Improvements in and connected with Machines for the Manufacture of Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Machines for the Manufacture
of Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
I, JOHN MAIR HOOD, of Newmilns, Ayrshire, Machine Maker, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention to be as follows :-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of, and
machines or mechanical motions and appliances, for the making or manufacturing
of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics; and which will effect the forming of the
meshes and knotting of the threads, in a more simple and efficient manner than by
the mechanism or appliances heretofore in use.
According to this invention the mechanism and actuating gearing would be carried
on two or more side parallel frames according to the width of the machine and fitted
with transverse stays or stay frames, and the mechanical motions of the shuttles and
their thread spools and the needles and thread guides for forming the meshes and
knots of the nets, would all be effected primarily from a first motion shaft
sequentially and intermittently, as will hereinafter be described, horizontally in front
of a taking-up beam.
The shuttles would each consist of a thin vertical hollow rectangular frame
containing a disc like spool of thread, with a projecting thread nozzle at one end
through which the thread passes out at the spool, and two of these would be mounted
vertically within one frame, one behind the other with their nozzles and threads
passing down adjacent to each other in the centre. These shuttles would be carried
in two sets parallelly by spring clips in soparato transverse frames which are mounted
within an outer transverse frame traversing horizontally in slides at the sides of the
machine. This outer frame carrying the inner shuttle carrying frames is reciprocated
transversely and also longitudinally or to and fro in a horizontal plane, which gives
the shuttle frames and shuttles corresponding movements while in their upper
horizontal plane, as will bercinafter be described. The shuttles and shuttle frames
are carried by the outer frame towards the front fol of the machine where the
knotting takes place, and both sets or frames of shuttles bere receive a dropping
or lowering motion into an under shuttle receiving or drop box below the level
of the fel, and are afterwards raised again to, and carried back by the outer
reciprocating frames to the other or back end of the machine. The lowering motion
is given to the shuttles at the front end of the machine by a central longitudinal
upper lever on which the shuttle carrying frames are hung and move on a roller,
this lever being reciprocated by side rods and cams on a lower second motion
shaft. This lower shuttle receiving or drop box is made stationary, and has guides
formed in its sides to receive and retain the two sets or frames of shuttles, and has an
inner vertical moving frame which runs in slides and raises the shuttles up to their
higher position in their moving transverse frames, as will hereinafter be explained.
Three sets or rows of needles and needle carrying bars are mounted transversely at
the front end of the machine under the fel and in front of the lower shuttle drop box,
the needles being made in the form of short vertical pins. These three sets of needles
and bars do not move or reciprocate longitudinally, but they receive a lowering and
raising motion simultaneously, and the front and back sets and their bars receive
separate transverse motions, as will hereinafter be described. Other two longitudinal
moving transverse frames or rows of needles and their carrying bars are mounted
preferably one behind the other in transverse slides, considerably behind the front sets.
These two sets of needles and bars are reciprocated in their slides longitudinally
to and from the front sets, and are both lowered and raised simultaneously at the
front end of the machine, while the front or inner set receives a transverse

page_text: motion simultaneously with the back or inner set of the front three sets of needles
placed at the front end of the machine, so as to shift the one set of threads and open
the loops to allow the shuttles to pass upwards between them to form the knots. A
transverse take-off twist and thread guide and retaining board, is fitted in slides in the
side frames and reciprocated longitudinally, as will hereinafter be described. This
board is fitted in the centre with a series of horizontal U-shaped plates, which retain
and guide the threads at the back, while the shuttles are reciprocating forwards and
backwards, and carry the loops to the front set of needles to form the knots and
meshes as will hereinafter be explained.
The movements of the several frames and mechanism are as follows:-The threads
would be first takon from the fel of the net to the shuttles in their back position.
The outer reciprocating frame would then receive a transverse motion preferably from
cams or wipers and spring levers from a second motion transverse shaft of the
machine, which would move the two sets of shuttles and their carrying frames to turn
the thread round the back duplex sets of needles and needle bars which would be at
this time close in front of the shuttles. The outer frame would then be reciprocated
forwards by the spring levers and wipers or cams, and carry the two sets of shuttles
to the front end of the machine where they pass the front sets of needles and neodle
bars, and at this part the shuttles and their carrying frames receive a transverse
motion, from the same gearing, but in the opposite direction to that which they
received at the back end of the machine, and which brings them to the spaces between
the three sets of neodles with their threads round the inner and middle sets. While
this transverse motion of the shuttles is taking place, the extreme front bar with its set
of needles, which is made in the form of a spring plate, is shifted in the opposite
direction to the movement of the shuttles by a vertical pin in the reciprocating frame
moving into a horizontal longitudinal fork on the upper end of a vertical rod, and a
horizontal pin on the lower end of this rod working into a slot in a vertical arm
secured on the spring plate gives it the requisite transverse motion, and closes the
threads against the other two sets of needles, the plate being brought back to its
former position. by spiral springs after the shuttles have moved forward. The
shuttles alter passing the thread round the front sets of needles by their transverse
motion as described, are reciprocated backward until they come above the drop
box where they are lowered into it outside of the thread loops by the lowering of
the front end of the top central lever on which the shuttle frames hang. The
inner needle bars of both the front non-longitudinal reciprocating sets of needles,
and 'he back reciprocating needles are now shifted transversely in the same direction
by cams and levers from the second motion shaft to widen the loops, and the shuttles
are then moved upwards through the loops by the raising of the frame within the drop
box, both the raising and lowering of the shuttles in the drop box being effected by
the top central bar on which their frames hang, through cams and levers from the
first and second motion shafts of the machine.
At every movement of the raising of the shuttles from the drop box the front
set of shuttles are moved transversely by cams and levers from a third transverse
motion shaft, to the one side of the back shuttles, and this shifts the threads of the
first shuttles to form the diagonal sides of the net meshes between the knots, these
movements being given to the front shuttles from right to left and vice versa
alternately at each raising of the shuttles from the drop-box.
The shuttles and their frames aro then reciprocated horizontally along with the outer
traversing frames to the back end of the machine from which they started their
motion; and while this is taking place, the back reciprocating sets of needles and bars
are moved horizontally forward, as also the U-shaped plates and their carrying frame,
to near the front sets of needles, and when the back set of needles come above the
drop box they are lowered and the loops on them set free, and the U-shaped plates
now traverse horizontally forward and carry the loops and place them on to the sets of
needles at the front end of the machine, and by this means the knots are there formed
and the net meshes completed at the proper length from the former row of knots and
meshes at the fel. The front three sets of needles are now lowered and the cloth beam

page_text: takes up the new knots of the length of cloth to the fel, and both the front and back
traversing sets of needles are then raised simultaneously, both the lowering and
raising of these needles being effected by cams and levers from the second motion
shaft. The back two sets of needles and the U-shaped plates are afterwards traversed
horizontally to the back part of the machine. The shuttles and their frames are
then, to make the next set or row of meshes, reciprocated transversely and hori-
zontally forward, and the movements go on sequentially and intermittently as
previously described for the forming of the first set of knots and meshes. At each
alternate horizontal longitudinal reciprocation of the U-shaped plates and their carrier,
they receive a transverse movement by cams and levers from the third motion shaft
of the machine, and this shifting of these plates takes any twist away which may be
caused while forming the knots and meshes.
The cloth beam would wind up the finished net or meshed fabric by a movement
from the second motion shaft, as it was delivered off the front set of needles.
The first-motion shaft of the machine would be driven by a fast and loose pulley
mounted on it and a belt from any prime moving shaft of the works, and the
second and third motion shafts would be actuated through spur or other gearing
from the first motion shaft, in sequential time to give the several motions to the
cams, levers, and frames described.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Machines for the Manufacture
of Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
I, JOHN MAIR Hood, of Newmilns, Ayrshire, Machine Maker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying Threo Sheets of Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of, and
machines or mechanical motions and appliances, for the weaving, knitting, or manu-
facturing of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics; and which will effect the forming of
the meshes and knotting of the threads, in a more simple and efficient manner than
by the mechanism or appliances heretofore in use.
