IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Cotton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1880.
WILLIAM COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNITTING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in knitting machines to enable
all varieties of ribbed work to be properly fashioned whilst being made upon them.
For this purpose I combine with a rib frame two separate and independent narrowing
machines, one to carry the points which are to act with the frame needles, and the
other to carry the points which are to act with the machine needles; thus the two
sets of narrowing machines being entirely independent one of the other the motion
given to one set of points will in no way be affected by the motions given to the
other set of points.
In that class of rib frame known as Cotton's I fix the two sets of points of the
narrowing machine, which is to act with the frame needles by means of fingers, to
two finger bars, which bars, as heretofore, are supported by arms which project
from a horizontal shaft at the back of the upper part of the rib frame; and I also,
as heretofore, provide means for rocking this shaft so as to lower the points, and
allow them to take loops from the vertical frame needles, and also provide means
for moving the finger bars endwise so as to move the two sets of points nearer to
or further away from one another to allow the loops taken by the points to be
placed on to other frame needles than those from which they were taken;
fashioning mechanism of this kind has for a long time been applied to rib
frames.
In the narrowing machine which is to act with the machine needles I also use
two sets of points carried by two finger bars, and these finger bars I carry by arms
which project from another horizontal shaft which can be rocked independently of
the shaft before mentioned, and I also provide means for shifting the finger bars
endwise, independently of the movement given to the other finger bars. I also
provide means for moving the points forwards and backwards, and also for tilting
them so as to facilitate their taking and holding and afterwards delivering up the
loops taken by them. In some cases I effect this simply by giving a rocking

page_text: motion to the finger bars which carry them, and in other cases I do not carry the
finger bars directly by the arms of the rocking shaft, but carry them by plates
which are jointed by horizontal joints to the extremity of these arms, so that by
turning the plates on their joints the finger bars themselves may be moved forwards
or backwards, and so give great facility for controlling the position and movement
of the points; in this latter case I place the horizontal rocking shaft by which the
parts of the narrowing machine are carried somewhat above the level of the
needles, whilst in the former case it should (like the horizontal shaft of the
narrowing machine which works with the frame needles) be on a level with
the needles.
The shifting of the loops upon the frame needles and upon the machine needles
may, when a narrowing or widening is to be made, be carried on simultaneously
and effected during a complete revolution of the cam shaft, or the shifting of the
loops upon the frame needles may be first effected, and then the shifting of the
loops upon the machine needles, or vice versa.
When the shifting of the loops on the two sets of needles is to be carried on
simultaneously I effect the operation in the following manner:-When the loops of
work are upon the stems of the horizontal machine needles, and the franie needles
are down, the points which act with the machine needles are lowered on to these
needles so as to cover and close their beards; the machine needles and points then
both move forward, and as the work stands still the loops on the needles which are
covered by the points come on to the points. The frame needles then rise and go
back so as to cause the points which work with these needles to close and overlap
the beards of the needles, the points and needles then both go down, so that the
loops leave the needles and come on to the points. Both sets of points and needles
then rise to allow the frame points to clear the top of the knocking over bits.
Both sets of points are then traversed sidewise to the extent required, and after-
wards both sets of needles and points descend to allow the extremities of the frame
points to enter between the knocking over bits, so that the loops which are on
these points shall not be knocked off from them. The machine needles then go
forward and enter the loops on the machine points. The frame needles also go
forward and press against the frame points; they then rise and enter the loops on
these points. Afterwards the frame points rise up and out of the way, and the
machine points also rise somewhat to clear the top of the frame needles; the
machine points then move back and leave the loops which were on them on the
machine needles, and the machine points then also rise up so as to go out of
the way.
When the shifting of the loops on the frame needles is to be effected before the
shifting of the loops on the machine needles, or vice versa, I form the cams on the
cam shaft in such manner that one half or portion of a revolution of the cam shaft
shall shift the loops on one set of needles, whilst the other half or portion of the
revolution of the cam shaft shall shift the loops on the other set of needles.
