IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by Johann Schmitt, of Coblenz on the Rhine,
in the Empire of Germany.
ealed the 27th December 1879, and dated the 5th July 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1879.
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Johann
Schmitt, of Coblenz on the Rhine, in the Empire of Germany.
The Invention relates to improvements in Schmitt's knitting machine for which
Letters Patent, No. 870 of 1875, have been granted in England.
The improvements consist,―
1. In an increased production of the machine by forming meshes in such a
manner that the needle does not carry or drop the thread, which is to be formed
into a mesh, through the last mesh of the spiral, but through the mesh of the
adjoining needle, so that one needle knits or forms meshes from the other needle.
2. In making knitting machinery, constructed on the spiral system, capable of being
used for knitting patterns; a, by incorporating or weaving in yarn threads, which
are independent of the knitting threads, by enclosing the meshes either single or
by preference with the said yarn threads, the latter being again either single
or double, or multiple, for which purpose an encircling contrivance is applied;
b, by transporting either single loops or several, cach upon two spirals by means of
a transporter; c, by transporting single meshes unknit from one spiral to the other,
and by transporting a new mesh formed in said mesh, both being effected by
applying a suitable tension for the operation, and a slacker tension where, the trans-
portation is not to take place; or it can be effected by causing the needle, which
is provided with a claw or spur, to advance further during one turn and transport
with its spur the thread and the mesh and to advance less during another turn;
D...10Jl

page_text: d, by knitting mesh after mesh, the first with one yarn thread, the other with
-another-yarn-thread-for-which purpose-two-needles-work-alternately--o-by
using one mesh with only one-and the other with several yarn threads; for which
purpose the needle-has-two-eyes-placed one after the other for the respective
threads selected, and the-needle-advances one time further, another time less
distance before the looping spiral f, by using one mesh with one thread lefthand,
the other mesh with the other thread right hand, by means of two needles alter-
nating with each other g, or also by taking each time two meshes. 3. The
processes, needles, positions, and arrangements of needles are novel and are claimed
both for themselves and for the purpose of producing patterns, as follows. 4. In the
reduction of the knit work by diminishing the number of meshes, by taking off the
yarn thread travelling from the looping spiral to the needle in order to prevent its
being seized by the spiral, a simple lever mechanism producing this result, and
consequently the omission of the usual complicated narrowing mechanism which it
replaces. 5. In the application of flat spirals from ribbons and the application of
flanges on both ends, or only on one of the two spirals, for connecting the same and
for the passage of the work from one spiral to the other instead of the formally
used hollowed spiral, and the semicircular bending of the ribbon so that it forms a
groove at the outer surface, into which the other spiral is laid by some of its rings
in order to form a connection; the latter has in this case a slightly larger diameter
than the former; further, in the return or backtransport with narrowing spirals,
that is to say, two spirals, by the above shapes of the spirals and the backward
knitting with narrowing spirals; further, in the heigher development of the mesh
narrowing than formerly effected with a hollowed spiral wire. 6. In enabling the
backward-knitting right and left hand by arrangements for transporting the knit-
work in the middle of the internal diameter of the spiral or of the circle formed by
the spiral. 7. In keeping the fabric clean from oil or lubricants and in the easier
rotation of the spirals by carrying the latter between rollers, which remain free
from oil, instead of carrying them in lubricated bushes. 8. In obtaining absolute
prevention of clipping the fabric by applying high narrow screw threads or ledges
on the circumference of the rollers, which threads place themselves between the
spiral threads and keep the meshes away from being clipped. 9. In obtaining the
hold and tension of the fabric by a mechanism regulated by the fabric itself,
the said mechanism being set in motion by the fabric winding itself upon an
upright spiral or other suitable object. 10. In passing hooks, needles, and the like,
and spirals through an uncovered opening in the loops, in case that the latter are
not held by round wires but by flat wires or ribbons. 11. In arrangements and
mechanism for using the same needle for knitting forward and backward, without
necessitating a reversion of the mechanism or detaching the knitting thread and
causing forward or backward knitting. 12. In the application of a needle knitting
forward and backward. 13. The simultaneous application of two needles, both of
which are knitting right hand, or one right hand and the other left hand, without
shifting the spiral for the purpose of changing the functions of the needles, that is
to say, for knitting only with one needle, or with both needles at the same time;
or alternately. 14. The application of needles with strengthened eye heads, in order
to ensure the safe formation of meshes. 15. A new arrangement for the transport
of the knit work by making the feeding spiral to carry the fabric on its ridge
while the looping spiral carries the fabric on the side in the spiral rings, also
placing the spirals against each other and the tooth gearing of said spirals, also
placing the looping spiral higher than the feeding spiral, and in the arrangement
of the spiral rolls, the above transportation of the fabric, and at the same time the
complete hold obtained by the spiral as far as its extreme ring in order to ensure
the unfailing formation of the meshes. 16. A new circular needle and its appli-
cation alone or with other needles; its application generally or in combination with
the hold of the spirals and with the transport of the fabric, as stated in No. 15,
also with this transport, and as a right hand or left hand needle, according to the
position of its bow. This needle has its eye in the direction of its curvature. 17.In

page_text: 21.
knitting by means of knitting needles carrried horizontally, and in combination
with needles shaped as stated in No. 16. 18. In the means of applying holding
wires for the exact transport of the fabric. 19. The knitting of ribbed work alter-
nately, one mesh right hand and the other left hand, or two right and two left,
and so on, to four with one and the same yarn thread with knitting machines
constructed on the spiral, the mechanism used for this purpose and the application
of the principle allowing of knitting ribbed work by giving the primary mesh
a turn every time before a needle passes through it for forming a mesh (sec
No. 21 as to the partial means). 20. Securing double efficiency in knitting by the
addition of another needle to that which knits ribbed work, the former knitting
either always left hand or always right hand so that one turn becomes ribbed and
the other plain, knitting the pattern derived therefrom upon this machine, although
said pattern is known an can also be produced by other knitting machines.
