IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Campion, of the Town and County of
the Town of Nottingham, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, and
William. Campion, of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham,
Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY."
Scaled the 2nd May 1871, and dated the 13th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Campion and
William Campion at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 13th March 1871.
T:
1
We, WILLIAM CAMPION, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, and WILLIAM CAMPION,
of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham, Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:
."
T
!
The Invention has for its object a novel arrangement and combination

page_text: obtained, an improved quality of work is produced, and facility is afforded
for narrowing the work as required by self-acting means.
Our Invention mainly applies to that description of machine in which
a combination of needles, hooks, jacks, sinkers, and presser is employed,
but is also applicable to other descriptions of knitting machinery. The
hooks are cast in leads, the jacks work in two sleys, one of which is cast
in leads whilst the other is formed by the upper ends of some of the
sinkers. The ends of the "jacks" are rounded or otherwise formed to
work within suitable hollows formed in alternate sinkers which we will
for convenience call the jack sinkers, which sink a loop on every alter-
nate needle. The sinkers intermediate of the jack sinkers are fixed in
a bar which is cut to receive them and forms a sley to allow the jack
sinkers to work in. When the jack sinkers have sunk the loops on
every alternate needle, the bar sinkers come down with the bar and
divide the loops. This sinker bar works in guides formed in or fixed to
the frame, and is operated by levers fixed on a shaft, on which is fixed
another lever or levers worked by a suitable cam or cams on the main
shaft. The hook bar is carried by the front ends of levers mounted on
necks or axes fixed to the framing, the other ends of these levers being
provided with rollers or trucks to work on suitable cams on the main
shaft by which the hook bar is operated, these levers being held up to
the cams by springs. A lifting bar is attached to the hook bar to lift
the "jacks" at the same time that the hook bar rises. The "locker" and
faller" bars are carried by the same levers which operate the sinker
bar, the "faller" bar being at one end and the "locker" bar at the
other end of such levers. The presser bar which works at the back of
the sinkers is carried by levers which work on the before-mentioned
necks or axes, these levers are also provided with trucks or rollers, and
are operated by cams fixed on the main shaft.
The needle bar is carried in the following manner:-A shaft running
through the frame has levers fixed thereon, one or more of which are
provided with trucks or rollers resting against cams. In the ends of
these levers is fixed another shaft, on which are mounted arms to which
the needle bar is fixed, the said needle bar being supported in front by
a rod or bar mounted on a shaft or axis which runs through the frame
and is provided with eccentric ends by which the needle bar is raised or
lowered in the following manner in order to vary the stiffness of the

page_text: work as may be required. On the end of this eccentric shaft is mounted
a wheel or segment with teeth on the side and on the top. On the same
shaft is fixed a spring catch which works in the teeth on the side of the
wheel or segment to regulate the stiffness of the work by turning the
shaft, and thereby raising and lowering the needle bar. A stop lever
fixed on the frame drops into one or other of the teeth formed on the
edge of the wheel or segment. By lifting the said stop lever out of
the teeth, the wheel or segment, and consequently the eccentric shaft
may be turned round in either direction, and when a slack course is
made the segment or wheel is turned back to the same place and there
held by the stop lever.
=
The "drawing" apparatus is arranged and worked in the following
manner: A bevilled whicel on the main shaft takes into and gives
motion to a bevil wheel fixed on a cross shaft working in suitable
bearings. On this cross shaft is fixed a cam which works a slide or
bolt to and fro. On this slide or belt are formed or fixed teeth which
work a pinion fixed on one end of another cross shaft, on the other end
of which is fixed a wheel with two grooves in its periphery. To this
wheel the ends of two cords are attached, the other ends of which are
attached to the needle carrier, and "slur cock" and thereby work
them to and fro. The "slur cock" is fixed to a slide working on a bar
which is attached to the frame. The said slide carries two bolts, the
cords are attached to one of the bolts and the carrier needle to the
other. The bolt to which the cords are attached has inclined ends,
and is provided with two arms or projections, and the bolt to which
the carrier needle is attached has two recesses formed therein, in
which recesses the arms or projections fall at suitable times. This is
effected by a stop or projection fixed to the framing which acts to stop
the carrier needle bolt, and to lift the other bolt to cause one arm or
projection to rise out of and the other to fall into one or other of the
recesses in the carrier needle bolt. The carrier needle has a spring
take-up" fixed on the front thereof to take up the slack of the yarn.
This spring has an eye formed at the end thereof through which the
yarn is passed, whilst the yarn passes partly around pins or guides to
and from the spring "take-up."
€
The narrowing apparatus is constructed and operated in the following
manner: A shaft running through the frame has arms fixed thereon,

