IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Lowe Machinist and John William Lamb
Manufacturer both of Nottingham in the County of Nottingham for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Lowe and John
William Lamb at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th September 1882.
SAMUEL LOWE Machinist, and JOHN WILLIAM LAMB, Manufacturer, both of
Nottingham in the County of Nottingham "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY"
This Invention relates to improvements in mechanism for the production of
"fashioned" knitted work, applicable chiefly to the improved knitting machine for
which a patent was granted to us dated 23rd of June 1880, N° 2552, but which
may be also adapted to the ordinary "Cotton" knitting machines, for which a
Patent was granted to William Cotton and Edward Attenborough dated
16th December 1868, N° 3820, and to modifications of that machine.
Hitherto in the "Cotton" and like knitting machines, when fashioned work had
to be produced, (ie; either by widening or narrowing the fabric), the knitting
operation had to be suspended for the removal and replacement of the selvage
loops, thereby decreasing the amount of work produced by the machine in proportion
to the amount of "fashioning" introduced into the work.
By this Invention the "fashioning" operation may be carried on simultaneously
with the knitting, the "fashioning" taking place at either selvage alternately,
during the completion of succeeding courses of knitted work.
When a narrowing of the knitted fabric is to take place, which is determined as
usual by the Jacquard counting apparatus, the traverse of the thread carrier in one
direction to lay its thread in front of the knitting points (say the left hand side)
is stopped short of the selvage of the knitted work, six or any desired number of
needles; so as to leave several of the knitting points without thread in front of
them. The loops of the knitted work, which would consequently be pressed off by

page_text: the succeeding motions of the knitting mechanism, we remove from the needles to
the fashioning points, which have been brought into a suitable acting position, and
replace the loops on their respective needles after the completion of the knitting of
that course of work. As the thread carrier traverses in the opposite direction, we
repeat the above action of the parts on that side of the machine, bringing into a
suitable acting position other points for that purpose. Simultaneously with this
action the left hand points will again remove their respective loops at the left
hand selvage, and after being shifted laterally replace them on other (adjoining)
needles.
This operation being completed before the thread carrier on its return to the left
hand side reaches the selvage, the carrier is allowed to lay its thread up to the full
width of the fabric on that side, and the fashioning points are then withdrawn out
of their acting position. During the succeeding traverse to the right hand side, the
fashioning points will remove, as before, the knitted work from the needles
opposite which they stand, and the points being then shifted laterally will replace
the loops on the adjoining needles, and in their turn be withdrawn from their acting
position.
The fashioning having been thus effected on both sides of the fabric at succeeding
courses, knitting up to the selvage may be resumed until the Jacquard again calls
the fashioning apparatus into action.
In applying our Invention to the improved knitting machine above mentioned,
we provide the machine with additional cams and shogging shafts to bring into
action the mechanism for contracting or enlarging the traverse of the thread
carriers, and for moving the fashioning points into and out of the acting position at
proper times.
A modified construction of stop carried by the narrowing slide is
employed for arresting the thread carrier bars, consisting of a slide having two stop
screws set for differing distances of traverse, either of which may be brought into
position to act upon the ends of the carrier bars, as desired.
The mechanism for shifting the fashioning points into and out of acting position
is also carried on the narrowing slides, and consists of vertically sliding cams
against which hear bowles carried by each narrowing bar. We modify the motion
of the "knocking-over bits" tipping them out of line to provide for the lateral
traverse of the points. The knitting cams instead of being double as heretofore,
are made single, but of sufficient width to permit of their being shogged, or they
may be provided with wider bowles for the like purpose, friction and wear being
greatly lessened thereby.
This Invention may be applied to the ordinary Cotton knitting machine, and
machines of a like class, by providing a suitable cut of cams that will actuate the
points so as to fashion at opposite selvages at succeeding courses as described
above, commencing the operation at the time the knitting needles descend to be
pressed. Or the thread carrier having been stopped short of its traverse until the
points have descended to remove the selvage loops it may then be allowed to
complete its traverse, laying a loose thread at the back of the points. At the
succeeding traverse of the thread layer in the opposite direction, the thread will be
laid for a knitted course from the selvage. The same operation being repeated at
the opposite selvage, will complete the "fashioning" on both sides of the fabric.
To increase the width of the fabric, the traverse of the narrowing slides carrying
the fashioning points is reversed by bringing into action reversely cut ratchet
wheels.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Lowe and John William Lamb in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th March 1883.
SAMUEL LOWE Machinist and JOHN WILLIAM LAMB Manufacturer both of
Nottingham in the County of Nottinghain "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY
This Invention relates to improvements in mechanism for the production of
fashioned" knitted work applicable chiefly to the improved knitting machine
for which a Patent was granted to us dated twenty-third of June, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty, N° 2552; but which may be also adapted to the ordinary
Cotton" knitting machines for which a Patent was granted to William Cotton
and Edward Attenborough dated sixteenth December, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty eight, No 3820, and to modifications of that machine.
<1
Hitherto in the "Cotton" and like knitting machines, when fashioned work
had to be produced, (i.e. by narrowing of the fabric) the knitting operation
had to be suspended for the removal of the selvage loops from the needles, and
their replacement upon other needles, thereby decreasing the amount of work
produced by the machine in proportion to the amount of "fashioning" introduced
into the work.
By the first part of this Invention the "fashioning" operation may be carried
on simultaneously with the knitting, the "fashioning" taking place at either
selvage alternately during the completion of succeeding courses of knitted work.
When a fashioning of the knitted fabric is to take place, which is determined
as usual by the Jacquard counting apparatus, the traverse of the thread carrier
in one direction to lay its thread in front of the knitting points is stopped (say
on the left hand side) short of the selvage of the knitted work a distance equal to
six or any desired number of needles, so as to leave several of the knitting points
without thread in front of them. The loops of the knitted work which would
consequently be pressed off by the succeeding motions of the knitting mechanism
we remove from the needles to the fashioning points which have been brought
into a suitable acting position, and replace the loops on their respective needles
after the completion of the knitting of that course of work. As the thread carrier
traverses in the opposite direction we repeat the above action of the parts on the
right hand side of the machine, bringing into a suitable acting position other points
for that purpose. Simultaneously with this action the left hand points will again
remove their respective loops at the left hand selvage, and after being shifted
laterally replace them on other (adjoining) needles.
This operation being completed before the thread carrier on its return to the
left hand side reaches the selvage, the carrier is allowed to lay its thread up to the
full width of the fabric on that side, and the fashioning points are then withdrawn
out of their acting position. During the succeeding traverse to the right hand
side the fashioning points will remove as before the knitted work from the
needles opposite which they stand, and the points being then shifted laterally
will replace the loops on the adjoining needles and in their turn be withdrawn from
their acting position
The fashioning having been thus effected on both edges of the fabric at succeeding
courses, knitting up to the selvage may be resumed until the Jacquard or counting
apparatus again calls the fashioning apparatus into action.
In the accompanying drawings Fig: 1 Sheet I shows in elevation the right hand
end of a knitting machine fitted according to this Invention.

page_text: Fig: 2 Sheet II is a partial front view of the right hand end of the machine
extending over one "division," to illustrate the mode of fashioning at both selvages
of the work, and Fig: 3 Sheet III is a partial front view of the left hand end
of the machine. These views show the mechanism for arresting the traverse of
the thread layer and for shifting alternately the "fashioning" points into and out
of acting position. Fig: 3ª Sheet II is a front view of a portion of the middle of
the machine showing the mode of mounting the mitre wheels used in driving the
thread laying mechanism
Fig 4 Sheet IV is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the machine
showing the Jacquard or counting apparatus, and Fig: 5 is a front view of the
same. Figures 6 to 13, Sheets V to VIII inclusive, are diagram views of the knitting
instruments illustrating the "fashioning" of the knitted work on both edges during
the formation of four courses.
The diagram of the knitting instruments, Fig: 6 Sheet V, shows in sectional
elevation the position of the parts at the commencement of the narrowing
operation, and at the finish of a knitted course. Fig: 7 is a front view of the
parts showing that the fashioning points are at this time out of acting position
or outside the "division." Fig: 8 Sheet VI shows the parts in sectional elevation
the needles being at their highest position.
Fig: 9 is a front view shewing the left hand fashioning points moved into acting
position. Fig: 10 Sheet VII shows the position of the knitting instruments while
the transfer of the new loops from the knitting points to the needles is taking
place, and the position at which the narrowing points cover the needle beards of
those needles from which the loops are to be removed as the narrowing points and
needles descend together into the "knocking over bits." Fig: 11 Sheet VII shows
the needles in the act of being pressed, Fig: 12 Sheet VIII shows the position of
the knitting instruments when the shifting of the fashioning points laterally to
carry in the loops takes place, and Fig: 13 shows the loops in the act of being
replaced on the needles after the lateral shift.
