IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said William Cotton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1882.
WILLIAM COTTON of Loughborough in the County of Leicester Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES
"
In what is known as the French way of forming the foot piece of socks and
stockings the foot is made in one piece and the side edges of this piece have to be
seamed together on the underside of the centre of the foot.
For shaping the toe end two parallel rows of narrowings are made at some
distance in from each side solvage one line of narrowings at a further distance in
from the selvage than the other line of narrowings and close up to the toe these
two parallel lines of narrowings are made to converge to a point. Heretofore theso
double narrowings have ordinarily been produced by shifting the loops upon the
needles by hand manipulation although expensive and complicated automatic
apparatus has I believe been tried for making the narrowings.
According to my invention I arrange automatic apparatus for effecting the
narrowings in the following manner. The apparatus is applicable to all classes of
rotary knitting machines fitted with automatic narrowing mechanism.
The two bars carrying the two sets of points for forming the narrowings at tho
two sides of each piece of work in place of simply being held at one of their onds
up to a stop plate upon a screw box which in the ordinary way can be set inwards
at the times required for narrowing by the step by step turning of a screw I
cause to be held against a stop plate carried by an additional screw box mounted
upon the top of the ordinary screw box.
The stop plate is not fixed to this additional screw box but is carried by a slide
which can move to and fro upon it parallel with the point bar. A projection on
the slide is made to rest against a stop lever and this lever carries a truck which
rests against a pattern wheel mounted upon the top of the additional screw box.
TD 1

page_text: The pattern wheel is formed with a number of notches or recesses around its
circumference into which the roller on the lever stop can enter.
The notches or recesses are made of different depths the depths gradually
decreasing all the way around the wheel from the deepest to the one on the
opposite side of this deepest notch the depth of which is only equal to the distance
between the needles.
For shaping the toe end of the foot piece of a stocking or sock broad sets of
points are carried by the two point bars one to shift in wards a number of loops at
one side of the foot piece the other to shift inwards a number of loops on the
opposite side.
When making the two parallel rows of narrowings at a distance in from each
selvage.—two narrowing courses are worked in succession. For the first narrowing
course as many points as desired are made to shift loops inwards from the selvages
the shifting inwards being effected by the moving inwards of the ordinary screw
box. After the first narrowing course a partial turn is given to the pattern wheel
above mentioned so that the roller of the stop lever which previously was resting
upon one of the prominences of the pattern wheel now enters the deepest notch or
recess and bears against its bottom. The points are thus drawn back so that at
the next narrowing course fewer points are in action and the second narrowing is
in this way made at any desired distance from the other narrowing and nearer to
the side selvage.
After the second narrowing course the pattern wheel is turned back to its former
position so as to bring the points into place ready for again making a similar pair
of narrowings. At the same time the slide which carries the stop plate for the
point bar is drawn back a distance equal to one needle so that after each double
narrowing one point goes out of work.
When the two lines of narrowings are to be brought together to a point the
same operation is repeated except that instead of turning the pattern wheel one
step one way and the next a step backwards in the opposite way the pattern wheel
is caused to turn always step by step in one direction so as to bring different parts
of its circumference into position to act upon the stop lever and as the succeeding
recesses are made of less and less depth the distance that the points are moved
outwards between the two narrowings gets gradually less and less until the two
lines of narrowings meet together, the shaping of the toe end of the foot piece is
⚫then complete.
In order to be able to give the above requisite movements to the screw by which
the additional screw box is worked and to the pattern wheel above mentioned I
fix upon each of them a ratchet wheel the clawkers for driving which are carried
by levers which are worked to and fro whenever the cains for producing a narrowing
are brought into action.
Both clawkers can be held away from their ratchet wheels when they are not
required to turn them by lifting rods then raised or lowered by the action of a
cam on the cam shaft.
For racking back the points a distance of one needle after each pair of
narrowings the clawker which acts upon the ratchet wheel of the screw of the
additional screw box is held up and out of action whilst the first narrowing is
being made and at the second narrowing is allowed to drop into contact with the
'ratchet wheel so that at the completion of the second narrowing the ratchet may
turn the screw a distance and rack back the points a distance of one needle.
The rocking to and fro of the pattern wheel at the times required when the two
parallel lines of narrowing are being made is effected by a prolongation of the
clawker which at times serves to drive the ratchet wheel which is fast upon tho
pattern whicel.
The prolongation has two projections standing downwards from it these serve
to act upon opposite sides of a pin which stands up from the ratchet wheel. So
long as the two parallel lines of narrowings are being made the prolongation of the
clawker rests upon the top of the pin and is hold up by it so that the clawker

page_text: cannot engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. During the first narrowing
course the clawker is also held up by the lifting rod so that its prolongation does
not act upon the pin and the pattern wheel remains at rest-but at the second
narrowing course it is allowed to descend and then acting upon the pin turns the
ratchet wheel first a step in one direction then a step in the opposite direction.
Afterwards when the two parallel lines of narrowings have been completed the
prolongation of the clawker no longer rests upon the top of the pin in consequence
of the additional screw box which carries the pattern wheel having been racked
back a distance after each double narrowing-the clawker therefor drops and is
able to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and now turns the ratchet wheel
step by step until it has made a completo turn-the shaping of the toe end is then
complete as above explained
The cams which actuate tho clawker levers and the lifting rods are counter
action cains and the levers are held by friction in the positions into which the cains
place them-Both of the clawkers can also be held up and out of action when at
other parts of the work when single narrowings are to be made.
After the first narrowing it is desirable to put further tension upon the threads
to prevent their being caught by the points at the second narrowing-this I do
by then giving a higher rise to the snapping tension clips through which the
threads are led a second cam with a higher lift is then brought into action to give
this higher lift to the thread clips.
Similar arrangements of mechanism to that above described are also applicable
for forming single narrowings to first set in the point har a distance of two needles
and then rack it back. In this case the pattern wheel would not be required and
simply the racking back mechanism
In order to form single stripe work upon any class of rotary knitting machines
without having to make idle courses in which no work is done which entails great
loss of time when such kind of work is being made I add to the machine an
additional cam by means of which the slur cock bar or as it is sometimes called the
driver bar which has then an additional Slur Box or Boxes attached can have
given to it a to and fro travel twice thrice or more times the length of the travel
given to it by the ordinary cam which drives it when producing unstriped work and
I cause on cam to be brought into action and the other to be simultaneously thrown
out of action as required. Two or more thread layer bars are used one is connected
in the ordinary way to the driver bar by a friction clip-the friction clip or clips
of the other thread layer bar or bars is whenever required coupled up with the
driver bar by a latch-locking bolts are also provided by means of which the
first mentioned thread layer bar can be locked at either end of its course.
double throw cam and two thread layers bars are used the action of the machine
is as follows:-
When &
When single stripe work is to be made the double throw cam is brought into
action the first thread layer bar is also locked at the end of its travel by one of the
locking bolts and the second thread layer bar is by the latch above mentioned
connected to the driver bar. As the double throw cam commences to move the
5 driver bar forwards the second thread layer bar is carried along with it until at
the end of its traverso it is stopped by a stop in the ordinary way and a course of
work is completed. The first thread layer bar is now unlocked and is free to be
carried along with the driver bar and its thread layers now lay their threads over
the needles and a second course of work is completed. At the end of its traverse
the first thread layer bar is again locked.
When the driver bar makes its backward movement the same operations are
repeated the second thread layer bar moves first-then the first thread layer bar
and the same operations are repeated so long as the double throw cam continues in
action. When plain work is to be made the double throw cam goes out of action
and the ordinary cam is brought into action-The locking bolts for holding the first
thread carrier bar and the latch for coupling the second thread layer bar to the
driver also go out of action. To give these movements to the operating parts the

page_text: two cams are both driven continuously the double throw cam at half the speed of
the ordinary cam--or if the cam is more than a double throw cam at a speed to
correspond with the different throw of the cams. Each cam gives a continuous to
and fro motion to a slide bar. Each bar has jointed to it a catch lever-one of
which is held up and out of action when the other is lowered and in action a notch
in the catch lover then drops over a pin upon a swinging lever which is linked to
the ordinary draw lever by which the driver bar receives its to and fro movement.
The lifting of the catch levers is controlled by lifting rods resting upon a pair of
stop or pattern wheels which are side by side upon an axis to which a step by step
revolving motion is given as roquired. It has for this purpose fixed upon it a
ratchet wheel, the clawker for driving this wheel is carried by a bar to which a to
and fro movement is imparted by the action of a projection upon the side of the
double throw cam. When the clawker is not required to turn the ratchet wheel
it is held up and out of action by a lifting rod. The lifting rod is held up at the
times required by pegs upon an endless pattern chain to which a step by step
revolving motion is continuously given. When a peg comes under the lifting rod
it lifts the rod and holds the clawker out of action when no peg is below the rod,
the rod drops and the clawker comes into action.
Whenever by the step by step revolving motion of the two pattern wheels the
lever catch which before caused the driver bar to be driven by the ordinary cam
is lifted and when consequently the ordinary cam goes out of action the upward
movement of the lifting rod which raises this lover catch is also made to bring into
action the stops for locking the first thread layer at the ends of its traverse and
also to bring into action the latch for coupling the driver bar to the second thread
layer bar.
Striping apparatus arranged as above described is applicable not only for
producing colored stripe work but may also be used for producing work with
alternate courses worked with threads of different materials as for example
alternately silk and cotton.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Cotton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th June
1883.
WILLIAM COTTON of Loughborough in the County of Leicester Machinist
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES
"
In what is known as the French way of forming the foot piece of socks and
stockings the foot is made in one piece and the side edges of this piece have to be
seamed together on the underside of the centre of the foot.
For shaping the toe end two parallel rows of narrowings are made at some
distance in from each side selvage one line of narrowings at a further distance in
from the selvage than the other line of narrowings and close up to the toe these
two parallel lines of narrowings are made to converge to a point. Heretofore these
double narrowings have ordinarily been produced by shifting the loops upon the
needles by hand manipulation although expensive and complicated automatic
apparatus has I believe been tried for making the narrowings.
According to my invention I arrange automatic apparatus for offecting the
narrowings in the following manner: The apparatus is applicable to all classes of
rotary knitting machines fitted with automatic narrowing mechanism.
The two bars carrying the two sets of points for forming the narrowings at tho
two sides of each piece of work in place of simply being held at one of their ends
up to a stop plate upon a screw box which in the ordinary way can be set inwards
at the times required for narrowing by the step by step turning of a scrow I cause
to be held against a stop plato carried by an additional screw box mounted upon
the top of the ordinary screw box. The stop plate is not fixed to this additional
screw box but is carried by a slide which can move to and fro upon it parallel with
the point bar. A projection on the slide is made to rest against a stop lever and
this lever carries a truck which rests against a pattorn wheel mounted upon the
top of the additional screw box. The pattern wheel is formed with a number of
notches or recesses around its circumference into which the roller on the lever stop
can enter.
The notches or recesses are made of different depths, the depths gradually
decreasing all the way around the wheel from the deepest to the one on the opposite
side of this deepest notch the depth of which is only equal to the distance between
the needles.
For shaping the toe end of the foot piece of a stocking or sock broad sets of
points are carried by the two point bars one to shift inwards a number of loops at
one side of the foot piece the other to shift inwards a number of loops on the
opposite side.
When making the two parallel rows of narrowings at a distance in from each
selvage two narrowing courses are worked in succession. For the first narrowing
course as many points as desired are made to shift loops inwards from the selvages-
the shifting inwards being effected by the moving inwards of the ordinary screw
box. After the first narrowing course a partial turn is given of the pattern wheel
above mentioned so that the roller of the stop lever which previously was resting
upon one of the prominences of the pattern wheel now enters the deepest notch or
recess and bears against its bottom. The points are thus drawn back so that at tho
next narrowing course fewer points are in action and the second narrowing is in
this way made at any desired distance from the other narrowing and nearer to the
Bide selvage.
After the second narrowing course the pattern wheel is turned back to its former
position so as to bring the points into place ready for again making a similar pair

page_text: of narrowings. At the same time the slide which carries the stop plate for the
point bar is drawn back a distance equal to one needle so that after each double
narrowing one point goes out of work.
When the two lines of narrowings are to be brought together to a point the same
operation is repeated except that instead of turning the pattern wheel one step one
way and the next a step backwards in the opposite way the pattern wheel is
caused to turn always step by step in ono direction so as to bring different parts of
its circumference into position to act upon the stop lever and as the succeeding
recesses are made of less and less depth the distance that the points are moved
outwards between the two narrowings gets gradually less and less until the two
lines of narrowings meet together the shaping of the toe end of the foot piece is
then complete.
The above movements I give to the additional screw box and to the pattern
wheel which it carries in the manner hereinafter fully described and shewn in the
drawings annexed.
Similar arrangements of mechanism to those described are also applicable for
forming single narrowings to first set in the point bar a distance of two needles
and then rack it back. In this case the pattern wheel would not be required and
simply the racking back mechanism.
Figure 1 shews a left hand end elevation of a machine constructed so as to bo able
to effect narrowings in the manner above described. Figure 2 is a front elevation of
the left hand end of the machine with some of the parts removed. Figure 3 is a
plan view of the same also with some of the parts removed. Figure 4 is a vertical
section through the ordinary screw box and through the additional screw box
mounted upon it.
In the above views I have for the most part shown only the parts for effecting
the narrowings and not the parts for producing ordinary courses of work as these
parts are of the ordinary construction and their manner of working is well
understood.
The machine also to which the improvements are shewn to be applied is one of
the ordinary knitting machines known by my name but they might be applied to
other rotary knitting machines fitted with narrowing mechanism.
In the class of machines to which I have shown my improvements applied a
narrowing course is made whenever the cam shaft of the machine is shogged a
distance end wise so as then to bring another set of cams carried by it into operation
and to put the other cams upon it which previously were acting to produce courses
of work out of action.
Figure 5 shows a diagram view of the piece of work the automatic production
of which upon knitting machines is the main object of the above described improve-
ments. In this figure a. a. are two parallel rows of narrowings at some distance
in from each side selvage and which at b. b. are made to converge to a point close
up to the toe end of the piece of work.
In Figures 1 to 4 A is the driving shaft-B the cam shaft driven from
it. C the needle bar shaft, C' the presser bar shaft-C the catch bar shaft-
Cs the catch bar lifting shaft-C the shaft from which the narrowing points
are carried―D.are some of the needles carried by the needle bar D'-E E
are the sets of points two sets for each piece of work that is being produced on the
machine-one set for shifting loops inwards from one selvage of the piece of work
the other for shifting loops inwards from the other selvage. One of the sets of
points can be shifted endwise by collars Ex on a bar E' the other by collars E* on
a bar E'. The left hand end of the bar E' is by means of a spring held always
against a plate F at the left hand end of the machine whilst the opposite end of
the bar E is held by a spring against a similar plate F at the right hand end of
the machine-these plates F instead of being merely each carried by a screw box
by which it can be racked inwards in the ordinary way is as above stated carried
by a slide capable of being moved end wise to and fro along an additional screw
box mounted on the top of the ordinary screw box. F is the slide carrying the

page_text: plate Fit can move endwise to and fro in a dovetail groove formed along the top
of a block F
The block F is formed to 'slide to and fro in a dovetail groove formed along the
top of a block F³ which is itself formed to slide in a dovetail groove in a bed F*
which is fixed to the framing of the machine.
The to and fro movement of the block F is controlled by a screw G mounted
in bearings carried by the frame of the machine and the to and fro movement of
the block F is controlled by a screw H mounted in bearings upon the top of the
block F³.
The turning of the screw G at the required times is effected as usual by a peg
wheel G upon its end being acted upon by a notched driving rod C-the lower
end of the rod G2 is jointed to a lever G³ which turns on a centre at G. A truck G³
on the lever G³ is acted upon by a cam G* on the cam shaft whenever a narrowing
course is being produced and the cam is in the ordinary way made to lift the
driving rod so soon as the narrowing points have taken loops from some needles
and before they deposit these loops on to other needles. The notched driving
rod G2 is held up to the pegs of the peg wheel G' by a spring Gº. If the spring is
allowed to hold the notched driving rod close up to the peg wheel then whenever
tho driving rod is lifted it will act upon two of the pegs and turn the peg wheel
a distance equal to twice the distance between the pegs.
Gis is a spring catch for retaining the peg wheel in whatever position it may be
turned into.
When the peg wheel has the above amount of movement given to it each time
that it is turned the points will at each movement be set inwards a distance equal
to twice the distance between the needles (that is set inwards two needles).
Narrowings of this kind are what are for the most part usually required to bo
When however the
mado at various parts of work made in knitting machines.
peculiar narrowings such as shewn by the diagram are to be made, then the points
have only to be set inwards the distance between the needles that is set inwards
one needle. To effect this the notched driving rod G³ is when these narrowings
are to be made held away a distance from the pegs of the peg wheel when in its
lowest position by an inclined stop G7 which is then allowed to come into tho
position shewn in Figure 1. When the driving rod G³ is raised the notches in it
will not immediately engage with the pegs of the peg wheel but as the rod riscs
the inclined stop allows the rod G. to approach the peg wheel-one of the notches
in the rod then engaging with one of the pegs of the peg wheel turns the peg
wheel a distance equal to the distance between the pegs instead of twice this
distance as it otherwise would have done. The inclined stop G7 is formed by the
upper arm of a crank lever which turns on a fixed centre at GB the other arm G
of this lever is drawn upwards by a spring G10 into the position shewn in Figure 1
but when the stop is not required to come into action then the arm G is held
down by depressing a lever G which carries the arm G° downwards with it.
When the lever arm G" is depressed it is caught and held down by a spring
catch G. When the lover is so hold down ordinary narrowings can be made on
5 the machine but the narrowings which it is the main object of my invention to
enable the machine to produce cannot be made until this spring catch is released
and the stop G7 allowed to be brought into the position shown in Figure 1.
Whenever the narrowings shewn by the diagram Figure 5 are to be made the
sliding block F of the additional screw box has motion given to it by the scrow H
0 in the following manner. On the end of the screw Ĥ is a ratchet wheel 'H'.
A clawker H² engages with the teeth of this wheel it is jointed to a lever H³ which
can be rocked on a fixed shaft H-a piece of leather or such like material carried
in a slot in the interior of the boss of the lever H³ is by screws H³ screwed through
the boss made to press against the fixed shaft H' so that the lever may remain in
5 whatever position it is moved into by the cams which act upon it. The lower arm
of the lever H³ carries trucks or rollers H. Whenever the lever is moved so as to
draw back the clawker H' the ratchet wheel is turned a distance of one tooth and

page_text: so the sliding block F' is drawn back a distance and carries back with it the
plate F so that the bar E¹ which rests against it is moved endwise a distance
equal to the distanco, between the needles-that is one needle. The clawker is
only required to thus move back the sliding block F after two consecutive.
narrowings have been made. The clawker is therefore held up so as not to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel H' during the time that the two narrowings
are being made it is then allowed to drop and engage with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel and by the backward movement which it then receives to turn this
wheel a distance of one tooth. The clawker H is held up at the times required
by a lifting rod I jointed to an arm which forms part of the lever G¹¹ another
arm G also forming part of the lever is by the action of the spring Go held
against the end of a lever I' which turns on a fixed shaft 12 and is made to bind
on to this shaft by friction in the manner explained with reference to the lever H³.
The lower arm of the lever I carries a truck or roller I³ which is acted on by cams
on the cam shaft and thereby made to turn the lever Q" and lift the lifting rod I
at the times required.
The slide F which carries the plate F is as before stated capable of sliding
end wise in guides in the sliding block Fan adjustable screw stop F³ upon it is
made to rest against a lever F which turns on a pin F' carried by the sliding
block F. The lever carries a truck FB which by reason of the rod E' always
bearing against the plate F is made to bear against the surface of a pattern wheel K
a full size plan view of which is shewn at Figure 6. This pattern wheel is carried
by and can turn around a pin K¹ which stands up from the sliding block F it is
prevented from turning too freely around this pin by a spring K² made to bear
upon it as shown. Fast with the pattern wheel is a ratchet wheel K³ with the
teeth of which a clawker K is allowed to engage at the times required to give
a step by step rotating movement to the ratchet wheel and to the pattern wheel
which is fast with it. The clawker K' is jointed to the same lever arm H³ which
carries the clawker H. The clawker H has also a projection H' standing up
from it which comes below the bottom of the clawker K' and lifts this clawker
whenever it is itself lifted. One of the hollows between the teeth of the ratchet
wheel is as shewn at Figure 1 made deeper than the others-into it the front end
of the clawker enters during the time the two parallel rows of narrowings aro
being made. On the right hand side of this deeper hollow a pin K stands up
above the top of the next tooth. The clawker carries a prolongation K° from
which there is a downward projection K7 which comes on the right hand side of
the pin K. The bottom of the left hand side of the projection K' is as shewn at
Figure 1 formed to lock into a recess formed in the right hand side of the pin K³.
It has also another downward projection from it K³ the bottom edge of which
rides upon the top of the pin K when the clawker K is drawn back after being
lifted so that the projection K' shall not act upon the pin K. When it thus rides
upon the top of the pin K³ it holds up the clawker and prevents its dropping
down so as to engage with the tooth of the ratchet wheel K³ which is then
. below it. When however at the end of the time during which the two parallel
sets of narrowings a have been produced the sliding block F³ has been racked or 4
set inwards to such an extent that the ratchet wheel Ks has been carried inwards
along with it to such an extent that the bottom edge of the prolongation Ke of the
clawker K no longer rests upon the top of the pin K at the time when the
clawker is drawn back-the clawker is at the end of its backward movement free
to drop and then engages with another tooth of the ratchet wheel and at its next 5
forward movement turns this wheel a distance of one tooth and afterwards when
not held up by the action of the lifting rod I continues to turn the ratchet wheel
one tooth at each of its forward movements until the pattern wheel has been
thereby caused to make one complete revolution. Full size plan and edge views of
the clawker K' and its prolongations are shewn at Figures 7 and 8.
Face views full size of the cams for giving a to and fro movement to the
clawkers K and H2 are shewn at Figures 9 and 10.
5

page_text: Similar views of the cams for giving an up and down movement to the lifting
rod I are shewn at Figures 11 and 12.
The cam pieces L L Figure 9 are fixed to the face of the disc L' on the cam
shaft so that they may come into position to act upon the truck or roller Ho
whenover the cam shaft is shogged to the right to produce narrowing courses-the
cam pieco M Figure 10 is fixed to the boss M on the cam shaft so as to be brought
into position to act upon the truck H whenever the cam shaft is shogged to the
left to produce courses of work. The cam piece N Figure 11 is similarly fixed to
a disc N¹ on the cam shaft so that it may be brought into position.to act upon the
truck I³ whenever the cam shaft is shogged to the right and the cam piece O is
fixed to a boss O' on the shaft to come into position to act upon the truck 13
whenever the cam shaft is shogged to the left. The relative position of these cam
pieces around the cam shaft is shewn at Figure 13.
On the end of the screw H is a toothed wheel H³ into which gears a toothed
wheel H on an axis H10 carried by the sliding block F³. By turning the toothed
wheel H' by the crank handle H upon it the screw H can be turned to move the
sliding block F to its forward position after it has been gradually drawn back
whilst the narrowings are being made.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The slide F having been set forward
to the required distance by turning the wheel HP and brought into the required
position which can be seen by a pointer F8 secured to it the apparatus can be
brought into action whenever the lever G" is released from the spring catch G¹³
and so allowed to be brought into the position shewn in Figure 1 by the action
upon it of the spring G. Afterwards so soon as the cam shaft is shogged end wise
to produce a narrowing course the apparatus comes into action and at this time the
pegs on the pattern chain or wheel which control the endwise shogging of the cam
shaft are so formed as to keep the cam shaft shogged into position for producing
narrowings during the time that it makes two complete revolutions that is that it .
is caused to make two narrowing courses in succession instead of only causing it to
be held in this position during one revolution as when ordinary narrowings are
being made.
When the cam shaft is shogged endwise to cause the machine to make a
narrowing course the ratchet wheel K³ and clawker K are in the position shewn
at Figure 1-and the pattern wheel K and truck F which bears against it are in
the position shewn by the full size plau view Figure 6.
After the cam shaft has made about 3 of a revolution during which time the
narrowing points have been made to take loops of the work from the needles and
have then been set inwards a distance equal to the distance between the needles
(that is set inwards one needle) and have again placed the loops on to the needles
in the ordinary way of forming a narrowing course the leading end of the cam L
comes against the truck Ho and thereby slightly moves forwards the clawkers-
this movement frees the projection K7 of the clawker K' from the pin K³ so that
the clawker can then be lifted. The cam N then commences to act upon the
truck I³ and raises the lifting rod I thereby lifting the clawkers. So soon as the
narrowing points after placing the loops which were upon them on to the needles
have been withdrawn from the loops the further action of the cam piece L upon
the truck H causes the clawker K to act upon the pin K³ and so to turn the
ratchet wheel into the position shewn at Figure 14 the roller F which as shown at
Figure 6 was previously resting against a projection K of the pattern wheel K
now enters the recess Ko this movement causes the narrowing points to be drawn
back so that at the next narrowing course fewer narrowing points will come into
action. The second narrowing course now commences. The clawkers are drawn
back by the action of the cam Lx but as they are at this time both raised they
neither of them act upon their ratchet wheels.
Near the end of the backward movement of the clawkers the bottom edge of the
prolongation K8 of the clawker K' comes above the top of the pin K³ as illustrated
at Figure 15 and the clawker is thereby held up during the remaindor of its

page_text: backward movement and the commencement of its next forward movement as
illustrated at Figure 16.-the clawker K* is thereby kept from engaging with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel K³ when it again moves forwards. After the clawkers
have been inoved back by the cam L* they are again moved forward by the action
of the cam Land return to the position shewn at Figure 14-the second narrowing
course has then been completed and the cam shaft is shogged end wise to the left to
cause a course of work to be produced on the needles-By this movement of the
cam shaft the cams O and M are brought into action the cam O lowers the lifting
rod I and allows the clawkers to drop into gear with their ratchet wheels-the
cam M then draws back the clawkers. The clawker H2 turns the ratchet wheel H
and so draws back the slide F and plate F carried by it a distance of one needle
BO as to bring the points back into the same position that they were in at the
completion of the first of the two narrowings. The parts are then in position
shewn at Figure 1 and ready for again making a second pair of narrowings
whenever the cam shaft is again shogged endwise.
These operations continue to be repeated until the ratchet wheel K³ has by the
movement of the sliding block F³ been carried back into such a position that the
prolongation K8 of the clawker K* no longer rests upon the top of the pin K5 when
the clawker is drawn back the clawker therefore at the end of its backward
movement drops into the position shewn at Figure 17.
In this way after the completion of the last of the two parallel rows of narrowings a
and when another pair of narrowings has to be made to form the narrowings b-
the first of this pair of narrowings goes on exactly as above described but when
clawker K is again drawn back it drops into the position Figure 17 and just at the
completion of the second of the two successive narrowing courses is again moved
forward and then turns the ratchet wheel K³ thereby bringing the prominence K"
of the pattern wheel opposite the truck FB.
As the successive pairs of narrowings are made these operations are repeated
until the pattern wheel has made one complete turn.
As will be seen by Figure 6 the prominences on the wheel get lower and lower
and the depressions in it shallower-in this way the narrowings b are gradually
brought together and made to meet at the point c.
The clawkers can then be lifted into the position shown at Figure 18 by
depressing the lever handle G" and ordinary narrowings can be made on the
machine wherever required in the work and the narrowings shewn at Figure 5
will only be again made when the lever G₁ is again released from the spring catch
which holds it down.
If two parallel rows of narrowings only are required and these after being
carried on for a distance parallel with one another are not required to be brought
together to a point an oscillating pattern surface might be substituted for the
pattern wheel and be oscillated to and fro whilst the parallel narrowings are being
made in the same way as described with reference to the to and fro oscillating
motions imparted to the pattern wheel.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my invention.
