Improvements: in- Knitting Machines for Knitting Patterns-in-Two or more Colours.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application; 8th Oct; 1891:-
Complete Specification Left; 17th June, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1892;
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements: in- Knitting Machines for Knitting Patterns-in-Two or
more Colours.
A-communication to me by ALBERT FRAUZ, of the firm of Fouquet and Frauz, of
Rottenburg, in the Empire of Germany, Engineers.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents .and.
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County, of,
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—.
In circular knitting machines as heretofore ordinarily-made,and-used; patterns of
different colours are obtained which are either too raised and prominent on.account,
of the double meshed structure of the finished material, or the different colours are.
confused and wanting, in clearness in the pattern. Both kinds are-dependent upon,
the number of needles and are therefore restricted in-the-pattern whilst by the.
presentvention-any-desired !pattern can be obtained upon a plain..ground, on
which the coloured patterns are shewn-distinctly and sharp...
The pattern is formed by selecting and laying in the, corresponding needles, the
colours which-are- to-show on the face of the fabric, whilst upon the remaining
needles are arranged those threads of the stitches which are to remain at the back
of the fabric.
For example, to knit a pattern of four black and six white stitches or meshes,
black thread is laid in the needles 1, 2, 3, 4-11, 12, 13, 14,—whilst the same black
yarn is.arranged.over.the.intermediato.needles 5, 6, 7, 8,19,-10; 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20-etc. which do not form stitches -or-meshes-and then in these intermediate
needles. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, etc. white-thread is laid., to. form,
stitches, which white thread remains stretched over the needles 1, 2, 3, 4,—11, 12,
13, 14, etc. without forming stitches or meshes.
In this way is formed a pattern with four black and six-white stitches or meshes.
and the pattern is shewn distinctly on the plain stuff!
To form the pattern stitch plates and pressing plates are used simultaneously,
which can be put in and out of action so that in forming the meshes only the mesh
plates work, and the pressing plates are out of action, whilst in forming the. inter-
mediate parts the pressing plates only operate and the mesh plates are out of action.
Consequently the mesh plates form the meshes in the needles and the pressing:plates -
the intermediate parts stretched above the-needles.
The method is applicable to all kinds of knitting machines. the mesh plates and
the pressing plates being connected to the mechanism so that they can be set in-and
out of action as required.
The apparatus hereinafter described is intended to lay in only one colour so that
for two colours two sets of such apparatus are necessary, for three colours three.sets
and so on
After.each system, is arranged as usual a backing off-device, with a.
wheel.
..plain press.
The apparatus consists of a metal plate or disc which turns between two cam.
discs, and is arranged obliquely to the needles, its axle-being set in revolution by a
toothed wheel gearing with the circular-rack of the-machine.
In the back thickness: of, the disc are fitted; the mesh plates, and in.its-front
thickness the pressing plates which are arranged in such manner that they make.an
angle one to another, so that when the mesh-plates-pass-between the needles-the.
pressing plates-move-upan the needles..
Against the front and back of the disc are fitted the cam, discs -having-guiding..

page_text: grooves the outer one of which guides the plates into their operative position, whilst
the inner groove guides the plates so as to bring them out of action.
Both the mesh plates and the pressing plates have lateral projections which work
in the grooves and are guided and moved by the latter.
The discs can be set higher or lower by means of adjusting screws and nuts so
that the meshes are made longer or shorter, and the pressure greater or less.
The discs are formed with rectangular central recesses fitting upon square sleeves
which. fit loosely upon the shaft, so that the discs can be moved sufficiently upon
them.
The perforated pattern band for any desired pattern is of metal and is moved
round a suitable carrying wheel tangentially to the edge of the disc first described.
Its movement is at the same speed as the disc, radial pins upon the wheel entering
the holes in the band and in the turning plate whilst the side cam discs do
not turn.
The pattern band is provided with slots for the mesh plates and the pressing
plates as well as with the holes for the pins. These slots are properly arranged for
those mesh plates and pressing plates respectively which have to come into action
these plates passing through the slots. The remaining plates are pressed back by
the unperforated part of the band to the inner groove of the cam plates and are
therefore brought out of action.
The formation of the stitches or meshes is arranged to correspond to the desired
pattern and such patterns may be varied to any extent.
Dated this 8th day of October 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitting Machines for Knitting Patterns in Two or
more Colours.
A communication to me from ALBERT FRAUZ, of the firm of Fouquet and Franz,
of Rottenburg, in the Empire of Germany, Engineers.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying drawings, that is to say:
In circular knitting machines as heretofore ordinarily made and used, patterns of
different colours are obtained which are either too raised and prominent on account
of the double meshed structure of the finished material, or the different colours are
confused and wanting in clearness in the pattern.
Both kinds are dependent upon the number of needles and are therefore restricted
in the pattern, whilst by the present invention any desired pattern can be obtained
upon a plain ground, on which the coloured patterns are shewn distinctly and
sharp.
The pattern is formed by selecting and laying in the corresp ling needles the
colours which are to shew on the face of the fabric, whilst up on the remaining
needles are arranged the threads of the stitches which are to remain at the back of
the fabric.
For example, to knit a pattern of four black and six white stitches or meshes, the
black thread is laid in the needles 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, etc.—whilst the same
black yarn is arranged over the intermediate needles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, etc., which do not form stitches or meshes and then in these inter-
mediate needles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,-etc. white thread is laid to
form stitches, which white thread remains stretched over the needles 1, 2, 3, 4,-
11, 12, 13, 14,—ete. without forming stitches or meshes.

