COMBINATION CAMS AND APPARATUS FOR THREAD GUIDES.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 25th Mar., 1887.
Our method is, to have a machine on one, two, three, or more divisions, and it
admits of each division, being placed in or out of operation independently as is
required.
This allows the operator to stop any division, for the purpose of Narrowing or
Widening, while the other divisions are in process of Manufacture.
And the cams on all the divisions can be placed in or out of operation
simultaneously.
2) COMBINATION CAMS AND APPARATUS FOR THREAD GUIDES.
This arrangement consists of a double set of Cams being fitted to each Division of the
Machine, and it admits of one set of Cams being placed out of operation instantly, while
the remaining set is operating in an ordinary manner. Or both sets of Cams can be
in operation as may be desired.
The Thread Guides all slide on bars across the Machine independently; And an
arrangement is provided for driving the same, which allows the operator to use one
Thread Guide, when only one set of Cams are in operation, and two Thread Guides,
when both sets of Cams are required.
Dated thi= Qth day of June 1886

page_text: Our method is, to have a maenme on
or more divisions, and as of
each division being placed in, or out of operation independently or otherwise as required.
This allows the Operator to stop any division, for the purpose of narrowing or widening;
While the other divisions are in process of Manufacture, and the whole of the Machine
can be stopped instantly if required.
This is accomplished in the following manner; An upright, or Standard is fitted
between every division of the Machine, at the right hand end of each division a
Shaft passes through the aforesaid Standards, and at right angles with the Machine. A
handle is firmly secured to those parts of the Shafts which come to the front of the
Machine, and on the back part of the Shafts and close up to the Standards, a broad
Pinion Wheel is fixed on each; This is geared into a large Wheel, and an axle is fixed
in the wheels of cach division, and by means of a connecting link from these wheels
to a Lever or other device, which is connected to the Bridge "that carries the Cams,"
it drives it backwards and forwards when the aforesaid Handle is turned. A Shaft s
fitted in several bearings at the back of the Machine, and parallel with it, and two
Pulleys are fitted upon it at one end of the Machine, these are connected to the main
Shafting by means of a Belt; On this Shaft as many Screw Bevel Wheels are fixed,
as there are number of divisions on the Machine, and corresponding Bevel Wheels
are fixed on the Shafts which pass through the Standards at the right hand end of each
division, the position of these Wheels is on the outside of the long parallel Shaft, and
on the extreme ends of these Shafts and at the back of the Machine Fly Wheels are
fitted. About one inch of sliding motion, or play, is left between the bars of the
Handle on the front of the Machine, and the two Screw Bevel Wheels, this allows them
to be placed in or out of gear as follows. A Collar is fitted upon the Shafts and a
Coil Spring is placed between the said Collar and the Standard, so that the pressure
of the Spring forces the Shafts towards the back of the Machine, by this means the
Bevel Wheels are thrown out of gear; a Lever is fitted to a bracket and parallel with
the Machine, the centre of which comes against the Boss of the Handle, this Lever is
beveled on one side, and the flat side presses against the Standard, when this Lever is
pressed down it forces the Handle away from the Standard, this brings the Bevel
Wheels at the back in gear, and that part of the Machine is immediately set in motion;
if the Lever be lifted up again, the coil Springs force the Shafts back and disconnect
the Bevel Wheels, and that part of the Machine is stopped instantly the aforesaid
pinions being broad enough to allow of this sliding motion of the Shaft, without getting

