Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Communicated from abroad by THE PROVIDENCE KNITTING MACHINE
COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Rhode
Island, United States of America, and having its principal office at the corner
of Bassett and Butler Streets, in the City of Providence, Rhode Island, United
States of America.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, W.C. in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 to circular knitting machines, and is especially adapted for
automatic knitting machines for the continuous knitting of seamless stockings and
socks; such as the machine shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1466, dated
January 22, 1895; although the several features thereof may be used in connection
with other hand or power kuitting machines.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a power knitting machine of
this character which can be run at a very high rate of speed with certainty and
accuracy in its operation, so that a large output may be obtained.
This invention relates to a circular knitting machine for the knitting of
stockings and socks in which the knitting is performed by a circular series of
needles which move up and down in vertical grooves in the needle cylinder under
the action of the cams on the cam cylinder which encircles the needle cylinder, the
knitting of the tubular portion of the work constituting the leg and foot being
performed in continuous circular courses by all the needles under a continuous rotary
motion of the cam cylinder and the pouch kuitting for the formation of the heel and
toe being performed in arc-shaped courses by a part of the needles under a
reciprocatory motion of the cam cylinder.
When the work has been completed in the knitting of a stocking to a point where
the pouch knitting begins for the formation of the heel and toe, a number of the
needles, usually one half of the circular series, is at once thown into inoperative
position out of reach of the knitting cams and out of the path of the yarn and at
the same time the motion of the cam cylinder is changed from a continuous rotary
to a reciprocatory movement. Then the knitting operation continues on the needles
remaining in action, about one half of the circular series, and a needle at each
end of the active series is thrown into inoperative position at alternate reciprocating
strokes of the cam cylinder, so that each successive knit course is shorter by one
stitch than its preceding course, one stitch being dropped at one end of the course
and the fabric being thus gradually tapered until the narrowest point of the pouch is
reached, this being known as the narrowing operation. The cam cylinder continues to
reciprocate and the needles which were thrown into inoperative position on alternate
reciprocating strokes of the cam cylinder are likewise brought back into action and
the successive knit courses are longer by one or more stitches than its preceding
course one or more stitches being added at one end of the course and the fabric
being thus gradually broadened until the heel or toe is completed, this operation
being known as widening.

page_text: The invention consists in improved switch mechanism for retiring at once one half,
more or less, of the circular series of needles into inoperative position; in improved
mechanism for throwing successive needles out of operation in narrowing and
bringing them into operation in widening; in improved yarn changing and
reinforcing mechanism; and in other features as hereinafter described.
As regards the switch mechanism for retiring at once one half the series of
needles, the invention consists in an arc-shaped switch finger adapted to swing in a
slot of the cam cylinder and projecting beyond the inner face thereof, an arm
attached to the pivot on which said switch finger is secured and a cam actuated lever
adapted to swing said finger into different positions; also in automatic means for
holding such switch finger in either of its adjusted positions; also in mechanism
for regulating the throw of the switch finger.
The improved mechanism for throwing successive needles out of operation in
narrowing and bringing them into operation in widening is of a character in
which during the widening operation two needles at each end of the inoperative
series of needles are pulled down at once into active position and both utilized in
the current knitting course and one of said needles thrown back into inoperative
position and again pulled down into operative position with the next adjoining
needle and utilized in knitting the next course. This operation prevents a taut
drawing of the yarn as is the case when a single needle is pulled down and it
also multiplies the stitches at the joints of the heel and joints of the toe so as to
produce close work at these points. To accomplish this downdrawing of two
needles at once and the restoring of one needle thereof to be drawn down with
the next adjoining needle, it is necessary that the lifting cam be free to operate to
lift out of action one of the down drawn needles while the throwing down cams
are in operative position; and the invention consists in the combination with a
needle cylinder, its needles, the cam cylinder, its stitch cains, and means for
operating one of said cylinders, of narrowing cams for moving individual needles
into inoperative position, and widening cams provided with hooks adapted to
engage at once a plurality of inoperative needles to bring them into operative
position, each narrowing cam being movable into and out of operative position
independently of the widening cams so as to restore at each stroke one of the
needles brought down by the corresponding two-needle widening cam. The inven-
tion also consists in the construction of the spring tensioned widening cams
pivoted exteriorly to the cam cylinder and provided with studs extending through
the slots in the cam cylinder and having oppositely faced fixed hooks for returning
the needles to operative position, whereby such cams are not liable to get out of
order on rapid rotation of the cylinder.
The improved yarn changing and reinforcing mechanism relates to a feeding
mechanism for feeding the yarn to the needles through the medium of another
yarn which is already in engagement with the needles, so that the knitted fabric
will be of different colors, or textures or thicknesses in different parts as for
instance in a stocking where the leg and foot are of one color and texture and the
heel and toe of a different color, texture or thickness. The invention consists as
regards this feature principally in a rotary tubular twister provided with a slot or
slots at one end for holding the idle yarn to be fed and twisting it about the
feeding yarn in such a manner that the idle yarn firmly engages the feeding yarn
so as to be carried forward thereby to the needles in combination with an adjunctive
mechanism of any suitable character for automatically rotating said twister at the
proper intervals of time, and for automatically throwing the yarn, the use of
which is to be suspended into one of the slots of the rotary twister, also in the
combination with such rotary twister of a cutter for cutting off either yarn after the
other has been substituted.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of the left side
of a knitting machine embodying these improvements, the legs and driving shaft
being omitted.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of the right hand side of the body of the

page_text: D
achine, the legs, driving shaft, yara stanu
ing omitted.
Figure 3 represents a rear elevation of a portion of the machine showing the
m shaft carrying cams for actuating the various automatic mechanisins, and
rts directly connected with said cam shaft.
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the yarn stand and mechanism mounted
ereon.
Figure 5 represents a plan view of the bed-plate for supporting the needle
linder.
Figure 6 represents a diametrical section thereof from front to rear.
Figure 7 represents a side elevation of a knitting head embodying features
f this invention, a portion of the cam cylinder being broken out to show the
ams therein, and a portion of the guard ring being broken out.
Figure 8 represents a plan of said kuitting head.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation of a portion of the cam cylinder showing
he switch mechanism for switching one half, more or less, of the needles. into
noperative and. operative positions.
