Abstract: The fabric is withdrawn from the needle cylinder of the knitting machine and is flattened so that the present fabric severing device can periodically sever a predetermined length of the fabric in a transverse direction while the fabric is being produced by the knitting machine. The fabirc severing device includes a hot wire positioned below fabric tensioning rolls of the knitting machine. The hot wire is normally maintained out of the path of travel of the flattened fabric and horizontal movement is applied to the hot wire to move the hot wire against and through the flattened fabric and thereby transversely sever a length of the fabric. A pneumatic transport system is provided for removing the severed length of fabric from a position beneath the hot wire cutting device and transporting the severed length of fabric to a location spaced from the knitting machine.

Abstract: A knitwork tensioning device has a fabric locking mechanism normally disposed in the lower needle cylinder of a double cylinder circular knitting machine. The fabric locking mechanism has a set of locking fingers capable of fluid pressure actuation for locking the fabric being knitted against the bottom end of an inner movable tube within the upper needle cylinder. The fabric locking mechanism is itself capable of fluid pressure actuation for movement into the upper needle cylinder. Locked against the inner movable tube by the locking fingers, the fabric is stretched as the fabric locking mechanism travels with the inner movable tube up into the upper needle cylinder under fluid pressure. The upper needle cylinder has also mounted therein an outer movable tube slidably fitted over the inner movable tube.

Abstract: It is described a fabric heating unit 1 comprising a pair of heating elements 7, 8 each of them exhibiting an active surface 10a designed to come in contact with one of the faces of a fabric 3 coming out of a crochet galloon loom. Associated with each heating element is an insulating shield rotatably pivoted according to an axis parallel to the respective heating element. The insulating shields can be simultaneously brought from a rest position in which each of them is disposed close to the respective heating element on the side opposite that facing the fabric, to an operating position in which each shield is interposed between the heating element and the fabric to separate and thermally insulate the latter from the heating element.

Abstract: A knitted, woven or non woven article such as a glove for example, having a wrist cuff includes an edge binding which is activatable by the application of heat thereto to prevent unraveling of the cuff edge. The bound edge is defined by first and second yarn ends which are knitted or woven together, wherein the first yarn includes a heat activatable, thermoplastic outer covering and the second yarn is defined by a nonthermoplastic, elastic material. The first and second yarns are knitted or woven in a manner to form crossover points therebetween. The edge binding is subjected to heat in order to melt the thermoplastic outer covering of the first yarn, thereby joining the first and second yarns at the crossover points. The articles may be formed on conventional, automatic knitting machines. The knitted articles are ejected from the machine and are gravity fed into a device which melts the thermoplastic outer covering of the first yarn, and thereby bind the edge of the article.

Abstract: The lint removing apparatus of the present invention is provided with at least one air jet ejecting pipe which is supported for rotation in a circular path of travel so that air is directed over and against selected portions of the knitting machine. Means is provided for supporting the air ejection pipe for rotation and drive means interconnects the rotary needle cylinder with the air ejecting pipe for rotating the air ejecting pipe in the same direction as the needle cylinder and at a decreased speed relative to the rotational speed of the rotary needle cylinder. The drive means includes a planetary gear system including a plurality of bevel gears and a bearing housing supporting the bevel gears. The bearing housing includes a lower rotatable body tube and an upper nonrotating cap.

Abstract: The machine is of the type comprising rods defining the volume of the section element and extending in the longitudinal direction of the latter and a knitting head depositing threads around the rods in a direction perpendicular to the latter. The rods are thin hollow rods (12). A die (9) maintains the hollow rods in a fixed position parallel to each other in a configuration which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the desired section element. Feed devices (7, 8) feed the longitudinal threads of the section element through the hollow rods (12). A device (15) is provided for retaining one end (12a) of the threads issuing from the rods in an identical configuration. Two knitting heads (16, 17) of known type deposit threads in two planes which are orthogonal and perpendicular to the rods (12) in the vicinity of the ends of the latter. Devices (15, 5) are provided for continuously displacing the threads issuing from the rods as the threads are deposited by the knitting heads.

Abstract: A knitted material is disclosed having on one side a multiplicity of upstanding hook-like engaging elements suitable for repeated face-to-face engagement and disengagement with a material having a multiplicity of upstanding pile loop-like mating engagement elements. The material has a base knitted fabric and a plurality of upstanding monofilamentary members interknitted into the base fabric, with a hook-like engaging element positioned at the upper end of each upstanding member. The engaging element extends transversely of the upstanding member and is configured in cross section to have at least one end generally arcuate in shape and the opposite end tapered. The tapered end has greater flexibility than the arcuate end, and the fastener fabric is engageable in face-to-face relation with a mating loop-type fastener fabric and separated by forces normal to the interfacial plane of engagement.

Abstract: An oscillation damping and counterpoising circular knitting machine having a base, a machine truss fixedly mounted on the base, and a first machine plate fixedly mounted on the generally middle portion of the machine truss. A latch needle holder rotatably supported by the first machine plate has a circumference on which a plurality of latch needles are provided. A plurality of cams are disposed around the latch needles for effecting a knitting operation when the latch needle holder is rotated. Driving structure causes the latch needle holder to rotate, the driving structure including a first bracket member and a second bracket member with the first bracket member being operatively connected to the second bracket member by pin members having one end fixed on the first bracket member and another end loosely inserted into a slot formed on the second bracket member to allow self-alignment of the first bracket member with the second bracket member.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has a take-down mechanism with a pair of sequentially reciprocable annular resilient members (4) movable alongside a take-down throat (31) internally of needles (14) in a cylinder (18).Annularly arranged cams (20,21) reciprocate the members (4) while rotating concentrically but separately of the cylinder (18). The cams (20,21) are driven by gears (22,24) to rotate at a speed lower than the cylinder (18) to give a surprisingly improved take-down effect.

Abstract: A device for thermo-fixing tapes as they are taken up from the knitting machine.

Abstract: In a fabric take-down mechanism for a flat knitting machine provided with stitch strippers, the edge of the fabric disposed in front of the stitch strippers is engaged by a plurality of take-down hooks (27) of a hook bar (28) located beneath the comb gap (13) defined by the ends of the needle beds (10 and 11). The engagement of the fabric edge is produced by a free fall of the take-down hooks (27) over a limited initial length of take-down travel (A). The take-down of the fabric by the take-down hooks (27) is effected synchronously with the movement of a succeeding take-down roller (13) in the effective area of which the edge of the fabric is carried by means of the take-down hooks (27).

Abstract: A velvet-type or snap-together fastener web comprises a warp-knitted ground structure and series of interlooped loops disposed in at least every other wale, each loop including a pair of mushroomed stems projecting from the wale at each course. To produce such a fastener web, a double-faced fabric is knitted on a Raschel warp knitting machine, and is separated into a plurality of strips by dissolving transversely spaced water-soluble threads in the fabric. Each strip is divided into front and back fabric webs by severing thermoplastic thread portions therebetween, leaving a multiplicity of raised stems on each fabric web. The raised fabrc stems are then heated to mushroom their ends.

Abstract: Z-shaped folds are formed in a tubular film and the latter is inserted into a woven tubing as the latter is woven and collapsed in a circular loom. The tubular film is squeezed between pairs of pinch rollers and is then inflated to form a bubble, which is supported by annular surfaces at the weaving ring and at a distance from the latter so that the bubble bulges between the annular surfaces so as to form an annular bead. A Z-shaped annular fold is formed in that tubular film in that edge portion of said annular bead which is remote from the weaving ring is pushed into the latter. For the fixation of the Z-shaped folds e.g., at the portions which will subsequently form the rims at the open ends of the bags to be made, it may be desirable to apply adhesive to the tubular film above the Z-shaped folds and to force said adhesive-coated portions against the inside surface of the surrounding woven tubing.

Abstract: An attachment for use with multi-feed circular knitting machines of the type having a rotary needle cylinder and having yarn striper boxes at the feeds thereof. The boxes serving to change and to cut and clamp the yarns fed to and knit by the machine during the making thereon of coursewise striped fabric. The yarn changing operation resulting in undesirably long unknit terminal portions of the changed yarns extending inwardly from the inner side of the tubular fabric being made. The terminal portions of the yarns having cut ends. The attachment comprising a device having yarn clipping means disposed within the tubular fabric and rotating in unison with the needle cylinder to cut and to shorten the terminal portions of the changed yarns as the tubular fabric continues to be made, whereby the yarns are cut firstly by the striper boxes and secondly by the yarn clipping means.

