Improvements in Apparatus for Making Nets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Nets.
1, WILLIAM JOHN HOOPER of 110 East Pratt Street, Baltimore in the County
of Baltimore and State of Maryland, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
My present invention is an improved machine for making nets, my improvements
consisting in certain improved parts and combinations of parts whereby the action
is made certain and liability of faults and errors are avoided.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the best form in which I have
contemplated embodying my invention and ny said invention is disclosed in the
following description.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a netting machine embodying my invention..
Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the right end of the machine.
Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the left end of the machine.
Figure 4 is a vertical section from front to rear of the machine.
Figure 5 is a partial vertical section from left to right through the machine..
Figure 6 is a detail of the cord carriers and their operating mechanism.
Figure 7 is a partial section from front to rear illustrating the shuttle and shuttle
driving mechanism.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a single shuttle driver.
Figure 9 is an enlarged section of one of the shuttles.
Figure 10 is an end view of one of the shuttles as it appears in its race-way..
Figure 11 is a view of the upper end of one of the drawing down hooks.
Figure 12 is a detail showing the drawing down hooks and their supporting
frame and the hook cast off.
Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of a part of the finger bar.
Figure 14 is a like view of a part of the finger bar and a part of the cast off. bar,
the fingers not being shown below the bars.
Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, are details of cams.
Figures 19 and 20 are partial views in perspective of the finger bar and cord
carrier illustrating the method of forming loops for the shuttles.
Figure 21 is an enlarged view of a loop formed by the loop forming devices.
In my present machine the knots and meshes of the netting are formed as usual
from warp threads extending through the machine from front to rear, which. are
knotted to shuttle threads. The shuttles and shuttle threads are one more in
number than the warp threads and the meshes are formed by knotting the two sets
of threads together so that there will be at each selvedge alternately a shuttle
thread not knotted to a warp thread. In other words at one knotting operation
there will be a shuttle thread at the right selvedge which will not be knotted to a
warp thread and at the next operation there will be a shuttle thread at the left
selvedge not knotted to a warp thread, and so on throughout the consecutive
operations of the machine.
In the drawings A, A, indicates the end pieces or standards, which may be of
any suitable or preferred construction, and which are united at convenient points
with suitable connecting bars or tie rods to form a rigid supporting frame: At the
ear of the machine is placed in suitable bearings in the end pieces or standards of
he frame, a main driving shaft L. This shaft is provided with a spur gear T
which gears with a toothed wheel T" ou a shaft M, and this wheel gears with a
pur wheel on shaft N at the front of the machine. All the moving parts of the
nachine are operated from these shafts.

page_text: Within the frame and near the bottom thereof I place an inclined support B
having suitable provision for holding bobbins or spools C containing the warp
cords or threads. From these bobbins or spools the warp threads extend to the
front of the machine over two rods or bars b, b, one or both of which is provided
with a guide eye for each thread, thence downward to a warp tension device, thence
upward over a rod or bar b preferably provided with guide eyes for the cords or
threads, thence to the cord carrier and the mesh forming point, the netted fabric
extending therefrom to the take-up mechanism.
The group of devices which I term the "take-up" mechanism is best shown in
Figures 2 and 4. On rearwardly extending portions of the frame K are mounted
the take-up rollers K₁, K² and 'K³, the shafts of which are journalled in suitable
bearings in or attached to the frame extension, and a loose or free roller. Krests
upon and partially between the rollers K and K², and engages the peripheries of
both. These rollers I prefer to actuate from the main driving shaft L through the
following instrumentalities. The shafts of the rollers K', K and K project beyond
the frame at one end of the same. The shaft of roller K2 is provided with a gear
wheel k, and a ratchet . The shaft of roller K³ is provided with a gear wheel k
and idler wheels or pinions & mounted on studs secured to the frame, operatively
connect the wheels and k. The shaft of roller K is provided with a gear
wheel and an idle wheel k³ connects it with the gear wheel on the shaft of
roller K. An arm or lever is pivoted on the shaft of .roller K2 which is
provided with a pawl & engaging the teeth of the ratchet ¹. The arm or lever
is slotted and a link K is pivoted thereto by a bolt passing through the slot. This
link extends downward and is pivoted to a lever which is pivoted to the frame of
the machine at 8. This lever near its rear end is provided with a friction-roll k³,
which engages a cam on the main or driving shaft L. The pawl k' is so
constructed and placed that the ratchet is engaged thereby and the take-up
mechanism operated when the lever K and link K are raised by the cain, the weight
of the parts being sufficient to return them to their lowest position when the friction
roll has passed the elevated portion of the cam. By adjusting the link K³ in the
slot of arm the extent of the movement given the take-up is increased or
diminished as desired.
The netting or completed fabric as it comes from the knotting devices passes
under and partially around roller K', over and partially around the loose or free
roller K, under and partially around roller K2 and then over roller K³. The
loose roller presses upon the netting with its entire weight and grips it with suffi-
cient force to draw the knots tight when it is desired to do so, as well as to advance
the warp cords the proper space for another mesh.
Forward of the take-up mechanism at the top of the machine are located the
finger bar H, and the cast-off bar I, see Figs. 4, 7, 13 and 14. The cast-off bar
is rigidly supported from the framing of the machine. The finger-bar H is movably
supported close to and parallel with the cast-off bar. The finger bar is provided
with fingers which are secured to the front side of the bar. The fingers I
term cord-receiving-fingers as the cord is laid upon them in the operation of
forming knots. These fingers are best shown in Figures 13, 19 and 20, and as
there shown, may be briefly described as of U shape in cross section, or as having
three sides, one of which connecting the other two may be termed the back and
this back lies against the front side of the finger bar H with the others projecting
forward from the bar. In the drawings the three sides are shown as being straight
but this is not essential as the sides might be of other outline. The sides might
be curved or the finger might be constructed in the shape of a circular or oval
tube with a slot at the front. While prefer the forins described the essential
feature is that each finger have two sides with a space between them having
their greatest extent from front to rear of the machine.
3
Each finger is accompanied by a point ' extending below the finger. I have
shown these points as formed on pins lying along the back of each finger, but
instead the point may be made integral with and forin a part of the finger or may

