Year: 1896

page_text: I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements in rotary or flat
bar knitting machines when adapted for making what is known as "lace-work" or
open work in hose, socks, and the like, by the use of a "Jacquard" appliance, for
operating or selecting the coverers or "lace-points" and where a separate set of
"cards" is used for each division of work.
"
The coverers or lace-points may each be attached to a separate slide or "jack."
The said slides or jacks are arranged to slide in grooves or "tricks" cut in a
suitable bracket and are shaped and adjusted in such a manner that when the said
jacks are in their lowest position in the said bracket the points will be in the
correct position for taking loops off the needles, and when in their highest position
they will be out of action. Any number of coverers, or lace-points may be
provided up to the full number of needles in the division.
The brackets which carry the said jacks may be carried by a rod or shaft
attached to, or working in bearings on the ordinary narrowing machine and may
be conveniently arranged in front of the ordinary narrowing fingers, and when it is
desired to narrow down to a less width than that occupied by the lace points
the said brackets, and consequently the points also may be turned up out of
the way.
Now it has been suggested that a set of cards should be arranged and worked by
mechanism connected to the ordinary narrowing machine so as to act direct upon
the tops of the jacks which carry the lace points and so select those points which
are required to be in action, the cards moving up and down with the narrowing
machine. But in my invention I arrange and work the "cards" in such a manner
that they are independent of the ordinary narrowing machine and do not move up
and down with it. The card cylinders which operate the cards and present them at
the time of action may all be carried by one shaft which shaft may be carried by
arms from a suitable rocking shaft placed above, and independent of, the ordinary
Darrowing machine or in other convenient position.
In my invention I do not as a rule bring the cards into direct contact with the
lace jacks but I interpose a suitably shaped dropper, one to each lace jack. The
said dropper may be suitably hinged or jointed upon a rod or shaft which may be
carried by arms from the ordinary narrowing machine and to which suitable motion
may be imparted by a cam or cams. One end of the said dropper may carry a pin
which will come into contact with the cards and the other end of the said dropper
may be so shaped and arranged that when the said pin drops into a hole in the
card the dropper will catch the top of the lace-jack and push it down into action,
and where there is no hole in the card the dropper will be depressed and will miss
its jack and so the lace-point will remain out of action.
Thus the cards act upon the droppers. The droppers act upon the lace-jacks
and push and hold them down and descend with the narrowing machine, but the
cards do not descend except so far as is necessary to act upon the droppers.

page_text: In a fine guage machine, if the pins upon the tails of the droppers were arranged
in one row or line, the perforations in the cards would be so small and so close
together that the cards would be practically unworkable.
To obviate this difficulty I make and arrange the tails of the droppers in two,
three, or more different lengths so that the pins upon the dropper tails will stand in
two, three or more rows, thus permitting larger holes in the cards, and insuring
more satisfactory working. The droppers as I generally construct them have a
hole through them and are threaded upon a shaft or rod, upon which they can rock,
and are held in their proper position "to-guage" by a comb or other convenient
arrangement, and in order that a damaged dropper may be removed without
un-threading the other droppers, I form two flat surfaces, one on the back and one
on the front of the said shaft or rod upon which they rock.
Then from the hole in the dropper, through which the rod or shaft passes, I cut
a slot to a convenient part of the outer edge of the dropper. The said slot being
just large enough to admit the flattened part of the rod or shaft.
Thus by turning the dropper upon the rod to about right angles to its normal
working position it can be removed from its place without unthreading the droppers
upon either side of it.
In some cases, as for instance: when lace-work is required at or near the
selvedges, and the article has to be "fashioned" at the same time, I use a lace
point carried by a separate jack for each needle in the machine, and instead of
having independent "fashioning-points" I use the same points as I use for the
lace-work, to form the fashioning, the requisite points being selected by the cards
just as in the lace work. But to make a double narrowing, i.e. one at each
selvedge, it will be necessary for the narrowing machine to come down twice.
instance, it might come down once and take off the. loops at No. 1 selvedge and
transfer them to the right and at the second time of coming down it might take off
the loops at No. 2 selvedge and transfer them to the left thus completing the
double narrowing.
For
When using the lace points for fashioning as above described it is sometimes
desirable that the points should shog or shift the loops one needle, as when making
lace work, and two needles or a "lead" when fashioning. To do this I arrange
two racking cams side by side one to rack a needle and the other to rack a lead
and then cause the racking truck to shift from the one to the other by a suitable
attachment from the fashioning chain according to whether the loops to be shifted
are for fashioning or for lace.
It will be evident that the arrangement of lace-points in jacks worked by
droppers &c. as hereinbefore described is also applicable when an independent
narrowing machine is employed i.e. when one machine is used for carrying the
usual narrowing fingers, and an independent machine for carrying the lace-pints.
In this case the two machines act independent the one of the other as described in
Specification No. 496700 (now my property,) and in 212788.
In some cases I arrange the droppers and lace jacks in such a manner that the
top ends of the jacks and the bottom ends of the droppers shall work together in
one wide comb (formed of thin plates, or in other suitable manner) to ensure that
the end of the dropper shall always catch the top of its jack, as in fine gauges
where such a comb is not used the dropper might push the jack to one side instead
of taking it down.
