye on the forward arm of the trap lever, next through the
take-up lever, and finally, through the eye on the arm. The reinforcing thread
passes through the eye on the end of the arms of the tri-armed lever thence
through the tube and out through the kerf. During tubular knitting (the pawl
being engaged with the deep notch in the wheel) the rod is depressed and, in con-
sequence, the tension upon the main thread is released and the guide tube is
projected forward into the stripper, the supplemental thread being clamped between
the engaged parts. Upon the commencement of the heel or toe, (the pawl riding
upon the periphery of the wheel as above stated), the rod is elevated in consequence
of which the take-up lever is thrown upward and the tension is perforce exerted
upon the main thread. At the same time the trap lever is pressed upon the latter
thread so as to hold it in place and the tube is retracted so as to free the clamped
end of the supplemental thread, which end, depending in the path of the in-going
main thread, is carried by the latter to the knitting needles. The combined
threads are thus delivered to the needles during the knitting of the heel or the toe,
at the completion of either of which operations the rod is lowered in the manner
above described, whereupon the tube is projected into the stripper and the
reinforcing thread drawn between the blades, the movable one of which being
moved inward by the advancement of the rod to effect the severance of the
reinforcing thread. In this position the parts remain in readiness for a succeeding
operation.
The construction of the pattern chain is as follows: Each of the links comprises
a curved plate provided with lateral lugs in its under or concave surface, and with
appropriate risers on its upper or convex surface.
The lower ends of the lugs are offset beyond the edge of the plate, while the
upper ends of the lugs are correspondingly foreshorted to the end that when the
lugs of the successive plates are connected, the extension thereof will embrace
the contiguous plates, respectively. Said lugs are connected by means of cross-
pins, the respective pins being preferably screw-threaded at one end and being
fitted to correspondingly threaded orifices in the proximate lugs of the adjacent
sections. The acting edges of the risers are rounded, so that they will assume a
curve concentric with the sprocket wheel as they travel on the latter, the meeting
ends of the risers in the adjacent links being cut under and rounded respectively
so as to overlap and present a practically unbroken or continuous surface when the
chain is flexed. Where the rounded upper end of a riser succeeds a plane portion
of the link plate, such portion will overlap the riser' and remain in contact there-
with, while the links are on the sprocket wheel, thus presenting an uninterrupted
surface to the parts controlled thereby.
Dated this 5th day of January 1895.
WM. P., THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.

page_text: A communication by WILLIAM HENKY ZELLERS, of No. 1237 Randolph Street,
in the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America; Machinist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in.and by the
following statement :-
"
This invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to that class of
circular knitting machines wherein automatic mechanism is employed for periodically
effecting the disengagement and re-engagement of certain needles from and with
the knitting cams for the purpose of narrowing and widening the web, respectively,
the same being requisite during the formation of the heel and toe parts of a
stocking.
The present invention applies more especially to those machines wherein is
employed a vertically-movable needle-controlling device constructed and arranged
to co-operate with a series of needles to maintain the latter normally 'engaged with
the knitting cams, together with means for operating said device to render such
needles idle and active at predetermined intervals.
The leading features of the invention herein embrace, first, certain improvements
in the construction and arrangement of the needle cylinder, the bit cylinder and
the cam cylinder, and of their adjuncts respectively, whereby advantages are
secured; secondly, automatic means whereby the continuous rotary and the rotary
reciprocating movements are imparted to the cam cylinder at prescribed stages of
the knitting operation; thirdly, means whereby the requisite step-by-step move-
ments are imparted to the needle-controlling bit mechanism during the reciprocating
operation; fourthly, means for periodically supplying an additional or splicing
thread with the main thread or threads; fifthly, a novel and advantageous cou-
struction of the pattern chain, and, finally, various features of construction and
organization of the several parts of the mechanisms referred to, whereby a compact,
efficient and comparatively simple automatic knitting machine is provided, all of
which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.
In the annexed drawings-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with the thread-feeding mechanism
omitted.
Figure 2 is a plan' thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line a, a, of Fig. 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are transverse vertical sections, as on the lines. b, b, and c, c,
respectively of Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a detail, in end and front view, of the co-acting ratchet wheels on
the pattern-chain shaft.
Figure 4 is a detail of the ratchet mechanism for controlling the bit devices.
Figure 5 is a detail of the bolt-reciprocating cam, and its adjuncts.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line d, d, of Fig. 2.
Figure 7 is a transverse horizontal section, as on the line e, e, of Fig. 4.
Figure 8 is a detail, in section, of devices for independently operating the
bit-supporting segment.

page_text: Figures. 9 and 10 are vertical sections, on an enlarged scale, through one side of
the cylinders showing a needle in, and out of action, respectively, together with
their adjunctive parts.
Figure 11 is an enlarged plan, of a portion of the cam cylinder, showing the
reciprocative stud-cams and the means for operating them.
Figure 12, illustrates a front view, and, a vertical section of a portion of the
pattern, chain.
Figure 13 is a development of the bits.
Figures 14 and 144.illustrate the knitting cams, developed, showing their action
upon the needles during the knitting, of straight and fashioned work, respectively.
Figure 15 is a plan of the thread-feed devices.
Figures, 16 and 17. are side and end elevations thereof, respectively.
Figure. 18 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the forward end of the reciprocating
thread-guiding tube.
The numeral, designates a bed-plate in which. is supported an elongated
peripherally grooved cylinder 2, hereinafter,terined, the "bit, cylinder." The
upper portion of the cylinder is reduced, as at 3, to receive the usual needle
cylinder 4. Surrounding the lower portion of the needle cylinder is the cam
cylinder 5, the flanged bottom of, which is supported, upon the bed plate and is
provided with bevel gear, teeth 6 which are, engaged by the teeth of a bevel wheel 7
on a horizontal driving shaft 8, as usual.
On the interior of the bit cylinder are two vertically-opposite perforated lugs 9
in which is supported a vertical rod 10, the upper end of which is bent to form a
stud. 11, that may be turned into or out of a registering slot 12 and groove 13 in
the overlapping portions of the bit and needle cylinders respectively, whereby
said parts may be readily locked together or released. The lower end of this rod
extends below the, bit cylinder and is provided with a suitable handie whereby it
may be manipulated. Fitted loosely on the periphery of the, needle cylinder, is a
ring. 14 which rests upon an internal shoulder on the cam cylinder when the former
cylinder is applied to the machine. On this ring are two diametrically opposite
pins 15 which extend through slots or recesses 16 in the top of the cam cylinder,
and through orifices in, vertically-arranged latch plates 17 on the exterior of the
cam cylinder. Hence while the ring rotates with the cam cylinder, it closes the
space between the latter and the needle cylinder to the exclusion, of dust, etc.
The lower ends of the latch plates are loosely applied to screw pins 18 on the cam
cylinder, springs. 19 being interposed between the plates and the screw-heads
respectively. By this construction the plates are held normally, engaged with the
pins on the ring, yet may be normally disengaged therefrom by the act of drawing
the plates outward against the stress of their respective springs, in which case,
assuming the needle and bit cylinders to be unlocked, the needle cylinder with its
needles 20 may be lifted bodily from the machine. The ring performs the
additional function of preventing the needles from being thrown too high by the
knitting cams, said needles being provided with suitably-disposed hubs 21 which
impinge against the ring when the needles are violently up-thrown.
Depending from the bed plate contiguous, to the depending portion of the bit
cylinder is a bracket 22 into which freely extends a shaft 23, the inner end of said
sbaft being provided with gear teeth that engage with corresponding teeth 24 on
the cylinder, whereby, the act of partially turning said shaft to the right or to the
left, will raise, or lower the bit, cylinder, and, perforce, the, needle cylinder, in
consequence of which the length of the stitches may be increased or diminished,
required. By means of mechanism hereinafter described, the shaft 23
preparatory to the knitting of the ankle portion of the stocking is automatically
turned to effect the raising of the bit and needle, cylinders, in which position the
latter are maintained, until the ankle is completed. Hence the stitches. forming
the ankle are tighter than those in the preceding portion of the leg, .and in
consequence, the ankle portion is reduced. This being done, the cylinders are
returned to their previous position to permit the knitting of normal stitches in the
as..
"'