page_text: #
out of gear, when any part of the Machine is stopped" admits of the flandle which
is connected to this part being turned by hand, as if it were an independent Machine
while the remaining divisions are in process of Manufacture by Power. A contrivance
is also provided to throw the Belt on to the loose Pulley which is at the end of the
Machine on the long parallel Shaft, and by the aid of the foregoing arrangements the
Operator is enabled to stop the whole of the Machine, or any division, or part, or start
the same instantly; This system admits of all the divisions being of different Guages if
required.
An Automatic Stopping arrangement is fitted to the foregoing, thus: To those
Handles, or Levers which throw the Machine in and out of gear, are fixed Catches which
hold them in position, while the Machine, or division is in operation, these Catches are
operated upon by means of Studs fixed to a Chain, which revolves round a Wheel, the
same being worked by a Catch Wheel and Catch, when these Studs pass by the Catch
which holds the Lever while in operation, they force the Catch away, so that a Spiral
Spring being attached to the Lever, causes it to rise immediately, and the coil Spring
forcing the Shaft back and disconnecting the Bevel Wheels, instantly stops that part
of the Machine to which it is affixed. These Studs can be adjusted to any part of tho
Chain; This enables the Operator to regulate them, so as to stop Automatically, when
narrowing or widening are required to be done on the various Articles in process of
Manufacture.
2) COMBINATION CAMS FOR MAKING ONE, OR TWO COURSES AT ONE DRAW OF
THE MACHINE.
This arrangement consists of a Double set of Cams being fitted to cach division of
the Machine, and it admits of one set of Cams being placed out of operation instantly,
while the remaining set is operating in an ordinary manner; Or both sets of Cams can
be in operation as may he desired. This is arranged as follows; a slide is fitted on
a bar which is fixed parallel to the Needle Bed of the Machine, two seperate Boxes of
Cams for operating upon the Machine Needles, are fitted on this Slide, the Slides of
each Cam Box are connected by means of a Link, or other device; a corresponding
Double Set of Cams are fitted upon the other side of the Machine, and are arranged
in a similar manner to those on the front. These two sets of Slides and Cams are
connected by means of a Bridge passing over the Carrier of the Machine, and the
bottom parts of this Bridge are firmly secured to the Slides, this Bridge is driven
backwards and forwards, by means of a Lever or other device, which is connected to
the driving Wheel.
It also has two Spans or Straps, which pass over the Carrier, each of these Spans, or
Straps, is constructed centrally with one or other of the set of Cams, by this means the
centre of the Bridge is left open and enables the Operator to see when there is any
irregularity that may occur when in operation.
By the adjustment of the aforesaid Links, or other device, which operates upon one
set of Cams, for the purpose of throwing that set of Cams out of operation, we are
enabled to work a Single Set of Cams for Single Course when required.
3) CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIER AND INDEPENDENT THREAD GUIDES.
The two Carrier Bars are fitted together with distance pieces, between the ends,
leaving a space down the middle of the Bars, each Bar has two distinct features, which
we will term the upper and the lower part; By means of this construction, the Slides
on the upper part of the Bar are enabled to pass by those on the lower part.
On the bottom part of these Slides are fixed the Thread Guides, and these are fitted
upon Joints, which are acted upon by Springs, "that hold them in a central position
between the working Needles of the Machine" this enables the upper or inside Guides,
to pass the lower or outside Guides, on the same Bar, and the Thread Guides on one
Bar can pass by all those upon the opposite Bar.
When Double Course Cams are in operation and Cardigan Jackets, or similar
articles, are required to be made with Armholes, Selvaged on each side, six of these

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. is front view of part of our Improved Knitting Machine on two divisions, A
represents the Bridge, B. the Bars on which the Thread Carriers Slide C. the Thread
Carrier on the inside of the front Bar, the Thread Carrier on the outside of the front
Bar. D. a Thread Carrier on the inside of the back Bar, and D¹ is the Thread Carrier
on the outside of the same. E. Stops which lift out of operation the arrangement for
driving the Thread Carriers, and can be adjusted to any part of the Machine for what-
ever width of Fabric is required. F. Bed of the Machine. G Lever which throws the
Cams into single or double action. H&H Eccentrics, which lift the driving
arrangement completely out of operation. I. Slide that is lifted up when single Course
Cams are required. K. Standards which support the Bed. L. Manual Handles.
M. Levers which disconnect the Gearing Apparatus.
Fig. 2. is a plan of our Improved Method for driving these Machines.
A. Plan of
Machine Bed. B. Shafts which pass through the Standards at right angles to the
Machine, C Broad pinions firmly fixed on the aforesaid Shafts, D Bearings which
support the Shafts. E. Screw Bevel Wheels fixed on the Shafts. F. Fly Wheels.
G. Collar fixed on the Shafts. H. Coil Springs working loosely on the Shafts, between
the fixed Collar and the Standard. I. Manual Handles. K. Shaft at the back of, and
parallel with the machine. L. Screw Bevel Wheels fixed on the same. M. fast and
loose Pulleys. N. Levers which are beveled on the front side, and when depressed
brings the Bevel Wheels in gear, and when raised the Coil Spring H. forces them out
again.
Fig. 3. 3. 4 & 4. shews the Cams and driving apparatus in position for producing,
Double Course Fabric.
Fig. 3. represents the Cams on the back part of the Machine. A. a Slide fitted on
a Bar to slide across the Machine. B. two sets of Cams fitted upon A. C. Slides
which reverse the Cams. D Levers that connects the Slides C. which come into contact
with Stops at L. on the left hand of the Machine, E. Pressing Cam in operation,
F. Pressing Cam out of operation. G. Cams which raise the needles partly up but not
sufficiently to press the loop over. H Cams which press the Needles down to form
the loop. I. Cams which prevent Needles being pressed too high. K. Springs which
hold the Slides in position, M. is that part of the Lever D which comes in contact with
Stops at the right hand of Machine, which forces the Slides Cand reverses the position
of the Cams E. & F.
Fig. 3. is a duplicate of Fig. 3. but fitted on the front part of the Machine.
Fig. 4. D is connected with an Eccentric that lifts this driving apparatus out of
operation, B & B₁ points which operate upon the Thread Carriers. is a Handle
connected with B₁ refered to in Figs. 6 & 64.
Fig. 4 is a duplicate of Fig. 4, on the front part of the Machine.

