IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Orison
Twombly, of Lake Village, County of Belknap, New Hampshire, United States
of America
Sealed the 11th July 1879, and dated the 21st January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1879.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES." [A communication
from abroad by Orison Twombly, of Lake Village, County of Belknap, New Hamp-
shire, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to certain improvements in rotary knitting machines of
the class which are designed to be operated by hand, though power can be applied
to them, and it is the object of the Invention to so construct the machine as to
combine great simplicity of construction and ease of operation.
Referring to the Drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine
embodying these improvements; Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same; Figure 3
is a plan view of the stationary needle plate showing a portion of the radial needle
grooves; Figure 4 is a view of the underside of the rotary cam wheel; and Figure 5
is a view of the retaining fingers in detail Similar letters indicate like parts in
the several Figures.
A represents the stationary needle plate, which is provided with a series of
grooves radiating from the centre and extending entirely around the said plate (a
portion of the same only being shown in the Drawing).
To the centre of the needle plate A is attached a spindle, which passes up through
the sleeve C, and is secured by a nut C' to the supporting arm D, which latter is
provided with the clamps E, E, and thumb screw F, by which the machine can be

page_text: readily attached to a table or shelf O; B is the rotary cam wheel or disc, having
attached to its upper side the sleeve C, which surrounds the spindle of the needlo
plate A. To the upper side of the cam wheel B is also attached a horizontal bevel
gear wheel H, which engages with the vertical gear wheel G, to which latter is
attached the crank I provided with the handle I' by means of which rotary motion
is imparted to the cam wheel B.
On the underside of the cam wheel or disc B is the fixed cam B₁ of the form
shown in Figure 4; K, K, are two movable cams hinged or pivoted at the point k.
60 that their free ends may be readily moved or adjusted more or less outwardly
for the purpose of varying the length of the loops as required. The space between
the contiguous edges of the cam B₁ and the movable cams K, K, constitutes a
groove, through which the studs of the needles a, a, pass, and by which they are
actunted for their work. The cams K, K, are adjusted by means of lovers L, L, on
the upper side of the cam wheel B, as shown in Figure 2. The said cams and levers
being connected by means of pins or screws 11, passing curved slots in the plate B,
as shown. The lover L is held in position by means of pius at the ends entering
the holes i, i.
N is a spur wheel for keeping the work in place as the needles pass out from
the needle plate A to form each succeeding loop in the work; it is supported in the
arm or yarn guide or carrier M.
Underneath the yarn carrier M is an auxiliary adjustable yarn carrier M³, shown
in Figure 1, so arranged as to bring the yarn v into the throat of the needles when
their latches are thrown back and the needles pass to the proper position to receive
the yarn from the succeeding loop.
P is the tension guide for the yarn from the bobbin R; Qis the bobbin carrier
for the bobbin R, which is used only when tubular work is to be knitted, and is
carried around with the rotating wheel B.
When straight work is to be knitted the arm or carrier Q is moved one side
out of the way turning on the screw gl, the screw g being removed and the bobbin R
taken off.
In making circular work the carriers Q and M are so arranged as to pass the
crank I, I', while the latter is turning, and during the rotation of the wheel B
without interfering the one with the other.
When a band or straight work is to be knitted the arrangement shown in Figure 1
is used. In this case the wheel B, instead of being entirely rotated, is reciprocated
or turned partially around each way, the number of needles in the stationary
plate A corresponding to the required width of the band to be knitted.
cams k, k, are then to be placed in the position shown in the full lines in Figure 4.
The yarn carrier U which conducts the yarn v from the spool or bobbin V is
supported upon a vertical rod T attached to the arm D, as shown.
The
x is a tension spring for the yarn v; it is attached to a stud Y (Figure 4) on the
carrier U, and the yarn passes through a loop y at the end of the said spring.
In knitting a band or straight work with selvage edges the stitches forming the
said edges are prevented from projecting beyond the periphery of the needle plate,
when the outer needles at each selvage edge pass out to receive another stitch
before the work reaches the spur wheel N. This is effected by means of two bars
or fingera S, which are pivoted to the lower end of the spindle of the needle plate A
by means of a screw S¹, as seen in Figure 1, so that they can be adjusted or set at
any angle with each other. The outer ends of these fingers are turned upwards, as
shown in Figures 1 and 5, to a point near the periphery of the needle plate, one
finger being set at each edge of the work, so that the latter is held back while
the outer needle on each side or edge of the work passes out to complete the
stitch. The pivoted ends of the fingers S are slotted, so that they can be adjusted
to the work and moved back out of the way when not in use.
The proportions of the machine may be enlarged to produce work of any required
size as desired, and adapted to be operated by power.