In order to form single stripe work upon any class of rotary knitting machines
without having to make idle courses in which no work is done which entails great
loss of time when such kind of work is being made I add to the machine an
additional cam by means of which the slur cock bar or as it is sometimes called the
driver bar which has then an additional slur box or boxes attached can have given
to it a to and fro travel twice thrico or more times the length of the travel given
to it by the ordinary cam which drives it when producing unstriped work and I
cause one can to be brought into action and the other to be simultaneously thrown
out of action as required. Two or more thread layer bars are used one which I
call the first thread layer bar is connected in the ordinary way to the driver bar
by a friction clip-the friction clip or clips of the other thread layer bar or bars is
whenever required coupled up with the driver bar by a latch-locking bolts aro

page_text: also provided by means of which the first mentioned thread layer bar can be locked
at either end of its course. When a double throw cam and two thread layer bars
are used the action of the machine is as follows:-When single stripe work is to be
made the double throw cam is brought into action-the first thread layer bar is
also locked at the end of its travel by one of the locking bolts and the second
thread layer bar is by the latch above mentioned connected to the driver bar. As
the double throw cam commences to move the driver bar forwards the second
thrend layer bar is carried along with it until at the end of its traverse it is
stopped by a stop in the ordinary way and a course of work is completed. The
first thread layer bar is now unlocked and is free to be carried along with tho
driver bar and its thread layers now lay their threads over the needles and a second
course of work is completed. At the end of its traverse the first thread layer bar
is again locked.
When the driver bar makes its backward movement the same operations are
repeated the second thread layer bar moves first-then the first thread layer bar
and the same operations are repeated so long as the double throw cam continues in
action. When plain work is to be made the double throw cam goes out of action
and the ordinary cam is brought into action. The locking bolts for holding the
first thread carrier bar and the latch for coupling the second thread layer bar to
the driver also go out of action. To give these movements to the operating parts
the two cams are both driven continuously the double throw cam at half the speed
of the ordinary cam.
Or if the cam is more than a double throw cam at a speed to
correspond with the different throw of the cams. Each cam gives a continuous to
and fro motion to a slide bar. Each bar has jointed to it a catch lever-one of
which is held up and out of action when the other is lowered and in action-a
notch in the catch lever then drops over a pin upon the swinging lever which is
linked to the ordinary draw lever by which the driver bar receives its to and fro
movement. The lifting of the catch levers is controlled by lifting rods resting upon
a pair of step or pattern wheels which are side by side upon an axis to which a
step by step revolving motion is given as required. It has for this purpose fixed
upon it a ratchet wheel, the clawker for driving this wheel is carried by a bar to
which a to and fro movement is imparted by the action of a projection upon the
side of the double throw cam. When the clawker is not required to turn the
ratchet wheel it is held up and out of action by a lifting rod. The lifting rod is
held up at the times required by pegs upon an endless pattern chain to which a
step by step revolving motion is continuously given. When a peg comes under
the lifting rod it lifts the rod and holds the clawker out of action when no peg is
below the rod; the rod drops and the clawker comes into action.
Whenever by the step by step revolving motion of the two pattern wheels the
lever catch which before caused the driver bar to be driven by the ordinary cam is
lifted and when consequently the ordinary can goes out of action and the other
lever catch is simultaneously lowered to bring into action the cam used when
producing striped work the movements of the lifting rods which raise and lower the
lever catches are made to bring into action the locking bolts for locking the first
thread layer at the end of its traverse and also to bring into action the latch for
coupling the driver bar to the second thread layer bar.
Striping apparatus arranged as above described is applicable not only for
producing colored stripe work but may also be used for producing work with
alternate courses worked with threads of different materials as for example
O alternately silk and cotton.
Figure 19 is a back elevation of one end of a rotary knitting machine constructed
to act in the manner above described. Figure 20 is a plan view of parts of the
same and Figure 21 a cross section.
I have not shewn the needles and many of the other parts of this machine used
5 for producing courses of work as their mode of operation is well understood I havo
sl.ewn only those parts of the mechanism which are necessary to illustrate clearly
this part of my invention.

page_text: In these Figures A is the main driving shaft running along the front of the
machine as seen in Figure 20. B is the ordinary cam shaft which carries the cams
for producing courses of work and also for producing whenever desired narrowing
courses a small portion only of this shaft is shewn in Figure 19 it receives motion
from the driving shaft A in the ordinary manner. From the driving shaft motion
is also transmitted as shewn in Figure 20 to two shafts C' and D'. The shaft C'
carries a cam C from which motion is given to the driver bar E at the time when
ordinary plain work is being produced and the shaft D¹ carries a cam D from which
motion is given to the driver bar E at the time when single striped worked is being
produced.
Both cams are driven continuously from the driving shaft, the cam D being
driven at half the speed of the cam C. The cam C gives an endway to and fro
motion to a horizontal bar F one to and fro movement for each two courses of work
and the cam D gives an end way to and fro motion to a horizontal bar G one to and
fro movement for every four courses of work. The bar F has jointed to it a lever
catch F and the bar G has jointed to it a similar lever catch G'. Either one or
other of these catches can be made to engage with a pin H³ on an arm H which
swings on a fixed pin at H-the lower end of the arm His coupled by a connecting
rod H³ with an arm H which at its lower end can swing on a fixed pin at H³.
The upper end of the arm H+ is coupled by a link H to the driver bar E and so
gives to the driver its endway to and fro motion.
A face view of the cam C is shown at Figure 22 and a face view of the cam Dat
Figure 23. It will be seen that the cam D is formed to give two movements to the
driver bar first to give to it a movement similar to that given to it from the cam C
the second to give to it a further movement of equal extent in the same direction
instead of at once moving it back again as it would be by the cam C and similarly
that the backward movement of the bar is made in two corresponding movements.
