Improvements in Rotary or Straight-bar Knitting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1900-Accepted, 13th Oct.,
1900
Improvements in Rotary or Straight-bar Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention 18 to produce certain improvements in rotary
or straight bar knitting machines.
The several improvements hereinafter described are intended for and described
as applied to the knitting machines known as "Cotton's Patents," but they
are also applicable to other types of straight bar knitting machinery, ribbed
or plain
The first part of my invention consists of an improved arrangement of variable
pattern wheel, for producing a variety of letters, devices, or designs in knotted
stitch or open lace work Many various applications of pattern wheels have
been made for this class of work, the general arrangement being as follows;-
A finger bar or 10d reaches from end to end of the machine and is carried by
suitable brackets attached to the narrowing machine This rod carries one
or mole fingers or brackets for each division of work and each finger or bracket
may cally one or many coverer' or other suitable points arranged in any
order or number of needles apart desired.
"
The end of the said finger rod may rest directly or indirectly upon (and be
kept in contact therewith by a spring or other convenient means) the periphery
of a pattern wheel, which is caused to rotate step by step by suitable rocking
mechanism, or the said 1od may be connected to a slide which may rest or be
held against or work upon the said wheel, or be connected therewith by a
suitable bell crank lever as most convenient.
The periphery of the said wheel 18 suitably cut in a series of steps so that
as the wheel revolves, the said finger rod receives a certain predetermined step
by atep endwise movement, so that loops may be transferred from needle to
needle for knotted stitch or open lace work as desired
All this is well understood by all conversant with this class of machinery.
Now in the arrangements above described when a fresh pattern or design
is required a new wheel has to be cut so that each design requires a change of
wheels
To avoid the inconvenience and expense of a number of wheels I construct
a variable or universal pattern wheel and adjacent parts as follows.
I prefer to connect the finger rod to a suitable slide, and then interpose a
bell crank lever, between the slide and the pattern wheel so that one end of the
Baid bell crank lever 18 in contact with the end of the slide and the other end
of the bell crank lever is acted upon by the pattern wheel
For the pattern wheel I use a plain wheel with a wide cucumferential face.
This face has preferably a number of grooves cut across it and fitting into
these grooves are moveable studs one to each groove to act upon the end of the
bell crank lever. These studs are fastened to the periphery of the wheel by

page_text: screws or other convenient means so that they can be shifted along the said
grooves, and fastened in any one of a certain predetermined number of positions.
The end of the said bell crank lever that engages with the studs I make
wide or T shaped with the head wide enough to come above the full width of
the face of the wheel.
This Tshaped end of the bell crank lever may carry a plate cut in a series
of regular steps, each step being the pitch of one or more needles above or
below the adjacent step
The Tend of the bell crank lever may be lifted by a suitable cam during the
time the wheel is advanced to bing a stud under the stepped end of the said
lever Now it will be seen that according to the position of the said studs
across the face of the wheel they will engage with different steps on the stepped
end of the bell crank lever and thus the lever (and consequently the finger rod
connected directly or indirectly to its other end) will be held in different
positions according to the location of the studs on the face of the wheel. And
thus with studs all of one height there may be as many various positions of
the finger rod (and consequently of the points also) as there are steps on the
end of the bell clank levei
I prefer to make the surface of the studs (which comes in contact with the
stepped end of the bell crank lever) of sufficient length to remain in contact
with the end of the bell crank lever for two forward movements of the wheel
and that the said surface of the stud shall be so shaped or stepped that during
the said second forward movement of the wheel the end of the bell clank lever
shall be raised or lowered sufficiently to "shog" the finger bar one o moie
needles.
By these means the first contact of each stud with the end of the bell crank
lever will place the points in the desired position for taking off loops fiom
certain needles and the next forward movement of the wheel will bring the
said step of the studs into action which shift the points into their
position to delivering the loops onto the needles desired.
In some cases several different heights of studs may be used in conjunction
with the stepped lever and so produce a larger variation of positions of the
points than provided for by the number of steps on the said lever Thus it
will be seen that according to the arrangement of the studs so as to act upon
certain steps of the bell crank level loops may be transferred from any needles
desired and in any order desued to produce the desued pattern or design
in open lace or knotted stitch work.
It will be evident that the same arrangement may be used for producing
fancy tuck-work when points or coverers are arranged to hold the needles off
the presser and so produce tuck stitches where desued
It will also be evident that instead of interposing a bell crank lever between
the pattern wheel and the slide as above described the studs on the wheel may
act duect on to the end of the slide or direct on to the end of the finger rod or
rods or parts attached thereto
In some cases instead of having a stepped lever or slide acted upon by studs
of an uniform height or a small number of different heights, I arrange studs so
shaped and constructed that they shall be of variable heights according to the
pattern desued and act upon a plain ended lever o slide
To do this I construct the pattern wheel so that it shall have radial grooves
cut in its side face o faces from the periphery towards the centre of a con-
venient length In the bottoms of these grooves I fasten small sui faces cut
transversely so as to form ✓ or other convenient shaped teeth of a pitch corre-
sponding to the gauge of the machine. These teeth face outwards. Into the
said grooves I fit the studs which act upon the finger 1ods (either directly or
indirectly) and these studs have corresponding teeth cut upon their inner
surfaces, which engage with the teeth above described, in the bottom of the
grooves

page_text: The studs may be held in their position by a screw spring or other convenient
means Now it will be seen that the teeth upon the surface of the stud fitting
into the teeth at the bottom of the groove, the stud may be shifted towards or
away from the centre as many teeth as desired thus causing the stud to project
from the periphery of the wheel any definite number of "needles
01 "leads"
desired, so that by varying the distance that consecutive studs project any
variation of movement of the finger rods desired can be produced.
