Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1889
Specification Accepted, 9th Maṛ., 1889
A communication from abroad by THE WILOOMB KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, of
Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Follow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The Invention is an improvement in the method of knitting with straight latch
needles and in the knitting devices for carrying into effect the method. The object
of the invention is to produce a fabric of great lateral elasticity but of a minimum
elasticity longitudinally by the formation of elongated loops: further to prevent undue
friction or strain on the yarn in the formation of loops whereby the rupture of
inferior yarn, or yarn containing knots or abrasions is avoided, and further to
produce a fabric having a cleaner and smoother face than has heretoforo been
produced in old method of knitting. By the use of the improved knitting devices
in carrying out this method, fashioning by the transfer of stitches may be carried
out on the machine in connection with the method and simultaneously therewith.
In carrying out the invention the yarn as it is fed to each needle to form the
new loop is measured off while the old loop is still on the needle and after the new
loop is formed the old loop is immediately cast off over the new loop independently
and in succession, as each loop is formed. In the drawing is represented the inven-
tion as applied to a knitting machine having two rows of needles, these figures
showing the different steps in the method pursued, and also the improved devices and
their relative arrangement, the operating parts being omitted as these may be of the
ordinary or well known construction.
Figure 1, is a transverse section showing the knitting devices and their supports,
a part of the thread carrier and a transfer point.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 represent the successive steps in the knitting and the different
positions assumed by the knitting devices at each step.

page_text: Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the different simultaneous positions of
the parts during the knitting and also a portion of the knitted fabric.
In carrying out our method we advance the needles a which are of ordinary con-
struction and supported as usual at an inclination from needle beds b b which are in
turn supported by the upper frame work of the machine. After the needles receive
the yarn from the thread guide they are retracted as shown in Figure 5 and the
sinkor are advanced until each sinker in succession comes in line with the yarn
extending across the two needles between which the sinker is placed, or in other words
the sinkers advance to their greatest extent outward and at this point the advanco
of the sinkers cense but the backward movement of the needlo continues thus forming
between each pair of sinkers an elongated loop as clearly shown in figure 2. The
horizontal sinkers e are then rotracted as shown in figuro 8. leaving the now loop
fully formed and the bight of the loop exposed. It will be understood that the move-
ment of the sinkers and needles are independent of each other as shown in figure 5.
but operate in succession. As the horizontal sinkers recedo tho knock-over bits g
which are operated by slide bars ii are advanced or elevated in proper succession to
take their places, each having a plain face parallel to the completed fabric, and these
faces come in contact with the old loop as shown in figures 2 and 3, and in their
continued upward movement the old loop is cast off over the new until it rests on
the hight of the new loop. This movement of the old loop over the new obviates all
strain of the yarn and any dirt or lint which may be upon the olongated loops will
be carried by the movement of the old loop to the hights of the now loop and thus
appear on the underside of the fabric, the passago of the old loop also smoothing
the fibres of the yarn and giving a corresponding appearance to the face of the
fabric. After the old loop has been cast off as shown in figure 4. the knock-over
bits are returned in their normal position and the horizontal sinkers are retained in
their backward position as shown in figure 1. until the operation of fashioning by
transfer of stitches to narrow or widen lins been affected, as in this position the sinkers
do not interfere with the fashioning action.
By making the needles, sinkers and knock-over bits independently movable the
nction of one set of devices follows that of the other in proper order so that the
work of forming and casting off the loops may go ou continuously as the yarn is fed
thereto.
The length of the loops may be regulated by the amount of movement of the noodles
or the sinkers to make it of greater or less length.
As will be seen from figure 3 only a small number of the needles, sinkers and
knock-over bits are operated at one time so that as the neodles are advancing to take
the thread at one point other needles are being rotracted to measure off a sufficient
length to form the loop between the measuring sinkors and adjoining sinkers aro
being retracted and at another point the knock-over bits are rising to cast off the
old loops.
When knots occur in the yarn too large to pass through the old loop or the oyo
of the noodle, the notion of measuring off the yarn for the new loop and the casting
off the old loop is permitted without rupturo or undue strain as the needlos in
receding to form the new loop borrow sufficient yarn from the length of the two
next needles following, to allow the needle in operation to racedo to its roar position,
the knot thus remaining at the point of obstruction without strain upon it.
As with the dirt and other fine matter so the knot also appears upon the inner
face of tho fabric.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to bo porformed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents 1 declare that what I claim is :
1. An improved method of knitting consisting of feeding continuously the yarn
to the needles as in figuro 5 measuring off the yarn by rotracting the needles in
succession between sinkors as in figures 2 and 5 and to draw sufficient yarn for the
new loops while the old loop is on the needle casting off the old loop independently

page_text: but in succession after the new loop has been formed as in figures and 4. and
feeding the yarn to the other needles simultaneously substantially as described.
2. An improved method of knitting consisting of the steps referred to in claim 1.
and shown in figures 2. 3. 4 and 5 and in addition thereto retaining the sinkers c
in their backward position to allow for the operation of fashioning as shown in
figure 1.
3. Means for carrying out the described method of knitting consisting of movable
sinkers c, devices for operating them independently and successively, knock-over bits g
and moans for operating them independently and successively.
4. The described devices included in claim 3 and in addition thereto the feature of
knock-over bits supported in an inclined position and having inclined uppor faces for
the purpose described.
n: Kl. 1 of a 1880