page_text: be secured directly thereto. These points I term the knot controlling points as
the location of the knot upon the shuttle cord is controlled thereby.
Each side of the finger near its lower end has a cord holding projection 2 which
when the cord is laid upon the finger below them prevents it being raised or carried
upwardly out of position. Above this shoulder or projection each side is provided
with a cord notch h³ the lower edge of the notch being very long and inclining
outwardly as shown while the upper edge is approximately at right angles to the
finger and forms a square shoulder. Each finger is provided near its lower end
with a small opening through which projects cord supporting lugs or projections h
These project outward from the lower end of an elastic strip or spring secured
on the inner side of each side of the finger. These springs I term movable or
spring-cord supports. Each spring is provided above with a cam projection h
extending outward beyond the side of the finger to which it lies adjacent through
one of the cord notches h³.
In the operation of forming the knots the warp cords are wound around the lower
end of the fingers h, and when the knot is completed is cast off through the upward
movement of the finger bar and acting in connection with the stationary cast-off
bar I. At each end of the machine there is provided a vertically disposed guide H',
with which the ends of the finger bar movably engage.
Near each end of the
At
finger bar a pair of toggle levers I, 1', connect the finger bar H with the cross
bar A of the frame. The central pivots of the toggle levers are connected by
links,, with a bar 12 sliding in bearings at the sides of the machine. This rod
or bar 1, see Figure 5, extends to the right beyond the frame of the machine and
is provided with two collars 1, 2, adjustably secured to the rod by set screws.
the same end of the machine a bracket I³ extends outward from the frame and to
this bracket is pivoted a lever 1*. This lever is forked at its upper end and
extends on both sides of the rod 12 between the collars. Its lower end is
provided with a friction roll which bears against the outer face of the cam disk M¹
mounted on the shaft M at the right side of the machine. This disk has two cam
projections m, m, in the path of the friction roller and by engagement therewith
force the rod or bar I inward flexing the toggle levers and raising the finger bar.
The weight of the bar will ordinarily be sufficient to return the bar to its lower
position and to maintain the friction roller in contact with the cam disk but I may
provide a spring as upon the rod or bar 12 between the inner collar and the
frame of the machine to insure this action of the parts.
The cast off bar I is provided on its side lying adjacent to the finger bar H with
projections i, i, which extend rearwardly from the cast-off bar between the
fingers on the finger bar. These projections lie close to the sides of the fingers
and as the finger bar is raised the cam projections, of the spring cord supports
come in contact therewith and are forced inward withdrawing the movable cord
supports.
At the front of the machine a shaft G is mounted in suitable bearings at each
end of the machine so as to rock and slide therein, see Figs. 4 and 6, and to this
shaft are rigidly secured upwardly extending arms G', G', in the upper ends of
which is journalled a bar G. To the rear of this bar are the cord carriers g, 9,
which consist of vertically disposed guiding tubes or eyes carried by vertical
standards or stems g (see Fig. 7), through which are threaded the warp threads or
cords. These cord or thread guides are rigidly connected to and supported by the
bar G2 and this connection may be of any preferred form. Each cord or thread
guide may have a separate connection with the bar G2 or they may all be mounted
on a single bar or plate connected with the bar G, and this construction is shown
in the drawings, all of said cord guides being secured to a bar G³, each end of
which is connected with the bar G2 by an arm g³. These arms have their rear ends
in a considerably lower plane than the plane of the bar G2 to enable the cord or
thread guides to be placed at a sufficient distance above the bar G³ to enable the
bar to pass beneath the points or pins h¹ and yet permit the thread guides to be
:

page_text: raised to the necessary height to properly place the cord upon the fingers in the
operation of knotting. To place the cord upon the fingers in the manner contem-
plated, the cord or thread guides are given lateral movements from one toward
another end of the machine and back, from front to rear and reverse, and the.cord
guides must also be raised and lowered at certain parts of their movement. These
movements are effected by the following instrumentalities. The movements from
one end of the machine towards the other are effected by the grooved cam N',
which is mounted on a stud projecting from the frame of the machine below the
shaft N. This cam is provided at its outer side with the gear wheel N2 gearing
with the pinion N³ mounted on the outer end of shaft N. The gear wheel N' is
provided with double the number of teeth of pinion N³ so that the cam makes but
one revolution to two of the pinion. A lever G is pivoted to a bracket projecting
from the frame of the machine and has at its lower end a friction roll engaging
the groove of the cam N¹. The upper end of the lever G is bifurcated the two
parts of the lever extending upward, one on each side of and pivoted to a short
sleeve G on the shaft G. The sleeve G is held in position upon the shaft G by
two collars g*, g*, adjustably secured to the shaft G by set screws.
It will be seen
that by this construction the shaft G is free to turn in either direction while it can
be moved longitudinally by the lever, when actuated by the grades of the cam N',
and that the cord guides g are so connected with this shaft as to participate in its
movement.
The movements of the cord guides towards and from the rear of the machine are
effected by the following means. The arms G' are extended below the shaft Gas
shown in the drawings or separate arms rigidly extend below the shaft G and are
provided at their lower ends with friction rolls which engage cam grooves in the
sides of cam disks N' on shaft N. These extensions are lettered G in the
drawings. The cain guides of these cam disks are formed so as to oscillate
the shaft G to give the cord guides the proper movements backward and forward.
I secure the upward and downward movements of the cord guides by means of
the following constructions. The bar G2 is provided at each end with a forwardly
extending arm g (best seen in Figure 4). A link g is pivoted to the outer end of
each arm go and extends downwardly and is pivoted to the forward end of a lever g
whose rear end is pivoted to the frame of the machine. This lever passes under
the shaft N and is provided with friction rolls adapted to engage cams N° on
shaft N. These cams have their grades on their peripheries and the friction rolls
of levers g', g' are maintained in contact with said cam grades by springs 998
secured at one end to the links g g and at their opposite ends to a stationary part
of the machine. The cam grades acting on the friction rolls depress the levers g
and the links and the springs retract them when the rolls come opposite the
depressed portions of the cams and thus the bar G2 is rocked and the cord guides
raised or lowered as desired.
During the tightening of the knots I put a draw upon the warp cords at the
front of the machine. To accomplish this I locate a roller D at the front of the
machine. The top of this roller is provided with guides for the warp thread, each
guide consisting of two square staples set at opposite angles of inclination to the
line of the cord in passing therethrough. The shaft d of the roller D extends at
the left end of the machine beyond the frame and is provided with a spur pinion d
(see Figure 3). Geared with this pinion is a toothed sector E mounted on a stud
projecting from the frame of the machine. One end of this sector is provided with
an extension e and a friction roll connected therewith engages with a cam No on
the shaft N. When the higher portion of the cam comes in contact with the friction
roll of the extension e the sector is turned, revolving the tension roll D towards the
front of the machine, causing the cords to assume a sharper angle upon the guide
loop upon it, thereby effecting a strong draw upon the threads very materially
assisting in tightening the knots. As soon as the point of the cam passes the
extension, the pull of the take-up mechanism causes the roller D and sector E to

