US3169385A

US3169385A - Apparatus for making heel or toe pouches on circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3169385A
Application number: US241006A
Authority: US
Inventors: Haberhauer Karl
Original assignee: Schubert und Salzer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt GmbH
Priority date: 1962-01-11
Filing date: 1962-11-29
Publication date: 1965-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-16
Also published as: GB1020895A; DE1232307B; CH406504A

Description

Feb. 16, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 3,169,385

APPARATUS FOR MAKING HEEL 0R TOE POUCHES 0N CIRCULAR'KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 K I\ N 1- g 9 5 $2 N I R Q ,vs m s w m Q a .5 A m L INVENTOR.

KARL HABERHAUER DMA /J ATTORNEYS.

1965 K. HABERHAUER 3,169,385

APPARATUS FOR MAKING HEEL 0R TOE PQUCHES ON CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS.

FeB. 16, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 3,169,385

APPARATUS FOR MAKING um. 0R TOE POUGHES ON CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m m mm m mm. d 0 w n mH A m u M M Fig? HABERHAUER MAKING HEEL 0R TOE FOUCHES LAR KNITTING MACHINES Feb. 16, 1965 APPARATUS FOR ON CIRCU Filed NOV 29 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,169,385 APPARATUS FGR MAKDJG HEEL 0R TGE PGUCHES 0N CIRQULAR KNETTILJG MA- CHENES The invention relates to an improvement of the apparatus for making heel or toe pouches in seamless womens stockings and the like, as are produced by continuous methods on circular knitting machines.

In the method of US. application Serial No. 166,615, filed January 16, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, a pouch is knitted in the tube by the gradual enlargement of the stitch length along a portion of the periphery of the needle cylinder and the transition from one loop length to the other in the fashioned heel or toe pouch can take place continuously both in the longitudinal and in the circumferential direction. A three dimensional control cam rotates synchronously with the needle cylinder and serves for the performance of the process by controlling the depth to which one or more needle cams draw the needles. However, the manufacture of the three dimensional cam surfaces is relatively dimcult and expensive. Furthermore, a second control cam would be necessary for the formation of a corresponding toe pouch.

In the present invention, the three dimensional cam is replaced by a cam which rotates synchronously with the needle cylinder, and means are provided for varying the cam working height during its rotation according to a program. This cam can be formed by a sliding skew cylinder and a cam ring that can be displaced with respect to a fixed ring by means of the said sliding skew cylinder. The cam ring can be displaced in relation to the fixed ring by means of a spindle or other prior-art displacing devices rather than by the sliding skew cylinder. Cam working height is determined by the extent to which the cam ring extends beyond the fixed ring. The portion of the control ring which extends out beyond the periphcry of the fixed ring operates as a cam, and it can be arcuate or it can have any other desired cam shape. In order to be able to fashion a toe pouch on the opposite side of the needle cylinder, the cam ring is provided so that it can be displaced in two opposite directions in I'Blflr tion to the fixed ring.

The invention will be described further with reference to the drawings, wherein an embodiment thereof is depicted.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the apparatus of the invention in section with two different cam settings;

FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 30 show schematically in section three extreme settings of the apparatus of the invention;

In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters refer to corresponding parts.

The invention provides a circular knitting machine for the knitting of tubular goods (see FIG. 7) and the machine is adapted to selectively work pouches into the goods by a variation of the longitudinal length of the knit loops. The knitting machine comprises a cylinder having needles disposed axially about the periphery thereof and mounted thereon for axial movement thereof with respect to the cylinder for the knitting operation. The cylinder rotates continuously in one direction, and the needles are provided with needle butts for cooperation with stitch cams for actuation of the needles. The cylinder rotates relative to the stitch cams, and, accordingly, cooperation of the stitch cams and the needle butts occurs so as to provide the knitting action of the needles. The machine includes a pouch working cam and means for rotating the pouch working cam in synchronism with the movement of the needle cylinder. Cam followers are provided for cooperation with the pouch working cam, and, further, means are provided which interconnect the cam followers and the stitch cams and are eflfective to move the stitch cams axially relative to the needle cylinder in response to action of the pouch working cam on the cam followers. Thereby, the axial stitching movement of the needles and therefore longitudinal length of the knit loops can be varied. The pouch working cam is distinct from the three dimensional pouch working cam or the aforementioned application Serial No. 166,615, in that insofar as its operation as a cam is concerned, it is a two dimensional cam. Moreover, the pouch working cam according to the invention is provided so that its working height can be varied, whereby the magnitude of the cam action on the cam followers can be varied and in turn axial stitching movement of the needles can be varied. The machine also includes programming means for coordinating operation of the means controlling the working height of the pouch working cam, and the rotation of the needle cylinder, whereby to provide longitudinally elongated stitches over an area of the knit goods so that the pouch is formed therein.