page_text: <<
which arms carry another shaft having other arms attached thereto, the
shifters" are fixed,
said arms carry two bars, to which the points or
these shifter" or point bars are worked by a toothed pinion which
takes into a rack formed on or fixed to each of the shifter bars, and
causes the "shifter" bars to move to and fro endwise so as to expand or
close them to shift the loops off some of the needles on to others. A
ratchet wheel is fixed on the axis of the toothed pinion, and this ratchet
wheel is rotated for operating the "shifter" bars by a clawker operated
by a cam, which clawker is caused to rotate the ratchet wheel by
means of jacquard apparatus which acts upon the main shaft to move
it endwise, and thereby to bring another set of cams, as is well
understood, into operation when desired for narrowing, and take them
out of operation when the narrowing is completed, the cam for operating
the clawker being also fixed on such shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Campion and William Campion in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
CAMPION, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer, and WILLIAM CAMPION, of Sneinton, in the
County of Nottingham, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said William Campion and William
Campion, Her special licence that we, the said William Campion and
William Campion, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said William Campion and William Campion, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS

page_text: w. van
цапнету.
IN KNITTING MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said William Campion and William Campion, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Campion and William
Campion, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say:
This Invention has for its object a novel arrangement and combi-
nation of machinery or apparatus for knitting whereby great simplicity
is obtained, an improved quality of work is produced, and facility is
afforded for narrowing the work as required by self-acting means.
Our Invention mainly applies to that description of machine in which
a combination of needles, hooks, jacks, sinkers, and presser is employed,
but is also applicable to other descriptions of knitting machinery. The
hooks are cast in leads; the "jacks" work in two sleys, one of which is
cast in lead's, whilst the other is formed by the upper ends of some of the
sinkers. The ends of the "jacks" are rounded or otherwise formed to
work within suitable hollows formed in alternate sinkers (which we will
for convenience call the "jack sinkers"), which sink a loop on every
alternate needle. The sinkers intermediate of the "jack sinkers" are
fixed in a bar which is cut to receive them, and forms a sley to allow
the "
jack sinkers" to work in. When the "jack sinkers" have sunk the
loops on every alternate needle the "bar sinkers," come down with the
bar and divide the loops. This sinker bar works in guides formed in or
fixed to the frame, and is operated by levers fixed on a shaft on which is
11:
1.
*
11
311
...
fixed another lever or levers worked by a suitable cam or cams on the
main shaft. The hook bar is carried by the front ends of levers mounted
on necks or axes fixed to the framing, the other ends of these levers
being provided with rollers or trucks to work on suitable cams on the
main shaft by which the hook bar is operated, these levers being held up
to the cams by springs. A lifting bar is attached to the hook bar to lift
.:
1...

page_text: 66
the jacks at the same time that the hook bar rises. The locker" and
faller" bars are carried by the same levers which operate the "sinker
bar," the
faller" bar being at one end and the "locker" bar at the
other end of such levers. The presser bar which works at the back of
the sinkers is carried by levers which work on the before-mentioned
necks or axes; these levers are also provided with trucks or rollers, and
are operated by cams fixed on the main shaft.
The needle bar is carried in the following manner :-A shaft running
through the frame has levers fixed thereon, one or more of which are
provided with trucks or rollers resting against cams. In the ends of
these levers is fixed another shaft, on which are mounted arms to which
the needle bar is fixed, the said needle bar being supported in front by a
rod or bar mounted on a shaft or axis which runs through the frame,
and is provided with eccentric ends, by which the needle bar is raised or
lowered in the following manner in order to vary the stiffness of the
work as may be required. On the end of this eccentric shaft is mounted
a wheel or segment with teeth on the side and on the periphery. On
the same shaft is fixed a spring catch which works in the teeth on the
side of the wheel or segment to regulate the stiffness of the work by
turning the shaft and thereby raising and lowering the needle bar. A
stop lever fixed on the frame drops into one or other of the teeth formed
on the edge of the wheel or segment. By lifting the said stop lever out
of the teeth the wheel or segment and consequently the eccentric shaft
may be turned round in either direction, and when a slack course is
made the segment or wheel is turned back to the same place, and there
held by the stop lever.
The "drawing" apparatus is arranged and worked in the following
manner: A bevilled wheel on the main shaft takes into and gives
motion to bevil wheel fixed on a cross shaft working in suitable bearings.
On this cross shaft is fixed a cam which works a slide or bolt to and fro.
On this slide or bolt are formed or fixed teeth which work a pinion fixed
on one end of another cross shaft on the other end of which is fixed a
wheel with two grooves in its periphery. To this wheel the ends of two
cords are attached, the other ends of which are attached to the needle
carrier and "slur cock," and thereby work them to and fro. The "slur
cock" is fixed to a slide working on a bar which is attached to the
frame. The said slide carries two bolts, the cords are attached to one of

