IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Driffell Poulter, of Basinghall Street, in the
City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING
MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by William Henry McNary, of
Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Driffell Poulter
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1878.
FREDERICK DRIFFELL POULTER, of Basinghall Street, in the City of London,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." [A communication from
abroad by William Henry McNary, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United
States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements on the knitting machine, for which a
Patent was granted to Alexander Melville Clark, dated 24th January 1878,
No. 315 (as a communication from abroad), the object being to increase the
efficiency of the machine.
The Invention relates, firstly, to means for adjusting the width of the gate or
that instrument which imparts a rising and falling motion to the needles. By
dininishing the width of this gate at pleasure and thereby diminishing the number
of needles which are simultaneously in action, increased facility is obtained. in
fashioning the knitted fabric.
In the patented machine above referred to, the needles are arranged in vertical
grooves formed in a horizontal ring which is supported in a fixed cylinder, and is
capable of receiving an axial motion therein. The gate, whatever its width, fills a
gap in such cylinder, thereby completing the circle. In the inner periphery of this
circle is an annular groove forming a circular race, into which project lugs on the
needle shanks.

page_text: As the ring moves on its axis by a step by step motion it will shift all the needles
laterally, throwing one of the needles in the gate out of action, shifting all the
-needles-in-the-gate, and bringing_a_fresh_needle into the gate, and it is by this
-means that the threads are laid under the beards of the needles.
It is now proposed to construct a gate of such width that it will operate upon a
minimum number of needles, say for example 10, and to make up this width by
detachable pieces-applied-to-both-sides-thereof,-so-that-it_will operate upon a
minimum number of needles, say 42. This result will be conveniently obtained by
applying to each side of the gate one piece to control 1-needle, one-piece to control
3 needles, and three pieces to control 4 needles. All these pieces will be grooved in
their faces.to.correspond with the groove in the permanent portion of the gate and
the groove in the fixed cylinder. The groove in the cylinder will-in-this-case-be-
carried by shifting segment pieces, so arranged that by the removal of one or more
of these pieces, or an addition thereto, and the endway adjustment of these pieces,
the portion of the race in the fixed cylinder may be extended or contracted to
correspond to the changes made in the width of the gate, which changes will be
effected while the machine is quiesent.
The Invention relates, secondly, to novel mechanism for working the gate, that
is, giving it an up and down motion, with a suitable dwell when at its highest
position for the lateral traverse of the needles. The gate is connected by a link
with a slotted rock lever, on the fulcrum rod of which is an arm which connects by
a link rod to a crank pin carried by a rotary crank, plate, or disc.
This
In the face of this disc a straight groove is formed, running across its axis of
motion, and in the groove is fitted a slide to which the crank pin is attached.
crank pin projects into a cam groove formed on the face of a stationary cam, the
groove being so shaped as to control the throw of the pin as it is revolved, and
enable it through the connecting rod and levers before mentioned to impart the
requisite motions to the gate.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to a mode of thickening the work at any given
part where such a change in the knitted fabric is required. This is effected by
giving a back and forward motion to the presser, and so operating it that it shall
act only on the needles at every second descent of the gate. The effect of this will
be to allow two thicknesses of yarn to pass under the needle beards before pressing,
thereby doubling the thickness of the fabric so long as this back and forward motion
of the presser is continued.
A further improvement relates to the "plating" of the knitted fabric, and con-
sists in applying to the machine two sets of thread guides, one of which, being
supplied with a superior yarn, will overlay therewith the yarn, of the other thread
guides; both sets of thread guides working together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Driffell Poulter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1879.
FREDERICK DRIFFELL POULTER, of Basinghall Street, in the City of London,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by William Henry McNary, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements on the knitting machine, for which a
Patent was granted to Alexander Melville Clark, dated Twenty fourth January,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, No. 315, as a communication from
abroad, the object being to increase the efficiency of the machine.
The Invention relates, firstly, to means for adjusting the width of the gate or
that instrument which imparts a rising and falling motion to the needles. By
diminishing the width of this gate at pleasure, and thereby diminishing the number
of needles which are simultaneously in action, increased facility is obtained in
fashioning the knitted fabric.
