IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harrison, of 128, Portland Street, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNITTING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harrison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1881.
WILLIAM HARRISON, of 128, Portland Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanic. IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."
"
My Invention consists in several improvements in that type of knitting machines
known as the "Lamb."
1st. The object of which is to enable the operator to knit double or twice the
width of web or plain open work automatically.
2nd. To enable the little heel to be knitted more easily.
3rd. To give a longer or shorter stroke to the crank that works the machine,
which lengthens or shortens the travel of the carriages, which reduces friction,
saves time and labour.
4th. To enable the cam carriage to work more easily and with greater
durability.
5th. To enable the needles to work more easily and to be more durable.
6th. To make the needle bar more durable and easier for the cam carriage to
work and to make them withdrawable by the band for the purpose of replacing
needles more easily without having to take off the carriage as in other machines.
7th. A more convenient and easy method of moving the bed plate of machine
backwards and forwards for the purpose of making a greater variety of stitches.
placed on the left side for the convenience of the operator.
Sth. To make the carriage stays bind more equally upon the two sides of the
carriage.
To produce the open web double width I construct an automatic attachment
with a convenient casting, with a lug at the back for securing the frame to the
machine, and which has a sheath for to cover the pinion wheel with two bosses on.
each side to serve for bearings, and two heads at the two opposite ends in a vertical
го

page_text: position to carry the vertical buffer slides; I put a toothed wheel upon the ordinary
driving shaft and another upon the attachment shaft centrally. The attachment
shaft I put horizontally through the bearing bosses of the casting. At the opposite
ends of the attachment shaft I fix two pins eccentrically at right angles; I make
and place two vertical buffers which are recessed on the inside with square shoulders
top and bottom; the upper end of this slide has a V nick and a plain vertical
surface and a horizontal hole. I place into the two vertical opposite heads of the
frame with the recessed side inward, within which the two eccentric pins fitted at
each end of the attachment shaft is placed; I place a spiral or other spring to force
the slide buffers upward, and when I put them out of action I press them down,
which causes them to stop down by means of a catch, which are released again by
pressure upon the catch. Having thus completed the attachment, I now construct
at the back two sliding cam opening bars or pistons, all of which project outwards,
and a pinion wheel. I place at the opposite side of the pinion wheel the cam
opening slide bars in a parallel position, the slide bars I make toothed, which are
geared with the pinion wheel to bring them all into working condition. I screw
the attachment to the right end of the machine, which brings the attachment
shaft into a parallel position with the driving shaft; the pinions upon these
two shafts are thus brought into gear with each other; I also place a revolving stud
in the same position as the pinion wheel, with a pin through the centre to project
outwards on both sides. The cam opening slides or pistons are slotted in the
middle for the pins to work in; both of these slides are placed on each side in a
parallel position of the revolving stud; with either of the two latter constructions
the same effect is produced. When the machine is set in motion_with_all_the_slides_
open the slide burs cams opener comes into contact with the top of the buffers
alternately, and alternately pass over the V nick and through the horizontal hole,
which causes the cam opening slides to work in and out alternately; this action
opens and shuts the locks to prevent them from knitting tubular. To obtain the
same result I make a more simple and inexpensive construction to work by hand
or automatically. To work by hand I fix a shaft horizontally at the left hand of
the carriage and fit an upright lever or handle on the centre of the shaft which
comes through the carriage; at the opposite ends of the shaft I place two pins
eccentrically upon the discs two connecting rods.. I fit upon the 2 studs or pins
which are set eccentrically; the other ends of the connecting rods are semi-square
and project downwards, which fit with a grip over the edge of the cams, and when
the handle is moved to right and left the cams are shut and opened for the same
purpose, as hereinbefore described. The clutch ends of the connecting rods are
lifted out of grip by a V slide bolt.
2nd. My improvements consist in making the little heel. I place a bar in a
parallel position with the needle bed, the bar is fastened and loosened by means of
a catch or screw, so that when the heel come is being used this bar serves to
allow the comb to grip the bar, or the bar by pressure upon the come holds
it down to prevent the heel comb from tilting up.
3rd. I construct the adjustable driving crank to give a longer or shorter stroke
as follows:-I make an open slot in the crank or an he and she sliding crank in
or out, long or short, which is fixed with a screw to work with the short stroke or
travel of the carriage. I fix 4 stops at the back and front corners which
substitutes the 4 end stops used for the longest stroke.
4th. I apply spherical balls or rollers to the upper part of the carriage and also
to the underpart of the carriage, or I fit them on the bed or neeedle bar which are
adjustable.
5th. I make the cam end of the needles thicker than the other part, which I call
butt ended needles; or I fit loose caps over this end of the needles, so that they
can be taken off in case of wear; or I fit revolving bowles or rollers on the end of
needles, so that the needles will wear longer, and also cause the needles to run
along the cames more freely with less bumping than is the case with the present
needles.

page_text: 6th. I construct the needle bar with open slots at each end of the needle bar,
into which I slide at the 4 ends steel plates, the surface of which is a little
higher than the needle bar; the full bearing of the carriage is therefore upon these
four end anti friction plates which can be taken out for renewal or adjusted in case
of wear. At the end of the needle bars I attach hooks which spring from the
needle bar with a notch thereon, so that when the needle bars are withdrawn
with an upward pressure the bar releases itself, and when pushed back is held
firmly by means of a catch holding the notch of the spring.
.
7th. I construct a short shaft or pin shouldered at the inner sido to a downward
pendant, and shaped at the bottom end with double he tapered excentrics and a
double she tapered excentric.
The latter is screwed to the under side of the needle bed. The pendant he
excentrics is placed from the inside of the left hand of the bed stay which places
the he excentrics within the she excentrics.
A handle or lever is fitted upon the pendant shaft in an upward position the
open part of the carriage.
The operator by swinging this lever or handle causes the be excentrics to work
within the she excentrics, and so moves the bed to slide to right and left to
produce a variety of stitches.
8th. I make carriage stays with V sides, and I make them adjustable to take
up the wear by packing on the underside, or by leaving open space on the under
side by steading pins and screwing down as they were also used only one screw
in the centre instead of two to prevent one side bending more than the other, which
is the case with two screws. This result I obtain by the use of the two steading
pins.
I improve the tension and the friction blocks.
I construct my friction block with a split side which I tighten so as to take up
the wear and cause more friction upon the friction rod. I also make one or two
additional bosses upon the friction block, into which I bore holes for the purpose
of placing springs and friction pads there, in which I adjust by compressing the
spring behind the friction pad, which causes the pad to press more friction upon
the friction block rod, and so completely regulates the yarn guide not to move
back ward or forward until it is pulled by the bridge of the yarn guide. To ensure
the greater steadiness of the friction block I make all the bearings of the machine
split to be kept tight by screws.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1882.
WILLIAM HARRISON, of 128, Portland Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."
My Invention consists in several improvements in that type of knitting machines
known as the Lamb, part of which is applicable to the circular knitting machines.
To produce the open web double width of needle bed, I construct an automatic
attachment with a convenient casting with a lug at the back for securing the
frame to the end of machine Fig. 1, Sheet 1, against letter I, and which has a
sheath for to cover the pinion wheels F, F2, with two. bosses on each side to serve
for bearings, and two heads at the two opposite ends in a vertical position to
carry the vertical buffer slides P, P, B, B. I fix a toothed wheel F upon the
ordinary driving shaft H, and another F2 upon the attachment shaft G centrally;
the attachment shaft I put horizontally through the bearing bosses; on each side
F, g, the casting at the opposite ends of the attachment shaft G I fix two pins
L, L, excentrically; I places two vertical. buffers P, P, and B, B, which are recessed
on the inside M, M, with square_shoulders top_and_bottom.;_the_upper_end B,.B,
of this slide has a V nick, and a plain vertical surface, and a horizontal hole as
opening, as shewn at the top of B, B, E, E, and D, D, slide. I place into the two
vertical opposite heads of the frame (which stands in the position of E, E,) with
the recessed sides M, M, inward, within which the two excentric pins L, L, are
fitted. At each end of the attachment shaft G, I place a spiral or other spring
to force the slide buffers D, D, upwards; and to put them out of action I press
them down, which causes them to stop down by means of a catch, and which are
released again by pressure upon the spring catch; I construct two sliding cam
opening bars or pistons as shewn, Sheet 1, Fig. 4, (all of which project outwards as
shewn, Sheet 1, Fig. 1 A, A, A, A, and Fig. 4, A, A,) and a pinion wheel, Sheet 1,
Fig. 4, B. I place at the opposite side of the pinion wheel (Sheet 1, Fig. 4 B)
the cam opening slide bars. A, A, in a parallel position; the slide bars I make
toothed, which are geared with the pinion wheel B. To bring thein all into
working condition I screw the attachment to the right hand end of the machine,
Sheet 1, Fig. 1, against J which brings the attachment shaft G into a parallel
position with the driving shaft H; the pinions F, F2, upon these two shafts are
thus brought into gear with each other. I also place a revolving stud in the same
position as the pinion wheel, Sheet 1, Fig. 4 B, with a pin through the centre to
project outwards on both sides. The cam opening slides A, A, are slotted in the
middle for the pins to work in; both of these slides or pistons are placed on each
side of the revolving stud in. a parallel position; with either of the two latter
constructions the same effect is produced.
Sheet 1, Fig. 2, shows the cams which are caused to slide up and down by
coming in contact with stops or buffers; when Fig. 4 is fixed with stud C into
nitch B, Fig. 2, and slides A, A, Fig. 4, are pushed at either end, causes the cam A,
Fig. 2, to move up and down or close and open to actuate the needles. When the
machine is set in motion with all the slides open, the slide bars A, A, Fig. 4, Sheet 1,
which opens and closes, the cams coming into contact with the top of the buffers
B, B, alternately, and alternately pass over the V nick 0, 0, or through or over
the horizontal hole or square P, P, Fig. 1, which causes the cam opening slides to
work in and out alternately. This action opens and shuts the locks or cam, Fig. 2,
Sheet 1 A, to prevent them from knitting tubular and to obtain a selvedge
along the edges of the knitted fabric.

page_text: I construct a more simple and inexpensive arrangement to work by hand, Sheet 2,
Fig. 1, Fig. 2, to work by hand or automatically; to work by hand I fix a shaft
horizontally, Sheet 2, Fig. 2 C, at the left end of the carriage, and fit an upright
lever A on the centre of the shaft which comes through the carriage; at the
opposite ends of the shaft I place two pins B excentrically; upon the discs P
I fit two connecting rods; I fit upon the two studs B, which are set excentrically;
the other ends of the connecting rods are semi square and project downwards,
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, E, which fits with a grip over the edge of the cams D, Fig. 1, Sheet 2,
and when the handle is moved to right and left the cams are shut and opened
for the purpose as herein before described. The clutch ends of the connecting rods
are lifted out of action or grip by a V slide bolt F, Fig. 1, Sheet 2.
My improvements to make the little heel by means of placing a bar Sheet 1,
Fig. 5, B, B, in a parallel position with the friction rod or needle bed. The bar is
fastened or loosened by means of a catch or screw, as shewn in Fig. 8, Sheet 1, B,
with half of the bottom flange cut away, so that when the heel combs are being
used the bar serves to allow the combs to grip the bar B, B, or the bar by pressuro
upon the comb holds it down to prevent it from tilting up.
