Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1887
Specification Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
A communication from PATRICK GEORGE CLOSE, of the City of Toronto, Canada,
Real Estate Agent.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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
The object of the invention is to devise certain Improvements in what is known as
"The Eclipse" knitting machine, patented in Canada, March 19th 1883, No. 16,530
enabling the operator with the same cams to knit either fine or coarse yarn, making in
the same machine the range of stitch very extended, so that the stitch may be
lengthened or shortened as desired without moving the needle cylinder, merely by
raising or lowering the stitch-regulating cam by the mechanism hereinafter more fully
explained. In the machine with this improvement for regulating the length of the
stitch the needle cylinder is fixed, and all the parts necessary for raising and lowering
the needle cylinder in the "Eclipse "machine for the purpose of regulating the length
of the stitch are dispensed with, and better results are attained.
These improvements further consist in providing a feed which is adjustable both
vertically and horizontally, so that the yarn guide and bevelled shield adapted to
prevent the latches on the ribber needles from closing may readily be adjusted to their
proper position with respect to the varying guages of the different sets of needles
employed, and so the delivery can either be raised or lowered and the feed post
moved either nearer to or further from the needles as may be desired.
Figure 1, is a perspective front view of the cam cylinder, shewing the cams set to
knit a short stitch.
Figure 2, is an inside view of cam cylinder, shewing the cams set for knitting a
short stitch.
Figure 3, is a perspective front view of the cam cylinder when the cams are to knit
the longest stitch.

page_text: longest stitch.
Fig. 5, is a detail of the stitch-regulating cam.
Fig. 6, is a detail of the main drawing cam.
Fig. 7, is a detail shewing the stitch-regulator and lock for same.
Fig. 8, is a detail shewing an adjustable feed attached to the rim of the cam-ring.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
In Fig. 1. A is the cam ring, the cams in this view being hidden. a is the rest or
back cam for the toes a¹ of the needles which needles are adapted to move vertically
in their appropriate grooves in the needle-cylinder when the toes a¹ come in contact
with the different cams of the cam-ring when the latter is caused to revolve; the
teeth A¹ under the rim of the cam cylinder meshing with the teeth on the periphery
of the driving wheel of the machine.
Bare lever arms with shoulders, as indicated and notched at their ends so as to
permit of their overlapping each other, and pivotted at b on screws which are screwed
into the side of the cam-ring. These lever arms rest on top of the projecting ends of
the stitch-regulating cams C. The stitch-regulating cams move vertically in slots c
cut in the side of the cam-ring and on pins d which pass through holes d¹ in the cams,
as indicated in Fig. 5. These stitch-regulating canis when in their normal position,
and adapted for fine work and a short stitch, as shown in this figure, are held up in
position by the spiral springs e which bear against the bottoms of the slots cand
surround the pins d.
D is the stitch-regulator (a detail of which is shown in Fig. 7.). In this view the
stitch-regulator is set for the shortest stitch, and is locked by the spring dog and
shows the eccentric cam g out of contact with the ends of the lever arms B which in
this view are undisturbed thereby.
Fig. 2, is an inside view of the cam cylinder, and shows the position of the cams
when set as indicated in Fig. 1.
E. E¹, are the covering cams attached to the inside of cam ring, and recessed at
their point of junction to permit of the needles rising to their highest point for the
purpose of taking their yarn from the feed.
F are the drawing cams rigidly attached to the slotted plates which are adapted
to move in grooves and are held up in position by the free ends of the flat springs i
which are attached to the body of the cam-ring at each of their ends by the screws k.
Care the stitch-regulating cams herein before referred to, which when adjusted for
short stitches close up against the main drawing cams F and move along with them
forming as it were with F a compound cam. When the toes of the needles open up a
space between the covering cam E and main drawing cam F as shown on the left of
this Fig. 2. the cam F is pushed down with its plate h against the spring i so as to
afford a passage for the needles. The drawing-cam F on the right of this Fig. 2. is
shown in its normal position the upper side thereof being brought into contact with
the lower side of the covering cam E by the action of the spring against the bottom
of the plate h. The arrow-heads indicate the direction in which the cam-ring revolves,
the dotted line marking the path described by the toe of a needle as it passes through
the revolving cams. At there is a small pivotted or wing-cam which is turned over
by the toe of the needle so as to form a bridge to bring the needle on top of the main
drawing cam, F on the left of the figure at m the apex of the centre cam G the needle
attains its highest position when it takes its yarn from the feed and at n the needle attains
its lowest position under the stitch-regulating cam C on the right of the figure. These
two relative positions of the needle regulate and control the length of the stitch when
cams are set for a short stitch. The toe of the needle turns over the pivotted or wing-
cam on the right of the figure, and comes again on to the needle-rest a on which it is
supported until it comes again in contact with the revolving cams. If the motion of
the cam-ring be reversed, the pivotted cam l on the right of the figure is turned over,
forming a bridge for the toes of the needles to reach the top of the main-drawing
cam Fon the right of the figure, thence surmounting the point m and under the

page_text: drawing cam on the left of the figure. The pivotted cam on the left is turned
over by the toe of the needle, and a passage-way is opened for the needles to reach
again the needle-rest a.
