Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
(A communication by JoHN BARTON PAXTON, of No. 331, Saunder's Avenue, and
ELLIS IRWIN O'NEILL, of No. 2857, North Eighth Street, both in the City
and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Machinists.)
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 322, 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 relates particularly, though not exclusively, to that class of
circular knitting machines technically termed "three-quarter automatic," in
which are provisions for automatically effecting the disengagement from, and
re-engagement with, the knitting cans, of those needles which are usually
manipulated during the formation of the heel and toe parts of a stocking.
The present improvements apply more especially to machines in which the
needle-controlling mechanism is in the nature of spring-actuated pickers that are
periodically projected into the path of the active and inactive needles to effect the
requisite disposition of such needles in respect to the knitting cams.
The leading features of the invention herein described comprehend, first, certain
improvements in needle picking mechanism and in the means for controlling the
same; secondly, means whereby the continuous rotary and the reciprocating rotary
movements are imparted to the cam cylinder; thirdly, a novel construction and
arrangement of cam for depressing the half-series of inactive needles upon the
completion of the heel or toe fashioning operation; fourthly, means whereby the
tension of the stitches may be varied at predetermined intervals; fifthly, a novel
construction of sinker mechanism; and, finally, various features of construction
and organization of parts which will be hereinafter particularly described and
claimed.
In the annexed drawings--
Figure 1 is a plan of the machine, the needle cylinder and part of the driving
mechanism being omitted.
Figure 1 is a sectional detail of a pawl-controlling arm hereinafter referred to.
Figure 2 is a front view of the machine with parts broken away for clearness.
Figure 3 is a view of the left-hand end of the machine at and below the
bed-plate.
Figure 4 is a plan of the belt shipper and adjuncts.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating the
pattern chain which controls the tube-knitting operation.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the driving mechanism.
Figure 8 is a development of the exterior of the cam cylinder and the needle-
ontrolling mechanism thereon

page_text: Figure 9 is a development of a portion of the interior of the cam cylinder.
Figure 10 is a section through the clutch and fast pulley, as on the line y-y
of Figure 6.
Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating as in operation the diagonal cam for depres-
sing into action the half series of idle needles.
Figure 12 illustrates a modification of said cam.
Figure 13 is a detail of the check cam which co-acts with the needle depressor.
Figure 14 is a plan of the needle cylinder and sinker mechanism.
Figure 15 is a section, enlarged, as on line 2-z of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a development of the inker-actuating cams.
The bed 1, needle cylinder 2; rotatable cam cylinder 3, and knitting cams 4
are excepting as hereinafter described, of usual construction. The flanged base
of the cam cylinder is supported upon the bed-plate and is provided with bevel.
gear teeth which co-act with the teeth of a bevel wheel 6 on a horizontal driving
shaft 7, as ordinarily.
Fitted to an inclined slot in the wall of the cam cylinder, at a point in advance
of the knitting cams, is a reciprocative cam 8, which, preparatory to the knitting
of fashioned work, is projected into the needle cylinder for the purpose of deflecting
upward out of action one-half of the circular series of needles. The construction
and operation of this cam being known, no detailed description thereof is deemed
necessary in this case.
Upon the cam cylinder is supported suitable needle picking mechanism, com-
prising a pair of lifters 9, and a pair of depressors 10. Each of these devices
embodies a vertical post 11 suitably disposed on the flange of the cam cylinder;
an arm 12 mounted on the post so as to be rotatable and vertically movable
thereon; a cam 13 constructed and arranged to effect the requisite movements of
the arm when a needle is engaged by the latter, and a spring 14 arranged to
return the arm to a normal or active position in opposition to the cams.
In the present construction, the cam heads are fixed, and there is provided a
simple and efficient means whereby the lifters may be simultaneously moved into
action preparatory to the operation of narrowing, and the depressors are moved
downward below the path to which the heels of the needles are raised by the
lifters during such operation; and whereby the lifters are automatically raised
out of action and the depressors moved into action, preparatory to the succeeding
widening operation.
The picker controlling means comprises a segmental plate 15 fitted to and
guided in recessed plates 16 that are secured to suitably arranged posts 17 rising
from the flange of the cam cylinder. This segmental plate is connected with the
pickers, and it is provided with appropriate surfaces which are so arranged in
respect to each other and to the pickers that during the movements of the plate
the requisite periodical changes of the pickers are effected, as will presently appear.
In the upper edge of the segment, at points adjacent to the respective lifters, aro
V-shaped recesses 18, while in the lower edge of the segment, adjacent to the
respective depressors are step-like recesses 19, each of the latter being composed
of two portions a and b on different horizontal planes as shown. Extending
outwardly from the sleeves of the picker arms are studs 20 which intersect the
path of the segment; the studs of the lifters, when the latter are in the raised or
idle position, resting (against the compression of their springs) upon the upper
edge, c, of the segment adjacent to the recesses 18, respectively; and the studs of
the depressors, when the latter are in their normally raised position, extending
into the spaces or portions a of the recesses 19, respectively.
