Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1897--Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
COMEDIN DI MUITIVATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines.
I, JOSEPH ALBERT BURLEIGH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Laconia, in the County of Belknap, in the State of New Hampshire, United
States of America, Machinist, 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 in which a circular series of
cylinder needles and a series of radial dial needles are employed for producing a
ribbed fabric.
The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine for
producing seamless stockings having ribbed legs.
The leading features of the invention are embodied in a peculiar dial mechanism
for operating the dial needles, the dial cam cap and its cam being reversible when the
cams are in operative positions and also when they are in inoperative position.
These improvements may be applied to a circular knitting machine similar to that
shown and described in my patent No. 2756 dated February 6, 1896, also to any
other knitting machine to which they may be adapted.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a plan view of the knitting
head of a circular knitting machine embodying this invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation thereof the hub of the lever 200 being shown
in this figure further to the left than in Figure 1 to avoid confusion with the hub
of lever 220.
Figure 3 represents a plan of the underside of the dial cam cap containing the
cams for operating the dial needles, said cams being in the positions which they
assume when the dial needles are inoperative and ordinary plain knitting is being
performed.
Figure 4 represents a diagram of the cam groove or path in which the studs of
the dial needles travel, while said needles are inoperative.
Figure 5 represents a plan of the underside of the dial cam cap showing the
cams for operating the dial needles in position to throw out the dial needles a
partial stroke forming a threading cam track to permit the yarn to be caught by
the hooks of said needles, no knitting on the dial needles occurring while the cams
are in this position.
Figure 6 is a diagram of the cam track formed by the cams of the dial cam cap
when said cams are in the positions illustrated in Figure 5.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the underside of the dial cam cap showing the
position of its cams when in position for forming a knitting track to cause the
dial needles to be operated to perform the knitting operation.
Figure 8 is a diagram of the knitting cam track formed by the cams of the dial
cam cap when said cams are in the positions shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents a plan of the underside of the dial cam cap showing the dial
cams in the positions which they assume for casting off the stitches from the dial
needles preparatory to plain knitting.
•
Figure 10 represents a diagram of the cam track formed by the dial cap cams
when in the positions shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 represents a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the pattern

page_text: chain which controls the actuator for the levers on the dial cap for shifting the
dial needles.
Figure 12 represents a radial section of the dial needle bed, and cam cap; also
showing a dial needle in said bed.
Figure 13 represents a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the movable
knitting cam of the dial cam cap said mechanism being in the position which
corresponds to the intermediate position of said cam shown in Figure 5.
The same reference numbers indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The dial knitting mechanism containing this invention may be embodied in
any suitable cylinder knitting machine. In the particular embodiment repre-
sented in the drawings an annular bedplate 20 is supported on the frame of the
machine and a needle cylinder 30 of any suitable construction is supported thereon,
said cylinder being in this instance stationary and carrying vertical needles
as 33. A rotary cam cylinder 40 of any suitable construction surrounds the needle
cylinder and carries cams for operating the vertical needles of the needle cylinder
for continuous circular knitting for the formation of tubular work and also cams
for operating a portion of said needles in reciprocatory knitting for the formation
of pouches to constitute the heel and toe. This mechanism may be of any suitable
construction and it is not deemed necessary to illustrate and describe it herein.
A bridge 45 is attached to the cam cylinder, and a vertical spindle 50 is sus-
pended from and fixed to this bridge in line with the axis of the cam cylinder,
the connection being made with the bridge in any suitable manner.
A dial needle bed 60 of any suitable construction provided with radial
grooves G1 for the dial needles is loosely disposed on the vertical spindle 50 above
the plane of the top of the needle cylinder. This dial needle bed carries the
horizontal dial needles, as 65, which operate in conjunction with the vertical
needles in the needle cylinder during the formation of the rib work. The dial bed
is loose on the spindle 50 and is held against rotation by any suitable means as by
a connection with the needle cylinder.
