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
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-10 02:05
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
In a flat knitting machine, an arrangement for the transfer of carriage movement and setting signals from a central stationary program carrier, comprising stationary signal transmitters aligned in the direction of travel of the carriage, and signal receivers attached to and movable with the machine carriage, said stationary signal transmitters comprising relatively linear optical signal transmitters, and said signal receivers comprising relatively point-form photo-electric converters carried by the machine carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a flat knitting machine, an arrangement for the transfer of carriage movement and setting signals from a central stationary program carrier, comprising stationary signal transmitters aligned in the direction of travel of the carriage, and signal receivers attached to and movable with the machine carriage, said stationary signal transmitters comprising relatively linear optical signal transmitters, and said signal receivers comprising relatively point-form photo-electric converters carried by the machine carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said stationary signal transmitters comprise illuminable slit apertures extending in the direction of travel of the carriage, and means for illuminating said slit apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Flat knitting machine according to claim 1 further comprising a superposed similar signal transmitter cooperating with said stationary signal transmitter for determining the time period of signal transmission, the effective length of said similar signal transmitter being shortened in the longitudinal direction of the path of the carriage as compared to the effective length of the other signal transmitters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Flat knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the signal transmitters are arranged in groups in a signal transmitting zone limited to a certain longitudinal range of the machine less than the length of the needle bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Flat knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein said stationary signal transmitters comprise stationary light strips disposed in the direction of carriage travel as lineal signal transmitters for optical signal transmission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Flat knitting machine according to claim 5 wherein light is transmitted from said program carrier to said light strips by flexible light conductors.