Circular Patents (Class 66/8)
  • Patent number: 11898280
    Abstract: A clothing-manufacturing knitting machine, and the clothing-manufacturing knitting machine that includes a needle unit including a needle hook formed in an end portion and a protrusion formed in a middle region, a connector including a screw thread formed to mesh with the protrusion of the needle unit, and an actuator configured to actuate the connector to rotate. The needle unit meshing with the screw thread is moved forward or backward as the connector is rotated by the actuator. Accordingly, there is provided a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine with a new actuating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kookmin University Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Jung Sik Jang
  • Patent number: 10697096
    Abstract: A needle-holding element for circular knitting machines, having a structure as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis and configured for rotating and for supporting a plurality of needles moving so as to produce a knitted fabric; the needle-holding element has at least one working surface shaped as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of a portion of generating straight line around the central axis; on the working surface a plurality of needle seats is defined, placed one beside the other and arranged circumferentially or radially around the central axis, wherein each needle seat movably houses at least a portion of at least one respective needle. At least one needle seat has at least a first length has a longitudinal development, on the working surface, inclined with respect to the generating straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SANTONI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Andrea Lonati
  • Publication number: 20150000348
    Abstract: A method for preparing a tubular manufacture such as a hosiery item or the like for automated pick-up at the end of its formation on a double-cylinder circular machine including at least the following steps: —a first step, which consists in transferring or retaining all the needles in the lower needle cylinder; —a second step, which consists in moving all the needles to the tuck-stitch position; —a third step, which consists in pushing upward the portion of the manufacture engaged with the needles; —a fourth step, which consists in disengaging the sinkers from the manufacture; —a fifth step, which consists in lifting the needles into the dropped-stitch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Publication number: 20140245578
    Abstract: “Tinkles” (also known as “gotchas”) (see reference number 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2) are portions of knitted metal loops produced when a tube of knitted wire mesh is cut into individual pieces. In the prior art, tinkles have been considered a fact of life and the approach has been to try to shake them out of the mesh or immobilize them on or in the mesh. By producing a knitted tube (11) having alternating segments (12,13) of knitted rows of yarn and knitted rows of wire, completely tinkle-free knitted socks are produced which are used to produce completely tinkle-free knitted wire mesh filters. Knitted wire mesh filters that cannot release tinkles because they do not have any tinkles can be used in such applications as fuel filters and airbag filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: ACS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: George Greenwood
  • Patent number: 8484998
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine with a fine gauge includes a circular cylinder and a sinker holder annularly located on an outer side of the circular cylinder. The circular cylinder has a plurality of knitting needles parallel with the axial direction of the circular cylinder to move alternately, and an annular top surface corresponding to the knitting needles. The sinker holder has a plurality of retaining slots to hold a plurality of sinkers. Each sinker has a slide edge, a movement edge extended from the slide edge at the same elevation to the annular top surface and located above the annular top surface, and a loop forming nose located between two neighboring knitting needles. Each retaining slot has a leaning surface in contact with the slide edge to allow the sinker to move towards the annular top surface to proceed a loop forming movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Pai Lung Machinery Mill Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tieh-Hsiung Pai
  • Publication number: 20120328809
    Abstract: A high temperature resistant textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The textile sleeve has a flexible, tubular knit wall of thermoplastic yarns. The yarns are tightly knit with weft knit stitches extending along a circumferential direction about the tubular knit wall to provide a substantially smooth inner surface and a substantially smooth outer surface. The yarns are knit in a tricot stitch pattern, wherein the tricot knit stitches extend along a circumferentially direction of the sleeve wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Lionel Dromain, Jean-René Chesnais, Benoit Laurent
  • Publication number: 20120266362
    Abstract: A sock with zones of varying numbers of layers is formed as a single tube on a circular knitting machine. At least one end of the tube is doubled back over a portion of the remainder of the tube to form a double layer first zone. The sock further includes a single layer zone adjacent to the double layer first zone, where no such folding occurs. Optionally, a second end of the tube may also be folded to create a third zone having two layers of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth T. Craig