A cam cap 100 is fixed on the vertical spindle 50. This spindle being fixed to
the bridge 45 attached to the cam cylinder moves with said cam cylinder and
causes the cam cap to rotate or reciprocate in unison with said cam cylinder.
This cam cap carries on its lower face cams for actuating the dial needles, and is
preferably provided with a tubular hub 101 which extends above the upper face
of the cap between it and the underside of the bridge.
The cam cap for operating the dial needles is provided with movable and fixed
cams adapted to form four different cam tracks engaging the studs of the dial
needles, namely: a cam track whereby the needles are held within the dial bed
in inoperative position; in either direction of rotation of the cam cap; a threading
cam cap whereby the needles are partially projected outward to take on the yarn
for the formation of the loops or stitches; a cam track whereby the dial needles
are projected into operative position for action in conjunction with the cylinder
needles in the formation of ribbed fabric, this track permitting a movement of
the cam cap in either direction; and a cam track which projects the needles into
position at a point away from the thread guides for casting off the stitches com-
pletely from the dial needles.
When constructed as herein shown the cam cap 100 is provided on its lower face
with fixed outer cams, 110, 120, and 130 disposed near the circumference. A
radial or other channel 102 is formed between the fixed outer cams 110 and 140
for the removal and insertion of needles in case of breakage.
The fixed outer cam 110 operates in conjunction with the toe of the fixed
cams 140 and the heel of the movable cam 170 and is provided with a pointed
projection 111.
The fixed cam 120 is provided on its inner face with three arc-shaped cam sur-
faces 121, 122 and 123, the cam surface 121 acting in conjunction with the outer
portion of the casting off cam 170, the cam surface 122 acting in conjunction with
the fixed cam 150 and the cam surface 123 acting in conjunction with the heel of

page_text: the swinging knitting cam 160. The outer stationary cam 130 is provided with
the cam face 131 which acts in conjunction with the outer portion of the movable
knitting cam 160, with the pointed cam 132 which acts in conjunction with the
pointed toe of said movable knitting cam for drawing in the needles to form the
stitch, and with the cam face 133 which acts in conjunction with the fixed cam 140.
The movable cam 160 herein called the knitting cam is supported on a pivot 161
and swings between the cams 120 and 130. The oscillating knitting cam 160 is
provided on its underside with a cam track 162 extending from its heel towards its
toe and with a cam face 163 extending from the outer end of cam track 162 to
the pointed extremity of the toe 163. The rib 164 which forms the outer side of
the cam track 162 is provided with a pointed heel end 165 which moves over the
arc-shaped cam face 123 and with a notch 166 to receive the adjacent end of the
cam 120.
The cam track is thus adapted to register at its heel end either with the
ram face 123 of the cam 120 or with the cam face 122 of said cam: This rib is
also provided with a beveled outer end 167 which moves in an arc of a circle
corresponding to the arc-shaped cam face 131 of the fixed cam 130 and is adjusted
at either extremity of said curved face or at the middle thereof according to the
position in which the cam 160 is swung: The cam track is thus adapted to
register at its outer end either with the are-shaped cam face 131 of the fixed
cami. 130 or with one, face of the pointed cam 132. The toe 163 swings inside the
fixed cam 140 when the oscillating cam 160 is in its inner position. This toe is
provided with a recess 168 and this recessed toe together with the bevelled end of
the fixed cam 140 and the pointed portion 132 of the cam 130 constitute a.knitting
groove. The pointed portion 132 of the cam 130 is preferably constructed in a
separate piece as shown in Figures 3 and 7:
The movable cam 170 herein called the pressing off cam; is supported on a
pivot 171 and swings between the cams 110 and 120. This oscillating pressing off
cam is provided on its underside with a can track 172 extending from a point
near its heel towards its toe,; with a cam face 173 opposite its heel and with a cam
face 174 from the outer end of the cam track to the extremity of its toe 175. The
inner end of the rib 176 which forms the outer side of the cam track 172 swings
over the pointed projection 111 of the fixed cam 110 when the cam 170 is swung
outward. The outer end of said rib delivers the shanks of the needles either onto
the cam face 121 or onto the cam face 122 of the fixed cam 120 according to the
position of the swinging cam 170. When the swinging cam 170 is in outward
position as shown in Figure 9 the cam face 174 thereof acts in conjunction with the
cam face 121 of the fixed cam 120 and when the swinging cam 170 is in its inward
position as shown in Figures 3 and 7 a portion of the cam face 174 acts in con-
junction with the cam face 122 of said cain 120. The heel cam face 173 always
acts in conjunction with the fixed cam 110. When the swinging cam 170 is closed
inward, its toe 175 enters between the spindle 50 and the fixed cam 150.'
The mechanism for actuating the cams of the dial cam cap may be of any suit-
able construction as the invention considered with reference to its broadest scope
is not limited to any specific mechanism for this purpose. The actuating
mechanism herein shown will now be described.
For operating the dial knitting cam 160 a mechanism is employed which will
throw out this cam a half stroke at given times and a full stroke at other times.
A lever 200 of the first order is pivoted on a fulcrum stud 103 on the upper side
of the cam cap 100 and a link 210 connects its inner end with a stud 169 fixed to
the knitting cam 160, said stud projecting through and playing in a slot 104 in.
the dial cap.
A lever 220 of the second order is also pivoted to the upper side of the dial cam
cap 100 on a stud 195 adjacent to the lever 200, and a link 230 connects these levers,
the connection with the lever 220 being outside its fulcrum and the connection
with the lever 200 being inside its fulcrum so that the swing of the lever 200
in one direction swings the return lever 220 in the opposite direction so that
when either. lever. is actuated and thereby thrown into inoperative position

page_text: the other lever is moved into operative position. These levers extend beyond the
periphery of the dial cap and are provided respectively with bent toes 201 and 221
which come in contact at proper intervals of time with an actuating device
hereinafter described.
For operating the pressing off cam 170 a mechanism is employed which will
throw out said cam a full stroke and withdraw it a full stroke as required. A
lever 240 of the first order is pivoted to the top of the dial cam cap 100 on the
pivot 106 near the periphery of said cap and diametrically opposite or nearly so
the lever 200. A lever 250 connects the inner end of this lever with a stud 179
on the pressing off cam 170, said stud playing in a slot 107 in the cam cap.
The outer end of the lever 240 is provided with a bent toe 241 for engaging with
an actuating device hereinafter described. A sleeve on the pivot stud 106 is fixed
to the lever 240 and carries a segment gear 242.
A return lever 260 fulcrumed on a stud 108 adjacent to the stud 106 is united
with a segmental gear 262 which meshes with the gear 242. This lever has a bent
toe 261 adapted for contact with the actuating device hereinafter described. When
the lever 240 is actuated it is moved inward and this movement causes the pressing
off cam 170 to swing outward and at the same time the gears 242 and 262 cause
the lever 260 to swing into outward operative position; and when the lever 260 is
actuated it moves inward and swings the pressing off cam into inward position,
and at the same time swings the lever 260 into outward operative position. The
actuating device, for these levers may be of any suitable construction. When
constructed as shown it includes a vertical slide rod 270 adapted to play vertically
in a fixed sleeve 271 attached to the stationary annular bed-plate 20. This rod which
projects below the bed and above the sleeve carries at its upper end a movable
contact device with which the levers 200, 220, 240 and 200 engage and by which
they are operated. This movable contact device is preferably in the form of a
stepped friction disk 280 having a larger contact periphery 281 and above it a
smaller contact periphery 282. This disk is held on the rod 270 by means of
a nut 272. A mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the rod 270 to lift
or lower the contact disk 280 to bring either of its contact peripheries into the
path of either of the levers aforesaid. The mechanism shown for this purpose
comprises a lifting lever 290 fulcrumed on a stud 291 on the frame of the machine
and having its outer end projected under said rod. A sleeve fixed to the lever 290
is provided with a crank arm 292 having an anti-friction pin 293. A shaft 300
is journaled in the frame and provided with a sprocket wheel 310 carrying a
pattern chain 320, on which the pin 293 of the crank arm 292 rides. This pattern
chain is provided at intervals with six pattern cams a, b, c, d, e and f for lifting
the lifting lever 290 and the slide rod 270 for actuating the levers mounted on
the dial cam cap 100 for operating the movable dial cams. The pattern cam a
engages the crank arm 292 by its pin 293 or otherwise, and raises said arm a
sufficient distance to rock the lever so as to raise the outer end thereof into the
position indicated by dotted lines a¹. This movement raises the slide rod 270 so as
to bring the contact disk 280 into the position indicated by the dotted lines a².
The pattern cams b, c, d, e, and f are successively enlarged so as to raise the contact
disk into the positions indicated respectively by the dotted lines b², c², d², e² and f².
The means shown more particularly in Figure 11 for actuating the pattern
chain 320 comprise a slide bar 330 supported in guide ways 331 and 332 on the
frame and carrying a pawl 333 which engages a ratchet wheel 340 on the shaft 300.
A spring 335 tends to pull and normally hold this slide bar towards the left, and
its left hand end is engaged by a lever 350 pivoted to swing horizontally. The
inner end of this lever is engaged by a cam 360 secured to the central vertical
shaft 50, below the needle cylinder. This cam strikes the lever 350 at each
rotation of the cam cylinder 40 and the ratchet wheel 340 is thereby moved the
distance of one tooth and this movement causes the sprocket wheel 310 to move
the pattern chain 320 the length of one link. A stop 351 arrests the lever 350 as
it is returned to position through the action of the spring 335.

page_text: This dial mechanism is preferably applied to what is known as a full automatic
seaniess stocking machine and it may be applied to a machine of this character
such as that shown in my patent No. 2756, dated February 6, 1896.
The operation for knitting a seamless stocking having a ribbed leg by this
machine will now be described.
In the knitting of a stocking by this machine, the kuitting is begun at the toe
and terminated at the top of the leg. The yarn is fed to the cylinder needles and
a few circular courses are knit in plain knitting to start in the yarn on said
needles. Then the machine is shifted to reciprocatory knitting and the toe is
formed in the usual manner. Then the body of the foot is knit in the ordinary
manner in circular courses by the cylinder needles only; then the heel is knit in
the ordinary manner in reciprocatory courses; then a short length of plain knitting
for the ankle may be knit after the knitting of the heel and then the dial needles
are brought into action and the ribbed knitting begun or the rib knitting may
begin immediately after the completion of the heel, and without any circular
courses of plain knitting. The leg is then knit in circular course ribbed knitting
from the heel or point of beginning at the ankle as the case may be, to the top of
the leg. Then the dial needles are thrown out of action, the work cast off said
needles and the knitting of another stocking begins on the cylinder needles.
