IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS, AND IN THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Paget, of Loughborough, in the County of
Leicester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS, AND IN THE MANNER
OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME."
Sealed the 3rd July 1857, and dated the 3rd April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Paget at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd April 1857.
I, ARTHUR PAGET, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS, AND IN
THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the employment, for actuating the sinkers,
or their equivalents, of levers without joints, hinges, or pins, such levers having
in themselves or their fulcra sufficient elasticity to allow them to be actuated
by a rigid incline, or other equivalent, and to be brought and held with the
necessary amount of pressure against a rigid stop.
Secondly, in a method of holding the needles by hooked or cramped ends in
a cut bar or comb.
Thirdly, in the employment of a presser bar, working behind the sinkers, or
their equivalents, and in front of the apparatus, for knocking over the work,

page_text: such presser bar baving sufficient movement communicated to it to press and
relieve the needles at the proper times, and such presser bar not requiring to
be moved out of the way of the sinking or the knocking-over apparatus, and
not requiring that they shall be moved out of its way.
Fourthly, in the employment in some classes of work of a method of
knocking-over the work, by wiping the loops over the tops of the needle heads
by a bar, such bar being better in some cases if covered with cloth, caoutchouc,
moleskin, plush, or other slightly yielding material.
Fifthly, in an arrangement for drawing across the incline, or other equivalent,
by a double-grooved pulley revolving with the main shaft, and by cords or
chains and weights so arranged as to draw across once during a part of each
revolution, and in opposite directions during each alternate revolution.
Sixthly, in a method of producing a selvidge in any part of the width of the
frame, by an arrangement for throwing one or more of the sinkers, or their
equivalents out of action, or partially so, for a time.
Seventhly, in a method of making combs or bars with gaits or slots in them,
by cutting brass or iron backs on which the guage depends, and casting the
divisions on to the backs in soft metal, so that the guage of the bar may not be
affected by the casting on of the divisions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur Paget in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
PAGET, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Arthur Paget, Her special license that I, the said Arthur
Paget, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Arthur Paget, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE

page_text: MENTS IN MACHINERY OF APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS,
AND IN THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Arthur Paget, 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 Arthur Paget, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This Invention may be clearly understood by aid of the accompanying
Drawings, and reference to the letters and No thereon. In all the Drawings
the same letters and Nos refer to the same parts.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation, partly in section; Figure 2, Sheet 2, is
a front elevation, with portions removed and omitted; Figure 3, Sheet 1, is a side
elevation, partly in section, of the method of knocking over the work by wiping;
Figure 4, Sheet 1, is a section of the arrangement for casting divisions or gaits
on to bars. In this machine there are five primary parts employed in pro-
ducing the fabric, the remaining parts being for the purpose of actuating the
said five primary ones. These are, first, the needle A, which is of the ordinary
kind, and of which there are as many as the wales required in the fabric;
secondly, the thread layer B; thirdly, the sinkers C, the number of which is
one more than that of the needles; fourthly, the presser bar D; and, fifthly, the
knocking-over bar E.
In order to render this explanation more distinct, I will first describe how
the five primary parts act upon the threads so as to produce the fabric, and
afterwards describe the parts which effect the movements of the said five
primary parts.
In Figure 1, Sheet 1, and in Figure 2, Sheet 2, the five primary parts are
represented in their positions at the commencement of a course. To make the
fabric, a piece of work is run on to the needles A and pushed back on their
stems to behind the sinkers C, which are raised to allow the work to
pass to the back of them and then lowered to the position shewn, a thread
is threaded through the thread-layer B and attached to the end needle,
the presser bar D is clear of the needles, the knocking-over bar E is stationary,
and has in its upper edge a series of grooves in which slide the needles A;
the thread-layer B traverses along the needles, laying the thread under the

