IMPROVEMENTS IN MA- CHINERY FOR MAKING OR PRODUCING CERTAIN. FABRICS WITH THREADS OR YARNS, APPLICABLE: TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,. I, WILLIAM
HENSON; of Allen. Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen, Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of November, in the fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her, heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Henson, Her. especial licence, full power, sòle privilege and
authority, that I, the said. William Henson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Henson, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should. at any time agree.with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should. and. lawfully, might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
CHINERY FOR MAKING OR PRODUCING CERTAIN. FABRICS WITH THREADS OR YARNS,
APPLICABLE: TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, obliging me, the said William Henson, by an instrument
in writing under my hand, and seal, particularly to describe. and ascertain
-the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
:.

page_text: performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Henson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which-the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained, in and by the following description.thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say): :-
My improvements consist in certain novel combinations, arrangements, or
constructions of machinery, whereby I am enabled to produce looped or
knitted fabrics similar, to those manufactured in the ordinary warp frame, and
in a more expeditious manner. These fabrics may be used for a variety of
purposes to which such fabrics are now ordinarily applied; for instance, a close
fabric may be produced extending throughout the width of the machine, which
may be afterwards cut up and formed into various articles of dress, or it may
be made in narrow widths with selvages, for the purpose of being applied as
surgical,bandages and for other purposes, or, when manufactured from woollen
yarns, may be subjected to the operation of fulling or felting, in order to
produce an appearance resembling a closely woven woollen cloth. And also,
by the same machine, open or fancy work, such as is usually called "1
"fittings,"
may be produced if desired.
In this, my Specification, I have shewn the application of my improvements
to the production of a closely knitted fabric, extending along the whole width
of the machine; and shall, in the first instance, describe the general con-
struction of the machine, and the means by which it is enabled to perform its
several movements; I shall afterwards point out the order in which these
movements take place in producing the looped or knitted fabric.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, the top rail of the framework
and work roller with its appendages being removed, in order to expose such
parts as lie immediately behind them. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same
machine; and Fig. 3 is an elevation, shewing the left-hand end of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section, taken transversely through the machine in the
line a, b, of Fig. 1, looking towards the left-hand; and Fig. 5 is a similar
section, taken through the machine in the line c, d, of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 repre-
sents a detached portion of the machine, partly in section taken in tho
line e, f, of Fig. 1, looking towards the right-hand; in all of which Figures
similar letters and numbers denote the like parts. a, a, a, a, are the frame-

page_text: work by which the various parts of the machine are supported; b, b, is
the main shaft, to which rotary motion is communicated from any suitable
first mover through the pulley c; this shaft carries the wheels or cams
which actuate the working parts of the machine hereafter to be described.
d, d, is the warp roller, on which the yarns or threads are wound (intended
to produce the knitted or looped fabric), and e, e, is the work roller, on
which such fabric is to be wound as produced by the operations of the
machine. In order to exhibit more distinctly the parts connected with
these two rollers, I have shewn them and the apparatus connected there.
with, more particularly in the partial end and front views of the machine
at Figures 5 and 6*, reference being also had to the general views of the
machine already referred to. The warp roller d, d, is mounted, turning in
bearings affixed to the upper part of the framework of the machine, on the
shaft of which, at each end of the roller, are affixed the ratchet wheels 36, 36,
on which shaft the pullies 37, 37, are also mounted, but turning loosely
thereon; 38, 38, are clicks or palls, turning on centres formed by ears or
lugs 39, 39, extending from the pullies 37, 37, which clicks or palls take
into the teeth of the ratchet wheels 36, 36. Weighted cords 40, 40, extend
over the peripheries of the pullies 37, 37, in order to give the required tension
to the warps or yarns during the operations of the machine. As the roller d, d,
revolves, in giving off its threads or yarns to supply the operative parts of tho
machine, it carries round with it the fixed ratchet wheels 36, 36, and
consequently the clicks or palls 38, 38, and through them the loose weighted
pullies 37, 37, but in order to prevent several coils of the cords 40, 40, being
formed around their peripheries, and thereby increasing the tension upon the
threads or yarns, owing to each coil removing the weights further from the
centre of the roller; the tails of the clicks or palls 38, 38, will, when the
roller has performed a certain portion of a revolution, arrive in contact with
the fixed stops or tappets 41, 41, by which means they will be caused to turn
upon their centres 39, 39, and thereby be liberated from the teeth of the
ratchet wheels 36, 36, when the weighted cords 40, 40, will turn the loose
pullies 37, 37, round a portion of a revolution in the reverse direction, thereby
uncoiling that portion of cord which has been wound up, the weights 40, 40,
descending until the clicks 38, 38, by means of their counter-balance weights
42, 42, again fall into the teeth of the ratchet wheels 36, 36, and in order that
the weighted pullies 37, 37, may not receive a sudden check when the palls 38
again fall into the teeth of the ratchet wheels 36, 36, the surfaces of the
wheels 36 and 37 are brought together by means of a tightening screw in order
to create, a sufficient friction to allow the weight to fall gradually. It will be

