Changing Stitch
To make the changes from plain rib to half or full cardigan, or to plain jersey, etc., the slides have inclined planes under the cam plates and these engage notches or pins on studs extending through from the cams and by this means raise the cams up into the cam plate out of action, or let them down into action as the case may be. The illustration, Fig. 47, shows them all down in the proper position to make the plain rib or cuff stitch.
To change to half cardigan stitch it would be necessary to raise cam 3b up out of operation, which is done by slide n. Fig. 48, which in turn is moved to the proper position to accomplish this by the lever h, Fig. 46. This slide has three different positions, therefore three different functions to perform in the automatic changes, which are accomplished as follows: To make a half cardigan stitch a low stud (there are three heights, low, medium and high) should be placed so it will come under lever h. When this takes place the top end of this lever is moved to the position where it would engage the upper shoulder of slide n, and on the return of the carriage it would draw this slide out to its farthest point, or until it is pushed off the shoulder by the taper on that side of the guard or extension p. When the slide is moved to this position it raises up and holds out of operation cam 3b, thus causing the machine to make the half cardigan stitch. This should be readily understood from what has gone before.
To change to plain rib stitch place a medium stud under the same lever (h) and its top position will be changed to where it will push the slide clear in as the carriage moves to the left. On the return movement the lever will engage the shoulder on the opposite side and draw it out until released by the guard as before. This releases cam 3b, which drops down into working position. The fact that the sloping shoulders on each side of the stationary guards are at different distances from the carriage causes this slide, n, to be left in different positions according to which side the lever h engages it.
In the third change, which makes the French rack or false knop stitches, it is necessary to raise up out of operation the cams 3b and 3c. To do this a high stud should be placed to come under the same lever (h), which would then be moved to a position where it would come in contact with the shoulder v (which is a part of the slide n) and would push the slide in until disengaged by another sloping guard which cannot be seen. When the lever drops back on to the chain without any studs under it it is clear of all slides; therefore will make no changes. The other slides are moved in the same way as the one just explained, but each one has the part, which make? the changes, constructed in such a manner that it will operate that particular member of the locks for which it is intended.