An Improved Machine for Weaving Rectangular Mesh Netting.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Weaving Rectangular Mesh Netting.
We, HENRY ARTHUR RENDALL, of Allington House, Bridport in the County
of Dorset Spinner & Manufacturer and FREDERICK WILLIAM RAWSTRON
Engineer of Ox Heys, Shelf near Halifax in the County of York do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention is for a machine for weaving netting with rectangular meshes, such
as tennis nets, cricket nets, fishing nets, fruit nets, sheep nets, & nets for similar
"fisherman's
purposes, which are made with knots similar to those known as
knots."
The machine is capable of making one or more widths of net at the same time,
using a separate shuttle for each width & making a perfect selvage upon both edges
of cach width, & the size of the meshes may also be varied.
The material for the netting may be supplied from a beam fitted with any suitable
mechanism or bobbins, or spools may be used, these being mounted in a creel &
the tension of the thread obtained by any suitable tension mechanism.
The warp threads are passed through an arrangement of rollers, bars, or weights,
for taking up the slack during the process of making the knot; from the take-up
apparatus the threads are passed through separate warp guides & taken across the
machine to the work rollers.
The other parts of the machine consist of slip hooks, latch needles, one or more
shuttles, knot pins, a knot pin stripping bar, sinkers, with suitable cams & levers
for working the same.
When the parts are in their normal position the warp-guides are at the front of
the machine & behind these are the slip-hooks, needles & knot-pins, arranged in one
line to the right or left of the warp guides & the sinkers are placed centrally
between each of the knot pins, while the shuttle is at one side of each width.
For weaving the netting the warps are passed through the take-up & warp guides
to the work roller as already described, & supposing the guides to be at the right
hand side of the slip hooks, they are first shogged to the left hand side & then
receive a backward movement about a fixed centre, passing on the left hand side of
the needles & taking the warp behind the knot-pins, the warp-guides are then
shogged to the right hand side of the pins & return towards the front of the machine
until they have passed the needles, they are then shogged to the left & lay the
warps in the hook part of the needles. The movement of the warp guides have
carried the threads round the slip-hooks & knot-pins thereby forming a loop & from
the knot-pins the guides have taken the warps to the needles, these latter then
descend between the loops carrying with them the warps laid into them by the
guides thus forming a triangle of threads; then the guides are shogged to the right
& return to their original position.
The shuttle or shuttles then pass through the whole width or widths of warps
laying a weft thread in the sinkers, which have been advanced to receive it, & as
they receive the thread they are drawn back behind the knot-pins for a distance
equal to about half the pitch of the mesh, the sinkers being actuated in a similar
manner to the sinkers in knitting machines.
The needles then rise to their original position releasing the thread, the slack of
which is taken up by the take-up mechanism the slip-hooks are next moved towards
the back of the machine revolving about a fixed centre, & they deliver their loops
close to the stripping bar which is shaped to assist this operation, while the slack of
the thread is taken up by a continued movement of the take-up.
The operations of the various parts as already described have tied the knots &

page_text: left the same upon the knot-pins; at this point in the cycle of operations the work
roller is slightly but quickly turned giving a jerk to the previously made knots &
tightening them, the knot pins then rise & the knots are stripped off them by means
of the stripping bar & the work rollers are turned sufficiently to pull off sufficient
warp for the next mesh.
We have described an arrangement of rollers for taking up the net as made, but
any other suitable arrangement of points, hooks or equivalent mechanism may be
used.
Dated this 20th day of June 1890.
HENRY ARTHUR RENDALL.
FREDERICK WILLIAM RAWSTRON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Weaving Rectangular Mesh Netting.
We HENRY ARTHUR RENDALL of Allington House, Bridport, in the County of
Dorset Spinner & Manufacturer and FREDERICK WILLIAM RAWSTRON of
Ox Heys Shelf Halifax Engineer 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 :-
In order that our invention may be better understood we have annexed five sheets
of drawings in which similar letters & figures refer to the same parts throughout
the several views, where necessary.
standard.
