Improvements in Rotary or Flat-bar Knitting Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary or Flat-bar Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In a former Patent (212788) granted to me for improvements in knitting machines
I described and claimed an arrangement whereby two or more differing portions of
one piece of work that is being formed on a knitting machine can be narrowed at
both or all selvages. To effect this I used in addition to the ordinary pair of
"point-bars" a second or more pairs of point bars carried by independent lever
arms or "narrowing machines."
The object of my present invention is to effect the same and further results on a
single narrowing machine. To do this I mount two or more pairs of point bars
one above another, or in other convenient position, but all attached to one set of
lever arms or "narrowing machine." Each point bar may carry as many narrowing
fingers as there are divisions or number of pieces of work on the machine, and all
the points on all the bars work in one plane and act upon one set of needles.
The narrowing fingers are in most cases fitted with a filling up slide and point
in addition to the usual coverer points so as to be able to "widen " as well as
narrow when required.
66
In combination with the said four or more point bars I use two independent
screws at each end of the machine. The said screws may be mounted one above
the other and attached to the same bed and both nuts or screw-boxes"
may run
or slide in the same bed or the screws may be carried by independent beds and
arranged one above the other or in other convenient position.
The said narrowing screws may be racked by independent clawker arrangements
which may be thrown in and out of action by the attendant or automatically so
that one or both screws may be in action as desired. The said screw boxes carry
suitable adjustable and moveable stops for stopping and regulating the traverse of
the several carrier rods.
In combination with the said four or more point bars I use one or more
"uprights" or brackets on each screw box for imparting the longitudinal motion
to the point bars in the usual way (as is well understood by all conversant with
knitting machines) but instead of the said "uprights" being fast to the screw box
as is usually the case, I in some cases mount them upon an axle or centre pin so
that they can be rocked or turned out of contact with the collars or brackets on
the point bar and when the point bar is thus released it can be moved end wise
without turning the screws and can, when desired, be moved from the control of
one screw to the control of the other screw as the form of the piece of work may
require.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Rotary or Flat-bar Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, 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 :-
In a former Patent (212788) granted to me for improvements in knitting machines
I described and claimed an arrangement whereby two or more differing portions of
one piece of work that is being formed on a knitting machine can be narrowed at
both or all selvedges. To effect this I used in addition to the ordinary pair of
point-bars a second or more pairs of point bars carried by independent lever arms or
"narrowing machines."
"
The object of my present invention is to effect the same and further results on a
single "narrowing machine." To do this I mount two or more pairs of point bars
one above another, or in other convenient position, but all attached to one set of
lever arms or "narrowing machine." Each point bar may carry as many " narrowing
fingers as there are divisions, or number of pieces of work on the machine, and all
the points on all the bars work in one plane and act upon one set of needles. The
narrowing fingers are in most cases fitted with a filling up slide and point in
addition to the usual coverer points so as to be able to "widen" as well as narrow
when required.
This arrangement will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.
In these drawings only so much of the details of a knitting machine are shown
as will enable the special improvements herein described to be understood.
Other parts not shewn are such as are in general use on rotary or flat bar knitting
machines and are well understood by all conversant with knitting machinery.
Figures 1 to 4 Sheets 1 to 3 will explain the arrangement hereinbefore
referred to.
Figure 1 is a part end view of the arrangement.
Figure 2 is a part front view of the screw box arrangement.
Figure 3 is a part front view of the narrowing fingers showing how they may
be arranged in one division of the machine and Figure 4 is a part end view of
Figure 3.
66
"
A is the narrowing machine shaft which carries the arms A¹. These arms carry
the smaller shaft A which in turn, carries the brackets A³ through which the
narrowing point bars or finger rods A* A* A* and A' are free to slide. To the
rod A' is attached a narrowing finger A8 (Figure 3) in each division of the machine.
To the rod A is attached a finger A°. To the rod A is attached a finger A10 and
to the rod A' is attached a fiuger A". These four said independent narrowing
fingers can be brought into, or thrown out of action as hereinafter described.
A1, A2, A2, A2, are the usual filling up slides one to each finger. The arrangement
of these filling up slides are too well known to need description.
