IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by
Charles James Appleton, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America, now residing at St. Just-en-Chaussée, Oise, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."
[A communication from abroad by Charles James Appleton, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America, now residing at St. Just-en-Chaussée,
Oise, France.]
The object of this Invention is the production on a rib knitting machine of fancy
ribbed hosiery in the form of vertical stripes of any desired width or pattern, and
zig-zag and diamond patterns, or any modification of the same.
The said Invention consists, first, in a series of rib needle holders arranged in
a circular form, and hung in such a manner as to allow cams or wheels to operate
them from the outside of said needle holders.
It consists, secondly, in providing the machine with two or more "feeds" of
needle holders so formed and arranged that the control of the needles is left entirely
to the said cams or wheels, whereby certain needles or series of the said needles
can be thrown into operation at pleasure for producing fancy rib knitting.
It consists, thirdly, in providing the said machine with two or more "feeds" of
circular cut pattern wheels, arranged on both sides of, or above and below the fulcrum
or centre of oscillation of the said needle holders for producing zig-zag or plaid work,
or any modification of the same.

page_text: <
"
feeds"
The pattern is produced by cuts or notches in the edges of the aforesaid pattern
wheels for actuating the needle holders. This improved machine is constructed to
operate with two or more feeds," but with not less than two, as the needle holders
must be brought into action every two or more
so as to press off the loops
that have been retained.
The operation of the said machine is as follows:-When it is desirable to make
vertical stripes, the said needle holders are arranged around the said cylinder in sets,
according to the width of stripe desired, and in a machine of two "feeds; " each
"feed" works a different color of yarn. The pattern being arranged and the work
on the needles, for the sake of example, I will assume that a white thread or yarn
is placed in one "feed" and a black thread or yarn in the other "feed;" a stationary
cam or slide is then arranged to strike the upper part of one set of the said holders,
and force them in their slide towards the centre and the needles out from the
centre.
When the second set of needle holders strike the same cam, they remain stationary,
as there is a part cut away at the top, and the needle holders are held back by a
slide so as to keep the needles from coming forward and receiving yarn from that
feed.
The first set of holders are cut away so that they can pass the slide that holds
the needle holders back. The needles are pushed back to knit by a cam, and pass
on to the next feed when a slide cam is arranged to push back the said second set
of needle holders near the top, when the needles will be forced forward to take the
yarn when the first set of needle holders strike the cam, they will remain stationary
by reason of a part being cut away.
A slide is arranged to hold the needle holders back, and the second set of needle
holders are so cut away as to enable the needles to remain forward and take the
yarn. By this operation, each set of vertical needles and needle holders will only
knit the yarn from its own "feed" and color, thereby forming vertical stripes.
I provide pattern wheels for operating the needle holders, and which are used for
producing diamond, zig-zag, or spiral stripes. The operation of these wheels is very
simple, for example, when the cut portions or teeth come in contact with the
needle holders, the needles do not slide forward but remain stationary, and are held
in position by the uncut portions of the lower pattern wheel; the uncut portions on
the upper pattern wheel operate, pressing the needle holders back and the needles
forward, so that they may take the yarn and knit.
The needles that do not come forward by the action of the first set of pattern
wheels, will come into operation at the next feed which is provided with another
colored yarn.
To produce knitting of a diamond pattern, one set of wheels is arranged to lose
time or miss one or more needles in each revolution of the said holder cylinder, and
the other set of wheels at the next feed is arranged to gain time or miss one or
more needles in each revolution of the said holder cylinder, causing the needles out
of operation to gain and lose time until they cross and recross upon themselves,
thereby forming a pattern in the diamond shape every certain number of revolutions
of the said needle holder cylinder.
A spiral form or pattern of knitting is produced by having the wheels arranged
either to lose or gain time in each revolution of the said needle holder cylinder.
By the above-described arrangement of the peculiarly shaped needle holders and
the cams and wheels for operating them, any desired pattern can be made, according
to the will of the operator; and it will be understood that the variety or modifi-
cations of this work may be increased by adjusting the said cams and pattern wheels
so that they both operate in combination with the needle holders at the same
time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
July 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by Charles James Appleton, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America, now residing at St. Just-en-Chaussée,
Oise, France.
The object of this Invention is the construction of a rib knitting machine which
will produce fancy ribbed hosiery in the form of vertical stripes of any desired
width or pattern, and zig-zag and diamond patterns, or any modification of the
same.
The said Invention consists, first, in a series of rib needle holders arranged in a
circular form and hung in such a manner as to allow cams or wheels to operate them
from the outside of the said needle holders.
It consists, secondly, in providing the machine with two or more "feeds" of
needle holders, so formed and arranged that the control of the needles is left entirely
to the cams or wheels, whereby certain needles or series of the said needles can be
thrown into operation at pleasure for producing fancy rib knitting.
It consists, thirdly, in providing the said machine with two or more "feeds" of
circular cut pattern wheels, arranged on both sides of, or above and below the
fulcrum or centre of oscillation of the needle holders for producing zig-zag or plaid
work, or any modification of the same.
The pattern is produced by cuts or notches in the edges of the aforesaid pattern
wheels for actuating the needle holders. It also consists in other features herein-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a knitting machine provided with a
ribbing attachment according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the pattern wheels, herein-after described.
Figure 3 is a plan of the upper of these wheels.
Figure 4 is a plan of the lower wheel.
Figures 5 and 6 shew the needle holders detached.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A, B, are the needle holders, whose edges are formed in the peculiar manner
herein-after specified; C, C, are the pivots whereon these needle holders oscillate;
D is the needle-holder cylinder; E is the shaft; F is the dial; G is the spiral spring
for retaining the needle holders in place; H, H, are the needles; I is the upper
pattern wheel; K is the lower pattern wheel; m, m', are cut and uncut portions of
the toothed or notched periphery of the wheel I; n, n', are similar portions of the
periphery of the wheel K; o, o¹, 02, 0³, shew parts of the needle holders whereon
the pattern wheels operate.
In Figure 1 I have shewn the ribbing attachment for a circular knitting machine
arranged with a series of needle holders, with certain portions of the front edge of
each cut away, so that each needle holder in its turn will remain out of action,
according to the pattern of the aforesaid wheels I, K. By changing these wheels,
any desired pattern of knitting may be produced. This improved machine is
constructed to operate with two or more feeds, but with not less than two, as the
needle holders must be brought into action every two or more feeds so as to press
off the loops that have been retained.
The operation of the said machine is as follows:-When it is desirable to make
vertical stripes, the needle holders A, B, are arranged around the cylinder D in sets,

