IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Townsend, of Leicester, Fancy Hosier, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
KNITTED FABRICS,"
Sealed the 2nd June 1857, and dated the 2nd December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Townsend at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd December 1856.
I, MATTHEW TOWNSEND, of Leicester, Fancy Hosier, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS," to be as follows:
-
My Invention of improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
knitted fabrics consists in various improved contrivances for producing
looped fabrics, both figured and plain, in a simpler, more expeditious, and
better manner than heretofore.
The first improvement relates to the application of the jacquard apparatus
for moving the hooks, guides, or needles of knitting machines, so as to produce
figured patterns upon looped or knitted fabrics. Jointed guides are adapted
to double-barred knitting frames where two rows of needles or hooks are used,
and such guides are adapted and operated in a somewhat similar manner to
that shewn in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and dated
May 15th, 1850, where only one row of needles or hooks are employed.

page_text: The novelty, in the present instance consists in applying such jointed guides
to double-barred knitting machinery for the manufacture of looped or knitted
fabrics, whereby I am enabled, with the application of the jacquard apparatus,
to make knitted fabrics with figured patterns on both sides of them by so
moving such guides as to throw the threads upon one row of needles or hooks
to form the required pattern, and to carry the surplus threads round the other
row of needles or hooks to form a pattern upon the contrary side of the fabric.
By this means the loose threads are prevented from appearing on the surface
of the fabric, which has hitherto been objectionable in figured looped fabrics,
and the fabric will present the same appearance on both sides.
In applying the jacquard apparatus to move the needles or hooks, I prefer
to use levers, to which the needles or hooks are attached, as shewn in the
Specification of my Patent above referred to for moving the points, but the
same object, viz., the operation of the needles or hooks may be effected by
using sliding needles, or hooks, or bolts, which are made to slide in grooves,
combs, or guide bars, as will be well understood; and if it be required to
move the needles or hooks horizontally, bell-crank levers are employed, and
may be actuated by a cord attached to one end of the levers; or, if preferred,
the cylinder of the jacquard apparatus may be brought into direct contact
with the end of the slides, needles, or hooks, so that they will be driven
forward by the cards resting upon the cylinder of the jacquard apparatus.
My second improvement consists in arranging rows or circles of double-
ended needles having hooks or beards at both ends, and in working them
in a peculiar manner for forming the loops thereon in the manufacture of
knitted fabrics.
In carrying out this improvement ribbed or grooved needle bars are
employed, to which a longitudinal or lateral movement is imparted, whereby
the needles are brought in contact with cams or driving plates, and are driven
backwards and forwards, as may bo required. By means of these operations
the thread will be drawn between suitable dividers or sinkers, which will draw
down the thread and form the loop. These needles or hooks slide freely
between the ribs of the straight needle bars, and therefore the attendant may
take them out when desired, and thereby reduce the width of the working part
of the machine as will be required for making fashioned articles, as is well
understood by practical knitters. The needles may also be arranged in circles,
and by giving a partial rotary movement to the machine the needles will be
moved horizontally, and driven between the dividers or sinkers, so as to draw a
loop upon each needle, thereby forming circular knitted fabrics. A similar fabric
may be formed by the arrangement of a circle of knitting pins, each pin having

