US2026745A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1936. J M L 2,026,745

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 7 Sheets-Shet 1 m 2/! M M M ii/ Jan. 7, 1936. E J MARTEL 2,026,745

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1936'. J. MARTEL 2,026,745

I 'KNITTIN'G MACHINE Filed Nov. '5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan, 7, 1936. EH]. MARTEL 2,026,745

KNITT ING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 7, 1936. J M L 2,026,745

KNITTING MACHINE Filed No r. 5, 1932 I 7 Sheejs-Sheet 5 [if I p 12/ Z/ I Z70 ZZZ E iza/2% Jan. 7, 1936. r J. A T E I 2,626,745

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 7, 1936. D E J MAR-[EL 2,026,745

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 III 3 P atented flan. 7, 1936 .UNIT'ED, STATES RA TENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE new I. Martel, Laconia, an. Application November 5, 1932, Serial No. 641,371

20 Claims. (o1. 66-51) -This invention relates to knitting machines of the circular type adapted to knit tubular objects such as seamless hosiery. The ordinaryseamless stocking is ill-fitting since the angle portion thereof is not'small enough in comparison with the top portion to fit snugly about the ankle. It

is an object of this invention to provide a circular knitting machine which is capable offashioning,

that is, which can knit tubular work with an.in--

creasing or decreasing numberpf wales. To this end, I provide a machine such that the circumference of the needle cylinder thereof, as well as the number of active needles therein, may be-increased or decreased during the operation of the machine. As hereinafter described in detail, I provide a two-part needle cylinder, theparts of which are hinged together and are adapted-to overlap.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description of an embodiment thereof, and to the.

drawings, of which,--

Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a knitting machine embodying the invention, certain parts being omitted to avoid confusion of detail.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine partly illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line t of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is an elevation of a stitching cam.

Figure '1' is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an elevation of a post showing cam actuators mounted thereon.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of Figure 8 showing the cam actuator mechanism in more detail.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the needle cylinder and certain otherportions of the apparatus associated therewith, this view being taken on the line iii-Ill of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus as indicated by the line il-il of Figure 10.

Figures 12, 13, :14 and'15 are fragmentary sectional views of the overlapping portions of the cylinders, the several figures showing the parts in different relative positions. I

Figure 16 is a perspective view of portions of the needle cylinders and mechanism for moving certain of the needles into and out of operative posi- Figure 17 isa fragmentary plan view of the Y Figure 19 is asection on the line lS-IS of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a sectionalview similar to Figure 19 showing parts in different positions.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 18;

Figures 22 to 29, inclusive, illustrate various successive positions of a needle and the loop changer in the step of transferring a loop from one needle to the next needlein fashioning. 10

Figure illustrates a fragment of a knitted fabric which can be made on the machine illustrated.

Figure 31 illustrates a fashioned: stocking which can be knit by a machine embodying the invention.

As the invention relates to improvements in knitting machines of the circular type, embodimerits of the invention may take the form of structural additions to and changes in the 20 standard circular knitting machines known and used in the art. Hence, in the embodiment illustrated on the drawings, portions only of a standard knitting machine are shown, many other portions such. as arecustomarily parts 25 of such machines being omitted to avoid con-s fusion of detail. According to the invention, a

I bed or frame, a portion of which is indicated at 40. Ahorizontal gear wheel 4| is supported by this frame and is driven by any suitable driving meansthrough a gear wheel 42 meshing therewith. The needle cylinder, instead of being the customary unitary hollow cylinder, is made in two parts, according to the present invention, one part 45 being approximately semi-cylindrical the other part 46 being approximately semi-conical. The semi-cylindrical portion of the needle cylinder is hereinafter referred to as the long cylinder,

the other portion'of the needle cylinder being re- 45 ferred to for convenience as the short cylinder.

