US2058481A - Circular knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Filed Oct. 4, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 glvvownto'o Oct. 27, 1936. D. A. MCNAUGHTON 2,058,431

I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 is? lzvzmm htan, 7

Oct. 27, 1936. D. A. M NAUGHTON 2,058,481

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Fild Oct. 4, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s Z0 Z2 Z7 21 79 avg i' P Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES- CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Don A. McNaughton, Maryyille, Tenn., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. L, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 4, 1929, Serial No. 397,351 28 Claims. (01. 66-135) This invention relates to circular knitting machines, particularly such as are employed for the manufacture of hosiery, and the prime object of the invention is to provide for knitting extra yarns in hosiery so as to obtain ornamental effects, such as one or more lap stripes, clocks, etc. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide for wrapping the extra yarn around selected needles of the machine in a simple and eflicient manner, and also to provide for operating the yarn mechanism from the longitudinal center of the rotating needle cylinder, thereby to avoid the employment of complicated drive mechanism.

In connection with the yarn wrapping, vit is an object of the invention to provide for selecting the needles to be wrapped in asimple and. em-

cient manner, and to obtain'a wide range of.

selectivity, thereby to enable the production of a great variety of designs on. the leg portions ofhosiery.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it of course being understood that changes in the form.'proportion, size and minor details may be made, within the scope of the claims, without departing 'from the spirit or i sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a needle cylinder of well-known form having the yarn wrapping and needle,selecting mechanisms of the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the hinged latch ring and showing certain portions of the yarn wrapping mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail plan section on the line B-6 of Figure 7. 3

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 50 l-'l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical detail sectional view taken through the meeting ends of the needle cylinder and the jack cylinder and showing a needle and jack in assembled relation.

Figure 9 is a detail view, partly in section and illustrating the tension means for the extra yarns.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are detail side elevations illustrating successive positions of needles and their cooperating jacks. 5

Figure 13 is a side elevation of one of the needle elevating jacks prior to its assemblage with the machine.

Figures 14, 15, 16 and 1'7 are detail views illustrating successive steps in the wrapping of an 9 extra yarn around selected needles.-

Figure 18 is a detail view on a reduced scale showing a slidable adjustable mounting forthe cam track, and a'cam arrangement differing from that shown in Figure 2. 5

Figure 19 is a detail perspective view of one of the jack selecting cams.

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic viewof a conventional form of stitch cam assembly with jacks oi the present invention in cooperative relation 20 thereto. V

In Figure 1 of the present drawings, there has been illustrated a conventional needle cylinder I having therein the usual upright parallel needle grooves 2 intersecting the top edge of the cylinder. Mounted above the cylinder and in the usual cooperative relation therewith is a latch ring 3 I of any common or approved form, hinged at 4 to some stationary part 5' of the machine in order that the latch ring 3 may be swung upwardly to 30 expose the open top of the needle cylinder I, as

is common-practice. .The needle cylinder is provided at its bottom with .the usual bevelled gear 5 in mesh with a drive gear 6 for rotating the cylinder about its upright longitudinal'axis. The 35 needles employed are of the common type such as has been shown at l in Figure 10 of the drawings, there being one needle for each upright groove or needle slideway of the cylinder I. As usual the needle is provided at its lower'end with 40 a lateral projection or foot 8 intended for co-' operation with the usual cams, for raising and lowering the needles to perform the usual knitting operations thereof.

According to the present invention,it is proposed to provide for wrapping extra yarn or yarns around selected needles so as to knit a design into the hosiery, and the mechanism of the present invention for accomplishing this result is best shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings to which reference is now made. yarn wrapping mechanism of the present inven tion'is mounted upon the top of the hinged latch ring 3 and is supported upon a cross-bar or base plate 9 which extends diametrically across the v top of the latch ring 3 at right angles to the axis of the hinged mounting of said ring. The base plate 9 may be of an integralpart of the latch ring or it may be secured thereto by fastenings such as shown at Ill. The base plate 9 is of considerable width and is provided with a relatively large central circular opening ll, around the top v of which is an upstanding cylinder flange l2. Ro-

tatably mounted within the opening I I is a hollow cylinder head l3 having an open top surrounded by an outstanding flange M. The head |3 ispro-v vided with a bottom I having a-diametric open ended slot l6 therein constituting a slideway as will hereinafter appear. While the rotatable head l3 may be detachably retained in position in any suitable manner, I have shown, for this purpose, a substantially L-shaped clip having one arm detachably secured to the flange |2 by suitable fastening l8 and its other arm engaging a circumferential groove l9 formed in the exterior of the cylinder head |3 immediately below the flange l4 thereof, I I

