IMPROVE. MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE or KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Cotton, of Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE or KNITTED
FABRICS."
Scaled the 15th May 1874, and dated the 25th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Cotton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th February 1874.
I, WILLIAM COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED
FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The object of one part of the Invention is to facilitate the passage of
the thread carrier between adjoining needles when desired. For this
I form the outer or feed end of the thread carrier, and for some
distance up comparatively flat and blunt knife edged, with such edges
purpose
A

page_text: in a line transverse to the row of needles. The thread is conducted by
guide holes in the body of the carrier, thence through a long or slotted
hole in this flattened part to a delivery hole, from one side to the other
of this flattened part near the end as in a thread guide, in place of the
thread being delivered through a tubular opening. By these means
facility is afforded for the passage of the end of the end thread carrier
between adjoining needles, and the use of several such carriers for
various purposes as well as for the free passage of the thread and the
protection of that thread from being caught by other instruments.
"
The object of another part of the Invention is to obtain additional
strength to jack or drawing sinkers when the action upon them for
"drawing is effected by the direct action of the slur cock. For this
purpose the head or end of the sinkers acted upon by the slur cock is
strengthened by additional or extended plates thereto corresponding in
thickness to the gauge of the frame, and these strengthened parts are
extended back so that the action of the slur cock on them may not
interfere with the dividers when dividers are used, or these extended
parts may be applied only at intervals as may be desired for the dividing,
These heads or thickened ends traverse in grooves at each edge. The
knocking over instruments or "bits" are applied separate between gated
bars in place of in leads.
Another part of the Invention relates to means for obtaining a suc-
cession of slack loops in the direction of the length of the fabric as in
the case of the inside of the heel of hose. For this purpose I employ a
covering point or instrument to cover a knocking over bit at the part
desired, and thereby enable such knocking over bit to draw off a longer
loop. This point or instrument is formed with a hook or catch at its
end to prevent the loop obtained from slipping.
.
Another part of the Invention relates to means by which to stop the
motions of the frame when thread breaks or fails in its passage to a
thread carrier. For this purpose the thread in its passage to the thread
carrier acts upon a small lever or arm to hold it out of the way of a
catch or a stop on a vibrating bar, but when a thread breaks or fails in
its passage to a thread carrier the lever or arm being released comes
against the catch or stop of the vibrating bar, which then, by the con-
necting means thereto, acts to throw the driving strap off the driving on
to the loose pulley. Tension is put on the thread in its passage from the

page_text: bobbin or other feed to the catch lever or arm to hold it during the frame,
course. This holding is obtained by a spring or other holding means
which is released on the completion of each frame course.
The object of another part of the Invention is to enable the length of
loops obtained during any course or series of courses in the production
of parts of the fabric to be varied. For this purpose a cam or tappet
acts to give extra motions to the needle bar at the drawing motion by
the sinkers at the parts where extra lengths of loop is required as when
"splicing" or otherwise.
The improvements also relate to the application of the broad or other
rib machine to the knitting frame driven by power.
In carrying out this part of the Invention two different lengths of
needles are applied to the "frame." The larger needles are set to
incline forward of the other needles at their outer ends, and they act
with the "machine" needles as press off needles in the formation of
the ribs by the transfer of the loops between the "frame" and the
"machine" instruments, whilst the other or shorter needles act to
produce the intermediate loops of the fabric. An additional presser acts
on the longer or press off needles during part of the operation.
When producing fashioning in such combined "frame" and "machine"
two separate narrowing machines are applied, and the covering points to
act with the machine needles are capable of being operated to make
extra traverse according to the number of loops in each rib by the use
of incline or inclines and lever operated by cam or tappet, or such like
means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Cotton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
0 COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
A 2

