US604420A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(No Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. ROWE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented-May 24,1898.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-:Sheet 2.

J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE. No. 604,420. Patented May 24,1898.

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J. E. ROWE.- I I KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented May 24, 1898.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MAGHINE I. No. 604,420 PatentedMay 24, 1898.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. E. RGWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented May 24,1898.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Gr mes- JAMES E. ROWE, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. JENCKES MANUFACTURING COMPANY,'OF SAME PLACE.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of ,Iietters Patent No. 604,420, dated May 24, 1898. Application filed October 9, 1896. Serial No. 608,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. ROWE, of

Pawtucket, county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

In knitting stockings or other forms of knitted fabric it is frequently desirable to use yarns of different color or quality in different parts of the article produced, and in order that this may be accomplished economically and without loss of time the change from one kind of yarn to another should be done automatically and without interfering with the continuous operation of the machine. The present invention relates to an attachment for thus changing the yarns, and has for its object the production of such an attachment which may be readily applied "to machines now in use and which shall be simple of construction and accurate and positive in action.

The improvements embody yarn-guides through which the yarns pass to the main yarn-guide, holders for holding the free end or ends of the yarn or yarns not passing to the needles, and means for carrying the yarns successively to the needles. In the preferred form of the improvements shown and to be described the guides and holders also act to form the thread carrier for carrying the threads successively to the needles; but it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to such form and that a thread-carrier might be used which was independent of the guides and holders.

In illustrating one mode of applying the present improvements to a knitting-machine operating mechanism has been shown which is so timed that the threads are changed at the heel and toe of the stocking; but it will be obvious that other forms of operating mechanism may be used and that the operating mechanism may be so timed that the yarns will be changed as often as desired and at any portions of the fabric being knit.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the present improvements and so much of a knitting-machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the same to said machine. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position. Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and a side view, respectively, of the parts carried by the end of the arm 3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views showing the same parts in a different position. Figs. 7 and 7 are details of certain parts to be described. Fig. 8 is a plan View showing the manner of mounting the attachment and the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the position of the parts when the attachment is thrown out of operative position. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are detail views of the operating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present improvements in their preferred form is shown applied to the knitting-machine fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 570,059, granted October 27, 1896; but it will be understood that sa d improvements may be readily applied to other forms of knitting-machines.

A represents the knitting-head of the machine, which is provided with the ordinary needle-cylinder and with the cam-cylinder E, which is operated by the usual beveled gears from the shaft A upon which is mounted the loose pinions A A, the pinion A being revolved continuously by suitable gearing and the pinion A being reciprocated by means of the reciprocating rack A. The latch-guard D is pivoted to a standard rising from the cam-cylinder E and has formed therein the main thread-guide, which guide is of a peculiar construction, as will be more fully described.

A standard 1 is secured to the frame of the machine and has mounted thereon a sleeve 2, which forms a support for the devices tobe described. An arm' 3 is pivoted to the support 2 at 4 and is provided with the guides 5 6, in which is mounted a bar or slide7, the guide 5 being provided with a ,pin 8, which passes through a slot 9, formed in said-slide, and serves to retain said slide in said bearing, the ends of said slot also forming stops for limiting the movement of said slide in re-. lation to the arms 8. Pivoted to the end of the slide 7 is a plate 10, provided with a downwardly-extending portion 11, the front face of which is curved, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to form a guard for insuring the proper movement of the thread. The plate 10 is also provided with a projecting portion 12,'the sides of which form the stationary jaws for two thread holders or grippers. The movable jaws 13 14 of these grippers are formed upon a plate 15, which is pivoted to the plate 10 at 16 and is provided with two laterallyprojecting arms 17 18. Mounted upon or formed integral with the plate are two upwardly-extending lugs 19, between which is pivoted an arm 20, provided at its outer end with the thread eyes or openings 21 22,th rough which the threads pass. The arm is provided with a stop 23, which engages the lugs against the lugs 19.

will be more fully explained.

sides of the projection 11.

