IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Moses Mellor, of the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Framesmith and Machine Builder, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Moses Mellor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
November 1863.
on the 7th
I, MOSES MELLOR, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Framesmith and Machine Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said.
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANO-
FACTURE OF LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRIOS," to be as follows: -
My improvements consist in the application or employment of certain parts,
of machinery or apparatus instead of or in combination with certain other
parts of machinery, or. apparatus described in the Provisional Specification
(aid to be hereafter mere fully described in the Final Specification) of the
Patent applied for by William White, No. 1236, and dated the Sixteenth day
ofi May 1863, which said Patent has now become. my property, and. my;
intprovements consist in substituting for the needle bits there shown having
one projection on one edge thereof, needle bits having two projections on one

page_text: edge, or one projection on each edge. When I use needle bits baving the
projections on the same edge, I add thereto fixed or adjustable inclines in
addition to the inclines described in the aforesaid Specification of the said
William White, such fixed or adjustable inclines which are employed for the
purpose of operating upon the additional projections on the needle bits I
attach to the case of the frame; the part of the case to which I so attach
them I cause to form a separate part or parts of such case, such said part or
parts being hinged or otherwise secured thereto in such manner that the said
parts can be moved readily out of the way when required, either by hand or
by apparatus supplied for that purpose, and moved by the head or by parts
which give motion to the head. These additional inclines I place on each side
of the incline or inclines described in the Specification of the before-mentioned
William White, by which means I am enabled to select those needle bits which
have two projections, and I lower them, until they have thrown off their loops,
and are again raised by the inclines described in the former Specification before
mentioned, at which time the machine needles receive their loops. When
such inclines have lowered the whole of the bits, certain of these bits are
again thrown up by a second set of additional inclines, the loops or stitches
upon them being cleared off by the inclines referred to in the Specification
before mentioned, and when I place the inclines described in the said before-
mentioned Specification on the opposite edge of the bits to that of the
additional inclines, I either move the whole of the inclines together, that is
to say, at the same time, or alternately, or in succession; in either method
the sley or sleys in which the needle bits slide will be stationary, the inclines
partaking of the reciprocating circular motion described in the former Speci-
fication before mentioned. The needles which receive the loops or stitches
above referred to are needles secured in needle bits sliding in an additional
circular sley, the saw gates in which radiate from the centre, the needles lying
at right angles or nearly so to the needles above described, the needle bits of
which are provided with one or two projections on one edge, or with one pro-
jection on each edge, such needle bits being moved by an incline or inclines,
or by cam or cams, which operate upon the needle bits as required in con
junction with the movements of the needle bits first described; such sley,
needle bits, needles, and incline or inclines, or cam or cams, forming that.
portion of the apparatus designated the machine, in contradistinction to the
parts described in the former Specification before mentioned, which constitutes
that part designated the frame. The circular sley in the machine is held in
a fixed position when the sley carrying the frame needle bits is fixed, both
sleys being arranged to move simultaneously, or beth being securely fixed,

page_text: By the above arrangement it will be evident to workmen acquainted with
circular or roundabout hosiery machinery that I am enabled to cast off the
loops or stitches from the frame needles as required, and perfectly clear of
Such needles, by which means I form a perfectly broad or other ribbed looped
fabric, according as the machine is set out. And in addition to which, by.
applying what is known as the fashioning and striping apparatus, described in
the former Specification filed by the before-mentioned William White, I can
form a striped, fashioned, plain, or ribbed looped fabric, and by altering
alternately the position of the inclines after a course or a number of courses
have been worked, and also by working a number of courses in the altered
position before restoring them to their first position, I can make a fabric
having a number of courses divided into a plain or ribbed fabric in one part,
and a fabric baving loose loops on the other parts of it, the loose loops or parts
of one set of courses standing over the plain or ribbed parts without loose
loops of the previous and succeeding course or courses; the patterns thus
produced varying according to the setting out of the machine. It will also.
be obvious that I can obtain the same effect in the fabrics produced, whether
plain fashioned, striped, or ribbed, and whether the needle bits are arranged.
in fixed sleys, and their movements obtained by moving the cams or inclines,
or by means of fixed cams, inclines, and moveable sleys.
Furthermore, in the frame described in the former Specification of the said
William White, and also in the frame herein first described, I employ sinker
bits having one or two projections, and move them in either of the ways
described for moving the needle bits. When I employ sinker bits for forming
any desired length of loop, such sinker bits lie in a sley or sleys, as described
in the former Specification of the before-mentioned William White.
In the above-described arrangements I use the "tumbler" needle, or the
common needle. When I use the common needle, I of course employ presser
wheels, or their equivalent. These improvements I apply to machines having
a reciprocating circular motion, so that I can produce one or more breadths of
fabric on each head, and I purpose to apply these improvements to circular or
roundabout machines.
By varying the combinations above described I am enabled to produce
fabrics having "tuck" stitches where required; or I can take up a floating or
loose loop or loops where required, which, when they are brushed up will form
a plush or nap upon such parts. The latchet or tumbler needles above
referred to have their latchets lowered when they have cast off their loops, in
order to be ready to receive another loop. Besides the aforesaid means, I
sometimes employ levers to throw the needle bits or sinker bits in and out, or

page_text: to and fro, or up and down, such levers being moved by a cam or cams, or by
incline or inclines; this arrangement, however, I use only in the reciprocating
head or heads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Moses Mellor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MOSES
MELLOR, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Framesmith
and Machine Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Moses Mellor, Her special licence that I, the said
Moses Mellor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I; the said Moses Mellor, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OP
LOOPED OR KNITTED FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Moses Mellor, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said. Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Moses Mellor, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My improvements consist in the employment of certain parts of machinery
herein-after described instead of or in combination with certain other parts of
machinery described in the Specification of a Patent obtained by William

page_text: White, dated the 16th day of May 1863, No. 1236, which Patent bas become
my property; and my present improvements consist in substituting for the
needle bits there shewn having one projection on one edge thereof, needle bits
having two projections on one edge, or one projection on each edge. When I uso
bits having two projections on one edge I use fixed or adjustable inclines, in
addition to the inclines described in White's aforesaid Specification, such
additional fixed or adjustable inclines are employed for operating upon the
additional projections on the needle bits; these inclines I attach to the case
of the frame, the part of the case to which I so attach the inclines forming a
separate part or parts of such case hinged or otherwise secured thereto in such
manner that they can be readily moved out of the way by hand or by machinery
actuated by the head or by parts which give motion to it. I place such
additional inclines on each side of the incline or inclines described in White's
Specification, by which means I am enabled to select such needle bits as have
two projections, and I lower them until they have thrown off their loops, and
are again raised by the inclines described in White's said Specification, at
which time the machine needles receive their loops. When such inclines
have lowered the whole of the bits, certain of the bits are again thrown up by
a second set of additional inclines, the loops or stitches upon them are cleared
off by the inclines referred to in White's said Specification, and when I place
the inclines described in White's said Specification on the edge of the bits
opposite to that of the additional inclines, I either move the whole of the
inclines together or simultaneously, or I move them alternately or in succession.
In either method the sley or sleys in which the needle bits slide will be
stationary, the inclines partaking of the reciprocating circular motion described
in White's Specification. The needles which receive the loops or stitches
above referred to are secured in needle bits sliding in an additional circular
sley, the sawgates in which radiate from the centre, the needles lying at right
angles or nearly so to the needles above described, the needle bits of which
have one or two projections on one edge, or one projection on each edge, and
are moved by an incliue or inclines, or by cam or cams, which operate upon
them as required in conjunction with the movements of the needle bits first
described; such sley, needle bits, needles, inclines, or cams form the portion
of the apparatus designated the machine, in distinction to the parts described
in White's Specification which constitutes the part designated the frame. The
circular sley in the machine is held in a fixed position when the sley carrying
the frame needle bits is fixed; both sleys are arranged to move simultaneously,
or are securely fixed.
By the above arrangement it will be evident to workmen acquainted with

page_text: circular or roundabout hosiery machinery, that I shall be enabled to cast off
the loops or stitches from the frame needles as required, and perfectly clear
of such needles, whereby I form a perfectly broad or other ribbed looped
fabric, according as the machine is set out, and in addition by applying what
is known as the fashioning and striping apparatus described in White's said
Specification, I form a striped, fashioned, plain, or ribbed looped fabric, and by
altering alternately the position of the inclines after a course or a number of
courses have been worked, and by working a number of courses in the altered
position before restoring them to their first position, I make a fabric having
a number of courses divided into a plain or ribbed fabric in one part, and a
fabric having loose loops on the other part; the loose loops on parts of one
set of courses stand over the plain or ribbed parts, or those without loose loops
of the previous and succeeding course or courses, the patterns produced
varying according to the setting out of the machine. I can obviously obtain
the same effect in the fabric produced, whether plain fashioned, striped, or
ribbed, and whether the needle bits are arranged in fixed sleys, and their
movements obtained by moveable cams or inclines, or by fixed cams, inclines,
and moveable sleys.
Furthermore, in the frame described in White's Specification, and also in
the frame herein first described, I employ sinker bits having one or two
projections, and move them in either of the ways described for moving the
needle bits. When I employ sinker bits for forming any desired length of
loop such sinker bits lie in a sley or sleys as described in White's Specifi-
cation.
In the above-described arrangements I use the tumbler needle or the
common needle. When I use the common needle I employ presser wheels
or their equivalent. These improvements I apply to machines having a
reciprocating circular motion, so that I can produce one or more breadths of
fabric on each head, and I purpose to apply these improvements to circular
or roundabout machines.
By varying the above combinations I produce fabrics having "tuck" stitches
where required; or I can take up a floating or loose loop or loops where
required, which loops when brushed up will form a plush or nap upon such
parts. The latchet or tumbler needles above referred to have their latchets
lowered when they have cast off their loops, to be ready to receive another
loop. Besides the aforesaid means I sometimes employ levers to throw the
needle bits or sinker bits in and out, to and fro, or up and down, such levers
being moved by a cam of cams, or by incline or inclines; this arrangement.
however, I use only in the reciprocating head or heads.

page_text: I first for convenience exemplify my Invention as applied to a reciprocating
straight frame making one or more breadths of work at once; and, secondly,
to a reciprocating circular frame, making one or more breadths of work, each
machine producing a fashioned selvage, broad ribbed, plain, or patterned
looped fabric; and, thirdly, as applied to a continuous circular.frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, are sectional views of two straight frames con-
structed according to two modifications respectively of my improvements.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 2, represent the cams or inclines I employ in
the above frames to give movements to the parts; Figure 8, Sheet 3, is a
plan of a reciprocating circular machine, having the machine needle, cam
plate, cams, and machine needle pressers taken away in order to shew more
fully the arrangement of the machine needles and their slay; Figure 9,
Sheet 4, is a front side view of a reciprocating circular machine, with the
cams, cam plate, and pressers in their relative places; Figure 10, Sheet 5, is
In Figures 8, 9, and 10, the whole of the fashion-
a sectional view of same.
ing apparatus herein-after referred to is not shewn, it being similar to that
mentioned in White's aforesaid Specification. Figure 11, Sheet 6, is a
sectional view of a continuous circular frame; Figures 12 to 31, inclusive,
Sheets 7 and 8, represent portions of apparatus used in the above frames and
herein-after referred to.
:
Figure 1 shews a sufficient portion of the straight frame to render my first
arrangement or modification understood. A is a part of a standard or
framing, to which is attached a bar B, to which a number of sleys C, placed
the required distance apart, are secured; there are as many such sleys as the
number of breadths of work for which the machine is set out. Below the
sleys C. are secured other sleys D, in which needle bits E are free to slide in ;
these needle bits E are secured needles, which slide in the sley C; the needle
bits are caused to slide up and down vertically by means of certain cams or
inclines F, F, F, F, and F, either affixed to or capable of adjustment
on the bar F. These several cams or inclines are represented by dotted
lines in Figure 3. The needle bits E used in this modification are of either
of the two descriptions shewn in Figures 28 and 24, the bits having either
only one tab or projection, as shewn at Figure 24, latchet or self-pressing
needles being soldered or otherwise secured on their upper ends, or the bits
may have two nebs or projections thereon, as shewn at Figures 22 and 23,
and have common needles like those shewn soldered therein. As the bar is
passed alternately to the right or left, the needle bits will be raised up by

page_text: means of the upper neb moved by the incline or cam F¹, and lowered by the
same neb moved by the cam F2, and again raised by the lower neb moved by
the incline F, and they are again lowered by the upper neb moved by the
incline F*, and again slightly raised by the incline F³, which eases the loops,
and on the return motion the above movements are repeated by the corre-
sponding inclines on the other side; but in order that the double-nebbed bits
may not be acted upon in the return motion by the inclines Fe, these inclines
move on a pin free to turn in a hole in a small door, which forms part of the
plate F, to which it is securely held by a hinge, as shewn; in the pin of the
incline, which projects beyond the door, a small collar is secured by a screw,
round which the end of a spring is. secured; the other end of the spring is
secured to another pin conveniently placed, so that as the lower nebs of the
bits strike against the under side of the inclines the springs will allow the
inclines to rise up in order to permit the bits to pass by them without the bits
being forced down, the springs pulling the inclines down on to small studs
projecting from the above-named doors; when these bits have been passed
under, the said bits on each return motion are passed under one of the in-
clines F, and then up the other incline F alternately, thus these inclines only
act upon those needles in needle bits which have two nebs, and which for the
sake of brevity I hereafter call the press-off needles, without further descrip-
tion: When the doors are opened and the inclines F thrown back plain work
only will be made; when the press-off needles are spring latch needles, as
shewn at Figure 31, Sheet 8, the inclines F are made adjustable by means of
a stud F rivetted into each piece forming such inclines; these studs are
passed through slots in the plate F; the studs F3 are tapped to receive a star
screw passed through a stud in the upper part of the plate F, and provided
with a spring in the well-known manner, by which means the fall of the
needle bits and consequently the stiffness of the work will be regulated. The
passage of the bar F to the right and left alternately is effected by attaching
it to a bar I by brackets I, the bar I sliding in two or more pairs of grooved
trucks I, turning upon pins firmly attached to the bar B or to the framing A;
a reciprocating movement is communicated to the bar I in any well-known
manner. Between the sleys C and D on the bar B are secured brackets
which support a bar K, to which are attached the sleys K', in which holding-
down bits K' slide; one of such bits is shewn separately at Figure 29,5
Sheet 8; the bits are prevented from rising in the sley by a bar K³, and are
moved to and fro by the inclines L', L³, secured to the bar L, which is firmly
attached to the brackets I³ screwed to the sliding bar I; a set of the inclines
L, L, is shewn at Figure 6, Sheet 2. In front of the bar B are brackets

page_text: All
which support a bar, or which bar may be supported by the framing A ;- to
this bar are attached sleys G, in which the machine needle bits G¹ slide, being
moved by the inclines H1, H3, attached to a bar H secured to the brackets I³.
A set of inclines H', H, on the bar H is shewn at Figure 5, Sheet 2.
the above inclines partake of the reciprocating to-and-fro movement given to
the sliding bar 1. To each width of work for which the frame is set out is a
pair of pressers N for pressing the beards of the common frame needles em-
ployed in this first arrangement; the pressers N are secured on the bar L, to
which is also secured a thin plate N¹ to each breadth of work, which plate N¹
is used for preventing the latchets or tumblers of the needles from flying up
as they are successively forced down by the work. As the needles rise each
breadth is supplied with the thread to be worked up by a thread carrier or
guide O so arranged that having supplied all the needles in the breadth of work
with the thread which it carries or guides, it will remain stationary until the
inclines have given the requisite movements to the parts they operate upon,
when the carrier again taking the lead will lay the thread for the succeeding
course each way alternately; such lead may be given it by any well-known
method heretofore used. For each breadth of work there are two small
adjustable pressers M carried in brackets attached to the plate H, which
alternately press the machine needles in alternate courses. Suppose that when
using the above combination I were desirous to make a six and a three broad
ribbed looped fabric, in that case I arrange the needles as follows:-The first
six needles in the sley C will be the tumbler or latchet needle shewn at
Figure 24, Sheet 8, and the seventh and eighth needles will be either of those
shewn at Figures 22 and 23, or a plain tumbler needle, or a tumbler needle
with a spring, and in conjunction with each seventh and eighth needles will
be working three machine needles like the needles shewn at Figure 28, Sheet 8,
or a latchet needle. And if I remove one of the said three machine needles
and one of the common needles in the frame sley C, and substitute for them
a latchet or tumbler needle, a seven-ribbed looped fabric and a two-ribbed
looped fabric will be produced simultaneously, the needles being arranged
according to the fabric required to be produced; and, moreover, if I place at
each selvage of the ribbed looped fabric thus produced a number of frame
needle bits with needles in the sley C, and alternately raise one such bit and
needle at each selvage by releasing a spring lying under such bit, in the
manner set forth in White's said Specification, from the 37th line, page 8, to
the 34th line, page 9, of the printed copy of such Specification, published
by Her Majesty's Commissioners of Patents, the bars, springs, and pieces
S, S, S¹, S¹, S³, S, and R and R', shewn on Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, in this

page_text: my present Specification, being substituted for the rings, springs, and pieces
shown in Figures 1 to 11, both inclusive, in White's said Specification before
mentioned, I am enabled to make a fashioned, striped, plain, or ribbed looped
fabric, having two perfect selvages to each width.
The combined operation during each course is as follows:-The thread
carrier being supplied with the material to be worked up, and motion com-
municated to the machine, all the frame needles will be raised up by the
incline F¹ to receive the thread, and will be lowered by one of the inclines F,
at which time the loops are also placed on the machine needles, the two press-
off needles being again raised by one of the inclines F, and they are again
depressed by one of the inclines F', pressed by one of the small pressers N,
thereby throwing their loops on to the machine needles which were brought
forward by the machine incline H', the press-off needles being up at the same
time as the machine needles are forward, the machine needles continuing forward
until they have received the loops, when they are taken partly back by the
incline H, and pressed by the presser M; the press-off needles are then
lowered by the inclines F*, when the machine needles are taken quite back by
one or other of the inclines H³, the return course being obtained by the oppo-
site set of inclines and pressers. The same fabric may be produced by having
the whole of the frame needle bits furnished with common needles in the
above-described frame, by, adding an additional pair of small pressers similar
to, those shewn at N, Figure 1; the holding-down bits K* coming forward a
little before the needles rise on the cam F¹, Figure 3, the needles continuing
forward while they rise and fall twice.
When I use a sinker to gain the loop on the common needle used in the
frame, I employ a straight frame, a section of which is shewn at Figure 2,
which illustrates my second arrangement or modification, which is in most
respects the same as that first described, except that the sley K' is somewhat
broader, and has instead of holding-down bits sinkers K³, or sinkers of a
similar shape to the sinkers K³, sliding in it, which said sinkers are kept from
rising up in it by the bar K³; the sinkers have their movements given them
by inclines L, L. When I require some of the sinkers to form a longer loop.
I place other inclines between the ring K³ and the inclines L, such inclines
moving the sinkers by means of the front neb on them, the back neb in such case
being cut off; such sinkers of course cannot be moved by the inclines L', L; the s
inclines L, L, and the bar K³ are shewn at Figure 4, and the inclines H', II*,
which move the machine needle-bits G', are shewn at Figure 7; the pressing
of the frame needles is effected by the inner and upper edge of the sley K³,
which is made projecting for that purpose, as shewn.. In the above-described

page_text: arrangement the sleys D, G, and K, and the fashioning apparatus are fixed,
and the inclines, pressers, and appurtenances partake of the reciprocating
motion of the sliding bar I, but evidently the frames may be so constructed that
the bars carrying the sleys, and the portion of the fashioning apparatus shewn
on Figures 1 and 2, will partake of a reciprocating motion, in which case the
inclines, pressers, and appurtenances would be fixed, the relative arrange-
ment of the several parts being in every other respect the same as shewn.
My third arrangement or modification relates to the reciprocating circular
frame; one such head is shewn in plan, side view, and section respectively, by
Figures 8, 9, and 10, the fashioning apparatus being in all respects similar
to that described for that purpose in White's Specification, is not shewn in
these Figures. The several other portions of the frame not shewn in these
Figures are shewn in the Figures on Sheet 7, the several corresponding parts
of which are lettered alike.
A is a platform or framing supported by standards, and supporting as
many heads as required. To this framing are attached bearings for a main
driving shaft, and also bearings for other parts as required. Each head con-
sists of the following parts, namely, of a flanged cylinder B¹ firmly secured to
the framing, and bored out to receive a cylinder B, turned down on the out-
side to receive a wrought-iron ring sley C, which is secured to it, and also a
ring sley D, in which slide double or single nebbed frame needle bits E, the
needles secured therein slide in the sley C, the press-off needles are the common
needle, and the other needles are tumbler or latchet needles; the needle bits
have the requisite movement given them by moveable, fixed, and adjustable
cams or inclines, attached to or supported by the ring casing F, which is held
in position by the arched brackets A¹ attached to the framing A; the upper
edge of the ring case is furnished with a flat ring F, which prevents the with-
drawal of the frame needle bits, except where a portion of it is cut away for
that purpose. An inside view of a portion of the case, with the several inclines
thereon laid out flat, as shewn at Figure 14, which inclines correspond to and
operate in the manner shewn at Figure 3; a portion of the case opposite to the
cams is cut away, as shewn in section at Figure 15, and in plan, Figure 16,
and instead of the portion so cut away a curved piece F" is connected to
the case by a hinge at one end, and is kept in place by a sliding bolt F¹º at
the other end, the bolt being withdrawn the piece can be turned outward for
the purposes of taking out a frame needle bit and also of allowing the selvage
needle bits to be pressed down previously to the frame commencing the
"fashioning." The lower end of the cylinder B is fitted with a wheel
gearing into a rack which has a reciprocating motion communicated to it in

page_text: the manner described in White's previous Specification or by equivalen
means. Brackets K are secured to the sley ring, and carry the sley K¹, in
which slide holding down bits K2, which bits are prevented from rising by a
ring K³ attached to the inner edge of the sley. The bits are moved as
required by the inclines L, L³, screwed to the under side of a plate L, sup
ported by a bracket screwed to the outside of the casing F, the form of the
inclines L, L, is shewn at Figure 17; to the incline L' are screwed two
small pressers N for pressing the press-off needles in the frame sley C. To
the plate L is screwed a thin plate N¹ for preventing the latchets or tumblers of
the needles from flying up as they are. successively forced down by the work
as the needles rise. Above the plate N¹ is secured a thread carrier or guide O
slotted in the direction of its length so that it may.be adjusted. The sley G,
in which the machine needle bits G¹ slide, is secured to a ring supported by a
strong bracket G³, screwed fast to the inside of the cylinder B, so that the
sleys C, D, G, and K', partake of the reciprocating circular movement of the
cylinder B; the movement of the machine needle bits G¹ and the machine
needles secured therein are effected by the inclines H, H2; the inclines H
are made in three separate parts to allow of the required adjustment, and are
screwed to the under side of a plate H. This plate H has portions cut away
so that access may be had to the machine needle bits and needles. This
plate H has at the centre a spindle or rod H³ capable of adjustment in a
boss H attached to a bar supported by two uprights He, He, fixed to the
brackets A, as shewn in Figures 8 and 9; or the rod H³ may be made capable
of adjustment in a boss H forming the end of a bracket supported by the
back of the main framing. To the top side of the plate H are screwed two
brackets in which are the machine pressers M, capable of adjustment. A top
view of the plate H and pressers M are shewn at Figure 12, an under side
view thereof with the inclines H1, H2, is shewn at Figure 18. The head is
shewn as set out for one breadth of work only, but if it were for two or more
breadths of work of the same width the diameter of the head would be greater
and would be divided into as many sets of sleys as required, each set of sleys
being furnished with a corresponding complement of needle bits, holding down
bits, and sets of inclines for moving the same. Evidently I am enabled to
construct reciprocating circular machines having the same arrangement of
parts, but instead of the several sleys with their appurtenances moving, they
may instead thereof be made fast, and the several inclines with their appur-
tenances may be arranged to move in a reciprocating circular direction.
The combined operation of the parts in this third modification is the same
as in the first arrangement, except that the motion is in a circular direction

page_text: instead of in a straight direction. Similar fabrics may be produced by
furnishing all the frame needle bits with common needles instead of latchet
or tumbler needles in the above-described reciprocating circular frames, by
adding a pair of small pressers with their appurtenances. The holding down
bits K come forward a little before the needles rise on the cam F¹, and
continue forward while they rise and fall twice.
In my fourth arrangement or modification, when I use a sinker to gain the
loop on the common needle in a reciprocating circular frame, I employ a
similar arrangement of parts to that shewn on Sheets 3, 4, 5, and 7, just
described, except that the sley K¹ is somewhat broader, similar in fact to the
one shewn in Figure 2, but circular instead of straight, and sinkers K³, similar
to those shewn in Figures 26 and 27, slide in it. The inclines L', L, move
the said sinkers by means of the back neb on them. When I require some of
the sinkers to form a longer loop I place other inclines between the ring K³
and the inclines L, such inclines moving the sinkers by means of the front
neb on them, the back neb in such case being cut off such sinkers cannot of
course be moved by the inclines L¹, L.
My fifth arrangement or modification relates to a continuous circular
machine, which makes a circular ribbed looped fabric without selvages, and is
shewn at Figure 11, Sheet 6, which is a sectional view of one head; A, A, A,
are portions of the framing, to which are fixed bearings A¹, A3, A³; B¹ is a
flanged cylinder bolted to the main framing; B is a cylinder carrying or
forming part of the sley C; on the lower end of the cylinder B is secured a
wheel B which gears into a similar wheel on a main driving shaft, on this
wheel are fixed two other wheels B³ and B³, one of these wheels B³ gears
into a smaller wheel B', on a short shaft furnished with a handle, by which
the head may be turned by hand when required, and the wheel B' gears into
a similar wheel on the lower end of a vertical shaft supported in bearings
A', A; on the upper end of the shaft is a wheel B', similar to the wheel Bº.
This wheel B also gears into a wheel B, fixed on the upper end of a second
vertical shaft H³, which passes down through the bearing A', which is turned
down at A' to receive the boss of the plate H, which is held fast on it by a
screw as shewn. On the under side of the plate H are fixed cams or inclines
H', H, shewn at Figure 21, which give movement to the machine needle
bits G¹; such needle bit is shewn separately at Fig. 25, Sheet 6, in which said
needle bit may be placed a common needle, a latchet needle, or a tumbler
needle, as shewn at 25°, Sheet 6, which slide in the sley G, attached to and
turning with the spindle H³, they (the needle bits) revolve at the same speed
as the cylinder B, upon the sley ring of which is shrunk the sinker sley K, in