page_text: the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Cotton, Her special
license that I, the said William Cotton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Cotton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Cotton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Cotton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
-
The object of the first part of the Invention is to facilitate the passage
of the thread carrier between adjoining needles when desired. For this
. purpose I form the outer or feed end of the thread carrier, and for some
distance up, comparatively flat and blunt knife edged, with such edges
in a line transverse to the row of needles. The thread is conducted by
guide holes in the body of the carrier, thence through a long or slotted
hole in this flattened part to a delivery hole from one side to the other
of this flattened part near the end, as in a thread guide, in place of the
thread being delivered, as in ordinary thread carriers, through a tubular
opening.
By these means facility is afforded for the passage of the end of the
thread carrier between adjoining needles, and the use of several such
carriers for various purposes, as well as for the free passage of the thread,
and the protection of that thread from being caught by other
instruments.
The object of the second part of the Invention is to obtain additional
.strength to jack or drawing sinkers when the action upon them for

page_text: "
drawing" is effected by the direct action of the slur cock. For this
purpose the head or end of the sinkers acted upon by the slur cock is
strengthened by additional or extended plates thereto corresponding in
thickness to the gauge of the frame, and those strengthened parts are
extended back so that the action of the slur cock on them may not
interfere with the dividers when dividers are used; or these extended
parts may be applied only at intervals, as may be desired for the
dividing. These heads or thickened ends traverse in grooves at each.
edge. The knocking over instruments or "bits " are applied separate
between gated bars in place of in leads.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to means for obtaining a succession of
slack loops in the direction of the length of the fabric, as in the case of
the inside of the heel of hose. For this purpose I employ a covering
point or instrument to cover a knocking over bit at the part desired, and
thereby enable such knocking over bit to draw off a longer loop. This
point or instrument is formed with a hook or catch at its end to prevent
the loop obtained from slipping.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to means by which to stop
the motions of the frame when thread breaks or fails in its passage to a
thread carrier. For this purpose the thread in its passage to the thread
carrier acts upon a small lever or arm to hold it out of the way of a
catch or a stop on a vibrating bar, but when a thread breaks or fails in
its passage to a thread carrier, the lever or arm being released comes.
against the catch or stop of the vibrating bar, which then by the con-
necting means thereto acts to throw the driving strap off the driving on
to the loose pulley. Tension is put on the thread in its passage from
the bobbin or other feed to the catch lever or arm to hold it during the
frame course. This holding is obtained by a spring or other holding
means, which is released on the completion of cach frame course.
.
The object of the fifth part of the Invention is to enable the length of
loops obtained during any course or series of courses in the production.
of parts of the fabric to be varied. For this purpose a cam or tappet
acts to give extra motion to the needle bar at the drawing motion by the
sinkers at the parts where extra length of loop is required, as when
"splicing" or otherwise.
The improvements also relate to the application of the broad or other
rib machine to the knitting frame driven by power.

page_text: I
applied to separate rods or bars b and c, which are operated for their
traverse by frictional holders d supported from the slur cocks e.
would however state that although this and other of the parts described.
are shown applied according to arrangements now adopted by myself.
they may be variously applied, but whatever the arrangement adopted
for the use of such thread carriers or the number of them for the time-
employed, and which may be varied, it is desirable that they should be
capable of a to-and-fro motion at their outer ends in addition to their.
traverse motion, so that the points of any of them out of action for the-
time being may be out of the way of those for the time in operation..
For this purpose each thread carrier bar is capable of a tilting and:
holding motion, and the thread carrier bar 6 shown is provided with
an arm b', which passes into so as to be capable of traversing in a slotted'
opening 6 formed in a bar 63, and this bar b' is formed on or applied to
one end of a lever *, and this lever is supported to turn upon a:
fixed axis b³, and at its other end is formed into a nib 66 and is borne
by spring pressure to the surface of the wheel 67. In like manner the
bar c is provided with an arm c³, which passes into a slotted opening c
formed in the bar c³, formed on or affixed to the outer end of the lever o';
and this lever c* is supported to turn on the fixed axis ³, and at its
opposite end is formed with a nib o' to rest on the pattern surface of the
wheel c. The wheels 67 and c are affixed to an axis 7, which is supported
to revolve in fixed bearings, and has affixed to it a ratchet wheel h', which
is operated to cause the progressive rotation of the axis h by means of
the clawker i, which is borne by spring pressure to the wheel /¹, and is.
at its lower end connected by pin joint to one end of the lever f, which
is supported to turn freely on the axis g, and at its other end carries a.
truck or bowl f acted upon by the cam or tappet f² affixed on the cam
or tappet shaft j. The ratchet wheel h¹ is according to the arrange-
ment shown formed with 32 teeth, and each of the wheels b' and c
with 16 rises and 16 falls; and these wheels b' and care formed to
receive plates and c³, by which the respective nibs 6º, c, are pre-.
vented when desired from falling into the respective recesses of the.
wheels or c, so that as shown the thread carrier a from the bar c will
carry three threads across and back of the fabric, and then the thread
carrier a from the bar b will take one thread across and back of the
fabric, thus producing alternate stripes of six threads and two threads,
but this as is well understood may be varied by changing the wheels b'.
or c, or the plates on them. Each of these wheels and c is formed"