The pouch working cam can be in the form of a plate. A support for the plate is fixedly secured to a shaft which is arranged to rotate in synchronism with the needle cylinder. The plate is slidably mounted on the support for movement thereof so that it can project radially outward- FIG. 3d shows developments of curved ends of sleeves ly thereof to provide as the pouch working cam working height, that portion of the plate projecting outwardly of the support. The plate forming thepouch working cam can be movable along aradius between a position of zero working height and a position of finite working height. With the pouch working cam in a position of zero working height, the cam'follower can ride on the support for the pouch working cam, while with the pouch working cam in a position of finite working height, the cam follower rides on the working surface of the cam which projects beyond the support.

to, respectively, a first position of finite working heightand a second position of finite working height. In those embodiments wherein the cam is movable along two radii between a position of zero working height and two positions of finite working height, pouches can be worked at oircumferentially spaced locations. Such pouches can as well be axially spaced along the net goods. Thus, the

7 machine is well-suited for the knitting of heel and toe pouches. V V H v The means for controlling the sliding movement of;

the pouch working cam can comprise a first sleeve axially 1 sleeve axially of the shaft. The programming means is operatively connected to the stub shaft and controls the rotation thereof, whereby the axial position of the said first sleeve is controlled by the programming means. To coordinate the operation ofthe programming means with the pouch working cam, means interconnect the first sleeve and the plate forming the pouch working cam so that the position of the cam is controlled by the axial position of the said first sleeve on the stub shaft;

For interconnection of the programming means and I the pouch working cam, an obliquely mounted cylinder can beused. Thus, a cylinder can be'obliquely mounted on the shaft carrying the support for the pouch working cam. The obliquely mounted cylinder is mounted on such shaft for rotation therewith and so that it is axially movable therealong. Further, the obliquely mounted cylinder extends through the plate which forms the pouch working cam, and the said'cylinder is in sliding contact with the cam plate so that axial movement of the cylinder along the. shaft will impart to the cam plate a movement radially ofthe. shaft, whereby to provide variation in the the manner in which such movement is imparted to the linkage 81.

As indicated in FIG. '1, the apparatus of the invention for moving the stitch cam is mounted directly on the machine frame 7, bracket 71 being able to be made in one piece with the frame. Shaftll simultaneously serves as the drive shaft of the machine, being connected by a Adjacentends of the said first and workingheight of the cam. A connector is provided 7 which connects the. oblique cylinderwith the said first sleeve on the stub. shaft. Thus, the action of the programmingmeans which controls the position of the said first sleeve on the stub shaft, is effective, by reason of the said connector, to control the axial position of the oblique: cylinder on its shaft, and, hence,to control the position. of the pouch working cam and, therefore, the

working height of the pouch Working cam.

Referring to the drawings, as can be seen in FIG. 7,'

a circular knitting machine according to the invention includes a needle cylinder Z having knitting needles N mounted thereon for axial movement; along the periphery thereof. The knitting machine of the invention rotates continuously in one direction; During rotation of the knitting needle cylinder, the needle butts Renter the stitch ca'rn IV. The stitch cam IV is contoured to engage] theneedle butts and move the same up and down :to provide theknitting action of the needles; In the device of the invention, provision is made for moving the stitch cam IV axially relative to'the cylinder after the needle butts have entered the stitch cam, whereby. the extent of movement of the needlesirelative. to the needle cylinder is varied. Thus, by controlling the axial position of the stitch cam, the movement or flow of the needle can be controlled sothat the longitudinal length of the knit loop can be'controlled;

