Abstract: A method and device for producing knitted fabric include supplying roving to a stretching unit with stretching roller pairs and a spinning nozzle device and drawing the roving using the stretching roller pairs. Inlet and outlet roller pairs of the stretching unit are controllably driven, according to a pattern to be formed on the machine, so that the thread thickness of the drawn roving is varied by changing the relative speed between inlet and outlet roller pairs. The drawn roving is supplied to the spinning nozzle device and strengthened by applying compressed air, and the drawn, strengthened roving is supplied to the machine. The thread supply speed of the drawn, strengthened roving to the machine is set depending on the loop size to be knit by the machine by controlling rotation speed of at least one driven roller of the outlet roller pair. A knitted fabric is also provided.

Abstract: A needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine includes a cylinder jacket having axial needle channels, knitting needles movable therein and an upper cylinder end for stitch formation having a radial groove between pairs of adjacent needle channels each having an insert forming a stitch formation surface with its insert surface protruding from the groove. Exchangeable, stitch formation surfaces form quickly replaceable inserts. Each insert is a spring lug including a lug foot overlapping the upper cylinder end at the side of the cylinder jacket or the side edge of an outer ring channel in the upper cylinder end and a lug terminal with a terminal part springily engaging behind a counter support projecting at the upper cylinder end at the cylinder's inner side or a side edge of an inner ring channel in the upper cylinder end. A circular knitting machine with the needle cylinder is also provided.

Abstract: Knitted fabric is produced with a knitting machine and a roving drawing and strengthening unit. A roving supply unit provides a roving and an auxiliary thread supply unit provides an auxiliary thread. A stretching unit receives the roving and the auxiliary thread. A spinning nozzle following the stretching unit in a roving conveying direction forms a fiber strengthening segment by applying compressed air and an end thread gripping roller pair rotatable in opposite directions provided downstream from the spinning nozzle device in the roving conveying direction delimiting the fiber strengthening segment. A soft knitted fabric is formed by guiding an auxiliary thread through an auxiliary thread gripping roller pair with an adjustable rotational speed before the roving and auxiliary thread enter the stretching unit. The gripping roller pair holds the auxiliary thread so that the auxiliary thread is subjected to tension of no more than 2 cN.

Abstract: A device and a corresponding method produce a knitted fabric with a knitting machine and a roving drawing and strengthening unit. The device has a roving supply unit with a roving, a stretching unit linked to the roving supply unit, and a spinning nozzle device provided downstream from the stretching unit in a roving conveying direction of the device forming a fiber strengthening segment by applying compressed air. An end thread gripping roller pair rotatable in opposite directions is provided downstream from the spinning nozzle device in the roving conveying direction delimiting the fiber strengthening segment. The device has a blow-off device for blowing off the spinning nozzle device and/or the stretching unit and a suction device for suctioning off loose fibers from the spinning nozzle device and/or the stretching unit. The suction device and the blow-off device are interconnected in a blow-off and suction system.

Abstract: A needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine includes a cylinder jacket having axial needle channels, knitting needles movable therein and an upper cylinder end for stitch formation having a radial groove between pairs of adjacent needle channels each having an insert forming a stitch formation surface with its insert surface protruding from the groove. Exchangeable, stitch formation surfaces form quickly replaceable inserts. Each insert is a spring lug including a lug foot overlapping the upper cylinder end at the side of the cylinder jacket or the side edge of an outer ring channel in the upper cylinder end and a lug terminal with a terminal part springily engaging behind a counter support projecting at the upper cylinder end at the cylinder's inner side or a side edge of an inner ring channel in the upper cylinder end. A circular knitting machine with the needle cylinder is also provided.

Abstract: A device for producing knitted fabric comprising a knitting machine and a roving drawing and strengthening unit. The roving drawing and strengthening unit has a roving supply unit, through which a roving can be provided in the form of a fiber bundle that has not been strengthened, a stretching unit, to which the roving can be fed in a conveying direction in the form of at least one sliver, and a spinning nozzle device, through which compressed air can be applied to a drawn roving exiting the stretching unit in a fiber strengthening segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing knitted fabric comprising a knitting machine and at least one roving drawing and strengthening unit. The at least one roving drawing and strengthening unit has a roving supply unit, by means of which a roving can be provided in the form of a fiber bundle that has not been strengthened, a stretching unit, to which the roving can be fed in a roving conveying direction in the form of at least one sliver, and a spinning nozzle device, by means of which compressed air can he applied to a drawn roving exiting the stretching unit in a fiber strengthening segment. The invention further relates to methods for producing knitted fabric by means of a knitting machine and at least one roving drawing and strengthening unit.

Abstract: A yarn lifting element (28), which is provided on a positive thread regulating wheel, comprises straight yarn-bearing surfaces (34,35) whose position cannot be displaced by the yarn (2), enabling the yarn to slip in relation to the thread feeding wheel (17) when required. Said additional measure enables the positive thread regulating wheel to be used in areas which were previously excluded on account of the required synchronicity between the feeding of the thread and the consumption of the thread.

Abstract: A yarn lifting element (28), which is provided on a positive thread regulating wheel, comprises straight yarn-bearing surfaces (34,35) whose position cannot be displaced by the yarn (2), enabling the yarn to slip in relation to the thread feeding wheel (17) when required. Said additional measure enables the positive thread regulating wheel to be used in areas which were previously excluded on account of the required synchronicity between the feeding of the thread and the consumption of the thread.

Abstract: The bearing device is formed of a bearing seat, a roller bearing, and a squeeze element. The squeeze element rests over a large surface area on the outer ring of the roller bearing and rests only regionally on corresponding regions of the bearing seat. The regions are preferably linear or striplike and are oriented substantially axially. This facilitates the insertion and removal of the roller bearing into and out of the bearing seat and prevents rotation of the outer bearing ring even if the bearing seats are provided with relatively generous tolerances.

Abstract: A modular yarn feeder having a basic carrier on which additional modules can be secured as needed by suitable coupling devices. This makes the yarn feeder more adaptable to different kinds of use and different situations.

Abstract: The yarn feeder of the invention has one or two yarn feeler levers, which monitor the yarn. In order to be able to prevent the monitoring if needed, a feeler barrier is provided. Its actuating device which in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a handle, is disposed on an outer end of the basic body of the yarn feeder so that it is readily accessible to operators. The position set can also easily be seen from the position of the handle.

Abstract: A yarn feeder has a yarn feed wheel, which preferably comprises ceramic or is coated with a corresponding material. The yarn feed wheel, because of the choice of its material or its shaping, has improved long-term operation properties. The geometry and/or the material has low susceptibility to wear. This is attained by means of ceramic surfaces and/or the combination of a conical, continuous yarn inlet surface with adjoining striplike bearing faces in the yarn storage region and a continuous, that is, uninterrupted surface in the yarn payout region; the surfaces are shaped such that the yarn, along its way from the inlet region into the payout region, sweeps over the corresponding surfaces over the entire axial course. The striplike supporting or bearing of the yarn in the yarn storage region is attained by suitable shaping of the yarn feed wheel in the yarn storage region. Openings or slits or the like in the yarn feed wheel are not necessary but may be provided.

Abstract: A vibration friction feed wheel mechanism for feeding thread to a thread processing machine having intermittent thread requirement. The feed wheel mechanism including a high friction contact surface, a thread guide level for lifting thread off of the feed wheel and a vibration generating arrangement for applying a vibrational movement to the thread. The vibration of the thread ensures that the thread lifts-off from the contact surface of the friction feed wheel by reducing the coefficient of friction between the thread and the high friction contact surface of the friction wheel.

Abstract: In connection with a vibration friction feed wheel mechanism, having a thread guide lever for inserting and removing a thread, the application of vibrations to the thread guide elements, or the application of vibrations to the thread feed wheel, is used to improve the removal properties of the friction feed wheel mechanism.

Abstract: A yarn brake having two disklike or platelike brake elements pressed resiliently against one another has a substantially U-shaped bail (19) with two legs extending in spaced apart fashion an either side of the brake elements. Pinlike bearing means for the brake elements are secured to this bail by means of at least one bearing part receiving them, which part is embodied on or joined to at least one of the bail legs. At least one of the brake elements has a central opening, through which the bearing means extend.

Abstract: A yarn feeder, which has a yarn feed wheel connected to an electric motor for positive feeding of a yarn as needed, has a yarn travel path which is defined by yarn eyelets at an angle to the pivot axis of the yarn feed wheel that is greater than the sum of 90.degree. and an additional acute angle. This additional acute angle .alpha. is greater than the angle of inclination of a yarn lap on the yarn feed wheel in which adjacent windings contact one another. As a result, a smooth payout of the yarn on the yarn feed wheel is obtained.

Abstract: A yarn feeder device for feeding elastic (soft) yarns to a yarn consuming station whose yarn demand fluctuates over time. The device has a control unit which ascertains the current yarn demand or to which the current yarn demand is reported. In accordance with this demand, a yarn feed wheel is driven at a rotary speed suitable for the yarn demand. The yarn travels via a tensioning device to the yarn feed wheel. The tensioning device is arranged such that the yarn is stretched in a defined way. As a result, a fixed association between a desired yarn feed quantity and the rotary speed of the yarn feed wheel is enabled.

Abstract: A yarn feeder intended particularly for flatbed knitting machines and elastic yarns has a yarn tension sensor which is provided with a calibration device. This device lifts the yarn from a peg that is part of the yarn tension sensor, at times in which this can be done without impairing operation of the yarn feeder. Such times are preferably time slots when no yarn feeding is necessary. Once the yarn has been lifted from the peg, a zero point calibration is performed. Zero point drifting of the entire sensor system, including its measurement circuit, can be detected and compensated for.