Abstract: A knitting machine part comprises a plurality of tool guides, each for one knitting tool. Each tool guide has a hardened region. The majority of the hardened regions are formed to be integral without seams or joints which transition integrally into adjacent, non-hardened regions. At least one hardened region of the knitting machine part is formed by a non-integral region, in that a hardened, separate component is arranged there, which forms the non-integral hardened region. The component can be designed as an insert part and inserted in a receptacle recess. The integral regions are preferably formed by induction hardening of a knitting machine part which is not yet hardened, wherein a separate hardened component can be arranged in each insufficiently hardened region in order to provide a hardened, non-integral region.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of: a) providing a needle bed body and insertion sheets, wherein the needle bed body is provided with slots, the needle bed body has a first datum plane and a second datum plane, each insertion sheet has a first and second portions at two ends thereof and corresponding to the first datum plane and the second datum plane; b) measuring sizes of the inserting sheets and the bottom of the slot and milling each slot when needed; c) measuring sizes of the first datum plane and second datum plane and machining the first and second datum planes when needed; and d) inserting the insertion sheets into the slots with making the first and second portions attached on the first and second datum planes, respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides bras having enhanced dynamic performance and comfort as well as a method of manufacture thereof. Two-dimensional knitting is utilized to generate three-dimensional structures in the bra that conform to unique three-dimensional shapes of the wearer.

Abstract: A knitting tool (10), preferably a latch needle, intended for fast-running knitting machines has a meandering shaft with reduced-thickness regions. The meandering shaft is adjoined by a straight shaft extension (16) which likewise has a reduced-thickness portion (32). The shaft extension (16) is distinguished from the shaft (15) by way of its height H2, which is less than the height H1 of the shaft (15). The reduced-thickness region (32) of the shaft extension (16) has a length which is at least much greater than the length of the stitch-forming structure (28) carried by the shaft extension (16). Preferably, the reduced-thickness region (32) is longer overall than the non-reduced-thickness region of the shaft extension (16). With this configuration, a surprisingly efficient high-speed-compatible knitting tool (10) is created.

Abstract: A knitting machine, particularly with high gauge, with improved needle actuation cams, comprising a needle holder which supports a plurality of side-by-side needles, each one of the needles is provided with at least one heel that protrudes from one face of the needle holder, each one of the needles has at least one elastic flexing along its extension which determines an offset of its at least one heel with respect to the head of the needle along a direction that is substantially parallel to the actuation trajectory of the needle holder and the at least one path is offset in a substantially corresponding manner, with respect to a theoretical path of actuation of an ideal rectilinear needle with its head in alignment with its at least one heel.

Abstract: A knitting machine comprising a needle holder, which supports a plurality of needles which can be actuated with an alternating motion along their axis and means for guiding the needles on the needle holder which comprise channels for forming knitting which are defined proximate to the end of the needle holder and sliding channels which are defined on the needle holder in a region that is spaced from the end of the needle holder, each one of the channels for forming knitting being engageable by a needle and defining with its inlet, which is directed toward the outside of the needle holder, resting contact regions for the knitting during the retracting motion of the needles, the number of the sliding channels being smaller than the number of the channels for forming knitting.

Abstract: A biocompatible surgical silk mesh prosthetic device employs a knit pattern that substantially prevents unraveling and preserves the stability of the mesh device, especially when the mesh device is cut. An example prosthetic device employs a knitted mesh including at least two yarns laid in a knit direction and engaging each other to define a plurality of nodes. The at least two yarns include a first yarn and a second yarn extending between and forming loops about two nodes. The second yarn has a higher tension at the two nodes than the first yarn. the second yarn substantially prevents the first yarn from moving at the two nodes and substantially prevents the knitted mesh from unraveling at the nodes.

