US1192329A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

I J. LAWSON. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F |LED JUNE I4, 1912.

PatentedJuly 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR.

John L awson.

WITNESSES.

I. LAWSON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1912.

l ,1 92,329. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I LAWSON. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, I9I2.

J'ok Lawson.

INVENTOR,

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3 .l. LAWSO'N.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1912.

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR.

I Ja Lczwaorz.

J. LAWSON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, 1912- Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 INVENTOR- Jokn Lawson.

J. LAWSON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION F'ILED JUNE :4. 1912.

1,192,829.. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

messes.

To all whom itmay concern: 1

Be it known that I, JoH-N LAWSON, a

The object of the invention herewith is to provide knitting-machines, say of the class referred to above, with improved means adapted more, especiallyfor the automatic 1 '20 production of hosiery in which the tubular portions thereof, 2'. 6., the leg and foot, are knitted from two or more independent main threads by the coaction of aplurality of.

series of needles, a pair of cam-blocks, which may be termed mam andsecondary, respectlvely, carry ng raise and draw cams and other devices .used in connection :therewith; the result being to produce in said tubular parts of the stocking wales of intercon- 1 nected accordion stitches. In the formation and production of this type of knitted stitch (accordion stitch) I employ groups of long, medium and short-butt needles (hereinafter designated simply long, me-

dium, and short needles, respectively) arranged in the needle-cylinder as follows All the grooves in one-half its circumference carrylong and short needles alternating with one another, while all the 40 grooves of the other semi-circumference carry medium and short needles, also alternating. In normal quick-speed tubular knitting during the production of accordion stitches, both the main and secondary can blocks are positioned inward contiguous to the cylinder. In this condition all the needles successively engage theraise-cam of the main cam-blockand are deflected upward to cast the loops from the latches, as usual, followed immediately by the action of the draw-cam, which in turn successively defleets the needles downward, thereby closing'the latches to retain the newly fed main thread in the needles hooks and at the same time "cast ofi the old loops into the web-in a well-known way. When the needles arr ve ED STATES P r Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedJune 14, 1912. Serial no. 703,628.

Patented July25, 1916.

at the secondary cam-block to receive the corresponding thread, all'of them (except the short needles) are actuated substantially OFFICE.-

JOHN LAWSON, OF CENTRAL FALLS RHODE ISLAND.

as just stated with respect to-the main thread and its cam-block. At the same instant, all the short needles, being one-half the total number ofneedles in the cylinder, are, by means of an inter-mediate cam, successively diverted downward, below the secondary draw-cam, thereby preventing the short 'needles from receiving the secondary thread. 1

From thispoint onward all the needles are carried around by the cylinder to be acted.

upon by themain raise-cam, as before described, thus producing a Web having alter- In order to produce heel and toe portions in the type of stocking under consideration, a

the needles in one-half of the cylinder (bemg all the long needles and the short orjack needles alternating with them) are moved upward temporarily out ofknitting action;

-nate wales of plain and accordion stitches...

dles each have a jack mounted therebelowin the corresponding needle-groove. In my improved knitting-machine the act of moving the clutch or analogous member to interlock with the slow-speed member changes the movement-of the needle-cylinder from a continuous rotary to a slower, but rotary-reciprocatory movement; the act also simultaneously positions the instep-cam to elevate the long needles, and atthe same time auto-' matically positions a jack-cam inward in the path of the butts of the jacks so as to'be engaged by the latter for elevating the corresponding short needlesout of action. At the same time, too, the secondary cam-block is retracted to the outward position, thereby permitting the active needles to move freely and idly past its face. the. secondary cam-blocks said outward movement, the corresponding sinker-cam is Concurrently with v moved inward, the-secondary thread is temporarily withdrawn from knittingaction and the widening picks positioned to engage the then active needles. .At the-completion of the heel part the said temporarily idle dew vices automatically resume their normal functions, that is, the movement of the shipper or clutch to interlock with the quickspeed clutch member causes the cylinder to .again move in a continuous rotary manner,

the secondary cam-block is moved inward, the jack-cam is moved outward, the instepcam is moved downward, the upper member thereof at the same time deflecting all the idle needles back into the'working plane for normal action, the main threads reintro- ,duced to the needles, and the sinker-cam stitches.

