Improvements in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
We, HEINRICH STOLL, and FRIEDRICH MAERCKLIN, both of the firm of
H. Stoll & Co., of Reutlingen, in the Empire of Germany, Knitting Machine
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The present machine is designed to surpass in the simplicity of its construction
and its superior working all machines hitherto known or made for the manufacture
of fabric having horizontal rows of meshes turned alternately to the front and
back.
In manufacturing this fabric it is necessary in knitting on the straight knitting
machine (Lamb system) that the meshes move intermittently from one row of
needles to the other. This is achieved in our new machine in the following most
simple manner.
The two needle-beds are in the same plane. A double-needle is used consisting
of a stem having at each end a bearded hook. This double needle is pushed in
turns according to the to-and-fro movement of the carriage, from the groove of onc
to the groove of the opposite needle-bed. This is done by means of jacks. These
jacks with a set of which each needle-bed is provided, are hooked at their ends, and
their butts project above the needle-bed to be moved by the cams.
The hooks on the jacks are intended to engage with or in the needle hooks and
by their movement to push the needles from one bed to the other and thereupon set
them free; while the jacks in the opposite needle-bed move forward, engage with
hooks at the end of the needles, and draw them into the opposite needle-bed.
This travelling movement of the jacks is effected as already mentioned by means
of the cams whereas the hooking and unhooking of the jacks to and from the
needle-hooks is carried out by a contrivance hereafter described.
There is attached on each cam carriage just above the centre-cam an inwardly
directed arm which is bent down and backward forming an inclined plane on which
the hook of the jack will slide up when the latter is pushed forwards so that the
jack hook is lifted clear of the needle hook. The construction is such that the jacks
are raised sooner on one side, allowing the needles coming from the other side to be
caught by the hooks of these jacks which also return sooner into their original
position for the purpose of catching and withdrawing the needles so that they
prevent the hooks at the other end of the needles from being caught by the hooks
of the other jacks when the latter fall back to their original position. For this
purpose the one may act slightly in advance of the other.
The jacks are carried on a curve as soon as their hooks slide along the inclined
plane. This curve is cut in a neck-piece fastened to the arm. By this descending
curve the jacks will be let down off the inclined plane towards the end of their
sliding movement.
For this purpose the inclined plane has a slight incision so as not to interfere
with the dropping of the jacks. The needle openers are fastened to the
neck-piece.
The working is as follows:-
:—
The carriage is situated at one end of the machine (if the machine is a straight
bed machine) ready for starting, the meshes are on the further side, the jacks on
the further bed are engaged with the needles, the jacks on the nearer bed are free.
The carriage is then moved along the bed.
The jacks are pushed inward by the lifting cams those on the further bed
preceding those on the nearer. The former jacks carry the needles before them
until their near ends come to be immediately beneath the hooks of the jacks which

page_text: meanwhile have been raised on the nearer side by the inclined plane, at the same
moment the hooks on the further bed leave the needles being taken off by the
inclined plane on the further cam carriage. The jacks now drop down on the
nearer bed, become hooked on the needles and carry them onto the near bed. Thus
the hook on the rear end takes up the yarn, while the needle is drawn from the
meshes just formed which now fall down. As the carriage passes, the newly formed
meshes appear on the nearer side. The carriage presently returns. The needles
are pushed back to the further side and the process is the reverse to the above, the
new meshes now being formed on the further side of the fabric.
In this way the rows of meshes are turned alternately to the front and back.
With the machine above described it is possible with but slight alterations, to
knit not only alternately on each side, as above described, but also to cause the
needles of one side knit several rows or even the whole web as may be required.
In the former case, if knitted alternately with several rows on one side and the
corresponding number of rows on the other side, the fabric has a striped
appearance.
The construction for working in this manner is as follows:
Instead of arranging the cams for the jacks one slightly in advance of the other,
they will be placed directly opposite each other the points of the centre-cams being
sloped off inversely and the curves of the neck-piece incised so as to run in juxta-
position. A machine built like this would work exactly as the one first described.
To be able to continue work on one side, the centre-cams here are made of two
pieces. The outside parts of the centre-cam are fastened to the carriage, whereas
the inner pieces (points) are raised or let down by the two inversely cut slopings.
