JPS5921986B2 - knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a knitting machine having an electronic configuration, in particular, a needle selection signal is stored as a digital electric signal in a storage device such as a register, and the information is read out in relation to the movement of a carriage and each of the needle selection signals is stored as a digital electric signal in a storage device such as a register. The present invention relates to a knitting machine that selects needles using a needle selection control device having an electro-mechanical force conversion function according to bit contents.

The purpose is to simply record the pattern you are trying to knit on a card, etc., as if you were drawing a picture.
It can be read as a digital electric signal by scanning with a reading means, and the number of bits of the digital electric signal obtained by one scan can be arbitrarily changed without changing the scanning mode of the reading means. Thereby, even if the recording medium and the pattern recorded on it are the same, the knitting machine can arbitrarily change the size or form of the pattern to be knitted.

In the following, the present invention will be described in detail by manually moving the carriage X from side to side on the needle bed of the knitting machine main body Y as shown in the drawings. The one on the front side in the direction of carriage movement,
A detailed description will be given of an embodiment applied to a hand knitting machine of a type in which knitting needles 3 are sorted back and forth by a batt 2 that crosses the batt 2 as it is and a batt 2 that moves forward (or backwards) along it.

First, let's explain the overall outline based on Figure 1.
A recording medium, for example, a card 5
It is now possible to keep it loaded.

On the white surface of the card 5, a desired picture consisting of, for example, a combination of black colors is drawn in advance using an appropriate writing instrument as a pattern signal to be knitted.

Further, when this card 5 is loaded onto the card feed roller 4, its center line is located on the center extension line of the needle bed.

The pattern signal recorded on this card 5 is
While moving in a predetermined section within the allowable range of movement, a photoelectric detection device (consisting of a light source and a photoelectric conversion element that receives the reflected light) a, which is an example of the reading means, is moved horizontally.
It is optically read by scanning in a straight line,
For example, a square wave electric signal (2
electrical signal).

The rectangular wave electric signal detected in this way is transmitted to the sampling pulse generator during the movement of the carriage When the pulses are obtained, they are converted into a digital electrical signal consisting of the same number of bits as the number of sampling pulses, as shown in (IV) of the same figure.

This digital electrical signal is then stored in a shift register (described later).

The sampling pulse generator is equipped with a rotary plate 6 as a pulse number setting means having a predetermined number of grooves at a constant pitch on its periphery, and a photoelectric detection device consisting of a light source 7 and a photoelectric conversion element 8. The above-described predetermined number of sampling pulses are obtained from the photoelectric conversion element 8 by the rotation of the photoelectric conversion element 8.

On the other hand, a photoelectric detection device (consisting of a light source and a photoelectric conversion element that receives the reflected light) that illuminates the needle bed surface is mounted on mounting plates 9a and 9b provided on both left and right ends of the back side of the carriage X (Fig. 2). C is attached so that pulses can be obtained from the photoelectric detection device C depending on the presence or absence of the needle groove 10 as the carriage X moves.

Therefore, by moving the carriage X, the photoelectric detection device C outputs the same number of pulses as the number of needle grooves (knitting needles) corresponding to the movement range.

The pulses are added by a counter (described later) when the carriage X moves to the right from the center of the needle bed, and are subtracted when the carriage X moves to the left.

Therefore, the count value of the counter and the moving position of the carriage X always correspond to each other.

Further, on the back side of the carriage X, a carriage reversal detection means d is provided which outputs a rectangular wave electric signal that is inverted when the carriage X is reversed, no matter which position the carriage X is reversed.

Furthermore, below the needle bed of the knitting machine main body Y, there are four pattern plates e1 to e4, which are an example of a needle selection member, and four pairs of electromagnets f1 to f4 that individually move these pattern plates left and right. It is equipped with a needle selection control device B.

As is well known, each of the pattern plates e1 to e4 has a protrusion e′.
... are arranged at a distance of four pitches of the knitting needles 3, and the protrusions e' of the pattern plates are set apart from each other by one pitch of the knitting needles 3.