As is shown in FIG. 7, the stitch cam IV is mounted on camcarrier 92, which, in turn, is mounted for movement; axially withrespect to the needle "cylinder in a cam ring 9.- The cam carrier 92 has an outwardly projecting arm 83', and; spring F is connected to the. arm 83"and urges it upwardly into a neutral position, i.e. a position for the knittingof loops of normal loop length.

n For movement of the cam carrier 92, there is provided thepivot arm 82which is pivoted to the support arm 93, One end of the pivot arm 82 works on the. arm 83 of the cam carrier, while the other endof the arm 82 is connected to a link 81. By suitable actuation of the link81,'the desiredmovement is imparted to the cam carrier.

The invention is particularly concerned with I affixed to the machine frame 7,

pouch working cam 2 are the R-IIIand R-IV. (see FIG.

coupling 74 to the driving motor '73v which is flangemounted on the machine frarne. The needle, frame assembly can. be mounted atop the flange 72; Qnfshaft 11 there is .mounted the gear (not shown) for driving the needle cylinder, and the dial disc (not shown) can be connected to the shaft 11. The apparatus of the invention can thus be installed in a simple manner on any. desired type of circular knitting machine with any desired number of feeds and stitch cams. It is only necessary to see to it that the stitch cam on each feed slides. on the oblique or skew cylinder 100, while it is mounted on the support ring 1 by means of screws 111 in such amanner that it is displaceable in relation to said fixed ring 1 alongthe guide slots 112. The pouch working cam 2 and the oblique cylinder 1th) andv the fixed ring 1 thus rotate together with shaft 11.

A connector for shift claw 101', for the purpose of shifting skewcylinder 1th) on shaft 11-, engages in an annular groove 110 in skew cylinder ltlt). Shift claw 101 is displaceably mounted by means of a sleeve on the stub shaft 1&3 which. is'mounted in. a bracket 71 and is urged by a spring 164 againsta sleeve 102 rigidly afiixed to the stub shaft. The mutually" contacting ends of the two sleeves 102.

. and 1 05 are shaped like cams; for example, they are contoured as interfitting helices or as .a cam and follower.

' By rotating shaft 103, these. cam members are rotated Disposed at intervals aboutvthei support 1 and the cam followers RI, R-II, 8,), in the same angular relationship as the corresponding stitch cams about the needle cylinder, and they are connected one to each stitch cam by appropriate means such as hell cranks 3 and link- ,age sl. The followers R extend over the support 1 and the pouch working cam 2; V

The manner in which the movement of the stub shaft 163 is controlled will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9-. A ratchet wheel device including the

ratchet wheels

41 and 42 are mounted on stub shaft 103 so that the shaft will be rotated upon rotation of the. ratchet wheels. The ratchet wheels'are connected together by a pin 43 so that any movement of the one will be directly imparted to the other. The ratchet wheel 42 has a full complement of teeth while the ratchet wheel 41 is lacking a full complement as can be seen by the gap 41 in FIG. 9. A pair of

pawls

45 and 46 pivoted about the pin 44 are provided for engaging in rotating the ratchet wheels 41' and. 42, respectively, The pin 44" is carried by a pawl lever 4 which is subjected to an oscillating movement by the connecting rodr3 which is pivotably connected to' the in patent application Serial neas The mounting of the connecting rod 3 on the shaft 11 is such that rotation of the shaft 11 will cause the connecting rod 3 to oscillate. This mounting is effected by providing the eccentric disc 31 secured to the shaft 11 for rotation therewith, while at the same time the eccentric disc 31 is in sliding engagement with the eccentric opening 31a in the end of the connecting rod adjacent the shaft 11. Thus, rotation of the shaft 11 imparts a cranking motion which causes the connecting rod 3 to oscillate. Oscillation of the pawl lever 4 will cause the

pawls

45 and 45 to engage the

ratchet wheels

41 and 42 and thereby cause their rotation. Means are provided, however, to selectively prevent rotation of the

ratchet wheels

41 and 42 even though the pawl lever 4 oscillates. This means consists of a shield 47a carried on the end of a lever 47 which is movable to a position between the tip of the pawl 46 and the ratchet wheel 42 to prevent the pawl 46 from engaging ratchet wheel 42. The lever 47 is rotatably mounted on stub shaft 183 and is actuated by

rods

43 and 49. These

rods

48 and 49 are in turn actuated to permit the knitting of heel or toe pouches by a chain cam running on sprocket wheel 50. The chain and sprocket wheel together with the chain cam 5 function as a programming device.

