US1244991A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

W. LARKIN CIRCULAR KNETHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED we. I3. [SIM Patented. Oct. 30, 1911 10 SHEETS-SHEET 1| W. LARKIN.

C1RCULAH KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIUN FILED 11116.13 1914.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

W Z r Iwentor- W. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MIG. I3. 1914 1,244,991. Patented Oct. 30,1917.

10 SHEETSSH ET 3.

uifiing 6312's imz a/ 161i 4%y4 filverzibr W. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITVTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3.1914.

Patel'lted 0015.30, 1917.

I0 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

W. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-13.1914.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917 I0 SHEETS--SHEET 5.

W. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-13.1914

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5 W. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHJNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3.1914. 1,244,991. 7' Patented 001;. 30,1917.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 7- @8638? izveraiw hw /ww 472%: M

W. LARKIN w .U'TJMR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3. 1914.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

w. LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 13 1914.

Patented 0013. 30, 1917.

\0 SHEETS-SHEET 9'.

five for W; LARKIN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION mm us. 13. 19M.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

f ar' inafter described and set forth in the claims. 80

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER LABKIN, 013 BOSTON, IASSAGHUSETTS, ASBIGNO B T0 JENCKES KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, 01 PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND; A CORPORATION OF nnonn ISLAND.

' cr'ncummxm'r'rme macnmn.

Specification of Letters Intent. Patented Oct, 1917 Application filed August 18, 1914. Serial No. 858,547.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER LABKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sulfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knittin .Maehincs; and I do hereby declare the fol owing to be a full, clear, and exact de' scription of the inventiomsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to that class of circular knitting machines in which the needles are mounted in a needle cylinder and are operated upon by cams and pickers arranged about the cylinder, the relative movements 7 between the needle cylinder and needle operating cams and pickers requisite for knitting a tubular fabric provided at intervals with heel and toe pockets being produced by rotarry needle cylinder or cam cylinder.

Theobject of the invention'is to improve and simplify the construction and arrange ment of the various parts and mechanisms of a. machine of this type, and tothat end, the invention comprises the features of constructions and combinations of parts here- The various features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings andthe following detailed description of the machine illustrated therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a knitting machine embodying the various features of the invention in their preferred forms; Fig. 2 is a left hand side elevationgFig. 3 is a plan; Fig. l is a vertical sectional ,view through the knittmg head; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the latch ring;Fig. 6 is a detailed 'viewof the cam plate for controlling the yarn carrier fingers; Fig, 7 isia detail view of the throat plate; Figs. 8,9 and loare detailviews of the; high splicer cam; Fig. 11. is a. vertical sctionalview. through thedriving niechanism .for the needle cylinder; Figs. .12, 13, yllgand lfi are detail views of the ,fabric take-up; Fig. 1 6 is a plan view of the cam cylinder; Fig. 17 is a view showing the nterior of that section of the cam cylinder which carries the knitting cams and pickers;

Fig. 18 is an exterior view of the same; Fig. 19 is a sectional detail on line Ill-19 of and reciproca'tory niovcuieiu's of the Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a detail plan view of the leveling cam and its operating d ices; Fig. 21 is a sectional detail on line 2 -2l, Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a detail view of the drum which carries the cams for eontrollin the various mechanisms of the machine; igs. 23 and 24 are details of the cam drum and a part of its actuating mechanism; Fig. 25 is an end view of the cam drum and the ratchet wheel through which it is actuated; Fig. 26 is a detailed elevation showing the pattern chain and the drum actuating mechanism; F i 27 is a plan view of the parts shown in ig. 26; and Fig. 28 is a detail -the needle cylinder, a series of yarn carrying fingersfor delivering yarn to the needles and for changing the yarn during the. knit ting, and an intermittently revolving cam drum carrying the various cams for automatically operating and controlling the various .parts and mechanisms of the machine. The machine is also prrnidcd with mechanism for raising and lowering the needle cylinder to vary the length of stitch at different parts of the stocking, and with mechanism for leueling the needles for the purpose o f transferring rib tops thereto i when the machine is being operated to knit half hoseq The '.maclline is also provided with a fabric take-up fdr taking up the knit fabric as the knitting progresses.

In the construction shown, the needles 1 are mounted in. a. needle. cylinder 2 which is mounted to slide vertically on a sleeve 3 and is connected to rotate'therewith by .a key 4, (Fig. 4);: The needlecylinder is 'SIIPPOI'tEdLOH a support 5 and runs on ball bearings -6 interposed between the needle cylinder and the needle cylinder support. The needle cylinder is retained 0nthe support by a bar 7, one end'of which is secured to the support and the other end of which is offset to engage a groove formed in the needle cylinder, the bar being made in sections So that it may be adjusted. Theneedle cylinder support is formed on an arm 8 secured to the upper end of a rod 9 which is mounted to slide vertically in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine. The rear end of the arm 8 is provided with a series of adjustable screws 10 which are arranged to be engaged by a series of cams carrie'chbytl'reram' drum 11, the cams being properly arranged and termed to raise and lower the needle cylin der to vary the tension or length of stitch at various times in the knitting, as is customary in this type of machine. The arm 8 also carries an adjustable screw 12 arranged to bear on a cam 13 formed on the hub of a lever 14 which is mounted to turn loosely on the rod 9 (Fig. .The lever 14 may be turned by the operator to raise and lower the needle cylinder in transferring. The needle cylinder is rotated or reciprocated through a. bevel gear 15 formed on the lower end of the sleeve?) and engaged by a bevel gear 16 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 17 and adapted to be connected with a rotary -pinion 18 which is secured to the shaftor to an oscillating pinion 1f) whichis loosely mounted on the shaft. 'lhemeans for connecting the driving gear 16 with one or another of the pinions comprises a clutch bolt 2tl 'iiiounted to slide in the hub of the gearand arranged .to be shifted into engagelucnt'with notches or recesses in the pinions. The clutch bolt is connectedto a sleeve 21 mounted to slide on the hub of the gear .16 and prop-'ided with'an annulargroove' which is engaged by a yoke 22 mounted on the forj ward endjof a lever 23 .(Figs. 1, 2.1and 22).

The rear end of the lever 23 is arranged to .be engaged bv cams 24 on the cam drum 11 which operate the lever to shift the bolt from one pinion to the other at the proper intervals to change the motion of the needle cylinder. The shaft and therefore the pinion 18 are continuously driven during the knitting either at a highera low speed and the pinion 19 is oscillated through a segment 25 which is connected througha link 26 with a crank pin 27 carried bya gear 28 which meshes with the pinion 18. The pinion 18 is driven at a high speed through a pulley 29 loosely mounted on the shaft and carrying a gear 30 meshing with a gear 31, the hub of which is connected with the hub of a gear 82 meshing with the pinion 18; The pinion 18 is. driven at a slower speed through a pulley 33 secured to the shaft 17 and arranged at the side of the pulley 29. The loose pulley 34 on to which the belt is shifted when the machine is to be stopped runs loosely on the hub of the slow 69 speed pulley A .crank handle 35 is con- .nected with the end of the driving shaft through a ratchet mechanism indicated at 36' so that the machine may be turned by hand when desired. a This construction of driving mechanism for the needle cylinder is simple and compact and does not involve the use of comparatively long sleeves for securing connections between the difierent 'pulleys and gears. It also enables the drivmg shaft to be readily mounted in ball bearings'with a resulting reduction in the friction and wear.

cams 37 formed on the cam drum 11 and arranged to engage the upper end of an arm 38 secured to the belt shipper rod 39. The rod Bil carries a belt shipper i0 and is forced ina direction'toshift the belt on to the high speed pulley 29 by a spring 41. The belt may be shifted on to the loose pulley automatically by a cam secured to the cam drum and arranged to engage the arm 38, or it niay be shifted manually by the operator through a handle 42 projecting from the belt shipper. The belt shipper may be latched in position with the belt on the loose pulley by a latch t3 engaging the handle 42. The latch may be thrown up by the operator to release the belt shipper and thus shift the belt onto the high speed pulley.

The cam drum 11 is moved at proper intervals through a ratchet wheel 14 secured to the end of the drum and; engaged by a pawl 45. pivotally' mounted on the upper end of apawl carrying lever 46 (Figs. 2, 11, 25 and 28). The engagement of the pawl with the ratchet is normally prevented by a. guard 47 arranged to underlie the pawl.

The guard is in the form of a lever pivotally mountedbn a. stud 4S and is provided with a. laterally projecting boss 49 to which an arm 50 is secu'ied- The arm 50 also pivotally engages the stud 48.

connected with a spring 52 which-normally holds the guard lever 1n a position toprevent the engagement of the pawl 45 with The guard lever-is also provided with a rearward PIOjGCtlOIl be engaged by a series of lugs 5st on thepattern chain 55-. When one of the lugs rides under the finger 53, the pawl guard is ldwered, as indicated in dotted lines iii Fig. 25, to permit the pawl 4L5 to engage 'oneof .the teeth of the ratchet l1 and thus advance the camdrum. The teeth on the ratchet 44 are of different lengths and the lugs 54 on the pattern. chain are of different heights so that the guard lever may lowered the proper distance in accordance with the length of the tooth which is y be engaged by the :pawl. The pattern cha'n which controls the feeding movements 7f the gem drum passes over a sprocket wheel Z56 loosely mounted on the stud w ch carries the'cam z'" drum and also passes over the guide sprocltg,

bets 57 and 58. The patterii chain is intermittently advanced during the running of the machine through a ratchet wheel 59 secured to the rear side of the sprocket wheel and arranged to be engaged by a pawl 60 pivotally mounted on the upper end of the pawl carrying lever 46. The pawl 60 rides over a guard 61 so arranged that the pawl will advance the ratchet wheel one tooth at each reciprocation of the pawl carrying lever. The pawl carrying lever is oscillated from the segment lever through an arm 62 projecting upwardly from the hub of the segment and provided with a slot engaging a pin 63 on the lower end of'the pawl carrying lever. The pawls 45 and 60 are forced in a direction to engage their respective ratchet wheels by a spring 64 connecting the pawls. i

The knitting cams for forming the knitting waves in the needles and the pickers for effecting the narrowing and widening are mounted on a semi-cylindrical support 1 65 which is secured to the base plate of the machine and for ms one section of the stationary cam cylinder. This section of the cam cylinder embraces substantially onehalf of the needle cylinder while the other half is surrounded by a cam cylinder seccam will be described later.

tion 66 formed of a series of plates 67 separated by the spacing collars 68 which surround the retaining bolts 69 by which the section is secured to the base plate and which 'are interposed between the plates 67. The

upper plate of the skeleton section forms a continuation of the supporting ledge for the needle butts when the needles are on the knitting level while the space between the lower and middle plates forms a continuation of the leveling groove into which the needle butts are directed in leveling the needles for transferring work. This construc tion enables the cam supporting cylinder to be economically and conveniently constructed and also enables the cam carrying" right to left in Fig. 17 when the needle butts are in the leveling groove 79. The needle elevatin cam 76 so mounted that it may be with rawn radially from the path of the needle butts, so that the needle butts will pass down into the leveling groove 79 when the needles are to be "leveled for transfer work. The means for withdrawing this The support 65 also carries the two lifting pickers 80 and the two depressing pickers 81. The lifting pickers are arranged above the stitch cams and 71 and are mounted" to swing v about inclined axes, as indicated in Fig.-

ment with the needle butt, the other p1cker is moved down into active position by a lever 82 pivoted on the outside of the support 61 and having its ends arranged to engage the pickers and transmitmotion from one picker to the other. The needle depressing pickers 81 are mounted on horizontal givots 83 carried by vertical pivot studs 84. l prings 85 mounted on the pivots 83 act 1 to force the pickers yieldingly upward. The pickers are caused to swing downward when engaged by the needle butts by the guide cams 86. The pickers arenormally held down in inactive position, as indicated in Fig. 17, through levers 87'. One end of each lever engages an arm 88 projecting from one of the pivot studs 84, and the other end of each lever is engaged by the vertical arm of a bellcrank lever 89, thehorizontal arm of which rides on a cam 90 on the cam drum; 11. The cam 90 is provided with openings or depressions 91 which are brought into register with the bell crank lever 89 and allow the pickers to move up into active position when the widening of the fabric on the heel or toe is to beg1n.-

It will be noted that in the constructi.

shown the depressing pickers 81 are arranged on the same side of the needle cylinder as the lifting pickers and stitch'cams. This arrangement of the pickers in a. ma .chine in which the needle cylinder is 1'0- tated an reciprocated makes it necessary, in order that the depressing pickers may be throw i to action at the proper time in the reci ii'odlttion of the needle cylinder, that the movement of the cam drum 11, which brings the depression 91 into register with the lever 89 and thus throws the pickers into operation, should take place at a different time from the timing of the movements which are imparted to the drum by its actuating pawl 45. actuating mechanism is therefore provided for actuating the cam drum to throw the needle depressing pickers into operation.

In the construction shown, thisactuating- An independent .lLlO

&

ment is at the lower end of its stroke. Now, as the segment completes its upward stroke, the end of the segment strikes the lug 02, as indicated in Fig. 23, and moves the cam drum forward from the position indicated in Fig. 23 to the position indicated in' Fig. 24, this movement oi the cam drum bringing the depression 91 into register with the end of the lever 89 and throwing the depressing pickers into operation. H

.\ latch ring 01 surrounds the upper ends of the needles and is mounted upon a pivot stud 05 so that it may he swung upout ot the. way for transfer work tor inspection. The latch ring provided with an arm 90 on the side opposite the pivot stud 95 which rests in a notch formed on the upper end of the support post 97. (Fig. l.) The pivot stud for the latch ring is so mounted in a support 08 that it may be adjusted toward or from the needles to bring the latch ring into proper position with relation to the needles. As shown in Fig. 5, the latch ring is provided with two rearwardly projecting lugs 99 which tit between the two side plates 100 of the support 08. passes through the lugs J9 and into enlarged holes in the side plate 100. The pivot stud is secured in position by screws 101 which pass through adjusting plates 102 and into the ends of the pivot stud. The plates 102 are mounted in guideways formed in the.

outer surfaces of theplates 100 and are clamped in adjusted position by the clamp ing screws 103 which pass through slots in the plates 102 and are screwed into the side plates 100. The adjusting plates 102 may be adjusted in their guideways to move the pivot stud forward or back, and after the adjustment is made, the plates may he firmly secured in position by the clamping screws 103. The screws 101 may be tightened to spring the side plates inward so that they will frictionally engage the lugs 99 and frictionally hold the latch ring in an' posi- 'tion into which itmay be moved y the operator.

The latch ring carries a throat plate 104 through which the yarns are fed to the needles, the lower corners 105 of the opening in the throat plate forming guides over which theknitting yarn. passes. The sides I of the opening in the throat plate are inclined, as indicated in Fig. 7, to act as cams for turning down any needle latches which may-swing outward into the opening in the throatplate as the inactive needles are pass: ing during the reciprocatory knitting. The throat plate is so mounted in the latch ring that it may be adjusted vertically to bring its guiding surfaces into proper relation to the needle. As shown, the throat plate is provided with lateral projecting lugs 106 which fit within grooves 107 formed in the latch ring, and the throat plate is held in The pivot stud 9o plate 112. .the yarn guides 121 and the yarn carrying upper ends of rods 111 which are mounted to slide longitudinally through holes formed in the guide plates 112 and 113. The lower ends of the rods are arranged to directly engage a series of cam ribslli secured to the cam drum .11 and constructed to raise and lower the rods at the desired timesand in the desired sequence. The yarn carrier rods a re provided near their upper ends with inclined portions 115 which, in sliding through the guide plate 112, act as cams for giving the yarn fingers a radial movement across the tops of the needles when the rods are raised or lowered to withdraw or insert their yarns. The yarn carrier rods are pulled downward hy springs 110, and when in position to deliver yarn to the needles, the yarn carrying fingers at the upper ends of the rods rest on the pivot 95 of the latch ring, as indicated in Fig. 4. In the construction shown. there are six yarn carrying fingers, and in order that the outer fingers may move in the proper direction to carry their. yarns into proper relation with the opening in the throat plate, means are provided for swinging the yarn fingers laterally as they are moved vertically to insert or withdraw the yarn. In the construction shown, this means comprises a series of cam slots 117 formed in a cam plate'118 which is secured to the .rear side of the support 98. The yarn carrier rods are provided with blocks 1-19 adjustably secured thereon by screws 120 which also pass thronghg'the slots 117 and coiiperate therewith in guiding and swinging the yarncarrier rods.

The difi'erent yarns are led tothe yarn carrying fingers through guide eyes 121 secured in an upper extension of the guide (Figs. 3 and 1.) In .order that fingers 109, which are mounted independently of the latch ring, may be moved back out of the way whenthe latch ring is raised and thus avoid danger of tangling the yarns, the guide plate 112 is so connected with the latch ring that the final upward movement of the latch ring will. move the guide plate radially away from the needles. As shown, theguide plate is mounted upon a rod 122 mounted to slide in a bearing in the. sup-,

port 98, and the plate is provided with ears 123 carrying a rod 12-1 which. passes through the ears and through slots formed in links 125 the forward ends of which are pivotally connected with lug 120 on the latch ring. When the latch ring is swung up the links 125 first slide idly back onthe rod 124. until the front ends of the slots 124 engage'the rod, when the further upward movement of the latch ring causes the guide plate 112 to be moved rearwardly, This moves the yarn carrying fingers back away from the needles. When the latch ring is returned to normal position, the links 125 act to return the yarn carrier fingers to their normal position, indicated in Fig. 4.

One of the yarn carrier fingers is designed to carry the splicing yarn, which is usually inserted andwithdrawn during each course in. knitting certain parts of a stocking. In the construction shown, the means for operating the splicing-yarn carrier finger, when it is lowered into active position by its cam 114, comprises a cam secured to the cylinder operating gear 15 and constructed to positively raise and lower'the yarn carrier finger at predetermined points during each rotationof the needle cylinder. As shown, the splicing cam is in theform of a cam rib 127 secured to the upper face of the gear 15 nd isforrned in sections, the ends of which overlap 'so'that the length of the cam rib may be adjusted, as indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

. This cam coiiperates with an arm 128 secured from under the arm- 128'. As 'this occurs, 5 the finger 129 rides under the "inclined end i to the rod of the splicing yarn finger and provided with a laterally projecting finger 129 adaptedto ride on the earn 127 (Fig.

The leading end 130 of the cam127 is inclined to ride under the end of the arm 123 and liftthe yarn finger-sufliciently to with draw the yarn. The 'yarn finger remains in inactive position un'tll'the cam 127 passes of seam 131 arranged at the end of the earn 127, "and the yarn carrier finger is positively drawn down into active position to inser; and feed; the yarn to the needles.

When the yarns are changed, the yarn which is withdrawn'is sev d and the ends of the inactive yarns are eld by a clamp mounted upon the latch ring, and arranged Within the needles. As shown, the yarn cutterand yarn clamp are mounted on a support 132 secured to the latch ring and carrying a plate 133 located mithin the needles. The clamp 134 projects laterally from a I clamp lever 135 pivoted upon a bracket car ried by the plate 133. (Figs. 3 and 4,) The clamp is forced in a direction to clamp the yarns upon the plate 133 by a spring-pressed pin 136 engaging an arm dependingfrom the lever 135. The yarns are guided under the clamp by a guide finger 137. The cutter 138 is pivotally supported on the plate 133 and is arranged to cooperate with a shear blade 139 secured to the rear edgeof the plate. The rearend of the cutter lever everlies the rearend of the clam lever 135 so that-when the cutter lever 1s operated to raisethe cutter the clampis also raised, and

.to the loose pu .the leveling groove.

when the cutter is released to sever the yarn the clamp is also released to clamp the sevcred end. The'cutter is held closed by a spring-pressed pin, indicated at 140, similar to the pin 136. A spring 141 on the pivot stud of the cutter holds the cutter in osition to cooperate with the shear bla e 139. The means for operating the clampnhd cutter comprises a iever 142 the front end of which engages the rear end of the cutter lever and the rear end of which is engaged by a verticaily sliding rod 143. The lower end. of the rod is engaged by a series of cams 144 secured to the cam drum 11 and arranged to operate the cutter and clam at the proper intervals.

W on using the machine to knit half hose, the yarn carrier finger which carries the toe yarn is automatically raised to run off the stocking, the needles are automatically lev eled preparatory to the transfer of a ribbed top. thereto, the yarn carrier finger which carries the yarn to be used at the beginning of, the knitting is released b the operating cam on the cam drum, an the belt shifter is operated to shift the belt on lay and sto the machine. These operations all take p ace during the last feeding movement imparted to the cam. drum. In order to effect the leveling of the needles, the needle lifting cani 76 is partially withdrawn at the time when the longbutt needles are passin the cam. The butts of the short-butt nee les then pass down" into the leveling groove '79-, and while the s'horobutt butts are passing the cam 76,. it is completely withdrawn so that the butts of the long-butt needles also pass down into In the construction shown, the cam 76' is formed on the inner end ofa U-shaped slide 145, the arms of which embrace 'a guidin rib 146 formed on the guide plate.147 w ich is secured to a lug 148 proJecting from the cam mpport :65.

(Figs. 16 to '21.) The meansfor withdrawing teslide 145 and cam 76 comprises-a lever 149 one end of which engages a notch 150 in the side of the slide 145 and the other end of which is arranged to be engaged by one arm of a bell crank lever 151. The other arm of the bell crank leveris arranged to engage a cam 152 which is secured to the cam drum when the ma} chine is to be used for transfer work. During; the last feeding movement of the cam drum, the low part of the cam 152 rides. undeuthe bell crank lever 151 and artially'withdraws the cam 76, as above escribed. After the long-butt needles have. passed the cam 76, the continued movement of the cain drum brin the high art of the earn 152 under the 11 crank ever 151,

thus completing thewithdrawal ofthe cam 76. When the cam is thus completely withdrawn, it'isretained in position by {latch 153 arranged .to en the underside of t e long arm of the U-shaped slide 145. The at i in a direction to engage v a spring 155. The latch' is provided-With a projecting finger 156,;by which the oper ator may operate th latch to release the cam carrying slide" 14 is thus released, the springressed pin 157 forces the cam slide radia ly inward and the cam rides against the ends of the needle butts until the tshort-butt; needles have passed the cam, when the first long-butt needle will ride fupon the cam and be brou ht into position to knit. As soon as the s iort-butt needles have passed the cam,

it will move into its normal position, so that all the needle butts will ride u on the cam and the needles will bs-bmu ht into knitting relation to the knitting cams. The operator thus releases the cam 76 after .the transfer ch forced? th notch by;

When the cam slide '.gear 3 and is held against rotation in one as the disk 17 0 travels around the stationary age a notch 154 track 171. Thedisk 170 carries a planet pinion 172 which engages a gear 173 connected with the .roll 162 and also engages wg'ear 174 which surrounds the hub of the 70 direction by a spring-pressed pawl 175. The gear 173 has one more tooth than the gear 174..so that the mile-1624s.sloivlx rptated in a direction to draw the fabric ddiiifiward track 171. The bracket" 164 carrying the 'takeup mechanism is mounted to slide freely onguide rods 17 6 so that the take-up of the ribbedtop to the needles has been' effected, in the usual manner. When the lever 149 is operated to withdraw the cam 76 from the path of the needle butts, a vertical stopfinger 158 formed on the lever is brought into position under the block 119 on the yarn carrier rod which carries the yarn to be used at the beginning of the kn tting, s'o that theyarn carrier is. retained 1n inactive position. until after the transfer has been efl'ected'. Then the operator rehead 160 which is open on one side -'-an I ;whic h supportsthe fabric take-up. A can" or receptacle 161 is secured to the lower end of the head 160 and receives the finished I 501 prises two take up rolls' 162 and 163. which.

. leases the cam 76.-preparatory to'beginning finger 15.8 moves out the knitting, the stopv of active osition, t, us releasing th'emyarn carrier ,lsci hat t ya fear i r' d'n ii down into act eposition and'presents t e yarn to the ffimactive. needle. ,"The cam 152 is removed --from the cam drum when ladies stockings are to be knit.

the head; 160 that it may be readily removed. As shown, the removable rod 176' or instep v t-h'e' begin of the heel or toe and for reoo amiss:

mechanism is free to climb u the fabric and relieve the frictional engagement of the disk 170 with the track 171 and thus maintain a practically uniform tension on the fabric, Infforder that the take-up mechanism may be' readily -inserted in they head 160 or removed therefrom, the bracket 164 is provided with an open slot 177 for engaging one of the guide rods 176 while the other guide rod passes through a hole 178 in the-bracket and is so supported in passes loosel through guide holes formedv in the .uper angeof the head 160 and in a lug 179 near they lower end of the head,

and the rod is supported in position by a pin 180 which rests on the flange at the upper end 'ofthe emp. The-ca 181 for raising the long-butt needles into the inactive plane at eedles to the active-plane at the complfctlon of the heel. or toe, is pivotally The knit fabric passes down through; a