In the patented machine above referred to, the needles are arranged in vertical
grooves formed in a horizontal ring, which is supported in a fixed cylinder and is'
capable of receiving an axial motion therein. The gate, whatever its width, fills a
gap in such cylinder, thereby completing the circle. In the inner periphery of this
circle is an annular groove forming a circular race, into which project lugs on the
needle shanks. As the ring moves on its axis by a step by step motion it will shift
all the needles laterally, throwing one of the needles in the gate out of action,
shifting all the needles in the gate, and bringing a fresh needle into the gate, and it
is by this means that the threads are laid under the beards of the needles.
It is now proposed to construct a gate of such width that it will operate upon a
minimum number of needles, say for example ten, and to make up this width by
detachable segment pieces applied to both sides thereof, so that it will operate upon a
maximum number of needles, say forty-two. The result will be conveniently obtained
by applying to each side of the gate one piece to control one needle, one piece to
control three needles, and three pieces to control four needles. All these pieces will
be grooved in their face to correspond with the groove in the permanent portion of the
gate and the groove in the fixed cylinder. The groove in the cylinder will in this
case be carried in part by shifting seginent pieces, so arranged as to admit of the
removal of one or more of the segment pieces from the gate to the cylinder, or from
the cylinder to the gate, and the endway adjustment of the cylinder segment pieces.
By this means the portion of the race in the fixed cylinder may be extended or
contracted to correspond to the changes made in the width of the gate, which
changes will be effected while the machine is quiescent.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., shews a plan view, a portion of
the needle ring of the machine, with the "gate" which gives the vertical reciproca-
tions to the needles; also the driving shaft and mechanism for giving motion to the
gate and needle ring. In Sheet II., Figures 2 and 3 shew the gate detached in
side and front elevations. Figs. 4 are detached views of the segments forming
part of the gate.
A, A, is the bed plate or table of the machine; B is the hollow cylinder sur-
rounding the needle ring and bolted to the bed plate A; C is the needle ring, and
C the switch wheel for driving the same; D is the "gate" mounted vertically
between brass guides carried by brackets bolted to the bed plate A (see Fig. 1) and
formed on its inner face with a grooved flange.
The central portion d' of the flange, which is long enough to extend across about
ten needles, extends forward to reach close up to the needles and receive the lugs
on the shanks of the needles. The remaining portions of the flange on both sides of
the part are of less width and are rebated, as shown in the detached views,

page_text: Figures 2 and 3, Sheet II., to receive rebated projections which project from the
back of the segment pieces d². These segment pieces may vary in width to permit
of the gate receiving any desired number of needles, their addition to the gate
increasing its width to meet the varying requirements of the work These segment
pieces d² are also furnished with a-groove- in-their inner edge (see detached views,
Figures 4, Sheet II.) to correspond with the part of the gate D and hollow
ring-B
ds are plates which overlie the segments d². These plates-are-separately-bolted-
-to-the-flange.d, and serve to secure the segments & firmly in place.
B¹, B¹, are shifting or sliding segment pieces (see detached view, Figs. 1a) which
are sunk flush into grooves made to receive them in the inner periphery of the
hollow cylinder-B. These-sifting-segments.each extend around about a quarter of
the circumference of the needle ring, and between them the gate D works. They
are grooved horizontally in their face like the cylinder B to receive the lugs of the
shanks of the needles. At the point farthest from the gate where the end of the
segments B¹ extends to, a portion B of the cylinder B is made capable of removal
from the cylinder B, as shewn in section at Fig. 1b for the purpose of adjusting the
position of the segments B', when a change in the width of the gate is required to
bo inade. The portion B2 of the ring B being wide enough to receive the movable
segments of one side of the gate. When it is desired to work with the smallest
number of needles, the loose segment pieces d are removed from the gate D, and
fitted to the fixed cylinder B between it and the loose segment pieces B¹, and by
this means the space in which the gate is to work is contracted in exact proportion
to the contraction of the width of the gate.
When two or more additional needles are required to be thrown into work,
suitable segment pieces d² are removed from the cylinder and replaced in the gate,
the pieces B being pushed back to open. or to provide the requisite space for the
gate to work in. These adjustments of the gate and guiding cylinder will take
place when the gate is standing at its highest position and the machine is quiescent.
On the completion of this adjustment the working of the machine may be resumed
as before, it being understood that a corresponding change is made in the number
of the thread guides brought into use either less or more, according to the number
of needles which are worked by the gate.
