Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines for Weaving Elastic or other Threads in Looped Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines for Weaving
Elastic or other Threads in Looped Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM BAKEWELL of 12 Broad Marsh, Warehouseman, and CHARLES
COTTON of Brookfield Place, Derwent Street, Machinist, both in the Borough of
Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to knitting frames for weaving clastic or other threads in
looped fabrics in the process of manufacture, for surgical and other purposes, and it
has for its object improvements in such frames so as to render them entirely
automatic so that they can be driven by power.
This has hitherto not been effected and looped fabrics with elastic or other
threads woven in them have been manufactured in frames worked by hand.
In carrying out this invention the needles are carried preferably in a horizontal
position or nearly so and may be arranged in a convenient number of divisions;
they are carried on a longitudinal needle bar which has preferably motion imparted
to it to assist the sinkers in knocking over, by links pivotted to levers secured to a
rocking shaft at the back of the frame actuated by cams on the upper cam shaft
through levers provided with anti-friction rollers secured on the rocking shaft. The
rocking shaft is carried in bearings secured to the framing which may consist of
two end standards secured to each other by longitudinal rails or tie rods with
intermediate cross stays and supports.
Alternate sinkers are carried by pivotted jacks which are arranged above the
needle bar; they are depressed by the action of slurs secured to a carriage sliding.
on a bar placed above the jacks and raised by a bar on their underside in a well
known manner. The remaining alternate sinkers are secured by their lower ends
to a bar arranged on the underside of the needle bar which is carried and operated
by links pivotted to levers secured on two rocking shafts actuated by cams on the
upper cam shaft and carried in bearings secured to the framing.
The thread carriers are secured to a carriage carried on a bar arranged below
and in front of the needle bar; it is carried by links pivotted to levers secured on
a rocking shaft in front of the frame carried in bearings secured to the framing and
actuated through links and levers by cams on the lower cam shaft so that when
laying the threads on the needles the thread carriers are raised and again lowered
out of the way each course.
The carriers for laying in the elastic or other threads are secured to a carriage
carried by a bar arranged above the needle bar which is carried by links pivotted
to levers secured to a rocking shaft carried in bearings at the back of the frame
and actuated through a suitable arrangement of links and levers by cams on the
upper cam shaft so as to lower the carrier bar when it is laying the thread on
the needles.
The presser
bar is carried in the usual manner by levers secured to a shaft carried
in bearings above and at the back of the needle bar and is actuated by links
pivotted at their upper ends to the bar or levers and at their lower ends
to levers provided with anti-friction rollers operated by cams on the upper
cam shaft.
The point bar for removing loops is carried by and may be pivotted in the
front end of links working in slides the rear ends of which are pivotted to levers
secured to a rocking shaft carried in bearings secured to the framing and actuated
by cams on the upper cam shaft so as to give it the requisite motion; the point
bar may be steadied by an arm secured thereto connected at its outer end by a link

page_text: to a bracket secured to the framing. When removing loops from the needles the
points are pressed on the needles by the presser bar.
The point bar may be shogged so as to remove loops from alternate needles each
course by shogging the presser bar which may be provided with horns or projections
engaging with tappets on the point bar; the presser bar may be shogged by the
action of a cam or other suitable arrangement acting through anti-friction rollers
secured to the end of the presser bar shaft. The cam may be turned through a
sufficient space by a crank pin secured thereto connected by a link to a crank pin on
a wheel working on a pivot secured to the framing and connected by suitable gearing
to the upper cam shaft.
Two cam shafts are employed extending preferably the length of the frame they
are arranged preferably one below the other and are carried in bearings secured to
the framing below the needle bar; they are connected to the main driving shaft
which is carried in bearings secured to the framing in front of the frame, by a special
arrangement of gearing so that only one of them is in operation at the same time
and each one alternately makes a single revolution, this may be effected in the
following manner.
On the ends of each cam shaft are spur wheels gearing with each other and
receiving a constant motion by intermediate wheels from the main driving shaft;
these spur wheels are free to turn on the shafts but when moved laterally are
adapted to engage with collars secured to the shafts. The bosses of the two wheels
are connected to each other by a lever pivotted midway between them with its two
ends engaging in an annular recess. in each boss so that when one is put into
engagement with its shaft the other is thrown out.
Lateral motion is imparted to them by a lever provided with anti-friction rollers
acting alternately on opposing cam surfaces on one of the wheels; this lever is
operated by a specially constructed cam secured to the boss of one of the wheels so
as to alternately act on the opposite cam surfaces and put each wheel into engage-
ment with its cam shaft. To ensure the shafts stopping in the desired position
and to prevent movement a wheel may be secured to each provided with a notch
or recess adapted to engage with a spring or other convenient arrangement may be
employed.
By this arrangement the motion of the slurs for depressing the sinkers and the
motion of the ordinary thread carriers may be taken from the lower cam shaft
while the upper cam shaft is at rest and the movements necessary to bring the loops
forward on the needles, dividing them with the point bar, inserting the elastic
thread, returning the loops to the needles and pressing off may be taken from the
upper cam shaft while the lower one with the operating mechanism connected
thereto is at rest. |
The thread carriers for laying in the elastic or other threads are operated by a
link pivotted to a lever secured to the upper end of a vertical rocking shaft carried
in bearings at one end of the frame, the shaft being provided at its lower end with
a pinion gearing with a rack working in a slide and reciprocated by the action of a
cam working on a pivot and connected to the upper cam shaft by suitable gearing,
the whole being carried in a suitable framing secured to the end standard.
The slurs may be actuated by a link connected to an intermediate slide operated
by a lever connected to a reciprocating slide carried at the back of the frame and
actuated by a cam on a cross shaft carried in suitable bearings connected to the
lower cam shaft by bevel gearing: connected to the lever operated by the
reciprocating slide is a rack working in suitable slides and gearing with a pinion
secured on a cross shaft extending to the front of the frame where it is provided
with a pulley to which are connected cords or flexible connections for operating
the thread carriers. By this arrangement the thread carriers take their motion
from the same cam as the slurs and by regulating the gearing the thread carriers
may obtain a gradually increasing lead of the slurs.
For narrowing, a stop is provided at each end of the frame which stops are
adapted to stop both the ordinary thread and elastic thread carriers; they are

page_text: operated by worms carried in specially adapted narrowing boxes secured to the ends
of the frame and may be operated so as to narrow automatically by an arrangement
of rack and pawls operated by cam and levers whose motion is regulated by a pattern
chain in a well known manner.
To take up the slack of the elastic threads each course they are passed between
two longitudinal bars sccured to the lower ends of levers which are pivotted at
their upper ends to a rocking shaft carried in suitable bearings and actuated by a
cam on the upper cam shaft through suitable links and levers; the levers of the
outer longitudinal bar are loose on the rocking shaft and as the inner bar is raised
the weight of the outer one will nip the elastic threads with a gradually increasing
pressure and draw up the slack.
Where necessary the ordinary cams may have special cams secured to them and
suitable provision may be made for shogging the anti-friction rollers on to the special
cams so that a different motion may be obtained when desired, as for instance when
forming the welt.
Without tieing ourselves down absolutely to the details set forth in the foregoing
Specification we submit it as giving a fair idea of our invention.
Dated the 26th day of July 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Knitting Machines for Weaving
Elastic or other Threads in Looped Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM BAKEWELL of 12 Broad Marsh, Warehouseman, and CHARLES
COTTON, of Brookfield Place, Machinist, both in the Borough of Nottingham,
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 relates to knitting machines for weaving elastic or other threads
in looped fabrics and in the process of manufacture for surgical and other purposes
and it has for its object improvements in such frames so as to render them entirely
automatic so that they may be driven by power. This has hitherto not been effected
on straight bar knitting machines, and looped fabrics with clastic or other threads
woven in them have been manufactured in frames worked by hand.
