CA1108883A - Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabric - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabricInfo
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- CA1108883A CA1108883A CA368,251A CA368251A CA1108883A CA 1108883 A CA1108883 A CA 1108883A CA 368251 A CA368251 A CA 368251A CA 1108883 A CA1108883 A CA 1108883A
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Abstract
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING SLIVER
LOOP KNIT FABRIC
Abstract A sliver loop knit fabric comprising a base fabric formed of knitted courses and wales and anchoring a plurality of tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which are incor-porated into at least two courses and two wales of the fabric to provide a generally loop pile fabric. The fabric is knit on a circular jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality of fiber feeding cards. The knitter also is equipped with pneumatic means for directing jets of compressed air generally radially outward of the needles of the knitting machine. The jets of compressed air blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers on the needles outwardly of the needle circle, and onto the tops of the sinkers, preparatory to incorporating the ends of the tufts into the fabric during knitting. The bulk of the free ends are incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches. Stray ends or "tailings" of the tufts arc pushed back between the needles inwardly of the needle circle by reciprocal sinkers, thereby those ends are interlaced about the needles preparatory to their interlace-ment in the form of floats into plural courses and wales of the fabric.
LOOP KNIT FABRIC
Abstract A sliver loop knit fabric comprising a base fabric formed of knitted courses and wales and anchoring a plurality of tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which are incor-porated into at least two courses and two wales of the fabric to provide a generally loop pile fabric. The fabric is knit on a circular jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality of fiber feeding cards. The knitter also is equipped with pneumatic means for directing jets of compressed air generally radially outward of the needles of the knitting machine. The jets of compressed air blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers on the needles outwardly of the needle circle, and onto the tops of the sinkers, preparatory to incorporating the ends of the tufts into the fabric during knitting. The bulk of the free ends are incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches. Stray ends or "tailings" of the tufts arc pushed back between the needles inwardly of the needle circle by reciprocal sinkers, thereby those ends are interlaced about the needles preparatory to their interlace-ment in the form of floats into plural courses and wales of the fabric.
Description
This applica~ion is a division of application Serial Number 300,566 :filed April 6, 1978.
Definitions The following definitions shall be applicable herein:
The terms "sliver feeding dPvice" and "card" are synonymous, and indicate the conventional means for feeding a sliver or roving to the needles of a high pi:Le fabric knitting machine.
The term "feeding station" indicates a single location on a knitting machine where sliver fibers and yarn are, or may be, fed in succession to the needles of the machine. The term "~eeding s~r-ltlon" shall be applicable to indicate such a location where sliver fibers only J with-out yarn, are fed to the needles of the machine, a~ in knitting pattern work.
The terms "stitch" and "knitted stitch" are synon~nous, and indicate a loop of yarn which has been pulled through a preceding yarn loop.
The term "casting off" indicates the discharge of a loop of yarn from a needle, as a newly drawn loop of yarn is pulled through the discharged loop to folm~a new stitch.
The term "cast-off level" indicates the lowest level to which a needle descends in casting off a stitch or yarn loop.
The terms 'Iclearing level" and "clear" indicate the level to which a needle rises, or has risen, to clear yarn from its latch, preparatory to receiving a new yarn in its hook.
/
The terms "course-wise" and "course-wise extending"
are directional terms indicating the "horizontal"
dimension extending along a course of a knitted fabric.
The terms "wale~wise" and "wale-wise extending" are directional terms indicating the "vertical" dimension extending along a wale of a knitted fabric.
The term "interlaced" refers to sliver fibers which are not incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches/ but rather have been incorporated into the fabric in the form of floats extending diagonally across at least two courses and two wales of the fabric.
The interlaced fibers are manipulated between and about the needles during knitting in such manner that, when the needles descend to cast-oEE level, those fibers are cast over the needles and are incorporated into the Eabric as floats.
Background of the Invention Sliver knitting, wherein sliver fibers and yarn are fed to the needles of a knitting machine to knit pile fabric, is an old art, tracing its origin back to United States patent No. 1,114,414. The knitting mechanism usually comprises a circu]ar jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality oE cards for Eeeding sliver fibers to the needles of the knitting mechanism.
Generally, in sliver knitting, a single-faced high pile fabric is produced, comprising a base fabric anchoring tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which project from one side of the fabric. Each tuEt is of generally ~-shaped configuration and is composed of a plurality of staple fibers interlooped with the stitches of the fabric. Such a fabric is ill~strated, for example, in United States patent No. 3,226,952, which utilizes air nozzles located externally of the needle cirele to blow the free ends of the tufts under the sinker nibs, to position the tufts selectively Oll the needles during knitting.
Since the inception of sliver knitting, numerous attempts have been made, with little or no commercial success, to produce sliver knit fabrics which depart ~rom the single-faced high pile type. Two-faced pile fabrics have been proposed, as illustrated in United States patents Nos. 2,712,225, 2,725,735, 2,953,912 and 3,021,698.
In patent 2,953,912, succ~ssive, opposikely disposecl air jets ar~ utili~ed to produce a two-f~lcecl h:igh pile fabric. The opposi~ly disposed air j~ts ~Ire mounte(l ~cljnc~nt alt~rnat-ing cards s~lcod clround th~ nc~dl~ circl~.
Atte~pts have been made to produce sliver loop knit fabrics in the past utilizing conventional sliver knitters. Such attempts are illustrated by United States patents 2,255,078, 2,280,536 and 2 J 457,104. So far as presently is known, such endeavors have not proved to be successful in practice. In patents 2,255,078 and 2,280,536, angularly spaced rotary brushes, disposed to engage ~he needles, are proposed to brush the free ends of sliver fibers held by the needles first outwardly and then inwardly between the needles, to produce a two-faced sliver knit fabric. In patent 2,457,104 suction means~ disposed adjacent the needles, is utilized to draw the free ends of sliver fibers held by - the needle outwardly of the needle circle, whereby the free ends of the pile fibers project from what normally is the -; rear plain face of the fabric.
: Summary of the Invention The primary object of this invention is to provide method and apparatus for knitting a new and improved sliver loop knit fabric.
In one aspect the invention provides a met}-lod of making sliver loop knit fabri.c on a knitt:ing machine having a circle of latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of :~ sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers, comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles~ (b) manipulating the need.les and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tuI.`ts having free encls extend:i.ng from stitches on ancl :immeclicltely acljacent to the needl.es, (c) blowi:ng the : ~rec ends o~ the -tu:Ets diagorlcl}.ly outwardly relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (d) incorporating the outwardly ex-tending free ends o-f each o:E -the tu.fts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver :Eibers extend diagonally course-wise and walc-wisc of the fabric.
The invention also provides a me-thod of making sliver loop kni.t :Eabric on a knitting machine having a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and si.nkers, comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn -to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base - 30 fabric having kni-tted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver :Eibers, said tufts havi3lg free ends ex-tendi.ng from st:itches on and immediately adjacent to the needles (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts outwardly of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level said free ends bei.ng blown diagonally outward at an angle relati.ve to the needle circle sufficient to cause the out-wardly extending free ends to traverse at least the sinker next succeeding each needle and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
The invention also relates to a m~thod o:f mak:ing s:l.;.ver I.oop knit fabr:i.c on a kn:it-ting machine havi.ng a ci:rcle o:f latch nee(lles an(l sinkers allcl a p:lurality o:E sl:iver ancl yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles (b) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend to case-off level to :Eorm the yarn and :- 20 sliver fibers into knitted st:itches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers said tufts hav:ing free ends extending from said stitches (c) man:ipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend fxom case-off level to clearing level with incidental opening and clearing of their latches (d) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly in . the same direction relative to the needle circle and down-wardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets o:f compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from case-off level and (e) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing l~hereby the sliver fibers extend cli.agonally course-~iise and wale-wise of the .~ fabric.
In its apparatus aspect, the invention provi.des in a hig}
pile :Eabric knitting machine having a plurality of s:Liver ancl yarn feeding stations ancl a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers -Eor forming sliver fibers and yarn into knitted fabric having course-wise and wale-wise e~tending stitches, the improvement compIising fiber manipu].ating means for incorporating each of plural tufts o-f sliver fibers into plural courses and plural wales during knitting, whereby said sliver fibers extend both course-wise and wale-wise o:E the -fabric to prov:ide a sliver loop kni.t :~`abr:ic, saicl fi.bel man:ip-llatillg means compr:isi:ng: (a) the neeclles, (b) si.nke~rs adapted to be aclvclrlced re:lcLt:i.ve to the neeclle circle to push sliver fibers inwardly of the needle circle and (c) pneuma-tic means for directing compressed air in the direction oE the . needles to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward o-E the - needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers, (d) said pneumatic means being stationary relative to the needles ancl comprisillg at least one air je-t disposed inter-mecliate adjclcent sliver and yarn leeding stations, each saicl air jet being located i.nternally of and adjacent to the needle circle at a location pro~imate to and trailing a position on the needle circle where the needles reach ~ cast-off level, (e) each said ai.r jet being disposed to blow .. the sliver fibers diagonally outward at an angle relative to the need].e ci.rcle.
Preferably, a sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine is utilized, of the basic type illustrated in U.S. Patent l,ll~ . rhe maclllne comprises a jersey .,' ';
~ ~f~
fabric knitter provided with a plurality of angularly spaced sliver and yarn feeding stations. Disposed between successive or adjacent feeding stations are one or more a;r jets, each air jet being disposed interilally of the needle circle and being adapted to direct a stream of compressed air in the direction of the needles.
As the needles ascend from cast-off level, the compressed air jets blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers held on the needles, as well as the free cnds of the tufts anchored by one or more adjacent cast-off stitches, outwardly of the needle circle, between the needles, onto t]le tops of the sinkers surrounding the needles. The sevcral tufts are blo~n so th~ir Eree ends are millgled togctller to Eor~ slleet or web of fibers extending diagorlally out~LIl~d rclative ~:o both -the sinkers ancl the needle latc]les.~
As the needles contillue their ascent to clearing level, their open latches engage and retain most of the outwardly extend-ing fibers. W}lell thc needles subse~uently descend to cast-off level, their latches are closed to trap under the needle hooks the outwardly extending fibers retainecl on the latches, preparatory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
During the ascent oE thc ne~edles to clearing level, the usual reciprocable sinkers have been advanced fully to web holding position. When the sinkers advance, they push : the outwardly extending mass of fibers, including the stray sliver fibers not trapped by the needle latches, inwardly of the needle circle. The sinkers interlace the free ends of tlle stray fibers around the needles, below their latches.
