IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR KNITTING STOCKINGS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, CHARLES
DRURY HAZEN, of Nottingham, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of
November, in the seventh year of Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Drury Hazen, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Charles Drury Hazen, my exors, adññors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Drury Hazen, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of
Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR KNITTING STOCKINGS AND OTHER ARTICLES," communicated
from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I,
the said Charles Drury Hazen, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a top view of a knitting machine constructed with the
improvements, the top plate of the case which contains the principal operative
parts being removed to more clearly exhibit their arrangement. Figure 2 is
an elevation of the right-hand side, or that on which the crank is situated, by
which the machinery is put in operation. Figure 3 is an elevation of the front
end. The remaining Figures, which will be herein-after more particularly
described are representations of some of the operative parts. In its general
features the machinery is somewhat similar to several other kinds of knitting
apparatus; but in the compact arrangement and disposition of most of the
parts it differs essentially from them. It is supported on standards or four
columns A, A, A, A, and is driven by the hand applied to a crank B fixed on
one extremity of the driving shaft C; or the said driving shaft may be re-
volved by any suitable power applied thereto. A fly wheel D to regulate the
motions of the machinery, and a driving pulley E', are placed on the shaft C,
(over which driving pulley) a band F passes to and around a double-grooved
pulley G, on another horizontal shaft E, arranged as seen in the Drawings;
upon the shaft E are placed the cams H, I, J, by which the stitch hook,
feeding and other apparatus are caused to perform their requisite movements.
The first cam (H), the shape of which is represented by a side view in Figure 4,
presses forward the bar K, on the opposite end of which the stitch hook L
and yarn holder or directing nippers Y, Y, are fixed. The bar K is drawn back
by a helical or other suitable spring N, Figure 5, attached to its lower side,
and connected to the side of the partition O, which latter extends across the
interior of the box P from side to side, and supports the ends of the slide bars
which pass and move through it. The second cam I, Figures 1 and 6, presses
forward the slide bar Q, upon the upper surface of which two clicks or pitmans
R, S, are attached or jointed at one end, or turn upon a vertical pin T extending
upwards from the slide bar Q. The slide bar Q is caused to retreat by a spring
arranged on or attached to its lower side and to the partition O, the same being
similar to that upon the bar K, before described. A side view of the spring
and slide bar is seen in Figure 7. The opposite extremity of each of the two

page_text: clicks or pitmans R, S, acts upon the teeth of one of two ratchet wheels U, V,
Figures 1, 3, applied upon a vertical shaft W. A partition X, similar to the
partition Q, before described, supports the front ends of the clicks or pit-
mans, as also the slide bars, all of which pass through suitable orifices in the
said partition. Upon the lower part of the vertical shaft W, or that extending
through the bottom of the box P, a pinion wheel a¹ is arranged, the same
being exhibited in Figure 8. The endless chain y which carries the needles or
hooks, passes around this pinion, and is stretched out by passing over a pulley z
(Figure 3), which is connected to the end of a slide a, which (slide) may be
moved laterally under the area b, projecting from the side of the box P, as seen
in Figures 1, 3, the said slide being confined in position by a set screw c,
Figure 3. The next cam J (see Figures 1, 9,) presses forward the slide bar d,
which carries on its opposite end the bent finger or point e (Figures 1 and 3)
which throws the stitches from the points or needles of the endless belt. The
bar d is retracted and acted on laterally by springs f, g, (Figures 1, 20), con-
nected with it and the partition O. In order that the bar d may operate
successfully, it must have the following movements:-The bent finger e being
back against the stitches and under the needles, when the stitch hook advances
the bar must advance forward and laterally to the right, until it passes by the
extremities of the hooked points of the endless chain belt y; it then is forced
or flies upwards above the level of the hooked points, and is driven laterally
towards the left, a short distance by and in rear of the stitch hook, which
latter has advanced with the stitch or loop of yarn to the extremity of the
hook of the needle. The finger or slide d is then driven forward far enough
to push the loop or stitch over the point of the hook, and then immediately
retreats under the hook or point, pressing the stitch backward under tire-same
until it reaches its first position. The bar d is moved laterally towards the
right by a small wiper or inclined plane (seen in Figure 3, and represented
bottom upwards in Figure 10), attached to its left side near he partition X,
which (wiper) comes in contact with another wiper or inclined plane i (Figures
1, 3, and 13), attached to the front side of the partition X. These two
inclined planes meeting and sliding over each other cause the bar d to have
a lateral motion, until the plane or wiper h passes by the plane i, when the
spring f+, which is stronger than the other spring 9, (and whose end, which is
attached to the side of the partition O at an elevation about one-half an inch, or
somewhat above the top of the slide bar d,) lifts the slide bar upwards over the
extremities of the hooked needles of the chain belt, and thus draws the finger or
bar backwards and to the left, until the point or extremity of the finger comes
directly back of the stitch hook. The bar d is sustained in its positions during

page_text: its movement by the aid of an arm k (Figures 1, 3, and 20,) which is attached
to the bar on its left side, and projects perpendicularly therefrom, and has its
end bent at right angles (as seen in Figure 10) and inserted in an elongated
slot 1, Figure 3), formed horizontally through the partition X. By the arm k
coming in contact with the front side of the partition X it acts as a stop to
prevent the bar d from being retracted too far. The bar d is next passed
forward by the cam J until the finger passes by the end of the hooked needles
or points of the chain belt, where the finger is depressed below the same by a
lever r, s, t, (Figure 1,) whose end r is bent so as to rest over and bear upon
the top of the slide bar d, while the other end t, extending backwards over the
shaft on which the cams H, I, J, are arranged, is lifted by a small pin y',
inserted in and projecting from the side of the cam J, or a small cam arranged
on the cam shaft. The lever r, s, t, has its fulcrum at s, on the end of a screw u,
projecting inwards through the side of the box in which the machinery is
arranged. When the bar d recedes, or is drawn back by the springs, the
outer side a¹ (Figure 10) of the wiper h, which is parallel to the inner inclined
side, comes in contact with the side of a small slide b¹ (Figures 3, 13), (the
latter Figure being an enlarged front view of the inclined wiper i and parts
adjacent, and in which the slide is partly represented by dotted lines as
forced forward by a spring w',) situated in rear of the rear edge of the wiper
or plane i, and projecting slightly by the same towards the left, and pushes
said slide aside while the wiper h passes by it; as soon as this operation is
completed, the slide (by the action of the spring) comes into its former position,
and projects so far towards the left, or by the wiper h, as to prevent the bar d
from being pressed directly forward, or causes it to be pressed laterally by the
contact of the wipers. Each of the pitmans or clicks R, S, passes through a
sliding plate m (Figure 1), which is suitably fitted to the rear side of the
partition X, and is moved laterally to the right or left at pleasure by a small
spring lever n, Figure 3, and represented by dotted lines in Figure 1, which
has for its fulcrum a pin screwed into the lower side of the top plate o of the
box containing the machinery. On applying the fingers to the outer end of
the lever, and pressing this end slightly downwards, so as to cause it to pass
by a small pin or stud p, Figure 3, and then sideways, the plate m is moved
laterally, so as to bring either of the pitmans R or S at pleasure to act on its
ratchet wheel U or V, and thus turn the shaft W in one direction, or in the
opposite; a small helical spring 9 (Figure 1) connects the two pitmans, and
causes the outer or front end of either of the same which may be on contact
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel to press against the said ratchet wheel.
The stitch hook L (Figures 5, 19,) is arranged, as before mentioned, on the end

page_text: of the slide bar K; it is composed of a piece of metal extending downwards
from the end of the bar and terminating in a small hook at its lower end; this
hook acts directly over the projecting wires or needles of the chain belt, its
office being to pass under the stitch which is upon the needle under it, and
carry said stitch forward towards the hooked end of the needle. The bobbin v
on which the yarn is wound is placed horizontally over the machinery (as seen
in the Drawings) with its pointed end towards the front of the apparatus; the
yarn is led from the bobbin over the top of a little guide stud w, Figure 3,.
(which is suitably grooved out for the purpose,) and thence downwards
between the directing nippers y, y, to the needles of the chain belt. The
directing nippers consist of two spring blades y, y, (Figures 2, 3, 11, and 12,)
(Figure 11 being a front view of the nippers, and Figure 12 a side view,
exhibiting the manner in which they are attached to the slide bar K,) arranged
at a sufficient distance apart to permit the yarn to be introduced and to pass
freely between them; they meet together at their points (which are bent
rearward, as seen in Figure 12,) so as to nip or pinch the yarn, or hold it with
a slight force between them. The movements of the chain belt draws the yarn
(as it is wanted during the process of knitting) through the nipper ends or
jaws;
the nippers, so formed, extend downwards at right angles to a bar or
lever z, which is placed on the top of the bar K, and attached thereto by a pin
or screw a', on which the lever turns laterally, either to the right or left,
carrying the nippers with it. The rear end of the lever extends back through
an opening in the partition X, and through the slide plate m, so that when
the said slide plate is moved laterally it also carries the end of the lever z with
it, and consequently moves the directing nippers in the opposite direction into
the requisite position for the machinery to knit in the opposite direction. The
next portion of the apparatus is the chain belt, an enlarged side elevation of
one of the links of which is represented in Figure 14, and a top view of the
same in Figure 15, and a rear view of it in Figure 16, while Figure 17
exhibits an elevation of the rear side of a portion of the chain belt. All the
links of this belt are constructed precisely similar to each other, and are hinged
together; each consists of an upright piece of round wire c', (Figures 3, 14,)
bent over at right angles at its top, and turned upwards at its outer extremity
into the form of a small hook d'. The horizontal portion of the wire c¹ is
grooved out, as seen at e¹, Figure 15, and into this groove the stitch hook
moves back and forth. The middle f', and the upper and lower tubes g¹, g', of
the hinge are concentric to the rear side of the wire or rod c', the central tube
-being of double the length of the others, and situated its whole diameter aside
from them, each tube being situated on one side of the vertical central line of