I construct an adjustable driving crank to give a longer or shorter stroke,
Sheet 2, Figs. 3 and 7. I make an open slot B in the crank, or a telescopic or an he
and she sliding crank in or out long or short, which when the stroke is adjusted
is fixed with a screw C. The object is to shorten the traverse of the carraige
when knitting anything less than the width of the bed, which saves labour, wear
of machine, and avoids the making of slack loops at the two sides of the work
consequent upon not carrying the wool too far beyond the width of the work to be
knitted. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, E is the end of main driving shaft; D is the crank joint
of connecting rod; F is the handle. I construct and fix four stops at the back
and front of the four corners of the needle bed to substitute the four stops shewn
on Sheet 2, Fig. 8, B, B, used for the longest stroke. Fig. 6A shows enlarged
section of the usual stop for the longest traverse or travel of the carraige. When
the travel or traverse of the carriage is shortened I fix Sheet 2, Fig. 5, C, C, to the
front corners of bed, Fig. 19, C, C, which acts the same as the end stops, and shuts
and opens the cam Sheet 1, Fig. 2, C, when the cam comes in contact with these
new front cam stops to adjust the stops to the traverse of the carriage, Fig. 5, D is
slid backward or forward, and held or released by sliding Fig. 6A in or out of
grooves B and B².
I apply spherical balls or rollers to the upper bearing part of
the carriage, Sheet 1, Fig. 3, A, A, and also to the under bearing part of the
carriage; or I fit them on the needle bed, Sheet 2, Fig. 19, A, A, or needle bar,
Sheet. 2, Fig. 11, A, A, and shewn in larger sections, Fig. 13, roller A, F, 14, balls
A, A, Sheet 2, and which are adjustable.
1 make the cam end of the needles, Sheet 2, Fig. 15 A, thicker than the other
part, which I call butt ended needles, or I fit loose caps over this end of the
needles so that they can be taken off in case of wear; or I fit revolving bowls or
rollers on the end of the needles, Sheet 2, Fig. 15 A, so that the needles will wear
longer, and also cause the needles to run along the cams more freely with less
bumping than is the case with the present form of needles.
I construct the needle bar with open slots at each end of the needle bar, into
which I slide at the four ends steel plates, the surface of which is a little higher
than the needle bar, Sheet 2, Fig. 11, A, A, the full bearing of the carraige is
therefore worked upon these four ends or antifriction plates, which can be taken
out for renewal by pulling at hole B, or adjusted in case of wear by the screw B¹.
At the end of the needle bars I attach hooks which spring from the needle bar
with a notch thereon, Sheet 2, Fig. 11, C, Fig. 12, B, A, so that when the needle
bars are withdrawn with an upward pressure the bar releases itself, and when
pushed back into its place is beld firmly by means of a catch holding, Fig. 12, B,
the notch of the spring.
I construct a short shaft as pin, Sheet 1, Fig. 10, A, A, shouldered at the inner
side to a downward pendent, and shaped at the bottom end with double he tapered

page_text: excentrics, a double she tapered excentric C or cam; the latter is screwed to the
underside of the needle bed Fig. 10 A, the pendent H excentrics are placed from
the inside of the left of the bed stay which places the he excentrics within the she
excentrics. A handle or lever is fitted upon the pendent shaft in an upward
position, Sheet 2, Fig. 8 A, through the open part of the carraige, the operator by
swinging this lever or handle, Fig. 9, A, A, causes the he excentrics to work within
the she excentrics, and so moves the bed to slide to right and left to produce a
variety of stitches.
I make carriage stays with V sides, and I make them adjustable to take up the
wear by packing on the underside, or by leaving open space on the underside by
steadying pins, and screwing down as they wear. I also use only one screw in
the centre instead of two to prevent one side binding more than the other, which
is the case with two screws, Sheet 1, Fig. 1, N. This result I obtain by the use of
the two steadying pins.
I construct my friction block with a split side, Sheet 1, Fig. 5, A, A, enlarged
section, Fig. 7, A, A, which I tighten by two screws so as to take up the wear and
cause more friction upon the friction rod B. I also make one or two additional
bosses upon the friction block, Fig. 5, A, A, shewn upon enlarged section, Sheet 1,
Fig. 6, A, A, into which I bore holes for the purpose of placing springs and steel
friction pads, Fig. 6, B, B, therein, which I adjust by compressing the spring
behind by two screws shewn, Fig. 6, the friction pads which causes the pads to
press more friction upon the friction block rod, and so completely regulates the
yarn guide not to move backwards or forwards until it is pulled by the bridge of
the yarn guide, and which_insures-the-greater-steadiness-of-the-friction block.
