Improvements in and relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Knitting Machines.
We, ALBERT WHITE and DANIEL F. SULLIVAN, both of 8 Western Avenue,
Lowell, in the County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, United States
of America, Mechanics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
Our invention relates to knitting machines and more especially to an automatic
presser-wheel-actuated device for supporting the drop wire of that class of stop
motions which are released by breaking of a thread, when the machine is stopped
by hand, or for use with other classes of 'stop motion, whereby said drop wire is
prevented from falling as the thread slackens and thereby releasing its con-
junctive mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a top plan of a portion of the bed and cylinder of a circular knitting
machine provided with our improvements.
Figure 2 a side elevation looking from the right on line 2-2, Figure 1;
Figure 3 a front elevation of the presser-wheel and its support;
Figure 4 a vertical transverse section of the presser-wheel and support drawn
to an enlarged scale, and
Figure 5 a perspective view of the presser wheel locking mechanism.
The operation of the improvement will be understood from the following
explanation:-
In the drawings, A, represents the bed of the machine and C, the needle
cylinder. The presser wheel D, is of a well known rotary form and is mounted
to rotate on a spindle d, surrounded by a bushing f, (see Fig. 4) fixed in a tilting
support g. This spindle d, is fitted to slide vertically. The support 9, is pivoted
at 2, trock in a block h, on a horizontal spindle b, suitably supported from the
bed A, and adjustable longitudinally by means of the star box D), in the usual
manner. On the same pivot p, a support i, for the drop wire is mounted to rock,
and pivoted to swing vertically in support i, there is a block k, its motion being
at right angles to that of said support i. This block carries the drop wire, m,
which extends under the looper support L, and under the needle guide r, its free
end being held in contact with the thread q. On the block k, there is a blade t,
in position to be thrown into the path of projections , on the rotary pressure
wheel D. This occurs when the thread q, breaks allowing the free end of the wire
to drop. Said blade being thus thrown into the path of projections v, on rotating
resser, the support i, will be worked outward thereby on its pivot p. Pivoted
on the block h, at w, (Fig. 5) there is a right angle lever s, provided with an
pening, which may be registered with a pin y, on the back of the presser
upport 9, and allow said presser to swing out of contact with the needle, it being
understood that normally this pin y, engages a face of the lever s, holds the
resser wheel tilted and locked in contact with the needles. The movement for
releasing or unlocking the presser support is as follows:-On the support i, are

page_text: two pins, 15 and 16 engaging respectively opposite edges of the right angle lever s,
and actuating said lever vertically as said support i, is rocked outward, until open-
ing a, registers with pin y, releasing the presser support above described.
Fast on the hub of the presser wheel there is a bracket 20, and in the top of this
bracket a horizontal lever 21, is pivoted to 'swing vertically. One arm of this
lever is slotted with its arms astride a stud on the upper end of the spindle d. On
the outer end of this lever 21, is pivoted a counter balance ball 23. On the lower
end of the spindle d, there is a U shaped wire 25, fast by one end to said spindle
and projecting through a slot 26, in the support g. The outer end of this wire
is bent to extend under the drop wire block k.
In the use of our improvement the presser wheel being tilted against the needles
and locked by the drop wire mechanism is rapidly rotated in the usual manner.
Centrifugal action on the ball 23, tending to force it outward causes it to throw
the lever 21, into horizontal position. This forces spindle d, downward until
the wire 25 engages the bottom of the slot 26. The free end of said wire thus
being held out of contact with the drop wire block k, permits said wire to rest on
the thread, so that should said thread break the wire will fall and release the
presser.
Meanwhile should the machine be stopped by any other means as the rotation
of the presser decreases, the weight, 23, will drop, elevating the outer arm of
lever 21, drawing the spindle d, upward and disposing the wire 25, in contact with
the drop wire block, thus preventing the falling of said drop wire and the con-
sequent unlocking of the presser locking mechanism.
In Figs. 2 and 4, the lever 21, is shown in the position assumed when the presser
is at full speed and the wire 25, out of contact with the drop wire.
We do not wish to be confined to the particular arrangement of the parts shown
for controlling the support for the drop wire, a salient feature of our invention
being a centrifugally actuated mechanism carried or operated by the presser-wheel
for effecting this result.
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:
1st. A drop wire mechanism for circular knitting machine stop motions
comprising a centrifugally actuated mechanism operated from the rotary presser-
wheel of said knitting machine.
2nd. In a stop motion for knitting machines embodying a drop wire, a support
for said wire and mechanism actuated by the rotation of the machine presser
wheel to release said support from said wire.
3rd. In a stop motion for circular knitting machines, a rotary presser-wheel,
Socking mechanism therefor and releasing devices comprising a drop-wire,
mechanism supporting said wire when the machine is at rest and released by the
rotation of said presser when the machine is in action.
4th. The combination, with the drop wire and rotary presser-wheel, of a counter-
balance lever carried on said presser and a projection actuated thereby for
supporting and releasing said drop wire, substantially as specified.
Dated the 24th day of
1007
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.