CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS UPON MACHINERY NOW IN USE FOR MAKING OR MANUFACTURING STOCKINGS, STOCKING NET, OR FRAMEWORK KNITTING, WARP WEB, WARP NET, AND POINT NET
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
WARNER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Hosier, CHARLES
HOOD, of the same place, Framesmith and Setter-up, and BENJAMIN ABBOTT,
also of the same place, Framework Knitter, send greeting.
WHEREAS we did, by Petition, humbly represent unto His present most
Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, that we had invented "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS UPON MACHINERY NOW IN USE FOR MAKING OR MANUFACTURING
STOCKINGS, STOCKING NET, OR FRAMEWORK KNITTING, WARP WEB, WARP NET, AND
POINT NET;" and His said Majesty being willing to encourage all useful inven-
tions was graciously pleased to issue His Royal Royal Letters Patent, bearing
date at Westminster, the Eighth day of March, in the second year of His
reigu (One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two), by which Letters Patent
His said Majesty did, for Himself, and His heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Henry Warner, Charles Wood, and Benjamin Abbott,
our exors, admors, and assigns, His said Majesty's especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that we, our exors, admors, and assigns, by our-
selves or themselves, or by our or their deputies, servants, or agents (and no
others), should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend our said
Invention within that part of His said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, His Dominion of Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, during the term of years therein expressed: And
whereas the said Letters Patent contained a proviso obliging us, the said
A

page_text: Henry Warner, Charles Hood, and Benjamin Abbott, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals (or
under the hand and seal of one of us), and to cause the same to be inrolled in
His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months after
the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference being
thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Warner, do hereby declare that the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is as follows (that is to
say) :-
The object of our said improvements is to simplify the structure and faci-
litate the operation of the machinery now in use for making or manufacturing
stockings, stocking net, or framework knitting, warp web, warp net, and point
net, which simplicity of structure and facility of operation we have attained
by removing from stocking frames and other like machines for making stock-
ings, stocking net, or framework knitting, and also from point net frames, all
those parts which are usually known by the names of jacks, with their appurts,
videlicit, their springs and their slea, also their combs and comb bar or jack
bar with the jack wire, the half jacks, and half-jack joint pieces on the sinker
bar; also the locker bar, with its lockers and thumb plates on the sinker bar,
together with the camels and carriages and its trucks, and all the other pieces
of the moveable carriage wherein most of the aforesaid parts are usually
mounted; and also the falling bar with its springs, and the false rim which is
commonly fixed beneath the sinker bar; and we perform the functions of the
parts so removed by applying the sinkers which serve in lieu of jack sinkers
in the following manner, viz., we suspend the said sinkers from an additional
.sinker bar which is firmly attached to the usual sinker bar, but behind the same,
and on a lower level, being nearly in the position which is usually occupied by
the false rim. But the said additional sinker bar moves along with the usual
sinker bar, and the sinkers which serve in lieu of jacks and jack sinkers are
suspended from slits in leads which are affixed to the said additional sinker
.bar, the suspension being upon joints or pins put through the upper ends of
the sinkers, and through the leads in which the said sinkers are received;
which may be done in a similar manner to the joints or pins whereby the
ordinary jack sinkers are suspended from the slits at the heads of the jacks.
And those sinkers aforesaid, which are used in lieu of jacks and jack sinkers,
do not drop down or rise up independently of the lead sinkers as ordinary jack
sinkers do, in order to form the loops of threads between the needles; but the

page_text: lower parts of the said sinkers which are so used in lieu of jacks and jack
sinkers are pushed or driven forwards independently of the lead sinkers with
a short pendulous motion about the joints upon which they are suspended from
their sinker bar as aforesaid; wherefore we term the said sinkers (which are
so used in lieu of jacks and jack sinkers) driver sinkers, because the loops of
the thread are formed by driving those driver sinkers forwards one after.
another with a short pendulous motion about their suspending joints, at the
same time that the lead sinkers remain motionless, or nearly so. And accord-
ing to our said improvements the nibs or catches of both lead sinkers and driver
sinkers are suitably formed, in order that the nibs or catches of the lead
sinkers (in so remaining nearly motionless) may retain the thread from coming
forwards, whilst the intermediate driver sinkers (in the act of being driven
forwards with the short pendulous motion aforesaid) may drive the thread
forwards before them, and thus bend the thread backward and forward into
zigzag loops along and above the row of needles instead of bending the thread
down as usual into the spaces between the needles in up-and-down zigzag
loops, as must be done by the descending action of the jack sinkers in the act
of drawing the jacks as usually practised. But according to our said improve-
ments it is in the subsequent act of sinking and dividing the loops which have
been so formed, and in bringing the same forwards towards the heads of the
needles, that the lead sinkers and driver sinkers are depressed altogether, in
order to carry the loops down into the spaces between the needles, and in
order to dispose the said loops in their usual position at the heads of the
needles. And in order that the slur may be qualified to act upon such driver
sinkers, and enabled to push the same forwards one after another with the
aforesaid short pendulous motion about their suspending joints, the ordinary
slur bar is removed from its usual position and placed above the needle bar
behind the row of sinkers, the slur bar being turned flatways upwards, in order
that the slur cock may project out sideways from the front side of the bar
towards the sinkers, instead of projecting upwards from the top side of the
slur bar, as usual; and the back edges of the driver sinkers are more promi-
nent than the back edges of the lead sinkers when the lead sinkers and driver
sinkers are so placed that the arches of both correspond one with another, in
order that the slur cock when it is drawn (as usual and by the usual means)
along the slur bar may pass across behind the row of sinkers, and act against
the back edges of the driver sinkers to push them forwards one after another
with a short pendulous motion as aforesaid about the joints by which those
driver sinkers are suspended. But nevertheless the slur cock will not act at all
©

page_text: upon the lead sinkers, which remain motionless, or nearly so, whilst the slur
is drawn; and the slur bar is supported upon the usual sliding bolts of the
star screws, which bolts are removed from their usual position, and are placed
horizontally by fixing the usual standards for those bolts over and across the
ends of the needle bar in a horizontal direction, with the stars and screws pro-
jecting out in front; wherefore, by turning those stars, the position of the slur
bar can be adjusted to place the same a little more or less forwards, in order
to regulate the action of the slur cock behind the driver sinkers at pleasure, so
that it will drive those sinkers forwards beyond the range of the lead sinkers
in a greater or lesser degree, and thus bend the thread into longer or shorter
zigzag loops above the needles according as the thickness or stiffness of the
work requires; and the lower extremities of the lead sinkers are made more
prominent in front than the corresponding parts of the driver sinkers, in order
that the latter may be at liberty in the space which is left vacant between the
hand bar and the facing bar to admit of the aforesaid pendulous motion of
the driver sinkers independently of any corresponding motion of the lead
sinkers, the lower extremities of which fill up the said vacant space, or nearly
so. And when the lower extremities of both lead sinkers and driver sinkers
are backwards in contact with the hand bar, then the arches of both sorts of
sinkers will correspond one with the other at all the parts thereof which are
intended to act upon the thread. And we attain a further simplification of struc-
ture and facility of operation by removing the presser bar and all its appurte-
nances from the machinery now in use for making or manufacturing stockings,
stocking net, or framework knitting, warp web, warp net, and pointed net;
videlicit, in stocking frames and point net frames, we remove the presser arms
and bows with their joints at the fore ends of the sole bars; also the back
presser and the rapping screws for it, and the presser treadle and its balance
spring; and in warp frames we remove the front and back presser and their
arms and levers, for this part of our said improvements is applicable to warp
frames as well as to stocking frames and point net frames. And we perform
the functions of the presser bar and its appurtenances by means of filling
pieces of metal plate rivetted or otherwise firmly fastened to the flat sides of
the sinkers so as to fill up all the vacant spaces between the adjoining sinkers
above the arches of the sinkers, in order that the said filling pieces of plate
may press down the beards of the needles into the eyes or grooves of the
needles when the sinkers are depressed and brought forwards as much as is
necessary for bringing forwards the stitches of the work along the stems of
the needles, in order to pass those stitches over the depressed beards of the

page_text: needles. For this purpose the lower parts or under sides of the said filling pieces
between the sinkers are formed wedge fashion, and suitably disposed between
the sinkers to act as inclined planes on the beards of the needles, in order to
press the same down into their groves when the sinkers are so depressed and
brought forwards, for the said filling pieces being fastened to the sinkers must
always rise and fall and come forwards with them, and the lowest part of the
filling pieces, owing to the inclined form in which they terminate, descend
rather lower than the highest parts of the arches of the sinkers wherein the
stitches of the work are contained when the work is brought forwards on the
stems of the needles by the advancing motion of the sinkers: and also the said
lowest parts of the filling pieces are before the said highest parts of the arches;
therefore, the sinkers being sufficiently depressed when they are brought for-
wards, the said filling pieces cannot fail to press down the beards before the
arches of the sinkers can have brought the stitches so far forwards on the
stems of the needles as to have arrived at the points of those beards. In
stocking frames and point net frames we prefer fixing the said filling pieces to
the driver sinkers, one filling piece at each side of each driver sinker, because
that mode gives additional thickness to the back edges of the driver sinkers at
the parts thereof where the slur cock is to act across the same as herein-before
mentioned; but in warp frames, whether for making warp web or warp net
(no such driver sinkers being required) the said filling pieces must be affixed
to the warp sinkers, and may be either fixed, one filling piece to one side of
each warp sinker, or else two filling pieces to every alternate warp sinker
(videlicit, one filling piece to each side thereof).
And for the more complete explanation of our said improvements we have
hereunto annexed seven Sheets of Drawings, of which Sheets I., II., and
III. represent a common narrow stocking frame when it is altered to work
according to our said improvements, being adapted to make one stocking at a
time or other small article of the framework knitting. And in Sheet IV.
another common narrow stocking frame is represented when the same is con-
verted, according to our said improvements, into a wide frame fit for making
two stockings or other small article of framework knitting at once, or else for
making one wide piece of stocking net. And Sheets V. and VI. explain a
mode of actuating the parts of a stocking frame, which is constructed accord-
ing to our said improvements by machinery which derives motion from a
rotative axes or turning handle. And Sheet VII. represents so much of the
parts of a warp frame as will serve to explain the application of our improve-
ment thereto.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF A COMMON NARROW STOCKING FRANE ALTERED TO WORK
ACCORDING TO OUR IMPROVEMENTS. SEE SHEETS I., II., AND III.
It is unnecessary to enter into a minute description of all the parts of the
stocking frame, which are well known, and the names thereof are in most
cases written on the Drawings; but for distinction, the letters of the alphabet
are used when reference is made to those common and well-known parts which
are not altered by the application of our said improvements; but numeral
characters are used for reference to those parts which are made anew, in order
to apply our improvements, or which are materially altered in form, or position,
or action from the common mode.
a, a, Sheet I., II., and III., is the common sinker bar, and b, b, the hang-
ing cheeks by which it is suspended from the top joints d, d; e, e, is the hand
bar, and ff, the facing bar; all which parts remain as usual, except that the
vacant space between the hand bar e and the tracing barf is wider than usual.
1, 1, is the additional sinker bar situated behind the ordinary sinker bar a, a,
and a little lower, but parallel thereto, being attached thereto at each end by
means of elbow bracket pieces 2, 2, Sheet I., which are fixed to the front
face of the ordinary sinker bar a, a, by screws, in lieu of the usual
half-jack joint pieces which are thrown aside. The lower parts of the
elbow bracket pieces 2, 2, turn backwards in a horizontal direction to
serve as supports to the ends of the additional sinker bar 1, 1, which ends
are laid flat across the horizontal parts of the elbow bracket pieces 2, 2,
and fastened thereto by screws; by which mode of attaching the additional
sinker bar 1, 1, to the common sinker bar a, a, the former can be adjusted
to set it higher or lower or more or less forwards and exactly parallel to
the common sinker bar, and firmly connected therewith. The additional
sinker bar 1, 1, is thus fixed flatways upwards in the same position as the
needle bar. The additional sinker bar is provided with its verge, see Sheet III.,
and plates 4 to hold the leads 5 of the additional driver sinkers 6, 6, exactly
the same as the corresponding parts of the common sinker bar a, a, whereby
the leads of the lead sinkers 7 are fastened to that bar except that the addi-
tional sinker bar 1, 1, is flatways upwards, as before mentioned. And also the
driver sinkers 6, 6, are fitted into their leads 5 in the manner of moveable
joints, which will allow the driver sinkers 6 to move or swing freely with a
short pendulous motion about the said joints as a centre of motion as far as
the space which is left vacant between the hand bar e, e, and the facing bar f, f
will permit, because the lower end of the driver sinkers 6 are cut away in
front to a much less width than usual, and less than the said vacant space,

page_text: but the lower ends of the lead sinkers 7 are made wider in front than usual in.
order that they may fill (or nearly fill) the said vacant space between the hand
bar e and the facing bar f. A is the slur bar, which is placed in a different situa-
tion from that which it usually occupies; viz., it is placed above the needle
bar B and under the additional sinker bar 1, 1, behind the row of sinkers, being
supported by the square sliding bolts of the star screws 9, which bolts are also
placed in a different position, viz., horizontally with the stars in front; the
brackets 10 in which those sliding bolts are fitted as usual, being fastened across,
the ends of the needle bar B by screws instead of being fixed in an upright
position over the needle bar as usual. The slur bar A is affixd to the open
loops or star boxes at the ends of the sliding bolts, (which star boxes (in the
usual mode) receive the ends of the falling bar and of its spring), the fixing
being made by means of elbow bracket pieces 11, which are screwed to the
upright ends of the said star boxes, and to the herizontal parts of the said elbow
bracket pieces 11; the slur bar A is attached by other screws. By this mode
of fixing the slur bar A to the sliding bolts, it can be set horizontally and
parallel to the row of sinkers before the frame is put to work, and in the
progress of working the frame by turning the stars 9, the sliding bolts can be
moved in their brackets 10, and the slur bar A can at pleasure be brought a
little more forwards or put a little further backwards at either end, in order
that the slur cock C in passing along the slur bar A behind the row of sinkers
may push the driver sinkers 6 more or less forwards beyond the lead sinkers 7,
whilst the latter remain motionless or nearly so. And thereby the nibs of the
sinkers will bend the thread horizontally into larger or smaller zigzag loops
above the needles according to the required stiffness of the work, notwithstand-
ing that the formation of the said zigzag loops takes place, according to our
improvement, by a backwards and forwards flexure of the thread above the row
of needles by means of the concurrent operation of the nibs of the then
nearly motionless and passive lead sinkers holding back the thread whilst the
active operation of the nibs of the driver sinkers (during their pendulous
motion) pushes the thread forwards, instead of the said formation of the
loops taking place (as in the usual mode) by an up and down zigzag flexure of
the thread in deep loops into the spaces between every other of the needles by
the descent of the jack sinkers between those needles, during which descent
the intermediate lead sinkers produce no effect whatever. But according to
our improvements the zigzag loops which are formed in succession, as aforesaid,
in the act of drawing the slur remain above the needles without descending or
bending downwards into the spaces between the needles until the subsequent
action of depressing the sinkers in order to divide the loops and to sink them

page_text: between the needles, in which action all the sinkers descend together. Note,
the driver sinkers fall backward by their own weight as soon as the slur cock
has passed away from behind them, leaving the loops unconfined above the
needles, and then the lower ends of the driver sinkers come in contact with
the hand bar, in which position the nibs and all the front parts of both sorts of
sinkers (which parts operate on the thread) come to an exact correspondence
one with another. The lead sinkers and driver sinkers are borne downwards
altogether as aforesaid in order to divide and sink the loops of thread by
carrying down those loops into all the spaces between all the needles by the
nibs of the driver sinkers and those of the lead sinkers. And at the same
time that the two sorts of sinkers are thus depressed they may also be brought
forwards both together, by which compound action of depressing and bringing
forwards the sinkers the loops of thread in their progress of being carried
forwards along the stems of the needles towards the heads thereof are divided
into a double number of loops before they get so far as the points of the
beards of the needles; by which means these loops are brought into exactly
the same situation as they would be in the usual mode of working a common
stocking frame immediately after the dividing and sinking of the loops has
been performed. The action of forming the loops according to our said im-
provement is explained by several Figures in Sheet III., which represent the
sinkers, needles, and other parts in different positions; but before entering on a
description thereof it will be better to explain the structure of the remaining
parts. The filling pieces between the sinkers which perform the functions of a
presser bar, as herein-before mentioned, are marked 12, and their form is
represented in their full size in the Figures m, Sheet II. and III.; one such
filling piece is fixed by rivitting the same to each side of each driver sinker 6,
making the same out to such a thickness as will fill up all the space that is
left vacant between two adjacent lead sinkers 7, and which space contains two
needles h, the lower thin part of the driver sinker 6 being disposed between
those two needles. The said two filling pieces 12, which are thus fastened at
the opposite sides of each driver sinker 6 extend to the back thereof, and are
cut with a bevel at the parts where the slur cock C is to act behind them
suitably to the bevel of the slur cock, in order to facilitate the action thereof,
whereby it forces the driver sinkers forwards about their suspension joints with
their short pendulous motion aforesaid. The lowest parts of the filling pieces
12 are cut wedge fashion, as is represented in the Figures, in order to act
upon the beards of the needles; the wedge part descending lower as it goes
further backwards, and the lowest part being rather lower than the highest
part of the arch of the sinker, but rather more forwards than that highest

page_text: part of the arch. The profile or outline of the nibs and arches of both kinds of
sinkers are represented in the Drawings. The lead sinkers are thin flat plates,
as usual, and the intermediate driver sinkers which are made thick by the filling
pieces (which are fastened to them on each side, as aforesaid) fill up the
spaces between the lead sinkers above the needles, and thereby the sinkers are
made to support one another laterally, so that the action of the slur cock, when
it passes across behind the driver sinkers and pushes them forwards one after
another, cannot displace or bend them laterally. And note, at each end of
the row of sinkers a strong sinker cheek 13, Figure 1, Sheet I., made of thick
plate, is fixed to the sinker bar 11, and applies flatways against the endmost
sinkers of the row to enable the same to resist the lateral action of the slur
cock. The nibs of lead sinkers 7 are cut with small arches in them to receive.
the thread, which arches are more forwards than the usual arches which
receive the stitches of the work. When the thread is to be laid across the
stems of the needles in the usual manner (and the usual means) the sinkers
are raised up so much that their front nibs will be above the needles, and the
small arches of the lead sinkers 7 will be open, but the back part of the nibs
will be below the needles, so as to close the large arches in which the stitches
of work are contained, see Figure 4, Sheet III.; in which situation of the
sinkers they are retained by the hooks n at the lower ends of the hanging
cheeks b, b, bearing upwards under the ordinary coaking stops m in the usual
manner, as shewn at Figure 11. The thread being laid across the stems of
the needles before the front parts of the nibs of the lead sinkers 7, beneath
the small arches therein, the sinkers altogether are then depressed or borne
downwards so much that the front part of the nibs of the lead sinkers 7 will
just dip down between the needles, as is shewn in Figure 5, whereby the
thread becomes inclosed within the small arches of those sinkers, but without
confinement therein, the thread lying loosely across the stems of the needles.
The sinkers are retained in that position by the lower ends of the hanging
cheeks b, b, coming down upon fixed rests 14, as shewn in Figure 12; the said
rests 14 are fixed to the front rafter M of the frame, that rafter being a
horizontal iron bar which is substituted for the usual wooden front rafter. In
this situation of the sinkers the slur is drawn as usual (and by the usual.
means) along the slur bar A across the row of sinkers and behind them. In
its passage the inclined part of the slur cock strikes the back parts of the
driver sinkers 6, and drives them forwards one after another with the short
pendulous motion aforesaid about their suspension joints, whereby the nibs of
the driver sinkers 6 are advanced forwards before those of the lead sinkers 7,
as is shewn in Figure 5, and the thread is beuded backwards and forwards

page_text: into zigzag loops above the row of needles (as is explained by the horizontal plan
Figure 7) by being held backwards by the nibs of the lead sinkers 7, (which
remain motionless or nearly so) at the same time that the nibs of the driver
sinkers 6 carry the intermediate portions of the thread forwards, as the driver
sinkers are pushed forwards one after another by the passing of the slur cock
behind them, which slur cock is only broad enough to retain its hold of from six
to eight driver sinkers at once after having so pushed them forwards; and
therefore as fast as it passes away beyond those six or eight driver sinkers it
lets them fall back again by their own weight until their lower ends come to
rest against the hand bar, in which situation the nibs in front of the driver
sinkers which have so fallen back resume their places in the row of the lead
sinkers in exact correspondence therewith, leaving the thread loose and
unconfined above the needles in the small arches of the sinkers, but with the
exact and proper length of thread gathered therein to form the intended loops
between the needles by the subsequent operation of sinking and dividing;
which operation is performed (as soon as the slur C is completely drawn) by
bringing the hand bar e, e, forwards with all the sinkers in one row, at the
same time bearing the same downwards, whereby as soon as the lower ends of
the hanging cheeks b, b, Figure 12, pass off from the steps of the rests 14
they drop down to the level parts of the rests 14; and in so doing the sinkers
descend all together sufficiently to produce the sinking and division of the
loops of thread, by every sinker carrying down the thread into a loop into the
space between two adjacent needles. This descent of the sinkers brings down
the lower parts of the filling pieces 12 which are fixed to the driver sinkers 6
very nearly in contact with the needles; and then, in continuing to bring for-
wards the hand bar e, e, and the sinkers, the loops of thread are brought
forwards along the stems of the needles towards the heads of the needles just
as usual in a common stocking frame. In so advancing the said loops pass
beneath the points of the beards of the needles, and after that (but not before)
the lower and inclined or wedge-like parts of the filling pieces 12 are brought
over the beards of the needles, and as the sinkers advance further forwards
the said inclined parts of the wedge pieces press down the beards into the
grooves of the needles at the same time and with the same advancing motion,
whereby the stitches of the work which are contained within the back or
large arches of the sinkers are brought forwards along the stems of the needles,
(as shewn in Figure 8,) until the said stitches are landed or passed over the
depressed points of the beards; and after which, the sinkers being brought
further forwards, they advance the loops of thread to the heads of the needles,
as is shewn in Figure 9. And in order that the sinkers cannot fail to be

page_text: sufficiently depressed in the aforesaid act of bringing them forwards, to ensure
that the filling pieces 12 will certainly press down the beards of the needles
after the loops of thread have been passed beneath those beards, but before
the stitches of the work are brought to the points of those beards (or, in
the words of framework knitters, to ensure the landing of the stitches upon
the beards), the lower ends of the hanging cheeks b, b, are kept down in-
contact with the rests 14, which should be suitably formed to serve as guides
for the depression of the hand bar e, e, in bringing the same forwards. The
hanging bits r-which are fastened to the hanging cheeks b, b, by acting against
the pressing caster backs s, t, which are mounted on fixed centre pins v,
supported by cocks screwed to the sole bars, keep the hanging cheeks b, b,
downwards to a proper extent at the moment when the filling pieces 12 are
depressing the beards of the needles, and sinkers are landing the stitches of the
work upon those beards. This is explained by Figure 13, Sheet III., wherein
the projecting tooth r of one of the hanging bits is shewn to be passing
beneath the corresponding lateral projections of one of the pressing caster backs.
The relative positions of those projecting parts is explained by the horizontal
plan, Figure 15. The projecting tooth r of the hanging bit, by coming
beneath the projections of the pressing caster back when the hand bar and
the sinkers are brought forwards, keeps the sinkers down as much as the
pressing action of the filling pieces 12 requires, whence we term them the
pressing caster backs. But after the stitches of the work are landed
on the beards of the needles as aforesaid, and the loops of thread are brought
to the heads of the needles, as represented in Figure 9, then the projecting
tooth r of the hanging bit will have advanced so much forwards as to get clear
in front of the lateral projections of the pressing caster back, leaving the hand
bar and the sinkers at liberty to rise up in order that they may proceed
towards the position represented in Figure 10, wherein the stitches of the work
are in the act of being beat over or pulled over the loops of thread at the heads
of the needles. In so raising up, the lower ends of the hanging cheeks b, b,
quit their rests 14, and the projecting tooth r of the hanging bit rises up in
front of the lateral projections of the pressing caster back, but behind the
upright face of the caster back t, so that the tooth r rises in the space between
raud s, as is shewn in Figure 14, and in the plan Figure 15. The use of the
upright facet of the caster back is to prevent the sinkers being brought
forwards in order to beat over the work, as in Figure 10, until they have been
first raised up as high as they are represented to be raised in that Figure, in
order that the nibs of the sinkers may be drawn up quite out of the way of the
loops of thread at the heads of the needles; which being done, the projecting

page_text: tooth r of the hanging bit can then come forwards over the top of the upright
part of the caster back, in order to allow the sinkers to be brought forwards
for the purpose of beating over the work, as usual in other stocking frames,
and then the sinkers are put down as usual to take the work into the large
back arches, in order to enclose the work therein, in preparation for putting the
stitches of the work back along the stems of the needles to the position shewn in
Figure 4, ready for laying the thread again. Note, when the sinkers are thus
depressed the projecting tooth r of the hanging bit comes down in front of the
upright part t of the caster back, and the descent of the sinkers whilst they are
in that advanced position is limited by the lower end of the hanging cheek b, b,
stopping upon the foremost parts 15 of the rests 14; and then, as the sinkers
are pushed back in order to carry back the stitches of the work along the
needles, the upright part t of the caster back gives way before the projecting
tooth r, when the same is put backwards; that giving way being occasioned by
the motion of the caster back about its fixed centre pin v. w is a gage screw
screwed through the tail of the presser caster back, which gives weight to that
tail, and by rapping upon the sole bar renders the upright part t of the caster
. back firm against coming forwards, although it can yield freely when it is
pushed backwards by the projecting tooth r of the hanging bit as the sinkers
go backwards in carrying back the work along the stems of the needles.
When the sinkers get so far backwards that the lower ends of the hanging
cheeks b, b, stop against the front ends of the coaking stops m, Figure 11, then
the sinkers are allowed to rise up until the hooks % of the hanging cheeks
catch the coaking stops m, so as to retain the sinkers in the position of Figure 4,
ready for laying the thread again.
The slur wheel R, Sheets I. and II., and its two treadles S, T, are as usual,
except that the wheel R is placed more forwards along its axis, in order to
accommodate it to the new position of the slur bar A. Behind the sinkers and
the ends of that bar which contains the pullies for conducting the slur
cord, are twisted one quarter round, that the pullies may stand in a proper
position to conduct the slur cord from the slur wheel to the slur box, although
the middle part of the slur bar, where the slur box runs along the same, is
placed flatways upwards, instead of edgeways upwards, as usual. The slur box
should have a piece of plate fastened to it by screws, to close up that side
which is usually left open, and make it surround the slur bar on all its four
sides. And note, in order to prevent the driver sinkers advancing further
forwards than the nose of the slur cock pushes them, which might happen when
it is drawn quickly, a slender straight bar 27 may be applied horizontally in
front of the row of sinkers, sufficiently high above the needles to be out of

page_text: the way, and may be covered with woollen cloth. The front edges of the
driver sinkers will strike gently against this bar 27 when the slur is drawn
and the said bar will prevent them coming too forwards by a jerk. The said
bar 27 may be supported at each end in slots 28, affixed to the sliding bolts of
the star screws, the ends being pulled backwards to suitable stops in the said
slots by two springs 25, whereby the bar 27 will be held in its proper position
before the lead sinkers whilst the slur is drawn; but nevertheless it will yield
and come forwards in the said slots when the sinkers are all, brought forwards
together. And in order to move the hand bar and the sinkers backwards and
forwards, as herein-before described, we apply what is called knocking-over
tackle in warp frames, to be moved by the feet; (that is to say) to the middle
part of the hand bar e, e, a link p is jointed, and the other end thereof is jointed
to a short lever P on a horizontal axis Q, which is supported on pivots at each
end of it, in upright bearing bars L, fixed fast to the frame, and from the
same horizontal axis Q two other short levers K project out forwards, and
from the front extremities of those short levers K links or chains X descend to
two treadles k, l, for the feet, which may either be distinct treadles, like those
marked S, T, which are used for moving the slur wheel, or otherwise they
may be short pedals, jointed, as shewn at K and in Figure 2, Sheet I., by
hinges to the extremities of the said two treadles S, T, in such manner that the
heels of the feet being placed upon the ends of the treadles S, T, so as to press
one or other of those treadles down in order to draw the slur. The toe parts
of the feet may then be over the short pedals k, l, ready to press one or other
of them down in order to bring the sinkers forwards after the heels have
pressed down the one or other of the treadles S or T, in order to draw the
slur, as before described. At the back of the axis Q another short lever W
projects out, and a spring Y which is applied thereto has a constant tendency
to draw the hand bar e, e, and the sinkers backwards. w is the knocking over
stop fixed on the link p, to act against the back edge of the needle bar, in the
same manner, and for the same purpose, as is usual in warp frames. And by
way of convenience a handle 17 is applied in front of the frame to sink the
sinkers by the left hand, instead of pulling down the hand bar e, e, with both
hands as usual. The handle 17 projects out from near the left-hand end
of a short axis 18, which has pivots at each end of it, supported in sockets 19,
fastened to the under side of the hand bar e, e, and from the right hand end of
the said axis 18 a lever 20 projects backwards, and the end thereof is received
in a notch in a strong bracket 21, which is fixed fast to the iron front rafter M,
nearly opposite to the middle of the frame. By this mode of applying the
handle 17 it enables the left hand to raise and lower the hand bar e, c, and the

page_text: sinkers at pleasure, and with the advantage of considerable leverage; but
the backwards and forward motion of the hand bar e, e, which is produced by
the feet with the aid of the pedals k, l, and the knocking over tackle, as before
described, does not affect the action of the handle 17, because the lever 20 is
at liberty to slide endways through the notch in the bracket 21 when the hand
bar comes forwards, without loosing its hold in that notch, whereby the said
lever 20 raises or lowers the hand bar e, e, accordingly as the handle 17 is
raised or lowered. The thread may be laid by hand across the needles
of stocking frames which are altered according to our said improvements
as aforesaid, or any suitable kind of thread layer may be used for laying the
thread, as is commonly done in point-net frames and in many stocking frames.
The thread layer which is used along with our improvements must make its
passage complete from one side of the frame to the other to lay the thread
across the needles when the sinkers are in the position represented in Figure 4,
and then the sinkers must be lowered in order to inclose the thread which has
been so laid upon the needles within the small arches of the sinkers, as is
represented in Figure 5, and then (but not before) the slur should be begun
to be drawn. To fulfill this condition the thread layer may be moved by a
cord and wheel of its own, independantly of the slur wheel (although it may
be mounted loosely on the axis thereof), and moved by treadles of its own,
independantly of the treadles for the slur wheel, so that the motion of the
treadles and wheel and cord for the thread layer, and the motion of that thread
layer, may be completed before the motion of the slur is begun; or otherwise
the thread layer may be moved by the hands to carry the threads across the
needles in the manner frequently practised for thread layers to stocking frames.
And as to the application of rib machines to stocking frames, which are altered
as herein-before described to work according to our improvements, the applica-
tion of such machines is to be made nearly in the same manner as is usually
practised, except that the usual presser joints, and arms, and bows, and rapping
screws, as well as the treadle and balance spring to the presser, must be
retained and suitably adjusted in order to press the beards of the needles in the
rib machine without operating upon the beards of the needles of the frame,
which beards are pressed by means of the filling pieces herein-before described;
wherefore the extra presser bar, which is usually applied to the ordinary
presser bar when a rib machine is to be used with a stocking frame, may be
omitted, the edge of the presser bar being brought to act in the place of the
edge of that extra presser bar, and in lieu thereof upon the beards of the
needles of the machine to press the stitches over the same when required, in
the ordinary way of working rib machinery along with a stocking frame.

page_text: And as to the working of point net machines and knotted machines with
frames which are altered according to our said improvements, the same is to
be performed in the usual manner, because the application of the point net
machine or knotted machine is not influenced by the alterations which are
made in setting frames to work their plain course according to our said
improvements, except that the thread layer is to be worked as herein-before
directed, so that it will finish the laying of the thread across the needles, and
allow the sinkers to be then depressed, as herein-before mentioned, before the
slur begins to move.
Sheet IV. represents a common narrow stocking frame altered acccording to
our said improvements, to make two stockings at once, or to make a wide web
of stocking net. The mode of action in all the parts being the same as that of
the stocking frame herein-before described it is unnecessary to repeat the
description, and the names of many of the principal parts are written on the
Drawing. The woodwork of the frame and the back bars are not altered, but
a new needle bar B, of greater length, is applied to the ends thereof, extending
over the sole bars each way, and the standards for the sliding bolts of the star
screws are fixed horizontally across each end of the long needle bar to support
the slur bar A, which is also prolonged; and, in case two stockings are to be
made at once, two slur boxes and cocks are applied thercon. A longer sinker
bar a, a, is also to be applied and suspended from the usual top joints d, d, and,
by means of the hanging checks 6, 6, at each end of the long sinker bar, a hand
bar and facing bar f. f, of corresponding length, are also to be applied. The
wooden front rafter is removed and an iron bar M substituted, the ends thereof
reaching each way beyond the posts of the wood frame to receive the rests 14
for the lower ends of the hanging cheeks. The Drawing represents the frame
in a state for making two stockings at once, with a space left open in the
middle of the row of sinkers, also with two slur boxes C, C, on the slur
bar A, A. In this case the threads may be laid by hand, or by a thread layer,
as is commonly done in working two stockings at once on a wide frame, the
observations herein-before made, relative to the thread layer for a point net
frame, being attended to. Or the same frame may be set up to work a wide
web of stocking net, by filling up the row of sinkers complete, and causing the
slur box to run along the slur bar from one end of the row of sinkers to the
other.
Sheets V. and VI. of the Drawings hercunto annexed represent a stocking
frame constructed according to our said improvements, with additional
machinery applied thereto for the purpose of communicating to the same the
requisite movements to actuate all the parts thereof, by motion derived from a

page_text: continuous rotatory motion wherewith the said machinery is impelled, either by
a winch handle turned by the person who is to work the machinery, or by the
power of millwork. The different parts of the said stocking frame are nearly
the same as those which have been herein-before described, and is represented
as being adapted to make plain pieces of stocking net or framework knitting.
The additional machinery is as follows:-A horizontal rotative axis 30 is extended
across the back part of the stocking frame, being supported in bearings fixed to
the sole bars, and is turned steadily round with a continuous rotative motion,
so as to make one complete revolution in the time during which the frame is
intended to work one course. The said axis 30 may be turned
a spur wheel
31 fixed upon the extreme end of it, the teeth of which are engaged by an
intermediate spur wheel mounted on a stud pin fixed in the framing, in order
to be turned by another spur wheel 32, which is fixed on one end of the axis
of a turning handle 34, by which a person can impel the machinery. If the
machinery is to be actuated by power the spur wheel 31 may be turned by a
smaller spur wheel fixed to a pulley 37, which turns on a stud pin fixed to the
wood frame, and on which pin a loose pulley 38 is also fitted. The fast and
loose pullies 38 are turned by an endless strap from a suitable drum driven by
millwork, in the usual manner of power-weaying machinery. By shifting the
strap to the loose pulley 37, 38, the machinery will stop, and then the person
who ascends the machinery can turn it round by the handle 34, to work it
slowly and with care, when necessary. Or, when the endless strap is shifted
to the fast pulley 37, the machinery will be put in motion. Near the middle
of the axis 30 two camm wheels 39 and 40 are fixed, so as to turn round
therewith. The camm wheel 39 acts upon a tail lever 41, which projects out
backwards from the middle of the spindle bar like the pole piece of a warp
frame, and which tail lever carries a roller to bear on the circumference of the
camm 39, and that circumference is cut into suitable steps, with such elevations
above and depressions below a true circular curvature as will cause the top
joints, on which the frame containing the sinkers is suspended, to be lowered
and raised when requisite. A spring is applied to the end of the lever 41 to
pull it down, and bear up the frame containing the sinkers, in the usual
manner of the main spring of a common stocking frame. The camm wheel 40
acts upon a roller borne by an upright lever 42, the lower end of which
plays about a fixed centre pin 43, and the upper end is connected by a
link 44 with the middle of the hand bar e, the link 44 being cranked
down in the middle part to enable it to pass clear beneath the needle bar B.
The circumference of the camm 40 is cut into suitable steps, with such
elevations above and depressions below a true circular curvature as will cause

page_text: the hand bare to be moved backwards and forwards when requisite. And
portions of the circumferences of both the camms 39 and 40 are made
circular and concentric with the axis 30, at suitable parts between the steps
or elevations aforesaid, in order that the motions which they are intended to
give to the frame containing the sinkers may cease and be suspended when
required. The slur and the thread layer are actuated by four canım wheels
45, 46, 47, and 48, which are fixed on a cross axis 49, that axis being turned
round by a small bevil wheel 50 on the axis 30, and a bevil wheel 51, of
double the size, on the axis 49, wherefore the said camm wheels 45, 46, 47,
and 48 will only be turned round once whilst the frame works two courses.
The said camm wheels act upon four rollers, which are borne by four long
levers 52, 53, 54, and 55, which perform the functions of treadles. They are-
all mounted side side upon one long horizontal fixed pin or axle 33, which:
passes through their lower ends; and from their upper ends straps 56, 57, 58,
and 59 are extended to the barrels 60 and 61 of two wheels 62 and 63,
similar to slur wheels, which are mounted on a fixed upright stud pin 62.
The lower wheel 63 is the slur wheel, and the slur cord is conducted from its
circumference over suitable leading pullies to the slur, in order to draw the
same backwards and forwards alternately. The upper wheel 62 is for drawing
the thread layer backwards and forwards by a cord, which is conducted from-its
circumference over suitable leading pullies, that thread layer being constructed
in the manner of those commonly used in point net frames, and which are some-
times used in stocking frames for making pieces of stocking net or framework
knitting. The camm wheels 45 and 48, with their levers 52 and 55, act alter-
nately by their straps 56 and 59 upon the barrel 60 and wheel 62, with its cord,
to give motion to the thread layer. The circumference of one camm 45 has.
an elevation beyond its circular curvature, which elevation is on the opposite
side of the centre of motion to the corresponding elevation of the fellow
camm 48; therefore, the elevation of the camm 45 acts on the roller of the.
lever 52 to move the thread layer from left to right at the proper period-
during the working of one course, but at the next succeeding course the
elevation of the other camm 48 acts upon the roller of the lever 55 at the
proper period to move the thread layer from right to left. In like manner the
slur wheel 63 is moved so as to draw the slur from left to right by its strap 57,
lever 53, and camm 46, during the working of one course; but during the
next succeeding course to draw it from right to left by its strap 58, lever 54,
and camm 47, the motion of the thread layer being always completed.. And
by means of a suitable prominence. on the camm 39, the frame is sunk a

