US2187715A - Method of and apparatus for knitting - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1940. WAECHTLER NETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Sept. 1, 1936 4'Sheets-Shee 1 Hg. /6 He. 7

Fla. 2

INVENTOR. K .3; Wm

7 A TTORNEY.

K. WAECHTLER 2,187,715

' "ETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Sept.- 1. 19 366! 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 23, 1940. K. WAECHTLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 193 6 IN l E N TOR A TTORNEY.

Jan. 23, 1940.

K. WAECHTLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Sept. 1, 1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING 24 Claims.

My invention is an improved method of and apparatus for knitting whereby yarn may be bent with a minimum of friction into loops having a uniform and constant tension so as to produce a more regular and perfect fabric.

My improvements permit the simplification of the needle-operating and catch bar-operating mechanism of a full-fashioned knitting machine, and decreases the noise due to the operation thereof, smooths and balances the movements of the parts, and decreases the power required. By my improvements the needle bar and catch bar may be moved, respectively, toward their upper and rearward positions by the actions of cams instead of springs, and may be placed under continuously operative cam controls which are balanced against one another, thereby permitting elimination of heavy springs and minimizing vibration and the amount of power required for operating the machine. The elimination of heavy springs for elevating the needle bar and retracting the catch bar, the gradual curvature of the cams, and the substantial balancing against one another of the actions of the cams for operating these members, permits the stoppage of a the machine in any position without danger of the cam shaft being turned backward or forward by unbalanced stresses thereon, and eliminates the necessity of back stops for the cam shaft.

In accordance with my improved method a yarn under tension is bent to simultaneously form on opposite sides of a needlea pair of bights of yarn connected by an open loop having legs engaging such needle on opposite sides thereof. Preferably the needles are arranged in a straight line or bank, and bights of yarn are formed on opposite sides of the active needles of the bank in succession by bending the yarn to form simultaneously on opposite sides of the alternate active needles a pair of bights of yarn connected by open loops having legs engaging each such alternate needle on opposite sides thereof. The formation of each succeeding pair of bights is preferably commenced after the formation of the next preceding pair of bights is completed to permit free running of the yarn to form each pair of bights in turn, but the overlapping of the bight formation will not materially mar the fabric provided the initiation of the succeeding pair of bights does not impose too great a frictional retardation on the completion of the preceding pair of bights. Thebightformed on oneside of one needle is connected with a bight formed on the opposite side of the next alternate needle by an open loop having legs which engage the intermediate needle on opposite sides thereof.

In the preferred practice of my invention, each needle is supported on both sides thereof during the bending of the yarn to form loops there-. on, such support being provided adjacent to the points of engagement of the yarn therewith so as to prevent bending of the needles toward or away from one another as a result of the pull incident to the bending of the yarn. The loops are formed on all the active needles of the bank while the latter is stationary, and the entire length of yarn bent into bights is simultaneously knitted by the movements of the needles.

My new method of knitting on a bank of needles by bending yarn to form pairs of equal bights in succession, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously, is preferably e1- fected by securing the bank of needles in the needle bar of a full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machine of the Cotton type and providing means for bending a yarn to form a pair of bights on opposite sides of alternate needles of such bank. Such means preferably includes yam-bending blades slidable between each of the adjacent needles, and means for consecutively advancing successive pairs of blades between the needles. The blades are preferably fixed together to form twin units consisting of a pair of spaced blades having a wide heel or rear edge adapted for the direct engagement of a slur cam so as to minimize noise, wear, power and number of parts. Jacks may, however, be interposed between the slur cam and heels of the twin units, and when used the jacks are preferably operated by having the reciprocable slur cam engage the jacks adjacent to the plane of the yarn and the Jacks are provided with heads approximately the width of the heels of the twin units to resist wear and prevent slippage thereof between adjacent units. Each unit also has a vertical butt for intermittent engagement by a catch bar, which may be given a substantially continuous gradual movement elimihating shock and strain.