In some cases, especially in fine gauges where the comb plates are very thin, the
droppers are sometimes liable to be "sluggish "in their movements and conse-
quently do not drop into the holes in the cards quick enough. To overcome this
difficulty I arrange a brush in such a position and in such a manner that when a
suitable movement is imparted to it by a cam or other convenient mechanism, it
brushes the ends of the droppers at the moment they touch the cards and causes
them to at once drop into their correct positions.
When a large number of cards have to be used in one length I carry them right
over the top of the "snapping" mechanism and then fold them up behind the

page_text: machine, the cards being there suspended similarly to an ordinary Jacquard.
arrangement which is well understood.
Now in order that a regular tension may be maintained upon the cards to ensure
their lying correctly upon the card cylinders, and that they may be duly conveyed
to the back of the machine as above described, I arrange a shaft at the top, and
towards the back of the machine. The said shaft may carry suitable card
cylinders provided with gauge pins &c., to draw the cards up and convey them to
their resting place behind. For this purpose I apply mechanism to rotate the said
shaft as follows:-
Upon the said shaft is a rack wheel upon which a retaining pawl acts in order to
prevent the said shaft from running back by the weight of the cards, &c.
Upon the same shaft is a second rack wheel and against it a groved wheel or
pulley is placed. Upon the side of the said wheel or pulley is a pawl or clawker
which engages with the said rack wheel. Wound round the said pulley is a cord,
one end of which is fastened to the pulley and the other or free end has a weight
attached to it and arranged in such a manner that the weight tends to turn the
shaft in a direction to take up the slack in the bands of cards as they leave the
card cylinders.
To the same pulley (or another fastened thereto) is attached a second cord but
wound in the opposite direction. The free end of the said cord may be attached
to the end of a lever to which suitable motion may be imparted by a cam or other
convenient means, so that when the weight has turned the shaft so as to take up the
slack in the band of cards, at the next revolution of the machine the said lever
pulls the second cord and turns or racks the wheel back. The first named ratchet
wheel and pawl preventing the shaft turning with it, and thus the weight acting
upon the said wheel causes a constant tension upon the band of cards during their
movement and time of action. The cards are duly delivered to their resting place
at the back of the machine and all slack is avoided.
Dated this Dirat dan of Anvil 1906
C. H. ALDRIDGE.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, 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:-
The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements in rotary or flat
bar knitting machines, when adapted for making what is known as lace-work, or
open-work, in hose socks and the like, by the use of a "Jacquard " appliance, for
operating or selecting the coverers or "lace-points" and where a separate set of
"cards" is used for each division of work.
The coverers or "lace-points" may each be attached to a separate slide or "jack."
The said slides or "jacks" are arranged to slide in grooves or "tricks" cut in a
suitable bar or bracket, and are shaped and adjusted in such a manner, that when
the said jacks are in their lowest position, in the said bracket, the points will be
in the correct position for taking loops off the needles, and when in their highest
rosition they will be out of action. Any number of coverers or "lace-points" may
be provided, up to the full number of needles in the division.
The brackets which carry the said "jacks" may be carried by a rod or shaft
attached to, or working in bearings, on the ordinary narrowing machine, and may

page_text: be conveniently arranged in front of the ordinary narrowing fingers, and when it
is desired to narrow down to a less width than that occupied by the "lace-points,"
the said brackets, and consequently the points also, may be turned up out of
the way.
This arrangement will be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings,
where just so much of parts of a "Cotton's Patent" knitting machine are shown
as will enable the special parts herein described to be properly understood.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a part section of the upper portion of such a machine.
A are the needles, A¹ the needle "lead," A' the sinkers, A³ the knocking over
bits, all of which are arranged to manipulate the yarn in the usual manner, as is
well understood by all conversant with knitting machinery. B is one of the
ordinary fasbicning fingers, which is carried by the rod B. B2 is a similar rod
for carrying the second fashioning fingers (not shown) and B are the ordinary
fashioning points or coverers. These act in the usual manner as will be well
understood. C is one of the lace points carried by and fast to the lace jack C' and
is shown in its raised or out of action position in Figure 1, and in Figure 2 a larger
view of the lace jack is shown. Cis the lace-point bar or bracket, in which
suitable grooves or "tricks" are cut for the "lace-jacks" C¹ to slide in. C³ is a
cap or plate covering the grooves in the bar or bracket C. C are springs, one to
each lace-jack. The ends of these springs are so shaped and arranged, as to form
a knuckle or catch, to drop into a suitable nick (C Figure 2) in the edge of the lace-
jack. The said nick being so situated that when the lace-jack is lifted into its out
of action position as shown in Figure 1, the spring will catch in the nick and
support the lace-jack until it is pushed down into action as hereinafter described.
It will be observed that the points in the "lace-jacks" are in the same plane
with the points in the ordinary fashioning fingers, so that when the lace jacks are
pushed down into their lowest position, the lace-points, and fashioning points, will
all be in line and in the correct position for taking loops off the needles.