moved outward again, thus repositioningthe devices to produce a tubular web havlnglts circular courses provided with accordion In the accompanying six sheets of drawings illustrating an automatic circular knitting machine embodying my invention, and

as arranged for producing ,a tubular knitted web having accordion stitches, Figure 1 is a front side elevation showing the several devices in the normal circular knitting condition. Fig. 2 is a corresponding end elevation, viewed from the left of Fig. 1, some of the parts being omitted. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, in enlarged scale.- Fig. 4: is a top plan viewof-the' needle-cylinder, in p a 'tion, showing the arrangement of the groups v of needles. Fig. 5 'is a transverse sectional 'viewft'aken, on line 5 5 of Fig. 6, showing thejack-cam, etc. Fig. 6 is a partialhorizontal sectional'view, taken on line 6-.-6 of I Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged top' plan view' 86 of. the device for holding the secondary threadin the floating ,or inactive position.

I Fig. '8 is a side elevation of the holder. Fig.

9 is an elevation of the main cam-block and 'its knitting cams, showing its inner end. no,

Fig. 10 is a similar .view of the secondary cam-blocka'nd its knitting-cams. Fig. 11 is a cross-section, enlarged, taken on line 11 of Fig. 1, showing arrangementof cam for actuatm'g the secondary cam-block. l Fig. 12

is an enlargedend view of the cam for'posltlon ng the' widening picksj Fig. 13 is 'a similar view-of the camfor actuating the thread-severing means. I are represented in the relative angular positions. ,Fig. 15 is a partial transversesectional view, takensubstantially on line w of.

2 secondarythread-guide andcorresponding sinker-cam. Fig. 14 isan end view of the cam 'forcontrolllng the movements of Fig. 3, showing, the secondary thread in the normal and inactiveposition, and Fig. 16

represents,'enlarged, a back view of a portion of the fabric produced.

The following is a more detailed descriptron of the improved mechanism, &c., forming the subject of this application for pat- 1 ent as comb ned or associated with coop-v eratmgelements of an automatic circular knitting-machine. The machine; as a whole is capable of producing seamless stockings See arrows.

'said patented machine No. 933,443.

The, several cams tively, the said "blocks are positioned below spring-pressed narrowing-picks P, these lat having the tubular from a plurality of independently introduced main threads (two are shown) which are converted into knitted courses, each course consisting of alternate plain and accordion stitches, which constitute correparts thereof knitted sponding longitudinal wales in the web or tubular portion.

The machine is or may be provided with any suitable driving and speed-changingmechanism. The drawings represent the drivingshaft-provided with a sliding clutch b a clutch-shipper 0, pattern-chain C, main camshaft 8, barrel-cam B secured to the latter, and other coeperating devices to which I make no claim herewith. The shaft 3 and the members secured thereto make one complete revolution while producing'a stocking, or knitted unit, and in one direction only.

A, in the drawings, designates a frame or various instrumentalities or elements mount produce stockings having the characteristic stitch above referred'to. The knitting-machine, in general, is substantially like the housing of a knitting-machine, having the ed thereon, constructed and arranged to The The needle grooves I is provided with" long' and short (butt) needles '0, a), respectively, alternating :with

one another. The said jacks h (Fig. 5) are positioned below the short needles 12 of this half only.\ The other half 3 of thecylinder carries medium and short (butt) needles r 'v only, these also alternating with one an- I other. At two substantially diametrically opposite points movable guides-u, n are po siti'oned for the mairiand secondary threads 2 and t respectively; these guides, when in normal use, introduce the threads into the hooks of the-needles. See Figs." 1, 2,- and 3..

