IMPROVE. MENTS IN KNITTING FRAMES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN KNITTING FRAMES."-A communication from Mr Puech.
ealed the 30th June 1857, and dated the 6th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th January 1857.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING FRAMES," (communicated to me by M' Puech, a
foreigner residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
This Invention refers to the construction of a straight frame, or French
loom, or machinery for the manufacture of knitted fabrics.
Firstly, the improvements consist in an arrangement for effecting the forming
of the loops (maillage), and the knocking off of the work (abattage), the parts
having a to-and-fro action in a straight line.
Secondly, in constructing the frame with two fronts or sides, each side
having a row of needles, a row of loop-forming sinkers (platines mailleuses),
and a row of knocking-over sinkers (platines d'abattage), so that two webs
may be manufactured at the same time, one on each side.
Thirdly, in rendering the adjusting contrivance (rentrage) moveable, in such
manner as to have a periodical rotary movement round a threaded rod which

page_text: connects it to the carrier bar (porte systéme), so that hooking of the web and
tearing of the selvages are avoided.
Fourthly, in placing the thread guide over the carrier bar (porte systême),
and imparting a double movement to it, the guide being rendered moveable
beyond the to-and-fro stroke, in order to bring it nearer to or farther from the
sinkers, in such manner that the guide recedes beyond the head of the needles,
when the taking-up operation (cueillement) is finished, and leaves room for
the presser wheels to pass and the sinkers to go on with their work. As the
guide is started off, it is drawn in and worked back to the proper position for
giving out the thread.
Fifthly, in the construction of nippers actuated by cams for taking up the
loop formed at the head of the selvage needle at the same time as the knocking-
over brings the web to the front.
Sixthly, in the arrangement for narrowing or reducing the web.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings is a cross section, shewing one side of
the frame, the other side being precisely similar; Figure 2 is a front view,
shewing the relative position of the parts. These two Figures shew the frame
provided with a piece A, I, placed on the excentric bar g in such manner as to
diminish the mesh of the selvage loop in accordance with the reduction of the
fabric.
The thread guide T has a reciprocating to-and-fro action, which is imparted
to it by the carriage A, at the same time as the presser wheel S and the excen-
trics G, ending in the piece A, I, which raise the sinkers C, according to their
curved form, which is duly contrived for the purpose.
In this arrangement, pieces M, N, are placed behind the pieces C, Figure 2,
and serve to guide the siukers when the thread is taken up, and push the
proper sinker forward; they are mounted on a sliding block fitted to the
carrier bar N, Figure 1. The excentric G has near its centre two inclined
parts, recesses, or steps (chûtes), one for disengaging the front hook of the
sinker from the loops after it has brought the loops forward under the hook of
the needle; but at this part the web ought to be held beyond the hooks of the
needles till after they have been pressed. The sinkers are now suddenly
brought up, the second step thereby freeing the web, which is pressed as it
passes over the hooks, which the presser wheels S close at this part.
The preceding arrangement has been shown in order to explain how the
frame may be made, but Figures 3, 4, &c. shew the improved loom with modi-
fications for obtaining by machinery what has hitherto only been done by
hand in French looms, namely, extending the thread (jetée dufil) and
reducing selvages, G' is the complementary portion of the machine.