The lace-point bar or bracket C2 is attached to the rod C³ by suitable links or
brackets C. The rod C is connected to suitable shogging mechanism hereinafter
described, by which the necessary traverse movements are imparted to the lace-
points, for transferring the loops from needle to needle as desired. When it is desired
to bring the ordinary fashioning fingers B closer together than the lace jacks will
permit, as for instance when narrowing the toe of a bose or the like, the rod C
may be turned, so as to throw the lace point bar or bracket C2, and consequently
the lace points also, into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 when
the fashioning fingers can pass the "lace jacks," and narrow down as near to the
centre as desired. A bracket C may be fast to the narrowing machine shaft B at
any convenient position behind the lace point bar C', a screw C passes through the
end of the bracket C8 in such a position, that its end forms a support for the "lace
point" bar C.
Now it has been suggested that a set of "cards" should be arranged and worked
by mechanism connected to the ordinary narrowing machine, so as to act direct
upon the tops of the jacks, which carry the "lace points," and so select these points
which are required to be in action, the cards moving up and down with the
narrowing machine. But in my invention, I arrange and work the "cards" in such
a manner, that they are independent of the ordinary narrowing machine, and do
not move up and down with it. The card cylinders which operate the "cards"
and presents them at the time of action, may all be carried by one shaft, which
shaft may be carried by arms from a suitable rocking shaft placed above, and
independent of the ordinary narrowing machine, or in other convenient position.
This arrangement will be understood by referring to Figure 1 Sheet 1. Dis a
rocking shaft carried by bearings D' which may be attached to any convenient
part of the framing of the machine. The rocking shaft D is provided with arms D',
which carry the cylinder shaft D. Upon the shaft D³ the card cylinders D are
fixed, around which the cards pass as indicated by the dotted lines D Figure 1.
To the end of the arm D a suitable connecting rod De may be attached. The

page_text: links F lift the bar F which in turn lifts all the "lace-jacks" into their top or
out of action position ready for the next selection by the cards and droppers at the
next lace course.
In a fine gauge machine, if the pins upon the tails of the droppers were arranged
in one row or line the perforations in the cards would be so small and so close
together that the cards would be practically unworkable. To obviate this difficulty
I make and arrange the tails of the droppers in two, three, or more different
lengths, so that the pins upon the dropper tails, will stand in two, three, or more
rows, thus permitting larger holes in the cards, and insuring more satisfactory
working.
In Figure 1 the droppers are shown as having the pins E' in three different
rows, and in Figure 3 Sheet 2 in five different rows. It will be understood that
the droppers with the pins E' at different distances from the dropper shaft are
arranged in regular order of length. For instance starting with the longest, the
next dropper on one side of it will be the next shorter, and so on till the shortest
is reached, when this will be followed in turn by the longest. By these means the
holes in the cards are further apart, centre to centre, and consequently larger
holes can be punched in the cards than could be if they were all in one line. In
some cases the lengths of the pins E' may vary with their distance from the
dropper shaft, so that when depressed by a plain portion of the cards their lower
ends or catches E8 Figure 2 will stand or range in a line or thereabout.
The droppers as I generally construct them have a hole through them, and are
threaded upon a shaft or rod upon which they can rock, and are held in their
proper positions "to gauge " by a comb or other convenient arrangement, and in
order that a damaged dropper may be removed without unthreading the other
droppers, I form two flat surfaces one on the back and one on the front of the said
shait or rod upon which they rock. Then from the hole in the dropper, through
which the rod or shaft passes, I cut a slot to a convenient part of the outer edge
of the dropper.
The said slot being just large enough to admit the flattened part of the rod or
sbaft. Thus by turning the dropper upon the rod to about right angles to ita
normal working position, it can be removed from its place without unthreading the
droppers upon either side of it.
Above the droppers E Figure 1 is a comb bar E. This is attached to suitable
collars or brackets one at each end of the division of droppers. The said collars
or brackets are made fast to the dropper shaft E. It will be seen that the under
side of the comb har E10 has tricks or grooves formed in it which receive part of
the boss or central portion of the droppers and so keep them in their correct
relative position, the one to the other at the top. In a similar manner a comb
bar E is provided for the lower limbs or members of the droppers, and thus while
free to be rocked upon the dropper shaft E they are kept in their correct positions
over their respective lace jacks.
In some cases instead of using cut comb bars such as E10 E" herein before
described, I use comb bars made or built up, "bits" or blades of steel or other
suitable material are shaped and arranged so as to pass between the droppers, the
tail ends of the said blades being cast in "leads" and arranged as shown in
Figure 3 Sheet 2 or in other convenient manner.
Upon the dropper shaft E 1 form two flat surfaces one on each side, and
extending along so much of the shaft or rod, as is covered by the droppers. These
flats are shown in both Figures 1 and 2. In the dropper E from the hole outwards,
I form a slot E12 as seen most clearly in Figure 2 of just such a width as will
admit the flattened part of the shaft E. Then when it is desired to replace a
dropper, the collars or brackets to which the comb bars E" and E" are attached,
are released from the dropper shaft, so that the whole division of droppers can be
turned up into the position indicated by dotted lines at E Figure 2. It will be
seen that when in this position, any one of the droppers can be removed and replaced,
without ren.oving any of the adjacent droppers from the dropper shaft.