.Each of these cylinders is provided with external milled slots in which the knitting needles are slidabiy mounted, long needles 4! being mounted in the long cylinder 45, shorter needles 8 being 5 mounted in the short cylinder 46. The long cylinder is supported by suitable pins 50 which extend through holes in the gear wheel 4| and rest on a ball bearing member 5|; The ball bearing member 5| in turn rests upon a cylinder tube 52 55 which is vertically adjustable in the bed plate 40 so that the needle cylinder is also vertically adjustable. The short cylinder 46 is supported by the long cylinder 45, these cylinders being hinged together as by a hinge pin 55 extending through 13 which is mounted in the bracket 56. outer end of the shaft 'II is mounted a pair of brackets 56 ahd5'l secured respectively to the-long and short cylinders. As shown in, Figure 5 the portions of thelong and short cylinders remote from the hinge are adapted to overlap, the long and short cylinders being relatively swingable on the hinge to increase or diminish the amount of overlap within defined limits. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the long cylinder does not swing toward or from its axis of rotation for varying the overla such adjustive movement being confined to the short cylinder. Mechanism for varying the overlap is provided, such mechanism comprising a flat [semi-ring 60 which is secured to the bracket 56,

and a similar'semi-ring 6| above the semi-ring 60, the semi-ring 6| being secured to and-supported by the short cylinder 46 as by suitable bracket 62. On the portions of the semi-rings 60 and 6t remote from the hinge are mounted guide members 65, 66 (Figures 1 and 3) to maintain the long and short cylinders in their proper relation to each other. Near the guide members and 66 on the semi-rings 60a'nd 6| are a pair of racks 61 and 68, these racks facing each other so that a pinion 10 may ride between them and mesh with both of them. The pinion I0 is mounted on a short by a ring 12 immediately above the semi-ring 6 I. The ring I2 is free to move about a vertical pin On the a star wheel I5, rotation of which results in the changing of the overlap of the long and short cylinders.

The star wheel 15 and the pinion I0 are so designed that rotation of the star wheel through an angle from one tooth to the next swings the short cylinder 46 about the pivot 55 through an angle corresponding to thespacing between successive needles in the cylinder. Thus the needles in the overlapping portion of the cylinder are always radially alined with the needles in the overlapped portion of the long cylinder 65. As indicated in Figures 1 and 5, the upper portion of the cylinder is tapered so that the tops of the needles in the overlapping portion thereof are approximately in the circular line of circumference defined by the needles of the long cylinder.

Thus the needles of the long and short cylinders are positioned to take the yarn from the same yarn feeders and to operate together like the needles in the cylinder of an ordinary circular knitting machine. For the operation of the star wheel I5 to open or close the needle cylinder, a pair of stationary arms may be provided, one of these arms I6 being at a level to engage the upper portion of the star wheel to-open the cylinder (Figure 1) the other arm 11 being adapted to engage the lower portion of the star wheel I5 to close the cylinder. These arms are mounted on a stationary post and are selectively movable into the path of the star wheel I5 ,by any suitable means such as a cam element 82 having cam faces 85 adapted to engage cam faces 86 on the arm I6 and", the movement of this cam I cam drum (not shown) element being preferably controlled by a suitable such as is customarily found on circular knitting machines; Spaced from the post 80 on either'slde thereof are a pair of posts 8| and83 which carry cam actuating arms hereinafter described. It is evident that if the cam member 82 is pushed upwardly from an intermediate position in which neither arm is advanced inwardly, the cam surfaces will move the arm "I6 into the of the wheel I5 as indicated in Fig. 1. The lowshaft II which is supported path of the uppermost spokeering of the cam member M below its intermediate position will mov he arm 11 into operative position ill twin; h of the lowermost spoke of the Wheel I5. The arms I6 and 11 as well as other equivalent arms for similar purposes, may be operated by such or equivalent mechanism.