page_text: Figure 3 is a general view of the loom; Figure 4 shews the thread carrier;
Figure 5, detached view of the reducing contrivance; Figure 6, adjusting
apparatus (appareil de rentrage); Figure 7, front view, and Figure 8 side
view, of regulating apparatus for reducing the web.
A is a contrivance, already referred to, but here made moveable, and having
at one end a supporting piece B (souteneuse), Figure 6, which in the frame
just described formed a separate piece, screwed to the carrier bar, and over-
hanging the front of the loom at the height at which it had to act; o and u,
Figure 3, studs for opening the apparatus simultaneously; and N, a stud for
closing; D, thread guide and appendages.. Formerly this guide was placed
under the carrier bar and within the presser wheels E, E, but in this Invention
the thread guide is placed over the carrier bar and brought down over the
front of the frame to the proper height outside the presser wheels, and is free
to move, being made to slide on a block fixed on the carriage C attached to
the case F, which is free to slide on the surface Y, being moved from side to side.
by the carrier bar, and thus passes through the space left between the two studs
Z, Z, which represents the width of the web. The thread guide being moveablo
beyond the to-and-fro stroke, is brought nearer to or farther from the sinkers,
as required; thus, when the laying in of the threads is finished, the thread guide.
is led away to beyond the head of the needles, leaving room for the presser
wheels to pass and the sinkers to do their work. Just as it starts off, the
thread guide returns in and proceeds to the place which it should fill, in order
to give out the thread.
d, Figure 4, are nippers, fixed in the box F across the thread guide; this
nipper is actuated by excentrics on the carrier bar, and is intended to give out
and take up the loop formed at the head of the selvage needle just as the
knocking-over brings the web to the front, this loop passing on to the right
or left hand needles and producing irregular selvages. is a lever on the
nipper d, provided with two blocks q, acting to the right and to the left hand,
each being alternately moved by the cams, thereby lifting the nipper away.
from a stop or wedge which keeps it open, the nipper closing by means of
a spring bearing against one of its sides.
The reducing apparatus, Figure 5, consists, first, of studs; secondly, of excen-
tric ledges; the studs sliding on the "ruler" and moved by the apparatus S,
Figures 7 and 8, which communicates motion through the pinion p to the
screw. This action is intended to change the selvages and make them in
any desired part, the screw k being threaded in two directions, part to the
right and part to the left, so that one and the same rotary movement may
bring together or apart the sockets, 2.

page_text: On the excentric ledges m, Figure 3, a friction roller i travels, and being
attached to the thread guide moves the latter with it, thereby bringing it
nearer to or further from the sinkers.
The excentric ledges are moved by means of the lever T, actuated by the
parts 1, 2, 3 on the table V, fixed to the frame carriage, with which it moves.
Spindles J for the bobbins I are fixed on this table, also an arm G, which ter-
minates at top in a ring through which the thread passes, whereby the giving-
off and draught of the thread are regulated.
The parts 1, 2, and 3 on the table V communicate to the lever T a motion
in a reverse direction to that of the frame.
On the apparatus R two catches g (Figure 5) are fixed, which stop momen-
tarily the apparatus D, and allow the first sinkers time to catch, so as to form
the loops regularly.
The apparatus S, before referred to, acts as as a regulator for reducing the
web; it is divided off into three equal portions, which correspond with the
"fouture" of the frame; the distance between every two notches corresponds
to the distance between two needles, so that in order to reduce the needles the
wheel must be turned from one notch to another as many times as there are
needles to reduce. The apparatus S may be worked by hand, as in the
Drawing, or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent 2
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, 3
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should 3
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom

page_text: of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING FRAMES," (a communication from
M' Puech, a foreigner residing abroad), upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and.
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same,
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next.
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by.
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention refers to the construction of a straight frame, or French
loom, or machinery for the manufacture of knitted fabrics.
The improvements consist, firstly, in an arrangement for effecting the.
forming of the loops (maillage) and the knocking-off of the work (abattage), the
parts having a to-and-fro action in a straight line.
Secondly, in constructing the frame with two fronts or sides, each side having
a row of needles, a row of loop-forming sinkers (platines mailleuse), and a row
of knocking-over sinkers (platines d'abbattage), so that two webs may be
manufactured at the same time, one on each side.
:
Thirdly, in rendering the adjusting contrivance (rentrage) moveable in such
manner as to have a periodical rotary movement round a threaded rod which.
connects it to the carrier bar (porte systéme), so that hooking of the web and
tearing of the selvages are avoided.
Fourthly, in placing the thread guide over the carrier bar and imparting a
double movement to it, the guide being rendered moveable beyond the to-and-
fro stroke, in order to bring it nearer to or farther from the sinkers, in such.
manner that the guide recedes beyond the head of the needles, when the
taking-up operation (cueillement) is finished, and leaves room for the presser
wheels to pass and the sinkers to go on with their work. As the guide.
is started it draws in and works back to the proper position for giving out the
thread.
Fifthly, in the construction of nippers actuated by cams for taking up the.
Joop formed at the head of the selvage needle at the same time as the knock-
ing-over brings the web to the front.
Sixthly, in an arrangement for narrowing or reducing the web.

