IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN- NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robinson Hancock, of New Basford, in the County
of Nottingham, Machinist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN-
NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robinson Hancock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1880.
JAMES ROBINSON HANCOCK, of New Basford, in the County of Nottingham,
Machinist. IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN-NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINES."
"
My improvements relate to what are known as Lever's lace machines, and
consists in constructing each machine with the following parts, namely:-Two end
standards and one or more intermediate standards, if the length of the machine
requires it; these standards are connected together by a top-tie bar and a bottom
tie-bar; in addition to the standards there are four or more brackets, which with
the standards either form bearings for or bearings are secured to them for two
rocking shafts; the upper ends of the brackets clip the lower flange of the top tie
bar to which they are secured by screw bolts; the rocking shafts carry the levers
which operate the landing bars, and above the back rocking shaft are two or more
fixed axles, which carry the levers for operating the point bars. Under the top tie
bar is a cam shaft which revolves in bearings, forming part of or being carried by
the standards and brackets; this shaft carries the cams for operating the several
parts of the machine'; the remaining parts of the machine are of the usual
construction.
By such means I attain greater facility of construction, and the machines are of
greater stability and work steadier than any heretofore constructed.

page_text: and brackets D form bearings for two rocking shafts E, which carry the levers
which operate the landing bars E¹, provided with trucks running on the saddle in
the usual way.
Above the back rocking shaft there are three fixed axles F, which carry the
levers for operating the point bars G.
The ends of each of the axles F are carried by and securely fixed in two of the
brackets D, which are of such a shape that they not only form intermediate
bearings for the two rocking shafts and bearings for the fixed axles, but also
intermediate bearings for a cam shaft H, the ends of such shaft being carried by
bearings formed in the end standards.
.
The underside of the inner upper ends of the brackets are provided with chipping
strips, which lie upon corresponding strips on the top side of the lower flange of
the top tie bar and its projections, thus enabling them to be accurately adjusted
more readily than if they were secured to the underside of the flange or to the
sides of the vertical web of the tie bar. The point bars are operated as follows:-
Each point bar arm carries a loop bearing I at its upper end, through which an
axle is passed provided with a truck operated by a cam on the cam shaft H
in the usual way. The axle is carried by a bracket of the usual construction, but
rocking upon the fixed axle F before described. The double armed levers employed
to knock out the point bars do not rock with but upon the rocking shafts E, upon
which other levers are securely fixed which rock with the shafts. The outer
ends of these levers are hinged to the upper ends of the connecting links, which
have their lower ends hinged to the landing bars E¹ operated by cams on the cam
shaft in the usual way. The back and front rocking shafts are equally moved
simultaneously by the following means-At the right and left ends of the machine
the driving shaft K carries balance weighted fly wheels K', each provided with a
crank pin carrying the lower end of a connecting rod L, the upper end of which
works on an axle secured in the front end of a lever M, the back end of which is
firmly keyed on the back rocking shaft E. The lever M is connected by a link M¹
to a lever M², keyed on the front rocking shaft. The lever M² has a horned
shaped projection on its front, on the top side of which a truck lies which is
carried by a lever N rocking on an axle pin, secured on the lower flange of the tie
bar C. The lever N raises and lowers a T shaped bracket carrying drivers, which
communicate an intermittent motion to a toothed wheel on the front end of a
horizontal shaft, provided with a worm which drives a toothed wheel on the right
outer end of the work roller, seen at Figures 2 and 4. The catch bars are carried
on and by the landing bars, and are operated in the usual way.
The cam shaft is revolved by the usual bevelled toothed gearing shewn in
outline to the left of the right end standard at Figure 4, the driving shaft being
provided between the central and end standards with two hand wheels for the
convenience of the workman, the left end of the driving shaft is provided with the
usual pulleys for a driving belt.*
The cams employed to give the requisite movements to the several parts consist
of six point-bar pressing-up cams, one of which is shewn at Figure 5, six point bar
knocking out cams, one of which is shewn at Figure 6, and four catch bar lifting
cams, one of which is shewn at Figure 7.
One or more floor plates may be employed to connect the intermediate standards
and end standards together in the usual way.
By such means I attain greater facility of construction and produce a more open
machine by which a greater quantity of work can be placed upon the net roller,
and the machine is of greater stability and works steadier than any heretofore
constructed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of a Lever's lace machine,
constructed as herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed,
Second. For the brackets clipping the lower edge of the top tie bar.
•

page_text: Third. For mounting the knocking out levers to rock independently upon the
back rocking shaft, instead of a short fixed shaft placed below the back rocking
shaft.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robinson Hancock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
JAMES ROBINSON HANCOCK. (L.S.)
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.