The jaws 13 14 are operated at the proper times by means of stops in the form of rolls 28 29, mounted upon the ends of slides30 31, said slides being mounted upon the slide 7 and being held in position by means of the guide 32, secured to said slide, and the guide 6. The operation of the stops 28 29 is controlled by means Of the wheel 33, provided with two series of projections 34 35 the series 34 operating upon the slide 30 and the series 35 operating upon the slide 31.

The slide 7 and arm 3 may be operated by any suitable means. In the form shown they are operated in one direction through a lever 36, pivoted to the support 2 at 37 and connected by means of a link 38 to a bell-crank lever 39, which is pivoted at 40 to the standard 25 and one arm of which is forked and extends down upon opposite sides of the slide 7, the ends of said forks being provided with slots which engage pins secured to said slide. The parts are returned to their normal position by means of a spring 41, connected to the arm 3 and to the arm 42, projecting from the lever 36. The spring 41 also serves to hold the arm 3 in its normal position, the upward movement of said arm being limited by an adjustable stop 41, which engages a lug 41 projecting from the standard 2.

The controlling-wheel 33 is moved forward a step upon each movement of the slide 7 by means of a pawl 43 pivoted to the end of the arm 42 and engaging the projections 34 35 on said wheel, the reverse movement of said whee being prevented by a stop-pawl 44.

, A slot 46 leads from the top of the latchguard D to the main thread-guide and forms a passage for the thread to said guide. A hook or stop 47 projects below slot 46 and prevents the escapeof the thread after it has once entered the main thread-guide. An additional or safety stop in the form of a recess 48, formed in the slot 46, is also provided, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. The upper end of the slot 46 is enlarged and the sides of said slot are inclined in opposite directions to prevent the breaking of the needle-latches should said latches enter said slot.

The operation of the devices described is as follows: Presuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the thread a will pass from the usual stationary guides g and take-upt through the thread-eye 22, which does not travel with the cylinder, and at this time acts as a stationary guide from which the thread passes through main thread-guide 45 to the needles, and the thread b will pass from the stationary guide g and take-up 2? through the thread-eye 21, and its end will be held by the jaws 14 12. When the threads are to be changedthat is to say, thread b to be inserted and thread a Withdrawnthe arm 36 will be drawn down by any suitable means, thus moving the slide 7 forward and rocking the plate 10 upon its pivot, so that said plate will occupy the position in relation to said slide shown in Fig. 7. This movement of the plate 10 will cause the spring 24 to rock the plate 20 upon its pivot, and thus carry the end of said arm away from said plate. When the arm 20 swings down into the position shown in Fig. 7, the side of the thread-eye 21 will engage the thread I) and form an engaging device for carrying said thread into such a position that it will pass from said engaging device to the thread-holder in substantially a horizontal line; This movement of the plate 10 and arm 20'does not aifect the thread a, which still passes through the thread-eye 22 to the main thread-guide. When the slide 7 has reached the position with relation to the arm 3, (shown in Figs. 2 and 7,) further movement of the arm 36 will rock the arm 3 upon its pivot 4 and move the thread-carrier, formed by the thread-holder 14 12 and the thread engaging device 21, down toward the needles, the holders passing upon the inside and the thread-engaging device upon the outside of the needles. This movement of the threadcarrier will carry the thread down the slot 46 and into the main thread-guide 45, the thread passing between two adjacent needles, and the engagement with the needles being thus positively insured. The downward movement of the arm 36 also rocks the arm 42 and advances the wheel 33 one tooth, thus moving the stop 34 out of the path of the slide 30 and moving one of the stops 35 into the 1 path of slide 31, as shown in Fig. 2. as the thread I) has entered the thread-guide As soon 45 the arm 36 is released and the spring 41 suddenly draws the arm 3 and the slide 7 I back into their normal positions.

