IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MACHINES EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING RIBBED LOOPED FABRICS"
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wigfield, in the Employment of Messieurs
Blackburn and Attenborough, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MACHINES EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING RIBBED
LOOPED FABRICS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wigfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1879.
THOMAS WIGFIELD, in the Employment of Messieurs Blackburn and Atten-
borough, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MACHINES EMPLOYED IN MANU-
FACTURING RIBBED LOOPED FABRICS."
.
When making fashioned and cleared fabrics, say on a two and one, or a one and
one ribbed machine, when the frame or horizontal needles are brought forward
previous to the jacks being drawn, I stop the machine from being driven by power
and run in the narrowing machine, and turn back the machine by hand, placing
the ticklers on the frame needles; as they receed the tiplers receiving the loops
are raised up clear of the needles and racked; the machine is then turned forwards
and the next adjacent frame needles receive the loops from the ticklers, and the
required number of courses between each narrowing being made in the usual way
the movements are repeated. The cleared selvages I produce by means of cams
and levers which communicate too and fro and up and down movements to the
thread carriers, carrier slides, and carrier bar. The traverse of the thread carriers
and carrier slides being regulated by right and left worms and racks, the worms
being provided with a ratchet and stop wheel; the ratchet wheels are operated by
clawkers and levers carried by a spindle bar operated by hand. By such means
I am enabled to produce fashioned and cleared fabrics of varying width less than
the breadth of needles. And by employing the thread carriers and carrier slides by
the same means I can produce selvaged heels. And instead as heretofore taking
away portions of the jack and frame sinkers, and frame and machine needles at
each side of each division to produce fabrics, any width less than the width
of each division, I can produce such fabrics by employing the means and apparatus
first described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Wigfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
September. 1879.
THOMAS WIGFIELD, in the Employment of Messieurs Blackburn and Atten-
borough, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MACHINES EMPLOYED IN MANU-
FACTURING RIBBED LOOPED FABRICS."
When making fashioned and cleared fabrics say, on a two and one, or a one and
one rib machine, when the frame or horizontal needles are brought forward,
previous to the jacks being drawn I stop the machine from being driven by power,
and run in the narrowing machine and turn back the machine by hand, placing the
ticklers on the frame needles as they recede, the ticklers receiving the loops are
raised up clear of the needles and racked, the machine is then turned forwards and
the next adjacent frame needles receive the loops from the ticklers, and the
required number of courses between each narrowing being made in the usual way,
the movements are repeated; the clear selvages I produce by means of cams and
levers which communicate to and fro, also up and down movements to the thread
carriers, carrier slides, and carrier bar, the traverse of the thread carriers and carrier
slides being regulated by right and left worms and racks, the worms being provided
with a ratchet and stop, wheel, the: ratchet wheels are operated by clawkers and
levers carried by a spindle bar operated by hand.
By such means I am enabled to produce fashioned and cleared fabrics of varying
width less than the breadth of needles, and by employing two thread carriers and
carrier slides by the same means I can produce selvaged heels. And instead as
heretofore taking away portions of the jack and frame sinkers, and frame and
'machine needles at each end of each division to produce fabrics any width less than
the width of each division, I can produce such fabrics by, employing the means and
apparatus first described.
Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively the left and right half front views. of a
machine employed in manufacturing ribbed' looped fabrics, with my improved
machinery and apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a view of the right end of the machine shewing the lower portion of
the standard broken away.
Figure 4 is a view of portion of the right end shewing a truck shogging lever
hereafter mentioned with the top cam shaft, frame slide, spindle bar, and the top
back rail shewn in section.
Figures 5 and 6 are two enlarged' sectional' views; the first shews the respective
relative position of certain instruments when commencing to narrow, and the
second the relative position of the same instruments while the loops are. being
moved from the outer needles to the next adjacent needles.
Figures 7 to 15 inclusive are separate views of portions of the apparatus referred
to hereafter.
The corresponding parts in each Figure are indicated' by the same letters where
necessary.
