IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McNay Rimington, of the Town and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and John Michael Bell, of Oxford Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Factors, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY." Partly a communication from abroad by James L. Branson,
of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United States of America.
Sealed the 27th February 1877, and dated the 30th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McNay Rimington and
John Michael Bell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th
August 1876.
JOHN MONAY RIMINGTON, of the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and
JOHN MICHAEL BELL, of Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Factors.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." Partly a communication from abroad
by James L. Branson, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of knitting machinery
known as circular knitting machines, in which the needles are actuated by a cam
cylinder which revolves around the needle cylinder.
According to this Invention, instead of the yain carrier being immovably fixed
to the cam cylinder, as is at present the case, a slotted bar or plate of metal is
attached to the outside of the cam cylinder and above the cams, and in the slot of
which bar or plate of metal the yarn carrier is capable of working from end to end.
The lower end of the yarn carrier passes down on the inside of the slotted bar, and
is held loosely in its place by means of a pin or screw which works in the slot
When it is desired to knit straight work, in which case the motion of the
cylinder is backwards and forwards, one or more of the needles is raised, so that
when the cam cylinder is rotated until the slotted bar comes to the raised needle
the heel of the latter comes in contact with a projection formed upon a sliding bar
which is placed in front of the yarn carrier, and stops it until in the further
rotation of the cam cylinder the yarn carrier comes in contact with a projection on
the other side of the sliding bar and is held stationary, while the cam cylinder,
continuing to rotate, the yarn carrier will in effect be carried over to the other end
Pavice Ad

page_text: of the slot in the bar or plate. A small spring placed at each end of the slot holds
the yarn carrier in position.
In knitting the heel of a stocking all the needles not wanted are to be raised
above the cam cylinder, which can then be rotated first one way and then the
other, an additional needle being raised at each end for the purpose of narrowing.
While this work is being done the cylinder must be rotated so that the position of
the yarn carrier will be changed at each end of the work by the action of the heel
of the needle upon the sliding bar, as herein-before described. The cams for
actuating the needles consist of a main depressing cam of the shape of an inverted
cone, but flat, and beneath each corner of the upper part of the said depressing
cam is placed a self-acting wing cam provided with a stud or pin which is pivoted
in a hole in the cam cylinder so as to permit the free movement of the cam
small spring is secured by one end to the under side of the wing cam, the other
end being supported upon a pin which is placed slightly in rear of the cam
pivot.
A
In order to keep the needles in position in the needle cylinder an endless circular
elastic band of spiral wire is placed around them in a groove formed in the needle
cylinder for that purpose, and the needles are formed with a small shoulder upon
them, so that when they are raised the shoulder passes over the elastic band and
prevents then from falling to their former positions
In order to register the number of the rows worked by the machine a circular
dial plate and ratchet wheel and lever is secured by means of a centre pivot to a
suitable projection on the bed plate of the knitter, the lever projecting towards the
revolving cylinder of the same.
A small bracket carrying a loose tappit or lever is fastened in a vertical position
to the side of the revolving cylinder, so that upon the latter being revolved the
loose tappit or lever will strike the end of the ratchet lever, and by means of a
small pawl placed thereon cause the ratchet to move forwards one tooth and so
register one row of knitting. The ratchet lever is then caused to fall back against
a stop formed on the bottom plate of the registering apparatus by means of a small
spring, so as to be ready for the next revolution.
In knitting flat web the point of the loose tappit or lever carried by the bracket
will in the back motion of the revolving cylinder strike the end of the ratchet
lever on the reverse side, but the latter being held in its position by the before-
mentioned stop causes the loose tappit or lever to fall back sufficiently to allow it
to pass clear of the ratchet lever; the loose tappit or lever is then brought back to
its normal position by a small spring so as to be ready for registering the next or
forward motion of the revolving cylinder Thus in knitting flat web the dial must
be counted as registering double, as the ratchet wheel is not actuated by the
backward motion of the revolving cylinder.
This registering apparatus forms that portion of the present Invention which has
resulted from our own Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John McNay Rimington and John Michael Bell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th February 1877.
JOHN MONAY RIMINGTON, of the Town and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and
JOHN MICHAEL BELL, of Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Factors.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." Partly a communication from abroad
by James L. Branson, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United States of
America.
The said Invention relates to improvements in that class of knitting machinery
known as circular knitting machines, in which the needles are actuated by a cam
cylinder which revolves around the needle cylinder.

page_text: According to the said Invention instead of the yarn carrier being immovably fixed
to the cam cylinder, as is at present the case, a slotted bar or plate of metal is
attached to the outside of the cam cylinder and above the cams, and in the slot of
which bar or plate of metal the yarn carrier is capable of working from end to end.
The lower end of the yarn carrier passes down on the inside of the slotted bar, and
is held loosely in its place by means of a pin or screw which works in the slot.
When it is desired to knit straight work, in which case the motion of the
cylinder is backwards and forwards, one or more of the needles is raised so that
when the cam cylinder is rotated until the slotted bar comes to the raised needle
the heel of the latter comes in contact with a projection formed upon a sliding bar
which is placed in front of the yarn carrier, and stops it until the further rotation
of the cam cylinder; the yarn carrier comes in contact with a projection on the
other side of the sliding bar and is stationary, while the cam cylinder_continuing
to rotate, the yarn carrier will in effect be carried over to the other end of the slot
in the bar or plate A small spring placed at each end of the slot holds the yarn
carrier in position.
In knitting the heel of a stocking all the needles not wanted are to be raised
above the cain cylinder which can be rotated first one way and then the other, an
additional needle being raised at each end for the purpose of narrowing; while this
work is being done the cylinder must be rotated, so that the position of the yarn
carrier will be changed at each end of the work by the action of the heel of the needle
upon the sliding bar as herein-before described. The cams for actuating the needles
consist of a main depressing cam of the shape of an inverted cone, but flat, and
beneath each corner of the upper part of the said depressing cam is placed a self-
acting wing cam provided with a stud or pin which is pivoted in a hole in the cam
cylinder so as to permit the free movement of the cam. A small spring is secured
by one end to the under side of the wing cam, the other end being supported upon
a pin which is placed slightly. in the rear of the cam pivot
In order to keep the needles in position in the needle cylinder, an endless circular
elastic band of spiral wire is placed around them in a groove formed in the needle
cylinder for that purpose, and the needles are formed with a small shoulder upon
them, so that when they are raised the shoulder passes over the elastic band and
prevents them from falling to their former positions
In order to register the number of the rows worked by the machine a circular
dial plate and ratchet wheel and lever are secured by means of a centre pivot to a
suitable projection on the bed plate of the knitter, the lever projecting towards the
revolving cylinder of the same.
A small bracket carrying a loose tappet or lever is fastened in a vertical position
to the side of the revolving cylinder, so that upon the latter being revolved the
tappit or lever will strike the end of the ratchet lever, and by means of a small
pawl placed thereon cause the ratchet to move forwards one tooth, and so register
one row of knitting. The ratchet lever is then caused to fall back against a stop
formed on the bottom plate of the registering apparatus by means of a small spring
so as to be ready for the next revolution.
In knitting flat web the point of the tappit or lever carried by the bracket will
in the back motion of the revolving cylinder strike the end of the ratchet lever on
the reverse side, but the latter being held in its position by the before-mentioned
stop causes the loose tappit or lever to fall back sufficiently to allow it to pass clear
of the ratchet lever. The loose tappit or lever is then brought back to its normal
position by a small spring, so as to be ready for registering the next or forward
motion of the revolving cylinder. Thus in knitting flat web the dial must be
counted as registering double, as the ratchet wheel is not actuated by the backward
motion of the revolving cylinder.
This registering apparatus forms that portion of the present Invention which has
resulted from our own Invention.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion that

page_text: what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the
Invention secured to us by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
are,-
First. The construction of knitters with a movable yarn carrier,' substantially as
herein-before described and set forth.
Secondly. The construction of the cams of knitters, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth.
Thirdly. The use of the spiral endless spring for keeping the needles in position,
substantially as herein-before described and set forth.
And, Fourthly. The combination of a registering apparatus with knitters,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Michael Bell, have, on behalf of myself
and the said John McMay Rimington, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.