GB1565434A

GB1565434A - Hand knitter

Info

Publication number: GB1565434A
Application number: GB4191277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Empisal Knitmaster Luxembourg SA
Current assignee: Empisal Knitmaster Luxembourg SA
Priority date: 1977-10-07
Filing date: 1977-10-07
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Description

(54) A HAND KNITTER (71) We, EMPISAL KNITMASTER LUXEMBOURG, S.A-, a company organized under the laws of Luxembourg, of 2 bis Blvd.

Royal, Luxembourg, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a hand knitter having a needle bed which contains numerous needles and on which a carriage, which sets the positions of the needles individually in accordance with the envisaged knitting pattern and carries out the knitting operation, is displaceable transversely to the needles.

In some knitting machines the knitting pattern (e.g. colour pattern) for the individual rows is stored in a magnetic tape store (German Patent Specification AS 1,635,974). The knitting pattern data is transferred to row stores, each of which receives the knitting pattern data for one row. During knitting, a carriage is moved along the needle bed and as this happens the needles apply timed impulses to a sensor on the carriage, which impulses are used for controlling the section of the knitting pattern data from each row store. In this system one row store is provided for the advance movement of the carriage and another row store is provided for the return movement of the carriage. The known control apparatus is concerned exclusively with the transmission of the knitting pattern data to the magnets that select the needles.No control or indicating means for the limiting data for the knitted fabric to be produced are provided.

In hand knitters, the user has hitherto had to determine beforehand the limiting data (right-hand end and left-hand end) for each row to be knitted, and during knitting she has had to take care that changes in the length of rows, that are made necessary by the shape of the article being knitted, are carried out at the right moment. This requires continuous and considerable concentration since the user not only has to take care to stop the carriage before knitting a row containing a different number of stitches from the previous row and to carry out the necessary manipulations for altering the number of stitches, but in addition she must observe precisely how many stitches have to be added or omitted at the right or left.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hand knitter in which the shape data for the knitted article to be produced are stored and which therefore makes it considerably easier for the knitter to handle the machine.

According to the invention there is provided a hand knitter in which there is provided a data source for the shape data of the knitted article to be produced contains the number and limiting data for each row of the knitted article, the data source transmitting the limiting data to a store means for stitch data, and the number for the row concerned, to a row data store. A row store or row counter is provided that contains the number of a row to be knitted and causes the limiting data to be transmitted to an indicating device when its content corresponds to a number contained in the row data store.

The hand knitter of the invention is capable of storing the entire shape or shape pattern of an article that is to be knitted, and of delivering the data for each particular row immediately prior to the knitting of this row. The limiting data for the row are also supplied at the same time, so that the user simply has to carry out mechanically those operations indicated to her by the indicating device. Thus, practically no thought process is required during knitting, so that the possibility of errors is greatly reduced.

In accordance with one advantageous further feature of the invention, the data source contains only the numbers and limiting data for those rows that differ from the preceding row.

When the row concerned is reached, only the changes are displayed on the stitch indicating devices. Furthermore an audible signal can be used to draw the user's attention to the fact that stitch changes are to be carried out manually at the right and/or the left. There after knitting is continued.

If the hand knitter is so designed that the store for the number of stitches and the row data store always contain, at any moment, only the data for a single row, the data source may contain, in addition to the shape data, knitting pattern data for each row. In this case, it is necessary to provide a selection circuit which separates the knitting pattern data from the shape data and which feeds the knitting pattern data to one of two row stores. In this way, the knitting pattern data can be supplied at the same time in addition to the shape data. The selection between knitting pattern data and shape data is expediently carried out by means of a counter, which following a number of impulses provided for transmitting the knitting pattern data, switches the following impulses to the row counter and to the stitch data store.This method of selection is advantageous when the knitting pattern data and the shape data are delivered serially from the data source.

In another method of operating a hand knit rer in accordance with the invention, the stitch data stores and the row data stores contain the shape date for a plurality of rows that are transmitted by the data store prior to the commencement of knitting. In this system the entire shape i.e. the shape pattern of the article to be knitted is previously stored in the store system. The row data store and the stitch data store can be connected to a computer which is in turn connected to a numerical input device or index numbers for stitches and rows.

The data store may be a magnetic tape store e.g. a cassette recorder or some other magnetic tape apparatus.