In an arrangement consisting in a cam for moving the one or the other mesh-
turning device for every single revolution of the spirals, whereby the needle
intended for ribbed work knits also plain either right hand or left hand, as may be
desired. The said cam or eccentric having three curves, the first curve produces
4 lever motions, which produce plain knitting, the second curve causes alter-
nate lever motion and stoppage thereof; the third curve. produces two motions
and then two stoppages of the lever. The second and the third curve produce the
motions for ribbed knitting, because the moving lever with its mesh-turning device
causes every time a turning of the meshes, now right hand, now left hand, since
there are two levers having the same purpose, one on each side of the curve,
whereby the needle enters first from the inside of the fabric and theu from the
outside, although it is itself always working in the same way or direction.
Narrowing (diminishing) the knit work without interrupting the knitting by
disengaging the gearing, for turning the looping spiral during a complete revolution
of the feeding spiral when the machine is working, thereby the two spirals are
brought a ring nearer together, the total number of rings being thus diminished
and two meshes formed upon one spiral ring, both meshes uniting in one, the
disengaging for this purpose consisting in disengaging gear, fixing the spiral tooth
gear, as stated. 23. Transporting the fabric so that it is guided on the feeding
spiral at half its height in the looping spiral on the ridge of the latter, there being
two long needles working from the outside to the inside, and knitting either alter-
nately or singly all meshes, these needles working over the deeper lying looping
spiral towards the core of the feeding spiral, which moving over the needic seizes
with its point the thread.
22.

page_text: -SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th January 1880.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Johann
Schmitt, of Coblenz on the Rhine, in the Empire of Germany."
The Invention relates to improvements in the machine for which Letters Patent,
No. 870, have been granted in England, dated the 9th of March 1875. The two
spirals B-B, and the needle D¹ have in the first six Figures of the Drawings
hereunto annexed the same position and designation as in the above cited Patent
Specification. These three parts relate to knitting generally, and are mentioned in
the said Specification. They appear in the present Specification and Drawings (up
to Fig. 10) merely in order to explain the rest, without having any particular
novelty in themselves. By the use of an additional needle 1, and by a new mode
of forming the meshes, the production is raised to twice, three times, four times, or
more of the amount hitherto obtained without altering the speed of the machine.
The loop of the needle D (Specification No. 870 of 1875, Sheet I., Figs. 80 and 8b)
is here not taken up by the helix B', as was hitherto the case, but a circular needle i
passes through the loop of the needle D, thus forming a new loop with a second
thread. In this manner even several needles can be used having their axis placed
side by side, each needle forming its loop in the loop of the preceding needle, the
last formed loop being then seized and conveyed by the catching helix or spiral B¹.
In order to gain space for the described needle or needles the spirals can be set
further apart by shifting the toothed roller or pinion 63 on its axis b, which pinion
moves and holds the spiral B2 so as to further remove the latter from the spiral B',
after which the pinion is screwed fast; or the needle D can be placed over the
second, the third, or any following convolution of the helix B2, as shown by Fig. 1.
The additional needle 1 is mounted on the shaft 2, which is set in motion by a
pinion 3 (8) and rack 4 (9). For every revolution of the helix the needle obtains a
forward and backward oscillating motion of from 180 to 240 degrees. The motion
of the rack (see also Fig. 2b) is derived from the crank shaft by means of any suit-
able intermediate gearing. Each of the described needles carries its own yarn
thread, and can either be a right or left knitting needle without necessitating a
reversion of the mechanism; in this way various patterns are produced automatically
by a single setting of the machine, and patterns of various colours by applying
threads of various colours.-Fig-2-By-encircling the single loops or several loops
with one, two, or more yarn threads, and by selecting the loops to be thus encircled,
at least ten different patterns can be knit, so that yarn threads independent of the
ordinary fabric can be knit in many ways into the latter. By the mechanism and
method hereafter described, an automatic commencing stitch may be obtained. The
so called thread encircler 5 makes a forward and backward oscillating motion, as
shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, by means of the same mechanism which moves the
needle 1 of Fig. 1, upon whose axis it is mounted. The new loop presented by the
needle D¹ is encircled from the right to the left, or from the left to the right, by
the threads which serve for knitting by means of the part 5 of Fig. 2b at a time
when it has not yet been taken up by the catcher of the helix B₁, and the place
where the needle D' is encircled lies between the helix B2 and the point of the
helix B¹. Fig. 3 shows the formation of another new pattern. The loop of the
needle D¹ is lifted over the second convolution of the helix B¹ by the circular needle
10, provided with a fork end, before the catcher of this spiral seizes and takes up
the said loop as usual; this loop encircles therefore two windings of the helix. The
motion of this forked needle is effected in the same manner as that of the needle 1,

page_text: and of the thread encircler 5 of the Figs. 1 and 2, with the difference, however, that
the axis 11 of the needle 10 is here placed in the direction of the centre line of the
spiral B'. The pattern thus produced has on neither side the appearance of knit-
work. Fig. 5 shows how two needles knit alternately at the same place, each with
its own thread, the one the odd (numbered) and the other the even (numbered)
loops. If now the two threads have different colors, colored stripes are produced
in the fabrics, running either parallel or oblique (the latter being the case when the .
helix has an odd number of windings). The application of the needle 14 is new;
it always gets completely out of the reach of the old needle D¹. In order to effect
these alternating motions of the needles the ratio of speed between the known tooth
gearings and the helix is as 1 to 2, so that during one revolution of these tooth
gearings the helix makes two revolutions. Upon one of the two axles is mounted
the cam or eccentric as usual, with the difference, however, that it must now effect
the entire motion of D¹ during half a revolution while the second half of its
revolution imparts no motion to the needle. There are two eccentrics acting
alternately, so that one needle after the other is set in and out of motion. Fig. 6,
when during its circular motion the material arrives at the last winding of the
helix B², so that no loop sits on this winding, because reducing or taking in has
just taken place on the latter, the needle would, with the application of the
old mechanism, have to be disengaged and stopped in order to prevent the
formation of a new loop, which would cause a widening or increase of the fabric.
This mechanism, consisting of a combination of plates, a great number of
levers, and a disengaging device is replaced by the automatically acting lever 17 of
Fig. 6. If there is no loop on the last winding of the helix B2 (under the needle-
way D¹) the thread of this needle takes a direction from the centre or the ridge of
the helix B' to the eye of the needle D', therefore not along the needle as usual.
A lever 17 rises and falls every time when the needle D' forms a single loop. As
soon as a helical ring (the last one) does not carry a loop through which the
needle D¹ could pass the thread of this needle takes the position shown by Fig. 6.
It would now be taken up by the helix B', as in the ordinary formation of loops,
and a loop would be added to the fabric. But because the lever holding the thread
in its groove and lifting it as shown by Fig. 6b is at this time raised sufficiently
high as to prevent the thread from being seized and taken up by the catching
helix B' the above described action does not take place. The receding. motion of
the needle and lever which now ensues causes a dissolution of the loop. The up
and down motion of the lever can be easily effected in many ways by one of the
axles and shafts, Fig. 7. The regulating and reducing spiral or helix capable of
being shortened by sliding a number of windings of two helices over each other (or
partly moving one helix into the other) is here essentially altered and improved.
The already known arrangement consists in giving to one of the two helices a
number of hollow windings, and to the other a number of thin windings which can
be screwed into the former. This construction, without taking into account its
practical difficulties, is in so far defective as it does not admit of the fabric being
conveyed back even for the breadth of a loop. With its application the surface or
heel knitting has been impossible, because at that place of the helical windings
where the thin windings were introduced into the hollow ones (at the beginning of
the thick hollow ones) the loops hanged on and were torn.
With the present
arrangement the great difficulty in the construction of the old device is obviated
and the back transport made possible as well as the forward transport; it makes,
further, no difference whether many or only a few windings are to be shifted over
each other; and lastly, with the use of a regulating. helix back knitting or surface
and heel knitting is now made possible. The method consists in making use of the
peculiarities of a loop of a fabric when the loop is held by a flattened body instead
of a round one. If the loop, Fig. 7a, is drawn perpendicularly to the flattened side
it does not on this side close upon the flat object, but a free opening is formed,
between the two, through which a pointed object can pass unhindered, this object
being in this case one end of a helix, To provide that the helical windings, which.

page_text: are shifted into and over each other, need not fit each other winding upon winding,
but only at the end of the helix, both helices have a small shell enclosing the other
helix, Fig. 76 and c. Instead of hollowing out many helical windings an enclosure
--at the end of each helix is now reduced to form 1% to 3% of a single winding. In
Sheet 2 of the Drawings the small_shell is represented as not completely encircling
the helix, while in the other Fig. there is no shell at all, but the lower helix has a
wire bent towards the outside, so as to form a groove into which the outer helix
enters. Fig. 9, Sheet-I.,-and-Fig. 33,-Sheet II.,-show-another and new mode-of
holding the fabric in half the height of the inner contiguous sides of the belical
windings. The back right hand knitting, hitherto not obtained, and the back left
hand knitting, hitherto known but found impracticable with this machine, are
attained as completely as necessary by the above described mode of holding the
fabric and by the additional needle. New is also the position of the four needles
23, 24, here applied and designated with a and b in Fig. 33, both needles moving
with their points in opposite directions, and thereby both knitting either right or
left hand further, the position of their two axes 25, 26; the needles are merely
shown for explanation, with the exception, however, of their strengthened eye-
portions. The needle 23 in Fig. 9a is in working position, the needle 24 is out of
action and shifted back with its axis 25 in its bearing. In right and left hand
forward knitting a double pointed needle or single-pointed needles knitting left
hand if placed on one axis, and right hand if placed on the other axis, are applied;
the same is the case for right and left back knitting here on the axis 25, there on
the axis 26. The backward right hand knitting needle in its position to the helices
can be seen from Fig. 33b, while a backward lefthand knitting needle is shown
near thereto and designated with c. All these needles pass with their points in half
the height of the helical windings through the mother loop which sits on the
last winding, otherwise the formation of loops resembles that described in the
above named Specification. A holding wire 27 designated with d in Fig. 33ª
and with in Fig. 35 effects the correct guiding of the loops, the latter
being drawn along under this wire to the centre and then upwards. An arm
of this wire extending outward over the spiral serves for attachment on any
part of the foundation plate; Fig. 9a is a plan, and Fig. 9b an elevation of these
positions of helices and needles, and of the said guide for the fabric. The guiding
of the knitted fabric in combination with the needles, as described, makes it also
possible to form a new pattern, as will be explained further on, Fig. 8, Fig. 9,
Fig. 10. The helices have formerly been held and supported by bushes or sleeves
C, C¹³, C², and had therefore to be lubricated, which was required the more
frequently as the loops of the fabric wiped away the oil, being at the same time
soiled by the latter. In order to remove this drawback and for the better support
of the helices the latter are carried between rollers capable of revolving on their
respective axis Fig. 8ª. The toothed pinion for the helix is already known; it is
only shown here, with regard to its teeth, for explaining the motion of the wing
roller, but bas also the new purpose of serving on both sides of its teeth, with its
circumference as a roller enclosing the helix. The helices may be carried between
rollers or between slit sleeves, but there is always much danger of the loops being
clipped between the rollers or sleeves in consequence of negligent holding or
drawing, or by a somewhat close knitting. By the application of rollers the
clipping of the loops is completely prevented. This roller has on its circumference
a projecting screw thread directed opposite to the winding of the helix. These
roller threads can be cut in or produced by attaching helices wound from flat wire.