page_text: nebs of the sinkers C in the ordinary manner; each sinker is then successively
brought down or sunk to the required distance to sink the loop (the descent of
each sinker being completed before the next one touches the thread to ensure
the loops being drawn as freely as possible); each sinker having sunk its
loop, the needles altogether slide back in the grooves in E until the points of
the needle beards are under the presser bar D, when the needles slide back,
the work on the needle stems slides back with them, until stopped by the face
of the knocking-over bar E, where it remains. When the points of the
needle beards have come under the presser bar D, it descends and presses
the beards of the needles into the cyes; the needles continue to retire, and the
points of the needle beards enter the loops of the work on the needle stems;
the presser bar D then ascends clear of the needles, which still continue to
retire, and the sinkers all together ascend until the lower ends are clear of the
needles, leaving the row of loops they have last sunk at the heads of the
needles under the beards; the needles still continue to retire and draw
the last row of loops through the loops of the work, drawing them against the
sides of the grooves in the knocking-over bar E, thereby knocking over the
work and leaving it hanging by the last row of loops at the heads of the needles
under the beards; a weight is also attached to the work to ensure its passing
well over the heads of the needles. The sinkers now all together descend to the
position they were in at the commencement of the course, and the needles
advance, the work advancing with them until stopped by the back of the nebs
of the sinkers. The needles continue to advance until they reach the position.
they were in at the commencement of the course, leaving the work on the
needle stems at the back of the sinkers. The thread-layer B now traverses in
the opposite direction, and the sinkers are sunk successively, beginning from
the opposite end of the machine, and then the course is completed in the same
manner as before.
.
Having now described the movements of the five primary parts, I will
describe the means whereby these movements are effected.
X is a basement plate, to which are secured the two side frames Y, in
which are bearings for the cam shaft Z, to which rotatory motion is com-
municated in the direction of the arrow Z'; A¹ is the needle bar, and has in
its lower surface at the front a series of grooves, in which lie the stems of the
needles; it has also at right angles to the grooves a series of holes, in which
are the cramped ends of the needles; the holding plate or plates A are bolted
or otherwise attached to the needle bar A', and press against the needles in the
grooves, thereby holding them fast in the needle bar A'. The weight of the
front part of the needle bar A' is supported by the needles A, which rest

page_text: and side on the bottom of the grooves in the knocking-over bar E,
which is secured at its ends to the two side frames Y. At the back of the
needle bar A' are two joints or hinges A, which are attached by joint or
hinge pins to the two arms A of the rocking shaft A°, which is supported
at its ends by centres or bearings in the two side frames Y.
The rocking shaft A" has also another arm A, at the end of which are the
friction bowl A and pin As. The friction bowl A is kept in contact with
the needle bar cam A by the spring or springs represented by and acting in
the direction of the arrow A"; the needle bar cam A" is secured to the cam
shaft Z, and at the required portions of each revolution causes the needles to
retire and advance in the grooves in E, as described in the movements of the
primary parts. C' is the sinker bar, and is secured at its ends to the two side
frames Y; it has in its front surface a series of grooves, in which slide the
sinkers C, which fit sufficiently tight into the grooves to prevent their sliding
downwards by their own weight, but not so tight as to prevent their being
casily slided downwards when required. To the lower front edge of the sinker
bar C' is secured the strip C2, which keeps the sinkers C in the grooves in C'.
The sinkers C have each, in addition to the nebs at their lower ends for
sinking the loop and keeping the work back on the needle stems, two projections
or lugs, the upper ones to come in contact with the rigid stop or bar C, to
enable it to stop the descent of each sinker when actuated by the levers C³,
and to lift all the sinkers together; the lower lugs in the sinkers C are to
enable the bar C to lower them all together. The bar Cs is secured at its
ends to the two side frames Y, and has at its upper edge a vee-shaped
projection towards the front, and extending its whole length; on this slides
the slide C, carrying secured to it the rigid incline C; to one end of the
slide C is attached the cord or chain C, and to the other end the cord C".
The lever comb bar C is secured to the bar C8, and supports three combs or
slees C, C, and C'; between each division of these combs is a lever C³, the
front end of each of which rests on each of the heads or upper ends of each of
the sinkers C. The back end of each of the levers C³ rests on a ledge of the
lever comb bar C, which is the fulcrum of all the levers; cach lever C³ has a
projection or lug on its under elge near the front end, to prevent its sliding
forwards except when lifted above the sinker head on which it rests.
the slide C and incline C" are drawn across by the cord C" and apparatus,
herein-after to be described, one of the inclined portions of C¹ comes in con-
tact with the upper edge of one of the levers, and causes it to force the sinker
on which it rests to descend, until the upper lug comes in contact with and is
pressed against the stop or bar C; by the elasticity of the lever, the horizontal
When

