IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City
of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES."- A communication
from abroad by George Johnstone, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
Sealed the 8th May 1868, and dated the 20th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
December 1867.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serlo Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES" (a communication
to me from abroad by George Johnstone, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America), to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in what are known as
circular knitting machines, the said improvements being designed for pro-
ducing automatically a tubular fabric, having any desired pattern, with the
same rapidity as a plain fabric is made in an ordinary circular machine, and
the Invention consists of a series of bearded needles arranged and operating in
conjunction with a series of fingers so that the loops of yarn may be trans-
ferred from any of the needles to others, the said fingers being capable of such
adjustment that any of the loops may be retained upon them or discharged at

page_text: any time desired, while any of the, fingers may be thrown out of action with
the needles at any time without interfering with the operation of the fingers
in action.
The Invention further consists of a presser wheel constructed with moveable
plates, so that the beard of any needle may be either depressed or not as may
be desired.
The Invention further consists of the combination of the devices above
referred to with pattern wheels or chains or jacquard apparatus so con-
nected to the said devices that the operations of any of the same may be
suspended, resumed, or varied as may be required to produce any desired
pattern in the fabric. The stationary frame of the machine consists of three
arms, which are secured to the base plate, and from the inner ends of the
arms is suspended an annular plate in the edge of which are recesses.
On a
stationary shaft projecting from the base midway between the arms turns a
revolving frame, which consists of a cylinder carrying two arms and an annular
plate which is suspended from the inner ends of the last-named arms a short
distance above the first-named annular plate. To the edge of the cylinder are
secured in the usual manner bearded needles, in the shanks of which are
recesses, and at the lower side of the cylinder is a bevil wheel which gears
into a bevil pinion on an adjacent driving shaft. To the upper end of the
shaft is secured a stationary plate, and to a bracket connected to the first-
named annular plate is secured a curved bar which extends partly round the
cylinder at a short distance from the same. At the edge of the second-named
annular plate slide a number of curved blocks or "sections," and from this
plate projects one or more vertical pins on the upper part of each of which
turns a horizontal lever having two arms, the latter being slotted for the
reception of a pin on one of the sections. Into recesses in each section project
the ends of plates which are the same distance apart as the needles, a pin or
rod extending across each recess and passing through a slot in each plate, and
from the outer ends of the project fingers, recesses in which receive the
heads and beards of the needles when the points of the fingers are in the
recesses, each plate with its finger being hereafter termed a "jack." At
the front and lower edges of each plate are three projections and two recesses;
in each alternate plate is a third recess, and at the lower edge of each inter-
mediate plate are another recess and a projection. In vertical boxes secured
to a curved bar slide four vertical plates, each of which is inclined at the upper
end and has at one side a lip which prevents it from descending below a
certain position. To the side of each box is hung a plate a rib on which is
adapted to recesses in the adjacent edges of the vertical sliding plates, and to

page_text: each plate is connected an arm attached to a lever hung to the curved bar,
the lower arm of the lever projecting below the said bar. A spring secured
to the bar and connected to the plate tends to maintain the latter in the
required position. To brackets secured to the boxes and to the curved bar
is connected another curved bar, one end of which is bent inwards and down-
wards. To brackets secured to the first-named curved bar is attached a curved
plate, which extends from a point above the bracket and above the second
curved bar to a point above the box, the end of the plate above the box being
bent for a purpose described hereafter. A third curved bar extends from
above the end of the second curved bar to a point a short distance above the
tops of the needles and opposite one of the first-named arms, and a short
distance above and almost parallel to this bar is another but shorter curved
bar. To suitable brackets are secured four cam plates, which are a short
distance. from the inner sides of the needles, and on pins projecting from the
stationary plate before named turn two lifting wheels and a "knocking-
over" wheel. From a bracket secured to the first-named curved bar opposite
one of the arms projects a pin on which turns a plain presser wheel.' Opposité
one of the lifting wheels revolves another presser wheel in radial slots in which
are hung loosely plates, each plate when in a position to bear against the
beard of a needle being directly above a rod which slides in bearings secured
to the stationary frame of the machine. On a pin secured to the first-named
curved bar adjacent to the presser wheel turns an ordinary loop wheel, and in
the annular plate and in its bracket are openings for the passage of the thread:
To standards on another of the arms are hung levers, and to one of these
levers are connected sliding bars at the lower ends of which are friction
rollers, a pin projecting from this lever into a slot in the other lever. A
friction roller turns on a pin projecting from the under side of a bracket
secured to the first arm. In the arm below the outer end of one of the levers
slides a rod which is in a position to be struck and raised into contact with
the arm by a cam secured to an arm of the moveable frame. At the side of
the arm slides a plate which is connected to the outer end of one of the levers
and through an opening in the plate, and through the arm passes a sliding
pin which is maintained at the limit of its outward motion by a spring. Near
the outer end of the pin is an enlargement which is adapted to an enlarged
portion of the opening, and on a pin projecting from a bell-crank lever hung
to the side of the arm turns a jacquard cylinder. The edge of the annular
plate adjacent to the recess is inclined, and a part of the plate near one end
of the recess is bent upwards so as to form an inclined lip. To an arm pro-
jecting from the jacquard cylinder is hung a lever, which as the cylinder