During the knitting of straight-ahead or tubular work the pickers occupy the
respective positions just described.
Preparatory to the formation of the heel or the toe of the stocking the operator
moves the segment in the direction indicated by arrow in Figure 8 (a suitable
knob or handle 21 being provided for that purpose), thus presenting the recesses 18
to the studs of the lifters, which latter, being unsupported by the segment, are,

page_text: perforce, depressed into action by their springs; and, at the same time, forcing
the bevelled portions (d) of the segment adjacent to the recesses 19, against the
studs of the depressors and forcing the studs down and under the lower portions b
of said recesses respectively. Thus the depressors are maintained below their
normally active plane. The pickers having been set in the relative positions just
described, the cam cylinder is reciprocated until the desired narrowing of the web
has been effected, whereupon the segment is moved to its previous position to release
the depressors and raise the lifters out of action. This being done the web is
widened correspondingly with the narrowing in the usual way, following which
a tubular portion is knit, and so on successively.
The movement of the segment to effect the change from narrowing to widening
is attained automatically by means which are as follows:-
To one end of the segment and to the proximate supporting post 17 is secured a
spring 22, the tendency of which is to retract the segment and maintain it in the
position first described, i.c., the tubular knitting position. Fixed to the wall of
the cam cylinder, adjacent to this spring is a bracket 23 from which extends a
stud 24 carrying a vibratory latch arm 25 that bears yieldingly upon the upper
edge of the segment, a suitably-arranged torsional spring 26 effecting such
yielding action. In the upper edge of the segment is a notch 27 which is so
disposed in respect to the arm that when the segment is moved by the operator as
and for the purpose stated, the latch engages the notch and thus locks the segment
in position against the action of the spring. Hence if the latch be disengaged
from the notch the spring will retract the segment to the original position.
To the rearward part of the bed-plate is fixed a bracket 28 provided with
bearings in which is supported a rock-shaft 29. On one end of this shaft is a
forwardly-extending arm 30 on the free end of which rests the rearward arm of
a lever 31 that is fulcrumed to a lateral bracket 32 on the bed-plate. The forward
arm of the lever rests upon the lower L-shaped arm of a vertical lever 33 that is
fulcrumed on a stud projecting from the bracket 32, a torsional spring 35 on
said stud acting to maintain the upper arm of the lever 33 normally outward. To
the free end of this arm is loosely fitted a stud 36 carrying a head 37 (the upper
edge of which is preferably oppositely beveled or inclined), a set-screw.38 supported
by the boss of the arm, bearing upon the stud and serving to secure the head
adjustably in place. When the arm is in its normal or outward position the
head is beyond the path of the latch-arm; but preparatory to the operation of
widening, the arm is moved to project the head into the path of said latch-arm,
whereupon the latter impinges against the opposed edge of the head and is
raised thereby to free the segment.
The described movement of the lever 33 is effected through the rock-shaft 29
and the intermediate connections the shaft being turned in the direction indicated
by the arrow in Figure 3. The operation of the shaft is automatically attained at
the proper time through the medium of a pattern chain 39, the same being pro-
vided with a projection 40 that, during the traverse of the chain, impinges against
an arm 41 on the rock-shaft.
The chain 39 is carried by a sprocket wheel 42 which is loosely mounted on a
shaft 43 having bearings supported by the bracket 28. Fixed to, or formed on,
the face of this wheel is a ratchet-wheel 42" with the teeth of which engages a
pawl 44.
This pawl is supported by a vibratory depending arm 45 which is
actuated at predetermined intervals, that is, during the knitting of the heel and
toe, so as to turn the sprocket wheel and advance the sprocket chain intermittently,
as will hereinafter appear.
On the shaft 7 are the fast and loose pulleys 46, 47, respectively, which are
periodically connected with a pulley 48 on the main driving shaft 49 by means
of a belt 50. On the outer face of the fast pulley is fixed an eccentric 51 (for a
purpose below explained) adjacent to which on the shaft 7 is loosely mounted a
circumferentially grooved collar or clutch member 52, carrying an integral
sprocket wheel 53. This wheel is geared by means of a chain 54 with a larger

page_text: sprocket wheel 55, the shaft of which is mounted in a suitably located bracket or
hanger 56. Fast on a shaft 57, forwardly of the wheel 55, is a crank wheel 58
that is connected with the former wheel by means of a pitman 59, said shaft being
equipped with a pulley 60 that is belted with and continuously driven from a
pulley 61 on the main driving shaft 49. By this construction a reciprocating
rotary motion is imparted to the sprocket wheel 55 and transmitted therefrom by
the chain 54 to the sprocket wheel 53 on the shaft 7. Hence if the belt 50 be
running on the loose pulley and the clutch-member be engaged with the fast
pulley, the shaft 7 and perforce the cam cylinder will be reciprocated.