This may be done either by hand with an eccentric, or automatically by an
arrangement of bolts. If therefore on one side, for instance, on the nearer side the
centre-cam-piece is raised, the working will undergo the following change.
Through the raising of this piece, the centre-cam is shortened, so that only the
outside part works. This part cannot push the jacks quite so far, as to make them
reach the inclined plane of the lifting-arm. Therefore the needles also are not
pushed far enough to the rear to be caught by the hooks of the jacks which fall off*
on that side. They are therefore again drawn back by the near jacks, the needles
being withdrawn from the new meshes on the rear, which go to make the web. On
return of the carriage, the action just described will be repeated on the same side.
The action of the same if the knitting is done on the rear side, i.e., if the right
centre cam-piece is raised and the needles are on the rear bed. In this manner it
is possible to knit either only on the right or only on the left, or on both sides
alternately.
The machine may be modified as follows:
The jacks are made without hooks. The needles are only pushed on, and not
withdrawn by them. Consequently the lifters for the jacks are done away with
and the combination of the cams is altered. On each side there are placed two
more wing-cams so that their angular points are just opposite to the already existing
wing-cams. The centre-cams are made of two pieces and this time the outside piece
can be raised and let down, whereas the inner piece forms an eccentric to be turned
from above by means of a handle. This eccentric by its respective position is
calculated to advance the needles more or less and thus to produce a longer or
shorter mesh. The fabric is rendered tight or loose in proportion. If on one bed,
for instance on the rear bed, the centre-cam is let down, that on the other side being
raised, the jacks on the rear bed influenced by the centre-cam push the needles first
to the left. The needles propel the opposite jacks before them. These again, are
pushed out by the wing-cam and simultaneously the jacks on the rear-bed are drawn
back, during which process the meshes will be formed on the front side. As soon
as the carriage returns the needles with the nearer bed jacks will be first pushed by
the jacks of the further side and afterwards the jacks with the needles are pushed
back to the rear by means of the near wing-cam. This time too the meshes are
forming on the front side i.e., on the side, on which the centre-cam is raised.

page_text: In the case given the knitting is done only on one side but supposing the knitting
should be done on the back, the rear hand centre-cam is raised, the front one let
down. The meshes now form on the back. Supposing again the knitting to be
done alternately, the respective positions of the centre-cam have to be changed upon
arrival of the carriage at the end of each separate journey. This can be done
automatically by means of any well known knock-out-mechanism.
in
For the last described construction of machine the needle-stem is cramped up
This is
the middle to ensure a smooth and steady travelling of the needle.
unnecessary for the machine first described, because with that the hooks of the
jacks prevent a failing of the needles.
For the last described machine instead of using needles with tongues, point-
needles may be used. With these needles, inverted meshes may be worked quite as
well as with tongued needles. The tongue openers not being required, this further
simplifies the machine.
Dated this 8th day of December 1891
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines.
We HEINRICH STOLL and FRIEDRICH MAERCKLIN both of the firm of
H. Stoll & Cie. of Reutlingen in the Empire of Germany Knitting Machine
Manufacturers 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 present machine is designed to surpass in the simplicity of its construction
and its superior working all machines hitherto known or made for the manufacture
of fabric having horizontal rows of meshes turned alternately to the front and
back. In manufacturing this fabric which is shown in Fig. 12 of the accompanying
drawings it is necessary in knitting on the straight knitting machine (Lamb system)
that the meshes move intermittently from one row of needles to the other. This is
achieved in our new machine in the simple manner hereinafter described.
Reference being made to the drawings,
Fig. 1 shows part of the ground plan of the machine with section of the carriage
at the commencement of its stroke.
Figs. 2. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken at three different positions of the
needles.
Fig. 5 shows the cam mechanism viewed from below.
Fig. 6 is a detail view.
The two needle beds are in the same plane. A double needle a is used consisting
of a stem having at each end a bearded hook. This double needle is pushed in
turns according to the to and fro movement of the carriage from the groove of
one to the groove of the opposite needle bed e. This is done by means of jacks b.
which are in form and shape as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. These jacks with a set
of which each needle bed is provided are hooked at their ends at c and their butts d
project above the needle bed to be moved by the cams. The hooks c on the jacks
are intended to engage with or in the needle hooks as shown in Fig. 2 and by their
movement to push the needles from one bed to the other and thereupon set them
free, while the jacks in the opposite needle bed move forward, engage with the
hooks at the end of the needles and draw them into the opposite needle bed.
