Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I LOUIS NAPOLEON DEVON WILLIAMS of 2077 East Cumberland Street in
the City of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania United States of America
Manufacturer of Knitting Machinery 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:-
My invention consists of improvements especially intended for application to
machines for knitting ribbed fabric, although some of the improvements are
applicable to other machines.
One object of my invention is to provide for the secure confinement to the
rotating wheel, whereby they are operated, of the segments of the ring carrying
the cams which actuate the needles of the cylinder, a further object being to
facilitate the throwing into and out of action of the mechanism for operating a
pattern chain which controls the devices for moving the cams of the dial cam plate,
so as to provide for the formation of tuck or welt stitches, another object being to
simplify the construction of the latter devices, and a final object being to provide
for adjustment of the needle cylinder and dial, one in respect to the other.
These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a knitting
machine embodying my improvements, the needles, thread guides etc. being omitted.
Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, are perspective views of the different segments of the cam
ring;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the lever-mechanism whereby the adjustment of the
movable cam of the dial cam plate is effected;
Figures 7 and 8 are views representing a ratchet wheel with movable tooth and
operating devices therefor, constituting one of the features of my invention;
Figure 9 is a sectional plan view of the means whereby the needle cylinder and
dial are adjusted one in respect to the other; and
Figures 10 and 11, are views illustrating modifications of one feature of my
invention.
The fixed frame or bed of the machine is shown at 1 Figure 1, and to the said
bed is fixed the vertical needle cylinder 2, the latter being surrounded by an
annular cam box provided with outer segments 3, 3 and inner segments 4, 4, these
segments carrying the cams 5 whereby the operation of the needles of the cylinder 2
is effected.
Surrounding the annular cam structure is an annular bevel wheel 6 which gears
with a bevel pinion 7 en a driving shaft 8 beneath the table or bed 1. Each
segment of the cam structure is secured to the said annular bevel wheel by means
of screws 9 passing through the outer segments 3 and into the inner segments 4,
the latter having threaded openings for the reception of the threaded inner ends of
the screws.
By the use of the inner segments 4, in addition to the outer segments 3, the
necessity of forming threaded openings in the cams 5 for the reception of the
securing screws 9 is obviated and the said screws have a much firmer hold than
would be possible if they engaged simply with the cams, the latter being usually
thin and made of hardened steel so that they have a tendency to strip the threads
from the screws 9 when the latter are screwed up tightly.
.

page_text: The screws 9 might, without departing from the essential features of this part of
my invention, screw into the cams 5 as well as into the segments 4, but this is not
necessary as the said inner segments are of sufficient thickness to afford ample hold
for the screws and insure the secure and rigid confinement of the cams in their
proper position. The cams can, however, be readily removed from the machine
upon withdrawing the screws 9, so that both cams and needles are easily accessible
for inspection or repairs.
The horizontal dial 10 of the machine is mounted upon a collar 11 at the lower
end of a spindle 12 depending from a frame 13 which is mounted as usual so as to
rotate with the annular bevel wheel 6, a suitable lug 14 on the needle cylinder 2
projecting between lugs 14" on the underside of the dial 10 and preventing the
rotation of the latter with the spindle 12.
The dial cam plate 15 is secured to and rotates with the depending spindle 12
and this dial cam plate is provided with the usual cams for effecting the
reciprocation of the needles of the dial.
These cams may be similar to any of those ordinarily used and need not be
specifically described save that one of them is a swinging cam 16 and has a
spindle 16 projecting through the dial cam plate and provided above the same with
an arm 17 to which are connected two links 18 and 19, the link 18 being connected
to the short arm of a lever 20 and the link 19 heing connected to the short arm of
a lever 21, both of these levers being carried by a stud 22 at the outer end of an
arm 23 which is secured to and rotates with the spindle 12.
The levers 20 and 21 are in different horizontal planes and in a bearing 24 at
one side of the table 1 is guided a vertical stem or spindle 25 which carries at the
upper end a dise 26, hence by the vertical adjustment of said stem 25 this disc can
be brought into the path of either of the levers 20 or 21 or can be moved so as to
clear both of the said levers.
The levers 20 and 21 are reversely arranged so that supposing them to be moving
in the direction of the arrow, Figure 6, contact of the disc 26 with the lever 21 will
move the arm 17 in the direction of the arrow x, Figure 6, while contact of the
disc 26 with the lever 20 will cause movement of the said arm in a direction the
reverse of that indicated by the arrow hence by proper vertical adjustment of
the disc 26 the swinging cam of the dial cam plate 10 can be moved in either
direction.
The lower end of the stem 25 is acted upon by a lever 27 which has a stud 28
acted upon by a pattern chain 29 on a drum 30 to which is secured a ratchet
wheel 31, the latter having a movable tooth 32 which is, in the present instance,
carried by a lever 33 hung to one side of the ratchet wheel, vibration of the said
lever being limited by pins 34 projecting from the inner face of the ratchet wheel
as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
The ratchet wheel 31 and pattern chain drum 30 are free to turn on a stud
carried by the depending bracket 35, and upon the same stud is mounted so as to
be free to turn, a sleeve 36 which has at the inner end a wheel or disc 37 provided
with projecting spurs or teeth 38 adapted to engage with the web of fabric which
is passing downward from the needle cylinder 2.1
The outer end of the sleeve 36 has a pattern chain wheel 39 which carries a
pattern chain 40 and upon the latter are lugs or projections 41 adapted to come
into contact with the bevelled underside of the tooth 32 so as to lift the same from
the position shown in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 8.
A pawl 42 is carried by a lever 43, to which vibrating movement is imparted by
any available portion of the machine, for instance, by a cam on the flange of the
annular cam box, and said pawl acts upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31 in
order to rotate the same and cause movement of the pattern chain 39, but normally
the tooth 32 of the ratchet wheel 31 is depressed as shown in Figure 7 and the
pawl plays upon the blank space 44 so as to fail to impart movement to the
ratchet wheel 31..
When, however, & proper length of fabric has been woven, the pattern chain 40

