Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
I. GUSTAV FRIEDRICH GROSSER, of Markersdorf, near Leipsig, in the Empire of
Germany, Knitting Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say -
The "Lamb" knitting machine, as is well known, is furnished with what are
called "latch openers," the object of which is, firstly, to open the latches of the
needles when the latter move upwards, and secondly, to hold such latches in their
opened position until the needles have been drawn down to a suitable distance by
the needle sinker; and the latches are then closed automatically by the meshes
lying behind them. The mutual action of the latch openers and needles has
heretofore been imperfect, because the latch opener requires to be adjusted to suit
each kind of goods or each kind of mesh produced, and must always be adjusted
with the utmost exactitude, as, if it is placed too high, the latches are not opened,
and if placed too low, the needles are damaged. But in spite of the most careful
adjustment, it often happens that if the needles have a little play in their grooves, or
if hard parts or knots occur in the yarn, the head of the needle comes in contact
with the knife-like edge of the latch opener, and the needle is thereby damaged
and often broken as will be readily understood, so that the breakage of needles is
always considerable.
According to my present invention, I arrange the knife-like part of the latch
opener so that it is free to turn, to a certain extent, on a kind of hinge which allows
it to press loosely on the rising needle head either by its own weight or by the
action of a suitable spring so that it can rise or fall to suit the position of the needle
head instead of being fixed rigidly as heretofore, whereby the exact and frequent
adjustment of the latch opener, and damage and breakage of needles are avoided.
This mobility of the latch opener can also be effected in other ways; for instance it
may be mounted on a spring-urged sliding bolt, or the plate. to which the latch
opener is screwed may be made of thin spring steel, by either of which methods
the same object will be attained.
In the annexed drawings are shown two arrangements of movable latch openers
constructed in accordance with my invention. In Figures 1 and 2, the latch
opener a is arranged so as to turn at its corner 6 on a hinge, or between two fulcrum
points. In Figures 3 and 4 is shown a latch opener a made solid at its corner b
with a piece or bolt 6¹ sliding in a longitudinal groove e d. In Figures 1 and 3 the
latch-opener is seen in elevation, and in Figures 2 and 4 in plan.
It will now be understood that if the needle presses at its upward stroke against
the latch opener a, the latter will rise a little in the direction of the arrow and the
latch will open without too great a pressure being exerted on the head of the needle.
When the latch opener a is no longer held by the needle head, it will fall back
again either through the action of the spring e, or by its own weight, into its
original position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
IT 29 14ting machines the
of moveable latob Oneners constructed

page_text: arranged, and operating, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
the drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated 19
CT1001
G. F. GROSSER.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.