Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I, GEORGE CROYDON MARKS, of 18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, (a communication from Ellis Spear, Frank Leander
Middleton, Patent Attorneys, of 1003 F Street, Washington D.C. and William
Evart Richards, and William Wallace White, Patent Agents of 203 Broadway,
City County and State of New York all in United States of America,) 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:—
It is the object of my invention to provide a spring needle machine for making
fashioned ribbed fabrics which will produce the work rapidly and in which the
knitting and fashioning may go on simultaneously. In carrying out my invention,
I employ two rows of needles and a single series of sinkers, with a presser wheel
for each series of needles, and the needles of each row are operated independently
and successively as well as the sinkers, and the presser wheels also act on the
needles of each row independently and successively so that a most rapid production
of the goods is the result, the thread being fed to the needles successively and the
stitch being formed by each needle independently while the thread is being fed to
the other needles.
My invention consists in various novel features hereinafter pointed out and while
the invention is described as a spring needle machine, I do not wish to limit myself
to the use of my various new features to such a machine.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view of the left hand end of the machine, with the automatic
fashioning mechanism omitted.
Figure 1 is a transverse section through the needle beds and sinker dial.
Figure 1 shows the sinker dial adapted to a circular machine.
Figure 1 is a detail of the stop motion.
Figure 1 is a detail view.
Figure 2 is a rear view of the machine with the automatic fashioning mechanism
omitted.
Figure 3 shows a plan view of the sinker dial and thread carrier.
Figure 34 is a sectional plan view through the sinker dial.
Figure 4 a sectional detail in line x-x of Figure 3.
Figure 5 a detail sectional view through the carrier block.
Figure 5A a detail view of the sinker cam.
Figures 6 and 7A are details relating to the sinker cam.
Figure 6 a diagramatic view of the cam bars and needles.
Figure 6 is a detail of the knock over finger.
Figures 7 to 11 show the steps in the knitting.
Figures 94 & 9B is a view of a detail.
Figure 12 is a rear view of the machine similar to Figure 2 with the automatic
fashioning mechanism in place.
Figure 13 is a section of line 2-2 of Figures 12 and 19 looking from the right,
the rear needle bed and adjacent parts being shown in section for convenience of
illustration.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine with parts in
section.

page_text: Figure 15 is a section on lines 3-3 of Figure 18.
Figures 16, 17, 164 174 are views of the pattern mechanism for controlling the
fashioning.
Figure 18 is a plan view of the left hand half of the machine, the thread carrier
being removed.
Figure 19 is a sectional plan view of the right hand half of the machine on
lines 6-6 of Figures 13 and 14.
Figure 20 is a rear view of the right hand half of the machine with parts
broken away.
Figure 21 shows the transfer prongs, needles and needle beds.
Figure 22 shows details.
Referring to Figures 1, 14, 1, and 3 to 7^, the needles 1, 1' are operated by the
cam bars 3-3 through the jacks 2. The rotary sinker dial 29 is fixed to a
shaft 30 held in a bearing 31 connected with the cam bar 3 the shaft being
rotated as the cam bar moves by a gear 32 and rack 33 Figure 2. The sinkers 16
are pivoted to the circular rihs 34 secured to the dial and they are swung forward
between the needles into incline position as in Figure 14 and thus sink the yarn by
the cam piece 35 travelling but not rotating with the dial and having inclines 15¹
with an intermediate straight part 16' to allow a number of sinkers to be in
advanced position at the same time. The movement is controlled also by the cam
face 38 of the protecting shield 37 which is held by a nut 50 at the upper end of
shaft 30 and held against rotation by a bracket 18*. The cam face of this dust
proof shield returns the sinkers to normal position after they are swung forward
and the amount of said forward movement may be regulated by adjusting the cam
piece 35 in guideway 5 of its stationary supporting bracket 36, see Figures 14 34
and 5, said adjustment being effected by the pivoted lever 42 having a forked
arm 22 engaging a stud depending from the cam piece, the lever being held in
any position by a pawl and ratchet 23¹.
From this construction it will be seen that the movement of the cam plate or bar
whether of a circular or flat machine will cause the sinker dial to travel along the
set of needles, to keep pace with the stitch cam of the bar opposite which the dial
is located and in this movement the dial will be rotated and the sinkers will be
brought around in succession to the relatively fixed cam piece 35 to sink the yarn
for the needles advanced by the stitch cam.
I show the dial as used with spring needles but do not wish to limit myself in
this respect when so used however I mount the presser wheel 43 centrally of the
dial upon a block guided in the bracket 36 and adjustable by means of the pivoted
lever 44 which is held in any desired position like the lever 42 by a pawl and rack
Figure 3.
