IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED PILE AND CUT PILE FABRICS, AND THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilkinson, of the Town and County
of Nottingham, Framework Knitter, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED PILE AND CUT PILE
FABRICS, AND THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 22nd February 1853, and dated the 17th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wilkinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th December 1852.
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON, of the Town and County of Nottingham,
Framework Knitter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED PILE AND CUT PILE
FABRICS, AND THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in an improved machine for the manufacture
of warp and loop fabrics, "whereby a cut pile" or flecce can be given
to the surface of the article to be formed. Fig. 1, of the Drawings
hereunto annexed represents a cross section of a machine constructed
according to my improvements. A, A, is the framework; B, is the
sinker bar; and C, the sinkers, which are of the peculiar form repre-

page_text: sented in Figures 2, and 3. In all warp machines of the old construc-
tion the sinkers are made without any nibs to them, and the loop is
formed by the belly of the sinker and lapping of the guides on the
needles, and a thread is requisite to each needle in making plain
fabrics; but my improved sinker, in which I am enabled to form two
rows of loops upon the needles, one of which (the back one) is short in
the loop, and forms the groundwork of the fabric by a slight sinking
down of the sinker bar, while the front loop is longer, and forms the
pile when cut by the knives, as hereafter explained. These sinkers
may be cast in leads, both at top and bottom, and fastened by screws to
the sinker bar and the lower bar, which will keep them perfectly
straight and secure in their place. The sinker bar B, is hinged to the
hanging cheeks D, projecting from the spindle bar E, supported and
oscillating in the plummer blocks F. F¹, is the face or lower bar, to
which the lower end of the sinkers are attached. This face bar corre-
sponds to what is called the hand bar in the machine first herein-before
explained. G, is a lever attached to the spindle bar, by which the
necessary motion is communicated to the sinker bar and sinkers through
the intervention of the cam wheel H, on the main shaft L. The
shaft L, and spindle bar E, may be made hollow. Figure 4, represents
a separate view of this cam wheel. K, is the needle bar, and K', the
needles. This needle bar K, may be made hollow instead of solid, as
in frames of the old construction; but it will be necessary to have the
surface on which the needles are fixed perfectly level, as shown in the
Drawing. In this machine the needle bar and needles have a forward
and backward as well as a rising and falling motion communicated to
them. The former motions are caused by means of a cam wheel,
similar in all respects to that represented in Figure 4, while the rising
and falling motions are caused by the needle bar traversing the inclined
plane a, on the frameworks at the time the other motions are being
given to it by the cam wheel and connecting rods L, L'. M, is the
presser rod, which is supported and fixed by its two ends in brackets
attached to the framework. The rising motion of the needles serves to
bring them into contact with the presser rod M, and so press the
needles. Or, instead of the presser rod being placed outside the sinkers,

page_text: it may be passed through a slot cut in them, as shewn in Figure 3,
where a, represents the presser rod, and b, a slot, through which it is
passed. O, and O¹, are two sets of circular guides, placed in such a
position that the set O, shall be before the set O'. These circular
guides are supported from the top tie bar b, but in such a manner as
shall admit of the necessary motion being imparted to them, as here-
after explained. The guides have each a to and fro movement on the
top of the needles communicated to them, and in the reverse direction
the one to the other; that is to say, that while the front guides are tra-
versing to the right hand, the back set shall be moving to the left, or
vice versa. P, is one of a series of knives, which are placed in the.
front of a machine, and one to each needle. These knives are cast in
leads and attached to a fixed rail, which runs from end to end of the
machine. The peculiar shape of these knives is represented separately
in Figure 5. The object of these knives is to cut the front loop, which
has been placed upon them by the forward motion of the needles, as the
needles again recede, and so to form a cut pile or fleece. Q, is a plat-
form for carrying the spools, which are centred upon wires projecting
from the platform to prevent them from being disarranged by the
working of the machine. This platform is supported by standards
fastened to the framework. The spools are arranged in a series of
rows, the one behind the other, but in such a manner that the spools in
every alternate row shall be exactly opposite to the spaces in the row
immediately preceding and succeeding it. One important feature in
this machine is, that I am enabled to make use of spools, and those
arranged at the top of the machine, instead of the ordinary warp beams,
and the threads are fed on to the needles from the top by means of the
nibs on the sinkers, by which I am enabled to dispense with using a
thread to each needle. R, is a frame, placed at each end of the plat-
form, for carrying a series of rods c, c, one rod to each row of spools.
The rods serve to guide the threads from the spools to the circular
guides. S, is the front cross shaft, turning in plummer blocks on the
framework. T, is the crank handle, by which motion is imparted to the
front shaft S, and by means of a bevil pinion keyed to the end and
earing into a second bevilled pinion keyed upon a shaft running across

page_text: the machine, and carrying a third bevil pinion, by which motion is
given to a bevil wheel upon the main shaft L, and through it to the
whole of the different parts of the machine. In ordinary warp machine
the necessary motion of the guide bars has been given by means of
cams on the main shaft. These cams I entirely dispense with, and
substitute the wheels represented in Figures 6, and 7. These wheels
áre keyed upon the cross shaft, and placed in communication with the
guides by means of levers. The rising parts of the two wheels give to
the guides their requisite motion in one direction, while at the other
end of the machine there are attached springs, placed in communication
with the the guide bars, so that as the wheels revolve, and the hollow
parts of them come into operation, the springs so act as to draw back the
guide bars; the relative position of the wheels on the shaft is such that
the hollow part of the one wheel shall correspond to the rising on the
other, so that the guides on the guide bars constantly cross & recross
one another. By the use of the peculiar cam represented in Figure 4,
and herein-before referred to; six rows of loops are formed upon the
needles by one revolution. Should it be desired, a second set of needles,
sinkers, and guides may be made use of, and placed on the opposite side
of the machine, and worked from one and the same main shaft and
spindle bar.
In this case the work of the machine would be doubled.
Twelve rows of loops being formed by one revolution of the main shaft.
For working the guides and guide bars in the double machine, a
duplicate set of wheels, similar to those represented in Figures 6, & 7,
would have to be made use of. Two sets of knives may also be used
in making a cut pile fabric, one set on each side of the machine, or a
plain looped fabric may be made on one side of the machine and a cut
pile on
the other. The knives may also be cast in leads and divided
into sections, in which case a variety of patterns may be made accord-
ing to the arrangement of the knives. Motion may also be given to
the bars carrying the knives by means of the ordinary jacquard arrange-
ment, in which case figured or flowered work may be produced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 17th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I.
WILLIAM WILKINSON, of the Town and County of Nottingham,
Framework Knitter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Wilkinson, Her speciat
licence that I, the said William Wilkinson, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Wilkinson,
my executors, 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED PILE AND CUT PILE
FABRICS, AND THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition.
(amongst others) that I, the said William Wilkinson, by an instrument.
in writing under my hand and seal, should articularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Wilkinson, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings.
hereunto annexed, that is to say:
My Invention consists in an improved machine for the manufacture
of warp and looped fabrics, whereby a cut pile or fleece can be given
to the surface of the article to be formed. Figure 1, of the Drawings

