IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: 11
I, CHARLES JAMES APPLETON of Lower Broughton Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
It consists of a bedplate (see Drawings a) capable of being fastened by one end
to a table or other convenient stand, placed at the other end of the bedplate is a
cylinder (b) for holding the needles (e), this cylinder runs in a circular groove cut
in the bedplate, and is prevented from rising by an internal ring (d) which is
screwed or otherwise fastened to the bedplate (a). Grooves are cut in the outside
face of the cylinder (b) and needles (ee) are placed in them so as to slide up and
down in the grooves freely, they are prevented from falling out of the grooves by
a wire or spring (f) placed outside them near the top of the cylinder. In the
bottom edge of the cylinder, is cut a wormgear with cogs (g) to correspond to the
number of needles. Beneath the bedplate revolves in proper bearings a shaft (h)
at right angles to the bedplate (a), upon this shaft is placed a cam wheel or disc (2)
having cut in the outer rim a worm corresponding to and working in the worm
cogs in the bottom edge of the cylinder (b), in the side of the cam wheel are cut
two cam grooves (k k), with moveable pieces (17) so that the size of the cams, may
be increased or diminished at pleasure. Working in the cam groove and on the
cams is a cam roller (m) attached to a perpendicular rod (n) the lower end of which
is forked and fits over the shaft (h) which carries the cam plate so as to be kept in
position, the upper end rises through a hole in the bedplate and through a
standard (o) affixed to the upper side of the bedplate. Attached to this rod (n)
and moving with it, is a small forked piece of metal (p) which raises the needles (e)
as they revolve round to it.
With this arrangement a stocking or sock is knitted in the following manner.
The work is put upon the needles and the proper weight attached. I then turn the
shaft which causes one of the cams to raise the rod which takes with it a needle,
the latch passes through the loop already on the needle and the hook takes a new
yarn from the yarn guide, then rod then descends with the needle (as the shaft
revolves further and the cam drops) the worm gear turns the cylinder one needle
and the bar is again raised by the opposite cam (which is fixed at its lowest point)
which raises the needle high enough to take the yarn without throwing off the loop
of the latch, upon its descent it has two stitches in its hook. This operation is

page_text: continued until enough knitting is done for the large part of the leg. Owing to
there being an odd number of needles in the cylinder, at every revolution a
different needle retains two stitches giving an appearance as of one and one rib
knitting to the face of the stocking and making it half as large again.
I now slide out the cam to its full extent which causes the needle it lifts, to slide
through the loop and through the previous loop over the head of the needle. I then
continue knitting until the ankle is finished. To knit the heel, I now reverse the
machine and knit halfway round the cylinder then reverse again employing one
needle less at each end every time. This is repeated from eight to ten times, then
I widen out a needle at each end every time until I again get in use the whole of
the needles. I then knit the stocking foot and upon arriving at the toe, I knit it
in exactly the same way as the heel but upon the opposite half of the cylinder.
To knit what are known as double toes, heels, or kneecaps, I slide one of the
cams out of operation, by this arrangement only every other needle is raised and a
thread of yarn is left behind the needle not raised, thus producing the heel required.
It is then knitted as explained before. When I wish to increase the speed of the
knitting I may attach to the opposite side of the machine a section of a circle with
V shaped cams on its face (r) see Drawings which will raise and lower the needles
in succession, these needles will knit in the ordinary way. By the addition of the
V shaped cams I can make shaped or fancy work at pleasure.

page_text: I CHARLES JAMES APPLETON of Lower Broughton, Manchester, in the county of
Lancaster Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINES" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is certain improvements in knitting machines and
consists essentially of additional cam mechanism so fitted as to lift and depress the
needles in succession singly or otherwise for shaping or fashioning.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings accom-
panying my Provisional Specification.
a is a bed plate capable of being fastened by one end to a table or other
convenient stand, at the other end of the bed plate is a cylinder b for holding the
needles e this cylinder runs in a circular groove cut in the bed plate, and is
prevented from rising by an internal ring d which is screwed or otherwise fastened
to the bed plate a.
Grooves are cut in the outside face of the cylinder b and needles e e are placed
in them so as to slide up and down in the grooves freely, they are prevented from
falling out of the grooves by a wire or spring ƒ placed outside them near the top
of the cylinder.
In the bottom edge of the cylinder is cut a worm gear with cogs g to correspond
to the number of needles.
Beneath the bed plate revolves in proper bearings a driving shaft h at right
angles to the bed plate a, upon this shaft is placed a cam wheel or disc i having cut
in the outer rim a worm or ratchet corresponding to and working in the worm cogs
in the bottom edge of the cylinder 6 In the side of the cam wheel is a cam
groove k k with movable pieces so that the size of the cams may be increased or
diminished at pleasure.
Working in the cam groove and on the cams is a cam roller m attached to a
perpendicular rod n the lower end of which is forked and fits over the shaft h
which carries the cam plate so as to be kept in position, the upper end rises
through a hole in the bed plate and through a standard o affixed to the upper side
of the bedplate. Attached to this rod n and moving with it, is a small forked piece
of metal which raises the needles e as they revolve round to it. When the
machine has to be turned by the handle 8 a portion of the worm is removed from
the disc i and the gap brought opposite the gear teeth of the cylinder.
With this arrangement a stocking or sock is knitted in the following manner.
The work is put upon the needles and the proper weight attached I then turn the
shaft which causes one of the cams to raise the rod which takes with it a needle,
the latch passes through the loop already on the needle and the hook takes a new
yarn from the yarn guide, the rod then descends with the needle (as the shaft
revolves further and the cam drops) the worm gear turns the cylinder one needle
and the bar is again raised by the opposite cam (which is fixed at its lowest point)
which raises the needle high enough to take the yarn without throwing off the loop
of the latch upon its descent it has two stitches in its hook.

page_text: This operation is continued until enough knitting is done for the large part of
the leg. Owing to there being an odd number of needles in the cylinder, at every
revolution a different needle retains two stitches giving an appearance as of one
and one rib knitting to the face of the stocking and making it half as large
again.
I now slide out the cam to its fullest extent which causes the needle it lifts, to
slide through the loop and through the previous loop over the head of the needle.
I then continue knitting until the ancle is finished. To knit the heel I now reverse
the machine and knit half way round the cylinder then reverse again employing
one needle less at each end every time, this is repeated from eight to ten times,
then I widen out a needle at each end every time until I again get in use the whole
of the needles. I then knit the stocking foot and upon arriving at the toe I knit
it in exactly the same way as the heel but upon the opposite half of the cylinder.
To knit what are known as double toes, heels or knee caps I slide one of the
cams out of operation by this arrangement only every other needle is raised and a
thread of yarn is left behind the needle not raised, thus producing the heel required.
It is then knitted as explained before.
When I wish to increase the speed of the knitting I may attach to the opposite
side of the machine a section of a circle with V shaped cams on its face r, see
drawing, which will raise and lower the needles in succession, these needles will
knit in the ordinary way. By the addition of the V shaped cams I can make
shaped or fancy work at pleasura
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Providing a knitting machine with cam mechanism for lifting and lowering the
needles as described and substantially as shown in the annexed drawings whether
said cam be operated from the cylinder or from some other moving part of the
machine.