Improvements in the Manufacture of Fishing and other Nets, and in Machinery therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st.Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fishing and other Nets, and in
Machinery therefor.
1, WILLIAM IRELAND of Buckhaven in the County of Fife, North Britain,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention has for its object the making of fishing and other nets by a simple
and expeditious process and with knots not liable to slip. The improved machine
consists of a frame formed by two gables bound together by longitudinal rails. A
shaft supported by bearings extends along the back of the frame and is driven by
gearing at one end. The shaft carries a series of cams for giving motion to parts
of the machine hereinafter described.
At the front of the main framing a frame oscillating on a shaft or on journals, or
sliding on guide brackets is situated and the upper portion of this frame carries two
sets of shuttles containing flat circular spools of such diameter as to contain as
much yarn or twine as possible.
The shuttles are arranged in two rows one in front of the other and they consist
of small frames holding the spools which can freely turn in them, the spools being
held in the shuttle by a spring which keeps it pressed against a projecting piece on
the inside of the shuttle and which piece fits into an open space at the circumference
of the spool.
The front row of shuttles is pointed so as easily to enter the loops which pass
round or under them. The shuttles are placed in grooves or between short fingers
in a trough-shaped double rail or shuttle carrier, and they are arranged just wide
enough apart to allow the threads to pass freely between them, corresponding
spaces being also allowed for the same purpose in the shuttle carrier. The front
half of the trough-shaped rail or shuttle carrier is made to slide on guides fixed on
the back half along with the shuttle it contains, to a distance sidewards equal to
the pitch of the shuttles, or the distance between their centres.
The number of shuttles in the front row is one more than that in the back row.
The frame carrying the shuttles has a backward and forward motion given to it
by a bar whose front end is connected to a stud on the frame and whose back end
consists of a fork guided on the cam shaft before mentioned and actuated by a cam
on that shaft.
The sideward reciprocating motion of the front row of shuttles is produced by a
lever (or levers) connected with a second cam shaft at the rear of the machine.
This second cam shaft is geared with the first or main cam shaft and makes one
revolution for two revolutions of the main cam shaft, these two revolutions being
necessary to complete the cycle of movements of the machine.
Between the shuttle carrying bar and the frame of the machine and about level
with the tops of the shuttles is placed a longitudinal bar parallel with the shuttle
carrier. On this bar is fixed a series of hooks corresponding in number to the
number of shuttles in the back row and the said hooks stand upwards from the bar
and have their points downwards and to one side.
This bar which I will call the lower hook bar is mounted on supporting levers
or arms which are fixed on a shaft rocking in bearings attached to the gables.
A lever fixed to this shaft extends backward to the main cam shaft and is there
actuated by a cam which gives this hook bar a vertical reciprocating motion.
The hook bar has also a lateral reciprocating motion which is effected in the
following manner.
The shaft on which the hook bar is centred has freedom to move in its bearings

page_text: Taterany on in the direction of its length. A connecting bar with its front en
wedge shaped is so placed that one side of the wedge presses against the side of th
shaft bearing and the other side presses against a collar fixed on the shaft. Th
back end of this connecting bar is forked and is guided on the second cam sha
when a backward and forward motion is given to it by a cam on that shaft. Th
forward movement of this connecting bar causes the wedge shaped end in front t
press the shaft, and with it the hook bar to one side, while the return movement i
caused by a spring which presses the shaft in the opposite direction and keeps the
collar of the shaft close to the side of the wedge when it is moved rearward.
Above the lower hook bar and parallel with it is another hook bar, which I wil
call the upper hook bar, carrying a series of hooks equal in number to those in the
lower hook bar. These hooks extend downwards from the bar and have thei
points upwards and to one side and have a half twist on them.
This upper hook bar is mounted on supporting levers fixed on an oscillating shaf
carried by two vertical arms which are pivoted at the lower ends on a shaft o
studs which allow the vertical arms and shaft to rock backwards and forwards.
The levers which support this bar extend backwards and are actuated by double
cams which give the hook bar a vertical reciprocating motion and a horizontal
backward and forward motion. A lateral motion is also given to the bar from the
main cam shaft in a manner similar to that in which the side motion of the lower
hook bar is effected.
