Abstract: An improvement to a flat bed knitting machine comprises a wheel positioned on the carrier of the flat bed knitting machine. The wheel turns as yarn passes thereover for knitting, thus allowing the wheel to measure the amount of yarn used. A series of magnets positioned on a bar beneath the needle bed send signals to a sensor attached to the carriage of the knitting machine as the sensor passes thereover. These signals instruct a logic circuit contained within a logic circuit control box to accept input from the wheel. The magnets are spaced apart by the distance of a known number of needles. Thus, the amount of yarn used can be divided by a known number of needles to arrive at a stitch size to help in the calibration of the flat bed knitting machine.

Abstract: A yarn carrier designed to minimize needle wear yet which is relatively easy to thread is described. The yarn carrier includes a yarn guide having an aperture for receiving a yarn and directing it to the needles of a knitting machine, and a flexible, nonmetallic guard plate secured to the guide such that at least a portion of the guard plate overlies at least a portion of the aperture in the guide plate, to reduce the tendency for the hooks of the knitting needles to enter the aperture. The guard plate is desirably made from a polymeric material such as polyurethane, and preferably has a Shore A hardness of about 50-70. The guard plate is desirably deformable so that an operator can readily bend it outwardly from the yarn guide while threading a yarn through the yarn guide aperture, yet when the bending force is released, the guard plate readily resumes its initial undeformed configuration.

Abstract: In a yarn feeder used in a jacquard knitting machine, each yarn tension bracket includes a casing covered with a cover plate, a pivot shaft supported on bearings between the casing and the cover plate, a yarn tension rocker formed of two wire rods respectively fastened to two opposite round pins at two opposite ends of the pivot shaft outside the casing and the cover plate and turned with the pivot shaft to adjust the tension of yarns passing through upper and lower thread eyes at the wire rods, and an auxiliary yarn guide with upper and lower thread eyes fastened to the casing and the cover plate to guide two yarns passing through the upper and lower thread eyes at the yarn tension rocker and to prevent the yarns from being tangled.

Abstract: The invention's object generator utilizes two frames, a y-frame that is atop an x-frame. The y-frame (or the x-frame) is divided into two halves. Each half of the y-frame (or the x-frame) contains a number of needles and latches. The needles in one half of the y-frame are opposed by the needles in the other half of the y-frame. Similarly, The needles in one half of the x-frame are opposed by the needles in the other half of the x-frame. The invention also includes a "head" which comprises a bobbin/tensioning mechanism along with other components. The object generator's head is movable to any location on a grid formed by the y-frame and x-frame. The head dispenses yarn under direction of a custom control software. A computer operating the invention's object generator has stored therein a three dimensional image of the object to be generated. The computer dissects the three dimensional image into two dimensional layer data.

Abstract: A sweater knit fabric containing hard yarn plaited together with bare elastomeric yarn is provided. The elastomeric yarn has substantially uniform draft along each course in the fabric. The fabric is made by a process in which the bare elastomeric yarn is fed under substantially uniform tension to a knitting machine in which yarn demand fluctuates as the fabric is knitted. Sweater knit fabrics are useful in making garments such as sweaters, vests, dresses, pants, skirts, shirts and caps.

Abstract: A spool protector with a vertically-extendable spool protector is provided. The vertically-extendable spool protector is extendable vertically to protect spools of various sizes from being flipped away from the rollers that support the spools. The spool protector includes a protection beam and a releasable fastening means for releasably securing the protection beam in desired positions. The releasable fastening means can be implemented in two embodiment. The first embodiment is a supportive piece having a pair of angled portions each forming a coupling hole therein and the second embodiment is composed of a securing frame and a screw mounted on said securing frame. When said releasable fastening means release the protection beam, the technician can freely adjust for a suitable position for the protection beam so as to protect spools of various sizes.

Abstract: A pneumatic thread feeder in knitting machines or the like having at least one tube in which a passage is provided having an outlet to be directed towards the needle work region of a knitting machine; injection means for injecting air through the tube; means for actuating the injection means; and abutments that form a path for the approach of the thread to the inlet of the tube. The tube is served by a thread takeup element that is arc-shaped and is pivoted to a supporting structure about an axis located on the concave side of the body of the takeup element. The takeup element has, proximate to one of its ends, a passage for the thread, and is arranged so as to move transversely with respect to a portion of the path for the approach of the thread to the tube when it is turned about the axis.

Abstract: In knitting parts (a jacquard guide needle, a guide, a needle, a tongue, a sinker, a separator, etc.), each having a portion which is brought into contact with a knitting yarn when fitted to a knitting machine to perform knitting, the surface of a portion of a metallic part base material (10) thereof is coated with a compound plating layer (12) made of a non-electrolytic nickel alloy plating layer including minute silicon particles dispersed therein, each of the silicon particles being coated with a hard carbon film. As a result, it is possible to improve the durability of the knitting parts similarly to those in which the surface of the part base material is coated with the hard carbon film and moreover remarkably reduce the processing cost.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for needle of a knitting machine wherein a coupling operation of a stator assembly and a moving assembly can be facilitated and a smooth movement of the moving assembly is assured. The driving apparatus includes a linear motor for reciprocally moving the needle. The linear motor include a pair of stator assemblies each having first magnet means thereon and opposed to each other with a space left therebetween in the horizontal direction intersecting a vertical direction, a moving assembly having second magnet means and disposed vertically between the stator assemblies so as to move in a direction of movement of the needle, and coupling means for supporting the moving assembly on at least one of the stator assemblies. The coupling means supports the moving assembly on at least one of the stator assemblies at a location either above or below a position at which the second magnet means is arranged.

Abstract: A strand feeding device can be switched from positive strand feed to intermittent strand feed and vice versa. This is achieved with the aid of a strand guide element which is associated with a lower edge of a storage drum and can be adjusted by an electromagnetic setting member selectively to a first position allowing the intermittent strand feed and a second position producing the positive strand feed.

Abstract: A device for positioning thread guides in selectable points in a circular knitting machine, which has a unit for moving the thread guide closer or further away from the cylinder. The unit is a rod-and-crank system in which an intermediate region of the rod is slides guided with respect to a fixed slider. The end of the rod that supports the thread guide is adapted to move, as the crank is actuated, along a curved path from a spaced inactive position to an advanced thread delivery position. The unit is provided with elements for articulation to a fixed frame along an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the crank. An elastic return spring and an angular spacing piston are arranged between the unit and the frame and can be actuated selectively to move the thread position to different locations.

Abstract: A strand guiding device for use with a circular knitting machine for guiding strand material from a plurality of strand material packages to a generally circular array of reciprocating knitting needles movably mounted to the frame includes a support mounted to the frame and a pair of guide wheels rotatably mounted to the support and having a generally V-shaped strand contract surface formed therein for directing the traveling strands from the packages into a disposition for operational engagement by the knitting needles, the wheels being disposed in a spaced relationship in generally linear alignment and adjustably mounted to the support.

Abstract: A yarn-delivery device serving as a yarn feeder for textile machines is proposed. To provide an optimum regulation of the yarn transport even for more than one yarn, the yarn-delivery device has a storage drum which is made in one piece with the rotor or armature of the drive motor and which has on its circumference a wire lattice formed by wires arranged in an X-shaped manner. To regulate the yarn tension from the consumer, there is a yarn-tension sensor, the mechanical deflection of which causes an electronic adjustment of the drive motor.

Abstract: In order to process yarn preliminarily, and to change over yarn precisely at a desired knitting position, the yarn fed to a flat knitting machine is processed by a yarn processing device. To change over the yarn at a changeover position of knitted fabric, it is necessary to actuate the yarn processing device preliminarily at an actuating position C. A controller calculates the actuating position from a set value in a setting circuit and pattern information from a memory. When an encoder detects that a position of feeding the yarn to a knitting needle has reached the actuating position, the yarn processing device is actuated. The length of the yarn from a yarn processing position to the actuating position is nearly equal to the sum of a knitting loop length from the actuating position to the changeover position.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine creel for a plurality of bobbins which are supported in tiers by a circular cylindrical frame, comprising a carrier located inside the frame, at least one blower supported by the frame, having an air outlet connection directed somewhat radially outward, the blower moving on a circular path whose axis coincides essentially with the axis of the frame.

Abstract: A yarn supply system having a plurality of feeders associated with a textile machine. Each feeder having its own speed control system including a variable speed drive motor and a variable speed controller which includes a programmable control unit which is capable of responding to the actual yarn consumption requirements and responding to a main control apparatus message. The main control apparatus including a yarn feed rate anticipating unit that represents additional intelligence to the feeders. The yarn feed rate anticipating unit becomes informed about a weaving pattern stored in the main control apparatus memory and transfers a message via a message transfer network to individual feeder programmable control units to accelerate or decelerate in advance of an actual winding-on requirement.