The blades of each unit are preferably notched so that yarn laid by a yarn carrier is supported by one of the blades and the yarn carrier can be stopped in front of the other of the blades without interfering with the operation of the unit. Each blade has a nose projecting forwardly from the apex of its notch a substantially greater distance than the maximum distances that such apices move beyond the line of the needles. The yarn bending portion of the movement of each succeeding unit preferably begins after the yarn bending portion of the movement of the next preceding unit has been completed, but the noses of a succeeding unit are advanced well beyond the needle line before the apices of the notches of the blades of the next preceding unit has reached the line of needles, all of which are held stationary during the entire yarn bending operations. Consequently, each needle of the bank is supported by a blade nose on each side thereof and immediately adjacent thereto before such needle is subjected to any stress from the looping of the yarn thereon or on any other needle.

By thus supporting the needles on both sides thereof and adjacent to the point of engagement of the yarn therewith, the entanglement of needles such as occurs during usual sinker movements and the breakage of entangled needles such as occurs during usual divider movements is completely avoided.

Upon the completion of the bending of the yarn to form a loop on each needle of the active portion of the bank of needles, the latter may be immediately moved downward and inward toward a presser bar, which is preferably provided with a curved surface for engagement by and effecting the closure of the beards or latches of the needles, each loop of yarn being meanwhile maintained under the same uniform tension, under which it was bent, by the retraction of the yarn bending blades in synchronism with the presserward movement of the needles. The retraction of the blades may be effected by means of a catch bar, which is out of engagement with the butts of the blade units during the entire couliering action, during which it is gradually advanced toward butt engaging position in a substantially continuous cyclic movement.

My improvements eliminate the necessity for any outward movement of the needles following couliering, and permit the formation of loops of larger size than is possible where an outward needle-bar movement is requisite to prevent yarn breakage during formation of loops by dividers. The avoidance of the necessity of outward needle-bar movement after couliering and during subdivision of usual loops by dividers greatly facilitates the knitting of yarns composed of or containing rubber or elastic threads.

Further characteristics and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged fragmentary view of a knitting head embodying features of my improved apparatus and suitable for the practice of my improved method, and illustrating the positions of certain parts during couliering and the laying and bending of the yarn; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of parts upon the completion of couliering; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the positions of parts after the bank of needles moves toward beard-closing position; Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragmentary transverse section through a knitting head showing the parts in approximately the position shown in Fig. 2: Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the first step of the knitting cycle when the bank of needles moves downward to engage the yarn beneath the beards of the needles; Fig. 6 shows a further step of the needle cycle in which the needle beards are rocked against the presser plate and the yarn bending blades are simultaneously retracted by the catch bar to avoid strain on the yarn; Fig. '7 shows a further step in the knitting cycle in which the bank of needles is rocked away from the presser plate and the yarn bending blades are further retracted by the catch bar to permit the loops to be drawn off and down onto the knock-over bits and drawn through the previously formed loops of the fabric; Fig. 8 is a top plan view, Fig. 9 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one form of yarn-bending unit embodied in my invention; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the slotted bed in which slide the units illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; Fig. 12 is a top plan view, Fig. 13 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of yarn-bending unit embodied in my invention; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the slotted bed in which slide the units illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14; Fig, 16 is a side elevation, and Fig. 17 is a rear edge elevation of one of the jacks which may be used for operating the yarn-bending units; Fig. 18 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating the application of my improvements to a standard form of full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machine of the "Cotton" type; Fig. 19 is a detached elevation of the presser operating mechanism of the apparatus shown in Fig. 18 in a second position; Fig. 20 is a detached view of the presser regulating mechanism shown in Figs. 18 and 19 in a third position; Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the presser regulating mechanism shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing a modification of the arrangement of slur cam and jacks shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 23 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a knitting machine of the general type shown in Fig. 18 with improvements in the structure, balance and operation thereof made possible by my improvements; and Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the slur cam and yarn bending unit of Fig. 23, but which is equally applicable to the machine shown in Fig. 18.

As illustrated in the drawings, a yarn A from a suitable source of supply is laid under tension by a carrier I along a bank of bearded needles 2 and 2' which may be fixed in the needle bar 3 of a full-fashioned silk hosiery machine of the Cotton type.

In accordance with my invention, the yarn so laid is bent to form successively simultaneously formed pairs of bights a. and a of equal size on opposite sides of each alternate needle 2 of the bank. The bights a, a of each pair are connected by an open loop a." having legs engaging such needle 2 on opposite sides thereof, and the bight a of one pair is connected with the bight a of the next succeeding pair by an open loop a' each of which has legs engaging opposite sides of an intervening needle 2' of the bank between the needles 2.

