Improvements in Knitting-machines with Selfacting Narrowing- apparatus.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1887.
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
Improvements in Knitting-machines with Selfacting Narrowing-
apparatus.
I ALBIN BEYER of Chemnitz in the kingdom of Saxony, German Empire,
Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The improvements described hereinafter and shown in the drawings, relate to
narrowing-apparatus for knitting-machines, and the purpose of them is the mechanical
lessening of the number of the working needles direct from the rotating shaft of the
knitting-machine and without any manual operations. The improvements consist in
the combination of peculiarly constructed and moved narrowing-needles with the
common latched knitting-needles.
A characteristic feature of the improvements is, that the knitting-needles, from
which the stitches have to be taken, are forced upwards by bars, till the stitches lie
on the latches of the needles. The latches being clapped back, the hooks of the
needles are opened, and, then the second mechanism of the combination begins to
work; the peculiarly moved narrowing-needles catch in the hooks of the opened
latched needles; they draw the latched needles, from which the stitches have to be
taken, out of the row of the latched needles, till the stitches on them have slipped
behind the latches.
Another feature of these improvements consists in making the narrowing-needles
likewise perform by suitable mechanisms the same cross-motion, performed by the
latched knitting-needles of a machine, working on both sides.
All these improvements are represented in the Figs. 1-12 of the drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side-view of the well-known Lamb's knitting-machine with the
improved narrowing apparatus. In this figure, the beds of the latched knitting-
needles, the carriage guide-bars and the needle-bars of the narrowing-apparatus are
shown in a transversal cross-section on the line M M of Fig. II, for the sake of
greater clearness. The slides, the carriages and the thread-guides of the knitting-
machine and is driving-gear are not represented in the drawings, for the sake of
greater simplicity and because they do not form the object of this patent. The

page_text: mechanisms on the left side, which are congruent with those on the right side, are
shown in part only in Fig. 1 with a view to representing the machine on a larger
scale.
Fig. 1 shows one part of the needle-bed with the latched-needles and the lower
part of the narrowing-needles in a transversal-cross-section on the line M' M' of
Fig. II.
Fig. 1 represents the same cross-section as Fig. 1*; the narrowing-needles are in
the position, when coupled with the latched needles
Fig. 2 shows a partial front-view of the knitting-machine with the narrowing-
apparatus.
Fig. 3 shows the same partial side-view and cross-section as Fig. 1, the narrowing-
apparatus being in the position out of action.
Fig. 4 represents a top-view of the transporting contrivance for the holders of the
narrowing-needles; the arms K18 16 are broken off.
Figs. 5-10 show in a transversal cross-section on the line M² M³ of Fig. 2 the
different positions of the latched needles and of the narrowing-needles in the
different phasis of the narrowing-process.
Fig. 11 shows the forms of the five eccentrics, which are fastened to the driving
shaft v.
In Fig. 1 these eccentrics are only illustrated in part, for the sake of
greater clearness.
A
Fig. 12 shows an upper view of the needle-bed with the narrowing-apparatus.
It is not possible to enter on a description of the nature of the narrowing-apparatus,
before having remarked, that the knitting-machine, forming the basis of the
narrowing-apparatus, is a common knitting-machine after Lamb's system.
number of rows of stitches is first formed by this knitting-machine, and after that
the narrowing-apparatus is set in action, whenever required. It must be remarked.
further, that it does not come into operation, till a row of stitches has been formed
by the knitting-machine, and till the needles of the latter are in their original
position again.
The narrowing-apparatus consists in the following parts:
vis a shaft, rotating in the direction of the arrow A³, shown in Fig. 1, and as all
motions of the narrowing-apparatus are produced by this shaft, it is termed the
narrowing-shaft. The eccentrics v¹² are fastened on this shaft v. Fig. 11
shows the special form of the eccentrics, they are shown in part only in Fig. 1.
They move the different mechanisms in the following ways:
When the narrowing shaft rotates, the eccentric v¹ operates on the lever-arm ¹;
the latter is pivoted in point r and is provided with a roller. This motion is
transmitted by means of the connecting-bars 2 R' to the levers 734 R3 R4, which
are fastened on the shafts c c. The shaft runs through and rests loose in the
lever and a corresponding shaft R' (not shown in Fig. 1, but in Fig. 2) is mounted
in the same way in the left lever R₁ of the apparatus. The levers are connected
firmly with the shaft, and the levers R R* (which are shown in part only in the
drawing Fig. 1) with the shaft R³ (Fig. 2). On the ends of the levers 7 R7 are
fastened slide-bars 77010 R8 R R10, arranged along and above the needle-beds I I¹.
The springs 1 R1 draw the slide-bars downwards constantly.
In rotating the eccentric v³ operates on the joint-lever c c', which is mounted loose
on the shaft c². The arm c is pressed against the eccentric by means of the
spring The two connecting-rods g g¹ hang on the arms d D, which form joint-
levers with the arms d¹ D¹. These joint-levers are fitted so, that they can move in
the pivots d² D. The pin-screws d* D³ are screwed into the ends of the levers d¹ D¹
and bear the slide-bars d* D*; these slide-bars are enclosed by the actual holders d³ D'
of the narrowing-needles. The narrowing needles 6 B are fastened to these holders,
which can be laterally displaced. The construction of the narrowing-needles will be
described particularly hereinafter.
