US3908406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling the programming chain of a circular knitting machine
Assignee: Elitex Zavody Textilniho
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Filing: 1973-03-20
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-03-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus comprising a first control circuit in which is stored a program for regulating the operation of the normally indexing chain of a circular knitting machine and a second control circuit in series with the first for processing the information received from the first circuit. The second circuit is connected to mechanical elements, actuated by the output of the second circuit, to arrest the normally indexing chain for the period of time necessary to allow operation of the knitting machine to knit a particular section of the knitwork. The control circuits are connected by feedback means from the mechanical elements by which the mutual synchronization of the circuits is affected.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Maler
- 👤 Jaroslav Lorenc
- 👤 Ivo Kouklik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:51
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D04B15/665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
A circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder rotating in a plural number of revolutions and associated knitting instruments, a control drum adapted to index about a central axis containing a plural number of sections having programming means for causing operation of said needle cylinder and selective knitting instruments to provide a knitwork having several different sections, a chain, means responsive to a predetermined number of rotations of said needle cylinder for intermittantly advancing said chain, and means responsive to the advancement of said chain for selectively allowing said control drum to index from section to section in response to a predetermined number of intermittant advancements of said chain, stop means for mechanically preventing normal advancement of said chain, a first control circuit having a stored program determined with respect to the number of intermittent movements of said chain required to index said control drum from section to section, the number of sections of said knitwork requiring change in selection of said instruments and the number of revolutions of said needle cylinder, a second control circuit for processing said program relative to the actual rotation of Said needle cylinder, said second circuit producing a signal actuating said stop means to prevent advancement of said chain for an interval in accordance with the stored program, and feedback means responsive to the operation of said stop means for synchronizing the operation of said first and second circuits, said first control circuit comprising a pulse generator producing a driving pulse, a plurality of switch circuits, and a counter having separate memory units each of which are connected to a switch circuit, said switch circuits being collectively connected to the second control circuit, said second control circuit comprising a scanner for sensing the number of revolutions of said needle cylinder, a pulse generator, a low order counter and a high order counter, said switch circuits of said first circuit being connected to the low and high order counters respectively, an amplifier connected to the output of said low and high counters the output of which being connected to the means for allowing the control drum to index.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
A circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder rotating in a plural number of revolutions and associated knitting instruments, a control drum adapted to index about a central axis containing a plural number of sections having programming means for causing operation of said needle cylinder and selective knitting instruments to provide a knitwork having several different sections, a chain, means responsive to a predetermined number of rotations of said needle cylinder for intermittantly advancing said chain, and means responsive to the advancement of said chain for selectively allowing said control drum to index from section to section in response to a predetermined number of intermittant advancements of said chain, stop means for mechanically preventing normal advancement of said chain, a first control circuit having a stored program determined with respect to the number of intermittent movements of said chain required to index said control drum from section to section, the number of sections of said knitwork requiring change in selection of said instruments and the number of revolutions of said needle cylinder, a second control circuit for processing said program relative to the actual rotation of Said needle cylinder, said second circuit producing a signal actuating said stop means to prevent advancement of said chain for an interval in accordance with the stored program, and feedback means responsive to the operation of said stop means for synchronizing the operation of said first and second circuits, said first control circuit comprising a pulse generator producing a driving pulse, a plurality of switch circuits, and a counter having separate memory units each of which are connected to a switch circuit, said switch circuits being collectively connected to the second control circuit, said second control circuit comprising a scanner for sensing the number of revolutions of said needle cylinder, a pulse generator, a low order counter and a high order counter, said switch circuits of said first circuit being connected to the low and high order counters respectively, an amplifier connected to the output of said low and high counters the output of which being connected to the means for allowing the control drum to index.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circular knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the said switch circuits are adjustable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
The circular knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein said chain is mounted on a wheel fixedly arranged with a ratchet wheel, and the means for indexing said chain comprises a moveable pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, the stop means for mechanically preventing the advancement of said chain comprising a two armed lever one end of which constitutes an electromagnet, the other end of which constituting an armature therefor, said armature having a finger at the end thereof adapted to engage a contact link on said chain whereby said link may cause said two arm lever to pivot, said stop means further including a frame member extending from the electromagnet beneath the armature adapted to cover the teeth of said ratchet wheel on pivoting of said two armed lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The circular knitting machine in accordance with claim 3 including spring means for normally biasing said armature outwardly of said electromagnet, said electromagnet being activated to retract said armature in accordance with the pre-determined program thus permitting the two armed lever to return to its original position uncovering the frame member from the teeth of said ratchet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The circular knitting machine according to claim 3 including a switch actuable by pivoting of said electromagnet, said switch being connected to said pulse generator of said first control circuit to thus cause operation of said pulse generator thus constituting a feed back between the first control circuit and the second control circuit via the electromagnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circular knitting machine according to claim 4 including a counter, and a starting circuit connected to said counter and said first control circuit for returning the operation of said counter to its initial state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circular knitting machine according to claim 6 wherein said counters are provided with memory units which are non-destructive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3232079A
Cited
US3776003A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |