Flat-Bed Knitting Machines

Knitting machines can be classified into flat-bed and circular machines. They differ in the arrangement of the needles. Whereas in flat-bed knitting machines, the knitting process moves sideways (left to right to left...), in circular knitting machines the knitting process is rotational. 

Flat-bed knitting machines have four cams in a carriage. During knitting the carriages move over the fixed needle beds. They move the needles back and forth. Thread guides, adjusted to the carriages, provide the thread for the needles. Pairs of rollers pull the finished knit fabric downward to wind up the cloth or to fold it. 

The two needle beds of the double-jersey flat-bed machine are arranged at an angle of about 90° to one another (Fig. 5.10, left). The needle beds are arranged horizontally to one another on purl-stitch flat-bed knitting machines so that the cams are directly opposite to one another. This allows the transfer of the double-tongue needles from one needle bed to the other (Fig. 5.10, right). Purl or plain stitches appear 

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Medical textiles Recently, tubular-type knitted structure such as bandages, orthopedic supports, and medical compression stockings have been developed by three-dimensional flat bed knitting machines (Choi, 2005 Evans-Mikellis, 2012). 

Kennon, W.R., Dias, T., Xie, P., 2000. A novel positive yam-feed system for flat-bed knitting machines. J. Text. Inst. 91, 140-150. 

Complete solutions for the system of flat bed knitting machines for the production of garments with low or no sewing expenditure (so-called fully fashioned knittings). 

Fiber testing 346 Filament yarns 14,79 Fine animal hair 43 Fineness 350 Finishing 216, 253 Flat-bed knitting machines 181... 

Both weft and warp knitting machines are able to construct tubular structures. Although circular weft knitting machines can only be used in producing single tubes, flat weft knitting machines with two needle beds and double-needle bar Raschel machines are able to produce single, bifurcated and multibranched tubes. 

Thus, all seamless garment weft-knitting machines could be divided into two classes circular body-width machines and flat V-bed machines. 

As the name implies, yarns run horizontally across the width of the fabric. The knitting needles form the loops in horizontal courses, with one loop built on top of the other, and are generally made from a single yarn. Weft knits can be made flat on a flat bed machine, or tubular on a circular knitting machine. Weft knits are basic loop structures and can be stretched in both directions (Figure 21.16). 

It has vertical ribs (wales) on the face and courses (horizontal ribs, cf crow s feet) on the back. A tricot knitting machine has a flat bed, with each warp yarn knitted by one needle and all needles (normally beard type) mounted in one needle bar and acting in unison. 

Issac W. Lamb invented the first operational V-bed flat knitting machine including the latch needles. 

Choi, W., 2005. Three dimensional seamless garment knitting on V-bed flat knitting machines. J. Text. Appar. Technol. Manag. 4 (3), 1—33. 

Similar to a computerised flat knitting machine with two needle beds, a double-needle bar Raschel machine has two needle bars. It is possible to knit tubes of different sizes on such a machine with a set of fully threaded guide bars to knit two separate fabrics... 

Spacer fabrics can be produced on both flat-bed and circular knitting machines. Between the needle beds (cylinder and rib disc, respectively.), there is a small gap. For the manufacturing of such a structure, three thread systems are required one for each cover fabric and the pile yarn that connects the fabrics (Fig. 5.16). 

Today, warp-knitting machines exist oniy as flat-bed machines. The machines of the back and face-binding group have one needie bar, and those of the doublejersey-binding group have two needle bars (tubular knitwear). 

Upper-body garments/apparel Normally these (as sweaters) are knitted on V-bed flat machines. Tubes are knitted for the body and sleeves and spaced on a needle bed having a precise number of needles between each sleeve and body. As knitting progresses, sleeves are merged to the body (Choi, 2005 Evans-Mikellis, 2012). 

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