Improvements in Machines for Producing Laces, Cords, and like Articles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
Improvements in Machines for Producing Laces, Cords, and like
Articles.
I, JAMES WARDALL, of 22, Betts Street, Hucknall Torkard, in the County of
Nottinghain, Hosiery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for producing laces, cords, and like articles, and
is designed to enable the same to be made by means of latch needles or knitting
needles.
For the purpose of my invention, 1 construct a machine similar to a small stocking
knitter, but instead of the needle cylinder being, as heretofore, cylindrical, it is made
conical and is provided with four or more tricks for the needles, and these tricks are
cut deeper at the lower part of the cone than at the apex.
The hooks and latches of the needles closely approach each other at the apex of
the cone, so that a cord of say 14th of an inch diameter, or larger, may be covered
with a knitted tube of yarn.
I also employ jacks so constructed that on the rise and fall of the needles, said
needles will not cross or entangle the yarns.
In some cases, instead of a cone, 1 may employ a needle cylinder having cylindrical
portions of two different diameters, the upper part being small and the lower part, in
which are the butts of the needles, being of large diameter. In this arrangement,
the needles work vertically instead of at an angle, and are bent to fit the
cylinder.
Any well known tension devices can be used for the yarn whilst, for different
coloured yarns, say from one to four carriers may be employed.
A suitable device is arranged to take out the twist which is put in the central cord
or core by the motion of the knitter; or the bobbins or cops of yarn may be arranged
to revolve so that no twist will be formed in the cord.
Instead of the cams for operating the needles, I may employ a needle ring and
springs, as in apparatus for making "French" knitting.
Dated this 10th day of August 1808

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This invention relates to machines for producing by knitting, fancy tubular or
covered cords, such as blind cords, picture cords, cords for upholstery purposes, stay or
boot laces, tapes, and the like.
Such articles have, up to the present, been usually made by braiding or plaiting
machines, the latter being capable of working at a much higher speed than knitting
machines hitherto constructed for the same purpose.
The main object of the present invention is to construct a knitting machine which
will work reliably, not only at as high but even at a very much higher speed than the
braiding or plaiting machines, and which is capable of producing the great variety of
patterns distinctive of knitted goods.
In a machine made according to my invention, each knitting needle has a projec-
tion or butt which engages in a groove or slot in a hollow cylinder, hereinafter called
the cam ring, so that when the cam ring rotates relative to the needle, or vice versa,
the needle is caused to move alternately in either direction parallel to the axis of the
cam ring and thereby perform the knitting process. The number of reciprocations of
the needle during one rotation of the cam ring will obviously only depend upon the
path of the groove. I have found that in order to obtain the necessary travel of the
needles at a sufficiently high speed, the diameter of the path or groove in which
the needle projections or butts travel, must be considerably larger than the diameter
of the circle in which the needle points are arranged when small articles, such as laces
or the like, are to be produced, so that the inclines or rises in the cam ring of the
machine are sufficiently moderate to suit the high speed of working.
As a result of my experiments, I have found that the steepness of the cam groove
is governed by the velocity of the needle butt in the groove, that is to say the greater
the velocity of the needle butt the less the steepness of the cam groove. The
velocity of the needle butt depends upon the extent of rise of each needle and the
number of loops it has to knit per minute. In a machine constructed according to my
invention it is therefore possible to obtain the highest speeds of working consistent
with the safety of the other moving parts of the machine.
In order that the needle should travel with the greatest possible smoothness they
should be of such a shape as to enable substantially the whole of both their inner and
outer edges to be positively guided throughout the travel of the needles.
Suitable devices are provided for maintaining the proper tension on the yarns and
on the work, the latter being obtained by means of a take-up arrangement which can
be adjusted to correspond with the speed of working.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, one form in which the inclines on the cain
grooves when developed on a flat surface are practically straight lines, as shewn in
Fig. 7, although it is obvious that they might be more or less in the form of curves.
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other, and Fig. 3 is a plan of a
machine having three rises in the cam groove.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line A, A, of Fig. 1, shewing the take-up
arrangement in plan.
Fig. 5 is a vertical central section through the needle cylinder and cam ring.
Fig. 6 shows one of the specially constructed needles which I employ, and
Fig. 7 is a development of the cam ring.
In the construction shewn in the foregoing figures the cam ring is arranged to
rotate, and the needle cylinder remains stationary.
Fig. 8 illustrates a construction of machine in which the cam ring remains
stationary and the needle cylinder revolves.