page_text: assume their normal positions. If desired or found convenient the sector 1 may
have a spring connected thereto to assist or facilitate the return of these parts after
they have passed beyond the influence of the cam.
In order to secure an even tension upon the warp cords I pass these cords under
a bar or rod F which is supported by the warp threads. This bar is free to rise or
fall and its weight gives the desired tension. If preferred the warp cords may
each be provided with an individual weight but I prefer the construction just
described.
After the cords have been properly placed upon the fingers a portion of the cord
is drawn down to form a loop through which a shuttle is to be passed to complete
the knot. This is effected by a series of drawing down hooks o, o, secured in a
vertical position upon a frame mounted upon a bar O', (see, Fig. 12) which
movably engages vertically disposed guides 0 at each end of the machine. The
hooks o are of the form shown enlarged in Figure 11, and cach is provided with a
pivoted latch o¹, adapted to be turned upward over the point of the hook. The
proper movements of the hooks are effected by the cams 1, 1, on the shaft L,
through the following connecting mechanism. To rearwardly extending brackets o*
one at each end of the machine, are provided levers o³ having friction rolls engaging
cams, . The forward ends of the levers o³ are connected by links o' to levers o
pivoted to a bracket in a similar manner to that of levers 03. The forward ends of
these latter levers are connected by links of with the bar O'. The weight of the
hooks, their supporting frame, bar O¹ and the links and the levers is such that the
friction rolls of the levers 3 are kept in contact with the cams and the hooks
thereby maintained in the lowest position permitted by the said cams, as the rolls
follow the cams, the hooks descend without shock or jar.
After the loops have been formed by the drawing down hooks, a knot is to be
completed by passing a shuttle thread through the loop. This is accomplished by
causing a shuttle to pass through the loop leaving its thread therein to be drawn
into the knot.
The shuttles and their supporting, guiding and operating mechanism are best
shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Beneath the cord fingers and the cord
guides is located a divided shuttle bed P having as many shuttle race-ways as there
are fingers on the bar H, each race-way being directly below a finger. The form
of these race-ways is best shown in Figure 10 having straight vertical sides, the
race-way being of considerable depth. The shuttles are of a form to fit these
race-ways and move easily in them. The shuttle bed is divided into two parts
separated by a narrow open space through which the hooks o pass in their upward
and downward movements. The shuttles are made of such a length as to easily
pass from the portion of the race-way on one side of the bed to that on the other
across this open space. The shuttle is otherwise of ordinary construction and is
made to contain a bobbin filled with cord of the appropriate size and quality. This
bobbin may be retained in the shuttle by any preferred means. I have shown a
lid q which will serve this purpose and this lid is preferably provided with cord or
thread guides q' through one or more of which the cord is threaded.
The shuttles are moved to and fro in their race-ways at the appropriate times by
two shuttle drivers one at the front and one at the rear of the machine. One of
these shuttle drivers is shown in plan view in Figure 8 and its construction is
described as shown in, and its parts fully lettered in that figure only, it being under-
stood that the other driver is of a like construction having corresponding parts.
At each end of the shuttle bed a bar psecured to the under side of the same
extends outwardly and has at its outer end a vertically disposed portion p². A
rod P extends inwardly from the upright part 2 of this bar and has its inner end
secured to an upright secured to the upper side of the shuttle bed. Upon the
rods P is movably mounted a bar P³ to which are secured arms p, carrying at
their inner ends a bar P of such length as to engage all of the shuttles. The
shuttle driver at the front of the machine is operated by the following instrumen-
talities. At the left end of the machine two arins R R rigidly connected forming

page_text: a modified bell-crank lever, are pivoted on a stud or shaft R. To the latter they
may be rigidly secured if desired. The arm R2 is provided with a friction roller
which engages with a cam groove on the inside of the cam disk M2 on the shaft M.
This cam is shown in Figure 15 which shows the inner face of the cam disk M².
A shaft R³ is mounted in bearings in the frame of the machine. This shaft has
within the frame two upwardly extending arms R. Ro, and these arms are connected
with the bar P³ by links, 2 (see Figs. 5 and 8). The shaft R³ has outside of
the frame an arm R which is connected with the upwardly extending arm R'
on the shaft or stud by a link »¹.
The shuttle driver at the rear of the machine is actuated by means of the
following arrangement of mechanism. A similar bell-crank lever having arms S', S
is mounted in a like manner at the right end of the machine on a shaft or stud S.
The arm S2 is also provided with a friction roll which engages a cam groove on the
inner side of the cam disk M' previously referred to." The arm S¹ of the bell-
crank lever is connected by a link with an arm S₁ on a shaft S³ at the rear of the
machine and this shaft has two arms S S°, which are conneced by links with the
bar P of the rear shuttle driver.
$
Before the knots can be fully tightened, the cords must be free from the drawing
down hooks. I force the loops forward out of range of the hooks by hook cast off
bar J. This bar extends the whole length of the shuttle bed and is secured at each
end to one of the arms of a bell-crank lever j. The rearward arm of each lever j is
pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever j¹. These levers are pivoted to the
shuttle bed and extend downwardly to the rear of shaft L and are provided at
their lower ends with friction rolls engaging cams 12 12 on the shaft L. A spring is
connected to the upper end of each lever and the opposite end of each spring is
secured to a stationary part of the machine, so that the friction rolls of the levers
are maintained in contact with their operating cams.
Having described the construction of the machine which constitutes my present
invention I will now proceed to describe its operation in detail in the process of
making nets.
The threads from the bobbins C are threaded by taking them as directly as
possible to the bars b,, at the front of the machine and threading them through
the guide eyes on said bars, thence under the bar For through the eyes of weights,
thence through the guide eyes of the tension roll D, thence through the eyes on
the bar, thence through the guide eyes g³ near the stem or standard g¹ of the
cord guide, thence through the cord guide and thence rearward upon the take-up
rolls K, K2, K3 and beneath the roller K, whose weight grips them and holds
them fast. The shuttle cords having been also placed so as to be gripped and held
by the take-up mechanism the machine is ready to start. The cord fingers h are
one more in number than the cord guides and the cord in passing rearwardly from
each cord guide to the take-up mechanism passes between two of the fingers h. In
the normal position of the cord guides the cord is held slightly above the cord
supporters projecting through the sides of the fingers. The cord of each cord guide
is first laid upon the finger at one side of it and then upon the finger at the other
side. In Figure 20 there are shown two fingers h, an intervening finger being broken
away to make the drawing more clear. Upon the finger at the right in the figure
has been illustrated the method of laying the cord upon the finger to the right of
the warp cord, and on the finger at the left in the figure has been illustrated the
method of laying the cord upon the finger to its left. Supposing that the position
of the parts is such that the cord is next to be laid upon the finger to the right,
upon starting the machine the cord guide is moved by cam N¹ and lever G' to the
right past the finger first drawing the cord against the finger above the cord
supporter at that side of the finger, then in front of the finger below the cord
holding projections, the cord guide is then moved by the cams N* acting on
the arms G³ rearwardly past the finger, drawing the cord firmly against the front
of the finger and laying it above the cord supporter at that side of the finger.
The cam Ñ¹ then acts to move the cord guide to the left past the finger in rear of

page_text: the same, the cams N³ permitting the springs gs to raise links and lower the
cord guide so that they will pass beneath the portion of the cord extending rear-
wardly from the finger. The cams N again act and bring the guides forward, the
cams N at the same time raising the guide; as soon as the guide has moved
forward far enough to clear the finger the guide is again moved to the right laying
the cord upon the lower inclined edges of the cord notch and when the guide is
moved to the right past and clear of the finger the guide is moved slightly rearward
placing the cord in the position shown at the right in Figure 20. While these
movements have been taking place the shuttle driver at the front of the machine
has been operated to force the shuttles rearwardly across the open space in the
shuttle bed and has returned to its original position. The hooks are now
moved upward, and as each hook is in line with the interior of the finger
it rises within the finger until the point of the hook is above the portion of
the cord on the inclined edges of the cord notch 3 and the end of the
latch o above the portion of the cord lying across the front of the finger
below the cord-holding projections, the hooks o then descend, the hook engaging
the portion of the cord below it while the latch is engaged by the cord below it
and as the hooks descend the latch is turned up against the point of the hook,
thereby securing the passage of the hook below the part of the cord extending
across the front of the finger below the cord-holding projections 2 without engaging
with it. As soon as the hook is below this portion of the cord, the latch drops of
its own weight to the position shown in Figure 11. At the conclusion of the
movement of the drawing down hooks each warp thread has been caused to assuine
somewhat the form shown in Figure 21.. The shuttle driver at the rear of the
machine is then actuated and the shuttle forced forward through the loops of cord
still held by drawing down the hooks, at the same time the cord guides are returned
to their normal position. As soon as the shuttles have passed through the loops
held by the drawing down hooks, the tension roll begins to revolve in order to draw
the loops tight. At this time the hooks cominence to rise, holding onto the loops,
while the tension roll continues to move, the said roll thereby taking up the slack
as it is yielded up by the hooks. At a given point the bar which knocks the loops
off the hooks moves forward. At the time the said bar comes in contact with the
loops to knock them off the hooks, the tension roll slacks in order to allow the
hooks to leave the loops; then when the loops are cast off the tension roll resumes
its former speed. The amount of slack cast off the hooks is about one and one-
half inches or two inches instead of twelve or thirteen inches as in the netting
machines now in general use. The taking up of the slack cord while the hooks
are rising prevents tangling in rough and hard-twisted cord and greatly facilitates
the work at this stage in the operation. When the slack is all taken up, the finger
bar begins to rise, whereupon the cord supporters are retracted into the fingers
and the tension on the warp cords causes the cord wrapped around each finger to
fall below the main portion of the finger onto the point and then off the said
point, the tension roll continuing its movement until the finger rises out of the knot.
As soon as the points are drawn out of the knots the finger bar returns to its
former position. At this stage of the operation the take-up mechanism begins to
move and draws the knotted cords as far forward as is required for the formation
of another row of meshes.
As has been before stated the shuttles are one more in number than the cord
guides, and warp threads, and during the operation just described no knot has been
made by the shuttle thread at the left selvedge of the fabric. As the motion of
the machine continues for the next knotting mechanisin the cord guides are carried
past the front of the finger to the left and the same movements repeated to lay the
cord in a like manner upon the finger to the left of the cord, the movements being
the reverse of those before described.
The other movements of the machine are the same as those just described. In
this operation no knot is made with the shuttle cord or thread at the right selvedge
of the machine.

page_text: At the next operation the shuttle cord or thread at the left selvedge is not
knotted and so on. The reversal of the movements of the cord guide is effected by
the cam N which is made large enough to permit the groove to be constructed
with the requisite cam grades to effect the movements required.
While I have shown and described the best form in which I have at this time
contemplated embodying my invention it is obvious that the form and proportions
of various parts may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the
principle of my said invention.
I have further contemplated constructing various parts of the operating devices so
that the movements of many of the devices can be adjusted. For example the links g*
are made in two parts so that they may be adjusted to vary the height of the move-
ment of the cord guides. The links and s may also be made so as to provide for
the adjustment of the range of movement of the shuttle devices. These provisions
for adjustment of the parts have been considered and are within the scope of my
invention.
•
It is to be noted that the points of the fingers play an important part in that
they secure the closing of the knots in a single line upon the shuttle threads or
cords ensuring uniformity in the meshes of the netting.
While prefer to provide each cord receiving finger with two spring cord
supports, this is not absolutely essential as one on each would in most cases be
found adequate.
Dated this 24th day of October 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Nets.
I, WILLIAM JOHN HOOPER, of 110, East Pratt Street, Baltimore, in the
County of Baltimore and State of Maryland, United States of America, Manufac-
turer, 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 :-
.
My present invention is an improved machine for making nets, my improvements
consisting in certain improved parts and combinations of parts whereby the action
is made certain and liability of faults and errors is avoided.
In the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification I have shown the
best form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and my said
invention is disclosed in the following description and claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a netting machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the right end of the machine.
Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the left end of the machine.
Figure 4 is a vertical section from front to rear of the machine.
Figure 5 is a partial vertical section from left to right through the machine.
Figure 6 is a detail of the cord-carriers and their operating mechanism.
Figure 7 is a partial section from front to rear illustrating the shuttle and
shuttle driving mechanism.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a single shuttle-driver.
Figure 9 is an enlarged section of one of the shuttles.
Figure 10 is an end view of one of the shuttles as it appears in its raceway.
Figure 11 is a view of the upper end of one of the drawing down hooks.
Figure 12 is a detail showing the drawing down hooks in their supporting frame
and the hook cast-off.
Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view, in perspective, of a part of the finger-bar,
.

page_text: Figure 14 is a like view of a part of the finger-bar and a part of the cast-off bar,
the fingers not being shown below the bars.
Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, are details of cams.
Figures 19 and 20 are partial views, in perspective, of the finger bar and the cord.
carrier, illustrating the method of forming loops for the shuttles.
Figure 21 is an enlarged view of a loop formed by the loop forming devices.
In my present machine the knots and meshes of the netting are formed, as usual,
from warp threads, extending through the machine from front to rear, which are.
knotted to shuttle threads. The shuttles and shuttle threads are one more in number
than the warp threads and the meshes are formed by knotting the two sets of
threads together, so that there will be at each selvage, alternately, a shuttle thread.
not knotted to a warp thread. In other words, at one knotting operation there will.
be a shuttle thread at the right selvage, which will not be knotted to a warp thread,.
and at the next operation there will be a shuttle thread at the left selvage not
knotted to a warp thread, and so on throughout, consecutive operations of the
machine. In the drawings, A A indicate the end pieces or standards, which may
be of any suitable or preferred construction and which are united at convenient
points with suitable connecting bars or tie rods to form a rigid supporting frame..
At the rear of the machine is placed in suitable bearings in the end pieces or
standards of the frame the main driving shaft L. This shaft is provided with a
spur gear T, which gears with a toothed wheel T on a shaft M, and this wheel
gears with a spur wheel on shaft N at the front of the machine. All the moving
parts of the machine are operated from these shafts.
Within the frame and near the bottom thereof I place an inclined support B,
having suitable provision for holding bobbins or spools C, containing the warp cords or
threads. From these bobbins or spools the warp threads extend to the front of the;
machine over two rods or bars bb, one or both of which is provided with a guide
eye for each thread, thence downward to the warp tension device, thence upward.
over a rod or bar b', preferably provided with guide eyes for the cords or threads,.
and thence to the cord carrier and the mesh forming point, the netted fabric.
extending therefrom to the take-up mechanism.
An
The group of devices which I term the "take-up" mechanism is best shown in.
Figures 2 and 4. On rearwardly extending portions of the frame K are mounted.
the take-up rollers K', K, K³, the shafts of which are journaled in suitable bearings
in or attached to the frame extension, and a loose or free roller K rests upon and
partially between the rollers K and K and engages the peripheries of both. These.
rollers I prefer to actuate from the main driving shaft L through the following.
instrumentalities. The shafts of the rollers K', K2 and K³ project beyond the
frame at one end of the same. The shaft of roller K is provided with a gear
wheel and a ratchet '. The shaft of roller K³ is provided with a gear wheel k*,
and idler wheels or pinions ko, mounted on studs secured to the frame, operatively.
connect the wheels and ki. The shaft of roller K'is provided with a gear wheel k²
and an idle wheel connects it with a gear wheel k on the shaft of roller K².
arm or lever is pivoted on the shaft of roller K, which is provided with a pawl k²,
engaging the teeth of the ratchet A. The arm or lever & is slotted and a link K³
is pivoted thereto by a bolt passing through the slot. This link extends downward
and is pivoted to a lever k, which is pivoted to the frame of the machine at k³.
The lever near its rear end is provided with a friction roll, which engages a
cam on the main or driving shaft L. The pawl is so constructed and placed
that the ratchet k' is engaged thereby and the take-up mechanism operated when
the lever K and link K are raised by the cam, the weight of the parts being suffi-
cient to return them to their lowest position when the friction roll has passed the
elevated portion of the cam. By adjusting the link K in the slot of arm
extent of the movement given the take-up rollers is increased or diminished as
desired.
the
The netting or completed fabric as it comes from the knotting devices passes
under and partially, around roller K', over and partially around the loose or free

page_text: roller Kunder and partially around roller K³, and then over roller K³. The
loose roller presses upon the netting with its entire weight and grips it with sufficient
force to draw the knots tight when it is desired to do so, as well as to advance the
warp-cords the proper space for another mesh.
Forward of the take-up mechanism at the top of the machine are located the
finger-bar H and the cast-off bar I. (See Figs. 4, 7, 13 and 14.) The cast-off bar
is rigidly supported from the framing of the machine. The finger-bar His
movably supported close to and parallel with the cast-off bar. The finger-bar is
provided with fingers which are secured to the front side of the bar. The
fingers term "cord-receiving fingers," as the cord is laid upon them in the
operation of forming the knots. These fingers are best shown in Figs. 13, 19
and 20, and as there shown may be briefly described as of U shape in cross section
or as having three sides, one of which connecting the other two may be termed the
"back" and this lies against the front side of the finger-bar H, with the others
projecting forward from the bar. In the drawings the three sides are shown as
being straight but this is not essential, as the sides might be of other outline.
The sides might be curved or the finger might be constructed in the shape of a
circular or oval tube with a slot at the front.
While I prefer the forms described, the essential feature is that each finger has
two sides with a space between them, the said sides having their greatest extent
from front to rear of the machine.
Each finger is accompanied by a point, extending below the finger. I have
shown these points as formed on pins lying along the back of each finger; but
instead the point may be made integral with and form a part of the finger or may
be secured directly thereto. These points I term the "knot-controlling points," as
the location of the knot upon the shuttle-cord is controlled thereby.
Each side of the finger, near its lower end, has a cord-holding projection he
which when the cord is laid upon the finger below them prevents it being raised or
carried upwardly out of position. Above this shoulder or projection each side is
provided with a cord notch ³, the lower edge of the notch being very long and
inclining outwardly as shown, while the upper edge is approximately at right angles
to the finger and forms a square shoulder. Each finger is provided near its lower
end with a small opening, through which project cord supporting lugs or pro-
jections A³. These project outward from the lower end of an elastic strip or
spring secured on the inner side of each side of the finger. These springs I
term movable" or "
spring-cord" supports. Each spring is provided above
with a cam projection ', extending outward beyond the side of the finger to which
it lies adjacent through one of the cord notches h³.
In the operation of forming the knots the warp cords are wound around the lower
ends of the fingers and when the knots are completed are cast off through the
upward movement of the finger bar and acting in connection with the stationary
cast-off bar I. At each end of the machine there is provided a vertically disposed
guide H, with which the ends of the finger bar movably engage. Near each end
of the finger bar a pair of toggle levers 1 1¹ connect the finger bar H with the
cross bar A of the frame. The central pivots of the toggle levers are connected
by links with a bar 12 sliding in bearings at the sides of the machine. This
rod or bar 12 (see Fig. 5) extends to the right beyond the frame of the machine
and is provided with two collars adjustably secured to the rod by set screws.
At the same end of the machine a bracket 13 extends outward from the frame and
to this bracket is pivoted a lever 1. This lever is forked at its upper end and
extends on both sides of the rod 12 between the collars PP. Its lower end is
provided with a friction roll which bears against the outer face of the cam
disk M³ mounted on the shaft M at the right side of the machine. This disk has
two cam projections m m in the path of the friction roller and by engagement
therewith forces the rod or bar 12 inward flexing the toggle levers and raising the
finger bar.
The weight of the bar will ordinarily be sufficient to return the bar to
its lower position and to maintain the friction roller in contact with the cam disk;

