US2829510A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1' IHIIIHII ll Illmiiii;

L 4 FIG. I.

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. SHELBY BY du ,Zmfi q ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. SHELBY ATTORN W. E. SHELBY KNITTING MACHINE April s, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 1954 FIG.

I l I I I llHllllllllll v Jml HILII FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

B WILLIAM E. SHELBY ma ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. SHELBY ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5' F Y I G. 7.

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E SHELBY.

ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. 'E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING-MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 7Eb\\ \\\h l F IG. 8.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. SHELBY ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1. 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 @NMMIM wmmm wlml k nv mum mwwv m [IS II III FIG.

FIG. 9.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. SHELBY i ATTORNEYS United States PatentfO KNITTING MACHINE William E. Shelby, Chattanooga, Tenn., assiguor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 1, 1954, Serial No. 453,578

7 Claims. (Cl. 66-155) The present invention relates to a knitting machine particularly designed for the changing of size of stockings and for the provision of markings to indicate the size and length.

In making stockings such as fine gauge ladies hose, it is common practice to use marks, generally consisting of tucks in the welt, shadow welt, or other part of the stocking, to indicate, at times in code, the size and length or other information which may be required during inspecting and finishing operations.

In changing the size of stockings, it has in the past been necessary to add or remove one or more links of the main control chain, an operation which consumes time and also presents an opportunity for error.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made in a knitting machine for the quick control of the [2,8295 iii Patented Apr. 8, 1958 ice of certain of the parts involved in the present invention; Figure 12 is an inside development of certain of the cams involved in operations in accordance with the invention;

Figure 13 is a developed sectional diagram showing control discs and pins located thereon for effecting both as is necessary for an understanding of the invention. The

needle cylinder indicated at 2 carries needles provided With butts 4 of different lengths for conventional differentiation between needles, certain of these needles being provided with extra short butts 4 for marking purposes as will hereafter appear. As illustrated, only two needles having such extra short butts are provided.

Various of the movements involved in connection with the present invention are derived from the conventional quadrant 6 which, as usual, makes a complete oscillation in every four revolutions of the needle cylinder. The usual clutch drum shaft 8 carries a ratchet 12 arranged to be advanced by the pawl 10 which is connected to the I quadrant 6, and this shaft 8 through gearing 14 serves to effective length of the chain, this control of effective length r i being secured merely by the rotation of a dial. Concurrently, the machine automatically provides correspond ing markings in the stocking indicative of size and length. Specifically, as the machine will be described, it is capable drive the main cam drum 16. The speed change cam drum 18 is mounted on the shaft 8. A ratchet 20 driven from the quadrant 6 by pawl 22 serves to advance the control chain 24 which, as is conventional, is advanced a distance equal to one-third of a link for every four revolutions of the needle cylinder, each link, therefore", repreof automatically producing groups of tucks in the shadow welt to indicate six foot sizes and also to control the eifective length of the control chain to produce six foot sizes together with three different lengths of the leg.

The principal objects of the present invention relate to the attainment of the results generally indicated above. These objects together with others relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing such parts of a conventional knitting machine as "are involved in the attainment of the objects of the invention together with various parts added to the machine for purposes of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing certain of the parts illustrated in Figure I viewed from the position indicated by the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating certain details of the invention, particularly elements controlling the position of a cam selectively operable upon needle.

butts;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane, indicated at 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of portions of the machine;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same looking at the right-hand side of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the cated at 7--7 in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on cated at 8-8 in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated at 9-9 in Figure 5; r v

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on the broken surface indicated at 10-10 in Figure 5; t

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation showing. details plane indithe plane indi senting twelve courses of fabric. The various devices so far described are conventional and are associated with other usual control devices which play no special part in the present invention and need not, therefore, be described.

In machines of the type here involvd, it is common practice to make a vertical row of spaced tucks on either side of a mock seam at the back of the stocking during knitting of the leg, which marks are known as fashion marks. Such tucks are. the result of control by lugs on one side of the control chain, causing a needle latch clearing cam to withdraw far enough to miss certain needles having the extra short operating butts 4.

