US1571768A - Cam-control mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2 1926.

1,571,768 w. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FORKNITTING MACHINES Original Filed u y 8, 1920 10 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I BY- ATTORNEY S W. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed y 8. 1920 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,768

w. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed y 8. 1920 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 fln ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1926. 1,571,768-

W. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES ori 1fia1 3116a Ju 1y a. 1 920 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 *1 6 sh I INVENTOR Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,768 W. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed y 8, 1920 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 IE3 zizn E326 I h t I UII nT 02.5; F Dill D INVENTOR Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,768

\ w. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed July 8, 2 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 2, 1926.

w. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNI'lfTING MACHINES Original F le y 8. 1920 1o Sheets-Sheet v INVENTOR ATTORNEY s Feb. 2", 1926.

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CAMYCONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed y 8, 1920 10 Sheets-Shut 8 INVENTOR MW NEYs Feb. 2 1926 w. FELS 4 CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 1o "Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed July 8, 1920 INVENTOR M/ww 977C:

54 ATTORNEY Feb. 2 1926.

W. FELS CAM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES aim;

INVENTOR BY W7, W

I ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

U N! TE star ii,

PATENT HQ VILLIAM EELS, OF"ELBEETA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TOMAX NYDEGGEB, OF

ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

CAM OGNTROIJ MEGI-IANISM 'FOB"KNITTING vMACHINES.

Original application filed July 8, 1920, Serial No. 394,678. Divided and this applicationfiled. September 3,1921; Serial No. 498,311.

To all-whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VILLIAM Fists, a citizen of Austria, residing in Elberta, county of Baldwin, and State of Alabama, have in vented an Improvement in Cam-Control Mechanism for Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification T he present invention relates toan improvement in knitting machines, and more particularly to the lock change mechanism thereof. One object has been to provide a machine which shall be fully or partly automatic and. at the same time of relatively simple construction witha Iniiliil'llllll of mechanically controlled and actuated parts. A further object has been to provide relatively simple meansv for preventing injury to .theunachine in case of careless or erroneous operation.

It is known-that knitting machines, automatic. in-varying degrees, have been devised but these machines are usually ofcomplicated'design and involve a multiplicity of mechanical movements which not only make the machine expensive to manufacture, but also cause frequent breakdowns and make it necessary for the operator to devote considerable attention to repairs and adjustments.

According to the present invention, I utilize substantially the well known framework and opposed .front and: rear needle beds of a fiat links links machine, although I do not intend to limit the application ofthe present invention to machines-of this type,

i it being contemplated that thesame orsnnilar principles ofoperation may be applied to other types of knitting;machines with suitable modifications. In connection with the flat double bed machine, I use a reciprocating carriage preferably automatically reversible in direction and which carries with itsuita-ble means for effecting various pattern and thread changes in the knitted fabric. i1 complete operative knitting ma.- chine will prefershly include besides the lockchange or cam positioning means for controlling the action of theneedle jacks to produce either tlat or links link-soperation accordingto predetermined order, means Renewed July 21,1925.

for varying the stitch lengthv according to a predetermined arrangement, and means for changing the thread orv yarn, although the device forming the subject matter of the present applicationlwill perforni-its functions independently of the operation of the stitch length and thread changes.

Co-operating more particularly withthe lock change or: the links to flat change portion of the mechanism arranged on/the carriage, is a jack engaging device for automatically selecting jacks or combinations ofrjacks and moving theminto and'out of operative position; This device may conveniently-be referred to as a jacquardand is intended to perform automatically, and without stopping the machine, substantially the same functions which are now commonly performed only byuhandinthe case of knitted fabrics of complicated design. 5

Further elasticity in the operation of the machine and in the character of the fabric only inconjunction with or subsequent to a predetermined arrangement of the jack and needles, said arrangement and said rackingwbeing effect-ed automatically and without stopping thev machine.