This travelling movement of the jacks is effected as already mentioned by means
of the cams (Fig. 5) seen from below whereas the hooking and unhooking of the
jacks to and from the needle hooks is carried out by a contrivance hereinafter
described.
There is attached on each cam carriage just above the centre cam an inwardly

page_text: directed arm 9 which is bent downward and backwards as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4
forming an inclined plane h on which the hook of the jack will slide up when the
latter is pushed forwards so that the jack hook is lifted clear of the needle hook.
The construction is such that the jacks are raised, sooner on one side, allowing the
needles coming from the other side to be caught by the hooks of these jacks which
also return sooner into their original position for the purpose of catching and
withdrawing the needles so as to prevent the hooks at the other end of the needles
from being caught by the hooks of the other jacks when the latter fall back to
their original position.
To attain this, both the jacks and arms 99 lying opposite one another have to
be arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 so that the one may act slightly in advance of
the other.
The jacks when lifted by the inclined plane h pass into a slot or cam track i¹ cut
in the neck piece i fastened to the arm g as shown in Fig. 6. This cam track is
so shaped that it ensures that the jacks, as they approach the end of the plane /
shall pass under the needle opener which is cut away at k for this purpose.
The needle openers / are fastened to the neck piece i as shown in the drawing.
The working is as follows-The carriage is situated at one end of the machine
(if the machine is a straight bed machine) ready for starting. The meshes are on
the further side, the jacks on the further bed are engaged with the needles (Fig. 4)
the jacks on the nearer bed are free.
The carriage is then moved along the bed in the direction of the arrow
(Fig. 1).
The jacks are pushed inward by the lifting cams, and these being placed as
shown in Figs. 1 and 5, those on the further bed preceding those on the nearer.
The former jacks carry the needles before them (Fig. 2 direction of the arrow)
until their near ends come to be immediately beneath the hooks c of the jacks
which meanwhile have been raised on the nearer side by the inclined plane h, at the
same moment the hooks c on the further bed leave the needles, being taken off by
the inclined plane on the further cam carriage. The jacks now drop down on the
nearer bed, become hooked on the needles and carry them onto the nearer bed.
(Fig. 3 direction of the arrow.) Thus the hook on the rear bed takes up the yarn,
while the needle is drawn from the meshes just formed which now fall down. As
the carriage passes, the newly formed meshes appear on the nearer side and the
carriage presently returns. The needles are pushed back to the further side, and
the process is the reverse to the above, the new meshes now being formed on the
further side of the fabric.
In this way rows of meshes are turned alternately to the front and back of the
fabric as in Fig. 12.
With the machine above described it is possible with but slight alterations to
knit not only alternately on each side, as above described, but also to cause the
needles of one side to knit several rows, or even the whole web as may be required.
In the former case, if knitted alternately with several rows on one side and the
corresponding number of rows on the other side, the fabric has a horizontally striped
appearance. The construction for working in this manner is as follows. Instead
of arranging the cams for the jacks one slightly in advance of the other as shown
by Figs. 1 and 5, they will be placed directly opposite each other, the points of the
centre cams being sloped off inversely and the curves of the neck piece i incised
so as to run in juxta-position. A machine built like this would work exactly as
the one first described. To be able continue work on one side, the centre cams
here are made of two pieces as shown in Fig. 7 ground plan and Fig. 8 section.
The outside parts m of the centre cam are fastened to the carriage, the inner
pieces or points are raised or let down either by hand with an eccentric, or
automatically by an arrangement of bolts.
The drawing illustrates the former case.
If therefore on one side, for instance, on the nearer side where the needles are
as shown in the drawing the centre cam piece n is raised, the working will undergo

page_text: the following change. Through the raising of this piece n the centre cam is
shortened so that only the outside part m works. This part cannot push the jacks
quite so far as to make them reach the inclined plane of the lifting arm y.
Therefore the needles also are not pushed far enough to the rear to be caught by
the hooks of the jacks which fall off on that side. They are therefore again drawn
back by the near jacks, the needles being withdrawn from the new meshes on the
rear which
go to make the web.
On return of the carriage the action just described will be repeated on the same
side. The action is the same if the knitting is done on the rear side, that is, if
the right centre cam piece n is raised, and the needles are on the rear bed.
