US2292287A - Warp knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

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WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan; 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 In vcntor 'ETEEL Aug. 4 1942. R. PEEL ETAL WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1940 7 Shets-Sheet 7 Fig. 12.

| lllluv \yi M 83 5 a m w I 1 m. 9 m. 9 M I A770 NEYs Patented Aug. 4, 1942 WARP KNITTING MACHINE Robert Peel, Gloucester, and John Lamb Murray Morrison, Bristol, England, assignors to F. N, F. a Limited, Gloucester, England, a British com- Application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,788 In Great Britain February 14, 1939 -22 Claims. 7 (Cl. 66-86) This invention relates to warp knitting machines. Such machines may be provided with needles arranged to co-operate with independent tongues and such a needle comprises a tubular or grooved shank having a hook at one end, the tongue being arranged to move to and fro relatively to the needle between a position in which the tip of the tongue covers the needle hook and a position in which the tip of the tongue is withdrawn into the groove or bore in the shank. The

, relative movement is usually efiected by imparting to-and-fro movement both to the needle and to the tongue. These elements may be mounted to move in a vertical straight line path. In that event, the side of the needle on which the tip arcuate in the planes of the hooks. In these needles, there is a tapered part Joining the main part of the shank to the hook and, during each knitting cycle, the tapered part is passed through a loop of yarn, previously drawn by the hook, to enable the associated tongue to pass through the loop from the position in which it is concealed in the shank groove or bore. When, however, the tongue is withdrawn from the hook, yarn is laid over the front of the tapered part. Then, as the tongue passes through the loop, the needle is withdrawn to draw the newly laid yam into a loop which is pulled through the previous loop as the latter is cast 01! over the end of the hook, while the hook is closed by the tip of the tongue overlapping the hook.

Now the tension on the loop of yarn being cast off over the tongue may be considerable and the tip of the tongue is unsupported between the time when it begins to emerge'from the groove or bore in the shank and the time when it overlaps the tip of the needle hook. Accordingly, if the tip of the tongue is thus unsupported when a loop is being cast off, the load due to' the yarn may bend the tip of the tongue to an undesirable extent. The result may then be that damage is :done by the tip of'the tongue colliding with the tip of the needle hook or that a flaw arises in the fabric due to the loop, which ought to be cast off, becoming caught on the tip of the needle hook or moving back into the hook.

' guides are arranged to pass between each pair of According to the present invention, therefore, a warp knitting machine is provided with mechanism for imparting to hook needles and to independent tongues, allocated respectively to the needles and arranged to cover the needle hooks when loops are cast off from the needles, to and fro motion such that the tongues undergo no substantial movement relatively to the needles, while covering the needle hooks,'throughout a substantial part of each of those strokes of the needles, that result in the casting off of the loops.

Thus, the tongues are arranged to overlap the.

needles quite near the beginning of the needle strokes in which new loops are drawn, and remain overlapping, throughout the major parts of these strokes, until the previously drawn loops are cast off. The tongues are, therefore, in position to be supported by the needle hooks so long as' the tongues are in contact with loops being cast off. The absence of substantial relative movement during this process, means that movement accompanied by substantial friction, due to the load of the yarn on the tongues, is avoided.

In a warp knitting machine, the threads are laid or lapped on the needles by warp guides, and a warp guide in any one cycle of operation may be caused to pass between a pair of needles to the back thereof. Very often, two or more warp needles from the back to the front, and then the two warp guides are moved longitudinally in opposite directionsto lap their respective threads over different needles, or in the'same direction.

In a straight warp knitting machine, as distinguished from a circular warp knitting-machine, the two or more warp guides arranged to pass between a given pair of needles are conveniently carried respectively by bars. Thus, each bar carries a row of warp guides, and to effect the lapping, it is convenient to swing each bar about a longitudinal axis to bring the associated warp guides from the back to the front of the needles. Each bar is then moved longitudinally so that the warp guides pass across the fronts of the needles. Next, the bars are swung to bring the warp guides from the front to the back of the needles. The two or more warp guides passing between a pair of needles, follow one another as they pass the needles.

