USRE18044E - By may hosiery - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931.

Re. 18,044Y

N. J. PERRY .KNITTING MACHINE A Original Filed Dec. 29. 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet l` N, JQ PERRY KNITTING MACHINE April 14, 1931.

ll Sheets-A-S'heet 2 Original Filed Dec. 29. 1919 @nbc/mbox napoleon J. Perrin]l April 14, 1931. N- J PERRY R@ 18,044

I'KNITTINLF: MACHINE Original Filed De. 29. 1919 11 Sheets-Share?. 3

3W hapoeoh J. Perry @wwf-Mm.

N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE April 14, 1931.

ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Deo. 29, 1919 /00 f5 i9 /az Apri]- 14. 1931. N. .1.` PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Aoriginal Filed Deo. 29, 1919 11 sheets-sheet 5 April 14, 1931.

NA. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Origi a1 Filed Dec. 29. 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE 1l .Sheets-Sheet 7 April 14, 1931,

Oriinal Filed Dec. 29. 1919 N. J. PERRY Re.

KNITTING MACHINE April 14, 1931.

Original Filed Dec. 29. 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet B l' f E l napoleon J. Perry N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE April 14, 1931.

orig'in'al Filed Dec. 29. 1919 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 KNI'TTING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 29. 1919 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheet 11 April 14, 1931.

Origin'al Filed Dec. 29, 1919 `Riasued Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- NAPOLEON I. PERRY, DECEABED, LATE F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, BY HAY HOSIEEY HILLS, ASSIGNEE, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE XNITTING I ACHINE rlinal lo. 1,709,889, dated February 19, 1989, Serial lo. $48,071, ledDecember 29, 1919. Renewed Intell Il, 1087. Application for reissue illed January 14, 1831. Serial No. 508,780.

This invention relates to knitting machines and has for an object to provide a machine embodying new and improved features of convenience, reliability, adaptability, where- ,by a plain cylindrical knittln machine .is

converted into a machine for se ectively Vknitting plain or ribbed as the conditions of knitting may make necessary or desirable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 which are made a art hereof, and on which similar reference c aracters indicate similar arts I p Figure 1 is a view of the improved knitting machine in vviront elevation, part of the supporting structure being broken away for the pu ofahowing' the operative structure en arged,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view c taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the dial and 25 operating means, other parts .being broken away forminig a sectional view taken on line 5 of Figure Figure 5 is a view taken on the same plane as Figure 5, showing a movement of the parts go'for iinlockin and movin the cams,

Figure 6 is a detail e evation of the cam operating racks as indicated by arrow 6 at Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken diametrically through the cylinder and dial on line 7--7 of Fig. 5, l i Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig.` 1.,

Figure 9 is a detail and somewhat diagrammatic view of the mechanism for actuating the dial cams` Figure 10 is a detail view in elevation. of one of the blocks carried on the knitting head carrying two of the pickers,

Figure 11 is an inverted plan view of the structure shown at and indicated by arrow 11 of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of the switch cam and operating mechanism,

Figure 13 is a view in end elevation of the n switch cam and operating mechanism,

Figure 14 is a view in elevation of another picker and of lock carrying the same,

Figure 15 is a view of the picker shown in Figure 14, showing the manner of moving the picker relative to its block.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view of one of the pickers,

Fi ure 17 is an inverted plan view of the cam ead showing the cams in casting off position,

Figure 18 is an inverted view of the cam head, showing the cams in knitting position,

. Figure 19 is an inverted plan View of the dial cap which actuates and positions the dial cams shown at Figures 17 and 18,

. F igur'e 20 is a view in elevation of the cam l ocks and the associated cams removed from the cam head,

Figure 21 is a fragmentary view in edge elevation of one of the cam blocks showing the means for extracting a dial needle, the v'izew being indicated by arrow 21 at Figure 1 Figure 22 is a fragmentary top plan view of the dial head, showing the eccentric cam adjustment,

Figure 23 is a detail fragmentary sectional view showing a art of the sinker ring and the mechanism or throwing the belt when lthe yarn accumulates at the needles for imperfect knitting,

Figure 24 is a perspective view somewhat diagrammatic of the belt shifting mechanism actuated by the tripping mechanism as indicated at Figure 23,

Figure 25 is a view in elevation of the belt-shifting mechanism actuated by the structure shown at Figures 23 and 24,

Figure 26 is a view showing the tube knit' by the machine bent at the parts knitted for the heel and toe, it being understood that as delivered from the machine the tube is a continuous straight tube with the heel and toe cation, no change therein having been made or found necessary.

