Abstract: A yarn feeder and changer unit for a knitting machine comprises a number of adjacent yarn feeders any one of which can be moved from a yarn trapping position to a yarn feeding position while the others retain severed ends of their respective yarns at the trapping positions. The movement of each feeder to its feeding position comprises an upward component of movement from below the needle level by pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and forward movement over the needles by a sliding component of movement. The creation of two distinct components of movement for each feeder (pivotal and sliding) enables the feeder path to pass close to but out of the path of the needles, and enables accurate yarn placement to be achieved.

Abstract: Weft double knitted fabric has a looped structure with some knitted loops drawn in one direction and other knitted loops drawn in an opposite direction. Yarns of some courses are drawn into knitted loops in both directions to form knit stitches on both faces of the fabric. Yarns of other courses are drawn into knitted loops in a first direction only to form knit stitches on one face only of the fabric. Yarns of still other courses are drawn into knitted loops in the second direction only to form knitted stitches on the other face only of the fabric. An inlay yarn is formed exclusively into tuck stitches extending in both directions, with different yarns drawn through the tuck stitches to form knit stitches on opposite faces of the fabric.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine, especially of body garment knitting type, has drive arrangements for a pair of rotary cam carriers of conventional lay-out involving a motor, drive shafts and upper and lower gears for the respective cam carriers. Instead of mounting the creel with yarn fast with respect to the upper gear there are provided means mounting the creel coaxially with the ring gears and permitting relative angular movement of the creel and the ring gears, at least one drive abutment for engaging the creel to rotate it conjointly with the ring gears and a shock absorber associated with the creel and the ring gears to thereby permit the creel to overrun the ring gears and move away from the drive abutment on stopping the motor and drive shafts.

Abstract: A roller drive mechanism for a knitting machine, in which the drive route is from a spring under tension via an oscillatory member and a one-way clutch to the roller. Means are provided for moving the oscillatory member in the reverse direction to re-tension the spring. The mechanism is suitable for driving a fabric winding down roller or a fabric roll-forming roller of the knitting machine.

Abstract: A shogging mechanism for use for example in knitting cable pattern on circular knitting machines incorporates a cam on a mounting fixed with respect to one needle bed of the circular knitting machine. Movement of the cam on its mounting causes another needle bed of the circular knitting machine to be relatively displaced to an extent determined by the cam profile. The shogging mechanism cam is preferably rotatable by means of a further cam having a fixed relationship to the cam system of the knitting machine.

Abstract: A yarn feed and change mechanism or striper (FIG. 3) has a plurality of yarn feed passages which can be used alternatively to feed yarn to a knitting machine. Each yarn feed passage is associated with a pneumatic means (22, 24, 84) for propelling a leading end of yarn to knitting needles, with a movable wall portion (34) for engaging and trapping yarn in alignment with the direction of the yarn feed passage, and a separately movable severing member (42) for severing yarn trapped in the passage.

Abstract: Pneumatic yarn feed and yarn change mechanism has a plurality of yarn feed paths and a plurality of control elements for controlling passage of yarn for each of these paths independently. Flow of fluid through selected yarn feed passage when the control element is in a feed position propels leading end of yarn to knitting needles. Movement of control element out of feed position to trap position causes yarn to be severed and trapped and held in readiness for subsequent selection.In a preferred embodiment side by side control plates are moved pneumatically by pistons arranged one above the other.

Abstract: In a knitting machine the needle beds and yarn feeders circulate relative to one another. This normally produces a tubular fabric. In order to leave a gap in the tube, a zone of each needle bed is arranged as a non-knit zone. To save yarn the yarns are not normally allowed to float across the gap, but are severed and trapped. To hold the edges straight, periodic yarns are allowed to float across the gap.

Abstract: A knitting machine comprises a stationary part and a rotary part, a data transmitter associated with the stationary part and a data receiver associated with the rotary part. The rotary part carries a photo-receiver either on its axis of rotation or arranged to follow a predetermined path as the rotary part rotates, said photo-receiver being connected to the data receiver. The stationary part carries a photo-emitter or a configuration of photo-emitters located so as to illuminate the photo-receiver or the path of the photo-receiver, the photo-emitter or photo-emitter configuration being connected to the data transmitter to illuminate the photo-receiver or the path of the photo-receiver with a train of light pulses corresponding to the data transmitted so that the photo-receiver produces a train of electrical pulses corresponding to the data transmitted.

Abstract: A selection mechanism for a knitting machine of the type having individually movable needles provided or associated with selection butts at two or more levels, comprising at least one pair of superimposed permanent magnets, having a common pole piece between them to which opposite pole faces of the magnets are directed, individual pole pieces extending from the other faces of the magnets to form electromagnetic selectors at two different butt levels closely spaced on either side of the common pole piece, and selector coils on the said individual pole pieces adapted to be individually pulsed to divert the magnetic field of the permanent magnet in the pole piece so as to negate its effect on the butts.

Abstract: A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine comprising a pattern band, magnetic tape or the like, reading means for reading the band, tape or the like and providing pulses for operation selectors movable into or out of butt-engaging position for controlling the positions of butts on or associated with needles, wherein the reading means includes means to provide pulses for moving selectors into butt-engaging position in accordance with information carried by the band, tape or the like, and means to provide pulses to move the selectors out of butt-engaging position when not required to remain in such position.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine is described in which two devices for temporarily trapping cut fringe yarns are mounted on the needle cylinder, respectively immediately following the last needle to knit and immediately preceding the first needle to knit. Each trapping device has a radially movable yarn gripping jaw urged into contact with a fixed jaw by resilient means. A cam-operated mechanism temporarily moves the movable jaw out of contact with the fixed jaw against the action of the resilient means in order to allow insertion of a fringe yarn between the jaws and release of a fringe yarn from the jaws.

Abstract: In a circular knitting machine, needle selection is controlled by pattern keys mounted on a pivoted pattern key carrier and having patterning butts which are selectively engageable with vertically stacked selector slides. The selector slides are engageable selectively with selector butts on pressers associated with needle jacks. When a presser is engaged by a selector slide the corresponding jack is pressed in so that a control butt on the jack is not engaged by a needle-operating cam. Pivoting of the pattern key carrier is controlled by a boat-shaped cam follower which is carried on an arm on the pattern key carrier and travels in one or another of circular tracks concentric with the needle cylinder. Means is provided for switching the cam followers from one track to another, thereby pivoting the pattern key carrier to bring other pattern keys into engagement with selector slides.

Abstract: One limiting factor on the speed of a circular knitting machine with individual pattern control of each needle is the time taken by the patterning devices to effect the change between knit and non-knit positions. The initiation of the change cannot take place, at low speeds, before a patterning actuator has cleared from a patterning butt. According to the invention, there is provided an arrangement whereby the actuation takes place from a trailing edge of a triggering pulse at low speeds and from a leading edge at higher speeds.