The lever catches F' and G are near their ends supported by rollers on lifting
bars F and G2 see Figure 21 which can move up and down in fixed guides carried
by the frame. Each lifting bar carries at its lower end a roller. The roller on the
bar Frests on the top of a step wheel F³ and the roller on the bar G³ rests on the
top of a step wheel G³. The step wheels F³ and G³ are both fast on an axis I-
they are so set upon the axis that the prominences on one are in a line with tho
depressions of the other-thus when a step by step revolving motion is given to
the axis I one lever catch is lifted whenever the other is lowered and this
movement takes place just after the endway movement of the driver bar is
completed.
On the axis I is a ratchet wheel I'-I' is a clawker to engage with the teeth of
this ratchet wheel it is jointed to a projection I³ which extends downwards from a
horizontal bar 14 which can slide end wise to and fro in guides in the frame.-It is
drawn in one direction by a spring 15. A stop 1º fixed on the bar by coming
against one of the fixed guides limits the amount of movement which the spring
can give to it. On the bar is also a roller 17-a side projection D³ on the cam D
acts against this roller and moves the bar in the opposite direction once for each
revolution of the cam and this movement takes place just before the completion of
a course of work and after the driver bar E has arrived at the end of its traverso
towards the left hand end of Figure 19. Whenever the clawker is allowed to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and the side projection D* on the cam D moves
back the bar which carries the clawker the ratchet wheel is turned one step thereby
raising one latch lever F¹ or G¹³ to disengage it from the arm H and simultaneously
lowering the other to cause it to engage with this arm and this movement takes
place just at the time when as above stated the driver bar has completed its
movement towards the left hand end of Figure 19.
If however the clawker is at this time held up no movement is given to the
ratchet wheel and to the pattern wheels Fs and G³ which are fast on its axis and
therefore the position of the latch levers F' and G¹ remain unchanged. The lifting
or lowering of the clawker to prevent it from engaging with the teeth of tho

page_text: ratchet wheel or to allow it to engage with them is controlled by a lifting rod J
acted upon by peg projections upon the endless chain J' which passes around a
pulley J. On the axis of this pulley is a ratchet wheel J' with the teeth of which
a clawker Jengages-this clawker is jointed to an arm which extends downwards
from a horizontal bar J to which a to and fro end way movement can be imparted.
Each time that the bar F moves to the right a downward projection from it F*
strikes against a pin Jo (see Figure 19) which projects from the bar Js and moves
this bar a distance to the right so causing the ratchet wheel J³ to turn a distance
and moving the endless pattern chain J'. A spring not shewn in the drawing
draws the bar Jo back again whenever it is free to do so the amount of backward
movement which can so be given to the bar is limited by a stop which also is not
shewn in the drawing.
In this way whenever a projection upon the endless pattern chain J¹ is brought
below the lower end of the lifting rod J and thereby raises this rod the clawkor I³
remains out of action and the machine continues to make plain work but when the
projection upon the pattern chain moves from under the lower end of the lifting
rod J then a change is caused in the kind of work that is being made in the
machine from plain work to striped. Whenever it is desired to produce a large
number of courses of either striped work or plain work the clawker J* can be held
up and out of action by a lover arm J.
Whenever after courses of plain work have been produced the pattern wheels
G³ F³ are turned a distance so as to disengage the latch lever F' from the arm H
and simultaneously cause the latch lever G¹ to engage with it (thereby bringing
them into the positions shown in Figure 19) the cam C which previously was
giving motion to the driver bar E is thrown out of action as will be readily seen
from the explanation above given and the driver bar then receives movement from
the cam D.
K is the thread layer bar which carries the throad layers used when producing
unstriped work as well as when producing striped work.-L is the additional
thread layer bar used only when producing striped work. M is a stop plate for the
ends of the bars K L to come against at the end of their travel-it is carried by a
slide M¹ which can be set inwards by a screw for the purpose of narrowing in the
ordinary way. The other portions of the narrowing mechanism are not shown in
the drawings as their action is well understood.
The thread layer bar K near its end has a small hole formed in it into which a
locking pin N' can be caused to enter when the end of the thread layer bar K is
bearing against the stop plate M.-The pin N' is carried by a lever arm N' on an
axis N it can slide along the axis so as to follow the movements of the slide M' but
cannot turn upon the axis.-Fast on the axis N is another arm N³ see Figure 18
and also the separate view of these parts shewn at Figure 24. The end of the
arm N³ has a pin N* projecting from it which is kept bearing against the
periphery of a pattern wheel O.-On the axis of the pattern wheel is a ratchet
wheel O. A clawker O' acts against the teeth of this ratchet wheel, it is carried
by a lever arm 03 which turns on an axis at 0-A truck upon the arm rests upon
a cam O' which is carried by the cam shaft B.-This cam shaft as before stated
makes one complete revolution for each course of work produced in the machine as
is usual. At cach revolution of the cam shaft the clawker O is lifted by the action
of the cam O' and turns the ratchet wheel a distance of one tooth and this upward
movement of the clawker terminates just as the completion of each course of work.-
The pattern wheel O on the axis of the ratchet wheel has notches or recesses in its
circumference into which the pin N can enter. The number of teeth on the
ratchet wheel is such that the pin enters one of these recesses at the end of every
fourth step by step movement given to the pattern wheel by the action of
the clawker and consequently the locking pin N' only locks the thread layer bar at
the end of each fourth course.