Fig. 9 shows a modified form of needle cylinder.
a is the needle cylinder, the upper part
are vertical tricks in the said cylinder and
down which the work at passes.
of which is contracted, as shewn;
is a narrow central aperture or bore

page_text: b are the needles of which there are eight in the example shewn, although the
number may be varied according to circumstances. The said needles are secured in
line with the inner edges of their jacks b', whilst the needle butts be project from the
outer edges thereof. Thus the butts are disposed on a comparatively large circle,
whilst the needles are arranged on a working circle of very small diameter.
c is the cam ring, which is made of steel as are also the needle jacks or sinkers.
This cam ring closely surrounds the needle cylinder and has its groove c¹ arranged at
suitable angles proportionate to the speed at which the needle butts are intended to
travel.
Thus, for a speed of about 800 to 1,000 revolutions per minute in a machine
having four rises per revolution and with a rise and fall of the needles amounting to ģ
of an inch, the angle of inclination of the cam groove at any point with a line
through the point parallel to and in the same plane as the axis of the cam ring, for
example the angle Fig. 7, should not be less than 40°. For speeds of from 500
to 700 revolutions, the angle should not be less than 35°, whilst for speeds of 200
to 400 revolutions it should not be less than 30°.
The minimum diameter of the cam cylinder depends upon the rise or length of
travel of the needles and the number of rises in the cam groove, there being one rise
for each of the knitting yarns employed. For a machine to work at 800 to 1,000
revolutions, a convenient internal diameter is approximately 3nds of an inch if two
rises be employed, but if there be three, it should be 1 of an inch, as in the
drawing, whilst for four it should be 11ths, the circle on which the needles work
being diameter in each case.
If, however, the speed be say from 200 to 400 revolutions, the diameters might
bends of an inch with two rises, ths with three, and 1nds with four.
These proportions give substantially the minimum diameters of the cam ring in the
cases stated, but it is obvious that larger diameters may be used as the inclines would
then be within the limit of steepness.
The positive guiding of the needles is due to their jacks 1 conforming to the
shape of the tricks a², and being guided on their inner edges by the inner walls a
of the latter, whilst their outer edges are guided by the cam ring. As both
edges are parallel, the true longitudinal movement of the needles is effectually ensured.
are the knitting yarns (which may be of various colours) for the tube or cover-
ing, these being led to the needles through adjustable spring tension devices d',
whilst the central core or filling yarn d², if such be employed, is fed through a similar
device d³.
The work ax as produced is drawn down through the cylinder bore a³ by a pair of
roughened take-up rollers e which are in gear by a worm e¹ and pinion e with the
driving mechanism of the cam ring, so that their speed corresponds always to the
rate at which the machine is working. The pressure or grip between the rollers is
obtained by a fork e3 which is pressed against the axle of the outer roller by a
spring et adjustable by a wing nut e. A guide roller e" is provided under which
the work passes on its way to the take-up rollers, thus ensuring its being kept
central thereon.
This take-up arrangement is mounted in a frame e, carried by a spindle es pro-
jecting from a bracket e".
As it is desirable to be able to vary the ratio of the worm and pinion gear, for
instance when the length of the loops is altered, the pinion e may be removed
and replaced by one of another size, the difference in diameter being compen-
sated for by adjusting the spindle in a slot elo in the bracket (see detail
Fig. 4).
The cam ring consists of an upper and lower portion which are completely separated
by the cam groove, the mechanical connection being effected externally by short
pillars or uprights c² arranged between flanges on the said upper and lower portions.
The lower flange is let into a recessed plate or bracket c in which it is free to revolve
under the action of the gearing 4, c³, while it is prevented from rising, say by set
screws whose washers overlap its edges as shewn. The said bracket c³ has secured

page_text: centrally in it a downwardly extending stem or shank on the needle cylinder,
whereby the latter is fixed in position and can be adjusted as to height to vary the
length of the loops. Upon the cam ring is secured a plate or table f carrying the
guides or feeders d', and spools or cops d for the knitting yarns d, as well as upright
spindles for the tension devices of the said yarns, all these parts revolving
together.
The cam ring has a vertical slot c, and the plate f has a corresponding notch f* so
as to accommodate the needle butts when inserting or removing the needles.
The machine is adapted to use yarns made up either in cops or bobbins, so as to
avoid rewinding. To this end the disc f is provided both with upright cop spindles fl
carried by detachable brackets f, and also with short arms or rests f³ to receive a
horizontal spindle if bobbins are in use. One of the arms f³ is forked to facilitate
insertion and removal of this spindle which is retained therein by a presser spring f
If a central core or filling yarn be employed, it is supplied from a spool or spools
arranged in any convenient position near the machine, and conducted through a guide
eye and the tension d³ to a central feed tube g which delivers it exactly in line
with the axis of the needle cylinder.
The machine shewn has a central stem or pedestal h adapted to be screwed to a
bench or table through lugs h¹. On this pedestal are mounted the bracket c³ carrying
the knitting mechanism proper, the bracket e supporting the take-up mechanism, and
also a bracket supporting a pillar g² from which projects an arm g³ carrying the
feed tube and a spindle g supporting the tension (³.
I
To the side of the bracket c³ is secured another bracket i supporting the driving
mechanism, the spindle of which passes through the bracket i and a sleeve
thereon, and is supported at its outer end by a fraine k¹ carried on said bracket. On
the spindle are arranged the fast and loose driving pulleys k², k³, a handle 4 for
working the machine slowly when adjusting the parts, and a bevel wheel 5 for
driving the worm e¹ whose spindle passes vertically through a sleeve cast on
the bracket and has, at its upper end, a bevel wheel meshing with the snid
wheel 5.
I is a fork for shifting the driving belt, and I is a set screw for clamping the said
fork in place.
According to the modified arrangement shewn in Fig. 8 the cam ring is stationary
and the needle cylinder revolves, but here it is necessary to provide means for taking
the twist out of the core.
To this end the yarn to form the core is drawn from a revolving spool & carried in a
rotating bracket or holder mounted on the guide tube g, and said bracket or holder
is driven by two pairs of spur wheels m m¹, n n¹, revolving at the same rate
as the needle cylinder, the spur wheel n being fast on the stem of the needle
cylinder.
In order to obtain a greater variety of patterns, the cam ring, in either arrange-
ment, may have its cam pieces or rises made adjustable or detachable, so that one or
more of them may be removed or put out of action if desired. In this way tubular
work may be produced having a different pattern on one side to that on the other,
thus giving a unique and striking effect in the finished article.
Instead of the needle cylinder being partly cylindrical, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 5
and 8, it may be conical, as shewn in Fig. 9, or it may be of varying diameters,
that is to say of stepped form, the tricks being always deeper at the bottom than
at the top.
Although I have described in detail one form of my invention, I wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction and arrangement of
the parts shewn in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a high-speed knitting machine for producing small tubular fabrics whether

page_text: enclosing a core or not, and in which the needle points are arranged in a circle of
small diameter, arranging the cam cylinder and the needle butts in a circle sufficiently
larger in diameter than the needle points to enable the incline of the cam groove with
which the needle butts engage to drive the needles at a high rate of speed, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a high speed knitting machine for manufacturing small tubular fabrics
whether enclosing a core or not, the combination of a series of knitting needles
arranged with their hooks in a circle of small diameter and with their butts in a
circle of larger diameter, and a cam cylinder provided with a cam groove in which
the butts engage, the diameter of the cam cylinder and butts and the path of the
cam being so arranged in relation to the speed at which the needles are required to
operate that the cam cylinder is able to drive the needles at the desired high speed,
substantially as described.
3. A high speed knitting machine for producing fancy tubular or covered cords,
laces, and the like, having a cam ring whose diameter is several times that of the circle
on which the needles are arranged, and having the jacks of said needles positively
guided both on their inner and outer edges, substantially as described.
4. A high speed knitting machine of the kind referred to, having a cam ring whose
diameter is several times that of the circle on which the needles are arranged, needle-
jacks for said needles positively guided both on their inner and outer edges, and deep
vertical tricks in its needle cylinder to which tricks its needle jacks are shaped to
conform, substantially as described.
5. The special construction of butted and jacked needle for use with my improved
knitting machine, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 6 of the
drawings.
6. The combination with the high speed knitting machine of the kind referred to,
of the adjustable spring tension devices for the yarns, substantially as described.
7. In a high-speed knitting machine of the kind referred to, the combination of a
stationary needle cylinder having its upper part tapered or conical, and having deep
vertical tricks, needles whose jacks conform to the shape of said tricks and which are
arranged in line with the inner edges of their jacks, a cam ring for operating said
needles acting also as a guide for the outer edges of the jacks, and tension devices
for the yarns, substantially as described.
8. A high-speed knitting machine for producing fancy tubular or covered cords,
laces, and the like, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 of the
drawings.
9. A high-speed knitting machine in which the needle cylinder revolves, and
means are provided for preventing the twisting of the central core, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings.
10. In high-speed knitting machines of the kind referred to, the modified form of
needle cylinder as shewn with reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings.
of May 1899.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent, 78, Fleet Street, London, E.C., and
54, Market Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.