In Sheet IX Figures 14 and 14ª are diagrams illustrating the cycle of operations
during two rotations of the cam shaft. Sheet X shows the cams for giving the
up and down motion to the fashioning point bars, and the can for rocking the
counting apparatus, and Sheet XI shows the cams employed to give a modified
motion to the "knocking over bits," and to the needle bar when pressing during
the fashioning operation.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, A represents the needle bar carrying the bearded needles a
as usual. B is the fixed presser bar.-C the sinker bar carrying the Jack sinkers
and dividing sinkers c c* as heretofore. D and D* are the ordinary fashioning
point bars, and d d the fashioning points which they carry. E is the knitting
point bar and e are the knitting points which receive the threads from the thread
carriers (one for each "division" of the machine) and deliver them to the stems
of the needles as described in the Specification of our above mentioned patent.
FF are the sliding rods to which the thread carriers f are attached, and G is the
knocking over bar carrying the "knocking over bits," g, which push the formed
loops off the needles. The whole of these parts of the knitting mechanism it will
be understood are similar in construction and arrangement to the like named parts
described in our above mentioned Patent.
As the improved machine is designed to knit continuously or without interruption
during the "fashioning" or shaping of the work, provision is made for the shogging
of the cam shaft when "fashioning" without throwing out of action the mechanisın
for laying the threads and forming the loops upon the points. For this purpose
the mitre wheel F¹ (see Fig: 3ª Sheet II), by which rotary motion is transmitted
from the cam shaft F³ to the thread laying and loop forming mechanism, is
connected to its shaft by a feather and is held in gear with the mitre wheel F2
keyed fast on the cross shaft F by the retaining clip F³, carried from the fixed
bracket Fo
All the knitting cams of the cam shaft F³ are preferably single cams, except the

page_text: presser cam A*, and they are made of sufficient width to allow of their being
shogged laterally without separation from the bowles of the levers they are designed
to act upon. Or the bowles may in some cases be made of greater width for the
like purpose.
As the "fashioning" operation occurs with longer or shorter intervals of plain
knitting, the fashioning points stand normally outside the "divisions" of the
machine, and are brought into the acting position when required to fashion by
mechanism that is set in action by the Jacquard or Counting apparatus shewn at
Figures 4 and 5 Sheet IV. This counting apparatus consists as usual of a tappet
chain H* carried by a chain wheel H mounted on a stud axle projecting from a
swinging arm H' pivotted to the framing of the machine. The lower end of this
arm carries a bowle which is caused to bear on the cam H2 on the cam shaft.
From this cam the arm H and the parts in connection therewith receive a
reciprocating motion for the purpose of causing a pawl pivotted to the framing to
impart a traverse motion to the tappet chain as usual. The chain wheel H
carries a ring of ratchet teeth which, as the wheel advances, is caught by the pawl
and thereby receives an axial motion which causes the traverse of the tappet chain.
This chain H* is, in the present instance, provided with two lines of tappets h
and h* for operating respectively the fashioning points d and d* at opposite edges
of the work. The tappets of the one line take a lead of the other in order that
the operations of the fashioning points at the opposite selvages may follow the one
the other at intervals as determined upon. H and H** are two bell crank levers
mounted on a stud axle carried by the swinging arm H' and their vertical arms are
held up to the chain by light helical springs until acted upon by their respective
lines of tappets on the chain.
H6 and He*, see Figures 4 and 5, are arms set opposite to the bell crank levers and
keyed respectively to the inner ends of the shogging shafts H7* and H7** which
are mounted in line with each other and are free to slide in their respective
bearings. These shafts extend in opposite directions from the counting apparatus
to, and beyond, the end frames of the machine and serve to actuate (through
mechanism that will be presently described) the bars which carry the fashioning
points, and also the stops which limit the traverse of the thread carriers. The
shogging shafts H** and H*** are fitted with arms H3 and H** (furnished with
bowles) which respectively stand opposite to two double faced shogging cams H⁹
and H* carried by the cam shaft near the opposite ends of the machine, as shewn
in Figures 2 and 3.