fabric tube 159,-the upper end ofwhich is connected with the 1 gear 15. through motion is imparted bythe needle cy The lower end of the fabric tube'carne fabric. Theffabric take-up mechanism comasupporting .bra cket' 164. pp. P r61 5 162 is? mounted on a 16"Z);, while the lowerioll is; provided formed infthe end plates of the bracket 164. The trunnions are; supported upon rods 168 which underlie the trunnions and I are provided with vertical extensions acted .upon bysprings 169 which tend to force the lower roll firmly. against theuppcr .m1l.------ e inechanism for 'drivipg...-.the--- upper roll 'Y,.'162 comprise" 1a. f'rictjio'ii disk 170 loosely mounted on the' end of the shaft 165 and "j arranged to on a circular stationary and described in em stood thatthis'jconstructi'on and arrange- 125 mentare not essential to the broader fea- Y1 mounted in a bracketj1'82'secure'd to the base plate of the machine andis operated through .a rod183; one-end of which is pivoted. toran'jai'm connected with the hi 1 :1 cam anil. the. other end of which directly ilizg'ages the cams Q-and. 22.)

1 85 on the cam "drum. The cam -1'81 is f held in i l yarns into-and outer-acute through 187 11e ...1 ower ends of which are connected. .-to =tlie; rearends of the levers 188 and the foi it'jartl ends -of-which .are arranged to e ngage-camribs 189 on the cam d m WW" i I While it is preferred toi ejinploy the con struction and arrangement of parts shown odying all the features of the invention in an automatic knitting machine adapted to knit either fashion stockings or half -hosey-it is to be undertures of the invention and may be varied or modified without departing therefrom.

Having-explained the nature of the invention and specifically described one form rmal po tron, indicatedrin -Fi'g. 2,.by a- 110 1. A circular knitting machine having, in

' combination, arotary needle cylinder, inde pendently movable needles mounted there in, i'ieedle operating cams, a series of rods having yarn carrier fingers at their upper ends, inclined portions below the fingers, a guide plate havingholes through which the inclined portions jqof sth'f rods slide as the reds are raised and'gloivered, and meansfor raising and lowering the rods.

2. A. circular knitting machine having, in combination a rotary needle cylinder, independcntly m vane needles mounted therein, needleope cams, a series of .vertically slidingrodsp ovided with laterally projectingy rjn carrier fingers, and means for raising rid-lowering and for swinging the rods. rcular knitting machine having, in

combination, a rotary needle cylinder, inde-,

needles, a series of yarn carrier fingers, and means for lillhlllg and lower ng the lingers and for swinging them laterally.

5. A. circular knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted therein, needle operating cams, a latch ring, and a threat plate through which yarn is directed to the needles vertically adjustable in the latch ring.

U. a A. circular knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted therein,

. needle operating cams, a latch ring, a threat plate through which yarn is direetcdto the needl s, vertical guides in the latch ring for receiving the throat plate, and clamping screws for adj ustahly securing the throat plate in the guides.

77. A. circular knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted therein, needle operating earns, a pivoted latch rin a threat plate in the ring through whic yarn is directed to the needles, yarn carrier lingers mounted independently of the latch ring. and ,devices operated by the raising and lowering of the latch ring for moving the fingers,back and for returning them to normal position. .1

8. A circular knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted... therein, needle operating cams, a pivoted latch ring, a threat plate in the ring through which yarn is directed to the needles, a series of vertically movable rods provided with yarn carrier fingers, a guide plate through which the rods slide, and connections between the plate and latch ring for moving the plate away from the needles during the final 11pward' movement of the latch ring.

9. A circular knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted therein, needle operating cams, a yarn carrier rmsplicing yarn, a concentric driving gear for the needle cylinder, and a cam on the gear for raising and lowering the yarn carrier to withdraw and insert the splicing yarn.

10. A circular knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, independently movable ncedles mounted therein, needle operating cams, a yarn carrier for splicing yarn, a cam for raising and supporting the yarn carrier to withdraw the yarn from the needles, and a cam at the end of the supporting cam for drawing down, the yarn carrier to insert the yarn.

11. A circular knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, independently movable needles mounted therein, needle operating cams, a vertically movable rod provided with a yarn carrier finger, a cam for supporting and releasing the rod, an arm on the rod, and a segmental cam traveling with the needle cylinder arranged to act on the arm to raise and lower the yarn carrier finger when the rod is released by its supporting cam.

' WALTER LARKIN.

Witnesses BURTON W. CARY, Ina L. FISH.

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