IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF SELVEDGES THEREBY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Armstrong, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES AND IN THE
PRODUCTION OF SELVEDGES THEREBY."-A communication from abroad
by Henry A. House, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Armstrong at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th September 1869.
I, FRANK ARMSTRONG, of Paris, in the Empire of France, now of
5 No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES, AND IN THE
PRODUCTION OF SELVEDGES THEREBY," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to an extensible frame knitting
machine wherein the needles are arranged and guided so as to travel

page_text: around in the path of a flattened ellipse, and at proper times to rise and
descend for receiving the yarn and casting off the loops.
The nature of my said Invention consists,―
First. In providing for adjusting any desired number of the needles
with the work upon them, so that these needles shall not take the yarn
or form loops, at the same time allowing these needles to travel around
either to the right or left with those needles which do form loops, thereby
allowing the operation of knitting to be conveniently performed.
Second. In providing for the depression of some of the needles (for
the purpose of knitting ribbed work,) so that they shall neither carry
the work upon them nor take yarn from the yarn guide. I employ for
this purpose a hinged gate or equivalent device arranged to allow the
toes on the lower ends of those needles which it is desired to drop out of
operation to be adjusted to travel in a groove beneath the main working
groove, as herein-after explained.
Third. In combining spring switches with grooves wherein the toes
on the needles are designed to travel, and which will allow the needles
to be moved around either to the right or to the left for the purpose of
knitting the heel portion of a stocking or other straight or single work;
also in combining with the said grooves a spring latch or a guide which
will allow the needle toes to be adjusted to travel in the highest groove
when it is desired to raise some of the needles with the work over them
out of operation as herein-after explained.
Fourth. In arranging each needle in a groove formed in a narrow
quill, so that each needle is allowed to receive endwise movement
independently of its quill as herein-after explained.
Fifth. In providing for tightening or loosening the stitches by means
of a vertically adjustable cam applied at the point where the needles are
depressed or caused to dip for the purpose of casting off the loops, the
said cap being arranged to operate upon the quills by raising or depress-
ing them, and thereby causing more or less of the yarn beneath the
hooks of the needle to be drawn into their upper ends before casting off
the loops as herein-after explained.
Sixth. In constructing the quills or needle sheaths with slots or
notches, at or near their lower ends to receive a rib or flange on the
frame of the machine for the purpose of preventing the rising of these
quills or sheaths while in operation,

page_text: Seventh. In providing the stationary or main frame with a vertical
gate, which will permit the insertion of the needles and their quills into
their proper places in the frame of the machine, and also the removal of
the same at pleasure.
Eighth. In providing the frame of the machine with a horizontal and
lateral clamping bar arranged to confine the adjustable section of the
said frame rigidly at any desired point.
Ninth. In a slotted and curved overhanging guide for delivering the
yarn to the needle hooks, and which is so constructed as not to interfere
with the hooked ends of the needles while they are passing it, as herein-
after explained.
Tenth. In the employment of two or more hooked rods connected at
the ends opposite to their hooks by means of a cord or chain, and
adapted for use with a tension weight for drawing down the work
equally while knitting a heel, as herein-after described.
Eleventh. In extending the vertical shaft of spur wheels which
move the needles around in their guides high enough to receive upon its
upper end a hand crank, and in arranging such crank to turn in a hori-
zontal plane above the needles and out of the way of the same as herein-
after explained.
Twelfth. In the mode of forming by machinery a selvedge on a
knitted fabric.
The general form of the frame of the machine is that of a flattened
ellipse. This frame is composed of three sections and a side bearing
box, in which latter one of the spur wheels and the shaft of the said
wheels have their bearings. Below this box is a jaw having a clamp
screw, by which the machine is secured. The main section of the frame
consists of two parallel sides with semicircular ends. Within this
section are two other sections, which are made to leave a vertical channel
wide enough to receive the quills or needle sheaths, one section is rigidly
secured to the outer or main section, and grooved horizontally in its.
sides for receiving the arms of the other section which is movable: by
means of screws the movable section is connected to the fixed inner
section so that it can be extended or contracted. A head having &
semicircular inner surface is rigidly secured to the semicircular end of
the movable section so as to leave a space between the head and this
section. This head is fitted between the open ends of the main section