The improved knitting machine, which forms the subject matter of this application, is in' a large measure, a type already well known. It comprises a base 30 supported in any approved manner as by the legs 31. Upon the base 30, a frame 32 is erected in which is journaled a drive pulley 33 upon a sleeve rigidly connected with the gear 34 and clutch member 35. Within the sleeve, shaft 36 is mounted carrying a beveled gear 37. Slidable upon the shaft 36 is a clutch member 38 adapted to engage either the clutch member 35, rigid with the pinion 34, or the clutch member 39 mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 36'. The clutch 38 is splined upon the shaft 36 so that when it is in engagement with the clutch 35, the shaft 36 and the gear 37 are driven from the movement of the clutch 35, and if the clutch member 38 is in engagement with the clutch member 39, then the shaft 36 and gear 37 are driven by the motion of the clutch 39 and gear 40 connected rigidly therewith. The gear 34 is in mesh with the gear 41 which carries a wrist pin 42 connected, by means of the pitlman 43, with the hub 44 of the segment 45. .y The segment 45 is in mesh with the gear 40. If then the clutch member 38 is in engagement with the clutch member 35 on gear 34, the shaft 36 and gear 37 are driven continuously from the pulley 33. The rotation of the gear 34 rotates the gear 41 and oscillates the segment 45 which, by reason of its engagement with the gear 40, also rotates the gear 40 in reverse directions alternately on the shaft 36. If the clutch member 38 is in engagement with the clutch member 39, the motion from the gear 34 through the gear 41 and segment 45 to the gear 40 is transmitted to the gear 37, so that the gear 37 is rotated alternately in opposite directions, driving therewith the knitting head. In the first assumed position that of the gear 37 being continuously driven in one direction the knit-ting head is continuously driven for cylindrical knitting. In the second assumed position, that of the gear 37 being driven alternately in oppositedirections, the knitting head is likewise so driven for reciprocal knitting.

For shifting the clutch member 38, a lever 46 is employed in engagement with a caln disk 47. The cam disk 47 is driven through the instrumentality of the ratchet wheel 48, engaged intermittentlyl by the pawl 49. The pawl 49 is reciprocated by being pivoted t-o a lever 50 which is engaged by the cam block 51, carried by the hub 44 and enga 'ng against roller 52. At each oscillation o the segment 45 the lever 50 is moved, moving the pawl 49. The pawl 49, however, is normally held out of engagement with the. ratchet wheel 48 by means of a finger 53 and the pin 54 of the pawl 49. The finger 53 is connected with a spring pressed block 55 which, when lifted, will release the pawl 49 to operate ratchet wheel 48. The block 55 is lifted intermittently by lugs 56 carried on the pattern chain 57.

The structure above referred to forms no part of the present invention, it being a Well known structure shown in the patent to Mayo, 726,178, April 21, 1903. Mounted concentrically with the ratchet 48, however, is a ratchet wheel 58 provided along one side adjacent the periphery with a plurality of pins59, and other pins 60 spaced nearer the periphery than the pins 59. The ratchet wheel 58 carrying the pins 59 and 60 is actuated by means of a pawl 61, driven from a wrist pin 62 ofl'set from the center of the gear 63, which receives power from and is rotated by the gear 41.

As the ratchet wheel 58 is rotated, the several pins 59 and 60 engage the cam lug 64 on the lever 65. Upon the lever 65 rests a rod 66 passing upwardly throu h the deck 67 and held yieldably downwar by the spring 68. Upon the rod 66 an arm 69 is rigidly secured and positioned in sliding enga ement with the deck 67 by means of a. sli ing pin 70.

The arm 69 carries superposed racks 71 and- 72, the function of which will be hereinafter parts of the well-known structure is such that as the device is driven, the actuation of the pattern chain 57 and the several ratchets operated in timed relation therewith, throws the clutch 38 to alternate the knitting from circular knitting to reciprocal knitting, and to actuate the rod 66, lifting the racks 71 and 72 by which control of the dial needles is effected for ribbed knitting.`

The structure for circular knitting is substantially the same as devices already known and consists of a knitting head having a ring 7 3 driven from the gear 37 (see Figure 7) and mounted to rotate in the deck 67. The rotating ring 73 carries the uprights 74 and 75, the frame of which is provided with the picker 76. The picker 76 is pivoted in a ball 77, and is engaged by spring pressed guides 78 and 79. As the picker is swung 1n an arc as indicated at Figure 15,-it engages under one of the guides 78 and 79, and 1s depressed, depressing thereby one of the' cvlinder needles by engaging the butt 80. .The upright 74 also carries a spring pressed lever 81 positioned to engage a cam`82 -(Figs. 5 and 7 as the head rotates so that lever 81, engaging against the lug 83 on the ball 77, returns the picker 76 when the cam'82 is inposition to be Vengaged thereby. The cam 82 is mounted on a block 84, slidable radially in the deck 67 relative to the knitting head. The sliding movement of the cam 82 is con- .more fully explained. The arrangement of y trolled by an arm 85, carried upon a pintle 86, with an arm 87 beneath thedeck 67 (see Figures 5 and 8). The arm 87 and conse- Vquently the arm 85 and cam 82, are controlled by means of a member 88 under the deck 67 having a cam slot 89. The member 88 is attached to the cam ring 90, which is mounted to rotate relatively to the deck 67, and is held from displacement by keepers 91. To move the cam ring 90 a shaft 92 is provided, having an arm 93 connected by means of a link 94 with'the cam ring 90. The shaft 92 is controlled by means of a segment 95 (see Figure 4) rigidly secured to said shaft and controlled by a lever 96, pivoted upon the shaft 97 and in engagement with the groove 98 of the cam drum 99. lVhile the utility of the cam drum 99 is Well known in the art, it may be pointed out that the said drum is provided with a plurality of cam ribs 100 which engage under cam slides 101 carried by the lever 102, which in turn engages screw 103 carried by the bracket 104, by which the shaft 97 is intermittently raised and lowered acting upon the shell 105 to lengthen and ,shorten the cylinder stitches in the usual well-known manner. The rotation of the cam 99, also by reason of the engagement of the cam groove 98 with the lever 96 shifts the cam ring 90 (Figure 8) to actuate the slide 84, carrying the cam 82, and for other purposes hereinafter mentioned. The cam 82 is provided with a. secondary cam shoulder 82' which, when engaged by the lever 81, throws the picker 76 for a greater amplitude of movement, the movement of the slide 84 being such that the lever 81 engages either the cam shoulders 82 and 82', or when the slide 84 is at the extreme outward limit of its movement, is not engaged at all.

