IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kiddier and Herbert Kiddier, of the Firm of John
Kiddier and Sons, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Hosiery Machine Makers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kiddier and Herbert
Kiddier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January
1881.
JOHN KIDDIER and HERBERT KIDDIER, of the Firm of John Kiddier and Sons,
of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Hosiery Machine Makers.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY,"
In the production of broad rib fabric the "machine" needles are arranged to
operate in sets placed on their bar at intervals across the machine, depending on the
breadth of the respective "ribs," whilst the "frame" needles are ranged continuous
or complete for each breadth; thus supposing the respective "ribs" to be produced
by rows of loops in the relation of 6 to 3 alternately, then the "machine" needles
would be ranged in sets of three each at intervals corresponding with six of the
"frame" needles between them. The "frame" needles will be continuous for each
breadth, the "frame" needles opposite to the "machine" needles working between
the "machine," needles.
"
We also employ an extra presser bar or extra pressing surfaces, the operating
parts of which are at distances apart to act only on the beards of the "frame"
needles opposite the "machine" needles.
Extra motions are given to the "frame" needles, the "machine "needles, the extra
presser bar, as well as to other of the moving parts in the production of the rib
fabric, according to our improvements.
"
In the production of narrowings for broad rib fabric we employ extra instruments
for the transfer of the loops from the "machine" to the "frame needles, whilst
the "frame" needles are operated upon by the ordinary narrowing instruments.
These extra "narrowing instruments are bent or curved forwards at their
lower or point ends, and they have covering recesses formed in the backs of their
stems.
"

page_text: "
In operation the points of the curved ends pass into the recesses of the "machine'
needles to receive the loops lying on those needles, aided by an extra instrument or
extra instruments acting to press the beards of the "machine" needles for facilitating
the taking up of the loops onto those points for the desired transfer from the
needle bar is at the
"machine" needles to the "frame" needles. The "frame
same time operated correspondingly.
"
When narrowing by the use of the ordinary narrowing instruments with the
"frame" needles the extra narrowing points are turned out of the way automatically
until required to operate again.
In the production of fabric in that class of knitting machinery known in the
trade as
"Cotton's" machines, there is a tendency for one side of the fabric to be
longer than the other, and to remedy this defect it is usual to alter the centres of
the "jacks," so as to cause them to fall shorter or longer, as the case may require,
a method which is tedious, complicated, and uncertain in its effects.
""
We obtain simplicity with certainty in this adjustment by supporting the "jack"
comb leads on a separate bar fixed to or carried by a tie or other suitable bar, and
adjustable by guage screws. By these means these comb leads may with their bar
be readily adjusted for the "jacks" to produce shorter or longer loops, and thus
equalize the lengths of the sides of the fabric.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Kiddier and Herbert Kiddier in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd July 1881.
JOHN KIDDIER and HERBERT KIDDIER, of the Firm of John Kiddier and Sons,
of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Hosiery Machine Makers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY."
In the production of broad rib fabric according to the first part of our Invention,
the "machine" needles are arranged to operate in sets placed on their bar at
intervals across the machine, depending on the breadth of the respective "ribs,"
whilst the "frame" needles are ranged continuous or complete for each breadth;
thus supposing the respective "ribs" to be produced by rows of loops in the
relation of 6 to 3 alternately, then the "machine" needles would be ranged in sets
of three each at intervals corresponding with six of the "frame" needles between
them. The "frame" needles will be continuous for each breadth, the frame
needles opposite to the "machine" needles working between the "machine
needles.
"
"
We also employ an extra presser bar or extra pressing surfaces, the operating
parts of which are at distances apart to act only on the beards of the "frame"
needles opposite the "machine" needles.
Extra motions are given to the "frame" needles, the "machine" needles, the
extra presser bar, as well as to other of the moving parts in the production of the
rib fabric according to our improvements.
In the production of narrowings for broad rib fabric, according to the second part
of our Invention, we employ extra instruments for the transfer of the loops from
the "machine" to the "frame" needles, whilst the "frame needles are operated
upon by the ordinary narrowing instruments.