page_text: the bolts and the carrier needle to the other. The bolt to which the
cords are attached has inclined ends, and is provided with two arms or
projections,, and the bolt to which the carrier needle is attached has two'
recesses formed therein,, in which recesses tlie arms or projections fall at
suitable times.. This is effected by stops or projections fixed to the
shifter bars which act to stop the carrier needle bolt, and to lift the
other bolt to cause one arm or projection to rise out of and the other to
fall into one or other of the recesses in the carrier needle bolt. The
carrier needle has a spring "take up "fixed on the front thereof to take
up the slack of the yarn. This spring has an eye formed at the end
thercof through which the yarn is passed, whilst the yarn passes partly
around pins or guides to and from the spring
"take up."
.
The narrowing, apparatus is constructed and operated in the following
manner: A shaft running through the frame has arms fixed thereon,
which arms carry another shaft having other arms attached thereto;
these said arms carry two bars to which the "points" or "shifters" are
fixed; these shifter or point bars are worked by a toothed pinion which
takes into a rack formed on or fixed to each of the shifter bars, and
causes the "shifter" bars to move to and fro endwise so as to expand or
close them, to shift the loops off some of the needles on to others. A
ratchet wheel is fixed on the axis of the toothed pinion, and this ratchet
wheel is rotated for operating the "shifter" bars by a clawker operated
by a cam, which clawker is caused to rotate the ratchet wheel by means
of jacquard apparatus which acts upon the main shaft to move it
endwise, and thereby to bring. another set of cams, as is well understood,
into operation when desired for narrowing, and take them out of opera-
tion when the narrowing is completed, the cam for operating the clawker
being also fixed on such shaft.
And in order that our said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accom-
panying Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view; Figures 2 and 3 are opposite end views;
Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 1.1 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a
sectional view shewing the working instruments full size; Figure 6 is
Dicune 7 is a back view of parts, and Figure 8 is a top

page_text: view of other parts of a knitting machine having our improvements
applied thereto.
a, a, are the needles, which are cast in leads a carried by bars a²,
as heretofore. These bars a² are supported partly by the rod b' carried
by a shaft b, which at its ends is formed with eccentric ends or necks
turning in bearings be carried by the main framing A. The needle bar a²
is also fixed to arms a keyed or otherwise fixed upon a shaft or axis a
carried at the upper ends of levers a³, which at their lower ends arc
keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft or axis a turning in bearings carried
by the main framing A. One or both of these levers are provided
with trucks or rollers a', which are acted upon by a cam or cams a³ fixed
on the driving shaft or axis c when the narrowing apparatus is out of
action, and by a cam or cams a when the narrowing apparatus is in
action. On one end of the eccentric shaft or axis is loosely mounted
a segment 63 (or it may be a wheel), on which are formed teeth or
notches on the peripliery thereof, and teeth on notches 65 on the side
thereof. On the sliáft is fixed a spring catcli 66, which works in the
teeth or notelies to regulate the stiffness of the work by turning
the shaft b, and thereby raising and lowering the needle bar a². A stop
lever b' fixed on an axis 6s on tlie main framing drops into one or other
of the teeth or notches b. By lifting the said stop lever out of the
teeth or notches * the segment 63, and consequently the eccentric shaft,
may be turned round in either direction as may be required, and when
à slack course has been made the segment 63 is turned back to the same
place at which it formerly stood, and there held by the stop lever 67.
d are the "jacks," which are carried by a rod or wire d', and work in a
sley d² cast in leads, as also at their forward ends in a sley e fixed to the
bar g'. The forward ends of the "jacks" may be forked, as shewn at
Figure 5, to embrace a stud or projection f¹ from one side of each of the
intermediate or jack sinkersf. We prefer, however, to form the forward
ends of the "jacks" rounded, as shewn at Figure 9, to take into suitable
hollows formed at the top of the "jack sinkers "f. In this case the
"bar sinkers" g would be lengthened at their upper parts to form a sley
for the jacks" to work in, as described in our Provisional Specification.
The sinkers g intermediate of the jack sinkers are fixed in a bar y¹,
which is suitably cut to receive them, and at the same time forms a sley
to allow the jack sinkers to work in. When the jack sinkers have sunk
a loop on every alternate needle a the bar sinkers come down with