The travelling cam piece 35 has two inclines and is thus adapted to operate the
sinkers in a like manner on each stroke of the machine, it being understood that
the dial rotatus first one way and then the other, reversing with the stroke of
the machine.
In Figure 1 the sinker dial is shown as combined with a circular machine, the
cylinder needles being shown at 40' the dial needles at 41' and the cam ring at 42',
the sinker dial is rotated by the gear and toothed track 44. The dial may be
used with a stationary cam ring and a revolving cylinder or with a movable cam
ring and stationary cylinder, in the former instance it would rotate but not
travel.
Referring to Figure 74 it will be noticed, as the sinkers move about the
center 46' in the direction of the arrow they will be swung forward to the limit of
their movement when the high point 47' of the cam is reached. The full amount
of thread is thereby sunk and the needles begin to retract and the sinkers should
also be free to retract slightly as otherwise they would advance again when they
reached the second bigh point 47" and strain the yarn on the retracting needles.
To obviate this a swinging cam piece 48' Figure 64 is pivoted at 50' to the
block 49 which is adjustable in the bracket in a manner similar to the cam piece

page_text: before described. As the sinkers are brought around by the dial in either
direction they will strike the incline of the can piece shift the cam laterally, ride
up to the highest point 47 and after thus drawing the full amount of yarn they
will be free to move back gradually as the other high point 47 has been retracted
slightly by the shifting of the cam.
It will be noticed by reference to Figures 1, 14 1 and 3 that supplemental
presser wheels 45 and 45* are employed when the dial is used with two rows of
needles for producing a rib fabric. These wheels are supported from the dial
shield by arms 46 and adjusted by screws 48 in bearings 47. The supplemental
presser wheels operate on the beards of one row of needles 1' while the central
presser wheel 43 operates on the beards of the other row of needles 1. The
supplemental presser wheels are arranged on opposite sides of the center of the
dial and one operates on the beards while the dial is travelling one way and
the other acts when the dial's movement is in the opposite direction, the needles
being properly controlled for this action by the needle cams in the cam ring or bar
now to be described.
Referring to Figures 1 to 11 inclusive:
The front and rear cam bars 3-3 each have two sets of needle cams 4, 5
and 4, 5 Figure 6. The two sets of cams of each bar are intended to act
alternately on each reciprocation of the cam bars, the forward set in the rear bar
(that is the forward one according to the direction of the movement of the bar)
acting with, but in advance of the second set of cams in the front bar to carry on
the knitting of the ribbed fabric in connection with a single series of sinkers 16
operated independently of each other.
Referring to Figure 6 and supposing the needle cams to be moving in the
direction of the arrow y, the needles of the rear row will enter the forward set of
cams 4 and be forced forward independently of each other by the lifting cam 4° to
take the yarn, enough being sunk by the independently operated sinkers 16
Figure 8 for both rows of needles. These needles are then partially retracted
independently by the cam 4° of the forward set of cams before the needles of the
front row are advanced as the advance movement of the rear row of needles, has
a tendency to drag the fabric forward into the path of the front needles. The
partial retraction of the rear needles in advance of the forward movement of
the front needles tends to draw the fabric away from the path of the front
needles.
The front needles are now advanced independently of each other by the lifting
cam 5* of the second set of cams in the front bar, the forward set of cams of this
bar not acting on the front needles on this stroke and at the limit of their forward
movement these needles receive the thread from the sinkers when the latter are
retracted. The beards of the rear needles, have during this time been depressed
in succession by the centrally arranged presser wheel opposite the dwell 19 of the
forward set of cams in the rear bar and have been moved in succession by the
point 20 to take the old loop on the beard Figure 9. The rear needles now pass
along the under incline surface 21 of the second set of cams in the rear bar to
complete their stitch movement Figure 10, casting off the old loops from the ends
of the needles independently of each other and then being acted upon by the
incline 22 to draw the thread taut across the stem of the needles of the front
row holding it in this position until the front needles are retracted by the cam 5ª
of the second set of cams of the front bar and until the beard of the front needle
is depressed by the presser wheel 45 at the dwell 23 of the set of cams 5
Figures 6 & 11. The loop is caught by the beard of the front needle when
retracted still further by the point 23*, while the needles of the rear row are
released from their cams at 22* to move forward slightly and the front needles
are retracted to the limit of their backward movement by the point 24 to knock
the stitch over the end of the needle. On the stroke to the left, the other sets
of cams in the front and rear bars operate the needles, those described above not
acting on this stroke, I have shown call cams 11 and 12 and call jacks 2 for directing

page_text: the needles to the forward set of cams on each stroke of the rear bar, the said call
cams acting on the jacks alternately in each reciprocation, for instance, on the
stroke described the jacks move along the groove 11x and will be thrown forward
by the call cam 11 to push the needle forward and then returned to position out
of line with the call cam 12. On the other stroke the call jacks will be thrown
into the groove 12x by the call bar 65 hereinafter described and in line with the
call cam 12 but I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the call cams
and jacks for securing the alternate action of the rear sets of needle cams. For
the front bar, the two sets of cams include the two pivoted pieces 26 and 27.
