IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's
Inu, in the County of Middlesex, and of the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the "Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad
by William Williams Clay, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America.
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
July 1865.
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.ft.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex, and of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer
and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS, IN, KNITTING MACHINES," (a communication to me from
abroad by William Williams Clay, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America,) to be as follows:-
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it.
The bed plate of the machine is provided at the opposite sides with parallel
guides connected together by crop pieces. In the centre of the bed plate is
a narrow opening, and across the plate extends a series of parallel grooves, the
latter being deepest at the outer ends and shallow in the centre, where they
are adapted for the reception of the ordinary double self-acting needles, the
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page_text: bottom of each groove being inclined at the two points where the deeper
portion meets the shallow portion of each groove. In each groove slide two
carriers, from the inner end of each of which projects a hook having an
inclined end, and on the upper edge of each carrier near the outer end of the
same is a lip which projects above the face of the bed plate.
On the parallel guides above named slides the operating plate, on the
under side of which are permanently secured two triangular cam plates, and
in the centre of the operating plate slides the thread-carrying bar, the ends
of which project beyond the plate, and through which passes the thread-
conducting tube, the latter projecting upwards into an oblong slot in the
operating plate. To a pin on a bracket at the rear of the said operating
plate near each end of the same is hung a bell-crank lever, the longer arm of
which is forked, and to another pin on a bracket at the front of the plate and
near each end of the same is hung a second bell-crank lever which is also
forked at the end.
At the under side of the operating plate near the fixed cam plates, above
mentioned, are two adjustable cam plates, each of which is held to the operating
plate by a bolt, the latter passing through a sliding plate through a slot in
the operating plate, and screwing into the said cam plate. The head of the
bolt last named forms a pin which is embraced by the forked end of one of
the bell-crank levers, so that on moving the same the sliding plate and the
cam plate below the same will also be moved, a rib at the outer edge of each
oam plate bearing against the edge of the operating plate, so that the cam
whilst being adjusted shall move in a direction parallel to the edge of the said
plate. The inner edges of the moveable cam plates are parallel to the
adjacent edges of the fixed cams, the outer edges of each of the former being
nearly at right angles to the inner edges of the same.
On a pin near each end of the operating plate revolve two pattern wheels
having on their peripheries projections and recesses (the purpose of which
will be hereafter explained), and each of the wheels being secured, one to
the upper and the other to the lower side of a ratchet wheel, to the teeth of
which is adapted a pawl carried by an arm hung to the pin above named.
On the short arm of one of the bell-crank levers is an adjustable lug, the
end of the latter being in contact with the edge of one of the pattern wheels,
which thus controls the said lever, a similar adjustable lug being secured to
the short arm of the other lever, and being in contact with the edge of the
other pattern wheel which thus controls the movement of the second bell-
crank lever, the short arms of the two levers being connected together by a
spring which causes the adjustable lugs to bear with sufficient force against

page_text: their respective pattern wheels. To the centre of each cross piece (con-
necting the parallel slides together) is secured a vertical stop for a purpose
described hereafter.
When the pattern wheels have been turned so that their projections are
brought against the adjustable lugs the bell-crank levers will be so operated
as to move back their respective cams from the adjacent fixed cam; when,
however, the pattern wheels are turned so that the lugs are in the recesses,
the adjustable cams will be moved towards the adjacent fixed cam.
When a fabric is to be made upon the machine each of the carriers on
the left of the narrow opening in the bed plate above referred to is first
brought forward so as to seize one end of its respective double needle, and the
pattern wheels are then so turned as to move the adjustable cams at the left of
the operating plate towards the corresponding fixed cam, whilst the moveable.
cams on the opposite end of the plate are moved back from their corresponding
fixed cam. The yarn is now passed through the conducting tube and placed
on the needles (one loop on each), and the operating plate is moved to and
fro over the bed plate on its guides. As the said plato is moved forwards the
tbread is laid on to the needle by the carrier, and the outer edge of the first
adjustable cam will be brought into contact with the lips of the carrier, and
will move the latter forward until the lips are brought in contact with the
edge of the fixed cam, when the carriers with their needles will be moved
back until the right ends of the latter project into the narrow opening in the
bed plate before mentioned.
As the needles slip through the loops of the old fabric the latter closes the
pawls of the needles on to the new thread and slips over the pawls and off the.
ends of the needles over the new thread on the latter, thus forming a series:
of new loops.
As the forward motion of the operating plate is continued the inner edge:
of the second adjustable cam is brought into contact with the lips of the
carriers, and the latter with their needles are moved forward, the needles.
slipping through the loops just formed which open the pawls preparatory to:
the introduction of the thread on the backward motion of the plate.
As the operating plate is brought towards either end of the machine the
end of the thread carrier strikes against the vertical stop above named,. and
the movement of the carrier being thereby arrested whilst: that of the plate
is continued until the thread-conducting tube is adjacent to the opposite edge
of the plate, so that on the return movement of the latter the thread will be
carried before the plate, and will be laid on the needles prior to the pawls of.
the latter being closed. So long as the above-described motionis, are continued:

