US2626513A - Knitting machine and method - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1953 v. LOMBARDI 2,626,513

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 19, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 57 3 58 60 A f r 58 I F/G.

m llirlllllli M/l ENTOR VINCENT LOMBARD/ ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 19, 1949 lNVE/VTOR VINCENT LOMBARD/ By ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 19, 1949 FIG. 7

V M/VE/Z/TOR By/NCENT OMBARD/ ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 V. LCMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 19, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 JHIHlm jlllllll L LggHlllllllll m/mv 70!? I VINCENT LOMBARD/ :!!llllll IIIIIIII lllll IIIIIIII ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1953 v. LOMBARDl KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 19. 1949 HUN.

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//v l EN TOR 'EKLNCENT LOMBA RD/ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Vincent Lombardi, South Miami, Fla.

Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,460

41 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines and methods, and has among its primary objects the provision of improved means and procedures whereby large groups of the needles of a circular machine may be enabled to knit a wrap yarn in an effective and efficient manner and in reverse directions. Other objects are the provision of a machine that is adapted to produce plain knit fabrics, design fabrics, or a plurality of selvageedge fabrics according to the requirements of a particular case. and of improved methods whereby these and other types of fabrics may be satisfactorily knit on a single machine.

ihe use of reciprocating wrap-yarn feeds has always been beset with difficulties, particularly when loops are to be knit after movements of a yarn in both of two directions, since the usual stitch-cam arrangements cause knitting waves in only a single direction. When the wrap feed has moved in that direction, knitting proceeds as usual with the retraction of each needle which is further from the yarn feed before the retraction of a needle which is nearer to the yarn feed; but, when the wrap feed has moved in the opposite direction, a needle nearer the yarn feed will be moved down first and will draw out the yarn into a loop, leaving insufiicient yarn for the needles which are later retracted and making it difficult or impossible for them to draw yarn past the retracted needle which is nearer the yarn feed.

I have found that this difficulty can be overcome without changing the general character of the machine or the direction of movement of the actuating elements by placing butts on different slidable elements in different longitudinal positions and providing a cam which will first contact a butt on a slidable element which is further along the row and a cam which will thereafter cantact a butt which is not so far along said row. By the provision of a suitable number butts and cams so arranged I may, by means of cams moving in the same direction as the usual needleoperating cams, pull down needles in a wave moving oppositely to the direction of the movement of the cams. Similarly, reverse movements of suitable ones of sinkers and other yarn-manipulating elements may be obtained.

It is also advantageous, in knitting or otherwise catching wrap yarn into the fabric after a return movement of a wrap feed in a direction opposite to the cam-movement relative to the needle bed and the sinker bed, that the sinkers be operated in the same reverse direction to draw out the yarn following the reverSB move- 2 ment of the yarn feed. I have found that for this purpose the use of secondary or auxiliary sinkers is highly advantageous, and, pursuant to the present invention, in certain of its aspects I have provided, in addition to the ordinary sinkers, supplemental sinkers whereby a drawing-out action is obtained. In accordance with the more specific aspects of the invention each sinker slot contains a normal sinker in the bottom of the slot and an independently-slidable sinker for measuring out yarn disposed above the normal sinker.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, and the several steps and the relation and order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others thereof, all of which will be exemplified hereinafter and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section thru one side of the needle cylinder of one form of machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of one section of the machine, showing a cam arrangement operating with certain wrap yarn-feeds;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the machine disposed just to the left of the section illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a portion of the section of Fig. 2 showing a cam arrangement operating with other wrap yarn-feeds at a later stage;

Fig. 5 is a partly-sectional top view of a sinker bed embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the cam arrangement of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 7a is a view similar to the right-hand portion of Fig. 6 showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 7b is a perspective sectional view along the line 'Iblb in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical view of a cam arrangement varying from the arrangement of Fig. 'l in the same manner that the cam arrangement of Fig. 4 varies from that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing the sinker operation in connection with the operation of certain wrap yarn-feeds in another modified form of the invention;

Fig. is a detail sectional view of the sinker bed illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the sinker operation in connection with the operation of other wrap yarn-feeds;

Fig. 12 is a schematic View of a section of the machine in a still further modified form of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a cross-section thru the sinker bed of the machine of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a schematic View of a further section of the machine of Figs. 12-13; and

Fig. 15 is a schematic showing of the relatively rotating parts of the machine of Figs. 12-14.

