Independently controlled rollers for take-down assembly of knitting machine

A method of manufacturing a knit component with a knitting machine, the knitting machine defining a first knitting area and a second knitting area that are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, the first knitting area configured to form a first portion of the knit component, the second knitting area configured to form a second portion of the knit component, the method comprising:

• feeding at least one strand toward a knitting bed of the knitting machine to be incorporated into the knit component;
• rotating a first take-down roller configured to contact the first portion of the knit component to apply tension to the first portion;
• providing a biasing member that applies a biasing load to the first take-down roller for biasing the first take-down roller generally toward the first portion of the knit component;
• actuating a first actuator that is operably coupled to the biasing member to selectively adjust the biasing load to thereby selectively adjust tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion of the knit component;
• rotating a second take-down roller configured to contact the second portion of the knit component to apply tension to the second portion;
• actuating a second actuator that is operably coupled to the second take-down roller to selectively adjust tension applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion of the knit component;
• and
• controlling actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator independently to independently vary tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion and applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion.

A knitting machine that is configured to knit a knit component having a first portion and a second portion, the knitting machine comprising:

• a knitting bed with a plurality of knitting needles that are arranged along a longitudinal direction, the knitting bed defining a first knitting area and a second knitting area that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, the first knitting area configured to form the first portion of the knit component, the second knitting area configured to form the second portion of the knit component;
• a feeder assembly that feeds a strand toward the knitting bed to be incorporated into the knit component;
• and
• a take-down assembly that includes:
• a first pair of rollers that are configured to receive the first portion therebetween, to rotatably contact the first portion, and to apply tension to the first portion,
• a first biasing member that applies a first biasing load for biasing the first pair of rollers toward each other;
• a first actuator that is operably coupled to the first biasing member, the first actuator being operable to actuate to adjust the first biasing load of the first biasing member to adjust tension applied by the first pair of rollers onto the first portion of the knit component;
• a second pair of rollers that are configured to receive the second portion therebetween, to rotatably contact the second portion, and to apply tension to the second portion,
• a second biasing member that applies a second biasing load for biasing the second pair of rollers toward each other;
• a second actuator that is operably coupled to the second biasing member, the second actuator being operable to actuate to adjust the second biasing load of the second biasing member to adjust tension applied by the second pair of rollers onto the second portion of the knit component;
• and
• a controller that is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator,
• wherein the controller is operable for selectively and independently controlling actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator such that the first biasing load is different from the second biasing load.