CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR KNITTING BODY SUIT ETC.

Abstract: For the purpose of enabling knitting of such clothes as body suit, brassiere, petticoat, and underpants at a squeezed part as waist or a local belly part (C) as breast continuously and throughout, a stitch cam (36) and cushion cam (37) of the stitch adjusting unit (35) of the circular knitting machine are moved up and down relatively to a second guard cam (30) by a signal from a stitch adjustment control unit (E), separately in each knitting zone (I, II, III, ...) or collectively and simultaneously in all the knitting zones through acting rings (38). The stitch cam (36) is moved back and forth together with the other cams in the direction of the radius of the knitting cylinder (2) for knitting various patterns. For knitting a partial pile stitch (h), a movable lowering cam (136) on the upstream side of an auxiliary stitch cam (134) is withdrawn to the non-acting position so as to clear a passage (135) for the action of a knitting needle above the auxiliary stitch cam (134).

Description: The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine for knitting knitwear articles, such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats and panties. Heretofore, in knitwear such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats, and panties, patterning by jacquard knitting and press dyeing has been carried out in many cases for patterning of the body part, for example. Such knitwear articles have been produced by knitting knitted fabrics of great width utilizing knitting machines having needle cylinders of large diameter, and by then cutting these knitted fabrics according to the shapes of the knitwear articles, such as the shapes of neck parts, sleeve parts, body parts, leg-opening parts, and crotch parts of the articles, and sewing together the pieces of knitted fabric thus cut. Such a known method is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-39044 published on the 5th October 1987. Since the various parts of the articles, such as the neck parts, sleeve parts, body parts, leg-opening parts, and crotch parts, are fabricated by sewing from the same knitted fabric, each article has the same knitting texture over the whole of its area. Although the patterns produced by jacquard knitting and by press dyeing are the principal patterns for body parts, patterns are also produced using two patterns of different character, such as composite patterns of spiral pattern having transparency, motif pattern of embroidery knitting, and composite pattern of tuck and knit miss, thereby to produce a variegated design and enhance the fashionability and value of the product. However, in the above described method of knitting body suits and the like, the sewing together of two knitted fabric pieces at their two lateral sides to produce the front and back is necessary in all cases, and this step is accompanied by the following problems. (a) Much labour and time must be expended in Sewing, and quantity (mass) production and reduction of labour are difficult. (b) The front and back knitted fabric pieces must be previously produced for sewing together. Cutting, contracting, etc., of the knitted fabric gives rise to deviations in dimensions on the two sides, whereby pattern mismatching and/or shape mismatching can be produced after sewing together, and improving of the product quality is difficult. (c) In a body suit having a pattern over its entire surface, mismatching of the pattern frequently occurs at the sewn seam part because of the sewing together, the matching requiring skilled labour. (d) Furthermore, as described hereinbefore, the various parts, such as the neck part, the sleeve part, the body part, the leg opening part, and the crotch part, are cut according to their respective sizes and body shapes and then sewn together. For this reason, the fabrication process is complicated. (e) Another problem arises from the fact that the bust part and the crotch part are knitted in the same manner as the rest of the article. For this reason, for local moisture absorption and temperature insulation in a body suit or the like for women, other knitted fabrics must be sewn together to compensate for this. (f) Furthermore, for mock pile knitting of knitwear articles, such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats, and panties, a machine in which pile sinkers of complicated form and a cam control device for controlling this are used has heretofore been proposed, but the construction is complicated, and assembly, adjustments, maintenance, and inspection are difficult. Conventional circular knitting machines comprise knitting cylinder means mounted in a freely revolvable manner on a machine frame, a plurality of knitting sections arranged around the knitting cylinder means, each of the knitting sections including patterning means and a knitting control cam unit, yard feeding means above the knitting control cam units, and a dial mechanism above the knitting cylinder means. Each of the knitting control cam units has a first guard cam on an upstream side thereof, a second guard cam on a downstream side thereof, a set of control cams below the first guard cam so as to define an operational passageway for the butts of a plurality of knitting needles, a further set of control cams below the second guard cam so as to define an operational passageway for the butts of the knitting needles, and a lifting jack cam and a lowering jack cam provided in each of the knitting sections for guiding a plurality of jacks associated with the knitting needles. The basic structure of such a conventional circular knitting machine can be ascertained from any basic text book on circular knitting machines, and accordingly this structure will not be further described herein. However such conventional circular knitting machines cannot be used to overcome the above described problems inherent in the known methods of knitting body suits and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a circular knitting machine for knitting knitwear, such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats, and panties, which enables knitting continuously over the entire article, such as a body suit of variegated design, without it being necessary to sew together two fabric pieces along their two lateral sides to produce the front and the back of the article. According to the present invention there is provided a circular knitting machine for knitting knitwear articles, comprising knitting cylinder means mounted in a freely revolvable manner on a machine frame, a plurality of knitting sections arranged around said knitting cylinder means, each of said knitting sections including patterning means and a knitting control cam unit, yarn feeding means above the knitting control cam units and a dial mechanism above the knitting cylinder means, each of said knitting control cam units having a first guard cam on an upstream side thereof, a second guard cam on a downstream side thereof, a set of control cams below said first guard cam so as to define an operation passageway for the butts of a plurality of knitting needles, a further set of control cams below said second guard cam so as to define an operation passageway for the butts of the knitting needles, and a lifting jack cam and a lowering jack cam provided in each of said knitting sections for guiding a plurality of jacks associated with the knitting needles, characterised in that said further set of control cams includes a stitching cam and a cushion cam constituting parts of a stitch density adjusting device, and in that the machine further comprises reciprocating means for advancing and retracting each stitching cam relative to the knitting cylinder means between an operative position and an inoperative position, first moving means for causing up-and-down movement of the stitching cam and the cushion cam of each knitting section relative to the second guard cam irrespective of the other knitting sections to carry out stitch density adjustment, and second moving means for causing simultaneous up-and-down movement of the stitching cams and the cushion cams of all the knitting sections relative to the associated second guard cams to carry out stitch density adjustment. When knitting a body suit or the like, the patterning means and the knitting control cam unit may be controlled in accordance with signals from a knitting control device in synchronism with the revolution of the knitting cylinder means, control cams of the patterning means and the knitting control cam unit being caused to advance and retract in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder means under such control. Furthermore, the stitch cams of the stitch density adjustment means may be controlled so as to be advanced and retracted in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder means for each knitting section independently or for all knitting sections at once. By these provisions, it becomes possible, without having to sew together two knitted fabric pieces along opposite lateral sides to produce the front and the back, to knit a continuous pattern over the entire article, for example according to a variegated design using two patterns of different character together. Also, it is possible, without relying on pile sinkers of complicated shape and cam control devices for controlling the same, to carry out garment length knitting of parts of a body suit or the like, such as the neck part, sleeve parts, body part, leg opening parts, and crotch parts, as well as knitting of knitting textures which vary locally. Furthermore, it is possible, by means of the stitch density adjusting means or yarn feeding means, to control continuously or intermittently by feeding the ground yarn and an elastic yarn singly or in combination, and by adjusting the stitch density at the same time, so as to knit a product such as a body suit of complex form. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section showing half of the principal parts of a circular knitting machine for knitting body suits, etc., according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a developed view showing a patterning device and a knitting control cam unit installed in each of a plurality of knitting sections of the circular knitting machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a stitch density adjustment device of the circular knitting machine of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side view of the same device; Figure 5 is a front view of the same device; Figure 6 is a rear view of the same device; Figure 7 is a perspective view as viewed from the inner side of the same device; Figure 8 is a perspective view as viewed from the outer side of the same device; Figure 9 is a side view showing one part of the stitch density adjustment device of the circular knitting machine of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same device; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the stitch density adjustment device; Figures 12 to 15 are developed views, similar to the view of Figure 2, demonstrating operational modes of the circular knitting machine; Figure 16a is a developed view indicating the states of cams of a knitting section during mock pile knitting; Figure 16b is a knitting texture diagram corresponding to Figure 16a; Figure 17a is a developed view indicating the states of cams of a knitting section during another mode of mock pile knitting; Figure 17b is a knitting texture diagram corresponding to Figure 17a; Figure 18a is a developed view indicating the states of cams of a knitting section during another mode of mock pile knitting; Figure 18b is a knitting texture diagram corresponding to Figure 18a; Figures 19a to 19f are descriptive views showing knitwear articles which can be knitted by means of the knitting machine; Figure 20 is a sectional view showing parts of another circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention having a pile knitting device; Figure 21 is a partial plan view of the same; Figure 22 is a front view of the same; Figure 23 is a sectional view of one part of Figure 22; Figure 24 is a side view of Figure 22 as viewed from the left side; Figures 25a and 25b are a front view and a perspective view for explaining the operational action of a pile sinker; Figures 26a and 26b are a front view and a perspective view for explaining another operational action of the pile sinker; and Figure 27 is an explanatory diagram for describing pile knitting of the crotch part of an article such as a pair of shorts. 1. Knitting cylinder assembly Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a machine frame constituting an integral structure with a table. On this machine frame 1, a knitting cylinder 2 is revolvable, supported by way of a bearing 3. Around the outer periphery of the knitting cylinder 2, a large number of needle grooves 4 are formed in the axial direction, that is in the up-and-down direction. In each needle groove 4, a jack 5 and a knitting needle 6 of known type are provided in a freely slidable state in the up-and-down direction. In each of a plurality (8 in this embodiment) of knitting sections provided around the outer periphery of the machine frame 1 in a revolving path at the lower part of the jacks 5, there are provided jack cams 7 each comprising a lifting jack cam 7a and a lowering jack cam 7b of hill-and-valley form as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so as to raise together the jacks 5 or the knitting needles 6. As is known, the jacks 5 have butts 5a, and the knitting needles 6 have butts 6a. Furthermore, between each lifting jack cam 7a and its respective lowering jack cam 7b, a clearing cam 7c is provided as shown in FIG. 2 in a manner to freely swing upward or downward so as to raise a jack 5 or a knitting needle 6 from a tuck level TL to a clear level CL. This clearing cam 7c is actuated in its upward and downward swinging movement through a control cable (not shown) in response to a command signal from a patterning control circuit (also not shown) of a patterning device 15 described hereinafter. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a sinker bed 8, a top ring 9, and other known parts are mounted on the upper part of the knitting cylinder 2. On the sinker bed 8, a multiple number of sinker grooves 10 are formed radically with respect to the axis of the knitting cylinder 2. In each sinker groove 10 is fitted a pile sinker 11 for knitting fine stitches. These pile sinkers 11 are so provided that they can be moved in sliding motion in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the knitting cylinder 2 by a sinker cam 13 of a sinker cap 12 provided on an upper table 1a, which is integral with the machine frame 1. 2. Patterning device Referring to FIG. 1, in each of the plural number (for example, 8) of knitting sections of the machine frame disposed on the outer side of the jacks 5, a protective frame 14 of box shape is mounted. In each protective frame 14, a patterning device 15 is provided. Each patterning device 15 comprises a plurality of needle selectors 16, such as piezoelectric needle selectors, each having a pair of upper and lower piezoelectric elements 16a and 16b. At the extremity of each of the piezoelectric elements 16a and 16b of each needle selector 16, a needle selecting lever (actuating member) 17 of T shape is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft 18 so as to be capable of pushing the butts 5a of the aforedescribed jacks 5. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 16a and 16b of the needle selector 16 operate alternately in response to command signals from a patterning needle selection control circuit to actuate the needle selecting lever 17. The butts 5a of the jacks 5 are thereby pushed and carry out a needle selecting operation. 3. Yarn feeding devices Referring to FIG. 1, on the upper table 1a fixed to the machine frame 1 in each of the knitting sections, a yarn feeding device 19 is disposed above the periphery of the knitting cylinder 2. As shown in FIG. 2, through the yarn paths 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, ..... of each yarn feeding device 19, are passed, for example, 4 strands of ground yarn BY for knitting plain knitted fabrics, for example, and, for example, 3 strands of spiral yarn SY for knitting pile knitted fabrics. 4. Dial mechanism Referring again to FIG. 1, at the upper part of the centerline o-o of the knitting cylinder 2, a dial member 21 of a dial mechanism 20 is coaxially provided. This dial member 21 has a tubular shaft 21a, in the interior of which a revolving spindle or shaft 22 is supported by a bearing 23 so as to revolve in synchronism with the revolution of the knitting cylinder 2. Furthermore, to this revolving shaft 22 is fixed a revolving disk 24 extending horizontally to the upper part of the outer periphery of the knitting cylinder 2. On the radially outward end part of this revolving disk 24 is mounted a known transfer jack 25 for make-up knitting. In addition, immediately above this transfer jack 25, a cutter device 26 comprising a fixed cutter 26a and a movable circular cutter 26b is provided on the dial member 21 and the revolving disk 24. This cutter device 26 is provided for cutting off yarn ends. 5. Knitting control cam units Referring to FIG. 1, above each patterning device 15 is provided an annular intermediate table 1b integrally fixed to the machine frame 1. On these intermediate tables 15 are mounted knitting control cam units 27 of the same number as the patterning devices 15 and the yarn feeding devices 19 of the plurality of knitting sections (8 knitting sections I to VIII). More specifically, in each of the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12, a supporting structure 39 (see FIGS. 3 to 11) is fixed integrally to a holding frame 28 (FIG. 1) of the knitting control cam unit 27 and is so mounted as to face the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. As shown in developed view in FIG. 2, a first guard cam 29 on the upstream side relative to the revolving direction of the knitting cylinder 2 and a second guard cam 30 on the downstream side are fixedly provided on each holding frame 28. A guide cam 31 below the first guard cam 29 is provided to guide the butts of the aforementioned jacks 5. As shown further in FIG. 2, between each first guard cam 29 and the guide cam 31, known control cams, i.e., a tucking cam 32, a clearing cam 33, and a transfer cam 34, are provided in known manner, so that they can advance and retract in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder 2 and form an operational passageway. Furthermore, below the second guard cam 30, a stitching cam 36 of a stitch density adjusting device 35 is so provided as to form an operational passageway and to be movable up and down, and as to be capable of advancing and retracting in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder 2. Still further there is provided, below the stitching cam 36, a cushion cam 37 which is capable of up-and-down motion together with the stitching cam 36 and forms an operational passageway. The density adjusting device 35 is installed in each of the knitting sections I to VIII in order to carry out stitch density adjustment of the bulging parts and other configurations of the waist part and the bust parts of a body suit or the like, as shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an operating ring 38 is provided around the outer periphery of the annular intermediate table 1b integral with the machine frame 1 so as to be actuated in an arcuately reciprocating sliding motion relative to the intermediate table 1b by an actuator J (FIG. 8). In the part of the intermediate table 1b in the vicinity of this operating ring 38, the aforementioned supporting structure 39, which is integral with the holding frame 28 (FIG. 1) of the knitting control cam unit 27, is mounted as indicated in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 11. The supporting structure 39 has a shape as shown in FIG. 11, and on this supporting structure 39 are formed plate parts 39a and 39b forming together an angle-shaped part. The plate part 39a extends radially toward the knitting cylinder 2 as shown in FIG. 3. The plate part 39b is formed to intersect perpendicularly the plate part 39a. At the end of the plate part 39a, a projection 39c (FIG. 11) is formed. On this projection 39c, projections 40a and 40b of a vertically movable member 40 are slidably connected by a guide pin 41 so as to be freely movable in the