page_text: according to the width of stripe desired; and in a machine of two "feeds," each
"feed" works a different colour of yarn. The pattern being arranged and the work
on the needles, for the sake of example, I will assume that a white thread or yarn
is placed in one "feed," and a black thread or yarn in the other feed; a stationary
cam or slide is then arranged to strike the projection a on the upper part of the
holders A, and force them in their slides towards the centre and the needles out from
the centre of the apparatus.
When the needle holders B strike the same cam, they remain stationary, as they
have no projection at their upper part but are cut away, as shown at b, and the
needle holders B are held back at the point 61 by the slide or other device (not
shewn) to keep the needles from coming forward and receiving yarn from that
feed.
At the point a¹ the holders A are cut away so that they can pass the slide that
keeps the needle holders B back at the point b'. The needles are pushed back to
knit by a cam, and pass on to the next feed, when a slide cam properly arranged for
the purpose pushes back the needle holders B at the point 6², when the needles will
be forced forward to take the yarn; when the needle holders A strike the said cam,
they will remain stationary by reason of the recess or cut-away portion at the
point a².
A slide or other device (not shown) is arranged to hold the needle holders A back.
at the point a³, and the needle holders B are so cut away at the point b³ as to allow
the needles to remain forward and take the yarn. By this operation, each set of
vertical needles and needle holders will only knit the yarn from its own "feed" and
color, thereby forming vertical stripes.
The pattern wheels shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4, are suitable for operating the
needle holders at the points o, o¹, 0%, o³, and are used for producing diamond, zig-zag,
or spiral stripes. The operation of these wheels is very simple, for example, when
the cut portions or teeth come in contact with the needle holders at the points o
and o, the needles do not slide forward but remain stationary, and are held in
position by the uncut portions of the lower wheel, represented in Figure 4, the
uncut portions of the upper wheel, Figure 3, operate on the points o, o², pressing the
needle holders back and the needles forward, so that they may take the yarns and
knit.
The needles that do not come forward by the action of the first set of pattern
wheels will come into operation at the next feed which is provided with yarn of
another color.
To produce knitting of a diamond pattern, one set of wheels is arranged to lose
time, or miss one or more needles in each revolution of the holder cylinder D, and
the other set of wheels at the next feed is arranged to gain time or miss one or
more needles in each revolution of the holder cylinder D, causing the needles out
of operation to gain and lose time until they cross and recross upon themselves,
thereby forming a pattern in the diamond shape in a given number of revolutions of
the needle holder cylinder.
A spiral form or pattern of knitting is produced by having the wheels arranged
either to lose or gain time in each revolution of the needle holder cylinder D.
By the above-described arrangement of the peculiarly shaped needle holders and
the cams and wheels for operating them, any desired pattern can be made, according
to the will of the operator. And it will be understood that the variety or modifi-
cations of the work may be increased by adjusting the said cams and pattern wheels
so that they both operate in combination with the needle holders at the same
time.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,―
First. A circular rib-knitting machine, as above described, for producing diamond
and vertical stripes, or any modification of the same.

page_text: Second. The combination with the needle holder cylinder of the needle holders,
constructed with the peculiarly shaped edges, and oscillating on their pivots, as and
for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of the needle holders, the cylinder, and the pattern
wheels, as above described, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The oscillating needle holders, so hung as to be operated by cams or
wheels above and below their fulcrums or pivots, for the purpose specified.
Fifth. A circular knitting machine, in which needle holders are arranged in com-
bination with cams and pattern wheels, capable of adjustment, so that the said needle
holders may be actuated by the said cams, or the said pattern wheels, or by both at
the same time, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.