Disposed diametrically across the top of the rotating head I3 is a slide 20 which rests upon the top of the head and operates in a slideway provided by a pair of cross-bars 2| resting-upon the top of and secured to the head l3. The slide 20 is of greater length than the diameter of the head l3 so as to project at opposite sides thereof so that the ends of the slide may cooperate with a cam track 22 for the purpose of reciprocating the slide during the rotation of the head I35 This cam track 22 of course lies in the same horizontal .fromthe cam track 22 and provided with a substantially horizontal foot or lateral projection 24 resting upon the top of the base plate 9 and piv 'otally secured thereto by a suitable pivot pin 25.

Any suitable means for adjustably swinging the cam track on its pivotal support may be employed, such for instance as a link or rod'26 pivotally secured at 21' to the cam track 22 diametrically opposite its pivotal support. Another form of adjustable mounting for the cam track 22 has been shown in Figure 18 of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that the track 'is provided upon its under side with shoes or slide members 28 mounted to move endwise upon the top of base plate 9 and held in place by bars 2| suitably. secured upon the top of the base plate 9 and-constituting a slideway for the shoes 28. Any suitable link connection 28' may be employed to adjustably shift the cam track back and forth upon the top of the base plate 9.

With the head l3 rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, and the left-hand end of the slide 20 in contact with the inner periphery of the cam track 22, the slide is moved endwise to the right, by reason ,of the shape of the inner face of the cam track'portion 29, the diametrically opposite interior face 30 of the cam track being shaped to accommodate the righthand end of the slide. v 1

Provided upon thetop of the slide or movable member 20 are upright bobbin supports'or spindles 3| and 32 disposed at opposite sides of the middle of the movable member 20. Depending from the bottom of the slide or movable member at the middle thereof is a sleeve 33, the lower end of which is slidably received in the slot 5 in the bottom of the rotatable head l3. Mounted to rotate within the sleeve 33 is a hollow rock shaft 34 which provjects at the bottom of the sleeve 33 and also upwardly through the opening in the slide or movable member 20. The lower projecting end of the rock shaft 34 carries diametrically opposite arms 35 and 36, each of which is provided at its outer end with a yarn guide 31, preferably in the form of an open ended tube depending from the arm. The upper projecting end of the rock shaft 34 is provided with a crank arm 38 from which extends a link 39 pivotally connected, at one end of the crank arm 38' and at its other end to a trip arm 40 pivoted at one end upon the top of the slide or movable member 20 by means of a suitable pivot pin 4|. A tension is placed upon the rock shaft by means of a helical spring 42 having one end connected to the pivotal connection between the crank arm 38 and the link 39, and its other end connected to the slide, for instance through the instrumentality of the pivot pin 4|. stop 43 is provided upon the top of the movable member 20 and" against which the crank arm 38' is yieldably maintained by the helical spring 42. The free end of the trip arm-40 is provided with a trip projection portion 43' which travels in the path of a cam 44 so as to swing the trip arm 40 inwardly and, through the link 39 and the crank arm 38', to rock the shaft 34 and consequently turn or oscillate the arms 35 and 36 for the purpose of wrapping yarn around needles as-will be hereinafter explained.