The rotating eccentric lifts the lever o¹ich is mounted loose on c³, and
displaces the vertically movable slideck, by means of its projection g'. The
levers R rest on the slanti surfaces of the slide-block q*. When the slide-

page_text: block is lifted, these levers R are also lifted and oscillate as well as the arms R7.
When the slide-block g is lowered, the lever-ends 7 R sink also in consequence of
the pressure; exercised on them by the springs 18 R15.
The rotating eccentric operates on the joint-levers K³ K², which are pivoted in
the bolt K; the joint-levers K¹ K² are constantly pressed by the spring K³ against
the eccentric v. The joint-levers K K', pivoted in the support K', are connected by
the rod K with the arm K². The lever-arm K' moves the wedge K³, which is
provided, as shown in Fig. 4, with a slanting surface K. The slide or wedge K³ is
mounted movable in the bar K10, which is borne by the support K7. The racking-
bar K is likewise mounted movable in a longitudinal direction in the bar K10;
racking-bar K is constantly drawn against the wedge Ks by the spiral-spring K¹³
In addition to this, there is on the bar K10 (Fig. 2) a movable slide K, which is
provided with the pawl K1, the arms 16 K16 (Fig. 1) and two adjusting screws d³ D³.
If the wedge K³ is moved out of its position by the rotating eccentric v¹ and its
appartenances (Fig. 4) towards the bar K10, the racking-bar K¹ will be pressed
towards the left (Fig. 4). By this means the whole slide K with the arms & K¹,
the screws d8 D8 and the holders d D of the narrowing-needles will be displaced
laterally; the narrowing-needles therefore alter their position in a lateral direction.
When the wedge K moves back, the slide K remains inactive in its position on K20;
the racking-bar K12 slides along under it, and is pressed continually by the spring K18
against the wedge K. The pawl K slides during this motion over the racking-bar
and falls into another clearing.
The rotating eccentric moves the lever 92 upwards; the latter is mounted
loose and so, that it can turn on the shaft c. The projection p of the slide-block p¹
rests on the lever q³; the slide-block p¹ is movable in a vertical direction. The
arms p² P² rest on both sides of the slanting surfaces of the slide-block pl; these
arms p P are fastened to the slide-bars d D. By the lifting of the slide-block pl,
these slide-bars d* D₁ are turned round the points d³ D3 by means of the levers p² P
When the slide-block p¹ is lowered, the lever-ends p² P³ are drawn downwards by
the springs RI, and the slide-bars are turned in the opposite direction.
The construction of the narrowing-needles is represented in two modifications in
Fig. 7° 7° 7c.
Figs. 7 and 7 show the chief arrangement of the narrowing-needle. Fig. 7*
represents an under-view of the needle, Fig. 7b represents a section on the line M* M*
of Fig. 7. The narrowing-needle b has a groove a on its underside and close to its
lower-end a hole o. The upper end of the needle is bent round for fastening it better
to the holder.
The modification in Fig. 7° is represented in the same transversal cross-section as
Fig. 7, and the only difference in the two constructions is, that in the modification
(Fig. 7) the hole o is not bored right through, but merely forms a recess or hollow
in the needle. As the hole o Fig. 75 and the recess o Fig. 7° both are a break to the
groove, these modifications are both termed "holes" in the specification.
It is therefore immaterial, whether the hole is pierced right through the needle or
in part only.
ย
In respect to Fig. 2, it must still be mentioned, that the shafts vc R D¹, the
prisms D, K10, the needle-bed I and bars R R R10 reach right through the machine,
although they are shown in part only in the drawing (Fig. 2) and that they are
mounted in the same way on the left side, as on the right side and is shown in Figs. 1
and 2.
The way in which the narrowing-apparatus, constructed and arranged as described,
works is as follows:
As soon as a row of stitches has been formed in the well-known way, which is not
represented in the drawing, the rotating narrowing shaft v comes into action with the
eccentrics mounted on it. When the narrowing-process begins, the parts of the
apparatus are in the positions, shown in Fig. 3.
The eccentrics
arm with its roller
first begin to operate.
The first (v) presses down the lever-
"; it turns the levers ³ R³ R by means of the connecting-

page_text: bars R, so that the shafts R³ are forced to rise. On the other hand, the
eccentric in co-operation with the springs " R makes the slide-block q*, and lever-
ends R descend.
By means of these levers 7 R, the bars 810 RB R R10 are also made to descend,
till they rest on the needle-beds I I¹ and encircle the feet a¹ A¹ of the knitting-
needles a A. When the lever-arm is forced farther down by the eccentric v¹, the
levers, R³ R* turn farther round too, and by this means the needles a A are forced
farther upwards, till they occupy the position shown in Fig. 1. The hooks a² A² of
the knitting-needles then project out of the needle-beds II and the stitches of the
knitting lie on the clapped-back latches a³ A³ of the knitting-needles, as shown
in Fig. 1.
