Improvements in Straight Latch Needle Knitting Machines
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Straight Latch Needle Knitting Machines:
A communication from abroad by THE WILCOMB KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, of
Jersey City, in the State of New Jersey, United States of America.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow 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 :-
This Invention is an improvement on the straight latch needle knitting machine
described in the Specification of British Letters Patent 13013 of October 12, 1886.
In the present machine as in that referred to transfer points are employed to. act
in conjunction with the needles for transferring stitches to fashion the work, the said
points being given movements similar to those described in the Specification. above
mentioned. The present Invention consists in various improved devices and com-
combinations of the same for carrying out and controlling the movements of the
needles and transfer points in order to secure more positive actions in the working
of the machine and better results in the. production of the goods. The Invention
consists further in improved driving mechanism for the slide bars further of an
improved shifting cam plate, for operating the needles forward and backward for. the
fashioning operation and in means for operating said shifting plate; further the
Invention consists of detachable connections for operating the needles from the main
shaft whereby the said needles may be operated by hand; further in an improved ...
form of point carriage and in the mechanism for operating the said carriage and points.
from the main shaft in all their movements, especially the lateral shifting; in..
mechanism for operating the reversible thread guide whereby the point at which the
thread guide reverses to feed the other row of needles may be changed at the will of
the operator by adjustment, and in automatically detachable driving connections
combined with an automatically operating stop pin for causing said connections to be
detached when the carrier reaches the end of the active row of needles; further in
operating the carrier to reverse by direct connections to the main shaft independent of
the driving connections.
In this machine needle lifting bars are employed to render the empty needles
inactive for fashioning, and the Invention includes also a novel combination of bars
for narrowing at both ends of the machine, and in operating means whereby. said
bars are operated positively from the main shaft independent of the movement of the
slide bars. Also the Invention includes pattern mechanism combined with a supple-
mental pattern mechanism for controlling the action of the various parts by which-
short pattern chains may be used and the Invention includes also various devices
and combinations thereof hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings are represented various views of the machine as
follows:
·
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with the thread carrier and guides therefor
removed.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine and fig. 3 a vertical.transverse
section on line of fig. 2 from point 1, some of the parts at the back of the
sectional line being also shown in section for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a section taken transversely through the upper portion of the machine..
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 represent views of the thread carrier with the operating devices.
therefor and the means for determining the point at which the carrier.guide, shallt.
reverse its action.
3

page_text: Fig. 9 is a pian view of the machine, some of the parts being broken away and
some removed for clearness of illustration.
Fig. 10 is a bottom view of a portion of the slide bar including the shifting cam
plate for operating the needles forward and backward, and the eccentric for actuating
said plate, with the connections between the two.
Fig. 11 is a transverse section through the bar and shifting plate showing in
elevation the eccentric.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section on line - of figure 11.
Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the bar with two switch cams for narrowing at both
ends of the machine.
Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the means for operating the shifting cams
manually and the connection between this and the operating bar to be operated by
the action of the machine.
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the carriage for supporting and operating the
points.
Fig. 16 is a transverse section through the point carriage, a portion thereof with
its operating devices being in elevation.
Figs. 17 and 18 are detail views relating to this portion of the machine.
Fig. 19 is a transverse section through the main or lower portion of the supporting
frame on line y-y of fig. 2 looking from point 1.
Figs. 20 and 21 are detail sectional views of a part of the operating devices for
shifting the needles either for narrowing or widening the fabric in fashioning.
Fig. 21 A. represents a modification of the driving mechanism for the slide bars.
Fig. 22 represents a sectional view on line z-z of fig. 2 looking from point 1. the
frame being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 23 is a transverse section through part of the machine illustrating the pattern
mechanism.
Fig. 24 illustrates a section of the parts shown in fig. 25 but in different position
and :-
Fig. 25 is a similar view with the parts in advanced position showing the
corresponding change in the relation of the needles and transfer points.
Fig. 26 is a plan view of the devices for actuating the needles to move forward
or backward.
Fig. 27 is a detail view of a brake device.
Fig. 28 is a plan view of the cam shaft of the machine, some of the operating
levers and the controlling devices for the fashioning devices.
Figs. 29 to 34 represent the improved devices for lifting the needles out of action
and the successive positions of the same.
Figs. 35 to 38 illustrate details of the lifting devices.
Figs. 39 to 42 show the improved means for operating the thread guide and
Figs. 43 to 48 illustrate different views of the operating mechanism for the thread
guide.
In the drawings Sheets 1 to 16 A. A. are the end frames, braced by girts 1 and 2.
The frames rest upon a base 3 which is supported by legs 4. The needle beds B B
figures and 3 are held adjustably in place by screws passing through slots in
plates 5 secured to the frames as in fig. 26. The slide bars B B carrying the
stitch cams R of substantially ordinary form are connected at their ends by cross
braces a a.
For reciprocating the slide bars a vertical rack D. Figs. 1. 2. 9. 19 and 21 A. is
used. This rack is connected with horizontal racks bb, which are fastened to the
cross braces a a of the slide bars, by the pinion c² and gears cc supported in
brackets 61 81. Movement is imparted to the driving bar D by a face wheel (13 on
the shaft E and a pitman d' connected to cross head d¹ moving in ways d².
shaft Eis driven by the gears e and f the latter being on the cap shaft. A multiplying
connection is preferably used between the cross head and bar D as shown in Fig. 21 A.
the said bar being adapted to have accelerated movement through the cross head.
The

page_text: The cross head has pinions 6' 6 meshing with racks c³ ³ on the guide ways and also
with teeth on the bar D. As the cross head moves the pinion will rotate and the
bar D will be given a movement in advance of the cross head, the resulting movement
equalling the sum of the cross head movement and that imparted by the pinions.
Instead of the gears c c and racks b b between the bar D and the slide bars a
flexible connection may be used wound around grooved drums (which takes the
place of the gears c c) and extend to the cross braces a a.
The sinkers figures 3 and 5 are movable and are designed to act in conjunction
with the needles for measuring off sufficient yarn to form the new loops. They are
supported in beds f" and are operated forward and backward by slide bars F'.
Movable knock-over-bits f³ supported in beds f* and operated by slides f³ also
co-operate with the needles and movable sinkers, but as these devices and the method
of operating them form the subject matter of an application for Letters Patent dated
February 5, 1889, No. 2042 their action need not be given herein. The slides f
and F are connected with the slide bars B2 by brackets f Figs. 2 and 22 and thus
move with said bars B2. The sinkers and bits are carried by brackets G figure 5;
supported at each end by blocks 16ª under the needle beds. These brackets are
adjustable by hand from the shaft g¹ (Figs. 2 & 5) which carries the worms 9'
which in turn move the pinions 9º and the screws g³ the latter engaging with the
brackets G.
The thread guide Figs. 5. 6. 7 and 8 is reversible to feed one row of needles
and then the other, and as shown it is provided with a knife edge for throwing back
any latches which may have closed. The operating mechanism for the thread guide
is designed to enable the operator to vary and determine by adjustment the point at
which the reversing action shall take place, so that when it is desired to knit a fabric
of less diameter than the length of the needle rows the operator can by adjusting the
stroke of the machine and the point of reversing the guide, render the machine capable
of knitting without lost motion and without drawing the thread unnecessarily at the
end of the stroke. The carrier H moves in guides hh. its spindle h¹ supported in
cap pieces 20, carries the thread guide h². A sleeve 21 within the carrier moves up
and down being guided by a piece 22 projecting through a vertical slot 24 in the carrier.
An inclined groove 25 in the sleeve receives a pin. 23 projecting from the spindle and
when the sleeve is moved up or down the spindle is acted upon by the incline slot and
the spindle turned half way round. This mechanism thus far described is the same as
in the Specification referred to No. 13013 of 1886. The sleeve is moved up or down
by a movable channelled bar h* extending along one of the guide bars which receives
the projecting piece 22. As the stud is always in engagement with the grooved bar
the reversing of the spindle by the up or down movement of the sleeve can take place
at any point without regard to the position of the carrier relative to the ends of the
needle rows. The ends of the bar h are inclined and bear upon corresponding
inclines on the bar h figure 6. It is raised or lowered by a sliding plate h³ supported
in the guide bars and having inclined slots which receive blocks on the rear face of
the bar ho. The slide is operated by a rod * connected thereto by brackets 26
extending to the outside of the guide bar through slots. The thread carrier has an
arm 27 in loose engagement with the rod /*. Adjustable stops with buffer springs
are secured on the rod to be struck by the arm 27 on the carrier, and when either
is struck the bar * moves and reverses the guide through the connections described.
This operation is performed at the final part of the carriers stroke. By adjusting the
stops nearer together for instance, and the carriers stroke to feed a less number' of
needles than usual, the machine is rendered capable of knitting a smaller tubular
fabric without lost motion or drawing unnecessary thread. The carrier is driven by
a bar h connected to a post on one of the cross braces a.
The stroke of the carrier
and slide bars may be varied by changing the crank pin on the face wheel and the
only other adjustinent for the purpose above described is that of the pins 8. 8 figurè 1
for shifting the stitch cams.
In Figs. 39 to 18 inclusive is shown a modified form of mechanism for driving the
thread carrier and for limiting its movement in relation to the active needles so as

page_text: to prevent the slack yarn at the end of the rows of said active needles. For
this purpose a detachable connection between the carrier and its driving rod is
employed which is operated automatically when the end of the row of active needles
is reached to release the carrier and a stop for arresting the same. The stop may be
movable and automatically operated by the same mechanism which operates the point
carrier so as to always maintain a position relative to the position of said carrier
and the active needles.
In these drawings Fig. 39 represents a view partly longitudinal in section and
partly in side elevation showing in the upper part thereof, the thread carrier way, the
carrier, the stop therefor, and the needles and transfer points and in the lower the
moving mechanism for the carrier.
Fig. 40 shows in perspective the thread carrier way, the carrier, the detachable
connections, and the stop.
Figs. 41 and 42 are detail views.
Fig. 43 is a plan view of the machine.
Fig. 44 is a horizontal section through the thread carrier and its way.
Fig. 45 shows the needle beds and parts above them in cross section and the
movable stop connections with the main driving power.
Figs. 46, 47 and 48 are details hereinafter explained.
The thread carrier driving rod o, instead of being connected to the carrier P
directly, is attached to the cross head p, p¹ which slides in ways 0, 0¹. The attach-
ment of the cross head to the carrier is made by means of a spring latch 3, 4, carried
on a pin of projecting through the slot o' of the guide way O₁, the said pin being on
the cross head. The hook end of the spring latch engages with the pin 2 projecting
from the carrier, and when in engagement the carrier partakes of the crosshead's
movement. The upper edge of the latch is inclined at 5 and when the carrier has
reached the end of the active row of needles this incline passes under a pin 6, Fig. 39
on guide way O¹ and the latch disengages the carrier which then stops, but the cross
head is allowed further movement without interfering with the said carrier, for which
purpose the latch is long enough, as in fig. 44, to hold the cross head a slight distance
from the carrier. As the cross head moves back the latch rises under tension of
spring 4 and engages with the pin 2 and moves the carrier. This pin 6 serves the
purpose of stopping the carrier at the end of the full needle row, when nono of the
needles are thrown out of work. But for narrowing or widening, where the length
of the row of active needles is always changing, an adjustable stop S, is used. This
is located on and operated automatically by the screw shaft 11 which passes through
the threaded sleeve 10 which carries the stop. The sleeve has thereon the double
inclined projection 15, for operating the latch, and a guide spline 7, Figs. 47 and 48
to move in the groove 8 of the bar O¹. When the shaft 11 turns, the stop moves
along it and as the threads of this shaft are of the same pitch as those on the point
carrier shaft 53 and is moved therefrom by chain 13 and sprocket 12 the movement
of the stop will correspond with that of the point carrier and needle lifting bar. The
inclined faces 15 on the sleeve act upon the inclines 5-16 of the spring latch to
release it from the carrier just as does the pin 6, previously described, and as the stop S,
moves to correspond with the change in length of the row of active needles, as in
fig. 39, the carrier will be arrested when it reaches that point. A spring-catch 17 on
the stop grasps the carrier and holds it while the cross head moves away. In the thread
guide reversing mechanism before described, the guide is reversed through the action
of the carrier itself at the end of the stroke, but for the arrangement just described
of carrier with variable stroke, an operating connection is provided directly to the
main driving shaft of the machine so that the reversing can take place without regard
to the position of carrier in relation to the end of the needle rows.
The immediate reversing means for the guide are the same as those previously
described, consisting of spindle Q, vertically moving sleeve a', stud a², bar 19, cam
slide 20. When the cam slide is moved, it operates this train of devices and turns
the thread guide spindle and guide. The operating connections from the main shaft
are attached to this cam slide.

page_text: As the
The wheel 21 transmits the motion, making two revolutions at each reciprocation
of the carrier and the connection therefrom to the cam slide consists of the vertically
movable bar 29, bell crank lever 22, and bar 23. The bar 29 is operated up and down
by a shifting cam piece T, pivotted on the drum, and engaging with pin 24. The cam
is wedge shaped and its pivotal movement is limited by spurs 25 and pin 26.
cam piece passes the pin it moves it up or down according as the position of said piece
causes it to move above or below said pin. During the passage of the cam past the
pin it is automatically shifted by the pin 24 acting upon its rear end so that as the
piece comes around again it will be in position to move the pin in the opposite dire:-
tion which movement is imparted to the thread guide through the train of devices
already described. By this up and down movement of the bar 29 the carrier, is
reversed at each end of the needle rows. The cam piece T may be controlled if desired
by the hand of the operator.
Referring again to sheets 1 to 16 (Figs. 1 to 28).
The improved devices for carrying out the fashioning movements of the needles
and points as described in the specification No. 13013 of 1886 before referred to, are
now to be described. The knitting goes on continuously and the narrowing actions,
are controlled by pattern mechanism, occuring at intervals without interfering with
the said knitting operation.
The first movement is the advancing of the needles to leave their eyes exposed for
being engaged by the transfer points, and the immediate devices for doing this and
also retracting the needles consists of a shifting cam plate R on the under side of the
slide bar figs. 3 and 10 to 13. The shifting cam plate has a groove for the needle
heels and this communicates with the stitch cam groove. This part of the machine is
improved, the object being to keep the needle groove continuous and of the same width
throughout, without regard to the position of the shifting cam, whether it be
shifted forward or backward. For this purpose it has a slanting movement and is
guided by inclines 28, and held by the plate 29, and the pieces of the bar about the
stitch cam R. These pieces have inclined edges, in different but parallel planes,
and the adjacent edge of the shifting cam plate is inclined to correspond, as in
Fig. 10, in which the cam plate is shown in forward position, and it will be seen
that the needle groove is continuous and the walls thereof the same distance apart
throughout. Fig. 13 shows the cam plate in normal position at which time the
straight portion of the groove in the bar R is in line with the groove over the stitch
cam R. As the bar moves forward, the short incline section of the groove opens
out between the inclined edges of the plate and the pieces on the bar, as in fig. 10,
the continuity of the groove being preserved throughout. The cam plate is operated
by a sliding bar C10 located in a groove in the slide bar and having inclined slots (11
(dotted lines figs. 10 and 13) which receive blocks 20% on the shifting cam plate.
The bar C may be slid back and forth manually to shift the cam plate R by a
handle 31 and for operating the shifting cam plate automatically, a rotary eccentric
disc J is used, journalled on pin 34 on the needle slide bar and connected to said
shifting plate R, the object of which is to transmit a varying movement to the needles
as they move forward and backward during the fashioning, gradually increasing the
forward movement to prevent straining the loops and decreasing the backward move-
ment to allow the transferring of stitches to be better performed by the transfer
points. The rotary eccentric disc J has an eccentric groove in its under side which
receives the block 33 and this is connected to the sliding bar Co by the bar ³ in the
face of the needle slide bar, the spring catch i, and the notched flange 32 on the hub
of the handle 31, which is carried by the bar 010. This handle with its flange 32
and the spring catch i forms a detachable connection to the automatic operating
connections leading to the main shaft, and by turning the handle so as to disengage
the notch of flange 32 from the spring catch i, the slide Co and the cam plate R
may be operated by hand to move the needles. It will be obvious that the movement
of the bar will vary as the block 33 in the eccentric groove of the disc J is acted
upon by different portions of said groove nearer to or more remote from the centre
and the desired variation of speed of the needles in their forward and backward thrust
°

page_text: is thus secured. The eccentric disc is operated positively by direct connections to the
main shaft independent of the movement of the needle slide bars. The upper part
of said disc has bevelled teeth with which mesh a pinion 36 carried by a sleeve 37
splined to a shaft 38. The sleeve has bearings in the casing secured to the needle
slide bar and the shaft 38 is journalled in the cap pieces which hold the needle slide
bar to its bearings. By this arrangement the needle slide bars can reciprocate freely
and carry the disc, J, sleeve 37 and casing, maintaining always operating connection
with the shaft 38. The shaft is driven by a sprocket k¹, chain and sprocket k
(Figs. 9, 22 and 26) which is formed on a collar turning on the stud 39. The
chain is directed around suitable lag pulleys 2 fig. 22. The collar * is connected to
a movable sleeve 41 on the stud by pin 40, and said sleeve carries a
pinion K' the
corresponding pinion for the other side of the machine being marked Ke. A wheel K
on the main or cam shaft has racks 1, 1', the former being intended to actuate the
needle moving devices for the front while the other performs a similar function for
the rear needles, it being understood that the pinion K³ must be shifted into engage-
ment with its rack 1, before the parts can be operated. The pinions K5 K are shifted
alternately and are controlled by the pattern inechanism. The sleeves of the pinions
are connected with levers L, L, which have extensions 42 connected by a spring 63
tending constantly to keep the pinions from engagement with the segmental racks 1, 1.
The long arms of the levers are connected by bands 1, 1 to levers 43-44, Figs. 2, 3
and 26, pivotted to the girt and extending beneath the cam shaft. The bands are
crossed by the coupling to connect with their respective devices. They are directed
around the sheaves 46 (Figs. 2 and 3), on a plate 47 supported by a standard and
are connected with bell crank levers I pivotted to the standard. The levers L' are
also connected with the levers 43-44 by rods having a turn buckle for adjustment.
Each lever has a shifting roller on its side which is designed to be shifted laterally
at proper intervals and alternately with the other roller into line with its respective
cam piece m (or m¹). When either roller is thus shifted, it, together with its
supporting lever is depressed and the connections drawn upon to move the shifting
pinion K (or K) into engagement with its segmental rack to cause the operation of
the needles. The rollers are shifted into line with the cam pieces at each revolu-
tion of the shaft by levers m³, m³, (Figs. 2 and 28) which are connected with
levers M, M by links m. These levers are operated from the main shaft by a
lever N the vertical arm of which carries a long pin arranged to engage with both
the levers M* M* and move them. The other arm 50 of said lever is bifurcated and
embraces a sleeve carried by another lever N¹. This lever is depressed by a central
cam n, (Fig. 3) with tappet 52 on the shaft through the friction roller 51. Throngh
these various levers the rollers are shifted at each revolution of the shaft but in order
that the cam piece m, (or m²) may act upon its corresponding roller, said roller must
be controlled and held in position when shifted, and this is effected by means of the
pattern cylinder N' which has stop projections n', n², in line with the levers M', M*,
respectively, and when the projection n' (or n³) is brought under its appropriate
lever, the connections will be held in their shifted position to retain the shifted roller
in line with its cam piece. One of the projections n is further back on the cylinder
than the other, so that only one is active against its lever at a time, the free lever
returning to normal position and reshifting the roller out of line with its cam piece
before the same comes around.
The cylinder N³ is moved step by step, one step for each revolution of the shaft, by
ratchet teeth N³ on the cylinder and a pawl n³ on the lever N¹ operated at each
revolution of the shaft. Ordinarily when the knitting is going on plain and before
the main pattern mechanism acts to cause the narrowing, the pawl n³ works upon a
long tooth n (fig. 23) of the ratchet, and consequently the stops n', n² are not
brought beneath the levers M M and they are with the rollers perimitted to return to
their normal position without causing the needles to move for narrowing. When
however, the long tooth of the ratchet is turned down as hereinafter described, by
the main pattern mechanism, the cylinder is turned by successive operations and the
stops are brought separately into action beneath the levers M³ M* and the narrowing

page_text: action of the needles consequently, occur first on one side of the machine and then on
the other, caused by the levers 43 and 44 being depressed, the rollers of which are
held in their shifted position in line with the cam pieces m, m¹. The forward move-
ment of the lever M and M occurs simultaneously with the movement of the
cylinder N2 as both are operated from the same lever N¹, and the stops therefore are
brought beneath the levers when they are raised. Intermediato of the stops n', n³,
for the needle operating connections is another stud z (Figs. 24, 25 and 26) which is
designed to operate certain connections to cause the movement of the transfer points,
which must act in conjunction with the needles caused to operate by means of the
stud n¹, and in rear of the stud n², is a fourth stud which is a companion to the stud n*
and causes the operation of the other set of points. These studs will be referred to
hereinafter.
The main pattern chain O' (Figs. 23 and 26) controls the movement of the
cylinder N by giving said cylinder a partial turn to pass the long tooth by the pawl n³.
The chain passes over a sprocket wheel O' as indicated by the arrow. The wheel is
moved step by step by a ratchet o on its side, pawl o and lever 08, the latter being
operated by an eccentric P on the main shaft. The chain has projections p which
move the lever P₁ pivotted to an arm o¹¹. On the shaft of the cylinder N' is a disc o
having a tooth o¹ to be engaged by a pawl o carried by a lever o'. The lever P' is
connected to the pawl lever o' by a band 54 passing over a directing wheel 56. When
the projection on the chain strikes the lever P¹ the disc o is turned and the cylinder
with it, so that the regular teeth are engaged by the pawl n³ which then moves the
cylinder step by step, bringing each of the steps successively into action, and causing
the narrowing actions first on one side and then on the other during the complete
revolution of the cylinder. When the long tooth comes beneath the pawl n³, the
pawl is engaging the tooth o¹ of the disc ready for another action. For holding
the shifting pinions K³, K into or out of engagement with their segmental racks 1, 1,
a catch 67 (Figs. 9 and 26) is pivotted to the bracket 56 between the levers L'L'.
Notches 57 are adapted to engage pins 58, 59 on the levers. The catch is oscillated
at each revolution of the main shaft by a cam piece 61 (Figs. 2 and 22) on the
driving bevel gear a³ of the shaft F. This cam piece strikes a stud 60 on the lower
end of the catch spindle p¹ and the catch is. thus swung on its pivot. A spiral
spring 62 returns the catch to normal position. If at the time the catch is swung
on its pivot either of the pinion shifting levers L L is operated by the depression of
its lever 43-44 the stud of said lever L or L' will be caught by the proper notch 57
on the return of the lever to normal position and the pinion will be retained in its
engagement with its rack to operate the needles. At the same time the other lever L'
and pinion are held inoperative by its pin bearing upon the extreme end of the catch.
When the other lever of the pair 43, 44 is operated this action is reversed with respect
to the levers L, L', and the needles on the other side of the machine are operated
for narrowing. In Fig. 26 the lever M* is shown, held by its stop n' and the advanced
position of the needles operated at this time is shown to one side, this being the rear
of the machine. The advanced position of the stops for the front of the machine is
also indicated. The levers 43, 44 and the connections thereto are returned to normal
position by the spring 63 connected to the levers L L. Each shifting pinion is
provided with a flange 65 (Figs. 22 and 26) cut away on a curve corresponding to
the periphery of the wheel K, and when the pinion is disengaged from its rack this
portion bears upon the wheel and the pinion is prevented from turning and unduly
affecting the needles which are now back in normal position ready for the transferring
of stitches by lateral movement of the points which now hold the loops. The segmental
racks are only long enough to cause the first advance and retreat of the needles to
allow the transfer points to take the loops, and as soon as the end of the rack leaves
the pinion, the cut away flange 66 bears upon the plain portion of the wheel K and
holds the connections to the needles against movement, to allow this transferring of
stitches to be performed. After the loops are transferred as hereinafter described, the
next step is the second advance and retreat of the needles to take them. As before
stated the catch 67 is operated at each revolution of the shaft and consequently--the

page_text: shifting pinion K' (or K°) is released and allowed to return to normal position, this
occurring immediately after the first action of the needles, and while the pinion is
on the plain part of the wheel K. For performing the second narrowing action of
the needles that is, the second advance and retreat, to take the transferred loops, the
pinion K (or K) must be immediately thrown back into engagement with its
segmental rack and this is done by the second depression of the lever 43 (or 44) the
roller of which has assumed its outward or norinal position but is again in line with
its cam segment m (or m¹) on the cam M (or M') this having in the mean time been
shifted laterally for operating the connections to the point block. The shifting
pinions K K are located on cach side of the bracket 56 and the racks 1, 1, are
arranged in corresponding relation on the wheel K so that they come into alignment
with their pinions simultaneously for the shifting action of the latter, one only how-
ever being operated at a time. The rack shown in fig. 22 is for the rear pinion K
and the blank space between the ends of the other rack is indicated by the points aº.
The catch 67 has a stop pin 70 which limits its movement by abutting against a
plate 71.
The transfer points, Figs. 3, 5, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18 are held to a block Q pivotted on a
sliding plate Q The point carriage Q is on shafts R' R². The sliding plato Qis
moved forward and backward by means of a pinion g' splined to shaft R¹ meshing
with rack bar g, on the plate. The shaft R' is operated by a rack 7³ meshing with a
pinion q. Levers 93 9° extend from the racks and the arms q thereof extend over
the cam shaft and have rollers which are engaged by cams on the main shaft. As
the points move forward they are slightly elevated by a transverse pin on the arm 73
passing down inclines on arms 31 by means of spring 81 (Fig. 3) bearing on the said
arm 73. The points are now over the needles and are ready for depression which is
effected by the elevation of arms 781 splined to the shaft R³ operated from a cam 89
on the main shaft through lever 85, rod 81 and arm 80* on the rock shaft R³. The
lever for the other side of the machine is shown at 86, and the cam at 90. After the
points and needles engage, the movement is continued until the loops are on the
transfer points. The continued revolution of the shaft brings the low part of
the cam 89 over the end of the lever and the spring 91, acting, operates the
lever and raises the transfer points. The points must now be shifted laterally to
transfer the loops. This is done by threaded shafts R2 in connection with the point
carriages, both screws being moved in unison by the chain 92 (Figs. 3 and 5) and
sprocket wheels on the screws. A sprocket wheel S on shaft 91, supported in
sleeve 92 drives this chain (Figs. 3, 5, 19, 20, 21). On this shaft 91 is a toothed
dise 93 which is engaged by a spring pawl 94 on an arm s fitted loosely to the shaft,
which arm is operated by a levers through a connecting bands. The lever has a
roller which ordinarily bears upon the eccentric part of the disc which has an
abutments connected by grooved web through which the roller passes normally.
When the roller is shifted it rides over the abutment and operates the lever s¹ fully.
A shafts supports the lever, which supports also levers 93, 94 extending under the
cam shaft where they are operated by shifting cams 95-96. Through this mechanism
the points are shifted at the proper time. As both screws by this operation are
moved and as the movement of only one is required at a time, it is necessary that
the movement of the other should be rendered ineffective. For this purpose the
screws are given longitudinal movement in opposite directions in addition to their
rotation and this longitudinal movement is equal to one half of the whole movement
required to move the points from one needle to the next. On the side to be rendered
effective this longitudinal motion of the screws is in a direction to augment the move-
ment derived from the rotation of the screw and the points are moved from needle to
needle while on the other side the motion is in a reverse direction and counteracts
the rotary movement, thus holding the points against movement on the latter side.
The means used for this longitudinal motion of the screws consists of thimbles t t
having zig-zag grooves which receive stationary screw threaded pins having
rollers (Figs. 9, 15 and 17). When the shafts R' are operated a quarter turn, the
low part of the groove on one side comes in contact with the pin and moves the shaft..

page_text: On the next
longitudinally and the point carriage with it the required distance, while on the other
side of the machine the high part of the groove engages with the pin and moves the
shaft in the opposite direction to take up the carriages' movement.
quarter turn the action just described is reversed and so on thus shifting the point
carriages alternately. After the lateral movement of the points has been completed
they are depressed by the high part of cam 89 (or 90) acting under the lever 85
(or 86) through the intermediate connections described. In this position the points
are ready for the second advance of the needles to take the loops which action is
performed by the reshifting of the pinion K³ (or K) into engagement with its rack,
and the consequent actuation of the eccentric on the slide bar. As the needles
again advance, the points are retracted through the rotation of shaft R', caused by the
spring 92 acting upon the rack and pinion q² through the lever arm g'or q. The
points are lifted by the action of spring 91 or 91" through the lever 85 or 86, rod 81
and shaft R. The movement of the levers under spring action is limited by stops, as
in arms 94 and 95. As before stated the pinion q¹ and arms are splined to their
respective shafts whereby lateral movement of the point carriage is permitted. The
described movement of the needles and transfer points are all given by cams on the
main shaft, there being a separate set for the needles and points on each side so that
the action on their corresponding levers is independent though they follow each other.
Each set of cams is marked collectively X, Y (Figures 2 and 28) and are carried by
splines y having longitudinal movement on the shaft, to shift the cams to and from
normal position and when either set is so shifted the various cams of that set are in
line with the operating levers of one side while the other set is out of alignment with
the levers which it operates. The two sets are held normally out of line with their
levers by springs 99. On the inner end of the spline carrying the set of cams X is
a cam M¹ having inclines w thereon. The other spline y, has a similar cam M thereon
and the arrangement is such that to bring either set of cams into alignment with the
rollers on the levers, the set must be shifted inwardly towards the centre of the
machine by the movement of the corresponding cam M or M₁ away therefrom.
Constantly reciprocating pins U U₁ are used to shift the cams M M alternately.
When either of said pins is held stationary in its forward position the incline
of the corresponding cam bears against it and causes the shifting of said
cam and the set on that side. The forward thrust of the pins occurs each time the
inclined edges are brought before them, at each revolution of the shaft or twice for
each round of knitting. When the knitting is to go on plain without fashioning, the
pins are allowed to retract at onco without acting upon the cams, this being due to
the inaction of the controlling devices and the action of the springs 100. The pins
are moved forward by oscillating levers v vsimilar to the levers M' M' and 'these
levers are operated at each revolution of the shaft by lever N having the transverse
pin bearing on the said levers v v'. The lever N is operated by lever N¹ which is.
moved at each revolution of the shaft by the tappet 52 on the central cam. All
these levers are controlled separately and in proper order by the pattern mechanism
before described. The first lever to be arrested is M' which when held forward holds
the shifting roller on lever 43, in line with the segmental cam to cause the advance
and retreat of the needles on the front of the machine. The stud n¹ which arrests
the lever is set to advance on the cylinder (Fig. 26). The next in order is 2, for the
lever which when held forward holds the pin V₁ so that the set of cams Y is
shifted and the transfer points on the rear of the machine operated to act with the
needle on the front. These levers M and are thus companion levers.
The next stud n³ is in rear of stud z and controls the lever M which causes through
the lever 44 the operation of the rear needles, and in rear of this stop is the one
to control the companion lever for operating the points on the front of the machine.
When the pull pawl is effective on the ratchet by the long tooth being turned down,
the stops n n will be brought into action successively and the fashioning will be
performed first on the front and then on the rear until the cylinder has been
completely turned, one stud being brought into action at each revolution of the shaft.
The pattern mechanism proper determines the time and frequency of the revolutions
B

page_text: of the controlling cylinder. Figure 23 shows the controlling devices and the
mechanism operated thereby in normal position, the knitting being carried on plain,
the pawl of being in engagement with the single tooth in disc o, ready to turn down
the long tooth of the cylinder ratchet N3 so that the pull pawl of said ratchet will be
effective. When this action is caused by the main pattern mechanism the fashioning
operations are performed by the rotation of the stop cylinder. As before stated the
catch 67 is operated at each revolution of the main shaft and thus the shifting pinion
is released when the slide bars reach the end of their stroke during the fashioning,
and as the needles must advance and retreat a second time it is necessary to
immediately return the pinion into engagement with its rack. The shifting roller on
the lever 43 (or 44) at this time has returned to normal position but is still in line
with the cam segment on the shifting cam M (or M¹) which has itself been shifted for
the operation of the transfer points and this cam segment depresses the roller which
through the described connections reshifts the pinion.
After the loop has been removed from any needle it is essential that this empty
needle be raised so as not to take yarn from the carrier.
For this purpose a bar 102 Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 9 is held at the upper edge of the
needle bed by plate 104 and a shoulder on the bed and clips 105. Within a
boxing 106 on the bed is journalled a screw R similar to the screw R on the other
side of the machine for shifting the point carrier, and has a like thimble 107, with
like groove. The lifting bar and screw R₁ are connected by the travelling nut 108.
The bar has a finger 109 the upper edge of which is above the needle bed and as, the
bar moves the neodles are raised and rendered inoperative as in Fig. 5. Similar parts
are on the other side of the macbine for the other needles and operate alternately with
the parts described as in case of the screw for the point carrier, all of said screws
being operated by the chain 92.