The means for rotating the head l3, as shown in the accompanying drawings, includes an upright shaft 45, disposed concentrically within the cylinder 1 and rising from the bottom 46 of a cylinder extension 41 suitably secured to the bottom of the'needle cylinder I as best shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that the cylinder portion 41 is provided at its top with a laterally extending seat or socket 48 to receive a spoke member-49 of the gear 5. The exterior of the cylinder extension 41 is provided with a cut out portion 50'to form a shoulder- 5| underlying the spoke portion of the gear 5, and a suitable fastening 52 extends upwardly through the shoulder 5|, the spoke portion 49 and into a screw-threaded socket 53 in the bottom of the needle cylinder. At its upper end, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the shaft 45 has a clutch connection with the bottom of the rotatable head l3. While any suitable form of clutch connection may be employed, the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a cross-head 54 hung from the bottom of the cylinder l3 so as to lie below the arms 35 and 36. This cross-head is provided at its middle with a center post 55 designed to be received within a socket 56 in the top of the drive shaft 45, and in addition there is a projection and socket engagement 51 between the cross-head 54 and the top of the shaft 45 so as to interlock the members for simultaneous rotation, while at the same time permitting the automatic separation and reengagement of the clutch members when the hinged latch ring 3 is raised and again lowered.

The provision for selecting needles to be wrapped includes the cylinder extension 41 or jack cylinder which is provided with upright grooves or slideways 58, best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, registering and communicating with the needle grooves or slideways of the needle cylinder. In this connection it will of course be understood that the gear 5 is connected to the cylinder assembly by means of a plurality of spoke members, one of which has been shown A suitable in Figures 6 and '7, so that the body portion of the gear 5 is spaced from the exterior of the cylinder to accommodate the upper ends of the jacks, one-of which has been shown at 59 in Figure 8-of the drawings with its upper end projecting through the space betweenthe body of the gear and the cylinder and into the registering needle groove with its upper end abutting against the footor bottom of the corresponding needle I.

The means for selectively lifting the jacks includes a vertical series of cam members 60, one of which has been shown in detail in Figure 19 of the drawings, and is in the form of a flat plate or bar having its longitudinal axis disposed radially with respect to the jack cylinder; and its inner end concave, as at 6| to fitthe exterior of the cylinder. Each cam is set at an angle to the vertical transversely of the cam so that, as the cylinder'rotates to the right in Figure 1 of the drawings and a jack comes into cooperative relation with a cam, a shoulder or projection 13 on the jack engages the upper face of the camat the lower edge thereof and wipes transversely across the cam which results in the elevation of the jack which results in the lifting of the corresponding needle I against the bottom of which the top end of the jack engages. It will of course be understood that each jack selecting canr'6ll is movable or adjustable endwise in the casing or holder 63 provided for supporting the cams, any suitable means, not shown in the drawings, being provided for setting the cams endwise so as to project into the paths of the shoulders on the jacks or be withdrawn out of the paths of said shoulders.-

In the. operation of the machine of the present invention, the extra yarn' to be incorporated in the hosiery to produce ornamental designs therein, such for instance as lap-stripes, is in bobbin form and mounted on the spindles 3| and'32 A yarn from each bobbin is threaded through suitable eyelets or guides on the frame 64 mounted directly on the movable part 20 or upon the lower portion of the spindle below the bobbin. From the eyelets on the frame the strand leads downwardly or through a guide or eyelet 65 provided upon the slide or movable member 26. The

strand then passes from the guide 65 to a guide or eyelet 66 on the end of a bell crank 61 suitably fulcrumed as at 68 and held under tension 'by a spring 69. From the guide 66 on the tension lever, the strand extends downwardly.

around one or more needles in the manner diagrammatically shownin Figures 14 to 17 inclusive. ,In Figure 14, the arm 35 has been shown in its initial. wrapping position, from which it is moved in a substantially endwise direction into the position shown in Figure 15,

' after which it is rocked or swung around into the position shown in Figure 16, and thence into the position shown in Figure 17 and back to its initial position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 17 and full lines in Figure 14, whereby the extra strand of yarn will be wrapped around the needle or needles which are in positiontoreceivesuch wrapping. It will of course be understood that when the needles descend in their knitting movement, they will draw down the wrapped strands into the knitted fabric.

