Knitting technology, Third Edition

17.5
Knitting motions of the straight bar frame
The three directions of motion required for the knitting action are provided from
two separate sources. The rotary motion of the cam-shaft produces the vertical and

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The straight bar frame and full-fashioning
197
horizontal movement of the fashioning points and the needle bar. The sideways 
reciprocating movement for the yarn carriers and for introducing the sinkers in
serial sequence via the slurcock is obtained from a coulier or draw cam attached to
a shaft, set at right angles to the main cam-shaft at the back of the machine,
which oscillates a draw lever. A variable draw ensures that the stroke of the draw
is related to the varying knitting width. Thus, more courses per minute are knitted
on narrower widths. Operating speeds of a hundred courses per minute can be
achieved.
17.6
Knitting action of the plain straight bar frame
Figure 17.2 shows the cross-section of the knitting head containing the following
elements:
A
Bearded needle
, having a cranked end for location in the tricked and drilled
needle bar.
B
Sinker
– only one between every other needle space – with a reinforced back
and, at the front, a ‘catch’ to sink the yarn around the needles, and a ‘neb’ to
separate the old and new loops until knock-over.
C
Divider
, occupying each remaining space, usually having the same shaped front
as the sinker but with an extended tail at the back.
D
Knocking-over bit
– one directly beneath each sinker and divider – having a
‘throat’ for holding the loops and a ‘nose’ for knocking-over.
E
Needle bar
, having a compound horizontal and vertical movement.
F
Striking jack
, fulcrummed at its lower end, each one with its ‘nose’ resting on a
sinker back, and a ‘spring’ exerting pressure on its ‘tail’.