US3585820A

US3585820A - Straight bar knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3585820A
Application number: US880472A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest Start; Raymond Blook
Original assignee: William Cotton Ltd
Current assignee: William Cotton Ltd
Priority date: 1969-12-09
Filing date: 1969-12-09
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22

Abstract

A method of cable stitching on a straight bar-knitting machine by use of a narrowing head having two rods one of which carries one, or two, loop transfer points, the other of which carries a masking blade or a loop transfer point, with cam or solenoid means controlling the masking blade or point on the second rod, adjustable lead screw means for sideways adjusting the first or both rods, oppositely operable ratchet mechanism for the lead screw mechanism, and selector disc control means operable by solenoids for selectively controlling the ratchet means, or solenoids being under control of selection control means such as electric program and chart reader means.

Description

l 13,5ss,s20

Ruddington;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1969 Crawford Raymond Blook, Loughborough, both of, England Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Auomey-Larson and Taylor ABSTRACT: A method of cable stitching on a straight barknitting machine by use of a narrowing head having two rods one of which carries one, or two, loop transfer points, the other of which carries a masking blade or a loop transfer m H m. 8 M mm m W 1 9 m 9 zm mmu QB f mfi mam mm lawn a .JWFGQC-I m wh n L n wmmm Ami o-Ah nnflnnnu UUHUUUB.

with cam or solenoid means controlling the masking blade or point on the second rod, adjustable lead screw means for sideways adjusting the first or both rods, oppositely operable ratchet mechanism for the lead screw mechanism, and selector disc control means operable by solenoids for selectively controlling the ratchet means, or solenoids being under control of selection control means such as electric program M G w; m

w. mm

PATENTED JUN22 ism SHEET 01 [1F PATENTEU JUN22 IS?! SHEET 02 0F 10 PATENTEU JUN2 2 I97! SHEET 05 1F PATENTEU JUN22 19m SHEET 07 0F STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES This application is a continuation of my previous application, Ser. No. 708,833, filed Feb. 28, 1968.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar-knitting machines and concerns a method of cable stitching in a straight bar-knitting machine equipped with means for lace patterning which includes lace points adapted for individual and/or joint use to transfer loops in opposite directions from certain needles to other needles of the machine, which method consists in adapting a predetermined small number of lace points to cooperate with a small group of a predetermined greater number of adjacent needles, between consecutive knitting operations, and to transfer, by opposite transfer motions of the same predetermined, small number of the lace points over predetermined numbers of needle distances, yarn loops originally on needles at each side of the group of needles to the other side of the group in a number of transfer and reset operations which is the minimum possible according to the number of points used and the number of needle distances elected for the transfer motions of the number of points. In a particular arrangement the method includes forming at each side of the cable-stitching wales of drop stitches or tuck stitches.

In the particular arrangements disclosed, one which necessitates four transfer and reset motions produces a cable stitch in which there are crossed loops on only three needles, whereas for producing a cable stitch with loops on four needles, the smallest number of operations disclosed is five transfer and reset motions, and this necessitates the use of two points each mounted on a separate control mechanism for operation in different spaced relationships.

An object of the invention is to form a cable stitch with loops on four needles in the minimum number of five transfer and reset motions, without the necessity for having two transfer point mechanisms.

The invention provides a method of cable stitch patterning in knitted fabric produced on a straight bar-knitting machine and having only one transfer mechanism carrying a pair of consecutive loop transfer points, which method includes causing the points to operate on a group of at least five consecutive needles, in a five transfer and reset stage sequence to transfer loops originally on the first, second and third needles to the fourth and fifth needles, and the yarn loops originally on the fourth and fifth needles to the first and second needles, and for the purpose causing the points to be used, for predetermined different stages, with or without one of the points being ineffective. Conveniently the method includes displacing a blanking element between an operative position rendering one of the loop transfer points ineffective on the needle, and an inoperative position allowing the loop transfer points to be effective on the needle.