The tops of the studs which come in contact with the bell crank lever (or
other part connected to the finger rod) may be made of such a width, peri-
pherically that they remain in contact with the part on which they act during
a second forward movement of the pattern wheel, and they may be so shaped
or stepped that this second movement causes the finger 1od (and consequently
the "points" also) to shift one or more needles for the transfer of the loop or
loops, removed when on the first part of the stud
In some cases it is desirable to have two rows of such adjustable studs, one
on each side of the wheel which may act upon one and the same finger rod at
different times, at the will of the attendant so as to produce two different
consecutive patterns, on one piece of fabric, for example:—when making the
heading or bracelet and the repeating pattern in a lace hose or sock
It will be evident that this arrangement may act direct upon the finger rod
or rods or upon parts connected thereto
In some cases I use a series of levers, which in turn acts as a stop for a slide,
attached directly or indirectly to the finger rod or rods.
A convenient number of these stop levers may be placed side by side, on one
pin or axle. The levers may be of various lengths and the slide (to which the
finger rod may be attached) may be drawn towards the free ends of these levers,
by a spring or other convenient means, and taken away therefrom, by a con-
veniently arranged lever acted upon by a suitable cam, during the time that the
chain hereinafter described 18 racked forward
Beneath these levers I arrange an endless chain or it might be a wide
pattern wheel This chain carries a number of studs which are arranged, in
certain predetermined positions, upon the chain to act upon any of the several
levers desired. When a stud comes under a lever, that lever is lifted, and its
end comes in contact with the above mentioned slide, and stops it in a position
determined by the length of the said lever It will be seen that these levers
being of different lengths, the slide will be stopped, in different positions,
according to the particular lever lifted.
Now it will be seen that by these means the finger rod (and consequently
the points also) may be brought into position for taking loops from any needles
desired, according to the arrangement of studs upon the chain
The necessary
further movement (of generally one needle) to transfer the loops, may be pro-
duced as follows.-
The pin or axle which carries the herein before described stop levers may be
carried upon a suitable slide This slide may be acted upon, by two cam seg-
ments, one of these cam segments may be so shaped, that when it is moved, the
slide upon which it acts (and consequently the stop levers carried thereby, and
the finger-rod-slide, in contact with the lever then in action) is moved one or
more needles, and transfers the loops say to the night, and when the other cam
18 moved, it similarly causes the loops to be transferred to the left.
These two cams may be brought into action 88 follows:-A con-
necting rod (which may receive the desired amount of movement from a cam
on the main shaft) 18 80 arranged, that it can be caused to act upon either of
the two herein before described cam segments The herein before described
stop levers may have extensions or tails which act upon this connecting rod in
such a manner that if two different heights of studs be provided on the chain
when a low stud is under a stop lever the connecting rod will act upon one cam
segment, and when a higher stud is under one of the stop levers it will cause

page_text: the connecting rod to act upon the other cam segment
Thus a low stud will
cause say a transfer to the night, and a high stud a transfer to the left.
In some cases where two distinct patterns are desired on one piece of fabric
as in a lace hose or sock (where there is generally one pattern for the heading
or bracelet, and a second distinct pattern for repeat down the leg), two separate
chains may be used, side by side on the same wheel, or on two separate wheels
and either of the two chains may be brought into action by the attendant
as desired.
In some cases it is desirable that certain loops shall be shifted in opposite
directions in one course and at the same time To do this I arrange two or
more finger rods, each of which may carry the same number of similar fingers,
and the two sets of fingers may stand at an angle the one to the other,
having points so arranged in each corresponding finger of each rod that the
points of one finger stand between the points of the corresponding finger, all the
points being in the same plane The points may be arranged in any predeter-
mned order desired.
Each of the two or more finger rods may be acted upon by the same or
separate pattern wheels, chains, or other pattern forming device, so that the
loops taken off by the set of points attached to one finger rod, shall be trans-
feired in one direction, and the points attached to another finger rod in the
opposite direction, by which means loops may be transferred in opposite direc-
tions in one and the same course of work, by one dip of the narrowing machine
In some cases especially when using a variety of yarns, it is desirable to be
able to ensure the exact tension desired upon the yarn without relying too
much upon the judgment of the attendant The arrangement of tension more
generally used upon the class of knitting machine to which my improvements
are most applicable, is a spring tension, known by all conversant with this class
of machinery as a snapper In this case the tension is increased or decreased,
by the attendant bending the sping so as to cause the yarn to be "nipped" or
held, more or less firmly
"
"
My improvement consists of passing the yarn between two surfaces, which
are pressed together, by a dead weight which may be varied according to the
tension desued, and released during the time the yarn is being drawn off the
bobbin, to lay the course in similar manner to that used in the herein before
mentioned well understood spring snapper
In some cases instead of simply tiusting to the dead weight to determine
the tension on the yarn between the two said surfaces, I interpose a gauge
screw or equivalent in such a manner that the distance between the said sur-
faces may be definitely determined thereby, so that any extra weight applied
will not effect the tension on the varn without the said gauge screw or equiva-
lent being adjusted, so as to hold the two said surfaces further apart or to
allow them to come nearer together as may be desired.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement.-
The object of this invention is to produce certain improvements in rotary
or straight bar knitting machines.
The several improvements hereinafter described are intended for and described
as applied to the knitting machines known as "Cotton's Patents," but they
are also applicable to other types of straight bar knitting machinery, ribbed
or plain.
The first part of my invention consists of an improved arrangement of variable
pattern wheel, for producing a variety of letters, devices, or designs in knotted
stitch or open lace work Many various applications of pattern wheels have
been made for this class of work, the general arrangement being as follows:-
A finger bar or rod reaches from end to end of the machine and 18 carried by
suitable brackets attached to the narrowing machine This rod caries one
or more fingers or brackets for each division of work and each finger or bracket
may carry one or many coverer or other suitable points arranged in any
order or number of needles apart desired
26
"
The end of the said finger rod may rest directly or indirectly upon (and ba
kept in contact therewith by a spring or other convenient means) the periphery
of a pattern wheel, which is caused to rotate step by step by suitable rocking
mechanism, or the said rod may be connected to a slide which may rest or be
held against or work upon the said wheel, or be connected therewith by a
suitable bell crank lever as most convenient
The periphery of the said wheel 18 suitably cut in a series of steps so that
as the wheel revolves, the said finger rod receives a certain predetermined step
by step endwise movement, so that loops may be transferred from needle to
needle for knotted stitch or open lace work as desired.
All this 18 well understood by all conversant with this class of machinery
Now in the arrangements above described when a fresh pattern or design
18 required a new wheel has to be cut so that each design requires a change of
wheels.
1
To avoid the inconvenience and expense of a number of wheels I construct
a variable or universal pattern wheel and adjacent parts as follows.
-
I prefer to connect the finger rod to a suitable slide, and then interpose a
bell crank lever, between the slide and the pattern wheel, so that one end of the
Baid bell crank lever is in contact with the end of the slide and the other end
of the bell crank lever is acted upon by the pattern wheel
For the pattern wheel I use a plain wheel with a wide circumferential face
The face has preferably a number of grooves cut across it and fitting into
these grooves are movable studs one to each groove to act upon the end of the
bell crank lever. These studs are fastened to the periphery of the wheel by
screws or other convenient means so that they can be shifted along the said
grooves, and fastened in any one of a certain predetermined number of positions.
The end of the said bell crank lever that engages with the studs I make
wide or shaped with the head wide enough to come above the full width of
the face of the wheel
This Tshaped end of the bell crank lever may carry a plate cut in a series
of regular steps, each step being the pitch of one or more needles above or
below the adjacent step.
The Tend of the bell crank lever may be lifted by a suitable cam during the
time the wheel is advanced to bring a stud under the stepped end of the said
lever Now it will be seen that according to the position of the said studs,
across the face of the wheel, they will engage with different steps on the stepped
end of the bell crank lever, and thus the lever (and consequently the finger rod
connected directly or indirectly to its other end) will be held in different
nositions according to the location of the studs on the face of the wheel, and
thus with studs all of one height there may be as many various positions of

page_text: the finger rod (and consequently of the points also) as there are steps on the
end of the bell crank lever.
This arrangement will be understood by referring to the accompanying
drawings.
46
In these drawings I have only shown the special appliances described, together
with some adjacent parts, as the general arrangements as well as the details of
Cotton's Patent" knitting machines (to which the mechanism herein described
1s particularly applicable) are well understood by all conversant with straight
bar knitting machinery
66
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 show this arangement Figure 1 is a front elevation,
and Figure 2 18 an end view of the mechanism herein before described
A 18 part of the right hand end framing or standard of a Cotton's Patent"
knitting machine B is the end of the marking finger rod, or the lace finger
rod
This 1od is carried by the narrowing machine in a well understood manner
(as also seen in Figure 9 Sheet 4), and to it are attached fingers or brackets
(one or more to each division of work) and these brackets carry the "points'
or coverers which remove and transfer the necessary loops from the needles desued
to produce the knotted stitch on open work letter device or pattern required.
All this is well understood by all conversant with knitting machinery
The end of the finger rod B carries two fixed collars B1 B or other equivalent.