page_text: heel. Similarly, tight and normal stitches are knit in the foot and toe portions
respectively, of the stocking, as will further on appear.
The grooves in which are contained the half series of needles that are thrown
out of action preparatory to the knitting of the heel and toe parts, as also the
grooves containing the two series of needles (usually each one-sixth of the entire
needles) which are manipulated during the operations of widening and narrowing
such parts, are of sufficient depth to permit the needles therein to be moved
backward out of action from the knitting cams. These needles are held normally
in the track of the cams by means of vertically-arranged bits 25 which are fitted
to the grooves in the bit-cylinder and are extended into the deepened grooves in
the needle cylinder.in a manner to support the backs of the proximate needles.
Said needles are held against the bits by spring pressure, the same; for
instance, being attained by the hair-pin like devices 26 which straddle the ribs
or walls of the alternate needle grooves, the depending limbs of the devices being
pressed yieldingly against the respective needles by means of an encircling spring
band 27, or, instead, the hair-pin like devices may in themselves possess elasticity,
the band in that case being rigid or non-elastic. Hence when a bit or bits are
dropped below the contiguous needle or needles the latter, being unsupported
rearwardly, is or are pressed out of action. The bits are connected at their lower
ends to a segment 28, whereby they may be raised or lowered as a unit. Those
bits which co-act with the half-series of needles are of uniform length, while those
which co-act with the two fashioning sets of needles are graded in length, that is,
they are gradually increased in height from the uniform set of bits, as seen in
Fig. 13. During the knitting of tubular work, the bits occupy the extreme
upward position, so that they support the respective needles and maintain them:
in action. Preparatory to the knitting of the heel, the bits are dropped one step,
the tops of the uniform bits thus being below the highest point to which the lower
extremities of the needles are raised during the knitting operation. Hence during
the traverse of the cam cylinder the half series of needles are raised above their
supporting bits and, in consequence, said needles are pressed out of action by the
spring devices above mentioned. Thereafter, during the knitting of the heel, the
cam cylinder is reciprocated by mechanism hereinafter described. During each
reciprocation the bits are dropped one step to the end that in each stroke of the
reciprocation the first or outside fashioning needle in the path of the cams will be
thrown out of action, continuing which operation the outside fashioning needles
will be alternately thrown out of action, and consequently a gradual narrowing of
the web will be had. This being accomplished the bits are correspondingly moved
upward, thereby returning the needles to action in inverse order to the preceding
In the final
operation, and, perforce, effecting the requisite widening of the web.
upward movement of the bits the uniform set will co-act with the first out-thrown
series of needles to return the latter simultaneously to action. Tubular knitting
is then performed to knit the foot similarly with the leg, following which
reciprocating work is carried on to knit the toe similarly with the heel. The bit
supporting segment is provided with a depending rack 29 with which engages a
pinion 30 on a shaft 31, by the act of intermittently turning which shaft the
requisite movements will be transmitted to the bits. The mechanism for actuating
the shaft at the proper intervals will be hereinafter described.
In view of the fact that the corresponding bits of the respective graded series
are of uniform length, and that said bits consequently at all times occupy the
same positions relative to each other, it is obvious that in order to effect the
disengagement of the initial fashioning needle of the first set in the path of
the knitting cams, during the stroke of the latter, without correspondingly
disengaging the last or end needle of the other set during the stroke, it is necessary
that provision be had to elevate somewhat above the summit of the lateral stitch
cam the first opposed needle during each stroke of the cam cylinder, which needle
is, perforce, thrown out of action. Hence means are provided to insure the
increased ascent of the needles above the lateral cams alternately during the

page_text: successive strokes of the reciprocating cam cylinder, which
means are of
the following construction: On the exterior of the cam cylinder, opposite to.
the internal knitting cams, is fixed a bracket 32, which is provided near its.
respective ends with orifices 33 that register with radial perforations 34 in the cam
cylinder, said perforations opening into the cylinder at the summits of the lateral
stitch cams respectively. See Figs. 14 and 15.
Fitted to these openings are radially reciprocative studs 35, respectively, the
outer ends of which extend beyond the bracket and are pivotally connected with,
the respective arms of a horizontal rocking lever 36, which is fulcrumed midway
of its ends to a lug 37 on the bracket. The length of the studs is such that if the
lever be oscillated the inner ends of the studs will be alternately projected and
retracted above the summits of the lateral cams respectively. The forward faces.
of these iuner ends are beveled coincidently with the adjacent working edges of
the lateral cams.
Pivoted to the lug at æ is an outwardly extending tappet arm 38 which is
connected with the respective arms of the rocking lever by pin and slot con-
nections 39 to the end that if the tappet arm be moved to the right or to the left
said lever will be correspondingly actuated. Secured to the pivot is a spring 40,
one end of which is fastened to the tappet arm so as to maintain the latter in a central
position irrespective of the position of the lever. The lost motion occasioned by
the pin and slot connections enables the arm to assume such central position
relative to the lever, and, moreover, it enables said arm to be moved farther than.
is requisite to operate the studs.
Located on the bed of the machine, opposite the space intermediate the-
fashioning needles, is a bracket 41 provided with inwardly-turned ends 42 which
project into the path traversed by the tappet arm during the rotation of the cam.
cylinder. During the traverse of the cylinder in one direction the tappet arm will
abut against the opposed end of the bracket and be thrust rearwardly thereby to
effect the withdrawal of the leading stud from, and the insertion of the rearward
pin into, the interior of the cylinder. In the reverse stroke of the cylinder said
arm will impinge against the other end of the bracket and the several parts be
conversely actuated.
As a means to hold the studs in the respective positions to which they are set.
there are fitted to perforations in the bracket 32, vertically-movable pins 43 that
are yieldingly depressed upon the studs by the action of suitably-disposed
springs 43.
During the knitting of tubular work, as, for example, the leg of the stocking,
the forward or leading stud is maintained retracted in order that the needles will
be unaffected thereby. The rearward or inwardly projected stud, does not affect
the needles owing to the latter passing under (and not over) the rearward lateral
cam.
Just before the completion of the leg the speed of the cam cylinder is reduced
by means such as hereinafter described, to the end that the succeeding recipro-
cations of said cylinder, during the knitting of the heel, shall be steady and easy.
The last three courses, say, of the leg are knit at the slower rate of speed,
during which time the bits are lowered one step. The knitting cams preparatory
to their reversal for reciprocating work, conclude their stroke about the middle of
the semi-circular series of needles. In the reverse stroke such needles ride upon
the inwardly projecting end of the leading stud and are thereby raised above the
tops of the contiguous, bits and rendered inactive, the positions of the studs being
reversed in this stroke so as not to affect the remaining needles of the semi-circular
series until the succeeding stroke of the knitting cams, in which case said needles.
will be rendered inactive similarly to the others. In the next stroke the tappet
arm abuts against the opposed end of the bracket so as to reverse the positions of
the studs, that is, the rearward one becomes active and the leading one idle. At.
the same time the bits are lowered another step. During the first stroke of the
knitting cams in the next reciprocation the first set of fashioning needles ride.

