IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the. Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES.”
A communication from abroad by The Home Knitter Company, of Canton,
State of Ohio, United States of America.
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 21st July 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNITTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by The Home Knitter
Company, of Canton, State of Ohio, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of knitting machines which are known as
straight" in contradistinction to " circular" knitting machines, and the improve-
ments consist:-First. In combining a single, solid, eye-pointed needle carrying
the yarn and a single comb having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points
of which stand outward in opposite directions. Second. In combining with such
needle and comb a swinging head, to which the needle is attached for giving the
needle the proper movement to pass the teeth in the comb. Third. In providing
stops to limit the movement of the swinging head. Fourth. In combining with
the comb and needle pivoted claws and a spring, to throw the loops off from the
teeth of the comb. Fifth. In a tension device combined with the needle and comb,
for regulating the yarn to produce tighter or looser knitting. Sixth. In a rotating
frame or holder for carrying the double comb and reversing the same. Seventh. In
an automatic locking device combined with the rotating comb-holder, for locking
the knitting and feeding mechanisms while the comb is being reversed.
Pies 621
Eighth. In

page_text: the combination of a continuously rotating shaft, having at one end devices for
operating the knitting and feeding mechanisms, and at the other end devices for
rotating the comb-holder-and-a-double clutch movable automatically on the shaft
for-engaging with one or the other of said devices. Ninth-In-providing_the_eye-
pointed needle with-a-notch or recess and with a bulge on the side, through which
latter the eye-passes-in-an oblique-direction. The various parts are made of metal,
or of metal and wood combined, and the usual or convenient nechanical con-
_ trivances may be employed for operating the needle, feed mechanism, and rotating
cam holder, the object being to produce-a-machine that will knit both a straight
and a tubular web, and in which the various devices are properly timed and which-
shall give a direct and positive motion to the various operating parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
January 1880.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNITTING MACHINES." A communication from, abroad by The Home Knitter
Company, of Canton, State of Ohio, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of knitting machines which are known as
"straight" in contradistinction to "circular" knitting machines, and the improve-
ments made are as follows:-
First. In combining a single, solid, eye pointed needle, carrying the yarn and a
single comb having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand
outward in opposite directions.
Second. In combining with such needle and comb a swinging head, to which
the needle is attached for giving the needle the proper movement to pass the teeth
in the comb.
Third. In providing stops to limit the movement of the swinging head.
Fourth. In combining with the comb and needle pivoted claws and a spring, to
throw the loops off from the teeth of the comb.
Fifth. In a tension device, combined with the needle and comb, for regulating
the yarn to produce tighter or looser knitting.
'
Sixth. In a rotating frame or holder for carrying the double comb and reversing
the same.
Seventh. In an automatic locking device, combined with the rotating comb-
holder, for locking the knitting and feeding mechanisms while the comb is being
reversed.
Eighth. In the combination of a continuously rotating shaft, having at one end
devices for operating the knitting and feeding mechanisms, and at the other end
devices for rotating the comb-holder, and a double clutch movable automatically
on the shaft for engaging with one or the other of said devices.
Ninth. In providing the eye-pointed needle with a notch or recess and with
a bulge on the side, through which latter the eye passes in an oblique direction.
The Invention further consists in a series of mechanical contrivances for operating
the needle, feed mechanism, and rotating comb-holder, the object being to produce
a machine that will knit both a straight and a tubular web and in which the
various devices are properly timed, and which shall give a direct and positive
motion to the various operating parts.
In the annexed Drawing,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a straight knitting machine embodying the
improvements.
Figure 2 is a side-elevation; and
Figure 3, a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a part thereof.
Figure 5 shows a section of the devices on the main shaft.
Figure 6 is an inverted side view of the comb-holder partly in section.
Figure 7 shows devices for changing the direction of the feed.
Figure 8 represents the needle.

