IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Heinrich Schuerer, of
Werdova, Saxony.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." [A communication from abroad by
Heinrich Schuerer, of Werdova, Saxony.]
The knitting machines of ordinary construction (for the knitting of colored
patterns) are limited in their use to the production of horizontally running stripes.
The new machine described in the following Specification has for its object to
enable the production of not only plain-flat one colored web, but also of two or
more colored patterns of all possible shapes, squares, stripes, zigzags, polygonalics,
ovals, rounds, colors running into each other, floral patterns, letters woven in,
arabesques, etc., etc.
This result is chiefly obtained by peculiarly formed needle-guides, arranged in
the bed in rows behind the needles which are pushed forward by a pushing comb
or pushing bar, and which are moved in the required manner by peculiar V shaped
grooves in the cam.
A ground plate with two cheeks carries the needle bed, similar to the kind
known as Lamb's knitting machines. The cheeks of the ground plate have
projections in the rear of the machine on which two sliding carriages with bearings
for a horizontal shaft are arranged. This shaft carrying two discs with radial
slots to receive the pushing combs can thus be pushed towards the needle bed.
A spring or any other suitable arrangement brings the pushing combs back into
their original position. The pushing combs or pushing bars are strips of metal
fastened in the slots of the discs and having their outer edges cut like a comb, so
that the projecting teeth correspond with the grooves in the needle bed. The
71

page_text: number of these combs can be varied as well as their form. Suppose six combs
were arranged in the slotted discs around the shaft; this shaft is provided with a
device to fasten its position after every sixth of a revolution, so that every one of
the six combs can be retained in a position opposite to the grooves in the needle
bed wherein the needle-guides are lodged, presenting their back ends to the combs
of the pushing bars. These combs are so formed that No. 1, for instance, has
between its successive teeth clearings of a width equal to the width of the teeth;
the second (No. 2) may have two, three, or more teeth, followed by simple double
or wider clearings., etc. all combs having a different form. It is obvious that these
pushing combs when pushed in towards the ends.of the needle guides push forward
every other one, when the comb above designated with No. 1 is used, or every third
one when the comb No. 2 is used, etc., The needle-guides lodged behind the
needles in the same grooves push their respective needles forward, and it will be
understood that by the use of different pushing combs different needles can be
pushed forward into action, the change of which produces the different patterns.
The sliding carriage or frame does not carry the cam with the V shaped grooves in
the ordinary way, but the latter is attached to a pivot on the frame, around which
it can slightly oscillate (this oscillation being limited by stops), so that the cam in
its stroke across the row of needles takes a slight oblique position, whereby I
obtain the great advantage of not drawing in the ready loops once more, which
with their needles are always pulled out a little way by the weights with which
the fabric is charged. The cam of the ordinary machine has one ✓ shaped groove;
the cam of the new machine is provided with two or more V shaped grooves
wherein the shanks of the needles pass and advance the hooks in two or more rows
to catch and work into the fabric several threads of different colors.
The needle-guides pushed forward by the above mentioned combs are of the
greatest importance for this purpose. They act upon their needles and push them
on so that their shanks pass into the outer grooves, while the needles not operated
upon by their guides (being out of action whenever the pushing comb presents
clearings to their ends) have their shanks carried into the inner V shaped groove.
In order to work two or more threads at the same time into the fabric, it becomes
necessary to provide two or more thread-guides plying to and fro with the carriage.
The needle-guides are flat hammered wires provided with shanks similar to those
of the needles. They push the needles forward with their front ends, when their
rear ends are acted upon by the teeth of the pushing combs. The rear ends are
hinged, so that the guides, and consequently the respective needles, can easily be
thrown out of action by turning up the ends and throwing them out of reach of
the pushing comb.
The form of my improved needles is different from the old form, the hook being
further advanced, so that it can better catch the yarn and bring it through the
oop in order to form a new one.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by
Heinrich Schuerer, of Werdova, Saxony.
The knitting machines of ordinary construction (for the knitting of colored
patterns) are limited in their use to the production of horizontally running stripes.
The new machine described in the following Specification has for its object to
enable the production of not only plain-flat one colored web, but also of two or
more colored patterns of all possible shapes, stripes, zigzags, polygonalics, ovals,
rounds, colors running into each other, floral patterns, letters woven in, arabesques,
etc.
The result is chiefly obtained by peculiarly formed needle-guides arranged in
the bed in rows behind the needles which are pushed forward by a pushing-comb
or pushing bar, and which are moved in the required manner by peculiar V shaped
passages in the cam-plate.
A ground plate with two cheeks carries the needle-bed or needle plate, similar
to the kind known in Lamb's knitting machines. The cheeks of the ground plate
have projections in the rear of the machine, on which two sliding carriages with
bearings for a horizontal shaft are arranged. This shaft carrying two discs with
radial slots to receive the pushing combs can thus be pushed towards the needle-
bed. A spring or any other suitable arrangement brings the pushing combs back
into their original position. The pushing combs or pushing bars are strips of
metal fastened in the slots of the discs, and having their outer edges cut like a
comb, so that the projecting teeth correspond with the grooves in the needle-bed.
The number of these combs can be varied as well as their form. Suppose six combs
were arranged in the slotted discs around the shaft, this shaft is provided with a
device to fasten its position after every sixth of a revolution, that every one of
the six combs can be retained in a position opposite to the grooves in the needle-
bed wherein the needle-guides are lodged, presenting their back ends to the combs
of the pushing bars. These combs are so formed that No. 1, for instance, has
between its successive teeth clearings of a width equal to the width of the teeth,
the second, No. 2, may have clearings of double the width, the third, No. 3, may
have two, three, or more teeth, followed by simple, double, or wider clearings, etc.,
all combs having a different form. It is obvious that these pushing combs when
pushed in towards the ends of the needle guides push forward every other one
when the comb above designated with No. 1 is used, or every third one when the
comb No. 2 is used, etc. The needle-guides lodged behind the needles in the same
grooves push their respective needles forward, and it will be understood that by
the use of different pushing combs, different needles can be pushed forward into
action, the change of which produces the different patterns. The sliding carriage
or frame does not carry the cam-plate with the V shaped grooves in the ordinary
way, but the latter is attached to a pivot on the frame, around which it can slightly
oscillate (this oscillation being limited by stops), so that the cam in its stroke
across the row of needles takes a slight oblique position, whereby I obtain the great
advantage of not drawing in the ready loops once more, which with their needles
are always pulled out a little way by the weights with which the fabric is charged.
The cam plate of the ordinary machine has one V shaped groove, the cam plate of
the new machine is provided with two or more V shaped grooves wherein the

page_text: shanks or butts of the needles pass and advance the hooks in two or more rows to
catch and work into the fabric several threads of different colors.
The needle-guides pushed forward by the above mentioned combs are of the
greatest importance for this purpose. They act upon these needles and push them
on so that their butts pass into the outer grooves, while the needles not operated
upon by their guides (being out of action wherever the pushing combs presents
clearings to their ends) have their butts carried into the inner V shaped groove.
In order to work two or more threads at the same time into the fabric, it becomes
necessary to provide two or more thread-guides plying to and fro with the carriage.
The needle guides are flat hammered wires provided with butts similar to those of
the needles. They push the needles forward with their front ends when their rear
ends are acted upon by the teeth of the pushing combs.
The rear ends are hinged so that the guides, and consequently the respective
needles can easily be thrown out of action by turning up the hinged ends and
throwing them out of reach of the pushing comb.
The form of my improved needles is different from the old form, the hook being
further advanced, so that it can better catch the yarn and bring it through the
loop in order to form a new one.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying six Sheets of Drawing.
Figure 1, Sheet I., is a ground plan of the whole machine; Figure 2, Sheet II.,
is an end elevation of the machine; Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite end,
showing the mechanism for moving the pushing combs; Figure 4 shows this
mechanism at a smaller scale seen from above, and Figure 5 is a detail belonging
thereto; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, Sheet III., are different views of the cam-plate in
natural size, and Figures 10, 10° and 10b, details belonging to the shifter.or sliding
plates playing in a recess sunk in the cam-plate; Figure 11, Sheet IV., is a top
view of the cam-plate with the thread-guides; Figures 12, 12ª, 13, 13a, and 14,
Sheet V., show the different positions of the thread-guides while operating;
Figure 15 represents a needle in natural size; Figures 15ª and 15b are views of
needles of the new form and of the old form, the scale being enlarged for better
comparison; Figure 16 shows a needle-guide in side-elevation; Figures 17, 18,
and 19, Sheet VI., illustrate the way of operation, and show the respective position
of the needles when the machine is at work; Figures 20, 21, and 22, Sheet IV.,
show different forms of pushing combs in elevation.
