CH622840A5 - Control unit for a hand-operated knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a control unit for a hand-knitting machine with a needle bed containing numerous needles, on which a lock, which adjusts the position of the needles individually in accordance with the intended knitting pattern and carries out the knitting process, can be displaced transversely to the needles.

It is known in the case of knitting machines to pre-store the pattern (e.g. color sample) of the knitted fabric to be produced for the individual rows of knitting in a magnetic tape memory (German Auslegeschrift 1 635 974). This knitting pattern data is fed to row memories, each of which stores the knitting pattern data for one row. While knitting, a lock or carriage is guided along the needle bed,

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and here the needles on a sensor of the lock generate clock pulses which are used to control the reading of the knitting pattern data from the respective row memory. One row memory is provided for the advance and another row memory for the return of the lock. The known control device relates exclusively to the transmission of the knitting pattern data to the magnets that select the needles. There is no control or display of the limit data for the knitted fabric to be produced.

In the case of hand knitting machines, the knitter previously had to determine the limit data (right end and left end) for each row to be knitted beforehand and, while knitting, make sure that changes in the row length, which are necessary due to the shape of the object to be knitted, are carried out in good time. This requires constant concentration, because the knitter not only has to make sure that she locks and starts the manipulations required to change the number of stitches before knitting a row, the number of stitches of which is different than the current row, but she has to also pay close attention to how many stitches are to be added or left out on the right or left.

The object of the invention is to provide a control unit for a hand-knitting machine, in which the shaping data for the knitted fabric to be produced are pre-stored, and which thus considerably simplifies the handling of the machine for the knitter.

To achieve this object, it is provided according to the invention that a data source for the shaping data of the knitted fabric to be produced contains the numbers and delimitation data of rows of the knitted fabric, that the data source sends the delimitation data to a storage device for stitch details and the number for the relevant row to a memory for row information and that a row memory or row counter is provided which contains the number of a row to be knitted and causes the delimitation data to be sent to a display device if its content corresponds to a number contained in the row information memory.

The control device according to the invention is able to store the entire shape or the shape pattern of an object to be knitted and to output the data of the respective row immediately before knitting this row. At the same time, the limitation data of the row are supplied, so that the knitter only has to mechanically carry out those processes that are specified by the display device. This largely eliminates the thinking process during knitting, which greatly reduces the possibility of errors.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the data source contains only the numbers and delimitation data of those rows in which changes compared to the previous row occur. When the relevant row is reached, only the changes to the stitch display devices are displayed. In addition, an acoustic signal can alert the knitter that stitch changes are now to be made manually on the right and / or the left side. Then the knitting process continues.

If the control unit is designed in such a way that the stitch number storage device and the row information memory always contain only the data of one row at a time, the data source can contain knitting pattern data for each row in addition to the shaping data. In this case, a selection circuit must be provided which separates the knitting pattern data from the shaping data and supplies the knitting pattern data to one of two row memories. In this way, the knitting pattern data can be supplied from the data source in addition to the shaping data. The selection between knitting pattern data and shaping data is expediently carried out by a counter which, after a number of pulses provided for the transmission of the knitting pattern data, causes the subsequent pulses to be switched over to the row counter and to the storage device for stitch details. This type of selection is expedient if the knitting pattern data and the shaping data are output serially from the data source.

In another operating mode of the control device according to the invention, the storage devices for stitch information and the memory for row information contain the shaping data of several rows supplied by the data source before the knitting begins. The entire shape or the shape pattern of the object to be knitted is pre-stored in the storage device. The memory for row information and the storage device for stitch information can be connected to an arithmetic unit which is connected to a numerical input device for index numbers for loops and rows.

The data source can be a magnetic tape storage, e.g. a tape recorder or other tape recorder.

