Electronically controlled needle selection system for knitting machines

Claim 2

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releasable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and wherein each knitting needle is actuated through the medium of a patterning jack housed in the same groove in the needle bed as that accomodating the said needle, the jack being adapted to be mechanically influenced to initiate desired behavior of the needle whenever the corresponding spring wire armature is released for movement away from its respective permanent magnet.

Claim 3

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the Dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and further including a cam, in advance of each needle selecting station for forcibly urging all the armatures seriatim from their relaxed condition into contact with their respective permanent magnets, preparatory to selected ones of these magnets having their flux paths changed to release the corresponding armatures, whereas the non-selected magnets are unaffected and retain their associated armatures all at the dictates of the moving pattern information carrier means.

Claim 4

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the Dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and further including a cam, in advance of each needle selecting station for forcibly urging all the armatures seriatim from their relaxed condition into contact with their respective permanent magnets, preparatory to selected ones of these magnets having their flux paths changed to release the corresponding armatures, whereas the non-selected magnets are unaffected and retain their associated armatures all at the dictates of the moving pattern information carrier means.

Claim 5

A knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein the camming is so arranged that there is a maximum possible distance between the point at which a signal is transmitted to the level detector of each magnetic actuator unit and the point at which the corresponding armature, if selected, is released to initiate mechanical selection of the relevant needle, and the potential frequency of the signals determined by the moving pattern information carrier means is the same as the frequency of the relative movement of needle grooves past the means employed to transmit such signals to the level detectors whereby there is a substantial extension of the time available in which an electronic selection can be effected.

Claim 6

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical pOwer to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and wherein the permanent magnet of each magnetic needle actuator unit comprises a center pole piece of magnetic material around which is wound the opposing winding for flux re-direction, a pair of magnets at respectively opposite sides of the said center pole piece and, surrounding the whole, outer limbs of a ferrous material.

Claim 7

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical pOwer to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and wherein the permanent magnet of each magnetic needle actuator unit comprises a center pole piece of magnetic material around which is wound the opposing winding for flux re-direction, a pair of magnets at respectively opposite sides of the said center pole piece and, surrounding the whole, outer limbs of a ferrous material.

Claim 8

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and wherein the level detectors in the needle actuAtor units include means responsive to light for providing a step voltage output when the level of light received by it exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 9

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having a permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releaseable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, and wherein the level detectors in the needle actuAtor units include means responsive to light for providing a step voltage output when the level of light received by it exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 10

A knitting machine according to claim 5, including means for transmitting light signals to each said detector comprising a fiber-optic light guide comprising a flexible tube containing a bundle of light-transmitting fibers, and said pattern information carrier means includes a programmed control tape which is adapted to be driven synchronously with the machine and has one row of information per feed, one end of a corresponding fiber-optic light guide terminating in a reading head adjacent to the row while the other end of the said guide is so arranged as to be passed by, or to pass, the said detectors.

Claim 11

A knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein further fiber-optic light guides are provided at the side of the tape remote from the light-responsive detectors to pass light from at least one light source to the rows of information on the tape, via an illuminating head, the said light guides which extend between the light source and the illuminating head being in alignment with corresponding light guides extending between the reading head and the light-responsive detectors whereby whenever the tape permits of the passage of light therethrough the light will travel through the relevant light guide for a period of time determined by the speed of the tape, the resulting light signal being transmitted to the corresponding light-responsive detector.

Claim 12

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having an permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releasable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, whereiN said means for supplying electrical power to the cylinder bed comprises means for passing AC electrical power to rotating windings of a transformer and converter means for converting the power to D.C. electrical power, and means for passing the D.C. electrical power to the magnetic needle actuator units.

Claim 13

A circular knitting machine which includes a rotating tricked needle cylinder bed; individually operable knitting needles in said needle cylinder; pattern information carrier means movable synchronously with the machine but not rotatable with the needle cylinder; and an electronically controlled needle selection system which, at the dictates of the said pattern information carrier means, and through the butts associated with the needles, exercises selective and individual control over the latter so that some are influenced in one way and others in another way according to the nature of the patterned knitted fabric to be produced; said machine being characterized in that each individually operable knitting needle therein has its own magnetic actuator unit, all said magnetic actuator units being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, each magnetic actuator unit comprising, in combination, a detector responsive to signals transmitted thereto at the dictates of the movable pattern information carrier means; a level detector circuit for each needle, each circuit being movable in rotation with the needle cylinder, said circuits including means for providing a step voltage output when the level of signal received by the detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a means for supplying electrical power to the rotating needle cylinder bed; a monostable circuit for each needle capable of receiving said electrical power and producing an output pulse when triggered by the output from the said level detector circuit; and said magnetic actuator units having an permanent magnet having in association therewith an opposing winding for flux re-direction, the said winding being energizable in response to an output pulse produced by the monostable circuit suchwise as to re-direct the flux of the magnet; and in that in association with each magnetic actuator unit there is an armature rotatable with the magnetic actuator units, said armature being arranged to be normally attracted to and retained by the permanent magnet but releasable therefrom, upon said re-direction of flux in response to the output pulse of the monostable circuit, for exercising selective control over the corresponding knitting needle; the armature associated with each magnetic needle actuator unit comprising a spring wire rotatable with the needle cylinder bed which is adapted, when released from the permanent magnet of that unit, to initiate selective actuation of the corresponding needle, whereiN said means for supplying electrical power to the cylinder bed comprises means for passing AC electrical power to rotating windings of a transformer and converter means for converting the power to D.C. electrical power, and means for passing the D.C. electrical power to the magnetic needle actuator units.

Claim 14

A knitting machine according to claim 8, in which said converter means includes supply packs for converting AC to DC current for operating the magnetic needle actuator units, and the DC power is passed to bus bar means which are in turn connected to electronic circuit boards each carrying the electronic circuitry for a group of the needle actuator units.