Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
We, JOHN HENRY SCOTT, and JOHN ROEBUCK, both of Whitehall's Factory,
Wollaton Street, in the Borough of Nottingham, Hosiery Machine Builders, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to circular rib knitting machines and it
has for its object to provide improved patterning apparatus applicable to such
machines for the purpose of producing patterned fabrics thereon of greater variety
than heretofore.
In carrying out this invention the clearing cam for the rib needles, which is
arranged on the inside of the jacks to which the rib needles are secured in a well
known manner,
is connected to the lower end of a bellcrank lever pivoted on the
upper part of the frame. The other end of this bellcrank lever engages with, and
is operated by a pattern cam wheel rotating preferably on an axis parallel to that
of the frame.
By the action of the pattern cam the clearing cam is moved into its operative
position at different points in the diameter of the frame and thus the rib needles at
those points only are brought into action.
Secured to the pattern cam is a toothed wheel engaging with a corresponding
wheel on the frame, these wheels may be equal, or the cam wheel may be formed
with more or less teeth than that on the frame, so that its speed of rotation is
slower or faster than the frame and the relation of the pattern cam to the frame is
thus constantly changing and the clearing cam is caused to operate different
needles each rotation of the frame in a regular order of progression or
retrogression.
In a frame with two or more feeders the arrangement described is duplicated for
each feeder, but the pattern cam wheel for each clearing cam may be different, or
its relative speed of rotation in respect to the frame may be different, and each one
be successively brought into action as the work proceeds.
For example in a two feeder machine the pattern cam wheel of one clearing cam
may be arranged to rotate faster than the frame, and the other a corresponding
degree slower than the frame, and each be brought alternately into action by the
following arrangement.
Mounted on the frame is a slide provided with studs or cam projections which
engage with the ends of the bell-crank levers and hold them out of contact with
their corresponding pattern-cam-wbeel and at the same time locks them and the
corresponding clearing cam in its operative position. These studs or cam pro-
jections are arranged on the slide so that as it is reciprocated it alternately releases
one bell-crank lever and locks the other.
The slide is reciprocated by a lever actuated by studs on a pattern chain, or by
a pattern wheel, either of which may be actuated by a ratchet wheel and pawl in a
well-known manner.
The position of the clearing cams of the frame needles may also each be
independently governed by a pattern-cam-wheel of similar construction to and
operated in the same manner as described in reference to the clearing cams of the
rib needles, and suitable provision may be made for throwing them in or out of
action so that they may be used in succession, either independently of, or

page_text: together with, or alternately with the pattern cam wheels of the rib needles
clearing cams.
Dated this 24th day of June 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Circular Knitting Machines.
We, JOHN HENRY SCOTT, and JOHN ROEBUCK, both of Whitehall's Factory,
Wollaton Street, in the Borough of Nottingham, Hosiery Machine Builders, 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 more especially to circular rib knitting machines, and it
has for its objects to provide improved patterning apparatus applicable to such
machines for the purpose of producing patterned fabrics thereon of greater variety
than heretofore.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which―
Fig. 1. is an elevation partly in section, and
Fig. 2. a plan showing our invention applied to a circular rib kuitting machine
with two feeders.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out the invention the clearing cam A for the rib needles B, is
arranged on the inside of the jacks B¹ of the rib needles B, in a well known
manner, and it is connected to the lower end C¹ of a bellcrank lever C, which is
pivotted at C to a stud or bracket on the upper fixed part of the frame. The
other end C³ of the bellcrank lever C, is provided with a projection which engages
with the surface of a pattern cam-wheel D, which is arranged to rotate preferably
on an axis parallel to that of the frame.
The pattern cam-wheel D is secured on a vertical shaft or spindle E, which is
carried in bearings E' E' secured to the upper and lower fixed parts of the framing
respectively. Secured to this shaft E is a toothed wheel F engaging with a
corresponding wheel F' secured to the rib machine or other convenient rotating
part of the mechanism. These wheels F F may be equal, or that on the shaft E
may be formed with more or fewer teeth than that on the rib machine, so that the
speed or rotation of the shaft E and the pattern cam-wheel D, secured thereto, is
slower or faster than the needle cylinder, the relation of the pattern wheel to the
needle cylinder thus constantly changes.
By the action of the pattern cam-wheel D the clearing cam A is moved into its
operative position at different points in the circumference of the needle cylinder,
and the rib needles at these points only are brought into action and take the
thread from the feeder. With two equal wheels F F the clearing cam A would
always operate the same needles each revolution, but with differential wheels
the relation of the pattern cam-wheel D to the needle cylinder changes each
revolution, and the clearing cam A is caused to operate different needles each
revolution of the needle cylinder in a regular order of progression or retrogression.
The projection at the end C³ of the lever C is held in contact with the surface
of the pattern cam-wheel by a spring M. (Fig. 1).
In a frame with two or more feeders the arrangement described is duplicated for
each feeder, but the pattern cam-wheel D for each clearing cam, may be different,
or its relative speed of rotation in respect to the needle cylinder may be different,
and each one be successively brought into action as the work proceeds.