While the invention is not limited to stationary-cylinder machines or to other details illustrated, it is exemplified in the machine of the general type shown in my Patents.2,130,'769 issued September- 20, 1938, 2,231,673, issued February 11, 1941, 2,233.,"72 issued February 11, 1941, and 2,373,126 issued April 10, 1945. In the embodiment. of the invention exemplified in Figs. l-4 there is provided a cylindrical needle bed 5 in the slots of which there are slidably mounted a row of latched needles 6 to each of which a jack 1 is locked at 8. A cylinder eighteen inches in height may be employed. Each needle is provided with a butt [0, and each jack with a butt [2. Pursuant to the invention, the butts on the jacks are variously spaced, as will be brought out in more detail hereinafter. There is also provided a sinker bed IS in the slots of which sinkers l6 having butts I! are slidably mounted. I

A sinker-actuating ring l8 formed with a sinker cam groove I9 is provided. In the present instance the beds 5 and 15 are stationary, and the actuating mechanism for the needles and sinkers rotates; but the invention in its broader aspects is not limited thereto. In the present instance also there are provided main yarn feeds 2B, but one of the features of the present invention is that these can be omitted without greatly limiting the number of types of fabrics that can be produced.

About the machine are arranged a plurality of wrap yarn-feeds 2|40 (and others not shown) each of which swings first in one direction and then in the other direction from a position within the circle of needles, across the row of needles, outside of a number of the needles sixteen in the present instanceand back across the row of needles. Since the present invention is concerned primarily with the operation of the wrap yarn-feeds these will be referred to herein merely as feeds, and references to one or more feeds without other designation are tobe so understood. As exemplified, the oddnumbered feeds are spaced (when measured along the needle row) sixteen needles apart, and the even numbered feeds are disposed equidistantly between them, so as to provide a double coverage for the entire needle row.

Needle-selection of any of a variety of wellknown or suitable types may be employed if desired. If none of the sixteen needles embraced by the swing of a wrap yarn-feed are selected, no yarn will be received. If all sixteen are selected, yarn will be received by them all. If all the needles of the row are selected at the forward movement of the feeds and again at the reverse movement thereof, there will be double reception of yarn by all the needles, and, if they are selected to knit, each will knit two loops. Additional yarn may also be fed by the main yarn feeds 20. In the present instance, certain of the needles are formed with long butts 4i, and others (alternate ones in the present instance) are formed with short butts 42, enabling selectivity for laying in a yarn when desired. As exemplified, there is provided means for laying in a main yarn comprising a selective drum 43 adapted to select, in a manner hereinafter to be described, for advancing by a cam 44 needles to latch-clearing position, a cam 45 which moves to tucking position only the long-butt ones of the needles which were unselected by the drum 43, and a stitch cam 48.

All or selected ones of the odd-numbered feeds are operated at one needle operation, and all or selected ones of the even-numbered feeds are operated at a succeeding needle operation; or,

when complicated design fabrics are not sought, there may be used an arrangement, such as exemplified in Figs. 1-4 wherein each rack 5| which meshes with a feed-operating pinion 52 is formed with a butt fitting into a groove 55 in a ring 56 which moves with the sinker cam ring and the rest of the actuating mechanism. Selection is caused by drums 57. The racks for the odd number d feeds have selecting butts 58 adapted to move in an operating groove 59 and racks for the even numbered feeds have butts 36 adapted to move in an operating groove 6|. As will be seen, each operating groove is provided with an advance-wrap cam portion 64, which swings the feeds in the direction of movement of the actuating mechanism and a return-wrap cam portion which moves the feeds in the reverse direction.

In order to operate the needles for reception and knitting of yarn from each set of the feeds (the oddnumbered ones forming one set, and the even numbered ones forming the other set), there is provided, for action after selection by members 66 of jacks 61 and prior to retraction of the needles by cam 68 and of the jacks 6'! by cam 69 an advancing cam 10 to advance the needles to latch-clearing level where they may receive "return yarn during the operation of the feeds by a cam groove 65. The retracting cam 68 draws the needles down to a position for safe reception of yarn from the feeds. After cams l0 and 68 there is provided a retracting cam H to bring the needles to half-welt position (i. e., that position in which the needle hooks lie just sufficiently above the sinkers to permit the easy passage of the return yarn as it is being utilized thru the manipulation of the needles in a reverse order), a guard 12 to keep them alined in this position, and a set 13 of cams for operating the needles in a reverse order from that of the other cams to receive yarn from the feeds which are operated by cam groove port-ion 65, a restoring cam 14, and an advancing cam 1'5 to raise the needles to the latch-clearing level to receive yarn from the feeds which are operated by cam groove 64, a retracting cam 69 for the jacks 61, a drawingdown cam 16, a full-welt stitch cam 11, and a restoring cam 18.

Selection of needles for operation by the cams i0 and T5 is made by pattern drums l9 and 19', respectively, which, like the drum 43, act, thru the medium of members 66, on jacks 61 of the type and in the manner set forth in my Patent 1,797,006, issued March 17, 1931. The earns 10 and 15 act on the butts of the jacks 61, and the cams H, 14, 16, and 11 act on the needle butts, but the cams of the set 13 act on the speciallyarranged jack butts I 2. The butts on each group of sixteen jacks are disposed, in the present instance, in successively lower positions, with the butts of those jacks to whose needles the feeds will have last fed yarn after being operated by a cam groove 64 being alined in an uppermost position, the butts on the next jack being next lower, and so forth. The cams of the set it comprise guide portions of varying extent running forwardly of their cam surfaces 80, with the cam surface of the lowermost cam 81 furthest to the right (Fig. 2), and consequently the first to operate. Thus the needles with the lowermost butts (which are furthest from the feed which has just operated) will be retracted first, and will pull out the yarn for casting while it still runs relatively loosely thru the needles at its left. The next cam 82 will then operate, and then the cams 83 thru 96 will operate the butts in order, the cam 96, causing its needle to pull yarn directly from the feed.