When either one of these pieces is operated it opens the cam groove to the other
set of needle cams, and the needles are directed into the opened cam groove by the
central call cam 9 in the front bar. The same action takes place on each stroke,
the forward set of cams in the rear bar acting with, but in advance of the second
set of cams in the front bar.
These pivoted pieces are returned to normal position against their stop
pins 26 27 by springs, one of which is shown at 27.
The slotted thread guide arm 51 is carried by a block 52 Figures 1, 1^ and 3
pivoted in ears 53 of the carrier 54 supported on the guide bar 55 secured to
the standards 56 at the ends of the frame. The thread is led through the
eyes 57, 57* and the thread guide is pressed into normal position to feed the rear
needles by the spring pin 58 working in the box 59 on the carrier and bearing
against the stud 60 on the pivoted block 52, I have provided means hereinafter
described for throwing any desired number of needles at the ends of the needle
row out of action, and the carrier is adapted to be released and arrested at the
end of the active row of needles. In Figure 1 the dial is moving to the right
and the thread guide is feeding the rear needles in advance of the operated sinkers
and towards the right of the dial the carrier being moved by the spring pin 61
Figures 1 3 and 4 on the dial shield engaging the carrier dog 62. This dog
retracts when the roller 63x on a second dog 72 engages the incline 64 of the
releasing piece 65 which may be fixed at any desired point of the guide bar by
the set screw 66 Figure 1. The two dogs are connected so that one operates the
other by the pinion 7 engaging the teeth 74 and 75 on the dogs. The dog 62 is
thus released from the spring driving pin and the carrier is arrested by the roller
coming against the stop shoulder 67 on the releasing piece. The dial moves on
past the carrier and thread guide and the thread guide is swung outward from the
dial to permit the advanced sinkers to pass it by the cam piece 68 on the dial
shield having a V shaped seat which, as the cam piece passes by the guide, acts
upon the spur 69 theroof Figures 1 and 3 to throw the guide away from the dial
where it will be held by the straight part 70, to finally pass off at the curved
end 71 of the cam piece 68. A. second V shaped notch is formed in the cam bar
to the left of the dial and the spur rests in this on the return stroke of the dial,
the carrier being pushed along on the said return stroke to the left by the spring
pin engaging the second sliding dog 72 similar to that described. This dog is
thrown into operative position on the stroke to the right as above stated, when
the deg 62 retracts by its roller 63* rising as described along the incline 64 of
the stop piece and as this dog 72 now lies in the path of the spring pin provision
is made to allow the spring pin to pass by the dog 72 without effect as the right
hand stroke is completed, this consisting of an incline on the under side of the
dog 72 Figure 4, to depress the spring pin. On the return leftward stroke the
pin being on the vertical side of the dog will move the carrier along and the carrier
on each stroke lies in advance of the center of the dial to feed the rear needles
which are the first to advance. The dog 62 has also an incline, and the action
of the parts on the stroke to the left is the same as that described above, a
second releasing piece 65* with an incline 64* and stop being adjustably
supported on the carrier guide bar. Leaf springs 77 steady the action of the
carrier.
I provide travelling knock over and
evener fingers 78-79, a pair of these being

page_text: secured to the har 80 on each side of the dial the knock over finger being opposite.
the knock over cams of the cam bars while the evener fingers are slightly in rear
to place the cast off loop in the proper position and even up the row. The knock
over finger insures the casting off of the old loops by engaging the fabric and
pushing it aside so as to draw or knock off the said loops. The bar 80 is held by
latches 81 pivoted to the posts 40 fitting in notches 83 of the bar. Cross heads 41
on guides 111 carry the posts.
All the call jacks are thrown into line with the call cams of the cam bars
by the call bars 65' carried by rocking shafts 661 which extend through the
bearings 87 beyond the frame. These call bar shafts are rocked at the end of
each stroke to throw the call jacks in by arms 67' secured to the rock shafts
and connected by links 68' Figures 13 and 19 and arms 691 with the ruckshafts 841
operated from the groove 71¹ of cams 54', 54x on the main shaft 30 by the
arms 70' having rollers moving in the cam grooves. The call jacks when thrown
forward are held in this position by the dogs 93 Figure 1 having inclined ends
to bear on the inclined ends of the call jacks, the dogs being pressed by the
springs 94. When back, the jacks are held by the dogs engaging notches b.
