US576376A - raven - Google Patents

Description

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RRAVEN.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHI NE. No. 576,376. Patented Feb. 2, 1897;

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' STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 576,376. Patented Feb; 2 1897'.

Witn esses. j Inventor.

I I a Attorney.

(No Model.) k 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F. RAVEN.

. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 576 376. Patented Feb. 2, 189 7.

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STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 576,376. Patented Feb. 2, 1897 )nnnnnnlnnn 12 7' 9 t: 7

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Inventor.

Attorney.

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FFRAV EN. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

v No. 576,376. A Patented Peb.'2, 1897.

o 00 Witnsses. j Inventor.

/ Attorney.

(No Modl.) e Sheets-Sheet 6.

PLR AVENJ STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHIIIE.

No. 576,376. Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

W itnesses.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FREEMAN RAVEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES R. KENDRICK, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,376, dated February 2, 1897.

, A plication filed March 9 1895. Serial No. 5 2L075. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN RAVEN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Straight-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of straight-knitting machines known as power or rotary machines, wherein spring-hook needles with their complementary presser and sinker devices are employed, my object herein being to adapt such machines to the knitting of rubber-weft fabrics, as, for" example, elastic stockings, knee-caps, and similar surgical goods. Heretofore goods of this character have been knit upon the original handframe, as it is termed, wherein is employed, in combination with the essential elements above specified, a point-bearing bar which operates, in conjunction with the needles, to effeet the interlocking of the rubber weft by and with the successive courses of stitches. In such hand-frames the requisite lateral and longitudinal movements of the point-bar are effected by the manual operation of the bar, and similarly the thread and the rubber weft are separately introduced.

A feature of my invention consists in the combination, with the rotary or power mechanism first mentioned,of a point-bearing bar of the kind used in the hand-machines, together with novel means whereby the requisite longitudinal and lateral reciprocations are imparted automatically to the point-bar to effect the operation of the points upon alternate needles of the set during the knitting of the successive courses of stitches.

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel construction andarrangement of the thread and weft carriers and of the mechanism for operating and controlling the same, all ofwhich will be hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a knitting-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a right end view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section as on the line 0000 of Fig. 1, looking toward the right end of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail in front view, showing the mechanism for longitudinally reciprocating the point-bar; Fig. 5 is adetail in end view, showing the means for transversely reciprocating said frame. Fig. 6 is a detail in front view of the thread-carriers and their adjuncts, the same being in their normal or idle condition. Fig. 7 is a transverse section as on the line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the carriers in the raised or working condition. Fig. 9 is a detail in front View of the weftcarriers and immediate connections. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a sectional stop device for determining the throw of the threadcarriers during the operation of forming a heel or pouch portion. Fig. 11 is an elevation of a modification of the mechanism for controlling certain stop devices that determine the throw of the thread-carriers at prescribed stages of the operation. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified construction of stop device hereinafter referred to. Fig. 14. is a detail of that portion of the machine to which said stop device is applied.

The numeral 1 designates the main frame, 2 the driving-shaft, and 3 the hand-operated crankshaft, from which motion is transmitted to the shaft 2 through the intermediate gearing 4.

5 designates the spring-hook needles, 6 the jack-sinkers, by means of which the thread is pushed between the alternate needles, and 7 the intermediate or lead sinkers, which are periodically depressed to effect the formation of a loop between each pair of needles. The loops thus formed are moved out of the way of the sinkers, and a succeeding setis formed in like manner and then engaged with the hooks of the needles.

8 designates the presser-bar, by which the hooks are depressed in a manner to retain the engaged loops between them, and 9 the series of points which cooperate with the hooks to permit the passage of the first-formed loops over the interposed weft and the engaged loops. Following this another set of loops is formed, and the last preceding set is drawn Proceeding with the knitting of the main over them and interlocked therewitlnas in the part of the stocking, the thread is laid by the other instance, and so on in successive courses the loops are formed and interlocked until the desired length of fabric has been produced.

The parts above referred to, together with the supporting and operating mechanisms therefor, are too well kn own in the art to need further description in this connection.