When plain ribbed work is to be made, and the narrowing mechanism is not
being from time to time called into action, the narrowing machine which works
with the machine needles can be turned back on its horizontal shaft so as to be
out of the way. For this purpose the arm by which motion is given to the shaft
is made loose on the shaft, but when the narrowing machine is to be brought into
action can be locked to an arm which is fast on the shaft, whilst if the narrowing
machine is not required to be used it can be set loose from it, and the narrowing
machine then turned back so as to be out of the way.
"
The above description applies to a rib frame of the kind now well known as
'Cotton's," in which the frame needles are vertical and the machine needles hori-
zontal; but all kinds of rib frames, whether the frame needles be vertical, horizontal,
or at an angle, may be similarly arranged to allow of all varieties of fashioned
work with perfect selvages being produced upon them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Cotton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September
1880.
WILLIAM COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNITTING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in knitting machines to enable
them.
all varieties of ribbed work to be properly fashioned whilst being made upon
For this purpose I combine with a rib frame two separate and independent
narrowing machines, one to carry the points which are to act with the frame
needles, and the other to carry the points which are to act with the machine
needles; thus the two sets of narrowing machines being entirely independent one
of the other, the motion given to one set of points will in no way be affected by
the motions given to the other set of points.
In that class of rib frame known as Cotton's I fix the two sets of points of the
narrowing machine, which is to act with the frame needles by means of fingers, to
two finger bars, which bars, as heretofore, are supported by arms which project
from a horizontal shaft at the back of the upper part of the rib frame; and I also,
as heretofore, provide means for rocking this shaft so as to lower the points and
allow them to take loops from the vertical frame needles, and also provide means
for moving the finger bars endwise so as to move the two sets of points nearer to
or further away from one another to allow the loops taken by the points to be
placed on to other frame needles than those from which they were taken;
fashioning mechanism of this kind has for a long time been applied to rib
frames.
In the narrowing machine which is to act with the machine needles I also use
two sets of points carried by two finger bars, and these finger bars I carry by arms
which project from another horizontal shaft which can be rocked independently of
the shaft before mentioned; and I also provide means for shifting the finger bars
end wise independently of the movement given to the other finger bars. I also
provide means for moving the points forwards and backwards, and also for tilting
them so as to facilitate their taking and holding and afterwards delivering up the
loops taken by them. In some cases I effect this simply by giving a rocking
motion to the finger bars which carry them, and in other cases I do not carry the
finger bars directly by the arms of the rocking shaft, but carry them by plates
which are jointed by horizontal joints to the extremity of these arms, so that by
turning the plates on their joints the finger bars themselves may be moved forwards
or backwards, and so give great facility for controlling the position and movement
of the points. In this latter case I place the horizontal rocking shaft by which
the parts of the narrowing machine are carried somewhat above the level of the
needles, whilst in the former case it should (like the horizontal shaft of
the narrowing machine which works the frame needles) be on a level with the
needles.
•
The shifting of the loops upon the frame needles and upon the machine needles
may, when a narrowing widening is to be made, be carried on simultaneously
aud effected during a complete revolution of the cam shaft, or the shifting of the
loops upon the frame needles may be first effected, and then the shifting of the
loops upon the machine needles, or vice versa.
When plain ribbed work is to be made, and the narrowing mechanism is not
being from time to time called into action, the narrowing machine which works
with the machine needles can be turned back in its horizontal shaft so as to be out
of the way. For this purpose the arm by which motion is given to the shaft is
made loose on the shaft, but when the narrowing machine is to be brought into
action can be locked-to an arm which is fast on the shaft, whilst if the narrowing
machine is not required to be used it can be set loose from it, and-the-narrowing
machine then turned back so as to be out of the way.

page_text: In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shown my improvements applied to
knitting machinery, such as heretofore commonly constructed by me for producing
rib work.
In this machine the frame needles are vertical and the machine needles horizontal,
but all kinds of rib frames, whether the frame needles be vertical, horizontal, or at
an angle, may be similarly arranged to allow of all varieties of fashioned work with
perfect selvages being produced upon them.
