Takedown unit for circular knitting machine

A takedown unit for a circular knitting machine that includes a knitting cylinder for forming tubular fabric such that the tubular fabric hangs downward along a fabric travel path from the knitting cylinder, the takedown unit comprising:

• a plurality of rollers mounted to an at least generally annular first frame that is for being mounted to the circular knitting machine so that the plurality of rollers extend at least partially around the fabric travel path, wherein the rollers are mounted for respectively rotating about rotational axes of the rollers for drawing down the hanging tubular fabric;
• a plurality of cams mounted to an at least generally annular second frame that is for being mounted to the circular knitting machine so that the plurality of cams extend at least partially around the fabric travel path, with the first and second frames being relatively rotatable with respect to one another so as to cause relative rotation between the cams and the rollers, with said relative rotation between the cams and the rollers being around the fabric travel path;
• and
• an actuator positioned for engaging the cams in response to said relative rotation between the rollers and the cams, so that the cams actuate the actuator a plurality of times for each 360 degrees of said relative rotation between the rollers and the cams, with each actuation including a reciprocating motion of at least a portion of the actuator, wherein the actuator is operative for translating the reciprocating motion into the rotating of at least one of the rollers about its rotational axis.

A method of drawing down a tubular fabric, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of rollers at least partially around the tubular fabric;
• positioning a guide mechanism within the interior of the tubular fabric so that the guide mechanism spreads the tubular fabric and interacts with the rollers to define a plurality of nips through which the tubular fabric extends;
• and
• operating the rollers so that the rollers respectively rotate about rotational axes of the rollers and interact with the guide mechanism so that the tubular fabric is drawn down and the guide mechanism floats within the interior of the tubular fabric.