The rotary motion of the helices is communicated to these rollers by friction, but
the rollers may be provided with teeth projecting into the openings of the helix so
as to produce a more accurate motion around the helix. The windings of the
roller are always between those of the helix (winding between winding) and the
loops are always kept apart from the circumference of the roller by the projections a
(rings) of the latter, so as to prevent any clipping; f shows a loop in such a
position, Fig. 10ª, To provide that all sorts of knit work known and explained in

page_text: connection with this machine can be produced on one machine the inventor applies
a new construction, the esential feature of which is the position of the helices
towards each other. 1, helix B' is placed deeper than B2 by about half the
diameter of the helices used; if, for instance, the helices have 20 millimètres the
helix B¹ is placed 10m/ lower than B2; 2, the helices are no longer at a right
angle to each other, but at an acute angle of about 60°, Fig. 10; 3, the relative
distance of the two helices at the point where the needles are knitting is determined
by the condition that B2 should be so far apart from B¹, Fig. 10, that a straight
line passing at a right angle over the last winding of the helix B' is not to lead
to the side of the helix B³, but into the latter, and further that a line running
parallel with the helix B2 on that side of the circumference of the latter which is
nearest to the helix B¹ passes at a distance of about 3m/ from the last winding
of the spiral B¹; these 3m/m serve as a passage for the needle, the axis z of which
is also shown, and which replaces D₁ of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 when knitting patterns;
4, the support of the helix B¹ between its rollers will be seen from Fig. 100; the
support of the helix B is also apparent if the roller 25 is considered as the helix B²,
the dotted circles representing further the two carrying rollers, and the corre-
sponding double toothed pinion, and if the view is considered as having been turned
through an angle of 60 degrees f is the direction of the back knitting needles 28,
Fig. 10, the application of which is new; 5, the fabric is conducted in B¹ on the
ridge of the helix, but in B2 laterally at half the height of the helix, and on that
side which is nearest to the helix B', and it is held by a wire 18, as in Fig. 9ª, which
wire is not however carried quite round; Fig. 11, self acting stocking or fabric
holder. Hitherto the stocking or other fabric had always to be held by hand, not
only at the proper height, but also very carefully in an exactly determined
position to prevent the loops from being dropped unknit, and from being dissolved.
This manner of holding or supporting was also difficult, because the fabric is
mostly carried or guided in a curve, and therefore continually subjected to a
change of position. A rod 34 attached to a foundation plate has either a screw
thread, or is provided with a helical spring 31. A sleeve with a pin disc 32, 32º,
is placed over the said helical spring, or over the screw thread. The sleeve has a
slide, which being made to project between the said threads effects an up or
down motion of the sleeve, when the latter with the pin disc rotates in a hori-
zontal direction, the direction of the said motion upward or downward depending
on that of the rotary motion (right or left). As soon as the part of a fabric
already commenced is hung on or suspended from the said pins and trans-
ported by the rotation of the helices when knitting, the fabrice in its turn
imparts to the pin disc by which it is supported a rotary motion round the screw
or helical threads 33, 34, of the said rod. The slide 34 effects an ascending motion,
and for every complete turn of knitting the fabric has risen as much as one pitch
of the helix or screw. The pitch of the helix is regulated by a screw nut placed on
the rod at the top and capable of compressing or releasing the windings. The
motion of the said pin disc or any other suitable suspending or clipping device for the
lifting of the fabric (or, if the foundation plate is perforated, also for the lowering
of the same) can be effected by a spring or a weight. It is essential to take into
account the above described displacement of the fabric, so that for each loop to be
knit singly in a circumferential row there is a corresponding although small rotation
of the fabric. This is effected by a slight rotation of the piece which holds the
stocking, whether this piece be a spring or a weight, and whether the rotation take
place by a hinge on its axis, a pointed journal, or any other suitable device.
Thereby the necessary position of the loops depends upon the machine and is con-
stant, whereas holding by hand makes unhindered knitting difficult to the inex-
perienced. Forward and backward knitting needles Fig. 12 and following Figures;
A and B are two knitting needles, A. for left hand knitting, B for right hand knitting.
By means of a new position and a new mode of motion both needles can now also
knit backward, or in other words, forward and backward, so that one needle is now
sufficient for surface knitting. In using these needles the fabric is supposed to be

page_text: held as shown in Fig. 9, and on Sheet II. in Fig. 33; Fig. 12 shows the position of
such needle to the helices. In Fig. 13_the_needle has passed through a loop.con-
veyed by the helix, the loop formed by the needle is caught by the other helix B³
and carried further, while the needle oscillates back through-3/4 of a circle. In the
Figures similar to-those-just mentioned the arrows indicate the direction in which
the fabric is conveyed, and also the sense in which the helices revolve; Figs. 14
and 15 are analogous to Figs. 12 and 13 respectively, but the needle has a different
-shape, so that if the needle in Figs. 12 and 13 is a right hand needle the needle in
Figs. 14 and 15 is left hand knitting; Figs. 16 and 17 show the two backward
knitting needles, described in the four preceding Figures, as applied for forward
knitting. The helix serving here as a catcher has in Figs. 16 and 17 a small
extension, also used for the four preceding Figures; Figs. 18 and 20 (Sheet II.)
show a displacement of the preceding needles, which occurs during the formation
of loops in back knitting. The helix serving as a catcher in back knitting
has to pass above the needle, that is to say, the needle must be guided in such a
direction that the catcher seizes the loop of the needle from the side which is
furthest from the needle axis; Figs. 18 and 19 show this position. After the
needle has entered the old mesh (mother mesh or mother loop) brought near to it,
taking its thread with it, the needle is shifted towards the interior of that helix,
which serves here as catcher. When the catcher has seized the loop of the needle
the needle in swinging back is shifted back to its former position in order to be
able to pass through a newly arrived mother loop when swinging forward. The
said shifting motion is produced by the following contrivance :-Fig. 20 shows a cam
attached to the axle of the needle having curved groove b³, into which it enteres the
arm b. Because this arm cannot move laterally the axis of the needle must be
shifted for a distance depending on the shape of the caid groove. The toothed
pinion on the axis of the needle is sufficiently long to preserve its contact with the
rack by which it is driven, and the bearings are constructed so as to permit a
shifting of the needle axis. For forward kuitting the arın is withdrawn from the
groove and the next arm a made to enter the circular groove a³, so as to stop the
shifting or axil motion. Fig. 22 shows another needle motion for producing a
known pattern where the needle has to form one mesh, as in ordinary knitting,
the other mesh however in such a manner that the needle passes through a loop of
the last circular row but one, see Fig. 22, one loop being held directly by the
feeding helix, but the other not. Through the latter loop the needles enter one
time after the other; for this purpose the needle is shifted a few millimetres in
each complete oscillation in a manner similar as above described, in this case by
placing the arm c in the curve e³. The arms at and e* are therefore put in gear
alternately, arm a' for one turn and arm e' for the next, which may be effected by
hand or by a special mechanism set in motion by one of the driving shafts. Fig. 23
shows-how-with-the-application-of-the-laterally-moving needle a already described,
which is there supposed to be knitting right hand forward a second left hand
forward knitting needle b2 can be applied without displacing the helices; said
needle be passing through the yarn loop of the other needle, thus knitting needle from
needle conveys its loop to the catching helix. The feeding helix preserves the position f.
Fig. 24 shows, firstly, an additional needle a' knitting right hand without requiring
any displacement of the helices; and, secondly, the addition of a third needle b¹,
which requires the displacement of the feeding helix into the extreme right hand
position f¹. Fig. 25 shows only one needle knitting again forward and backward,
the latter, by shifting its axis on the fabric, being guided upon the ridge of the
helix B¹ and on the inner side of the helix B². Also for this needle the shifting of
needles described in Fig. 22 for producing that pattern can be applied. a shows the
latterally movable (shifting) forward and backward knitting needle as applied for
knitting righthand forward; b and b' is the same needle but knitting backward;
a. is an additional needle also righthand forward knitting; there is also a lefthand
forward knitting needle and a forward and backward knitting needle knitting left-
hand; f, f, and f2 denote the three lines for the displacement of the helix, Fig. 26

page_text: shows an enlargement at the eye of the needle, by which the seizing of loops by the
catcher is made more certain because the position of the yarn resulting therefrom,
(of the loop on one side of it) even without tension lies above and behind the
catching point of the helix, and the mesh is caught with much more certainty.
The point of the helix meeting the needle immediately behind its eye, therefore
behind that projecting enlargement. Figs. 27, 28, and 29, Sheet II., represents
three new needles having their eyes not laterally but radially. The needles P and
P¹ pass horizontally immediately over the ridge of the feeding helix, carrying their
yarn through the so called mother mesh into the catching spiral, transmitting to the
latter the loop formed, and then receding. The position of the catching spiral is
higher by about half its diameter. The oscillating motion of the needles takes
place through about 3/4 of a circle. Each is bent to a different direction, one being
left hand and the other right hand knitting. Their axle passes perpendicularly to
the foundation plate, turns in a bored standard or bearing, and has at the bottomn
a toothed pinion v, Fig. 36, set in rotary motion by a rack f, the motion of this
rack being obtained by any suitable intermediate gearing from one of the two
driving shafts of the machine. The said two needles, as well as their position and
direction of oscillation offer important advantages as compared with the known
needles; firstly, the straight needle D¹, Fig. 1, &c., has its position and motion
inside the hose of the stocking, which made it necessary to remove the stocking
every time when the thread is used up or when a knot occurs in the yarn in order
to rearrange the work; with the new needles everything lies outside the hose of
the stocking, visible to the eye and accessible to the hand; secondly, the known
circular needle must have double the diameter of the new circular needle for the
same diameter of the helices, consequently, with the new needles, the travel of the
yarn through the needle eye, there and back, is only half as large, and the loop
produced need only be opened half as wide; thirdly, the smaller needle, with
shorter travel, shorter motion of the yarn, and smaller weight, admits a speed of
knitting which would cause the yarn of the ordinary needle to tear, and which
would also damage the mechanism; finally, these needles may be applied in
addition to those already known, and therefore also so as to work alternately with
the latter for producing patterns by different needle threads or by different modes
of knitting, right hand or left hand. The needle P³ is shown back knitting with
the same position of helices as when knitting with the needles P and P² With
this helix no other mode of back knitting has hitherto been attained. The axis of
this needle is held horizontally at half the height of the catching helia B', in a
standard on bearing placed on the foundation plate, and in such a manner that the
needle enters during its forward and backward oscillation towards the centre of the
helix B, so that the point of the latter can take the loop from the former. The
oscillation takes place through 3 of a circle, and the motion may be derived in
any suitable manner from one of the revolving shafts. For this mode of knitting the
revolution of the crank has an opposite direction to that for forward knitting, the
catching helix serves for feeding, and the feeding helix serves for catching. The
direction in which the fabric is conveyed in forward knitting is shown by the arrow 2
in the circle of Fig. 35, and the other direction of transport is indicated by arrow 1 in
the same Figure. The helix B' in this Figure must then be shifted back to the dotted
line by its gearing, or a shorter helix must be applied. Figs. 35, 36, and 37 show a
position of the spirals towards each other which makes it possible to apply the
needles above described, and also to support or guide the helices between rollers,
and thus to derive the advantages already mentioned. In every other, also the
ordinary position of the helices (except the one herein mentioned), which necessitates
the application of the usual needle D' several helical rings were always liable to.
forward and backward bending, or to vibrations at the place where the operation
of knitting is going on, thereby making the formation of meshes always uncertain.
B' is the catching spiral; B³, the feeding spiral; b¹, tooth gearing for revolving the
spirals; D, the straight needle; b², rollers for guiding or supporting the helices;
P1, a needle; P³, another needle.; v, a toothed pinion for moving the needles; f, a

page_text: rack; and 22, guiding wires for guiding the fabric in the desired direction;
arrow 1, the direction in which the fabric moves for forward knitting; arrow 2, the
-direction-of-the-same in-backward knitting. At the fabric moves outside, but at
22 inside and underneath. Figs. 30, 31, 32, increased efficiency by the application
of several needles knitting at the same time. In Fig. 30 three needles receive the
same amount of oscillation, 3/4 of a circle, by means of a rack gearing into pinions
on the needle axis. Each of these three needles is right hand knitting and shown
as having arrived at the limit of its forward motion and commencing. its. return
motion. Their arms are at the same height, but their eyes are placed so that the
radii of any two adjoining needles are about 90° apart, the needle which catches
first (a) having ³/the-middle-one-b,2/-and-the outer one c, only 1/4 of a circle.
From the latter the helix takes the material, that is the loop, and carries it further.
The loops of a and b do not get into the spiral. In Fig. 31 shows again three
needles knitting together, one right knitting a and two left knitting b, b. They
are likewise set in motion simultaneously but gearing together, so that their pinions
give to each a direction different from that of its neighbour. In Fig. 32 there are
three needles working, a, a, being two right hand knitting needles, and b, b, two
left hand needles, thereby differing from the former ones. A rack moves the four
needles simultaneously; the pinions which are not gearing together but each into
the said rack, all move equally through 3/4 of a circle to (or backward) and fro
(or forward). The catching of the loops and the passage through the loops is
effected by causing the eyes to meet each other either at the top or at the bottom
(see the direction of arrows) in such a manner that b and b pass through or catch
the loops formed by a and a at the top, while at the bottom the meshes of the
needlés b and b are sized, penetrated, and caught by a and a. The motion can be
obtained in any similar way. Although these four needles oscillate equally the
position of the needle points a, b, opposite each other causes two points to go
always forward when the two others move backward. When about to change their
direction of motion the loops formed are penetrated by the contiguous needle,
therefore taken up, and new loops are formed in them. The loop of the extreme
needle b (to the left) is taken up and conveyed by the helix, as already known.
That for the application of several needles the helix B must be displaced has already
been sufficiently explained in this Specification, and likewise that not only the
efficiency of the machine is increased, but that also various patterns can be knit
without requiring a re-setting or alteration during the operation, and the weaker
portion of the helix suffers less in proportion as the number of needles increases.
The Figures 38, 39, and 40 show accessories for knitting longitudinally ribbed
work, that is to say, alternately two loops left and two right, or the first left and
the second right, and thus also with three or even four loops. To the arrangement
of helices 35 with its needles d, P³ and P, are added a needle e and two mesh
turners g and f. These two latter, in combination with the needle e, effect the
ribbed knitting above mentioned, which hitherto has not been possible with
Schmidtt's machine. Fig. 41 is a section, Fig. 39 also a section, and Fig. 40 illustrates
the formation of loops for ribbed work. On the helix B² the loops are conveyed by
turning the crank and therefore the helices. As the meshturner g now passes with its
point just into the loop which is on the last ring of the helix in the same manner as
the known needle D₁, this loop is turned 90° or a quarter of a circle, which is
effected by the sickle or half moon shape of the mesh turner. When the
loop has been turned, as described, it remains for some time in this position, while
the needle e passes with its thread. through the loop under or over the sickle
shaped end of the meshturner, thus forming a new loop and carrying the same into
such a position that it is seized by the point of the catching helix b', after which
both the meshturner and the needle e recede in order to recommence the same
operation. This loop is now formed so that after having become free the mesh
turner and needle being away from it, the loop appears as though the known
needle D¹ had been used for the formation of meshes therefore, as though there had
been right hand knitting as long and as many times as the meshturner g is applied.