During this motion of the eccentrics v¹ and v³, the eccentric v³ has turned the joint-
lever c c in such a way, that the lever-arm c¹ has sunk and the joint-levers d d' D D¹
have been turned by the connecting bars g g¹. The lever-arms d¹ D¹ have been moved
towards each other by this motion of the eccentric v. By means of the arms p² P³,
slide-block p¹ and spiral-springs 18 R18, the narrowing-needles 6 B have been placed
above the latched-needles (see Fig. 1). The eccentric then allows the slide-block pl
and the arms p³ P' to descend still farther; the springs 16 R18 cause these mechanisms
and with them the narrowing-needles 6 B to sink so far, that the grooves x of the
latter encircle the hooks of the knitting-needles a A, and lay themselves elastically on
them (Fig. 1). In the following description, the knitting-needles, seized by the
narrowing-needles, are marked a for the sake of clearness, while the remaining
knitting-needles are marked a A (Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12). Owing to the effect of the
eccentric v² and spring 20 on the lever e c¹, the bars g g¹, the lever-arms d d¹ D D'
and the narrowing-needles 6 B are forced upwards then. The narrowing-needles slide
upwards with their grooves on the knitting-needles, till the hooks of the knitting-
needles slip into the holes o of the narrowing-needles (Fig. 1b).
The knitting-needles are then coupled with the narrowing-needles, and therefore,
when the latter are forced farther upwards, they draw the knitting-needles up with
them. The stitches on these needles finally slip behind the latches (see Fig. 5) of the
needles a.
It must be remarked here, that all needles a A a (see Fig. 12) of the two rows of
needles are shoved upwards by the bars R, till the stitches have slipped on to
the clapped-back latches of the needles. On the other hand the number of the
narrowing-needles is small only and it is only on the needles seized by them, that the
stitches slip behind the latches.
The narrowing-needles 6 B and the bars go g10 R8 Rº R¹º then descend; the
knitting-needles, that were unnecessarily forced upwards by the bars 10 R10, are forced
down again thereby, till their stitches have slipped into their books again (Fig. 3).
But the latches of those needles, coupled to the narrowing-needles, are clapped over
the narrowing-needles by this downward motion, and the stitches slip over them on to
the shaft of the narrowing-needles (Fig. 6). The needle-beds I I¹ prevent the stitches
from slipping downwards.
g
These motions are effected in the following way: The motion of the bars 10 R10 is
caused by the eccentric in connection with the lever r¹, roller 1, connecting-
rods R³, levers R³ and R and springs 1 R18. The motion of the narrowing-
needles is caused by the eccentric in connection with the levers c c', the connecting-
rods 9 g, the levers d d¹, D D¹, the levers p* P* and the springs 0 and 16 R16. After
the stitches have been transferred from the knitting-needles a on to the narrowing-
needles 6 B, the needles a A and the bars 10 R R R10 remain inactive in the
position shown in Fig. 6; but the needles a are forced by the eccentric and its
appartenances still farther downwards, till their feet touch the inner edge of the
bars R'. As the needles a A have remained in the position shown in Fig. 6, an
intermediate space is thus formed between their feet and those of the needles a
(from which the stitches have been removed). The narrowing-needles 6 B then make
a combined or twofold motion; they first descend a little farther (the needles a cannot
be forced farther down, as their feet rest on R°); this motion is effected by the

page_text: eccentric and its appartenances. Secondly the narrowing-needles are clapped back
a little from the needles a by the motion of the eccentric and its appartenances. The
narrowing-needles are thus uncoupled from the neodles a; the hooks a² A2 have been
brought out of the holes o by this combined or twofold motion.
The narrowing-needles are then forced farther down by means of the eccentric
and its appartenances; the narrowing-needles with their grooves slide along the
hooks of the knitting-needles and throw back the latches of them (see Fig. 8) in
descending.
The stitches are then on the narrowing-needles, the descending motion of the latter
ceases and the slide-block p¹ is lifted higher by the eccentric and its appartenances.
By this means the arms p³ P2 are raised and the narrowing-needles (bearing the stitches)
are lifted entirely off the knitting-needles and brought into the position shown in
Fig. 9.
When the narrowing-needles have reached this position, the eccentric * with its
appartenances begins to act and forces the slide K to move sideways; the
holders d D with the narrowing-needles are displaced in a lateral direction by the
co-operation of the arms ke K16 and the screws d³ ³.
The narrowing-needles now stand with their stitches exactly over the knitting-
needles, but laterally displaced, as is shown in Fig. 12.
In order to explain the narrowing-process more minutely, an example of this lateral
displacement will be described now.
Let it be supposed, that by the process already described, the stitches have been
taken off the needles 1 to 5 of Fig. 12. Their latches have been opened by the prior
described operations and their stitches are at the time on the narrowing-needles 1' to 5¹.
The narrowing-needles (shown in Fig. 12) have for instance been moved sideways by
a space, occupied by two needles, so that no narrowing-needles stand over the knitting-
needles 1 and 2. The knitting-needles 3, 4, 5 have narrowing-needles above them and
the adjoining knitting-needles a a have likewise narrowing-needles (4¹ and 5¹) above
them.
This position is shown in Fig. 12. The further narrowing-process is as follows:
All the working knitting-needles are still opened and now the narrowing-
needles 11, 21, 3, 4, 5¹ then descend and are laid with their grooves on to the hooks
of the knitting-needles 3, 4, 5 a a by the operation of the eccentric v³ and its
appartenances.
Then the eccentric acts with its lever c and spring co, and causes the narrowing-
needles 11, 21, 31, 41, 5¹ to move upwards; the hooks of the knitting-needles 3, 4, 5 fall
at last into the holes o of the narrowing-needles 11, 21, 31. The knitting-needles 3, 4, 5
are thus coupled with the narrowing-needles 11, 21, 3¹ and are drawn upwards, till these
needles are in the same position as the needles a a a a
Then the hooks of
the two next knitting-needles a a fall into the holes o of the narrowing-needles 4¹, 5'
and the latter are likewise coupled with the knitting-needles. It must be noticed, that
the two needles 1 and 2 only have remained in their low position (Fig. 10), for they
have not been effected by the motion of the narrowing-needles just described.
