US2709352A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1955 R. H. LAwsoN I 2,709,352

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Rom'r H. LAWSON ATTORNEYS.

May- 3l, 1955 R. H. LAwsoN KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22. 1951 ATTORNEYS.

May 31, 1955 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 22. 1951 t JNVENTOR. ROBERT H. LAWSON BY AT ToRNEYs.`

May 31, 1955 R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 22. 1951 N mw, MM wl.

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May 3l, 1955 R. H. LAwsoN 2,709,352

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 5 S'heelS-Sheel'l 5 9 9 es 4 ess .V W

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mvENToR. ,r l Q 7; ROBERT H. An/50N BY i ATTORNEY KNITHNG MACHINE Robert H. Lawson, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 22, 1951, Serial No. 207,075

29 Claims. (ci. 66-149) This invention relates to knitting machines and has particular reference to take-up means involved in the production of stockings and particularly those of fine gauge. The invention is especially applicable to the knitting of stockings containing welts, the stockings being knit individually and separately and removed from the machine immediately after the knitting is completed.

individual separate stockings may be knit starting with bare needles in accordance with the procedure and utilizing such instrumentalities as are disclosed in the patent to R. W. Scott No. 1,282,958, dated October 29, i918. ln accordance with this procedure, which need not be repeated herein in detail, a non-ravelling selvage is first produced and thereupon loops are transferred to transfer elements which hold the initial courses during the knitting of a hem or welt, there being produced in the formation of this welt a sufiicient number of courses to secure the desired length thereof. At the completion of the welt, the loops which were held by the transfer elements are returned to the needles and knitting is resumed tying the welt loops into loops at the beginning of the leg so that a doubled or inturned welt is produced. The welt fold as it is being formed and thereafter has generally been carried away from vthe needles to a considerable extent by gravity receiving initial assistance from a presser such as shown in said Scott patent. The foregoing method has been quite satisfactory but it has been recognized that more uniform and perfect stitches might be formed if the fabric being knitted were made to fall away from the needles more readily and the forming welt prevented from twisting inside the needle cylinder. Furthermore, more satisfactory results would be obtained if the tension could be applied substantially throughout the following length of fabric.

When stockings are being produced in the form of a continuous string, tension may be applied to the fabric through the use of take-up rolls which may be caused to stop or to advance at varying speeds as determined by control mechanism, thus to apply a uniform but variable tension to the fabric. An arrangement of this type is described in the application of Alexander Belford and Fred A. Kuss, Serial Number 111,484, tiled August 20, 1949, now Patent 2,574,009.

The use of an arrangement such as just indicated requires, however, that the stockings should be knit in a continuous string joined, for example, by a yarn having suicient strength for knitting and providing a connection between successive stockings but frail enough to permit the various finished stockings to be torn apart or separated. However, if the stockings are to be knit separately so that each stocking is begun on bare needles, it will be evident that take-up rolls cannot be used. It is one object of the present invention to provide a method and means whereby during knitting proper tension may be applied to stockings when they are knit separately and individuually. In particular the invention is of importance as applied to the knitting of sheer ladies hosiery, for example on a four hundred needle machine. in the case of sheer hosiery of this type the maintenance of proper tension during the knitting of the leg is particularly important. If the tension is not maintained uniform, there are likely to be produced shadow areas, streaks, or regions having the appearance of being scratched. lf, on the other hand, a uniform tension is provided during the knitting of the sheer leg fabric, these irregularities are avoided and stockings of acceptable appearance may be uniformly produced. in accordance with the present invention tension is applied during the leg and foot knitting by the provision of a take-up device which grabs the welt of the stocking and pulls it and the leg and instep portions of the stocking uniformly downwardly under gravity action during the progress of the knitting. After the loopers rounds are completed, the stocking is dropped from the needles, the take-up is released from the welt and the stocking may be blown by a blast of air transversely into a suitable receptacle. Simultaneously the knitting of a subsequent stocking may be begun on bare needles as indicated above.

ln accordance with the invention the welt is extended by intermittent blasts of air which serve to insure its introduction into the grabbing member of the take-up for proper seizure thereby. The air blast arrangement is not, however, part of the present invention, being described at length in the application of Jacob S. Moss, Serial Number 182,437, filed August 3l, 1950, now Patent 2,636,364.