are mounted diametrically opposed main and secondary cam-blocks D, D respecthe-thread-guides which carry the main and f At'or near the base of the needle-cylinder secondary threads, respectively; The. inner face of the main blockD. (Fig. 9) is proor knitting-cams, and also right andrlcfts ter being brought into action in knitting the heeln-nd toe partsof the stocking, while'the cylinder 1s movmg in a rotary-reciprocatory manner, substantially as usual. The other,-

or opposite, cam-block D automatically .vided with raise and draw cams m, 01

movable in a radial direction; it is also provided with raise and draw'cams m respect'ively, and an intermediate guide-cam. m. The inner face of" the raise-cam m is I provided with a comparatively shallow re- 'cess or groove 23?, the same being located in the path of the butts of the normally travelv ing needles. As thus devised, the long and medium needles are caused to move upward on the incline w to cast the loops from the latches preparatory to 'receiving the second- I ary thread in the open hooks, the came the mainrhre'a-d an?l v -meanwhile closing the latches and casting the formed loops fromthese needles into the web. At the same time the butts of all the otherg(or alternate) needles, al w l freely enter the groove as, without shedding their loops, and are deflected by means of said intermediate guide-cam m downward to rejoin the column of newly threaded needles;

all the needles then move upward past the heel of cam 00. In Fig. 10 z designates short I butt needles. 1

In producing the tubular part of the stocking' all the needles successively cast the old loops-therefrom into the web by means of draw-cam m at the same-time receiving the main thread t into their hooks to form new loops. The column of advancing needles upon arriving at the raise cam m causes the column to separate, as just described.

Fig. 16 represents a developed? portionof the circular web,- enlarged, viewed from the back or inner face, wherein t indicates t the secondary thread; said thread t is fe to the hooks of. all the needles in passing the main cam-'block'D (see Fig. 9), thereby interlocking the main thread with the loops already on'the needles and casting said loops therefrom into the web to form the courses 2, 4 6, etc., indicated' .in Fig. 16. The clrcumferential column of needles is automatically divided in'passing the secondary cam-block D (Fig. 10), one-half the needles, being every other one, are moved upward to receive the secondary thread t and interlock it with the loops '2? of these needles at the casting'olfpoint,- the other half of the-needles, being the intervening or short butt needles, are

guided belowthe secondary thread and do not cast the loops it from the last named needles; the divided columnof needles reunite at the base of knitting cam s and move upward to the normal plane to' again engage the cam w of block D, in producing the'next circular course.

By reason of the fact that all of the needles are caused to knit asthey pass the main cams at one course, while only every alternate needle is caused to knit as the needles passthe secondary-cams at the next course,-the respective wales t and i will be of different formation, as shown. in Fig. 16.

In order to change the direction of move ment of the cylinder from a continuous rotary (shown in Fig. 1) to' a reciprocatoryrotary, so as to knit the heel and toe por tions, the intermittent action of the cam B causes the roll; 0 carried on the lower end of the shipper c to pass through a gap b and engage the opposite face of rib 0 thereby sliding the clutch to the left to interlock with the reducedspeed gearing. At the same'time the shipper movement operates, through its liiilcc jointed to the bellcrank lever .0 to position the usual lower instep-cam F to temporarily guide all the long needles upward out of action. SimuL taneously with this-movement a member 0 (Figs. '5' and 6) connected to said link and operating throughza cam-slot 0 causes a spring-pressed jack-cam E to move radially inward and position itself in the path of the butts of the said jacks 5., thereby causare taking place, the secondary cam-block D and its members are moved bodily out- .ward from the cylinder, thereby allowing all the then working needles (being one-half of the total number i. 6., the medium needles and theshort needles alternating with them) to travel freelypast the face of cams m x 00 while the cylinder is reciprocating. The

retraction or outward movement of the camblock is effected by a cam-lug n of the barrel B, a tilting member a and rod n? connected thereto and to a fulcrumed angle lever n in turn connected to a horizontal link a jointed to a supported swinging lever at whose opposite end is jointedto a member n carryingrods n fixed to the block D Springs (Z automatically reposition the block inward when the front or free end of member n again engages the barrels surface.