The Invention relates, secondly, to novel mechanism for working the gate, that
is, giving it an up-and-down motion with a suitable dwell when at its highest
position for the lateral traverse of the needles.
In Sheet III. of the Drawings, Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the
machine shewing the improved means of giving motion to the gate, the gate and a
portion of the needle ring being in section to shew the construction of the gate and
its relative position to the needle ring.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of this part of the mechanism.
E, E, are the feet rollers (see Sheet I.) for supplying the yarn to the needles;
F, is the driving shaft of the machine carried in bearings bolted to the table or bed
plate A, and from it the motion for working the gate is taken in the manner which
I will now proceed to explain.
G is a crank plate or disc keyed on the end of the driving shaft F, and furnished
with a straight groove g made across the face of the disc. In this groove is fitted a
flanged slide g¹ which carries a crank pin H.
I is a vertical cam plate placed opposite the end of the driving shaft F, and
having its centre in line with the axis of that shaft.
The crank pin H carries at its outer end a bowle which runs in the groove i of
the vertical cam plate I.
J is a link rod connecting the crank pin I with a rock lever K' keyed on a rock
shaft K, which is mounted in pendant brackets on the under side of the bed
plate A.
K2 is a lever projecting from the opposite side of the rock shaft, and connected
by the link K³ with the gate D (see detail views Figures 2 and 3, Sheet II.).

page_text: The groove in the cam plate I is so shaped as to control the throw of the crank
pin Has it is revolved, and thereby to enable it through the connecting rod and
levers before mentioned to impart the requisite up-and-down motions to the gate.
It being essential as is well understood that there shall be a dwell of the gate
at the time that an axial motion is being given to the needle ring C in order
to provide for variations in the slackness of the work, it is necessary that the
amount of the descent of the gate shall be adjustable, the descent of the gate
and consequently of the needles being increased in proportion as the length of
thread to be taken up by the needles at each descent is increased. To provide
for this the rock lever K¹ is formed with a curved slot at its outer end to receive
the coupling of the link J, and in proportion as this pin is advanced to the fulcrum
K, so will the vertical motion of the gate be increased, the increased inotion being
gained wholly at the lower part of the stroke of the gate. The dotted positions of
the rock levers K' and K2, in Fig. 5, indicate the utmost limits of variation pro-
vided for by the adjustment of the coupling pin. The special advantage claimed
for this arrangement of driving mechanism is, that it gives smoothness to the
reversing notion of the gate, and thus admits of the gate being driven at a high
speed.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to a mode of thickening the work at any given
part where such a change in the knitted fabric is required. This is effected by
giving a back and forward motion to the presser, and so operating it that it shall
act only on the needles at every second descent of the gate. The effect of this will
be in conjunction with a suitable adjustment of the guides to double the thickness
of the fabric, so long as this back and forward motion of the presser is continued.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Sheets II. and IV. of the Drawings,
Fig. 7, Sheet II., being a plan view of a portion of the needle ring C and sur-
rounding hollow ring B, the yarn guides being removed to shew the movable
presser and the mechanisin for operating the same.
Fig. S, Sheet IV., is a plan view of a portion of the machine, shewing the yarn
guides in place with the mechanism for operating them, a portion of the pattern
plate and the gearing for driving the cam, and the mechanism by which the presser
is made to act alternately on the needles, or to be removed out of their reach, or at
will to remain as a fixed and acting presser for any desired number of reciprocations
of the gate. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the same, the needle ring presser and
yarn guide slide and the gate being in section, as are also the driving shaft and feed
rollers for the yarn.
Referring to Fig. 7, L is the presser, which is formed of a flat plate, the front
edge being rounded (as seen in the vertical view. Fig. 9); M is the yarn guide slide;
7, 7, are inclined slots made through this plate L.
The presser plate L lies in a rebate made across the top flange B' of the hollow
ring B. This flange B³ carries the slide M of the yarn guides m.
N is a flat bar, sunk in a groove made in the flange Bs below the presser plate.
This bar carries two projecting pins n, n, (preferably made square) which enter the
inclined slots 1, 1, of the presser plate L.
O is a rocking arm pivotted at n¹ to the end of the bar N, and supported in a
horizontal position by a projection from a bracket on the bed plate A.