The general objects of the invention have already been indicated, and these, as well as subsidiary objects particularly relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through the upper portion ot' a knitting machine having devices provided in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the horizontal plane indicated at 2 2 in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of a knitting machine embodying the invention;

Figure 4 is a similar elevation of the lower portion of the same machine;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Figure 3 but with various parts broken away to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 6 is an elevation looking at the right-hand side of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing in particular details of the grab take-up mechanism;

Figure S is a longitudinal axial section through the take-up mechanism of Figure 7; and

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, transverse sections taken on the planes indicated at 9 9, 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 of Figure 7.

The figures show only those elements of a rotary cylinder circular knitting machine as are required for an understanding of the invention. It will, of course, be understood that this machine contains conventional elements well known to the art, and, in particular, reference may be made to said Scott patent for a more complete showing and description of those elements particularly concerned with welt formation. As will be apparent hereafter, various features of the invention are applicable to machines of the stationary cylinder-rotary cam type but for clarity and consistency of the description there will be hereafter referred to only a machine of the rotary cylinder type.

The needle cylinder illustrated at 2 is slotted to carry needles 4 with which cooperate conventional sinkers 6. A rotary dial 8 carries transfer elements lil of the type described in said Scott patent. The stationary dial cap i2 is provided with cams which in conventional fashion Relative movements of conventional character are irnparted to the various instrumentalities in conventional fashion, and the particular driving means need not, therefore, be described.

As is usual in knitting machines of this general type yarns are selectively fed from yarn fingers under the control of push rods 22 moved in response to cams on the main cam drum of the machine.

There is frictionally held snugly within the conventional sinker ring of the machine a cylinder 24 having an outwardly ilared upper portion 26 to guide smoothly inwardly the portions of the fabric being knit, and particularly the fabric forming the welt. In the case of the present machine, this cylinder 24 is provided with a smooth interior and its lower edge is bevelled as indicated at 27 to provide a slight clearance for the grab f take-up as will be hereafter described. The upper portion 29 of the interior of cylinder 24 is conically convergent downwardly to deect the air inwardly of the ,W,

cup.

Reference may be now made particularly to Figures 7 and 8 which show details of the grab take-up. A cylindrical cup 28 is carried by a bearing 3i) mounted at the upper end of a tube 32 which passes slidably downwardly through a bore in a carriage 34 which is suitably weighted by weights 36. A spring 38 is under compression and normally urges the sleeve 32 upwardly with respect to the carrier. Guide tracks 40 are embraced by the carrier, as illustrated most clearly in Figures 9 to l2, inclusive, and these tracks are supported by screws and spacers indicated at 42 from the conventional cylinder raising tube 44 which is xed against rotation but which is adapted for axial movements to produce through a ball race arrangement and pins S2 axial movements of the needle cylinder for the purpose of adjusting the lengths of stitches drawn by the needles by producing relative movement between the needle cylinder and the needle actuating cams. These axial movements which are of slight extent are produced by engagement with a bracket 46 carried by cylinder raising tube 44 of the portion 48 of a lever acted upon by cams on the main cam drum of the machine.

The tube 32 has iixed to it a member 54 which is held against rotation by a pin 56 secured to the member 54 and passing downwardly through an opening in the carriage 34. The end of a Bowden wire S8 is secured to the member 54 and runs through a sheath 60 which is i secured to the carriage 34. The other end of the Bowden wire 58 is secured to a plunger of conventional type (not shown) arranged to be acted upon by cams on the main cam drum. it may be remarked that through this Bowden wire the tube 32 may be drawn downwardly against the action of the spring 38 relatively to the carriage 34 and due to the flexibility of the Bowden wire there is no interference with this action because of the particular height at which the grab take-up may be located.

