Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1895-Accepted. 3rd Dec. 1395
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
We, JOHN ARTHUR ALLEN BARFOOT, of Canning Place, Leicester, Hosiery
Manufacturer, and JOSIAH JOHNSON, in the empley of the above, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to knitting machines and embodies improvements
which are specially applicable to machines of the straight bar type.
The object of the invention is to apply improvements to knitting machines by
means of which fancy patterns or designs may be produced in knitted fabrics during
the course of manufacture.
According to this invention the patterning in the fabric is effected by allowing
only certain predetermined needles to take the thread at each course, the number
and positions of the needles may or may not be varied at each individual course or
at other number of desired courses if desired. A knitting machine constructed
according to our invention for the purpose named, may embody, among other
features, the following essential instrumentalities, viz. :-a needle bed having
grooves therein, bearded needles and jacks or siukers attached thereto moving in
the said grooves, devices to operate the said needles and jacks or sinkers, and a
drum or cylinder or equivalent with notches or projections thereon to actuate such
devices in such a manner as to select those needles which are to form loops in any
given course in the fabric.
According to one mode of carrying this invention into effect the needle bed may
have movably fulcrummed in the grooves thereof a series of approximately shaped
bell-crank levers, which are actuated through the medium of the hereinbefore
mentioned drum or cylinder, for the purpose of causing certain pre-determined
needles to take the thread.
The invention is not limited to the employment of the bell-crank levers in the
capacity referred to, but includes within its scope any suitable mechanism for
actuating the needles interposed between the latter and the actuating drum or
cylinder mentioned.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1894.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines.
We, JOHN ARTHUR ALLEN BARFOOT, of Canning Place, Leicester, Hosiery
Manufacturer, and JOSIAH JOHNSON, in the employ of the above, 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:-
This invention has reference to knitting machines of the straight bar bearded
needle type the object of the improvements being to enable knitted fabrics of fancy
patterns or designs to be made upon them.

page_text: According to this invention the patterning in the fabric is effected by causing
only certain pre-determined needles to be raised up at any one course into position
to take thread and to be then acted on by the presser and have a course of work
produced upon them in the ordinary way whilst the others not being raised into
this position have no thread layed upon them nor are the loops of work upon them
cast off.
If the pattern is being made in two colours or materials two courses of work are
made in this way with one colour or material and then the next two courses with
the other colour or material a fresh selection of needles being made at each course
and care being taken in making the selection that no needle shall at any time have
many more courses made upon it than upon the other needles. Or single courses
might be made in place of pairs of courses.
The selection is effected by the action of a drum or cylinder having perforations
or projections upon it or by equivalent Jacquard mechanism.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed shews so much of the parts of a
straight bar knitting machine of the "cotton " type arranged according to
our invention as is necessary for enabling our improvements to be fully
understood.
Figures 2 and 3 are an end elevation and front view of the spring blades used
for holding down such needles as are not to be brought into work and of the parts
which operate these spring blades.
Figures 4 and 5 are similar views of the parts used for giving a step by step
rotating movement to the pattern barrel.
Figures 6 and 7 are similar views of the parts used for lifting the pattern
barrel.
"
A is the needle bar carried by a vertical lever B which at B' is jointed to a
horizontal lever C fixed on a shaft D-the lever B and the shaft D.being both
rocked by the action of cams on the main cam shaft E as is usual in a "cotton
machine these cams are not shown in the drawings. F are the needles each fixed
in a separate "bit" or "jack "F1 which can slide endwise in a guide groove in
the back of the needle bar A. In the drawing these guide grooves are shewn as
being formed between a number of thin parallel plates A held in grooves in the
bar. G are lever catches lying between the plates A' and turning around a wire
at G. G² are springs one of which bears upon the horizontal arm of each lever G
and tends to turn the lever into position for the lower end of its other arm to
come below the end of the needle "bit" F' a slot A* being formed through the
needle bar for these arms of the catch levers to pass through.
Standing out from the front of the ends of the divisions of the needle bar are
projecting arms A2-these have vertical slots cut in them in which are received
hearings H for the axis of a barrel or drun H-the slots are of greater height
than the bearings so that the bearings can be moved up and down within them.