page_text: as stated, according to the arrangement shown and referred to, of 16 rises
and 16 falls, and the variation referred to is obtained by the application
of the plates 6 and c³, and when it is desired that either of the thread
carriers should continue to act alone then the wheel 67 or c will have its
recesses filled up by plates 68 or c³, and then the nib of the lever. or c¹
will simply follow the rises and falls of the wheels 6' or c in connection
therewith or the plates applied thereto. In order to facilitate these
operations each of the levers b and c is acted upon by springs 6º and oº,
with a tendency to bear the nibs 6' or c of those levers on to the plates
of the wheels ' or c', and when it is desired that the nibs of either of
the levers 6' or c' should not be operated upon by the plates 68 or ca
applied to such wheels, and only by the wheels themselves, a small
lever 60 or c¹ supported to be carried on pin joints carried by the
levers 6* or c' is capable of being moved down between the lever b' or c
and the bearing thereof, by which the respective nibs 6 or cª will be
thrown off the edges of the plates 68 or c³ as the case may be on to the
rises and falls of such wheel 67 or c' to be operated by those rises and
falls alone. Supposing the carrier a of the bar c to be that for the
time required to be at rest, then the nib c of the lever c will for the
time be caused to traverse on plates cs, and when the carrier a of the
bar bis that desired to be at rest the nib 6 or the lever b' will be that
for the time caused to traverse on the periphery of wheel 67. .In like
manner may other numbers of thread carriers be employed provided that
the pattern wheel or wheels to operate are so arranged as to cause the
thread carriers so operated upon to tilt out of the way of the thread
carrier or thread carriers for the time in operation. This tilting of the ends
of several thread carriers is indicated by the dotted lines y in Figure 3.
When the operation of any of the thread carriers is desired to be
suspended the carrier bar thereof will in the finishing of its course be
held out of the way. As shown the end of each carrier bar may be
conducted into a recess h*, see Figures 5 and 6, when a stud i thereon
on the end of a carrier rod, see Figures 7 and 8, will be conducted into.
such recess, and in the partial rotation of that rod to throw it out of
action be caught in such recess, when the bar thereof will be held until
by that bar being again required to come into operation then that stud
will be released from such recess. In using other numbers of such
thread carriers the pattern wheels operating their bars will be cut to
depths adapted to the operating ends of the respective thread carriers,

page_text: being tilted to the desired extent.
parts separately.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, show
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which is
represented in Drawing B.
Figure 1 shows a side view, and Figure 2 an edge view of a "jack"
or "drawing" sinker arranged according to this second part of the
Invention, and Figure 3 shows one of them in position capable of
sliding in grooved guides or gates 1, 2, 3, formed for them. a is tho
blade of the sinker, and b, b, are thickening pieces applied one on each
side of the plate a for the purpose of affording additional strength at the
heads or ends of them which are acted upon at the parts c thereof by
the nose of the slur cock. The thickness of these additional plates b, b,
with the plates a will correspond with the gauge of the frame for the
time in use. Figures 4 and 5 show a divider sinker such as may be
used when required with such "jack" or "drawing" sinkers.
"Jack" :
or "drawing" sinkers thus formed with additional strengthening pieces
may be employed only at intervals, according to the dividing desired.
Figure 3 also shows the knocking over instruments or bits & applied
so as to be held at one edge of them in the slits or grooves or gates 4 of
the gated bar e and by the other edge of them being borne upon by
the V (5) of the bar f, such V entering into a corresponding notch in thie
under side of each knocking over instrument or bit d. One of these
knocking over bits or instruments d is shown separately by side and
edge views at Figures 6 and 7 of this Drawing B.
I will now describe the third part of the Invention, which is also
shown by Drawing B.
Figure 8 shows by plan view two of these covering points j according
to this part of the Invention applied to a bar k. Figure 9 shows an end
view of this bar k. Each of these points j is formed hollow or recessed
on its under side, and with a notch j' on its upper surface near its outer
end. Figure 3 shows this bar K with one of the points in position
resting on and partly covering a knocking over bit d. In use I find it
convenient to apply a couple of bearing bars as indicated by the dotted.
lines 1, 1, with slots in them to receive studs or projections k¹ from the
under side of the bar k, so that these bars k with their points ; may be
readily slided into position to cover the desired knocking over bits, and
then when they have been so used, of being moved out of the way for

page_text: ordinary working of the frame. When any of these points ; are placed
over the knocking over bits at the time of knocking over of the work
the loops knocked on to these bits will be formed longer than the others,
and the object of the notches j¹ in the ends of them is to assist in
holding such loops for the time on these points.
I will now proceed to describe the fourth part of the Invention which
is shown applied by Drawings C, Figure 1 of which shows a portion of a
front view; Figures 2 and 3, opposite end views of parts of a knitting
frame with this part of the improvements applied to it.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 show detail views separately. In these
views a indicates the main framing; is the main or driving shaft,
which receives motion from a steam engine or other suitable power by a
band or strap acting on the fixed pulley c affixed to that shaft or axis b;
and d is the loose pulley; e is the stop rod, which by means of arms or
a fork e' is capable of shifting the driving strap off the fast pulley c on
to the loose pulley d, for which purpose this rod e is supported, as is well
understood, with capability of its free endway motion in stationary
bearings supported by the main framing. This rod e had applied to it
an arm e, which by a fork at its end e¹ embracing the shaft a is
prevented from turning. And in carrying out this part of my Invention
this rod e is formed with a notch at e adapted to receive one end of the
lever arm f, which is supported to turn upon a stationary fulcrum f',
and when so placed the lever f retains the stop rod e in position for the
driving strap to act on the driving pulley. The lever fis borne upwards
with a tendency to hold the stop by means of a spring f³. This outer
end of the lever falso passes through a loop or eye formed for it in the
upper part of the strap 7 applied to one end of another lever arm g', the
other end of which is supported to turn on the stud g³ projecting from
one end of the lever h, which is supported to turn on a fixed stud h¹,
whilst one of its other ends carrics a truck or bowl h³ in position to be.
operated upon by the cam or tappet ³ affixed on tho cam or tappet
shaft i, whilst the end of the lever h is by pin joint j connected to the
lower end of the connecting rod j, the upper end of which is by another
pin joint connected to one end of an L lever k, and this lever k is
supported to turn on a fixed stud k¹, whilst its other end is slotted to
receive a stud projecting from a bar 1, so that a to-and-fro sliding
motion may be given to that bar in the bearings a¹ formed for it. This
bar is provided on each side of it with pieces ', which in its to-and-fro