page_text: There being no groove in the can wheel B other than that formed by the
movable cams K, K, and the fixed cam B₁, the needles can be inserted in the
radial grooves of the needle plate at any parts of the same not occupied by the
movable cains, the cam wheel being turned to admit of the insertion of the entire
set of needles in the grooves of the needle plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th July 1879.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Orison Twombley, of Lake Village, County of Belknap, New Hampshire,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in rotary knitting machines of
the class which are designed to be operated by hand, though power can be applied
to them, and it is the object of the Invention to so construct the machine as to
combine great simplicity of construction and ease of operation.
Referring to the Drawings,-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying these improvements;
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same; Figure 3 is a plan view of the stationary
needle plate showing a portion of the radial needle grooves; Figure 4 is a view of
the underside of the rotary cam wheel; and Figure 5 is a view of the retaining
fingers in detail. Similar letters indicate like parts in the several Figures.
A represents the stationary needle plate, which is provided with a series of
grooves radiating from the centre and extending entirely around the said plate (a
portion of the same only being shown in the Drawing).
To the centre of the needle plate A is attached a spindle, which passes up through
the sleeve C, and is secured by a nut C¹ to the supporting arm D, which latter is
provided with the clamps E, E, and thumb screw F, by which the machine can be
readily attached to a table or shelf O; B is the rotary cam wheel or disc having
attached to its upper side, the sleeve C, which surrounds the spindle of the needle
plate A. To the upper side of the cam wheel B is also attached a horizontal bevel
gear wheel H, which engages with the vertical gear wheel G, to which latter is
attached the crank I provided with the handle I, by means of which rotary motion
is imparted to the cam wheel B.
On the underside of the cam-wheel or disc B is the fixed cam B¹ of the form
shown in Figure 4; k, k, are two moveable cams hinged or pivoted at the point k,
so that their free ends may be readily moved or adjusted more or less outwardly
for the purpose of varying the length of the loops as required; the space between
the contiguous edges of the cam B' and the moveable cams K, K, constitutes a groove
through which the studs of the needles a, a, pass, and by which they are actuated

page_text: for their work. The cams K, K, are adjusted by means of levers L, L, on the
upper side of the cam-wheel B, as shown in Figure 2, the said cams and levers being
connected by means of pins or screws ¹¹, passing curved slots in the plate B, as
shown; the lever L is held in position by means of pins at the ends. entering the
holes i, i.
N is a spur-wheel for keeping the work in place as the needles pass out from the
needle plate A to form each succeeding loop in the work; it is supported in the
arm or yarn-guide or carrier M.
Underneath the yarn-carrier M is an auxiliary adjustable yarn-carrier M³, shown
in Figure 1, so arranged as to bring the yarn v into the throat of the needles when
their latches are thrown back, and the needles pass to the proper position to receive
the yarn from the succeeding loop. P is the tension guide for the yarn r from the
bobbin R; Q is the bobbin carrier for the bobbin R, which is used only when
tubular work is to be knitted, and is carried around with the rotating wheel B.
When straight work is to be knitted the arm or carrier Q is moved one side out
of the way, turning on the screw q', the screw q being removed, and the bobbin R
taken off.
In making circular work the carriers Q and M are so arranged as to pass the
crank I, I, while the latter is turning, and during the rotation of the wheel B
without interfering the one with the other. When a band or straight work is to
be knitted the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is used. In this case the wheel B,
instead of being entirely rotated, is reciprocated or turned partially around each
way, the number of needles in the stationary plate A corresponding to the required
width of the band to be knitted. The cams k, k, are then to be placed in the
position shown in the full lines in Figure 4. The yarn-carrier U, which conducts
the yarn v from the spool or bobbin V is supported upon a vertical rod Tattached
to the arm D, as shown. x is a tension spring for the yarn v; it is attached to a
stud Y (Figure 2) on the carrier U, and the yarn passes through a loop y at the end
of the said spring.
In knitting a band or straight work with selvage edges the stitches forming
the said edges are prevented from projecting beyond the periphery of the middle-
plate when the outer needles at each selvage edge pass out to receive another
stitch before the work reaches the spur wheel N; this is effected by means of
two bars or fingers S, which are pivoted to the lower end of the spindle of the
needle plate A by means of a screw S¹, as seen in Figure 1, so that they can be
adjusted or set at any angle with each other. The outer ends of these fingers are
turned upwards, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, to a point near the periphery of the
needle plate, one finger being set at each edge of the work, so that the latter is held
back while the outer needle on each side or edge of the work passes out to complete
the stitch. The pivoted ends of the fingers S are slotted, so that they can be adjusted
to the work, and moved back out of the way when not in use.
The proportions of the machine may be enlarged to produce work of any required
size as desired, and adapted to be operated by power.
Thero being no groove in the cam wheel B other than that formed by the moveable
cams K, K, and the fixed cam B¹, the needles can be inserted in the radial grooves of
the needle plate at any part of the same not occupied by the moveable cams, the cam-
wheel being turned to admit of the insertion of the entire set of needles in the grooves
of the needle-plato.
What I claim as my Invention is,―
1st. The combination with the stationary needle plate A of the rotary-cam wheel B
provided with the fixed cam B¹, and the adjustable cams k, k, as and for the purpose
specified.
2nd. The combination with a knitting machine substantially such as described of
the single supporting arm D, the yarn carrier U upon the standard T, and the bobbin
carrier V provided with the tension spring x, for the purpose of knitting band or
straight work, as set forth.
3rd. The combination of the cam wheel B provided with the sleeve c, through

page_text: which the spindle of the stationary needle plate passes, the bevel gear wheels G, H,
and crank arm I, I', arranged and operating substantially as described.
4th. The combination with the needle-plate A of the adjustable fingers S, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. The combination with the rotary cam wheel B provided with the bevel gear
H engaging with the gear wheel G', the crank I, 1, and the horizontal bobbin and
yarn carriers Q, M, P, all so arranged as to allow the said bobbin and yarn carriers
with the bobbin R to rotate freely without obstructing the action of the crank while
in operation.
6th. The auxiliary adjustable yarn carrier M³, in combination with the yarn
carrier M, the spur wheel N, cam wheel B, and needle plate A, as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.