IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Coltman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1883.
THOMAS COLTMAN of Leicester in the county of Leicester, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNITTING MACHINES
"
My improvements relate to straight bar knitting machines, in which what are
known as tumbler or latch needles are employed.
Each machine consists of the following parts, namely two end standards, and
two or more intermediate standards, the number varying according to the length of
the machine, these standards are connected together by a rail at the front, and a
rail at the back, a face bar being secured to the top of the standards; in front of
the standards are bearings in which a driving shaft revolves, this shaft is provided
with the requisite number of hand wheels, and at one end with a fly wheel and a
fast pulley and a loose pulley, for a belt from a main driving shaft, the opposite
end of the shaft is provided with a toothed wheel forming one of a train of toothed
wheels for communicating motion to two cam shafts, each of which revolve in
bearings secured to the standards, these shafts are parallel to each other. The
front shaft carries the cams which give the requisite movements to the several
operating parts, when the machine is making either a plain or a ribbed looped fabric.
The back shaft carries the cams which give the requisite movements when the
fabric is required to be made narrower. Each of these shafts are alternately
revolved as required by the following means. At the same end of the machine as
the toothed wheel on the driving shaft, there is a pattern wheel, which revolves on
an axle pin secured in the end standard, the wheel being racked one tooth by a
driving lever operated by a cam at each revolution of the cam shaft only at such
time as the upper end of a right angled rocking lever is allowed to remain pressed
back, but upon the attendant moving the lever towards the front of the machine,
a stud secured in the lower end of the lever raises the driving lever clear of the
teeth of the wheel until narrowings are required to be made. Then upon the lever

page_text: being pressed back, the pattern wheel will be racked round until one or other of
the studs with which it is provided passes under the lower end of a lever and link
attached to a rocking lever, each end of which alternately stops or releases one or
other of the cam shafts. Each cam shaft has a toothed wheel running loose upon
it, to each wheel is secured a recessed plate carrying two spring keys, next to the
recessed plate is an incline plate, outside which is a cover plate which is secured
fast on the shaft, the operation is as follows;-when either of the incline plates is
retained by one end of the rocking lever, both spring keys are carried round as the
wheel revolves, the keys sliding over the inclines of the incline plate, but when the
incline plate is partially revolved instead of an incline for the spring key to slide
over, the key comes in contact with a stop or catch, on the cover plate, and carries
the cam shaft round with it,
For simply revolving or stopping the shaft one spring key would alone suffice,
but as it is sometimes necessary for the attendant to turn the machine back, the
second spring key is added, this key slides over the inclines on the incline plate
except when the machine is required to be turned back, when the key comes in
contact with a second stop or catch and carries the shaft backwards.
The spring keys are entirely hid from view by the cover plate, the springs on
the keys press them up in contact with the stops or catches, and the incline plate
presses them clear of the catches, when stayed by one end of the rocking lever,
actuated by either of the studs on the pattern wheel before named. The toothed
wheel on the two shafts, and an intermediate wheel gearing into the wheel on the
driving shaft from the train of wheel above referred to.
By such means the possibility of overdriving either cam shaft is entirely
obviated.
Above the driving shaft to each division of the machine is an axle shaft over
which the fabric passes as it is made, the outer end of the fabric being attached to
one or more belts, each of which has its lower end secured to a roller revolving in a
bearing frame, the back end of which rocks on axle pins secured to the back rail,
one end of the roller axle is provided with a toothed ratchet wheel moved round
tooth by tooth by a driver rocking on an axle in a lever operated by a cam on the
front cam shaft. The back end of the bearing frame carries a projecting lever,
upon which a weight is capable of adjustment to regulate the weight on the fabric
while working. To the back of the face bar bearing, brackets are secured in
which a bar slides to which cam bits are secured, which operate the jacks of the
frame needles. The brackets also form bearings for three or more sliding bars, to
each of which a thread carrier is secured, one on each bar for each breadth of
fabric, to be produced.
