IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Cotton, of Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 8th October 1870, and dated the 14th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Cotton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th April 1870.
I, WILLIAM COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
In one improvement one or more pairs of brackets or arms are secured
to a platform or table; those of each pair are placed the required
distance apart, according to the length of the bar they are to carry, which
depends on the width of work made on the framic. One or more pairs of
these arms are slotted at their upper ends to receive and support one or

page_text: more bars carrying points or needles, and one or more other pairs of arms
instead of being slotted may be made somewhat wider, and each pair
may have a bår carrying points or needles secured to them. Each
upper end may have a stud or piu projecting from it to hold or form
stops to a second point or needle bar when placed upon it. The lower
part of the arms form bearings for a rocking shaft, which carries arms
supporting a bar to which leads are screwed; in these leads reversing
bits are cast; these bits when at rest lic between the points or needles of
the bar secured to the upper ends of the brackets. The rocking shaft
has a handle.
In applying the apparatus to the manufacture of stockings, for
example, for transferring a looped or knitted fabric from the legging
frame to the footing frame I place the instep portion of the stocking
with the face of the work downwards upon the points of the fixed bar;
and I clear it, that is to say, I draw off tho superfluous thread, leaving
a row of loops upon the points or needles. I then place a second point
or needle bar above the first bar, such second bar resting against the
studs; then by pressing down the handle of the rocking axle the
reversing bits will place the row of loops upon the points or needles of
the second point or needle bar, which is carried to the footing frame and
placed upon the brackets on the footing frame at each end of the rows
of needles when such needles are at their lowest position; the sinker bits
then come forward and hold the loops down until the needles rise into
the loops; the point or needle bar is then taken away, and the fabric
being on the frame needles the machine will continue its movements.
Another improvement consists in the employment of knocking over
bits in which there is a recess on the upper edge; such recess forms an
incline towards the front of the frame and also towards the back of the
frame. The bits are cast in leads, and are secured to the knocking-over
bar in the usual way, and hold the fabric in such position that the work
clears the needle heads, rising above the top of the recess, binding the
loops on the inclines nearest the presser bar, and insuring the loops
passing under the needle heads.
A further improvement consists in dividing the press off in widening
loop fabrics by the following apparatus:-To the bar which carries the
sliding tickler bars I attach bearings for a rocking shaft, carrying a hand
lever to operate the bar. To the rocking shaft are secured a number of
wedge-ended levers. Suppose, for instance, there are six ticklers, each

page_text: placed in brass or cast in a lead, and they require moving the space of
one or more needles at each operation of widening the fabric in the usual
way, instead of moving the whole of such ticklers for the space of one or
more needles I place one or more ticklers of cach set in a lead or in
brass, which moves sidewise upon and with one of the sliding bars tho
distance of one or more needles. The other ticklers of each set I secure
in other leads or in brasses, which also move with the bar but are not
secured fast to it, but they are held by it, so that when required to move
a less distance than the first-named ticklers they are stopped by the
wedged ends of the arms between the tickler brasses. One or moro
ticklers may be used in cach lead or brass, and two or more leads or
brasses may be employed in a set and be operated in like manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Cotton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
COTTON, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Cotton, Her special licence that I,
the said William Cotton, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Cotton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Cotton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Cotton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
One of my improvements consists in the employment of one or more
pairs of brackets or arms which are secured to a platform or table, so
as to stand in a vertical position, but they may be placed in any other
position found most convenient. The arms of cach pair are placed the
required distance apart, such distance varying according to the length
of the bar they are to carry or support, the length of such bars
depending upon the width of work made on the frame in which they
are to be employed. One or more pairs of these arms are slotted at
their upper ends to receive and support the ends of one or more bars
carrying points or needles. One or more other pairs of arms instead
of being slotted at their upper ends may be made somewhat widor and
cach pair may have a bar carrying points or needles secured to them.
Each upper end may have a stud or pin projecting from it, which stud
or pin may form stops to a second point or needle bar when placed upon
it. The lower part of the arms forms bearings for a rocking shaft which|
carries arms supporting a bar to which leads are screwed. In these
leads reversing bits are cast. These bits when at rest lie between the
points or needles of the bars which is secured to the upper ends of
the brackets. The rocking shaft has a handle attached to it by which
it is operated.
It may suffice if I describe the apparatus I employ in the manufacture
of stockings. I employ this apparatus in the manner following:-For
transferring a looped or knitted fabric from the legging frame to the
footing frame I place the instep portion of the stocking with the face
of the work downwards upon the points of the fixed bar, and I clear it,
that is to say, I draw off the superfluous thread leaving a row of loops
upon the points or needles. I then place a second point or needle bar
above the first bar, such second bar resting against the studs before
mentioned; then by pressing down the handle of the rocking axle the

