US2617284A - Knitting machine having an auxiliary presser bar - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11, 1952 A. J. COBERT 2,617,284

KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AN AUXILIARY PRESSER BAR Filed Feb. 9, 1951 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZSnventor Arfhur J. Cohen Gttorneg A. J. COBERT Nov. 11, 1952 KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AN AUXILIARY PRESSER BAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9 1951 Zmnentor Arr/W J Coberf Qttorneg Nov. 11, 1952 A. J. COBERT 8 KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AN AUXILIARY PRESSER BAR Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nventor Arf/wr Coberl Bg -v (Ittorneg Nov. 11, 1952 A. J. COBERT 2,617,284

KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AN AUXILIARY PRESSER BAR Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Ari/wk J 6066/1? BY XZ/mcm/ ATTORNEY latented Nov ll, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFF I CE,

KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AN AUXILIARY PRESSER BAR Application February 9, 1951, SerialNo. 210,145

Claims.

This invention relates to a straight-bar knitting machine and more particularly to such a machine having an auxiliary presser bar for forcing the knitting needles against the primary presser bar to close their beards.

In knitting machines of the Cotton type which are now in use, there are several dimculties with the means used for closing the beards of the needles. In the first place, it is difiicult to maintain the needles in accurate transverse alignment due to variations in the needles themselves and to small variations in their settings in the needle bar. Consequently, especially when one or more needles are out of alignment in a forward direction, that is, in a direction opposite to that in which the beards extend, it is necessary for the needle bar to bendtherest of the needles heavily against the primary presser edge, so that all of the needle beards, including those of the needles which are misaligned in a forward direction, will be properly closed. As stated, when a few of the needles are out of alignment in a forward direction, the rest of the needles will have to be bent suificiently to permit the needle bar to tilt rearwardly enough to close the beards of those needles which are out of alignment.

Also, since the needles are very limber, it is necessary to bend them, considerably to close their beards properly. when thebeardclosing is effected by tilting of the needlebar. In such a situation, the amount of wear of the needles and of the primary presser edge is considerably increased. The primary presser. edge is ordinarily the forward surface of the sinker head, which is made of brass in most constructions. It will be appreciated that, with the needle beards pressing heavily against the brass surface of the sinker head, and at the same time moving downwardly relativev thereto with much friction, there will be rapid wearing of both the needle beards and of the sinker head, so that both will require replacement at frequent intervals. Of course, if all of the needle beards are not closed properly, there will be. imperfect formation of loops and the loops will not be cast properly, with a consequent lowered quality of the finished fabric. Part of the thread in a loop, may be cast and part of it may not be cast, or there maybe a loading up of the loops on aneedle, oneon top of the other, which may break the needle.

Another difiiculty with the beard-closing action of present straight-bar knitting machines lies in the factv that it is, extremely diflicult to maintain all of the, needles centered properly in their correct spacing. In the 60-gauge machines now in use for knitting fullefashionedhosiery, there is a space of "only 25/1000 inchbetweenthe centers of the sinkers and dividers, the sinker anddivider thickness being 5/1000 inch. This leaves a space between sinkers anddividers oi 20/1000 inch and the needle head itself is 17/1000 inch thick. Consequentlythere is only 1 /1000 inch clearance on each side of the needle between it and the adjoining sinker or dividerif the needle is centered perfectly. It is very easyfor the needle to, be off-center 1 /1000 inch and hence the needles often rub, or hit against; the sinkers ordividers and the needle beards become caught in the slots in the sinker head for the sinkers or dividers and are broken ofi. This frequently happens as a result of the needle being slightly on" the center of itscorrect spacing-and wearing a slight off-center groove next to the edge of the sinker or divider. As the machine continues in operation, the needle tends to wear this groove over closer and closer to the sinker 0r divider until it is so close thatits beard becomes caught in a slot in the sinker head fora sinker or divider.

Another difficulty with the present, knitting machines isthat the portions of theknockinsover bits on which the loops are cast are,- due to the manner of supporting the knocking-over bits from a knocking-over bar in the rear of the needle bar, at a relatively long distance from the points of support ofthe knocking-over bits by the knocking-over bar. In the operationof the machine, especially at high speed, when the sinkers and dividers are retracted, thereby. casting the loops oiftheir noses, the partial loops or bights strike the knocking-over bits withs'ome force and often flex them, the latter being made of very thin steel and having little rigidity in a lateral direction. When the knocking-over bit is deflected in this manner, theresult' is animperfect loop formation, such as a loading upof both the old and new loops on the needle.