page_text: hereunto annexed represents a cross section of a machine constructed
according to my Invention. A, A, is the framework; B, is the sinker
bar; and C, the sinkers, which are of the peculiar form represented in
Figures 2, and 3. The sinker shewn in Figure 2, being for plain
work, while that in Figure 3, is for giving an extra loop to the fabric,
so as to form a pile or fleece when cut by the knives. In all warp
machines of the old construction the sinkers are made without any
nibs, and the loop is formed by the belly of the sinker and lapping of
the guides upon the needles; a thread is also requisite to each needle
in making plain fabrics, but by my improved sinker I am enabled to
form two rows of loops upon the needles, one of which (the back one)
is short in the loop, and forms the groundwork of the fabric by a
slight sinking down of the sinker bar, while the front loop is longer,
and forms the pile when cut by the knives, as hereafter explained.
These sinkers may be cast in leads, both at top and bottom, and fastened
by screws to the sinker bar and lower bar, which will keep them
perfectly straight and secure in their place. The sinker bar B, is
hinged at a, to the hanging cheeks D, projecting from the spindle bar E,
supported and oscillating in the plummer blocks F. F, is the face or
lower bar, to which the lower ends of the sinkers are attached. This
face bar corresponds to what is called the hand bar in the ordinary
stocking frames or warp machines. G, is a lever attached to the spindle
bar, by which the necessary motion is communicated to the sinker bar
and sinkers, through the intervention of the cam E, on the front
shaft St. Figure 4, represents a separate view of this cam. H¹.
is a ring, which surrounds the cam H, the interior of which is cut
so as to correspond with the line of the cam, to which it is attached
by the bars and nuts b, b. H, is a lever, centred by the pin c, to
the framework of the machine. One end of this lever carries a
friction roller d, which works in the space between the cam and the
ring. The other end of the lever is connected to the upright rod H³
which is attached by the pin e, to the lever G, projecting from the
spindle bar. H', is a weight hung from the lever H, in order to
counterbalance the weight of the sinker bar. The action of this cam
in its revolution is to depress the end of the lever carrying the friction

page_text: roller, which raises the rod H³, and lever G, which causes the hanging
cheeks D, to sink together with the sinkers, and so to form the loop
upon the needles. K, is the needle bar, and K¹, the needles. L, is
the main shaft. The spindle bar F, main shaft L, and needle bar K,
may be made hollow instead of solid, as in frames of the old construc-
tion; but it will be necessary to have the surface of the needle bar on
which the needles are fixed perfectly level, as shewn in the Drawings.
In this machine the needle bar and needles have a forward and back-
ward motion communicated to them by means of a cam M, and ring M',
similar to that represented in Figure 4, but of the shape shewn in
Figure 5. M2, is a connecting rod hinged to the back of the needle
bar, and carrying upon its other end a friction roller m, by which, as
the cam revolves, the necessary motion is given to the needle bar. f, is
the presser rod, which is supported in brackets g, attached to the bar n,
upon the back of the sinker bar. This bar n, is adjustable by means
of screws h, so as to regulate the pressure of the presser bar upon the
barbs of the needles. This presser bar is passed through a slot in the
sinkers, as indicated in Figure 3, where f, is the presser rod, and k, the
slot, and the presser rod being also attached to the sinker bar has the
same rising and falling motion to and from the needles communicated
to it. O, and O', are two sets of guides, placed in such a position that
the set O, shall be above the set O'. Figure 6, represents a lead
carrying a number of these guides, shewn full size and detached from
the machine, in order to indicate their shape more clearly. These
guides are supported by brackets o, attached to the bar p, secured by the
screws q, to the bracket r, upon the arm s, projecting from the frame-
work, but in such a manner as to admit of the necessary motion being
imparted to them. These guides have each a to and fro movement on
the top of the needles communicated to them, and in the reverse
direction the one to the other; that is to say, that while the upper set
of guides are traversing to the right the lower set move to the left, or
vice versa. P1, P2, are two cams of the shape shewn in Figure 7.
These cams are attached by screws to the boss P³, keyed upon the cross
shaft P, and give the necessary motion to the guides by means of the
levers P, P, the upper ends of which are connected to the guides O,

page_text: and Q, while the lower ends are bent, as indicated in the Drawing, so
as to be acted upon by the cams P1, P2, which are so placed in reference
to one another that the greatest diameter of the cam P', shall corre-
spond to the smallest diameter of the cam P. R, is one of a series of
knives, which are placed in front of the machine, one knife to each
needle. These knives are cast in leads and attached to a fixed rail,
which runs from end to end of the machine. The shape of these knives
is represented separately in Figures 8, and 9. Their object is to cut
the front loop, which has been placed upon them by the forward motion
of the needles, as the needles again recede, and so to form a cut pile or
fleece. S, is a platform for carrying the spools or bobbins, which are
centred upon wires projecting from the platform, to prevent them from
being disarranged by the working of the machine. This platform is
supported by the standards S', fastened to the framework; the spools or
bobbins are arranged in a series of rows, the one behind the other, but
in such a manner that the spools in every alternate row shall be exactly
opposite to the spaces in the row immediately preceding and succeeding
it. T, is a frame, placed at each end of the platform, for carrying a
series of rods 1, 1, one rod to each row of spools. The rods serve to
guide the threads from the spools to the guides. Y, is a hollow rod or
tube, which is placed in front of the machine, and supported in the ends
of arms Y'. These arms are centred upon brackets Y, attached to the
end framework of the machine. The lower ends of the arms have
slots cuts in them, through which pins are passed projecting from the
needle bar, so that as the needle bar moves backwards and forwards it
imparts a slight oscillating motion to the rod Y, so as to tighten the
threads as they pass from the spools to the needles. One important
feature in this machine is, that I am enabled to make use of spools,
and those arranged at the top of the machine instead of the ordinary
warp beams, and the threads are fed into the needles from the top by
means of the nibs upon the sinkers, by which I am enabled to dispense
with using a thread to each needle. S', is the front cross shaft, turning
in plummer blocks on the framework. U, is the crank handle, by which
motion is imparted to the front shaft S, and by means of the bevil
wheel V, keyed upon the end of it, and gearing into the bevil

page_text: pinion V, keyed upon the shaft P₁, running across the machine and
carrying a third bevil pinion V, by which motion is given to a bevil
wheel V+, upon the main shaft L, and through it to the needle
bar K, and needles K'. In order to produce a greater variety
in the pattern of the fabric being formed in the machine, I make
use of the cams represented in Figures 10, and 11.
These cams are
keyed upon the cross shaft P, and are used in lieu of the cams P1, P2,
being placed in communication with the guides by means of the
levers P, P. The rising parts of the cams give to the guides their
requisite motion in the one direction, while at the other end of the
machine are attached springs placed in communication with the guide
bars, so that as the cams revolve, and the hollow parts of them come
into operation, the springs so act as to draw back the guide bars. The
relative position of the cams upon the shaft is such that the hollow
part
of the one cam corresponds to the rising on the other, so that the
guide on the guide bars constantly cross and recross one another.
By the use of the cam represented in Figure 4, and herein-before
referred to, six rows of loops are formed upon the needles by one
revolution. In making plain fabrics without a cut pile or fleece
I dispense with the knives and substitute the form of sinker repre-
sented in Figure 2. One set of guides may also be dispensed with.
Should it be desired, a second set of needles, sinkers, and guides may
be made use of, and placed on the opposite side of the machine, and
worked from one and the same main shaft and spindle bar. In this
case the work of the machine would be doubled, twelve rows of loops
being formed by one revolution of the main shaft. For working the
guides and guide bars, a duplicate set of cams, similar to those repre-
sented in Figures 7, 10, and 11, would have to be made use of. Two
sets of knives may also be used in making a cut pile fabric, one set on
cach side of the machine. Or a plain looped fabric may be made on
one side of the machine, and a cut pile on the other. The knives
may also be cast in leads and divided into sections, in which case a
variety of patterns may be made, according to the arrangement of
the knives. Motion may also be given to the bars carrying the knives

page_text: by means of the ordinary jacquard arrangement, thereby producing an
endless variety of figured or flowered work.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare
that I claim,
The combination and arrangement of machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture of looped pile and cut pile fabrics, herein-before described,
and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilkinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WILLIAM WILKINSON. (L.S.)