In accordance with the machine disclosed herein, a maximum of six size marks is required, and the control chain in the section determining the length of the shadow welt carries six tucking lugs spaced every second rack of the chain or, in other words, corresponding to each eighth course of the fabric. These lugs are illustrated at 26 (Figure 4) and act upon a pin 28 carried by the arm 30 of a lever pivoted at 32 and provided with a second arm 34 which is provided with a corner 35 which is engageable with a shoulder on a latch 38 pivoted at 40 to an upright rod 42, the lower end of which is slotted for guidance on a pin 36. A spring 44 normally urges the latch 38 to a position above the corner 35 so as to be engageable thereby and also urges the bar 42 downwardly. The upper end of the bar 42 has adjustably mounted thereon an arm 46 which is connected to a vertically slidable rod 48 provided with a bevelled cam surface of posite lever, another arm 58 of which is provided with a hook end 60 engageable with a pin 62 carried by a lever 64, pivoted at 66, which carries a clearing cam 68. A spring 70 reacts between the lever 64 and the arm 56 so as not only to urge the cam 68 to its full inward. position but also to urge thebell crank 50 against the rod 43. Except when tucks are to be made (and certain other times of no interest in connection with the present invention) the cam 63 is held in withdrawn position by means of a rod 74, controlled from the main cam drum, which acts upon the arm 72 of the composite lever to cause arm 58 to pull pin 62 outwardly. When tucks are to be made, a movement of the main drum releases the rod 74 so that cam 63 may move fully inward. At this same time, the reverse stitch cam 69 is withdrawn to interrupt its normal clearing action. The cam 68, accordingly, controls clearing and by providing the needles which are to tuck with the extra short butts 4' a slight withdrawal of cam 68 will cause it to miss those needles and prevent clearing, the needles with the butts 4 following the dotted path illustrated in Figure 12 while the remaining needles follow the full line path, being cleared by cam 68.

Since the control of tucking is effected by the lugs 26 on chain 24, and this chain is advanced only once in every four revolutions of the needle cylinder, if special provisions were not made, the tucks produced would each comprise four courses of the fabric which would result in Weak stitches and distorted fabric. Pro-vision is, therefore, made to interrupt tucking after only two courses by locating an arm 76 on the latch 38 which is engageable by a rod 73 pivoted to the quadrant 6. The pattern chain 24 is advanced on each reverse stroke of the quadrant, whereas the rod 78 is moved forwardly to trip the latch on the forward stroke of the quadrant. Despite the action of a lug 26 on pin 28, the latch 3% is released from corner 35 after only two courses. The spring 44 is, accordingly, free to lower the bar 42, effecting release of the clearing cam 68 to its innermost position wherein it will clear all of the needles including those having the extra short butts 4'.

Pivoted at 82 for rotary adjustment at the side of the machine there is a disc 80 provided with stop pins 84 of graduated lengths, the disc being fixed against axial movement. A shaft 86 is slidable in the machine frame, being urged toward the left as viewed in Figure 10 by a spring 88 against the action of which it may be pulled toward the right by a Bowden wire 92, controlled from the main cam drum 16 by lever 93 which is acted upon by a cam 95, and acting through the intermediary of a lever 96 and the collar 94 secured to the shaft. The pins 84 may be brought by rotation of the disc 86 selectively into positions for engagement by the left-hand end of shaft 86 under the action of spring 88. The left-hand position of the shaft, therefore, is determinable by the angular position of the dial 80. Journalled on the shaft 8-6, but constrained to move axially therewith, is a ratchet )6 which is held against clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 9, by a detent 106 but is arranged to be advanced in counterclockwise direction by a pawl 1M. pivoted to the upper end of a lever 1414 which is pivoted to the frame at its lower end at 105. A compression spring 1 16 is located between detent 100 and the lever 104 to maintain the detent in its operating position and to urge the lever 104 into contact with an adjustable stop 1638. The lever 104 is oscillated by oscillations ofa shaft lift which is provided with an arm 114 in which is threaded a screw 112 arranged to engage the lever 104. The shaft 110 is provided with an arm 116 which is pivoted at 117 to a link 118 which, in turn, is pivoted at 12%) to the quadrant 6. Oscillating movements are thereby imparted to the shaft 110.

