Manifold for use with a circular sliver knitting machine

摘要

An apparatus and method for knitting sliver fabric on a circular sliver knitting machine. An air blowing unit is attached to the machine so as to be oriented radially inward from the knitting cylinder and a card unit so as to blow air radially outwardly toward the needles. The air blowing unit blows air along generally horizontal longitudinal path toward the needles so as to turn free ends of the sliver fibers once the medial portions thereof have been knit into the fabric. A modified latched guard cooperates with air blowing unit for guiding free ends of the sliver fibers onto sinkers in a uniform and controlled manner to enable the free ends sliver fibers to be knit a second time by the adjacent needles.