page_text: bottom end of the said rod D may be attached to a suitable lever or arm worked
by a cam, on the cam, or main shaft of the machine, by which means suitable rising
and falling motion, or movement may be imparted to the card cylinders D'.
The cylinder shaft D may carry a suitable rack wheel D' a bell crank lever D'
may be placed, and free to turn upon the shaft D or upon other convenient shaft or
stud. To one end of the bell crank Ds a connecting rod D is attached. The
bottom end of the said rod D' may be connected to a suitable lever which may be
operated by a cam, ca the cam or main shoft. To the top end of the bell erank DR
a rack or ratchet D10 is jointed. This ratchet D10 acts upon the ratchet or rack
wheel D' whereby the shaft D is racked round a quarter of a turn and the cards.
are brought into acting position in regular order.
In my invention I do not as a rule bring the cards into direct contact with the
"lace-jacks," but I interpose a suitably shaped "dropper," one to each "lace jack."
The said dropper may be suitably hinged or jointed upon a rod or shaft, which may
be carried by arms from the ordinary narrowing machine, and to which suitable
motion may be imparted, by a cam or eams, one end of the said dropper, may carry
a pin which will come into contact with the cards, and the other end of the said
dropper may be so shaped and arranged that when the said pin drops into a hole in
the card, the dropper will catch the top of the lace jack, and push it down into.
action, and where there is no hole in the card the dropper will be depressed, and
will miss its jack, and so the lace-point will remain out of action.
Thus, the cards act upon the droppers, the droppers act upon the "lace-jacks,"
and push and hold them down, and descend with the narrowing machine, but the
cards do not descend except so far as is necessary to act upon the droppers.
This arrangement will be understood by referring to Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1.
E is the dropper which is hinged or jointed upon the rod or shaft E. Eis a
rocking shaft which may be carried by suitable bearings, attached. to the ordinary
narrowing machine arms B. E' are arms attached to the rocking shaft E³. The
said arms E carry the dropper rod or shaft E2. Another arm or arms E is.
attached to the rocking shaft E and to the end of this arm a connecting rod E is
jointed. The bottom end of the said connecting rod E may be connected to a
suitable lever, which may be acted upon by a suitable cam or cams on the main
shaft, so that by the action of the said cam or cams, the dropper rod or shaft E³-
and consequently the droppers E also, are caused to rise and fall, as and when
desired. One end of each dropper carries a pin E' which comes into contact with
the cards as seen in Figure 1, and the lower end of each dropper is shaped and
arranged (as seen more clearly in Figure 2) so that when the said pin E passes
into a hole in the card, the catch Es (Figure 2) will rest upon, and engage with the
top of the lace jack C as shown in full lines, and when there is no hole in the card
above the pin E the dropper will be depressed and the lower end or catch of the
dropper E will occupy the position indicated by dotted lines at E. Now it will
be seen that when the droppers are caused to descend by the rocking of the shaft E
those that are in the position shown by full lines will engage with, and press down
their respective "lace jacks" G and their points will be brought into action, while
those that are in the position indicated by dotted lines, with the catch in the
position indicated by E will miss their jacks, and so those "jacks" and "lace-
points" will not be brought into action.
In some cases the shaft E may be carried by suitable bearings upon independent
arms or brackets and so be unattached to the ordinary narrowing machine, but
I generally prefer to have the said shaft, carried by the ordinary narrowing-
machine as hereinbefore described.
Links F having slotted or elongated holes in their upper ends, are threaded upon
the dropper shaft E, one on each side of each division of droppers. The position.
of these links are best seen in the front elevation Figure 4 Sheet 3. The bottom
ends of these links carry a rod or bar F1 which rests against the backs of the
"lace jacks" and below the head or shoulder F Figure 2. When the dropper
shaft and consequently the droppers also, are lifted into their highest position, the

page_text: In some cases as for instance when lace work is required, at or near the selvedges,
and the article has to be "fashioned" at the same time, I use a lace point carried
by a separate jack for each needle in the machine, and instead of having independent
fashioning points, I use the same points, as I use for the lace work to form the
fashionings. The requisite points being selected by the cards just as in the lace-
work. But to make a double narrowing, i.e. one at each selvedge, it will be
necessary for the narrowing machine to come down twice. For instance, it might
come down once and take the loops at No. 1 selvedge and transfer them to the
right, and at the second time of coming down it might take off the loops at No. 2
selvedge, and transfer them to the left thus completing the double narrowing.
When using the same points for fashioning as for." lace-work" as above described,
I prefer to arrange the "lace-jacks" and adjacent parts as shown in Figures 3 and 4,
Sheets 2 and 3 Figure 4 being a front elevation of parts of Figure 3, where it will
be seen, that the "lace jacks" are straight at their bottom ends, instead of being
cramped as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and other adjacent parts are modified, as the
altered shape of jacks require or permit.
