Improvements in Rotary or Flat Bar Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1897-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
Improvements in Rotary or Flat Bar Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the County of
Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements, in rotary or flat bar
knitting machines, when adapted for making what is known as "Lace-work," or
"Open-work""-in hose, socks, and, the like, by the use of a "jaquard "appliance, for
operating or selecting the coverers, or" Lace-points" and when a separate set of
cards is used for each division of work.
In making "Lace-hose, socks, and the like when the part is reached, where the
"instep-partings" are made, certain portions of the lace work have to be stopped,
so as to leave plain work or fabric at the selvedges. Then certain other portions of
the Lace-work, have to be stopped, when the heel lace is completed, while the centre
portion of the Lace runs on down to the toe. Now in making various sizes of hose,
socks, and the like, the length of lace-work, requires to be varied, with the length or
size of the 'hoze, or socks, and consequently the number of cards, will vary also, so
that under ordinary circumstances à separate set (or part of a set) of cards are
required, for each size-made.
"
Now one part of my invention enables several sizes to be made with one set of
cards, as the several portions of 'Lace-work required to be stopped for the "partings"
and finish of the heels, can 'be stopped at the will of the attendant :-as hereinafter
described.
The improvements are directly connected with the mechanisin described in my
Provisional Specification No. 7252 of 1896 wherein is described the arrangement of
sliding "jacks" which carry the "Lace points" or "coverer points."
Each of the jacks has a hinged or jointed "dropper" which is situated above it.
One end of the dropper, carries a suitable pin which comes into contact with, and is
operated by the cards, and the lower end of the dropper is suitably shaped so as to
engage with the top of its Jack, so that when a hole in the cards comes opposite the
pin on the dropper, the dropper is so 'balanced that the pin drops into the
hole-in the card, and in so doing the lower end of the dropper is brought into
position, to engage with the lace jacks, and its coverer or point is brought into
action.
The shape of the droppers may be roughly described as being 'in the form of the
letter T the hinge or joint being at the centre of the top.
The bottom engages with the jack. On the top of one extremity is the pin; which
is acted upon by the cards, and the other extremity of the top, is in some cases,
simply a weighted tail, to cause the pin, at the other extremity to drop into the
holes in the cards.
My invention provides certain mechanism which acts upon the weighted tails of

page_text: certain droppers, so as to prevent them acting upon the Lace jacks, so that the jacks,
are not brought into action, and the lace-work produced by the jacks may be caused
to cease at the will of the attendant, independently of the holes or pattern in the
cards.
Immediately below the tails of the droppers I arrange a light shaft or rod carried
by suitable bearings, or brackets which are connected directly or indirectly to the
rod or shaft upon which the droppers are hinged, or jointed. Upon this light shaft,
I fix suitable small cams, of such a width, that they will just cover the tails of as
many droppers as are desired to be stopped or thrown out of action.
These cams are so shaped, that when the light shaft is turned into one position,
the cams are clear of the dropper tails, so that they are free to be acted upon by the
cards, and when turned into another position, the cams support the dropper tails,
and so prevent them acting upon their jacks. Now it will be seen that if two such
cams be placed in the requisite position, for each hose or sock; by turning the light
shaft so as to bring the cams into action, the Lace work may be stopped in the two
parts necessary for the "parting." Then for stopping the lace in the heels, the shaft
may be turned into a third position, and the portion of the cams, then under the
tails of the droppers, may be so shaped and extended in width as to support all the
droppers which are in action for forming the Lace in the heels.
The cams may either be made in one piece and of a definite width, so as to always
stop the same number of droppers, or they may be made with an adjustable nose so as
to vary the width, and consequently the number of droppers stopped, or the cams may
in some cases be fitted with suitable plates at their sides which can be removed or
attached by means of screws, or other convenient arrangements, each plate may be
thick enough to catch one dropper, so that for every extra dropper required to be
stopped a plate is added.
The light shaft may be retained in its three or more positions, by a suitable spring
acting upon a suitable notched wheel, and may be shifted from one position to
another by means of a suitable handle.
Thus it will be seen that by simply shifting the handle, the attendant can
cause the lace work to cease for the partings, or for stopping the heels where
desired.
In some cases the light shaft may be rotated from one position to another
automatically by means of suitable ratchet gear, which may be actuated by a
"notch" or "incline" upon the fashioning or lacing chain, or by other convenient
means.
So far I have simply described the cams and other mechanism as used for making
the "partings" and for stopping the lace in the heels, but it will be evident that
where desired, several cams of different shapes may be used so as to stop out various
portions of lace work, to leave space for embroidery or the like without altering the
regular full pattern of the cards.
It is sometimes desirable to change a set of cards quickly or to insert or change a
special card for putting in the size mark; or the like. In order to do this
expediciously, instead of tying in the card, as is generally done, or using a suitably
shaped metal hook, to hook into the lacing holes of the adjacent cards, which has
been my usual practice, I make a special coupling consisting of loop of waxed
string or other convenient material to one end of which I attach a suitable small
metal hook. This loop is made of a definite length to suit the pitch of the cards.
The coupling is used as follows:-
The loop is passed through the two adjacent lacing holes in the cards to be
joined, and the hook is then hooked into the loop, thus making a safe and
flexible coupling, which at the same time may be quickly removed. when
desired.

page_text: Improvements in Rotary or Flat Bar Knitting Machines.
I, CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Hosiery Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements in rotary or flat-bar
knitting machines when adapted for making what is known as lace-work or open work
in hose, socks and the like by the use of a "jacquard" appliance for operating or
selecting the coverers or lace points when a separate set of cards is used for each
division of work.
In making lace-hose, socks and the like when the part is reached where the "instep
partings" are made certain portions of the lace work have to be stopped so as to leave
plain work or fabric at the selvedges. Then certain other portions of the lace work.
have to be stopped, when the heel lace is completed, while the centre portion of 'the
lace runs on down to the toe. Now in making various sizes of hose, socks. and
the like the length of the lace-work requires to be varied with the length or size of the
hose or sock and consequently the number of cards will vary also so. that, under
ordinary circumstances a separate set (or part of a set) of cards are required. for each
size made. Now one part of my invention enables several sizes to be made with one
set of cards as the several portions of lace work required to be stopped for. the
"partings" and finish of the heels can be stopped at the will of the attendant as
hereinafter described. .
The improvements are directly connected with the mechanism described in ny
Specification No. 72529:
Figures 1 to 4 Sheets 1 and 2 show mechanism such as is described in the above
mentioned specification having my present improvements applied. to it::
M
Figure 1 is a part general section of the narrowing machine and some adjacent
parts..
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of parts of. Figure.1.
Figure 3 is a part front view of parts of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view of parts of Figures 1 and 2 in another position.
I will first give a general description of the arrangement of the several parts
described in my former specification..
Each lace point is carried by a separate sliding jack.. Each jack has its
corresponding "dropper" by which it can be pushed down into acting position-the
"droppers" are moved into and out of position for pushing down the jacks by the
action of jacquard cards.
-
Referring to Figure 1, A are the needles, A' the needle bar, A² the sinkers, A³ the
knocking over bits. B is one of the ordinary narrowing fingers. which is carried by the.
bar B1. B2 is a similar bar which carries the other narrowing finger at the opposite:
selvedge, but not shown in the drawing. B3 are the narrowing points carried by the
finger B. B is one of the narrowing machine arms, which carries the shaft B5...
This shaft carries suitable brackets which in turn support and carry, the finger:
rods B and B²..
C is one of the lacing points or coverers shown in its raised position. C is a
sliding jack, which carries the lacing point C. C2 is a bar or bracket in which grooves
are cut to receive the sliding jacks C. C³ is a cap or cover plate for keeping the
jacks C¹ in the bar C².. C+ are the springs (one to each lace jack) which catch in the
notches C (Figure 2) in the lace jacks C when they are in their out of action
position. C. is a rod or shaft carried by brackets from the shaft B5. To the lace.

