Improvements in Oircular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1893
Complate Specification Left. 30th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oircular Knitting Machines.
WILLIAM JAMES FORD Albany Villa Uppingham Road Leicester Hosiery
Manufacturer. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements consists of lengthening the stitches above the heel and in the
foot bottom of stockings or socks without increasing the length of loop in the
instep part of the articles.
•
To allow of this being done I file away the front of the leaves in the plain
fabric cylinder half or more round at the point where the needles draw the
loops.
This shortens the length of the loops. By falling the stitch opm I get a longer
loop at the part of the machine that is not cut down in the leaves.
The above is required when inserting a thick splicing thread:
My further improvement consists of a plate made the width of the portion of
the leaves that have been cut down.
This works on pins and slides regulated by a set screw fixed to the inside of the
aylinder by raising or lowering the plate. I vary the lengths of the loops to regulate
this portion to the part that is not out.
Dated this 08th day of Tan 1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
I, WILLIAM JAMES FORD of Albany Villa, Uppingham Road, West
Humberstone, Leicester, Hosiery Manufacturer, 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 has reference to circular knitting machines and embodies
improvements which have for their object to enable longer cor shorter loops to be
produced at a certain part of the needle oylinder at the will of the operator. To
produce shorter loops the leaves which divide the needle tricks are cut away at the
upper parts for a certain distance in their length at one part of the needle
cylinder and to produce longer loops than usual the stitch cam may be lowered
below its normal level at the uncut portion of the needle cylinder.
The invention also consists in combining with the needle cylinder a plate which
may be raised or lowered at the will of the operator so as to vary or regulate the
size of the loops formed at that part of the needle cylinder at which the leaves
are cut away or reduced in length.
In the accompanying drawing a sectional view of so much of the needle
cylinder of a circular knitting machine is shown as is necessary to illustrate my
invention.
A represents the needle cylinder and B the leaves on one side thereof which are
of their normal longth.
B' represents the leaves on the opposite side of the needle oylinder which are of
reduced length caused by filing or outting away the upper front portions thereof
as shown, so that the needles in the tricks between such leaves will form shorter
loops.
The short leaves B' may extend for a distance equal to half or thereabouts round
the cylinder near the point where the needles draw their loops.

page_text: By lowering the usual stitch cam in the well known mannor at the opposite part
of the needle cylinder a longer loop is formed and this is particularly desirable
when making stockings or socks as it enables a thick splicing thread to be used in
the upper part of the heol and the foot bottom which would be impracticable if
the size of the loop remained the same.
In order to permit of the size of the loop formed on the cut portion of the
cylinder being restored to its original size, or to allow of the size of the loop
produced therent being varied at the will of the operator, a plate C is employed.
This plate is connected to the needle cylinder by pins or screws C' passing
through the latter and through slots in the said plate and secured in position by
nuts C thereon. The plate has also formed on its inner side a lug D having a
screw threaded opening therein through which the threaded end of a sorow E
passes.
The said screw also passes through a lug A' formed at the bottom of the needle
cylinder A. and is also provided with a fixed collar E' which allows the screw to
rotate in the lug without travelling up or down.
By turning the screw E the plate will move either up or down so that it can be
projected either above the needle cylinder whereby long loops will be formed at
that portion of the needle cylinder or it can be lowered level with the upper edge
of the cut portion of the needle cylinder or an intermediate distance to permit of
loops of varying sizes being produced.
The movement of the plate C is stendied by a spring plate F bearing against
the same through which the screws or pins Caro passed, the latter also pass
through the needle cylinder and have nuts thereon to fix the plate in position as
before described.
Having now particularly described aud ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
olaim is :-
1. In a circular knitting machine a needle cylinder a portion of the leaves of
which are reduced in length substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a needle gylinder having
a portion of its leaves reduced in length of an adjustable plate such as C substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a needle cylinder having
a portion of its leaves reduced in length of an adjustable plate such as C and
means for raising or lowering the said plate substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The improvements in circular knitting machines substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of October 1893,
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.