US3835668A

US3835668A - Combined knitting feed and transfer feed circular knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US3835668A
Application number: US00246651A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Schiebel; F Kuhn; H Beuter; A Planck
Original assignee: Fouquet Werk Frauz and Planck
Current assignee: Fouquet Werk Frauz and Planck
Priority date: 1971-04-22
Filing date: 1972-04-24
Publication date: 1974-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-17
Also published as: GB1383414A; FR2136322A5; ES401470A1; CH535853A; IT954511B; BE782544A; DE2119530A1; BR7202423D0

Abstract

Both the cylinder and dial cam structures are formed with needle butt raceways defining respective needle curves, and are subdivided into segments which are all of similar angular extent, some of the segments of the cylinder and dial cam structures being formed with raceways which provide for knitting feeds, and others with raceways providing transfer feeds; the segments are individually removably mounted on the machine, and the needle raceways in the segments are so arranged that the terminal portions thereof match adjacent raceways to permit selective interchange and placement of segments in accordance with desired knitting patterns; to provide for selective disabling of blanking or eliminator drums of Jacquard drum selectors, in both knitting feeds and transfer feeds, a pair of cam rings provide for mechanical index control of the pattern drum of the Jacquard selector, and electrically operated, solenoid controlled interlocks are provided to control indexing of the blanking drum, which can be done in accordance with a programmed pattern.

Description

United States Patent Schiebel et a1.

COMBINED KNITTING FEED AND TRANSFER FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Inventors: Alfred Schiebel, Rottenburg; Falk Kuhn, Kiebingen; Hermann Beuter; Alfred Planck, Jr., both of Rottenburg, all of Germany Fouquet-Werk Frauz & Planck, Rottenburg am Ncckar, Germany Filed: Apr. 24, 1972 Appl. No.: 246,651

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 22, 1971 Germany 2119530 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 66/24 1 Sept. 17, 1974 996,291 6/1965 Great Britain 66/50 B 715,417 9/1954 Great Britain 66/24 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 1,952,946 5-1970 German Application (Guell).

Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf 5 7 ABSTRACT Both the cylinder and dial cam structures are formed with needle butt raceways defining respective needle curves, and are sub-divided into segments which are all of similar angular extent, some of the segments of the cylinder and dial cam structures being formed with raceways which provide for knitting feeds, and others with raceways providing transfer feeds; the segments are individually removably mounted on the machine, and the needle raceways in the segments are so arranged that the terminal portions thereof match adjacent raceways to permit selective interchange and placement of segments in accordance with desired knitting patterns; to provide for selective disabling of blanking or eliminator drums of Jacquard drum selectors, in both knitting feeds and transfer feeds, a pair of cam rings provide for mechanical index control of the pattern drum of the Jacquard selector, and electrically operated, solenoid controlled interlocks are provided to control indexing of the blanking drum, which can be done in accordance with a programmed pattern.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPI 7:924

SHEET 2 (IF 5 PATENTED SEP 1 71974 sum 3 OF 5 Z 345 nu 323 3 T 7 ww 2 9 9 2 2 2 PAIENIEB SEP 1 71974 SHEEY 5 OF 5 COMBINED KNITTING FEED AND TRANSFER FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE The present invention relates to a multi-feed circular knitting machine and more particularly to the type of knitting machine which has both knitting feeds as well as transfer feeds, and the pattern of which is controllable by drum-type Jacquard controllers.

Only so much of the present invention will be described as is necessary for an understanding thereof; for a general description of the type of machine to which the present invention is applied, reference is made to Double Knit Fabric Manual, page 45 et seq., National Knitted Outerwear Assocaition," copyright I961. Further literature references will be given below.

