IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FRAMEWORK KNITTING
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MOORE, of Ison Green, in the County of Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Moore, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Thomas Moore, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Moore, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FRAMEWORK KNITTING;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas
Moore, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Moore, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the manner

page_text: in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention relates to a novel construction and mode of working the
sinkers and parts connected therewith, whereby greater safety and certainty of
action of the parts of a knitting frame is obtained, and whereby knitting
frames may be worked by all the parts deriving their necessary movements
from the simple rotation of a single shaft or axis, turned by the hands of the
workman or by other means; and although it is not new to work knitting
frames by rotary motion, still from the simplicity of the action of the parts
when arranged according to my Invention this desirable object may be more
effectually obtained than according to any of the propositions for that purpose
heretofore made.
In order to give the clearest explanation in my power of the nature of my
Invention I have shown by Drawings hereunto annexed several views of a
knitting frame constructed according to my Invention, together with detached
views of all the important parts, whereby and by attentively considering tho
description hereafter given, the workman will readily construct a machine.
The nature of the different views shown by the Drawings being written
thereon, and the various parts in each view thereof being in all cases marked
with the same letter or figure of reference, it will not be necessary here to
enumerate the particulars of each view shown by the Drawings.
In describing the construction of each part and the movements thereof in
the machine, I propose to trace each movement from the rotary shaft or axis
to its result on the particular instrument, without reference to what is taking
place with respect to other parts of the machine at the same time, by which
mode of description I shall keep each part of the working of the machine
separate, and thus avoid the confusion which might otherwise arise by
attempting to explain at one moment all the movements which at any one
time is taking place in the machine; and in order still further to simplify the
description, and the more to assist a workman in understanding the machine,
I have colored the parts of the Drawings, that the eye will readily trace cach
movement from its commencement of its final result. The machine, as shown
in the Drawings, is intended to be worked by the rotation of the shaft A, by a
workman moving the same round by the crank handles formed thereon; this
shaft A turns in suitable bearings in front of the machine, and is carried by
projections from the main framing, which is clearly shown by the Drawings.
is a bevelled toothed pinion aflixed on the left-hand end of the driving shaft
A; the pinion B takes into and drives the bevelled toothed wheel C, which is
affixed on the shaft or axis D, which turns in suitable bearings carried by the

page_text: left-hand end framing of the machine. E is a bevelled toothed pinion affixed
at the back end of the shaft D, the pinion E taking into and driving the
bevelled toothed wheel F, which is affixed on the back shaft G, the back
shaft G turning in suitable bearings carried by the two end framings of the
machine, as is clearly shown in the various views of the Drawings.
On the back shaft G is affixed the cam H, which works the parts connected
with the thread carrier and the slur cock; it also gives certain motion to the
frame which carries the sinkers; but I will first trace the motion to the thread
carrier and to the slur cock. On the left-hand side of the cam H is affixed
the axis of a truck or roller I, and this roller in the revolution of the cam H
comos against and presses down the cranked lever J, there being an inclined
surface J' on the lever J, against which the truck or roller acts. The cranked
lever J has its fulcrum at J' at the back of the machine; the shape of this
lever J will be traced in the Drawings, commencing at the point J; the lever
proceeds towards the front of the machine; it is then bent or cranked at right
angles towards the left-hand end of the machine; it is then bent or cranked
downwards at right angles towards the floor on which the machine is fixed or
placed; it is then again bent at right angles towards the front of the machine
and at the end of the lever J, at the point J", it rests on the lever K, which
moves on a fulcrum at K', carried by the framing at the left-hand end of the
machine; the other end of the lever K having a cord or band L affixed thereto,
the band L taking a complete turn round the smaller pulley M; that pulley
being affixed to the pulley N, they move together on their axis, which is
affixed to and carried by a downward projection from the slur guide bar O.
The cord or band L having taken a complete turn round the pulley M, is
made fast to the lever P, that lever having its fulcrum at P', such fulcrum
being affixed to the right-hand end framing of the machine, the cord L being
fixed at the middle of its length to the pulley M, to prevent its moving on that
pulley; consequently the lever K and the lever P will at all times be moved ią
contrary directions, for it will be seen on tracing the movement of the various
parts now under description, that when the lever K is descending, the lever P
will be ascending, and vice versa ; and it will be seen that there is a truck or
roller Q on a fixed axis on the right-hand side of the cam H, which roller
works a cranked lever R, which has its fulcrum at R'. The lever R in its figure
being similar to the lever J, performing at the right-hand end of the machine
on the lever P what the lever J does on the lever K, as above explained;
hence by the revolution of the cam I the pulleys M and N are turned first in
one direction, then in the other direction. S is a cord or band which is affixed
at the right-hand end of the square bar of the frame or carriage which moves

