Improvements in and relating to Looms or Machines for Weaving or Making Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Looms or Machines for Weaving or
Making Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
I, JAMES KNOX of the firm of W. and J. Knox, Manufacturers, Kilbirnie,
Ayrshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of, and
means or certain new or improved constructions and arrangements and combinn-.
tions of the parts of mechanism to be applied to the ordinary net weaving loom or
machine known as the " Scotch net machine," in which the net fabric is knotted in
a vertical traversing web for the purpose of forming the net meshes with double
knots, instead of single knots as heretofore, and which will effect this in a new
simple and expeditious manner.
The nature and novelty of my improvements consist all as follows:-The first
improvement consists in fitting to the net loom or machine a new horizontal
vertical reciprocating needle bar or plate extending the long or transverse length
of the machine across the net fabric to be woven and carrying a series of faller
needles or needle hooks each in their lowest position projecting through between
each pair of the ordinary vertical fallers or sinkers below the ordinary horizontal hooks.
These new faller needles or needle hooks are for the purpose of coming up and
putting a turn loop or twist of the thread round the front books as will hereinafter
be described. The horizontal bar carrying the new faller needles receives a raising
and lowering motion from a foot treadle lever and connecting rod attached to an
arm on bar, the bar being held in its up position by a spring lever with catch.
passing through a slot in treadle, and released by another foot arm lever and con-
necting rod. A further improvement consists in forming the usual horizontal hooks
on the front horizontal bar with a grooved or slotted centre part along their
upper surface, so as to enable the needles to lift the loop or thread as hereinafter
described.
Another improvement relates to the ordinary sets of needles and holders pro-
jecting and deflecting out from and secured to the horizontal fixed needle bar of
machine, and consists in curving them inwards on their lower front ends so as to
enter the new groove or slot in the ordinary front hooks for the purpose fo lifting
the loop part of the meshes off the slotted hooks as will hereinafter be described.
Another improvement consists in forming on or fitting to the front edge of the
pressing or "chapping" bar, a saw or serrated toothed plate or rack, (instead of
having only a plain edge surface as heretofore) for the purpose of pressing into the
needles and separating the "5 leg" threads of meshes as hereinafter described.
Another improvement consists in forming the cam plate which gives the vertical
and lateral motion to the ordinary frout hooks, with a new or auxiliary slotted or
cam groove in which would work a reciprocating or oscillating shifting arm or
cam pin secured to the hand lever which operates the front hooks, for the purpose
of giving the required motion to enable the front hooks to take up the turn or
twist of thread necessary to form the double knot. This reciprocating cam pin
works through a bearing in the hand lever and is shifted by a vertical projection
on it working up through a slot in a small hand lever fulcrumed on the large hand
lever which operates the ordinary front or loop forming hooks. The action of the
net making loom or machine fitted with the hereinbefore described improvements
is as follows:-The ordinary vertical pulling down hook fallers have the lower
part of the net meshes passed under or round them as usual. The front hook bar.
and hooks are then moved horizontally back through the meshes, and receive a
slight transverse motion to the left. This is done by a hand lever fulcrumed on

page_text: the front hook bar shaft with a slot in its end operating a pin on the hook bar.
The hooks are then drawn to the front by which action the points or feet of the
hooks catch and draw one leg of the threads of the meshes diagonally across, and
are then lowered so as to release the meshes from the vertical fallers. The front
hooks are then drawn up by depressing their operating treadle lever and hold the
ends of the diagonal meshes. The bar carrying the new faller needles or needle
hooks is now raised, and the front hooks are lowered and then receive a motion
backwards from the before mentioned new auxiliary cam groove and pin in
operating hand lever to bring the threads where they cross each other above the
new faller needles. The hooks are then raised until their new grooves or slots
come in contact with the points or under hook part of the new faller needles which
enter and catch the loops or crossings of the thread in the grooves of the hooks.
At this stage the taking up cylinder or beam above receives a slight momentarily
backward or easing motion. The books are then drawn outwards and upwards
and then pushed backwards through the net meshes, and return carrying with them
one of the "legs" of the threads of the meshes, and the hooks are then brought in
front and lowered downwards and backwards, by which means the threads or loops
leave the new faller needles and are taken up wholly by the front hooks and the
auxiliary cam groove operating hand lever has now completed its requisite action.
At this stage the front hook bar and hooks receive a slight transverse motion to the
right by the same mechanism as previously gave this to the left, to clear the new
faller needles when the loop or twist is formed. The faller needies are now released
and lowered to their bottom inactive position by releasing the before mentioned
catch on the foot treadle lever operating the faller lever bar. The front hooks
with the loops on them, now receive from the ordinary hand lever operating
mechanism of the machine a movement over and between each pair of stationary
needles and holders and lowered in that position. The hooks are then moved
forwards and downwards until they come below the stationary needles, and the
points of each needle and holder rest in the new grooves of the hooks, and catch
the loop parts of the threads on the hooks. The bar with the new seirated or saw
teeth is now moved forward and enters between the meshes to place each alternate
"leg" or thread in the grooves or face of the stationary needles, to hold these legs
or threads of the meshes in position. The taking up cylinder or beam is now
momentarily slackened, and the hooks brought up- and placed between the meshes.
The ordinary vertical fallers are now raised between each stationary needle and
holder as usual. At this stage the empty shuttle is made to pass in the ordinary
manner through the hooks or eyes of the vertical fallers above the grooves of the
hooks and through the loops of the thread on the needles and hooks, and the
shuttle with its thread is then drawn back transversely through. The vertical
fallers are now released by traversing the ordinary "slur" carriage with horizontal
roller bearing on fallers, and lowered to the required length of mesh desired to be
forined. The selvage thread of net at end of machine is now tied, and the taking up
beam drawn up and the net tightened by the ordinary drawn up mechanism. The
front hooks with the threads round them are now drawn out and down in front of
the needles, and then lowered down and the "chapping" board with the serrated
teeth is brought forward between the meshes to keep the mesh part of the net clear
of the stationary needles. The front hooks are now pushed back and freed alto-
gether from the net threads or loops, and by simply raising the vertical fallers the
threads or loops are set free from the stationary needles and the complete duplex
knots are now formed and the net fabric is taken up by the cylinder or beam to
the extent of the new formed meshes and the tightening up of the knots completed.
The operations are again repeated in the manner described to form a fresh length
of meshes and said double knots in the new manner described.
The new
momentarily slackening back motions are given to the net take up beam or
cylinder during the forming of the double knot by a quadrant or segmental lever
mounted at opposite end of machine to the ordinary taking up motion with a tooth
on its free end working into a spur wheel mounted on end of beam. This quadrant.

page_text: lever is operated by a connecting rod attached to a vibrating arm on a horizontal
shaft worked by a foot treadle lever when this strain is desired to be relieved from
bean. The quadrant lever is kept out of gear by a pin on it coming in contact
with a stop arm and a counter-weight on quadrant lever fulcrumed on axis of
taking up cylinder beam.
Improvements in and relating to Looms or Machines for Weaving or
Making Fishing Nets and other Mesh Fabrics.
I, JAMES KNOx, of the firm of W. and J. Knox, Manufacturers, Kilbirnie,
Ayrshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
saine is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying two sheets
of drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of,
and means or certain new or improved constructions, and arrangements and com-
binations of the parts of mechanism to be applied to the ordinary net weaving loom
or machine known as the "Scotch net machine," in which the net fabric is knotted
in a vertical traversing web for the purpose of forming the net meshes with double
knots instead of single knots as heretofore, and which will effect this in a new
simple and expeditious manner.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown, the new or
improved parts being represented by italic letters.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a transverse vertical section of an ordinary "Scotch" net
machine or hand loom, as fitted with my new or improved mechanism for forming
a double knot on the meshes in weaving a fishing net or net fabric.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the machine looking at the opposite end to that
illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 is a front elevation of the one end of the machine, broken
away as corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 on Sheet 1 is an enlarged view detached of the new cam plate or cam
groove ele for giving the new or auxiliary motion to the front hook bar Bº and
hooks B¹ to enable them to take up the turn of thread necessary to form the double
knot while the new faller needles a¹ are in operation.
Figure 5 on Sheet 2 shows an elevation and edge plan respectively of one of the
new vertical oscillating faller needles or hooks a' which come into operation in the
positions shown in the diagram views Figures 14 to 18, to perform their functions in
formning the double knot on the net meshes.
Figure 6 shows an elevation and plan and front end view respectively of one of
the ordinary front hooks B', but as formed with a new groove in the hook part 6¹
in accordance with my improvements in forming the double knot.
Figure 7 shows an elevation and front end view respectively of the ordinary sets
of stationary duplex needles and holders C c¹ C² cx but having the needles C¹ as
formed in accordance with my improvements with an inward or forward curved
part c to enter the new grooves b¹ in the front books B' as hereinafter described.
And Figure 7 is a plan of a number of these needles and holders C¹ C² cx to
show the lateral position of the fallers A¹, and the hooks B¹, in relation to these in
forming the knots.