During the knitting of tubular work the driving belt is upon the fast pulley
and the clutch-member is disengaged from the latter. When the leg or the foot
of the stocking, as the case may be, has been completed, the belt is automatically
transferred to the loose pulley by mechanism of the following description:
The
Pivoted to a suitably located lug 62 on the bracket 28 herein before referred
to is the rearward end of a belt-shipper frame 63 through which the belt extends,
the outer end of such frame being provided with an appropriate handle.
frame is maintained normally adjacent to the loose pulley by means of a stout
spring 64 one end of which is secured to a pin 65 on the shipper frame and the
other end to a pin 66, depending from a bracket or lug 67 on the side of the usual
gear case 68.
The shipper frame is held adjacent to the fast pulley, against the
action of this spring, by means of a suitable latch-arm 69, one end of which is
pivotally connected with the frame, as at 70. This arm is bent downward, as
at 71, so as to extend under the gear case, and is provided with a suitably-located
notch or recess 72 which engages a lug or projection 73 on said case. A spring 74
interposed between the frame and the arm, adjacent to the pivotal connection,
serves to maintain the latch-arm yieldingly engaged with the lug or projection.
The outer portion of this arm is slotted longitudinally, as at 75, a vertically-
reciprocative pin 76, which is fitted to the lug or bracket 67 on the gear case,
extending through the slot in the arm. On the pin is a collar or shoulder that
rests upon the arm, to the end that when the pin is depressed the arm is forced
downward and disengaged from the projection, thereby releasing the shipper-
frame and permitting the spring to retract it toward the loose pulley, and thus
to transfer the belt onto the latter.
Rising from the bracket 67 is a post 78 to which is fulcrumed a lever 79, one
arm of which is provided with a lateral extension, 80, that bears upon the head
of the pin, while the other arm is provided with a stud 80" that projects in
proximity to an appropriate pattern chain 81. On this chain is a projection 81"
which at a prescribed period during the traverse of the chain, abuts against said
stud, raises the same, and, in consequence, depresses the pin 76 with the effect
above stated.
The chain is carried by a sprocket wheel 81* fast on one end of the shaft 43
above referred to. On the other (or right-hand) end of the shaft are mounted,
side by side, two ratchet wheels 82, 83, one of which is fixed and the other loose.
These wheels have a corresponding number of similarly pitched teeth, but the
loose wheel is slightly larger than the other, every sixth (say) interdentil space of
such loose wheel being deepened to register with the corresponding space in the
fixed wheel. During tubular knitting the ratchet wheels are periodically actuated
by means of a pawl 84 which is connected with and reciprocated by an eccentric 85
on the driving shaft 7. The end of the pawl being wide enough to extend over
the two wheels, it racks the loose wheel a distance of six spaces, in which case,
being in a deep space, it engages the fast wheel, moves the same a distance of one
tooth, and accordingly moves the shaft. In the next stroke of the pawl it will
engage the following tooth of the loose wheel and rack the latter idly until the
succeeding deep space is engaged, whereupon the fast wheel and the shaft will be
advanced as before, and so on as long as the pawl is in action the shaft will be
periodically moved. While the shaft is being intermittently rotated, the chain 81
is advanced step by step, the number of links, owing to the prolonged intervals

page_text: between the succeeding movements, being materially reduced.
A suitably arranged spring 86 tends to maintain the pawl yieldingly in engage-
ment with the ratchet wheels, while a pair of spring-actuated stop pawls 87
mounted on the bracket 28 prevents backward movement of the wheels.
When the operation of the machine has been arrested upon the completion of
the leg and preparatory to the knitting of the heel, the operator throws into
action the diagonal needle raising cam 8 and effects thereby the inaction of the
half series of needles as herein before described. He then retracts said cam, and
subsequently shifts the segmental plate 15 to set the needle lifters in operative
position as previously explained. This being done the pawl 84 is disengaged from
the ratchet wheels, and the clutch-member is engaged with the fast pulley to
accomplish the requisite reciprocations of the cam cylinder.
The means for operating the pawl and clutch member is of the following
construction:
Adjacent to the fast pulley is a forwardly-extending hand lever 88, the rearward
end of which is pivoted to a depending boss on an appropriate bracket or exten-
sion 89 which may form an integral part of, or be secured to, the bed-plate of the
machine. Extending outwardly from the side of the lever is an arm 90, the outer
end of which is bent or inclined upward, as seen. Resting upon this arm is a
rearwardly-extending rock-arm 91, the forward end of which is mounted on a
stud shaft 92 supported on a projecting limb of the bracket 89. The forward end
of the rock-arm extends freely through a perforated lug 93 on the pawl 84,
whereby when the hand lever is moved laterally toward the fast pulley, the
inclined portion of the arm 90 rides under the rock-arm and raises the latter,
which, perforce, lifts the pawl out of action, see Figure 5.
A depending stud 94 on the hand lever enters the circumferential groove in
the clutch member 52, so that when the lever is moved as just stated, such member,
with its connections, is correspondingly moved, a stud 95 on the face of the
eccentric thereupon registering with a relatively-located socket 96 in the member
and thus locking the reciprocating sprocket wheel to the fast pulley 46.
