IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Macklin Willson, of Hamilton,
Canada, but at present of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES." -A
communication from abroad by Messieurs Parsons and Grist, of
Watertown in the State of New York
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Macklin
Willson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th May 1875.
I, FREDERICK MACKLIN WILLSON, of Hamilton, Canada, but at
present of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINES," (a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs Parsons
and Grist, of Watertown, in the State of New York,) to be as
follows:-
The working spindle of a machine constructed according to this In.

page_text: work supporter; this cam wheel is formed with one, or two, or more
parallel, crooked, grooved paths on its circumference, part of which is
cut away; and in this opening a "gate" or filling-in piece having
corresponding grooves is fitted, so that it can be swung on a hinge or
shifted or revolved to one side or the other, and thus place its grooves
opposite different grooves in the cam itself. The groove or grooves gear
into teeth formed on the circumference of tho work supporter, which
thus by the revolution of the cam wheel is caused to rotate as
required.
The object of the gate is to enable the operator to feed the ring onc,
two, or more teeth at the time, thus varying the stitch and pattern.
When the gate is open the work supporter will be fed only one stitch
for each revolution of the cam ; this will knit upon every stitch just as
many rows as there are needles employed; when open it will feed two
stitches every revolution, and if only one needle is used will knit only on
every alternate loop; if two needles are used, the one close to the other,
it will knit on every stitch, but the yarn will be double, and if different
coloured yarns are used make various patterns. The gate has a peg
which fits in an annular groove formed in a sleeve sliding upon the
working spindle, on which it can be shifted and set by means of a
screw or catch.
The work supporter or ring is by preference turned out of a solid steel
tube; near the upper edge are cut or formed at equal distances books
turned outwards and rising a little above the top of the ring; upon
these books the work is placed hanging down inside the ring and
weighted; the hooks correspond with the teeth aforesaid.
The work supporter may be of any other suitable material, and may
be an clastic or opcu band, so as to expand and contract according to
the size of work. It might also be made of other than round ring
shape; thus, for instance, in the shape of two parallel bars or as an oval
ring.
A cam or eccentric or crank on the working spindle operates what I
will call the needle bar, which receives up-and-down motion and is
guided in the framework of the machine. The needle bar carries one or
more needles which are bent towards the work supporter, and are near
the point formed each with one or more eyes for different size
thread.

page_text: The needle may have a deep groove running some distance up, the
object being to bury the yarn therein, so as to prevent any friction
thereon; the needle may be a tube with solid point.
"
The framing of the machine carries a stand for one or more recls; also
a tension," which may be made of a piece of wire twisted into one or
more eyes, the thread or yarn being interlaced between one or more of
the eyes and a straight bar placed beneath, the whole capable of
swinging, and thereby also regulating the tension.
The framing may be made to clamp on to a sewing machine or other
table, and the machine may be driven by treadle or otherwise.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The grooved cam gears
with the teeth of the work supporter, and the grooves are so shaped as
to impart to same a rotary forward, backward, and feed motion at the
same time, and in unison with the descent and elevation of the needle or
needles. The needle passes down behind a hook on the work supporter
and through the loop in the last formed row; the grooved cam then
moves the work supporter a little to the one side, allowing the needle to
pass down between the hooks; the work supporter is then moved a little
to the other side, the hook passing the needle at the bent part of same,
during which the last-formed loop slides up the needle, which then rises
on the opposite side of the hook to which it went down, at the same
time carrying the yarn round the hook for the next stitch, and it finally
riscs from the hook at the same place at which it went down; when
the needle is at its highest point the ring is fed forward for another
stitch, and so on.
In order to ensure a certain action a bar operated by a cam on the
working spindle is made to rise and push up the work on the working
side when the needle descends, and it thereby pushes the last-formed
loop up over the bent part of the needle.
O SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Macklin Willson in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 27th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
MACKLIN WILLSON, of Hamilton, Canada, but at present of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick Macklin Willson, Her special
licence that I, the said Frederick Macklin Willson, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Macklin
Willson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES," (a communication to me
from abroad by Messieurs Parsons and Grist, of Watertown, in the
State of New York) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederick Macklin Willson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly 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

page_text: which thus by the revolution of the cam wheel is caused to rotate as
required.
The object of the gate is to enable the operator to feed the ring one,
two, or more teeth at a time, thus varying the stitch and pattern.
When the gate is open the work supported will be fed only one stitch
for each revolution of the cam; this will knit upon every stitch just as
many rows as there are needles employed; when open it will feed two
stitches every revolution, and if only one needle is used will knit only
on every alternate loop; if two needles are used, one close to the other,
it will knit on every stitch, but tho yarn will be double, and if different
coloured yarns are used will make various patterns. The gate has a
peg which fits in an annular groove formed in a sleeve sliding upon
the working spindle, on which it can be shifted and set by means of a
screw or catch.
The work supporter or ring is by preference turned out of a solid
steel tube; near the upper edge are cut or formed at equal distances
apart hooks, turned outwards and rising a little above the top of the
ring; upon these hooks the work is placed, hanging down inside the
ring and weighted; the hooks correspond with the teeth aforesaid.
The work supporter may be of any other suitable material, and may
be an elastic or open band, so as to expand and contract according to
the size of work. It might also be made of other than round ring
shape; thus, for instance, in the shape of two parallel bars or as an oval
ring.
A cam or eccentric or crank on the working spindle operates what
I will call the needle bar, which receives up-and-down motion and is
guided in the framework of the machine. The needle bar carries one
or more needles which are bent towards the work supporter, and arc
near the point cach formed with one or more eyes for different sized
thread.
The needle may have a deep groove running some distance up, the
object being to bury the yarn therein, so as to prevent any friction
thereon; the needle may be a tube with solid point.
The framing of the machine carries a stand for one or several reels;
also a tension, which may be made of a piece of wire twisted into one
or more edges, the thread or yarn being interlaced between one or more

page_text: of the eyes and a straight bar placed beneath the whole capable of
swinging, and thereby also regulating the tension.
The framing may be made to clamp on to a sewing machine or other
table, and the machine may be driven by treadle or otherwise.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which the In-
vention is carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a machine constructed
according to my Invention with some of the parts removed.
Figure 2 shows the balance wheel with cam for operating the stitch
lifter.
Figure 3 is a top, and Figure 4 a bottom view of the machine with
parts removed for clearer exemplification.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of cam and shaft with gate regulator.
Figure 6 is a view of face of cam showing gate open.
Figure 7 is an elevation of part of the standard showing the bed for
the cam shaft, gate regulator, and needle bar.
Figure S is a view of the ring or work supporter and slide.
Figures 9 and 10 are views of the needle bar.
Figures 11 and 12 are bottom and side view respectively of stitch
lifter.
Figure 13 is view of balance wheel for operating the stitch
lifter.
Figures 14 show the needle at its highest point.
Figures 15 show the needle descending.
Figures 16 show the hook passing needle.
r
And Figures 17 show the needle rising.
Figure 18 shows side, back, and front view of the needle.
Figure 19 is a general isometrical perspective view of the whole
machine.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.

page_text: A, standard of machine holding and containing working parts; B, arm
for support of reels holding the yarn or cotton; C, cam having path on
the edge for the purpose of operating the ring D or work supporter, and
with pin in the side and tablet operating the needle bar E; D, ring
having hooks in the upper edge and cogs on the bottom; E, needle bar
having needles in the head with set screws and slot in the bottom for
tablet; F, tension adjuster and guide for yarn; G, stitch lifter having
arm with tablet worked by balance wheel J, Fig. 2, having cam path on
inside, see R, Fig. 13; J, Fig. 2, balance wheel with cam path
operating the stitch lifter; K, ring or work supporter slide; L, set screw
for gate adjuster.
With reference particularly to Figure 5, the cam C is revolved by tho
shaft O; it has a crooked path or paths on the face, and may be so con-
structed as to have one, two, or more paths; it operates in the cogs of
the ring D, giving it a forward, backward, and feed motion at the same
time and in unison with the rise and fall of the needles, the pin and
tablet working in the slot of the needle bar (Figs. 1 and 9) gives to
the needle bar the upward and downward motion. The action therefore
of the cam C upon the ring D and needle bar E passes the needle down
behind the hook and through the loop, moves the hook to the one side, .
allowing the needle to pass down between the two hooks, the hook is
then moved to the other side of the needle, passing it at the bent parts
of needle, during which the old loop slides up the needle; the needle
then rises on the opposite side of the hook to which it went down, at
same time carrying the yarn or thread round the hook for the next
stitch, and finally rises from the hook at the same place at which it
went down. When at its highest point the ring is fed forward for
another stitch, and so on from hook to hook, as fully illustrated by
reference to Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17.
N, Fig. 6, is a solid block, nearly square, hinged at the edge, but it
may be made round or of any other shape and with sliding paths, and
may be made to slide or swing open; the object of this gate is to feed
the work and number of stitches at a time. When closed, as in Fig. 5,
the ring or work holder will bo fed only one stitch at each revolution of
the cam; this will knit upon every stitch just as many rows as there
are needles employed. When open, as in Fig. 6, it will feed two stitches
every revolution, and if only one needle is used will knit only on every
alternate hook. If two needles are used, the one close to the other, it