When the needles descend to cast-off level, -the s-tray sliver fibers are interlaced into the fabric in the form of floats.
~he above-described kni-tting and interlacing of ~he free ends o-f the sliver fibers incorporates the fibers into plural courses and plural wales o:E the fabric~ to provide a sliver loop knit :Eabric generally similar -to loop pi.le fabric.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent :From the following description of preferred embodi.ments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. Claims to the fabric are con-tained in the parent application.
Description oF the Views o:E the Drawing 1 0 _ , _ Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in top plan showing the ]cnitting head o:E a muIti-~eed sliver high pile :fabric C irC-II.lr ]Clli. tt-ing mclch-ine.
Iig. 2 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view in perspective showing the outside of a sliver loop knit fabric embodying this invention.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, diagramma-tic view in perspecti.ve showi.ng an alternate :Eorm of sliver loop knit ; fabric embodying this inventio~
Fig. 4 is a :Eragnlclltclry view i.n top pla.n showing schematiccll].y the knitting heacl o.F a mod:iFication of the I'ig. 1 knitting machine, ill.wstrating the machine components in more detail than Fig. 1.
Fig. 5a is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic view in linear development, taken externally of the needle cylinder of the machine of Fig. 4, showing in elevation the needles, sinkers, yarns, yarn tubes and ,air jets in their relationship to each other, for knitting the fabric of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5b is a plan view complementary to Fig. 5a, showing in linear development the sinkers illustr.ated in Fig. 5a.
Fig. 6 (with Fig. 1) is a fragmentary vertical section ~ 10 ~aken transversely of one of the sliver feeding devices o-f the - machine of Fig. 4, illustrating the feeding of sliver fibers by a doffer to the needles of the machine.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in elevation - .illustrating a needl~ at cast-off level.
Fi.g. 8 is an enlarged, frag~entary view in elevation illustrating a needle in the process o ascending from cast-off level.
; Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a needle which has risen to clear level, and is in the process of taking yarn in its hook.
Figs. lOa and lOb are linear developments similar to Figs. Sa and Sb, respectively, showing the arrangement for knitting the Eabric of Fig. 3.
Detailed Description o-f E:mbo~liments of the Invention In Fig. 1, there is shown diagrammatically in top plan the knitting head of an open top multi-feed sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine 10 to which this inven-tion has been applied. Although the machine 10 ~ay be equipped . .
with four, eight, twelve or fourteen sliver and yarn feeding stations, for the purpose of illustration the ~achine is shown provided with eight feeding stations, Fl to,~ inclusive, spaced uniformly about the circle of needles. The needles are of the conventional independent latch type J mounted in the usual rotatable needle cylinder. The need'Le cylinder and its complement of needles rotate in the direction indi-cated by the curved arrow in Fig. 1.
Each of the eight circumferentially or angularly spaced feeding stations Fl-F8 includes, respectively, a conventional card Cl, ~2, etc., and yarn feed Yl, Y2, etc.
A second yarn eed Y'l, Y'2, etc., may be disposed inter-mediate adjacent or successive slivcr and yarn feeding stations. Each yarn feed Yl, Y'l, Y2, Y'2, etc. comprises a yarn tube disposed adjacent to the needle circle, for delivering yarn to the needles. '~
In the embodiment illustrated diagra~matically in Fig. 1, a pair of angularly spaced air jets or compressed air nozzles Al, A'l, A2, A'2, etc., are disposed between adjacent feeding stations Fl, F2, etc. The several air jets are located inside the needle circle, and positioned to direct streams of compressed air outwardly of the needle circle, in the direction of the needles. The air jets may be provided with valves V to adjust and control the amount of compressed air discharged from their nozzles~ selectively as desired, during knitting.
Each of the first air jets Al, A2, etc., is spaced angularly, in the direction of needle rotation, from a yarn feed Yl, Y2, etc. Similarly, each of the second air jets A'l, A'2, etc., is spaced angularly, in the direction of needle rotation, from one oE the intermediate yarn feeds Y'l, Y'2, etc. The air jets Al, A'l, etc., are disposed adjacent the needle circle at positions proximate to and trailing locations where the needles reach cast-off level.
Figs. 2 and 3 each illustrate diagrammatically the outside or backside of two different sliver loop knit fabrics made on a knitting machine embodying this invention. Both are jersey knit Eabrics having a plurality of tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 of sliver fibers, -the free ends of which are incorporated into a plurality of courses and wales, to provide a fabric generally similar to loop pile fabric. In Figs. 2 and 3, the :Letters a, a', b, b', c, etc., indicate courses, the letters nl, n2, n3, n4 indicate neecl:l.e wales and the :Letters sl, s2, s3, s4 indicate sinker wales of the Eabrics. The tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 are incorporated into the fabrics both in the form of knitted stitches and by interlacing. The fabrics have a loop pile effect on the side comprising the inner surface of the fabric tube during knitting, and have the appearance of a jersey knitted web on the opposite side.
The loop pile effect appears on the side oE tile Eabric which constitutes the pi]e face or pile side of a conventional single-Eaced sliver knit high pile fabric.
Fig. 2 illustrates a fabric knit on the machine 10 of Fig. 1 by feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles at all the feeding stations Fl, F2, etc., and feeding yarn to the needles at the intermediate yarn feeds Y'1, Y'2, etc. For the purpose of illustration only, in relatiny the fabric illustrated in Fig~ 2 to the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, the following yarn feeds of the machine correspond to the following courses of the fabric:
Yarn FeedYarn Course ; Yl a .
Y'l ~' Y2 b Y'2 b' :~ Y3 c Y'3 c' : Y4 d Y'4 d' etc. etc.
; The correlation between the knit-in sliver tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 of the fabric of Fig. 2 and the cards or sliver ; feeding devices of the machine of Fig. 1, for the purpose of illustration, is as follows:
, , .
.: Fed by Card Sli~Jer Tuft , . .
. Cl Tl .
The sequence of sliver feeding then may be repeated, as follows:
Fed by Card liver Tuft C5 Tl : C6 T2 : C7 T3 . ''' .
. - 13 -In Fig. 2, each oE the groups or tuEts of plural staple fibers Tl, T2, T3, T4 are shown as being knit-ted, i.e.
incorporated in the form of knitted stitches, in needle wales nl, n2 and n3, and are shown traversing sinker wales sl and s2, with their extreme ends terminating in sinker wale s_.
Successive knitted stitches formed from each o the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 are connected between adjacent courses by diagonal segments D of sliver fibers. Segments D traverse diagonally the sinker wales, extending from the base oE one of the successive stitches to the base of the next following of the successive stitches. Additionally, a portion P of each tuft Tl, T2, T3, T4 is illustrated in needle wales nl, n2 as splitting ofE from the cLiagonal scgments D of thc knitted fibers and being interlacecl into the cal)r:ic. lhe~ sLiver tut 1`1 is shown incorporatcd :into lhree SePLlI`ate courses, -viz. a, .l', b.
Similarly, sliver T2 is sllown incorporated into courses b, b', c; sliver T3 in courses c, c', d; sliver T~ in courses d, d', e. I~or the purpose of illustra-tion, the several groups of slivcr fibers Tl, T2, T3, T~l are S}lOWn as having been fed 2Q by thcir respective cards only to the single need:Le forming needle wale nl. It is to be understood that the same slivers arc ed to successive needles :Eorming -the successive needle w.ales n2, n3, n~l, etc., to form course-wise and wale-wise repeats oE the several Icnit slivers rl`l, T2, T3, T4.
The interlaced portions P are in tlle nature of elongated floats extcnding across at least two courses and at least two wales of the fabric. Thus, float P of tuft Tl ex-tends rom the base of the stitch of Tl fibers knitted in needle wale nl across sinker wale sl and needle wale n2 to sinke-r wale s2, where at least some of its fibers, if of sufficient length, merge into the knitted stitch -formed with fibers of . ~
tuf~ Tl in course b at needle wale n3. In course a'at needle wale n~, float P of tuft Tl is locked into the fabric between the base fabric B and the diagonal seg~en~ D ~ormed of the fibers of tuft Tl. Floats P
of tufts T2, T3 and T4 similarly extend across and are loc~ed into the fabric. The floats P passing and trapped between the base fabric B and the diagonal segments D connecting the stitches Xnitted of the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 tend to raise those seg~ents from the base fabric to emphasize the loop pile effect. However, ,~
` due to the random disposition or the floats P through-out the fabric, the floats may be locked into th~
~; fabric, against the base fabric B, by succeeding floats . .
P as well as by the diagonal segments D. The relatively short diagonal segments D c~nd the relatively long inte~-laced floats P constitu~e the loops of fibers providing the loop pile texture on what normally is the face side of a conventional sliver knit high pile fabric.
If desired, the fibers o-f selected tufts rnay have a characteristic differing from the characteristics of the fibers o the other tufts. For example, the fibers which compose the pile tufts Tl, 1`2, T3, T4 may each be of cl diferent or contrasting color, to providc a multi~colored or multi-]l-led sliver loop knit fabric.
lVhere slivers of different colors are fed to the needles by the cards Cl, C2, C3, C4, etc., the fabric will in-corporate a plurality of groups of tufts, with each group being composed of staple fibers having a color differing from or contrasting with ~ 3 the colors of the fibers of the other groups of tufts. Of course, the separate sliver fibers may differ i.n character-; istics other than or in addition to color, to provide awide range of patterned fa~rics of selected or predetermined design The fabric of Fig. 3 differs from that of Fig. 2 only in that the intermediat~ courses a', b', c', etc., are eliminated. This is accomplished by eliminating or blanking out the intermediate yarn feeds Y'l, Y'2, Y'3, etc., o the knltting machine 10 of Fig. 1. For the pllrpose of illustra-tion only, the correlation between the yarn feeds and cards of the machine 10 of Fig. 1 and the courses and tufts of sliver fibers of the fabric of Fig. 3 may be as follows:
Yarn Feed Course Yl a Y2 b ~3 c Y4 d Y5 e etc. etc.