I make all the bearings of machine split, Sheet 2, Fig. 3, A, A, Fig. 7, A, P, to take
up the wear by screws tightening them, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 7.
I construct a most sensitive tension for detaining and holding back all slack yarn,
silk, or cotton; I fix a rod upon the carriage with a slit down the centre, Sheet 1,
Fig. 11, A, shewn enlarged section, Fig. 9; I place a spiral spring P, P, upon this
rod with a ring at the top end B; 1 then pass the wool, cotton, or silk through the
hole Fig. 9, C, enlarged section, Fig. 9, A, B, on the ring or through the slit A
extending from the bottom of the rod, so that when the yarn is pulled the spiral
spring compresses and again takes up the slack yarn when it is not pulled or feeding
for knitting.
I also construct a tension with two rods a little distant from each other Sheet 1,
Fig. 10; betwixt these two rods I place a weight with or without a pulley B, and
then I pass the wool to be knitted over the top fork C and down under hook or
pulley B, and over pulley A to the yarn guide. The weight will rise and fall to
take up the slack and give with tension the yarn, silk, cotton, as required.
I construct a counter, Sheet 2, Fig. 18, to work smoothly and accurately by
worm and pinnion; J is the worm to be fitted upon the shaft, Sheet 2, Fig. 7, F;
Fig. 18, K is the pinion geared into the worm on the shaft which causes the dial L³
to revolve and indicate underneath the dial; I fix any number of arms Fig. 18 A, B,
shewn enlarged section Fig. 16, B, and when these arms revolve the arms come in
contact with an alarm lever Fig. 18c, and causes D end of the lever to strike the
alarm E; I arrange the arms to strike the alarm at any given number of winds;
I place the alarm upon spindle F or in any other convenient position; I is the cap
that holds the carriage down; H, H, are the ends of the needle bed; G is the end
upon which the needle beds are fixed; L is the clamp by which the machine is
secured to the bench. Therefor the counter is attached to the end of the knitting
machine by bracket Fig. 16, A, and the revolving dial or indicator comes up
through the open part of the carriage as the most convenient position for the
operator to see it, and occupies the same place or position as the one worked by
rachet and pawl and which indicates any number of rounds by the dial and ringing
of a bell or other alarm, which obviates the necessity of always keeping the eye
upon the dial or indicator.

page_text: Having thus described my said Invention, and recited the manner of performing
the same, I declare that I claim,-
First. Sheet 2, Fig. 3, A, A, made at any circular of the bearing B, C, as described,
and the telescopic arrangement, as described.
Second. Sheet 2, Fig. 5, C, C, D, B, B³, as before described, and Fig. 6 when used
for the purpose of holding and releasing Fig. 5.
Third. Sheet 2, Fig. 13, A, as described though not confined to the exact
position as here shown.
Fourth. Sheet 2, Fig. 14, A, A, as described though not confined to the exact
position as here shown.
.
Fifth. Sheet 2, Fig. 15, as described, and applicable to all knitting machines.
Sixth. Sheet 2, Fig. 18, Fig. 16, as described (excepting the worm and pinion),
with all the connections, attachment, and arrangements shewn in the Drawings,
in its easy detachment, and the convenient position of the dial as actuated by
worm and pinion and which is applicable to all knitting machines.
Seventh. Sheet 1, Fig. 1, for the purpose set out and described, PM, PM G,
FF, LL, BPO.
Eighth. Sheet 1, Fig. 4, A, A, B, as described, and swivelling stud as described.
Ninth. Sheet 1, Fig. 5, A, A, Fig. 6, A, A, and B, B, Fig. 7, A, A, as described,
and for the purpose set out.
Tenth. Sheet 1, Fig. 9, B, C, and D, as described.
Eleventh. Sheet 1, Fig. 10, C, B, A, for the purpose as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-two.
WILLIAM HARRISON. (L.D.)