Circular knitting machines which provide both for knitting feed as well as for transfer feed, heretofore, had the disadvantage that certain limits are placed on the patterns which can be produced economically, that is, with high production. As is well known, loops are only formed during knitting feeds, that is, only during those knitting feeds is fabric actually produced. During transfer feeds, stitches are merely transferred with no thread being added. While transfer feeds are necessary for certain patterns, and to achieve certain effects, no fabric is thereby produced. The period of time taken by the machine to transfer already formed stitches during the transfer feed is therefore lost from a production point of view. As a compromise, machines have been made which either only have knitting feeds, or which, selectively, have knitting feeds and transfer feeds,.so arranged that a pair of J acquard-type knitting feeds are followed by a subsequent Jacquard transfer feed. The construction of the cylinder and dial cam races, or, to be more accurate, of the respective cylinder or dial needle butt raceways differs when knitting feeds, or transfer feeds are to be made. This is, in part, due to the difference in needle extension, or projection of the respective needles during the transfer feed from the various projections during the knitting feed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in which production is substantially increased and in which the user has a greater choice of pattern possibilities, and relative use of knitting feeds and transfer feeds while utilizing a maximum of machine time available; and to provide an apparatus which is easy to control and in which Jacquard patterns can be readily programmed.

Subject Matter of the Present Invention Briefly, the cylinder and dial cam structures are each formed with respective needle butt raceways, defining respective needle curves. Some of the segments of the cylinder and dial cam structures are formed with raceways which provide knitting feeds; others of the segments of the cylinder and dial cam structures are formed with raceways which provide transfer feeds. All of the cam segments of the needle and dial structures are of equal angular extent. The cam segments are individually removably mounted on the machine, and the needle raceways in the segments, regardless of whether made for knitting feeds or transfer feeds are so arranged that the terminal portions of the raceways in the segments are at matching position, to permit selective interchange and placement of the segments having raceways providing knitting feeds and segments having raceways providing transfer feeds, in any desired relationship.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the Jacquard selectors are controllable, independently, when controlling knitting feeds or transfer feeds. Thus, Jacquard controllers which heretofore were controlled only from two control cams, one for the Jacquard pattern controller and one for the blanking or eliminator drum, now require four control inputs, one each for knitting, or transfer feeds. In order to accommodate the same four controls in the space allocated for the previous two controls, the two controls are retained and are made to be selectively applicable to the Jacquard pattern selector drum, for example, the blanking drum then being controlled by an electric magnet operating on a latch, the electric magnet being easily energized since it does not by itself have to move the Jacquard selector but merely permit its otherwise powered motion, under control of an electrical signal.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1, in individual views FIGS. 1a to If illustrate the position of cylinder and dial cam segments, respectively, for transfer feeds and knitting feeds, in various relationships, and in which FIG. If is representative of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a Jacquard selector for the cylinder needles only;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Jacquard selector mechanism with a pair of selector control rings;

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram of electrical interconnection;

FIG. 5 is, a schematic representation of the needle curve, as controlled by the needle butt raceway of the dial cam, the curve of section a indicating a knitting feed and the curve b indicating a transfer feed;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the needle curve (line a), the cylinder and its needle butt raceway (line b) and the raising jack cam and the raising jack butt raceway (line 0), for non-knitting position at section A, for a knitting feed to make standard stitches at section B, for a knitting feed to make tuck stitches at section C, and for transfer feed at section D.

Referring first to FIG. 1, collectively: FIG. 1f illustrates a knitting machine in which all segments for the cams, of the cylinder and dial are all of equal angular extent, and all are cut with raceways which will provide knitting feeds. If it is desired to have a machine which is also capable of transferring stitches, that is, which is to have transfer feeds then, due to the difference in length of needle projection for transfer feeds to permit the cylinder needles to project so that the dial needles can engage the transfer eyes it has been deemed necessary to make the transfer feeds of wider angular extent than the 'knitting feeds. This is due to the fact that the needle curve cannot rise beyond a certain angle, in order to provide sufficient time for the needle to project, and further to provide for sufficient dwell times of the needles, in their relative positions, to permit interengagement and transfer of the loop. Providing such a machine, for example of the type illustrated in FIG. la means that, if the machine is to knit constantly (for example as determined by the pattern) the time-efficiency of the machine is 50 percent since the machine must pass the transfer feeds without knitting.