Figure 1 shows in cross section some of the working parts of such knitting
machine with my improvements applied to it; Figure 2 is a front view of parts of
same. The other parts of the machine, which are for producing a course of work,
are in their general construction and mode of action the same as shewn in Drawings
annexed to the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 713, in the
year 1874, and which is now well known, so that it is unnecessary to give here any
general description of it.
A is the needle bar carrying the frame needles; this bar is jointed at its lower end
to the horizontal arm of a lever, not shewn in the Drawings; the other arm of this
lever descends and bears against a cam on the cam shaft, as shewn in the Drawings
of the Specification above mentioned. The needle bar can by this means be raised
or lowered; in addition the needle bar has an arm descending from it which is
coupled by a link to another vertical lever arm, which at its lower end bears against
another cam on the cam shaft, and by this means the needles, in addition to being
raised or lowered, can be swung backwards or forwards, as described in the before
mentioned Specification.
B is the needle bar carrying the machine needles; this needle bar is carried by
arms which are jointed to lever arms B', other arms of which levers also descend
and are acted on by cams on the cam shaft, so that the machine needles can be
moved backwards or forwards by the action of such cams. These needles can also
by the action of other cams be raised or lowered, as described in the Specification
before mentioned. C are the knocking over bits secured to a bar D which, as
usual in machines constructed by me, is fixed to the framing of the machine, and
in addition carries the sinkers E. The other parts of the machine for producing a
course of work are not shewn in the Drawing, as their construction and mode of
operation is, as before stated, well understood. Many of such operating parts are
also shewn in the Drawings of the Specification above mentioned.
I will now proceed to describe more fully the parts of the mechanism which
relate to narrowing and widening the pieces of work. F are the points which are
to act with the frame needles, and G the points which are to act with the machine
needles.
The points F are by fingers F1 secured to finger bars F2; there are two such
finger bars, one carrying the points which are to act at one selvage of each piece of
work, the other carrying the points which are to act at the other selvage of each
piece of work. The finger bars F' are carried by arms H from a shaft I, to which
a rocking motion can be given by other arms acted upon by cams on the cam shaft.
The way of raising and lowering these bars, and of shogging the bars endwise step
by step at the times required, is the same as heretofore in machines constructed by
me, and is so well understood that it is unnecessary to give here any description
of it.
The points G which are to act with the machine needles are carried by fingers J
from finger bars J2. These bars, in place of being carried by the arms H which
carry the other finger bars, as in the Specification herein before mentioned, I now
carry by separate and independent arms, so that any required motion can be given
to them quite independently of the other bars. The finger bars J2 in the arrange-
ment of mechanism shewn in the Drawing.are carried by arms K, which at their
lower end are jointed to the extremity of other arms L which extend from a
shaft M to which a rocking motion can be given from cams on the cam shaft, in
the same way that the shaft I receives its motion. The arms L also carry another
shaft O, which can similarly be rocked by means of cams on the cam shaft. From

page_text: the shaft O project arms P (at the selvages of the pieces of work that are being
made in the machine); these have pins P' standing out from them which enter
slots in the arms K. By these means the finger bars Js can be raised or lowered,
and simultaneously moved somewhat backwards and forwards by the rocking of
the shaft M. They can also be raised and lowered, moved backwards and forwards,
and tilted to different angles by the rocking of the shaft O. The finger bars J'
have arms Ja extending from them, in which are slots which embrace pins P2 on
the arms P of the shaft O. The finger bars are thus turned with the arms K just
as though pins on such arms entered longitudinal slots in the finger bars.
The points carried by the fingers J can therefore be raised and lowered, moved
backwards and forwards, or tilted up and down just as required, and quite
independently of the other points which act with the frame needles.
The finger bars J2 can also be shogged end wise to and fro by screw mechanism,
just in the same way that the finger bars F. receive their to and fro endway
motion, and as is well understood.
In place of the mechanism by which the machine points are carried being
arranged as shewn at Figure 1, it might be arranged as shewn at Figure 11. In
this arrangement the rock shaft M which carries the narrowing point mechanism
that is to act with the machine needles is placed in the same horizontal line as the
shaft I which carries the frame point mechanism, and both shafts are in the same
horizontal plane, or nearly so, as the machine needles.
