Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by JOSEPH MILLARD MERROW, of Merrow, in the
Town of Mansfield, County of Tolland, in the State of Connecticut, United States
of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.L.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to produce by machinery results heretofore
accomplished by hand, and also new results as will hereinafter be fully described
and explained.
In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification, Figure
is a side view of the improved machine, a portion of the casing above the bed being
removed to show the parts therein.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the machine.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the eccentric rod and eccentric.
Figure 4 is a detached view showing the crochet hook bar and its guide, the latter
being in section.
Figure 5 is a detached view of a portion of the feeding mechanism.
Figure 6 is a view of a modification of the feeding mechanism.
Figure 7 is a view of the presser foot detached.
Figure 8 is a view of the crochet hook detached.
Figure 9 is a view of the crochet hook bar and mechanism for operating the same
laterally and longitudinally, parts being in section.
Figure 10, is a view of the cam and lever for reciprocating the feed bar.
Figure 11 is a top view of a portion of the needle lever showing the sleeve (), with
the pinch collar o³ removed.

page_text: r
Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 are perspective views showing the relations of the needle,
crochet hook and threads at several stages of the operation of forming a complete
set of loops.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine, showing the work
plate, presser foot and other parts immediately connected.
Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20 represent various styles of finish produced by the
machine.
In the drawings:
A indicates the frame or bed of the machine, which may be of any suitable form;
and constitutes also the work plate.
Journalled in pendent extensions C of the bed is the main driving shaft D, on one
end of which is a pulley E, to which motion may be given from any convenient
source.
Findicates the casing enclosing the greater portion of the mechanism above the
bed AG indicates the needle operating lever; H the needle bar, and I the eccentric
by which the needle operating lever G is given its proper movement.
J indicates the rod connecting eccentric I, with lever G. K is the presser foot bar
and I, the presser foot.
M indicates the cam or cam cylinder by which the devices immediately connected
with the forming of the stitch are operated. N indicates the looper bar; O is a
tubular sleeve or guide, which imparts to the looper bar and looper or crochet hook
the necessary vertical or rising and falling movements; P the bell crank or elbow
lever for giving to the looper bar and looper their longitudinal movements, and
Qthe lever for imparting to said looper bar and looper the requisite lateral motions.
R indicates the feed dog formed on or secured to the feed operating lever S.
Tindicates a cam secured to the driving shaft D, by means of which cam the forward
and backward movements are given to the lever S, and feed dog R, through
the lever S².
U indicates a spur gear which is driven by the pinion d. The upper movements
are imparted to the lever S, and feed dog R, by the projection or pattern cam grade »,
through the lever St.
The general description herein before given, of the principal parts of the improved
crochet machine.
The details will now be described and explained.
On the driving shaft D, at one side of the cam cylinder M, and formed integral
therewith is the eccentric I, which in the operation of the machine imparts vertical
motion to the eccentric rod J, pivoted at its upper end to needle lever G, about
midway of the length thereof. Said lever G is pivoted at its rear end to the
casing F, and at its forward end is connected to the needle bar H, which carries the
needle h, to impart the vertical motion thereto in a way common in sewing machines.
A vertical rod or spindle o is secured at its upper end to the casing of the machine,
and at its lower end is supported by a bracket or car o¹, projecting from the lower
side of the bed and forming a stop to limit the downward movement of the sleeve O,
through which sleeve the said rod o passes. The sleeve O is provided at its lower
end with a right angular sleeve or guide o², through which the looper bar N passes,
and by which the latter is supported and carried. A pinch collar o³ is secured to the
sleeve O, at its upper end. A loose collar o flanged at its upper end is placed upon
the sleeve O, below the pinch collar o³, and surrounding the sleeve is a spiral spring o³,
having one of its ends bearing against said loose collar, while its other end rests
on the horizontal portion of the sleeve O.
The spring o, acts to hold the loose collar o', upward against those portions of the
needle lever G, interposed between the said loose collar o, and the pinch collar o³,
thereby holding the latter and the sleeve O downward.
When the needle lever G is reciprocated or swung vertically, the needle bar H,
the needle h, and the sleeves 0, 0, together with looper bar N, and looper n,
will be raised and lowered in the machine.
The pinch collar o³, is of use in adjusting the vertical throw of the sleeve O. By

page_text: setting the said pinch collar upward, the sleeve O will not be carried so high by the
needle lever G, and thus the crochet hook n will travel nearer to the presser foot,
but the lowest position of the said crochet hook when below the work plate will
always be the same, for at that time the lower end of the sleeve O will always be
carried into contact with the ear or stop o' when the coiled spring around said
sleeve O, will yield to the pressure upon the loose collar of by the needle lever G,
while the latter continues to move downward a short distance.
