US656535A - Knitting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 656,535. Patente-d Aug. 2|, |900.

\ M. FISH-ER.

KNITTING MACHINE (Appication filed Mar. 13, 1899.)

rnd Model.) 2 sheets-sheet l.

yl; 2f f Patented Aug. 2l, |900.

M. J. FISHER-1;

`KNITTVING"nl'AcHnu-z` f (Application f led Mar. 13, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No Mudelf) IillllllllllllllllllIl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Y Nrran STATES MICHEL J. FISHER, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

KNITTING- MACHINE.`

SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent No. 656,535, dated August 21, 1900. Application filed March 13, 1899. Serial No. 708,834. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, MICHEL J. FISHER, of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a circular-knitting machine having a dial and cylinder with two sets of needles carried thereby of usual coustruction and mode of operation; and it consists in adding thereto a supplementarycylinder having grooves in its outer surface in which are carried sinkers depressed by a camcylinder of suitable construction to engage with an extra thread and secure it on one surface of the fabric, forming oating loops.

This is the essence of my invention, which may be varied more or less inl construction. I have shown it embodied in a simple and practical form of machine, which will be easily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure I is a front elevation showing all the parts necessary to a complete understanding of my invention and its operation. Fig. II is a vertical section of a portion of the preceding figure enlarged. Fig. III is a plan section on line III III of Fig. II. Fig. IV is an elevation of a portion of the smaller cam-cylinder with the front plates of the cylinderremoved to illustrate the operation of the sinkers. Fig. V is a diagram matic representation illustrating the manner in which the sinker presses down the extra thread over the open latches of the dial-needles. Fig. VI is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. III enlarged, showing the arrangement of the smaller cylinder with reference to the dial. Fig. VII is a frontvelev'ation of Fig. VI. Fig. VIII shows a front and side elevation of my peculiar sinker. Fig. IX is an isometric view showing mechanism for adjusting the cams. Fig. X is a top plan View of the preceding figure.

The old parts ofthe `machine are as follows: f f i 1 indicates the frame, of suitable construction, on which is supported the cylinder 2, formed-with grooves'n for needles 4 and rotated through a toothed ring 5, with which engages a pinion G on shaft 7, operated by suitable means.

8 is the camcylinder,fixed on the frame for operating cylinder-needles.

' On central shaft 9 is supported to turn freely dial 10, formed with horizontal grooves l1 for the dial-needles .12, operated by camring 13, detachably secured by arms 14 to center 15, keyed to shaft by screw 16 or otherwise, the dial being rotated from the cylinder by the engagement of dial-lugs 17 17 with ear 18,011 the cylinder. The new parts which I have invented are the su pplementary or small cylinder 20, connected to the dial by any suitable means. As here shown, the dial and small cylinder are e'qual in outer diameter, and a small groove 21 is cut in the edge of the former corresponding in horizontal depth to the thickness of the small cylinder, so that when this cylinder is forced into position in this groove the parts are secured togetherand rotate as one. In the vertical grooves 22 in the outer face of the small cylinder are arranged the sinkers 23, which are depressed and elevated by the engagement of their heels in cam-groove 2a of smaller cam-cylinder 25, formed of separate sections or side plates and carried on annular plate or ring 26, supported on frame or table by posts 27 and arms 28. Alternately with grooves 2.2 are cut grooves 40 in the lower edge of the small cylinder for the passage of the dial-needles.

29 is the depressing-cam, 30 a plane segment above the groove, and 3l the elevatingcam.

32 is an elastic band or girdle of steelspring construction surrounding'the upper cylinder to maintain the sinkers and hold y them in position.

33 is the feed for main thread, and` 34 the feed for supplementary thread, with brush 35 for guiding and holding thread against,sink ers. These feeds are secured to ring 26 and may be of any desirable form. i

As here illustrated the machine is adapted to kuit one-and-one rib fabric, (though this may be changed easily to knit other desirable stitches,) the sinkers being arranged to operate between the dial-needles and immediately back of the main-cylinder needles.

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inder needles begin to move respectively out l and up the sinkers are depressed from point ct to point b and engage with the supplementary thread fed to them by feed 3i, arranged AIO slightly in advance of main feed 33; When the sinkers are depressed to point b, they are in the position shown in Fig. V, pressing down the supplementary thread between the alternate dial-needles, so that it rests on the open latches of those needles. The reason of this engagement with the open latches is that as the dialneedles continue their outward movement the extra thread slips back over the ends of the latches onto the Shanks of the needles, where it is left with just al trifle Aof slack, so that as t-he dial-needles move in again', having engaged with the main thread, they draw it easily under the eXtra thread, which is cast o over the needle-hooks at the same time as one loop of the main thread and is caught on the inside ofthe fabric by the loops of the main thread without strain or breaking the thread or danger of the extra thread showing through on the front. While this continuation ot' the outward movement and the return movement of the dial-needles is proceeding the sinkers are moving from b to c, holding down the eXtra thread at the same level; but after the-extra thread is cast off over the needlehooks the sinkers are further depressed a triiie by the short incline d, which operates to tighten the eXtra-thread loops, taking up the slack and perfecting the smoothness of the fabric. After that it is evident that the sinkers are again elevated by incline e, and the operation is repeated, the number of feeds being proportioned to the size of the machine.

In Fig. VIII, I have shown enlarged in side and front elevation a form of sinker that I have devised particularly adapted for use in my knitter. It is formed with a straight inner edge g, having square vheel h on the upper end of its outer edge. Point j is rounded off on the inner edge and ground on the sides, making the point thinner to pass more easily between the threads. A short distance above the point is the notch k, formed substantial-ly in thearc of a circle, which holds the thread securely in place without danger of slipping out/the outerwalllof the notch being slightly ground off to incline inwardly and avoid engaging with the other threads. These silikers are easily and cheaply constructed from sheet metal and are strong and durable and .easy to replace if lbroken by removing one of the side plates of smaller cam -cylinder 25, which Yis made in sections for this reason, each plate being secured by screws to supportingring 26. i

InFigs. IX and X is shown a sim-pleconstruction by which the cams may be easily adjusted without removing any ofthe parts. As here shown, the cam 29 (or plane segment 30) is secured to lugs o, fitted snugly to openings p and sliding therein. In the opening below the cam is arranged a spiral spring q, earing against the lug to force the cam and segment upwardly. Screws are inserted in the ring 26, which bear on the lugs to force them down more or less to adj ust the cams.

While I have shown myinvention embodied in a special construction of rotary knitter, I do not propose to limit myself thereto, for it is evident that the arrangement of parts, the inclination of needle-grooves, &c., could be varied without departing from my invention, its essence being the addition of a supplementary or eXtra cylinder carrying sinkers and means for operating them to press down an extra thread between the dial-needles to form floating loops on one surface of the fabric.

The advantages of a rotary knitter constructed according to my invention are not only its simplicity and ease with which it is operated and adjusted andthe few necessary repairs performed", but the fact that it can be applied to any size of rotary knitter without limiting the product, for the machine may be run exactly as fast with the addition ofl my invention as without., Of course this question of speed is of great importance. Other machines have been tried for the Same purpose; but the fact that they had to be yrun Slowly prevented their use.

My invention can be used equally well with circular knitters of the largest and smallest sizes, which is another important feature, for the machines that have been tried were so constructed that they could not be made in the smaller sizes. My invention may be applied, therefore, to machines for knitting sleeves for garments, so that by cutting, `shearing,or tleecing the protrudingloops thesleeves may be madeffleece-lined like ythe larger parts of the garment. A

The adjustment of the mechanism `is in itself very easy, by which strain on the yarn is avoided and a perfect smooth fabric is pro.- duced, and all the parts are arranged to be easily accessible on the outside and not on the inside, so to say., which renders adjustment, renewal of parts, dac., .convenient and quick.

' Having .described my -mlention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is?

1. The combination with a circular-knit,- ting machine, of the ordinary construction, having two sets .of,operating-needles, of asn-pplementary cylinder of smaller diameter than the main cylinder mounted above the `dial and arranged to move therewith, saidsupplementary cylinder having peripheral groov., sinkers Aarranged in said grooves,and means for elevating and depressing said sinkers, sot

as to engage and press down a supplementary thread to form loops on one surface of the fabric. l

2. The combination with a circular-knit- IOO IIO

ting machine, of the ordinary construction, having two sets ot' operating-n eedles, of a s upplementary cylinder arranged above and connected to move with the dial, said supplementary cylinder being provided with peripheral grooves, individual sinkers arranged one in each of said grooves, and means for elevating and depressing said sinkers, so as to engage and press down a supplementary thread to form loops on the surface of the fabric.

3. The combination with a circular-knitting mach-ine, of the ordinary construction, having two sets of operating-needles, of a su pplementary cylinder arranged above the dial and connected thereto, said cylinder having substantially-vertical grooves, and sinkers operating in said grooves, between the dialneedles, to press an additional thread down between said dial-needles, so as to form loops protruding from the inner surface of the garment being knitted.

4. The combination with a circular-knitting machine of ordinary construction, of a supplementary cylinder arranged above the dial and connected thereto, said cylinder provided with peripheral grooves, sinkers arranged to operate in said grooves, and a supplementary cam-cylinder formed with a camgroove for engaging the heels of said sinkers, so as to cause them to press down an additional thread between ythe dialneedles, whereby protruding loops are formed upon the inner face of the fabric.