There is a similar locking pin for locking the thread layer bar when it has been
moved end wise up to a stop at the opposite end of the machine-and the actiou

page_text: of the locking pin at that end of the machine is similarly controlled by a pattern
wheel O to which a step by step revolving motion is imparted by a clawker
actuated by a cam in the way shewn at Figure 24-The pattern wheel at this end
of the machine is however set two steps or movements in advance of the similar
pattern wheel at the opposite end of the machine.
The locking pins are only required to lock the thread layer bar K at times when
striped work is being produced.
In order to set them out of action at the times when unstriped work is being
produced the clawkers 02 at each end of the machine are at such times held away
from their ratchet wheels O' and so are not permitted to turn the pattern wheels O
and consequently the locking pins remain at rest and are not allowed to lock the
thread layer bar K. The holding back of the clawkers 02 to keep them out of
action is effected by arms P' on a shaft P which runs from end to end of the
machine. This shaft as seen in Figures 19 and 21 has also standing out from it
an arm P-in the end of this arm is a small slot into which enters a pin carried
by an arm G³ which projects from the top of the lifting rod G².
In this way whenever after courses of striped work have been produced the
lifting rod G is lifted the first part of the upward movement of the rod G³ causes
the clawkers O' which are then being raised to be moved back so that the pattern
wheels O are neither of them turned one complete step or far enough to bring one of
the depressions in them below the pins N and consequently neither of the locking
pins lock the thread carrier bar K or come into positions to in any way interfere
with its movements. When however on the contrary after a number of unstriped
courses of work have been produced and when the driver bar E has nearly com-
pleted its movement towards the left hand end of Figure 19 and the rod G³ is
lowered so as again to bring into action the cam D used when striped work is to
be produced the clawkers are allowed again to engage with the ratchet wheels and
they are allowed to do so before the clawkers have completed their upward move-
ment the clawkers therefore as they complete their upward movement turn the
pattern wheels and cause them to complete the step movement which they had
previously partially made before the clawkers were thrown out of action.-The
pattern wheel at the left hand end of Figure 19 is by this movement turned into
such a position that one of its depressions is brought under the pin N' which rests
upon it the pin N⚫ therefore enters this depression and so allows the locking pin N¹
at this end of the machine to lock the thread layer bar K which then has come
against the stop plate at this end of the machine and retain it from moving away
from this plate.
At the same time that the thread layer bar is so locked and retained the second
thread layer bar L is brought into action in the following manner,-
Standing up from the driver bar E is an arm R' carrying at its upper end a
bolt R this has a pin R³ standing out from it which whenever the driver. bar com-
pletes its movement towards the left hand end of Figure 19 enters a fork formed
at the upper end of an arm S' carried by an axis S.-On this axis is also another
arm S linked by a rod S³ to the upper end of the lifting rod F so that when this
rod is lifted the bolt R is thrust forwards and its forward end then enters a hole
formed to receive it in a block T. This block is formed to grasp and hold by
friction a rail T' fixed as shewn at Figure 20 to the back of the thread layer bar L.
When the block T is so locked to the driver bar and the driver bar is moved
endwise it carries along with it the thread layer bar L and when the movement of
the thread layer bar is arrested the block can slide along the rail.
In this way it will be seen that whenever the cam D used for producing striped
work is thrown into action the ends of both of the thread layer bars are against
the stop plate at the left hand end of Figure 19 and that the thread layer bar K is
locked and held from moving away from this plate whilst the friction driver of tho
thread layer bar L is locked to the driver bar E so that when the driver bar E is
moved away from the left hand end of Figure 19 the thread layer bar L is carried
along with it until the end of this thread layer bar comes against a stop at the

page_text: opposite end of the machine and one course of work is completed. It will also be
seen that at the completion of this course of work the notched wheels O will be
turned one step whereby the thread layer bar will be unlocked and that it will
then be carried along with the driver bar E to produce a second course of work and
that at the completion of this course of work it will by another movement of the
notched wheels O be locked at the opposite end of the machine so that when the
driver bar E commences to make its return movement the thread layer bar L will
alone be carried back with it until this thread layer bar comes against the stop plate
at the left hand end of the machine and a third course of work has been completed at
which time the pattern wheels O are again moved one step thereby releasing the
thread layer bar and allowing it to be carried along with the driver bar E as it
completes its return movement. These movements are repeated continuously until
by the action of the pattern chain J' the cam D is thrown out of action and the
cam C again brought into action-when this takes place the bolt R is withdrawn
from the friction driver of the thread layer bar L and so this thread layer bar is
put out of action whilst at the same time the locking bolts previously used for at
times locking the thread layer bar K are held out of action as above explained.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing
the same I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements in rotary
knitting machines.―
First. The combination of mechanism substantially as herein before described
for the production of two rows of narrowings to be made for a distanco parallel
with one another and afterwards brought together to a point.
Second. The combination of the stop plates up to which the point bars are
held the pattern wheels up to which the stop plates are held and which have the
movements herein before described imparted to them, and the additional slides
(carrying the pattern wheels and stop plates) which are mounted upon the top of
the slides of the ordinary screw boxes of the narrowing mechanism of knitting
machines substantially as described.
Third. Mounting upon the slides of the ordinary screw boxes of the narrowing
mechanism of knitting machines additional screw boxes the slides of which carry
the stop plates up to which the point bars are held substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of mechanism substantially as herein before described
for the production of two parallel rows of narrowings.
Fifth. The combination of mechanism for producing single striped work
without the necessity of making idle courses substantially as herein before
described.
Sixth. The employment in a knitting machine adapted not only for producing
single striped work but also plain unstriped work of mechanism for giving to the
driver bar of the knitting machine a traverse of two or more times the length of
its ordinary traverse at the time when single striped work is to be produced.
Seventh. The combination of mechanism for producing at will either plain
unstriped work or single striped work substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said William Cotton have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.