The cylinder M is provided at one of its sides or ends with a cam groove m,
into which extends a stud m³, projecting from the horizontal arm of elbow lever P.
The upper end of the perpendicular arm of said lever P is provided with a pin p,
which extends through a horizontal slot or loop n*, formed on or secured to the rear
end of the looper bar N. One end of said loop n extends through a slot in a guide n²,
secured to the rear end of the horizontal part 2 of the sleeve O.
Groove m in cam cylinder M is such, that when said cylinder is rotated, elbow
lever P will be rocked on its fulcrum or stud p', and thus move looper bar N, to and
fro in the horizontal part of the sleeve O, said looper bar being held from rotating
in its support, by the end of loop operating in the slot of the guide n².
721
Cam cylinder M has an irregular groove m² formed on its periphery, into which a
stud ma projecting downwardly from the rear end g, of a short lever Q is adapted
to operate. Said lever Qis pivoted or fulcrumed at about the centre of its length on
a stud m, secured to an adjustable piece m³, connected to the under side of the
bed A, as seen in Figure 2. The forward end g¹ of said lever Q, has a slot q2 formed
therein, into which a pin o depending from the forward end of the horizontal
part o² of sleeve O, extends. By the means just pointed out, as cam cylinder M, is
rotated, lever Q, is oscillated on its pivot or fulcrum and imparts an oscillating
motion to the horizontal part o², of the sleeve O, the looper bar N, and looper n.
To the forward end of the looper bar N, is secured the looper or crochet hook n
which is provided with a latch n¹, and much resembles a knitting machine latched
needle.
Presser foot L, is adjustably secured to presser bar K, as shown, and is borne down
upon the needle plate or work plate by a spring in the usual well known way.
The said presser foot I, is provided with an opening from the needle hole to the
edge of said presser foot on its side adjacent to the looper bar N, for a purpose which
will be explained hereinafter.
The finger plate 6, Figure 16 is recessed into and secured to the bed A, and is
provided with a finger and a slot through which the feed dog operates.
The feed cam T, which is secured to the shaft D, is provided with a groovet in
which runs the pins of the lever S2, which latter is pivoted upon the stud p¹.
The rear end of the feed bar S, is pivoted to the upper end of the lever S², while
the forward end of said feed bar passes through a recess 2, on the block 3, forming
a part of the bed A, and is held into said recess by means of the lever S¹, which is
also pivoted to swing in said recess b².
:
To one side of the spur gear U, are secured two plates u, u², the latter being
provided with a projection or pattern cam grade u, which is brought into contact with
the projections, at the end of the lever S', when the said spur gear U is rotated by
the pinion d said spur gear U turning upon the stud c secured to the frame of the
machine. When the cam grade u is carried into contact with the projection s¹, on
the swinging lever S', the latter is swung upward carrying with it, in the recess 62, the
swinging end of the feed bar S, thus raising the feed dog R, up through the slot "", in
the finger plate b. When said cam grade u is carried past the projection s¹, the
lever S is allowed to take its normal position, permitting the feed bar S, also to drop
to its former position, which ordinarily will be accomplished by its own gravity, but to
assure such action at all times the coiled spring bresting upon the shoe s² is placed in
the recess 2 upon and near the end of the said feed bar S.
The pinion is formed upon the main driving shaft D, and as the cam T, is secured
to the said shaft D, the feed bar S will be carried longitudinally forward and back at
each complete revolution of said shaft D, but as the spur gear U is several times larger

page_text: than its driving pinion & the cam grade u will be carried into contact with the projec-
tions of the lever S', but once during several rotations of the shaft D). The plates w¹
and are made detachable, and others may be put in their places having several
projections or pattern cam grades, as shown in Figure 6, which represents a
modification of a portion of the feeding mechanism.
The swinging lever S¹, may be dispensed with as shown in Figure 6, wherein the
cam grades v, v, are arranged to act directly upon the projection 3, at the under
side of the feed bar S³, said projection, being convenient but not necessary..
It will be seen that the Machine is provided with means for reciprocating the
crochet hook n, above, around the edge and below the finger plate b, and presser
foot and for reciprocating the needle h, vertically and also for feeding the fabric
one step for each complete set of loops, or one step when several complete sets of loops
have been made at one point in the fabric.