Fed by Card Sliver Tuft Cl Tl C5 Tl As is clearly illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3, re~ar~-~ess whether the intermediate yarn -feeds Y'l, Y'2, Y'3, etc., are utilized, the fabrics of this invention incorporate sliver fibers in the form o-f knitted s-ti-tches, diagonal seg~
ments D and in-terlaced floats P in all of their courses and wales.
Referring next to Figs. 4, 5a, 5b, 6, there is illustrated schematically a modified open top multi-feed sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine lO' for 13 knitting the loop knit fabric of Fig. 2 The modified knit ting machine lO' is identical to the machine lO i].lust:rated in Fig. 1, except i~ is provided with four feeding stations rather than eight. Two of the four feeding stations are indi.cated at F'l, F'2 i.n Fig. 4. ~eeding station F'l includes the usual wlre-covered rotatable doffer 12 fol feecling staple sliver fibers to the needles N of the machine lO', and the usual yarn tube 14 for feeding a yarn a to the needles.
Feeding station F'2 includes rotatable doffer 13 together with a yarn tube ~not shown).
Disposed intermediate the spaced feeding stations F'l, F'2 is a second yarn tube 15, for feeding a yarn a' to the needles N, and a pair of angularly spaced co~pressed air jets Al', A'l'. The two air jets Al', A'l' are disposed adjacent the needle circle, with their open ends or orfices oriented to direct a stream of compressed air in the direction of the needles. The reciprocable needles N are mounted in the usual needle cylinder 18 (Fig. 6), and alternate with the usual reciprocable sinkers S supported by sinker ring 19.
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Fig. 6 illustrates a needle N which previously had been raised to clear level, and is in the process o:~ receiving a tu~t T of sliver fibers in its hook. ICnitted ~uft T', fecl to the needlc N a~ the preceding feeding s~ation, h~ls cleared the needl~ latch~ Due to the rotation of th~ doffer 12, i-ts wire clothing brushes the free ends o~ the fibers oE the tu:E-t : T :inward relative to the needl.e circle, whereby the tu~t initially is disposed in a more or less U-shaped confuguration about the needle. The sinkers S are in advanced position ; lO relative to the circle of needles N.
Figs. 5a and 5b show the coordination of the needles N and the sinkers S during knitting of fabric lntermediate the anglIlarly spaced dof:~ers 1.2 and 13. As the neecl1.cs N
with the U-shapecI tufts T o:E sliver fibers in their hooks are rotated past yarn tube 14, they start their descent to cast-off level, while the sinkers S are retracted from the needle circle. As the rotating needles descend to cast-ofE level, they talce yarn a in their hooks. With the upwardly-disp.osed tufts of fibers T and the yarn a in their hooks, the needles N reach cast-o~ level, as shown in Fig. 7, and then con~ence l.o rise to clear level, with the newly formed loops o:E sliver fibers and yarn still in their hooks. When the need1.es commence -their ascent -to clear level, the sinkers have been nearly fully advanced inwardly relative to the needle circle, between the needles N, to web holding position.
Air jet .Al' is disposed at a location, relative -to the needle circle, where the needles begin their ascent to clear level. As the needles ascend, a jet of compressed air from the nozzle Al' blows the free ends of the tufts T of fibers outwardly of the needle circle, between the needl.es N, as illustrated in Fig. 8, onto the tops of the sinkers. This action of the air jet Al' ultimately causes the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers to traverse the sinker wales sl in the knitted fabric, in the form of diagonal segments D and interlaced floats P, as illustrated in ~ig. 2. The jet of compressed air blows not only the tu:Ets o:E :Eibers T under the needle hooks outwardly of the needle circle, but also blows ; outwardly the free ends o:E the tufts T' anchored by the cleared stitches below the needle latches ~Figs. 6, 9) and the tufts anchored by one or more o-E the cast-of-f stitch.es immediately adjacent the needles, depending on the length - of the sliver fibers. Tlle result is to mingle the individual fibers of the several tufts extending outwardly of the needle circle to form an intermingled mass or web of entangled sliver fibers in sheet form.
The open end o:E the nozzle Al' is located to direct a streaTn o.E comprcsscd air generally radially outward o:E the neeclle ci.rcle. I~or op-timum resul.ts, thc open end o.E the nozzle Al' may be disposed to direct the stream of compressed air slightly downward, rather than strictly horizontal, and slightly rearwardly in the direction of the oncoming rotating needles N. In such case, the free ends of the tufts o:E
sliver fibers are blown around the needles to extend slightly diagonally relative to both the si.nkers and the needle latches, and are held by the compressed air to the tops of the sinkers at least unt:il the ascending needles have begun to clear their latches. By directiilg the stream of compressed air slightly downward, the outwardly e~tending free ends of the fibers are retained on the tops of the sinkers as the needles begin to ascend to clear level.
As the needles N rotate past the air jet Al', they continue their ascent to clear level, preparatory to taking yarn a' in their hooks. The sinkers S have advanced :Eully into the needle circle. As the needles ascend, their hooks ~ass through the outwardly extending sheet of fibers, andtheir open and cleared latches engage and retain most of the ~- mingled fibers. The rotating needles N, after clearing, begin to descend to cast-off level once again, taking the yarn a' in their hooks, as illustrated in Fig. 9. As the needles descend to cast-off level, their latches are closed to trap the portion of the outwardly extending fibers retained thereon under the needle hooks. The diagollal disl~ositio o~- the Eibers relative to the ne~dle latches facilitates this entrapment. The portion o-E the mingled free ends of the several tufts trilpped under the nccdle hooks as the needles descend are formed into stitches with the y~lrn a', whcn the necclles reacll cast-or~ level. ~s a rcsuLt, -thc tIa~)pc(l ends oE thc tuEts are incorporated into the fabric, in the form of stitches, in a second course and a second wale of the Eabric, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This stitch formation process brings the trapped fiber ends which had been blown to the outside of the needle circle back to the inside of the fabric sleeve in the form of knitted stitchcs to provide the loop pile effect. As the needles desccnd, -thc:ir closing latches swee~ the sheet oE outwardly extcnding, diagonal:Ly inclined Eibers, including -the stray ; fibers, upwardly en mass into substantially vertical dis-position.
The non-trapped or stray fiber ends are interlaced about the needles, below their latches, by the sinkers. Each time the sin]<ers S are advanced -to web holding position, they engage and push the now generally upstanding sheet or mass of minglcd, diagonally inclined fibers back into the needle circle. The result of this is to inter:Lace the non-trapped stray fibers or "tailings" around the needles. As the :.
sinkers advallce, the forward ends or noses of their nibs strike the generally upstandillo web of mingled fibers and commence pushing the fibers en mass inward relative to the circle of needles. As the sinkers continue to advance, the upper portions of their front profiles, i.e. their noses, the under edges of their nibs and their throats, push the fibers - both those trapped on the needle latches and the non-trapped stlay fibers below the needle latches - around the needles into the needle circle as the neeclles ascend to clear level. Frictional engagement between the sides of the sinker nibs and the contiguous ~ibers also aids in urging the fibers into the needlc circlc.
As thc needles N clesccnd to cas-t-o~E :levcl Eor the second time, the sinkers are retract~d from the needle circle ~or a second time. After the needles N again reach cast-oEf level, they start their second ascent to clear level, and the sinkers S again a~vance inwardly of the needle circle.
The air jet A'l' is disposed at a position, relative - to the needle circle, where the needles begin their next ascent to clear level. Its open end preferably is disposed, relative to the needles, in a manner identical to the disposition of the open end of the nozzle Al'. As the needles ascend, a jet of compressed air Erom the nozzle A'l' blows all of the free ends - both trapped ends and stray ends - of the several tufts of sliver fibers once again around the needles N and diagonally across the tops of the sinkers S outwardly of the needle circle, in ; the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. This action oE the air jet ~'1' ultimately causes the mingled free ends of the tufts to again traverse the sinker wales in the knitted fabric, e.g. sinker wales s2 as illustrated in Fig. ~.
- 2l -..
As the needles N rotate past the air jet A'l', they continue their ascent to ~l~ar level. In the manner previously explained, the bulk oE the diagonal, outwardly extending ~ibers are engayed and retained by the open latches of the ascendin~ needles. Those fibers are trapped within the needle hooks when the latches again close, after the needles have taken fresh sliver fibers and a new yarn in their hooks and descend to cast-off level. The trapped fibers are formed into stitches with the new fibers and yarn, and are incorporated into the fabric in a third course and a third wale, as illustrated in Fig. 2 The non-trapped or stray fibers extending outwardly o~ the needle circle again are pushed by the advancing sinkers back into the needle circle, against the needles, below the needle latches in the manner previously explained, preparatory to being incorporated into the fabric by inter-lacing. When the needles subsequently descend to cast-off level for the third time, the non-trapped fibers are cast over tlle needles alld are incorporated into the fabric in the form of the interlaccd portions or floats P. The com-pressed air from the nozzles Al' and A'l' in cooperation with the inward advances of the sinkers S causes the non-trapped fiber ends to be intertwined about the needles, and hence ultima-tely incorporated into the fabric in the form of the interlocked floats P.
Thus, the non-trapped or stray fibers, referred to herein as "tailings'l, are manipulated between and about - the needles in the manner of an interlacement. Initiallyr the fibers are disposed in generally U-shaped configuration about the needles, with their free ends "
extending inwardly of the needle circle (Figsn 6, 7).Thereupon, their free ends are blown around the needles and outwardly of the needle circle by the air jets (Fig.
8). Subsequently, the outwardly extending free ends of the non-trapped fibers, disposed diagonally relative to the needles as explained above, are urged inwardly to the needle circle by the advancing sinkers, into contact with . the needles. When the needles descend to cast-off level, those fibers are cast over the needles and incorporated . 10 into the fabric as the interlaced floats P. Next, the ~ree ends of the non-trapped fibers a~ain are blown around the needles and outwarcl:Ly of the needle circle by the a:ir jets, fol:Lowing wh.ich they are i.ncorporatecl into the fabric either in the form of knitted stitches or in the form of the interlaced floats P.
With the modified knitting machine 10' illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the needles N.ha~e cleared, and have the bulk .; o.-f the free ends of the tu.fts T disposed diagonally on their open latches, as they rotato to the doErer 13, preparatoly ~' ~ .