The hand lever is normally held in the outer (or tube-knitting) position by the
action of a spring 96, which, encircling the shaft 92, bears against a shoulder 96"
on the latter and a lug on the lever. When the lever is moved inward against the
stress of the spring, the lever is temporarily locked in place by means of an
appropriate latch, which, in this instance, comprises a rocking lever 97 fulcrumed
to lugs 98 on the hand lever. The forward arm of the latch lever, as it may be
termed, is provided with an L-shaped extension that depends freely through a
slot in the hand lever. The horizontal member of the extension projects under the
stud shaft 92, being provided with a notch or recess 99 which automatically
engages said shaft when the hand lever is moved inward; such automatic action
being effected by means of a spiral spring 100 which bears upon a shoulder on a
depending pin 101 on the rear arm of the latch lever and against. the under side of
the hand lever through which the pin freely extends. It will be seen that by
depressing the forward arm of the latch lever by pressure thereon by hand, or by
the act of raising the pin (in the manner below described) the latch will be dis-
engaged from the stud and the spring will return the hand lever and its
connections to their original condition.
Pivoted to the rearward arm of the latch lever is the pawl bearing arm 45 above
referred to. This arm is provided with a heel 102 which is so disposed in respect
to the eccentric ou the fast pulley that when the hand lever is in the outer position,
i.e. during the knitting of tubular work, the heel is out of the path of the
eccentric; but that when the hand lever is moved inward, preparatory to the
reciprocating operation, the heel 102 is projected into the path of the eccentric so
as to be reciprocated thereby. Thus the pawl 44 is actuated to effect the inter-
mittent movement of the sprocket wheel 42 and chain 39 for the purpose
herein before described. The arm is maintained in operative engagement with
the eccentric by means of a torsional spring 103 (Figure 1) on the pivotal stud

page_text: of the arm; there being secured to the rocking lever 97 in advance of the arm, a
depending stop 104 which limits the forward movement of the arm. When the
heel of the stocking has been completed, a suitably-arranged projection on
the pattern chain 39 abuts against the pin on the latch arm, thereby effecting the
release of the hand lever in the manner above described.
The machine being at rest the operator by novel means hereinafter described
returns the half series of idle needles to action. He then grasps the belt shipper
and transfers the belt onto the fast pulley, whereupon the machine proceeds with
the knitting of the foot portion of the stocking in a manner similar to that
described in regard to the knitting of the leg portion. Upon the completion of the
foot, a suitably-arranged stop on the chain 39 co-acts with the lever to effect the
release of the belt shipper and the consequent transference of the belt from
the fast to the loose pulley; following which the operation of knitting the toe is
performed similarly in all respects to that of the heel herein before set forth.
The means above alluded to for returning the half series of needles to action
when the fashioning operation has been completed, is clearly shown in Figures 8
and 11 of the drawings, as follows:
In the wall of the cam cylinder, at a suitable point beyond the knitting cams,
is formed an inclined slot to which is edgewise fitted a cam plate 106 in a manner
to be movable into and from the interior of the cam cylinder. An arm 107 pro-
jecting outwardly from this plate extends freely through a guide post 108 affixed
to the exterior of the cylinder; the outer end of the arm being perforated to receive
one end of a suitably-disposed spring 109 which tends to retract the arm and the
cam plate. The path of movement of the plate is eccentric (as distinguished from
a radial path) to the axis of the cam cylinder, but its forward or acting portion is
bevelled radially in respect to the latter, as at 110, whereby if the cam plate be
pushed (by hand) into the cylinder, against the stress of the spring, such radial
portion during the stroke of the cylinder will engage the first needle heel in its
path and be locked in action thereby, such engaged needle, together with the
succeeding up-raised needles, thus being directed downward into active position
by the cam plate. Immediately upon the plate escaping the needles such plate,
being unrestrained, is retracted by the spring.
Instead of the cam plate being a sliding member it may be a swinging one, as
represented in Figure 12; that is to say, the plate is supported on one arm of a
lever 107 that is fulcrumed to a bracket exteriorly of the cam cylinder, a suitably
disposed torsional spring 109" tending to maintain the plate in the outward or
retracted position. By this construction it will be seen that when the plate is
moved into the cam cylinder, the action of the opposed needle heels thereon
prevents the spring retracting the plate until all the needles have been directed
down by and below the said plate.
Other modifications of this needle lowering cam will suggest themselves to
the mechanic.
As a simple and efficient means whereby the needle cylinder shall be automati-
cally lowered preparatory to the knitting of the ankle portion of the stocking, to
the end that the resultant tightening of the stitches shall reduce such portion,
the following construction has been provided, reference being had to Figures 2
and 3 of the drawings:-
-
Depending from the usual needle cylinder clamp, 111, is an arm 112 which is
provided at its lower outwardly-extending end with a vertical guide post 113 that
extends freely through the bracket 32 on the bed plate. Secured to this bracket
is the upper end of a depending arm 114 in the lower end of which is formed a
circular opening for the reception of an eccentric head 115. The shaft 116 of
this head extends into the limbs of a yoke head 117 to which is affixed the lower
end of the arm 112, whereby when the eccentric is turned, to the right or to the
left, the yoke-head and, perforce, the connected arm and the needle cylinder are
raised or lowered, as desired. Fixed to the shaft of the eccentric is a lever 118,
one arm of which constitutes a handle while the other arm 119 extends in

page_text: proximity to the pattern chain 81 before described. At a suitable point on this
chain is a lateral projection 80b which, immediately before the knitting of the
ankle, is carried by the advancing chain against the lever arm 119, thereby forcing
upward said arm and turning the eccentric in a manner to effect the lowering of
the needle cylinder. This being done the projection escapes the lever arm and
continues onward with the chain. When it is desired to proceed with the
knitting of normal stitches the operator grasps the handle portion of the lever and
returns the eccentric to its original position. A set-screw 120 affixed to a pro-
jecting lug on the yoke head limits the upward movement of the handle.
To the end that the relative tensions of the stitches during the knitting of the
stocking may be nicely predetermined, the arm 114 is made vertically adjustable;
that is to say, the upper end of the arm is slotted vertically to receive a guide
stud 121 on the bracket 32, and set screws 122 are fitted to the lower walls of the
slot so as to take against the stud. Hence by properly manipulating these screws,"
the arm and its connected parts may be nicely adjusted vertically and fixed in
their positions of adjustment.
It will be obvious that by reversing the position of the eccentric in respect to
the other co-acting parts, a loosening instead of a tightening of the stitches will
be effected under the circumstances stated.
Recurring now to the needle picking mechanism, it will be observed by
reference to Figures 1 and 13, that there is mounted on the upper end of each
of the posts of the depressors, an arm 123 from which depends adjacent to the
cam 13 and rearward of the picker arm, a plate 124, the forward edge of which is
inclined like the cam. This edge is held yieldingly beyond the cam by the
action of a spring 125, one end of which is secured to the arm and the other end
to the adjacent supporting bracket for the cam head. By this construction when
the depressor abuts against a needle preparatory to lowering the latter, the
retreat of the depressor is temporarily opposed by the plate 124, which latter upon
being overcome by the force or thrust of the depressor moves backward to permit
the action of the depressor upon its cam. In the absence of this restraining plate,
or check cam, it has been found that the depressor upon impinging against a
needle will recoil, and thus moving slightly downward it will sometimes escape
the needle.
It will be observed by reference to Figure 9 of the drawings that there is
mounted on the usual pivoted thread-guide post 126, a horizontally-disposed end-
beveled cam 127 that lies, when the post is in active position, directly above the
upper edge of the central knitting cam. The function of the cam 127 is to engage
the raised or up-thrown needle heels in its path and thereupon direct them
uniformly into line upon the upper edge of the central cam.
Thus the proper
position of the up-raised needles in respect to the depressing devices will be
insured. By swinging outward the pivoted guide-post the cam 127 is withdrawn
from the cam cylinder so as to permit the removal of the needles, etcetera.
• Respecting the sinker or web-holder mechanism herein, 128 represents one of a
series of vibratory sinkers which are arranged around the upper end of the needle
cylinder in a manner to alternate with and work between the needles. Each of the
sinkers comprises a vertically-arranged lever provided at its lower end with a
rounded lug 129 which is fitted to an annular groove 130 in the exterior of the
needle cylinder; and at its upper end with the usual stitch engaging hook 131.
It is also provided at or near its lower end with an outwardly extending cam
engaging portion 132, the under edge of which is preferably beveled or inclined
as shown. The series of sinkers are retained yieldingly in engagement with the
groove 130 and also with the stitches by the action of a coiled spring band 133
which encircles the sinkers immediately above their cam engaging members.
Encircling the needle cylinder is a fixed annulus 134, the upper edge of which
is grooved radially to receive and guide the lower portions of the several sinkers.
Rotatably mounted on this annulus is a ring 135 carrying on its inner wall
appropriate cams 130 which are so constructed and arranged that during tho
.

page_text: rotation of the ring they engage the members 132 of the sinkers successively and
effect the requisite disengagement and re-engagement of the hooks from and with
the stitches during the formation of the latter. The cam ring is rotated in the
usual manner by means of the thread guide post extending between lugs 137 on
the ring. See Figures 14, 15 and 16.