page_text: the rear side of the wire c', or as exhibited in Figures 14, 15, 16. The middle
tube of one link is passed into the space between the upper and lower
tubes g, g', of the succeeding link, the rear side of the wire c¹ between the
upper and lower tubes, as well as the rear side of the succeeding wire, above
and below, the middle tube of it being suitably hollowed out to permit the axes
of the three tubes to come into the same straight line with each other; a pin h',
Figure 17, is then passed through the tubes, and the hinge is completed. The
wires are thus hinged together, and this arrangement permits any one of them
with its hook to be removed from the chain belt at any time in order that the
operation of "narrowing" may be performed, or of one or more being inserted
in the chain belt for the purpose of "widening," which operations will be
readily understood by stocking knitters, who use machines of this kind. The
wire pin h¹ should project a short distance above the upper tube of the hinge
in order that it may be easily removed at any time by a pair of. nippers or
pliers, and the lower tube g¹ should be closed up at its lower end, so as to
cause the wire pin h¹ to retain its place, or prevent it from falling through the
tubes. As the chain belt is moved a certain distance at regular intervals of
time, the yarn at every movement is laid over one of the hooks or needles i
(Figure 14) of the chain belt, and when the stitch hook advances, that portion
of the yarn which is over the needles is pushed by the stitch hook, and under
the hook of the extremity of the needle, so as to permit the stitch to be passed
over it by the finger e.
In order to prevent the hard carrying the finger e from being drawn too
far back by the springs when the finger is over the needles and in rear of the
stitch hook, a small stud k¹ (see Figure 20, which represents a side view of the
bar d,) projects above the top of the bar, as seen in the Drawings, and its rear
side is drawn in contact with the front face of a small bar e, screwed to the
rear face of the partition X. The projecting portions or tops of the turning
wires h¹ of the chain belt pass under the lip m² (Figures 3, 18), (which latter
Figure is a vertical cross section of the chain belt, the pinion it moves upon,
and other parts adjacent thereto,) which lip extends around the pins for some
distance, and keeps the chain in place. The chain is still further supported in
position by means of a small collar n¹ (arranged on the lower part of the shaft
of the ratchet wheels), which is forced upward against the chain by a small
helical spring o, a small raised stud p¹, (Figures 3, 19, the latter of which
Figures is a view of the end of the slide bar K, and parts adjacent, taken on
the left side of the bar,) projects above the bottom plate of the box (which
contains the apparatus) near its front edge, as seen in the Drawings. When
the bar K is slid forward, a cam or wiper q, projecting from the lower side of

page_text: the bar K, meets the stud p', and rises upon it, so as to lift the bar and stitch
hook when the latter reaches the hooked end d' of the wire or needle of the
chain belt; this enables the finger of the bar d to throw the stitch over the
hook d. When the bar K is drawn back, another projecting wiper r
(Figure 19) rises upon the stud and lifts the bar K, so that the lower ends
of the directing nippers y, y, may be elevated a sufficient distance to permit the
free operation of the chain belt. Figure 21 is a top view of the wiper I ;
Figure 22 is a top view of the pinion on the shaft W, and Figure 23 is a
bottom view of the directing nippers.
Having thus fully described the manner in which this knitting machine is
constructed, I shall now proceed to point out such parts thereof as I claim
to be the Invention.
I claim the employment of an endless chain of hooks or turning needles,
upon which the loops or stitches are to be received, the said chain being so
constructed that it may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure for the purpose
of widening or narrowing in the process of knitting.
I also claim the method above described, and represented in Figures 14, 15,
and 16), of forming the hinges or joints by which the bars of the needles or
hooks of the endless belt are united, so that any one wire, with its hooked
needle, may be removed from, or another wire may be added to, the collection,
for the purposes as herein-before set forth.
I also claim forming the directing nippers by which the yarn is conveyed
from the bobbin to the endless belt of two lips or spring blades y, y, (Figures
11, 12, and 23,) which receive the yarn between them, and permit it to be
delivered through their ends in contact, the same being constructed and
operating in all respects substantially as set forth.
I also claim the combination of the sliding plate m (moved by a spring
lever n, or other similar contrivance,) with the clicks or palls R, S, and the
lever z of the directing nippers, the same being arranged substantially in the
manner set forth, and for the purpose of causing, by one operation or lateral
movement of the lever n, the machinery to knit in an opposite direction.
I also claim the method of sustaining the endless belt of knitting wires
upon its moving pinion, videlicet) by means of the combined arrangement of
machinery retaining it in said position, the said arrangement consisting of the
lip m³, spring n', and collar o'.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Drury Hazen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
CHAS D. (L.S.) HAZEN.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of April,
in the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Charles Drury Hazen came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-four.