The magnetic tapes carrying the knitting pattern data and the shaping data can be purchased from the producer in the form in which the are to be used. However, the user of the machine is also able to transfer a knitting pattern from an optically readable photographic original to the magnetic tape. She can thus design her own patterns and transfer these to the magnetic tape. For this purpose and in accordance with a further advantageous feature of the invention, a finger-key having two different operative positions is connected to a store which, each time the finger-key is depressed, is indexed one place forward, and in which, each time the finger-key is heavily depressed, information in the form of bits is additionally fed into the particular place ready to receive.In this way, the pattern information for a row is first stored in the store before it is transferred to the magnetic tape. The person using the machine is therefore not obliged to keep to a certain rhythm during the transfer, in bit form, of the individual stitches. The contents of the store are transferred to the magnetic tape only after all the stitch data for a row have been stored. In this connection, an impulse inlet of the store is expediently connectible to an impulse source which releases a given number of impulses and then switches off the magnetic tape recorder. During recording, the control must be carried out in such a way that after recording the information for one row and before recording the information for the next row, a sufficiently large block gap is formed.It is however possible for the person using the machine to dictate text for example on the magnetic tape at a position following the knitting pattern data. A microphone is provided for this purpose and this can preferably also be used as a loudspeaker and is connected to the magnetic tape recorder. Details regarding the shaping of the knitted article, i.e. the number of stitches to be removed or added at the right or left, or other directions can be dictated on to the magnetic tape.

A form of construction of the equipment in accordance with the invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings, wherein; Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the outer construction of a hand knitter in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically an underneath view of the carriage.

Figure 3 illustrated and construction of a needle used in the hand knitter.

Figure 4 is a block circuit diagram of the electronic part of the hand knitter.

Figure 5 shows the form of the knitting pattern information for one row, recorded on the magnetic tape.

Figure 6 shows a flow chart for the opera tional cycle of the computer of the knitter when operating as a knit calculator.

Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of a data input means for record ing pattern data on the magnetic tape, and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the equipment for data generation.

The hand knitter illustrated in Figure 1 has a needle bed 10 with a large number of parallel knitting needles 11 which are individually displaceable transversely of the needle bed 10.

A carriage 14 is displaceable transversely to the needles over the entire needle bed 10, on two rails 12 and 13. The carriage is moved by hand. At their outer ends the needles, one of which is shown on a larger scale in Figure 3, are bent upwards and formed as hooks 15 Each needle has a pivoted latch 16 which, in one of its end positions, closes the hook 15.

In that zone of the needle bed 10 that is traversed by the carriage 14, the needles 11 have upwardly directed butts 17 which serve to displace and position the needles. Four different needle position, A, B, C and D, are marked at the outer end of the needle bed 10.

Those needles whose feet 17 are in the A position, are not engaged at all by the cam 14 as it moves past them. They do not therefore participate in the knitting operation. Those needles whose feet are in the B position are actuated by a cam track, provided on the lower face of the carriage 14, so that they execute a certain movement transversely of the needle bed, and this results in a stitch being formed in the known manner. They are then moved back into the B position by the cam 14, so that during the next return run of the cam they are engaged again. The C and D positions are not of importance to an understanding of the basic mode of operation of the machine.

For the purpose of knitting a pattern, two threads of different colours are threaded into the carriage. Those needles that are to pick up the red thread, for example, must move in a time-cycle that is different from that of the needles that are to pick up the blue thread.

The needles are selected by the carriage 14, and are moved either along the cam track 18 or along the cam track 19 (Figure 2). These two cam tracks join each other again so that all of the needles that have entered the cam path at the B position also leave it again at that position.

Figure 2 illustrates the paths of the feet 17 of the needles only for when the carriage is moved in one direction (to the right). When the direction of movement of the carriage is reversed, the same cam tracks, which run from right to left in Figure 2, run from left to right. The lower face of the carriage is of symmetrical form.

Points 20 are used for selecting the needles These are electro-magnetically controlled and move the feet 17 of the needles either back wards or forwards so that they are guided on to the cam track 18 or the cam track 19. The points 20 are actuated in dependence upon the magnetically recorded knitting pattern, and the method of control will be described below.

Referring to Figure 1, the knitter is pro vided with a cassette-type magnetic tape recorder 21 into which can be fitted a standard tape cassette 22 containing the knitting pro gramme. Suitable keys 23 are provided for causing the magnetic tape recorder 21 to run to the right and to the left and for stopping it. Also provided on the knitter is a two-place number-indicating device 24 for left-hand stitches and a two-place number-indicating device 25 for right-hand stitches; The indicat ing devices 24 and 25 each also contain a plus and minus sign relating to the stitches, i.e. in formation as to whether the indicated number of stitches has to be added or removed. Also provided is a three-place row counter 26 which indicates the number of the particular row.A loudspeaker 27, which can also be used as a microphone, serves for playing-back dictated information, recorded on the magnetic tape, or for recording this information. The loudspeaker 27 also performs a further impor tant function in recording knitting pattern data on the magnetic tape. This will be ex plained at greater length below. The volume of the loudspeaker 27 can be adjusted by means of a regulating knob 28.