Abstract: A yarn carrier for a circular knitting machine has a swing member swingably attached to a support member and a spring between the swing member and the support member so that if an accidentally closed latch of a latch needle accidentally hits the swing member, such as may occur during unintended stopping of the machine, the swing member is pushed rearward, away from the latch needles, to effectively cushion the contact pressure and protect the latch needle from suffering physical damage. The swing member may also have two depressions, one to provide clearance for the latch needles when moving relative the swing member in a generally vertical direction as the thread is engaged, and one to provide clearance for the latch needles when moving in a generally horizontal direction, after the thread has been engaged and the latch needle is moving away from the support member.

Abstract: Elements forming part of a textile machine are controlled and supervised with the aid of a computerized system. This comprises one or more units which serve the element and which together with other units form a network. One or more units can, if necessary, serve more than one element. Each unit is connected to a connection which forms part of the network formed by the units. Message transmission within the system takes place serially and digitally at the connection. The message transmission at the connection includes message types which are ranked from the point of view of priority, and the units and the connection are arranged to discriminate in the message transmission effected so as to guarantee a transmission time, for a finally transmitted message between units concerned, of a maximum of 2.0 ms for at least three different instantaneous signals or trigger signals which are attributable to functions in or on the textile machine.

Abstract: Yarn feeding apparatus for a knitting machine in which a rotary cap driven by a motor is provided at the top of a storage drum. Optionally, an idle pulley may also be provided adjacent the lower portion of a driving wheel and a mechanism for shifting the driving belt alternately between the driving wheel or idle pulley, so that the driving of the machine is stopped in case of abnormal tension imparted to a feeding yarn. Shifting to either constant feeding or free feeding of yarn is possible to be executed automatically. Automation is possible for work for forming the yarn loop on the storage drum without requiring manual operation one-by-one by an operator. Therefore, it helps avoid poor knitting quality and thus avoids cutting off the yarn. It serves to automate the knitting machine so that constant feeding and free feeding of yarn are simply and conveniently executed.

Abstract: An annular knitting machine comprises a thread exchange device, at least knot unit, means forming a thread processing point, a thread storage device located between the knot unit and the thread processing point, and a control device provided with a microprocessor and a knot data storage for the thread exchange device, the thread exchange device having a sensor which supplies pulses dependent upon a movement of a machine part, the control device also having a microprocessor and a knot data storage and formed so that a length of a thread which is guided through the thread storage device between each knot unit and the thread processing point associated with the latter is maintained at a constant value fixed in the storage of the control device, the sensor supplying movement dependent pulses and being formed as a displacement sensor which is independent of a needle pitch of a needle plate and provides a fixed pulse number per a displacement length unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a yarn feed arrangement with at least one yarn guide (12) for a circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder (1), knitting implements (3) which are mounted movably therein and which have hooks (5) for receiving a yarn (4) fed thereto by the yarn guide, and a cam (7) which acts on the knitting implements in such a way that the hooks are guided on a track which has an extension section, a retraction section and a maximum disposed therebetween. The yarn guide has a through opening (14) for guiding the yarn and a guide surface (28) which is intended for guiding the yarn and which is disposed on its front side (21). In that arrangement the guide surface (28) is provided on an extension portion (26) which is disposed at the underside of the yarn guide (12) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A knitting machine is provided for producing tubular articles based on two fixed bars of needles wherein rows are formed partly by the needles of one bar and partly by the needles of the other bar. A thread is provided which is displaced alternately in both directions along the bars. Cam rings are provided rotating in continuous motion and in opposite directions. Each of the cam rings including cams acting on one of the needle bars for providing trajectories of the needles of one of the two bars forming a limited angle, generally than 30.degree., relative to the trajectories of the corresponding needles of the other bar. The needles of the two bars are arranged offset and are controlled by the cams to provide the sliding movement necessary for the formation of the stitches of the tubular fabrics. Sliding movement is provided such that the hooks do not cross over during the formation of stitches such that it is possible to work on both bars simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for knitting intarsia design jersey knit fabric on a circular knitting machine capable of knitting single jersey fabric.

Abstract: The arrangement provides warp threads for an oscillating weft thread magazine for warp knitting machine. The machine uses a creel, a first delivery device with constant delivery speed, and a second delivery device with a variable thread drive speed. The latter speed corresponds to the instantaneous take-off speed of the weft thread by the carriage. A storage arrangement is located between the two delivery devices for smoothing out the differences between the constant delivery speed and the variable take-off speed. This arrangement enables use of elastic weft threads on the weft thread magazine, so that they are provided in a state of constant tension stage; in particular, tension-free or very slightly tensioned.