A rod 62 is secured at its lower end in the carriage 34 and extends upwardly through tube 32 supporting through a self-aligning ball bearing 64 and/or a spring joint 65 (either or both of which provides a universal joint) a clamp member 66 which is arranged, as hereafter described, to clamp between its ange 68 and a shoulder '70 of the cup 2S the edge of the welt of a stocking. The cup 28 is provided with a series of openings indicated at 72 for the downward flow of air.

A cable 74 is secured to an arm "I6 of the carriage 34 and is trained about pulleys 78 carried by a bracket secured to the cylinder raising tube 44 and thence extends to a winding drum 82 to which its end is fastened. The drum 82 is secured to a shaft 84 having bearings in a frame bracket and carrying a pinion 86 meshing with a large gear 88 which has secured to it a ratchet 90 provided with teeth, as indicated particularly in Figure 5, but with a tooth missing in the region 92 so as to interrup the advance of the ratchet by a pawl 94 which is pivoted to an arm 96 secured to a shaft 9S which is oscillated during operation of the machine through a link connection to the usual oscillating quadrant of the machine which is not shown. Pawl 94 is urged towards the ratchet by spring 95.

A lever 100 pivoted to the frame at 192 is provided with a pin 104 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 106 on the end of the main cam drum of the machine, this cam having a cut-away portion at 106. A pad member 108 formed on lever 100 is arranged to engage the end of an adjustable screw 110 carried by the upwardly extending arm of a lever 112 pivoted at 114 to the frame and normally urged counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, by a strong spring 116. The lower arm of the lever 112 carries a follower roller 118 which rides on the periphery of the cam securedto the gear 88, the cam 120 having a depression in its circumference at 122 which is somewhat greater in angular extent than the diameter of roller 118.

An approximately horizontal arm 124 of lever 100 is connected by a link 126 to a lever 128 pivoted at 130 to the frame and arranged to act as a guard to lift pawl 94 out of operative relation with the ratchet 90. A link 132 connects the guard 128 at 134 to the lower end of a lever 136 pivoted at 13S to the frame and carrying a brake shoe 140 which is adapted to engage the inner surface of the drum 82. A light spring 142 connected between the upper end of lever 136 and a txed pin on the frame urges the lever 136 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5. A link 144 is pivoted to the upper end of lever 136 and has a slot 146 in its other end which embraces a pin 148 secured to lever 11?1 and providing a connecting point for a link 150 provided with a slot 152 embracing the pin 154 secured to lever 96 and on which pin there is pivoted the pawl 94.

A bell crank 156 is adapted to be acted upon by a cam 158 on the main cam drum of the machine and is pivoted on the shaft 98 for rocking movement, its horizontally extending arm 160 being connected to a wire 162 to control an air valve 164 thereby to control the ow of air through a connection 166 to a nozzle 168 located as indicated in Figure 4 and adapted to blow a nished stocking out of the machine into a basket or other receptacle indicated at 170.

A cam follower lever, indicated at 174, is arranged through engagement by a suitable cam 172 on the main cam drum to control the dow of air through the tube 18 by means of a conventional air valve which is not shown.

The operation of the mechanism described is as follows:

The operation may be best described by starting with the conditions which exist immediately following the discharge of a completed stocking from the machine into the receptacle. The Bowden wire 53 will have been pulled to move downwardly tube 32 and cup 28 against the action of spring 38 to eect release of the stocking, the carriage 34 being in its lowermost position. The guard 128 will, at this time, be in its active position, i. e., swung clockwise from the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, preventing engagement of pawl 94 with the teeth of ratchet 90, this condition resulting from the position of pin 104 on the portion of cam 106 preceding the notch 106'. Under these conditions, the lever 112 will have been rocked by pad 108 clockwise so that roller 118 will be lifted beyond the periphery of cam 120 and pin 148 will have moved toward the right, relieving link 144 from the strong tension of spring 116.

