IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Higham of Newton Heath near Manchester in
the County of Lancaster-for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINES "
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Higham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1883.
JAMES HIGHAM of Newton Heath, near Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES"
This Invention relates to various Improvements in machines employed in the
manufacture of knitted fabrics both plain and ribbed.
First. I dispense with the cam cylinder usually employed except in so far as
necessary to hold the cams and support the needles by means of jacks which are
made to fit the cylinder and work in the ordinary needle grooves, and the part
holding the cams is hinged at its base so as to be readily thrown back to take out
a broken needle or repair a damaged cam without disturbing the work in the
machine.
Secondly. Instead of carrying the needle slots on the cylinder up to the top as
at present I have them only to within an inch or so thereof thus dispensing with
the parts now known as "posts" and in their place fasten by brazing or otherwise
a number of small pieces of brass, steel, or other suitable metal by which means
I am enabled to divide the cylinder into any requisite degree of fineness and still
obtain a great increase of strength with a minimum of liability of fracture.
These post substitutes are slightly inclined inwards at the top to assist the needle
in casting the stitch.
Thirdly. In forming the dials, whether flat or conical, I dispense with the slotted
passage way usually employed and leave a plain surface around the edge
sufficiently deep to allow of the longest loop being made, by which means I
obtain greater freedom for the needles to work and assist them in their
operation.
The fourth part of this Invention consists in a clasp ring or band for preventing
the needles falling outwards from the cylinder.

page_text: Fifthly. For regulating the length of loop I raise or depress the cylinder by
means of a screw worked from the side of the machine by a lever which lever
serves also as an indicator. Or I raise or depress the cams as desired by means of
an adjusting thumb screw for the same purpose.
Sixthly. This part relates to a ribbing attachment consisting of a dial or cylinder
whether flat or cone shaped supported centrally above the machine cylinder by
means of an arm which receives its support from a vertical column attached to the
bed of the machine the said arm being hinged to a stud working in the vertical
column to allow of its being readily moved in and out of position as required. The
overlying cam plate or cylinder receives its support from the ribber arm which is
hollow and enlarged for the purpose and is held in position by a collar and rotated
from the yarn carrier to which latter I attach a latch opener which is adjustable by
means of a screw. The dial plate or cone is adjusted circumferentially by means
of a screw, worm, or scroll connected to a ring inside the machine cylinder, or it
may be placed underneath the dial or cone. Or instead of having the lugs fastened
on the underside of the dial I attach them to a sliding bar which is actuated by a
cam fixed to the spindle that supports the dial.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I shew some forms of my improved
cams for working the needles of the ribber attachment. Figs: 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5
being representations of reversible ribbing cams and Fig 6 shewing a method
whereby when a needle is not required to knit it can be pressed inwards out of the
ordinary line of travel, this plan being also applicable to other forms of cams. In
all the figures A represents the cam plate, B the tension cams, and C the forcing
out or knitting cams.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Higham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1883.
JAMES HIGHAM of Newton Heath near Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES"
This Invention relates to various Improvements in machines employed in the
manufacture of knitted fabrics both plain and ribbed, and will be clearly under-
stood by the following particular description thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying four sheets of Drawings with the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a knitting machine with some of my Improvements
attached. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Figs 3 and 4 are views of the
inner side of the cam plate. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the hinge and support of
the cam plate and yarn carrier. Figs 6. 7 and 8 are views of the jacks for
supporting the needles. Figs. 9. 10 and 11 are views of my improved post
substitutes. Fig. 12 is a.section of my adjustable or sliding lugs on the underside
of the dial. Fig. 13 is a plan of the same. Fig: 14 is a plan of my improved
clasp ring: Fig: 15 shews a cam shaped piece to allow the ribber arm to be easily
swung on and off and held in position. Fig: 16 is a section and Fig: 17 a plan
of an arrangement for raising and lowering the cylinder to regulate the length of
loop. Fig: 18 is a sectional elevation of an improved ring for my post substitutes,
and Fig 19 is a plan of the same. Fig: 20 is a view of a graduated dial and
indicator to shew the distance the cylinder is moved to regulate the length of loop.
Figs. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26 and 27 are views of some of my improved cams for the
ribber attachment..