This bending of the yarn around the needles is preferably effected by means of yarn-bending units 4 each composed of a pair of yarn- bending blades 5 and 6 containing yarn engaging notches 1 and 8. The blades of each unit are movable together normal to the axis of the needle 2 complementary to such unit, the blades lying on opposite sides of the needle in close juxtaposition to the circumference thereof. Preferably the yar: engagement by each unit begins after the completion of the loop forming movement of the next preceding unit, and the noses of the yarnbending blades are of such length that before ale-1, 115

the notches of one pair of blades engage the yarn the noses of the next succeeding pair of blades has advanced to or beyond the line of needles. Hence the tendency to bend the needles by the pull or stress thereon resulting from the bending of the yarn about a needle is resisted by the blades on both sides of such needle, and which provide support for the needles adjacent to the points where the yarn engages therewith.

For example, when the pair of blades of the second unitla shown at the left in Fig. 1 is advanced toward the needles, the noses of these blades are positioned on opposite sides of the needle 2 second ,from the left before the notches 7 and 8 thereof engage the yarn A to for..1 the second pair of bights a, a, thereby supporting this needle on both sides thereof. The movement of the third unit 4b is sufficiently behind the second unit 4a to permit the free running of the yarn to form the second pair of bights a, a" before substantial frictional retardation of the yarn by the engagement therewith of the notches of the blades of the third unit 417. The moveinent of the fourth unit 40 is behind the third unit 4b suflicient to permit the free running of the yarn to form the third pair of bights a, a,

and so on.

The noses of the blades project beyond the notches a materially greater distance than the projection of the bights a, a beyond the needle line. Consequently the noses of the blades of the third unit 4b, and preferably also the noses of the blades of a number of succeeding units 4c, 4d and 4e, will have advanced between the needles before the notches land 8 of the blades of the third unit 41) engage theyarn. Consequently each needle about which loops are being formed, as well as the intermediate needle about which a bight is being formed on only one side (as, for instance, the fourth needle from the left in Fig. 1) is supported adjacent the point of engagement of the yarn by the blades on each side thereof against bending toward or away from any other needle. There is thus overcome the tendency of needles to become entangled durng the formation of usual sinker loops and for the breaking of such entangled needles by the usual simultaneous advance of dividers and the downward movement of the needles between the knock over bits.

When all of the yarn bending units have been advanced to the limit of their movement in accordance with my invention, each needle. of.

the active section of the bank Will have had formed thereon a knitting loop requiring no sub division and of an appropriate size, which may be regulated by suitably positioning the bank of needles relative to the limit of movement of the yarn-bending units during the bending of the yarn.- The elimination of the need for moving the needles outward to permit sub-division of the yarn by dividers makes possible a much wider variation in loop sizes than has been heretofore possible with needle bars having the same limit of movement, and also makes possible the provision of considerably greater clearance for the carriers when loops of usual size are being formed, since for loops of a given size formed in accordance with my invention the needles may be positioned during the laying of the yarn in approximately the position they would occupy after their outward movement with the dividers when loops are formed as heretofore by the sep-.

arate action of sinkers and dividers.

The yam-bending units of my invention may 3 be conveniently formed for operation in slightly modified forms of standard type of sinker bed, such as indicated in Fig. 11, by riveting a spring steel blade 5 having the general outline of a standard sinker and a spring steel blade '6 having the general outline of a standard divider to a spacer l and catch bar butts II by means of rivets l2. The spacer and catch bar butt angles are receded from the upper and lower edges of the blades and 6 so as to permit such edges to slide freely in the narrow slots or grooves I 3 in the bed l4, which bed is provided with the curved presser bar surface l5 and to which is fixed adjustably the verge plate I 6. The vertical rear edges of the blades 5 and 6, spacer I 0 and butts H are flush with one another and provide a relatively wide bearing surface for the engagement of an actuator, which may be either a slur cam, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, or an enlarged head I! of a jack lever l8 which is fulcrumed on a rod l9. and operable by a slur cam 20, as shown in Figs. 18 and 22.