Furthermore, the electromagnets f1 to f4 of each pair are in such a relationship that when one electromagnet is energized, the other is deenergized, so that by moving the common plunger 11 to the left or right, the lever 12 is moved left or right. Turn the lever 12 in either direction.
Any one of the pattern plates e1 to e4 related to knitting needle 3
It moves from side to side to an active position or a non-active position where it engages or does not engage.

Therefore, by moving the pattern plates e1 to e4 having the corresponding protrusions e' to the left or right by the electromagnets f1 to f4, each knitting needle 3 can be moved to the corresponding protrusion e'.
Either a state in which the downward deflection is restrained and the sorting members 1a, lb are subjected to the forward (or backward) action, or a state in which the downward deflection is allowed and they are not subjected to the forward (or backward) action. It is something that can be put into a state.

Then, from the time of reversal of the carriage An electrical configuration in which the bit signal energizes or deenergizes the electromagnets f1 to f4 corresponding to the knitting needle 3 to be selected according to the count value of the counter as the carriage X moves after reversal ( (Details will be described later with reference to FIG. 4).

Therefore, each knitting needle 3 corresponds to a corresponding bit of the digital electric signal regardless of the inverted position of the carriage 1a.

It is possible to knit a repeating pattern in which the picture displayed on the card 5 becomes a set of patterns (the bits of the digital electric signal mentioned above are the minimum unit of stitches) by receiving or not receiving the pushing action by 1b. It is.

The outline of the main knitting machine as a whole has been described above, and the details thereof will be further described next.

The carriage reversal detection means d is installed in the center of the slide pipe 13 attached to the back side of the carriage 14 to left and right mounting pieces 15
a and 15b, and a switch ring 17 is fitted onto the rod 14 so as to be able to slide left and right through a window hole 13' provided in the slide pipe 13 and comes into contact with a guide bar 16 installed horizontally on the upper surface of the needle bed. When the carriage X moves to the right on the needle bed, the switch ring 17 takes the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. In this case, the switch ring 17 takes the position indicated by the chain line in contact with the non-conductive portion 1a, so that the carriage reversal detection means d outputs a rectangular wave electric signal that is inverted when the carriage X is reversed.

Further, on the back side of the carriage
, 1 b, mounting plate 9 a y 9 bs In addition to the carriage reversal detection means d, light sources 18 a and 18 b are provided on the forward extension line of the sorting point of each sorting member 1 a and 1 b, and in the center of the needle bed, The light source 18a.

It is equipped with a photoelectric conversion element g (FIG. 1) that detects light from 18b.

The light sources 18a and isb are controlled by the carriage reversal detection means d, and their mutual blinking relationship is switched when the carriage X is reversed, that is, the one corresponding to the sorting member 1a or 1b that is to perform the sorting action by the carriage operation is turned on. And the other one goes out.

Therefore, when the sorting member 1a or 1b that performs the sorting action comes to the center of the needle bed, a pulse is obtained from the photoelectric conversion element g, and the photoelectric conversion element g and the light sources 18a and 18b cooperate to form a kind of pulse. In other words, it functions as a means for detecting the arrival of the carriage at the reference position.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, necessary cams other than those shown are provided on the back side of the carriage X, as in the conventional case.

Next, the pattern signal reading device A installed at the rear central portion of the knitting machine main body Y will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

As is known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-36904, the card feed roller 4 rotates one pitch as the carriage X moves by means of a driving piece (not shown) provided on the carriage X side. The card 5 loaded therein is rotated one pitch at a time, and the card 5 loaded therein is fed one pitch at a time.

The photoelectric detection device a for reading the pattern signal drawn on the card 5 is attached to the frame 21 so as to be slidable left and right.
An inverted-shaped additional part 2 of a horizontally long plate-shaped moving body 22 mounted on
2□, and scans the card 5 horizontally and linearly as the moving body 22 moves.

The moving body 22 has a lower end edge thereof, and the mounting portion 22
．． At the position opposite to the flat face-shaped notch 22□
A connecting part 223 having a shape is bent horizontally and protrudes forward, and an activation piece 23 provided on the carriage X side enters into the notch 222 of this connecting part 223 as shown in FIG. By engaging with the edge, the movable body 22 moves in conjunction with the movement of the carriage X, and the activation piece 23
By escaping from the notch 222, the movement is stopped.