page_text: will, through the medium of the toothed wheel 37, sleeve 36 and chain wheel 39,
have been turned so as to lift the tooth 32 into position for being engaged by the
pawl 42 and the ratchet wheel 31 will consequently be started the movement then
continuing by reason of the engagement of the pawl 42 with the fixed teeth of
said wheel so as to bring into action the pattern chain 29 and effect such adjustment
of the stem 25 and disc 26 as will cause the formation of the tucks, welts or other
forms of knitting for which the adjustment of the said disc 26 is intended.
As the ratchet wheel 31 continues to move, its tooth 32 is withdrawn from
contact with the lug 41 and is permitted to again drop to the position shown in
Figure 7, thus insuring the stoppage of the ratchet wheel 31 after it has made a
complete turn, the lug 41 having meantime been moved forward by the pattern.
chain 40, so as to be out of the way.
Heretofore, in machines of this class, the lug upon the pattern chain 40 strikes
a lug or projection on the ratchet wheel 31 and moves the latter wheel bodily so
as to carry the blank space of the same from beneath the operating pawl but this
requires the exercise of considerable force, which I render unnecessary by the
provision of the movable tooth.
Although I prefer to use the pivoted lever carrying the movable tooth, it will
be evident that other forms of movable tooth can be used within the scope of my
invention, for instance, the tooth may be mounted upon the side of the wheel 31
so as to slide into and out of position, as shewn. at 32 in Figure 10, a spring
being employed if desired for retaining it in the inoperative position, or instead of
using a movable tooth to be projected into a blank space of the wheel 31, the
latter may, if desired, be toothed throughout, and the movable tooth may be in
the nature of a guard or shield to be projected adjacent to one of the teeth of
the said wheel 31 to prevent engagement of the pawl 42 therewith, as shown for
instance at 32 in Figure 11, the pattern chain 40 having lugs for supporting the
tooth 32 as long as the ratchet wheel 31 is to remain inactive, but permitting
the said tooth to drop when the movement of the ratchet wheel is to be resumed,
the tooth remaining down during the time that the ratchet wheel is to remain in
action.
The lug 14 of the needle cylinder, which, by engagement with the lugs 14 of
the dial, serves to retain these two elements of the machine in proper relation to
each other, is secured to the needle cylinder by means of a screw 45 which is
adapted to a segmental slot 46 (Figure 9) in the cylinder, hence the lug 14 can be
adjusted on the cylinder in order to effect any desired change in the circumferential
relation of the cylinder and dial.
While I prefer to use the toothed wheel 37 as a means of operating the pattern
chain drum 39, any other means of imparting to the said drum movement in
accordance with the rate of production of the fabric may be adopted, the means
for moving the said drum constituting no essential part of my invention.
When the construction of movable tooth shewn in Figure 11 is adopted the
said tooth need not necessarily be carried by the ratchet wheel 31 but may be
hung to a fixed support alongside of the said ratchet wheel.
Ilaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
1st. A cam structure for knitting machines comprising inner and outer segments
carrying the cams, an outer rotating structure and screws or bolts whereby the
inner segments are confined to the said outer rotating structure substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2nd. The combination of the dial cam plate and its swinging cam, with an arm
on the spindle of the said swinging cam, a pair of reversely disposed levers and
links whereby the said arm is connected to each of the said levers substantially as
bereinbefore described.
3rd. The combination in a knitting machine of a pattern chain operating

page_text: ratchet wheel an operating pawl therefor, a supplementary pattern chain, and a
tooth or equivalent device under control of the latter for rendering the ratchet
wheel alternately operative and inoperative substantially as
hereinbefore
described.
4th. The combination in a knitting machine, of a pattern chain, operating
ratchet wheel having a movable tooth, an operating pawl, a supplementary pattern
chain acting on the said movable tooth, and means for operating the said supple-
mentary pattern chain, whereby the-movable tooth is caused or permitted to move
into and out of position, and the ratchet wheel is rendered alternately operative-
and inoperative substantially as hereinbefore described.
5th. The combination of the pattern chain, operating ratchet wheel having a
lever hung thereto and carrying a tooth, with a stop for limiting the descent of
said tooth when it is dropped out of action substantially as hereinbefore described.
6th. The combination of a pattern chain operating ratchet wheel having a lever
hung thereto and carrying a tooth with stops one for limiting the descent of the
tooth and the other for limiting the projection of the same substantially as
hereinbefore described.
7th. The combination of the cylinder and dial having engaging lugs with means
for circumferentially adjusting the lug on the cylinder, and securing it in place
after adjustment substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.