page_text: point bars (2 brackets C are attached which are fast to the shaft C³. C is a bracket
fast to the shaft B5. Through this bracket a set screw C is passed which acts as a
support and adjustment for the lace point bar C
Dis the card cylinder arm shaft which is carried by blocks or bearings D¹. D2 is
one of the card cylinder shaft arms which carries the card cylinder shaft D. D is a
card cylinder around which the cards Ds pass and by which they are presented or
brought into action. De is a connecting rod by means of which the card cylinders
are raised and lowered through the action of suitable cams and levers. D' is a rack
wheel fast to the shaft Ds. D' is a bell crank lever working upon the shaft D. To
one end of this lever a connecting rod D is attached and to the other end a
ratchet D is jointed. The ratchet Do which receiving motion through the
connecting rod Dº from a suitable cam or cams acts upon the ratchet wheel D' and
so turns or racks the card cylinders D' and consequently the cards D³ also.
Bare the droppers which rock or work apon the rod E. E is a shaft carried by
bearings fast to the narrowing machine arms B. E are arms which are fast to the
shaft E' and carry 'the dropper rod or shaft E2. E5 is another arm fast to the
shaft E. To the end of this arm a connecting rod E" is jointed, a suitable motion
is imparted by means of cams and levers through the connecting rod E to the
dropper rod and droppers E-carried by it whereby the droppers are caused to rise
and fall as desired.
The droppers E'have pins E' which engage with the cards D. Thus where there
is a hole in the card over a certain dropper pin E' that dropper will fall into the
position shown in Figure 4 so that its catch will engage with the top of the flace
jack and that jack will be pressed down when the droppers are lowered so that its
point C will come into action. Suitable links F Figure 1 are carried by the shaft or
rod E2. These links carry a bar F¹. When the dropper rod or shaft E2 and the
droppers carried by it are lifted to bring them into contact with the cards D for a
fresh selection of points, the bar F1 catches under the ends F of the lace jack C²
(Figures 2 and 4) and lifts it and consequently its point also out of action.
According to my present invention I provide certain mechanism which acts upon
the droppers so as to prevent them acting upon the lace jacks so that the jacks are
not brought into action and the lace work produced by the jacks may be caused to
cease at the will of the attendant independently of the holes or pattern in the
cards.
Immediately below the tails of the droppers I arrange a light shaft or rod carried
by suitable bearings or brackets which are connected directly or indirectly to the rod
or shaft upon which the droppers are hinged or jointed. Upon this 'light shaft I fix
suitable small cains of such a width that they will just cover the tails of as many
droppers as are desired to be stopped or thrown out of action. These cams are so
shaped that when the light shaft is turned into one position the cams.are all clear of
the dropper tails so that they are free to be acted upon by the cards and when
turned into another position the cams support the dropper tails and so prevent them
acting upon their jacks. Now it will be seen that if two such cams be placed in
the requisite position for each hose or sock by turning the light-shaft so as to bring
the cams into action the lace work may be stopped in the two parts necessary for the
partings. Then for stopping the lace in the heels the shaft may be turned into a
third position, and the portion of the cams then under the tails of the droppers.
may be so shaped and extended in width as to support all the droppers which are in
action for forming the lace in the heels. The light shaft may be retained in its
three or more positions by a suitable spring acting upon a suitable notched-wheel
and may be shifted from one position to another by means of a suitable handle.
Thus it will be seen that by simply shifting the handle the attendant-can cause the
lace work to cease for the partings or for stopping the heels where desired.
"This arrangement is shown in the accompanying drawings and the several parts
relating thereto will be beat-understood by referring to Figures 2 to 4, 'Sheet 2...
G is a light shaft carried by bearings or brackets G. Fast to this shaft G are
cams G of such a width G³ (Figure 3) that they will just cover the tails of-ns

page_text: many droppers as are desired, to be stopped or thrown out of action. The cams G²
have extensions G which cover a larger number of droppers. Upon a convenient
part of the shaft Ga wheel H may be placed Figures 2 and 3. A spring His
J (see'
provided which engages with suitable nicks or grooves H in the wheel H.
Figure 3) is a handle also fast to the shaft G, by this handle the shaft-may be turned
into any one of its positions as indicated by the nicks or grooves H in the wheel H
(Figure 2) Now it will be seen that when the shaft G is turned into. such a
position, that the cams G2 are as shown in Figure 4, then the droppers are not
effected by the said. cams,, but will be under the control of the cards. When the
shaft G is turned so as to bring the cams as shown in Figures 2 and 3 then those
droppers which are covered by or come into contact with the cams G2 will be
prevented from catching their lace jacks, and will be held out of action as shown by
tbe dropper marked X in Figure 2 and when the shaft G is turned so as to bring
the extensions. G under the tails of the droppers then, it will be seen, that all the
droppers,, covered by the extensions G will be out of action. Thus when the.
cams G are in the position shown in Figure 2 they will stop the lace work in those.
parts of the hose, sock or the like, where the partings, are to be made, and when the,
cams are in such a position, that the extensions G are under the tails of the
droppers, they will stop all the lacing in the heels, while the centre portion of
the lace work (i.e. between the two. cams G') is continued down the instep.