It is contemplated that the lock change may be controlled automatically with other pattern changes if desired, and by electrical means through the instrumentality of a suitable pattern chart having perforations arranged inthe path'of contacts, said contacts forming part of electrical circuits connected with and controlling the operation of corresponding change mechanisms of the machine. Thus, the chart may be rotated around the periphery of a drum iii-such a way that.perforations will occur in predetermined relative positions in thepath of the contacts and at the proper time to offeet corresponding changes in the-operation of the machine and thus in'the pattern'of the fabric:- The claimsof the present application: will, lEOWQv'QI,l)Q limited to theinvention embodied in the lock change: mechanism as described and disclosedininy co pending application, Serial N0, 39%h678 ll igurc l in a front elevation.

Figure 2, a rmr elei'ation.

Figure 3, a top plan view,

it more i, one end elei tlt ton.

liiggnre 53, the opposite. end elevation. Figure ti. a rertiral section intermediate the ends,

Figure T, a diagrammatie re 'nresentation of the electriral 'ontrol s rrstei i,

liie'nre a diagrainnniti" 'e n'esentation oi. a aortion oil a sat ety circuit.

Figure it, a detail showing; top \ltW of control chart and chart actuatin ig' meehanisun.

Figure 10. a :iront View of the same partly in Section,

Figure ll. a side riew oi the same partly in section,

Figure '12. a rear eieration ot the carriage, part1; in section,

l igrnre lfi. a top plan riew oil the carriage with parts hrolten away,

Figures 1'': and 15, details of the jack switch and control mechanism,

Figure ttl. a detail. showing operation oi jack switch.

l ignne 1 a hottom plan riew ol' the cam carriage.

l ie'ure 8. a .traggnientary top plan \itW oi: loih change actuating: unit.

Figure 19. a rjcrtion on the l ne lt it oi li ieure 18.

Figure it), one end ehw'atiun oi iuiid loci; cilantro urinating unit :liiirure 9t. the oppt' ziite end elevation thereoit',

litigure ;tra;1'mentarr detents allowing); dit'l erent operatirc positions o l the loci; can

.l ienre 11 a hottom plan view ot the tech cam. and

li -i p n re fl-i. in section.

ltett'errine to the drawings, a nun-nine cm hod cingr my invention may conveniei'itly comprise a framework A supporting a t red ran. needle lied l3 and a trout needle hed C preterahlv eiidahle hoth iongrittidinally and laterally (l ienrc It). A reciprocating carriage l) i:i arra lured ahorc the needle heda iii and t. eaid carriage lacing driren lr; an suitable means Stlt'lt an a motor i operatirely connected to :1V drive chain ltil. said chain having a slotted ineniher 10:! adapted to receire and engage the free end .03 ot a lerer pirotallr mounted on the carriage at ltl lr (i iegures 3 and 18). ts hown more clearly in Figures '1 and 9, the chain 'ttl't is: mounted on sprockets ar 'anecd at; opposite enda o t the machine. Raid :fij tl ttjfllitit luili fj' ilriren it)" a holt or other a aide elevation thereot' partlr connection with the motor E. To ellee' the reeiprocz tine; tl'lOlliOll ol' the carriage, means are provided for periodi ally reversing the direction ot' the current through the armature oil the motor thuu rererefinethe dire tion ot? the chain .101. To tltitftmlpllbll the rerefising operation aut nuatically, a revere ine; switch interposed in the power or cult. said switch being controlled h a donhle rela indicated at; F in Figure T of the d 'awing s the opposed magnets of which are alternately energized at the end of each run ot' the carriage, the circuit being closed throne h suitable contacts mounted on the :l'rraneworl; of the machine and on the can riagge reapectirely. .llowerer, he'lore reversion the current in the armature oi? the motor. it desirahle to reduce the current or othe wise impede the movement of the carriage so as to aroid harmful impact thereof a t the ends of its course. As shown in Figure '4'. the motor circuit includeev the conductors 10: and .lilti. the latter (it which eontains a reuintaiue it)? and also a par: llel resiutance or manually operable rheontat lttlt l. To increase the resistance in the corn ductor lot). the rheostat 108 may atuo no periodically cut out. This is; conveniently accomplished by means of a relay including a magnet Hill. said magnet; being in circnit' with hoth magnets oi the double relay i and :1 10 with the lixed contact it at one end oi the machine. an atljustahie contact' it at the oppouite end oi the marhine, and a morahlo circuit cloning contact ll mounted on the arriagre D. For practical purpor the magnet ltttl and the douhlo re la may operate outlet-antially oimnltane ourijr. l'lowerer. the action of the doulile re n may he cti'eetirelr delarcd hi melting the lltll lltl thcrcot hearicr than the bar ll't. ihura. the current in the motor i l will he reduced either nimultaucounly with or just het'ore the chanee ol direction of the cur ent therein. tllniourl r. although l. have dc:-a -rihed an autinnatic;lly rtajiproczlingig ii -ire tor the carrinp'e. any other euitahle means tor ot-scillatine the arriae'e may he on u do e d.