page_text: small catches or projections at one end, and working upon joints or pins in the
centre. For instance, suppose a rowof loops to be already formed upon the pins,
each knitting pin being pressed forward into an inclined position, I run a
thread across the row of knitting pins, between the head of the pins and the
loops already formed, and by forcing the pins into an opposite inclined position
by means of a slur-cock or driver coming into contact with the lower end of the
pins, the head of the pin will pass through the loops already formed upon the
pin, and by taking the thread through this loop a new loop will be formed on
the contrary side of the pins; and when such pins are arranged in a straight
row the workman will be enabled to move any number of them out of their
working position, and thereby fashion the articles, if required.
The third improvement consists in arranging double rows or circlesof needles
or hooks to make knitted fabrics in such a manner that they will be placed in
an inclined position in lines crossing each other, and will be maintained in their
proper positions by springs or some other equivalent contrivance, but may be
driven downwards by a slur-cock or driver striking the lever or sliding pins as
they are moved round in the circular machine, or backwards and forwards in
the straight machine, as may be required. By this movement, each needle,
when depressed, will be made to draw a thread or loop to form a new course
without the use of loop wheels or sinkers; and if it be required to make a
broad rib or a plain fabric, a given number of points are used in combina-
tion with the needles or hooks employed.
My last improvement relates to a mode of making circular knitted warp
fabrics by means of a row of hooks or needles provided with hinged beards,
such hooks or needles being arranged in a circular form, iu combination
with a circular arrangement of lever guides for carrying the threads to form
the fabric.
If a pile fabric be required, a circular series of points must be arranged
around an inner circle within the outer circle of needles already mentioned,
and the lever guides must be made double, so as to carry the thread for
making the pile as well as that for forming the foundation of the fabric.
If it be required to produce a cut pile fabric, the loops for forming the cut
pile may be cut by being drawn down against a sharp edge made at the
lower end of the hooks for the purpose, or the pile may be cut by means of
circular discs or other contrivances provided with a cutting edge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Townsend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
TOWNSEND, of Leicester, Fancy Hosier, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Matthew Townsend, Her special license, that I, the said Matthew Townsend,
my executors,administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew
Townsend, my executors, administrators, and assigns,should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Townsend, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matthew Townsend do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
My Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of
Knitted Fabrics" consists in various improved contrivances for producing
looped fabrics, both figured and plain, in a simpler, more expeditious, and
better manner than heretofore.
The first improvement relates to the application of the jacquard apparatus
for moving the hooks, guides, or needles of knitting machines, so as to produce
figured patterns upon looped or knitted fabrics. Jointed guides are adapted to
double-barred knitting frames where two rows of needles or hooks are used,
and such guides are adapted and operated in a somewhat similar manner to
that shewn in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and dated

page_text: May Fifteenth, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, where only one row
of needles or hooks are employed. The noveltyin the present instance cousists
in applying such jointed guides to double-barred knitting machinery for the
manufacture of looped or knitted fabrics, whereby I am enabled, with the
application of the jacquard apparatus, to make knitted fabrics with figured
patterns on both sides of them, by so moving such guides as to throw the
threads upon one row of needles or hooks to form the required pattern,and to
carry the surplus threads round the other row of needles or hooks to form a
pattern upon the contrary side of the fabric. By this means the loose threads
are prevented from appearing on the surface of the fabric, which has hitherto
been objectionable in figured looped fabrics, and the fabric will present the
same appearance on both sides. In applying the jacquard apparatus to move
the needles or hooks, I prefer to use levers, to which the needles or hooks are
attached in the manner shown in the Specification of my Patent above referred
to for moving the points, but the same object,viz', the operation of the needles
or hooks may be effected by using sliding needles, or hooks,or bolts, which are
made to slide in grooves, combs, or guide bars, as will be well understood; and
if it be required to move the needles or hooks horizontally, bell-crank levers are
employed,and may be actuated by a cord attached to one end of the levers; or,
if preferred, the cylinder of the jacquard apparatus may be brought into direct
contact with the end of the slides, needles, or hooks,so that they will be driven
forward by the cards resting upon the cylinder of the jacquard apparatus.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a sectional elevation of a double bar warp machine in
which the guides are moved by bell-crank levers selected by means of a
jacquard apparatus. A and B are the horizontal bars carrying a series of
hinge-bearded needles; C is arocking shaft turning in bearings in the framing
of the machine, and from which hang the levers E, carrying a pin d, from
which is suspended the horizontal guide bar D; any other arrangement which
will admit of the shogging of the bar D may be substituted for that shewn.
To this bar D are screwed the leads F, the lower part forming a comb, in
which are set a series of bell-crank levers in place of the guides of the
ordinary machine. Two of these levers are shewn at a and b, they turn on
the fulcrum pin f, and to one end of these bell-crank levers are attached the
strings c, c, leading from the jacquard apparatus above. The threads or yarns
to form the fabric pass through eyes at the lower end of these bell-crank
levers. G is the locking bar swinging from a centre H, carried by the bar D,
and is employed for insuring the return of the levers to their original position.
after the selection of levers a and b, made by the jacquard, has been operated
with; adjustable stops I are provided,as shewn in the Drawings, to prevent the