As shown in Fig. 18, the slur cam 20 may engage the rear edges of jack levers l8 at about the center thereof, measured from the jack axle to the upper end pressing against the sinkers, as is necessitated in usual constructions by the rearwardly projecting ends of the usual dividers. But since my improvements eliminate the usual rearwardly projecting extensions of the dividers, it is possible and preferable, when jacks are used at all, to elevate the slur cam and its associated parts as illustrated in Fig. 22 so that the operating contact of the slur cam with the rear edges of the jack levers is substantially in the plane of the yarn-bending units. By this rearrangement, the distance from the fulcrum of the jacks to the operating contact with the units is practically doubled, the resistance to the movement of the cam and the rebound of the units from the verge bar is materially decreased, and the regularity of the loop formation improved.

A still better arrangement, however, is to eliminate the jacks altogether, and elevate the slur bar and extend the slur cam forward so that its cam edges make direct engagement with the heels of the yarn bending units, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24.

These rearrangements make possible more accurate adjustment between the verge plate and slur bar or jackbed and result in considerable reduction in the noise and wear'caused by the sliding of the slur cam over the members enaged thereby and by the angles ll hitting the verge plate, since the rearrangements permit the accurate control of the units or of the jacks in' accordance with the theoretically correct shape of the slur cam.

As illustrated in Figs. 1.! yarn bending units may L-shaped slides 2| having vertically projecting butts H and adapted to slide in the relatively Wide slots 22 in the bed 23. The slides 2| have riveted to the forward ends thereof the blade sections 5a having the general outline of the forepart of a sinker and the blade sections in. having the general outline of the forepart of a divider, so as to permit the stoppage of the yarn carrier I at desired points intermediate the ends. of the bank of needles.

The yarn-bending units are all advanced during the couliering movement until the vertical angle pieces H or II are engaged against the verge plate l6, while the needle bar is stationy. On the completion of couliering, the needle to 15, inclusive, the consist of integral bar descends, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to engage the loops a", a' under the beards of the needles 2 and 2'. Simultaneously with this descent of the needles, the catch bar 24 descends so thatits groove 25 engages the top of the butts H or II. After the loops have been engaged beneath the needle beards, the needles are moved by the needle bar toward the curved presser surface I5 to close the beards. This movement of the needles is accompanied by a corresponding movement rearwardly of the catch bar 24, which moves the yarn-dividing units rearwardly at the same rate as the needles move rearwardly, so as to maintain a constant and uniform tension on the loops (Fig. 6). The catch bar continues its rearward movement after the closure of the needle beards (Fig. '7) and while the needles are moved forwardly away from the presser bar and downwardly so as to draw the loops under constant tension off of the noses of the units and onto the elevated knock-over bits and downwardly through the previously formed loops of the fabric to form a new course of closed loops. The needles then move inward and rise during a forward and backward movement of the units, after which the catch bar is disengaged from the butts l i or H which are left in position for the next couliering or yarn laying sequence,

The actuation of the needle bar and the yarn dividing units, between the couliering movements. may be effected by any suitable mechanism. For instance, the needle bar 3 may be secured (Fig. 18) to the brackets 30, which are pivotally mounted on the clamp levers 3i fixed to the rocking shaft 32. The shaft 32 is rocked to elevate and lower the needles in the required sequenceby a lever 33 fixed to the shaft 32 and having thereon a roller 34 which rides on the periphery of the cam 35 fixed to the usual rotatable main cam shaft 36 of the knitting machine. The bottom of the lever 33 is biased by a strong spring 31 fixed to the anchorage 38 so as to tend to elevate the needle bar 3 and press the roller 34 against the periphery of the cam 35 having the necessary high spots for rocking the lever to depress the needle bar.

