CH615232A5 - Method for selecting knitting needles on a flat knitting machine and pattern-knitting device for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for selecting knitting needles on a flat knitting machine, and a pattern knitting device for carrying out the method on a flat knitting machine, preferably on a hand knitting machine, with a main body and a needle bed for knitting needles and a slide which can slide on the needle bed, wherein the device includes a pair of needle selectors mounted on the carriage offset from one another.

A conventional needle selection method is to record the profile of the pattern to be knitted on a card in the form of multi-level, punched or multi-row hole configurations. The punched holes of each step or row are mechanically scanned and recorded mechanically in a mechanical memory in the form of needle selection signals. The desired group of needles is then selectively selected by moving a carriage.

These conventional needle selection methods have the disadvantage that the drawing of the pattern requires great attention since the punched holes have to be arranged at specific locations on the card in order to produce an image of the pattern to be knitted. In other words, the image of the entire pattern to be knitted must first be divided into image blocks (or partial patterns corresponding to the previously punched holes) which must be arranged one after the other for proper recording.

This means that the image corresponding to the entire unit pattern must be recorded digitally in the form of image blocks. each of which corresponds to a needle. Such methods of needle selection have the major disadvantage that the number of needles used in a group to knit a unit pattern cannot be changed, which is why one is not free to change the size of the unit pattern.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for the selection of knitting machine needles, in which the image of the unit pattern is formed by digital signals, each of which corresponds to a needle, preferably by recording the image in the form of analog values, and dividing it into image blocks. This should make it easier to record the standard pattern. Furthermore, the number of needles of a group of needles should be able to be changed easily, so that one remains flexible for knitting patterns or outline shapes and size.

The inventive method for solving this problem is characterized according to the features of claim 1. In order to carry out this method, a pattern knitting device for a flat knitting machine with a main body and a needle bed for knitting needles and a slide sliding on the needle bed is proposed according to the invention, the device comprising a pair of needle selection devices, which are mounted offset on the chute, and each is provided with an electromagnet which is designed so that it can be controlled by a common control circuit which contains an erasable short-term memory for signals which correspond to data of a bundle selection program, and the signals from the memory by responding to a movement of the carriage by one Distance that is equal to the distance between adjacent knitting needles can be read. The characteristic features of this pattern knitting device result from claim 5.

The subject of the invention is based on a

Embodiment and the drawing described. In it show:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a hand-operated knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a front view of the knitting machine with the program device and the electrical feed on the main body.

3 shows a plan view of the program device;

4 shows a section through the knitting machine and the program device and an electromagnet for selecting the needle;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the partially sectioned carriage.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the partially sectioned carriage;

Fig. 7 is a section along the line VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section along the line IX-IX in Fig. 6; and

10 and 11 are a block circuit and a timing diagram, through which the electrical and electronic structure of the described device is explained.

In Fig. 1, a program device A is arranged on a control panel 3 of the main body X with the needle bed x, through which the needle selection program is provided. The program device A is provided with a scanner 2, by means of which the knitting pattern recorded on the program carrier 1 is optically scanned. Furthermore, with an actuating device for actuating various mechanisms, which will be described later together with the program device on the control panel 3 of the main body X with the needle bed x. In addition, a control box B is arranged behind the needle bed x of the machine, which contains various electrical and electronic circuits, which will be described later. In addition, a pair of left and right limiting members 4i and 4r, which are displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed x. By moving to the desired position, you define the zone in which the needle selection can be carried out. Furthermore, a pair of left and right needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr are provided, each of which is provided with an electromagnet for selecting the needle. These selection mechanisms are mounted on the carriage Y at a certain distance (seen in the longitudinal direction) from one another. Both the left and right needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr are designed to actuate the needles (not shown in FIG. 1) by delivering each one flush to the needle bed x. This is done by the action of an electromagnetic force caused by electrical signals is controlled, which are obtained by scanning the knitting pattern.

For the purpose of moving on a specific path, the scanner 2 is mounted between two end positions. Due to the movement of the sled, it can also move in any direction. During the carriage movement, he scans the needle selection program that is recorded on the program carrier 1 in the zone defined by the end positions. When scanning, it generates electrical signals which are processed by an electronic control circuit. The electrical components of the needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr are supplied with voltage via the current collector D. This is arranged in the longitudinal direction on the back of the carriage Y. In the present embodiment, the mechanism, which is arranged in front in relation to the carriage movement, is supplied with voltage. Only the needles arranged in the zone between the limiting members 4i and 4r are operated selectively. (However, in this zone, needles that are at rest are not included in the selection process.)