In one arrangement the two points are operated together at a third stage, in a five stage sequence, to transfer loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles respectively, at a fifth stage to transfer loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles respectively, at a first and fourth stage one point transfer a loop from the first needle to the second needle and a loop from the fifth needle to the second needle respectively while in each instance the other point cooperates with the next needle devoid of a loop outside the group of five needles, and at the second stage one point transfers a loop from the fourth needle to the first needles while the other point has cooperating with it a blanking element rendering it ineffective.

In another arrangement the two points are operated together at a first stage to transfer loops from the first and second needles to the second and third needles respectively, at a third stage to transfer loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles, and at a fifth stage to transfer loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles, and one point is rendered inoperative or ineffective while the other point is operative at a second stage to transfer a loop from the fourth needle to the first needle and at a fourth stage to transfer a loop from the fifth needle to the second needle.

Conveniently in the instance of using a blanking element this is mounted on a rod to be permanently dispositioned for cooperation with only one needle, and it is pivotally displaceable repeatedly by cam operated means between two positions at the beard side of the needle in one of which it prevents one of the loop transfer points, when the point is opposite the needle, from cooperating with the needle, and it is also displaceable to an inoperative position at the rear of the needle, by an abutment projecting from the other point, when the point is opposite the needle.

In another instance the method includes rendering one of the points ineffective at required times by action of an electromagnetic device.

The invention also provides, for carrying out the above methods, a straight bar-knitting machine having in the narrowing head transfer point rod means carrying cable finger means having a pair of adjacent loop transfer points, pawl and ratchet adjustable lead screw mechanism for effecting sideways displacements of the transfer point rod one, two or three needle distances in either direction, cam operated means for operat ing the pawls, control levers connected to the pawls, a series of selector discs with three different height rises for operating the control levers, a series of electromagnetic devices for displacing the selector discs, and means for rendering one of the points ineffective as and when required. Conveniently in one arrangement said means comprises a blanking element on a second transfer point rod and means for displacing the blanking element between different positions. This latter means conveniently comprises a cam operated mechanism and an abutment projecting from the cable finger. In another arrangement one of the transfer pointsis carried by a cable finger on one transfer point rod and the other point is carried by a cable finger on a second transfer point rod, and the cable finger is pivotally displaceable between operative and inoperative positions by an electromagnetic device.

The electromagnetic devices are operated as and when required by selection control means for example electric program chart and reader means.-

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the methods hereinafter particularly described in'greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a detail sectional view of loop transfer point mechanism and point blanking means, for cable stitching in knitted fabric, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 with the point-blanking means rendered inoperative.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 with the point-blanking machine rendered inoperative in modified manner.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of one sequence of operations for cable stitching by use of the mechanism of FIG. 1 and 2 according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 1 without the point-blanking means and with point idling means.

FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 5 showing the point-idling means operated.

FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 4 showing a modified sequence of operations for cable stitching according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of relevant parts of a straight bar-knitting machine.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the left-hand side of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of racking control means in the machine.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the racking control means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8 and 9, a straight barknitting machine represented by bearded needle I has in the narrowing head a transfer point rod 3 carrying a cable finger 4 having a pair of adjacent loop transfer points Pl, FIG. 3, 8 and 9 and P2, FIGS. 11,2, 3, 9 and in the same plane as the point P2 is a peg 5 projecting from the cable finger 4.

There is also in the narrowing head, a mounting rod 6 for an arm '7 carrying a point-blanking element known as a peaking spade This arm 7 also has a bearing face 7a for removably cooperating with the peg 5.

The arm 7 is displaceable to displace the peaking spade 8 between an operative position, FIGS. I, 8, between a point and the needle beard 2, and an inoperative position, FIG. 2, clear of the needle II, by a peg 9 at one side of the arm 7 and carried by a bellcrank lever M) which is connected by a link, partly shown at II, to cam operating mechanism of which the cam provides a repeating motion once per course, and the bellcrank lever W and the arm 7 being interconnected by a spring 112.

In the position known as the takeoff, FIGS. I, 3, and when the point P2 is coplanar with the peaking spade 8, the action of the link llll and the spring 12 is to cause the peaking spade 3 to intervene between the point and the top of the needle F2 thereby to prevent the point P2 from picking up a loop from the needle and allowing the loop to pass along the needle to behind the beard so as not to be cast off the needle.

The points are displaced sideways for cooperating with each of a small group of needles, whereas the peaking blade is not sideways displaced but cooperates only with one of the needles, in the manner just described, and since with one other exception, to be hereinafter referred to, the points when cooperating with the different needles are sideways displaced from the peaking spade 8, the repeat action of the peaking spade 3 between the operative and inoperative positions has no effect on the points operation. The other exception is when the second point Pll becomes opposite the peaking spade 3, and since at this stage it is not required to prevent takeoff of a loop, the peaking spade 8 is rendered inoperative by the peg 5 engaging the bearing face 7a, FIGS. 3, 9, as a result of a sideways displacement of the points.

This mechanism is operated for cable stitching on a group of five consecutive needles in five transfer and reset stages as follows, referring to FIG. 4.

Immediately before stage A, the points P1, P2, are set with the point P2 opposite needle la, and the point PI opposite the next needle outside the group of five needles and which is devoid of a loop for the purpose of drop stitching on this needle.

In the transfer operation indicated at T of stage A, the points Pll, P2 are operated for the point P2 to transfer the loop on the first needle lla to the second needle 1b, and in the reset operation, indicated at R, the points P1, P2 are moved to the fourth and fifth needles ld, Ie.

In the next transfer operation T at stage B, the points Pll, P2 are first lowered to the needles Id, 1e, and it is at this time that the peaking spade 8 becomes operative, as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. I, so that it is only the point Fll which takes a loop from the fourth needle lld and transfers the loop to the first needle ll. Next the points P1, P2 are reset to the second and third needles lb, as indicated at R stage In the next transfer operation T, stage C, the points P1, P2 transfer loops from the second and third needles lb, lie, to the third and fourth needles It, lid respectively, and then the points are reset as at R stage C, to the fifth needle Ie and to the next needle outside the group of five needles, respectively.

This outside needle is devoid of a loop, for drop stitching on the needle and therefore the point P2 is ineffective for the next transfer'operation.

Since it is then required for the point P1 to pick up the loop from the fifth needle lie, and bearing in mind that the peaking spade 8 normally operates at this needle, it is at this time that the peg 5 holds the peaking spade t3 inoperative, as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 3.

At the next transfer operation T, stage D, the point P1 transfers the loop from the fourth needle lld to the second needle lb, and then the points are reset to the third and fourth needles In, M as indicated at R stage D.

At the next transfer operation T, stage E, the points PI, P2 transfer the loops from the third and fourth needles Ic, lid, to the fourth and fifth needles Id, Ie respectively, as shown at R stage E, to complete the crossover loop formation for the cable stitching.

In the modified arrangement of FIGS. 5 to 7, and 10 the peaking spade mechanism is not employed. Instead, as indicated in FIGS. 5, 6 and I0, there is a separate finger 13 for the point PI and this finger I3 is mounted on the rod 6 which is movable with the rod 3 in the same direction with the same or different amplitudes of movement.

Also on the rod 6 is an arm I4 connected to a solenoid 15, the operation of which moves the point P2 between an operative position alongside the point P2 and an inoperative position clear of the needles, FIG. 6.

In use of this mechanism, FIG. 7, the points P1, P2 are started cooperating with the first and second needles lla, llb respectively as shown at the top of the Figure.

In the first transfer operation T stage A, the points P1, P2 transfer loops from the first and second needles lla, llb to the second and third needles 1b, 1c respectively, and then the point P2 is reset to the fourth needle Id while the solenoid holds the point P1 in its inoperate position.

In the next transfer operation T, stage B, the point P2 transfers the loop from the fourth needle lle to the first needle Ia, and then the points Pl, P2 are reset as at R, stage B, to the second and third needles lb, 110.

In the next transfer operation T, stage C, the points Ill, P2 transfer the loops from the second and third needles lb, 10 to the third and fourth needles 110, Ed respectively and the point P2 resets, as at R stage C, to the fifth needle is, while the point PI is held inoperative by the solenoid.

In the next transfer operation T, stage D, the point P2 transfers the loop from the fifth needle Ie to the second needle lb, and then the points lll, P2 reset, as at R, stage D, to the third and fourth needles llc, lld, respectively.