page_text: upon the inwardly projecting end of the leading stud, the initial or outside needle
in that set thus being raised sufficiently to clear the end of the bit, and, in
consequence, being moved out of action. As the cams in this stroke traverse the
space occupied by the intermediate set of active needles the tappet arm. abuts
against the opposed end of the bracket and is moved thereby to effect the reversal
of the position of the studs. Hence the other set of fashioning needles is not
raised by the leading stud, and, therefore, the outer needle thereof is not freed
from its bit. In the return stroke of the knitting cams, the leading stud (being
projected) acts upon such outer needle and effects its disengagement from the
cams. During this stroke the tappet arm is actuated by the bracket, as in the
other instances, to reverse the positions of the studs, and so on during each
succeeding stroke of the knitting cams, whilst knitting the heel, the positions of
the studs are reversed. The heel being completed, the studs are set in their last
stroke to the positions occupied by them during the knitting of the leg, whereupon
the foot is formed (with the quick speed), following which the toe is produced
(with the slower speed), the studs in the latter operation being actuated as
described in regard to the formation of the heel.
The sinker or web-holder mechanism herein shown comprises a radially-grooved
annulus 44 surrounding the needle cylinder, near the top, and being encircled by a
rotatable cam-ring 45 which is supported by a flange 44" on the annulus. This
ring is connected with the cam cylinder by means of laterally disposed posts 46
which rise from said cylinder and extend between lugs 47 on the cam-ring. One
of these posts supports the usual thread carrier 48. The sinkers, marked 49, are
fitted to the respective grooves of the annulus so as to alternate with the needles
as usual, and they, the sinkers, each comprise a vertically arranged lever provided
with a lug or spud 50 on its inner edge, the same being engaged with a circum-
ferential groove 51 in the annulus which constitutes the fulcrum of the lever.
The upper end of the lever is provided with the usual notched finger 52 which is
adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the stitches during the knitting
of the successive courses, the cam 52" on the ring during its traverse engaging the
depending arm of the lever and effecting the requisite movements thereof. By
constructing the sinker in the form of a vertical lever a compact arrangement of
the parts is had, without impairing the throw of the upper or stitch engaging
portion of the sinker. The inward movements are imparted to the sinkers by
the flanged upper edge of the cam ring taking against the upper arms of the
sinkers. The flange is cut away, as at 52, in line with the cam 52 so as to permit
the outward movement of the sinkers when they are actuated by said cam, as
described. See Figs. 2 and 94.
The driving shaft hereinbefore raferred to, is mounted in suitable bearings in an
appropriate framework or housing 53 to which the bed-plate is secured. On the
outer end of the shaft are the fixed and loose pulleys 54, 55, respectively.
Adjacent to the pulley 55 is loosely mounted on the shaft a pinion 56, the body of
which is elongated and provided with a peripheral flange 57 that takes against the web
of said pulley. This pinion engages with a spur wheel 58 fixed on a lower parallel
shaft 59, whereby when the pinion is made fast to the loose pulley, as hereinafter
explained, and power is thereupon applied to the latter, motion will be transmitted
through the co-acting gear wheels to the lower shaft., Surrounding the pinion is
a sliding collar 60, or clutch member, on which is a stud 61 that extends into a
perforation in the flange of the pinion. On the opposed face of the web of
pulley 55 is a series of sockets 62 into which the stud may be projected by proper
movement of the clutch member to lock the pinion and the pulley together. Said
clutch-member is connected with a yoke 63 on one end of a longitudinally movable
shaft 64, which shaft is fitted to perforated brackets 65, 66 on the frame.
On the
shaft is a collar 67, between which and the bracket 65 is an encircling spiral
spring 68 that acts to force the shaft 64 normally inward in a manner to maintain
the clutch disengaged from the loose pulley. Fitted to the bracket 66 is the stud
or pivot of a lever 69; one arm of which is connected with the yoke by means of a