Besides the four sliding bars, there is a fixed bar attached to the bearing brackets,
to this fixed bar adjustable stops are attached to regulate the traverse of a sliding
bar, there being one such bar for each breadth of fabric made on the machine, each
sliding bar has a reversely inclined slot, which operates studs secured in the lower
cam bits for reversing them to give motion to the frame needle jacks.
The bar carrying the cam bits is traversed by a lever attached to the right end,
the lower end of the lever rocks on an axle secured to the standard or back rail,
intermediately the lever is slotted to slide upon a stud carried by a bar which slides
in bearings secured to the standards, this bar carries two trucks, between which a
drawing cam revolves, the axle of which carries a toothed bevel wheel, driven by
a smaller toothed bevel wheel secured on the front cam shaft.
The traverse of the three or more sliding bars provided with thread carriers
is regulated by adjustable stops at each end of the machine, by the following
means.
At each end of the face bar is a bearing bracket, each of which carries a worm
and nut, the worm axle is provided with a notched and studded plate, which is
racked round by a driver, carried by a truck bearing lever, actuated by a cam on
the back shaft, the worms rack in loop shifting instruments, when the fabric is
being narrowed, the nut on each worm carries a bar on which an adjustable stop

page_text: can be moved outwards, when the whole width of fabric is being made, or inwards
wben a narrower fabric is being made.
The nuts on the worms also move in two sliding bars, which lift the frame
needle jacks up to relieve the loops while the machine needles take their portion,
the raising of the bars being effected by truck levers operated by cams on the front
shaft, each sliding bar is recessed on its top edge where required to allow the jacks
to drop out of action.
At the back of the sliding bars is a bar capable of being raised by the attendant
when required, or by a lever resting on a truck bearing lever loose on an axle shaft
(hereafter mentioned) the lever being operated by a cam on the back shaft..
Secured to the standards behind the face bar is an angle bar to which axle rods
and sleys for the frame needle jacks are secured, the frame needles and front ends
of the jacks slide in sleys attached to the back of the face bar.
Behind the angle bar, the standards have bearings secured to them in which an
axle shaft (before mentioned) rocks, being operated by a lever actuated by a cam
on the back shaft, upon the axle shaft, bearing brackets are secured in which a shaft
rocks, the rocking being effected by a link and truck bearing lever operated by a
cam on the back shaft, the rocking shaft is provided with bearings in which two
rods slide, to each of which brackets are secured which carry loop shifting instru-
ments, some of which act on the loops on the frame needles, and others act on the
loops on the machine needles.
Behind the rocking shaft bearings are secured to the brackets in which a shaft
rocks carrying bearing levers to which rods are secured for pressing back the
instruments, which act on the loops on the machine needles, the rods being pressed
back by the inner ends of links which are attached to slotted levers which carry
the machine needle bars, these loop shifting instruments are held forward by springs
interposed between each pair of brackets,
The machine needles are cast in leads, and are clamped to their bars by plates
and screws, the bars have an arm at each end, which rocks upon studs, which are
adjustable in slotted levers secured on an axle shaft, which rocks in bearings in
front of the face bar, between it and the driving shaft. The axle shaft is rocked
while the fabric is being made by a cam on the front shaft operating a truck
bearing lever secured to the axle shaft, a second truck bearing lever is also attached
to the axle shaft, and is operated by a cam on the back shaft only when the fabric
is being
The slotted levers carry studs and links which operate slides for knocking over
the loops of the machine needles, they also carry a sliding bar, which is notched so
as to set free the machine needle slides when required, the sliding of the bar is
effected by a link and hand lever, the back end of which raises a truck bearing
lever operated by a cain on the front cam shaft such movements draw the machine
needle bars and needles back and sets free the slides at the same time.
By means of a straight bar knitting machine, employing latch needles, arranged
and constructed as above described, I am enabled to make narrowed and fashioned
ribbed looped articles automatically on the same machine, and at a greater speed
than heretofore.
