Abstract: A takedown unit includes a set of takedown rollers arranged around tubular fabric hanging downward from a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The takedown rollers rotate to draw down the hanging tubular fabric, and a floating guide mechanism is within and encircled by the hanging tubular fabric, so that the low-friction guide mechanism interacts with the high-friction takedown rollers to facilitate the drawing down of the fabric. A set of cams extends at least partially around the hanging fabric, and the cams and the takedown rollers are mounted to allow relative rotation therebetween, with the relative rotation being around the hanging fabric. Actuators are positioned for interacting with the cams in response to the relative rotation, so that the cams actuate the actuators which in turn rotate the takedown rollers.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine including a takedown assembly for applying constant tension to the formed knitted fabric. The circular knitting machine includes a rotating knitting cylinder, a takedown assembly, and a fabric receiving tub. The takedown assembly and the knitting cylinder rotate synchronously. A vertical shaft associated with a motor cooperates with a cylinder ring gear of the knitting cylinder and a takedown ring gear of the takedown assembly. A drive unit including a drive assembly and a clutch assembly is mounted to the takedown ring gear. The clutch assembly includes a drive gear which cooperates with the stationary ring gear of the fabric receiving tub to transmit toque to the rollers of the roller assembly.

Abstract: A circular sliver knitting machine comprising an air supply unit for supplying air to the circular sliver knitting machine. A first air nozzle unit cooperating with a card unit for directing air along a path generally radially outward toward the knitting needles and a second air nozzle unit cooperating with the card unit for directing air along a path generally radially inward toward the needles. An air distributing unit is provided for distributing air received from the air supply unit to at least one of the first air nozzle unit and the second air nozzle unit.

Abstract: A circular sliver knitting machine comprising an air supply unit for supplying air to the circular sliver knitting machine. A first air nozzle unit cooperating with a card unit for directing air along a path generally radially outward toward the knitting needles and a second air nozzle unit cooperating with the card unit for directing air along a path generally radially inward toward the needles. An air distributing unit is provided for distributing air received from the air supply unit to at least one of the first air nozzle unit and the second air nozzle unit.