Improvements in Knitting-machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by LEVI EDDY SALISBURY, of 38, Friendship
Street, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America, Machinist.]
Improvements in Knitting-machines.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 the production of knitted fabrics it has been usual heretofore to employ
machines in which the needles are arranged around the peripheries of cylinders, or
circular knitting machines as they are termed.
In some instances the needles of such machines are vibrated vertically by
continuously revolving cams, in others the cams are normally stationary and
cylinders carrying the needles are caused to revolve. Sometimes however the
needles have been arranged and mounted in fixed straight bars susceptible of
adjustment. A knitting machine having vertically moving needles arranged in
groups or series is shown and described in U.S. Patent granted to my
correspondent Sept. 11, 1883, No. 284,905. An objection to the fabric produced
by that machine as well as to fabrics knitted as usual on circular machines
generally, is that the finished product or cloth possesses too much elasticity as
compared with cloth woven on a loom in which the weft-threads are nearly straight.
In the Specification of United States Patent above referred to a series of.
continuously travelling weft-threads are used, all of which are successively and
consecutively looped around the warp-threads, the latter also being looped to a
certain extent during the operation.
The object of the present invention is to produce a machine adapted and arranged
to produce a knitted fabric having somewhat more than usual the qualities of
woven fabrics; to this end the invention consists essentially, in the combination of
mechanisms for actuating a series of vertically reciprocating needles arranged in
groups or sections, a series of mounted and guided warp-threads, an upper series of
suitably guided continuously travelling knitting or weft-threads interlocking with
each other and with the warp-threads, and a lower series of guided continuously
travelling straight filling or weft-threads alternating with the first-named weft-
threads and laid continuously along one side of the warp-threads; it also consists in
certain novel devices for simultaneously operating the two series of weft-thread
carriers, and other mechanisms for rendering the machine more efficient, all as
hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, a portion being broken away or omitted;
Figure 2 is a partial plan view, showing the upper series of mounted weft-
threads.
Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken through the upper frame or
table and carrier, on line at of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the same, a portion being broken away.
Figures 5 and 6 represent respectively side and plan views of one of the links
forming the carrier.
Figure 7 is a front end view of the machine, some of the driving mechanism
being omitted.
Figure 8 represents an end view, enlarged, of the front head or upper portion of
the main frame, and showing the lower table in section or cut transversely through
line 11. Figures 1 and 10.

page_text: Figure 9 is" a "corresponding viewof" the “back head, taken on "line zz of
Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the machine through
the two heads or ends:"
Figure 11, is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken 'transversely through the
upper portion of the machine or on line, Figure 1, and showing the relation
of the weft-threads, needles, and cams.
Figure 12 is a side view of one of the longitudinal frames or ties which support
the needle-bars and needle actuating mechanism.
Figure 13 is an end view.
Figure 14 is a side view, in partial section, of the arrangement for vertically
adjusting the needle-bar.
Figure 15 is a plan view of the same and also showing in horizontal section a
portion of the needle-bar.
Figure 16 is an enlarged transverse-sectional view, showing the needle-bar frame
and cam..
Figure 17 is a side view of a portion of one of the cam carrying shafts, showing
the manner of arranging the cams thereon.
Figure 18 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken at the front of the
machine on line m m Figure 1 showing the manner of operating the "take-up"
or friction rolls between which the fabric passes to the winder-roll.
Figure 19 is a similar horizontal view taken on line o o, Figure 1, at the rear
end of the machine, showing the tension devices for the warp-threads and said
take-up rolls.
Figure 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, showing the relation of the
several threads to the needles.
Figure 21 is a side view of the same and
Figure 22 represents enlarged, a piece of the fabric, loosely knitted.