Abstract: A knitting machine comprising a needle holder, which supports a plurality of needles which can be actuated with an alternating motion along their axis and means for guiding the needles on the needle holder which comprise channels for forming knitting which are defined proximate to the end of the needle holder and sliding channels which are defined on the needle holder in a region that is spaced from the end of the needle holder, each one of the channels for forming knitting being engageable by a needle and defining with its inlet, which is directed toward the outside of the needle holder, resting contact regions for the knitting during the retracting motion of the needles, the number of the sliding channels being smaller than the number of the channels for forming knitting.

Abstract: A knitting device (10) comprising a needle bed (12) and knitting tools (16), wherein the needle bed (12) is designed so as to be without joints and seams in view of the configuration of its channel walls (18, 19) as well as perpendicularly to the floor (23) of the channel through the base body (20) of the needle bed (12). The channel depth of the individual guide channels (13, 14, 15) is preferably less than three times the channel width. Consequently, in particular in the case of extremely fine needle divisions, the resultant channel walls (18, 19) are robust and stable and can be subjected to a hardening or coating treatment. The reduced overall weight, the smaller friction surfaces, and the sturdier design of the knitting device enable the operation at greater knitting speeds and with greater rotational accelerations, in particular in reciprocating mode, and an overall savings of lubricants and energy.

Abstract: A knitting device (10) comprising a needle bed (12) and knitting tools (16), wherein the needle bed (12) is designed so as to be without joints and seams in view of the configuration of its channel walls (18, 19) as well as perpendicularly to the floor (23) of the channel through the base body (20) of the needle bed (12). The channel depth of the individual guide channels (13, 14, 15) is preferably less than three times the channel width. Consequently, in particular in the case of extremely fine needle divisions, the resultant channel walls (18, 19) are robust and stable and can be subjected to a hardening or coating treatment. The reduced overall weight, the smaller friction surfaces, and the sturdier design of the knitting device enable the operation at greater knitting speeds and with greater rotational accelerations, in particular in reciprocating mode, and an overall savings of lubricants and energy.

Abstract: For longitudinal shifting, a needle in accordance with the invention is provided with a longitudinal slit 14 that is disposed to accommodate a bearing element (19), for example, having the form of a strip (20). Whereas known needles are set in a guide channel and thus are held or guided between two guide flanks, the needle in accordance with the invention extends around a strip (20) and is guided on said strip. Thus, the needle is guided on two surfaces of the guide element (19) and the strip (20), respectively, said surfaces facing away from each other. The support section (4) and the bearing element (19) form a highly precise positioning or guide device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circular knitting machine with a replaceable needle cylinder (7). According to the invention, two or more eccentrics (19) are disposed to be rotatable in a support ring (3) for the needle cylinder (7) or in the needle cylinder itself, and serve the purpose of lifting the needle cylinder (7) out of a normal operating position into a mounting position enabling it to be pulled out laterally, in which an underside of said needle cylinder (7) is arranged at least to be flush with an upper edge of attachments (9) attached to the support ring (3) or elsewhere (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A needle bed (1) of a knitting machine has a segmented configuration. The segments (5, 6) border against each other via the abutment surfaces (10, 8). Extending from at least one of the boundary surfaces (10, 8) are cooling channels that are provided, e.g., in the segment (6). The adjacent segment (5) covers these cooling channels, thereby closing said cooling channels.

Abstract: A needle bed (1) that comprises strips (4) in order to form needle channels (5), said strips being configured in a comb-like manner. Between the individual teeth of this comb, recesses (28 through 37) are formed, said recesses being disposed to supply fluid to the needle channel (5) and to drain said fluid. The groove (12) that accommodates the strip (4) forms a distributor space where the distribution of the fluid to be supplied to the knitting tools takes place over a section of the strip (4), said section being preferably greater than half the length of said strip.

Abstract: A needle bed (2) in accordance with the invention for a knitting machine comprises guide channels for knitting tools that are interrupted, in particular, in the region of the knitting lock, so that each needle is only guided laterally in the region of its foot. Preferably, the needle bed is designed in a segmented manner, in which case the segments adjoin each other at a joint that extends in a direction transverse to all the guide channels. In so doing, the separating joint is located between the lock paths (15, 16; 16, 17; 17, 18 and 18, 19). The guide strips of the individual base body sections (5, 6, 7), respectively, are arranged offset with respect to each other by one needle division. Preferably, the needle body sections (5, 6, 7) have essentially the same configuration and are non-detachably connected to each other.

Abstract: A needle bed (1) of a knitting machine has a segmented configuration. The segments (5, 6) border against each other via the abutment surfaces (10, 8). Extending from at least one of the boundary surfaces (10, 8) are cooling channels that are provided, e.g., in the segment (6). The adjacent segment (5) covers these cooling channels, thereby closing said cooling channels.

Abstract: For longitudinal shifting, a needle in accordance with the invention is provided with a longitudinal slit 14 that is disposed to accommodate a bearing element (19), for example, having the form of a strip (20). Whereas known needles are set in a guide channel and thus are held or guided between two guide flanks, the needle in accordance with the invention extends around a strip (20) and is guided on said strip. Thus, the needle is guided on two surfaces of the guide element (19) and the strip (20), respectively, said surfaces facing away from each other. The support section (4) and the bearing element (19) form a highly precise positioning or guide device.

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: A metallic needle bed having a multiplicity of needle sliding grooves which are formed in parallel so as to slidably support a knitting needle on a surface thereof. Two or more short needle plates are removably fixed in a successively detachable/attachable manner, on an upper surface of metallic reinforcing support member which has a length substantially equal to a desired needle bed length. The short needle plates are formed with a plurality of the needle sliding grooves on a surface thereof, obtain a desired needle bed dimension when connecting these needle plates in a longitudinal direction, and are formed with a taper surface having a thickness gradually decreasing toward an edge portion at a rear surface on a side where a knitted loop forming portion of the knitting needle is projected/retracted.

Abstract: A modified sub-needle with associated actuation elements for circular stocking machines, which is constituted by a lower sub-needle provided with a selection heel and by an intermediate sub-needle provided with an upper heel and a lower heel; the top of the lower sub-needle has a lower external region and an upper internal region for the resting of the base of the intermediate sub-needle; there is provided a first bolt cam for lifting the lower heel of the intermediate sub-needle which is adapted to selectively move the oscillating base of the intermediate sub-needle so that it rests in the lower external region or in the upper internal region of the lower sub-needle; and there is provided a second bolt cam for lowering the upper heel of the intermediate sub-needle; the selections and longitudinal movements performed by the intermediate sub-needle being suitable to reduce the longitudinal strokes required of the sub-needles and the angular extent of the bolt cams and of the selection cams.

Abstract: A durable cylinder assembly for a circular knitting machine is described. The cylinder assembly includes a cylinder body including an upper face and an outer cylindrical face and having a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially radial slots. A plurality of first inserts are positioned within the slots and extend outwardly therefrom to define a series of needle-receiving channels. The first inserts are angled to define first and second legs. The first leg of each first insert is positioned within one of the slots and the second leg extends across the upper face of the cylinder body to define a bearing surface for reciprocating elements of the knitting machine, e.g. the sinkers and/or needles. The second legs are spaced apart from each other to define passages therebetween. A plurality of second substantially T-shaped inserts is provided with the stem of each insert extending within one of the passages formed by the first inserts.

Abstract: In knitting parts (a guide, needle, tongue, sinker, separator, jacquard guide needle and the like) of a knitting machine, a covering of a hard carbon film 15 of a preset film thickness d on a surface of a portion of a parts base material 10 frequently contacting with knitting yarn and, at the same time, a film thickness changing area 16 where the film thickness of the hard carbon film decreases gradually is formed from an area where the covering of the hard carbon film 15 of the preset film thickness d is formed to an area where such a covering is not formed. A ratio (L/d) between length L of the film thickness changing area 16 toward a film changing direction and the preset film thickness d of the hard carbon film 15 is controlled to be at least 5:1.