This arm O carries a pin or bowle o, which enters a groove o' formed on the hub
of a spur wheel O¹. This wheel O¹ is mounted on a stud pin carried by a bracket
bolted on the bed plate A, and is driven through an intermediate wheel from a
pinion on the driving shaft F of the machine. The gearing is arranged to give
one rotation of the cam of the wheel O¹ to two revolutions of the driving
shaft F.
The cut of the cam is such that it will give an endway motion to the bar N
through the rocking arm O, sufficient to enable it to advance and draw back the
presser bar, and thereby alternately throw it into and out of action. This motion
the bar N will transmit at right angles to the presser plate L through the studs n, n,
which enter the inclined slots of the plate L.

page_text: O is a rod pivotted to the lower part of the swinging-frame at one end, and
jointed by a springing joint (easily detachable) to the rocking arm O carrying the
pin or bowle o, by which the cam operates the presser.
0-is-a-rocking lever, one-end.of which overlies the fork P of the pattern plate Q,
and the opposite end is made to change the position of the swinging frame-at-will-
-in-the-same manner as shown and described in the Specification of the before
mentioned Patent.
L' is a bridge piece screwed on the presser plate L and standing over the lever M³,
which operates the open slide M.
The bridge L' carries a stud pin ", which serves as a guide for a cam plate N¹
formed on one end of a link rod Nr.
The opposite end of this link rod is jointed to
the stud pin n³, which forms the pivot of the rocking arm O on the bar N, and it
receives an endway motion therefroin.
The cam plate N¹ at the head of the rod N2 has two slots in it, one straight (in
the direction of its motion, which takes the stud pin l' of the bridge piece L', and
the other a cam slot, which takes a pin n² projecting from a rock lever N, which
overlies the cam plate. This rock lever N is slotted longitudinally to receive a
pin m' projecting from this rock lever M, and it has a forked end for embracing the
switch wheel C¹ when advanced by means of the cam slot, and receiving a rocking
motion therefrom. The shifting of the thread guide slide M at every change in the
direction of rotation of the needle ring is effected as before by the switch acting on
the rock lever M³, but for the purpose of introducing a float at every other descent
of the gate the additional forked lever N³ is employed.
This lever, when rocked by the switch will, through the pin m' that stands in
its slots, rock the lover M³, and thereby give the requisite motion to the thread
guides for laying the threads at the back of the needles. In place of carrying the
cam slot upon a detachable plate N¹, it may be carried direct upon and form a part
of the bar N.
The operation of the mechanism shewn at Sheets II. and IV. to produce thickened
work, either continuously or over any portion of the fabric is as follows during two
successive revolutions of the driving shaft of the machine.
In the first revolution of the switch wheel, supposing the needle ring to be
moving in the direction of the arrow Fig. S, Sheet IV., the yarn guide being over
to the left hand, the pin o of the rocking arm O would be at this time in the straight
part of the cam groove o¹. As this cam rotates once for every two revolutions of
the switch wheel, the presser plate L would consequently be at this time in its
forward position, and at the next descent of the gate a row of loops would be
knitted.
During the second revolution of the switch wheel the cam groove o will draw
the rocking arm O to the right, thereby causing the withdrawal of the presser plate
L into its backward position. The parts shewn at Fig. 8, Sheet IV., are shewn as
at about half their traverse. The rocking arm O in thus moving carries with it the
cam plate N' the cam slot of which, acting on the lever N³, throws it backwards
and places the prongs of the lever (which embraces the switch wheel) within
reach of the corner of the switch as it is carried round by the revolution of the
switch wheel.
As the switch passes between the prongs of the lever N³ it moves the lever to the
right on its fulcrum pin 7, when by means of the pin m' it will rock the lever M¹
to the right, and thereby shift the yarn guides.
This action takes place as the needle ring is moving to the right, the needles
and yarn guides will then be in the position shewn at diagram I., Sheet V.
At the next descent of the needles the presser plate L being in its rear position
the loops are not pressed off, there being no threads under the beards of the needles.
The continued rotation of the switch wheel will rock the lever M' and the yarn
.

page_text: guides back to their former position, that is, to the left hand, as shewn in the
diagram II., Sheet V.