page_text: on the main shaft c for
the bar g' and divide the loops. This sinker bar g' works in guides g³
formed on or fixed to the framing A, and is operated to lower it by
levers mounted on a shaft or axis i working in bearings formed in or
carried by the main framing A. Springs g³ act upon the bar g¹ to raise
it after the levers have acted to lower it. On the axis i is fixed
another lever or levers worked by a cam
ordinary work, and by a cam ³ when the narrowing apparatus is in
action. jare the hooks, which are cast in leads j¹ fixed to the hook
bar . The hook bar is carried by levers j³ mounted on necks or
axes fixed to the main framing A, these levers being provided with
trucks or rollers j* resting on cams j", jo, on the main shaft c by which
the hook bar is operated. The hook bar is operated by the cam j³ for
ordinary work, and by the cam jª for narrowing. is a lifting bar which
by wires rests on the hook bar j³, and acts to lift the jacks at the
same time that the hook bar j³ rises; m is the locker bar, and m¹ is.
the faller bar, which are carried by the levers 7, which operate the sinker
bar g; is the presser bar, which works at the back of the sinkers f
and g, and is carried by levers n¹ mounted loosely on the necks or.
These levers are provided with trucks or rollers 123, which
rest on cams n³ by which the presser bar is operated for ordinary work,
such trucks or rollers * resting on the cylindrical bosses n' of the
cams n³, and communicating no motion to the presser bar when the
narrowing apparatus is in work.
axes k.
ま
The "drawing" apparatus is arranged and worked in the following
manner. A bevilled pinion o on the main shaft c takes into and gives
motion to a bevilled wheel p¹ fixed on one end of a cross shaft p, on the
other end of which is fixed a cam or wiper p³ which acts against trucks
or rollers p³ carried by a slide or bolt 2 to work such bolt or slide to
and fro. On the under side of this slide or bolt are formed or fixed
teeth p which work a pinion q' fixed on one end of another cross
shaft q, on the other end of which is fixed a wheel q² with two grooves
formed in its periphery. To this wheel q² the ends of two cords q³ are
attached, the other cnds of which are attached to a bolt carried by
the slider, to which the "slur cock" 7º is fixed, the cords q³ thereby
work the needle carrier 7* and the "slur cock" to and fro. The slide r
works on a bars which is fixed to the main framing. Within guides
in this slide work the bolt
before referred to and a bolt to which.

page_text: has two
""
the carrier needle plate is attached. The bolt has inclined ends
and is provided with two arms or projections 26, and the bolt
recesses formed therein, in which recesses, the arms or projections
fall when the slider arrives towards either end of its course so as to
give the required lead to the carrier needle 7, in the next traverse of
the slide across the frame. This is effected by a stop or projection 78,
fixed at cach side of the frame to bars t, which stops or projections
have parts 7 formed thercon to act against the underside of the inclined.
ends, of the bolt 7, to raise such bolt as it approaches the one end or
the other of its course, and thereby liberate one of the arms or pro-
jections from one of the recesses 7", which may for the time being
be acting together. One end of the bolt 3 coming against a stop or
projection 2ª causes such bolt to stop whilst the bolt continues its
motion for a short distance after an arm 7 has been disconnected from
a recess, and until the other arm 7 has dropped into the other recess 27
in readiness for the next traverse of the carrier needle th Another
bolt or slide 10 carried by the slide and having formed therein a
course, with inclined ends thereto, is carried to and fro with the
bolt or slide 1 by means of the arms or projections 76, so as to act on
the upper end of a link or connecting rod 212 to depress it at the end
of cach traverse of the slider and raise it again at the commencement
of each succeeding traverse of such slide. This link 712 is connected to
a lever 13, mounted on an axis of motion, to which lever the carrier
needle proper is connected. Thus at each end of the traverse of the
carrier needle 7* it is caused to dip below the needles à to carry the
thread below on the outside of the outermost needle for the time being
in use.
The plate, to which the lever ¹ is connected, is provided
with a spring "take up" 15, having an eye formed at the end thereof.
Through this eye and partly around pins or guides, the thread or yarn
passes to the carrier needle r*.
manner.
The narrowing apparatus is constructed and operated in the following
The barst have shifters or points * fixed thereto which have
the necessary forward, dipping sideway, and rising motions imparted
thereto for shifting the loops off the outermost needles a and placing
them on to other needles a when required for narrowing. These bars t
are carried by arms & with capability of sliding endwise therein.
arms
The
are keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft carried at the upper