Figure 10 represents a horizontal section of said fragment of the cylinder and
plan view of said switching mechanism in connection therewith.
Figure 11 represents a radial section of a fragment of said cam cylinder and the
needle switch mechanism connected therewith.
Figure 12 represents a plan of a circular series of needles and the widening
and narrowing cams in connection therewith, the left half of said series being long
butt needles which are used only in continuous circular knitting, the right half
thereof having short butts which are used in circular knitting and also in pouch
knitting; about one fourth the circular series represented in outline at the right
being those which are always in action during knitting, while the others indicated
in solid black are more or less out of action.
Figure 13 represents an elevation of fragments of the needle and cam cylinders
showing the right widening cam and a fragment of the T-shaped slide engaging
said cam and holding it in its lowest position.
Figure 14 represents a similar fragment showing the right widening cam held in
its second position by contact with the projection on the sinker ring, the cam book
being out of operative position and below the studs of the needles.
Figure 15 represents a similar fragment of the cam and needle cylinders showing
the pivoted right widening cam in the third position, which it assumes when its
cam hook rides in contact with the studs of the passing needles.
Figure 16 represents a similar fragment of the cain and needle cylinders
showing said widening cam in operative position ready to engage the studs of two
needles at the right for bringing them into operative position.
Figure 17 represents an elevation of a portion of the needle cylinder showing the
mechanism for releasing the widening cams.
Figure 18 represents a side elevation of said mechanism detached.
Figure 19 represents a side elevation of one of the short butt needles.
Figure 20 represents a side elevation of one of the long butt needles.
Figure 21 represents an elevation of a series of needles shown at the right of
Figure 12 and used in pouch knitting and the cams for operating them, including
vertical sections of the widening cams for throwing down two needles at once.
the left widening cam being shown in the act of engaging two needles to draw
0 them down into active position on the movement of the cam cylinder towards the
left as indicated by the arrow, and the left narrowing cam riding on the stud
of succeeding needles after having elevated the left needle of the right hand serie
of elevated needles.
Figure 22 represents a similar view showing the positions of, the cams after th
5 reversal of the cam cylinder, the left widening cam being now below the butts o
the elevated needles at the left; one of the narrowing cams being in the act o
restoring to inoperative position one of the needles drawn down by the lef

page_text: widening cam in the stroke of the cylinder towards the left, and the right widening
cam being in position for engaging two needles at the other end of the elevated
series of needles as the cam cylinder moves to the right.
Figure 23 represents an elevation of the left hand side of the yarn changing
mechanism.
Figure 24 represents a plan view thereof.
Figure 25 represents a transverse section thereof on line 25-25 of Figure 23.
Figure 26 represents a longitudinal section of the tubular twister constituting a
part of the yarn changing mechanism.
Figure 27 represents a detail transverse section of the lifting levers for the thread
lifters and a front elevation of the lower end of the cutter actuating device operated
by said levers.
Figure 28 represents a transverse section of the yarn changing mechanism in
front of the twister, showing a single thread lifter adapted for reinforcing only and
of a different construction from the lifters shown in Figure 23.
Figure 29 represents a vertical section of a knitting head having an elongated
needle cylinder and two bands disposed respectively above and below the studs of
the needles for securely holding the needles in place in the cylinder.
Figure 30 represents a plan of the bottom of said elongated needle cylinder.
Figure 31 represents a plan of the underside of the cam ring lor operating the
sinkers.
The same reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures.
The working parts of this machine are mounted in any suitable frame. This
frame may be similar to that described in my Patent No. 1466 of 1895 heretofore
cited.
THE KNITTING HEAD,
A knitting head is mounted on a bed-plate 30 supported on the frame of the
machine. This knitting head may be of any suitable construction. As shown it
is similar in its general features to that illustrated and described in my Patent
No. 1466 of 1895 before referred to, and it comprises a needle cylinder, as 200,
an annular sinker bed 226 encircling the top of the needle cylinder, a rotary cam
cylinder, as 240, adjusted in the needle cylinder and a rotary sinker cam ring,
as 400, over and encircling the sinker bed.
The needle cylinder 200 has on its outer periphery the usual series of vertical
grooves in which the kuitting needles are disposed in a circular series in the usual
manner and in which said needles are adapted to reciprocate vertically.
About half the needles, as 230, more or less; have elongated studs 231 and are
disposed in a semi-circular series, and the other semi-circular series is composed of
needles as 232 which are provided with shorter studs 233. A spiral spring band
rests in the circumferential groove and serves to clamp all the needles in the
vertical grooves of the cylinder and permit them to move up and down therein.
A circular series of radially sliding sinkers 235 move in radial slots in the sinker
bed and play at their inner ends between the needles, cooperating therewith in the
knitting operation.
The rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided on its inner face at its lower end with
a rib 245 which extends about three fourths of the distance around the cylinder
and serves as a shoulder or track for the studs of the needles when the latter are
in lower position, the ends of said rib being bevelled. An inverted approximately
V-shaped fixed cam 246 is disposed between the bevelled ends of said rib o
formed integral therewith, and two fixed side cams 247 and 248 are disposed just
above the bevelled ends of said rib and the inclined ends of the V-shaped cam
These fixed side cams are provided with recesses 247 and 248. Two pivote
latching cams 250 and 251 are adapted to bridge the spaces between the lowe
ends of the fixed side cams 247 and 248 and the bevelled ends of said rib
Disposed respectively over the fixed cams 247 and 248 are two small fixed cams 25:

page_text: and 253. An automatic switch cam 254 depends from a stud on the inner face of
the cam cylinder and is adapted to oscillate freely between the adjacent ends
of the two side cams 247 and 248. The cams described in this paragraph constitute
the ordinary stitch or knitting cams for raising or lowering the needles in
Forming the loops of the stitches. The course of the studs of the needles in the-
ordinary forward motion of the cam cylinder in the direction of the arrow 2 in
Figure 12 is along the path a-e of Figure 21 to wit: off the left end of the
rib 245 over the small latch cam 25", over the fixed side cam 247 between it and
the smaller superposed fixed cam 252, thence unter the lifting cam 270 which is
held up by the studs of the passing needles; thence into contact with and under
the central switch cam 254 which is swung by the action of the needles over
against the inner end of the other fixed side cam 248; thence downward between
the fixed side cam 248 and the V-shaped cam 246; thence up under the latching
cam 251 onto the other end of the rib 245.