In the last transfer operation T, stage E, the points lPll, P2 transfer the loops from the third and fourth needles llc, lid to the fourth and fifth needles lld, Re which completes the cycle of operations.

It will be noted that the action of the points is an alternating one as between the one point and the two points which is comparatively simple so that although the solenoid may be under control of a punched card control system it may be alternatively under control of a switch operated every second fashioning dip of the narrowing head.

It will be understood that modificationsmay be made within the scope of the invention. For example, control of the peaking spade of FIGS. I to 4, 3, 9 may be obtained by the solenoid arrangement of FIGS. 5 to 7 and III, with the same advantage of being controllable from a punched card control system.

The above methods are conveniently carried out on a straight bar-knitting machine shown in FIGS. Ill to 113.

Referring to FIG. Ill the machine is of conventional type having a bar 117 of the bearded needles I simultaneously operable by usual cam follower levers I8, 19, and cams 20, 211 on the machines main cam shaft 22, usual sinkers 23, and usual narrowing head represented at 241 which is pivoted on a shaft 25 and is displaceable with usual raising and dipping motions by link 26 connected to a cam follower lever 27 operable by a cam 28 on the came shaft 22.

The narrowing head 24% mounts the pair of

transfer point rods

3, 6. The point rod 3 is sideways displaceable by having thereon a pair of spaced

collars

29, 30, FIG. 8, between which projects a plate member 3ll which is sideways displaceable by being connected by means 32 FIG. II to a screw nut 33 on an adjustable lead screw 341.

For obtaining the required sideways movements of the transfer point rod 3, which carries the cable finger 4 having the points P1, P2, the lead screw 34 has on it opposite ratchet

wheels

35, 36 for releasable engagement by

pawls

37R, 38T, 37T, 38R, respectively which are operated by

cam follower rollers

39, 3% on a bellcrank cam follower lever 39b cooperating with a cam 40 on the cam shaft 22, under control of control means rendering the pawls operative and inoperative selectively when required and also determining the extent of racking i.e. one, two or three needle distances, and the direction of racking for each instance of the sideways transfer or resetting movements of the loop transfer points.

This control means comprises the

pawls

37R, 38T, 37T, 38R having

control plates

41R, 42T, 41T, 42R projecting therefrom which ride against

displaceable rollers

43R, 44T 431, MR respectively.

These rollers 43R, MT, 43T, 44R are mounted on

horizontal bars

45R, 46T, 45T, 46R, FIG. 13, carried for horizontal movement by pairs of pivoted

arms

47R, 48T, 47T, 48R, FIG. 11, and the bars are selectively displaceable through the intermediary of

links

49R, 50T, 49T, 50R, FIG. 13 which connect them to control levers SIR, 52T, 51T, 52R shaped as shown in FIG. 1 I.

The control lever 51R has an upper peg 53 projecting laterally from it across three

selector discs

54, 55, 56, FIG. 13, and the control lever 52T has a lower peg 57 projecting laterally in the opposite direction across the same three

selector discs

54, 55, 56. Similarly an upper peg 53 of the control I lever 51T projects across three

selector cam discs

54, 55",

56' and a lower peg 57' of the control lever 52R projects across these latter three selector discs.

Each

selector disc

54, 54 has two spaced rises such as 54a, 54b, FIGS. ll, 12, for cooperating with its associated peg such as 53, 57 and they are at a low height. Each selector disc 55, 55' similarly has two rises such as 55a,, 55b which are a small distance higher than the

rises

54a, 54b. Each selector disc 56 has similar rises such as 56a, 56b at a height a small distance greater than the rises 55a, 55b.

The six selector discs are connected by

links

58, 59, 60, 58, S9, 60', H6. 13, to six

solenoids

61, 62, 63, 61', 62, 63 respectively which may be under control of the same punched card system as that of the aforesaid solenoid 15.

In addition, an arm 64a of a lever 64 engages behind the lower peg 57, and the lever 64 is connected by a link 65 to an arm 66 secured on a rod 67 on which is also secured the control levers 51R, SIT and on which the control levers 52T, 52R are free. The lever 64 is pivotally displaceable by an arm 68 connected by a link 69 to a cam follower lever 70 operable by a cam 71 on the main cam shaft 22.

