Abstract: A knitting machine includes a take-down assembly that includes a first take-down roller and a second take-down roller. The first take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a first portion of a knit component. The second take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a second portion of the knit component. The knitting machine further includes a first actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion of the knit component. Furthermore, the knitting machine includes a second actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion of the knit component. Additionally, the knitting machine includes a controller that is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator to selectively and independently control actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator.

Abstract: A knitting machine includes a take-down assembly that includes a first take-down roller and a second take-down roller. The first take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a first portion of a knit component. The second take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a second portion of the knit component. The knitting machine further includes a first actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion of the knit component. Furthermore, the knitting machine includes a second actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion of the knit component. Additionally, the knitting machine includes a controller that is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator to selectively and independently control actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is provided to control the weight of fabric produced by a textile machine (2), comprising weighting means (11) of every single fabric piece directly associated to the textile machine dedicated to the manufacture of the same. A procedure is also provided to control the weight of the fabric produced by a textile machine comprising a weighting stage of every single fabric wounded or folded, near the textile machine dedicated to the manufacture of said piece, and to apply to every manufactured piece a printed label suitable to provide at least specific data concerning the piece weight.

Abstract: A takedown unit includes a set of takedown rollers arranged around tubular fabric hanging downward from a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The takedown rollers rotate to draw down the hanging tubular fabric, and a floating guide mechanism is within and encircled by the hanging tubular fabric, so that the low-friction guide mechanism interacts with the high-friction takedown rollers to facilitate the drawing down of the fabric. A set of cams extends at least partially around the hanging fabric, and the cams and the takedown rollers are mounted to allow relative rotation therebetween, with the relative rotation being around the hanging fabric. Actuators are positioned for interacting with the cams in response to the relative rotation, so that the cams actuate the actuators which in turn rotate the takedown rollers.

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).

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.

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

Abstract: A circular knitting machine including a takedown assembly for applying constant tension to the formed knitted fabric. The circular knitting machine includes a rotating knitting cylinder, a takedown assembly, and a fabric receiving tub. The takedown assembly and the knitting cylinder rotate synchronously. A vertical shaft associated with a motor cooperates with a cylinder ring gear of the knitting cylinder and a takedown ring gear of the takedown assembly. A drive unit including a drive assembly and a clutch assembly is mounted to the takedown ring gear. The clutch assembly includes a drive gear which cooperates with the stationary ring gear of the fabric receiving tub to transmit toque to the rollers of the roller assembly.

Abstract: A fabric take-off roller arrangement for flat bed knitting machines is provided with a driven fabric take-off roller that has roller elements disposed next to each other in the axial direction. To ensure that, even with irregular thickenings of the fabric to be taken off, engagement of the fabric take-off roller arrangement is provided both in the region of the thickening and in the adjacent region(s) of the fabric to be taken off, it is provided that the roller elements engage one another in a co-rotational manner at their ends facing one another and are rotatably held on respectively one support carrier, that the support carriers are pivotably held in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of the roller elements that the ends of the roller elements facing each other are flexibly seated against each other as well as in the support carrier, and that the fabric take-off roller is pressed against a counter-roller, between which rollers the fabric run is taken off.

Abstract: A fabric take-up apparatus for a circular knitting machine includes a set of delivery rolls for flattening and delivering the flattened fabric to take-up means which winds the flattened fabric into a roll, sensing means for sensing the tension in the fabric and for generating electrical signals indicative of fluctuations in tension from a predetermined, desired tension in the fabric, variable speed drive means for driving the delivery rolls, and control means for controlling the variable speed drive means responsive to the electrical signals generated by the tension sensing means.

Abstract: In a device associated with two longitudinal needle beds below which the fabric being formed exists, a series of fabric holding parts are arranged below the needle beds appropriately spaced out, and carried by vertically sliding guided supporting parts, while slide parts, fixed to the supporting parts slide vertically operated with an alternate motion, between a raised position, where the fabric is held, and a lowered position where the fabric is released. Between these holding parts there are gripper parts, spaced out uniformly in a longitudinal direction, which when activated hold the fabric when this fabric is released by the holding parts.

Abstract: In a knitting take-off device provided with gripping elements (14) movable through the comb gap of a flat bed knitting machine, the plane of the gripping elements (14) is directed perpendicular to the hooking planes of the knitting needles (13) mounted in the needle beds. As a result, the dimensions of the gripping elements are no longer limited by the width of the comb gap, and the gripping elements (14) can be coupled to additional elements, such as a cover stop rod (16). By means of the cover stop rod (16), the opening (14.2) of the gripping element (14) can be closed and a thread take-up space (20), closable by the head (14.1) of the gripping element (14), can be formed.

Abstract: In the apparatus for drawing down knitted fabrics, a fixed position roller, a pressure roller and a drive for the rollers are located below mountainously opposed needle heads. The contact pressure between the rollers is controlled by a pivot mechanism including a cam driven by a motor and a spring connected to the cam and also connected to a pivot arm supporting the pressure roller. Rotation of the cam controls the spring force exerted on the pivot arm by the spring and thus controls movement of the pivot arm to lessen or increase contact pressure between the rollers.