When two or more warp guides pass between a pair of needles, it has been found highly desirable for the warp guide eyes to traverse substantially the same path relatively to the needles. This enables the yarn to be accurately laid on the needles. Furthermore, in warp knitting mameans of eccentrics.

essential, to keep the inertia forces low while retaining suillcient strength in the moving parts to resist deflection. Thus, those parts that might otherwise give rise to undesirable high inertia forces or moments must be given as much time as possible for their movements. The timing of the parts, therefore, is of extreme importance for it determines both the manner in which the knitting parts co-act and the nature of the inertia loads.

Accordingly the invention involves a warp knitting machine provided with mechanism for imparting to hook needles to-and-fro movement and with tongues allocated respectively to the needles and arranged to cover the needle hooks when loops are cast oil from the needles, in which the said to-and-fro movement includes a phase which is actually or substantially a dwell extending over the period starting when the warp guides are passing between the needles before lapping and ending when the warp guides are passing between the needles after lapping. The dwell occurs when the needles are at the top of their stroke prior to drawing a new loop. The needles need not be quite stationary during the dwell but may undergo slight movement. The

whole of the needle movement is arranged to take place so that the accelerations are as small as possible consistent with the correct motions for knitting, and may be such that the movement consists of harmonic components which are not of high frequency in relation to the machine speed or include high frequency components of as small amplitude as possible. found advantageous to arrange the driving mechanism for the tongues so that these remain substantially stationary, or move quite slowly, while the warp guides lay the threads safely in the needle hooks without contact with the tips of the tongues.

Ithas also been found practical for the tongue movement to include a dwell, in this fashion,

when the needles are arranged to move to-andfro with simple harmonic motion and without any marked dwell. Then, however, the needle stroke must be greater than in the case where provision is made for the needles to dwell. In regard to this aspect of the invention, the main consideration is that the tips of the tongues shall remain concealedin the needle shanks for a period starting when the newly formed loops are passing up the last portions of the taperedparts I of the needles and ending when the warp guides are passing between the needles after lapping. The reason for this is that there are limits to the proportion of each knitting cycle that can be occupied by the lapping movement of the warp guides and in order to insure clear paths for the threads as they are laid on the needles, the tips of the tongues should not just momentarily be withdrawn into the needles shanks. The movements of the tongues may consist of harmonic components, with accelerations as small as possible, which combine to give the necessary dwell.

The required movements can be imparted to th needles and tongues through the medium of cams. drive the needles or the tongues, when the movements of these elements are to include phases which are actually or substantially dwells, by In that event, two or more eccentrics acting in parallel and running at different speeds are used to drivethe needles, and

It has also been However, it has been found possible to chines designed to run at very high speeds it is l a similar arrangement is used for the tongues.

These eccentric arrangements have certain ad-- vantages over cams in high speed knitting ma-. chines.

The high inertia forces of the assemblies impose such high loads upon the cams that they must be constructed of high grade materials and submitted to intricate and special heat treatment to withstand the heavy loads put upon them. Very great care must be taken that the oil film between cam and cam follower remains intact and force feed lubrication has to be provided to ensure an adequate supply of oil. The accuracy required in the cams is such as to make the use of a cam and countercam arrangement inexpedient, and without such an arrangement the followers must be held on the cams by springs.

When eccentrics are substituted for these cams, they can be manufactured from ordinary mild steel, because. the inertia forces at high speed can be distributed over the greater surface areas through the eccentric straps. Splash lubrication may be used, and accurate production is neither difficult nor expensive.

A particular feature of the invention, consists in arranging the sinkers in a warp knitting machine to be operated by eccentrics acting in parallel and running at different speeds. It has been found that the somewhat elaborate motion required for the sinkers can be imparted simply and effectively by such an eccentric arrangement.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, some constructions in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through part of a warp knitting machine;

Figure 2 is a timing diagram showing the movements of the knitting elements in the machine,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of parts for driving the knitting needles in the machine;

Figure 4. is a sectional elevation of parts for driving the warp guides in th machine;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of sinker mechanism in the machine;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on the line VIVI in Figure 12 of part of another warp knitting machine;

Figure 6A shows further details of the machine appearing in Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of part of a third form of warp knitting machine;

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 show modifications of certain parts appearing in Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a sectional front elevation of the right hand half of the machine appearing in Figure 6.