page_text: perceived that these appendages to the warp roller are placed at each of its
ends, and they are so arranged that when the click 38 of one pulley 37 is
liberated from the ratchet wheel 36 the other has traversed- but one-half of its
extent of rotation, thereby causing the movement for liberating the pullies'
37, 37, and uncoiling the cords 40, 40, to take place at each end of the roller
alternately. The motion for taking up the work on to the roller e, e, is effected
in the following manner:-43, 43, is a longitudinal bar extending throughout
the length of the machine, and is capable of moving up and down in grooves
or guides 44, 44, formed on the end framework of the machine, being supported
therein by the work which passes under it previously to being wound upon the
roller e, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The bar 43 is connected by means of
links 45 to the lever 46, which lever at one end turns loosely upon the axis
of the roller e, e, and at the other carries an antifriction or truck roller 47:
As the work is produced it allows the bar 43, 43, to fall, and by means of
the links 45 to carry the lever 46 with it, when the antifriction or truck
roller 47 will be operated upon by the cam 48 on the main shaft 6 of the
machine, by which means the click or pall 49 mounted upon tho lever 46 will
act upon the ratchet wheel 50, and thereby turn the work roller é round a
portion of a revolution. It will be evident from this arrangement that the
work roller will at all times have a motion communinated to it in proportion
to the quantity of fabric formed, for should the machine increase in rapidity of
action the bar 43, 43, will descend lower, and carrying with it the lever 45
allow the cam 48 to give an increased extent of motion to the click or pall 49,
ratchet wheel 50, and consequently work roller e; 51 is a retaining click for
the purpose of preventing the work roller from running back when the pall
49 descends. The yarns or threads pass from the roller & through a stationary
guide or sleaf affixed to the framework, and from thence through another
guide or slea g, which receives motion in a way hereafter described. h, h, are
spools or bobbins carrying the threads or yarns intended to form the selvedgo
of the fabric, and when the machine is adapted for making narrow pieces they
are to be placed at intervals along the front thereof. i, i, i, i, are the series of
needles on which the threads or yarns are looped in order that such loops by
interlacing between each other may form the required knitted frabric. These
needles are cast in leads, similarly to those usually employed in warp frames,
and other machinery of that class. I have, however, shewn at Fig. 7 a lead
of these needles in front and end views. These leads of needles are attached
in the ordinary manner, or by means of screws to the bar k, k, k, k, which bar is
connected to the shaft 1,1,1,1, by the arms mi, m, m, m. The pivots of the
shaft l, 1, are mounted in bearings affixed to the levers n, n, which levers are