page_text: revolves is brought beneath the arm of the lever hung to the curved bar, as
before described. A jacquard apparatus, pattern wheel, or chain is connected
in any suitable manner to the vertical slides in the boxes, so that any of the
said slides may be elevated or depressed when necessary by the action of the
jacquard; the lever projecting (therefrom during the time that the said slides
are being moved) passing in contact with the arm of the hanging lever turning
the latter so as to draw back the plate, and passing from contact with the said
arm after the adjustment of the slides, so that the latter will be locked in their
positions by the rib, which as the plate resumes its first position is introduced
into the slots or recesses in the vertical sliding plates. A jacquard apparatus,
pattern wheel, or chain is connected to the sliding rod so as to adjust the
latter vertically, and a reciprocating motion is imparted in any suitable manner
to the bell-crank lever, the cylinder to which a chain of cards is suspended
revolving one quarter of a revolution at every movement of the lever. When
the cam before named raises the pin and with it the lever and slide one roller
is raised and the other roller lowered, and if while the slide is elevated the
sliding pin before named is moved inward by the action of the jacquard appa-
ratus the enlargement on the pin will be introduced into the opening in the
slide, and the pin is confined in its position by the weight of the slide which
rests on the same after the cam passes from contact with the pin, the slide
levers and rollers being thus retained in the positions to which they have been
adjusted. When the first-named pin is again raised the sliding pin will be
relieved of the weight of the slide and will be moved outward by the spring
(unless the card on the cylinder retains it in its position), when the slide levers
and rollers will resume their first positions.
Inasmuch as the construction and operation of jacquard apparatus and pattern
wheels or chains are well known it has not been thought necessary to par-
ticularly describe or illustrate the manner in which they are connected with
and regulate the movements of the various parts of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 87, St. Vincent Street, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Davies, Her special licence that the said George Davies,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
George Davies, 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 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES," (a communication to me from abroad by
George Johnstone, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in what are known as
circular knitting machines, the said improvements being designed for pro-
ducing automatically a tubular fabric, having any desired pattern, with the
same rapidity as a plain fabric is made in an ordinary circular machine, and
the Invention consists of a series of bearded needles arranged and operating
in conjunction with a series of fingers that the loops of yarn may be trans-
ferred from any of the needles to others, the said fingers being capable of such
adjustment that any of the loops may be retained upon them or discharged at
any time desired, while any of the fingers may be thrown out of action with
the needles at any time without interfering with the operation of the fingers
in action.
The Invention further consists of a presser wheel constructed with movable
plates, that the beard of any needle may be either depressed or not as may
be desired