.
At the same time, as the upward motion of the narrowing-needles begins, the needle-
bars 10 R8 R9 R1 also begin to move and in the following way: The needle-bars
are raised from the feet of the knitting-needles, perform an upward motion and
descend again on to the needle-beds II into the position Fig. 10. The feet of the
needles 1, 2, that have remained stationary, are thus brought under the bars R
(see Fig. 10). The motion, just described is caused by the eccentrics v¹ and v³ in
connection with their appartenances. The bars 8 10 R8 R9 R10 on the needle-
beds II' then slide upwards and the working knitting needles 3, 4, a aaaa.
are forced upwards thereby. The narrowing-needles move upwards at the same time,
whereby the stitches on the narrowing-needles slip downwards on to the knitting-
needles 3, 4, 5, a a. The stitches have thus passed over the opened hooks of the
needles 3, 4, 5 a a; the stitches of the narrowing-needles 41, 5' are stitches transferred
on to a a, but whereas the stitches of the narrowing-needles 11, 21, 3' have slipped
into the empty hooks of the kuitting-needles 3, 4, 5.

page_text: The operation just described is carried out by the combined effect of the eccentric v¹
and its appartenances on the slide-bars 810 R R R and by the effect of the
eccentric and its appartenances on the narrowing-needles.
After this, the narrowing-needles perform another twofold combined motion. They
are first forced downwards a little by the eccentric ² and its appartenances, and then
they are removed (lifted) a little off the knitting-needles by the eccentric and its
appartenances. The uncoupling of the narrowing-needles, and the knitting-needles
have been carried out thereby.
The narrowing-needles then return to their position shown in Fig. 3.
At the same
time the bars 10, R8 R9 R10 are moved downwards by the eccentric v¹ and its
appartenances and draw the needles 3, 4, 5, a aaa. into their point of rest
(Fig. 3), that is to say, they are drawn back, till the stitches are in the hooks
again.
By means of this motion, the lower edges of the bars R' press the empty
needles 1 and 2 right down again, so that they cannot come into any further action.
After this, the continued effect of the eccentrics and and their appartenances
lifts the slide-bars 787 10 R³ Rº R¹º completely off the feet of the needles and off the
needle-beds II' ; they are brought back into their point of rest (see Fig. 3).
It must be mentioned still, that the narrowing-apparatus carries out all the operations
described during one revolution of the narrowing-shaft v.
It is evident, that this apparatus can work with one row of needles only if single
mechanisms are substituted for double ones.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines with Self-acting Narrowing
Apparatus.
I, ALBIN BEYER, of Chemnitz in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire,
Mechanician 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 improvements described hereafter and shown in the drawings relate to
narrowing apparatus for knitting-machines, and the purpose of them is the automatic
lessening of the working needles, and of the number of loops in a row, directly from
the rotating shaft of the knitting machine and without any manual operation.
The improvements consist in the combination of peculiarly constructed and moved
covering needles with the common latched knitting needles.
A characteristic feature of the improvements is, that the knitting needles from
which the stitches have to be taken are forced upward by bars, till the stitches lie on
the latches of the needles. The latches being clapped back, the hooks of the needles
are opened, and then the second mechanism of the combination begins to work: The
peculiarly moved covering needles, catch in the opened hooks of the latch needles and
are coupled with them; they draw the latched needles, from which the stitches have
to be taken, out of the row of the other latched needles, till the stitches on them have
slipped behind the latches.
These improvements are represented in the figs. 1 to 25, sheet 1 to XI. of the
drawings.
Fig. 1 sheet I represents a sectional view of the well-known Lambs knitting-
machine, with the improved narrowing apparatus, taken from the right to the left
through M M of fig. 2, sheet II.
Fig. 2, sheet II, shows a front view of a knitting machine with the narrowing
apparatus, having four compartments which are called in the following "heads H."
Figs. 3 and 4, sheet III, show parts of the needle beds, with the latched needles
and the lower part of the covering needles in a transverse cross-section through M² M³
of fig. 2.
Fig. 3 shows the needles uncoupled, and
Fig. 4 in the position in which the covering needles have caught, by their grooves
the hooks of the latch needles, before they get coupled with them.
Fig. 5, sheet III, is a side view of the knitting machine, and of the narrowing
apparatus taken from the left to the right of fig. 2. and shown in a larger scale; parts
of the five eccentrics v² 3003 being only shown by dotted lines.
Fig. 6, sheet IV, is the same side view as fig. 5; but shows the narrowing apparatus
out of action.
Fig. 7, sheet V, is a partial top view, showing the transporting contrivance for the
holders of the covering needles.

page_text: Only parts of one row of needles with covering needles are shown in this figure;
the other rows opposite to them, are not shown, for sake of clearness.
Fig. 8, sheet
fig. 7.
'
shows in a side view some parts of the same contrivance as in
Fig. 9, sheet V, is a cross section of the transporting apparatus through M* M*
of fig. 7.
Figs. 10 to 15, sheets VI and VII show in a transverse cross section through M* M*
of fig. 2, the different positions of the latched needles, the covering needles and the
slide bars R8 in the different phases of the narrowing process.
Fig. 16, sheet VI, shows the new covering-needle in a cross section through M® M'
of fig. 17, and fig. 17 is a top view of it.