page_text: the thread carrier. It proceeds partly round the guide pulleys S', S', the axis
of which are affixed to and carried by a projection from the right-hand end
framing of the machine; the cord or band S then proceeds and takes a com-
plete turn around the pulley N; from thence it proceeds partly round tho
guide pulleys S, S³, which move on fixed axes carried by a projection from the
left-hand end framing of the machine, and the cord or band S is the made fast
to the other end of the square bar of the carriage or frame of the thread carrier.
It should, however, be stated that the cord or band S is at the middle of its
length made fast to the pulley N, to prevent its slipping. By this means the
carriage of the thread carrier is drawn from end to end of the machine, first
in one direction, then in the other, by the cord or band S, in order to lay the
thread at suitable periods over the needles, in like manner to what has hereto-
fore been performed. The apparatus constituting the carriage of the thread
carrier and on which the carriage moves and is controlled in its movement, will
(aided by the following description) be readily traced in the various views of
the parts shown in the Drawings. T is the thread carrier; the thread is
conducted up through an opening of the bent or upper part of the carrier, and
then passes through a flat tube, which is so made as to pass between the
needles, when the operation of widening the work is being performed, as
herein-after explained; but I first propose to describe the machine as making
work of equal width throughout. The thread carrier T is aflixed to tho
carriage or frame T₁ by means of a screw, there being a slot or opening formed
in the thread carrier to allow of adjustment. Indeed, I may here generally
state that duc care is to be observed to allow such means of adjustment ns aro
usual in similar machines and are familiar to frame smiths; the Drawings
showing such means of adjustment, they will on examination readily be under.
stood without referring more particularly to each case, where means of adjustment
have been resorted to in this machine. The frame or carriage T' has two end
plates T affixed thereto, such end plates having each two holes formed therein,
one hole square, and one hole circular. Through the square holes the bar 13
(to which the cord or band S is affixed at each end) is placed, and the carriage
or frame T is retained at any position on this bar T3 by means of the spring,
which is shown between the plate T and the bar T. The circular holes of the
end plates of the carriage T¹ move on the circular guide bar V, such bar V being
carried by means of the arms W, affixed to the axis or spindle bar. X, such
spindle bar or axis moving on points X at each end of the machine; tho
bar V being drawn in towards the needles by means of a spring X, which
retains the bar V in a suitable position against stops, in order to guide the
thread properly over the needles, as is well understood in framework knitting.