According to this Invention, the mechanisin and actuating gearing are carried on
two or more side parallel frames according to the width of the machine, and fitted with
transverse stays or stay frames, and the mechanical motions of the shuttles and their
thread spools and the needles and thread guides for forming the meshes and knots of
the nets, are all effected primarily from a first-motion and cam shafts sequentially and
intermittently, as will hereinafter be described, horizontally in front of a taking-up
beam.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
Three explanatory Sheets of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a transverse front elevation of one arrangement of the
machine or loom for weaving nets in accordance with the improvements of this
invention, with a great part at the centre and the cloth beam and the two main
cam shafts C, D, shown as broken away at in the direction of the width of the net
being woven. Figure 2 on Sheet 2 is a plan view of the machine corresponding to
Figure 1, with a great part of the centre shown as broken away. Figure 3 on
Sheet 3 is a longitudinal side elevation of the machine, corresponding to Figure 1,
but with the frame and gearing as looking on the left hand side with the outer
end frame B", as removed to show the ends of the shafts and the cans and mechanism
more clearly at that sido or end of the machine. Figure 4 is a corresponding

page_text: longitudinal section broken away through the centre of the machine to show the
moving frame H, H', which carries the shuttles a a', in its forward position over
the corresponding fixed lower shuttle box frame K K', which receives the
shuttles a a¹ in this position, and with the shuttles and spools down in the latter
frame K K, in the act of forming the knots. Figure 5 shows a sectional side and
plan view of two of the shuttles a, a', and spools in their moving frame HH';
Figure 6 is an edge section of one shuttle a and spool b¹ and spool b¹ detached in
transverse vertical section; and Figures 7 and 8 show details of the machine which
will be hereinafter referred to.
Referring to these Drawings:-As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the machine is driven
by a short first-motion shaft A carried on two bush bearing standards A¹ A¹ of its
own, projecting up from the floor at the right hand side of the machine, and actuated
by a belt A passed over a fast and loose pulley A2 A3, from a pulley on any overhead
prime moving shaft of the works. A pinion A on this shaft A, actuates a largo spur
wheel A' on the overhung end of the long transverse second motion or first cam
shaft C mounted in bearing brackets at C in the lower part of the two tall main ond
or side frames B, B', of the machine, and in like bearing brackets at C¹ near their ends
in two low end frames B2, B", all socured together by transverse stays B³ B This
shaft C actuates through a train of three equal sized spur wheels at the left hand
side of the machine, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, a third motion or second
cam shaft D, mounted in corresponding bearing brackets at C in the lower front
part of tho frames B, B', and B2, B", with a set of smaller cams mounted on it, for
giving the raising and lowering and lateral reciprocating actions to most of the
functional weaving or knitting parts of the machine, and at the same speed as the
shaft C, so that these cams will also make the frames or bars which they move
synchronise in their motions and stoppages with those actuated by the cams E, F, G,
of the first cam shaft C, all as will hereinafter be described. The back cam shaft
has mounted on it the three cams E, F, G, between the outer main frames B, B2,
and B1, B", of exactly the same corresponding shapes on the right and left sides of the
machine, which by antifriction pulleys
levers E, F, G, fulcrumed at E", F, G₁, near the lower back part and on each
C respectively reciprocate vertical
side of the machine and have their upper ends connected by links E³, F², G², to centre
studs, eyes, or bushes at E, F, G³, respectively to opposite ends of the moving
shuttle carrying frame H, H', and back needle frames or bars ff", and the moving
bars or frame g¹, of the U-shaped knotting plates 9, also as to respectively
reciprocate the said levers E¹, F¹, G¹, and their long cross frames E, F, G, to
which they are so connected, in the forward and backward longitudinal directions,
that is from the positions shown in Figures 1 to 3 to that shown in Figure 4,
against the power of reacting cords and weights C or it might be springs which keep
the friction pulleys C³ always up against their respective cams, the cords & weights
acting to pull them forward from the back position shown in Figures 1 to 3, to the
front position shown in Figure 4, the shape of the cams E, F, G, synchronising the
position of the frames at their respective points of stoppage and motion as required.
The shuttlo frame H, H, is reciprocated longitudinally in the direction the net is
woven in the side guide frames H" H" bolted at Hx to the upper outside of the
frames B, B¹.