In the diagram of FIG. 1, the knitting feeds are indicated by S, and the transfer feeds by U. As seen in FIG. 1, both the dial and the cylinder segments of course have the same feed arrangement. In FIG. 1a, thus, for knitting only, the machine operates inefficiently. If such a machine were to be used for a pattern which has two succeeding knit feeds and one transfer feed, then the decrease in efficiency would be less marked. If the machine is, initially, built as for example illustrated in FIG. 1c, then for knitting alone the machine is 66% percent efficient. If, for example, due to the pattern arrangement, a relationship of 3 l is desired for example FIG. 1d then additional loss of production time will be incurred since one transfer system and one knitting system, for each pattern course, must be disabled. Pattern course, as here used, can be deemed to mean the aggregate of knitting and transfer systems which are necessary for the stitch structure, or fabric construction of the pattern to be made.

Assuming a machine having a built-in relationship in accordance with the knitting feed-transfer feed relationship of FIG. 1c is provided, and the design calls for a pattern sequence as illustrated in FIG. lb, that is, 2 2, then further inefficiency is incurred since two knitting feeds must be disabled in order to reach a second transfer feed subsequent to a first transfer first. A 36- feed machine having, in the assumed example, 24 knitting feeds and 12 transfer feeds, would thus operate at 50 percent efficiency with respect to normal knitting time (knitting at 24 feeds) since 6 X 2 12, that is, half of the knitting feeds, have to be disabled.

In accordance with the present invention, the cam segments forming the knitting feeds and the transfer feeds all have the same angular extent, and are removably and interchangeably made, so that knitting feed movement or transfer feed movement of the needles can be individually selectively controlled, as desired, by merely removing interchangeable parts. Further, the needle raceways, defining the needle curves are so arranged that the ends of the raceways, at the segments, match each other so that the needles will smoothly be transferred from one segment to the other, without damage or spurious movement.

The combinations of sequences of knitting feeds and transfer feeds can be selected, as desired. FIG. 1a to 2 illustrates various relationships and possibilities. Others may, of course, be used. FIG. 1 f further illustrates that the same system, by placing only knitting feeds on the machine, can also be used similar to machines of the prior art, which did not permit, as in the special construction of the machine of the present invention, interchange of knitting and transfer feeds.

The Jacquard selector to be used with the feeds can be constructed essentially as previously known, with modifications, which can readily be accomodated on the framework and within the space of existing machines. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3: A Jacquard drum 1 has pattern jacks 2 located therein with the usual pattern butts. Coaxial with the pattern drum 1, and located therebelow, is a blanking drum or eliminator drum 3. The pattern jacks, likewise, are formed with blanking or eliminator butts 4. The ratchet wheel 5 is connected to the blanking drum 3, and a ratchet or index wheel 6 is connected, concentric with the shaft from wheel 5, to the pattern drum 1. Selector fingers or pattern levers 7, on the Jacquard controller, engage with the selector butts of needle jacks. The Jacquard drum formed of pattern drum 1 and blanking drum 3 is indexed by a mechanism which includes an index lever 8 (FIG. 2), operated by an index cam follower 9. One each such Jacquard selector is associated with a feed, and located at the circumference of the machine below the cylinder cams. It is secured to the machine between bearings located in lower and

upper rings

16, 11 respectively. The selector fingers or pattern levers 7 are located on a common shaft and are swingably mounted, moved in accordance with the position of the pattern and blanking butts, and radially pivoted, to engage the region of the selector butts 12 of the selector jacks 13. The selector butts 12 of the selector jacks 13, when engaged by the pattern lever 7, pivot over pivot point 18 to enter into their respective tricks. This motion causes the raising jacks 16, located thereabove, to disengage the raising butt from the associated raising cam of the cylinder 19 and thus disable the cylinder needles 17, connected to the raising jacks 16, from being driven into knitting position. This is obtained by engagement of the upper, forked end of the selector jacks 13 with the raising jacks 16. The pivoted position is shown in dashed lines. The aforementioned literature reference gives a complete and detailed explanation.

The needle bed is only schematically indicated at 15. The Jacquard selector drums are retained in position by a shaft 20.

