US2907194A - Yarn carrier rod driving mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

069'. 6, 1959 R. ANKE 2,907,194

YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, I953 v l0.SheetsSheet l H5 15 15 UL INVENTOR Oct. 6, 1959 R. ANKE 2,907,194 YARN CARRIER R01) DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wdol hjIn e 0 A' l'TORNEY R. ANKE Oct. 6, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14. 1953 INVENTOR A TToRNEY v M w 4% O 1 R. ANKE 2,907,194

YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 TL E T; E- E INVENTOR AfTORNEY u 01 h n e AYE/04W Oct 6, 1959 R. ANKE 2,907,194

YARN CARRIER ROD DRII IVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 7- g w y 6364 A? /Z7 62 Q I 66 R a r 77 .9/

a I N 0 J- 96 m0 5 Y I L) INVENiOR udol hln e 2 3/ @AL AZFTORNE'Y" R. ANKE YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 1;- d"z iz u 0 n e ATTORNEY 0a. 6, 1959 R. ANKE 2,907,194

YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed July 14, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 1? mm u o n e ;\v P M45 Oct. 6, 1959 R. ANKE 2,907,194

YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 14, 1955 10 Sheets-$heet 8 4 i Q 3Z7 Q 355 255 I 336 v I I B0 w I /07 //5 //0 mm; 9/ El 5+ 54 INVENTOR 1; do: Min e Oct. 6, 1959 R. ANKE I 2,907,194 I YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 1.4, 1953 l0 Sheet-Sheet 1O INVENTOR Rude], 101111 e TTORNEY United States atent Off ce 1 r 2,907,194 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 YARN CARRIER ROD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,866 5 Claims. (Cl. 66-126) This invention relates to carrier rod drive mechanism for full-fashioned knitting machines and more particularly to drive mechanism which is automatically operated and which includes friction means for driving positive connections to the carrier rod which are fixed in relation to the movement of the carrier rod.

In the present multi-section full-fashioned knitting machines yarn is fed to loop forming elements of each knitting section, to form stocking blanks, by yarn carriers which are mounted on carrier rods extending lengthwise of and over all of the sections of the machine. The carrier rods are reciprocated variable distances be tween the usual adjustable stop devices, to feed the yarns for the particular width of fabric being knitted, by boxes having selective frictional engagement with full and slow speed friction rods, which are in turn reciprocated by a coulier mechanism in the usual manner. The friction rods are preferably of the type through which fluid is circulated to control the heat generated between the friction boxes and rods by means of which a more uniform frictional engagement is maintained between the boxes and rods. The carrier rods are positioned in juxtaposed relation adjacent to the friction rods and are provided with dogs which are connected by arms slidably or pivotally carried in the boxes for movement at right angles to the reciprocating movement of the boxes and carrier rods. The dogs for the dilferent rods are located in different machine sections to avoid interference with one another. The length of the arm in each box is determined by the distance from the box to the carrier rod or rods to which the box is to be connected.

In the usual practice, the carrier rods nearer to the friction rods carry the main yarn carriers and the carrier rods positioned the greatest distance from the friction rods carry the reinforcing yarn carriers. When not in use the yarn carriers on all of the carrier rods are positioned outside one or the other end of each knitting section. The dog on each of the main carrier rods is positioned to the inside of all of the yarn carriers of the section in which it is located so that the arm on the friction box, when connected to the dog, operates between the idle yarn carriers on the other carrier rods of that section. However, the dog on each of the reinforcing carrier rods is positioned to the-outside of the idled yarn carriers in the particular section in which it is located, and the arm on the friction box, when connected to the dog, must operate between the idled yarn carriers on the other carrier rods and the adjacent selvage edge'of the fabric being knitted in order to avoid engagement of the main yarn with the arm on the reinforcing friction box. To connect any of the friction boxes to its associated carrier rod, the carrier rod is first manually moved to align its dog with the arm in the friction box and the arm is then manually moved to engage the dog.

It is the trend however, to eliminate manual operations' whenever possible and for this reason attemptshave been made to automatically connect the friction boxes to their respective carrier rods and to the friction rod to idly move the friction boxes and yarn carriers from idle to operating positions and to operate the carrier rods in such operating positions. In the case of the reinforcing carrier rods automatic connection of the arms with the dogs on the rods has been found to be impractical because the arms have to cross the path of the yarns leading to the idled yarn carriers when the reinforcing carrier rods are moved to their active positions with consequent entanglement of the yarns. Another difficulty encountered was in providing suitable means to give the necessary substantial movement to the arms so that they would connect with their respective carrier rods, particularly themain and reinforcing carrier rods positioned the greatest distance from the friction rods. A further disadvantage was the wear occurring between the arms and boxes and between the boxes and the friction rods due to the long overhang of the arms relative to the boxes which made it very difiicult if not impossible to maintain the arms.

and dogs on the rods in accurate alignment for engagement with each other.

Rotary friction clutch arrangements have also been suggested to eliminate the arms connecting the carrier rods. However, in these devices no way was found to dissipate the heat generated in the clutch parts and the constantly operating means for the same or to eliminate the high rate of wear between the clutch faces which caused defective operation of the devices. As a result of the noted difficulties all of the suggested devices have in the past been discarded in favor of the conventional friction boxes because of the ability to control both the heat generated and the frictional engagement between the friction boxes and friction rods. Also, manual control of the boxes was found to provide a more accurate and economical operation of the carrier rods even though it has obvious disadvantages.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a full-fashioned knitting machine with driving means for the carrier rods, particularly applicable but not limited to the reinforcing carrier rods, which will be automatic in operation and which will overcome the deficiencies encountered in the prior proposals for automatically operated devices of this type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fullfashioned knitting machine with driving means for the carrier rods which is not only automatic in its operation but which eliminates the necessity of moving a means'for connecting the driving means to a carrier rod across the yarns fed to yarn carriers on other car rier rods. 7

