IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONOY IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lees, of the City of Norwich, in the employ
of George Allen, Esquire, Cloth Manufacturer, and Moses Mellor, of the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Frame Smith and Machine
Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lees and Moses
Mellor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 23rd March 1865.
We, JOSEPH LEES, of the City of Norwich, in the employ of George Allen,
Esquire, Cloth Manufacturer, and MOSES MELLOR, of the Town and County
of the Town of Nottingham, Frame Smith and Machine Builder, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS," to be
as follows:-
Our first arrangement relates to improvements on a circular machine
similar to that described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us
(Moses Mellor), dated 7th November 1863, No. 2778. In this machine
needle bits are moved up and down in a vertical position by two separate sets

page_text: of inclines, which act upon needle bits having one or more nebs or projections
on one side thereof, or these needle bits may have a double projection at the
edge, acted upon by the inclines; these double projections are one in advance
of the other, that is, one such projection stands farther out from the edge of
the needle bits than the other. In each needle bit is a latchet or tumbler
needle; in either case the inclines act upon the needle bits in such manner
that a thread may be laid or inserted in front of one needle and at the back
of the next needle alternately, or otherwise, in addition to the thread which is
laid or inserted in all the needles, and to-insure the first thread- being laid
alternately at the back and front of the needles which are in the needle bits
(which slide vertically in a circular sley or sleys), we place a trick wheel in
such position that it presses every alternate needle outwards, thereby enabling
the second laid thread to pass easily between the stems of the needles when
the needles are lowered by the inclines, such thread is then held down by a
second wheel, while the whole of the needles are raised up and are again
lowered by inclines, and the work is knocked over.
In our second arrangement some of the needle bits are bevelled off or cut
away at back and others at front, so that they may be acted on by inclines
acting at right angles to the first-mentioned inclines, whereby the needle' bits
bevelled at back are tipped outward or forward, and those bevelled at front
remain vertical, or they may be tipped slightly backward or inward, according
to their shape; in either case the needles in such bits are so separated from
each other that, the second laid thread is easily inserted between the stems of
such needles, and held down by a wheel, the trick wheel above mentioned
being here dispensed with.
In our third modification we employ a wheel so constructed that the top of
the blades stands at the top of the needles when the needles are rising up the
incline; the wheel is set at an angle of about 45°. In every alternate blade
of the wheel is a small stud; these studs press upon every alternate needle in
the circle and hold it outward from the others, so that as the wheel revolves
it will have a downward tendency, so as to throw the second laid thread. below
the latchet. or tumbler of the needles; these wheels, as well as those before
mentioned, are placed inside the circle of needles. All the needles and the
sleys in which they slide vertically have also rotary motion about the centre,
the work as produced passing within the circle of the needles downwards to
winding apparatus having a roller upon which the work is wound: The needle
sleys and the tube or head upon which they are fixed, or of which they.form
part, receive rotary motion from gear wheels. The outside of these sleys and
of the tube are surrounded by a case or flanged ring, on the inside of which

page_text: are the above cams or inclines; such case supports the thread guides. A
bearing is turned out to receive the sley tube, and is secured to or forms part
of a main casting which supports the bearings for a main driving shaft and
other parts of the machine.
In our fourth modification we employ in addition to or instead of parts of
the above apparatus a circular sley, in which slide needle levers, the upper
ends of which form a hook, and are hooked upon a rim or ring, upon which
they swing; the lower ends of these levers have each a tumbler or latchet
needle secured therein, which needles point outwards and lie between the
other needles, the latchets and hooks pointing upward. Both the hooked levers
and the needles, after a thread has been laid upon them, are moved backward
from between the first-mentioned needles, taking the thread with them; each
needle forms a loop, which is released after it has been tied in by another
thread supplied to the vertical needles by the needles when brought forward
to pass the loops behind the tumblers or latchets, and they are taken back to
release the loops, such movements being effected by inclines secured to a fixed
spindle, round which the needle lever, sley, and rim or ring revolve; they are
caused to revolve by wheels and connections driven by the head or vertical
needle bit sleys.
In our fifth modification, instead of having needles inserted in the swinging
levers, we insert hooks which point downwards, so that as they are drawn
inwards, a thread having been laid under them, they will draw a loop, as
before described, which loops will free themselves as the hooks are again
brought forward.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
LEES, of the City of Norwich, in the employ of George Allen, Esquire, Cloth
Manufacturer, and MOSES MELLOR, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Frame Smith and Machine Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor, Her special licence that we, the said

