KNITTING ELEMENTS

KNITTING ELEMENTSKnitting actions are realised with the help of various mechanical elements

Primary Knitting ElementsSecondary Knitting ElementsNeedlesJacks / SlidersNeedle BedsYarn FeedersCamsTake Down MechanismSinkerNeedles- Has a hook in one end to catch the yarn and/ or to pull the new yarn through previous loop

Prior to yarn feeding needles are raised to clear the old loop and receive new loop above itNew loop is then enclosed in the hook as it descendsHook draws the new loop through the old as old loop slides over the outside of the descending bridge of the closed hook

Bridge FormationWhen needle rise loop slide inside the hook and hits the latch and open it

Catch the new yarn and needle starts to move down

The knitted loop (Old Loop) slide towards the hook closes the latchBearded Needle

1. Stem - Loop is formed around this

2. Head Draws new loop through previous 3. Beard Trap the new loop inside and form bridge

4. Eye/Groove To receive the pointed tip

5. Shank To fix to the needle bar

6. Tip5Latch Needle

1-stem Carries loop when raised to clearing height 2-hook Draws new yarn and retain the new loop 3-latch- Forms bridge 4-rivet Fixes latch to the needle 5-butt To reciprocate needle between two dead centresTypes of Latch needlesWire Butt Latch needles-Butt is made by bending the end of the stem

Flat Stock Latch Needles- Butt is made by punching from steel plates.

Compound Needle

Has two parts Controlled separately Hook PartTongue PartBoth rise as a single unit it single unit upward movement at the end hook rise faster so it gets openedIn downward movement, at the beginning hook goes faster so hook is closedTwo TypesOpen stem pusher type Tongue slides externally along groveTubular Type Tongue slide inside the tube of open hookUse in weft knitting ??Yarn should be fed, to the hook- Critical (Comparatively smaller) Shorter needle movement, Knit fasterIncrease productivityIn clearing compound needle doesnt cause stretching of loops & robbing of yarn from sinker loops,Therefore knit tight, uniform stitches

No latch closing, opening, therefore hook can be made slimmer diameter (Produce larger area inside can accommodate thicker yarns)Needle BedHold knitting elements in exact distances and guide themParallel grooves(Tricks) cut to act as tracks for Needles

Trick Same width and the depthDistance between two adjacent needles is always the same for a given m/c PitchHow will be tricks in flat bed and circular m/c s ???

Knitting M/C can be characterized by two parameters M/C Gauge - # of Needles per inchWorking width width of the needle bed

Loop formation cycle of latch needle

Fabric is held in position by the take down mechanism, needle rises and loop slides on to the latch making it to be opened, loop slide further to stem ClearingYarn is fed to the needle at the highest position and the needle start to descendDescending needle cause fabric loop to close the latch and pulls new yarn through the fabric forming a new loop Knock overAt the rest position fabric loop is held by the hook, latch is open

Loop Formation with bearded Needles

Loop Formation with Compound NeedlesSinkerPlaced between the needles, move perpendicular to direction of needle movement

Parts of SinkerButtNibThroatBellySinker performs1. Loop formation- On the bearded needle m/c

Bend the newly laid yarn into new loopsBut in latch needle weft knitting m/c and warp knitting m/c loop formation is not a function of sinkers2. Holding DownHold down the old loop at a lower level on needle stem and prevent old loop from being lifted when it risesSlot/ throat is cut to hold & control the old loop

Holding down sinkers enable tighter structuresThe minimum draw off tension is reduced (helps take down by pushing the same)

Holding Sinkers in double bed knitting ???

3. Knock Over

Upper surface (belly) supports the old loop and as the new loop is drawn through it

CamsCommands various needle movementsNeedle Butt moves between the grooves of the cam

Negative yarn feeding

Yarn is taken out from the package directly

Tension cannot be controlledPositive Yarn Feeding

Motorized yarn accumulator

+Ve Belt feeding