When the cylinder is reversed during the reciprocating motion and moves in the
direction of the arrow 1 in Figure 12, the butts of the needles travel in reverse.
direction through the path indicated by the dotted line y-y, to wit: off the right
end of the rib 245, over the latch cam 251, over the side cam 248, between it and
the small fixed cam 253, thence under the lifting cam 271 which is held up by the
studs of the passing needles, thence against the automatic switch cam 254 which is
swung by the needles towards the left, thence downward through the action of said
switch cain between the fixed side cam 247 and the inverted V-shaped cam 246,
thence upward on the other bevelled end of the rib 245 and under the latch cam 250-
outo the top of said rib. The needles are thus raised and lowered in an ordinary
manner, and during said raising and lowering they cooperate with a corresponding
number of radial sliding sinkers 235 and form the loops which constitute the knitted
fabric.
The mechanism for switching one half, more or less, of the needles into
inoperative position is clearly shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. A switch finger 260
bent to correspond to the curve of the cam cylinder is fixed to the inner end of
a pivot shaft 261 journalled in a bracket 262 secured to the outer face of the
cain cylinder. The inner end of this pivot has a boss 263 which turns in a hole in
the cam cylinder, at the junction of two sectoral slots 264 and 265 therein. The
slot 264 is preferably considerably larger than the slot 265 and the upper side of
one is in line with the lower side of the other. The switch finger 260 is of a
length to extend from the are-shaped end of one slot to the arc-shaped end of the
other, and as its pivot is turned the body of the finger swings in the larger slot
and its shank in the opposite direction in the smaller slot, there being no chance for
end wise displacement. Its inner edge projects beyond the inner face of the cam.
cylinder sufficiently to engage the long stud needles, as clearly shown in Figure 10,.
but the short stud needles pass without contact therewith. A saddle 266 is fixed
to the pivot shaft 261 outside the bracket 262, the arms of the saddle being
provided with adjustable screws 267 and 26 and the top thereaf with flat
stops 269 and 269. An arm 261' is hung loosely on the pivot shaft and depends
between the arms of the saddle, being provided with a pointed lower end 2621
adapted to be engaged by a movable actuating rod 460 which projects upward
through the base plate 30. This rod is moved at the proper time under the action
of one of the cams 463 or 464 on the cam shaft 350 through a lever into the path
of the arm 261. A spring 466 operates to depress the rod 460 and hold it in
contact with the lever 465. As the cam cylinder rotates the arm 2611 comes in
contact with the rod and is thereby caused to swing to one side, carrying with it
the saddle 266 whereby the pivot shaft is turned sufficiently to swing the switch.
finger 260 into either of its two positions as the case may be.
The adjustable screws 267 and 268 regulate the throw of the saddle. A plate
spring 263' is secured to the bracket 262, and its outer end rests in contact with
the saddle and as the latter is oscillated the spring engages one of the flat stops 269

page_text: and operates to nord the sadure adjusted position or prevent reboun
thereof.
Before the pouch knitting to form a heel or toe, as the case may be, is begun,
the needles having the long studs, comprising one half of the circular series of
needles, more or less, are moved into inoperative position by the switch cam 260
or any suitable means.
The narrowing mechanism which may be of any suitable construction adapted
to operate substantially as herein described is then brought into operation. When
constructed as herein shown it comprises two narrowing cams 270 and 271, similar
in general construction to those in the Patent referred to, for raising single needles
to effect the narrowing operation. These cams are attached to shanks which are
pivoted on studs 272 and 273 on the outer face of the cam cylinder, and play in
slots in said cylinder. These narrowing cams rest normally in the recesses 247
and 248' in the fixed cams 247 and 248. Their shanks are p ovided with weighted
arms, 274 and 275, which tend to hold the cams in said recesses and yet permit
them to swing freely under the netion of the needles. These cams are provided
with lips 276 and 277 at their lower edges, and when lying in said recesses, in
position for action they are in the path of the needle studs. While the machine
is knitting in continuous circular courses by rotary motion of the cam cylinder,
these cams ride on the studs of all the needles, but when the long stud needles are
thrown into inoperative position as before described and either narrowing cam
passes off either end of the series of short stud needles, it falls into its recess 2471
or 248¹ and is then in position to come in contact with the needle at the other end
of the short stud series. When the stud of a needle strikes one of these canis,
the cam is swung on its pivot under the influence of the needle and the lip of the
cam acting in turn on the stud elevates the needle out of its knitting path into
inoperative position. As the cam swings up it leaves the ordinary knitting path
free for the passage of the studs of the succeeding needles, and the studs thereof
passing under the lifting cam thus raised, serve to hold it in elevated position until
the working portion of the current stroke of the cam cylinder is completed.
Thus no separate mechanism is required for holding the lifting cam in inoperative
position. In my Patent referred to, these lifting or narrowing cams are engaged
by a mechanism for holding them out of operative position when the widening
cams are operative, and they are provided with teeth which adapt them to be
engaged by said mechanism. In this invention such teeth are omitted and the
lifting cams are always free to gravitate into operative position except as they are
engaged by the studs of the needles.
The widening cams for bringing into action during the widening operation the
needles which were thrown out in narrowing are preferably adapted to engage the
studs of two or more needles at once. Two small brackets 280 and 290 are
attached to the outer face of the rotary cam cylinder at the upper edge thereof.
The widening cam 300 shown at the left in the drawings comprises a dependent
oscillatory arm which is pivoted near its upper end on a pivot 284 projecting
through the bracket 280. This arm is provided at its lower end with a fixed
stud 302 preferably integral with said arm, which stud extends through and plays in
a slot in the wall of the cam cylinder. The inner end of this stud is provided with a
fixed hook 303 which projects towards the left and is adapted to engage the studs
of two needles at once. The upper surface of the stud is rounded to adapt it to
slide smoothly under the studs of the needles when in position in contact therewith.