In carrying out my improvements I employ machinery and apparatus hereafter
described working in conjunction with a pattern wheel and studded chain applied
to a rotary rib machine, and described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
me for improvements in machinery and apparatus applicable to rotary machines
employed in the manufacture of ribbed or plain looped fabrics, dated November
21st, 1877, and numbered 4358. The improved machinery and apparatus consists
of the following parts, that is to say, four or more bearing brackets A shewn at

page_text: Figures 1, 2, and 3, the number varying according to the width of the machine in
which a spindle bar A' rocks, to which is secured a truck lever carrying a truck
which is operated by a cam A² to rise and fall, the narrowing carrier bar when
making the leg, and between the narrowings for selvaging on any width of the
division when narrowing, the truck is shogged on to a cam A³, the lever truck and
both cams are shewn in side view at the upper part of Figure 4.
The shogging of the truck from one cam to another is effected as follows:-The
truck is clipped by the fork of a right angled lever A rocking on an angle carried
by a bracket passing under the frame, knocking over slide spindle bar A7, and secured
to the top back tie bar A8 of the machine; the axle carries the upper end of a rod
connected at its lower end by an axle secured in a hand lever Aº, which projects at
the front of the machine for the convenience of the workman, and is carried at the
back by an axle secured to the back lower tie bar, shewn in side view at Figure 4,
a back view of the forked lever and cams being seen at Figure 11. To the spindle
bar are secured arms A which carry axles at their front end which support arms A³
secured to the back of a narrowing carrier bar B; near each end of this bar are
secured a pair of three bracketed bearings, the lower front ones carry the axle of
racking worm B', and the outer upper one the axle of a stop level B² in front of a
stop wheel B³, the lever being held to the wheel by a spring shewn at Figure 3;
near each end of the carrier bar. secured by two screws is a slotted stop piece
capable of adjustment, which prevents a rack plate B' being moved too far at the
cominencement of the narrowings; the rack plate slides upon square studs secured
in the carrier bar, the studs are screwed at their outer front end to receive nuts
which keep a plate in position for holding the rack plate to the carrier bar, the
inner edge of each rack plate forms a slotted bracket in which the axle of a truck B³.
is capable of adjustment; these trucks knock out the carrier box bolt B° near the
end of its traverse right and left, the front end of each axle is turned down and
forms a pin, which engages with the hooked end of a hawk lever B7 which rocks
on an axle carried by a slotted fork B³ in which the carrier bolt slides, the fork
being secured to the carrier box B9 to which are also secured as many thread
carriers B10 as there are widths of fabric made on the machine.
The traverse of the carrier bolt is effected in the manner described at page 5,
lines 9 to 10, in the printed Specification of my former Patent before referred to.
The partial revolution of the racking worm B is effected by a pawl B12 which rocks
on an axle carried by a bracketed collar B18 which runs loose on the worm axle,
the pawl projects in front below its axle, which projection is hollow and contains
a spring which presses a small bolt on to a flat made on the circumference of the
axle, when the pawl is in position to engage in the teeth of a wheel B" which
is secured fast on the worm axle, the inner end of the pawl axle is prolonged,
and slides in the slotted front end of a lick B14; an enlarged side view of the pawl
bracket and wheel is shown at Figure 13, the back end rocks on an axle in the
upper end of an angular bracket carried by an axle secured in the end standard, the
lower end of the bracket being attached to a rod B15, the upper end of which is
shewn at Figure 3, and its lower end at Figure 4, is shewn attached to a lever B16,
one of which is secured to each end of an axle rod which rocks in bearings secured
to the lower front tie bar; the axle rod has a lever secured on it near the centre of
its length, set screws regulating the length of its movements and provided with an
axle for the lower end of a link, having its upper end carried by an axle in the
back of a hand lever B, which projects in front for the convenience of the
workman, and by which he can rack both worms at the same time, one tooth of
the wheels B at each narrowing by lifting the handle B₁7; the front projection of
the pawls enables the workman to disengage them from the wheels while he turns
the worms back by hand.
