IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Ehreg Woller, of Stollberg, in the Kingdom
of Saxony, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS."
Sealed the 16th October 1866, and dated the 20th April 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Friedrich Ebreg Woller at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 20th April 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRIEDRICH
EHREG WOLLER, of Stollberg, in the Kingdom of Saxony, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS."
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Friedrich Ehreg Woller, do hereby
declare that the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say:-
My Invention consists in the construction of a machine whereby. I am
enabled to produce according to requirement either a plain fabric, or a fabric
with an elastic border, or a ribbed fabric, or long loops, or a fabric composed
of any required regular intervals of two or all the above-named classes of
work.

page_text: My machine is constructed as follows:-In vertical standards connected to
a bed plate I fit a shaft which receives motion from a driving band or other-
wise; to this shaft I fit a toothed wheel in gear with a pinion on a second
shaft placed below; this second shaft carries a series of cams, which actuates
the various parts and produces the regular working of the machine. The
last-mentioned shaft has connected to it a block or collar with the face or
periphery divided into three parts, one part having a right-hand thread cut in
it, another part being formed with three recesses, and the third part with a left-
hand thread for the purpose before described. The block with the shaft and
cams is moved to and fro endwise by means of an apparatus consisting of a
vertical rod working between guides; the lower end of this rod carries a small
roller or bowl, which rides in a groove forming a double incline in a plate
which is centred upon a pin in the guides just mentioned. The upper part of
this plate is formed with two legs or projecting pieces, which carry lugs or
teeth to take into the threads of the block; one of the projections is extended
and has connected to it one end of a link, by which the teeth are depressed or
raised alternately by the motion of the link, which is actuated by a lever
caused to rise and fall by the opposite end of it riding. on a piece of metal
fixed to the face of a cam, which is fixed on a transverse shaft carried in
bearings on the bed plate. This transverse shaft carries a wheel geared into
by an endless screw on the longitudinal cam shaft. The shaft on which the
wheel is mounted also carries a series of discs; these discs have their edges
shaped to act upon the ends of levers, which have connected to them vertical
rods by which the various actions of the machine are brought into work. The
wheel and discs are removed when fabrics of different lengths are to be pro-
duced, and others of a different size are fixed in their place. In each case
the wheel should have a number of teeth corresponding to the meshes required
in one length of the work..
:
: 1
The needles are actuated by the cams first mentioned in the following
manner: The cams press upon rollers carried at the ends of double levers,
the opposite ends of the levers having connected to them rods, or bars by
which the lower needles are raised and lowered, and the upper needles are
moved to and fro. The cam shaft has a bevil pinion on it, in gear with a
wheel to which a cam or cams are fixed to operate the slur bar by which the
sinkers are depressed. The sinkers after having been pressed down. by the
slur bar are raised, by means of a bar acted upon by a cam, and are held in a
raised position by springs taking into notches in their tail or back end; the
action of these springs is overcome, by the superior. force of the slur bar when
acted upon. The bar which presses upon the barbs of the needles can be

page_text: regulated to suit the various classes of work the machine is capable of pro-
ducing. Springs are placed in various parts of the machine to ensure the
return of the different pieces after having done their work.
The working of the machine will be fully understood by the following
5 description and Drawings annexed hereto.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front view of the machine in its complete form;
Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a back view; and Figure 3, Sheet 3, a cross section of
the machine taken through the line A, B.
A is the bed or foundation plate on which are mounted a central standard B
and two end standards C, C; these standards are held in place by the trans-
verse bar D, and are provided with bearings in which shafts are free to
revolve. One of these shafts E carries at one end a fast pulley and a loose
pulley. E connected to a fly wheel D*. The opposite end of the shaft has a
hand wheel D' and a pinion F¹; this pinion F is in gear with a wheel F³ on
a shaft G. This shaft G has a series of cams A, B, C, D, fixed on it, which
cams I prefer to arrange in sets near each end of the machine.
The cams A are of the shape shewn in Figure 5, Sheet III.; the edge of
each of them is caused to act against a roller connected to a vertical lever L';
the upper end of each of the levers L' has a threaded portion of a rod L³
passing through it adjustable in the lever by nuts; the lower ends of the
levers L from collars or sockets, and are mounted on a rod connected to the
bed plate A. The outer ends of the rods L³ have pieces screwed on them,
through which one end of springs L passes; these springs are wound spirally
on a shaft E', which is fitted with ratchet wheels, into the teeth of which
pauls are made to fall and prevent the shaft E' turning when the required
tension of the springs is obtained. The forward ends of the rods L' have the
horizontal needle leads or carriers fastened to them.
One of the cams B is represented in detail in Figure 6, Sheet III. These
cams are each caused to press upon a roller carried on the inner end of a
double lever M³, also mounted on the same rod as the double lever L'; the
front ends of these levers have connected to them adjustable links or rods M³,.
which are fastened to eyes or lugs depending from the under side of the bar.
M, to which the vertical needle leads or carriers are secured: The rollers.on
the levers M are kept in contact with the cams B by springs M*.
The catns C (one of which is represented in Figure 7, Sheet III.) act
upon rollers carried in double levers P*; these levers are mounted on the
same rod as the levers L³ and Ms. Their front ends have each a pin O, which
takes into a slot in a vertical rod P; the upper ends of the rods P³ are con-
nected by pins P to curved pieces P¹, which are centred at P¹, and secured.

page_text: in the top of the end frames C, C'. The front ends of the curved pieces Pis.
carry the presser bar P, by which the barbs of the horizontal needles are
depressed at the proper time when the last-formed loops are required to be
thrown off those needles. The amount of depression can be adjusted by the
screws P, which act upon bosses P10 sliding in the slotted upper ends of the
rods P³, and embracing the pins P. The slot in which 'the pin O works is
formed with two spares O' and 03; when the machine is in proper work the
pin is in the spare 0', but should a thread break, or the proper working of:
the machine be stopped, the attendant by means of the handle Ps turns the
shaft P to bring lugs or projecting pieces P7 against the inner edge of the
levers P, and throw these levers forward, when the pin O will escape from
the space O¹ and drop into the space 0%, whereby the downward movement
of the presser bar P is prevented. While the presser bar P is in this position
When the required adjust-
any adjustment of the threads can take place.
nient has been effected the attendant returns the handle P' to its first position,
whereby the lugs P' are removed from the levers P³, which return to their
first position, being aided in their movement by the springs Ps, which work in
slots in the front end of the double levers P'. The presser bar P is held off
the needles by the springs P2, as shewn in Figure 3.
The cams D (one of which is represented in Figure 8, Sheet III.) act upon
rollers of other double levers N*, the sockets of which are on the same rods as
the double levers Ls; the front ends of these levers are slotted to receive
threaded rods N³, N³, adjustable in the slots by nuts; the upper ends of the
rods N³ are connected to eyes depending from the bottom of a horizontal
bar N; this bar N2 extends nearly along the front of the machine, and carries
short rods N', which are connected to a tapered bar N, which serves as a knock-
over bar to throw the last formed loops off the vertical needles. The sinkers
S, one of which is made to pass between every two needles when depressed
singly by the slurs S", are centred on a pin S held by uprights Se on a portion
of the plate S¹; the tails or back ends of the sinkers are notched to receive"
the ends of small springs So, which are secured to a depending piece of the
plate S¹; this depending piece also carries an adjustable plate, which is caused
to bear against the springs S, and regulate the pressure they exert against the
sinkers S. To ensure the sinkers working vertically without touching the
needles, they are passed between slotted rails or guides S7 and S. When the
slurs have depressed the whole of them they are returned to their first
position the rail or bar S1; this bar S¹ is caused to descend by means of
the cain E on the shaft G acting on a roller fitted in the lever S18, which is
centred on the arched frame T". To one end of the lever S the lower end of

page_text: a rod S. is connected, the upper end of which rod is again connected to a
horizontal bar S, from which other rods S are carried up to the bar
S2. When the sinkers have been returned, as just explained, the springs
S spring into the notches and hold them until again depressed by the
slurs S..
The cam E is shown detached at Figure 9, Sheet III. On the shaft Ga
bevil pinion T is mounted, which gives motion to a wheel U carried by a
bearing on the bed plate A. The wheel U carries two cams U₁ and U* which
act against rollers w¹, w, on the two arms of a rocking lever W centred on a
stud on the bed plate A. The upper end of this rocking lever W is jointed
to a link W, which is connected to a bar W. The cam U in its rotation
moves the lever W and its friction roller w' in the first quarter of a revolution
a given distance to the right, the next quarter of a revolution the lever
remains at rest, then on the third quarter revolution the cam U³ comes
against the roller w³ and moves the lever W a given distance to the left
where it again remains at rest during the fourth quarter of a revolution. The
upper end of this rocking lever W is jointed to the rod W₁, the other end of
which is connected to the sliding bar W. The sliding bar W2 is connected
with the slur bar S10 and with the thread guide bars Vi, V2, V3. The stroke
of the slur bar must be shorter than that of the thread guide bars, and its
motion has to begin somewhat later than that of the thread guide bars, there-
fore the sliding bar W2 is provided with a projecting piece u, which acts at
each single stroke upon one of the two adjustable pieces S¹ and S³ fixed on
the slur bars S1. By this arrangement the motion of the slur bar commences
a short time after the beginning of the stroke of the sliding bar W². The
motion of the thread guide bars must be finished a short time before the
stroke of the sliding bar and the slur bar is completed, and this is performed
by the arrangement hereafter described. The slide bar W2 is connected with
the thread guide bars by a pushing rod W³, which has at one end two notches
w and w into which the bolt w takes. The part in which the notches are
formed is provided with a treble-ended lever Z centred on a pin to. When
the sliding bar is moving to the right-hand side near the end of its stroke the
vertical arm of the piece Z will come in contact with the adjustable
piece, and in consequence thereof the horizontal arm will push the
bolt w out of the notch w³. In this way the pushing rod W³ ceases to move'
the thread guide bars, and at the end of the stroke of the sliding bar W the
bolt us will pass into the notch w. On its return stroke to the left the arm z¹
comes in contact with another adjustable piece, by which the same action
is produced, viz., the bolt w³ is thrown out of the notch w' and passed again

page_text: in the notch w³. At or near the opposite end of the rod W is a bolt or pin y
which rides in a slot in a plate. Q: on its, forward or backward motion. This
plate is capable of being raised or lowered for the purpose of bringing the
pin y in contact with the eye y or y or y' in one of the thread guide bars
V, V, Vs, and moving one of these bars in the same sense as the sliding
bar W and pushing rod Ws are moving. The raising or lowering of the
plate Qis effected by the apparatus R hereafter described: The apparatus R
is represented in cross section in Figure 10, Sheet III.; it consists of a worm
wheel R' geared into by an endless screw R2 on the shaft G; this screw R
is held in place by the open part of the bearing plate R to prevent it taking
the end motion of the shaft. In connection with the wheel R is fixed a series
of adjustable discs or cams R³, R*, R, supported by a bolt R in a frame R
which is easily removeable, so that other sized wheels and cams or discs can
be placed in their stead. The discs or cams R³, R, R*, have recesses ¹ cut
in their. peripheries, and a fixed projection, ou one face. On one edge of
each of the discs or cams teeth 76, 27, 28, on ends of levers R8, R, R1, are
made to bear; these levers are supported by the pin ; the opposite ends
of the levers R, R, have fastened to them vertical rods. The lever R° is
connected to the rod, and through the lever to the shaft and the
gathering apparatus. The lever R₁ lifts a slotted plate Q, whereby a bolt y
which rides in the slot regulates the raising of the thread guides which are
carried by bars V1, V2, Vs. The, thread guides are represented by X, X. It
is easily understood that by properly. shaping the edge of the disc R³ there can
Le inserted, in regular returning intervals threads of different colours or thick-
ness, each set of thread guides X fixed on one of the bars V³ or V or Vs
being provided, with another kind of thread. The lever R³ is jointed to a
link, and in its up-and-down motion puts in or out of gear the teeth of the
treble-ended lever in the apparatus H. This apparatus consists of two plates
bolted to, the bed plate A; between these plates is a piece of metal free to be
moved; it is held by a pin H' on round which a spring is wound to keep the
teeth out of gear, when not acted upon by the lever R8. The lower end of the
piece of metal is formed with two inclines in which a pin h is free to work, and
when the piece of metal is thrown to the right or left the pin rides in one of
the inclines and draws down a bolt or catch ha from the recess in the collar I.
on the shaft G. The other two ends or arms
the piece of metal have
adjustable teeth ha, ha, in them which take into the screw threads of the collar I
when raised by the action of the disc or cam. The collar has three divisions,
one formed with, a right-hand screw thread into which the tooth h³ takes, one
with a left-hand screw thread into which the tooth h² takes, and the third