page_text: link 70, whereby, by properly manipulating said lever, the clutch member may, be:
engaged with, or disengaged from, the loose pulley, as desired. Loosely mounted
on the shaft 8, at an interval apart, are two wheels 71, 72, one of which (71) is a
pinion and the other of which (72) is a sprocket wheel. The pinion engages a spur
wheel 73 which is loosely mounted on the lower shaft 59 adjacent to the wheel 52,
the hub of said spur wheel being provided with a spring-controlled pin 74 which
is projected yieldingly against an inclined circular tooth 75 on the opposed hub of
the wheel 58, whereby if the latter be turned in one direction the tooth thereof
will engage the pin and correspondingly turn the wheel 73, but if the wheel be
driven in a reverse direction, the pin will ride idly upon the tooth without effecting
the coupling of the two wheels. The sprocket wheel 72 is geared by means of a
chain 76 with a larger sprocket wheel 77 fast on said shaft. 59. Fixed on the
shaft 8, between the flanges or collars of the pinion and sprocket wheels is a block
or head 78 to which is fitted a longitudinally-movable clutch bolt 79 shown in
partial section in Fig. 3. The ends of this bolt comprise pins which are con-
structed to be engaged with and disengaged from sockets in the opposed faces of
the collars respectively, that is, when the bolt is fully in engagement with one
collar it is out of engagement with the other, and vice versa.
Hence by properly
moving the bolt either the pinion or the sprocket wheel may be locked upon the
shaft, as desired. The means for automatically actuating the bolt at predetermined
intervals will appear further on.
Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 53, rearward of and parallel with the
shaft 8, is an intermittently-rotatable shaft 80, on the outer end of which is a
sprocket wheel 81 which carries the pattern chain 82. Suitably located on the
shaft 80 are four ratchet wheels 83, 84, 85 and 86, the two outer wheels 83 and 86
being fast on the shaft, and the two inner wheels 84 and 85 being connected by a
sleeve 87 which is loosely mounted on the shaft, said last-named wheels thus being
practically one wheel. All the wheels have a corresponding number of similarly
pitched or inclined teeth, but the inner wheels 84 and 85, as will be observed, are
larger in diameter than the others. The alternate teeth in the wheel 85 are
deepened so as to register with the corresponding teeth in the adjacent smaller
wheel 86, while in the wheel 84 only two diametrically-opposite teeth are deepened
to register with the proximate teeth of the wheel 83. Engaging with the wheels
are two pawls 88 and 89, respectively, which are connected by means of straps 9.1
with corresponding eccentrics 91 on the shaft. 8, whereby during the rotation of
said shaft the pawls are reciprocated and the said ratchet wheels intermittently
rotated.
Each of the pawls is wide enough to extend over the two adjacent ratchet teeth.
Hence when the alternate deep teeth of the wheel 85 are engaged by the pawl 89,
said wheel and perforce the shaft 80 will be thereupon advanced, that is, said shaft
will be advanced one step during every second stroke of the pawl, while the latter
is in action. Similarly the pawl 88 will engage the two diametrically-opposite
deep teeth in the wheel 84 during each half revolution of the wheel 83. While
the shaft is being intermittently rotated the pattern chain is advanced link-by-link
to control the various parts of the machine, the links having appropriate surfaces
thereon to effect the end in view. During tubular or straight-ahead knitting the
chain is at rest, otherwise a multiplicity of uniform links would be required. The
action of the shaft 80 is arrested preparatory to the commencement of the leg of
the stocking by raising the pawl 89 out of engagement with the ratchet wheels,
which operation is effected by means of a suitably-disposed rocking shaft 92 having
on one end a crank-arm 93 provided with a projecting pin 94, which is adapted to
take against a lateral lug on the pawl arm, and having on the other end a toe 95
that rests upon the pattern chain. When a link with a riser thereon co-acts with
the toe the shaft 92 is turned sufficiently to raise the pin against the lug on the
pawl arm, thereby throwing the latter out of action. Meanwhile the pawl 88
engages the teeth of the wheel 84 and moves the latter idly on the shaft half a

page_text: revolution, whereupon said pawl engages the deep tooth in the wheel 83 and
advances the latter and, perforce, the shaft 80 a distance of one tooth. The raised
link is thus moved beyond the toe 95 and a plane or low link takes its place.
The arm drops and, in consequence, the pin is retracted from the pawl 89, where-
upon the latter re-engages the ratchet wheels, and operates the same as before.
In this operation the shaft 80 is rotated a half revolution, the links as they are
successively advanced controlling the mechanism for producing the heel of the
stocking. Upon the completion of the operation a link with a riser is brought
below the toe on the rock-shaft 92 as in the other instance above described, and
the pawl 89 is thus likewise raised out of action to render the chain quiescent.
The knitting of the foot is now pursued, the other pawl 88 racking the wheel idly
on its shaft a half revolution until the deep tooth is engaged, whereupon the riser
link is moved onward and a plane or low link is brought below the toe on the rock-
shaft. The pawl 89 thus becomes active as before, the chain is impelled and the
operation of knitting the toe of the stocking is carried on. Following this the
knitting of the leg is taken up, and the foregoing described operations are repeated
in the order named.
During tubular knitting the belt runs upon the fixed pulley so as to impart
continuous rotary motion to the shaft 8, and, perforce, to the cam cylinder, the
clutch bolt being engaged with the pinion 71 so as to lock the latter on the shaft.
Hence the pinion turns the spur wheel 73 idly on the shaft 59.
The shipper frame 96 is supported on one end of a longitudinally-movable
horizontal shaft 97, whereby the belt may be transferred from one pulley to the
other. This shaft is fitted to a sleeve 98 which is fixedly supported on the free
ends of a pair of rearwardly extending arms 99 that are loosely mounted on a
transverse shaft 100 borne in the frame 53. The sleeve is partially slotted longi-
tudinally, and the shaft 97 is provided with a pin 101 that extends through the
slots in the sleeve. Interposed between the pin and one of the arms is a spiral
spring 102, the tendency of which is to move said shaft toward the cylinder and
thus maintain the shipperframe adjacent to the loose pulley. Suitably disposed
on the shaft 97 is a fixed head 103 the function of which will directly appear.
One of the arms is provided with a heel 104 that rides upon the links of the pattern
chain, the predetermined variations in such links raising or lowering the arm, and,
perforce, correspondingly moving the shaft 97. During tubular knitting the heel
rides upon the plane or low faces of the links and, therefore, the shaft 97 occupies
the down position, said shaft under such circumstances being forced outward against
the stress of the spring in a manner to maintain the shipper adjacent to the fixed
pulley. The shaft is forced outward and held in this position by an arm 105
hearing against the head on the shaft. This arm is fixed to the upper end of a
vertically arranged rock-shaft 106 which is mounted in brackets 107 on the frame.
On the lower end of the rock-shaft is an arm 109 which is held yieldingly in
contact with the periphery of an eccentric 110 on the shaft 59 by the torsional
action of a spiral spring 111, which, encircling the vertical shaft, has its respective
ends secured to the upper bracket 107 and the arm 109. During tubular knitting
the shaft 59 is idle and, consequently, the eccentric maintains the parts in the
relative positions described.
Upon the completion of the leg of the stocking a link with a riser thereon is
advanced beneath the heel on arm 99, such riser thereupon raising the arm and
with it the shaft 97 and its connections. The head thus being lifted above the
rock arm 105, the spring 102, expanding, returns the shaft to the inward position,
and, in consequence, transfers the belt onto the pulley 55. The latter thereupon
rotates the pinion 56 which, in turn, impels the co-acting spur wheel 58 on the
shaft 59. This shaft and perforce the eccentric thereon are thus rotated in concert
with the pinion, said eccentric in its motion effecting the continuous oscillation of
the vertical rock-shaft. Immediately before the first turn of the shaft 59 the
clutch bolt 79 herein before referred to is engaged with the sprocket wheel 72 to