The
Referring to Figure 1, a a indicate the two end frames or standards having any
suitable form, or as shown in Figure 7; the frames are separated from each
other longitudinally by a distance substantially the same as is required for the
needles, or in other words corresponding with the length of the needle-bars.
frames are secured to and surmounted by a ribbed bed or table the ends being
rounded, similar to the frame c shown in Figure 2. The bed is slotted longitudinally.
through the centre, see 68, Figures 2 and 11, the length of the slot being practically
the same, as the length of the needle-bars, to be described later on. As before
stated the machine is duplex or adapted to knit two pieces of fabric simultaneously,
one on each side of the machine, the two pieces being connected at the edges; the
fabric as produced passes down through the slot to and between the centre
friction or tension rolls e.
c designates a top bed or table mounted directly over the bed ; the upper bed
is substantially the same as the lower one both in form and in construction, except
that it has a much larger slotted opening formed through its centre portion. The
two beds are vertically separated a suitable distance and are each provided with'
laterally extending lugs or cars through which combined supporting, and tie rods t
pass vertically, nuts 18, serving to bind the whole together. Each bed is provided'
on top with an open continuous groove i having inwardly extending flanges or
projections, each groove is adapted to serve as a guide for the chain which carries
its respective series of knitting or weft-threads, the said flanges at the same time:
acting as a guide laterally, and, also preventing the chain from rising out of the
groove: The chain itself as drawn is composed of a series of blocks or unites n
provided with teeth arranged segmentally; the several unites are connected by,
link so arranged that the chain is rendered flexible and endless. The unites are
flush with or project a short distance above the top of the guide-flanges so as to
engage the weft-thread carriers.
At the front end of the machine a short driving shaft d is mounted immediately
below and centrally with the lower bed b; the shaft being driven by a belt b

page_text: passing over a clutch-pulley p suitably mounted on the shaft; the pulley may be
made as common, that is the pulley proper is loose upon the shaft; a clutch is
splined to the latter having a head or rim arranged to frictionally engage the pulley
upon forcing the clutch end wise, thereby causing the pulley to revolve in unison
with the shaft. A bevel gear g is also mounted on the shaft which intergears with
a gear secured to the lower end of the vertically mounted shaft ; this latter shaft
extends above the upper bed and has secured thereto a gear wheel g' which
through the medium of an intermediate wheel g³ Figures 1, 4 &c. engages and
actuates the upper carrier-chain. A similar arrangement of gears 9' having the
same diameters simultaneously operates the lower carrier-chain.
To the last-named chain arc secured the bobbin-holders or carriers s; these
bobbins have a yard-load consisting of weft-threads h which are introduced to the
back side of the needles and at the under side of the warp-threads w and extend
around the fabric in a practically straight line, that is without looping or without
interlocking with the other threads. The bobbins do not revolve on their axes, the
yarn being simply drawn off through guides at the top of the carriers which lead it
to the needles. A substantially similar arrangement is employed for the upper
series of bobbins which carry the interlocking weft-threads, the corresponding
carriers guide these threads singly from the upper end thereof downwardly into
a guide-tube or plate n adjustably secured by screws n to a depending arm. n³
attached to the lower portion of the carrier frame, see Figure 11, and over the
warp-threads.
Intermediate of the two series of continuously travelling weft-threads h, just
described are mounted at each side of the machine grooved warp-plates o¹ these
plates are attached to studs o secured to and depending from the under side of the
upper bed c.
The warp-threads or yarn ware wound upon oppositely arranged
beams whose axles w¹ are supported in open bearings formed in the lower portion
of the end frame a, see Figure 7. The warp-yarn in its passage to the guide-plates o
passes through a "let-off device, see Figures 7 and 19 wherein at each side of
the machine are mounted a pair of oppositely revolving rolls e of equal diameters
positively driven by a gear-train m', m³; the axles of the outer rolls are mounted in
boxes susceptible of lateral.adjustment by means of the adjusting screws a thereby
enabling the attendant to readily adjust the rolls to receive any number or size of
yarn. As thus drawn it will be seen that the warp-yarn w passes from the beam
around the inner or rear roll and down between it and the front roll, then round the
under and front sides of the front roll, thence upwardly and over a stationary
guide rod mounted in bearings secured to the ties t, and finally into the warp-
plates o' to the needles.