page_text: -
Figures 3 and 4 a front view and plan of the same,
Figures 5 and 6 inner views of the discs of the apparatus,
Figure 7 a view of a mesh plate,
Figure 8 a view of a press-plate,
Figure 9 is a view of the relative arrangement of the mesh plates and press plates
to one another,
Figure 10 a view of the figuring wheel and band, and
Figure 11 a view of the figuring band.
To form the pattern the stitch plates and pressing plates are used simultaneously,
Figures 7 and 8, which can be put in and out of action so that in forming the
meshes only the mesh plates work and the pressing plates are out of action, whilst
in forming the intermediate parts the pressing plates only operate and the mesh
plates are out of action.
Consequently the mesh plates form the meshes in the needles and the pressing
plates the intermediate parts stretched above the needles.
The method is applicable to all kinds of knitting machines, the mesh plates and
the pressing plates being connected to the mechanism so that they can be set in and
out of action as required.
The apparatus hereinafter described is intended to lay-in only one colour so that
for two colours two sets of such apparatus are necessary, for three colours three
sets, and so on. After each system, is arranged as usual, a backing off device with
a plain press wheel.
The apparatus consists of a metal plate or disc T, (Figures 2, 4, 10) which turns
between the two cam discs S and U (Figures 5 and 6) and is arranged obliquely to
the needles, like the disc of a Jaquin-Mailleuse (or loop wheel), its axle being set
in revolution by a toothed wheel Z' gearing obliquely with the circular rack Z of
the machine.
In the back thickness of the disc T are fitted the mesh plates M, Figure 7, and
in its front thickness the pressing plates P, Figure 8, which are arranged in such
manner that they make an angle one to another so that when the mesh plates pass
between the needles, the pressing plates move upon the needles.
Against the back and front of the disc T are fitted the cam discs S and U
(Figures 5 and 6) having guiding grooves A and L formed by the excentric
tongue E, the outer one of which A guides the plates into position for operation,
whilst the inner groove L guides the plates so as to bring them out of action.
Both the mesh plates M (Figure 7) and the pressing plates P (Figure 8) have
lateral projections which work in the grooves A and L and are guided and moved
by the latter.
The discs S and U can be set higher or lower by means of adjusting screws' and
outs V, Figure 2, so that the meshes are made longer or shorter, and the pressure
greater or less.
bio
The discs S and Ugre formed with rectangular central recesses F fitting upon
square sleeves B which fit loosely upon the shaft, so that the discs S and U can be
moved sufficiently upon them.
The perforated pattern band J, Figure 11, for any desired pattern is of metal
and is moved round a suitable carrying wheel R tangentially to the edge of the
disc T first described. Its movement is at the same speed as the disc 'T' radial
pins (Figure 10) upon the wheel R entering the holes L, Figure 11, in the
band J and in the turning plate T while the side cam discs S and U do not turn.
The pattern band J is provided with slots for the mesh plates and the
pressing plates as well as with the holes L for the pins. These slots are

page_text: properly arranged for those meshirplateswandi:pressing plates respectively. which
have to come into action, these plates passing through the slots and remaining.
in the working groove-A (Figures and 6) The remaining plates are pressed
back by the unperforated part of the band J to the inner groove Lofthe cam
plates, and are therefore brought out of action..
For regular patterns regular meshes and pressing plates fitted in the single disc T
are used whilst for irregular and large patterns all the plates must remain-in-the
apparatus, which are set in and out of action by the figuring band. J.
The formation of the stitches or meshes is arranged to correspond to the desired
pattern and such patterns may be varied to any extent of two or more.colours.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is..to be.: performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of making two or more coloured figures in goods with any desired
patterns-the meshes of each colour being laid in their respective needles and coming -
above on the stuff, and the other yarn being laid stretched over the other needles..
and coming on the back of the stuff substantially as set forth.
2. The application of the method of circular knitting machines by arranging for
each coloured yarn a turning plate T between two stationary discs S and U, which
guide with their grooves A and L the mesh plates M and pressing plates P, rotating.
with the plate T, and causing. the formation of meshes and stretchings, substantially
as represented and described.
3. The method of turning the wheel R and band J with the rotary plate T so
that the slots of the band Jallow the mesh plates and press plates to pass through
it, for guiding them in the grooves A, the closed parts of the band J moving them.
back by the part W to the grooves L so as to put them out of action, all substan-
tially as represented in the drawings and described.
Dated this 17th day of June 1892.
1
EDWARDS & Co.,.
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.