Abstract: A circular knitting machine having an integrated multiple yarn changing apparatus comprises a first yarn changing apparatus, a second yarn changing apparatus, and a driving cam set. The first and second yarn changing apparatus include respectively at least one yarn feeding means which is moved outwards through a first yarn feeding stroke and a second yarn feeding stroke to a yarn feeding position. The driving cam set includes a first driving track and a second driving track to respectively drive the yarn feeding means to proceed the first and second yarn feeding strokes. The second driving track has a driving delay zone to generate a yarn feeding time lag between the first and second yarn feeding strokes. Knitting needles located between the first and second yarn feeding means are guided to a yarn hooking position to respectively hook the yarn due to the yarn feeding time lag.

Abstract: A knitting machine for hosiery comprising a needle holder having a plurality of vertical slots accommodating each a needle movable along the corresponding slot in order to form knitting, and a device for feeding the yarn to the needles, arranged above the needle holder and supporting at least one elongated vertical yarn finger, its lower end being located proximate to the needle work area and having a passage for dispensing the yarn to be fed to the needles. The device comprises a supporting block arranged laterally and above the needle holder to support a rotatable intermediate element. The intermediate element supports, so that it can rotate a corresponding yarn finger.

Abstract: Yarn feeders are arranged such that feeder case portions are slidably engaged with a knitting yarn guide rail disposed to the upper portion of needle beds and can be selectively brought by bringing means, each of feeder cases is provided with a switching mechanism for switching a yarn feeding port to a feeding position and a waiting position and swinging it thereat, the switching mechanism is operated in a time during which a yarn feeder selected by the bringing means is brought from a stop state in order to feed yarn, the yarn feeding port is switched from the waiting position to the feeding position as well as a swinging direction of the yarn feeding port to the waiting position after it feeds yarn is set and the yarn feeding port can be switched from the feeding position to the waiting position in association with the selection cancel operation of the bringing means after it feeds the yarn.

Abstract: A device for dispensing at least one thread at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like, particularly for single-cylinder circular machines. The device comprises at least one thread guide which is arranged at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like and has an end for dispensing a thread which laterally faces the needle cylinder proximate to its upper end, in the needle work area of the machine. The thread guide can controllably move with respect to the needle cylinder for shifting its thread dispensing end along a path which has a component which is substantially parallel to the tangent, located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder, to the needle cylinder in a region at which it is arranged.

Abstract: Device for the attachment of feeders in circular machines for knitted fabrics, according to which, in the upper and outer pail of the feeder body, there is arranged, between the body and the fixed part of the machine, a joint with shaft tangent to a circle that is perpendicular to the central shaft of the machine. Thus, by means of a turn, it is possible to move the feeder between a working position situated toward the interior of the machine and a position toward the exterior of the machine in which the feeder is raised outside the working area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a yarn guide unit particularly for circular double cylinder hosiery machines in which a yarn guide rod is borne on a block (16) eccentrically pivoted on a rotating disk (18) which can move between two extreme angular positions corresponding to the engaged working and disengaged positions of the yarn guides. Rotation of the disk with the block is brought about in one direction by a pneumatic actuator (28) incorporated in the block (16) and in the opposite direction by a return spring attached to the disk.

Abstract: A device for feeding yarn to a circular knitting machine of double-cylinder type with a plurality of yarn guides, and a system for controlling and cutting the yarn ends. The device comprises a suction nozzle in a position external to the cylinders and a rotating cutting member positioned between the nozzle and the cylinder surface and downstream of the nozzle towards the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine striper control system for controlling the operation of the stripers of a circular knitting machine in changing yarns for patterns automatically. The control system includes a controller carried on a rotary table, having a plurality of swinging plates respectively controlled by solenoids to drive striping fingers of either fixed striper in moving respective striping feeders to change yarns for patterns. A striping finger is not triggered by the respective swinging plate during the rotary motion of the rotary table as the respective solenoid does no work, when yarn changing operation is not needed.