Whenever the cylinder is increased in circumference, it is necessary to add needles one at a time to the circle of operating needles. When the cylinder is to be reduced in circumference, it is necessary to drop needles out of action one at a time prior to each telescoping movement of the cylinder. Mechanism for moving needles in the overlapping portions of the long and short cylinders into and out of operative position is illustrated in Figures 1, 10 and 16. In addition to the customary butt 90 for engagement with stitching cams, each of the needles 4'! and 48 in the overlapping and overlapped portions of the cylinders may be provided with a pair of butts SI and 92 adapted for engagement by strikers 95 and 86. The striker 95 is adapted to strike the butt 9| .of a needle from below to raise the needle into operative position. This takes place immediately after an opening movement of the cylinder. The striker 96 is adapted to strike the butt 92' of.an operative needle from below to its loop of yarn, as is, hereinafter described, then to strike the butt 9| of above to move the needle tive position. This takes place immediately prior to a. closing movement of the cylinder. As shown in Figure 16 the striker 95 may be provided with two lugs I00 and IOI projecting toward the cylinder for direct engagement with the butts of long-cylinder needles and short-cylinder needles respectively, the angular relation of the lugs I00 and IN about the axis of the cylinder being such that when either is positioned for, engagement with an adjacent nee ile butt, the other is ofiset between two needlesuso that movement of the striker 95 results in the engagement of .a needle of either the short cylinder or the long cylinder, but not both simultaneously. In like manner the striker 96 has a pair of lugs I02 and I03 which are similarly arranged with respect to the needles of the long and short cylinders respectively. Any suitable means for operating the strikers 95 and 96 may be provided. As shown, the strikers 95 and 96'are rockably mounted on a support bracket I05 which in turn is carried by ablock I06 slidable in a dovetail groove in a bracket I01 secured to the short cylinder 86. A bracket I08 is secured to the long cylinder 45, these two brackets I01 and I08 having thereon opposing racks H0 and III, respectively. A pinion H2 is in mesh with both of the racks and is rotatably supported by the block I06. As a result of this construction, opening and closing movement of the short cylthe same needle from down and out of operainder '46 relative to the long cylinder 05 results in movement of the rack I I0 relative to the rack I II. The pinion I I2 between these racks also moves along the rack III, its distance of motion being half that of the rack I I 0. Hence the lateral movement of the bracket I05 is half that of the short cylinder 46, that is, about half the spacing between successive needles for each step of movement.

Mechanism may be provided as illustrated in Figure 16 for operating the strikers 95 and 96. As shown, a gear sector H5 is, rockably mounted on the lower portion of the bracket I05 for operating the striker 95 when a needle is to be raised into operative position. A pinion I I6 meshes with sisting of the crank arm the gear sector I I5 and is loosely mounted on a shaft II1. A ratchet element I20 is mounted on the shaft H1 and is engaged by a pawl I2I carried by the pinion I I6. The shaft I I1 also carries a crank arm I22 which is connected as by a rod I23 to the striker 95. A single rotation of the shaft II1 from the position shown in Figure 16 causes the lugs I00 and IN of the striker 95 to rise for a predetermined distance, then descend for a greater distance, then return to the original position shown. Such rotation of the shaft H1 is produced by a rocking movement of the gear sector II5, this gear sector'having an arm I projecting radially therefrom with a cam member I3I secured thereto. The cam member I3I has a sloping cam surface I32 adapted to engage an arm I35 supported by the post 8|. This cam engaging arm is somewhat similar to the arm 11 and is movable in or out by a member I36 controlled by asuitable cam on the cam drum hereinbefore referred to,

spring I31 which bears against the outer end of the arm I35. When the arm I35 is projected into the path of the cam member I3I, it rides on the cam surface I32 as the member I3I passes.

results in an upward swing of the gear sector H5 and a reciprocation of the striker 95 with its lugs I00 and I01, one of the latter being in line with a needle butt 9| so as to raise the needle into operative position. In like manner a similar cam member I40 with a cam surface I4I to engage an arm I42 on the post 83 is provided for the actuation of the striker 96, this cam member I40 being operatively' connected to the striker 96 as by a supporting arm I45 secured to a gear sector I46 which meshes with a pinion I41 loosely mounted on a shaft I50. A ratchet member I5I is mounted on a shaft I50 and is engaged by a pawl I52 secured to the pinion I41. The rotation of the shaft I50 causes rocking movement of the striker 96 by reason of a connection con- I53 and pitman I54.

