Abstract: A takedown unit includes a set of takedown rollers arranged around tubular fabric hanging downward from a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The takedown rollers rotate to draw down the hanging tubular fabric, and a floating guide mechanism is within and encircled by the hanging tubular fabric, so that the low-friction guide mechanism interacts with the high-friction takedown rollers to facilitate the drawing down of the fabric. A set of cams extends at least partially around the hanging fabric, and the cams and the takedown rollers are mounted to allow relative rotation therebetween, with the relative rotation being around the hanging fabric. Actuators are positioned for interacting with the cams in response to the relative rotation, so that the cams actuate the actuators which in turn rotate the takedown rollers.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine including a takedown assembly for applying constant tension to the formed knitted fabric. The circular knitting machine includes a rotating knitting cylinder, a takedown assembly, and a fabric receiving tub. The takedown assembly and the knitting cylinder rotate synchronously. A vertical shaft associated with a motor cooperates with a cylinder ring gear of the knitting cylinder and a takedown ring gear of the takedown assembly. A drive unit including a drive assembly and a clutch assembly is mounted to the takedown ring gear. The clutch assembly includes a drive gear which cooperates with the stationary ring gear of the fabric receiving tub to transmit toque to the rollers of the roller assembly.

Abstract: A circular sliver knitting machine comprising an air supply unit for supplying air to the circular sliver knitting machine. A first air nozzle unit cooperating with a card unit for directing air along a path generally radially outward toward the knitting needles and a second air nozzle unit cooperating with the card unit for directing air along a path generally radially inward toward the needles. An air distributing unit is provided for distributing air received from the air supply unit to at least one of the first air nozzle unit and the second air nozzle unit.

Abstract: A circular sliver knitting machine comprising an air supply unit for supplying air to the circular sliver knitting machine. A first air nozzle unit cooperating with a card unit for directing air along a path generally radially outward toward the knitting needles and a second air nozzle unit cooperating with the card unit for directing air along a path generally radially inward toward the needles. An air distributing unit is provided for distributing air received from the air supply unit to at least one of the first air nozzle unit and the second air nozzle unit.

Abstract: A first and second indexing gauge for use in positioning air blowing units relative to the needles of a circular sliver knitting machine. An air blowing unit is attached to the machine so as to be both vertically and rotationally adjusted relative to the knitting cylinder. Once the machine has been initially calibrated, the first and second indexing gauges can be used to quickly and easily reposition the air blowing units relative to the needles so as to allow the machine to knit a different fabric and/or pattern with minimal down time and wasted raw materials.

Abstract: A circular sliver knitting machine having a manifold for controlling multidirectional airflow. The manifold includes a first and a second air nozzle unit for directing air onto the plurality of needles from radially opposed sides. The manifold includes a cross bar having attachment bars for attaching the cross bar to the frame of a circular sliver knitting machine. The cross bar has a first cross bar aperture located lo therein so as to receive air from an air supply unit. A cover is secured to the cross bar forming a seal therebetween, such that the cover cooperates with the cross bar to form a first plenum and a second plenum therebetween. The cover has a cover aperture for receiving air from the air supply unit. The cross bar also has a first and a second adjustable valve for controlling the flow of air from the air supply unit to each of the first and second blowing units.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for knitting sliver fabric on a circular sliver knitting machine. An air blowing unit is attached to the machine so as to be oriented radially inward from the knitting cylinder and a card unit so as to blow air radially outwardly toward the needles. The air blowing unit blows air along generally horizontal longitudinal path toward the needles so as to turn free ends of the sliver fibers once the medial portions thereof have been knit into the fabric. A modified latched guard cooperates with air blowing unit for guiding free ends of the sliver fibers onto sinkers in a uniform and controlled manner to enable the free ends sliver fibers to be knit a second time by the adjacent needles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for knitting sliver fabric on a circular sliver knitting machine. An air blowing unit is attached to the machine so as to be oriented radially inward from the knitting cylinder and a card unit so as to blow air radially outwardly toward the needles. The air blowing unit blows air along generally horizontal longitudinal path toward the needles so as to turn free ends of the sliver fibers once the medial portions thereof have been knit into the fabric. A modified latched guard cooperates with air blowing unit for guiding free ends of the sliver fibers onto sinkers in a uniform and controlled manner to enable the free ends sliver fibers to be knit a second time by the adjacent needles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for knitting sliver fabric on a circular sliver knitting machine. An air blowing unit is attached to the machine so as to be oriented radially inward from the knitting cylinder and a card unit so as to blow air radially outwardly toward the needles. The air blowing unit blows air along generally horizontal longitudinal path toward the needles so as to turn free ends of the sliver fibers once the medial portions thereof have been knit into the fabric. A modified latched guard cooperates with air blowing unit for guiding free ends of the sliver fibers onto sinkers in a uniform and controlled manner to enable the free ends sliver fibers to be knit a second time by the adjacent needles.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved circular sliver knitting machine having increased carding capacity for increasing the amount of sliver which can be carded and fed into the knitting machine. A mounting ring is fixed on an upper bed plate fixed to the sliver knitting machine frame. A plurality of sliver feed assemblies are supported on a sliver feed mounting plate secured to the upper bed plate. The sliver feed assemblies interconnect to a ring gear mounted in surrounding spaced relation to the mounting ring. The sliver feed assemblies card and feed sliver yarn to the knitting needles as the ring gear is turned. A bearing assembly for allowing rotation of the ring gear relative to the mounting ring while withstanding radial and tangential loads imparted on the ring gear includes at least one wire race extending along the outer surface of the mounting ring and at least one wire race extending along the inner surface of the ring gear.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved circular sliver knitting machine having increased carding capacity for increasing the amount of sliver which can be carded and fed into the knitting machine. A mounting ring is fixed on an upper bed plate fixed to the sliver knitting machine frame. A plurality of sliver feed assemblies are supported on a sliver feed mounting plate secured to the upper bed plate. The sliver feed assemblies interconnect to a ring gear mounted in surrounding spaced relation to the mounting ring. The sliver feed assemblies card and feed sliver yarn to the knitting needles as the ring gear is turned. A bearing assembly for allowing rotation of the ring gear relative to the mounting ring while withstanding radial and tangential loads imparted on the ring gear includes at least one wire race extending along the outer surface of the mounting ring and at least one wire race extending along the inner surface of the ring gear.