~ - 23 -., .
to taking fresh tufts o~ sliver -fibers in their hooks. The stray ends or "tailings'~ are in~erfaced around the shanks o-f the needles below their latches. As the needles rotate past doffer 13, relative to feeding station F'2, they take fresh tufts oE fibers and then a new yarn in their hooks, Eollow-ing which they again descend to cast-off level. At such time, the free ends of the tufts T, trapped in the needle hooks, are incorporated into the fabric together with the fresh tufts of sliver fibers and the new yarn.
1~ The needle and sinker cams necessary for the above described operations of the needles N and sinkers S are a matter of common and general knowledge in the art. The selection of the camming to carry out the needle and sinker knitting manipulations to produce the fabric of Fig. 2 will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.
Any type of conventional latch knitting needles may be employed, although it is preferred that needles having relatively long latches, on the order of .025 to .030 inches
Definitions The following definitions shall be applicable herein:
The terms "sliver feeding dPvice" and "card" are synonymous, and indicate the conventional means for feeding a sliver or roving to the needles of a high pi:Le fabric knitting machine.
The term "feeding station" indicates a single location on a knitting machine where sliver fibers and yarn are, or may be, fed in succession to the needles of the machine. The term "~eeding s~r-ltlon" shall be applicable to indicate such a location where sliver fibers only J with-out yarn, are fed to the needles of the machine, a~ in knitting pattern work.
The terms "stitch" and "knitted stitch" are synon~nous, and indicate a loop of yarn which has been pulled through a preceding yarn loop.
The term "casting off" indicates the discharge of a loop of yarn from a needle, as a newly drawn loop of yarn is pulled through the discharged loop to folm~a new stitch.
The term "cast-off level" indicates the lowest level to which a needle descends in casting off a stitch or yarn loop.
The terms 'Iclearing level" and "clear" indicate the level to which a needle rises, or has risen, to clear yarn from its latch, preparatory to receiving a new yarn in its hook.
/
The terms "course-wise" and "course-wise extending"
are directional terms indicating the "horizontal"
dimension extending along a course of a knitted fabric.
The terms "wale~wise" and "wale-wise extending" are directional terms indicating the "vertical" dimension extending along a wale of a knitted fabric.
The term "interlaced" refers to sliver fibers which are not incorporated into the fabric in the form of knitted stitches/ but rather have been incorporated into the fabric in the form of floats extending diagonally across at least two courses and two wales of the fabric.
The interlaced fibers are manipulated between and about the needles during knitting in such manner that, when the needles descend to cast-oEE level, those fibers are cast over the needles and are incorporated into the Eabric as floats.
Background of the Invention Sliver knitting, wherein sliver fibers and yarn are fed to the needles of a knitting machine to knit pile fabric, is an old art, tracing its origin back to United States patent No. 1,114,414. The knitting mechanism usually comprises a circu]ar jersey fabric knitter equipped with a plurality oE cards for Eeeding sliver fibers to the needles of the knitting mechanism.
Generally, in sliver knitting, a single-faced high pile fabric is produced, comprising a base fabric anchoring tufts of sliver fibers, the free ends of which project from one side of the fabric. Each tuEt is of generally ~-shaped configuration and is composed of a plurality of staple fibers interlooped with the stitches of the fabric. Such a fabric is ill~strated, for example, in United States patent No. 3,226,952, which utilizes air nozzles located externally of the needle cirele to blow the free ends of the tufts under the sinker nibs, to position the tufts selectively Oll the needles during knitting.
Since the inception of sliver knitting, numerous attempts have been made, with little or no commercial success, to produce sliver knit fabrics which depart ~rom the single-faced high pile type. Two-faced pile fabrics have been proposed, as illustrated in United States patents Nos. 2,712,225, 2,725,735, 2,953,912 and 3,021,698.
In patent 2,953,912, succ~ssive, opposikely disposecl air jets ar~ utili~ed to produce a two-f~lcecl h:igh pile fabric. The opposi~ly disposed air j~ts ~Ire mounte(l ~cljnc~nt alt~rnat-ing cards s~lcod clround th~ nc~dl~ circl~.
Atte~pts have been made to produce sliver loop knit fabrics in the past utilizing conventional sliver knitters. Such attempts are illustrated by United States patents 2,255,078, 2,280,536 and 2 J 457,104. So far as presently is known, such endeavors have not proved to be successful in practice. In patents 2,255,078 and 2,280,536, angularly spaced rotary brushes, disposed to engage ~he needles, are proposed to brush the free ends of sliver fibers held by the needles first outwardly and then inwardly between the needles, to produce a two-faced sliver knit fabric. In patent 2,457,104 suction means~ disposed adjacent the needles, is utilized to draw the free ends of sliver fibers held by - the needle outwardly of the needle circle, whereby the free ends of the pile fibers project from what normally is the -; rear plain face of the fabric.
: Summary of the Invention The primary object of this invention is to provide method and apparatus for knitting a new and improved sliver loop knit fabric.
In one aspect the invention provides a met}-lod of making sliver loop knit fabri.c on a knitt:ing machine having a circle of latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of :~ sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers, comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles~ (b) manipulating the need.les and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tuI.`ts having free encls extend:i.ng from stitches on ancl :immeclicltely acljacent to the needl.es, (c) blowi:ng the : ~rec ends o~ the -tu:Ets diagorlcl}.ly outwardly relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (d) incorporating the outwardly ex-tending free ends o-f each o:E -the tu.fts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver :Eibers extend diagonally course-wise and walc-wisc of the fabric.
The invention also provides a me-thod of making sliver loop kni.t :Eabric on a knitting machine having a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and si.nkers, comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn -to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base - 30 fabric having kni-tted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver :Eibers, said tufts havi3lg free ends ex-tendi.ng from st:itches on and immediately adjacent to the needles (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts outwardly of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level said free ends bei.ng blown diagonally outward at an angle relati.ve to the needle circle sufficient to cause the out-wardly extending free ends to traverse at least the sinker next succeeding each needle and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
The invention also relates to a m~thod o:f mak:ing s:l.;.ver I.oop knit fabr:i.c on a kn:it-ting machine havi.ng a ci:rcle o:f latch nee(lles an(l sinkers allcl a p:lurality o:E sl:iver ancl yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers comprising the steps: (a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles (b) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend to case-off level to :Eorm the yarn and :- 20 sliver fibers into knitted st:itches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers said tufts hav:ing free ends extending from said stitches (c) man:ipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend fxom case-off level to clearing level with incidental opening and clearing of their latches (d) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly in . the same direction relative to the needle circle and down-wardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets o:f compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from case-off level and (e) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing l~hereby the sliver fibers extend cli.agonally course-~iise and wale-wise of the .~ fabric.
In its apparatus aspect, the invention provi.des in a hig}
pile :Eabric knitting machine having a plurality of s:Liver ancl yarn feeding stations ancl a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers -Eor forming sliver fibers and yarn into knitted fabric having course-wise and wale-wise e~tending stitches, the improvement compIising fiber manipu].ating means for incorporating each of plural tufts o-f sliver fibers into plural courses and plural wales during knitting, whereby said sliver fibers extend both course-wise and wale-wise o:E the -fabric to prov:ide a sliver loop kni.t :~`abr:ic, saicl fi.bel man:ip-llatillg means compr:isi:ng: (a) the neeclles, (b) si.nke~rs adapted to be aclvclrlced re:lcLt:i.ve to the neeclle circle to push sliver fibers inwardly of the needle circle and (c) pneuma-tic means for directing compressed air in the direction oE the . needles to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward o-E the - needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers, (d) said pneumatic means being stationary relative to the needles ancl comprisillg at least one air je-t disposed inter-mecliate adjclcent sliver and yarn leeding stations, each saicl air jet being located i.nternally of and adjacent to the needle circle at a location pro~imate to and trailing a position on the needle circle where the needles reach ~ cast-off level, (e) each said ai.r jet being disposed to blow .. the sliver fibers diagonally outward at an angle relative to the need].e ci.rcle.
Preferably, a sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine is utilized, of the basic type illustrated in U.S. Patent l,ll~ . rhe maclllne comprises a jersey .,' ';
~ ~f~
fabric knitter provided with a plurality of angularly spaced sliver and yarn feeding stations. Disposed between successive or adjacent feeding stations are one or more a;r jets, each air jet being disposed interilally of the needle circle and being adapted to direct a stream of compressed air in the direction of the needles.
As the needles ascend from cast-off level, the compressed air jets blow the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers held on the needles, as well as the free cnds of the tufts anchored by one or more adjacent cast-off stitches, outwardly of the needle circle, between the needles, onto t]le tops of the sinkers surrounding the needles. The sevcral tufts are blo~n so th~ir Eree ends are millgled togctller to Eor~ slleet or web of fibers extending diagorlally out~LIl~d rclative ~:o both -the sinkers ancl the needle latc]les.~
As the needles contillue their ascent to clearing level, their open latches engage and retain most of the outwardly extend-ing fibers. W}lell thc needles subse~uently descend to cast-off level, their latches are closed to trap under the needle hooks the outwardly extending fibers retainecl on the latches, preparatory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
During the ascent oE thc ne~edles to clearing level, the usual reciprocable sinkers have been advanced fully to web holding position. When the sinkers advance, they push : the outwardly extending mass of fibers, including the stray sliver fibers not trapped by the needle latches, inwardly of the needle circle. The sinkers interlace the free ends of tlle stray fibers around the needles, below their latches.
When the needles descend to cast-off level, -the s-tray sliver fibers are interlaced into the fabric in the form of floats.
~he above-described kni-tting and interlacing of ~he free ends o-f the sliver fibers incorporates the fibers into plural courses and plural wales o:E the fabric~ to provide a sliver loop knit :Eabric generally similar -to loop pi.le fabric.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent :From the following description of preferred embodi.ments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. Claims to the fabric are con-tained in the parent application.
Description oF the Views o:E the Drawing 1 0 _ , _ Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in top plan showing the ]cnitting head o:E a muIti-~eed sliver high pile :fabric C irC-II.lr ]Clli. tt-ing mclch-ine.
