Fabric Manipulation Patents (Class 66/147)
  • Patent number: 10876233
    Abstract: An open-type circular knitting machine for the open and width-variable web production with a knitted fabric take-down and/or collecting assembly, including: a basement, knitting head and take-down and/or collecting assembly for the fabric. The head is equipped with a needle-holding element having a plurality of needles arranged around a central axis; a first and last active needle delimit a dead zone of the element without needles, and an arc-shaped operating zone with active needles. The head has a control device connected to the active needles to selectively actuate them to produce an open knitted fabric extending between two side edges making up two selvedges of the fabric. The assembly is downstream from the head with respect to feeding direction of the fabric, configured for rotating integral or coordinated with the element during production. Further, at least a first cutting device, configured for progressively cutting and/or trimming the produced fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SANTONI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Andrea Lonati
  • Publication number: 20130266773
    Abstract: A spacer textile material may include a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of connecting members extending between and joining the first layer and the second layer. The connecting members may form a series of at least ten rows that are separated by spaces. The rows have a width that is less than a width of the spaces, and the connecting members form at least one stabilizing row with a width that is greater than the width of the spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Klaas P. Hazenberg, Kirvan L. Chao, Yu Hui Wang, Tim Chen
  • Publication number: 20130092276
    Abstract: A flexible hose with knitted reinforcement has at least one inner tubular layer made of polymer material defining a longitudinal axis and at least one knitted reinforcement layer wound on the inner layer and having at least a first and a second series of yarns spiral wound on the inner layer and knitted together to form respective mesh courses that are inclined with respect to the axis and respective mesh wales substantially parallel to the axis. The mesh wales of the first series of yarns are superimposed on the second series of yarns to define a single-layer reinforcement knitting. A manufacturing method is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Gianmarco Caneva, Luigino Caneva
  • Publication number: 20130014544
    Abstract: A compression garment comprises a plurality of longitudinal wales arranged to form a fabric having a length and generally parallel to the length, and a plurality of secondary transverse elastomeric threads connecting adjacent longitudinal wales and equally spaced about a length of the longitudinal wales. In a stretched state, the longitudinal wales are spaced from one another and remain generally parallel to the length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Martin Winkler
  • Publication number: 20120210752
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine (140b) for knitting a plurality of yarns (196) into a tubular reinforcement (45) on a rotating hose (41), comprising a knitting head (160b) having a plurality of knitting needles (170 and 170a) and a central passageway, wherein the rotating hose is designed to pass through the central passageway, and rotate in the same direction as the knitting head. Further comprising a conforming means defined on the circular knitting machine for conforming the knitted reinforcement to the exterior of the rotating hose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Dean Ragner
  • Publication number: 20110257761
    Abstract: A biocompatible surgical scaffold made from a multi-filament silk yarn for soft tissue reconstruction. The scaffold incorporates regions of varying stretch having different physical and mechanical properties that allow contouring to the required soft tissue shape to be replaced or repaired. The porous structure allows tissue in-growth, while the mesh degrades at a rate which allows for a smooth transfer of mechanical properties to the new tissue from the silk scaffold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ALLERGAN, INC.
    Inventor: Enrico Mortarino
  • Publication number: 20110257665
    Abstract: A biocompatible surgical silk mesh prosthetic device employs a knit pattern that substantially prevents unraveling and preserves the stability of the mesh device, especially when the mesh device is cut. An example prosthetic device employs a knitted mesh including at least two yarns laid in a knit direction and engaging each other to define a plurality of nodes. The at least two yarns include a first yarn and a second yarn extending between and forming loops about two nodes. The second yarn has a higher tension at the two nodes than the first yarn. the second yarn substantially prevents the first yarn from moving at the two nodes and substantially prevents the knitted mesh from unraveling at the nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ALLERGAN, INC.