l n audition to th automatic l'artnrea a, neonate with the rerernmtl' mechanism, I lno ]Jl'(i\'!(lt.tl auti'nnatic means For hare t-ontrolling and actuating in predcterminetl uucceneiiou those parts ot' the derice which operate more particularly to term the .l'ahric and to govern the clnrznrter ot the pattern thereof. This automatic control in elt'ccted through a. comhination ol. elect: 'i .al and me clu'inical arrzmeeinents which are meannrahlr simpler than those connnonly utilized to h ilar purpose in the knitting art and. at the same time etl'ecti a highly desirable unil'oi'niity and certainty ot operrtion. The control apparatus. according to our inrenliou. cooperate: {with the driring met-halit) lit)

nismjin such a manner that the necessary changes of certainparts are effected at the proper time tosecure the desired design of fabric and also to prevent injury to the machine, the latter result being accomplished through the instrumentality of suitable safety devices; The general schemeof control includes a system of circuits each having one set of contacts which engage according to a predetermined arrangement, so thatno change is effected unless bothsets of contacts are in engagementsimultaneously.- Referring-to Figures 3 and 7 of the drawings, the periodically operating contacts are represented at H, J and K,the contacts H being fixed at one end of the machine, the contacts J being slidably mountedat the other end of the machine, so that the length of stroke of the carriage may be varied, and

the contacts K being mounted on the carriage to reciprocate therewith. Thus,some of the contacts K engage all of the contacts H at eachstroke towardthe left end of the machine, while some of the contacts K engage all of the contacts J at eachstroke toward the right end of the machine. All of the contacts H and J are in circuit with a rotating drum 201, the details of which are more clearly disclosed "inFigures 9 to 11 inclusive. Intermittent movement is imparted to the drum 201 by suitable means connected with the reciprocating carriage and operated thereby. Thus, the carriage is provided with an upwardly projecting cam shaped member 202 (Figure 3) which moves in thepath of a lever 203 (Figure 6) and deflects one end of said lever utnvardly. The lever. 203 is securelyfastened-to a rod (Figure journaled in the framework of the machine and having a lever arm 205 secured at one end. A link 206 pivoted at 207 imparts a rocking motion to a pawl carrier 208 pivotally mounted at 209 (Figure 11). A spring pressed pawl 210 engages a ratchet, 211 which is operatively connected to the drum 201 and imparts intermittent movement to said drum to the extent of one step during each stroke of the carriage. A contact carrier 212 is mounted adjacent to the drum 201' and is provided with *a prurality ofperforationsadapted to accommodate plunger contacts 213 normally pressed toward the drum by means of springs 21%. The carrier, 212 is pivotally mounted at 215 and is connected to the pawl carrier 208 by means of a link 216. A spring'217 may be provided to hold the contact carrier normally in position to permit the plunger contacts 213 to engage the peripheral surface of the drum 201 oiywhen injoperation, the

surface of, a pattern chart 218 arranged to cover the surface of saiddrum. A yielding detent 219 engages the ratchet 211 to prevent lost motion. indicated in Figure 10, the