Iig. 2 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view in perspective showing the outside of a sliver loop knit fabric embodying this invention.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, diagramma-tic view in perspecti.ve showi.ng an alternate :Eorm of sliver loop knit ; fabric embodying this inventio~
Fig. 4 is a :Eragnlclltclry view i.n top pla.n showing schematiccll].y the knitting heacl o.F a mod:iFication of the I'ig. 1 knitting machine, ill.wstrating the machine components in more detail than Fig. 1.
Fig. 5a is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic view in linear development, taken externally of the needle cylinder of the machine of Fig. 4, showing in elevation the needles, sinkers, yarns, yarn tubes and ,air jets in their relationship to each other, for knitting the fabric of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5b is a plan view complementary to Fig. 5a, showing in linear development the sinkers illustr.ated in Fig. 5a.
Fig. 6 (with Fig. 1) is a fragmentary vertical section ~ 10 ~aken transversely of one of the sliver feeding devices o-f the - machine of Fig. 4, illustrating the feeding of sliver fibers by a doffer to the needles of the machine.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in elevation - .illustrating a needl~ at cast-off level.
Fi.g. 8 is an enlarged, frag~entary view in elevation illustrating a needle in the process o ascending from cast-off level.
; Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a needle which has risen to clear level, and is in the process of taking yarn in its hook.
Figs. lOa and lOb are linear developments similar to Figs. Sa and Sb, respectively, showing the arrangement for knitting the Eabric of Fig. 3.
Detailed Description o-f E:mbo~liments of the Invention In Fig. 1, there is shown diagrammatically in top plan the knitting head of an open top multi-feed sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine 10 to which this inven-tion has been applied. Although the machine 10 ~ay be equipped . .
with four, eight, twelve or fourteen sliver and yarn feeding stations, for the purpose of illustration the ~achine is shown provided with eight feeding stations, Fl to,~ inclusive, spaced uniformly about the circle of needles. The needles are of the conventional independent latch type J mounted in the usual rotatable needle cylinder. The need'Le cylinder and its complement of needles rotate in the direction indi-cated by the curved arrow in Fig. 1.
Each of the eight circumferentially or angularly spaced feeding stations Fl-F8 includes, respectively, a conventional card Cl, ~2, etc., and yarn feed Yl, Y2, etc.
A second yarn eed Y'l, Y'2, etc., may be disposed inter-mediate adjacent or successive slivcr and yarn feeding stations. Each yarn feed Yl, Y'l, Y2, Y'2, etc. comprises a yarn tube disposed adjacent to the needle circle, for delivering yarn to the needles. '~
In the embodiment illustrated diagra~matically in Fig. 1, a pair of angularly spaced air jets or compressed air nozzles Al, A'l, A2, A'2, etc., are disposed between adjacent feeding stations Fl, F2, etc. The several air jets are located inside the needle circle, and positioned to direct streams of compressed air outwardly of the needle circle, in the direction of the needles. The air jets may be provided with valves V to adjust and control the amount of compressed air discharged from their nozzles~ selectively as desired, during knitting.
Each of the first air jets Al, A2, etc., is spaced angularly, in the direction of needle rotation, from a yarn feed Yl, Y2, etc. Similarly, each of the second air jets A'l, A'2, etc., is spaced angularly, in the direction of needle rotation, from one oE the intermediate yarn feeds Y'l, Y'2, etc. The air jets Al, A'l, etc., are disposed adjacent the needle circle at positions proximate to and trailing locations where the needles reach cast-off level.
Figs. 2 and 3 each illustrate diagrammatically the outside or backside of two different sliver loop knit fabrics made on a knitting machine embodying this invention. Both are jersey knit Eabrics having a plurality of tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 of sliver fibers, -the free ends of which are incorporated into a plurality of courses and wales, to provide a fabric generally similar to loop pile fabric. In Figs. 2 and 3, the :Letters a, a', b, b', c, etc., indicate courses, the letters nl, n2, n3, n4 indicate neecl:l.e wales and the :Letters sl, s2, s3, s4 indicate sinker wales of the Eabrics. The tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 are incorporated into the fabrics both in the form of knitted stitches and by interlacing. The fabrics have a loop pile effect on the side comprising the inner surface of the fabric tube during knitting, and have the appearance of a jersey knitted web on the opposite side.
The loop pile effect appears on the side oE tile Eabric which constitutes the pi]e face or pile side of a conventional single-Eaced sliver knit high pile fabric.
Fig. 2 illustrates a fabric knit on the machine 10 of Fig. 1 by feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles at all the feeding stations Fl, F2, etc., and feeding yarn to the needles at the intermediate yarn feeds Y'1, Y'2, etc. For the purpose of illustration only, in relatiny the fabric illustrated in Fig~ 2 to the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, the following yarn feeds of the machine correspond to the following courses of the fabric:
Yarn FeedYarn Course ; Yl a .
Y'l ~' Y2 b Y'2 b' :~ Y3 c Y'3 c' : Y4 d Y'4 d' etc. etc.
; The correlation between the knit-in sliver tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 of the fabric of Fig. 2 and the cards or sliver ; feeding devices of the machine of Fig. 1, for the purpose of illustration, is as follows:
, , .
.: Fed by Card Sli~Jer Tuft , . .
. Cl Tl .
The sequence of sliver feeding then may be repeated, as follows:
Fed by Card liver Tuft C5 Tl : C6 T2 : C7 T3 . ''' .
. - 13 -In Fig. 2, each oE the groups or tuEts of plural staple fibers Tl, T2, T3, T4 are shown as being knit-ted, i.e.
incorporated in the form of knitted stitches, in needle wales nl, n2 and n3, and are shown traversing sinker wales sl and s2, with their extreme ends terminating in sinker wale s_.
Successive knitted stitches formed from each o the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 are connected between adjacent courses by diagonal segments D of sliver fibers. Segments D traverse diagonally the sinker wales, extending from the base oE one of the successive stitches to the base of the next following of the successive stitches. Additionally, a portion P of each tuft Tl, T2, T3, T4 is illustrated in needle wales nl, n2 as splitting ofE from the cLiagonal scgments D of thc knitted fibers and being interlacecl into the cal)r:ic. lhe~ sLiver tut 1`1 is shown incorporatcd :into lhree SePLlI`ate courses, -viz. a, .l', b.
Similarly, sliver T2 is sllown incorporated into courses b, b', c; sliver T3 in courses c, c', d; sliver T~ in courses d, d', e. I~or the purpose of illustra-tion, the several groups of slivcr fibers Tl, T2, T3, T~l are S}lOWn as having been fed 2Q by thcir respective cards only to the single need:Le forming needle wale nl. It is to be understood that the same slivers arc ed to successive needles :Eorming -the successive needle w.ales n2, n3, n~l, etc., to form course-wise and wale-wise repeats oE the several Icnit slivers rl`l, T2, T3, T4.
The interlaced portions P are in tlle nature of elongated floats extcnding across at least two courses and at least two wales of the fabric. Thus, float P of tuft Tl ex-tends rom the base of the stitch of Tl fibers knitted in needle wale nl across sinker wale sl and needle wale n2 to sinke-r wale s2, where at least some of its fibers, if of sufficient length, merge into the knitted stitch -formed with fibers of . ~
tuf~ Tl in course b at needle wale n3. In course a'at needle wale n~, float P of tuft Tl is locked into the fabric between the base fabric B and the diagonal seg~en~ D ~ormed of the fibers of tuft Tl. Floats P
of tufts T2, T3 and T4 similarly extend across and are loc~ed into the fabric. The floats P passing and trapped between the base fabric B and the diagonal segments D connecting the stitches Xnitted of the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 tend to raise those seg~ents from the base fabric to emphasize the loop pile effect. However, ,~
` due to the random disposition or the floats P through-out the fabric, the floats may be locked into th~
~; fabric, against the base fabric B, by succeeding floats . .
P as well as by the diagonal segments D. The relatively short diagonal segments D c~nd the relatively long inte~-laced floats P constitu~e the loops of fibers providing the loop pile texture on what normally is the face side of a conventional sliver knit high pile fabric.
If desired, the fibers o-f selected tufts rnay have a characteristic differing from the characteristics of the fibers o the other tufts. For example, the fibers which compose the pile tufts Tl, 1`2, T3, T4 may each be of cl diferent or contrasting color, to providc a multi~colored or multi-]l-led sliver loop knit fabric.
lVhere slivers of different colors are fed to the needles by the cards Cl, C2, C3, C4, etc., the fabric will in-corporate a plurality of groups of tufts, with each group being composed of staple fibers having a color differing from or contrasting with ~ 3 the colors of the fibers of the other groups of tufts. Of course, the separate sliver fibers may differ i.n character-; istics other than or in addition to color, to provide awide range of patterned fa~rics of selected or predetermined design The fabric of Fig. 3 differs from that of Fig. 2 only in that the intermediat~ courses a', b', c', etc., are eliminated. This is accomplished by eliminating or blanking out the intermediate yarn feeds Y'l, Y'2, Y'3, etc., o the knltting machine 10 of Fig. 1. For the pllrpose of illustra-tion only, the correlation between the yarn feeds and cards of the machine 10 of Fig. 1 and the courses and tufts of sliver fibers of the fabric of Fig. 3 may be as follows:
Yarn Feed Course Yl a Y2 b ~3 c Y4 d Y5 e etc. etc.
Fed by Card Sliver Tuft Cl Tl C5 Tl As is clearly illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3, re~ar~-~ess whether the intermediate yarn -feeds Y'l, Y'2, Y'3, etc., are utilized, the fabrics of this invention incorporate sliver fibers in the form o-f knitted s-ti-tches, diagonal seg~
ments D and in-terlaced floats P in all of their courses and wales.
Referring next to Figs. 4, 5a, 5b, 6, there is illustrated schematically a modified open top multi-feed sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine lO' for 13 knitting the loop knit fabric of Fig. 2 The modified knit ting machine lO' is identical to the machine lO i].lust:rated in Fig. 1, except i~ is provided with four feeding stations rather than eight. Two of the four feeding stations are indi.cated at F'l, F'2 i.n Fig. 4. ~eeding station F'l includes the usual wlre-covered rotatable doffer 12 fol feecling staple sliver fibers to the needles N of the machine lO', and the usual yarn tube 14 for feeding a yarn a to the needles.
Feeding station F'2 includes rotatable doffer 13 together with a yarn tube ~not shown).