The upper end of the oscillating arm is somewhat broadened above its-pivot
forming lateral ears 304 and 305. A torsional spring 296 on the pivot 284 tends to
swing the cam 30 in upward direction towards the left. The arm, stud and hook
are rigidly united and are preferably formed in one piece of metal.
The cam 310 is of a construction similar to the cam 300 excepting that the hook
extends in the opposite direction. This cam 310 comprises a dependent oscillatory
arm, which is pivoted near its upper end on a pivot 285 projecting through the

page_text: bracket 290, and an inwardly projecting stud 312 at the lower end of said arm and
extending through a slot in the wall of the cam cylinder. The inner end of this
stud is provided with a fixed hook 313 which projects towards the right and is
adapted to engage the studs of two needles at once at the other end of the elevated
series of needles.
The eam 310 is somewhat broadened at its upper end forming lateral cars 314
and 315. A torsional spring 297 on the pivot 285 tends to swing the cam 310 in
upward direction towards the right. A T-shaped slide 320 having a vertical
slot 321 in its shank or body is adapted to move vertically on a fixed stud 322 on the
outer face of the enm cylinder midway between the widening cams 300 and 310.
It's shank has an outwardly projecting toe 323. The outer ends of the top of this
T-shaped slide are adapted to engage at once the ear 305 of the cam 300 and the
ear 314 of the cam 310. A fixed bracket 330 is attached to the cam cylinder and
extends radially 'outward and then vertically upward in front of the body or
shank of the T-shaped slide. This bracket 330 is provided with a vertical slot 334
extending from its bottom to a point about midway of its height and on its outer
face on the opposite side of said slot with vertical cheeks 335 and 336, the left
cheek 335 having a notch 337 in its outer edge. "A spiral spring 339 tends to move
the T-shaped slide downward and hold it in its lowermost position. As shown this
spring extends between a lug 338 on the inner face of said bracket and the toe 323
of said slide. A lever 340 is pivoted on said bracket and adapted to swing in the
slot therein and between the checks 335 and 336. The inner end of this lever
engages said T-shaped slide, When the outer end of said lever is depressed said
slide is raised and its T-shaped head engages the widening cams to swing said cams
into vertical position, in which case their hooks for engaging the needles are in
their lowest position, somewhat below the studs of the needles. A spring actuated
latch 550 having a nose 551 is pivoted on a lug 553 attached to the cheek 335 and
when the outer end of the lever 340 is depressed said latch shuts over said lever
into the notch 337 on the cheek 335 and locks said lever in depressed position
until the latch is actuated to release it.
The mechanism for actuating the lever 340 which controls the T-shaped slide
and the mechanism for actuating the latch for releasing said lever automatically
may be of any suitable construction, such for instance as that shown in my Patent
1466 of 1895.
A flanged sinker cam ring 400 is adapted to rotate ou the flange 226 on the
needle cylinder and operates to throw in and out a certain number of the radial
sliding sinkers. This sinker cam ring is held on the flange 226 by means of flanged
lugs 401, 402, 403 and 404, attached to the flange of the cam ring and projecting
inward under the flange 226. Two radial lugs 405 and 406 are disposed apart
from each other in the usual manner on the cam ring and have adjustable screws 407
and 408. When the cam ring is disposed on the needle cylinder the boss 244 on
the cam cylinder is between the adjusting screws 407 and 408, and during the
rotation of the cam cylinder said boss engages one of said screws and causes the
cam ring to rotate with it, and during the reciprocation of the cam cylinder said
boss engages said screws alternately and causes the cam ring to reciprocate, said
ring remaining stationary while the boss passes from one screw to the other.
Two projections are disposed on the underside of the sinker ring 400 and
adapted to engage the tops of the widening cams, being disposed slightly nearer
together than said cams, so that when one projection engages one of the widening
cams the other projection releases the other widening cam. These projections may
be of any suitable construction and preferably they comprise two of the flanged
lugs 401 and 402 which hold the sinker ring in position on the sinker bed attached
to the needle cylinder. These projections serve to hold the widening cams during
the narrowing and widening in inoperative position, as indicated in Figure 14 when
the T-shaped slide is not im engagement therewith.
These widening cams assume four different positions in the operation of the
machine as herein illustrated, to wit: in the first position they are engaged by the

page_text: T-shaped slide 320 and held in inoperative position, as shown in Figure 13 during
the continuous knitting in circular courses for the formation of tubular work for
the leg and body of the foot; in the second position either is engaged and held at
certain times in inoperative position during the widening operation by engagement
on one of the lugs 401 and 402 respectively on the sinker ring, as shown in
Figure 14; in the third position either is released from the lug and held by contact
of its hooked stud with the underside of the series of studs of the elevated needles;
in the fourth position either is free from the T-shaped slide and from the lugs and
from the studs of the needles and is swung under the action of its torsional spring
aipward into operative position as shown in Figure 16 in which case the hook of the
cam is in the same horizontal plane as the studs of the elevated needles. Its
upward movement in assuming this position is arrested at the proper point by
contact of its shank with the upper end of the slot in the cam cylinder.
In the knitting of the tubular fabric in continuous circular courses by continuous
rotary motion of the cam cylinder, the narrowing cams are in elevated position
riding on the studs of the continuous circle of needles and the widening cams are
held in the first and inoperative position hy engagement of the T-shaped slide 320
therewith, their hooks being below the studs of the needles. When it becomes
necessary to form a bulge or pouch in the work to constitute the heel or toe the
semi-circular series of needles having elongated butts are thrown out of action by
the means herein before described or otherwise and the cam cylinder is changed
from a continuous rotary to a reciprocatory movement as described in my prior
Patent or otherwise. Then the lifting cam 270 passes off one end of the series of
short stud depressed needles and falls into operative position in the recess 2471 and
acts upon and raises one needle at a time at one end of the depressed short stud
series of needles on the stroke of the reciprocating cum cylinder in one direction,
and the cam 271 acts upon and raises one needle at a time at the other end of the
short stud series of needles on the stroke of the cam cylinder in the opposite
direction, until the required number of needles are raised out of action and the
knitting of the gradually tapered portion for the heel or toe bulge, as the case may
be, is completed.