page_text: so as to slide freely therein, and to rest upon horizontal ways by slotting
the outer or main section. Its sides are made sufficiently flexible to allow
them to be drawn tightly against the flat sides of the head, and the head
may be held rigidly at any point to which it may be adjusted.
I employ for moving the quills herein-before mentioned and their
needles around in their channels, two of the spur wheels. The vertical
shaft of these spur wheels is extended above the top of the main section
high enough to receive upon its upper end the crank arm. Directly
opposite the wheel shaft a narrow slot is made vertically through the
main section, and in this slot is fitted the gate, which is hinged at its
lower end and acted upon by a spring so applied as to hold the gato
either opened or shut; when it is open the quills with their needles can
be readily removed one at a time from their channel or introduced one
at a time into the same. In the inner surface of the outer section are
three main grooves for receiving the angular protruding toes on the
needles and in the inner semicircular surface of the adjustable head
there are three corresponding grooves. From a vertical plane inter-
secting the spring latch the grooves are parallel to the horizontal ways,
but from the said latch to a corresponding point on the opposite side of
the main section the said grooves are curved. Into the highest groove
(which is continuous except at the point over the latch) the toes of the
needles, are adjusted when it is desired to raise a certain number of
needles (with the work upon them) out of action during the operation of
knitting the heel of a stocking by means of a certain number of needles
whose toes travel in the intermediate groove. To adjust the toes of the
needles from the latter groove into the highest groove the needles are
drawn up to the latch, which will recede and allow the needle tocs to
pass over it but will prevent their passing back again. Into the third
groove which is continuous except at the hinged gate, the toes on the
needles are adjusted when it is desired to produce ribbed work. The
needles while in this groove cross the space filled by the gate by means
of a bridge or step. There are three steps on the gate corresponding to
the three grooves, each being bevilled to permit the adjustment of the
needles from one groove to another. Two curved switch grooves are used
for adapting the machine to work right and left, and in order to effect
this object successfully bevelled spring switches are employed to direct
the needles into the grooves. When the needles are moved around in
one direction one switch will yield and allow the needle toes to pass it ;

page_text: and the other switch will direct the needle toes downward into one
switch groove; when the motion of the needles is reversed the second
switch will yield, and the first switch will direct the needle toes down-
ward to the other switch groove to cast off the loops of the course last
formed. The two switches are acted upon by springs which also act
upon double latches. These latches allow the needle toes to pass up
from a switch groove into the main groove after the needles have cast off
the loops of the course last formed. Directly beneath the grooves which
give the vertical movement to the needles is a vertically adjustable
semicircular cam adapted for supporting the quills or needle sheaths
as they pass around over it. A thumbscrew is used for adjusting this
cam. The object of this adjustable cam is to regulate the tightness of
the stitches. Each needle quill or sheath consists of a longitudinally
slotted angular rod, which has its external sides bevelled; this sheath is
notched to receive into it the teeth of two of the spur wheels, and in the
lower notch a short pin is fastened to engage with the teeth on the lower
spur wheel. The shank of a needle engages with the upper spur wheel
at the upper notch. The sides of the sheath close and keep the needle in
place, but allow it to move up and down freely in the sheaths. In
casting off the loops the needle is drawn more or less within its sheath
according to the desired tightness of the stitches. The lower ends of
the sheaths may be constructed with toes for the purpose of working
under and being held down by a groove in the inner side of the main
section and head. If the sheaths are not provided with a toe, flanges are
used to hold them down in the ways. I construct the sheaths with
scores in them for the purpose of affording sufficient play laterally to
the needles to allow their toes to be held positively in the grooves. I
may use the well known latch needle or the bearded needle. The yarn
guide is formed upon the end of a shank, which is secured in a vertical
central position to the semicircular end of the outer frame section.
This guide is curved and slotted, the slot terminating upwardly in an
eye which is beveled so that the hooks on the needles will pass freely
without engaging with it; on each side of this eye a wing is formed,
which is curved to keep the yarn close up to the needles beneath their
hooks. Three hooked rods are connected together by means of a cord
from which depends the tension weight for drawing down the work.
Each needle sheath is acted upon by the two spur wheels which are in
direct connection with the shaft carrying the hand crank.