In some cases instead of having the cams. G2 below the droppers as shown in
Figures 1 to 4 I arrange them above as shown in Figure 5.. In this case I add an
extra arm or member L to the droppers. This arm L will engage with the.
cains Gas shown and they will be thrown in and out of action as herein before
described.
The cams may either be made in one piece and of a definite width, so as to always
stop the same number of droppers or they may be made with an adjustable nose, so
as to vary the width and consequently the number of droppers stopped.
This will be understood by referring to Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 2, where. two views
of the eams. G are shown. M. is the adjustable nose piece.
It will be seen that the adjustable nose piece: M is just the same length as, the
width of the cam G2 so that when it is in its .normal position, or out of action, it
coincides with the eam G then when shifted sideways, into a position such as shown
in Figures 6 and 7 the effective width of the acting part, or nose of the cam G2 is
increased, and a larger number of droppers are thereby held out of action, and
consequently a wider division or blank space is left in the Ince work, for the partings.
Or the cams may in some cases be fitted with suitable plates at their sides which
can be removed or attached by means of screws or other convenient arrangements,
each plate may be thick enough to catch one dropper, so that for every extra dropper
required to be stopped a plate is added.
This will be seen by referring to Figure 3 Sheet 2, where two plates N N are shown,
attached to the left hand side of the right hand cam G2.
These plates may be of any convenient thickness, say one or more leads. They
may by attached by a screw as shown, whereby the effective width or nose of the
cam G2 is altered as desired.
In some cases the light shaft may be rotated from one position to another, auto-
matically by means of suitable ratchet gear, which may be actuated by a "notch" or
incline, upon the "Fashioning" or "Lacing" chain or by other convenient means.
So far I have simply described the cams and other mechanism as used for making
the "partings" and for stopping the lace work in the heels, but it will be evident
that where desired several cams of different shapes inay be used, so as to stop out
various portions of lace work, to leave spaces for embroidery or the like, without
altering the regular full pattern of the cards.
It is sometimes desirable to change a set of cards quickly, or to insert or change a
special card, for putting in the size mark or the like. In order to do this expeditiously,
instead of tying in the card as is generally done, or using a suitably shaped metal
hook to hook into the lacing holes of the adjacent cards, which has been my usual

page_text: practice, I make a special. coupling, consisting of a loop of waxed string or other
convenient.material, to one point of which I attach a suitable small. metal hook.
This loop is made of a definite length; to suit the pitch of the cards. The coupling
is used as follows:-The loop is flattened so that the hook is at one end. of the
flattened loop the flattened loop is then passed through the two adjacent lacing
holes in the cards to be joined, and the hook which is at one end of the flattened
loop is hooked into the opposite end of the flattened loop, thus making a safe, and
flexible coupling, which at the same time may be quickly removed, when desired......
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1 In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or openwork hose
socks and the like the employment of movable stop pieces which can be brought into
position to hold out of action certain "droppers" whenever desired whereby certain
portions of the lace work can be stopped independently of the selection made by the
cards substantially as described.
2. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or openwork hose,
socks and the like, the employment of cams or equivalents carried by a rod or shaft.
by turning which the cams or equivalents can be brought into position to act upon.
and throw out of action certain droppers whereby certain portions of the lace work
can be stopped independently of the selection made by the cards substantially, as!
hereinbefore described.
:
3: Making the cams or equivalents used for throwing certain of the droppers out.
of action adjustable in length substantially as described.
4. The combination of mechanism, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings annexed fór making lace or openwork, hose, socks, and the.
like in a rotary or flat bar knitting machine.
5. In a rotary or flat bar knitting machine for making lace or openwork, hose,
socks, and the like, connecting the cards used one with another by flexible couplings
formed substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of June 1897.