At the same time, because guard 128 is in its active clockwise position, link 132 will have pulled the lever 136 clockwise against the relatively light tension of spring 142 to release brake 140 completely from drum 82. It may be here noted that, at this time, the ratchet is not in the position bringing the toothless portion 92 under the pawl 94, but, in fact, a tooth is below this pawl so that, if the pawl were released by the guard 128, racking would occur.

The make-up of the welt will start as soon as the finished stocking is discharged from the machine. The welt formation will start in the usual fashion with proper transfer, after several courses have been made, of loops to the transfer elements 10, all as described in said Scott patent.

The pin 104 will now drop into the notch 106 of cam 106. The result of this is t'o rock the guard 128 counterclockwise so that the pawl 94 which is continuously reciprocating may engage the teeth of ratchet 90. As lever 100 rocks counterclockwise, pad 108 will withdraw from the screw 110 but the movement of lever 112 under the action of spring 116 will only be sufficient to cause roller 118 to engage the periphery of cam 120, the notch 122, at this time, not being in position to receive the roller. The result is that due to the slot at 146 the link 144 will not be pulled by the spring 116 to cause engagement of the brake shoe 140 under the action of this spring. The brake shoe, nevertheless, is engaged lightly with drum 82 through the action of spring 142 inasmuch as this spring may become eifective due to the counterclockwise movement of the guard 128. The braking action is then such as to permit forcible movements to be applied to the drum but, nevertheless, such as to prevent the drum from slipping under the weight of carriage 34 and its associated parts.

Pawl 94 now starts the racking of ratchet 90 raising the carriage 34 and its associated parts through the cable 74 against the frictional action of brake 140. It may be noted that, due to the large ratio between gear S8 and pinion 84, a relatively few strokes of the pawl will raise the carriage 34 to its upper position. During the rise of the carriage, the knitting of the welt will continue but the rise will be completed before any substantial welt loop of fabric is finished. The upper air blast may be started to maintain the loop of knitted fabric in an extended condition.

As the carriage approaches the end of its rise, the extensions of member 54 will engage the underside of the stationary lower race of the ball and race arrangement 50, as indicated most clearly in Figure 3. The result is to arrest the upward movement of cup 28. The carriage 34, however, continues to move upwardly further compressing spring 38 and due to a slight advance of the main drum, Bowden wire 58 is released with the result that the grab take-up is more fully opened by movement of the cap .66 upwardly independently of the cup 2S and independently of any pull on the Bowden wire. When the cap 66 is just below the dial 8, the position indicated in Figure l, the pawl 94 will have advanced the last tooth of the ratchet 90 before the toothless portion 92 and, at the same time, the roller 118 will have dropped into the notch 122, thus permitting lever 112 to move counterclockwise. At times, a vertical adjustment of dial 8 might be necessary, and in order to prevent its being forcefully contacted by cap 66 when the latter is fully elevated, rod 62 may be relatively adjusted with respect to its carriage 34 by means of the set screw 61 illustrated in Figure 7, so that a slight space is present between the dial 6 and the cap 66 when the latter is in its uppermost position.

The situation generally described when the carriage is in its uppermost position may be further detailed as foilows, inasmuch as an important eifect on the welt loop of fabric results therefrom.