By drawing back the machine bars and needles, I am enabled to make narrowed
and fashioned plain looped articles automatically on the same machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Coltman in the Patent Office on the 21st June 1884.
THOMAS COLTMAN, of Leicester in the County of Leicester "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNITTING MACHINES
23
My improvements relate to straight bar knitting machines in which what are
known as tumbler or latch needles are employed.
1. Each machine consists of the following parts, namely two end standards, and
two or more intermediate standards the number varying according to the length of
the machine, these standards are connected together by a rail at the front and a
rail at the back a face bar being secured to the top of the standards; in front of 1
the standards are bearings in which a driving shaft revolves this shaft is provided
with the requisite number of hand wheels and at one end with a fly wheel and a
fast pulley, and a loose pulley, for a belt from a main driving shaft, the opposite
end of the shaft is provided with a toothed wheel forming one of a train of toothed
wheels for communicating motion to two cam shafts each of which revolve in
bearings secured to the standards, these shafts are parallel to each other. The
front shaft carries the cams which give the requisite movements to the several
operating parts, when the machine is making either a plain or a ribbed looped
fabric. The back shaft carries the cams which give the requisite movements when
the fabric is required to be made narrower.
2 Each of these shafts are alternately revolved as required by the following
means. At the same end of the machine as the toothed wheel on the driving
shaft, there is a pattern wheel, which revolves on an axle pin secured in the end
standard, the wheel being racked one tooth by a driving lever operated by a cam
at each revolution of the cam shaft only at such time as the upper end of a right
angled rocking lever is allowed to remain pressed back, but upon the attendant
moving the lever towards the front of the machine, a stud secured in the lower end
of the lever raises the driving lever clear of the teeth of the wheel until narrowings
are required to be made. Then upon the lever being pressed back, the pattern
wheel will be racked round until one or other of the studs with which it is
provided passes under the lower end of a lever and link attached to a rocking
lever each end of which alternately stops or releases one or other of the cam
shafts. Each cam shaft has a toothed wheel running loose upon it, to each wheel
is secured a recessed plate carrying two spring keys next to the recessed plate is
an incline plate, outside which is a cover plate which is secured fast on the shaft,
the operation of these parts is as follows; when either of the incline plates is
retained by one end of the rocking lever both spring keys are carried round as the
wheel revolves, the keys sliding over the inclines of the incline plate but when the
incline plate is partially revolved instead of an incline for the spring key to slide
over, the key comes in contact with a stop or catch, on the cover plate and carries
the cam shaft round with it. For simply revolving or stopping the shaft one
spring key would alone suffice, but as it is sometimes necessary for the attendant
to turn the machine back the second spring key is added, this key slides over the
inclines on the incline plate except when the machine is required to be turned
back, when the key comes in contact with a second stop or catch and carries the
shaft backwards.
The spring keys are entirely hid from view by the cover plate the springs on
the keys press them up in contact with the stops or catches, and the incline plate
presses them clear of the catches when stayed by one end of the rocking lever
actuated by either of the studs on the pattern-wheel before named. The toothed

page_text: wheels on the two shafts and an intermediate wheel gearing into the wheel on the
driving shaft from the train of wheels above referred to.
By such means the possibility of overdriving either cam shaft is entirely
obviated.
3 Above the driving shaft to each division of the machine is an axle shaft over
which the fabric passes as it is made, the outer end of the fabric being attached to
one or more belts, each of which has its lower end secured to a roller revolving in
a bearing frame the back end of which rocks on axle pins secured to the back rail,
one end of the roller axle is provided with a toothed ratchet wheel moved round
tooth by tooth by a driver rocking on an axle in a lever operated by a cam on the
front cam shaft. The back end of the bearing frame carries a projecting lever
upon which a weight is capable of adjustment to regulate the weight on the fabric
while working.
4. To the back of the face bar bearing brackets are secured in which a bar slides
to which cam-bits are secured which operate the jacks of the frame needles. The
brackets also form bearings for three or more sliding bars to each of which a thread
carrier is secured one on each bar for each breadth of fabric, to be produced
5. Besides the four sliding bars there is a fixed bar attached to the bearing
brackets, to this fixed bar adjustable stops are attached to regulate the traverse of
a sliding bar there being one such bar for each breadth of fabric made on the
machine, each sliding bar has a reversely inclined slot which operates studs
secured in the lower cam bits for reversing them to give motion to the frame
needle jacks
6. The bar carrying the cam bits is traversed by a lever attached to the right
end, the lower end of the lever rocks on an axle secured to the standard or back
rail, intermediately the lever is slotted to slide upon a stud carried by a bar which
slides in bearings secured to the standards; this bar carries two trucks between
which a drawing cam revolves, the axle of which carries a toothed bevel wheel,
driven by a smaller toothed bevel wheel secured on the front cam shaft.
7 The traverse of the three or more sliding bars provided with thread carriers is
regulated by adjustable stops at each end of the machine, by the following means;
at each end of the face bar is a bearing bracket each of which carries a worm and
nut, the worm axle is provided with a notched and studded plate, which is racked
round by a driver carried by a truck bearing lever, actuated by a cam on the back
shaft, the worms rack in loop shifting instruments, when the fabric is being
narrowed, the nut on each worm carries a bar on which an adjustable stop can be
moved outwards when the whole width of fabric is being made or inwards when a
narrower fabric is being made.
8 The nuts on the worms also move in two sliding bars, which lift the frame
needle jacks up to relieve the loops while the machine needles take their portion
the raising of the bars being effected by truck levers operated by cams on the front
shaft, each sliding bar is recessed on its top edge where required to allow the jacks
to drop out of action.
8A At the back of the sliding bars is a bar capable of being raised by the
attendant when required or by a lever resting on a truck bearing lever loose on an
axle shaft (hereinafter mentioned) the lever being operated by a cam on the back
shaft.
9. Secured to the standards behind the face bar is an angle bar to which axle
rods and sleys for the frame needle jacks are secured, the frame needles and front
ends of the jacks slide in sleys attached to the back of the face bar.
10. Behind the angle bar the standards have bearings secured to them in which
an axle shaft (before mentioned) rocks, being operated by a lever actuated by a
cain on the back shaft, upon the axle shaft bearing brackets are secured in which
a shaft rocks, the rocking being effected by a link and truck bearing lever operated
by a cam on the back shaft, the rocking shaft is provided with bearings in which
two rods slide to each of which brackets are secured which carry loop shifting

page_text: instruments some of which act on the loops on the frame needles and others act on
the loops on the machine needles.
11 Behind the rocking shaft bearings are secured to the brackets in which a
shaft rocks carrying bearing levers to which rods are secured for pressing back the
instruments which act on the loops on the machine needles the rods being pressed
back by the inner ends of links which are attached to slotted levers which carry
the machine needle bars, these loop shifting instruments are held forward by
springs interposed between each pair of brackets
12. The machine needles are cast in leads and are clamped to their bars by
plates and screws the bars have an arm at each end which rocks upon studs which 1
are adjustable in slotted levers secured on an axle shaft which rocks in bearings in
front of the face bar between it and the driving shaft. The axle shaft is rocked
while the fabric is being made by a cam on the front shaft operating a truck
bearing lever secured to the axle shaft; a second truck bearing lever is also
attached to the axle shaft, and is operated by a cam on the back shaft only when 1
the fabric is being narrowed.
13. The slotted levers carry studs and links which operate slides for knocking over
the loops of the machine needles, they also carry a sliding bar which is notched so
as to set free the machine needle slides when required, the sliding of the bar is
effected by a link and hand lever, the back end of which raises a truck bearing
lever operated by a cam on the front cam shaft such movements draw the machine
needle bars and needles back and sets free the slides at the same time.