page_text: lower surface of the incline C¹ holds down the lever and sinker just sunk,
while the inclined portion causes the next lever and sinker to descend, as the
first one; in the same manner each sinker is successively brought down as
described in the movements of the primary parts, and held against the stop or
bar C When the slide C is caused to slide in the opposite direction by the
cord C and apparatus, herein-after to be described, then the other inclined
portion of C acts in the same manner on each sinker, and the horizontal
lower surface holds them down, as before. In some cases the use of the bar
Cal as a stop may be dispensed with. The bar C is secured at its ends
to the two connecting or lifting rods C2, which are hooked at their upper
ends, so as to rest on the upper surface of C', and prevent the bar C
descending lower than is required. The bar C is kept in contact with the
front of the bar C¹ by the spring or springs represented by and acting in
the direction of the arrow C31. The lower ends of the two rods Care
attached by joints or hinges to the two arms C2 of the rocking shaft C™³,
which is supported at its ends by centres or bearings in the two side frames Y.
The rocking shaft C has also another arm C2, at the end of which are the
friction bowl C and pin C7; the friction bowl CS is kept in contact with
the cam C by the spring or springs represented by and acting in the
direction of the arrow C3. The cam C29 is secured to the shaft Z, and at
the required portions of each revolution causes the sinkers to ascend and
descend, as described in the movements of the primary parts. B is the thread-
layer, so arranged that it shall deliver the thread under the front nebs of the
sinkers in the ordinary manner; at its upper end it is secured to the bar B',
which slides in the vee groove in the slide C, which groove the bar B¹ fits
sufficiently tight to ensure its traversing with the slide C9 when drawn across,
but not so tight as to prevent the screw B³, or other convenient arrangement,
arresting its motion at any required point. C is the drawing-across pulley,
secured to the shaft Z, and having in its outer periphery two grooves C³³ and
C; it has also a portion of its outer periphery cut away rather deeper than the
grooves, leaving a notch or indentation.
The sliding or throwing-out block C18 is recessed into C, so that the upper
surface of the block is level with the bottom of the notch; C¹³ has a pin
fitting into a hole in C, which allows it to slide outwards from the centre of
C" until the outer or upper surface of C¹³ is level with the outer periphery of
C17; C¹s is drawn into its recess by the spring represented by and acting in the
direction of the arrow C³, and attached to the pin C on the opposite side of
C18 is a pin C, which at a portion of its revolution comes in contact with the
stationary incline C20, which is secured to the side frame Y, and causes C¹³ to

page_text: When C¹ bas passed C20 the
One end of the cord C¹ is secured
is conducted over suitable guide
slide outwards, as herein-before described.
spring C draws C₁ into its recess in C.
to the left-hand end of the slide C, and
pulleys, or other equivalents, to the groove C, in which it lies, and has secured
to its other end the catch block and weight C, the length of C being such
that when C is at the right-hand end of its traverse C₁ shall be at or near
the top portion of the periphery of C". The cord C" is secured to the right-
hand end of the slide C, and is likewise conducted over suitable guide pulleys,
or other equivalents, to the groove Cs, in which it lies, and has secured to its
other end a catch block and weight C¹³, the length of C" being such that
when C is at the left-hand end of its traverse C shall be at the portion of
the periphery of C" that C is when C is at the right-hand end of its
traverse.
I will now proceed to describe the action of the arrangement for drawing
across. I will suppose the slide C to be at the right-hand end of its traverse,
the catch block C₁ will then be lying in the groove C³, at or near the
top of the periphery of C", while the catch block or weight C¹ will be
hanging down below the pulley C" by its cord C", which will lie in the groove
C. When the pulley C" revolves, the notch or indentation in its outer
periphery will take round with it the catch block C, drawing with it the cord
C and the slide C in the direction of the left-hand end of its traverse; the
cord C" will slide in the groove C3, in the opposite direction to the revolution
of C17, and it will be seen that before the catch block C¹³ reaches the outer
periphery of C the notch in it will have passed the point where C¹³ comes in
contact with C"; therefore as C" continues its revolution C¹³ will slide in the
groove C in the opposite direction to the revolution of C; when the pin C¹9
comes in contact with C, the throwing-out block C18 will slide, as herein-
before described, and thereby disengage or throw out the catch block or
weight C from the notch in C, when C will by the action of its own
weight hang down, as C¹³ did at the commencement of the movements; C
will now have been drawn across to the left-hand end of its traverse, and C¹³ be
at the same portion of the periphery of C at which C was at the commence-
ment of the movements; as C again makes its revolution, the notch will
now take the catch block C13 and the cord C and draw across C in the
direction of the right-hand end of its traverse, the catch block C will now, as
before described, miss the notch in C" and slide in the groove C³ to its
former position, and when C has reached the right-hand end of its traverse
C18 will disengage C, in the manner herein-before described; thus the slide.
C with the incline C₁ and other parts attached to it will be drawn across

