Abstract: A yarn feeder mechanism for circular knitting machines has a plurality of feed fingers with yarn feed extremities at the front thereof and movable between a low feed position and a high inactive position, means for selectively lowering the feed fingers, and a latchguard plate which is liftable to a non-obstructing position. The feed fingers are associated with abutment means for engaging the feed fingers to the rear of the respective yarn feed extremities and means are provided for simultaneously lifting the yarn feed extremities and the latchguard plate to the non-obstructing inactive position while maintaining the latchguard plate in spaced relationship to the yarn feed extremities in the non-obstructing position.

Abstract: The invention provides a circular knitting machine having a control mechanism with a rackable cam drum. A rackable timing drum carrying control elements for the speed of progress of the timing drum and activation of the cam drum racking, and a quick re-zeroing control for racking the cam drum quickly to a zero position independently of the control elements in which a racking means is arranged to rack the timing drum at every stroke with a length of stroke in excess of the timing drum racking strokes during normal knitting. A control member controls the racking means to inactivate it during normal knitting and activate it when re-zeroing so as to re-zero both the cam drum and the timing drum quickly while all knitting stations are inoperative.