In this manner it is possible to knit either only on the right or only on the left, or
on both sides alternately.
A variation of the machines described is shown in Fig. 9 ground plan and Fig. 10
section. The mechanism is here so arranged, that it is possible to knit on one side
as well as alternately on both sides at the workers option.
The machine may be modified as follows:
The jacks are made without hooks c. The needles are only pushed on, and not
withdrawn by them. Consequently the lifters for the jacks are done away with
and the combination of the cams is altered.
On each side there are placed two more wing cams o and so that their angular
points are just opposite to the already existing wing cams. The centre cams are
made of two pieces and this time the outside piece m can be raised and let down,
whereas the inner piece n forms an eccentric to be turned from above by means of
a handle 9. This eccentric by its respective position is calculated to advance the
needles more or less and thus to produce a longer or shorter mesh. The fabric is
rendered tight or loose in proportion. If on one bed, for instance on the rear bed,
the centre cam is let down, that on the other side being raised, the jacks on the
rear bed influenced by the centre cam push the needles first to the left, as soon as
the carriage moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. The needles propel
the opposite jacks before them. These again, are pushed out by the wing cam o
on the left, and simultaneously the jacks on the rear bed are drawn back, during
which process the meshes will be formed on the front side. As soon as the carriage
returns the needles with the nearer bed jacks will be first pushed by the jacks of
the further side and afterwards the jacks with the needles are pushed back to the
rear by means of the near wing cam p. This time too the meshes are forming on
the front side that is, on the side on which the centre-cam is raised.
In the case given the knitting is done only on one side, the left, but supposing
the knitting should be done on the rear side the rear hand centre-cam is raised, the
front one let down. The meshes now form on the back. Supposing again the
knitting to be done alternately, the respective positions of the centre-cam have
to be changed upon arrival of the carriage at the end of each separate journey.
This can be done automatically by means of any well known knock out
mechanism.
For the last described construction of machine the needle-stem is cramped
up in the middle as shown in the drawing to ensure a smooth and steady
travelling of the needle. This is unnecessary for the machine first described and
illustrated Figs. 1 to 8, because with that the hooks of the jacks prevent a failing
of the needles.
For the last described machine, Figs. 9 and 10, instead of using needles with
tongues, point needles may be used as shown in Fig. 11. With these needles
inverted meshes may be worked quite as well as with tongued needles. The tongue
openers not being required, this further simplifies the machine.
The above described construction for which tongue needles are used called for
some contrivance to stop the tongues from catching in the yarn while working,
which would cause an interruption. For this purpose cover plates are fixed to
the carriage at Figs. 7 and 8 which avoid the closing of the open tongues, while
the needles slide along under the cover plates. Fastened to this safety-plate

page_text: are the tongue openers l. With machines, built as per Figs. 1 to 6 the tongue
openers, shaped accordingly for the purpose do the work of the cover-plates,
whereas with machines as in Figs. 9 and 10 this work is done partly by the somewhat
enlarged bridge S of the needle beds.
The yarn guides are omitted in all the drawings for sake of clearness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A flat knitting machine for knitting inverted rows of meshes having the
needle beds in the same plane and twin needles having two tongues or points upon
one stem which are driven by jacks, the said needles on the to-and-fro movement
of the carriage, passing alternately from one needle-bed to the corresponding grooves
of the opposite needle-bed, thus allowing both needle hooks to knit substantially as
set forth.
2. The construction of the machine described in Claim 1 so as to permit of the
centre-cams being raised or let down, the said machine having two more wing cams
arranged in the cam mechanism with their angular point facing the already existing
wing cams o and P. which with the to-and-fro movement of the carriage and the
corresponding raising and letting down of the centre cams renders it possible to
knit alternately on both sides or by dropping a centre-cam, on one side only..
3. The machine described in Claim 1 having twin tongue needles, in combination
with jacks having each a hook c on the inside, so that when the carriage travels,
the jacks of the one side by means of their hooks move the needles a into the
opposite needle-bed and then, raised by an inclined plane of the carriage leave
the needles free to be caught up on the other side and withdrawn by the jacks con
that side, the said process being alternately as described herein for the purpose
-set forth.
Dated this 8th dox of Sentember 1800
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.