14 By means of a straight bar knitting machine, employing latch needles arranged
and constructed as above described I am enabled to make narrowed and fashioned
ribbed looped articles automatically on the same machine, and at a greater speed
than heretofore.
By drawing back the machine needle bars and needles, I am enabled to make
narrowed and fashioned plain looped articles automatically on the same machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a machine constructed according to my improvements, :
but having portion of the left half broken away.
Figure 2 a sectional view shewing the relative position of the several truck
levers, which communicate motion to the instruments employed.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view shewing the several fixed and sliding bars in
section, and a side view of the whole of the instruments required to make one
breadth of fabric.
Figure 4a back view of the movable and adjustable inclines, which operate the
frame needle jacks.
.
1
Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
Figure 5 is a view of the right end of the machine.
Figure 6 is a view of the left end.
Figure 7 is an enlarged front view of the three thread carriers employed to
each breadth of fabric made
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views of portions of the apparatus I employ to stop
either the main cam shaft or the narrowing cam shaft alternately.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the apparatus as applied to either shaft
Figures 12 and 13 are separate side views of certain transferring instruments
hereafter referred to.
The cams carried by both shafts are shewn in outline viewed from the right side,
those on the main shaft being numbered 1 to 4 inclusive and those on the narrowing
shaft being numbered 5 to 10 inclusive, the narrowing shaft also carries a cam
numbered 11 (shewn at Figure 6 only) which operates a lever for racking a pattern
wheel hereafter referred to.
The corresponding parts in each Figure are indicated by the same letters where
necessary

page_text: My improvements relate to straight bar knitting machines in which what are
known as tumbler or latch needles are employed
Each machine consists of the following parts namely, two end standards and two
or more intermediate standards, the number varying according to the length of the
machine, these standards are connected together by front and back rails; a face
bar A being secured to the top of the standards, in front of the standards are
bearings in which a driving shaft B revolves, this shaft is provided with the
requisite number of hand wheels, and at the right end with a fly wheel and driving
pulleys for a belt from a main driving shaft; the opposite end of the shaft, is
provided with a toothed wheel B₁ forming one of a train of toothed wheels (the
teeth are not shewn in the end views, but are of the shape usually employed) for
communicating motion to two cam shafts each of which revolve in bearings secured
to the standards. These shafts are parallel to each other. The front shaft C carries
the cams which give the requisite movements to the several operating instruments,
when the machine is making either a plain or a ribbed looped fabric. The back
shaft D carries the cams, which give the requisite movements when the fabric is
required to be fashioned or narrowings to be inserted.
Each of these shafts are alternately revolved by the apparatus shewn at
Figures 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11. At the left end of the machine, there is a pattern
wheel D¹ which revolves on an axle secured to the end standard the wheel being
racked one tooth at each revolution of the shaft D by a driving lever hinged to
the lower end of a lever D' which rocks on an axle secured in a bracket at the
back of the left narrowing screw, the lever D' is provided with a truck and is
rocked by a cam 11 carried by the shaft D, the pattern wheel is racked only at such
time as the upper end of a right angled rocking lever D³ is in the position shewn
at Figure 6 pressed back but upon the attendant moving the lever towards the
front of the machine, a stud secured in the back end of the lever raises the driving
lever clear of the teeth of the wheel until narrowings are required to be made.