The selector drums are indexed, or operated by means of an operating mechanism which includes a removable, replaceable control shaft 36, carrying a cam follower roller 28 and corresponding to roller 9 (FIG. 2) but being removably located to be engaged by raising earns 32, or 31, selectively, each mounted on a cam track 29, 30, respectively. Shaft 36, with the roller 28 located either as shown in FIG. 3 (engaging cam 32) or close to lever 27 so it will be engaged by cam 31, is connected to lever 27 which pivots about a pivot point 37. Lever 27, when being raised at the end of pin 36 by the earns 31, 32, respectively, will release a latch lever 22 which, by means of a spring, cam pivot counterclockwise over a vertical axis. Latch lever 22 has a ratchet arm 45 connected thereto at a pivot point 46, and only schematically shown, the ratchet arm 45 engaging ratchet wheel 6, to push the ratchet wheel by one or more indexed position, depending on the positioning of tooth 45, as well known and explained in detail in the aforementioned literature reference. The pin 36, with cam follower roller 28 is preferably so made that it can be reversed and inserted backwards in a suitable opening in link 27, so that the roller will selectively engage the

cam element

31, or 32. Cam elements or

wedges

31, 32 are mounted on movable rings 29, 30 which are moved in accordance with a pre-set control, and as well known in the art. The just described indexing arrangement for the Jacquard controller therefore, depending on the position of cam follower roller 28, will be controlled by movement of either one of rings 29 or 30. The position of the cam follower roller 28, and relative movement of cam rings 29, 30 will depend on the pattern, and on whether the Jacquard controller is opposite a knitting feed segment or opposite a transfer feed segment. Thus, the replaceable and adjustable control of the indexing of the Jacquard selector drum, both for knitting and transfer feeds gives the pattern designer great leeway.

Machines of prior art constructions utilized one of the rings 29, or 30 to control indexing of the Jacquard pattern selector and the other to control indexing of the blanking or eliminator drum. In accordance with the present invention, both rings 29, 30 are selectively used to control the pattern selector dru'm. This requires, additionally, means to control indexing of the blanking drum. A solenoid magnet is secured to the support structure of the Jacquard pattern selector, the solenoid 25 having a movable armature pin 26 which is pivoted at 34 to a latch lever 24. Latch lever 24 is secured to the Jacquard selector structure by means of a pivot screw 33. Latch lever 24 engages end 22' of a ratchet lever 21; ratchet lever 21 has a ratchet tooth 23 thereon, which engages ratchet wheel 5, connected to the blanking drum 3, to move the blanking drum under influence of a spring. The movement mechanism is well known and described, in greater detail, in the aforementioned publication, the difference being the control or release of the movement by solenoid 25. The cam rings 29, are secured to a cambase 35 which is driven by the main cylinder drive gear or ring 39 (FIG. 2). The cylinder segments (FIG. 1) with their cam races are readily removable from the machine structure, being secured thereto, as schematically indicated at 19' (FIG. 2).

The solenoids 25 are controlled by the circuit of FIG. 4. A programming board, or program carrier 40, which may also be deemed a control unit is provided. Control unit 40 has switches 49-1, 49-2, 49-3 49-n thereon (in which n corresponds to the number of feeds of the machine). The control unit is synchronized with machine rotation by means of a synchronizing line 48, and has a pair of

outputs

41, 42, which may be in the form of cables connected to the various solenoids 25 through elements which prevent mutual interference or feedback, such as well known OR-gates, which may be in the form of diodes. If the outputs from

control unit

40, 41 are individual, they can be connected to terminals Y, Z which, in turn, connect to switches 43, controlling the individual solenoids 25. Solenoids 25 can have individual switches 43' mounted right on the Jacquard drum support see FIG. 3. Switches 43 may, also, be contained within a switch unit, which may be part of the control unit 40, and ganged together, as schematically seen in FIG. 4. If the

lines

41, 42 are cables, then the individual terminals of the cables, the energization of which is controlled by switches 49-1, 49-2 49-n and taken at points Y, Z are then connected to terminals X, in turn connecting with lines 44 connecting to solenoids 25. The switches 49-1- 49-2, 49-3 49-n can be selectively set in upper or lower positions, as indicated for example with respect to switches 49-1, 49-2, and 49-3. To facilitate the task of the operator, the setting of the switches, depending upon whether they are connected to a solenoid associated with a knitting feed, or a transfer feed, respectively, can be indicated on a pattern carrier 50, having suitable holes, into which the switches in their respective upper, or lower positions fit, as indicated by holes 50-1, 50-2, and 50-3; pattern carrier 50 has as many holes as there switches, that is holes 50-1 50-n, wherein n is again the number of the total feeds of the machine.

Pulses from control unit 40, synchronized with machine operation by line 48 can then be transferred, selectively and sequentially, in accordance with switch positions from the cables of

lines

41, 42 to the respective individual terminals X of the individual solenoids; or, if the-programming is to be done manually, the

lines

41, 42 can be set for energization and either individualv switches 43' connected to either

lines

41, or 42, in dependence on whether the particular solenoid is associated with a knitting feed or with a transfer feed, to be energized, in timed relationship with machine operation, as determined by the synchronizing line 48, which synchronizes stepping the energization of the switches 49-1, 49-2, 49-n, or synchronization of common outputs at terminals Y, Z for connection over

switches

43, or 43 to the respective solenoids 25. Thus, pulses from the control unit 40 are transferred to the respective circuits of

cables

41, 42 to the respective switches 43, 43' and then to the magnets 25 over lines 44.

Most knitting machines effect primary control of the pattern on the cylinder since, for space reasons, it is often difficult to provide Jacquard controllers with many selection possibilities on the dial. The present invention has been described so far in connection with control of the needles of the cylinder. In accordance with known knitting machine technology, the needle curve, that is, the path taken by the needle during a knitting feed is schematically illustrated for the dial in FIG. 5a. As can be seen, the needle has various dwell periods and projects by a predetermined amount. FIG. 5b illustrates the control of the dial knitting needle, that is, the needle curve upon transfer. As can be seen, the needle projects by a predetermined amount which is approximately half the projection it would have for knitting, and then remains essentially stationary in its projected position, to be retracted at the end of the feed. In accordance with the present invention, the rate of projection, that is, the slope of the needle curve of FIG. 5b does not exceed the steepness of the slope of FIG. 5a, and the final position as well as the starting position of the needle curve, with respect to a fixed datum is the same. Thus, the needle curves of adjacent segments in the dial will match, and the dial segments can be readily removed as well known. FIG. 6 illustrates, at the left side, a needle and a raising jack similar to the raising jack of FIG. 2 (the remaining parts having been omitted) and the position of the needle and the raising jack within the respective cam races of the cylinders under various conditions of feed. In section A, the raising cams are controlled such that the needle will not project; the upper cam track, which engages the needle butts has movable clearing cams 190, so that all needles can be brought into action, when this is required. When all the clearing cams are in their upper position, then selection by the Jacquard selectors is not necessary. The position of the needles themselves can be controlled to provide a needle curve as shown in line a of FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the needles are, at the end of the feed, withdrawn slightly below a datum line. The start and finish position of the needles, regardless of the type of feed, must be the same with respect to this datum. Normal knitting feed is illustrated in section B, section C again illustrating a tuck stitch on the cylinder. In order to provide for a transfer, however, the needle must be driven out far beyond its normal knitting position, as schematically indicated in section D. This requires a different type of needle raceway, as seen at 19D. The initial slope of this raceway must be so arranged that the needles will smoothly transfer from either a preceding transfer feed, or from a preceding section D, is so adjusted that the needle will effect this smooth transfer. The particular angle can be obtained with little experimentation, and will depend on the diameter of the machine, speed of operation, quality of needle butts and the like. It is known from experience that it may be necessary, for an equal number of feeds, to increase the diameter of the machine in order to obtain a slope of the needle curve which is not too steep for operation of the needles. While the total number of needles can be kept constant, the cut of the needles will slightly increase, thus resulting in slightly coarser fabric being made on the machine, with, however, substantially greater versatility in pattern selection.

The particular control of the needles by Jacquard selectors, FIGS. 2, 3, has been illustrated and described in connection with the cylinder only. If selection of the cylinder and dial is controlled, the electrical circuitry of the control unit 40 (FIG. 4) can be essentially duplicated, or the circuits connected in parallel. The control of the Jacquard pattern selector drum, by means of cam rings 29, 30 can be avoided if electrical control is used. In order to ensure accurate transfer at all times, machines permitting the use of transfer feeds or knitting feeds should be equipped with latch openers to effect reliable opening of the latch of the needles after each transfer for the next subsequent knitting operation.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the inventive concept.

The invention is applicable to knitting machines having striping capability, in which striping apparatus is placed at each of the feeds, to make complete striping patterns, combined striping and multi-color Jacquard patterns, combined striping transfer Jacquard patterns, as well as combined striping multi-color transfer-and- Jacquard patterns, plain as well as multi-color Jacquard transfer patterns with floats, single, and multicolor Jacquard blister and puckered fabrics, the latter alone, or in combination with striping.

The present invention permits use of circular knitting machines as ordinary Jacquard machines having a com plement of knitting feeds, and adaptation of the same machine to provide a Jacquard transfer machine capable of making a great variety of knit fabric in many patterns. The Jacquard selectors may remain in place during interchange of the machine segments; if the nature of the feed of a segment associated with a selector is changed, it merely suffices to interchange the direction of the pin 36 (FIG. 3) to match the Jacquard drum to the feed, and to throw a switch, thus providing for flexibility of use.

The detailed specification is directed to that portion of the machine in which the apparatus of the present invention is incorporated and with which the method of the present invention is useful. For a complete discussion of knitting machines, reference may be had to Double Knit Fabric Manual, copyright 1961, and Knitting Dictionary, copyright 1966, both published by the National Knitted Outerwear Association; Technologie der Rundstrickerei by Albert Diebler, Konradin-Verlag, Stuttgart, particularly vols. 9, l and 11; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,169,801, 2,697,336; and British Patents 874,719 (which discloses a system to control the dial needles), and 996,291, from which well known parts of the machines, the cooperation of the apparatus of the present invention with known parts of knitting machines, and application of the invention to other machines and operating elements thereof, will be obvious. Typical knitting machines are, for example, Type SMJ, SRJP, SMH, SMJH, and other interlock circular knitting machines, eight lock circular knitting machines, single knit machines and the like made by Fouquet- Werke Frauz & Planck described in detail in their Betriebsanleitung (Operating Instructions") and Montageund Betriebsanleitung" (Installation and Operating Instructions"); reprint MELLIAND TEX- TILBERICHTE Heidelberg, Vol. 42, issue 12, 1961, pages 1363-1370.

We claim: 1. Multi-feed circular knitting machine having a cylinder cam structure and a dial cam structure, the cylinder and dial cam structures being sub-divided into dial and cylinder cam segments (S, U) forming sectors of a circle and retaining needles therein;

the cylinder and dial cam structures each being formed with respective needle butt raceways (19a, 19b) to provide, upon operation, respective needle curves, the cylinder cam structure comprising cylinder cam knitting segments (S) having raceways shaped to project the cylinder needles to knitting position to provide knitting feeds and cylinder cam transfer segments (U) having raceways shaped to project the cylinder needles to transfer position to provide transfer feeds;

the dial cam structure comprising dial cam knitting segments (S) having raceways shaped to project the dial needles to knitting position to provide knitting feeds and dial cam transfer segments (U) having raceways shaped to project the dial needles to transfer position to provide transfer feeds;

the cylinder cam knitting segments, the cylinder cam transfer segments, the dial cam knitting segments, and the dial cam transfer segments being individually removably mounted on the machine;

the cylinder cam knitting segments (S) and the cylinder cam transfer segments (U), each, having the same angular extent and being interchangeable in position on the machine with respect to each other;

the dial cam knitting segments (S) and the dial cam transfer segments (U), each, having the same angular extent and being interchangeable in position on the machine with respect to each other;

and the needle cam raceways (19a, 19b) of both the respective knitting segments and of the transfer segments (S, U) having terminal portions adjacent the lateral ends of the segments (S, U) at matching aligned positions, to permit selective interchange and placement of segments (S) having raceways (19a, 19b) providing knitting feeds and segments (U) having raceways providing transfer feeds in any desired relationship on the circular knitting machine.

2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the relationship of the knitting feed segments (S) to transfer segments (U) comprises at least one of: 2 1; 2:2;l:1;4:2;3:1.

3. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a Jacquard selector drum (1, 3) for each feed, and position control means selectively operably connectable to said drums, the selector drums having two sections, one section (1) controlling individual needle selection and the other section (3) controlling blanking to override selections controlled by the needle section;

each said sections having a control latch (22, 22);

wherein said control means comprises selectively energizable (43) electrical means (25) mechanically engageable with and controlling the control latch (22') of one of said sections.

4. Knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein said control means further comprises a pair of adjacent circumferential cam rings (23, 30) and means (28, 36) selectively engageable with one of said rings and the control latch (22) of the other of said sections.

5. Knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the electrical means comprises a solenoid magnet (25) and a locking member (24) selectively movable to engage the control latch (22) of said one of said sections in accordance with energization or non-energization of said solenoid.

6. Knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the electrical means of individual Jacquard selector drums are individually controllable.

7. Knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the electrical means of individual Jacquard selector drums for each feed are controllable conjointly.

8. Knitting machine according to claim 7, comprising a program controller (40) having a pair of outputs, one output (41) controlling the electrical means in knitting feeds and the other output (42) controlling the electrical means in transfer feeds to selectively energize or not energize the electrical means of the respective knitting feed and transfer feed Jacquard selectors.

9. Knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the program controller (40) has a separated array of switches (49-1, 49-2 49-n) controlling energization of the electrical means of individual Jacquard selectors, the switches having discrete physical positions depending on their switch setting;

and a pattern card (50) having openings 50-1, 50-2 50-n) matching the physical positions of the switches connectable with specific segments, in accordance with the characteristic of the segments and whether providing knitting feed or transfer feed control of the knitting needles.

Claims

1. Multi-feed circular knitting machine having a cylinder cam structure and a dial cam Structure, the cylinder and dial cam structures being sub-divided into dial and cylinder cam segments (S, U) forming sectors of a circle and retaining needles therein; the cylinder and dial cam structures each being formed with respective needle butt raceways (19a, 19b) to provide, upon operation, respective needle curves, the cylinder cam structure comprising cylinder cam knitting segments (S) having raceways shaped to project the cylinder needles to knitting position to provide knitting feeds and cylinder cam transfer segments (U) having raceways shaped to project the cylinder needles to transfer position to provide transfer feeds; the dial cam structure comprising dial cam knitting segments (S) having raceways shaped to project the dial needles to knitting position to provide knitting feeds and dial cam transfer segments (U) having raceways shaped to project the dial needles to transfer position to provide transfer feeds; the cylinder cam knitting segments, the cylinder cam transfer segments, the dial cam knitting segments, and the dial cam transfer segments being individually removably mounted on the machine; the cylinder cam knitting segments (S) and the cylinder cam transfer segments (U), each, having the same angular extent and being interchangeable in position on the machine with respect to each other; the dial cam knitting segments (S) and the dial cam transfer segments (U), each, having the same angular extent and being interchangeable in position on the machine with respect to each other; and the needle cam raceways (19a, 19b) of both the respective knitting segments and of the transfer segments (S, U) having terminal portions adjacent the lateral ends of the segments (S, U) at matching aligned positions, to permit selective interchange and placement of segments (S) having raceways (19a, 19b) providing knitting feeds and segments (U) having raceways providing transfer feeds in any desired relationship on the circular knitting machine.

2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the relationship of the knitting feed segments (S) to transfer segments (U) comprises at least one of: 2 : 1; 2 : 2; 1 : 1; 4 : 2; 3 : 1.

3. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a Jacquard selector drum (1, 3) for each feed, and position control means selectively operably connectable to said drums, the selector drums having two sections, one section (1) controlling individual needle selection and the other section (3) controlling blanking to override selections controlled by the needle section; each said sections having a control latch (22, 22''); wherein said control means comprises selectively energizable (43) electrical means (25) mechanically engageable with and controlling the control latch (22'') of one of said sections.

9. Knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the program controller (40) has a separated array of switches (49-1, 49-2 . . . 49-n) controlling energization of the electrical means of individual Jacquard selectors, the switches having discrete physical positions depending on their switch setting; and a pattern card (50) having openings (50-1, 50-2 . . . , 50-n) matching the physical positions of the switches connectable with specific segments, in accordance with the characteristic of the segments and whether providing knitting feed or transfer feed control of the knitting needles.