    Inventor: Enrico Mortarino
  • Publication number: 20110240827
    Abstract: An exhaust hanger band assembly, sleeve therefore, and method of increasing the elongation strength of an exhaust hanger band is provide. The exhaust hanger band assembly includes an elastomeric body configured to operably couple an exhaust member to a frame member of a vehicle. The elastomeric body has an annular outer surface extending along a body central axis between opposite sides. The assembly further includes a textile sleeve having a tubular wall extending along a sleeve central axis in generally parallel relation to the body central axis and between opposite ends. The tubular wall has at least one section of wale direction knit yarns extending along the sleeve central axis and at least one weft inserted yarn extending substantially transversely to the wale direction knit yarns about a circumference of the tubular wall. The at least one weft inserted yarn is interlinked with the at least one section of wale direction knit yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Cassie M. Malloy, John Emerson Burdy
  • Publication number: 20110202018
    Abstract: A contact element is held against the skin of a human limb by a sleeve comprising a tube body (2) knitted with elastomeric yarn. At the ends of the tube body margins (4) are formed which prevent the tube from rolling on itself. In preferred embodiments the margins 4 are also knitted, with a different knitting pattern from that used in the tube body, which is normally a plain knitted structure. Sleeves of the invention can be manufactured in a tubular knitting process on a computerised flat bed knitting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Tilak Kithsiri Dias, William Hunter
  • Patent number: 7814770
    Abstract: A multi-functional laundry device and control method for same treats the laundry efficiently has a washing unit for washing the laundry and a drying unit integrated with the washing unit as one body for after-washing treatment including smoothing out wrinkles, and drying. A control unit provided at either of the washing unit and the drying unit for controlling the washing unit and the dry unit selectively provides steam to the washing and drying units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Si Moon Jeon, Tae Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20100139327
    Abstract: A net is made from a multi-layer film which is used to produce at least two layers of synthetic yarns that are unified by application of a thermal process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Antonios Karatzis
  • Patent number: 7530241
    Abstract: A method for knitting denim comprising: dyeing yarn with a dyestuff to obtain dyed-yarn; knitting the dyed-yarn into a foundation layer and front layer to compose the denim, wherein the front layer is tensely tautened in intermittence with a tensile force greater than a tensile force on the foundation layer to make the foundation layer have random knots; and respectively washing two faces of the denim to remove the residual dyestuff. By knitting the yarn to compose the denim, the denim has even twilling patterns and excellent softness. By tensely tautening the front layer in intermittence during the knitting process, multiple random knots are generated on the foundation layer. Therefore, the achieved denim possesses multiple good features of softness, random knotting, and even twilling patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Dabus Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Larry Shih
  • Publication number: 20090107375
    Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (15) with an inlet end and an outlet end (15A), associated with suction means and inside which a tubular article (T) is sucked towards the outlet end; a moving pick-up element (21, 23) to engage a first end (P) of the tubular article (T) and remove it from the tubular member, said pick-up element which can be moved towards the outlet end; a shaped block (43), cooperating with the inner wall of the tubular member (15), to define a constriction with variable conformation at the outlet end of the tubular member. The constriction is suitable to define a narrow and elongated section of passage of the tubular article, in which said tubular article is forced to take a spread arrangement at least at the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Nerino Grassi, Antonio Magni
  • Publication number: 20080264110
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular knitted pile fabric sleeve that is installed onto a core member. To facilitate the manufacture of the paint roller covers, the knitted pile fabric sleeve is initially placed upon the outside of a thin hollow cylindrical mounting tube, and the core member with an adhesive bonding material provided on the exterior surface thereof is inserted into the interior of the mounting tube. The knitted pile fabric sleeve is installed onto the exterior surface of the core member by withdrawing the mounting tube from the knitted pile fabric sleeve while maintaining the respective positions of the knitted pile fabric sleeve and the core member, with the knitted pile fabric sleeve being retained on the core member by the adhesive bonding material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel L. Sinykin
  • Publication number: 20080072629
    Abstract: An improved fabric for orthopedic devices is provided, being a knitted fabric produced on either a warp or weft knit system and utilizing a filament yarn selected from nylon and polyester as well as spandex. The fabric enhances freedom of movement while stimulating blood flow and muscle tone. The fabric has an elasticity that enables closure of orthopedic and other devices by placing the hook component of a Velcro (®) strip at any convenient point rather than aligning it with the loop component of the Velcro (®). The fabric is more convenient, faster and easier for many incapacitated persons, enhancing wearing comfort. Its mesh structure makes it more porous, which enhances the air circulation and the moisture management in creating a cooling effect on the wearer's skin and ready evaporation of perspiration, while still providing therapeutic warmth without heat buildup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: George GEHRING
  • Publication number: 20040244431
    Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (5A; 5B) in which the articles are inserted; a plurality of mobile gripping members (49) mobile between a first closed position and a second open position, arranged on one outlet end of said tubular member; and guiding and orienting means (71, 73) associated to said outlet end of said tubular member, for guiding and orienting the tubular article inserted in said tubular member towards said gripping members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Antonio Magni
  • Publication number: 20040211226
    Abstract: Method of handling or moving the stitches of a textile article, the method comprising removing the stitches from the needles of a textile machine by with the transferring article is formed at a first station, transferring the article from said first station to a second operating station, said transfer being operated by engaging the said stitches with a plurality of members intended for the removal of same stitches form the needles of the textile machine and transferring said members from said first station to said second station, characterized in that it comprises the reversible transfer of at least one portion of said removal members from a first support or carrier which is being movable from said first and second stations to a second support or carrier intended for temporary retaining the said at least one portion of removal members along with the stitches being removed by them, and/or the reversible transfer of a plurality of members, intended for the temporary retention of the stitches and not involved in
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Paolo Frullini, Alberto Frullini
  • Publication number: 20040168478
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for forming a closed toe in a tubular knitted article, for example a sock, comprising the steps of: setting two end flaps (L1, L2) of the article (M) alongside one another; inserting, inside the loops of at least one first row (X2) of stitches of the flaps set alongside one another, a comb-like structure comprising a plurality of teeth (85); sewing (C) together the loops of at least one second row of stitches, which is set between the first row of stitches (X2) and the body of the tubular article (M); and opening the loops of the first row of stitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 6615617
    Abstract: A method for producing a closed end hosiery seamless knitted article, on a circular machine, comprising: knitting of the article starting from the end to be closed, forming a knot for retaining a closure thread by way of a set of contiguous needles, weaving the closure thread and feeding it to a preset number of needles to connect needles arranged opposite with respect to a central plane passing through the needle cylinder axis and through a central region of the set of contiguous needles, interrupting feeding the closure thread to the needles forming a few rows of knitting by using other threads and at least part of the needles of the machine, applying traction to the closure thread to close the initial end of the article, and continuing production of the article to completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Publication number: 20030074929
    Abstract: A closing device (4) is provided for closing a tube-shaped knit fabric on one end, for example for producing stockings or socks, which has plates (9) and counter-plates (13). The latter each have loop-carrying sections (18, 41), whose ends are designed to be complementary to each other and can engage each other in an interlocked manner. Here, the plates (9) have a receiving end, and the counter-plates (13) a penetrating end. The receiving end is constituted by a receiving funnel (28), formed by the ends of two legs (22, 23). These can be resiliently bent away from each other. This has the advantage that the penetrating counter-plate (13) cannot cause any damage to the plate (9) if it is moved too far in the direction toward the plate (9). There is the further advantage that in the course of the dipping movement of the needle into the free space of the plate, as well as during the relative movements between the needle and the plate, damages are almost impossible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Eric Jurgens
  • Patent number: 6519980
    Abstract: A programmable system and method for dewrinkling, or removing wrinkles from, a hosiery article in a circular knitting machine comprise a dial head movable between a down position and an up position, a means for moving the dial head downward and upward, and a dial head locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the dial head. When the dial head is unlocked and moved to the up position, wrinkles are removed from the hosiery article. A dewrinkling system and method of the present invention are particularly well-suited for removing wrinkles from hosiery articles having thick cuffs, such as quarter socks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventor: Ronnie Walker
  • Publication number: 20010017046
