IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY MACHINES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIBBED OR PLAIN LOOPED FABRICS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wigfield, in the employment of Messieurs
Attenborough and Blackburn, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Machinists, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY MACHINES EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF RIBBED OR PLAIN LOOPED FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wigfield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1877.
THOMAS WIGFIELD, in the employment of Messieurs Attenborough and Blackburn,
of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Machinists. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY MACHINES EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF RIBBED OR PLAIN LOOPED FABRICS."
My improved machinery and apparatus I employ with a pattern wheel of the
usual construction, revolving on an axle secured to one end of the machine to which
it is applied; such pattern wheel I employ to produce divers coloured patterns of
limited length, in conjunction with a welt and slack course, on ribbed or plain
looped fabrics; but when a patterned fabric is required of greater length than can
be produced by the pattern wheel, I employ the wheel to govern the production of
the welt, and slack course at the proper time, and in addition thereto I employ a
chain, the length of which will vary according to the pattern or patterns to be
produced. This chain carries studs of varying heights, which operate one or other
of divers coloured thread carrier bars by the following means:-The chain is passed
round two or more grooved and flanged pulleys, revolving on axles secured to but
capable of adjustment upon one end of the machine; the chain also carries a free
pulley which is weighted, and takes up any slackness of the chain, which is passed
over an outer pulley and under an inner pulley, both of which revolve on axles
carried by and adjustable on a rocking lever, the back end of which is held down by

page_text: a spring, and carries a truck capable of sliding on its axle. The truck is placed in
position to be lifted and rock the lever when operated by a cam on the cam
shaft of the machine, by means of a fork which is slid to and fro by the drawing
lever of the machine.
As the portions of the chain not provided with studs pass over the outer pulley
above mentioned, the thread carrier bars not being operated by the studs, the back
thread carrier bar will supply the threads to the machine; but when the studded
portions of the chain are passed over the outer pulley, each stud as the lever rises
lifts a sliding drop bolt, held down by a spring to a stop, which holds the bolt clear
of the chain while the back thread carrier bar is being operated.
When the bolt is being lifted by a stud, the bolt rocks a lever which is connected
by a link to a bracket secured to one end of the front shaft on which the carrier
bar driver slides, thus operating one or other of any number of thread carrier bars
employed in the machine, the selection being made through the varying heights of
the studs. These studs are secured to the chain by a screw passed through a plate
on the inside, which with the stud on the outside clips two links of the chain. I
also provide one or more studs projecting from the inside of the chain, which chain
previous to passing over the outer pulley above named passes through a grooved clip
box, which firmly holds the chain while one or other of the projecting studs strikes
a pin carried by the pattern wheel, and moves the wheel into position for a
clawker to engage in the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels of the pattern wheel of
the machine.
By machinery and apparatus constructed and operating as above described, I am
enabled to insert any coloured threads at will.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Wigfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th May
1878.
THOMAS WIGFIELD, in the employment of Messieurs Attenborough and Blackburn,
of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Machinists. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY MACHINES EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF RIBBED OR PLAIN LOOPED FABRICS."
My improved machinery and apparatus I employ with a pattern wheel of the
usual construction, revolving on an axle secured to one end of the machine to which
it is applied, such pattern wheel I employ to produce divers coloured patterns of
limited length, in conjunction with a welt and slack course on ribbed or plain looped
fabrics; but when a patterned fabric is required of greater length than can be
produced by the pattern wheel, I employ the wheel to govern the production of the
welt, and slack course at the proper time, and in addition thereto I employ a chain,
the length of which will vary according to the pattern or patterns to be produced;
this chain carries studs of varying heights which operate one or other of divers
coloured thread carrier bars by the following means:-The chain is passed round
two or more grooved and flanged pulleys revolving on axles secured to, but capable
of adjustment on one end of the machine; the chain also carries a free pulley which
is weighted, and takes up any slackness of the chain, which is passed over an outer
pulley, and under an inner pulley, both of which revolve on axles carried by and
adjustable on a rocking lever, the back end of which is held down by a spring
and carries a truck capable of sliding on its axle. The truck is placed in position
to be lifted and rock the lever when operated by a cam on the cam shaft of the
machine by means of a fork, which is slid to and fro by the drawing lever of the
machine.
As the portions of the chain not provided with studs pass over the outer pulley
above mentioned, the thread carrier bar not being operated by the studs, the back
thread carrier bar will supply the threads to the machine; but when the studded
portions of the chain are passed over the outer pulley, each stud as the lever rises
lifts a sliding drop bolt, held down by a spring to a stop, which holds the bolt clear
of the chain while the back thread carrier bar is being operated.
