US3783643A - Knitting machines having linearly arranged needles - Google Patents

Abstract

In a knitting machine having at least one set of linearly arranged needles and motor operated means for moving the selvedge stop and/or fashioning points of said machine during the production of a series of garment blanks, the provision of at least one coded element associated with said needles, reading means adapted to scan said coded element and to transmit a signal to a comparator indicating the actual position of said stop and/or points, at least one coded tape, other reading means adapted to scan said tape and to transmit a signal to said comparator indicating a position to which said stop and/or said points are to be moved, and means which utilize said information imparted to said comparator to control the speed, and the direction of operation, of said motor operated means. Means are also provided to limit the extent of movement imparted by said motor controlled means to said stop/or points.

Description

Ladyman et al.

[ KNITTING MACHINES HAVING LINEARLY ARRANGED NEEDLES [75] Inventors: Peter Francis Ladyman, Long Eaton; Dennis Gaunt, Berry Hill, both of England [73] Assignee: Stibbe-Monk Developments Limited, Leicester, England [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 243,591

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 23, 1972 Great Britain 11112 72 [52] US. Cl. 66/89 [51] Int. Cl D04b 11/06 [58] Field of Search 66/89, 176, 67, 90, 66/91, 126, 154 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,262,286 7/1966 Bentley et al 66/89 3,019,626 2/1962 Blood....... 3,624,707 ll/l97l Scheller 66/96 1 Jan. 8, 1974 3,589,145 6/197! Koblitz ..66/89 mar .Eaemi zwllonald.fel baurit.,i

Attorney-Bladwin, Wright & Brown [5 7] ABSTRACT nal to said comparator indicating a position to which said stop and/or said points are to be moved, and

means which utilize said information imparted to said comparator to control the speed, and-the direction of operation, of said motor operated means. Means are also provided to limit the extent of movement imparted by said motor controlled means to said stop/orpoints.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 81974 SHEET 1 OF 5 PATENTED JAN 81974 SHEET 3 BF 5 PMENTEU JAN 974 SHEET 5 BF 5 This invention relates to knitting machines having linearly arranged needles and is particularly concerned with the control of the lengthwise movement of the nut housings along screws, commonly referred to as fashioning screws, of such machines. As is usual, the latter mechanism, in addition to controlling fashioning, also controls the loop transfer elements for patterning, and also the knitting width when no fashioning is taking place.

More specifically, this invention relates to multi-head knitting machines in which each head is provided with one or more sets of linearly arranged knitting needles, and one or more control bays are provided to control the operation of said multiple of knitting heads. Such machines are well known in the art and are more speciflcally referred to as multi-head flat, vee bed and straight bar knitting machines.

It is known in such knitting machines to have at least one pair of fashioning screws, one for controlling the left hand, and the other for controlling the right hand, selvedge of a garment blank. The fashioning nuts are moved in either direction to reset the knitting width stops and/or position the fashioning points. Such movement is obtained by racking mechanisms attached to each screw, which mechanisms are controlled from chains, cams, punched control tapes or the like. One such arrangement is shown in our prior British Pat. No. 1,088,712.

It is further known, particularly on straight bar machines, to have another set of fashioningnuts, or coupling and uncoupling mechanisms, separate from the existing fashioning nuts so that lacing and V-neck loop transfer operations can be carried out by separate sets of transfer points.

THe racking mechanisms and associated controls generally employed for turning the fashioning screws are very bulky mechanical arrangement and, from the point of view of moving the nuts the equivalent of more than two or three needle pitches, are slow moving and therefore take up valuable knitting time. In fact, such mechanisms generally are only able to rack in either direction the equivalent of one or two needle pitches per rack. Y

It is also known on straight bar machines for the purpose of moving the fashioning nuts long distances, such as when resetting the knitting width at the start of a new garment blank, to couple the fashioning screws to a motor drive in order to save time. The positions to which the fashioning nuts are moved in this case are controlled by a number of manually preset switches which are rendered effective, in predetermined order, under the control of a punched tape. The rotation of the fashioning screws is finally controlled by a plunger dropping into a notch associated with the screw and this accurately aligns the transfer points and draw mechanisms with a needle. In this case, the normal racking mechanisms are retained for fashioning and lacing, etc.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide means which enable the fashioning screw housings, and their associated parts, such as draw stops for width control and fashioning points, to be moved a lengthwise distance equivalent to any number of needle pitches, by using a driving motor controlled from binary coded strips and photo-sensing means common to all stop positions.