In Figures 3 and 5, the pawl 94 is shown in the position assumed when fully retracted. As the pawl 94 advances, it will drop into the notch just below the toothless portion 92 of the ratchet and, by engagement with the corresponding tooth, it will advance the ratchet to some extent counterclockwise from the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. Just before pawl 94 engages the tooth, pin 154 will engage the right-hand end of slot 152 and link 150 will be moved to rock lever 112, lifting roller 118 and relieving from the tension of strong spring 116 the brake 140 which will remain under the tension of light spring 142. The result of this is to rotate correspondingly the cam presenting below roller 118 the portion of this cam beyond notch 122. The result of this is that, at the forward extreme of movement of pawl 94, the cap 66 will be raised to its highest position just short of the dial 8. As the pawl 94 now retracts, spring 38, which will be substantially compressed during the forward pawl stroke, will force the carriage 34 and cap 66 downwardly since the cup 28 will be in a fixed upwardly arrested position by reason of engagement of member 54 with the underside of bearing S0. The spring 38 is compressed sufticiently to move carriage 34 against the action of lightly applied brake with the result that during this retraction of the pawl the cap 66 will be drawn downwardly, though not to closed position, there being simultaneously eifected a corresponding counterclockwise rotation of drum 82 and clockwise rotation of gear 88, ratchet 90 and cam 120, the ratchet following the pawl in its retracting movement.

However, as this action continues, notch 122 will be brought beneath roller 118 and when pin 154 withdraws from the right hand end of slot 152 the roller 118 will drop into notch 122 thus releasing the lever 112 to reestablish action of strong spring 116 on lever 136 through link 144. The brake shoe 140 is then forcefully applied against drum 82 preventing any further movement under the action of spring 3S. After this braking of the drum and the ratchet, the pawl 94 may move still further to its fully retracted position in engagement with the toothless portion 92 of the ratchet. As will be evident so long as the pin 104 is in the notch 106', the action just described will reoccur upon each reciprocation of the pawl.

The result is that as the formation of the welt continues, the cup 28 will remain stationary from the standpoint of vertical movement, but the cap 66 will have vertical strokes applied thereto between its uppermost position, illustrated in Figure 1, and a somewhat lower position short of closure on the cup 28. These vertical strokes by the cap 66 cause the periphery of cap 66 to stroke the fabric during its formation assisting proper entry of the fabric into the cup 20 in cooperation with the blasts of air from the tube 16 through the openings 14 with the result that the Welt W will properly enter the cup. it will be noted that the air may pass freely through the openings 72 in the cup while the air cannot escape freely outside the cup between it and the sleeve 24. Figure l shows the condition'of the welt just prior to the transfer of the held stitches from the transfer elements 10 to the needles.

Simultaneously with the completion of the transfer, the main cam drum advances and the pin 104 rises out of the notch 106 to the periphery of cam 106. Lever 100 is, accordingly, rocked clockwise, guard 128 is moved into position to cause pawl 94 to miss the ratchet teeth, and brake 140 is completely released from the drum. The spring 3S is, accordingly, free to move downwardly the carriage 34 to close the cap 66 on the cup 26 clamping the welt. It may be noted that the action actually occurs in steps, the strong spring 116 being first rendered inoperative on the brake so that the spring 3S may act as previously described causing the cap to close on the cup against the lighter braking action of spring 142. Then, tinally, the spring 142 is released as the guard 128 moves to its extreme clockwise position. While the spring 142 is applied the carriage assembly cannot drop of its own weight, but after brake 140 is released from the action of spring 142 the weight of the carriage is sufficient to move the drum freely. The sequence just described insures that the welt loop will be clamped before dropping of the carriage assembly under its own weight can occur with the result that the clamping assembly will not drop away from the welt without clamping it.

With complete release of the brake, the clamping assembly is free to drop as just indicated and, accordingly, as the knitting of the leg and other portions of the stocking takes place, a uniform tension is applied by the assembly including the carriage 34 and other parts of the take-up. The weights at 36 may be replaced by others to secure the desired tension for a particular type of stocking, the desired tension being particularly important during the formation of the leg and foot. The upper air blast may be cut off after completion of thc welt since it has no effect during the knitting of the leg.

After the completion of the loopers rounds following the toe, the stocking is released from the needles and the lower air blast may become effective to drive the stocking out of the machine. For this purpose, the lower blast is preferably started just after the stocking is complete, and as it drops from the needles the Bowden wire 58 is pulled to effect release of the welt. The stocking, accordingly, is free to be blown laterally into a receptacle such as 170.