The bracket C, Figure 3 which is fast to the shaft B, carries the rod C, to
which the lace point bar C3 is attached, and at the same time the bottom part of
the said bracket C may form a bearing or support for the lace point bar to slide
upon.
When using the lace points for fashioning as above described it is sometimes
desirable, that the points should shogg or shift, the loops, one needle when making
"lacework," and two needles or a "lead" when fashioning. To do this I arrange
two racking cams side by side, one to rack a needle, and the other to rack a lead,
and then cause the racking truck, to shift from the one to the other, by a suitable
attachment, from the fashioning chain according to whether the loops to be shifted
are for fashioning or for lace.
Figures 5 to 8, Sheets 4 and 5, show this arrangement. Figure 5 is a front
elevation of the racking tackle and some adjacent parts, at the end of the machine.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the main shaft shogging tackle, and some adjacent
parts. Figure 7, Sheet 5 is an end elevation of parts of Figures 5 and 6. Figure 8
is an end elevation of parts of Figure 6. G, Figures 5 and 7, show the ordinary
racking screw, upon the end of which is the rack wheel G', which is racked by the
ratchet G. The said ratchet G2, being jointed to the arm or lever G³, which is
worked by the cam G4, acting upon the truck G. All these parts work together
in the usual manner as will be well understood, by all conversant with this class of
knitting machinery. G, Figure 7 is a cam working upon a stud G. Go is a shaft
running from end to end of the machine, and carried by suitable bearings from
any convenient part of the framing. Upon the end of this shaft is an arm G,
which is connected to the cam G by the connecting rod G. When the shaft G³,
arm G, and cam G, are in the position shown in full lines in Figure 7, the
ratchet G, will be out of action or contact with the rack wheel G¹, as shown.
Then when the shaft GB is racked or turned, (by means hereinafter described) so
as to bring the cam G into the position indicated by dotted lines, then the
ratchet G will come into action, and rack the wheel G¹, and consequently the
screw G also, whereby the thread carriers are "racked in." And when fashioning
fingers are used independent of the "lace-points," the said fashioning fingers are
thereby racked in also, as the work is narrowed. The racking arrangements at
the other end of the machine are similar to the racking arrangements just
described.
H Figures 5 and 7 is a worm or screw and H a rack wheel attached thereto.
This screw is for racking the lace points, and other parts, that have to move
therewith. The screw box or nut H2 Figure 7 carries an upright or bracket H³
with which the rods C, E and D³, are connected by suitable collars or brackets
so that by racking the screw H, the lace points C, the droppers E and the card
cylinders D' are racked or moved simultaneously. H H are two ratchets one on

page_text: each side of the rack wheel H'. These ratchets are jointed to an arm or lever H",
to which motion is imparted by the cams Je or J' as hereinafter described.
H, H' are two cam wheels, working upon a stud or pin H. These cams are fast
to a ratchet or rack wheel H, Figure 5. This wheel H (and consequently the
cam wheels H, H' also) is racked by a ratchet H which is jointed to an arm H,
and worked by a cam or cams H. The ratchet H is held against the cam
wheel H by a suitable spring H" Figure 7 and the ratchet H has a suitable
bracket H, attached to it, which rests upon the cam wheel H', and is held in
contact therewith by the same spring H". Now it will be seen that as the cam
wheels H, H', are racked round the ratchets H, H, are thrown in or out of action
according to the shape of the said cam wheels. Thus the upright H, and
consequently the "lace-points" and parts adjacent thereto are racked so as to
transfer the loops from needle to needle as desired.
The racking arm or lever H" carries a pin or stud J Figure 5 upon which is a.
shogging or sliding truck or roller J'. This truck is embraced by a forked lever J³
Figure 7 which is centred upon a pin or stud J carried by a bracket on the
arm H J is a "run" or disc upon which the truck J runs, when the machine
is making a plain course. J is a cam which comes under and acts upon the truck J¹
when the main shaft is shugged, for a lace course, just as when making ordinary
fashionings, which will be well understood. The cam J is so shaped, that when it
is acting upon the truck J, the ratchets H, He will rack the lace points a distance
of one needle at a time, which is the amount required for ordinary lace work.
When it is required to rack the Ince points a "lead" or two needles as when
making ordinary narrowings, the fork lever J3 shifts the truck J as hereinafter
described, so that it is acted upon by the cam .J' which is so shaped as to rack the
"lace points" two needles instead of one.
In Figures 6 and 7 Sheets 4 and 5, parts of the well understood mechanism for
shogging the cam shaft are shown together with some adjacent parts. K. Kare
the ordinary shogging cams. K₁ the shogging truck which is carried by the lever
or arm K². The arm K2 is fast to the shaft K and the arm K is also fast to the
shaft K. K is the cam or notch wheel, so' shaped and adjusted that when the
end or nose of the arm K is on top of a notch, the shogging truck K' will engage
with the cam K and the shaft will thereby be shogged to the right, and when the
end or nose of the arm K is in a gap in the cam or notch wheel, the shogging
truck K' will engage with the cam K and the main shaft will be shogged to the
left. K' is a rack wheel attached to the cam or notch wheel K. K is a lever or
arm carrying a truck or roller K which runs upon a cam K Figure 6. The
arm K also carries the ratchet K" which acts upon the rack wheel K. L is the
ordinary fashioning chain wheel. The fashioning chain is indicated by dotted lines
in Figure 6. This chain I provide with two rows of "notches" or inclines. One
row to act upon the lever L and the other row to act upon the lever L2 Figure 8.
From the end of the lever L' a connecting link L³ rises to the ratchet K" and is
so attached and adjusted thereto, that when a notch or incline on the chain comes
under the nose of the lever L the ratchet K" is lowered on to the rack wheel K'
and the main shaft is then shogged, as herein before described. And when there is
no notch or incline under the nose of the lever L' the ratchet K" is held out of
contact with the rack wheel K. All this part of the mechanism will be well
understood by all conversant with this class of machinery and it will be further
understood that notches or inclines are placed upon the chain so as to act upon the
lever L' whenever a lace course has to be made.
The lever L has an extension upwards forming a prop L which comes under
the end of the lever L'. This lever L is connected by means of a connecting
link L to the arm L' which is fast to the shaft G upon the ends of which are
the arms G which are connected to the cam wheels G as herein before described.
Now when there is no notch or incline under the nose of the lever L² the end or
prop L' is under the end of the lever L' but when a notch or incline comes under
the nose of the lever L' the end or prop L will occupy the position indicated by

page_text: dotted lines in Figure 6, when the lever L is set free and the truck or roller Lis
free to follow the motions of the cam L' whereby the shaft G is rocked or turned
in its bearings, and the cam wheel G Figure 7 is moved into the position indicated
by dotted lines in Figure 7. The ratchet G' will thereby be thrown into action,
and the screw or worm G will be racked as herein before described. Thus it will
be seen that when a notch or incline comes under the nose of the lever L' the
narrowing screws or worms G are racked in and the traverse of the thread carriers
is thereby decreased. Upon the hereinbefore described shaft G is another arm M
(Figure 7) which is connected by a link M to the bell crank lever M. The
bottom end M³ of the hell crank lever M2 is forked or slotted so as to embrace the
end of the hereinbefore described fork lever J³.
Now it will be seen that by these means when the ratchet G2 is brought into
action as hereinhefore described, by the rocking movement of the shaft G, the
same movement of the shaft. GB shifts or shoggs the truck or roller J' (Figure 5)
so that it is brought into position, to be acted upon by the cam J. Thus when a
notch or incline comes under the nose of the lever L² as herein before described,
the ratchet G2 racks in or shortens the traverse of the thread carriers, and at the
same time the cam J' is brought into action, whereby the lace points when used.
for narrowing or fashioning are racked two needles instead of one as bereinbefore
described.
It will be evident that the arrangement of lace points, in jacks worked by
droppers, and parts connected therewith as hereinbefore described is also applicable
when an independent narrowing machine is employed, ie, when one machine is
used for carrying the usual narrowing fingers and an independent machine for
carrying the lace points. In this case the two machines act independent the one.
of the other as described in Specification No. 4967, now my property and in
No. 2127
In some cases I arrange the droppers and lace jacks in such a manner, that the
top ends of the jacks and the bottom ends of the droppers, shall work together in
one wide comb (formed of thin plates or in other suitable manner) to ensure that
the end of the dropper shall always catch the top of its jack, as in fine gauges,
where such a comb is not used, the dropper might push the jack to one side instead"
of taking it down.
This will be understood by referring to Figure 3, Sheet 2, where N represents
one blade or "wall" or plate of the wide comb referred to. In this case a bar N',
has tricks or grooves cut in it crosswise, to the gauge or pitch of the lace jacks.
In these tricks, or grooves, blades, walls or plates N are soldered or otherwise
fastened so that a space is left between the blades or plates just wide enough to
admit the thickness of the dropper, and jack, but not wide enough to allow them
to pass each other. The blades or plates N are sufficiently large to ensure that
the bottom end or catch E of the dropper E and the top end of the lace jack C¹,
shall never leave the comb while they are in action.
By these means it is ensured that the catch E of the dropper E shall drop.
fairly on the top of its lace jack, when the cards permit it so to do.
In some cases especially in fine gauges where the comb plates are very thin the
droppers are sometimes liable to be "sluggish" in their movements and consequently.
do not drop into the holes in the cards quick enough. To overcome this difficulty
I arrange a brush in such a position and in such a manner that when a suitable,
movement is imparted to it by a cam or other convenient mechanism it brushes the
ends of the droppers at the moment they touch the cards, and causes them to at
once drop into their correct positions.