A further object of the invention is to providea carrier rod drive which combines a positive driving means '-for connection to the carrier rod, said positive driving means having a fixed operating position relative to the path of movement of the carrier rod, and a friction driving means for operating the positive driving means to compensate for the variation in the extent of travel of the carrier rod.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ate or idle the carrier rod.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine having the invention applied thereto, all of the usual mechanism not directly supporting the invention being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, certain of the parts being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 3 is across sectional view, on an enlarged scale, aken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 a of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9 and diagrammatically showing certain electrical control mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the;carrier rod drive mechanism according to the invention taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a view taken in the 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional View taken substantially along the line 16-16 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Fig. 13, certain parts being omitted to more clearly show others;

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 18-18 of Fig. 1, showdirection of the arrows ing a friction box for reciprocating the carrier rod drive mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 19-19 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is an elevational view of the friction box taken in the direction of the arrows 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 21-21 of Fig. 20; i

Fig. 22 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 22-22 of Fig. 20; i 4

Fig. 23 is a detailed view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the driving mechanism taken substantially on the line 23-23 of Fig. 2, the figure having distance breaks indicating omission of certain intervening mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 24-24 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 25 is a detailed view taken substantially on the line 25-25 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 26 is a detailed view partially in. section and taken in the direction of the arrows 26-26 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 27-27 of Fig. 22;

work of a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine Fig. 28 is a cross sectional view similar to and shown in the position of Fig. 18 but taken substantially along the line 28-28 of Fig. 23, .certain of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 29 is a detailed cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 29-29 of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 30-30 of Fig. 23, and

Fig. 31 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 31-31 of Fig. 28.

In the drawings and description, only the means necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications of the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pa.:

The Reading Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog of 1940, the supplement thereto entitled The Reading High Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine of 1940 and The Reading Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalogs of 1947 and 1952.

The mechanism shown in the drawings includes portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine embodying the novel features of the invention. More specifically the mechanism shown comprises carrier rod driving means which is automatically controlled and operated to move a carrier rod and its yarn carriers from inactive positions outside the knitting field to active knitting positions without interfering with the yarns of. yarn carriers on other carrier rods and to operate the yarn carriers when in said active positions. The driving means shown includes gears and racks connected to the carrier rod and having a fixed operating position relative to the movement of the carrier rod. The gears and racks are driven by a friction, box having selective frictional engagement with either of the usual high and slow speed friction rods of the machine. Also included in the apparatus embodying theinvention are means for automatically and selectively connecting the friction box to either of the friction rods or disconnecting the box from both friction rods and means for selectively locking the friction box and carrier rod to hold the yarn carriers in inactive positions within the knitting field or outside of the knitting field when the friction box is disconnected from both friction rods.

The mechanism is shownin connection with the operation and control of the carrier rod which feeds the yarns for reinforcing the right selvage edges of the stocking blanks although it is to be understood that the mechanism in principle and with only minor mechanical changes, is adaptable to the other reinforcing yarn carrier rods of the machine. The mechanism is also adaptable for operating the carrier rods for the so-called main yarns and particularly the main yarn carrier rods having the same operating problems to overcome that are present in the operation of the-reinforcing yarn carrier rods.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a portion of the usual frameincluding end frames 30, center frames 31, a front beam 32, a back beam 35, a center bed 36 and a front bed or table 37. Carried on the framework of the machine are. right and left hand narrowing heads 40, a main pattern-chain mechanism 41' and reinforced selvage attachments 42, only the right hand attachment 42 being shown in the drawings. The narrowing heads 40 include nuts 45, threaded spindles 46 on which said nuts are mounted and end stops 47 on the nuts for controlling or limiting the outward reciprocating movement of a series of carrier rods 0 ,to 3, inclusive (Fig. 12). Each reinforced selvage attachment 4 2- includes a nut 48, a threaded spindle 49 on which the nut is mounted and stops 53 on. the nut, for controlling the inward movement of the reinforcing yarn carriers, as hereinafter set forth. The carrier rods are supported for movement in brackets 51 secured to the center bed 36 (Figs. 3 and 12) and carry yarn carriers 52. The carrier rods to 8 and yarn carriers 52 are reciprocated to feed yarn to usual sinkers 55 and dividers 56, carried in a sinker head 57 on the center bed 36 and needles 60 carried in a needle bar 61. Only one carrier on carrier rod 8 is shown in the drawings but it will be understood that each carrier rod supports a yarn carrier for each knitting section of the machine. The sinkers, dividers and needles are operated in the usual manner to form the yarn into loops.

The lengths of travel of the carrier rods such as 0 to 4 laying the main yarns across the full width of the fabrics being knitted are controlled by the end stops 47 of the narrowing heads 40' at right and left ends of the machine, respectively. The lengths of travel of the carrier rods such as 7 and 8 when laying the reinforcing yarns to selvage portions of the fabrics, are controlled by the end stops 47 and stops 53 of the reinforced selvage attachments 42, the carrier rod 8 for the right reinforcing yarn traveling the distance between the right end stop and a stop of the right reinforced selvage attachment and the carrier rod 7 for the left reinforcing yarn traveling the distance between the left end stop and a stop of the left reinforced selvage attachment (not shown). The narrow ing heads 40 and the reinforced selvage attachments 42 are operated from a camshaft 58 in the usual manner. As is well known the carrier rods 0 to 8 are divided into two groups one of which includes the rods 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 which are idled at the right end of their movement and the other group including 0, 3, 5 and 7 which are idled at the left end of their travel. While as noted above carrier rods 7 and 8 travel in only relatively short paths adjacent the selvedges when reinforcing these parts of the fabrics all of the carrier rods, including rods 7 and 8, may be reciprocated between the end stops of the right and left narrowing heads 40 when desired. Also, rod 6 may operate between the stops of the right narrowing head and right reinforced selvage attachment and rod 5 may operate between stops of the left narrowing head and the left reinforced selvage attachment, similarily as rods 8 and 7, respectively.