:
The First part of my Invention consists in dispensing with the cain cylinder
usually employed except in so far as is necessary to hold the cams and in supporting
the needles by means of Jacks which are made to fit the cylinder and work in the
ordinary needle grooves, the part holding the cams being hinged so as to be readily
thrown back to take out. a broken needle or repair a damaged cam without.
disturbing the work in the machine. This part of my Invention is shown in
Figs: 1 and 5 in which A represents the bed of a knitting machine which has the
usual crank and driving wheel (not shewn on the Drawings) on which revolves
the cam ring B gearing into the driving wheel. C is the needle cylinder resting
upon the supporting ring D which is again supported by another ring E. F is
the cam plate which is hinged to the cam ring B and held in position by the
support H which is preferably pivotted to the cam plate F though it may be hinged
to the cam ring B; or the plate may be supported by hinging the yarn carrier I
to the cam ring B as shewn in Figs. 1 and 5. Upon the inner side of the said
cam plate are arranged the operating cams as shewn in dotted lines Fig: 1 and in
Figs: 3 and 4. The yarn carrier I as shewn in Fig: 5 is attached to the cam
plate F and under the feeding eye B' has an adjustable latch guide B' to keep the
latches of the ribber and machine needles from closing before taking the yarn; the
guide is adjustable by means of the screw B on the outside of the yarn carrier a
portion of which extends upwards to engage with the arm B on the ribber cam
plate B³ to revolve it simultaneously with the cam plate F.-The jacks for
supporting the needles are shewn in Figs. 6. 7 and 8. In Fig. 6 the needle a is
shewn resting on and supported by the jack b, while in Fig. 7 the jack and needle
are shewn as made in one piece. It will be seen that the jack has a heel or pro-
jection d which is operated by the cams in conjunction with the heel of the needle.

page_text: By the use of my special jack which preferably clips the cylinder C and works
below the needle in the needle groove as shewn in Fig: 2 I am enabled to dispense
with the usual bed hitherto employed for supporting the needles after passing the
operating cams. A similar result may be obtained by constructing the jack as
shewn in Fig. 8 where it is represented with the shank or stem reversed and
working round a pin or ring.in the grooves of the cylinder. Or the jack with its
. heel or projection and part of the needle shank may be made in one piece and the
top of the needle with its hook and latch soldered or otherwise fastened thereto
so that in case of a needle being damaged that part may be replaced without
wasting the whole jack, or vice versa if the jack be damaged the needle portion
may be utilized by attaching it to a new jack. I do not confine myself to the
exact form of needle and jack as I might in some cases have the heel on the inside
of the needle cylinder engaged with another cam plate for various descriptions of
looped work. As shewn in Fig. 6. Sheet 3 the needle and jack are separate or
detached but fit into each other with a space between the butts or heels. In Fig. 7.
Sheet 1. the heels or butts of the needles and jacks are shown in dotted lines in
the relative positions they take when passing-through the operating cams; that is
to say. the jack on the revolution of the cam plate from left to right comes in
contact with the depressing face of cam 2 whilst the needles rise on the elevating
face of the same cam, thence the jack after being depressed by cam 2 takes a
straight line until it meets the needle; the needle after being elevated by cam 2
comes in contact with the cam 3 and is depressed until it strikes the depressing
or inside face of cam 2 and after being forced downwards a short distance meets
the jack and the needle then depresses it until it comes in contact with the
elevating face of cam 1 when the jack and needle rise together into their original
position as at starting. Though the cam plate is described as rotating from left to
right it may be rotated from right to left with the same result. Fig: 4 shews the
arrangement of cams used when the jack and needle have only one butt or heel.
It will be observed on referring to Fig: 3 that I shew a differential wheel or
revolving cam just before the needles reach the upthrow cam, which differential
wheel or revolving cam is so constructed as to depress say every other needle (or
as desired) before the yarn has been fed to the needles it has depressed causing the
needles so forced down not to knit but still retain the loop previously taken.