The up and down movement of the machine points can be given to them by the
rocking of the shaft M; the backward and forward motion can be given to them
by the rocking of the shaft M', and the points can be tilted by rocking the finger
bars. The finger bars have for this purpose arms fixed to them which are slotted
at their ends; into these slots a pin enters. The pin is carried by an arm P from
a rock shaft O, so that when the shaft is rocked the finger bars are turned and the
points inclined upwards or downwards, as desired.
When the machine is making plain courses of work the narrowing points remain
at rest, the trucks or rollers at the ends of the lever arms which work the narrowing
mechanism being at this time moved aside from the cams which act upon them.
When however after the completion of any desired number of courses a narrowing
or widening is to be made the trucks or rollers of the lever arms, by which move-
ment is given to the several parts of the machine for producing a course of work,
are automatically moved aside from the cams which previously acted upon them,
and the trucks of the lever arms which operate the parts when a narrowing or
widening is to be made are brought in front of the cams which are to act upon
them.
There is no novelty in any part of this mechanism, and its action is well under-
stood, so that it is unnecessary to further describe it.
In order that the action of the mechanism when producing a narrowing or
widening course may be fully understood, I have at Figures 3 to 10 shewn
diagrams of the successive positions of the acting parts, the cams on the cam shaft
being properly shaped to cause these parts to assume the positions shewn, as is well
understood.
In the cross section of the machine, shewn at Figure 1, the parts are in the
positions they assume at the completion of each working course. When a fashioning
course is next to be made the frame needles descend and come forwards, whilst the
machine needles move backwards or inwards, so that the work is brought forward
on to their stems. The machine points also descend and close and cover the beards
of such of the machine needles as are below them, in order that the loops on such
needles may come on to the points when the needles and points are next moved
forward. The parts are then in the position shewn by the diagram, Figure 3.
The machine needles and points now move forward together, and the frame needles
go backwards; the loops on the machine needles so come on to the-machine points,
and the machine needles move still further forward until they are free from the
loops taken from them by the points. The frame needles are also during this time

page_text: rising slightly, and the frame points descending, so as to approach one another.
The parts are now in the position shewn by the diagram, Figure 4. Afterwards
the frame needles rise until their beards are covered by the frame points, and aro
pressed backwards against them. The parts are now in the position shewn by the
diagram, Figure 5.
The frame needles and points now both descend, and the points enter the loops
on such needles as they are pressing against. The frame needles continue to descend
still further until they are clear of the loops and leave the loops on the points. The
parts are then in the position shewn by the diagram, Figure 6. Both sets of
needles and points now rise until the ends of the frame points are above the
knocking over bits, the loops being now kept on the frame points by the machino
needles and points having been raised. The machine needles also are moved some-
what forwards to free them from the machine points. The parts are now in tho
position shewn at diagram, Figure 7, and in position for the endway shogging
motion to be given to the finger bars, the amount of traverse given respectively to
the frame and machine finger bars being varied according to the nature of the rib
fabric which the knitting machine is arranged to produce, and according to the
extent to which it is desired to widen or narrow the fabric.
After the traverse of the finger bars has taken place both sets of needles and
points descend to cause the frame points to enter between the knocking over bits,
so that the loops which they carry cannot be knocked off from them. The machine
needles then rise against their points, and go inwards or backwards so as to enter
the loops upon them. The parts are shewn in this position at diagram, Figure 8.
Afterwards the frame points descend, and the frame needles go backwards against
them; the frame needles then rise and enter the loops on the points; they then
come into the position shewn by the diagram, Figure 9. The frame points next
rise up and go out of action, the frame needles descend and go forwards, and the
machine points rise until they are above the top of the frame needles, the machine
needles and points then go backward and leave the loops which were upon the
points on the stems of the needles. The parts are shewn in this position at diagram,
Figure 10. Afterwards the frame needles go backwards and rise, and the machine
points are swung forwards to bring them to their original position, as shewn at
Figure 1. The parts are then in position for a working course to cominence, and
the machine goes on and produces work until the next narrowing or widening is to
take place, when the operations above described are again repeated.
