IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel Inst P A of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES (a communication
from abroad by George Edward Nye and Edward Fredick both of Bristol, State
of Pennsylvania United States of America Gentlemen), 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 that class of knitting machines in which a series of
needles reciprocating vertically in an upright cylinder co-operate with a second
series of needles sliding radially in a dial plate.
The first improvement relates to devices controlled by a pattern chain for
automatically adjusting the cams which operate the dial needles, so that the needles
may be drawn inward to cease knitting momentarily and thus produce a welt in
the fabric.
The second improvement relates to devices controlled by the pattern chain for
adjusting the cam which operates the vertical needles so as to depress the needles,
at suitable intervals, below the usual point, thereby producing long stitches, or, in
other words, a slack course in the fabric.
The drawings illustrate what is commonly known as a "double" machine, in
which two threads are delivered to the needles at one time on opposite sides, but
the invention is applicable also to machines in which a single thread is used.
Figure 1 represents a top view of the machine.
Figure 2 an elevation of the same from the side on which the welting mechanism
is located.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite side, the dial plate and adjacent parts
being shown in section.
Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section showing the adjustable.cam for
producing the slack course.

page_text: Figure 5 is a view looking against the under side of the cams by which the dial
needles are controlled the cam being in position for forming the welt.
Figure 6 is a view of the same parts in their ordinary positions.
Figures 7 and 8 are horizontal sections on the line x-x of Figure 9, looking
downward, showing the cam which operates the dial plates in its two positions.
Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line y-y of Figures 5 and 7.
Figures 10 and 11 are views of the yarn guides.
In its general construction and mode of operation the machine is substantially
the same as those now in common use. The vertical needles a, slide in grooves in
the outer surface of the upright rotary cylinder A, while the horizontal needles
slide in rotary grooves in the horizontal rotary plate B, usually termed the dial
plate. The dial revolves on the lower end of a vertical shaft sustained in an
overlying cross-bar secured to the top of the main-frame. To the shaft immediately
above the dial is secured rigidly a stationary plate C, having on the under side the
cams by which the needles are moved. Two radially movable cams E, and F, engage
the heels of the needles to draw them inward. These cams are pivoted to swing
inward and outward at one end, and are connected, through intermediate devices,
with elbow-levers I and K, the positions of which are controlled by pattern chains.
All the above-named parts are of ordinary construction and form no part of this
invention.
+
to
Between the cams E and F, are located the "push-out" or projecting cams c,
which the first part of this invention relates. The cams are constructed so that
they may be moved inward at will to prevent them from projecting the needles
the usual distance, whereby the needles are caused to retain their stitches until one
or more courses have been knit on the cylinder needles, thereby producing what is
commonly termed in the art a "welt." As seen in Figures 5 and 9, each of the
cams c, swings at one end on a vertical pivot c', its opposite end being curved
concentrically with the pivot and arranged to close within a fixed recessed plate c².
When the cams are moved outward to the normal position their curved ends remain
slightly in engagement with the edge of the plate as in Figure 6, so that the edge
of the plate and the end of the cam form practically a continuous surface to act on
the shanks of the needles. To effect the extension and retraction of the cams c,
they are connected by links a², with the centrally pivoted plate 62, one end of which
bears a stud e, projecting through a slot in the stationary plate, and connected at
its upper end to a link d². The outer end of the link is pivoted to one end of an
elbow lever which is mounted on the main-fraine and provided at its opposite end
with a roller bearing on the edge of a pattern chain M, carried by the drum which
supports the other pattern chains. At a suitable point or points the chain M, is
provided with links of less height than the others. Whenever one of these links
passes beneath the roller the lever is allowed to fall backward and caused to turn
the plate b, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8, thereby contracting the cams c,
to the position shown in Figure 7, to stop momentarily the knitting action of the
dial needles as before explained. As the next link of greater height is brought into
action against the lever it causes the cams, through the intermediate parts, to
assume their normal positions so as to project the dial needles to the full length.
Referring now to the second improvement for producing the slack course, attention
is directed to Figures 1, 3 and 4.
D is a cam fixed adjacent to the revolving cylinder in position to act upon the
needle shanks and effect their depression. The form of the cam and its ordinary
mode of action are the same as in existing machines. Instead of being fixed as
usual the cam is arranged to slide downward below its ordinary operative position,
and is engaged with a vibrating arm f, mounted on a rock-shaft g, which latter is
provided with a second arm h, connected by a link i, or otherwise, to the upper end
of an elbow-lever O, pivoted to the main-frame. The lower end of this lever
carries a roller bearing on the edge the pattern chain P, provided at a suitable point
or points, with links higher than the others. Each of these links in passing moves
the lever, causing the same, through the intermediate parts, to depress the cain D

page_text: "
below its normal position, thereby causing the needles to descend sufficiently to
produce a course of stitches of extreme length, these stitches constituting what is
usually known in the art as a "slack course.' After the action of the elevated
links, the depressing cam is immediately elevated to its normal position by means
of a spring S, so that the usual operation of the machine is continued. The.
link i, is connected to the operating lever through the medium of a slot and thumb-
screw, in order that the movement of the cam may be varied to change the length
of the stitches. A spring S₁ restores the lever L, and its connections to their
normal position after the action of the pattern chain M. The roll which carries
the pattern chain is operated by the ordinary mechanism.
To deliver the yarn to the needles, guides T are employed perforated to receive
the yarn. In order that the position of these guides with respect to the needles
may be modified as required, they are constructed in the manner shown in
Figures 10 and 11. The vertical plate is made of substantially the usual form so
far as its lower or guiding portion is concerned. At its upper end it is provided
with an opening e through which a screw m, is passed to secure it to a bracket
plate n. This plate is slotted horizontally and secured to the main-frame by a
screw o. This construction permits the operative end of the guide to be adjusted
in all directions.
While the adjustment of the needle controlling cams is designed mainly for the
purposes already stated, it is obvious that they may be employed for the production
of figured or ornamental fabrics by providing the pattern chains with appropriate
links.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
ine by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. The automatic mechanism substantially such as shown for adjusting the cam
of the dial needles to secure the knitting of a welt.
2. The dial needles the movable cam to project them, the rotary plate to move the
and the lever and chain to turn the plate, said parts being constructed,
connected and arranged to operate substantially as described.
cam,
•
3. The cylinder needles and their depressing can in combination with automatic
mechanism essentially as shown, to depress the cam at intervals below its normal
position to effect the knitting of a slack course.
4. In combination with the cylinder needles, the depressing cam, the rock shaft
and its arms, the actuating lever, and the pattern chain, said parts connected and
arranged for joint operation substantially as described and shown.
5. The adjustable yarn guide consisting of the two parts constructed and
arranged as shown.
Dal 21. 0711 1
C
1

page_text: A clerical error in the Original Specification having been amended by
consent of the Comptroller, the name of one of the Communicators in the
Printed Specification will now read--