The cam ring 90'is also provided with an incline 106 engaging a lever 107 (see Figure 8) controlled by the spring 108. This lever 107 is connected with the cam member 109, which is oscillated upon the center of rotation of the arm 107 as indicated at 110 in Figure 8, such number indicating only the center otl rotation. T he cam member 109 (see Figures 1, 12 and 13) actuates the switch cuni 111. This is accomplished Kthrough the medium of a lever 112 pivoted at 113, and having a pin 114. The pin 114 is positioned to engage the cam 115 or 116 as the cam member 109` may be oscillated upon its center of rotation, bringing either the incline 115 or 116 into the path of movement of the pin 114, which is rotating With the knitting head i`n the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 12. The lever 112 is provided with a segment 117, engaging a segment 118 on the switch cam 111, the same being pivoted at 119. The pivoting is such that the rotation of the switch cam 111 upon its pivot, throws it nearer to 0r farther from the cylinder, such cam movement beingwell-known but indicated at 102. The function of the switch cam is too well known in the knitting art to require explanation.

Upon opposite sides of the upright' 75 pickers 121 and 122 are located, being mounted upon pintl'es 123 and 124 respectively, which, passing downwardly through the block 125, terminate in cam extremities 126 and 127, engaging sliding blocks 128 and 129 controlled by spring 130 (see Figures 10 and 1 1). The uprights 74 and 75 also carry detents 131 and 132 engaging crown ring 133, holding the said ring removably in position. The vcylinder needles 134, positioned by the crown ring 133, are actuated for knitting by conventional cams.

'lhe uprights 7 4 and 7 5 also carry the latch ring 136 and the thread guide 137.

Above the deck 67 a structure is erected, comprising an upright 138, having an annulus 139 rigidly secured thereto and concentrically overhanging the knitting head. The

annulus supports a shaft 14() which in turn supports the dial 141. The annulus 139 is provided with a plurality of sliding keepers 142, which permit the rotation of the thread guide 143 and dial cam head while retaining the shaft 14() against rotation, and also against inclination, whereby the dial 141 is held rigidly concentric with the cylinder. The dial 141 is provided with dial needles 144, which are positioned to alternate with the cylinder needles 134, or such other numerical relation as the article to be knitted may require. When the cylinder needles and the dial needles are actuated to knit co-actingly at the same time, the result will be ribbed knitting as is well known in the art. As in the knitting of a stocking or a similar article, it is desirable to knit the leg portion ribbed 'and the foot, heel and toe portion plain, the

present invention embodies more particularly means for actuating the dial needles to knit in conjunction and timed relation with the cylinder needles during such portion of the knitting process as it is desirable to knit the article ribbed, and to automatically discontinue the knitting by the dial needles when that portion of the knitting has 'been passed, and automatically resume knitting when it is desired to again knit the article ribbed. i

For the purpose of controlling the movement of the dial needles, therefore, the dial head 145 is provided with movable cams (see Figures 17 to 20). The cams comprise two needle projecting cam members, a horse-shoeshaped cam 146, and a crescent cam 147. The horseshoe-shaped cam 146 is rigidly secured to the block 148 pivoted at 149, and the crescent cam pivoted at 150 to the block 151 which ispivoted at 152. The block 148V is provided with a pin 153 inserted through a slot 154 in the dial head 145, while the block 151 is provided With a pin 155 inserted through the slot 156 in the dial head. Above the dial head a dial cap 157 is located provided with grooves 158 and 159 positioned to engage respectively the camrollers 153 and 155 on t 1e pins 153 and 155. As the dial cap 157 is rotated, the engagement of the pins 153 and 155 by the grooves 158 and 159 will swing the blocks 148 and 151 upon their pivots to move the cams 146 and 147 nearer to or farther from the center. The manner of rotating the cam disk 157 for the purpose, Will be hereinafter more fully described.

In addition to the cams 146 and 147, the cams 160 and 161 are rigidly secured respectively to the blocks 148 and 151 so that irrespective of the movement of the blocks as indicated, a cam groove is provided between the inner cams 146 and the outer cams 160 and 161 to receive the shanks of the dial needles 144.