By the construction just described it will be seen that while the sinkers are
operated by the cams not only to release but to engage the stitches, the sinkers are
at other times held yieldingly in action by the spring band. It will also be seen
that should the hook portions of the sinkers, when the same are moved inwardly
by the cam, engage thick, irregular or knotty yarn, the lower portions of the
sinkers being loosely fitted to the groove in the needle cylinder, will, by reason of
the undue resistance of the yarn to the sinker hooks, move slightly outward against
the action of the spring, and thereby relieve the yarn from the strain to which it
would be subjected if the sinkers were merely vibratory from a fixed point; or,
in other words, the sinker hooks, when they are thrown inwardly by the cam, act
uniformly upon the yarn irrespective of the varying thickness of the latter; that
is to say, in the event of the hooks engaging an extra thick or knotty portion of
yarn, such hooks will merely pivot on the yarn and the lower portions of the
sinkers will move outward against the stress of the spring, but upon engaging a
regular portion of the yarn the hooks will be positively moved inward and engaged
therewith in the usual manner.
Although a single spring has been shown and described herein as acting upon
the sinkers to perform the double function of holding them yieldingly against
the stitches and yieldingly against their lower or normal fulcra to permit the
actions just stated, yet it will be understood that independent springs may be
employed to effect the double function performed by said spring, without departing
from this feature of the invention.
The general operation of the machine above described may be summarized as
follows:
To start, the operator throws the belt shipper 63 to the right; this runs the belt
onto the tight pulley 46, and rotation begins. The lever 88 is held by the spring 96 in
right-hand position, the clutch thus being disengaged from pulley 46. Pawl 84 rests
upon and works the ratchet 82 on the shaft 43, which shaft carries the pattern
chains 39 and 81. Rotation continues until the lug 80b on the chain 81 strikes
lever arm 119, and, by turning the eccentric 115 and lowering the arm 112 and
the needle cylinder carried thereby, tightens the stitches. The knitting of tight
stitches continues until the lug 81" on chain 81 strikes the stud 80" on
lever 79, whereby the pin 76 is depressed and
the latch arm 69 is
thereby also depressed and released from the catch 73, thus permitting
the spring 64 to move the shipper 63 to the left and shift the belt to the loose
pulley 47. Rotation then ceases and the machine stops. The operator then raises
the handle arm of the lever 118 and thereby raises the needle cylinder to make
the stitch length normal. He then pushes the raising cam 8 into operative
position and raises half the needles out of operation by giving the cylinder a
partial revolution. He next throws the segment 15 to the left, thereby lowering
the lifters 9 into position for action and lowering the depressors 10 out of action.
The operator then throws lever 88 to the left, and stud 94 thereon moves the
clutch 52 to the left into engagement with the fast pulley 46 and starts reciproca-
tion. Pawl 84 is rendered inactive by arm 90 lifting the rock-arm 91 and thereby
the pawl 84. Pawl 44 is made active by the shifting of the heel 102 of the arm 45
to a position opposite the eccentric 51. Narrowing commences and continues until
a projection 40 on the pattern chain 39 rocks the shaft 29 which moves the inter-
vening levers 30, 31, 33 to cause the head 37 to engage the latch arm 25 and raise
it out of the notch 27 in the segment. The segment thus being released the spring 22
moves it to the right, whereby the lifters are thrown out of action and the
depressors thrown into action. Then widening begins and continues until a
suitable projection on the chain 39 engages the pin 101, thereby rocking the

page_text: lever 97 and disengaging it from the recess 99. Then the spring 96 moves the
lever 88 to the right, in consequence of which the clutch 52 is disengaged from
fast pulley 46, reciprocation ceases and the machine stops.
moves the cam 106 inward into position to engage the needle heels, and gives the
The operator then
needle cylinder a partial revolution, whereby the said cam throws the inactive
needles down into active position. The operator then throws the shipper 63 to
the right and the circular knitting is resumed.
It will, of course, be obvious that the improvements above described, may be
applied to a machine wherein a rotary needle cylinder is used in connection with a
fixed cam cylinder, and, therefore, it is remarked, that while in certain claims the
driving shaft has been defined as geared with the cam cylinder, yet my correspon-
dents consider that it would be a complete equivalent to gear the shaft with the
needle cylinder. Further they do not limit their invention to the particular
construction and organization herein shown and described as the same may, in
many respects, be considerably modified without departing from the fair spirit
of the invention.
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
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what claim is:
1. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a needle picker,
and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided
with a recessed or cam surface so constructed as to engage the picker and maintain
it out of action, when in one position, and, when in another position, to release
the picker and permit it to return to action, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a needle picker,
and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided
with a recessed or cam surface so constructed as to engage the picker and maintain
it out of action, when in one position, and, when in another position, to release
the picker and permit it to return to action, and means tending to maintain said
slide normally in one position, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a needle picker,
and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided
with a recessed or cam surface so constructed as to engage the picker and maintain
it out of action, when in one position, and, when in another position, to release
the picker and permit it to return to action, means tending to maintain said slide
normally in one position, and means to lock the slide temporarily in the other
position, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a needle picker,
and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided
with a recessed or cam surface so constructed as to engage the picker and maintain
it out of action, when in one position, and, when in another position, to release
the picker and permit it to return to action, means tending to maintain said slide
normally in one position, means to lock the slide temporarily in the other position,
and means for automatically unlocking the slide, substantially as described.
5. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cains, a set of needle
lifters, a set of needle depressors, and means tending to maintain said lifters and
depressors normally in action, of a slide provided with recessed or cam surfaces so
constructed that in one position the slide engages the lifters holding them inactive
while the depressors are active, and in another position it engages the depressors
holding them inactive while the lifters are active, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a set of needle
ifters, a set of needle depressors, and means tending to maintain said lifters and
depressors normally in action, of a slide operatively connected with said lifters
and depressors and provided in its upper edge at points adjacent to the respective
ifters, with V-shaped recesses, and, in its lower edge, adjacent to the respective
B

page_text: depressors, with step-like recesses composed each of two portions on different
horizontal planes, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a set of needle
lifters, a set of needle depressors, and means tending to maintain said lifters and
depressors normally in action, of a device for controlling the idle or active positions
of said lifters and depressors at predetermined intervals, a spring to maintain said
device in one position, a vibratory latch arm supported in proximity to said device
and adapted to engage it and lock it in another position, and automatic mechanism
for disengaging said arm, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a cam carrier, its knitting cams, a set of needle
lifters, a set of needle depressors, and means tending to maintain said lifters and
depressors normally in action, of a device to cause and maintain the active and
inactive positions of said lifters or depressors at predetermined intervals,. means to
maintain said device in one position, a latch arm supported in proximity to said
device and adapted to engage it and lock it in another position, a vibratory lever,
a head thereon movable into and out of the path of said latch arm, a pattern
mechanism, and operative connections intermediate said mechanism and lever,
substantially as described.
9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with the cam cylinder,
the knitting cams, and the needle cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam
cylinder, continuously operating mechanism for driving said shaft, means for
throwing said mechanism into or out of gear with the shaft, a sprocket wheel
loosely mounted on said shaft, a second shaft, a sprocket wheel thereon, a chain
connecting said wheels, means for continuously reciprocating the sprocket wheel
on said second shaft, and means for operatively connecting the sprocket wheel
first-mentioned with its shaft, substantially as described.
10. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with the cam cylinder,
.its knitting cams, and the needle cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam
cylinder, continuously operating mechanism for driving said shaft, a pattern chain,
its supporting and operating parts, means actuated by the chain at predetermined
intervals to effect the disengagement of said mechanism form the shaft, a sprocket
wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, means whereby it may be operatively engaged
therewith, a second shaft, a sprocket wheel thereon, a chain connecting the sprocket
wheels, and means for continuously reciprocating the sprocket wheel on said
second shaft, substantially as described.
11. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with the cam cylinder,
its knitting cams, and the needle cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam
cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means
for driving the same, means for automatically transferring said belt from the fast
to the loose pulley at predetermined intervals, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted
on said shaft, means for engaging it with the fast pulley when the belt is on the
loose pulley, a second shaft, a sprocket wheel thereon, a chain connecting the
sprocket wheels, and means for continuously-reciprocating the sprocket wheel on
said second shaft, substantially as described.
12. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with the cam cylinder,
its knitting eams, and the needle cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam
cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means
for driving the same, a belt shipper frame, a spring tending to maintain the same
normally adjacent to the loose pulley, a latch-arm, constructed and arranged to
maintain said frame adjacent to the loose pulley, a reciprocable pin engaged with
the arm and adapted to operate the same, a lever in proximity to said pin, and
pattern mechanism adapted to actuate said lever at predetermined intervals, sub-
stantially as described.
13. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with the cam cylinder
its knitting cams, and the needle cylinder, of a shaft geared with sai
cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means fo
driving the same, a belt-shipper frame, a spring tending to maintain the sam

page_text: normally adjacent to the loose pulley, a slotted latch-arm pivotally connected with
said frame, means engaged by said arm to maintain the frame adjacent to the
fast pulley, a vertically-reciprocable pin extending through the slot in, and
engaging with, said arm, and means for depressing the pin, substantially as
described.
14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with its driving shaft, of
mechanism for imparting thereto continuous rotary motion, means for maintaining
said mechanism normally inactive, devices to maintain said mechanism temporarily
in action to effect the continuous rotary movement of said shafts, a second shaft,
pattern mechanism thereon, operative connections intermediate the same and
said devices, a ratchet wheel on said second shaft, a pawl to co-act with said
wheel, means for reciprocating the pawl, mechanism for imparting to the driving
shaft reciprocating rotary motion when the first named mechanism is inactive, a
device for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, and means on said
device for thereupon moving the pawl out of action, substantially as described.
15. In a circular knitting machine, the combination, with its driving shaft, of
mechanism for imparting thereto continuous rotary motion, automatic shifting
means for rendering said mechanism inactive at certain times, a second shaft, a
pattern device thereon, operative connections between said device and the shifting
means, a ratchet wheel on said latter shaft, a pawl to co-act with said wheel,
means for reciprocating the pawl, mechanism for imparting to the driving shaft
reciprocating rotary motion when the mechanism first-named is inactive, a device
for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, and means on said device
for thereupon moving the pawl out of action, substantially as described.