When it is desired to make a single width of fabric on each division of the
machine the two fingers A8 A9 are thrown out of action by means of the rods A* A'
being shifted end wise to the left (as hereinafter more fully described) to such a
position that the points in the two said fingers are outside the needles i.e. beyond
the widest width of fabric produced on the machine. The finger rod A' (and
consequently the fingers A") will then be moved to the left so as to bring the points
in the said finger A" into such a position that they can cover" the selvedge
needles at the left or number one end of the division while the finger A10 will
remain at the right or number two selvedge the two fingers A" and A will then
act as in an ordinary plain frame.
When it is desired to make two divisions, widths or portions of fabric on each.

page_text: division of the machine (as for example in making ladies vests and the like) all four
fingers are brought into action as shewn in Figure 3. Fingers A3 and A' acting
upon one piece or portion of the fabric and fingers A and A" acting upon the
other piece or portion of the fabric.
In some cases where more than two widths or pieces of fabric are required on
one division another pair or pairs of finger rods similar to A A³ may be mounted
or carried above A' A' or in other convenient position, and these extra rods may
in turn carry extra pairs of fingers, and thus three or more pieces or widths of
fabric can be fashioned simultaneously on each division of the machinc.
In such a case an extra screw or screws may be mounted along side of the screws
herein described or in other convenient position for controlling the extra pair or
pairs of finger rods.
When making two or more widths of fabric upon each division of the machine
it will be understood that a second or more thread carrier or carriers is brought
into action so that there will be one carrier for each width or piece of fabric.
In combination with the said four or more point bars I use two independent
screws at each end of the machine. The said screws may be mounted one above
the other and attached to the same bed and both nuts or
"
screw boxes may run
or slide in the same bed or the screws may be carried by independent beds and
arranged one above the other or in other convenient position.
This arrangement will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, Sheets 1 and 2, wherein are
shewn the two screws mounted the one above the other and both "screw boxes" or
"nuts" sliding in one bed B³.
B is the top screw which is screwed into the screw box B³, Figure 2, and passes
through but has no thread in the second screw box B*.
B is the bottom screw which is screwed into and operates upon the screw
box B¹.
Thus the two said screw boxes B3 B' although working in one bed B are free to
move independently by means of the two screws B B as hereinafter more fully
described. In some cases the two screw boxes may work in independent beds side
by side, or in other convenient position, but for ordinary purposes I prefer them in
one bed as herein described.
The said narrowing screws may be racked by independent clawker arrangements
which may be thrown in and out of action by the attendant or automatically so
that one or both screws may be in action as desired. The said screw boxes carry
suitable adjustable and movable stops for stopping and regulating the traverse of
the several carrier rods.
The arrangement which I adopt for this purpose will be seen in Figures 5 and 6,
Sheet 4.
Upon the end of the top screw B is attached a rack wheel B which is provided
with suitable racking pins or pegs in the usual manner. Upon the end of the
bottom screw B₁ is attached a similar rack wheel B'. For the convenience of
racking by hand an extra axle or stud B is mounted above the screw B. Upon
the said axle B8 is a hand wheel B. This hand wheel is geared to the screw B by
means of the tooth wheel B (which is fast to the said hand wheel) gearing into a
similar tooth wheel B which is fast to the rack wheel B. A hand wheel B12 is
also provided for and fast to the end of the screw B¹.
C, Figure 6, is the main or cam shaft of the machine C¹ is the usual racking cam.
C is a truck or runner which works upon the axle or pin C³ which in turn is carried
by the usual racking arm or lever C₁ Upon the arm or lever C is an axle or
pin C upon which are two pairs of clawkers C6, C7, and C8 C. It will be scen
that the pair of clawkers C C7 act upon the rack wheel B6 and consequently rack
the screw B in either direction depending upon which of the two said clawkers are
in action similarly the pair of clawkers C8 C act upon the screw B¹.