It is obvious that as the cams are expanded or contracted the .dial needles will be moved a greater or less distance, andfthat as the cams 146 and 147 are movable independently as actuatedby the cam disk 157, they may be actuated approximately upon opposite sides of the dial independently. The cam 147 controls the throw of the needles to cause them to knit, tuck or remain in idle position, the needles being then either bare or having stitches thereon temporarily withheld from action. The cam 146 controls the throw of the dial needles at a point not in contact with the thread and when projected causes the needles to clear their. latches, and on subseuent retraction the needles will cast ofi' t eir stitches.

The rib cams 160 and 161 act mainly as guard cams, but are provided respectively with points 160 and 161', which overhang and extend beyond the lines of the blocks 148 and 151, as shown more particularly in detail at Figure 20 and form retracting cams for the needles. The cam 160 is provided with a reduced'portion 160 to accommodate passage of the point 161 as shown more particularly at Figure 17 while the rib cam 161 is provided with a reduced portion 161 to accommodate the overhanging end 160 as shown more particularly at Figure 18.

In Figure 17 the stripping or casting-off cam set is shown extended, the position of pins 153 and 155 being shown in full lines at Figure 19, while at Figure 18 the knitting cam is shown extended and the casting-off cam withdrawn, the position of pins 153 and 155 being shown in dotted lines at 153a and 155 in Figure 19.

To permit of extracting needles from the dial without removing the cam head, a needle extractor is provided shown in detail at Figure 21. This comprises a channel 1161 cut through the rib 161, so that when Wholly open a needlemay be withdrawn, the shank of which is contained within the caml slot of the cam head. To close this opening 1161 in normal use to prevent the accidental displacement of needles therefrom, an undercut is provided below the edge of the cam 161 in which slides a block 1161 actuated by a 'spring 1161. The block 1161 is guided by a slot 1151 cut in the block 151 with a lug 1151 sliding in said slot. It is obvious that the block 1161 m'ay be moved against the tension ofthe spring 1161 to completely open the passage 1161 whereby a break in the rib cam 161 is provided, permitting the extraction of a needle therefrom.

Also it is desirable to adjust'the knitting cam under certain conditions for which purpose the pivot 152 of the block 151 is integral with or carried by an eccentric 1000 set into the top plane of the cam head 145, as indicated more particularly at Figure 22 and in dotted lines of Figures 17 and 18. The eccentric 1000 is clamped and held in adjusted position by a set screw 1001 and spaced openings 1002 are provided to receive a spanner for the purpose of turning the eccentric to `the required or desired adjustment.

The horseshoe cam 146 is rovided adjacent its extremities with ra bets 146 to serve as guides for the points of the crsecent cam 147. The thicknesses of the several cams are such that theouter, or in use the lower faces of the several cams 146, 147, 160 and 161 are in the same plane. From this it follows that the points of the crescent cam 147 are thinner, permitting them to ride in the rabbets 146 without departing from the fact that the surfaces of the cams 146 and 147 remain in' the same plane.

It is to be understood that the dial cap 157, together with the cam head 145 and the cams as shown at Figures 17 and 18 held in position by the cam slots 159 and 160, rotate as an organized structure by being connected directly withthe driven ring 73. This connection is by means of struts 162 and 163, having openings 164 in their upper ends (see Figure') to receive screws 166 see Figure 1), clamping yoke 167 thereon. The yoke 167 is rigidly secured to the sleeve 168, which embraces the stationary shaft 140 and is rigidly connected or integral with the dial plate 145, and to which the cam structure and the dial cap plate 157 are secured.

It is obvious that as long as dial cap 157 relnains stationary relative to the cam head 145, the several cams shown at Figures 17, 18 and 20 will remain stationary. When, however, the dial cap 157 is rotated relative to the dial head 145, the position of the movable cams Will be varied by reason of the cam slots 159 and 160, and the pins 153 and 155 engaging the same.

To provide for the rotation of the dial cap 157 relative to the cam head 145 for the purpose of moving the cams, a ratchet 169 is secured to the dial cap 157 in any approved manner as by the use of the screws 170 in the slot 171 (see Figures 5 and 5).

It is obvious that the` rotation of the ratchet wheel 169, secured as it is to the dial cap 157, will rotate such dial cap relative to the cam head and thereby change the cam relation of the slots 159 and 160 to the cam head 145 and pins 153 and 155. This relative rotation is provided by means ot a pawl 172 which engages the ratchet wheel 169, and the parts are normally locked against movement by a detent 173. During the normal rotation of the parts, the detcnt 173 is in locking engagement as shown at Figure 5. To move the dial cap 157, it is necessary first to unlatch the detent 173. This is accomplished by means of a disk 174 having a wrist pin 17 5 upon which is pivoted the pawl 172, said wrist pin also engaging against a cam shoulder 176 of thc detent 173 as the disk 174 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow at Figures 5 and 5, which first unlatches the detent 173 and by further movement of the pawl' 172 against the ratchet turns the ratchet and therewith the dial cap. A spring 177 spans the interval between the pawl 172 and the detent 173 for holding such members yieldingly in engagement with their coacting elements and against movement engendered by the wrist pin 17 5. The pawl 172 is free to travel with the wrist pin 175 and i with the detent unlocked as shown at Figure 5, the rotation of a disk 174 in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 19) will rotate the ratchet wheel 169 step by step in the direction indicated by its arrow, it being understood that such rotation is relatlve to the cam head 145. Although such rotation is also in direction of normal rotation of the knitting head. such normal knitting rotation is not referred to at the present time. The detent 173 is pivoted at 178 to an arm 179 carried rigidly by the strut 163.

The disk 174 is mounted upon the upper cud of a shaft 18() (see Figure 1)', with a pinion 181 mounted upon the lower end of such shaft, positioned to engage with either rack 71 or 72 as the said racks are lifted to the proper plane by the rod 66 as hereinbefore explained. It will be. noted, especially from Figure 9, that the pins 59 are nearer the center of the pattern wheel 58 than the pins 60. It follows, therefore, that the pins 60, when engaging the lug 64, will lift the rod 66 to a greater altitude than the pins 59. lVhen lifted by a pin 60, the rack 71 is brought into the proper plane for engagement with the pinion 181. Vhen lifted by the pins 59 the rack 72 is brought into the plane for engaging the pinion 181. As the two racks 71 and 72 occupy diifcrcnt arcs about the knitting head, it is obvious that the advance of the dial cap will take place at different intervals during the rotation of the knitting head de- -tension on the fabric.

pendent upon whether the pinion 181 is actuated by the rack 71 or the rack 72.

The cam slot 159 provides for the positioning of the cams 147 and 161 farther from or nearer to the center of the dial cap, so that the dial needles may knit or tuck as the exigencies of knitting may make desirable, or will be wholly withdrawn from knitting position and the stitches cast oft' or not according to the position of the cams controlled by the slot 158. lVhen the dial cap 157 has been rotated to such position that the curve 182 of the slot 158 engages the pin 153, the dial needles are thrown out approximately to the extreme of their movement by their c am 146 and so will clear their latches but not being in position to engage the thread they will cast olil the work when retracted. A similaroperation serves to open the latches of the dial needles when they are first brought into action, thus preparing them to take yarn at th? yarn-feed, when again projected by cam 14 In the knitting of tubular fabrics wherein pockets are knitted for heel and toe, and also in other stages in the knitting it has been found ditlicult or impossible to provide the necessary tension upon the goods to produce good stitches owing to the fact that the pockets provide a looseness not overcome by the resiliency of the thread, and furthermore in order to knit rib fabric it is necessary that the rib wales be maintained under sulicient tension to permit the latches of the said dial needles to clear their stitches. Otherwise the loops accumulate within the hooks of the dial needles and the dial needles tuck. The rib wales are ordinarily tensioned by means of take-up rolls which exert a constant pull or In addition to tensioning the rib wales during the knitting of rib fabric it is desirable during heel reciprocal knitting to take up or maintain tension upon the plain wales constituting the heel, and to maintain such tension upon the plain wales as well as the rib wales during the knitting of the first few courses of all around rib knitting. Unless some provision is made for maintaining the heel pouch or pocket and initial rib wales under tension, ditliculty is experienced, upon the resumption of rib knitting in casting the stitches from the latches 'of the dial needles and in preventing stitches shown in Fig. 27 when the dial needles are clearing their stitches from their latches. The sinkers 184 areV rovided with points or extremities 185 whicli engage the fabric 186 between such ints and the springs 183, so that as the sin ers are actuated by the sinker ring 187, the ints 185 push the fabric away from the nee les therebyl insuring the proper tension for knitting so t at upon the resumption of rib knitting the dial needles will clear their stitches.

Thus the toothed sinkers or webholders 184 act in conjunction with the s rings 183, rst, to tension the rib wales 'during the knitting of rib fabric and, second, to tension the plain wales of the heel uch so that in either case, upon the resumption of rib knitting, the dial needles will clear their latches and their hooks will not again engage cast off stitches.

Although the springs 183 herein shown may be more or less rigid and substantially unyielding nevertheless 1t is desirable that the coo rative relations of the sinkers or webhol ers 184 and the springs 183 be such that either the sinkers or springs ma give sligh ly to the stress of the fabric. therwise the toothed sinkers 184 may cut the forming fabric engaged between the teeth 185 of the webholders 184 and the undersides of the members 183. Furthermore the forming fabric being yieldingly engaged between the toothed webholders 184 and sprin 183 avoids the necessity of adjustments w enever a change is made in the stitch length or in the thread or yarn fed to the needle as from a fine yarn to a coarse yarn or vice versa.

A safety appliance to prevent breakage when yarn accumulates at the needles from imperfect knitting or any cause, is rovided in the lever 188 pivoted to the si er ring 187 at 189, and provided with a pin 190. The lever 188 is provided with a cam surface 191 properly positioned to .engage the outer ends 192 of the sinkers. When there is an accumulation of thread from imperfect knitting, the sinkers are forced out as indicated at 193 (see Figure 23) until the ends 192 extend beyond the normal circumference whereupon they engage upon the cam surface 191 of the lever 188, forcing it from normal or dotted position in Figure until 1t is in position to engage the extremlty of the lever 194 pivoted upon an upright 1 95. The lever 194 engages a shoulder 196 1n a rod 197 (see Figure l24) vertically slidable through the deck 67 and through keepers 19,8, attached to the frame 32. A spring 199 1s provided, surrounding the rod 197 and held under tension with the rod 197 upwardly when the lever 194 is in engagement with the shoulder 196, but adapted to throw the rod 197 downwardly with considerable force when the lever 194 is disengaged from the shoulder 196. The rod 197 bears at its lower end upon a member '200 pivoted at 201 to a 204 adapted to hoo 203 and is held in such engagement yie dmgplate 202 mounted to slide in guides 203 aty tached to or forming part of the frame 32. The member 200 is rovided with a shoulder over one of the ides 1y by the spring 205. The spring 205, as will be noted, is secured at 'one end to detent203 on the frame 32 and at the opposite end to the member 200, which, being pivoted to the plate 202, is adapted to slide the said plate' 202 when the shoulder 204 is released from engagement wit-h the detent 203. The plate 202 carries a belt guide 206 (see Figures 1 and 25) through which the belt 207 passes about the pulley 33 which, when moved, shifts the belt from the tight to the loose pulley in the usual well-known manner. Means is also provided for actuating the device manually by means of a lever 208 Fig.

(88 1) connected with a shaft 209 (see ig. 23)' which in turn carries ra bifurcate linger 210, engaging a pin 211 on the locking member 200 so that the depression of the lever 208 releases the shoulder 204 and permits the spring 205 to throw the belt guide 206 above described.

In the operation of knitting a fabric to be converted into stockings by being severed and finished in the usual manner, a tubular fabricfis constructed which is imperfectly illustrated at Figure 26. In view of the fact that the heel and toe are knitted into the otherwise cylindrical fabric pockets, an attempt has been made to illustrate4 this by bending the tubular fabric at the line of widening or narrowing for these pockets, it being understood of course that as the fabric is delivered from the machine it has the aparance of a tube with spaced pockets or ulges thereon. The present machine knits the fabric from that portion intended for the toe through the foot and heel into and through .that `portion intended for the leg. As illustrated at Figure 26 the leg portion 212 is knitted, and by reason of the several pins 59 and 60 in the pattern wheel 58, the cams 146 and 147 are actuated to produce the several 'welts indicated at 213 by moving the dial cams to cause'the dial needles to tuck for one or more courses and then returning them to knittingposition. At 214 the dial needles 144 are actuated by the cam 146 through the medium of the pin 153, reaching the ortion 182 of the slot 158 whereby the stitc es upon the dial needles are cast offf Later this fabric is severed at 214 and that portion then forming the top of the leg of stocking finished in any usual and well known manner. This severing, however. occurs after the fabric is removed from the machine, the machine continuing to knit the tubular portion 215 until the line 216 is reached, the portion between the line 214 and 216 being employed in looping-and welting. At line 216 the pocket for the toe is begun and by reciprocal kliitting the pocket extending from the lille 216 to line 217 is produced. The portion of the pocket thus produced is turned and secured to the foot portion 218 ill the usual Well-known manner. The foot portion 218 is plain circular knitting until.

the lille for the pocket for the heel is reached at 219. Reciprocal knittiilg is again emplo ed from the line 219 to 220, forming the poc et for the heel. Plain cylindrical nittillg at 221 is then continued for such distance may be found desirable to again take up rib knitting for the leg, indicated at 222. This ribbing 222 is continued tllroughout lsuch length as lnay be provided by the pattion in carrying forward the present invenlsis tion, are not described or supplied With referellce characters. It is believed, however, that the structure disclosed either in vits identical form or a form so nearly resembling the identical form, is so Well known that the operation alld functions are obvious Without such descriptive matter.

It will be obvious to tllose skilled in the art that various changes may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of' the illveiitioil alld therefore tllis applicant does not lilllit itself to What is shown in the drawings and described ill the specification. but only as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described said invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a knitting machine the combination with cylinder needles and means for actuating the same, of a dial and dial needles positioned to coordinate with the cylinder needles, a cam structure adapted to actuate the dial needles and adjustable to vary the movement of the needles. a dial cap provided with means for adjusting the cam, means to normally lock the dial cap relative to the cam structure,

a pinion, means connected with the pinion to release the lock and advance the dial cap with a step-by-step movement. a rack. a pattern wheel, and means actuated from the pattern wheel for interposing t-lie rack in the path of movement of the pinion to actuatc the pinioil aty predetermined intervals.

