IMPROVEMENTS IN NETTING MACHINERY
Year: 1883

page_text: '
LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
NETTING MACHINERY" communicated to him from Mess
Chaunier persons resident at Paris in the Republic of France
Galland and
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN NETTING MACHINERY a communication to me
from abroad by Mess" Galland and Chaunier persons resident at Paris in the
Republic of France
This improved netting machine is worked with a double jacquard action forming
meshes and knots in all respects similar to those inade by hand in the direction of
the fall and is capable of working with great rapidity.
The knots thus tied by this machine are incapable of slipping and the mesh
therefore preserves its shape; moreover in case of accident the net made by this
improved machinery can be readily repaired by hand. The only advantage
presented by the machines heretofore employed in the manufacture of nets is that
they enable nets to be made more quickly and cheaply than by hand but the nets
made by the said machines are disliked by fishermen on account of the disadvantage
that the knots and meshes are made in the opposite direction to those of hand
made nets so that the net is liable to get out of shape when pulled.
The improved machine effects the desired results without complication and may
be driven by any convenient motor one attendant being sufficient to attend to the
twine.
The double jacquard motion employed according to this invention for the
distribution of the motive power is composed of two slide boxes partaking of a
reciprocating vertical motion destined to elevate hooks which are caused by the
jacquard action to engage successively with cross bars on the said boxes. These
hooks in rising actuate levers which transmit motion to the various parts hereinafter
described.

page_text: A transverse frame is employed carrying a series of shuttles or spool carriers
there being as many shuttles or spool carriers as there are lengths of twine or
cords in the weft-plus one. Each shuttle is composed of a small frame containing
a flat spool of relatively large diameter so as to be capable of carrying as much
twine as possible. This spool can turn freely in the shuttle and is retained by a
spring which acts upon the twine maintaining the spool pressed against the side of
the shuttle. The twine on leaving the spool passes along a small groove in the
shuttle and thence to a small cylinder partaking of a rotary motion which is
imparted to it by means of a small spring at its lower part. This spring is some-
what weaker than the spring which acts on the spool. The chief function of this
small cylinder is to take up the slack or superfluity of twine left in making a
mesh so as to keep all the threads or lengths of twine straight or even and of
equal tension in making the next mesh. The twine on leaving the cylinder enters
a tube which acts as a guide.
The shuttles are placed in compartments or recesses in a frame or shuttle carrier
arranged at a convenient distance apart so as to leave sufficient space between
them for the passage of the warp corresponding openings being also provided for
the same purpose in the carrier. These shuttles are shifted in the direction of the
length of the shuttle carrier by means of a comb of the same length as the shuttle
carrier and provided with teeth which pass between the shuttles and shift the
latter laterally by a reciprocating motion. The knots are formed upon two
transverse bars denominated "knotter bars" being each provided with as many
pins as there are lengths of twine partake of a to and fro motion as well as a
reciprocating motion in the direction of their length; the knots are tightened
upon the pins of these bars the dimensions of the meshes being determined by the
distance between the said bars which distance may be adjusted as required
and thus enables nets with meshes varying in size to be made upon the saine
machine.
The warp is looped by means of a transverse frame mounted on rollers at its
extremities and carrying a series of plates carrying guide tubes whose function is
to guide and distribute the warp as hereinafter described. The said frame moves
to and fro as well as in the direction of its length. Its function is to carry
the warp round hooks hereinafter described and round the pins. on the "kuotter
.bars."
An iron frame supported at its extremities by levers carries a series of friction
spools containing the materials for the warp there being as many of these spools as
there are guide tubes. These spools consist of a tube mounted on an axis
surrounded throughout its length with a helical spring which serves to keep the
twine tight. This frame with the friction spools oscillates upon an axis so as to
pay out a quantity of twine sufficient for making one mesh and is balanced by a
counterweight on a lever worked by connecting rods which impart to it a sudden
upward motion when a mesh is completed by tightening the knot.
This
A transverse bar mounted on rollers is provided with as many fingers or hooks
as there are guide tubes and is arranged at such a distance apart as to enable the
latter to carry the twine round tho said fingers or hooks at a given moment.
hook bar partakes of a to and fro motion and then a reciprocating motion in the
direction of its length. The function of the hooks or fingers is to hold the warp
and open the lower shed for the passage of the shuttles and subsequently to
accompany the twine of the warp and release it by a swivelling action on
approaching the pins of the knotter bar.