A detailed statement of the operation of introducing and continuing the ribbed
knitting will now be given:-
-
During the knitting of the stocking from the point of beginning, through the
toe and past the heel to the point of introduction of the ribs, the cams in the dial
cam cap are in the position shown in Figure 3 and the studs of the needles travel
in the groove shown in diagram in Figure 4. In this position of the cams and this
shape of the cam track formed thereby, the dial needles are entirely withdrawn
out of action and entirely out of contact with the yarn and out of contact with the
fabric being formed. When the plain knitting is finished and the rib knitting is
to begin the oscillating knitting cam 160 is given a partial outward stroke into
the position shown in Figure 5 forming the cam track shown in full lines in
Figure 6, and this throws out the dial needles a sufficient distance to cause the
yarn to engage the hooks thereof ready for the formation of stitches thereon. This
throwing out of the knitting cam a partial stroke is effected, if the machine be
constructed as herein shown, in the following manner:
At each rotation of the cam cylinder the cam arm 360 actuates the lever 350
which thrusts the slide bar 330 and causes the pawl 333 to move the ratchet wheel
340 the distance of one tooth, whereby the sprocket wheel is made to move the
pattern chain the length of one link. Just before the ribbed knitting is to begin
the parts referred to have assumed the positions shown in Figure 2, and the next
movement of the pattern chain brings the pattern cam a under the crank arm 292
and causes the lifting through the lifting arm 290 and the slide rod 270 of the
contact disk 280 into the position indicated by dotted lines a², in which case the
smaller disk 282 is in the path of the lever 200. This lever then strikes said
disk and is swung inward thereby a sufficient distance to effect the partial outward
streke aforesaid of the cam 160. After this throwing out of the knitting cam a
partial or short stroke, the cam cylinder and dial cam cap 100 are given one com-
plete rotation so as to place the yarn on the dial needles. Then the pattern cam b
actuates the lifting lever 290 and causes the smaller contact disk 282 to assume the
position indicated in dotted lines Figure 2. In this position it is engaged by
the return lever 220 and the cam 160 is thereby swung back into its original
position, bringing back the dial needles into inoperative position. This drawing
back of the dial needles after the laying of the thread thereon is done for the
purpose of allowing a few courses of plain knitting to be added after the yarn has
engaged the dial needles so as to fill up the stitches between the dial and the
cylinder and avoid holes being formed in the fabric. Holes would we formed if
after the laying of the yarn on the dial needles, said needles were immediately.

page_text: thrown out into operative position because the yarn is stretched between said
needles and long loops are thereby made and by filling these loops with a number
of circular courses on the needle cylinder said holes are closed.
After the filling courses are knit the third pattern cam c, indirectly lifts the
larger contact disk 281 into the position indicated in dotted lines c² in Figure 2,
where it is struck by the lever 200, and the knitting cam 160 swung out a full
stroke whereby the dial needles are moved into operative position, said cam c
immediately releasing the actuating mechanism. Then a long space occurs in the
pattern chain between the third pattern cam cand the next succeeding pattern cam, a
space sufficient to permit the knitting of the ribbed work to constitute the ribbed leg
of a stocking or other article being knit. The fourth pattern cam d then lifts the
larger cam disk 281 into the position indicated in Figure 2 in which position the
return lever 220 acts upon it and restores the cam 160 and lever 200 to normal
position whereby all the dial needles are drawn back into inoperative position.
Then a fifth pattern cam marked e immediately succeeding the pattern cam d
comes into action and lifts the larger disk 281 into the position indicated by e
in Figure 2 in which position it is struck by the lever 240 whereby the casting off
cam 170 is swung out a full stroke. This cam remains in outward position during
the complete rotation of the cam cylinder. The dial needles are by this position.
of this casting off cam projected outward on the back side where no yarn is fed,
a sufficient distance to let the loops pass behind the latches of the needles and the
needles are then drawn in and the loops close the latches and ride over them, and
slip off the needles. A take-up for the work is preferably used which draws it
down. The fabric is then held by the cylinder needles alone. Then a pattern
cam. on. the pattern chain after one rotation of the cam cylinder between the
fifth and sixth.cams comes into play and raises the larger disk 281 into the position
indicated by dotted lines fa in Figure 2, and said disk is then struck by the return
lever 260 whereby the lever 240 and the casting off cam 170 are restored to normal
positions. When the knitting is to be resumed, the needles are thrust down by
the knitting cam on the movement which forms the needle threading cam track
and any ordinary latch opener, well known and commonly used in this class of
machines opens the latches of the needles. The operation is then repeated and
successive stockings knit thereby. The friction of the gears or other part holds
the levers in the dial cap in adjusted positions or other means may be employed
for this purpose.