The ratchet has a tooth missing at 98 and diametrically opposite 98 a tooth is guarded by a plate 97. These serve to provide for timing up and restarting of the ratchet from a definite angular position.

A follower 122 carried by a lever 124 pivoted to the frame at 126 is acted upon by pins carried by the ratchet 96 as Will be hereafter more fully described. The forward end of the lever 124 has pivoted to it at 128 a link 130 which is also pivoted to the advancing pawl 22 for the chain ratchet 20. When the follower 122 is lifted by a pin on ratchet 96, the pawl 22 is lifted out of engagement with ratchet 20 so that advance of the chain is interrupted.

Also rotatable on the shaft 86 but held against axial movement relative thereto is a second ratchet 132 which is arranged to be advanced clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, by a pawl 134 which is pivoted to an arm 136 carried by the shaft 11% previously referred to. As will here-- after appear, the ratchet 132 is advanced to start continuous racking movements by means of a pawl 138 pivoted to a rod 140 which is secured in an extension 142 of a rod 144 guided partially in the frame by engagement of a slot 146 in the rod 144 over a fixed pin 143. The rod 144 is also guided over a lip of a lever pivoted to the frame and arranged to be raised by a wire 147 which is connected to a lever 149 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 151 on the main cam drum 16. The forward end of the rod 144 is arranged to engage the arm 76 carried by the latch 38 so as to disengage the latch from the corner 35 'and hold it out of the path of that corner. The ratchet 132 has a tooth missing at 133 to provide for its retiming and starting at a definite angular position.

A follower lever 15% is arranged to be engageable by pins carried by the ratchet 132 as will be hereafter more fully described. This lever .Stl is pivoted at 152 and may be held out of the path of the pins carried by ratchet 132 by means of a Bowden wire 1554 controlled from the main cam drum. The lever is provided with an arm 156 to which there is secured a transverse pin 158 which cooperates With a shoulder 160 on the extension 142 of rod 14-4. A spring 159 serves to urge the rod 144 downwardly and, through pin 158, the lever 1S0 toward a position in the path of, or in contact with, the pins carried by the ratchet 132. An abutment 162 is pivoted at 16 tto the extension 142 of bar 144 and is urged to an upper stopped position by a spring 166. When in this position and when extension 142 is raised it is arranged to be engaged by the pin 117 providing the pivot between lever 116 and link 118.

Cams 168 and 179 are arranged to act upon the follower end 172 of the lever 174 pivoted at 176 to the frame. These cams are carried by the speed change drum 18. A screw 178 adjustably threaded in an end of lever 180 bears against the rear end of the lever 174, tne lever 180 being pivoted to the frame at 182 and normally held in lowered position by a spring 184. The lever 180 is provided with a pawl 186 arranged to impart advancing movements to the ratchet 96.

Referring now to Figure 13, the ratchet 96 is illustrated in developed form as provided with holes 188 in which there may be selectively positioned pins of two groups 190 and 192. The latter group, as illustrated, comprises a long pin 194 and successive pairs of successively shorter pins 196, 198, 200 and 202. The former group comprises pins .204 and 206 of two different lengths, there being six pins 204 and four pins 206. The pins of both groups are arranged to be selectively engageable with, or miss entirely, the follower 122.

The ratchet 132 is similarly provided with holes 208 in which are arranged pins 210, 212, 214, 216 and 218, there being a single pin 210 and pairs of pins 212 to 218, inclusive. These pins are arranged for selective engagement with the follower 150.

The two ratchets 96 and 132 are arranged to move together to selective axial positions determined by engagement of the shaft 86 with the pins 84 carried by the disc 80. These pins 84 determine six different positions of the .ratchets which are designated by the Roman numerals in Figure 13. It will be convenient to consider Figure 13 as if the ratchets were fixed and the followers 122 and 150 occupied the positions designated by the Roman. numerals. If the follower 122 is in position I, it

will not be engaged by any of the pins. In position II it is not engaged by any of the pins of group 190 but is engaged by the longest pin 194 of the group 192. In position III follower 122 is engageable by the four pins 206 and by the two pins 196 and the pin 194. In position IV it is engageable by the four pins 206 and by all of the pins 198, 196 and 194.