    Abstract: The equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip comprises a device for gripping the sock from the area of formation of the same on a circular machine for socks and at least one device for transferring the gripping device to a predetermined final position for feeding the sewing machine, which comprises rotation means of the gripping device adapted to impart a rotation speed to it that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder of the circular machine when the gripping device is in a predetermined position inside the needle cylinder so as to form an annular gap with the latter, inside which the sock arranges during its formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Guerrino Rumi
  • Publication number: 20010017047
    Abstract: The method consists in forming a tubular item on a circular machine by means of the needles of the needle cylinder, starting from the opposite axial end of the item with respect to the axial end to be closed and retaining on the needles of the needle cylinder the last formed row of knitting. The loops of the last row of knitting are then transferred individually to an auxiliary element provided with supporting elements for individually supporting the loops, and the supporting elements of at least one first half-row of the last row are suitable to receive two loops and to pass one of the two loops in the other loop. The item is furthermore reversed before and after the transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Jan Ando'
  • Patent number: 6271857
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for reproducing texture, in which a garment product designed by a designer is reproduced using a computer. A visual texture of the product is reproduced by applying the reproduced product to a virtual model, and displaying the virtual model, on which the product is put, on a screen. A tactile texture of the product is also reproduced by driving a tactile texture reproducer based on the surface characteristics, softness and heat transfer coefficient of a fabric to be applied to the product. Based on the reproduced visual and tactile textures, consumers experience the virtual texture of the product through their virtual and tactile senses. Accordingly, it is possible to positively reflect opinions of consumers on products being developed. This makes it possible to develop products having a better chance of market success while reducing the labor, time and costs required in the developments of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Dae Im Kang, Yon Kyu Park, Hou Keun Song, Hee Kook Kim, Young Ha Kwon, Jin Hoon Shon
  • Patent number: 6250114
    Abstract: A roller (1) for guiding knitwear produced on a knitting machine, with at least one stub shaft (3) of reduced cross-section projecting to the side of a middle part (2) and at least one first adjusting ring (16) which can be fixed on the stub shaft (3) to form an annular gap is described. The adjusting ring (6) has a first axial end (17) with an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the middle part (2) and a second axial end (17a) associated with the annular gap (22). In accordance with the invention the adjusting ring (16) is assembled from at least two shells (24, 25) adjoining one another along butt joints (FIG. 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Sipra Patententwicklungs- u. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Traenkle
  • Patent number: 6247337
    Abstract: A warp knitting machine has across its working breadth in its working area a plurality of knitting tools and an adjacent fabric pull-off arrangement. A pair of gripping breadth holders between the working area and the fabric pull-off are located at both edges of a fabric path. Each of the gripping breadth holders have at least one driven wheel with a plurality of circumferential needles. The wheel is driven through a drive axis that is substantially parallel to the working breadth of the machine. The wheel is mounted to rotate about a wheel axis that is inclined at an inclination angle to the drive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Mayer Textilmachinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Brandl
  • Patent number: 6176106
    Abstract: A dial or half-dial for single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machines, particularly for producing tubular items closed at one longitudinal end, which comprises a dial or half-dial body which is substantially shaped like a disk or half-disk and is provided, on at least one of its two faces, with a plurality of radial slots, each of which slideably accommodates at least one hook. The hooks have a longitudinal slit which is open in the direction of the axis of the dial or half-dial body. The slit gives a portion of the body of the hooks a bifurcated shape which engages the two opposite faces of the dial or half-dial body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Lonati, Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 6158254
    Abstract: A double layer sock is formed on a circular knitting machine so that the inner layer and the outer layer are connected by knit stitches adjacent the toe portion and the inner and outer layer wales adjacent such connection are aligned. A section of knit courses is formed beyond the connected toe portion of both the inner and outer layer as an inner guide segment, an inner clip, an outer guide segment, and an outer clip, with each guide segment formed at a lower stitch density than either the toe portion or the clip that border the guide segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Ridgeview, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Richard
  • Patent number: 6105399
