Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
We, WILLIAM SPIERS and THOMAS SCOTT GRIEVE of Queen Street Works,
Leicester, Hosiery Machine Builders do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to knitting machines and has special reference to the
type employed in the production of what is known as seamless hosiery and in -hich
the formation of the heel and toe is effected by commencing to knit the same
upon one-half or thereabouts of the full complement of needles concerned in the
knitting of the leg and reducing the number of needles in action at each course
until a minimum number remain, and then re-introducing the said inactive
needles into action whereupon when all the said needles are again in work a pouch
or pocket suitable for the heel or toe has been knitted.
The invention is designed to produce devices simple and efficient in construction
and operation to select the needles and place the same successively out of action
during the narrowing operation and also to select and successively bring into action
during the widening operation the needles rendered inactive during narrowing.
According to this invention there are two devices for selecting the needles viz:
one for elevating them during narrowing and the other for depressing them during
widening, each device being similar in construction and operation.
The invention comprises a needle selecting device forked or bifurcated at its
operative end and connected to a rotatable head sleeve, boss or equivalent movably
located in the usual cam ring or cam carrier so as to travel therewith.
In the reciprocation of the cam carrier during the narrowing or widening opera-
tions the end needle of the series abuts against the needle selector, causing the
atter to rotate on its axis in doing which it either raises or depresses one or more
needles out of or into action and at the same time moves the needle selector into the
proper position for selecting the needles upon the return movement of the cam
arrier.
The length of each member of the bifurcation or forked end of the needle
elector determines the number of needles to be raised or lowered and the action
f the needles themselves varies the position of the needle selector so that it is
Iways in operative position.
The needle selector or its rotatable head or attachment may be suitable spring
ontrolled or equivalently governed or combined with a cam surface in such a
anner as to prevent its too frequent movement or accidentally getting out of
osition.
The details of construction may be varied in several different respects without
parting from the scope of the invention.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
We, WILLIAM SPIERS and THOMAS SCOTT GRIEVE of Queen Street Works,
Leicester, Hosiery Machine Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to knitting machines and has special reference to the
type employed in the production of what is known as seamless hoisery and in
which the formation of the heel and toe is effected by commencing to knit the
same upon one-half or thereabouts of the full complement of needles concerned
in the knitting of the leg, and reducing the number of needles, in action at each
course until a minimum number remain, and then re-introducing the said inactive
needles into action whereupon when all the said needles are again in work a
pouch or pocket suitable for the heel or toe has been knitted.
The invention is designed to produce devices simple and efficient in construction
and operation to automatically select the needles and place the same successively
out of action during the narrowing operation and also to automatically select and
successively bring again into action during the widening operation, the needle's
rendered inactive during narrowing.
According to this invention there are two devices for selecting the needles viz:
one for elevating them during narrowing and the other for depressing them during
widening, each device being. similar in construction and operation:
The invention comprises needle selecting devices forked or bifurcated at their
operative ends, each being connected to a rotatable head; sleeve, boss or equivalent
movably located in the usual cam ring or cam carrier so as to travel therewith.
In the reciprocation of the cam carrier during the narrowing or widening opera-
tions the end needle or needles of the series abuts against the needle selector,
causing the latter to rotate on its axis in doing which it either raises or depresses
one or more needles out of or into action and at the same time moves the needle
selector into the proper position for selecting the needles upon the return
movement of the cam carrier.
The length of each member of the bifurcation or forked end of the needle
selector determines the number of needles to be raised or lowered and the action
of the needles themselves varies the position of the needle selector so that it is
always in operative position:
The needle selector or its rotatable head or attachment may be suitably spring
controlled or equivalently governed or combined with cam surfaces in such a
manner as to prevent it accidentally getting out of position: :
The details of construction may be varied in several different respects without
departing from the scope of the invention.