In position V it is engageable by all of the pins 206 and 204 and by the pins 200, 198, 196 and 194. In position VI it is engageable by all of the pins of both groups.

When the follower 122 occupies the various positions just indicated, the follower 150 is located in correspondingly designated positions. In position I it engages all of the pins carried byratchet 132. In position II it engages the pins 210, 212, 214 and 216, missing the pins 218. In position III it engages the pins 210, 212 and 214. In position IV it engages the pins 210 and 212. In position V it engages only the single longest pin 210. In position VI it misses all ofthe pins carried by ratchet 132.

While, as will be obvious, various arrangements of the pins may be used, there are indicated various lengths and sizes commonly corresponding and which are determined by the positions of the follower 122, the corresponding positions of follower 150 producing designating marks. For example, the positions I to V1, respectively, correspond to foot sizes 8 /2, 9, 9 /2, 10, 10% and 11. Corresponding leg lengths are produced in three variations. Positions I and II provide short lengths of the leg which correspond to foot sizes 8 /2 and 9. Positions III and IV correspond to medium leg lengths and to the foot sizes 9 /2 and 10. Positions V and VI correspond to long leg length and to foot sizes 10 /2 and 11.

The ratchet 96 has ninety-six teeth and there are provided thirty-two pin holes 188. Since the ratchet is advanced once for each four courses, each pin is equivalent to twelve courses of the stocking. The adjacent pins are sufficiently close together to present a continuous surface to the follower 122. Furthermore, the follower has a width engaging the pins corresponding to the width of a pin. Accordingly, the effective action of a given number of pins on the follower 122 is that of one more than the number of pins. This accounts, for example, for the provision of a single pin 194 which, in effect, corresponds to two pins or twenty-four courses of the fabric. When the follower engages the pins 206, the effect is that of engagement of five pins. Similarly, when the follower engages both pins 206 and 204, as in positions V and VI, the effect is that of engagement of eleven pins.

The ratchet 132 also has one move for each four courses of the fabric. Here also, the effect of the nine pins illustrated is that of ten pins. The chain, as previously described, has six lugs 26 with the lugs spaced the equivalent of two racks of the chain or eight courses. As will later appear, the pins acting on the follower 150 cancel the formation of tucks. When all of the pins are engaged by follower 150 in position I, the effect is to cancel five of the six tucks which would otherwise be produced by the action of the lugs 26. By the selective positioning of the ratchet 132 with respect to the follower 150 there may be cancelled none of the tucks or any number thereof from one to five, resulting in the production of marking tucks ranging from one to six in number.

The operation of the machine may now be described, it being understood that, except for the operations involved in accordance with the present invention, the machine operates in conventional fashion, and may be assumed to form, as usual, a turned welt followed by transfer, a shadow welt, a leg, heel, foot, toe and loopers waste courses. When the machine passes to the formation of the loopers waste courses, the follower lever 93 is acted upon by the main drum cam 95 and serves to move the shaft 86 and the ratchets 9d and 132 mounted thereon to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, so that the left-hand end of shaft 86 clears the pins 84 carried by the disc 80. Under these conditions, and until completion of the welt, the operator, without stopping the machine, may adjust the disc 80 to bring into alignment with the end of shaft 86 the particular pin which will determine the eventual shaft position to secure the desired foot and leg lengths. When the main drum cam begins to move the follower lever 93, Bowden wire 154 withdraws the follower 150 from the path of the pins on ratchet 132 so that in case the ratchet is accidentally out of time they cannot strike the follower as shaft 86 through continued action of follower lever 93 moves to the right.

As seen in Figure 11, when follower 150 is withdrawn, pin 158 elevates rod 144 through its extension 142 and positions abutment 162 in the path of pin 117 which as it moves to the left contacts the abutment, thus moving pivot rod and pawl 130 to start the racking of ratchet 132. When shoulder 160 as it moves to the left passes pin 158 extension 142 and rod 144 are lowered by spring 159 and are held by pin 158 until Bowden wire 154 is later released. The ratchet continues to advance during knitting of the welt until the timing tooth is reached where it remains until it is again started to control the number of size marks in the shadow welt.