This movement of the parts brings the end of slide 31 against one of the projections 35, thus rendering the stop 29 operative by preventing its further rearward movement, and said stop is engaged by the arm 17 and throws the jaw 13 against the jaw 12, the cutter 26 operating to sever the thread, and thus withdraw said thread. Engagement of the arm 17 with the stop 29 also moves the jaw 14 away from the jaw 12, thus releasing the end of the thread I), which nowbecomes the knitting-thread. When the thread is to be again changed, the operation is repeated and the thread a inserted and the thread I) withdrawn in a similar manner. The stop 28 at this time operates upon thearm 18 and throws the jaws 14 13 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus with the construction shown the thread- eyes 21 and 22 act as stationary guides, except when the thread is to be changed, when they coact with the grippers to carry the threads to the needles.

In case the parts are not accurately timed and the thread-carrier is returned before the thread has entered the main thread-guide the thread will not be withdrawn from the slot 46, but will be caught by the safety-stop 48, and the action of the needles upon the thread in the further rotation of the main thread-guide will carry said thread into the main thread-guide. Thus the threads are successively carried to the needles accurately and positively and the engagement of said thread with the needles insured without reliance upon the frictional engagement of one thread with another.

In returning to their normal positions the jaws 13 12 or 14 12, as the case may be, pass upon the opposite sides of either the thread a or the thread I), so that said jaws may be in position to grip and hold the thread until said thread is to be inserted. In order to prevent any accidental escape of the thread from between the jaws previous to the closing of said jaws, it is preferred to provide means for forcing the thread into the holder and holding it therein until the severance of the thread takes place, and in the accompanying drawings one form of such means is shown. This means consists of a rod 49, which extends in front of the holders and is pivoted at to a standard 51, carried by the slide '7. An arm extends from the rod 49 beyond its pivot and is connected by means of the link 52 to the standard 25. When the slide is forced forward, the link 52 acts to move the rod 49 about its pivot, thus throwing the rod upward into the position shown in Fig. 2. When the parts are returned to their normal position under the action of the spring 41, the bar 49 is thrown downward and engages the threads, forcing and holding said threads between the jaws of the holders, so that the severance of the thread to be withdrawn is insured.

The arm 36 may be drawn downward at the proper time by any suitable mechanism, and in the drawings is shown one manner of operating said arm, the parts being so timed that the threadsare changed as the machine passes from rotary to reciprocatory knitting,

- or vice versa, so that a different character of thread may be used in knitting the heel and toe of the stockings from that used upon the leg and foot. In the form shown an arm 53 is pivoted at 54 to a sleeve 54, pivotally mounted upon a bracket secured to and projecting from the support 2, and said arm is connected to the lever 36 by means of an adj ustable link 55. The reciprocating bar A is provided at its end with a roll 56, which is adapted to engage a notch in the end of the arm 53 and draw said arm downward, "thus operating the lever 36. The link 55 passes through a slot formed in the slide 57, mounted in the support 2 and provided at its rear end with a slot 58, which is engaged by a stud 59 on the end of one arm of a bell-crank lever 60. A rod 61 is pivoted to the other end of said bell-crank lever and passes through a slot 62, formed in theend of an arm 63, secured to the shaft I at the rear of the machine. A spring 65 serves to hold the stud 59 in engagement with the front end of the slot 58, and a spring 66 serves to hold the rod 61 in engagement with the lower end of the slot 62. An arm I is secured to the shaft I and extends into the path of a series of pins I carried by a pattern-chain 0 which pattern-chain is fed forward in any suitable manner. A lever t" is pivoted to a stud i at the rear of the machine and carries an upwardly-projecting stud 72, which is adjacent to the end of the rod 61 and is provided with a conical recess 73, with which the conical end of the rod 61 is adapted to engage. The lower end of the lever 2" is acted upon at the beginning and end of reciprocating knitting by a cam 0 suitably mounted and operated at the proper time.