page_text: out
may provide a spring as * upon the rod or bar I between the inner collar
and the frame of the machine to insure this action of the parts.
The cast-off bar I is provided on its side lying adjacent to the finger bar H with
projections which extend rearwardly from the cast-off bar between the fingers h
on the finger bar. These projections lie close to the sides of the fingers and as the
finger bar is raised the cam projections of the spring cord supports come in contact
therewith and are forced inward withdrawing the movable cord supports.
At the front of the machine a shaft G is mounted in suitable hearings at each
end of the machine, so as to rock and slide therein (see Figs. 4 and 6) and to this
shaft are rigidly secured upwardly extending arms G G in the upper ends of
which is journaled a bar G. To the rear of this bar are the cord carriers g
which consist of vertically disposed guiding tubes or eyes carried by vertical
standards or stems y', (see Fig. 7) through which are threaded the warp threads or
cords. These cord or thread guides are rigidly connected to and supported by the
bar Gand this connection may be of any preferred form. Each cord or thread
guide may have a separate connection with the bar G, or they may all be mounted
on a single bar or plate connected with the bar G³, and this latter construction is
shown in the drawings, all of said cord guides being secured to a bar G³, each end
of which is connected with the bar G by an arm g³. These arms have their rear
ends in a considerably lower plane than the plane of the bar (2 to enable the cord
or thread guides to be placed at a sufficient distance above the bar (³ to enable
the bar to pass beneath the points or pins h¹ and yet permit the thread guides to
be raised to the necessary height to properly place the cord upon the fingers in.
the operation of knotting. To place the cord upon the fingers in the manner con-
templated, the cord or thread guides are given lateral movements from one toward
the other end of the machine and back, and from front to rear and reverse, and the
cord guides must also be raised and lowered at certain parts of their movement.
These movements are effected by the following instrumentalities: The movements
from one end of the machine toward the other are effected by the grooved cam N¹
which is mounted on a stud projecting from the frame of the machine below the
shaft N. This cam is provided at its outer side with the gear wheel N gearing
with the pinion N³ mounted on the outer end of shaft N. The gear wheel N is
provided with double the number of teeth of pinion N³ so that the cam makes but
one revolution to two of the pinion. A lever G is pivoted to a bracket projecting
from the frame of the machine and has at its lower end a friction roll engaging the
groove of the cam N¹. The upper end of the lever G is bifurcated the two parts
of the lever extending upward one on each side of and pivoted to a short sleeve G³
on the shaft C. The sleeve G is held in position upon the shaft G by two
collars adjustably secured to the shaft G by set screws. It will be seen that
by this construction the shaft G is free to turn in either direction, while it can be
moved longitudinally by the lever when actuated by the grades of the cam N¹ and
that the cord guides are so connected. with this shaft as to participate in its
movement.
The movements of the cord guides toward and from the rear of the machine are
effected by the following means: The arms G' are extended below the shaft G,
as shown in the drawings, or separate arms rigidly extend below the shaft G and
are provided at their lower ends with friction rolls which engage can grooves in
the sides of cam disks N on shaft N. These extensions are lettered G³ in the
drawings. The cam guides of these cam disks are formed so as to oscillate the
shaft to give the cord guides the proper movements backward and forward.
1 secure the upward and downward movements of the cord guides by means of
the following constructions. The bar G2 is provided at each end with a forwardly
extending arm g. (Best seen in Fig. 4). A link g is pivoted to the outer end
of each army and extends downwardly and is pivoted to the forward end of a
lever g' whose rear end is pivoted to the frame of the machine. This lever passes
under the shaft N and is provided with friction rolls adapted to engage cams N³ on
shaft N. The cams have their grades on their peripheries and the friction rolls

page_text: of levers are maintained in contact with said cam grades by springs 9ª 98
secured at one end to the links and at their opposite ends to a stationary part
of the machine. The cam grades acting on the friction rolls depress the levers '
and the links and the springs retract them when the rolls come opposite the
depressed portions of the cams and thus the bar G2 is rocked and the cord guides.
raised or lowered as desired.
During the tightening of the knots I put a draw upon the warp cords at the
front of the machine. To accomplish this, I locate a roller D at the front of the
machine. The top of this roller is provided with guides for the warp thread each
guide consisting of two square staples set at opposite angles of inclination to the
line of the cord in passing therethrough. The shaft d of the roller D extends at
the left end of the machine beyond the frame and is provided with a spur pinion d¹.
(See Fig. 3.) Geared with this pinion is a toothed sector E, mounted on a stud
projecting from the frame of the machine. One end of this sector is provided with
an extension e and a friction roll connected therewith engages with a cam No on
the shaft N. When the higher portion of the cam comes in contact with the
friction roll of the extension e, the sector is turned revolving the tension roll D
toward the front of the machine causing the cords to assume a sharper angle after
passing through the guide loops upon it, thereby effecting a strong draw upon the
threads, very materially assisting in tightening the knots. As soon as the point of
the cam passes the extension e, the pull of the take-up mechanism causes the
roller D and sector E to assume their normal positions.
In order to secure an even tension upon the warp cords, I pass these cords under
a bar or rod F, which is supported by the warp threads. This bar is free to rise
or fall and its weight gives the desired tension. If preferred, the warp cords may
cach be provided with an individual weight; but prefer the construction just
described. After the cords have been properly placed upon the fingers a portion
of the cord is drawn down to form a loop, through which a shuttle is to be passed
to complete the knot. This is effected by a series of drawing down hooks o o,
secured in a vertical position upon a frame O mounted upon a bar O', (see Fig. 12)
which movably engages vertically disposed guides O2 at each end of the machine.
The hooks are of the form shown enlarged in Fig. 11 and each is provided with
a pivoted latch o' adapted to be turned upward over the point of the hook. The
proper movements of the hooks are effected by the cams on the shaft L through
the following connecting mechanism: To rearwardly extending brackets o³, one at
each end of the machine are pivoted levers 03 having friction rolls engaging
cams. The forward ends of the levers o³ are connected by links o' to levers
pivoted to brackets in a similar manner to that of levers o³. The forward ends of
these latter levers are connected by links o with the bar O'. The weight of the
hooks, their supporting frame, bar O', and the links and the levers is such that the
friction rolls of the levers o³ are kept in contact with the cams and the hooks
thereby maintained in the lowest position permitted by the said cams. As the rolls
follow the cams, the hooks descend without shock or jar. After the loops have
been formed by the drawing down hooks the knot is to be completed by passing a
shuttle thread through the loop.
This is accomplished by causing a shuttle to pass through the loop, leaving its
thread therein to be drawn into the knot.
The shuttles and their supporting, guiding and operating mechanism are best
shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Beneath the cord fingers and the cord guides
is located a divided shuttle bed P having as many shuttle raceways as there are
fingers on the bar H, each raceway being directly below a finger. The form of
these raceways is best shown in Fig. 10, they having straight vertical sides, each
raceway being of considerable depth. The shuttles Q are of a form to fit these
raceways and move easily in them. The shuttle bed is divided into two parts
separated by a narrow open space, through which the hooks o pass in their upward
and downward movements. The shuttles are made of such a length as to easily
pass from the portion of the raceway on one side of the bed to that on the other