Fig. 2. is an enlarged sectional view of the primary parts which manipulate the
thread.
Fig. 3 is a front view of part of the right-hand end of the machine.
Fig. 4 is part elevation & part section of the shuttle & shuttle carriage.
Fig. 5. is a section of the shuttle bar showing the shuttle in its position during
its draw across.
Fig. 6 is a part plan of the shuttle carriage.
Fig. 7 is a part plan of the shuttle.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the slur-cock.
Fig. 9 is a section of the slur-cock through the line a
Fig. 10 shows the position of the warp-threads at the time of the draw across of
the shuttle.
Fig. 11 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 12. is a plan of four threads from the right-hand knot-pin showing the
position of the sinkers when the drag-hooks come forward to pull the length of
warp-threads for the next mesh.
Fig. 13 is an elevation of same with drag-hooks shown in position.
The following Specification describes a machine to make one width of netting at
a time, but any number of widths may be worked the principle being the same for
a number as for one.
The machine consists of two standards connected by the bars a, b & c & stays d & e
as well as by the bars & shafts used in connection with the working parts.
The machine may be driven either by hand or power from the shaft P which is
supplied with pulleys and a hand wheel; it is geared to the cam shaft D by a
pinion and spur wheel; the shaft D is also geared to the draw-across shaft Q by
spur wheels or other suitable means.
A are the warp-threads which may be drawn off bobbins, a beam, or any other
convenient method as best suited to the manufacturer; f1, 2 & 3 are rollers over

page_text: which the warp-threads pass and a tension is put upon them by the roller resting
upon the roller and being pressed upon them by the lever and weight; these
rollers comprise what we term as the take-up arrangement.
B are the warp-guides which consist of a bolt with a bit of sheet steel on either
side and towards the top between the bits of steel, are circular discs over which the
threads pass alternately as the warp-guides are moved backwards and forwards
when the machine is at work. The warp-guides B are secured to the bar B¹ which
is carried in the upper ends of the arms which form bearings for it to slide in,
there being one arm at either end of the machine. The arms Bare shown as being
part of the shaft 133 which is supported at each end on centres about which it is
capable of being turned, actuated by a cain on the shaft D to which it is connected
by links, levers etc. The bar Band with it the warp-guides B are capable of being
shogged end ways of the machine by being caused to slide in the arms B2 by the
inclines E acting upon the frame E which has at the opposite end to the inclines a
surface of the same shape as the motion of the bar B', and the bar 13' has fixed into
the end of it a set screw 14 which slides upon the said surface of the frame E' so
that as the incline E is lowered by the motion of the cam it is connected to, it
moves the frame E towards the left-hand end of the machine; there is also a
similar arrangement for returning the bar B' at the other end of the machine.
From the above description it will be readily seen that as the frame E' has its
surface of the same shape as the motion of the bar B', the bar B₁ can be shogged at
any point during its motion and can also be returned in the same manner as
desired.
Care the slip-hooks & C₁ the slip-hook-bar to which they are connected, they
are formed of round steel wire of suitable thickness about of an inch. The bar C
is fastned to two arms C³ one at either end of the machine, the arms being part of
the shaft C3 which is capable of turning upon centres at each end of the machine.
The shaft C together with the arms C2, bar C and slip-hooks C are actuated in a
similar manner to that of the warp-guides B from another cam on the shaft D.
Fare the knot-pins made out of the same steel as the slip-hooks C; they may
be either at an angle or vertical but we prefer them at an angle as then the warp-
threads slide up to their place more readily and surer. The knot-pins F are secured
to the knot-pin bar F' at both ends of which there is a rod connected to the lever F
on the rocking-shaft F3 which also has an arm projecting on the opposite side with
a rod connecting it by suitable means to a cam on the shaft D. The knot-pins F
are guided towards their lower end by passing through the stripping bar G.
