Precision Fukuhara Works, Ltd.

Masatoshi Sawazaki

Takao Shibata

Yoshiaki Igarashi

Shozo Yorisue

Koji Tsuchiya

Hiroyuki Ueda

Kiyoshi Hayashi

Hidetoshi So

Naganori Ueda

Kouji Tsuchiya

Kouzo Taniguchi

Apparatus for removing and collecting fiber waste from a creel stand having multiple, juxtaposed creel sections including an air suction/blower blowing a first air stream across the top of the creel sections and creating a second air stream flowing across the bottom of the creel sections. An air deflector reciprocating across the top of the creel sections deflects the first air stream downwardly through the creel sections. A bottom plenum beneath the creel sections receives the air stream from the creel sections and confines and directs the second air stream to the suction/blower. A second blower blows air through the bottom plenum toward the suction/blower to assist the suction/blower in creating the second air stream. A plurality of baffles are included in the bottom plenum to provide laminar air flow therein.

Apparatus for removing and collecting fiber waste from a creel stand

A method of and circular knitting machine for producing a knit fabric having more uniform stitches including yarn feeders feeding a plurality of yarns to stitch forming instrumentalities, the spacing of which affects stitch length and which is subject to change during operation of the knitting machine, a sensor for sensing the tension in the plurality of yarns which changes with changes in the spacing of the stitch forming instrumentalities, and generating a signal indicative of the average tension in the yarns, a comparator for comparing the sensor signal with a pre-set desired tension, a convertor for converting the comparison result into a drive signal, and an adjuster adjusting the spacing of the stitch forming instrumentalities responsive to the drive signal.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the stitch length on a circular

A method of preparing pattern information for a jacquard fabric produced on an electronically controlled knitting machine is disclosed. Yarn color information that is to be fed to yarn feeders for the courses in a knit fabric is prepared. This information is resolved into information for knitting and welting which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder. Tucking information for the different colored yarns is separately prepared. This tucking information is resolved into tucking and welting pattern information. The knitting and welting information which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder is combined with the separately prepared information on tucking and welting to form synthesized pattern information for knitting, welting, and tucking.

Method of preparing pattern information for jacquard fabric

An automatic winding and doffing apparatus of a circular knitting machine includes a winding unit that revolves synchronously with the cylinder of the circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes opposed winding apparatus frame arms. A fabric winding roll has one roll end pivotally mounted on one of the arms. A guide mechanism guides the knitted fabric to the winding roll. The fabric roll is stopped after a predetermined amount of fabric has been wound. A doffing apparatus doffs the fabric from the winding roll after a predetermined amount of fabric has been wound on the fabric roll. In a preferred embodiment, the other winding roll end is freely supported by a turning lever pivotally mounted on the frame. Upon pivoting movement of the lever arm, the winding roller may be moved from a home, winding position to an unloading, doffing position in which the other end of the winding roller is removed from the support arm. A lock mechanism operatively connects to the turning lever for locking the turning lever in a position in which the turning lever supports the winding roller in the home, winding position and for unlocking the turning lever to allow the turning lever to pivot and disengage from the winding roller.

Apparatus and method for winding and doffing roll of knitted cloth on a

A fabric take-up unit (5) is supported beneath the needle cylinder (4a) to rotate synchronously therewith and knitted fabric delivery rolls (11, 12, 13) are supported on the fabric take-up unit (5). The fabric delivery rolls (11, 12, 13) are normally driven in response to rotation of the take-up unit (5). In contrast to this normal drive, the knitted fabric delivery rolls (11, 12, 13) are driven by a planetary gear system including a sun gear (17) supported for rotation on the machine frame, a planet gear (18) meshing with the sun gear (17) and being supported on the take-up unit (5). The planet gear (18) is drivingly connected to the fabric delivery rolls (11, 12, 13). A drive motor (34) is fixed on the machine frame and is drivingly connected to the sun gear (17), and a control unit (50) is provided for controlling the speed of rotation of the drive motor (34) and the sun gear (17) so that the quantity of the knitted fabric taken up by the knitted fabric delivery rolls (11, 12, 13) is selectively varied by the speed of rotation of the drive motor (34) and the sun gear (17).

Device for driving take-up unit of circular knitting machine

A yarn changing apparatus for a multi-feed circular knitting machine includes lever arms connected to yarn feeding fingers. Vertically moveable sliders operatively connect to the lever arms and are slidable between raised and lowered positions to move the lever arms and yarn feeding fingers connected thereto, so as to place the yarn feeding fingers into operative and nonoperative positions. Vertically moveable rocking jacks pivotably connect to the sliders with each rocking jack including pivotably moveable upper and lower ends. Remotely programmed selection units are operative with the rocking jacks for aiding in pivoting the rocking jacks. The remotely programmed selection unit includes upper and lower electromagnetic block units which are energizable and act upon selectors to engage and pivot the rocking jacks. Raising and lowering cams engage the rocking jacks to raise and lower the rocking jacks during pivoting movement thereof so as to raise and lower the sliders and move the lever arms and yarn feeding fingers connected thereto between operative and nonoperative positions.

Yarn changing apparatus for circular knitting machine

The needle selection device includes a pair of vertically arranged needle selection units in advance of each yarn feeding and knitting station with one of the needle selection units being operable to select needles to knit and welt positions and the other of the selection units being operable to select needles to tuck and welt positions. The vertically arranged selection units correspond and cooperate with corresponding upper and lower selector jacks positioned beneath each knitting needle. The operation of the needle selection units is carried out along a single vertical selection line in advance of each knitting station. The vertical arrangement of the needle selection units and the selection along the single vertical line permits the knitting stations to be closely spaced adjacent to each other and permits a greater number of knitting stations to be positioned around the needle cylinder, thereby increasing the production rate of the knitting machine.

