Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines known as Seamless.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines known as
Seamless.
HENRY CLARKE 68 The Chase, Nottingham Hosiery Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to splicing apparatus, also striping & plating-applicable
to circular seamless knitting machines. For this purpose I attach a bracket to the
ordinary thread guide bracket. An axle is put into the bracket to carry a double
action lever-at one end of this lever is another axle. Attached to this axle is a
movable yarn guide, as the lever is raised up the movable yarn guide is put into
action.
To allow the movable yarn guide to go into position, I insert a slot in the
main guide when the lever end comes into contact with the truck or camms the
yarn guide is pressed down. In its downward motion it is held to the small
bracket by a spring or camm which presses it into feeding position.
In its upward movement the movable yarn guide comes out of feeding position as
follows: by coming into contact with the small bracket which causes the yarn
guide to be pressed forward in its upward movement. On the large bracket is
fixed an ordinary take up for taking up the loose thread when the machine is
reciprocating, or when needed.
For the moving up & down of the guide lever or levers-I fix, to a suitable part
of the machines, trucks acting as camms made to shog on the axle horizontilly by
means of levers, these levers are operated upon by Jacquard chains with studs
attached as required, or wheels with camms, or their equivalents, or any other
suitable motion on the machines.
I am enabled by this invention to splice stripe or plate any part of the stocking
without severing the thread.
Dated thin 17th day of Danamber 1895
Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines known as
Seamless.
HENRY CLARKE 68 The Chase Nottingham Hosiery Manufacturer, 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 improvements in and applicable to circular knitting
machine and has particular reference to improvements applicable to fast running
automatic knitting machines known as "seamless."
The object of this invention is the provision of means for enabling one or more
threads to be moved into position to be taken by the needles and knitted into the

page_text: fabric and away from such position without severing the thread or threads thus
enabling a fabric to be spliced or plated at any particular course or part of a course
with accuracy and certainty.
A modification of the said means may also be used for producing striped or
patterned work.
According to this invention, when applied to machines in which the thread
carrier revolves round the needles, the carrier for the splicing or plating thread is
suitably pivotted and is moved into and out of position by means of cams which
are fitted to slide vertically so as to act upon and move the carrier as desired,
the carrier cams being moved by other cams which are actuated or controlled by
pattern mechanism.
When the needle cylinder revolves the splicing or plating carrier is pivotted to
a fixed support, and thrown in and out of action by cams actuated or controlled by
pattern mechanism.
For producing striped or pattern work two pivotted carriers are used actuated
similarly to the splicing or plating carriers before referred to.
The machine is also provided with means for enabling the needles to draw a
longer loop during the time the splicing or plating thread is being knitted into the
fabric, in order to enable a fabric having equal tension in all parts to be produced.
This is effected by an oscillating lever driven from any convenient part of the
machine, and arranged to act upon the needle cylinder through the levers used for
raising the cylinder during the fashioning of the legs. The oscillating lever is
moved into and out of position for acting upon the fashioning lever by cams
which are actuated by, or the motion of the same controlled by pattern
mechanism.
In the drawings accompanying this specification the invention is shown as
applied to a machine known as the "Standard" and described in Specifications
Nos. 18644 A.D. 1892 and 8559 A.D. 1895, and in the following description the
said drawings are referred to.
Fig. 1. is an end elevation of a machine fitted with the means for carrying out
this invention according to one method.
Fig. 2. is a front elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the thread carriers.
Fig. 4. is an elevation of the cam for throwing the splicing thread carrier into
action.
Fig. 5. is an elevation of the cam for throwing the splicing thread carrier out of
action.
Fig. 6. is a front elevation of the two thread carrier needles, the splicing thread
carrier needle being shown in action.
Fig. 7. is a front elevation of the two thread carrier needles, the splicing thread
carrier needle being shown out of action.
Fig. 8. is an enlarged elevation of parts of the cams shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation of the cams and levers used for throwing the
splicing thread carrier in and out of action also shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a machine fitted with a modification of the means
for throwing the splicing thread carrier in and out of action.
Fig. 11. is a side elevation of a pair of striping thread carriers and cams.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the same..
Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the cams shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
Fig. 14. is an elevation of a thread carrier arrangement used with machines
having rotating cylinders, and
Fig. 15 is a view of a stocking referred to in explanation of the method of
working.
In the following detailed description of this invention the usual or ordinary
parts of the machine selected to illustrate the application of the invention are
referred to by reference letters while the new parts added to enable the invention
to be carried into effect are referred to by reference figures.

page_text: e
In the machine shown the needle cylinder a is fitted in a socket b carried by the
upper part of the framework c and the needles are actuated by a cam which
rotates or oscillates round the same according to the work being knitted. The
machine is driven by pulleys d and the knitting cams are driven through a
shaft which is rotated by wheels ff, and oscillated by a rack
g and pinion h
the wheel for pinion being connected to the shaft e as required by a clutch k
which is moved by pattern mechanism. There is also the usual thread carrier /
and needle a pattern chain m and the necessary tension and other usual
devices, these not being shown in the drawings as they form no part of this
invention.
h
According to this invention the arm P Fig. 3 of the carrier needle is extended
upwards to carry an axle 1 for the splicing thread carrier 2 and a thread guide 3.
The inner portion of the splicing thread carrier has a needle 4 and is fitted to
move between the extension of the arm and a spring 5, this arrangement
ensuring the carrier remaining in its placed position. The outer end of the
carrier is provided with a cam truck which strikes upon the throwing out cam 7
and throwing in cam 8 when these are moved into the path of the truck.
In Figs.
and 5 the cams 7 and 8 are shown in two positions, the full lines
showing the active position of the cams relatively to each other, and the dotted
lines show the inactive position. The relative positions of the two thread carrier
needles are shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
In Fig. 6 the splicing thread carrier needle 4 is in action and the splicing
thread 9 passes to the needles as indicated by the line n in practically the same
line as the kuitting thread which passes through an opening in the needle 1.
When the splicing thread carrier is thrown out of action its needle 4 is raised to
the position shown in Fig. 7, such movement carrying the thread 9 out of line
with the thread and at the same time the inward movement of the end of the
carrier needle as shown in Fig. 3 moves the thread inside the knitting needles
and therefore effectually prevents the splicing thread being knitted into the
article. The thread carrier 4 is so centred at I that it always moves clear of the
knitting needles. The splicing thread however is not broken by this movement
of the carrier but is carried as a chord of a circle from the last knitted loop to
the first loop knitted after being thrown into action again. The knitting thread /
is drawn from a fixed bobbin or spool and passes through an ordinary tension
appliance, while the splicing thread 9 is drawn from a bobbin 10 which is mounted
upon and rotated or oscillated by the cam ring.
As an example of the method of working a machine fitted with the splicing
carrier herein described the stocking Fig. 15 is referred to. In this stocking the
splicing thread is inserted at the sole of the foot between the lines 11 and 12 and
at the back of the ankle between the lines 13 and 14 these two pieces of spliced
work extending about half way round the stocking. The splicing thread is also
inserted at the line 15 to the top 16 of the stocking. When a splicing thread is
inserted between the lines 11. 12. and 13. 14, that portion of the fabric would be
stiffer than the other portion, if the needles "knocked over" the same amount for
the two halves of each row of loops. In order therefore to maintain the stiffness
of the work practically constant all round the fabric each needle to which the
splicing thread is fed, is arranged to draw a longer loop, and the increase in length
is practically equal to the thickness of the splicing thread.
In the ordinary machine the needle cylinder is raised during the formation of
the calf of the leg by means of a lever o pivotted at o¹ and provided with an
adjusting screw o* upon which the lower end of the needle cylinder rests. The
lever o is connected by a link o to a cranked lever p which is pivotted to a fixed
part of the machine at p³ and its end is held in the path of pattern pieces on the
chaiu m.