page_text: once during a portion of each revolution of the pulley C", and in opposite
directions during each alternate revolution. The presser bar D is secured at
its ends to the two arms D¹ of the rocking shaft D, which is supported at its
ends by centres or bearings in the two side frames Y. The rocking shaft D2
has also another arm D³, at the end of which are the friction bowl D' and the
pin D'; the friction bowl D is kept in contact with the presser bar cam D" by
the spring or springs represented by and acting in the direction of the arrow
D. The presser bar cam D is secured to the shaft Z, and at the required
portions of each revolution causes the presser bar D to descend and ascend,
as described in the movements of the primary parts.
I will next describe the method of producing a selvedge in any part of the
width of the frame, omitting a description of the parts, as they have been
herein-before described. When it is wished to produce a selvedge on any
needle in the frame, the thread-layer B is arrested in its traverse by the
screws B³, or other arrangements, as soon as it has passed the selvedge needle
and is under the selvedge sinker, that is to say, the next beyond the selvedge
needle the lever which rests on the head of the selvedge sinker is then lifted
upwards and drawn forwards until the back end of the lever drops off the
fulcrum bar or ledge of C and into the recessed part of C, thereby removing
the lever from the action of the incline C, so that when C10 is drawn across
the lever will not cause the selvedge sinker to descend; the course will then
proceed as herein-before described, and the selvedge sinker will be actuated
by the bar as usual, to allow the work to be knocked over, and to retain it
at the back of the sinkers. The thread-layer B will then traverse in the
opposite direction and draw the thread round the lower neb of the selvedge
sinker, which again will not sink, thereby leaving the selvedge loop a short
one, and preventing a slack selvedge. It is obvious that, if necessary, two or
more sinkers may be thrown out of action or partly so. When it is wished
to make the selvedge elsewhere, the sinkers can be easily returned to their
former positions on the fulcrum bar or ledge of c³, and other sinkers thrown
out of action. To understand the modification of the frame by which the
work is knocked over, by wiping the loops over the tops of the needle heads,
it will be necessary to refer to Figure 3, Sheet 1. It will be seen that there
are no grooves in the bar E, and that the presser-bar D has at the back
a second projection or ledge, which, when the needles have been pressed, and
the row of loops last sunk are being drawn through, the loops of the work
descends and presses lightly on the tops of the needle heads, and as the
needles retire it wipes the loops of the work over the tops of the needle
heads, thereby knocking over the work. In some cases it is advisable to

page_text: cover the back ledge of D with some slightly yielding material to assist it
in wiping over the loops. In some cases also it is advisable to employ a
separate bar to wipe over the loops independent of the presser-bar D. To
understand the method of casting gaits or divisions on to bars, reference must
be made to Figure 4, Sheet 1. F is the bar on to which the divisions are to
be cast, and G, G, are two bars secured to it, one on each side. In each of
these bars a series of grooves has been cut, the grooves in each bar being
of equal width, and equidistant from cach other. A set of bits of plate H,
the thickness and depth of the grooves required, is then inserted in the
grooves in G, G, and F, and then the metal is poured in a melted condition
on to and between the bits II, II, and when cooled the superfluous metal is
taken off, and then bits of plate H, H, removed, leaving the divisions cast on
to the back or bar F¹.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, let it be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim,
Firstly, the use of levers without joints, hinges, or pins for actuating the
sinkers, or their equivalents, such levers having in themselves or their fulcra
sufficient elasticity to allow them to be actuated by a rigid incline, or other
equivalent, and to be brought and held with the necessary amount of pressure
against a rigid stop.
Secondly, the method of holding the needles by hooked or cramped ends in
a cut bar or comb.
Thirdly, the use of a presser bar working behind the sinkers, or their equi-
valents, and in front of the apparatus for knocking over the work, such presser
bar having sufficient movement communicated to it to press and relieve the
needles at the proper times.
Fourthly, the method of knocking over the work by wiping the loops over
the tops of the needle heads by a bar.
Fifthly, the arrangement for drawing across the incline, or other equivalent,
by a double-grooved pulley revolving with the main shaft, and by cords or
chains and weights so arranged as to draw across once during a part of each
revolution, and in opposite directions during each alternate revolution.
Sixthly, the method of producing a selvedge in any part of the width of the
frame by an arrangement for throwing one or more of the sinkers, or their
equivalents, out of action, or partially so, for a time.
Seventhly, the method of making combs or bars with gaits or slots in them

page_text: by cutting brass or iron backs on which the guage depends, and casting the
divisions on the backs in soft metal, so that the guage of the bar may not be
effected by the casting on of the divisions.
And I further claim each of the above-mentioned improvements, whether
employed separately or in combination with each other, or with other
machinery or apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Paget have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord Onc
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Arthur Paget, in the presence of
ARTHUR PAGET. (L.S.)
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.