Fig. 18, sheet VI, shows a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, the latched
needle and the covering-needle coupled together, and the latch a' being clapped
back.
Fig. 19 shows parts of the same contrivance in the same manner as in fig. 18, but
the latch a is laid on to the hook a*.
Fig. 20 and 21, sheet VIII & IX are a side view and a front view of the
mechanisms for the coupling and uncoupling of the knitting machine and of the
narrowing apparatus; certain pinions are shown in cross section.
Fig. 22, sheet X, shows the forms of the five eccentrics, which are fastened to the
driving shaft v.
Fig. 23 and 24, sheet XI, show the arrangement of the common thread carriers,
16 being moved in the usual manner by the carriage 15 of the machine, in a cross
section through H¹ Y¹ of fig. (24) and a side view.
Fig. 25. shows a top view of the bar 17 in the whole length.
The new covering needle B, fig. 16 to 19, sheet VI, has a shape somewhat similar
to that of a common covering needle or point shifter, as generally known, and used
in frames with ordinary hooks- or spring-needles; its groove x however is rather
larger and longer than in the former, its lower end is not pointed, but sharpened to a
flat edge o for opening the latches, and near this end a hole o is cut through it, but
only of a short length, say a little longer than the hook a² of the knitting needle a.
The long groove a and the short hole o render the new covering needle different from
Pepper's needle (American Patent 180785). Fig. 18 and 19 show the great use of the
short hole, enabling the covering needle to give a to and fro motion to the knitting
needle, without touching the latch a³, when it covers the hook a². By this arrange-
ment a short or narrow loop can be shifted from the knitting needle to the covering
needle, without being widened or broken, and the whole operation can be made in the
most simple manner. Figs. 13 and 14 show the necessity of the covering needle to
be provided with a groove x of a certain length underneath, enabling it to catch and
couple the hooks of the latch needles in different positions of the latter.
It is not possible to enter into a description of the nature of the narrowing
apparatus before having remarked, that the knitting machine forming the basis of the
narrowing apparatus is a common knitting machine, after Lamb's system. A number.
of rows of stitches is first formed by this knitting machine, and after that, the
narrowing apparatus is set in action, whenever required. It must be remarked
further, that it does not come into operation till a row of stitches has been formed
by the knitting machine, and till the needles of the latter are in their original
position again.
The narrowing apparatus consists of the following parts:
vis a shaft rotating in the direction of the arrow A³ fig. 1 and 22, and as all
motions of the narrowing apparatus are produced by this shaft, it is termed the
narrowing shaft.
The eccentrics v v³ ³ are fastened on this shaft v; fig. 22
shows the special form of these eccentrics, and fig. 5 shows parts of them in
connection with their levers; they move the different mechanisms in the following
way:
When the narrowing shaft v rotates, the eccentric v¹ operates on the lever arm r
fig. 5. 6; the latter is pivoted in point r, and is provided with a roller. Its

page_text: motion is transmitted by means of the connecting bars R² to the levers³¹, R³ R₁
(fig. 2. 5. 6.), which are fastened on the rocking shafts C. The rocking shaft b
runs through and rests loose in the levers and a corresponding shaft R' is mounted
in the same way in the left hand side levers R of the apparatus. The levers 7
are connected firmly with the rocking shaft r, and the levers R' R' with the shaft R³.
On the ends of the levers R' are fastened slide bars 8 R8 arranged along and
above the needle beds II'. The springs R draw the slide bars constantly
downwards. These slide bars R have a U-shaped form on their under side
throughout their length, and two ribs 10, and R R10 with which the bars slide on
the needle beds II; these ribs shift and hold the feet of the latched needles as
described further on.
In rotating, the eccentric operates on the joint lever c c which is mounted loose
on the shaft C. The arm c is pressed against the eccentric by means of the
spring. The two connecting rods g gl hang on the arms d. D, which are mounted
on rocking-shafts & D. On the same rocking shafts d' D are fastened the arms d¹ D'
the upper ends of which form the bearings for the shafts d' D'. These shafts <* D*
are connected firmly with other shafts * D** by arms de De, figs. 6, 7 & 8, and
form rocking frames, on which the holders d' D' of the covering needles slide, fig. 7.
The covering needles 6 B (fig. 5 & 6) are fastened to these holders, which can be
laterally moved.
The rotating eccentric lifts the lever q¹ (fig. 2. 5. 6) which is mounted loose on c
and displaces the vertically moveable slide block q, by means of its projection_q².
The levers R rest on the slanting surfaces of the slide block q*. When the slide
block is lifted, these levers R are also lifted and oscillate, as well as the
arms R. When the slide block is lowered, the lever ends + R sink in
consequence of the pressure exercised on them by the springs R15.
The rotating eccentrics one being at each end of the machine operate on the
rollers K of the joint lever K' K' which oscillates on the rocking shaft D³ and moves
the wedge K fig. 7. This wedges are provided, as shown in fig. 7, 8 & 9 with a
slanting surface K³ (fig. 7 & 9). The rollers K are held by springs K' against the
eccentrics. The wedges K are mounted moveable in the supports K*, which are
fastened to the frame of the machine. The racks K' are likewise moveable in a longi-
tudinal direction in the support K, and are constantly held against the wedges K-K
by the spiral spring K³. In addition to this, there are on the support K° the moveable
slides K which are provided with the pawls K, and with the arms K" K". The
narrowing frames d' d' d* (fig. 7.) and D* D* D** are arranged on both sides of the
machine; & carry the moveable slides K" K**.
hand end of the
other side of the
The slide K" is
In fig. 7, K" is shown on the right hand and K* on the left
machine, both on one side of the machine. It is natural that the
machine, which is not illustrated in fig. 7, has the same mechanism.
in connection with the holders d' of the covering needles, and the slide K** is in
connection with the holders d** of the covering needles (fig. 2).