A device for opening the upper shed is composed of an angle iron or frame upon
which are screwed steel plates cut out in the form of a comb and terminating in
bent fingers of unequal length.
This frame partakes of a to and fro motion which enables it to accompany the
hook bar herein before described and also partakes of a motion in the direction of
its length followed by an upward displacement in a vertical direction which
enables it to cause the upper shed to be formed.
:

page_text: I will now proceed to explain the structure of the knot and the manufacture of
the netting.
When the parts are in the first position the warp guides are ready to make a
complete revolution round the hooks on the book bar and round the pins on the
nearest knotter bar. In order to facilitate this operation the warp spools. move
downwards so as to furnish the quantity of twine required.
When the warp guide has returned to its original position the twine which it
will have passed round the hooks on the hook bar has slipped along the inclined
part of these hooks to the upper part where it catches in a nick provided for its
reception. This twine is always held taut by the action of the springs on the
friction spools.
When the warp twine is in this position the bar carrying the fingers for opening
the shed moves in the direction of its length. The fingers take up the twine and
conduct it to the middle of the hooks then moving upwards cause the twino to
enter between the unequal fingers and be elevated to a sufficient height to form a
shed for the passage of the shuttles.
The shed being thus formed the frame carrying the shuttles performs an
oscillation in a downward direction and the compartments carrying the shuttles
engage with the upper shed until the shuttles are brought below the said shed; at
this moment the comb moves in the direction of its length and each tooth of this
comb pushes a shuttle from one compartment into the next and thus causes it to
pass below and cross the warp with the weft.
The twine having been crossed as hereinbefore described the frame carrying the
shuttles moves upward turning on its axis the fingers holding the upper shed
descend to release the twine the hooks engaged with the lower shed advance
accompanying the warp and do not release it until the pin or former bar is
approached with a swivelling action. In the mean time the frame carrying the
warp spools moves upwards oscillating on the levers by which it is supported being
brought to the end of its stroke with a jerk which draws the knots tight. All the
knots thus made are tightened upon the pins on the knotter bars. The knots
being thus formed upon the pins of the bar nearest the shuttles the bar carrying
the preceding series of knots descends for a distance equal to the height of its pins
so as to disengage the latter from the said knots then makes a forward movement
At the same time a
and rises again so as to change places with the other bar.
lever acts upon the ratchet of two india rubber covered cylinders and causes them
to turn to an extent equal to the length of the mesh just made; the chief object of
these two cylinders is to stretch the net and tighten the knots as they are made.
The net after passing between these cylinders is wound upon a roller or beam and
the manufacture is continued by a repetition of the movements in the order
hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN NETTING MACHINERY" a communication to me
from Messiours Galland and Chaunier, persons resident at Paris, in the Republic
of France.
"
This improved netting machine is worked with a double jacquard action and
forms meshes and knots in all respects similar to and in the same direction as those
made by hand with great rapidity boing capable of making as many as two
millions of meshes in ten hours.
The knots thus tied by this machine are incapable of slipping and the mesh
therefore preserves its proper shape, moreover in case of accident the nets made by
this improved machinery can be readily repaired by hand. The only advantage
presented by the machines heretofore employed in the manufacture of nets is that
they enable nets to be made more quickly and cheaply than by hand but the knots
and meshes of these machine made pets being made in the opposite direction to
those of hand made nets the meshes of the former are liable to get out of shape
when pulled and are consequently not regarded with favour by fishermen.
The improved machine constructed according to this Invention effects the desired
results without complication and may be driven by any convenient motor, one
attendant is sufficient to attend to the twine, the knotting devices being controlled
and timed by a double jacquard arrangement as hereinafter explained.
machine is capable of performing as much work as three hundred workmen making
netting by hand.
This
And in Order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer
to the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding figures.
The general arrangement of the machine is illustrated in sheet 1 of the accom-
panying drawings Figure 1 being a front elevation of the machine and Figure 2
a section taken along the line 1. 2 figure 1.
Figure 3 sheet 2 illustrates in plan the general arrangement of the principal
parts of the double jacquard motion and Figures 4 to 8ª on the same sheet show
details of the various knotting devices hereinafter referred to. Figure 9 also on
sheet 2 shows the structure of the net and the form of the knots.
Figures 10 to 24 sheets 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the different positions
occupied the knotting devices in order to produce a row of knots and meshes as
herein before explained.