In Fig. 3, the stitch-regulating cams C are shown in a position to lengthen the stitch
to the fullest extent; the eccentric cam g having been turned round by the revolution
of the stitch-regulator D (which is worked by hand) presses down the free ends of the
levers B which carry with them by an even motion the stitch-regulating cams C on the
pins d; the spiral springs e being compressed to their fullest extent; the spring dog f
notching into the last notch on the stitch-regulator D the length of stitch being
indicated by the number of the notch; No. 1. notch indicating the shortest or finest
stitch. In Figs. 1. 2. and 3. o is the bracket which carries the shaft g¹ of the eccentric
cam g which is operated by the movement of the stitch-regulator D to which it is
rigidly attached and also affords bearings for the pivot point and spring by which the
spring dog is actuated. The end of the shaft g' is prolonged beyond the eccentric
cam and has a bearing in a hole on the side of the cam cylinder A (vide Fig. 7).
In Fig. 4. which is an inside view of the cam ring with the cains in a similar position
to that shown in Fig. 3, the stitch-regulating cams being depressed to their fullest
extent so as to afford the greatest length of stitch the different positions of the needles
with respect to the cams being indicated the points m and n Fig. 4 show the highest
as well as the lowest possible position a needle can assume so as to form the longest
stitch the machine is capable of. In this view the needle at n as compared with
its position in Fig. 2. shows a depression greater by the distance 2-3 between
the bottom of the main drawing cam F and the top of the stitch regulating cam C
and indicates the extremes of the range of stitch, of which the knitting machine
fitted with this stitch-regulator is capable. The arrow heads and the dotted line
Fig. 2. indicate the direction of the notion of the cam ring and the path described
by the toes of the needles. The cam ring is capable of reverse motion when requisite
as herein before mentioned.
In Fig. 5. the detail of the stitch regulating cam C, d' is the hole for the pin d
on which it is caused to move vertically by the action of the spring e and lever arm B
as illustrated in Figs. 1. and 3. It is notched at a and bevelled off on one side
to permit it to fit down in the slot 6' in the plate (vide Fig. 6.) the inside face
of the cam C is concave so as to follow the sweep of the inside of the ring.
In Fig. 6. the detail of the main drawing cam the square end of the stich-regulating
cam C which appears on the inside of the cam cylinder before being placed in position
on the pin d is passed through the slot & formed in the plate h which is rigidly
attached to the main drawing cam F. The inside face of this cam F is also concave.
When in position the plate is placed in a groove in the side of the cam-ring; the
lower end resting against and being upheld by the free end of the flat spring i (vide
Figs. 2 & 4) so that when the toe of the needle opens a passage between the fixed
can E and the main drawing cam F this plate his slightly forced down against the
flat spring (vide Fig. 4).
In Fig. 7. o is a bracket which is screwed or otherwise attached to the rim of the
cam-ring, it is recessed in its centre at p as indicated to receive a spiral spring 7,
which has a bearing on the upper side of this recess; the other end of the spring
pressing against the short arm of the spring dog f which is pivotted at the
pivot being secured in a slotted bearing piece s which is attached to or forms part of
the bracket o (vide Figs. 7 & 8.). The action of the spring p against the short arm of
the pivotted dog is adapted to throw the outer end of the long arm of the dog up
into the notches t formed on the periphery of the stitch-regulator D & locks
the stitch-regulator in the position in which it is to be placed as determined by the
length of stitch required. The shaft is rigidly attached to the stitch-regulating
piece and passes through a hole or bearing in the bracket o carrying rigidly attached
thereon the eccentric cam piece g. The end of this shaft gl is prolonged inside of the
eccentric cam and has a bearing for its end in the side of the cam ring A.
V. V are sections through the the free ends of the lever arms B and indicate their
position when not pressed downwardly by the action of the revolving eccentric cam g.

page_text: In Fig. 8. which illustrates the adjustable feed H is a bracket or standard slotted
at near the top and having feet I which are formed to rest on the rim of the
cam-ring. These feet I are pierced for adjusting-screws K which secure them to the
rim by means of suitable screw-holes therein. Near the shoulders of the standard
piece H are two other adjusting-screws L which pass through the standard the ends
of these screws butting up against the side of the cam-ring.