The tapes with the knitting pattern data and the shaping data can be obtained from the manufacturer. The knitter also has the option of transferring a knitting pattern from an optically readable template to the magnetic tape. You can design your own pattern and transfer it to the magnetic tape. For this purpose, according to an advantageous development of the invention, a stylus with two different tactile positions is connected to a memory, which is incremented by one position each time the stylus is depressed, and which also has bit information in the ready to record each time the stylus is depressed Position is saved. In this way, the pattern information of a row is first stored in the memory before it is transferred to the magnetic tape. The knitter is therefore not bound to a specific rhythm in the bitwise transmission of the individual stitches. The memory content is only transferred to the magnetic tape after all the stitch data in a row has been stored. For this purpose, a clock input of the memory can expediently be connected to a pulse source which emits a predetermined number of pulses and then switches off the magnetic tape device. The control during the recording must be carried out in such a way that a sufficiently large block gap is generated after the information in one row has been recorded or before the information in the next row has been recorded. However, the knitter has the option, for example, to write text on the magnetic tape after the knitting pattern data. For this purpose, a microphone is provided which can preferably also be used as a loudspeaker and is connected to the magnetic tape device. Information on the shape of the knitted fabric, i.e. the number of stitches to be taken off or taken off on the right or left, or other operating instructions are mentioned.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows schematically the outer structure of a hand knitting machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a view of the castle from below.

Fig. 3 shows the construction of a needle of the hand knitting machine.

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Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of the electronic part of the hand knitting machine.

Fig. 5 shows the structure of the knitting pattern information recorded on the magnetic tape for one row.

6 shows a flow diagram for the functional sequence of the arithmetic unit of the machine when operated as a knitting computer.

Fig. 7 schematically shows the structure of a data input device for recording knitting pattern data on the magnetic tape, and

Fig. 8 shows a total of four different ways of connecting devices as a data source to the control unit.

The hand knitting machine shown in FIG. 1 has a needle bed 10 with a multiplicity of parallel knitting needles 11, which are individually displaceable transversely to the needle bed 10. The lock 14 can be displaced across the entire needle bed 10 transversely to the needles on two rails 12, 13. The lock is moved by hand. The needles, one of which is shown enlarged in FIG. 3, are bent upward at their outer ends and designed as hooks 15, into which the thread can be inserted. Each needle has a pivotable tongue 16 which closes the hook 15 in one end position.

In the area of the needle bed 10 which is overrun by the lock 14, the needles 11 have upwardly directed feet 17 which serve to move or adjust the needles. At the outer end of the needle bed 10, four different needle positions A, B, C and D are designated. Those needles whose feet 17 are in position A are not picked up by the moving lock 14 at all. You are therefore not involved in the knitting process. Those needles whose feet 17 are in position B are controlled by a cam track provided on the underside of the lock 14 so that they perform a certain movement transversely to the needle bed, whereby a stitch is knitted in a known manner. They are then brought back into position B by the lock 14 so that they are detected again the next time the lock is returned. Positions C and D are not essential for understanding the basic mode of operation of the machine.

To knit a knitting pattern, two different colored threads are threaded into the lock. Those needles that e.g. to take the common thread must have a different sequence of movements than those needles that e.g. should take the blue thread. The needles are selected by the lock 14 and guided either along the cam track 18 or along the cam track 19 (FIG. 2). These two cam tracks finally unite again, so that all needles that have entered the lock in position B also leave the lock in this position.

In Fig. 2, the paths of the needle feet 17 are shown only when the lock is moved in one direction (to the right). With the reverse direction of movement of the lock, the same cam tracks result, which run from right to left in FIG. 2 and from left to right. The underside of the castle is symmetrical.

The switches 20 are used to select the needles. These are controlled electromagnetically and move the needle feet 17 either forwards or backwards, so that they are guided onto the cam track 18 or the cam track 19. The points 20 are controlled as a function of the magnetically recorded knitting pattern and will be explained below.

A cassette magnetic tape device 21 is provided on the machine according to FIG. 1, into which a customary tape cassette 22 containing the knitting program can be inserted.

Corresponding buttons 23 for clockwise, counterclockwise and stop are provided for operating the magnetic tape device 21. There is also a two-digit number display device 24 for left stitches and a two-digit number display device 25 for right stitches on the machine. The display devices 24 and 25 each additionally contain an indication of the sign of the mesh, i.e. Information about whether the displayed number of stitches has to be taken up or taken down. A three-digit row counter 26 is also provided, which indicates the number of the respective row. The loudspeaker 27, which can also be used as a microphone, is used to reproduce spoken information recorded on the magnetic tape or to record this information. The speaker 27 also has an important job in recording knitting pattern data on the magnetic tape. This will be explained further below. The volume of the loudspeaker 27 is set on the control head 28.

Finally, there is an input keyboard on the machine

29 available for the stitch index and the row index.