Hare the needles fastned to the rods H¹ and the rods H₁ are fastned into the
bar H. The needles H may be of the ordinary latch-needle kind, secured to the
rods H by brazing, soldering or other suitable means.
The motion of the bar H and needles H is vertical being pulled down by a
chain connected to an actuating cam on the shaft D. At the ends of the bar H2
are bearings which slide upon the rods to guide the bar and needles in their
motions up and down; the rods H' are also guided through the bar H³.
Jare the sinkers which are actuated in the usual manner by a slur cock W
shown in detail in Figs. 8 & 9. The slur-cock is constructed so that for the
varying sized meshes the nuts on the studs j are unloosed and the slur-cock moved
either further up or down the incline j, the direction depending as to whether the
meshes are required greater or smaller. A cord is fastened at each end of the
slur-cock and the other ends fastned to the draw-across motion which may be of
any of the well known kinds, used in knitting & other similar machines.
For moving the sinkers J further backwards and bringing them forwards to
their position for the weft thread M2 to be laid in, also for a stop for them to be
pushed against by the slur-cock W, we use the bar J' which pushes against the
body of the sinkers to forward them to their proper position, they being kept from
over-shooting themselves by the slugs J coming against the bottom sinker-bar J³,
it then retires to form a stop for the sinkers to be pushed against; then when the
drag-hooks K have taken the threads off the sinkers J the bar retires further

page_text: and coming into contact with the tail of the sinkers J so takes them back out of
the way of the warp-guides B until they are again required to be pushed forward
to receive the weft-thread again.
The bar is suitably connected to an actuating cam on the shaft D. When
the meshes are required to be made larger the sinkers must have a longer move-
ment and therefore the bar J' must be adjusted to suit the distance they are pushed
back, to do this and yet to keep the other motions of the bar the same, we put
a loose adjustable piece on that part of the actuating cam acting at the time and
set it with a screw, so that the distance of the stopping of the sinkers J by the
bar J' may readily be altered to suit the length of mesh required.
In our Provisional Specification we describe rollers as the arrangement for
taking up the net, but stated that other mechanism such as points, hooks or
equivalent mechanism may be used; we have since found that by using the hooks K
as shown in the accompanying drawings better results are obtained.
The hooks Kare capable of rocking upon their supporting bar K¹ and are
fastned together and kept at the required gauge by a rod passing through them
at & secured at each end by nuts, while on the other side they work under the
bar K2, their movement is backwards & forwards with the bar K'above the top of
the sinker bar J4 actuated by a cam on the shaft D to which it is suitably connected.
The bar K² is for depressing the hooks K as they retire and so lifting them at their
front or hooked end as they are pulling off the length of warp-thread for the next
mesh. The hooks K are used for tightening the last finished knots and the ones
partly finished on the knot-pins F before the knot-pins F rise, also as before stated
for pulling the required length of warp-thread.
The shuttle M of which a detail is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, & 7 works in the
bar M' it is drawn across by any of the well known methods so is unnecessary to
describe any particular one here. A cord from the draw-across arrangement to the
shuttle carriage N is fastned by the clips As shown in Fig. 4 the shuttle Mis
entirely separate from the shuttle carriage N but rests on the trucks n & n' and is
moved forward by one of the trucks nor coming against one of the trucks in the
shuttle mor m² respectively, the ones depending upon which way the shuttle is to
traverse. The method of the shuttle passing over the threads will be seen by
referring to Figs. 4, 5 & 10; in Fig. 10 the threads are shown in the position they
occupy during the draw across of the shuttle, the part which has been sunk by the
needles H being partly pushed into the grooves cut in the shuttle-bar M¹ which
will be better seen by referring to Fig. 3. Each end of the shuttle is so shaped
that as it comes in contact with the warp-threads A it pushes them further down
the grooves and so allows the shuttle to pass over them by passing between the
trucks m² & n', under the shuttle, then between the trucks m³ & n and so up again on the
other side of the shuttle as shown by the dots representing their path. The above
description refers to when the shuttle is going in the direction of the arrow Z. As
the shuttle is traversed the weft-thread M2 is laid from the bobbin m³ through the
guide O and into the sinkers J which have been pushed forward to receive it as
shown in Fig. 10.