That is, a horizontal movement range determining plate 24 having planar trapezoidal protrusions 24a and 24b formed at both left and right ends is attached to the frame 21, and the activation piece 23 is spring-loaded in the direction (rearward) of the moving body 22. It is provided on the carriage X so that it can move back and forth within a predetermined range while being applied with a force, and the lower side of the activation piece 23 has the above-mentioned protrusion 24a,
24b, the upper sides thereof are engaged with the notches 222, respectively.

1 and 3, when the carriage X approaches the moving body 22 from the left side and further moves to the right, the activation piece 23 is moved to the left side of the left protrusion 24a of the movement range determining plate 24. It moves forward while being guided by the edge (outer edge), and finally enters the notch 22□ of the connecting portion 223 and moves backward to its original position, causing the moving body 22 to move to the right in conjunction with the carriage X.
When it reaches the right protrusion 24b, it comes into contact with the left edge (inner edge) of the protrusion 24b and moves forward again into the notch 222;
When the moving body 22 escapes and stops the rightward movement of the moving body 22, and when the carriage The notch 22□ is guided by the protrusion 24b.
The movable body 22 is moved to the left in conjunction with the carriage X, and is guided by the protrusion 24a on the left side and escapes from the notch 222, where the leftward movement of the movable body 22 is stopped. .

Therefore, even if the carriage X moves by more than the length between the left and right protrusions 24a and 24b of the movement range determining plate 24, the movable body 22 always moves only by the above length, so that the photoelectric detection device a can The card 5 is always scanned by a constant width.

The sampling pulse generator, which generates sampling pulses as the photoelectric detection device a scans, connects a pinion 25 coaxially connected to the rotary plate 6 to the movable body 2.
The rotating plate 6 is engaged with a rack 224 formed on the rear surface of the rotary plate 2, and when the movable body 22 moves within a certain range as described above, the rotary plate 6 rotates exactly twice.

In this embodiment, the rotary plate 6 has six grooves, and each time the card 5 is scanned, 6×2=12 sampling pulses are obtained from the photoelectric conversion element 8 as shown in FIG. 5 [■]. That's how it is.

In this way, the sampling pulse generator is connected to the moving body 2.
Since sampling pulses are generated in relation to the movement of the carriage The pitch is sampled a certain number of times (12 times).

Furthermore, the rotary plate 6 is attached to its rotating shaft by a retaining screw 26 and can be replaced, and by preparing a plurality of plates with different numbers of grooves, the number of sampling pulses and thus the number of cards can be adjusted. The number of knitting needles 3 to be involved in knitting per row of pattern signals recorded on the card 5 and therefore the width of the pattern to be knitted can be arbitrarily changed without changing the card 5.

In this case, a shift register (described later) for storing the sampled digital electrical signal is prepared in advance with a large storage bit capacity.

Further, the movable body 22 has a protrusion 2 at a predetermined position on its upper edge.
2. is formed.

This protrusion 225 turns on the limit switch h attached to the frame 21 when the photoelectric detection device a attached to the movable body 22 comes to the center line of the card 5 (on the central extension line of the needle bed). As a result, one pulse shown in FIG. 5 CI) is obtained from the limit switch h.

Therefore, it can be said that the protrusion 225 and the limit switch h constitute means for detecting the center of the pattern signal recorded on the card 5.

Next, the photoelectric detection device a reads the pattern signal recorded on the card 5, and the sampling pulse generator b generates a sampling pulse in connection with the reading of the photoelectric detection device a.
A photoelectric detection device C that generates the same number of pulses as the needle groove 10 in relation to the movement of one carriage X, a carriage reversal detection means d that outputs a rectangular wave electric signal that is inverted when the carriage Move the four pattern plates e1 to e4 in a special manner 4
Pairs of electromagnets f1 to f4, a sorting member 1 that performs the sorting action
This section describes the electrically related configuration of the photoelectric conversion element g1 that outputs a pulse when a, 1b comes to the center of the needle bed, and the limit switch h that outputs a pulse when the photoelectric detection device a that performs the reading comes to the center line of the card 5. This will be explained with reference to Figure 4.