Still another diiliculty with present flat knitting machines is due tothe relatively largedistance between the noses of the sinkers and dividers and the knocking-over bits. Due to the spatial limitations imposed as a result of having the knocking-over bar in the rear of the needle bar anddue to the necessity for allowing; space for a welt hook used in forming the first loopin knitting a fabric, knocking-over bits in present machines are at a relatively large distance from the noses of the sinkers and dividers. Accordingly, when the bights are; pulled off the noses of the sinkers and dividers to cast the loops, the

thread is stretched considerably by the pull of the descending needles and it strikes the knocking-over bits with a hard impact. These bits, being made of very thin metal, sometimes cut the thread of these bights and the consequent damage to the fabric is apparent. Also, pre-casting of loops may take place, resulting in distortion of the loops in the finished fabric.

One object of my invention is to provide a flatknitting machine having an auxiliary presser head for forcing the needles against the primary presser bar to close their beards.

Another object is to provide a fiat-knitting machine having an auxiliary presser bar which accurately aligns the needles in a transverse direction.

A further object is to provide a knitting machine which has an auxiliary presser bar fitted with grooves by means of which the needles are centered accurately in their proper spacing.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a straight-bar knitting machine in which the loops are cast onto the knocking-over bits close to the points where the bits are supported, so that the bits do not become deflected in operation of the machine. In other words, my machine has the knocking-over bar close to the noses of the sinkers and dividers at the instant of casting the loops.

A still further object is to provide a fiat-knitting machine in which the distance between the noses of the sinkers and dividers and the knocking-over bits is a minimum at the moment of casting the loops, so that the tension on the thread and consequent damage thereto is minimized, and also distortion of loops due to precasting thereof is avoided.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment, it being understood that the detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the needle bed, knocking-over bar, sinker head, levers, links and cams causing the operation of the parts necessary in knitting.

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation showing the cams, levers and links connecting with the knocking-over bar, but omitting details such as the knocking-over bits, needles, sinkers, etc.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inter-relationship of the parts effecting the motions of the knocking-over bar.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inter-relationship of the parts effecting the motions of the needle.

Figure 5 is a partial side elevation of a needle, sinker and knocking-over bit showing a partial loop or bight in place around a needle.

Figure 6 is a partial side elevation showing the auxiliary presser or knocking-over bar in the act of forcing the needle so that its beard is pressed against the primary presser bar, or sinker head.

Figure 7 is a partial side elevation showing the needle beard passing through the old loop and starting to pull the bight of the partial new loop off the noses of the sinkers and dividers, which have been retracted some.

Figure 8 is a partial side elevation showing the bight of the thread just after it has been cast off the noses of the sinkers and dividers, now fully 4 retracted, and with the needle starting to pull it through the old loop to form a new loop.

Figure 9 is a partial side elevation showing clearly the completed formation of the new loop.

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view showing the grooves in the auxiliary presser, or knockingover bar, for centering the needles in their proper spacing, one needle being shown in place in its groove.

Figure 11 is a partial side elevation showing the use of the auxiliary presser bar to asist the delivery phase of a narrowing operation.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

According to my invention, a straight-bar knitting machine of the Cotton type having the usual jack bed I is provided, a sinker head 2 having a cover 3 being supported by the jack bed. A series of sinkers 4 are slidably supported in channels in the sinker head for actuation by a correspondin series of sinker jacks 5 abutting their rearward ends. The jacks are pivoted on a jack shaft 6 and are driven forward by a customary slur cock or slur cam I. An intervenin set of dividers B is also provided, the means for operating these dividers not being shown, as such means, comprising a catch bar, is old and well known in the art. The sinkers and dividers have noses 9 off which the loops are cast and throats II which sink the thread between the needles. The forward edge E2 of the sinker head 2 comprises the primary presser bar in my invention as in the case of flat knittin machines currently in use.