Thus if I use a cylinder with an odd number of needles, say 73, the needles that
knit on one revolution of the cam plate will not knit on the next and so on causing
the needles to knit alternately, and by using various patterns of wheels or revolving
cams I am enabled to do a variety of ornamental stitches. A similar kind of work
can be produced by placing the differential wheel or revolving cam in the throat of
the knitting cams as shewn in Fig: 4; and by employing two sets of knitting
cams on the same cam plate I can simultaneously knit two colors on every other
needle independently of each other causing stripes up and down the fabric so knit,
and by changing the colors from one set to the other it will form squares and a
variety of patterns; and by constructing the differential wheel or revolving cam
to depress two needles and miss one and so on and vice versa the patterns
that may be produced are almost unlimited. This is a novel feature of my
Invention
Secondly. Instead of carrying the needle slots in the cylinder up to the top as
at present I have them only to within a short distance, say an inch or so thereof,
and employ in their stead small detached pieces of hard and suitable metal such as
brass or steel fastened to the cylinder by brazing or other suitable means.
These
improved posts or post substitutes are shewn in their places in Fig: 12, and
detached views thereof in Figs: 9. 10 and 11 and are slightly inclined inwards at
the top to assist the needle in casting the stitch. Or instead of having my improved
posts each attached separately to the cylinder I may employ a ring with a flange
round its top as shewn in elevation in Fig: 18 and in plan in Fig: 19. This ring
fits the top of the cylinder and its flange is recessed or slotted all round as shewn
in Fig: 19 and in these slots or recesses the needles work as in the ordinary posts.

page_text: Or I may use the recesses in the ring to hold my improved post substitutés. By
either of these arrangements I am enabled to quickly and readily replace any
posts that may get broken, and also to obtain a degree of fineness in the division
of the cylinder not to be substantially attained in ordinary cast iron as usually
employed.
The third part of this Invention relates to a clasp ring or band for preventing
the needles falling outwards from the cylinder and is represented in Fig: 14. This
ring is made in two parts an upper and an under ring fitting and working into
one another, a portion of each ring is cut away as at K. so that when these two
parts are brought together a space is left sufficiently large to withdraw a needle
(as shown in Fig:14) and when not so required one ring is moved over the other
so that the openings shall be closed and so prevent all danger of the needles falling
out when working. When the jack and needle formed in one piece, as before
described, is used this clasp ring will not be required.
Fourthly. For regulating the length of loop I raise or depress the cylinder C by
means of the lever L Fig: 2 attached to the ring E which engages with the inside
of the ring D by means of a coarse pitched thread, and as the cylinder C rests
upon the ring D it follows that when the lever L is moved in either direction it
raises or lowers the cylinder as desired. The lever L terminates in the front or at
the side of the machine in a finger or pointer working over a graduated dial
Fig: 20 so that when it is moved in either direction it not only raises or depresses
the cylinder by means of the rings D and E but also registers on the dial the
exact amount of such movement. Or three or more inclined slots may be made in
the ring D into which corresponding pins fit in the ring E or vice versa. Another
arrangement for the same purpose is represented in Figs: 16 and 17 in which
instead of the rings D and E are employed two rings M and N each having three
or more inclined faces as shewn in Fig: 16. To the bottom ring M is attached
the lever L which on being moved to the right or left as required revolves and
raises or lowers the upper ring N resting upon it and with it the needle cylinder C
thereby regulating the length of loop as desired-The upper ring N is prevented
from revolving by means of the pin or stud O which works up and down in a slot
or recess in the inside of the bed plate A. Or the saine result may be obtained
by raising or depressing the cams by means of an adjusting thumb screw as shewn
in Fig. 14
In Figs 1 and 1ª I shew a means whereby any needles that may have been
depressed may be automatically raised into working position again. To the top
of the cog ring is fastened a short horizontal bar C¹ which is hinged at one end
and forms a double arm or lever as at C, the other end of the bar C¹ being
connected with a slotted groove in which works a thumb screw or stud C³ passing
through and holding the arm of the lever C. In its normal position this double
armed lever lies flat on the cog ring and the needles when depressed pass over it,
but when they are required to be brought again into working position the double
armed lever is raised and secured in its place by the thumb screw C³ as shewn by
the dotted lines in the figures and so causes the needles to rise over its incline and
come within the range of the operating cams and so go on knitting as before.
