IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Honry Abel, of Laconia, in the State of New
Hampshire, United States of America, Manufacturer of Knitting Machines,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877 and dated the 26th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY ABEL, of Laconia, in the State of New Hampshire, United States
of America, Manufacturer of Knitting Machines. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINES."
My improvements relate to the combination of a self-acting narrowing mechanism
for making shaped goods with a latch-needle knitting machine, and the main
features of the said improvements consist in the means for combining the usual
latch-needle knitting machine and a narrowing mechanism; in an improved con-
struction of the said narrowing mechanism; in the means for alternately bringing
into action the knitting mechanism and the narrowing mechanism; in a self-acting
pattern wheel or pattern-determining device for controlling the alternations of the
said mechanisin according to a prepared or fixed design; in the means for applying
the pattern device to the combined .knitting and narrowing mechanism; and in
various special devices for performing the function incident to the operation of these
leading elements of the said Invention.
My Invention comprises a special construction of functional parts or instruments,
particularly in the narrowing mechanism, namely,-first, improved covering points
for the latch needles and an improved construction of the latch needles to receive
the covering points; secondly, an improved thread guide carrier operated auto-
matically, to shorten the traverse of the thread guide or guides uniformly with the
narrowing of the work, and thereby to produce an even and good selvage on the
same; thirdly, an improved thread guide applicable both to latch needle and spring
needle knitting machines.
The said Invention is carried into practice as follows, that is to say, the sets of
mechanism of the two organizations are mounted in one frame, and are arranged to
act in harmony with each other. A single driving shaft extending transversely

page_text: through the frame supplies the various motions of both sets of mechanism, by
means of cams and a crank shaft, the said sets of mechanism being alternately
brought into action by automatically moving the driving shaft endwise, first in one
and then in the opposite direction sufficiently for the purpose. The knitting
mechanism comprises, in connection with the latch needles arranged to slide trans-
versely on a needle bar and a sliding cam bar for operating the needles, a front
sinker bar and a back sinker bar, which perform essential functions in effecting the
narrowing movements in connection with covering points constructed and adapted
to be used with latch needles. The two sinker bars having movements when
knitting different from their movements when narrowing are operated by different
cams during the two operations, the said cams being alternately brought into
action by the shifting of the positions of the driving shaft on which they are
mounted.
The means for shifting the positions of the driving shaft, by which the narrowing
mechanism and the knitting mechanism are alternately brought into and out of action,
consist of a pattern wheel operated by a ratchet and pawl device driven by a cam on
the riving shaft. This pattern wheel effects the movement of a shifting block in one
of the standards of the frame; the shifting of this block alternately brings it
opposite to two cams on the driving shaft, one on one side and the other on the
other side thereof, and one operating to bring the knitting mechanism into action at
the same time that it throws the narrowing mechanism out of action, and the other
operating to bring the narrowing mechanism into action at the same time that it
throws the knitting mechanism out of action.
The said narrowing mechanism comprises in connection with the front and back
sinker bars peculiarly constructed covering points mounted on blocks which slide
on a rocking bar. These covering points are constructed especially to operate in
connection with the latch needles, which also are constructed specially to receive the
covering points. Each covering point is constructed with a vertical slot which fits
over the hook of a latch needle, and each latch needle has a slot or cavity in its
upper side between the latch and hook, for the points of the covering points to
enter, to ensure the proper fitting and connection of the two for the sure performance
of the narrowing operation.
The thread guide carrier has a variable intermittent thread stopping movement in
connection with the needles arranged to be depressed out of working position as
fast as the loops are taken therefrom in narrowing; the stopping of the thread
guide carrier is independent of the movement of the reciprocating needle cam bar,
which continues its movements regularly.
The thread guide is constructed with the under surface of its eye part rounded
or bevelled, to ensure the closing of the needle latches and barbs, and it has a
vertical or upright surface behind the eye to throw the needle latches back whenever
they fly up in the way of the thread guide, thereby obviating any danger of
derangement or damage of parts of the mechanism or injury to the work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
September 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY ABEL, of Laconia, in the State of New Hampshire, United States
of America, Manufacturer of Knitting Machines. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINES."
My improvements relate to the principal purpose of combining a self-acting
narrowing mechanism for making shaped goods with a latch needle knitting.
machine, and the main features of improvement consist in the means of combining
the usual latch needle knitting machine and a narrowing mechanism; in an improved

page_text: construction of the narrowing mechanism; in the means of alternately bringing
into action the knitting mechanism and the narrowing mechanism; in a self-acting
pattern wheel or pattern-determining device for controlling the alternations of the
said mechanisms according to a prepared or fixed design; in the means of applying
the pattern device to the combined knitting and narrowing mechanisms; and in
various special devices for performing the functions incident to the operation of these
leading elements of the Invention.
My Invention comprises special constructions of functional parts or instruments,
particularly in the narrowing mechanism,-first, improved covering points for the
latch needles and an improved construction of the latch needles to receive the
covering points; second, an improved thread guide carrier operated automatically,
to shorten the traverso of the thread guide or guides uniformly with the narrowing
of the work, and thereby to produce an even and good selvage thereon; third, an
improved thread guide applicable both to latch needle and spring needle knitting
machines.
The mechanisms of the two organizations are mounted on one frame, and are
arranged to act in harmony with each other. A single driving shaft extending
transversely through the frame supplies the various motions of both mechanisms, by
means of cams and a crank shaft, the mechanisms being alternately brought into
action by automatically moving the driving shaft end wise, first in one and then in
the opposite direction sufficiently for the purpose. The knitting mechanism com-
prises, in connection with latch needles arranged to slide transversely on a needle
bar and a sliding cam bar for operating the needles, a front sinker bar and a back
sinker bar, which also perform essential functions in connection with covering points
constructed and adapted to be used with latch needles. The two sinker bars, having
different movements when knitting from what they have when narrowing, are
operated by different cams during the two operations, the said cams being alternately
brought into action by the shifting of the position of the driving shaft on which
they are mounted.
The means of shifting the position of the driving shaft, by which the narrowing
and knitting mechanisms are alternately brought into and out of action, consists in
a pattern wheel (each different wheel constructed for the particular design of the
goods to be knit) operated by a ratchet-and-pawl device, driven also by a cam on the
driving shaft, which pattern wheel effects the movements of a shifting block, having
a reciprocating lateral movement in one of the standards of the frame, the shifting
of which block alternately brings it opposite to two cams on the driving shaft, one
on one side and the other on the other side thereof, and one operating to bring
the knitting mechanism into action at the same time that it throws the narrow-
ing mechanism out of action, and the other operating to bring the narrowing
mechanism into action at the same time that it throws the knitting mechanism out
of action.
The narrowing mechanism comprises in connection with the front and back sinker
bars peculiarly constructed covering points mounted on blocks which slide on a
rocking bar. These covering points are constructed especially to operate in
connection with latch needles, which also are constructed especially to receive the
covering points. Each covering point is constructed with a vertical slot which fits
over the hook of a latch needle, and each latch needle has a slot or cavity in its
upper side between the latch and hook for the points of the covering points to
enter, to ensure the proper fitting and connection of the two for the sure performance
of the narrowing operation.
The thread guide carrier has a variable intermittent thread stopping movement
in connection with the needles, arranged to be depressed out of working position
as fast as the loops are taken therefrom in narrowing; this stopping of the thread
guide carrier being independent of the movements of the reciprocating needle cam
bar, which continues its movements regularly without knitting.
The thread guide is constructed with the under surface of its eye part rounded or
bevelled, by which the closing of the needle latches or barbs is ensured, and it has

page_text: a vertical or upright surface back of the eye to throw the needle latches back
whenever they fly up in the way of the thread guide, thereby obviating any
derangement or dainage of parts or injury of the work.
Figure 1 is a top view of the machine; Fig. 2, a front view of the same; Fig. 3, a
rear view thereof; Fig. 4, an end view of the same, the driving pulley being in
section.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, views of parts detached.
In the Drawings A represents the frame of the machine, of any suitable con-
struction; B, the driving shaft, extending across the machine from end to end, and
receiving most of the actuating parts of the machine; C, the driving pulley on the
driving shaft; D, the needle bar, receiving any required number of latch needles E, E;
and G, the sliding bar bearing the cam which operates the needles, and having a
longitudinal reciprocating movement over, and a little back of, the needle bar. The
reciprocating movement of the sliding cam bar G is effected by means of a revolving
crank H mounted on a vertical shaft a near one end of the machine, and a con-
necting rod I, extending from the crank pin to a pivot 6 on the sliding cam bar
near the other end of the machine, so that as great a length may be given to the
connecting rod as practicable. The crank H is driven by two bevel gears c, d,
respectively, on the driving shaft B and on the crank shaft, the former being just
half as large as the latter, wherby a reciprocating movement in either direction is
given to the sliding cam bar at each revolution of the driving shaft, and the motions
of all the operative parts of the machine are properly timed.
The back sinker bar J is mounted on two standards e, e, on a rock shaft f, which
is pivoted on the front end of arms g, g, reaching back and attached to an adjusting
rock shaft at the rear side of the machine, and-provided with an adjusting arm i
and screw j, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, whereby the sinkers are raised and lowered.
The ordinary forward and backward movement of this sinker bar is produced by
means of a cam K, Figs. 3 and 5, on the driving shaft operating against a friction
wheel L, on an arm of the rock shaft f.