page_text: turned downward and forming a second foot. The standard A is formed of two
parallel posts or plates, leaving a suitable space between them, and from the upper
end of said standard-projects-an-arm.D, which runs above and in the same direction
as the lower-arm.C. On the outer or front end of the arm-D-is-formed-a-head E,.
as shown. These parts constitute the frame of the machine, and may be all cast in
one piece or otherwise, as desired; but it is not designed to be confined exclusively
to this form of frame, as that may be. made and arranged in many other ways to
answer the same purpose.
Through the standard A, at a suitable-distance above the foot B, is passed a
shaft a, having upon one end a pinion b. This pinion meshes with a cog wheel F
above, said cog wheel being provided with a hub d, which is inserted in one side of
the standard A and has a shaft e passing through it. This shaft also passes through
a hub fformed on a disk G, and inserted from the opposite side into the standard A.
The hubs & and fare on their inner ends formed with clutches, and between them
upon the shaft e is placed a double movable clutch H, which is moved auto-
matically by means hereinafter described laterally on the shaft to engage with
either hub, and thus as the shaft e is rotated to impart a rotary motion either to
the cog-wheel F or to the disk G. The double clutch H is feathered on the shaft e
so as to rotate therewith, and the shaft is at one end provided with a crank I for
operating the entire machine.
On the side of the disk G is a projecting wrist pin h which passes into a slot i in
a lever J, and this lever is pivoted in a clip K. which is swiveled in the arm D of
the frame, the pivot of the lever J and the swivel of the clip K being at right
angles to each other. The front end of the lever J has an arm L extending down-
ward from the outer side, and from the inner side projects a pin k into a cam-
groove m in a roller N, placed vertically in the head E at the front end of the
arm D. The roller N has at each end a journal n which passes into the jaws of
the head E, and on the lower journal below the head is secured a frame or turn-
table O, constructed with a downwardly-projecting arm at each end.
In suitable guides attached to the arms of the frame O is placed a comb W,
consisting of a straight bar with parallel rows of teeth, one row on each side, the
teeth being at equal distances apart and the centre of the bar on the upper surface
between the teeth.
Upon the opposite end of the shaft a from the pinion b is secured a double
cam P, and from the outer face of this cam projects a stud or pin p which projects
into a curved slot r in the rear end of an oscillating or rocking beam or lever R.
This beam or lever is provided with an elongated bearing S, which is hung upon
screws 8, 8, in upwardly projecting ears on a bridge T formed on the upper side of
the arm C. At the outer or front end of the beam R is a downwardly-projecting
extension or foot V, to the side of which is attached a swinging bar W¹, and in
this bar is fastened the eye-pointed needle t. This needle is formed with a bulge
at m to give surface-to-the-eye-n?,.so that it will throw the yarn forward to cause
the yarn or new loop to hang as far to the right side of the tooth as possible, so
that the loop will be sure to go on the tooth. The eye n² passes through the
bulge m in an oblique direction. The needle is further provided with a notch or
recess p², which allows the needle to get out of the way of the shield and also to
hook off the old stitch. It further allows the old stitch to aid in placing the new
one in such position as to be sure to go on the tooth.
The bar W also carries the spring v, which is grasped by the hooked front end
of an arm Y pivoted to the side of the beam R, and which arm is stopped during
the movement of the beam by offsets on a vertical post Z formed on the arm C of
the frame. When the machine is in operation the offsets on the post Z stop the
movement of the arm Y before the movement of the beam R is completed in either
direction, and hence the hooked end of the arm will operate on the spring vso as
to move the swinging bar W¹ back or forth, thereby throwing the point of the
needle forward or backward, as the case may be. The movement of the swinging
bar is stopped by pins as fastened in the extension or foot V. On top of the

page_text: rocking beam R is the tension device w, and on top of the swinging bar W is an
eye X through which the thread passes to the eye in the needle.
In a hub formed on the underside of the upper arm D of the frame is swiveled a
clip A in which is pivoted the feed-bar B'. The front end of this feed-bar is shaped
to fit between the teeth of the comb W, and it is provided on its inner side with an
L-shaped arm C¹. The rear end of the feed-bar B₁ rests upon a grooved cam D'
secured on the shaft a between the two posts of the standard A, and an arm E'
projecting from the feed-bar passes under said cam. In the rear end of the feed-bar
is a pin y carrying on its lower end a wedge-shaped switch 2, and on its upper end
a lever F for turning said switch.