page_text: Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor; our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Joseph-Lees and Moses Mellor, our exécutors;
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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said. Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor, 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 :-
Our first arrangement relates to improvements on a circular machine
similar to that described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us,
namely, the said Moses Mellor, dated the 7th day of November 1863,
numbered 2778. In this machine, constructed according to our present
improvements, needle bits are moved up and down in a vertical position by
two separate sets of inclines, which act upon needle bits having one or more
nebs or projections on one side thereof, or these needle. bits may have a
double projection at the edge, acted upon by the inclines; these double
projections are one in advance of the other, that is to say, one such projection
stands further out from the edge of the needle bits than the other. In each
needle bit is a latchet or tumbler needle; in either case the inclines act upon
the needle bits in such manner that a thread may be laid or inserted in front
of one needle and at the back of the next needle alternately, or otherwise, in
addition to the thread which is laid or inserted in all the needles, and to
insure the first thread being laid alternately at the back and front of the
needles which are in the needle bits (which said needle bits slide vertically in
a circular sley or sleys), we place a trick wheel in such position that it
presses every alternate needle outwards, thereby enabling the second laid
thread to pass easily between the stems of the needles when the needles are

page_text: lowered by the inclines, such thread is then held down by a second wheel,
while the whole of the needles are raised up and are again lowered by inclines
and the work is "knocked" over.
In our second arrangement some of the needle bits are bevilled off or cut
away at back and others at front, so that they may be acted upon by inclines
acting at right angles to the first-mentioned inclines, whereby the needle bits
bevilled at the back are tipped outwards or forwards, and those bevilled at the
front remain vertical, or they may be tipped slightly backward or inward,
according to their shape; in either case the needles in such bits are so
separated from each other that the second laid thread is easily inserted
between the stems of such needles, and held down by a wheel, the trick wheel
above mentioned being here dispensed with.
In our third modification we employ a wheel so constructed that the tops
of the blades stand at the top of the needles when the needles are rising up
the incline; the wheel is set at an angle of about forty-five degrees. In
every alternate blade of the wheel is a small stud; these studs press upon
every alternate needle in the circle and hold it outward from the others, so
that as the wheel revolves it will have a downward tendency, so as to throw
the second laid thread below the latchet or tumbler of the needles; these
wheels, as well as those before mentioned, are placed inside the circle of
needles. All the needles and the sleys in which they slide vertically have also
rotary motion about the centre, the work as produced passing within the
circle of the needles downwards to a winding apparatus having a roller upon
which the work is wound. The needle sleys and the tube or head upon
which they are fixed, or of which they form part, receive rotary motion from
gear wheels. The outside of these sleys and of the tube are surrounded by
a case or flanged ring, on the inside of which are the above cams or inclines;
such case supports the thread guides. A bearing is turned out to receive the
sley tube, and is secured to or forms part of a main casting which supports
bearings for a main driving shaft and other parts of the machine.
In another modification we employ in addition to or instead of parts of the
above apparatus a circular sley, in which slide needle levers, the upper ends
of which form hooks, and are hooked upon a rim or ring, upon which they
swing; the lower ends of these levers bave each a tumbler or latchet needle
secured therein, which needles point outward and lie between the other
needles, the latchets and books pointing upward. Both the hooked levers
and the needles after a thread has been laid upon them are moved backward
from between the first-mentioned needles, taking the thread with them; each
needle forms a loop, which is released after it has been tied in by another thread

page_text: supplied to the vertical needles by the needles when brought forward to pass
the loops behind the tumblers or latchets, and they are taken back to release
the loops, such movements being effected by inclines secured to a fixed
spindle, round which the needle lever, sley, and rim or ring revolve; they are
caused to revolve by wheels and connections driven by the head or vertical
needle bit sleys.
In another modification, instead of baving needles inserted in the swinging
levers, we insert hooks, which point downwards, so that as they are drawn
inwards, a thread having been laid under them, they will draw a loop as before
described, which loops will free themselves as the hooks are again brought
forward.
Having thus set forth the nature of our Invention, we now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing the same with reference to
the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 to 9 inclusively, Sheets 1 and 2, represent our first arrangement
relating to improvements on a circular machine similar to that described in
the Specification of the said Patent granted to me, the said Moses Mellor,
dated the 7th day of November 1863, and numbered 2778. Figure 1 is a
front view of one such machine; Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 a sectional
view of the same. The parts of the Figures in this arrangement which cor-
respond are lettered alike, so are also the corresponding parts shown in the
several arrangements herein-after referred to. In this machine, constructed
according to our present improvements, needle bits, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are
moved up and down in a vertical position by two separate sets of inclines,
which act upon needle bits having one or more nebs or projections on one
edge thereof, or these needle bits may have a double projection at the edge,
acted upon by the inclines; these double projections are one in advance of the
other, that is to say, one such projection stands further out from the edge of
the needle bits than the other, shown at Figure 4, Sheet 1. In each needle
bit is soldered a latched self-pressing or tumbler needle A; in either case the
inclines, which may be either fixed or adjustable, and are shown in side view
at Figure 9, Sheet 2, act upon the needle bits in such manner that a thread
may be laid or inserted in front of one needle and at the back of the next
needle alternately, or otherwise, such thread being in addition to the thread
which is laid or inserted in all the needles; and to insure the first thread
being laid alternately at the back and front of the needles, which needles are
in the needle bits (which slide vertically in a circular sley or sleys B), we