Now according to this invention the lever p is fitted with a cam plate 11
behind which is a truck 12 carried by a lever 13 pivotted at 16 and provided
with a truck 14 which is held in contact with a cam 15 on the wheel f'. Now the
wheel ƒ³ rotates once for each revolution of the needle cylinder and from this it

page_text: follows that if the raised portion of the cam 15 is one half the circumference of
the same the truck 12 will be held up a corresponding time and as the raising of
the truck in conjunction with the cam 11 actuates the lever p; this through the
link o and lever o raises the needle cylinder the necessary distance. The lever 13
is pivotted on a boss 16 which is mounted eccentrically upon an axle 17 fixed upon
the bracket 18, and firmly attached to the boss 16 is a lever 19 which is held in
contact with a cam 20 carried by an axle 21 also fixed to the bracket 18 and
operated by means described hereafter. As the cam 20 is rotated the lever 19 is
lifted and this turning the boss 16 on its axle 17 carries the truck 12 clear of the
cam 11 which is required when plain work without a splicing thread at any part is
required or circular work with a splicing thread all round it.
On the axle 21 there are also two other cams 22, 23 and a ratchet wheel 32 all
the pieces on this axle being so connected that they move with the ratchet wheel
as one piece. The cam 23 of the shape shown in Fig. 9 operates the lever 24
which is pivotted at 25 and connected by the link 26 to a slide 27 which carries
the knocking out cam 7 and is guided by a bracket 28. The cam 22 operates the
lever 29 which is also pivotted at 25 and connected by a link 31 to the slide 30
carrying the throwing in cam 8.
The rams 20, 22, and 23 are rotated intermittently as required by means of a
ratchet wheel 32 which is actuated by a lever 33 pivotted on the axle 17, pawl 34
and cam 35 the latter being attached to the wheel f¹. For a stocking spliced
as shown in Fig. 15 the splicing thread carrier is thrown into action for half a
revolution at the lines 11 and 13 and for the whole revolution at 15, and out of
action again for half a revolution at the lines 12 and 14 and out of action again
altogether at the line 16. The ratchet wheel 24 is made with teeth 36 longer than
the intermediate teeth so that when the wheel has been turned until the pawl.
works in these longer the wheel remains stationary until it is again desired to
throw the splicing carrier in or out of action. The lever 33 is extended beyond
the axle 17 and provided with a slot at the end of the same for receiving the end
of a rod 37 and is so arranged that the lever 33 is capable of oscillation under
the action of the cam 35 without moving the rod 37 which is carried by a lever 38
Fig. 1. This lever is pivotted at 39 to the standards so as to come over the
pattern chain m which is provided with pattern pieces at intervals represented by
the points 11 to 16 on the stocking and of such a height that the lever 38 is lifted
high enough to cause the pawl 34 to move the wheel 32 a distance at least equal
to the difference in the length of the teeth so that when the pattern piece allows
the lever 38 to fall the pawl 34 falls into one of the ordinary teeth and the wheel
together with its attached cams is rotated until the next long tooth is reached and
the cams turned; such partial rotation of the cams having made the necessary
alterations in the position of the various parts.
In a modification of the means for throwing the splicing thread carrier into
and out of action shown in Fig. 10, the thread carrier cams 7 and 8 and the
slides 27 and 31 are exactly as described with reference to the first mentioned
modification.
In the modified arrangement is a shaft 40 carried by brackets 41 from the
machine framework and fitted at one end with a lever 42 provided with a cam
truck and actuated by a cam 43 on the wheel f. On the other end of the shaft 40
is another lever 44 io which is attached a clawker 45 whose free end is provided
with a pin 46. To the lever 38 pivotted at 39 there is suspended a link 47 the end
of which is slotted at 48 to embrace the pin 46 which is held to the top of the
stop by a spring 49. The lever 38 is provided with a pin 50 over which is a
catch 51 so arranged that when the lever is raised by a piece on the chain m the
catch 51 falls under the pin 50 and thus holds the lever in its raised position
until another piece on the pattern chain strikes the end of the catch 51 and
moves it from under the pin 50 and allows the lever 38 to fall. When the
lever 38 is raised the claw end of the lever 45 is brought behind a pin 52 on
the lever p and held there by the spring 49.