In the groove a' of the cam D' is a V-shaped projection or lug b' which turns
the feed-lever B¹ either to the right or left, according as the switch is turned to
one or the other side, thus making the bar B¹ feed the comb W either to the right
or left.
The double cam P above mentioned operates the rear forked end of a beam or
lever G which is hung on screws e¹ in ears d' on top and near the front end of the
arm D of the frame of the machine.
The comb W in the frame O is held so that it cannot move in either direction by
means of the arms h', h¹, which project from bars H pivoted in the frame. Each
bar H has an outwardly projecting lever I', and also an inwardly projecting lug i
which bears on top of the opposite arm h'. The arms h' fit in between two of the
teeth of the comb, one on each side, and are so arranged that when pressure is
exerted to remove either of them from its place in the comb the other will also
move out from the comb, and as soon as the pressure is removed they will both
spring into the comb again by the action of one or more springs suitably
arranged in connection with one or more of the journals of the bars H' or
otherwise.
m³, m³, are claws for throwing off the stitches from the teeth of the comb just as
the needle ascends to catch them.
These claws are formed on the lower end of a vertical shaft n which passes
centrally through an enlarged bore in the frame 0 and cam-roller N, and the upper
end of said shaft secured by a set-screw in a hub formed on the forward end of the
beam G¹.
The foot M of the frame of the machine is forked, and in the same is hung a
plate J having a pin p' and spring 8', the spring being so arranged as to hold the
pin away from a shoulder in the foot. The plate can be rocked until the pin strikes
said shoulder; but when the pressure is removed the spring returns the plate into
position: On the front of the plate J' is pivoted an arm K' which is by a spring t¹
held against a shoulder v' on the plate; the arm K¹ extends upward, and has its
upper end curved rearward under the comb, and from near its upper end projects a
curved side spring-arm L'. On the back of the arm K' is attached a separate bar
M' having an inclined edge x¹ to come in contact with an inclined shoulder y¹ on
the front end of the beam R.
Under the double clutch H on the shafte is in suitable trunnions hung a plate N'
which is turned to form an incline a² on the inner side of the clutch, and another
incline on the other side thereof. A spring d is connected to the plate N¹ in
such a manner as to throw the incline 6* away from the clutch, and the incline as
close to it, so that radial pins e³ projecting from said clutch will strike said incline
and move the clutch in gear with the hub f. On the rear end of the lever J is an
arm O' which projects inward against an arm P' projecting from the plate N³, and
turns the said plate so that the incline a² will be thrown away from, and the incline
be thrown toward the clutch, and the radial pins e² then striking against said
incline 62 will cause the clutch to move over and engage with the hub d. On the
outer turned-up portion of the plate N₁ is a pin f" which projects through an
inclined slot in a plate R¹ pivoted to the back of the standard A; the lower end of
the plate R¹ has a hook S₁ pivoted thereto, said hook being held in proper position

page_text: by a spring h², and is intended to engage with pins 22 projecting from the inner side
of the cog-wheel F.
are stops on-the-comb-W-;-these-stops are made of spring wire forming two
legs to embrace the comb, where they are held by the natural spring of the wire
and can yet be easily removed-and-changed-when required.
The operation of the machine-is-as follows:-The needle has two principal
motions; the first is an up-and-down motion which it receives by being connected
-with the oscillating lever. The next is a motion backward and forward; the back
and forth motion is made in the following manner:-The needle move-up..while
thrown in its backward position, the forward curve of the same pressing gently
against the edge of the tooth to receive the loop which is being cast off by the
claws m' by the action of the cam P and lever G¹.
After passing through the said loop the needle continues to ascend until the offset
in the needle has passed the top of the tooth, when the needle is thrown forward to
the left side of the tooth by the action of the swinging bar W!, spring v and bar Y.