page_text: little in the manner herein-before described before the slur begins to be
drawn, and the motion of the slur being always in the same direction as
that of the thread layer, and following after it. The exact form of the
different camm wheels is représented in full size in Sheet VI., and the writing
thereon will be sufficient to enable competent framesmiths, who are conversant
with rotary movements for lace machines or power looms, to construct and
apply the machinery.
Note, we do not make claim to the said additional machinery which is
represented in Sheet VI. and VII., as part of our said improvements.
1,
And in respect to our improvements in the machinery for making or manu-
facturing warp web and warp net, such machinery being commonly called
warp looms or warp frames, and in which the threads are warped on a beam
or roller or beams or rollers, and are supplied to the needles by machinery
applied in front, and retaining rows of thread layers whereby distinct threads
are supplied to the different needles of the frame, instead of the same thread
passing from needle to needle, as in other kinds of framework knitting
machines. And whereas such warp frames have no jacks or jack sinkers,
our driver sinkers herein-before described are not applicable thereto, but our
filling pieces between the sinkers which perform the function of a presser
bar, as herein-before described, are applicable to warp frames; and the manner
of making that application is explained by a Sheet VII., which contains a
section of the principal working parts of a warp frame. The names of the
parts are for the most part written on the Drawing, and, as very few of the
parts are altered either in construction or operation, it is unnecessary to enter
into a long description thereof. The usual presser bar with its appurtenances
is removed from the warp frame, videlicit, the presser arms and their axels,
the back presser and its lever, and bolt tackle behind, also the presser
treadle; and in lien of the presser so removed 'filling pieces 12, very similar
to those herein-before described, are applied in the spaces between the sinkers
over the needles, the said filling pieces being affixed to the sinkers so as in
all cases to rise and fall and to move backwards and forwards along with the
sinkers. The said filling pieces may be either fastened one at each side of
every alternate, sinker, or one filling piece may be fastened to one side of
every sinker; but in either case there must be a filling piece over every
needle, and it must be firmly fastened to one or other of the sinkers which
are adjacent to tnat needle. Figure shews the parts in the position which
they assume when the said filling pieces are in the act of pressing down the
beards of the needles, and landing or bringing the stitches of the work over

page_text: those beards. In this position of the parts the tail pole is raised up as high
by the action of its treadle as the upper stop screw will allow it to go; and,
by the other treadle and the knocking-over tackle, the hand bar and all the
sinkers is brought forwards; and in so coming forwards the filling pieces first
press down the beards of the needles, and then the sinkers land the stitches
of the work upon them; the functions of a presser being thus performed by
the said filling pieces. The operation of the other parts then goes on in the
usual manner of working warp frames, and requires no further explanation
beyond that which the writing and letters of reference on the Drawing will
give. Note, to ensure the exact operation of the filling pieces in pressing the
beards of the needles hanging bits may be applied to each of the hanging
cheeks of the warp frame, and corresponding presser caster backs may be
applied upon the fixed frame, in the same relative positions as the corre
sponding pieces herein-before deecribed for the stocking frame, and repre-
sented at Figures 14 and 15; Sheet II.; and the operation of the said
hanging bits and presser caster backs will be the same as herein-before set
forth.
Having now described our said improvements, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I, the said Henry Warner, for myself and for the said
Charles Hood and Benjamin Abbot, do hereby declare that what we claim
as our said Invention of Certain Improvements upon the Machinery now in
Use for Making or Manufacturing Stockings, Stocking Net, or Framework
Knitting, Warp Web, Warp Net, and Point Net, consists in the following
particulars:-
Firstly, the substitution of driver sinkers (as herein-before explained), in lieu
of the jacks and jack sinkers heretofore used in stocking frames and point net
frames for forming the thread into loops; which driver sinkers are suspended
upon joints firmly connected with the sinker bar to which the leads sinkers
are affixed; in order that both the lead sinkers and the driver sinkers may all
move together, when they are moved upwards, or downwards between the
needles; but, nevertheless, that each driver sinker may be capable of a short
pendulous motion about its said suspension joint, independently of any motion
of the lead sinkers, and also that each driver sinker may move with that
pendulous motion independently of any other driver, sinker, in order that the
action of the slur cock behind the said driver sinkers may push them forwards
one after another, whereby the nibs in front of the driver sinkers will be
advanced forwards beyond the line of the row of the nibs of the lead sinkers.
And the said nibs of both kinds of sinkers, being suitably formed (as herein-

page_text: before described) with small arches in the lead sinkers for the reception of
the thread after it is laid across the needles, and both sorts of sinkers being
so much depressed between the needles (after the thread is so laid, and
before the slur is begun to be drawn) as will enclose the thread within the
said small arches, then the said advancing motion of the nibs of the driver
sinkers (by virtue of the short pendulous motion which the slur cock gives
to the driver sinkers about their suspension joints) will bend the thread
into backwards and forwards zigzag loops above the row of needles, by
the action of the nibs of the driver sinkers combined with the reaction
or passive operation of the nibs of the lead sinkers, as herein-before fully
described.
Secondly, the substitution of filling pieces (as herein-before explained) in
lieu of the presser bar heretofore used in stocking frames, point net frames,
and warp frames, which filling pieces are so firmly affixed to the sinkers as
to become like one piece therewith, and which occupy the spaces above the
needles, so that over every needle there is one filling piece supported and
sustained by one of the sinkers which is adjacent to that needle. And the
lower ends of all the said filling pieces are formed with an inclined or wedge-
like shape, suitably for pressing down the beards of the needles into the
grooves thereof, at the time when the sinkers are bringing forwards the
stitches of the work along the stems of the needles, in order to land those
stitches upon the points of the beards, which points have been previously
pressed down by the inclined or wedge-like shape of the lower ends of the
filling pieces as herein-before. And whereas attempts have been heretofore
made to depress the beards of the needles by the same movement which slided
the stitches of the work along the stems of the needles, in order to land
those stitches on the beards of the needles by drawing back the needles beneath
a slender horizontal presser bar or a horizontal straight wire supported by all
the row of sinkers, and acting upon the beards of all the row of needles at once.
I do hereby declare, that we make no claim to the aforesaid mode of press-
ing down the beards of needles by the same movement which slides the stitches
along the stems of the needles, in order to land those stitches upon the
beards of the needles, except when the same is performed by means of filling
pieces, as herein-before described, situated in the spaces between the sinkers
over the needles, with one such filling piece over every needle, and that filling
piece supported and sustained by one of the sinkers adjacent to the needle
beneath it, and upon the beard of which needle it is to operate in the manner
herein-before-described. And which said second article of our said improve-

page_text: ments is applicable to warp frames as herein-before described, as well as to
stocking frames and to point net frames.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Warner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1882, the aforesaid Henry Warner came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.