  • Publication number: 20120187160
    Abstract: A bottle carrying device includes a tubular cloth sleeve that fits snugly over a bottle, such as a bottle of water. The tubular cloth sleeve includes a welt top formed by folding over an end portion of the cloth sleeve onto itself and securing the folded-over end portion. Preferably, the welt top includes a pair of openings to accommodate entry of a cord within the welt. The cord functions as a drawstring to allow the device to be tightened around the neck of the bottle. Preferably, the cord includes a shoe lace lock type fastener to allow the cord to be kept tightly around the bottle neck when the bottle is being carried. Preferably, the cord further extends outwardly from the welt top forming an elongated loop to facilitate carrying the device. Preferably, the fastener can be unlocked and the cord loosened so as to remove the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Carolyn Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120148772
    Abstract: A coated textile sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members, combination thereof, and method of construction is provided. The textile sleeve has an elongate knit wall constructed from weft knit yarns. The knit wall has an inner surface providing a generally tubular cavity in which the elongate members are received and protected. The inner surface is formed, at least in part, by laid-in yarn to provide a soft, non-abrasive surface for dampening contact with the elongate members being protected to facilitate absorbing vibration, which in turn, reduces the frictional wear of the elongate members being protected. Further, the knit wall has an outer surface with a flexible, impervious elastomeric coating thereon. The elastomeric coating allows the knit wall to substantially retain its flexibility as knit, provides enhanced protection against the ingress of fluid and other contaminants, and providing added dampening to absorb vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Ramesh R. Avula, Cassie M. Malloy, Ellen M. Bacon
  • Publication number: 20120036897
    Abstract: A circular knitted fabric for the manufacture of a garment includes a first group of courses formed of a low melting point yarn and a first yarn, and a continuing second group of courses formed of the low melting point yarn and a second yarn. The second group of courses has an elastane content greater than that of the first group of courses. The low melting point yarn fuses with the first and second yarns after heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the low melting point yarn only. The fabric, after finishing, is adapted to be cut into a garment in such a way that the first group of courses becomes a body or the first group of courses of the garment, and the second group of courses becomes an integral elastic band portion or the second group of courses-like selvedge of the garment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Chi Leung CHUNG, King Hung Andrew Ko, Ka Chun Wan
  • Patent number: 8079235
    Abstract: A retrofit to circular knitting machines that stabilizes the cylinder to reduce or eliminate wobbling or other undesired motion so that the machine can operate at a significantly higher speed. The cylinder is stabilized by a bearing system added to the knitting head of the machine. The bearing system includes a pair of bearings, one of the bearings being disposed above the other one. An inner race of each bearing is affixed to the cylinder and an outer race of each bearing is affixed to a bearing housing that is secured to the stationary base plate of the knitting head. The bearings help stabilize the cylinder so that its rotation axis remains essentially immovable and vertically oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Innovative Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Luis Plasencia
  • Patent number: 8056372
    Abstract: A knitting head (11) for a circular knitting machine (1), with the knitting head comprising the complete main bearing (29) of the cylinder and being provided, on its lower end, with a standardized interface (34) for accommodation with a carrier ring (35) located on the side of the machine frame. The carrier ring (35) supports the head ring (30) along the entire circumference of said head ring, preferably by means of a continuous seating surface (36) extending around the entire circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Eric Jürgens, Kurt Weiss
  • Publication number: 20110079052
    Abstract: A retrofit to circular knitting machines that stabilizes the cylinder to reduce or eliminate wobbling or other undesired motion so that the machine can operate at a significantly higher speed. The cylinder is stabilized by a bearing system added to the knitting head of the machine. The bearing system includes a pair of bearings, one of the bearings being disposed above the other one. An inner race of each bearing is affixed to the cylinder and an outer race of each bearing is affixed to a bearing housing that is secured to the stationary base plate of the knitting head. The bearings help stabilize the cylinder so that its rotation axis remains essentially immovable and vertically oriented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Luis Plasencia
  • Patent number: 7882710
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for the production of knitted goods by at least partially using fiber materials is described. The circular knitting machine includes drafting devices (8b) associated with the individual knitting systems (6) to feed and attenuate slivers (10), flyer frame slivers or the like, and also drive units (28) operatively connected to the drafting devices (8). According to the invention, the drafting devices (8) are arranged below and the drive units (28) are arranged above a partition and mounting wall (26) separating them in a fiber-tight arrangement, wherein the drive units (28) are coupled to drafting rollers (35, 36) of the drafting devices (8b) through the partition and mounting wall (26) (FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Reinhard Koenig
  • Publication number: 20110023273
    Abstract: A device for transporting fibre material between a drawing frame and a loop-forming machine is described. The device contains at least two transport units which are disposed in succession and have respectively one inlet- and outlet opening, said transport units being formed from respectively one twisting member (16a, 16b, 16c) and one transport pipe (17a, 17b, 17c) connected thereto, there being provided between an outlet end (28) of a preceding transport unit (16a, 17a) and the inlet end of a subsequent transport unit (16b, 17b) a gap (27a, 27b) which is intended for forming an air removal opening. According to the invention, a suction device (31a, 31b) is disposed in the region of this gap (27a, 27b) (FIG. 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bauer, Axel Flad
  • Patent number: 7793523
    Abstract: A retrofit to circular knitting machines that stabilizes the cylinder to reduce or eliminate wobbling or other undesired motion so that the machine can operate at a significantly higher speed. The cylinder is stabilized by a bearing system added to the knitting head of the machine. The bearing system includes a pair of tapered roller bearings, one of the bearings being disposed above the other one, and the directions of taper of the two bearings generally being opposite each other. An inner race of each bearing is affixed to the cylinder and an outer race of each bearing is affixed to a bearing housing that is secured to the stationary base plate of the knitting head. The tapered roller bearings help stabilize the cylinder so that its rotation axis remains essentially immovable and vertically oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Innovative Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Luis Plasencia
  • Publication number: 20100212365
    Abstract: A knitting head (11) for a circular knitting machine (1), with the knitting head comprising the complete main bearing (29) of the cylinder and being provided, on its lower end, with a standardized interface (34) for accommodation with a carrier ring (35) located on the side of the machine frame. The carrier ring (35) supports the head ring (30) along the entire circumference of said head ring, preferably by means of a continuous seating surface (36) extending around the entire circumference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GROZ-BECKERT KG
    Inventors: Eric Jürgens, Kurt Weiss
  • Publication number: 20100154482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a knitting device for making a double-sided textile comprising two outer laps (1,2) that are knitted and joined to one another by means of a ground yarn (4). This device comprises two groups of needles (6) that move in translation on a respective needle bed (5) following a continuous rectilinear trajectory in a respective plane (P1, P2). The positions of the hook (7) of a needle (6) of at least one group respectively between its knitting station and its bonding station are situation on both sides of the intersecting straight line (D) between said two planes (P1, P2). In addition, the lift of the needle (6) between its knitting removal station is less than the lift of the needle (6) between its removal station and its bonding station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Jacques Abramo
  • Patent number: 7735342
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an unbalanced, circular knit fabric for coating in a subsequent operation, the apparatus comprising: a circular knitting station; and a thermal relaxation station downstream from the circular knitting station for relaxing the fabric in all directions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a slitting station downstream from the circular knitting station. Also in the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a thermal finishing station downstream from the thermal relaxation station for setting the desired width of the fabric thereby also setting the desired stretch of the fabric in its length direction. A coated fabric, the coated fabric comprising a circular knitted, single knit fabric substrate, wherein the stretch of the fabric in the wale direction is greater than the stretch of the fabric in the course direction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the coated fabric further includes an outer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Highland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20100126228