page_text: in
The other mesh or loop turner has a beak curved in an opposite direction to g,
consequence of which the loop through which it passes obtains the reverse position
again, 90° or of a circle. It is however to be supposed that the loop turner
stands over the last ring of the helix where the loopturner g stands, since the two
are alternating with each other. When it has entered the loop the needle e comes
again and forms its loop, as described. As soon as this loop becomes free it
appears as though it had been formed by the entrance of a needle from the outside,
it is therefore left knitted, and this as often and as long as the loop turner f is
applied. It is now clear that for knitting alternately right and left or for knitting
one or inore loops right and likewise left, the corresponding loop turners must be
used. In order to effect their motion a pulley is fixed on the main driving shaft of
the machine, having one or more grooves in contact with lever mechanism which
acts upon the two mesh turners. The said motion may however be effected by
different means; h, h, are connecting rods; and v, v, levers, the former being
provided with friction rollers, and the later connected with the loop turners. The
needle e is moved by a similar mechanism from a known small cam or disc a, which
also moves the rack c and the rack b; c and b act upon two pinions i and Z in such
a manner, that the needles j and k oscillate forward and backward through 3/4 of a
circle. The cam a is mounted on the known sliaft which by its pinion moves the
helix; n is a large tooth wheel having four times the diameter of the small tooth
wheel o mounted on the known shaft which by its pinion drives the helix B¹. It
may be mentioned that in everything relating to this description, the whole
mechanism is placed above the base plate (not partly under the same as was
formerly the case). The helix B' can be shifted lengthwise by shifting its gearing
if required. By means of the described improvements and accessories, the machine
performs therefore the following in addition to what is mentioned in the description
of other Figures. 1. It does the work performed by it previously without any loss
of efficiency. 2. Ribbed work (with the ribs running from top to bottom). 3. It
knits flat right or lest with the needle k or analogous piece. 4. It knits contiuously
right hand by the continuous application of the mesh turner g in connection with
needle e.
5. It knits continuously left by the continuous application of f. 6. One
turn ribbed, the other plain. 7. It knits with two different yarn threads, the one
with needle, the other with needle e, in combination with the loop turner g or
with fso as to produce fabrics of various colors and double the quantity of work.
For the latter mode of knitting the needle e is set back about 1/, inch, or shifted in
its holder, or a shorter needle is set in, so that it does not advance with its
re-curved portion behind its eye to the catching helix, but only as far as is
necessary to enable the needle k passing through this arc to size the loop of the
needle e. 8. It is even knitting with three threads by the application of the
known needle D', in Fig, 25, without using the meshturners, the needle e taking
from needle D, (d), and needle k from needle e, and the three meshes formed being
conveyed by means of the helix B¹. 9. It performs what has been explained
in describing Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, 10. This arrangement does not prevent the
application of the forward backward needle described for to and fro knitting,
narrowing of the fabric, that is, reducing by one mesh without stopping the work
(that is, stopping the machine), and with shifting the helices into each other. The
reduction or taking in is effected by uniting two meshes into one and diminishing the
the novelty
helical rings by one winding. The one and the other is already known;
in this case is, however, that the operation takes place by a mere pressure on a knob or
button without ceasing to knit. Figures 43ª, 43b, 438, a is the shaft; b, a ring placed
upon the shaft and having a groove i with a nose or projection ; entering into a
recess of the pinion c. The ring b can be moved to and fro in a groove of the
The toothed
shaft by means of its pin h, but must always turn with the shaft.
pinion c however can be turned on the shaft, but prevented from shifting by the
pin z. d, e, f, is a shifting device pivoted in a bracket of the base plate, the feeler
or armf being pressed upward by a spring. The arm e projecting with a pin into
the groove i presses the ring b against c so as to interlock by its nose with the
$

page_text: pinion c which turns the spiral 'B', which thus shares the motion of b. By depres
sing the feeler f.the arm e draws the ring bout of conpact with c, while at the
same time-the-arm-d enters a recess at the bottom of the pinion c so as to fix the
latter. Thereby the spiral B' is stopped during a complete revolution of B2 so that
the rings or convolutions of both helices being shifted into each other are diminished
by one:
The position of helix B' and needle g when the disengagement takes place
is shown by Fig. 43d. The spiral stops with its point bery close behind the eye of
the needle while the needle.goes back, leaving its loop on-the point-of-the-helix and
dropping by its return a second loop on the point of the helix. When thus meeting
the point of the helix a second time it does not transmit the loop safely but produces
a-slight-shock, and the-helix-yields without taking up the thread. For this reason
the helix is caused to receede, first, some millimeters, and then to advance again
the same distance by the following means:- -When the arm d enters with its fork,
Figure 43, into the pinion c from below so as to hold the latter fast, the nose j of the
ring b is further repelled on the inclined plane of the pinion c so as to lift the arm &
still higher and to press its fork further into the groove of c.
This fork being
however oblique, as shewn by Figure 43f, causes by its motion against the pin a
receding motion of the pinion c for some millimeters, which motion is shared by the
corresponding helix so as to go out of the way of the needle, Figures 430 and 43d,
the needle passes thus free on its return.. When the ring b has made a complete
revolution its nose meets the recess x in c, enters it, and the arm d leaves the groove
at the bottom of c. In consequence of its oblique shape the arm & presses the pinion
c as much forward as it was previously pushed back. When the fork d is com-
pletely disengaged the nose; has entered the recess x and causes the helix B¹.to
revolve as well as B2, and thus a reduction has taken place without stopping the
machine. Figures 42, 43, and 44 relate to a knitting machine having several of the
improvements described. Figure 42 is a top view, Figure 43 an elevation, and
Figure 44 a section through C, D, C being an eccentric disc imparting with its arın k
a to and fro motion to the toothed segment g which moves the pinion / carrying the
needle axis; l'is an eccentric which acts in a similar manner with its toothed
segment, the pinion h and the axle of corresponding needle, and causes a forward
and backward oscillation of the needle. On the shaft A, B, is mounted a mitro
wheel p gearing into a corresponding wheel so as to set its shaft, and consequently
the helix m (B2) in rotation in the same manner as the first shaft and its helix ¹
(B) as is already known. f, f, are rollers for guiding the helixes; d, a holding
wire; c is a stocking holder; i, a device for stretching the yarm. It may be
remarke that helices of round wire, straight needles and circular needles, toothed
gearing for the helices, eccentrics for moving the needles, right knitting, left knitting,
backward knitting, reducing or taking in, as well as the general construction of
the machine are already known, and therefore not claimed in this Specification.