Abstract: Apparatus including a horizontal rectangular frame and a vertical rectangular frame receivable within the horizontal frame. The framework of the horizontal frame includes plural link members mounted vertically of a forward end of the horizontal rectangular frame and to an upper end of the vertical rectangular frame to pivotally receive the vertical rectangular frame within the horizontal rectangular frame. A propeller support brace is rotatably mounted to the vertical rectangular frame and includes a plurality of threaded bosses to threadedly mount a spaced plurality of yarn containers thereto where each yarn container is of a cylindrical configuration formed with a coaxial bore therethrough including an upper lid thereof to direct yarn therethrough.

Abstract: A lever-type yarn guide device for textile machines according to the present invention comprises at least one yarn guide lever operated by a linear motor and further comprises sensor means arranged to sense tghe positions assumed by the lever during its movement.The linear motor is defined by a coil immersed in a magnetic field generated by permanent magnets.

Abstract: A warp knitting machine has guide holders, holding arms, and a guide bar assembly. The assembly includes a guide bar made of reinforced synthetic polymeric materials. This guide bar has along substantially its entire length a substantially hollow profile. The guide bar has surrounding walls substantially enclosing the hollow profile. The guide bar includes a first and second segment. The first fastening segment is adapted to be attached to the holding arm. The second fastening segment is adapted to support the guide holders.

Abstract: Improved drive means is provided for imparting clockwise and counterclockwise reciprocal movements to the yarn guides of a circular warp knitting machine including a plurality of vertically reciprocated needles. The improved drive means includes an endless timing belt drivingly connected to the yarn guides and a crank arm drivingly connected at one end to the endless timing belt. A rotary drive wheel is connected to the opposite end of the crank arm for imparting continuous longitudinal reciprocation to the crank arm and to thereby impart reciprocating movement to the endless timing belt and the yarn guide drivingly connected thereto. The yarn guide may include a first yarn guide for directing a base or ground yarn to the needles and a second yarn guide for directing an inlay yarn to the needles. Endless timing belts are utilized in driving each of the base yarn guide and the inlay yarn guide and the timing belt drive permits the circular warp knitting machine to be operated at an increased operating speed.

Abstract: A control system which allows a plurality of shapes to be knitted by a simple change of profile cam (80). The profile cam (80) controls in a desired variable manner the feed rate of elastic or ground yarns to control the shape of a garment. The shape can also be controlled by further profile cams (200, 202, 204) to control both elastic and ground yarns and in a dial and cylinder circular knitting machine to alter the dial height while the machine is in motion, thereby further controlling the width of a garment.

Abstract: A device having a spool around which a knitting yarn is wound and a holder member holding the spool for rotation and having a slot through which a leading portion of said yarn passes through so that when said device is suspended with the leading portion of the yarn engaged with opened hooks of the concerned latch needles of a hand knitting machine for forming Argyle patterns, said spool may be frictionally held without rotating. Thus, when using a necessary number of said devices, it is possible to avoid troublesome drawing up of two or three colors of yarns which often causes tangle of yarns and replacement of weights respectively attached on the yarns as the knitting operation progresses.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for adjusting the length and the mesh structure of a knitted article produced on a flat knitting machine, a yarn tension sensor is provided in the path of the yarn to be knitted for controlling the yarn tension, which sensor controls a yarn brake and/or a yarn restoring spring in the path before the yarn tension sensor via a process controller.

Abstract: A front yarn guide element (11) of the yarn stop motion (10) has the shape of a yarn guide eye (12) formed by a wire spiral into which a yarn can be introduced from the side and deflected to all sides without danger of slipping out. The yarn guide eye (12) is provided with a supporting part (17) located so as to be longitudinally movable in the housing (18) of the yarn stop motion (10), so that the spacing of the yarn guide eye (12) from the position (B) at which the yarn stop motion (10) is secured is adjustable.

Abstract: A positive yarn feed device comprises a pin wheel mechanism (3,4,8,9,10,11) with independent drive means which comprise a variable-speed electric motor (16). The speed of the DC motor (16) is controlled by programmed control means (24,28) which exercise control on the basis of a comparison between an input from speed sensing means (26) associated with the yarn feed device and an input representative of the speed of the cylinder (20) of a circular knitting machine to which the yarn is fed. The comparison of the speed input signals is evaluated against desired speed ratio data stored in a look-up table (31) in programmable memory M. Motor speed control signals output from a microprocessor unit (24) control a variable speed drive unit (28) which directly controls the speed of the motor (16).