These collars einbiace an upright bracket B up and down which they are free
to slide as the narrowing machine rises and falls. The bracket B* 18 carried
by the slide B³ which slides in the bed or bracket B which may be fast to the
framing or standard A of the machine
An extension or arm B5 of the bracket B' may carry a pin or axle C. Upon
this axle the pattern wheel C¹ may rotate It will be seen that this pattein
wheel C has a wide circumferential face (see Figure 2) This face has a number
of grooves C³ cut across it and fitting into these giooves are movable studs such
as shown at C. These studs may be fastened to the wheel C¹ by screws of
other convenient means so that they can be shifted along the grooves C³, and
fastened in any one of a predetermined number of positions Holes for this
purpose are indicated in two grooves only in Figure 2, it will be understood,
that similar holes are provided in each groove C³ A bell crank lever B6 B7
may work upon a fixed pin or axle B8 which may be carried by the arm B' of
the bed or bracket B* The slide B' engages with the end Be of the bell crank
lever B B and is held in contact thei ewith by the spring B or equivalent
The end B of the bell crank lever B B7 has a wide or T shaped end extension
or bracket 10 to this bracket a plate B11 18 attached This plate is cut on its
edge in a series of regular steps as seen in Figure 2 each step being the pitch
of one or more needles above or below the adjacent step. Now it will be seen
that according to the position of the said studs across the face of the wheel C¹
they will engage with different steps on the stepped plate B" and thus the
bell crank lever B6 B7 will assume different positions according to which of the
said steps on the plate B" is in contact with a stud C. Thus it will be seen that
the slide B being held against the end B of the bell clank level 136 B7 by the
spring B and the rod B being connected to the slide B³ as herein before described,
that the longitudinal position of the rod B will be, varied according to the
position of the studs C across the face of the wheel C¹ And thus with studs all
of one height, there may be as many various longitudinal positions of the
finger rod B (and consequently of the points also) as there are steps on the
plate Bu
To the end B7 of the bell crank level B B a connecting 10d B 18 suitably
attached. This connecting 1od B 18 attached at its lower end to a truck lever
(not shown) to which a suitable movement is imparted by a cam on the cam
shaft as will be well understood In like manner a ratchet 05 Figure 1 18
attached at its lower end to a truck lever which also receives a suitable movement

page_text: from a cam upon the cam shaft, by which means the pattern wheel C¹ is rotated
step by step The cam which lifts the end B of the bell ciank lever B6 B' by
means of the connecting rod B 18 so timed and arranged that the end B
(and consequently the stepped plate B" attached thereto) is lifted during the
time that the ratchet C 18 racking the pattern wheel C¹ in order that the next
stud such as C may be brought into action, then the said cam allows the
stepped plate to come into contact with the stud, and the finger 1od B (and
consequently the fingers attached thereto) 18 brought into a position longitudin-
ally according to the particular step on the plate B that comes into action
(as herein before described) to enable the points to remove loops from certain
predetermined needles as desired.
I prefer to make the surface of the studs (which comes in contact with the
stepped end of the bell crank lever) of sufficient length to remain in contact
with the end of the bell ciank lever for two forward movements of the wheel,
and that the said surface of the stud shall be so shaped on stepped that during
the said second forward movement of the wheel the end of the bell crank lever
shall be raised or lowered sufficiently to "shog” the finger bar one or more
needles.
By these means the first contact of each stud with the end of the bell crank
lever will place the points in the desued position for taking off loops from
certain needles, and the next forward movement of the wheel, will bring the
said step of the studs into action which shift the points into their
position for delivering the loops onto the needles desued
This will be seen clearly in Figure 1 where the stud shown at the top of the
wheel, has the two surfaces marked C7, C8, the surface C being such a distance
below (or above) the surface C7 as to move the rod B a distance equal to the
space fiom centre to centre of two or more adjacent needles. The action of
the studa 18 then as follows.-A stud C+ comes into action, and a stop of the
plate B rests upon the surface C7. The points then descend and remove the
100ps from the needles they are over The pattern wheel C is then advanced
another step by the ratchet (5, and the stepped plate B falls (01 rises) to the
surface C and this movement places the points in their conect position to place
the loops upon the adjacent needles as desired
It will be understood that similar studs to C are placed all round the wheel C¹
when desirable, one in each groove C3, so that at each second forward movement
of the pattern wheel C¹ a fresh stud comes into action
In some cases several different heights of studs may be used in conjunction
with the stepped levea and so produce a laiger vanation of positions of the
points than piovided for by the number of steps on the said level. Thus it
will be seen that according to the arrangement of the studs so as to act upon
certain steps of the bell ciank lever loops may be transferred from any needles
desired, and in any order desired, to produce the desired pattern or design
in open lace or knotted stitch work.
It will be evident that the same arangement may be used for producing
fancy tuck-work when points or coverers carried by finger rods are arranged to
hold the needles off the presser and so produce tuck stitches where desired
It will also be evident that instead of interposing a hell crank lever between
the pattern wheel and the slide as above described the studs on the wheel may
act direct on to the end of the slide or direct on to the end of the finger rod or
rods or parts attached thereto.
In some cases instead of having a stepped lever or slide acted upon by studs
of an uniform height or a small number of different heights, I arrange studs 80
shaped and constructed that they shall be of variable heights according to the
pattern desired and act upon a plain ended lever or slide
To do this I construct the pattern wheel so that it shall have radial grooves
cut in its side face or faces from the periphery towards the centre of a con-
venient length In the bottoms of these grooves I fasten small surfaces cut

page_text: transversely so as to form V or other convenient shaped teeth of a pitch corre-
sponding to the gauge of the machine. These teeth face outwards. Into the
said grooves I fit the studs which act upon the finger rods (either directly or
indirectly) and these studs have corresponding teeth cut upon their inner
surfaces, which engage with the teeth above described, in the bottom of the
grooves
The studs may be held in the position by a screw, sping or other convenient
means Now it will be seen that the teeth upon the surface of the stud fitting
into the teeth at the bottom of the groove, the stud may be shifted towards or
away from the centre as many teeth as desired, thus causing the stud to project
from the periphery of the wheel any definite number of "needles" or "leads
desired so that by varying the distance that consecutive studs project any
variation of movement of the finger 1ods desired can be produced.