"
These extra" narrowing" instruments are bent or curved forwards at their lower.
or point ends, and they have covering recesses formed in the backs of their stems.
In operation the points of the curved ends pass into the recesses of the
"machine" needles to receive the loops lying on those needles, aided by an extra
instrument or extra instruments acting to press the beards of the "machine "
needles for facilitating the taking up of the loops onto those points for the desired
transfer from the "machine" needles to the "frame" needles. The "frame"
needle bar is at the same time operated correspondingly.
"
When narrowing by the use of the ordinary narrowing instruments with the
" frame needles, the extra narrowing points are turned out of the way
automatically until required to operate again.
In the production of fabric in that class of knitting machinery known in the
trade as
"Cotton's" machines, there is a tendency for one side of the fabric to be
longer than the other, and to remedy this defect it is usual to alter the centres of
the "jacks," so as to cause them to fall shorter or longer, as the case may require,
a method which is tedious, complicated, and uncertain in its effects.
We obtain simplicity with certainty in this adjustment, according to the third
part of our Invention, by supporting the "jack "comb leads on a separate bar fixed
to or carried by a tie or other suitable bar, and adjustable by guage screws. By
these means these comb leads may with their bar be readily adjusted for the
"jacks" to produce shorter or longer loops, and thus equalize the lengths of the
sides of the fabric.
But that the Invention may be the better understood we will by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings proceed more fully to describe the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents an end view of a knitting frame with parts arranged to
carry out our improvements; Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 show parts
separately. In each of the Figures the same letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts. a, a, represent portions of the main framing; b is the main or
driving axis, on which are affixed the various cams for operating the moving parts,
and which receives motion from a steam engine or other power in the ordinary
manner; c are the "frame" needles which are carried by the needle bar c', and d
are the "machine" needles which are carried by the machine needle bar ¹; e is
the sinker bar and f the sinkers. The front edge of this sinker bar acts as a presser
bar on the beards of the frame" needles when the beards of the whole of the
"frame" needles require to be pressed whilst the lower front part of that bar
operates to press the beards of the "machine" needles.
"5
g is the catch bar and h is the extra presser bar. These parts or some of them
are more clearly indicated by the separate sectional views, Figures 2 and 3, the
plan view, Figure 4, and front view, Figure 5. On reference to Figures 4 and 5 it
will be seen that whilst the "frame" needles c are arranged continuous for the
breadth of fabric desired the "machine" needles are arranged for the relation of
6 to 3 alternately, as above referred to, in sets of three each, but the number of
needles d to each set will vary with the relation desired. The extra presser bar h
is formed with projecting operating surfaces h¹ to operate on the beards of the
"frame" needles at the time of transfer of loops from the "frame" to the
"machine" needles, as indicated by Figure 2.
The Drawings, Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, show a cut of cams for effecting
extra motions, such as required in the production of fabric according to the first
part of our Invention, and the position of the trucks or bowls thereto correspond
with the position of the parts represented by the section, Figure 2. c² is the cam
for effecting the pressing or to and fro motion to the "frame" needles c, by that
cam acting on the truck or bowl c³ carried by one end of the arm c, the other end
of which is supported to rock on the shaft c5, and that arm c carries a pin c6 to
pass.into the notch provided for it in the hand link c', the outer end of which is
formed with the usual handle c8, whilst its inner end is supported to turn on a
pin c, by which it is connected with capability of adjustment to the arm clo
affixed to the "frame" needle bar c¹. c is the cam for effecting the lifting or
knocking over motion to the needles c by that cam acting on the truck or bowl c¹a
carried with capability of adjustment by one end of the lever c¹³, which is supported
to rock on the shaft or axis c¹, and at its other end is connected by pin joint c* to
the arm c¹º
10
The "machine" needles & are actuated for their to and fro motions by means of
cams de acting each on a bowl d³ carried with capability of adjustment by one end
of a lever d, which is supported to rock on a shaft d³, and at its other end is by
pin joint d* connected to an arm de from the needle bar d'.
d' is one of the lifting cams for effecting the lifting motions to the needles d.
For this purpose the cam d' acts upon the bowl de capable of revolving on an
adjustable pin carried by one end of the rocking arm do, which is capable of
rocking on the shaft or axis do, and this arm carries an adjustable pin d¹² to carry
one end of a connecting rod d¹³, the opposite end of which is affixed to a bar d¹,
which is supported so as to be capable of sliding vertically in suitable, guides, and
carries other arms with plates d₁, on which rest the inner end or edges of the
arms de carrying the needle bar d¹.
g is the catch bar which by arms g₁ is connected each by pin joint g² to the
upper end of the lever g³, which is supported to rock on the shaft or axis g, the
lower end of which carries a truck or bowl g³ with capability of adjustment to be
operated upon by a cam ge.
The extra presser bar h is operated for its to and fro motions by means of

page_text: cams h², by each cam h² acting on a truck or bowl h³, which is capable of revolving
on an adjustable stud h* carried by an arm h³ affixed to the shaft or axis he on
which are affixed other arms h, each of which is attached by pin joint h³ to one
end of an arm hº, the other end of which is affixed to the extra presser bar h.
This presser bar is supported at intervals by plates 10 on which it is capable of
sliding.
We would here remark that although we have found this method of pressing
the beards of the "frame" needles at the times desired by means of the extra
bar h with its projections h¹ to be very convenient for the purpose, we do not
confine ourselves thereto, as the same may be varied, as, for instance, the stems of
those particular needles may be acted upon to bear their beards for pressing against
the pressing edge of the bar e or its equivalent.
z is the "slide" ordinarily used in knitting machines of the character indicated
for pushing the formed loops over the "machine" needles & when the beards of those
needles have been "pressed" for the purpose, and z¹ indicates one of the cams for
operating this slide z when working according to this first part of the improvements.
Each cam acts on a truck or bowl z carried by one end of a lever 23³, which turns
upon the shaft or axis zª, and at its other end is by pin joint 25 connected to the
slide z.
We will now describe the second part of our Invention which has reference to
the production of narrowings for broad rib fabric.
i, i, are the extra "narrowing" instruments such as we employ. These instru-
ments with parts operating them are more clearly represented by Figures 1, 12, 13,
and 14..
These "narrowing" instruments are supported in arms 2, and those for operating
one selvage of the fabric are supported from a bar i², whilst those for the opposite
selvage of the fabric are supported by a bar is, and these bars i³ and i³ are supported
by arms or levers from a rocking bar or rod 1, which with a corresponding bar or
rod x for carrying the ordinary extra selvage points is supported by arms x¹ from
the axis x².
"
We do not however confine ourselves to carrying both sets of " narrowing
instruments from one set of arms x¹ and the same axis x2, as in some cases we
support the bar is from independent arms y and separate axis y¹, as indicated by
the separate view, Figure 15.
Upon the rocking bar are also applied other arms 24*, which are by pin joint ***
connected each to one end of a connecting rod 6, the other end of which is by pin
joint connected to the upper end of a lever 28 which is supported to rock on an
axis of motion g', whilst the lower end of each lever 18 carries a truck or bowl 2¹0
which is operated by a cam or tappet ". " is the cam or tappet for effecting the
lifting motion to the shifting points i by that cam acting upon the bowl 2¹³ carried
by the arm is, one end of which is supported to rock on a stud 1, whilst the other
end is by pin joint 16 connected to one end of the connecting rod ¿¹7, the opposite
end of which is connected to a rod x. Or in the case of separate arms y being
used for the rod ³, the upper end of this rod 17 would be connected to the rod i³,
and the lifting to the rod a would be separately effected. j is the extra instrument,
the lower end of which acts to press the beards of the "machine" needles, as shown
more particularly by Figure 12, for facilitating the taking up of the loops by those
points i, for the desired transfer from the "machine" needles to the "frame" needles.
The upper end of this extra instrument j is connected by pin joints j¹ to one end
of a lever j², and each of these levers j² is supported to rock on an axis ³, and at its
other end it rests on an upright rod j, which is supported from one end of a lever jo
which rocks on an axis he, and at its other end carries a truck or bowl j", which is
operated upon by the cam or tappet j³.
In working according to this second part of our Invention in place of the
cams c², c¹¹, 21, d², d, and 96, described in relation to the first part of the Invention,
we bring into operation cams c**, cll*, 21, d**, d7ª, and 96*, such as represented by
Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.

page_text: In working with these extra narrowing points i it is desirable to give to them a
slight extra motion towards the centre of the fabric beyond that which had been
given to the ordinary narrowing points equal to half the space between adjoining
needles. For this purpose whilst the ends of the bars 22, 23, rest each against a
platek, Figures 13 and 14, operated as usual by a screw k¹ for this extra motion,
there is applied to these plates / and so as to slide in brackets 2 carried by them
an extra plate k³, as more clearly seen by the edge view, Figure 14*, the upper
end of which is of thickness to secure the desired motions to those bars i², i³,
when that end is raised to come between the ends thereof and a plate k, and
this motion to each plate is effected at the times desired by means of cams k³
operating a truck or bowl k supported by a pin from one end of the arm k', which
is affixed to the shaft k³, and this shaft 8 is supported to rock in suitable
bearings a¹, a', and at its ends it carries other arms which carry the rod k¹º, on
which is capable of sliding the link k", which is connected to the lower end of the
slide k³.
The rod is shown drawn towards the plate k by means of a chain k¹³, one end
of which is connected to the rod 3, and which after passing over a guide
pulley ¹s is connected to a weight 14, and the rod i will be drawn similarly in the
opposite direction.
When narrowing by the use of the ordinary narrowing instruments with the
"frame" needles, the extra narrowing points are turned out of the way automatically
until required for them to again operate.
For this purpose we adopt the following arrangement of parts as represented by
Figure 22:-
-
On the main shaft b is applied the change cam m to act on a bowl m' carried by
one end of the lever m²; which at its other end is supported to rock on the axis d³,
and it carries a pin m³, on which turns one end of the driver m³, the other end of
which passes into the ratchet teeth formed around the plate me so as to effect the
progressive rotation of that plate as it is supported to revolve on the stud m. This
plate me is formed with pin holes m³ for securing studs or projections m¹6 for acting
on a pin m¹ carried by the arm m18 affixed to the spindle m¹, on which is also
affixed the arm m20 carrying a bowl m¹¹ to effect the endway motion of the shaft b
when operating with the ordinary narrowing points, and this plate me also carries
other projections or rises m³ capable of adjustment for the times desired to be placed
in position to act on a projection or bowl m10 carried by the lever m¹¹, and this
lever mis supported to turn on. the fixed stud m12, and at its other end it acts on
a pin m¹s supported to stand up from a boss affixed to the shaft m14 so as. to be
capable of giving endway motion to that shaft m14, to which are affixed a series of
arms m¹5, one to each bowl, which requires to be changed on to separate cams for
working with the extra carrying points in place of their acting on the cams used for
operating the ordinary carrying points.
In all cases the bowls or pulleys are borne to their cams by springs or otherwise,
as is usual.
The third part of our Invention is shown full size by sectional end view of
parts, Figure 23, and back view of same, Figure 24, in which 7 represents the extra
bar carrying the leads 11, the combs 12, and the jacks 13. To this extra bar are
applied projections or lugs 1 to receive gauge screws 1, by which any desired
adjustment to that bar 7 may be effected. n are brackets supporting the
stop n¹.
=
Having thus described our Invention, and the means which we adopt in
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise arrangements of parts as shewn and described, as
the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of our
Invention.
But what we do claim is,-
T: 1. m
oneamhining nants of knitting machinery whereby broad

page_text: Also we claim the employment of an extra presser bar or parts arranged and
operating in manner substantially as described.
Secondly. We claim the arranging or combining parts whereby narrowings to the
fabric as produced may be effected in the production of broad rib fabric in knitting
machinery, substantially as described.
Also we claim the extra instrument or extra instruments acting to press the
beards of the "machine" needles for facilitating the taking up of the loops onto
those points for the desired transfer from the "machine" needles to the "frame"
needles, substantially as described.
Thirdly. We claim the method of obtaining adjustment of the "jacks” by the
application of an adjustable supporting bar, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Kiddier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.
HERBERT KIDDIER. (L.S.)