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The construction of the program device A is described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

A support 5 for holding the program carrier 1 in a U-shape and for its gradual advancement is mounted parallel to the needle bed x and rotatable on a frame 6. The front and rear guide rails 7i and lz are mounted horizontally on the frame 6 under the support 5. The scanner 2 is mounted on the frame 6 so that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in Fig. 4, the guide rails 7i io and h slide in transverse holes 9i and 9i, which are arranged on the front and rear parts of a scanning member 8.

A photoelectric detector device is arranged at the upper end of the scanner 2. This contains a tube scanner 10, a lighting element and a light-sensitive element. It converts the light from the lighting element onto the light-sensitive element into an electrical signal. On the way between the two elements, the light is reflected from the front of the program carrier 1. The tube scanner 10 is used to scan the program carrier 1 from 20 side to side.

In the space between the left and right perforations 1 ', into which the pins of a pin wheel of known construction engage in the program carrier 1, there are columns 111 for recording a desired knitting pattern, as well as slots 111 and 1 b for recording desired function markings. The columns are separated from one another by dividing lines with a color equal to the color of the light-emitting element, so that they are not recognized by the light-sensitive element (for example, they are red when a red light-emitting diode is used as the light-emitting element).

In columns 11 for recording the knitting pattern, a vertical line of the section dividing line corresponds to the dividing lines of a wale, while the transverse lines correspond to the dividing lines of a knitting step or a 35th

Match stitch row. The numbers that indicate the wales and rows of stitches are also the same color as the dividing lines, and they are printed outside the actual recording area.

Described in more detail, the columns 111 may be formed 40 so that their smallest element corresponds to a mesh, i. that is, a section in its transverse direction corresponds to a wale, while a section in the vertical direction corresponds to a course. When knitting the unit pattern, a given number of wales forms a group unit on the cross line. The desired pattern is obtained by drawing an image corresponding to the unitary pattern to be knitted in the area defined by the leftmost vertical line and another vertical line spaced from the former by a given number of wales, and that is drawn in black in Fig. 2 by suitable writing tools.

For example, if 24 wales are required to knit the unit pattern, 24 needles are selected as a group unit. The desired image can then be drawn in the zone which is given by the vertical line on the far left and a second vertical line which is shifted by 24 lines from the first.

As long as the contours of the image lie in the area specified above, the image can generally be drawn by simultaneously filling in all the squares formed by the dividing lines. The reason for this is that the reading is done by scanning each square.

In columns 112 and 1 I3, function markings can be entered 65 by filling in corresponding squares.

If the program carrier 1 is to be shifted into the desired position, for example, it is automatically shifted one step after the scanner 2 has carried out a scanning stroke, as described below. For this purpose, the corresponding square, which serves as a signal reference, must be filled in (for example black) to give the instruction that the needle selection process should be ended during the scanning after this time, or the program carrier 1 is automatically moved into a specific position, or a corresponding alarm is triggered.

As indicated above, the unitary pattern for the pattern to be knitted can be drawn in black III in columns III of program carrier 1. The scanner 2 scans the drawn pattern over each transverse row.

Thus, the knitting pattern of the squares of each transverse row is mapped by the electrical signals generated during the scanning, i. that is, as shown in Fig. 11 (1), a square wave signal is generated for each row of the scanned knitting pattern. From this it can be seen that the scanning does not correspond directly to the function of the needle to be actuated; For this purpose, the function marking from scanner 2 must be read, which is attached in columns 1I2 and 1 13. To do this, it is converted into an electrical signal in the same electrical system. Only one of two different electrical signals is converted into a digital electrical signal that corresponds directly to the function of the needle. This is done by a blanking pulse, which is generated during the scanning by the scanner 2, as described later, by a blanking pulse generator, whereby a clean separation of the partial signals takes place.

A through opening 12 (FIG. 4) is formed between the transverse holes 9i and 92 on the scanning member 8 of the scanner 2 and a pulse plate 13 (FIG. 3), which is mounted horizontally to the frame 6 between the guide rails 7i and h as a fixed component, is accessible through the through hole 12.

The fixed component 13 contains slots 14i on its rear side for blanking the electrical signal obtained by scanning the program carrier, each slot 14 corresponding to a rectangle in the transverse row of column 111. The part 13 is further provided on its front with slots 142 and 143 for blanking out the function markings, each of the slots 142 and 143 corresponding to a rectangle in the transverse row of columns II2 and 1b.

A blanking pulse generator ai (FIG. 2) is arranged on the scanning element 8 of the scanner 2. Its purpose is to generate certain pulses when blanking the electrical signal, which is obtained by optically scanning or reading the program carrier through the slot 14i on the back of the fixed component 13 during the scanning movement. A second blanking pulse generator a2 is arranged on the scanning element 8, which generates blanking pulses for blanking out the function mark by optical reading through the slots 142 and 143 on the front of the part 13 (FIG. 2).