M. is a bevelled shield carrying the guide N and having a hole O near one corner
thereof, to which hole there is a slit, 4, running from the side of the shield and
through which the yarn may be passed there being a small wire guard P with one end
free and the other attached to the face of the shield N. Under this the yarn is
passed in its passage to the hole o. The yarn also passes from the bobbin through the
loop formed in the guide N. The inner and upper side of this shield M. is bevelled
off so as to form an edge against which the latches of the ribbing needles may impinge
so as to prevent them from closing. This shield has a leg perforated for and
adapted to receive the end of the adjustable thumb-screw R and to move vertically in
a groove formed on the back of the said bracket H; the end of said thumb-screw
having passed through said leg is shown at .
When it is desired to raise or lower the bevelled shield M so as to bring the yarn
into proper position to be hooked by the knitting needles and the edge a in proper
position to keep the latches of the ribbing needles from closing the thumb-screw Ris
unscrewed and loosened and having been placed in the slot win the desired position
it is screwed up again the head of the thumb-screw R binding against the face of the
bracket and thus keeps the shield M rigidly in position. By manipulating the
screws K and screwing up or unscrewing the adjusting screws L near the shoulders of
the standard the upper portion of the standard H carrying the bevelled shield
piece M along with it may be located nearer to or further away from the cam-ring
as may be desired so that the yarn may be fed to the needles in the needle-cylinder
directly under the hook of the needle and there may by this feeding device be
a horizontal as well as a vertical adjustment to suit varying sizes of needles.
In the foregoing the parts of the knitting machine affected by these improvements
are only shown the needle cylinder, &c., being of necessity omitted so as to afford a
view of the cam mechanism.
It will be noticed that as the cam ring revolves when the toe of, for instance needle
No. 9. touches the point No. 7. of the drawing cam, shown in Figs. 4 and 6, that it
waits without drawing on the yarn until the preceding needle has drawn its yarn and
completed its stitch; the yarn required to make the stitch by needle No. 10 being
drawn through the hook and close latch of needle No. 9. The same process of
waiting" by cach needle for a time when passing between points 7. & 8 onl
the drawing cam while its preceding needle is drawing is repeated. By this peculiar
arrangement or form of cain each needle is forced to wait until the next preceding
needle has made its stitch-thus as no two needles are drawing at the same moment
there is no strain on the yarn, and consequently the machine will work easier and is
enabled to use yarns of more tender character and poorer quality.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The combination of the levers Beach pivotted at to the cam ring, the
stitch regulating cam C adapted to move vertically on the pin d in the slot c and also
adapted to move vertically in the slot 6', formed in the plate , and the spring e; the
stitch regulator D having shaft g with bearings in the bracket o and side of
cam-ring A and the eccentric cam rigidly attached to said shaft and adapted to give
a downward motion to the free ends of said lever arms B when the said eccentric
cam g is caused to revolve substantially as specified.
2. The combination of the levers B each pivotted at one end to the cam ring their
other ends being notched so as to overlap one another, the stitch-regulator D, having a
shaft g rigidly attached thereto and working in suitable bearings and the eccentric

page_text: cam 9. rigidly attached to said shaft and adapted to give a downward motion to the
free ends of the lever arms B, when the said eccentric cam g is caused to revolve the
said lever arms bearing on the stitch regulating cams C which are adapted to move
vertically along with the springs e in the slots c, and also adapted to move vertically
in the slots b¹, formed in the plates h to which the main-drawing cams F are attached
and the spring dog adapted to engage with notches in the periphery of the stitch
regulator D. substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. In a knitting machine the combination of the stitch regulating cams C adapted
to move vertically in the slots c and b¹ when actuated by the lever arms B and
the springs e the covering cams E, E', and the centre cam G, the wing cams 1 and the
main-drawing cams F attached to the slotted plates which are placed in grooves
formed in the side of the cam cylinder and are upheld by springs i, together with the
back cam a, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination of the stitch regulator D notched in a portion of its periphery,
the bracket o rigidly attached to the rim of the cam-ring the eccentric cam g and the
shaft g which has bearings in the bracket o the spring p placed in a recess formed in
the bracket o and bearing against the short arm of the spring dog which is pivotted
at in a slotted bearing pieces formed on the lower portion of the bracket o the
outer end of said spring dog f being adapted to engage with the notches formed on
the periphery of said stitch regulator D to lock the same substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination of the bracket H and the adjusting screws K binding the feet
of the bracket to the rim of the cam ring the adjusting screws L placed near
the shoulders of said bracket, the ends of said screws L bearing against the
side of the cam ring, the slot w and the thumb screw R adjustable vertically in said
slot and which binds the bevelled shield M. to the bracket H substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of the bevelled shield M having a hole O and slit, 4, and a leg Q
formed thereon the guide N and the thumb screw R adjustable vertically in a slot
formed in the bracket H which is attached to the rim of the cam ring substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
7. In a knitting machine a stitch regulator cam adapted to move vertically,
and operated by mechanism for raising and lowering said cam substantially as
described.
8. In a knitting machine a drawing cam or cams adapted to suspend the drawing
of yarn by a needle until the next preceding needle has drawn its yarn and completed
its stitch substantially as described and specified.