page_text: across this open space. Each shuttle is otherwise of ordinary construction and is
made to contain a bobbin filled with cord of the appropriate size and quality.
This bobbin may be retained in the shuttle by any preferred means. I have shown
a lid, which will serve this purpose, and this lid is preferably provided with cord
or thread guides through one or more of which the cord is threaded.
The shuttles are moved to and fro in their raceways at the appropriate times by
two shuttle drivers, one at the front and one at the rear of the machine. One of
these shuttle drivers is shown in plan view in Fig. S and its construction is
described as shown in and its parts fully lettered in that figure only, it being
understood that the other driver is of a like construction, having corresponding
parts.
At each end of the shuttle bed a bar p' secured to the underside of the same,
extends ontwardly and has at its outer end the vertically disposed portion p². A
rod P extends inwardly from the upright part p² of this bar and has its inner end
secured to an upright p³, secured to the upper side of the shuttle bed. Upon the
rods P is movably mounted a bar P³, to which are secured arms p carrying at
their inner ends a bar P of such length as to engage all of the shuttles. The
shuttle driver at the front of the machine is operated by the following instru-
mentalities: At the left end of the machine two arms R, R2 rigidly connected,
forming a modified bell crank lever, are pivoted on a stud or shaft R. To the latter
they may be rigidly secured, if desired. The arm R³ is provided with a friction
roller, which engages with a cam groove on the inside of the cam disk M³ on the
shaft M. This cam is shown in Fig. 15, which shows the inner face of the cam disk M².
A shaft R³ is mounted in bearings in the frame of the machine. This shaft has
within the frame two upwardly extending arms R, R³, and these arms are con-
nected with the bar P³ by links (See Figs. 5 and 8.) The shaft R³ has
outside of the frame an arm R which is connected with the upwardly extending
arm R on the shaft or stud R by a link r.
The shuttle driver at the rear of the machine is actuated by means of the
following arrangement of mechanism: A similar bell crank lever having arms S¹ S
is mounted in a like manner at the right end of the machine on a shaft or
stud S. The arm S² is also provided with a friction roll which engages a cam
groove on the inner side of the cam disk M¹ previously referred to. The
arm S' of the bell crank lever is connected by a links with an arm S' on a shaft S³
at the rear of the machine and this shaft has two arms S S which are connected
by links with the bar P³ of the rear shuttle driver.
Before the knots can be fully tightened the cords must be free from the drawing
down hooks. I force the loops forward out of range of the hooks by a hook cast-
off bar J. This bar extends the whole length of the shuttle bed and is secured
at each end to one of the arms of a bell crank lever j. The rearward arm of each
lever is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever j'. These levers are
pivoted to the shuttle bed and extend downwardly to the rear of shaft L and are
provided at their lower ends with friction rolls engaging cams 12 on the shaft L.
A spring is connected to the upper end of each lever and the opposite end of
each spring is secured to a stationary part of the machine, so that the friction rolls
of the levers are maintained in contact with their operating cams.
Having described the construction of the machine which constitutes my present
invention, I will now proceed to describe its operation in detail in the process of
making nets.
The threads from the bobbins C are threaded by taking them as directly as
possible to the bars at the front of the machine and threading them through
the guide eyes on said bars, thence under the bar F or through the eyes
of weights, thence through the guide eyes of the tension roll D, thence
through the eyes on the bar 6, thence through the guide eyes * on the
stems or standards g' of the cord guides, thence through the cord guides,
and thence rearward upon the take-up rolls K', K², K³ and beneath the
roller K, whose weight grips them and holds them fast. The shuttle cords

page_text: having been also placed so as to be gripped and held by the take-up mechanism,
the machine is ready to start. The cord fingers are one more in number than
the cord guides and the cord in passing rearwardly from each cord guide to the
take-up mechanism passes between two of the fingers h. In the normal position
of the cord guides the cord is held slightly above the cord supporters projecting
through the sides of the fingers. The cord of each cord guide is first laid upon
the finger at one side of it and then upon the finger at the other side. In Fig. 20
there are shown two fingers h, an intervening finger being broken away to make
the drawings more clear. Upon the finger at the right in the figure has been
illustrated the method of laying the cord upon the finger to the right of the warp
cord and on the finger at the left in the figure has been illustrated the method of
laying the cord upon the finger to its left. Supposing that the position of the
parts is such that the cord is next to be laid upon the finger to the right, upon
starting the machine the cord guide is moved by cam N₁ and lever G to the
right past the finger, first drawing the cord against the finger above the cord
supporter at that side of the finger and then in front of the finger below the cord
holding projections.² 1. The cord guide is then moved by the cams Ni acting
on the arms G³ rearwardly past the finger, drawing the cord firmly against the
front of the finger and laying it above the cord supporter at that side of the
finger. The cam N' then acts to move the cord guide to the left past the finger
in rear of the same, the cams No permitting the springs g³ to raise links g
and lower the cord guide, so that they will pass beneath the portion of the cord
extending rearwardly from the finger. The cams N again act and bring the
guides forward, the cams N' at the same time raising the guide. As soon as the
. guide has moved forward far enough to clear the finger the guide is again moved,
to the right, laying the cord upon the lower inclined edges of the cord nctch 3
and when the guide has moved to the right past and clear of the finger the guide
is moved slightly rearward, placing the cord in the position shown at the right.in
Fig. 20. While these movements have been taking place, the shuttle driver at
the front of the machine has been operated to force the shuttles rearwardly across
the open space in the shuttle bed and has returned to its original position. The
hooks o are now moved upward and as each hook is in line with the interior of the
finger it rises within the finger until the point of the book is above the portion of
the cord on the inclined edges of the cord notch ³ and the end of the latch o
above the portion of the cord lying across the front of the finger below the cord
"holding projections. The hooks o then descend, the hook engaging the portion
..of the cord below it, while the latch is engaged by the cord below it, and as the
hooks descend the latch is turned up against the point of the hook, thereby
securing the passage of the hook below the part of the cord extending across the
front of the finger below the cord holding projections 2 without engaging with it.
As soon as the hook is below this portion of the cord, the latch drops of its own
weight to the position shown in Fig. 11. At the conclusion of the movement of
the drawing down hooks each warp thread has been caused to assume somewhat
the form shown in Fig. 21. The shuttle driver at the rear of the machine is then
actuated and the shuttle forced forward through the loops of cord still held by the
drawing down hooks, and at the same time the cord guides are returned to their
normal position. As soon as the shuttles have passed through the loops held by
the drawing down hooks the tension roll begins to revolve in order to draw the
loops tight. At this time the hooks commence to rise, holding on to the loops,
while the tension roll continues to move, the said roll thereby taking up the slack
as it is yielded up by the hooks. At a given point the bar, which knocks the
loops off the hooks, moves forward. At the time the said bar comes in contact
with the loops to knock them off the hooks the tension roll slacks in order to allow
the hooks to leave the loops. Then when the loops are cast off the tension roll
resumes its former speed. The amount of slack cast off the books is about one
and one-half inches or two inches instead of twelve or thirteen inches, as in
the netting machines now in general use. The taking up of the slack
"
·
i

