Knowledge

一、   Introduction

A circular socks knitting machine is a specialized, high-efficiency piece of equipment designed for mass-producing socks in an automated, continuous circular knitting process. Unlike flat knitting machines, it features a vertical cylindrical needle bed, making it ideal for shaping seamless tubular sock blanks and completing most sock structures in one integrated workflow.

二、   Making Sock Production Process

Coordination of Three Core Machines: circular socks knitting machine, socks toe linking machine, and socks board ironing machine. The streamlined process is as follows:

1. Knitting the Sock Blank (Circular Socks Knitting Machine)

Load pre-processed yarn bobbins into the machine. The cylindrical needle bed rotates, and cams control needles to knit a seamless tubular blank. It sequentially forms the ribbed cuff, leg, contoured heel (by halting half the needles for flat knitting), and foot. As knitting reaches the toe, the machine reduces working needles to create a tapered open toe, then discharges the unfinished blank.

2. Closing the Toe (Socks Toe Linking Machine)

Place the open-toe blank on the machine’s clamp, aligning the two layers. The machine uses specialized needles to interlock toe loops one by one, forming a flat, seamless seam. After seaming, it trims excess yarn and adds a lock stitch to prevent unraveling, producing a functional sock.

3. Shaping & Finishing (Socks Board Ironing Machine)

Slide the seamed sock onto a size-matched sock board. Feed the board into the machine, which applies controlled steam and heat (100–130°C) to set the sock’s shape and eliminate wrinkles. After cooling to lock the form, unload the sock from the board.