    Abstract: The knitting element has a rotor capable of rotating about an axis and makes a stitch by using rotational motion of the rotor. The knitting element has a rotor having a rotating shaft which protrudes in the direction of the axis and a bearing which slidably supports the circumferential face of the rotating shaft. An engagement recess capable of engaging knitting yarn is formed in the circumferential face of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Hideo HIRANO, Kousuke Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20100095710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for the production of a knitted fabric using stretched fiber material (4). The machine comprises a stretching device, a spinning device having a spinning element, a transport pipe (17) connected thereto, and a thread guide (27) equipped with a passage (30) for the fiber material (4). According to the invention, an exit end (17d) of the transport pipe (17) has a cross-section (D2), which is as large as, or smaller than, an inside cross-section (D1) on an exit end of the passage (30). The intensity of the air blast current is selected such that it enables sure insertion of the fiber material (4) in the needles of the machine forming the loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Axel Flad, Wolfgang Bauer
  • Patent number: 7673478
    Abstract: A needle bed (1) that comprises strips (4) in order to form needle channels (5), with the strips being configured in a comb-like manner. Between the individual teeth of this comb, recesses (28 through 37) are formed, said recesses being disposed to supply fluid to the needle channel (5) and to drain said fluid. The groove (12) that accommodates the strip (4) forms a distributor space where the distribution of the fluid to be supplied to the knitting tools takes place over a section of the strip (4), which section is preferably greater than half the length of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Rainer Krauss, Matthias Seeger
  • Patent number: 7658087
    Abstract: A double face, weft-knit textile article is shown and described. The article comprises a first fabric face and a second fabric face integrally constructed with a heat-set elastic yarn. The fabric has a fabric weight of less than about 5 oz. per square yard and is constructed to substantially reduce grin-through or transparency. In addition, the article may be a garment and may further include at least one body anchor for facilitating attachment of the garment to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: McMurray Fabrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. McMurray, Robert T. Spillane
  • Publication number: 20100011816
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising a needle cylinder with vertical axis and multiple axial surface slots, each of which accommodates a needle and an actuation element for the needle. The actuation element comprises at least one connecting element. The connecting element is provided with a radially extractable movable heel, that engages connecting element actuation cams facing the lateral surface of the needle cylinder. The cams comprise at least one extraction cam or one retraction cam, which has a portion whose profile is inclined with respect to an ideal plane perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder. The machine comprises extraction means causing extraction of the movable heel and keeping thereof in extracted position over the entire extension of the portion having an inclined profile of the extraction cam or of the retraction cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Jan Ando
  • Patent number: 7634924
    Abstract: Circular knit, elastic fabrics of at least one of single jersey, French terry, and fleece are disclosed that include a bare elastomeric material plated with spun and/or continuous filament hard yarns. The circular knit, elastic fabrics of at least one of single jersey, French terry, and fleece are manufactured by a method that does not require a dry heat setting step. The method requires drafting the bare elastomeric material no more than about 2.5× its original length when knitting to form the circular knit, elastic fabrics of at least one of single jersey, French terry, and fleece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Invista North America S.ár.l.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yuan Chuang, Graham H. Laycock, Raymond S. P. Leung, Elizabeth Todd Singewald, Peter George Szanto, Fred Wynegar
  • Patent number: 7596971
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circular knitting machine with a replaceable needle cylinder (7). According to the invention, two or more eccentrics (19) are disposed to be rotatable in a support ring (3) for the needle cylinder (7) or in the needle cylinder itself, and serve the purpose of lifting the needle cylinder (7) out of a normal operating position into a mounting position enabling it to be pulled out laterally, in which an underside of said needle cylinder (7) is arranged at least to be flush with an upper edge of attachments (9) attached to the support ring (3) or elsewhere (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: SIPRA Patententwicklungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Traenkle, Bernd Boss
  • Publication number: 20090223253
    Abstract: A circular knitted fabric for the manufacture of a garment includes a first portion formed of a low melting point yam and a first yarn, and a continuing second portion formed of the low melting point yarn and a second yarn. The second portion has an elastane content greater than that of the first portion. The low melting point yarn fuses with the first and second yams after heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the low melting point yarn only. The fabric, after finishing, is adapted to be cut into a garment in such a way that the first portion becomes a body of the garment, and the second portion becomes an integral elastic band-like selvedge of the garment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Chi Leung Chung, King Hung Ko, Ka Chun Wan