It is a further object-of the present invention to obviate the necessity for the bulky and expensive racking mechanisms at present associated with all such fashioning screws by using an accurately controlled driving motor.

According to the present invention, there is provided a knitting machine having one or more sets of linearly arranged needles and motor controlled means for linearly moving a machine part, such as a selvedge stop and/or fashioning points, from one position to another during the production of a series of garment blanks, which comprises reading means adapted to scan at least one coded element associated with the needles of the machine and to transmit a signal indicating the actual position of said machine part to a comparator, at least one coded control tape adapted to transmit a signal to the comparator indicating a position to which said machine part is to be moved, and means adapted to utilize the information imparted by the comparator to control the speed, and the direction of operation, of said drive motor.

Morespecifically, the control means consists of two binary coded longitudinally extending plates arranged in a control bay of the machine. The plates are associated with the fashioning screws, one'with the left hand (Ll-l.) fashioning screw(s) the other with the right hand (R.l-l.) fashioning screw(s). The plate associated with the L.H. screw has punched therein a code for each needle position in the left hand half of the needle beds, and the plate associated with the RH. screw has punched therein a code for each needle position in the right hand half of the needle beds. A stationary reading head scans its corresponding plate, each of which plates is movable with one of the fashioning nuts,

in order to relay back to a comparator the exact position at which the fashioning nut, and its associated stops, are at any onetime. By using two such arrangements, one for controlling the LB. selvedge and one for controlling the RH. selvedge, it is possible to knit garments assymetrically of the knitting heads of the machine. i

ator. This control tape is punched with the code of the needle position to which it is required to move the respective fashioning nuts. This information is analysed by a controller associated with the comparator and control signals are passed to the respective motor drive units for them to rotate the screw or screws at a fast speed for a certain distance of travel of the respective nuts. This distance is in a positive or negative direction up to within about five needle pitches of the required positions. For movement within the latter distance, a slow travelling speed is selected for driving the screws. For the purposes of final alignment and accurately stopping the fashioning nuts at a predetermined needle position, it may be advantageous to provide a simplified racking arrangement, of a notched ring and plunger arrangement, associated witheach fashioning screw.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a front view of so much of a control bay of the machine as is necessary to describe the invention,

FIG. 2 is a part section, on an enlarged scale, on the line IIII of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a more general, part plan view of the mechanism with certain parts omitted for clarity,

FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an end view in the direction of the arrow VI of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit block diagram.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown part of a central control bay for a multi-head flat or V-bed knitting machine having front and rear co-acting needle beds. On each side of, and controlled from, the control bay, are three knitting heads each of which is adapted to produce fully fashioned rib and/or plain fabric garment blanks simultaneously with the other knitting heads of the machine. It is to be noted that, for the purposes of this description, generally only the left hand (LI-I.) selvedge mechanism is shown and described in detail, but there is of course a right hand (R.I-I.) selvedge mechanism which is a mirror image of the L.I-I. mechanism. However, where corresponding parts of the RH. mechanism are shown, these are indicated by a tick after the reference numeral.

Thus, the L.H. selvedge mechanism comprises a fashioning screw 1 controlling the selvedge position in respect of the front needle bed and a fashioning screw la in respect of the selvedge position of the rear needle bed. The screws 1 and 1a are controlled by means common to them both as hereinafter described.

The screws 1 and 1a are supported for rotation in bearings housed in supports 2 and 3 forming part of the framework of the machine, other parts of the framework being generally indicated by the reference F. Each of the fashioning screws has mounted thereon a nut housing 4. The L.I-I. nut housings 4 are coupled, either directly or indirectly, to knitting width control stops on the left hand side of each knitting bay and/or to left hand fashioning controls. The form of the knitting width and fashioning controls may be of any known type examples of which are disclosed in our prior British Pat. specification No. 1,088,712 and our co-pending British Pat. specification No. 1,272,309.

