IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Lamb, Manufacturer, and Samuel Lowe,
Machinist, both of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Lamb and
Samuel Lowe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th
December 1877.
JOHN WILLIAM LAMB, Manufacturer, and SAMUEL LOWE, Machinist, both of
Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham. “IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to improvements upon an Invention for embroidering on
the "cotton" knitting machine, for which among other improvements a Patent was
granted to us, dated December 8th, 1875, No. 4260.
The object of the present improvements is to extend the capabilities of this
machine for automatic production of embroidery.
In the Specification of the above-mentioned Patent we describe the embroidering
points as carried by the narrowing apparatus, and having a certain determinate
position in the machine; thus when in action they serve to produce lines of
embroidery only of a given width, determined by the number of points composing
one group.
In order to produce patterns the width of which may vary at each course of the
work we now propose to mount the embroidery points on an independent bar, or
where two sets of embroidery points are required upon independant bars, and to
give these bars an endway motion besides the reciprocating motions requisite for
throwing them in and out of action.
The silk or embroidery thread carriers we mount on bars, which will respectively
follow the endway movements of the embroidery points bars, and lay the threads
between the needles and the points when the embroidery is required to be pro-
duced.

page_text: The embroidery points we propose to arrange, by preference, in groups of two,
which will produce work sufficiently broad for tracing out the lines of a pattern.
In order to produce solid work, supposing it be desired to embroider a solid
figure, say n triangle, the base being uppermost, we bring down the embroidery
points of one bar, and cause them to lift off the loops of work from, say, two adjacent
needles, we then lay a thread between the embroidery points and the needles
opposite to them, and then put back the loops on to the needles. During this
operation the knitting action is suspended and so far the operation is like that
described in our before-mentioned Patent. We now traverse the embroidery point
bar to bring it opposite two other needles, missing an intermediate needle; the
points then in like manner are caused to lift the loops of work from the needles
opposite them, and the thread carrier lays its thread between the points and the
needles as before; the loops are then secured to their respective needles, and the
operation of the points and the thread carrier are repeated, until the silk thread is
laid over as many needles as is requisito to produce the base of the triangle; the
embroidery points and thread carrier are then moved clear of the work, and a fresh
course is then knitted. This will tie the silk thread in place and provide another
set of loops to be operated upon. In order that the next line of embroidery shall
fall short of the length of that just produced the point bar is shogged backwards
the distance of two needles before the next line is commenced, the points and thread
carrier then act as before described until the second line is completed. A fresh
course of work is then made, and so on, each line of embroidery falling short of the
length of that last produced, until the limit of contraction is reached. Supposing
now the pattern to diverge in opposite directions and to consist of two lines of open
work the second embroidery point bar is then brought into action, together with its
thread carrier, and the two sets of mechanism will then act, so to speak, inde-
pendently of each other.
The embroidery point bars, and also the thread carrier bars, we propose to mount
in brackets or hanging checks of the narrowing mechanism, and to work them by
means of slides common to both, giving however the thread carrier bars an inde-
pendent supplementary traverse motion through means of a rotary cam and rock
lever.
The thread carrier bars will be connected together by means of a weighted chain
and guido pullies, so as to allow of these moving together, but in opposite directions,
to lay the thread upon the needles as required.
The motions of the point bars and also the thread carrier bars are controlled in
respect both of the direction and the amount of their traverse by means of rotating
pattern cams, which cause tappets to act upon the pawle-and-ratchet mechanism,
which gives the endway motion to the bars.
Each thread carrier bar we propose to fit with two thread carriers for each group
of embroidery points when more than one colour is required to be thrown into the
work. These thread carriers must however be so placed as to ensure that one only
at a time shall be brought near enough to its group of points to enable it to lay a
thread upon the bared needles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John William Lamb and Samuel Lowe in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1878.
JOHN WILLIAM LAMB, Manufacturer, and SAMUEL LOWE, Machinist, both of
Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY."
$8
This Invention relates to improvements upon an Invention for embroidering on
the "cotton" knitting machine, for which among other improvements a Patent was
granted to us, dated December Eighth, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five, No. 4260.
The object of the present improvements is to extend the capabilities of this
nachine for automatic production of embroidery
In the Specification of the above-mentioned Patent we describe the embroidery
points as carried by the narrowing apparatus, and having a certain determinato
position in the machine, thus when in action they served to produce lines of
embroidery only of a given width, determined by the number of points composing
one group
In order to produce patterns the width of which may vary at each course of the
work we now mount the embroidery points on an independent bar, or where two
sets of embroidery points are required upon independent bars, and we give to these
bars an endway motion besides the reciprocating vertical motions requisite for
throwing them in and out of action.
The silk or embroidery thread layers we nount on bars, which will respectively
follow the end way movements of the embroidery point bars, and lay the threads
between the needles and the points when the embroidery is required to be pro-
duced.
The embroidery points we propose to arrange on their bars, by preference in
groups of two, which number will enable us to produce the most desirable length of
float of the embroidery thread.
In the accompanying Drawings we have shewn so much of a "cotton" knitting
machine, with our embroidery apparatus applied thereto, as will serve to explain
with the aid of diagrams, hereafter to be referred to, our novel mode of producing
embroidery upon knitted fabrics.
Fig 1, Sheet I., shows in front elevation the right-hand end of the machine.
Fig. 2, Sheet 11., is an elevation of the right-hand end of the machine.
Fig. 3, Sheet III., is an elevation of the left-hand end of the machine.
Fig 4, Sheet IV., is a transverse sectional elevation of the machine, taken in the
line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, Sheet V., is a plan view of the right-hand end of the machine
Fig 6, Sheet VI, is a front elevation of the central portion of the machine, shewing
the mechanism in connection with what is known as the counting apparatus.
Fig 7, Sheet VII, shews in transverse sectional olevation, on an enlarged scale,
the embroidery instruments in connection with the knitting instruments, and also
the bars to which they are attached, and the slides in which the thread layer bars
and point bars are mounted.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are side views of the embroidery instruments, shewing
by their varying positions in relation to the needles the several steps in the
embroidery operation.
The machinery, illustrated at Figures 1 and 4 represents one division of a stocking
fraine, of which divisious there may be any desired number, say, from eight to
twelve, constituting a complete machinc.
For the purpose of simplifying the description of our Invention, we shall assume
this one division (which is a fair illustration of all) to represent the whole machine.
The embroidery thrend layer bars will therefore be described as if fitted, each with

page_text: only one thread guide, and the point bars, each with only one pair of points, although,
as every knitter will understand, these bars will be similarly fitted for each division
of the machine.
It will also be understood that as these pairs of bars are actuated from opposite
ends of the machine, the description of the mechanism for giving the end-
way motions to one bar of cach pair, will also apply to the other bar of the
pair.
In these Drawings, a are the ordinary bearded knitting needles; b are the sinkers;
c, the knocking-over bits; & is the thread layer for producing the knitted work;
ande is the thread layer, which is brought into use when colored stripes are
required to be introduced. The embroidery thread layers are shewn at f, and the
points for taking the loop from the needles preparatory to introducing an embroidery
thread into the work, aro shewn at g; f', f, represent the pair of thread layer bars,
as carried in a slide f³, which is freo to move up and down in hanging checks H,
which are supported as usual upon a longitudinal bar at the top of the machine.
In the same checks aro fitted the pair of embroidery point bars g', 92, and the
ordinary narrowing point bars which are shewn at h, . The point bars y', 9²,
receive a sliding motion in the hanging chocks to enable their points to be brought
opposite to those loops which, according to the requirements of the pattern to be
produced, are to be lifted off from the needles Beside this motion they have a
vertical motion, due to the rise and fall of the hanging checks, as will be hereafter
explained. The thread guide bars, in addition to the endway and vertical motions
which they receive, in common with the point bars have a further vertical motion
through their slides f³, which rise and fall in guides in the hanging checks. The
use of these motions will be presently apparent
Referring now to Sheet VIII of the Drawings, Fig. 12 shews a pattern such as
that we propose to produce as the terminal of a "clock" of a stocking. The hori-
zontal lines in this Figure represent the courses of knitted work, and the vertical
lines the needle loops, or rather the positions of the needles relatively to the
courses of work forined thereon, and the ornamental pattern represents the embroideı y
threads laid in the work
The manner of laying the embroidery thread to produce this pattern is shown in
the enlarged diagram, Fig 13, and it may be here remarked that it is important to
keep to this manner of laying the embroidery thread when it is considered
undesirable that the embroidery thread shall shew on the face of the work a float
longer than the breadth of two loops. In this Figure the circles represent the
needles from which the loops are taken by the points g during the production of the
pattern, and it will be seen by following the line which is drawn around the needles
that not more than two are inclined in any one lap of the thread, consequently the
float of the thread extends only across two loops, and it is then tied into
the work. This remark applies only to the face of the work, the embroidery
thread at that part being thickened in the diagram to indicate the composition of
the pattern.