Carrier rod driving means according to the instant invention is shown only for the carrier rod 8 which carries the yarn carriers 52 for laying yarnsto form the right selvage reinforcements, such as the heel and sole reinforcements, of the blanks simultaneously knitted on the machine. It will be understood however, as later more fully explained, that similar means may be provided for the other carrier rods. The driving means comprises a driving unit 62 including a bracket 65 which is secured by screws 66 to a bar 67 connecting the brackets 51 which support the carrier rods (Figs. 12, l3, l5 and 17) and by screws 64 to a shaft bearing member 63 fixed to one of the center frames 31 of the machine, Figs. 12, 13 and 16. The bracket 65 has arms 70 and 71 in which a shaft 72 is rotatably carried, as shown in Fig. 15, the portion of the shaft carried in the arm 70 being reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 73 for engaging an inner face of the arm. Mounted on the shaft 72 between the inner faces of the arms 70 and 71 is a toothed gear 75 which is secured to rotate with the shaft by means of a key 76. The teeth of the gear 75 are shown meshed with the teeth of a rack member 77 which is secured to the carrier rod 8 "as shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

A toothed gear 81 is carried at the other end of shaft 72, the gear being connected to rotate with the shaft by means of a key 82. The end of the shaft 72' supporting the gear 81 is also shown reduced 'in diameter with respect to the center portion of the shaft to form a shoulder- 85 (Fig. 15). A key member 86, secured to the arm 71 of the bracket 65 (Fig. 17), engages in a groove 87 in the gear 81 (Fig. 14) to maintain the gear against the shoulder 85 and the shoulder 73 against the inner face of the arm 70.. Plates-90, secured to opposite sides 6 of the bracket 65, act to cover the shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16. The gear 81 meshes with a rack member 91 one end of which is supported for reciprocation in a recess 92 gears 75 and 81, as

in a bracket 95 also carried on thebearing member 63,

as shown in Figs. 12, 15 and 17. The rack member 91 is retained in the recess'92 by plates 96 and 97 which "are secured to the, bracket 95 by screws 100 (Figs. 14, 15 and 17). The other end of the rack member 91 is carried in a recess 101 in a bracket 102 secured to' the under side of a housing member 105 of a friction box assembly 106 by screws 107 (see Figs. 20, 21 and 22). The rack member 91 is retained in the recess 101 by L-shaped fingers 109 which are secured to the housing member 105 by the screws 107. The rack member 91 is connected to the friction box assembly 106 for reciprocation therewith by engagement of a nose portion 110 of a connecting member 111 with a recess or notch 115 in the rack member. The member 111 is retained in a slot 116 in the housing member 105 by a plate 117 which is also secured to the housing member by the screws 107. The connecting member 111 is movable in the slot 116, from an active position in which the nose portion 110 is engaged in the recess 115 (Figs. 19 and 20) to an inactive position in which the nose portion is disengaged from the recess in the rack member, by a handle 120 carried in the connecting member. A ball detent 121 in the plate 117 is resiliently pressed into. notches 122 in the connecting member 111 by a plate spring 125 secured to the plate 117 by a screw 126 to maintain the connecting member in either the active or inactive positions to which it is moved.

The friction box assembly is adapted to be connected to a high speed friction rod 127 or a slow speed friction rod 130 by means of friction shoes 131. The friction shoes 131, a pair for each friction rod (Figs; 19 and 27), are pressed into or released from frictional engagement through a yoke member 132 having portions 133 engaging the lower shoe on each friction rod and a flat spring 135 which engages the upper shoe of each pair. The yoke member 132 and spring 135 are manipulated to press the shoes 131 into engagement with the slow speed friction rod 130 by means of a high portion 136 of a cam 137, as shown in Fig. 19. The cam 137 is rotatably carried on an end portion 140 of a stud 141 held in a portion 142 of the yoke 132 by a nut 145, as shown in Fig. 27. Pressure is applied to the shoes 131 through the yoke member 132 and spring 135 to connect the friction box 106 to the high speed friction rod 127, by means of high portions 146 of a cam 147. The cam 147 is rotatably carried on the end 140 of a stud 141 which is secured by a nut in a portion 142 of the yoke 132 associated with the friction rod 127 (Figs. 19 and 23). The cam 137 is provided with a low portion 150 and the cam 147 is provided with low portions 151 to release the pressure of the shoes 131 on the friction rods 130 and 127, respectively. The high and low portions of the cams 137 and 147 are arranged so that when the friction shoes 131 are frictionally engaged to one friction rod, the shoes for the other rod are released or the shoes for both rods may be released at the same time.

The cam 137 has a slot 152 interfitting a flat sided key portion 155 of one end of a floating clutch member 156. At its other end, the clutch member 156 has flat sides forming a key portion 157 interfitting in a slot 160 in a hub portion 161 of a pinion gear 162 which is rotatably carried on a stud 165 secured to the housing member 105 of the friction box 106, as shown in Fig. 27. The gear 162, clutch member 156 and cam 137 are maintained in operating relation between the stud 141 and a collar 166 fixed on the stud 165. The arrangement of keys and slots 155, 152' and 157, 160, respectively, forms .a floating or universal joint connection between the cam 7 137 and gear 162. A similar universal joint arrangement connects the cam 147 and a pinion gear 170 which is held in predetermined position on a second stud 165 also secured to the housing member 105 (Fig. 20).

The pinion gears 162 and 170 mesh with a gear 171 which is connected to rotate with a control shaft 175 (Fig. 24) by a key 172 carried in the shaft and extending lengthwise thereof. The shaft is carried in brackets 173 secured to the bearing members 63 as shown in Figs. 4 and 13. The gear 171 is held in fixed relation with respect to the housing member 105 and the pinion gears 162 and 170 by engagement of a finger portion 176 of a bracket 177 fixed to the housing member by the studs 165 (Figs. 20, 22 and 27) in a slot 180 formed in a hub or sleeve portion 181 of the gear. The shaft 175 is held against axial movement by engagement of a collar 182 and a hand wheel 185 (see Fig. 13) both of which are secured to the shaft, with opposite faces of one of the brackets 173. With this arrangement, movement of the housing member 105 with either of the friction rods 127 or 130 will also move the meshed pinion gears 162 and 170 and gear 171, the gear 171 sliding along the shaft 175 and key 172.

The shaft 175 is given periodic partial rotative movements to rotate the gear 171 and pinion gears 162 and 170 to turn the cams 137 and 147, respectively, to frictionally engage or release the friction box 106 to and from the friction rods 130 and 127, as hereinbefore set forth. For this purpose, the shaft 175 has fixed to it a ratchet wheel 186 which is engaged by a pawl 187 pivotally carried on a lever 190 which is in turn pivoted on the shaft 175 between the ratchet wheel and a collar 191 fixed on the shaft (Figs. 4 and A spring 192, connected between the pawl 187 and lever 190, biasses the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 186. The lever 190 is rocked on the shaft 175 by a link 195, one end of which is connected to the lever 190 by a pin 1%. The other end of the link is connected by a pin 197 to one arm 199 of a lever 200 (Figs. 4 and 5). The lever 200 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 201 carried in the bearing members 63, the lever being positioned on the shaft between a pair of collars 202. The lever 200 has a second arm 205 having a cam roller 206 rotatably carried on a stud 209 secured in the end thereof (Fig. 6). The lever has a spring 208 for biasing the roller toward engagement with a pair of cams 207. The cams 207 are adjustably carried on a bar 210 extending between and secured to two of the slur cam boxes 211 which carry the usual cams (not shown) for slurring or operating the sinkers 55 to sink yarn around the needles 60. The slur cam boxes 211 are slidably mounted on a bar 212 which is fixed to the center bed 36 of the machine, the slur cam boxes being secured to a connecting bar 215. The connecting bar 215 is connected to and driven by the coulier mechanism of the machine (not shown) in the usual manner.

The cams 207 each have a high portion 216 and a low portion 217 connected by an inclined surface 220 and the cams are positioned on the bar 210 with the low part of the cams in end to end relation. To cause a. racking or advancing movement of the shaft 175 with the roller 206 on the high portion 216 of the right cam 207, as viewed in Fig. 6, and the pawl 187 in the position of Fig. 4, as the cams are moved to the right with the slur cam boxes 211, the roller rides down the inclined surface 220 connecting the high and low portions of the right cam. Movement of the roller 206 down the inclined surface 220, causes the lever 200 and pawl carrying lever 190 to turn clockwise to move the pawl 187 into position to engage another tooth of the ratchet wheel 186. As the cams 207 complete their movement to the right (Fig. 6), the roller rides up the inclined surface 220 to the high portion 216 of the left cam to turn the levers 200 and 190 counterclockwise, to rotate the shaft 175 a distance equal to one tooth of the ratchet wheel 186. Therefore, one complete reciprocation of the cams 207 either to the right or left will turn the shaft one tooth of the from following the contour of the cams 207 in all except the required few reciprocations of the cams. For this purpose the arm 205 rotatably carries a pin 221, the pin being retained in the arm by collars 222. The pin 221 has an enlarged end 225 in which one end of a rod 226 is secured as by set screw 227 (Fig. 6). The other end of the rod 226 passes through a. pin 230, carried in a bracket 231 secured to the back beam 35, and is guided by said pin into engagement with a button 232. The button 232 is carried on the forked end of a core member 235 of a solenoid 236, which is secured to the bracket 231 as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The button 232 is secured to the core member 235 by ascrew 237, the head of which engages and is supported by a threaded bolt 240 adjustably carried in a portion 241 of the bracket 231. A spring 242 is connected between the screw 237 and the bracket 231 to hold the core member 235 in the position of Fig. 7, which position is determined by engagement of the head of screw 237 with a stop member 245, carried on the bracket 231, when a solenoid Winding 234 (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 11) of the solenoid 236 is deenergized. In this position the button 232 is beneath the end of the rod 226 to hold the roller 206 at the highest point of its movement.

When the solenoid winding 234 is energized, the core member 235 is drawn toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, against the tension of the spring 242, to move the button 232 from beneath the rod 226. Thereupon, as the cams 207 are moved to the right or left, the roller 206 will follow the inclines of the cams and the lever 200 will be turned in the clockwise direction when the roller 206 rides down the inclined surface 220 of one of the cams and in a counterclockwise direction when the roller ridw up the inclined surface of the other cam to advance the ratchet wheel 186 and shaft 175 a distance of one tooth. The extent of the clockwise movement of the lever 200 is determined by engagement of a collar 246, fixed on the rod 226, with the bracket 231.

In order to energize or deenergize the solenoid winding 234 the winding is made part of an electrical circuit including conductors 247 and 250, the conductor 247 extending from one of the main electrical conductors 248 of the machine to the solenoid winding. The other conductor 250 extends from the solenoid winding 234 to a terminal strip or block 251 carried in a base portion 252 of the housing of an electrical controller device 255 which is carried on a bracket 256 secured to the back beam 35 (Figs. 3 and 11). The terminal strip 251 is connected to a micro switch 257 by a conductor 260 and the micro-switch is connected by another conductor 261 to the other main electrical conductor 248 of the machine to complete the circuit. The micro-switch 257 is one of a series of micro-switches mounted on tie rods 258 carried in the side walls of base portion 252 and has a button 262 and a spring arm 265 which is adapted to operate the button to close the circuit through the solenoid winding 234. The spring arm 265 is normally in a position in which the button 262 is released and the circuit through the solenoid winding is opened or deenergized, as shown in Fig. 11.

The spring arm 265 carries a roller 266 which is adapted to be engaged by a row of buttons 267, only one of which is shown, fixed to the links 270 of a pattern chain 271, as

shown in Fig. 11. The pattern chain 271 is provided with a other rows of buttons 267 for operating other microswitches 257, the rows following paths individual to each of the micro-switches. The chain 271 is carried on a Sprocket wheel 272 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 275 one end of which is fixed in the bracket 256. The chain 271 passes around a guide roller 273 rotatably on a shaft 269 carried in a bracket 274 adjustably mounted on a rod 278 fixed in the bracket 256. The sprocket wheel 272 has a ratchet wheel 276 fixed thereto which is engaged by a pawl 277 pivoted on a pin or stud 279 in a lever 280 which is in turn pivoted on the shaft 275 (Figs. 9 and A spring 281 connected to the pawl 277 and lever 280 biasses the pawl toward the ratchet wheel 276. The lever 280 is given a rocking movement on the shaft 275, to operate the pawl 277 and advance the ratchet wheel 276 and sprocket wheel 272, by a lever 282 (see Figs. 3 and 10) having one arm 285 which engages a flat head portion 286 of a bolt 287 adjustably carried in a portion 290 of the lever 280.. The lever 282 is pivotally mounted on a pin or shaft 291 carried in the bracket 256 and has a second arm 292 which carries a roller type follower 295 for engagement with a cam 296 carried on the cam shaft 58 of the machine. A spring 297 connected between the levers 280 and 282 maintains the arm 285 in engagement with the head 286 of the bolt 287 and tends to bias the follower 295 toward the cam 296. The lever 280 has a handle 298 (Fig. 9) by means of which the sprocket 272 and chain 271 may be manually advanced and also carries a set screw 299 for engaging the bracket 256 to limit the manual advancing movement of the lever to one tooth of the ratchet wheel 276. I