At the front of the framing of the machine is a cylinder the lower part of whose
circumference is on a level between the upper and lower hook bars and the front
of which is to the back of these bars and parallel with them.
Two or more rollers are placed above this cylinder these being geared together
and covered with cloth or other suitable material.
To take up the netting as it is made a beam is situated above these rollers, the
rollers and beam being connected by gearing with the main cam shaft.
In making netting with the machine hereinbefore described the thread from the
back and front spools which are in line with each other are passed through guides in
the shuttles, and are carried parallel with each other, backward and under the lower
take up roller, thence under or between the other rollers in succession and thence
to the beam. '
The shuttle frame or carrier being at its extreme forward or outward position,
the lower hooks pass up the sides of each pair of threads until the points
are clear of the threads. The hooks then descend and move laterally so as
to engage the double threads and hold them together. The upper hooks then
(or simultaneously with the former movement) descend close to the back of the
lower hooks, until their points clear the threads, they then move laterally and
ascend and their points which are at one side engage the double threads, which
following the twist on the hooks are crossed and formed into loops. (This crossed
loop may also be formed by the upper hooks revolving on their axes by rack and
pinions, by screw and worm wheels or other suitable means actuated by a cam on
the cam shaft.) The upper hooks then carry upwards and forward the crossed
loop, while the shuttles are at the same time moved backward to their extreme
position. The upper hooks then descend and deposit the loops on the points of the
front shuttles.
The shuttles are then moved forward through the loops which slide under the
front and back shuttles which fit close together in line, and the loops close on the
lower hooks and thus form the knots which are tightened as the shuttles reach their
extreme forward position.
As soon as the loops are clear of the front set of shuttles in their forward move-
ment, these shuttles are moved to one side so as to bring them opposite to the back
shuttle next to those to which they were previously opposite. The lower hooks are.
then raised and thrown clear of the knots. They then descend and move laterally
cin the opposite direction to that in which they moved while making the former

page_text: row of knots and then moving upwards engage the double threads which have
been brought together by the side movement of the front row of shuttles.
The net as formed is moved backwards by the series of take up rollers and passes
on to the beam on which it is wound; or it may be delivered in any suitable
receptacle. This completes the cycle of movements which are contained in the
order hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thirtieth day of October 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fishing and other Nets, and
in Machinery therefor.
1, WILLIAM IRELAND of Buckhaven in the County of Fife, North Britain,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the making of fishing and other nets by a simple
and expeditious process and with knots not liable to slip.
As illustrated in end elevation at Figure 1 and in plan at Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings the improved machine consists of a frame A formed by two
gables bound together by longitudinal rails B. A shaft C supported by bearings
extends along the back of the frame A and is driven by gearing D at one end. The
shaft carries a series of cams E, E', E2 for giving motion to parts of the machine
hereinafter described.
At the front of the main framing A a frame Foscillating as shewn on a shaft G
is situated or the frame may oscillate on journals or slide on guide brackets. The
upper portion of this frame F carries two sets of shuttles containing flât circular
spools of such diameter as to hold as much yarn or twine as possible.
The shuttles are arranged in two rows one in front of the other and as more
clearly seen by the enlarged detailed views Figures 3 to 8 they consist of small
frames H, H carrying the spools a which can freely turn in them, the spool being
held in the shuttle by a spring b pressing it against a projecting piece con
the inside of the shuttle and which piece fits in between the side cheeks of the
spool.
The front row H of shuttles is pointed at d so as easily to enter the loops which
pass round or under them, and in both front and back rows the shuttles are each
situated between two short spring fingers or holders e on a double rail or shuttle
carrier I. The shuttles are arranged just wide enough apart to allow the threads
to pass freely between them, and corresponding spaces are also allowed for the same
purpose between the shuttles and the carrier. The part I of the rail or shuttle
carrier and which carries the front row of shuttles H is made to slide on guides
fixed or formed on the part I which carries the back row H' of shuttles to a
distance sidewards equal to the pitch of the shuttles that is to the distance between
their longitudinal axes.
The number of shuttles in the front row H is one more than that in the back
row H
The frame F carrying the shuttles has a backward and forward motion given to
it by bars J whose front ends are connected to studs on the frame and whose back
ends are attached to cranks K secured on the cam shaft C.
The sideward reciprocating motion of the front row H of shuttles is produced by
a lever L which has a forked end taking over a second cam shaft M at the rear of
the machine. This cam shaft M is geared with the cam shaft C and makes one
revolution for two revolutions of the shaft C these two revolutions being necessary

page_text: the cycle of movements. At its forked end the lever L carries a
roller which is acted upon by the cam g to give forward movement to the lever
At its front end the lever is wedge shaped as seen at h Figure 2 the wedge shaped
portion bearing against the lower end of a vertical lever N centred on the frame F
and attached at its upper end to the sliding part I' of the shuttle carrier. Thus
when the lever L is moved forward its wedge shaped end acting against the
lever N reciprocates the carrier I¹ in one direction the reciprocation in the opposite
direction as also the backward movement of the lever L being effected by a spring
or springs having one end attached to a fixed part of the machine.
Under a modification illustrated by Figures 4, 5, 6, 78 and 11 of the drawings
there is substituted for the double rail I, I two shafts W W carried by the
frame and having a series of tappets xx¹ secured upon them a tappet being pro-
vided for each shuttle in both rows.
receive the thread and its outer edge has a sideward projection or flange which
Each tappet has an opening y made in it to
enters a similar groove in the shuttle and performs the function of the fingers e to
keep the shuttles in position. As shown by Figure 11 and in detail by Figure 12
to each end of the shafts W, W forked levers V are secured and into the fork of
each lever there is entered a pin u projecting sidewards from a bar a secured to
the framing A. These pins when the frame F is oscillated cause the shafts to
partially rotate and bring the openings y in the tappets into the various positions
shewn by Figures 5 to 8. With this arrangement sideward movement is given to
the back row H' of the shuttles by the mechanism hereinbefore described.
About level with or higher than the tops of the shuttles and parallel with the
shuttle carrier is placed a longitudinal bar i on which is fixed a series of hooks j
shaped as seen in detail at Figure 9. The number of these hooks corresponds with
the number of shuttles H in the front row and the said hooks stand outwards from
the bar and have their points jl turned downwards and to one side.
The bar i which I will call the lower hook bar is mounted on supporting levers
or arms which are fixed on a shaft P rocking in bearings attached to the
framing A.
One of the levers O or a separate lever extends backwards from the shaft P to
below the main cam shaft C and is there acted upon by the cam E which gives the
hook bar a vertical reciprocating motion. The hook bar has also a lateral recipro-
cating motion, the shaft P on which it is carried having freedom to move in its
bearings laterally or in the direction of its length. This is effected by a connecting
bar having its front end wedge shaped the bar being so placed that one side
of the wedge presses against the bearing in the frame A whilst the other side
presses against a collar fixed on the shaft.
The rear end of the connecting bar is forked and embraces the second cam
shaft M from which a backward and forward motion is given to it by the cam g'
causing the wedge shaped end to press the shaft P and with it the hook bar to one
side, the return movement being effected by a spring which keeps the collar of the
shaft close to the side of the wedge when the bark is moved rearward.
In front of the lower hook bar and parallel with it as another hook bar m
which will call the upper hook bar, carrying a series of hooks n equal in
number to those in the lower hook bar. These hooks extend downwards from
the bar m and as seen more particularly by the detailed view Figure 10 have their
points n upwards and to one side and have a half twist on them.
The upper hook bar m is mounted on supporting levers Q fixed on an oscillating
shaft R carried by two vertical arms. S these being pivoted at their lower ends on
a shaft or on studs S¹ which allow the vertical arms and shaft R to rock backwards
and forwards.
The levers Q supporting the bar m extend backwards and are actuated by a pair
of cams E' which give the bar a vertical reciprocating motion and a horizontal
backward and forward motion.
Under the modification shewn by Figure 11 of the drawings the levers of the
upper hook bar m instead of being carried by swinging links S are centred on a

page_text: shaft R extending across the framing the rear ends of the levers being acted upon
by cams E to give the vertical motion. The forward swinging movement of the
hook bar is given by a cam or cams E³ acting on a roller or rollers centred on the
rear end of a connecting rod or rods U whose forward end or ends is or are attached
to an upward extension or extensions m¹ of the hook bar whilst the rearward
swinging movement is obtained by a spring or springs one end of which is secured
to the rod or rods U and the other to a fixed part of the machine. A lateral
motion is also given to the bar from the second cam shaft M in a manner similar to
that in which the side motions of the lower hook bar and of the shuttle carriers I'
are effected.
At the front of the framing of the machine a bar p is laid at the back of the hook
bars and parallel with them..
Two or more rollers are placed above this bar these being geared together and
covered with cloth or other suitable material.
To take up the netting as it is made a beam T is situated behind these rollers,
the rollers and beam being connected by gearing with the main cam shaft.
In making netting with the machine hereinbefore described the threads from the
back and front spools a which are in line with each other are passed through guide
eyes in the shuttles and are carried parallel with each other, backward and under
the bar p thence between the rollers as indicated and thence to the beam T.
The shuttle frame or carrier F being at its extreme forward or outward position,
the lower hooks j pass up the sides of each pair of threads until the points are clear
of the threads. The hooks then descend and inove laterally so as to engage the
double threads and hold them together as seen at Figure 5. The upper hooks n
then (or simultaneously with the former movement) descend close to the back of
the lower hooks, until their points clear the threads they then move laterally and
ascend and their points which are at one side engage the double threads, which
following the twist on the looks are crossed and formed into loops also as seen at
Figure 5. (This crossed loop may also be formed by the upper hooks revolving
on their axes by rack and pinions, by screw and worn wheels or other suitable
means actuated by a cam on the cam shaft.) The upper hooks n then carry
upwards and forward the crossed loop while the shuttles are at the same time
moved backward to their extreme position as at Figure 6. The upper hooks then
descend and deposit the loops on the points of the front shuttles also as at Figure 6
and they then make a movement laterally to clear the points of the shuttles.
The shuttles are then moved forward as at Figure 7 through the loops which
slide under the front and back shuttles these fitting close together in line, and the
loops close on the lower hooks as at Figure 8 and thus form the knots Figure 13
which are tightened as the shuttles reach their extreme forward position. To keep
the thread tight until the extreme forward position of the shuttles is reached each
rear shuttle H' has a tail wire t projecting from it.
When the tappets a are used the openings y present themselves towards the point d
of the shuttle when the hooks n deposit the loops on the said points and as the
shuttles move forward through the loops the openings y turn rearward thereby
preventing the loop from entering the groove in which the flange = is situated.
As soon as the loops are clear of the front set of shuttles in their forward move-
ment, these shuttles are moved to one side so as to bring them opposite to the back
or front shuttle next to those to which they were previously opposite. To fill in
the blank behind or in front of the single end shuttle blank pieces similar in shape
to the outline of the shuttle are provided to guide the single thread correctly to
the hooks j. The hooks n which meantime have been moving backwards towards
the hooks enter between the threads so separated and follow up the knot to
prevent the mesh from twisting. The lower hooks are then raised and thrown clear
of the knots. They then descend and move laterally in the opposite direction to
that in which they moved while making the former row of knots and then moving
upwards engage the double threads which have been brought together by the side
movement of the front row of shuttles.

page_text: The net as formed is moved backwards by the series of take up rollers and passes
on to the beam on which it is wound; or it may be delivered in any suitable
receptacle. This completes the cycle of movements which are continued in the
order bereinbefore described.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim:
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the net making
machine substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the several figures
on the drawings hereunto appended.
2. In a machine for the purpose set forth the hook n having a point n' con-
structed and operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
3. In a machine for the purpose set forth the combination of the hooks j and n
cach constructed and operating as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a machine for the purpose set forth the shuttles H, H' placed one in front
of the other and one or other set having an independent movement laterally in
combination with hooks j, n constructed and operating substantially as described
with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of July 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.