page_text: keyed: to the axis o, o, o, turning in plummer blocks at p, p. Links q, q, are
connected at their front ends to pivots or studs r, r, affixed to the back of the
needle bar.k, k, k, and at their back ends, vibrate on centres 8, s, attached to
the standards,t,, t,. t. The front ends of the levers n, n carry antifriction rollers
,, which are operated upon by cams v, upon. the main shaft 6 (see
Figures 4 and 5). These levers n, n, are also,connected by means of the
pins or axles carrying the rollers.u, u, to the upper parts of the yoke pieces.
w, w, which yoke pieces are in like manner, connected below to levers x, x,
turning on fulcrum centres a*,*, and carrying antifriction rollers y, y, which
last mentioned rollers are operated upon by the cams z, z, on the main shaft
(see Fig. 1). From this arrangement it will be perceived that, by rotary
motion being given to the main shaft b, the cams v, v, will cause the levers n, n,
to rise, and with them the needle bar and needles i, i, which at the same
time will also raise the yoke pieces u, w, and rollers y, y. On the further
rotation of the main shaft 6 the cams z, z,. will come in contact with the
rollers y, y, and bring down the yoke pieces and the.levers n, n, and with them
the needles i, i, i to their former position. There are a series of moveable
guides 1,1,1, through which the yarns or threads pass, and by the movements
of which they are lapped around the needles i, i, i. These guides, like the
needles, are cast in leads after the ordinary manner of those used in warp
frames, as represented in front and side views at Fig. 8. The leads are
attached by screws to the.bar 2,,which is made fast to the shaft 3 by means of
armsi4; at, one, end of the shaft.3 (see Figures 3 and 6), a tail-piece 5 is affixed;
carring a stud 6, which stud works in the forked end of the lever 7; this lever
turns.upon: a.centre, or fulcrum pin;8, and is connected at its lower, end to the
yoke piece 9; another. lever 10; vibrating on a centre at 11, below, is connected_at
its.upper. end also 'to; the yoke piece 9; each of these levers is provided at 7* and
10*, Fig. 6, with antifriction or truck rollers, which are acted upon by the cams
12 and 12*, as the main.shaft.6 revolves. By this arrangement it will be per-
ceived, that, the revolution of the cam 12 will. move the lever 7,.7 on its centre
at 8, and by means of the stud, 6 and tail-piece, 5 communicate motion to the
shaft :3 and guides,1, which will cause the yarns or threads to be passed
between the needles ii; in a direction from front., to back. On the further
revolution of the shaft it will bring the cam 12* in contact with the roller 10*,
and. thereby move back the yoke pieces. 9 with. the levers 7, and consequently
carry: the guides 1,.1, to their former position, that is from the back toward
the front of, the machine. Previously, however, to this returning movement of
the guides, the guide, bar 2 has received a lateral or shogging motion by the
following means: a spur wheel 18, on, the,main shaft b, takes into another

page_text: spur wheel 14 on the short back shaft 15 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 8); at the end of
the shaft 15 there is a bevel pinion, taking into a similar pinion on an upright
shaft 16; at the top of this shaft 16 there is also a pinion taking into another
pinion on a transverse shaft 17, upon which shaft is affixed the cam or cut
wheel 18; this cam works against an antifriction roller 19, carried by the
pendant lever 20, in which lever is the set screw 21, bearing against the end
of the shaft 3. It will now be seen that rotary motion being communicated
to the cam 18 through the train of wheels and pinions just described, the end
of the shaft 3 will receive lateral pressure from the indentations or cuts upon
the cam, and the spring 21* at all times pressing against the other end of
the shaft 3, and keeeping it in contact with the cam 18, lateral or shogging
movments will be occasionally given to the shaft, and consequently to the
guides 1, 1, 1, according to the indentations upon the cam. By this lateral
or shogging movement of the guides taking place after the threads have passed
between the needles, and previously to the guides and threads returning to
their first position, the loops or coils for forming the meshes of the fabric are
produced round the needles; and it will be perceived that the slea 9, 9, 9,
which keeps the threads separate, is attached to the guide bar 2, and con-
sequently partakes of all the motions applied to the guide bar 2. The prosser
bar 22, at stated intervals, presses against the beards of the needles i, i, i, in a
similar manner to the operation of such pressor bars in the ordinary warp
machinery; and the means by which this is accomplished will be seen best in
Figures 2, 4, and 5. A longitudinal shaft 23 extends throughout the width of
the machine, turning in bearings affixed to the end framework; on the shaft
are fixed the arms 24, 24, which carry the presser bar 22, capable of adjust-
ment by set screws, as shewn in the Drawing; two vertical levers 25, 25, are
affixed at their upper ends to the shaft 23, carrying antifriction rollers 26, 26,
at their lower ends, which rollers are operated upon by cams 27, 27, mounted
on the main shaft b, b; springs 28, 28, are fixed to the framework of the
machine, and press at their upper ends against tail pieces extending from the
arms 24, 24; the rotation of the cams 27, 27, operating upon the rollers 26, 26,
of the levers 25, 25, will turn the shaft 23 round a portion of a revolution,
thereby bringing the presser bar 22 forward into contact with the beards of
the needles i, i, i, the springs 28, 28, returning it to its former position when
allowed to do so by the further rotation of the cams 27, 27. A series of
instruments 29, 29, 29, which I call hooks or crutches (supplying in some
respects the place of "sinkers" employed in the ordinary warp frames, as will
be hereafter explained), are cast in leads in the same manner as the guides and
needles; these are shewn in front and end dotached views at Fig. 9. Each