The ascending gate of needles will now have all the threads at the back of the
needles, as seen in diagram II., and as the needles rise, the pin o of the rocking arm
O will come again into the straight part of the cam groove o' and push the rocking
arm to the left, thereby bringing forward the presser plate L into its acting
position. The needles now receive a traverse motion in the direction of the
arrow by which means the threads are brought into the position shewn in
diagram III.
This diagram shows that the thread of No. 1 yarn guide has been placed by the
preceding operations at the back of the needle No. 2 and in front or under the
beard of the needle No. 3, and that the threads of the other guides are laid in
the same relative position to their respective needles, so that at the next descont
of the gate every needle will have a fresh knitted loop; the beards of the needles
being now pressed by the presser plate to allow of the loops being pulled over the
needle heads.
Successive rotations of the main shaft will produce repetitions of the above series
of operations, resulting in the thickening of the knitted fabric.
On reversing the direction of motion of the needle ring similar actions of the parts
connected with the yarn guides, but in a reverse direction, will take place; the
presser plate continuing to advance and recede as explained.
The thickened work will thus continue to be made until the pin o of the
bar or lever O is thrown out of the cam groove o' by the swinging frame 03
operated from the pattern plate Q after the nanner fully described in the before-
mentioned Patent.
Plain knitting will now commence and continue to be made as every needle passes
a yarn guide until another angle piece on the pattern plate shall raise the rock
lever O and change the position of the swinging frame 03. When the rocking arm
O withdraws the pin o from the cam groove of a curved slotted portion of the rocking
arın embraces a fixed pin on a bracket and maintains the presser plate L in its
forward position, and the motions of the yarn guides are left to the lever M¹ alone
when the direction of the needle ring changes.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to a mode of "plating" the knitted fabric and
consists in applying to the machine two sets of thread guides, one of which being
supplied with a superior yarn will overlay therewith the yarn of the other thread
guides; both sets of thread guides serving out their threads for each course of work
produced. Each set of guides is provided with a pair of feed rolls the rate of
delivery of which is regulated according to the requirements of the work. The
superior quality of thread or yarn serves to form the face of the fabric, and. the
inferior or coarser quality is thrown at the back to give substance and strength to
the fabric.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Sheets VI., VII. and VIII., of the
Drawings. Fig. 10, Sheet VI, being a plan view of a portion of the machine in-
cluding a part of the needle ring, the yarn guide slide and mechanism for
operating them, one of the two pairs of feed rollers and the gearing for driving
the same, together with a portion of the pattern plate and mechanism connecting it
with the yarn guide slides.
.
Fig. 11, Sheet VII., is a side elevation partly in section shewing the two pairs
of yarn feeding rollers and the manner of mounting and driving the same.
Fig. 12, Sheet VIII., shews in front view the mechanism employed for coupling
and uncoupling the yarn guide slides.
Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation on the lines 1, 2, of Fig. 12, and 3, 4, of Fig. 10,
shewing the pins for coupling the yarn guide slides together and uncoupling the same
so that they may be operated separately or together, as desired.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 are detail views of parts of the mechanism for operating
the coupling lever for the thread guide slides.
In these Figures E, E, and E', E¹, are the two pairs of feed rollers for supplying

page_text: the yarns to be knitted, The yarns of the upper set of guides are supplied by the
feed rollers E, E, which are mounted and driven as described in the before mentioned
Patent.
The feed rollers E', E'; for-supplying the_lower_set_of_guides are mounted in
brackēt standards-bolted to the bed -plate or table. of the machine and they are
driven by the gearing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 from the pinion F¹ on the main shaft,
as-shewn-in-Fig. 10 and 11, Sheets VI, VII., the threads or yarns passing from the
nip of these rollers E', E', are led under and over-horizontal-rods-and-through.slots_
-made-for-that-purpose through the upper yarn slide and are threaded through the
tubes of the lower yarn slide, as seen in the sectional view Fig. 13.
M is the upper yarn guide slide held down loosely by screws m* on the flange B³ of
the hollow cylinder-B,-and-Mis.the lower yarn guide slide similarly mounted below
the flange B. Between these segmental slides M. and M* is the presser plate L
lying as before in a recess in the flange B³, its outer pressing edge projecting into the
vertical plane of the beards of the needles. The presser is here intended to be used as a
fixed presser, but in a hereinafter described modification the presser will be employed
as a movable presser in connection with the "plating" mechanism for the production
of a thicker fabric.