The cam is perfectly circular and concentric with its shaft, except one depression
in its edge to allow the sinker bar to move backward at the proper time by the
action of a counterspring . At all other times the sinker bar is held by the circular
part of the can steadily and constantly to the work. The sinker bar is adjusted to
inake closer or looser stitches by means of two counter adjusting screws m, m,
acting against the laterally movable pivot of the friction wheel L, there being a
laterally extended slot in the arin k to allow the position of the said friction wheel
to be varied on the arm. This is a simple and convenient means of adjustment,
and capable of great accuracy.
The front sinker bar M also is mounted on two standard arms n, n, which are
attached to a rock shaft o, turning in suitable bearings on the frame, from which
rock shaft a suitable arm p extends backwards, a spring 9 extending from the rear
end of the said arm to a stationary part of the machine to hold the sinker bar in
the right position in front of the work, the device being adjustable by a set screw
against which the arm bears. Since the only function of the front sinkers in
ordinary knitting is to hold the work to the back sinkers, and allow the needles to
perform their office without displacing the loops, no operative movement of the
front sinker bar is required in the knitting organization of the machine.
For convenience in putting on the work with the hook bar, for taking up stitches,
and repairing the work, the front sinker bar is provided with a means of swinging
it forward out of the way, consisting of a downwardly projecting arm r on the rock
shaft o, and a hook catch s pivoted to the arm p, and catching on a pin on the said
arm 1, to couple the rock shaft rigidly thereto, and thereby cause the same to move
with the arm p; but on detaching the catch a from its pin the rock shaft is left
free to turn and allow the front sinker bar to be inoved forward, away from the
work.
The mechanism and movements thus far described belong to the knitting
machine proper, but all the parts are adapted to receive the narrowing mechanism

page_text: and its adjuncts, so that the movements of the two organizations are in perfect
harmony.
The narrowing machine proper, consisting of the covering points F, F, their
sliding blocks N, N, and rocking bar O, on which the said blocks slide and are
moved to and from the work, is mounted on a swinging frame P, to which
the bar O is pivoted at t, t; and the said frame is pivoted at u, u, to a suitable
part of the main frame. A cam arm Q is secured to the frame P by pivoting
to one of the pivots u, u, and by a notched catch v pivoted to a forward pro-
jection of the arm, and catching over a pin on the frame P, so that the narrowing
machine may be uncoupled from and coupled to its cam lever at will.
attachment of the pivot of the catch v is adjustable in a slot w of the arm Q,
whereby the position of the parts and limits of the movements of the narrowing
machine may be adjusted and determined. The reciprocating backward and
forward movement of the narrowing machine is effected by a cam R, on the
driving shaft B, acting on the rear end of the arm Q.
The
The up-and-down movements of the covering points to cover and uncover latch
needles, after being brought over tho said needles, as indicated in Fig. 1, are pro-
duced by rocking the bar O on its pivots t, t. Froin the said bar an arm S extends
backward, and bears a stationary cam T, which lies within reach of the driving
pulley C, and on the inside of this pulley are pivoted two friction rollers, x,
(shown in position in Fig. 4). As the driving pulley revolves, these friction rollers
ride over the cam T, and depress the arm S, thereby bringing the covering points
down upon the needles, first to take off the loops from their needles, and second,
to deliver them to the next needles; and as soon as the rollers pass from the
cam a counterspring y operates to raise the arm, and by consequence the covering
points.
It is essential that the covering points when brought over the needles should be
held securely in exact position without the possibility of getting out of place during
the narrowing movements; I provide a lock which effects this perfectly. Upon the
top of the arm S is formed or attached a stop z, abutting at the rear against a
friction roller or equivalent stop 1 on the frame A, when the covering points aro
brought into position over the needles, as shown in Fig. 4. Then, as the arm S is
lowered by action upon its cam T, another stop on the under side of the said arm
facing forward moves downward close behind or in contact with a fixed projection 3
on the frame. Thus, when the covering points go down upon the needles there is
no possibility of their moving either forward or backward.
The lateral movements of the covering points to take the stitches or loops from
their needles and transfer them to the next inner needles for narrowing are effected
by the following means:-Blocks or carriages U, U, are arranged to slide on fixed
ways 4,4. On. these blocks respectively, are secured arms 5, 5, which reach to the
outer edges of the sliding blocks N, N, which bear the covering points; also to the
outer ends of the blocks U, U, are respectively pivoted jointed pawls 6, 6, which
take into fixed ratch bars 7,7, secured to, the said ways or to the frame of the
machine. The notches in these ratch bars are just as far apart as the needles from
centre to centre, so as to produce an exact and uniform movement of the covering
point slide blocks, whereby at each time when the pawls 6, 6, are shifted from one
notch to the next inner notch of these ratch bars (the covering points are moved
precisely from one needle to the next inner needle in order.