Figure 25 sheet 6 represents on a larger scale a knot as made by this machine
and figure 26 shows a portion of the finished net.
The working parts of the machine are supported on a suitable frame Z (figures 1,
2 and 3) of cast iron. The various devices for holding and guiding the twine of
which the net is composed are operated and controlled by means of a species of
double jacquard mechanism. (Figures 1, 2 and 3) which regulates the distribution
of the motive power transmitted by a suitable motor to a pulley m on a driving
shaft m This jacquard apparatus is provided with two slide boxes or guides H
and 1 containing slides H I partaking of a reciprocating vertical motion imparted
to them by levers p³ and cams m³ on the shaft m¹ serving to elevate hooked rods k
figure 2 which are caused to engage at the proper intervals with cross bars T on
the reciprocating slides H' and I These rods when brought into action by the

page_text: cords of the jacquard mechanism in the usual manner transmit motion to the
knotting devices by the intervention of suitable connecting links and levers some
of which are indicated in Figures 1 and 2 causing the said devices to perform the
various evolutions hereinafter described.
The subordinate and accessory details of the auxiliary cam surfaces levers and
the like employed to transmit motion to the knotting devices are omitted from the
drawing in order to enable the combination of the movements of the essential
parts to be more readily traced the said details being arranged in any suitable
manner in accordance with the object in view as is well understood by mechanical
Engineers.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and Figure 5 a transverse section of a shuttle
bar S and comb A for operating shuttles O carrying one portion of the twine
hereinaftor termed the weft twine. This twine is wound upon spools P placed in
the shuttles or spool carriers O carried by the transverse frame or shuttle bar S
oscillating on an axis S Each shuttle O consists of a small brass frame containing
a flat spool P of relatively large diameter so as to be capable of carrying as much
twine as possible. This spool can turn freely in the shuttle O and is retained by a
spring R which controls the tension of the twine by maintaining the spool pressed
against the side of the shuttle. The weft twine (marked y in the drawing) on
leaving the spool P passes along a small groove hollowed out in the thickness of
the shuttle and thence to a cylinder or tension roller q carried on two independent
axes or spindles and partaking of a rotary motion round these spindles being acted
on by a small spring & which tends to turn the roller on its centre and thus takes
up the slack of the twine when required. This spring is somewhat weaker than
the spring R which acts directly on the spool The chief function of the roller q is
to take up the slack or superfluity of twine left in making a mesh so as to keep all
the lengths of weft twine straight or even and of equal tension in making the next
mesh. The twine y on leaving the tension roller q is drawn through a tube or
eyet which acts as a guide.
The shuttles are contained in recesses or compartments formed by bent pendent
fingers U depending from the shuttle bar S and arranged say about one sixteenth
of an inch apart so as to leave a space between them for the passage of the portion
of the twine hereinafter designated the warp. The shuttles are shifted in the direction
of the length of the shuttle bar from right to left and from left to right alternately
by means of the comb or reed A consisting of a light tube A' preferably of copper and
of about the same length as the shuttle bar there being as many fingers or
supports U as there are shuttles, plus one. To this tube are attached as many
pendent steel teeth as there are shuttles, plus one, and these teeth effect the
shifting of the shuttles by a reciprocating longitudinal motion of the comb A.
The comb A is supported by and moves with the shuttle bar S and also moves
independently of the shuttle bar in the direction of the length of the latter when
brought into action by the jacquard in order to shift the shuttles from right to left
or from left to right as hereinafter described. The longitudinal motion of the
comb A is facilitated by friction rollers a² resting on the upper side of the shuttle
bar as shown in figures 5 and 5*.
Two longitudinal bars B and B' figures 2 and 7 bereinafter termed knotter bars
are employed being each provided with arms 6ª carrying pins 6 and b¹ upon which
the knots are tied there being as many pins on each bar as there are lengths of
twine in the warp.
These bars partake of a to and fro motion as well as a
O reciprocating motion in the direction of their length as hereinafter described the
said motion being imparted to them by the intervention of suitable devices
controlled by the jacquard. The knots are formed and tightened upon the pins b
and b' alternately the dimensions of the meshes being determined by the distance
between the said bars B and B' which distance may be adjusted as required and
5 thus enables nets with meshes varying in size from about half an inch to about two
inches in size to be made upon the same machine without any other adjustment or
alteration.

page_text: The warp twine marked a in the drawing is carried by spools or reels 7 Figures 1,
2, 10, 11, 12 and 13. These spools are arranged on a bar L.mounted on a lever L¹
pivotted at M and operated by links and levers L³ figure 2 controlled by the
jacquard. From these spools the twine is drawn through guide tubes or eyes 8
Figures 10 to 24 on a frame or guide bar C mounted on rollers c* The eyes or
guide tubes 8 are preferably made of steel and connected to the bar C by plates q¹
Figures 10 to 13 and their function is to guide and distribute the warp twine as
hereinafter described.
These warp guides partake of a to and fro motion as well as a motion in direction
of the length of the bar or frame C the latter being operated by means of suitable
links and levers controlled by the jacquard so as to carry the warp twine round
hooks or loopers e hereinafter described and round the pins b on the bars
B and B'.
The reels or spools 7 carrying the warp consist of a tube mounted on an axis
surrounded throughout its length with a helical spring which serves to keep the
twine tight. The lever L' carrying the bar L with the friction spools oscillates
upon the axis M so as to pay out a quantity of twine sufficient for making one
mesh the weight of the bar being balanced by a counterweight n Figure 2 The
connecting rods or links and levers L³ are so timed by the jacquard as to impart
to the bar La sudden upward motion when a mesh is completed and thus tighten
the knot.
Figures 8 and 8" are respectively a front elevation and a transverse section of a
transverse hook bar E hereinafter termed the looper bar provided with as many
loopers or hooks e hereinafter termed loopers as there are guide tubes 8 the said
guide tubes or eyes being arranged at such a distance apart as to enable the latter
to carry the warp twine round the said loopers as hereinafter described This
looper bar is provided at its extremities with friction rollers e Figures 10 to 13
and partakes of a to and fro motion followed by a reciprocating motion in the
direction of its length. The function of the loopers e is to hold loops of the warp
twine open and enable bights of the said twine to be passed through the loops so
as to form a shed for the passage of the shuttles O as hereinafter described after
which the loopers let back the said loops and releaso them by a swivelling or tilting
motion on approaching the pins b 61 of the knotter bars B or B'.
A device for opening or lifting the upper shed is employed consisting of a bar
or frame F (see detail figure 6) composed of angle iron and upon which are screwed
steel plates F cut out in the form of a comb and terminating in bent figures ff'
of unequal length.
The bar F partakes of a to and fro motion which enables it to accompany the
hook or looper bar E and also partakes of a motion in the direction of its length
followed by an upward displacement in a vertical direction whereby the upper
shed is lifted at the proper moment in order to enable the weft twino to be
laid across the warp by the lateral motion of the shuttles. The warp twino
is supported by a comb or notched plate w between the bars B B and the
loopers c.
I will now proceed to explain the structure of the knot and the manner in
which the manufacture of the netting is performed with reference to the diagrams
on sheets 3, 4, 5 and 6. In figures 10 to 13 the knots are being tied upon the
pins b on the bar B but in figures 14 to 24 the tying is performed upon the pins b¹
of the bar B' Figures 10 and 14 sheets 3 and 5 represent the principal parts in the
first position or ready to commence tying a row of knots. The warp guides 8 on
the bar C are ready to carry the warp a round the hooks or loopers e on the looper
bar E and round the pins figure 14 on the knotter bar B' the ends of the
warp and weft twine being already connected by a knot formed on the pins bon
.the bar B.
In order to facilitate this evolution of the warp guides the warp spools 7 on the
bar L move downwards the lever L' oscillating on the axis M so as to furnish the
exact quantity of twine required. The warp twine a being thus looped over the

page_text: loopers e as shewn in figures 15 and 15 the warp guides 8 now carry the warp
twine forwards and round the pins 6' on the bar B' as shewn in figures 16 and 16*
The warp guide C having thus looped the warp over the loopers e and also over
the pins 6 and returned to its original position the loops of warp twine & placed
on the loopers e on the looper bar E by a lateral and upward movement of the
guides 8 now slip along the inclined part e³ figure 8 of the loopers e to the upper
part or extremity of the latter where they engage with a nick provided for their
reception in the backs of the said loopers. The loops on the loopers are
consequently a trifle above the length of twine coming direct from the guide 8 as
shewn at x figures 16 and 17. The warp is always held taut by the action of the
springs on the friction spools as herein before described.
The fingers ff on the comb F' now move laterally in the direction of the length
of the bar F. The fingers then engage with the warp twine x at x figures 17
and 17ª and conduct it to the middle of the loops formed as herein before described
on the loopers e as shown in figures 17. An upward movement of the bar F then
causes the twine at a to enter between the unequal fingers ff' and be elevated
to a sufficient height to form a shed for the passage of the shuttles O as shewn
in figures 12 and 18 being at the same time pushed through the loop on the
looper e
The shed of warp twine being thus formed, the shuttle bar S carrying the
shuttles o performs an oscillation on its axis S', in a downward direction, and the
bent pendent fingers U carrying the shuttles then pass between the twine of the
upper shed, at ', figure 19, until the shuttles O are brought below the said shed;
at this moment, the teeth of the comb or reed A, figure 12, are shifted laterally,
so that each tooth of this comb pushes a shuttle O from one bent pendent finger,
or compartment, into the next and thus causes the weft twine y to pass below and
cross the warp twine of the upper shed a', as shewn in Figures 19 and 19*
The warp and weft twine having been crossed as herein before described the
frame or bar S carrying the shuttles Ŏ moves upwards into its original position so
as to clear the warp twine The fingers ff' holding the upper shed descend and
release the twine at ' as shewn in Figure 20. The loopers e now approach the
pins b', Figure 20 and when arrived close to the latter are tilted over and slightly
depressed as shown in Figures 13 and 22 so as to free themselves from the loops
with which they were engaged.
The appearance of the knot at this stage is shewn on a larger scale in figure 25
The bight of warp twine ¹ lifted by the fingers ff' has pulled down a loop of the
weft twine y and the loop of warp x from the loopers è is in the act of closing
upon the said loop of weft.
In the meantime the bar L carrying the warp spools moves upwards on the
centre M Figure 13 and is brought to the end of its stroke with a jerk which
draws the knots tight All the knots thus made are tightened upon the pins b' on
the bar B' by the action of the warp twine alone the weft twine being constantly
maintained tight by the rollers q.
The looper bar E now returns to its original position as shewn in Figure 23 and
bar B descends for a distance equal to the height of its pins b so as to disengage
the latter from the knots then inakes a forward movement and rises again so that
the pins b on the bar B change places with the pins b' on the bar B' which retires
simultaneously with the advance of the bar B While the bars B B' are thus
changing places a lever 11 (figure 2) operated by a link a acts upon a ratchet
arrangement connected with two india rubber covered cylinders 13 figures 1 and 2
and causes these cylinders to turn to an extent equal to the length of the mesh
just made the chief object of these two cylinders is to stretch the net and assist in
tightening the knots as they are made The net after passing between these
cylinders is wound upon a beam or roller G and the looper bar E having returned
to its original position figure 24 the series of operations hereinbefore described is
repeated for all the succeeding knots. The shuttles are shifted from right to left
aud from left to right alternately for each successive row of knots.

page_text: Figure 26 represents a portion of the finished net shewing the structure of
the net and the arrangement of the warp and weft twine. The last row of
knots is represented as being still retained by the pins 6 and not yet pulled
tight.
F
Having now, described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect. I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is
.
First. The general construction and arrangement of the improved machine for
making fishing and other similar nets, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. A netting machine tying knots similar to hand made knots, by means
of a series of knotting devices, the movements of which are turned and controlled
by means of jacquard mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.,
Thirdly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as herein before set forth, of a shuttle bar (S) carrying a series of shuttles which
are shifted laterally by means of a comb (A), from left to right and from right to
left alternately, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as herein before set forth, of a pair of bars (B,B') carrying pins upon which rows
of knots are tied alternately, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as hereinbefore set forth, of a warp guide bar (C) serving to form the loops of the
warp twine in making the knot, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as hereinbefore set forth, of a book or looper bar (E), for the purpose of holding
the loops formed by the guide bar C, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Seventhly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of spools of warp twine acted on by springs,
to regulate the tension of the said twine, and carried on an oscillating bar (L)
whereby the knots are pulled tight when tied, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Eighthly. The employment, in combination with netting machinery constructed
as hereinbefore set forth, of a device for lifting a portion of the warp twine, for
the purpose of forming a shed for the passage of the shuttles, and consisting of a
bar (F), carrying fingers (ƒƒ³) which lift a bight of the warp twine at the
proper moment so as to enable the weft twine to be laid across the latter,
substantially as bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)