Abstract: In a multiple system circular knitting machine having an electromagnetic needle selection, the needle and jack cam races are supported on a stationary support ring which rests on a plurality of radially directed and mutually spaced ribs. To improve operational reliability and maintenance of needle selection devices, each selection electromagnet is mounted at an end portion of an elongated holder and is situated in a circumferential recess in the needle cylinder opposite end portions of respective selecting jacks. The magnet holders are adjustably secured to the lower surface of the support ring. The needle selecting cams include a pair of circumferentially staggered and axially superposed pressing cams of which the leading lower pressing cam first engages the lower end portion of the selecting jack and moves the same radially inwardly to a point where the upper pressing cam takes over and presses an armature surface of the end portion of the jack against an electromagnet.

Abstract: In a flat knitting machine, the segments (10.1,11.1), of any desired width, which make up the needle beds (10, 11), are designed to be used with needles of different gauges, i.e. are formed with a different needle separation, so that needles of different gauges are used in adjacent needle bed segments (10.1, 11.1). On a flat knitting machine comprising a carriage (14/15) which can be traversed across the needle beds (10, 11) and has several cam systems (14.1-14.4; 15.1-15.4), the individual cam systems can be allocated to needles of different gauges, while at least one of the several cam systems may differ from the others by a different form of loop-transfer control curve.

Abstract: On a stitch-forming machine having knitting needles, knocking-over sinkers and controlling sinkers, in addition to their mutual articulated connection, the knocking-over and controlling sinkers are also connected to each other for mutual longitudinal displacement. Contiguous sliding surfaces are provided on the sinkers so as to slide on one another and bring about tilting motion of the knocking-over sinkers during mutual longitudinal displacement of the sinkers. Return parts are also provided for returning the tilted knocking-over sinkers to their initial position.

Abstract: A knitting machine for producing mesh products has a needle carrier provided with a plurality of guiding grooves having an upper groove end and a base, a plurality of needles and a plurality of plate members alternatingly arranged in the guiding grooves so that the plate members are longitudinally displaceable and turnable in the guiding grooves and have a rear side abutting against the base of the guiding grooves. The knitting machine further has a device for cleaning at least one location and supplying an air stream which raises in the guiding grooves upwardly toward the groove end into a space formed between the rear side of the plate members and the base of the guiding grooves and limited from below by a turning region by the plate members.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery includes an electromagnetic needle selection system. This selection system includes pivotal selector devices which act on resilient pushers and which are pushed indiscriminately or selectively against the resilient action of the pushers by radially acting cams. The system also includes groups of electromagnets which are placed annularly around the cylinder to exert a retaining effect on the selected cams when they are pushed against these by radially acting cams. In addition, electromagnets are placed between adjacent retaining electromagnets and they are of a size not exceeding the gap between the needles and the adjacent jacks. The jacks are excited selectively by means of a program control in order to exert the same retaining action as the retaining electromagnets and to effect abandonment or relinquishing of a selector which is moving.

Abstract: Improved methods for circular weft knitting of variegated articles and selectively programmable circular weft knitting machine apparatus for carrying out such methods including means for effecting selective, controlled two dimensional displacement of compound needle member components and associated sinker elements so as to provide each such needle member with the selectable capability of performing a knit, tuck or float operation at each yarn feed location independent of the direction of knitting needle approach thereto.

Abstract: The machine comprises: a space defined between the needle cylinder and cylinder holder, and in communication with the delivery conduit of a feed pump, delivery ports defined on the needle cylinder for connecting the space to the outside, a collector pan located in the proximity of the needle cylinder base and supplying an oil collecting case in communication with the feed conduit of the cited pump. The delivery conduit is in communication with the cited space through the needle cylinder bearing and the oil collecting case houses the gear train for transmitting the rotary motion to the needle cylinder. The delivery ports are provided on the bottom of the needle cylinder flutes which accommodate the needles and jacks. Thus, thorough and continuous lubrication of the machine main members is achieved.