The nut housing 4 of fashioning screw 1 is additionally connected to an actuating bar 5 having, at one end thereof, a transversely disposed channel-shaped bracket 6. The connection between the housing 4 and the bar 5 consists of a bracket 7 supporting a rod 8 the free end of which is positioned in the bracket 6 and is secured to the bracket 6 by means of adjusting screws 9 so that the endwise position of the bar 5 can be accurately located. The actuating bar 5 is mounted in a guide channel 10 secured to a frame member F and is slidable in bearing races 11.

Attached to the bar 5, as by screws 12, is a control plate 13 which is provided along its length with a binary code for each needle position'of the left hand half of the needle bed. The code is in the form of holes and no hole markings. Centrally located within the control bay is a scanning head assembly which provides a scanning head and a light source for each of the left and right hand control plates 13 and 13'. The control plate 13' for the right hand half of each needle bed is mounted above and to the right of the left hand control plate 13 and in a similar manner to the latter.

The scanning head assembly is shown in section in FIG. 2 and consists of the two reading heads 14 and 14' attached to a plate 15, and two light source units 16 and 16' attached to a plate 17. The plates 15 and 17 are both fixedly held in a bracket 18 which is attached to a plate 19 on the support 2. The control plate 13 can pass freely between the reading head 14 and the light source 16 and the control plate 13' can pass freely between the reading head 14' and the light source 16'. In FIG. 1, the fashioning nut housing 4 of screw 1 and associated parts, together with control plate 13, as shown in their outermost positions so that, in this position, the code which is transmitted by the reading head 14 relates to the outermost left hand needle position. As the fashioning nut housing 4 is moved to its right in FIG. 1, the codes for successively inward related needle positions are scanned and transmitted.

To move the fashioning nut housings 4, the fashioning screws 1 and 1a are rotated by reversible drive means of the electrical or hydraulic type either directly or, more likely, through gearing or chain arrangements. The direction and number of rotations imparted to the screws 1 and la is dictated from a controller under instruction of a control tape and associated reading head compared by a comparator to readings from the control plate 13.

In order to turn the fashioning screws 1 and la, and to accurately position the nut housings 4 lengthwise of the screws, the screws have mounted on their outer ends helical gears 20 in mesh respectively with helical gears 21 fixed to the ends of a driven shaft 22. A driven pulley 23 is arranged centrally on the shaft 22 and is driven, via a belt 24, by a drive pulley 25 mounted on the output shaft 26 of an hydraulically operated motor and clutch unit 27. Suitable idler pulleys 28 are provided to tension the drive belt 24. The motor 27 is controlled by a solenoid operated control valve 29 which controls the oil flow from a main hydraulic pump and motor 30.

Also attached to the outer end of each of the screws 1 and 1a is a cam 31 having four notches 32 which represent, in one revolution, four successive needle positions. A plunger device 33 is positioned to enter into engagement with one of the notches 32 dependant upon the needle position required. The plungers 33 are attached to bellcrank levers 34 which are interconnected by a link 35, the plungers 33 being moved out of an operative position where they engage their coacting notches 32 by means of a singleacting hydraulic jack 36 coupled to one of the levers 34. Movement of the plungers 33 into an operative position is effected, when the pressure on jack 36 is released, under the action of a tension spring 37 extending between the other lever 34 and a frame member F, the spring 37 also serving to impart resiliency to the plungers 33 as they are moved into engagement with the notches. The jack 36 is also under the control of the control valve 29.

Associated with one of the pair of earns 31 and coacting plungers 32 are two proximity switches 38 and 39 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of the Gigatronic G.A. Type made by Kubler Impulsgeratebau. These switches are of the type which detect the proximity of metal to their end faces and only then do they allow electric power flow ing into them to pass out again thereby creating an output signal which is relayed to a main logic unit 40 (FIG. 6) which controls the operation of the control valve 29. Thus, the switch 38 relays a signal each time it is safe to allow the plungers 33 to be dropped into the notches 32, it being understood that normally the plungers are riding on the faces of the cams so that they automatically drop into the next succeeding notches as the cams are rotated. The switch 39 serves to relay a signal only when the plungers 33 have dropped into the notches 32 whereby a signal is passed to the control valve 29 to stop operation of the motor 27.