It will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of the machine.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of the back of the frame showing the thread carrier
and sinker actuating mechanism.
Fig. 3 is an elevation and Fig. 4 a plan of the mechanism for transmitting
alternately motion to the cam-shafts.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the point bar shogging arrangement.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing arrangement for actuating the elastic thread
carriers and point bar shogging cam.
The invention as described and shown is applied to a machine in which the needles
are carried in a horizontal position or nearly so and are arranged in a convenient
number of divisions, they are carried on a longitudinal needle bar A sliding on
brackets A secured to the framing B, motion is imparted to it to assist the sinkers
in knocking over by links A pivotted to arms A³ secured to the rocking shaft A*
carried in the bearings A secured to the framing, motion is imparted to the
shaft A by a cam on the upper cam shaft C, by means of an arm A secured
to the shaft A' and provided with an anti-friction roller in peripheral contact with
the cam.
The framing of the machine is formed by two end standards B and an inter-
mediate standard B' connected' by rails B and tie-bar B³.

page_text: The jack sinkers are carried by jacks D pivotted in combs secured to the
longitudinal bar D', they are depressed by the action of slur-cocks M secured
to carriage sliding on the longitudinal bar M' and are raised in the usual
manner by a bar on their underside actuated by a cam on the upper cam
shaft C.
The lead sinkers E are secured to the longitudinal bar E¹ which is carried
and operated in a well-known manner by links E3, E3 pivotted to arms E', E' secured
to rocking shafts E', E' are carried in the bearings secured to the framing and are
actuated by cams on the upper cam shaft C through arms EP, E secured respectively
to the rocking shafts E, E.
The carriers F for laying in the elastic or other threads are secured to the
carriage F sliding on the bar F2 which is carried by links F3 pivotted to arms F
secured to the rocking shaft F' carried in the bearings secured to the framing B.
The rocking shaft F is actuated by a cam on the upper cam shaft C through
lever F provided with an anti-friction roller in contact with the cam and which
lever is pivotted at F to the framing and is connected at F to a connecting
link F connected at the upper end to the arm F" secured to the shaft F. By
this means the carriers may be lowered when laying the thread on the needles and
raised out of the way when not in operation.
The carriage F is connected by a link G (see Fig. 8) to the arm G¹ secured to
the upper end of the vertical shaft G2 carried in the bearings G³ secured to the
framing B. The shaft G is provided at its lower end with a pinion G engaging
with the rack G³ secured to the slide G which is carried by the bracket G7 secured
to the framing B and is reciprocated by a cam G8 the periphery of which acts on
the anti-friction rollers G° secured to the slide Gº.
The cam G is secured to the boss of the wheel G which is free to rotate on a
pivot G secured to the bracket G7 and this wheel G10 is in gear with the pinion G¹²
secured to the upper cam shaft C from which it receives its motion.
The presser bar H is carried in the usual manner by arms H¹ secured to the
shaft H2 carried in the bearings secured to the framing B; it is actuated by
links H connected at their upper ends to the arms and at their lower
ends to levers H³ provided with anti-friction rollers operated by cams on the upper
cam shaft.
The point bar I for removing loops is carried by and may be pivotted in the front
end of links I working in suitable guides secured to the brackets A' and the rear
ends of the links are pivotted to arms 12 secured on the rocking shaft Is
carried in the bearings secured to the framing B, the rocking shaft I is actuated by
a cam on the upper cam shaft operating through an antifriction roller the arm I³
secured to the shaft 13. The points are raised so as to clear the needles by a cam
on the upper cam shaft C operating through an antifriction roller the lever I
which is connected by the connecting link 1' to the arm 18 secured to the point
bar. I.
When removing loops from the needles the points are pressed on the needles by
the presser bar but when making a welt the points are depressed by a cam on. the
upper.cam shaft C operating the lever 110 which is connected by a link I" to the
bracket I secured to the point bar I.
