Improved Stockinette Fabrics.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
Improved Stockinette Fabrics.
We, ROBERT HENRY LENDRUM, of Alma Mills, Thongsbridge, near Huddersfield,
Yorkshire, Manufacturer, and DAVID DYTCH, of the same place, Overlooker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our improvements in circular knitting or stockinette frames consist in the addition
thereto of wheels comprising, Firstly, a lifting wheel, secondly a turning over wheel,
and thirdly a clearing wheel operating together, which we duplicate individually or in
their combined state, or arrange the combination in any position or order with regard
to precedence or sequence of the ordinary operating wheels, according to
requirements.
To more fully illustrate our Invention, we will now make reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is cross section of so much of a stockinette
or knitting frame as is necessary to illustrate our improvements, and Fig. 2 is plan
view thereof. Our improvements in the apparatus consist in a new combination of
wheels, which are shewn at a, b, and c, being respectively the lifting wheel,"
turning over wheel," and "clearing wheel," carried and supported by suitable
brackets d and e, and attached to the circle of the frame in any suitable manner; the
name of each wheel indicating its object and purpose, and will be well understood by
those conversant with the trade.
The method of operating the combination of wheels is as follows:-Firstly. The
lifting wheel is employed to lift a thread or threads (laid in, in front of some needles
and behind others by the ordinary laying in wheels) from iis or their position, as left
by the picking up wheel, to the top of the needles. The picking up wheel being
usually intended to close the beards of those needles in front of which a thread or
threads has been laid. We require for some designs not to close certain of the beards,
thus causing the lifting up wheel to lift the thread or threads to the top of these
needles but under their beards, thus taking such threads out of position for being
turned over on those needles which have not been closed.
Secondly, The turning over wheel is employed to turn the thread or threads over
the needles, where it or they have been laid in, in front of, and picked up over the

page_text: beards, and interlock such thread or threads with stitching thread or threads put
under all or only under some needle beards according to design being woven ; and
also to carry the two or more threads a short distance down the needles and fasten the
laid in thread or threads where picked up, in front of the needle beards at the back of
the needles, and the stitching thread or threads at the front of those needles, which, by
the laid in thread or threads have been interlocked; and,
Thirdly, the clearing wheel is employed to take the interlocked threads down the
needles from where left by turning over wheel. The interlocked threads are now
ready to be dealt with, as threads laid in between the needles are dealt with.
The above arrangement of wheels is employed in combination with the ordinary
operating wheels.
To shew one of the advantages derived from our arrangement of wheels, we herein-
after describe how they are to be applied for the purpose of making a plain backed
stockinette fabric, though we do not wish to be understood to confine ourselves to the
application of our arrangement of wheels for this purpose, as it is only one of the
many uses to which our invention (either duplicated bodily, or in parts, and in different
positions with regard to, or combinations with, the ordinary wheels) may be put, and is
illustrated solely for the object of shewing more plainly how our invention may be
applied. Therefore in making a plain backed stockinette fabric we proceed as follows:-
After picking up the laid in threads in the place usually performed, in making an
ordinary backed knitted fabric (that is, between where the stitching and looping
threads are put in the needles) we lift the backing or laid in thread up to and turn it
over the top of the needles by means of the lifting and turning over wheels, causing it
to interlock with a stitching thread, which hereinafter we call the intermediate stitch-
ing thread; when this is done we clear the two threads down as described, and now
we put in another thread, which becomes the stitching thread; afterwards we pick up
the intermediate stitching thread over the beards of the needle, bringing with it the
backing or laid in thread upon the back of the needle, when instead of the backing
thread, as is usually the case, being stitched by the ordinary stitching thread, it will
only be the intermediate stitching thread which will be stitched to the fabric; the
backing, which is stitched to the fabric by means of the intermediate stitching thread,
does not have any effect on the face of the fabric, a result which necessarily enhances
the value of the fabric.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our invention, and shewn how
the same may be applied, we would have it understood that what we claim is :-
Firstly. The addition to or combinatian with a circular knitting or stockinette fabric
frame, of additional wheels herein referred to and shewn in the Drawings.
Secondly. In a stockinette fabric frame, the arrangement and combination of wheels
for the purpose of lifting up to the top of the needles, turning over and clearing down
the needles of threads, all substantially as herein described.
Thirdly. The manufacture of stockinette fabrics embracing the intermediate
stitching thread for stitching the backing to the fabric in manner substantially as
herein described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1887.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.