M² and M³ are vertical sockets attached to the slides, M, M*, in the same vertical
line for receiving a locking pin m² which carries a collar or stop that determines the
distance of vertical traverse of this loose pin.
m³ is a pin which slides in the lower socket and serves to lift the locking pin and
thereby disconnect the two slides M, M*.
m is a light vertical slide which embraces the two pins and is intended to insure
their simultaneous rise and fall. This slide is attached loosely to the lower socket
by a pin. The top of this slide rests upon the top of the pin m², and the bottom of
the slide forms a guide for the lower pin m³, which pin projects through the slide
and is connected to a helical spring m³ the opposite end of which is attached to a
bracket M projecting from the lower segment slide M*. This spring m³ serves to
sustain both pins in their highest position and when in this position the lower pin
m³ fills the hole in the lower socket flush with the upper surface of the lower yarn
slide, pushing out the upper or coupling pin m², thus permitting of the slide M* being
moved independently of the upper slide.
R is a rock lever pivotted loosely at on a slotted bracket R' screwed to the
under side of the flange B³ of the hollow cylinder B. One end of this rock
lever is forked to embrace the lower or uncoupling pin m³ (between collars
formed thereon), and its other end is also forked for a purpose to be presently
explained.
S is a grooved cam mounted on a horizontal stud axle S¹ carried by a bracket
bolted to the bed plate or table A. The grooves s, s', made round the periphery
are straight and parellel for nearly three quarters of the circumference of the
cam and then lead outwards in opposite directions again run parallel for a short
distance and are brought by inward inclined grooves back to their respective
straight grooves.
The forked end of the lever R is constructed in the following manner :-71, 72, are
pins projecting downwards from the lower prong R2 and are intended to enter
respectively the grooves s, s¹, of the rotating cam S for the purpose of transmitting
horizontally reciprocating motion. The upper prong R³ carries at its outer end a
projection on its under face, the lower edge of which is rounded to allow of its being
raised by inclines carried by the forked lever T moving at right angles thereto. The
pin of the rock lever R when allowed to fall into the groove s of the vertical cam
S uncouples the two slides by raising the opposite end of the rock lever R, and the
cam grooves will then transmit from the cam S through its independent lever R
the requisite reciprocating motions to the yarn slide M*.
The lever T is pivotted on a bracket T¹ (see Fig. 12) bolted to the bed plate A,
and it receives a reciprocating motion from the pattern plate Q through the lever P,
which operates the switch of the switch wheel C'. This lever is shewn in side

page_text: elevation at Fig. 14 and in sectional plan view at Fig. 15. These Figures represent
the lever as embracing the upper prong R³ (shewn in dots in the Figure) of the
lever R. Fitted to extremities of the prongs of the lever T are inclines t, t',
extending in opposite directions. These inclines (as the lever T is swung in either
direction) will (one or other of them in their turn according to the lateral position
of the lever R) strike on the under side of the upper prong Rs of the lever R, and
lift that lever to the position shewn in the detached view Fig. 14ª, thereby dis-
engaging the lever R from the cam S. Rotary motion is communicated to the
cam S by the spur wheel S² from a pinion F on the main shaft F through the
intermediate wheel S3, as shewn best in the sectional elevation Fig. 11, Sheet VII.
It will be understood that the upper set of yarn guides is moved auto-
matically as already explained by the switch wheel C through the rock lever M'
as the direction of motion of the needle ring C is changed, whereas the lower set of
yarn guides is automatically moved by the cam S which is timed by the gearing
to act only at every alternate rotation of the driving shaft F.
In Fig. 10, Sheet VI., the needle ring is supposed to be moving in the direction
of the arrow, and the upper yarn guide slide is immediately over the lower one but
uncoupled therefrom. The lower one is consequently free to be moved by the rock
lever R endwise in the direction indicated by the arrow as the outwardly inclined
part of the groove s passes the pin of the lever R, and it is brought back to the
position shown in Fig. 10 as the succeeding reverse incline passes the pin 7.
The upper yarn guide will now remain stationary, and the reciprocations of the
lower yarn guide continue as long as the needle ring continues to rotate in the same
direction.
