Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a rotary roll provided with a peripheral clothing; a plurality of flat bars having a clothing cooperating with the roll clothing; and a sensor supported adjacent the flat bars and facing the flat bar clothing for determining a distance between said sensor and said flat bar clothing.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a spring needle circular knitting machine utilizing a lay-in concept wherein one or more strands of lay-in yarn are combined with tie yarn and stitch yarn to create a limitless number of fabric surface effects. A combination tie presser and lay-in raising wheel is placed in close face to face relationship in each feed station with a tie stitch sinker burr. The combination presser and raising wheel has a camming surface that acts in concert with blade elements that mesh with the needles of the rotating needle cylinder. The camming surface closes the beards of the needles over the tie stitch yarn almost immediately after the sinker burr has inserted the tie yarn thereunder and holds the beards closed as the blades of the wheel raise the lay-in yarn over the closed beards. The camming surface then releases the beards allowing them to spring open to land the lay-in yarn over the tips of the needles.