Yarn Feeding system

 Quality of knitted fabrics retards b/s of defect like puckered

fabrics, bowing, streak, Crack or hole, Barrie effect, needle lines
 Most of these defects are caused by yarn or metal slippage –
change yarn input tension-change in feed rate –change in loop
length- fabric quality
 A device is developed to control a yarn feeding rate called
positive/measured feed devices
Direct and indirect feed in flat knitting

• In some m/cs the front and back needle bed cam plates
are joined together so that the cam carriage is derived as
single unit
• This causes unbalanced yarn path, which in turn leads to
yarn tension variation
• But in electronically- controlled power flats the drive is
separate
 A cone carrier device
• Cones are systematically arranged to reduce
tensions
• The vertical height >600mm
• Investigation yarn tension 1.4 to 1.6 times
larger when the package are placed most
distant as compared to the closest
POSITIVE YARN FEEDING SYSTEM

 Tape feed mechanism

 Yarn storage feeder
 Positive storage yarn delivery device
 The roller yarn( wrapping over)
 The nip type positive feed grips
 Two surface guides
 The tripe- type positive feed
TAPE FEED SYSTEM

Each yarn from the package is passed in between its own

Feed Wheel and the Drive Tape
 Drawbacks

• Due to slippage of the yarn in between drive tape

and the feed tape, yarn feed rate can be affected.

Deformed loops will be formed from this knitting

system.

• Quality Wheel can not be adjusted while machine

been operated

• Yarn faults cannot be detected before the knitting

zone.
 Yarn Storage Feeder

This system is used when the structure differs

from knitting system to knitting system and from
course to course within the pattern (ex : multi
color jacquard)
 Drawbacks

• Does not feed the yarn to the needle as a fully positively

feeding system. (only up to the temporary storage)
 Positive storage yarn delivery device

This is a combination of tape feeder and the yarn storage.

 Positive storage yarn delivery device…

• Detect yarn faults before entering to the knitting

zone.
• Increase the efficiency
• Reduce needle breakages
The roller yarn( wrapping over)

 As drum tensioners
 Less slipping
 Variation occur
 When knitting bulked or stretched yarns
 Cheaper and practical
T1

T2
 The nip type positive feed grips
• Grips the running yarn b/n the two rollers
• Positively and negatively driven
• Commercially adopted ,being favored by certain hosiery
machine builders
• Certain flat bed machines have installed these types of feeding
units T1

T2
 Two surface guides
• Disc tensioners
• The yarn passes between two discs
• It provide two frictional surface
 The tripe- type positive feed
• Tape and roller
• Most popular for multi-feed large diameter
outerwear fabric machines
• Used for constant rate of feeding
Positive feed device and their roles
• Moter rpm*dp1/dp2*dp3/dp4……3.14d = yarn speed if no
slippage
• But if there is slippage of yarn
• change in yarn tension
• Change in feed rate
• Change in loop length in the fabric
• But loop length determines dimensional properties of knitting
fabric
• Dimensional properties are fabric areal density,
width,thickness,shrinkage,elastisity,tightness factor,regidity
• Which intern influence chemical properties like dgree of
absorption
 Fabric quality through positive yarn feeding

Controls the fabric properties ( gsm,

composition, performance such as stretch
ability)
Faults of yarn are detected prior to knitting zone
which reduce defects of the fabric.
Uniform stitches give better fabric appearance.
Problem areas of positive yarn feeders
Yarn breakages due to friction
dust, that have filaments protruding from the
yarn, that carry a relatively large amount of
sizing, or that in some other way leave behind
or cause traces or deposits on parts of the yarn
feeder will cause an irregular feeding of the yarn
and will cause a null effect on the positive yarn
feeding.
With the additional force given, yarn properties
be affected
 The nip roller positive feeding will require a complex
yarn path – Influences the design of the machine
 Large fluctuations caused by individual needle
selection cannot be adopted through positive feeding
( large area jacquards)

 Due to intensive individual attention towards each

and every yarn been fed
 Dimensional properties and geometry of
Knitted fabrics
• Geometry of knitted structures is based on the
prediction, measurement and control of individual
loop length in a fabric