In operation of this selection control mechanism, it should be borne in mind that each transfer motion of the transfer points is required to be selectively over one, two or three needle distances, and following each transfer motion there is a reset motion which is also required to be over one, two or three needle distances. These transfer and reset motions are obtained by the cam 40 acting on the cam follower roller 39 to raise the

pawls

37T, 38T, 37R and 38R and acting also on the cam follower roller 39a to lower the pawls. The selection as to the extent of racking and the direction of racking is obtained by selective control of the pawls through selective movement of the

rollers

43T, 43R, MT, 44R in relation to the control plates 41R, MT, 42R, 42T on the pawls, the arrangement being such that during each stroke of the pawls, the length of effective action on the ratchet wheels depends on the relation of the rollers to the control plates. The arrangement is also such that during say an upward stroke of the pawls a pawl engages the ratchet teeth to rack the ratchet wheel, while its complementary pawl rides over the teeth, and conversely during a lowering movement of the pawls the last-mentioned pawl has racking engagement with the teeth while the first-men tioned pawl rides over the teeth.

In one example by way of explanation, the position of the parts as shown in FIG. 11 i.e. with the

pegs

53, 57 on the

rises

56a, 56b, this is a zero or neutral position. Before a selection is made, the cam 71 operates for the arm 56b to take the weight of the

pegs

53, 57 while a selection is made. If for example a one needle selection is required, solenoid 63 would be energized thereby to rotatably displace the selection disc 56 which would carry the

highest rises

56a and 56b away from the

pegs

53, 57. When thereupon the cam 71 releases the

pegs

53, 57 they will move onto the next highest rises 55a, 55b thereby to move the rollers 43R, MT in opposite directions one unit distance. The effect of this is that in the following operation of the cam 40 to raise the pawls for a transfer motion, the transfer pawl 3ST will act to turn its ratchet wheel one unit distance while its complementary pawl 37R will ride over the ratchet teeth, and a one needle transfer will take place in one direction. If the'reverse direction had been required the selection would have been made by energizing the solenoid 63' by which the other transfer pawl 37T would have been caused to make a one unit rack while its complementary pawl 38R would ride over the teeth.

If a two needle transfer had been required there would have been energized the

solenoids

63 and 62 to displace not only the

highest rises

56a, 56b but also the next highest rises 55a, 55b so that a two unit movement is obtained in the one direction, and if the reverse direction is required this would be obtained by energizing of the

solenoids

63, 62.

For a three needle selection all three of the solenoids 61 to 63, or 61' to 63 would be energized to displace all three

rises

56a, 55a, 54a and 56b, 55b, 54b to obtain a three unit move ment.

Thus by suitably energizing the solenoids selectively under control of a punched card or like control system the necessary transfer and reset motions are obtained.

The link 11, FIGS. 1 to 3, conveniently connects the bellcrank lever 10 to a cam follower lever 72, FIGS. l1, 12 which cooperates with a cam 73 on the cam shaft 22.

Since, in the arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6, both the

cable fingers

4, 13 have to be sideways displaced together, and it is necessary for the solenoid l5 and arm 14 not to be sideways displaced the two

rods

3 and 6 are conveniently coupled together by a link 74 and the arm 14 is conveniently mounted on a splined or keyed part of the rod 6.

We claim:

1. A method of knitting a cable from five consecutive wales by five consecutive knitting needles each having a loop flanked by first and second nonknitting needles without loops, and first and second loop transfer points of which the second point is capable of being rendered ineffective when required, comprising the steps of initially situating the points in line with the first nonknitting needle and the first knitting needle, actuating the second point to transfer the first loop from the first knitting needle out of the first wale onto the second knitting needle into the second wale which thus has doubled loops, then shifting the points into line with the fourth and fifth knitting needles, rendering the second point ineffective, and actuating the first point to transfer the fourth loop from the fourth knitting needle out of the fourth wale onto the first knitting needle into the first wale, then shifting the points into line with the second and third knitting needles and actuating the points to transfer the doubled loops and the third loop from the second and third knitting needles out of the second and third wales onto the third and fourth knitting needles into the third and fourth wales, then shifting the points into line with the fifth knitting needle and the second nonknitting needle and actuating the first point to transfer the fifth loop from the fifth knitting needle out of the fifth wale onto the second knitting needle into the second wale, then shifting the points into line with the third and fourth knitting needles and actuating the points to transfer the doubled loops and the third loop from the third and fourth knitting needles out of the third and fourth onto the fourth and fifth needles into the fourth and fifth wales.