During normal operation of the knitting machine when pouches are not being knit, whereas the connecting rod 3 is oscillated so that the

pawls

45 and 46 in turn are oscillated, yet the pawls do not actuate the

ratchet wheels

42 and 41 since pawl 46 is maintained out of working engagement with its ratchet wheel 42 by the shield 47a, and, pawl 45 is ineffective to actuate its ratchet wheel 41 because the pawl 45 is, during the said normal operation, in engagement with the pawl gap 41' and this gap is elongated so that the throw of the pawl 45 does not traverse the full length of the gap 41' as is essential to actuation of the wheel 41 by its pawl 45.

When a pouch is to be knit, the programming means comprising the sprocket wheel and chain 5a, bring the sprocket wheel cam 5 into engagement with the arm 49. This engagement results in actuation of the arm 48 which in turn actuates the pivot arm 47 so that the shield 47a is retracted and the pawl 46 is permitted to engage its ratchet wheel 42. This engagement of the ratchet Wheel 42 moves the ratchet wheel 41, since both ratchet wheels rotate together on the shaft 6, and upon such movement of ratchet wheel 41 the gap 41' is moved past the pawl 45 so that the pawl 45 and its ratchet wheel 41 are placed into engagement. The oscillation of the connecting rod 3 will thereafter be effective to rotate the ratchet wheel-s by operation of the pawl 45, until the pawl 45 comes to an elongated pawl gap such as the gap 41. The shield 47a for ratchet wheel 42 is permitted to move to the position shown in FIG. 9 immediately after the pawl 45 has been brought into working engagement with its ratchet wheel 41.

The manner of operation of the apparatus is as follows: During the knitting of the leg, loops of the same size are knitted over the entire periphery of the cylinder, and the cam followers R are not moved by the pouch working cam 2. The cam followers R therefore run only on the support 1, and the pouch working cam 2 is placed in such a position that it does not project beyond the periphery of the support 1 and consequently does not engage the followers R. This basic position corresponds to the setting shown in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 3a, of the oblique cylinder 1%, and to the setting of the two

sleeves

102 and 105 shown in FIG. 1.

As soon as the heel .pouch has to be knitted on the stocking, the ratchet wheel mechanism that drives stub shaft 103 is activated by a lift on the chain cam. See the foregoing description of FIGS. 8 and 9.

In other words, upon each rotation of shaft 11 or of the needle cylinder, the stub shaft 103 is turned by an amount predetermined by the ratchet wheel mechanism, until the stub shaft 103 has completed one full revolution. The rotary movement of shaft 103 causes the sleeve 102 rigidly afiixed to shaft 103 to turn, and sleeve 105 of the shift claw lill is thereby displaced against the bias of spring 194. The oblique cylinder disposed on the shaft is thereby shifted in the direction of the arrow lilla. This produces a displacement of the pouch working cam 2 on its support 1. (See FIG. 2.) The portion of pouch working cam 2 which, as a result of the shift, projects beyond the periphery of the fixed ring 1, is the working height of the pouch working cam and lifts the cam followers R upon each revolution so that upon each rotation of the needle cylinder, the stitch cams are actuated accordingly.

The continuous displacement of the stitch cams causes the needles to draw the yarn lower, and the looping action is influenced in such a manner that a heel pouch is formed on the stocking. When stub shaft 103 has performed one rotation, the pouch working cam 2 is again in the basic position shown in FIG. 1 and all feedsform loops of the same size over the entire periphery of the cylinder.

