Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines and in Fabrics Produced thereon.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
COMT LEIE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines and in Fabrics
Produced thereon.
I ZEPHYRIN LECAISNE, of 22, Rue Le Peletier, Paris, France, Manufacturer,
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:-
The present invention relates to various improvements in the construction of
circular knitting machines having oblique needles, whereby I am enabled to inter-
calate or weave into the body of the web weft threads of any thickness, whereby
the thickness of the entire fabric may be varied as desired.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I have hereto annexed
drawings illustrative thereof in which-
Fig. 1. represents a sectional elevation of my improved machine taken along the
line-y of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same with the supporting framework removed.
Fig. 3 is a view of the cam-block showing the general arrangement of the cam
grooves in which the heels of the needles travel.
In these figures the same letters of reference relate to the same parts. The
machine is constructed in the following manner: The blocks c which carry the
needles are fixed and the cam-blocks fand g rotate and in addition to imparting
the reciprocatory or rising and falling motion to the needles, they also carry the
thread guides which present the threads to the needles for the formation of the
meshes in regular rotation.
The weft thread m which has to be intercalated with each mesh, is placed upon
the mesh preceding it at the moment when the needles are at the bottom of the
cam-race in their lowest position.
In rising upwards to gather the thread n for a new mesh, the needles pass on
each side of the weft thread m and on descending to draw the mesh tight, the weft
thread is secured or enclosed at the same time.
To arrive at this result the needle block c is made in the form of a ring, of which
the section is that of a truncated cone, upon the two sides of which are the
needles a and b packed in the usual manner. The exterior portion of the block c
may be fixed to the framework in any suitable manner the inner part being fixed
to the central pillar either by arms or by preference by the aid of a plate & to
which it is bolted.
The inner cam-block f is mounted upon rollers or runners e revolving in a
groove formed partly in the block and partly in the plate d, whereby its rotary
motion is rendered very easy. During this rotary motion the interior cams operate
upon the heels of the needles 6 imparting to them the necessary motions for the
formation of the mesh except in cases where it is desired that they should remain
inactive.
b
To the interior cam-block are fixed the plates supporting the ordinary knitting-
thread bobbins, the weft-thread bobbins and also the thread-guides. The outer
cam-block 9 acts upon
the needles a in the same manner as the cam-block ƒ does
upon the needles b, for the formation of the exterior meshes.
To the underside of the block g is fixed a circular rack / gearing with a pinion i,
by means of which rotary motion may be imparted to the machine.
g
The cam-block 9 is secured to the block by means of brackets; which whilst
rendering the two practically integral the one with the other and thus securing
their simultaneous movement of rotation, also assist in maintaining the block
a horizontal position.
in

page_text: Instead of a permanent groove being cut in the cam-block, the cam race may
be formed partially by means of small adjustable blocks (see Fig. 3) fixed to the
principal block or shell. This arrangement permits all the necessary changes in
the cam-race without necessitating the removal of the fabric in course of pro-
duction from the machine.
The general working of the apparatus is as follows. The blocks f and g
having a movement of rotation imparted to them by the pinion i, the needles under
the action of the cams on their heels, receive the rising and falling motions
necessary to effect the formation of the mesh. When the needles are in their
lowest position, the weft thread presented by its guide places itself over the meshes
previously completed and the needles in rising upwards to commence the new
meshes pass on each side of the weft thread and so envelope it in the new meshes,
and embody it permanently in the fabric when the meshes are drawn tight on the
descent of the needles.
It may be observed that 1 can, if desirable, throw any number of needles out
of operation, leaving the remainder to work in such series as may be desired,
such as, one and two, two and two, two and three, &c. This is effected by
causing the needles which I desire to render inoperative, to drop into a lower
rectilinear cam groove formed underneath the knitting groove in the blocks and
as shown in Fig. 3. So long as the needles remain in this groove they are
practically useless.
It is obvious that I can intercalate any thickness of weft thread that may be
desired, according to the quality of strength of knitted web required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of introducing a weft thread of any thickness, into a fabric
or web produced upon a circular knitting machine of the kind herein described,
such weft thread being intercalated in the web prior to the taking up of the
thread by the needles for the formation of the succeeding meshes, substantially
as described.
2. The general arrangement of the machine permitting the insertion of the weft
thread, consisting principally in fixing the needle blocks c and rotating the cam
blocks, the said cam blocks carrying the thread guides for delivering both the weft
threads and knitting threads, substantially as herein described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
3. The new commercial product constituted by a web such as described com-
posed of variable ribs, that is to say,-ribbed, two and two, one and two, two and
three, &c. between which is stretched a thread without undulations, having for its
object the prevention of the lateral extension of the knitted fabric substantially as
described.
Dated this a 1
1000
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant...