IMPROVE- MENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by Jules
Nicolas Poivret, of Trayes, in the Empire of France, Engineer.
Sealed the 31st March 1868, and dated the 12th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th October 1867.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES," a communication from Jules Nicolas
Poivret, of Trayes, in the Empire of France, Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to rectilinear knitting machines, and consists of
certain peculiar constructions, arrangements, and combinations of the jacks,
sinkers, jack springs, and parts connected therewith, whereby a more efficient
machine is obtained and a greater amount of work may be accomplished.
According to one part of this Invention I make the jacks alternately with
a notch or bolding surface at the rear end, or in a horizontal line with the
fulcrum, and with a notch or bolding surface in a vertical line above the fulcrum,
and I dispose the jack springs in the form of two distinct ranges so as to
operate upon the respective notches, one set of springs which operate on the
vertically disposed notches being horizontal whilst the other set which operate
on the notches in the rear ends of the jacks are vertical. More span for

page_text: the spring is thus obtained by dividing them into two ranges; in conjunction
with these jacks, sinkers are employed provided with slots for the purpose
of engaging them with a rivet or pin in the jack, this end of the jack being
formed of two jaws having a pin between them on to which the notch in the
sinker engages. Sometimes the notch or slot is made in the end of the jack,
and the sinker is provided with the pin and jaw. The plates for knocking
over the stitches are of an angular form, and are cast in leads screwed to an
angle iron bar; the sinkers are adapted either for the working of the
presser in front of or behind the range of sinkers. The presser bar is of
an angular section and is screwed to a carrier bar on which it is capable of
adjustment; the combs which carry the ends of the jacks are cast in lead
blocks screwed to a fixed horizontal metal bar. It is also proposed to
combine a set of sinkers jointed or hinged at the upper ends to leads secured
to a moveable bar by a metal strip and screws in conjunction with jack
sinkers of the form herein-before mentioned. The jacks may also, in lieu
of being strung on to a rod or wire as a fulcrum, be each formed with a deep
notch or nick which is dropped on to the rod forming the fulcrum, and in
this arrangement a bar fixed above the jacks at their point of vibration serves
to keep them down in their places, it is also proposed to make the jacks
alternately long and short, and to curve their rear ends, and form a notch
therein for the engagement of the ends of the springs which will, as before
described, be in two ranges but parallel to each other in lieu of at right
angles, one range taking the longer jacks and the other range the shorter
ones.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES," a communication from abroad by
Jules Nicolas Poivret, of Troyes, in the Empire of France, Engineer, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being bad to the accompanying Drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention has reference to rectilinear knitting machines, and
consists of certain peculiar constructions, arrangements, and combinations of
the jacks, sinkers, jack springs, and parts connected therewith, whereby a
more efficient machine is obtained, and the work may be accomplished in a
more expeditious manner.
As the use of rectilinear frames constructed on the principle of "forced
sinking" is attended with many inconveniencies new methods have been
devised, forming the subject of the present Invention, in order to adapt such
system to knitting by machinery. By the terın "forced sinking" is under-
stood that system of sinking wherein the action of the slur cock or sinking
eccentric does not leave the sinkers or the jacks during its traverse, or wherein
the sinkers (in the case of a frame without jacks) or the jacks (if the frame
admits of their use) follow the inclined plane of the sinking eccentric.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Sheet 1 of the Drawings has reference to one arrangement of knitting frame.
Figure 1, on this Sheet of Drawings, represents side and end views of
portions of a rectilinear frame, wherein A is a stationary bar which serves for

page_text: the fixing of the lead plates B, into which the combs C are cast, shown also
at Figure 2. In these combs are mounted the jacks of the frame; D, D',
are the jacks or rocking levers mounted on an axis and terminating at the
butt or rear ends in the form of arcs of circles 1 and 2; these jacks are each
provided with a rivet or pin E, on which a sinker is hung. K are the jack
sinkers provided with a notch or fork K¹ (Figures 5 and 6); G and G¹ are
a series of spring bars, each of which terminates in a hook and acts on the
circular portion of the jacks; F and F are wooden beams in which are
inserted the springs G, G; H, H', are fixed bars which carry the beams F, F¹;
1 is a bar on which the jacks fall at the time of the sinking; J is a guide
comb for the jacks to work in, and which is secured to a bar J¹; L, L', are guide
combs in which the sinkers work; LP is a fixed bar serving to maintain one set of
sinkers; M is a pressing plate fixed to a moveable bar M', and serving to press or
close the hooked ends of the needles; the moveable bar M moves in guides by
the aid of levers and cams; N is a moveable bar serving to lower one or more
sets of jacks, as the case may be, after every ascent of the jacks, such moveable
bar operating after each course or row. The bar I also serves to effect the
ascending motion of one or several sets of jacks after each course of loops. The
bar N may be so disposed as to act on the head of the jacks. O is a bar of
angle iron with a projecting ledge O³ for the mounting of the "knocking over'
combs. The object of the ledge 0¹ is to facilitate the mounting of the combs,
which are formed of plates called "knocking over" plates. Q, small knee-
shaped plates forming combs, against which the knocking over of the loops of
the web is effected when the breadth of needles acts behind. The knocking
over combs are formed of plates Q united by means of lead cast in a mould.
Q', the lead plate provided.. h plates Q, which latter, instead of being knee-
shaped may be straight, as used in various descriptions of frames; P, is one
of the set of needles; and R, the space reserved for the moveable needle bar.
The line indicates the position of the slur cock or eccentric employed to
effect the descent of the jacks; and Z is the eye which serves as a centre for
the jacks. To the jacks D, D', are secured cheeks D (see Figure 3) which
form a slot in the head of each jack. The series of springs G and G¹ serve
to steady the jacks and maintain them secure before the operation of
sinking takes place. The mounting of the jacks on their axis is effected in
the same manner as is practised with the jacks of the frame constructed on
what is known as the "French system."
ท
Figure 2 is a front view of a portion of the bar A, and a portion of a lead
plate B, combs C, and a side view of a comb C.
Figure 3 is a side view and plan of the jack D'.

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan of the jack D.
Figure 5 is a side and front view of a sinker K provided with a notch K',
such sinker serving to form the loops of the web. There mounted a set of
these sinkers for each set of jacks, in order to produce plain knit:ing. The
sinker shown in Figure 6 is of the form best adapted for the production of
what is known as English rib loop; but in the case of sinkers of this
description the pressing of the needles will take place in front of the body of
the sinker in the direction indicated by the line Y.
Figure 7 is a side view of the lead plate Q' connecting the knocking over
plates Q.
Figure 8 shews a portion of a jack, in which the part above its axis is
made flat, with the corners taken off.
Figure 9 shews a jack S provided with a forked head and which, as in the
case of the jack D', is formed with a raised rounded portion above its centre Z;
S' is a sinker provided with a jaw and rivet. A set of jacks similar to S and
a similar set of sinkers to S¹ would perform the same functions in a frame as
the jacks D and D' and the sinkers K. The action of two sets of spring bars
in lieu of one is much to be preferred by reason of the strength of the springs
that may then be used for each breadth of frame; for this purpose a set of
forked jacks of two patterns are required, one having a rounded portion on
the top above its working centre Z, and the other, in which the jack termi-
nates in a rounded portion behind the centre Z in the manner shown at D
(Figure 1). The sinker S¹ (Figure 9) differs from the sinker K in that the
jaw is substituted for the fork of the latter.
Figure 10 is a side view of a double angled needle presser M attached to
the bar M¹; this form of presser may be substituted for the presser plate M,
shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a plan of a set of jacks D, D', and combs C.
Sheet 2 of the Drawings has reference to another arrangement of knitting
frame.
Figure 1 (Sheet 2) represents a sectional elevation, front views, and plan,
in which D and D¹ are the jacks or rocking levers, similar to those described
in reference to Sheet 1, and K the jack sinkers; B are what may be termed
the lead sinkers, which are hinged to lead plates C, each lead plate baving a
sinker, and these lead plates are all attached to a moveable bar A, which
works in slotted guides by the aid of levers and cams. The lead plates are
maintained secure by means of a plate C' and screws.
number of sinkers and jacks; the sinkers serve to form loops on a certain
number of needles; the lead sinkers by acting altogether distribute and
There are an equal.

