Abstract: A sliver loop knit fabric comprising a base fabric formed of knitted courses and wales and anchoring a plurality of tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which are incorporated into at least two courses and two wales of the fabric to provide a generally loop pile fabric. The fabric is knit on a circular jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality of fiber feeding cards. The knitter also is equipped with pneumatic means for directing jets of compressed air generally radially outward of the needles of the knitting machine. The jets of compressed air blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers on the needles outwardly of the needle circle, and onto the tops of the sinkers, preparatory to incorporating the ends of the tufts into the fabric during knitting. The bulk of the free ends are incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches.

Abstract: A sliver loop knit fabric comprising a base fabric formed of knitted courses and wales and anchoring a plurality of tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which are incorporated into at least two courses and two wales of the fabric to provide a generally loop pile fabric. The fabric is knit on a circular jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality of fiber feeding cards. The knitter also is equipped with pneumatic means for directing jets of compressed air generally radially outward of the needles of the knitting machine. The jets of compressed air blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers on the needles outwardly of the needle circle, and onto the tops of the sinkers, preparatory to incorporating the ends of the tufts into the fabric during knitting. The bulk of the free ends are incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches.

Abstract: Means are provided for increasing the productive capacity of a sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine. The invention comprises an improvement whereby one or more of the sliver and yarn feeding stations of the knitting machine are modified to knit two or more fiber-retaining fabric courses during each revolution of the needle cylinder. Each station is provided with a sliver feeding device for delivering a plurality of separate, spaced rovings of sliver fibers to separate, arcuately or angularly spaced fixed locations of the needle circle. Plural yarn feeding means, knitting cams and air nozzles are provided at each station. The yarn feeding means, knitting cams and air nozzles are angularly spaced, relative to the needle circle, and each is associated with a separate roving fed by the sliver feeding means.