page_text: division formed with three annular grooves or recesses h', h³, ha, which the
bolt he enters. The right and left hand threads are cut away on one half of
the periphery of the collar I, as shown. The action of the machine when
making a ribbed fabric with a complete border is as follows:-The thread
guides on the bar V₁ are thrown from left to right across the tops of the hori-
zontal needles, leaving their threads on them; the sinkers S follow just behind
the bar and are depressed by the inclines of the slurs 8" as they travel in the
same direction, and they take the thread down between the needles a given
distance and lay the loops thus formed in the path of the vertical needles; the
horizontal needles are then drawn back by the roller on the lever E' being
thrown back by the cam A on the shaft G; this drawing back of the needles
compels the thread to pass under their barbs; the sinkers are then raised off
the needles by the bar S¹ being forced down by the cam F¹, rods S", S, S¹7;
and lever S. The horizontal needles are then advanced a slight distance and
the vertical needles are raised; the presser bar P is caused to descend to press
down the points of the horizontal needles, which are again drawn back, the
tbreads passing over the heads and being thrown off the needles by coming
in contact with the edge of the sinkers S. The vertical needles are then
drawn down by the cam B on the shaft G and parts connected there'
with, taking the thread or meshes with them; but as the presser bar P is
again. brought down upon the barbs of the vertical needles the threads or
meshes are passed over them; the bar N being raised at this time throws the
meshes over the heads of the needles, whereby the meshes are released. The
bar N then falls, and the two sets of needles are brought into their first
position to be again acted upon in the same manner. The sinkers S when
they have been acted upon by the bar S", as just explained, are held in that
position by the springs s taking into the notches in their tails. By this time
the shaft G has made one revolution, and the lever W retires and is again
ready to lay another portion of the thread to form another row of meshes.
By the time the last row of meshes was thrown clear of the needles the
regulating apparatus R had been set by the lever R³, acted upon by the
cam R. The principal gathering apparatus (collirstellung) continues to
produce the long rows for each successive gathering until the pin of the
lever R falls into the recess in the cam R'; by this meaus the plate S* near
the end of frames C, C¹, on the shaft S is turned, and acting on the bolt S³
allows that bolt to fall, whereby the sinkers S are allowed to fall to a greater
depth between the needles, and thus larger meshes are produced. After this
deeper falling of the sinkers is effected the regulating apparatus moves the
sinkers into their first position, and throws the long rows of meshes off the

page_text: heads of the needles. When the loops are to be made larger a corresponding
movement of the needles must take place. When the portions of the
cams A, B, C, D, represented by the black lines in Sheet III., are made to act
medium sized loops are formed; when the apparatus is moved to the left the
portions of the cams represented by the blue lines are made to act, and larger
sized loops are formed, and when moved to the right the portions represented
by the red lines come into action and form smaller sized loops. The move-
ment to the left is effected by the apparatus H and I during the striking off
or knocking over of the last row of long loops through the lever R' being
lowered a little by the action of the cam R³ to bring the tooth h³ in gear with
the threaded portion of the collar I, whereby the shaft G is moved, about
inch to the left. When this movement has been effected and another row
of loops has been formed the sinkers again rise. The cam R³ acting upon its
lever throws the tooth hs into its threaded portion of the collar I, and moves
the shaft G and parts connected with it back to their first position. It is at
this part of the working of the machine that other cams and another wheel
having a greater or lesser number of teeth to produce a larger or smaller
number of loops than those last formed are fixed. The plate S* is quadrant
shaped, and has on its periphery three notches at different distances from the
axis, into one of which the bolt S takes, according to the depth the sinkers
have to fall to produce either long, ordinary, or short loops. If the bolt S³ is
in the highest of the notches short loops will be made, if in the middle or
second notch ordinary loops, and if in the lowest or first notch long loops.
For regulating the size of the meshes, or for making a closer or more open
fabric, the end of the bolt S³ is tapered, and the shaft S20 is made moveable
along its axis by means of nuts S" and S screwed on a threaded boss in the
central standard B. This boss is embraced by two collars fixed on the shaft S",
and by turning the nuts S and S the shaft is caused to move lengthwise to
the right or left; thus when the shaft is moved to the right a smaller diameter.
of the bolt S will rest upon the quadrant S, the gathering apparatus will be
lowered, and the size of the meshes will be diminished. During the time of
the gathering of the row of loops last formed the shaft G, by means of the
regulating and shifting apparatus R and H, is carried inch to the right.
The horizontal needles, which through the depression of the sinkers S bave
received short loops, have formed four single plain rows, the vertical needles
hold the last ribbed row, and take no part in the formation, of the four plain
rows. During the time in which the last of these four plain, rows is knocked
off over the heads of the needles the regulating apparatus shifts the bolt S
into the second notch in the plate S, and the first ribbed row is pushed off

page_text: the horizontal needles; the four smooth rows remaining on the vertical needles
the loops again become united, and the regulating apparatus causes the bar V³
to throw in a thinner or different thread, of which two rows are made to form
a parting. A border is also formed when each revolution of the regulating
apparatus is completed, after which the working of the machine, as before
described, is again commenced.
For the uniform working of the machine I employ two fly wheels D³, D*,
one at each end of the shaft G.
Figure 4, Sheet III., represents the working edges of the cams A, B, C, D, E,
developed in a straight line.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim constructing
machinery for the manufacture of looped fabrics arranged and acting sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Ehreg Wöller, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of March, One thou-
sand eight hundred and sixty-six.
FRIED. ENREG WOLLER. (L.S.)