It will be noted that the clamp, when closed, is free to rotate with the stocking by reason of the bearings provided at 30 and 64. The self-aligning ball bearing 64 or the spring joint 65 plays an extremely important part in the satisfactory operation of the invention, due to the fact that it permits cap 66 to lean slightly in respect to cup 28, if necessary, when clamping the welt fabric, without in any way restricting the free rotation of the clamping unit. This is essential since the clamp is revolved simply by the tube of fabric suspended from, and turning with, the knitting needles. In the case of a stocking being knit of a iine denier nylon yarn, the sheer fabric, if permitted to receive anything but the gentlest twist, would at times cause wrinkles to form which could not be subsequently removed. Furthermore, twisting, in itself, will increase tension on the stitches being formed by producing an inward pull in addition to a vertical one. The method here employed, therefore, permits the fabric to revolve as a tube having substantially parallel and vertical sides. Generally speaking, it will be essentially stationary during the reciprocatory knitting of heels and toes, the stocking twisting and untwisting slightly. In view of the fact that the entire circumference of the welt is gripped by the take-up there is uniform tension applied throughout the circumference of the leg and it has been found that sheer nylon stockings, in particular, are very free of the blemishes which commonly result due to slight variations in tension during knitting. Attention is drawn to the fact that the matching, clamping surfaces of cap 66 and cup 28 are extremely smooth, since any tendency toward roughness might prevent free entrance of the welt into the clamp or might damage the welt and/ or prevent its free release when the clamp opened. Due to the smoothness of the clamping surfaces, they are so shaped that, when closed, the gripped portion of the welt follows what is substantially a tortuous right angle path and is thus securely held. It will be clear from the foregoing that, while what has been `described is a preferred modification of the invention, other arrangements may be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder during knitting and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means comprising a cylindrical member, means for directing said welt into the cylindrical member, and a member for clamping said welt to the edge of said cylindrical member substantially throughout the circumference of said welt, said members being freely rotatable by the stocking to avoid substantial twisting of a clamped stocking during the knitting thereof.

2. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means cooperating with said needles to start the knitting of a stocking top on bare needles, and means for seizing the free top of the stocking during knitting and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the formation of the stocking top, the last mentioned means comprising a cylindrical member, means for directing said top into the cylindrical member, and a member for clamping said top to the edge of said cylindrical member substantially throughout the circumference of said top, said members being freely rotatable by the stocking to avoid substantial twisting of a clamped stocking during the knitting thereof.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned Welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder during knitting and for imparting tension thereto substantially throughout its circumference during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means being universally mounted for free rotation despite irregularities in the clamping action.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder during knitting and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means comprising a pair of clamping members having universal angular mounting with respect to each other.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder during knitting and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means comprising a pair of clamping members having universal angular mounting with respect to each other, and both mounted for free rotation.

6. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, and means for effecting stroking of said welt during its formation by said seizing means.

7. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, means for seizing said weit inside the cylinder and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means comprising acylindrical member and a member for clamping said welt to the edge of said cylindrical member substantially throughout the circumference of said welt, and means for effecting stroking of said welt during its formation by the last mentioned member.

8. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned 9 means comprising a pair of members having smooth cooperating annular clarnping surfaces.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt, and means for seizing said welt inside the cylinder and for imparting tension thereto during knitting subsequent to the welt formation, the last mentioned means comprising a pair of members having smooth cooperating annular clamping surfaces, radial sections of said surfaces having corresponding tortuous shapes.

10. In a circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder and adapted to knit separate articles each of which is pressed olf when completed, means for automatically seizing the free end portion of each article while it is being knit and for imparting tension thereto during subsequent knitting, said means comprising a pair of members having smooth cooperating annular clamping surfaces.

ll. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, means for automatically seizing said welt after completion of the welt and for imparting tension to the stocking during subsequent knitting, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said seizing means, and means for releasing the stocking from said seizing means.

l2. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed olf when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, and means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt.

13. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed oif when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on, each stocking, vertically movable Welt engaging means,

means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, and means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means.

14. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable Welt engaging means, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means, and meansfor automatically removing the stocking from the vicinity of said welt engaging means.

l5. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stock-A ings each of which is pressed oif when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, and power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing .it to grasp said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt.

16. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said .needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said Welt to locate it for seizure by vsaid welt engaging means, power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to grasp said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, and means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means.

17. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to grasp said Welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to compleion of the welt, means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means, and means for automatically removing the stocking from the vicinity of said welt engaging means.

18. An automatic article tensioning device for a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and adapted to knit separate articles each of which is pressed off when completed, comprising vertically movable article grasping means, automatic controlling means for effecting in sequence raising of said article grasping means, grasping of the initial portion of an article thereby, and downward movement thereof while it grasps the article to impart tension to the article during continued knitting thereof, and means for directing air in a generally axial direction against said initial portion of an article to locate it for seizure by said article grasping means.

19. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, means for automatically seizing said welt after completion of the welt and for imparting tension to the stocking during subsequent knitting, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it for seizure by said seizing means, and means for releasing the stocking from said seizing means.

20. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed oif when. completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, and means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt while the stocking is being knit, said welt engaging means thereafter moving down wardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the Welt.

21. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed olf when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said Welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, and means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means.

22. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means, and means for automatically removing tlie stocking from the vicinity of said welt engaging means.

23. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed olf when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned `welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it forseizure by said welt engaging means, and power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to grasp said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt.

24. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to grasp said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, and means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means.

25. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine, adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed off when completed, and having a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, and means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, comprising vertically movable welt engaging means, means for directing intermittent blasts of air against CII said welt to locate it for seizure by said welt engaging means, power operated means for raising said welt engaging means and for causing it to grasp said welt while the stocking is being knit, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt, means for releasing the stocking from said welt engaging means, and means for automatically removing the stocking from the vicinity of said welt engaging means.

26. An automatic article tensioning device for a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and adapted to knit separate articles each of which is pressed off when completed, comprising vertically movable article grasping means, automatic controlling means for effecting in sequence raising of said article grasping means, grasping of the initial portion of an article thereby, and downward movement thereof while it grasps the article to impart tension to the article during continued knitting thereof, and means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said initial portion of an article to locate it for seizure by said article grasping means.

27. An automatic fabric tensioning device for a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and adapted to knit separate stockings, of which the welt is knit first, and to press off each stocking when completed, comprising vertically movable fabric engaging means comprising a cylindrical member and a member for clamping the welt of a stocking to the edge of said cylindrical member substantially throughout the circumference of the welt, means for automatically raising said fabric engaging means and for causing it to grasp the welt of a stocking while the stocking is being knit, said fabric engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof, and a guide tube for guiding a welt into said cylindrical member.

28. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed oif when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means including a dial and elements carried thereby associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, vertically movable welt engaging means comprising a cylindrical member and a clamping member for clamping the welt of a stocking to the edge of said cylindrical member, and means for raising said welt engaging means to bring said clamping member closely adjacent to said dial and for causing welt engaging means to seize said welt, said welt engaging means thereafter moving downwardly to impart tension to the stocking during knitting thereof subsequent to completion of the welt.

29. In a circular knitting machine adapted to knit separate stockings each of which is pressed olf when completed, a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means associated with said needles for holding stitches during the formation of a turned welt on each stocking, means for automatically imparting tension to the stocking during knitting subsequent to the knitting of the welt, and means for directing intermittent blasts of air against said welt to locate it for seizure by said tensioning means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,282,958 Scott Oct. 29, 1918 1,695,734 La Montagne Dec. 18, 1928 2,013,563 Lawson et al. Sept. 3, 1935 2,230,974 Gagne Feb. 4, 1941 2,250,731 St. Pierre July 29, 1941 2,251,222 Cloutier July 29, 1941 2,396,656 Holmes Mar. 19, 1946 2,636,364 Moss Apr. 28, 1953

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