An Improved Machine for Making Needles for Knitting Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Making Needles for Knitting Apparatus.
I, AUGUSTE HUBEAU, of 4, Rue St. George, Paris, France, Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved machine for making needles for knitting
machines and frames, characterized by the great production which can be realised,
due principally to its continuity of working and to the combination and particular
grouping of the particular tools of which the improved machine is composed.
On the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the improved machine;
Fig. 2, is a corresponding plan view;
Figs. 3, and 4, are respectively an elevation and a plan of a slotted anvil used in
one of the herein described operations;
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are respectively an elevation, a side view and a plan of the
grooving tool used in a succeeding operation;
Fig. 8, represent front and side views of the tool employed in effecting such
operation;
Figs. 9, 10, and 11, are respectively an elevation, a side view and a plan of a
stripper or trimmer used in a succeeding operation;
Fig. 12, represent front and side views of the stripping or trimming tool;
Figs. 13, 14, and 15, represent respectively in elevation, in transverse section and
in plan, a gripping device employed in traversing the steel wire from the tool
represented in Figs. 5, to 8, to that represented in Figs. 9, to 12;
Fig. 16, represents a completed needle, after its passage under the nosing
machine; and
Figs. 17, 18, and 19 represent different conditions of the needle during its manu-
facture according to the present invention. Fig. 17, representing it after it has
been operated on by the tool represented in Figs. 3, and 4; Fig. 18, representing
it after it has been operated on by the tool represented in Figs. 5, to 8; and
Figs. 19, representing it after it has been operated on by the tool represented in
Figs. 10, to 12.
The knitting needle, as represented in its finished state (Fig. 16,) is composed of
a cylindrical part, a, at a point in which there is a narrow long groove, 6, herein
called the "chasse," by reason of which the needle is thinned so that it may be
bent back at its extremity, c, to form the hook.
The improved machine has for its object to effect rapidly and by improved means,
the first part of the transformation of the steel wire which is intended to form the
needle, that is to say, to make in the needle the "chasse" and to form the point.
To this end, the improved machine comprises, grouped on a single table, d,
which is mounted on suitable supports, d', the following instrumentalities.
1. A bobbin, e, on which is wound the steel wire of the desired diameter of the
needles to be manufactured, combined with a guide-roller, f, and with a series of
rollers, ƒ¹³, arranged to effect the re-straightening of the wire before its passage
[Price 8d.1

page_text: under the punch, m, where it should be perfectly straight. This punch, m, is
guided in its vertical fall by slides, m³, of the machine frame, b¹, and is suspended
by a chain, g, which passes over a pulley, g, and can be actuated by a lever, h,
oscillating on a stud, h. Beneath the punch, is arranged an anvil, 4, (Figs. 3
and 4,) having a groove, ¹, serving to form a part, 12, of the needle projecting
below the part of said needle rendered flat by the fall of the punch (Fig. 17).
2. An indenting or "chasse" forming apparatus comprising a double bevelled
tool, j, capable of sliding in the slides of a support, k, fixed on the machine table, d.
Below the tool is placed a small anvil, k, adjustable by means of a screw, k³, and
serving to support the steel wire, which is there held in position by a flat spring, 1, 1
formed with two branches. The tool,, is actuated by a lever, L, suitably bent at
its extremities and hinged to a sapport, o.
18
3. A wire nipping device for conducting the steel wire from the "chasse
forming tool to the trimming tool. This devico consists of a fixed jaw, p, mounted
on a carriage, p², a movable jaw, pl, mounted on the carriage movably relatively to I
the jaw, p, a tailed cam, q², pivotally connected to the jaw, p¹, an extension, ¹, from
the jaw, p, engaging with a jaw, p³, rising from the carriage, p³, and a spring, "
applied to the extension, 7, between the jaws, p', p³. The carriage, p², is arranged
transversely of the table, d, with the opening between its jaws, p, p, in line with
the desired travel of the wire from the "chiasso" forming tool to the trimming 2
tool, and is adapted to slide ou guides in or on the table, d, between two stops, 1, 2,
fixed to the table, in such positions that the one, by engaging with the cam, g³,
will cause the jaw, pl, to nip the wire against the jaw, p, and that the other stop,
by engaging with said can will cause the jaw, p, to release the wire. The
to-and-fro movements of the carriage are effected by a cam, q, on the shaft, v, and
a connecting rod, q¹.
4. A trimming or barb stripping apparatus for stripping off the projecting flat
parts caused by the punch, m, on each side of the needle. This device consists of
a tool, s, made of the same width and longth as that of the needle part, i³, and
mounted at the end of a piece, s', which cau slide vertically in a support, t, rising 3
from a bed plate, t, arranged transversely of the table, d, and of two oppositely
arranged plates, t, which can slide horizontally in the bed plate, t¹, and can be so
adjusted by means of scrows, 13, that they can be set at a distance apart
corresponding to the edges of the needlo part, i, so that they will support the side
projecting barbs thereof, so that, upon the descent of the tool, 8, on the underlying 3
needle part, 12, the side projecting barbs will be stripped off by the plates, 2. This
tool, like the tool, j, is also, and at the same timo, operated by the lever, L, to
which it can be attached at a variable point, by small chains or the like, allowing
some delay to occur at the time of raising the tools.
5. Lastly, a driving-shaft, v, supported on the table, d, by pedestals, u, and fitted 4
with fast and loose pullies, w, w³, enabling the machine to be operated when
desired. The operation of the lever, L, which actuates the "chasse" forming and
trimming tools is effected by a grooved cam a, fast on the shaft, v, and to which a
coiled spring, %, constantly tends to apply the end of the said lever. The
excentric, g, with its rod, ql, causes the to-and-fro movement of the carriage which 4
supports the pincers as aforesaid, whilst a second grooved cam, y, by acting on the
Oscillating lever, h, successively permits of the sudden fall of the punch, m, and
causes it to be raised again by means of the chain, g.
The working of the improved machine is as follows:-
The steel wire having a diameter equal to that which it is wished to give to the 5
completed needle, being wound round the loose bobbin, e, is firstly straightened by
its passage between the rollers,, and is then passed over the groove, ¹, of the
anvil, i, and is led over the anvil, , where it is held by the spring, 6, and its end
is engaged between the pincers, p, and pl in thoir closed position. If the machine
is then set in motion, the pincer carriage is actuated by the excentric, 9, and 5
determines the feed of the wire. At a givou moment, and simultaneously or with a
regular interval, the cams, a, and y respectively cause, as aforesaid, the fall of the