page_text: T' is a projection or finger from the carriage or frame T'. At the lower end
of this projection or finger T is an adjusting screw, which serves to adjust the
thread carrier to its proper position in respect to the needles, and to retain it
there by sliding along the spindle bar or axis X as the carriage (and thread
carrier T) is drawn across the machine, in order to lay the thread over the
needles. It is well known that, according to the ordinary construction of
knitting machines, what is called the "slur cock" is caused to move across
the machine at the same time as the thread carrier, in order successively to
actuate what in the old machines are called the "jack sinkers," in such
manner that so soon as the thread carrier has laid thread over the needles,
between which the jack sinkers respectively work, to cause the jack sinkers
one after the other to sink the thread down between their respective needles,
each jack sinker taking sufficient thread for making two loops of the fabric,
and then by the working of the machine, what are called lead sinkers are
caused to take each of them a portion of the thread drawn down by the
jack sinkers, the jack sinkers being so moved as to allow of the lead
sinkers drawing from under them portions of the excess of thread sunk down
by the jack sinkers. The result of these movements is such that the
thread which had been laid over the needles, and in the first instance sunk
down between certain of the needles by the jack sinkers in larger quantities
than are required for making the loops for those particular needles, is, by the
descent of the lead sinkers, equalized over and between each of the needles,
each needle having only sufficient to produce its loop; all which is well under-
stood in common knitting machines, and I have only been particular in calling
attention to this part of the action of the old knitting frames, because, though
my sinkers are differently formed, and although they act in many respects
differently, owing to their all being on an axis at their lower ends, as will be
hereafter described, they, nevertheless, in their movements produce the loops,
and work them into a fabric similarly to that performed by the up-and-down
movements heretofore communicated to the jack sinkers and the lead sinkers in
former machines. And, according to my Invention, there is used a slur cock,
which is caused to move at the same time with the thread carrier, but a little
behind it, in order to allow of thread being first laid over the needles suc-
cessively before the first set of sinkers, which I call lever jack sinkers, are
caused by the slur cock successively to move on their axes, and sink the thread
down between their respective needles, and in sufficient quantities for forming
not only their own loops, but also the loops of the other half of the sinkers,
which, for distinction, I call the "frame sinkers," for it should be understood
that the "lever jack sinkers" of my machine perform a like duty to the jack

page_text: sinkers of the old machine, and the frame sinkers of my machine perform a
like duty to that heretofore performed by the lead sinkers of the old machines,
though, from peculiarity of the construction of the new description of sinkers
used by me, they perform such duties respectively by different movements than
those heretofore performed by the ordinary jack and lead sinkers of the old
machine.
In the various views shown of the machine and its parts by the Drawings,
Z is the slur cock, which is caused to move from end to end of the machine
on the bar O (which guides it) by means of the cord or band Z, which is
made fast to the slur cock, and passing over the pulleys Z³ is, in like manner
to the cord or band S, made fast to the pulley N, by which the thread carrier
is actuated, whereby the slur cock will successively actuate the lever jack
sinkers, in order to their sinking the thread down Letween their respective
needles, as will be hereafter fully explained.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and mode of working of the
two description of sinkers used by me. a, a, represent what I have called the
lever jack sinkers, and my reason for calling them by that name is, on the one
hand, thoy, as above mentioned, perform the part of the old jack sinkers, and,
on the other hand, they move on a fulcrum or axis at their lower ends, and in
their action perform parts of a circular movement on such axis. It will be
seen that each of the jacks or instruments which work the lever jack sinkers is
connected by pin points to its sinker, and at such a position as to be near the
point where the strain of drawing down the thread takes place; hence, there
will be no liability of the sinker springing when working quickly, which is
one of the advantages obtained by my Invention. b, b, are what I have called
frame sinkers, in consequence of their partaking of the movements of the
frame which carries the sinkers. These frame sinkers, like the lever jack
sinkers, are placed on one common axis, the same which carries the lever jack
sinkers, as is clearly shown in the Drawing. The two description of sinkers
above mentioned being shown separately full size in the Drawings, as well as
on a smaller scale in their places in the various views of the machine, their
construction will be understood, and a workman has only to follow the shapes
thereof shown to produce the required instruments. The frame which carries
the sinkers consists of the following parts:-c is an axis or spindle bar, moving
on points at each end of the machine, as is shown in the Drawing; d, d, are
two arms fixed to and projecting at right angles from the spinille bar c. At
the end of each arm d is a hole to receive a neck or axis of the frame, which
carries the sinkers; e is the lower bar, to which leads of combs are affixed, and
which carry the axis of the sinkers, the combs being so formed as to receive