FIG. 3d shows a development curve x corresponding to sleeves 102 and 305. A displacement of oblique cylinder 1% and hence of the pouch working cam takes place only toward one side and along one radius. This displacement is from the basic position M to the extreme heel setting F and back again. This movement of the pouch working cam corresponds to movement from a position wherein the working height of the cam is zero to a position wherein the cam projects beyond its support 1 and is at a maximum height, and back again to the zero position.

The ratchet wheel mechanism can also be so arranged that the further advancement of control shaft 103 is interrupted in the extreme heel position F for a number of courses, and the pouch working cam 2 does not return to its basic position M until after those courses. In this case, one of the ratchet wheels 41 must have an additional gap in its periphery, by which the stoppage of the ratchet wheel mechanism is brought about, the action of the latter mechanism being restored by another lift on the chain cam.

According to an alternative of the subject of the invention, a pouch can be formed alternately on both sides of the stocking, using the same apparatus. The heel and the toe pouches can be formed. FIG. 5 shows the foot of a stocking in which a heel pouch F was first knitted and then, after a predetermined plain instep length, a toe pouch S was knitted on the other side of the tube. Due to the toe pouch S, the finished stocking (FIG. 6) has a substantially better fit in the toe as well. In FIG. 3a, the curve 3* is a development of sleeves such as 102 and 105 but contoured for the production of a heel and toe pocket. The oblique cylinder 100 mounted on shaft 11 in this case can be shifted in both directions through the zero or basic position M. In this embodiment, the pouch working cam is provided so that it is movable between a position of zero working height and two positions of finite working height.

In FIG. 4, pouch working cam 2 is shown in extreme position 2 (F') for the fashioning of the heel pouch, and, as indicated by the dash-dotted line, in position 2 (S') for the fashioning of the toe. The cam followers R-I, R-II, RIII and R1V are thus lifted on the opposite portion of support 1 according to whether the heel or toe pouch is being knit. In the knitting of the toe pouch, the stitch cams are actuated whenever the sector of the needle cylinder opposite the heel half turns past them. In the basic position or zero position the stationary support 1 and pouch working cam 2 coincide with one another and there is no actuation of the stitch cams (see FIG. 3b).

FIGS. 34:, 3b and 3c and FIG. 3d show the corresponding positions of the oblique cylinder 166, which is first lifted according to curve y from position M to position F and then back again, while stub shaft 103 performs half a revolution. When the heel pouch is completed, the control ring 2 again finds itself in the basic or zero position M and remains there until thetoe pouch isto be made. Then the skew cylinder 1% is gradually brought into the position indicated by S on curvey while the'toe pouch isformed'. Pouch working cam 2 is thus shifted to the. opposite side of the support 1, so that the followers R then run on the can; 2 as indicatedjby the dash-dotted lines and over the circular ring 1 indicated by the solid line (FIG. 4'). When. the toe pouch is completed, the control cylinder 100 is ,back'in its zero or basic position M. During this-time, stub shaft has again performed half of a revolution.

' According to whether only a heel pouch or a heel pouch anda toe pouch are to. be knitted,

sleeves

102 and 105 must have acurvature corresponding tox or y as shown in FIG. 3d. The shape of curves x'or y can be of various forms according to what form the heel or toe pocket is to possess.

This improvement of the apparatus of .patent application Serial No. 166,615 not only has the advantage of simpler construction, but also itmakes possible the production of heel and toe pouches one after the other with the same apparatus. The shape of the pouch can also be determined by the shape of the portion of the pouch working cam that projectsbeyond the circular fixed ring The said portion can be-arcuate orellipsoidal, or it may have V the shape of any other desired curve.

The simplest form of the pouch working cam is that of a circle of the same a diameter as the support 1. Heel and toe pouches are thus formed which are equal in breadth and depth. By the use of diiferent shapes in each half of the control disk, asdifferent' shaping can be achieved between the heel and the toe pouch. By changing the number of teeth in the vratchet wheel and by varying the number of gaps in the s f5 lower can be changed and in turn axial stitching movement of the needles can be changed; and

(h) programmingimeans for coordinating operation of the said c'ontrolmeans with rotation of the needle cylinder to provide longitudinally elongated stitches over an area of the knit goods to provide a pouch I therein.

2. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1-,

the said pouch working cam (d) being a plate, a support for said plateifixedly secured to a shaft rotatable to provide said synchronism of the pouch working camand the needle cylinder, said plate being slidablemounted on said support for movement so. that it can project radially outwardly there'of'to provide as the pouch working cam working'height, that portion of the plateprojectingoutwardly of the support as aforesaid;

3. A circularknittingmachine according to claim 2,

said' control means (g) for the pouch working cam being a cylinder obliquely mounted on said shaft. for rotation therewith, said obliquely mounted cylinder extending .through the said pouch working cam plate and slidably I contacting said plate, .said obliquely mounted cylinder being axially movable along said shaft, said axial'movement ofthe oblique cylinder imparting movement of the'cam late on-its supportas aforesaid, and means for controlling the axial position on said shaft of said obliquely mounted cylindeL t 4. A circular knitting machine according to claim 2,

c said control'means forthe. pouch working cam controlling said sliding movement ofsaid plate on said support, and

comprising a first sleeve axially slidably mounted on a stub shaft which is free to rotate in said first sleeve, a second sleeve fixedly secured to said stub shaft, adjacent ends of said sleevesbeing. in abutting relation and being contoured'for cooperation so that the rota-tion of the sec- 1 0nd sleeve with the stub shaft moves the first sleeve axially 1. A circular knitting machine for the knitting of tubular goods and adapted to selectively work pouches into the goods by variation of the longitudinal length of the knit. loops while the machine is in continuous rotary motion, said knitting machine comprising: I

(a) a cylinder having. needles disposed-axially about the cylinder and mounted thereon foraxial movement thereof with respect to the cylinder for knitting operation, said needles having needle butts for actuation ofthe needles;

(b) a stitch cam for cooperation with the needle butts to actuate saidineedles for'the knitting operation;

. (c) means for rotating said cylinder relative to saidstitch cam for cooperation of the stitch cam with the needle butts, to provide the knittingoperation of the needles; v

(d) a pouch working cam and. means for rotating the pouch working cam in synchronism with the said movement of the needle cylinder; 7

(e) .a cam follower for cooperation withthe pouch working cam;

(f) meansinterconnecting said camfollower and stitch cam and effective to'move. the. stitch cam axiallyv relatcdto the necdle'cylinder in response to action of the pouch workingcam' on the cam follower, whereby to vary the. axial stitching: movement of needles,'and therefore the; longitudinal length of the knit loops;

(g) control means for the pouch working cam for changing the working height of said cam whereby the magnitude of the cam action on'said cam folof the shaft, and means interconnecting the said first sleeve and said plate forming the pouch working cam for control of the position of the cam according to the axial position of the first sleeve on the stub shaft, said. programming means (h) including said stub shaft;

5. A circular knitting machine according to claim 4,

and acylinder obliquely mounted on saidshaft for rotationthereWith-and axially movable along said"sha.f t, said obliquely mounted-cylinder extending through and being 7 in sliding contact with the plate forming the pouch Work-- ing cam, wherebyaxial movement of the oblique cylinder onsaid shaft is elfective to control movement of the cam plate onits support as aforesaid, said means interconnecting the said first sleeve and said oblique cylinder, whereby the oblique cylinder is moved alongits shaft. according to the movement of saidsecondsleeve on its stub shaft;

6; A circular knitting machine according to claim- 5,

the working surface of the pouch working cam'being' arcuate; f r

7. Aoircular'knitting' machinezaccording to claim 1,

said pouch .working cam (d) beingxa plate, said'plate being movable in the plane thereof radially of its axis" .of rotation, said 'control' means (g) for the pouch working cam being effective to control the position of the cam in said plane,- whereby to control the working height of said: cam.

'8..A circular knitting machine according toclaim 7,-

theworking surface of the pouch working cambeing arcuate. a

9. A'ciroular knitting machine according toclaim 7, the said plate formingwthe pouch working oam being movable along a radius between a position of 5 zero working'height and a position of finiteworking height.