The needle bar 3 may be rocked to move the needles toward and away from the presser surface by the links 39 fixed to the brackets 30 and pivotally connected with the links 40 having a handle 41 and containing notches 42 and 43 for the selective engagement of a pin 44 fixed on the presser lever 45 which is fixed on the journalled shaft 46. The lever 45 is normally biased toward the left (Fig. 18) by having connected with its lower end a strong spring 41 fixed to a hook or anchorage 48 on the frame, whereby the needles are normally biased outward away from the presser surface. Such biasing movement is lim-' ited, to regulate the size of the loops, by the engagement of the lever 45 with a pin 49 mounted on the lever arm 50 fixed to the journalled shaft 5| (Figs. 18 andl9). A lever arm 52 (Figs. 19, 20 and 21) is fixed to the shaft 5| and has threaded in its upper end an adjusting screw 53 having a knurled head 54 which may be held in adjusted position by a spring detent 55 mounted on the arm 52 and engaging the knurled head 54. The lever 52 is normally biased toward the left (Fig. 20) by means of a spring 56 attached thereto and secured to a suitable anchorage (not shown) on the knitting machine frame. The biasing action of the spring 56 is limited by the engagement of the screw 53 with a boss 51 on a curved lever 58 having a hub 59 journalled on the shaft 5|. A regulating roller 60 is pivotally connected with the upper end of the lever 58 and engages the periphery of the regulating cam 6| fixed on the main cam shaft 36.

During the couliering motion of the knitting machine, the roller 60 engages a concentric segment of the periphery of the cam 5| and the needle bar is thereby held stationary during the couliering motion. The position in which the needle bar is held stationary during the couliering motion, and consequently the sizes of the loops, may be adjusted by screwing the regulating screw 53 in or out.

The periphery of the cam 6| has a lower or flattened section which moves past but is spaced from the roller '60 after couliering to permit the control of the position of the lever 45 directly by the engagement of its roller 62 with the periphery of the cam 63 to the right of the axis thereof. The cam 63 is fixed to the main cam shaft 35. The roller 52 is held out of engagement with the cam 53 when the roller '60 is in engagement with the concentric position of the cam 5|. The periphery of the cam 53 is so shaped that, after the completion of the couliering, it twice rocks the arm 15 outward so as to rock the needle bar and move the needles into engagement with the surface of the presser bar to close their beards I during their downward movement and to again move the needles toward the presser bar during their upper movement after having knitted a course of loops.

The complementary movements of the catch bar 24 may be effected (Fig. 18) by mounting it upon a link 55 pivotally connected at one end with a lever 55 and having a ball and socket con nection at the other end with a link '61. The lever 65 is fixed to a journalled shaft 68 to which is fixed a lever arm 69 which is biased toward the right by a strong spring 10 anchored to the frame hook 10' so as to tend to shift the catch bar 24 toward the left (Fig. 18). The lever 59 is provided with a roller H which engages the lower part of the periphery of a catch bar cam 12 at the left of the axis thereof, such cam being fixed on the cam shaft 36 and having a peripheral shape such as to rock the lever '69 against the biasing action of the spring so as to move the catch bar 24 toward the right at the appropriate times.

The link 61 is pivotally connected with a lever arm 13 which is fixed on the journalled shaft 14. A lever arm 15 is fixed to the shaft 14 and provided with a roller 16 which engages the periphery of a cam 11 fixed on the cam shaft 36 and having the peripheral contour necessary to effect the vertical upward movement of the catch bar 24 to disengage it from the butts II or II at the appropriate times. The catch bar normally descending by reason of its own weight and the weight of the associated parts.

By the elimination of dividers and the function thereof, it is made practicable by my improvements to impart a substantially continuous smooth gradual movement to the catch bar instead of the usual intermittent abrupt rapid movements thereof.

These advantages are attained in marked degree in the modified construction shown in Figs. 23 and 24 of the drawings and illustrate preferred positions, forms and arrangements of parts for operating the yarn bending units during couliering and during knitting and for elevating the needle bar.

As illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, the yarn bending units are advanced sequentially during couliering by the direct engagement of their heels by a slur cam 200 having tapered ends whose curvature may be slightly more gradual than the curvature of the tapered ends of the slur cam shown in Fig. 1. The slur cam 20a is moved longitudinally in a horizontal plane, on a level with the plane of movement of the units 4, by a slur bar supported by a high bracket to reciprocate the slur cam in such plane.

Between the couliering movements and during the knitting portion of the cycle, the units 4 are actuated by the catch bar 24 which is given a gradual and substantially continuous movement. This movement of the catch bar is effected by a lever 69A fixed to the shaft 88 in substitution for the lever 69, there being a roller HA biased by gravity against the upper part of the periphery of the cam 12A fixed on the cam shaft 36. A light spring 10A may be stretched between the end of the lever 69A and a hook on the frame to insure trackage of the roller HA with the periphery of the cam 12A should the weight of the parts he insuflicient to alone maintain the desired trackage.