Disposed intermediate the spaced feeding stations F'l, F'2 is a second yarn tube 15, for feeding a yarn a' to the needles N, and a pair of angularly spaced co~pressed air jets Al', A'l'. The two air jets Al', A'l' are disposed adjacent the needle circle, with their open ends or orfices oriented to direct a stream of compressed air in the direction of the needles. The reciprocable needles N are mounted in the usual needle cylinder 18 (Fig. 6), and alternate with the usual reciprocable sinkers S supported by sinker ring 19.
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Fig. 6 illustrates a needle N which previously had been raised to clear level, and is in the process o:~ receiving a tu~t T of sliver fibers in its hook. ICnitted ~uft T', fecl to the needlc N a~ the preceding feeding s~ation, h~ls cleared the needl~ latch~ Due to the rotation of th~ doffer 12, i-ts wire clothing brushes the free ends o~ the fibers oE the tu:E-t : T :inward relative to the needl.e circle, whereby the tu~t initially is disposed in a more or less U-shaped confuguration about the needle. The sinkers S are in advanced position ; lO relative to the circle of needles N.
Figs. 5a and 5b show the coordination of the needles N and the sinkers S during knitting of fabric lntermediate the anglIlarly spaced dof:~ers 1.2 and 13. As the neecl1.cs N
with the U-shapecI tufts T o:E sliver fibers in their hooks are rotated past yarn tube 14, they start their descent to cast-off level, while the sinkers S are retracted from the needle circle. As the rotating needles descend to cast-ofE level, they talce yarn a in their hooks. With the upwardly-disp.osed tufts of fibers T and the yarn a in their hooks, the needles N reach cast-o~ level, as shown in Fig. 7, and then con~ence l.o rise to clear level, with the newly formed loops o:E sliver fibers and yarn still in their hooks. When the need1.es commence -their ascent -to clear level, the sinkers have been nearly fully advanced inwardly relative to the needle circle, between the needles N, to web holding position.
Air jet .Al' is disposed at a location, relative -to the needle circle, where the needles begin their ascent to clear level. As the needles ascend, a jet of compressed air from the nozzle Al' blows the free ends of the tufts T of fibers outwardly of the needle circle, between the needl.es N, as illustrated in Fig. 8, onto the tops of the sinkers. This action of the air jet Al' ultimately causes the free ends of the tufts of sliver fibers to traverse the sinker wales sl in the knitted fabric, in the form of diagonal segments D and interlaced floats P, as illustrated in ~ig. 2. The jet of compressed air blows not only the tu:Ets o:E :Eibers T under the needle hooks outwardly of the needle circle, but also blows ; outwardly the free ends o:E the tufts T' anchored by the cleared stitches below the needle latches ~Figs. 6, 9) and the tufts anchored by one or more o-E the cast-of-f stitch.es immediately adjacent the needles, depending on the length - of the sliver fibers. Tlle result is to mingle the individual fibers of the several tufts extending outwardly of the needle circle to form an intermingled mass or web of entangled sliver fibers in sheet form.
The open end o:E the nozzle Al' is located to direct a streaTn o.E comprcsscd air generally radially outward o:E the neeclle ci.rcle. I~or op-timum resul.ts, thc open end o.E the nozzle Al' may be disposed to direct the stream of compressed air slightly downward, rather than strictly horizontal, and slightly rearwardly in the direction of the oncoming rotating needles N. In such case, the free ends of the tufts o:E
sliver fibers are blown around the needles to extend slightly diagonally relative to both the si.nkers and the needle latches, and are held by the compressed air to the tops of the sinkers at least unt:il the ascending needles have begun to clear their latches. By directiilg the stream of compressed air slightly downward, the outwardly e~tending free ends of the fibers are retained on the tops of the sinkers as the needles begin to ascend to clear level.
As the needles N rotate past the air jet Al', they continue their ascent to clear level, preparatory to taking yarn a' in their hooks. The sinkers S have advanced :Eully into the needle circle. As the needles ascend, their hooks ~ass through the outwardly extending sheet of fibers, andtheir open and cleared latches engage and retain most of the ~- mingled fibers. The rotating needles N, after clearing, begin to descend to cast-off level once again, taking the yarn a' in their hooks, as illustrated in Fig. 9. As the needles descend to cast-off level, their latches are closed to trap the portion of the outwardly extending fibers retained thereon under the needle hooks. The diagollal disl~ositio o~- the Eibers relative to the ne~dle latches facilitates this entrapment. The portion o-E the mingled free ends of the several tufts trilpped under the nccdle hooks as the needles descend are formed into stitches with the y~lrn a', whcn the necclles reacll cast-or~ level. ~s a rcsuLt, -thc tIa~)pc(l ends oE thc tuEts are incorporated into the fabric, in the form of stitches, in a second course and a second wale of the Eabric, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This stitch formation process brings the trapped fiber ends which had been blown to the outside of the needle circle back to the inside of the fabric sleeve in the form of knitted stitchcs to provide the loop pile effect. As the needles desccnd, -thc:ir closing latches swee~ the sheet oE outwardly extcnding, diagonal:Ly inclined Eibers, including -the stray ; fibers, upwardly en mass into substantially vertical dis-position.
The non-trapped or stray fiber ends are interlaced about the needles, below their latches, by the sinkers. Each time the sin]<ers S are advanced -to web holding position, they engage and push the now generally upstanding sheet or mass of minglcd, diagonally inclined fibers back into the needle circle. The result of this is to inter:Lace the non-trapped stray fibers or "tailings" around the needles. As the :.
sinkers advallce, the forward ends or noses of their nibs strike the generally upstandillo web of mingled fibers and commence pushing the fibers en mass inward relative to the circle of needles. As the sinkers continue to advance, the upper portions of their front profiles, i.e. their noses, the under edges of their nibs and their throats, push the fibers - both those trapped on the needle latches and the non-trapped stlay fibers below the needle latches - around the needles into the needle circle as the neeclles ascend to clear level. Frictional engagement between the sides of the sinker nibs and the contiguous ~ibers also aids in urging the fibers into the needlc circlc.
As thc needles N clesccnd to cas-t-o~E :levcl Eor the second time, the sinkers are retract~d from the needle circle ~or a second time. After the needles N again reach cast-oEf level, they start their second ascent to clear level, and the sinkers S again a~vance inwardly of the needle circle.
The air jet A'l' is disposed at a position, relative - to the needle circle, where the needles begin their next ascent to clear level. Its open end preferably is disposed, relative to the needles, in a manner identical to the disposition of the open end of the nozzle Al'. As the needles ascend, a jet of compressed air Erom the nozzle A'l' blows all of the free ends - both trapped ends and stray ends - of the several tufts of sliver fibers once again around the needles N and diagonally across the tops of the sinkers S outwardly of the needle circle, in ; the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. This action oE the air jet ~'1' ultimately causes the mingled free ends of the tufts to again traverse the sinker wales in the knitted fabric, e.g. sinker wales s2 as illustrated in Fig. ~.
- 2l -..
As the needles N rotate past the air jet A'l', they continue their ascent to ~l~ar level. In the manner previously explained, the bulk oE the diagonal, outwardly extending ~ibers are engayed and retained by the open latches of the ascendin~ needles. Those fibers are trapped within the needle hooks when the latches again close, after the needles have taken fresh sliver fibers and a new yarn in their hooks and descend to cast-off level. The trapped fibers are formed into stitches with the new fibers and yarn, and are incorporated into the fabric in a third course and a third wale, as illustrated in Fig. 2 The non-trapped or stray fibers extending outwardly o~ the needle circle again are pushed by the advancing sinkers back into the needle circle, against the needles, below the needle latches in the manner previously explained, preparatory to being incorporated into the fabric by inter-lacing. When the needles subsequently descend to cast-off level for the third time, the non-trapped fibers are cast over tlle needles alld are incorporated into the fabric in the form of the interlaccd portions or floats P. The com-pressed air from the nozzles Al' and A'l' in cooperation with the inward advances of the sinkers S causes the non-trapped fiber ends to be intertwined about the needles, and hence ultima-tely incorporated into the fabric in the form of the interlocked floats P.
Thus, the non-trapped or stray fibers, referred to herein as "tailings'l, are manipulated between and about - the needles in the manner of an interlacement. Initiallyr the fibers are disposed in generally U-shaped configuration about the needles, with their free ends "
extending inwardly of the needle circle (Figsn 6, 7).Thereupon, their free ends are blown around the needles and outwardly of the needle circle by the air jets (Fig.
8). Subsequently, the outwardly extending free ends of the non-trapped fibers, disposed diagonally relative to the needles as explained above, are urged inwardly to the needle circle by the advancing sinkers, into contact with . the needles. When the needles descend to cast-off level, those fibers are cast over the needles and incorporated . 10 into the fabric as the interlaced floats P. Next, the ~ree ends of the non-trapped fibers a~ain are blown around the needles and outwarcl:Ly of the needle circle by the a:ir jets, fol:Lowing wh.ich they are i.ncorporatecl into the fabric either in the form of knitted stitches or in the form of the interlaced floats P.
With the modified knitting machine 10' illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the needles N.ha~e cleared, and have the bulk .; o.-f the free ends of the tu.fts T disposed diagonally on their open latches, as they rotato to the doErer 13, preparatoly ~' ~ .
~ - 23 -., .
to taking fresh tufts o~ sliver -fibers in their hooks. The stray ends or "tailings'~ are in~erfaced around the shanks o-f the needles below their latches. As the needles rotate past doffer 13, relative to feeding station F'2, they take fresh tufts oE fibers and then a new yarn in their hooks, Eollow-ing which they again descend to cast-off level. At such time, the free ends of the tufts T, trapped in the needle hooks, are incorporated into the fabric together with the fresh tufts of sliver fibers and the new yarn.
1~ The needle and sinker cams necessary for the above described operations of the needles N and sinkers S are a matter of common and general knowledge in the art. The selection of the camming to carry out the needle and sinker knitting manipulations to produce the fabric of Fig. 2 will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.
Any type of conventional latch knitting needles may be employed, although it is preferred that needles having relatively long latches, on the order of .025 to .030 inches
2~ longer in length than normal, be utilized. A needle with a relatively long latch ensures tha-t the latch will properly engage and retain the diagonal, outwardly extending fibers, as the needles ascend to clearing level, preparatory to trapping the fibers under the needle hooks as previously explained.