All the call jacks of the rear bar must be thrown into line with the call cams.
at each action, as they are always returned to position out of line with the call
cams, but on the front bar the active call jacks when thrown forward in line
with the call cam will remain in this position by reason of the arrangement of
the call 'eam 9 shown in Figure 6 the call jacks being held in line with the call
cam by the spring dogs. On the front cam bar therefore it is only those call'
jacks of the inactive needles which are thrown in at each rocking of the call bar.
To make the needles inactive for different widths of fabric, jack racking
bars 72 are used two at each end of the machine adjustable in ways in the
rock shafts 66' and arranged to be set at different points by automatic fashioning
mechanism or where the fashioning is not automatic to be fixed at desired point
by set screws 95* see Figure 1. These jack bars normally stand at an angle
of 45 degrees while the cam bars are operating and auy call jacks engaged
by this jack racking bar will be held out of the path of the call cams and
although the jacks will be thrown into line by the call bar at the end of each
stroke the jack racking bar will immediately return those to be rendered inactive to
inactive position when the shaft rocks back to normal position, the throwing in
and out of the inactive call jacks being done while the machine is reversing
its stroke and before the call cams begin to act. The driving mechanism Figures 2
and 19 comprises the transverse shaft 96 having a loose pulley 971 thereon
controlled by a clutch 981 and a stop motion hereinafter described. A gear 99¹ on
the shaft 96 meshes with the larger gear 100' journaled in the frame and engaging
a smaller gear 1011 journaled in an oscillating frame 102' which turns on the axis.
of the larger gear. A pinion 103' secured to the shaft of the smaller gear engages
a continuous rack 104' which is double sided with segmental ends, and is connected
to a grooved cam plate 104*. An anti friction roller a on the shaft of the small
gear moves in this groove. The cam plate or rack is connected to the drive
rod 105 sliding through the brackets 105x and connected to the cam bars and the
rotation of the large gear continued in one direction will turn the small gear and
pinion causing the rack to be reciprocated and with the drive rod and cam bars.
The drive rod is pivotally connected to the oscillating segment lever 106' having a
pin in its upper end engaging a fork 107 depending from the cam bar and its
segmental rack 108' meshing with a fixed rack 109. "As the drive rod reciprocates.
the segmental rack will travel over the stationary rack and as its fulcrum point is
thus constantly following the movement of the drive rod a multiplied and
substantially uniform motion will be imparted to the cam bar. The clutch com-
prises the loose shifting pulley, the friction disc 981, the pivoted lever 113' having
studs entering the groove 115' of the pulley hub. A bar 116 connected to the
lever and sliding in a box 117' on the frame and a pin 118-entering a cam slot in
the plate 119 which is operated in the box by the shipper rod 120' connected to

page_text: the arm 1221 journaled on the pin 123! Figure 1. A pivoted catch 1251 on a
post 126 engages a pin on the arm 127' connected to the arm 122. The catch
through the shipper rod holds the clutch in action. For releasing this catch auto-
matically to stop the machine a timing chain 77' carried by the tooth wheel 78' is
operated step by step to bring a stud 130' on the chain to engage the inclined
tooth 131 of the plate 1321 and thus lift the same and with it the lever 1331
connected thereto and pivoted loosely on the pin 1231 so that a pin 134' on the
lever will lift the catch 125' and thus release the shipper rod which is then
operated by the spring 126* to release the clutch. The lever 133 may be
operated by hand. The chain wheel turns loosely on the shaft 79' Figures 1
and 2 driven from the rear shaft 30' by the bevelled gears 80 and 99, and
the chain, wheel is operated step by step from the shaft 791 through the disc 871
fixed thereon carrying a pin 86 which at each revolution moves the slotted
wheel 84 one step. This wheel has a sleeve 85 on a pin 83¹ carrying a
pinion 82 meshing with the gear wheel 81' secured to the chain wheel so that
at the end of each stroke the chain is advanced one step.
The main shaft 30 is driven from the transverse shaft 96' through hevel
gears 148, 1491 and the gear and pinion 150', 151.
Referring now to Figures 12 to 21.
The mechanism now to be described is for producing in connection with the
knitting mechanism, a fashioned garment automatically by the automatic
transfer of stitches during the knitting operation. Each set of transfer cams
is substantially shaped as at 1" Figure 18 comprising a lifting cam and a
retracting cam. These cams advance the needles independently of each other
as the cam bars approach the limit of their stroke, and in the fashioning action
the needles are advanced so that the old loops are on their stems below the
beards, the needles then retract leaving the loops on the prongs. The prongs
are then shifted to place the loop in line with the next needle and the needles
advance to receive the loops from the prongs which are then retracted, followed
by the needles. The transfer prongs 2 Figures 13 and 21 are carried by their
bent shanks 3 in holders 4" pivoted at 5" to the blocks 6 which are movable
in curved ways 7" of the shifting block 7x the curve of the ways being on the
are of a circle, so that the hooks will move down to take the loops from the
needles and then lift the same. The pivoted prong holder is allowed a falling
motion in relation to the sliding prong block so that the prongs will engage
properly with the needles to take the loop therefrom and then be slightly
elevated to avoid a long frictional engagement with the needles and therefrom
saving wear on the same. To control this falling and rising movement the
prong holder has a pin 8" moving over a cam way 9 on the side of the
shifting block the pin being pressed thereon by the spring 10". As the sliding
block moves forward along its curved way the prongs will receive this curved
movement, but in addition they will fall to take the loops and then the pin
riding up the incline 11 they will raise the loops from the needles to allow the
beards to retract and will remain in this position, the pin engaging the seat 12".
The sliding blocks are operated from the rock shafts 13 having arms 14"
splined thereto and connected by the links 15" with the sliding blocks, the
splined bearings of said arms working in the bosses 16" on the shifter. The
shifter moves on the ways 16* Figures 13 and 21. The shaft is rocked to
move the prongs to and from the needles by the arms 17" Figures 12, 13, 18
and 20 the links 18", the lever 19" pivoted to brackets 20" Figure 13, said
levers having engaging toothed segments and a segment 2111 on one lever
engaging a rack bar 22 on a slide 23" operated by the cam 24" and roller 2611
to move the prongs towards the needles and returned by the cam 25 to move
the prongs from the needles for depositing the transferred stitches thereon.
For shifting the prong shifter longitudinally of the row of needles rotary
shafts 27 are used one end of each shaft being journaled in the end frames of
the machine and the other end in bearings 28 secured to the brackets 28*.

page_text: The shafts are rotated from the gear 2911 loose on the main shaft 30%. This
gear wheel has an adjustable pin 32" to engage a spur wheel 33" loose on the
rock shaft 341 journaled in bearings 35", the said spur wheel having fixed
thereto a pinion 36" meshing with a gear 37 Figures 12, 14 and 19, engaging
pinions 38 on the front and rear shifter shafts 27. These shafts have zigzag
cam grooves 39 engaging pins 40 on the pawl slides 41 splined in the
bearings 28", Pawls 42" on the slides engage the toothed bars 43" of the
blocks 441 movable on the ways 45". These blocks have standards 46" from
which rods 47" extend to the prong shifters and each time the grooved shafts are
given a forward movement the pawls will move the toothed bars and through the
blocks and rods the prong shifters to shift the prongs to the next needles, each
movement of the shaft operating the pawl 4211 forward and backward. The pawl
carrier has also a retracting pawl 48" for returning the toothed bar and block to
normal position to begin a new fabric and either one or the other pawls may be
held out of engagement with the toothed bar by the shifting rod 49 movable in
the bearing bracket and having a finger piece passing through the slot 50" to
operate the same. The cams 24"-25" are carried respectively on the adjacent
faces of the gears 24*, 25* and the three gears 2911, 24, 25* all being loose on the
main shaft 30', see a similar arrangement of loose gears at the right of Figure 20
are operated by the wide gear 51 fixed on the supplemental shaft 52", which is
rotated only when the fashioning is to be performed by the segmental rack 53" on
the rack wheel 54' splined at 58 to the main shaft and shifted laterally by a
conical roller 5511 on the switch pin 56" when said pin is lifted through the pattern
mechanism hereinafter described, into line with the boss 571 on the wheel which
boss has an incline 62" Figure 19 to shift the wheel laterally when engaged by the
pin. The shifting of the wheel brings its segmental rack into line with the
pinion 59 on the supplemental shaft and the revolution of the wheel rotates
the shaft 52 and through the gear 51" the three loose gears on the main shaft.
