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 readily replaceable restricting member is within an annular receiving channel that is defined by a cylindrical portion of a circular knitting machine, and the restricting member is operative to restrict at least upward or downward movement of the sinkers of the circular knitting machine. The sinkers are operative for reciprocating radially relative to the cylindrical portion and the restricting member such that sliding contact is defined between the sinkers and the biased restricting member. In accordance with several of the embodiments of the present invention, each of the sinkers comprises an upper nib and a lower nib, a radially extending slot is defined between the upper nib and the lower nib, and the slot is open at the leading edge of the sinker.

Abstract: A convertible circular knitting machine having a creel and feeders which is adapted to be converted from producing fleece fabric to producing jersey fabric or back. The apparatus includes a knitting cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of knitting needles and a bed for supporting the cylinder. A plurality of fleece section blocks are adapted to be attached to the bed and arranged along the perimeter of the cylinder to produce fleece fabric. The apparatus also includes a plurality of jersey section blocks each having the same number of feeders and peripheral dimensions as each fleece section block and adapted to be attached to the bed and arranged along the perimeter of the cylinder to produce jersey and a plurality of fleece sinkers for use with the fleece section blocks for producing fleece fabric and a plurality of jersey sinkers for use with the jersey section blocks for producing jersey fabric.

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.