Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
A communication by ELI TIFFANY, of Bennington, in the County of Bennington
and State of Vermont, United States of America, Inventor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in. the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention covers improvements in machines for knitting both plain and
ribbed tubular fabrics by the use of two sets of needles. Some parts of the
invention are also adapted to machines employing latch needles. One set of needles
is carried in a horizontal dial plate, and the other in a vertical needle cylinder and
the two sets of needles work at right angles with each other in the usual way in
knitting ribs.
The leading features of the invention embrace a rotating annular sinker bed
adapted to couple with and be driven by the rotating needle cylinder, a series of
sinkers carried in vertically open grooves in said sinker bed; novel means for
controlling the action of the sinkers and the presser, and novel
means for
effecting clutch engagement between the needle cylinder and the rotating sinker
bed.
"
The invention is fully elaborated in the drawings, wherein,
Figure 1 shows a quarter plan of the top of the needle cylinder and of the sinker
bed with slur-ccck, presser, sinker cams and stitch adjusting devices.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the clutch blocks attached to the sinker
bed which connects with the needle cylinder and by which the sinker bed is rotated
in unison with the needle cylinder.
Figure 5 is a vertical radial section of parts taken on the line xx-xx of
Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a plan of the slur-cock and sinker drawback cam as connected with
the stand in which they work.
Figure 7 is a vertical radial section through various parts taken on the
line
yyyy of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the needle jack shank race.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a needle and needle jack connected.
Figure 10 shows respectively an edge and side view of one of the sinkers detached
and shows the re-enforcement of the driving shank.
Figure 11 shows in plan, a portion of a horizontal dial plate carrying a set
of radial needles in connection with a portion of the needle cylinder and
sinker bed.
Figure 12 is a vertical section through the slur-cock needle cylinder and dial
plate taken on the line y y-y y, of Figure 11.
The main structural parts of the machine are seen in combination in Figures 5,
11 and 12, and consist of a fixed annular table A within which the concentric
needle cylinder H runs. This cylinder is mounted on an annular gear C which is

page_text: seated and rotates in a rabetted way cut in the under side of the table, and is held
up in place and guided by the cleats B which are attached by screws to the unde
side of the table A as shown in Figure 5. The gear C is driven by a beve
pinion D, to which motion is imparted from any source of power. On the inner
edge of the circular table A is an upturned flange A2, to the inner side of which the
cams K and L, which control the action of the needle actuating jacks J, are
.attached. The cylinder is grooved in the usual way for the reception of the needles
and the jacks used in connection with them, as will be seen, Figures 2, 5 and 7.
The grooves are, however, cut somewhat deeper than is usual for two purposes; one
is to take in the whole width of the needle jack, thereby protecting and concealing
the coupling between the shank of the needle and the needle jack, and the other is
to afford sufficient projection of the wings or
39
tricks as they are often designated,
(being the material of the cylinder between the needle grooves,) beyond the needles
at their upper ends, to receive the teeth of the driving clutch blocks M between
them, without interfering with the needles, as will be seen in Figure 5 at h¹.
To
The needles employed in this machine are of the style in common use but
are fitted to be loosely connected with and driven by jacks as shown in Figure 9.
The sinker bed which carries the sinkers that co-operate with the needles in
sinking the stitches, consists of an annular plate N (seen in cross section in
Figure 5,) rebated at its under outer edge so as to fit the guide ring P in which it
revolves. This guide is mounted on studs F which are seated on the top of the
table A of the machine and are provided with screw collars for effecting vertical
adjustment of the sinker bed. When the height of the ring P has been regulated
by the collars G it is fastened in such position by the set screws
which pass
through the ring, and screw into the tops of the studs F, as seen in Figure 5.
the under side of the ring P are fastened a number, three or as many as may be
required, of the driving clutch blocks M, shown in detail in Figure 4 and in
position in dotted lines in Figure 1. This clutch is dentated with teeth m which
fit the needle grooves of the needle cylinder. They do not enter deep enough,
however, to interfere with the working of the needles. The upper side of the bed
is radially grooved for the reception of the sinkers O which are shown in Figure 10.
