Method and apparatus for forming reverse loop sliver knit fabric

A circular sliver knitting machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a needle cylinder rotatably supported on said frame;
• a plurality of needles supported in said needle cylinder for rotational movement therewith and for vertical movement parallel to the axis of rotation thereof;
• a plurality of card units at radially spaced locations along the rotational path of said needle cylinder and radially outward therefrom, to deliver sliver fibers to said needles during the movement thereof, each of said card units having a doffer roll and each of said card units having first suction means attached adjacent to said doffer roll;
• a yarn feeding station adjacent each of said card units for feeding yarn to said needles;
• a plurality of sinkers cooperating with said needles for forming the yarn and the sliver fibers into knitted fabric;
• and
• an air blowing unit positioned radially inward from said plurality of card units for blowing air toward said needles.

A circular sliver knitting machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a needle cylinder rotatably supported on said frame;
• a plurality of needles supported in said needle cylinder for rotational movement therewith and for vertical movement parallel to the axis thereof;
• a plurality of card units at radially spaced locations along the rotational path of said needle cylinder, to deliver sliver fibers to said needles during the movement thereof;
• a yarn feeding station adjacent each of said card units for feeding yarn to said needles;
• a plurality of sinkers cooperating with said needles for forming the yarn and the sliver fibers into knitted fabric;
• an air blowing unit cooperating with each of said card units for blowing air along a generally horizontally longitudinal path radially outward toward said needles;
• adjustment means for simultaneously adjusting said air blowing units relative to said needles;
• first suction means for sucking fiber waste from the circular sliver knitting machine at spaced locations radially outward from said air blowing unit;
• and
• second suction means located radially inward from said first suction means.

A method of producing a reverse loop sliver knit fabric on a circular sliver knitting machine of the type having a frame for rotatably supporting a needle cylinder, a plurality of needles rotatable with said needle cylinder and vertically movable relative to the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of sliver fibers and yarn feeding stations, and sinkers cooperating with said plurality of needles, the method steps comprising:

• feeding first sliver fibers and a first yarn to said plurality of needles;
• tying down a medial portion of the first sliver fibers with the first yarn and forming a first knitted course, with free ends of the sliver fibers extending therefrom adjacent said plurality of needles;
• retaining the knitted medial portion of the first course on said needles as said needles ascend a second time;
• feeding second sliver fibers and a second yarn to said needles;
• tying down a medial portion of the second sliver fibers with the second yarn and forming a second knitted course, with free ends of the sliver fibers extending therefrom adjacent said needles;
• turning the free ends of both courses of sliver fibers as said needles ascend a third time;
• guiding free ends of both courses of sliver fibers against an angled surface onto said plurality of sinkers as said needles continue ascending;
• trapping free ends of both courses of the sliver fibers in adjacent needles;
• and
• knitting free ends of both courses of the sliver fibers into the fabric.