In order to accomplish this lapping of the embroidery thread around groups of
two needles continuously, it is necessary at certain points of progress, to give the
thread guide a dwell while the points are descending to remove the loops from the
needles which are next to be lapped with embroidery thread. This dwell occurs at
the point of progress, indicated by a in the diagram, Fig. 13.
If a dwell were not given to the thread layer, as indicated in this diagram, we
should get an appearance, such as that shown at Fig 14, where, after three groups
of two needles have received the ombroidery thread in the way above indicated,
the fourth group will consist of four needles, and thus produce a float double
the length of those previously worked into the fabric, before the thread
layer could recover its position to lay the thread again around groups of two
needles.
When the opening is required in the pattorus, as shewn in the upper part of
diagram, Fig. 13, a double dwell of the thead layer must take place, it being

page_text: necessary to lay no thread while the points are making their traverse past the
needles, the loops of which are not intended to receive the embroidery thread
on their face. The point of progress where this double dwell occurs is indicated
by ; the thread is then laid round a group of two needles, and the third dwell
occurs as at ; the working of the thread layer will then proceed as before. If
this last dwell were not provided for a defect in the embroidery, such as that
shewn by the long float of thread in the diagram, Fig. 15, would occur, and the
work would then be unsaleable.
It will now be understood how important it is to arrest at times the traverse
of the thread layer, as explained with reference to diagram, Fig. 13. The manner
in which this is effected, and also the manner of working the points to produce the
embroidery, we will now proceed to describe, referring, however, first to the
mechanism whereby motion is imparted to the various parts of the machine; A is
the main driving shaft, which through spur gearing (see Fig. 3) imparts rotary
motion to the cam shaft B This cam shaft is capable as usual of receiving an
endway motion, in order to throw the knitting cams out of action and bring the
narrowing cams, and, in this case, the embroidery cams also into action. This
shogging of the cam shaft is controuled by a tappet chain forming a part of what is
known as the counting apparatus On the shaft B is a double cam C, C', between
which rocks a bowl C, carried by an arm C³, which is keyed to a rock shaft C.
On this rock shaft is a second arm C³ (see detached view, Fig. 1×) in which is
mounted a bowl C that is actuated by a cam C7 on the cam shaft B.
A spring C3 has a tendency always to draw the bowl C into the path of the
cam C, and thereby to shog the cam shaft B to the left. When the bowl is in this
position its arm will be constantly vibrated by the cam c³, thus bringing it to a
position for acting upon the cam C; but in order thus to act it must be held in its
outward position, and this is done by means of the tappet chain D. A bit on this
tappet chain acts upon a stop piece carried by a pendent link C, which link is
coupled by a rod Co to a short arm C" on the rock shaft C. As therefore the
shaft C is rocked by the cam C7 to throw the bowl C opposite the path of the
cam C, a tappet on the chain D, brought at this time opposite the stud of the link
rod C, will offer a resistance to the pull of the spring C, and thereby retain the
bowl C in the path of the cam C. The effect of this will be, as the cam shaft B
rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, to shog that shaft to the right, and
thereby to stop the knitting and put the embroidery cams into action. These cams
are shown best at Figs. 2 and 3, where F, F, are the cams for giving a traverse
motion to the thread layers, when such motion is independent of the embroidery
points; and G, G, are tho cams for giving the traverse motion to the embroidery
points through a slide, which serves also to actuate the thread layers. Before
describing the action of these cams upon the bars f¹ƒ³, and g¹, g², it may be as
well to trace the manner of raising and lowering the hanging cheeks H, H, which
carry these bars, as well as the narrowing point bars h, h, and which hanging
cheeks give to the bars g¹, g³, and h, h', an up-and-down notion. The mechanisın
for this purpose is well known, and is indeed substantially that used for giving the
vertical motions to the ordinary narrowing bars; H' is one of a pair of cams on the
cam shaft, upon which bears a bowl carried by a rock lever H, having its fulcrum
in the front framing. A link H³ connected to the free end of this lever extends
upwards to the shaft, from which the hanging cheeks depend. As therefore the
lever His rocked by the cam H, the cheeks will rise and fall, their shaft being
supported as usual on rocking arms (see Fig. 4) pivotted to the back of the
machine. The rise and depression of the embroidery points will take place once for
every rotation of the cam shaft simultaneously with the rise and depression of the
narrowing points. It is necessary however to vary the time of the rising and
falling motions of the thread-laying bars fl and f, and it is for this purpose that they
are mounted in the slides on the hanging cheeks. The vertical motions of the
bars fand fare derived from the cain F¹ on the cam shaft, (see Fig. 6, Sheet VI.)
