US3016725A - Yarn clamping tensioning and severing mechanism for circular knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

1962 J. A. c. KIMREY ET AL 3,0 6,725

YARN CLAMPING TENSIONING AND SEVERING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNV TORS JEN/5 ,46. I/WZEY.

' finale/YEW 1962 J. A. c. KIMREY ET AL 3,016,725

YARN CLAMPING TENSIONING AND SEVERING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR: V J iMfs .C- KIM/Q67.

Y Euqs/vs f/m/KLE The present invention relates to circular knitting machines for producing half-hose and relates more particularly to automatic yarn clamping, tensioning and severing attachments for circular knitting machines capable of knitting solid color patterns and solid color overplaid patterns of the argyle type which machines may employ multiple yarn feeding stations each having a. plurality of yarn feed fingers.

Solid color pattern circular knitting machines as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,217,022, generally known in the industry as Banner Multi-Feed Solid Color Patterning Machines or SCP and SCOP, employ two diametricah ly opposed yarn feeding stations each of which has a number of yarn feed fingers for supplying yarns of various colors to the knitting instrumentalitics during reciprocatory knitting to form solid color pattern areas in which adjacent areas of solid color are interconnected during knitting as shown in the aforesaid patent. The yarns of the various pattern areas are continuous throughout the sock as distinguishable from the knitting of float pattern areas on half-hose in which the float yarns are severed periodically by means of a scissors-type cutter normally mounted on a dial cap or pad within the needle circle above the needle cylinder. Individual yarns extending from the feed fingers on machines for which this inven tion is employed must be retained throughout the knitting cycle of each stocking and upon entering into rotary knitting in the foot portion of the stocking, the continuous yarns extending from the pattern areas form a twisted cord-like extension that must be severed, as in string knitting. Frequently the yarns forming the cord may become entangled or pulled thereby producing faulty knitting resulting in defective stockings. In addition, the yarn loss resulting from the interconnection by the plurality of yarns extending between successive stockings which must ultimately be severed and discarded, is very significant.

Therefore, this invention contemplates the provision of a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing attachment for use in combination with solid color pattern circular knitting machines for automatically releasably engaging and severing the yarn extending from the yarn feed fingers upon completion of pattern areas or at any preselected interval in the knitting cycle.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a circular knitting machine with a yarn controlling and tensioning means for releasably guiding and retaining individual yarns during knitting of a stocking and for applying tension to the yarns for a predetermined period in the knitting cycle.

Still another objective of this invention is the provision of an automatic yarn clamping, retaining and severing means for applying tension toindividual yarns between the yarn feeding means and the yarn severing means thereby providing control over the yarns during knitting and prior to and during severance thereof.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of an automatically operated yarn positioning and severing means positioned within the needle circle for directing and controlling the yarns extending from the yarn feed fingers to sever individual yarns presented in the path of the yarn severing means.

the i aret Another objective of the present invention is to accumulate individually a predetermined plurality of yarns leading from the yarn feed fingers to a position out of communication with the knitting instrumentalities, clamping the predetermined individual yarns and introducing them into the path of travel of a yarn cutting member which will automatically sever the yarns at a predetermined position in the knitting cycle.

Still a further objective of this invention is to provide a method of controlling individual yarns and severing yarns automatically on a circular knitting machine.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this novel yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means and method will become more readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with sections removed, of the automatic yarn clamping, severing and tensioning attachment mounted in position and illustrating the yarn feed fingers, needle cylinder and knitting instrumentalities within the latch or carrier ring;

FIG. 2 is a diametrical partial transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the yarns in a clamped position prior to severance thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the yarn clamping, tensioning and severing attachment illustrated in FIG. 1 shown in the inoperative and operative positions of the yarn clamping and tensioning means;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a single yarn clamping and tensioning means in the elevated position;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the actuating means for the yarn clamping and tensioning device and the yarn severing means; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 6 illustrating the actuating drum for actuating the yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means.