page_text: By my Invention I can produce by machinery a selvedge around the
upper portion of a stocking at the commencement of the knitting, at
the same time making such selvedge form a separating line between
the work which is used for "setting up" and the stocking as will be
herein-after explained. For this purpose I prefer to use needles which
have vertical movements independent of their guiding quills. The
work is "set up" on the machine in the usual well known manner by
attaching to the needles a piece of circular work, and applying the
tension weight. The yarn is then passed through the yarn guide, and
the knitting proceeded with in the usual manner until several courses
are knit. The yarn leading from the spool is then broken and the end
attached to the work knit into the last course of stitches, but not
fastened thereto; a piece of yarn of the proper length is then looped upon
all the needles, and one end of it is attached to the yarn leading from
the spool. The knitting is then proceeded with as before, and while
forming the first course of loops the yarn used for forming the stocking
will be drawn through the loop, and these loops cast off of the needles so
as to tie the loops and form a selvedge and a finish around the upper
end of the stocking. When the stocking is finished and removed from
the machine it is separated from the piece used in "setting up" by
cutting through the portion which was formed between the selvedge and
the said piece, and then "raveling out" to the selvedge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frank Armstrong in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
ARMSTRONG, of Paris, in the Empire of France, now of No. 8, South-
ampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in
the thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Frank Armstrong, Her special
licence, that I, the said Frank Armstrong, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frank Armstrong, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, 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, AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF SELVEDGES THEREBY," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Henry A. House, of Bridgeport, Con-
necticut, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Frank Armstrong, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Frank Armstrong, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:
-
This Invention relates more especially to an extensible frame knitting
machine wherein the needles are arranged and guided so as to travel
around in the path of a flattened ellipse, and at proper times to rise and
descend for receiving the yarn and casting off the loops.
The nature of my said Invention consists,―
First. In providing for adjusting any desired number of the needles
with the work upon them so that these needles shall not take the yarn
or form loops, at the same time allowing these needles to travel around
either to the right or left with those needles which do form loops,
thereby allowing the operation of knitting to be conveniently performed.
Second. In providing for the depression of some of the needles for the
purpose of knitting ribbed work so that they shall neither carry the
work upon them nor take yarn from the yarn guide. I employ for this
purpose a hinged gate or equivalent device arranged to allow the toes on
the lower ends of those needles which it is desired to drop out of
operation to be adjusted to travel in a groove beneath the main working
groove, as herein-after explained.

page_text: Third. In combining spring switches with grooves wherein the toes on
the needles are designed to travel, and which will allow the needles to be
moved around either to the right or the left) for the purpose of knitting
the heel portion of a stocking or other straight or single work; also in
combining with the said grooves a spring latch or a guide which will
allow the needle toes to be adjusted to travel in the highest groove
when it is desired to raise some of the needles with the work over
them out of operation, as herein-after explained.
Fourth. In arranging each needle in a groove formed in a narrow
quill so that each needle is allowed to receive endwise movement
independently of its quill, as herein-after explained.
Fifth. In providing for tightening or loosening the stitches by means
of a vertically adjustable cam applied at the point where the needles
are depressed or caused to dip for the purpose of casting off the loops,
the said cam being arranged to operate upon the quills by raising or
depressing them, and thereby causing more or less of the yarn beneath
the hooks of the needle to be drawn into their upper ends before casting
off the loops, as herein-after explained.
Sixth. In constructing the quills or needle sheaths with slots or
notches at or near their lower ends to receive a rib or flange on the
frame of the machine for the purpose of preventing the rising of these
quills or sheaths while in operation.
Seventh. In providing the stationary or main frame with a vertical
gate which will permit the insertion of the needles and their quills into
the proper places in the frame of the machine, and also the removal:
of the same at pleasure.
Eighth. In providing the frame of the machine with a horizontal and
lateral clamping bar arranged to confine the adjustable section of the
said frame rigidly at any desired point.
Ninth. In a slotted and curved overhanging guide for delivering the
yarn to the needle hooks, and which is so constructed as not to interfere
with the hooked ends of the needles while they are passing it, as
herein-after explained.
Tenth. In the employment of two or more hooked rods connected at
the ends opposite to their hooks by means of a cord or chain, and
adapted for use with a tension weight for drawing down the work
equally while knitting a heel, as herein-after described.