The function of the magnetic tape control and the data delivery to the row memories and the various display devices will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. It is assumed that the knitting pattern information for one row is recorded on the magnetic tape in the manner shown in FIG. 5. The block shown initially contains bit information 30, consisting of an identification and the number of the relevant row. The identification is a specific bit sequence on which the beginning of the block can be recognized. The information

30 comprises 12 bits. This is followed by information 31, which represents the pattern information for the relevant row. Since hand knitting machines usually have a knitting width of 200 stitches, the information 31 consists of 200 bits. The pattern information says for each stitch in a row whether it e.g. to be knitted in red or blue. After the sample information, text or music can be added. The knitter can, for example, include operating instructions. After the information 32 has ended, the block gap 33 follows. The block gap has a certain minimum length, which will be explained below, and the next block follows the block gap.

After inserting a tape cassette with the content shown in FIG. 5, the start switch 34 is closed manually according to FIG. 4. As a result, the switch-on control 35 is actuated and the magnetic tape device 21 is switched on via line 36. At the same time, a delay element 37 with a delay time of 2 seconds is switched on, which starts the comparator 38 after the delay time has expired. The output signal line 39 of the magnetic tape device 21 is connected to the input of a converter 40, which outputs the recorded bit information at an output 41 and the clock of the bit information at a second output 42. So that the clock information can be derived from the magnetic tape even in the case of several consecutive uniform pulses, the recording is carried out according to the known phase jump method, in which the clock information can be derived from the overall signal at any time.

The information at output 41 is fed to comparator 38, in which the identification contained in bit sequence 30 is stored, so that comparator 38 can determine the beginning of pattern information 31.

The clock output of the converter 40 is connected to the input of a first counter 42, which counts to twelve and then forwards a carry to a second counter 44, whereby the second counter is switched on and counts to two hundred. While the second counter 44 is counting, its output 45 is activated, so that it has the write gates 46, 47 which are connected to the

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Lead memory inputs S of the series memory 48 and 49, prepared.

As soon as the comparator 38 has responded, in the “knitting pattern” operating mode described here it switches on the first counter 43, which counts the first twelve clock pulses from output 42 and during this time opens the row memory 51 via the output 50, so that via the information line 52 the three-digit row number of the respective row number is entered into the row memory 51. This row number is visually displayed on the row counter 26.

After the first counter 43 has reached its final state after twelve clock pulses, it emits a carry signal to the second counter 44 via line 53, which is thereby switched on and counts the next two hundred clock pulses.

A clock 54 is located on the lock 14 and consists of at least two optical, mechanical or other sensors which generate a pulse when the lock is moved when each needle passes. These pulses are fed to the direction detection circuit 55 which generates a signal at output L when the lock is moved to the left and at line R when the lock is moved to the right. To enable direction detection, the two sensors in the clock generator 54 are phase-shifted with respect to one another with respect to the needle spacing, so that the direction of movement of the lock can be recognized from the time sequence in which the pulses are generated at the two sensors.

The line L of the direction detection circuit 55 is connected to the second input of the AND gate 47, which is assigned to the right row memory 49, while the output R is connected to the second input of the gate 46, which is assigned to the left row memory 48. The control signal on line 45, which is present for a duration of 200 bits, therefore passes through gate 47 when the lock runs counterclockwise, so that the memory input S of the series memory 49 is activated, and when the lock runs clockwise, gate 46, so that the memory input S the row memory 48 is activated.

The signals of the information line 52 are always present at the inputs E of the two row memories 48 and 49, but only the row memory whose memory input S is energized stores the information signals. This means that when the lock runs to the left, the right row memory 49 and when the lock rotates to the right, the left row memory 48 stores the pattern information for the next row.

The output inputs A of the two series memories are connected to the clock 54 via AND gates 56 and 57, so that the data output to the switches 20 takes place in the cycle which is generated when the needles are attached by a sensor attached to the lock happen. The second input of gate 56 is connected to the L output of direction detection circuit 55, and the second input of gate 57 is connected to the R output of direction detection circuit 55. This circuit ensures that the row memory 48 is switched to “output” when the row memory 49 is switched to “save” and vice versa. The row memory that is switched to “output” causes the 200 memory locations stored in it to be output in the machine cycle generated by the clock generator 54. In contrast, the data input into the other row memory is briefly dependent on the running speed of the magnetic tape.