up-and-down direction. This vertically movable member 40 is urged upward by the force of a coil spring 42 (FIG. 4) provided in the support structure 39. Furthermore, on a side wall surface of the plate part 39a of the above described support structure 39, the aforedescribed second guard cam 30 is fixed. On the plate part 39b, an L-shaped actuation bar 43 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 44. At a front end part of the vertically movable member 40, the aforementioned cushion cam 37 is attached as indicated in FIG. 11. On one side wall of the vertically movable member 40, a guide groove 45 is formed horizontally in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder 2. In this guide groove 45, a stitching slider 46 having the aforementioned stitching cam 36 is slidably fitted to be slidable in the radial direction. At an outer end part of the vertically movable member 40, a forked part 40c is formed. In this forked part 40c engages a stop pin 39d (FIG. 4) imbeddedly fixed to the support structure. This stop pin 39d functions cooperatively with the guide pin 41 to guide the vertically movable member 40 in the up-and-down direction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, on one side of the vertically movable member 40 on the radially outer side of the stitching slider 46, cover members 47a and 47b constituting a pair are mounted with a spacing gap 48 therebetween, and, within this gap 48, a hook-shaped cam lever 49 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft 50. Along the outer edge of this cam lever 49 are formed a first cam part 49a and a second cam part 49b as shown in FIG. 4. A roller pin 51 imbeddedly fixed to the stitching slider 46 is adapted to selectively contact the first cam part 49a and the second cam part 49b. The roller pin 51 is urged by the elastic force of a coil spring 52 to thrust the stitching slider 46 in the direction toward the central axis of the knitting cylinder 2. At the proximal root part of the cam lever 49, an engagement part 49c is formed. This engagement part 49c engages with a stop pin 53 fixed to the cover member 47a and regulates the position of the stitching slider 46, which is being subjected to the elastic force of the coil spring 52. To an edge part of the cam lever 49 is connected one end of an actuating cable 54. The other end of this actuating cable 54 is passed through a bracket 55 attached to the cover member 47b and is connected to a stitch density adjustment control circuit device E (FIG. 8). The stitch density adjustment control circuit device E operates to control the actuator J of the aforedescribed operating ring 38. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, on the support structure 39, in the vicinity of the aforedescribed actuation bar 43, a stand member 56 is mounted upright. At the upper part of this stand member 56, an extension 56a is formed. At the outer end of this extension 56a, as shown in FIG. 9, a pushing lever 57 of bell-crank shape is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 58. Into one part of this pushing lever 57, an adjustment screw 59 is screwed. Also, to the stand member 56, in the vicinity of this adjustment screw, an actuating cable 60 is connected by way of a coil spring 61. The other end of this actuating cable 60 is passed through a bracket 62 attached to the stand member 56 and connected to the aforedescribed stitch density adjustment control device E (FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 9, a stop 63 is attached to the extension 56a. This stop 63 functions to set the position of the pushing lever 57 when its contact face 57a contacts this stop 63. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, through the stand member 56, immediately below the adjustment screw 59, a push rod 64 is loosely fitted. In the vicinity of the lower end 64a of this push rod 64, a cutout part 38a (FIG. 10) is formed in the operating ring 38. In this cutout part 38a, a mounting bracket 65 of angle shape is inserted and fixed. On this mounting bracket 65, a rockable lever 66 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 67. One arm 66a of this rockable lever 66 is in contact with the lower end 64a of the push rod 64, while the other arm 66b of this rockable lever 66 is adapted to push and move the lower part of the aforedescribed actuation bar 43 (FIG. 6). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, an adjustment screw 40d for setting the lowermost position of descent of the aforedescribed vertically movable member 40 is screw-fitted therein so as to abut against the support structure 39. At one part of the actuation bar 43, an adjustment screw 43a is screw-fitted therein so as to abut against the vertically movable member 40. The knitting control cam unit 27 of the aforedescribed construction is provided in each of the knitting sections I through VIII. The aforementioned stitch density adjusting device 35 operates in accordance with the operation of the density adjustment control device E to controllably adjust the density in the following manner with respect to the knitting sections I through VIII in the case, for example, where the stitch densities of the waist portion of a body suit of FIGS. 19a to 19f are to be adjusted. (a). The case of coarse-density knitting by lowering simultaneously each stitching cam 36 and cushion cam 37 independently of the other knitting sections. On the basis of a command from the density adjustment control device E (FIG. 8), the actuating cable 60 is pulled in the arrow direction indicated in FIG. 9 counter to the elastic force of the coil spring 61, whereby the pushing lever 57 rotates in the clockwise direction around the pivot pin 58. Consequently the adjustment screw 59 screw-fitted in this pushing lever 57 presses downward one arm 66a of the rockable lever 66 by way of the push rod 64. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the other arm 66b of the rockable lever 66 pushes the lower part of the actuation bar 43. Accordingly, the actuation bar 43 together with the adjustment screw 43a integral therewith push the vertically movable member 40 downward counter to the elastic force of the coil spring 42 (FIG. 4), whereby the stitching cam 36 and the cushion cam 37 mounted on the vertically movable member 40 are simultaneously lowered and assume their state for coarse-density knitting. In this connection, in place of the above described actuating cable 60, for example, an actuator driven by a pneumatic cylinder device, a hydraulic cylinder device, or an electromagnetic device may be coupled to the pushing lever 57. (b). The case of coarse-density knitting from fine density by lowering simultaneously and altogether the stitching cams 36 and the cushion cams 37 of all knitting sections I through VIII. On the basis of a command from the density adjustment control device E, the actuator J (FIG. 8) pushes the operating ring 38 in the arrow direction indicated in FIG. 6. Thereupon the actuation bar 43 and the adjustment screw 43 integral therewith together push the vertically movable member 40 downward counter to the elastic force of the coil spring 42 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the stitching cams 36 and the cushion cams 37 provided on all vertically movable members 40 descend simultaneously and in toto , whereby the state for knitting coarse density is assumed. This is suitable for knitting the parts of increasing diameter over the entire periphery. Also, by controlling in the reverse direction from coarse density to fine density, the waist part is knitted. On the basis of a command from the density adjustment control device E, the density adjusting device 35 of each knitting section is controlled from fine density to coarse density, whereby bulges or distended parts can be knitted which extend over only parts of the body suit and the like shown in FIGS. 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, and 19f, for example bulges of the bust parts c and bulges of the hip part d and the hip part d of the panties g . (c). The case of knitting a composite pattern of a spiral pattern and a motif pattern in the body suit a or petticoat f shown in FIGS. 19a and 19e. In order to place a knitting needle 6 in its inoperative state, the transfer cam 34 and the stitching cam 36 of the first knitting section I are retracted outwardly in the radial direction as indicated by intermittent lines in FIG. 13. That is, in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, in response to a command from the stitch density adjustment control device E, the aforedescribed actuating cable 54 is pulled in the arrow direction indicated in FIG. 4 counter to the elastic force of the coil spring 52, whereby the cam lever 49 rotates clockwisely about the pivot shaft 50. For this reason, the roller pin 51 imbeddedly provided on the stitching slider 46 contacting the first cam part 49a of the cam lever 49 moves toward and contacts the second cam part 49b. Thereupon, the stitching slider 46 causes the stitching cam 36 integral therewith to shift outward in the radial direction of the knitting cylinder 2 under the elastic force of the coil spring 52 and thereby retract. In this manner, a composite pattern of a spiral pattern and a motif pattern can be knitted in a body suit or the like as shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f. Next, the procedures of knitting various patterns will be described. (1). Knitting a spiral pattern of a body suit or the like shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f. The knitting control cam units 27 of all knitting sections I to VIII (sections up to knitting section IV shown) are placed in the same state as the knitting control cam units 27 of the first and second knitting sections I and II shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 12, the thick lines A and B in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II indicate the path through which the butts of the knitting needles 6 pass and the path through which the lower parts of the jacks 5 pass. The thin line (intermittent line) C in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II indicates the path through which the hooks of the knitting needles 6 pass. As indicated in FIG. 2, each yarn feeding device 19 is prepared beforehand so as to