The needle moves upward after this about one-sixteenth of an inch, when it makes
its downward movement, remaining beside the tooth which stands in position to
receive the stitch. The comb is held stationary until the stitch is deposited on it,
and the point of the needle gets a little below the comb, when the said comb moves
one tooth in either direction as may be desired, bringing the next tooth in position
to receive the next stitch. This motion of the comb is effected by the time the
needle begins to move upward again.
When this needle moves up the yarn is stretched, and when it moves downward
it is thrown out from the same; and when thus thrown out it gives the tooth a
chance to get between it and the needle, so that when the needle passes down it
leaves the loop on the tooth. The tooth gets through between the needle and the
thread by the forward motion of said needle. During the downward motion of the
needle it springs sidewise a very little, it being at the side of the tooth, and as soon
as the point of the needle has passed below the comb it resumes its former position,
and is then thrown backward again ready for the next upward movement.
The needle t and the comb W without any of the other parts set up the work,
and after the work is set up the claws m¹ push off the stitch which is formed on the
tooth, said stitch being immediately received by the needle, which in its upward
motion passes through it; then by the inward and downward motion of the needle
the yarn which is carried by the needle is left on the tooth, thus forming a new
stitch. The claws m¹ are operated by the cam P and lever G¹, and are at the
proper time thrown back to their former position ready to be brought down and
throw off the next stitch.
The feed bar D¹ having moved the comb W the distance of one tooth, rises above
the comb at its front end and then moves inward the distance of one tooth until it
is in position to pass down again, the arm C₁ of the feed-bar being then directly
over the lever 1. The feed-bar remains-in-this-position-while-the-needle ascends,
and about the same time as the needle commences to descend the front end of the
feed bar also descends, the arm C¹ pressing down the lever I¹ which throws the
arms h away from the comb. As soon as the needle has cleared the comb, and
while it is completing its downward movement, the front end of the feed bar takes
hold of the comb and is then turned outward, carrying the comb with it the proper
distance, when the feed-bar rises as before, the arm C¹ clearing the lever I', and the
arms h¹ spring inward again into the comb and hold the same stationary.
The arins K', L1, operate in the following manner-When the needle is down
the upper curved end of the arm K₁ is below and inward from the comb. As the
needle ascends the end of the beam R presses against the bar M¹ which causes the
plate J to turn on its pivot sufficiently to cause the upper curved end of the arm K¹
to press three or more of the stitches next to the one being thrown off by the claws
close to the centre of the comb, and hold them on the comb. Just as the needle
completes its upward stroke the upper end of the bar M' is cleared by the shoulder y'
on the end of the beam R, and the spring 8' throws the plate J' inward again. As

page_text: the beam R with the needle then descends the shoulder y¹ on the beam works against
the incline x on the bar M¹ and throws the arms K, L, to one side so as not to
interfere with the web while the comb is being moved. The spring t¹ returns the
arms K', L', to their former position; these arms hold the web away from the beam
R and the mechanism connected thereto.
For knitting an open web the feed is changed by means of the switch and the
lug b' in the groove a³ on the cam D³, thereby causing the comb to move backward
and forward.
The stops V are used in the comb for knitting tubular work. As the knitting
progresses along one side of the comb, and the comb has been fed to the right as
far as required, the stop at the left comes in contact with the arm L of the beam J
and presses the same slightly inward. The beam or lever J then turns on its pivot
sufficiently far to cause its rear arm 0₁ to clear the arm P₁ of the rocking plate N¹,
when the spring d³ at once turns said plate to bring the inner incline a² in contact
with the pins e of the double clutch H. This double clutch then moves laterally
so as to engage with the hub f when the G disk is rotated by the clutch. The pin h
on said disk working in the slot i of the lever J causes said lever to turn on its
swivel K, and the pink at the front end of said lever then working in the cam
groove m on the roller N gives said roller a one half revolution, while the disk G
completes one revolution. This reverses the position of the comb W, and as the
disk G completes its revolution the arm O' of the lever J comes up behind the arm P¹
of the plate N¹ and turns said plate so that the incline b² will come in play and
move the double clutch back to position to engage with the hub d and rotate the
cog wheel F, and through it the knitting and feeding mechanisms.