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tubular knitted article with a toe end closed by a machine provided with a cylinder (1). The machine has a first and second series of needles disposed opposite to each other on corresponding semicylindrical portions of the same cylinder (1) and has a plate (3) provided with hooks (30). The process includes an initial step for the formation of the fabric of the toe in the form of a pocket (SC) by utilizing the needles (2) of the first series and corresponding hooks of plate (3). Steps for the removal and transfer of the fabric portion engaged by the hooks of the plate (3) by a 180.degree. rotation about a diametral axis of said cylinder (1) to dispose this fabric portion in correspondence of the needles (20) of said second series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignees: Fabritex S.r.l., Sangiacomo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Frullini, Paolo Frullini
  • Patent number: 6089049
    Abstract: A knitting machine including a first knitting station (51) for knitting a welt, a second knitting station (52) comprising a fully fashioned knitting head (54), and a transfer system including a welt transfer bar (60) and a transfer bar transport system (72, 73), the transfer bar being movable by the transport system from a loading station, whereat a welt knitted at the first knitting station (51) can be loaded onto the transfer bar (60), to an unloading station whereat the knitted welt loaded on the transfer bar can be transferred to the knitting head at the second knitting station (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: The RHD Company Limited
    Inventor: Terry Dawn
  • Patent number: 6082143
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes a generally conventional circular knitting element for forming a tubular knit fabric. A tension-controlled roll take-up assembly is located downstream from the circular knitting element for receiving the tubular knit fabric and forming a fabric roll from the tubular knit fabric while, at the same time, maintaining substantially constant tension on the tubular knit fabric being formed by the circular knitting element. This allows very large fabric rolls to be formed. In the preferred embodiment, the circular knitting machine includes a tension-controlled umbrella storage feed mounting ring adjacent to the circular knitting element for supplying a plurality of yarn ends to the circular knitting element for forming the tubular knitted fabric. The umbrella storage feed mounting ring permits an operator to attend to most machine functions without the need for a ladder or catwalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventors: George Stephen Noonkester, James Moore Schenck
  • Patent number: 5931024
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for producing a tubular knitted article having a closed end. The apparatus includes a circular knitting element for forming the tubular knitted article and a closure assembly located downstream of the circular knitting element for forming the closed end. An accumulator assembly is located between the circular knitting element and the closure assembly to provide tension to the tubular knitted article when the closure assembly is closed, thereby permitting the circular knitting element to continuously form the tubular knitted article during the operation of the closure assembly. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a cutting assembly is located between the accumulator assembly and the closure assembly, the cutting assembly being selectively operable to cut the tubular knitted article during the operation of the closure assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Larry W. Honeycutt
    Inventor: Larry W. Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 5606876
    Abstract: A process and device for picking up and transferring stockings from a stocking circular knitting machine to a sewing machine for closing the toe of the stockings. The device includes conveying units for taking hold of the stocking at two opposite zones of the knitted fabric at a level of the open toe. Structure for moving the stocking is provided between a position for picking up the stocking, within the circular machine, in a position outside of the circular machine. A holding structure is provided for taking hold of the stocking from the conveying units and maintaining a hold on the stocking for positioning the stocking with respect to the sewing machine, for closing the toe. The method is based on the steps of mechanically removing the stocking from the sewing machine based on picking up the stocking at two diametrically opposite locations and supporting the opposite parts during transfer, bringing the edges of the open toe together for sewing the toe edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sangiacomo S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fulvio Sangiacomo
  • Patent number: 5595070
    Abstract: An attachment for the cylinder apparatus of a circular knitting machine which produces lock stitched hosiery. The attachment further includes an additional attachment which provides a mechanism to gather and sever a tubular hosiery segment intermediate its distal ends, creating two equal sized hosiery segments each having a closed end and an open end for use as foot covers, or footies, and having the advantage of creating two footies per cut with virtually no waste. A collar connecting device interconnects an extension cylinder to a standard cylinder tube on an existing knitting machine. The collar connecting device permits a double cylinder arrangement with an intermediate gathering, sealing and cutting device which yields a pair of hosiery footies with a single cutting action thus doubling the standard output, and eliminating the usual waste product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Inventors: Gerald M. Gray, Sr., Randy L. Gray
  • Patent number: 5417089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a circular knitting machine to form an end closure in a knitted tube made of thermoplastic yarn. The apparatus includes a tube constrictor mounted on the knitting machine for constricting the knitted tube formed by the knitting machine to form a generally solid, compact mass. The tube constrictor includes a plurality of constricting elements which define an aperture through which the knitted tube extends. The constricting elements are moveable between an open position and a closed position in which the knitted tube is gathered into a generally solid compact mass. A hot-air nozzle connected to a hot-air source is engageable with the air passage in the tube constrictor for directing a stream of hot air through said passage to sever and fuse said compact mass and to form a heat-sealed closure at one end of the tube segment severed from the knitted tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Larry W. Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 5323626
    Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal pre-fixing of stockings directly from a circular knitting machine has a cylindrical treatment chamber with an inlet valve and an outlet valve and is connected to a hosiery knitting machine through a conduit an to a suction conduit to transfer the stockings. The chamber has a blade valve for the admission of air during the expulsion of the treated stockings, a by-pass conduit connected to each end of the chamber with the interposition of a valve, an optical sensor upstream of the treatment chamber for detecting the arrival of a stocking and a heat exchanger to heat the treatment air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Solis, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Vinicio Gazzarrini, Pier L. Migliorini
  • Patent number: 5280713
    Abstract: An apparatus which provides for servo regulation of a yarn furnisher for a circular knitting machine which permits the knitting machine to operate at a higher speed, controls and varies the tension of the yarn supplied to a knitting machine, and provides a two-bagging unit receptacle for the directing and receiving of the knitted products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: The Kendall Company
    Inventors: Leroy M. Hansen, Bruce Kritz
  • Patent number: 5231856
    Abstract: The twin-cylinder circular knitting machine with knitted fabric tensioning device having members for retaining the fabric proximate to a knitting forming region. A first fluid-activated piston is accommodated in the upper needle cylinder and is provided with a hollow stem which is open at its ends. The lower end of the stem is engageable, by means of the sliding of the piston parallel to the axis of the needle cylinders, with the knitted fabric being formed in order to apply tension thereto. The retention members have dimensions for allowing the stem to slide outside of the retention members. The tensioning device also has an auxiliary actuation piston which acts on the piston to achieve its descent at a controlled rate at least until the lower end of the stem of the piston makes contact with the fabric in the region comprised between the retention members and the knitting forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Lonati S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Lonati, Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Patent number: 5229181
    Abstract: A wiper for use in cleanrooms and other controlled environments is made using a knit fabric tube rather than a fabric sheet. The fabric tube is knit with a diameter approximately equal to the preferred wiper dimension and is presented directly to an apparatus for sealing and cutting. A sequence of spaced strips are fused into the fabric tube perpendicular to its length. Individual two ply wipers are separated from one another along a cut line midway in the strips. The wipers are characterized by lower costs due to fewer fabrication steps and a 50% reduction in the number of wiper edges requiring treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Amber Technologies
    Inventors: Hermann Daiber, John Mizia
  • Patent number: 5205140
    Abstract: A textile warp knitting machine is equipped with a driven sandpaper-covered sueding roll extending the full width of the fabric take-up section of the machine for peripheral engagement of the warp knitted fabric with the sueding roll to produce a raised suede-like nap on one fabric surface. The sueding roll is driven oppositely to the direction of fabric travel. The fabric is guided to contact the sueding roll periphery at two opposite locations thereon. A dancer roller arrangement is provided, including a biasing arrangement for urging the dancer roll with a predetermined force into tensioning engagement with the traveling fabric. Additionally, the sueding roll drive is adapted to vibrate the traveling fabric to allow abraded particles to be released from the sueding roll. The sueding roll and fabric take-up roll drive motors are contained substantially entirely within the driven rolls themselves for improved compactness of the sueding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Guilford Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Arne Nielsen, Majid N. Moghaddassi
  • Patent number: 5186027
    Abstract: The circular knitting machine, for manufacturing open fabric, has a thread clamping and cutting device arranged inside the needle cylinder and there is a thread engagement element which is controllably movable from the inside of the needle cylinder toward the outside, and vice versa, in the needle cylinder region which faces the dial, so as to engage the threads at the end of their knitting and so as to carry the threads to undergo the action of a presser element, and a cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Mec-Mor S.r.l.
