Abstract

Improved drive means is provided for imparting clockwise and counterclockwise reciprocal movements to the yarn guides of a circular warp knitting machine including a plurality of vertically reciprocated needles. The improved drive means includes an endless timing belt drivingly connected to the yarn guides and a crank arm drivingly connected at one end to the endless timing belt. A rotary drive wheel is connected to the opposite end of the crank arm for imparting continuous longitudinal reciprocation to the crank arm and to thereby impart reciprocating movement to the endless timing belt and the yarn guide drivingly connected thereto. The yarn guide may include a first yarn guide for directing a base or ground yarn to the needles and a second yarn guide for directing an inlay yarn to the needles. Endless timing belts are utilized in driving each of the base yarn guide and the inlay yarn guide and the timing belt drive permits the circular warp knitting machine to be operated at an increased operating speed.