A ground plate provided with the cheeks A, Figures 1, 2, and 3, carries the
horizontal needle-plate E. The cheeks of the ground plate have projections in the
rear of the machine on which two sliding carriages D with bearings a for a
horizontal shaft b are arranged.
This shaft carries two discs C, C, provided with radial slots, wherein the pushing
combs c are fixed. The shaft b carries a third disc 62 with as many notches as
there are slots in the discs C. A tooth on a lever b¹ (made of steel) engages in
these notches, whereby the exact position of the pushing combs in front of the
grooves in the needle-plate is insured. The pushing combs or pushing-bars are
strips of metal fastened in the slots of the discs C, and having their outer edges cut
like a comb, or the projecting teeth may be obtained by soldering short pieces of
wire to a metal strip so as to correspond with the grooves in the needle-plate.
Figures 20, 21, and 22 show three forms of combs which can be varied of course in
form as well as in number.
Figure 4 represents the mechanism by means of which the discs C with the
pushing bars are thrown against the rear ends of the needle-guides in order to
produce a certain pattern.
This movement is obtained automatically and at a certain time as f, i, at a half
revolution of the crank of the machine, or (which is the same) at every stroke of
the cam-plate.
The arms of a forked lever d are fastened to the bearings a. A tail-piece ď

page_text: passes through a hole in the rib y of the frame, thereby insuring the straight and
exact motion. A lever s¹ swinging on the fulcrum 83 is provided with a pulley at
its inner end, working in a slot of the forked piece d. The outer end is also
slotted in order to receive a bolt with a set-screw provided with a small pulley,
Figure 5. This pulley engages in the groove of a bush 8, Figures 3, 4, and 5
keyed upon the end of the driving-shaft e, which gives motion to the machine in
the ordinary and well known manner. The groove in the bush 8 is composed of
two half-rounds cut into the cylindrical surface on opposite sides of the bush.
When the shaft e revolves the small pulley running in this groove is caused to
move to and fro, consequently the lever s¹ is swinging around its fulcrum 82 so that
the inner end of the lever pushes the fork & with the bearings a, and consequently
the combs alternately inside and outside at every half revolution of shaft e. The
small pulley can easily be withdrawn from the groove in the bush 8 by loosening
In
the set screw (Figure 5) and moving it aside in the slotted end of the lever 8'.
this way the apparatus with the pushing combs can be rendered inoperative when
it is desired to continue the pattern actually being worked.
The pattern may also be changed by moving the whole needle plate with its
appurtenances lengthways, which is effected in their known manner by the lever m
and an eccentric pin. By this motion of the needle-plate other grooves and other
needle-guides will be presented to the teeth of the pushing combs.
The sliding carriage B is held to the cheeks of the bed by gibbs A¹; those in
front of the machine are a little below the surface of the needle-plate, and those in
the rear a little above the needle-plate (Figure 2).
The cam-plate H, Figures 6 and 7 underside views, and Figures 8 and 9 top view
and side elevation respectively, is not fixed to the sliding carriage in the usual
way, but is attached by means of a forked iron piece H' and a pin upon which it
can slightly turn. The cam-plate in its reciprocations leans against the shoulders
k¹, kl, projecting upwards from the sliding carriage, whereby it takes a position in
its stroke not quite parallel to the row of needle butts. The advantage obtained
by this arrangement is very important. The web distended by weights advances
always the needles for a little way, so that they are struck once more by the outer
edges of the side-cams a (Figure 6 and 7), thereby the loops are tugged upon
without any purpose, and this repeated strain is very inconvenient when fine yarn
or thread of inferior quality is employed. The position of the cam-plate not
parallel to the row of needle-butts obviates this unnecessary and dangerous
receding of the needles, and a web is produced without holes even when
employing the finest and weakest yarns. The cam-plate is secured to the forked
iron piece H¹ by means of set screws passing through elongated holes, as shown in
the left hand branch of H¹, Figure 8, so that the cam plate can be adjusted to
different positions.
24
The cam plate is provided with the side-cams a and two middle cams B and J.
Besides these cams, two oblique ribs or projections ô, ô, are arranged on the under-
side of the shifter plates H³ which are sliding in a recess or wide groove sunk in
the cam-plate. These sliding plates H2, H2, are secured in the groove by means
of pins projecting from the upper surfaces of the plates through slots cut in the
cam-plate H¹. Both positions of the sliding plates, approached or distanced, as
shown by Figure 6 and 7, can be secured by means of a slotted link l, in the slot
of which engage a pin (Figure 8, 10, and 10a). The link is attached to the
upturned end of one of the sliding plates H2, while the pin projects from the
upturned end of the other sliding-plate. When the pin is in a position as
indicated by Figure 10; the plates H2 are approached, the pins H³ in the slots H* are
so placed that the sliding-plates are firmly and solidly secured to the cam plate H,
as in Figure 6 and 8. When however the pin is in a position as shown by
Figure 10 the plates H³ are distanced, as in Figure 7, and the pins H³ in the
slots H can play to and fro, so that the shifting plates H2 change their position
in the cam plate at every one of its reciprocations, the object of which will be
hereafter explained.

page_text: The shanks of the thread-guides playing between the branches of the forked-
iron H³ glide with their ends on guide-bars rivetted upon an angle-iron n, secured
to the frame.
The shanks of the thread-guides I, K, are arranged in different heights, so
that K carrying the main colour can pass under the thread guide I, distributing
the yarn of the pattern colors. The thread-guide K always runs before the guide I
which will be readily understood from the Figures 11, 12, 12, 13, and 14. The
shank of the lower-thread guide K is provided with two pins p, p¹³, which are struck
by the projections 1, 2, on the upturned ends 13 of the sliding plates H When
the cam-plate changes its direction of motion the projection 1 leaves the pin p
and strikes the pin p², thereby pushing the thread-guide K forward. The shank
of the upper, thread-guide I remains stationary for this time, and while K glides
past under it a small cam lifts the upper thread-guide (a double hook q having
the hook points lapped past each other) out of the way (as shown in Figure 12).
The front end is for this purpose pivotted at t. Thus the thread-guides have
-changed their positions from the one represented by Figure 13 to the one shown
by Figure 14. The cam-plate continues its way from the right to the left, and the
eye of the lower yarn-guide K runs again before the double hook
of the upper
q
thread-guide.
A stop us (Figure 11) screwed to the cam-plate playing in a loop u³, screwed to
the front of the lower thread-guide, is used to carry the latter forward, aiding the
pin p, which is moved by the projection l¹. The stop u on the lower thread-guide
and the loop u¹ screwed to the other are arranged for the same purpose.
Figure 11 shows the position of the parts when the cam-plate has just finished
its stroke from left to right, and the stroke in opposite direction commences.
The
forked iron H¹ has swung round and leans now against the shoulder ¹ on the
right side; when the motion continues the thread-guides change position as
above described from the one shown in Figure 13 to that in Figure 14, whereupon
the shank of the upper thread-guide leans against the right hand branch of the
iron H¹.
Figure 15 shows a needle in natural size, the form of which differs from the
usual form, as may be understood from Figures 15% and 15b, representing the needles
of old and new style at a larger scale. The top of the hook of the old needle,
Figure 15b, is flush with the upper edge of the shank, while the hook of the new
needle, Figure 15ª, is bent higher up. This arrangement is necessary that the
needles can better catch the thread, which ascends from the fabric to the eye of
the thread-guide sleeper than in ordinary machines.
Figure 16 shows one of the needle-guides flat-hammered wires provided with
butts, like those of the needles. They are lodged in the grooves of the needle-plate
behind the needles, which they move forward when they are pushed on by the
pushing-combs. The rear ends are hinged, so that the guides, and consequently
the respective needles, can easily be thrown out of action by turning up the hinged
ends and throwing them out of reach of the teeth of the pushing-comb.
The mode of operating the needles by the cams is illustrated by Figures 17,
18, and 19, showing underside views of the cam-plate with the needles and
needles-guides.
For making plain web the mechanism for moving the pushing-combs is thrown
out of action in the above described manner, the needle-guides, whose butts are in
the row r, v, are drawn forward till their butts stand in the row x, y, so that they
are in the path of the ribs or projections 6, d. The distance from needle-guide-butt
to needle-butt is fixed so that the latter enters the passage between cams α and r,
when the former passes the end of projection d. The needle is made to advance,
and in going back with the thread in its hook the inner end strikes again upon its
respective needle-guide, so that its butt comes back in the line x, y. When the
butts of all needle-guides are in the line x, y, the butts of all needles must
necessarily go through the passage between a and ŏ and plain work will be
obtained. The sliding plates H² are then in closed position, as in Figure 17.

page_text: When they are in open position, as in Figure 18, the butts of the needle-guides
will be struck by the inner face of the projection 6 and the needle-guides are carried
outside and altogether thrown out of action.
•
I will now proceed to explain the working with two colours. The row of the
needle guide-butts r, v, Figure 17, has been broken by the action of the pushing-
comb, so that one half of the number (two by two in the example represented)
have advanced into line x, y. Hereby the line of needle butts m, n, has been
broken in the same way, and half their number two by two (indicated by rounds
with a cross line) have advanced into line p, q. This half will enter in the passage
between a and 8 when the cam plate is travelling, as their needle guides in the
above described manner push them further on. But before I commence the work I
must lead the needle-butts of the row m, n, (indicated by simple rounds) by means
of a hook or by hand into the line p, q, as shown in Figure 19. Thus their butts will
be in the path of cam B, and be led into the passage between ẞ and J. The hooks
of the needles therefore advance in two rows, as shown in Figure 19, the inner
forming loops of the main coloured yarn 1, the outer working the thread of the
pattern colour.
When the cam-plate has made a number of reciprocations and the pattern should
be changed, I loosen the sliding plates carrying the projections & (as in Figure 18),
and the butts of the needle-guides will be brought back into the row r, v, as
explained above.
The pattern obtained by the manipulation just described would show stripes of
different colours (here two) in vertical direction of the fabric. In order to obtain
squares I have only from time to time to shift the whole needle-plate aside for the
distance of two needles. For more colored patterns I arrange more cams in the
cam-plate, and correspondingly more thread guides, the upper one always carrying
the double hook with its points lapped past each other, which catches the presented
threads automatically. But this double hook is already known and forms no part
of my Patent. In knitting with a number of colored threads I employ in lieu of
the pushing combs, cylinders provided with studs similar to those in grind organs,
in order to obtain floral patterns.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
1st. In a knitting machine, substantially of the character described, the sliding
bearers a with shaft b, slotted discs C, C, and pushing-combs c, in combination with
forked lever d, lever s¹, and grooved bush s on the driving shaft, for the purpose
set forth.
2nd. In a knitting machine, the needle guides in the grooves of the needle-
plate behind the needles having their rear ends hinged, as and for the purposes
specified.
3rd. The form of the needles, having the points of their hooks above the surface
of the needle-plate, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In a knitting machine, the cam plate H with two or more V shaped passages
for the needle butts, and the moveable sliding plates H2 provided with oblique
projecting ribs for operating the needle-guide butts, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a knitting machine, the cam-plate H secured to the forked iron piece H¹
turning on a pin of the sliding carriage in combination with the studs k¹, k¹,
projecting from the sliding carriage, as and for the purpose specified.
6th. In a knitting machine, the employment of two (or more) thread-guides K, I,
playing between the branches of the forked iron H, as and for the purpose specified.
7th. The thread-guide K with cam r to throw aside the hinged end of thread-
guide I, substantially as set forth.
8th. The thread-guide K, provided with pins p, p', for the purpose of being
always led in advance of thread-guide I, substantially as described.

page_text: 9th. The projections 1, 2, of the upturned ends of the sliding plates H³, for the
purpose of striking the pins p, p', of the lower thread-guide K, substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
WM. MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)