Comparison of End Breakage Rate due to Splices and Knots in Plain-Weft Knitting Zone

The effect of some factors on the end breakage rate in the plain-weft knitting zone due to three kinds of yarn joints (an air-splice, a weaver's knot and a fisherman's knot) is investigated experimentally, using a combed cotton yarn c 30s/1. End breakage in the plain-weft knitting zone due to an air-splice hardly occurs under any knitting condition. Therefore, the air-splice is a very useful yarn joint in weft knitting. The knitting defect due to a weaver's knot or a fisherman's knot is almost always caused by end breakage in the plain-weft knitting zone. This end breakage occurs near the knot on the take-down side. The end breakage rate in the plain-weft knitting zone due to a weaver's knot or a fisherman's knot increases with the increase in the depth of stitch draw, the machine gauge, the input tension, and the take-down weight. Under every knitting condition, the end breakage rate due to a fisherman's knot is more than that due to a weaver's knot.