page_text: place a trick wheel C'in such position that it presses every alternate needle
outwards; such needles which are not pressed outwards but remain in the
tricks of the wheel C are drawn down by the incline G, seen at Figure 9,
acting upon the lower neb, or such needle bits and needles may be drawn
down by an additional incline operating upon the projection on the needle bit
seen at Figure 3, Sheet 1, thereby enabling the second laid thread to pass
easily between the stems of the needles when the needles are lowered: by the
inclines; such thread is then held down by a second wheel D while the whole
of the needles are raised up and again lowered by the inclines, and the work
is "knocked" over.
In our second arrangement some of the needle bits are bevelled off or cut
away at the back edge thereof, as shown at Figures 11 and 15, Sheet 3, and
other needle bits are bevelled off or cut away at the front edge, as shown at
Figure 12, so that they may be acted upon by inclines acting at right angles
to the first-mentioned inclines; the incline so acting at right angles is shown
in side view at E, Figure 18, and in plan at Figure 16, by the use of which
incline the needle bits which are bevelled at the back are tipped outward, or
forward, and those which are bevelled at the front remain vertical, or they
may be tipped slightly backward or inward, according to their shape; in
either case the needles in such bits are so separated from each other that the
second laid thread is easily inserted between the stems of such needles and
held down by a wheel D, the trick wheel C being here dispensed with. In
the sectional views given in Figures 10 and 13, Sheet 3, needle bits are
shown tipped outward or forward by the incline G in Figure 10, and by the
incline E in Figure 13; in both cases the needle bits are raised when
required by the cam F, and lowered by the cam G by means of the lower nebs
or projections; or when needle bits are used having upper nebs or projections,
such bits are raised by the incline G¹ and lowered by the incline H; each
incline may be made adjustable, as shown. The needle bit, Figure 14,
having a neb at its lower end, is inserted alternately or otherwise in a sley
or sleys with the needle bits, Figure 15, as shown in the sectional view,
Figure 13.
In our third modification we employ a wheel so constructed that the top of
the blades stands at the top of the needles when the needles are rising up the
incline, as shown at Figure 17, where the wheel is shown in section, and at
Figure 18, which represents the same wheel endwise; this wheel is set at
about an angle of forty-five degrees. In every alternate blade of the wheel is a
small stud; these studs press upon every alternate needle, or otherwise, in the
circle, and hold such needles outward from the other needles, so that as the

page_text: wheel revolves it will have a downward tendency, so as to throw the second
laid thread below the latchet or tumbler of the needles; these wheels, as well
as those before mentioned, are placed inside the circle of needles, and all the
needles, needle bits, and, the; sleys in which they slide vertically have also
rotary motion about the centre; the work as produced passes within the
circle of the needles downward to a winding apparatus having a roller, upon
which the work is wound. The needle sley or sleys B and the tube or head I,
upon, which they are fixed or of which they form part, receive rotary motion
from gear wheels: K. The outside of the sley or sleys and the tube I are
surrounded by a case or flanged ring L, on the inside of which are secured
the before-mentioned cams or inclines F, G, G¹; and H; to this case L are
also secured thread guides L', L2; the case L is secured to or forms part of a
main casting R, which supports bearings for a driving shaft and other
parts of the machine; to this casting are likewise secured the pins upon
which the cops; of thread M are placed. The cams or inclines G and G¹ form
terminations of a strip of metal, which is formed with a hinge at the side
opposite the inclines, and is provided with a sliding catch G³, so that a portion
may be opened outward to allow of a needle bit being taken out or inserted.
L' is a looped guide which restrains the thread or threads which are passed
through it from rising too high or falling too low. N is a moveable guide,
through which one or more, threads are passed; these threads, with the guide,
receive motion by means of a connecting link N attached to the excentric O
on a horizontal shaft O', provided with a grooved pulley at the opposite end to
the excentric; over this pulley is passed a cord, which passes also round a
pulley P on the driving shaft of the machine. It is evident that by this
arrangement the number of times the moveable guide N is moved up and
down during one revolution of the machine will be caused to depend upon the
relative diameters of the pulley P and the pulley on the horizontal shaft O¹;
or instead of the above pulleys and cord. the excentric shaft and the main
driving. shaft
may each carry a toothed wheel gearing with each other, in
which case the relative proportions of such wheels will govern the number of
movements of the guide N during each revolution of the machine. By the
employment of either of these methods a variety of patterns, gradually
changing, may be produced, or a more distinct variety may be produced, such
as diamonds, stripes, checks, or other patterns or devices.
Another modification of our arrangement is shewn at Figure 19, Sheet 4,
which is a sectional view of the upper part of a machine in which the needle
bits are moved up, and down by inclines as before described, but. instead of
there being a moveable thread guide, as in our first arrangement, to lay the