It is to be observed that the cam surfaces 86 are utilized merely for that portion of the retractive action which binds the yarn and would prevent free flow of the yarn from the feed past a group of needles to which it has been fed. The cam H may be relied on to draw the needles down to the half-welt level where the yarn received by the needles is still held loosely thereby.

The short extent of the cam surfaces 80 enables the butts [2 on the jacks to be spaced fairly close to one another in a vertical direction so that the space occupied by sixteen, twenty, or even a larger number of butts on a group of jacks to be actuated by a single set #3 of cams will not be more than the space normally aiforded by the supports of normal machines.

It will be seen that the cams 44, iii, and 15 each impart to the needles (thru the medium of the jacks 61) a forward clearing action, and the cams 46 and 11 each impart to the needles a forward knitting action whereas the cam-set 13 imparts to the needles a reverse knitting action which moves in the direction opposite to said forward clearing and knitting action.

The sinker cam groove I9 is of the usual type in the present instance except that it is formed with a portion 9? which serves to fully retract the sinkers prior to the operation of the cam H and to hold them fully retracted until after the last of the cams (e. g. the cam 96 in Fig. 2) of the set 53 has acted. The operation of the cushioning cam M is simultaneous with the return of the sinkers to their forward position. The action of a cam such as M, in returning the needles to half -welt position is particularly important when the needles still carry previously-received yarn which has been merely caught into the fabric at spaced intervals rather than being knitted, as for instance when the yarn has been caught by spaced needles in tucking position as shown in my Patent 1,541,230, issued June 9, 1925, for example. The advance yarn is knitted pursuant to the action of the needles by the cams E5, E6, and IT in the usual manner. Cam T5 advances fully the selected needles; cam 16 retracts the needles sufficiently to insure that the advance wrap yarn does not go below the needle latch; and cam 11 fully retracts the needles previously selected to form new loops.

The arrangement of the butts i2 is adaptable for other desired arrangements of cams of a set such as a set 13. The set '13, as above indicated, is adapted for operation after the return movement of the odd-numbered feeds. The operation of the even-numbered feeds, as when a fabric composed only of wrap yarn is to be provided, is so timed that a special arrangement of cams must be provided. The operation of the evennumbered feeds, when for example, a fabric composed only of wrap yarn is to be provided, is so timed that the arrangement of the cams in the return yarn set for the even-numbered feeds will be somewhat different. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 4, wherein there are provided a set of cams I00, the one of which that has a cam surface nearest to the right, as shown at liil is disposed intermediately with the other cams of the set. A cam N12, with a cam surface further to the left is disposed above it, and other cams Hi3, I94, I05, I06, I81, and Its with their cam surfaces still further to the left are disposed in order thereabove. Just below the cam it! is a cam H5, which is the longest cam. Below it is the cam H5, and below it are cams H4, H3, H2, H0, and M89. It will be noted that the cams of the sets 13 and H30 are arranged in two interchangeable units of eight, to simplify manufacturing procedures.

As above indicated, the feature of the provision of reversely-operating cams is applicable to various types of yarn manipulating elements as, for example, sinkers, either in the form exemplified in connection with the needle jacks of Figs. 1-4 or in any of a variety of other forms. Gne such arrangement is exemplified in Figs. 5-8, which also illustrate an embodiment wherein auxiliary sinkers are employed to pull out return yarn, ordinary sinkers being employed for other purposes.

In this form of construction there is provided a needle bed 51) carrying needles 6b which may be operated by actuating mechanism such as heretofore exemplified or such as utilized in the above-mentioned patents or in any of a number of well-known types of machines. The arrangement exemplified comprises drums 19b and jacks 671) which act directly on the needles, the jacks i being omitted. As particularly exemplified, there are employed cam elements such as illustrated in Figs. 14. These are designated by similar reference numbers distinguished by the subscript b.

There is provided a sinker-bed [51) carrying in its slots sinkers 561) having butts Ill), and special sinkers ME! mounted above the sinkers Iiib and independently slidable. A cam track [9b in a ring use serves to actuate the sinkers Nib, and a cam track l4! in a ring M2 serves to control certain movements of the sinkers I40 through the medium of butts M3. The track M! has wide portions I44 to permit the reverse movements described below.

The purpose of the sinkers Ml! is, as above indicated, to measure out the yarn and the sinkers as exemplified are specially equipped for measuring out the return yarn fed by the return movements of the yarn feeds. As exemplified, each measuring sinker I49 is provided with a butt I45, the butts M5 on individual ones of each group of sixteen sinkers being variously arranged so that no one butt will overlap another butt. In the present instance they are staggered regularly in a manner similar to the butts I2 on the jacks i in Fig. 2. The butts are mounted on upright portions M8 which carry inwardly extended portions 159 each of which extends into a guide slot 15! in an upright ring [52 mounted on the sinker bed i522.

