Fabrique Nationale Herstal S.a.

Andre P Theys

A process for knitting a composite piece or panel on a straight bar knitting machine with double needle bed, provided with a presser foot device that is adjustable to operate at either of two preselected levels, each level corresponding to a level suitable for rib or jersey knitting, the piece or panel comprising at least one area of jersey knitting and one area of rib border knitting, characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of starting a first knitting operation with the presser foot at the most appropriate level for the first area of knitting to be manufactured (rib or jersey); subsequently locating the presser foot at a second level which is adapted to the second area of knitting (jersey or rib) and continuing the knitting operation without interrupting the overall knitting operation of the machine to knit the other area of the piece or panel.

Knitting process utilizing multi-level presser foot

An improved presser foot device for straight bar knitting machines with double V needle beds, characterized by the fact that means are provided whereby the presser foot can be moved by the program controller of the machine automatically from one to another of two preselected hold down levels, one of which is appropriate for 'rib border' knitting and the other for 'jersey' knitting. A specific shape of presser foot is also disclosed, comprising a thin, flat configuration including a first wide section located towards the advancing end of the presser foot, a second markedly narrower section connected to the first section at an abrupt change in width and trailing the first section with respect to the advancing direction of the presser foot, and a third section trailing the second section, the third section being wider than the second section and connected to the latter along a gradually tapered section.

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Wondelgem, Belgium

Andre P Theys