    Inventor: Riccardo Tenconi
  • Patent number: 5167134
    Abstract: A mechanical take down device in a circular, particularly double cylinder knitting machine. The device includes two circular parts, one being full and solid and fitting into the other part, while the fabric passes between them. One of the parts has a screw-threaded surface and the neighboring surface of the other part is circular in shape and its slant equals that of the screw-threaded surface. One of the parts does not rotate, while the other rotates and is coupled with the needle cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Elitex Liberec
    Inventors: Milan Fucik, Miroslav Chromy, Jiri Pohorilsky
  • Patent number: 5157946
    Abstract: A cylindrically knitted fabric is produced in a knitting region adjacent to the top of a needle cylinder of a knitting machine. The knitted fabric is guided downward around a conical nozzle and fed downward in a twisting-preventive guide cylinder rotating in synchronism with the needle cylinder. Air is ejected downward from air openings around the conical nozzle so that the knitted fabric is moved downward. Air is ejected downward from the nozzle into the cylindrical knitted fabric, which is thereby pressed against the inner surface of the guide cylinder. Upon being thus delivered from the bottom of the guide cylinder without contamination and twist, the knitted fabric is received on a conical gripper and is then conveyed by a pickup mechanism to a next processing step for producing socks, panty hose or tights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Nagata Seki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noel Egea, Hidemasa Sakamoto, Keizi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5127558
    Abstract: To turn out men's stockings, that is to say socks, outside and at a distance from the relevant operating machine, such as a circular machine for sock manufacture or a toe-sewing machine, use is made of:a device from extracting the sock 3 from the machine 1 by sucking it into a pipe 2 which conveys it to a turning-out station 4 positioned at a distance from the machine 1 and, after turning out, for directing it to the discharge;a turning out station 4 comprising: a chamber 40 having a vertical axis, with an articulated grilled diaphragm 41 for intercepting and positioning the sock 3 vertically and with the cuff 30 at the top; pincers for grasping the cuff 30 from the outside and extending it into a circle; a cup 52 for clamping the cuff 30 thus extended; a turning out tube 5 which is coaxial with the chamber 40, passes into said cup 52 and into the port 43 of said diaphragm 41 and is subject to the double-action pneumatic cylinder 9, in line with the chamber 40, in which tube 5 the sock 3 comes to be accommoda
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: Conti Paolo
  • Patent number: 5060489
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive tape employing a tricot knit carrier fabric having a minimum number of weft yarns. The tricot knit carrier fabric being knit on a tricot knitting machine which employs a loop hold down bar to prevent the first three or four courses adjacent the needles of the knitting machine from breaking out when released or cast off the needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5056340
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive tape employing a tricot knit carrier fabric having a minimum number of weft yarns. The tricot knit carrier fabric being knit on a tricot knitting machine which employs a loop hold down bar to prevent the first three or four courses adjacent the needles of the knitting machine from breaking out when released or cast off the needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5025644
    Abstract: A textile warp knitting machine is equipped with a driven sandpaper-covered sueding roll extending the full width of the fabric take-up section of the machine for peripheral engagement of the warp knitted fabric with the sueding roll to produce a raised suede-like nap on one fabric surface. The sueding roll is driven oppositely to the direction of fabric travel. The fabric is guided to contact the sueding roll periphery at two opposite locations thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Guilford Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Arne Nielsen, Majid Moghaddassi
  • Patent number: 5007253
    Abstract: A portable clipping and shearing apparatus for clipping and shearing float from lace sheet. The apparatus is mechanically coupled to the lace-knitting machine and is adapted to take up the sheet directly as it emerges from the lace-knitting machine to clip and shear the float forthwith. Consequently, trimmed lace sheet flows out of the portable device of the present invention, avoiding costly multiple handling of the lace sheet. The portable clipping and shearing apparatus is provided with a synchronization mechanism that synchronizes its processing speed to that of the lace-knitting machine. As the portable shearing and clipping apparatus is adapted for the relatively slow lace making machine, the device of the present ivnention is small enough to be easily transported to the location of a warp knitting machine, simple in construction, and more commonly affordable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas Rahner
  • Patent number: 5005381
    Abstract: Apparatus for finishing hosiery, coupled to an individual knitting machine (2) includes a tube and valve (4, 6) for conveying completed articles to a chamber (10) formed by a sleeve heated by a resistance element (12) contained in the chamber (10). A pair of parallel control rods (18) move a slide (16), and articles are heated simultaneously with the knitting cycle of the next article to effect partial relaxation and shrinkage in step with the knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Adria Limited
    Inventor: Stanley H. Moss
  • Patent number: 5004132
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing socks is disclosed which utilizes a boarding or blocking machine of the type having a plurality of sock boarding (blocking) forms which are movable within a track. Socks to be block (boarded) are applied to the boarding forms with a free yarn end or string still attached to each sock. Clipping assemblies are mounted on either side of the track in position to automatically sever the extending string as each boarding form moves past the clipping assemblies. A vacuum system is associated with each clipping assembly to continuously remove the severed strings and other loose materials resulting from the clipping operations. By employing the clipping asemblies in combination with and in association with the boarding machine, the previously required, separate, string severing operations can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Neuville Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Hollowell, Hugh D. Sample