The bowl of a lever F bears upon this cam, and transmits motion therefrom to a

page_text: rock shaft F³, on which the lever is keyed. Projecting from this rock shaft hori-
zontally is an arm F³, which is jointed to a link F³, that extends upwards and is
pivotted to the slide f³. The position of the cam F' with respect to the other cams
on the cam shaft B is shewn at Figures 16, Sheet VIII., a reference to which will
give the time relatively to the other movements of the operating parts, in which the
rise and fall of the thread layers takes place This Figure will also explain the
relative positions of the other cams on the can shaft having relation to this
Invention. The bars f¹, f³, receive an independant end-way motion in opposite
directions from an arrangement of cams and levers to be presently described, but at
times they are acted upon simultaneously with the bars g³, g, (which also move in
opposite directions) by means of the cams G at opposite ends of the machine and
the parts in connection therewith.
In Sheet II., Fig. 2 shews the cam G as acting upon the bowl of lever G', which
lever carries a pair of pawls G³, G³. These pawls are connected together by a
spring, which causes them to embrace a double ratchet wheel G, which is provided
with two sets of ratchet teeth standing in opposite directions and partly covered by
a segment-shaped shield G. The use of this shield G³ is to cover one portion of
the rarchet teeth, and so to throw one of the pawls out of action, leaving the other
pawl to engage with the exposed teeth of the ratchet wheel The ratchet wheel G¹
is keyed to a shaft Go (see Fig 1); and a spur wheel on this shaft gearing with a
pinion on a shaft G7 gives rotary motion to that shaft This motion is transmitted
by spur gearing to a traversing scrow shaft Gs, which has its bearing in a bracket Go
carried by the main framing. This bracket is formed with V guides to receive a
slide G¹º, and through a tapped lug of this slide the traversing screw G¹ passes to
give motion thereto. The slide G¹o carries two standards G₁₁, G, the former of
which is embraced by a pair of lugs on the embroidery point bar g¹, and the latter
stands up between a pair of lugs on the back of the thread-laying bar f¹, such lugs
being set sufficiently far apart to permit of the bar receiving an endway motion
independently of the traversing slide This slide it is necessary to traverse some-
times to the light, sometimes to the left, and occasionally to give it two or more
motions consecutively in one and the same direction, according to the pattern
desired to be produced. It is to provide for this that the ratchet wheel G4, from
which the axial motion of the traversing screw is derived, is provided with the
shield G³, which is free to rock upon the axle of the ratchet wheel. This shield is
connected by a link rod to the arm G¹s of a rock shaft G¹, which extends from end
to end of the machine. A short arm from this rock shaft G¹ connects by a link to
a rock lever G¹, the tail end of which lies over the endless tappet chain D. When
therefore, in the progress of the work, the chain presents a bit or tappet to the end
of the lever, it will cause the shield G³ to be tipped into one or other of the
positions shewn at Figures 17 and 18, Sheet IX., and thereby to present the ratchet
teeth to the action of the formerly quiessent pawl, at the same time throwing the
other pawl out of action, or to throw both pawls out of action as may be desired.
When the pawls are thus shifted, the one into and the other out of action, the
direction of rotation of the traversing screw will be reversed, and thus the direction
of motion of the embroidery points will be reversed also. When however the
points are not required to be shifted for the next course of works the shield G³ is
brought to such a position by means of a bit or tappet on the chain D that it will
throw both pawls out of action, and a dwell of the points will consequently take
place.
When the standard G2 is in contact with one of the lugs on the back of its
thread layer bars, and motion is given to the slide G¹º in the direction to maintain
that contact, then the thread layer will be moved by the slide together with the
embroidery point bar. If however the direction of motion of the slide were reversed
then the thread layer would be unaffected by its motion. This will in general be
the case, and to provide for an independent motion of the thread layer the con-
trivance now to be explained is employed. It should however be here remarked
that the duplication of the mechanism for working the slide G10 at the opposite end

page_text: of the machine to that shewn in Sheet I., which mechanism is required for working
the bars and g, will require the traversing screw g³ to have its thread reversed
in order that the bars f, g, and f, g, may move in opposite directions when acted
upon by the standards G and G
Referring now to the mechanism for giving to the thread layer bars an endway
motion independently of the slides Go; F, (see Fig. 19,) is a rock lever carrying a
bowl which bears upon the cam F on the shaft B. This rock lever Fo is connected
by a link to a rock lever F7 that carries at its opposite end a pawl Fs. This paw!