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: A cam cap for operating the. dial needles of a circular knitting machine
provided with fixed and pivoted cams having arc-shaped cam faces forming an
endless changeable, reversible curved cam track.
2. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a dial needle bed, needles
supported therein, a cam cap for operating said needles provided with movable and
fixed cams, and means for moving said cams to form four different cam tracks,
to wit:
A cam track whereby the needles are held in inoperative position;
A cam track whereby the needles are partially projected outward to take. on
the yarn for the formation of the loops or stitches;
A cam track whereby the needles are projected into operative. position, and
A cam track which projects the needles into position for casting off the stitches.
3. A cam cap for operating the dial needles, of a circular knitting machine,
provided with two fixed cams each provided with a plurality of arc-shaped cam
faces, a pivoted cam adapted to swing between said fixed cams and provided with
acam track adapted to register at either end with either of two cam faces of each
of said fixed cams.
4. A cam cap provided with outer fixed cams as 110, 120 and 130 'disposed near

page_text: its periphery, inner fixed cams 140 and 150, a pivoted cam 160 provided with a
cam track 162 and cam face 163 and adapted to swing between the cams 120 and
180, and a pivoted cam 170 having a cam track 172 and a cam face 174.
5. In a dial mechanism for a circular knitting machine, the combination of a
dial needle bed, needles supported therein, a cam cap provided with fixed cams
having different cam faces, a swinging knitting cam adapted to swing into different
positions for changing the cam track from inoperative to operative position, and
a casting off cam adapted to swing into different positions to operate with different
faces of the fixed cams to press off the stitches.
6. In a dial mechanism for a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needle
bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cani cap provided with fixed cams, with a
swinging knitting cam and with a swinging pressing off cam adapted to operate
in connection with the fixed cams to form an operative cam track, an inoperative
cam track, and a casting off cam track.
7. In a dial mechanism for a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needle
bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam cap provided with fixed cams, with a
swinging knitting cam and with a swinging casting off cam adapted to operate in
connection with the fixed cams and to form an inoperative cam track, a needle
threading cam track, an operative cam track, and a pressing off cam track.
8. In a dial mechanism for a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needle
bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam cap provided with fixed cams with a
swinging knitting cam and with a swinging casting off cam adapted to operate in
connection' with the fixed cams and to form an operative cam track, an inoperative
cam track, and a casting off cam track, and automatic mechanism for shifting said
movable cams into different positions for forming said cam tracks.
9. In a dial mechanism for a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needle
bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam cap provided with fixed cams with a
swinging knitting cam and with a swinging casting off cam adapted to operate in
connection with the fixed cams to form an operative cam track, a needle threading
cam track, and an inoperative cam track, and automatic mechanism for shifting
said movable cams into different positions for forming said cam tracks.
10. In a dial mechanism for a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needle
bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam cap provided with fixed cams, with a
swinging knitting cam, and with a swinging pressing off cam adapted to operate in
connection with the fixed cams and to form an inoperative cam track, a needle
threading cam track, an operative cam track, a pressing off cam track, and auto-
tomatic mechanism for shifting said movable cams into different positions for
forming said cam tracks.
11. Ä dial cam cap for a dial knitting mechanism, provided with stationary
cams having different arc-shaped cam faces, and swinging cams pivoted between
said stationary cams and provided with cam grooves adapted to register with some
of said stationary cam faces and with cam faces adapted to register with other of
said stationary cam faces when the swinging cams are in different positions, said
cams forming a continuous cam track in different positions of the movable cams
whereby the dial cam cap may be rotated in either direction.
12. In a circular knitting machine, the combintion of mechanism for automati-
cally knitting a seamless stocking with integral heel and toe pouches, and auto-
matically controlled dial mechanism for producing ribbed work for the leg of the
stocking.