The main shaft with its rack wheel 54' makes one revolution to each reciprocation
of the cam bars and the rack engages the pinion when the machine is near the
middle stroke, and as the stroke is being completed and the transfer cams are
passing the transfer prongs the revolution of the gear 24" carrying the advancing
cam 24 will operate the transfer prongs toward the needles to take the loops from
the advanced needles. At the end of the stroke the pin on the gear wheel 291
moves the described connections one step to shift the transfer prongs to the next
needles to transfer the loops and as the can bars near the middle of their return
stroke and the transfer cams are passing the transfer prongs the retracting
cam 25", dotted lines Figure 13 acts to return the prongs and deposit the loops on
to the needles which have advanced through them. Thus the three loose gears
are operated to start the transferring action as the machine is a little past middle.
stroke in one direction (the transferring following the knitting action) and com-
pletes the transferring near the middle return stroke in advance of the knitting.
As the rack leaves the pinion a plane segment 60 of the rack wheel cogages a
cutaway dise 61" on the supplemental shaft and connected with the pinion and the
pinion and the transfer mechanism are thus locked inactive until the next traus-
ferring action is to be performed. The rack wheel is returned to position by the
spring 61 when the second incline 63" comes opposite the conical shifting pin, but
the connections are still held locked by the continuous plane part of the periphery
of the rack wheel engaging the locking disc.
It will be noticed that as the transfer prongs are shifted along the needle row
from one needle to the next their relation to the stroke of the machine and of the
transfer cam is changed and as they must act always in the same relation to the
needles, that is, when the needles are advanced it is necessary to provide means
whereby they will advance one needle later each time so that the V shaped cam
will be directly opposite them when they operate. This is effected by making the
gear 24* with one tooth more than the gear 2911 so that while the gear 2911 shifts the
carrier at exactly the same time and point in the stroke, the gear 24* will operate

page_text: the prongs later on each stroke corresponding with the interval between the move-
ments of the needles, or in other words the prongs will advance one needle later
at each action. Supposing there are 336 needles in the stroke the gear 29" would
have 336 teeth while the gear 24* would have 337. On the return stroke it will
be clear that the prongs must be returned one needle earlier in the stroke each
time to deposit the loops on only those needles which have fully advanced and
therefore the gear 25* carrying the retracting cam has 335 teeth to secure this
earlier returning movement of the prongs.
The jack racking bar 721 before described for making the needles inactive is
adjusted to follow the step by step shifting movements of the transfer prongs by
the sliding block 44" connected thereto by the clips 73 engaging notches 73*
in the bars Figure 94 so that the bars may oscillate without breaking the connection.
The lengthwise adjustment of the racking bars takes place at the end of the stroke
when the rock shaft is turned inwardly and the racking bar is in position to be
moved in front of the nibe of the jacks. The rack bar 22" Figure 13 is detachably
connected with its slide 23" by the pivoted latch 75" embracing a stud 76 on the
slide. By releasing the latch the transfer prongs may be manipulated, if desired,
'by hand.
The stops of the thread carrier above referred to may also be operated from
the sliding block 44" through the rod 76* Figure 12.
The stop motion mechanisin described in connection with Figures 1, 1° forms
also part of the pattern mechanism see Figures 15, 16, 17 and 17. The disc 871
in this instance has an inclined groove 88 connecting with a straight peripheral
groove 89 ending in a reversely inclined groove 901 Figure 17 both opening
laterally of the wheel: When a dog 911, of the pattern chain lifts the plate 92
moving in ways of the box 931, by engaging with its incline projection 94" the
catch plate will lift its catch shoulder 95" from the shoulder 9611 Figure 16 of the
bar 971 so that the said bar will be free to be forced forward by the spring 102
Figures 15-20 through the lateral mouth of the groove 8811 Figure 17 and its
pin 98 will engage the inclined cam groove and then the bar will be operated
forward by the cam groove positively. The rear end of the bar is connected to
the lever 99 Figure 20 similar to 99* Fig. 15 connected with the rock shaft 100¹¹
working in bearings 10311 at the rear of the machine and having an arm 101"
Figures 19 and 20, connected by a pivot with the switch pin 56 carrying the
conical roller and arranged to slide in a bearing 105 Figure 20 and when the
bar 97 is operated by the cam disc 87' the switch pin will be raised to engage
the incline 6211 of the boss 57" on the rack wheel 54' to shilt it laterally for the
fashioning. The bar 97" is returned to normal position by the reversely inclined
groove 90 of the cam wheel 87. The lifting catch plate 9211 is pressed downward
by a spring 104.