Finally, an input keyboard 29 for indexing the stitches and indexing the rows is pro vided on the knitter.

The mode of operation of the magnetic tape control means and the method of passing data to the row stores and the various indicating devices will now be described by reference to Figures 4 and 5. It will be assumed that the knitting pattern information for a row is recorded on the magnetic tape in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. The illustrated block contains, first, information 30 in bit form and consisting of an identification and the number of the row concerned. The identification is a certain bit sequence whereby the beginning of the block can be recognised. The information 30 comprises twelve bits. Following this is information 31 which represents the pattern information for the row in question. Sinc hand knitters usually have a knitting width of 200 stitches, the information 31 consists of 200 bits.The pattern information indicates, for each stitch in a row, whether it should be knitted in, for example, red or blue wool. Following the pattern information, a text or music can be recorded. The person using the knitting machine may record operating instructions for example. After the information 32 there follows a block gap 33. The block gap has a certain minimum length, and the reason for this will be explained later; the next block follows the block gap.

After a tape cassette having the content illustrated in Figure 5 has been fitted, the starting switch 34, shown in Figure 4 is closed by hand. This causes the switch-on control means 35 to be actuated and the magnetic tape recorder 21 to be switched on by way of a conductor 36. At the same time a time-lag element 37, having a delay time of 2 seconds is switched on, and this element starts off a comparator 36 after the delay time has elapsed.

The output signal conductor 39 of the magnetic tape recorder 21 is connected to the input of a transducer 40, which at one output 41 provides the recorded information in bit form, and, at a second output 42, provides the timing of the information in bit form. In order to enable the timing information to be derived from the magnetic tape even when several consecutive impulses of like form occur, the recording is carried out by the known phaseshift method, whereby the timing information can always be derived from the total signal.

The information at the output 41 is passed to the comparator 48 in which the identification contained in the bit sequence 30 is stored, so that the comparator 38 can determine the commencement of the pattern information 31.

The timing output of the transducer 40 is connected to the input of a first counter 43 which counts up to twelve and then effects a transfer to a second counter 44 so that the second counter is connected in and counts up to two hundred. While the second counter 44 is counting, its output 45 is activated so that it prepares the writing gates 46 and 47 which lead to the inputs S of the row stores 48 and 49 respectively.

In the here-described procedure for producing a knitting pattern, the comparator 38, as soon as it has responded, operates the first counter 43 which counts the first twelve timing impulses from the output 42 and, during this time, opens the row counter 51 by way of the output 52, so that, by way of the information conductor 52, the three-place number of the particular row is fed into the row store 51.

This row number is optically indicated on the row counter 26.

After the first counter 43 has reached its end position atter having counted twelve timing impulses, it passes a transfer signal through a conductor 53 to the second counter 44 which is thereby connected in and counts the next two hundred timing impulses.

Provided on the carriage 14 is an impulse generator 54, which consists of at least two optical, mechanical or other sensors which generate an impulse on passing each needle during movement of the cam. These impulses are passed to the direction-recognizing circuit 55 which produces a signal at the output L when the cam is moved to the left, and a signal at the conductor R when the cam is moved to the right. To enable direction to be recognized, the two sensors in the impulse generator 54 are of differing phase from each other in respect of the distance between needles, so that the direction of movement of the cam can be recognized from the time sequence in which the impulses are generated at the two sensors.

The conductor L of the direction-recognizing circuit 55 is connected to the second input of the AND gate 47 which is associated with the right-hand row store 49, whereas the output R is connected to the second input of the gate 46 which is associated with the left-hand row store 48. The control signal at the conductor 45 that continues for the period of two hundred bits thus passes through the gate 47 during leftward travel of the cam, so that the input S of the row store 49 is activated, and during rightward travel of the cam said control signal passes through the gate 48 so that the input S of the row store 48 is activated.

The signals through the information conductor 52 are always present at the inputs E of the two row stores 48 and 49, but the information signals are stored only in that row store whose input S is energized. This means that when the cam travels to the left, the righthand row store 49, and when the cam travels to the right, the left-hand row store 48 store the pattern information for the next row.

The signal-release inputs A of the two row stores are connected to the impulse generator 54 through AND gates 56 and 57 respectively, so that the delivery of signals to the points 20 takes place at the same rate that is set up when the needles are passed by one of the sensors fitted on the cam. The second input of the gate 56 is connected to the Output of the direction-recognizing circuit 55, and the second input of the gate 57 is connected to the R-output of said circuit 55. This arrangement results in the switching of the row counter 48 to "release" when the row store 49 is switched to "store", and vice verse. The row store that is switched to "release" releases the 200 bits stored therein at the machine rate set up by the impulse generator 54.The input of data into the other row store on the other hand takes place in dependence upon the running speed of the magnetic tape.

The described method of controlling the points 20 by the two row stores 48 and 49, in dependence upon the machine rate, enables each of the points 20 always to receive the impulse provided for a certain needle when the foot 17 of this needle is in a position in which it is acted upon by the electro-magnets provided on the points. Selection by mechanically displacing the feet of the needles, such as is carried out in the known hand knitters, is therefore not necessary. It is however important that the impulse generator 54, which determines the moment at which the points 20 in question are energized, should be so set that the impulse generator actuates the points 20 at exactly the correct time. The impulse generator 54 may, for example, be triggered directly by the needles as it passes them.Another possible method is to provide a division scale on the needle bed, along which scale the impulse generator 54 runs.

Connected to the comparator 38 is the second monitoring circuit 60. This is capable of differentiating between information 31 in the form of bits and audio signals 32. The monitoring circuit 60 ensures that the comparator 38 keeps the counters 43 and 44 connected in aunost only as long as the information in bit form is recognized. Thereafter the counters are not brought into operation again.

The first monitoring circuit 61 is also connected to the output of the transducer 40. The circuit in this case is a signal-level detector which sends a signal to the switching-on means 35 when the level of the signal emanating from the magnetic tape drops below a predetermined value during a period of, for example, 1.5 second. The magnetic tape recorder 21 is then switched off through the conductor 36. Such fall below the fixed signal level occurs regularly at the end of the block in the gap 33 (Figure 5). The gap must therefore be at least as great as the period set at the signal-level detector 61 plus the run-down time of the tape recorder plus the start-up time set at the time-lag circuit 37. Only a gap of such length ensures that no information is lost between two blocks (rows) between which the tape recorder is continuously stopped.

After a row has been knitted in this way and the information for the next row has been received from the magnetic tape by the corresponding row store, the tape recorder is started up again by the starting switch 62. This switch 62 is located for example on the frame of the knitter approximately midway along the path travelled by the cam by which it is actuated. When the cam is moved, the information from one of the row stores is passed to the associated points so that the knitting needles are selected correspondingly. When the cam reaches the switch 62, the magnetic tape recorder 21 starts up, and at the earliest 2 seconds thereafter, data is fed into the other row store. The data is fed into this store at the rate set up by the tape recorder, i.e. very rapidly compared with the machine rate 54.

In addition to containing the straightforward knitting pattern data and information in spoken form, the magnetic tape may also contain data for shaping the product to be knitted.

When a knitted piece is not to extend over the entire width of two hundred needles, those needles that are not to participate in the production of the knitted piece are brought into the A position (Figure 1). Only those knitting needles that will be involved in the production of the knitted piece are brought manually into the B position by the person using the knitter.

If the number of stitches is to be reduced during the production of the knitted piece additional needles at the edge must be brought into the A position. At the same time the stitches must be cast off from these needles and transferred to other needles. These operations have to be carried out by hand by the person using the knitter. To enable the user to know the row from or to which stitches have to be cast off or added, the appropriate data can be provided on the magnetic tape following the pattern information 31 (Figure 5). For example, a field of 12 bits can be provided in which is stored that number of the row in which the change has to be made.A further field of 12 bits contains the change in stitches to be carried out on the left, and yet another field of 12 bits contains the change in stitches to be made on the right For processing these data and as shown in Figure 4, the second counter 44 is followed by a third 12-bit counter 65, a fourth 12-bit counter 66, and a fifth 12-bit counter 67. The counting impulses are supplied to each of these counters 65 to 67 by the conductor 42. However, each counter only begins to count when it has received the transfer impulse from the preceding counter.

As long as the third counter 65 is counting, it opens, by way of its output 68, a store for the row information, which store is connected to the information conductor 52. As long as the fourth counter 66 is counting, it opens, by way of its output conductor 70, a store 71 for information regarding stitches at the left, which store receives, from the information con ductor 52, the appropriate number of stitch changes together with a plus or minus sign.

As long as the fifth counter 67 is counting, it opens, by way of its output conductor 72, a store 73 for stitch information at the right, which store is likewise connected to the information conductor 52. In this way, each of the stores 69, 71 and 73 receives from the magnetic tape those data it is intended to receive.

In this mode of operation, the contents of the stores 71 and 73 are displayed on the in indicating devices 24 and 25 for the stitch details. Figure 4 shows for example that the user of the knitter must add thirteen stitches at the left side and cast off twenty-four stitches at the right side. As soon as this has been done, knitting can be continued by reciprocating the cam.