Operation with which the present invention is concerned begins with the beginning of knitting of the shadow welt. At this time, the cam 95 releases the follower lever 93, releasing both Bowden wires 92 and 154. Release of Bowden wire 92 permits spring 33 to move shaft 86, and the ratchets thereon, toward the left in Figure 10 into engagement with the selected pin 84, thus presenting the ratchets with respect to the followers 122 and 150 in one of the selected positions designated by the Roman numerals in Figure 13.

Release of the Bowden wire 15 4 permits the follower 150 to move clockwise, as viewed in Figure 11, across the path of the pins carried by ratchet 132, but no pins are then in position to be engaged by the follower 15'!) and the result of its release is that of lowering the pin 158 below the shoulder 160 of the rod extension 142 so that the spring 159 moves the rod 144 to the right, as viewed in Figure 11, the pinlSti then being beiow the portion of the extension 142 to the left of shoulder 160. This condition continues until cam 151 acts upon the lever 149 and through Bowden wire 147 raises guide to lift the bar 144. When this occurs, the abutment 162 is moved into the path of pin 117 which acts upon it to move the bar 144 and extension 142 toward the left, as viewed in Figure 11, thereby imparting a movement to the pawl 138 to give a single advance step to the ratchet 132. This advance brings a tooth of ratchet 132 into the path of the oscillating pawl 134 which then effects step by step movements of the ratchet. Cam 151 then re leases follower 149 so that the extension 142 drops to remove the abutment 162 out of th path of pin 117, the extension 142 then, again, resting upon the: pin 158.

If no cancellation of the formation of the tucks is to occur, tuck formation by the needles 4' is then effected through the lugs 26 on chain 24. Prior to their action, the rod 74 is released by the main cam drum so that clearing cam 63 is free to move fully inwardly under the action of spring 70 and reverse stitch cam 69 is withdrawn with the result that earn 68 takes over the task of clearing all of the needles. When the lugs 26 act upon the follower pin 28, the bar 42 is raised and through the connections previously described effects a slight outward movement of cam 68 to cause it to miss the shortest butts of needles 4' while continuing to clear the butts of needles 4. The result is that of formation of tucks by the needles 4'. To avoid long tucks, as previously described, the bar 78 engages the arm '76 of latch 38 to insure that the tucks occur in only two courses.

If instead of having a series of six tucks formed by each of the needles 4, cancellation of a predetermined number is to occur, the action of the pins carried by the ratchet 132 on the follower 150 will rock this follower, causing the pin 158 to raise the extension 142 of bar 144 .to bring abutment 162 into the path of pin 117. The

result of this is that the bar 144 will be moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 11, and the shoulder 160 will engage to the left of pin 158 preventing right-hand movement of the bar. in its lefthand position the bar, as viewed in Figure 4- will engage the arm 76 to hold the latch 38 out of position for engagement by corner 35 with the consequence that hook on is held away from pin 62 and cam 68 occupies its full inward position to clear all of the needles. Thus, a predetermined number of the full possible number of tucks is cancelled to give an indication of the foot size le. gth of the stocking.

When the follower Edi) is released by the pins, the pin 15$ drops away from shoulder loll and bar 144 may again move toward the right, as viewed in Figure 11. However, the lugs 26 will then have passed their position of operation and no tucking will occur. (It will be noted that the cancelled tucks are those at the end of the series which, in the absence of cancellation, would be produced by lugs 26.) The ratchet 132 then continues to step ahead until the missing tooth position 133 is brought opposite the pawl lC -l, whereupon the ratchet stops. While this action brings i116 ratchet 1S2 to a definite position of rest, i. e. its retimed position, there is, prior to the next shadow welt formation, another complete cycle of rotation of the ratchet started by the withdrawal of follower ldil to prevent possible jamming as described above. Accordingly, the actual retiming cycle is that last mentioned. The fact that there are two cycles ending in the rest position of ratchet 1132 is merely an incident of the particular mechanism used.