The heel is half knit when the narrowing is completed and it may he assumed
that at this point the cam cylinder is rotating in the direction of the arrow 1
"against the sun" (Fig. 12). Then the mechanism which holds the T-shaped
slide 320 in elevated position and the widening cams in their first and inoperative
position, is released automatically by suitable mechanism such as that described in
my Patent heretofore cited. Then the spring 338 retracts said T-shaped slide and
releases said cams. When the widening cams 300 and 310 are thus released by the
T-shaped slide 320 the left cam 300 swings up a short distance nuder the action of
its torsional pivot spring 296 until it is arrested by contact of its ear 304 with the
projection or lug 401 on the sinker ring 400. This lug holds the cam 300 in its
second position, its hooked stud for engaging the needles being below the plane of
the studs of the raised needles; and at the same time the right cam 310 which is in
a position beyond the lug 402 on said sinker ring is swung upward under the action
of its torsional pivot spring into third position, as shown in Figure 15, so that its
hooked stud rests against the underside of the studs of the raised needles at the rear.
The cam cylinder then continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow 1,
against the sun" for the distance of a half rotation and during this movement the
lug 401 continues to hold the left widening cam 300 in the second position. Then
the cam cylinder reverses and moves in the direction of the arrow 2 which is "with
the sun" and during the time that the cam cylinder moves in this reverse direction
through an are equal to the distance between the studs 407 and 408, the sinker
ring stands still and the boss 244 on the bracket 243 moves out of contact with the
lug 407 and into contact with the lug 408. During this movement of the cam
cylinder while the sinker cam' ring is stationary, the left widening cam 300 passe
to the left of and out from under the lug 401 and the right widening cam 310
passes from the right of the lug 402 under said projection or lug and is swung

page_text: thereby from third to second position. The left widening cam 300 which was
held by the lug 401 when released therefrom, flies up under the action of its pivot
spring into contact with the studs of the raised needles at the rear assuming the
third position. The cam cylinder continues to rotate and the left cam 300 rides
under the studs of the needles until it passes the rear end of the series of raised
needles. It is then released from contact with the studs of said needles and swings
up under the action of its pivot spring into the fourth or operative position where
its hook is in the plane of the studs of the raised needles. The cylinder continues
to rotate in the same direction until the left cam 300 reaches the front end f of
the series of raised needles and its hook then grasps two of said needles and draws
them down into operative position. After releasing their studs this can flies
back into the third position into contact with the studs of the succeeding elevated
needles at the front.
The left lifting cam 270 which co-operates with the right widening cam 310 is
released from the studs of the depressed needles on which it rides just after the
left widening can 300 has done its pulling down, and falls of its own weight into
operative position. The cylinder continues to rotate with the sun until the
bracket 243 is again at the right. Then the cam cylinder reverses and moves in
the direction of arrow 1, against the sun, and the sinker ring as before remains
stationary while the bracket 243 passes from contact with the lug 408 into contact
with the lug 407, and during this dwell the right widening cam 310 is released
from contact with the lug 402 and the left cam 300 is again engaged by the
lug 401. The right widening cam 310 when so released springs into second
position under the studs of the raised needles, and then it passes off the end
the series of raised needles and springs up under the tension of its pivot spring
into operative position as shown in Figures 12, 16 and 22. The cylinder continues
to rotate against the sun in the direction of the arrow 1, and the narrowing cam 271
lifts a needle at the left end of the series of depressed needles as shown in Figure 22,
being held up by the studs of the succeeding depressed needles, and the right
widening cam 310 comes in contact with and pulls down two needles at the end r
of the series of raised needles.
of
This operation is repeated until all the short stud needles which were raised in
narrowing are finally restored to operative position, two needles being brought
into operative position at once at each end of the series of elevated needles, one
of said needles being raised on the next stroke and again brought down with the
next adjoining needle.
It is obvious that the order of knitting may be changed as desired and according
to-the pattern chain used. For instance the knitting of a stocking may be begun
at the toe in reciprocating courses after a start of a few circular courses has been
made.
A cam shaft 350 carries a series of cams for controlling the knitting operation
to effect the automatic knitting of a stocking. These cams and their connected
mechanism may be substantially the same or similar to those described in my
previous Patent cited.
The yarn changing mechanism for changing the yarn to form a heel or toe
comprises a rotatable tubular twister 700 disposed between the bobbins and the
needles, and the two yarns which are employed in the knitting of the fabric pass
therethrough. This tubular twister is provided at its front end with a longitudinal
slot or slots 701, in which one of the yarns is held while being twisted around the
other yarn. In the construction shown this twister is journaled in a block 710,
mounted on the bracket 60, and its opposite ends project at the front and rear of
said block. Its front slotted end is preferably somewhat enlarged in exterior
diameter, forming a shoulder 702 which acts as a stop to prevent the tube from
sliding backward, and its projecting rear end is provided with a toothed collar 703.
This rotary, tubular twister has a larger bore in its body than at its delivery end,
the larger bore extending into the slotted portion of the tube, and when one yarn
is held in a slot thereof it lies in contact with the inner periphery of the enlarged
B

page_text: bore entirely out of the way of the other yarn which passes nearer the center
through the smaller bore at the delivery end of said twister. A horizontal yarn
guide 720 is disposed some distance in frout of the rotary yarn twister 700, on the
bracket 60. Two stationary yarn guides 730 and 740 are disposed on the bracket
in the rear of the rotary twister 700 and have their eyes adjusted on opposite sides
of the axial line of said tubular twister in such position that the main yarn a which
is used in knitting the leg and foot, is delivered through the reduced orifice of the
tubular twister slightly to the right of the axial line thereof, as shown in Figure 25,
and the auxiliary yarn 6 which is used in knitting the pouch for forming the heel
and toe is delivered through the said reduced orifice slightly to the left of said
axial line.
