The present invention includes aligning ring guides disposed at opposite angles to each other to force the tubular knitted fabric to turn in a spiral direction allowing the wales or rows of stitches to rest at an angle with respect to the edge of the tube of fabric. This is the normal or resting state and position of the wales in a wash-tested sample or laundered garment. This is accomplished by a pair of add-ons for torque and skew reduction in a tubular knitted fabric, which includes a crossbeam and a pair of angled ring guide assemblies that depend from the crossbeam. Each angled ring guide assembly has a mount with a fixed portion and a movable portion, and further has a guide ring, with each angled ring guide assembly being disposed on the movable portion. The fixed portion contains a crescent-shaped slot, with the movable portion containing a peg that rides in the slot.

Apparatus and methods are provided for automatic edge positioning and guiding of a moving web, such as a textile fabric or carpet, onto a conveyor system comprising manufacturing operations such as sewing, for example. More in particular an apparatus is provided including mechanics, optics and control for steering and positioning the side edges of the moving web in order to correct for misalignment, and hence sewing can occur appropriately.

Apparatus and methods are provided for automatic edge positioning and guiding of a moving web, such as a textile fabric or carpet, onto a conveyor system comprising manufacturing operations such as sewing, for example. More in particular an apparatus is provided including mechanics, optics and control for steering and positioning the side edges of the moving web in order to correct for misalignment, and hence sewing can occur appropriately.

The present invention includes aligning ring guides disposed at opposite angles to each other to force the tubular knitted fabric to turn in a spiral direction allowing the wales or rows of stitches to rest at an angle with respect to the edge of the tube of fabric. This is the normal or resting state and position of the wales in a wash-tested sample or laundered garment. This is accomplished by a pair of add-ons for torque and skew reduction in a tubular knitted fabric, which includes a crossbeam and a pair of angled ring guide assemblies that depend from the crossbeam. Each angled ring guide assembly has a mount with a fixed portion and a movable portion, and further has a guide ring, with each angled ring guide assembly being disposed on the movable portion. The fixed portion contains a crescent-shaped slot, with the movable portion containing a peg that rides in the slot.