•
This arrangement will be understood by referring to Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 2
Figure 3 18 a side elevation of such a pattern wheel with some adjacent parts,
and Figure 4 is a part vertical cross section of the same. In this case the bell
crank lever B B may be provided with a plain nose (in place of the stepped
plate B herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2) to act upon
the studs now to be described, or it may carry a bolt D (hereinafter described)
having a plain nose Do D 18 the wheel having radial grooves D¹ cut or formed
in its side face In the bottom of these grooves I fasten small sections or
surfaces Ds Figure 4 having V or other conveniently shaped teeth upon their
outer surfaces as shown, of a pitch corresponding to the gauge of the machine
and the proportions of the bell ciank lever B B7. Also into the grooves D¹
I fit studs with T or other conveniently shaped heads such as D³. These studs
are provided with teeth cut upon their inner surfaces corresponding to and
engaging with the teeth of the surfaces D³. A ring such as D' may be fast to
the side face of the wheel D and may be provided with screws such as D³ (one
opposite each groove D¹) by which the studs D³ are kept in contact with their
corresponding surfaces 13. It will be seen that by slackening a screw D³ its
corresponding stud D³ may be raised or lowered in its radial groove D¹ any
desued number of teeth thus causing the stud to project from the periphery
of the wheel any definite number of needles or leads" desired These
studs D³ act upon the nose 16 of the bell crank lever B B which moves the
finger rod B (Figures 1 and 2) as herein before described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2
Thus it will be seen that by varying the distance that con-
secutive studs project from the periphery of the wheel, any desired variation of
the longitudinal movements of the finger rod B (and consequently the points
carried thereby also) can be produced
"
The top of the studs which come in contact with the bell crank lever (or
other part connected to the finger 10d), may be made of such a width, peri-
pherically, that they remain in contact with the part on which they act during
a second forward movement of the pattern wheel, and they may be so shaped
o stepped that this second movement causes the finger 1od (and consequently
the "points" also) to shift one or more needles, for the transfer of the loop or
loops, removed when on the first part of the stud, exactly as herein before
described with reference to the studs C Figures 1 and 2
In some cases it 18 desirable to have two rows of such adjustable studs, one
on each side of the wheel, which may act upon one and the same finger rod at
different times at the will of the attendant so as to produce two different
consecutive patteins, on one piece of fabric, for example.-When making The
heading or bracelet and the repeating pattern in a lace hose or sock
Figure 4 Sheet 2 shows this arrangement where a second set of studs E are
shown arranged precisely similar to the studs I but at the opposite side of
the wheel A bolt D carried by the arm B7 of the bell crank lever B6 B7 has
a nose D shown in full lines over stud D in Figure 4 and in dotted lines over
stud E. The bolt D' may have a handle D8 by which the nose De may be shifted

page_text: from the row of studs D³ to the row of studs E, and these two rows of studs
may be differently arranged to produce two distinct patterns, and one or other
of these patterns can thus be produced at the will of the attendant without
altering or readjusting the studs.
It will be evident that this arrangement may act direct upon the finger rod or
rods or upon parts connected thereto
In some cases I use a series of levers which in turn act as stops for a slide
attached directly or indirectly to the finger rod or rods.
A convenient number of these stop levers may be placed side by side on one
pin or axle
The levers may be of various lengths and the slide (to which the
finger rod may be attached) may be drawn towards the free ends of these levers
by a spring or other convenient means, and taken away therefrom by a con-
veniently arranged lever acted upon by a suitable cam during the time that the
chain hereinafter described 18 racked forward
Beneath these levers I arrange an endless chain, or it might be a wide
pattern wheel
This chain carries a number of studs which are arranged, in
certain predetermined positions, upon the chain to act upon any of the several
levers desired When a stud comes under a lever, that lever is lifted, and its
end comes in contact with the above mentioned slide, and stops it in a position
determined by the length of the said lever It will be seen that these levers,
being of different lengths, the slide will be stopped in different positions
according to the particular lever lifted.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 Sheet 3 show this arrangement Figure 5 18 a front
elevation, Figure 6 a plan and Figure 7 an end elevation of the appliance
and some adjacent parts
In this case the bed or bracket B (herein before described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2) 18 lengthened as shown at B3 Figure 5, and in this lengthened
bed B¹³, or in another convenient adjacent bed, a second slide
18 fitted The object of this slide, and the manner in which it
18 held in position 18 hereinafter described
bracket FI 18 fast
to the slide F and a pin Fe passes through this bracket, a convenient number
of levers such as F are jointed upon the pin F. These levels are for con-
venience numbered 1 to 5 in Figure 6, and are of various lengths as shown
A bracket F 18 fast to the end of the slide B and so arranged that it will come
into contact with the free end of either of the levers F³ when they are lowered
(as hereinafter described) into a position such as occupied by No 1 F3 lever
in Figure 5
A bell crank lever G, G¹ may be carried by a pin or axle G which may be
fast to the bracket B A pin or bracket G³ fast to the slide B³ engages with
the end G of the bell crank lever G, G¹, a connecting rod G' may be jointed to
the end G¹ of the bell crank lever G, G¹, the lower end of the connecting 10d G*
may be jointed to a suitable truck lever, which may be acted upon by a suit-
able cam upon the cam shaft in a manner well understood by all conversant
with knitting machinery, so that by the action of the said cam the slide B³
and all connected there with are shifted endwise so as to draw the bracket F*
away from the free ends of the levers Fs while the said levers are shifted into
or out of action (as hereinafter described). Then when the bell crank lever G, G¹,
falls back the spring B diaws the slide B³ back against the end of a lever Fs
then in action. The said levers F are of different lengths each lever being
as much longer or shorter than an adjacent lever as the distance from centie
to centre of two or more adjacent needles. Thus it will be seen that the slide B³
will be stopped in different positions according to the particular lever brought
into action. These levers F3 are brought into action as follows. Each lever F³
has an arm or extension which is acted upon by the studs F6 F7 upon the
endless chain Fe which is carried by the chain wheel F so that when a stud such as
F* comes under the nose F5, of one of the levers F³, that lever will have its free
end lowered so as to come into contact with the bracket F on the slide B³ as

page_text: herein before described It will be understood that the chain wheel F⁹ 18
racked round by a suitable ratchet or clawker acting upon the lack wheel F",
Figures 5, 6 and 7 in the usual well understood mannei
In Figure 7 I have only shown a few bars of the chain in a vertical position
to avoid confusion of parts.