page_text: hook or crutch is placed opposite to a space between the needles; the leads of
these hooks are attached by screws to the longitudinal vibrating bar 30, which
is mounted upon the rocking levers 37, 37; these rocking levers carry
antifriction rollers 32, 32, against which the peripheries of the cams 33, 33,
act as the shaft 6 revolves, and there are springs 34, 84, attached at their
upper ends to the framework of the machine, their lower ends pressing against
adjustable screws attached to the hook or crutch bar 30; by these means the
crutch bar has a constant tendency to press inwards or towards the back of the
machine; and at a certain period of the rotation of the cam 33, an indentation
on its periphery is brought opposite the roller 32, when a backward movement
of the hook or crutch bar takes place, as will be seen in the general operation
of the machine; a longitudinal bar 35, attached to the hook or crutch_bar 30,
forms a breast beam, over which the manufactured fabric passes on its way
to the work roller e, e.
I will now proceed to describe the operations of the machine, and although
I shall do so as applied only to the manufacture of one particular fabric, yet, as
before stated, it will be obvious to all persons conversant with warp frames and
a similar class of machinery, that the lappings of the yarns or threads may
take place in a variety of forms, depending only upon the cut of wheels for
racking the guide bar; and, if desired, extra guide bars may be introduced, as
represented, for instance, at Fig. 10, for the purpose of forming ornamental,
open, or other fabrics, each guide bar being supplied, as is well understood,
with a respective cut of wheels to produce the required shogging motions,
which actuating wheels may be mounted on the shaft 17, in a similar manner
to that one shewn in the Drawings, or they may be carried by a frame which
vibrates with the shaft 3, 3; in the former case, however, the ends of the
guide bars must be made sufficiently broad to prevent their getting out of
contact with their shogging wheels when in the act of vibrating, in order to
pass the threads or yarns through the needles. By these means certain
descriptions of fabric, usually denominated tattings, may be produced, and a
variety of similar kinds of articles, which will readily suggest themselves to a
competent manufacturer. In order to explain one mode by which the loops
or laps may be so interlaced as to produce the required knitted fabric, I
have shewn a series of diagrams marked No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11;
the first eight figures of which shew the various positions which the guides
assume with regard to the needles, and the three latter the form which the
threads or yarns assume when looped or lapped around the needles, which
needles, in all these diagrams, are described by the coloured circles, the
oblong figures representing the guides which carry the yarns or threads,

page_text: supposing the parts to be situated as represented in the enlarged detached
sectional view of the working parts, Fig. 12; the guides 1, 1, being in the
front of the machine, and situated with regard to their respective needles as at
No. 1 in the previously mentioned diagram, see Figs. 1 and 2, the roller 19
being in contact with the point A of the cam 18, shewn in the same Figures,
and on an enlarged scale at. Fig. .19; a further revolution of the cam 18 will
allow the roller 19 to fall on. to that portion of the periphery of the cam
marked 1, 'thereby racking or shogging the guides one space to the right, and
bringing them into that position': shewn in the diagram No. 2, during which
time, by the action of the cams v, v, the needles have been raised into the
position shewn in the auxiliary Fig. 13. The next operation of the machine is
passing the guides.between the needles towards the back of the machine, which
is effected by the prominence on the cam 12 coming in contact with the roller 7**
on the lever 7, thereby turning that lever on its centre, and giving a vibratory
motion to the guides, as before described, this operation bringing them into the
position shewn at.No.. 3 Diagram, and in enlarged view of the working parts,
Fig. 14. The cam 18;:by means of its elevated division or part 2, now racks
the guides. One space. to the left brings them into the situation shewn in
Diagram No. 4, when the guides are immediately again passed through the
ncelles to the front of the machine, to the position shewn at Diagram No. 5;
by which means the threads or yarns have become lapped round their respec-
tive:needles, shewn at Diagram, No. 9, during which time the needles have
been gradually rising..into the position shewn in the detached Fig. 15, after
which, and during the passage. of the cam 18: through its division 2, they again
begin to fall, the presser bar 22, by means of its.cams 27, 27, being made to
advance.towards the needles, as shewn àt.Fig. 16. By reference to this figure
it will be seen that the lap or coil, formed as before described, is now. within the
beard of the needle, and that lap produced by the working of the last course
being situated underneath it, and still held on the needles. The presser bar.is
now further advanced, and the needles brought lower down into the position
shewn at Fig. 17, where it will be perceived that the laps or coils last formed
are at the top of the needles and under their beards; while those loops pro-
duced by the prévious: course are allowed to pass over them by the presser bar
22: having pressed, the beards of the needles into their eyes or recesses, the
hook or crutch bar. 30. having moved a short space toward the back of the
machine in order to allow the presser bar to come forward. The presser bar
now returns: to its former situation, and the needles descend from their position,
Fig.17, into: that shewn at Fig.r18; by which the last loops are drawn through
the former, thereby causing. them to interlace:cach other, as is well understood

