IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake,. of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."-A communication from
abroad by Frederick Gardner, of Hamilton, in the Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 13th July 1869, and dated the 8th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th February 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Ohancery Lane, in, the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES," a communi-
cation, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the arrangement of two conical needle
carriers placed one opposite the other, connected together by gear

page_text: whcels, and constructed in such a manner that the needles of onc
needle carrier work between those of the other, and that by the com-
bined action of the needles in the two carriers an elastic fabric can be
produced of one or more colors; also in the arrangement of cam cases
in combination with the needle carriers in such a manner that by the
action of the cams in the said cam cases the desired rising and falling
motion is imparted to the needles.
The said Invention further consists in the arrangement of adjustable
rings in combination with the cams in the cam cases and with the
needles in such a manner that by turning the said rings in or out the
throw of the needles can be adjusted according to the nature of the work.
to be produced; also in the arrangement of two gates in combination
with one of the cam cases and its needles in such a manner that by
adjusting the said gates the needles can be thrown in or out of action
as the nature of the work may require. Further, in the arrangement of
latch openers in combination with the revolving needle carriers in such
a manner that by the action of the said latch openers the latches of the
needles will be thrown open without fail, and thereby the correct
operation of the knitting mechanism is insured.
My improved machine is provided with a table or bed plate on which
the hollow cylinder is supported. This cylinder forms the bearing for
the cylindrical sleeve, to which is attached the take-up gear at its lower
end, and the under or plain knitting cylinder or needle carrier at its
upper end.
This needle carrier, which when used alone serves for
knitting a plain web, is hollow and tapered, and is grooved on its
external surface to receive the needles. In my machine I use latch
needles, and their hook-shaped tails project into the cam case which
surrounds the needle carrier. In the interior of this cam case are
placed a series of fixed and movable V-shaped cams in such a position
that a zig-zag groove is formed between their edges to receive and guide
the tails of the needles. The fixed cams are firmly secured in the cam
case, while the movable cams are placed loosely therein, and from the
outer surfaces of these loose cams project lugs through slots in the cam
case, and into a circular groove in the adjusting ring. This ring is
provided with an internal screw thread, and screws on the cam case,
so that by turning the ring the cams can be raised or lowered, and the
zig-zag groove between the cams can be made closer or wider, whereby

page_text: the throw of the needles is regulated, as will be herein-after more fully
explained. A revolving motion is imparted to the needle carrier by a
bevel wheel, which is secured to the cylindrical sleeve, and gears into a
pinion mounted on the driving shaft, and as the needle carrier revolves
the tails of the needles slide up on the inclined edges of the cams, and
on reaching the apex of one of these cams they are carried along in a
horizontal direction until they strike the inclined surface of the adjoining
cam, when they pass down thereon to the apex of the said cam, and so
forth, and by these means a rising and falling motion is imparted to the
said needles. The amount of this motion is increased if the movable
cams are moved towards the fixed cams, and decreased if the movable
cams are moved away from the fixed cams, because each needle on
reaching the apex of one of the cams is carried along in a horizontal
direction, and consequently strikes the adjoining cam on a level with
the said apex, and if the movable cams are moved towards the fixed
cams the needles on leaving the fixed cams will come in contact with
the adjoining movable cams at a point closer to the starting point of
said cams, and on leaving the movable cams they will come in contact
with the fixed cams closer to their starting points than they will if the
movable cams are moved away from the fixed cams, and consequently
the throw of the needles can be changed by simply turning the adjusting
ring, as previously stated. The needle carrier is provided on its outer
surface with cogs, which gear into pinions mounted on the bottom ends
of upright shafts, on the ends of which are secured other pinions which
gear into cogs on the outer surface of the upper needle carrier. This
needle carrier is constructed similar to the lower needle carrier, being
composed of a hollow truncated cone grooved on its outer surface to
receive the needles, and it has its bearing on a stud which is secured in
a bridge fastened to a table. To the under side of this bridge is secured
the cam case, which surrounds the needle carrier, and is provided with
stationary cams and movable cams, the same as the cam case of the
lower needle carrier. An adjusting ring serves to adjust the movable
cams of the said cam case, and these cams are fitted together by tongues
and grooves, so that the same can be moved apart without opening a
space at their starting points, in which the tails of the needles would be
liable to catch. In the upper needle case is made a circular groove,
which communicates with the zig-zag groove between the fixed and
movable came through channels, and these channels are opened or
closed by gates. If these gates are pushed down the tails of the needles