The first part of my invention com prehends means for imparting the requisite lateral and longitudinal movements to the point-bar, the lateral movements being for the purpose of throwing the points into and out of engagement with the opposed needle-hooks, and the longitudinal movements being for the purpose of bringing the points into alinement with alternate needles preparatory to their cooperation during the formation of one course of stitches and the interlocking of the weft therewith, and then into alinement with the other or intermediate needles preparatory to the formation of the next succeeding course of stitches, &c.

10 designates the point bearing bar, the ends thereof being provided with pivot-studs 11, which are loosely fitted to bearings in brackets 12, whereby the bar may be oscillated so as to throw the points 9 into and out of the plane of the needles, and whereby said bar may be longitudinally reciprocated on its pivots in a manner to set the points in alinement with the alternate needles, such construction and operations being common in the hand-machines above mentioned.

By turning the crank-shaft the thread-carriers are brought into position to lay the thread and commence their traverse. At the same time the j ack-sinkers are caused to follow directly in rear of said carriers in a manner to depress the thread between the needles. At the end of the traverse the thread-carriers drop between the proximate needles and to their original or forward position. The lead sinkers are then depressed and the pointbar is manually moved into position on the needles (one point to every other needle) and depressed thereon. The sinkers are then brought forward, the points taking the thread from every other needle. The points are then slightly elevated, the sinkers retreat, and the rubber weft is passed under the points immediately over the needle-heads. The sinkers are then brought forward and down, by which movement the thread is returned from the points to the needles and the rubber weft is moved down under the needles. This completes the first course of the welt. The second and succeeding welt courses are knitted similarly to that just described, excepting that before the points are brought into position the presser-baris brought into operation, so as to press the work over the needle-heads and effect the formation of a plain hosierystitch in the usual way. The points are then brought into position and the course or courses completed, as before explained.

carriers and depressed by the j ack-sinkers, as before. At the same time that the lead sinkers are being depressed the point-bar is moved into position to set the points onto alternate needles. The presser-bar then descends, and as the sinkers move forward it rises, having passed the loops of the respective needles over the needle-beards and onto the points in alternate order. The sinkers then bring the whole to the needle-heads, the loops on the alternate needles being knocked over the same. The points, with their engaged loops, are then slightly raised and the rubber weft introduced, as before stated. Thus the loops are returned from the points to the needles, and there is made a double loop on the alternate needles, the rubber thread or weft lying between the front and back of said loop. Preparatory to the formation of succeeding courses in the manner just described the point-bar is moved longitudinally, so that the points are placed in position opposite to the alternate needles having the single loops.

The brackets 12 are formed on or secured to the upper ends of vertically disposed rocking levers 13, whereby the point-bearin g bar may be laterally reciprocated so as to engage the points with and disengage them from the opposed needles. The rocking levers are fulcrumed on asuitably-located shaft 14, the depending arms of the levers being held normally inward by means of springs 15, which are connected therewith and with brackets 16, affiXed to the main frame. Pivoted to these brackets are levers 17 the upper arms of which are connected by means of links 18 with the corresponding arms of the rocking levers 13, while the lower ends of said levers 17 are provided with rollers 19, that take against appropriate cams 20 on the main shaft. Hence during the rotation of the shaft the cams 20, in conjunction with the springs 15, act upon the levers to effect the requisite lateral reciprocations of the point-bearing bar.

Fulcrumed to a suitable bracket 21 at one end of the machine is a vertical lever 22, the upper arm of which is equipped with a pivoted catch or hook 22, that is adapted to be engaged with a pin or stud 23 on an arm or extension 23 on the adjacent end of the bar. The lower arm of the lever 22 is provided with a stud or roller 24, that takes against an appropriate cam-wheel 25 on a transverse shaft 26, whereby during the intermittent rotation of said wheel the point-bar is periodically reciprocated longitudinally. The movement of the shaft 26 is effected by means of a springcontrolled reciprocative pawl 27, acting upon a ratchet-wheel 28 on the shaft. is pivotally connected with the forward arm of a horizontal lever 29, the other arm thereof being provided with a roller 30, which is actuated by an appropriate cam 31 on the main shaft. On shaft 26 is another ratchet 32, which is engaged by a stop-pawl 33, piv- The pawl 1 oted to the main frame, said pawl being held in action by means of a suitably-disposed spring 34.