During the formation of the leg, fashion marks if desired are produced in conventional fashion by additional lugs corresponding to 26 on the chain 24, the bar 78 again insuring that only two-course tucks are produced.

The leg and foot portions of the chain 24 are such that the shortest leg length and smallest foot size of the stocking would be produced if it were not for the present mechanism. At the beginning of formation of the leg or at some time during its formation, the cam 170 acts upon the follower lever 1'74, producing a rise of pawl 186 and a single step of ratchet 95. The result is to move the missing teeth position 5i, away from the pawl 102 which may thereupon begin to rack this ratchet.

As the racking of ratchet 96 proceeds, the chain 24 is advanced in normal fashion by the pawl 22 until follower 122 engages the pins 20-6 or the pins 296 and 204. When this occurs, the lever 124 is 'aised and through link 130 raises the pawl 2.2 out of engagement with the chain ratchet Zll with the result that the chain is stopped for a period, as described above, corresponding to the number of pins engaged. The eiiect, accordingly, is that of a longer chain, and medium or long length stockings are produced according to the selection of the pin as. If the follower 122 does not engage any of the pins 2&6 or 294-, the short length stocking is produced corresponding to the number of links in the chain, the racking of which is uninterrupted.

The racking of the ratchet )6 continues until the guarded tooth 97 is presented to the pawl llllZ whereupon rotation ceases.

Knitting of the remaining portion of the leg and the heel then takes place in conventional fashion.

At the beginning of t e formation of the foot, the cam 16? acts upon the follower lever 17st to initiate again the stepping of ratchet 96 by the imparting of an advancing movement through the pawl ran to bring a normal tooth into position to be engaged by pawl lull. By the action of the pins of the group on follower 122 the advance of the chain will then again be interrupted for such number of courses as correspond to the selection of a pin 84. Accordingly, toot lengths longer than the shortest are produced. if none of the pins engages the follower 122, the shortest size foot will be produced. After the pins which are active pass the follower 122, normal operation occurs and ratcheting of ratchet continues until the missing tooth position as is again presented to the pawl 102.

i The ratchets are thus restored to their initial positions with completion of timing of ratchet .lfi though, as described above, ratchet 132 will go through a second cycle which will result in its timing preparatory to efiective action. Finally, during the formation of the loopcrs waste courses, the cam again acts upon follower 93 to pull the Bowden wires 92 and 154 to restore the parts to their initial positions, the shaft 8n: being moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, to clear the pins 84 for reselection by turning of the disc 88.

It will be evident that various changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed. is:

1. In a circular st cking knitting machine having a main controlling device advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking; means for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in at least one portion of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of the controlling device for the number of courses so selected, and means interconnected with said manual selecting means for effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selected number of courses.

2. In a circular stocking knitting machine having a main controlling device advancing through a comple cycle during the formation of each stocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking; means for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of the controlling device for the numbers of courses so selected, and means interconnected with said manual selecting means for effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selected number of courses.

3. In a circular stocking knitting machine having a main controlling device advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking; means including a single manually settable member for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of the controlling device for the numbers of courses so selected, and means interconnected with said manual selecting means for effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selected number of courses.

4. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drum controlling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine and advancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controlling chain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum under control of said chain; means for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers of courses so selected.

5. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drum controlling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine and advancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controlling chain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum under control of said chain; means including a single manually settable member for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers of courses so selected.

6. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drum controlling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine and advancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controlling chain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum under control of said chain; means for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers of courses so selected, and 20 means interconnected with said manual selecting means for effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selected numbers of courses.

7. In a circular knitting machine having :a needle cylinder, a cam drum controlling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine and advancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controlling chain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of each stocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions of each stocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum under control of said chain; means including a single manually settable member for manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers of courses so selected, and means interconnected with said manual selecting means for efiecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selected numbers of courses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,291 Ames June 21, 1910 2,436,468 Bristow Feb. 24, 1948 2,439,990 Ryan Apr. 20, 1948 2,516,514 H'aehnel July 25, 1950

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