The attachment and method of the present invention will be described in the environment of a Banner Multi- Feed Solid Color Pattern Circular Knitting Machine as more fully detailed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,217,022 which machine includes a needle cylinder with independently movable knitting needles retained therein and sinkers for cooperative relation with the needles, and diametrically opposed or circumferentially spaced apart yarn feed stations each of which has a number of independently actuatable yarn feed fingers movable selectively in response to a predetermined pattern between inactive and active yarn feed positions for feeding yarns from a yarn supply to the knitting instrumentalities. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated one preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of an attachment mounted within the circle of needles 10 each of which is vertically slidable independently within slots of the needle cylinder ill selectively responsive to cams that are positioned around the needle cylinder. A conventional latch ring 12 is pivotally mounted on the machine frame to swing upwardly and within which diametrically opposed yarn feeding stations 13 and 14 are located with each station having a plurality of individually actuatable yarn feed fingers 15 and 16 each of which is pivotally supported on the latch ring. The yarn feed fingers guidably lead the colored yarns 17 and 18 to the knitting needles in the lowered or active yarn feed finger position.

In the knitting of solid color patterns preselected individual colored yarns are fed during reciprocatory knitting to the needles with the yarn feed fingers and 16 being individually actuated in accordance with a particular prearranged design transferred to a pattern drum (not shown) from which feed finger selector levers (not shown) respond to the pattern to manipulate the feed fingers.

:During the knitting cycle, particularly in the solid color pattern areas, frequently as many as four or more different colored individual yarns may be employed to form the solid color argyle pattern. Each of the yarns is continuous from the commencement of the knitting of the stocking to the termination of the pattern areas and throughout the knitting of the foot portion whether or not the pattern of the leg portion is also formed in the boot of the stocking or the pattern area is terminated at the heel gore line. In either event, after termination of the solid color pattern areas, the knitting machine will cease the reciprocatory motion required for knitting the solid color pattern areas and return to circular knitting, usually employing a single yarn from only one feed finger which will remain in the active lowered knitting position to feed the single yarnto the needles throughout the single solid color foot portion with the remaining yarn feed fingers being elevated to the inactive position. In the inactive feed finger position, yarns will be drawn through the yarn feed fingers as the yarns are continuously -being fed during circular or rotary knitting, with the multiple yarns extending from the inactive feed fingers becoming-plied or twisted to form a cord or rope out of the knitting field. This cord or rope conventionally extends through the stocking and is manually severed only after the succeeding stocking is being knit with the under rope constituting waste. Generally this plied yarn cord or rope varies from 12 to 24 inches in length and includes between 4 to 12'or more yarns depending upon the pattern being knit. Waste yarn elimination, trouble-free yarn guidance and yarn control are some of the primary objectives which have been accomplished by this invention.

The-yarn clamping, tensioning and severing attachment of this invention is mounted on an arm 24 that is cantilever mounted on the latch ring 12 and extends diametrically across and above the needle cylinder to support the cable-retaining bracket 21 that is securely fastened thereto by the screws 22. Cable-retaining sleeves 19 are supported on the bracket 21. A combined U-shaped yarn deflector 23 and stationary yarn severing blade 33 is fastened, as by-welding or suitable means, to the bottom side of the arm -20. The U-shaped yarn deflector 23 is positioned-within the needle circle to rotatably and bearingly support, with the arm 20, the yarn-severing blade supporting shaft 24-that is mounted in coaxial relation with the needle cylinder. A yarn severing blade is keyed on the lower terminal end of the shaft 24 to coopera-te vit'h the stationary blade for severing yarns presentedtheretoupon rotation of the shaft 24. Constant downward force is applied to the blade 25 by means of the shaft encircling compression spring 26 urging the blade 25 into yarn cutting engagement with the stationary blade 33. The lower end of spring 26 engages the upper surface of the rotatable blade 25 and the upper end of the spring 26 is shouldered against the shaft-encircling collar .27. A torsional helical spring 23 encircles the shaft'24above the arm 24) with one of the spring ends being secured to the arm and the other end 29 being secured to the shaft-secured collar 30. Vertically mounted above the collar 30 is a shaft rotating cable-receiving pulley 31-for receiving the shaft-actuating wire or cable 3.2 that is wrapped around and secured to the pulley perriphery. Actuation of the shaft 24 for rotation of the :yarn severing'blade 25 will be described hereafter.

To control the disposition of the individual yarns from the yarn feed fingers in the inactive position, a pair of yarn clamping and tensioning members 34 and 35 is provided each of which extends laterally from the arm 2%, only one of which members will be described in detail as each is substantially similar in construction, except one pivots clockwise and the other counterclockwise. As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5, spaced apart apart rod-receiving lugs 36 and 37 are retained in the arm 26 by suitable means with the exposed heads being drilled to rotatably receive the rod 38 therethrough. An arcuate quadrant member 39 having a quarter-round ca le-receiving periphery 40, keyed to rotate with they rod, and a torsional helical spring 41 are mounted on the rod extension 42. Spring 41, having one end 43 thereof restrained against the arm 2% and the other end affixed in a suitable manner to the member 39, biases or urges the rod 38 to pivot counterclockwise, in FIG. 5, to present clamped yarns to be severed to the yarn-severing blades as will become more evident hereafter.

A pair of spaced apart cleats 4-4 and 45 is keyed to the rod 33 to pivotally support the helical tension spring supporting pins 46 and 4'7 at one end thereof. The distal ends of the pins are drilled to receive the ends 48 and 49 of the yarn clamping helical tension spring 50 that reaches between the pins for engagement within the drilled openings '51 thereof.

Arcuate cam plates 52 are supported on the arm 26 by means of brackets 53 with the edge cumming surfaces 54 of each plate 52. designed to converge gradually downwardly thereby permitting the expanded tension spring 59, shown in FIG. 5, to collapse or contract to the closed condition shown in FIG. 3. The yarn clamping pins 46 and 47 will engage with the edge carnrning surfaces 54 with which they are in constant communication to control the expansion and contraction of the yarn clamping spring 5%. Upon relaxation or extension of the yarn clamping cable 56 that is affixed to the periphery 40 of the quadrant member 39, the spring 4-1 will urge the rod 33 to'pivot counterclockwise as illustrated in FIG. 5. Obviously the other yarn clamping member will pivot clockwise as shown in outline form in FIG. 4-.

In FIGS. 1 and 5, the yarn clamping springs 50 being in the inoperative or horizontal position will be urged to expand since the pins 46 and 47 communicate with the broadest cam section of the cam plate 52. However, upon relaxation or extension ofthe yarn clamping cable, 56, the yarn clamping rod 38 will be urged to rotate and the spring 50 will be lowered thereby permitting the yarnreceiving gaps 57 to progressively close between the helices of the helical spring 5% since the pins 46 and 47 communicate with the narrowing or converging cam plate edges 54. The tension spring St) will reach the closed or final relaxed condition in the vertical position as shown in FIG. 3, to clamp the yarns introduced into the yarn receiving gaps 57. In the closed or relaxed position, the individual yarns will be clamped in spaced relation to each other between the helical convolutions of the spring member 50. In this final position, preparatory for yarn severance, as shown in FIG. 3, the individual yarns have been moved along a directed path of travel and are releasably retained between the helical convolutions of the spring for presentation into the path or arc of travel of the yarn severing blade 25 which with the stationary blade 33 will cut the clamped yarns upon rotation of the shaft 24.

The main drum 6% of the knitting machine, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 6 and 7, is constantly rotated in timed sequence to the fabric being knit. An auxiliary or extra drum 61 is provided on the main drum shaft 62 and adjustably bolted thereto through the arcuate slots 63 to control and actuate the yarn severing blade shaft cable 32. Each yarn clamping cable 56 is fastened to one of the quadrant members 39 and is guidably supported by the cable clamping members 19 on the bracket 21. The cables 56 reach to be connected to the cableactuating lever 63 that is pivotally mounted on the shaft 64 with one end 65 thereof communicating with the main drum cammed periphery. The recessed portion 66 of the main drum will permit the drum engaging end of the cable actuating lever 63 to pivot toward the drum thereby extending the cables 56 permitting the spring 41 to pivot the yarn clamping members downwardly, from the horizontal position to the vertical position shown in FiG. 4, closing the yarn clamping spring 56 for a major portion of the knitting cycle during counterclockwise rotation of the main drum 6%. Upon contacting the raised cam surface 67 on the drum, the lever 63 will be pivoted clockwise thereby shortening the length of cables 56 thereby elevating the yarn clamping member to expand the spring 50 preparatory to receiving the individual yarns extending from the inactive yarn feed fingers.

The shaft actuating lever 67 to which the yarn severing blade shaft cable 32 is attached is also pivotally mounted on the rod 64 with the drum-engaging end 6% thereof contacting periphery of the auxiliary drum 61. In the position of the lever 67 illustrated in FIG. 6, the shaft 24 is rotated against the torsional spring 28 when the lever end engages the outer drum periphery. When the lever end r38 enters the recess '69 of the drum 61, the springbiased shaft 24 will be released as the cable 32 is lengthened causing the blades 25' to revolve with the shaft at the time the clamped yarns are in the lowered position in the path of travel of the yarn severing blades 2e and 33 for severance as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The yarn clamp actuating lever 63 and the shaft actuating lever 67 will be urged to maintain constant engagement with the drum periphery by suitable means such as the spring 7% connected at one end thereof to a lever and the other end being affixed to the machine frame.

Operation F or a better understanding of the invention the operation of the attachment will be described commencing with the termination of the knitting of the solid color pattern areas of a stocking in which the yarns being knit extend from active yarn feed fingers. At this stage in the knitting, all the yarns have been withdrawn from the yarn clamping springs 5% which are in the lowered position as the end 65 of lever 63 engages the recessed drum periphcry. Several courses before leaving the pattern areas, the end 65 of lever 63 will engage the raised cam surface 67 shortening or pulling the cables 56 to elevate the yarn clamping members, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Knitting of the pattern areas continues with the yarn clamping members elevated. Upon completion of the pattern areas, selected yarn feed fingers become inactive removing the yarns from knitting, leaving at least one feed finger, shown in outline form in FIG. 4, in action to knit the foot or toe portion during rotary knitting. Before rotary knitting commences, the end 65 of lever 63 passes over the cam surface 67 thereby permitting spring 41 to lower the yarn clamping members after collecting the individual inactive yarns in the gaps 57 in the spring fit The springs 50 bind or clamp the inactive yarns securely intermediate the path of travel to present them to the yarn severing blades.

After the releasably clamped inactive yarns are presented to the yarn severing blades as a group, as shown in outline form in FIG. 4, rotary knitting commences. It will be noted that the inactive yarns have not been severed during reciprocatory knitting. it has been found that after approximately knitting four courses in circular knitting, the inactive yarn become twisted to form a short rope or cord gathering or converging the yarns toward the yarn severing blades. At this stage, the end 68 of the lever 67 enters the drum recess 69 releasing the cable 32 thereby causing the spring-biased 2 5 to revolve the blade 25, which will cooperate with blade 33 to cut the inactive yarns.

Rotary knitting will continue as one yarn feed finger remains active as shown in outline form at 71 in FIG. 4, with the inactive yarns being retained by the clamping members. As the next succeeding stocking is being knit, the heretofore inactive yarns employed for knitting the solid color pattern areas will be activated. When each inactive yarn feed finger becomes active the corresponding yarn for that feed finger will be removed individually from clamped relation to the other clamped yarns without interference until all the clamped yarns have been removed from the clamping members and the cycle will be repeated. It will be apparent that the lever 67 will rotate the shaft 24 after the end 68 passes out of the recess 69.

It will be readily apparent that the particular spacing of the cams on the drums may vary considerably depending upon the particular fabric pattern being knit and the desired position for severing the inactive yarns.

Obviously many modifications and variations may be made to the yarn clamping members for retaining the individual yarns and for controlling them as well as changes may be made to the yarn severing means without departing from the true spirit of this inventive concept in which various mechanical equivalents are contemplated since only one preferred embodiment has been disclosed. These variations and modifications are contemplated and come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a pair of spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising an arm supportingly extended transversely above the cylinder, a depending substantially U-shaped member mounted from the arm for deflecting yarns and having a base forming a stationary blade member, a springbiased shaft rotatably supported on the arm and U- shaped member coaxial with the cylinder, a yarn clamping means for each yarn feeding station, means on the yarn clamping means for receiving individual spaced apart yarns for the inactive position of the yarn feed fingers, means for actuating the clamping means to the closed position to clamp the individual inactive yarns exerting tension thereon and displacing the yarns to be severed to the yarn severing means in a directed path of travel proximate the stationary blade member, a yarn severing blade mounted on the shaft for cooperatively engaging the stationary blade to sever the inactive yarns proximate thereto upon rotation of the shaft, and means for actuating the spring-biased shaft in the knitting cycle.

2. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder within independent needles and diametrically spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions to place yarns extending therefrom into and out of feeding position for the needles, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising a yarn clamping means for each yarn feeding station supported within the needle circle for pivotal movement between a horizontal inactive position to a vertical active clamping position, said clamping means including means for engaging individual yarns extending from the feed fingers in the inactive feed finger position for clamping and releasably engagement, means for pivotally displacing the clamping means for a horizontal to a vertical position to releasably clamp the yarns and exert a tension there on, a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon a yarn severing blade supported Within a needle circle coaxial with the cylinder and said blade being in juxtaposition to the clamped yarns, and means for revolving said shaft to cause the yarns to be severed by the blade.

3. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a pair of spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising an arm extending transversely over the needle circle and above the cylinder, a stationary blade suspended from the arm within the needle circle, a shaft rotatably mounted on the arm coaxially with the cylinder, said shaft having a yarn severing blade supported thereon for cooperation with said stationary blade, means for rotating said shaft, a yarn clamping means extending from said arm for receiving and releasably clamp ing individual yarns extending from the yarn feed fingers, and means for displacing said clamping means to present clamped yarns to the yarn severing blade and stationary blade.

4. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a pair of spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising a shaft rotatably supported coaxially with said cylinder within the needle circle, said shaft having a yarn severing blade mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft responsive to cam actuation, yarn clamping means positioned within the needle circle beneath the yarn feeding stations to receive yarns extending from the inactive yarn feed fingers, and means for actuating said yarn clamping means to clamp the yarns received in the yarn clamping means and displace the yarns from out of into the path of the yarn severing blade.

5. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a pair of spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising a. shaft rotatably supported coaxially with said cylinder within the needle circle, said shaft having a yarn severing blade mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft, yarn clamping means Within the needle circle to releasably receive yarns extending from the yarn feed fingers in the inactive position thereof, and means for clamping the yarns and displacing them in a directed path of travel to the yarn severing blade for severance by said blade.

6. In combination With a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted Within the needle circle comprising a shaft rotatably supported Within and coaxial with the needle cylinder, said shaft having a yarn severing blade mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft, yarn clamping means supported Within the needle circle for receiving the individual yarns extending from the yarn feed fingers and maintaining them in spaced apart relation to each other, means for displacing the yarn clam-ping means to present clamped yarns in the path of travel of the yarn severing blade.

7. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and independent needles mounted therein and a pair of diametrically opposed yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing attachment mounted Within the needle circle, an axially supported rotatable shaft supported Within the needle circle, having mounted thereon a yarn severing blade, a stationary blade mounted in juxtaposition to the shaft mounted yarn severing blade, a pair of yarn clamping and tensioning members supported in spaced relation to each other and associated with the yarn feeding stations for pivotal movement from a yarn receiving position to a yarn clamping position, each of said members having a yarn clamping means reaching in an open position to cooperatively receive at spaced intervals each of the individual yarns extending from the yarn feed fingers of a yarn feeding station in the yarn feed finger inactive position, means for pivoting the yarn clamping means from an open yarn receiving condition to a closed yarn clamping condition causing tension to be exerted on the clamped yarns and to present the yarns to the yarn severing blade in a directed path of travel, and means for rotating the shaft to sever the yarns extending in the path of the yarn severing blade.

8. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a yarn feeding station having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive knitting positions, a yarn clamping and severing attachment comprising a yarn clamping means supported Within the needle circle for receiving individual yarns extending from inactive yarn feed fingers including a helical elongatable spring member for releasably engaging between its convolutions and maintaining the yarns in spaced apart relation, a yarn severing means Within the needle circle, and means for moving the said spring member to present the clamped yarns to the severing means for severance While retaining the clamped yarns in spaced relationship for individual yarn Withdrawal upon activating a yarn feed finger to active position for knitting.

9. in combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a yarn feeding station having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive knitting positions, a yarn clamping and severing means mounted Within the needle circle comprising a shaft having a yarn severing blade thereon rotatably supported coaxially with said cylinder Within the needle circle, meansfor rotating said shaft, yarn clamping means pivotally mounted Within the needle circle beneath the yarn feed fingers to receive yarns extending from inactive yarn feed fingers, means for actuating said clamping means to releasably clamp inactive yarn ends and to displace them for severance by the yarn severing blade and retaining the severed inactive yarns until activated for knitting.

10. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a yarn feeding station having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive knitting positions, a yarn clamping and severing means mounted Within the needle circle comprising a shaft rotatably supported within and coaxial with the needle cylinder, said shaft having a yarn severing blade mounted thereon, means for rotating'said shaft, yarn separating and clamping means supported within the needle circle for receiving and maintaining yarns from the feed fingers in spaced apart relation to each other, and means for displacing clamped yarns along adirected path in the path of travel of the yarn severing blade.

ll. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a pair of spaced apart yarn feeding stations each having a plurality of feed fingers individually movable from active to inactive knitting positions, a yarn clamping, tensioning and severing means mounted within the needle circle comprising an arm transversely extending above the cylinder, a downwardly depending member supported from the arm having a base forming a stationary yarn severing blade member, a shaft rotata ly supported on the arm and said member coaxial With the cylinder, a yarn clamping means for each yarn feeding station, a helical spring on the yarn clamping means for receiving individual yarns between helices from the inactive position of the yarn feed fingers in the extended spring condition, means for displacing the clamping means to clamp the individual yarns in the spring collapsed condition and present the clamped yarns to the yarn severing means proximate the stationary blade member, a yarn severing blade mounted on the shaft for cooperatively engaging the stationary blade to sever yarns presented thereto upon rotation of the shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

12. In combination with a circular knitting machine having a cylinder with independent needles and a yarn feeding station having a plurality of yarn feed fingers individually movable between active and inactive knitting positions, a yarn clamping and severing attachment comprising a yarn severing means mounted within the needle circle, yarn clamping means positioned within the needle circle beneath the yarn feed fingers to releasably clamp individual yarns extending from inactive yarn feed fingers and maintain said yarns in spaced apart relation, and means for displacing the yarn clamping means to present clamped yarns to the yarn severing means.

13. A method of controlling, clamping and severing yarns on a circuiar knitting machine having a plurality of yarn feed fingers each of which is movable from active to inactive knitting positions comprising the steps of clamping individual yarns extending from inactive yarn feed fingers and a fabric being knit, displacing the clamped yarns in a directed path of travel from out of into the path of travel of a yarn severing means, severing the inactive yarns at a predetermined position in the knitting cycle, and retaining the clamped yarns for individual yarn withdrawal.

14. A method of controlling, clamping and severing yarns on a circular knitting machine having a yarn feed station with a plurality of yarn feed fingers each of which is independently movable from active to inactive knitting positions comprising the steps of withdrawing a plurality of inactive yarn feed fingers while retaining at least one active yarn feed finger for knitting, releasably clamping only the individual yarns from the inactive yarn feed fingers at spaced intervals from each other, displacing the clamped yarns in a directed path of travel from out of into a severing position, severing the inactive clamped yarns, and withdrawing individual clamped yarns for knitting while maintaining tension on the other clamped yarns.

15. A method of controlling, clamping and severing yarns on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of yarn teed fingers independently movable from active to inactive knitting positions comprising the steps of Withdrawing a plurality of yarn feed fingers and the corresponding yarns from knitting position, simultaneously releasably clamping all the withdrawn individual yarns separately and in spaced relation to each other, displacing it) the clamped yarns in a directed path of travel from out of into a cutting position, severing all of the clamped yarns at the end of the path of travel in the cutting position, and withdrawing individual clamped yarns for knitting in the yarn feed finger active knitting position.

16. A method of controlling and severing yarns on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of yarn feed fingers each of which is movable independently from active to inactive knitting positions, comprising the steps of withdrawing a plurality of yarn feed fingers and the corresponding yarns from knitting relation with the knitting instrurnentalities, collecting and clamping all the withdrawn yarns in separated relationship from each other, displacing the collected and clamped yarns from out of into a severing position, severing all of the clamped yarns at a predetermined position in the knitting cycle, and selectively withdrawing individual yarns from clamping engagement while retaining other yarns in clamping engagement until required for knitting.

17. A method of controlling and severing yarns on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of yarn feed fingers each of which is independently movable from active to inactive knitting positions comprising the steps of withdrawing a plurality of yarns from active knitting while knitting continues with at least one active yarn, separately and concurrently clamping each of the yarns removed from active knitting individually, in spaced relation to each other, collecting the inactive yarns together while maintaining them in spaced relation, displacing the collected yarns from out of into a severing position, severing the inactive yarns, and withdrawing individual severed clamped yarns during reactivation of each of the yarns for knitting.

18. A method of controlling yarns on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of independently movable yarn feed fingers from active to inactive knitting positions, comprising the steps of withdrawing a plurality of yarns from active knitting while knitting continues with at least one active yarn, separately and releasably clamping each of the yarns removed from active knitting individually in spaced relation to each other, collecting the inactive yarns together while maintaining them under tension in spaced relation during knitting, and displacing the collected yarns radially inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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