Fig. 2 shows that there are two covering-needle-holders for each head H, which may
be moved in opposite directions to one another, as shown by the arrows in fig. 2.
If the rotating eccentric and their appartenances have brought the wedges K*,
which are arranged on both ends of the machine, into the positions shown in fig. 7,
the racks K K have been moved towards each other and they have moved the
slides K' K. These slides K K have moved by the projections K the slides K"K"*,
and the bars K K¹s fig. 8, and the holders d and d of the covering-needles Fig. 7.
The covering needles 6 61, fig. 7., have been displaced laterally in opposite directions.
The same lateral movement of the covering needles, which has just been described, for
that part of the machine illustrated by fig. 7 and which bas been produced by the
projections K of the slides K, takes place in the same manner by the projec
tions K" K" of the slides K on the other side of the machine. When the wedge K*
is moved back, the slides K' remain inactive in their position on frame K', the racks K'
slides along under it, being held by the spring K8 against the wedges K*. The
B

page_text: pawls K10 which are mounted on the slides K°, slide during this motion, over the
racks K' and fall into another tooth of them.
The rotating eccentric moves the lever 7' upwards (fig. 2. 5. 6.). the latter is
mounted loose, and can turn on the pin c. The projection p of the slide block_p¹
rests on the lever ; the slide block p' is moveable in a vertical direction. The
arms Pp are mounted on the axle d D' and turn these shafts d D', and with them,
the whole framing &* d** and D* D**; the lower ends of the arms p² P' rest on the
slanting surfaces of the slide block p'; By the lifting of the slide block p¹, these
frames d' de d*, D* D* D** are made to oscillate round the points *D*, by means of
the levers p² P. When the slido block p' is lowered, the lever ends p² Ps are drawn
downwards by the springs 16 R1 and the frames move in the opposite direction.
The knitting machine can be worked either by hand or power, and works in the
following manner :
The driving pulley 2 Fig. 1, with the fly-wheel 3, rotates loose on the shaft 1, and
on the samo shaft, the toothed wheel 7 whose nave forms part of the coupling 36-37,
also revolves. The part 36 of the coupling is held against 37, by means of the
spring 41.
To set the knitting operation in work, it is necessary to press the hand lever 80
(fig. 20) in a downward direction, and by means of the eccentric 81 at the other end
the cranked lever 83-84 moves round its centre 85, and so the friction cone 4 is
brought in contact with the driving pulley 2, and so the shaft 1 begins to revolve, and
with it the wheels 7-8 are brought into motion; by means of the connecting rod 9,
Fig. 2 which is fastened to wheel 8, and also to the arm 10 of the frame 10, 11,
oscillates the frame 10-11, and through it by means of the joint 13, the saddle 13
and its shoulders, to which the bars 14, which traverse the whole machine, are fastened,
and to these bars 14 are fastened the locks 15 of the knitting machine; the saddle 13°
is guided by means of the two rods 12. The locks 15 are moved to and fro by these
sliding bars 14, and the needles are moved up and down by the cams 15* fig. 2 in the
well known manner, and so the meshes are formed.
Each stroke of the lever frame 10-11 forms, one row of loops, and after two strokes
the ratched wheel 26 is moved the distance of one tooth, and by means of the bell crank
lever 26-26, through the pin 26d in the wheel 24; and again this wheel 24 is put in
motion by the shaft I through the wheels 21-22 & 23.
By the turning of the ratchet-wheel 26, the chain lying on it, to which the
stops 27-27 are hooked fast, is moved up, the stop 27 presses against the lever 28,
whereby the lever 28 pivoted on 28" is raised, and the knitting operation of the
machine put out of gear, and the narrowing apparatus brought into work.
The narrowing process is brought into play in the following manner:
The stop 27 lifting the lever 28, and drawing back the hook 51, which is in connec-
tion with the lever 28 through lever 28b, and thus leaves the pin 50 of the toothed
wheel 25 free; this wheel 24 has a certain number of teeth left out, opposite to the
pin 50; at the same time the bar 29, which has a part bevelled at 30 on its back side
(fig. 21), pushes the hinged joint 31 in such a position, so that the pin 32 of the
wheel 24 may catch on it and turn it, and with it the wheel 25 till the teeth of 25 come
in gear with the teeth of wheel 24 again.
At this point the knitting operation must be stopped, and is accomplished in the
following manner: on the shaft v, are fastened the two eccentrics 33 & 38, the former
.moving the bell crank lever 34-35, and drawing the coupling 36 out of gear, while
the latter moves the lever 39, which is furnished with a projection 39c; through the
roller 39 this projection 39 catches in the recess 40, provided for it in the wheel 8:
when this is accomplished, the knitting operation is stopped and the machine commences
the operation of narrowing, which is done by means of the eccentrics v¹ to * fastened
on the shaft v (fig. 2).