page_text: traverse motion are capable of alternately passing over the openings m¹
formed in another but stationary bar m, on which the bar / slides when
those openings m' are not otherwise protected, and of which there is one
for each breadth of fabric, and the bar m carries a series of small levers n,
one for each notch m', or for each thread to be conducted to a thread
carrier. For simplicity in the Drawing I have only shown one of them.
Each lever n turns upon a fixed stud n', whilst one end of it is formed
with an eye n³, through which a thread passes in its way to supply a
thread carrier. Each of such threads passes over a piece of cotton or
other suitable elastic material applied in a box o, which I prefer to be
moistened with a little oil, and it is borne upon by the projecting arm o¹
of the free arm o³, and the drag of the thread passing under the projec-
tion o' from the free lever arm o³ is sufficient to draw down that end of
the lever n, and prevent it from rising into a notch m', but when such
thread breaks in its passage to a thread carrier, and tho tension is
thereby removed from that end of the lever n the other end n³ thereof
by weight there applied, and which is adjustable, causes the end n² to
pass into a notch m', when by a pair of the projections 7 coming against
such part of the lever m the motion of the bar / will be arrested, and the
lever arm g¹ will be drawn forwards, so that a projection ³ thereon will
then be brought into position to be acted upon by a projection c¹ from
the wheel c, by which that end of the lever.g' will be borne downwards,
and will by its strap 9 draw the lover arm fout of the notch e³ in the
stop rod e, and that rod being drawn upon by spring pressure the driving
strap will be shifted from the fast to the loose pulley. Then in such
case a flexible projection f³ on the arm f' projecting from the arm f
will be brought between the fixed stop p and the end of the tappet q in
the rotation of that tappet as indicated by dotted lines, and effect an
instantaneous stoppage of the motions of the frame. These operations
only take place during the frame course. At other times thic tappet &
applied to the shaft i acts on the bowl carried by one end of the lever t,
and this levert turns upon the fixed stud to, and at its other end by its stud
acts in the slot u¹ of the arm u³ from the axis u, upon which is applied.
other arms u³, each with a stud u to rest on the thread in its passage to a
carrier. When the cam or tappet thus acts the arm us will be lifted and.
will by its stud u lift. the loose arm o³ with its stud o' off the thread,
when the weight n³ to the lever n will be sufficient to counteract the
weight of the thread, so that 'the end n of such lever n will rest in a
notch m. is another rod supported to slide in fixed bearings, whilst
.

page_text: end of which coraces the par e, This car is provided with an inclined
piece, which when it is desired to stop, the motions of the frame may
by the sliding of the rod be brought over so as to depress the lever f
and thus release the rod e to shift the driving strap.
0
The fifth part of the improvements is represented by Drawing D,
where Figure 1 represents a section, and Figure 2 a front view of parts
arranged according to my Invention.
bar a.
of the lever arm i,
and rests by its
a is the needle bar carrying the needles a¹ to operate in a vertical
direction as is common in arrangements herein described, as well as in
arrangements of apparatus for the manufacture of knitted fabrics as now
generally adopted by me and well known. This needle bar is operated
for the lifting motion by motion given to the axis 6 by means of arms c
and the tilting motion for pressing is effected by means of arms d from
the axis &, such arms having studs projecting therefrom to receive
notches formed on or carried by the handle rods e, the outer ends of
each of which are formed with handles e¹, whilst the inner ends are by
pin joint e² connected to the lower ends of arms a² affixed to the needle
The lower end of each of the arms d by means of a stud d²
carries the double pulley ƒ and g and also the lever h. When no 'tilting
or pressing motion is required to be given to the needle bar, the pulley
surface ƒ simply rests on the adjustable surface
which is capable of simply rocking with the axes
truck or bowl on the boss affixed on the cam or tappet shaft, but for
ordinary pressing the surface g is acted upon by the cam or tappet g¹
affixed on the tappet shaft. When however during the drawing action
of any course or part course, or when it may be desired to throw in a
"splicing" thread, the length of the loops for the time obtained in the
pressing may be increased by increasing for the time the extent of such
pressing motion to such needle bar a. To effect this I turn the lever h
so that its end h¹ may rest against the surface of the cam or tappet h³,
which tappet will then by that end of the lever operate the needle bar,
lifting the truck or bowl g from its cam or tappet g¹. When so acting
the outer end of the lever h will rest against the nut of the stud d³.
When this lever his not thus in action it will hang out of the way of
the cam or tappet h² to admit of the surface g of the truck or bowl
resting on the cam g³ or of the surface f resting on the lever arm ª¹.