Now it will be seen that by these means the finger 1od (and consequently
the points also) may be brought into position for taking loops from any needles
desired, according to the arrangement of studs upon the chain
The necessary
further movement (of generally one needle) to transfer the loops may be pro-
duced as follows
-
The pin or axle which canies the herein before described stop levers may be
carried upon a suitable slide This slide may be acted upon, by two cam seg-
ments, one of these cam segments may be so shaped that when it is moved, the
slide upon which it acts (and consequently the stop levers canned thereby, and
the finger-rod-slide, in contact with the lever then in action) is moved one or
more needles, and transfers the loops sav to the night, and when the other cam
18 moved, it similarly causes the loops to be transferred to the left
This aangement also is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 Sheet 3 A bracket H
may be called by any convenient fixed part of the machine such as A¹. This
bracket carries a pin o axle H¹ which in turn caries the two cam seg-
ments HH³.
The bracket on the end of the slide F may have an extension F10 which
canes a pin on axle F (Figure 6) which in turn may carry a truck or roller F18
which is held against the cam segments H3 H' by the spring H* (Figure 6)
The cam segments H H are provided with tails or extensions H5 which
rest against the pin or other stop H and are drawn downwards by the spings H
as shown in Figure 5 the two cam segments H2 H3 and the slide F are shown
in the normal position, and the two said cam segments are so shaped at the
parts in contact with the truck or roller F1 that if the cam segment II be
lifted the slide F will be moved a distance of one needle to the left and if the
cam egment H be lifted the slide F will be drawn by the sping H one needle
to t'e night These two cams may be brought into action as follows -A con-
necting iod (which may receive the desired amount of movement from a cam
on the main shaft) is so arranged that it can be caused to act upon either of
the two herein before described cam segments The herein before described
stop levers may have extensions or tails which act upon this connecting rod in
such a manner that if two different heights of studs be provided on the chain
when a low stud is under a stop lever the connecting rod will act upon one cam
segment, and when a higher stud is under one of the stop levers it will cause
the connecting 1od to act upon the other cam segment Thus a low stud will
cause sav a fiansfer to the right, and a high stud a transfer to the left.
This will be understood by refering to Figures 5, 6 and 7 Sheet 3
a connecting rod jointed at its lower end to a truck lever (not shown) worked by
a suitable cam, by which means it receives the desired rising and falling move-
The top end of this connecting 10d 18 forked so that its two top ends or
members 10 embrace the two cams II H³ the end H⁹ being near to the
cam segment H³, and the end H being near to the cam segment H. The two
said cam segments are provided with pins or projections H with which the
ends H H of the connecting rod H8 may engage The herein before described
lever F, may be provided with tails or extensions F10 against which a
bracket on extension H on the connecting rod He mar iest and may he kept in
contact therewith by a suitable sping not shewn
ment
H 18
In Figure 5 the end F of the lever F3 No. 1 is shown on a stud Fe In this
position when the connecting rod H rises, the end H thereof comes into con-
tact with the pin I on the cam segment H³, and the said cam segment is
lifted, whereby the slide F together with the slide B³ and consequently the
points or fingers connected therewith move one needle to the right, as herein

page_text: before described. Then if a high stud such as F7 (Figure 5) comes under the
end F of a lever F3 F³ the slide B³ will be in the same position as if a low
stud such as F6 were in action, (the surface of the bracket F on the slide B³
being curved and concentric to the pin or axle F) but the end H on the con-
necting rod He will come into contact with the pin H on the cam segment H
which will then be lifted, and the slide F together with the slide B', and all
connected therewith will be shifted one needle to the left as hereinbefore described.
Thus it will be seen that when a stud comes under the end of any particular
lever F, F, that lever is brought into action, and the "points" are in a position
for shifting loops from the needles over which they are placed, determined by
the length of the lever F³ If it be a low stud such as F then the points will
be shifted one needle to the right, and the loops will then be transferred to the
needle next on the right of the needle from which it has been removed, and if a
high stud such as F7 comes into action the loops selected will be transferred
to the left as hereinbefore described
In some cases instead of the levers F having plain ends I make them step
ended as shewn in Figure 8 Sheet 4 so that when a low stud comes into action
the end J of the lever F3 engages with the bracket F, and when a high stud
comes into action then the end J engages with the bracket F thus.
each lever I may determine two or more positions for the slide B³ (and
consequently the "points" also controlled thei eby) according to the length of
the stepped end of the said lever and the height of the stud lifting it
In such a
case instead of all the levers acting upon the connecting rod H8 as described in
relation to Figures 5 to 7 I make one lever only act upon the said connecting
1od such as Ja Figure 8 and that lever is quite independent of the step levers F³, F³,
and 18 acted upon by an independent 10w of studs Thus the studs acting upon
the various levers F³ determine the needles from which loops are to be removed,
and the one row of studs acting upon the lever J determine the direction (right
or left) in which they are transferred
In some cases where two distinct patterns are desued on one piece of fabric
as in a lace hose or sock (where there is generally one pattern for the heading
or bracelet, and a second distinct pattern for repeat down the leg). two separate
chains may be used, side by side on the same wheel, or on two separate wheels
and either of the two chains may be brought into action by the attendant
as desired.