A further switch 41 (FIG. 5), in the form of a microswitch, is associated with one of the plungers 33 and is arranged to close only when the plunger 33 has dropped into a notch 32. This switch passes a signal to the unit 40 and indicates that a fashioning operation is complete so that the knitting cam can re-commence operation.

Two further switches 42 and 43, in the form of limit switches are provided to co-act with the fashioning screw nut housing 4. These switches are operated only if the nut housing 4 travels beyond its safe distance in either direction thereby providing a safety feature if the wrong information is fed into the unit 40, say by the control tape.

With the arrangement just described, it is possible to do without the bulky and complicated racking mechanism, an example of which is shown in British Pat. No. 1,088,712, even for the narrowing and widening controls, for fashioning, lace and pattern work, etc.

One of the advantages of the present invention resides in the time saved when resetting the knitting width controls for differently contoured garment blanks to be knitted in succession, i.e., so-called sequential knitting.

The electrical arrangement for controlling these functions will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. Timing is controlled by pulses emitted from a clock 44 to a time co-ordina'tor 45 for distributing the binary coded decimal numbers at the correct time.

A programme tape with punched binary coded information .is read by a tape reader 46 which transmits the information regarding which needle position the fashioning nut housing-4 is to next move to. An alternative form of control, called a manual set control-47, can be used and consists of manually selectable dial switches which are set up for the appropriate needle position next required. This information is then passed to a decima] to binary converter 48 which passes the information, in binary form, to a data selection unit 49. The data selection unit 49 is instructed which information, manual or tape, to pass on further by means of a manual or tape selection switch 50.

The position, in binary coded form, to which the fashioning nut housing 4 is to move to is now transmitted to a store 51 and this information will hereinafter be referred to, for the sake of simplicity, as information B. The information B is passed onto an adding unit 52, the purpose of which will become clear hereinafter.

Meanwhile, the light sensor 14 of the reading head, indicated generally in FIG. 6 by numeral 53, transmits the-binary coded information regarding the actual position of the fashioning nut housing 4 to a store 54. This information for the sake of simplicity, will hereinafter be referred to as information A. Timing and control signals are transmitted to both stores 51 and 54 from the time co-ordinators 45.

Information A and B is then passed to comparator 55 which transmits information as to whether A is greater than, equal to, or less than, B to the speed and direction logic unit 40 and a selection unit 56. This information is utilised by the direction logic unit 40 to initiate tra versing movement of the nut housings either in a positive or negative direction, or no movement at all.

With the respect of information transmitted to the selection unit 56, it is to be understood that for distances of over five needle pitches a fast speed traverse is engaged, and for distances of five and less needle pitches a slow speed traverse is engaged, and that between the distance of one needle pitch and none, the plungers 33 of FIGS. 4 and 5 are released to drop into the first notches 32 they encounter. The comparison of information A and B is transmitted to the selection unit 56 which stores the selected pre-strapped numbers i.e. the number of the needle position at which a speed change is to take place as described above. Synchronising pulses are also transmitted to the selection unit 56 from the time co-ordinator 45, which also transmits pulse signals to stores 57 and 58 and to the direction logic unit 40. v

The information from unit 56 is now passed to the adding unit 52 which adds or subtracts as the case may be the pre-strapped numbers, i.e., i 5 and i- 1. These figures are then passed to the stores 57 and 58 which respectively store the information B i 5 and information B i 1. This information, together with information from store 54 is passed to, and compared in, compara tors 59 and 60. The comparator 59 compares information A relative to information B i 1. The resultant information is passed to the speed and direction logic unit 40 which now has the necessary information for moving, via the control valve 29 abd motor 27, the fashioning nut housing 4 at the required speed, and in the required direction.

For the purpose of effecting a fashioning operation reference is also made to FIG. 6.

Firstly, the control tape does not give an instruction to move the nut housings 4 to aparticular needle position, but gives an instruction to make a number of fashionings (narrowing or widening) every so many courses of so many wales each,i.e., 10 narrowing movements every 4 courses by 4 wales pitch.

