Positive yarn feeding device

Claim 1

A yarn feeding device for positively feeding yarn to the needles of a circular knitting machine at a rate proportional to the rotation of said knitting machine comprising: a. a base plate adapted to be affixed to a frame member, b. a two ended tubular member secured to said base plate at one end thereof and extending perpendicularly thereto, c. a storage member affixed to said tubular member adjacent the other end thereof and in spaced relation with said base plate, d. yarn winding means mounted for rotation about said tubular member between said base plate and said storage member and adapted to be rotated at a winding velocity proportional to the rotational speed of said knitting machine, e. said yarn winding means comprising 1. an annular element, 2. radialLy spaced concentric inner and outer skirt portions extending from said annular element axially toward said base plate, said inner skirt portion being mounted for rotation about said tubular member and said outer skirt portion defining a surface for engagement with movable tape means adapted to be driven at a speed proportional to the rotation of said knitting machine, 3. first and second yarn guide means extending from said annular element axially and away from said base plate and disposed in overlying relation with said storage member, said first yarn guide means being adapted to wind said yarn adjacent the end thereof nearer said base plate for forming on said storage member a plurality of yarn windings which advance in a direction away from said base plate, and said second yarn guide means being adapted to unwind said yarn from said storage member at the same angular velocity as the winding velocity, (f) said first and second yarn guide means comprising first and second apertured ears circumferentially and axially spaced from each other.