/ When the gear'sector I46 is swung upwardly by v the engagement of the cam member I40 with the arm I42, the shaft I50 is rotated through a single revolution, this rotation causing the lugs I02 and I03 of the striker 96 to rise above their normal position, then to descend below theirnormal po- ;sition, then to return to normal position. Thus the lug I02 (or I03) first engages the needle butt 92 which is in line therewith and raises the needle sufficiently for the removal of its loop, as hereinafter described. The needle is then lowered by the engagement of the lug with the butt 9|. This lowering motion of the needle is sufficient to put it completely out of action until it is subsequently raised by engagement of the lug I00 or IOI with the butt SI.

The machine is provided with sinkers I60, these sinkers being radially slidable in asinker retaining ring which is composed oi'two separate semi-rings I65 and I66 so that the circle of sinkers can be varied in circumference together with the needle cylinder. To this end the semi-ring I65 may be supported on the semi-ring standard I61. In like manner the semi-ring I66 may be supported on the semi-ring 6| as by a standard I68. The standards I61 and I63 also carry a split ring I10 to guide a pair of sinker cam brackets III and I12, These brackets may be resiliently mounted on poles of the stationary frame, the bracket I1 I being mounted on an upright frame member I15, the bracket I12 being carried by the post 80. Each of the brackets HI and I12 may consist of and working against a.

60 as by. asuitable as shown in Figure 1.

a yoke, the lower arm of ring I10. 01' provided with engaged by lugs ne'r the upper member I18 engageab A spring or o employed to press agains sinkers on each semi-ring overlapping sinkers.

inwardly. In

the yoke I1 I the sinker rings the sinkers are ranged that some of out of operative posi crease in the in Figure 10,

semi-ring I 65 extends tion of the semi-ring size of the cyli the overlapped which engages the guide the upper arm is I16 adapted to be In like manportions of the so shaped and arthem can be moved into or tion with an increase or dender. As indicated portion I8I of the 15 under the overlapping por- I66. Figure 20 illustrates a pair of sinkers in the overlapping ring portions in which the lower s I8I is in its inoperative posi sinker I86 in the semi-ring inker I85 in the ring portion tion beneath an upper I66. When the cylinder is given an opening movement, one of the I85 is moved laterally clear of the lower sinkers end of the semi-ring raised into it Figure 19.. Eachsink I66 and s operative position as shown in er I85 is provided with suit which'extends a pair of s are mounted in the through 89. These pin overlapped portion I8I of The sinker I85 may be tive position into an ope claw I9I on a lever I92 bracket I94.

a way as to en adapted to The claw I9I gage the arm 202 is carried by the post the post 83. These arms are pro- 5 .vided with devices for selectively moving them in or out of the path of motion ing carried by 200, the movement controlled by the cam der is in its sinkers in the retaining rings wil of both the sinkers must moved from its inoperarative position as by a pivoted as at I93 on a engages the projec-- er I85 to push the sinker uptive position. A second r arm I92, a cam this member having a lower 0 2M adapted to ride on a staand an upper cam edge 203 ride on a stationary arm 202. The

that during the normal operation chine, when the needle cylinis then ready to be the semi-ring I65.

I92 in such position. For the member 200 8|, the arm 204 beof the cam member of the arms 202 and 204 being drum hereinbefore referred closed or telescoped position, the overlapping portions of the sinker long I ride in slots in the upper edges and short cylinders. vThese be retracted sufilciently from. the

cylinders to permit relative and to be clear of adjac short cylinder tive to the long cylinder. T

I18 is so shaped, as the sinkers are retract location where the ove cylinder must cylinder is given an opening 0 The other function of r needles which When the cylinder is sinker cam ting the sinkers adjacent to etrac are stitching.