. The machine to be described with reference to Figures 1 to-5 has a row of knitting needles I, Figure 1, which are carried vertically and side by side by blocks 2. The latter are mounted side by side on a long needle bar 3 to which they are secured by clamp plates 4. The needle bar 3 is supported at points distributed along its length by members 5 at the upper ends of vertical rods 6 which respectively extend upwards from casthe vertical movement is imparted by eccentrics 9 and I0 carried by shafts H and I2. The shafts l I and I2 arethe main driving shafts of the machine and, during the operation of the machine,

they rotate uniformly but the shaft I2 is drivenat twice the speed of the shaft H. These eccenaaeaaev 'of two parts lying respectivelyin front of and behind the eccentric rods l5 and t and the rod 6 The throws of the eccentrics and their phase relationship is such that the needles 8 move up and down in the manner shown by curve A in Figure 2. It will be seen that the needles rise smoothly to their uppermost positions and that there is then a period in which the needles are substantially stationary. The needles then descend smoothly. The period of dwell extends approximately between the instants occurring at 100 and 220 in each knitting cycle of the machine. However, the needles move during this period of dwell upwards 0.02 inch and then move down 0.02 inch. The machine being described is a 28 gauge machine (1. e. there are 28 needles per inch length of the needle bar).

Each needle I has a tubular shank which is tapered at its upper end la. and merges into the needle hook .lb. The needles extend through the blocks 2 and a tongue 26 extends upwards into the shank of each needle. The tongues 2| are carried by blocks 22 secured to a long tongue bar 23 by clamp plates 24. When it is desired to remove any one of the needle blocks 2 a nut 4a on bolt ib passing through a. clamp plate 4 and through the needle bar 3 is released to permit a spring 40 to urge the clamp plate upwards. If the clamp plate 24 is also released, the needle block 2 with the associated tongue block 22can be removed from the machine for repair or replacement. It will be seen that the clamp plate t is remotely operated by the actuation of the nut la. This is because the clamp plate 4 is in a somewhat inaccessible position.

The tongue bar 23 is mounted at the top of rods 25. There are as many of these rods 25 as there are rods 6 supporting the needle bar 3, and the rods 25 pass respectively into the casings i. As viewed'in Figures 1 and 3, each rod 25 lies behind the associated rod 6. The rods 25 are constrained to move up and down in a vertical direction in the same way asthe rods 6, and are driven by eccentrics on the shafts I! and i2. The mechanism connecting the eccentrics for driving the tongues 2| to the rods 25 is similar to the mechanism connecting the rods to the eccentrics 9 and H]. The throws of the eccentrics associated with, the tongues and their phase relationship is such that the tongues move up and down in the manner shown by curve B in Figure 2. It will be seen that the tongues remain substantially stationary during 'the first 60 of the period of needle dwell and then during the remaining 60 of that period travel upwards a distance of about 0.14 inch.

It is during the period when the needles are substantially stationary that threads are positioned in the needle hooks by the warp guides 26 (Figure 1). There are two rows of these warp guides, the rows being carried respectively by guide bars 21. These guide bars are carried by a shaft 28 which is rocked to and fro about its axis. usual, can be moved longitudinally to and fro relatively to the rock shaft 28. In each cycle of operation of the machine the warp guides 26 are first swung so as to pass between .the needles from the backs to the fronts thereof. Figure 1 Furthermore, the guide bars, as'is shows the warp guides in the course of such movement. The leading warp guides pass between the needles substantially at the point a in curve C of Figure 2 which represents the swinging motion of the warp guides in each cycle of operation. As soon as the warp guides have passed between the needles they are moved longitudinally so as to position the thread upon the fronts of the needles. The longitudinal movement of the warp guides is represented by a curve D in Figure 2, and the warp guides pass across the fronts of the needles between the instants c and :2. After this lapping has taken place the warp guides are swungback from the fronts of the backs of the needles, the leading warp guides passing between the needles in the vicinity of the instant b in Figure 2. The fact that the needles are substantiallystationary during this swinging operation of the warp guides enables the threads to be laid in precisely the required positions relatively to the length of the needles. v

The timing of the needles and tongues, in addition to enabling the warp guides to pass between the needles in the desired paths relatively to the needles, has further advantages in that it gives considerable latitude in the timing of the other knitting parts. For example, the oscillation of the warp guides about the axis of the shaft 20 takes place over a period of about 220 (between the instants 'e and Figure 2). If the needles did not dwell, this period would have to be shortened considerably or the needle stroke increased substantially. The fact that the oscillation of the warp guides can take place over a period of about 220 means that the inertia loads due to operating the warp guides, when the machine is running at very high speeds,

do not rise objectionably. It also means that the warp guides can be oscillated by multi-eccentric mechanism and the advantages inherent in such mechanism can be obtained.