page_text: lock it on the main shaft. Hence the motion is transmitted from the shaft 59 to
the main shaft through the sprocket gearing, such motion being timed to effect the
movement of the cam cylinder one stroke. This done the clutch bolt is disengaged
from the sprocket wheel and engaged with the pinion 71, in which case the motion
is transmitted from the shaft 59 to the wheel 8 in a contrary direction, such motion""
being timed to effect the reverse stroke of the cam cylinder. Thus the clutch is
alternately engaged with, and disengaged from, the sprocket wheel and the pinion,
and, in consequence; a rotary reciprocating movement is imparted to the main shaft
and is transmitted therefrom to the cam cylinder. By means of the system of
gearing above described it will be obvious that the cam cylinder is driven at a
reduced rate of speed whilst reciprocating.
A means which has been devised for reciprocating the clutch bolt is as follows:
On the body of the clutch bolt is fixed a plate 112 having two oppositely disposed'
cams or inclines r and y, respectively. Ou the inner wall of the housing or bearing
in which the block 78 is contained, is a fixed pin 113 which is so arranged relatively
to the path of the cam that during the rotation of the block the incline a impinges"
against the pin and thrusts the bolt toward and into engagement with the pinion.
Fitted to a perforation 114 in the said housing, laterally of the stud, is a radially-
movable stud 115, the inner end of which may be projected into or retracted from
the path of the cam, as required. During tubular knitting this stud is retracted so
that it does not act upon the cam, but during reciprocating work it is projected
into the path traversed by the incline, in the reverse stroke of the shaft, said
incline in that case abutting against the stud and being forced, together with the
bolt, toward the sprocket wheel for the purpose above described. The outer end
of the stud is pivotally connected with a crank arm 116 on a suitably-located rock-
shaft 117 by the operation of which shaft the positions of the stud are determined,
as will duly appear.
Upon the completion of the heel or the toe of the stocking, the shaft 97 assumes
the down position, the arm 105 acting upon the head 103 and re-setting the belt'
shipper, as above described.
In order that the operation of the machine may be arrested at any time during
the knitting of the tubular foot or leg of the stocking, the lever 69 is provided
with an arm 69 which is so arranged that if the lever be moved to retract the
clutch from the pulley 55, said arm will bear against the shaft 97 and raise the
latter sufficiently to dispose the head 103 above the path of the oscillating-arm 105
on the vertical rock-shaft. In the drawings the machine is represented as stopped
during the process of knitting the heel of the stocking. To start the machine at
any time the handle arm of lever 69 is turned downward so as to move upward the
other arm of the lever and thereby force forward the link 70 in a manner to project
the pin 61 into engagement with the pulley 55. The link and lever arm act as a
toggle-joint, being in the "open" and "broken" positions when the pin 61 'is
engaged with and disengaged from the pulley, respectively. When the lever is
turned to start the machine the arm 69ª is moved downward so as to lie below the
path of the shaft 97.
The mechanism will now be described which has been devised for imparting the
requisite intermittent rotary movements to the shaft 31 that is geared with the
bit-supporting segment herein before alluded to. On shaft 31 a suitable distance.
apart are fixed two ratchet wheels 118, 119, the teeth of which are oppositely
pitched. Between these wheels there are mounted on the shaft two levers 120, 121,
the rearwardly extending arms of which extend upwardly and downwardly
respectively, as seen. On these arms are pivoted pawls 122, 123, respectively,
which are adapted to be engaged with the respective wheels adjacent thereto
at predetermined intervals. The forward arms of the levers are rounded
concentrically with the shaft 31 and are provided with gear teeth with which
engage toothed sectors 124, 125, respectively, on a stud 126 which is affixed to the
frame in advance of the shaft 31. These sectors are each provided with two
forwardly extending yoke-like arms 127 which straddle the shaft 59. On the
а

page_text: latter shaft is fixed a cam 128 which engages the respective arms of the sectors,
said cam being so constructed that during the rotation of the shaft 59 it will
oscillate the yoke arms in concert, and thus correspondingly actuate the respective
sectors, or, in other words, the two sectors will be operated as a unit. In con-
sequence said sectors will simultaneously oscillate the levers 120, 121 by which the
pawls are carried. Now if one of the pawls, say that marked 122, be engaged
with its ratchet wheel 118, and the other pawl be thrown out of action, the active
pawl will co-act with the ratchet wheel to turn the shaft step-by-step in one
direction, viz., that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4B-and if the condition of the
pawls be reversed, the lower pawl 123 co-acting with the ratchet wheel 119 will
turn the shaft 31 step-by-step in a reverse direction. When the pawl 123 is in
action the shaft is turned to raise the bit-supporting segment, and when the
pawl 122 is in action the shaft is turned to lower said segment.
Preparatory to the narrowing operation, that is, at the commencement of the
heel or the toe of the stocking, the pawl 122 is thrown into operation, thereby
effecting the requisite movements of the shaft to lower the bit-supporting segment
during each reciprocation of the cam cylinder. Upon the completion of the
narrowing, and preparatory to the widening operation, the pawl 122 is thrown out
of action and the other pawl is brought into play, thereby effecting the
requisite reverse movements of the shaft to raise the bit-supporting segment
periodically.
As a means to control the relative positions of the pawls automatically, there is
fulcrumed on the shaft 31 intermediate the levers 120, 121, a vertically disposed
lever 129 the upper arm of which is connected by means of a link 130 (curved to
clear the shaft 117) with a depending arm 131 on the rock-shaft. 100. On the
outer end of this shaft is a toe 132 that rides upon the links of the pattern chain,
the high and low link faces of which effect the oscillation of the rock-shaft, the
resulting movements being thereupon imparted by the intermediate connections to
the lever 129. The extremities of this lever are provided with oppositely disposed
steps 133 and the pawls are equipped with studs 134 that take against such
extremities.
Gravity maintains the stud on the upper pawl 122 in engagement with the lever,
while a spring 135 which is affixed to the frame bears against the lower pawl and
maintains the stud thereon normally against the lever. Hence when said lever is
moved in one direction, the lower step bears against the stud on the pawl 123 and
throws the latter out of engagement with the ratchet, while, contrarily, the opposed
step is removed from the stud on the upper pawl, which latter thereupon drops into
engagement with its ratchet wheel, and vice versa.
During the knitting of the heel or the toe of the stocking the shaft 31 is
reciprocated, that is, it makes a partial revolution intermittently in one direction
while narrowing, and a reverse revolution while widening. On this shaft is fixed a
peripherially notched wheel 136, the number of notches therein corresponding
with the number of teeth on each of the ratchet wheels. One of these notches,
noted 2, is much deeper than the others for a purpose presently explained.
On the adjacent end of the rock shaft 117 herein before referred to, is fixed a
rearwardly extending pawl 137 the tooth of which bears upon the periphery of the
wheel 136, being maintained thereon by gravity, or by the action of a retracting
spring 138, one end of which is secured to the pawl and the other end to the
supporting frame. The parts are so constructed that during tubular knitting the
pawl 137 is engaged with the deep notch in the wheel, and the movable stud 115
is thus retracted from the housing, but during the heel and toe fashioning
opérations the pawl rides upon the periphery of the wheel engaging the notches
successively, and in that way it maintains the stud 115 projected into the path of
the cam on the clutch bolt as and for the purpose above set forth.
In order that the bit-supporting segment may be lowered or raised by hand,
should occasion require it, without disconcerting the pawl and ratchet mechanisms
on the shaft 31, pinion 30 is connected to the latter by meaus of a clutch pin

