Abstract: The accumulation of lint, debris and other contaminants in the needle and dial slots of a circular knitting machine can be significantly reduced by enclosing an annular air chamber spanning between the cylinder and dial and delivering a pressurized airstream into the chamber. The airstream can necessarily escape from the chamber only upwardly through the spacing between the cylinder and dial where the airstream serves to blow lint, debris and contaminants away from the critical knitting elements (e.g., needles and sinkers) and prevent the accumulation of such materials within the cylinder and dial slots. The conventional need for flushing the cylinder slots can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A debris cleaning apparatus for a circular knitting machine includes a horizontal radial support arm rotatably mounted coaxially to the machine frame with a rotary paddle-type fan mounted to one outward end of the support arm for movement within a circular range of motion and a counterweight mounted to the other outward end of the support arm. A drive motor imparts circular motion to the fan either in a vertical plane or in a conical path of motion, wherein the line of force of the fan is substantially maintained out of co-planar relation with the central axis of the machine. In this manner, the moving airstream generated by the fan provides a motive force for propelling the support arm to rotate about the central axis at a cyclically varying speed of rotation, either reversingly or in a single rotational direction. Thus, the airstream is directed through its range of movement over the knitting and yarn feeding instrumentalities of the machine about its full circumferential extent to blow lint from surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flushing lint and other debris from the cylinder needle and sinker rest ring slots of a circular knitting machine utilizes a pair of nozzles disposed closely adjacent the upper end of the cylinder to inject into the slots from one nozzle a narrow pressurized stream of flushing oil and from the other nozzle a similar stream of pressurized air, either on an alternating or simultaneous basis, periodically over the course of operation of the knitting machine, preferably once every twenty-four hours, i.e. three work shifts, of machine operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flushing lint and other debris from the cylinder needle and sinker rest ring slots of a circular knitting machine utilizes a pair of nozzles disposed closely adjacent the upper end of the cylinder to inject into the slots from one nozzle a narrow pressurized stream of flushing oil and from the other nozzle a similar stream of pressurized air, either on an alternating or simultaneous basis, periodically over the course of operation of the knitting machine, preferably once every twenty-four hours, i.e. three work shifts, of machine operation.

Abstract: A debris cleaning apparatus (10) for a circular knitting machine (12) includes a horizontal radial support arm (24) rotatably mounted coaxially to the machine frame (14) with a rotary paddle-type fan (26) pivotably mounted to the outward end of the support arm for oscillating movement within a vertical plane. A drive motor (38) rotates the support arm and fan as a unit while simultaneously imparting oscillating movement to the fan (26) through an eccentrically driven actuating arm (56). In this manner, a moving airstream generated by the fan is directed through the range of its oscillating movement over the knitting and yarn feeding instrumentalities of the machine about its full circumferential extent to blow lint from the surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus for threading yarns through yarn transport tubes in a tube-type textile yarn creel provides a plurality of valve assemblies operatively communicated to a common source of pressurized air, each valve assembly being mounted to the creel at the entrance end of a respective yarn transport tube for selectively discharging pressurized air into and through the tube when desired to thread a yarn through the tube.

Abstract: An adjustable textile yarn creel of circular construction includes a plurality of yarn package supporting assemblies each of which has a frame on which a pair of yarn package supporting members are mountable in parallel at selectively variable spacings. The yarn package supporting assemblies are connected with one another in upright disposition in a circular arrangement by connector assemblies extending between laterally adjacent yarn package supporting assemblies. Yarn is withdrawn radially inwardly of the creel from the yarn packages and transported therefrom through respective guide tubes to an associated textile machine such as a circular knitting machine.