The described way of controlling the switches 20 by the two row memories 48 and 49 in dependence on the machine cycle ensures that each switch 20 always receives the pulse intended for a specific needle when the needle foot 17 of this needle is in one position , in which it is influenced by the electromagnets of the switch. A selection by mechanical displacement of the needle feet, as is carried out in the known hand knitting machines, is not necessary. It is important, however, that the clock 54, which determines the point in time at which the switch 20 in question is energized, is set in such a way that it operates the switch 20 at exactly the right time. The clock 54 can be triggered directly by the needles, for example, as the needles pass. Another possibility is to attach a line scale to the needle bed along which the clock 54 runs.

The second monitoring circuit is connected to the comparator 38. It is able to distinguish between bit information 31 and audio signals 32. The monitoring circuit 60 ensures that the comparator 38 only keeps the counters 43 and 44 switched on for as long as bit information is recognized. After that, the counters are no longer activated.

The first monitoring circuit 61 is also connected to the output of the converter 40. This is a level detector which emits a signal to the switch-on control 35 if the signal level of the signal coming from the magnetic tape over a period of e.g. Falls below a predetermined value for 1.5 seconds. Then the magnetic tape device 21 is switched off via line 36. Such falling below the specified signal level takes place regularly at the end of the block in block gap 33 (FIG. 5). The block gap must therefore be at least as large as the time period set on the level detector 61 plus the run-down time of the magnetic tape device plus the start-up time set on the delay circuit 37. Only if the block gap has a corresponding length is it ensured that no information is lost between two blocks (rows) between which the magnetic tape device is always stopped.

After a row has been knitted in this way and the information for the next row has been recorded by the corresponding row memory from the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape device is put into operation again by the start switch 62. The start switch 62 is located, for example, on the machine frame approximately in the middle of the path through which the lock runs and is actuated by the lock. If the lock is moved, the information from one row memory is sent to the associated switch, so that the knitting needles are selected accordingly. When the lock has reached the switch 62, the magnetic tape device 21 starts up and at the earliest 2 seconds later the data is entered into the other row memory. The data is input in the cycle generated by the magnetic tape device, that is to say very quickly compared to the machine cycle 54.

In addition to the pure knitting pattern data and the text information, the magnetic tape can also contain additional data for the shaping of the product to be knitted. If a knitted fabric should not extend over the entire width of two hundred needles, those knitting needles which should not be involved in the production of the knitted fabric are placed in position A (FIG. 1). Only those knitting needles that are to be involved in the production of the knitted fabric are manually brought into position B by the knitter.

If the number of stitches is to be reduced during the manufacture of the knitted fabric, additional needles must be brought into position A on the edge. At the same time, the stitches must be removed from these needles and transferred to other needles. The knitter must do this manually. So that the knitter knows in which row she has to decrease or increase stitches, the corresponding data can be found in s

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Connection to the pattern information 31 (Fig. 5) may be included on the magnetic tape. For example, a field of 12 bits can be provided in which the number of the row in which the change is to be made is stored. Another 12-bit field contains the stitch change to be made on the left and another 12-bit field contains the stitch change to be made on the right. To process this data, a third counter 65 of 12 bits, a fourth counter 66 of 12 bits and a fifth counter 67 of 12 bits are provided in FIG. 4 following the second counter 44. The counts from line 42 are supplied to each of these counters 65 to 67. However, each counter only begins to count when it has received the carry pulse from the previous counter.

As long as the third counter 65 counts, it opens via its output 68 a memory for the row specification, which is connected to the information line 52. As long as the fourth counter 66 counts, it opens via its output line 70 a memory 71 for “stitch details on the left” to receive the corresponding number of stitch changes with sign from the information line 52. As long as the fifth counter 67 counts, it opens a memory 73 for via its output line 72 “Stitch details on the right”, which is also connected to information line 52. In this way, each of the memories 69, 71, 73 receives the data from the magnetic tape for which it is intended.

In this operating mode, the contents of the memories 71 and 73 are displayed on the display devices 24 and 25 for the stitch details. In Fig. 4 e.g. indicated that the knitter should add thirteen stitches on the left side and decrease twenty-four stitches on the right side. Once this is done, you can continue knitting by moving the lock back and forth.

Since it is not necessary to change stitches in every row, precautions have been taken on the machine to make the knitter aware of the need to change stitches in the respective row. For this purpose, the transfer of the fifth counter 67 is forwarded to a delay element 74 which is switched on for about 2 seconds when the direction detection circuit 55 subsequently indicates a change of direction of the lock via line 55. For the duration of these two seconds, the delay element 74 actuates an electromagnetic brake provided on the lock 14, so that the lock locks briefly. At the same time, a buzzer 76 sounds. The brake 75 interrupts the knitting process briefly, so that the knitter does not accidentally continue knitting until the necessary changes have been made.

So far, the “knitting pattern” operating mode has been described with the aid of two variants, which consist in the fact that only the knitting pattern information is contained on the tape cassette and the shaping information in addition to the knitting pattern information. The second “knitting calculator” operating mode is explained below. Here, a tape cassette is used in which only the shaping data are recorded. These are saved in the circuit. A cassette containing only the knitting pattern information is then inserted. Then the mode switch 77 is switched back to "knitting pattern".

In the “knitting computer” operating mode, data according to Table I are recorded on the magnetic tape, for example.

Table I

Stitches

Row left right

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5 +1 +1

8 -1 +5

2 +1 +1

This means that one stitch has to be increased in the tenth row on the left. After five more rows, another stitch is increased on the left and also on the right, etc. Only the following further rows are noted in which changes in the number of stitches occur. This data is entered into the circuit via the converter 40. The mode selector 77 is on the “knitting computer” so that the first counter 43 and the second counter 44 are not activated. The first twelve pulses rather go to the third counter 65, the second twelve pulses to the fourth counter 66 and the third twelve pulses to the fifth counter 67. This means that the row information is always in the memory 69, the stitch information on the left in the memory 71 and the stitch details on the right are stored in the memory 73. In this case, the memories are dimensioned so that they can each save a series of values according to Table 1. The outputs of the memories 69, 71 and 73 and the output of the series memory 51 are connected to an arithmetic unit 78 which controls the display devices 24 and 25 and which can also be used to enter index numbers 29 via the input keyboard.

The index numbers that are input from the input keyboard 29 are explained below. Depending on the stitch size set on the machine, the type of wool used and various other machine settings, there are different conditions for each knitted fabric, which affect the shape of the object to be knitted. In practice, therefore, you knit a stitch sample with the final machine setting to be used. This is a rag from e.g. 10 cm X10 cm size. Place this cloth on a template and count the stitches and rows in a right-angled coordinate system. Using the measuring template you can see how many stitches and how many rows each result in a certain length. Then you can determine the index number by which the values contained in the knitting computer program, which relate to a specific unit knitting, must be multiplied in order to obtain the correct shape and size for the selected knitting type. For example, a stitch index of 1.2 and a row index of 1.4 can be entered on the input keyboard 29. The arithmetic unit 78 then executes the arithmetic processes shown in FIG. 6 in the form of a flow chart during the knitting process:

First of all, the next row specification contained in the memory 69 is read. The row specification is multiplied by the row index number previously entered on the input keyboard 29. As a rule, this does not result in an integer, so that the digits after the comma must be separated and saved. The digits before the decimal point are reduced by 1 during the next knitting process. Then it is examined whether the number of rows has already become zero. If this is the case, the number of rows is reduced again by 1 during the next knitting process, etc. If the number of rows finally becomes zero, this means that, according to Table I, a new row has been reached in which changes are to be made. Then the two stitch details are read and multiplied by the stitch index. Here, too, the positions behind the decimal point are suppressed and are saved. The stitch change values converted in this way are displayed on the display devices 24 and 25 with the associated signs. If the row specification “zero” is in the memory 69, the memory contents of the memories 71 and 73 are output to the display devices 24 and 25. At the same time, the delay element 74 is prepared via line 78 ′.

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This responds when the next change of direction of the lock is indicated via line 55 'and then sets the lock brake 75 and the buzzer 76 in operation for a short time. The arithmetic unit 78 is informed of the execution of a knitting process by the output pulse of the row memory 51 via line 79. When the new stitch details have been displayed, the next row number is read, i.e. according to Table I the next line.

So that the knitter is not dependent on knitting patterns which are available on pre-recorded cassette tapes, the device shown in FIG. 7 as a block diagram is provided, by means of which the knitter is able to record knitting pattern information herself on the tape. All that is required for this is a template on which the pattern to be knitted is shown in an optically recognizable manner. This template is expediently drawn as a raster image or is a non-rasterized image over which a transparent rectangular raster is placed. The knitter scans the image grid in rows with a stylus 80. The number of halftone dots in a row should be equal to or less than the maximum number of stitches in a row. The stylus 80 is constructed similarly to a ballpoint pen, but has no writing tip. If it is pressed onto the base with the tip, a first contact 81 is closed, and if it is then pressed even further, a second contact 82 is subsequently closed. When the first contact 81 closes, a pulse is applied to the clock pulse input T of the memory 83. The memory is, for example, a shift register with a capacity of 200 bits. The signal input of the memory 83 is connected to the contact 82. Accordingly, a logic signal is always stored in the corresponding memory location when contact 82 is closed, i.e. when the stylus 80 is pressed hard on the pad.

