Improvements in and connected with Worsted Balls for use in Knitting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Worsted Balls for use in
Knitting Machines.
I, ISAAC BRIGGS Junior of the firm of Isaac Briggs & Son of Rutland Mills
Wakefield in the County of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object:-Improvements in and connected with worsted balls
for use in knitting machines, by which the ordinary process of winding is dispensed
with, & the operation of knitting machines is rendered more continuous and
convenient so that more & better work can be accomplished.
My balls are made upon a taper hollow core of paper or other equivalent material.
This taper tube is the foundation of the ball and the worsted is wound upon it in
lots of say, five or six pounds more or less and this is done in a winding machine in
such long lengths that there are only a very few knots even in this large quantity
and there are therefore practically few stoppages in working from such balls in
knitting by knitting machines or frames. The balls are slightly conical with slightly
rounded ends.
In using the worsted & in order that it may be unwound in an easy and regular
manner & without tension or "drag," I leave the taper core in the ball & make a
spindle of wood or of other material having a shoulder at the bottom, which, when
passed up through the ball, rests against the small end of the taper tube which
should be left to slightly project for that purpose. Then for the top end I provide
a taper plug piece which fits over the spindle easy and enters into the large end of
the tube tightly so as to keep the ball perfectly steady as it is unwound. The top
end of the spindle is provided with an eye or hook to which a cord is attached.
This cord passes up to any position of elevation such as to the ceiling or to a
suitable frame and over a pulley or its equivalent and finishes with an eye or hook
to attach to the work table so that the operator can conveniently lower or hoist the
ball in a moment. The worsted passes over one or more guides for regulating the
tension & then on to the knitting machine so that the action is perfectly regular.
Sometimes I may attach my balls to the table or wall by a suitable pin or other
attachment at the end thereof but I prefer having it overhead as the action is so
simple, regular, & easy & is entirely out of the way. I may also use a taper spindle
of wood metal or other material put into the tube from the large end and fastened
at the bottom by a screw nut or cotter and having a look at the top end for attach-
ment to the ceiling or a frame or I may use a taper core having a hole down its
centre through which a rod passes to be fastened by a nut with a hook at the upper
end or the rod itself would sometimes be sufficient.
A
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Worsted Balls for use in
Knitting Machines.
I, ISAAC BRIGGS Junior of the firm of Isaac Briggs & Sons of Rutland Mills
Wakefield in the County of York Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention has for its object improvements in worsted balls and in the
apparatus for operating the same by which the ordinary process of winding is
[Pind

page_text: dispensed with and the operation of knitting machines is rendered more continuous
and convenient so that more and better work can be accomplished.
My balls are made upon a taper hollow core of paper or other equivalent material.
This taper.tube is the foundation of the ball and the worsted is wound upon it in
lots of say six pounds more or less and this is done in a winding machine is such long
lengths that there. are only a very few knots even in this large quantity and there
are therefore practically few stoppages in working from such balls in knitting
by knitting machines or frames. The balls are slightly conical with slightly
rounded ends.
In using the worsted and in order that it may be unwound in an easy and regular
manner and without tension or drag I leave the taper core in the ball and make a
spindle of wood or of other material having a shoulder at the bottom which when
passed up through the ball rests against the small end of the taper tube which
should be left to slightly project for that purpose. Then for the top end I provide
a taper plug piece which fits over the spindle easy and enters into the large end of
the tube tightly so as to keep the ball perfectly steady & perpendicular as it is
unwound. The top end of the spindle is provided with an eye or hook to which a
cord is attached. This cord passes up to any position of elevation such as to the
ceiling or to a suitable frame and over a pulley or its equivalent and finishes with
an eye or hook to attach to the work table so that the operator can conveniently
lower or hoist the ball in a moment. The worsted passes over one or more guides
for regulating the tension and then on to the knitting machine so that the action is
perfectly regular. Sometimes I may attach my balls to the table or wall by a
suitable pin or other attachment at the end thereof but I prefer having it over-head
as the action is so simple regular and easy and it is entirely out of the way 1 may
also use a taper spindle of wood, metal or other material put into the tube from the
large end and fastened at the bottom by a screw nut or cotter having a hook at the
top end for attachment to the ceiling or a frame or I may use a taper core having a
hole down its centre through which a rod passes to be fastened by a nut with a hook
at the upper end or the rod itself would sometimes be sufficient.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon
which is illustrated several examples of ball fittings and the manner of operating the
same and from which my invention may be easily applied to other circumstances as
they may arise.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one of my balls with its taper tube and
suspending spindle complete.
Figure 2 is a similar sectional elevation of a similar ball with a suspending spindle
slightly different in its construction.
Figure 3 is another similar ball with a still more simple suspending spindle.
Figure 4 is the front elevation of a knitting machine with the ball suspended and
the parts arranged in working order.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the knitting machine shewing the arrangement of
the ball and its parts and the mode of elevating it.
It will be seen that the ball A though built upon the taper or other hollow core a¹
has not much taper in itself when made a considerable size. The suspending
spindle B passes up the tube a' and the head prevents it passing right through
and becomes a collar upon which the ball A rests. This taper plug fits tightly
into the hollow core a¹ but loosely upon the spindle B. This hollow plug may be
done without by using a taper spindle as shewn at Figure 2 and it would then be
passed from the top and a washer and pin used to secure the ball and form a
foundation upon which the ball rests. Or the spindle may be still more simple as
shewn at Figure 3 which is simply a rod of iron or other material with a nut to
secure the bottom part or it may be made of wood with a centre wire passed through
to form the hook or eye at the top.
Either to the ceiling or other convenient place S I attach say one or two
pulleys C and e¹ over which the cord D passes having at its end an eye or hook to

page_text: attach to the hook or eye 63 of the spindle B. This cord D passes down to a table
or working bench M which is provided with a suitable hook or eye E which is
sufficient to support the ball while suspended. To change the ball it is only
necessary for the attendant to unfasten the cord D when the ball A. will be lowered
by its own gravity.
In operation the worsted or thread a' passes down to the knitting machine and
through or over or under one or more guides or pins n' n² n³ which are secured to
any convenient object such as the board N which produces the desired tension.
By these means there are not so many knots and consequent obstructions and the
attendants can concentrate their attention upon the work more fully. There are
also far less stoppages to working than when bobbins are used. There is also the
general convenience of saving of room as the ball is overhead and the lightest
possible amount of tension upon the yarn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1st. The improvements in worsted balls and in the apparatus for operating the
same substantially as herein set forth & as shewn upon the drawings.
2nd. In connection with the operating of balls for such use as at knitting &
other machines the spindle B with its accompanyments substantially as herein set
forth & as shewn upon the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1890.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.