US2236994A - Jacquard knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

APT l, 1941- B. DERI ET AL 2,235,994

JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE M INVENTORS TORNEY.

April 1, 1941. B. Dr-:Rl ETAL 2236,994

I JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 5l, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 i obooooogo H185* y .94155 -1NVENTOR5 BY m;

ATTORNEY.

April 1, 1941. B. DERI ETAL JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1939 9 Sheer.s-Sheecl 3 April 1, 1941. B. Dl-:Rl ErAL JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1959 INVENTORS BY MAb/vv MA TTORNEY.

April l, 1941. B. DER! Erm. 2,236,994

JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 31., 1939 9 SheetS-Sheet 5 i MZ j? L 05 wi mi April 1, 1941. B. DERl Erm.

JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 y@ IM'ENTORS ,Uw/Mal ,Ke/MM 6 )g4/w M ATTORNEY* April 1, 1941. y B. DERI ETAL 2.236,994

J ACQUARD KNITTING- MACHINE y Filed March 31, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 ffy 261 'Y April 1,1941.

56 gli? W8 lf3 E. DERI ETAL 2,236,994

JACQUARD KNITTING .MACHINE Ww-E491 its Filed March 31, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 ,Fyl Z1 w 83 Y6 X3 A@ 8 ley-A3 l'fgwZZ 159.23

i 5? RTF/54 45 49 by 162 K l M 02 a lll QM/I M INVENTORS BY WW a M ATTORNEY.

April 1, 1941. B. DER! Erm.

JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 51. 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 il i l il .uxunununuu ATTORNEY Patented Apr. l, 1941 .Moerman narrante Masami;

Bruno Deri, Brooklyn, and Sebastian Gangi, New York, N. Y.

Application March 31, 1939, Serial No. 265,162

54 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines and has particular reference to jacquard knitting machines and to methods of knitting.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine and method for knitting a fabric with certain weft yarns being continuous and other weft yarns being discontinuous or limited to certain areas of the fabric.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved machine of the character described for knitting a fabric having a design consisting of an arrangement of open and filled-in spaces, the weft being confined along the warp yarns to produce the open spaces, and extending across from one warp yarn to another to produce the lled-in spaces, and a ground weft extending at predetermined intervals across the fabric to define the spaces and to interconnect the warp yarns at the open spaces.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means to cfuse relative reciprocatory motion between the needles and certain of their individual yarn carriers for producing open work or filled-in spaces by selectively varying the relative reciprocation with respect to one needle or a plurality of needles.

Another objectmf the invention is to provide improved means whereby weft yarns are laid into the hooks of needles to thus produce knitted strands of uniform width, in contradistinction to the usual knot-like appearance.

an improved jacquard system, comprising jacl quard strips or sections, and feed means for moving the strips to operative and inoperative positions, in a continuous recurrent cycle.

A further object of -the invention is the provision of an improved method of knitting a fabric with filled-in and open spaces bridged by a' knotted or Chainette weft, whose knots engage with the stitching to maintain the warp yarns embodying the invention, looking at the left hand Another object of the invention is to provide an improved jacquard control, such that the jacquard cards are subjected to a minimum pressure by the jacquard pins.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved jacquard device having means for releasably selectively holding jacquard knitting control elements in a required position to avoid repeated actuation of parts by the jacquard during a period that the pattern remains unchanged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described having improved means for knitting into the fabric a ground weft that stretches for the entire width of the fabric, in course of knitting open and lled-in spaces, desirably with the weft yarns laid into the needle hooks, all in suitably timed arrangement and in cooperation with each other. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine as set forth having improved drive means for effecting the several purposes of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a machine embodying the invention looking at the right hand end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on lines 5 5, and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view taken on the broken line 1--1 of Fig. 4, showing part of the yarn feed mechanism for pattern effects, and part of the jacquard system, with the latter further shown in elevation in Fig. 12.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7, and showing further details of the yarn feed mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the mechanism of the jacquard system, taken on the line 9 9` of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a top plan View of a section of the machine showing the mechanism of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken on the line I2--I2 of Fig. 1l, and showing the continuous recurrent cycle feeding means of the jacquard system.

Fig. 13 iis an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a jacquard pattern strip.

' gl'OlLpS.

Fig. l14 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on fthe line |-l5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing means for locking the jacquard pattern strips in operative position on the jacquard bar, and a cam for releasing the locking means.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a catch operated by 'a jacquard strip, shown in dot dash lines, to engage and retain said strip in .the full line position thereof, to prevent reverse movement of the said strip from a preliminary station from which it is fed to the jacquard bar.

Fig. 18 is a, view -in side elevation showing a means for controlling .the tension of a cable or ground weft yarn.

Fig. 19A is -a diagrammatic view showing the weft laid into :the needle hook together with the warp.

Fig. 19B lis a view showing the casting olf to form fthe stitch. Y y

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the reciprocatory path of movement of the weiit carrier in laying the yarn into the needle upon each right and left movement of rthe carrier.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view showing the underlaid Wef-t caught by the warp in filled in spaces of a fabric.

Figs. 22A, 22B and 22C illustrate the movement of the weft carrier in laying yarn underza pair of needles for the knitting of a filled'in pattern section.

Fig. 23 is a photographic view of a fabric showing a ttypical pattern, to illustrate the ability of the machine to knit an infinite variety of patterns with-out any repeat.

In Figs. 24A to 24D isdiagrammatically shown successive positions of 4the lground weft holding means.

The advantages of lthe invention as here outlined a're best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined iin one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled iin lthe art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several ldifferent constructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplifi-cation of .the invention.

. Generally described, this invention provid a machine capable of knitting an innite `variety of patterns,- wlthout necessitating any repeat; in other words, if the jacquard provides for infinite variations in design, themachine can proceed to knit the same without any interruption and without requiring any change or adjustment. In principle, certain elements that are used in the knitting operation, such as yarn carriers, are individually movable to one or another' of a rplurality of groups of rthe yarn carriers, each of which groups is actuated as a -unit for an operation different from that of the other group or The jacquard controls each of these yarn carriers so that each yarn carrier may independently j-oin one or another of the groups for each stitch or series of stitches of the machine. Another principle resid in the provision of means such that, in making a number of stitches according to one pattern,` the jacquard and the means responsive thereto are stationary or flocked in pant to avoid needless motion and wear of the parts. Another principle of .the machine is xthe provision of perforated jacquard pattern strips, .the .perforations whereof may be selectively temporarily closed for dieren't pattern effects, so that these strips can be used again and again by varying Ithe operative perforations thereof; and another, or supplemental principle, is :to provide a feeding means moving the said strips in an endless path to and from operative pattern controlling position in the machine. 'I'he jacquard system is applicable to different kinds of knitting machines. The principle of infinite selective grouping of yarn carriers for group operation is adapted to produce the fabric shown in Flg. 23,-wfi.th its infinite pattern of open and filled in spaces, and with the yarn cam'ier motion for lled in spaces illustrated in Figs, 22A-22C.

Referring in det-ail to .the drawings, 25 denotes a knitting machine embodying fthe/invention. While this machine is of the type known as a jacquard knitting machine, certain features of the invention, such as .the jacquard system, and others, are applic-able to other types of machines, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the jacquard system may be regarded as a variable selector device.

The machine 25 may have any suitable frame which may comprise end frame members 26, 21 which may be interconnected by cross frame members such as members 28 and 29 at the top and bottom respectively of the machine; and by suitable tie rods as may be required.

Mounted on a bracket carried by the frame member 21 is a motor 30 connected by a belt 3| with a pulley 32, see Fig. 3. Rotated by the pulley 32 is a shaft 33 carrying a bevel gear 34 which rotates a bevel gear 35 of a main drive shaft 36 as shown in Fig. 4. Carried by the-shaft 36 are a pair of like spaced cams 31, and a pair of like spaced cams 38. Actuated by the cams 31 in the frontward direction are their respective roller carrying follower arms 39; actuated by the cams 38 in the rearward direction are their respective roller carrying follower arms 40. Connected to the arms 39, 40 vso as to .be thus positively reciprocated in the frontward and rearward directions is a needle actuator means 4|.

Referring now to Figs.4 and 7, 42 denotes a stationary slotted needlebed connected to the end frame members 26, 21 and reciprocably carrying the conventional hook and latch needles 43. 'I'he latter may have the usual abutments 44 bearing against a bar 45 connected by a vplate 46 to the means 4|, against which the rear ends of the needles bear. To facilitate replacement of needles, the means 4| may be hollow and open at the front to afford space for rearward removal of the needles, the opening referred to being closed as by a removable plate or angle bar 41, whose upright ange is slidably received in grooves of end lugs 48 of the means 4|. Thus the rear ends of the needles bear against the upright flange of the anglev bar 41. The means 4| may be slidable along supporting guides 48 fixed on the end frame members 26, 21. 'I'hus it is clear that the cams 31, 36 of the main shaft 36 control the reciprocation of the needles 43.

The weft yarn 49 for the needles is taken from a series of spools 50 mounted on any suitable frame 5| fixed above oron the frame of the machine, the yarns passing downward through a needles for the knitting of open work or lled in spaces respectively. The mechanism by which these movements are accomplished will now As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, each weft carrier 54 of each needle is mounted on an individual rod 55 fixed on its individual horizontal rod 56. Each rod 56 is slidably mounted in holes of the frame bars 51a for longitudinal reciprocatory motion. Each rod 56 is actuated frontward by an expansion coil spring 58 which extends around alternate rods 56, or by an'expansion coil spring 59 which extends around intermediate rods 56. The purpose of this alternate arrangement is merely to conserve space and permit the rods 56 to lie very close together. Of course each spring 56,V 59 bears against an abutment or collar on the rod 56 and against an adjacent frame bar 51a.

Connected to each rod 56 is a link 60 which extends to a jacquard mechanism hereinafter described. The jacquard mechanism pulls any selected rods 56 rearward and releases other rods so that the springs 58, 59 thereof move the same forward. 'Ihe jacquard may be assumed to be capable of an infinite variety of pattern, and may in the above manner change the position of the weft carriers 54 at each stitching operation of the machine.

Mounted on the frame bars 51a are xed depending brackets 6|, for mounting a plurality of grouping members 62, 63. 'Ihe latter may be exactly alike, each being a comb-like bar, the spaces between the teeth of the bars being adapted to register with each other. The weft carrier rods 55 pass between the teeth of one or another of the bars 62, 63, and are movable from such engagement by one comb bar to a like engagement extensions, projections, irregularities or recesses as between the weft carrier means and the horizontal reciprocatory means for suitable interengagement by relative movement between the parts.

Mechanism for actuating the selective grouping means As hereinbefore pointed out, the jacquard may be regarded as a part of the grouping means, but

the mechanism which will now be described is that which controls the comb bars.

` Mounted on the main shaft 36 are a plurality of like cams 65, see Figs. 4 and 7, each actuating a follower arm 66 fixed to ,a rock shaft 61. Re-

ferring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the rock shaft 61 A f may carry oscillatory arms 68, each of which has by the other comb bar, in response to jacquard whereas those rods which are engaged by the r rear comb bar 63 shall cause movement of the weft past two or more needles for the filled in knitting. Nevertheless at a certain point in thel operation, the slots or spaces in the comb bars are in register with each other so that the rods 55 can move from one to the otheras aforesaid. The frame bars 51a are interconnected by end plates 64 to form a unitary frame 51, which 'is vertically reciprocable 'by mechanism hereinafter described, simultaneously with the horizontal reciprocation ofthe comb bars 62, 63, so that the weft carriers 54 may 'follow a curvilinear or other path relative to the needles for suitably feeding the weft yarn thereto.'

It will'be understood thatthe movementof the rods 55 by the comb' bars is oscillatory, `with the rods 56 being rotatable, but .due to the` length of the rods 55, 'their slight movement may be regarded as almost translatory. 4

In view o f the importance of vthe principle of the comb bars, it is desirable to point out that other specific devices might be used, for actuating each variable group of weft carriers as a unit, bymechanical or other force. If mechanical means are used, it is suicient that there be lost motion pivotal engagement at 69 with the end plates 64 to thus causevertical reciprocation of the frame 51 which carries the weft feeders 54. To provide for vertical movement of the frame 51, guide means may be provided, such as pins 10 on the frame members 26, 21 which pins serv as guides in slots of the end plates 64.

To cause simultaneous longitudinal reciprocation of the comb bars 62, 63, a drive is provided from the main shaft 36. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, this drive includes a bevel gear 1| on an end of the main shaft, which drives a vbevel gear 12 to rotate a countershaft 13 suitably mounted on the frame member 26 and rotating at the speed 0f the main shaft 36. On this shaft 13 is a gear 14 which drives a gear 15 to rotate a countershaft 16 suitably mounted on the frame member 2 6.and rotating at one-half the speed of the main shaft 36. A like arrangement is'provided at thelright end of the machine as shown in Fig. 2, a gear 14 being mounted on the shaft 33 for rotating the countershaft 16. The shafts 16 each carry a pair of rotary cams 18, 19 which have 'individual anti; friction engagement with individual follower bars 80, 8|, see Fig. 8, which respectively engage the adjacent ends of the comb bars 62, 63. `These follower bars are suitably slidably mounted in the end plates 64 or on the frame members 26, 21. Of course the comb bars 62, 63" could directly'engage the cams 18, 19, the reason for having the follower bars being to vpermit clearance v adjustment between the cams and the comb bars. The cams 18, 19 at the opposite ends' of the comb bars operate conjointly for positively moving the comb bars to the right and to the left. Since the vertical reciprocation of the frame 51 is quite small, the cams 18, 19 will always remain'in operative position relative to the comb bars. andthe follower bars may have vertical wiping or roller engagement with the ends of the comb bars, as at 82. Since the rear comb bar 63 has a greater ltravel than the front comb bar 62, the `cam 19hasa correspondingly greater pitch or cam incline than the cam 18. y

By the conjoint vertical andA horizontal reciprocation, the weft carriers 54V may 'each follow a different curvilinear path as indicatedin connection with Fig. 19A vfonfthe 4laying of .weft over the needles and in connection with Figs. 22A-22C for laying weft under the needles.

Laying the weftyarn in the needle hooks When the weft yarns are each fed past a single needle, they are preferablylaid into the needle Aably 'actuated for this purpose, and lay in the weft rst from left to right ofa needle, and then from right to left, and so on.V Each such laying in operation is eifected during a retraction movement of the needle, and at the instant of'the laying in, the retraction of the needle is somewhat retarded so as to assure that the weft yarn will be caught in the needle hook. Hence the cams 38 for causing retraction of the needle each have a portion 85 at which such retarded retraction occurs.

After the weft has been laid into the needle hook 83, together with the warp, the continued retraction of the needle causes the needle encircling loop ofthe strand 84 to slide over and close the tongue 86, with said loop casting off to form a stitch as shown in Fig. 19B. A usual wire 86a holds the tongue open against accidental closing. The added body or thickness distributes itself to form a strand 84 of uniform ribbon-like width. By providing on cam 38 a very small recess at 85a, too small to be shown, the needles are subjected to a kick to jerk the stitchesr tightly locked. The knitted fabric passes down through a slot 84a in the needle bed, see Fig. 7.

The warp feed control mechanism Mounted at the base of the machine are a plurality of spools 81, from which warp yarns '88 for the individual needles are fed past a lower guide 89, see Fig. 1, .and an upper guide 90, thence to the eyes of the individual fingers 9| for the different needles, see Fig. 7. The upper guide may comprise guide rods 90a, 90b. The fingers 9| are mounted on a rock shaft 92 suitably lournaled in the end frame members of the machine.

In Fig. 1 is shown an arm 93 connected to the shaft 92 and having lost motion pivotal engagement at 94 with the lower end of an arm 95 which is ,xediy pivotally mounted at its upperend on the frame member 26 of the machine. Coaxially mounted on the shaft 13 is a cylindrical cam 96 which engages ak follower portion 91 on the arm 95, so as tol cause oscillation of the shaft 92 in course of .rotation of the shaft 13. Since the rock shaft 92 is longitudinally reclprocable to a slight degree, some lost motion longitudinally of the shaft may be provided at the pin and slot connection at 94 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.l v

To v provide for longitudinal reciprocation of the rock shaft 92, simultaneously with its rocking motion, an expansion coil spring 92a may rler is shown descending at the left f a paix-'of needles 43. InFig. 22B the weft carrier is shown fully descended. A stitch is being formed at this time as in Fig. 21, hereinafter described, and the carrier rises again before starting movement toward the right above the needles. In Fig. 22C the weft carrier is shown after having completed the rightward movement and a downward movement to place the weft yarn under the pair of needles which are now in fully retracted position. Then the needles are projected. Now a stitch is `formed at the right of the needles as in Fig. 21, and the weft vcarrier return returns leftward over the needles as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 22C, to the position shown in Fig. 22A. The movement is repeated at every stitch in knitting a filled-in section of fabric. The operations at both sides ofthe pair of needles are identical. Shifting of ,the weft carriers between the bars 62, 63 necessarily occurs before the weft carriers are returned to positions above the needles.

Considering that there is a weft carrier 54 for every needle, it is interesting to note -that a weft carrier which moves past-.two needles will not' interfere with a weft carrier which moves past one needle, because the latter and its carrier rod 55 is forward of the former, and hence there is then lays the warp over the needle in a generally diagonal direction, during retraction of the needle. Hence when a stitch is formed in casting olf, the weft is naturally caught in that stitch.

Means for feeding the ground weft Due to the open work knitting, it is desirable to afford a reenforcement to avoid tearing of the fabric. For this purpose, we employ a cable or ground weft |02, for instance, one which is bear between the frame member 26 and an abutment or collar on said shaft, as shown in Fig.. 3. At the `other end of the shaft 92 is a rotary cam 98 xed on the drive shaft 33 as shown in Fig. v2.

'I'hus a generally circular movement is imparted tothe fingers 9| so as to move the eyes thereof over the needles from left to right over the needles and from right to left under the needles as in dicated in Fig. 20 so that the warp is always laid into the needle hooks in a direction from left to right. 1

Laying `the weft yarns under the needles for filledin knitting shown in the fabric |00, and is known in the trade as Chainette. 'I'he same may have a thin strong strand around which is loosely twisted aq heavy strand of relatively hard texture, known in the trade as frilL The ground weft |02 may be engaged by thewarp yarn and engaged in the resulting stitches in the same manner as the .weft yarn is engaged as shown in Fig'.y 21. The irregularity or twist of the ground weft |02 serves the purpose of preventing the stitches from sliding along the ground weft, because the twist formationk affords a good frictional or, interlock engagement with the stitches. The ground weft may extend in continuous straight lines along the fabric.

'I'he ground weft is taken from a spool |03 mounted at the top of the machine and guided by a tension control device |04.y 'I'he same may include a frictional brake |05 actuated by a strip spring |06 into engagement with a shaft portion |01 of the spool.l A spring wire |00 is formed with spaced loops |09, ||0 through which the ground weft is threaded. A exible element or cord is connected to the loop |09 and Ato the free end of the spring |06. If there is considerable slack in the ground weft |02, the spring |08 takes up the same, and the cord Il becomes slack, so as to prevent any releasing pull thereof on the brake spring |06. Vice versa,if a sudden pull occurs on the ground weft the spring |08 readily yields, especially the part thereof between the eyes |09, ||0, and the pull is imparted to the cord thus diminishing the brake action.

The device |04 is very important because the also shown in Fig. 1.

ground weft is laid down and at considerable tension as will now be described.

From the tension control device |04, a single strand of the ground weft is fed downward past a guide ||2 to a feeder tube H3. 'Ihe element ||2 may be a rotary shaft, as hereinafter described, its bearing carrying a bracket ||5 at whose lower end is journaled a pulley |20 hereinafter referred to. 'I'he element ||3 is mounted on a carriage ||4 having a bracket arm ||6 for this purpose, as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. At each of its upper and lower edges. the carriage ||4 is provided with rollers ||1 which are engaged in grooves of the track members ||8 that extend longitudinally of the machine. For reciprocating the carriage at great speed from end to end of the needle bed, an endless cable H9 may be provided to which the carriage may be suitably aihxed.

In principle, the carriage ||4 may travel once across the machine-for each knitting operation, or after a plurality of knitting operations. According to the particular fabric |00, the machine has been designed so that the carriage ||4 makes one course or run of its reciprocation for every six stitches formed by the machine. Accordingly the carriage ||4 has a continuous reciprocating motion.

To actuate the cable H9 intermittently back and forth, a pair of pulleys |20, |2| are mounted at opposite ends of the machine, between which lies the drive course for the carriage |l4. The cable extends around these pulleys and around a horizontal pulley |22 at the left top of Fig. 3, hence around a pulley |23 shown in Fig. 1, and finally around a large pulley |24 shown in Figs. l and 3, and back to the pulley |20.

To drive the pulley |24, reference may be had to the mechanism of Fig. 4 wherein a bevel gear |25 on the main shaft 36 rotates a bevel gear |26 on a cross shaft |21 mounted on the frame of the machine. Carried by the shaft |21 is a bevel gear |28 which drives a bevel gear |29 fixed on the countershaft |30 that is suitably journaled on the frame of the machine. Carried by the shaft |30 is a sprocket wheel |3l, connected by a chain |32 with a sprocket wheel |33, 'I'he sprocket wheel may be mounted on a stub shaft |34 that is journaled on the frame members 26 of the machine. Fixed to said shaft is a disc |35 to which is eccentrically connected at |36 an arm |31 carrying a rack |38 which engages a pinion |39 fixed on a stub shaft |40 on which the pulley |24 is mounted. The said shaft |40 may be suitably journaled lon the frame member 26 and may carry a tubular guide or shoe |4| oscillatable about the shaft |40 and serving to maintain the rack |38 in engagement with the pinion |38, as also shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that the shaft |30 makes one rotation while the shaft 36 makes six rotations, and that the sprocket wheel |33 makes one-half of a rotation during that time. Hence the rack bar |38 is continuously advanced in one direction while each needle is making six stitches, causing the Wheel |24 to actuate the cable ||9 to move the carriage ||4 across the machine in one direction; during the next six stitches. the same operation occurs in an opposite direction. Thus the ground weft |02 is laid down at reasonable speed in one continuous run of the carriage ||4 for every six stitches in accordance with the particular design of the fabric |00. This speed is interconnected at their ends to form'a frame 'which is guided on vertical tracks |42 on the frame members 26, 21,' see Figs. 3, 7 and 8. This frame IIB is mounted at each end of the machine on an arm |43 pivotally suspended. from a lever |44 as shown inA Figs. 1 and 2. Each lever |44 is pivotally mounted at one end at |45 on the machine frame, and has follower engagement at its other end with a cam |46 on which it rests to support the rail frame H8. The cams |46 are xed on a shaft ||2 journaled in the frame members 26, 21.

Since lthe shaft ||2 must be rotated once forA every six courses or stitches of the machine, and` is idle in the interim, a drive is provided which is suitably timed for this purpose. Hence, referring to Figs. 1 and 4f a segmental gear |48 is mounted on thecountershaft |30, arranged to drive a pinion `|49 fixed on a shaft |50 that is mounted on fthe frame member 26. Mounted at the outer end of the shaft |50 is a sprocket wheel |5| coonnected by a chain |52 with a sprocket wheel |53. shaft |54 which is journaled in the frame members 26, 21, see Figs. 1 and 3. At the other end of said shaft |54 is a sprocket wheel |55, see Figs. 2 and 3, connected by a chain |56 with a sprocket wheel |51 on the shaft ||2. A tension adjusting idler pulley |58 for said chain may be mounted on the frame member 21.

- It will now be apparent that the shaft I2 is caused to have one rapid rotation after every six courses 0r stitches performed by the machine,

It is important that the ground or cable weft shall be caught by an element at the end from which the carriage ||4 .begins to move and shall be held taut while being engaged by the warp during the stitching, so that the ground weft shall appear smooth and even in the fabric |00. It is also desirable that a slack shall not result in the ground wefl-t where the latter is released from said element.

Referring to Figs, 3 and '1, there is shown a shaft |59 journaled in the frame members 26, 21, or in brackets fixed thereon. Slidably mounted on this shaft are a plurali-ty of ngers |60 normally disposed at opposite ends of the needle bed, and movable toward or away from each other along the shaft according as needles may be removed or inserted to knit a narrow or wide piece of fabric |00. In order to prevent relative rotation between the fingers |60 and the shaft |59, the fingers are desirably releasably clamped thereon as shown. y

The shaf-t |59 has a rocking motion to oscillate the fingers |60 toward and away from the front face or edge of the needle bed 42. When the ngers |60 are thus moved toward the needle bed, the finger |60 which is at that end of the needle bed from which the carriage ||4 starts, catches the ground weft |02 and holds it as a guide, while the carriage travels to lay down the ground weft.

'Ihe latter is fixed at one end of a y Just before the groundl weft is caught in the stitches, the fingers |60 are moved away from the needle bed to permit the ground weft to slip off from the nger |60. The operation of both fingers |60 is alike. The action will be further described hereinafter, particularly in connection with Figs. 24A to 24D.

Before describing the actuating means for the rock 'shaft |69, it will be well to refer to the ground weft holding ilngers |6|, |62, see Figs. 3 and 7. A pair of the iingers |6| are mounted on arock shaft |63, and a pair of the ngers |62 are mounted on a rock shaft |64. Both of these shafts are mounted on the frame members 26, 21. A pair of fingers |62 is normally disposed at opposite ends offthe needle bed, and two or more fingers 6| are disposed at equally spaced points intermediate of the fingers |62 and along the needle bed, the fingers |6| being used only if the machine knits wide fabric. Each of these ngers |6|, |62 is releasably removably clamped to its shaft as shown, so that the fingers are nonrotatably fixed 'to their shafts, ybut can be moved therealong. 'Ihus the fingers |62 may lie at the ends of the effective portion of the needle bed, dependingon how many needles are used, according as it is desired to knit a. narrow or a wide piece of fabric |00. l,

Since the ground weft |02 might shift along the finger |60, and might be held by the carriage ||4 away from its desired proximity to the needles and to the needle bed, the fingers such as |62 are desirable to use in such a manner that they move toward the needle bed 42 and hold the ground weft |02 in close proximity thereto immediately below the needles. This positioning of the ground weft is effected as soon as the carriage ||4 has laid down a length of the ground weft, and while the latter is caught by a iinger |60 and is held taut by the carriage |4.

Immediately after or just as the ngers |62 thus position the ground weft |02, the ngers |6| move toward the needle bed and hold the ground weft in close proximity to the needle bed, so as to prevent any likelihood of any part of the ground weft slipping to a position above a needle in the case of a very long needle bed. When the fingers' 6|, |62 thus hold the ground weft, and as the needles move forwardover the ground weft, the iingers |60, |6I, |62 release the ground weft, which then moves under the tension of the device |04 of Fig. 18 to take up any slack in the ground weft.

The operation of these fingers |6|, |62 will be mv: fully described hereinafter, in connection with Figs. 24.A24D,after iirst considering the unitary dirive mechanism for the shafts |59, |63, |64.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 4, there is shown a lever |66 pivotedv at |61 on the frame member 26 and having a follower |66 for a cam |69 that is mounted onthe shaftl30, whereby the lever is oscillated once for every six stitches performed by the machine. Connected to the upper end |10 is a rod |1| which extends toward the front of the machine, and is connected to an arm |12 that is secured to the shaft |59, all as shown in Fig. '1. Also connected to the rock shaft' |59 is an arm |13, connected by a link |14 to an arm |15 which is xed on the shaft |64. Hence the lever |66 may cause a pull on the rod |1| to rock the shafts |59, and |64. These parts may be returned to initial position by the action of a tension coil spring |16 interconnecting the lever |66 with the frame member 26.

For rocking the shaft |63, the disc |36 shown in Fig. 1, may be formed with a pair of diametrically spaced` cams |11 for successively engaging one end of a lever |10 pivotally mounted at |13aon the frame member 26. Interconnecting'the other end of this lever with an arm |19 fixed. on the shaft |63, is a link |19a. Moving the lever |10 into engagement with the member |36 and the cams |11 is a tension coil spring r|1921 that interconnects the lever with the frame member 26. Since the member |36 makes one-half of a rotation for every six stitches of the machine,A the fingers |6| are thus momentarily moved clockwise in Fig. '1 to the operative position shown.

It is thus noted that whereas the fingers |62 are momentarily moved counterclockwise, the ngers |6| are momentarily moved clockwise. In other words, the fingers |6| are normally in in.- operative position, spaced away from the front of the needle bed. In fact, the reason for spacing the yshaft |63 thereof rearward, is to cause the fingers |6| to move frontward and' downward to inoperative position, to thus clear the warp feedf ing'eyes of the fingers 9|.

Referring now to Figs. 24A to 24D, Fig. 24A, shows an initial position, with the hook |60 and finger |62 invrespective rearward and frontward positions. y

Fig. 24B shows the ground, weft carrier ||3 moving downward, with the hook |60 moving forward, the iinger |62 moving rearward toward the needle bed, and the finger |6| being remote from the needle bed.

Fig. 24C shows the elements |60 and |62 in their operative positions, with the ground weft caught by the hook, and held down by the finger |62 in close proximity to the needle bed and just below the elevation of theneedles. The yarn carrier ||3 has moved upward and is beginnin'g its travel toward the right to the other end of the machine.

In Fig. 24D, the carrier ||3 having completed its travel toward the right, and being lowered and the fingers |60, |62 having released the weft |02, the movement of the fingers I6 toward the needle bed is effected'. 'Ihen the linger; |6| begin their movement away from the needle bed, as soon as the needles 42 have begun to move forward to overlie the ground weft and preclude any possibility of the ground weft overlying the needles. 'I'he hook |60 has moved rearward, to release the ground weft |02, and the fingers |62 have moved forward. Due to the tension of the device |04, the ground weft moves to the right to eliminate the loop which is seen in Fig. 24C, where the ground weft was caught by the hook |60. The fingers |6| now return to initial inoperative position and the stitching proceeds, with the warp 39 passing under and catching the ground weft as suggested in Fig. 21, vand as hereinbefore described.

The relation of the weft carrier ||3 to the weft feeders 54 and' the warp feeders 9| as well as to ers 54 and 9|. In readiness for formation of the sixth run of stitching the nger |60 releases the yarn |02 and the carriage ||4 is lowered, so that the new run `of yarn |02 drops below the needles.

The jacquard means is shown in part in Figs. l, 2, 3, 7, 9, ll and 12. It comprises an angular or square bar or shaft |80 which may be rotatable and relatively vertically movable. I'his jacquard bar is longitudinally grooved at |8| along each face, as clearly shown in Figs. '1 and 8, to permit jacquard pattern strips to control pins that are responsive to saidf strips and are adapted to enter said grooves, as hereinafter described. At its opposite ends, the bar |80 may have axial pins |82 rotatably and vertically movable in vertically slotted members |88 fixed' to the frame members 28, 21, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The jacquard bar |80 is rotated one quarter turn every time that a new jacquard pattern is to be presented at the top face of the bar. In this particular machine, the jacquard bar is given a quarter turn for every six stitches or courses of the machine. To eiect this motion a ratchet |84 having four equally angularly spaced teethvis provided on, the jacquard bar, the teeth being successively engageable by a hook |85 fixed to a reciprocatory bar or member |86 see Fig. '7. Thus a quarter turn of the Jacquard bar occurs every time that the hook |85 moves to the right. When the hook |85 moves toward the left, the jacquard bar, now in elevated position, descends so that the hook engages the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet |84.

I'he bar |86 is slidable in a slot or guideway |81 of the frame member 26. Connected to \said bar are the heads |88 which are slidable `on the rails |88 xedly mounted on the respectiveframe members 26, 21, see Figs. 1 and 2.

Fixedlt1 connected to the jacquard bar |80 adjacent to each yend thereof is a lsquare block |80, adapted to rest on a pin |8| slidably mounted for vertical movementon the frame of the machine, under actuation at its lower end by an arm |82, see Figs. 1 and 4. The block |80 affords seats of large area for resting on the pins |8|, and upon vertical reciprocation of the pins |8|, the jacquard bar |80 is moved up and down as the case may be.

The drive for causing the vertical and rotary movement of the jacquard bar |80 will now be described. Referring to Figs. 2 and '1, the shaft |54 is seen as having thereon an eccentric |83, connected by a rod |84 to the cross head |86 to cause reciprocation of the bar |86. A similar structure is provided at the other end of the machine as shown in Fig. l. 'I'hus bar |86 actuates the hook |85 to turn the ratchet |84 and hence the jacquard bar |80. .f

To cause vertical movement o f the jacquard bar, reference is had to Figs. l and 4, which shows the shaft |50 as having iixed thereon a cam |85 for actuating a lever |86 that is freely pivotally mounted at its lower end at any suitable point, for instance, on the shaft |80. Mounted on the lever |86 is a follower roller |81 for engagement with the cam |85. Connected to the upper end of the lever |86 is a link |88 which is also connected to an arm |88 xed on a shaft,

200 journaled in suitable brackets of the machine frame. It is thus seen that the cam |85 causes a rocking motion to be imparted to the shaft 200 to oscillate the arms |82 and hence to elevate the jacquard bar |00. Such movement occurs according to the shaft |50 which is actuated by the segmental gear |48 to make one rotation for every six courses or stitches of the machine.

'I'he pin mechanism responsive to a jacquard pattern will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Mounted on the frame members 26, 21, is a ilxed cross bar 20| having a series of closely spaced vertical holes therealong'i'or vertical guiding movement in said holes of the Pins 202. Extending around each pin 202 is an expansion coil spring 203 acting between the bot-` tom of the guide bar 20| and an abutment or collar on each pin spaced above the end thereof.

Provided on the upper end of each pin 202 is a head 204 having a horizontal passage for slidably mounting therein a member 205 having for ward and rearward projecting end portions. The rearward projecting portion of each mexer 205 is engageable by the reciprocating cross ar |86 when its pin 202 is elevated. I'he forward end portion of each member 205 is provided with a fork at 206, so as to slidably receive an upright lever 201. This lever 201 is pivotally mounted on a stationary cross bar 208, fixed on the frame members 26, 21, see also Fig. 3. The lower end of each lever 201 is pivotally connected to the link 60, see Fig. '1.

. Operation of jacquard pin mechanism It will now be understood that when a jacquard 1strip is placed on the jacquard bar |80, those pins 202 which are in register with the holes of the strip pass through and enter an upper groove of the jacquard bar, upon upward movement of the latter. Hence such pins 202 are not elevated but remain as shown in Fig. '7, and hence the corresponding lever 201 is not actuated, and hence the corresponding rod 55 remains engaged with the front comb bar 62, so that the machine knits open work fabric. But when a pin 202 does not register with a hole in the jacquard strip, the latter elevates such pin 202 when the jacquard bar moves upward. Therefore, the member 205 carried by said pin is elevated to lie in the path of thev bar |86. When the latter moves frontward (to the left in Fig. 7), it causes the member 205 to move frontward in the head 204 of the pin, and hence moves the lever 201 counterclockwise. 'This causes the elements 55, 56, 60 to move rearward, against the tension of a spring such as 58 or 58 as the case may be, so that the weft carrier rod 55 moves from the comb bar 62 into engagement with the comb bar 63. As the latter causes a travel of the weft carrier 64 past two needles, lled in sections are knitted in the fabric |00 as shown.

Of course when the members 205 are not thus elevated, they can clear the bar |86 and are not aiected thereby.

It will be noted that by providing a jacquard bar |80 movable toward the pins 202 as shown, the jacquard strip is not subjected to the weight of thejacquard bar, and hence is not damaged,

vnor is there any tendency for the pins 202 to Means for locking certain jacquard elements in knitting filled-in areas |80. In that case, the system remains at rest.

But where the jacquard pattern is imperforate, the pins 202 are elevated, their members 205 and levers 201 are moved, and the rods are moved against the spring tension and the rods 56 are moved from comb bar 62 to comb bar 63, moving the weft carriers rearward. At each sixth stitch or course of the machine, this entire system would move inone and in a Ireverse direction. I

` Hence a releasable locking means is provided responsive, for example, to .the levers 201, desirably at the very first action of the jacquard system,.to maintain the weft carriers 54 and their actuating means in rearward position in engagement with the rear comb bar 63, until a new jacquard pattern is to be presented upon the next quarter turn of the jacquard bar |80.

Accordingly a rod 209, see Figs. 3 and 7, is xed to the frame members 26, 21 of the machine, and on this rod are freely tiltably mounted the arms or hooks 2l0, each adapted to individually gravitationally engage a hook or point 2| I at the upper end of a lever 201.

' To release the hooks 2l0, a means is provided shown in Figs, 7 and 9, and including a bell crank lever 2|2 pivotally mounted at its apex on a stub shaft 2|3 fixed to the machine frame. Carried by the lower arm of the lever 2|2 is a rod 2|4 underlying all of the hooks 2l0 and adapted to raise the same. Carried by the upper arm of the lever 2|2 is a rod 2|5 overlying the hooks 2 I0 with ample clearance for their up and down mo tion. Thus'the hooks 2l0 cannot be swung out of operable relation to the levers 201. A bell crank lever 2|2 may be arranged at each end of the rods 2|4, 2 I5 to properly carry the same.

Referring to Figs. 2, 9 and 10, the shaft |54 is shown having a cam 2|6, engageable by a follower roller 2|6a, carried by a member, 2 |1 which is slotted at 2|'|a to receive the shaft |54 so as to be slidably supported thereby. Extending from the member 2 |1 is a rod'2 |9 which is pivotally connected at 2|9a to the' upper arm of one of the bell crank levers 2|2 as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 9. In this manner, the latter is rocked once whenever the jacquard shaft |80 is ready to make a quarter turn.

It will now be clear that when a lever 201 is moved counterclockwise in Fig. 7, it is locked in that position by its hook 2l0, and remains so locked for six courses or stitches of the machine, whereupon the rod 2|4 raises the hooks and releases the levers 201, and the jacquard bar |80 makes a quarter turn t receive a different ,jac, quard pattern.

Changeable jacquard pattern strip In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 is shown a jacquard pattern strip or element 220, such as a strip member of any strong or metallic material so as to be adapted for long life, arranged so as to be change.` able to provide any desired pattern. Thisjs intended to be in lieu'of the wasteful long sheets of jacquard paper heretofore used. Each of the lil strips 220 is provided with openings or holes 22| equally spaced in like positions on all of the strips 220,"so that the pins 202 are adapted to pass through all the holes of any strip. To provide the pattern effect, different holes in different strips 220 are rele sably closed or blocked in any suitable manne as by means of detachable plugs 222, all of which are identical. For example, the plugs 222 may resiliently or frictionally engage the strip 220 at the said holes, as by a press fit, and so as to beremovable by the plunger of a press or in any other desired manner. To aid in positioning the plugs inthe holes 22|, each plug may have an annular lip or flange 223 at one Vend. Of course a hole 22| thus` Continuous' endless 'feeding means ,for jacquard strips In Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive is shown the mechanism for the continuous endless feeding system for a jacquard pattern means, such as the strips 220, according to one possible embodiment of the invention.

Thus the strips 220 may each have at its 0pposite ends the open slots 224, and may have its opposite edges adjacent to each slot beveled at 225, for purposes hereinafter described'.

Mounted on the frame members y26, 21 is a fixed frame member 226. Mounted on the latter are the spaced brackets 221, which provide bearings for a shaft 228, and each having three angularly spaced arms 221a to xedly support a pair of track members or guides 229. Each of the latter is relatively thin so as to be adapted to guidingly engage in the slots 224 of the strips 220. 'I'he guides 2291are of like shape and arrangement, each having a semicircular section, an upper section 229a leading to a side of the jacquard bar in horizontal alinement with the axis thereof, and a lower section 2291), leading in a partly vcurved downward incline from the lower face of the jacquard bar |80. In general,

the arrangement is such that the strips 220 travel in a counterclockwise circuit in Fig. 12, being supplied to the right side ofthe jacquard bar, and later moved to operativer top position when the jacquard bar makes a counterclockwise quarter turn, then retained on the opposite side of the jacquard bar when the latter makes the third quarter turn, and nally discharged down the incline 229b when the jacquard bar makes the fourth quarter turn so that the strip 220 is on the downward face of said bar. The guides 229 may be reenforced in any suitable manner.

In order to feed the strips 220 from the lower to the upper portion of the guide 229 a pair of arms 230 are fixed to the rock shaft 228 so as to be oscillated thereby through an angle of about degrees. When the arms 230 extend toward the left in Fig. 12, they permit a strip 220 to pass thereunder. When they move toward the right, they raise that strip 220 to the point justable according to the number of pattern strips.

\spaced guides 229, and ride upward along clines of the catches,

This catch 23| is shown in Figs. 11 and 1'1 as being pivotally mounted on the guide 229 and extending parallel to the plane of the flat face thereof. A tension coil spring 234 is connected to the plate 233 and toa lug on the catch 23| so as to swing the catch counterclockwise in Fig. 17. As the catch is offset from the slot 224 it will be free of the same. When a strip 220 is moved upward by the arms 230 from the dot dash line position of Fig. 11 to the full line position, the ends of the strip bear against the opposed catches 23| .on the the incaught by the catches springs 234. By providing a continuous stack of the strips 220, thesame are thus pushed forward all along the guides 229 into proximity to the jacquard bar |80.

To rock the shaft 228 which carries the arms 230, reference may be had to the structure of Figs. 4, 11 and 12, wherein the shaft |30, which turns at a suitable speed, rotates an eccentric 235, connected at 236 to a rack bar 231 for turning a pinion 231a fixed to the shaft'228. A guide shoeV 238 hung from the shaft 228 is provided for the rack bar to keep it in engagement with the pinion 231a.

In'order for the jacquard bar |80 to receive a strip 220, the said bar is provided at each face with end projections 239 adapted to enter the slots 224 of vsaid strips. These projections extend into close proximity to the ends 240 of the upper sections 228a of the guides 229, and thus the rotation of the jacquard bar is not interfered To feed the jacquard strips 220 one by one to the ends of the" guide sections 22911, each of the olatter is provided with a rotary bladed or propeller element 24| carried by a shaft 242 suitably mounted on its respective guide section 229a. For actuating said shafts 242, each is provided with a worm wheel 243, see Fig. 12, driven by a worm 244. Both worms 244 are on a shaft 245 suitably` mounted on the guides 229.J f

For rotating the shaft 245, a pinion 246, see Figs. 4, 11 and 12, is driven by the segmental gear |48, so as to make one rotation every time the jacquard bar makes a-quarter turn. This pinion 246 is on a shaft 241 mounted on a bracket 248 carried by the frame member 226. Also mounted on the shaft 241 is a sprocket wheel 249 connected by a sprocket chain 250 with a sprocket wheel 25| fixed on the shaft 245.

It will be noted that by reason of the beveled edges 225 of the jacquard strips 220, the propel- 1ers 24| have no difficulty in engaging a single jacquard strip 220. At the same time the propellers serve the function of holding back the remaining strips 220.

When once a jacquard strip 220 has thus been moved forward by the propellers 24|, it is desirable to lock the same on the jacquard bar |80 against accidentally dropping off as the latter continues its rotation. Hence a releasable locking device or spring catch 252 shown in Figs. 11 and 16 is utilized, identical devices being provided for each end of each jacquard bar face |80. A description of one such structure adjacent to one propeller 24| will apply also to the other. Each device 252 comprises four stationary plates,

253,each secured to one face of the jacquard bar |80 and overlying the groovel |8|, so as to close the same except at the ends of the grove. One end of each groove |8| is closed by a staat V232 on a plate xed 253 is a member 255, which is suiiiciently undertilting the latter until I that are actuated by their cut to lie below the abutment 254 and to afford space for an expansion coil spring 256 which acts between an abutment 254 and a shoulder of the member 255. The opposite end portions of each member 255 project beyond a plate 253 and outward of the4 groove |8| to afford at one end a hook or catch 239, hereinbefore described, and at the other end a toeportion 251. It is noted that the catch portion is formed with a cam shaped nose so that when a jacquard strip 220 is fed to the jacquard bar, the strip 220 rides at its end along the cam nose and presses the members 255 apart against the tension of the springs 255., To apply suilicient pressure to the jacquard strips 220 to overcome the pressure of the springs'255, angle rods 258, see Fig. '1, are fixed to the cross bar |86 so that when the latter moves -frontward, with the jacquard bar elevated to raise a strip 220 on the guide 229, the rods 258 are moved forward to press such elevated strip 220 lto be hooked by the catches 239. It will'be understood that the elevated jacquard strip, before being locked by the catches, is carried at its slots 224 by the rearward projecting ends of the catches 239.

To release the catches 239 when they lie at a bottom face of the jacquard bar |00, a cam 259 is provided. These cams are mounted on a rock shaft 260 carried in brackets 26| fixed to the stationary bar 208. Attached to the shaft 260 is an 'arm 262 to which is pivotally connected a rod 263 having at its remote end a slotted portion 264, Athrough which the shaft |30 extends to slidingly support said portion. The latter has follower engagement with a cam 265 fixed on the shaft |30.

Operation of endless feed jacquard system In describing the operation, it will be best to revert to the motion of the jacquard bar |80. That motion Occurs in this particular embodiment once every six courses' or stitches of the machine. The motion consists of an up land down movement followed by a quarter turn of the jacquard bar.

Before the jacquard bar `|80 moves upward,. the propellers 24| move forward a jacquard strip 220 so that it laterally rests on the catches 239 which extend into the slots 224 of said strip. Now the jacquard bar |80 moves upward, and the laterally held strip 220 is pushed into snap engagement with the catches 238 by the angle rods 258 carried by the cross bar |86, see Fig. 7, which moves toward the jacquard bar. (During this upward movement, a jacquard strip 220 on the top face of the jacquard bar causes actuation of the pins 202.) Now the jacquard bar |80 moves downward so that its ratchet |84 engagesy the hook |85 carried by said cross bar |86. As

|80, the hook |85 causes a quarter turn of the jacquard bar. Thus the jacquard strip 220 that was laterally held is now at the top face of the jacquard bar, and is idle while the machine proceeds to make six stitches accordingto the jacquard pattern as determined by the previous jac-` quard strip, which is now in an inoperative position at the front or opposite side of the jacquard bar. Thus the cycle proceeds.

When a jacquard strip 220 finally reaches the underside of the jacquard bar, the cams 259 engage the toes 251 ofthe lowermost catches 238 which hold said strip and lmove said Ycatches apart to release said strip, which thereupon ymoves downward along the catches in its slots Take-uppmeans for the knitted fabric i The take-up means for the knitted fabric is shown mainly in Figs, 1 and 3, and in part in Fig. 2. It includes a pair of rolls 266, 261 at the front of the machine, and a pair of rolls 268, 269 at the rear of the machine, of which the rolls 266 and 268 are idlers. All of these rolls are mounted on the frame members 26, 21, the fabric 261a passing under and around the roll 261, then between the rolls 266, 261, over theroll 266 and thence around the roll 269, with the roll 268 acting as a follower weight.

To drive the roll 261, a gear 210 is connected to its shaft. This gear engages a pinion 21| on a stub shaft xed on the frame member 26, and having a. gear 212. The latter engages a pinion 213 on a stationary stub shaft 214 fixed to the frame member 26, and carrying a ratchet wheel 215. The latter is provided with a pawl 216 pivotally mountedv on an arm 211 which is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft 214. To

oscillate said arm 211, a cam 218 is mounted on the shaft 13, said cam. having follower engagement with a rod 219, s lidably mounted with necessary clearance in a guide 280 of the frame member 26, so that the rod is vertically reciprocable to impart a very smalloscillatory movement to the arm 211 to which its lower end is pivotally connected at 28|.

It will thus be clear that the shaft 13 causes oscillation of the arm 211 so that the pawl rotates the ratchet wheel 215 to operate the gear train 210-213 to turn the roller 261.

Reverse motion of the ratchet wheel is prevented by a spring pawl 282 engaging the same and mounted on the frame member 26.

To limit the travel of thev pawl 216, an arm 283 may be xed to the stationary shaft 214 and may have a set screw 284` adapted to abut the arm 211 to limit the oscillation thereof, whereby the pull on the knitted goods is adjustable.

The idler roller 266 is desirably mounted on a pair of arms 285 pivotally mounted on the mawchine frame, said arms being actuated by tension 5 coil springs 286 to resiliently urge the roller 266 against the roll 261. At the other end of the machine, see Fig. 2, a sprocket wheel 281 is connected by a chain 288 with a sprocket wheel 289 that is connected to the roller 269. For the idler roller 268, a guide# way 290 is provided to permit the same to move upward as the fabric accumulates on the roller 268.

the needles by the carriers 54, the warp by the fingers 9|, andthe ground weft by the carrier I I3 of the carriage IM.

To afford infinite variety of pattern, the weft carrier rods 55 are engageable with the comb bar 62 for the ordinary stitch as at 84, and with the comb bar 63 for a lled-in knitting 99, that is past a pair of needles, see Fig. 8. These weft carrier rods are individually engageable with either comb bar vin any desired order or arrange- -ment,.and each comb bar has its individual path of motion. For moving the rods to and fro between the comb bars, a jacquard system is utilized.

Since the machine is designed to make six stitches for any given jacquard pattern section, the jacquard system, see Figs. 7 and 8, is releasably lockedas at 201, 2|0, in respect to elements which control the weft carrier rods 55 engaged by the comb bar 63, against the tension of springs 58, -59 tending to move said rods into engagement wtih the comb bar 62. Hence needless reciprocation of elements and Wear on the machine are avoided.

By using jacquard strips 220 having releasably closed holes, see Figs. 13 to 15, the same elements can be repeatedly employed for different patterns. A further advantage is that a continuous endless feed system can be provided for these strips as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Thus the strips 220 followthe guides 229 to be fed to the jacquard bar |80 and then to be returned to the guides, all as hereinbefore in detail described. It will suii'ce to briefly mention that oscillatory arms 230 move the strips from a lower to a higher section of the guides, at which they are held It will be understood that the sprocket wheel 289 may have any suitable slip or frictional engagement with the roller 269 to allow for increase in the diameter of the roll of knitted goods.

Resume-General operation of the machine As shown in Fig. 23, the fabric |00 is knitted Referring to Fig. 7, the weft 49 is supplied to against return by catches 23|: the propellers 24| engaging the beveled parts 225 of the strips to move the strips onto catches 239 on the jacquard bar. which catches are releasable by the cams 259.

1. A device including a. jacquard knitting machine comprising a needle bed having hooked needles, means for feeding warp yarns to the needles, individual elements for the needles for laying weft yarns into the hooks thereof, means for projecting the needles outward of the needle bed and for retracting the needles, including means for retarding retraction of the needles at a point in the travel of the needles, while the weft yarn is being laid in the hooks thereof, and means for causing operation of said elements during the retardation in the retraction of the needles.

2. A device including a jacquard knitting machine comprising a needle bed having therein hooked needles movable inward and outward of the bed, yarn feeding means for the needles including elements for laying weft yarns in the individual hooks of the needles, said elements being adapted to travel at a greater elevation than the needles, means for causing a retarded retraction of the needle at a point in the travel thereof to afford time for laying the weft into the needle hooks, and means for causing operation of said elements during the retardation in the retraction o1' the needles.

3. A device including a jacquard knitting machine comprising a needle bed having therein 0 needles provided with hooks and tongues therefor,

` with open spaces andwith filled-in weft areas 99, there being a ground or cable weft |02 which i is preformed and serves as a reenforcement.

a first means for laying warp yarns in the hooks, a second means for laying weft yarns in the hooks, a third means for advancing and retracting the needles, coordinated with the flrst and second means so as to advance the needles to cause .the

warp yarn to pass over and drop below the tongues externally of the hooks and then retract the needles with a momentary retardation to cause the needle hooks to receive the weft yarns, the third means then causing retraction of the needles for forming a knot between said yarns, the third means then advancing the needles so that the knots drop back of the needle hooks, the third means then causing retraction of the needles so.

that the knot moves the tongue to closed position and casts off from the needle.

4. A device including a knitting machine having a needle bed having needles therein, means cooperating with the needles for the knitting operation of the needles, said means including members comprising individual yarn carrying elements for the needles, a jacquard for causing movement of selected members to one operating position, upon each stitching operation of the needles, means for periodically changing the setting of the jacquard after the needles have caused the knitting of a plurality-of stitches, locking means to lock said selected members in said operating position, means to cause release of the locking means only upon a change in setting of the jacquard, and means to cause the yarn carrying elements to have different operating movements in response to said members.

5. A device including a knitting machine comprising a jacquard, means for causing the jacquard to control in part the successive stitching operations of the machine and for changing the setting of the jacquard after a plurality of stitching operations, including individual control elements coacting with the needles, and individual releasable means for locking certain of said element-s in a position to which they would otherwise be caused to be repeatedly moved by the jacquard, during a given setting of the jacquard, and common means for releasing the individual releasable means upon a change in the setting of the jacquard.

6. A device including a knittingmachine comprising a jacquard bar, a carrier bar generally parallel thereto, means to cause relative movement between the said bars toward and away from each other upon each stitching operation, controlling members coacting with the individual needles, comprising elements mounted on the carrier bar individually responsive to a jacquard pattern of the jacquard bar so that the different elements assume different elevations, and an actuator bar generally parallel to the first mentioned bars/the latter and the actuator bar being relatively movable toward and away from each other so that the actuator bar actuates those elements which have a given elevation and clears those elements which have a different elevation.

'7. A device including a knitting machine comprising a jacquard bar, a carrier bar generally parallel thereto, means to cause relative movement between the said bars toward and away from each other upon each stitching operation, controlling members coacting with the individual needles, comprising elements mounted on the carrier bar individually responsive to a jacquard pattern of the jacquard bar so that the Vdiiferent elements assume different elevations, and an actuator bar generally parallel to the^ first mentioned, bars, the latter and the actuator bar being relatively movable toward and away from each other so that the actuator bar actuates those elements which have a given elevation and clears those elements which have a different elevation, and means for releasably locking portions of those Vyieldingly urging the elements to move to re" controlling members that are actuated by the actuator bar while the jacquard pattern remains the same.

, 8. A device including a knitting machine comprising a jacquard means, individual controlling elements coacting with the needles of the machine, said elements being responsive to a pattern of the jacquard to be moved so that diierent elements occupy relatively advanced and retract--l ed position upon actuation by the jacquard, means tractedfposition, and means for releasably locking in set position those elements which have been moved to the advanced position, while the jacquard pattern remains unchanged, to thus avoid repeated movement of such elements upon each stitching operation of the machine.

9. A device including a knitting machine having a needle bed having reciprocatory hook-andlatchgneedles therein, individual upright weft carrying elements each of which is individually movable to and fro to lay a weft across one needle or across a plurality of needles, said elements being individually movable back and forth to different positions along a needle, means for causing movement of the elements to said different positions, and actuator means for moving the elements in one of said positions with each element moving past one needle, and for moving the remaining elements with each element moving past a plurality of needles, whereby filled-in and open-work fabric portions can be knitted according to a desired pattern, means for feeding warp yarns to the needles, and means coacting with the needles for laying another weft yarn across all the needles, means for periodically actuating the last named means after the needles have made a plurality of stitches, the first named means including a jacquard means and individual control elements for the weft carrying elements, and means for releasably locking certain of said control elements to maintain selected weft carrying elements in a required position during the period mentioned.

10. A knitting machine including a jacquard system therefor, comprising a series of diierent pattern controlling jacquard sections, and means for feeding the latter in a continuous recurrent cycle, including means for operatively positioning a section relative to a jacquard responsive device of the machine and for thereafter removing said section from operative relation to said device, the last mentioned means lincluding a carrier intermittently angularly movable about its longitudinal axis, said carrier having means at diierentsides thereof for engaging a plurality of jacquard sections to lie at different sides thereof, and means for actuating said carrier.

11. A knitting machine including a jacquard system having ajacquard pattern strip members, means responsive to said strip members for controlling the knitting of the machine, a rotary jacquard bar, and feeding means for successively actuating the strip members in a predetermined sequence, including means for removing a strip member from the jacquard system and disposing the strip member on the jacquard bar, in operative relation relative to said responsive means,`

said jacquard bar being bodily movable relative to the responsive means, and means for receiving the strip member from the jacquard bar, whereby a row of the strip members is maintained so that the strip members are taken from one end of the row and returned to the other end thereof, said feeding means being constructed to cause

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