The measuring sinkers 14!! are operated by a set I53 of cams of varying length having cam surfaces I55 adapted to act on the butts I45 in inverse order to the order in-which the cam surfaces on the track I4I acts on the butts I43 of the measuring sinkers, so that the effect of the cam surfaces I55 on the measuring sinkers is similar to the effect of the cam surfaces 80 on the needle jacks 7, in Fig. 2 the particular butts I45 on particular ones of the measuring sinkers I40 being arranged similarly to the arrangement of the butts I2 on the needle jacks, as indicated in Fig. 7. The arrangement of the cams of the set I53 may be such that the longer ones of the cams are other than lowermost. For example, the cams may be arranged, as in Fig. 8, to be operative similarly to the cams of the set I 99.

It will be observed that while in the present instance, the measuring sinkers [40 are above the major portion of the ordinary sinkers I6b in the same slots therewith, the humps I56 on the ordinary sinkers I61) rise above the bottom of the measuring sinkers. Accordingly, as exemplified in Fig. 7b, the forward lower portion of the measuring sinkers are ground away at one side to half their thickness indicated at I57 and the humps I56 of the ordinary sinkers are ground away on the other side to half their thickness, thus permitting the two sinkers to fit within the same slot and to move freely relatively to each other.

In instances where it is desirable that vertical space be saved at the expense of horizontal space, measuring sinkers, for use with or without special needle actuating arrangements, may be formed and actuated by an arrangement such as exemplified in Figs. 9-11. As exemplified, the machine is generally similar to those of Figs. 1-8, similar parts being indicated by similar reference numerals distinguished by the subscript c. The measuring sinkers I490 have butts I430 but lack the uprights of the sinkers M9. Instead, they are formed with horizontal portions I70 on which variously-arranged butts [7! which as exemplified are arranged in a manner similar to the butts I2 on the needle jacks I in Fig. 1. The cam track I4Ic is formed with widened portions hide, and there are provided at I75 and I76 sets of cams, which, as will be seen from Figs. 9 and 11, are disposed to operate sinkers after the advance movement of a set of yarn-feeds caused by a cam portion like 94 and the return movement of those feeds by a cam portion 650. The cam sets E75 and I75 have cam surfaces I77 adapted to act on the butts I7 I, in inverse order for oddand even-numbered feeds respectively.

Effective utilization of supplemental or measuring sinlzers may be made in connection with other types of solutions of the problem of knitting a wrap yarn in both directions. For example, the use of measuring sinkers greatly facilitates knitting operations wherein, instead of all the actuating elements moving in the same direction, certain of them move in one direction and others in the opposite direction so that actuating elements moving in one direction operate manipulating elements in the order of that direction and those moving in the other direction actuate manipulating elements in the reverse order. As particularly exemplified, this principle is shown applied to the operation of sinkers by reversely moving sets of cams. The machine as shown in Figs. 12-15 is basically similar to those exemplified above, similar parts being indicated by similar reference numerals distinguished by the subscript d. The jacks 7 are omitted; standard, independent, latch needles 611 being provided on the needle bed 5d. Ordinary needle-andjack-operating cams as at 69d, 79d, 74d, 75d, 76d, and 77d are provided.

The measuring sinkers I49d are provided with butts I 9| adapted to be operated, at those periods, where the cam track I4Id is provided with widened portions I44d, by means of cams I92 pivoted at I93 and operated by a camming track I95 into which pins !96 on the cams extend. The cams I 92 are pivoted to a ring I97 which rotates in the reverse direction. Selectivity for the odd and even numbered feeds is provided by having two different timings for the camming operations of track I95 on pins I99.

The cam portion I98 of track I95 for the odd numbered yarn feeds is disposed to fully advance the sinkers I 40dfirst at the right hand limit of an odd-numbered yarn feed section and then advance the remaining sinkers MW in the reverse order through such sections. The cam portion I99 is advanced in timing to fully advance sinkers (49d beginning at the right hand limit of an even-numbered yarn feed section. The ring I97 carries a plurality of evenly-distributed pivoted cams I92 so spaced apart that, as the camming portions I99 and I99 rotate they will meet successive pins I95 for advancing the sinkers Mild in successive oddor even-numbered yarn-feed sections.

Fig. 15 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the relatively moving parts. The machine base 295 in the present instance is stationary and carries the stationary sinker bed ltd on which is a peripheral gear 296 with which mesh pinions 207 fixed on shafts 208 roin bearings 299 mounted on the main sinker cam box [811 which carries track I95. Also fixed on shafts 299 are pinions 2H meshing with the secondary ring 497 which, as will be seen, is rotated in the opposite direction from the main sinker cam box so that the pivoted cams I92 move and operate in the opposite direction from the other sinker operating means.