For widening the fabric no change in the parts is required it being only necessary
to rotate the screws in the opposite direction so as to move the point carriers to the
right instead of to the left and a second pawl u (Figs. 19 to 21) on an arın u¹ on the
shaft 91, opposite the narrowing pawl operates to turn the disc in the other direction
and thus rotates the screws from left to right. The pawl is also connected to the
lever by a band u. The pawls are arranged so that one can be disengaged when
the other is acting and held by the pins v. Springs return the pins to
normal_position the springs being connected to the operating arms and a post v.
In Figs. 29 to 38 is illustrated a combination of needle and lifting bars for
fashioning at both ends of the machine.
In these sheets, Fig. 29 represents a front or inner face view in perspective with
the needles in section.
Fig. 30 a similar view of the apparatus fully turned and without the needles.
Figs. 31 to 34 inclusive illustrate the different successive positions of the needle
raising slides as will be explained hereinafter.
Fig. 35 shews a section on line y y of Fig. 38.
Fig. 36 is a section (in part) of Fig. 38 on line x-x.
Fig. 37 shows the slides separated.
Fig. 38 is a plan view partly in horizontal section.
The needle bed E and slide bar D may be of ordinary construction.
A cap piece C
on the edge of the needle bed is grooved to receive nuts F F adapted to slide therein
when moved by the rotation of screw G, and G¹ in said cap piece and having bearings
in the central block g. Said screw shafts are independent of each other, and may be
moved by sprocket chains as above indicated. The nuts F F¹ are connected to and
operate the needle lifting bars at each end of the machine whereby the needles at both
ends of the rows may be thrown into or out of work for fashioning on both sides of
the fabric. The lifting bar 4 on the left has the lifting finger A similar to that above
described and is fixed to the nut F, on the screw G and is splined to the slide 3 by
rib f. In front of the lifting point A is a bearing edge k which rests upon the
needles and holds them down. The rest of the slide is cut away. The lifting slide 3
for the other end of the machine is like slide 4 and is splined to slide 2. It has an

page_text: inclined lifting point . The slides are adapted for use in stocking machines and as
the slide 3 operates on the rear side its lifting point is made longer than that for the
front side as most of the narrowing is on the rear. This slide also has a bearing
edge k¹ and is connected to the other nut F¹. In combination with these lifting slides
a number of needle covering or holding down slides are used, two being shown herein
for convenience. The slide 2 has a bearing edge in advance of the edge k¹ and has
a spline connecting it with the slide 1. It has a short slot which receives a
pin m, on the slide 3, so that when the slide 3 has moved forward to bring the
bearing behind the bearing ³, the pin will be at the end of the slot and the two
slides will then move together to uncover the needles and allow them to rise under
the action of the lifting fingers. The slide 2 has a slot receiving the pin n,
of a
slide 1. The bearing edge on this slide 1, is in advance of the bearing edge on
slide 2 and when the latter slide advances and brings the bearing edge behind k* all
move together behind a fixed bearing k on the bed. The slide 4 moving from the
other end passes in front of the fixed bearing k and behind the slide from the other
end. All the bearing edges when the slides are in this position are located in line and
over the same needles which are covered and held down. A clip p, on the central
bearing g retains the slides in place. Figures 29 and 30 of the drawing show the
slides back and all the needles in work: Fig. 31 shows slide 3 advanced to raise 7
needles with its bearing k¹ behind . Fig. 32 shows slides 3 and 2 advanced. So
far the narrowing is wholly on one side, the rear. In Fig. 33 the raising slides are
advancing simultaneously on both sides. In Fig. 34 the slides are shown in their
extreme advanced position and all the needles are out of work excepting those
directly beneath the bearing edges. The pins p¹ on the front slide limit the movement
of this slide and through it the others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated by my foreign correspondents and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is-
1. In a straight knitting machine the slide bars, the reciprocating operating bar D
and connections from said reciprocating bar D to the slide bars for reciprocating them.
2. In addition to the above is claimed the cross head, the pitman for moving the
bar D and the connections to the slide bar as the pinion, the gears C, and racks b,
or equivalent connections.
3. The bar D and cross head with connections and the multiplying mechanism
comprising the pinions the racks c c and the racks on the bar Ď.
4. In a straight knitting machine the vertical driving bar D, and multiplying
mechanism for moving said bar.
5. The shifting cam plate R, having oblique or slanting movement provided with
a longitudinal groove for the heels of the needles, and so arranged as to provide an
unbroken continuation of the needle groove about the stitch cam R whatever be the
position of the shifting cam plate.
6. In combination the slide bar, a fixed part of the needle path having the
inclined edge, the inclined guides, the cam movable on the inclined guides having a
longitudinal groove and formed with its end adjacent to the fixed part of the needle
path also inclined, the parts of said inclined end above and below the needle path
being in different but parallel planes, substantially as described.
7. In combination with a slide bar a shifting cam plate for the transfer move-
ment of the needles, an eccentric cam in connection with the cam plate for giving
a varying movement thereto in advancing and retracting, a main shaft, and operating.
connections to the eccentric or cam independent of the slide bars.
8. In combination with a slide bar, a shifting cam plate R a main shaft, a shaft 38.
operated therefrom and intermediate mechanism in connection with the shifting.cam
plate carried by the slide bar and splined to the shaft 38.
9. In combination with a slide bar, a shifting cam plate R, a shifting pinion,
connections between said pinion and plate, a rack on the main shaft for moving
the pinion and a pattern mechanism for controlling the shifting operation.

page_text: 10. In combination with the slide bars, the shifting cam plates, and the shifting
pinions, a main shaft, racks operated thereby, pattern mechanism for controlling the
shifting of the pinion and a locking catch substantially as described.