page_text: locking bar G, and the levers a and b, from being lifted too high by the action
of the jacquard from the position shewn at Fig. 1. The guide bar D is
shogged to the left (the guide levers marked being those selected by the
jacquard), the rocking motion of the shaft Claps the thread round the back
needles,which then descend, while the needles a ascend at the same time,
and by the time that the whole series of needles reach the straight position,or
on the same level, the lap will have been secured. The jacquard then releases
the guide levers (the locking bar Gwill cause them to return to their original
position), another selection of levers and threads is then made for the next
course to be worked upon the needles a*, in this instance, however, the levers
which are selected are those which carry the floating threads, and which
threads being placed between the two faces of the fabric do not form any
portion of the pattern; the threads carried by the r. maining levers of the
set a, a, are then lapped on to the needles a*, in the same manner as the
threads of the levers 6 in the former instance. From the foregoing description
it will be understood that when red threads are worked on the needles a for
six courses, and then reversed to the needles b* for six courses, white threads
being used simultaneously in the same manner, a striped fabric will be produced
and if an inch in breadth only of each color is used in the same manner, a
check will be produced.
Fig. 2, Sheet II., is a transverse section of a machine in which horizontal
levers are employed to move the needles; Fig. is a partial plan of the same.
A and B are bars ruuning the length of the machine, and screwed to the
framing A. a, a, are the horizontal levers carrying the levers f; b, b, are the
jacks, which are arranged upon the bars A and B at proper distances or gauge
by the pins d,d; these jacks are driven by a slur-cock e, carried by the bar G;
c, c, are the sinkers described in the formed Patent, and are cast in leads
screwed to the angular bar E; F is a locking bar which hangs from the
centre g, and motion is communicated thereto from the driving shaft in any
convenient manner. The operation of the various parts is as follows:-The
bar h, carrying the thread layer and slur-cock, is traversed in the direction of
the arrow, the slur-cock being then in the position shewn in Fig. 3; and when
the bar h and the slur-cock are traversed back again, the slur-cock is brought
into the position shewn by dots in the Figure. From the form of jacks
employed this motion forms loops upon all those needles which have been
selected and lifted by the jacquard by means of the cords C and levers a, a.
The locking bar F is then brought up to the end of the jacks b, so as to
"divide" or bring up the jacks to a straight line.
The locking bar H next locks back the jacks to the dotted position by

page_text: striking against the projecting piece at the upper side of the jacks, as shewn
in Fig. 2. The locking bar H is acted upon by the levers i and j, from one
of the driving shafts of the machine. The needles then descend and finish
the course by bringing the loops onto the sinkers c, as will be well understood.
Fig. 7 is a sectional diagram of another mode of working the needles, which
in this instance are mounted horizontally in combs or guides, and operated by
bell-crank levers jointed or otherwise connected to their hinder ends.
My second improvement consists in arranging rows or circles of double
ended needles having hooks or beards at both ends, and in working them in a
peculiar manner for forming the loops thereon in the manufacture of knitted
fabrics.
In carrying out this improvement, ribbed or grooved needle bars or combs
are employed, to which a longitudinal or lateral movement is imparted, whereby
the needles are brought in contact with cams or driving plates, and are driven
backwards and forwards in the grooves of their bars as may be required. By
means of these operations the thread will be drawn between suitable dividers
or sinkers, which will draw down the thread and form the loop. These needles
or hooks slide freely between the ribs of the straight needle bars, and there-
fore the attendant may take them out when desired, and thereby reduce
the width of the working part of the machine, as will be required for making
fashioned articles, as is well understood by practical knitters.
Fig. 4, Shect I., is a plan of a double-ended needle machine; Fig. 5 is a
transverse section of the same; and Fig. 6 is a front view of the plates E
and F, shewing the extent, motion, and relative position of these parts. In
Figures 4 and 5, A, A*, are two bars, forming together a travelling platform,
with a slot down the middle from end to end. This platform is supported by
rollers I, which run upon two horizontal bars D, D, fixed to the framing of
the machine. C, C, are the grooved needle bars or combs, and the needlesa,a,
are inade to traverse from one to the other of these combs, at the proper time
by being brought against the fixed driving plates B, B*; b, b, are the sinkers,
to which are jointed the levers c, c, having their fulcrum at e, their ends being
made to bear against the moreable or sliding cam plates E, F. The thread
layer g is carried by the horizontal bar fin slots in the uprights h. After the
thread is laid over the needles, the platform A, A, travels in the direction of
the arrow.
The end of one or more of the levers c falls into the catch i of the cam
plate F,and will thereby carry the latter forward until the spaces j, which are
cut out of the cam plates, are brought opposite to each other, when the cam
plute will be stopped, and the end of the levers c being relcused will travel