Abstract: A yarn feed assembly for circular knitting machines for presenting one or more yarns chosen from a plurality of available yarns into the needle path under the control of a microprocessor. An arcuately movable sector-shaped yarn guide includes a plurality of openings therein for positioning a plurality of yarns in spaced parallel position with each other. A toggle clamp for each yarn located downstream from the yarn guide keeps the yarns taut in their normal stored position. To select a yarn for feeding to the feed station, a transfer arm selects the yarn positioned in a pickup position by the yarn guide. As the transfer arm begins to move, the corresponding toggle clamp releases, and the yarn is then fed onto its yarn feed location.

Abstract: In the process a first thread differing in color with respect to a second thread which constitutes the stocking is fed by a thread guide alternatively to the second thread to a preset number of needles during the formation of a row of stitches. The first thread, which constitutes the design, is cut proximate to the ends of the portion of the row knit by the preset number of needles and the ends of the thread are moved towards the inside of the needle cylinders by means of a flow of air.

Abstract: An athletic sock having a knit-in, cushioned shin area. Preferably the sock also includes a knit-in, cushioned sole and ribbed support rear leg area. The cushioned shin area of the athletic sock may be formed on a single feed, single drum knitting machine by needle manipulation rather than by sinker manipulation. A selectively operable, special cam operates in conjunction with a radially shiftable lifting cam, and with long and short butt needles. The special cam lifts the short butt needles to an intermediate level where they grasp the body yarn but not the terry yarn. The long butt needles meanwhile are initially lifted by the special cam to the same level as the short butt needles. However, the lifting cam, which is retracted to clear the short butt needles as they pass by, further elevates the long butt needles to the uppermost level where they grasp both the terry yarn and the body yarn as they are lowered by the center cam.

Abstract: During at least one complete rotation of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, more than one yarn-carrying finger is kept activated at at least one of the machine's striping boxes. Each striping box includes an indexed control drum having axial slots which receive finger-activating jacks. An annular holding spring extends circumferentially of the control drum midway between the drum's axial ends and very tightly holds the axial legs of L-shaped jacks. To simultaneously activate yarn fingers located at opposite axial sides of the holding spring, at least one axial holding slot contains two L-shaped jacks. The axial legs of the two jacks are held in conventional manner beneath the spring, but are each of half-normal thickness, so that their combined thickness equals that of the holding slot for a snug fit therein.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has a rotating needle cylinder provided with cylinder needles disposed about the periphery of the cylinder and a plurality of yarn feeding stations at least some of which are provided with striping boxes. Each striping box has a plurality of yarn-holding members individually activatable for causing yarn from different ones of the yarn-holding members of the striping box to be fed to needles travelling past the striping box. According to the novel method, more than one of the yarn-holding members of the striping box of at least one of the feeding stations are kept simultaneously activated during at least part of a rotation of the needle cylinder so that each of at least some of the needles being fed yarn at such station during such part of a rotation will receive yarn from each of the more than one activated yarn-holding members.

Abstract: The auxiliary knitting station includes an auxiliary yarn feed finger in the form of a relatively thin flat, substantially vertically disposed main body portion which is movable between a lowered or active position between the latch ring and the circle of needles and a raised or inactive position above the circle of needles. The lower end portion of the auxiliary yarn feed finger includes a first yarn guide opening for feeding a first or body yarn to the needles at a level below the upper ledges of the sinkers and a pair of yarn guide openings spaced above the first yarn guide opening for selectively feeding either a terry yarn or a plating yarn to the needles at a level above the level of the body yarn.

Abstract: A thread feed device for a circular knitting machine of the type having a fixed needle cylinder and needle dial and rotatable cams, for manufacturing open fabric. The needle cylinder and needle dial have a needle-free sector and the feed device comprises a stationary support for a plurality of thread spools, and a plurality of thread guides and levers arranged adjacent the needle-free sector. The thread guides and the levers associated therewith are selectively pivotable between a position in which they feed a selected thread to the needles and a position in which they hold the thread in a non-feeding position. Each thread is fed to the needles by means of a rotatable hooked member which entrains the thread around the needle cylinder. Each thread after being fed to the needles and having been knitted thereby is cut before reaching the needle-free sector.