.FiXed to each of the brackets 23 is the upper end of a depending spring 23 the lower end of which bears against the edge of the adjacent lever 13, the action of the spring being to maintain the point-bearing bar in a normal position in respect to the needles and thus facilitate the manipulation of the bar by the operator.

The second part of my invention comprehends means for operating and controlling the knitting-thread and the elastic weft in relation to each other and to the needles.

On the forward part of the main frame, at a suitable point above the jack and needle mechanisms, is a longitudinally-disposed bar 35, on which is mounted a reciprocative slideplate 36. This plate is connected with the forwardly-extendin g arm of a horizontal rocking lever 37, the rearward arm of the latter being linked with a vertical rocking lever 38 underthe influence of a cam This cam is mounted on a shaft 40, which is geared with and impelled by the main shaft. The parts are so constructed that during the rotation of the cam the plate 36 is reciprocated longitudinally on the bar.

The connection of the slide-plate with the lever 37 is as follows: The upper edge of the plate is recessed longitudinally to form shoulders a at a proper interval apart. Rising from the plate adjacent to these shoulders are posts a, to which are pivoted the free ends of outwardly-extending latch-arms a which are held normally downward by means of springs a secured thereto and to the plate. The forward ends of the latcharms are beveled, and they are provided on their lower edges with notches a. During the successive strokes of the carrier the beveled ends of the respective latch-arms alternately impinge against projecting studs a on stops '65, hereinafter described, so as to ride upon such studs until the notches register with and engage the same. Thus the plate is temporarily locked at the end of each stroke.

Resting upon the upper edge of the plate is a longitudinal bar B, which is pivotally connected midway of its ends with the lever 37, the connection being such that while the bar will be reciprocated longitudinally by the lever the bar will be capable of an oscillatory movement to raise and lower its ends alternately. The ends of the bar are beveled, and it, the bar, is provided on its under edge with two depending shoulders I), the distance between which is somewhat greater than that between the shoulders on the plate. The shoulders on the bar are adapted to coact al ternately with the adjacent shoulders at on the plate to effect the reciprocation of the latterthat is to say, if the bar B be inclined and its right-hand shoulder engaged with that of the plate, as shown in Fig. 1, then as the bar is moved toward the right the plate will be correspondingly moved until the leading latch-arm engages the opposing stud a on the right-hand stop 65. Immediately be fore the latching action the beveled end of the bar B abuts against a lower projecting stud b on the stop 65, which latter stud raises the engaged end of the bar sufficiently to disengage the shoulder of the bar from that of the plate, the bar thus moving onward independently of the plate until the other or left-hand shoulder on the bar reaches and engages the corresponding shoulder on the plate preparatory to a succeeding stroke in the opposite direction. On the upper edge of the bar, near each edge thereof, is a projection Z2 which, immediately before the bar campletes its stroke, impinges against a stud a on the latch and raises the latter suliiciently to release it andmaintain it released to pertion, as follows: Extending forwardly from the fixed bar 40, upon which the needle-bearing bar is supported, are two end arms 41, which are drooped, as seen, to pass below the point-bar. The outer portions of these arms constitute tracks, upon which are supported transverse]y-reciprocative end heads 42, that are connected by a longitudinal bar 43. These heads each comprise a block 42, on the outside of which is an arm or bracket 42, that is affixed to the end of the bar 43. Attached to said arm are two parallel crosspieces 42, on which are mounted rollers 44, that take against the respective sides of the tracks, so as to reduce the friction of the parts. Secured to each of the heads by means of a screw or pin 44 is one arm of an angle-piece 44 the other arm of which is connected with the usual reciprocating jackframe 45 by means of a link 46, so that the heads partake of the horizontal movements of said frame, such movements being imparted to the frame from a cam 47 on the main shaft through a coacting lever 48 and link 49, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3.

