Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines.
We, THOMAS KIDDIER, JAMES KIDDIER and JOHN WILLIAM KIDDIER all of Bell
Street Works, Arkwright Street, Nottingham, Machine Builders, do hereby declaro
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to improve the production of broad rib fabric
in rotary knitting machines.
In the Specification of a former Patent No. 41 in the year 1881 was described an
arrangement of knitting machinery for effecting this same object in which the
machine needles were in sets at intervals apart dependent on the width of
rib to be made and in which an extra pressing bar was used to act when required
on the beards of those frame needles only which are opposite to machine needles.
According to our invention we obviate the necessity of using an extra presser bar
for this purpose and we attain the same end by forming some of the frame needles,
namely, those opposite to two of the machine needles or rather opposite to the space
between two of theso needles with short beards whilst the remainder are formed with
long beards so that when required the beards of all the needles may be pressed
after the loops of work on the needle stems have passed under the long beards but
not under the short ones so that the loops of work may at the times required
be cast off from the short bearded needles without being cast off from the long bearded
needles.
lu the production of narrowings in the broad rib fabrics when it is required to
transfer the loops forming one rib from the needles on which they were formed on to
the needles holding the loops of the next rib we form the rotary knitting machine in
such a manner that each complete narrowing is effected by two or more consecutive
narrowings by two or more consecutive revolutions of the cam shaft in place of at
one revolution of the cam shaft as heretofore.
For example, for effecting a narrowing when making a 3 and 2 rib we at the first
narrowing course shift the loops on the pair of machine needles not on to the
next pair of machine neodlos but on to a pair of points or beardless needles situated
between them and then at the second narrowing course we take the loops from the
points and transfer them on to the needles which are to receive them. At the same
time the loops on the frame needles on either side of the rib are shifted inwards two
needles at a time and not a distance of all four needles at one operation.
In a similar manner we form narrowing in other broad ribs with other number
of revolutions of the cam shaft so as to effect the complete narrowing at two or more
operations.
Dated this 8th day of February 1889.
THOMAS KIDDIER.
JAMES KIDDIER.
JOHN WM. KIDDIER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines.
We, THOMAS KIDDIER, JAMES KIDDIER, and JOHN WILLIAM KIDDIER all of Bell
Street Works, Arkwright Street, Nottingham, Machine Builders, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our Invention has for its object to improve the production of broad rib fabric
in rotary knitting machines.

page_text: In the Specification of a former Patent No. 41 in the year 1881 was described an
arrangement of knitting machinery for effucting this same object in which the machine
needles were in sets at intervals apart dependent on the width of rib to be made
and in which an extra pressing bar was used to act when required on the beards of
those frame neoilles only which are opposite to machine needles.
According to our invention we obviate the necessity of using an extra presser bar
for this purpose and we attain the same end by forming some of the frame needles,
namely, those opposite to two of the machine needles or rather opposite to the space
between two of these needles with short beards whilst the remainder aro forined with
long heards so that when required the beards of all the needles inny be pressed after
the loops of work on the needle stems have passed under the long beards but not
under the short ones so that the loops of work may at the times required be cast off
from the short hearded needles without being cast off from the long bearded
needles.
In the production of narrowings in the broad rib fabrics when it is required to
transfer the loops forming one rib from the needles on which they were formed on to
the needles holding the loops of the next rib wo form the rotary knitting machine in
such a manner that each complete narrowing is effected by two or more consecutive
narrowings by two or more consecutive revolutions of the cam shaft in place of at one
revolution of the cam shaft as heretofore.
For example, for effecting a narrowing when making a 3 and 2 rib we at the
first narrowing course shift the loops on the pair of machine needles not on to the
next pair of machine neodles but on to a pair of points or beardless needles situated
between them and then at the second narrowing course we take the loops from the
points and transfer them on to the needles which are to receive them. At the same
time the loops on the frame needles on either side of the rib are shitted inwards two
needles at a time and not a distance of all four needles at oue operation.