I pattern chart 218 is provided with perforaless needles tions. 220 1 which receive corresponding sprocket projections 221 extendingfrom the peripheral surface of thedrun 20 1. The surface OfeitllG-Cllttft may be provided with transverse and longitudinal markings 231 and 232, respectively, bywhichthe pattern controlling perforations 222 and may be more readily located and identified as to function. i I

Inthe embodiment of my invention-illustrated in the drawings, the pattern chart will move twice between each two of the perforations 220. In other words, the pattern chart will travel a distance equal to the distance between two perforations 220 during a cornplete oscillation of the carriage D, but the movement will take place in two increments.

hus, a change perforation 222 ocurring on the same transverse line with the perforations 220 will indicate a change-to be effected at the endof a run of the carriage in one direction while a change perforation 223 indicates a change to be effected at the end of a run of tnecarriage in the opposite direction.

In operation, the plunger contacts 213 bear. yieldingly against the surface of the pattern chart 218 and, as the perforations 222 and 223 come into register with said plunger contacts, the latter are permitted to extend through said perforations, thus, in each case, closing a circuit. This operation takes place intermediate the ends of the carriage runs so that, when the carriagereaches one end or the other of its course, one or more changes will take effect, depending upon the number of perforations through which the plungers 213 are properly projecting into contact with the drum 201.

It is contemplated that the points in the formation of thefabric at which look changes are to occur will be indicatedon the control chart by meansof suitably positioned perforations. Thus, when one-of such perforations is brought-into register with one of the pins 213, Figure 10, the corresponding circuit will be closed at the end of the run-of the carriage and whenthe proper contacts on the carriage engage corresponding contacts at either end of the machine, the lock change controlling mechanism will operate in the manner hereinafter described. For this purpose, I have including in the knitting machine embodying my invention suitable jack engaging members and meansfor controlling the longitudinal 'and vertical needle operating movement of the jacks. Referring to Figure 17, which shows the bottom surface of the cam carriage, cam surfaces 01 and 02 are arranged to ride over portions of the jacks, normally depressing the same into needle engaging position, it being; understood that double ended buttare, provided to move back and forth 1n the needle grooves of the needle heds and that suitahle jacks having needle hook engaging ends are also provided in the grooves to engage, disengage, and move the needles according to the requirements of the pattern of the knitted liahric. Adjacent to the cam surface ill) I. is a recessed portion 103, a similar recessed portion -ltl-l lies adjacentv to the cam surface 402, said recessed per tions permitting: the ks to inc te up out of: needle engaging position. Ilt: will. he noted that the tired cams lying adjacent to the rear needle hed oi the machine will term a cam groove altlo while the tixed rains lying adjacent to the trout needle hed will form a rain groove hit; said grooves cooperating in the well known war with the jack hints to move the jacks .l'orward and h l in their correspondiiur grooves in the needle heds. hen the needles are positioned in one of the heds, they will normally he in contact orlv with the jacks helongrine to that particular hed. l-lowever, where it is d z-aired to interchaml'e the needles from one lied to another for the purpose of changing the pattern, or the appearance ol the knitted fabric. or for some other purpose, means may he provided to move the needles in one hed toward the center and into such a position that under some circumstances the jacks in the opposite bed will engage the free end ol the needles to move the same immediately after the jacks in the other hed have hcen disengaged therelrom. 'lhie result ma conveniently he controlled entirely from one side of the machine, preferably h means o t a snitahle cam copperatingr with the jacks in the trout hed. For this purpose it have litOVltlttl a verticalir lirilahle or plui'iger cam -10? adapted to project, when o erativtx into the ea in groove eltltl. .ii similarly shaped lined ram 408 :torins apart of the can] tom co-operating; with the rear lied ot the machine and is equivalent to the can! -10? in every respect: except that it is not ren'iovahle or adjustable. Thus at every links pass: ":e of the carriage or moi'einent toward the left, the cam :l-(lii tluiuiit's the inc-ks and. the needles -lorward into such position that the needles 'an he engaged hv jacks in the trout hed it said jacks a re thrust forward sulliciently :lor the purpose. F

This is the Function oi the vertically slidahlc cam lt i'. ll hen this cam is out ol (met-alien on links pas age of the carriage the jacks in the trout lied do notene'ane the free end oi the needles in the rear lied and thcrel'orc said needles are not drawn across into the trout lied. l l owever, when the cam =10? is moved into position in the cam slot {106, the jacks in the :lront hed are moved forward snliicientlv to engage the free ends of the needles oi. the rear bed and said needles are withdrawn from said rear bed. but only when the carrizigre is moving, in the direction indi *ated h v the arrow. ll hen moving in the opposite direcl'iein the saine positioning; of cam 4-07 will cause the needles in the front bed to he moved into the run: hed. The operations thus far re- :lerred to generally in connection with changes from links links to 1 lat and vice versa are carried out in principle by the knitting machines in common use. .l-lowever, accord ingto my invention, I provide a novel and relatively simple and etl'ective control over the movement o't cam 40? that changes in the position o1"? said cam required by the patterninay he automatically and accuratel v brought ahout by electrical means.

llel'errine; now to .ltigrnres 18 to 2:1: inclusive, the ('till] it)? may he supported on a link lilh pivotallv mounted on a crank pin It'll) projecting iron: the surface of a disc ll-it), said disc heine' attached to a rotating rm: t'ure associated with magnet cores ll], ellfi and. ill- 3. said armature heing indicated at l-lil- (i igzure 19). According to the present construction, the mechanism controlline "am all? is capahle ol. three positions illustrated at FLY and L in ltioure The K. pos tion is hroue'ht ahout when core ll-3 is enere 4ed, the P5 position when core 411.] is (lltl'lll/Altl; and the Y position when the llow oil current is induced in core 4:12. The K and positions produce what is called that operation, while the Y position produces the links links operation or that positioning oi the cam ell-T which causes the needles to he shifted "from one hed to the other. This nieclninism indicated diagrannnatically in l ie'ure 7 at M, in accordance with which, the circuit 1:) controls core 4511 but enere'iizea said core only when the contact is clrsed at the lelt hand end ol. the machine or: in the it group ot fixed contacts. A similar circuit 15 is closed to energize core 413 when the carriage reaches the rig-ht end of its run. assuming; in each case that a corresponding perforation in chart 218 permits the complete closing of the circuit through the control chart in the manner hereinahore explained generally. The core 412- inay he energized at either end of the course (it the ca rriage and is connected with the circuit to which includes not only the conductors indicated diagrannnatically in the draiine; (Figure '7) but also a plurality ot' spring contacts lls "n HO, and 4-17. A metallic insulated contact plate 118 is mounted to rotate on the same center as the disc ,l [O hut at the opposite end of the rod. or memher support ing: hoth said disc and the armature -.l-l-.l-. The contact plate 118 has a sector shaped recess arranged to expose a surface i530 oil? lihrous or other insulating Hi1. terial underlying the plate and therefore in the path oil. the contacts illi) and 4-17, depending upon which of the coils is energizced. Thus, when the parts are in the positiou shown in Figure I19 or in the links links position a perforation oci'rnrring in be initiated.

machine, it is possible thatthere would be the control chart alongthe line of circuit 15 will close'said circuitand thus energize one ofthe -magnets411 or 413. Assuming that the core 411 is energized and that the parts'now assume theposition-Z of Figure 22, itwill be clear that core412- cannot energized when the carriage is at theright hand extremity ofits course because the'contact 415 will be restingupon the exposed adjacent to the contact plate 418, even though a perforation occurs-in the line of the circuit 16. -In'order,--therefore, to move the ca1n-407-back to links links: position, it

willbe necessary to have 1 a -perforation in the circuit 16 occurring at such a place on the control-chart that said circuit will be completed at the left hand extremity of the course of the carriage. This arrangement'ls lntended to eliminate the possibility of; erroneous or-nntimely" operation of the ca1n=407 it-has been founddesirable to in-- terpose safety devices in such a manner that, unless a? proper predetermined movement of cam '40? takes: place, furtheroperation of the machine will be prevented. In other son to perform its function according to rious injury might result to the machine if the succeeding operation were. permitted to Even if no 'IDJHIY came to the an'error in theyknitted fabric. One of such safety devices is associated with the disc 410. Referring to Figures 18 and 21, this disc is shown with a' plurality of peripheral notches 'or' depressions 419, one notch being provided-for eachiposition ofthe contact plate 418, as-indicated in Figure 22. A lever 420-pivoted-at'421whas a roller 422 mounted atitsfree end andpositioned to engage the peripheral surfaceof the dis 410, said roller being-retained 111 yielding engagement with said surface by means of a spring423. The lever 420also carriesadjacenttoits free end a-contact424 which is movable toward and a-way from a fixed contact '425. In -operation,*when the disc 410 is rotated by reason of the energizing of one of the cores 411, 412 or 413,- the roller 422 'rides' up on the cyl'indrical 'surface of the 'disc and closes the contacts -424425. I-fowever, as soon as the change is completed and the roller 422co1nes to'rest 'in-contact with one of the notches or rece'sses419; the contact 424425 isagain broken. These contacts may be inclucled-iirone of the circuits indicated diagrammatically in s Figure S,"and any one ofwhich, wheir closed, w-ili break the power circuit through operation of the relay G. T'hus,=if for some-reason the change of position of cam407 from positionY to position'X should not be entirely completed, the roller-422 would still be riding on the cylindrical peripheral surface of thedisc 410 and the contact 424425 would be closed, thus energizing the magnet of 1 relay G, and if all other settings and adjustments were correct, the machine would stopand the safety signals would indicate surface 430 of the fibre insulating material an incorrect functioning in'connection with cam 404. However, in normal operation, the change takes place at either end of the machine and substantially simultaneously.

- with'the periodic stoppingand reversing of the motor so that the closing 'of the contacts 424, 425 does not interfere with continuous and 4 effective operation.

I have previously referred to the acquard or themechanism for grouping, according to a predetermined plan, the jacks in the rear needle bed in such a manner that some or all of sa d acks maybe thrown into operative needle engaging posl'tion in their respective-grooves. I Before a rearrangement takes place, however, it is necessary to move the disengaged acks 1n the rear needle bed fronrworkingposition toward'the rear of the bed. This operation is accomplished by 1 means of;mechanism which I have identified words,- if cam 407 shouldfail -for some rea- 1 generally in- Figure 7 at N and which may conveniently be referred to as the jack switch mechanism, the mechanical features of which are more clearlyshown in Figures 13 to-17 inclusive. Referring" to Figure 1' 7, the actual jack engaging portion of the mechanism includes a switch or cam 501, interposed in the cam groove 405 in the path of the jack butts, said switch being secured to the lower end of a rod 502 (Figure-14), the upper end of which carries an armature 508 (Figure 15) positioned to cooperate with the core ofaymagnet 504. A yielding latch 505 engages flat surfaces of the armature 503 to retain said armaturein on and 0E positions, respectively. Referring now to Figure 7, the magnet 504 is energized through the circuit having the contacts 11 one of which is mounted on the reciprocating carriage of the machine, and the other of which is included in the group of contacts J, or those positioned at the right hand end of the machine. Thus, the energizing of magnet504 can take place only at one end of the machine and when a perforation occurs in the controlchart at the'proper' place to ef ect this result. Furthermore, the energizing of magnet 504 cannot take place unless the cam 407 is in position to effect links links operation of the machine. In a full automatic machine, this result is accom-' plished by interposi'ng a contact 506 (Figures 7 and 21) in the circuit 11, said contact being-arranged in the path of the crank pin 409 on disc 410, and in engagement with said crank pin or a contiguous'part only when cam 40? in the Y, or links links position. In all other positions, these contacts are out of engagement and the jack switch circuit is open. Obviously, a similarly eitective n'iovement of the cam s07 may be iade by mechanical means or by hand.

From the foregoing description of my improved knitting machine lock change mechanism and the 'lieatnres associated therewith, it will be apparent that I have devised an etl'ective means for changing the needles from one bed to the other. At the same time, I have provided satiety devices for protecting the machine against damage from untimely operation of the parts. Furthermore, I have provided reliable and convenient means for controlling operation of the jack switch so that it will operate only when the plunger cam is operating. It the plunger cam were not down or in links links position no useful result would follow from moving the switch 501 into operative position because the needles would not be properly positioned to respond to the desired change.

I. claim as my invention:

17 In a knitting machine, the combination of a cam carriage, trout and rear cam grooves formed by cams on said carriage, a cam supported on the carriage and movable into and out of cll'eetive jack operating position in one of said grooves, and electrically actuated means for moving said cam including a rotatable armature operativclv positioned with respect to a plurality of magnet-s, a link connection between said cam and the armature, and means for energizing the magnets to rotate the armature into ditterent am positioning positions.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cam carriage, trout and rear cam grooves formed by cams on said carriage. a 1am supported on the carriage and movable into and out o't etlective jack operating position in one of said grooves, and electrically actuated means tor moving said cam including a rotatable armature triperatively positioned with respect to a plurality of mag nets, a link connection between said cam and the armature, and means for selectively energizing the magnets including a circuit having periodially engaging contacts and contacts adapted to engage coincident with predetermined engagements of: the periodically engaging contacts.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination oi opposed needle beds, a cam carriage mounted to reciprocate in jack operating relation to said needle beds, a jack actuati ng plunger cam on said carriage and electrically operated means tor moving said cam into and out of operative position at predetermined intervals, comprising a plurality of circuits havii'ig magnets. cam carrying means operatively arranged with respect to said magnets, and means for closing said circuits to selectively energize the magnets.

l. In a knitting machine the combination of a reciprocating carriage, a driving motor therefor, a switch in the motor circuit, a jack actuating cam on the carriage, means tor moving said cam into or out o't" jack actuating position at the end of a run ot the carriage, and means cooperating with said cam moving means to open said motor circuit switch when the cam is being moved from one position to another.

5. In av knitting machine the con'lbination of a reciprocating carriage, a driving motor therefor, a switch in a motor circuit, a jack actuating cam on the carriage, means for moving said cam into or out of jack actuate ing position at the end of a run of the carriage, and means cooperating with said cam moving means to open said motor circuit switch when the cam is being moved from one position to another, said means comprising a relay positioned to actuate the motor circuit switch, a fixed terminal in the relay circuit, and a movable terminal in said circuit actuated by the cam moving means.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of a reciprocating lam carriage, a jack actuating cam slidably mounted thereon, electrically operated means for actuating the am including separate circuits, a terminal at the end of each run of the carriage, terminals on the carriage positioned to engage said end terminals, and circuit making and breaking means adapted to close the respective circuits at predetermined intervals to actuate the cam at the end of a run of the carriage.

7. Cam control mechanism for knitting machines having a reciprocating cam carriage, comprising a cam actuating member on said carriage, means for operatively moving said member including an armature, a magnetic circuit, and means for closing said circuit at the end ot a run or the carriage to etl'ectivelv move the arnmture.

8. Cam control mechanism tor knitting machines having a reciprocating cam earriage comprising a cam actuating member on said carriage rotatable to cam elevating and cam depressing positions, and means for operatively moving said member including an armature operatively connected and rotatable therewith, a magnetic circuit, and means for closing said circuit at the end of a run of the carriage to rotate the armature.

9. (lam control mechanism for knitting machines having a reciprocating cam carriage, comprising a cam actuating member on said carriage, means for operatively moving said member including an armature. a magnetic circuit having periodically closing contacts, make and break means normally open and means for closing said make and break means to coincide with any predetertill mined periodic closing of said contacts to move the armature.

10. Cam control mechanism for knit-ting machines having a reciprocating cam carriage, comprising a cam actuating member on said carriage, means for operatively moving said member including an armature, a magnetic circuit having contacts arranged to close at the end of a run of the carriage,

10 make and break means normally open and means operative during a run of the carriage for closing said make and break means whereby the closing of the circuit may be completed by closing of the contacts at the end of the run of the carriage.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 13 day of July 1921.

lVILLIAM FELS

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