page_text: equalize the loops produced by the jack sinkers, as in all knitting machines of
this class. A' is a bar fixed to supports A³, and serving as a stop for the jacks;
I is a bar, on to which the jacks drop when sinking; this bar, which is suspended
by struts 1, is actuated by the aid of a moveable bar, next to which the struts
are disposed, which latter are regulated by means of buttons. L is a fixed
comb, above which is a regulating bar L; L' is another comb attached to a
moveable bar E, which comb, as in various systems of frames, may be sub-
stituted for a presser plate, as each tooth is capable of pressing a needle. The
mode of employing a presser comb differs from the methods in use in its
application to a moveable bar acting behind the sinkers. The combs L and
I serve for the mounting of the jack and lead sinkers; E¹ is a regulating
bar to adjust the amount of play allowed to the sinkers; L' another bar for a
similar purpose; R, moveable needle bar; P, needle cast in lead.
In Figure 2, U and U¹ are rocking jacks terminating in arcs of circles
3 and 4, against which the springs V and V¹ respectively act.
This Figure
indicates the position which two rows of bars formed of springs occupy.
A set of jacks similar to the jacks U and U' may be substituted for those D
and D¹, the principle of both arrangements being the same.
Figure 3 shows a portion of a rocking jack Us indicating the possibility of
making jacks similar to those U and U', which instead of having a rod
passing through them are simply slotted and mounted on a rod or bar carried
in the teeth of a comb. The axis of the jacks being open or in a slot as
shewn at U*, it is necessary that the jacks be maintained down on their axes
by a fixed bar U³ placed above.
•
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, in which K is a portion of a sinker; M³, a
moveable bar, to the under side of which is secured the angle-iron bar T; such
bar M' being mounted on and acting in suitable guides; M is the needle
presser plate attached to the angle iron T; L, a rectangular comb;
L'another comb fixed above the angle iron T; L' is a regulating bar fixed at
the top of the comb L'; P is a needle indicating the position of the range,
which should be moveable. The advantage of the method described of
mounting the comb L is that the sinkers are well supported at their base, and
regularity in the work is ensured. By the herein-before described peculiar
arrangement and combination of the lead sinkers B with jack sinkers K
and their application to machine knitting good knitting frames may be con-
structed, which by reason of the jacks herein-before described and illustrated
by the Drawings will be capable of producing as much as or more than a
frame not provided with lead sinkers, whilst the frames will be much more
durable. If in lieu of applying to the sinkers K, or to those shewn in

page_text: Figure 6 (Sheet 1), the jacks shewn in the Drawing, they were provided with
jacks similar to those used in what is known as the French frame, long in
use in England, the number of courses or rows will be less than fifteen or
twenty per minute.
Figure 5 represents a jack as used in the French frame. The com-
binations herein-before described and illustrated of needle presser plates and
the needle presser comb and their application to a moveable bar, which are
particularly adapted to frames intended to produce plain work, may also be
applied to frames admitting of the use of sinkers, such as are shewn in
Figures 6 and 7, which are respectively a cross section and front view of the
same. K is a sinker rivetted and jointed to a jack U; B is a lead sinker
hinged to a lead plate C mounted on the bar A. The lead plates C are secured
by plates C; I, a moveable bar on which the jacks U strike at the time of the
sinking; M, moveable bar, to which is secured the angle-iron bar T, which
receives the needle presser M; L is the comb mounted or fixed in front of
the presser plate; another comb L' serves to ensure the regularity of the
intervals between the sinkers. The bar L' is used to adjust the position of a
set of sinkers in the frame; L³ is another bar for the same purpose. The
needle P indicates the position of a moveable breadth of needles. The
arrangements and combinations of the presser plate, comb, and other parts
shewn in Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet 2) are the best, but frames may be con-
structed with the other arrangements of pressers and needle presser combs
described and illustrated in Sheets 1 and 2. The various combinations of
needle presser plates and needle presser combs may also be applied to frames in
which the lower ends of the sinkers are of the same or somewhat similar form
to that shewn in Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet 2).
On Sheet 3 of the Drawings some other arrangements of jacks and sinkers
are shewn.
Figure 1 shews another method of maintaining the jacks fixed, which com-
bination may be substituted for the series of springs G, G, shewn in
Figure 1 (Sheet 1). K is a sinker adapted to a jack D, to the head of
which is rivetted a cheek D¹. A is a bar carrying a species of comb B main-
tained fixed by means of a plate E; between the teeth of this comb a plate c
moves, such plate being jointed to a rod which serves as an axis, and passes
through all the teeth of the comb B. The plate c is provided with a stud c
near its lower extremity for the purpose of holding the jack fast. The
number of plates c will be equal to the number of jacks employed. F is a
bar on which rests the bar A, a comb G is fixed thereto for the purpose of
guiding the plates c; I is a bar carrying another bar H provided with

