Abstract: A support chassis for a circular knitting machine includes a frame assembly having a leg assembly and a horizontal bed plate supported by the leg assembly, a support connected to the frame assembly, and a horizontal ring assembly entirely supported by the support in unbalanced cantilever fashion. The support may include a riser assembly and an extension assembly connected to the riser assembly. The extension assembly may be unbalanced about the riser assembly and extend away from the riser assembly in unbalanced cantilever fashion. The support may be connected to the leg assembly independently of the bed plate.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has sinkers arranged for radially reciprocating around an upper portion of a cylinder, and latch needles arranged around the upper portion's perimeter for reciprocating along the axis of the cylinder. Selected ones of the needles draw down a lay-in yarn while the sinkers between the selected needles remain in a pushed forward position, so that the lay-in yarn overrides the nibs of the sinkers. In a preferred embodiment, each forth needle, and only each fourth needle, is selected to draw down a lay-in yarn, and four sinkers are positioned between each adjacent pair of the selected needles so that the lay-in yarn overrides four nibs between each draw down. The selected and non-selected needles engage jersey yarns at other knitting stations. This circular knitting machine can be adapted from existing knitting machines.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has sinkers arranged for radially reciprocating around an upper portion of a cylinder, and latch needles arranged around the upper portion's perimeter for reciprocating along the axis of the cylinder. Selected ones of the needles draw down a lay-in yarn while the sinkers between the selected needles remain in a pushed forward position, so that the lay-in yarn overrides the nibs of the sinkers. In a preferred embodiment, each forth needle, and only each fourth needle, is selected to draw down a lay-in yarn, and four sinkers are positioned between each adjacent pair of the selected needles so that the lay-in yarn overrides four nibs between each draw down. The selected and non-selected needles engage jersey yarns at other knitting stations. This circular knitting machine can be adapted from existing knitting machines.

Abstract: A sinker having a sinker body and a butt for engaging a sinker cam. Upper and lower nibs protrude from the sinker body. A first throat is defined between the upper and lower nibs for receiving a yarn. First, second and third knitting platforms are defined by the sinker body beneath the lower nib. A second throat is defined by the lower nib and the second and third knitting platforms for controlling a yarn loop. The second platform may be closer to the first throat than the first platform, and the third platform may be closer to the first throat than the second platform. This progressive displacement of the second and third knitting platforms provides for quick rolling over of a needle latch due to the resultant elevated position of the yarn loop on the needle shaft at desired prints in the knitting operation. This advantage reduces dropped stitches, enables use of a shorter needle latch length while maintaining a desired stitch length at the tie-in, and facilitates higher machine operating speeds.