Then upon the lever being pressed back, the pattern wheel will be racked round
until one or other of the studs D' with which it is provided passes under the
projection on the lower edge of a rocking lever D, the back end of which is hinged
to the lower end of a link having its upper end hinged to a lever De connected by
a short link to a rocking lever D' which rocks on an axle secured in the bracket
at the back of the left narrowing screw. Each end of the lever D7 carries a bolt
pressed down by a spring above it, one or other of these bolts alternately stops or
releases one or other of the cam shafts
Each cam shaft has a toothed wheel D8 running loose upon it, to each wheel is
secured a recessed plate each carrying two spring keys D³; next to the recessed
plate is an incline plate D¹º outside which is a cover plate D¹ which is secured fast
on the shaft, the operation of these parts is as follows; when either of the incline
plates is retained by one end of the lever D' both spring keys are carried round as
the wheel revolves, the keys sliding over the inclines of the plate D1° but when the
incline plate is partially revolved instead of an incline for the spring key to slide
over, the key comes in contact with a stop or catch D¹ on the cover plate and
carries the cam shaft round with it. For simply revolving or stopping the shaft,
one spring key would alone suffice, but as it is necessary for the attendant to turn
the machine back the second spring key is added, this key slides over the inclines
of the plate Do except when the machine is required to be turned back, when the
key comes in contact with a second stop or catch D 13 and carries the shaft
backwards
The spring keys are entirely hid from view by the cover plate, the springs on
the keys press them up in contact with the stops or catches and the incline presses
them clear of the catches when stayed by the bolt in one end of the lever D'
actuated by either of the studs on the pattern wheel before named.
The toothed wheels on the two shafts and an intermediate wheel gearing into
the wheel on the driving shaft form the train of wheels above referred to

page_text: By such means the possibility of overdriving either cam shaft is entirely
obviated.
Each division of the machine is supplied with a roller upon which the fabric is
wound as fast as it is made, each roller being provided with a weight capable of
adjustment to regulate the weight on the fabric while working; the rollers and
weights are not shewn in the drawings as they are of the construction usually
employed
To the back of the face bar, bearing brackets are secured in which a bar E slides
to which boxes containing cam bits are secured which operate the jacks of the
frame needles.
Each box (a back view of one of which is shewn at Figure 4 and in plan at
Figure 4) consists of a plate E' to which is screwed a bearing E' in which a
screwed rod turns having its screwed end passed through a stud projecting from a
central cam bit E³ which regulates the downward movement of the frame needle
jacks E7 on each side of the cam bit E³ is a cam bit E* capable of adjustment by
the set screws shown at Figure 4 the bits regulate the downward throw of the
frame needles, after they have received the thread supplied to them, and below the
central cam bit are two sliding bolts each of which carries a cam bit E at its lower
end, which regulates the upward throw of the frame needle jacks, the upper end of
each bolt carries a stud which takes into a reversely inclined slot in a sliding bar E
provided with a spring which takes into notches in its lower edge one or other of
the cam bits E5 being alternately raised while the other is lowered. The traverse
of the sliding bar E is regulated by an adjustable stop at each end, which are
secured to a bar attached to the back of the bearing brackets. (one such stop is
shown at Figure 4.) There is one set of cam bits and a sliding bolt to each breadth
of fabric produced. The cam bits are shewn at Figure 4 in their proper position
ready to make a traverse from left to right
The bar E carrying the cam boxes is traversed by a link E8 working on an axle
pin near the right end of the bar its other end working on an axle pin in the
upper end of a lever E which rocks on an axle at its lower end, which is secured
in a bracket attached to the right end standard, the lever E slides between two
studs in the back of a bar E10 which slides in bearings secured to the standards.
This bar carries two trucks on its front between which a drawing cam revolves,
the axle of which lies at a right angle to the right end of the main cam shaft C
and carries a toothed bevel wheel driven by a smaller bevel wheel secured on the
shaft C. The traverse of the thread carriers is effected as follows. In front of the
bar E and traversing with it is a bar 3 to which thread carriers F are secured.
These carriers traverse the whole width of the fabric to be made or a central
portion only, and sliding in the bearing brackets are two other bars 4 and 5 to
the back bar 4 is secured the thread carriers F¹, and to the front bar 5 is secured
the thread carriers F, the carriers F1 and F traverse only over a portion of the
width of fabric from each selvage
The traverse of the thread carrier bars is regulated by adjustable stops at each
end of the machine by the following means; At each end of the face bar is a
bearing bracket, each of which carries a worm and nut F³ the worm axle is
provided with a notched and studded plate F which is racked round by a driver F³
carried by a truck bearing lever actuated by a cam on the back shaft D, the
driver Fs at the right end being operated by the cam 5, and the driver at the left
end by a cam 10. The nut on each worm carries a bar on which an adjustable
stop can be moved outwards when the whole width of fabric is being made, or
inwards for a narrower fabric
The nuts Fs at the back of the narrowing worms each move in a sliding bar
carrying a slotted lever G one at the right end of the machine, and the other at
the left end, when narrowings are being made, the slotted end of each lever
receives the lower end of a lever G each secured on one of two rods G2 each of
which is provided with a lever terminating at its front end in a short bar or

page_text: finger Gs, these fingers lower the frame needles, so that they cannot be operated
upon by the cams when the loops are removed from them. there are two fingers G³
to each breadth of fabric and are lowered after each narrowing by a cross headed
link 3 at the back taking into the outer slotted ends of levers secured on the
rods G2 the link G³ is binged to the back end of a right angled lever carrying a
truck operated by the cam 3 on the shaft C.
Below the frame needle jacks is a bar H upon which the needle jacks fall, this
bar is secured to bracket levers 1 loose on the narrowing bracket axle 1 at the
back of the machine, the levers 1 are operated by the cam 1.
At the back of the falling bar is a bar H¹ capable of being raised by the
attendant when required or by a lever 84, the lower end of which rests on the top
of the lower end of the truck lever 8, the bar H₁ is carried by levers hooked on
the axle I.
Secured to the standards behind the face bar is an angle bar J to which sleys
carrying axle rods for the frame needle jacks are secured, the front ends of the jacks
slide in curved sleys, attached to the back of the face bar.
The narrowing apparatus see Figures 2, 3, and 7 consists of the following parts;
behind the angle bar, the standards have bearings secured to them in which the
axle I rocks, the axle is rocked by a truck lever 7 actuated by the cam 7 on the
shaft D, upon the axle I bearing brackets K are secured in which a shaft K¹ rocks;
the rocking being effected by a link K' carrying an axle pin at its lower end,
which takes into a slot in a truck bearing lever 9 operated by a cam 9 on the back
shaft the rocking shaft K' is provided with bearings in which two rods K³ K* rock,
to each of which brackets are secured each of these brackets carry loop shifting
instruments L L¹ and a spring bit L³, the shifters L have eyes at their lower ends
to receive the hooked ends of the frame needles, and the shifters L' are bent nearly
at a right angle at their lower end, and are pointed so as to lie in the latch
groove of the machine needles when taking the loops off them, and the spring
bits L push down the two next adjacent frame needles to be ready to receive the
transferred loops.
The brackets carrying the shifting instruments, are in two parts, kept in the
position shown at Figure 3 by a spring at the top being placed between them.
Behind the rocking shaft K bearings are secured to the brackets K in which a
shaft L³ rocks carrying bearing levers to which rods L' are secured for pressing
back the instruments L', which transfer the loops of the machine needles, the rods
being pressed back by the inner inclined ends of arms Lo, which are attached to
slotted levers, which carry the machine needle bars. The machine needles are cast
in leads and are clamped to their bars by plates and screws in the usual way, the
bars have an arm at each end which rock upon studs, which are adjustable in slotted
levers M, secured on an axle shaft, which rocks in bearings carried by the standards
in front of the face bar and between it, and the driving shaft. The axle shaft is
rocked, while the fabric is being made by the cam 4 on the front shaft, operating
a truck lever 4, a second truck lever O, is also attached to the axle shaft and is
operated by a cam 6 on the back shaft, only when the fabric is being made. The
slotted levers carry studs links and levers N, which operate a slide N₁ for knocking
over the loops of the machine needles, they also carry a sliding bar N², which is
notched so as to set free the machine needle slides when required the sliding of
the bar.being effected by the attendant as the machine needle bars are drawn back
by the operation of the cam on the front shaft, the slides are set free at the
same time
To each width of frame needles, on each side a bracket is secured to the bearing
brackets, in these brackets the axle studs at each end of a trough shaped bar Ŏ
rock, the trough carries arms above it, to which a wire is secured, which when in
the position shown at Figure 3, prevents the latches of the machine needles closing,
before they have secured their loops, but when the frame needles are being lowered
by their inclines the wire is lowered into position for-preventing the latches flying

page_text: up before the needles have secured the thread supplied to them, the lowering of the
wire is effected by a rod 2, having its upper end jointed to an arm attached to one
end of the rocking trough O and its lower end to a truck lever 2 actuated by the
cam 2 on the shaft C. The several cams effect the following operations.