. to inoperative step of the clos loop sary that the be transferred to an adjacent ing movement.

which iscarried by such needle movement thereof ent needles before the moved in either direction rela- 0 this end the cam shown in Figure 1'1, that all ed in turn as they pass the rlapping portions ofthe at the moment when the short 65 r closing movement.

fulfills the usual being closed so as to re- 70 die must be lowered It is also necesneedle so as to comward by actuationof being lowered by the bine the two wales of the fabric into a single wale. To this end I may provide a loop changer 2I0 radially slidable in a member 2 which is positioned immediately above the needle cylinder and is rotatable about the axis of the cylinder so that the member 2 and the needle cylinder maintain a substantially constant angular relation. The member 2 is secured to a sleeve 2I2 on which is mounted agear wheel. 2I3 (Figure 2). This gear wheel 2 I3 is geared by an idle gear wheel 2 to a pinion 2I5 mounted on the upper end of a shaft 2IB which may extend down through the hollow post 80 to be driven by a suitable connection (not shown) with the gear wheel 4L. This train of gearing is such as to rotate the needle cylinder and the member 2 in the same direction and at the same speed. Nesting within the sleeve 2I2 is an inner sleeve 220 which is ,axially movable and also rotates with the sleeve M2 at the same rate as the needle cylinder. Projecting from the lower end of the sleeve 220 is a hollow arm 22I having a slanting cam slot 222 in the end thereof (Figure 10). The loop changer 2I0 is provided with a finger 223 projecting through the slot 222. This finger is normally at the mid point of the slot 222 so that when the sleeve 220 is raised or lowered, the loop changer 2I0 is swung laterally to one'side or the other through the arc subtended by the group of needles from which loops are to be taken. Thus a loop taken from one needle may be moved over to the adjacent needle on either side as desired. In order to take a loop from a needle, it is necessary to project the loop changer 2I0 radially. To this end, it is provided at its rear end with a sloping cam face'225 .engageable by the bevelled lower end of a rod 226 which is slidably fitted within the sleeve 220 for axial movement therein, but which is rotatable with the sleeve 220 and the sleeve 2| 2. Suitable mechanism may be provided for controlling the up and down movement of the sleeve 220 and the rod 226. Downward movement of the rod 226 results in outward movement of the loop changer against the tension of a spring band 221 which passes around the front of the loop changer. For.

the actuation of the sleeve 220 an arm 230 (Figure 2) may be provided with a fork to engage collars 229 on the sleeve 220 so that the sleeve may be raised and lowered by the rocking of the arm 230 without interfering with the rotation of the sleeve. In like manner an arm 23I may engage collars on the rod 226 for similar purposes, the arms 230 andc23l being rockably mounted on a standard 232 rising from a bracket 233 at the upper end of the standard I15. Connecting links 235, 236 may be attached to the other ends of the arms 230 and 23I to rock the arms, the links 235 and 236 being connected by well known devices to a cam drum (not shown) for the control of the movements of the loop changer 2 I0. The relative movements of the loop changer 2 I 0 and a needle 41 in the process of removing a loop from the needle and transferring it to an adjacent needle, are illustrated in Figures 22 to 29. When a needle is to be lowered out of action preparatory to a closing movement of the cylinder, the needle is first elevated by the projection I02 or I03 of the striker 95 or 96 until it reaches a position such as that shown in Figure 22, the loop slipping below the latch of the needle. The loop changer 2I0 is then moved radially outthe'rod 226 to the position shown in Figure 24, the tip 238 of the loop changer picking up the loop as it passes the needle as shown in Figure 23. Meanwhile the needle is projection I02 or I03, the

latch and cleaP of the needle so that it is held in a notch 239 in the tip of the loop changer. This downward movement of the needle continues until the needle is out of operative position,- that is, low enough to avoid 5 engagement with its stitching cam. The loop changer 2 l0, holding the loop in the notch 239, is now shogged or swung laterally by a vertical movement of the cam member Hi. The projection 223 of the loop changer rides in a diagonal slot 222 of this cam member so that vertical movement of the latter results in a lateral swing on the part of the loop changer in one direction or another from an inclined position. Thus the loop from the needle 47 can be shifted to the adjacent needle on either side of the needle from which the loop has been taken. When the loop changer has been thus shogged,- it takes a position relative to the adjacent needle as shown in Figure 26. When this needle reaches its stitching cam it is elevated. to a position to take the yarn from the loop slipping over the yarn feeder. During its rising movement the ioop changer remains stationary until the hook of the needle has passed through the loop held by the notch 239 of the loop changer, as shown in Figure 27. The loop changer is then retracted radially as the needle rises further, this being illustrated in Figure 28. When the needle is elevated sufliciently to take the yarn from the' yarn feeder, its original loop and the added loop 30 which it has received from the loop changer both slip below the open latch as shown in Figure 29. The needle now takes the fresh yarn and descends to form a new loop, casting oif both of the old loops together. The resulting fabric is illustrated. in Figure 30, this fabric showing the result of knitting with successive closing movement of the cylinder in successive revolutions of the cylinder during the narrowing process. Four steps of narrowing are illustrated in Figure 30 but it is understood that more or fewer narrowing steps may be taken, and that these steps need not be taken in successive courses but may be spaced by one or more courses of plain knitting. Q