page_text: The Drawings hereunto annexed represent the best method the Inventor is
acquainted with for carrying his Invention into effect.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of his machine; Figure 2 is a full size
view of the guide thread carrier; Figure 3 is a section of the narrowing
or reducing apparatus; Figure 4 is a view of the excentric or cam bar,
which gives to the sinkers the positions proper to them at the moment of
operation; Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, views of the side and edges
of the sinkers; Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Sheet 2) are views
of the various parts of the narrowing apparatus; Figure 14 is a side
view of the frame or loom A'; (Figure 14) is a shaft, which receives motion
from the handle A or otherwise.
On the shaft A' is a fiy wheel B and a pinion C, the latter of which gears
with and transmits motion to the toothed wheel D on the shaft E. This shaft
carries the toothed wheel F, which gears with and transmits motion to the
larger toothed wheel F' on the lower shaft E', which carries the crank H. To
this crank is jointed one end of the connecting rod II, the other end of which
is attached to the lever G, which is thereby made to impart a reciprocating
motion to the slide I. The shafts E, E', are supported by the framework
K, K', in bearings L, L', attached thereto. At the upper part of the slide I
is fixed a knocking-over contrivance J, composed of two parts, of which one is
moveable, and slides in the necessary distance in grooves according to the amount
of knocking-over motion which it is desired to give to the sinkers R. The
slide I carries two supports M, which sustain the carrier bar M. On the front
of the frame is fixed to the slide I an excentric or cam bar V (Figures 1
and 4), which produces the different vertical motions of the sinkers used in the
making of the loops. 1, serves to hold the sinkers raised to work after the web,
and to reverse it, if necessary; 2, serves for the coupling; 3, is composed of
two steps, one above the other, to give to the sinkers the motion necessary for
taking up the thread for the formation of the loop; 4, serves for the knocking
over. The two halves of the rule or bar are alike on each side of its centre.
To it are fixed at 3 a carrier X, with a screw Y for regulating the loop. The
carrier bar M' is fixed on the slide by means of two supports M, M, and
carries six supports N, two of which are square, and carry the two presser
wheels O, O', which serve to press the points of the needles, so as to allow the
stitches to be raised over the newly-formed loops. Two other supports carry
the reverse cam bars P, P¹, which serve to return the sinkers R, R, after they
have performed one operation. The two last supports carry the arms Q, Q¹,
and S, S', of which the latter serve to push the web in upon the needles, and
the former to sustain the needles while the sinkers are taking up the thread.

page_text: These supports are square and form levers; they are pivoted in bearings
N' on the carrier bar by screws. At the other extremity of the lever is placed
a piece T with an inclined adjunct, which moves on a metallic guide U on the
frame K. This inclined piece, following the curve of the guide U, causes
the arms Q, Q', and S, S¹, to engage or disengage the needles, and when
the carrier bar has arrived at the end of its course the inclined piece passes
under the guide U and impresses a descending motion upon the piece T,
forcing the said arms to rock clear of the needles, while the corresponding,
parts on the opposite side of the frame come into operation. The thread
guide (shewn on a large scale in Figure 2) carries (as is shewn in Figure 14) on
a horizontal plate 51 the bobbin 50, which supplies the thread. This bobbin
moves equally and simultaneously with the guide, and is always perpendicularly
above the point where it is required to be used, being conducted by the bent
rod 52. This thread guide is supported by the carrier bar by means of
a transverse bar X fixed on the two extremities of the carrier bar. The thread
guide slides on this bar, and descends in the front of the loom or frame on the
outside of the presser wheels 0, 0¹; it is moved from right to left, and
vice versa, by friction upon the bar X, and is arrested by the stops Z', while the
carrier bar M continues its motion. By means of an excentric placed at
the back of the carrier bar, the thread guide, which is itself fixed upon a lever,
is made to approach or recede from the sinkers, as may be required. The
nipper R¹ is fixed above the thread guide, and governed by the excentric bars
X", which are fixed behind the carrier bar M'. The object of this nipper is
to take up the slack thread which is formed at the head of the selvage needle,
and so make the selvage regular. To the nipper R¹ is attached a lever V!!!,
furnished with two dogs L, L, which are so arranged as to act either to the
right or to the left, and are alternately moved by the excentric bars X", which
impress upon the nipper an upward motion; the nipper then leaves the wedge
B' which holds it open, and is closed by the spring C¹ attached to the moveable
side.
The formation of the loop of the web is the result of four distinct opera-
tions-first, the taking up of the thread; second, the pressing of it into place;
third, the knocking over; and, fourth, the forcing in of the stitches upon the
needles. These operations are produced by the joint operation of the cam bar,
the presser wheels, the arms QQ', and S S', the knocking-over apparatus, the
sinkers, and the needles. Motion being imparted to the apparatus, the slide I
moves and takes with it the carrier bar M' and the cam bar V. This latter,
by moving in the scores or recesses of the sinkers, either raises or depresses
When the thread is passel over the needles by means of the thread
them.

page_text: carrier, the cam bar V depresses the sinkers R, R, and the supporting arm Q
engages the needles, and the taking up is effected. The presser wheel O then
presses against the points of the needles, and the knocking-over piece J in its
turn carries the web over the ends of the needles and throws down the loops.
The loop being at the point of the needles before the thread is carried to
its place, the arms S, S', which move before the thread guide, push the web
back on the needles ready for the repetition of the operation.
The plate or disc B is toothed at its circumference, each tooth corresponding
in length to the length of a loop according to the gauge of the machine. On
the side of this plate are fixed by means of screws a number of graduated
pieces, the quantity of which is varied according to the required diminution of
the fabric to be produced, and their position is calculated according to the
form which the fabric is to assume. On the pinion A', Figure 7, is fixed a
cam a, which at each revolution comes against the wheel b fixed at the
extremity of the lever c, and impresses upon it an oscillatory motion. This
lever is fixed to the frame K by an axle C', and carries at its other end a
hook e, against which a spring g presses. The book e at each turn of the cam
moves the disc B round through a given space. Below this hook e is a pawl h,
acted upon by a spring i, which prevents the disc moving back, and which is
carried by the same frame as the axle C¹ of the lever c. The graduated pieces
of the diminishing disc B moving with the disc, come in contact with a move-
able horizontal lever K", (Figure 10.) fixed to the framework K¹, by a pin 7,
about which it has an oscillating motion. The lever K" ends in a gudgeon m,
governed by a collar n on the shaft E, which it causes to slide up to the collar n',
in which it engages, and gives a rotative impulse to the wheel o, which moves
the wheel p. To the latter is fixed a crank 9 (Figure 1), which actuates the
rod r, which gives to the carriage s an oscillating motion. The carriage has
two lugs t, t, which support on centres the shaft u, to which are connected the
levers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 (Figure 11), these being made to oscillate by
the cams 12, 12, included between the clutches 13, 13, on the shaft 14. The
two collars 15, 15, are fixed on the carriage by screws 15¹, and give the
reciprocating motion to the cams 12, 12. The cam shaft is caused to rotate
by the bevil wheel t¹, which is driven by the bevil wheel n¹ on the shaft E.
The levers 6 and 10 are united at their extremities and carry the ticklers 17,
which are capable of a suitable motion across the front of the frame simul-
taneously from each side in opposite directions. The cam which actuates these
levers forces the ticklers forward to the needles. The lever 19 is hinged at
one extremity, and in rocking forces the points of the ticklers on to the
needles and closes them. The levers 5 and 11 are united at their upper

page_text: extremities by a hinge and carry the guide bar 18; these levers acted upon
by the cam move the guide bar forward to the sinkers. At the extremity of
the guide bar 18 is jointed the lever 7, which being acted upon by the cam
causes the guide bar to rock, and raises it above the heads of the sinkers. On
the action of the cam ceasing, the guide bar has a contrary motion, and
grasping the heads of the sinkers draws them forward and moves the loops to
be diminished on to the tickler points; the ticklers then withdraw from a
number of the needles, according to the amount of diminution which it is
desired to obtain. Next, the lever, 8, which is surmounted by a claw, receives
its impulse from a cam on the shaft 14. The claw descends upon the web
under the needles, and pushes the stitches already upon them back from
the chases of the needles. The chases being thus freed, receive the points
of the ticklers, and the loops are pushed off from the tickler points on to
the needles by the sinkers R. At the moment when the ticklers are about
to withdraw from the needles, and their points carrying the loops rest on
the needles on which they are to be deposited, the claw of the lever 8
again forces the loops back, as at first, and the web takes with it the dimi-
nished loops, leaving the ticklers quite free thereof. The diminution being
effected, the carrier bar receiving its impulse from the rod r, returns to
its place. The graduated pieces ', fixed on the diminishing disc, serve on
one side to move the lever carrier (Figure 13). On the other side of the
said disc are fixed other pieces corresponding to j', in such manner, that at
the moment when the first begin to put the lever carrier in motion, the
second come in contact with two levers 19 and 20 and impress upon
them an oscillating motion. The lever 20 is terminated by a stud or
button. A small chain placed on this button is attached to a spring stud 21.
An oscillating motion being communicated, this stud disengages the double
lever 22, with its two branches 25 and 26, which it before supported. These
two branches rest against two pulleys 23, 231, on two cams 24, 24¹, on the
shaft 14. One branch 25 serves to give motion to a toothed wheel 28 by
means of a catch. This wheel transmits its motion to a second toothed wheel,
which in its turn drives a smaller wheel, keyed upon a screwed shaft 29. This
shaft carries a nut or block 30, which moves on the screw thread and diminishes
the range of the lever carrier. The motion of the block 30 is transmitted by
the arm 31 to the clutch 16, thus diminishing the range of the cams 12, 12'.
The second branch 26 serves to transmit two movements: the first to the gear-
ing wheel, the threaded shaft of which carries the two blocks, which reduce
the traverse of the carrier bar; the second to the bevil wheel, which serves
to shorten the radius of the lever of the carrier bar. When the graduated

page_text: piece of the disc B presses on the horizontal lever 20 it sets free the lever 22,
which then falls on the cam 24, which in turning round lifts the extremity of
the lever and gives it a rocking motion. This communicates to the shaft 32
a rotary motion, and this shaft bears a rod 33 at the end of the loom, Figure 1.
A spring catch takes into the teeth of the wheel 331, which drives the wheel 34,
the shaft of which has formed upon it a screw thread, which moves the
stops, which limit the course of the carrier bar. The second movement,
before mentioned, is performed simultaneously with the first, just described, in.
the following manner:-The rod fixed near the lower part of the branch 26
rocks to and fro the lever 37, at the extremity of which is a spring catch.
This catch, obeying the impulse given it, acts on a toothed wheel 39, which
drives the bevil wheel 40. This bevil wheel communicates a rotary motion to
a horizontal bevil wheel 41. The shaft on which the latter wheel is borne is
made with a screw, which passes through the piece 43, about which the lever 6.
for working the slide I (Figure 3) turns. In its rotation this screw raises or
lowers the centre piece, about which the lever 6 turns, and lengthens or
shortens the range of the lever. This lever 6 drives the wheel 45 by means
of a spring catch, and this wheel communicates its motion to a toothed
wheel 46, which drives another wheel 47, the shaft 20 of which is formed
with a screw, and carries the second block 30¹ of the lever carrier. This
block, 30 communicates its motion to the clutch 16 on the shaft 14 by means
of the arm 31'.
Machines of the kind before described may be made broad enough to
manufacture several stockings at a time; they may also be employed for manu-
facturing all descriptions of hosiery, gloves, &c. of the materials ordinarily
employed, cotton, wool, silk, &c. To make several widths of web at the
same time, or several feet of stockings, fingers of gloves, &c., the Inventor
employs as many thread guides as there are breadths of material to be made
in the width of the loom, and to reduce or diminish the web by this system
it is necessary to have as many ticklers as there are breaths to be narrowed.
The ticklers may be composed of one or several points, and as many of them
may be used as the particular process of narrowing may require. In the
improved machine, stockings, &c. may be completely finished, and made of
any degree of fineness. The diminishing disc is furnished with a series of
concentric zones, each furnished with a series of graduated pieces or steps j', j',
which enables the Inventor to make articles of varying dimensions cor-
responding to the particular series of steps and levers used.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim constructing

page_text: knitting frames and combining the several parts thereof as herein-before
described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)