The above-mentioned pulses from the photoelectric detection device C, which generates the same number of pulses as the number of needle grooves, are input to the up/down counter CTo via the OR circuit OR1 and are counted.

This up/down counter CTo inputs a rectangular wave electric signal from the carriage reversal detection means d, and when the carriage X moves to the right, it adds the pulses input through the OR circuit OR1, and when the carriage X moves to the left. Time is subtraction.

The counter CTo is reset by a pulse from the photoelectric conversion element g when the sorting member 1a or 1b that performs the sorting action comes to the center of the needle bed, and is operated by the count control circuit CC. is controlled, and in the case of addition, after 1 to 6 pulses result in a value from 1 to 6, in the next 7 to 12 pulses it jumps and becomes a value from 195 to 200, and then from 1 to 6. 6, then 1
Addition is repeated alternately every 6 pulses from 95 to 200, and in the case of subtraction, from 6 to 1.20, contrary to the above.
It is set to repeat subtraction every six pulses from 0 to 195.

Further, a pulse generating circuit PG1 is provided which generates the same number of pulses as the number of needle grooves (knitting needles) corresponding to the distance between the left and right sorting members 1at1b when the rectangular wave electric signal of the carriage reversal detection means d is reversed. , the pulses therefrom are input to the up/down counter CTo through the OR circuit OR1, and the left and right sorting members 1a, 1b
This compensates for the discrepancy between the number of needle grooves 10 (knitting needles 3) from the center of the needle bed and the count number of counter CTo due to alternation of the sorting action.

As shown in FIG. 5 [■], the knitting needles 3 arranged in rows on the needle bed are arranged in a direction of 1 to 6.195 to 200.1 to the right every sixth needle with the center 0-0' of the needle bed as a reference. 6.195-200
It can be considered that the numbers are numbered alternately.

The fifth image obtained by card scanning of the photoelectric detection device a
The rectangular wave electric signal shown in Figure [I] is sampled by 12 sampling pulses from the sampling pulse generator, and as shown in Figure (IV), each bit corresponds to one knitting needle 3. The dynamic shift registers SRb and SR are converted into bit digital electric signals, and are sent to the dynamic shift registers SRb and SR separately for right row scanning and left row scanning of the card 5.
They are temporarily stored in the memory 12a, and then taken out one after another by reversing the carriage X and moving it in the opposite direction to the scanning direction to perform the knitting.

That is, when the carriage X is moved to the right and the card 5 is scanned from the left side to the right side, the output from the carriage reversal detection means d causes the gate G2b to be activated.

G3b is opened, and the output from the photoelectric detection device a shown by the mark in FIG. The pulse shown in [IV] is input as a shift pulse to the shift register SRb, and the rectangular wave electrical signal shown in [I] above is converted into a digital electrical signal by the shift pulser SR as shown in [IV, ]. It is what is remembered.

Also, when the carriage X is moved to the left and the card 5 is scanned from the right side to the left side, the output of the photoelectric detection device a is
2a, and the pulse from the sampling pulse generator is input to the dynamic shift register SRa through the gate G3a, and this shift register SRa converts it into a digital electric signal and stores it in the same way as described above. Is there this shift register SRa?
Since the above-mentioned scanning is opposite to the above-mentioned case, in order to cope with this, the shift in the direction opposite to that of the shift register SRb is performed by the "L" output from the carriage reversal detection means d.

In the past, shift registers SRb and SRa functioned not only as storage devices but also as signal conversion devices.

On the other hand, when the carriage X is on the right, the pulses from the sampling pulse generator are further counted by a counter CTb, and when it is on the left, the pulses are counted by a counter CTa.

These counters c'r5. c'ra is the limit switch h sent through gate G4b or G4a.
When the photoelectric detection device a reaches the center line of the card 5 (an extension of the center line 0-0' of the needle bed), it is reset by the pulse shown in FIG. 5 CI).

Once, the counter CTb counted six pulses by moving the carriage X to the right and scanning the card 5 one step, and the counter CTa counted six pulses by moving the carriage X to the left and scanning the card 5 one step.
By scanning in stages, six pulses are counted.