Means are provided for rotating the tubular twister to wind the yarn, one end of
which is held in a slot thereof, around the yarn which is being fed through the
twister to the needles, so that the former may be securely attached to the latter,
and thereby carried forward to the needles. Any suitable mechanism may be
employed to effect the rotation of the tubular twister. The mechanism herein.
shown for that purpose comprises a shaft 850 supported in lugs 851 and 852
attached to the bracket 60. This shaft is provided at its front end with a gear
wheel 855 which engages the toothed collar 703 of the tubular twister 700, and at
its rear end with a bevelled pinion 854. A stud 860 is supported on an arm 861
connected to the bracket 60. A bevelled gear wheel 862 is adapted to turn loosely
on the stud 860, and engages the bevelled pinion 854 on the shaft 850. A sleeve 870
is also supported on said stud and adapted to turn loosely thereon. The periphery
of this sleeve is provided with ratchet teeth 871 and pinion teeth 872. The
bevelled gear wheel 862 is provided with a spring pawl 865, which engages the
ratchet wheel 871 of the sleeve 870. A sliding rack bar 880, movable in an
elongated eye 881 engages the pinion teeth 872 of the sleeve 870, and serves to
rotate said sleeve. When the rack is moved downward, the ratchet teeth 871 of
said sleeve engage the spring pawl 865 connected with the gear wheel 862 and said
gear wheel is caused to rotate rapidly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 23,
which rotation is communicated to the tubular twister 700 through the intermediate
mechanism just described. . When the rack bar 880 is raised, the sleeve 870 is
rotated in the opposite direction, and the ratchet teeth thereof slide freely under
the pawl 865, and the bevelled gear wheel remains stationary, and no motion is
communicated to the twister. The rack bar is provided with a stop pin 882 at its
upper end and with a stop pin 883 at its lower end. A link 890 connects the rack
bar 880 with a lever 891 which is pivoted on a lug 892 on the bobbin stand 50, and
a link 893 connects said lever with the rear end of a cam actuated lever 894 which
is pivoted on a dependent lug 415 and engages at its front end a cam disk 900
provided with peripheral cains 901 and 902. This cam disk takes the place of
cam disk 531 in my former Patent cited and carries a cam on its right face which
has no relation to the present invention. One of these cams comes in contact with
the cam actuated lever 894 at the proper time and consequently the rack bar 880 is
moved downward, whereby the twister is rotated, and the yarn then engaging said
twister is wound around the yarn then being fed through the twister. A spring 895
operates to hold the lever 894 in contact with its actuating cam disk and the rack
bar normally in elevated position.
When the machine is first threaded up one of the yarns is passed through the
tubular twister 700 to the needles, and the end of the other yarn is passed by hand
of the attendant into one of the slots 701 of the tubular twister, and remains there
until it is required for use in the knitting.
After the machine is once started automatic mechanism is preferably employed
for throwing a yarn into engagement with the slotted end of the twister at the
proper times. Any suitable means for this purpose is employed. The means
herein shown comprise two yarn lifters 750 and 760 pivoted on the opposite sides
of the block 710. The yarn lifter 750 has at its outer end a hook 751 adapted to
engage, when the lifter is raised, the left hand yarn and throw it into one of the

page_text: lots 701 of the rotary twister. The slots 701 are preferably disposed in near
proximity to one another around the end of the twister so that a yarn striking any
part of the end of the twister is readily guided into one of the slots. The yarn
ifter 760 has at its outer end a hook 761 adapted to engage the right hand yarn
and throw it into one of the slots of said tubular twister.
Any suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating these yarn lifters. The
mechanism herein shown comprises the levers 770 and 780 pivoted at their rear
ends on a dependent lug 795 secured to the bracket 60. Links 772 and 782
connect these levers respectively with the yarn lifters 750 and 760. Instead of
pivoting the yarn lifters as described, they may be adapted to slide vertically in
eyes of the bracket 60. In that case the connecting links referred to are omitted
and the front ends of the levers are provided with flat fingers as 781, Figure 28
which engage the lower ends of said yarn lifters. This equivalent construction is
indicated in Figure 28. In either case two vertical rods 790 and 500 are connected
at their upper ends to the rear ends of the levers 770 and 780 and at their lower
ends with cam actuated levers 810 and 820 respectively, the connection with the
cam actuated levers being preferably adjustable. The cam actuated levers are
pivoted on a rod 11 and rest at their forward ends by means of lateral stuls 812-
and 822, or otherwise, on the periphery of the cam disk 830 on the shaft 350. This
cam disk takes the place of the cam disk 461 in my Patent heretofore cited. And
is provided on its left face with a cam 831 adapted to engage the lever 810 and on
its right face with a cam 832 adapted to engage the lever 820. Springs 791 and
801 are disposed on the rods 790 and 800 between yarn stand and studs 50 and pins
on said rods and have a tendency to lift said rods and thereby to hold the cam
actuated levers 810 and 820 in contact with their actuating cans 831 and 832.
A cutter for cutting off the yarn, the use of which is discontinued from time to
time after it has served its purpose of knitting its given portion of the fabric and
of drawing to the needles the substitute yarn for knitting other portions of the
fabric, is disposed in convenient proximity to the tubular twister. This cutter.
may be of any suitable construction and suitable mechanism for actuating it at
proper intervals is connected with it. When constructed as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, it comprises a pair of shears consisting of a fixed blade 910,
mounted on the block 710 above the tubular twister, and an elongated movable
shear blade 912 adapted to swing on a pivot 913 secured to the fixed blade. A
spring 914 operates to hold the movable shear blade in open position. A rod 915
slides vertically in an eye in the bracket 60 and is provided at its upper end with
an inclined arm 916 which engages the elongated shank of the pivoted shear blade.
This rod is provided at its lower end underneath the bracket with a collar 917 and
a spring 918 is interposed between said collar and the underside of the bracket,
which spring tends to hold the rod 915 in depressed position. A stud 776 on the
inner face of the lever 770 extends under the collar 917 and a similar stud 786 on
the lever 780 extends also under said collar. When the lever 770 is raised the
stud 776 comes in contact with the disk 917 and raises said rod 915 and causes the
pivoted shear blade to swing and close the cutter whereby a thread is cut off.
When the lever drops the spring 918 depresses the rod 915 into normal position
and the spring 914 causes the cutter to open. When the lever 780 is raised its
stud 786 comes in contact with the collar or disk 917 and causes a similar raising
of the rod 915 and the closing of the thear blades.
The operation of the yarn feed will now be described: At the outset it may be
Dassumed for convenience of description that the machine has been threaded up 20
that the left hand yarn a constitutes the body yarn for knitting the leg and body of
the foot, and the right hand yarn b constitutes the auxiliary or reinforcing pouch yarn
for supplemental use in knitting the heel and toe. In that case the yarn a will be
passed through the left hand yarn guide 740 at the rear of the tubular twister,
5 through the tubular twister 700, through the yarn guide 720 in front of the tubular
twister, through the ordinary yarn carrier on the cam cylinder to the needles; and
the yarn 6 will be passed through the right hand yarn guide 730, and through the

page_text: tubular twister 700 and the end of said yarn will be pushed into one of the open
slots 701 of the end of said twister.
In the operation of the machine indicated when the machine has reached the
point in the kuitting where a pouch is to be knit to form the heel or the toe, and
the reinforcing yarn is to be introduced to produce a heel or a toe of a greater
thickness or of a different character than the leg or body of the foot the usual
changes from continuous circular knitting to knitting in reciprocatory courses are
effected, and the narrowing and widening mechanisms are brought into operation.
During the movement of the cam shaft which effects these changes, the disk 900
carries its cam 901 out of contact with the lever 894 and the mechanism for rotating
the tubular twister is thereby actuated, the twister rotating quickly for an instant.
This rotation of the twister causes the pouch yarn b, the end of which is held in
one of the slots 701, of said twister to be wound around the body yarn a which
then extends through the twister to the needles. The twisting operation occurs
preferably while the cam cylinder of the knitting hend is stationary after
practically completing its continuous rotations and before it begins its reciprocatory
movements.
After such practical completion of the continuous movements of the cam eylinder
and after the twisting of the substitute yarn around the feeding yarn while the cam
cylinder is stationary, the clutch which changes the movements of the cam cylinder
from a rotary to a reciprocatory motion is shifted, and this shifting occurs before
the rack which controls the reciprocatory motion reached the end of a backward
stroke, and the rack completes its said backward stroke after the clutch is in gear,
and consequently the cam cylinder is moved one quarter of a rotation in the same
direction as in continuous kuitting, and during this movement of the cam cylinder
a sufficient length of yarn a is drawn down to the needles to bring the yarn 5
which was twisted around the yarn a into contact with the needles, the end of the
yarn slipping freely out of the slot of the tubular twister under the draft of the
yaru a.
The clutch and segmental rack herein referred to are those illustrated and
described in my Patent before cited.
Then the cam disk 830 during the same movement of the cam shaft 350 brings
the cam 831 on its left face into contact with the lever 810 and the left hand yarn
lifter 750 is thrown up and its hook 751 engages the body yarn a as it emerges
from the tubular twister and throws it into one of the slots 701 in the end of said
twister, and also between the jaws of the cutter mounted above said twister, and
during the upward stroke of the yarn lifter, and after it has thrown the yarn
between the jaws of the cutter, the stud 776 on the lever 770 constituting a part of
the actuating mechanism of said lifter comes in contact with the plate 917 on the
rod 915 and the cutter is thereby actuated and the yarn a cut off. The cam 831
then releases the actuating mechanism of the yarn lifter 750 and the spring 791
raises the rod 790 from said lifter, into normal position, ready to reengage the
yarn a when the knitting of the toe is to begin.
The machine continues to run with the substitute yarn 6 until the pouch is com
pleted and the end of the main yarn is left in engagement with the tubular twister 700
during the pouch knitting. The substitute yarn may be of a different color from
the b. dy yarn a or of a different size, or of a different character. If the body
yarn be of wool and the heel and toe yarn be of cotton the stocking may be dyed
without affecting the heel and toe, as the body will take the dye while the heel and
toe will be left white and unaffected by the dye.
When the pouch is nearly completed the cam disk 900 brings its cam 902 into
contact with the lever 894 whereby motion is again imparted to the actuating
mechanism of the tubular twister, and said twister is again rotated for an instant.
In this second rotation of the twister the body yarn a which is then in engagement
with one of the slots of the twister, is wound around the pouch yarn 6 which is
then the feeding yarn, and the yarn b draws the yarn a so twisted around it into
contact with the needles.

page_text: Then the cam disk 330 brings the cam 832 on its right face into contact with the
lever 820, and movement is thereby imparted to the actuating mechanism of the
left yarn lifter 760 and said lifter throws the yarn 6 into engagement with one of
the slots of the tubular twister 700 and between the jaws of the cutter. During
the latter portion of the upward stroke of said yarn lifter 760 the stud 786 consti-
tuting a part of the actuating mechanism of said lifter comes in contact with the
plate 917 on the rod 915, whereby motion is again imparted to the cutter, and the
pouch yarn b is cut off. Then the cam 832 releases the lifting mechanism of the yarn
lifter and under the action of the spring 791 said lifter is permitted to descend
under the action of the spring 801 to normal position ready to again engage the-
pouch yarn b when the knitting of the toe is completed.
The tubular twister and adjustable mechanism connected therewith may be used
for supplying a reinforcing as well as a substitute yarn, in which case a single-
yarn lifter for the reinforcing yarn only is employed as shown in Figure 28. The
yarn lifters may be in the form of sliding rods, as shown in Figure 28, instead of
pivoted arms, and in that case the lower end of the rod is engaged by the front
end of one of the levers, as 780, and being disconnected therefrom.
In my prior Patent mentioned above, a machine was shown which was adapted
for the knitting of a long stocking beginning at the top of the leg and ending at
the tip of the toe. In the present drawings the machine is indicated as adapted
for knitting a stocking by knitting a few circular courses and then knitting the toe,.
then the tubular body of the foot, then the heel, then the tubular body of the leg,
but the chain is shown in the drawing in the position which it assumes after com-
pleting the heel preparatory to knitting the leg upward from the heel to the top.
thereof. Any suitable pattern chain may be used for different lengths of stockings
or socks and the order in which the several parts are knit may be varied according
to the construction of the pattern chain.
In the rapid working of the machine, it is very important to keep the needles.
from flying out or wabbling in the grooves of needle cylinder, the and to this end
a cylinder constructed as indicated in Figure 29 is preferable. In this case the
cylinder is somewhat elongated at its bottom and projects below the bed-plate 30.
A flange 31, being connected with the bottom of the bed-plate and inclosing the
extended end of the cylinder. This cylinder is provided with two circumferential
grooves 205 and 206 which intersect the vertical grooves 201 in which the needles
are disposed. A spring band 207 is disposed in the upper groove and a spring
band 208 in the lower groove and the studs of the needles are located between.
these two spring bands. These bands disposed on the opposite sides of the needle
studs firmly hold both the upper and lower parts of the needles closely to their
seats in the vertical grooves of the cylinder and they can be operated very rapidly
with accuracy of movement and without danger of breakage or liability of springing
out of position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, needles.
disposed therein, a cam cylinder, a switch finger adapted to swing in a slot in the
cam cylinder, the inner edge of said finger projecting beyond the inner face of
the cam cylinder for engaging the studs of the needles, an arm attached to the
pivot on which said switch finger is secured, and a cam actuated lever adapted to
swing said finger into different positions for retiring needles from and returning
them into operative position.
2. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam and needle cylinders of
the switch finger, a saddle on its pivot, and a spring for engaging said saddle at
different points to hold the switch finger in either of its adjusted positions.
3. In a knitting machine, the combination with the cam and needle cylinders

page_text: of the switch finger and mechanism for regulating the throw thereof, substantially
as described.
4. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle cylinder, its needles, a
cam cylinder, its stitch cams, and means for operating one of said cylinders, of
narrowing cams for moving individual needles into inoperative position, and
widening cams provided with hooks adapted to engage at once a plurality of
inoperative needles to bring them into operative position, each narrowing cam being
movable into and out of operative position independently of the widening cams so
as to restore at each stroke one of the needles brought down by the corresponding
two needle widening cam.
5. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle and cam cylinders,
of spring tensioned widening cams pivoted exteriorly to the cam cylinder and
provided with studs extending through slots in the cam cylinder and having
oppositely faced fixed books for returning the needles to operative position.
6. A widening cam for a knitting machine consisting of an arm adapted to be
pivoted to the exterior of the needle cylinder, and provided with a stud adapted
to extend through a slot in said cylinder, said stud having a rigid hook for
engaging a needle or needles and a rounded upper surface adapted to engage the
studs of the needles..
7. In a knitting machine the combination of a needle cylinder, a cam cylinder,
means for operating one of said cylinders, needles disposed in the needle cylinder,
stitch cams disposed in the cam cylinder, narrowing cams for moving individual
needles out of operative position, spring tensioned widening cams pivoted exteriorly
of the cam cylinder and provided with cams extending through slots in the cam
cylinder and having oppositely faced fixed hooks for returning the needles to
operative position, and means for engaging and releasing said widening cams
respectively on each reversal of the needle cylinder.
8. The combination of a needle cylinder, a cam cylinder, means for rotating and
reciprocating said cam cylinder, needles disposed in the needle cylinder, stitch
cams disposed in the cam cylinder, narrowing cams for moving individual needles
out of operative position, spring tensioned widening cams consisting of arms pivoted
exteriorly of the cam cylinder having rigid studs projecting through slots in said
cylinder and provided with rigid hooks for engaging the studs of the needles for
restoring them to operative position, means for holding said widening cams in
inoperative position during the continuous rotation of the cam cylinder, and
separate means for individually holding the widening cams in inoperative position
at different times during the reciprocation of the cam cylinder.
9. The combination of a needle cylinder, a cam cylinder, means for operating
one of said cylinders, needles disposed in the needle cylinder, stitch cams disposed
in the cam cylinder, narrowing cams for moving individual needles into inoperative
position, spring tensioned widening cams consisting of independently swinging arms
provided with fixed studs at their lower ends adapted to project through slots in
the cam cylinder and having fixed hooks for engaging the needles, a movable sinker
ring disposed in the cam cylinder and adapted to move through an arc indepen-
dently of the cam cylinder, and provided with projections adapted to engage said
widening cams alternately at each reversal of the cam cylinder.
.
10. The combination of a needle cylinder, a cam cylinder, means for operating
one of said cylinders, needles disposed in the needle cylinder, stitch cams disposed
in the cam cylinder, narrowing cams for moving individual needles into inoperative
position, spring tensioned widening cams consisting of independently swinging arms
provided with fixed studs at their lower ends adapted to project through slots in
the cam cylinder and having fixed hooks for engaging the needles, a movable
sinker ring disposed in the cam cylinder and adapted to move through an arc
independently of the cam cylinder, and provided with projections adapted to
engage said widening cams alternately at each reversal of the cam cylinder, and a
slide adapted to engage said widening cams simultaneously for holding them both
in inoperative position.

page_text: 11. In a knitting machine, the combination of two sets of yarn guides, a rotary
twister slotted at one end for holding the idle yarn to be fed and twisting it about
the feeding yarn in such a manner that the idle yarn partly engages the feeding
yarn so as to be carried thereby to the needles, adjunctive inechanism for
automatically rotating said twister at the proper intervals of time, and means for
automatically throwing the yarn, the use of which is to be suspended into engagement
with the slotted end of the rotary twister.
12. In a knitting machine, the combination with the rotary twister and its
adjunctive mechanism aforesaid, of a cutter for cutting off either yarn after the
other has been substituted.
13. In a knitting machine, the yarn feeding nechauism comprising a tubular
twister slotted at one end for holding the idle yarn to be fed and means for rotating
said tubular twister to twist said idle yarn about the feeding yarn, whereby the
former is carried forward by the latter to the needles.
14. In a knitting machine a yarn feeding mechanism comprising a tubular
twister provided with open slots around its front end for receiving a yarn, the bore
of said twister being of different diameters in different parts whereby the yarn
engaging a slot of the twister is held out of contact with the yarn passing
therethrough, and means for rotating said tubular twister.
15. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a tubular twister
provided with open slots, means for rotating said twister, and means for guiding
two yarns therethrough, of two yarn lifters adapted to engage said yarns
respectively, and mechanism for actuating said lifters alternately at the proper
intervals of time for throwing said yarns into engagement with slots of said
twister.
16. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder
provided on its exterior with vertical grooves, and two circumferential grooves,
needles disposed in and adapted to slide vertically in said vertical grooves and
provided with lateral studs for engaging the actuating cams, and two spring
bands disposed in said circumferential grooves for clamping said needles in
position, said bands being disposed above and below the studs of the needles
respectively.
Dated thie 6th der of February 1896
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.