Supposing now that one of the tappets his brought up and caused to strike the
vertical arm of its bell crank lever H5 (see Fig: 4), the lower limb will be depressed
so that the swinging motion of the counting apparatus will cause it to strike the
arm H, rock the shogging shaft H* and bring the bowle of the arm H³ (Fig: 3)
within reach of the right hand side of the shogging cam H. This shogging cam is
provided with two steps, the first of which acting on the bowle of the arm H³ will
shift the shogging shaft in the direction of its axis towards the left hand.
A friction clip H10 (see Fig: 2) on the right hand end of the cam shaft is
provided to put on any desired amount of friction against endway motion of the
cam shaft so as to ensure that the shogging shaft H* (Fig: 3) shall move first
when the first step of the shogging cam H acts on the bowle of the arm H³, and
brings the adjustable collar secured to that shaft up to a fixed portion of the
framing. The second step of the cam then, as it comes round, will shog the cam
shaft in the opposite direction, that is, to the right hand. The shogging cam H**
on the right hand end of the machine (see Fig: 2) having only one step acts only to
inove the shaft H7** to the right hand and back again.
I I* are bell crank levers loosely mounted on the outer ends of the shogging
shafts H* and H*** between collars, so as to be free to rock independently of those
shafts but partake of the lateral shifting motion. The vertical or curved arms of
these levers are forked to embrace the grooved shifting bowles ii* carried by stud
axles on the ends of the rock levers J J* pivotted at the back of the framing.

page_text: These bowles ii* by which the bell crank levers I I* and the rock levers J J*
are coupled together overlie each a group of three cams marked respectively K,
K K and K* K** K2* mounted on the cam shaft outside the frame of the
machine. K and K* are rest cams for the lowest position of the levers I I* and
J J*.—K¹ and K¹* are lifting cams, and K² and K2* are rest cams for the highest
position of the levers I I* and J J.
These levers are intended alternately under the action of the groups of cams
controlled by the shogging shafts H* and H*** to raise sliding stops for the
purpose of arresting the motion of the thread - layers f and for shifting sliding
cam plates that shift the narrowing bars D D* and retain them in the desired
position while the "fashioning" takes place. L L* are stop slides carried from
the ordinary fashioning slides M M*, and situate at the opposite ends of the thread
layer rod F. These slides carry two stop screws 11* and 1, * set so as to arrest
the traverse of the thread carriers at different distances of traverse, according as one
or other of the stop screws is brought opposite the end of the rod.
N N* are sliding cam plates mounted on standards carried by the fashioning
slides M M at the back of the fashioning point bars D D*. These bars are each
provided with bowles fitted to stud axles projecting from the back of the bars to
carry the bowles which embrace their respective cam plates N N*. A's therefore
these cam plates are moved up or down, the bars D D* will receive a lateral shift
to bring the fashioning points d d*, which they carry, into or withdraw them from
their acting position.
Motion is communicated from the bell crank levers I I* by links I' I'* to the
rock levers 12 12* pivotted to the framing of the machine, and forked at their rear
ends. Between the prongs of the forks is a pin or rod passing through the lower
end of coupling links 1" 13* pendent from the stop slides L L*. This arrangement
of link coupling allows of the stop slides following the lateral movements of the
fashioning slides M M*.
Similar link couplings J, J¹*, J2, J2* and J³ J³* serve to connect the rock
levers J J* with their respective cam plates N N* and impart a vertical motion
thereto.
It will be understood that as the mechanism in this machine for effecting the
vertical and oscillating movements of the fashioning point bars is precisely similar
to that in machines constructed under our above mentioned Patent, except that the
requisite motions ordinarily imparted by the cams are duplicated to provide for
the alternate action of the fashioning slides M M*, it will not be necessary to
explain the devices for effecting these movements. The cams D' used in this new
arrangement are however shown at Figures 3 and 15. The racking in of the
fashioning slides is effected by the cams 0 0* on the cam shaft.
Having now referred to all the parts of the machine which bear a relation to
the present Invention and explained their use, we will next proceed to trace the
movements of the several instruments by which the cycle of knitting operations
is completed, showing the order and the result of those operations, reference being
also had to the various parts of the mechanism which work the several knitting
instruments in their due order.
Supposing now the Jacquard or counting apparatus to have brought up a tappet,
say one of the left hand line of tappets h carried by the chain H*, the next
succeeding rotation of the cam shaft will cause the tappet h to strike one arm of
the bell crank lever H³ and thereby depress the other arm into a position to strike
the arm H carried by the shogging shaft H7* as the swinging arm H' is reciprocated
by the cam H2, and thereby to rock the shogging shaft.
This rocking of the shaft H** brings the bowle of the second arm H³ see Fig: 2
(on the left hand side of the machine) into the path of the right hand portion of
the shogging cam H ready to be acted upon thereby. While this rocking is taking
place, the knitting instruments are in the position shown at Figures 6 and 7
Sheet V of the diagrams.
The thread layer, having commenced its traverse from right to left in the

page_text: direction of the arrow, a new row of loops is now being formed on the points e
while the previous course is being "knocked over," the needles a being in their
lowest position. As the first step of the cam Hº passes the bowle of the arm H³
the shaft H will be shogged to the left and by means of the forked arm of the
bell crank lever I will shift the bowle i of the lever J from the rest cam K onto
the periphery of the lifting cam K'.
"
The continued rotation of the cam shaft will now rock the bell crank lever I
and rock lever J, and cause the bell crank lever I, through its connections, to lift the
sliding stop L, and bring the stop screw into the path of the sliding rod F which
carries the thread layer f for the purpose of limiting the traverse of the thread
layer. Similarly the lever J will, through its connections, lift the sliding cam
plate N and thereby shift the point bar D to the right, bringing the " fashioning'
points which it carries into position to act upon the six or other number of needles
which have been left without thread. By this time the parts of the knitting
mechanism will be in the position shewn by the diagram views Figures 8 and 9,
Sheet VI. At the same time the jack sinkers, having been thrust forward, to
indent the thread between the points e, the thread after division is ready for
transference to the needles. This is effected as usual by the advance of the
dividing sinkers c*, and the withdrawal of the points e-Concurrent with this
motion of the fashioning points the thread layer is arrested in its traverse, as shewn
at Fig: 9, no thread having been laid on the six needles to the left.-The further
rotation of the cam shaft F³ will bring the second step of the right hand portion
of the cam H to act upon the bowle of the cam H8 of the shaft H7*, the result
of this will be the shogging of the cam shaft to the right (as the shaft H7* cannot
be shogged further to the left). By this means the rest cam K² will be brought
under the bowle of the levers I and J and hold them and consequently the slide
stop L and cam plate N in their raised positions.
The fashioning point bar now descending, its points will cover the beards of their
respective needles as shown at Fig: 10 Sheet VII, the needles being in a raised
position and the points e withdrawn from the thread. The needles will then
descend to press the first course of knitting formed during the narrowing operation,
and the fashioning points descending with the needles will receive the six or more
selvage loops of knitted work from those needles, as shewn in the diagram Fig: 11.
The next movement of the needles is to fall back from the presser to allow the
points e, again to rise, so as to be ready to receive the thread which is to form the
second knitted course. The needles then sink into the knocking over bits g. as
shewn at Fig: 6 to complete the first knitted course, by throwing over the completed
loops. As the needles again rise to be ready to receive the next thread from the
points e, the fashioning points will replace the loops on the same needles from which
they were taken. This temporary removal of the loops prevented their being
dropped at the completing of the course by reason of the absence of thread under
the beards of the selvage needles. The shogging of the cam shaft to the right, as
above mentioned, brought the lifting cam K** (see Fig 2) under the bowle of the
levers I* and J* and the continued rotation of this shaft raised the sliding stop L*
and cam plate N* thereby providing for the arrest of the thread layer on its return
traverse to the right hand, and for shifting the right hand fashioning points d*
into their acting position. At the time of the shogging of the cam shaft to the
right, the thread carrier is just completing its traverse to the left, and the knitting
instruments are still in the position shewn at fig: 6 except the needles, which are
rising to resume their highest position. On the return of the thread carrier to lay
its thread upon the points e. it is arrested by the stop screw * and it is thus prevented
from laying thread on the points e which stand opposite the right hand selvage
needles. Simultaneously with this movement of the thread carrier the jack sinkers
advance to indent the thread as before explained. The transference of the indented
thread for the second course to the needles is then effected, as before, and the needles
again descend to the position of Fig: 11, to press, but at this time accompanied by
both left and right hand fashioning points. After pressing, the needles sink into

page_text: the knocking over bits, and thus this second course of knitting is finished. When,
by the rotation of the cam H2 of the counting apparatus (see figures 4 and 5) the
tappet * has been brought up, it will act on the bell crank lever H5*, and through
the arm H* rock the shaft H7**, and bring the bowle of the arm Hs* into the path
of the right hand side of the shogging cam Ho* (see fig: 2) situate near the right
hand end of the cam shaft, and the continued rotation of this shaft will shog the
shaft H** to the left, and bring the bowle of the levers I* and J* on to the rest
cam K2* on that side of the machine, thus maintaining the slides L* and N* on
that side in their raised position. The next movement is to bring down the
needles, and with them the fashioning points d. d*. In their descent, the left hand
fashioning points will a second time take from the left hand side the six loops that
were removed from the needles and replaced during the completion of the previous
or first course, and the right hand fashioning points will take the six loops of the
just completed knitted course from the six needles on the right hand side, which
needles have not had any thread transferred to them in consequence of the
traverse of the thread layer falling short of the full width of the knitted work.
This transference of the loops to the fashioning points occurs immediately before
the heads of the needles reach the level of the knocking over bits. As
the needles rise out of the knocking over bits on the finishing of the second
knitting course, the fashioning points d. d* with the loops upon them, move
away from the needle beards, and when they are above the knocking over
bits g. as shewn at Fig: 12, Sheet VIII, the left hand fashioning slide M, carrying
the cam plate N, is racked in by the ordinary mechanism operated by the cam
on that side of the machine, in order to shift the points in front of other needles, for
the purpose, of laying the loops which they carry on to adjoining needles to contract
the width of the fabric. It is to facilitate this part of the operation, and to give more
clearance that we have modified the cut of the knocking over tipping cam G* shewn
full size at Fig: 17 Sheet XI. By this lateral movement of the points reaching
inwards to the extent of two or more needles, the fashioning points will be ready
to transfer the loops which they hold, on to different needles. By this time the
Jack sinkers are being projected out to indent the thread for the third course, and
they will overlie the work on the needles. The fashioning points d. d* now meeting
the rising needles, as shewn by the diagram Fig: 13, will simultaneously replace
their respective loops, the fashioning points d. on the left hand side of each division
placing their loops on adjoining needles, and the fashioning points d*. on the right
of each division replacing the loops on the same needles from which they received
them. When the needles have risen again to the position of Fig: 8, the left hand
points will be drawn out of action by the fall of the sliding cam plate N, and the
simultaneous removal of the stop screw 1. of the sliding stop L, and the presentation
to the bar F of a stop screw . will permit of the thread carrier, at this, its third,
course laying its thread to the extreme width of the needles in work at the time.
This dropping of the sliding stop L and cam plate N is occasioned by the falling in
of the arm H³, the bowle of which will then be acted upon by the left hand side of
the shogging cam H and shift the shaft H* to the right, that is back to its
original position, bringing the bowle of the levers I and J on the left hand side
of the machine, from the rest cam K² onto the cam K¹, and thereby permitting of
the fall of the sliding stop L and cam plate N. Immediately after the finishing of
the third course, the thread carrier returns towards the right hand side, laying the
thread which is to form the fourth course on the points e, and at this time, as the
needles descend, as before, to press and complete the fourth course of knitting, the
right hand fashioning points d*, only being in position, will remove the six loops on
that side, and as they pass in rising from the knocking over bits with the needles
through the position of Fig: 12 Sheet VIII, they will, in their turn, be racked in by
the fashioning slide M* operated by the ordinary mechanism on the right hand side
of the machine from the cam O* on the cam shaft. These points will then replace
their loops on adjoining needles. When the points and needles have risen sutli-
ciently high, the fashioning points will be drawn away by the fall of the cam

page_text: plate N, and the thread will be laid up to the selvage on the right hand side by
reason of the simultaneous removal of the stop screw * by the fall of the sliding
stop L, and the width of the work being now contracted by the shifting laterally
of the loops on the left hand side after the second course, and the loops on the
right hand side of the work, after the third course, the machine will now again
knit up to the selvage until the rocking arın of the counting apparatus brings
up another pair of tappets to repeat the narrowing operation in the well known
manner.
To render more clear the relation which the consecutive operations above
enumerated bear to the rotations of the cam shaft, and thereby to explain the
manner in which the saving of time is effected during the fashioning of the work,
we have illustrated by the diagrams Figs 14 and 14a Sheet IX the movements
effected by the fashioning points throughout two rotations of the cam shaft, two
rotations being necessary to complete the cycle, inasmuch as the fashioning points
d and d* are racked alternately to fashion.
The innermost circle of these two diagrams shews the movements of the thread
carrier during two consecutive rotations of the cam shaft, the direction of its progress
being indicated by the arrows. The next circle in these diagrams shows the move-
ments of the points e relatively to the laying of the thread by the thread carrier.
The third circle shews the course of the movements of the needles still in the
direction of the arrow relatively to the laying of the thread upon the points e and
for the purpose of receiving the indented thread therefrom. The movements
indicated in these three circles are maintained unvaryingly throughout the action of
the machine whether knitting straight or fashioned work. The case is however
very different with the fashioning points & and d* inasmuch as their actions of
fashioning during two consecutive rotations of the cam shaft, alternate. This is
shown by the two outer circles in diagrams 14 and 14ª; fig: 14 showing the
times at which the fashioning points d are brought into acting position caused to
take off the loops from the needles, return them to the same needles, and again
remove them preparatory to replacing them upon other needles-Fig 14 in the
fourth circle counting from the centre shows the time relatively to the other
knitting movements of the machine at which the fashioning points & are racked
and also the time when they transfer the loops for narrowing to other needles-
In like manner fig 14 indicates the times of the commencement of operations of
the fashioning points d*, and fig 14 shows the completion of the cycle of those
movements.
"
The interval between the commencement of the action of the fashioning points
on the one side of the "division" and on the other side of the "division is shewn
in fig 14 to be equal to half a rotation of the cam shaft; the starting of the
points & being in the first quarter of the rotation of the cam shaft, and the starting
of the points d* in the third quarter of its rotation. From these diagrams it will
therefore be clearly seen how the economy in time in the knitting operation is
secured, there being no dwell or cessation of the knitting operation during fashioning
as in knitting machines as hitherto constructed for fashioning
The cams used in this machine are for the most part like those employed in the
machines constructed under our above mentioned patent. We have not therefore
thought it necessary to illustrate them in detail but we have given in Sheet X at
fig 15 the cut of the cam D¹ for the up and down motion of the fashioning point
bars, and at fig 16 the cam H2 for rocking the counting apparatus, these motions
being peculiar to this machine. Again in Sheet XI we have shewn at fig 17 the
cut of cam G* for giving a modified motion to the knocking over bits, and at
fig 18 in full lines the cut of cam A* used for pressing the needles when fashioning,
and in dotted lines the varied cut of cam used when straight knitting is being
made.
The second head of our invention relates to the adaptation to "Cotton" machines
of the ordinary construction, or those machines in which the thread carrier is
actuated through a friction clip, of means for effecting the fashioning without

page_text: arresting the knitting action of such machines. To this end we provide the machines
with the mechanism before described for automatically shortening the traverse of
the thread carrier and for bringing the fashioning points alternately into action,
and by making use of the before mentioned counting and shogging apparatus (or a
modified form of these parts) we cause both the knitting and fashioning to take
place simultaneously governing them by suitably cut cams
«
Before referring more particularly to the cut of the cams, and the other modifi-
cations of the above described mechanism requisite for enabling the ordinary
Cotton" machine to fashion while the knitting is proceeding, we will first explain
what is the sequence of the movements of the knitting instruments necessary for
obtaining this result as the required changes in the mechanism will thereby be
better understood
Suppose the needles to be in their highest position ready for the sinkers to indent
the thread on their stems, and the fashioning operation to commence with the traverse
of the thread carrier from the right to the left hand, the sliding stop and cam plate
on the left hand side of the machine will at this time stand in their highest position,
the former to arrest the thread layer short of its full traverse on arriving at the left
hand side of the "division," and the latter to bring into acting position the
fashioning points on that side. As the thread is laid on the needle stems the
sinkers will advance and indent the thread. So soon as this is effected the needles
will descend towards the presser bar accompanied by the left hand fashioning points
which will remove the loops of the six needles on that side that are without thread.