  • Patent number: 7559216
    Abstract: A three-piece panty garment can include three panels formed from separate tubular blanks knit on a small-circumference circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose. As a result, such a panty garment can comprise an unstretched girth that is substantially three times the circumference of a small-circumference circular knitting machine knitting cylinder. Such panty garments and methods of making such panty garments can provide larger size panty garments made on a circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Walter H. Imboden, Ronald Wayne Brown
  • Publication number: 20090145170
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller, or the like, having a pile extending from an outer surface of the covering, through use of a dial needle knitting arrangement. A cylinder needle knitting arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with the dial needle knitting arrangement for forming a tubular-shaped knitted covering for a paint roller having a pile formed from a combination of sliver and yarn fibers in successive courses of the tubular-shaped knitted covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: John Cecil Knight, SR., Daniel L. Sinykin
  • Patent number: 7458237
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing knitted articles for forming items of clothing, without lateral seams, with a circular knitting machine, comprising a step for forming at least one pouch-like region, in which part of the needles or all the needles that belong to at least one sector of the needle cylinder are moved to knit at at least one feed of the machine by way of an alternating rotary motion of the needle cylinder about its axis and with an oscillation extent sufficient to produce transit, at the feed, of all the needles of the sector that are moved to knit at the feed, in order to form, with the needles that belong to the sector and are moved to knit, a number of rows of knitting in excess with respect to the number of rows of knitting formed by the needles contiguous to the sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Santoni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Patent number: 7437894
    Abstract: A break-away mount for mounting a fabric scanner to the central support shaft in a circular knitting machine. The mount normally fixes the scanner in a stationary position on the end of a mounting arm of the mount, but if sufficient force is exerted on the scanner in the direction of movement of the fabric, the mount breaks away and allows the scanner to rotate about the support shaft so that the scanner can move along with the fabric. If the amount of such rotational movement exceeds a predefined value, then the break-away mount also releases the mounting arm so that the mounting arm can pivot about a non-vertical axis to allow the scanner to descend with the descending fabric tube. By detecting the breaking away of the mount, the knitting machine can be stopped in time to prevent damage to the scanner and mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Monarch Knitting Machinery Corp.
    Inventor: Raymond Lucien Lagueux
  • Patent number: 7392669
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine, comprising a footing with a rotatable, vertical needle cylinder, axial slots on the outer lateral surface of the needle cylinder, that accommodate each a needle, a sub-needle arranged below each needle in a corresponding axial slot connected bilaterally to the needle and having a radial heel, the sub-needle being oscillatable on a radial plane of the needle cylinder, sub-needle actuation cams, for producing movement of the sub-needle along the axial slot to actuate the overlying needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Santoni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Publication number: 20080034803
    Abstract: The component placement set in accordance with the invention for equipping a knitting machine consists of the system components that are required for equipping the knitting machine, said system components being sorted according to type and arranged in one package in different chambers. The chambers are closed all around and protect the packaged system components against environmental influences and against loss. Preferably, the package can be opened only by destroying it, in which case the chambers of the package can be cut open independently of each other. The order of the system components in the individual chambers preferably corresponds to the order in which they are to be placed in the knitting machine. This applies, in particular, to system components having different foot positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: GROZ-BECKERT KG
    Inventor: Frank Weihing
  • Patent number: 7213417
    Abstract: A method for producing intarsia designs with a circular knitting machine, which consists in correlating, for each row of knitting of the design to be produced, sets of needles, which are meant to reduce the regions (2,3,4,5) of the design in different colors or with different threads, with respective feeds or drops of the machine that dispense the corresponding threads, and in moving so as to knit the needles of each set of needles at the corresponding feed or drop by actuating the needle cylinder with an alternating rotary motion about its own axis, with an extent of oscillation that is sufficient to produce the transit of all the needles moved so as to knit of each set of needles at the corresponding feed, forming knitting both in the forward rotation and in the return rotation of the needle cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Santoni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Patent number: 7155940