The pivot pins 8, 8, by which the two parts of the pawls respectively are pivoted
together project backward into horizontal grooves of lifters 9, 9, located just back of
and parallel with the ways 4, 4. The said grooves allow these pivot pins to. slidė
freely, and by raising the lifters at the proper moments to a certain extent, the
pawls are thereby lifted at their joints and shortened sufficiently to draw their
points from their notches in the ratch bars into the next inner notches thereof. Then
on. again depressing the lifters so as again to straighten the pawls, the rack
blocks U, U, and consequently the blocks N, N, carrying the covering points are

page_text: moved inward a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent needles, as
required
The lifters 9, 9, are actuated by a hook cam V, Fig. 4, on the driving shaft B,
catching around a projection on the lower end of a downwardly extending arm 10,
on a rock shaft 11, which is pivoted in a suitable position, as shown, to the frame of
the machine, and bears the two lifters on projecting arms secured to it. The cam
vibrates the rock shaft at the proper time just sufficiently to raise the lifters to the
extent required. The edge of the cam then strikes the arm 10 and brings the
lifters down into place again.
The movements of the front and back sinker bars in connection with the covering
points in narrowing are peculiar. When the covering points are moved backward
over the needles, for narrowing the front and back sinker bars, both move backward
carrying the sinkers between the needles, the front sinkers for sliding the loops back
upon the needles beyond the pivots of the latches, to move and hold the latches
away from the covering points, and to give room for the said covering points to
come down upon the needles in front of the loops, and the back sinkers to give
way for the work and to get into position for its next forward functional movement.
Then, as soon as the covering points are brought down upon the needles both sinker
bars move forward for the back sinkers to push the loops upon the covering points,
and for the front sinkers to give way for the work and to get into position again.
Next, the back sinker bar recedes a little to allow the covering points to raise the
loops, and then immediately comes forward again to push the loops farther upon the
covering points, to ensure their retention thereon and certain delivery to the
adjacent needles. The back sinker bar then moves backward to allow the covering
points to move laterally and carry the loops to the next inner needles. Then, the
front sinker bar moves backward to push the loops from the covering points back
upon the needles beneath. Finally, both sinker bars come forward into position for
knitting, and at the same time the covering points move forward to be out of the
way while knitting proceeds, till it is time to commence narrowing again. All
these movements are determined automatically by the machine itself.
To effect these movements of the front and back sinker bars, cams on the driving
shaft B are employed. A cam W, acting upon a friction wheel 12, on the arm 1,
effects the movements of the front sinker bar, as described, there being two
operating projections on the cam to move the sinker bar backward twice in the
revolution of the driving shaft. A cam X acting upon a friction wheel 13 on the
arm effects the movements of the back sinker bar. This cam also acts twice to
move the sinker bar forward at each revolution of the driving shaft, and it also has
a depression in one throwing projection of its periphery, to effect the slight receding
movement of the sinker bar, to allow the covering points to lift the loops before
fully pushing the loops thereon as above described. This cain X is entirely distinct
from the cam K, which controls the movements of the back sinker bar in knitting;
and the friction wheel 13, against which the cam X, acts is entirely distinct from the
friction wheel L, against which the cam K operatés, but it is on the same pivot as
that, and adjusted by the same means.
In narrowing, as fast as the loops are taken from the outermost needles, the
said needles are required to be moved from their position to a sufficient distance
not to take the yarn again, as the yarn carrier passes over the needles in knitting.
To effect this purpose the said needles are caused to drop down into a position a
little lower than the plane of the needles for knitting.
The means of effecting this movement consists of a slide Y attached to each rack
block U, and reaching inward therefrom to the needles, and having the following
construction:-A portion 14, at the inner end of each slide, has its upper edge just
high enough to hold the needles which rest thereon at the proper height for knitting,
the slides being the sole support for the front ends of those needles which are
subject to depression from their usual height in 'narrowing. At the outer extremity
of this portion of the slide there is a downward inclination 15 to a portion 16 of the

page_text: slide which holds the needles at a height far enough below the needles on the
part 14 to be out of the way in knitting, as desired; over the part 16 is a pro-
jecting arm or part 17 of the slide, which forms a slot 18, the entire length of the
said part 14, just wide enough for the needles to move freely in and be prevented
from lifting out of position, as shown clearly in Fig. 9; the inclination 15 is such
as to act as a cam to raise the needles out of the groove or slot 18 upon the raised
part 14, when the slide recedes from under the needles after each narrowing; and
the inclination of the inner end of the projection 17 is nearly parallel with the
inclination 15, so as to act in 'connection with the weight of the needles to cause
them to descend into the slot without failure in narrowing. The position of the
inclination 15 is such that as the slide moves inward correspondingly with the
movement of the covering point sliding blocks N, N, driven inward by the pro-
jecting arms 5, 5, of the rack blocks U, U, and as the loops are taken one by one
successively from the needles, in narrowing, each needle, as soon as the loop is taken
from it, drops down into the slot 18 out of the way; and when the slides Y, Y,
are drawn outward, after the narrowing is completed, all the needles which have
dropped one by one into each slot 18 are thereby again brought out upon the
raised part 14 of the slides, ready for knitting the full width again or for another
narrowing.
The operations of the two organizations, the knitting machine and the narrowing
machine above described, are entirely distinct and alternate with each other; it
remains to describe the means by which this alternation of the two sets of operations
is effected.
Upon the driving shaft B the cam K which controls the back sinker bar while
knitting, and the bevel gear wheel c, which operates the sliding needle cam bar G
through the crank H and connecting rod I, belong to the knitting organization,
and the hook cam V which causes the movement of the rack blocks U, U, and tho
cams W, X, which respectively operate the front and back sinker bars simul-
taneously or in harmony, together belong to the narrowing organization.
The cams are so located on the driving shaft, that by moving the said shaft
length wise a distance somewhat more than the thickness of the cams one way or
the other, either the cam K is brought into action or the cams V, W, X, as the case
may be; also when the driving shaft is moved to throw the cams V, W, X, into
action for narrowing, the bevel wheel c which drives the needle cam bar is un-
coupled from the said shaft since the said can bar must be at rest while narrowing.
This uncoupling is effected by having, a clutch 19 secured fixedly to the driving
shaft, arranged to separate from its counterpart on the said bevel wheel when the
shaft is moved end wise to bring the narrowing mechanism into action; then when
the driving shaft is moved in the other direction to throw the narrowing mechanism
out of action, the said clutch engages with the bevel wheel c again, and brings the
cam bar into action.
An important point in this movement is that the cam bar G, which bears the
yarn carrier 20, must be at the extremity of its movements or nearly so when the
uncoupling of the bevel wheel c takes place, and the movements of the said can
bar are suspended for narrowing; otherwise, the yarn carrier would be left over
the needles and the narrowing could not proceed. This proper stopping of the
cam bar is very easily and naturally effected by arranging the clutch 19, so that
it becomes completely detached from its counter clutch on the bevel wheel c only at
the very extreme of the sliding movement of the driving shaft in that direction ;
but should the bevel wheel c be turned to any considerable extent from its position
when uncoupled, during the time of its being uncoupled disarrangement of the
machine would take place, and the wheel would not become automatically coupled
again. To obviate the liability of this happening I employ a spring 21, secured
to the frame A, and bearing slightly on the top of the bevel wheel d, which gears
into said bevel wheel c, thus acting as a brake to keep the said bevel wheels in
position. The pressure of this spring brake is not sufficient to practically impede

page_text: the motion of the parts when in action; a pad 22 may be applied to the foot of
the spring to prevent unnecessary rubbing and friction on the bevel wheel d.
To enable the driving shaft B to have the sliding movement necessary for
bringing the two organizations alternately into action, it is preferable to mount it
in bearings 23, 23, which themselves have a sliding movement of the requisite 5
extent in the frame of the machine, these bearings being V shaped at the bottom,
to slide in corresponding V shaped ways, which always wear centrally and keep
the bearings always accurately fitted therein.
The sliding movement of the driving shaft is effected by two cams Z, Z¹, secured
thereto, one at one side, and the other at the other side of one of the uprights of the 1
frame A. These cams act respectively against two projections 24 and 25 on a shifting
block A¹, which has an up-and-down sliding movement in the said standard of the
frame. When the cam Z strikes the projection 24 of the shifting block, the latter
being stationary, the cam itself must move, and with it the driving shaft, the move-
ment produced thereby being as much as the distance the said shaft is required to be 1
moved endwise; and when the cam Z¹ strikes the projection 25, the cam itself, and
the driving shaft with it, for a similar reason, are moved in the other direction to
the extent required.
The projections 24 and 25 are at different heights, so that, when the shifting
block is raised to its highest position, the projection 24 is brought opposite to the 2
cam Z, and causes the said cam to throw the driving shaft farthest toward that end
of the machine where the cam is located in position for knitting, and keep the
shaft there while the knitting continues, the projection 25, during the time, being
entirely above and out of contact with the cam Z¹, and when the shifting block is
moved to the extremity of its downward position, the projection 24 is brought below 2
and out of contact with its cam Z, and the projection 25 is brought opposite to the
cam Z, which then and thereby is made to throw the driving shaft endwise in the
other direction, thus bringing the narrowing mechanism into action.
A simple spring 26 serves to raise, and to hold raised, the shifting block.
