Abstract: The frame of a creel includes vertical support columns rigidly interconnected at their upper ends by a framework arranged so as to permit the frame to be positioned astride a circular-knitting machine with the columns disposed around the machine itself and with the framework at a height such as not to interfere with the movement of personnel about the machine. A vertically-movable slide is associated with each column, the slides being rigidly interconnected by a peripheral bobbin-carrier support structure. A driving device is provided for raising and lowering all the slides in unison in order to raise the peripheral structure to an upper position at a height at which it does not interfere with the movement of personnel about the machine and to lower it, respectively, to a lower position in which the structure surrounds the machine and is located at a height such as to allow manual access to bobbins which are on the bobbin-carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the thread feed rate and hence the thread tension of a multiple-feed circular knitting machine includes transducer means in the form of a resiliently biased rocker mountable on the machine. The rocker can operate one of two microswitches whenever the tension of a thread engaging the transducer is greater than a predetermined value and can operate the other when it is less than the predetermined value. The microswitches control the energization of a servomotor operable to increase or decrease the speed of a rotary drive for driving the machine's thread feed device as necessary in order to bring the thread tension to the predetermined value.