    Abstract: A three-piece panty garment can include three panels formed from halves of tubular blanks knit on a small-diameter circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose. As a result, such a panty garment can comprise a girth that is substantially three times the diameter of a small-diameter circular knitting machine knitting cylinder. Such panty garments and methods of making such panty garments can provide larger size panty garments, for example, size 10, 12, and 14, made on a circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Walter H. Imboden, Ronald Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 7117695
    Abstract: Circular-knit, elastic, single-knit jersey fabric, of spun and/or continuous filament hard yarns with bare spandex plated in every course, has a cover factor in the range of 1.3 to 1.9, a basis weight from 140 to 240 g/m2, an elongation of 60% or more and low shrinkage. The circular knit, single-knit jersey fabric is produced by maintaining the draft of the spandex at or below 2× (100% elongation) and maintaining the finishing and drying temperature(s) below the spandex heat set temperature. The knit fabric meets the end-use specifications without heat setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Graham H. Laycock, Raymond S.P. Leung, Elizabeth Todd Singewald
  • Patent number: 7047767
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing socks with a circular knitting machine having at least two feeds or drops, consisting in producing the sock starting from its opposite end with respect to the toe. The toe is produced by using at least two feeds simultaneously and by actuating the needle cylinder with an alternating rotary motion so that two sets of needles, arranged on mutually opposite sides, are made to knit respectively at one of the at least two feeds and at the other one of the at least two feeds, forming stitches simultaneously, and gradually decreasing, for a preset number of rows of stitches, the needles of the two sets that are made to knit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Matec S.P.A.
    Inventor: Jan Ando′
  • Patent number: 7036340
    Abstract: A heat dissipating system of a high-speed circular knitting machine includes a super low temperature air gun. Cold air is ejected from a cold air outlet of the super low temperature air gun for carrying away the high heat produced by a cylinder base during a knitting process. The super low temperature air gun is connected to an extension pipe and extended to a gap between a cutting disc and a pressing plate, or saddle bases, or a lower rhombus ring and two saddle bases, or yarn feeding nozzles. Cold air ejected from the cold air outlet passes through the gap to the cylinder base or other peripheral components of the high-speed circular knitting machine to achieve the heat dissipating effect. The super low temperature air gun is installed inside a leg for supporting a yarn supplying device or on its external surface or on a yarn feeding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Pai Lung Machinery Mill Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 6983625
    Abstract: What is described is a circular knitting machine with a chassis (1) and means for manufacturing knitted goods. According to the invention, the circular knitting machine has at least one working platform (14) facilitating access to an upper region, and mounted on the outside of the chassis (1), said working platform being displaceably mounted on a guideway attached to the chassis (1) and running in its peripheral direction (FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: SIPRA Patententwicklungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Helmut Weber, Ingo Vogt
  • Patent number: 6948342
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes: a knitting cylinder; a bed for supporting the knitting cylinder; a plurality of cam blocks; a dial or double cylinder for forming a rib stitch; and a reduced height cam for forming a tuck stitch on the cylinder needle. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an actuator for selectively disengaging the second feed needle clearing cam. The present invention also includes a rib knit, tubular article having at least two rib stitches per cylinder stitch section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Houston Hoslery Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell B. Houston, Allan L. Bolick, Donald K. Burns
  • Patent number: 6923026
    Abstract: A method for hand-crafting a rug includes obtaining a first sock loop and twisting the first sock loop to form one loop four strands thick. A second sock loop is pushed halfway through the one loop and a new sock loop is pushed through the two end loops of the second sock loop. Additional sock loops are drawn through selected socks and through each other. This step is repeated until a chain is formed. Another sock loop is wrapped around the chain and pushed through one of the additional sock loops. A new one of the successive sock loops is pushed through the first sock loop and a newer one of the successive sock loops is pushed through a space closest to the old loop. The old loop is pushed over the new successive loop until reaching an opposite end of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Daisy M. Clarke