As may be seen in Figure l and as is illustrated diagrammatic-ally in Figure 4, a series of bearded knitting needles l3 are provided, these needles being supported by a needle bar I4, carried by a needle bar bracket I5. To a stud l6 projecting from the needle bar bracket near its top is pivotally connected a needle bar link I! for transmittin vertical knitting motion to the needle bar. The forward end of this link is clamped to a needle bar shaft l8 extending horizontally across the front of the machine and supported for rotation by the frame. A needle bar arm 19 is also clamped to the shaft I8 and extends downwardly therefrom, carrying near its lower end a cam roller 21 in engagement with a suitable cam 22 mounted on a main camshaft 23. The roller or follower 2| is forced to follow the contour of the cam 22 by a spring, not shown, connected between the needle bar arm [3 and the frame of the machine. Since the needle bar shaft i8 is rotatably supported by the frame in a fixed position, movement inwardly or outwardly of the roller 21 and the needle bar arm 19, caused by the cam 22, will cause rotation of the needle bar shaft l8 and thus of the needle bar link l1, since both the link I! and the arm 19 are clamped to the shaft. The movement of the link I! will cause the needle bar bracket l5 and the needles [3 to move upwardly and downwardly, according to the direction of motion of the link H.

The lower end of the needle bar bracket I5 carries a stud 24 to which is pivoted a presser lever 25 extending forwardly therefrom and having a handle. Between the stud 24 and the handle, the presser lever 25 has a piar of slots 26 and 2! opening downwardly for engagement with a pin 28 projecting from the side of a presser arm 29. The presser arm 29 is pivotally supported by the needle bar shaft 18 and carries at its lower end a cam roller 3| held in engagement with a cam 32 on the main camshaft 23 by a spring, not shown, connected between the presser arm 29 and the frame of the machine. The action of this mechanism in transmitting hOI'i-r zontal motion to the needles will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 4. When the cam 32 makes the roller 3i and the presser arm 29 move inwardly or outwardly, the presser arm, being rotatably mounted on the needle bar shaft I8, is free to rotate relative thereto. The pin 28 on the presser arm, in engagement with the rearward slot 26 in the presser lever 25, moves the latter in and out as the presser arm 29 moves in and out. This motion of the presser lever is transmitted through the stud as to the needle bar bracket l5, which pivots about the stud l6 as an axis and thus moves the needle bar is and the needles l3 horizontally.

The construction and manner of operation of the knocking-over bar are now described, these being the essence of my present invention. A series of knocking-over bits 33, corresponding in number to the number of needles l3, are supported by a knocking-ever bar 3 5 located forward of the needle bar I i. As is illustrated in the drawings, the knocking-over bits are preferably of the hooked type, but this feature is well known and constitutes no part of my invention. The knocking-over bar has a cover by means of Which the knocking-over bits are held firmly in place and is fixed to a knocking-over bracket 38, by which it is supported. As may be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the knocking-over bracket 36 is bent, with its lower ends extending rearwardly and pivoted on studs Bl. These studs are supported by a pair of knocking-over links 38 clamped at their rearward ends to a knocking-over shaft 39, which is rotatably supported by the frame of the machine. A knocking-over arm ill is also clamped to the shaft 39 and extends forwardly therefrom, carrying near its forward end a cam follower 52 in engagement with a cam 2-3 mounted on the main camshaft 23 in such a way that the roller i? is forced to follow the contour of the cam 53. Thus, it will be seen, particularly from an inspection of Figure 3, that as the cam 53 causes the roller 42 to move upwardly and downwardly, the knocking-over arm 4|, the shaft 33 and the knocking-over link 38 are rotated in the same direction, since the link 33 and the arm ii are clamped to the shaft 3! Through the studs 3?, the knocking-over bracket 33 and thus the knocking-over bits 33 are also caused to move upwardly and downwardly.