Above and below the through-opening 12 passing through the fixed member 13, lighting elements 15i and 152 and photosensitive elements I61 and I62 are arranged opposite each other in positions corresponding to the rear slots 141 and the front slots 142 and 143 on both sides of the opening 12.

The blanking pulse generator ai (or, more precisely, the photosensitive element I61, which forms the generator ai), however, serves to emit a pulse each time the scanner 2 scans a square in the columns 111 of the program carrier 1 during the blanking pulse -Generator a: emits a pulse every time the scanner 2

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scans a square in columns 112 or 1b as explained with reference to Fig. 11 (I).

The automatic, step-by-step feed of program carrier 1 is described below.

Switch elements 17: and 17r are arranged on both sides of the frame 6. When the left switch member 17i is operated by a left pressure plate I81 mounted on the sensing member 8, an electromagnetic device (not shown) mounted on the control box B is operated; this causes the support 5 to be rotated by one step. The support 5 is also rotated by one step when a right switch element 17r is actuated by a right pressure plate 18r.

A ferromagnetic component 19 is arranged on the front part (on the carriage side) of the scanning member 8 and slidably engages with its front head in a slot 20 'which is arranged in the voltage feed plate 20 and is practically the entire length behind the needle bed on the machine body X extends with the front of the head exposed against the front of the power plate 20. On the other hand, a magnet 22 is mounted on the carriage Y and is provided with magnetic plates 231 and 232. Their upper and lower front surfaces are flush with the front surface of the magnet 22, which is mounted in the middle of a housing 21 made of non-magnetic material, which is arranged on the back of the carriage.

If the ferromagnetic component 19 attracts the magnetic plates 231 and 232 while the carriage Y is running, the scanner 2 starts to run with the carriage Y at the same time. The scanning process is ended when the attracted magnetic plates 231 and 23: are detached from the component 19 again. This is the case when the left or right end of the guide slot 20 is reached. This indicates that the scanner 2 is traveling with the carriage only from left to right or vice versa between the guide slots 20 'regardless of whether the carriage moves outside of the limited area. In this way, the knitting pattern of the program carrier 1 is read as digital electrical signals. A high or low signal, a 0 or 1 signal, results depending on whether the squares are filled or not, as explained in Fig. 11 (III). The digital electrical signal is stored in the memory MEM (see Fig. 10; details will be described later). Digital, electrical signals that are subsequently stored are read each time the carriage moves from left to right or in the opposite direction, actuating one of the two needle selection mechanisms Ci or Cr, which are mounted on both ends of the carriage. Depending on whether there is a zero or one signal, one of the needle selection mechanisms Ci or Cr is actuated. This is explained below with reference to the clock pulses with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

The current collector D carries a magnet 25 and a non-magnetic segment 26 (FIG. 7) which are sandwiched between an upper metallic plate 24i and a lower metallic plate 24: made of ferromagnetic or conductive material, and together with a reflection plate 27, which extends the entire length of the back of the magnet 25 and the non-magnetic segment 26 between the metal plates 24i and 24: forms an elongated band. The current collector is slidably mounted in an elongated groove 21 'of the housing 21, the latter being arranged on the carriage Y in a certain area. Its back (Fig. 7) is directed against the opening of the back of the groove 21.

The exposed side (back) of the reflection plate 27 is light-sensitive, and contains a large number of rectangular holes 27 (Fig. 6), which form a non-reflective surface and over the entire length of the exposed side at the same distance as the pitch of the needles 28 on the Needle bed are arranged.

On the other hand, a number of clock pulse generators 29, which consist of a combination of lighting elements and light-sensitive elements, are mounted on the voltage feed plate 20 (FIGS. 4, 5). They are arranged at a distance which is smaller than the length of the reflection plate 27 in order to generate time pulses dependent on the travel time of the slide Y by emitting a light beam against the reflection plate 27 and detecting the light reflected by this plate.

It is clear that at least one clock pulse generator 29 must be arranged opposite the reflection plate 27, the latter being moved during the movement of the slide Y. Therefore, every time the carriage Y is moved by one needle pitch, clock pulses are output from the clock pulse generators 29 as shown in Fig. 11 (V).

The clock pulse generators 29, which are generated each time the carriage passes over the certain length, are connected to a single output switching arrangement. The clock pulses are delivered in succession by the pulse generators, regardless of the position of the carriage Y, as if they were supplied by a single pulse generator.

Therefore, the digital electrical signals stored in the memory MEM can be read according to the running time of the carriage Y regardless of the carriage position.

Since, according to the above description, depending on the direction of travel of the scanning element together with the slide, the digital electrical signals are stored separately in the memory MEM, the signals must be read as a function of the direction of travel.

A mechanism for determining the direction of travel of the slide Y is provided in order to store the digital electrical signals in the memory MEM and to read them out therefrom.

As described, the upper and lower metal plates 24i and 242 of the current collector D are permanently magnetized and protrusions 24'i and 24'2, which are provided in several places at the rear end thereof, are normally supported by a conductive, elongated magnetic plate 30 (Fig 6) which extends over the entire front of the voltage feed plate 20 through a dielectric material.

As previously mentioned, the current collector D is in engagement with the groove 21 'of the housing 21, so that its free movement is possible within certain limits. When the current collector D has moved to the rightmost position of the housing 21, this is displaced by following the left movement of the carriage Y, while at the same time after the current collector D has moved to the leftmost position, the latter by the following Right-hand rotation of the slide Y is shifted.

That is, the running directions of the collector D are reversed with respect to the housing 21 to the right or left, according to the reversal of the running direction of the slide Y.

As shown in detail in FIG. 7, a wedge 31 is attached to the upper left side of the collector D. A resilient switch 33 and a stop piece 34 are provided in the interior of a cavity 32i, so that the wedge 3Ii is received by the housing 21. When the carriage Y moves to the left, the wedge 3Ii releases the switch 33 so that it disengages from the stop piece 34 and moves the collector D to the right so that it comes into the non-conductive state; while, when the carriage is shifted to the right, the switch 33 contacts the stopper 34

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comes, whereby the collector D moves to the left and becomes electrically conductive.

The stop piece 34 is connected to a slide plate 42, which serves as an earth plate. That is, the carriage plate 42 is connected with the via the needle bed x, a tube which is provided along the needle bed x and a rail which is inserted into the tube in order to guide the carriage along the needle bed x connected negative pole of a DC power source, which is provided on the main body X and, for example consisting of a transformer, a rectifier and a smoothing capacitor. which are connected together to form a direct current source fed by the mains voltage.

Therefore, the switch 33 and the stop piece 34 function as a limit switch and form a detector device d for determining the direction of travel of the slide Y. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the switch 33 and the stop piece 34 are connected to one another by a line 36 Contact segment 35 connected, which is mounted on the right rear part at the rear of the housing 21. Since the contact segment 35 is in contact with a conductive plate 37, 20 (see Figs. 2 and 4) which extends the entire length of the front part of the voltage feed plate 20, it is clear that the direction of movement detector device d is electrical with electrical and electronic Circuit elements are connected, which are built into the control box B of the machine housing. As can be seen from the curve in Fig. 11 (VI), a two-value signal is generated which changes from a high value to a low value and vice versa when the direction of travel of the carriage Y reverses.

The short-term memory MEM is controlled by this two-value signal, and the storing and reading out of the digital electrical signal into and from the memory takes place as a function of the running direction of the carriage Y. However, for this purpose the signal read from the memory must be one of the be transferred 35 either needle selection mechanisms Ci or Cr.

5 to 7, a switching mechanism is described by which, depending on the direction of travel of the carriage Y, the read digital electrical signal is transmitted to the needle selection mechanisms Ci or Cr. 4 »

As described above, the upper and lower metal plates 24i and 242 of the current collector D are made of conductive magnetic material, and they normally make contact with the circuit board 30 (FIG. 6) located on the machine body X so that current from the machine «Body X can be fed.

The metal plates 24i and 24; are provided with holes 24i and 24r (Fig. 6, 7), each of which has a certain length. Conductors 3Si and 38r, which are provided in the housing 21, protrude through the holes 24i and 24r. 50

When the current collector D is pushed to the right by the left rotation of the slide Y. only the right guide piece 38r is electrically conductively connected to the circuit board 30 of the machine body X by contacting the left edge of the right hole 24r. In the same way, only the left guide piece 38i is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 30 due to the clockwise rotation of the slide Y.

As shown in FIG. 5, the right guide 3Sr is normally electrically connected by a line 39 to an electromagnet 40 of the left needle selection mechanism Ci, while 60 the left guide 3Si is normally connected by a line 41 to an electromagnet 40 of the right needle selection mechanism Cr. One end of each electromagnet 40 is connected to a sled base 42 which serves as an earth plate. 65

The digital electrical signal from the machine body X is transmitted to the electromagnet 40 of the left needle selection mechanism Ci through the right guide 38r when the carriage Y moves to the left as it is transmitted to the electromagnet 40 of the right needle selection mechanism Cr through the left guide 3 81, when the carriage Y moves to the right. Therefore, the guide pieces 38t and 38r and the holes 24i and 24r form left and right switches Ei and Er for the alternating supply of the digital, electrical signal.

