Improvements in and relating to Knitting Looms, or Radial Knitting Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Knitting Looms, or Radial Knitting
Machines.
I, CHARLES TERROT, of Moltkestrasso Cannstatt, (Wurtemburg) in the Empire of
Germany, Hosiery Machine Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention refers to circular knitting looms, or radial knitting machines to which
machines I provide sinkers arranged outside the needle row and around the same, so
that in the formation and sinking of the loops I increase the fineness, and safety of
the work, as well as the speed thereof.
That this invention may be well understood I will now refer to the drawings accom-
panying this specification in which:
Figure 1. is a part sectional view of the machine on lino A, through the axis, L,
showing the arrangement of the sinkers B, and cams for actuating them.
Figure 2. are cut off views of the hooks C, of the sinkers B, or D, and bearded
needle N.
Figure 3. is a side view of the sinker B, showing the thickened portion c¹, the
groove in the bottom of the vertical stem fits on to the circular guide F, (figures 1
and 8).
Figure 4. is a back view of the same showing the thickened part o³, which is equal
to each needle division in the needle row.
Figure 5. is a plan view "broken off" of the came, R and S, and presser wheel T,
with the sinkers B, needles N, and jacks U, in their relative positions to each other.
Figure 6. are side and end views of the vertical portion of the sinker D.
Figure 7. are side and front views of the horizontal portion E, of the sinker D,
the boss e, fitting in the hole d' of the vertical portion D, and
Figure 8 is another sectional view of the machine on line A, through the axis L,
showing the arrangement of the sinkers D, made of two parts and operated as herciu-
after described.
By the ordinary construction and arrangement in circular radial knitting machines
of a single sinking wheel now employed allows of only a few sorts of loop formations
upon the periphery of the machine and prevents the parts from working safely or
smoothly, or in unison when the same are pressed closely together as for instance; it
is well known that the presser and sinking cams being disposed within the sinking
wheels if fine needles are being used the correct position of the sinkers against the
needles cannot be long maintained inasmuch that the cams working at the top and
проп the sinkers they are liable to be pressed sideways. To avoid this and increase
the safety of the work, and to give an increased speed in the sinking of the loops, 1
dispense with this single wheel, and employ a row of sinkers which are placed around
the machine in front of the needle bed or row.
An arrangement for a similar purpose has been tried in a loom known as
"Berthelots loom "--but this loom is not suited for my present requirements as
regards fineness of work and speed on account of the form, guidance and motion of
the sinkers.
In any knitting machine or loom wherein the loops are sunk, each sinker must
move along the course or travel shown in Figure 2, it is depressed (1 to 2.) then, for
sinking the loops, it is moved forward (2 to 3.) then, to bring the loops into the hook
or beard of the needle it is moved forward again and raised (3 to 4.), and in order to
free the said loops they are then finally pushed back (4 to 1.) for the purpose of
forming a fresh row.
The sinkers hitherto employed were of the shape of long bands or strips and are

page_text: easily thrown out of their correct position during such motions as just referred to,
and consequently cause irregularities to occur; by making the sinkers or platines of
an angular form as illustrated in the drawings which may be made in one piece B,
figures 1, 3 and 4, or of two parts movable relatively to one another D, and E.
figures 6, 7 and 8.
The said sinkers ride with their vertical parts upon the fixed circular guide F,
shown in figures 1 and 8, which is carried by the pillars or supports of the fixed
disc G, of the machine, and are held by the annular plates g and g², furnished with a
slot for each sinkor and forming part of the movable ring H, the said sinkers being
uniformly turned round with the needle N, of the machine.
This sinker ring H, is placed upon the rollers 1, and centered by rollers J, upon the
short spindles I', and J, and revolved by the wheels K and K, gearing with each
other, actuated by the driving shaft K³, in a similar manner to the needles N, by
means of the wheels K, and K, the whole turned from the spindle K', carrying the
handle K, or by other equivalent means; the bent or horizontal portion of the
sinker B, which is made in one piece "figures 1 and 3." also enters the slotted guide g,
shown in dotted lines in figure 1, and for the sinkers made of two parts, D,
figures 6. 7. and 8, the horizontal piece E, passes through a peculiar slotted guide in
the ring or hoop "figure 8" which is likewise fixed to the sinker ring H, as before
stated the upper back part of the horizontal portion of the sinker B," figures 1, 3
and is thickened by plates and the like being attached at c', to correspond or
thereabouts with each needle division, while those sinkers made of two parts have at e¹,
(figures 7 and 8) where both parts meet and where E turns upon the pin e' figure 8,
in the hole d', "figure 6." a thickness precisely equal to a needle division, so that all
the sinkers are placed side by side and cannot be possibly bent out of shape against
one another. The guide rings g, g', and g³, are simple in form (and not combined
with tooth wheels and the like as in Berthelots loom and can therefore be made of
forged or hammered brass and rendered durable so that their guiding edges will not
wear, or be bent out of shape.
While the sinker ring H, and all the sinkers turn round evenly with the needles N,
on the axis L of the machine, the sinkers sliding on the guide F, and receive from the
cams O, P, Q, R and S, the required motion.
The double sinker cam O, P, figures 1 and 8, grasps the lower extremities of the
sinkers above and below the shoulder d², drawing them down for loop sinking purposes
in the direction as indicated in course "1 to 2 figure 2" and preventing also, in the
event of the machine working irregularly any of the sinkers from sinking too far
down.
I may likewise employ the ordinary eccentric rod M, (Figures 1 and 8) in my
improved machine but the objection to this is if the machine works with irregular
jorks some of the sinkers will sink lower than others when loops of different lengths
are liable to be formed.
The two parts of the double cam O, P, are arranged as shown in figure 1, or as
shown in figure 8, so as to be adjustable against one another in case of wear, such
double cams have not been employed hitherto in circular radial knitting machines for
loop sinking.
The eccentric plate Q "figures 1 and 8," raises the sinkers, the cam R, "figures 1.5
and 8. drives the latter inwardly, and the cam S, Figures 1, 5 and 8 pushes them
finally out. Hence the developement given to a loop formation is very small as seen
in figure 5 in which T, designates the presser wheel.
Towards the end of every arrangement or formation the sinkers are laid in front and
below the needles of the machine as in dotted lines Figures 1 and 8, the needle row N,
(Figures 1, 5 and 8) is also free and easy of access whether for any straightening of
the needles, or to replace them, or to insert them for opening the fabric, suspending
fallen loops, or for other purposes that free access to the needle bar is desirable.
The formations may be placed tightly against one another, so that many more
formations than heretofore may be placed upon the periphery of the machine, the
latter becoming consequently much more productive and more regular than is now

page_text: the case, and causes the production of good work and at a greater, or quicker rate
than in the radial knitters, or circular hosiery looms now employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
A circular radial knitting machine or hosiery loom with sinkers of the character
described, or their equivalents arranged and distributed outside the machine or loom
and around the same, of an angular shape in one part B, or in two parts D, movable
upon one another depressed by a double cam for loop sinking purposes and moved
subsequently so as to leave in the non-working parts the needle row thoroughly free
and accessible for accessorial manipulations, substantially as hereinbefore described
and set forth.
Dated this 4th day of November 1889.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Patent Agent, Leicester, Agent for the Applicant.