page_text: reversing bits will place the said row of loops upon the points or needles
of the second point or needle bar, which bar is then carried to the
footing frame and placed upon brackets secured to the footing frame at
each end of the rows of needles when such needles are at their lowest
position. The sinker bits then come forward and hold the loops down
until the needles rise into the loops. The point or needle bar is then
taken away, and the fabric being on the frame needles the machine will
continue its movements.
Another improvement consists in the employment of knocking over
bits, in which bits there is formed a recess on the upper edge thercof,
such recess forming an incline towards the front of the frame and also
towards the back of the frame. These bits are cast in leads and are
secured to the knocking over bar in the usual way, and they hold the
fabric in such position that the work clears the needle heads rising
above the top of the recess and binding the loops on the inclines
nearest the presser bar, and insuring the loops passing under the needle
heads.
:
A further improvement consists in dividing the press off in widening
looped fabrics, and this I effect by the employment of the following
apparatus -To the bar which carries the sliding tickler bars I attach
bearings for a rocking shaft carrying a hand lever, by which means thic
bar may be operated. To the rocking shaft are secured a number of
wedge-ended levers. I will suppose, for instance, there are six ticklers,
but any other required number of ticklers may be used in a set, each
of them secured in brass or cast in a lead, and they require moving the
space of one or more needles at each operation of widening the fabric
in the usual way. Instead of moving the whole of these ticklers for
the space of one or more needles I place one or more ticklers of each
set in a lead or in brass which moves sidewise upon and with one of
the sliding bars the distance of one or more needles.. The other ticklers:
of cach set I secure in other leads or in brasses which also move with
the bar but are not secured fast to it, but they are held by it in such
manner, that when they are required to move a less distance than the
first-mentioned ticklers are moved they are restrained from moving:
farther than required by the interposition of the wedged ends of the
arms above mentioned between the tickler brasses. One or more ticklers-
may be used in each lead or brass and two or more leads or brasses
may be employed in a set and be operated in like manner.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 to 4 represent my first improvement. Figure 1 is a view
taken from the right end of the machine, and it shews the upper part
of the right bracket broken away. The several bars hereafter referred
to are seen in section. Figure 2 is a partial front view of my apparatus
shewing the right end view, and Figure 3 a partial back view shewing
the left end. Figure 4 represents in section a sufficient portion of a
rotary hose frame of the usual construction to make the application of
my improvement understood; such improvement consists in the employ-
ment of one or more pairs of brackets or arms A, A, which are secured
to a platform or table so as to stand in a vertical position, but they may|
be placed in any other position found to be most convenient. The arms
of each pair are placed the required distance apart, such distance varying|
according to the length of the bar. They are to carry or support the
length of such bars, depending upon the width of work made on the
frame in which they are to be employed. On the upper ends of
the arms is secured a bar O which bar has a recess on its upper face
the whole of its length. The upper edge of this bar has saw gates cut
in it, in which saw gates the stems of points Care placed, and they are
firmly held therein by a clamping plate C² screwed to the bar C. To
the front of each of the arms A, A, is secured a slotted bracket B the
slots in these brackets receive the ends of a bar E which bar has a stop
plate at each end which lie close to the inner sides of the brackets B,
and prevent the bar E from moving endwise. On the top edge of the
bar E is a brass which is rivetted to it; this brass has saw gates cut
in it, in which are placed the bent stems of a number of points or
needles E, being firmly held therein by the clamping plate E' which
is secured to the plate E. The lower part of the arms A form bearings
for a rocking shaft, which carries arms supporting a bar D, which has
saw gates cut in its upper edge, in which reversing bits D¹ are soldered or
otherwise secured: These bits when at rest lic between the points C¹
before mentioned, and I may here state that the three series of saw gates
used are all cut to a corresponding gauge. The rocking shaft has a
handle attached to it by means of which it is operated.