page_text: The Invention further consists of the combination of the devices above
referred to and pattern wheels or chains or jacquard apparatus so connected
to the said devices that the operations of any of the same may be suspended,
resumed, or varied as may be required to produce any desired pattern in the
fabric.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for " Improvements
in Knitting Machines" I will now proceed to describe more in detail the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly understood I have
annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
On reference to the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a sectional
elevation of my improved knitting machine; Figure 2, a plan view partly in
section Figure 8, a plan view of part of the machine; Figure 4, a Diagram
showing the operations of part of the machine; Figure 5, a sectional elevation
of the frames of the machine; Figure 6, an enlarged sectional view repre-
senting a needle and a "finger" for receiving loops from the needle;
Figures 7 and 8, detached views of part of the machine drawn to an enlarged
scale; Figures 9, 10, and 11, detached sectional views (drawn to an enlarged
scale) of parts of the machine shewing them in different positions; Figure 12,
a detached side elevation showing some of the needles covered by the
fingers" Figures 13 and 14, views illustrating a device for adjusting the
loops upon the needles; Figure 15, a sectional view (drawn to an enlarged
scale) with presser wheel, with part of the devices for operating the same; and
Figures 16 and 17, views illustrating modifications of parts of the machine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The stationary frame of the machine consists of three arms A, A1, A³,
which are of the form shown in the Drawing and are secured to the base
plate B, and from the inner ends of the arms A, A, is suspended an
annular plate C (Figures 1, 2, and 5) in the edge of which are recesses a, a,
and a (Figure 2). On a stationary shaft B¹ projecting from the base B
midway between the arms A, A', turns a revolving frame, which consists of
a cylinder D carrying two arms D, D³ (of the form shown in the Drawing)
and an annular plate D³ which is suspended from the inner ends of the
arms D, D³, a short distance above the plate C (Figure 5). To the edge of
the cylinder D are secured in the usual manner bearded needles b in the
shanks of which are recesses 61 (Figure 6), and at the lower side of the
cylinder is a bevil wheel which gears into a bevil pinion on an adjacent

page_text: driving shaft. To the upper end of the shaft B¹ is secured a stationary
plate B, and to a bracket C¹ (Figure 5) connected to the plate C is secured
a curved bar C which extends partly round the cylinder D at a short distance
from the same. At the edge of the plate D³ slide a number of curved blocks
or "sections" E, and from the plate D³ projects one or more vertical pins d¹
(Figure 1) on the upper part of each of which turns a horizontal lever F
having two arms e, e¹ (Figures 1 and 3), the latter being slotted for the
reception of a pin on one of the sections E. Into recesses in each section E
project the ends of plates G, G¹, (Figures 7 to 9) which are the same distance
apart as the needles b, a pin or rod f extending across each recess and passing
through a slot q in each plate, and from the outer ends of the latter project
fingers r recesses in which receive the heads and beards of the needles when
the points of the fingers are in the recesses b, as seen at Figure 6, each plate
with its finger being hereafter termed a "jack." At the front and lower
edges of each plate are projections i, 2, and 3, and recesses h, h¹; in each
plate G is a recess, and at the lower edge of each plate G¹ are a recess j
and a projection. In vertical boxes H, H¹, secured to the bar C2 slide
plates, I, I, I, I (Figure 3), each of which is inclined at the upper end and
has at one side a lip which prevents it from descending below. the position
shown in Figure 4. To the side of each box H; H', is hung a plate HI³ a
rib m on which is adapted to recesses 1, 1, in the adjacent edges of the
sliding plates (Figure 11), and to each plate H is connected an arm attached
to a lever Hs hung to the bar C, the lower arm m of the lever projecting below
the bar C. A spring C+ secured to the bar C and connected to the.
plate H tends to maintain the latter in the position shown in Figure 4. To
brackets secured to the boxes H, H', and to the bar C¹ is connected a curved
bar C, one end of which (adjacent to the bracket C¹) is bent inwards and down-
wards, as shown in the Drawing (Figures 2, 3, and 5). To brackets secured
to the bar C2 is attached a curved plate or bar C7 which extends from a point:
above the bracket C¹ (Figure 3, and above the bar C³) to à point above the
box H, the end of the plate above the box H¹ being bent, as shown in the
Drawing (Figure 4), for a purpose described hereafter. A curved bar C:
extends from above the end of the bar C³ to a point a short distance above the
tops of the needles 6 and opposite the arm A¹ (Figures 2 and 4), and a short.
distance above and almost parallel to this bar is another but shorter bar C
To brackets secured to the plates C and B2 are secured cam plates J, J³, J,
and K (Figure 2), which are a short distance from the inner sides of the
needles, and on pins projecting from the plate B² turn lifting wheels J', K¹,
ánd a knocking over wheel K². From a bracket secured to the bar C