page_text: Figs. 5. 5 6. & G are duplicates of Fig. 3. 3º. 4 & 4ª. respectively, shewing the
Cams and driving apparatus adjusted in position for producing Single Course
Fabric.
Figs. 5 & 5. D is a lever disconnected from one part of the Cams, and is adjusted
into the slot of the Slide C. to allow one set of the Cams to be out of operation, and
the other set in operation. L & M are the points of lever D, which come in contact
with Stops at the right and left of the Machine, and are reversed as in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 & 6 D are represented out of operation by means of the aforesaid eccentric,
C. shews the Handle raised which is connected with E & F, so as to allow F. to pass
by the Thread Carriers, while E operates in conjunction with B.
Fig. 7. is an end view of the Bridge shewing sectional of Needle Bed and Carrier
Bars, and an end view of the driving method, also a side view of the Carrier Needles.
A is the end view of the Bridge, B a section of Machine Bed, C section of Needle
Bed shewing Needles in operation, D section of the Bars on which the Cams and
Bridge slide, E Cams, F adjustable levers that reverse the Cams from double to single
course motion G section of Carrier Bars, El four Carrier Slides which are arranged to
pass by each other, by means of the construction of G and the Joint Needles I.
K Carrier driving apparatus in operation, L Springs which hold K in position,
M eccentric shewn in the position, when K is in operation, M' shews eccentric in the
position when Carrier driving apparatus K' is out of operation.
Fig. 8. represents a front view of a Carrier Bar. A shows a Carrier sliding on
the outside of the Bar. B Joint Needle attached to the same. C Spring which operates
upon B.
D is a friction Spring attached to A. E are set pins and locknuts, that
operate upon a strip insido A. to allow for the wear of slide A. F are holes
through which the Yarn is passed. G is a Carrier Slide on the inside of the Bar.
Hare the set pins and locknuts which operate similar to E. K Joint Needles affixed
to G. La Spring which operates upon K. Ma hole through which is passed the
Yarn at the back of Slide G, to feed Joint Needle K. N is a Rod fixed parallel with
bar O, and to which is affixed the adjustable stops P, which regulate the distance of
A & M, by lifting out the driving apparatus; The outlines of P. and a section of N.
are shown in N & P¹ Fig. 7.
Advantages of the foregoing as compared with existing methods. Machines as at
present constructed with 2-3 or more divisions are all operated upon by one motion,
and cannot be disconnected in any way, thus; When narrowings or widenings are
required, or any irregularity may possibly occur in any one of the Divisions, it is
necessary to stop the whole of the Machine, which results in a great loss of production.
Whereas Our method admits of any of the divisions being stopped independently,
and automatically, or as the Operator may desire, while the other divisions aro
proceeding in an ordinary manner, by this means the loss of production is reduced to
a minimum.
Our method also admits of different sized articles being made at the same time, and
owing to the independent divisions they are produced equally as quick in proportion,
as if they were all one size; The present methods do not admit of this without a very
considerable loss of time and possible mistakes. Also in the construction of existing
Makes, when the whole of their Machines have to be worked at one time, assistance to
the Operator is generally necessary. By our system the additional assistance is
avoided, as the Operator has full control over the whole of the Machine by reason of its
independent divisions. And by the principle of Our Combination Cams, and Thread
Carriers we are enabled to produce a Machine which is simpler and more durable in
construction than any existing method, and by reason of this combination we are
enabled to produce every variety of Stitch that is possible on a Lamb Knitting
Machine, and in articles where single course is necessary to be made by one set of
Cams, the other sets can be readily adjusted to produce double course fabric without
loss of time, and the Thread Carriers can all be made to travel to a certain point so as
to utilise the whole of the Machine Bed, as in a Single Course Lamb Knitting
Machine when producing articles where Armholes are required, or Fabric in sections.

page_text: Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is.
1st) The principle of stopping or starting any Division of the Machine, either by
Hand or Automatically as is required, without in any way affecting the other parts,
which are in process of Manufacture.
2) The principle of Combining two sets of Cams on the same Machine which admits
of one set being thrown out of operation for the purpose of making Single Course, or
both sets may be worked to produce Double Course."
3) The construction of the Bridge which is fixed to the Slides that carry the Cams,
having two Spans or Straps, which leaves the centre of the Bridge open.
4) The principle of the Upper and Lower part of the Carrier Bars, which enables
the Thread Guides on one Bar, to distinctly pass by each other, cachr Guide being
driven independently, and in no ways connected by the Yarn; Also for the Thread
Guides on the Bar of one side of Carrier, to pass all those on the opposite side.
5) The principle of driving the Thread Guides, on a 'Double Course Lamb Machine,
by means of Vertical Joints.
6) The principle of Combining the Thread Carrier Driving Apparatus so as to
admit of driving iwo Thread Guides, for Double Course Cams, and one Thread Guide
for Single Course Cams, the same to be readily adjusted from one to the other.
7) We do not in the aforesaid Claim bind ourselves to the exact construction of any
particular part; But the general principles and application as set forth, to be
substantially the same as illustrated and described.