10. A circular knitting machine according'to claim 9, theplate forming the pouchworking cam being-movable along two'radii betweena position ofzero working height and 'two positions of finite working height.

11. A circular knitting machine according toclaim' 2 the said plate formingthe pouch -working cam being '9 movable along a radius between a position of zero working height and a position of finite working height, the finite working height of the cam being the height to which it extends outwardly of said support.

12. A circular knitting machine according to claim 11, said cam follower (e) riding on the said support and the pouch working cam, respectively, according to the position of the cam on said support of zero working height and finite working height.

13. A circular knitting machine according to claim 11, the plate forming the pouch working cam being movable along two radii between a position of zero working height and two positions of finite working height.

14. A circular knitting machine according to claim 13, said cam follower (e) riding on the support for the pouch working cam and the pouch working cam, respectively, according to the position of the pouch working cam having finite working height and zero working height.

15. A circular knitting machine according to claim 5, the said plate forming the pouch working cam being movable along a radius between a position of zero working height and a position of finite working height, the finite working height of the cam being the extent to which 19 it projects radially outwardly of its support as aforesaidr 16. A circular knitting machine according to claim 15, wherein the cam follower (e) rides on the support for the pouch working cam and the pouch working cam, respectively, according to the position of the cam of zero working height and finite working height.

17. A circular knitting machine according to claim 15, the plate forming the pouch working cam being movable along two radii between a position of zero working height and two positions of finite working height, the pouch working cam projecting nadially outwardly of its support as aforesaid when in a position of finite working height.

18. A circular knitting machine according to claim 17, wherein the cam follower (e) rides on the support for the pouch working cam and the pouch working cam, respectively, according to the position of the cam of zero working height and finite working height.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,723 McDonough Ian. 5, 1954 2,981,085 Mahler et a1 Apr. 25, 1961 3,076,327 Coile Feb. 5, 1963

Claims

1. A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF TUBULAR GOODS AND ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY WORK POUCHES INTO THE GOODS BY VARIATION OF THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF THE KNIT LOOPS WHILE THE MACHINE IS IN CONTINUOUS ROTARY MOTION, SAID KNITTING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A CYLINDER HAVING NEEDLES DISPOSED AXIALLY ABOUT THE CYLINDER AND MOUNTED THEREON FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO THE CYLINDER FOR KNITTING OPERATION, SAID NEEDLES HAVING NEEDLE BUTTS FOR ACTUATION OF THE NEEDLES; (B) A STITCH CAM FOR COOPERATION WITH THE NEEDLE BUTTS TO ACTUATE SAID NEEDLES FOR THE KNITTING OPERATION; (C) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CYLINDER RELATIVE TO SAID STITCH CAM FOR COOPERATION OF THE STITCH CAM WITH THE NEEDLE BUTTS TO PROVIDE THE KNITTING OPERATION OF THE NEEDLES; (D) A POUCH WORKING CAM AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE POUCH WORKING CAM IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE SAID MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLE CYLINDER; (E) A CAM FOLLOWER FOR COOPERATION WITH THE POUCH WORKING CAM; (F) MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CAM FOLLOWER AND STITCH CAM AND EFFECTIVE TO MOVE THE STITCH CAM AXIALLY RELATED TO THEE NEEDLE CYLINDER IN RESPONSE TO ACTION OF THE POUNCH WORKING CAM ON THE CAM FOLLOWER, WHEREBY TO VARY THE AXIAL STITCHING MOVEMENT OF NEEDLES, AND THEREFORE THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF THE KNIT LOOPS; (G) CONTROL MEANS FOR THE POUNCH WORKING CAM FOR CHANGING THE WORKING HEIGHT OF SAID CAM WHEREBY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CAM ACTION ON SAID CAM FOLLOWER CAN BE CHANGED AND IN TURN AXIAL STITCHING MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLES CAN BE CHANGED; AND (H) PROGRAMMING MEANS FOR COORDINATING OPERATION OF THE SAID CONTROL MEANS WITH ROTATION OF THE NEEDLE CYLINDER TO PROVIDE LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED STITCHES OVER AN AREA OF THE KNIT GOODS TO PROVIDE A POUNCH THEREIN.