As shown particularly in Figure 4, and in the detached side and edge sections and
plan Figures 5 and 6, the shuttles cach consist of a light thin or narrow vertical hollow
rectangular frame a, a, having mounted within it on a small lateral spindle, a double
dise like spool b¹ shown in its case a and detached in Figure 6, with the thread & wound
on it between the flanges to form each strand or thread of the net, and with a projecting
thread nipple a at one end, through which the thread passes down and out from
the spool and two of these shuttles a, a', with their spools 6' in them, are
mounted vertically and parallel to each other, one behind the other, with their
nipples a and threads 6 passing down adjacent to each other in the centre, each
spool being retained in its shuttle a, a by a curved blade spring 61, which also
gives the necessary tension or drag on the thread & wound within the spool, as seen

page_text: particularly in Figures 5 and 6. These shuttles a, a, are mounted in two sets paral-
lelly or in line as close together as convenient by T checked ends a¹11, in corresponding
vertical grooves h, h', in the internal sides H, H', of the transverse outer reciprocating
frame H, H, and are carried and reciprocated vertically within this frame, as seen in
Figure 4, by spring clips c, with kneed lower ends taking into corresponding
notches a in the upper sides of the shuttles a, corresponding notches a³ being formed
on the under side for removing them up and down out of the fixed shuttle frame K, K¹,
at the front of the machine, as will hereinafter be described. All these upper carrying
springs are attached to a vertical reciprocating frame of transverse fixed and
movable bars c, c", with end frames c, carried by studs and rollers at c³ on the
upper bars L, L, of a raising and lowering frame L, L', with corresponding lower
bars L, L, all reciprocated up and down in slide guides L, L, secured on the
inside of the frames B, B, and which are raised and lowered simultaneously and
parallelly by the cams L, L³, on the shaft D, through the levers L, L, fulcumed
at L in the frames B, B1, all at the time the frame H, H, and its spring frame c to c
are brought over the frame K, K', as before described, by the cams E and levers E', to
pass the two sets of shuttles a, a, down into the lower shuttle frame K, K³, all as
seen particularly in Figure 4. This outer or back frame H, H', carrying the shuttles
and spools as described, is reciprocated longitudinally or to and fro in a horizontal
plane to give the shuttles corresponding movements while in their upper horizontal
plane as before described, and as indicated by the double-headed arrows in Figures 3
and 4, and is also reciprocated iranversely as indicated by the double-headed arrows in
Figure 1, a short distance to the loft equal to the extent of the divisions between the
shuttles and needles when behind the back needles ff, and needle bars f², f", and vice
versa the same distance back to the right when over the front needles i, 4, and needle
bars I, I, 12 at the front of the machine, as will hereinafter be described, both
motions being effected by the vertical oscillating frame H1, H2, H3, fulcrumed at H
on brackets projecting down from the longitudinal rails B at the front and back
main end frames B, B, of the machine, the upper horizontal longitudinal rail H" of
this frame H, H³, taking into a forked bracket at H on the right hand end of the
frame H, while the lower horizontal bar H³ of this frame H², H³ is so connected by a
link and bont lover at H, fulcrumed on a bracket at B to the frame B2, as to be
reciprocated by a face cam H³, on the shaft D and antifriction pulley on the lever H*,
the cam acting against the power of a spring H, keeping the antifriction
pulley of the lever H up against it, and reciprocating the frame H, H³ the spring H
thus reciprocating the shuttle box H H' in the opposite direction to the cam, which
regulates the time periods and duration of both movements in relation to the to-and-
fro motions of the shuttle frame H, H. When the shuttle box frames H, H', with
their shuttles in them, are reciprocated over the fixed shuttle box K, K¹, secured at
their ends K to the frame B, B', of the machine, as shown in Figure 4, the sets of
double shuttles a, a', with their spools 6', ', receive a dropping or lowering motion
into this receiving or drop box K, K₁, at the fel, where the knots are forined after
having passed transversely to the right of the front needles i, 1, and are afterwards
raised again from the stationary shuttle box K, K', to and carried back by the outer
reciprocating frames H, H¹, to the starting position shown in Figures 1 to 3 at the
other or back end of the machine, as will hereinafter be described. The lower shuttle
receiving or stationary drop box K, K', has T-shaped guides " formed in its sides,
similar to those formed in the upper shuttle frame H, H, to receive and retain the
two sets or frames of shuttles a, a, and has an inner inverted vertical moving spring
frame formed of spring clips k, with kneed upper ends and transverse fixed and
spring barsk, ", the kneed ends of these springs k taking into the lower notches a³
of the shuttles a, a, to pull them down into the lower box K K³, as shown in
Figure 4. The end frames of the longitudinal bars & slide up and down within
the opposite ends of the fixed shuttle frame K K', and push the shuttles up again into
the frames H, H¹, by connecting links 1, connected at their lower ends to the front
arms of short beam levers k³, fulcrumed at to the inner side frames B, B', having
antifriction pulleys K' on their back ends working on the lower circumference

page_text: of cams K³ keyed on the first cam shaft C, inside the frames B, B', the weight of
the frame and links and levers k to ³, acting in the downward direction, while the
cains K³ raise them in the opposite direction to put the shuttles a a¹, back into the
upper traversing box H, H².
