IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED OR LOOPED FABRICS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Thorpe, of New Basford, in the Town and County
of the Town of Nottingham, Manufacturer and Machine Builder, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED OR LOOPED FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Thorpe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
THOMAS THORPE, of New Basford, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Manufacturer and Machine Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED OR LOOPED FABRICS."
This Invention relates to machinery of the kind known as straight-bar
knitting frames for the manufacture of knitted or looped fabrics, and it has
principally for its object to improve the construction and action of the “knocking-
over bits," so as to render such action more expeditious and certain than heretofore.
The Invention also comprises the improved application of additional thread
carriers to straight-bar knitting frames, whereby bands or stripes may be formed
in fashioned goods as well as to perform what is known as "splicing."
In carrying out the first part of the Invention in a straight-bar knitting
machine having its needles placed horizontally, the improved knocking-over bits
are placed vertically or nearly at right angles to them. These knocking-over bits
are peculiarly formed, being shaped somewhat like the head of an enlarged crochet
hook and are carried on a horizontal bar or bars running the length of the machine.
A vertical movement is given to this bar by cams acting through a rocking shaft,.
having arms centered upon downwardly projecting parts of the bar, and the bar is
also connected by loose links to a horizontal spindle placed above and parallel to
the rocking shaft. The movement given to the bar causes the knocking-over bits
to rise between the needles, and as the needles are drawn inwards the curved parts .
of the heads of the bits press the fabric on the needles outwards to the needle
ends, the upward movement of the bar continuing, the nose or hook-like parts of
the knocking-over bits pass above the needles which at this moment are being
гъ

page_text: drawn inwards and slightly upwards, the fabric being now pressed by the shanks
of the knocking-over bits and finally caught by the nose or hook-like parts. The
next movement outwards of the needles causes the fabric held by the nose part of
the knocking-over bits to be moved in on the needles which then fall, leaving the
fabric free from the knocking-over bits, which in their turn descend to their first
position. The improved knocking-over arrangement is applicable to all straight-
bar knitting machines, and to such frames as have their needles in a vertical
position, such as those known as Cotton's, the mechanism being in the latter case
arranged for the knocking-over bits to move horizontally or obliquely, as is most
convenient and suitable. With the above improvements much coarser yarns may
be used than is possible with existing arrangements. It also much facilitates the
taking of a "bulk," as in transferring work from one machine to another.
"
Another improvement comprised in the present Invention consists in the
application of additional thread carriers to straight-bar knitting machines having
horizontal needles, whereby the operation of putting in an extra thread in what is
known as "splicing and the making of bands or stripes in fashioned goods is
effected. In this case two or more boxes are provided formed with slots or recesses
to receive bars which are carried along by friction, each bar being put into action
automatically or at will by levers and wheels having a step by step motion in a
manner well understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Thorpe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1882.
THOMAS THORPE. of New Basford, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Manufacturer and Machine Builder. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED OR LOOPED FABRICS."
My said Invention relates to machinery of the kind known as straight-bar knitting
frames for the manufacture of knitted or looped fabrics, and it has principally for
its object to improve the construction and action of the "knocking-over" bits so as
to render suction action more expeditious and certain than heretofore. My said
Invention also comprises the application of additional thread-carriers to some
kinds of straight-bar knitting machines, whereby bands or stripes may be formed
in fashioned goods as well as to perform what is known as "splicing."
"
In carrying out the first part of my Invention in a straight-bar knitting machine
having its needles placed horizontally, the improved "knocking over
bits are
placed vertically or nearly at right angles to them. These knocking-over bits are
peculiarly formed, being shaped somewhat like the head of an enlarged crotchet
hook or a hatchet head, and are carried on a horizontal bar or bars, running the
length of the machine. A vertical movement is given to this bar by cams acting
through a rocking shaft, having arms centered upon downwardly projecting parts