• Loop length is precisely controlled during knitting

and loop shape is controlled during relaxation after
knitting

• During knitting loop length is controlled by positive

feed devices

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 Fabric tightness factor (k)
• Is the extent to which the fabric area is covered by the
yarn tex
k
l (mm)
Where l is loop length
• For all types of yarns and knitted structures
1 k  2
• Plain single jersey fabrics 1.29  k  1.64
• There fore average value of k generally is 1.5
• Ex. For 30tex yarn find the loop length by using
average value of k = 1.5, l = (√tex)/k = (√30)/1.5 =
3.65mm
• Optimum tex = constant/(gauge)2, single jersey,
c=1650, for double jersey c = 1400
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• For 30inch diameter machine and E12 find the number of
needles and course length on the machine given l = 3.65mm
• N =πdE = π*30*12 = 360π
• L = N*l = 360π * 3.65mm
Main factors affecting dimensional property of knitted fabrics are
1. Fabric structure
2. Fiber type
3. Relaxation/finishing route
4. Yarn linear density
Three properties are very important
Areal density, fabric width, and shrinkage after washing 22
 Loop shape
• On the machine

• Out of the machine

• Wet relaxation: width increase a little bit

• Soak in water with agitation: both height and
width increase

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• Courses per inch (CPi) directly proportional to 1/loop
length = Kc/l (1/cpi = loop height)

• Wales per inch (wpi) is directly proportional to 1/loop

length = Kw/l (1/wpi = loop width)

• Stitch density (s) is directly proportional to 1/l 2 = Ks/l2

(1/s = loop area = loop pitch)

• Cpi/wpi = Kc/Kw called poison’s ratio, shape factor.

• Take up rate = loop length/loop pitch

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• Fabric width = number of needles/wpi
• Fabric thickness = in dry and wet relaxed state
thickness, t is directly proportional to tightness
factor. But in the fully relaxed or stable state it
is independent of tightness factor.
• Areal density = mass per unit area (gm/m 2)

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 Effects of dimensional properties on fabric properties

1. Air permeability
• Q = K(FA)(Δp)1/2
• Where
• Q – Volume flow rate per unit fabric area
• FA – free area (fractional area of the total fabric surface
not occupied by yarns)
• K – Proportionality constant dependent upon fabric
geometry and other fluid flow factors
• Δp – pressure differential across the fabric

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 2. Thermal conductivity
• The amount of heat (in calories or British thermal unit) that
flows through an insulating material is given by
Q = KA (T2 – T1)t
d
Where Q – total quantity of heat transmitted through the material
• K – Thermal conductivity constant
• A – Area through which the heat is flowing
• d – Thickness
• T1, T2 – temperatures of warm and cool surfaces
• t – Time of heat flow

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3. Wicking of fabrics
• The flow of liquid along the surface of fabric
• Mov.t is enhanced along the courses of weft knitted
fabrics

4. Moisture Absorption
Depends on
a. Type of fiber
b. Type of yarn
c. Fabric structure: water molecules stay in the space
between loops and slowly absorbed or transmitted

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 Summary of fabric properties
Property Plain 1x1 rib 1x1 purl Interlock

1 Appearance Different on face and back Same on both Same on both Same on both
V-shape on face sides sides
Arcs on back sides

2 Extensibility

Lengthwise Moderate Moderate Very high Moderate

widthwise High Very high High Moderate
Area Moderate – high High Very high Moderate
3 Thickness and Thicker and warmer than plain Much thicker Very much Very much
warmth woven and warmer thicker and thicker and
warmer warmer

4 Unroving Either end From end Either end From end

knitted last knitted last
5 Curling Tendency to curl No tendency No tendency No tendency
6 End uses Ladies stocking, shirts, Socks, cuffs, Children Under wear,
cardigans, dresses etc.. waist clothing, shirts, suits,
bands, thick and trouser
collars, heavy suits, sports
mens outwears wear
outwear and 29
under wears
 Properties of weft Knit. machines
Flat machines Circular machines Straight bar

Gauge (E) 3 - 18 5 – 40 14 – 50, max 90

Machine width Up to 78.7inches Upto 30inch dia, 2 – 16 sections, 36inch

max. 60inch Totally = 72 – 576inchs
dia
Needle type Latch Latch/bearded Bearded

Needle bed type Single/double Single/double Single/double

Products Jumpers, pullovers, Seam free hose, Jumpers, cardigans,

cardiagans, tights, sports dresses, suits, fully
dresses, suits, socks, fashioned hose,
trousers etc… trousers, vests, underwear, etc…
thermal wear,
etc…

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THA N K YO U