The memory 83 is designed such that a signal is generated on its output line 84 each time a clock pulse is input at the key pulse input T or when the signal input receives a signal pulse. The loudspeaker 27 of the tape recorder is connected to the line 84 via a switch 85, which can also be used as a microphone for speaking text onto the magnetic tape. The switch 85 is bridged with a resistor 86. Resistor 86 is connected to the LF input of the tape recorder.

In the illustrated position of the switch 85, the loudspeaker 27 is connected directly to the output line 84 of the memory 83. Every time the stylus 80 is placed and the memory content is switched on, a pulse arises at the output, which causes a crack in the loudspeaker 27. The knitter therefore knows when she has pressed the stylus 80 hard enough to cause the memory to advance. When the contact 82 has been switched through, a different noise occurs on the loudspeaker 27, so that the function of the stylus 80 can be checked acoustically. The 12-bit row number 30 (FIG. 5) is first generated in the memory 83. Then the pattern information of a row comprising 200 bits is input so that the memory 83 has a total capacity of 212 digits.

When all of the knitting pattern data of one row has been entered into the memory, the tape switch start switch 88 is closed to record the row. As a result, voltage is applied to the motor input of the tape recorder via the closed switch 87. At the same time, the delay circuit 89 is excited, which sets the clock oscillator 90 into operation after a delay time of 1 to 2 seconds. This generates 212 clock pulses of a predetermined frequency, which are applied to the clock input T of the memory, so that the memory content is applied via line 84 and the resistor 86 to the LF input of the switched-on tape recorder. After the clock oscillator 212 has emitted clock pulses and the content of the memory 83 has been output, the clock oscillator 90 opens the switch 87 via line 91, whereby the motor of the tape recorder is switched off.

If, in addition to the sample data, other information is to be recorded on the tape that is to be listened to later via the loudspeaker 27, the switch 85 is flipped, as a result of which the tape recorder is switched on again via the switch 92 coupled to the switch 85. The loudspeaker 27, which can also be used as a dynamic microphone, is now located directly above the switch 85 at the LF input of the tape recorder, which is switched on. In this way, a text can be recorded on the tape.

The circuit, which is shown in FIG. 4 as a block diagram, can be implemented by using a microprocessor. Such microprocessors are electronic components that have the structure of a computer and can be programmed. The implementation of the entire circuit, which is shown in FIG. 4 between the two dash-dotted lines, is possible, for example, with the “Intersil IM6100” microprocessor.

8 shows various further possibilities for connecting devices to lines 36 and 39 of the circuit in FIG. 4. In addition to the tape recorder or cassette recorder 21, which has already been explained with reference to FIG. 4, or instead of this device, a visual display device 211 can be used as the data source. Such visual display devices have a television screen and a control device. With a light pen (not shown) connected to the associated control device, the operator can record the pattern of the object to be knitted on the television screen. The lines created by the light pen then appear as bright lines on the screen. The corresponding data are stored in a memory of the control device. Such visual display devices are known. For example, the 6800C device from Franz Morat KG can be used in conjunction with a conventional television set.

An electronic read-only memory (READ ONLY MEMORY) 212, in which one or more cutting patterns are stored, can also be used as the data source. Such read-only memories are available as integrated circuits. The operator has, for example, a collection of several read-only memories 212 in which the data of various knitting patterns are stored and inserts into the circuit the read-only memory whose content is to be read out via line 39. The connections of the read-only memory 212 are therefore shown in FIG. 8 as plug connections for exchanging the read-only memory. A read-only memory that is suitable for this is the IM5625 from Intersil.

Finally, a pattern reader 213 can be used as the data source, into which a data carrier 97 is inserted, which e.g. contains in optically or magnetically readable form. The data carrier is scanned line by line by a scanning element 98 which is moved in the transverse direction relative to the data carrier 97. After each line, the data carrier 97 is moved on by one line so that the next line can be scanned. The pattern reader 213 works on the same principle as the "Knit Radar KR!", Which is sold by the applicant. The feed of the data carrier 97 and the transverse movement of the scanning element 98 can be automated by a corresponding control device, the output signals of the scanning element 98 being fed to the line 39,

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The devices 211, 212 and 213 are not only suitable for the data for the respective knitting pattern, i.e. the boundary data for the knitted fabric to record and store, but they can also contain the pattern data for a color pattern or stitch pattern that is generated on the knitted fabric. Striclanuster are therefore also drawn into the outer contours (cutting pattern) indicated on the device 211 or on the data carrier 97. The data of these knitting patterns are fed to the row memories 48, 49, s, while the shaping data arrive in the memories 71 and 73.

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Claims (18)

622 840 1. Control unit for a hand-knitting machine with a needle bed containing numerous needles, on which a lock, which adjusts the position of the needles individually according to the intended knitting pattern and carries out the knitting process, can be moved transversely to the needles, characterized in that a data source (21) for the shaping data of the knitted fabric to be produced each contains the numbers and delimitation data of rows of the knitted fabric, that the data source (21) sends the delimitation data to a storage device (71, 73) for stitch details and the number for the relevant row to a memory (69) for row information and that a row memory (51) or row counter is provided which contains the number of a row to be strictly and causes the delimitation data to be sent to a display device (24, 25) if its content is a number contained in the row information memory corresponds. 2. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the data source contains only the number and delimitation data of those rows in which changes compared to the previous row occur. 2nd PATENT CLAIMS 3. Control unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the memory device (71, 73) and the memory (69) for row information at a time always contain only the data of a single row. 4. Control unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the data source (21) contains knitting pattern data for each row in addition to the shaping data, and that a selection circuit (43, 44, 65, 66, 67) is provided which extracts the knitting pattern data from the shaping data separates and feeds the knitting pattern data to one of two row memories (48, 49). 5. Control unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the selection circuit contains at least one counter (44) which, after a pulse number provided for the transmission of the knitting pattern data, the switching of the subsequent pulses to the row memory (51) for the number of the row to be knitted and on the storage device (71, 73) for stitch details. 6. Control unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the memory device (71, 73) and the memory (69) for row information have such a capacity that they have the shaping data of several rows supplied by the data source (21) before the knitting begins be able to record. 7. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data source is a magnetic tape memory (21) to which a monitoring circuit (61) is connected, which the magnetic tape memory after completion of the transmission of all information relating to the respective row, switches off. 8. Control unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the monitoring circuit (61) is a level detector which switches off the magnetic tape memory (21) when a signal is not detected on the magnetic tape for a certain period of time, and that on the magnetic tape in each case between the information, which relate to two successive rows, there is a block gap (33), the length of which is at least so large that its duration in normal belt travel is as long as the time period required for switching off plus the response time of the monitoring circuit (61) and the starting time of the motor the magnetic tape memory (21). 9. Control unit according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a second monitoring circuit (60) is provided which differentiates the magnetic tape information between digital data and audio signals. 10. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory (69) for row details and the storage device (71, 73) for stitch details are connected to an arithmetic unit (78) which is connected to a numerical input device (29) for index numbers for stitches and Rows is connected. 11. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (76) is provided which generates a perceptible signal when the boundary data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the previous row. 12. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lock lock (75) is provided which blocks the movement of the lock (14) when the limit data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the previous row. 13. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the transfer of a pattern from a template to a magnetic tape, a stylus (80) with two different tactile positions is connected to an electronic memory (83) which is depressed each time the stylus (80 ) is switched on by one position, and with which each time the stylus (80) is pressed down, bit information is additionally stored in the position that is ready for recording. 14. Control unit according to claim 13, characterized in that a clock input (T) of the memory for transferring the memory content to the magnetic tape can be connected to a pulse source (90) which emits a predetermined number of pulses and then switches off the magnetic tape device (21). 15. Control unit according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a loudspeaker (27) is connected to the magnetic tape memory (21) and can be used as a recording microphone. 16. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the data source consists of a visual display device (211) which has a memory into which the shaping data can be entered by moving it with a light pen on a television screen of the visual display device. 17. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the data source contains a read-only memory (212) in which the shaping data of the knitted fabric are pre-stored. 18. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the data source contains a pattern reader (213) which scans line by line a data carrier (97) on which the shape of the knitted fabric to be produced is drawn.