page_text: "
"chasse" forming and trimming tools, and that of the panch, m. The fall of
the punch, m, flattens the upper face of the wire, and forms a projection, 2, on
the other face caused by the groove, ¹, of the anvil, i. At this point, the wire
appropriates the form represented in Figs. 17, comprising a raised portion, 1º, and
two barba, a, at the sides. During this time, the tool, j, causes the formation, on
the adjacent cylindrical portion of the wire, a, of the "chasse
or groove, b, vide
Fig. 18. The movement of the machine continuing, the pincers seize the wire, a,
and lead it to the trimming tool, where the projection, 22, passes between the
plates, t, and the barbs, a¹, bear on the edges of these plates; meanwhile, fresh
parts of the cylindrical steel wire are led under the punch, and the grooving tool,
so that, at the next half turn, whilst the pincers return at the back, opened apart,
the punch and other tools fall again, and causo, at one part, the flattening and the
grooving of the needle wire in manner aforesaid and the trimming and cutting
of the previously formed needle, which falls, in the form represented in Figs. 19,
with the groove, b, and taporing point, ready to undergo its last transformation
(Fig. 16).
I would romark that the simultaneousnoss sought in the working of the different
tools of the improved machine, and their relative disposition, the one following the
other, enables the production to be increased with a rapidity which has hitherto not
been attained. The regulating devices above described further allow of oue
operating on steel wires of different diameters, making needles of various lengths,
without modification of the machine, a certain delay being able to be given between
the fall of the lunch and that of the tools in order to vary the position of the grooving
tool relatively to tlie point of the needle.
I reservo to myself the right of constructing the improved machine under different
forms, and of all suitable materials and dimensions, and of grouping on one table
any number of machines similar to that described, all taking movement from a
common driving shaft.
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 :-
1. A machine for making knitting needles for machines and frames for hosiery-
goods, comprising, grouped on the same table, and actuated by the same means, a
bobbin of steel wire, a punch combined with a grooved anvil designed to form on
the steel wire a flat part, and below a longitudinal rib or projecting part, an
apparatus for making the "chasse " or groove, comprising a double bevelled tool
and a small anvil on which a flat spring maintains the steel wire, and lastly an
apparatus for trimming, stripping and cutting the needle, comprising, below the
bed level of the tool, two plates sliding in the bed of the tool, and spaced apart, as
well as adjustable in position, the latter tool being adapted to separate the stripped,
grooved and taper pointed needle from the continuous steel wire, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. In a machine for making knitting needles such as referred to in Claim 1, a
guided carriage receiving a to-and-fro motion and carrying pincers for drawing the
wire, formed of a fixed branch and a removable branch, of which the separation apart
and the closing together are determined by the combination of a coiled spring and
a tailed cam capable of contact against blocks applied to the machine table,
substantially as liereinbefore described.
8. In a machine for making knitting needles such as referred to in the preceding
claims, the arrangement of means adapted to actuate simultaneously or with a certain
delay, and actuated by the same driving shaft, at one part, of lifting the chain
supporting the punch, by a cam fast on the shaft and an oscillating lever, and, at
another part, simultaneously with the desired difference of progress, of actuating
the grooving and trimming tools, by a second cam fast on the shaft and an oscillating
lever constantly applied to the cam by a coiled spring, substantially as herein before
described.

page_text: 4. The machine for making knitting needles such as referred to in the preceding
claims, of which the constructive arrangements, as much as in their combination as
in their details, are hereinbefore described and ropresentod on the accompanying
drawings.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.