page_text: by all persons conversant with warp machinery. The hook or crutch bar now
comes forward to its first position, bringing the hooks of the crutches over the
work, and carrying the work forward free from the needles, which operation
brings the working parts again into the starting position, represented at
Fig. 12. Another course is now commenced, which only varics from that last
described in the motions of the guides, for it is, in this instance, necessary, in
order to interweavé a loop formed by one thread into a loop formed by another
thread, that at the next course of working each guide should lap or coil its
thread round a different needle from that round which it lapped its thread
before; in this case the next needle is the one which the guides are intended
to travel round. To effect this, the guides are now racked or shogged by the
stop on the cam 18, marked 3, one space to the left, and brought into the
position shewn in the diagram, No. 6. The guides now pass to the back of
the machine, into the position shewn at diagram No. 7, during which operation
the needles, as before described; have risen to the position shewn in the
detached Fig. 13. The division 4 of the cam 18 then racks the guides one
space to the right, bring them into the situation shewn in the Diagram No. 8;
when they pass to the front of the machine and regain their starting position
shown in the Diagram at No. 1, and in Fig. 12, when the same operations
again take place, the hooks or crutches extending over the finished work, and
preventing it from ascending, when the needles pass upwards. The mode by
which the loops are interlaced with each other will be better understood by
reference to the Diagrams, Nos. 9, 10, and 11, which represent a series of
needles with the threads coiled round them, as effected by the racking motions
of the guides in the way described. The Diagram No. 9 represents one course
or row of meshes formed round the needles. No. 10 and 11 shew two courses
or rows of meshes formed thereon, and it will be perceived by the Diagram 10
that one thread, say the yellow one, the loop of which to the right is overlapped
by the adjacent red thread, overlaps in its turn the right-hand loop. of the
green thread, situated on its left. Supposing the needles and threads to be
situated as in this Diagram 10, the beard of the needle a will take down thè
loop of the red thread through that of the yellow, which was formed at the
previous course, while the other loop of the yellow thread, just formed, will.
itself be taken down by the needle 6 through that of the green thread; but on
another course being worked, as shewn'at Diagram No. 11, 'the left-hand red
loop having been taken down at the last course, will be overlapped by the
newly-formed loop of the yellow thread, while the left-hand loop of the yellow
thread, which was previously taken down, will in its turn be overlapped by the

page_text: green thread. It will be perceived by reference to the Diagrams that ono
needle at each end of the series is removed, their removal causing the outside
threads which are supplied from separate bobbins h, h, (see Figs. 1, 4, and 5,)
to form but one mesh or loop, while each of the others is producing two
meshes or loops. The outside needles being removed, the outside guides will
only form one loop, while every other guide is forming two meshes or
loops, that is to say, there will only be a loop formed by the end guides, ready
to be taken down through one formed by its adjacent guide, at every other
course, so that the end loops will be interlaced and tie together close, con-
stituting two courses of meshes or loops. The outside guides of each breadth
not having two needles to coil the thread around, can only form their loops
around the first needles, or, in other words, (making orly one course of work
for two motions; and these single loops will) in course of working be regularly
interlaced with the double loops formed by the double courses or movements of
the other guides, and thus form a fast and tight selvage, thus connecting the
different courses together in a longitudinal direction, as must be well under-
stood by all persons conversant with this kind of manufacture.
Having now described the general arrangement, construction, and com-
binations of my improved machinery, and the manner of its operating to
produce the fabric, I would again remark, in conclusion, that I do not intend
to confine myself alone to the manufacturing of the particular fabric resulting
from the motions I have herein described, by way of illustrating my
improved machinery; but that which I claim as my Invention is the novel
construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts or agents used for
producing the fabric constituting a novel machine, together with the move-
ments and operation of the several parts thereof suitable for forming or
manufacturing looped or knitted fabrics, the character of which fabric may,
as I have before stated, be varied to a great extent by giving different motions
to the parts or agents above described, by means of different cuts of wheels, or
shapes of the actuating cams, without deviating from the general features of
the novel arrangement of machinery, as will be readily seen by any competent
manufacturer acquainted with machinery of this class or description, that is
such as are commonly known and used for producing looped or knitted work.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Nineteenth day of May,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Henson came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
5 And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Nineteenth day of May, in the year above written.