Advancements in Circular Knitting Machinery

The consistent utilization of machinery has significantly increased the efficiency of clothing production, leading to a greater reliance on these technologies. Moreover, machines offer the advantage of seamless and rapid fabric or garment production, further enhancing their importance in the industry. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the development of specialized machines tailored to specific tasks. This includes advancements in knitting machinery, where a variety of options are now available to suit manufacturers' diverse needs. Circular knitting machines, in particular, are instrumental in creating seamless innerwear fabrics and high-gauge textiles for cut-and-sew processes. Ongoing research and development in this field ensure that manufacturers have access to precisely the type of circular knitting machine required to meet their production demands.

Circular knitting involves the creation of seamless tubes by joining stitches worked in continuous rounds. Unlike flat knitting, where rows are stacked horizontally, circular knitting forms fabric in a spiral pattern. Initially, this technique utilized sets of double-pointed needles. However, advancements in needle technology led to the development of circular needles, which allow for seamless circular knitting. Circular needles resemble two short knitting needles connected by a flexible cable, enabling smoother and more efficient circular knitting motion.

Circular knitting machines have gained immense popularity across the knitting industry for fabric production. Leading manufacturers from Germany, China, Japan, Italy, Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries produce high-quality circular knitting machines. These machines can be configured to accommodate various diameters, meeting the diverse needs of manufacturers. Depending on the intended application, circular knitting machines range from 12 inches to 60 inches in diameter, allowing for the production of outerwear and undergarments. The primary function of circular machines is to manufacture fabrics or garments with decorative stitching. Modern circular knitting machines feature latch needles, prized for their versatility and ease of use with different yarn types.

Circular knitting machines are equipped with various components to facilitate the knitting process. These include latch needles, which form loops, along with cams that control loop formation. Knit cams assist in creating knit loops, tuck cams form tuck loops, and miss cams contribute to the formation of miss loops. Additionally, sinkers play a crucial role in the knitting process, with different types such as loop-forming sinkers, holding-down sinkers, and knocking-over sinkers. The feeding unit supplies yarn to the needles, while a timing belt ensures precise machine operation. VDQ pulleys influence the stitch length of the knitted fabric, and cylinders house needles, cams, jacks, and sinkers. Other components include sinker rings, needle detectors, fabric detectors, adjustable fans to remove fiber from yarn, take-up rollers, cloth rollers, expanders, and creels. These modern circular knitting machines are essential for efficient fabric production in the textile industry.

Circular knitting machines are categorized into two main types: single jersey knitting machines and double jersey interlock circular knitting machines. Single jersey machines feature a single set of needles and sinkers, with a constant cam system and a movable cylinder. These machines are primarily used to produce plain fabrics. On the other hand, interlock circular knitting machines are equipped with a 2-track cam setup dial and a 4-track cylinder, allowing for the production of various fabrics such as bubble-bubble, knitted cloth, little jacquard interlayers, gaskets, and crepes. The cylinders in these machines are typically made of high-quality stainless steel imported from Japan, ensuring consistent performance. The bed plate is constructed with a steel ball runway structure supported by oil fluidity, resulting in stable operation, minimal noise, and resistance to abrasion.

Circular knitting machines have significantly boosted production while maintaining excellent quality. These machines are easy to maintain, allowing manufacturers to save both time and money when producing circular-knitted goods such as socks, woolens, mittens, and more.

The most recent innovation in circular knitting machinery is the eighty gauge circular knitting machine, known for producing significantly tighter knits than conventional models. Additionally, a specialized tool has been introduced for safely removing cylinders from machines with diameters exceeding 26 inches. This tool ensures damage-free removal, particularly for finer-gauge cylinders.

Positive advancements in circular knitting machinery are evident, signaling ongoing improvements in circular knitting technology for the foreseeable future.