page_text: As.
.
cord while the hooks are rising prevents tangling in rough and hard-twisted-
cord and greatly facilitates the work at this stage in the operation. When
the slack is all taken up, the finger bar begins to rise, whereupon the
cord supporters are retracted into the fingers, and the tension on the-
warp cords causes the cord wrapped around each finger to fall below the main.
portion of the finger onto the point and then off the said point, the
tension roll continuing its movement until the finger rises out of the knot.
soon as the points are drawn out of the knots, the finger bar returns to its former
position. At this stage of the operation the take-up mechanism begins to move
and draws the knotted cords as far forward as is required for the formation of
another row of meshes. As soon as the knots are tightened upon the points /¹
of the finger bar the finger bar is raised to withdraw the points from the knots.
This is done before the take-up mechanism has ceased to act, and the further
movement of these devices finish the knot on the accomplishment of which the
tension roll is relieved and the take-up devices continue their movement, feeding
the warp threads along the proper distance for a mesh of the net.
The finger
bar then returns to its' normal position. When a shuttle is passed through a
loop on both movements, care has to be taken that the construction and appliances.
at both sides of the slot through which the drawing down hooks and their loops
pass shall be such as to prevent the possibility of any entanglement of the cords.
By having the shuttle pass through the loop only in one direction the arrangement.
of parts in this respect is simplified. As has been before stated, the shuttles are
one more in number than the cord guides and warp threads, and during the
operation just described no knot has been made by the shuttle thread at the left
selvage of the fabric. As the motion of the machine continues for the next knotting
mechanism, the cord guides are carried past the front of the finger to the left, and
the same movements are repeated to lay the cord in a like manner upon the finger-
to the left of the cord, the movements being the reverse of those before described.
The other movements of the machine are the same as those just described. In
this operation no knot is made with the shuttle cord or thread at the right selvage
of the machine. At the next operation the shuttle cord or thread at the left
selvage is not knotted, and so on. The reversal of the movements of cord
guides is effected by the cam N₁ which is made large enough to permit the
groove to be constructed with the requisite cam grades to effect the movements
required.
While I have shown and described the best form in which I have at this time
contemplated embodying my invention, it is obvious that the form and propor-
tions of various parts may be varied to a considerable extent without departing
from the principle of my said invention.
I have further contemplated constructing various parts of the operating devices.
so that the movements of many of the devices can be adjusted. For example, the
links are made in two parts, so that they may be adjusted to vary the height of
the movement of the cord guides. The links and s may also be made so as to
provide for the adjustment of the range of movement of the shuttle devices.
These provisions for adjustment of the parts have been considered and are within
the scope of my invention.
It is to be noted that the points of the fingers play an important part in that
they secure the closing of the knots in a single line upon the shuttle threads or
cords, insuring uniformity in the meshes of the netting.
While I prefer to provide each cord receiving finger with two spring cord
supports, this is not absolutely essential, as one on each would in most cases be
found adequate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines, having two-

page_text: fixed sides with a space between them and also having in front thereof a notch or
depression into which a portion of the cord wrapped around the finger may be
laid and thereby placed in position to be engaged and drawn down by a loop
forming device passed up within the finger, substantially as described.
2. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines upon which
the cord is wrapped, having a knot controlling point below that portion of the
finger on which the cord is wrapped.
3. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines having three
sides or being of U shape in cross section.
4. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines, having three
sides or being of U shape in cross section and having a cord controlling point
below that portion of the finger whereon the cord is wrapped, substantially as
described.
5. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines provided with
a spring cord support.
6. The herein described cord receiving finger for netting machines around which
the cord is wrapped, having fixed sides provided with a cord holding projection
preventing displacement of the cord by moving upward on the finger.
7. The combination with the finger bar and finger, of the spring cord support
having a cam projection extending outward beyond one of the sides of the finger
and the finger cast-off bar having a projection lying adjacent to the same side of
said finger, one of said bars being movable; substantially as described.
8. The combination with,the, cord receiving finger having two sides with a space
between them and a cord notch, of the latched drawing down hook, substantially as
described.
9. The herein described cord receiving fingers for a netting machine, having two
sides, and two spring cord supporters within said finger, having projections
extending outward through apertures in said sides.
10. In a netting machine the combination with cord receiving fingers, drawing
down; books, and shuttles equal in number, of a series of cord guides one less in
number and operating means therefor, substantially as described.
11: In a netting machine the combination with the loop forming devices, of
shuttles, two shuttle drivers, and operating mechanism for moving one shuttle
driver before the loops are formed and the other for moving the shuttle through
the loops, substantially as described.
12. In a netting machine, the combination with the loop forming devices including
drawing down hooks among its members, of the pivoted hook cast off bar and
operating means, substantially as described.
13. The combination of a movable finger bar having fingers thereon, a hook cast-
off bar, hooks for drawing down the loops, mechanism for raising the hooks, with
the cord engaged with the hooks, and a tension device constructed to take up the
slack of the loop while the hooks are rising and before the cord is cast off the
hooks.
T
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.