The bracket 256 has an extension 300 which carries one end of a rod or shaft 301 the other end of which is carried in a bracket 302 secured to the base portion 252. A detent pawl 305 pivotally carried on the rod 301 between a pair of collars 306 fixed in position on the shaft is biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel 276 by a spring 307 connected between the detent pawl and an arm 304 of the bracket 256 (Fig. 3). The sprocket 272 carried on the shaft 275, extends through and supports the bracket 302. The shaft 275 has a reduced end portion 308 which carries means for braking or retarding the rotative movement of the sprocket. The means for this purpose includes a friction disc 310 for engagement with the end of the sprocket 272, and a spring 311 carried on the end 308 of the shaft 275 between the friction disc 310 and an enlarged head of a bushing 312. A nut 3'15 threaded on the end 308 adjustably engages the bushing 312 to variably compress the spring 311 to thereby vary the braking action of the disc 310 on the sprocket 272.

The follower 295 is normally prevented from following the contour of the cam 296 except when the pawl 277 is to be actuated to advance the ratchet wheel 276 and chain 271. For this purpose, there is provided a lever 3 16 having a portion 317 adapted to overlie and engage a. bolt 320 adjustably carried in an end portion 321 of the arm 292 (Fig. 8). The lever 316 is pivotally mounted on a stud 322 carried in a bracket 325 secured to the front beam 32. The lever 316 has a curved lower end portion 326 the free end of which is positioned between a pair of collars 327 carried on a rod 330 (Fig. 8). The rod 330 extends along the front of the machine to, and is operated by, buttons on an auxiliary pattern chain device 331 (Fig. 1). The buttons shift the rod 330, at predetermined intervals, to turn the lever 316 counterclockwise and remove the portion 317 from its overlying relation with respect to the bolt 320. This action permits the follower 295 to follow the contour of the cam 296 to rack the chain 271 for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. The rod 330 is shifted to the left by a spring 329 which is connected between the rod and a fixed part of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Operation of the auxiliary pattern chain device 331 is controlled in the usual manner from the main pattern chain mechanism 41.

At times, during the knitting of portions of the stocking blanks, the yarn carriers 52 on a carrier rod such 258 are not required and the carrier rod is moved-by its friction box assembly 106 to carry theyarncarriers to 10 their laid out position outside the knitting field beyond one end of the needle bar 61 and sinker head 57. In this position the friction box 106 is disconnected from both friction rods 127 and 130 and in order to prevent the friction box from being accidently moved by the friction rods as the rods continue to operate, the friction box is latched in its disconnected position. The disconnected position of the friction box 106 is determined by engagement of the friction box with a stop bolt 332 adjustably carried in one of the bearing members 63, as shown in Figs. 12 and 23. The means for latching the friction box in the disconnected position includes a member 335 secured to the housing member 105 and having a tip portion 336 with a flat face 337 which is adapted to engage a complementary flat face 340 on a latch block 341.

The latch block 341 is adjustably secured by screws 342' to a lever 345 pivoted at 346 to the bearing member 63, as shown in Figs. 23, 25 and 26. The lever 345 and block 341 are held in the position shown in Figs. 23 and 25, which is determined by engagement of a projection 347 on the lever with a flat face 350 on the bearing member 63, by a spring 351 connected between the bearing member and a bolt 352 adjustably carried in the lever.

In order to permit engagement of the face 337 on the member 335 with the face 340 on the block 341 when the friction box 106 is moved to position for disconnection from the friction rods 127 or 130, a bevel 355 on the tip portion 336 of the member engages a bevel 356 on the block 341 to turn the lever 345 counterclockwise against the bias of the spring 351. When the friction box .106 is to be released for operation the lever 345 is turned counterclockwise against the action of the spring 351 by engagement of a high portion 357 of a cam 358 (Figs. 12,

23 and 25), secured to turn with the shaft 175, to disengage the'latch block 341 from the tip portion 336 of the member 335.

During opera-tion of the driving unit 62 todrive the carrier rod 8 to lay reinforcing yarn in the heel and sole portions of the stocking blanks, the friction box assembly 106 is connected to the slow speed friction rod 130 and the carrier rod operates between an end stop 47 at the right end of the machine (Fig. 2) and a stop of the right reinforced selvage attachment 42. In order to reduce the twisting action between the friction box assembly and the driving friction rod as the carrier rod engages the stop at either end of its travel, means are also provided to stop the friction box. For this purpose, a lever 360 is pivotally mounted at 361 to the friction box housing (Fig. 21). The lever has a portion 362 adapted to engage an end stop member 365 carried on a rod 366 connected at 367 to the right end stop nut 45 (Fig. 2). The lever 360 also has an end portion 370 for engagement with a stop member 371 carried on a rod 372 connected to the nut 48 of the right reinforced selvage attachment 42, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lever 360 carries a bracket 376 having a shouldered stud 374 on which a roller type follower 377 is pivotally mounted for engagement with a cam 380. The cam 380 is carried on and connected to an end portion 381 of the sleeve 181 by means of a key 382 which is carried in a seat in the end portion, the cam thereby rotating with the sleeve and shaft 175. A spring 385, connected between the bracket 376 and the housing member 105 of the friction box 106 (Fig. 20), holds the follower 377 in engagement with the cam 380. The cam 380 is provided with high, low and intermediate portions 386, 387 and 390, respectively (Fig. 21), which act to position the lever 360 relative to the stop members 365 and 371 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The driving unit 62 is also adapted to drive the carrier rod 8 to reinforce the full width of the stocking blank as in the toe portion of the blank. At this time the friction box assembly 106 is connected to the high speed friction rod 127, the lever 360 is operated by the cam 380 to position the portion 362 to engage the stop 365 .at the. right end of the friction box movement and a stop member 391 at the left end of the friction box movement. The stop member 391 is secured on a rod 392 connected at 395 to the left end stop nut 45, as shown in Fig. 2. With the friction box 106 connected to the high speed friction rod 127, the box must be connected to the usual shock absorber mechanism (not shown) in order to reduce the impact of the friction box on the stop members 365 and 391 and of the carrier rod 8 on the right and left end stops 47. The means for connecting the friction box 106 to the shock absorber mechanism comprises a lever 396, pivoted in the housing member 105, which is adapted to engage dogs 397 carried on rods 400, one dog on one of the rods (Fig. 21) and one dog on the other of the rods (not shown). The rods 408 are operated in a usual manner to engage the opposite sides of the lever 396 to slow the friction box and carrier rod near the end of their movement in opposite directions. The lever 360 is cut out at 375 to clear the rods 4G0 and dogs 397, as shown in Fig. 21.

