Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines used for Knitting Ribbed Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr.. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines used for Knitting
Ribbed Fabrics.
We, THOMAS KIDDIER, JAMES KIDDIER, and JOHN WILLIAM KIDDIER, Machinists
all of the firm known as the Hosiery Machine Building Company of Bell Street,
Arkwright Street in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to rotary knitting machinery used for knitting ribbed fabrics
more especially to machinery known as "Cotton's" machinery. In rotary knitting
machines the needles are generally bearded needles ranged in a straight line or
plane when not in operation-when however the machinery is in operation more
especially when parts of a width of work is being thickened and others unthickened
the frame needles are drawn into irregular and undesired waved lines as parts of
the fabric can stretch more readily than others and so more strain comes upon
some frame needles than on others.
If the frame needles are drawn into such waved lines irregular work is produced
because unless the frame needles are in a straight line at the time that work is
being pressed off on the machine needles the loops on the stems of the machine
needles will also not be in straight lines. Consequently when the beards of the
machine needles are pressed, their points which must all necessarily be in a uniform
line will not in all cases properly come between and separate the new loops from
the old ones which are to be cast off-in some cases the beards of the machine
needles might cover both loops and in others they might cover neither of them or
the points of some of the beards might descend on to one or other of the loops
and split or divide the thread. To prevent the row of frame needles from being
so drawn out of line we employ a bar or plate which can be automatically moved
up to and against the upper part of the frame needles to support them at the time
that the work is being knocked over on the machine needles and then act as an
abutment or support to the head of the frame needles-and keep them at this time
always in one uniform position.
D
THOMAS KIDDIER.
JAMES KIDDIER.
JOHN WM. KIDDIER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Knitting Machines used for Knitting
Ribbed Fabrics.
We, THOMAS KIDdier, James KIDDIER, and JOHN WILLIAM KIDDIER, Machinists,
all of the firm known as the Hosiery Machine Building Company of Bell Street,
Arkwright Street in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, 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:
Our Invention relates to rotary knitting machinery used for knitting ribbed fabrics
more especially to machinery known as "Cotton's" machinery. In rotary knitting
machines the needles are generally bearded needles ranged in a straight line or plane
when not in operation-when however the machinery is in operation more especially
when part of a width of work is being thickened and others unthickened the frame
needles are drawn into irregular and undesired waved lines as part of the fabric can
Price 6d.

page_text: stretch more readily than others and so more strain comes upon some frame needles
than on others.
If the frame needles are drawn into such waved lines irregular work is produced
because unless the frame needles are in a straight line at the time that work is being
pressed off on the machine needles the loops on the stems of the machine needles will
also not be in straight lines. Consequently when the beards of the machine needles
are pressed, their points which must all necessarily be in a uniform line will not in all
cases properly come between and separate the new loops from the old ones which are
to be cast off-in some cases the beards of the machine needles might cover both loops
and in others they might cover neither of them or the points of some of the beards
might descend on to one or other of the loops and split or divide the thread. To
prevent the row of frame needles from being so drawn out of line we employ a bar or
plate which can be automatically moved up to and against the upper part of the
frame needles to support them at the time that the work is being knocked over on the
machine needles and then act as an abutment or support to the head of the frame
needles and keep them at this time always in one uniform position.
In the drawings annexed we have shewn parts of a rotary straight bar knitting
machine "known as Cottons" with our improvements applied to it.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections with the parts in two different positions.
Figures 3 and 4 are an end elevation and plan of some of the parts shewing the
manner in which support is given to the heads of the frame needles.
In each of the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding
parts.
A are the frame needles B the machine needles and C the bar or plate for giving
support to the heads of the frame needles at the times required-D are fixed brackets
upon which the bar or plate rests at its two ends-E is a shaft with arms F extending
from it to which the ends of the bar or plate Care attached-the bar is not rigidly
connected to the arms but is jointed to them as shewn so that it may be turned up
when out of use-G is a spring catch for locking the bar to the arms in either of its
two positions H are other arms on the shaft E with trucks or bowls at their end
which are caused to rest upon cams I fixed on the cam shaft J. The cam is shown
to be suitably formed for causing the bar or plate C to give support to the frame
needles at the time that thread is being divided into loops upon them as well as when
loops of work are being cast off from the machine needles whilst at other times the
bar or plate is withdrawn from the needles so as not to interfere with their
movements.
The construction and mode of operation of the other parts of the machine shewn in
the drawing are well understood so that it is unnecessary to give any description
of them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In rotary knitting machines for producing rib fabrics the employment of a
bar or plate which can be moved up to and caused to support the frame needles
at the time when work is being pressed off from the machine needles or to give
support not only at this time but also at the time when thread is being sunk into
loops upon them.
2. The combination of apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawing annexed for giving support to the frame needles of rotary knitting machines
"known as Cottons."
Dated this 7th day of December 1890.
THOMAS KIDDIER.
JAMES KIDDIER.
JOHN WM. KIDDIER.