takes into a ring of ratchet teeth formed on the boss of a cam F, and imparts
an intermittent axial motion thereto. This cam is mounted on a stud axle
projecting from the inner face of the ond frame. Fitted to the periphery of
this cam is a zig-zag web, the opposite sides of which are embraced by a pair
of bowls fitted to a rock lever F, (see Fig. 1). The upper end of this rock lever is
connected by a link F to a slide Fit, which is carried by and works over the face
of a slotted standard F's (see the plan view, Sheet V). Projecting from the face of
this slide is a vertical rib, which enters the fork of a friction slide F ou the thread
layer bar F; at every motion therefore of the cam F motion is imparted to the
friction slide F, and thus a traverse motion is given to the thread layer bar f¹. In
order to enable the thread layer to dwoll, when those points of the work are arrived
at, as indicated by the stars,, in Fig. 13, Sheet VIII, it is necessary to arrest
the action of the pawl F, Fig. 19, Sheet IX. This is effected through the agency
of the tappet chain D', before mentioned, over which lies a rock lever F15 ready to
be acted upon when a bit or tappet 18 prosented to it. This lever is connected by a
link to an arın F¹e keyed to a rock shaft F which runs from end to end of the
machine. To this shaft is keyed a second arm, which when the shaft F17 is rocked
by the action of the tappet chain D' on the lever F1 will push the pawl Fs out of
action, and no motion of the thread layer will then take place. So soon however as
the tappet has passed the lever Fs the pawl will by means of a spring be brought
again into contact with the ratchet wheel, and the continued rotation of the
cam F will cause it to drive round the cam F and thus work the thread layer
as before.
The mechanism just described it will be understood is duplicated in the machine,
with the exception of that part which rocks the shaft F", to control the action of
the pawl. This shaft being provided with two fingers will simultaneously throw
the two pawls F8 out of action, and thus the traverse of the two thread layers will
be simultaneously suspended.
It has been shewn by reference to the diagram, Fig. 13, Sheet VIII, that the
thread layer flays its embroidery thread around the needles. To enable it to do
this the thread layer has two traverse motions for one of the embroidery points,
and these notions are so timed with respect to the movements of the needles
and points as to ensure the laying of the thread at the back of the needles
before the action of the points has commenced, and to lay it in front of the needles
while the loops are held off by the embroidery points.
The action of these instruments in order to produce the embroidery is clearly
shewn in Sheet VII., where Fig. 8 represents the embroidery thread as laid at the
back of the needle, the needle being in this case at its highest position, and the
embroidery points also at their highest.
In Fig. 9 the needles have reached their lowest position, and the embroidery
points have entered the loops on the needles, following them down to take the
loops off the needles. When this is effected the needles and embroidery points
again riso, and the needles being rocked backwards a space is formed between
the points and the needles, as shown at Fig. 10, at the same time the thread layer
is brought down by means of its slide f in the hanging cheeks H, H, and at the
next traverse of the thread layer the thread is laid between the needles and the
embroidery points, or on the face of the work.
The next operation is to replace the loops taken off from the needles by the
embroidery points, and thus to enable the knitting to be continued. For this

page_text: purpose the embroidery points descend into the position shown at Fig. 11, and the
needles descending with them are steadied between the knocking-over bits. As the
neodles rise from this position they receive the loops from the points as in the
ordinary narrowing operations, and the points then rise to the position of Fig 8,
ready to renew the operation above described
The means by which the motions of the embroidery instruments are controlled so
as to produce varied patterns in the work are (as before mentioned) the endless
tappet chains D, D'. These chains are shewn in partial plan view at Figures 4ª,
4b, Sheet IV. They are connected with and actuated by what is known as the
counting apparatus, and the bits or tappets are arranged on the chains in the
manner well known and practised in kindred manufactures. Of these bits or
tappets there are four sets, two on cach chain, viz., those marked d¹ and d³ on the
chain D for controlling respectively the traverse motions of the slide G10 that gives
the endway motion to the embroidery point bars, and for controlling the endway
motion of the cam shaft B. The tappets or bits d³, d, on the chain D', control
respectively the thread layers and the narrowing points. The drum D² which
carries these chains, is fitted with a ratchet wheel D³, into the teeth of which a
pawl D' takes, this pawl is jointed to a rock lever D³, the lower end of which
carries a bowl that bears on a cam DG on the cam shaft B. As therefore this cam
rotates, a transvorso motion equal to the length of one tappet will be given to tho
chains at every revolution of the cam shaft When however a length of plain work
is being knitted, these tappet chains should be out of action. To provide for this,
the contrivance shewn at Figures 4° and 4d is employed.
