Abstract: A wire-covered doffer for feeding fibers to the needles of a sliver high pile fabric knitting machine, in which the card clothing is of generally rectangular configuration and envelops the doffer roll so that the longitudinally spaced ends of the segment are disposed in tight abutting relationship to each other on the roll. A pair of circumferentially spaced clamps mounted on the doffer roll tightly secure the segment of card clothing to the periphery of the roll, stretching the segment slightly to impart a slight tension thereto. Each clamp supports a row of spaced points for impalement and retention of the segment of card clothing. Each row of points extends transversely relative to the periphery of the doffer roll, and penetrates the segment of card clothing at a location spaced a short distance inwardly from one of the two abutting ends of the segment. Threaded connectors affix the clamps to the doffer roll.

Abstract: A fiber transfer system for feeding fibers to the needles of a sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine, in which the width of the fiber transfer path from the feed rolls to the needle line at the doffer is constant. Adjustable sliver entrance guides accurately direct the roving into the feed rolls and determine the location and width of the fiber transfer path. A continuous film of fibers of selected width and uniform density is transferred from the feed rolls via the main cylinder and doffer to the knitting machine needles. The main cylinder preferably is of a greater axial width than the doffer. It is covered by a narrow, elongated strip of wire-covered clothing wrapped helically around its periphery. The doffer is enveloped by straight wound card clothing, preferably constituted of a rectangular segment of wire-covered clothing having its opposite ends abutting on the doffer. The invention maximizes utilization of the fiber transfer area available to the knitting machine.

Abstract: A fiber feeding system for feeding relatively short sliver fibers--less than one inch in length--to a sliver high pile fabric knitting machine. The system includes the usual basic elements of a carding head comprising the sliver feeding components, such as a pair of rotatable sliver feed rolls, a rotatable wire-covered doffer and a rotatable wire-covered main cylinder interposed between the sliver feeding components and the doffer. By utilizing a sliver feed plate as one of the sliver feeding components, together with one or more sliver feed rolls, the fiber pinch point may be advanced close to the periphery of the main cylinder. Where one or more pairs of sliver feed rolls are utilized without a sliver feed plate, each roll has a circumference not exceeding four times the minimum length of the sliver fibers.

Abstract: Doffer wire for the card clothing of rotatable doffers used in carding heads for delivering fibers to the needles of a sliver high pile fabric knitting machine having improved fiber release characteristics. The doffer wires are constituted of a shank portion, which is embedded in cantilevered fashion in the card clothing, distal portions which are raked by the knitting machine needles to remove fibers therefrom, and bent or knee portions which connect the shank portions of the doffer wires to the distal portions thereof. The knee portions are formed with an angle greater than 130 degrees and less than 180 degrees, the preferred angle being on the order of 155 degrees.

Abstract: Device for a knitting machine operative to detect knitting needles having broken heads and to actuate a stop motion to shut down the machine. The device includes a needle sensing unit connected electrically to the stop motion and having a retractable sensor element for sensing broken needles, and a needle deflecting roller for deflecting unbroken needles away from the needle sensor element. An adjustable support bracket mounts the needle sensing unit and needle deflecting roller on a knitting machine to locate the needle deflecting roller in the needle path to contact the hooks of unbroken needles and to locate the needle sensor element in the needle path to contact the stems of broken needles. Needles having broken heads are not deflected by the needle deflecting roller, but are sensed by the needle sensing unit to activate the stop motion.