page_text: Eleventh. In extending the vertical shaft of spur wheels which move
he needles around in their guides high enough to receive upon its upper
nd a hand crank, and in arranging such crank to turn in a horizontal
lane above the needles and out of the way of the same, as herein-after
xplained.
end a hand crank, and in arranging such crank to turn in a horizontal
lane above the needles and out of the way of the same, as herein-after
explained.
Twelfth. In the mode of forming by machinery a selvedge on a knitted
fabric.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a top view of the said improved knitting machine
complete; Figure 2 is an elevation of the front of the machine with the
hand crank removed from its shaft; Figure 3 is a section taken longi-
tudinally and vertically through the centre of the main portion of the
frame with the inner walls taken away; Figure 4 is a section taken
transversely through the centre of the machine shewing the gate in two
positions; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the yarn guide; Figure 6 is
a section taken horizontally through the machine in the plane or course
of the intermediate groove indicated by dotted lines x, x, Figure 3;
Figures 7, 7, 7, illustrate the construction of the quills and needles;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tension hooks used in knitting the
heel of a stocking; Figure 9 is a top view of a portion of a knitting
machine adapted for producing tubular work, showing how a piece of
yarn is looped upon the needles for producing a selvedge according to
my Invention; Figure 10 is a perspective view of several needles
illustrating the operation of forming the selvedge; Figure 11 shows the
selvedge produced around the upper portion of a stocking by machinery
according to my Invention. Like letters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the Drawings.
The general form of the frame of the machine is that of a flattened
ellipse. This frame is composed of the three sections A, B, B', and a
side bearing box A', in which latter one of the spur wheels a which
moves the needles and the shaft a³ of these wheels have their bearings.
Below this box A' is a jaw A' having a clamp screw A³ tapped through it
for confining the machine to the edge of a table or other established
object. The main section A of the frame consists of two parallel sides
terminating in semicircular ends, one of which ends is cut away so as to
leave only a thin connecting portion, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6.
Within this section A are two sections B, B', which are of the same form

page_text: as the main section when taken horizontally, but are made somewhat
smaller than this section so as to leave a vertical channel wide enough
to receive the quills or needle sheaths, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and
allow these quills with their needles to be moved around by turning the
spur wheel shaft a¹. The section B is rigidly secured to the outer
section A and grooved horizontally in its external sides for receiving the
parallel arms of the movable section B³, as shown in Figure 6. By
means of the screws b, b, which pass transversely through the arms of
section B¹ and through oblong slots made through sides of section B, the
section B¹ is connected to B so that it can be extended or contracted for in-
creasing or diminishing the capacity of the machine for receiving needles.
The head B' having a semicircular inner surface is rigidly secured to the
semicircular end of section B³, so as to leave between it and this section
a space which is equal in width and depth to the space between the
sections B, B¹, and A, and to form a continuation of said space, as shown
in Figures 1 and 6. The head B² is fitted between the open ends of
section A. so as to slide freely therein and to rest upon the horizontal
ways c, c, of this latter section; and through the back of head B a
hole is made transversely, through which a bolt d is passed, which also
passes through. oblong horizontal slots d made through the sides of
frame section A, and receives upon one end a clamping nut ď. The
slotting of frame section A weakens its sides sufficiently to allow them
to be drawn tightly against the flat sides of the head B, and the location
of said slots d', d, at or near the middle of the vertical height of the
semicircular portion of this head B will cause the bolt and its nut to
clamp the sides of the frame A equally against the head so as to hold it
rigidly at any point to which it may be adjusted.
By reference to Figure 4 it will be seen that I employ for moving
the quills and their needles around in they channel two spur wheels a, a,
one of which is arranged in a horizontal plane just above the ways c
and works through a slot made through one side of frame section A
and the other is arranged in a plane just below the plane of the upper
edge of said frame section, and works in a depression made in said edge.
The vertical shaft a' of the spur wheels a, a, is extended above the top
of frame section A high enough to receive upon its upper end a crank
arm a³ on which is a hand knob a', by which the operator can with one
hand conveniently turn the shaft a¹. By this arrangement of the driving
shaft and hand crank intermediate gearing is dispensed with and power