The depression of the shifting block to bring the narrowing mechanism into 3
action, is effected by the following device :-A pattern wheel B¹ (Fig. 10), is
mounted on the frame A in front of the shifting block, and a connecting lever C' is
pivoted to the frame between the two. One end of the lever plays between two
projections, one of which may be the projection 24, and a projection 27 below,
bearing and operating on the latter. The other end of the lever has an adjustable 3
cam point 28, which bears upon the edge of the pattern wheel, so that the lever
may be acted on thereby. The pattern wheel has cam projections 29, 29, each
sufficient to raise the forward end of the lever, and consequently depress the shifting
block to its lowest position, while the spaces 30, 30, between these cam projections
are deep enough to receive the cam point on the lever and permit the lowering 4
thereof, so as to allow the shifting block to be raised to its highest position by the
spring 26. The distances between the cam projections 29, 20, are to be according
to the form of narrowing required. If the narrowing is to be uniform, the distances
are uniform. If the narrowing is to be irregular, the distances are irregular.
The revolving motion of the pattern wheel is regualar, being produced as shown 4
in the Drawings by a ratchet wheel D' secured to the shaft of the same, into the
teeth of which works a pawl E' pivoted on an arm 31 that vibrates on the shaft of,
or on a pivot concentric with, the pattern wheel and ratchet wheel. Against the
upper end of the pawl lever, a cam G¹ on the driving shaft acts to cause the same
to vibrate forward and backward once at each revolution thereof, and consequently 5
to move the ratchet wheel one notch.
The notches in the ratchet wheel correspond in position with the cain projections
on the pattern wheel. Thus, as shown in the Drawings, which represent a pattern
wheel for narrowing the toes of stockings, having its cam projections at uniform
distances apart, there are three notches in the ratchet wheel for each cam projection
on the pattern wheel, one notch opposite to each projection, and two notches opposite
5

page_text: to each space between the projections; and since, when the cam point of the lever C¹
is down in these spaces, the shifting block is raised to its highest position, and the
driving shaft is thereby brought into its position for knitting, and when the cam
point is on a cam projection of the pattern wheel, the shifting block is thereby
brought to its lowest position, and the driving shaft is thrown into position for
narrowing. The effect of the construction of the pattern wheel described is to knit
two courses and then narrow one stitch alternately.
It is obvious that the pattern wheel may be constructed to produce any form of
narrowing and shaped work within practicable limits.
When long portions of straight work intervene between the narrowings, the pat-
tern wheel may be thrown into and out of action by hand, but the entire operation
is easily effected automatically and continuously for knitting shirts, drawers, or any
kind of article. To accomplish this a jacquard mechanism is combined with or takes
the place of the pattern wheel, the simplest way of constructing which is to form
the cam projections for operating the shifting block on jacquard links, which travol
on a simple sprocket wheel in place of the pattern wheel, and turned by the same
means.
Where no narrowing is to take place, the cam projections on the jacquard links
are of course omitted.
The narrowing movement is stopped automatically by simply having one tooth
omitted on the ratchet wheel, as at 32, there being a space 33 of greater extent than
the other spaces between the cam projections opposite to the said space where the
ratchet tooth is omitted, it being understood that a course of narrowing is completed
in one revolution of the ratchet wheel. The narrowing mechanism is again brought
into action at the will of the operator by simply moving the ratchet wheel the
distance of one or two notches by hand, so as to engage the pawl with a tooth
thereof.
The improvements in the latch needle to adapt it to the purpose of narrowing,
and in the covering point to operate therewith, are shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14,
representing respectively a side view of the two parts in junction, a longitudinal
vertical section of the same on an enlarged scale, a top view of the needle, and a top
view of the covering point.
The improvement in the needic A" consists in a cavity or "nucket"c" in the
upper side thereof, just forward of the latch B", for the reception of the point of the
covering point D", so that the said point will sink below the needle latch and below
the surface of the needle itself, whereby the loops never fail to pass from the needle
upon the covering point, and the covering point never gets out of proper position.
The improvement in the covering point D" consists in a slot or opening ell near
its point, which receives the hook a¹¹ of the needle when the covering point goes
down over the same and upon the needle; thus the needle and covering point are
brought into such close position and relation to each other that they cannot be dis-
placed, and the loops of yarn cannot fail to pass upon and off from the covering
points. The improvement is also important in knitting fine goods, or when there is
not much elasticity of yarn, since with it the loops do not require to be enlarged
while transferring them from the needles to the covering points, and the needle
hooks may be made as small as the size of the yarn will allow.
The thread guide and thread guide carrier which I employ on this machine are of
improved construction and operation. Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 represent this con-
struction, Fig. 15 being a top view of the parts which constitute my improvements,
and of such adjacent parts of the knitting machine as may be required to properly
understand the Invention; Fig. 16, a front view of the same; Fig. 17, a section in
a plane indicated by the line 2¹¹, ", Fig. 15; and Fig. 18, a side view of the im-
improved thread guide detached. E, E, represent sets or sections of needles; G, the
reciprocating cam bar which throws the needles forward for knitting; and H", the
thread guide.