The horizontal motion of the knocking-over bit 33 is effected through a link it which is clamped at its upper end to the knocking-over bracket 33, a knocking-over lever 25 being pivotally connected to the lower end of the link it by a stud st. A vertically extending knocking-over arm t? is pivotally supported by the needle bar shaft l3 and has, about midway of its length, a stud 58 adapted for engagement with a slot in the lower side of the knocking-over lever 55. The lower end of the arm ll carries a cam follower e9 held in engagement with a cam 5i mounted on the main camshaft 23. The horizontal motion of the knocking-over bits will now be apparent. As the cam 5! causes the roller 49 to move inwardly and outwardly and thus causes the knocking-over arm ll to pivot about the needle bar shaft iii, the stud 68 on the arm ll, in engagement with a slot in the lever 45, causes the lever and also the link 44 to move inwardly and outwardly, this motion being transmitted to the knocking-over bracket 36 and to the knocking-over bit 33, the bracket and the link 44 pivot- 6 ing about the studs 31, carried by the links 38, as an axis.

The sequence of steps followed in practicing my invention is shown clearly in Figures 5 to 9, inclusive. In Figure 5, the thread carrier, not shown, has laid the thread on the noses 9 ofthe sinkers and dividers, which have been driven forward to sink the thread between the needles I3 and thus to form bights or partial loops 52- about the needles. An old loop 53, forming a part of the fabric already knitted, is in place about the shank of each needle.

In Figure 6, the needle has descended and-the bight or partial loop 52 is enclosed within the beard 54 of the needle. The needle has also been moved rearwardly to place its beard 54 in contact with the primary presser bar I2. Also, at this time, the auxiliary or secondary presser bar 55 is in contact with the upper part of the shank of the needle and forces the needle against the primary presser edge E2 to close its beard 5 The auxiliary presser bar 55 is the rearward edge of the knocking-over bar 33. It will be observed that, at this time, the auxiliary presser bar 55 serves to align all of the needles in a transverse direction. This action compensates for any misalignment of the needles due to slight variations in the needles themselves or in their settings in the needle bar M. It will also be observed that the action of the auxiliary presser bar 55 upon the needle i3 is such that the needles are bent slightly in a rearward direction about their support in the needle bar as as a fulcrum. In this way, it is not necessary for the needle bar M to exert any force upon the needles for the closing of their beards. In prior machines, it has been necessary for the needle bar to exert considerable force upon the needles to be certain that the beards of all of the needles are properly closed. On the other hand, with my invention, only a slight force by the auxiliary presser bar 55 is necessary to assure perfect closure of all of the beards. This results in less wear upon the primary presser bar l2 and also upon the beards 5 3 of the needles, which move downwardly against the surface of the primary presser bar l2 as the needles start to descend through their old loops 53. In addition, more perfect closure of the needle beards is achieved than with present machines and there is also less tendency for the needles to get off-center, with consequent damage to them as a result of their becoming entangled with the sinker or divider slots in the sinker head. It will be noticed that in Figure 6 the sinker 4 has been retracted somewhat to correspond with the rearward motion of the needles I3.

In Figure 7, the needles have been moved downwardly further and have been moved forward at the same time, so that their beards 5 1 are out of contact with the primary presser bar E2. The old loops 53 are now on the beards 5 5 of the needles, above the open ends of the beards. The sinkers and dividers have been retracted somewhat and the bights or partial loops 52 are sliding down the sinkers and dividers toward the ends of their noses 9. In Figure 8, the bights or partial loops 52 have just been cast off the noses 3 of the sinkers and dividers and are starting to be passed through the old loops 53, the sinkers and dividers having been retracted sufficiently to permit casting of the loops. In this position, the knocking-over bar 34 has been moved fOI-. wardly enough that the auxiliary presser edge 55 is clear of the needles l3.

The final step in the formation ofitheioops is illustrated in Figure 9. The bights have been pulled through the old loops 53 and now form new loops 56. As is old and well known in the art, each needle descends and moves rearwardly so as to engage the new loop 56 with a hooked portion 51 of the knocking-over bit 33. These hooked portions assist in the formation of perfect loops, without loading up of the loops on the needles.

It will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, and particularly Figure 8 thereof, that the loops are cast on the knocking-over bits 33 at portions of the bits which are closely adjacent to their points of support in the knocking-over bar 34. This relative location of the parts is possible due to the placing of the knocking-over bar 34 in front of the needle bar I4, rather than to the rear thereof as in present knitting machines. Because of this feature, there is no flexing or deflection of the thin knocking-over bits at the moment of casting the loops. For this reason, the new loops formed are more uniform in size than are the loops formed on present machines. The loops are cast on the knocking-over bits at an instant when the knocking-over bits are close to the ends of the noses of the sinkers and dividers.

It will also be apparent that, due to the locating of the knocking-over bar 34 in front of the needle bar l4, it is possible to position the knocking-over bits closer below the noses of the sinkers than is possible in present machines. This can be done even though provision is made for permitting the insertion of welt hooks in forming the first loops. Since the distance between the noses of the sinkers and dividers and the knocking-over bits is a minimum at the moment of casting the loops, pre-casting of the loops is prevented. Furthermore, there is less distortion in the loop in the finished fabric. There is also less likelihood of cutting of the thread by the knocking-over bits when the loops are cast, since there is less tension on the thread at that moment.

In Figure 10, there is shown in detail the means for centering the needles E3 in their proper transverse spacing. Intermediate the slots 53 provided in the upper part of the knocking-over bar 34 for the support of the knocking-over bits are formed V-shaped or U-shaped grooves 59 in the face of the auxiliary presser edge 55. These grooves 59 are centered accurately between the slots 58 in which the knocking-over bits are mounted. Consequently, when the auxiliary presser edge 55 is moved rearwardly, as illustrated in Figure 6, to engage the needles [3 and to force the needles against the primary presser edge [2 to close their beards 54, the needles are engaged by the walls of the grooves 59 and are centered accurately in their proper transverse spacing. This feature prevents the needles from wearing grooves in the primary presser bar #2 which are off-center and prevents the needles from moving laterally so that their beards become caught in the sinker or divider slots and become broken off.

A further desirable feature of my invention is illustrated in Figure 11, which shows the delivery step in a narrowing operation. The positions of the needles and narrowing points are exaggerated in this figure for clarity of illustration. A narrowing point 6! has engaged the beard 5 of the needle in the groove or spoon of the narrowing point. The narrowing point is supported in the narrowing finger 62. As will be seen in Figure 11, the auxiliary presser edge 55 is in contact with the shank of the needle 13 and is pressing it rearwardly so that it is bent about its support in the needle bar l4. This causes the head of the needle to be pointed into the groove or spoon of the narrowing point 6|. In present knitting machines in which the needle is bent into the narrowing point groove by the needle bar, the needle tends to be bent with its he protruding ly from the groove. This action of my invention is used only at the instant of delivery of the stitch from the narrowing point back to the needle and assures that the head of the needle is properly buried in the groove of the narrowing point, so that delivery of the loop will be accomplished with certainty. The provision for centering the needles in their proper spacing, illustrated in Figure 10, is also of great importance in narrowing, since it is essential that the needles make accurate contact with the narrowing points to accomplish satisfactorily the transfer of the loops. Furthermore, the proper alignment of the needles, caused by the force exerted upon them by the auxiliary presser bar, assures that all of the needles will make perfect contact with the narrowing points and will thus make correction for any existing misalignment of the needles.

It will be appreciated that, by my invention, I have provided a considerable improvement over present knitting machines. In the first place, due to the provision of an auxiliary presser bar, which comprises the rearward edge of the knocking-over bar, only gentle force is required to be exerted by the auxiliary presser on the needles in order to close their beards. The needles are aligned properly in a transverse direction, so that there is no likelihood of any needle beard not being perfectly closed or of any loading up of the stitches on the needle. Also, since only gentle force is exerted to close their beards, there is little tendency for the needles to be deflected out of their correct spacing.

Due to the fact that relatively little force is required to be exerted against the needles to assure perfect closing of their beards, there is relatively little friction between the needle beards and the primary presser bar. As a result, there is little wear on either the needles or the primary presser bar.

Because of the accurate centering of the needles in their proper transverse spacing by the grooves in the face of the auxiliary presser bar, there is practically no likelihood that the needles will get off-center so as to engage the sinker or divider slots in the sinker head and become broken. Consequently, there is less damage to or breaking of the needle beards.

Due to the slight bending rearwardly of the needles by the auxiliary presser bar in the operation of the narrowing delivery, the heads of the needles are pointed into the grooves or spoons of the narrowing points and delivery of the loops from the narrowing points back to the needles is accomplished perfectly.