Abstract: A knitting machine having a plurality of latch needles on a latch needle holder rotatably supported on a machine plate on a machine truss, the latch needles being capable of performing a knitting operation when the latch needle holder is rotated by a driving device. The driving device has a gear member, wherein the gear member is disposed away from the latch needle holder so that the distance oscillation created by the gear member must travel for reaching the latch needles is lengthened, and/or an oscillation damping structure is further provided whereby the oscillation which would create undesirable horizontal lines upon the knitted fabric is counterpoised and thereby greatly reduced.The oscillation damping structure includes an oscillation damping plate having one end fixedly mounted on a hub formed on a first machine plate and another end fixedly supported by another machine truss. A second central hollow shaft is rotatably supported by a second machine plate.

Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.

Abstract: Control of skew, bow and yield in circularly knit pile fabric is accomplished by providing the fabric tube as knit and before longitudinal slitting with identification mark means so aligned with respect to selected longitudinally spaced courses that after the fabric tube has been slit and spread out flat for tentering, skew, bow and yield can be readily controlled in response to detecting means for viewing the identification mark means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oscillation damping and counterpoising circular knitting machine, particularly to a circular knitting machine wherein the distance between the pinion or the belt pulley and each latch needle is comparatively lengthened or an oscillation damping means further provided whereby the oscillation which would bring about undesired horizontal lines upon the knitted fabric is counterpoised and meantime greatly decreased.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating hosiery produced on a circular knitting machine. The hosiery is knitted as a continuous tubular fabric with a weakened portion being formed between articles to be separated. The separating apparatus includes a frame mounted below the knitting machine, a gripping and separating arm pivotally mounted on the frame, and a fixed clamping arm mounted on the frame below the gripping and separating arm. The gripping arm and the clamping arm each include a pair of jaws which are intermittently actuated to engage the tubular fabric adjacent the weakened portion of the articles. The gripping arm is pivoted to exert an arcuate pulling force upwardly away from the clamping arm to cause the articles to be separated along their weakened portions. The separation action is arranged so as to prevent stretching of the fabric coming from the knitting machine. A fabric guide and a pneumatic transport for the separator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a multicolored yarn, in which the yarn is knitted into a tubular pre-fabric tape, the tape is straightened and flattened freeing it of any folds or wrinkles or the like, and is fed wale-wise in a straightened and flattened condition and printed with a multicolored design having a multiplicity of different colors in the course-wise direction, at least about every half inch or less. The resulting printed tape is set, deknitted and the resulting multicolored yarn is taken up. The yarn product has a multiplicity of short dashes of at least five different colors arranged adjacent each other along the yarn direction, and the dashes have an average length of about one inch or less.Fabric composed of the yarn, preferably of an apparel denier, has a pleasing multicolored effect.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating and separately collecting stockings and toe end waste therefrom, incorporated with a toe end closing apparatus for a circular knitting machine where the stocking is gathered in a clamp at the toe end and closed thereat, with a short waste end portion being severed therefrom by the closing operation, and including a movable stop for the clamp actuator to stop clamp opening at a partially open position to retain the entirety of the waste end temporarily while the stocking is conventionally sucked away from the clamp through a conduit to a collection station, after which the stop is moved to allow full opening of the clamp for release of the waste end into the suction current created by an air jet temporarily blowing across the conduit for transporting the entirety of the waste end in fabric form to a separate waste collection station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for turning, separating, stacking and counting hosiery directly on a knitting machine. A hosiery positioning tube is suspended below the knitting cylinder of the machine with the hosiery string being knitted around the tube. The tube is suspended on a hanger extending through a hollow star rod of the machine. Intermittently driven feed rollers are positioned on opposite sides of the tube to step feed the hose string down the tube. Gripping fingers mounted on a swinging arm just below the bottom of the tube separate each hose in turn. An air orifice on the inner finger positioned in the mouth of tube intermittently blows the final hose on the string up into the tube to provide an everting operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for doffing fabric rolls formed on a winding shaft from a circular knitting machine. When the knitting machine is stopped after a predetermined length of knitted fabric is wound on a winding shaft, the angular position of the winding shaft with respect to the common rotational center of the knitting device and the winding mechanism is controlled by means of a particular mechanism so that the winding shaft occupies a predetermined angular position. Then the knitted fabric is cut at a position adjacent to the winding shaft. Thereafter, both ends of said winding shaft, whereon a full size fabric roll is formed, are simultaneously released from the supporting members of the winding mechanism and the fabric roll doffed from the winding mechanism is received by a receiving plate of a truck positioned at its standby position right below the winding mechanism.

Abstract: Method for developing potential yarn bulk in knitted fabric by introducing the fabric into a turbulent flow of heated air.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved apparatus and method for producing knit fabrics having terry loops on both the technical front and technical back sides of a ground fabric in which the terry loops are interconnected or knitted jointly with the ground yarn into the base fabric and are thus securely held therein. Novel needle latch arresting elements and improved sinker designs eliminate severing of previously formed loops incorporated in the ground fabric.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for knitting socks by means of a circular knitting machine in which the socks are knitted in a continuous string wherein a few courses are knitted with a soluble yarn between the toe portion of each sock and the welt portion of each subsequent sock, during which the string of socks is drawn rotatingly in downward direction out of the knitting cylinder, with the string of socks being passed from the circular knitting machine directly into a liquid flow wherein the soluble yarn with which the successive socks in the string are interconnected dissolves.

Abstract: A stabilizer for use on circular knitting machines for maintaining alignment between the cylinder and dial during circular knitting of a fabric having a longitudinally extending strip of float yarns between the beginning and end of circularly knit rows of stitches, the stabilizer including a first roller mounted for rotation on the cylinder against one side of the longitudinally extending strip of float yarns, a second roller in mating engagement with the first roller and mounted for rotation on the dial against the other side of the longitudinally extending strip of float yarns and in mating engagement with the first roller and means for driving one of the rollers for feeding the float yarns in the strip between the rollers as the float yarns are engaged between the rollers.

Abstract: Fabric spreader for knitted goods on a circular knitting machine. The fabric spreader is provided with expanding wings which are pivotably and adjustably supported on a fabric spreader frame and are adjustably spring-loaded with respect to the force generated by the knitted goods being taken up.

Abstract: Rotating baffle supported from below substantially closes opening at knitting level of tubular fabric produced by circular pile fabric knitting machine, and deflects air jet carrying stray fiber up toward exhaust intake above machine. Secondary rotating baffle at lower level further reduces movement of air with entrained fiber into tubular fabric, and carries stop motion ring. Rotation of the ring with the goods minimizes skewing at the tube slitting point.

Abstract: A method for heat setting the stitches of a circular knit fabric article immediately upon discharge of the fabric article from the knitting instrumentalities includes mechanisms, controlled from the knitting machine, for directing and conveying the fabric article to a heat chamber, introducing water into the heat chamber which is volatized to heat set the stitches, removing the heat set fabric article from the heat chamber, and directing the fabric article to a receptacle.

Abstract: An improved circular knitting machine which provides for semiautomatic doffing of large diameter rolls of knit fabric. The doffing of the fabric can be accomplished by a woman operator without strain. The knitting machine has a unique spreader bar to allow slitting of the fabric for inspection purposes while the fabric is being knit. The unique spreader bar includes a support member having a wheel member and a convex portion adjacent the wheel member to guide a fabric around the wheel.

Abstract: In apparatus for napping a circular knitted fabric between the knitting portion and the winding portion of a circular knitting machine, apparatus for napping the circular knitted fabric with emery in the form of a belt or the like. The invention includes a means for stretching the knitted fabric coursewise and an adjacent emery supporting base, an emery supporting frame structured to support said emery in the form of a belt or the like, and a driving portion provided to move said emery in a coursewise direction with respect to said circular knitted fabric while it is stretched coursewise.

Abstract: Knitted garment portions are manufactured in a continuous web of such portions, with each garment portion being attached to the succeeding garment portion in the web by a separating thread that is intended to be subsequently removed; in accordance with the invention, the separating thread is made of a heat sensitive filament which melts or is destroyed when heat is applied, thereby separating the garment portions; heated air is directed at an oblique angle to downstream motion of the web and melts the separating thread on the trailing edge of each garment portion.