I have thus far described the fashioning devices and pattern connections for the
right hand end of the machine. All the mechanism is duplicated for fashioning
at the other end of the machine, the pattern connections however, being combined
and arranged together. The supplemental shaft 52* Figures 12 and 20 and 15 of
the fashioning mechanism at the left of the machine is arranged end to end with
the right hand shaft 52" described. The switch pin 56* for the left hand mechanism
and designed to act with the rack wheel 54*, passes through the bearing 105 and is
pivotally connected with the arm 101* on the hollow rock shaft 100*, through
which passes the rock shaft 100" and having a lever 99* connected thereto which
is connected to a second transverse sliding bar 97* arranged alongside the bar 97
above described. The bar is pressed by the spring 102x and has a pin 98* lying
normally alongside the cam wheel 871. A second open frame catch plate 92*
Figures 16, 16 having a catch shoulder 95* in line with the shoulder on the
second bar moves vertically in ways in the box 93" when its inclined projection 94*
is engaged by the dog 91 of the pattern chain on the next stroke of the machine.
This projection is to one side of the projection 94" on the first lifting plate, and
is lifted when the pattern chain makes its next step. This occurs immediately after

page_text: the first bar has been returned to normal position and just before the open mouth
of inclined groove 8811 comes around. The second bar is released and is thrown
into connection with the cam groove 88" as the cam begins its second revolution
with the beginning of the stroke of the machine in the opposite direction.
By this arrangement the narrowing at one end of the machine follows that at
the other end on the same reciprocation of the machine, the second fashioning
action being completed on the next stroke. A loose or clutch connection is provided
in the operating connections leading to the switch pins so that the pin may remain
in its operated position while the bar 97" may be reset. This consists simply of a
clutch piece 106" Figure 20 on the shaft 100" and having a jaw 107" engaging a
corresponding jaw on the bearing 108" of the lever 99 so that after having
operated the shaft 100" through this clutch the lever may return to normal position.
to be held by its catch plate 92". The switch pin is held up while the bar 97" is
reset by the pin 109" thereon engaging the groove 110" between the flange 113
Figures 15 and 20 and the boss 57 and is depressed by the incline 111" on the
rack wheel engaging the pin 109 forcing the switch pin down. The flange 113 is
open at 112 to allow the pin 109 to be disengaged. The lever 99" has a similar
clutch connection 106* with its shaft 100*.
In order to return all the parts to normal position for a new fabric after the
machine is stopped the handles 117" Figure 14 at each end of the machine are
turned operating the transverse rock shafts 118" Figure 20 and the shipper
rods 119 and forks 124" operated through the half disks at 120" Figure 9 to
throw the clutches 121" on the supplemental shafts into connection with the
pulleys 122 which are constantly operated in the opposite direction from that of
the supplemental shafts in operating the fashioning mechanisms to fashion the
garment. These clutches 121" are splined to the supplemental shaft and connected
with the pinions 59", 59" also splined to said shafts and when shifted laterally
they withdraw the clutch teeth 123" of the pinion out of connection with the
locking dises 61,61 loose on the supplemental shafts so that the revolution of the
pulleys with the clutches will rotate the supplemental shafts backwards and through
the loose gear 29 return the transfer prongs to normal position, the clutch being
thrown out by the operator when the prongs have been returned with the racking
bars and thread carrier stops. The two loose gears carrying the advancing and
retracting cams will also return to their normal positions with the cams in the
proper relation to each other, said cams having changed their relative positions at
each fashioning mechanism. I have shown in section on the right of Figure 20
and marked 29, 24 and 25" corresponding to the gears 29", 24, 25x before
described, and the loose wheel 36" and gear 33" correspond to the wheel 36" and
gear 33 at the other end of the machine.
The locking discs 61 and 61" are held against lateral displacement by pins a
entering grooves & in the shafts Figure 20.
The cam piece 24 for moving the prongs toward the needle is pivoted at 127
Figure 13 and controlled by a spring 127 for allowing it to turn and pass the
roller on the rack slide when the wheel 24* is rotated backward.
Rods 39 Figure 1 steady the movement of the sinker dial.
I claim:
1. The two sets of independently operating spring needles with a single series of
independently operating sinkers which sink enough yarn on one set of needles for
both sets and the presser wheels for the two rows of needles acting on the needles of
each set independently and successively.
2. The cam bars for the needles having each two sets of knitting cams as 4, 5
and 4, 5, the cams of each set acting alternately on each reciprocation of the cam
bars.
3. In combination in a knitting machine, the two sets of sliding spring needles,
the sinkers and the front and rear cam bars having two sets of knitting cams,
means for causing the needles to advance along the lifting cam of the first set of
B

page_text: cams of the rear bar to receive the yarn and along the under surface of the second
set of lifting cams of the rear bar to lay the yarn across the stems of the needles
of the front row and to cast off the stitches of the rear row and means to direct the
needles of the front row along the lifting cam of the second set of cams in the front
bar and for retracting the needles to cast off their loops after the needles of
the rear row have completed their knitting movement, substantially as described.