When the bolt is being lifted by a stud, the bolt rocks a lever which is connected
by a link to a bracket secured to one end of the front shaft on which the carrier bar
driver slides, thus operating one or other of any number of thread carrier bars
employed in the machine, the selection being made through the varying heights of
the studs. These studs are secured to the chain by a screw passed through a plate
on the inside, which with the stud on the outside clips two links of the chain. I
also provide one or more studs projecting from the inside of the chain, which chain
previous to passing over the outer pulley above named, passes through a grooved
clip box which firmly holds the chain while one or other of the projecting studs
strikes a pin carried by the pattern wheel, and moves the wheel into position for a
clawker to engage in the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels of the pattern wheel of
the machine.
By machinery and apparatus constructed and operating as above described, I am
enabled to insert any colored threads at will.

page_text: The corresponding parts in each Figure are indicated by the same letters where
necessary.
At Figures 1 and 2 the right end standard A. of a rotary machine supports an
axle upon which a pattern wheel B of the usual construction revolves. Such pattern
wheel I employ to produce divers colored patterns of limited length in conjunction
with a welt and slack course on ribbed or plain looped fabrics. But when a
patterned fabric is required of greater length than can be produced by the pattern
wheel I employ such wheel to govern the production of the welt and slack course at
the proper time, and in addition thereto I employ a chain C, portions of which are
shewn broken away in Figure 1, the chain being shewn in position by two lines in
Figure 1, only the length of this chain will vary according to the pattern or patterns
to be produced. The chain carries studs C1, C2, C3, which vary in height and cause
a selection of one or other of four bars D, D1, D2, D3, each of which carry as many
thread carriers of the usual construction as there are widths of fabric made in the
machine, each set of carriers being provided with threads of a different colour to the
threads of the other sets of carriers. The chain is passed round two grooved and
flanged pulleys E, E, revolving on axles secured in arms attached to the end
standard near the floor. The standard is shewn at Figures 1 and 2, having portions
broken away; the chain is also passed over two other pulleys E', E¹, which revolve
on axles secured in the outer ends of a bracket E2 which is capable of being adjusted
higher or lower, according to the length of chain employed in the slot, of a vertical
arm E³ secured to the top of the standard intermediately of the two pulleys E¹, the
chain is passed under a weighted pulley E which takes up any slackness of the
chain. The three last-named pulleys and their brackets are shewn in plan at
Figure 14. Besides the five pulleys above named the chain passes over an outer
grooved and flanged pulley F and under a smaller pulley Fi; both the pulleys F
and F¹ revolve on axles carried by and adjustable on a rocking lever G carried by
an axle in a block secured to the standard.
The rocking lever has its back end pulled down by a spring, seen at Figure 1,
and carries a truck G₁ capable of sliding on its axle; the truck is placed in position
to be lifted and rock the lever when operated by a cam H on the cam shaft H' of
the machine by means of a fork H2, which is secured on the end of a shaft H³ which
is caused to slide to and fro by the drawing lever of the machine, the shaft H³ being
carried by bearing brackets secured to one of the tie bars at the back of the machine,
thus causing the truck G¹ to be placed over the cam previous to the drawing lever
completing its throw. To the left there is a spring coiled round the shaft H³,
between the fork H2 and the next adjacent bearing. This spring soon after the
drawing lever has commenced its throw to the right forces the fork, which lies in a
groove of the truck boss and the truck, to the right, clear of the cam, so that the
chain is only racked every other course when in use. The chain is pulled round by
two toothed flanges on the outer pulley F, a tooth on each flange entering the space
between the links of the chain, the pulley F being moved round by a driver F³,
carried by the outer end of a rocking lever F³, provided with a spring at its back
end and hooked to a stop clawker F5. The spring as the pulley F rises pulls the
driver F down to engage with the teeth of a wheel F, and upon the lowering of
the pulley the lever F3 strikes a set screw, adjustable in the top of the bracket of a
clip box N, hereafter referred to.
As the portions of the chain not provided with studs pass over the outer pulley F
the thread carrier bars not being acted upon by the studs, a driving arm D will
engage with a fork secured to the back carrier bar D, the carriers upon which will
supply threads to the needles of the inachine. But when the studded portions of
the chain (a portion of which is shewn in side view at Figure 5, and a side view of
one of the studs at Figure 54) are passed over the pulley F, each stud as the lever
rises lifts a sliding drop bolt I held down by means of a spring attached to the lower
arm of a lever J to a stop, which holds the bolt clear of the chain while the back
carrier bar D is being operated. But when the bolt is lifted by a stud, the lever J
being hinged to the front end of a short link L, the back end of which is hinged to

page_text: an arm L¹ secured on the right end of a rocking axle L' upon which the driving
arm D slides will cause the driving arm to engage in one or other of the forks
secured to the carrier bars D1, D2, or D³.
The lever J rocks upon an axle carried by a bracket K secured to the standard.
The driving arm D is traversed by the following means:-The rocking axle L² is
cut away at the back a portion of its length, as shewn by the dotted line in
Figure 1, thus enabling a boss Do to slide to and fro; this boss has the driving arm
attached to it, and is moved by one or other of two catch levers hinged to a bracket
Do, secured to and carried by a sliding rod D³, operated by the drawing lever, each
alternately thrown up by an incline boss D'. The rod Ds is supported by brackets
secured to the top tie bar of the machine.
The chain studs are attached to the chain by a screw passed through each, and
entering into a screwed plate on the inside of the chain, as shewn at Figures 5
and 54, each stud and plate having two grooves to clip two links of the chain.
I also provide other studs or fingers M, one of which is seen at Figure 1, projecting
from the inside of the chain, which, previous to passing over the outer pulley F,
passes through a grooved clip box N, which firmly holds the chain while one or
other of the projecting fingers M strikes a pin O secured on the pattern wheel, and
moves a covering plate O¹ on the wheel into position for one of the clawkers O³ to
engage in the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels of the pattern wheel B. The
clawkers O are carried by a cranked lever 03, provided with a truck at its upper
end held to its operating cam P by a spring, shewn at Figure 1.
The pattern wheel B is provided with two cam plates, shewn separately in plan
at Figures 3 and 4. These plates pass between two trucks carried by the lower end
of a rocking lever B¹, having its upper end hinged to a link B2, which is attached to
the falling bar, the cam, Figure 3, operating the bar for making a slack course, and
the cam, Figure 4, operating the bar for making a welt; the lever B' rocked on an
axle in a bracket B3 attached to the standard.
The chain above described is adapted for making stockings of any length with a
welt and slack course, and will make any pattern of even courses and a great
number of odd courses by starting the pattern with two of the four carrier bars at
one end and two at the other, and racking every course.
Suppose I want to make a stocking with 800 courses, I then employ a chain con-
taining 800 links, and rack every other course. The self-acting wheel will then make
the slack course and the welt, and continue working round until two courses before
reaching the next slack course; it is then stopped by means of the tooth being
covered by a plate 01; while so covered the wheel will not be racked until the
chain, passing round and making the pattern, brings the finger M, which is screwed
to the under side of the chain, in contact with a pin O on the self-acting wheel.
The finger will then advance such wheel one tooth, which then commences to operate
until again stopped, and the movements are repeated.
Suppose I want to make 400 courses and the chain is 800 links long, I place a
second finger on the opposite side of the chain; it will then cause the self-acting
wheel to make two revolutions while the chain is making one, and make 400 courses
instead of 800; then by placing two more fingers on the chain half way between
the two already on the self-acting wheel will make four revolutions to one of the chain,
and make 200 courses; and by removing the stop that shogs the truck of the racking
cam, the truck would remain on the cam and rack every course; the chain then
advancing 2 links every course, will make 100 courses. But suppose I had 800
links in the chain and wanted to make 600 courses, then take 200 links out of the
chain, and rack every other course, as there is plenty of accommodation in the top
bracket för shortening or lengthening the chain.
There are three sizes of studs carried by the chain, which cause the carrier bars
to be traversed in the following manner :-The stud C' will cause the front carrier
bar D¹ to be traversed, the stud C will cause the stud D³ to be traversed, the stud
C3 will cause the bar D³ to be traversed, and where there are not any studs on the
chain the bar D will be traversed, so that I can either make the same pattern all

page_text: down the leg, or make a fancy top to it, or keep altering the pattern all down the
stocking.
Now suppose the chain is set for four carriers and I only wish to work 3 or 2
carriers, by just shifting a stop L³ on the carrier shaft either the fourth or third
carrier will stop instantly.
Suppose I want to make a few pairs of hose or half hose of another pattern while
the chain is set for a different pattern; having determined upon the pattern I require,
I turn the chain for the large middle or small studs to come under the bolt, according
to which carrier bar I wish to work, and stop the clawker from racking the chain
wheel; I then make as many courses with that carrier as I wish, keeping the
clawker out, and change to another stud and make the number of courses I require,
and so on.
To set the apparatus to make tops only, remove the link and place the upper
end of the long link on the axle of the arm, which is then operated by the pattern
wheel B only, the studded chain being disconnected.
By machinery and apparatus constructed and operating as above described I am
enabled to insert any coloured threads at will.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wigfield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,.
Nottingham.
THOMAS WIGFIELD. (L.S.)