Since the loops are cast on the knocking-over bits when the knocking-over bar is close to the ends of the noses of the sinkers and dividers, the knocking-over bits are shorter and the loops are cast on portions of the knocking-over bits which are close to their support in the knocking-over bar. Consequently, there is no deflection of the knocking-over bits in the casting of the loops with the result that the new loops formed are more uniform in size than are the loops formed in present machines and the resultant fabric is less distorted.

A further advantage of my invention is that,

due to the location of the knocking-over bar in front of the needle bar, rather than in the rear of the needle bar as in present machines, the distance between the ends of the noses of the sinkers and dividers and the upper surfaces of the knocking-over bits is a minimum at the moment of casting the loops. This prevents precasting of the loops and results in less distortion of loops in the finished fabric.

I claim:

1. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knockingover bits to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

2. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knocking-over bits to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

3. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their bears and to move said knocking-over bits to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

l. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knockingover bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knocking over bits vertically close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

5. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having; noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar and means for operating said knocking-over bar to move said knocking-over bar and said knocking-over bits with their points of support in said knockingover bar close to the noses of said sinkers for casting of loops in the thread by said knockingover bits.

6. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating the needles to cause them to knit, a set of sinkers and dividers, means for operating said sinkers and dividers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar positioned in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, depending arms on said knocking-over bar and operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a link connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

7. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knockingover barhaving grooves formed therein centeredbetween said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing and means for operating said knockingover bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards;

8. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having" noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knocking-over bar and said knocking-over bits with their points of support in said knocking-over bar close to the noses of said sinkers for casting of loops in the thread by said knocking-over bits.

9. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating saidjneedles-to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knocking-over bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

10. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knockingover bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for movin the knockingover bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

11. A fiat knitting machine com rising in combination. a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accuratelv aligning them and for closin their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar and means for o erating said knocking-over bar to move said knocking-over bar and said knocking-over bits with their points of support in said knocking-over bar close to the noses of said sinkers for cast ng of loops in the thread by said knocking-over bits.

12. A flat knittin machine com rising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried bv said needle bar. means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking over bar and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards, to move said knocking-over bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread and for moving the knockingover bar away from said primary presser bar.

13. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knockingover bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

14. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knockingover bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar, to move said knocking-over bar and said knocking-over bits with their points of support in said knocking-over bar close to the noses of said sinkers for casting of loops in the thread by said knocking-over bits, and for moving the knockingover bar away from said primary presser bar.

15. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating the needles to cause them to knit, a set of sinkers and dividers, means for operating said sinkers and dividers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar positioned in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knockingover bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar to move said knocking-over bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread and for moving the knockingover bar away from said primary presser bar.

16, A flat knitting machine comprising in combination a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar havin grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing and means for operating said knocking-over bar to force said needles against said primary presser bar and thereby to close their beards and to move said knocking-over bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread.

17. A fiat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

18. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knockingover bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar, to move said knockingover bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

19. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knocking-over bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knocking-over bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar to move said knocking-over bar and said knocking-over bits with their points of support in said knockingover bar close to the noses of said sinkers for casting of loops in the thread by said knockingover bits and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

20. A flat knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, a set of bearded needles carried by said needle bar, means for operating said needles to cause them to knit, sinkers having noses at their operative ends, means for operating said sinkers, a primary presser bar, a knocking-over bar disposed in front of said needle bar and engageable with said needles for accurately aligning them and for closing their beards, knocking-over bits carried by said knockingover bar, said knocking-over bar having grooves formed therein centered between said knockingover bits for engaging said needles and positioning them in accurate spacing, a main shaft having cam means thereon, an auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, links on said knocking-over bar operated by connection with said auxiliary shaft for effecting raising and lowering of the knocking-over bar, a second auxiliary shaft movable by the cam means on said main shaft, a lever connected between said knocking-over bar and said second auxiliary shaft for moving the knocking-over bar and said needles toward said primary presser bar to close the beards of said needles by their engagement with said primary presser bar to move said knockingover bits close to the noses of said sinkers to cause them to cast loops in the thread and for moving the knocking-over bar away from said primary presser bar.

ARTHUR J. CO-BERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 654,982 Hurley et al July 31, 1900 2,221,495 Start et a1 Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 680,612 Germany Sept. 2, 1939

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