The point bar I is shogged so as to remove loops from alternate needles each
course, when desired, by a cam J (see Figs. 5 and 8) carried by a sleeve pivotted
to the bracket J2 secured to the framing B. The cam Joperates the slide J
which is provided with a plate J against which the end of the point bar 1 bears by
reason of the action of the spring J which acts in the opposite direction to the cam J
and keeps the setscrew Je in contact with the said cam.
When making the welt the cam J may be moved laterally out of operation and
the cam J7 (Fig. 8) substituted for it the cam J only imparting sufficient motion to
the bar I to assist the points in taking the loops.
The cams J, J' are turned by means of a ratchet wheel .J8 secured to the sleeve.J¹
actuated by a pawl J (Fig. 8) carried by the lever J which is pivotted at J to.

page_text: the framing B, the lever is operated through the antifriction roller J12 by a
cam secured to the spur wheel J" rotating on a pivot carried by the bracket JIS
the wheel being in gear with and receiving its motion from the wheel G. The
lever o may also be connected to and operated by an auxiliary lever actuated by
a cam on the lower cam shaft K so that when one cam shaft is at rest the other will
actuate the lever J and thus impart to the cams J. Ja regular motion.
Two cam shafts C and K are employed preferably extending the length of the
machine, the upper shaft C is carried in bearings C₁and the lower shaft Kin
bearings K secured to the framing B; they are connected to the main driving
shaft carried in the bearings L' secured to the framing B by a special arrange-
ment of gearing so that only one of them is in operation at a time and each one
alternately makes a single revolution; this we effect in the following manner,
On the ends of the cam shafts C and K (see Fig. 3 and 4) are spur wheels C
and K2 gearing with each other and receiving a constant motion through the
wheel L³ from the wheel L' secured to the main shaft L.
The spur wheels C², K³ rotate freely on the shafts C, K respectively but when
moved inwards the projection C3 on each of their bosses will engage with a recess in
a collar C secured to the respective shafts.
The bosses of the wheels C2, K2 are connected by a lever C pivotted to the
bracket Csecured to the framing B the two ends of which are provided with
forks C engaging in an annular recess in each boss so that when one is put into
engagement the other is thrown out.
Lateral motion is imparted to the wheel K and consequently to the wheel C² by
an arm K³ pivotted to the framing at K and provided with an antifriction
roller acting alternately on the cam surfaces K and K secured to or forming
part of the boss of the wheel K². The arm K³ is raised every alternate revolution,
that is when the wheel K is in its inner position, and the antifriction roller acting
on the cam surface K7 will reverse the position of the wheels, the arm K³ is raised
by the cam K secured to the boss of the wheel K² acting on the antifriction
roller K pivotted on the arm K which is secured to the boss of the arm K³.
When however the wheel K² is in its outer position the cam K will miss the anti-
friction roller K and the arm K³ assisted by the action of the spring K" will retain
its lower position and the antifriction roller acting on the cam surface K will
return the wheels to the first position. To ensure the cam K missing the anti-
friction roller K³ the edge of the former is bevelled off as shown in Fig. 4 and the
roller K can move laterally on its pivot against the action of the spring. K
To ensure the shafts stopping in the desired position and to prevent displacement
a wheel may be secured to each provided with a notch or recess adapted to engage
with a spring, or other convenient arrangements may be employed.
By this arrangement the motion of the slur cocks for depressing the sinkers, and
the motion of the ordinary thread carriers may be taken from the lower cam shaft K
while the upper cam shaft is at rest, and the movements necessary for dividing the
loops, bringing them forward on the needles, removing alternate loops with the point
bar, inserting the elastic, returning the loops to the needles and pressing off may be
taken from the upper cam shaft while the lower one with the operating mechanism
is at rest.