Abstract: A yarn supply element (5, 150) that supplies the yarn substantially without slip and is rotatably supported has yarn guide elements (14, 15, 16; 158) and is coupled to an electric motor (3) of regulated frequency that drives it. In the yarn travel path following the yarn supply element, there are yarn tension sensing means (21) that monitor the yarn (17) unwinding from the yarn supply element and that emit and electrical signal that is supplied to a control circuit (52), which supplies the motor with a frequency signal. To assure satisfactory yarn supply even in the event of abrupt changes in yarn utilization, a device (21, 19) for forming a yarn reserve is provided along the yarn travel path following the yarn supply element. The size of the yarn reserve is dimensioned to be sufficient to cover the yarn requirement during start up of the motor. Associated with this device are means (28, 50-55) for automatically refilling the yarn reserve to an original size no later than after the startup of the motor.

Abstract: The flat knitting machine (10) has, on the rear side of its machine body (12), bobbin holders for additional bobbins (19), the yarn of which can be processed on the same flat knitting machine or on an adjacent flat knitting machine (10'). The additional bobbin holders can be arranged on individually removable rear-wall panels of the flat knitting machine (10) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: This device for supporting cops in circular knitting machines, particularly in fixed needle cylinder knitting machines, comprises a plurality of frames which are arranged close together around the machine axis and carry the machine feed cops. Each frame is translatable parallel to itself along a direction having a substantially parallel component to the machine axis from a first raised working position to a second depressed position away from the machine axis to enable a floor-based operator to get at the cops of one frame when the latter occupies the second position; the device also comprises hooks for locking the frames in the first position.

Abstract: The thread feeding apparatus for double needle bed knitting machine to form tubular fabric comprises at least two thread-guides for the same number of thread feed systems for the same fabric, said thread-guides are displaced the one relative to the other upon the passage between one needle bed and the other and upon the reversal of the knitting direction, in order to maintain the same precedence order of the thread-guides in respect to the instantaneous direction of motion. In order to ensure the unwinding of the yarns with no crossing thereof, said yarns are unwound from bobbins of yarn which are co-axially disposed in a row, holes or other equivalent thread guiding means being provided, which guiding means rotate preferably with a continuous motion.

Abstract: A yarn feeding apparatus for yarn-processing textile machines such as circular knitting machines has a feed element which advances the yarn with its circumference. The feed element is rotatably supported on a holder which is arranged to be secured on a carrier and has yarn guide and/or monitoring devices for the yarn being fed to and/or delivered by the feed element. The feed element is driven by a regulated electric motor disposed on the holder. To provide for yarn feeding apparatus which is both compact and inexpensive, the electric motor is a stepping motor coupled to at least one yarn feed element, which advances a yarn in a slip-free manner with its circumference, each element having its own yarn guide and monitoring devices associated with it.

Abstract: A yarn feeding and guide device for knitting machines has at least one yarn feeder, which delivers the yarn arriving from a yarn package and being supplied as needed at a predetermined tension by a yarn delivery unit or fournisseur to the needles of a row of needles. The yarn feeder is disposed in a stationary manner on the machine such that it does not contact the needles of the needle row, and yarn guide elements located in the path of the yarn are associated with it.

Abstract: A device for obtaining novelty yarns from at least two elementary yarns connected to each other by chain stitches constituted by at least one of the yarns. The device has a rotatable hollow spindle which passes the yarn made. The spindle supports and rotates at least one knitting needle. At least one of the elementary yarns is introduced into the nose of the needle during rotation of the spindle. An assembly is used to cast off the stitches formed on the needle and to guide the novelty yarn obtained thereby inside the internal channel of the hollow spindle.

Abstract: A flat-bed knitting machine having a spool table disposed above the needle bed and carriage apparatus, preferably in a rear area of the machine, and on which there are a plurality of yarn spool holders is described. In order to make the spool table of such flat-bed knitting machines useable for other purposes, and also making the spool table easier to handle during assembly, the invention provides that the spool table comprises a plurality of interconnected extruded aluminum profile elements, which have integrated securing means on the surface for subsequently detachably securing yarn spool holders, and that the profile elements are provided on their lower portion with guide recesses, extending in the longitudinal extension of the spool table, for a protective cover and for an operating panel along with its control cables as well as for a trailing cable device.

Abstract: An arrangement for positively supplying elastomer fibers in a textile machine, comprises a device supplying a non-elastic filament fiber, a drive for driving the non-elastic filament fiber supplying device, a yarn spool for an elastomeric filament, a freely rotatable holder for the yarn spool, a drive roller arranged so that the yarn spool abuts against the drive roller over a predetermined abutment length, the drive roller being connected with the drive means and having a length which is greater than the predetermined abutment length, the drive roller having an axis extending in a predetermined plane, and a support which supports the spool holder and is longitudinally displaceable along a line such that the line or its projection extends in the plane of the axis of the drive roller and at an acute angle relative to the axis of the drive roller.

Abstract: A flat-bed knitting machine having a spool table disposed above the needle bed and carriage apparatus, in a rear area of the machine, is described. A multiplicity of yarn spool holders, which are movable into a front area above the needle bed and carriage apparatus, and a plurality of yarn supply devices are held on the spool table. To make the individual yarn spools of such a flat knitting machine more accessible, with less effort, even during machine operation, the yarn spool holders are divided into sets of a plurality of holders, and each set of holders is secured on a pull-out rail of a pull-out device. The pull-out rail is movable relative to a guide rail of the pull-out apparatus, and the guide rail is secured on the stationary spool table.

Abstract: A yarn supply apparatus for yarn-using textile machinery has a rotatable yarn supply element (4) supplying yarn under slip free conditions at a predetermined tension, which is driven by a speed-controllable electric drive motor (6), the speed of which is controlled in accordance with the output signal of sensing means (7, 9) monitoring the travel speed of the yarn (11) supplied by the yarn supply element. In order to provide an apparatus which operates independently of external synchronizing means, the arrangement is such that the speed of the drive motor is synchronized with the sensing means output signal (36), which is representative of the yarn supply speed, and the sensing means (7, 9) are located at a distance behind the yarn supply element (4), as viewed in the direction of yarn travel.

Abstract: There is provided a lapping arrangement with circulating thread guides for a warp knitting machine. The arrangement has carriers for the thread guides. A transport arrangement moves the carriers in a guide means comprising two parallel segments connected by two turning segments. In the location of the parallel segments the transport arrangement comprises two forwarding helices in whose helical thread ride rollers which are attached to the carriers. In this way, a precise positioning of the thread guides is possible.

Abstract: A device for the positive feeding of a yarn, particularly for knitting machines, having a rotatable storage drum adapted to have a yarn supply wound thereonto and withdrawn therefrom over a rim thereof, a stationary yarn guide element located below the rim and outwards of the periphery of the rim in a center plane extending through the axis of rotation of the storage drum, a yarn guiding element located in the yarn path between the rim and the yarn guide element and formed with a yarn guiding edge, and a stoppage sensing element having a portion extending parallel to a tangent of the rim transversely of the yarn path between the yarn guiding edge and the yarn guide element, and being mounted for pivotal movement under the action of a biasing force.

Abstract: A yarn feeding or supply apparatus for textile machines, particularly knitting machines, has a rotatable storage drum supported on a holder, which can be coupled to a drive source setting it into rotation and having yarn guide elements for directing yarn to and from the drum associated with it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thread carrier for a knitting machine, having at least one controllable thread gripper and an inserter (19) whose end at which the thread (16) emerges is in the form of an open channel (76). To simplify the insertion or removal of threads, the thread gripper (109) and the inserter (19) are disposed so as to be movable relative to one another such that the thread can either be inserted into the channel or removed therefrom by the thread gripper (109) itself.

Abstract: A textile yarn creel having a circular supporting framework and plural yarn package supporting members mounted removably and circumferentially slidably thereabout and axially thereof, the supporting members having plural radially inwardly extending pins for mounting of yarn packages thereon for radially inward yarn withdrawal. Guide eyelet members are mounted in a circular arrangement on the circular framework radially inwardly spaced from the package supporting members for receiving the yarns and for direction therefrom to an associated textile machine e.g. a multi-feed circular knitting machine. The package supporting members may be selectively mounted at substantially any locations and spacings circumferentially about the framework for selective expansion and reduction of the creel capacity without changing the floor space occupied.

Abstract: Improved supply yarn tensioning and path guide means comprising the provision of spindles and guides for supplying warp yarns from individual packages, together with tensioning means for controlling the tension in each individually supplied warp yarn strand, preferably by controlling the rolling resistance of a package on a spindle provided therefor, which resistance is overcome by pulling the yarn strand off the package. In a further embodiment, an improved elliptical guide means is provided for guiding the warp yarn path changes.