Patent ID: 6082143
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: D04B

Abstract:
A tension-controlled roll take-up assembly for a circular knitting machine having a circular knitting element for forming a tubular knit fabric, said apparatus comprising:(a) a roll frame assembly for receiving said tubular knit fabric and forming a fabric roll from said tubular knit fabric;(b) drive means attached to said roll frame assembly; and(c) a tubular knit fabric tension controller located between said knitting element and said roll frame assembly for maintaining substantially constant tension on the tubular knit fabric being formed by said circular knitting element; wherein said tubular knit fabric tension controller includes a plurality of cantilevered parallel rollers which move upwardly or downwardly dependent on a pre-selected level of tension on the tubular knit fabric being formed by said circular knitting element and a clutch attached to one end of one of said parallel rollers and to said drive means said clutch being operable to engage in response to upward movement of said parallel rollers, thereby maintaining said pre-selected level of tension on the tubular knit fabric being formed by said circular knitting element.