"
"
The thread guide carrier is conveniently arranged to bear upon the reciprocating
çain bar, but not attached thereto, so that it may either ride upon and travel with

page_text: the said cam bar, or remain stationary while the cam bar travels beneath it. For
this purpose the rear part of the carrier frame has bearings on a stationary guide
bar or rod I, while a friction roller J¹ on the under side of the frame furnishes an
antifriction support for the same on the reciprocating cam bar. An adjustable
friction brake K" (Fig. 17) on the frame bears upon or against the guide bar I",
whereby the carrier is caused to remain stationary at any point when it is not
moved along by positive action, while the reciprocating cain bar moves under it
without disturbing its position.
For giving the carrier a positive movement to the extent required a pawl
carrier L is attached to the reciprocating cam bar, and travels therewith. It bears
two pawls M, M", pivoted to it substantially as shown, one being arranged to
move the carrier in one, and the other to move the same in the other direction.
One acts on a shoulder fl on one arm of the carrier, and the other on a shoulder g¹¹
on another arm thereof. A spring draws and holds the pawls to the shoulders,
while a support it prevents their descent below the shoulders when they are not
supported by the arms of the carrier. Thus in whichever direction the cam bar is
moving one or the other pawl moves the carrier along until it is lifted from its
shoulder, which is effected at the required moment by a device connected with the
narrowing mechanism as follows:-A cam or inclined plane N" is attached to or
forms a part of each needle depressing slide plate, before described, or to some other
similarly moving part of the narrowing mechanism. Each of these inclined planes
is so situated that a cam projection on each respective pawl will strike and ride
upon it when the carrier reaches it, and thereby cause the pawl to be lifted from
its shoulder on the carrier. Consequently the cam bar with the pawl travels on
while the carrier with the thread guide or guides remains stationary, held thus by
the friction brake bearing on the guide bar. As the cam bar recedes the pawl
riding down from the inclined plane falls into position against its shoulder on the
carrier, ready for the next movement of the cam bar in that direction. In the
Drawings one pawl is represented as extending its inclined plane, while the other
is shown as engaged with its shoulder on the arm of the carrier. By means of this
intermitted movement of the thread guides they are caused to stop further and
further in, or nearer the middle of the set of needles at each dropping of a stitch in
narrowing, so that each thread guide goes just as far as necessary to loop upon all
the needles in action, and no further, whereby an even tension is always made on
the thread, and a perfect and uniform selvage is made on the narrowed work.
The device is applicable to all kinds of narrowing mechanisms, whether in latch
or spring needle knitting machines, wherein the needles are caused to full out of
position for knitting as fast as the narrowing takes place.
Each thread guide H¹¹ is constructed with its under surface at the eye part ll
rounded or bevelled in the direction of its motion, as shown in Fig. 16, whereby
the laying of the loop is ensured without its running so close to the needles as to
render it liable to strike and break or injure the same. It also has a vertical or
upright surface back of the eye part, for the latches when they fly up to strike
against and be repelled thereby, and caused to return into their proper positions.
Since by this construction the latches are never allowed to close in front of the
thread guide, the latter requires no latch-lifting attachment as do the ordinary
thread guides.
The machine, as described, has its construction adapted to the use of latch needles
for knitting and narrowing, which has not heretofore been accomplished. But
nearly every part is equally adapted to the use of spring needles, for which other
machines have heretofore been constructed, and which therefore require no Inven-
tion to produce. It is however an additional accomplishment of my Invention to
adapt it to the use of either latch or spring needles, the organizations of which two
classes of machines are ordinarily very different, especially as spring needles have
not heretofore been operated by throwing them forward with a travelling cam as I
do in this machine.
.
·I-have constructed a peculiar presser bar travelling with the thread-guide carrier,

page_text: as shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 21, representing respectively a front view, side view
and bottom view of the device.
First. The thread-guide carrier has a support O" beneath and back of the thread
guide H, closely over which the needles are pushed forward by the cam, and
which supports the said needles against the downward pressure of the presser
bar P, and of the thread guide in laying the thread upon. the needles, and keeps
the needles exactly in the right position. Thus the finost needles are used with as
much precision and security by this support as the larger and more rigid needles.
Second. The presser bar P¹ is pivoted at m under the thread-guide carrier, so
that it can have a lateral reciprocating movement forward of the thread guide just at
the close of each reciprocation of the parts, and thus as the thread guido begins its
movement in the opposite direction, the said presser bar will always travel behind
the same, as required, while they are travelling over the needles. To give this
lateral reciprocating or swinging movement to the presser bar, a pin or stud n
projects upward from the rear end of the presser-bar arm through a slot p" in the
carrier, which limits its movement, this stud striking some fixed part, as 71 (Fig. 22)
of the machine, or of its narrowing nechanism, as represented, or otherwise in an
equivalent manner.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the the manner in which
it is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim,-
First. The combination substantially by means of sinker bars J and M of
narrowing mechanism, substantially as described, with a "straight" knitting machine
for the purpose herein specified.