Having now described the various parts and their separate movements we will
now describe the action of the machine during one revolution of the shaft D.
gale
In commencing to weave the netting the warp-threads A are passed through the
take-up and warp-guides to the drag-hooks K as shown in Figs. 1 & 2 the position
of the various primary parts in plan would then be as in Fig. 11 but with the warp-
threads A going straight from the drag-hooks K to the warp-guides B.
The
warp-guides B then shogg one
in the direction of the arrow R, they are
then revolved about the centre of the shaft B³ in the direction of the arrow S
until they come into the position shown by dotted lines at T Fig. 2. They then shogg
gale" in the direction of the arrow R', are then revolved back again in the
direction of the arrow S until they have just passed the needle H', they are then
again caused to shogg in the direction of the arrow R laying the thread in the hook
part of the needles H which then descend & the warp-guides continue their
one "

page_text: movement in the direction of the arrow S₁ and at the same time shogg in the direction
of the arrow R₁ until they are again in their normal positions as shown in
Figs. 10 & 11. During the latter part of the movement of the warp-guides B, the
sinkers have been pushed forward to the position shown in Fig. 10 ready to
receive the weft thread M and the needles I have continued their downward
movement until the warp-threads are in the position shown in Fig. 10. From the
foregoing description it will readily be seen that the warp-threads will have been
laid in the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 10 & 11, the shuttle M then
commences to traverse laying the weft-thread M in the sinkers J, and the slur-
cock W also traverses sinking the weft-thread M2 to the required distance; the
position of the threads about the knot-pins F will be better seen at this point by
referring to Figs. 12 & 13. As soon as the last sinker has been sunk by the
slur-cock the needles H risc, the slack warp-threads being taken up by the take-up
arrangement; the slip-hooks C then revolve about the centre of the rocking-
shaft C³ until the threads are pulled off them by the stripping-bar G the take-up
arrangement still continuing to take up the slack threads, and the knots are so
pulled up into the knot-pins F; the drag-hooks K then are caused to give a short,
sharp, jerk and so tighten the knots on the knot pins F, also after the first mesh
is made the knots between the knot-pins F and the drag-hooks K are further
tightened by the said jerk, as then the drag-hooks would be holding the weft-
thread M³ at y in Fig. 12. The drag-hooks then come forward as shown in Fig. 13
and take hold of the newly laid weft-thread M2, the knot-pins then rise freeing
themselves from the knots; the drag-hooks K then pull off a sufficient length of
warp-threads for the next mesh; the knot-pins I then again descend to their normal
position, and the sinkers are drawn further back out of the way of the warp-
guides B in their next movement; thus completing the cycle.
As the netting is made & pulled by the drag-hooks K it passes over the
table L between the bars K' & J³, over the table Land either on to the floor, or
a basket may be placed ready to receive it.
We particularly wish it to be understood that we do not claim originality for the
mechanism for actuating the various primary parts in their different motions as any
suitable mechanical appliances in general use may be used for obtaining the said
motions without altering the principle here stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
-
1. In a net making machine the combination of the warp-guides B, slip-hooks C,
knot-pins F and needles H. for the purpose described in the foregoing description.
2. The general arrangement of the warp-guides B, slip-hooks C, knot-pins F,
and needles H together with the sinkers J shuttle M and drag-hooks K for the use
and purpose specified in the foregoing drawings & Specification.
3. The use of the knot-pins for the purpose described.
RENDALL & RAWSTRON,
Per H. A. Rendall.