page_text: applied to the said shaft. Directly opposite the shaft a', a narrow slot
is made vertically through the frame section A extending from the
upper edge of this section down to or nearly to the ways c, and in this
slot is fitted a gate v, which is hinged at its lower end and acted upon
by a spring applied so as to hold the gate either open or shut.
In Figure 4 the gate is represented shut in full lines and opened
in dotted lines. When it is shut it completely fills the space formed
for its reception and when it is open the quills with their needles can
be readily removed one at a time from their channel or introduced
one at a time into this channel. Said gate with its spring also serves
another purpose which will be herein-after explained. In the inner
surface of the section A are three main grooves, either one of which is
adapted for receiving the angular protruding toes e¹ on the needles e,
as shewn in Figure 4 and in the inner semicircular surface of the
adjustable head B³. There are also three grooves made corresponding
to and registering with their respective grooves in the frame section A.
From a vertical plane intersecting a latch f, shown in Figure 3 and
around the inner surface of the head B³ the grooves g, g³, g³, are parallel
to the horizontal ways c, c, but from said latch f to a corresponding
point on the opposite side of the frame section A the said grooves are
curved, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The highest groove g is con-
tinuos except at the point where the latch f forms the lower side of
it, and into this groove the toes c³ of the needles are adjusted when it is
desired to raise a certain number of needles out of action with the work
upon them during the operation of knitting the heel of a stocking by
means of a certain number of needles whose toes travel in the inter-
mediate groove g¹. To adjust the toes of needles from the groove g¹
into groove g the needles are drawn up at the point where latch fis
located, which latch will recede and allow the needle toes to pass over it,
but prevent them from passing back again in the same way. One needle
at a time from each end of a row of needles can be thus raised out of
action with the work upon it during the narrowing operation of
forming a heel. It is not necessary to use a spring latch f as a beveled
fixed tooth or a notch made about half the depth of the groove g would
3 allow the needle tocs e¹ to be adjusted from groove g¹ into groove g, if
the needles were allowed sufficient lateral play in their quills or sheaths
as will be herein-after explained. The groove g³ is also continuous or
unbroken except at the hinged gate o, and into this groove the toes e¹
on the needles are adjusted when it is desired to produce ribbed worked by

page_text: by cutting away a portion the ways c is a vertically adjustable semi-
curlar cam D, the upper edge of which is waved, as shewn in Figures 3
and 4, and adapted for supporting the quills or needle sheathes as they
pass around over it. The thumbscrew D' is used for adjusting this cam
plate as shewn in Figure 3. The object of this adjustable cam is to
regulate the tightness of the stitches by changing the relative positions
of the upper ends of the quills with respect to the hooked ends of
the needles, as will be shewn after I have explained the construction
of the quills and their uses. Each needle quill or sheathe E consists
of a longitudinally slotted angular rod which has its external sides
beveled as shewn in Figure 1, and which is scored at j as shewn in the
sectional view Figure 7. At two points k, k, this sheathe is notched
to receive into it the teeth of the two wheels a, a, and in the lower
notch a short pin ¹ is fastened to engage with the teeth on the lower
spur wheel a.
The shank of the needle e engages with the upper spur
wheel a at the upper notch k. Just below the upper notch the sides
of the sheath are closed about the needle e so as to keep it in
place, but allow it to move up and down freely in the sheathe. The
length of the sheathe of each needle should be somewhat longer than
the needle, so that in casting off the loops the hooked end of the
needle may be drawn more or less within its sheath according to the
degree of tightness or looseness required of the stitches. The lower
ends of the sheathes may be constructed with toes on them as indicated
by the dotted lines in Figure 7, for the purpose of working under and
being held down by a groove which may be formed on the inner side of
frame section A and head B. If this toe is not made on the sheath
when the lower notch is used to receive a flange or rib m shewn in
Figures 3 and 6, which will hold the needle sheathes down upon the
ways c at the point where the sheathes are most liable to raise from said
ways. I prefer to provide for holding the sheathes down positively
at all points in their travel either by the toe and groove or by a
continuous rib and notch as above stated. I construct the sheathes
with scores j in them for the purpose of affording sufficient play laterally
to the needles to allow their toes e to be held positively in the grooves
g', g, or g³, by the draught of the work and tension weight upon the
needles above the upper ends of the quills or sheathes. The lateral play
thus afforded to the needles will also allow their toes to be readily
adjusted from the groove ³ into the groove g past the latch f, or if
a latch is not desired the same operation of adjustment can be performed

page_text: by a beveled notch or channel made in the base of the groove g and
connecting this groove with the groove g¹.,
I have represented the well-known latch needle e applied to the
sheathc, but I may use the bearded needles in their stead. G represents
the yarn guide for guiding the yarn on its way from the spool or yarn
carrier to the needles as they successively pass around. The guide is
formed upon the other end of a shank which is secured in a vertical
central position to the semicircular end of the frame section A and
which may be made vertically adjustable if desired by making the holes
through which the binding screws pass oblong. This guide is curved
as shewn in Figures 3 and 5 and slotted at 1, the slot terminating
upwardly in an eye n, which is beveled so that the hooks on the needles
will pass freely without engaging with it; on each side of this eye a
wing n¹ is formed, which is curved so as to keep the yarn
close up to
the needles beneath their hooks whether the needles be moved toward
the right hand or the left. In practice I intend attaching the frame
which carries the reel or spool and tension device to the frame section A,
and for this purpose the lugs O are cast on the end of this frame, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 8 I have represented three hooked
rods J, J, connected together by means of a cord J', from which
depends the tension weight for drawing down the work. These hooks
are used during the operation knitting the heel of a stocking and are
attached at three different points to the work so as to allow the weight
to draw it down equally from these points of attachment. It will be
seen from the above description that each needle sheathe is acted upon
by two spur wheels, that these spur wheels are applied directly to a shaft
carrying the hand crank, that the needle sheathes can be moved toward
the eight hand just as well as toward the left hand, that the stitches
can be made tighter or looser by a single adjustment of a plate over
which the needle sheathes pass while the needles receive yarn and cast
off loops. It will also be seen that the needle sheaths and needles
can be quickly applied to or removed from the frame of the machine
through a side opening provided with a gate, that the needles can be
adjusted into or out of operation at pleasure with the work on or off of
them, and that any one or more of the needle sheaths can be removed
from the machine, and the machine adjusted so that those needles
which are left therein can be operated.

page_text: machine adapted for producing circular or tubular work, and e are
latch needles which may be applied to quills or sheathes E, as shewn.
I prefer to use needles which have vertical movements independent
of their guiding quills, although I do not confine myself to such
needles.
The work is set up on the machine in the usual well-known manner,
namely, by attaching to the needles a piece of circular work and
applying the tension weight to the work so as to draw down upon it at
the commencement of the knitting. Having thus applied. an old piece
of work to the needles the yarn is then passed through the yarn guido
and the knitting proceeded with in the usual manner until several
courses are knit. The yarn leading from the spool is then broken and
the end attached to the work knit into the last course of stitches but
not fastened thereto. A piece (c*) of yarn aither of the same color as
the yarn d) used in knitting the stocking or of a different color and of
proper length is then looped upon all the needles, as shewn in Figure 9,
and one end of it attached to the yarn leading from the spool. The
knitting is then proceeded with as before and while forming the first
course of loops the yarn d* will be drawn through the loops (e*) and
these loops cast off the needles so as to tie the loops g* and form a
selvedge and a finish around the upper end of the stocking. When
the stocking is finished and removed from the machine it is separated
from the piece used in setting up by cutting through the portion which
was formed between the selvedge and said piece and then raveling out
to the selvedge.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and shewn how tho
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice,
I claim,-
First. A knitting machine with parts constructed, combined, and
operating together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. Forming a selvedge by machinery upon a knit fabric, sub-
stantially as herein set forth.
BD ANTZ Alcomm Aud