This will be readily understood by referring to the diagrammatic sketch
Figure 10 Sheet 5 Here the rack wheel F 18 provided with a long boss sleeve
or pipe K upon which the double chain wheel (or two separate wheels K¹ K'
may slide, a suitable feather K upon the boss K may prevent the chain
wheels K K³ from turning upon the said boss K, but leaves it free to slide
thereon Two chains K, K, may be called by this wheel or wheels one chain
being set out for one pattern and the other for a second or different pattern.
Then when the wheel or wheels K K is in the position indicated in Figure 10,
the chain K³ will be in action, and if the wheel on wheels be shifted along the
boss K so that the side of the wheel K', comes against the rack wheel F" then
the second chain K' will come into action and the first chain K³ will pass out
of action, or instead of using two chains side by side as shown it will be readily
seen that one wide chain piovided with a double set of studs may be used.
In some cases it is desirable that certain loops shall be shifted in opposite
directions in one conise and at the same time To do this I ai range two or
more finger rods each of which may cauy the same number of similar fingers,
and the two sets of fingers may stand at an angle the one to the other,
having points 60 airanged in each corresponding finger of each rod that the
points of one finger stand between the points of the corresponding finger all the
points being in the same plane The points may be arranged in any predeter-
mined order desired
Each of the two or more finger rods may be acted upon by the same or

page_text: separate pattern wheels, chains or other pattern forming device so that the
loops taken off by the set of points attached to one finger rod shall be trans-
ferred in one direction, and the points attached to another finger 1od in the
opposite duection, by which means loops may be transferred in opposite duec-
tions in one and the same course of work by one dip of the narrowing machine
This will be understood by referring to Figure 9 Sheet 4 where a part section
through the nallowing or lace point machine together with some adjacent parts
18 shown B 18 a finger rod carrying fingers or brackets L', one or more to
each division of work, which in turn carry coverer or "lacing" points L³ all
of which being such as referred to in relation to Figures 1 to 7 Sheets 1 to 3.
L is a second finger 1od similar to B, and carries a second set of fingers or
brackets L which in turn carry a set of coverer or lacing points L', similar in
all respects to the points L³ but so cramped or bent that the " eyes "L' of both
sets of points L³ I stand in the same plane. Each set of points L³ L' are
arranged at suitable predetermined distances apart in then respective fingers
or brackets L L according to the pattern desired and the set of points L³ are
situated between the points L so that a certain amount of longitudinal move-
ment may be imparted to the rods B and L without the points Ls coming into
contact with the points L Thus it will be seen that when the narrowing
machine is lowered all the points L³ and L may take loops from certain pre-
determined needles, and all the loops removed by the points L³ may be trans-
ferred in one direction while all the loops removed by the points L may be
transferred in the opposite direction as desired, in one dip of the nanowing
machine It will be readily understood by all conversant with this type of
knitting machinery that the rods B and L may each be acted upon, and their
longitudinal movements may be controlled by the same or different pattern
wheel, chain or other pattern forming device that may be convenient.
In some cases especially when using a variety of rarus it is desirable to be
able to ensure the exact tension desired upon the yarn, without relying too
much upon the judgment of the attendant The arrangement of tension more
generally used upon the class of knitting machines to which my improvements
are most applicable, is a spring tension, known by all conversant with thus class
of machinery as a snapper In this case the tension is increased or decreased,
by the attendant bending the spring so as to cause the yain to be "nipped
held, more or less firmly
or
My improvement consists of passing the yarn between two surfaces, which
are pressed together, by a dead weight which may be varied according to the
tension desired, and released during the time the yarn is being drawn off the
bobbin, to lay the course in a similar manner to that used in the herein before
mentioned well understood spring snapper
In some cases instead of simply trusting to the dead weight to determine
the tension on the yarn between the two said surfaces, I interpose a gauge
sciew or equivalent in such a manner that the distance between the said sur-
faces may be definitely determined thereby, so that any extra weight applied
will not effect the tension on the vain without the said gauge screw or equiva-
Tent being adjusted, so as to hold the two said surfaces further apart or to
allow them to come nearer together as may be desired.