On the inner faces of the blocks 42 are vertical guideways 50, to which are fitted. the

ends of a longitudinal bar 51. This bar rests upon forwardly-projecting lugs on the ends of a rearward parallel bar 52, which latter bar is connected with the upper end of a vertically-reciprocative bar 52, that is guidedin a suitable frame 53, affixed to the main frame. The lower end of this vertical bar is connected with the free end of a lever 54:, that is fulcrumed to a fixed bracket or support 55. The lever is connected, by means of a link 56, with the forward end of ahorizontal rocking lever 57, the rearward end of the latter being provided with a roller 58, which is acted upon by a cam 59 on the main shaft, whereby during the operation of said shaft the bar 51 is verticallyreciprocated. Fitted to this bar 51, so as to be longitudinally movable thereon, is a plate 60, to which the thread-carriers are secured, a rod 60, whose ends are secured to the face of the bar adjacent to the heads, serving to prevent displacement of the plate. These carriers constitute angular arms 61, the vertical members of which lie adjacent to the respective sets of needles, and are provided with guide-eyes 62, through which the threads extend. Depending from the slidebar 36, hereinbefore described, is an arm 63, that extends between suitably-disposed lugs 64: 64 on the plate 60, so that during the reciprocations of said bar the plate will be correspondingly impelled. The construction and organization of parts are such that during the traverse of the plate it is in the elevated position and the guide-eyes on the thread-carriers lie above the shanks of the needles, so that the threads are properly introduced to the latter, but at the end of each stroke of the plate it is depressed so as to drop the guide-eyes, with their respective threads, between and below the needles, thereby effectually determining the length of the course and avoiding all liability of the threads being carried beyond the particular needles between which the thread-carriers descend. This being done, the carriers are moved forward, that is, toward the operator, by the stroke of the jack-frame, so as to project the guide-eyes forwardly beyond the needles and beyond the path of the advancing jack-sinkers above referred to. Preparatory to the knitting of a succeeding course the thread-carriers are retracted and raised through and above the needles in position to lay the threads, as before stated. Hence if the stroke of the carriers be gradually increased or decreased the threads will be introduced to a greater or less number of needles in each set, and thus effect a corresponding Widening or narrowing of the webs.

As a means whereby the successive strokes of the carriers may be increased or dimin ished, as desired, I mount on the bar 35, near each end thereof, longitudinally-reciprocative stops 65. On each of these stops is a threaded lug 66,- through which extends a screw-bar 67, provided with a handle 68. The lugs are oppositely threaded, and the engaging threads of the screw-bar are correspond-- ingly formed, so that by a turn of the screwbar to the right or to the left the stops will be simultaneously advanced toward each other or retracted, as desired.

Instead of the screw mechanism for adjustin g the stops I may employ the devices shown in Figs. 11 and 12-that is to say, on a stud 69 in a bracket depending from the bar 35 are affixed two oppositely-disposed cams7l 72 and an intermediate ratchet-wheel 7 8. Engaging these cams are rods 74 75, which are 'connected with the respective stops in such a manner that during the rotation of the ratchetwheel to the right or to the left the cams, being correspondingly moved, will effect the requisite adjustments of the stops. The rods are held normally in engagement with the cams by means of suitably-applied springs 76. Loosely mounted on the stud 69 is a handlelever 77, on the upper end of which is a pivoted dog 7 S, that engages the teeth of the ratchet. The construction is such that when the dog is in one position and the lever is oscillated the ratchet-wheel will be intermittently turned in one direction, but when the dog is in the opposite position the oscillation of the lever will effect a contrary movement of the ratchet-wheel. By this means the stops may be simultaneously actuated, as and for the purpose stated.

The mechanism for introducing the elastic weft is of the following description: Fixed to the main frame immediately below the bar 35 is a longitudinal guide-frame 7 9, to which is fitted a carrier 80, from which depend the weft-guides 81, the eyes of which lie directly above the needles. Extending from this carrier is a lug 82, to which is connected a cord or flexible device 83, which runs freely over suitably-arranged sheaves 84, its ends being fastened to eyes 85 on the main frame. This cord extends through guide-rollers 86 on the respective arms of a horizontal rocking lever 87, said arms being linked with treadles 88. Hence by depressing these treadles alternately the carrier is impelled to and fro, soas to introduce the elastic wefts to the needles during the formation of the stitches.

The frame 79 comprises a horizontally-disposed bar 0, secured at its ends to the side Walls of the main frame, and a lower parallel bar 0, whose ends are upturned and bolted to the upper bar,thus forming an intermediate space or guideway. The carrier 80 comprises two end heads d, which are slidingly fitted between the bars and are connected and held a suitable distance apart by means of a bar 61, carrying antifriction rollers (1 that take against the opposing edges of the bars of frame 7 9.

During the knitting of a welt or heading on the fabric the hook 22 is disengaged from the point-bar, in which case straight-ahead knitting is eifected instead of the diamond or staggered stitchwork produced by the longitudinal reciprocation of the point-bar.

In Figs. 1, 10, and 14 of the drawings I have illustrated a construction of end stops 89, which may be used instead of the stops to limit the stroke of the plate 36. These stops 89 are shown at one end of the bar, although, of course, they may be applied to both ends thereof. They are intended for use mainly during the formation of knee-caps,wl1erein several courses of stitch are narrowed and widened at alternate ends to effect the pouchlike form of the articles. The stops 89 comprise a series of arms pivoted on a suitablydisposed rod 35 on the bar 35 in such manner that any of the arms may be thrown independently of the others into the path of the plate 36, so as to determine the traverse of the latter, the same being increased or decreased after the knitting of predetermined courses of stitches, as required.

The stops 89 are used to effect quickly the shortening or the lengthening of the stroke of the plate 36 a distance of several needles as desired, which operation would require a much greater time to effect by rocking the stops first described. i

In lieu of the pivoted arms I may use supplemental stop-blocks 89 of various lengths, the same being detachably arranged on the bar contiguous to the stops 65, as represented in Fig. 14, the size of the blocks applied from time to time being determin ed by the require ments of the work.

I claim as my invention 1. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its su pportin g-levers, and means for automatically reciprocating said bar longitudinally, substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its supporting-leve rs, a rocking lever, means whereby it is connected with one end of the point-bearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever,and means for actuating the cam, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its supporting-levers, a rocking lever, a latch thereon detachably connecting the lever with one end of the pointbearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever, and means for actuating the cam, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearing bar, its supporting-levers, a rockin g lever, means whereby it is connected with one end of the point-bearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever, the shaft for said cam, the ratchet-wheel on said shaft, the pawl coacting with said wheel, the lever supporting the pawl, and the cam on the main shaft coacting with said lever, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearing bar,its supporting-levers, and means for automatically oscillating said levers, substantially as described.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and their supporting parts,

said bar longitudinally, and means for automatically oscillating the levers, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles, their supporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocative heads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted to said heads, means for vertically reciprocating said bar, a threadcarrier having a sliding connection with said bar, and means for longitudinally reciprocating said carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles, their supporting parts and the jack-frame, of the forwardly-projecting track-arms, the horizontally reciprocative heads thereon, means connecting said heads with the jack-frame, the vertically-reciprocative bar fitted to said heads, means for operating said bar, a thread-carrier having a sliding connection with said bar, and means for longitudinally reciprocating said carrier,

substantially as described.

10. In a knitting-machine,the combination,

with the needles, their supporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocative heads connected with said frame,a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted to said heads, means for vertically reciprocating said bar, a thread.- carrier having a sliding connection with sa1d bar, the bar 35, the reciprocative thread-carrocating said plate, means connecting said plate with the thread-carrier, and adjustable stops on the ends of said latter bar, substantially as described.

1.1. In a knitting-machine,the combination, with the needles, their supporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocative heads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted to said heads, means for vertically reciprocating said bar, a threadcarrier having a sliding connection with said bar, the bar 35, the reciprocative thread-carrier-operatin g plate thereon, means for reciprocating said plate, means connecting said plate wit-l1 the thread-carrier, longitudinallyreciprocative stops on the respective ends of the said latter bar, and means for simultaneously advancing or retracting said stops step by step, substantially as described.

12. Inaknitting-machine,thecombination, with the needles, their supporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocative heads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted to said heads, a guide for said bar, a lever to which said bar is con- 7 rier-operating plate thereon, means for recipneeted, arocking lever, alink connecting said fixed my signature in the presence of two sublevers, a cam for actuating said rocking lever, scribing Witnesses. the shaft for said cam, the thread-carrier having a sliding connection With said bar, and 5 means for longitudinally reciprocating said WVitnesses:

carrier, substantially as described. JOHN R. NOLAN,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- T. FRANK KENDRIOK.

FREEMAN RAVEN.

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