DD are two cams which work upon an axle or pin 12 which may be carried by
a suitable bracket D. To the cam D is attached a handle D and to the cam D¹
is attached a handle D' by means of which the said cains D and D' can be moved

page_text: about the axle D² and thereby any one of the four clawkers C6, C7, C³ and C³ can
be put in or out of action at the will of the attendant as will be well understood by
all conversant with this class of machinery. It will also be well understood that
suitable retaining or "notch" springs are provided for the cams D D' as also for
the rack wheels B B7 but these springs together with other well known details are
omitted to avoid confusion.
In some cases the racking lever C₁ may be provided with two independent
"trucks" and two cams so arranged that either truck can be thrown in or out of
action at the will of the attendant. The two cams are so shaped that when one
cam is in action the screws B or B will be racked one needle and when the
other cam is in action they will be racked two needles.
L
In combination with the said four or more point bars I use one or more "uprights"
or brackets on each screw box for imparting the longitudinal motion to the point
bars in the usual way (as is well understood by all conversant with knitting
machines) but instead of the said uprights being fast to the screw box as is
usually the case I in some cases mount them upon an axle, or centre pin so that
they can be rocked or turned out of contact with the collars or brackets on the
point bar and when the point bar is thus released it can be moved endwise without
turning the screws and can when desired, be moved from the control of one screw
to the control of the other screw as the form of the piece of work may require.
Figures 1 and 2 will explain this arrangement. E E' are two uprights or brackets,
one on each screw box B3 B. It will be seen that the finger rod A³ as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 is guided at the end by the brackets or collars E2 E³, Figure 2,
sliding upon the upright E. And the finger rod A' likewise guided by the brackets
or collars E E' sliding upon the upright E.
The upright E is carried by a joint pin E (Figure 1) and arranged in such a
manner that by lifting the handle E the said upright may be turned backwards into
a position as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. When in this position the rod A³
would be free to be moved end wise independent of the screw box B³. The said
upright may be held in its normal position as shown in full lines Figure 1 by a
spring E or by other suitable means. The upright E¹ jointed to the screw
box B in a precisely similar manner. Thus it will be seen that by tilting the
upright into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 the rod A' may be
shifted from the control of the screw box B to the control of the screw box B³ at
the will of the attendant and the same or similar transfer may take place in the case
of the finger rod A' or either rod may be left clear of the uprights altogether and
consequently out of control of the screw boxes.
The screw boxes B3 B4 carry the usual stop brackets B14 B15 Figure 2 which are
provided with suitable moveable stops for stopping the carrier. The said moveable
stops may be lifted out of the path of the carrier rods in the usual manner at the
will of the attendant and that the control of the carrier rods may be transferred
from one screw box to the other. The said moveable stops are not shown, as their
construction and arrangement are too well known to need description.
Thus far the arrangements for controlling the finger rods &c. have only been
described as applied to the left hand, or number one end of the machine but it will
readily be understood that the arrangements at the right hand or number two end
of the machine are precisely similar with the exception that they control the finger
rods A* A*.
By these several arrangements a far larger variety of "fashioned" underwear
can be produced without the usual tedious process of pressing off and running on
again, than is possible where only one pair of fashioning fingers are used to each
division as on an ordinary flat bar knitting machine.
Having Low 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. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine two or more pairs of point bars or

page_text: finger rods carried by one narrowing machine and two or more pairs of narrowing
fingers for each division of the machine all when brought into action capable of
acting with one row of needles to take loops from some of the needles shift the
loops sidewise and place them back on to other needles substantially as herein before
described.
2. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine having two or more point bars or
finger rods carried and capable of acting in the above way controlling the bars
or rods by uprights from nuts or screw boxes acted on by two or more independent
screws such uprights being capable of being readily turned or moved into or out
of acting position to enable the control of the point bars or finger rods to be
transferred from one screw to another substantially as herein before described.
3. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine, two or more independent screws
set side by side or one below the other at each end of the machine in combination
with four or more point bars or finger rods carried by one narrowing machine
substantially as described.
4. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine, two or more pairs of point bars
or finger rods carried by one narrowing machine and two or more independent
controlling screws at each end of the machine in combination with four or more
clawkers carried by one lever or arm for controlling the screws substantially as
herein before described.
5. The combination of mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 Sheets 1 to 3.
6. The combination of mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 4.
Dated this 30th day of October 1895.
C. H. ALDRIDGE.