4. The needle cams of the cam bars having surfaces for advancing and partially
retracting the needles of the rear row on each stroke in advance of the forward
movement of the front needles, and surfaces completing the retraction of the
rear needles in advance of the complete retraction of the needles of the front
row.
5. The two sets of needle cams of the front bar including the pivoted pieces to
open the needle path at the center of the sets of cams and the call jacks and call
cams for operating the pivoted pieces and directing the needles into the opened
cam path.
6. In connection with Claim 5 the two sets of needle cams of the rear bar and
the pair of call cams and the call jacks for the rear bar.
7. The detents 93 for holding the needle jacks in position.
8. The two sets of spring needles and a single series of sinkers, a single presser
wheel for one needle row and the two presser wheels for the second row and the
needle cams to operate the needles of the second row after those of the first row.
9. The rotary sinker dial with the main presser wheel arranged centrally
thereof and the supplemental presser wheels on each side of the dial center.
10. The rotary dial with its sinkers and the shifting cam piece moved by contact
with the sinkers.
11. In connection with Claim 10 the sinker cam automatically adjustable to
present on either rotation of the dial first a high part and then a receding low part
to operate the sinkers.
12. The thread guide carrier, and the two sliding dogs connected together and
moving transversely of the carrier, the inclines for operating the dogs reversely
and the pin for engaging the dogs and moving the carrier to give it the required
lend.
13. In connection with Claim 12 the thread guide, and the cam bar for moving
the thread guide so that it may pass the sinkers.
14. The needle call bar and needle jack racking bar for throwing the needles
into and out of work both extending lengthwise of the machine with means for
operating them laterally of the machine.
15. In connection with Claims 12 and 13, a travelling rotary dial having a single
series of sinkers to act with two rows of needles, a thread carrier, detachable driving
means therefor to give it a lead in relation to the dial and means for moving the
thread guide so as to pass the sinkers.
16. The travelling knock over device moving transversely of and under the
needles and fabric as the needles are retracted to cast off the stitches.
17. In connection with the knock over device, the evener finger following the
action thereof.
18. A knock off device below the needles acting on the fabric in conjunction
with the retracted needles.
19. The call bar and racking bar both carried by a rock shaft and adjustable
lengthwise thereof.
20. The driving mechanism comprising the oscillating gear 101' with its pinion a
and operating means, the continuous rack shaft 104', and grooved cam track, the
drive rod and the connections to the cam bars.
21. In connection with Claim 21, the lever for making the stroke of the cam bars
uniform and multiplying the same, said lever having a shifting fulcrum as the
segment and rack.
22. The transfer prongs moving in the are of a circle and having a rising and
falling movement in addition thereto.

page_text: 23. The transfer prongs operating through the loops along the needle stems
toward the hooks and then lifting the loops and shifting them laterally when the
needle has been retracted from beneath them, and then the said transfer prongs.
retracting along the needle stems from their hooks when the needles are advanced
beneath them.
24. In connection with Claim 23 the feature of arranging the transfer prongs
over the stems of the needles they are to coact with and advancing and retracting
the prongs along the said stems.
25. In connection with Claim 24, the prong shifter 7 having the curved ways
for the sliding prong block, and having the cam path 9" for the pivoted prong
holder.
26. The prong shifter blocks 7x, the rotary grooved shafts 431 at the end of the
machine and the push blocks 44" operated thereby and connected to the shifting
prong blocks.
27. The transfer prongs with the cams 24", 25", which change their relation at.
each narrowing action to advance the prongs one needle later and retract them one
needle earlier in the stroke.
28. In connection with Claim 27 carrying the advancing and retracting cams on
wheels moving at different rates of speed.
29. In connection with Claims 27 and 28 making the cam gears with different
numbers of teeth for advancing the prongs one needle later and retracting them
one needle earlier in the stroke.
30. The three gears 24*, 25* and 29" with operating means and with connections
to the transfer prongs for advancing, retracting and shifting them laterally, the
advancing gear with its cam moving slower and the retracting gear with its cam
moving faster than the shifting gear.
31. The prong shifting mechanism comprising the push blocks 44, the shafts 2711
with pinions, the gears 37" and 36", the wheel 33" and the gear 29 having the
pin 3211
32. The transfer prong shifters, the call bar 65¹ and racking bar 72', the rock
shaft carrying them, the push blocks 44" connected to the bars 7211 and to the
transfer prong shifter with means for operating the said blocks.
33. The pattern mechanism, comprising the shifting rack wheel 5411 the switch
pin, the cam wheel 87", the bar 97, the latch for holding the same, the pattern:
chain for operating the latch, the transfer prongs and the trains of connections
leading thereto, for advancing, retracting and shifting the prongs.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.