Concurrently withthe outward movement 10f the secondary cam-block D other mechanisms are employed for moving, the secondary knitting-thread t and secondary sinkercam 6 out of normal position and action,

' as follows: A cam C fixed to shaft-s, is pro- .vided with peripherally separated cam-lugs 'f; these latter, when engaged by the free.

end of a pivotally mounted horizontal lever Z, more the connected members Z Z in a vertical direction. A guided, vertically extending spring-pressed'rod Z is supported by the pivoted arm member'l the upper end of the rod iswedge-shaped'and adapted Y to engage with and actuate the Secondary sinker-cam 6. At the same time an upwardly extending-arm a fixed to-rod Z is adapted to actuatev the secondary thread-guide u pivoted to a bracket fixed to the latchguard H and bodily movable with it. As

thus devised, "the act of movingthe rod 1 upward also'moves the secondary sinker-cam e outward, corresponding withthe normal knitting position, and also swings the secondary thread-guide to place its thread in normal knitting action, the secondary knitting-cams then, of course, being in the inward position; a reverse or downward movement of the rod Z in connection with the spring t", operates to withdraw the vertical rod from sinker-cam e, the spring e automatically moving it (cam e) inward to,

its limit. At the same instant, too, the rod Z is withdrawn from the thread-guide at, thereby enabling the spring 23 to automatically swing the guide through the opening 8 of, the latch-guard, 'thus carrying its thread inward back of the needles and out of knitting action, or floating; Figs? and '15 represent the position of the idle secondary thread 6 when the cylinder is moving n a rotary-reciprocatory manner. The engagement of the lever Z with the peripheral surface of a lug f places and holds the elements u ande in the normal knitting positions.

Contiguous to the saidcam C is secured to the intermittingly movable cam-shaft. s a cam G which may be termedthe wideningcam.- This last-named cam in its angular movements actuates a suitably fulcrumed horizontal lever 01 having its rear end jointed to a verticallink d in turn jointed at the top to apivoted-lever d having a vertically guided spring-pressed rod ii supported on the levers' free end. The rod d, in

connection wit means of well-known .or-

usual construction, together with said.cam

C are caused to position the wideningpicks 1 as required during the knitting of the heel and .toe pockets of a stocking.

While the needle-cylinder is being rotated in -a reciprocatory manner and producing the said heel and toeportion's the secondary mainknitting-thread is held in a temporarilyinactive or floating.condit'ion by means about to be described. A. substantially flat horizontal base or plate B is normally located within the needle-row, and, is detachably secured tothe swinging latchguard H'by screws passing through a bent arm f intoa rearward extension of the latch-guard. To-the upper face of the member B is adjustably secured a thread holder device L adapted. to hold. the' secondary thread while it is being oscillated idly or floating to and fro in unison with the reciprocating cylinder and its attachedwork. The member L (shown most clearly in Figs.

.ing and thread-clamping means.

' ated and controlled through the medium of vided with an arcuate slot, in the outer end 7, 8, and 15) consists of a substantially flat I plate 1" having its inner edge out to produce a narrow open slit r to receive the secondary thread 27 and hold it therein when it is floating or reciprocating with-the cylinder.

The plate part 1- adjacent the-slit is bent'to assist in guiding the thread into the opening.. The 'outer edge of the holder 'forms a v well-rounded flange 1' terminating in an upturned, end 1". -A' portion of the stock at a point opposite said slit 1 is bent upwardly to produce an elongated guide-arm member r adapted to further insure the proper vpresentation. of the secondary thread to the needles during circular knitting. .Figs. 7 and 15 indicate a position of the thread t when the cylinder is reciprocating, the inner end portion 25" of the thread whenthus a comparatively long lever k pivoted to the latch-guard, and suitable cooperating mem bers, connected to the lever. The rearwardly extending arm 76 of the lever is proof which is slidably supported and jointed a guided, downwardly. extending connecting rod 70 in turn connectedto intermediate members which are moved by means of a pivotedleverlc whose front or free end 70* knitting operation where threads are to be temporarily moved out of knitting action and severed the last-named cam is provided 0 with correspondingly positioned vcam-l1 1gs or dogs-m which cause the lever 70 to os'cil' late quickly andoperate cutters whenever the ,lever engages a lug. Said action, in