11. The mechanism for operating the shifting cam plate consisting of the eccen-
tric J in connection with said plate and carried upon the slide bar, the shaft 38
having splined connection with the eccentric, the shifting pinion as K³, driving
connections between said pinion and the shaft 38, a drum K having a segmental rack
on its periphery, a lever, as L for shifting the pinion into and out of engagement
with the rack on the drum, means for operating the shifting lever L from the main
shaft and pattern mechanism for controlling said operation.
12. In combination with the slide bar, a shifting cam plate for the transfer move-
ment of the needles, a handle for operating the cam plate manually, a main shaft and
detachable driving connections between said main shaft and shifting cam plate whereby
said plate may be operated automatically or disconnected for hand operation substan-
tially as described.
13. In combination the slide bars, the shifting cam plates the pinions K³ Ke in
connection with said plates the drum having racks thereon driven from the main
shaft, the levers 43, 44, connections from said lovers to the pinions for shifting the
same, cam pieces on the main shaft for depressing the shifting rollers of levers 43, 44,
a constantly operating lever N, in connection with the shifting rollers, a cylinder N
and a pattern mechanism for controlling the action of said cylinder substantially as
described.
14. A transfer point carriage Q upon which are located the transfer points, the
said carriage being mounted directly upon and moved laterally by a threaded shaft R*
which is driven from the main shaft.
15. A point block carrying the transfer points, said block being moved transversely
with the carriage Q but having independent sliding and tilting movement in the
operation of fashioning.
16. A point carriage Q2 movable laterally on and by a threaded shaft R' driven
from the main shaft, a point block carrying the transfer points given sliding move-
ment by a rack q, and gear q¹ operated by a shaft R' also driven from the main
shaft, and lifting or tilting movement imparted to the block by arms through a
shaft R which is likewise driven from the main shaft.
17. In combination with the point carriages on opposite sides of the machine, a
threaded shaft for each carriage, said shafts being formed with zigzag grooves having
cam faces, a main shaft with operating connections between said main shaft and the
threaded shaft on each side of the machine, a pattern mechanism and operating con-
nections from said pattern mechanism for controlling the action of the threaded
shafts, stationary pins on the frame engaging with said grooves, the cam faces of one
shaft being set reversely to the other whereby one threaded shaft is rendered
inoperative and the carriage on the other advanced its full distance.
18. In combination with the point carriages on opposite sides of the machine a
threaded for each carriage, a main shaft, a shaft 91 operated from the main shaft and
a pattern mechanism controlling said operation, and a connection between the
shaft 91 and the threaded shafts of the point carriages, substantially as described.
19. In combination with the point carriages of the machine a pair of threaded
shafts for moving them laterally, a lever s¹ operated from the main shaft with
suitable connections to both the threaded shafts substantially as described.
20. In combination with the point carriages a pair of threaded shafts a shaft 91, con-
nections from said shaft to the threaded shafts, a pair of reversely operating pawls,
a ratchet wheel on said shaft 91, and means for operating the shaft 91, substantially
as described.
21. In combination with the two rows of needles, a thread carrier having a
reversible thread guide and elongated operating bar he and connections therefrom
to the thread guide with means for operating the bar he, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7
and 8.
22. A reversible thread guide adapted to be reversed automatically to feed the.

page_text: opposite row of needles by an elongated operating bar h, adjustable stops, operating
connections therefrom to the bar h and an arm 27 on the thread carrier in the
path of the adjustable stops whereby the said arm comes in contact with and moves
the stops, causing the movement of the bar h and the reversal of the thread guide
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
23. In combination the guide ways, a thread carrier and guide, a detachable
connection between said carrier and its driving mechanism, and a stop automatically
movable arranged to operate upon said detachable connection whereby the movement
of said carrier may be arrested at the end of the row of active needles as shown in
Figs. 39 to 48.
24. In combination with the thread guide the reversing mechanism extending
from the thread guide to the main shaft operated independently of the thread guide's
own movement, as shown in Figs. 39 to 48.
25. The movable stop for the carrier operated automatically and equally with the
stitch transferring devices by mechanism such as the screws 11-53 and the chain
as shown in Figs. 39 to 48.
26. Combined with the reversible thread carrier the operating connections there-
from and the movable cam piece T for operating said connections as in Figs. 39
to 48.
27. A lifting bar for raising the empty needles to render them inoperative, as
at R (Figure 5) a screw shaft for operating said lifting bar and operating connec-
tions from the screw shaft to the main shaft.
28. In combination two rows of needles, transfer point carriages, one on each side,
screw shafts for moving the same, a needle lifting bar on each side of the machine,
a threaded shaft for operating each bar and means for operating all of said shafts
simultaneously, as in Figure 5.
29. The combination with the described needle raising slides, a series of needle
holding slides having bearing surfaces to hold down the needles, all the slides being
loosely connected, as in Figs. 29 to 38.
30. In combination with the movable slides having bearing surfaces, the fixed
bearing surface on the needle bed as in Figs. 29 to 38.
31. The particular arrangement and construction of the needle raising and bearing
slides as shown in Figs. 29 to 38.
32. In combination the constantly operating levers M³ M₁ v operating connec-
tions from the main shaft controlled by said levers for actuating the needles and
points, means for controlling said levers as the stop cylinder N and the primary
pattern mechanism.
33. In combination with the needles and transfer points with operating mechanisms
therefor, a pattern device as N' for controlling the various operations of the needles
and points through their respective mechanisms and a primary pattern mechanism
for determining the time of action and the setting in motion the cylinders N³ and
means for operating the cylinder N' from the main shaft.
Dated the 18th day of June 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.