The lever 396 carries a bracket 401 having a shouldered stud 403, similar to the stud 374, on which a roller type follower 402 is rotatably mounted for engagement with a cam 405 (Fig. 18). The cam 465 is also carried on and connected to the end portion 381 of the sleeve 181 by the key 382, to rotate cam 405 with the cam 380 and the sleeve, the sleeve being rotated with the shaft 175 by means of the key 172. The cam 405 has a high portion 406 and a low portion 407, the high portion engaging the follower 402 to hold the lever 396 above the dogs 397 on the rods 400 and the follower engaging the low portion to move the lever 396 into the path of the dogs on the rods. A spring 410, connected between the bracket 401 and the housing member 1115 holds the follower 402 in engagement with the cam 4 15.

The foregoing description is directed to driving means for operating the carrier rod 3 to reinforce the right heel and sole selvages in the stocking blanks. This driving means is also adapted to operate the carrier rod 8 to lay yarn to reinforce the full width of the toe portion of the stocking blanks as hereinafter set forth. However, it is to be understood that a similar driving means, including a driving unit, friction box, control shaft and the various stop members, is also provided for operating the carrier rod 7 for reinforcing the left selvage edges of the blanks, the only differences being that the parts are formed in an opposite or reverse hand with respect to the means for operating the carrier rod 8. The driving means for the carrier rod 7 is operated and controlled by a row of buttons 267 on the chain 271 which act through a micro-switch 257 of the controller device 255 to turn the control shaft in the same manner as the driving means for carrier rod 8. It is also to be understood that a similar driving means is provided for any of the other carrier rods and particularly for those carrier rods having abnormally long driving connections between the driving means and the carrier rods and where such connections cross the paths of yarns fed to the idled yarn carriers of other carrier rods.

During the knitting of the single thread leg portion of the stocking blanks the friction box 106 for the carrier rod 8 is disengaged from the friction rods 127 and 130 and held in an inactive laid-out position by engagement of the member 335 with the latch block 341. At this time the yarn carriers 52 on the carrier rod 8 are also held in laid out positions outside of the right ends of the needle bars 61 (Fig. l) by the friction box 106 through the medium of the rack member 91, which is connected to the friction box, and the gears 75 and 81. Also the friction box for the carrier rod 7 is held inactive and the yarn carriers on the latter rod are held in laid-out positions outside the left ends of the needle bars 61 by a similar means associated with the rod 7..

During knitting of a course shortly before the start of the heel reinforcement, a button 267 on the pattern chain 271 operates the spring arm 265 to close the micro-switch 257 and energizes the winding 234 of the solenoid 236.

Energization of the winding causes the core member 235 to move to the right, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 11, against the action of the spring 242, to move the button 232 from beneath the rod 226 thereby permitting the roller 206 to follow the cams 207 to turn the shaft 175 a distance equal to one tooth of ratchet 186 as hereinbefore set forth. Turning movement of the shaft'175 turns the gears 171 and to turn the high portion 146 of the cam into engagement with the flat spring 135 to frictionally engage the friction box with the high speed friction rod. 127. During the same movement of the shaft 175 a high portion 357 of the cam 358 engages the bolt 352 to turn the latch block 341 counterclockwise, as viwed in Fig. 25, to disengage the member 335 and release the friction box 106. Also at this time the low portion 387 of the cam 380 is moved beneath the follower 377 to fully lower the lever 360 to position the end portion 370 in the path of the stop member 371 and the portion 362 in the path of the stop member 365.

In the next reciprocation of the coulier mechanism from right to left the machine is operated through an idle course during which the carrier rod or rods operating in the leg portion are held at the right side of the knitting section and the needles are given an idle movement preventing casting off of the last course of loops formed. During this movement from right to left, the friction box 106 for the carrier rod 8 being frictionally engaged to the high speed friction .rod 127, operates the driving unit 62 to move rod 8 toward the left to move the yarn carriers 52 on this rod to the right outside selvage edges of the stocking lanks. As the friction box moves toward the left the lever 360 engages the stop member 365 and is raised thereby to pass above the stop member. When the lever 360 is past the stop member .365 the lever is again biased by spring 335 to its lowered position at the left of the stop member as viewed in Fig. 2. To stop the yarn carriers 52 at the selvage edges of the blanks, the friction box 106 has a portion 415 which projects into the path of a stop finger 416 (Figs. 28 and 29) secured to the end 414 of a lever 417 by means of a stud 418 (Fig. 31). The stop finger 416 has a slot 420 through which the stud 418 passes and set screws 421 threaded through the stop finger to engage opposite sides of the stud, the slot and set screws providing the means whereby the stop finger may be adjusted relative to the end 414 of the lever 417 (Figs. 28 and 31). The lever 417 is pivotally mounted on the rod 366 adjacent the stop member 365 and is provided with a projecting finger portion 422, intermediate the rod 366 and the end 4-14, for engagement with the stop member (Figs. 29 and 31) to support the lever at the time the portion 415 engages the stop finger 416.

The lever 417 is provided with a finger portion 425 for engagement with a stop screw 426 adjustably carried in a lever 427 pivotally mounted on the rod 366 between the lever 417 and a collar 430 fixed on the rod (Fig. 29). The lever 427 rotatably carries a cam follower 431 for engagement with a cam 432 which is mounted on the shaft 175 and rotatable therewith through means of the key 172. As shown in Fig. 23, the cam 432 forms a part of a sleeve member 435 having a groove 436 in the outer periphery thereof. A finger portion 437 projecting from the lever 427 engages in the groove 436. As hereinbefore set forth, the rod 366 and stop member 365 are connected to and move with the right end stop nut 45 and levers 417 and 427 being held in fixed position between the stop member and the collar 430, also move with the rod. Therefore, with the finger portion 437 engaged in the groove 436, any axial movement'of the rod 366 will move the lever 427 which in turn will slide the sleeve member 435 axially of the shaft 175 and thereby maintain engagement between the cam follower 431 and cam 432.