This will be understood by referring to Figures 11 and 12 Sheet 5 Figure 11
being an elevation, and Figure 12 a plan of such a snapper M 18 the usual
well understood snapping 1od which receives the necessary rocking motion from
the usual snapping cam, and to this rod M the snappers" M are attached
the thread M passes through a hole in the front end of the snapper M' in the
usual manner. M³ 18 the top or loose portion of the snapper which takes the
place of the usual spring This part 3 of the snapper is suitably forked at
its back end so as to rest upon the rod M and its front end is extended to rest
upon the fixed rod M. A pin M may be fast in the front end of the part M³
as shown and upon this pin weights such as M³ may be placed by which means

page_text: the total weight of the part M³ is varied at will. A gauge screw M6 may pass
through M³ and come into contact with the end of the lower portion M¹ by
which means the distance between the lower member M¹ and the upper member
of part M³ at the time the thread is "snapped" or trapped may be regulated
at will. Now it will be seen that when the rod or shaft M is rocked the thiead M
will be trapped between the top surface of M¹, and the bottom surface of M³,
and the amount of tension upon the thread between the two surfaces is regulated
by the gauge screw M' and the weights M
In some cases instead of the tension upon the thread being entirely dependent
upon the dead weight of the top part M³ or the weight Ms I interpose a spiral
spring which may be attached to the part M¹ and the part M³ and tend to hold
them together. The said spiral spring may have a screw adjustment at one
end whereby its tension may be adjusted at will
It will be understood that the mechanism herein before described is equally
applicable to machines for producing plain work, commonly called " plain
frames" or to machines for producing ribbed work commonly called rib
frames."
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim 18:
1. For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bars or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines for producing open work (either
plain or ribbed) or markings tucks or other fancy work or devices the use in
combination with a wide pattern wheel or surface of a lever coupled to the
finger rod and having one of its arms formed with a wide end which is cut in
steps and extends across the periphery of the pattern wheel and is normally
drawn towards it, each step being a predetermined distance above or below
the adjacent step and the pattern wheel having also studs fixed upon its peri-
phery in such positions as to act one at a time upon any one or other of the
steps as the pattern wheel is turned
2 For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bars or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the combination of a wide
pattern wheel or surface a bar cut in steps and extending across the periphery
of the pattern wheel such bar being coupled to the finger or other rod and
normally drawn towards the pattern wheel, studs affixed to the periphery of
the pattern wheel in such positions as to act one at a time upon any one or
other of the steps as the pattern wheel is turned and means for moving the
notched bar away from the studs at the times when the pattern wheel is turned
3 For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bais or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the employment of a wide
pattern wheel having grooves at intervals apart across its periphery and studs
adapted to fit into such grooves and he fixed in any one of a certain predeter-
mined number of positions along the length of such grooves
4. For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bars or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the employment of a pattern
wheel provided with one or more rows of studs fitting into radial grooves in the
side face or faces of the said pattern wheel the said studs being capable of radial
adjustment in predetermined definite steps so that each may be set to project
to any desired extent from the periphery of the wheel
5 For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bars or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the employment in conjunc-
tion with a pattern wheel or other pattern forming device, of studs secured to
such wheel each having a contact surface of sufficient length to remain in contact
with the lever or slide upon which they act, during two operative forward
movements of the pattern wheel the said surface being so stepped or shaped
as to impart a certain predetermined movement to the said lever or slide resting

page_text: thereon during the said second forward operative movement of the pattern
wheel
6 For controlling the endway movements given to point and the other bars
or rods in 1otary or straight bar knitting machines the combination of a slide
(to which the point or other bar or 10d is coupled) a series of levers of different
lengths up to the end of one or other of which the slide is normally held means
for tuning any one on other of such levers into position to allow of its acting
as a stop to the slide and means for moving the slide away from the levels at
the times when a selection is made as to which lever shall next act as a stop.
7 For controlling the endway movements given to point and other bais or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the combination of a slide (to
which the point or other bai is coupled) a series of levers of different lengths
up to the end of one or other of which the slide 18 normally held, studs upon
a pattern wheel or endless chain for tuning any one or other of these levera
one at a time into position for the slide to be diawn against its end and means
for moving the slide away from the levers at the times when one lever is to be
turned into and another away from its acting position
8. Mounting the axis of the levers upon a slide and giving to this slide an
endway movement to shift the point 10d endwise and cause loops taken by the
points to be transferred to the right or left as desired
9. The employment of two cam surfaces for giving motion to the slide one
for causing the loops to be transferred to the right the other for causing the
loops to be transferred to the left and means for controlling which cam surface
shall be brought into action
10 The employment of high and low studs upon the pattern wheel or surface
for selecting which of the two cam surfaces shall be brought into action
11 The employment of an independent row of studs on the pattern wheel or
surface acting on additional lever for selecting which of the two cam surfaces
shall be brought into action
12 For controlling the endway movement given to point and other bars or
rods in rotary or straight bar knitting machines the employment of two chains
carried side by side on the same or two different wheels and so arranged and
adjusted that either of the two chains can be brought into action as desired
13 In a rotary or straight-bar knitting machine the combination of two sets
of points carried by independent bars, the points on one bai being set in spaces
between the points on the other bar and the points so shaped that their ends
are all in the same plane and means for shifting one hai to the right to transfer
loops to the right and the other bar to the left to transfer loops to the left
14 In a rotary or straight bar knitting machine the arrangement and applica-
tion of a dead weight on adjustable spring snapper substantially as herein
before described.
15 In a rotary or straight bar knitting machine the combination of mechanism
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2
Sheet 1
16 In a rotary or straight bar knitting machine the combination of mechanism
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 2
17 In a rotary or straight bar knitting machine the combination of mechanism
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8,
Sheets 3 and 4
18 In a rotair or straight bai knitting machine the combination of mechanism
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 9 Sheet 4.
Unted the Pinot due of tot 1000