page_text: between each two teeth or plates of which they are composed one sinker, that
is, alternately a lever jack sinker and a frame siuker, and each of the plates or
tecth of which the coombs are formed is perforated, to allow of the passage of
the wire axis f, on which the whole of the sinkers are received. &, e, are
two set screws to adjust the bar e, e, the heads of these screws occasionally
coming against the needle bar, which is of the ordinary construction, proceed-
ing from end to end of the machine, as is shown in the Drawings, and these
screws e adjust the height of the sinkers in respect to the needles in order to
allow of the passage across of the thread carrier; e, e, are two bars or plates,
which form the ends of the frame which carries the sinkers; is the bar or
top part of the frame which carries the sinkers. It will, therefore, be scen
that this frame is a quadrangular frame, made up of the four bars e, e³, e², and
g
From the upper part of the frame there are two projections *, to which
are affixed the plate or bar e³, as is shown in the Drawing, the object of which
is to retain the upper ends of the frame sinkers in their places, the lever jack
sinkers being shorter, in order to pass under the bar or plate, in their sepa-
Fate action on their axis f. The sinkers a and b are kept separate from one
another at their upper parts by means of the combs 9 (or series of plates cast
in leads at each end), which are affixed across the sinker frame e, as is clearly
shown in the Drawing. At the back of each of the ends of the sinker frame e
is affixed a projecting plate h, having a slit or slot formed therein, in which
works the bar i, which serves the purposes of what are known in the old
machines as the falling bar and the locking bar. The jacks, which work the
lever jack sinkers according to my Invention, being so formed as to require
only the one bar i for performing the two purposes. The bar i is at all times
pressed towards the front of the machine by means of the spring i, . This
spring being affixed to the bar i, it presses against the bar, which is carried
by the projections from the back of the plates", affixed in front of the sinker
frame e, by means of the screws, and the screws k are for the purpose of
adjusting the length of movement of the bar i, and consequently the length of
loops produced by the sinkers, there being spring catches to take into the
notched edges of the screws, to retain them in the position to which they are
set. It will be seen that the jacks, which are attached by pin joints to the
lever jack sinkers, are so formed with catches at top and bottom of their sur-
faces or edges that when the slur cock is not acting, the whole of the jacks, by
their catches a', are retained back by the bar i, or by the bar n, and will be
carried back by such bar i when that bar is forced back, as hereafter described.
It will be seen that the jacks work within or between the combs, affixed across
the back of the sinker frame e, by which means the jacks are kept safely to work

page_text: correctly and are also kept one from the other, and it will also be seen that each
jack has its spring, which has a tendency at all timos to force the jack forward
towards the front of the machine and with them the lever jack sinkers; these
springs being shown by the Drawings separately and in their places in the
machine, their construction will be readily understood; and it will only be
necessary further to state in respect to these springs that they work between
the teeth of the combs m, all which is clearly shown in the Drawings; the
bars for carrying the springs and their combs being affixed to the projections
of the plates . The lower catches a" of the jacks are for the purpose of coming
against the barn, which is affixed across the back of the sinker frame e, on the
projections of the plates j', as is clearly shown in the Drawings; the mode of
working consequent on these arrangements will be hereafter described. On
the back shaft it has been stated is the cam I, the construction of the surface
of which being shown in the Drawing, it will only be necessary to say, that on
the back of the spindle bar or axis c is an arm c', which has a roller or truck
(on an axis affixed to the arm c') which is actuated by the rises of the cam II,
by which motion is given to the sinker frame e, and the sinker frame is counter-
balanced by a weight or spring to the arm c. I would remark that the roller
or truck on the arm c' does not at all times bear against the cam II, but is
only at intervals touched thereby; at the same time it is evident (if desired)
that the cam may be formed at all times to support as well at suitable
intervals to actuate the arms c'; the stops o, o, are for the purpose of adjust-
ing the extent of movement of the arm c'; the lower part of the sinker
frame e being constantly drawn towards the back of the machine by its spring,
as is shown in the Drawing, and the stops o', o', prevent the frame being
drawn too far in; on tho back shaft is affixed the camp which works the
presser bar. The shape or figure of this cam being shown in the Drawing,
it will readily be made. 9 is a spindle bar or axis, which moves in suitable
bearings at each end of the machino; q' is an arm affixed to the spindle
bar or axis q, it having a truck or roller which moves on the cam p, the s
arm g' being weighted to draw the same constantly downwards, as is shewn
in the Drawings; r is the presser bar, which is affixed to and is carried by the
two bent arms of affixed to the spindle bar or axis q. On the spindle bar or
9 are affixed the projecting stops a, also the axis of the swing bolts t, and
the springs ; the springs v having at all times a tendency to force the swing 8
bolts t towards the front of the machine, and hence, when permitted so to do,
the swing bolts & are forced against the stops s, and when the bolts are moving
towards the back of the machine, the bolts t and the stops s act together as if
they were solid projections from the spindle bar q, by which means in their
axis