page_text: I employ this apparatus in manner following:-For transferring a
looped or a knitted fabric from the legging frame to the footing frame
I place the instep portion of the stocking, with the face of the work
downwards, upon the points C¹ in the fixed bar C, and I clear it, that
is to say, I draw off the superfluous thread leaving a row of loops
upon the points. I then place the bar E in the slots of the brackets
B, the points or needles E³ will then lic over and upon the upper side
of the points C³, then by pressing down the handle F of the rocking
axle the reversing bits will place the row of loops upon the points or
needles E quite clear of the points C'. The bar E is then carried to
the footing frame and placed in the slots of the brackets H secured to
the needle bar at each end of the rows of needles, being so placed
when the needles are at their lowest position, if the needles slide or
move vertically. If the needles are fixed and lic horizontally, or
nearly so, then the bar E is placed in the slots of the brackets H when the
frame is at its highest position, the sinkers being then in the position
shewn at Figure 4. The points or needles E³ then lie over and upon
the beards of the needles H³ of the footing frame; the sinkers are then
brought forward and their nebs are lowered between the points or
needles E², and on going back they place the loops upon the needles H'
and the frame continues the manufacture of the fabric.
My second improvement relates to frames or machines in which
knocking over bits are used, a sectional view of such frame or machine
being partly shewn at Figure 5.
Figure 6 shews in plan one lead of knocking over bits hercin-after
referred to. This improvement consists in the employment of knocking
over bits A in which there is a recess on the upper edge. Such recess
forms an incline towards the front of the frame, and also towards the
back of the frame, such bits are cast in leads B, and are secured to the
knocking over bar C in the usual way. D is the thread guide which
supplies the needles F with the thread E as the needles are being
lowered to their lowest position, as seen in Figure 5, the beards being
closed by the pressor H. The knocking over bits A hold the fabric G
in such position that the work clears the needle heads as they risc up
above the top of the recess which binds the loops on the inclines nearer
the presser bar H, and ensuring the loops passing under the needle heads,
that is, to the right of the needle, as seen in Figure 5.
A third improvement consists in dividing the press off in widening

page_text: looped or knitted fabrics, and this I effect by the employment of
apparatus shown at Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10. Figure 7 represents in
section a portion of a rotary frame for making looped or knitted fabrics
with my improved machinery or apparatus attached thereto; Figure 8
shews in plan the machinery or apparatus with two sets of tickler
brackets and wedge-ended levers herein-after referred to; Figures 9 and
10 are separate views of portions of my machinery or apparatus employed
to carry out my Invention. To the bar A, which carries the sliding
tickler bars B, B, I attach bearings C for a rocking shaft D which carries
a hand lever E, by means of which the bar may be operated. To this
rocking shaft are secured a number of wedge-ended levers F. I will
suppose, for instance, there are eight ticklers G in each set, but any
other required number of ticklers may be used in a set, and each of
them may be secured in a brass bracket or may be cast in a lead, and
they require moving the space of one or more needles at each operation
of widening the fabric in the usual way. Instead of moving the whole
of the ticklers for the space of one or more needles I place one or more
ticklers of each set in a brass or lead.
In the Drawings two ticklers are shewn in each brass or lead H which
is secured to and mores with one or other of the sliding bars 13 the
distance of one needle. The other ticklers of each set I secure in other
brasses or leads H', H, and H³, which brasses or leads also move with
the bar, but are not secured fast to it, but they are held firmly down
on the bar by a plate I, which plate lies on the top of them, the plate
being secured to and carried by the brass or lead II, so that they are
free to slide to the right or left under the plate when so moved, but they
are held closely to the brass or lead E by two springs L, L, to each set.
Suppose the fabric is about to be widened, the handle being down, and
the wedge-ended levers Fin a raised position, as seen at Figure 7, the
tickler bar or bars B3, B, are racked the distance of one needle. The
whole of the eight ticklers will then cover eight adjoining needles, the
handle E being then placed in the position seen in Figure 9, the wedge-
ended levers F will have entered successively between the brasses or
leads H, E, and Il³, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7, and
place each pair of ticklers the distance of one needle from the next :
adjoining pair of ticklers, leaving one uncovered needle between each
pair of ticklers. The work being then pushed from the operator,
the loops will be passed from off the ticklers G on to the needles.K,

page_text: which the ticklers respectively covered, the outermost pair of ticklers
having been moved over four needles. Figure 9 shews the position
of the levers F when they are between the brasses or leads; Figure 10
is a sectional view of the levers on the line M, N, at Figure 9.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
machinery or apparatus substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Cotton, have hercunto set
my hand and seal this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM COTTON. (L.S.)