The horizontal arms of the lever catches G are made to extend forwards to come
above the top of the barrel and their ends G³ are bent downwards in a vertical
direction as shown.
Rows of holes are formed in the barrel at intervals apart and parallel with its
axis. The barrel has a step by step rotating motion given to it so as to bring the
rows of holes in succession below the ends G³ of the horizontal arms of the lever
catches G. When a row of holes is brought below the ends G³ and the barrel H is
raised the ends G³ of some of the lever catches enter holes whilst the ends G³ of
the remainder of the lever catches have no holes opposite to them and are turned a
distance by the barrel coming against them-this withdraws the lower end of the
descending arm of these lever catches from below the lower end of the needle
bits F so that when the needle bar rises these needles will not be carried upwards
with it.
Each needle bit has a projection F extending backwards from its lower end.
When the needle bar descends these projections are brought below the ends of
narrow spring blades 1-there is one such spring blade for cacb needle bit. The

page_text: blades are all carried at their rear ends by a bar I'-this bar is carried by arms
from a shaft Is to which a rocking motion can be given by other arms which
descend from it and are acted on by cams on the cam shaft E.
When the needle bar has descended to its lowest position the shaft I is rocked
and the forward ends of the spring blades I are brought above the projections F
at the back of the needle bits and hold the needle bits down at the time when the i
needle bar again rises unless any needle bit has the lower end of its lever catch G,
below it-in which case the needle bits are carried upwards with the needle bar-':
the spring catches I then yielding to allow the projections F to pass them.
The barrel H has a step by step turning movement given to it in the following
manner.
7
"
On the axis of the barrel is a ratchet wheel H2 with which a pawl K engages-
the pawl is carried by a lever arm K' on a shaft K-other arms K' descending
from the shaft K are acted on by cams on the cam shaft E. The cams are formed
in such manner that when the. needle bar has completed its rise and whilst the
draw is taking place the pawl is brought against one of the teeth of the ratchet.
wheel and turns the barrel a distance so as to move one row of holes in the barrel
from below the ends of the lever catches G³ and bring the next row of holes below
them.
Just before the needle bar commences to ascend the barrel raised a distance
and thereby moved against the ends of some of the horizontal arms of the lever
catches and causes these catches to release their hold upon the needle bits they
work with, whilst the other lever catches the ends G³ of whose horizontal arms are
opposite to holes in the barrel remain unmoved and retain their hold of the needle
bits they work with so that when the needle bar rises these needles are carried
upwards along with it-the rest of the needles remain down hanging on to the
work being held down by the spring blades I.
The needles carried up with the needle bar then have a course of work made-
upon them in the ordinary manier-thread is laid along the several needles and
formed into loops between them by the sinkers-afterwards the needles are carried
downwards with the needle bar by reason of a wire M which is passed through
the plates A' coming just above the top of the needle bits. When the points of
the beards of the needles have descended below the thread which lies above the
sinker nibs the beards are pressed against the fixed presser bar P and closed
against the needle stems until by the downward movement of the needles the points
of the beards bave entered the old loops of work which were on the needle stems
and at the end of the downward movement of the needles as the needles descend
below the knocking over bits Q these old loops are cast off from the needles.
The barrel is raised at the proper time by pins H³ projecting downwards from
its bearings being acted on by arms L on shafts L to which a rocking motion is
given by another arm L' upon it being acted on by a cam on the cam shaft.
The cams are so shaped as to cause the arms L to lift the barrel a distance just
before the needle bar commences to rise as above explained and then as the needle.
bar rises to keep the barrel rising up with the needle bar almost to the end of its
upward movement and then descend out of the way sufficiently for it to become.
free from the ends of all the lever catches and it is then ready to again have a
partial turn given to it whilst the draw is taking place, the barrel is shewn in this
position in Figure 1. .
Whilst the needle bar is descending the bar I' is moved backwards so that the
ends of the spring blades I which it carries are out of the way of the projections F*
of the needle bits. At the end of the downward movement of the needle bar all
the needles have again been brought into line and the bar 11 is again moved
forwards so
as to bring the ends of the spring blades I again above these
projections.