2. A straight bar-knitting machine, comprising a narrowing head having transfer point rod means, cable finger means on the transfer point rod means and having a pair of adjacent loop transfer points, pawl and ratchet adjustable lead screw mechanism disposed for effecting sideways displacements of the transfer point rod means one, two or three needle distances in either direction, cam operated means for operating the pawls, control levers connected to the pawls, a series of selector discs with three different height rises for operating the control levers, a series of electromagnetic devices for displacing the selector discs, and control means for rendering one of the points ineffective as and when required.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, having one transfer point rod mounting the cable finger means, a blanking element on a second transfer point rod, and means for displacing the blanking element between different positions comprising a cam-operated mechanism and an abutment projecting from the cable-finger means.

41. A machine as claimed in claim 2 having one of the transfer points carried by a cable finger on one transfer point rod, the other point carried by a cable finger on a second transfer point rod, and an electromagnetic device for pivotaily displacing one of the cable fingers between operative and inoperative positions.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 2 having program chart and reader means for operating the series of electromagnetic devices as and when required.

6. A straight bar-knitting machine according to claim 2, said control means comprising an electromagnetic device, and including program chart and reader means for rendering the electromagnetic device operative as and when required.

7. A method of knitting a cable with five consecutive knitting needles having loops and first and second loop transfer points of which one is capable of being rendered ineffective, comprising the steps of initially actuating one of the points, with the other point ineffective, to transfer the first loop from the first needle to the second needle, then with one of the points inefi'ective actuating the other point to transfer the fourth loop from the fourth needle to the first needle, then actuating both points to transfer the first, second and third loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles, then with one point ineffective, actuating the other point to transfer the fifth loop from the fifth needle to the second needle, then actuating both points to transfer the first, second and third loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles.

8. A method of knitting a cable with five consecutive knitting needles having loops and first and second loop transfer points, of which one is capable of being rendered ineffective, comprising the steps of initially actuating the first and second points to transfer the first and second loops from the first and second needles to the second and third needles, then with one point ineffective actuating the other point to transfer the fourth loop from the fourth needle to the first needle, then actuating both points to transferthe first, second and third loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles, then with one of the points ineffective actuating the other point to transfer the first, second and third loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles.

Claims

4. A machine as claimed in claim 2 having one of the transfer points carried by a cable finger on one transfer point rod, the other point carried by a cable finger on a second transfer point rod, and an electromagnetic device for pivotally displacing one of the cable fingers between operative and inoperative positions. Pg,21

7. A method of knitting a cable with five consecutive knitting needles having loops and first and second loop transfer points of which one is capable of being rendered ineffective, comprising the steps of initially actuating one of the points, with the other point ineffective, to transfer the first loop from the first needle to the second needle, then with one of the points ineffective actuating the other point to transfer the fourth loop from the fourth needle to the first needle, then actuating both points to transfer the first, second and third loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles, then with one point ineffective, actuating the other point to transfer the fifth loop from the fifth needle to the second needle, then actuating both points to transfer the first, second and third loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles.

8. A method of knitting a cable with five consecutive knitting needles having loops and first and second loop transfer points, of which one is capable of being rendered ineffective, comprising the steps of initially actuating the first and second points to transfer the first and second loops from the first and second needles to the second and third needles, then with one point ineffective actuating the other point to transfer the fourth loop from the fourth needle to the first needle, then actuating both points to transfer the first, second and third loops from the second and third needles to the third and fourth needles, then with one of the points ineffective actuating the other point to transfer the first, second and third loops from the third and fourth needles to the fourth and fifth needles.