page_text: Figure 8 shows a detached view to an enlarged scale of part of the pressing or
chapping" bar D¹, as formed with a new saw tooth shaped or serrated front edge
blade surface d'.
Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of the serrated or slotted oscillating or
vibrating needle spring plate or plates c².
Figure 9 shows a left hand form of the double knot on the net meshes in its
formation loose and tightened up positions respectively, and Figure 9ª a right
hand knot loose.
Figures 10 to 24 show diagram views illustrating the various positions and
functions performed by the fallers A¹, stationary needles C, front hooks B¹, and 1
faller needles a¹, in forming each double knot on the net meshes.
Referring to these drawings:-The first improvement consists in fitting to the
loom or machine a new or improved horizontal vertical oscillating or reciprocating
needle bar or plate ², shown in Figures 1 and 2, extending the long or transverse
length of the machine across the net fabric Z¹ to be woven, and carrying a series 1
of faller needles or needle hooks secured by angled or dovetail ends at proper
distances apart, shown to an enlarged scale in Figure 5 each shown in Figures 1
and 2 in their lowest inactive position projecting through between each pair of the
ordinary vertical fallers or sinkers A¹ below the ordinary horizontal hooks B¹.
These new faller needles or needle hooks a¹ are for the purpose of coming up and
putting a turn loop or twist of the thread round the front hooks B₁ b₁ as will
hereinafter be described. The horizontal bar a is mounted to oscillate on stud
spindles on the stationary bar F³, and receives a raising and lowering or vertical
oscillating motion from a foot treadle lever a fulcrumed at a7 and connecting rod a
secured at its lower end to the treadle lever a and at its upper end attached to an
arm at on bar a² the needles being held in their up position by the spring catch
lever as passing through a slot in treadle a, when the treadle is depressed to the
position shown in dotted lines, and released by another foot arm lever a¹0 and con-
necting rod a¹l. A further improvement consists in forming the usual horizontal
hooks B, shown to an enlarged scale detached in Figure 6, secured by vertical
ends on the front horizontal bar B, with a grooved or slotted centre part b₁ along
their hook ends and upper surface, so as to enable the faller hooks a¹ and the
lower hook parts of the needles C to lift the loops or threads as hereinafter
described.
Another improvement relates to the ordinary sets of needles C¹, shown to an
enlarged scale detached in Figure 7, projecting and deflecting out from and secured
by their usual dovetail ends to the horizontal fixed needle bar C of machine, and
consists in curving them inwards on their lower front ends c¹ so as to enter the new
groove or slot in the ordinary front hooks B₁ for the purpose of lifting the loop
parts of the net knots of the meshes off these slotted hooks 6 as will hereinafter
be described. A toothed serrated or slotted oscillating or vibrating spring plate or
plates c2 is fitted underneath the hooked ends c¹ of the stationary needles C¹, and
extends along the whole longitudinal length of the machine, and is secured at
interval distances apart to lever arms c³ fulcrumed on a spindle at ct underneath
the stationary needle beam 03, with lever and helical spring attachments at c³ so as
to permit the plate c² to oscillate. This plate has the projections coming under-
neath the points c¹ of each needle c¹ for the purpose of guiding the loop thread,
while being formed, from the points c¹ of the needles Con to the grooved
hooks B, and also guide the loops off the points of the needles as hereinafter
described. Another improvement consists in forming on or fitting to the front
edge of the pressing or "chapping" bar D¹, a saw or serrated toothed plate or
rack d', a part of which is shown detached in side view to a large scale in Figure 8,
(instead of having only a plain edge surface as heretofore) for the purpose of
pressing the "leg" threads into the front and under groove of the upper grooved
hooks of the needles C₁el and separating these as hereinafter described. The
bar D' is secured in the ordinary manner to a bellerank D2 D3 and connecting
rod D, actuated by the foot treadle lever 15, fulcrumed at D* and which is

page_text: depressed in front against the action of the spring D7 at the other end when the
serrated teeth d¹ are desired to be brought into action. Another improvement
consists in forming a separate cam plate e¹, shown in Figures 1 and 4, or forming
the cam plate which gives the vertical and lateral motion to the ordinary front
hooks B¹, with a new or auxiliary slotted or cam groove e2 in which works a
reciprocating or oscillating shifting arm or cam pine carried on the hand lever E¹
which operates the front hooks B₁, for the purpose of giving the required motion
to enable the front hooks B¹ b¹ to take up the turn or twist of thread necessary to
form the double knot. This reciprocating cam pin 3 works through a bearing at **
in the hand lever E¹ and is shifted by a vertical projection e on it working up
through a slot at in a small hand lever e fulerumed on a spring pin in
the large hand lever E¹ which operates the ordinary front or loop forming
hooks B¹.