N° 1 operates the falling bar H
N° 2 operates the wire for both the frame and machine needles.
N° 3 knocks down the narrowing needle jacks E'
N° 4 throws the machine needle bars in and out.
These four cams are carried by the front cam shaft C, and the following are
carried by the narrowing cam shaft D.
No 5 and 10 operate the levers F³ for racking the narrowing worms.
N° 6 operates the machine when narrowing
N° 7 dips the transferring, points when narrowing.
N° 8 locks up the loose falling bar H¹ when narrowing, and
N° 9 throws in the transferring points when narrowing
Having fully described the whole of the several parts separately and their several
movements, I will now describe their combined movements.
When making a ribbed fabric, the frame needle jacks are operated by their
inclines, and the machine needles pass in and are drawn out, securing their share of
the loops in the usual way but when the machine is about to make narrowings, the
narrowing machine is brought down until the transferrers L are placed in the
position shown at Figure 12 in relation to the frame needles, the machine needles
being out, the eyes receive the hooks of the four frame needles at each selvage and
rise, drawing the frame needles with them, they then fall with the frame needles
until the loops are passed onto them, they then move back clear of the hooks of
the frame needles, and the machine needles pass between the frame needles as
the transferrers fall back, the machine transferrers L¹ follow them, occupying the
position shown at Figure 13, they are then lowered onto the machine needles to
receive their loops, and as the needles are drawn back, the machine transferrers
advance to secure the loops, at the same time the frame needle transferrers are
lowered and go back to clear the loops from their needles, they are then traversed
three needles (that is, when a two and one rib fabric is being made) when the
frame needle transferrers, first descend, the spring bit L2 pushes down the two next
adjacent frame needles so that they may be ready to receive the transferred loops,
the loops from both sets of needles being transferred at the same time, and as the
transferrers come forward to transfer the loops, after being traversed, the spring bit
gives way to the next two adjacent needles, and the narrowing machine rises until
the next narrowings are required to be made, when the movements are repeated.
By means of a straight bar knitting machine, employing latch needles arranged
and constructed as above described, I am enabled to make narrowed and fashioned
ribbed looped articles automatically on the same machine, and at a greater speed
than heretofore.
And by drawing back the machine needle bars and needles, I am enabled to
make narrowed and fashioned plain looped articles, automatically and on the same
machine.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim.
First. The shape of the frame needle jacks E7, by which they can be operated,
from the top by the cam bits shown at Figure 4.
Second. The construction and employment of the cam bits E³, E', E' and the
sliding reversely inclined slotted bar E for operating needle jacks E7 carrying
latch needles
Third The construction and employment of the transferring instruments L and L',
and spring bits L' for removing loops from the frame latch needles and the machine
Fatch needles at the same time.
Fourth. For the several apparatus combined, forming a straight bar knitting

page_text: machine, carrying latch needles in which the cam shafts C and D are automatically
stopped and started as required to produce either plain or ribbed narrowed and
fashioned articles on the same machine, substantially as described and illustrated in
the drawings annexed
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Coltman have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four
Witness
HW GOUGH CE
Nottingham
•
THOMAS COLTMAN (L.S.)