As hereinbefore set forth, when the friction box 106 moves from its inactive laid out position to move the carrier rod 8 and the yarn carriers 52 thereon to the right outside selvage edge of the blanks, the friction box is stopped by the stop finger 416 the box then being held between the stop finger and the stop member 365. To position the stop finger 416 in the path of the portion 415 on the friction box 106, a low portion 440 of the cam 432 (Fig. 30) is moved beneath the cam follower 431 and a spring 441 connected between the stop member 365 and the lever 417, turns the levers 417 and 427 clockwise from the positions shown in Fig. 28. The stop finger 416 is held out of the path of portion 415, as shown in Figs. 28 and 29, by engagement of the follower 431 with high portions 442 of the cam 432. A similar stop arrangement (not shown) is provided and operates to stopthe friction box of the driving unit for the carrier rod 7, to stop the yarn carriers on this rod at the left selvage edges of the stocking blanks. I

Also during this idle course, a button 267 on the pattern chain 271 operates the electrical circuit to cause a one tooth rotative movement of the control shaft of the driving unit for the carrier rod 7. In this rotative movement of the control shaft the cams thereon operate to frictionally engage the friction box, for the carrier rod 7, to the high speed friction rod 127, to release the friction box from its holding means, to lower the lever on the box for engagement with the end stop member for the box and to lower the stop finger into the path of the friction box.

During a second idle course in which the coulier mechanism is reciprocated from left to right (Figs. 1 and 2) the friction box operates the driving unit to move the yarn carriers on the carrier rod 7 to the left selvage edges of the blanks. The friction box stopping against the stop finger and the lever on the box passing over and dropping in front of the end stop member connected to the nut 45 on the left narrowing head 40.

Also during this second idle course a button 267 on the chain 271 closes the switch 257 to actuate the solenoid 236 and remove the button 232 from under rod 226 to cause the shaft 175 to be rotated a distance of one tooth of ratchet wheel 186. This rotative movement of the shaft 175 moves the high portion 357 of the cam 358 from beneath the bolt 352 to release the latch block 341, moves the high portion 146 of the cam 147 from engagement with the flat spring 135 to release the friction box 106 from the high speed friction rod 127, and moves the high portion 136 of the cam 137 into engagement with the flat spring 135 to frictionally engage the friction box to the slow speed friction rod 130. Also during this movement jof the shaft 175 the high portion 406 of the cam 405 is continued in engagement with the follower 402 to maintain the lever 396 raised above the dogs 397 on the shock absorber rods, the low portion 387 of the cam 380 is continued in engagement with the follower 377 to maintain the lever 360 in lowered position to limit the outer movement of the friction box 106, and a high portion 442 of the cam 432 is moved into engagement with the follower 431 to raise the stop finger 416 out of the path of the portion 415 of the friction box 106.

In the next reciprocating movement of the coulier mechanism, which is from right to left (Fig. 1), the driving unit 62 operates the carrier rod 8 to lay yarn for reinforcing the right selvage edges of the stocking blank. Also in this movement the control shaft of the driving unit for the carrier rod 7 is given a one tooth rotative movement which turns the cam to raise the stop finger and release the friction box for this driving movement and the friction box is released from the high speed friction rod 127 and frictionally engaged to the slow speed friction rod 130. In the next reciprocating movement of the coulier mechanism, the driving unit operates the carrier rod 7 to lay yarn for reinforcing the left selvage edges of the blanks.

inbefore set forth. Also at this time the end 370 of thelever 360 on the friction box 106 engages the stop member '371 to stop the box at the inner end of its travel and the portion 362 of the lever engages the stop member 365 to stop the box at the outer end of its travel. The carrier rod 7 is similarly stopped by the left reinforced selvage attachment and left narrowing head 40 and the friction box of the driving unit, for rod 7, is stopped by stop members similar to the stop members 365 and 371 which are connected to the left narrowing head 40 and the left reinforcedselvage attachment, respectively.

During each of the reciprocating movements of the coulier mechanism to form the last two courses of the sole reinforcements the shaft 175 is racked one tooth of the. ratchet wheel 186. The first of the reciprocations of the coulier, from right to left, moves the low portion 150 of the cam 137 into engagement with the flat spring to,release the box from theslow speed friction rod 130, and by moving a high portion 146 of the cam 147 into engagement with its flat spring 135, to frictionally engage the box to the high speed friction rod 127. In the second of these reciprocations, from left to right, the low portion 150 is continued in engagement with the flat spring 135 and a low portion 151 of cam 147 is moved into engagement with its flat spring 135 whereby the friction box 106 is released from both friction rods 130 and 127, respectively. Also during this latter reciprocating movement of the shaft 175, a low portion 440 is moved beneath the follower 431 to lower the stop finger 416 into the path of the portion 415 on the friction box 106, and to lock the friction box between the stop member 365 and the stop finger. However, no change is made in the positions of the latch block 341, the levers 360 and 396.

Also during the reciprocating movement from left to right, the control shaft of the driving unit for the carrier rod 7 is given a rotative movement to release the friction box from the slow speed friction rod 130 and to frictionally engage the box to the high speed friction rod 127 and to raise the lever on the box to clear the end stop member for the box. At this time the left end stop 47 for the carrier rod 7 is raised to inactive position either manually or automatically by means forming no part of the present invention but which may be of the type shown in the US. Patent No. 2,109,140, issued February 22, 1938.

With the friction box 106 for carrier rod 8 held inactive and the friction box for the main yarn carrier rod also held inactive by means (not shown) in the usual manner, the machine operates through two idle courses or revolutions. During the first of these idle courses, from right to left, the driving unit for the carrier rod 7 moves this carrier rod to move the yarn carriers thereon out of the knitting field and the friction box for the driving unit is latched in inactive position. During the second of the idle courses, from left to right, the shaft of the driving unit 62 for the carrier rod 8 is given another one tooth racking movement which moves an intermediate portion 390 of the cam 380 into engagement with the follower 377 to move the lever 360 to an intermediate position whereby the end 370 of the lever is out of the path of stop member 371.

The portion 362 of the lever 360, however, remains in the path of the stop member 365 and the stop member 391 whereby the'friction box 106 of the driving unit 62 may operate carrier rod 8. to reinforce the full width of the toe fabric. Also during this. movement of the shaft 175, a high portion 442 of the cam 432 operates levers 417 and 427 to raise the stop finger 416 above the portion 415 on the box 106, the cam 137 is operated to release the friction box from the slow speed friction rod 130, the cam 147 is operated to friotionally connect the box to the high speed friction rod 127, and the low portion 407 of the cam 405 is moved into engagement with the follower 402 to lower the lever 396 into posi tion for engagement with the dogs 397 on the rods 400 of the shock absorber mechanism. Also during this idle course, the control shaft of the driving unit for the carrier rod 7 is operated to release the friction box for rod 7 from the high speed friction rod 127. Also at this time the stop 53 on the right reinforced selvage attachment, for the carrier rod 8, is raised and the friction box for the main carrier rod is released.

During subsequent reciprocating movements of the coulier mechanism, the yarn carriers on carrier rod 8 lay reinforcing yarns across the full width of the toes of the blanks. Also during these reciprocations the rod 8 operates between the right and left end stops 47, the lever 360 on the friction box 106 operates between the stop members 365 and 391 and the lever 396 cooperates with the dogs 397 on the rods 400 to reduce the impact of the carrier rod on the end stops in the usual manner. When the toe of the blank has been narrowed, to the start of the toe tip portion the shaft 175 is given another one tooth racking movement. At the end of this movement the intermediate portion 390 of the cam 380 is still beneath the follower 377 to maintain the lever 360 in an intermediate position for engagement with the stop members 365 and 391. However, this racking movement of shaft 175 moves the high portion 406 of the cam 405 into engagement with the follower 402 to raise the lever 396 out of the path of the dogs 397 on the rods 400, and turns the cams 137 and 147 to frictionally connect the friction box 106 to the slow speed friction rod 130 and to release the box from the high friction rod 127. The friction box then continues to operate the driving unit 62 and the carrier rod 8 to feed the reinforcing yarn with the main yarn to the end of the blanks.

During formation of the last course in the fabric blanks, the shaft 17:7 is given another one tooth racking movement to move the high portion386 into engagement with the follower 377 to raise the lever 360 out of the path of the stops 365 and 391, and to turn the cams 137 and 147 to release the friction box from the slow speed friction rod 130 and frictionally engage the box to the high speed friction rod 127. Before the next coulier stroke, the right end stops 47 for the carrier rod 8 and the main carrier rod are raised, as hereinbefore set forth, so that during said next coulier stroke, which is an idle stroke or idle operation of the machine, the friction box 106 is moved to an inactive position and the flat face 337 on the member 335 engages the flat face 340 on the latch block 341 to latch the box in said inactive position. Movement of the friction box to inactive position operates the driving unit 62 to move the yarn carriers 52 on the carrier rod 8 to inactive position outside of the knitting field and the friction box for the main carrier rod moves the yarn carriers on the latter rod to inactive posit-ion outside of the knitting field.

During said idle movement of the machine the shaft 175 is given another racking movement to operate the cams 137 and 147 to maintain the friction box 106' disengaged from the slow speed friction rod 130 and to disengage the box from the high speed friction rod 127. High portions of the cams 380, 405 and 432 maintain the levers 360 and 396 and the stop finger 416, respectively, in inactive position until the carrier rod 8 is again moved to the edge of the knitting field to reinforce the blanks.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which I obtain the above results, can be '16 changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

1 claim: 1. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a carrier rod, full and slow speed friction rods, a friction box on said friction rods, means for selectively connecting said friction box to either of said friction rods for movement therewith, a rack member connected to and driven by said friction box, a rack member on said carrier rod and gear means connecting said rack members whereby a reciprocation of said friction box by one of said friction rods is transmitted to said carrier rod.

2. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a carrier rod, a friction rod having a reciprocating movement,

a box on said friction rod, a rack member connected to said box, a second rack on said carrier rod, gear means providing a positive connection between the first and second rack members, means for frictionally connecting said box to said friction rod and for disconnecting said box from said friction rod, a control shaft for operating said connecting and disconnecting means, means for operating said control shaft, a solenoid for normally maintaining said control shaft operating means inactive, and pattern means for operating said solenoid to permit operation of said control shaft operating means.

3. In a knitting machine having a carrier rod, a friction rod having reciprocating movement, a box on said friction rod, a rack member connected to said box, a rack member on said carrier rod, rotary means in fixed position on the machine forming a positive connection between said rack members, a control shaft, means operated by said control shaft for frictionally connecting said box to said friction rod for reciprocation therewith, said control shaft operated means also acting to release said box from said friction connection to said friction rod, and latch means for holding said box when released from said friction rod.

4. In a knitting machine having a carrier rod, a friction rod having reciprocating movement, a box on said friction rod, racks and gears forming a positive connection between said box and carrier rod, means for frictionally connecting said box to said friction rod for reciprocation therewith and for transmitting said reciprocating movement through said racks and gears to said carrier rods, said means also acting to release said box from frictional connection to said friction rod, and latch means for holding said box and carrier rod when said box is released from said friction rod.

5. In a knitting machine having a carrier rod, full and slow friction rods having reciprocating movement, a box on said rods, means on said box for selectively connecting said box to and releasing it from said friction rods, a rack member connected to said box, a rack member on said carrier rod, gear means in fixed position on said machine forming a positive connection between said rack members whereby a reciprocating movement of said friction box by one of said friction rods is transmitted to said carrier rod, a control shaft, means on said control shaft for operating said connecting and releasing means on said box, a latch for holding said box and carrier rod when said box is released from said friction rods and cam means on said control shaft for releasing said latch from said box when said box is connected to one of said friction rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,497 Good May 16, 1939 2,213,298 Beers Sept. 3, 1940 2,213,299 Beers Sept. 3, 1940 2,309,091 Beers Jan. 26, 1943

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