In a similar manner we form narrowing in other broad ribs with other number of
revolutions of the cam shaft so as to effect the complete narrowing at two or more
operations.
Also by using beardless needles together with the boarded machine needles as
above described we are able readily to run work both on to the machine and frame
needles.
In order that our Invention may be the better understood we will by the aid of
the accompanying drawings proceed to describe means pursued by us in carrying the
same into effect.
In the drawings we have shewn our improvements applied to a rotary knitting
machine such as is described in the Specification of a Patent No. 2200 in the year 1879
but they may be applied to other constructions of rotary knitting machines adapted
for producing rib work.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are vertical cross sections of parts of the machine. Figures 4, 5,
6, 7, 8 and 9 are separate views of some of the parts.
In these figures a is the machine noodle bar carrying bearded needles a¹ and
beardless noodles or points a². is tho frame neodle bar carrying long boarded
needles and short bearded needles b³.
These are best seen in the perspective diagram view. Figure 5-they are shewn
as adapted for producing a throu and two rib-e is the sinker bar and d the bar by
which the work is knockod over the machine needle hoads-e e are the points for
shifting the loops when narrowing.
We will first describe the way in which we causo loops of work to be placed onto
the machine and frame neodles.
In making say 3 and 2 or other broad ribbed hose it is desirable that the fabric
should be commenced with a 1 and 1 ribbed top or a plain top. To do this tho 1 and
1 ribbed top or plain top is run on to an ordinary transfer bar (figure 1) and aro
transferred on to the machine needles both the bearded and beardless needles-the
machine needle bar being then turned up and supported in the position shewn in
Figure 1.

page_text: When this has been done the machine needle bar is placed into the position shown
in Figure and another bar g carrying sharp points g' curved at their ends and
formed with grooves on their underside is then used by the attendant. He dips the
sharp ends of the points g' into the eyes of the machine needles a a³ and passes them
under the loops. He then pushes the point bar to one side so that the points come
opposite the spaces between the machine needles and presses the bar downwards into
the position shewn in Figure 4. The needle bars are then placed in such position
that the tops of the frame neeilles come into the grooves of the points g' as shewn at
Figure 6. The machine needles are now pressed downwards between the frame
needles and afterwards the points g' are withdrawn. In this way the loops are left
both upon the frame and machine needles.
The machine is then started a thread is drawn into loops between the frame
needles and sunk under all their beards. The frame needles are then pressed against
the front of the sinker bar c which acts as the frame presser, the ok loops are
cast off from the frame needles and the new loops are distributed on the machine
needles a' a².
The machine needle beards are then pressed by being forced up to the underside of
the sinker bar c and the work is knocked over the machine needle heards by the
bar d.
The extra pressing motion is now given to the frame needles by allowing them to
rise to such a position that the long beards b¹ cover the loops and the short beards 6
are above the loops. The frame needles are then pressed a second time and the
loops are cast off the short bearded needles thus completing a course-the next
course then commences and is made in the same manner and so on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed wo declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The means substantially as described for running either plain or rib tops on to
the frame and machine needles substantially as described.
2. A rotary knitting machine in which the machine needle bar carries bearded and
beardless needles and the frame needle bar carries needles with long and short beards
for making broad rib fabrics substantially as described.
3. The construction of the narrowing mechanism in such a manner that each
complete narrowing is performed by two or more revolutions of the cam shaft sub-
stantially as described.
4. A rotary knitting machine in which the machine needle bar carries beardless
needles or points in the spaces between sets of bearded needles which it also carries
so that each narrowing may be formed by two or more consecutive shiftings of the
loops.
5. The employment of needles with long beards together with needles with short
beards substantially as described for making broad ribbed fabrics.
Datod this 26th day of October 1889.
THOMAS KIDDIER.
JAMES KIDDIER.
JOHN WM. KIDDIER.