This will be at once understood, by referring to Figure 3, Sheet 2. O is a brush;
long enough to cover the tails of all the droppers. This brush O is connected by
arms or brackets O', to the shaft or rod O2, suitable brackets O³ may be carried
by or attached to any convenient part of the framing of the machine. These,
brackets form bearings for the shaft O'. A suitable rocking motion may be
imparted to the shaft O, by a cam on the main shaft, through suitable attachments
B

page_text: therefrom or by other convenient mechanism. So that at the time the pins E' of
the droppers E touch the cards D, the brush O will pass from the position shewn
in full lines to the position indicated by dotted lines at 04, and in so doing it will
brush the tails of the droppers downwards, and thereby ensure that every dropper
selected by the cards shall catch its lace jack.
37
When a large number of cards have to be used in one length, I carry them
right over the top of the "snapping" mechanism, and then fold them up behind
the machine, the cards being there suspended similarly to an ordinary "Jacquard"
arrangement which is well understood. Now in order that a regular tension may
be maintained upon the cards to ensure their lying correctly upon the cylinders,
and that they may be duly conveyed to the back of the machine as above described,
I arrange a shaft at the top, and towards the back of the machine, the said shaft
may carry suitable card cylinders provided with gauge pins and other attachments
to draw the cards up, and carry them to their resting place behind. For this
purpose I apply mechanism to rotate the said shaft as follows:-
Upon the said shaft is a rack wheel upon
which retaining pawl acts in order
to prevent the said shaft from ruuning back by the weight of the cards and the
like. Upon the same shaft is a second rack wheel and against it a grooved wheel
or pulley is placed. Upon the side of the said wheel or pulley is a pawl or
clawker which engages with the said rack wheel. Wound round the said pulley
is a cord one end of which is fastened to the pulley, and the other or free end has
a weight attached to it, and arranged in such a manner that the weight tends to
turn the shaft in a direction, to take up the slack, in the hands of cards as they
leave the card cylinders.
To the same pulley (or another fastened thereto) is attached a second cord, but
wound in the opposite direction. The free end of the said cord may be. attached
to the end of a lever to which suitable motion may be imparted, by a cam or other
convenient means, so that when the weight has turned the shaft, so as to take up
the slack in the band of cards, at the next revolution of the machine the said
lever pulls the second cord, and turns or racks the wheel back. The first. named
ratchet wheel and pawl preventing the shaft turning with it, and thus the weight
acting upon the said wheel causes' a constant' tension upon the band of cards, during
their movement and time of action. The cards are duly delivered to their resting
place at the back of the machine and all slack is avoided.
Figures 9, 10 and 11, Sheet 6 show this arrangement. Figure 9 shews the
framing which carries the snapping mechanism and some adjacent parts and the
general arrangement of the mechanism for delivering and receiving the cards as
hereinbefore described. The dotted lines in Figure 9, indicate the position and
path of the cards and the arrows indicate the direction in which they travel, to
and from the card cylinders D, where they are brought into action as hereinbefore
described, with reference to Figures 1 and 3, Sheets 1 and 2. It will be seen that
the cards come down at the front of the machine, and then after passing round the
card cylinders D' return to the back of the machine (as indicated by dotted lines
and arrows) where they are hung in folds being suspended by the usual, well
understood catch pins, (fastened to certain cards) from the brackets P. All this
part of the arrangement will be at once well understood, by all conversant with
Jacquard" machines.
The ratchet Do acting upon the wheel D' which is fast to the shaft D³, draws
the cards from their resting place where they are suspended from the bracket P, at
the back of the machine.
Now in order to convey the cards back to the bracket P after they have passed
round the cylinders D', I carry them up over the roller P', to another cylinder P,
which is fast to the shaft P3. A ratchet wheel P, is also fast to the shaft P³.
By the side of the ratchet wheel P, is a grooved wheel or pulley P, which is
loose on the shaft P. Upon the side of this wheel P, is a pawl or ratchet P
which is kept in contact with the ratchet wheel P4; by a suitable spring as shown.

page_text: A cord P' is lapped round the wheel P³, and one end of the cord is made fast
thereto, to the free end of the cord P', a weight 1 is attached.
Now it will be seen that as the cards are discharged from the cylinder D', after
doing their work, the pulley Ps, and the parts connected therewith as hereinbefore
described being acted upon, or moved by the weight P, the shaft P³, is caused to
turn, whereby the cards are gathered or drawn up by the cylinder P, and then
allowed to fall in folds upon the bracket P as described, and a constant tension is
kept upon the retiring cards between the two card cylinders D', and P2, which may
be regulated by the weight P8. A lever R, works or racks upon a stud or axle R³,
which may be carried from, or by any convenient part of the framing, of the
machine. One end of the lever R carries a truck or roller R2, which is acted
upon by the cam R, upon the cam shaft S. To the other end of the lever R a
cord P is attached. This cord P, is attached to and lapped round the wheel P³,
but it is lapped in the opposite direction to the cord P'. Now it will be seen that
by the action of the cam R³, the weight P8 will be constantly wound up a short
distance, at each revolution of the cam shaft. Fixed to any convenient part of the
shaft Ps, is another ratchet wheel T Figure 11. Loose upon the shaft P³ is
a suitable bell crank lever, one end T', of this lever carries a pawl or ratchet T
which acts upon the wheel T. To the end T3 of this bell crank lever a weight T
is suspended, which tends to keep the end T3, of the lever down on the stop T³.