On the change of direction of the motion of the needle ring the pattern plate
first shifts the switch lever P, giving motion to the swinging lever T in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 14 through the bell crank lever V and link U.
This action of the swinging lever T throws the incline t under the projection of
the upper prong R³ of the lever R and raises the end of that lever, lifting the pin
out of the groove 8 of the cam S. The switch being now shifted the rock lever M'
will be acted upon by the switch during its further rotation, and the yarn guides
now coupled together will be moved over to the right from the position shewn at
Fig. 10, and the direction of motion of the needle ring will be changed by the
further rotation of the switch. The endway motion thus given to the coupled yarn
slides will carry the lever Rend ways also, and the projection on its upper pron R³
will slip off the incline t of the lever T into the dotted position shewn in Fig. 14ª
Sheet VIII., and the pin will then fall into the groove s¹ of the cam S, as shewn
at Fig. 10, which groove is cut to give similar reciprocations to the rock lever R
but in reverse directions to those obtained from the groove s through the pin 1.
This action of the machine will continue until the pattern plate again changes the
position of the switch lever P. The incline t' of the lever T will now be brought
into action and caused to lift the lever R and withdraw the pin m³, and allow the
yarn slides to be recoupled.
The shifting of the now coupled yarn guide slides by the rock lever M¹ back to
the position shewn at Fig. 10 will cause the projection on the prong R³ to fall off*
the incline t, and the pin r¹ of the lower prong R² will again take its place in the
groove 8 to renew the reciprocating motion to the lower yarn guides.
The operation of plating as effected by means of the above described-mechanisin
is as follows:-During the first rotation of the switch wheel the upper yarn guides
are exactly over the lower yarn guides. The threads of the upper yarn guides are
laid so as to get under the beards of the needles, as in diagram IV., but the threads
of the lower yarn guides (which are below the presser) are laid across the stem of
the needles far below the beards, thus the needle beards being pressed before
reaching the lower threads, those threads will be passed over the needle heads at
the next descent of the gate and form the back of the work. A row of knitted
loops is at the same time produced from the upper threads and destined to form the
face of the fabric.

page_text: At the next rotation of the switch, wheel the lower yarn guide slide M* is moved
in the direction of the arrow in diagram V, which represents the course of both
upper and lower threads (at the left hand side of the Figure the upper slide is
moved to show the position of the lower thread guides). This motion of the lower
slide M takes place while the needles are down, so that the threads of the lower
yarn guide slide M* lie at the back of the needles, as shewn at the left hand side
of-diagram-V. When the needles-rise-the-yarn.guides_move_in_a_direction opposite
to the arrow in the diagram V, that is, into the position shewn in diagram VI. at
-the-time the needles-are-moving-
•
After the needles have made another step motion the lower thread 3 will be at
the back of the needle 4.
The loops of the upper threads will be knitted at the next descent-of-the-gate,
while the loops of the lower threads are lying over the loops of the last formed row
of knitted loops. By this means the threads of the lower yarn guides will be laid
as interlaced threads under and over the several threads of the upper yarn guides,
as they pass from one vertical row of loops to another in a diagonal line, not being
knitted, and lying wholly at the back of the fabric as nearly straight threads.
With the same arrangement of a double set of guides and a movable presser
(operated by mechanism similar to that before described in reference to Sheets II.
and IV.) the lower yarns would be laid in as straight threads as before while the
upper yarns or threads would be alternately knitted and floated alternately at the
back of the needles or as often as the presser is withdrawn, and so produce
thickening of the fabric in addition to that due to the straight threads, the face of
the fabric shewing the knitted loops and the back the floats of the other threads.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in
Knitting Machinery," as communicated to me from abroad by my foreign corre-
spondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,—
First. The means above described with reference to Sheets I. and II. for varying
the width of the gate according to the requirements of the work in hand.
Second. The arrangement of mechanism above described with reference to
Sheets I., II, and III., for operating the gate and thereby increasing the speed of
production of the machine.
Third. The means above described with reference to Sheets II. and IV. for
thickening the fabric at any desired part.
Fourth. The mode of and apparatus for "plating" the knitted fabric described
with reference to Sheets V., VI., VII., and VIII.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Driffell Poulter, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.