"
The
The action of the net making loom or machine fitted with the herein before
described improvements is as follows:-The ordinary vertical pulling down hook
fallers A¹, are shown in Figures to 3, and 10 to 12 in position for starting the
new mesh and resting on their movable and raising bar A7 depressed by the
spring F, and raised by the treadle A³, fulcrumed at A+, and connected to
the bar A7, by the adjustable rods A5, A6, all as hereinafter described. These
fallers A¹ have the lower part of the last loops of the net meshes Z¹ passed under
or round them as usual, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and in this position in
Figure 10. The front hook bar B2, and hooks B¹, b¹ are then moved horizontally
back through the net meshes to take the position shown in Figure 11, and receive
a slight transverse motion to the left. This is done by a projecting down pin on
the front hook bar B2 working against an "incliner' or movable plate in the
ordinary manner. The hooks B are then drawn to the front, by which action
the points or feet of the hooks catch and draw one leg of the threads of the meshes
diagonally across to put the ordinary cross on the loop, as shown in this position
in Figure 12, and are then lowered to take the cross loops off the fallers A¹
front hooks B¹ are then drawn up by their hand lever E¹ and hold the ends or
loops of the diagonal meshes, as shown in this position in Figure 13. The bar a
carrying the new faller needles or needle hooks a¹ is now oscillated and the-
needles a raised by depressing the treadle a, and the front hooks B are lowered
and then receive a motion backwards and upwards from the before mentioned new
auxiliary cam groove and pine operated from hand levers e E¹ to bring the
threads where they cross each other below the new faller needles a¹. The hooks B¹
are raised until their new grooves or slots b¹ come into contact with the points or
under hook part of the new faller needles a¹ which enter and catch the crossings of
the thread in the grooves b₁ of the hooks B¹, as shown in this position in Figure 14.
The hooks B 61 are then drawn outwards and upwards, to the position shown in
Figure 15, and then pushed backwards through the net meshes over the new faller
needles a¹, to the position shown in Figure 16, and returning backwards receive a
slight transverse motion to the left, by a hand lever ¹ fulcrumed at h² on the
oscillating hook bar shaft H, with a slot in its end operating a pin h³ on the hook
bar B, aud carry with them one of the "legs" of the threads of the meshes aud
cross these to the position shown in Figure 17, and the hooks B₁ b¹, are then
brought in front and lowered downwards and backwards, by which means the
threads or loops leave the new faller needles a¹ and are taken up wholly by the
front hooks B¹ 61, as shown in this position in Figure 18, and the auxiliary cam
groove e and operating hand lever e have now completed their requisite action.
At this stage the front hook bar B° and hooks B₁ 61 receive a slight transverse
notion to the right, by the same hand lever mechanism ¹, to h³, as previously gave
this to the left, to clear the new faller needles a¹ when the loop or twist is forined.
The faller needles a¹ are now released, from the position shown in Figure 18, and
lowered to their bottom inactive position shown in Figures 1 to 3 by releasing the
before mentioned catch a³, and foot treadle lever a so operating the faller lever
bar a: The front hooks B¹ b¹ with the loops on them, now receive from the

page_text: ordinary hand lever E¹ and operating mechanism of the machine a forward
movement over and between the pairs of stationary duplex needles C¹ c¹, and
holders C², cx, as shown in Figure 19, and lowered in that position, in the inner
spaces C, as shown in the plan view Figure 7. The hooks B¹ 61, are then
moved downward and forward until they come below and behind the adjacent
points c¹ of the different stationary needles C¹, and these points c¹ of each needle C¹,
rest in the new grooves 61 of the hooks B¹ and catch the crossing and double loop
parts of the threads on the hooks, as shown in the act of doing so in Figure 20,
after having pressed the plate c² down with it. The "chapping" bar D₁ with the
new serrated or saw teeth d is now moved forward and enters between the meshes
above the needles C¹ to place each alternate crossed " leg" or back thread into
each under groove or face C4 of the stationary needles C₁ to hold these legs or
threads of the meshes in open position, all as shown in this position in Figure 21.