11
111
2
Three sets or rows of short vortical needles i, i, ³, carried on corresponding
bars I, I, I, are mounted transversely at the front end of the machine under the
fel 6 and in front of the lower stationary shuttle drop box K, K', the needles on
them being made in the form of short vertical pins, the two i, i, close together,
and the other a little in front of those i i. As shown in diagram plan Figure 7,
these needles are pitched or divided off transversely in their bars at the same distance
apart as the shuttles a, a', and width that the strands and knots of the meshes of the
net are woven. These three sets of needles i, 1, 2, and bars I, I', I³, do not move or
reciprocate longitudinally, but they receive a lowering and raising motion simul-
taneously, and the front and back sets i, 2, and their bars I, I³, receive separate
transverse motions, as will hereinafter be described. The front sets of needle
bars I, I, I, with their needles i,,, receive their lowering and raising motion
through the slide brackets I carrying them at their ends, working in slides fill in the
upper part of the side frames B, B, and continued down and connected by links
at I to levers I, fulcrumed at their other ond I to the same side frames of the
machine, and having antifriction rollers J¹, J¹, mounted near their centre working
over their edge cams J, J, mounted on the second cam shaft D close outside the
frames B, B. Other two longitudinal moving transverse frames or rows of needles f,ƒ³,
and their carrying bars ",", are mounted preferably the one behind the other in
transverse slide blocks F, and behind the front needle bars 1, 11, 12, so as to be
reciprocated longitudinally in the fixed guides F, F, secured to the side frames B, B¹,
under the guides H", by the cams F, F, and their levers F1, F2, against the power
of
the cords and weights C, or it might be springs, which keep the antifriction pulleys C³
up against the cams F, F. The raising and lowering of these rails f2f", with their
needles f, f, is effected, as hereinafter described, by vertical slide blocks f³, f³,
attached to their ends, sliding in dovetailed grooves in their longitudinal recipro-
cating blocks F³, F³, by pulleys ff in the lower end of the blocks_ƒ³ƒ³,
working in the upper slotted rails M, M, of raising and lowering frame M,
working in slide guides M, M, projecting out from their side frames B, B',
and having their lower rails M", M", connected by links M, M2, to the inner
arms of beam levers M³, M³, fulcrumed to studs at M projecting out from these
frames, with antifriction rollers N¹, N¹, at their other ends working under cams N, N,
on the front cam shaft D close to the cams J, J, outside the frames B, B¹.
The inner set of needles and their bars I of the front sets, and the inner set of
needles and their bars f3 of the back sets, both receive a simultaneous transverse
movement to the right so as to shift the one set of threads, and open the loops to allow
the shuttles a a¹ to pass upwards between them from the drop box K, K¹, to form the
knots, while the shuttles are in the lower box, as shown in Figure 4, and as before
stated by the spring frames and cams k to k² by the cams K. This transverse move-
ment of the two bars I and f, is effected by forks, f³, projecting down from their
under side and taking on to the upper longitudinal bar of a rocking frame
fulcrumed at inside the side frame B, having its lower bar actuated by the lever
and link fulcrumed at by an antifriction roller and cam 75 mounted on the shaft D
near the side frame B. The set of U-shaped transverse take-off twist and thread
knotting guides g, are secured to the lateral shifting bar g', of the longitudinal
traversing bar g secured to their traversing slide blocks G³, reciprocated in the same
fixed guides F of the back needle bars and their slide block by the links and
levers G³, G', and cams G as before described, but the U-shaped plates 9 and their
bar glare reciprocated transversely to the right on the bar g" and back once every
two shots or cycles of the shuttles and knots to the extent of one division of the
shuttles a, a, as they come up over the fixed drop shuttle box K, K', to take the
twist out of the thread and tighten the knots. This lateral motion is effected
through a fork arm g¹¹ projecting down on its left-hand end inside the frame B',
111
M'

page_text: which takes into the upper rail of a reciprocating vertical frame m, m³, m², ful-
crumed at m to the main frame B, the lower rail m² of this frame being con-
nected at the centre by a link m³ to the inner arm of a horizontal lever m
fulcrumed near the centre to the bracket m³, projecting inwards from the frame B'.
This lever m is connected and actuated in front by a connecting-rod n linked to the
upper end of a vertical lever ¹ fulcrumed to a bracket at n¹ secured to the outside of
the frame B', and having an antifriction roller n² on its lower arm taking on to a
cam n³ by the pressure of a reacting spring with one recess in it, keyed on
the inner end on a third short cam shaft O, carried in bearings at O¹, in the side
frames B1, B, and actuated by a spur pinion D₁ and large wheel D₁ at half the
speed of the shaft D. the groove n', in the cam n³, thus shifting the bar g' of the
U-shaped knotting plate 9, laterally and back as they are tightening the knots,
each revolution of the shaft O. The front set of shuttles a' carried by the front
side or bar H of the shuttle carrying frame H, H', get a lateral motion to the
right and to the left alternately after each raising of the shuttles from the drop
box K, K', and forming of the knot, as will hereinafter be described. The front
bar carrying the said shuttles a' is guided in guide slides H7, screwed to the shuttle
frame H, and has a spring pawl H³, secured to one of the guides H7, taking into
a notched plate in front to retain the bar H and its shuttles in the two positions
to which they are shifted by a double forked arm V projecting up and taking
into the upper longitudinal bar V₁ of the reciprocating frame V², fulcrumed
by its side frames near the centre on studs at V in brackets secured to the
upper rails B of the side frames B¹, B". The lower rail Vs of this frame is
connected by a link and horizontal lever V*, V5, fulcrumed near the centre to a
bracket Vu, secured to the side frame 111. This lever V5 is actuated by an
antifriction pulley o on its outer arm working on to a face cam o secured on the
third cam shaft O, by the re-acting pressure of a spring o³, all so as to shift and main-
tain the front set of shuttles and their frame bar H during its one alternate
traverse back and while forming the knots & shifted to the right or left of the
notches at HB, and V, as before stated, but when this bar H₁ is shifted along
with the frame H at opposite ends of its traverse, the slotted arm V passes through
the notches v, v', in the large upper bar V₁ of the rocking frame V, V³, V³.
'
The movements of the several frames and mechanism are as follows, and will be
best understood from Figures 4, 7, and 8 of the Drawings, the latter showing a
plan of the net meshes as being formed:-The threads would be first taken from
the fel of the net where they are all knotted in transverse line over the front needles
and their needle bars I, I, [2, and the double ends continued forward over the smooth
steel bar W, carried on brackets W¹ on the inner side frames B, B¹, and down and
round the under side of the feeding roller ✗ carried in bearings at X' in the side
frames B B and wound by this roller on to the take-up roller Y in front, carried in
slotted brackets Y' bolted to the same side frames B, B'. At the starting of the
weaving all the parts would be in the position shown in Figures 1 to 3, that is, the
double strands of thread would be stretched from the spools and shuttles in the
frame H, H, in their back position from the knots or meshes at *, as dotted-in in
Figure 3 and this frame H, H', receives a transverse motion laterally by the
rocking spring re-acting levers H³ to H and cam H, as before stated, from the front
cam shaft D of the machine on the right hand sido, and this would move the two sets
of shuttles a, a¹, to turn the threads & round the back duplex sets of needles f,f¹, on
the bars, which would be at this time close in front of the shuttles, the
U-shaped plates g being at this time slightly behind the shuttles. The outer frame H, H³,
would then be reciprocated forwards by about a quarter turn of the cam E through
their levers E' and links E, as before stated, and carry the two sets of shuttles a a¹
to the front end of the machine, where they would pass the front sets of duplex
needles i, i, and needle bars I, I. This front longitudinal motion of the frame H, H³,
by the plates; secured on its lower ends, would press forward the front bar I³ by
projections j¹ on it, against the power of spiral springs, mounted on studs projecting
out from the bar 1', so that the frame H H, with its shuttles would get a lateral or

page_text: transverse movement to the right in front of the vertical duplex needles i, i¹, and
behind the short front needles, so pressed forward by their bar I' to the extent of
one division or distance between the needles by the action of the same levers and
cains H to H, which gave them the opposite transverse motion at the back, and
which brings them to the spaces between the three sets of needles i, i,, with thoir
threads round the inner and middle sets i, , when the part 2 of the cam E, brings
the shuttle frame H H to the position shown in Figure 4, over the shuttle box K, K',
where they make a long pause at the parts 2 of the cams E to the extent of nearly
one fourth of the revolution of the cams E. While this transverse motion of the
shuttle frame H, H', was taking place to the right in front of the duplex needles i, ¹,
the extreme front bar I with its set of needles, which is made in the form of a
spring bar or plate, is shifted to the left or opposite direction to the movement of
the shuttles a, a, by a vertical pin 1 in the reciprocating frame H, H', moving into
a horizontal longitudinal fork on the upper end of a vertical knee lever 1 fulcrumed
on one of the brackets W₁, and a horizontal pin I5 on the lower end of this lever I*
working into a slot in a vertical arm 1º secured on the spring bar, gives it the requisite
transverse motion, and closes the threads b against the other two sets of needles i, i,
the bar I being brought back to its former position by a spiral spring in line with
the other needles i, i, after the shuttles a, a, have moved forward. In this position of
the frame H, H, the frames and levers L to L³ and cams L, lower the spring
frame c to c, and pass the shuttles a, a', partly into the lower shuttle box K, K²,
when they are caught by the springs of the lower spring box k to k³, and drawn
down into it by the links and levers k¹¹, 4, and first part 1 of the cam K³, the sinall
angle blocks in the lower and upper sides relieving the shuttlos 6 by coming in
contact with the spring bars cl¹ and of the retaining springs c and . While the
shuttles a a are in the lower drop box K, K', the inner needle bars I and f³ of both
the front non-longitudinal reciprocating sets of needles i, and the back reciprocating
needles, are now shifted transversely in the same direction to the right by the
forks F and frames to and lever and links and face cam 1, mounted on the
shaft Das before described, for the purpose of widening the loops to bring up the
shuttles a a' within them between the needles i, f, and ",", into the upper frame H, H¹,
as before described.
Immediately after thus raising the shuttles a, a¹, from the drop box K, K', the
front set of shuttles a¹ are moved transversely one step to the one side of the back
shuttles a, by their front bars H³, and frame V₁ to Vs by the links and levers V+, V,
and cam o, o¹, as before stated, and this shifts the threads 6 of the front shuttles a¹ to
form the diagonal sides of the net meshes between the knots, and the knots alternately
with the opposite selvages, these movements being given to the front shuttles a¹ from
right to left and vice versa alternately at each raising of the shuttles from the drop
box K, K', by the bar V1 of the frame V as before described
The shuttles a a¹ and their frames H, H', are then reciprocated horizontally to the back
end of the machine from which they started their motion by the part 3 of the cam E;
and while this is taking place, the back reciprocating sets of needles f, f¹,
and
bars ff", are moved horizontally forward by their cams F as before stated, as also
the U-shaped plates g and their carrying bar gf by their cams G to near the front sets
of needles, and when the back set of needles f, f¹, come above the drop
box K, K¹, they are lowered into it by their cams N, frames and links and levers M
to M, and the loops on them set free, and as shown in plan view Figure 8, the
U-shaped plates g, now traverse horizontally forward and carry forward the loops
and tighten the knots at the sets of needles i, i, i, at the front end of the machine,
and by this means the knots are there formed and the net meshes completed at the
proper length from the former row of knots and meshes at the fel. The front
three sets of needles i, 2, 3, are now lowered by their links and levers I to 15
and cams J, J, as before stated, and the cloth beam X takes up the new knots of
the length of cloth to the fel by a ratchet wheel on it, and a lever movement
to, indicated in Figures 1 to 4, from a take-up cam a on the front cam shaft D,
close up to the inside of the frame B, and both the front and back traversing sets

page_text: of needles are then raised simultaneously by their said cams N and J. The two
back sets of needles f, f, and their bars f, f", and the U-shaped plates g and
their bar g', are afterwards traversed horizontally to the back part of the machine
by their cams F and G respectively while the cam E is traversing the shuttle
frame H, H, back to the position shown in Figures 1 to 3. The shuttles a a¹ and
their frames H, H¹, are then, to make the next set or row of meshes, reciprocated
transversely and horizontally forward, and the movements go on sequentially and
intermittently as previously described for the forming of the first set of knots and
meshes.