The Fifth part of this Invention relates to the ribbing attachment. In Fig: 2
the supporting arm P of the ribber is shewn hinged to a pivot stud which fits
into the cam shaped piece R shewn in Fig: 15, which piece R. fits into the
column S secured to the bed plate by means of the screws T T, the pivot stud
having a pin through its lower end to prevent it from drawing out of the cam
shaped piece R. Fig: 15, and the latter being held from revolving by a key or pins
V, V, which slide in a slot or slots in the column S. When the arm is required to
be moved out of position it is slightly raised so as to clear the slot W in the cam
shaped piece R and then moved backwards out of the way, and when required to
be again in position to enable the ribbing attachment to be at work it is simply
pulled forwards when the arm catching on the lower part of the cam shaped
portion is raised thereby clear of the needles until it comes over the slot W when

page_text: it falls by its own gravity into position and is at once ready for work. The end Y
of the supporting arm P, as shewn in Figs: 2 and 12, directly over the centre of
the machine is an enlarged circle inside which the upper part of the cam plate Z
of the ribbing attachment revolves. The upper part Z of the cam plate is hollow
and the lower part is connected to the upper by two arms thus affording a large
opening to allow the yarn to be readily threaded with the fingers without the
intervention of any instrument. This arrangement also permits of the simul-
taneous use of more than one yarn without danger of any locking or
entanglement.
In Figs 1 and 2 I shew the cam plate cut away with the exception of the
portion holding the ribber operating cams and on the edge of the portion cut
away and just below the heels of the needles I hinge at one end a light piece of
brass or other suitable metal B' which forms a kind of clasp to keep the needles
from sliding downwards in the grooves of the dial, and at the other end fasten it
with a spring or other suitable device; this then forms a support to keep the
needles in position, and by this means I am enabled to use all the needles in a
conical dial with all the needles in the machine and the needles will retain their
positions even when there is no work upon them; heretofore the needles have had
to be transferred from the machine with the loop on to the conical dial which
loop has assisted to hold them in position.
At Fig. 2 I shew an arrangement for circumferentially adjusting the needles in
the needle cylinder to the needles in the ribber. This arrangement consists of a
screw e held in a vertical position by the bearing f; close to the top of the screw e
a groove or gate is made round its circumference to allow the slotted piece g to
clip it; this slotted piece g slides vertically behind the ring X which is connected
by means of a pin rigidly secured to the ring and sliding in the slot in the piece g.
When the screw e is revolved it raises or lowers the slotted piece g and its slot
coming in contact with the pin on the ring X causes the latter to revolve according
to the direction the screw e is turned. Upon this ring I attach one or more lugs y
so that the lug or -lugs m on the ribber dial coming in contact with the lug or
lugs y on the ring remain stationary until the ring X is revolved thereby adjusting
or revolving the ribber dial in either direction as required.. Fig: X shews a front
view of the slotted piece g, Fig: Y a side view, and Fig: Z an end view thereof.
In Figs 12 and 13, Sheet 3, I shew a bar A' bent to form lugs at each end, or
lugs may be securely fastened to them. I form on the stud B2 which supports
the ribber dial an eccentric B³ and it will be seen by reference to Fig: 13 that as
the stud revolves with the cam plate the eccentric portion on the bottom of the
stud automatically slides the bar backwards and forwards first to engage with one
lug and then the other. I so time this eccentric that the bar will be engaged with
the lug on the opposite side from the yarn carrier so that there is no strain ou the
web or knitting as it is being knit, and at the same time the ribbing dial is
securely held in position
:
In Figs 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26 and 27 Sheet 4 I shew some forms of my improved
cams for working the needles of the ribber attachment, a description of one of
which will illustrate the principle generally of the remainder. On referring to
Fig. 21 it will be seen that the centre cam D is stationary and the cam C slides
back to the dotted lines as shewn; the cams B B are pivotted near the centre at
the outer edge and are adjusted at their ends by means of screws through the cam
plate A and regulate the length of loop on the rib needles. It will be seen that if
the cam plate A is rotated the butts or heels of the needles will follow the centre
cam D until they reach the point a¹ then they will strike against the cam B and
will follow in the groove between the cams C and B until they reach the point q
when they will be withdrawn to the cam D again round which they will follow
and so repeat. If however the cam C is slid back into the position shewn by the
dotted lines the needles will follow round the cams D and C without being forced
out further from the centre of the cam D than at the point p and will not therefore