Since certain changes may be made in the above constructions and procedures and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, at least one set of said slidable elements carrying variously-arranged butts, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being arranged for relative rotation to set up forward knitting actions in one direction, wrap feeding means swingable in said one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, means forming a unit with said actuating means in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means in said directions, and cam means forming a part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relative movement for actuating at least certain of the elements of said set in a reverse knitting action in said opposite direction during a portion of one relative rotation.

2. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, at least one set of said slidable elements carrying variously-arranged butts, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being arranged for relative rotation to set up forward knitting actions in one direction, wrap feeding means swingable in said one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, means forming a unit with said actuating means in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means in said directions, cam means forming part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relative rotation for actuating at least certain of said elements in a forward knitting action in said one direction, and cam means forming a part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relative rotation for actuating at least certain of the elements of said set in a reverse knitting action in said opposite direction during a portion of one relative rotation.

3. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, at least one set of said slidable elements carrying variously-arranged butts, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being arranged for relative rotation to set up forward knitting actions in one direction, wrap feeding means swingable in said one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, means forming a unit with said actuating means in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means in said directions, and a plurality of cam elements forming a part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relative rotation and having cam surfaces disposed one behind the other, said cam elements being arranged to act selectively on said butts, and said butts being arranged so that the butts of elements which are forward in said set will be contacted by rearward cams and the butts of elements which are behind in said set will be contacted by forward cams.

4. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, at least one set of said slidable elements carrying variously-arranged butts, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being arranged for relative rotation to set up forward knitting actions in one direction, wrap feeding means swingable in said one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, means forming a unit with said actuating means in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means in said directions, and a plurality of cam elements forming a part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relative movement and having cam surfaces one behind the other, said cam elements being arranged to act selectively on said butts, and said butts being arranged so that of a plurality of said elements the butt on each forward one will be contacted after the butt of a hinder one is contacted.

5. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, at least one set of said slidable elements carrying variously-arranged butts, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being arranged for relative rotation to set up forward knitting actions in one direction, wrap feeding means swingable in said one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, means forming a unit with said actuating mechanism in said relative movement forswinging said wrap feeding means in said directions, the variously-arranged butts on a plurality OI said elements being arranged in a desired order on elements arranged one behind the other in said direction, cam means forming part of said actuating mechanism and forming a unit with it in said relatlve rotation and including a cam surface arranged to act on a farther one of the last mentioned butts, a cam surface following the aforesaid cam surface and arranged to act thereafter on a nearer one of the last mentioned butts, and cams arranged to act on still nearer ones of said last mentioned butts in an inverse order, whereby the last mentioned cams will act before the second mentioned cam and the second mentioned cam will act before the first mentioned cam.

6. A circular knitting machine as set forth i claim 1- wherein said one set of slidable elements is mounted on the needle bed. v

7. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one set of slidable elements is mounted on the sinker bed.

8. A knitting machine comprising a row of needles, wrap yarn-feeding means adapted to swing outwardly of the needle bed from a point inside the needle bed and past a limited number of needles and back inside the needle bed in either of two directions, means to advance at least certain of said limited number of needles, means to swing said yarn-feeding means in one direction to feed yarn to the needles, means to retract the advanced needles one by one in a forward knitting action moving in said one direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, means thereafter to advance at least certain of said limited number of needles, means to swing said yarn-feeding means in the other direction to feed yarn to the needles, means thereafter to retract the advanced needles one-by-one in a reverse knitting action moving in said other direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, and means to cause said operations to be repeated.

9. A knitting machine comprising a row of needles, wrap yarn-feeding means adapted to swing past a limited number of needles in either of two directions, means to advance at least certain of said limited number of needles one-byone in one direction, means to swing said yarnfeeding means in said one direction to feed yarn to the needles, means to retract the advanced needles one-by-one in a forward knitting action moving in said one direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, means thereafter to advance at least certain of said limited number of needles one-byone in said one direction, means to swing said yarn-feeding means in the opposite direction to feed yarn to the needles, means thereafter to retract the advanced needles one-by-one in a reverse knitting action moving in said opposite direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, and means to cause said operations to be repeated.

10. A knitting machine comprising a row of needles wrap yarn-feeding means adapted to swing past a limited number of needles in either of two directions, means to advance the last mentioned needles, means to swing said yarn-feeding means in one direction to feed yarn to the needles, means to retract the advanced needles one-byone in a forward knitting action moving in said one direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, means thereafter to advance said last mentioned needles, means to swing said yarn-feeding means in the other direction to feed yarn to the needles, means comprising a plurality of cams arranged at successively later stages thereafter to retract the advanced needles one-by-one in a reverse knitting action moving in said other direction to knit the yarn fed thereto, and means to repeat said operation without the reception of yarn by said last mentioned needles from other yarn-feeding means to produce a selvage edge fabric.

