Improvements in or relating to the Splicing of Knitted Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Splicing of Knitted Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM EDWARD WHITE trading as F. & W. E. White of Bee Hive
Lane, Hosiery Manufacturer, and ALFRED MILLS of 1 Salisbury Street, Hosiery
Manufacturers' Manager, both of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the splicing or laying in of an additional thread or
threads at different parts of a garment as it is being knitted such for example as a
hose, half-hose pant or the like in order to give additional strength where required.
In a circular frame we employ in connection with a thread guide of well known
construction adapted to lay on the needles an additional thread or threads between
two points in the circumference of the frame each course, adjustable pins or tappets
for actuating the splicing thread mechanism. This may be effected by securing a
preferably circular plate to the fixed foundation plate provided with holes at
different parts of its circumference to receive the pins or tappets so that they can
be placed at any part of the circumference and moved as the work proceeds.
If desired two rings may be employed fitting and rotating upon the framing each
one being provided with a tappet or striking part secured to or forming part of it
and the said tappets may be adjusted by rotating the rings. The rings may be
actuated by worms engaging with teeth formed on the rings or by gearing or other
suitable arrangement which may if desired be actuated automatically by the main
shaft through ratchet wheels and pawls governed by a pattern chain or wheel.
By this means a splicing thread or threads may be inserted at any part of a
circular fabric and the spliced part may be made of any desired forin.
The apparatus may be used for example in connection with a circular rib frame
for making hose or half-hose in which the hose are fashioned by removing needles
which thus alter the rib and form a part which is thinner than the remainder. In
this case the shape of the splicing may be made to correspond with the shape of
that part of the hose in which the rib is altered and thus thickened; by altering the
position of the pegs or tappets as the needles are removed either by hand or auto-
matically thus producing hose on a frame of this class of a better quality than
heretofore.
In a straight bar knitting frame the splicing may be fashioned and the material
economized, by employing stops in connection with the splicing carriers of a similar
construction to and operated in the same manner as the ordinary thread carriers by
additional slides in the narrowing boxes.
Dated this 14th day of August 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Splicing of Knitted Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM EDWARD WHITE, trading as F. & W. E. White, of Bee Hive
Lane, Hosiery Manufacturers, and ALFRED MILLS, of 1 Salisbury Street, Hosiery
Manufacturers' Manager, both of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This invention relates to the splicing or laying-in of an additional thread or

page_text: threads at different parts of a garment as it is being knitted, such for example as a
hose, half-hose, pant or the like, to give additional strength where required.
It will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a side view of a stocking, and
Fig. 2 a front view of part of a stocking illustrating the manner of splicing
according to our invention.
Fig. 3 is an elevation and
Fig. 4 plan of part of a circular rib frame showing improved splicing
attachment.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In a circular frame (see Figs. 3 and 4) we employ in connection with a thread
layer of well known construction such as shown at a adapted to lay on the needles
the ordinary thread and an additional thread or threads between two points in the
circumference of the frame at each revolution, adjustable or movable pins or tappets
for actuating the mechanism for alternately releasing and breaking off the extra
thread or threads instead of fixed pins or tappets as heretofore.
This may be effected as shown by securing a circular plate to the bed-plate ¢ of
the frame and provided with holes dat different parts of its circumference to receive
the pins or tappets e so that the said pins or tappets e may be placed at any part
of the circumference and moved as the work progresses.
If desired two rings may be employed fitting and rotating on the framing, cach
one being provided with a tappet or striking part secured to or forming part of it,
and the position of the said tappets may be adjusted by rotating the rings. The
rings may be actuated by worms engaging with teeth formed on the rings, or by
gearing or other suitable arrangement which may if desired be actuated
automatically by the main shaft through ratchet wheels and pawls governed by
a pattern chain or wheel.
By employing movable pins or tappets e operating the extra thread mechanism
the shape of the spliced part (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be governed by moving the
pins or tappets e as the work proceeds. As shown at the splicing thread is laid
between two points at which are close together, the distance being increased as
the work proceeds until the requisite width is obtained at f, the width of the
splicing being again reduced as the work proceeds. By this means we are enabled
to obtain a spliced part which is shaped or fashioned and is equal in effect to a
parallel splice and with the expenditure of less material.
The apparatus may be used in connection with a circular rib frame for making
hose or half-hose which are fashioned or reduced at the ankle by removing
needles which thus alter the rib and form a part which is thinner than the
remainder.
In this case the shape of the spliced part (see Fig. 1) may be made to corre-
spond with the shape of that part of the hose in which the rib is altered and thus:
thicken that part, by altering the position of the pins or tappets e as the work
proceeds and the needles are removed, either by hand or automatically, thus
producing hose on a frame of this class of a better or more even quality than
heretofore.
In a straight bar knitting frame the splicing may be fashioned and the material
economized in the same manner by employing stops in connection with the splicing
carriers of a similar construction to and operated in the same manner as the
ordinary carrier stops, by additional slides in the narrowing boxes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. The shaping or fashioning of the splice or spliced part of a knitted garment.
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a hose half-hose
1:1

page_text: fashioning of the splice or spliced part so as to correspond with the shape of that
part of the ankle which is knitted with a reduced number of needles substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a circular knitting frame the combination with a thread layer adapted to
lay an auxiliary or splicing thread on the needles of adjustable pins or tappets such
as e for operating the said thread layer the distance between which pins may be
increased or decreased as the work proceeds substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a circular knitting frame the combination with a thread layer adapted to
lay an auxiliary or splicing thread on the needles of a plate such as 6 provided
with holes d to receive the pins or tappets e substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a circular knitting frame the combination with a thread layer adapted to
lay an auxiliary or splicing thread on the needles of one or more plates such as b
rotating on the casing and provided with pins or tappets for operating the thread
layer substantially as herein described.
W. E. WHITE.
ALFRED MILLS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.