Since stitch changes do not have to be carried out in each row, the knitter is provided with means for reminding the user when stitch changes have to be made in the row being knitted. For this purpose the fifth counter 65 continues to transfer information to a timelag element 74 which is connected in for 2 seconds if, the direction-recognizing circuit 55 subsequently indicates, by way of a conductor 55, a change in the direction of movement of the cam. During this period of two seconds, the time-lag element 74 actuates an electro magnetic brake provided on the cam 14 so that the cam is blocked for a brief period. At the same time a buzzer 76 sounds. The knitting cycle is briefly interrupted by the brade 75 so that the user of the knitter does not inadvertently continue to knit before the necessary changes have been made.

So far, the "knitting pattern" method of operation has been described by reference to two variants, in one of which only the knitting pattern information is provided on the tape cassette, while in the other, shaping information is provided in addition to the knitting pattern information. A second mode of operation i.e. the "knit. computer" procedure will now be described. In this procedure, use is made of a tape cassette in which only the shaping data are recorded. These are stored in the circuit. Then a cassette, which contains only the knitting pattern information is inserted. The switch 77, controlling the type of operation, is then moved again to the "knitting pattern" position.

In the "knit computer" mode of operation, data, as in Table I for example, are recorded on the magnetic tape.

TABLE I Stitches Row Left Right 10 +1 - 5 +1 +1 8 -1 +5 2 +1 +1 This means that a stitch must be added on the left of the tenth row. After five further rows a further stitch has to be added on the left as well as on the right, and so on. Thus only each of the subsequent further rows, in which changes in the number of stitches occur, is noted. These data are fed into the circuit by way of the transducer 40. The switch 77 for selecting the type of operation is set to "knit computer", so that neither the first counter 43 nor the second counter 14 is triggered. Instead, the first twelve impulses are passed to the third counter 65, the second twelve impulses to the fourth counter 66, and the third twelve impulses to the fifth counter 67.This means that the information regarding rows is continuously fed into the store 69, the information regarding stitches on the left, into the store 71, and the information regarding stitches on the right, into the store 73. In this case the stores are so rated that each of them is able to store a series of values as in Table I. The output of the stores 69, 71 and 73, as well as the output of the row store 51 are connected to a computer 78 which controls the indicating devices 24 and 25 and to which, furthermore, index numbers can be fed through the feed keyboard 29.

The index numbers fed in through the feed keyboard 29 will now be explained. Depending upon the stitch size for which the knitter is set, the type of wool used and various other knitter settings, different conditions, affecting the shape of the article to be knitted, occur for each knitted piece. In practice therefore a stitch sample is knitted using the knitter set ting that will be finally employed. This sample is a piece of material, 10 cm 10 cm for example. This is placed on a template and the stitches and rows are counted in a rectangular co-ordinate system. With the help of the measuring template it is possible to determine how many stitches and how many rows result in a particular length each time.Accordingly, it is possible to determine the index number by which it is necessary to multiply the values, contained in the knit computer pro grame and relating to a particular unit of the knitted piece, in order to obtain the correct shape and size when carrying out the type of knit that has been selected. A stitch index number of 1.2 and a row index number of 1.4, for example, can be fed in on the key board 29. Then, during the knitting opera tion, the computer 78 carries out the calcula tions illustrated in Figure 6 in the form of a flow chart: First, the figure which relates to the next row and which is contained in the store 69 is read. This figure is multiplied by the row index number which has previously been fed in on the keyboard 29. As a rule this does not result in a whole number, so that the places following the decimal point must be separated and stored.

The places in front of the decimal point are reduced by 1 during the next knitting opera tion. Thereafter, a check must be made to see whether the row number has reached zero. If it has not then, during the next knitting operation, the row number is again reduced by one, and this procedure is repeated until the row number finally becomes zero. This then means that, in accordance with Table 1, a new row is reached in which the changes have to be made. The two figures for stitches are then read and multiplied by the stitch index number. Here again the places following the decimal point are suppressed and stored. The values relating to stitch changes converted in this manner are displayed, with the asscciated plus or minus sign, on the indicating devices 24 and 25.When the figure for the row contained in the store 69 is zero, the contents of the stores 71 and 73 are released to the indicating devices 24 and 25 respectively. At the same time, the time-lag element 74 is primed by way of a conductor 78'. This element responds when the next reversal of direction of movement of the cam is indicated by way of a conductor 55', and said element then brings the cam brake 75 and the buzzer 76 briefly into action. The performance of a knitting opera tion is communicated to the computer 78 by the output impulse of the row store 51 by way of a conductor 79. When the new stitch figures have been displayed, the next figure is read, i.e. the next line in accordance with Table 1.