page_text: will knit on every stitch, but the yarn will be double, and if different
coloured yarns are used make various patterns.
The gate may be so constructed as to feed any number of stitches
from one to four. The gate has a lug on the one side having a tablet
thereon which runs in the groove of the gate regulator M.
The gate regulator M is a broad ring fitting on that part of the
standard A marked P (Fig. 7), provided with a set screw L working
through a slot in the standard A; when this screw is loosened the gate
can be opened and shut at will by sliding the gate regulator set screw L
either from or towards the cam; when the set screw is firmly screwed
down the gate will be held in its position.
The ring or work supporter D (scc Fig. 1) is turned out of a solid
tube of steel; near the upper edge are cut at equal distances hooks
turned outwards, and rise a little above the top of the ring; upon these
hooks the work is placed, hanging down inside the ring, and is kept in
its place by small weights. On the lower edge of the ring are cogs cor-
responding in number and distance with the hooks, and inclined at such
an angle that when the ring is pushed into its place ready for operating,
the cogs point directly towards the centre of the cam.
The rings may be made of various sizes and material, and with
adjustable hooks and cogs so as to be removed at pleasure. The hooks
and cogs may be in one or two pieces and fastened to the ring by any
suitable device, so as to present an even surface.
The ring may be of any other suitable material, or may be an elastic
or open band.
The work supporter may also be made in any other shape, either
parallel bars or oval, and may be of any size or length.
The slide K, Fig. 8, is a flat piece of metal, wood, leather, or other
suitable substance having the centre cut out for the work to hang
through from the hooks; it slides in grooves in the front part of the
standard, and is for the purpose of carrying the ring or work holder D
up to the cam, putting it in or out of gear at the option of the operator.
The slide has a thick piece on the one end shaped to fit the ring and to
keep the ring steadily in its place. The slide is kept in its place by the
slide fastener H.

page_text: The needle bar, Figs. 9 and 10, may be round, flat, or of any other
suitable shape; it is worked by the cam, and is so constructed as to
carry one or more needles. The head may be solid or may turn or
revolve by any suitablo automatic or other arrangements so as to reverse
the needle or change its position.
The stitch lifter, Figs. 11 and 12, can be extended or shortened by
drawing the slide; it has an arm extending up through the bottom of
the standard, having a tablet on the end, and is operated by the balance
wheel (Fig. 13) having a cam path R cut on the inside, in which the
tablet is worked, the object being to raise the old loop up the needle
after it has passed through; the machine will work without this, but it
is a great assistance in close knitting or with coarse yarn.
The needle is made of steel or other suitable material; it has an eye
near the point with a deep groove running some distance up, the object
being to bury the yarn so as to prevent any friction thercon or thereby;
it may be a tube with solid point, and may have one or more eyes for
different kinds of yarn or thread.
Figure 20 is a perspective view on a small scale of the machine
applied to a stand and driven by a treadle, but it will be understood
that it can be driven in other convenient ways by hand wheel or other-
wise.
Machines constructed according to this Invention can be used for
producing plain hand knitting, double or linen work, ribbing, ribbed
work, checked, or fancy work, knitting ordinary stockings with double
heels and toes, and various other articles, in fact, it will produce with
suitable adjustment almost any kind of knitting work, and con-
sequently is a thoroughly domestic machine, applicable for family and
general use.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Im-
provements in Knitting Machines,”-
First. The cam wheel C having the path or paths on the edge for
operating the ring or work supporter and needle bar, substantially in
manner described and shown.
Second. The cam wheel with gate to open and shut by means
of hinges revolving or sliding, all substantially in manner described and
shown.