The operation of the mechanical means for imparting this wrapping movement to the arm 35 will behest understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, wherein it will be understood that the head I3 is rotating in the same direction and at the same rate of speed as the needle cylinder, for the reason that the head I3 is rotated by the shaft 45 which is in turn r0- tated by the cylinder assembly. As the head l3 rotates, the slide or movable member 20 will of course be carried around and moved'or reciprocatedendwise by its cooperation with the cam track 22, thereby imparting the necessary endwise movements to the arm 35 so that the yarn guide 31 thereof may be caused to cross the path ofthe needles. In other words, this endwise movement of the arm 35 is that which carries the arm from the position shown in Figure 14 to the position shown in Figure 15, after which the arm is moved into the position shown in Figure 16 by-the action of the cam 44 on the trip lever 43, the contact of the cam 44 with the trip lever 43 being such'as to move the arm from the position of Figure 15 to the position of Figure 16 by reason of the turning action of the link 39 and crank arm 38 on the rock shaft 34. The cam '44 then remains in contact with the trip lever '40 while the slide or movable member 20 is being moved operation of the device, the trip arm 40 escapes from the cam 44, whereupon the spring 42 acting upon the crank arm 35 moves the arm 35 back to its starting position shown in dotted lines in Figure 17 and in full lines in Figure 14. It will now be understood that as the head l3 continues to rotate, the right-hand end of the slide or movable member 20 in Figure 2 will come around into the position formerly occupied by' the left-hand end of the movable member 2|), and thus bring the arm 36 into wrapping position. To effect the wrapping operation of the arm 36, there is provided a cam H, shown in dotted lines in Figure '2 of the drawings, corresponding to the cam 44, located diametrically opposite said cam 44 and in position to act upon the trip lever 40 when the arm 36 is in its wrapping position. It will here be explained that when the left-hand ,end of the slide 20 is wiping along the cam portion 29, the opposite side of the cam track 22 is in engagement with the right-hand end of the slide so as to prevent displacement thereof and to maintain the left-hand end of the slide in proper cooperative relation with .the cam surface 29. When the rotation of the needle cylinder is reversed, as for instance in knitting the heel and toe, the operation of the parts is in the reversed order and the surface 30 of the cam track becomes the active cam portion while the cam surface 29 operates to hold the slide or movable member 20 in cooperative relation with the cam surface 30. i

When knittingthe heel and toe portions, the cam track 22 is pulled to the right in Figure 2 on its pivotal support at 25 for-the purpose of moving the active end of the arm 35 or the arm 36 rearwardly or to the right and within the needle circle so that there will be no effective enaosaam arms 35 and 36 are maintained well over to the left-hand side of. the needle circle, as shown in Figure 3, so as to leave a clear space to the rear or at the right-hand side of the needle circle so as to accommodate other elements of the circular knitting machine such for instance as a yarn binder or a yarn cutter. This important advantage is brought about by the camming action on the slide or movable member 20 which imparts only a slight reciprocatory movement to the bearing sleeve 33 whichcarriesthe rock shaft 34 of the winding arms 35 and 36.

The means for selecting the needles to be wrapped includes jacks, one for each needle, one

of such jacks being shown in Figure 13 of the drawings prior to its assembly with the machine. The jack includes a long shank having a laterally projecting foot 12 at its lower end and a corresponding needle 1.

longitudinal series of. laterally projecting shoulders 13. The lateral shoulders 13 occupy the middle portion of the shank, there being smooth portions 14 and 15 above and below the series of shoulders to accommodate the retaining bands commonlyemployed for holding needles in position on the needle'cylinder. Each jack is mounted in one of the upright grooves 58 in the cylinder portion 41 with its foot portion 72 projecting beyond the cylinder and its upper end beneath and in cooperative relation with the bottom and the When placed upon the cylinder 'portion 41, all but one of the shoulders 13 are usually removed from the shank of the jack so that the jack has only one shoulder, which of course may be any one .of the series of shoulders provided upon the jack in its original form. The ,operation of the jacks will be best understood by reference to Figures 10, 11 and '12 of the drawings, wherein Figure 10 shows a needle 1 and its corresponding jack in their lowermost positions to which they have beendepressed by the action of the stitch cam assembly on the needle. As the cylinder continues to rotate the needle 1 will be elevated by another cam into the position shown in Figure 11, thereby separating the needle from the top of the jack, whereupon the foot portion 12 of the jack will then engage an elevating cam 16 so as to lift the jack into the position shown in Figure 12 with its upper end in contact with the needle 1 which has been previously elevated. On further rotation of the cylinder, the jack will be elevated ,by one of. the jacklifting cams 60 provided the cam 60 corresponding to the projection 13 has been set for cooperation therewith, whereby the needle will be lifted above lts normal position and into such a position that the extra yarn may be wrapped around the upper end of the needle in the manner hereinbefore described.'

After the wrapping operation has taken place, both the needle 1 and the jack will be drawn down to their lowermost positions as shown in Figure 10 by the action of the stitch cam assembly upon the foot ofthe needle I as hereinbefore described.

While any preferred form of. stitch cam assembly may be employed, I have illustrated a con- I into their normal positions. The positions of the jacks 59 have been illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 20, from which it will be understood that the jacks are depressed with the needles and remain depressed after the needles have been lifted by the cam 80, which brings about the separation of the needles and jacks hereinbefore described with respect to Figure 11 of the drawings, said jacks being subsequently brought up, by the cam 16, into cooperative relation with the needles as shown in Figure 12 of the drawings.

In Figure 18 of the drawings, wherein has been shown the slidable adjustment of the cam ring 22' there has also been shown the camming arrangement for the actuation of the yarn guides 31 and 38 (see Figure 3), differing somewhat from that shown in Figure 2. Instead of employing the cams M and H of Figure 2, separate from the cam track 22, I locate cam members 44. and H upon the outer periphery of the cam ring 22','and I also reverse the positions of the members 38 and 40 as indicated at 38 and 40'. link 39' extends across the top of the cam ring 22' and is provided with a depending member 43 traveling on the exterior of the cam ring for cooperation with the outer edge faces of the cam members 44' and H. Of course, the depending member 43 may be provided with an anti-friction roller.

Referring .to the yarn guides 31 and 38 best shown in Figure 9 of. the drawings, it will be 'read' The connecting projected for that purpose. When a plurality of yarn guides is employed upon one of the arms, a like number of bobbin supports or spindles, such as 3| and 32, would of course be provided by such an arrangement of a plurality of, yarn guides separate groups of selected needles may be simultaneously wrapped to form a fabric pattern having no yarn floats connecting needles wrapped with different yarns.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a, hinged latch ring and a rotatable needle cylinder, of a rotatable head carried by the latch ring and disposed concentrically with respect to the cylinder, cam actuated pattern working means mounted on the head, and a concentric drive connection between the cylinder and the rotatable head, said drive connection including a clutch to permit automatic disengagement and reengagement of the drive connection on lifting and lowering the latch ring.

2. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, or a rotatable head mounted concentrically with respect to the cylinder, means for feeding at least one main yarn to the needles and means for wrapping yarn about needles to form patterns, said means being mounted upon the rotating head and maintained at one side of the needle cylinder to maintain an. unobstructed space fixed with respect to the first named yarn feeding means.

3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, of means for wrapping .yam around needles to form patterns and including yarn guides movable across the path of the needle circle of the needle cylinder," and means for shifting the yarn wrapping means horizontallywith the needles when knitting the heel and to maintain the yarn guides within the path of the needle circle and out of operative relation toe portions of hosiery.

4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, of a rotatable head mounted concentrically with respect to the cylinder, a

slidable; member mounted. on the rotary head,

yarn guides movably mounted on the slidable member, means for moving the yarn guides 'to needles therein and a hinged latch ring, of a rotatable head mounted concentrically upon, the latch ring, a horizontally slidable member mounted on the rotatable head, yarn guides mounted to move horizontally on thexslidable member,

means for moving the guides horizontally on the slide to effect a portion of the wrappingmovement, and a non-rotating cam in cooperative relation with the slidable member to move the same and cause the yarn guides to intersect the circular path of the needles.

6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, pattern forming means, jacks below and registering with the needles of the needle cylinder, and means including saw-tooth cam engageable butts for selectively lifting the jacks to elevate the needles registered therewith into cooperative relation with the pattern forming means.

7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder having I needles therein, pattern forming means, jacks dles therein, pattern forming means, a stitch below and registering with the needles of the needle cylinder, means common to all of the jacks for successively lifting them to a, common initial elevation, and means including saw-tooth .cam engageable butts for selectively lifting the jacks from their initial elevation to elevate the needles registering therewith -into cooperative relation with the pattern forming means.

8. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, pattern forming means, jacks below and registering with trm needles of the needle cylinder, a stitch cam assembly for depressing the needles and then elevating themto their normal positions, means common to all of the jacks for successively lifting them from their lowermost positions into a common initial elevation and in cooperative relation with the needles in their normal positions, and other means including saw-tooth cam engageable butts for selectively'lifting the jacks from their initial elevation to elevate the needles into cooperative relation with the pattern forming means.

9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder having neecam assembly for depressing the needles and then elevating them to their normal positions, jacks below the needles and provided with lateral saw-tooth projections at diiferent positions along their lengths, means common to all of the jacks for successively liftingthem from their lowermost positions to a common initial elevation in cooperative relation with the needles in their normal positions, and a series of cams in selective cooperative relation with the projec- 10. A jack for use in knitting machines having a series of removable butts adapted to be engaged by cams, the cam engaging edge of each butt being disposed at right angles to the shank of the jack while another edge of each jack butt makes an angle of less than ninety degrees with respect to the cam engaging edge thereof.

. 11. An independent jack for selecting needles, 7

said jack being provided with a plurality of removable saw-tooth butts.

12. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder mounted for'rotary movements and having needles therein, means for feeding at least one main threadto the needles and supplemental thread feeding means adapted to wrap at least one thread around some of the needles and at a point substantially diametrically oppo site the first thread feeding means, a latch'ring having an opening to accommodate the guide in its needle wrapping movements.

13. A circular knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder, in combination with means for feeding at least one main thread to the needles and othermeans for wrapping additional threads around some of the needles, said last named means being rotatable intime with the needle cylinder and including a plurality of needle wrapping thread guides to be moved from within the needle circle to the outside thereof independently and radially and around a variable number of the needles and thereafter to be returned to the first position, the several movements being in the same plane, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during reciprocatory knitting that there will be no effective engagement or interference of said yarn oryarns with any of the needles.

14. In a circular knitting. machine, a rotatably supported Wrapping unit, including a slide movably supported by the said unit, a yarn guide carrying arm movably connected to the said unit, means for moving the said slide and arm in parallel planes, the guide thereby being actuated to wrap yarn around needles.

15. A circular knitting machine of the rotary needle type having needles which are adapted to rotate in one direction during circular knitting and to reciprocate at other times, and having a latch ring with respect to which the needles rotate, means in the latch ring for interchangeably feeding yarns to the needles, means for wrapping one or more threads around selected needles, saidmeans including individually movable guides which are adapted independently to move from within the circle of needles to the outside thereof and finally to a position inside the circle of needles, a support stationarily mounted upon the latch ring and providing a bearing for the aforesaid needle wrapping means whereby the latter is supported for rotary movements, means for connecting the needle wrapping means soas to rotate in time with the needles, the wrap thread or threads being guided from positions above the latch ring down through an opening in the rotatably mounted means for the wrap threads ad- .jacent to the axis of the needle cylinder and finally to a position to be wrapped around the rocatory knitting that there will be no effective engagement, or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

16. A circular knitting machine of the rotary needle 'type having needles which are adapted to rotate in one direction during circular knitting and to reciprocate at other times, and having a latch ring with respect to which the needles rotate, means in the latch ring for interchangeably feeding yarns to the needles, means for wrapping one or more threads around selected needles, said means including individually movable guides which are adapted independently to move from within the circle of needles to the outside thereof and finally to a position inside the' circle of needles, a support stationarily mounted upon the latch ringand providing a bearing for the afore-. said needle wrapping means whereby the latter is supported for rotary movements, means for connecting the needle wrapping means so as to rotate in time with the needles, the wrap thread or threads being guided from positions above the latch ring down through an opening in the rotatably mounted means for the wrap threads adjacent to the axis of the needle cylinder and finally to a position to be wrapped around the needles in the manner aforesaid, the needles be-. ing adapted relatively to move past the wrap .thread or threads thereby to permit a plurality of needles to be wrapped with a thread, and means for so maintaining the yarn or'yarns during reciprocatory knitting that there will be no effective engagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

17. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to rotate continuously in one direction or to reciprocate and having needles therein, means for feeding at least one main yarn to the needles and rotary means on which are mounted a plurality of wrap threads each of which is adapted to be wrapped around a variable number of needles, the construction being such that the threads are guided to the needles from adjacent to the axis of the needle cylinder when passing through an opening in the means on which the thread guides are mounted froma source of thread supply located above the needle cylinder, in combination with means for causing the thread guides, during circular knitting, to move from a position withinthe needle circle toa position outside thereof and back to a position within the needle circle, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during reciprocatory knitting that there will be no eifectiveengagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

18. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder, a hinged latch ring, rotary pattern working means mounted on the latch ring, and a concentric drive connection between the cylinder and the pattern working means, said driveconnection including a clutch to, permit automatic disengagement and re-engagement of the driveconnection on lifting and lowering the latch ring.

19. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder, a hinged latch ring, rotary pattern working means mounted on the latch ring, and a concentric drive connection between the cylinder and the pattern working means including a drive shaft rising concentrically from the bottom of the cylinder, and a clutch to permit automatic disengagement and re-engagement of the pattern working means-and the shaft on lifting and lowering the latchq'ing.

20. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder, a hinged latch ring, a rotatable head mounted concentrically on the latch ring, cam actuated pattern working means mountedon the head, and means for driving the pattern working means at the same rate of speed as that of the cylinder.

21. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder having needles therein, a hinged latch ring and a rotatable head mounted concentrically upon the latch ring, a horizontally slidable member mounted on the rotary head, yarn guides mounted to move horizontally on the slidable member, means for moving the yarn guides horizontally to wrap the yarn around the knitting needles, and a nonrotating cam in cooperative relation with the slidable member.

22. A circular knitting machine having needles and means for feeding at least one main yarn to the needles thereof and being provided with at least one movable auxiliary thread guide which is so controlled as 'to wrap thread around a variable number of needles and is so constructed that its threadis guided to the needlesfrom a point adjacent to theaxis of the needle cylinder, the

guide being horizontally disposed and having a thread guiding portion which is, positioned substantially at the upper level of the needles about which the thread is to be wrapped, said thread uide being so positioned and controlled in its movements with respect to the needle cylinder as to maintain an unobstructed space -flxed with respectto the first named yarn feeding means.

23. In a-circu lar knitting machine of the revolving needle cylinder type, means for wrapping at least one yarn'around one or more needles, said means including at least one yarn guide which carries the yarn radially across the path of the needles while the, said means rotates in time with the needle cylinder, means for imparting the radial movements to the said yarn, the said guide thereafter being movable in the same plane as the radial movement and at a different rate of speed than the needle cylinder whereby to continue the wrapping of the needle or needles, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during reciprocatory knitting that there will be no effective engagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

24. In a circular knitting machine, means for wrapping yarn around one or more needles ineluding a unit having at least one yarn guide,

25. In a circular knitting machine, means for wrapping yarn around one or more needles including a unit having at least one yarn guide,

means for rotating said unit on a bearing, said guide or guides being rotatable with the said unit and being movably disposed below the bearing,

and means above the bearing adapted to act upon the yarn guide or guides so as to impart other movements theretothereby to carry the yarn around one or more needles as desired during the knitting of circular courses, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during reciprocatory knitting that there will be no effective engagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any, of the needles.

26. A circular knitting machine including ahinged latch ring, a needle cylinder, a fixed bearing being .provided' upon the latch ring and disposed concentrically with respect to the needle cylinder, a unit rotatably mounted upon the bearing on a fixed axis and needle wrapping means depending therefrom, the needle wrapping means including a needle wrapping element which is movable with respect to the unit from a position within the needle circle to a position outside thereof, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during-reciprocatory knitting that there will be no efiective engagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

27. A circular knitting machine including a rotaryneedle cylinder having needles therein and a means for wrapping one or'more threads around selected needles, said means including a member mounted in a fixed bearing the axis of which member is the axis of the needle cylinder and a thread-guiding member carried by the aforesaid -member' and below the bearing, the first named member being mounted to rotate in time with the needle cylinder, a supplemental member be ing associated with the thread guiding member,

at least one thread guide which depends from the underside thereof, the needle wrapping movements of the'said guide being in a horizontal plane and including radial movements, and means for so maintaining the yarn or yarns during reciprocatory. knitting that there will be no efiective engagement or interference of the said yarn or yarns with any of the needles.

DON A. McNAUGHTON.

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