The left and right needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr will now be described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, S and 9. The arrangement of the components for the left and right mechanisms is symmetrical.

The electromagnet 40 is mounted on the slide plate 42. The horizontal parts 43a and 44a of ferromagnetic conductors 43 and 44 are mounted on the top and bottom of the electromagnet 40, and different magnetic poles are generated on the ferromagnetic conductors 43 and 44 by energizing the electromagnet 40.

On the other hand, a foot guide 45 made of non-magnetic material is attached to the underside of the slide plate 42.

As shown in FIG. 4, a foot passage 45a is formed under the foot guide 45, and the feet 28 ″ of the needles 28 can be received by the foot passage 45a through a side cam 46.

The width of the foot passage 45a is almost equal to the width of the foot 28 '. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the upper wall surface of the foot guide 45a gradually lowers inwards to an outer half 45b, then remains constant in height, and lowers again somewhat below the normal position of the foot 28 on an inner half 45c (Fig. 4).

Accordingly, as it passes through the foot passage 45a below the outer half 45b, the foot 28 'is gradually pressed against a plate-shaped spring 47 shown in Fig. 4 until the foot 28' reaches the inner half 45c. Then the foot 28 'moves further, its upper part maintaining a height slightly below the normal position at which the foot 28' is released back into its normal position by the action of the plate-shaped spring 47.

The ferromagnetic conductor 43 allows the outer lower portion 43d of the vertical extension 43c, which projects onto the lower side of the carriage base plate 42, to be inserted into the foot guide 45, and the flat underside of the outer lower portion 43d to be flush with the inner half of the top wall of the foot passage 45a, and is arranged almost in the middle of the foot passage 45a.

The lower edge of the middle lower part 43e protrudes inwards from the outer lower part 43d and, as part of the vertical extension 43c, it gradually slopes inwards, at the same time, as shown in Fig. 9, the front part 43e 'of it lower edges are chamfered.

The other ferromagnetic conductor 44 is constructed

that a hole is formed between the outer half 44b and the inner half 44c of the vertical part, which extends from the front edge of its horizontal part 44a. Accordingly, the force of the electromagnet 40 acts on its upper half 44b and not on the inner half 44c.

The magnetizable outer half 44b has the same length as the distance between two adjacent needle feet. It is arranged behind the outer, lower part 43d of the ferromagnetic conductor 43, which extends vertically into a position which is lower in height than the lower edge of the outer lower part 43d.

The selection of the needles by which foot 28 is inserted into foot passage 45a will now be described.

The foot 28 guided through the foot passage due to the carriage movement is gradually pressed against the force of the spring 47 and moves while its upper part is in contact

with the lower side of the outer, lower part 43d of the ferromagnetic conductor 43, until the foot 28 ′ reaches the outer half 44b of the ferromagnetic conductor 44.

If the electromagnet 40 is energized while the foot 28 'is moving along the outer half 44b, which has the length t (FIG. 8), a magnetic circuit is closed by the foot 28' via the ferromagnetic conductors 43 and 44. As a result, the foot 28 'is returned along the outer half 44b.

As shown in detail in FIG. 9, the foot 28 'pushed backwards is attracted by the inner half 44c and assumes the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 9, since a magnetic piece 48 is located between the part 44e of the (not by the electromagnet 40 excited) inner half 44c of the ferromagnetic conductor 44 and the part 43f of this conductor. The foot 28 'comes back to its original height by the action of the force of the spring 47 behind the middle, lower part 43e of the ferromagnetic conductor 43, and continues to move, opening the normally closed switch by the action of a spring 49, thereby Rewind begins.

However, when the electromagnet 40 is energized, the foot 28 'moves in a straight path since it is not attracted to the inner half 44b of the ferromagnetic conductor 44. Thus, the foot 28 'moves to the front of the ferromagnetic conductor 43 and, as drawn with full lines, runs onto the bevel 43e' and moves through the front guide passage after passing a point 44d '.

An intermediate magnetic piece 51 is mounted on the vertical part 43b of the ferromagnetic conductor 43 so that a magnetic pole is formed such that the residual magnetism generated by the electromagnet 40 is eliminated.

In this way, it is possible to carry out the selection process more effectively, since this eliminates the remanence present in the electromagnet 40 and both ferromagnetic conductors 43 and 44 when the electromagnet is not excited.

The selection process described above is carried out in succession on the needles 28 which enter the foot passage 45a. However, if a needle entering foot passage 45a is outside the area defined by limiting members 4i and 4r, electromagnet 40 remains unexcited. In this way, such needles are not included in the selection process.