page_text: a plain fabric will be produced; should it be desired, however, to form a
fabric with a transverse rib it will be necessary to move the needles on to the
opposite side of the narrow opening in the bed plate previously alluded to.
If desirable, the needles may be transferred across the opening at every
movement of the plate; in which case the fabric will be composed of alternate
narrow horizontal ribs and depressions.
The character of the fabric may be still further varied, if desired, by placing
the needles alternately on both sides of the opening, removing the opposite
carriers, and adjusting the cams so as to operate on both sides of the opening,
at the same time a vertical rib being thus made in the fabric.
In a modification of this Invention the pattern wheels are dispensed with,
and the needle carriers are raised and depressed as required by means of a
"jacquard" apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th December .1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer and Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Davies, Her special license that I, the said George Davies,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Davies, 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 KNITTING
MACHINES," being a communication to me from abroad by William Williams
Clay, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies, 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

page_text: 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters-
Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference being had to the accompanying Sheet.
of Drawings, that is to say :-
On reference to the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional
elevation of the improved knitting machine; Figure 2, 2. plan view partly.in.
section; Figure 3, a plan view of part of the machine with the upper works.
removed; Figure 4, a sectional elevation of part of the machine; Figure 5-
the same as Figure 3, with the position of the cam plates altered; Figure 6,
a sectional elevation, illustrating the manner of applying the jacquard appa-
ratus to the machine; and Figure 7, a view of the rock frame connected with:
the jacquard apparatus.
A is the bed plate of the machine, at the opposite sides of which are
parallel guides B, B, the latter being connected together by cross pieces C
and C. In the centre of the bed' plate is a narrow opening a, and across
the plate extend a series of parallel grooves b, the latter being deepest at the
outer ends and shallow in the centre, where they are adapted for the recep-
tion of the ordinary double self-acting needles D, the bottom of each groove
being inclined at the two points x, x, where the deeper portion meets the-
shallow portion of each groove (Figures 1 and 4) for a purpose described
bereafter.
In each groove b slide two carriers F, from the inner end of each of which
projects a hook c, having an inclined end, and on the upper edge of each
carrier near the outer end of the same is a lip e, which projects above. the
face of the bed plate.
On the guides B, B, slides the operating bar H, on the under side of which
are permanently secured the triangular cam plates G, G', and in the centre of
the plate slides. the thread-carrying bar I, the ends of which projeet beyond
the plate, and through which passes the thread-conducting tube f, the latter
projecting upwards into the oblong slot g in the operating plate. To a pin h,!
on a bracket at the rear, of the said. operating plate II, near each end of.
the same is hung a bell-crank lever J, the long arm of which is forked, and.
to a pin on a bracket at the front of the plate, and near each end of
the same, is hung a bell-crank lever J', which is also forked at the end! At:

page_text: the under side of the plate H, near the cam plates G and G, are two adjust-
able cam plates K and K', each of which is held to the plate by a bolt i, the
latter passing through a plate L through a slot in the operating plate and
screwing into the said cam plate (Figure 6.)
From each of the plates L projects a pink, which is embraced by the forked
end of one of the levers J or J', so that on moving the same the plate L
and the cam plate below the same will also be moved, a rib m at the outer
edge of each cam plate bearing against the edge of the plate H, so that the
cam while being adjusted shall move parallel to the edge of the said plate H.
The edge y of the cam K, Figure 3, is parallel to the adjacent edge of the
cam G, and the edge y' of the cam K' is parallel to the adjacent edge z¹
of the cam G¹, the outer edge of each of the cams K, K', being nearly at
right angles to the inner edge of the same.
On a pin M, near each end of the plate H, revolve two pattern wheels N,N',
having on their peripheries projections and recesses, the purpose of which
will be rendered apparent hereafter, and each of the wheels being secured one
to the upper and the other to the lower side of a ratchet wheel O, to the teeth
of which is adapted a pawl n on an arm P hung to the pin M.
On the short arm of the lever J is an adjustable lug O, the end of the latter
being in contact with the edge of the pattern wheel N, which thus controls
the lever, a similar adjustable lug o' being secured to the short arm of the
lever J, and being in contact with the edge of the pattern wheel N, which
thus controls the said lever J', the short arms of the two levers being con- .
nected together by a spring p, which causes the adjustable lugs o and o¹ to
bear with sufficient force against their respective pattern wheels.
To the centre of each cross piece C and C' is secured a vertical stop Q for a
purpose described hereafter. When the pattern wheels have been turned so
that their projections are brought against the lugs o and o¹, the levers will be
so operated as to move back the cams K and K from the adjacent per-
manent cam G; when, however, the pattern wheels are turned so that the
lugs o and o¹ are in the recesses of the said wheels, the cams K and K' will
be moved towards the adjacent permanent cam.
When a fabric is to be made upon the machine each of the carriers Fou
the left of the opening a is first brought forward so as to seize the needle D,
as shown in Figure 1, and the pattern wheels N and N¹ are then so turned as
to move the adjustable cams K and K' at the left of the operating plate
towards the cam G, while the cams K, K', on the opposite end of the plate,
are moved back from the cam G, the parts of the machine now occupying the
position shown in Figure 1. The yarn is now passed through the conducting

page_text: tube f, and is placed on the needles D, one loop on each, and the operating
plate is moved back and forth over the bed plate on the guides B, B.
As the plate H is moved forward in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3,
the thread is laid on to the needle by the carrier I, and the edge v of the
cam K will be brought into contact with the lips e of the carriers F, and will
move the latter forward until the lips are brought into contact with the edge z
of the cam G, when the carriers with their needles will be moved back until
the right ends of the latter project into the opening a. As the needles slip
through the loops of old fabric the latter closes the pawls of the needles
on to the new thread, and slips over the pawls and off the ends of the
needles over the new thread on the latter, thus forming a series of new
loops.
As the forward motion of the plate H is continued the edge y of the
cam K' is brought into contact with the lips and the carriers, and their
needles are moved forward, the latter slipping through the loops just formed
which open the pawls preparatory to the introduction of the thread on the
backward motion of the plate. As the operating plate H is brought toward
either end of the machine the end of the thread carrier I strikes against the
stop Q, the movement of the carrier being thereby arrested, while that of the
plate II is continued until the tube f is adjacent to the opposite edge of
the plate, so that on the return movement of the latter the thread will be
carried before the plate, and will be laid on to the needles prior to the pawls
of the latter being closed.
So long as the above described motions are continued a plain fabric will be
produced; should it be desired, however, to form a fabric with a transverse
rib, it will be necessary to move the needles on to the opposite side of
the opening a, which is accomplished in the following manner: The
operating plate H is first brought to the limit of its forward motion and the
pattern wheels N and N¹ are turned so that the cam K' is withdrawn from
the cam G, while the cam K, owing to the action of the pattern wheel N is
moved slightly forward, the cams now occupying the position shown in
Figure 5. The operating plate H is now again moved backward when the
edge Z of the cam G will be brought into contact with the lips e, and will
move the carriers and their needles back as before. As the edge y¹ of the
eam K' is brought into contact with the lips e, however, the carriers F,
owing to the forward position of the cam, will be moved so far forward that
they will push the needles towards the opposite carriers, so that the opposite
hooked ends of the needles will slide beneath and be seized by the hooks c of
these carriers, while the carriers to the left of the opening a pass up the inclined

page_text: edge until their hooks, care disengaged from the adjacent hooked ends of
the needles, as best observed on reference; to Figure 4.
After the plate, H reaches the limit of its backward motion, the cam K on
the left of the opening a is moved back to the position shown in red lines,
Figure 5, and the cams K and K' on the right of the said opening are moved
forward to the position shown in red lines, after which the plate H is moved
back and forth as before, the character of the work being similar to that first
made, except that the stitches are thrown on the opposite side of the fabric.
If after several rows of stitches have been thus knitted with the needles on
the right of the opening a they are transferred to the opposite side, a trans-
verse rib will be produced on the fabric of a width proportionate to the
number of rows of stitches knitted. If desirable, the needles may be trans-
ferred, across the opening a at every movement of the plate H, in which
case the fabric will be composed of alternate narrow horizontal ribs and
depressions.
(
The character of the fabric may be still further varied, if desired, by placing
the needles alternately on both sides of the opening a, removing the opposite
carriers, and adjusting the cams so as to operate on both sides of the opening
at the same time, a vertical rib being thus made in the fabric.
It will be apparent that by altering the shape of the pattern wheels N, N',
and by fixing stops to the frame of the machine so as to operate the arms P,
and thus turn the pattern wheels, the operation of the machine may be
entirely automatic, and fabrics of almost any desired pattern may be
produced.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the bed plate A, its
grooves, needles D, and carriers F and F', are constructed in the manner
before described; the cams K and K³ are, however, fastened permanently to
the operating plate II, and the pattern wheels are dispensed with.
one
In openings in the plate A, at each side of the elongated opening a, are
pins and t¹, which are depressed by coiled springs, one pin passing into each
groove in the said plate, so that its upper bent end shall be directly under
of the carriers For F1, when the latter is moved forward. Beneath the
bed.plate are two frames T and T¹, one on each side of the opening a, each
frame having journals w, w, adapted to suitable bearings on any permanent
part of the machine, and each frame having a series of slots adapted for the
reception and guidance of a series of bars V, and there being as many bars on
each frame as there are carriers, and each bar being bent at the end where
of the pins tor t bears upon it.
one
To the outer. end. of each bar is secured a cord s, which is so connected to a

page_text: jacquard apparatus as to be operated by the latter in the same manner as the
cords in ordinary fancy looms, and round each bar is coiled a spring r which
tends to move the bar in the direction pointed out by the arrow 1. As one
of the cords & is slackened so as to permit one of the bars V of the rocking
shaft T to move forward, a pin t will be raised until it rests on the upper edge:
of the bar, so that the upper end of the pin is elevated above the bottom of
the groove
b.. The carrier F on its next forward movement strikes the upper >
end of the pin t, and is elevated and free from its hold of the needle, the
other end of which is seized by the opposite carrier F, the bar v' being with-
drawn in the direction of its arrow, so as to allow the pin t¹ to descend.
When the needle has to be passed to the opposite side of the opening a, the:
bar is moved forward and the bar v' withdrawn, the pin t' being conse
quently raised and the pin t depressed, so that on the forward movement of
the carrier F¹ it will be elevated from contact with the needle D, and will:
push it forward until its opposite end is seized by the carrier F, which as it
moves back carries the needle with it.
It will be apparent that as the needles are operated independently of each
other, and as this operation is controlled by the cards, a plain fabric may be
made on some of the needles while vertical and transverse ribs are knitted at
the same time on others, so that an almost endless variety of patterns may be
thus produced:
When it is desired to transfer all the needles at once to one side of the
opening a, one of the frames is turned to the position shown in red lines,
Figure 6, the pins t being all thereby elevated, so that on the next forward
movement of the carriers the latter will be raised from contact with the
needles, the opposite ends of which are caught and operated by the carriers F¹
so long as the opposite carriers are maintained in their elevated position.
The jacquard apparatus may be disconnected from the bars and the frames
made to rock by suitable mechanism, in which case an uniform looped fabric
will be produced, and not variegated as when the jacquard apparatus is in
operation.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Knitting Machines," together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as the Invention (communicated to
me by the above-named William Williams Clay),-
Firstly, the combination of the hooked carriers F, the cams herein
described, or their equivalents for operating the said carriers and the self-
acting needles, whether the latter are arranged to operate in parallel grooves
.

page_text: in conjunction with a reciprocating thread carrier, or in radial grooves in con-
junction with a rotating thread carrier, substantially as described.
Secondly, the bed plate A, its opening a and grooves b, with their inclined
edges adapted for the reception and operation of the needles D and carriers F,
substantially as specified.
Thirdly, the combination of the self-acting needles, the carriers, stationary
cams G, and moveable cams K and K', substantially as set forth.
Fourthly, the combination of the said moveable cams with the pattern
wheels when the latter are operated by the machine through the medium of
the devices herein described, or the equivalents to the same, for the purpose
specified.
Fifthly, controlling the carriers F, F¹, by means of a jacquard apparatus
through the medium of the devices herein described, or the equivalents to the
same, for the purpose specified.
..Sixthly, operating the carriers by means of rocking frames and the bars V
and pins t, or their equivalents, substantially in the manner described.
: In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)