page_text: opposite the arm A¹ projects a pin on which turns a plain presser wheel J
(Figures 2 and 6). Opposite the lifting wheel K¹ revolves a presser wheel I
in radial slots in which are hung loosely plates n (Figure 15), each plate n
when in a position to bear against the beard of a needle b being directly above
a rod M which slides in bearings secured to the stationary frame of the
machine. On a pin secured to the bar C adjacent to the presser wheel L
turns an ordinary loop wheel N, and in the plate C and in the bracket Care
openings x, x, for the passage of the thread. To standards N', N2, on the
arm A³ are hung levers O, O¹ (Figure 1), and to the levers 0¹ are connected
sliding bars P, P¹, at the lower ends of which are friction rollers p, p', a pin q¹
projecting from the lever O¹ into a slot in the lever O. A friction roller p
turns on a pin projecting from the under side of a bracket V secured to the
arm A. In the arm A' below the outer end of the lever O slides a rod Q,
which is in a position to be struck and raised into contact with the arm O by
a cam Q, secured to the arm D¹ of the movable frame (Figure 5). At the
side of the arm A2 slides a plate R which is connected to the outer end of the
lever and through an opening s in the plate R, and through the arm A³
passes a sliding pin s, which is maintained at the limit of its outward motion
by a spring t. Near the outer end of the pin S is an enlargement w, which is
adapted to an enlarged portion of the opening s, and on a pin projecting from
a bell-crank lever T hung to the side of the arm A³ turns a jacquard
cylinder V. The edge of the plate C adjacent to the recess a¹ is inclined, as
shown in Figures 2 and 11, and a part of the plate near one end of the
recess a is bent upward so as to form an inclined lip k (Figures 2 and 10) for
a purpose described hereafter. To an arm W projecting from the cylinder D
is hung a lever W₁ (Figure 2), which as the cylinder revolves is brought
beneath the arm m' of the lever H. A jacquard apparatus, pattern wheel, or
chain is connected in any suitable manner to the slides in the boxes H, H',
so that any of the said slides may be elevated or depressed when necessary by
the action of the jacquard, the lever W¹ during the time that the said slides
are being moved passing in contact with the arm m¹ of the lever H³, turning
the latter so as to draw back the plate H, and passing from contact with the
said arm after the adjustment of the slides, so that the latter will be locked
in their positions by the rib m, which as the plate H' resumes its first
position is introduced into the slots and l¹. A jacquard apparatus, pattern S
wheel, or chain is connected to the rod M so as to adjust the latter vertically,
and a reciprocating motion is imparted in any suitable manner to the lever T,
the cylinder U to which a chain of cards is suspended revolving one quarter
of a revolution at every movement of the lever. When the cam Q¹ raises the

page_text: pin Q, and with it the lever O and slide R, the roller p is raised and the
roller p¹ lowered, and if while the slide R is elevated the pin S is moved
inward by the action of the jacquard apparatus the enlargement u will be
introduced into the opening s, and the pin is confined in its position by the
weight of the slide which rests on the same after the cam Q¹ passes from
contact with the pin Q, the slide levers and rollers being thus retained in the
positions to which they have been adjusted. When the pin Q is again raised
the pin S will be relieved of the weight of the slide R, and will be moved
outward by the spring t (unless the card on the cylinder U retains it in its
position), when the slide levers and rollers will resume their first positions.
.
Inasmuch as the construction and operation of jacquard apparatus, pattern
wheels, or chains are well known it has not been thought necessary to par-
ticularly describe or illustrate the manner in which they are connected with
and regulate the movements of the various parts of the machine. The thread
passes from the opening a¹ to the needles between the latter and looper N,
and the fabric Y as it is knitted is drawn upward through the openings in the
dises C, D³.
L
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The different parts being in
the positions shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 a rotary motion in the direction
of its arrow is imparted to the moving frame of the machine and a recipro-
cating motion to the lever T, when the operation of the machine will be as
follows-The loops of thread formed on the needles by the looper N are
elevated by the latter beneath the beards, which are pressed against shanks
of the presser wheel L, while the old loops on the shanks are raised by the
lifting wheel K¹ above the points of the beards, and are "knocked off" the
ends of the needles and unto the new loops by the knocking-over wheel K³.
As the plate D³ and its sections E are carried round in the direction of the
arrow the fingers, r which bear and slide on the bar C³ will pass off the end
of the latter, and the projections i will bear and slide on the bar C8 (Figures 4
and 10) until the jacks assume a vertical position (Figure 4). When the
jacks begin to turn downward they are opposite the recess a in the plate C
(Figure 2). As however the recess h¹ in each plate is brought opposite the
edge of the plate C (Figure 10) the lip k will enter the said recess, so
that after fingers pass from the rod C the jacks will slide on and be
supported vertically by the plate C, on the edge of which the projections i"
bear, as shown in Figures 1 and 10. As the motion of the jacks is continued
they will be forced outwards by the action of the plate C until the fingers r
are lifted from contact with the needles b, as shown in Figure 1, for a purpose
described hereafter. As the loops on the needles are brought against the

