Circular sliver knitting machine having a manifold for controlling multidirectional airflow

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 about an axis therewith and 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 to deliver sliver fibers to said needles during 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;
• air supply means for supplying air to said circular sliver knitting machine;
• a first air nozzle unit cooperating with each of said card units for directing air along a path generally radially outward toward said needles;
• a second air nozzle unit cooperating with each of said card units for directing air along a path generally radially inward toward said needles;
• and
• air distributing means for distributing air received from said air supply means to at least one of said first air nozzle unit and said second air nozzle unit, wherein a first selected fabric pattern is obtained by directing air flow to said first air nozzle unit, a second selected fabric pattern is obtained by directing air flow to said second air nozzle unit, and a third selected fabric pattern is obtained by directing air flow to both said first and second air nozzle units.