It will be appreciated that the period of a com- .plete oscillation of the warp guides, i. e. the

period between the points e and f (curve C) is substantially longer than the period during which the needles dwell, because the needles only have to dwell between the time when the warp guides are passing between the needles at the beginning of lapping and the time when the warp guides are passing between the needles at the end of lapping, and the warp guides move some distance in their oscillation about the axis of the shaft 20 before reaching the backs of the needles and after passing between the needles in their return movement.

In the example being considered, the warp guides are oscillated through the medium of units each driven. by the pair of parallel horizontal shafts H and i2 (Figure 4). These shafts respectively carry eccentrices 32 and 33. The eccentrics are respectively embraced by straps 34 and 35 on eccentric rods 36 and 31. ,The upper ends of these eccentric rods are respectively pivoted to the ends of a two-armed lever 38 pivoted at its mid-point at 39 to a rocker 4-2 pivoted about afixed axis 4!. The rocker 40 is connected to the rock shaft 28 through the medium of a link pivoted at its upper end to an arm 42 (Figure l) rigid with the rock shaft 28.. The eccentrics and mechanism immediately associ 'ated therewith are housed in a casing 43 and the link 4| passes with substantial clearance through an opening in the top of the casing. To prevent dirt entering the casing a bellows connection 44 is provided between the link" and the opening. I

Because the eccentric 83 rotates at twice the speed of the eccentric 32 and because of the phase relationship between and the throws of the eccentrics, the warp guides are oscillated in the manner shown by the aforementioned curve C in Figure 2, and it will be seen that, when the warp guides have undergone the oscillation necessary for positioning the threads in the needle hooks, the warp guides are inevitably moved back slightly towards the backs of the needles, the extremity of this backward movement being at the point g in curve C.

' Yet another advantage inherent in the timing of the needles and tongues is that the longitudinal movements of the warp guides across the fronts of the needles takes place in a period of 52 (1. e. the period between the points and d), which is sufficient for the inertia loads, on the mechanism for moving the guide bars longitudinally, to remain within reasonable limits when the machine is operated at high speed.

The guide bars are moved longitudinally by pat- 'tem wheels acting against return springs. The

return longitudinal movements of the guide bars takes place between the points h and 2', curve D. After the threads have been posit oned in the needle hooks the latter are moved downwards so as to draw loops in the threads and, during this downward movement, the tips of the tongues overlap the tips of the needle hooks. Then the tongues move downwards substantially at the same speed as the needles, with the.

tongues still overlapping the needle hooks. This overlapping takes place, as shown by the relationship of the curves A and B in Figure 2, be-

tween the instantsm and n. It is between these instants that the loops drawn in the previous cycle of operation of the machine are cast off over the tips of the tongues and the ends of the needles. In thisconnection it will, of course, be understood that when the needles move upwards the loops drawn in the previous cycle pass over the tapered parts of the needle shanks so that the tongues can be projected through the loops.

It will have been appreciated from Figure 2 that the line A represents the movement of the tip of each needle hook while the curve B represents the movement of the tip of the associated tongue. It will be seen that during the period that the threads are being laid on the needles, that is the period intervening between the instants a and b, the tongue is concealed within the shank of the associated needle, and during the major part of the downward stroke of the needle the tip of the tongue is overlapping the tip of the needle so that the tip of the needle hook supports the tongue while the loop is being cast off.

Itis during the casting off operation that thesinkers are operative and the timing of the needles and tongues, as shown by the curves A and B,-provides considerable latitude for the timing of the sinkers enabling-these also to be driven by multi-eccentric mechanism. Such mechanism is shown in Figure 5 and includes the shafts H and I2 respectively carrying eccentrics 52 and 53. These eccentrics are embraced respectively by eccentric straps 54 and 55 on eccentric rods 56 and 51. The upper ends of these eccentric rods are pivoted respectively at the ends of a two-armed lever 58 pivoted at 59 to a rocker 6U pivoted about a fixed axis 6|. A link 62 connects the rocker 60 with an arm 63 fixed to a rock shaft 94. The rock shaft 94 has arms 65 rigidly secured to it. Each arm 95 forms part of a Watts parallel motion linkage including a member 31 pivoted at 98 to the arm 65 and at 68 to the upper end of a link 89 pivoted at its lower end about a fixed axis I0. These linkages give straight line movement to sinkers 1| projecting parallel to each other from blocks 12 secured to a sinker bar 13 mounted at the ends of the members 61. The location of the sinkers 1| relatively to the needles I is indicated by chain lines in Figure 5. The eccentric 53 is rotated at twice the speed of the eccentric 52, the shafts II and I2 being the main shafts of the machine. The sinkers move as shown by the curve E in Figure 2.

Eccentric driving units for the sinkers (like the one shown in Figure 5 which comprises a casing 14) may be distributed along the length of the rock shaft 64 or one such unit may be mounted towards each end of the rock shaft. Similarly, a unit such as that shown in Figure 4 may be mounted at each end of the rock shaft 28 for the guide bars. The arrangement of the eccentrics to provide the motions shown in Fig. 2, the angular setting given for each eccentric being the angle between the upward vertical line through the centre of its shaft and the eccentric throw measured in the direction of rotation of the shaft at the instant represented by 0 in Figure 2 is as follows:

The knitting elements in the machine shown in Figure 6 are timed to operate substantially in accordance with Figure 2, but the disposition of the driving mechanism for the knitting elements is somewhat different from that in the machine described above. In Figures 3, 4 and 5 the mechanisms for driving the needles, warp guides and sinkers are shown separately but in Figure 6 these mechanisms are shown together so that their relative positions can be seen.

In the construction of Figures 6 and 12 there are parallel main driving shafts 89 and 8| connected by gearing 82 (Figure 6) such that the shaftiil rotates at twice the speed of the shaft 89. These shafts respectively carry pairs of eccentrics such as 83 and 84 which impart to-andfro motion to pairs of eccentric rods such as 85 and 86. The upper ends of such eccentric rods are pivoted respectivel at the ends of. a twoarmed such as lever 81 pivoted at its centre 88 to a rocker 89 mounted to swing about a fixed axis 90. A link 9| connects this rocker 89 to an arm 92 fixed to a rock shaft 93. The latter has an upwardly extending arm 94 pivoted at 95 to a member 96 extending from the sinker bar 91. The member 96 is also pivoted at 98 to a link 99, pivoted to the machine frame at I00. There are, of course, a number of arms 94 distributed along the length of the rock shaft 93 (to support the sinker bar 91 along its length) and another such arm 94a appears in Figure 12. This is similarly connected to the driving shafts 80 and 8| through the medium of an arm 92a, 9. link 9141, a rocker and down by mechanism similar to the mecha- 89a, pivoted at 8811 to a two-armed lever 8111, which is connected by a pair of connectingrods such as 85a to eccentrics 83d and 84d on the shafts 80 and 8|. Along the length of the needle bar IOI are distributed rods such as I02, which support the needle bar and which are constrained to move vertically by guides such as I03. At its lower end each ro'd I02 carries a two-armed lever 81d, similar to the lever 81, pivoted at its ends to eccentric rods such as 85a, similar to the eccentric rods 85, 85, driven by a pair of eccentrics 83a and 840. respectively on-the shafts 80 and 8|. Similar driving mechanism is provided for the tongues (see Figures 6A and 12), carried by the tongue bar I04, carried by rods such as I02a, similar to the rods I02. Eachsuch rod I02a is pivoted at 8812 to the centre of a similar to the lever 81. This lever is pivoted by connecting rods, such as 85band 851) (Figure 6A), to a pair of eccentrics 83b and 84b respectively on the shafts 80 and 8|. guides I05 are swung about the axis of a rock shaft I06 by further pairs of'eccentrics such as 830 and 840 (Figure 12) respectively on the shafts 80 and 8 I. centric rods such as 850 respectively to the opposite ends of a two-armed lever 01c, pivoted at its centre at 880 to a rocker I01, mounted to swing about a fixed axis I08 (Figure 6). A link I09 connects the rocker I01 to an arm I08a fixed to the rock shaft I05. It will be seen in Figure 6 that the tongue bar I04 lies in front of the needle bar IN, and that the latter lies in front of the sinker bar 91. Accordingly, in Figure 12 the tongue bar is shown broken away to uncover the needle bar IN, and the latter is also broken away to uncover the sinker bar 91.

Figure '1 shows a modified method of imparting the necessary to-and-fro motion to hook needles of the kind employed in the construction of Figure 6. In-Figure '1 the motion of the needles is derived from eccentrics H0 and 011 respectively mounted on shafts III being arranged to rotate at twice the speed of the shaft III. The eccentrics H0 and H011 impart to-and-fro motion respectively to eccentric rods H3 and H4 pivoted at their upper ends to the ends of a two-armed lever H5. The latter is pivoted at its centre both to a rocker II8 and to a link H1. The rocker H6 is mounted to swing about a fixed axis 8 and the upper end of the link 1 is pivoted to one end of a two-armed lever II9 mounted to swing about a fixed axis These eccentrics are connected by ec-' two-armed lever I38 and the ends of the lever I4I are pivoted retwo-armed lever 81b,

The warp and H2, the shaft II2 I20. The end of the lever H9 remote from the I link H1 is pivoted at I2I to a member I22 extendingdownwards from the needle bar I23. The lower end of the member I22 is pivoted at I24 to a link I25 which in turn is pivoted at I25 about a fixed axis. Owing'to the fact that the perpendicular distance between the axes I20 and l2I is shorter than the perpendicular distance between the axes I24 and I26, the linkage including the member I22, the two-armed lever I I9 and the link I25, provides a Watts parallel motion linkage, so that the needles I21 move in a path which is substantially a straight line. Actually the linkage is designed so that a straight line movement is imparted'to the lower ends of the needles at which the tongues I28 enter the needles. There are, of course, a number of members similar to the member I22 distributed along the length. of the needle bar I23, and each of these is associated with members similar to the lever H8, and with links similar to the link I25- The associated tongues are carried by a bar which is moved up nism shown in respect of the needles.

Figure 8 shows an alternative mechanism for driving the sinkers. In this the sinker bar I28 carriesmembers I30, each pivoted at I3I to a link I32, which in turn is pivoted to the machine frame at I33. The member I30 is pivoted also at I34 to an arm I35 fixed to a rock shaft I35, the latter also'carries an arm I31 connected by a, link I38 to a rocker I39 pivoted about a fixed axis I40. A

I is-pivoted at I42 to the rocker spectively to the upper ends of eccentric rods I43 and I44. Straps at the lower ends of these eccentric rods embrace eccentrics I45 and I46 carried respectively by shafts I41 and I48. The shaft I48 rotates at twice the speed of the shaft I41.

It is not essential that the sinker bar should be carried by a parallel motion linkage or a parallelogram linkage, but the sinkers may be arranged to rock about an axis. Thus, in each of Figures 9, l0 and 11, the sinker bar I48 is carried by arms I50 secured to a rock shaft ISI. This rock shaft carries an arm (not shown) such as the arm I31 in Figure 8 or the arm 82 in'Figure 6. This arm is connected to driving mechanism such as that shown in Figure 8 or in Figure 6.

We claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for to-and-fro movement relatively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles, mechanism adapted to impart to said needles to-and-rfro motion including a phase which is substantially a dwell and mechanism adapted to impart to saidtongues to-andfro motion including a phase which is substantially a dwell, said dwells occurring while said warp guides lay threads on said needles.

2. In a warp knitting machine, in combination,a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of'tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for to-and fro movement relatively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooksthereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles, and mechanism, including a plurality of eccentrics acting in parallel and arranged to rotate at different speeds, connected to impart to said needles to-and-fro movement including a phase which is substantially a dwell extending over. a period starting when said warp guides are passing between said needles at the beginning of lapping and ending when said warp guides are passing between said needles at the end of lapping.

3. The invention of claim 2 in combination with mechanism, including a plurality of eccentrics acting in parallel and arranged to rotate at different speeds, connected to impart to said tongues to-and-fro motion including a substantial dwell within said period of needle dwell.

4. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro motion, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for toand-fro movement relatively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles, and mechanism, including two eccenof said eccentrics is rotated at twice the speed of the other, to-and-fro motion including a phase I which is substantially a dwell extending over a ping and ending when said warp guides are passing between said needles at the end of lapping.

5. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, two eccentrics respectively mounted for rotation about parallel axes, two eccentric rods a1- located respectively to said eccentrics and each including an eccentric strap embracing its re,- spective eccentric, a lever pivoted at one point to one of said eccentric rods and at another point to another'of said eccentric rods, and a needle rod mounted for straight line reciprocation, hook needles supported by said needle rod, the latter being pivoted to said lever to receive therefrom, when one of said eccentrics is rotated at twice the speed of the other, to-and-fro motion including a phase which is a substantial dwell.

6. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for to-and-fro movement relatively to said needles, a plurality of warp guides mounted to swing to and fro about an axis, a rocker mountedto swing about a second axis and connected to said warp guides, two eccentrics, eccentric rods allocated respectively to said eccentrics and each including an eccentric strap embracing its respective eccentric, a lever pivotedrespectively at two points to said eccentric rods and at an intermediate point to said rocker, whereby said warp guides are swung first from the backs of said needles to the fronts thereof and secondly from the fronts thereof to the backs thereof, and

mechanism adapted to impart to said needles to-and-fro movement including a phase which is substantially a dwell extending between said first and second swinging movements.

point to another of said eccentric rods. and a rocker pivoted to said lever at a point between said two aforementioned points and operatively connected to said sinkers.

10. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles, and mechanism adapted to impart to said needles smooth to-and-fro movements alternating with substantial phases which are substantially dwells, a plurality of sinkers mounted for to-and-fro movement,,and two eccentrics mounted to act in -ed for 'to-and-fro movement and allocated respectively tosaid needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles and mounted to swing to and fro about an axis in performing said lapping operation, a plurality of sinkers mounted for to-and-fro movement, and four mechanisms allocated respectively-to said 'needles, tongues, warp guides and sinkers to impart said to-and-fro movements thereto, each said mechanism comprising a plurality of eccentrics mounted to act in parallel'and operative when rotating at different speeds.

12. In a warp knitting machine, in combina tion, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of tongues mounted for to-and-fro movement and allocated respectively to said needles to cover and uncover 7. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles mounted for toand-fro movement, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for to-and-fro movement relatively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof, a

plurality of warp guides mounted to swing about an axis and operativeto lap threadson said needles, mechanism including two eccentrics acting in parallel and operative, when one eccentric is' rotating at twice the speed of the other, to impart the swinging movements to said warp guidesin the thread lapping operation, and mechanism adapted to impart to said needles to-and-fro movement including a phase which is substantially a dwell extending over the thread lapping operation.

8. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of sinkers mounted'for toandfro movement, and two eccentrics mounted to act in parallel and operatively connected to said sinkers to impart to same, when one said eccentric is rotating at twice the speed of other said eccentric, smoothto-and-fro movements 'alternating with relatively prolonged periods of dwell.

9. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of sinkers, mounted for to-andfro movement, two eccentrics respectively mounted for rotation about parallel axes, eccentric rods allocated respectively to said eccentrics and each including a strap embracing its respective eccentric, a lever pivoted at one point to one of said eccentric rods and at anotherthe hooks thereof, a plurality of warp guides operative to lap threads on said needles and mounted to swing to and fro about an axis in performing said lapping operation, a plurality of sinkers mounted for to-and-fro movement, and four mechanisms allocated respectively to said needles,

tongues, warp guides and sinkers to impart said to-and-fro movements thereto, each said mechanism'comprising two eccentrics mounted to rotate about parallel axes and operative when one of said eccentrics is, 'rotating at twice the speed of the other.

l3. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of needle blocks, a plurality of substantially vertical hook needles secured parallel to each other in each block, a needle bar mounted for to-and-fro movement in a substantially vertical direction, a detachable clamp plate operative to secure said blocks to the top of said needle bar, a member adapted to secure said clamp plate .upon said needle blocks and arranged to pass through said needle bar 'to a point where said member is readily accessible,

a plurality of tongue blocks, a plurality of tongues secured parallel to each other in each tongue block and allocated respectively to said needles,

a tongue bar mounted for to-and-fro movement,

and a second detachable clamp plate operative to secure said tongue blocks to said tongue bar.

14. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, aplurality of needle blocks, a plurality of substantially vertical hook needles secured parallel to each other in each-block and each said needle having'a tubular shank, a pluralityof tongues respectively arranged to slide to and fro.

in said tubular shanks, a plurality of tongue blocks each carrying some of said tongues, a-needle bar, a detachable clamp plate operative to hold said needle blocks on top of said needle bar, a memberadapted to secure said clamp plate upon said needle'bmcks and arranged to pass substantially vertically through said needle bar to a point where it is readily accessible and a second detachable clamp plate operative to hold said tongue blocks on said tongue bar.

15. In a warp knitting machine in combination, a plurality of hook needles having tubular shanks, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to the needles and operative to slide to and fro in said shanks,.a plurality of warp guides mounted to swing to and fro between the needles and operative to lap threads on same, means for moving said tongues to and fro and means for moving said needles to and fro, said two means being adapted to cause the tips of said tongues to overlap the needle hooks and then to withdraw into said tubular shanks fora period starting when said guides are passing between said needles before lapping and ending when said warp guides are passing between said needles after lapping.

16. In a warp knitting machine in combination 'a plurality of hook needles having hollow shanks.

a bar carrying said needles, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted to slide to and fro in said hollow shanks, a bar carrying said tongues, mechanism including two eccentrics arranged to turn uniformly at different speeds for imparting to-and-fro motion to said needle bar and mechanism comprising two page,

at a third point to said arm and at a fourth point to swing about a seco'nd fixed axis,- the distance between said first and second points being greater than the distance between said third and fourth points, a rocker, a link connecting said rocker and said lever, two eccentrics connected to rotate at different speeds and eccentric rods respectively arranged to be moved to and fro by said eccentrics, said eccentric rods being. operatively said hook needles to and fro.

19. In a warp knitting machine in combination a plurality of sinkers mounted for to-and-fro movement, two eccentrics mounted. to act in parallel and connected to rotate at different speeds,

- two eccentric rods respectively arranged to be moved to and fro by said eccentrics and mechanism interconnecting said eccentric rods and said sinkers to impart to same ,to-and-fro movement derived from said eccentrics.

20. In a warp knitting machine in combination sinkers mounted to rock to and fro about an axis, two eccentrics mounted to act in parallel, means connecting said eccentrics so that the latter rotate at different speeds, eccentric rods arranged "to be moved to and fro respectively by said ececcentrics arranged to turn uniformly at different speeds for imparting to-and-fro motion to said tongue bar.

17. In a warp knitting machine in combination a plurality of book needles having hollow shanks, a plurality of independent tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted to undergo movement relatively to same and mechanism for imparting to-and-fro motion to said needle bar including two eccentrics mounted to rotate uniformly at different speeds, eccentric rods adapted to be moved to-and-fro respectively by said eccentrics, a link interconnecting said eccentric rods, said link being pivoted at a point intermediate to said rods to a vertical pillar carrying at its upper end said needle bar.

18. In a warp knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of hook needles, a bar carrying said needles, an arm fixed to said bar, a lever pivoted at one point to swing about a fixed axis and, at a second point to said arm.

a link pivoted centrics and mechanism interconnecting said eccentric rods and said sinkers to impart to same swinging movement about said axis derived from said I eccentrics.

21. In a warp knitting machine in combination a plurality of sinkers, substantially parallel.

pivoted arms supporting said sinkers, two eccentrics connected to rotate at difierent speeds, eccentric rods arranged to be moved to and fro respectively by said eccentrics and mechanism interconnecting said eccentric rods and one of said arms to move that arm to and fro about its pivotal axis.

22. In a warp knitting machine in combination a plurality of hook needles mounted to move forwards while threads are lapped on same and backwards while loops are cast away from said needles, a plurality of tongues allocated respectively to said needles and mounted for to-andfro movement relatively to said needles to cover and uncover the hooks thereof and mechanism operative to impart to-and-fro motion to said needles and to said tongues such that said ROBERT PEEL. JOHN LAMB MURRAY MORRISON.

connected to said rocker to move same and

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