The rod 61 normally stands in the position shown in Fig. 10, out of the path of the stud 72, but is moved into the path of said stud by the action of the arm 63 when one of the pins I engages the end of the lever I. At this time the earn 0 acts upon the lever t" and forces the stud 72 against the end of the rod 61, thus rocking the bell-crank lever 60 and drawing the arm 53 laterally into the path of the roll 56. The end of the rack A is provided with a plate 75, which is provided with a beveled edge which on the upward stroke of said rack engages the end of the arm 53 and moves said. arm laterally against the tension of the spring 65, so that the roll 56 may pass said arm, said arm returning into the path of the roll 56 immediately said plate has passed said arm. 011 the downward stroke of the rack A the roll 56 engages the notch in the end of arm 53 and draws said arm downward, thus depressing the lever 36 and operating the arm 3 and slide '7 in one direction. As the arm 53 swings on its pivot it gradually moves out of the path of the roll 56 and into the position shown in Fig. 2. The end of arm 53 is provided with a short bearing portion 76, which engages the roll 56 as the roll passes the end of said arm and thus holds the thread-carrier in its lowest position for an instant, or until the thread has passed into the main thread-guide. The roll 56 then releases the arm 53 and the parts are returned to their normal position by the action of spring 41, as above described.

In the machine illustrated in the drawings and shown in the patent above referred to the pins I have a short bearing surface and therefore release the arm 1 before the cam C has passed the end of lever 7L, and the slot 62 is therefore provided in order'that the arm I may return to its normal position without affecting the rod 61, which rod is returned to its normal position when released by the stud 72 by the action of the spring 66. The rod 61 is normally held out of the path of the stud 72 in the construction shown for the reason that in the machine referred to the lever t" is operated not only at the beginning and end of reciprocating knitting, but also when the machine changes from narrowing to Widening, at which time a change of thread is not desired.

In operating a knittingmachine to knit stockings provided with ribbed tops it is necessary that the ribbed tops should be transferred to the needles, and since the threadchanging device occupies a position immediately above the knitting-head it is desirable that said thread-changer be so mounted that it can be readily moved out of and into operative position, and it is also desirable that when said device is moved into operative position it will be securely held in such position, so that it cannot be accidentally moved or displaced. Accordingly the support 2 is preferably pivoted upon the standard 1 in such a manner that it may be swung about its pivot and the device carried thereby thus moved out of operative position, so that ready access to the knitting-head may be had, and means are provided for locking said support in its normal position. The preferred form of such means consists of an arm 77, projecting from the top of said support, to the end of which arm is pivoted a lever 78, provided with a handle 79. A second arm or lever 80 is pivoted to a rod K, secured to the frame of the machine, and has its other end pivoted to the lever 78 at 82. The levers 78 80 are so constructed and arranged that when the thread-changing device is in operative position the ends of said levers abut against each other and form stops for preventing any further outward movement of the thread-changing device. The levers are also so arranged that when their ends abut the three pivotal points of said levers are substantially in line, and said levers therefore form in effect a rigid bar for locking the thread-changing device against any accidental displacement. To further insure the rigidity of this lockingbar, a spring 83 is connected at opposite ends to the levers 78 80, respectively, said spring acting to hold the stops formed by the end of the levers in contact. \Vhen it is desired to move the thread-changing device out of 0perative position, this is done by swinging the lever 78 about its pivot by means of the handle 79, the parts being moved into the position shown in Fig. 9, and the spring 83 acts to hold the parts in this position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, of means independent of said cam-cylinder for guiding a plurality of threads, and means for carrying said threads successively to the needles, substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, and a thread-guide moving with said cylinder, of means independent of said cam-cylinder for guiding a plurality of threads, and means for carrying said threads successively to said guide and to the needles, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, of stationary.