Abstract: A flat knitting machine has a needle selection arrangement movable along needle bed, knitting needles arranged in needle channels of the needle bed and selector drivers or a tandem arrangement of working drivers and selector drivers adjoining the knitting needles in the needle channels, which cooperate with the needle selection arrangement. In order to achieve drivers of uniform weight with the same acceleration effect for differing gauges of the flat knitting machine, distance plates are fixed and inserted on at least one side of the drivers in the needle channels extending substantially along the length of the working drivers and/or selector drivers, the width of the distance plates being equal to the difference between the width of the needle channels and the width of the working drivers and/or selector drivers.

Abstract: A device consists of equidistant rods, located below the needle bed of a machine, perpendicular to the traverse direction of movement of a carriage, with the upper ends bent downwards to form a corresponding number of latch sections, and directed towards the upper heads of the needle beds.The rods are controlled by a cam on the carriage; raising of the rods causes the latch sections to be inserted between the stitches of the fabric in the last rows of the fabric portion situated below the working area of the sections: in this way the latch sections act as stops for the rows.Downstream from the working area of the needles, there is a fabric presser plate which presses the row just formed in a downwards direction and according to a preset pressure.

Abstract: A knitting instrument carrier (10), having grooves which are confined by alternate demarcation strips (27) and bearing strips (28) following one after the other, which are in rows on common anchor bars (29-31). An accurate division of the knitting instrument carrier (10) is assured by holding bars (16-18), on which the common anchor bars (29-31) are clamped and which are provided with divisionally accurate edge grooves (21-23) in which the demarcation strips (27) interlock with projections. The loop-forming projections with their nib (39) manufactured separately from the demarcation strips (27) are also made up of individual laminations (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A knitted fabric provided with piles formed between the face and back side structures which are stitched to each other. The knitted fabric is manufactured by a way of knitting a bulky knitted fabric while forming piles and using a pile forming yarn doubled with one or both of a face structure forming foundation yarn and a back structure forming yarn between wales at which these yarns are all stitched together. The knitting is accomplished using a knitting machine wherein needle beds for pile forming needles different from and adjacent to those for forming the foundation structure are provided on one or both of a dial and a cylinder side of the machine so that pile forming needles may project or withdraw to form piles while the foundation structure is knitted.

Abstract: A needle dial for single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machines for producing ribbed knitting includes a disc having a plurality of radially extending angularly equidistantly spaced dividing walls. Each adjacent pair of dividing walls sets-off therebetween a radially extending groove, and each groove is defined by a bottom wall of the disc and one wall each of adjacent pairs of the dividing walls. The one walls have upper wall portions in generally spaced parallel relationship to each other and to a longitudinal axis of the groove defined thereby. A lower radially outermost wall portion of one of each of the one walls defining each groove is circumferentially off-set from a radially innermost wall portion thereof and from its associated longitudinal axis thereby being adapted to receive therein a distal arch of an associated composite needle.

Abstract: A knitting machine has plate members and needles movable opposite to one another during sinking of the threads. The plates are of a short length and located between guide webs of a separate plate carrier, whereas the needles are longitudinally displaceable between guide webs of a needle carrier with needle shafts sliding on the free end surfaces of the guide webs of the plate carrier. Control curves for the needles and the plate members are formed so that the withdrawal movement of a needle and at least at a half needle pitch prior to the opposite driving out movement of a plate member preceding in the working direction.