Various patterning effects may be produced in the ` fabric of Fig. 2 by selectively controlling or manipulating the air jets Al', A'l'. For example, the quantity, pressure or degree of compressed air emitted from the air jets may be - 2~ -selectively controlled, by selectively varying the size of the orifices of the air nozzles or by means of valves V o-f the type illustrated in Fig. 1, to produce various rib, corduroy, loop pile, etc. pattern effects. Variations in air volume and pressure at each air jet or nozzle, or continuous or intermittent air flow, may be controlled selectively by a programmed solenoid valve system. Additionally, the location or positioning of the open ends or orifices of the air jets Al', A'l' may be selectively varied relative to the sinkers, the needles, the cast-off positions of the needles, etc., thereby varying loop size to produce a variety of fabric patterning. The open ends of the air jets are disposed so as to direct the streams of compressed air generally radially outward of the needle circle. However, positioning the open ends of the air jets to clirect thelr air streams slightly downwardly, and slightly rcarwardly in the dircctlon ol the oncoming needles, helps ensure that the bulk o-f the outwardly extending fibers of each tuft T will be blown to one side of the needle on which they are retained, thus ensuring that the bulk of such fibers will traverse the sinker wales in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Selective positioning, control or adjustments of the air jets permit variations in the size of the pile loops of the sliver fibers constituting the tufts T, as the free ends o the tufts are blown outwardly relatlve to the needle circle during knitting.
In the practice of this invention, a suction hood (not shown) is disposed ~ithin the needle circle, to control fly loss of sliver fibers during the knitting. In the practice ~ of this invention, for the purpose of controlling fly loss, ; 30 and to improve the quality of the sliver loop knit fabrics made possible by the in~cntion, the suction hood may be pro-vided with radial extensions for overlying at least a portion of the cards delivering sliver fibers to the needles, Pre ferably, such radial extensions of the hood e~tend suffi-ciently far in the direction of the cards to cover or shield completely the doffers of each card.
Figs. lOa and lOb are views similar to Figs. 5a and Sb, illustrating the arrangement for knitting the loop knit fabric of Fig. 3. In the arrangement of Figs. lOa, lOb, the second yarn tube 15 and the second air jet A'l' - are eliminated. In the arcuate space between the feeding ~) stations F'l and F'2, there is disposed a single yarn tube 14, feeding a yarn a to the needles ~, and a single air jet ~l'. In Fig lOa, jet Al' is spaced somewhat further, in the direction of needle rotation, from the location on the needle circle where the needles descend to cast-off level i than in Fi.g. Sa. ~s will be understood by those skilled in the art, the elimination of the inter~ediate yarn tubes and yarns, such as ~arn tube 15 and yarn a', from the knittlng arrangement shown in Figs. lOa, lOb, eliminates the alternate yarn courses a', b', c', etc., from the fabric of Fig. 3.
The number of different courses and wales in which the staple fibers constitutin~ the tufts T are incorporated in a sliver loop knit fabric of this invention may depend on the length of the discrete fibers forming the slivers.
The greater the staple length of the sliver fibers, the i greater the number of fabric courses and wales into which the fibers can be incorporated. For example, if relatively short sliver fibers are utilized for the Icnitting of the fabric of Fig. 3, the fibers constituting the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 may be incorporated only in two courses and two ~ales of the fabric. If relatively long sliver fiber is utili~ed, the free ends of the tufts may be incorporated into three, four or more different courses and wales of the fabric.
As the needles rotate relative to the sliver and yarn feeding stations, passing successive air jets, the free ends of the tufts are repeatedly blown outwardly of the needle circle, until such free ends have been fully incorporated by knitting and interlacing into the fabric. The advance of the sinkers into the needle circle, each time the needles ascend from succeedi.ng cast-off locations spaced around the needle circl~, will continue to interlace the free ends of any stray-fibers o~ ~he tufts about the needles, until all such fi~ers have been fully incorporated into the fabric. As will be understood, the selection of the ].englh of sliver fibers ' utilized i.s a matter of c'holce, to 'be chosen according to the particular fabric pattern effect deslred. Preferably, the bulk of the free ends of the sliver fibers are incorporated into the fabrlc in the orm of knitted stit'ches, rather than by interlaclng. The ratlo quantlty of fibers knit into the fabric, in comparison to those interlaced therein, is determined - by the length of the latches of the needles N. The longer the latches, and the closer they extend, when open, to the tops of the sinkers, as illustrai.ed in Fig 9, the greater will be the quantity of Eibers retained by the open latches and trapped withln the needle hooks, when the latches close, preparatory to forming the fibers into knitted stitches in -the fabric.
Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, as required by Title 35 U.S.C. 112, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and utility of the invention, or the scope thereof as set forth in the appended cla:ims.
Various patterning effects may be produced in the ` fabric of Fig. 2 by selectively controlling or manipulating the air jets Al', A'l'. For example, the quantity, pressure or degree of compressed air emitted from the air jets may be - 2~ -selectively controlled, by selectively varying the size of the orifices of the air nozzles or by means of valves V o-f the type illustrated in Fig. 1, to produce various rib, corduroy, loop pile, etc. pattern effects. Variations in air volume and pressure at each air jet or nozzle, or continuous or intermittent air flow, may be controlled selectively by a programmed solenoid valve system. Additionally, the location or positioning of the open ends or orifices of the air jets Al', A'l' may be selectively varied relative to the sinkers, the needles, the cast-off positions of the needles, etc., thereby varying loop size to produce a variety of fabric patterning. The open ends of the air jets are disposed so as to direct the streams of compressed air generally radially outward of the needle circle. However, positioning the open ends of the air jets to clirect thelr air streams slightly downwardly, and slightly rcarwardly in the dircctlon ol the oncoming needles, helps ensure that the bulk o-f the outwardly extending fibers of each tuft T will be blown to one side of the needle on which they are retained, thus ensuring that the bulk of such fibers will traverse the sinker wales in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Selective positioning, control or adjustments of the air jets permit variations in the size of the pile loops of the sliver fibers constituting the tufts T, as the free ends o the tufts are blown outwardly relatlve to the needle circle during knitting.
In the practice of this invention, a suction hood (not shown) is disposed ~ithin the needle circle, to control fly loss of sliver fibers during the knitting. In the practice ~ of this invention, for the purpose of controlling fly loss, ; 30 and to improve the quality of the sliver loop knit fabrics made possible by the in~cntion, the suction hood may be pro-vided with radial extensions for overlying at least a portion of the cards delivering sliver fibers to the needles, Pre ferably, such radial extensions of the hood e~tend suffi-ciently far in the direction of the cards to cover or shield completely the doffers of each card.
Figs. lOa and lOb are views similar to Figs. 5a and Sb, illustrating the arrangement for knitting the loop knit fabric of Fig. 3. In the arrangement of Figs. lOa, lOb, the second yarn tube 15 and the second air jet A'l' - are eliminated. In the arcuate space between the feeding ~) stations F'l and F'2, there is disposed a single yarn tube 14, feeding a yarn a to the needles ~, and a single air jet ~l'. In Fig lOa, jet Al' is spaced somewhat further, in the direction of needle rotation, from the location on the needle circle where the needles descend to cast-off level i than in Fi.g. Sa. ~s will be understood by those skilled in the art, the elimination of the inter~ediate yarn tubes and yarns, such as ~arn tube 15 and yarn a', from the knittlng arrangement shown in Figs. lOa, lOb, eliminates the alternate yarn courses a', b', c', etc., from the fabric of Fig. 3.
The number of different courses and wales in which the staple fibers constitutin~ the tufts T are incorporated in a sliver loop knit fabric of this invention may depend on the length of the discrete fibers forming the slivers.
The greater the staple length of the sliver fibers, the i greater the number of fabric courses and wales into which the fibers can be incorporated. For example, if relatively short sliver fibers are utilized for the Icnitting of the fabric of Fig. 3, the fibers constituting the tufts Tl, T2, T3, T4 may be incorporated only in two courses and two ~ales of the fabric. If relatively long sliver fiber is utili~ed, the free ends of the tufts may be incorporated into three, four or more different courses and wales of the fabric.
As the needles rotate relative to the sliver and yarn feeding stations, passing successive air jets, the free ends of the tufts are repeatedly blown outwardly of the needle circle, until such free ends have been fully incorporated by knitting and interlacing into the fabric. The advance of the sinkers into the needle circle, each time the needles ascend from succeedi.ng cast-off locations spaced around the needle circl~, will continue to interlace the free ends of any stray-fibers o~ ~he tufts about the needles, until all such fi~ers have been fully incorporated into the fabric. As will be understood, the selection of the ].englh of sliver fibers ' utilized i.s a matter of c'holce, to 'be chosen according to the particular fabric pattern effect deslred. Preferably, the bulk of the free ends of the sliver fibers are incorporated into the fabrlc in the orm of knitted stit'ches, rather than by interlaclng. The ratlo quantlty of fibers knit into the fabric, in comparison to those interlaced therein, is determined - by the length of the latches of the needles N. The longer the latches, and the closer they extend, when open, to the tops of the sinkers, as illustrai.ed in Fig 9, the greater will be the quantity of Eibers retained by the open latches and trapped withln the needle hooks, when the latches close, preparatory to forming the fibers into knitted stitches in -the fabric.
Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, as required by Title 35 U.S.C. 112, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and utility of the invention, or the scope thereof as set forth in the appended cla:ims.
Claims (21)
1. In a high pile fabric knitting machine having a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations and a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers for forming sliver fibers and yarn into knitted fabric having course-wise and wale-wise extending stitches, the improvement comprising fiber manipulating means for incorporating each of plural tufts of sliver fibers into plural courses and plural wales during knitting, whereby said sliver fibers extend both course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric to provide a sliver loop knit fabric, said fiber manipulating means comprising:
(a) the needles, (b) sinkers adapted to be advanced relative to the needle circle to push sliver fibers inwardly of the needle circle and (c) pneumatic means for directing compressed air in the direction of the needles to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers, (d) said pneumatic means being stationary relative to the needles and comprising at least one air jet disposed intermediate adjacent sliver and yarn feeding stations, each said air jet being located internally of and adjacent to the needle circle at a location proximate to and trailing a position on the needle circle where the needles reach cast-off level, (e) each said air jet being disposed to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward at an angle relative to the needle circle.