The taking up cylinder or beam F1 is now momentarily slackened by the improved
mechanism hereinafter described, and the loops lengthened and the hooks B₁ b
brought up and placed between the meshes, with the ends c¹ of the different
adjacent needles C within the loops. The ordinary vertical fallers A¹ are now
raised to their highest position with their notch A³ resting on the slur carriage
rail F5 above the book eyes C, in the outer end spaces C, between each stationary
needle and holder C¹² cx as usual by depressing the trendle lever A³. At this stage
the empty shuttle or long wire is made to pass in the ordinary manner through the
whole set of books or eyes of the vertical fallers A¹ above the grooves C of the
needles C¹, and under the loops of the thread on the needles C¹ and hooks B¹ 6¹,
and the shuttle with its thread is then drawn back transversely through, all as
shown in this position in Figure 22. The vertical fallers A¹ are now released and
lowered to the required length of mesh desired to be formed, by traversing the
ordinary slur carriage G¹, shown in Figures 1 and 3, with horizontal roller G2
bearing on fallers A¹, by depressing the treadle lever G³, and the lowering of the
pulley actuating weight G in the ordinary manner. The end of each shot of west
thread is then tied at the selvage 7, at one side of the machine. The front
books B¹¹ with the threads round them are now drawn out and down in front of
the needles C¹, and then lowered down in front of the horizontal notched or serrated
thread guide plate c² below the needles C¹ c¹, to free the loops from the points c¹ of
the needles as shown in the act of doing so in Figure 23 and the "chapping
bar with the serrated teeth , is brought forward between the meshes to keep
the mesh part of the net clear of the stationary needles C. The front books B¹ 6
are now pushed back and freed altogether from the net threads or loops and these
are tightened up while on the hooks C of the needles C¹ by the taking up beam F¹,
by which and the simultaneous action of raising the vertical fallers A¹ the threads
or loops are set free from the top C of the stationary needles C₁, as shown in the
position of doing so in Figure 24. The operations are again repeated in the
manner described starting from the position shown in Figure 10 to form a fresh
length of meshes and set of double knots in the new manner described. The new
momentarily slacking back motion is given to the net taking up beam or cylinder Fi
during the forming of the double knot between the positions shown in Figures 21
and 22, by a two armed lever f¹, f, fulcrumed on the spindle of the beam F¹ at
opposite end of machine to the ordinary taking up motion, with a segmental paw!
and tooth f on the free end of the lever 1, working down into a ratchet or spur
wheel mounted on the end of beam F¹, carried on the top of the frames F2.
The acting end f2 of the lever f1 is operated by a connecting rod 15 attached to a
vibrating arm fo on a horizontal shaft f7 worked by another lever and connecting
rod by the foot treadle fo when the strain is desired to be relieved from beam F
by depressing the treadle fo for a short distance. The pawlfs is kept out of gear
by a pin f10 on its coming in contact with a stop arin f, when the lever arm f
comes to its normal position on the stop bracket 12 when the foot is raised off the
treadle by the weight of the lever and connecting rod f5, and leave the
beam Fi in position for taking up the net. The double knot shown in Figure 9 is
=

page_text: termed a left handed knot, but the right handed knot shown in Figure 9 may be
similarly formed by angling the grooved hooks b¹, and the grooves C to the
opposite side of that shown in Figure 6, and giving them the slight lateral traverse
in the opposite direction to catch and twist the limbs of the meshes in the opposite
direction to that shown and described.
Having now particularly described. and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:―
First. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class, the general
arrangement and combination of the parts of mechanism, and mechanical motions
imparted to same to form the net meshes with double knots, substantially as herein
described in reference to and indicated by italic letters in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class, the arrangement
and use of vertical oscillating or reciprocating faller needles or needle hooks a¹,
operated from a treadle lever or its equivalent, and acting in combination with the
front hooks B¹¹ alone, after the thread has been released from the ordinary
fallers, from the position shown in Figure 14 to the position shown in Figure 18,
for the purpose of putting a double loop turn or twist of the thread round the front
hooks B b in forming the double knots on the net meshes, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class, the forming of a
groove e in cam plate for a pin or arm e to traverse vertically in, for giving an
auxiliary forward and backward motion to the front hooks B₁ b¹ to take up the
louble loop turn or twist of thread necessary to form the double knots on the net
meshes from the vertical moving faller needles a¹, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class, the constructing
of the front hooks B₁ with a new grooved part 6', and the stationary needles C¹,
with curved in points c¹ either with or without a serrated plate c² below them, for
the purpose of forming a double knot on the net meshes, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class to produce double
knots, the constructing of the pressing or "chapping" bar D₁ with serrated or saw
like teeth, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference
to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a net weaving machine or loom of the vertical class, the construction
and use of a lever or its equivalent operating a toothed wheel for the purpose of
giving a momentarily slackening back motion to the taking up net beam during the
forming of the double knot, substantially as and in the nanner herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.