Abstract: A stitch-forming machine which has needles guided on a needle support for displacement in the longitudinal direction and controlled by needle cams and also has holding-down and knocking-over sinkers which are adapted for displacement between the needles in the region of their heads and are moved by sinker cams in the longitudinal and transverse directions relative to the needle support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for compensating the differences in thermal expansion of the needle cylinder and sinker ring in a circular knitting machine, with which the sinker ring is supported on projections of webs inserted into axially extending grooves in the needle cylinder. In order to compensate for the differences in thermal expansion, the top region of the needle cylinder is designed to be radially displaceable relative to the sinker ring.

Abstract: To permit independent adjustment of movement of knock-over bit - jack sinker elements (3) having knock-over or casting-off heads (7), a cam box (22, 23) has an individually adjustable raising and lowering cam track (26, 28), engaging a butt (6) on the sinker element. The shaft (4) of the jack or sinker is formed as a double-arm lever (16, 17) with an intermediate fulcrum or pivot point projection (18), engaging a surface of the knitting machine, for example a cylinder groove, and two individual cam tracks (34, 35) are provided, formed on cam carriers (36, 37), of which, preferably, at least one (36) is adjustable, to provide for rocking movement of the knock-over bit - sinker jack element about the fulcrum or pivot projection independently of sliding longitudinal raising and lowering under control of the customarily provided cam structure (26, 28).

Abstract: A pair of flat needle beds are disposed in a V-configuration on a frame. Each needle bed includes a plurality of needles which can be extended and retracted by manually grasping butts thereof. When the needles of both beds are extended, a generally V-shaped recess is defined therebetween along which a yarn to be knitted is laid by hand. For single knitting, one of the flat needle beds can be omitted and an attachment can be secured to the frame which has a plurality of fingers which co-operate with the needles in the remaining bed.

Abstract: In order to increase the operating speed of the knitting machine and to attain a fine needle cut, sinkers (7), with their shaft (12), are guided on a needle carrier (1), and simultaneously forming guide ribs for adjacent needle shafts (3). A projection cam (16) which imparts to the sinkers (7) the movement transverse to the needles (2) is disposed directly on the needle carrier (1).

Abstract: A collapsible flat bed knitting machine has a foldable needle bed having a multiplicity of sinker elements and latch needles. The needle bed is divided along its length three parts which we foldably connected together at the mutually opposite longitudinal end portions by improved connector units. Each of the connector units has a vertical axis which is disposed near the front edges of the sinker elements disposed at the end portions. One of the two mutually connected contiguous needle bed parts may be swung relative to the other needle bed part in a horizontal plane with the vertical axis as center and brought to the collapsed position in which the sinker elements of the needle bed parts are directly opposite to one another.

Abstract: A straight knitting machine having two needle beds with knocking-over combs isposed in an inverted V-shaped configuration and a sliding carriage located above said needle beds is further provided with horizontal stop edges on said combs beneath the crossover zone of the needles associated with said needle beds for preventing the upward movement of the knitted piece upon activation of the needles. A pair of rotatable heads are mounted on a common support movable with said carriage with each head having a layering device mounted thereon and displaced 90.degree. from a stripping device and a hold down device which are also mounted on each rotatable head. The heads are rotatable at the end of each traversing movement of the carriage so as to locate the layering device and hold down device of one head in advance of the knitting zone and the layering device of the other head in trailing relation to the knitting zone during a subsequent pass of the carriage.

Abstract: A collapsible flat bed knitting machine having a foldable needle bed and a carrying case for receiving therein the folded needle bed and other instrumentalities of the machine to facilitate transportation of the machine as of a portable sewing machine. Three parts or sections constituting the needle bed are foldably connected by an improved connector assembly having three plate members fixed respectively to the bed parts. The assembly connects the bed parts in their assembled position in sufficiently exact alignment to assure smooth traverse of a carriage on the thus completed needle bed.

Abstract: In a double cylinder knitting machine the grooves in which the needles and the sliders are displaced are provided with corner edges on which the latch of the needle rests. Prior to hooking the needles onto their respective sliders and while the needles are displaced axially toward the interior of their respective grooves, the shoulders engage and force the latch to rotate to the open position.

