Stitch-pressing component, knitting machine with stitch-pressing component, and methods of manufacturing, integrating, and using the same

A method of operating a knitting machine, the knitting machine comprising a pair of needle beds, a plurality of rails extending over the pair of needle beds in a lengthwise direction, and a plurality of yarn-feeders, the method comprising:

• de-coupling a first yarn-feeder of the plurality of yarn-feeders from a first rail of the plurality of rails;
• attaching a stitch-pressing component to the first rail in place of the first yarn-feeder, such that the stitch-pressing component is configured to shift in the lengthwise direction along the first rail and shift between a raised position and a lowered position on the first rail;
• wherein the stitch-pressing component comprises:
• a first end, comprising:
• an attachment structure for coupling the stitch-pressing component to the first rail, and
• a second end, comprising:
• a pressing tip comprising an elongated channel with a long axis and a short axis, wherein the elongated channel is oriented such that the long axis extends in the lengthwise direction when the stitch-pressing component is coupled to the first rail;
• and
• using the stitch-pressing component to press a yarn into a gap between the pair of needle beds without using the stitch-pressing component to deposit any yarns onto the pair of needle beds.

A knitting machine, comprising:

• a pair of needle beds separated by a gap;
• a plurality of rails extending over the pair of needle beds in a lengthwise direction;
• a plurality of yarn-feeders, each yarn-feeder attachable to one of the plurality of rails such that the yarn-feeder is shiftable along the rail in the lengthwise direction;
• and
• a stitch-pressing component adapted for pressing a yarn into the gap without depositing any yarns, the stitch-pressing component comprising:
• a first end comprising an attachment structure that couples the stitch-pressing component to one of the plurality of rails in place of one of the plurality of yarn-feeders, and
• a second end comprising a pressing tip with an elongated channel having a long axis and a short axis, wherein the elongated channel is oriented so that the long axis extends in the lengthwise direction when the stitch-pressing component is coupled to one of the plurality of rails of the knitting machine, wherein the pressing tip is a solid structure without an opening for feeding yarn axially through the pressing tip.