IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALD KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Williams and Charles Edward Williams, of Ashton-
under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Reed and Heald Manufacturers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALD KNITTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 17th May 1878, and dated the 23rd February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Williams and Charles
Edward Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd
February 1878.
HENRY WILLIAMS and CHARLES EDWARD WILLIAMS, of Ashton-under-Lyne
in the County of Lancaster, Reed and Heald Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HEALD KNITTING MACHINES."
Our Invention relates to the machinery employed in the manufacture of healds,
and has for its object to facilitate the production of "spaced healds," that is to say,
of healds formed with eyelets arranged in sets or groups, separated from each other
by intervals or spaces. For this purpose we employ means for withdrawing the
yarn from the range of action of the corkscrew or looper at the completion of each
group, and for keeping the yarn so withdrawn for a time sufficient to cause the
formation of the desired interval or space, the action of other parts of the machine
continuing, so that yarn is wound or knitted around the foundation cords without
healds being formed.
When the last formed healds have been fed forward to the extent required to
form an interval or space of the desired proportions, the yarn is released, and
returns. within the range of action of the looper and the formation of healds is
resumed.
The yarn is withdrawn by means of a finger, pusher, or part which is actuated or
controlled in its operation by means of a cam tappet or equivalent part which is
adjustable in form or in speed, or is arranged to be adjusted or controlled in its
action, so that the number of eyes or healds, and the widths of the intervals or
spaces may be regulated, as for example, we may employ a suitably formed. cam
actuated through change gearing, so that its speed can be regulated and acting upon

page_text: the part which withdraws the yarn as aforesaid through a suitable arrangement of
levers, shafts, or connecting parts.
We may employ a counter or indicating apparatus connected with the mechanism
for controlling the action of the said finger to register and indicate the number
of sets or groups formed, and we may provide such apparatus with a bell or
signal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Williams and Charles Edward Williams in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd August 1878.
HENRY WILLIAMS and CHARLES EDWARD WILLIAMS, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in
the County of Lancaster, Reed and Heald Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTSI N
HEALD KNITTING MACHINES."
"
Our Invention relates to the machinery employed in the manufacture of healds,
and has for its object to facilitate the production of "spaced healds," that is to say,
of healds formed with eyelets arranged in sets or groups separated from each other
by intervals or spaces. For this purpose we employ means for withdrawing the
yarn from the range of action of the corkscrew or "looper" at the completion
of each group and for keeping the yarn so withdrawn for a time sufficient to cause
the formation of the desired interval or space, the action of other parts of the
machine continuing so that yarn is wound or knitted around the foundation cords
without healds being formed.
When the last formed healds have been fed forwards to the extent required to
form an interval or space of the desired proportions, the yarn is released and
returns within the range of action of the corkscrew or looper, and the formation of
healds is resumed.
The yarn is withdrawn by means of a finger, pusher, or part which is actuated
or controlled in its operation by means of a cam, tappet, or equivalent part which
is adjustable in form or in speed, or is arranged to be adjusted or controlled in its
action, so that the number of eyes or healds and the widths of the intervals or spaces
may be regulated.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood, we have attached
hereto a Sheet of Drawings made to a scale of about one quarter of the full size,
and marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings I will now refer.
Fig. 1 represents a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the apparatus which we
have applied to an ordinary heald knitting machine, only so much of the said
machine being represented as is necessary to the illustration of the action of our
improved apparatus.
Inthe said Figs. a is a portion of the framing of a heald knitting machine; b is
the driving shaft, and c is the "corkscrew." Upon the shaft bis fixed a worm d
which gears with a worm wheel e which gears with a wheel ƒ. A disc y is fitted to

page_text: revolve upon a stud, and is secured to the wheel f, so that a revolving motion is
communicated to the said disc. The said disc is perforated with one or more
circles of holes h, and short studs are provided to be inserted into such holes in such
order as may be required. A shaft i is mounted in bearings j which are fixed to a
cross rail, or to any suitable part of the framing, and upon the said shaft is fixed a
lever k and a second lever l. The lever is provided with a weight m which tends
to turn the shaft in its bearings until the end of the lever k bears upon the face of
the disc. The outer end of the lever is turned and adapted to work in a slot in
an arm n, which is fixed upon a rocking shaft o which is mounted in bearings p.
Upon one end of the said rocking shaft is fixed or formed a finger r. A side view
of this finger is given in Fig. 3, which also illustrates the connection of the lever
with the said rocking shaft. The position of the said finger is so adjusted as that
when it is in or about in the position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 3, the
formation of the healds is not interfered with, but that when it is lowered, as
indicated by the dotted lines, the end of the finger passes between the yarn and
the "corkscrew," and withdraws the yarn sideways out of the reach of the
corkscrew.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-So long as the end of the lever k
bears upon the face of the disc, the finger is kept out of action, and the formation
of the healds proceeds. When the rotation of the said disc brings one of the studs
below the end of the lever k, the said end is raised, whereby the shaft i is caused to
rock in its bearings to some extent, the outer end of the lever being thereby
depressed. The end of the lever when so depressed acts upon the arm n to turn
the shaft o in its bearings, whereby the finger is moved into the position indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 or thereabouts. The outer end of the finger as it
inoves downwards intercepts the yarn indicated by the line s, and pushes it to one
side to such an extent as that it is withdrawn from the range of action of the
corkscrew, as indicated by Fig. 4. So long as, the yarn is so held away from the
corkscrew, the formation of healds is interrupted, although the motions of the
corkscrew and the other parts of the machine continue.
By placing studs in the holes in the disc in positions to form a continuous line, the
lever k may be sustained out of contact with the disc as long as may be desired, the
formation of healds ceasing during such period. When the studs pass away from
below the end of the lever, the said end falls on to the disc, whereby the weighted
lever causes the finger r to be raised, and the formation of healds is resumed.
The action of the disc g may be further regulated by altering its speed. For this
purpose the stud upon which the disc is mounted is adjustable in a slotted plate
in order that the wheel f may be changed for a wheel larger or smaller in diameter,
or if preferred the worm wheel e may be connected with the disc by means of any
suitable arrangement of change gearing.
If it is required to indicate the number of times the pattern is repeated, we
attach a pin or catch to the disc g, so that at each revolution the said pin will set
in motion suitable gearing actuating a bell or other alarm or indicator.
"
When applying our Invention to machines having "loopers" instead of "cork-
screws a finger is employed to withdraw the yarn from the range of action of the
looper, the action of such finger being governed in the manner indicated with referenco
to the finger ?.
We have illustrated the arrangement which we have adopted for governing the
action of the finger r, but it must not be understood that we confine ourselves to
such arrangement, as other means than those indicated may be used, as for example,
a pattern chain or a peg barrel or a chain of perforated plates may be employed to
act upon the lever k or upon a lever feeler or part substituted therefor, and also we
do not confine ourselves to the precise action of the finger r, as a finger or part may
be caused to rise or to move or rock sideways or in any suitable direction which
will withdraw the yarn from the action of the corkscrew or looper.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which we carry the same into effect, we would have it to be
understood that we claim,-
First. The apparatus substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated
herein-before, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of a finger controlled in its action by a suitable pattern
cam, pattern chain, peg barrel, or peg disc, and acting substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The employment in heald knitting machines of a finger pusher or
part controlled by a pattern cam, pattern chain, peg barrel, or disc or other equivalent
appliance to withdraw the yarn from the action of the corkscrew or looper when
spaces are to be left.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Edward Williams, for myself and on
behalf of the said Henry Williams, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES EDWARD WILLIAMS. (L.S.)