A knitting machine may include a sinker configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The knitting machine may have a sinker actuator system having a first configuration and a second configuration. The sinker actuator system, in the first configuration, may be configured to actuate the sinker from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker may be configured to change the sinker actuator system from the first configuration to the second configuration when the sinker receives an input force above a predetermined threshold in the movement from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker actuator system, in the second configuration, may allow the sinker to move away from the closed position toward the open position.

A circular knitting machine (1) for knitwear or hosiery, comprising a bearing structure, a needle-bearing organ (3) and a plurality of mobile needles (N) for producing a knitted fabric; a plurality of flanked stitch-forming slots (5) is defined in an external surface (4) of the needle-bearing organ (3), each of which slots movably houses a respective needle actuable with alternating motion along the relative stitch-forming slot. The needle-bearing organ is superiorly provided with a knit-forming plane (P) destined to restingly receive portions of knitting situated between two contiguous needles (N). The machine comprises, in the zones (15) comprised between two contiguous stitch-forming slots (5), retaining organs (10) of the knitting exhibiting each a respective portion defining a stop abutment (11) for the knitting; each retaining organ (10) of the knitting being mobile on command from a first position, in which it does not interfere with the knitting being formed, to a second position, in which it inserts between two contiguous needles (N), in a zone which superiorly faces the knit-forming plane. In the zones comprised between the contiguous stitch-forming slots (5), the machine comprises lamellae (20) defining the knitting plane, each exhibiting a respective defining portion (21) of the knitting plane; each lamella (20) is removably mountable superiorly of the needle-bearing organ, so as to be coplanar with the corresponding retaining organ (10) located in the same zone (15), and in such a way that the respective knitting plane defining portion (21) defines a respective portion (Px) of the stitch-forming plane (P) of the needle-bearing organ (3) comprised between two contiguous stitch-forming slots (5).

A circular knitting machine (1) for knitwear or hosiery, comprising a bearing structure, a needle-bearing organ (3) and a plurality of mobile needles (N) for producing a knitted fabric; a plurality of flanked stitch-forming slots (5) is defined in an external surface (4) of the needle-bearing organ (3), each of which slots movably houses a respective needle actuable with alternating motion along the relative stitch-forming slot. The needle-bearing organ is superiorly provided with a knit-forming plane (P) destined to restingly receive portions of knitting situated between two contiguous needles (N). The machine comprises, in the zones (15) comprised between two contiguous stitch-forming slots (5), retaining organs (10) of the knitting exhibiting each a respective portion defining a stop abutment (11) for the knitting; each retaining organ (10) of the knitting being mobile on command from a first position, in which it does not interfere with the knitting being formed, to a second position, in which it inserts between two contiguous needles (N), in a zone which superiorly faces the knit-forming plane. In the zones comprised between the contiguous stitch-forming slots (5), the machine comprises lamellae (20) defining the knitting plane, each exhibiting a respective defining portion (21) of the knitting plane; each lamella (20) is removably mountable superiorly of the needle-bearing organ, so as to be coplanar with the corresponding retaining organ (10) located in the same zone (15), and in such a way that the respective knitting plane defining portion (21) defines a respective portion (Px) of the stitch-forming plane (P) of the needle-bearing organ (3) comprised between two contiguous stitch-forming slots (5).

A method of making a loop fastener product features knitting, such as by circular knitting, a pile yarn and one or more ground yarns to form a stretchable knit fabric having loops of the pile yarn extending from a knit ground, with the ground yarns including polymers of differing melt temperatures. The knit fabric is then held in a desired state while the fabric is set by first applying sufficient heat to cause the lower melt temperature resin to flow into interstices of the fabric ground, and then allowing the fabric to cool. The cooled fabric ground is less stretchable in two orthogonal directions after setting than before setting, has a greater air permeability after setting than before setting, and has hook-engageable pile loops extending from bound interstices.

A method of making a loop fastener product features knitting, such as by circular knitting, a pile yarn and one or more ground yarns to form a stretchable knit fabric having loops of the pile yarn extending from a knit ground, with the ground yarns including polymers of differing melt temperatures. The knit fabric is then held in a desired state while the fabric is set by first applying sufficient heat to cause the lower melt temperature resin to flow into interstices of the fabric ground, and then allowing the fabric to cool. The cooled fabric ground is less stretchable in two orthogonal directions after setting than before setting, has a greater air permeability after setting than before setting, and has hook-engageable pile loops extending from bound interstices.

A needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine includes a cylinder jacket having axial needle channels, knitting needles movable therein and an upper cylinder end for stitch formation having a radial groove between pairs of adjacent needle channels each having an insert forming a stitch formation surface with its insert surface protruding from the groove. Exchangeable, stitch formation surfaces form quickly replaceable inserts. Each insert is a spring lug including a lug foot overlapping the upper cylinder end at the side of the cylinder jacket or the side edge of an outer ring channel in the upper cylinder end and a lug terminal with a terminal part springily engaging behind a counter support projecting at the upper cylinder end at the cylinder's inner side or a side edge of an inner ring channel in the upper cylinder end. A circular knitting machine with the needle cylinder is also provided.

A loop-forming process includes moving a plurality of system components (11, 12) relatively to a needle bed (14). The system components (11, 12) contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between at least two adjacent system components (11, 12) of the plurality of system components (11, 12) and defines the distance (21) between the two adjacent system components (11, 12), the spacer (10) being in mechanical contact to the two adjacent system components (11, 12). The spacer (10) is placed away from and does not contact threads and is moved with respect to the needle bed (14). The spacer (10) is also moved with respect to both of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) at least for a period of time during the loop forming process. An equivalent device is also disclosed and claimed.

A loop-forming process includes moving a plurality of system components (11, 12) relatively to a needle bed (14). The system components (11, 12) contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between at least two adjacent system components (11, 12) of the plurality of system components (11, 12) and defines the distance (21) between the two adjacent system components (11, 12), the spacer (10) being in mechanical contact to the two adjacent system components (11, 12). The spacer (10) is placed away from and does not contact threads and is moved with respect to the needle bed (14). The spacer (10) is also moved with respect to both of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) at least for a period of time during the loop forming process. An equivalent device is also disclosed and claimed.

A loop-forming process includes moving at least two system components (11, 12) in one groove (16) of a needle bed in a first longitudinal direction (y). The system components contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between two adjacent system components (11, 12) moved in the groove (16), whereby this spacer (10) contributes to distance (21) adjustment between loop-forming portions in the direction () of the grooves' (16) width. The at least one spacer (10) moves together with a first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) and is at least temporarily moved inside a section (41) of the longitudinal (y) extension where the spacer (10) and the second system component (12) are in mechanical contact and/or in which the spacer (10) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer (10) moved together with the second of the two system components (11, 12).

A loop-forming process includes moving at least two system components (11, 12) in one groove (16) of a needle bed in a first longitudinal direction (y). The system components contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between two adjacent system components (11, 12) moved in the groove (16), whereby this spacer (10) contributes to distance (21) adjustment between loop-forming portions in the direction () of the grooves' (16) width. The at least one spacer (10) moves together with a first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) and is at least temporarily moved inside a section (41) of the longitudinal (y) extension where the spacer (10) and the second system component (12) are in mechanical contact and/or in which the spacer (10) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer (10) moved together with the second of the two system components (11, 12).