IMPROVE- MENTS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, ALFRED COOPER SMITH, of N° 15 Upper King Street, Manager of the London
and Leicester Hosiery Company, Limited, of Winifred Street, Leicester, in the
county of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
My improvements are applicable to what are known as the Griswold, Automatic,
Universal, Star, and similar knitting machines, and consists in making the frame
needle cylinder, deeper than heretofore to enable me to employ longer stemmed
needles, each stem near its lower end being bent at a right angle horizontally then
doubled back again to the vertical line of the stem, then down at a right angle in
the same line, and doubled up again terminating at the lower side of the horizontal
bend, a frame needle having its stem so formed, has the horizontal projection made
longer than heretofore to allow a greater surface for the up throw cam to act upon,
besides which the vertical bend at the bottom, being broad and sliding in the
cylinder grooves (which are purposely cut deeper) effectually prevents the rocking
of the needles heretofore experienced, which caused the horizontal bend to be cut
in two by the edge of the groove, and materially damage the cylinder.
The extra depth of cylinder is for the purpose of affording room for the extra
length of needle stem, the lower portion of the cylinder I make of less diameter
than the upper so as to allow the inner face of the upthrow cam to lie close to the
cylinder, the cam ring carried by the shell enclosing the cylinder, I make thicker
at the part opposite the lesser circumference of the cylinder.
The stitch cam I provide with a stud projecting outwards, which slides in a
vertical slot in the shell through which it projects up to the outer face of an angular
slot, which is formed in the centre of a plate which has also two horizontal slots
which slide on studs on the shell, this slotted plate has a projecting arm at one end
which has its upper edge ratchet toothed in which the teeth of a small wheel takes,
which is carried by a thumb nut, both of which revolve on a stud on the shell, the
thumb nut is notched on its circumference to receive one end of a spring having its
other end secured to the shell, this spring holds the upthrow cam in the position it
is placed by the attendant, besides which the lower edge of the sliding slotted
plate is toothed to receive the end of a spring to assist in keeping the plate in
position. And instead of employing a separate adjustable post to each cylinder
which may be employed in the machine to keep the machine dial in position,

page_text: I employ a moveable, and adjustable post attached to the outer body of the
machine, which I regulate and firmly keep in position by a screw, which is
revolved by a thumb nut, the screw passing through a nut which is swivelled in
the lower end of the post which rocks on a stud secured in the body of the machine,
the screw is carried by two bearings secured to the body of the machine. Such
construction of post answering for any frame needle cylinder which may be
employed.
By employing a machine constructed as above described, I avoid the frequent
breakage of needles, and damage to the cylinders heretofore experienced besides
being enabled to run the machine at a greater speed, and consequently producing
more work in a given time.

page_text: Figure 1, shows a plan, and Figure 2 shows a vertical section of part of a knitting.
machine with my improvements applied thereto.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, show portions of the same separately, referred to
hereafter The corresponding parts in each Figure are indicated by the same
letters where necessary.
My improvements are applicable to what are known as the Griswold, Automatic,
Universal, Star, and similar machines, and consists in making the frame needle
cylinder A (see Figures 1 and 2) deeper than heretofore, for the purpose of affording
room to employ longer stemmed needles B, one of which is shown in side view at
Figure 6, the stem of each needle near its lower end is bent at a right angle
horizontally, then doubled back again to the vertical line of the stem, in addition
to which I bend the stem down at a right angle in the same line, and double it up
again as at B¹, terminating at the lower side of the horizontal bend, which I make
somewhat longer than usual to allow of a greater surface for the upthrow cams C
to act upon, besides which the vertical bend B' at the bottom, being broad and
sliding in the cylinder grooves (which are purposely cut deeper) effectually prevents
the rocking of the needles heretofore experienced, which caused the horizontal
bend to be cut in two by the edge of the groove, and materially damage the
cylinder.
When the whole of the needles are placed in the cylinder grooves, they are kept
in position by a ring B2 (shown in plan at Figure 5) being clasped round them,
this ring is formed in two parts, hinged together on one side and kept together on
the opposite side, by a spring taking onto a stud, the spring is lifted clear of the
stud to open out the ring when a needle is required to be taken out or inserted.
The lower portion of the cylinder I make of less diameter than the upper so as to
allow the inner face of the upthrow cam to lie close to the cylinder. The cam
ring C carried by the shell D, enclosing the cylinder, I make thicker at the part
opposite the lesser circumference of the cylinder and secure it in position by four
screws D¹ which pass through the shell thus rendering it detachable, and affording
greater facility for forming the inclines. The adjusting plate of the stitch cam is
shown in plan at Figure 1, in section at Figure 2, and an outside view at Figure 3,
showing portions of the cam ring C and shell D laid out flat. An inside view of
the stitch cam E and portions of the cam ring C and shell D, laid out flat being
shown at Figure 4. The stitch cam I provide with a stud projecting outwards,
which slides in a vertical slot in the shell through which it projects up to the outer

page_text: face of an angular slot which is formed in the centre of a plate E¹ which has also
two horizontal slots which slide on studs E2 on the shell. The plate E' has a
projecting arm at one end which has its upper edge ratchet toothed, in which the
teeth of a small wheel takes, which is carried by a thumb nut F both of which
revolve on a stud on the shell, the thumb nut is notched on its circumference to
receive one end of a spring F¹, which has its opposite end secured to the shell, this
spring holds the plate in the position it is placed by the attendant.
Instead of employing a separate adjustable post to each cylinder which may be
employed in the machine to keep the machine dial in position, I employ a
moveable and adjustable post G, shown in the sectional view Figure 2, and an
underside view, showing its attachment to the body of the machine at Figure 7.
I regulate the post by a screw G³, carried by a stud secured in the body of the
machine.
.
.
Such construction of post answering for any frame needle cylinder which may
be employed.
Although I have shown and described a modification of adjustable. post, I make
no claim therefor, as adjustable posts have been in use before By employing a
machine constructed as above described, I avoid the frequent breakage of needles,
and damage to the cylinders heretofore experienced, besides being enabled to run
the machine at a greater speed and consequently producing more work in a given
time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:
'
First. A deeper cylinder A, to accommodate longer stemmed needles.
Second. The construction and employment of needles B, each with a longer
vertical stem, and longer horizontal bend, substantially as described.
Third. The detachable cam ring C for affording greater facility for forming the
inclines.
'
Fourth. The horizontal and angular slotted plate E¹, provided with a ratchet
toothed arm, and sliding on studs E2, the toothed wheel carried by the thumb
nut F notched on its circumference, and revolving on a stud on the shell, and a
spring F for adjusting and holding in position the stitch cam E, substantially as
described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.