Two thread layers V V₁ are provided and brought into action alternately, two:
courses being first made with one thread layer then the next two courses with the
other thread layer and so on as. in an ordinary machine.for producing striped work,

page_text: or single courses only might be made in succession with each thread layer.
Similarly three or more thread layers might be used but we prefer to use two as
above described.
W are the sinkers, X is the fixed sinker bar the forward edge P of which forms
the presser bar against which the needle beards are pressed to close them at the
proper time and Q are the ordinary knocking over bits.
The means for giving motion to the sinkers and to the thread layers are not
shewn in the drawings as these are well known.
The above described arrangement of mechanism is applicable whether bearded
or latch needles are used. If latch needles are used the needle bar would only
require to have an up and down motion given to it and not a motion towards and
away from a presser bar.
If fashioned work is to be produced we stop the Jacquard barrel from being
lifted by its cam when a narrowing course is to be made consequently there will
be no selection of the needles and all the needles will at each narrowing course be
lifted with the needle bar.
To do this we cause the truck L* on the end of the arm L' to be shifted
sidewise from off its cam during the latter part of the course preceding the
narrowing course so that the barrel shall not be lifted by it at the time when the
needle bar completes its descent.
At the last part of the narrowing course the truck L is allowed to return to the
path of the cam so that the barrel will be lifted and a selection of needles made
just as the needle bar completes its descent for the last time in this course, the
barrel having previously had a partial turn given to it in the course preceding the
narrowing course.
No turning movement is given to the barrel during a narrowing course as owing
to the shogging of the cam shaft the pawl K has no movement given to it during
this course.
The shifting of the truck L* sidewise is effected by a fork which embraces it.
This fork is at the end of an arm L' which extends from a rod L which can be
shifted endwise by automatic mechanism as is well understood. It can be effected
by the ordinary step by step revolving wheel which controls the times of narrowing
-the same pegs or projections on this wheel which serve to cause the main cam
shaft of the machine to be shogged end wise to bring the narrowing cams into action
may be used for giving the end way movement to the rod.
It is not essential that the pattern barrel H should be carried by the needle bar
it might be independent of the needle bar we however prefer that it should be
carried with the needle bar as above described.
In place of the selected needles being locked to the needle bar by spring catch
levers G as in the arrangement above described they might be lifted by the rising
of the barrel H this barrel then having a considerably greater upward and
downward movement given to it than the needle bar. This arrangement is
illustrated in Figure 8.
The stems of the needles are prolonged to some distance below the bottom of
the needle bar and the barrel is situated below the lower ends of the needle stems.
On the rising of the needle bar there might be sufficient friction between the
stems of the needles and the needle bar for the needles to be carried up by the
bar to a certain height until they were arrested by a bar O. Afterwards when
the needle bar had finished its upward movement the bar O might be withdrawn
and the barrel then made to lift the needles intended to take thread, the others
remaining down where the bar O had previously stopped them.
Or in place of this arrangement there might be sufficient friction between the
needle bits or jacks and the grooves in the needle bar for all the needles to be
carried up with the needle bar by this friction when not held down by catches
acted on by the pattern or Jacquard barrel.
A diagram view of such an arrangement is shewn at Figure 9.
Each needle bit or jack has a projection F* extending out from it-when the

page_text: needle bar is brought down into its lowest position these projections are brought:
below the level of one end of thin slides P. The opposite ends of the slides Pare
then acted on by the pattern or Jacquard barrel-those slides whose ends are not.
opposite to holes in the barrel would be pushed back by the barrel and their
opposite ends made to come above the projections F on the needle bits they work
with these needle bits therefore would be held down and not carried up with the
needle bar. To give sufficient friction between the needle bits and needle bar cach
needle bit might carry a small spring Q as shewn to bear against the bottom of
the groove in which the needle bit slides. On the descent of the needle bar an
incline R upon it brings all slides P back to their first position ready for the next:
selection of needles.
Or in place of these arrangements the needle bits or jacks might be jointed to
the needle bar and be capable of being turned either into position for thread to be.
layed upon them and for their beards to be pressed against the presser bar or into
such a position that they neither have thread layed on to them or have their beards.
pressed.
Such an arrangement is shewn at Figure 10.
:
Here each needle bit or jack is formed with an arm extending from it the end
of which comes above the barrel. In this case the barrel would move to and fro
with the needle bar and would as in the arrangement shewn at Figure 1 have a
slight rising and falling inovement given to it to bring the barrel against the ends
of these arms. When there is no hole in the barrel opposite to the end of any one
of these arms the needle bit or jack would be held in position for the needle carried
by it to receive thread and for the beard of the needle to be pressed against the
presser but if a hole is opposite to the end of an arm the tension of the work>
would draw the needle into the position shown by dotted lines far enough forwards.
to prevent its having thread layed on to it or its beard brought against the
presser.
A similar arrangement can be used with straight bar kuitting machines having
a fixed needle bar and moveable presser bar as illustrated in diagrams Figures 11,
and 12.
The pattern barrel may either be moveable laterally as shewn in Figure 11 or
vertically as shewn in Figure 12.
In place of using a pattern barrel with rows of holes in its circumference as
herein before described an endless series of perforated cards carried by a Jacquard
barrel or other like Jacquard mechanism might be used."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Straight bar knitting machines having bearded needles in which at each
course of work some needles can be selected by the action of a barrel having
perforations or projections upon it or by other Jacquard mechanism and caused to
be raised up into position to receive thread and have a course of work completed
upon them whilst the remainder are idle and have work made ou them at a
subsequent course or courses with thread of a different colour or material to that
used in the first course.
or
2. Straight bar knitting machines having bearded needles in which at any
course of work some needles can be selected to have work made on them whilst
others remain idle and have work made on them at a subsequent course
courses with thread of a different colour or material from that used in the first
and in which such needles as are at any one course to receive thread are caused
to be slidden end wise through the loops of work which are upon them to be
brought into position for thread to be layed upon them whilst the remainder of
the needles at this time remain idle holding the loops at their extremities.
3. Straight bar knitting machines of the above kinds in which the needle bar
has an up and down motion given to it and a horizontal movement towards and
:

page_text: away from a presser bar and in which those needles only upon which work is to be
made at any one course are locked to the needle bar and move with it whilst the
remainder of the needles remain down hanging on to the work.
4. Straight bar knitting machines having latch needles in which the needle bar
has an up and down motion given to it and in which those needles only upon which
work is to be made at any one course are locked to the needle bar and move
with it whilst the rest of the needles remain down hanging on to the work.
5. Straight bar knitting machines of the above kinds in which the needle jacks
or stems of the needles are capable of sliding end wise in grooves or between
guides on the needle bar and are locked to the needle bar when they are to rise
with it by catches controlled by a barrel having perforations or projections upon it
or by other Jacquard mechanism-whilst the remainder of the needles which are not
to be carried up by the needle bar are held down by spring stops.
6. Straight bar knitting machines of the above kinds in which the needle bar bas
an up and down motion given to it and a horizontal movement towards and away from
a presser bar and in which a pattern or Jacquard barrel for controlling the bringing
of the needles into work is carried in bearings which can slide in grooves or on
guides in the needle bar in such manner that in one direction of the needle bars
movement it is carried to and fro with the needle bar and in the other direction of
the needle bar's movement can be moved independently of the needle bar.
7. Straight bar knitting machines of the above kinds in which those needles
only upon which work is to be made at any one course are by the action of a
barrel having perforations or projections upon it or by other Jacquard mechanism
caused to be brought into or retained in position to receive thread and have a course
of work made upon them whilst the others have no thread layed on to them at that
course and are out of work.
8. The arrangement substantially as described whereby the barrel is put out of
action and all needles lifted when a narrowing course is to be made.
9. Straight bar knitting machines constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 1st day of August 1895.
JOHN ARTHUR ALLEN BARFOOT.
JOSIAH JOHNSON.