Motion is imparted to the gears m² Figures 1, 19 &c., by means of a worm w
(secured to the driving-shaft Figure 1) which meshes into a toothed wheel w
mounted on a stud or short shaft (Figure 18) carrying a bevel gear u² intergearing
with a larger gear u secured to a shaft es extending lengthwise of the machine; this
shaft projects some distance beyond the rear frame a (Figure 19) and carries one
of the said gear m' which engages a similar gear secured to a shaft e carrying the
inner friction roll e; a gear m³ also secured to this last named shaft actuates the
front roll by means of a similar gear m³ secured to its shaft. The other pair of
friction rolls e are driven by a gear m secured to the said shaft e (Figure 19) which
intergears with a similar gear m secured to a parallel shaft et also carrying a
gear m' which meshes into another one secured to the other inner roll's shaft e
the latter having a gear m³ engaging a similar gear secured to the front roll's shaft.
By this means the several rolls are operated simultaneously and at, the same
relative velocities. The draft or tension upon the fabric may be effected to a
certain extent by a lateral adjustment of the shaft although, practically such
adjustment of the shaft is mainly for the purpose of receiving between the pair of
rolls e fabrics having different thicknesses; these rolls are secured to the said
shaftsee, and revolve in opposite directions by gear-wheels m one of these rolls, e
(Figure 18) the one secured to the shaft et is adapted to lateral adjustment by

page_text: means of set screws 4. The other shaft is provided at its rear end with a
sprocket-wheel m² which by means of a link-belt and a sprocket-wheel 1ª secured
to the arbor of the take-up roll (Figure 1) transmits a rotary movement to the
roll thereby winding the fabric upon the beam-roll.
y.
The devices for operating the needles may be described as follows, although I
make.no claim herewith to mechanism therefor. At the front and back ends of
the machine are mounted short vertical frames or heads a' a respectively (see
Sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings) the frames being rigidly secured to the lower bed
and standards a. The two ends a' a² are united by two longitudinal frames a
bolts a serving to hold the parts together. These frames are arranged right and
left and are separated transversely a short distance or say equal to the width of
the lower bed's opening. Along the lower inner edge of each frame a' is formed a
rectangular shaped groove a into which is fitted a similarly shaped bar The
bars are provided with inclined slotted openings & extending transversely through
them. The rear ends of the bars are tapped to receive each a short screw-threaded
shaft (Figure 14) which passes freely through a corresponding hole y formed in
the rear head a². To the inner face of each frame a, is secured, by bolts as a needle
barv, said bolts pass through slotted holes a formed in the frames and are tapped
into the needle-bars. Adjacent to the inclined openings of the bars are
arranged short tongues secured to the needle-bars, the same being fitted into the
said openings. By means of this construction it is obvious that by turning the
screw first loosening the bolts as the needle-bar or plates may be given a
vertical adjustment. The object of adjusting the needle-bars is to regulate or
vary the length of the loops or stitches i.e. elevating the bar causes the needles to
shed shorter stitches, and vice versa.
U
The upper front edge portion of each bar is grooved, as at Figure 20, to
receive the needles a, the latter being secured each to a cam frame adapted to
travel up and down between the face of the needle-bar and the inner face of the
-sectional flange z secured by bolts to the frame at the latter frames are bored or
turned as a so as to serve as bearings for the series of washers or collars .
Concentric with the bearings are arranged the cam-shafts which extend longi-
.tudinally of the machine and are mounted to revolve in the two end frames a', a².
To these shafts are secured series of spirally-arranged cams ³, one for each cam-
frame. The washers are also fast upon the cam shafts. The cams ³ just
referred to are clearly represented in Figures 16 and 17 in the latter figure the
spiral line indicates the arrangement of the cams; one complete revolution or helix
forming a series or group, to each of which groups or sections should be added a
knitting thread guide n' and a filling thread guide s'. As drawn in said Figure 17,
the section may be, say three inches in length and include eighteen cams, therefore
the warp-threads w, and needles would be six per inch; the sections being repeated
every three inches throughout the length of the needle-bars. The cams and cam-
frames are constructed and arranged and adapted for operation, substantially as
shown and described in my Patent No. 284,905 hereinbefore referred to. Motion
is imparted to the two cam-shafts simultaneously by a gear d² secured to the
driving shaft d, from which gear through the medium of intermediate gears
(shown by broken lines Figure 8,) the two intergearing wheels d' secured to the
front ends of the cam shafts are revolved in opposite directions.
Now, in order to produce the fabric shown (enlarged) in Figure 22 it should be
borne in mind that the several straight filling-threads h are introduced at the back
of the needles, and below the warp-threads in advance of the several upper or
knitting threads '; the latter being introduced at the front of the needles and above
the warp-threads; these threads are looped into or interlock with each other and
with the several warp-threads w, substantially as shown. Figure 21 shows the
relation of the threads h, ' to each other from one series or section. By this it
will be seen that the knitting threads are looped singly into each other, then passing
between and around the warp-threads and over the filling-threads to hold the latter
in place.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. A knitting-machine having the needles arranged in a series of groups or
sections, mechanism substantially as described, consisting of two parallel oppositely
revolving shafts having secured thereon a multiple series of spirally arranged cams
and washers alternating with the cams, and guided cam-moving frames secured
to the needles for simultaneously operating the said needle-sections, stationary
guides arranged to introduce warp-threads to the needles, a continuously travelling
guide for each needle section arranged to introduce a knitting-thread above the
warp-threads, and similarly travelling guides adapted to introduce to each
needle-section a filling-thread below the warp-threads, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
2. The combination of a line of needles, a revolving cam shaft cams spirally
arranged in groups or sections around the cam-shaft secured thereon, cam-frames
connected with the needles arranged to be actuated by the cams, fixed washers
alternating with and revolving in unison with the cams, stationary guides arranged
to introduce warp-threads to the needles, a continuously travelling guide for each
needle-section arranged to introduce a knitting-thread above the warp-threads
similarly travelling guides adapted to introduce to cach needle-section a filling
thread below the warp-threads, and feeding the take-up mechanism substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
3. A knitting-machine provided with needles operating in multiple groups or
sections by means of two oppositely revolving shafts having secured thereon a
corresponding number of sections of spirally arranged cams and washer alternating
with the cams, cam-actuated frames secured to the needles stationary guides
arranged to simultaneously introduce warp-threads to the needles, a travelling
guide for each section carrying and introducing a knitting thread above the
warp-threads, a travelling guide for each section carrying and introducing a
filling-thread below the warp-threads and in advance of the said knitting thread,
mechanism for continuously feeding the warp-threads and mechanism for con-
trolling the tension of the fabric and winding it upon a roll, substantially as
set forth.
4. A knitting machine having two laterally separated straight lines of needles,
stationary guides arranged to introduce warp-threads thereto mechanism substantially
as described for operating the needles in groups or sections travelling upper endless
chain carrying a series of yarn guides, as n a travelling lower endless chain carrying
a similar series of yard-guides, as and mechanism for actuating the said chains in
unison, the last named guides being arranged to travel in advance of the upper
guides, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. A grooved needle-bar having needles mounted to travel therein, a slotted
lower bar connected with said needle bar provided with a screw for adjusting the
height of the latter bar, and cam-frames or jacks attached to the needles, in
combination with a revolving cam-shaft cams secured thereto, spirally arranged in
continuous groups or sections adapted to engage and actuate the cam-frames,
washers or collars, secured to the cam-shaft alternately with the cams, and a
supporting frame arranged to engage the peripheries of said collars to form a
bearing therefor, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Tul 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.