Tensioning device for circular knitting machine

A self-cleaning yarn tensioning device for use with a knitting machine comprising:

• a frame comprising an elongated leg arranged along a first axis;
• an upper arm, having a first yarn guide eye, extending from one end and generally perpendicularly of said elongated leg;
• a lower arm, having a second yarn guide eye, extending from a second end and generally perpendicularly of said elongated leg;
• said first and second guide eyes being aligned along a second axis laterally spaced from and generally parallel with said first axis;
• a disk mount and yarn guide arranged laterally of said second axis, intermediate of said first and second yarn guide eyes along a third axis generally perpendicular of said first and second axis;
• first and second magnet disks, having opposing yarn engaging inner faces, rotably carried by said disk mount and yarn guide, said inner faces extending along a plane generally parallel and aligned with said second axis, said inner faces being magnetically attracted toward each other;
• wherein
• yarn moving through said first guide eye, between said opposed faces and through said disk mount and yarn guide and through said second guide eye is placed under proper tension by said magnetic forces interacting with said disks while said yarn movement causes said disks to rotate causing lint and dust discarded thereon to be thrown outwardly away from said disks allowing said disks to remain lint and dust free and to maintain uniform tension on the yarn.