knit but remain inoperative-Fig. 22 is somewhat similar to Fig: 21, the butts or

page_text: heels of the needles pass around in the groove formed by the cams B and C but
when the cam D is withdrawn from the position shewn into the cam E as
represented by the dotted lines the needles then pass round between the cams E
and C and remain inoperative. Fig: 23 differs from Fig: 22 in so far as that the
arm E is intact and the cam C is moved sideways when the needles are required to
be inoperative. Figs. 24 and 25 differ from Fig: 23 in so far as that the cam O
does not slide but a portion of it nearest E is made to slide outwards from the
centre of the can plate A and by so doing allows the needles to remain out of
action. Fig. 26 has an inner recess E which when the switch 2 is closed as shewn
by the heavy lines allows of any needle being placed in this groove.and caused to
remain inoperative whilst the remainder are working without taking the needle
from the dial. The cams B and C and B¹ correspond with the cams B and C in the
other figures. The cams B and C are pivotted at their outer ends and are moved
on this pivot by a screw through a slot in the cam plate A and adjusted in the
required position. Fig 27 shews an arrangement of cams on the underside of the
cam plate of a ribbing attachment. It will be seen that as the cam plate revolves
the needle heels or butts will be drawn into the groove and outwards or downwards
to receive the yarn and back again to form the loop until they strike against the
sliding cams B which by sliding inwards or upwards causes the needles to form a
longer or slacker stitch, and by sliding outwards or downwards a shorter or tighter
stitch, and forward again to repeat until the cam D is slid inwards or upwards
when the needles will be withdrawn behind the cam C and remain inoperative
until the cam D is slid outwards or downwards when they will follow in front of
the cam C and so on as before
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention and 'the
manner in which the same is to be performed I desire it to be 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 what I claim as secured
to me under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is
First. The dispensing with the cam cylinder and bed whereon the needles have
been hitherto supported.
Secondly. The hinged cam plate for holding the cams and the support or mode of
holding the same in position substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The jacks substantially as shewn and described for holding and
supporting the needles.
Fourthly. The application and employment of my improved post substitutes
round the top of the needle cylinder, or the modifications thereof for the same
purpose substantially as and for the purposes shewn and described.
Fifthly. The flanged ring with its slots or recesses to act as needle posts, or to
receive and hold my improved posts substantially as and for the purposes shewn
and described.
Sixthly. The differential wheel or revolving cam for depressing the needles for the
production of fancy stitches or striped work operating on the heels or butts of the
needles substantially as shewn and described.
Seventhly. The hinged ribber supporting arm with its cam shaped piece to
enable it to be easily and readily moved in and out of position substantially as
shewn and described.
Eighthly. The forming the end Y of the supporting arm B Figs. 2 and 12 of an
enlarged circle with two or more openings outwards substantially as and for the
purposes shewn and described.
Ninthly. The modes or methods of raising and depressing the needle cylinder
substantially as and for the purposes shewn and described
Tenthly. The arrangement for adjusting the ribber needles with the machine
needles substantially as and for the purposes shewn and described
Eleventhly. The employment of a sliding bar or lugs on the under side of the
dial for the purpose specified.

page_text: Twelfthly. The eccentric motion for sliding a bar or lugs on the under side of the
dial substantially as and for the purposes shewn and described
Thirteenthly. The clasp ring or band for preventing the needles falling outwards
from the cylinder substantially as shewn and described
:
Fourteenthly. The adjustable latch guide to keep the latches of the ribber and
machine needles from closing before taking the yarn, substantially as shewn and
described.
Fifteenthly. The hinge or clasp to prevent the needles sliding downwards in the
grooves of the dial substantially as shewn and described
Sixteenthly. The arrangement and formation of the cams for operating the
needles and jacks substantially as described and illustrated in Figs 1. 3 and 4
Seventeenthly. The blocks of cams for working the needles of the ribber
substantially as described and illustrated on Figs 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26 and 27-
and
Eighteenthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming my
improved knitting machine substantially as shewn and described or any mere
modification thereof.
In Witness whereof I the said James Higham have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and Eighty Three.
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the
within named James Higham in
the presence of.
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES
Patent Agent
Manchester
JAMES HIGHAM (L.S.)