Method and arrangement for transmitting control signals to the carriage of a flat knitting machine

Abstract

Abstract Control signals for controlling the movement and setting of the carriage of a flat knitting machine are transmitted from a stationary program carrier to the carriage at predetermined intervals only by means of signal transmission arrangements which are operable only at predetermined intervals, the signals being transmitted preferably through a plurality of channels, and the program carrier preferably being centrally located so as to control a plurality of machines. The signals may be transmitted from stationary signal emitters in the form of contact bars disposed in the direction of travel of the carriage to contact brushes or pins which are carried by the carriage to slide over the stationary contact bars. Alternatively, signal transmission may be transmitted optically from stationary light strips to photo-electric converters carried by the carriage, or by stationary magnetic field inductors and reed contacts provided on the carriage. The emitters are so arranged that signal transmission occurs over only a relatively short length of the total carriage stroke, and where the transmission occurs between the ends of the strokes the signals can be stored on the carriage until the end of the stroke. A coordinating arrangement can limit the signal transmission period to less than the total period of confrontation between the emitters and receivers during the carriage stroke, so as to initiate transmission after confrontation and terminate transmission during confrontation.

Inventors

• 👤 W Hadam
• 👤 J Ploppa

Bibliographic Details