(a) the needles, (b) sinkers adapted to be advanced relative to the needle circle to push sliver fibers inwardly of the needle circle and (c) pneumatic means for directing compressed air in the direction of the needles to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers, (d) said pneumatic means being stationary relative to the needles and comprising at least one air jet disposed intermediate adjacent sliver and yarn feeding stations, each said air jet being located internally of and adjacent to the needle circle at a location proximate to and trailing a position on the needle circle where the needles reach cast-off level, (e) each said air jet being disposed to blow the sliver fibers diagonally outward at an angle relative to the needle circle.
2. The machine of Claim 1, wherein at least two air jets are disposed intermediate adjacent sliver and yarn feeding stations.
3. The machine of Claim 1, wherein at least two air jets are disposed between succeeding sliver and yarn feeding stations, each air jet being disposed adjacent the needle circle at a position proximate to and trailing a location where the needles reach cast-off level.
4. The machine of Claim 1, further including control means for the air jets to direct selectively, as desired, streams of compressed air in the direction of the needles.
5. The machine of Claim 1, further including patterning means operative to incorporate the sliver fibers into the fabric in accordance with a predetermined pattern, said patterning means comprising control means for the air jets to direct selectively streams of compressed air in the direction of the needles during knitting.
6. The machine of Claim 1, wherein the sinkers are reciprocable and are operable to push stray sliver fibers inwardly of the needle circle preparatory to interlacing said stray sliver fibers into the fabric in the form of floats.
7. A method of making sliver loop knit fabric on a knitting machine having a circle of alternating latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers, comprising the steps:
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from stitches on and immediately adjacent to the needles, (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts outwardly of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level, said free ends being blown diagonally outward at an angle relative to the needle circle sufficient to cause the outwardly extending free ends to traverse at least the sinker next succeeding each needle, and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from stitches on and immediately adjacent to the needles, (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts outwardly of the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level, said free ends being blown diagonally outward at an angle relative to the needle circle sufficient to cause the outwardly extending free ends to traverse at least the sinker next succeeding each needle, and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
8. A method of making sliver loop knit fabric on a knitting machine having a circle of latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers, comprising the steps:
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from stitches on and immediately adjacent to the needles, (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles and sinkers to form the yarn and sliver fibers into a base fabric having knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from stitches on and immediately adjacent to the needles, (c) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (d) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
9. A method of making sliver loop knit fabric on a knitting machine having a circle of latch needles and sinkers and a plurality of sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced about the circle of needles and sinkers, comprising the steps:
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles to cause the needles of descend to cast-off level to form the yarn and sliver fibers into knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from said stitches, (c) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast off level to clear-ing level with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, ] (d) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly in the same direction relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of com-pressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (e) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
(a) feeding sliver fibers and yarn to the needles, (b) manipulating the needles to cause the needles of descend to cast-off level to form the yarn and sliver fibers into knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending from said stitches, (c) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast off level to clear-ing level with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, ] (d) blowing the free ends of the tufts diagonally outwardly in the same direction relative to the needle circle and downwardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of com-pressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level and (e) incorporating the outwardly extending free ends of each of the tufts into plural courses and plural wales of the fabric by knitting and interlacing, whereby the sliver fibers extend diagonally course-wise and wale-wise of the fabric.
10. The method of Claim 9, further including the steps of:
(a) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers constituting the free ends of the tufts as the needles ascend from cast-off level and (b) retaining said fibers on the needle latches as the needles ascend to clearing level.
(a) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers constituting the free ends of the tufts as the needles ascend from cast-off level and (b) retaining said fibers on the needle latches as the needles ascend to clearing level.
11. The method of Claim 10, further including the steps of:
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles.
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles.
12. The method of Claim 11, further including the steps of:
(a) feeding a second yarn to the needles as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (b) forming the second yarn and the trapped fibers into knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (c) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time, with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (d) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, once again engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the outwardly extending fibers and (e) retaining said fibers on the needle latches as the needles ascend to clearing level the second time.
(a) feeding a second yarn to the needles as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (b) forming the second yarn and the trapped fibers into knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers, said tufts having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (c) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time, with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (d) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, once again engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the outwardly extending fibers and (e) retaining said fibers on the needle latches as the needles ascend to clearing level the second time.
13. The method of Claim 12, further including the step of blowing the free ends of said tufts diagonally outward in the same direction relative to the needle circle and down-wardly onto the tops of the sinkers by jets of compressed air after the needles have begun to ascend from cast-off level the second time.
14. The method of Claim 10, wherein, as the needles ascend from cast-off level to clearing level, the portion of the outwardly extending fibers not retained on the needle latches are advanced to the needles preparatory to interlacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats.
15. The method of Claim 14, further including the step of advancing the sinkers relative to the needle circle to push the non-retained fibers inwardly to the needle circle as the needles ascend from cast-off level.
16. The method of Claim 14, further including the steps of:
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time, (b) feeding a second yarn to the needles ] as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (c) trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (d) forming the second yarn and the trapped fibers into knitted stitches and inter-lacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, said knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (e) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (f) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, (i) directing a jet of compressed air towards the needles to blow the ends of the fibers on the needles downward and diagonally outward in the same direction relative to the needle circle, (ii) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers, (iii) retaining said fibers on the needle latches and (iv) advancing to the needles the portion of the outwardly extending fibers not retained on the needle latches pre-paratory to interlacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, (g) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a third time and, (h) as the needles descend from clearing level the third time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles preparatory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time, (b) feeding a second yarn to the needles ] as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (c) trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, (d) forming the second yarn and the trapped fibers into knitted stitches and inter-lacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, said knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (e) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (f) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, (i) directing a jet of compressed air towards the needles to blow the ends of the fibers on the needles downward and diagonally outward in the same direction relative to the needle circle, (ii) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers, (iii) retaining said fibers on the needle latches and (iv) advancing to the needles the portion of the outwardly extending fibers not retained on the needle latches pre-paratory to interlacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, (g) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a third time and, (h) as the needles descend from clearing level the third time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles preparatory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
17. The method of Claim 16, further including the steps of:
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a third yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level a second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the third time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the third yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches and interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats.
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a third yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level a second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the third time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the third yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches and interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats.
18. The method of Claim 14, further including the steps of:
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles, (c) forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches and interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, said knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (d) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (e) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, (i) directing a jet of compressed air towards the needles to blow the ends of the fibers on the needles downwardly and diagonally outward in the same direction relative to the needle circle, (ii) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers, (iii) retaining said fibers on the needle latches and (iv) advancing to the needles the portion of the outwardly extending fibers not retained on the needle latches preparatory to inter-lacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of float, (f) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a third time and, (g) as the needles descend from clearing level the third time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles pre-paratory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
(a) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a second time, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles, (c) forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches and interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats, said knitted stitches incorporating tufts of sliver fibers having free ends extending outwardly from said stitches, (d) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to ascend from cast-off level to clearing level a second time with incidental opening and clearing of their latches, (e) as the needles ascend from cast-off level the second time, (i) directing a jet of compressed air towards the needles to blow the ends of the fibers on the needles downwardly and diagonally outward in the same direction relative to the needle circle, (ii) engaging the open and cleared needle latches with a portion of the out-wardly extending fibers, (iii) retaining said fibers on the needle latches and (iv) advancing to the needles the portion of the outwardly extending fibers not retained on the needle latches preparatory to inter-lacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of float, (f) manipulating the needles to cause the needles to descend from clearing level to cast-off level a third time and, (g) as the needles descend from clearing level the third time, trapping the fibers retained on the needle latches under the hooks of the needles pre-paratory to forming the trapped fibers into knitted stitches.
19. The method of claim 18, further including the steps of:
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a second yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level the first time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the second yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches while interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric.
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a second yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level the first time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the second time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the second yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches while interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric.
20. The method of Claim 19 further including the steps of:
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a third yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level the second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the third time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the third yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches while interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric.
(a) feeding fresh sliver fibers and a third yarn to the needles after the needles have ascended to clearing level the second time and, (b) as the needles descend to cast-off level the third time, forming the fresh sliver fibers, the third yarn and said trapped fibers into knitted stitches while interlacing the non-retained fibers into the fabric.
21. The method of either Claim 16 or 18, further including the setp of advancing the sinkers relative to the needle circle to push the non-retained fibers inwardly to the needle circle each time the needles ascend from cast-off level to clearing level preparatory to interlacing said non-retained fibers into the fabric in the form of floats.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA368,251A CA1108883A (en) | 1977-04-19 | 1981-01-09 | Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabric |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US78873377A | 1977-04-19 | 1977-04-19 | |
| US788,733 | 1977-04-19 | ||
| CA300,566A CA1097092A (en) | 1977-04-19 | 1978-04-06 | Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabric, and the resulting product |
| CA368,251A CA1108883A (en) | 1977-04-19 | 1981-01-09 | Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabric |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1108883A true CA1108883A (en) | 1981-09-15 |
Family
ID=27165603
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA368,251A Expired CA1108883A (en) | 1977-04-19 | 1981-01-09 | Method and apparatus for knitting sliver loop knit fabric |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1108883A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5431029A (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1995-07-11 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming reverse loop sliver knit fabric |
| US5546768A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1996-08-20 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Circular sliver knitting machine having a manifold for controlling multidirectional airflow |
| US5577402A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1996-11-26 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Positioning gauges for a circular sliver knitting machine |
| US5685176A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1997-11-11 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Circular sliver knitting machine |
-
1981
- 1981-01-09 CA CA368,251A patent/CA1108883A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5431029A (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1995-07-11 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming reverse loop sliver knit fabric |
| US5460016A (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1995-10-24 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming reverse loop sliver knit fabric |
| US5497531A (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1996-03-12 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Manifold for use with a circular sliver knitting machine |
| US5546768A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1996-08-20 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Circular sliver knitting machine having a manifold for controlling multidirectional airflow |
| US5577402A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1996-11-26 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Positioning gauges for a circular sliver knitting machine |
| US5685176A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1997-11-11 | Mayer Industries, Inc. | Circular sliver knitting machine |
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