Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
A communication by JAMES LAWTON BRANSON, of 506, St. John Street,
Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Knitting Machines.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bunk Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 knitting machines, particularly to the circular type
used in the manufacture of stockings and other hosiery. The novel features
embody devices, of simple and efficient construction, for directing certain needles
into and out of operation, as, for example, in the knitting of the heel and toe parts
of stockings.
The object, primarily, is to provide a needle-controlling device which shall be
adjustable in respect to the knitting cams to perform the function of a needle-
elevating cam to effect the narrowing operation, and, subsequently, that of a
needle-depressing cam to effect the widening operation.
As hereinafter set forth there are two needle-controlling devices, one disposed
relatively to each end of the knitting cams, which devices are brought alternately
into play during the reciprocation of the cam carrier.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a partial plan of a circular knitting machine in which the improvement
is embodied.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the cam carrier, developed, showing the needle-
controlling devices in the positions they occupy during tubular knitting.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing said devices in the down or "narrowing."
position.
Figure 4A is a similar view showing a view as just moved out of operation by one
of said devices.
Figures 5 and 5* are similar views illustrating the action of one of said devices
during the widening operation.
Figure 6 is a detail of the cam carrier showing one of said devices and its
adjuncts.
Figure 7 is a transverse section of one of the rotatable heads with its pivoted
arm..
The numeral 1 designates the cam cylinder and 2 the knitting cams supported
thereon, these cams comprising the upper and lower central cams 3 and 4
As these parts
respectively; the lateral wing cams 5 and the raising end cams 6.
are of well-known construction and operation they require no special description
herein.
Circular openings 7 are cut in the wall of the cam-cylinder or carrier, at or
adjacent to the respective ends of the knitting cams. Fitted to each of these
openings, so as to be rotatable therein, is a hollow cylindrical head 8, provided,
preferably, with exteriorly-projecting lugs 9 to which is pivoted one end of an
arm 10, the other or free end thereof projecting normally through and beyond
the head.

page_text: For a purpose hereinafter appearing this end of the arm is provided with a
notched portion 11. The pivotal point of the arm is laterally of the central line
of the head so that the portion 11 lies near one side of the head, but is moved
into the latter when it is swung toward the opposite side thereof. A suitably-
disposed spring 12 maintains the arm yieldingly toward the near side of the head."
In this case the head is illustrated as held rotatably in place by means of a
plate 13 fastened to the exterior of the cylinder. On the head is a stud 14,
which, taking against the shouldered corners of the plate 13, determines the throw
of the head.
Normally, the heads occupy the positions indicated in
wherein the portions 11 are above the track of the needles.
these positions by means of suitably disposed springs, as 15.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,
The heads are held in
Preparatory to narrowing the web, after the requisite number of needles
(usually one half) has been raised out of action, the heads are moved to adjust the
notched ends of the arms in the positions indicated in Figure 4, that is, to bear
upon the adjacent outer ends of the wing cams respectively. The heads are
maintained in these positions, against the action of the springs 15, by any suitable
means, such, for instance, as the spring-controlled levers 16 on the cylinder, in
conjunction with the studs 17 on the heads.
This being done, the cam cylinder is reciprocated in the usual manner. During
the initial stroke of the cylinder, assuming the movement to be in the direction
indicated by the arrow x, the notched portion of the leading arm abuts against the
first needle heel in its path, which portion, with the needle engaged therewith, is
thrust upward against the action of the spring 12 so as to swing into the head,
and thereby release the needle heel above the nose of the upper knitting cam, or
out of action. Immediately upon the escape of the needle therefrom, the notched
portion of the arm is depressed by the action of its spring 12, which portion
thereupon rides upon the heels of the succeeding needles until the knitting cams
reach the open space at the end of the stroke, whereupon the said portion, escaping
the needle heels, resumes its original or active position. In this stroke of the cams,
the active needle heels upon being actuated by the knitting cams are discharged
therefrom in the usual manner, the yielding action of the rearward notched portion
upon the proximate wing cam permitting the needles to raise the latter sufficiently
to escape therefrom.
During the reverse stroke of the knitting cams, the said rearward. portion,
becoming the leading one, acts similarly to the other portion upon the first needle-
heel in its path, likewise raising that needle out of action and returning for a
succeeding operation at the proper time. Hence, during the reciprocations of the
cam cylinder, the notched portions of the arms are brought alternately into play,
thereby elevating a predetermined number of needles to effect the requisite
narrowing. Following this operation, the ends of the levers 16 are depressed to
free the heads and permit the springs 15 to return them to the first described
positions, that is, so that the notched portions of the arms will intersect .the
horizontal path or plane of the previously up-thrown needle-heels, whereupon the
cam cylinder is reciprocated. In the first stroke the notched portion of the leading
arm impinges against the first needle-heel in its path, which portion, with the
engaged needle is swung diagonally downward, thereby discharging the needle-heel
into the path of the knitting cams. See Figures 5 and 54. Upon the escape of
the needle therefrom, the notched portion of the arm is raised by the action of the
spring, which portion thereupon in pinges against the under portions of the
up-thrown needle heels, remaining thereunder until it clears the series of needles,
at the end of the stroke. At this stage said arm resumes its normal position. As
the cam cylinder continues its stroke, the notched portion of the rearward arm
impinges against the up-raised needle-heel in its path, the impact of such heel
thereupon partially turning the head and permitting the notched portion to pass
under the needle heels, where it remains until the series of up-thrown needles is
cleared, in which event the head resumes its normal position.

