Method and apparatus for manufacturing individual wipers having finished edges

A method of manufacturing a knitted wiper on a knitting machine, the method comprising;

• knitting a first separator portion to a width using a dissociable yarn;
• knitting a wiper unit to said separator portion having a width using a primary yarn and a reinforcing yarn, said wiper extending between selvaged side edges and having finished leading and trailing edges;
• knitting a second separator portion to said width using said dissociable yarn;
• removing said wiper unit and said first and second separator portions as a knitted assembly from said knitting machine;
• separeate said first and second separator portions from said wiper unit;
• and
• washing said wiper unit.

A method of manufacturing a knitted web, the method comprising the steps of:

• (A) knitting a first separator portion to a width using a dissociable yarn;
• (B) knitting a wiper unit of said width using a primary yarn and a reinforcing yarn, said wiper being knit to said separator portion and extending between selvaged side edges and having finished leading and trailing edges, said dissociable yarn being kept intact alongside said wiper;
• and
• (C) knitting a second separator portion to said trailing edge of said wiper using said dissociable yarn from alongside said wiper, said primary and reinforcing yarns being kept intact alongside said second separator portion;
• (D) successively repeating the steps (B) and (C) for a desired number of iterations to produce a knit web having a length comprising separator portions knitted between wipers.