This information is passed from the'reading head 46 to a calculator unit 61 which also receives a signal from the store 54 informing it of the position of the fashioning nut housing 4. The calculator6l then informs the data selection unit 49 which position the fashioning nut is to move to have added thereto or substracted therefrom the appropriate number of wales. This will continue until all the fashionings have been completed, the electrical control working from the data selection unit 49 in the manner hereinbefore described for rack reset control.

There is also a fashion limit unit 62 which is preset with a maximum number of wales over which any one fashioning operation can take place. When a fashioning operation is to be carried out, an informing signal is sent to the fashion limit comparator 62 from the reading head 46. The fashion limit comparator 62 will then inhibit any instructed movement by the data selection unit over a certain amount, probably 4 wales.

There is also a limit comparator 63 which receives a signal from store 51' related to the position to which the fashioning nut housing 4 is to be moved. Stored in comparator 63 are the maximum and minimum positional limits to which the fashioning nut 4 can safely be moved and if the information received by limit comparator 63 is outside these limits, a stop signal is transmitted to the speed and direction logic unit 40.

In operation therefore, the main control tape (not shown) scanned by reading head 46 for the purpose of carrying out this invention contains information relative to fashioning and/or garment reset. in the case of fashioning, the information required is the number of fashionings, their frequency and walewise movement. In the case of garment reset it is the code of the needle at which the next garment width is to start. This information, as previously described, is fed in appropriate form to comparators, from which appropriate signals are transmitted to the speed and direction logic unit 40 which will operate the solenoid valve 29 according to the direction, duration and speed of traverse required.

The direction of traverse is governed by the solenoid valve 29 which includes a two-way valve which allows oil to flow in one direction when in one extreme position, and in the other direction when in the other extreme position, and stops oil flow when in a central position.

Although the earns 31 are shown and described as having four notches 32, this is not limititive in that it may vary according to the gauge of the needles and/or to the pitch of the fashioning screws. Thus, for example, a cam with seven notches would be suitable for both 14 and seven gauge machines provided the thread pitch of the fashioning screws is twice as wide on the seven gauge machine as it is on the 14 gauge machine.

Furthermore, although the invention has been described with reference to flat or v-bed knitting machines having two co-acting needle beds, it will be understood that it can equally well be applied. to straight bar knitting machines having one or two needle beds.

Although the invention has been described with reference to controlling the positions of the nut housing on the fashioning screws of-a knitting machine, it will be understood that it is not limited in this respect. Thus, the control may be applied to other similar functions of knitting machines.

We claim:

1. A multi-head knitting maching having a control bay, a plurality of knitting heads each having at least one set of linearly arranged knitting needles, at least one fashioning screw arranged in said control bay, a fashioning nut means including a nut housing mounted on each fashioning screw, machine parts means of the type including selvedge stops and fashioning points attached to said nut housing for co-acting with said sets of knitting needles, and motor operated means connected to said fashioning screw for imparting rotation to said fashioning screw for causing lengthwise movement of said fashioning nut housings, at least one coded element attached to'said nut housing and operatively associated with said needles of the machine, a comparator, reading means coupled to said comparator for scanning said coded element and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating the actual position of said fashioning nut housing, at least one coded control tape, other reading means coupled to said comparator for scanning said coded control tape and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating a position to which said fashioning nut housing is to be moved, and means coupled to said motor operated means for utilizing information imparted thereto by said comparator to control the speed and the direction of operation of said motor operated means, said coded element comprising a control plate formed with coded information, an actuating bar supporting said control plate and adjustably connected to said nut housing, said control plate being movable under the action of said nut housing relative to reading means, said reading means being disposed in said control bay.

2. Aknitting machine according to claim 1, in which said reading means comprises a reading head mounted in spaced relationship with a light source with said control plate being positioned between said reading head and said light source.

