Abstract: A double-knit fabric having non-run and stretchability characteristics and method and apparatus for knitting the same in which multiple yarns are knit into cylinder needle and dial needle wales, in which two yarns are knit together into stitch loops in each wale, the stitch loops in adjacent wales in each course being knit of one yarn from the stitch loop in the adjacent wale in the same course and a yarn from a stitch loop in the adjacent wale from an adjacent course.

Abstract: Fabric knitted upon a circular knitting machine and conducted downwardly by delivery rolls to a fabric cutter and thence to a fabric winding reel is prevented from being recaptured by the delivery rolls, and is also prevented from becoming adhered to a guide plate due to the presence of static electricity. Recapture of the cut end of the fabric is prevented by a presser that presses the fabric against one of the delivery rolls, and prevention of adherence of the fabric to the guide plate is prevented by alternating ridges and channels and/or anti-static material upon the face of the plate that confronts the reel.

Abstract: Mutually spaced fiber waste collectors upon the knitting machine and creel of a knitting unit collect fiber waste which is then withdrawn by a fiber waste remover that is selectively connectable to different ones of the fiber waste collectors. Sensors detect when the fiber waste collected by the collectors exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method of knitting single knit fabrics on a circular knitting machine such that the fabric has improved elasticity, soft hand and drapeability and including controlling two types of needles arranged alternately in the cylinder and sinkers arranged in the sinker dial through four processes in which alternate needles are raised to the knitting level in the first process and intervening needles are raised to the tucking level and an old loop has cleared the latch on each needle and a previously fed yarn is held in the hook of each intervening needle, a first ground yarn is fed to the alternate and intervening needles and the needles are lowered to a high welt level for the alternate needles so that the old loop is not knocked over and a low welt level for the intervening needles so that the old loop is knocked over and a new double yarn stitch loop is formed. The levels to which the alternate and intervening needles are raised are reversed in the third process.

Abstract: Fiber waste generated during operation of a circular knitting machine is removed from components of the machine by an air suction/blowing fan motor which causes air currents that conduct the fiber waste to one or more filters. Air suction removes the fiber waste from the filters. An adjustable suction cylinder cooperates with the air suction/blowing fan motor to draw air from below the knitting cylinder through a cooling orifice to simultaneously cool the knitting unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing fiber waste from the knitting instrumentalities of a circular knitting machine including an air jet for blowing a high velocity stream of air thereonto, the air jet is mounted for rotation coaxially with the rotary cylinder of the circular knitting machine, a drive independent of the drive of the circular knitting machine for rotating the air jet in one direction for a predetermined distance or time interval and for then reversing the direction of rotation for a predetermined distance or time interval, and an air supply which supplies compressed air to the air jet while accommodating the different directions of rotation thereof.

Abstract: A method of and circular knitting machine for knitting jacquard pile fabric in which a ground yarn feeder section, two pile yarn feeder sections and a stitch forming section are provided and a ground loop forming sinker and a pile loop forming sinker are disposed in the same groove in the sinker cap and are individually and independently operated. The needles and sinkers are moved through the sections while forming ground yarn loops comprising a ground yarn needle loop and a ground loop forming sinker loop in the ground yarn feeder section and forming pile yarn loops in the pile yarn feeder sections. The ground loop forming sinkers are movable adjustably to push the ground yarn loops an amount sufficient to ensure that enough ground yarn is available at the needles in the stitch forming section to ensure proper stitch formation without risking yarn breakage.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for removing dust, lint and waste fibers from and lubricating a knitting unit located on a rotating cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The injection nozzle is located between the sinker cap and the sinker cam in general axial alignment with the sinker groove. The injection nozzle includes a tip opening located adjacent the knitting unit and includes a receiving end located opposite the tip opening. Mist-oil and air is supplied to the injection nozzle. A holder is mounted between the mist-oil supply and the injection nozzle to enable the mist-oil and air to move through the receiving end of the injection nozzle to be discharged at the tip opening of the injection nozzle for removing dust, lint and waste fibers from and lubricating the knitting unit when the knitting unit is located adjacent the injection nozzle by rotation of the rotating cylinder.

Abstract: A fabric take-up apparatus for a circular knitting machine includes a set of delivery rolls for flattening and delivering the flattened fabric to take-up means which winds the flattened fabric into a roll, sensing means for sensing the tension in the fabric and for generating electrical signals indicative of fluctuations in tension from a predetermined, desired tension in the fabric, variable speed drive means for driving the delivery rolls, and control means for controlling the variable speed drive means responsive to the electrical signals generated by the tension sensing means.

Abstract: A dust removal and collection system which includes a suction fan for creating upwardly and inwardly flowing air streams through a knitting section and a yarn feeding and guiding device for removing dust and other fiber waste from the components thereof. An airstream receiving and confining hood overlies the knitting section and defines therethrough an air passageway. An entrance end of the air passageway is disposed radially outwardly of and above the knitting section so that the upwardly flowing air stream flows outwardly of the knitting section to carry dust and other fiber waste entrained therein upwardly and outwardly from the knitting components such that no dust or other fiber waste will return to the knitting components. A waste collection device cooperates with the hood to receive and collect the dust and other fiber waste removed from the double knitting machine.

Abstract: Fiber waste generated during operation of a circular machine is removed from components of the machine and/or an associated creel by air currents that conduct the fiber waste to one or more filters. Air suction and/or air jet forces remove the fiber waste from the filters. In one embodiment the waste removing apparatus includes stationary air suction and/or air jet devices that remove the fiber waste from a rotating filter. In another embodiment the air suction and air jet devices rotate and the filter is stationary.

Abstract: Fiber waste generated adjacent the knitting section and the yarn feeding members of the machine is conducted by air streams into the lower end of a first duct extending upwardly from the knitting section. The air and therein entrained fiber waste passes from the upper end of the duct and then sequentially through a laterally extending second duct and a vertically extending third duct to a waste collection box. The third duct is made of flexible fabric, vinyl or similar material having therein a multiplicity of small openings that permit lateral passage of air from the duct, while restricting lateral passage of fiber waste from the duct. A funnel-shaped member within the collection box compacts the waste entering the box. The first duct has vertically aligned sections that are telescopically adjustable.

Abstract: A circular interlock knitting machine of the interlock butting type including jacquard knitting includes a rotating cylinder having cylinder needles movable between welt, tuck and knit positions, dial needles movable between welt and knit positions along paths of travel which intersect the paths of the cylinder needles, and a needle selection and operating mechanism for the cylinder needles which prevents collision between cylinder and dial needles including an intermediate jack beneath each cylinder needle, a lower jack beneath each intermediate jack, the lower jacks being selectively movable between operative and non-operative positions, lower jack raising cam means for raising the lower jacks in the operative position from the bottom position to the welt position, intermediate jack raising cam means selectively movable between operating and non-operating positions for engaging, when in operating position, and raising from the welt position to the tuck position only those intermediate jacks raised by the se

Abstract: A fan located in a lower part of an inner section of the creel stand creates an air flow that extends upwardly through a cylindrical duct to a ceiling plate of the creel stand. The air then passes radially outwardly, and thence downwardly through an outer section of the creel stand to filters adjacent the bottom of the stand. One of the filters undergoes rotary movement, and fiber waste is conducted from it to a collection source by a suction device.

Abstract: A knitting needle for use in knitting machines. The needle includes a shaft and a butt extending from the shaft for being received within a cam track of a knitting machine. The butt has a pair of substantially parallel side faces aligned with the needle shaft and upper and lower edges extending between the side faces. A medial face extends along a medial portion of each upper and lower edge of the needle butt between the side faces. A pair of angled faces extends between each medial face and side face to interconnect the medial face and side faces. The angled faces have an inclination angle approximately equal to the maximum inclination angle of the cam of the knitting machine in which the knitting needle is used. Each medial face may be arcuate in shape and the angled faces may be tangent to each associated arcuate face. Alternatively, the medial faces may be substantially planar and substantially perpendicular to the side faces of the butt.

Abstract: A method of preparing pattern information for a jacquard fabric produced on an electronically controlled knitting machine is disclosed. Yarn color information that is to be fed to yarn feeders for the courses in a knit fabric is prepared. This information is resolved into information for knitting and welting which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder. Tucking information for the different colored yarns is separately prepared. This tucking information is resolved into tucking and welting pattern information. The knitting and welting information which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder is combined with the separately prepared information on tucking and welting to form synthesized pattern information for knitting, welting, and tucking.

Abstract: Knitted fabric produced by a circular knitting machine passes downwardly to a fabric winding unit that rotates synchronously with the knitting unit and that includes fabric delivery rolls and a fabric winding shaft that are driven by rotation of the unit. The winding unit also includes a fabric guide that guides the fabric onto the shaft, a fabric cutter that cuts the fabric after a preselected quantity of it has been wound upon the roll, a fabric receiving table, and a thruster that removes the wound fabric from the center shaft and discharges the fabric onto the fabric receiving table and thereafter from the machine. A central processing unit and associated sensor and switch elements monitor and/or control operation of the knitting machine and winding unit.

Abstract: A vertical shaft of the machine is encircled by a vertically movable sleeve that supports, at its lower end, a dial cam holder having a stepped portion. A needle dial 17 bolted to the undersurface of the sleeve has a recess that closely receives the stepped portion of the sleeve. Vertical movement is imparted to the sleeve and shaft by a gear that encircles the sleeve and has screw threads mating with screw threads upon the upper end section of the sleeve. Such movement provides vertical clearance that facilitates lateral removal and insertion of the needle cylinder into/from the machine. The needle cylinder is releasably secured to the machine's ring gear by plate members that are releasably center.

Abstract: An automatic winding and doffing apparatus of a circular knitting machine includes a winding unit that revolves synchronously with the cylinder of the circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes opposed winding apparatus frame arms. A fabric winding roll has one roll end pivotally mounted on one of the arms. A guide mechanism guides the knitted fabric to the winding roll. The fabric roll is stopped after a predetermined amount of fabric has been wound. A doffing apparatus doffs the fabric from the winding roll after a predetermined amount of fabric has been wound on the fabric roll. In a preferred embodiment, the other winding roll end is freely supported by a turning lever pivotally mounted on the frame. Upon pivoting movement of the lever arm, the winding roller may be moved from a home, winding position to an unloading, doffing position in which the other end of the winding roller is removed from the support arm.

Abstract: An automatic stitch adjusting mechanism for use in a multiple knitting station circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles supported in a rotating needle cylinder for vertical movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the needle cylinder is disclosed. A plurality of raising cams engage the needles for raising the needles. A plurality of stitch cams engage the needles for lowering the needles. The stitch cams are vertically movable for adjusting the size of the formed stitch. The automatic stitch adjusting mechanism includes a plurality of vertically movable stitch cam control members operatively connected to respective stitch cams. A drive motor connected by a belt and clutch mechanism to the stitch cam control members adjusts the vertical position of the control members and clutch mechanisms retain the control members in their adjusted positions.