Abstract: A needle bed for flat knitting machines is provided wherein the needle bed is assembled from a plurality of firmly compressed, plate-like webs arranged in a regularly alternating manner so that webs having the smaller height and forming the base of the needle bed grooves, alternate with plates having a greater height and forming the needle bed web surfaces. The plurality of webs are pressed together with the aid of tightening means to form a solid pack. The pack is inserted, with the aid of at least one longitudinal mounting groove, into a trough shaped sheet steel section which extends in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. The pack and section are firmly clamped together and the cavities between the webs and the steel sheet section are filled with a synthetic resin based metal glue.

Abstract: Method and means for transferring knit loops from single-hook needles on one cylinder to single-hook needles on the other cylinder of a double cylinder circular knitting machine. In the method and needles are displaced at an inclination outwardly of their cylinders to allow axial sliding of the opposing needles behind the inclined needles and into the loops held on the inclined needles; the inclined needles are then withdrawn to shed the hooks, which are then received on the hooks of the other needles. The means includes radial pins slidably carried in the cylinders for engagement and operation by stationary radial cams located within the cylinders, the pins extending through the cylinders and into engagement with the stems of the needles for radially displacing the needles outwardly to the inclined positions required by the described method.

Abstract: A pile fabric knitting apparatus has controllable means, several representative embodiments of which are disclosed, separate from fiber supply means and responsive to dynamic control means, i.e., transducer, control tape, etc., functioning during operation of the apparatus, for regulating the quantity of pile fibers transferred to or retained by the reciprocating knitting needles from respective fiber zones provided by pile fiber feeding means to which the fibers are delivered by the supply means. Such controllable means may operate in addition to or alternatively to fiber supply control at the supply means. In a preferred form the needles comprise companion relatively slidably operative needle elements, one of which elements is adapted to transfer more fiber than the other of said elements, and the controllable means are operative to select the elements for picking up fiber in any of the respective fiber zones.

Abstract: A needle and needle bed assembly for flat and circular knitting machines for making right-right and left-left knitted articles, includes at least one horizontally-disposed needle bed having a generally concavely-shaped upper surface which has formed therein a plurality of transversely-extending, generally arcuately-shaped grooves, and a plurality of generally arcuately-shaped needles, each of which is slidably supported within one of the grooves of the bed for movement between a push-out position and a drawing-in position, in which positions one end of the needles extends beyond a lateral edge of the bed. The needles are guided in the grooves such that the angle defined between the ends of the needles, as measured by the tangent thereto, and the vertical axis of the bed, decreases as the needles are moved from the drawing-in position to the push-out position.

Abstract: A device for supporting and guiding knitting needles for use in a knitting machine having a needle bed with needle grooves for receiving the stems of knitting needles and to guide advance and retraction movements of the needles. The needle grooves are arranged side-by-side and provided in two rows in the front and rear regions of the needle bed respectively with respect to the direction of the advance and retraction movements. The needle grooves in one of the regions are out of alignment with the needle grooves in the other region and offset in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the movement. The stems of the knitting needles are alternately insertable in the needle grooves of the two regions. The knitting needles insertable in the needle grooves of the rear region when in a position of use extend over the surfaces of the walls between the needle grooves of the front region. A recess is provided in the bed on the inner and outer sides of at least the front grooved region.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine of the type providing a reinforcement of knit tubular fabric for flexible hose including a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically reciprocating needles. A yarn guide holder is rotatable with the machine relative to the knitting needles and carries vertical supports for connection of a hold down ring. The hold down ring including a needle guide portion affixes to the yarn guide holder and is vertically adjustable relative to the yarn guide holder for gap adjustment purposes. The hold down ring and the needle guide portion is rotated by the machine relative to needles simultaneously with the rotation of the yarn guide holder in a manner to assure even wear upon the needle guide portion which may be caused by repeated contacts by the knitting needles.