page_text: thread between every other needle, or otherwise, we sometimes employ a, trick
wheel C for pressing every other needle, or otherwise, outward, so that a
thread or threads may be laid between such needles; and for the purpose of
laying the thread or threads between the needles we employ a wheel D. having
notched teeth, in which said notches the thread or threads lie, and are thereby
passed between the separated needles. Both the wheels C, and D.are adjust-
able upon and held by a bracket, D', screwed, to the outside of the casing, end
views of the wheels C and D are shewn at. Figures 20 and 21.
In another modification we employ, in addition to or instead of parts of the
above apparatus, a circular sley U, in which slide levers T, the upper ends of
which form hooks, and are hooked upon a rim or ring upon the top side of
the sley U, upon and in which they swing. The lower ends of the levers slide
in slots in the lower part of the sley U. The lower ends of, the levers have
each a hook S¹ secured therein, which hooks point downwards and radiate
outwards, lying between the needles A. These hooked levers and hooks, after.
the thread has been laid under the hooks, are moved backward from between
the needles A, taking the thread with them. Each hook forms a loop, which
is released after it has been tied in by another thread, supplied to the vertical
needles A; the hooks S¹, when brought forward again, releasing the loops they
severally made; such movements of the hooks S¹ are effected by the cam
plate U¹ and the cam V, which cam V is fixed to a spindle W, securely held
by a bracket W¹, which may be screwed to the main framing R³ or other fixed
part of the framing. The sley S rests upon a collar. at the lower end of the
spindle W, and is free to turn upon such spindle, being driven round by the
hooks S¹; the sley U, in which the hook bits slide and upon which they swing,
is made to revolve by means of a wheel X³, securely fixed upon the pipe of
the sley U, the wheel X³ gearing into a wheel X2 upon the upper end of a
shaft carrying a wheel ✗¹ at its lower end, the shaft is supported by
brackets Y and Y¹, secured to the main framing of the machine. The
wheel X gears into a wheel X on the pipe of the wheel K, fast upon the
tube or pipe I of the head, by means of which the sleys U and B are driven
round simultaneously. The upper side of the sley U with the hook bits in
their place is shewn at Figure 23, Sheet 4, the lower side at Figure 24; the
cam plate for forcing back the bits T is seen screwed to the bracket Y2 at
Figure 25, and the cam V is seen at Figure 26; Figure 27 shews in plan
the upper side of the lower sley S. The whole of the above parts are shewn
in their relative proportions to each other, but we do not confine ourselves to
the precise sizes shewn, as we make machines of various diameters, dimensions,
and gauges. Upon the wheel K, which is secured to the lower end of the

page_text: tube or pipe I is secured a similar wheel, which said similar wheel into
gears
a wheel K', which is fast on a short shaft carried by a bearing screwed to the
framing of the machine; this short shaft is fitted with a winch handle Ka, by
means of which the machine may be set in motion when required. The whole
of the above parts are shewn in their relative proportions to each other, but
we do not confine ourselves to the precise sizes shewn, as we make machines
of various diameters, dimensions, and gauges.
By the words "alternately or otherwise" used in this Specification we
intend to convey that we employ other arrangements for separating the needles
than those described, that is to say, we employ trick wheels to hold out one
needle in every three needles, two needles in every five needles, and so on,
according to the pattern required to be produced.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, we declare that we claim arranging and
combining the parts of machinery or apparatus substantially in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Lees and Moses Mellor, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JOSEPH LEES.
L.S.)
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
MOSES MELLOR. (L.S.)