page_text: I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention by reference to
Drawings E.
Figure 1 of these Drawings represents a section of so much of a
knitting machine with adaptations thereto such as will serve to illustrate
this part of the Invention.
Figure 2 shows some of the operating parts drawn full size; and
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, details.
It will be seen that the frame needles a and 6 differ slightly from each
other both as to the form or length of their beards and the position or
inclination of their setting; the needles a are somewhat longer and are
set with their outer or beard ends somewhat forward of the needles ;
the beards of the needles a are somewhat shorter than those of the
needles b. The "frame" needlos a and b are set in the needle bar d;
c are the "machine" needles, which are set in the machine needle bar e.
"
According to an arrangement of these parts as adopted by me there
are two "frame" necdles b to onc "frame" needle a, and there is a
"machine" c to operate with every
66 frame needle a to receive the
loops transferred from the needles a in the formation of the ribs of the
fabric. The number and order of the respective needles may however
be varied so long as "machine" needles are applied to correspond with
the "frame" needles used in the formation of the particular "rib" for
the time being produced to the fabric. f are the sinkers, which are
operated for the sinking by the slur cock g operating on the backs of
them, and they are brought back by the catch bar h; i is the presser
bar, the outer edge of which serves to press and close the beards of both
sets of the "frame" needles a and b, as those needles are borne to that
presser for the operation of pressing; the under front edge of this bar
also serves in like manner as presser bar for the beards of the machine
needles c when they are borne against it for that purpose; the outer
front edge of the bar j also in the rising motion of the "frame" needle
bar operates to press the forward needles a into a line with the back
needles 6 and so prevent the upper ends of those needles a in rising from
striking against the under side of the presser i; k is a plate, the outer
edge of which serves as a knocking-over plate to knock the work off the
"machine" needles.
But that the operation of these parts as thus stated may be better

page_text: .
cams or tappets, all of which are applied on the cam or tappet shaft 1.
The to-and-fro motion to the catch bar h is obtained by arms h¹ therefrom
being attached by pin joints h³ to the upper ends of arms h³ from the
rocking shaft or axis h'; this shaft or axis h* is supported to rock in
fixed bearings carried by the main framing, and it has applied to it other
arms h³ with trucks or bowls he acted upon by cams or tappets h³; the
desired lifting motion to the catch bar h is effected by cams or tappets h³
acting on trucks or bowls ° carried by one end of levers 7, the other
ends of which rock on axes h¹¹; these levers 70 are by pin joint con-
nected each to one end of a rod h¹, the upper end of which is guided by
suitable guides to enable it to move in a vertical direction and act upon
other arms ¹³ also projecting from the catch bar h. The frame needlo
bar d is operated for its lifting motion by means of cams d', each of
which acts upon a truck or bowl d' carried by an arm ď³ from the rocking
shaft d' which is supported to rock in suitable stationary bearings and
has applied to it other arms d³ the outer ends of which are by pin joint do
connected to the bar d; the correct vertical and pressing motions to the
needle bar are controlled by the bar d having arms & projecting down
from its under side, and which are by pin joints d³ connected to the
inner ends of hand links & which are notched towards their fore ends to
enable them to embrace pins a standing out from arms d", and these
hand links do have handles d formed at their outer ends to enable them
readily to be lifted on or off the pins d¹ as may be required; the arms d¹¹
are supported to rock from axes d¹³, and each at its lower end carries a
double bowl d, one part of which for the pressing motions is operated
by a pressing cam d, and the other part rests on a rocking lever such
as that described in relation to i and under the fifth head of the
Invention when no such tilting for pressing is required to the needle
bar d.
The "machine" noodle her eis onerated on its to and for motions he

