Abstract: An apparatus for detecting broken hooks of needles in a knitting machine having first and second cam faces defining a cam for slidably receiving needle butts. The cam includes a raising cam portion, a stitch cam portion, and a welt cam portion in which tension forces between yarn loops and hooks bias the butts of intact needles against the first cam face. The detector has a detector butt raising segment wherein the second cam face in the welt cam portion is inclined away from the second cam face at the stitch position for urging butts toward the first cam face. A detector butt lowering segment follows the detector butt raising segment, in which the first cam face urges the butts toward the second cam face. A recess segment follows the butt lowering segment.

Abstract: A readily replaceable restricting member is within an annular receiving channel that is defined by a cylindrical portion of a circular knitting machine, and the restricting member is operative to restrict at least upward or downward movement of the sinkers of the circular knitting machine. The sinkers are operative for reciprocating radially relative to the cylindrical portion and the restricting member such that sliding contact is defined between the sinkers and the biased restricting member. In accordance with several of the embodiments of the present invention, each of the sinkers comprises an upper nib and a lower nib, a radially extending slot is defined between the upper nib and the lower nib, and the slot is open at the leading edge of the sinker.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting broken hooks of needles in a knitting machine having first and second cam faces defining a cam for slidably receiving needle butts. The cam includes a raising cam portion, a stitch cam portion, and a gate cam portion in which tension forces between yarn loops and hooks bias the butts of intact needles against the first cam face. The detector has a detector butt raising segment wherein the second cam face in the gate cam portion is inclined away from the second cam face at the stitch position for urging butts toward the first cam face. A detector butt lowering segment follows the detector butt raising segment, in which the first cam face urges the butts toward the second cam face. A recess segment follows the butt lowering segment.

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.

Abstract: A lint control apparatus particularly adapted for textile plants includes a cylindrical filter with filter media about its circumferential periphery, a coaxial fan for drawing ambient air from the workplace radially through the filter media into the filter housing, and an upstanding duct for directing the air exhaust upwardly at overhead surfaces to blow lint therefrom and limit further lint accumulation thereon. The apparatus is adapted to be freestanding on a floor surface of the work area, with an interior baffle within the filter housing effectively concentrating the ambient air draw along the floor surface. The upstanding duct may have a deflector member which is movable through a predetermined course to direct the discharged air over a predetermined overhead area.

Abstract: A tubular conduit for transporting a traveling texile yarn is formed of ordinary circular nylon tubing provided with a plurality of crimps formed at longitudinal spacings to provide interior projecting edge portions in the tubular conduit. The traveling yarn contacts the interior wall surface of the tubular conduit essentially only at the projecting edge portions to reduce frictional contact between the yarn and the tubular conduit to prevent yarn tension increases and yarn breakage.

Abstract: A textile storage feeding device having a pair of spaced upper and lower strand storage drums coaxially mounted integrally with one another and with a driving pulley assembly for integral rotation for transiently storing a traveling textile strand windingly in sequence about the upper storage drum and then about the lower storage drum. A stop motion arm monitors the traveling strand intermediate the storage drums to detect upstream strand breakages, the stop motion arm being isolated from tension variations, flutterings and the like in the traveling strand to avoid "false stops". Another stop motion arm upstream of the storage drums monitors increases in the tension of the strand, without detecting strand breakages or other tension losses, to stop operation in response to excessive strand tension to prevent at least some strand breakages.

Abstract: A textile storage feeding device having a pair of spaced upper and lower strand storage drums coaxially mounted integrally with one another and with a driving pulley assembly for integral rotation for transiently storing a traveling textile strand windingly in sequence about the upper storage drum and then about the lower storage drum. A stop motion arm monitors the traveling strand intermediate the storage drums to detect upstream strand breakages, the stop motion arm being isolated from tension variations, flutterings and the like in the traveling strand to avoid "false stops.

Abstract: A compact, self-contained device for direct mounting on a knitting or other textile machine for monitoring and displaying the machine's operating efficiency. A first digital LED continuously displays machine operating efficiency. During machine operation, a second digital LED displays the number of previous machine stoppages and, during machine stoppages, displays the elapsed time of the prevailing machine stoppage. Operating switches permit selective display on the second LED of either the total elapsed time of device operation which forms the time base for the efficiency value or the duration of the longest previous machine stoppage.

Abstract: A simplified strand storage and feeding device having a rotatable spool about which a traveling yarn is transiently wound while being fed to a textile machine, utilizes a noval driving arrangement for rotation of the spool, including a pulley operatively affixed to the spool and having plural radial teeth circumferentially spaced about one side of a belt receiving recess in the pulley and a driving belt having compatible edge notches meshing with the pulley teeth. The edge notched configuration of the belt provides positively timed driving of the device while also being spliceable by mechanical interconnection of separate belt ends, so that the belt may be of non-endless form for ease of installation and breaks therein may be easily repaired by splicing. A slidably movable yarn withdrawal guide eyelet is provided for withdrawing yarn from the spool either tangentially or generally axially therefrom for operation of the device in either a positive or demand feeding mode.

Abstract: A textile yarn creel having a circular supporting framework and plural yarn package supporting members mounted removably and circumferentially slidably thereabout and axially thereof, the supporting members having plural radially inwardly extending pins for mounting of yarn packages thereon for radially inward yarn withdrawal. Guide eyelet members are mounted in a circular arrangement on the circular framework radially inwardly spaced from the package supporting members for receiving the yarns and for direction therefrom to an associated textile machine e.g. a multi-feed circular knitting machine. The package supporting members may be selectively mounted at substantially any locations and spacings circumferentially about the framework for selective expansion and reduction of the creel capacity without changing the floor space occupied.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing knitted cut-pile fabric on a conventional circular knitting machine having a cylinder containing conventional latch needles and a dial containing dial elements each having a hook, a yarn cutting edge spaced from the hook and a yarn supporting surface extending therebetween, each dial element being radially movable between adjacent cylinder needles. Body yarn is progressively fed to the cylinder needles and pile yarn is progressively fed to the needles and the dial elements, the needles and dial elements being manipulated to form stitches of body yarn on the needles, to associate the pile yarn in the stitches and form pile loops on the dial elements, and to cast-off the needles the associated stitches and pile yarn to anchor the pile yarn in the stitches.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing belt end portions for mechanical interconnection includes a punch-press and jig assembly for precisely forming a square central opening in one end portion and opposed square side edge openings in another end portion and a cutting arrangement for slitting the one end portion longitudinally from its central opening. The belt end portions are assembled by inserting the another portion through the slit and central opening of the one portion and orienting the transverse extent of the another portion within the central opening.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing knitted cut-pile fabric on a conventional circular knitting machine having a cylinder containing conventional latch needles and a dial containing dial elements each having a hook, a yarn cutting edge spaced from the hook and a yarn supporting surface extending therebetween, each dial element being radially movable between adjacent cylinder needles. Body yarn is progressively fed to the cylinder needles and pile yarn is progressively fed to the needles and the dial elements, the needles and dial elements being manipulated to form stitches of body yarn on the needles, to associate the pile yarn in the stitches and form pile loops on the dial elements, and to cast-off the needles the associated stitches and pile yarn to anchor the pile yarn in the stitches.