Fig. 4°, represents in side view a number of tappets suitably arranged for
controlling the embroidery points to commence the pattern shown in diagram Fig.
12, Sheet VIII. In front of those tappets is a stop d, which has a raised lateral
projection, see Fig. 4ª, to receive a finger projecting from the pawl D*, and thereby
hold the pawl out of action. While this pawl is in this position the tappet chains
will have no action, but so soon as the plain knitting is completed, the attendant
will by means of a pawl D', on a hand lever D³, pull round the ratchet wheel D²,
and draw the stop D³ from under the finger of the pawl D', which dropping into
the teeth of the ratchet wheel, will then commence to act on the pattern chains
In describing the action of the chains, we have assumed that both the embroidery
point bars, and both the thread layer bars, are in action together. This will how-
ever not be always the case, but it will depend on the nature of the design, whether
one or two sets of points, or one or two thread layers are required. As however
the motions of neither of the point bars nor of the thread layer bars will be
suspended while the embroidery is proceeding, we provide for the throwing out of
action, of one set of points, and one thread layer by fitting the same to their
respective bais by a clamping screw, in such manner as to allow of their being
turned up by hand out of position for working.
To provide for the proper supply of embroidery thread we use a modification of
the tension apparatus at present employed in the "cotton" knitting machine. This
modification is illustrated at Fig. 20, Sheet X of the Drawings, where I is the spool
carrying the embroidery silk, and the spring for imparting an elastic pressure to
the silk thread; this spring is made with two bows, through which eyes are formed
for the passage of the silk thread. At the middle of its length, the spring i is made
fast to a plate, which is carried by a rock shaft I', extending from end to end of
the machine; keyed to this shaft is an arm I², connected by means of a link rod to
a rock lever 13 which has its fulcium in a bracket of the main framing
The free end of the rock lever I³ carries a bowl which bears upon a cam I* on
the cam shaft B. As therefore this shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow, the
lever I will be locked, and a like motion will be imparted to the shaft I¹ for the
purpose to be presently explained. The silk thread drawn from the spool I, is first
threaded through the plate it, and it is then brought under the back end of the
spring i; from thence it passes through eyes in the two bows of the spring, and
thence down a second eye in the plate i', to form a pendant loop on which hangs a

page_text: weight 2. The end of the thread is then brought up, passed through a third eye
on the plate i, laid under the forward end of the spring, and carried down a fourth
eye in the plate to the thread layer. The thread is thus nipped by both ends of
the spring, but the forward end of the spring overlies a rod Is carried by fixed
brackets I. As the rock shaft T is moved in its bearings by the cam I, the plate
will be tipped, and it will thus relieve the thread from pressure at the front end
of spring, maintaining at the same time such a tension, with regard to the spool, as
will prevent an undue supply of thread therefrom. When however the nip of the
forward end of the spring is taken off, the weight will yield to the drag put on the
thread by the thread layer, and allow the loop to be shortened. This release of the
thread is effected by the tipping of the plate i' downwards under the action of the
rock shaft, whereby the front end of the spring is caught by the rod 15, and held up
from the plate it.
Within the pendent loop of the thread stands a rod I, which extends from end
to end of the machine. This rod acts as a stop as it arrests the upward movement
of the weight, caused by the drag on the thread by the thread layer.
When the plate i' is tipped upwards into the position shewn by dots in the
Figure, the thread grippel between it and the spring will be drawn upwards so as
to shorten the loop and cause the pendent weight to strike against the rod I².
By this means a drag will be put on the thread sufficient to draw off a fresh supply
from the spool, and this effect being produced at every rocking of the shaft 1', the
supply of thread to the thread layer will be maintained, the slack being carried
down and held at the requisite tension by the pendant weight.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in
Knitting Machinery," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
we claim, the application of what is known, as the "cotton" knitting machine
of traversing embroidery points and embroidery thread layers following and
waiting upon the movements of such points, the same being mounted and operated
as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Lowe, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
SAMUEL LOWE (L.S.)