The way in which the narrowing apparatus is constructed and arranged is as
described, and works as follows: When the narrowing process begins, the parts of the
apparatus are in the position shown in fig. 6: The eccentrics first begin to
operate. The first (¹) presses down the lever arm ¹ with its roller 1; it turns the

page_text: levers, R³ R by means of the connecting bars R², so that the rocking
shafts Rare forced to rise. On the other hand the eccentric ³ in co-operation
with the springs, R15 makes the slide block q and lever ends R R descend.
By means of these levers R R the slide bars 8 R8 are also made to descend, till
their ribs 10 R° R10 rest on the needle beds I I¹ and encircle or cover the feet a¹ A¹
of the knitting-needles a A. When the lever arm ¹ is forced farther down by the
eccentric v¹, the levers R R* move farther round, and by this means the
needles a A are forced upwards, till they occupy the position shown in fig. 4 & 5.
The hooks a A, fig. 4, of the knitting needles then project out of the needle-beds I I¹
and the stitches of the knitting lie on the opened latches a³ A³ of the knitting
needles.
During this motion of the eccentrics v¹ and the eccentric has turned the joint
lever cc in such a way, so that the lever arm c¹ has sunk, and the arms dd' D D' have
been turned by the connecting bars g g'. The arms d¹ D¹ have been moved towards
each other by this motion of the eccentric v. By means of the armis p³ P2 and slide
block p¹ and spiral springs 1 R1 the covering needles & B have been moved above the
latched needles (see fig. 3 and 5).
The eccentric then allows the slide block p¹ and the arms p' P² to descend still
farther, the springs 18 R16 cause this movement, and also the covering needles b B to
sink so far, that the grooves x of the latter encircle and catch the hooks of the knitting
needles a Á and lay themselves on them (fig. 4).
In the following description those knitting needles, seized by the covering-needles
are marked a for the sake of clearness, while the remaining knitting-needles are
marked a A (fig. 10-15).
Owing to the effect of the eccentric and spring 20 on the lever c c¹, the bars g g¹,
the arms d d¹ D D¹ and the covering needles 6 B are forced upwards. The covering-
needles slide upwards, with their grooves a resting on the knitting needles, till the
hooks of the knitting needles slip into the holes o of the covering needles. The
knitting needles are then coupled with the covering needles as shewn in Figure 18-and
therefore, when the latter are forced farther upwards they draw the knitting-needles
up with them. The stitches on these needles finally slip behind the latches (see fig. 10)
of the needles a.
It must be .remarked here, that all needles a A a of the two rows of needles are
shoved upwards by the ribs R, till the stitches have slipped on the opened latches of
the knitting needles (fig. 3 & 4).
On the other hand the number of the covering needles is small and it is only on
the needles seized by them, that the stitches slip behind the latches as in fig. 10.
The covering needles b. B and the slide bars RB then descend; those knitting
needles which were forced upwards by the ribs R and that are not seized by the
covering needles are forced down again by the ribs 10 R10 till their stitches have
slipped into the hooks again. But the latches of those needles, coupled to the
covering needles, are thrown over the covering needles by this downward motion,
and the stitches slip over them on to the shafts of the covering needles. (fig. 11).
The needle beds I I¹ prevent the stitches from slipping downwards on needles a.
These motions are effected in the following way: the motion of the slide bars 8 R8
is caused by the eccentric in connection with the lever 1, roller 71, connecting
rods R³, levers R³, R, and springs 715, R1. The motion of the covering-
needles is caused by the eccentric in connection with the lever c c¹, the connecting-
rods g g', the arms d d', D D', the lever p³ P2, and the springs 60 and R10 18. After
the stitches have been transferred from the knitting needles a on to the covering-
needles B, the needles a A and the bars 8 R8 remain inactive in the position shown
in fig. 11; but the needles a are forced by the eccentric and its appartenances
still farther downwards till their feet touch the inner edge of the ribs R (fig. 12).
As the needles a A have remained in the position shown in fig. 11-12, an inter-
mediate space is thus formed, between their feet and those of the needles a (from
which the stitches have been removed.) The covering needles B then make a
combined or twofold motion; they first descend a little farther (the needles a cannot
be forced farther down as their feet rest on ribs R'); this motion is effected by the

page_text: eccentric and its appartenances. Secondly the covering-needles are lifted a little
from the needles a by the motion of the eccentric v and its appartenances. The
covering-needles are thus uncoupled from the needles a (fig. 13) and the hooks a* A*
have been brought out of the holes o, by this combined or twofold motion.
The covering needles are then forced farther down by means of the eccentric v³ and
its appurtenances; the covering-needles with their grooves slido along the hooks of
the knitting needles and throw back the latches of them (see fig. 13) in descending.
For this reason the covering-needles must be provided with a flat edge o² (fig. 17).
The stitches are now on the covering-needles; the descending motion of the latter
ceases, and the slide block p¹ is lifted higher by the eccentric and its appartanances.
By this means the arms p* P* are raised and the covering needles, (bearing the
stitches), are lifted entirely off the knitting needles and brought into the position shown
in fig. 14. When the covering needles have reached this position, the eccentric v
with its appartenances begins to act, and forces the slide K to move sideways; the
holders d D with the covering needles are displaced in a lateral direction, by the
co-operation of the parts K K K K and so on, (fig. 7). The covering needles
now stand with their stitches exactly over the knitting needles, but laterally displaced
as is shown in fig. 7.