When the plate N¹ is turned by its spring d² as above described, the pin f² turns
the plate R' so that the hook S¹ on its lower end will be close to the side of the
cog wheel F, and one of the pins 22 on said wheel will enter and engage with said
hook, whereby said wheel F and the entire knitting and feeding mechanisms become
locked and cannot be moved; the plate N' being again turned by the arms O', P¹,
throws the hook S¹ away from the wheel.
In this machine the needle is solid, and hence can be made small so that it can pass
through the loop with ease, no matter whether the loop be elastic or otherwise. The
web is not required to pass through any space, but hangs entirely free; and the
comb can be made so narrow that the stitches which pass from one side of the comb
to the other will not be any longer than those which pass from tooth to tooth, and
in consequence will leave no gaps on the sides of a tubular web. In this machine
the loop is thrown away out from the tooth, enabling the needle to pass through it
without causing any injury to the yarn.
Furthermore, the comb is simply a flat piece of metal with teeth on both sides
extending straight outwardly in opposite directions, and hence allows the stitches
to be pushed to the end so that the needle may enter them easily.
Having thus fully described the Invention, what is claimed as new and desired to
be secured by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination in a knitting machine of a single solid eye-pointed needle
carrying the yarn and operating substantially as herein described, and a single comb
having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand outward in
opposite directions, substantially as herein set forth.
2nd. The combination in a knitting machine of a single eye-pointed needle for
carrying the yarn, a single comb having two parallel rows of straight teeth, the
points of which stand in opposite directions, and a swinging head, substantially as
described, or its equivalent, for the purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination with the needle t, the comb W having two parallel rows of
straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, and the swinging
head or its equivalent of the stops a³, for the purposes herein set forth.
4th. The combination with the needle t and the comb W having two parallel
rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, of the
claws and spring, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: 5th. The combination with the needle t and the comb W having two parallel
rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, of the
tension-device-w-substantially_as and for the purposes herein set forth.
6th. In a knitting machine a rotating frame-or-holder-for-carrying_a_double
comb, and reversing-the same automatically, for the purposes herein set forth.
7th. In-a-knitting machine having a rotating frame or holder carrying a double
comb an automatic locking device in combination with the knitting and feeding
mechanisins for locking said mechanisms while the comb is being reversed, sub-
stantially as herein set forth
8th. In a knitting-machine having a rotating frame or holder carrying a double
comb the combination of a continuously-rotating shaft having at one end devices
for operating the knitting and feeding mechanisms, and at the other end devices for
rotating the holder, and a double clutch and mechanism for automatically moving
the same on the shaft for engaging said clutch with one or the other of said devices,
substantially as herein set forth..
9th. An eye-pointed needle having a notch or recess p² and a bulge m² through
which the eye n² passes in an oblique direction, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
10th. The combination with the needle t and the comb W having two parallel
rows of straight teeth, the points of which stand in opposite directions, of the
claws, spring, and tension device, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
11th. The feed-bar B' provided with the arms C¹ and E¹, and pivoted in a
swiveled clip A, in combination with the grooved cam D¹, the comb W, the plate
H', having the lever I' and the arm h³, substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
:
"
12th. The combination with the foot M of the arms K¹, L', plate J¹, springs s¹, t',
bar M with incline x¹, and the needle-beam R, and means for operating the same
with shoulder y¹, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
13th. The combination of the double cam P, rocking beam G¹, and the shaft n¹
with claws m', and the comb and comb-holder, for the purposes herein set forth.
14th. The combination of the lever J pivoted in the swivel K and provided with
the arm L and pin k, the roller N provided with cam-groove m, and the disk C
provided with pin k projecting through a slot i in the end of the lever, for the
purposes herein set forth.
15th. The combination of the double clutch H having radial pins e², the rocking
plate N' provided with inclines a², 62, and the spring d², substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
16th. The combination of the lever J with arm O', and the rocking-plate N¹
with arm P, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
17th. The combination of the rocking plate N¹ with pin f2, the pivoted plate R¹
having inclined slot,-the-hook S!, spring h², and the wheel F provided with the
pins, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth,
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January; A.D. 1880.