supply ground yarn BY from the yarn path 19a thereof and spiral yarn SY from the spiral yarn path thereof. Separately, the tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, the stitching cam 36, and the cushion cam 37 of the knitting control cam unit 27 acting on each knitting needle 6 are placed in their advanced state so as to actuate that knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2 as indicated by solid line. The transfer cam 34 is placed in its retracted state so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2 as indicated by intermittent line. Furthermore each swing cam 7c, through which the lower parts of the jacks 5 pass is placed in its upright state so as to be at the clear level CL. Therefore, when the knitting cylinder 2 revolves, all knitting needles 6 ascend to the clear level CL to clear the tuck cams 32 and the clearing cams 33 and thereafter descend to the tuck level TL at the first guard cam 29. Also, the knitting needles 6 at the tuck level TL and the jacks 5 selected by the needle selecting lever 17 of the aforedescribed patterning device 15 are lifted by the lifting jack cam 7a and, further, are lifted by the swing cam 7c up to the clearing level CL. As a result, the knitting needles on the jacks 5 reach the clear level CL, and the knitting needles 6 at the tuck level TL and the knitting needles at the clear level CL together pass through the operational passageway of the second guard cam 30, the stitch cam 36, and the cushion cam 37 due to the portioned distribution of the ground yarn BY and the spiral yarn SY from the yarn paths thereby to knit a spiral pattern. In this manner, similar spiral knitting is carried out also in the other knitting sections II to VIII, whereby a spiral pattern of the body suit or the like as indicated in FIGS. 19a to 19f is knitted. (2). Knitting a composite pattern of a spiral pattern and a motif pattern of a body suit or the like indicated in FIGS. 19a to 19f. In this case, in the knitting sections I to VIII indicated in FIGS. 2 and 13 (in which knitting sections up to knitting section IV are shown), knitting is carried out with adjacent knitting sections, such as the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, as a pair. Prior to this knitting operation, the yarn feeding devices 19 are so prepared beforehand that motif pattern yarn MY will be fed from the spiral yarn path will be fed from the yarn feeding device 19 in the first knitting section I, and that, in the second knitting section II, ground yarn BY will be fed from the yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19 similarly as in the case illustrated in FIG. 12, and spiral yarn SY will be fed from the spiral yarn paths of the spiral yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19. In FIG. 13, as in the case indicated in FIG. 12, in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, the thick lines A and B indicate the path of the butts of the knitting needles 6 and the path of the lower parts of the jacks 5, and, in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, the thin line (intermittent line) C indicates the path of the hooks of the knitting needles 6. The tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the cushion cam 37 of the knitting control cam unit 27 that act on the knitting needles 6 in the first knitting section I are placed beforehand in their advanced state as indicated by solid line so as to actuate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. The transfer cam 34 and the stitching cam 36 are placed in their retracted state as indicated by intermittent line so as to render inactive the knitting needles of the knitting cylinder 2. In addition, the tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the transfer cam 34 of the second knitting section II are placed in their retracted state as indicated by intermittent line so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. The stitching cam 36 and the cushion cam 37 are placed in their advanced state as indicated by solid line so as to actuate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. Furthermore, each swing cam 7c along which the lower ends of the jacks 5 pass in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II is placed in its erect state to be at its clear level CL. Therefore, as the knitting cylinder 2 revolves, the knitting needles 6 are lifted up to the clear level CL by the tuck cam 32 and the clearing cam 33 and are then lowered to the tuck level TL by the first guard cam 29. Thereafter these knitting needles 6 at the tuck level TL and the jacks 5 selected by the needle selecting lever 17 of the aforedescribed patterning device 15 are lifted by the lifting jack cam 7a and further lifted up to the clear level CL by the swing cam 7c. The knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 which have risen to the clear level CL rise from the tuck level TL to the clear level CL, and a motif pattern yarn MY is caught on these knitting needles 6 at the clear level CL. However, since the transfer cam 34 and the stitching cam 36 of the first knitting section I have been placed in retracted states, as indicated by the intermittent line, so as to inactivate the knitting needles of the knitting cylinder 2, the knitting needles 6 on which the motif pattern yarn MY has been caught move on as they are to the second knitting section II. Then, since the tucking cams 32, the clearing cams 33, and the transfer cams 34 in the second knitting section II are in their retracted states, as indicated by the intermittent line, so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2, the knitting needles 6 on which the motif pattern yarn MY is caught carry out knitting of the spiral pattern as described in conjunction with FIG. 12 and, at the same time, carry out also knitting of the motif pattern MY. Thus knitting of a composite pattern can be carried out. In this manner, by carrying out similar knitting also in the other knitting sections III to VIII, knitting of a composite pattern of a spiral pattern and a motif pattern MY of a body suit or the like shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f can be carried out. In the case of stitch density adjustment of the waist portion of the body suit or the like of FIGS. 19a to 19f, all of the stitch density adjusting devices 35 installed in all knitting sections I to VIII as described hereinbefore are operated together at the same time by way of the operating ring 38. In the case of knitting of a local bulge, the operating ring 38 is not operated, but the stitch density adjusting devices 35 of the respective knitting sections are operated separately as described hereinbefore. (3). Spiral knitting of a tuck pattern of a body suit or the like shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f, that is knitting a composite pattern of a tuck pattern and a spiral pattern. In the knitting sections I to VIII shown in FIGS. 2 and 14 (up to knitting station IV being shown), knitting is carried out with adjacent knitting sections, such as the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, as a pair. First, preparations are made beforehand so that ground yarn BY can be fed from the yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19 in the first knitting section I. Further, in the second knitting section II, preparation is made so as to feed ground yarn BY from the yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19 and also spiral yarn SY from the spiral yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19, as in the case illustrated in FIG. 12. In this connection, in FIG. 14, as in the case shown in FIG. 12, the thick lines A and B indicate the path through which the knitting needles 6 pass and the path through which the lower parts of the jacks 5 pass in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, and the thin (intermittent) line C indicates the path through which the hooks of the knitting needles 6 pass in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II. The tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the transfer cam 34 of the knitting control cam unit 27 in order to act on the knitting needles 6 in the first knitting section I are placed and left in their retracted states, as indicated by the intermittent line, so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. The stitching cam 36 and the cushion cam 37 are placed and left in their advanced state, as indicated by the solid line, so as to activate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. In addition, the tuck cam 32, the clearing cam 33, the stitching cam 36, and the cushion cam 37 of the second knitting section II are placed and left in their advanced state, as indicated by the solid line, so as to activate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. The transfer cam 34 of the second knitting section II is placed and left in its retracted state, as indicated by the intermittent line, so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. Further, the swing cam 7c past which the lower parts of the jacks 5 are to travel in the first knitting section I is placed and left in its downwardly swung state so as to be at the tuck level TL. Also, the swing cam 7c past which the lower parts of the jacks 5 are to travel in the second knitting section II is placed and left in its erect state so as to be at the clear level CL. Therefore, when the knitting cylinder 2 revolves, the knitting needles 6 pass along a miss level ML because of the tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the transfer cam 34 being in the inactive state, but the jacks 5 selected by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 are lifted by the lifting jack cams 7a and travel as they are at the tuck level TL. Accordingly, the knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 at the tuck level TL also travel as they are at the tuck level TL. On the other hand, the knitting needles 6 at the miss level ML miss the ground yarn BY and become non-knitting, while the knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 at the tuck level TL carry out tuck knitting of the stitching cam 36 with the ground yarn BY together with the leading loops. The knitting needles 6, after knitting of the tuck pattern, knit the spiral pattern in the second