The present invention relates to the textile arts and, in particular, to an apparatus adapted to provide for the removal of lint, dust and other unwanted materials from a circular knitting machine.
It is well known and recognized that the processing of textile fibers, including the knitting thereof into fabric, generates large quantities of fiber lint and other debris. This debris often permeates the environment in which the processing equipment is located, and settles on the exposed surfaces of the equipment. It is well recognized that the continued accumulation of the debris, especially on the active machinery elements, can result in unsatisfactory operation, and possible ultimate machinery failure. In addition, the debris can be trapped in the produced fabric, creating defects therein.
Debris accumulation and contamination is a significant problem in circular knitting machines, which because of their size can generate a large amount of lint and other debris. Such large machines can have a diameter of many feet, utilizing a large number of reciprocating needles and associated devices, including yarn feeds and linkages needed to synchronize the knitting process. Associated with such operation is the generation of an often prodigious amount of lint and other debris.
In order to limit the amount of such debris accumulating on the equipment, and to remove the debris therefrom, a variety of fan-type apparatus have been developed. The device set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,337 to Alan Gutschmidt presents a typical apparatus, As disclosed therein, a cleaning device for a circular knitting machine includes a centrally mounted arm journaled for 360 degree rotation about a central mounting, typically positioned at the center of the knitting machine, A fan is mounted at the distal end of the arm, and oscillates in a vertical plane over a limited angle to direct a flow of air over portions of the knitting machine as the arm rotates.