Each rack plate B has a bracket C secured on its inner lower edge, the lower
end of the bracket projects at the back and front, the inuer side is flat and true,
and on it slides the flattened side of a stud C¹ carried by the narrowing machine
slides, and held to the brackets by springs under the bed in the usual way, the

page_text: brackets racked by the worm wheel determining the position of the ticklers C² at
each narrowing. The back of the outer bearings of the worm wheel axle project
and form vertical bearing surfaces, each of which rides upon a truck secured in a
bracket B18 attached to the standard of the machine, the weight of the carrier bar
and its attachments ensure it pressing in wards, thus, true vertical up and down
movements are effected. But if inward and outward movements are required, I cut
the bearing surface of the bracket which rides on the truck to the required shape,
and thus obtain combined up and down and in and out movements; or the same
may be effected by a connecting link and lever operated by a cam on the cam
shaft.
The narrowing machine is carried by brackets C³ swinging on axles in the upper
ends of rocking arms, secured on a shaft lying in bearings attached to the front top
tie bar; the arms project below the shaft and form stops, the position of which are
adjustable by means of screws and nuts shewn at Figure 3, the screws being carried
by arms secured to the top front tie bar.
The inward and outward and also the up and down movements of the narrowing
machine are effected by the following means:-On each end of the narrowing
machine bed are secured two brackets D and E; their outer ends are shewn at
Figures 1 and 2, and an enlarged side view at Figure 5, the relative position of
both brackets being shewn in plan at Figure 7; both brackets are shown separately
at Figures 14 and 15. The inner end D³ of the bracket D is hinged to the outer
end and held down by a flat spring, the two together forming a slot; the part D¹ is
provided with a pin D2 which slides over an inclined piece D³ secured to the angle
bar 7, the hooked part D¹ passing clear of a stud carried by a bracket D' secured to
the frame needle bar until clear of the incline piece, when it is pressed down by
the flat spring and thus engages with the stud, and is moved inwards and outwards
by the movements of the frame needle bar; the up and down movements of the
narrowing machine is effected by the inner end of the bracket E rising to pass
over a truck and then falling, the truck being carried by a bracket E secured
to the angle bar 7.
In the top of the narrowing machine bed I form recesses, two to each division, in
each of which I place a trick plate F, one of which is shewn in side view at
Figures 5 and 6, and in plan at (Figure 8; these trick plates prevent any side
movement of the machine needles when the narrowing machine ticklers are
traversing the loops. When making the welt, or otherwise, I wish to relieve the
work of the weight; I do so by raising a handle G outwards, thereby causing the
teeth of a comb G¹ to enter the work and lift it up; there is one such comb to each
breadth of work, the combs are secured to an axle bar G2 rocking in bearings
secured to the top front tie bar of the machine, an end view of this apparatus
is shewn at Figure 4, and one comb and portion of the axle bar is shewn in plan at
Figure 12.
To vary the weight by hand according to the width of fabric being made
I employ the apparatus shewn in side view at Figure 4, which consists of a fixed
axle shaft H carried by bearings secured to the front axle tie bar upon the axle
shaft rock as many pair of notched levers as there are breadths of work made on the
machine; these levers are shewn by dotted lines at Figure 4, the sides of each pair
being connected together by a stretcher secured at each end by a nut, the work H
as made passes down in front of the axle bar Gs to and under a wood or other
roller H2 and up to the work roller H*.
The variation in weight being effected by an iron roller weight H³, which is
placed in the notches nearest the axle bar when a lighter weight is required, and in
the notches farthest from the axle when a greater weight is required.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of various parts shewing their several
relative positions previous to the jacks being drawn, and with the narrowing
machine run in.
Figure 6 is also an enlarged sectional view of the same parts shewing their
relative position while the tickler points are being racked inwards. In each view

page_text: the several parts are figured as follows:-1 is the jack carrying the jack sinker ;
2, frame presser ;. 3, frame needle lead and needle; 4, frame slide carried in the
usual way; 4ª, a knocking over trick bar which I sometimes substitute for the
frame slide; 5, machine needle lead and needle; 6, machine slide; 7, angle bar;
and 8, one of two stripping carrier needles.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively an end view and front view of a doubled
booked plate 1, which I employ when starting to make the widest width of fabric.
Having thus described the several parts of machinery and apparatus separately
and their movements, I will now proceed to describe the combined movements of
the several parts, reference being had to Figures 5 and 6.
The machinery above described is adapted for making 2 and 1 narrowed ribbed
fabrics, such as stockings, and other 2 and 1 ribbed fabrics that require to be
narrowed; suppose I want to make a stocking I should make a welt with 2, 4, 6, 8,
or more courses in the usual way; then work down to the narrowings in the calf
by power; then stop the machine and with the frame needles forward, just before
commencing to draw, I shog the carrier cam truck on to another cam to keep the
carrier needle from descending while narrowing; I then by hand move in the
narrowing machine which engages with the frame needle bar, and lay the points on
the frame needles; then by turning the frame back, the needle bar goes back,
taking the narrowing machine with it; while so doing it presses the narrowing
points on the frame needles, the frame slide keeping the work from going back, and
causing the points to receive the loops; the frame needles still going back and
down the machine, needles going down at the same time leave the points above
and clear of the machine,. and frame needles also clear of the sinkers; I then cease
to turn back and rack the points with the loops on them to those needles on which
I wish to place the loops, at the same time holding the machine needles from any
side movement by the front of the trick plate screwed on the bed of the narrowing
machine going between the needles. I then turn the frame forward and in so
doing the frame needles and narrowing machine come forward, the frame needles
rising into the points, and the machine needles rising through the points, the loops
being delivered from the points on to the other frame needles; then when the frame
needles get forward into the same position as when I commenced to turn back,
I draw the narrowing machine out of the way and slide the carrier cam truck on
the other cam, and start the frame to make as many courses as I require before
making another narrowing; the carrier needle descends to the frame needles after
the jacks are drawn, and fall with the frame needles as they go back and rise just
in front of the needle head as they come forward. But the carrier needles may go
through the frame needles both in descending and ascending by altering the shape
of the cam A².
After having made the required number of narrowings in the calf, I work down
the small of the leg until it is requisite to make the narrowings of the heel; then I
insert the narrowings for the heel in the same way as the calf, thus making a
selvage on the outside of the heels; then I rack in the width of the heel and work
down the instep to the toe; but in making these various widths it is requisite to
alter the weight, which I do by moving the weight nearer to or further from the
centre of the roller weight lever.
When making the widest width I place the weight nearest the wood roller, and
as the work is narrowed move the weight nearer the centre of the lever, thus
getting any weight I require.
Having thus inade the narrowest portion of the stocking I commence the welt
of the next stocking in the following manner :-I return the right and left hand
worms to their first position by hand, the thread guide then lays its thread on
the widest width, and a course is drawn on the frame needles, and the loops are
gathered on the machine needles; the needles then occupy the respective positions
shewn at Figure 6, but with the narrowing machine pulled forward; I then put
the hooked plate I up between the back of the machine slide and front of the
work, passing the top hooks through the loops gathered on the frame and machine

page_text: needles; I then put the steel wire J under the hooks and gather it with the
upper hooks, and hook the lower ones on the work previously made, thus putting
an equal bearing on the whole of the needles, and after making a few courses of
work I insert a splicing thread and make the welt in the usual way and repeat the
movements.
Now suppose I want a stocking with a fancy top of 2 or more colours, I make the
welt and top with the self acting wheel, but if I wish to make a greater number of
courses when striping than can be made with the self acting wheel, I employ my
patent chain apparatus which will make any length.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment in machinery for manufacturing ribbed looped fabrics of
levers engaged in the frame needle bar for operating the narrowing machine,
substantially as herein described and shewn at Figures 5, 7, 14, and 15 of the
Drawings annexed.
Second. The employment of a trick plate for holding the machine needles to
prevent any side movement while shifting the loops from one lot of frame needles
to another, as herein described and shewn at Figures 5, 6, and 8.
Third. The employment of an adjustable weight and a pair of notched levers
carrying a roller rocking on an axle shaft to vary the weight on the fabric
according to the width of work on each breadth of needles, as herein described and
shewn at Figure 4.
Fourth. The employment of toothed combs secured to a rocking axle bar operated
by hand to relieve the work on the needles from the weight of the roller weights as
herein described and shewn at Figures 4 and 12.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wigfield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
THOMAS WIGFIELD. (L.S.)