Selvage tensioner for flat knitting machine - with two variably spaced plates with guide rail
Selvage tensioner guides the selvage of a knitted fabric from a point beneath the point of intersection of the needles, to a device for stretching the fabric. The tensioner consists of two plates which are variably spaced apart and >=1 of which has >=1 guide rail for the fabric. The rail defines >=1 vertical channel in which the selvage of the fabric slides. The tensioner is simple, does not obstruct the knitting area of the needles, can easily be adapted to the width of the fabric, can easily be mounted and dismounted on existing fabric stretching devices, is independent of the knitting sequence, allows knitting in a simple system without changing the thread guide, and is readily adjustable according to the gauge and fibre used.