To produce the finish shown in Figure 18, the plates, and ², upon the side of
the spur gear U are replaced by the plates ¹, and ², which are shown in Figure 6,
thereby causing the feed dog to operate to carry the fabric forward a suitable distance
once for each rotation of the shaft D, the length of the feed being determined by the
width of the point or narrow end of the cam projections, and v. The fabric or
material to be crocheted is placed with its edge adjacent to the outer edge of the
finger plate, and is held down on to the said finger plate b, by the presser foot I.
As the first stitch taken is necessarily incomplete it will be supposed for convenience
that the operation of forming stitches has been performed for a short distance, and
that the operation has been stopped with the looper or crotchet hook n, in the position
shown in Figure 12, carrying three loops of yarn or thread. When the Machine is
further operated the crochet hook n, is advanced to grasp the threads and w³,
which are held in position by means of the guide a, and needle h, and the shoulder 1,
which latter acts as a stop for said threads. When the crochet hook n, is advanced
from its position shown in Figure 12, the loops carried by said hook are held back
or retained by the shoulder, at the edge of the presser foot L, and the latch n',
of the said crochet hook n, is carried through the loops which are upon said book,
as will be seen in Figure 13, wherein the crochet hook is represented as having
grasped the two threads w, and w², and having retreated somewhat. As the crochet
hook further retreats the threads w, w', will be drawn, in the form of two loops,
through the three loops upon the said hook as the latch », is closed by said loop
and the latter are shed off from the point of said crochet hook which then carries
the two new loops as shown in Figure 14. As the crochet hook n, retreats from
its position shown in Figure 13, it is carried downwardly and at the same time the
needle is also carried downwardly. From the position shown in Figure 14, the
needle carries the thread w, down through the fabric while the crochet hook nụ
moves downwardly and advances toward the said needle h, grasping the thread w,
and carrying said thread in the form of a loop together with the other loops which are
upon said crochet hook, backward, outward and upward from the position shown in
Figure 15, around the edge of the presser foot. L, to the position shown in Figure 12,
or the starting point, when the crochet hook will bear or carry three loops of thread,
two of which have been formed from the main thread e, and the supplemental thread w
from above the fabric, while the third has been formed from the main thread wc,
carried by the crochet hook from below the fabric. At a suitable time during the
formation of one complete set of loops, the fabric W is carried forward a suitable
distance by the feed dog R. The operation described produces the finish represented
in Figure 18. If the supplemental thread is dispensed with, the chain of loops
at the edge of the fabric will be formed from the main thread only as repre-
sented in Figure 17. If now the plates and are removed from the side of the
spur gear U, and are replaced by the plates a, and 2, (which contain only one
projection or pattern cam grade u, and therefore cause the feed dog R to be raised
into operation but once while several sets of loops are formed) the product will be a
series of clusters or scallops arranged along the edge of the fabric as represented in
Figures 19 and 20, the former representing the scallop finish produced from the main

page_text: thread only, while the latter represents the finish formed when both the main and
supplemental threads are employed. In finishing with scallops a better result may
be obtained by placing the fabric under the presser foot in such a manner that the
needle will carry the thread through the fabric quite near the edge thereof.
The length of the loops is determined by the width or size of the finger b', around
which said loops are formed, and from which they are carried when the fabric is
fed along. The presser foot L, is made open upon its side to allow the needle thread
to be laid down upon the fabric as shown in Figure 15, when the loops are being
formed by the crochet hook.
My correspondent does not confine himself to the exact patterns shown, nor to the
relative sizes of the pattern gear U, and its driving pinion d. It is obvious that by
changing the relative sizes of the pattern gear and its driving pinion a larger or a
smaller number of loops may be formed at one place upon the edge of the fabric,
when the pattern indicated by a is employed and it is also obvious that the pattern
plates secured to the sides of the pattern gear U, may be varied in form to crochet
various patterns without departing from the spirit of his invention, for instance, the
edge of the fabric may be finished in scallops containing any desired number of
stitches with one or more stitches of crochet finish between each pair of the scallops
as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method, substantially as described, of crocheting the edges of fabrics, which
consists in grasping the thread above or below the fabric, in enchaining the loop so
formed, at or near the edge of the fabric, in passing the thread through the fabric, in
grasping it at the opposite side of the same, in drawing the loop so formed through
the one previously made, and in repeating the above series of operations at the same
point of the fabric, or at other suitably distant points thereon.
2. In the method of crocheting, such as herein described and set forth in claim 1,
the combining of a supplemental thread with the main thread during the first looping
operation, and the subsequent drawing of the main thread through the combined loop
thus formed, substantially as described and shown.