  • Patent number: 6920767
    Abstract: The invention relates to tubular knitwear items (1) suitably shaped or modeled without the usual cutting and sewing operations and preferably without using elastic yarns. According to the jacquard design and/or to the work cycle of the textile machine, the invention enables the production of differentiated-growth fabric in specific areas or zones by the programmed exclusion of loops or knitted courses and the simultaneous production of exceeding stitches or inner frills (Bi), thus obtaining a programmed three-dimensional deformation of the knitted tube according to manufacturing needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Franco Sciacca
  • Patent number: 6901776
    Abstract: A method for circularly knitting an elastomeric yarn into a knitted fabric is provided. The method includes: operating a circular knitting machine at a machine rate, retaining a free end of the elastomeric yarn in a substantially relaxed condition, and taking up the free end into the circular knitting machine while feeding the elastomeric yarn at a first feed rate. The first feed rate maintains the elastomeric yarn in the substantially relaxed condition. The circular knitting machine continues to operate at the machine rate during the taking up of the free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Wallis
  • Patent number: 6848278
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circular knitting machine with a protective cover (17) at least partially surrounding a take down and/or winding up device (15) on the outside. The cover (17) which includes a guide fixed on the machine frame and segments (18 to 23) movably mounted on this. In accordance with the invention the segments (18 to 23) are so arranged at different radial distances from a machine axis (11) that they are movable relative to one another at least partially with mutual overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: SIPRA Patententwicklungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schaut, Dietmar Traenkle
  • Patent number: 6845284
    Abstract: A method and system for designing circularly knitted garments are provided. The method includes designing a model of the circularly knitted garment, stretching the model from a first size to a second size, and governing the stretching with one or more user definable rules. The system includes a circular knitting machine, a controller for controlling the circular knitting machine with a machine code, a tool for saving a model of the circularly knitted garment as a first output, and a conversion program for converting the first output into the machine code. The tool has a stretching function for changing a size of the first output using one or more user selected rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Bingham, David Bruner, Jeffery Hurley
  • Publication number: 20040261462
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes: a knitting cylinder; a bed for supporting the knitting cylinder; a plurality of cam blocks; a dial or double cylinder for forming a rib stitch; and a reduced height cam for forming a tuck stitch on the cylinder needle. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an actuator for selectively disengaging the second feed needle clearing cam. The present invention also includes a rib knit, tubular article having at least two rib stitches per cylinder stitch section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Darrell B. Houston, Allan L. Bolick, Donald K. Burns
  • Publication number: 20040250574
    Abstract: What is described is a circular knitting machine with a chassis (1) and means for manufacturing knitted goods. According to the invention, the circular knitting machine has at least one working platform (14) facilitating access to an upper region, and mounted on the outside of the chassis (1), said working platform being displaceably mounted on a guideway attached to the chassis (1) and running in its peripheral direction (FIG. 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Weber, Ingo Vogt
  • Publication number: 20040216496
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine is described which is intended to serve in particular the production of spacer fabrics. The circular knitting machine contains a needle cylinder (1) having cylinder needles (2), a cylinder cam (3), a dial (4) with needles (5) and a dial cam (6). The needle cylinder (1) and the dial (4) fix a vertical and a horizontal comb spacing (x, y) and a stitch spacing (z).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Rolf Willmer
  • Publication number: 20040216495
    Abstract: A method for trimming loose threads in circular knitting machines, comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Riccardo Lonati
  • Patent number: 6810694
    Abstract: A method for circularly knitting an elastomeric yarn into a knitted fabric is provided. The method includes: operating a circular knitting machine at a machine rate, retaining a free end of the elastomeric yarn in a substantially relaxed condition, and taking up the free end into the circular knitting machine while feeding the elastomeric yarn at a first feed rate. The first feed rate maintains the elastomeric yarn in the substantially relaxed condition. The circular knitting machine continues to operate at the machine rate during the taking up of the free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Wallis