page_text: swing or movement back they force back the bar i and pass over it when it
has carried the jacks sufficiently back; on the return movement towards the
front of the machine the swing bolts are carried back to their proper position
and will, when they swing or move back, force back the bar i, together with the
jacks of the lever jack sinkers, as hereafter explained; on the back shaft is
affixed the cam w which acts against the truck w' moving on the axis of the
lever, which has its fulcrum at a affixed to the left-hand end framing of the
machine, & being a bar or rod attached to the upper end of the lever & by a
pin joint, the bar or, rod as having a fixed axis, which carries a truck or roller,
which rests against the back of the sinker frame e, the rod a resting and
moving on the needle bar, the rod a being borne down by a spring, as shewn.
From the foregoing description of the parts and of their combination a
workman will readily be able to make a machine according to my Invention,
and be will be facilitated in adjusting the parts above explained by my shortly
describing the working of a course, at the same time the workman should bear
in mind the circumstance that the machine now under description is to produce
on the needles similar movements of the thread to what have been heretofore
and at the present time are produced by the old machines now in use.
The Drawings shew the various parts in the position they would be in at the
time of the thread carrier having proceeded about one-fourth across the machine
from left to right, at which time the jacks under which the slur cock has passed
will by their stops a' be retained by the bar i, their sinkers having sunk down
the thread between their needles, the other jacks under which the slur cock
has not passed being retained by their catches a' against the bar n; but as the
slur cock proceeds across to the right hand each jack will be moved from the
bar n and be forced forward by its spring till the catch a' comes against the
bar i and is retained thereby; consequently the lever jack sinkers move suc-
cessively on their axis f, and thereby perform their office of sinking the thread
between their needles, as it is progressively laid on the surface of the needles..
When the slur cock has completed its movement by proceeding from the left-
band end to the right-hand end of the machine, the whole of the jacks by their
catches a will be borne by the bar i. In continuing rotatory motion to the
back shaft, the cam H and the cam p come into action; the cam H by one of
its rises lowering the sinker frame, the camp causing the bar i to be moved
back, which carrying the jacks back, cause the lever jack sinkers and the frame
sinkers to range equally together, and by this joint movement the thread which
in the first instance was taken in excess by the lever jack sinkers becomes
equally divided amongst all the sinkers; the cam w then causes the sinker
frame to move forward, which brings the loops into the heads of the needles.by.

page_text: the nebs of the sinkers; the truck on the cam I now coming to a fall on that
cam, the sinker frame e is caused to rise by its counterweight, by which the
nebs of the sinkers rise above the needles, and they continue to rise till the
presser bar comes down by its cam p, and touches the heads of the needles,
and the presser bar is caused to press down the beards of the needles; the
cam w then forces forward the sinker frame c, by which means the rounded
part or bellies of the sinkers force the work off the heads of the needles, the
presser bar moving away as the sinkers come forward; at this period the
sinker frame is by the cam w forced forward to its greatest extent and
the sinker frame e is at its highest position.
Note. It should be stated that the swing bolts t, after having forced back
the bar i (and with it the whole of the jacks, which then by their springs are
released from the bar i, and are forced down on to, and are retained by the
bar n), they pass over the bar i, and are at present at the back of the bar i;
the bar when released by the swing bolts t having been forced forward
towards the front of the machine by the springs 7, and the bar i is therefore
resting against its stops carried by the plates j', and in a position to receive
the jacks when they are released from the bar n by the passing across of the
slur cock from the right-hand to the left-hand end of the machine. The sinker
framo e is next caused to descend by a rise on the cam H, by which the arch
of each sinker is brought over the work, and the tops of such arches descend
in a slight degree below the heads of the needles carrying down the loops well
between the needles. A fall on the cam w now permits the sinker frame e to
go back, by which means the nebs of the sinkers carry the work on to the
stems of the needles, and a fall on the cam H permits the sinker frame to rise
to its stops and to a proper position to allow of the thread carrier laying
the thread across from the right-hand to the left-hand end of the machine;
the thread carrier and the slur cock now proceed across the machine from the
right-hand to the left-hand, the sinker frame remaining stationary during such
movement, and when the slur cock has completed its movement across, the
position of the jacks is such that they are again borne by their catches a¹
resting against the bar i, the bar i having passed under the swing bolts t when
the sinkers carried the work back on to the stems of the needles, as above
described.
It should be stated that the cams are so formed that one revolution of the
back shaft produces two courses. Note. The machine is shewn to be twelve
inches across the needles; in the event of making much wider machines there
should be double sets of cams, to prevent the strain to the bars by working
only at one part by the cams, as is above explained and shewn in the Drawings.

page_text: Thus far I have described the machine as if it were arranged for making
the work of equal width from end to end. And I would observe that if the
machine were composed of only the parts thus far described, the machine
would continue to produce a knitted fabric of ono uniform width, but as it is
desirable to have the power of widening the fabric in the course of working, in
order to produce suitably shaped pieces of fabric for making drawers and
other articles, I have superadded certain apparatus for widening the fabric
progressively whilst making in the machine, and by the operation of the
machine itself. On the back shaft are affixed two projecting arms (1, 1),
each having a fixed axis for a truck or roller (2); these rollers are for the
purpose of depressing the lever (3), which is affixed to the spindle bar (4);
the spindle bar (4) by arms carrying the spindle bar X, the lever (s) being
for the purpose of raising the spindle bar X at certain times in order to put it
into a proper position for the thread carrier to traverse across and place its
thread properly on the needles; (5) are two swing catches, which are at all
times pressed towards the spindle bar or axis X by their springs, in order
when permitted so to do to pass under and hold that bar up in its proper
place; these swing catches move each on a fulcrum affixed to a sliding bolt or
bar, hereafter described, at their respective ends of the machine, as is shewn in
the Drawing; (6, 6), are two bent levers moving on axes affixed to the two
end framings of the machine; the end of one of these levers (6) rests on and is
worked by the lever K, the end of the other lever (6) rests on and is worked
by the lever P; the other ends of the levers (6, 6), are cranked outwards at
right angles, consequently they will respectively rest on the levers (7,7),
each moving on its fulcrum or axis (8), at their respective ends of the machine ;
on each of the levers (7) a clawker (9) is attached by means of a pin joint,
the clawkers working the ratchet wheels (10), which move on fixed axes
carried by projecting framing from the two end framings of the machine, as is
clearly shewn by the Drawings.
Each of the ratchet wheels (10) has affixed to it a snail, with steps.cut
thereon, and according to the length of these steps or runs so will be the
length of time the fabric will be continued making of the same width, but
on falling each step the fabric will be widened one needle; hence the workman
will cut the snail in such manner that it is suitable for commencing with the
narrowest part and go up to the widest part, and it will be desirable where it
is wished to make the fabric of one width for a considerable length to throw
out the working of the clawkers (9), otherwise the snails (11) must be of very
large dimensions.
In order 'to explain the matter clearly, I have shown the steps of the snails

page_text: (11) of equal length (as to their time of action), and the steps are only ha
the number of the teeth of the ratchet wheels. By this arrangement ther
will be an additional needle taken into work for every two courses produced
A workman will now readily understand how he is to shape his snails in orde
to produce the figure or shapo of fabric he desires to make. The threa
carrier is so arranged in respect to other apparatus, that when it has arrived a
the last needle which has been at work before, it drops down, in consequenc
of one of the swing catches being withdrawn from under the spindle box X
and having dropped below the needles, it is caused to rack or shog endwisc
a length equal to the width of one needle; hence, when it is raised up
again to lay the thread over the needles, it leaves a portion of thread
over one needle more (either to the right hand or to the left hand of
the fabric) than had before been in work; and in order to accomplish these
movements of the thread carrier, the end plates T come successively against
the heads of the two sliding bolts (12, 12), which slide in suitable brackets
carried by projecting end framings, such bolts being governed in their
movement by the snails (11); and on the movement of these bolts will
determine the width of the fabric, the bolts being at all times drawn out-
wards and borne against their respective snails by means of weighted cords
passing over pulleys, or by strong springs, as is partly shown in the Drawing.
Note. When the machine is made to produce the fabric of an equal width
from end to end the bolts or bars (12) will not be necessary, but there must
be suitable fixed stops in their places to control the length of movement of
the thread carrier.
From the square bar T of the frame which carries the thread carrier T
descends a projection (18); this projection has two projections (14), one to the
right and the other to the left; on these projections are fixed studs (15), which
coming against the swing catch at that end towards which the thread carrier is
moving, forces it from under the spindle bar or axis X; and that spindle bar
descends by its own weight, taking down the thread carrier through the
needles; the thread carrier in so desconding passes between the last needle on
which work has been making, and the next or neighbouring needle on which
work has not been produced; and this position for the falling or descending of
the thread carrier is regulated by the end or head of the sliding bars, which
are worked by the snails (11), such sliding bolts or bars acting as the stops for 3
the thread carrier, as above explained. It should be observed, that, notwith-
standing the thread carrier is so stopped, according to the width of fabric
which is being made, the slur cock continues moving across from end to end
of the row of jacks; consequently, though (during the time it is working the

page_text: lever jack sinkers which in their sinking have thread on their needles) the slur
cock keeps a little behind the movement of the thread carrier; when the thread
carrier is stopped, as above explained, the slur cock continues its movement to
the end, sinking all the lever jack sinkers, notwithstanding their needles have
not any thread laid thereon; hence the slur cock passes beyond the thread
carrier a distance depending on the number of needles over which no thread
has been laid; but it is desirable that the thread carrier should, in its move-
ment in laying the thread on the needles, only have a very short lead or pre-
cedence of the slur cock. It is therefore arranged that the thread carrier should
be retained back for a short time, till the slur cock in the act of recrossing the
machine has moved such a distance as to give the thread carrier its proper
lead, and this is performed by means of catches hereafter explained; but it is
desirable first to observe, that notwithstanding the same pulley causes the slur
cock to move, which causes the thread carrier to be drawn from end to end of
the machine, the thread carrier may be held stationary at any time, owing to
the same sliding on the square bar T, to which the cords or bands are affixed,
as above explained. It will therefore readily be seen that during the time the
slur cock is moving, in order to obtain its proper position in respect to the
thread carrier, that the thread carrier may be retained stationary notwith-
standing the movement of the cords which draw it from side to side of the
machine when at liberty so to be drawn. (16), (16), are studs affixed on the
square bar T of the carriage of the thread carrier, which, after moving a dis-
tance equal to that which the slur cock in crossing from side to side has over-
run its proper position in respect to the thread carrier, the stud at the end of
the square bar from which the thread carrier is to proceed comes against and
releases the lever catch (17), moving on a fulcrum at (18), and it is at all
times borne up to its stop (19) by the spring (20); consequently one of the end
plates of the carriage or frame of the thread carrier in coming across forces
down the catch (17), which is instantly drawn up by its spring (20), and thus
holds the carriage of the thread carrier from moving with its cord to recross
the machine till the stud at that end releases the catch (17); the square bar T
sliding through the carriage of the thread carrier so long as that carriage is
held by the catch (17). And it should be stated that the parts which remove
the swing catches are so adjusted, that the swing catch at either end is not
removed from under the bar X till such time as the slur cock has passed, and
had actuated the last of the jacks opposite which thread has been laid on the
needles. And further; there is an inclined plate or surface which causes the
thread carrier to move a short distance from the sinkers as it falls between
the needles, such movement being caused by the arm on the right-hand end

page_text: of the bar X, sliding outwards down the inclined plate or surface; and the
is an adjusting screw which prevents the spindle bar X falling too low.
Thus far I have described the machine as working in such manner, the
the thread carrier and the slir cock are moving at the same time; but thi
is not absolutely necessary, as the apparatus may be so arranged as t
lay the thread across the needles before the slir cock starts; and I hav
attached two Drawings marked B, to show that this modo of working. Th
parts which are similar to what have been already described being marke
by the same letters of reference, and colored with the same colour, i
will not bo necessary to re-describe the same. And it will only be de
sirable to state, that those parts of the apparatus which were formerly
used, in consequence of having the slir cock to follow the thread carriers
(keeping only a short distance behind the same), will, according to this
arrangement, be dispensed with, and the swing catches, in place of being con
nected to the rods or bolts worked by the snails (11), will be affixed to the side
framings of the machine, for their position will at all times be the same. The
principal difference required will be, that in place of the same pulley moving
the slur cock and the thread carrier, as above explained, there will be a separate
pulley for the thread carrier; but the same will have to be so arranged that
projecting arms from the back shaft carrying rollers or trucks, will so work
levers similar to those above described as to move the thread carrier across the
machine just previous to the slur cock starting, which will readily be applied
by a mechanic understanding the previous description, and the nebs of the
sinkers are to be slightly altered, as is shewn in these Drawings, and the cams
II and w aro also altered, as is shown in the Drawing. The thread in this
case is conducted through two guides (20), (20); and through an eye (21) of
the lever (22), which moves in a fulcrum at (23); and (24) is a short bar
covered with plush or other suitable fabric, against which the thread is drawn
in its progress to the needles. (25) is a bar affixed across the front of the
machine, on which the end of the lover (22) rests, and the end of the lover
(22) which so rests on the bar (25) has at all times a tendency to descend;
hence, when permitted, it will draw down the thread at the time when the
thread carrier is proceeding across the machine; but when the thread carrier
has performed its distance, and drops below the needles towards the sinkers,
out of the way of the sinkers, by an inclined projection from the sinker frame, a
the descent of the thread carrier, with the apparatus connected therewith,
carries the thread down also; but as the lover (22) is supported by the bar
(25), that end of the lever is prevented moving; consequently, the other end
of the lever moves towards the back of the machine, and the thread theroby

page_text: assumes a straight line. The Drawings B, showing the thread carrier and
lever (22), and apparatus above mentioned, in the two positions above explained,
a workman will readily trace the working. thereof. The alteration of the
cams II and w, and the slight difference in the formation of the front nebs
of the sinkers shown in these two Drawings, will produce the following effect
in the working of the machine, differing from the movements in respect to
the working, as before described.
On the thread carrier having laid its thread across the needles to an extent
according to the position of the bolts or rods (12), the cam II' at the rise (26)
causes the sinker frame to descend in such manner as to cause the adjusting
screws e to descend below the needle bar and permit the frame to be drawn
further back towards the back of the machine, which the spring was prevented
doing till the cam w had allowed of such movement by its cut or form, as will
be understood by examining the Drawings; and it should be stated that the rise
(26) of the cam H', causing the sinkers to descend a short distance, effects an
important result in respect to the thread which is laid across the needles; for it
will be seen that on the sinkers descending, the front neb, in consequence of its
form, shuts in the thread, and prevents its being forced away from the sinkers;
for it will be clearly seen that in the slight descent performed by the sinkers
the front point of the nebs descend between the needles, and the thread is held
securely in the the hollow part (27) of the sinkers, by which great security of.
working is. obtained in working quickly, notwithstanding the thread is laid
across all the needles over which for the time being it has to work before the
starting of the slur cock.
Note. I have herein described the machine as arranged for widening the
work as it progresses, by means of the snails (11); but it will be evident that
if the workman applies "ticklers" to remove the loops from one needle to
another, as is well understood by stocking workmen, in order to narrow the
work as it proceeds, then in such case the snails will have to be changed in
their direction of action, in order to cause the thread carrier to pass over a
less and a less number of needles progressively.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
combining the various parts, I would wish it to be understood that I do, not
claim any of the parts separately, nor in combination, so far as they have been,
heretofore known and combined; and it will be evident that many of the parts
may be varied and yet retain the principle and character of my Invention ;
I do not therefore confine myself to the precise arrangements here shewn,
provided the essential properties of my Invention be retained; and it will be
evident that if it be desired to work such machines by steam or other power

page_text: the driving axle A and wheel-work will be dispensed with, and rotatory motion
communicated to the back shaft. But what I claim as my Invention is the
mode of employing lever jack sinkers and frame sinkers, and jacks and appa-
ratus combined therewith, as herein explained and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Moore, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.