US641837A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 64|,837. Patented Ian. 23, I900. J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 30, 1898.)

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS cu, wow mm. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 644,837. Patented Jan. :23, I900.

' J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIBEULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 30, 1898,) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheat 2.

W/T/VES ATTORNEY.

No. 64|,837. Patented ln. 23, I900. J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 80, 1898.)

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3,

J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

(Appliction filed July so, 1898.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Patented Ian. 23, I900.

IIIIIII II WITNESSES M77; SW 2? "n1: ncnms PETERS cm. mermumo. wnumsmn, n. c

No. 641,837. Patented Jan. 23, won. J. A. annuals. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July so, 1898.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets8heet 5.

ATTORNEY.

No. 64l,83.7. Patented Ian. 23, I900. J. A. BURLEIGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 80, 18 98.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 6' (No Model.)

d f M w m 9 2m m 1 mm PM Au cm W .n d 9m .n/ M, I ,gp 6 mm h C A Wm M 6 e fm w n M 0 X a d m v C 2 ATTORNEY,

WITNESSES I m: Norms pnzns 0a.. PHDTO-LITNQ, WASHINGTON nc NIT-ED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH, 0F LAOONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN KNITTING MACHINE ISLAND.

COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE; RHODE CIRCULAR-KNITT IN meme srEcIFIcA'rIon forming part of Letters retells no. 641,837, dated awa 23, 1900. Application filed July 30,1898. Serial No. 68732442 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Laconia, in the county of Belknap, in the State of N ew Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gircular-Knittin g Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements 'in the device for operating the horizontal needles, otherwise known as the dialneedles, which cooperate with the circular series of vertical cylinder-needles for producing a ribbed fabric.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which can be automatically brought into and taken out of operation during the knitting of a piece of Work which is knit partly in plain knitting and partly in ribbed knitting and which admits of being reversed during the knitting of the plain portion of the fabric-as, for instance, the heel and toe of a seamless stocking having a ribbed leg. To this end the device known as the dial-cam cap is provided with certain fixed cams and pivoted cams adapted to swing between the fixed cams to form an endless changeable reversible camtrack, and automatic means are provided for swingingone of said pivoted cams into position to thrust and retract the horizontalneedies at a point adjacent to the yarn-carrier for taking on yarn and carrying on the knitting operations, and automatic means are also provided for swinging the other pivoted cam into position to form a cam-track adapted to thrust and retract the horizontal needles at a point away from the yarn-carrier for entirely casting off the work from the dial-needles in order that the knitting may be continued on the cylinder-needles for knitting the plain part of the fabric. Automatic means are also provided for swinging the-pivoted knittingcam outward a partial stroke for the mere purpose of taking yarn, and then swinging said cam inward to cause the needles to form loops and permit the loops to be filled by the cylinder-needles.

This mechanism may be applied to any circular-knittin g machine to which it is adapted. It is preferably applied to what is known as a full automatic seamless-stocking ma chine, andit may be applied to a machine of this character, such as that shown in my patent of the United States of 'America, numbered 537,802, dated April 16, 1895.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a plan view of the knitting-head of a circular-knitting machine embodying this invention, the needles being omitted. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof omitting the needles, the hubs of the levers for operating the dial-cams .being shown out of their proper relative positions in order that they may appear in said figure. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the under side of the dial-cam cap containing the cams for operating the dialneedles, said cams being in the positions which they assume when the dial-needles are sition to throw out the dial-needles, a partial stroke forming a threading-cam track to permit the yarn to be caught by the hooks of said needles, no knitting on the dial-needles occurring while the cams are in this position.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the cam-track formed by the cams of the dial-cam cap when said cams arein the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a plan of the under side of the dial-cam cap, showing the position of its cams when in position for forming a knittingtrack to cause thedial-needles to be operated to perform the knitting operation. Fig. 8 is a diagram of the knitting-cam track formed by the cams of the dial-cam cap when said cams are in the positions shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a plan of the under side of the dial-cam cap, showing the dial-cams in the positions which they assume for pressing off the stitches from the dial-needles preparatory to plain knitting. Fig. 10 represents a diagram of the cam-track formed by the dialcap cams when in the positions shown in Fig.

9. Fig. 11 represents a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the levers on the dialcap for shifting the dial-needles. Fig. 12 rep resents a radial section of the dial-needle bed and cam-cap, also showing a dial-needle in said bed. Fig. 13 represents a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the, movable knitting-cam of the dial-cam cap, said mechanism being in the position which corresponds to the intermediate position of said cam shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of dial and cylinder needles in action, showing the method of knitting the ribbed fabric. Fig. 15 represents a group of cylinder-needles in action, taking the thread and forming the plain fabric. Fig. 16 represents a ribbed fabric produced by cylinder and dial needles arranged in alternation of two cylinder-needles to one dial-needle. Fig. 17 represents a piece of ribbed fabric produced by the cylinder and dial needles arranged alternately one dial to one cylinder needle. Fig. 18 represents a piece of ribbed fabric produced by the cylinder-needles only. Fig. 19 represents the method of changing from rib-knitting to plain knitting, the fabric being pressed ofi from the dial-needles and thelatter going outof action.

The same reference letters and numbers indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The dial-knitting mechanism containing this invention may be embodied in any suitable cylinder-knitting machine. In the particular embodiment represented in the drawings an annular bed-plate 20 is supported on the frame of the machine, and a needle-cylinder 30, of any suitable construction, is supported thereon, said cylinder being in this instance stationary and carrying vertical needles, as 35. A rotary cam-cylinder 40, of any suitable construction, surrounds the needlecylinder and carries cams for operating the vertical needles of the needle-cylinder for continuous circular knitting for the formation of tubular work and also cams for operating a portion of said needles in reeiprocatory knitting for the formation of pouches to constitute the heel and toe. This mechanism may be of any suitable construction, and it is not deemed necessary to illustrate and describe it herein.

A yarn-carrier of any suitable form is attached to the rotary cam-cylinder and moves therewith. It may be in the ordinary form of an eye 401 in a guard for the needlelatches. This latch-guard may be attached to an arm 410, hinged to a bracket 420, secured to the cam-cylinder, as is common in this class of machines.

A'bridge 45 is attached to the cam-cylinder, and a vertical spindle 50 is suspended from and fixed to this bridge in line with the axis of the cam-cylinder, the connection being made with the bridge in the usual or any suitable manner.

A dial-needle bed 00, of any well-known or suitable construction, provided with radial grooves 01 for the dial-needles, is loosely disposed on the vertical spindle 50 above the plane of the top of the needle-cylinder. This dial-needle bed carries the horizontal dialneedles, as 65, which operate in conjunction with the vertical needles in the needle-cylinder during the formation of the ribwork. The dial-bed is loose on the spindle 50 and is held against rotation by any suitable means, as by a connection with the needle-cylinder.

A device 100 for engaging and operating the horizontal dial-needles, known as a camcap,is fixed on the vertical spindle 50. This spindle being fixed to the bridge 15, attached to the cam-cylinder, moves with said camcylinder and causes the cam-cap to rotate or reciprocatein unison with said cam-cylinder in the usual manner. This cam-cap carries on its lower face cams for actuating the dialneedles and is preferably provided with a tubular hub 101, which extends above the upper face of the cap between it and the under side of the bridge. Some of the cams on the cam-cap for operating the dial-needles are fixed to the cap and others are pivoted and can beswungintodifierentpositions to change the cam-tracks engaging the studs of the horizontal dial-needles into four different forms, as hereinafter described-namely, a camtrack whereby the needles are held within the dial-bed in inoperative position in either direction of rotation of the cam-cap; a threading-cam track whereby the needles are partially projected outward to take on the yarn for the formation of loops or stitches; a camtrack whereby the dial-needles are projected into operative position for action in conjunction with the cylinder-needles in the formation of ribbed fabric, this track permitting a movement of the cam-cap in either direction, and acam-track which projects the neodles into position for pressing off the stitches. When constructed as herein shown, the camcap 100 is provided on its lower face with fixed outer cams 110, 120, and 130, disposed near the circumference of the cap, with fixed inner cams 140 and 150, disposed between the center and the circumference, and with two movable -camsa swinging knitting-cam 160 and a work-casting cam 170. A radial or other channel 102 is formed between the fixed outer cams and 140 for the removal and insertion of needles in case of breakage.

The fixed outer cam 110 operates in conjunction with the toe of the fixed earn 140 and the heel of the movable cam 170 and is provided with a pointed projection 111. The fixed cam is provided on its inner face with three arc-shaped cam- surfaces 121, 122, and 123, the cam-surface 121 acting in conjunction with the outer portion of the workcasting cam 170, the cam-surface 122 acting in conjunction with the fixed cam 150, and the cam-surface 123 acting in conjunction with the heel of the swinging knitting-cam 160. The outer stationary cam 130 is provided with the arc-shaped cam-face 131,which acts in conjunction with the outer portion of the movable knitting-cam 160, with the pointed cam 132, which acts in conjunction with the pointed toe of said movable knitting-cam for drawing in the needles to form the stitch, and with the arc-shaped cam-face 135, which acts in conjunction with the fixed cam 140. The movable cam 160, herein called the knittingcam, is supported on a pivot- 161 and swings between the cams and 130. The oscillating knitting-cam 160 is provided on its under side with a cam-track 162, extending from its heel toward its toe, and with a cam-face 163, extending from the outer end of camtrack 162 to the pointed extremity of the cam 163. The rib 164, which forms the outer side of the cam track 162, is provided with a pointed heel end 165, which moves over the arc-shaped cam-face 123,and with a notch 166 to receivethe adjacent end of the cam 120. The cam-track 162 is thus adapted to register at its heel end either with the cam-face 123 of the cam 120 or with the cam-face 122 of said cam. This rib is also provided with a beveled outer end 167, which moves in an arc of a circle corresponding to the arc-shaped cam-face 131 of the fixed cam and is adj usted at either extremity of said curved face or at the middle thereof, according to the position in which the earn 160 is swung. cam-track 162 is thus adapted to register at its outer end either with the arc-shaped camface 131 of the fixed cam 130 or with one face of the pointed cam 132. The toe swings inside the fixed cam when the oscillating cam is in its inner positions. This too is provided with a recess 168, and this recessed toe, together with the beveled end of the fixed cam 140 and the pointed portion 132 of the cam 130, constitutes a knitting-cam groove.

The movable cam 170, herein called the work-casting cam, is supported on a pivot 171 and swings between the cams 110 and 120. This oscillating pressing-off cam is provided on its under side with a cam-track 172, extending from a point near its heel toward its toe,with a cam-face 173 opposite its heel, and with a cam-face 174 from the outer end of the cam-track to the extremity of its toe 175. The inner end of the rib 176, whichforms the outer side of the cam-track 172, swings over the pointed projection 111 of the fixed cam 110 when the cam is swung outward. The outer end of said rib delivers the shanks of the needles either onto the cam-face 121 or onto the cam-face 122 of the fixed cam 120, according to the position of the swinging cam 170. When the swinging cam 170 is in outward position, as shown in Fig. 9, the camface 174 thereof acts in conjunction with the cam-face 121 of the fixed cam 120, and when the swinging cam 170 is in its inward position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, a portion of the cam-face 174 acts in conjunction with the cam-face 122 of said cam 120. The heel camface 173 always acts in conjunction with, the fixed cam 110. When the swinging cam 170 is closed inward, its toe 175 enters between the spindle 50 and the fixed cam 150.

The mechanism for actuating the cams of the dial-cam cap may be of any suitable con- The struction, as the invention considered with reference to its broadest scope is not limited to any specific mechanism for this purpose. The actuating mechanism herein shown will now be described.

For operating the dial knitting-cam 160 a mechanism is employed which will throw out this cam a half-stroke at given times and a full stroke at other times. A lever 200 of the first order is pivoted on a fulcrum-stud 103 on the upper side of the cam-cap 100, and a link 210 connects its inner end with a stud 169, fixed to the knitting-cam 160, said stud projecting through and playing in a slot-104 in the dial-cap. A lever 220 of the second order is also pivoted to the upper side of the dial-cam cap 100 on a stud 195, adjacent to the lever 200, and a link 230 connects these levers, the connection with the lever 220- being outside its fulcrum and the connection with the lever 200 being inside its fulcrum, so that the swing of the lever 200 in one direction swings the return-lever 220 in the 0pposite direction, so that when either lever is actuated and thereby thrown into inoperative position the other lever is moved into operative position. These levers extend beyond the periphery of the dial-cap and are pro- Vided, respectively, with bent toes 201 and 221, which come in contact at proper intervals of time with an actuating device hereinafter described.

For operating the work-casting cam 170 a mechanism is employed which will throw out said earn a full stroke and withdrawit a full stroke, as required. A lever 240 of the first order is pivoted to the top of the dial-cam caplOO on the pivot 106, near the periphery of said cap and diametrically opposite, or nearly so, the lever 200. A lever 250 connects the inner end of this lever with a stud 179 on the work-casting cam 170, said stud playing in a slot 107 in the cam-cap. The outer end of the lever 240 is provided with a bent toe 241 for engaging with an actuating devicehereinafter described. A sleeve on the pivot-stud 106 is fixed to the lever 240 and carries a segment-gear 242;

A return-lever 260, fulcrumed on a stud 10S, adjacent to the stud 106, is united with a segmental gear 262, which meshes with the gear 242. This lever has a bent toe 261, adapted for contact with the actuating device hereinafter described. .When the lever 240 is actuatcd,it is moved inward, and this movement causes the pressing-off cam 170 to swing outward, and at the same time the gears 242 and 262 cause the lever 26 0 to swing into outward operative position, and when the lever 260 is actuated it moves inward and swings the pressing-off cam into inward position and at the same time swings the lever 260 into outward operative position. The actuating device for these levers may be of any suitable construction. When constructed as shown, it includes a vertical slide-rod 270, adapted to play vertically in a fixed sleeve 271, attached to the stationary annular bed-plate 20. This I rod, which projects below the bed and above the sleeve, carries at its upper end a movable contact device with which the levers 200, 220, 240, and 260 engage and by which they are operated. This movable contact device is preferably in the form of a stepped friction-disk 280, having a larger contact-periphery 281 and aboveitasmallercontact-periphery282. This disk is held on the rod 270 by means of a nut 272. A mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the rod 270 to lift or lower the contact-disk 280 to bring either of its contact-peripheries into the path of either of the levers aforesaid. The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a lifting-lever 290, fulcrumed on a stud 291 on the frame of the machine and having its outer end projecting under said rod. A sleeve fixed to the lever290 is provided with a crank-arm 292, having an antifriction-pin 293. A shaft 300 is journaled in the frame and provided with a sprocketwheel 310, carrying a pattern-chain 320, on which the pin 293 of the crank-arm 202 rides. This pattern-chain is provided at certain intervals with six pattern-cams a, b, c, d, e, and ffor lifting the lifting-lever 290 and the sliderod 270 for actuating the levers mounted on the dial-cam cap 100 for operating the movable dial-cams. The pattern-eam a, engages the crank-arm 292 by its pin 293 or otherwise and raises said arm a sufficient distance to rock the lever, so as to raise the outer end thereof into the position indicated bydotted lines a. This movement raises the slide-rod 270, so as to bring the contact-disk 280 into the position indicated by the dotted lines (L The pattern-cams b, c, d, e, and fare successively enlarged, so as to raise the contactdisk into the positions indicated, respectively, by the dotted lines b 0 d 6 and f The means shown more particularly in Fig. 11 for actuating the pattern-chain 320 comprise a slide-bar 330, supported in guideways 331 and 332 on the frame and carrying a pawl 333, which engages a ratchet-wheel 340 on the shaft 300. A spring 335 tends to pull and normally hold this slide-bar toward the left, and 'its left-hand end is engaged by a lever 350, pivoted to swing horizontally. The inner end of this lever is engaged by a cam-arm 360, secured to the central vertical shaft 30 below the needle-cylinder. This cam-arm strikes the lever 350 at each rotation of the cam-cylinder 40, and the ratchet-wheel 340 is thereby moved the distance of one tooth, and this movement causes the sprocket-wheel 310 to move the pattern-chain 320 the length of one link. A stop 351 arrests the lever 350 as it is returned to position through the action of the spring 335.

This dial mechanism is preferably applied to what is known as a full automatic seamless-stocking machine, and it may be applied to a machine of this character such as that shown in my Patent No. 537,802, dated April 16, 1895.

The knitting-cam 160 is so arranged on the cam-cap 100 as to thrust out the dial-needles at a point adjacent to the yarn-guide 401, so that the yarn may be supplied to said needles thereby. The casting-off cam 170 is so arranged on the cam-cap 100 as to push out the dial-needles at a point away from'the yarnguide 401, so that said needles maybe thrust out and retracted for casting off the work when changing to plain knitting, in which case no yarn is supplied to the needles.

A detailed statement of the operation of introducing and continuing the ribbed knitting will now be described.

During the knitting of a seamless stocking the parts in plain knitting are knit in the ordinary manner by the vertical cylinder-needles. The earns in the dial-cam cap 100 are then in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the studs of the horizontal needles travel in the inoperative form of groove or cam-track. (Shown in diagram in Fig. 4.) In this position of the cams and this shape of the cam-track formed thereby the horizontal dial-needles are entirely out of action and entirely out of contact with the yarn and out of contact with the fabric being formed, and the cam-cap may be turned freely in either direction for circular or reciprocating knitting and without bringing the horizontal needles into use. \Vhen the plain knitting is finished and the rib-knitting is to begin, the oscillating knitting-cam 160 is given a partial outward stroke into the position shown in Fig. 5, forming the threading-cam track shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and this throws out the horizontal dial-needles a sufficient distance to cause the hooked ends thereof to project beyond the periphery of the disk into position to receive yarn, which is delivered to them by an ordinary yarn-carrier 401, disposed at a point where the hooked ends of the needles which are so projected will engage the yarn, ready for the formation of stitches on the horizontal needles. By this throwing out of the knittingcam a partial stroke is effected, if the machine be constructed as herein shown, in the following manner: At each rotation of the cam-cylinder the cam-arm 360 actuates the lever 350, which thrusts the slide-bar 330 and causes the pawl to move the ratchetwheel 310 the distance of one tooth, whereby the sprocket-wheel is made to move the pattern-chain the length of one link. Just before the ribbed knitting is to begin the parts referred to have assumed the positions shown in Fig. 3, and the next movement of the pattern-chain brings the pattern-cam a under the crank-arm 292 and causes the lifting, through the lifting-arm 290 and the slide-rod 270, of the contact-disk 280 into the position indicated by dotted lines (L in which case the smaller disk 282 is in the path of the lever 200. This lever then strikes said disk and is swung inward thereby a sufficient distance to effect the partial outward stroke aforesaid of the cam 160. After this throwing out of the knitting-cam a partial or short stroke, forms a track, as in Fig. 6, and one complete rotation of the cam-cylinder, and consequently of the dial-cam cap 100,projects and retracts, by the bulge in said track, all the horizontal needles successively at a point adjacent to the yarn-carrier, and when in outward position the yarn is placed on all said dial-needles, and on their inward movement the latches are closed over the yarn laid in the hooks of the needles. Then the pattern-cam b actuates the lifting-lever 290 and causes the smaller contact-disk 282 to assume the position indicated in dotted lines 17 Fig. 2. In this position it is engaged by the return-lever 220, and the cam 160 is thereby swung back into its original position, restoring the camtrack to the concentric form shown in Fig. 4. The track remains in this form and the horizontal dialneedles in withdrawn position during a few turns of the cam-cylinder for the purpose of allowing a few courses of plain knitting to be added by the vertical cylinderneedles after the yarn has engaged the dialneedles, so as to fill up the elongated loops or stitches between the dial and cylinder needles and avoid holes being formed in the fabric. Holes would be formed if after the laying of the yarn on the dial-needles said needles were immediately brought into use, because the yarn is stretched between the dial and cylinder needles and long loops are thereby made, and by filling these loops with a number of circular courses by the needles.

of the needle-cylinder said holes are closed.

. After the filling courses are knit the third pattern-cam c indirectly, lifts the larger contact-disk 281 into the position indicated in dotted lines 0 in Fig. 2, where it is struck by the lever 200, and the knitting-cam 160 is swung out a full stroke into the position shown in Fig. 7, forming a knitting-cam groove or track, like that shown in Fig. 8, whereby the dial-needles are brought into operation, said cam 0 immediately releasing the actuating mechanism, and then at each rotation of the cam-cap 100 the horizontal needles are by the bulging portion of said cam-track successively in a group in the usual manner thrust outward and retracted, taking yarn from the adjacent yarn-carrier 401 on their outward movement and forming new loops therewith and casting off the old loops in the well-known manner on their inward movement, said needles in this operation projecting in the usual manner between those vertical needles which are moved upward at the same time. Then a long space occurs in the pattern-chain 320 between the third pattern-cam c and the next succeeding pattern-cam, a space sufficient to permit the knitting of the ribwork to constitute the ribbed leg or other part of a stocking being knit. In so knitting the horizontal and vertical needles cooperate in the usual and well-known manner, as shown in Fig. 14. The fourth cam d then lifts the larger cam-disk 281 into the position indicated by dotted linesd in Fig. 2 and the returnlever 220 comes around and strikes it and levers 220 and 200 are thereby restored to their original positions, whereby the knitting-cam 160 is swunginward to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and a cam-track similar to that in Fig. 4 is again formed, and by the so-formed cam-track all the horizontal needles are drawn back and held within the dial in inoperative position, so that their hooked ends do not project at all between the verticalneedles. Then the fifth pattern-cam (marked (2) immediately succeeding the pattern-cam (1 comes into action and lifts the larger disk 281 into the position indicated by e in Fig. 2, in which position it is struck by the lever 24:0, whereby the pressing-off or work-casting cam 170 is swung out a full stroke, forming a pressingoff cam-track for casting off the work of the shape indicated in Fig. 10, the bulging portion of which is at a point away from any yarn-carrier. This cam remains in outward position during one complete rotation of the cam -cy1inder, and the horizontal needles which pass through the grooved portion of this cam are thereby thrust outward and inward again, In the outward movement of the needles the latches thereof engage the top row of loops or stitches of the fabric being knit, which loops are disposed in the hooks of the needles, and said latches are swung open by said loops, the needles being moved outward a sufficient distance to carry the opened latches beyond said loops. Then on the inward stroke of the needles the loops slide under the ends of the opened latches and cause them to swing into closed position, the loops then riding upward on the closed latches and being cast off over the hooked ends of the needles, as shown in Fig. 19. As no yarn was supplied to the hooks of the needles during this outward movement thereof, the casting off of the loops entirely disengages the fabric being knit from the horizontal needles. The fabric is then held by the vertical cylinder-needles alone, as illustrated in Fig. 15. Then a sixth pattern-cam f on the pattern-chain comes into play and raises the larger disk 281 into the position indicated by dotted lines f in Fig. 2, and said disk is then struck by the return-lever 260, whereby it and the lever 240 are restored to their former positions and the work-casting cam 170 swunginward into normal position, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 7. Then the knitting may continue as desired on the vertical cylinderneedles, producing plain fabric until it is desired to again produce ribbed work. Then the operations described are repeated.

The friction of the gears or other parts holds the lever in the dial-cap in adjusted positions, or other means may be employed for this purpose.

The fixed and movable cams of the cam-cap form a complete reversible cam-track which positively controls the needles throughout its path in either form which it assumes under the different positions of the movable cams.

I claim as my invention- 1. A cam-cap for operating the dial-needles of a circular-knitting machine, adapted for rotation in either direction and provided with fixed cams forming segmental cam-tracks, a movable knitting-cam having a segmental cam-track, and a movable work-casting cam having a segmental cam-track, said segmental cam-tracks forming a complete reversible cam track which positively controls the needles throughout its path in either form which it assumes under the different positions of said movable cams.

2. In a dial mechanism for acircular-knitting machine, the combination of a dialneedle bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam-cap provided with fixed cams forming segmental cam-tracks, and with a movable knitting-cam having a segmental cam-track, and with a movable Work-casting cam having a segmental cam-track, said segmental camtracks forming a complete reversible cam track which positively controls the needles throughout its path in either form which it assumes under the diiferent positions of the movable cams, and automatic mechanism for shifting said movable cams into their different positions at the required intervals of time.

3. In a dial mechanism for a circular-knitting machine,the combination of adial-needle bed, needles disposed in said bed, a cam-cap provided with fixed cams forming segmental cam-tracks,and with a swinging knitting-cam having a segmental cam-track and being adjustable into three positions, to wit: an inner position in which the needles are inoperative, an outer position in which the needles are operative, and an intermediate position in which the needles take yarn, said cam-cap being also provided with a movable Workcasting cam having a segmental cam-track and being adjustable into a plurality of positions, and automatic mechanism for shifting said movable cams into their diiterent positions at the required intervals of time; said segmental cam-tracks of the fixed and mov- 5o able cams forminga complete reversible camtrack which positively controls the needles throughout its path in either form which it assumes under the different positions of said movable cams.

JOSEPH A. BURLEIGII.

Witnesses:

ALBERT O. MOORE, HENRY B. QUINBY.

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