Abstract: A circular knitting machine for the production of knitwear formed of yarns and fibers tied into these yarns is described. The circular knitting machine contains a needle cylinder (1) with knitting needles (2), a sinker ring (15) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation jointly with the needle cylinder (1) and has sinkers (16), a stationary cylinder cam and sinker cam means which is associated with the knitting needles and sinkers, respectively, yarn and fiber feed units, an air guiding unit (45) provided with at least one suction nozzle and/or blowing nozzle, and a control cam (85) for acting upon the inserted fiber tufts.

Abstract: A tubular knit fabric descending from a knitting head is spread and flattened by a fabric spreader disposed within the fabric just above a pair of take-down rolls forming a nip through which the fabric passes. The spreader comprises a generally flat frame formed by tubular members. The tubular members include a pair of U-shaped sections having open ends spaced apart and facing each other, and having closed ends defining opposite fabric-engaging edge surfaces of the frame. First legs of the U-shaped sections are telescopingly and adjustably joined to a tubular center section, the center section and first legs collectively forming a roll-engaging member for pressing the fabric against the take-down rolls. The width of the spreader is adjusted by releasing screws fixing the center section to the U-shaped sections, sliding the U-shaped sections inward or outward, and using the screws to fix the frame at the new width.