page_text: For example in a two feeder machine such as shown in the drawings, the pattern
cam-wheels of one clearing cam may be arranged to rotate faster than the needle
cylinder, and the other a corresponding degree slower, and each be alternately
thrown out of action by the following arrangement.
Mounted on the upper fixed part of the framing is a longitudinally reciprocating
slide G. (Fig. 2.) provided with two projections G', each of which engages with a
projection of, or a bracket C secured to each lever C, and holds the end C³ of each
lever clear of its corresponding pattern cam D, and at the same time locks the
clearing cam A in its operative position.
The projections G₁ on the slide G are arranged so that as the latter is
reciprocated one projection G' releases the lever of one clearing cam and the
other projection G¹ locks the other lever.
As shown in the drawings the lever C on the left and the corresponding clearing
cam A is operated by the pattern cam-wheel D whilst the lever C on the right and
its corresponding cam A is locked.
:
In addition to the slide G operating in the manner described each lever C may
be locked by a slide L (Fig. 2.) the inner end of which may be moved under the
lever C so that ordinary plain work may be produced when required.
The slide G is reciprocated by a bellerank lever H actuated by a pattern
cam-wheel H¹ mounted on an axle H2 secured to the frame. This pattern wheel
is provided with a ratchet wheel H3 and is moved at intervals through the requisite
angular space by a pawl (not shown) governed by a pattern chain in a well known
manner.
The clearing cam J of the frame needles I may also be operated by a pattern
cam-wheel in the same manner as the rib needles. For this purpose the clearing
cam J is arranged to slide vertically and is provided with a stud J¹ extending
through a slot in the fixed cam ring.
.
This stud engages with the surface of a pattern cam-wheel K secured to the
shaft E, and by means of this cam-wheel the clearing cam is at different points in
the circumference of the needle cylinder moved downwards out of its operative
position against the action of the spring J2 which spring returns it to and holds it
in its normal position.
The position of the pattern cam-wheel K of the clearing cam J with regard to
that of the corresponding pattern cam-wheel D of the rib needle clearing cam A,
may be arranged so that both clearing cams J and A are in operation at the same
time, or so that one operates alternately with the other. Provision may also be
made for throwing the clearing cam J out of action with the pattern cam-wheel K
so that the clearing cam of one feeder may be in action alternately with that of
the other, in the same manner as the rib needle-clearing cams.
In some cases the pattern cam-wheel K operating the frame needle clearing cam
may be mounted on an axle independently of the pattern cam-wheel D of the rib
needle clearing cam A, and be operated by independent gearing arranged
preferably below the needle cylinder. In this case the gearing may be arranged
so that the relation between each pair of pattern cam-wheels K and D is constantly
changing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a rib needle clearing
cam A of a pattern cam-wheel such as D rotating equally with or differentially to
the needle cylinder, and moving the said clearing cam in and out of its operative
position at different points in the circumference of the needle cylinder, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a frame needle clearing
cam J of a pattern cam-wheel such as K rotating equally with or differentially to

page_text: the needle cylinder and moving the said clearing cam in and out of its operative
position at different points in the circumference of the needle cylinder, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a circular knitting machine the combination with the rib needle clearing
cam A and the frame needle clearing cam J of pattern cam-wheels such as A
and K rotating equally with, or differentially to the needle cylinder, and operating
the said clearing cams respectively, substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
•
4. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a rib needle clearing
cam A of a pattern cam-wheel such as D and a bellcrank lever C substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a circular knitting machine with two or more feeders the combination with
pattern cam-wheels such as D for operating the clearing cams A of each feeder,
of a pattern cam-wheel such as H' for alternately or successively throwing out and
bringing into action the said clearing cams substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a circular knitting machine with two or more feeders the combination with
pattern cam-wheels such as D, levers C, and clearing cams A, of a reciprocating
slide such as G; provided with projections such as G₁ to engage with, and
alternately lock the levers C, lever H and pattern cam-wheel H', substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a circular knitting machine the combination and arrangement of parts
constituting the complete apparatus for operating the clearing cams substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1896.
JOHN H. SCOTT.
JOHN ROEBUCK.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.