As the needles rise from the knocking over bits the fashioning points will replace
the loops on the same needles. With the next rotation of the cam shaft the needles
being again at their highest position the thread layer returns from the left to the
right hand, laying the thread for the second course. This return traverse commences
at the point where the thread layer was left, in laying the previous shortened
course, and is now arrested on the right hand side of the "division" by the sliding
stop on the right hand side of the machine, which sliding stop with the cam plate
for shifting into acting position the right hand fashioning points has in antici-
pation been raised. When this thread is indented by the advance of the sinkers
the needles will carry it down to press, and the fashioning points (d and d*) on
both sides of the "division" will accompany the needles and take off the selvage
loops.
As the needles rise from the knocking over bits after finishing the course, the
left hand fashioning points will be racked, and the fashioning points on both sides
will then replace their loops, the left hand on adjacent needles and the right on the
needles from which the loops were taken. On the points rising to their highest
position they remain quiescent till the next or third rotation of the cam shaft has
commenced; the left hand points will then be withdrawn from their acting
position. By the time the needles have again risen to their highest position they
will be ready to receive the thread for the third course which is laid from right to
left, and after the thread has been indented the needles carry it down to convert it
into a knitted course. The right hand fashioning points accompanying the needles
will during the third rotation of the cam shaft take off a second time the loops
and being racked replace them on adjoining needles. These points will then remain
quiescent during part of the next succeeding or fourth rotation of the cam shaft, after
which they will in their turn be withdrawn out of the line of their acting position.
In order to obtain time for the action of the fashioning points during knitting,
the timing of the cams has been slightly altered. In sheet XII these cams are
shewn full size. Fig 19 is the cam for giving the rising and falling motion to the
needles and fig 20 the cam for pressing the needles; fig 21 is the catch bar
lifting cam, and fig 22 the to-and-fro motion cam for regulating the motion of
the sinkers, Fig 23 is the tipping cam for the knocking over bits, and fig 24 the
cam for giving the up and down motions to the fashioning point bars
These knitting cams may be single cams of width sufficient to sustain the
bowles of the acting levers when the cam shaft is shogged, and adjacent to the

page_text: fashioning cams will be a circle or rest cam as usual. The action of these cams
relatively to each other is indicated by the horizontal line drawn through the axes
of the several cams. As this machine knits one course of loops only in each
rotation of the cam shaft, and as the fashioning points for each selvage remain in
action during two rotations of the cam shaft, and come into action alternately, it is
necessary to provide for the virtual quiescence of the shogging shafts, so far as
regards their axial motion during two rotations of the cam shaft. For this purpose
we provide the chain of the counting apparatus on each line of tappets with pairs
of tappets in place of single ones, so that on the completion of a rotation of the
cam shaft the cam of the counting apparatus by removing the tappet last in use
will allow the arms H and H3* of the shogging shafts to fall in. The second
tappet of the pair will however immediately restore the arm to its former position.
At the end of the succeeding rotation the falling in of the arms will allow of
the shogging shafts being returned to their normal position by the shogging cams
It will be obvious that the cams K³ and K'* require to be set in exactly
corresponding positions at opposite ends of the cam shaft, in order that they may
act alternately by reason of the shogging of the cam shaft.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in
Knitting Machinery," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
We claim
First Adjusting the action of the fashioning points on opposite sides of the
"divisions" of the machine as described with reference to Sheets I to XI (inclusive)
of the drawings, so that they shall alternately transfer the loops from the needles
to other needles, instead of simultaneously as heretofore, and thereby provide for
the continuous knitting of the work without a dwell between the courses.
Secondly The use of the two shogging rock shafts with the mechanism in
connection therewith for shifting automatically the sliding stops and cam plates,
by which the traverse of the thread carrier is controlled, and the fashioning points
are alternately shifted in and out of position, as described with reference to
Sheets I, II, III and IV of the drawings.
:
Thirdly In knitting machines furnished with friction clips for operating the
thread layers, but unfurnished with knitting points for receiving the threads from
the thread layers, we claim the adjustment of the action of the fashioning points
on opposite sides of the "divisions" of the machine, so that they shall take off
the loops from the selected needles (ready to transfer them to adjoining needles) as
the needles employed in knitting descend to press the new course of work, whereby
we provide for the continuous knitting while fashioning, and avoid a dwell
between the courses as above described.
In witness whereof we the said Samuel Lowe and John William Lamb have
hereunto set our hands and seals the eighth day of March in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.

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