To prevent the user of the knitter from using knitting patterns contained in tape cassettes that have already been played through there is provided a device which is illustrated as a block circuit diagram in Figure 7 and which enables the user of the knitter to make her own recording of the knitting pattern information on the magnetic tape. All that is required for this purpose is a copy of the pattern on which the pattern to be knitted is represented in a visible manner. Expediently this copy of the pattern is drawn as a grid image, or it may be an image without a grid and over which a transparent square grid is placed. The user of the knitter scans the grid row by row by means of a finger key 80. The number of grid points in a row should be equal to or less than the maximum number of stitches in a row. The finger key 801 is constructed like a ball-point pen but has no writing tip. When its tip is pressed on to the underlying surface, a first contact 81 is closed, and when it is then further depressed a second contact 82 is closed. When the first contact 81 is closed, an impulse is applied to the timingimpulse input T of the store 83. This store may be, for example, a shift register having a capacity of 200 bits. The signal input of the store 83 is connected to the contact 82. Thus a logic signal is continuously fed into the corresponding store place when the contact 82 is closed, i.e. when the finger key 80 is pressed heavily on to the underlying surface.

The store 83 is so designed that a signal is generated at its output conductor 84 whenever a timing impulse is fed to the timing impulse input T or whenever the signal input receives a signal impulse. The loudspeaker 27 of the tape recorder is connected to the conductor 84 by means of a reversing switch 85; the loudspeaker can also be used as a microphone for dictating text on to the magnetic tape. The switch 85 is bridged by a resistor 86. The resistor 86 is connected to the lowfrequency input of the tape recorder.

When the switch 85 is in the position illustrated, the loudspeaker 27 is connected directly to the output conductor 84 of the store 83.

Every time the finger key 80 is applied and the store content stepped forward, an impulse, which causes a clicking sound in the loudspeaker 27, occurs at the output. The person using the knitter therefore knows when she has pressed the finger key 80 sufficiently firmly to effect stepping of the store. When the contact 82 has been switched through, another sound occurs in the loudspeaker 27, so that an audible check on the operation of the finger key 80 is possible. First, the 12-bit row number 30 (Figure 5) is produced in the store 83.

The pattern information relating to a row, that comprises 200 bits, is then fed in, so that the store 83 has a total capacity of 212 places.

When all the knitting pattern data for a row have been fed into the store, the starting switch 88 for the tape recorder is closed for recording the row. This causes voltage to be applied to the motor input of the tape recorder by way of the closed switch 87. At the same time the time-lag circuit 89 is energized, and after a delay of 1 to 2 seconds this circuit starts up a timing oscillator 90. This generates 212 timing impulses of a given frequency, and these impulses are applied to the timing input T of the store, so that the store content is applied by way of the conductor 84 and the resistor 86 to the low-frequency input of the switched-on tape recorder.After the timing oscillator has released 212 timing impulses and the contents of the store 83 have been released, the timing oscillator 90 opens the switch 87 by way of a conductor 91, so that the motor of the tape recorder is switched off.

If, in addition to the pattern data, other information, that is later to be heard through the loudspeaker 27, is to be dictated on to the magnetic tape, the switch 85 is reversed so that the tape recorder is again switched on through a switch 92 coupled with the switch 85. The loudspeaker 27, which can also be used as a dynamic microphone, is now connected directly, through the switch 85, to the low-frequency input of the tape recorder which is switched on. In this way a text can be dictated on to the tape.

The circuit, illustrated in the form of a block diagram in Figure 4, can be formed by using a micro-processor. Micro-processors of this kind are electronic components which are designed like a computer and can be programmed. The entire circuit, which is shown in Figure 4, between the two dash-dot lines, can be formed for example with the help of an "Intersil IM6100" micro-processor.

Figure 8 shows further alternatives for the connection of devices to lines 26 and 39 of the circuit in Figure 4. In addition to the tape recorder or cartridge recorder 21 explained already with reference to Figure 4, or in place of said device, the data source used may be a data video unit 211. Such data video units operate with a television screen and a control unit. By way of a light pencil (not shown) connected to the control unit, the operator may record the pattern of the article to be knitted on the television screen. The lines generated by the light pencil subsequently appear as bright lines on the screen. The corresponding data is stored in a store of the control unit. Such data video devices are known.

The instrument 6800C of Franz Morat KG may be used in conjunction with a customary television set.

It is also possible to use as a data source the electronic Read Only Memory 212 in which one or several patterns are stored. Such Read Only Memories can be obtained as integrated circuits. The operator may, for example, have several Read Only Memories 212 in which the data of different knitting patterns are stored and by selective connection into the circuit of the Read Only Memories the required con tents are read out via line 39. Therefore, the connections of the Read Only Memory 212 in Figure 8 are illustrated as plug connections to interchange the Read Only Memories. A Read Only Memory suitable for this effect is the model IM 5625 of Intersil.