, In widening a fabric by opening movement of 45 the'cylinder, the operation of the loop changer is not required. As the cylinder is opened step by step, the inactive needles in the two sections of the cylinder are alternately raised into active position. As each one comes into active position 50 it takes the yarn when it reaches the yarn feeder and starts a new loop which is the beginning of an additional wale .in the fabric. s

For the stitching movement of the needles, separate cam blocks may be provided for the 55 needles of the long cylinder and the needles of the short cylinder. A cam block 240 is shown in Figure 1 in position to be engaged by the butt 90 of the needles in the long cylinder. This block is preferably mounted to side on a stem'24I', a 0 spring 242 being employe to hold the block yieldingly in its extended position toward the needles. A block 245 is in like manner yieldingly mounted adjacent to the short cylinder on a stem 246, a spring 241 being provided to press the block to- 05 ward the cylinder. Thus as the cylinder is moved on its hinge, the block will yield to such motion. It is desirable that the block be held out of contactwith the cylinder itself. To this end I may provide a guide or cam ring 250 fixed to the short cylinder. Against a face of this ring the block 245 may bear, a set screw 25I being provided if desired to furnish an adjustable point of contact. As the cylinder revolves, the ring 250 revolves with it and the set screw 25I or other equivalent bearing member rides on a surface of the ring thus holding the block properly spaced from the .face of the short cylinder so that the needles of this cylinder engage properly in the cam slot of 5 the block. One or more yarn feeders 260 of conventional-type may be mounted on the bracket 233 as shown in Figure 1, these yarn feeders being controlled by any suitable mechanism known in the art but not illustrated on the drawingsf A 'Rrltttch-rinflli also be provided to open the latches of the nee en they are raised for stitching. This latch ring is preferablyrof a size cam. I18 being of sufflcient length to ensure that all the sinkers in the overlapping portion of the sinker retaining ring will be simultaneously retraced at the moment when the cylinder is being closed or opened. Thus when the star wheel 15 5 engages the arm 16 or 11, the overlapping portions of the cylinders are entirely clear. When the cylinder. in continuing its revolution moves the needle adjacent to the loop'changer around engagement with the stitching cam, the loop which is carried by the loop changer is then taken by the needle, as hereinbefore described, the loop a and shape to operate on the needles wlfin the ehanger then being retracted and the stitching cylinder is fully expanded. When the cylinder is contracted,'it is evident that the latch ring may not be operative as to needles in a portion of the short cylinder. To overcome this deficiency, I may provide a latch opening finger 210 having a 'mechanism embodying the continuing as before with one less needle in the series.

It is to be understood that the description of invention and the illustration thereof on the drawings is not by way curved end 2'" adaptedto enter mookport' of limitation but may be modified and changed of the needles ahd swing the latch out and down.

