An electronic yarn changing device for a circular knitting machine includes at least two driving units, at least two impelling plates respectively connected to the driving units, and at least two yarn feeding units. The impelling plates are impelled by the respective connected driving units to perform a one-dimensional motion. The yarn feeding units are arranged side by side, and are each provided sequentially with a yarn feeding plate, a yarn clamping plate, a mobile blade plate and a fixed blade plate. The yarn clamping plate includes a plurality of guide columns disposed correspondingly to the yarn feeding plate. The yarn feeding plates are respectively pushed by the corresponding impelling plates to perform a two-dimensional motion due to the plurality of guide columns. The mobile blade plates are also respectively pushed when the corresponding impelling plates perform the one-dimensional motion, and individually perform a one-dimensional motion once being pushed.

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 knitting method and an apparatus for a cylindrical biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. The biaxial three-dimensional knitted structure comprises two weft plain stitch structures (7, 7), a group of spacer yarns (416), two groups of weft inserting yarns (415, 415) and a group of warp inserting yarns (43), wherein the two groups of weft inserting yarns are used for selective weft inserting on a needle dial (11) or a needle cylinder (13), the warp inserting yarns are positioned between the two groups of weft inserting yarns, the two weft plain stitch structures are connected with each other by the group of spacer yarns, for jointly clamping the weft inserting yarns and the warp inserting yarns, in order to form a biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. Such three-dimensional knitted structure improves the mechanical properties of three-dimensional knitted fabrics; by increasing the interval between the needle dial and the needle cylinder, the thickness of the knitted structure is increased, which is suitable for the reinforced structure of high-performance structural and functional composite materials, and expand the field of the use of the knitted structures.

A knitting method and an apparatus for a cylindrical biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. The biaxial three-dimensional knitted structure comprises two weft plain stitch structures (7, 7), a group of spacer yarns (416), two groups of weft inserting yarns (415, 415) and a group of warp inserting yarns (43), wherein the two groups of weft inserting yarns are used for selective weft inserting on a needle dial (11) or a needle cylinder (13), the warp inserting yarns are positioned between the two groups of weft inserting yarns, the two weft plain stitch structures are connected with each other by the group of spacer yarns, for jointly clamping the weft inserting yarns and the warp inserting yarns, in order to form a biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. Such three-dimensional knitted structure improves the mechanical properties of three-dimensional knitted fabrics; by increasing the interval between the needle dial and the needle cylinder, the thickness of the knitted structure is increased, which is suitable for the reinforced structure of high-performance structural and functional composite materials, and expand the field of the use of the knitted structures.

An article of footwear may include a knitted component that at least partially forms an upper. The knitted component may include a first knit layer and a second knit layer, the first knit layer being separable from the second knit layer such that a pocket is located between the first knit layer and the second knit layer. A cable may be located at least partially within the channel. A cable guide may additionally be located at least partially within the channel, where the cable guide includes at least one curved surface for contacting the cable. The cable may extend around the at least one curved surface such that the cable changes directions within the channel.

A feeder for a knitting machine may include: a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine; and a cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, where the cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the yarn to disengage an upper portion of the yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.

A feeder for a knitting machine may include a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along a rail of the knitting machine and a feeder arm extending from the carrier. The feeder arm may include a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine, and the carrier may include a first actuation surface, a second actuation surface, and a third actuation surface, where the feeder performs a first knitting function when a plunger actuates the feeder by applying a force on the first actuation surface, where the feeder performs a second knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the second actuation surface, and where the feeder performs a third knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the third actuation surface.

Embodiments in this disclosure relate to a knitted strain sensor element comprising an electrically conducting yarn and an elastic yarn. The elastic yarn has a Young's modulus that is substantially lower than the electrically conducting yarn's Young's modulus. The knitted strain sensor element is knitted using a knit stitch pattern comprising knitted stitches and purled stitches on each course. preferably a rib stitch pattern, more preferably a 1?1 rib stitch pattern. The electrically conducting yarn and the elastic yarn are knitted together using a plated knitting technique forming a knitted fabric. the electrically conducting yam forming a core of the knitted fabric and the elastic yarn forming surface of the knitted fabric. Sensors. textiles and garments comprising such knitted strain sensor elements are also disclosed.

Articles of knit fabric having a surface side and a base side, and including a set of ground yarns and a layer of effect yarns, wherein the ground yarns and effect yarns are knit through intermesh points in a predetermined arrangement, wherein the effect yarns are alternately arranged with the ground yarns, and wherein the ground yarns contain at least one elastic fiber and optionally at least one hard fiber, and the effect yarns contain at least one hard fiber or at least one elastic fiber are provided.

A knitting machine includes a base unit, a plurality of transmission mechanisms, a plurality of spool stands, a collecting mechanism, a driving device and a microcomputer control unit. Each of the transmission mechanisms includes a plurality of driving gears and a plurality of blades. Each of the spool stands is provided with a spool. The collecting mechanism includes a plurality of hubs each provided with a convergent holding device. When the transmission mechanisms are driven, the spool of each of the spool stands is disposed at an operation state. The collecting mechanism collects and guides the lines of the spool of each of the spool stands to perform a knitting work so as to form rope belts. Thus, the rope belts present a thick-and-thin alternating mode, a multi-layer mode or a three-dimensional mode.