Although single acting rotating cams have been described and shown in the
Drawings, with re-acting cords and weights or springs for giving the several
reciprocating and oscillating motions to the levers and frames of the shuttles and
needles of the machine, it will be understood that grooved positive acting cams in
both directions might be used in all cases instead of these. It will be further under-
stood that the shapes of the cams might be considerably modified so long as they
were mado to give the several essential motions in relation to each other of the
shuttle frames and needle bars at the times and in the manner described. And
although the spools & havo been described and shown as of a double disc form with
the thread wound between the discs, it will be understood that other forms of spools
or cops might be used within the shuttles a, a'. The arrows on the several pulleys,
wheels and cams and other moving parts indicate the direction of their motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of a
machino or loom having traversing shuttle frames and stationary drop box frame in
front, and with front and back moving needlo bars, and actuated by cans, for the
weaving or manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the construction and arrangement of thread disc spools and their shuttles and carrying
frames mounted and traversed in an upper longitudinal and transverse moving frame,
in combination with a lower fixed or stationary shuttle frame below the needles,
substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the traversing of the shuttles horizontally in the transverse and longitudinal directions,
and the lowering and raising of thom vertically to and from a stationary drop box
below the needles sequentially and intermittently substantially as and in the manner
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other inesh fabrics,
the mounting of three sets of short vertical needles and their carrying bars at the
front end of the machine, which receive a lowering and raising motion simultaneously,
while the front and back sets of the three receive opposite transverse motions, in
combination with a duplex set of back needles and needle bars traversed longitudinally
and the inner set transversely with the inner set of the front needles, substantially as
and in the manner and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the constructing of the carrying bar of the front set of needles in the form of a spring
bar which moves in the opposite transverse direction to that of the shuttles to
close the threads against the other two sets of front needles, substantially as and
in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the mounting of two sets of needles and their carrying bars behind the front three sets,
1

page_text: and the reciprocating of these longitudinally to and from the front sets to forin the
length of mesh, and the lowering of them simultaneously at the front end of machine
to relieve the loops and tighten the knots, substantially as and in the manner herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics.
the giving of a simultaneous transverse motion to the inner sets of the back and front
sets of needles after the shuttles have been lowered down into the stationary drop box,
so as to shift one set of threads and open the loops to allow the shuttles to pass
upwards between then on the other side to form the knots, substantially as and
in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Eighth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the combination and use of a set of take-off twist and thread channel or U shaped
plates on a longitudinal traversing bar behind the back set of needle bars, and inter-
mittently and sequentially reciprocated longitudinally and transversely for taking the
twist out of the threads and tightening the knots, substantially as and in the manner
herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
"
Ninth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics,
the combination and use of a stationary "drop box or vertical shuttle frame close
behind and below the front set of needles for the shuttles being lowered into and
raised from substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in roference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Tenth. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and other mesh fabrics
the fitting of the upper moving and lower stationary drop boxes with separate lowering
and raising spring gripping frames for lowering. raising, and relieving the shuttles while
passing from the one frame to the other, substantially as and in the manner herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Eleventh. In a machine for the manufacture of fishing nets, and other mesh fabrics,
the reciprocating of the one set of shuttles to the one side of the other set alternately
from right to left and vice versa, to shift the threads of the shuttles to form the
opposite diagonal sides of the net meshes between the knots, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated the 22nd October 1889
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.