16. In a circular knitting machine provided with narrowing and widening
mechanism, the combination, with the driving shaft, of mechanism for imparting
thereto continuous rotary motion, and means for rendering said mechanism
inactive at certain times, mechanism for imparting to the driving shaft recipro-
cating rotary motion when the first-named mechanism is inactive, a device for
throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, a second shaft, pattern
mechanism thereon for controlling said narrowing and widening mechanism, a
ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl to co-act with said ratchet wheel, means for
reciprocating said pawl, and means on said device for throwing the pawl into
and out of action, substantially as described.
17. In a circular knitting machine provided with narrowing and widening
mechanism, the combination, with the driving shaft, of mechanism for imparting
thereto continuous rotary motion, means for rendering said mechanism inactive
at certain times, mechanism for imparting to the driving shaft reciprocating
rotary motion when the first-named mechanism is inactive, a lever for throwing
the reciprocating mechanism into action, a second shaft, pattern mechanism
thereon for automatically controlling said narrowing and widening mechanism,
a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl to co-act with said wheel, means for recipro-
cating the pawl, and a latch-arm on said lever adapted to support the pawl and
move it out of and into action, substantially as described.
18. In a circular knitting machine, provided with narrowing and widening
mechanism, the combination, with the driving shaft, of mechanism for imparting
thereto continuous rotary motion, means for rendering said mechanism inactive at
certain times, mechanism for imparting to the driving shaft reciprocating rotary
motion when the first-named mechanism is inactive, a hand-lever for throwing the
reciprocating mechanism into action, a spring tending to maintain said lever in a
normal position, a latch-lever mounted on the hand-lever, provisions whereby said
latch-lever holds the hand-lever in opposition to the spring, a vibratory arm depend-
ing from said latch-lever, a pawl on said arm, means for actuating the arm, a
second shaft, a pattern chain thereon for controlling the said narrowing and widen-
ing mechanism, and a ratchet wheel on said shaft adapted to be operated by the
pawl, substantially as described.
19. The combination, with a cam carrier and its cams, of a diagonally-disposed

page_text: needle deflecting cam movable into and from the interior of the carrier, and means
tending to maintain said cam normally retracted, the acting edge of said cam
being so inclined in respect to its path of movement that when it is moved into the
carrier the cam will engage the needle heels in its path and be locked temporarily in
action thereby, substantially as described.
20. The combination, with a cam cylinder and its cams, of a diagonally-disposed
needle deflecting cam movable into and from the interior of the cylinder in a path
eccentric to the axis of said cylinder, the forward or acting edge of the cam being
beveled radially in relation to the latter, and a spring tending to maintain said cam
normally retracted, substantially as described.
21. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its cams, a needle cylinder and its
needles, of an eccentric head, means for supporting the same, means operatively
connecting said head with the needle cylinder, a lever connected with said head,
one arm of which lever constitutes a handle, a pattern mechanism for actuating
the other arm of the lever, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of
said lever, substantially as described.
22. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its cams, a needle cylinder and its
needles, of an eccentric head, means for supporting the same, means operatively
connecting said head with the needle cylinder, and automatic mechanism for
turning said head, substantially as described.
23. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its cams, a needle cylinder and its
needles, of an eccentric head, a vertically-adjustable support for said head, means
for securing said support in positions of vertical adjustment, and means operatively
connecting said head with the needle cylinder, substantially as described.
24. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its cams, a needle cylinder and its
needles, of an eccentric head, a support therefor, operative connections between
said head and the needle cylinder, a lever on the shaft of the eccentric, and pattern
mechanism for actuating said lever, substantially as described.
25. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its knitting cams, and a needle
depressor including a picker arm, of a plate in rear of the said arm, a support for
said plate, and a spring to hold the plate yieldingly toward and adjacent to said
arin, substantially as described.
26. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its knitting cams, and a needle
depressor embodying a spring actuated picker arm and a fixed rearward cam with
which it co-acts, of a movable plate having its forward edge inclined like the cam
and supported adjacent thereto, and means tending to hold said plate yieldingly
beyond the cam, substantially as described.
27. The combination, with a cam cylinder, its knitting cams, the needle support
and its needles, of a series of loosely mounted vibratory sinkers, arranged to alter-
nate with and work between the needles, each of said sinkers being provided with
an outwardly extending stitch-engaging portion at its upper end, and with an
outwardly-extending cam-engaging portion, and normally fulcrumed at its lower
inner side, and spring means acting upon the said sinkers to perform the double
function of holding them yieldingly against the stitches and yieldingly against their
normal fulera, whereby during the ordinary operation of the machine the sinkers
will rock upon their normal fulera when actuated by the cam or by the spring
means, but when a sinker engages thick or irregular thread it will be rocked upon
the thread as a fulcrum and the lower portion of the sinker will move outwardly by
actuation of the cam and the thread will not be cut by the sinker, substantially
as described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.