In the construction described above, a right-hand cavity 32r (FIG. 5) is provided in the right-hand part of the housing 21, while a left-hand cavity 32i (FIG. 7) is arranged at the bottom of the carriage Y in the left-hand part of the housing. The wedges 3 Ii iUir left of the current collector D and 31r in the opposite position are arranged in the housing 21.

Above the top wall of the left and right cavities 52i and 32r, in the housing 21 and practically behind the needle selection point (width t) of the left and right needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr, left and right movable magnet pieces 52i and 52r (Fig. 5) are arranged for execution a vertical sliding movement along guide slots. The movable magnetic pieces 52: and 52r are moved vertically by the wedges 3 Ii and 31 r. The left wedge 3Ii is raised and the right wedge 3 lr is lowered when the collector D moves to the right; on the other hand, they are moved in the opposite directions when the collector D moves to the left.

Each of the limit members 4i and 4r, which are mounted on the inclined part of the upper end of the voltage supply plate 20, has a reed switch 53 (FIG. 2) and two separate contact segments 54, which are electrically connected to the reed switch 53, mounted on its underside. The two

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separate contact segments 54 of each limiting element are arranged parallel to one another on the underside of the voltage feed plate 20. The two contact segments 54 of the delimitation element 4, seen in FIG. 4, make contact with a left conductor strip 55 and a middle conductor strip 55, while the two contact segments 54 of the delimitation element 4i make contact with a left conductor strip 55 and a right conductor strip 55 (also considered in Fig. 4). The contact is ensured by the spring action of the contact segments. The reed switches 53 of the limiting elements 4i and 4r emit separate ON and OFF signals.

The reed switches 53 are arranged between the movable magnet pieces 52i and 52r along their trajectory so that each of the reed switches 53 can be operated by each of the movable magnet pieces 52i and 52r which is in the raised position.

Therefore, each of the reed switches 53 is turned on by the left magnet 52i during the left movement of the carriage, and by the right magnet 52r during the right movement of the carriage. As a result, the limiting elements 4i and 4r generate the pulses shown in FIGS. 11 (VII) and (VIII). (In the waveforms shown in this figure, electrical noise such as contact bouncing is suppressed to obtain the required clean waveform.) The above pulses generated by the limiter 4i and 4r show the beginning and end of the needle selection process by the needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr an. In other words, signals are generated so that the needle selection process is carried out only with the needles between the limiting members 4i and 4r. Thus, the limit members 4i and 4r indicate the left and right ends of the knitting pattern and define an area in which the needle selection is performed. As will be described later, one of the limiter members is configured to form a reference to selectively determine the reference needle for knitting. The delimiting elements 4i and 4r are labeled on their front with a marking 56 (FIG. 2) (L for “left” and R for “right”) and with a pointer 57. Pointer indicators 58 are embossed on the inclined portion of the tension plate 20 to indicate the location of the associated needles 28. The pointer 57 and the pointer indicators 58 are configured to indicate the precise boundaries of the area in which the needle selection is performed as well as the boundaries of the area in which the needle selection is not performed. In this way, the needle selection is carried out by the needle selection mechanisms Ci and Cr on needles 28 in an area which is defined by the pointers 57 which are arranged on each limiting element 4i and 4r. As a result, the knitted fabric has a pattern only in the part where the needle selection is made.

The mechanical construction is explained in the previous description. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the electrical and electronic part of the machine including the control of the electromagnets is described below.

First of all to Fig. 11:

The two-valued signal I from the scanning element 2 and the blanking pulse II from the blanking pulse generator ai are applied together to a recording and reading control circuit F, in which the signal I is converted into a digital electrical signal III. The digital electrical signal is stored at a specific address location in the memory MEM, depending on the direction of travel of the slide Y. This direction of travel is controlled by a memory address selection circuit G and the carriage direction detector device.

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The memory address selection circuit G contains an up / down counter for counting the pulses of the blanking pulse generator ai. The output signal VI of the sled running direction detector device d is polarized depending on the running direction of the scanner 2, so that the counting direction can be switched over. The digital electrical signals, of which there are 60 digits on the program carrier 1 when scanning a single row of column 11 in the present example, must all be stored at specific address locations in the memory MEM for left and right rotation of the scanner 2. The signal trains I and II are time diagrams defined by the clock signals V, which explain the process of storing the signals III at the locations G in the short-term memory MEM. The waveforms VI to XVII are also time diagrams which serve to explain the reading out of the signals from the short-term memory MEM.

The pulses VII and VIII supplied by the limiting elements 4i and 4r are fed to a signal conversion circuit H which contains a flip-flop circuit for determining the needle selection area. The signal IX is generated as a function of the interval of the pulses by the limiting elements 4i and 4r. This signal is applied to a clock pulse circuit I, which can contain control elements etc., in which a number of clock pulses X is formed, which is equal to the number of the set number of knitting needles 28 between the limiting elements 4i and 4r arranged knitting needles 2S minus one. These pulses are output one after the other at intervals that depend on the time interval between successive needles during the movement of the slide Y.

The clock pulses are applied to a slide position detection circuit J which contains the up / down counter mentioned, by means of which addition or subtraction is carried out depending on the direction of travel of the slide Y.

If necessary, the maximum count value is set in an adjusting device K which defines the number of knitting needles required for the pattern to be knitted. This device to be set by hand is present in the control panel 3 of the control box B. Each time the desired number of clock pulses X are added or subtracted, the detection circuit is brought to the same value as shown by XIII in FIG. 11.

In other words: the slide position detection circuit J sequentially addresses the needles 28 arranged between the limiting elements 4i and 4r.

The starting point for addition and subtraction, i.e. H. the reference needle for knitting is determined by either of the two limit members 4i and 4r (usually by the limit member 4i). In other words, the leftmost needle of all the needles 28 of an area in which the needle selection is made, i.e. that is, the needle indicated by the pointer 57 of the left-hand limiter 4i is selected as the reference needle for knitting. In this way, this needle always works according to the program specified by column «1» (left end) of the program holder.

The output signal of the detection circuit J is applied to the recording and reading control circuit F as a read address signal for the memory MEM only during the presence of a one value of the signal IX determining the needle selection area. The stored digital electrical signal corresponding to one of the twelve numbers 0 to 11 is then read. After the signal has been output from the recording and reading control circuit F in the form of the signal XV, it is applied to a drive signal form circuit L,

H

which contains an AND gate to which the signal IX determining the needle selection area is also applied.

The output signal of this waveform circuit feeds the electromagnet 40 of the needle selection mechanism Ci or s Cr, which performs the selection operation by the switch Ei or Er during the occurrence of the signal IX.

Thus, as is indicated schematically by the row of needle symbols XIV, needles 28 between the boundary lines 4i and 4r can be selected as a group io consisting of 12 needles in order to knit the pattern shown in black in FIG. 2.

As is apparent from the above description, each column 111 of the program carrier is scanned from side to side, and all digital electrical signals obtained during the scanning process are stored in the memory MEM. The signals to be read out are determined by the adjusting device K for setting the number of pattern needles.

As explained above, the device 20 described can be used to knit the unitary pattern on the program carrier 1 in accordance with the knitting pattern. The device is also constructed in such a way that the pattern to be knitted can be changed by actuating the actuators arranged on the control panel 3, without having to change the knitting pattern template. This is described below.

A pattern reversing device M for pattern reversal from right to left and vice versa is designed such that the electrical output signal XI according to FIG. 11 can be reversed 30. This is done by switching the signal values high potential to low potential and vice versa. The signal XI is formed with the output signal VI of the carriage direction detection device d or in a comparison circuit N (in which a logical EXCLUSIVE AND signal 35 is generated), so that the direction of addition and subtraction of the up / down counter can be determined in the carriage position detection circuit J by the comparison signal XII.

In this way, knitting patterns whose contours 40 are to be reversed can be obtained by means of a single needle selection program recorded on the program carrier I by reversing the direction of addition and subtraction by means of the switchover specified above.

In this case, the reference needle mentioned above also changes as a result of the switching. In other words, the rightmost needle of the knitting needles 28 located in the needle selection area, or the knitting needle 2S, which is indicated by the pointer 57 of the right limiting member 4r, is selected as the reference needle for knitting the pattern in the opposite direction, and so always knits according to the program of program carrier 1 specified in column 1.

The count of the counter of the carriage position detection circuit J is now also influenced by the pattern reversing device M, or in other words, by each of the signals 55 XIII or XIV, which are obtained depending on the direction of travel of the carriage Y. Thus, even with a symmetrical pattern on the program carrier 1, the pattern to be knitted can be reversed.

Further, a needle selection reversing device P outputs an electrical signal similar to that of the pattern reversing device by manual operation of a switch. The electrical signal is applied to the drive signal form circuit L, and its output signal has the form of the signal XVI according to FIG. 11, or its inverse form, 65 depending on the actuation of the device P.

4 sheets of drawings

Claims (14)

615 232 2nd PATENT CLAIMS 1. A method for selecting knitting needles on a flat knitting machine, characterized by step-by-step scanning of a program carrier (1) on which a needle selection program is recorded by means of a scanner (2) generating electrical signals (Fig. 11/1); Generating blanking pulses (Fig. 11 / II), each of which corresponds to a movement step of the scanner (2) during the scanning of the program carrier (I); Generating a number of electrical digital signals (Fig. 1 l / III) during each scanning step of the program carrier (1) from the simultaneously occurring electrical signals (Fig. IUI) and the blanking pulses (Fig. 1 l / II); Storing a certain number of digital electrical signals (Fig. 1 l / III) in a short-term memory (MEM); Reading the stored digital, electrical signals at each step in the movement of the carriage selecting the needles; and selecting needles (8) according to the digital, electrical signals stored in the short-term memory (MEM). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the step-by-step scanning of the program carrier (1) is carried out during a first carriage movement, and the reading of the stored digital electrical signals is carried out during a second carriage movement following the first carriage movement. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the needle selection according to the read from the short-term memory (MEM) signals from needles takes place in a range that is determined by a displaceable limiting device, the one and in the longitudinal direction at arbitrarily chosen locations Needle bed (x) is arranged. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the order of reading the signals from the short-term memory during needle selection is determined by commands contained in certain signals. A pattern knitting apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 for a flat knitting machine having a main body and a needle bed for knitting needles and a carriage slidably movable on the needle bed, the device including a pair of needle selection devices mounted on the carriage offset from each other, each with one Electromagnet is provided, which is designed so that it can be controlled by a common control circuit (F), which contains an erasable short-term memory for signals which correspond to data of a needle selection program, and wherein the signals from the memory by responding to a movement of the carriage a distance equal to the distance between adjacent knitting needles is read, characterized by a program device (A) arranged on the main body (X) with a program carrier (1) which is provided with the needle selection program (FIG. 2); a support (5) which removably supports the program carrier (1) on the main body (X) and can be driven step by step in one or the other direction; a scanner (2) which can be moved stepwise along a certain path between two end positions. which contains a sensor (15i, 15 :, 16i, 16 :) for reading the needle selection program on the program carrier (1) of the support (5); a pulse generating device (a :) which generates an interval pulse at each step of the scanner (2) and thus supplies a certain number of pulses when the scanner moves between the two end positions; and a setting device (K) which is electrically connected to the common control circuit (F) and which contains manually operated setting members for setting the number of those signals to be read from the memory (MEM). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized by a detector device (d) for determining the current Direction of movement of the carriage (Y) with respect to the needle bed (x), which is electrically connected to the common control circuit in order to apply a signal (VI) representing the direction of movement. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the movement detector device (d) contains a part which is in frictional engagement with the needle bed (x) and which is movable relative to the slide to a limited extent and carries a switching element. 8. The device according to claim 5, characterized by a limiting device for determining the area from which the needle selection is to take place in accordance with the signals read from the short-term memory (MEM), which device is electrically connected to the common control circuit (F) and is in a pair Limiting members (4i, 4r) is provided, which can be moved by hand on the needle bed (x). 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized by an electrically assigned to the common control circuit, manually operable device (P), by the order 20 of reading the needle selection signals from the short-term memory (MEM) can be reversed. 10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that one of the two limiting members (4i, 4r) is designed such that it as a reference member for determining the 2s reference knitting needle can be used. 11. The device according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the program device (A) contains switching means which are electrically connected to the common control circuit (F) and arranged such that at least 30 one of the two end positions of the web can be scanned. 12. The device according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the pulse generating device (a :) of the program means runs parallel to the path of the 3s scanner mounted component, which is provided with a number of distance markings, as well as a photoelectronic reading head with a light source and a photoelectric transmitter, which is mounted on the scanner for reading the markings on the said component. 40 13. The apparatus of claim 12, characterized in that the distance markings on the fixed component have the shape of spacing slots. 14. The device according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the program carrier has a column 45 for making a mark, which is representative of the operation of the machine, and that the column is arranged so that its content can be read by the sensor on the scanner. 15. The device according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterized in that the path of the scanner runs parallel to that of the carriage and means are provided for temporarily coupling the scanner to the carriage and moving it together between two end positions. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, characterized in that the means for temporarily coupling the scanner to the carriage comprise a magnet and a ferromagnetic component, one of these two elements being mounted on the scanner and the other on the carriage Is 60. 17. The device according to one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that the electrical connection between the electromagnets on the carriage and the control circuit is mounted on the main body and over 65 is the entire length of the electrode plate, which contains a current collector mounted on the carriage, which engages with a sliding contact rail. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in 3rd 615 232 net that the current collector contains a magnet and the sliding contact rail is made of ferromagnetic material.