connection with. the leverjc, &c., also oper- 1.15

ates the said thread-clamping device H at the sametime. k In the-production of stockings upon my improved knitting machine, constructed to employ independent main and secondary 1 knitting-threads, i. e., double-feeding means,

simultaneously, the same in knitting the normal tubular portions of the web also produces in said tubular parts circularly arranged parallel longitudinal rows or wales 5 of different formation, as shown in Fig-{ 16;

In order to. change the movements o- -the needle-cylinder of my improved circular knitting-machine from continuous rotary to rotary reciprocating movements, as in knit- 130.

'normally 'rests uponthe periphery of the cam C. At certain places in the stockingting the heel and toe portions of a stocking said changes the narrowing and widening a picks, together with the corresponding threads, are positioned for normal action substantially as usual, followed later by repositioning the main and secondary threads and cooperating means to resume normal circular knitting in which the courses consist of plain and accordion stitches, as beforestated. .i a

I claim: a l

1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle-cylinder provided with alternating long and short-butt needles, means for feeding main "and secondary threads to the needles, main knitting cams positioned to engage and actuate all said needles to knit with the main thread, a second set of knitting cams comprising a cam constructed to engage and actuate the alternating long-butt needles to knit with the secondary thread and to cause the alternating short-butt needles to pass by said second set of knitting cams without knitting, and pattern-controlled means for moving said last-named cam into and out of needleengaging position. I g

,2. In a.- circular knitting-machine, the combination of a needle-cylinder provided with alternating long and short-butt needles, independent means for feeding main and secondary threads to the needles at oppositely disposed points, a main cam-block provided with needle-elevating and needledepressing cams positioned to be engaged at that point by the butts of all the needles during rotary knitting, a secondary cam- I block provided with normal needle-elevating and normal needle-depressing cams, said needle-elevating cam arranged to raise the butts of the long-butt needles only, an auxiliary needle-depressing cam located intermediate the said needle elevating and needle-delpressing cams of the secondary cam bloc whereby during the said rotary knitting all the long-butt needles are-nor-- mally actuated to cast loops from the latches and take in the secondary thread, while at the,;;same time the alternate or short-butt needles pass direct to said auxiliary cam and are deflected by it without casting loops from the latches or taking in the secondary thread, the two classes of needles later reuniting in a singlecolumn to be sucessively normally acted upon by the knitting-cams of said main cam-block, means for moving 'butt needles, a main cam-block provided with needle-elevating and needle-depressing cams positioned to be normally and operatively engaged by the butts of all the neeneedl'es during rotary knitting, a secondary cam-block provided with normal needleelevating and normal needle-depressing cams for operative engagement with the long-butt needles, an auxiliary needle depressing cam located intermediate the two said secondary needle actuating cams for moving the short-butt needles only, said auxiliary cam being secured to the secondary cam-block, and means for introducing a secondary thread tothe long-butt needles, constructed and arranged whereby during the knitting of rotary courses all the long-butt group of needles in passing the secondary cams are normally actuated to cast their loops and take in the secondary thread, whileat the same time the alternate or short-butt group of needles are deflected by means of said auxiliary cam to reject the secondary thread, all the needles of the cylinderv later passing in succession to the main cam-block to be acted upon by its' cam in knitting the corresponding circular course, substantially as described.