When the cam 12A is in the position shown in Fig. 23, the catch bar is positioned at the extreme left by the sup ort of the roller HA by a. high portion of the cam 12A. As the cam 12A rotates in the direction of the arrow, the eccentric surface thereof extending to approximately the point 12a, passes under the roller H A and permits the lever 69A to gradually descend to move the catch bar gradually toward the right during couliering, the catch bar being elevated above the butts II or II during this movement. Such movement is rendered permissible by the elimination of the necessity for the usual continuous connection between the catch bar and the upper dividers. As the portion of the cam periphery between the points 12a and 12b pass under the roller HA, the lever 69A descends more rapidly and the catch bar 24 is moved into position with its groove 25 above the butts, which have all been advanced against the verge plate by the slur cam. The catch bar 24 is then caused to descend to engage the butts by the downward movement of the link 61 controlled by the cam ll of Fig. 18. The movement of the portion of the periphery of the cam 12A between the points 12b and He gradually elevates the lever 69A and moves the catch bar and connected units 4 gradually leftward in synchronism with the movement of the needle bar to close the beards and move the loops onto the knock-over bits. The movement of the portion of the periphery of the cam 12A between the points 120 and 12d beneath the roller HA gradually lowers the lever 69A and moves the catch bar 24 and connected units 4 forward in synchronism. with the rise of the needles after the completion of the knitting of the loops of the course. Thereafter the movement of the portion of the periphery of the cam 12A between the points 12d and He beneath the roller HA again gradually elevates the roller 1 IA and retracts the catch bar 24 and connected units 4 toward its lefthandmost position, where it is lifted by the links 61 clear of its engagement with the butts H or II to again permit couliering of the yarn bending units 4.

During couliering of the units 4 and the movement of the catch bar 24 independently thereof, the needle bar is supported in its uppermost posil tion by means of a lever 33A which is fixed to the shaft 32 in substitution for the lever 33, and is provided with a roller 34A which engages the concentric portion of the periphery of the cam 35A to the leftward of the axis of the shaft 36 to which this cam is fixed. Theroller 34A is biased by gravity against the cam but its close tracking relationship with the cam may be further insured by the light spring 31A stretched between the end of the lever 33A and the frame hook 38A. During the leftward movement of the catch bar 24 with the connected units 4, the needle bar is caused to descend in synchronism therewith by the passage of the eccentric portion of the cam 35A past the roller 34A to move the needles into beard-closing and knitting positions, and the further movement of the eccentric portion of the periphery of the cam 35A past the roller 34A causes the upward movement of the needle bar in timed relation with the movements of the catch bar so that the needles are restored to their fully elevated position when the catch bar is lifted free from the units} in their lefthandmost position. By so shaping the cams 35A and 72A and positioning the points of engagement of the rollers 34A and HA therewith, the actions of the cams are balanced to a considerable degree and the smoothness of the running of the machine is improved.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, a needle bar movable into upper and lower positions, means for bending yarn on said needles, including a catch bar, means for biasing said catch bar forward during the bending of said yarn on said needles, a cam for retracting said catch bar and a cam holding said needle bar in its upper position during the bending of the yarn on said needles.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination with a' bank of needles, a needle bar movable into upper and lower positions, means for bending yarn on said needles, a cam moving said needle bar to its upper position and holding it there during the bending of the yarn on said needles, a catch bar for operating said means, and mechanism including a cam for moving said catch bar away from said needles during the upward movement of said needles by said first named cam.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, yarn bending devices movable in continuous sequence from one end of the bank to the other end forming loops on each of the active needles of said bank, and a catch bar intermittently connected with and disconnected from all of said devices and movable forward past some of said sequentially movable devices during the sequential movement of the other of said devices.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle bar and a needle fixed therein, means including a cam for operating said needle bar, means for laying a yarn along said needles, sinkers movable between said needles to kink said yarn, a catch bar for operating said sinkers en masse immediately after the kinking movement of the last of said sinkers, and a cam for operating said catch bar and having a surface of decreasing radius for moving said catch bar forward free from any sinkers and toward the couliered sinkers immediately upon the completion of the couliering of said sinkers, and thereby tending to prevent backlash of the machine at the end of couliering.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle bar having needles therein, of means ior bending ,a yarn to form concurrently to equal size a pair of bights on opposite sides of the shanks of alternate needles of said bank, the bights of each pair having a common plane transverse to the axis of the adjacent needle, and means for knitting the bent yarn.

6. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair of bights on opposite sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machine which includes a sinker blade and a divider blade and a separator between said blades to which they are both secured with means for holding a yarn in the path of movement of such blades in position for engagement by the notched portions of the moving blades simultaneously, the movement of each pair of blades between the needles bending concurrently to equal size a pair of bights.

7. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair of bights on oppos.te sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machine which includes a member for engagement by an actuator, a member for engagement by a catch bar, a member forming a blade containng a sinker-like notch, a member forming a blade containing a divider-like notch and spaced from said first named blade, all of said members being permanently secured together with m-ans IOI holding a yarn in the path of movement of such blades in position for engagement by the notched portions or the moving blades simultaneously, the movement of each pair of blades between the needes bending concurrently to equal size of a pair of bights.

8. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair of bights on opposite sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machine which includes a pair of notched blades secured together so as to move equally and simultaneously with means for holding a yarn in the path of movement of such blades in position for engagement by the notched portions of the moving blades simultaneously, the movement of each pair of blades between the needles bending concurrently to equal size a pair of bights.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, of means for laying a yarn, means for bending the laid yarn to form in succession pairs of bights on opposite sides of the shanks of alternate needles of said bank, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously to equal size and having a common plane transverse to the axis of the shank of the adjacent needle, the means for forming each pair of bights including notched blades slidable together normally to the axis of the needle shanks.

10. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, of means for laying a yarn, means for bending the laid yarn to form in succession pairs of bights on opposite sides of alternate needles of said bank, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously to equal size, and having a common plane transverse to the axis of the adjacent needle the means for forming each pair of bights including a slur cam and a pair of blades movable together by the slur cam normally to and on opposite sides of the axis of the needle.

11. In a knitting machine, a bank of needles, means for laying a yarn along said needles, means for looping the laid yarn on said needles and including notched blades slidable between each of the adjacent needles, means for consecutively advancing successive pairs of adjacent blades between the needles until notch apexes of all the blades have passed the needle line, each pair of blades concurrently bending to the same size a pair of bights and means for simultaneously retracting all of the blades.

12. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, means for laying a yarn along the needles, and means for looping the laid yarn about the shank of each needle of the active portion of the bank while such bank is held stationary and including yarn bending blades and mechanism for consecutivelyadvancing successive pairs of adjacent blades between the needles, each pair of blades concurrently bending to the same size a pair of yarn bights.

13. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, of means for laying a yarn along the needles, and means for looping the laid yarn about the shank of each needle oi the active portion of the bank while such bank is held stationary and including yarn bendng blades and mechanism for consecutively advancing the yarn bending portions of successive pairs of adjacent blades between the needles, each pair of blades concurrently bending to the same size a pair of yarn bights, the movement of each successive pair of blades being begun after the movement of the immediately preceding pair of blades has been completed.

14. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a stationary bed for sinking devices having a stationary verge plate along one side thereof and a stationary presser edge along the other side thereof, a needle bar containing a bank or needles and movable rectilineally of the needles and toward and from said presser plate, a series of yarn bending units movable sequentially in said bed to positions controlled by said verge plate, each unit comprising a pair of spaced blades movable only concurrently and having notched portLns movable between said needles to form yarn bights of the same size at the same time on opposite sides of the shanks thereof in a common plane transverse to the axis of said shanks, couliering means including a slur cam for moving said units in succession against said verge plate, knockingover bits adjacent to said presser edge, means for moving'said needle bar to move said needles toward and from said presser edge and to move said needles rectilineally, said needles having shanks with a fixed spacing from said verge plate during the couliering of said units, and a catch bar retracting said units in unison during movement of said needle bar to move said needles toward said presser edge, said catch bar also advancing and retracting said units during the rectilineal movements of said needles.

15. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bending yarn to simultaneously form to equal size on opposite sides of a needle a pair of bights of yarn having a common plane transverse to the needle axis and connected by an open loop having legs engaging said needle on opposite sides thereof and knitting the bent yarn by drawing loops in a direction transverse to said plane.

16. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of spaced needles, the steps which include forming bights of yarn on opposite sides of the shanks of active needles of the bank in succession by bending the yarn to form simultaneously to equal 70 size on opposite sides of the alternate active needles a pair of bights of yarn having a common plane transverse to the needle axis and connected by an open loop having legs engaging each such alternate needle on opposite sides thereof,

the bight formed on one side of one needle being connected with a bight formed on the opposite side of the next alternate needle by an open loop having legs engaging the intermediate needle on opposite sides thereof, and knitting the bent yarn.

17. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of needles, the steps which include bending yarn to form simultaneously to equal size on opposite sides of a needle a pair of bights oi yarn having a common plane transverse to the needle axis and connected by an open loop having legs engaging such needle on opposite sides thereof, and beneath the eye-opening oi the needle, one of said bights having a leg engaging a side or an adjacent needle and supporting both of said needles during the bending of such yarn adjacent to the point of engagement of the yarn therewith against bending toward or away from one another by the pull incident to the bending of said yarn, and knitting the bent yarn.

18. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of movable needles, the steps which include bending yarn to form successive pairs of bights, both bights of a pair being concurrently formed to equal size, said bights providing legs projecting between all the active needles while such bank is stationary, and knitting the bent yarn.

19. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bendingyarn to form pairs of bights in succession, the bights, of each pair being formed simultaneously to equal size. and having a common plane, and the formation of each succeeding pair of bights being started after the completion of the immediately preceding pair of bights, and knitting simultaneously the entire length of yarn bent into bights.

20. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bending-yam to form pairs of bights in succession, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously to equal size, and the formation of each succeeding pair of bights being started after the completion of the immediately preceding pair of bights, all the bights being held stationary between the completion of the formation of the respective bights and the beginning of the knitting movement.

21. In a method of knitting by means of a movable bank of bearded needles fixed relatively to one another, the steps which include bending yarn to form in succession pairs of bights on opposite sides of alternate needles of the bank, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously to equal size and'while the bank is stationary and having a common plane normal to the axis of the adjacent needle below the free end of the beard thereof, closing the beards of the needles by the movement of the bank of needles in one direction prior to any movement thereof in the opposite direction, and knitting the bent yarn.

22. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having a sinker bed with a stationary verge plate and stationary presser edge on opposite sides thereof and a bank of needles movable in unison rectilineally of the needles and toward and from the presser edge, which includes laying a yarn along said needle bank and bending it to simultaneously form on opposite sides oi a needle shank a pair of bights of yarn concurrently bent to the same size and having a common plane transverse to the axis of the needle shank, said bights being connected by a loop engaging the peripheral portion of said shank disposed toward said presser edge below the eye-opening of said needle, moving said loop portion toward said presser edge and downward in a direction transverse to the common plane in which the bights were formed.

23. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having a bed for sinking devices with a stationary presser edge along one side thereof, knocking-over bits adjacent said presser edge, a bank of needles movable in unison rectilineally oi the needles and movable toward and from said presser edge, and means for adjusting the extent of movement of such needles toward and from said presser edge, which includes laying a yarn along said bank and bending it to form simultaneously on oppposite sides of the shank of each alternate needle of the effective portion of said bank, a pair of bights of yarn concurrently bent to the same size and having a common plane transverse to the axis of such shank, said bights being connected by open loops each engaging a single needle below the eyeopening thereof, moving said loops towardsaid presser edge and then moving said loops downward in a direction transverse to the common plane in which the bights were formed toward said knocking-over bits.

24. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having a bed for sinking devices and a presser edge along one side thereof, knocking-over bits adjacent to said presser edge, and a bank of needles movable in unison rectilineally oi the needles and movable toward and away from said presser edge, which includes laying a yarn along said bank, and bending it to simultaneouslyform pairs of bights in succession on opposite sides of the shanks of alternate needles of the active section of the bank, said bights being bent to lie in a common plane normal to the axes of the shanks, the formation of each succeeding pair of bights being commenced immediately after the completion of the next preceding pair of bights, and the bights, when all are completed, being connected by loops each engaging the shank of a single needle below the eye-opening of such needle, moving the loops toward said presser edge, and then moving the loops rectilineally of the needles and transversely to the common plane in which the bights were formed toward said knocking-over bits.

KURT WAECHTLER.

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