page_text: In the next or reverse-stroke of the cam cylinder, the notched portion of the
leading arm impinges against the first needle-wheel in its path, depresses the same,.
and, in conjunction with the notched portion of the rearward arm, operates in.all
respects similarly to the like portions of the arms described in the last preceding
operation. In this way, during the succeeding reciprocations of the cam cylinder,.
the arms will act upon the inactive needles, and move them individually into active
position until the requisite widening has been accomplished. There will thus be-
formed a fashioned toe or heel ponch of a stocking.
To proceed with the knitting of the tubular foot or leg, the series of needles first
up-thrown is pushed down into active position and the cam cylinder rotated in the
usual manner.
flaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me-
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what 1 claim is-
1. The combination with the cam carrier and its cams, of a needle-controlling-
cam mounted in advance of the leading end of the upper knitting cam, and
provisions whereby said needle-controlling cam may be adjusted to perform the-
respective functions of a needle-raising and needle-depressing cam, substantially as.
described.
cam,
2. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of a vibratory
needle-controlling arm mounted in advance of the leading end of the upper knitting
and provisions whereby the free or needle-engaging portion of said arm may
be adjusted either below or above the end of said upper cam, to perform the
functions of a needle-raising or a needle-depressing cam, as desired, substantially as
described.
3. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of an adjustable
support mounted on said carrier beyond the nose of the upper knitting cam, and an.
independently movable needle-controlling device mounted on said support, the
former having provisions whereby the needle engaging portion of said device.
may be adjusted above or below the nose of said upper cam to perform the
function of a needle raising or a needle-depressing cam, as desired, substantially as.
described.
4. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of a rotatable.
support on said carrier, and an independently-movable needle-controlling device
operatively mounted on said support, the former having provisions whereby the
said device may be adjusted to perform the functions of a needle-raising and needle-
depressing cam, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of an adjustable.
support on said carrier, a vibratory needle-depressing and needle-elevating arm.
pivoted on said support, and means for maintaining said arm yieldingly in a normal.
position, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of a rotatable
support on said carrier, a vibrátory needle-depressing and needle-elevating arm
pivoted on said support, and means for maintaining said arm yieldingly in a normal.
position, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, said carrier-
being provided with an opening in its wall, of a circular head rotatably fitted to
said opening, and an independently-movable needle-controlling device mounted on.
said head, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, said carrier-
being provided with an opening in its wall, of a hollow head fitted to said opening,.
an arm pivoted to said head so as to project through said opening and a spring
acting upon the said arm, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of rotatable-
supports at or adjacent to the respective ends of said cams, and independently-
movable needle controlling arms mounted on said supports, the former having

page_text: provisions whereby the said device may be adjusted to perform the functions of a
needle-raising and needle-depressing cam, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with the cam carrier and its knitting cams, of a rotatable
support on said carrier, an independently movable needle-depressing and needle-
elevating device on said support, a spring tending to maintain said support
normally in one position, and means adapted to maintain said support in an opposite
position, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of Al 1004
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.