I 4. The combination, in an automatic circular knitting-machine, of a grooved knitting-cylinder having a circular row. of needles mounted therein, oppositely positioned main and supplemental knittingcams, means for feeding a main knittingthread to all the needles to be norniallyand, successively acted upon by the main knitdles, means for feeding a main thread to said ting-cams, means for successively feeding a secondary knitting-thread to-each alternate needle of said needle row, means for automatically positioning saidsupplemental knitting-cams with respect to the needle- "cylinder so as to be engaged by the said alternate needles and atthe same time casting loops from the last named needles in knitting the corresponding circular course of the web being produced, said secondary threadbutt and short-butt jack-needles mounted therein, independently movable guidesfor main and secondary- Imittingthreads, re

spectively, main and secondary knittingcams arranged in relation to said guides, speed-changing mechan1sm,mcluding a movable clutch member, and means controlled .by; said member for rendering the long-butt and short-butt jack-needles temporarily inoperative upon moving the said clutch-member from mechanism causing continuous rotary action intomechanism adapted to move the cylinder m arotary-reciprocatory manner.

6. The combination, in an automatic circular knitting machine, of a revoluble cylinder having groups of long-butt, short-butt,

and short-'butt'jack-needles mounted there in, main and secondary knitting-cams, speedchanging mechanism, including a movable clutch element, an instep-cam, a jack-cam, and means connected with, said clutch-element and said instep and jack cams, where by\ the act of moving the clutch toactuat'e the cylinder in a rotary-reciprocatory man ner simultaneously positions the jack-cams and causes them, in coaction with the instep cans, to move the long-butt and short-butt jack-needles upward out of knitting action.

7 The combination, in an automatic'cir- 1 cular knitting-machine, of a revoluble cylin.'-

der having groups of long-butt, short-butt,

, cam, speed-changing mechanism, including jack-needles and the saidsecondary threadand short-butt jack-needles mounted therein, main and secondary knitting-cams, means for feeding main and secondary knittingthreads to the needles, an,instep-cam,'a jacka clutch element, and means cooperating with the latter and with said instep and jack cams and with said secondary thread-feed ing means and secondary knitting-cams, whereby upon'moving the clutch in one direction the said long-butt and short-butt means, including a slidable clutch element, the

combination therewith of a radially movable jack-cam, jacks mounted belowsaid shortbutt jack-needles and engageable with them,

,neously.

a vertically movable instep-cam, and means for positioning said instep and jack cams,

whereby the co-action of the revolving cylin;

der and jacks causes the corresponding short-butt 'jack and long-butt needles to move upward out of knitting action simulta- 9. In an automatic knittingmachine having a revoluble knitting-cylinder provided with sets of needles having buttsvarying in length, the combination therewith of a vertically movable instep-cam, a radially mov-. able jack-cam positioned below the instepcam, jacks-mounted :below and engageable with certain of the needles, and means in continuous engagement with speed-changing mechanism for positioning the said jack and instep-cams in the respective circular paths of the corresponding needles to cause them 7 to be temporarily moved upward out of knitting action. 1 4

10. In a double-feed. hosiery knitting-machine provided with a needle-cylinder having two groups of needles movably mounted therein, in which the needles of one group- I alternate (singly) with the needles of the needle-cylinder, the combination therewith of a main cam-block having raise and draw cams secured thereto for causing all the 'needles to knit in succession, a secondary, cam-block, lndependent raise and draw cams secured to its inner face,- said raise cam arranged'to elevate only thee-needles of one group, an auxiliary cam disposed between the last-named raise and draw cams and other group, and means for actuating the' also secured to the secondary cam-block, said I auxiliary-cam arranged to be engaged by the needles unacted upon by the said secondary raise cam and deflect them downward below the secondary thread feeding point, the two groups of needles being reunited in passing under the secondary draw cam; a cam path arranged to guide the said reunited column of needles upward to a com- "mon plane, and means for moving the sec-. ondary cam-block radially relatively to the.

needle-cylinder. 4 Y

- In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses: HENRY; P. STONE,

CALVIN H. BROWN.

JOHN LAWSON--

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