page_text: forward and fall into the space of the cam plate. when the sinkers will be
drawn down and form a loop between the needles. By the platform A, A°.
continuing to move and carry forward the lever c and the sinkers while the
cam plates E and F are stationary, the sinkers will be gradually lifted up by
the ends of their levers travelling over the inclined edge of the spacesj in the
cam plates F, Fig. 6.
;
The onward motion of the platform will bring the needles a up to and cause
hem to strike against the curved end of the spring and the fixed driving
plate B this will push the needles out of the combs C, and bring their
opposite ends into a position proper for entering the end of the fixed driving
plate B on the opposite side, and to enable this latter to take hold of them by
entering under the hooked end, as shewn in Fig. 4. By this means the
needles will be withdrawn from the combs C*and transferred into the combs C.
The opposite incline of the driving plate B, together with the spring H, will,
it will be understood, carry the needles back again to a proper position for the
opposite driving plate 13 to act upon them in a similar manner, so as to
transfer the needles back from the combs C to the other combs C*.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the needles are made to
traverse to and fro from one comb to the other, and that these operations aro
effected by the reciprocating motion of the platform A, A*, which carries the
combs and needles and brings the ends of the latter against the fixed driving
plates Band B. It will also be understood that the work is passed first over
one end of the needles and then over the other, so as to form turned work.
The needles may also be arranged in circles, and by giving a partial rotary
movement to the machine, the needles will be moved horizontally to and fro,
and driven between the dividers or sinkers, so as to draw a loop upon each
needle precisely in the same way as in the straight frame, thereby forming
circular knitted fabrics.
centre.
A similar fabric to that produced in the machine just described may be
formed by the employment of a series of knitting pins, each pin having small
catches or projections at one end, and working upon joints or pins in the
For instance, suppose a row of loops to be already formed upon the
fixed pios,and the knitting pins pressed forward into an inclined position, Trun
a thread across the row of knitting pins between the head of the pins and the
loops already formed on the fixed pins, and by forcing the knitting pins into
an opposite inclined position by means of a slur-cock or driver coming into
contact with the lower end of the pins, or with levers connected therewith,the
head of the knitting pins will pass through the loops already formed upon
the fixed pins, and by taking the thread through this loop a new loop will

page_text: be formed on the contrary side of the fixed pins; and when the knitting pins
are arranged in a straight row, the workman will be enabled to move any
number of them out of their working position, and thereby "fashion" the
articles, if required.
In
Fig. 9, Sheet III., is a partial plan view, Fig. 10 is a transverse section
of an arrangement of the working parts of a machine constructed according to
the above improvements. A, A, is a comb bar, to which is attached a series
of combs, B, B, provided with a series of fixed vertical pins b, which have
heads to prevent the loops as they are made from being prematurely lifted off
the pins. A second series of pins c. corresponding in form at their upper ends
with the other pins b, is mounted in the combs B; the pins c, c, are, however,
moveable, being mounted on a centre shaft, as shewn in Fig. 10, so that they
may be vibrated to and fro between the fixed pins b, b, and out of the vertical
position, as shewn in the Figure. The lower or tail ends of the vibrating
pins c, c, are inserted in a cam slot d, made in the movable cam plate C, which
is traversed or shogged laterally to and fro, as indicated by the arrow.
order to introduce the thread into the machine, the moveable pins c, c, are
thrown over on one side into an inclined position, and the thread is laid by the
carrier between the row of fixed pins b and the inclined moveable pins c, as
shewn in the plan view, Fig. 9. The cam plate C is then shogged laterally,
and the cam slot d therein (by acting on the tail or lower end of the moveable
pius c,c,) will throw them over into the opposite inclined position, as shewn in
Fig. 10, and in so doing will drag the thread between the fixed pins b, b, and
thereby form a series of loops, as seen in the plan view, Fig. 9.
held by a holding bar E, which is attached to vibrating levers e, e, and by
causing the levers e, e, and holding bar E to vibrate, the work will be thrown
over the heads of the fixed pins b, b, over the new loops that have just been
formed. The thread is then laid on the opposite side of the fixed pins, and the
moveable pins e are thrown back again between the fixed pins in precisely the
same manner as that already described.
The work is
The third improvement consists in arranging double rows or circles of
needles or hooks to make knitted fabrics in such a manner that they will be
placed in an inclined position in lines crossing each other, and will be
maintained in their proper positions by springs or some other equivalent
contrivance, but may be driven downwards by a slur-cock or driver striking
the lever or sliding pins as they are moved round in the circular machine, or
backwards and forwards in the straight machine, as may be required. By this
movement each needle, when depressed, will be made to draw a thread or loop
to form a new course without the use of loop wheels or sinkers; and if it

page_text: be required to make a broad rib or a plain fabric. a given number of points are
nsed in combination with the needles or hooks employed.
Fig. 11, Sheet IV., is a transverse section of a double rib machine with the
hooks or needles placed in an inclined position in lines crossing each other, as
above mentioned; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same. The framework
of the machine is seen at A, A. B, B, B, B, are cross bars, that form part of
the framing, and support sets of friction rolers c, c, c, c, between which work
the inclined bolts b, b, b, b, to the upper ends of which the needles «, «, are
fixed. The bolts b, b, with their needles, u, are moved up and down by
drivers d,d, d,d, fixed into the periphery of the roller C in a helical direction.
It will be seen that the needles a, a, are placed in an inclined position and
cross each other at their upper ends, their hooks being inwards, and the thread
is laid in between them by the thread carrier. By the rotation of one of the
rollers C, the drivers d,, are brought round and made to bear upon pro-
sections e at the front of the bolts, and by that means depress or carry downin
succession the several needles, which in their descent will draw down the
thread and form a loop. The hinged beard of the needle while so doing will
be turned over by the work on the shank of the needle, thereby enclosing the
newly formed loop; and by the continued descent of the boltb, the former loop
will be thrown over the head of the needle. When the whole course of loops
has been made by the series, theneedles are raised into their former position, and
in so doing the loop just formed will be pushed down on to the shank and open
the beard ready to allow another thread to be laid under the hooked endsofthe
needles. It should be observed, that the two series of needles work alternately,
that is, one set is stationary while the other is working to form loops; the
working set then becomes the stationary one,and the formerly stationary oneis
brought into operation. The ascent of the bolts b, b, and needles a, a, is
effected by means of cams D on the axis of the rollers C. These cams, in
their rotation, are made to lift the lovers E, which, by means of connecting
rods ff, will raise one side of the rocking frame F; this will bring the bar
under and against the lower ends of the bolts b, which will by that means be
lifted up into a line ready for the next operation. When the bolts have
been raised to their proper position, they are held up in their place by means
of springs h, h. The thread carrier G is supported from bars i and at the
top of the machine in the ordinary manner, and is actuated by cains H, H, on
the axle of the roller C, and by its rotation depresses the levers I, and by
means of the cords, , draw the carrier to, and fro across the machine.
g
Fig. 13 is a partial sectional view of a modification of the above. In this
instance the needles, instead of being fixed in bolts, are jointed to levers

page_text: which are mounted on centres in such a manner that the outer ends of the
levers may be acted upon by a slur-cock, cam piece, or other contrivance.
whereby the needles may be raised and lowered when required.
My last improvement relates to a mode of making circular knitted warp
fabrics by means of a row of hooks or needles provided with hinged beards;
such hooks or needles being arranged in a circular form in combination with
a circular arrangement of lever guides for carrying the threads to form the
fabric.
If a pile fabric be required, a circular series of points must be arranged
around an inner circle within the outer circle of needles already mentioned,
and the lever guides must be made double, so as to carry the thread for making
the pile as well as that for forming the foundation of the fabric. If it be
required to produce a cut pile fabric, the loops for forming the cut pile may
be cut, by being drawn down against a sharp edge made at the lower end of
the hooks for the purpose, or the pile may be cut by means of circular discs
or other contrivances provided with a cutting edge.
Fig. 14, Sheet V., is a transverse sectional elevation of a circular warp
machine of the improved construction; Fig. 15 is a plan of a portion of the
cylinder A.
A, A, is a cylinder supported in upright standards C; the upper portion of
the cylinder A is flanged outwards, and has radial slots to receive the needles
a, which are cast in leads and secured to a circular ring B. This ring B
receives an upward and downward motion by means of the arms d, from a
cam upon the main shaft. D is an angular form of ring, fitting closely to the
outer edge of the flange of the cylinder, and is prevented from being lifted
therefrom by the two rings DX, DX, screwed to it on the under and inner
side. This ring D is capable of being moved round the flange of the cylinder
A, by means of a circular rack F, which is fixed to it by the arms E. This
rack is caused to move round at the proper time by means of a pinion and
ratchet wheel in connection with it, as is well known in circular warp
machinery. Upon the ring 1) are two standards G, joined by a crosshead H
at the top of the machine. This crosshead H has a fixed bearing in the
centre, through which the hollow tube I is passed and secured thereto by a set
The tube at its lower end has a disc wheel J, firmly secured to it
by a set screw; the disc wheel J is cut radially to receive a series of peculiarly
shaped guides c, c, which have their fulcrum at e, upon the disc wheel J.
The upper part of these guides is shaped so as to incline inwards, and to pass
through the cam wheel K, which is cut radially to receive them, and has
round its outer edge a ring f. The cam K is free to slide vertically upon the
screw.

page_text: tube I, and receives an upward and downward motion from the ring M, which
has vertical rods g, g, attached to the crosshead L, which passes through a slot
in the standards G, and is consequently carried round with the ring 1) and
the other parts connected therewith. The ring M is lifted by one end of a
forked lever N, having rollers / resting against the under side of the ring M.
The lever N is actuated by a cam upon the driving shaft of the machine, as in
ordinary circular warp machines O is a circular ring lifted and carried by a
forked lever exactly similar to the lever N, and has secured it to a frame i
a set screw)
and bearing through this bearing (and secured firmly to it by
passes the shaft P, which at its lower end carries the disc 7, secured to it by a
set screw, which has the books b on its outer edge. The hooks b may be cast
in leads or otherwise secured to the disc, between the bearing of the cross-
head Hand the frame. The shaft P has a ratchet wheel k keyed to it, and
the upward and downward motion of the shaft acts upon a roller and click,
which communicates a rotary motion to the ratchet, as will be well understood.
The guides c, c, are left in the position shown in Fig. 15, that is, within the
circle of needles, on the completion of a course. In commencing another
course the shaft P is first raised, so that by the rotatory movement of the ratchet
wheel K, the hook 6 is enabled to take hold of the threads colored red; the
shaft P then descends, the hooks b holding the loop which is to form the pile;
the guides c then return through the needles (which have been ascending
during this time) by the descent of the cam K, and are brought into the
position shewn in dots in Fig. 14, and then are racked round from the circular
rack F to lap the threads on to tlie needles; the guides c, c, then return
within the circle of needles by the descent of the cam wheel K, and the
needles on descending press off the loop of the work, and complete the
course.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in machinery for the
manufacture of kuitted fabrics, and the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I would observe, that I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly
to the precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and
described, as they may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature
and object of my improvements; for instance, in place of a jacquard apparatus
being employed to select the guides or needles as described under the first
head of the Invention, treadles or levers, acted upon by tappet wheels or other
equivalent contrivances, may be employed; nor do I intend to claim as new
all the various parts herein shewn and described; but that which I consider to
be new and as of my Invention, and desire to secure under Letters Fatent
as above referred to, is,-

page_text: First, the application to double barred knitting machines of jointed guides
arranged in such a manner that they may be operated upon by a jacquard
apparatus or other equivalent contrivance for the purpose of selecting such of
them as may be required to form a pattern on the fabric. I also claim the
use and application of a jacquard apparatus or other analogous means, as
above-mentioned, for operating upon and selecting certain of the needles
or hooks for the purpose of forming patterns in knitted fabrics.
Second, the combination of double-ended needles with a reciprocating
platform and comb plates, whereby the needles are in succession brought
against fixed driving pieces whereby they are operated. I also claim the
use and application to knitting machinery of vibrating headed pins or
hooks, as above described.
Third, in reference to the third head of the Invention, I claim the com
bination of parts shewn and described, and the mode of operating double
rows of needles or hooks arranged in lines crossing each other, in the manner
and for the purpose above shewn and describedS
Fourth, 1 claim the mode herein shewn and described of producing a
pile or cut pile fabric in circular warp knitting machines.
1 claim par-
ticularly the combination of a circular arrangement of needles, with a
similar arrangement of guides and points, the needles and points being
arranged concentrically one within the other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Townsend, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Second day of Juno, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
(L.S.) MATTHEW TOWNSEND.