Needle selection device for circular knitting machines

The present drive for the fabric take up mechanism includes a pair of drive pulleys and a drive belt interposed in the power transmission drive and between the revolving needle cylinder and the fabric delivery rolls and the fabric take up roll. At least one of the drive pulleys is of the variable or adjustable diameter type including radially adjustable drive segments supported between opposite side pulley flanges. Radial grooves are provided in one pulley flange and spiral grooves are provided in the other pulley flange and operate in response to rotation of one flange relative to the other flange to adjust the diameter of the peripheral drive surface of the pulley. The variable diameter drive pulley is adjustable so that the speed of rotation of the delivery rolls and the fabric take up roll can be coordinated with the speed of production of the knit fabric to maintain substantially uniform tension in the knit fabric.

Driving apparatus in take up unit of circular knitting machine

An individual yarn clamping and cutting device is provided for each yarn guide and is moved to an open position in response to movement of the yarn guide from active to inactive position. The yarn clamping and cutting devices are moved to a closed position by cam means carried by the rotating needle cylinder. A yarn guide shifting cam is provided for imparting a slight amount of downward movement to the yarn guides to shift the same from a first upper active position to a second slightly lower active yarn feeding position during introduction of the yarn to reduce the tension in the yarn as the needles begin to knit and to aid in preventing yarn breakage. The yarn guides are mounted to facilitate individual threading of the yarn guides and are mounted for outward tilting movement of their upper ends to a readily accessible threading position while the remaining yarn guides remain in the normal operating position.

Yarn feeding and changing apparatus for circular knitting machine

The present unitary needle selection device is operable to selectively position the knitting needles of a circular knitting machine in either knit, tuck or welt positions. The needle selection device includes a pair of side-by-side stacks of selector slides or cams supported for individual horizontal sliding movement between innermost active and outermost inactive radial positions. The inner ends of the selector slides are aligned with selector butts of selector jacks and a pattern drum is supported for indexable rotation adjacent the outer ends of the selector slides. Pairs of vertically aligned rows of pattern combs are supported in spaced-apart relationship on the pattern drum and the pattern butts are vertically aligned and movable into engagement with the outer ends of the corresponding side-by-side stacks of selector slides.

Needle selection device for knitting machines

The present yarn feeding device includes a rotating yarn feed wheel with at least one frictional yarn engaging and driving surface of predetermined width around the peripheral surface thereof, and yarn guides are provided for directing two runs of the yarn into engagement therewith. Movable yarn guides are provided for varying the degree of circumferential engagement of the individual runs of the yarn with the frictional yarn driving surface so that the degree of engagement is sufficient to cause the yarn to be fed when the knitting machine makes a demand for yarn and so that the degree of engagement is insufficient to cause the yarn to be fed when the knitting machine ceases to make a demand for yarn. A pair of manually movable yarn guide members is supported in spaced relationship from the outer circumference of the frictional yarn driving surface. The manually movable yarn guide members are manually adjustable in radial directions to vary the degree of circumferential contact between the individual runs of the yarn and the frictional yarn driving surface to permit yarns of different frictional characteristics to be fed by the yarn feeding device.

Positive type yarn feeding device for knitting machine

This fabric includes a repeating pattern of courses containing wales of jersey stitch loops and eyelets in selected sinker wales between the jersey stitch loops, and a repeating pattern of courses containing wales of jersey stitch loops knit with a pair of plated yarns and with one of the yarns forming terry loops in selected sinker wales between the jersey stitch loops. The eyelets and terry loops are each formed by pelerine points with only the outer ends of the pelerine points being used to form the terry loops while the inner and outer portions of the pelerine points are used to form the eyelets. The eyelets provide ventilation to the knit fabric while the terry loops provide an attractive pattern and moisture-absorbing characteristics to the knit fabric. The method is carried out on a circular knitting machine including multiple knitting stations, a cylinder with cylinder needles, and pelerine points carried by the dial.

Eyelet and terry knit fabric and method

The present feeding device operates to wrap walewise extending yarns about selected groups of needles of a circular knitting machine. First and second cooperating sliders are supported for radial sliding movement in radial slots in a dial coaxial and rotatable with the needle cylinder. A yarn wrapping arm is pivotally supported on the second slider for movement in a radial path across the needle circle. The first slider is operative to move the wrapping arm in an arcuate path about its axis. Pattern cams are provided in the dial for imparting such movement to the first and second sliders.

Warp feeding device for circular knitting machine

Sliding latch needles used in slots of rotary cylinders of circular knitting machines wherein the latches are subject to centrifugal force which moves the latches radially outwardly of the needle slots away from their proper position relative to the needle hooks. The hooks are provided with apertures extending completely through the same and through which the latches extend from the rear side of the hook to abut against the hook and thereby to retain the latches from movement away from the hook.

Sliding latch needles

Self actuating yarn feeding apparatus to feed yarn to a circular knitting machine when the machine makes a demand for the yarn and to cease feeding the yarn when the machine ceases demand for the yarn. The yarn is in variable circumferentially extending drive contact with the periphery of a frictionally surfaced rotating yarn feed wheel to feed the yarn to the machine. The arrangement being such that when there is a lack of demand for the yarn the degree of contact between wheel and yarn is not sufficient to feed the yarn and when there is demand for the yarn the degree of contact between wheel and yarn is sufficient to feed the yarn to the machine. The yarn extending through a yarn eyelet movable back and forth along a circular pathway in response to demand and lack of demand for the yarn by the machine to vary the degree of contact between wheel and yarn.

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Hyogo, Japan

Masatoshi Sawazaki