guides for a plurality of threads, and means for carrying said threads successively to the needles, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, of a thread-guide independent of said cylinder, a thread-guide moving with said cylinder provided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier, and means for operating said carrier to carry the thread to said guide through said opening, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a traveling thread-guide provided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier independent of said guide, means for operating said threadcarrier to carry the thread to said guide through said opening, and means for quickly returning said carrier, substantially as described.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a traveling thread-guide, provided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier independent of said guide, means for operating said carrier to carry the thread to said guide through said opening, and a spring for quickly returning said carrier, substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a main thread-guide provided with a lateral opening, a thread-guide from which the knitting-thread passes to the main threadguide, a thread-carrier, means for operating said thread-carrier to carry a thread to the main threadguide through said opening, means for quickly returning said carrier to its normal position, and means for severing the knitting thread, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a main thread-guide provided with a lateral opening, a thread-guide from which the knitting-thread passes to the main threadguide, a thread-carrier, means for operating said thread-carrier to carry a thread to the main thread-guide through said opening, meansfor quickly returning said carrier to its normal position, and means operated by a thread to the needles, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a plurality of thread-engaging devices, a plurality of thread-holders, and means for operating said engaging devices and holders to carry the threads successively to the needles, substantially as described.

12. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-engaging device, a thread-holder and means for moving said device and holder into position upon opposite sides of the needles whereby the thread is carried between adjacent needles, substantially as described.

13. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-guide, a thread-holder, and means for moving said guide and holder into position upon opposite sides of the needles, substantially as described.

14. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a plurality of thread-engaging devices, a plurality of thread-holders, means for moving said engaging devices and holders into position upon opposite sides of the needles, and means for successively operating said holders, substantially as described.

15. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a pivoted thread-holder, a thread-engaging device carried with said holder and means for moving said holder to and from the needles and rocking said holder onits pivot, substantially as described.

16. In a knitting-machine, thecombination of a slide, a thread-holder and thread-engaging device pivoted to the end of said slide, means for reciprocating said slide to rock said holder and engaging device, and means for moving the end of said slide to and from the needles, substantially as described.

17. In a knitting-machine, a plurality of thread-holders, means for moving said holders to and from the needles, and means for operating said holders successively, substantially as described.

18. In a knitting-machine, a pivotal plate carrying two thread-holders, means for rocking said plate on its pivot, and two stops for successively operating said holders, substantially as described.

19. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted plate carrying two thread-holders, means for rocking said plate on its pivot, two stops for operating said holders and means for controlling the operation of said stops, substantially as described.

20. In a knitting machine, two grippers having their movable jaws connected, two movable stops for operating said grippers, means for reciprocating said grippers, and means for alternately arresting the movement of said stops, substantially as described.

21. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted plate carrying a fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted to said plate and provided with two projecting arms, two stops for engaging said arms, means for controlling the operation of said stops, and means for rocking said plate, substantially as described.

22. In a knitting-machine, a plurality of thread-holders, a plurality of stops for operating said holders, slides carrying said stops,

a wheel provided with a series of projections for each slide, and means for operating said wheel, substantially as described.

23. In aknitting-maohine, the combination of a pivoted arm a slide mounted on said arm, a plate pivoted to said slide, and carrying a thread-guide and thread-holder, one or more links connecting said plate and arm, and means for operating said slide and arm, substantially as described.

24. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-holder, a thread-guide, means for moving said holder and guide to and from the needles, and means for forcing the thread into said holder, substantially as described.

25. In a knitting-machine, the combination of two thread grippers, two thread guides, means for moving said grippers and guides to and from the needles, means for alternately operating said grippers, and means for forcing the thread to be gripped between the jaws of the open gripper, substantially as described.

26. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted support, an arm projecting therefrom, a lever pivoted to said arm, a second lever pivoted to a stationary pivot and to said former lever, and stops on said levers to hold the three pivotal points in line, substantially as described.

27. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide provided with a lateral passage for the entrance of the thread, means for carrying a thread to said guide and means for preventing the escape of the thread through said passage, substantially as described.

28. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide having a lateral passage for the entrance of the thread, and a safety-stop in said passage, substantially as described.

29. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide having a lateral passage for the entrance of the thread, said passage being enlarged at its entrance end and provided with diverging sides, substantially as described.

JAMES E. ROWE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN P. ALLEN, R. A. BATES.

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