page_text: which the sinkers K' slide, which sinkers K² are kept from rising by a ring
K; the sinkers are moved by inclines L, L, shewn at Figure 19, and which,
with the ring K³, are secured to a bracket L attached to the bearing A or a
fixed portion of the framing. To the bracket L is attached a thread carrier O;
on the cylinder B is fitted the circular sley D, in which the frame needle bits
E slide, carrying a common needle; the bits are moved by the inclines F1, F2,
F, F, shewn at Figure 20, attached to a semicircular casing F; the circle
is completed by a piece Fs hinged to one edge of the case F, and held by a
bolt on the other edge; when this bolt is withdrawn and the piece bent back-
ward any of the bits E may be taken out. A bracket is attached to the
plate H carrying a presser N, used for pressing the machine needles; the frame
needles are pressed by the top inner projecting edge of the sley K. In this
modification the inclines stand still, the sleys and bits revolving in one direc-
tion only. The combined movement is as follows:-The machine needles come
forward as the frame needles are rising up, and as the frame needles fall the
machine needles secure their loops; the machine needles are pressed by the
presser M, shewn at 11*, Sheet 6; the frame needles immediately rise to pass
off their loops clear on to the machine needles, which are drawn back to
knock over their previous loops.
In my sixth modification I employ the circular frame just described with a
latchet or tumbler needle, and dispense with the sinkers K³, and frame needle
pressing edged sley K, and I substitute therefor a smaller sley and holding
down bit or not as required, and a small presser for the press-off needles. In
this modification the frame needle bits are moved by the inclines shown in
Figure 18; the machine needle bits are moved by the inclines shewn at
Figure 21. Figures 30 and 31 represent needles in needle bits E instead of
single or double nebbed bits. However, I sometimes use such double nebbed
bits, with either a plain or latchet needle, or a latchet needle with or without
a spring secured therein; when I employ such needle bits in the frame sleys,
and desire them to remain at rest during the passage of certain of the inclines,
I cut away by preference about one half of the upper part of such inclines
and about one half of the lower part of the needle bits, to allow of their
passing without being raised, the needle bits not cut away are passed up the
uncut inclines as required.
It is obvious that a circular frame can be so constructed that the inclines
may revolve and the sleys remain fixed, and that latchet needles may be
used for the whole of the frame needles; when the loops are delivered on to
the machine needles the latchets are opened by a small guide as the needles
rise, so that by opening a door carrying an incline F³, Figure 20, I am

page_text: enabled to produce plain work, say, a plain top to a ribbed hose on the con-
tinuous circular frame. The same fabric may be produced in the reciprocating
circular frame by using a spring latchet press-off needle.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the arrangement for delivering the loops clear of the press-off needles
in the frame on to the machine needles, whereby a third press is effected in
frames or apparatus for the manufacture of looped or knitted fabrics having
independent sliding or moveable needles, as described.
Second, the arrangement shewn in Drawings at Figure 11, Sheet 6,
for driving the machine sley simultaneously with the frame sley, as described.
Third, the employment of needle bits with two projections on one edge or
one or more projections on each edge combined with or worked by inclines or
with cams, as described.
Fourth, the employment of sinker bits having one or two projections and
moved as described.
Fifth, the arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture of looped or knitted fabrics, herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moses Mellor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
MOSES MELLOR.
(L.B.)