page_text: The continued oscillation of the lever 44 then moves the lever p and this.
through the link o and lever o raises the needle cylinder during the time the
splicing thread is being inserted as previously described. The lever 38 is also.
arranged to act upon the slide 31 of the throwing in cam 8 every time it is lifted,.
and the splicing thread carrier is thus thrown into action and the stiffness of the
work adjusted simultaneously by the lever 38.
When a splicing thread is being inserted all round the article as when the
line 15 Fig. 15 is reached the knocking out cam 7 has to be raised out of the
path of the carrier cam truck 6. This is effected according to this modification.
by a cam lever 53 pivotted at 54 and connected by a link 55 to a lever 55 which
is pivotted at p on the same axle as the lever p. This lever is made with a
cam 56 so shaped that when the pattern piece rises to operate upon the lever p
during the shaping of the calf of the leg it first acts upon the cam 56 and moves
the lever until the cam 7 is thrown out of action, and the lever 55 is held in this
position by a piece 57 which falls under the catch 58 used for holding the lever p
in its most forward position.
The mechanisms heretofore described are especially designed for splicing but
may be used for plating also, as the position in which the extra thread is delivered.
enables plating to be performed if a suitable thread is supplied.
In Figs. 11. 12. and 13 an arrangement for striping and patterning in two colours
is shown. The carriers 59 and 60 are pivotted at 61 on opposite sides of the arm 62
which is provided with the plate which now acts as a latch guard only, these
parts being carried by the bracket and rotated in the same way as the other
carriers. The carrier 59 is fitted with a truck 63 and the carrier 60 with a
truck 64 and they are thrown in and out of action by double cam plates 65 and 66
respectively, which are adjustably mounted on rods 67 and 68, suitably guided and
actuated by pattern chains, wheels or other similar known pattern mechanisms.
When the thread is to be changed it is necessary that both threads be knitted
together on at least one needle in order to prevent the formation of holes, and this.
is done by arranging that the throwing out points 69 of the two cams are behind
the throwing in points 70. If it is required to change the carriers from the
position shown the cams 65 are lowered and the cams 66 raised so that at the next
meeting of the cams and trucks the latter meet the cams at the relative positions.
shown by the dotted circles 63 and 64*.
When this invention is applied to machines in which the needles rotate in
front of the carriers the arrangement shown in Fig. 14 is adopted. The carriers 59.
and 60 are pivotted as in Fig. 11 and the piece 62 is jointed to a fixed bracket 71.
The carrier arms 63 and 64 are connected by links 72 and 73 to levers which are
actuated and selected by suitable pattern mechanism.
In the stocking shown as an illustration of the method of working a machine
fitted with the appliances herein described, the splicing carrier between the
lines 11-12, and 13-14 is thrown into action at the commencement of the spliced
part of each row of loops and out of action at the termination of such spliced parts.
To do this it is only necessary to move the throwing in cam, as the knocking out
cam remains in its active position. When however the article is to be spliced all
round, the knocking out cam must be moved out of the path of the splicing carrier
truck and this is done before the line 15 is reached by the means described and
accounts for the fact that this cam is only thrown out of action once during the
knitting of a stocking. If a different article is being made or a stocking requires
splicing at different places to those specified, the various cams are modified according
to the requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with a circular knitting machine of a thread carrier canable

page_text: fabric and out of such position without severing the thread, as, and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a thread carrier
for the purpose herein set forth, of means for moving the said carrier into its
active position at any predetermined revolution of the needle cylinder or part of
such revolution and out of its active position at any other predetermined
revolution of the needle cylinder or after being in action part of a revolution
of the needle cylinder substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.
3. In a circular knitting machine the combination with the same of a carrier
capable of being moved into and out of action, means for so moving the carrier,
and means whereby the needles are arranged to draw a longer loop during the
time the carrier is in action, arranged substantially as herein described and for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with the same of two pivotted
carriers and means whereby they may be thrown in and out of action without
severing the threads and means whereby both carriers supply a thread to at least
one needle before either is thrown out of action substantially as herein described
and for the purpose declared.
Dated this 11th day of Tul 1806
W. H. POTTER, Wh. Sc.,
Newcastle Chambers, Nottingham, Patent Agent.