Abstract: A compactly packaged paint roller cover and a method of compactly packaging a paint roller cover are disclosed which require significantly reduced shipping and display shelf space volumes. A semi-rigid paint roller cover manufactured from a small diameter tubular knitted pile fabric is placed within a vacuum sealable plastic bag, which is subsequently evacuated and sealed, collapsing the semi-rigid paint roller cover to a flattened configuration. Such compactly packaged paint roller covers require significantly reduced shipping and display shelf space volumes. To use the compactly packaged paint roller cover, the vacuum sealed plastic bag is opened upon which the semi-rigid paint roller cover resiliently resumes its round cross-section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A tubular knit fabric is disclosed that is manufactured with a pile extending from the outer side thereof and in an extended length, small diameter configuration, the tubular knit pile fabric subsequently being separable into shorter tubular segments that may be secured to paint roller cover cores to produce seamless paint rollers. The knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is manufactured in a tubular segment with cut-pile and sliver pile segments disposed in alternating courses and extending from the outside of the tubular knit paint roller cover fabric. The tubular knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is also manufactured in a size that makes it appropriate for installation onto paint roller cover cores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve knitted in a pile side-in manner and including at least one of a backing material and a pile made, at least in part, from a low melt fiber or yarn component. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is inverted to a pile side-out configuration, placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the low melt fiber or yarn in the backing and/or looped ends of the pile to be activated and to closely conform to the size of the cylindrical member, thereby causing the melted and fused together, re-hardened low melt component of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration, forming an integrally formed core member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve having at least one of a backing and a pile made at least in part from a low melt fiber or yarn. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the low melt fiber or yarn in the backing and/or looped ends of the pile to be activated to cause the backing of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration. A liquid adhesive is then sprayed on to the integrally formed core member of the tubular fabric sleeve to provide a uniform layer thereon and allowed to cure, further enhancing the rigidity of the integrally formed core member of the tubular fabric sleeve.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve having a backing and a pile made at least in part from a low melt fiber or yarn. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the low melt fiber or yarn in the backing and looped ends of the pile be activated to cause the backing of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration. The activated tubular knitted pile fabric may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.

Abstract: A tubular knit fabric is disclosed that is manufactured with a pile extending from the outer side thereof and in an extended length, small diameter configuration, the tubular knit pile fabric subsequently being separable into shorter tubular segments that may be secured to paint roller cover cores to produce seamless paint rollers. The knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is manufactured in a tubular segment with cut-pile and sliver pile segments disposed in alternating courses and extending from the outside of the tubular knit paint roller cover fabric. The tubular knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is also manufactured in a size that makes it appropriate for installation onto paint roller cover cores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a spool having a length of tubular fabric wound thereupon is disclosed, the tubular fabric being substantially spirally wound upon a core with consecutive windings of the extended length tubular fabric being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length tubular fabric overlaying each other on the hollow core. The winding operation simultaneously controls both the lateral position at which the tubular fabric is wound onto the core and the rotation of the core to achieve the tight and highly compact winding operation, with the speed of the winding operation being controlled according to the amount of the tubular fabric which is available at any given time. The tubular fabric is suitable for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers.

Abstract: A tubular sliver knit fabric is disclosed that is manufactured with the pile extending from the outer side thereof and in an extended length, small diameter configuration, the tubular sliver knit pile fabric subsequently being separable into shorter tubular segments that may be secured to paint roller cover cores to produce seamless paint rollers. The sliver knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is manufactured in a tubular segment with the sliver fibers being located on the outside of the tubular sliver knit paint roller cover fabric. The tubular sliver knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is also manufactured in a size that makes it appropriate for installation onto paint roller cover cores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular knitted pile fabric sleeve that is installed onto a core member. To facilitate the manufacture of the paint roller covers, the knitted pile fabric sleeve is initially placed upon the outside of a thin hollow cylindrical mounting tube, and the core member with an adhesive bonding material provided on the exterior surface thereof is inserted into the interior of the mounting tube. The knitted pile fabric sleeve is installed onto the exterior surface of the core member by withdrawing the mounting tube from the knitted pile fabric sleeve while maintaining the respective positions of the knitted pile fabric sleeve and the core member, with the knitted pile fabric sleeve being retained on the core member by the adhesive bonding material.

Abstract: A tubular sliver knit fabric is disclosed that is manufactured with the pile extending from the outer side thereof and in an extended length, small diameter configuration, the tubular sliver knit pile fabric subsequently being separable into shorter tubular segments that may be secured to paint roller cover cores to produce seamless paint rollers. The sliver knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is manufactured in a tubular segment with the sliver fibers being located on the outside of the tubular sliver knit paint roller cover fabric. The tubular sliver knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is also manufactured in a size that makes it appropriate for installation onto paint roller cover cores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular knitted pile fabric sleeve that is installed onto a core member. To facilitate the manufacture of the paint roller covers, the outside of the core member is provided with an adhesive bonding material on the exterior surface thereof that has a relatively non-tacky outer surface. The knitted pile fabric sleeve is installed onto the exterior surface of the core member over the adhesive bonding material. The adhesive bonding material is then rendered tacky, whereupon the knitted pile fabric sleeve becomes adhesively secured by the adhesive bonding material to the exterior surface of the core member. The pile fabric covered core member may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.

Abstract: A tubular knit fabric is disclosed that is manufactured with a pile extending from the outer side thereof and in an extended length, small diameter configuration, the tubular knit pile fabric subsequently being separable into shorter tubular segments that may be secured to paint roller cover cores to produce seamless paint rollers. The knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is manufactured in a tubular segment with cut pile segments extending from the outside of the tubular knit paint roller cover fabric. The tubular knit paint roller cover fabric of the present invention is also manufactured in a size that makes it appropriate for installation onto paint roller cover cores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve having a backing made at least in part from a material having a lower melting point than material used for the pile of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the material having the lower melting point in the backing be activated to cause the backing of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration. The activated tubular knitted pile fabric may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.

Abstract: A sliver-knit material is formed from a base including at least one thread having a first material and a second material. The first material has a melting point lower than the second material. A sliver material is secured to the base. A portion of the sliver material is encapsulated by the first material.