In the accompanying drawings the needle selecting devices are shown located
between the two sets of knitting cams so that as the needles' pass through one set
of cams, the first needle or needles is taken by either the narrowing selector or the
widening selector as the case may be and either raised out of action or lowered
into action, the contact with the needles causing the selector to turn on its axis
to against the other set of cams where it is in position as hereinafter described to
repeat the operation when the cam carrier reverses its direction of motion.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,.,
Figure 1 is an elevation of part of the cam carrier developed, of a circular
knitting machine for the manufacture of seamless hosiery showing the needle
selectors in the positions they occupy for the narrowing operation.
Π

page_text: 5
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing the needle selectors in the
respective positions they occupy for the widening operation.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the needle selectors in the
inoperative positions they occupy during leg or tubular knitting.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the needle selectors in
their opposite positions, having turned on their axes and after the one has lowered
its needles into action and the other raised its needles out of action.
Figure 4 is an elevation of "the opposite side of the cam carrier showing the
mechanism for placing the needle selecting devices in operative positions at the
O reversal of the cam carrier and also for actuating the auxiliary cams.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Figure 4 showing the
cams E Cand connecting rod L in the reverse positions.
Figure 6 is a detail of the connecting rod L and lugs L³ L³.
Figures 7 and 8 are details of the bed plate showing the flexible stop $ in
elevation and plan respectively and,
Figures 9 and 10 are detail views illustrating the fixed plate R in front and
side elevations.
a.
Similar letters of reference represent corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
A represents the cam carrier of a circular knitting machine provided with a
ledge A upon which the butts of: the working needles rest and ride.
The said cam carrier is also provided with inclines A2 guard cams F G and two
sets of knitting cams viz: B C and D E, the construction and purpose of which
are well understood and as they form no part of the present invention need not be
further described.
When knitting is taking place the active needles pass through either the
cams D E and downwards under the cams CC or through the cams B C and
downwards under the cams EE according to the direction in which the cam
carrier A is moving, and the inactive needles, during narrowing and widening pass
through the cams G D and F B.
HJ are the needle selecting devices the former of which is in action during the
narrowing operation and the latter during the widening operation.
Each of the said needle selectors comprises a finger bifurcated at its extreme end
so that it is provided with two lips HJ.
At its other end it is loosely pivotted in a saw cut, in the end of a boss H2 Jª
projecting from a circular rotatable head H3 J3. located in a circular opening in
the cam carrier.
The normal or operative position of the bifurcated end of the lower needle
selector H during narrowing is in the path of the needles which pass through or
between either of the two sets of knitting cams D E or B C and opposite the groove
or passage between the latter.
It is shown in this position relatively to the cams D E in Figure 1.
The normal or operative position of the upper needle selector J is in the path
f the needles which pass between either the cams F B or G D during widening.
It is shown in this position relatively to the cams F B in Figure 2, and to the
ams G D in Figure 3.
Referring to Figure 1 suppose the needles are travelling between the cams D E
the direction of the arrow during the narrowing operation, the first needle of
he series of active needles will abut against and be intercepted by the needle
elector H and turn the latter on its axis, which rotary movement thereof will
ause the selector to raise and deliver such needle into the idle groove between the
ams FB whereupon the said selector will be moved into a position over against
e' other two camis B C as shown in Figure 3* so that the following needles can
rike the cam C¹ and be deflected downwards under the knitting cam C.
The selector when in this position will as hereinafter described, be moved slightly on
saxis when the cam carrier is reversed, so as to be again in the path of the needles,
ady to raise the first needle which passes between the cams B C.

page_text: In order to insure the selectors at each rotary movement stopping in close
proximity to the path of the needles between the cams, a stop or pin K K' is fixed
in the cam carrier and the rotary head furnished with a segmental flange H J
the ends or shoulders H5 J5 of which are arranged to abut against this said pin
when the complete movement or stroke of the selector is effected.
When the upper needle selector J is in its nomal position illustrated in
Figure 2, during widening, the first of the series of inactive needles travelling
through the idle groove between the cams F B, strikes against the bifurcated end
of the selector causing the latter to rotate on its axis and lower the needle or
needles in engagement therewith in front of the cams EE and at once places it or
them in action again.
This contact with the needle or needles rotates the selector on its axis so that it
is moved over against the cam G in the same relative position thereto as it is shown
in connection with the cam F in Figs. 1 and 3, so that it is out of the
path of the following needles which will pass through the cams G D.
Immediately the cam carrier reverses its motion the said selector will be moved
slightly on its axis into the position shown in Figure 3* so as to intercept the first
needles passing through the said cams G D.
Adjacent to the apex of each fixed cam Ĉ E is a supplementary horizontally
movable plate or auxiliary cam C₁ E¹.
These auxiliary cams are movable horizontally into and out of the wall of the
cam carrier A and when moved forward that is projecting from the cam carrier
they block the passages between the fixed cams B C or D E so that needles which
have already passed between one pair of the said cams cannot pass through the
other pair also, but will be deflected downwards and under either of the stitch
cams or E and when either of the said auxiliary cams is moved into its inward
position it opens the said passages so as to allow the needles which have already
entered the passage at the opposite end to continue their travel through the cams
and allow the first needle to encounter the selector as herein before described.
The cam E is shown in the inward position on the right hand of Figure 1 and
the cam C in the outward position on the left hand of the same figure.
These said cams are never both in either the in or out position together but are
moved alternately and simultaneously the one in and the other out, and vice
versa.
When either of the said auxiliary cams is in its innermost position, needles can
pass through the passage between the adjacent knitting cams as herein before
described and will strike against the other auxiliary cam and be deflected downwards
under the knitting cam C or E.
At the reversal of the cam carrier these auxiliary cams will be caused as herein-
after described, to reverse their respective positions.
The stalks or rearward parts C2 E2 of these diagonal auxiliary cams are of square
section and pass through bosses 03 E3 in the cam carrier projecting from the
exterior of the latter..
In the terminal end of each stalk is a bifurcation in which is pivotted one end
of a connecting rod L Figs. 4 and 5 the latter being also centrally fulcrumed
between a forked plate L' the shank of which is screwed into the cam carrier.
This connecting rod at each reciprocal movement of the cam carrier collides
with a fixed plate R hereinafter referred to and is thereby moved on its fulcrum
so as to withdraw one of the auxiliary cams C E and project the other forward
as hereinbefore described.
An angular flat steel spring M is fixed by a screw M¹ to the cam carrier and
provided with a projecting lug 2 the concave end of which bears frictionally
against the end of the connecting rod L and prevents any accidental or uninten-
tional movement thereof.
When the needle selectors during either narrowing or widening have raised a
needle out of action or lowered a needle into action the selector upon finishing its
rotary stroke with the flange H J abutting against the pin K K¹ is in a position

page_text: curately out of the path of the remaining needles so that the latter are
free to pass it and thence under the knitting cams in the narrowing cperating
and into the idle groove in the widening operation.
In Figs. 1 and 3 the upper or widening selector is shown in this position, and
5 in Figs. 2, 3 and 3* the lower or narrowing selector is shown in this position.
Before however these selectors can again take the needles when the cam carrier
reverses its movement they have to be shifted into what is hereinbefore termed
their normal positions as shown the widening selector in Figs. 2 and 3* and the
narrowing selector in Figure 1.
0 This alteration in their position takes place just immediately the cam carrier is
reversed and is effected by means of the following mechanism shown in Figs. 4
to 10.
On that end of each selector spindle which is on the exterior of the cam carrier
there is mounted a disc as H Jo having a segmental lug or projection as H7 J7
the movement of the same being controlled by a spiral spring H8 Js connected
one end thereto and the other end to a pin projecting from the cam carrier.
On either side of the disc is a vertical slide NO furnished with slots N' OF
which allow it a free up and down movement on headed screws N2 02 which pass
into the cam carrier.
These said vertical slides rest on a horizontal slide P provided on its upper
surface with inclines or cams P1 P2 and also furnished with slots P3 and screws P+
passing through the latter into the cam carrier so as to. allow the said slide a
lateral movement.
This slide has projecting from it a lug P5 which at each reversal of the cam
carrier comes into contact with a yielding stop S normally located in its path and
moves the said slide from right to left or vice versa according to the direction of
movement of the cam carrier and as is obvious such movement causes one vertical
slide to ride up one of the inclines and to be raised thereby and simultaneously
the other slide descends the opposite incline and is lowered thereby.
When the widening selector J is in the inoperative position represented in Figs. 1
and 3 hereinbefore referred to, the disc Jo on the opposite end of its spindle is in
the position shown in Figure 4 with one edge of the segmental projection J7 resting
on a shoulder in the upper part of the slide N.
Now to lower the said selector into its operative position as in Figure 2, the
ug P on the slide 1', when the reversal of the cam carrier takes place strikes
gainst the yielding stop S and moves the slide to the left.
The vertical slide N is thereupon raised by the incline P2 and slightly rotates
he said disc J6 the action of which moves the needle selector from the position
hown in Figs. 1 and 3 into the position shown in Figure 2.
In this latter position the first needle which passes through the groove between
he cams F B will come into contact with the selector and be lowered in front of
he cams E E and thus be again restored into action.
Now for the purpose of communicating a similar action to the narrowing selector
similar disc H with segmental projection H is mounted on the external end of
s spindle and is actuatable by two lugs L2 L³ with inclined ends as shown in
igure 6 depending from the connecting rod L.
Assuming the cam carrier to have completed its stroke in the left hand direction
e narrowing needle selector as hereinbefore mentioned will be in the lowered or
operative position just out of the path of the needles and as indicated in Figure 3,
that all needles following the one just raised out of action will pass down under
e auxiliary and knitting cams E' E.
To place the said needle selector again in its operative position as shown in
gure 1 so that it can engage the first needle passing through the groove between
cams 1 E, the connecting rod L immediately upon the cam carrier reversing
movement, collides with the fixed plate R so as to withdraw the right hand
plementary cam El and project the left hand cam C¹ as shown in Figure 5.
Simultaneously with this movement of the auxiliary cams the inclined edge

page_text: of the lug L2 presses against the segmental projection H7 and partly rotates the
disc H the effect of which is to again raise the selector H into its operative
position in the path of the needles as shown in Figure 1.
It will be observed from a comparison of the two needle selectors H J that the
latter is much broader at its operative end than the former.
The effect of this arrangement is that the needle selector J which as herein before
described is only in action during the process of widening, lowers two needles into
work at each reciprocal stroke of the cam carrier and in order that the whole of
the needles may not be lowered into action again in a different order and in a
shorter time from that in which they were raised out of action, the narrowing
selector H is allowed to continue in action during the process of widening also,
and raises a needle into action at each stroke of the cam carrier.
It is obvious therefore that as during narrowing the needles are raised out of
work one at each reciprocal stroke of the cam carrier, then during widening are
re-introduced into work two at each reciprocal stroke of the cam carrier, the whole
of the needles will get into work at the proper time and in their usual order.
This arrangement obviates the necessity for the operator to put the selecting
device H out of action each time before commencing widening besides which it
forms a better and closer juncture between the two halves of the heel as will be
readily understood by those acquainted with the art of knitting.
R represents the fixed plate located in the path of the connecting rod L and
against which the said rod L collides to vary the respective positions of the two
auxiliary cams E' C₁ as hereinbefore described.
The said plate has a rearward extension R' furnished with slots R2 R³, through
which screws R R pass to fix it rigidly to an arm Re fixed by screw R7 to an
upright R8 forming part of or connected in any suitable manner to the framing
of the machine.