page_text: hooks H', which take hold of the helical springs Z. The action of the
springs on the plate c is such as to cause the pin c¹ to rest either in the notch
nude in the end of the jack or against the curved surface 1 of the same.
This combination of plates c, the object of which is to prevent the descent or
motion of the jacks or levers excepting by the action of the sinking eccentric
being applicable to various patterns of sinkers used to form the loops of the
web, I propose to apply it to frames in which the sinkers operate without
being mounted on jacks.
Figure 2 shews a pattern of sinkers A¹ operating without jacks, and main-
tained fast by means of a hinged plate L provided with a stud or pin L', and
drawn back by a helical spring, as in the case of the plate c (Figure 1). The
sinkers A¹ are provided with a notch in which the pins L' engage. These
sinkers work between two combs B and B mounted on the bars C and C³ ;
D is the sinking eccentric moving on a carriage, and D³, a moveable bar
which causes the sinkers to resume the position they ought to occupy after
every course of loops; l' is a bar suspended at each end by a rod I*, which
serves to regulate its height; on this bar the sinkers desceud at the time of
the sinking, which is produced by the eccentric D'; P shews one of the
needles, between which the lower ends of the sinkers A¹ descend. The bar
which carries these needles should be moveable.
Figure 3 shews two patterns of sinkers which are susceptible of the appli-
cation of two sets of holding plates. M, M', are the sinkers, and N, N', the
retaining or holding plates which secure the sinkers in position. I may here
observe that the improvements herein-before set forth may be applied either'
to self-acting knitting frames or to frames worked by hand.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel aud
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The peculiar constructions, arrangements, and combinations of jacks
or rocking levers provided with a curved notched surface forming an arc of a
circle struck from the centre Z on which the jacks turn; one set of jacks
having such curved notched surface on the end behind the centre, whilst the
other set has the curved notched surface situate above the centre Z, as shewn
in Sheets 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Second. The application and use to and in a rectilinear knitting frame of
two sets of jacks of different forms, the whole constituting a single set of jacks
per breadth of frame, wherein the end of one set and a raised portion above

page_text: the axis of the other set of jacks terminate in a notched arc of circle on
which the spring bars used to maintain the jacks secure before the sinking
operate, substantially as shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1, and in Figure 3,
Sheet 2, of the Drawings.
Third. The application and use to and in a rectilinear knitting frame of
two separate sets of spring bars G, G', (Sheet 1, Figure 1), one set serving to
hold or maintain fixed one-half of a row of jacks, whilst the other set of spring
bars serve to hold and maintain fixed the intermediate jacks of the same row.
Fourth. The combination with the jacks above mentioned of sinkers of
similar or nearly similar form to those shewn in the Drawings or of jointed
jack sinkers if desired.
Fifth. The application and use to and in the mounting of the knocking
over combs of an angle-iron bar O, and cornice O³, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings.
Sixth. The application and use to and in knitting frames of jointed lead
sinkers B operating in combination with jack sinkers K, which are connected
by a rivet or pin to the jacks or rocking levers, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by Figure 1 (on Sheet 2) of the Drawings annexed.
Seventh. The application of a fixed comb in front of each needle presser
plate, as herein-before described and illustrated by Figure 4 (Sheet 2) of the
Drawings annexed.
Eighth. The application and use of a moveable bar for mounting the
needle presser plates or presser combs upon or of angle irons to which the
presser plates or presser combs are attached, as herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 4 and 1 (Sheet 2) of the Drawings annexed.
Ninth. The peculiar arrangement of needle pressers and their application
to frames provided with the peculiar sinkers, illustrated by Figures 6 and 7
(Sheet 2) of the Drawings, or to frames provided or capable of being pro-
vided with sinkers, the ends of which are similar to or equivalents for those
of the sinkers herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification, set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.e.)