page_text: device that may be readily manipulated to lock or release the pinion on the shaft.
Referring to Fig. 8, 139 is a collar formed on or affixed to the shaft 31 adjacent to
the inner side of the pinion 30, and 140 is a similar collar loosely applied to the
shaft on the opposite side of the pinion, which latter collar is provided with a
suitable handle 141. 142 is a pin fitted to opposite perforations in the outer collar
and the pinion respectively, and pressed normally inward by the action of a small
spiral spring 143 confined in said collar last named. The face of the inner collar
is provided with a socket 144 with which the inner end of the pin is adapted to
register, the outer end of said pin being provided with a suitable knob. Normally
the pin is engaged with the socket in the collar 139, thus locking the pinion on
the shaft, but if it be desired to operate the pinion independently of the shaft, the
spring-controlled pin is retracted from the socketed collar, and the handle is
thereupon properly rotated by hand.
Recurring now to the mechanism for varying the tension of the stitches during
the knitting of the ankle and foot portions of the stocking, 145 is a longitudinally
arranged rock shaft mounted in suitably located bearings. One end of this shaft
is provided with a depending arm 146 which is connected by means of a rod 147
with a similar arm 148 on the shaft 23 herein before described. The other end of
the rock shaft is equipped with an arm 149 that rides upon the links of the pattern
chain. When the arm is engaged with the raised face of a link, the parts are in
position for the knitting of normal stitches; but when the arm is riding upon the
plane on low faces of the succeeding links the rock arm and the connecting rod are
thrown forward and the shaft 23 is thereby partially turned to effect a slight
lowering of the bit and needle cylinders, and perforce a tightening of the stitches.
Those links which are brought into play during the knitting of the heel and toe
are provided with appropriate risers which co-act with the arm on the rock shaft
for the purpose stated.
In order that the relative tensions of the stitches during the knitting of the
stocking may be nicely predetermined, a graduated sector 150 is affixed to the bed
plate, concentric with the shaft 23, (said shaft extending freely through a boss on
the sector) and the arm 148 is provided with an upward handle extension 151
having a suitable lip that traverses the edge of the sector.
The rearward end of
the rod 147 is screw-threaded; it is extended through a perforated boss on the
depending arm 146 of the rock shaft 145, and it is provided with set-nuts 152,
whereby the point of connection of the boss with the rod may be nicely adjusted.
At the outset the handle extension is moved on the sector to prescribe the length
of the normal stitches, and the requisite adjustment of the boss on the connecting
rod is then effected.
The thread-reinforcing mechanism which has been devised is of the following
construction—
Rising from the bed of the machine is a post or standard 153 which supports an
inwardly extending arm 154, the forward end of which is preferably drooped and
is provided with an eye 155 for the passage of the main thread 156 on its way to
the thread guide. Fulerumed on a suitably disposed lug 157 on the arm is a
take-up lever 158 of usual construction, the shorter or rigid arm thereof being
connected by means of a link 159 with one arm (a) of a tri-armed lever 160, which
in its turn is fulcrumed in a rearward lug on the supporting arm. One (6) of the
arms of the lever 160 is extended rearward, and is provided at its extremity with
an eye for the passage of the reinforcing thread 161, the third arm (c) being
connected by means of a pin and slot with a vertically movable rod 162 which is
guided in suitably disposed brackets 163. The lower end of the rod rests upon the
free end of a rearwardly extending arm 164 on the pawl bearing shaft 117, so as
to partake of the movements of the pawl; that is to say, when the pawl is engaged
with the deep notch in the wheel 136 the arm, and therewith the rod, are
lowered, the spring controlled arm of the take-up lever thus being depressed, and
when the pawl is riding upon the periphery of said wheel the parts occupy a
reverse position.

page_text: Supported in a pair of perforated Ings 165 on the arm is a horizontally movable
tube 166 on the body of which is a projection 167 which is connected by means of
a link 168 with the longer arm of a bell-crank lever 169, the latter being fulcrumed
to a suitably-disposed collar 170 on the post. The shorter arm of this lever is
connected by means of a link 171 with the rod 162, to the end that when said rod
is lowered the tube is moved forward, and when the rod is raised the tube is
retracted. On one side of the tube, near its forward end, is an opening 172 which
is preferably in the form of an inclined slot or kerf, as seen most clearly in Fig. 18,
while in a suitable lug 173 on the forward or drooping portion of the arm 154, in
line with, said slot or kerf, is supported a similarly inclined guide or tube 174. On
the lug is a fixed blade 175 on which is pivoted a co-acting blade 176, the latter
being, in effect, one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is pivotally
connected with a horizontally reciprocative rod 177 guided in lateral extensions of
the lug 165. On this rod, a suitable distance apart, is a pair of collars 178,
between which extends the piece 167 on the tube 166, to the end that when the
latter is moved forward, as above described, the piece will abut against the opposed
collar and thereby advance the rod in a manner to move the pivoted blade upon
the fixed blade with a shear-like action. When the tube is retracted the piece 167
abuts against the other opposed collar on the rod and returns the parts just named
to their previous condition.
"
Suitably disposed on the fixed blade is a collar 179 which is termed a "stripper
into which the forward end of the tube 166 is adapted to enter freely. Fulcrumed
on a lug 180 on the inclined portion of the arm is a tension lever 181, which is
termed a **
trap lever," the upper arm of which is provided with a lip which
extends over the tube and is adapted to act upon the main knitting thread
between it and the beveled face of lug 165, while the lower arm of said lever is
provided with an eye to receive said thread on its passage to the take-up lever.
On its way from the bobbin to the thread carrier the thread passes in the first
place through one of the guide eyes on the usual cross bar 182, thence through an
eye on the lug 165, into and through the slot or kerf in the tube 166, then through
the inclined tube 174; next through the eye on the forward arm of the trap lever;
next through the take-up lever, and, finally, through the eye on the arm 154.
The reinforcing thread passes through the eye on the end of the arm (b) of the
lever 160; thence through the tube 166 and out through the kerf, as seen in
Fig. 18. During tubular knitting (the pawl being engaged with the deep notch in
the wheel) the rod 162 is depressed, and, in consequence, the tension upon the main
thread is released and the guide tube is projected forward into the stripper, the
supplemental thread being clamped between the engaged parts. Upon the
commencement of the heel or toe (the pawl riding upon the periphery of the wheel,
as above stated) the rod 162 is elevated, in consequence of which the take-up lever
is thrown upward and the tension is perforce exerted upon the main thread. At
the same time the trap lever is pressed upon the latter thread so as to hold it in
place and the tube is retracted so as to free the clamped end of the supplemental
thread, which end depending from the opening in the tube and lying contiguous to
the in-going main thread, is carried by the latter to the knitting needles. The
combined threads are thus delivered to the needles during the knitting of the heel
or toe, at the completion of either of which operations the rod is lowered in the
manner above described, whereupon the tube 166 is projected into the stripper and
the reinforcing thread drawn between the blades, the movable one of which being
moved inward by the advancement of the rod to effect the severance of the
reinforcing thread. In this position the parts remain in readiness for a succeeding
operation.
The construction of the pattern chain which has been devised and which is
preferable to employ is shown most, clearly in Figs. 5 and 12. Each of the links
comprises a curved plate 183 provided with lateral lugs 184 on, its under or concave
surface and with appropriate risers 185 on its upper or convex surface.
The lower ends of the lugs are offset beyond the edge of the plate, while

page_text: the upper ends of the lugs are correspondingly fore-shortened to the end that when
the lugs of the successive plates are connected, the extensions thereof willi
embrace the contiguous plates, respectively. Said lugs are connected by means of
cross-pins 186, the respective pins being preferably screw-threaded at one end and
being fitted to correspondingly threaded orifices in the proximate lugs of the
adjacent sections. The acting edges of the risers are rounded, so that they will
assume a curve concentric with the sprocket wheel as they travel on the latter, the
meeting ends of the risers in the adjacent links being cut under and rounded
respectively (as at j and k respectively) so as to overlap and present a practically
unbroken or continuous surface when the chain is flexed. Where the rounded
upper end of a riser succeeds a plane portion of the link plate (as at 1) such portion.
will overlap the riser and remain in contact therewith, while the links are on the
sprocket wheel, thus presenting an uninterrupted surface to the parts controlled:
thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a knitting machine, the combination of the needle cylinder, the depending
bit cylinder, and a latch device whereby said cylinders may be locked together or
released, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the needle cylinder provided with a groove therein, a bit.
cylinder fitted to the lower end of said needle cylinder and provided with an
opening registering with said groove, and a vertically-disposed rod supported
within the bit cylinder and provided with a stud constructed to co-act with said
opening and groove, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with the needle cylinder and the cam cylinder, of the
interposed ring, pins extending therefrom through slots or recesses in the top of the
latter cylinder, and latch plates on the cam cylinder adapted to engage said pins,.
substantially as described.
4. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the cam cylinder, its.
knitting cans, the needle-controlling step device, and means for supporting and
operating the latter, of means whereby the needles are raised above the normal
height of the stitch cams, alternately, during the successive strokes of the cam.
cylinder, while reciprocating, in order to effect the disengagement of certain needles
from said step device at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
5. The combination, with the cam cylinder and its knitting cams, of recipro-
cative stud cams movable above the summits of the lateral stitch cams, respectively,
and means whereby said stud-cams are operated so as to project them into,.
and retract them from, the interior of the cam cylinder, alternately, substantially
as described.
6. The combination, with the cam cylinder, and its knitting cams, of radially-
reciprocative stud cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent to the lateral stitch cams,.
a lever connecting said stud cams, and means for oscillating said lever so as
to project said stud cams into, and retract them from, the interior of the cam.
cylinder, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with the cam cylinder, and its knitting cams, of radially-.
reciprocative stud cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent to the lateral stitch cams,
a lever connecting said stud cams, and means for oscillating said lever so as
to project said stud cams into and retract them from the interior of the cam.
cylinder, and means for retaining said stud cams in their respective positions,.
substantially as described.
8. The combination, with the cam cylinder, and its knitting cams, of radially-.
reciprocative stud-cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent to the lateral stitch-cams,.
a lever connecting said stud cams, a pivoted tappet arm connected with said
lever, and means for operating said arm at predetermined intervals, substantially as-
described.

page_text: 9. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the cam cylinder and
its cams, of the driving shaft, gearing between the same and the cam cylinder, fast
and loose pulleys on said shaft, a second shaft, normally inactive transmitting
mechanism between said shafts, and means whereby said mechanism is operatively
engaged with the loose pulley so as to turn the said second shaft continuously in
one direction, two sets of oppositely-acting transmitting mechanisms between the
shafts, means whereby said transmitting mechanisms are alternately engaged with
and disengaged from the driving shaft, and a connection between one of said last-
named transmitting mechanisms and mechanism first-named, together with a belt
shipper, and means for operating the same to transfer the belt from one pulley to
the other at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the cam cylinder and
its cams, of the driving shaft, gearing between the same and the cam cylinder, the
fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a pinion thereon adjacent to the loose pulley,
a clutch device adapted to engage or disengage said pinion and pulley, a second
shaft, a fixed spur wheel thereon in gear with said pinion, an adjacent loosely-
mounted spur wheel on said shaft, a transmitting device between said spur wheels
and a second pinion mounted on the driving shaft and geared with said loose spur
wheel, a sprocket wheel on said driving shaft, a clutch device between the same
and said second pinion, means for operating said clutch device, a sprocket wheel
on the said second shaft, and a chain connecting the two sprocket wheels,
substantially as described.
11. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, and the fast
and loose pulleys thereon, of the belt shipper frame, a supporting shaft therefor, a
bodily movable frame in which said latter shaft is mounted, means for retracting
the shipper frame to maintain the shipper normally adjacent to the loose pulley, a
power transmitting device adjacent to the loose pulley, means to connect said
device with the loose pulley, a rock-shaft, a driven shaft provided with means for
operating the rock-shaft, provisions whereby said driven shaft is connected with
the said power transmitting device, an arm on said rock-shaft, and a head on
the shipper frame supporting shaft in the path of said arm, substantially as
described.
12. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, the fast and
loose pulleys thereon, the pattern chain, and means for supporting and operating it,
of the belt shipper frame, its shaft, a vibratory support for the latter, said support
being constructed to be operated by the pattern chain, means for retracting the
shipper shaft to maintain the shipper normally adjacent to one of the pulleys, a
rock-shaft, means for operating the same, and co-acting devices on said rock and
shipper shafts adapted to effect the movement of the shipper to the other pulley,
substantially as described.
13. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, and the fast
and loose pulleys thereon, of a belt shipper frame, its shaft, a vibratory support for
the said shaft, means for retracting the shipper shaft to maintain the shipper frame
normally adjacent to the loose pulley, means for maintaining said frame adjacent
to the fast pulley, and a lever, one arm of which is constructed and arranged to
raise the shipper shaft bodily and release the same when the lever is operated
during tubular knitting, substantially as described.
14. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, of a block
or head affixed thereto, a sliding clutch bolt on said head, power transmitting
mechanisms adjacent to the respective ends of said head, a double inclined fixed
cani on said bolt, a stud or projection arranged fixedly in the path of one of the
inclines of the cam, a stud movable into and out of the path of the other incline of
the cam, a guide for the latter stud, and means for operating said movable stud at
predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
15. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, of an inter-
mittently rotatable shaft adjacent thereto, pattern mechanism on said latter shaft,
the two outer ratchet wheels fast on the shaft, and the two inner wheels connected