3. A multi-head knitting machine having a control bay, a plurality of knitting heads each having at least one set of linearly arranged knitting needles, left hand and right hand fashioning screws arranged in said control bay, a fashioning nut housing mounted on each of said fashioning screws, machine parts attached to said nut housings for co-acting with said sets of knitting needies, and motor operated means connected to said fashioning screws for imparting rotation to said fashioning screws and cause lengthwise movement of said fashioning nut housings; at least one coded control plate attached to each of said nut housings and operatively associated with said needles of the machine, a digital comparator, a scanning head assembly connected to said comparator and having a reading head and a light source positioned to scan said coded control plates and being operative to transmit to said comparator a signal indicating the actual position of said fashioning nut housings, at least one coded control tape, reading means connected to said comparator for scanning said coded control tape and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating positions to which said fashioning nut housings are to be moved, and means connected to said comparator for receiving information-and utilizing v such information to control the speed and the direction of operation of said motor operated means; said motor operated means including an hydraulic motor, a solenoid operated control valve controlling said motor, and drive means connecting said motor and said fashioning screws.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 3, including means for accurately limiting the extent of rotation of said fashioning screws, said screw rotation limiting means comprising a notched cam mounted on each of said fashioning screws and a plunger deviceassociated with each cam for engagement in said notches thereof.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 4, in which each of said plunger devices is biased by spring means into an operative position where it engages one of said cam notches.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 5, including hydraulic jack means for moving said plunger devices into an inoperative position free of said notches.-

7. A knitting machine according to claim 6, including switch means for indicating when said plungers can be moved into an operative position.

8. A knitting machine according to claim 7, including other switch means for indicating when said plungers of an operation.

Claims (9)

1. A multi-head knitting maching having a control bay, a plurality of knitting heads each having at least one set of linearly arranged knitting needles, at least one fashioning screw arranged in said control bay, a fashioning nut means including a nut housing mounted on each fashioning screw, machine parts means of the type including selvedge stops and fashioning points attached to said nut housing for co-acting with said sets of knitting needles, and motor operated means connected to said fashioning screw for imparting rotation to said fashioning screw for causing lengthwise movement of said fashioning nut housings, at least one coded element attached to said nut housing and operatively associated with said needles of the machine, a comparator, reading means coupled to said comparator for scanning said coded element and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating the actual position of said fashioning nut housing, at least one coded control tape, other reading means coupled to said comparator for scanning said coded control tape and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating a position to which said fashioning nut housing is to be moved, and means coupled to said motor operated means for utilizing information imparted thereto by said comparator to control the speed and the direction of operation of said motor operated means, said coded element comprising a control plate formed with coded information, an actuating bar supporting said control plate and adjustably connected to said nut housing, said control plate being movable under the action of said nut housing relative to reading means, said reading means being disposed in said control bay.

2. A knitting machine according to claim 1, in which said reading means comprises a reading head mounted in spaced relationship with a light source with said control plate being positioned between said reading head and said light source.

3. A multi-head knitting machine having a control bay, a plurality of knitting heads each having at least one set of linearly arranged knitting needles, left hand and right hand fashioning screws arranged in said control bay, a fashioning nut housing mounted on each of said fashioning screws, machine parts attached to said nut housings for co-acting with said sets of knitting needles, and motor operated means connected to said fashioning screws for imparting rotation to said fashioning screws and cause lengthwise movement of said fashioning nut housings; at least one coded control plate attached to each of said nut housings and operatively associated with said needles of the machine, a digital comparator, a scanning head assembly connected to said comparator and having a reading head and a light source positioned to scan said coded control plates and being operative to transmit to said comparator a signal indicating the actual position of said fashioning nut housings, at least one coded control tape, reading means connected to said comparator for scanning said coded control tape and transmitting to said comparator a signal indicating positions to which said fashioning nut housings are to be moved, and means connected to said comparator for receiving information and utilizing such information to control the speed and the direction of operation of said motor operated means; said motor operated means including an hydraulic motor, a solenoid operated control valve controlling said motor, and drive means connecting said motor and said fashioning screws.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 3, including means for accurately limiting the extent of rotation of said fashioning screws, said screw rotation limiting means comprising a notched cam mounted on each of said fashioning screws and a plunger device associated with each cam For engagement in said notches thereof.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 4, in which each of said plunger devices is biased by spring means into an operative position where it engages one of said cam notches.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 5, including hydraulic jack means for moving said plunger devices into an inoperative position free of said notches.

7. A knitting machine according to claim 6, including switch means for indicating when said plungers can be moved into an operative position.

8. A knitting machine according to claim 7, including other switch means for indicating when said plungers are in an operative position.

9. A knitting machine according to claim 8, including further switch means operative with said other switch means for transmitting a signal indicating completion of an operation.

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