11. A circular knitting machine comprising a bed having a series of yarn-manipulating elements mounted thereon, actuating means for said yarn-manipulating elements, said bed and said actuating means being mounted for relative rotation about a central axis, and a series of cams forming a part of said actuating means, the cams of said series being arranged one behind another but being operative the one before the other so that each member of a group of yarn-manipulating elements which member is furthest along said series will be operated thereby before each member which is less far along in said series.

12. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a series of needles thereon, needleactuating means, said actuating means and said bed being mounted for relative rotation, a retracting cam forming part of said actuating means and being adapted to retract said needles beyond tucking position but short of full-welt positions, and a series of cams forming part of said actuating means and being arranged one behind another but being operative the one before the other so that a needle further along in said series and last to pass or be passed by any portion of the actuating means will be retracted to full-welt position thereby before a needle which is less far along in said series and first to pass or be passed.

13. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein means associated with said needles are individually provided with variously-arranged butts individually disposed for contact by individualones of said cams to provide the needle operation set forth.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged with ones from the respective sets in pairs which lie between adjacent ones of said needles, sinkeractuating means movable relative to said bed in one circular direction, means forming a part of said sinker-actuating means and operative on at least certain of the sinkers of one set to set up an action moving in said one direction pursuant to said relative'moveme'nt of said sinkeractuating means and said bed, means forming a part of said sinker-actuating means and operative on at least certain of thesinkers of said one set to set up an action moving in the opposite circular direction pursuant to said relative movement of said sinker-actuating means and said bed in said one direction, means to cause relative movement of said sinker-actuating means and said bed, and means to operate said needles and said sinker-actuating means in synchronism.

15. In a circular knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged with ones from the respective sets in pairs which lie between adjacent ones of said needles, a sinker cam ring for operating sinkers of one set, said ring and said bed being mounted for relative rotation in one direction, and cams for operating sinkers of the other set and mounted for relative rotation in said direction, and cams for operating sinkers of the other set and mounted for relative rotation in the other direction.

16. In a circular knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged with ones from the respective sets one above the other between adjacent ones of said needles, a sinker cam ring for operating sinkers of one set, said ring and said bed being mounted for relative rotation in one direction, and cams for operating sinkers of the other set and mounted for relative rotation in said direction, and cams for operating sinkers of the other set and mounted for relative rotation in the other direction.

17. In a circular knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged with ones from the respective sets one above the other between the adjacent ones of said needles, a sinker cam ring for operating sinkers of the lower set, and a sinker cam ring for operating sinkers of the upper set and arranged to move the sinkers inwardly in stages, each of said sinkers having a nub and a yarn-catching shoulder, the lastmentioned cam ring serving to move the sinkers at an early stage to a position in which the nub is between the needles but the shoulder outward of the needles, and at a later stage to a position wherein the shoulder is inward of the needles.

18. In a circular knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged with ones from the respective sets one above the other between adjacent ones of said needles, a sinker cam ring for operating sinkers of the upper set, said ring and said bed being mounted for relative rotation in one direction, a stitch cam, said stitch cam and said bed being mounted for relative movement in the opposite direction, yarnfeeding means, means to operate said yarn-feeding means prior to the operation of said stitch cam, each of said sinkers having a nub and a yarn-catching shoulder, a cam on said ring to move sinkers of the upper set inwardly to a position wherein the nubs thereof lie between the needles and wherein the yarn-catching shoulders still lie outwardly of the needles, the sinkermoving cam being so positioned on said ring that said movement will occur prior to an operation of said yarn-feeding means by its operating means, a cam on said ring to move said sinkers further inward so that said yarn-catching means will catch a yarn and carry it between said needles and inward thereof, the last mentioned cam being so positioned on said ring that the latter movement will occur after said operation of said yarn-feeding means and before the operation of said stitch cam.

19. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, needle actuating mechanism, said bed and said mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a support mounted in fixed relation to said bed, yarnfeeding means mounted on said support and movable past certain of said needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, means to actuate said movements of said yarn-feeding means in one direction, means to actuate movements of said yarn-feeding means in the opposite direction, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged in pairs which lie between adjacent ones of said needles, means movable in said one direction and synchronized with the one of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of one set to push them below yarn fed by said yarnfeeding means during movement in one direction, means movable in the other direction and synchronized with the other of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of said one set to push in yarn fed by said yarn-feeding means during movement in the other direction, and means to operate the sinkers of said other set.

20. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, needle actuating mechanism, said bed and said mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a sup-port mounted in fixed relation to said bed, yarn-feeding means mounted on said support and movable past certain of said needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, means to actuate said movements of said yarn-feeding means in one direction, means to actuate movements of said yarn-feeding means in the opposite direction, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged one above the other between the adja cent ones of said needles, mean movable in said one direction and synchronized with the one of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of one set to push them below yarn fed by said yarn-feeding means during movement in one direction, means movable in the other direction and synchronized with the other of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of said one set to push in yarn fed by said yarn-feeding means during movement in the other direction, and means to operate the sinkers of said other set.

21. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, needle-operating means, said needle bed and said operating means being mounted for relative rotative movement in one direction, a sinker bed forming a unit with said needle bed in said relative movement, a sinker cam ring forming a unit with said needle-operating means in said relative movement, a second sinker cam ring, said second sinker cam ring and said bed being mounted for relative rotative movement in a direction opposite to the first-mentioned direction, a support forming a unit with said needleoperating means in said relative movement, a yarn feed mounted on said support and movable past certain of said needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, and means to impart synchronized movement to the movable ones of said elements.

22. A circular knitting machine comprising aneedle bed, needle-operating means, said needle bed and said operating means being mounted for relative rotative movement in one direction, a sinker bed forming a unit with said needle bed in said relative movement, a sinker cam ring forming a unit with said needle-operating means in said relative movement, a second sinker cam ring, said second sinker cam ring and said bed being mounted for relative rotative movement in a direction opposite to the first-mentioned direction, a support forming a unit with said needle-operating means in said relative movement, a plurality of yarn feeds mounted on said support and movable past groups of needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, two sets of sinkers arranged in pairs one above the other, the upper sinkers being operated by said first-mentioned cam ring when a yarn feed has been moved in one direction and the upper sinkers being operated by said second cam ring, when a yarn feed has been operated in the other direction, and means coordinated with said needle operating means for operating the lower sinkers. 23. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a series of needles on said bed, needle actuating mechanism, said bed and said mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a support mounted in fixed relation to said bed, yarn-feeding means mounted on said support and movable past certain of said needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, means to actuate said movements of said yarn-feeding means in one direction, means to actuate movements of said yarn-feeding means in the opposite direction, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged one above the other between adjacent ones of said needles, main yarn-feeding means forming a unit with said needle-actuating mechanism in said relative movement, and means forming a unit with said needle-actuating means in said relative movement for actuating said sinkers and said needles to manipulate yarn from said yarn-feeding means.

24. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a series of needles on said cylinder, needle actuating mechanism, said cylinder and said mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a support mounted in fixed relation to said cylinder, yarn-feeding means mounted on said support and movable past certain of said needles in either of two directions to feed yarn thereto, said yarn-feeding means being normally positioned inwardly of the line of needles and being movable outwardly of the line of needles before being so moved past certain of the needles and inwardly of the line of needles after being so moved past certain of the needles, means to actuate said movements of said yarnfeeding means in one direction, means to actuate movements or said yarn-feeding means in the opposite direction, two sets of sinkers, sinkers of said sets being arranged one above the other etween the adjacent ones of said needles, means movable in said one direction and synchronized with the one of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of one set to push them below yarn fed by said yarn-feeding means during movement in one direction, means movable in the other direction and synchronized with the other of said actuating means to operate the sinkers of said one set to push in yarn fed by said yarnfeeding means during movement in the other direction, and means to operate the sinkers of said other set.

25. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles, a series of wrap yarn feeds, means for swinging each of said yarn feeds on a vertical axis which is at all times nearer to said row than to the axis of said row, the distance between the axes of rotation of at least certain of said yarn feeds being not greater than the radius of swing thereof, whereby double coverage per yarnfeed-swing will be obtained over at least a portion of said row.

26. A circular knitting machine comprisinga circular row of needles, a series of wrap yarn feeds each swingable on an axis nearer to said row than to the axis of said row, the distance between the axis of rotation of at least certain of said yarn feeds being not greater than the radius of swing thereof, means to cause at least certain of said yarn feeds to swing in one direction, means to cause several adjacent needles to advance to receive yarn therefrom and to be retracted to knit said yarn, means to cause an adjacent yarn feed to be swung in one direction, means to cause a group of needles including certain of said several adjacent needles to receive yarn therefrom and to be retracted to knit said yarn, means to cause said one of said yarn feeds to be swung in a direction opposite to the direction in which it was previously swung, means to cause said several adjacent needles to be advanced to receive yarn therefrom and to be retracted to knit said yarn, means to cause said adjacent yarn feed to be swung in a direction opposite to the direction in which it was previously swung, and means to cause a group of needles including said certain of said adjacent needles to receive yarn therefrom and to be retracted to knit said yarn, whereby each of said certain of said several adjacent needles will knit four loops between the start of one operation of said one of said yarn feeds in the first mentioned direction and the start of a succeeding operation of said one of said yarn feeds in said first mentioned direction.

2'7. A method of knitting which comprises advancing at least certain of the needles of a. group one-by-one in a clearing action moving in one direction, feeding yarn thereto in said one direction, retracting the advanced needles one-by-one in a knitting action moving in said one direction to knit the yarn a it is fed thereto, advancing at least certain of the needles of the group oneby-one in a clearing action moving in said one direction, feeding yarn thereto in a knitting action moving in the opposite direction, and retracting the advanced needles one-by-one in a knitting action moving in said opposite direction to knit the yarn as it is fed thereto.