knitting section II as described in conjunction with FIG. 12. Thus, a composite pattern of a tuck pattern and a spiral pattern is knit by the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II. In the above described manner, similar knitting is carried out also by the other knitting sections III to VIII, whereby knitting of a composite pattern of a tuck pattern and a spiral pattern of a body suit or the like shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f can be carried out. (4). Knitting a composite pattern of a Jacquard pattern and a spiral pattern of a body suit or the like shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f. In the knitting sections I to VIII indicated in FIGS. 2 and 15 (knitting stations up to IV shown in these figures), knitting is carried out with the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II as a pair. Beforehand, preparation is made so that ground yarn BY will be fed from the ground yarn path of the ground yarn feeding device 19 in the first knitting section I. Further, in the second knitting section II, preparation is made beforehand so that ground yarn BY will be fed from the yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19, and spiral yarn SY will be fed from the spiral yarn paths of the yarn feeding device 19, as in the case of FIG. 12. In this connection, in FIG. 15, as in the case illustrated in FIG. 12, in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, the thick lines A and B indicate the path along which the butts of the knitting needles 6 pass and the path along which the lower parts of the jacks 5 pass respectively. In the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II, the thin line (intermittent line) C indicates the path along which the hooks of the knitting needles 6 pass. The tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the transfer cam 34 of the knitting control cam unit 27 that act on the knitting needles 6 in the first knitting section I are placed and left in their retracted states as indicated by the intermittent line so as to inactivate the knitting needles of the knitting cylinder 2. The stitch cam 36 and the cushion cam 37 are placed and left in their advanced stares as indicated by the solid line so as to activate the knitting needles of the knitting cylinder 2. Further, the tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, the stitching cam 36, and the cushion cam 37 of the second knitting section II are placed and left in their advanced states as indicated by the solid line so as to activate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. Also, the transfer cam 34 of the second knitting section II is placed and left in its retracted state as indicated by the intermittent line so as to inactivate the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2. In addition, the swing cams 7c past which the lower parts of the jacks 5 pass in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II are placed and left in their erect state so as to be at the clear level CL. Therefore, as the knitting cylinder 2 revolves, the knitting needles 6 pass through the miss level ML since the tucking cams 32, the clearing cams 33, and the transfer cams 34 are in their inactivating states. However, the jacks 5 selected by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 are lifted by the lifting jack cams 7a, and the knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 at the clear level CL ascend from the miss level ML to the clear level CL. The knitting needles 6 at the miss level ML miss the ground yarn BY and assume a non-knitting state, and the above mentioned knitting needles 6 at the clear level CL are caused to carry out knitting of the ground yarn BY in a Jacquard pattern by the stitching cams 36. The knitting needles 6 after this Jacquard pattern knitting knit the spiral pattern in the succeeding second knitting section II, as described in conjunction with FIG. 12. Thus, a composite pattern of a Jacquard pattern and a spiral pattern is knit in the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II. By knitting a Jacquard pattern and a spiral pattern in the same manner also in the other knitting sections III to VIII, knitting of a composite pattern of a Jacquard pattern and a spiral pattern of a body suit or the like as shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f can be carried out. While knitting of only a spiral pattern, a composite pattern of a spiral pattern and a motif pattern, a composite pattern of a tuck pattern and a spiral pattern, and a composite pattern of a Jacquard pattern and a spiral pattern of a body suit or the like as shown in FIGS. 19a to 19f has been described above, other composite patterns, such as those of a motif pattern and a tuck pattern, a motif pattern and a Jacquard pattern, a tuck pattern and a Jacquard pattern, and a tuck pattern and Jacquard pattern, can be accomplished by suitably combining the yarn feeders and the cams of the knitting control cam units. Furthermore, in order to knit knitwear such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats, and pants as illustrated in FIGS. 19a to 19f, the characteristic of spiral knitting for garment length knitting of the neck part, sleeve opening part, and leg opening part can be utilized. For cutting the garment-length-knit parts of the spiral yarn or cutting of parts other than the pattern part of the motif yarn at the time of knitting a motif pattern, the cutter device 26 shown in FIG. 1 is used. Further, after press forming, cutting can be done along the shaping line with scissors. Next, with respect to FIGS. 16a and 16b, mock-pile knitting of the bust parts c and the crotch part d ₁ of the body suit a and the bust parts e1 of the brassiere e as shown in FIGS. 19a to 19d will now be described. (1). FIG. 16a represents the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II among all knitting sections for mock-pile knitting, while FIG. 16b shows a partial knitting design (according to J.I.S. standard indication) of mock-pile knitting. The arrow mark w in this FIG. 16b indicates the wale direction, while the arrow mark c of FIG. 16b indicates the course direction. Further, the reference symbol "l" indicates knit, while reference symbol "v" indicates float. The range a.e of FIG. 16b indicates plain stitch parts of the body suit a and the brassiere e , while the range c.d.e₁ of FIG. 16b indicates the bust parts c and crotch part d ₁ of the body suit a and the bust parts e ₁ of the brassiere e . Previously, in the first knitting section I in FIG. 16a, ground yarn BY is fed from the ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19. In the second knitting section II, ground yarn BY is fed from the ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19, and also pile yarn is fed from the pile yarn path of the yarn feeding device 19. The tucking cams 32, the clearing cams 33, the transfer cams 34, the stitching cams 36, the cushion cams 37, and the swing cams 7c of the knitting control cam units 27 of the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II are respectively set is the same states as those indicated in FIG. 12. At the time of operation of the circular knitting machine, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the first knitting section I is placed in the inactive state, and the swing cams 7c of the first knitting section I are raised to and left in their operative state. Also, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the second knitting section II is placed in its operative state, and the swing cams 7c of the second knitting section II are raised to and left in their operative states. Further, the symbols knit "l" and float "v" of the knitting design of FIG. 16b are inputted beforehand into a patterning control circuit (not shown) so that the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 of the second knitting section II will selectively actuate the jacks 5. At the time of knitting, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 selectively actuates the jacks 5 on the basis of signals from this patterning control circuit. Therefore, after the knitting needles 6 which have been lifted to the clear level CL by the tucking cam 32 and the clearing cam 33 of the first knitting section I are pressed downward to the tuck level TL by the first guard cam 29, all jacks 5 are lifted due to the inoperative state of the patterning device 15 to the clear level CL by the jack cam 7a and the swing cam 7c. All knitting needles 6 thus lifted together with this also ascend to the clear level CL, and, when being lowered by the stitching cam 36, all knitting needles 6 carry out plain stitch knitting with the odd-number 1 courses in the course direction c of the knitting design of FIG. 16b as knit "l", being supplied with ground yarn BY. Next, the knitting needles 6 which have been lifted to the clear level CL by the tucking cam 32 and the clearing cam 33 of the second knitting section II are pressed downward to the tuck level TL by the first guard cam 29. Thereafter the jacks 5 are selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15, and these jacks 5 are selectively moved to the miss level ML or the tuck level TL to be attained by the lifting jack cam 7a. Further, the jacks 5 which have been lifted to the tuck level TL by this lifting jack cam 7a are raised to the clear level CL by the swing cam 7c, and the knitting needles 6 above these jacks 5 at the clear level CL and the knitting needles 6 at the tuck level TL carry out knitting of a mock pile with ground yarn BL and pile yarn PY supplied from the yarn feeding device 19. As is indicated in the partial knitting design of the mock pile knitting of FIG. 16b, the sequential order of selection of the jacks 5 which has been inputted beforehand into the patterning control circuit will be taken as one example. Then, in the case of repetition of the operation wherein two courses of course c of FIG. 16b are in the direction of wale w , knit "l" is "l wale w", and float "v" is "3 wale w", the knitting needles 6 at the clear level CL operate on both the ground yarn BY and the pile yarn PY as knit "l". Although the knitting needles 6 at the tuck level TL knit ground yarn BY from pile knitting, the pile yarn PY is knit as float "v", and the float "v" "3 wale w" thus