5. The combination with a circular-knitting machine of ordinary construction, of a supplementary cylinder of smaller diameter than the main cylinder, saidsupplementary cylinder arranged above the dial and connected to move therewith, grooves in the outer periphery of the supplementary cylinder, sinkers arranged in said grooves and adapted to operate in the spaces between the dialneedles and directly behind the main-cylinder needles, and a supplementary cam-cylinder provided with a cam-groove adapted to engage the heels of said sinkers and depress them, so as to engage and press down an additional thread between the dial-needles.

6. In combination with a rotary knittingmachine provided with a dial and cylinder carrying their respective sets of needles, and means for supporting and operating the parts in cooperation to knit the fabric, all of ordinary construction, a supplementary cylinder, smaller than the main cylinder, equal in diameter to the dial and set in a groove cut in the outer edge of said dial, in which said supplementary cylinder ts snugly securing it to the dial, grooves cut inthe lower edge of said supplementary cylinder for the passage of the dial-needles, substantially-vertical grooves cut in the outer face of said supplementary cylinder alternately with said edge grooves, sinkers arranged in the latter grooves, a supporting-ring or annular plate supported on the frame of the machine above said supplementary cylinder, a smaller cam-cylinder vmade in sections secured to said annular plate,

and cams arranged on the inner faceot said ismall cam-cylinder forming a cam-groove to engage with the sinker-heels, adapted to press down said sinkers to engage with the eXtra -groove cut in the outer edge of said dial,

grooves cut in the lower edge of said supplementary cylinder for the passage of the dialneedles, substantially-vertical grooves cut in the outer face of said supplementary cylinder alternately with said edge grooves, sinkers arranged in the latter grooves, a supporting-ring or annular plate supported on the frame of the machine above 'said supplementary cylinder, a smaller cam cylinder made in sections secured to said annular plate, cams arranged on the inner face of said small cam-cylinder forming a cam-groove to engage with the sinker-heels, adapted to press down said sinkers to engage with the extra thread and force it downwardly between the alternate dial-needles, said cams being so arranged with reference to the cams operating the maincylinder and dial needles that the sinkers are depressed when the dial-needles are moving out pressing the eXtra thread down over the open latches of said dial-needles and said cams formed with a horizontal portion to hold the sinkers at that level until the dial-needles have completed their outward movement and also their return movement, and a small incline to further depress the sinkers after the extra thread has been cast 0E over the needlehooks to take up the slack and tighten said thread.

8. In acircular-knittingmachine, the combination of a supplementary cylinder provided with sinkers for pressing down an additional thread, sinkers'having a straight inner edge,an outwardly-extending heel formed near their upper end, a point rounded on its inner edge and ground down on each side thereof to form a substantially-thin edge to the point, a shoulder formed a short distance above the point, and a downwardlyopen curved notch formed in the upper wall of said shoulder, as set forth.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, a cylinder and dial of usual construction suitably IOO los

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supported and carrying respectively vertical and horizontal latch-needles, means for rotating the cylinder and dial, iixed cam-cylinder and cam-plate for operating said respective sets of needles,and, in combination therewith, a smaller, supplementary cylinder arranged `above the main cylinder on said shaft and tted snugly to an annular groove cutin the edge of the dial, vertical grooves in said smaller cylinder arranged alternately with the horizontal grooves in the dial,said smallercylinder grooves being deeper above, the diameter of said cylinder diminishing toward its lower edges, sinkers arranged in said vertical grooves having on their outer edge, near their upper end heels, to engage with the cam-groove, and notches near their lower ends, and adapted to move down within the circle of the needles of the main cylinder and between the dial-needles to engage with a supplementary thread when they are depressed, forcing it over the dial-needle loops, forming slightly-loose loops therebetween, a iixed cam-cylinder having a cam-groove and adjustable cams for engaging the heels of said sinkers, an elastic steel band arranged around said sinkers and engaging with them beneath their heels, and an annular plate supported on the frame by arms and posts, to which plate the sections of said cam-cylinder are secured.

10. The combination with a rotary knittingmachine of ordinary construction, of a supplementary cylinder, mounted on the central shaft of the machine and connected to the dial, said supplementary cylinder having its lower edge grooved correspondingly with the dial for the free operation ofthe dial-needles,

and its outer periphery provided with vertical grooves, sinkers arranged to operate in said vertical grooves, and a supplementary Acam-cylinder provided with a cam-groove,

adapted to engage and depress the sinkers, so as to cause said sinkers to engage and press down an additional thread between the dialneedles.

ll. The combination with a rota ry knitting-machine, of a supplementary cylinder, mounted on the central shaft of the machine and connected to the dial, said supplementary cylinder having its lower edge grooved correspondinglywith the dial for the passage of the dial-needles, and its outer periphery provided with vertical grooves, sinkers arranged to operate in said vertical grooves, a supporting ring or annulus mounted upon the inachine-fraine, and a supplementary cam-cylin der, supported by the ring or annulus, provided with a cam-groove adapted to engage and depress the sinkcrs, as and for the purpose speciiied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

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