The finger 210 is preferably of resilient material so as to yield readily to the eccentricity of the needle cylinder. A guide member 212 may be provided near the active end of the finger to ride on the surface of the needle cylinder and hold the latch engaging end 2' in correct position relative to the needles. A suitable post 215 (Figures 2 and 10) ma be provided for the flnge r 1 0. i In the operation of the mechanism'as a whole, a certain sequence is required in the actuation of the several mechanisms connected with the fashioning of the fabric. For example, in knitting a stocking such as that. illustrated in Fi ure 31, the stocking may be started at its upper end, the cylinder being expanded to its full circumference so that all the needles are active. The circumference of the upper portion of the leg of the stocking may be regulated by automatically adjusting the tension of. the yarn on the sizes to the loops in a manner well known in the art. Ap-

proaching the ankle portion' of the stocking, the circumference'of the cylinder may be decreased by step by the mechanism hereinbeferrLdescribed.

the short cylinder to decrease the circumference of the whole cylinder, one of the sinkers I85 must be moved into inoperative position, and one of the needles in the overlapping portions of the cylinder members must be lowered outof action. To this end the arms 2M and I42 on the post 83 are auto matically projected toward the cy li nders'o as to engage the lower edge ofjhecam 200 and the edge of the cam LID as these cams swing past the p ostjtwitifthe revolutions of the cylinder. These cam members are thus tilted by engagement with the respective arms, the tilting of the cam' member 200 resulting in the movement of one of the sinkers I85 down into its inoperative posi-' tion so that the overlapped portion I8I of the sinker retaining ring can move under the overlapping portion of the sinker retaining ring I66 for the distance of one needle space. Actuation of the cam I40 results in the raising of one of the needles 4'! to a position in which its loop 5 is taken by the loop changer, as hereinbefore described, this being lowered instantly by the lowering of the needle to an inoperative position. The cylinder is now ready for a. step of closing movement. This takes place when the star wheel I5 is passing the post 80 on which the arm 16 has been projected into the'path of the star wheel lay-actuation of the cam slide 82. As hereinbefore explained, the cam I18 for the'lugs on the sinkers is so placed thatthe sinkers'are all res 75 tracted outwardly as they pass the post 80, a

wi e scope of the invention as defined in the 20 following claims.

I claim: 1. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder composed of two parts hinged together and adapted to overlap, and means for relatively ad- 2 lusting said parts to alter the effective circumference of said cylinder.

2. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder composed of two parts relatively adjustable to vary the effective circumference of the cyl- 30 inder without interrupting the continuity thereof, and means for relatively adjusting said parts while the machine is in operation.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder having a variable effective circumference,

'means for varying said circumference without interrupting the continuity thereof, and means for moving needles carried by said cylinder singly into'or out of operative position according to the direction of adjustment of said circumference. 40 l 4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder comprising twooverlapping portions relatively adjustable to alter the effective circumor-to each adjusting movement Ffierencepf-thewylindemwithout interrupting the continuity thereof, means for adjusting said 45 portions, andneedles carried by said portions at the overlap movable singly into and out of operative position.

a circular knitting machine, a needlecyli'nder comprising a semicylindrical member and 50 a semi-conical member hinged together and relatively adjustable to cause portions of said members remote from the hinge to overlap, needles carried by said members with their upper ends arranged in an approximate circle. 55- 6. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder comprising a plurality of needle-holding members, a set of needles supported by said members with their tops s bstantially uniformly spaced apart in a compl te approximate circle,- 60 and means including said members for changing the circumference of said circle and the corresponding number of active needles therein without interrupting the continuity of said circle. "7. In a machine for knitting tubular fabric, a needle cylinder having a plurality of members relatively movable to alter the circumference of the cylinder by successive steps without interrupting the continuity of said circumference, and

means for moving needles into and out of operalternate members when the the cylinder is changed by sinker-retaining ring having overlapping end portions, sinkers on the overlapping portion of said ring and sinkers on the overlapped portion of the ringmovable to inoperative position below the level of the overlapping ring portion, and means for moving the sinkers in-the overlapped ring portion into and out of operative position.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder of variable effective circumference, a circular series of needles carried by said cylinder, means or moving certain of said needles into and out of operative position in accordance with variations of the circumference of saidcylinden a circular series of sinkers assfifited with said needles and means for moving some of said sinkers into position under adjacent ,sinkers when the circumference of said cylinder is reduced.