page_text: with capability of moving vertically on the face of the main bar z by
pins passing through slots in that plate e" into the bar z. The plato e¹
carries other plates e, the upper ends of which are turned over to receive
arms from the machine needle bar e, as more clearly shown by
Figures 5 and 6. The front end of the plate is supported. by resting
on fixed projections k¹, more clearly shown by Figures 3 and 4, whilst
the desired to-and-fro motion is given to it by cams or tappets k³ acting
on trucks or bowls k³ supported from lever arms 'affixed to the rocking
shaft %, which is supported to rock in fixed bearings, and has applied to
it other arms ko, the upper ends of which are by pin joints k³ connected
to the arms from the plate k.
I will now by the aid of Drawings F proceed to describe the seventh
part of the Invention, in which Figure 1 represents by a portion of a
front view, Figure 2 by section, and Figure 3 by end view so much of
the parts of a knitting machine as will enable me to describe this head
of my improvements. a and b represent ordinary covering points for.
operating in effecting the fashioning of knitted fabrics during manufac-.
ture according to arrangements generally in use by me and known as
such in the trade. The points a one set for each breadth of fabric are
applied to carriers a', which are affixed to the rod a³, and this rod is
supported in arms e from the shaft in the ordinary manner, and the
rod as is formed at one end with adjustable projections a³, a³, to embrace
the fin a' from the boss a³, which boss is tapped to receive the screw a
so as to be moved for the fashioning by the step-by-step partial rotary
motion imparted to that screw, as is now well understood, by means of a.
cam or tappet g affixed on the main shaft acting on the truck or bowl gi
of the lever g³, which by pin joint g³ carries the driver g*, the upper end
of which is borne by spring pressure to act by its notches on studs 7º
carried by the wheel 9 affixed on the screw a, and which wheel is held
after each partial rotation by a spring stop. The covering points bare
applied to carriers b¹ affixed to a rod 6³, which rod is operated by corre-
sponding screw motion at the opposite end of the frame, as is well
understood. c and d are the extra covering points for operating with
the "machine" needles in machines in which "frame" and "machine"
needles are combined to work togethor in the production of "rib" fabric,
and it will be seen by a separate view of one of these instruments a, b,
c, d, that the points c and d are somewhat more curved at their points;
or outer ends than are the points and b. The object of this is to,

page_text: facilitate their action in passing under the loops which have been formed
on the "machine" needles, and the holding of such loops during their
being shifted from one set of needles to another. The instruments care
affixed in carriers c¹, and they are affixed to rods c³, which like the rods
a², b³, are supported with capability of sliding in the arms e, and this
rod c³ is at one end formed with a stud or projection c³ in position to be
taken by the slotted inclined opening c* formed in the turned-over end c³
of the lever c³, which lever is supported to rock on a stud c' carried by
the fin a', and at its lower end this lever c carries a stud or projection o³,
which passes into the slotted opening formed for it in the upper end of
an arm c³ affixed to the lever g³. The points d are affixed by carriers d¹
to a rod &, and are operated in like manner to the points c, but at the
opposite end of the frame. By this arrangement it will be seen that
whilst all the covering points a, b, c, d, at each edge of the fabric have
simultaneous motion given to them in the motion of screws as the
covering points c and d will be capable of having additional motion
given to them by the action of inclined grooves c' or such like operating
means, and which extra motion may be varied by the form of the
inclined grooves or the extent of such inclines and the motion given to
their levers or operating parts.
It will be understood that the various trucks or bowls referred to in
this Specification are borne to their cams or tappets by springs applied
to the respective levers.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise arrangements or adaptations of parts as
shown and described, as the same may be varied without departing from
the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do claim is,
First. The arranging or combining parts of thread carriers to operato
in the manufacture of knitted fabrics, substantially as described under
the first head of the Invention.
Secondly. I claim the means of constructing for the strengthening of
jack or drawing sinkers, substantially as described under the second head
of the Invention.
Thirdly. I claim the arranging or combining parts in connection with
apparatus for the manufacture of knitted fabrics, whereby covering points
or instruments may be employed to cover knocking over bits for the

page_text: purpose of effecting slackened loops, substantially as described under the
third head of the Invention.
Fourthly. I claim the adaptation or combination of means for stopping
the motions of apparatus used in the manufacturo of knitted fabrics
when thread breaks or fails in its passage to thread carriers, substantially
as described.
Fifthly. I claim the adaptation or combination of means by which
the length of the loops may be varied during part of any course or a
series of courses in apparatus for the production of knitted fabrics, sub-
stantially as described.
Sixthly. I claim the arranging or combining parts whereby the broad
or other rib "machine" may be operated with the knitting frame in
apparatus for the manufacture of knitted fabrics driven by power, sub-
stantially as described.
And, Seventhly. I claim the arranging or combining parts whereby
instruments for aiding in effecting the "fashioning" to fabric produced
by the combined use of "frame" needles and “machine" needles may
be simultaneously yet differently acted upon for "fashioning," sub-
stantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Cotton, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this 21st day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.