page_text: by a sleeve which is loosely mounted on the shaft, all said wheels having a corre-
sponding number of similarly pitched teeth, but the inner loosely mounted wheels
being larger in diameter than the others, the alternate teeth of one of the inner
wheels being deepened so as to register with the corresponding teeth in the adjacent
outer wheel, and two diametrically opposite teeth of the other inner wheel being
deepened to register with the proximate teeth of the adjacent outer wheel, the
pawls co-acting with said wheels, as described, eccentrics on the driving shaft
operatively connected with said pawls, a rock-shaft provided with means adapted
to move one of the pawls periodically out of action and provided with means by
which the shaft is controlled by the pattern chain, substantially as described.
16. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle controlling step device, and means for
supporting the same, a shaft, provisions whereby it is geared with said step device,
a pair of oppositely-pitched ratchet wheels on said shaft, levers on said shaft
provided with pawls adapted to engage the ratchet wheels respectively, a. cam
shaft, its cams, arms actuated by said cams, means whereby said arms are
opératively connected with the pawl-bearing levers, a lever on said first-named
shaft provided with cams on its respective arms constructed to act upon the pawls
to render them idle and active alternately, and means for operating said cam lever
at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.
17. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle-controlling step device, and means for
supporting the same, a shaft, provisions whereby it is geared with said step device,
a pair of oppositely-pitched ratchet wheels on said shaft, levers on said shatt
provided with pawls adapted to engage the ratchet wheels respectively, toothed
sectors geared with said levers provided each with forked or yoke-like arms, a
shaft adjacent to said arins, a cam on said shaft co-acting with the arms, means
for rotating said shaft at predetermined intervals, and means for rendering the
respective pawls idle and active alternately, substantially as described.
18. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cans, of the needle-controlling step device and means for
supporting the same, the rack depending from said step device, a shaft, means for
rotating the same in opposite directions at predetermined intervals, a pinion
engaged with said rack, a clutch device adapted to lock or release the pinion on
the shaft, and means for turning the pinion independently of the shaft, substantially
as described.
19. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,.
tbe cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle-controlling step device and means for
supporting the same, an intermittently rotatable shaft, provisions whereby it is
geared with said step device, a driving shaft, means whereby it is geared with the
cam cylinder, mechanism intermediate the driving shaft and said first-named shaft
adapted to impart the requisite movements thereto, oppositely-acting transmitting
devices on said driving shaft, an intermediate clutch bolt, a fixed stud in the path
of one of the inclines of the cam, a stud movable into and out of the path of the
other incline of the cam, a rock-shaft, provisions whereby it is connected with
said,movable stud, a pawl on said rock-shaft, and a peripherially notched wheel
mounted on the first-named shaft and engaged by said pawl, substantially as
described.
20. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulating shaft provided with gear
teeth, its support, a depending portion on the cam cylinder provided with gear teeth
that are engaged by those of the shaft, and means whereby said shaft is
automatically operated at predetermined stages of the knitting operation,
substantially as described.
21. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulating shaft, its support, provisions
whereby said shaft is operatively connected with the needle cylinder. to effect

page_text: lungitudinal adjustment of the latter, an arm on said shaft, a rock-shaft, an arm
thereon, a rod connecting said arms, and means for automatically operating said
rock-shaft at predetermined stages of the knitting operation, substantially as
described.
22. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the bit cylinder, its bits, the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulating
shaft provided with gear teeth constructed to engage corresponding teeth in the bit
cylinder, a fixed support for said shaft, an arm thereon, a rock-shaft, an arm
thereon, a rod connecting said arms, and means for operating said rock-shaft at
predetermined stages of the knitting operation, substantially as described.
23. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles,
the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulating shaft, its support, provisions
whereby said shaft is operatively connected with the needle cylinder to effect
longitudinal adjustment of the latter, an arm and a handle on said shaft, a sector
adjacent to the handle, a rock-shaft, an arm thereon, a rod connecting said arms,
means whereby one end of the rod is adjustably connected with the proximate arm,
and means for operating said shaft at predetermined intervals, substantially as
described.
24. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guide tube for an
additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateral opening through which
the threads extend, and means for reciprocating said tube, substantially as described.
25. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a horizontally
disposed guide tube for an additional thread, said tube being provided with an
inclined slot near the forward end thereof, through which slot the threads extend,
and means for reciprocating said tube, substantially as described.
26. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guide tube for an
additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateral opening through which
the threads extend, and means for reciprocating said tube, together with means for
severing the additional thread, substantially as described.
27. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guide tube for an
additional thread, means for reciprocating said tube, and a collar or clamp member
fixed in advance of said tube and adapted to receive the nose of the latter to clamp
the extending end of the additional thread, substantially as described.
28. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guide tube for an
additional thread, means for reciprocating said tube, and a collar or clamp member
fixed in advance of said tube and adapted to receive the nose of the latter to clamp
the extending end of the additional thread, together with means for severing the
additional thread when the tube is advanced, substantially as described.
29. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guide tube for an
additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateral opening through which
the threads extend, and a collar or clamp member fixed in advance of said tube and
adapted to receive the nose of the latter so as to clamp the extending end of the
supplemental thread, substantially as described.
30. The combination of an arm provided with a thread guide, a take-up lever
supported on the arm, a reciprocative thread guide tube on said arm, means for
reciprocating said tube, and means for operating the take-up lever simultaneously
with said tube, so as to reduce the tension upon the main thread when the tube is
projected, and the converse, substantially as described.
31. The combination of an arm provided with a thread guide, a take-up lever
supported on the arm, a reciprocative thread guide tube on said arm, means for
reciprocating said tube, and means for operating the take-up lever simultaneously
with said tube, so as to reduce the tension upon the thread when the tube is
projected, and the converse, together with the trap-lever through which the thread
extends on its way to the take-up lever, substantially as described.
32. The combination of the vertical post, the arm thereon, the reciprocative
guide tube, the collar, its support, the co-acting blades, means whereby they are
actuated by the movements of the tube, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the post and

page_text: linked with said tube, a vertically-reciprocative rod linked with said lever, the
lever 160 connected with said rod, and the take-up lever linked with the lever 160,-
substantially as described.
33. The described pattern chain for knitting machines, the links of the chain
comprising a series of curved plates provided with lateral lugs on their under or
concave sides and with appropriate risers on their outer or convex sides, the upper
ends of the risers being rounded and the lower ends thereof extended and cut under-
and the meeting ends of the respective links being detachably connected, the ends
of the succeeding risers overlapping each other and the upper ends of all the risers.
curving inwardly beyond the adjacent curved plates of the respective links, whereby
the meeting ends of the risers present an uninterrupted surface when the chain is-
flexed, and whereby when a riser succeeds a plane or plate portion of the link, such
portion when the chain is flexed overlaps the riser, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.