floated becomes a slack portion at the back side of the ground yarn BY, whereby a mock pile is knitted. In this connection, the odd-number courses 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the course direction c of the knitting design of FIG. 16b are knitted respectively in the knitting sections I, III, V, and VII. The even-number courses 2, 4, 6, and 8 in the course direction c of the knitting design of FIG. 16b are knitted respectively in the knitting sections II, IV, VI, and VIII. Although the ratio of knit "l" to float "v" in the range c.d.e₁ is mode 1 : 3, a zigzag or cross-stitch combination may also be used. (2). FIG. 17a shows the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II among all knitting sections for knitting another mock pile. FIG. 17b indicates a partial knitting design (according to JIS standard indication) of mock pile knitting. The arrow mark w of this FIG. 17b designates the wale direction, while the arrow mark c of FIG. 17b designates the course direction. Further, the symbol "l" indicates knit, while the symbol "v" indicates float. As in the case of FIG. 16b, the range a.e of FIG. 17b indicates plain knitting portions of a body suit a and a brassiere e , and the range c.d.e₁ of FIG. 17b indicates the bust parts c and the crotch part d ₁ of the body suit a and the bust parts e ₁ of the brassiere e . Previously, in the first knitting section I in FIG. 17a, ground yarn BY is fed from the ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19. In the second knitting section II, ground yarn BY is fed from the ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19, and also pile yarn PY is fed from the pile yarn path of the yarn feeding device 19. Next, the tuck cam 32, the clearing cam 33, the stitching cam 36, the cushion cam 37, and the swing cam 7c of the knitting control cam unit 27 of the first knitting section I are respectively set in the same states as those indicated in FIG. 12. Also, the stitching cam 36, the cushion cam 37, and the swing cam 7c of the knitting control cam unit 27 of the second knitting section II are in their operative state, having advanced to the side of the knitting machine cylinder 2, and the tucking cam 32, the clearing cam 33, and the transfer cam 34 of the knitting control cam unit 27 of the second knitting section II are in their inoperative state, being retracted from the side of the knitting machine cylinder 2. Further, the swing cam 7c of the second knitting section II is left in its erect state. At the time of operation of the circular knitting machine, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the first knitting section I is placed in its inoperative state, and the swing cam 7c of the first knitting section I is in its raised operative state. The needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the second knitting section II is placed in its operative state, and the swing cam 7c of the second knitting section II is in its raised operative state. Further, the symbols knit "l" and float "v" of the knitting design of FIG. 17b have been previously inputted into a patterning control circuit (not shown) so that the jacks 5 will be selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 of the second knitting section II, whereby, at the time of knitting, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 operates in response to signals from this patterning control circuit to selectively actuate the jacks 5. Therefore, the knitting needles 6 which have been lifted to the clear level CL by the tuck cam 32 and the clearing cam 33 of the first knitting section are pressed down to the tuck level TL by the first guard cam 29. Thereafter, because of the inoperative state of the patterning device 15, all jacks 5 are lifted to the clear level CL by the lifting jack cam 7a and the swing cam 7c. All of the knitting needles 6 which have ascended together with this also ascend to the clear level CL. When they are lowered by the stitching cam 36, all knitting needles 6 carry out plain knitting with knit "l" along the odd-number course 1 in the course direction c of the knitting design of FIG. 17b being fed with ground yarn BY. Next, in the second knitting section II, the jacks 5 are selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15, and these jacks 5 are selectively directed to the miss level ML and by the lifting jack cam 7 to the rising tuck level TL. The jacks 5 which have been lifted by the lifting jack cam 7a to the tuck level TL are lifted by the swing cam 7c to the clear level CL. When the knitting needles 6 above these jacks 5 at the clear level CL are lowered by the stitching cam 36, ground yarn BY from the ground yarn finger 19b of the yarn feeding device 19 and pile yarn PY are both directed to knit "l". On the other hand, the knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 at the miss level ML pass through the miss level ML and are floated "v". This float "v" 3 wale becomes a slack on the back side of the ground yarn BY, and mock pile knitting is carried out. The differences between FIGS. 17a and 17b and FIGS. 16a and 16b are that: in the knitting design in FIG. 17b, the range a.e in the wale direction w is all made knit "l" in the course direction c ; there are no floated yarn; and there is no cutting by means of a cutter device. (3). Finally, FIG. 18a shows the first knitting section I and the second knitting section II of the entire group of knitting sections for knitting another mock pile, and FIG. 18b shows a partial knitting design (according to JIS standard indication) of the mock pile knitting. In the first knitting section I in FIG. 18a, ground yarn BY is previously fed from a ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19, and, in the second knitting section II, ground yarn BY is fed from a ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19. Also, pile yarn PY is fed from a pile yarn path of the yarn feeding device 19. The tuck cam 32, the clearing cam 33, the stitching cam 36, the cushion cam 37, and the swing cam 7c of the knitting control cam unit 27 of the first knitting section I are respectively set in the states as those indicated in FIG. 12. The tucking cam 32, the stitching cam 36, the cushion cam 37, and the swing cam 7c of the knitting control cam unit of the second knitting section II are in their operative state, being advanced toward the knitting machine cylinder 2 side. The clearing cam 33 and the transfer cam 34 of each knitting control cam unit 27 of the second knitting section II are retracted from the knitting machine cylinder 2 side and are in inactive state. Further, the swing cam 7c of the second knitting section II is left in its erect state. At the time of operation of the circular knitting machine, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the first knitting section I is in its inoperative state, and each swing cam 7c of the first knitting section I is in its raised operative state. Also, the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 for actuating the jacks 5 of the second knitting section II is in its operative state, and each swing cam 7c of the second knitting section II is in its raised operative state. Further, the symbols knit "l" and float "v" of the knitting design of FIG. 18b have previously been inputted into a patterning control circuit (not shown) so that the jacks 5 will be selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 of the second knitting section II. At the time of knitting, the jacks 5 are selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 operating in response to signals from this patterning control circuit. Therefore, a knitting needle 6 which has been lifted to the clear level CL by a tucking cam 32 and a clearing cam 33 of the first knitting section I is pressed down to the tuck level TL by the first guard cam 29. Thereafter, since the patterning device 15 is in the inoperative state, all jacks 5 are lifted to the clear level CL by the lifting jack cam 7a and the swing cam 7a. Then all knitting needles 6 which have ascended together with this also ascend to the clear level CL and are lowered by the stitching cam 36, whereupon, being fed with ground yarn BY, all knitting needles 6 carry out plain knitting with knit "l" in the odd-number 1 course in the course direction c of the knitting design of FIG. 18b. Next, in the second knitting section II, the jacks 5 are selectively actuated by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15. These jacks 5 are selected to the tuck level TL to which they are lifted by the lifting jack cam 7a. A jack which has been lifted to the tuck level by the lifting jack cam 7a is lifted to the clear level CL by the swing cam 7c. On the other hand, the knitting needles 6 in the second knitting section II are lifted to the tuck level TL by the tucking cam 32 and, because the clearing cams 33 are in the inoperative state, are divided into knitting needles 6 passing by the tuck level TL and knitting needles 6 above the jacks 5 at the clear level CL and ascend to the clear level CL. When the knitting needles 6 are lowered by the stitching cams 36, they carry out knitting of a mock pile with the ground yarn BY from the ground yarn path 19b of the yarn feeding device 19 and the pile yarn PY. In this specific example, the range a.e in the wale direction w of the knitting design is entirely knit "l" in the course direction c , whereby there is no yarn to be floated, and there is no cutting action by means of the cutter device 26. FIGS. 20 through 26b illustrate another embodiment of a circular knitting machine which is capable of forming a knitted portion of a pile knitting fabric partially in a knitwear article. In this embodiment, in each of the sinker grooves 10 as shown in FIG. 1, a pile sinker for knitting a net of a fineness of, for example, middle gauge or fine gauge (14 NPI to 32 NPI) is inserted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, an inner surface cam 129 is fixedly mounted in the holding frame 28. Also, above this inner surface cam 129, a first guard cam 130 and a clearing cam 131 are so mounted on the holding frame 28 as to form a guide passageway 132 at the clear level CL and the tuck level TL of the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6. In this connection, in FIG. 20, a tucking cam