10. In a.circular knitting machine, a eedle 20 cylinder comprising a long member aid? short 1 member hinged to each 0 .M, the long member being se a in shape and having a series 7 edles arranged with their tops in a semicircle, the short member having a wall sloping downwardly and outwardly, and adapted to over: lap the long member, said short member having a series of needles with their tops in an approximate semicircle completing a circle with the tops of the needles of the long member, means for eflecting a step-by-step variation of the amount of overlap between the members, and means for moving successive needles in the overlapping portions into or out of operative position according to the direction of variation of the overlap. 35 11. In a circular knitting machine, a needle s cylinder comprisingmtwo members hinged together and relatively movable to alter the effective circumference of said cylinder, said members having portions adapted to overlap when. the

40.. circumference of the cylinder is reduced, a sinker retaining ring adjacent to the upper end of said cylindensaid ring comprising a plurality of members relatively movable with said cylinder members and adapted to overlap each other. I i 45 12. n a circular itting machine, a sinker retaining ring comprising two relatively adjustable semicircular members adapted to overlap, a circular series of sinkers radially slidable in said ring, and means iior moving the sinkers in 60 the overlapped portion intdand out of operative position. 7

13'. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder comprising two relatively adjustable members hinged to each other and having por- 55 tions remotefrom. the hinge adapted to overlap,

a sinker retaining ring members relatively adjustable with said cylinder members and having portions adapted to overlap, a circular series of needles carried by 60 said cylinder, a circular series of sinkers carried by said ring, .means for sinker adjacent thereto out of operative position, and means for thereafter said cylinder members and ring members todecrease the effective circumferences thereof by distances equivalent respectively to the spacing between successive needles and between successive sinkers.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a rotatable 70 needle cylinder consisting of two members-hinged to each'other and capable of overlapping to vary the effective circumference of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder on its axis, mechanism carried by said cylinder and actucomprising two separate movinga needleand a relatively adjusting able to vary the effective circumference thereof,

a normally stationary member engageable by said mechanism by rotative movement of said cylinder to actuate said mechanism for step-bystep variation of the circumference of'the cyl- 5 inder.

15. In a circular knitting machine, arotatable needle cylinder consisting of two members hinged to each other and capable of overlapping to vary the efiective circumference of the cylinder, a circular series of needles carried by said cylinder, sinke sasseeiatefi with said needles, mechanism carried by said cylinder and actuable to vary the circumference of the cylinder, mechanism carried by said cylinder and actuable to 15 move certain of said needles into and out of operative position, mechanism carried by said cylinder and actuable tomovecertain of said sinkers 1 into and out of operative position, and normally stationary means engageable by the several said mechanisms in their motion with the cylinder to vary the circumference of the cylinder, and move needles and sinkers into and out of operative position.

16. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder comprising two relatively adjustable needle-carrying members having portions adapted to overlap, net es Carrier] L sa d members with substantially uniform spacing in a circular series, means for raising one of said needles at the overlap to a position for the removal of its loop and to lower said needle to inoperative pgsition means for transferring the loop from said one needle to an adjacent needle, and means for adjusting the circumference of said members to restore thev substantially uniform spacing of the remaining active needles.

17. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a circular series of needles in said cylinder, a loop-shifting element within the circle 40 of needles, means for projecting said element radially to take ix he loop of a ngedle, means for, lowering said needle to cas 0 its loop, me as for shifting said element laterally to the next adjacen't needle in said series, means for raising said next adjacent needle to take the loop on said element, and means for withdrawing said element from said loop.

18. In a circular knitting machine, a rotatable needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, and mechanism actuable to lower certain of said needles out of action, said mechanism being revolvable-with said cylinder about the axis thereof and movable from needle to needle for lowering successive needles.

l9. In,a circular knitting machine, a rotatable needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, mech- 'anism actuable to lower certain of said needles one by one out of action, other mechanism actuable to raise lowered needles into action, said mechanisms being revolvable with the cylinder about its axis and being movable from needle to needle for actuation of successive needles, and means for selectively actuating said mechanisms. 20. In a circular knitting machine, a split needle cylinder having overlapping portions, a

set of needles supported by said portions with their tops substantially uniformly spaced apart in a complete. approximate circle, and means for p varying the extent of overlap, whereby the, efiective circumference of the cylinder is varied without interrupting the continuity thereof.

EDGAR J. MARTEL.

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