It will be seen that the pawl or ratchet P2 acts as a retaining ratchet and with the
assistance of the weight P8 prevents the weight of the cards or pull of the cord P,
from turning the shaft P³ in the opposite direction to that in which the cards are
moving.
The card cylinders D+ have a slight up and down movement as they depress the
droppers, as herein before described, and it will be seen that if no means were
provided to take up the slack, the acting card at the bottom of the cylinder D
would not always be kept against the surface of the cylinder and consequently the
pins on the droppers would not leave the holes in the cards freely-so that it is
most essential to keep a constant tension upon the band of cards while in action.
This I provide for as follows: A board or felt covered surface U (along the top
of which the advancing cards are drawn) is hinged or jointed to the fixed framing
of the machine at U' a connecting link or links U2 connects the front end of the
board U with the card cylinder shaft D so that the board U moves up and down
with the card cylinders, and consequently the advancing cards coming down in the
front of the machine are not allowed to go slack when the card cylinder shaft D³
rises, which would occur if the board U were stationary. The retiring cards pass
over the pulley P1, as hereinbefore described to the card cylinder P. Now referring
to Figure 11 herein before described it will be seen that the retaining ratchet T is
carried by the bell crank lever T' and T3 and held in one position as shewn in full
lines by the weight T. But when the card cylinder shaft D³ is moved downwards,
for the cards to depress the droppers, the retiring cards (ie. those passing from the
card cylinder D' over the roller P', to the card cylinder P2) will be slightly drawn
down and forward again and by so doing the cylinder P will be slightly turned,
and the retaining ratchet T2 and its lever will be drawn into a position indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 11, and when the card cylinder shaft D again rises into its
normal position, the weight T acting upon the bell crank T T3 and parts
connected therewith will turn the cylinders P' whereby all slack is taken out of
the retiring cards.
Thus it will be seen that by these means as the card cylinders D' move up and
down to depress the droppers, the acting card is kept close up to the surface of the
cylinder, and all slack is avoided.
In some cases instead of the cards being suspended at the back of the machine,
as hereinbefore described they may in a similar manner be suspended above the
machine and so take up less floor space and leave the back of the machine more
aven

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work hose,
socks and the like providing a separate set of "cards" to each width or division
of work for selecting the lace points, such cards being arranged and worked
independently of the ordinary narrowing machine, substantially as herein before
described.
2. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like bringing the cards into action in such a manner that they do
not come into direct contact with the lace jacks or parts attached thereto, but
control the same through intermediate parts, substantially as herein before
described.
3. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like, interposing droppers between the cards and lace-jacks, the said
droppers being selected by the cards, and acting direct upon the lace-jacks,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like droppers jointed upon a rod or shaft, which may be carried by
arms from a shaft, working in bearings attached to the ordinary narrowing machine
arms, or otherwise, and to which a suitable rocking motion is imparted, by ca'ns or
equivalents, whereby the said droppers are caused to push down into action, all
the lace points, indicated or selected by the cards substantially as herein before
described.
5. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks and the like arranging the pins in the tails of the droppers at regular recurring
different distances from the rod or shaft upon which the said droppers are pivoted
so that the said pins, stand in two three or more adjacent rows, substantially as
herein before described.
6. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace, or openwork, hose,
socks, and the like droppers having a slot, gap or opening from the pivot hole in
the centre, to the outside, the rod or shaft upon which they are threaded or pivoted,
having also suitable flat surfaces formed thereon, so as to enable a dropper to be
replaced without unthreading those on either side of it, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
7. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like, so arranging the machine that some of the same points may be
used for forming the narrowings as are used for forming the lace work substantially
as herein before described.
8. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks and the like arranging two cams side by side for racking the lace points, one
to rack a distance of one needle, and the other a distance of two needles, and
shifting the truck from the one to the other, automatically as and for the purpose
described.
9. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like controlling and effecting the number and order of the narrowings
and the lace courses, by means of notches or inclines placed upon one chain,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
10. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks, and the like, a comb bar having wide blades or walls between which the
bottom ends of the droppers and the top ends of the corresponding lace-jacks are
guided and controlled substantially as herein before described.
11. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or openwork, hose,
socks, and the like a brush worked by a cam or other convenient means, arranged
and adjusted so as to brush down the tails of the droppers at the time the dropper
pins touch the cards, substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 12. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks and the like, the means for keeping the bulk of the cards which are out of
action, folded up or suspended at the back or top of the machine substantially as
hereinbefore described."
13. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace, or open work, hose,
socks, and the like, the method of conveying the cards to and from their work,
substantially as herein before described.
14. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or open work, hose,
socks and the like, the method of keeping a constant tension upon the band of
cards, or a portion thereof while in action substantially as herein before described.
15. The combination of mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4, Sheets 1 to 3.
16. The combination of mechanism, substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 5 to 8 Sheets 4 and 5.
17. The combination of mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 9 to 11 Sheet 6.
1000
C. H. ALDRIDGE.