2. In a knitting machine theco'il'lbination with cylinder needles and means for actuating the same, of a dial and dial needles positioned to coordinate with the cylinder needles, a cam structure rotatable relative to,l the dial` a cam carried by the cam structure adapted to actuate the dial needles and capable of adjustment to vary the movement of the dial needles, a dial cap, means carried by the dial cap for adjusting the cam, means rotating with the cam structure normally locking the dial cap against rotation relative to the cam structure, a pinion, means connecting the pinion with the lock and rotating with the cam structure, segmental racks occup ing different arcs'about the peripher o the cam structure, a pattern Wheel, an means actuated from the pattern Wheel for moving either of said segmental racks selectively into the path of movement of the pinion.

3. In a knitting machine the combination with cylinder needles and means for actuating the same, of a dial and dial needles positioned to coordinate with the cylinder needles, a rotating cam structure adapted to move the dial needles, a cam carried by the cam structure and capable of adjustment to vary the movement of the dial needles, a dial cap carried by the cam structure and rotatable relative thereto to adjust the cam, a caplocking and moving structure rotating with the cam structure and embodying av detent for locking and a pawl for moving the cap with a step-by-step movement, a pinion connected to and adapted to actuate the detent and pawl, segmental racks rigidly collnected aild occupying dillerent horizontal planes and different arcs about the rotating structure. a pattern WheeLand means actuated from the pattern Wheel for raising the segmental racks to bring either of said racks int-o the plane and path of movement of the pinion.

4. A knitting machine, a dial and dial needles, a cam plate rotatable relative to the dial and carrying needle-actuating cams, a dial cap rotatable relatively to the calll plate and carrying means for adjusting the cams, a shaft, a bearing therefor rotating witll the cam plate, means to lock the dial cap against movement relative to the cam plate, means carried by the shaft to release the lock and move the dial cap with a step-by-step movement, a pinion carried by the shaft, a plurality of segmental racks occupying different horizontal planes and different arcs about the path of movement of the pinion, a pattern mechanism, and means actuated from the pat tern mechanism to move the segmental racks selectively into the planel of rotation of the pinion.

5. Iii a knitting lllachine a dial and dial needles, a cam plate rotatable relative and adapted to drive the dial lieedles` movable cams calried by the cam plate and adapted Wheil adjusted to vary the movement of the dial needles, a dial cap carried by the cam plate and embodying means for adjusting the position of the cams, a shaft iii parallelism with the axis of rotation of the cam plate and rotating about such axis as its center of rotation, a detent positioned to lock the dial cap against movement, means carried by the shaft for releasing the lock, a pawl actuated by the rotation of the shaft to move the dial cap relative to the cam plate, a pinion carried by the shaft, a plurality of segmental racks occupying different horizontal lanes and arcs relative to the rotation of t e shaft, a pattern mechanism, and means actuated from the pattern mechanism to selectively move one of said segmental racks into the plane of rotation of the pinion.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of two sets ofneedles and means for actuating them, and pattern mechanism for controlling the actuating means to produce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating knitting, said actuatin means including a dial cam structure em dying a plurality of adjustable needle-projecting cams for the dialneedles, a dial cap, independent pin and slot connections between the cams and the cap, and con` nections to said pattern mechanism to actuate the cap for moving saidv cams, substantially as set forth.

7. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, means for actuating them comprising a dial cam plate, a movable needle projecting cam thereon, and means to move said cam to vary the *action of the needles, comprising a cam cap movable step-by-step in a forward direction relatively to the dial cam plate, substantially as set forth.

8. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles and means for actuating them comprising a dial cam plate, a movable needle projecting cam thereon, and means to move said cam to idle, tuck and knitting positions, comprising a member mounted to move about the dial post and operatively connected to said cam, and means for positively moving said member ste -by-step about said post, substantially as set orth.

9. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles and means for actuating them comprising a dial cam plate, a movable needle projecting cam thereon, and means to move said cam to idle tuck and knitting positions, comprising a cam cap mounted to move about the dial post, and maintaining a positive control over-said cam at all times, substantially as set forth.

10. In a knitting machine a cam head comprising a substantially plain disk, a horseshoe' cam movable toward and from the center of the disk, a ,crescent cam having its points embracingthe extremities of the horseshoe cam and movable toward and from the center of the disk, rib cams surrounding the horseshoe cam and the crescent cam and movable therewith, producing an expansible and contractible elliptical cam groove, and means to move the horseshoe cam and the crescent cam independently.

11. In a knitting machine a cam head comprising a substantially plain disk, blocks movable upon the disk toward and from each other, a crescent cam carried by one of said blocks, a horseshoe cam carried by the other of said blocks'having its extremities disposed between the points of the crescent cam, and rib cams surrounding and spaced from the horseshoe cam and the crescent cam and movable therewith.

12. In a knitting machine a cam head comprising a disk, blocks movable upon the face of the disk toward and from the center, a'

crescent cam carried by one of said blocks, a horseshoe cam carried by the other of said blocks and having its extremities disposed between the horns of the crescent cam, overlapping rib cams carried by the blocks spaced from the horseshoe cam and the crescent cam, and means to move the blocks and th'eir associated cams independently.