Further, these counters CTb and CTa are set to repeat a value of 1 to 200 every time 200 pulses are counted, and the counter CTb is set to repeat a value of 1 to 200 every time 200 pulses are counted.
When the needle moves to the left, the timing pulse from the timing pulse generation circuit PG2 outputs a predetermined number of pulses at a predetermined time, for example, 200 timing pulses while moving the carriage X by one pitch of the knitting needles 3 at the maximum speed. When the carriage X moves to the right, the counter CTa inputs the timing pulse to the gate G5a.
, b.

Furthermore, the shift register SRb has the counter C
When Tb is inputting the timing pulse mentioned above, the timing pulse is input as a shift pulse, and when the counter CTa is inputting a timing pulse, the shift register SRa is inputted as a shift pulse. It has become.

After moving the carriage X to the right and reading the pattern signal recorded on the card 5, if the carriage X is reversely moved to the left to perform knitting, the timing pulse from the timing pulse generation circuit PG2 is a counter CTb which counts six sampling pulses (from the sampling pulse generator) via gate G5a.
, the digital electric signal is input to the dynamic shift register SRb storing the digital electric signal by reading in the right row, the counter CTb counts the timing pulse in addition to the six sampling pulses, and the shift register SRb The digital electric signal is sent to gate G6a.
Cyclic shifting is performed via the 1-OR circuit OR2 and gate G1a.

Once, the count value of the counter CTb was as shown in Fig. 5 (V
), the data stored in the shift register $Rb (
It can be said that the bits of the digital electric signal shown in IV) are numbered, and the count value and the above OR circuit OR2 are
This corresponds to the bits of the digital electric signal that are outputted more sequentially.

Then, the count value of the counter CTb and the value shown in FIG.
As shown in [2], the count value of the up/down counter CTo, which functions to number the knitting needles 3, is compared with the count value of the up/down counter CTo by the comparator circuit CPa. The signal is input to the gate Go via the OR circuit OR3, and is opened.

Therefore, when the carriage X moves to the left by one pitch of the knitting needles 3, the digital electric signal stored in the shift register SRb is transferred to the number (■ in Fig. 5) representing the knitting needle 3 at the position receiving the sorting action. Those with matching bits or gates G sequentially regardless of the moving speed of the carriage X.

will pass through. In addition, when the carriage X is moved to the left to read the pattern signal recorded on the card 5 and then reversely moved to the right to perform knitting, the shift register SR is The digital electric signal stored in is cyclically shifted via gate G61), the OR circuit OR2, and gate G1h,
Each bit is determined by the comparator circuit C
A signal representing the sign is sent to the gate G via the gate G7b and the OR circuit OR3.

By entering and opening this, the gate G is sequentially opened in the same manner as above.

It is supposed to pass through. In this way, gate G
.

Each bit of the digital electric signal passing sequentially is sent to the up/down counter CT of the four pairs of electromagnets f1 to f4.

It is designed to energize or de-energize something corresponding to the count value.

That is, the output of the first stage output terminal (one of 8, 4, 2, 1) of the up/down counter CTo is output from the gate G81 corresponding to each of the four pattern plates e1 to e4.
~ Of G84, gates G81 and G83 are negated with NOT circuit NOT 1 before being input.Also, gates G8□ and G84 are directly input, so one way is to use two stages. The output of the output terminals (two of the above) is connected to the NOT circuit N for gates G8□ and G8□.
It is input after being negated with 0T2, and the gates G83 and G
1114 is directly input.

Therefore, the first . The output from the output terminal of the second stage is l”-0, OJ, “1,0”, “0,1
”, “l, and IJ, so the gate G
8□ to G84 will produce an output that corresponds to the above combination.

This is because there are four pattern plates e1 to e4, and the protrusions e' of each of them are spaced apart by three pitches of the knitting needles 3, so they correspond to the pattern plates e1 to e4 and their protrusions e'. The number of the knitting needles 3, that is, the count value of the counter CTo (
1 to 6.195 to 200) are made to correspond to each other as shown in FIG. 5 [■].