These sinkers are preferably made double ended so as to be reversible in the
grooves, and have a driving shank in the middle which is re-enforced with a
wrapping of metal to resist wear and by which they are actuated by the slur cock
and the draw back cam. In practice they lie loosely in the grooves in the bed so
that any one of them can be lifted out of its position at any time for any purpose.
The action of the sinkers and the presser are controlled by the apparatus mounted
on or connected with a small stand 12 which is fastened to the ring P by two
bolts 11 11 which pass through the ring from its under side. Connected with this
stand are the following parts:-Two sinker guiding cams, Q and c c, and arranged
as follows: the former is carried at the lower end of a sleeve e e at the outer end
of an overhanging arm which is attached to the stand by screw dd; the latter is
shaped in the material of the inner under side of the stand itself. The function of
these guiding cams is to .bring the sinkers into proper position to coact with
the slur cock when they reach it. Next in order of movement comes the slur
cock R, which is fastened to the under side of the slide Z which is fitted to work in
a way provided for it in the upper part of the stand 12. The cam S which is
provided to draw back the sinkers after they have performed their duty in
sinking the stitch between the needles, is fastened to a long stem 7 which projects to
the rear and is attached to the slide Z by the screws 88 which pass through
elongated slots in the stem so as to provide for adjustment towards and
from the needles. When this adjustment is determined the screws are set firmly.
The slur-cock is attached to the slide by a similar provision, namely, the thumb
screw 2 which passes through an elongated slot in the slide and is screwed into the
body of the slur-cock, thus binding them together. This slide and its attachments
are held in place by a cap which is screwed at t t onto the top of the stand as
shown. The drawback cam S may be circumferentially adjusted by the screws 14 14

page_text: which pass through elongated slots in the stem and engage the cam below. The
drawback can S also performs another duty, it commences at a point in front of
where the sinker shanks leave the cam face of the slur-cock, and extends around on
a practically concentric curve to the point where its contour bends outwardly to
form the drawback cam proper. This is to prevent too deep insertion of the
sinkers between the needles, as well as to preserve uniformity of sinkage. A guard 9
is provided which is attached to the side of the stand 12 which, prevents the sinker
from being thrown out too far by the drawback cam S or by any other force.
As
the sinkers pass out from between the cams S and 9 they are in proper position to
enter the throatway between the cams Q and c c as they approach the slur-cock in.
the succeeding revolution. The plate which carries the cam Q has a hollow stud.
or socket e e in which the rock-shaft or pivot U is fitted to turn. The lever V and.
knob Y by which it is turned are attached to the upper end of this rockshaft and
an arm T projects from its lower end, the edge of which towards the needles is
rounded to the proper shape to act on the barbs of the needle as a presser.
the swinging of the arm V the presser T can be thrown against or away from the
needles. The arm is pivoted at its free end by means of the pin and socket as
shown to an adjusting and binding clip W which is put under control of the. set
screw X. Thus by loosening this set screw X and turning the arm V, a proper
adjustment of the presser can be effected, when the set screw can be tightened,.
leaving the presser ready for action. The spring 6, which is attached to the edg
of the ring P, bears against the outer end of stem 7 and acts to hold the slur-cock
and draw-back cam S in their proper positions with the nut 5 bearing against
stand 12. If necessary at any time for any cause, the slur-cock and draw-back.
cam can be drawn back out of position by means of the thumb nut 4.
By
Figures 11 and 12 fully exhibit the details of the mechanism for carrying and
actuating the radial needles. These consist of a central non-rotating spindle 50.
which is capable of elevation together with all appurtenances which may be.
connected with it by means the same as or analogous to those shown in my corre-
spondent's application filed contemporaneously with this one under No. 1703, dated
January 24; 1895. The cam-plate 51 is secured to spindle 50 by screw 65.
This plate carries on its under side the needle actuating cams 53 and 54. Beneath
this cam-plate the needle dial plate 52 is pivoted on the spindle 50 and is held in.
working position by the collar 63 and screw 64. Dial-plate 52 is driven by the
lug 61 on the needle cylinder which engages a similar lug 60 on its under side..
Latch needles 55 are used on the dial plate, the shanks of which as the dial is.
rotated pass between cams 53 and 54 whereby they receive their appropriate
movements. These cams are stationed abreast the sinker-actuating devices as seen
in Figure 11. The relative adjustment of the dial and cam-plates is preserved by
the pin 62 which passes through both of them whenever it may be necessary to
disengage the dial from its driving connection with the needle cylinder by raising
the former.
When the latch needles pass under the action of the cams 53 and 54 they are
thrown out between the vertical spring needles as shown, their forward ends
projecting just beneath the presser T as seen in Figure 12. If the latch of
any needle fails to be opened in pushing through the loop of the stitch, it will
be opened by the action of the edge of presser T against which it comes in
contact.
The operation of the machine is as follows-
A rib or starting piece having first been run onto the needles, the yarn is carried
through the yarn guides to the needles at the proper point of intake just in advance
of the slur-cock. The cylinder being then started carries around with it, by means
of the clutches M M, the annular sinker bed N with its equipment of sinkers. If
any of the latter are out of position by reason of being pushed in or out a little too
far, as they enter the gap er throatway between the cams Q and cc they are
brought into their proper positions when they engage the edge of the slur-cock R
by which they are properly and successively sunk between the needles carrying

page_text: the yarn with them. Concurrently with these movements the needles have been
raised to receive the yarn thus being delivered by the sinkers, and while the
sinkers are passing the concentric part of the cam S, the draw down needle cam
comes into operation at the same moment that the barbs of the needles pass under
the edge of the presser T. The knock-over of the stitches takes place at this
stage of the knitting in the usual way, which being effected, as the cylinder moves
on the sinker shanks engage the edge of the drawback cam S and by this are
withdrawn from their advanced positions, and as they emerge from between the
cams S and 9 they are all right for the next feed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
:―
1. The combination of the needle cylinder and means for rotating the same, with
an annular rotary sinker bed and provisions connected with said bed for effecting
clutch engagement with the needle grooves of the needle cylinder.
2. A horizontal sinker bed for use in knitting machines wherein the sinkers are
confined in vertically opening horizontal grooves by gravity alone outside of their
specific field of duty, as a provision for effecting their ready removal and insertion,
in combination with a set of fixed guides immediately preceding the sinking
devices, a cam for sinking and another for withdrawing the sinkers, a series of
sinkers having provisions for engaging said guides, sinking and withdrawing
devices, in combination with a needle bed and needles and provisions for actuating
said needles and for bringing the sinkers successively under the action of the
sinking devices, all arranged to operate substantially in the manner described and
for the purposes specified.
3. The combination in a cylinder knitting machine of the rotating needle
cylinder and needles, the rotating sinker bed and sinkers, and means interposed
between said cylinder and sinker bed in the nature of a driving coupling whereby
one may be driven by the other and in unison, with a stationary slur-cock, and a
stationary draw-back cam for actuating said sinkers, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the rotary needle cylinder and barbed needles, the
rotary sinker bed and sinkers and an interposed coupling between said cylinder
and sinker bed whereby one may be driven by the other, with a stationary
slur-cock, presser, draw-back cam and stationary needle actuating cams, adapted
to operate substantially in the manner described and for the purposes specified.
5. The combination with the rotary needle cylinder and needles of the presser T
and lever V both radiating from a common pivot adapted to turn in a stationary
bearing, and the binding clip W, the whole being constructed and arranged to
operate substantially in the manner described and for the purposes specified.
6. The combination of the described rotary needle cylinder and needles, the
rotary sinker bed and sinkers and means connected with said needles and sinkers
for actuating them and a driving coupling between said needle cylinder and sinker
bed, with a rotary needle bed carrying needles adapted to work between and at
right angles with said cylinder needles, for knitting ribs, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of the rotating needle cylinder equipped with the described
needle driving jacks and needles, the jack-actuating cams, the rotating sinker led
equipped with sliding sinks, a coupling device between said cylinder and sinker
bed, and stationary means substantially as shown for imparting to said sinkers
their appropriate movements substantially as described and for the purposes st
forth.
Dis 001 day of Tonuary 1905
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.