page_text: on arriving at the channel are caused to slide up into the circular
groove, and they are retained in this groove until the gates are again
raised, when the tails of the needles on arriving at one of the gates are
caused to slide down again through the channel. By these means the
needles in the upper needle carrier can be thrown out of operation .at
pleasure. The needles can be introduced into the grooves of the upper
carrier through an aperture which is opened and closed by a slide. To
the outer surfaces of the cam cases are secured the latch openers. They
are provided with eyes, through which the yarn passes from the spools,
and the curved edges of the rings of the said latch openers serve to
throw open the latches of the needles as they are carried past the same
by the revolving motion of the needle carrier, and by the rising and
falling motion imparted to the needles by the cams. By the action of
these latch openers a positive motion is given to the latches, and tho
correct action of the knitting mechanism is insured. By the .combined
action of the needles in the two needle carriers an elastic fabric can be
knitted of one or more colors. If desired the upper needles can be
thrown out of action, and in that case a plain web will be produced by
the lower set of needles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: 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
Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNITTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 William Robert Lake, 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 following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention consists in the arrangement of two conical needle
carriers placed one opposite the other, connected together by gear
wheels, and constructed in such a manner that the needles of one
needle carrier work between those of the other, and that by the com-
bined action of the needles in the two carriers an elastic fabric can
be produced of one or more colors; also in the arrangement of cam
cases in combination with the needle carriers in such a manner that by
the action of the cams in the said cam cases the desired rising and
falling motion is imparted to the needles.
The said Invention further consists in the arrangement of adjustable
rings in combination with the cams in the cam cases and with the
needles in such a manner that by turning the said rings in or out the
throw of the needles can be adjusted according to the nature of the work
to be produced; also in the arrangement of two gates in combination
with one of the cam cases and its needles in such a manner that by
adjusting the said gates the needles can be thrown in or out of action as
the nature of the work may require. Further, in the arrangement of
latch openers in combination with the revolving needle carriers in such
a manner that by the action of the said latch openers the latches of the
needles will be thrown open without fail, and thereby the correct
operation of the knitting mechanism is insured.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of this Invention ;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of one of the cam cases detached;
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of one of the needle carriers and
its cams; Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the upper cylinder; Figure 5
is a detached elevation of one of the latch openers. Similar letters
indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
A represents the table or bed plate on which the hollow cylinder B is
supported. This cylinder forms the bearing for the cylindrical sleeve C,
to which is attached the take-up gear at its lower end, and the under or
plain knitting cylinder or needle carrier D at its upper end. This needle
carrier, which when used alone serves for knitting a plain web, is
hollow and taper, and it is grooved on its external surface to receive
the needles n. In my machine I use latch needles, and their hook-
shaped tails project into the cam case G which surrounds the needle
carrier, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. In the interior of this
cam case are placed a series of V-shaped cams H, H, in such a position
that a zig-zag groove is formed between their edges to receive and guide
the tails of the needles. The cams H are firmly secured in the cam
case, while the cams H³ are placed loosely therein, and from the outer
surfaces of these loose cams project lugs a through slots 6 in the cam
case, and into a circular groove c in the adjusting ring I. This ring is
provided with an internal screw thread, and screws on the cam case G,
so that by turning the ring I the cams H' can be raised or lowered, and
the zig-zag groove between the cams H, H', can be made closer or
wider, whereby the throw of the needles is regulated, as will be herein-
after more fully explained. A revolving motion is imparted to the
needle carrier D by bevel wheel d, which is secured to the sleeve C
and gears into a pinion e mounted on the driving shaft f, and as the
needle carrier revolves the tails of the needles slide up on the inclined
edges of the cams H, and on reaching the apex of one of these cams
they are carried along in a horizontal direction until they strike the
inclined surface of the adjoining cam H', when they pass down thereon
to the apex of said cam, and so forth, and by these means a rising and
falling motion is imparted to the said needles. The amount of this
motion is increased if the cams H' are moved towards the cams H, and
decreased if the cams H¹ are moved away from the cams H, because
each needle on reaching the apex of one of the cams is carried along in

page_text: a horizontal direction, and consequently strikes the adjoining cam at a
level with the said apex, and if the cams H¹ are moved towards the
cams H the needles on leaving the cams H will come in contact with
the adjoining cams H' at a point closer to the starting point of the said
cams, and on leaving the cams H' they will come in contact with the
cams H closer to their starting points than they will if the cams H' are
moved away from the cams H, and consequently the throw of the
needles can be changed by simply turning the adjusting ring I, as
previously stated. The needle carrier D is provided on its outer surface
with cogs g, which gear into pinions & mounted on the bottom ends of
upright shafts i, on whose ends are secured pinions j, which gear into
cogs k on the outer surface of the upper needle carrier E. This needlo
carrier is constructed similar to the lower needle carrier D, being com-
posed of a hollow truncated cone grooved on its outer surface to receive
the needles n³, and it has its bearing on a stud which is secured in a
bridge m fastened to the table A, as shown in Figure 1. To the under
side of this bridge is secured the cam case G', which surrounds the
needle carrier E, and which is provided with stationary cams H and
moveable cams H', the same as the cam case G of the lower needle
carrier D. An adjusting ring I' serves to adjust the moveable cam H³ of
the cam case G, and these cams are fitted together by tongues m² and
grooves o, so that the same can be moved apart without opening at their
starting points a space, in which the tails of the needles would be liable
to catch. In the needle case G¹ is made a circular groove p, which
communicates with the zig-zag groove between the cams H, H', through
channels 9, 9, and these channels are opened or closed by gates O, P,
best seen in Figure 2. If these gates are pushed down the tails of the
needles on arriving at the channel 9 are caused to slide up into the
circular groove p, and they are retained in this groove until the said
gates are again raised, when the tails of the needles on arriving at the
gate P are caused to slide down again through the channel q'. By
these means the needles in the upper needle carrier can be thrown out
of operation at pleasure. The needles can be introduced into tho
grooves of the upper carrier E through an aperture which is opened and
closed by a slide. To the outer surfaces of the cam cases G, G³, are
secured the latch openers J, a detached elevation of one of which is
shewn in Figure 5. They are provided with eyes t, through which the
yarn passes from the spools S, and the curved edges of the rings u of
said latch openers serve to throw open the latches of the noodles as

page_text: they are carried past the same by the revolving motion of the needle
carrier and by the rising and falling motion imparted to the needles by
the cams H, H'. By the action of these latch openers a positive motion
is given to the latches, and the correct action of the knitting mechanism
is insured. By the combined action of the needles in the two needle
carriers an elastic fabric can be knitted of one or more colors. If
desired the upper needles can be thrown out of action, and in that
casc a plain web will be produced by the lower set of needles.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The conical needle carriers D, E, arranged and combined
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. The cam cases G in combination with the conical needle
carriers D, E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The movable ring I in combination with the cams in the cam
case G, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fourth. The gates O, P, in combination with the cam caso G,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The latch openers J in combination with the needles in the
conical needle carriers D, E, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness thereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.