However, as carriage X moves, gate 08□~
Outputs are sequentially obtained from G84, which opens the corresponding gates G, 1 to G94, and gates 1 to 4G as described above.

Each bit signal of the digital electric signal from the shift register SRb or SRa, which is sent sequentially, is inputted to the set terminal and reset terminal of the corresponding flip-flops FF1 to FF4.

Flip-flops FF1 to FF4 pass their Q and Q terminal outputs through corresponding amplifiers AM1 to AM4.
An input signal is input to the electromagnet of the corresponding pair of electromagnets f1 to f4 that moves the pattern plates e1 to e4 connected thereto to the needle selection action position or to the electromagnet that moves the pattern plates to the non-action position.

; Thus, the four pairs of electromagnets f1 to f4 are connected to the carriage
As the knitting needles 3 move, the energization and deenergization are controlled as shown in FIG. Sorting is performed according to the digital electric signals, thereby making it possible to compose a repeating pattern in which the pattern signals (black and white pictures) displayed on the card 5 form a set of patterns.

For example, if the number of sampling pulses shown in FIG. This means that the width of the knitting pattern can be doubled without changing the width.

In addition, if the total number of stitches of the knitting machine is 200, and the sampling pulse is 200, even if the picture drawn on the card 5 is extremely small compared to the needle bed, 2
A pattern similar to the picture above can be knitted using 00 full knitting needles.

In the above embodiment, the card 5 is used as a recording medium for recording pattern signals, and a picture consisting of a combination of black and white is drawn on it as the pattern signal, and this is read optically. For example, it may be a film, etc., and any recording or reading method may be used as long as it can be detected as a recorded pattern signal or electrical signal as it is read, such as magnetically, electrically, or by perforation. It is.

Furthermore, in order to perform needle selection control of the knitting needles 3, in addition to using the pattern plates e1 to e4 and the sorting members 1a and 1b as described above, a conventional method in which pieces are arranged radially around the circumference of the drum is used. It is also possible to use a known method and move the piece using an electromagnet.

In summary, the knitting machine of the present invention includes a reading means that outputs a binary electric signal according to the pattern by scanning a recording medium recording a pattern to be knitted, and a sampling pulse associated with the scanning of the reading means. a sampling pulse generator for generating a sampling pulse, a pulse number setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the number of sampling pulses to be obtained for one scan of the reading means, and a number of sampling pulses set by the pulse number setting means. A signal conversion device that samples the binary electrical signal using pulses, converts it into a digital electrical signal with a number of bits corresponding to the set number, and stores it in the storage device. It is.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by simply recording the pattern to be knitted on a card or the like as if it were a picture, it is possible to read it as a digital electrical signal by scanning it with the reading means. It is possible to arbitrarily change the number of bits of the digital electrical signal obtained by one scan without changing the scanning mode of the reading means, so that even if the recording medium and the pattern of recording on it are the same, it can be organized. The size or aspect of the pattern can be changed arbitrarily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts, FIG. 2 is a simplified back view of the carriage, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pattern signal reading device, and FIG. 4 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram in the form of a time chart showing the correlation between necessary items in the block diagram. 5...Card as an example of a recording medium, a...
・Photoelectric detection device as an example of reading means, X...Carriage, 3...Knitting needle, b...Sampling pulse generator, 6...Pulse number setting Rotating plate serving as means, SRa, SR5...Shift register serving as a signal conversion device, B...Point selection control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 The needle selection signal is stored in a storage device as a digital electric signal, read out in relation to carriage travel, and selected by a needle selection control device with an electro-mechanical force conversion function according to the contents of each bit. In a knitting machine for knitting, a reading means outputs a binary electric signal according to the pattern by scanning a recording medium recording a pattern to be knitted, and a sampling pulse is generated in connection with the scanning of the reading means. a sampling pulse generator; a pulse number setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the number of sampling pulses to be obtained for one scan of the reading means; A knitting machine characterized by comprising: a signal conversion device that samples a binary electrical signal, converts it into a digital electrical signal with a bit number corresponding to the set number, and stores it in the storage device.