13. In a knitting machine a cam head comprising a disk, blocks movable upon the face of the disk toward and from the center, a crescent cam carried by one of said blocks, a horseshoe cam carried by the other of said blocks, having its extremities rabbeted and disposed between the horns of the crescent cam with the horns moving in the rabbets, overlapping rib cams carried by the blocks spaced from and surrounding the crescent cam and the horseshoe cam, and means to move the blocks and their attached cams independently relative to the disk.

14. In a knitting machine a cam headembodying a disk, blocks movable upon the face of the disk toward and from the axis, arcuate cams carried by cach of said blocks, the extremities of the arc of one cam embracing the extremities of the arc of the other cam, limiting cams spaced from and surrounding the arcuate cams and carried by the blocks, and means to move the blocks and their associated cams independently relative to the disk.

15. In a knitting machine a cam head embodyin a disk, blocks movable upon the face of the isk toward and from the axis, an arcuate cam carried by each of said blocks, the extremities of one arc being interposed between the extremities of the other arc, overlapping rib cams spaced from and surrounding the arcuate cams and carried by the blocks and means to move the blocks and their assoias ate cams carried by the blocks, overlapping rib cams carried by the blocks spaced from and surrounding the arcuate cams, one of said rib cams being provided with a slot cut therethrough and a closure for the slot.

and surrounding the arcuate cams, one of said rib cams being provided with a channel cut therethrough, and a circumferentially sliding closure for the channel.

19. In a knitting machine a cam head-embodying a rotatable disk, blocks pivoted adjacent the periphery of the disk and movable upon such pivots toward and from the axis, a cnescent cam pivoted to one of said blocks, a horseshoe cam secured to the other of said blocks having its extremities disposed between the horns of the crescent cam, rib cams carried by the blocks spaced from the crescent cam and the horseshoe cam, and having extremities extending beyond the lines of its block to overlap the rib cam of the other block, and means to move the cams independently relative to the disk.

20. In a knitting machine, a dial cam plate having a cam groove for the needle-butts, a needle projecting cam at one side of the slot, a guard cam opposed thereto and having a slot opposite the high point of the needleprojecting cam, and a circumferentially slidable closure for the slot, substantially as set forth.

21. In a knitting machine, a dial cam plate, y

an adjustable .arcuate needle-projecting cam thereon, an arcuate guard cam movable therewith, said guard cam having a slot for entry and removal of needles substantially opposite the high point of the needle-projecting cam, and -a closure therefor, substantially as set forth.

22. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, means for actuating themhpattern mechanism to control said actuating means f to roduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating knitting, means for taking up the forming fabric during reciprocating knitting comprising webholders engaging the margin of the forming fabric and also engaging a face thereof at a distance from the margin, and leaf springs on the dial intersecting the line of movement of the web holders whereby the forming fabric is pinched between the web holders and the springs and drawn away from the knitting point, substantially as set forth.

23. In a knitting machine two sets of needles, means for actuating them, pattern mechanism to control said actuating means to produce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating knitting, means for taking up the forming fabric during reciprocating knitting comprising webholders engaging the margin of the forming fabric and also engaging the outer face thereof at a. distance from said margin, and springs on a segment of the dial adapted to coact with said webholders in withdrawing the forming fabric away from the knitting point, substantially as set forth.

24. In a rib knitting machine, a dial, a cylinder, horizontal webholders at the upper end of the cylinder having ends extending beneath the dial and a flat spring on the dial extending over a plurality of web holders and coacting with said ends to take up the forming fabric, substantially as set forth.

25. In a knitting machine, a dial cam head, a shiftable cam thereon, said head having an opening, a disk rotatable in said opening and an eccentric pin on said disk engaging an opening in the cam and forming a pivot therefor substantially as set forth.

26. In a knitting machine, a shiftable cam, a pivot for the cam, an eccentrically adjustable supportfor said pivot, and means to secure the pivot in adjusted position substantially as set forth.

27. In a knitting machine a dial cam plate, a block thereon pivoted at one end, knitting cams on said block, an adjustable eccentric support for the pivot, and means for holding the same in adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

28. In a knitting machine, a dial cam head having a cam groove on its under face, one or more rib cams forming the outer wall of the groove said wall having a slot therethrough, and a circumferentially slidable closure for said slot, substantially as set forth;

29. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine, a dial cam head, blocks pivoted at opposite sides of the cam head, inner and outer cams on each .block overlapping to provide a closed cam groove on the head, .and pattern-controlled mechanism to move said cam blocks into various positions, substantially as set forth.

30. In a knitting machine the combination of two sets of needles, means for actuating them and pattern mechanism for controlling the actuating means to produce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating knitting said actuating means including a dial cam structure comprising a disk, blocks pivoted on the disk,

and inner and outer cams on the blocks forming a closed needle race inA all positions of the blocks. substantially as set forth.

31. In a knitting machine, a set of dial needles, a set of cylinder needles', means for operating them and pattern mechanism to control the operation of the needles to produce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocatory knitting said operating means including a dial cam head, a needle-projecting knitting cam and a needle-projecting casting-oil:l cam on said head, a pin fixed in relation to each of said cams and a pattern controlled cam

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