In place of the two sets of independent narrowing points being operated as
above described, so that the shifting of the loops is carried on simultaneously upon
the machine and upon the frame needles, the two operations might be effected one
after the other, as illustrated at diagrams, Figures 12 to 17. The working parts in
these diagrams are presumed to be carried in the manner shewn at Figure 11.
At the end of each working course the parts are in the position shewn at
Figure 11. When a fashioning course is to be made the frame needles descend
somewhat, the frame points descend more, and the frame needles go back against
them, so that the points are made to cover the beards of the needles. The parts are
shewn in this position in diagram, Figure 12. The machine needles are now moved
slightly forward to allow the frame points to descend, and the points and needles
then both go down together and the points enter the loops on the needles. After-
wards the frame needles descend and leave the loops on the points. The parts are
shewn in this position in Figure 13. The frame needles and points then rise so
that the points get above the knocking over bits; the machine needles are also
raised to keep the work on to the points; the frame points are then traversed. The
parts are in this position in diagram, Figure 14. The frame points now descend
and the frame needles go backwards against them and then rise so as to enter the
loops upon them, as shewn at diagram, Figure 15, and continue to rise until the
loops get below the beards of the needles; they then again descend and go forward,
at the same time the machine needles go forward, until the loops of work upon
them are on their stems; the machine points then come down and close and cover

page_text: over their beards, as shewn at diagram, Figure 16. The machine points and needles
then go forwards and the frame needles backwards, so as to bring the loops on to
the machine points; the parts are in this position in diagram, Figure 17. The
machine points are now traversed and again pressed down on the needles. The
needles and points then go back together, the needles pass into the loops on the
points, and the parts come into the position shewn at diagram 16. When the points
are clear of the loops they are raised and the other parts are moved back to the
position shewn at Figure 11, and the machine is then ready for making another
working course.
I would state that although in both of the descriptions above given of ways of
producing narrowings or widenings in ribbed work by the use of the two inde-
pendent sets of points (one set for the machine needles and another set for the frame
needles), I have described the shifting of loops upon the frame needles and the
shifting of loops upon the machine needles as being effected simultaneously at each
selvage, yet it is not essential that this should be so. The shifting of the loops may
be effected at one selvage only during one fashioning course, and any certain number
of courses may be made before the fashioning of the other selvage is effected, both
frame and machine then being shifted, either simultaneously, or frame needles first
and then machine, or vice versa.
At Figures 18 and 19 I have shewn how the narrowing machine which works
with the machine needles can be turned back, so as to be out of the way when
lengths of plain work are being made.
M is the rocking shaft by which the other parts of this narrowing machine are
carried; on it is a loose arm R, which by a connecting rod S is coupled to a lever that
is acted on by a cam on the cam shaft, and is so rocked upwards and downwards.
On the shaft M is also fixed an arm T. U is a bolt by which the arms R and T
can be bolted together. The bolt passes through slots in the arms, as shewn; when
the bolt is slackened it can be moved outwards in these slots. The arm T, which is
fast on the shaft M, can then be turned backwards and the whole of the narrowing
mechanism carried by the shaft can so be moved out of the way.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The employment in rib frame knitting machines of all kinds, whether the
frame needles be vertical, horizontal, or at any angle, of two narrowing machines
entirely separate and independent one from the other, one to act with the frame
needles and the other with the machine needles, substantially as herein before
described.
Second. The employment in rib frame knitting machines of the class known as
Cotton's of narrowing mechanism, arranged substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figures 1 and 11.
Third. The arrangements of mechanism, substantially as herein before described
and shewn at Figures 1 and 11, for shifting the loops upon the machine needles of
rib frame knitting machines when fashioning.
Fourth. The means, substantially as described with reference to Figures 18 and 19,
whereby the narrowing machine which works with the machine needles can be
turned upwards and out of the way when not in use.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Cotton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM COTTON. (L.S.)