Second. In combination with a narrowing mechanism, substantially as described,
and self-acting pattern wheel controlling the movements thereof, the reciprocating
needle-operating cain bar G of a straight knitting machine arranged to be stopped
before the said narrowing mechanism is brought into action, substantially as and
for the purpose herein specified.
Third. In combination with a narrowing mechanism, substantially as described,
and self-acting pattern wheel controlling the movements thereof, the reciprocating
needle-operating cam bar G and yarn carrier 20 of a straight knitting machine
arranged to be stopped at or nearly at one or the other extremity of their recipro-
cating movement before the said narrowing mechanism is brought into action,
substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
.Fourth. The shifting block A¹ provided with projections 24 and 25, and adapted
to slide in a guideway, as described, in combination with the two counter-operating
cams Z, Z¹, on the longitudinally reciprocating driving shafts B, substantially as and
for the purpose herein specified.
Fifth. The bearings 23, 23, of the driving shaft having, a sliding, movement in the
frame to allow the alternate longitudinal movement of the driving shaft, substantially
as and for the purpose herein specified.
Sixth. The combination with the crank H, sliding cam bar G, the clutch 19
affixed to and moving with the driving shaft B and connecting mechanism, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Seventh. The device for bringing the front sinker bar into or out of action, con-
sisting of the projecting arm r, and pivoted catch 8, in combination with the rock
shaft o, and cam arm p, substantially as herein specified.
Eighth. The combination of the cam arm Q, pivot u, and notched catch v, provided
with an adjustable pivot for adjusting the position of the narrowing mechanism,
and throwing it into and out of action, substantially as herein specified.
Ninth. The combination of the arm S, bearing a stationary cam T, with the
rocking bar of the narrowing mechanism and the cam rollers x, x, which
operate the said cam for producing the up-and-down movements of the covering
points, subtantially as herein specified.
Tenth. A locking device for holding the covering points securely in position
while narrowing, consisting of the front and back stops 2, 2, on the cam arm S and
stops 1 and 3, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

page_text: Elevonth. The combination of the back and front sinker. bars, having the
combined movements herein specified, with needles and covering points for per-
forming the narrowing operation, substantially as herein specified.
Twelfth. The slides Y, Y, constructed, substantially as herein specified, in com-
bination with needles E, E, and narrowing inechanism, substantially as and for the
purpose herein specified.
Thirteenth. A latch-knitting needle provided with a cavity or "nucket" in its
upper surface forward of the latch, substantially as and for the purpose herein
specified.
Fourteenth. A covering point provided with a slot to embrace the hook of a
latch-knitting needle, in combination with a latch-kuitting needle provided with
ቤ "nucket" forward of its latch, substantially as and for the purpose herein
specified.
Fifteenth. A thread-guide carrier arranged to have a variable, intermittent
thread stopping movement, in combination with the needles arranged to be
depressed out of working position as fast as the loops are taken therefrom in
narrowing, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Sixteenth. A thread-guide carrier arranged to have a variable, intermittent,
thread stopping movement, in combination with a section or sections. of latch
needles and a narrowing mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose herein
specified.
Seventeenth. The combination of a thread-guide carrier frame arranged to be
stopped while the reciprocating cam bar continues its movement, with a pawl
carrier attached to or moving with the said cam bar, substantially as and for the
purpose herein specified.
Eighteenth. A thread-guide carrier frame provided with an adjustable brake on
a stationary guide, in combination with a reciprocating cam-bar, substantially as
and for the purpose herein specified.
Nineteenth. The combination of a moving pawl carrier having. actuating pawls,
arranged and operating, as described; with stationary cams or inclined planos con-
trolled in thoir positions by the narrowing mechanism of a knitting machine,
substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Twentieth. A thread-guide carrier constructed with a support, to hold up the
needles thrown forward by the cain, for sustaining them against the action of the
thread guide and presser bar, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Twenty-first. A thread guide carrier constructed with a pressor bar, which has a
reciprocating movement forward at the close of each reciprocation of the thread-
guide carrier, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Twenty-second. A thread guide constructed with its under surface rounded or
bevelled in the direction of its motion, in combination with the needles of a knitting
inachine, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Twenty-third. A thread guide constructed with a latch repelling surface ex-
tending upward from back of its eye part, in combination with latch needles, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Henry Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witnesses,
CHARLES HENRY YOUNG,
CHARLES WOODMAN.
WILLIAM HENRY ABEL. (L.S.)