3. In a crocheting machine, the combination with a looper and thread carrying
needle working synchronously, and means for operating both looper and needle, of an
intermittently-acting fabric feeding mechanism containing changeable pattern or
timing devices such as described, and of means for actuating said feeding mechanism,
whereby the said mechanism may be so controlled that the fabric is fed once for one
or more complete operations of the said looper and needle, substantially as described
and shown.
4. In a crocheting machine, the combination with a reciprocating thread carrying
needle, and with a looper moving to and from said needle, of a stationary guide, such
as a, for a supplemental thread, located in proximity to said needle, and in the path
of said looper, whereby the said supplemental thread may be grasped with the main
thread by the said looper, substantially as set forth.
In a crocheting machine, the combination of a reciprocating thread carrying
needle, finger such as 6, round which loops may be formed, a looper and means for
moving the same to and from said needle alternately above and below the said finger,
and a stop such as 7, located above the fabric and serving to retain the thread in
position to be grasped by the looper above the said fabric, substantially as described
and shown.
6. In a crocheting machine, a reciprocating thread carrying needle, a finger round
which loops may be formed, a looper and means for traversing said looper above,
around the edge of and below the said finger, in combination with a work plate
supporting the fabric, and a presser foot resting on the fabric, and having an opening
upon its side adjacent to said looper, which admits of the thread being drawn down
upon the fabric by the looper, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 7. In a crocheting machine, the combination with the frame F, the looper n, n',
and the looper carrying bae N, of a vertical guide sleeve O, pivoted to the frame, a
horizontal guide sleeve o carried by said sleeve, and embracing the said looper bar,
means for reciprocating said sleeve O vertically upon its pivot, and for oscillating it
thereon, and means for reciprocating said looper bar within its sleeve ², whereby the
necessary peculiar movement is imparted to the said looper, substantially as set forth.
8. In a crocheting machine, the combination with the frame and driving shaft, of
the needle lever pivoted to the frame, a rod pivote: by one end to said lever near the
longitudinal centre thereof, an eccentric on the driving shaft to which the other end
of said rod is operatively connected, the looper bar and its sleeve adapted to be
raised and lowered in the Machine, and mechanism substantially as described,
connecting said needle lever with the looper bar and its sleeve, whereby both are
operated vertically, as set forth.
9. In a crocheting machine, the looper bar and looper, the thread carrying needle,
and the needle lever and means for operating it, in combination with the vertical
guide sleeve loosely connected with said needle lever, and provided with a horizontal
guide sleeve o², carrying said looper bar and looper, a fixed stop o¹ below said sleeve 0,
and a spring of surrounding the vertical guide sleeve between the needle lever and
horizontal guide sleeve, whereby the said needle and looper each receive a vertical
reciprocating movement and the movement of the looper is arrested during the lower
portion of the downward and upward strokes of the needle, substantially as set forth.
10. In a crocheting machine, the work plate, the looper and looper bar, the
horizontal guide sleeve o carrying the same, the vertical guide sleeve O carrying the
said horizontal guide sleeve, the needle lever embracing the said vertical guide sleeve,
and means for operating said lever, in combination with the stop o below said
vertical guide sleeve, the adjustable collar o³ secured to said vertical guide sleeve
above the needle lever, a loose collar o' on said sleeve, and below said lever, and a
spring interposed between said loose collar and the horizontal sleeve aforesaid,
whereby the limit of vertical movement of the looper above the work plate
adjustable, while the limit of its vertical movement below the work plate is fixed,
substantially as shown and described.
11. In a crocheting machine, the combination with the bed and the needle, of the
looper and looper bar carried by the pivoted guide sleeve o², the depending pin o on
said sleeve, the pivoted lever having one end engaging said pin, the lever pivot m
adjustable upon the bed, and the mechanism for oscillating said lever, whereby a
vibratory movement is imparted to the looper, and the position of its path adjusted
with respect to the needle, substantially as set forth.
12. In a crocheting machine, the combination with the looper and looper bar, and
the horizontal guide sleeve o², of the driving shaft, a cam grooved cylinder thereon,
an elbow lever having one of its arms operatively connected with said cylinder, and
having its other arm extending through a loop on the rear end of the looper bar, and
a slotted arm secured to the rear end of said horizontal sleeve and forming a guide
for said loop, whereby the looper bar has a reciprocating movement imparted to it
within said sleeve, and is prevented from turning therein, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 4th dov of Santa 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant..