The Influence of Yarn Tension Force in the Compensation and Knitting zones of the Double-Jersey Knitting Structures

Yarn tensioning forces in the compensation and knitting zones of the machine, at various knitting and yam sinking depths, are analysed in knitting double-jersey fabric from the 20 tex fineness cotton yarns on a Terot RH 116 circular knitting machine. Tension is measured at the point of yarn unwinding from the bobbin, at the balloon top, at the compensation zone and at the entrance into the knitting system and continuous increase of yam tension is recorded, until it reaches maximum value, adequate for undisturbed knitting. The variations of yam length in the loop at maximum and minimum yarn tension are examined. The input yam tension is reduced in order to obtain lower yam stretching values during the knitting process, so that the differences between the real and nominal yarn lengths are as small as possible. Special attention is paid to yam tension measuring at the very entrance into the knitting system, at the maximum rate of the cylinder and the increased yarn speed.