page_text: of the bar, and the bar is also connected by links to a horizontal rod or spindle
placed above and parallel to the rocking shaft, or otherwise connected to the
framing. The improved knocking-over arrangement is applicable to all straight-
bar knitting machines and to such frames as have their needles in a vertical
position, such, for example, as those known as Cotton's machines, the mechanism
being in the latter case arranged for the knocking-over bits to move horizontally
or obliquely, as is most suitable and convenient. With the improved knocking-
over arrangement much coarser yarns may be used than is possible with previously
existing arrangements. It also greatly facilitates the taking of a "bulk," as in
transferring work from one machine to another.
Another improvement comprised in my said Invention and which is rendered
possible by the foregoing improved arrangements, consists in the application of
additional thread-carriers to straight-bar knitting machines having horizontally
placed needles, whereby the operation of putting in an extra thread in what is
known as **
splicing," and the making of bands or stripes in fashioned goods is
effected. In this case two or more "boxes" are provided formed with slots or
recesses to receive bars holding the thread carriers, each bar being moved by
friction and put into action automatically or at will by bars and wheels having a
step by step motion in a well known manner.
Aud in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory
Drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing my improved arrange-
ments.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an end elevation of part
of a knitting machine having my improved arrangements, and Figure 2 is a
transverse section corresponding to Figure 1. In this machine the needles are
carried horizontally on a bar in a well known manner, and my improved knocking-
over bits are carried so as to pass between the needles in a vertical direction. The
improved knocking-over bits are formed of steel or other suitable metal and of a
particular shape resembling somewhat in side view a hatchet head, but they will
be best understood by referring to Figure 3 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, which is a full-size representation of the side view of a knocking over bit;
Figure 4 is a front view of several knocking-over bits having needles between them.
The particular shape of the improved knocking-over bits is very essential, and it
should be noticed that in the curved fronts or acting parts there is a short nearly
straight part just above the nose or downward projection, and that the upper
curved parts extend upwards and backwards until they touch the plane of the
front of the necks of the bits. The shanks of the knocking-over bits are narrower
at the lower than at the neck part, which at the front slightly projects for con-
venience in fixing the bits into blocks or leads. A convenient number of the
bits 1 are cast into leads and fixed to a horizontal bar 2 extending the length of
the machine, and when in the position of rest shown in Figures 2 and 5, the tops
of the bits just project through between the needles to about on a level with the
lower end of the fixed presser bar A. The bar 2 will be best seen in Figure 5,
which is one of a series of diagrams illustrating the action of the knocking over
arrangement, and it has centered upon it the outer end of a link or bar 3 which
is centered at its inner end to a part of the framing 7. The bar 2 has fixed to it
downwardly-projecting arms 4, which are centered on the outer ends of horizontal
arms 5 extending from a rocking-shaft 6 carried in suitable bearings on the end
framings 7. The rocking shaft 6 has a downwardly projecting arm 8 having on its
end an antifriction roller or truck 9 running on a cam 10, against which it is
pressed by a spring 17 connected to the framing 7. The cam 10 is shown full size
Figure 10 on Sheet 2 of the acompanying Drawings, and Figure 11 represents full
Bize another cam 11, which is for use when taking a "bulk," as in transferring from
one machine to another, it allowing the knocking over bits to remain longer at
rest or at its lowest position, and this cam 11 is keyed or fixed alongside of the
cam 10 on a cam shaft 12 carried in bearings on the end framings 7. The cam

page_text: shaft 12 is driven through spur wheels 13, 14, gearing with a spur wheel 15 on the
first-motion shaft 16. The antifriction roller 9 can be shifted from one cam to
another by a switch or lever. When the knocking-over bits 1 are in the position
shown in Figure 2, and in the diagram Figure 5, they are temporarily at rest; a
continued movement of the cam shaft 12 however causes the knocking-over bits 1
to rise between the needles. The needles are at the same time drawn inwards and
the curved fronts of the heads of the knocking-over bits 1 press the fabric on the
needles outwards to the needle ends (Figure 6), the upward movement of the bar 2
carrying the knocking-over bits 1 continuing the nose or downward projections of
the bits 1 pass above the needles, which at the same time are being drawn inwards
and slightly upwards, the fabric being now pressed by the necks of the shanks of
the bits 1 (Figure 7), and finally caught by the noses or downward projections of
the bits 1 (Figure 8). The next movement outwards of the needles causes the
fabric held by the noses or downward projections of the knocking-over bits 1 to
be moved in on the needles, which then descend, leaving the fabric free from the
knocking over bits 1, which in their turn descend to their first position ready for
the operation to be repeated.
Having now particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the
precise detail herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The improved "knocking-over bits of the particular shape shown, and acting
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts for "knocking-over" the fabric
on the needles of a knitting machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
3. The employment of more than one set of thread carriers in knitting machines
constructed with the improved knocking-over arrangement, substantially as herein-
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Thorpe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.