page_text: cam J they are depressed by the latter until they are below the fingers r, the
points of which are pressed into the recesses 6 in the needles by the action o
the wheels J (Figures 2, 4, and 6). The lifting wheel J¹ now raises the loops
until they are on the fingers r above the tops of the needles. The fingers are
now moved outwards from the needles, as before described, when the roller
will be struck by the arme of the lever F, and the latter will be turned so as
to move the adjacent section E in the direction contrary to that of its arrow
Figure 3, until the fingers hung to this section are moved to a position opposite
other needles than those in front of which they were first situated, the extent
of the motion imparted to the section and its jacks depending upon the extent
to which the lever is moved. As the needles pass the cams J³, J, the loops
will be moved first downwards nearly to the points of the fingers and then
upwards on to the shanks of the fingers above the needles, this motion in the
present instance having no effect on the character of the work. As the
needles pass the cam Ķ the loops will be moved downwards by this cam on to
the needles above which they have been carried by the lateral motion of the
fingers, the downward motion being sufficient to carry the loops entirely off
the fingers, which then strike the inclined portion of the bar C, when the
jacks will be gradually carried to a horizontal position (Figure 3). As the
arme of the lever F strikes the roller p³ the lever will be turned sufficiently to
move the section E back to its first position (Figure 3). As the needles pass
opposite the looper N new loops will be made upon the same, and the
operations above described will be repeated. When both the slides I, I'; in
the box H have been elevated by the action of the jacquard to the position
occupied by the slide I, Figure 9, the jacks as they strike the inclined ends of
the slides will be elevated to such a position that the projections i will pass
above the plate or bar C and will bear and slide on the latter, the jacks being
thus retained in an elevated position so that the fingers cannot operate on the
loops, and an ordinary plain fabric is produced in the usual manner. Should
the slide I alone be elevated only the plates G¹ will be raised, as the recesses
in the plates G receive the end of the elevated slide without the jack
being brought in contact with the same (Figure 9). In this case one-half
the jacks will operate in connection with alternate needles, while the
remainder are carried round in a horizontal position and have no effect.
By depressing the slide I and elevating the slide I' the plates G will be raised
so as to be supported by the bar C, while the plates G¹ will pass over but
in contact with the end of the slide 1' which projects into the openings j,
these plates therefore being brought to such a position that their fingers will
cover alternate needles. If one of the slides I; Is, in the box His raised the

page_text: jacks which are brought against the ends of the slides will be so elevated that
their fingers (instead of the projections i as before described) will pass unto
the bar C and will slide on the latter until the projections i pass over and
unto the bar C, which is so curved that the jacks are pushed back a short
distance into the recesses in the section. As the jacks after being thus moved
back by the bar C' are turned downward and pass opposite the recess a¹ in
the plate C the projections will be brought to bear on the inclined edge of
the plate as the jacks are carried round, so that they occupy a more elevated
position than when the projections rested upon the plate C, as the points of
the fingers of the jacks which have been adjusted, as above described, are now
a greater distance from the lower ends of the needles than the finger the jacks
which passed unto the bar C³. The cam J³ after one of the sections E and
its jacks have been moved laterally will depress the loops from the points of the
elevated jacks on to the needles, while the loops on the fingers of the remaining
jacks will not be lowered to a sufficient extent to be thrown from the fingers.
Both the loops on the fingers and those on the needles will now be raised by
the cam J', when the section and its jacks will be again shifted until the
fingers are opposite other needles; on to which the remaining loops are caused
to descend by the action of the cam K. As the jacks are brought opposite
the recess as they will pass from contact with the edge of the plate C,
will descend until the front edges of the plates G, G, bear upon the bar c³,
upon which the jacks slide until they are again brought above the slides I, I'.
Every section E which is to be adjusted should be connected to a lever similar
to the lever F, and several rollers of different diameters, or a conical pulley
(Figure 16), may be secured to each rod P, P¹, so that the extent to which
the lever or levers F and sections are moved may be regulated by bringing
different rollers or different portions of the conical pulley to a position to be
struck by the arm of the lever F, the adjustment of the lever to which the
rollers are hung being affected by the jacquard on the cylinder V, or in any
other manner. When the sections are to be shifted in the direction pointed
out by the arrow the lever O' should be so adjusted that the roller p¹ may be
struck by the lever F, and if it is required to shift the sections more frequently
additional adjusting rollers p, p², constructed and operating in the same manner
as those described may be used. By increasing the number of slides I, I¹, &c.,
or by operating them more frequently, each jack as it is brought opposite the
ends of the bars C7, C³, C³, may be transferred to either one of the same.
When the rod M is elevated by the action of jacquard the plate n above
the rod will. be raised and will not bear on the needle, the loop which is
then elevated passing beneath instead of over the beard of the needle as will

page_text: be readily understood by those familiar with knitting machines. In some
instances needles of different lengths may be used (Figure 16), the loops
when elevated, instead of being entirely withdrawn from the longer needles,
being in this case stretched laterally by the fingers to a position over the tops
of the lower needles, on to which they are transferred from the fingers by the
action of a suitable cam. It will be seen that by the use of the fingers and
loop raisers and depressers in connection with a circular row of needles, as
above described, each loop may be transferred laterally in either direction and
to any extent from one needle to another; that owing to the peculiar con-
struction of the presser wheel any loop may be thrown off its needle or retained
upon the same as desired; that by using needles of different lengths one loop
may be carried round two or more needles; that all these operations may be
effected without it being necessary to reduce the speed of the machine; and
that by the combination of the devices above referred to and jacquard appa-
ratus, pattern chains, or wheels the operations of any of the said devices may
be automatically suspended, resumed, or varied as may be required to produce
any desired pattern in the fabric. If fabrics of certain patterns only are to
be produced jacks having fingers of different lengths may be employed
instead of adjustable jacks, and the devices for adjusting the jacks in order
that some of the needles may be covered by fingers to a greater extent than
others may be dispensed with. A plate, w¹ (Figure 13) having an inclined
edge, and extending over the tops of the needles, may be used for turning back
the loops into the stems of the needles (Figure 11) should they catch on the
beards, as shown in Figure 13.
Although the aforesaid jacks have been., described as operating and moving
with needles secured to a revolving cylinder stationary jackets may be employed
in connection with that class of circular machines in which the cylinder and
needles are stationary, and the various cams and presser and other wheels are
carried past the needles. In this instance a movement past the jacks is imparted
to the bars and other devices for operating those parts of the machine which
have been referred to as stationary.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"Improvements in Knitting Machines," together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated to me by
the aforesaid George Johnstone,-
Firstly. In a circular knitting machine a series of bearded needles arranged
and operating in conjunction with a series of fingers, substantially as and for
the purpose described.

page_text: Secondly. The said fingers hung to sections admitting of separate and
independent movements in the arc of a circle, substantially as set forth for the
purpose specified.
Thirdly. The said fingers projecting from or forming a part of jacks which
are so constructed, and to which such movements may be imparted by the
devices herein described or any equivalent to the same, that some of the
needles may be covered by the fingers to a greater extent than others, for the
purpose set forth.
Fourthly. The adjustable jacks in combination with the guide bars C³, Cº,
the plate C, and the slides 13, 13, or equivalent devices, whereby the jacks may
be brought under the control of one or other of the said bars, the whole being
constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifthly. The combination of the jacks, a bar or plate C', and the slides I, I',
or their equivalents.
Sixthly. The said jacks in combination with a jacquard apparatus, pattern
chain, or pattern wheel by which the jacks are controlled through the medium
of the devices herein described, or any equivalent to the same.
Seventhly. The sections E with their jacks in combination with a jacquard
apparatus, pattern wheel, or chain operating on the said sections through the
medium of the levers F and adjustable rollers p, p, p, or their equivalents.
Eighthly. A presser wheel having movable plates secured to or forming
a part of the same, so that the said plates may be controlled in the manner
and for the purpose described.
Ninthly. A jacquard apparatus or pattern wheel or chain in combination
with the rod M or its equivalent, for the purpose set forth.
Tenthly. The fingers r operating in combination with needles of different
lengths, substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 16.
Eleventhly. The plate w¹ with its
needles, substantially as and for the
inclined edge, arranged in respect to the
purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GEORGE. DAVIES. (L.S.)