Alternatively, a pattern reader 213 may be used as a data source into which a data carrier 97 is mounted which contains the pattern for example in a form readable optically or mag netically. The data carrier is scanned line-wise by a scanning element 98 which is moved transversely relative to the data carrier 97.

After each line, the data carrier 97 is advanced by one line so that scanning of the next line can be made. The pattern reader 213 operates according to the same principle as the "Knit Radar KR 6", sold by the applicants. By a corresponding control unit, the advance of the data carrier 97 and the transverse movements of the scanning element 98 may be automated, the output signals of the scanning element 98 being supplied to line 39 and the control signals for the pattern reader coming from line 36.

Devices 211, 212 and 213 are not only suitable to pick up and store the data for the pattern concerned, i.e. the limiting data for the knitting, but they may also contain the pattern data for a colour pattern or a stitch pattern to be made in the knitting. Therefore, the outer contours (pattern) intimated on the device 211 or the data carrier 97 additionally comprise knitting patterns. The data of the knitting pat terns are supplied to the row stores 48, 49 while the shaping data get to stores 71 and 73.

In our copending patent application No.

41913/77 serial No. 1,565,435 there is described and claimed a hand knitter comprising: a plurality of knitting needles arranged in a needle bed; a carriage which is movable on the needle bed transversely to the knitting needles and which, by a guide track, engages upstanding butts of the knitting needles and moves the latter transversely to the direction of movement of the carriage in order to carry out the knitting operation; at least one selection device which is provided on the carriage, and introduces the needles into different tracks of travel, a store located at a bifurcated trackportion, the store being used to control the selection device which comprises an electromagnet energized in dependence upon the signals delivered by the store, and the magnetic field of which influences the knitting needles running into the bifurcated track-portion, the selection device also comprising two permanent magnets, wherein the poles of the permanent magnets are disposed opposite each other at the bifurcated track-portion with different polarities and produce a subelectromagnet uniform magnetic field in the guide ;rack, and the electromagnet is arranged directly above the guide track with its axis vertical.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A hand knitter comprising a needle bed; a plurality of needles on the needle bed, a carriage for adjusting the position of needles individually in accordance with a proposed knitting pattern, the carriage being displaceable transversely to the needles; a data source for the shaping data of the knitting to be prepared which source contains the numbers and limiting data of rows of the knitting; a store for the stitch data; a store for row data, and an indicating device, the data source being arranged to supply data corresponding to the row to be knitted to the said stores, and the indicating device being supplied to indicate limiting data on detection of the number of an appropriate row.

2. A hand knitter according to claim 1, where the dara source contains only the number and limiting data of only the rows in which there are changes as compared to the preceding row.

3. A hand knitter according to claim 1 and 2, wherein there is a store unit and a store for row data which always contain at one moment the data of one row only.

4. A hand knitter according to claim 3, wherein the data source contains in addition to the shaping data the knitting pattern data for each row and that a selection circuit is provided which separates the knitting pattern data from the shaping data to supply the knitting pattern date to one of two row stores.

5. A hand knitter according to claim 4, wherein the selection circuit contains at least one counter which subject to the number of pulses provided for the transmission of the knitting pattern data causes the subsequent pulses to be changed over to the row store and to the store unit for stitch data.

6. A hand knitter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a store unit and a store for row data which contain the shaping data of several rows as supplied prior to knitting from the data source.

7. A hand knitter according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the data source is a magnetic tape storage device to which a first monitoring circuit is connected which disconnects the magnetic tape store upon termination of all information which concerns the row in question.

8. A hand knitter according to claim 7, wherein the first monitoring circuit is a level detector which disconnects the magnetic tape recorder if no signal is found for a certain time on the magnetic tape, and between the information concerning two successive rows, there is on the magnetic tape a block lag the length of which is at least as great that its duration during normal running of the tape, is equal to the time required for switching off plus the response time of the first monitoring circuit and the start-up time of the motor of the magnetic tape store.

9. A hand knitter according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a second monitoring circuit is provided which differentiates between the digital data and the audio signals in the information on the tape.

10. A hand knitter accrding to claim 1, wherein the row store and the stitch store are connected to a computer connected to a numerical input device for index numbers for stitches and rows.

11. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a device is provided for generating a perceptible signal, if the limiting data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the preceding row.

12. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a cam brake blocking the movement of the cam if the limiting data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the preceding row.

13. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims wherein for the transmission of a pattern from an original to a magnetic tape a scanning key having two different scaning positions is connected to an electronic store which, each time the scanning key is de pressed, is indexed one place forward and to which each time, the scanning key is heavily depressed, information in the form of bits is additionally fed into the particular place ready to receive.

14. A hand knitter according to claim 13, wherein a timing input of the store for trans

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

terns are supplied to the row stores 48, 49 while the shaping data get to stores 71 and 73.

In our copending patent application No.

41913/77 serial No. 1,565,435 there is described and claimed a hand knitter comprising: a plurality of knitting needles arranged in a needle bed; a carriage which is movable on the needle bed transversely to the knitting needles and which, by a guide track, engages upstanding butts of the knitting needles and moves the latter transversely to the direction of movement of the carriage in order to carry out the knitting operation; at least one selection device which is provided on the carriage, and introduces the needles into different tracks of travel, a store located at a bifurcated trackportion, the store being used to control the selection device which comprises an electromagnet energized in dependence upon the signals delivered by the store, and the magnetic field of which influences the knitting needles running into the bifurcated track-portion, the selection device also comprising two permanent magnets, wherein the poles of the permanent magnets are disposed opposite each other at the bifurcated track-portion with different polarities and produce a subelectromagnet uniform magnetic field in the guide ;rack, and the electromagnet is arranged directly above the guide track with its axis vertical.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A hand knitter comprising a needle bed; a plurality of needles on the needle bed, a carriage for adjusting the position of needles individually in accordance with a proposed knitting pattern, the carriage being displaceable transversely to the needles; a data source for the shaping data of the knitting to be prepared which source contains the numbers and limiting data of rows of the knitting; a store for the stitch data; a store for row data, and an indicating device, the data source being arranged to supply data corresponding to the row to be knitted to the said stores, and the indicating device being supplied to indicate limiting data on detection of the number of an appropriate row.
2. A hand knitter according to claim 1, where the dara source contains only the number and limiting data of only the rows in which there are changes as compared to the preceding row.
3. A hand knitter according to claim 1 and 2, wherein there is a store unit and a store for row data which always contain at one moment the data of one row only.
4. A hand knitter according to claim 3, wherein the data source contains in addition to the shaping data the knitting pattern data for each row and that a selection circuit is provided which separates the knitting pattern data from the shaping data to supply the knitting pattern date to one of two row stores.
5. A hand knitter according to claim 4, wherein the selection circuit contains at least one counter which subject to the number of pulses provided for the transmission of the knitting pattern data causes the subsequent pulses to be changed over to the row store and to the store unit for stitch data.
6. A hand knitter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a store unit and a store for row data which contain the shaping data of several rows as supplied prior to knitting from the data source.
7. A hand knitter according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the data source is a magnetic tape storage device to which a first monitoring circuit is connected which disconnects the magnetic tape store upon termination of all information which concerns the row in question.
8. A hand knitter according to claim 7, wherein the first monitoring circuit is a level detector which disconnects the magnetic tape recorder if no signal is found for a certain time on the magnetic tape, and between the information concerning two successive rows, there is on the magnetic tape a block lag the length of which is at least as great that its duration during normal running of the tape, is equal to the time required for switching off plus the response time of the first monitoring circuit and the start-up time of the motor of the magnetic tape store.
9. A hand knitter according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a second monitoring circuit is provided which differentiates between the digital data and the audio signals in the information on the tape.
10. A hand knitter accrding to claim 1, wherein the row store and the stitch store are connected to a computer connected to a numerical input device for index numbers for stitches and rows.
11. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a device is provided for generating a perceptible signal, if the limiting data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the preceding row.
12. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a cam brake blocking the movement of the cam if the limiting data of the next row to be knitted differ from those of the preceding row.
13. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims wherein for the transmission of a pattern from an original to a magnetic tape a scanning key having two different scaning positions is connected to an electronic store which, each time the scanning key is de pressed, is indexed one place forward and to which each time, the scanning key is heavily depressed, information in the form of bits is additionally fed into the particular place ready to receive.
14. A hand knitter according to claim 13, wherein a timing input of the store for trans

ferring the store contents to the magnetic tape is connectible to a pulse source which releases a given number of pulses and the disconnects the magnetic tape recorder.
15. A hand knitter according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a loudspeaker is connected to the magnetic tape store and can be used also as a recording microphone.
16. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein data source consists of a data video device which has a store into which the shaping data may be fed by guiding a light key along a television screen.
17. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12 wherein the data source contains Read Only Memory in which the shaping data of the knitting are stored.
18. A hand knitter according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein the data source contains a knitting pattern reader which scans line-wise a data carrier on which the shape of the knitting to be prepared is recorded.
19. A hand knitter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.