Abstract: The device comprises drums, which are coaxial and supported by an axle, located below needle beds subjected to a constant torque acting with springs being provided inside the drums as a mechanical connection between them and the axle.Two pressure rollers for each drum are fitted to a number of arms mounted on a bar and holded in contact with the related drum, while electromagnets are provided to rotate one of the rollers by a predetermined amount in order to cause the related drum to be rotated in in synchrony with the formation of a corresponding portion of the last row of the fabric, that runs between the row of drums and related pairs of pressure rollers.

Abstract: A cloth draw-off roller for flat knitting machines has individual roller elements rotatably mounted on a draw-off shaft and intermediate rings arranged with axial play relative thereto between the roller elements, which intermediate rings are rigidly secured to the draw-off shaft and are resiliently connected to respect roller elements. In order to ensure mutually independent operation of the roller elements, means are provided which establish a minimum axial spacing between mutually facing surfaces of axially sequential intermediate rings, which spacing is larger than the axial spacing of the two faces of the respective roller element coming into contact with these surfaces.

Abstract: A device for controlling the tension of the knitted fabric includes two parallel rows of rollers, which are supported by two plane surfaces mounting two needle beds upon which a carriage is able to move longitudinally and alternately.The rows of rollers are located beneath the needle beds with the rollers of the first row, able to turn in a single direction, being in contact with the corresponding rollers of the second row, thus creating a series of independent pairs of rollers between which the knitted fabric is inserted.Each pair of rollers is moved by a rod, mounted on the second plane surface, featuring a heel upon which moving cams act determining the consequent rotation of the corresponding pair of rollers, while fixed cams, acting upon the heels, return the rods to their initial position.

Abstract: A fabric draw-off roller (11) is described for flat-bed knitting machines equipped with individual roller elements (14, 14') situated side-by-side in line on a shaft (12), the rollers being allowed to turn relative to each other, but preferably restricted in their amount of angular movement. In order to ensure, with fabric draw-off rollers (11) of this type, that loose threads of the knitted fabric are prevented from entangling and jamming between neighboring roller elements (14, 14') when drawing off fabric from the machine, the individual roller elements (14, 14') are arranged at an axial distance from each other thereby forming a gap (54, 54') distance spacer (32, 32') is provided having a smaller external diameter than the maximum diameter of the roller element with at least one of its ends overlapping and penetrating an axial bore of an adjacent roller element (14, 14').

Abstract: The fabric take-down mechanism for flat knitting machines has an auxiliary take-down roller (22) following the main take-down roller (10) and extending over the whole length of the needle beds, this auxiliary roller having edges (24) and being grounded through metallic retaining loops (25). The auxiliary take-down roller (22) cooperates with a smooth but likewise electrical conducting counter plate (21).

Abstract: A drawing device for a straight knitting machine comprises two belts capable of being continuously driven in opposite directions by respective drive shafts over two pulleys of small diameter. The pulleys are located in the area in which the stitches are formed and extend over the entire useful length of the needle rows of the knitting machine. The pulleys and thereby the belts are supported by pivoting frames and the belts are pressed one against the other by the rotation of their drive shafts. In use, knitting is drawn gently and continuously, with the possibility of sliding, between the belts, as the stitches are formed and quite close to the area in which these stitches are formed.

Abstract: A tube of flexible material moving longitudinally undergoes transition between annular cross section and flattened straight cross section, without change in the length of perimeter of its cross sections, by one stage of changing between the annular cross section and a rectangular cross section, and another stage of changing between that rectangular cross section and the flattened cross section through successively longer and narrower rectangular cross sections. The method is applicable to material produced by a circular knitting machine. Preferably there is a polyhedral guide within the tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved knitting machine in which special steps have been taken to provide for close correlation of the operation of the knitting filament in-feed equipment and the knitted fabric out-feed equipment with the speed of the knitting head itself, to produce a more uniform and better quality knitted product, and to reduce the danger of filament or fabric breakage caused by jamming at the knitting head or at one of the pieces of feed equipment. These steps are particularly important in the knitting of wire mesh fabric, because wire filament is less stretchable than most textile filaments and thus less able to compensate for variations in the speed of the various pieces of equipment acting upon it as it passes through the machine. In particular, the filament in-feed equipment, the fabric take-up equipment, and if desired, the fabric take-down equipment, are all driven by power trains which include the knitting head.

Abstract: In a knitting machine the needle beds and yarn feeders circulate relative to one another. This normally produces a tubular fabric. In order to leave a gap in the tube, a zone of each needle bed is arranged as a non-knit zone. To save yarn the yarns are not normally allowed to float across the gap, but are severed and trapped. To hold the edges straight, periodic yarns are allowed to float across the gap.

Abstract: A fabric draw down device for a flat knitting machine having a traction roller for tensioning fabric, retaining rollers for pressing against the traction roller and entrainment means for driving the traction roller. The entrainment means includes a pair of opposing levers which are pivotally mounted on offset axes and are drawn together with a spring. The levers each have a pawl which acts on a ratchet wheel mounted on the traction roller. A camming means moves the pair of opposing levers to alternately drive and release the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A drawing-off mechanism having at least two driven rollers for drawing off knitted fabric in which the rollers are positively driven at the same peripheral speed while being resiliently pressed against each other to permit drawing off fabrics of varying thicknesses without slippage.