The slur cocks M are carried by a carriage sliding on the bar M' connected by a
connecting link M² to the slide M. The slide M (see Fig. 2.) is operated by a
lever M pivotted at M to one of the rails 132 at its lower end and connected by.
a link M to the slide M at its upper end. The lever M is connected at M to
the reciprocating slide M' actuated by the eccentric cam M secured to the trans-
verse shaft M carried in the bearing M2 and connected to the lower cam shaft K²
by bevel gearing M, M. The cam M10 works in peripheral contact with, anti-
friction rollers M secured to the slide M, this latter being carried by brackets M16.
secured to the framing.
-
The ordinary thread carriers are operated by flexible connections N passing over
pulleys N¹ secured to the framing B and round the reciprocating pulley Nº by

page_text: means of which they are operated. The pulley N2 is secured to a shaft N³ carried
in the bearings N secured to the rails B, and is reciprocated by the slide N³
connected by link N to the lever M, and provided with a rack No engaging with
the pinion N7 secured on the shaft N³..
By this arrangement the thread carriers take their motion from the same cam as
the slur cocks and by regulating the gearing the carriers may obtain a gradually
increasing lead of the slur-cocks.
The thread carriers are secured to a carriage O' sliding on the longitudinal
bar O carried by brackets Os pivotted to arms O secured to the rocking shaft 05
carried in bearings secured to the framing, the rocking shaft O' is actuated by a
cam on the lower cam shaft K through lever 07 provided with an antifriction
roller in peripheral contact with the cam and connected by link 0 to arm O' secured
on the rocking shaft O³.
By this arrangement the carriers may be raised so as to lay the threads on
the needles and lowered below the needles at each course so as to be out of
the way.
Stops are provided at each end of the frame to stop both the ordinary and elastic
thread carriers, they may be of ordinary construction and operated by worms so as
to widen or narrow as desired.
To take up the slack of the elastic threads each course they are passed between
two longitudinal bars P, P¹ carried by arms P2, P3 supported by the shaft P₁.
The arms P are loose on the shaft P and the arms P³ are secured to it. When
the inner bar P₁ is raised by turning the shaft P the threads will be nipped
by the weight of the bar P and held by a gradually increasing pressure and
drawn up.
The shaft P is carried in the bearings P5 secured to the framing B and may be
actuated by a cam on the upper cam shaft C through any suitable arrangement of
levers and links.
When necessary in order to make a welt the ordinary cams may have cams of a
different form secured to them or placed at the side of them and the antifriction
rollers may be shogged so as to take their motion from either by a well known
arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :
1. In a knitting machine such as described the employment of two cam shafts
which are alternately in operation one imparting motion to the ordinary thread
carriers and slur-cocks, the motions for inserting the extra thread being taken from
the other shaft substantially as described.""
2. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with a moving needle
bar and lead sinker bar of a point bar such as I substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the thread
carrier carriage F" of a bar F2, arms F and F and shaft F substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the point bar I
of links such as I, arms 12, shaft 13 arm I and lever I substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the cam G" of
a slide such as Go, rack G³, pinion G shaft G2, and arm G¹ substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a knitting machine for weaving elastic or other threads in looped fabrics
the combination with the point bar 1 of a slide such as J³, cam J, substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a knitting machine for weaving clastic or other threads in looped fabrics
the combination with the point bar I, of a slide such as J³; cams J, J' sleeve J¹,

page_text: ratchet wheel J, and pawl J substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the wheel K²,
of cams such as K, K', arm K³, cam K³, and arm K substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the cam or
eccentric M, of a slide M, lever M5, slide N³, rack No, pinion N', shaft N³ and
pulley N substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
10. In a knitting machine such as described the combination with the shaft P of
bars such as P, P, loose and fast arms such as P3 P3 substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete knitting
frame substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
1
15
1001
WILLIAM
BAKEWELL.
CHARLES COTTON.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.
C
WILLIAM BAKEWELL.
CHARLES COTTON.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.