In order to explain the narrowing process more minutely, an example of this lateral
displacement will be now described. Let it be supposed that by the process already
described the stitches have been taken off the needles a¹ to a' of fig. 7. Their latches
have been opened by the prior described operations, and their stitches are at this time
on the covering-needles 1 to 51. The covering needles, (shown in fig. 7), have for
instance, been moved sideways by a space occupied by two needles, so that no covering
needles stand over the first two knitting needles a¹ and a². The next three knitting
needles have covering needles above them and the next two knitting needles a a A A
have also covering needles above them.
The further narrowing process is as follows: The latches of all the working knitting
needles are still open and now the covering needles 11 to 5¹ descend and are laid with
their grooves upon the hooks of the knitting needles a³ a a³ a a by the operation of
the eccentric and its appartenances.
Then the eccentric acts with its lever c and spring %, and causes the covering
needles 11 to 5¹ to move upwards again; the hooks of the knitting-needles a³ a* a³ fall
into the holes o of their covering needles. The knitting needles a³ a a³ are thus
coupled with their covering needles 11 21 3¹ and are drawn upwards till these needles
are in the same position as the needles a a a.
Then the hooks of the two next knitting needles a a fall into the holes o of the
covering-needles 4' 5¹ and the latter are likewise coupled with the knitting needles.
It must be noticed, that only the two needles a¹ and a have remained in their low
position (fig. 15), for they have not been effected by the motion of the covering
needles just described.
At the same time as the upward motion of the covering needles begins, the slide
bars R8 also begin to move and in the following way.
The slide bars R are lifted from the feet of the knitting needles, advance a little,
and descend again on to the needle beds I I¹ into the position fig. 15. The feet of
the needles a¹ a², that have remained stationary, are thus brought under the ribs - R³
(see fig. 15). The motion just described is caused by the eccentrics v¹ and v³ in
connection with their appartenances. The slide bars R, slide upwards on the
needle beds. I l'; the working knitting needles-a³ a a³ a a a-are thereby
forced upwards. The covering needles move upwards at the same time, whereby the
stitches on the covering needles slip downwards on the knitting needles a³ to a³ a a.
The stitches have thus passed over the opened hooks of the needles a³ a a' a a;
the stitches of those covering needles 41 51 are stitches transferred on to a a, whereas
the stitches of the covering-needles 1' 2' 3' have slipped into the empty hooks
of the knitting needles a³ a a³. The operation just described is carried out by the
combined effect of the eccentric v¹ and its appartenances on the slide bars ³ R³, and
by the effect of the eccentric o and its appartenances on the covering needles.
After this, the covering needles perform another twofold combined motion. They,

page_text: are first forced downwards a little, by the eccentric v² and its appartenances and then
they are removed (lifted) a little off the knitting needles by the eccentric and its
appartenances.
The uncoupling of the covering-needles and the knitting needles has been carried
out thereby. The narrowing needles then return to the position shown in figs. 1–6.
At the same time the slide bars R are moved downwards by the eccentric v¹ and
its appartenances, and draw the needles a* a² a a a a-into their lowest position
(fig. 6), that is to say, they are drawn back, till the stitches are in the hooks again.
By means of this motion the lower edges of the ribs R° press the empty needles
a' and a² entirely down under the cams 15* of the locks, fig. 2, so that they cannot
come into any further action. After this the continued effect of the eccentrics vi
and and their appartenances lifts the slide bars R³ completely off the feet of the
needles, and off the needle beds I I¹; they are brought back into their point of rest
(see fig. 6).
It must be mentioned still, that the narrowing apparatus carries out all the
operations described during one revolution of the narrowing shaft v.
It is evident that this apparatus can work with one row of needles only, if single
mechanism are substituted for double ones.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
In narrowing apparatus for knitting-machines :
1.) A covering needle B, having a groove x, and near to its lower end a hole o, in
combination with a latch needle a, for the purpose of guiding and catching the
hooks a² of the latch-needle, and for moving the latch needle to and fro by means of
the covering needle.
2.) The combination substantially as before set forth, of the two rows of covering
needles, having a groove, and near to its lower end a hole, the two rows of latched needles
provided with feet and the rocking-frames d de d**, D* D* D**, with the levers p² P²,
the slide block p², and the slide bars 8 Re, by the action of which the hooks of the
latch needles become coupled and uncoupled with the holes of the covering needles,
and the latch needles become moved to and fro by means of the covering needles.
3.) The combination substantially as before set forth, of the two rows of covering
needles, the two rows of latched needles, the two rocking frames d* de d**, D* D* D** on
both sides of the machine, the levers d d' D D', the connecting rods g g¹ and the
lever c c', for the purpose of oscillating the rocking frames on both sides of the
machine at the same time.
4.) The combination substantially as before set forth, of the two rows of covering
needles, the two rows of latched needles, the rocking frames d* de d** D* D* D**, with
the moveable needle holders d D', and the slide K, with its arms K" K", for the
purpose of moving sideways the two rows of covering needles at the same time.
5.) The combination substantially as before set forth, of the slide bars 8 R8, the
levers 7 R6 R', mounted on rocking shafts Ro, the springs 16 R16, and the slide
block q, for the purpose of laying on, and lifting off from the needle beds the slide
bars on both sides of the machine at the same time.
6.) The combination, substantially as before set forth of the slide bars 8 RB, the
levers RR', the rocking shafts R³, the levers ³ ³ R³ R*, the connecting
rods R and the lever r¹, for the purpose of moving up and down the slide
bars R on the needle beds on both sides of the machine at the same time.
CIL
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