1. The mode of increasing the quantity of work by forming new loops in such
a manner that the needle effecting this does not carry the yarn thread to be formed
into a loop through the last loop of the helix, but through the loop of a needle, so
that one needle works and forms loops from the other needle.
2. The knitting of patterns with this machine; a, by incorporating yarn threads
independent of the knitted work; b, by conveying or transporting single loops or
all loops (in either case) on two helical windings; c, by transporting single loops
from one helix into the other without the previous formation of new loops in these
loops, and by the described transportion with the new loop formed in this transported
loop; d, by knitting with two or more successive threads and loop formations;
e, by knitting alternately one loop with one thread and the other loop with the other
thread, one left and one right, or two left and two right, with different yarn threads,
one loop with one thread, the other with two or more threads.
3. The methods, needles, arrangements of needles, and the cams for moving the
needles, as shewn in the Drawings from Figure 1 to Figure 5, the needle 1 only so

page_text: far as its new position and application are concerned, and with exception of the
needle D¹.
4. The mode of narrowing and reducing (taking in) the fabric by removing the
yarn thread running from the ridge of the catching helix to the knitting needle as
well as the mechansm, Figure 6a and b, employed therefor.
5. The application of knitting helices wound from flat wire; also the application
of knitting helices wound from grooved wire (being concave in cross section); also
the back transportation of the fabric by means of double helices capable of being
shifted or screwed into each other.
6. The mode of knitting by conducting the knitting loops situated in the helical
convolutions in half the lateral height, and on the inner side of the circle formed
by the helices, or on the innerside of the convolutions; also the needles passing
laterally through the motherwork, and the arrangement of the said needles.
:
7. The method of knitting by conducting hooks, eyed needles, helices, and such
when
like through the opening of the knitting loops shewn in Figures 7, a, b, and c,
the loops are not placed upon round objects but upon flattened needles, helixes, or
other objects holding it and enclosed by it.
8. The mode of guiding or supporting knitting helixes between rollers génerally,
and the position of these rollers, as described.
9. The construction and application of wing rollers for helical knitting
machines.
10. Knitting needles having at their point two eyes placed one behind the other,
and a lateral nose, Figure 28b.
11. The two contrivances for back knitting as described, and the mode of knitting
backward, also with regulating or reducing helices.
12. The position of helices illustrated in Figures 10ª and 10b, and the corre-
sponding position of needles.
13. The appliance for moving the stocking holder.
14. The arrangement and driving gear for using the same needle as a forward
knitting needle and as a backward knitting needle without connecting the needle
with a different mechanism in one case and in the other, and without changing the
yarn thread.
15. The application of a forward and backward knitting needle.
16. The driving gear for knitting patterns, as shewn in Fig. 22.
17. The knitting of patterns on this machine, as in Figure 22.
18. The position and application of two needles knitting at the same time, either
both right, or one right, the other left, without shifting the helix for the purpose of
knitting with only one needle, or with both needles at the same time, or in a different
manner as shewn by Figure 23.
19. The application of needles with strengthened eye-head.
20. The arrangement of the groups of needles in Figure 30, in Figure 31, and in
Figure 32, the shape of the needles in Fig. 30, and the device for moving the
needles in Figure 30 and in Figure 32.
21. The mechanism for narrowing during the operation of the knitting machine
if the helices are made to shift into each other as described.
22. The mode of holding the helices by rollers, as shown in Figures 35, 36,
and 37.
23. The position of the helices towards each other and with regard to the
toothed pinions for driving the same, as illustrated by Figures 35, 36, and 37.
24. The mode of couducting the fabric at the so called feeding helix B2.on the
ridge of the latter, but at the catching helix on the inner side of the latter (that is
to say, the side which touches the circle formed by the helices) (at half the height
of the helix).
25. The application of holding wires in order to guide the fabric in the manner
described, and to change it from the ridge of B2 to the side of B³, and also as a guard
to prevent any clipping of the fabric.
26. The application of a circular knitting needle, the eye of which has the

page_text: direction of its arc in general and also in combination with the described position
of helices; and, finally,-as-a-left-knitting-needle, or-as-a-right-knitting-needle,
according to the direction of its arc..
27. The application-of-the-needle (as-described above) in combination with the
position of helices described:(as in claims 23 and 24) as a backward knitting needle
generally, and for backward, right, or left knitting, according to the direction of its
arc or the setting of the needle.
28: The mode of knitting with horizontally movable circular needle, and the
application of the described way of this new needle to knitting machines.
29. The construction of apparatus for knitting ribbed work if desired, and-more-]
especially, a, the mode of turning the (loop) mesh before the passage of the needle;
b, the mesh turners; c, the needle 1 in this construction; d, the arrangement of
the circular needle 3 in this construction.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set 1
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)