.S is the flexible stop with which the lug P5 collides at each reciprocal move-
ment of the cam carrier as herein before stated.
This stop is provided with a downwardly depending spindle S¹ shown in dotted
lines, Figs. 7 and 8, loosely fitting within a circular opening in the bed plate T of
the machine and it is also furnished with a pin S2 to which is connected one end
of a spiral spring S³ the other end of which is attached to a pin S4 in the bed
plate.
The flexible stop as is obvious is capable of moving freely on its spindle S¹
under the governance of the spring $3 the power of the spring being arranged so
that the stop offers just sufficient resistance to the lug 15 to cause the latter to
move the slide P in one direction or the other as herein before stated whereupon
the stop resumes its normal position as shown, where it is always in the path of
the said lug.
The hereinbefore mentioned flexible stop S and fixed plate R are fixed at
diametrically opposite positions on the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
11
1. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams of a
rotatable needle selecting device located between the said cams and adapted to
intercept one or more 'needles passing between one set of the said cams and to
raise or lower it or them out of or into action, and to be moved by the said needle
or needles into a. position adjacent to the other set of cams preparatory to repeating
the action at the reversal of the movement of the said cams substantially as
described.
1.,
I :
2. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams of two
rotatable needle selecting, devices located between said cams, one of the said
devices being arranged to lower two needles into action and the other device to raise
'
1

page_text: a necure out of action at each reciprocal stroke of the cam carrier, the said selecting
devices being moved by the said needles from against one set of cams and adjacent
to the other set of cams preparatory to repeating the operation when the movement
of the cam carrier is reversed substantially as described.
3. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams of a
rotatable needle selecting device arranged to intercept one or more of the needles
passing between one set of cams and raise or lower such needles out of or into
action and to be moved by the said one or more needles into a position
adjacent to the other set of cams but out of the path of the remaining needles
and to be subsequently moved into the path of the needles preparatory to repeating
the operation at the reversal of the movement of the cam carrier substantially as
described.
4. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams of a
rotatable needle selecting device, located between the said cams and arranged to
intercept one or more of the needles and raise them out of or lower them into action
and to be moved by the said needles adjacent to the other set of cams and out of
the path of the remaining needles, of means for returning the said selector into
the path of the needles upon the reversal of the motion of the cam carrier
substantially as described.
5. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams and
needle selectors located between the said cams and operating as described of two
auxiliary cams arranged to alternately close and open the passages between the
said cams and means for actuating the said auxiliary cams for the purpose
described.
6. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of knitting cams and
rotatable needle selecting devices interposed between the said cams and operating
as described of two auxiliary cams C¹ El arranged to govern the passages between
the said cams, a rocking connecting rod attached to the said auxiliary cams and
means for moving the said rod on its pivot to withdraw one of the said auxiliary
cams and project the other auxiliary cam relatively to the knitting cams
substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of cams of a rotatable
needle selecting device as H located between the said cams and arranged to inter-
cept one or more of the active needles and raise them out of action during the
arrowing operation a rotatable head as H2 located in a circular opening in the
am carrier A, a segmental flange H and stop pin K, to limit the movement of
he rotatable selector, a spring governed disc as H6 H7, and actuating lugs L2 L3
or the latter connected to a rocking connecting rod L and means for moving the
aid rod to and fro on its centre for the purpose specified.
8. In a knitting machine the combination with two sets of cams of a rotatable
eedle selecting device as J located between the said cams and adapted to intercept
ne or more of the inactive needles and lower them into action, during the
idening operation, a rotatable head as J2 located in a circular opening in the
am shell or carrier, a segmental flange as J* and stop pin as K¹ to limit the rotary
ovement of the selector, a spring controlled disc as J6 J7, vertical slides N Ŏ
d horizontal cam slide P and means for actuating the said slides for the
escribed.
purpose
Dated th
1 1
0