page_text: ends of levers or arms
with capability of turning therein. The arms
or levers are fixed on a shaft or axis running from end to end of
the machine. On this shaft or axis t'is fixed a lever on the end of
which is mounted a truck or roller to which rests on a concentric disc t
when the narrowing apparatus is not required to work and on a cam ³
when the narrowing apparatus is in action by which the necessary to-
and-fro motions are given to the bars t. On the shaft 2 is fixed a
lever on which is mounted a truck or pulley t, which when the
narrowing apparatus is not required to work, rests on a concentric
dise ", and when the narrowing apparatus is in action such truck or
roller to rests on a cam t¹, which gives the necessary up-and-down or
dipping and rising motions to the shifting or point bars t. On the
right hand ends of the bars t are formed or fixed toothed racks t¹³ which
are taken into and operated by a toothed pinion u to cause the shifter
bars to move to and fro endwise so as to expand or close them when
required. A ratchet wheel ¹ is also fixed on the axis u² of the
pinion and this ratchet wheel u¹ is rotated step by step by a clawker u³
carried by a slide u* working in suitable guides carried by the main
framing, such clawker being operated by a cam u³ to move it forward
against the ratchet wheel u', and by a spring us to move such clawker u³
in the contrary direction. The shaft or axis c is shifted endwise to take
the narrowing cams into and out of action by means of jacquard appa-
ratus in the following manner. vis a jacquard cylinder which is formed
and has "cards" applied thereto, as is now well understood. This
jacquard cylinder is carried by an axis v¹ fixed in a frame v2, which is
provided with a truck or roller v³ resting against a cam by which
the jacquard cylinder v is raised and lowered, and in rising if the "card"
which for the time being is in action has no hole formed therein it
raises a pin 5 working in suitable guides, the head of which pin acts
against the under side of a clawker v to raise it and prevent its acting
on a ratchet wheel w, on the axis of which is fixed a cam wheel w¹, but if
a hole is formed in such "card" opposite the pin
is allowed to act upon and turn the cam wheel 20¹.
this cam wheel works a stud x¹ from a lever x,
on an axis of motion x² and has another pin or stud ³ fixed in the end
thereof, which stud a passes into a groove formed in a wheel x* fixed on
the cam shaft c. Thus as the cam wheel w¹ is partially rotated it causes
the lever to turn on its axis of motion x³, and by means of the stud as
then the clawker 2ª
In the groove of
which is mounted

page_text: moves the cam shaft c in the one or the other direction, whereby the
cams required to act upon the various parts for narrowing are taken
into or out of position for work as may be required. In the downward
motion of the jacquard cylinder v, a clawker v' acts upon the pins v
to give a partial rotary motion to the jacquard cylinder v, so as to
bring a fresh "card" into action. The clawker v is pin jointed to the
upper end of a lever v³, which is mounted loosely upon the axis a
and is provided with a truck or pulley 20, which rests against a
cam, by which it is operated. On the axis u² of the toothed
pinion u, is fixed a handle u* by which the shifter or point bars t can
be moved outwards to the full width required after the narrowing has
been completed.
We would here remark that although we prefer the arrangement
herein shewn and described of operating the jacquard and of com-
municating motion therefrom to the cam shaft c we do not confine 1
ourselves thereto, as other arrangements of mechanism for operating
the jacquard and for communicating motion therefrom to the cam shaft c
may readily be devised.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the mode
of carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that what 2
we claim as our Invention is,—
Firstly. The mode of arranging and operating the "jack sinkers"
and "bar sinkers" substantially as herein shown and described.
Secondly. We claim the mode of carrying and operating the "locker"
and "faller" bars m, m³, substantially as herein shown and described.
Thirdly. We claim the mode of carrying and operating the "lifting
bar substantially as herein shown and described.
وو
Fourthly. We claim the mode of carrying the hook bar je on necks
or axes k substantially as herein shown and described.
Fifthly. We claim the mode of carrying and operating the needle bar 3
and the mode of varying the stiffness of the work substantially as herein
shown and described.
*
.Sixthly. We claim the mode of arranging and operating the
drawing" apparatus and "slur cock" substantially as herein shown
and described:

page_text: Seventhly. We claim the mode of mounting and operating the "
bar" substantially as herein shown and described.
"take up
Eighthly. We claim the application of a spring
carrier needle substantially as herein shown and described.
presser
" to the
Ninthly. We claim the mode of arranging and operating the narrowing
apparatus substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Campion and William
Campion have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand cight
hundred and seventy-one.
WILLIAM CAMPION (L.S.)
(of Nottingham).