corresponding to the tucking cam 32 shown in FIG. 2 is used but is not shown. Further, below the yarn finger 19b of the yarn feeding device 19, a second guard cam 133 and an auxiliary stitching cam 134 of a knitting control cam unit 27' are so mounted on the holding frame 28 as to form a C operation passageway 135 for the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6. In the neighborhood of the second guard cam 133 and the auxiliary stitch cam 134, a movable lowering cam 136 is so provided on the holding frame 28 that it can slide freely in the radial direction of the knitting machine cylinder 2. In the vicinity of the above mentioned second guard cam 133 and the auxiliary stitching cam 134, a guide groove 137 is formed in the radial direction of the knitting machine cylinder device 2 in the holding frame 28 as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24. In this guide groove 137 is slidably fitted a support structure 136b of the above mentioned movable lowering cam 136. Also, at an outer end part of this movable lowering cam support structure 136b, a pin shaft 138 having a roller 138a is secured in a movement adjustable manner as shown in FIG. 21. In the vicinity of the aforementioned movable lowering cam support structure 136b, an anchor pin 139 is fixed to the holding frame 28 and passes through a slot 136a in the movable lowering cam support structure 136b. Between this anchor pin 139 and the pin shaft 138, a coil spring 140 is stretched so as to urge the movable lowering cam support structure 136b toward the axial center of the knitting machine cylinder 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23, a pair of cover plates 141a and 141b are secured with a spacing gap 142 therebetween to the holding frame 28 in the vicinity of the roller 138a. In this spacing gap 142, a cam lever 143 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 144 between the two plates 141a and 141b. In addition, as shown in FIG. 22, at the outer edge of the cam lever 143 confronting the roller 138a a first cam port 143a and a second cam part 143b are formed so as to selectively contact the roller 138a. The first cam part 143a and the second cam part 143b are so urged by the elastic force of a coil spring 145 as to selectively contact the roller 138a. Also, as shown in FIG. 22, a cable holder 146 is fixed to a bracket 127a formed at the upper part of the holding frame 28. Through this cable holder 146 is passed an actuating cable 147, one end of which is connected to the above-mentioned cam lever 143 by a pin 148. The other end of this actuating cable 147 is connected to a pile knitting control device G. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a stitch cam 149 and a cushion cam 150 are mounted on the holding frame 28 in the vicinity of the second guard cam 133 and the auxiliary stitch cam 134 of the knitting control cam unit 27' so as to form a D operation passageway 151. The stitching cam 149 and cushion cam 150, similarly to the stitching cam 36 and the cushion cam 37 of the preceding embodiment, are capable of moving up and down, and the stitch cam 149 is also capable of advancing and retracting in the radial direction. In this manner, in the first knitting section, a knitting control cam unit 27' is installed, and, in the other knitting sections also, similar knitting control cam units 27' are similarly installed. Therefore, when plain knitting is to be carried out with the use of the above described knitting control cam unit 27', the C operation passageway 135 is caused to be closed. More particularly the movable lowering cam 136 is urged by the elastic force of the coil spring 140 toward the axial center of the knitting machine cylinder device 2 thereby to advance onto the movement path of the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 and close the C operation passageway 135. Next, when pile knitting is to be carried out, in FIGS. 20 and 24, the movable lowering cam 136 is retracted thereby to open the C operation passageway (pile passageway) 135. More specifically, in response to a command from the pile knitting control device G, the actuating cable 147 is pulled in the arrow direction shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, whereby the cam lever 143 rotates about the support shaft 144 counter to the elastic force of the coil spring 145. Accordingly, the cam lever 143 undergoes a shift from its state wherein its first cam part 143a is contacting the roller 138a to the state wherein its second cam part 143b is contacting the roller 138a. Therefore, the movable lowering cam 136, under the elastic force of the coil spring 140, slides outward in the radial direction toward the axial center of the knitting machine cylinder device, thereby retracting and opening the C operation passageway (pile passageway) 135. As described above, by providing the movable lowering cam 136 so that it can slide freely in the radial direction of the knitting machine cylinder 2, a pile knitted fabric of any desired shape can be knitted locally, for example the crotch part h of knitwear such as a pair of shorts S as shown in FIG. 27. Thus, with knitting needles 6 of middle gauge or fine gauge (14 NPI to 32 NPI) and without using a ground yarn sinker, a pile fabric can be knitted in a plain knit fabric part by using only a pile sinker 11' for fine gauge knitting. A specific knitting example will now be described hereunder. (a). The case of knitting a plain knit fabric part. In the case where the waist part W of a pair of shorts S , for example, as shown in FIG. 27, is to be knitted as a plain knit fabric part, the movable lowering cam 136 of the knitting control cam unit 27' is placed beforehand and left in its advanced state on the plain knitting operation passageway as shown in FIG. 20. Next, as the knitting machine cylinder 2 revolves when the circular knitting machine is operated, the jacks 5 and the knitting needles 6 revolve together therewith. The jacks 5 are then lifted by the lifting cam 7, whereupon all knitting needles 6 are also lifted together therewith. In this case, the patterning device 15 is not made operative, whereby the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 are not selected by the needle selecting levers 17 of the patterning device 15. Then, the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 are so guided as to pass through the A operation passageway 132 at the clear level CL formed between the first guard cam 130 and the clearing cam 131 of the knitting control cam unit 27'. Then, as all the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 are passed from the A operation passageway 132 for plain knitting formed by the movable lowering cam 136 through the B operation passageway of the auxiliary stitch cam 134, the butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 are lowered before the second guard cam 133. By this action, as shown in FIGS. 25a and 25b, each knitting needle 6, together with ground yarn BY and pile yarn PY from the yarn feeding device 19, is arrested by a low land 11a' of the pile sinker 11', and, by the cooperative action of the hook 6b of the knitting needle 6 and the pile sinker 11', knitting of, for example, the waist part W of a pair of shorts S as a plain knitting part is carried out. (b). Partially knitting a pile knit fabric part of optional outline in a plain knit fabric part. In the case of partial knitting of a pile knit fabric part of a desired outline in, for example, the crotch part h of a pair of short S as shown in FIG. 27, the movable lowering cam 136 of the knitting control cam unit 27' is retracted and thus left beforehand as described hereinbefore. Next, as the knitting cylinder 2 revolves when the circular knitting machine is operated, the jacks 5 and the knitting needles 6 of the knitting cylinder 2 revolve together therewith. The butts 6a of the knitting needles 6 thereupon are selectively pushed by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 operating on the basis of a knitting program. Accordingly, the butts 6a of the selected knitting needles 6 are lifted by way of their jacks 5 by the lifting cam 7 and, passing the front face of the movable lowering cam 136, pass through the C operation passageway 135 to be pushed down by the stitching cam 149, and then pass through the D operation passageway 151 between this stitching cam 149 and the cushion cam 150. By this action, as shown in FIGS 26a and 26b, each knitting needle 6 causes pile yarn PY from the yarn feeding device 19 to be caught on a high land 11b of the pile sinker 11'. Then, by the cooperative action of the hooks 6b of the knitting needles 6 and the pile sinkers 11', a pile knit fabric part h of any desired outline is partially knitted in the plain knit fabric part of a pair of shorts S , for example. On the other hand, the knitting needles 6 selected by the needle selecting lever 17 of the patterning device 15 pass horizontally by the tuck level TL, are pushed down by the auxiliary stitching cam 134, pass through the B operation passageway, and pass through the D operation passageway 151 between the stitching cam 149 and the cushion cam 150. By this action, as shown in FIGS. 25a and 25b, each knitting needle 6 causes ground yarn BY from the yarn feeding device 19 to be caught on the low land 11a of the pile sinker 11', and, by the cooperative action of the hook 6b of the knitting needle 6 and the pile sinker 11', the plain knit fabric part of a pair of shorts S , for example, is knitted. In this embodiment, a pile knit fabric can be partially knitted in a plain knit fabric part by using only a pile sinker for fine-gauge knitting without using a ground yarn sinker. Not only this, but, since the organization is simple, the assembly and adjustment are also facilitated. At the same time, the handling and operation are also simple, and further, since there are few constituent parts, maintenance and inspection are also facilitated. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The circular knitting machine according to the present invention can be utilized for knitting knitwear articles such as body suits, brassieres, petticoats, and panties which have constricted parts, bulging parts extending around the entire periphery, and/or bulging parts extending over only parts of the periphery.

Claims: A circular knitting machine for knitting knitwear articles, comprising knitting cylinder means (2) mounted in a freely revolvable manner on a machine frame (1), a plurality of knitting sections (I, II, III, ...) arranged around said knitting cylinder means (2), each of said knitting sections including patterning means (15) and a knitting control cam unit (27), yarn feeding means (19) above the knitting control cam units (27), and a dial mechanism (20) above the knitting cylinder means, each of said knitting control cam units (27) having a first guard cam (29) on an upstream side thereof, a second guard cam (30) on a downstream side thereof, a set of control cams (32, 33, 34) below said first guard cam (29) so as to define an operation passageway for the butts (6a) of a plurality of knitting needles (6), a further set of control cams (36, 37) below said second guard cam (30) so as to define an operation passageway for the butts (6a) of the knitting needles (6), and a lifting jack cam (7a) and a lowering jack cam (7b) provided in each of said knitting sections for guiding a plurality of jacks (5) associated with the knitting needles (6), characterised in that said further set of control cams (36, 37) includes a stitching cam (36) and a cushion cam (37) constituting parts of a stitch density adjusting device (35); and in that the machine further comprises reciprocating means (54, 49, 51, 46) for advancing and retracting each stitching cam (36) relative to the knitting cylinder means (2) between an operative position and an inoperative position, first moving means (60, 66, 40) for causing up-and-down movement of the stitching cam (36) and the cushion cam (37) of each knitting section relative to the second guard cam (30) irrespective of the other knitting sections to carry out stitch density adjustment, and second moving means (J, 38, 66, 43, 43a) for causing simultaneous up-and-down movement of the stitching cams (36) and the cushion cams (37) of all the knitting sections relative to the associated second guard cams (30) to carry out stitch density adjustment. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said first moving means (60, 66, 40) comprises, in each of the knitting sections, a supporting structure (39) supported on the machine frame (1), a vertically movable member (40) so supported on the supporting structure (39) as to be movable in an up-and-down direction and carrying said cushion cam (37), a stitching slider (46) so supported on the vertically movable member (40) as to be movable in the radial direction of the knitting means (2), and actuating means (66, 43, 43a) for causing up-and-down movement of said vertically movable member (40). A circular knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein said actuating means (66, 43, 43a) comprises stitch density adjustment control means (E), an actuating cable (60) actuated by the stitch density adjustment control means, and a mechanism (57, 64, 66, 43, 43a) for lifting and lowering said vertically movable member (40) in response to actuation of the actuating cable (60). A circular knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein said mechanism (57, 64, 66, 43, 43a) for lifting and lowering said vertically movable member (40) comprises a pushing lever (57) which is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable by actuation by the actuating cable (60), a lever (66) which is rotatable by rotation of the pushing lever (57), and an actuation bar (43) which is rotatable by rotation of the lever (57) to cause lifting and lowering of the vertically movable member (40). A circular knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein said reciprocating means (54, 49, 51, 46) comprises a pivoted cam lever (49) having a first cam part (49a) and a second cam part (49b), a pin (51) fixed to said stitching slider (46), a spring (52) for urging the stitching slider (46) towards the knitting cylinder means (2) so that said pin (51) is selectively pressed against one of said first cam part (49a) and said second cam part (49b), and stitch density adjustment control means (E) for rotating the cam lever (49), the arrangement being such that, when the cam lever (49) is rotated so that said pin (51) is pressed against said first cam part (49a), the stitching slider (46) is advanced towards the knitting cylinder means (2) so as to place the stitching cam (36) in its operative position, and so that, when the cam lever (49) is rotated so that said pin (51) is pressed against said second cam part (49b), the stitching slider (46) is retracted from the knitting cylinder means (2) so as to place the stitching cam (36) in its inoperative position. A circular knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein said second moving means (J, 38, 66, 43, 43a) comprises an operating ring (38) freely rotatable around the knitting cylinder means (2), an actuator (J) for rotating the operating ring (38), and a stitch density adjustment control device (E) for operating the actuator (J), the operating ring (38) being coupled to the actuating means (66, 43, 43a) of all the knitting sections so that the operating ring is rotatable to effect operation of said actuating means. A circular knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein said actuating means (66, 43, 43a) of each knitting section comprises an actuation bar (43) which is pivotally mounted so as to engage the operating ring (38), said vertically movable member (40) being engaged by the actuation bar (43) so as to be lifted and lowered by the actuation bar (43) in response to rotation of the operating ring (38). A circular knitting machine according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary stitching cam (134) provided below the second guard cam (133) so as to form therebetween an operational passageway (135) for the butts (6a) of the knitting needles (6), and a movable lowering cam (136) provided on an upstream side of said auxiliary stitching cam (134), said movable lowering cam (136) being displaceable between an operative position in which it projects toward the knitting cylinder means (2) and an inoperative position in which it is retracted therefrom, said movable lowering cam (136) closing, in said operative position thereof, said operational passageway (135) between the second guard cam (133) and the auxiliary stitching cam (134) to enable the butts (6a) of the knitting needles (6) to pass through an operational passageway below the auxiliary stitching cam (134), and said movable lowering cam (136) opening, in said inoperative position thereof, said operational passageway (135) between the second guard cam (133) and the auxiliary stitching cam (134) to permit the butts (6a) of the knitting needles (6) to pass through said operational passageway (135) and thereby to cause pile knitting to be carried out. A circular knitting machine according to claim 8, further comprising a movable lowering cam support structure (136b) which supports said movable lowering cam (136) and is resiliently urged towards the knitting cylinder means (2), a pin shaft (138) projecting from said support structure, a pivotally supported cam lever (143) having a first cam part (143a) and a second cam part (143b) for selectively contacting said pin shaft (138) upon rotation, and pile knitting control means (G) for rotating said cam lever (143), said first and second cam parts (143a, 143b) being so formed as to respectively hold said movable lowering cam (136) in said operative position and said inoperative position.

Inventors: RIKIISHI TSUTOMU NAGATA SEIKI, SAKAMOTO HIDEMASA NAGATA SEIKI, YAMADA SHINJI NAGATA SEIKI K K, RIKIISHI, TSUTOMU, NAGATA SEIKI K. K. NIIGATA KOJO, SAKAMOTO, HIDEMASA, NAGATA SEIKI K.K. NIIGATA KOJO, YAMADA, SHINJI, NAGATA SEIKI K. K. NIIGATA KOJO
Applicants: NAGATA SEIKI KK, NAGATA SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: D04B15
IPC codes: D04B9, D04B15