28. A method of knitting which comprises advancing a group of needles in a clearing action moving in one direction, feeding yarn thereto in said one direction, retracting said needles oneby-one in a knitting action moving in said one direction to knit the yarn as it is fed thereto, and thereafter advancing said needles in a clearing action moving in said one direction, feeding yarn thereto in the opposite direction, and retracting the needles one-by-one in a knitting action moving in said opposite direction to knit the yarn as it is fed thereto, and repeating said operation without the inclusion of other yarn to knit a selvage edge fabric.

29. A knitting machine comprising a row of vertical needles, a set of sinkers movable transversely of the row of needles, at least certain of said sinkers being formed with butt-carriers extending upwardly above the body of the sinkers, various of the butt-carriers having butts on various planes above the body of said sinkers, lateral supporting arms on said butt-carriers, a slotted support for receiving the same, and cam means arranged on various planes for selectively actuating said sinkers.

30. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the slidable elements are mounted on the sinker bed and have butts extending into a plane and wherein the cam elements move in said plane.

31. A knitting machine having a needle bed, a series of latch needles thereon, yarn feeding means, a wrap finger for feeding yarn to at least desired ones of 9, plurality of said needles, actuating mechanism, and means to mount said bed and said actuating mechanism for relative movement, said actuating mechanism comprising means to retract said needles to knit after reception of yarn from said yarn feeding means and prior to the reception of yarn from said wrap finger, means to advance at least desired ones of said needles to clearing position prior to the reception of yarn thereby from said wrap finger, and means following the last-mentioned means to partially retract said desired ones of said needles prior to the reception of yarn thereby.

32. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 31 wherein the retracting means and the needles are mounted for relative movement and wherein the first-mentioned retracting means acts on certain of the needles in the reverse direction to that normally resulting from said relative movement.

33. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, wrap feeding means swingable in one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being mounted for relative rotative movement, means forming a unit with said actuating mechanism in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means first in said one direction, and then in said opposite direction, cam means forming part of said actuating mechanism and operative on certain of said elements to set up a clearing action moving in said one direction, means forming part of the same actuating mechanism and operative on said certain of said elements to provide a knitting action moving in said opposite direction without a reversal of the direction of the relative movement.

34. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 33 wherein the slidable elements are needles and wherein said knitting action is a reverse knitting action by the needles.

35. A circular knitting machine comprising a sinker bed, sinkers slidable on said bed, Wrap feeding means swingable in one direction to feed yarn in said one direction and thereafter swingable in an opposite direction to feed yarn in said opposite direction, actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism and said beds being mounted for relative rotative movement, means forming a unit with said actuating mechanism in said relative movement for swinging said wrap feeding means first in said one direction, and then in said opposite direction, cam means forming part of said actuating mechanism and operative on certain of said elements to set up a withdrawing action proceeding in said one direction, and means forming part of the same actuating mechanism and operative on said certain of said elements to provide a projecting action proceeding in said opposite direct-ion without a reversal of the direction of the relative movement.

36. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 33 wherein the last-mentioned means comprises a pivoted cam.

3'7. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle bed, a sinker bed, elements slidable on one of said beds, actuating mechanism, said beds being stationary and said actuating mechanism being rotatable in one direction, and means forming part of said actuating mechanism and operating in the opposite direction on certain of said elements to provide a reverse operating action.

38. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 37 wherein the slidable elements are needles and wherein said operating action is a reverse knitting action.

39. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 37 wherein the slidable elements are sinkers and wherein said operating action is a reverse yarn-measuring action.

40. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 37 wherein the last-mentioned means comprises a pivoted cam.

41. A knitting machine comprising a bed, actuating mechanism, said bed and said actuating mechanism being mounted for relative rotary movement, elongated knitting elements on said bed, means forming part of said actuating mechanism and participating in the movement thereof relative to said bed for actuating knitting elements in a given order, and a cam element forming part of said actuating mechanism and participating in said relative rotation and also formed with a cam surface having an independent effective movement in a direction along the knitting element length and adapted to engage and operate said knitting elements in a reverse order when the cam surface is moved in the last-mentioned direction, and means to cause such cam action.

VINCENT LOMBARDI.

18 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 475,989 Semler May 31, 1892 1,690,729 Jones Nov. 6, 1928 1,843,641 Jones Feb. 2, 1932 1,859,256 Stewart May 17, 1932 1,937,595 Robinson Dec. 5, 1933 1,947,617 Robinson Feb. 20, 1934 2,045,459 Getaz June 23, 1936 2,073,703 Micks Mar. 16, 1937 2,111,492 Lawson et a1 Mar. 15, 1938 2,221,713 McAdams Nov. 12, 1940 2,235,726 Pass Mar. 18, 1941 2,264,977 Houseman Dec. 2, 1941 2,373,126 Lombardi Apr. 10, 1945 2,411,422 Grothey Nov. 19, 1946 2,426,010 Fregeolle Aug. 19, 1947 2,436,904 Shea Mar. 2, 1948 2,473,944 Fregeolle June 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 287,168 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1928

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