WO2001048287A1

WO2001048287A1 - Piezoelectric actuator control device and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2001048287A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/007343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takashi Enomoto; Kazuhisa Watanabe
Original assignee: Wac Data Service Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 1999-12-27
Filing date: 1999-12-27
Publication date: 2001-07-05

Abstract

A pattern controller performs a needle selection control of a knitting machine with a plurality of piezoelectric needle selectors, each including a plurality of piezoelectric actuators, connected in parallel via an output line. CPU in the pattern controller generates a data signal representing a drive of each of a plurality of piezoelectric actuators in each piezoelectric needle selector for writing into a dual port memory. The dual port memory stores an address signal indicating which of the plurality of piezoelectric needle selectors should be selected and the above data signal. A read circuit operates independently of the CPU and reads an address signal and a drive pattern data from the dual port memory for outputting to an output line in synchronization with a knitting machine operation so as to drive each piezoelectric needle selector.

Description

Technical Field Piezoelectric actuator control device and method

The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method for a piezoelectric actuator. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique that is effective when performing needle selection control for patterning using a large number of piezoelectric needle selection devices in a knitting machine or the like. Background art

In a knitting machine, a knitted fabric such as a sock is knitted using a flat knitting machine or a circular knitting machine. In a knitting machine of this type, a needle selecting device is used to pattern a knitted fabric.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a flat knitting machine. The flat knitting machine 1 has a carriage 5 fixed to a belt 3 driven by a motor 2 with a fixture 4. It moves left and right on the rail, and knits a knitted fabric such as socks with a large number of knitting needles 6. In order to perform the patterning on the knitted fabric, the flat knitting machine 1 is provided with a large number of needle selecting devices 7 for the knitting machine. These needle selecting devices 7 are electrically connected to a patterning controller 9 by cables 8, and move as the carriage 5 moves left and right as shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a circular knitting machine. In the circular knitting machine 10, a plurality of knitting needles 6 are fitted into the rotating knitting cylinder 11 and knitting yarns 13 are supplied to the knitting needles 6 from the bobbins 12 to form a knitted fabric such as a sock. Do. In this kind of circular knitting machine, the needles of the knitting needles 6 are selected and pattern knitting is performed. A number of needle selection devices 7 are arranged around the rotating knitting cylinder 11 1, and the vertical movement of the knitting needles is controlled in cooperation with a needle selection jack (not shown) provided for each knitting needle 6. .

As described above, the needle selecting device 7 incorporated in the flat knitting machine 1 or the circular knitting machine 10 may be provided in a number of hundreds depending on the design. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the needle selecting device 7 is electrically connected to the patterning controller 9. The patterning controller 9 outputs a signal corresponding to the pattern data for patterning the knitted fabric, and each needle selecting device 7 performs an operation for needle selection in response to the signal, and the knitting fabric having the pattern is formed. Knitting will be performed. That is, the patterning controller 9 outputs an output signal (control signal) corresponding to the pattern data for patterning to the needle selecting device 7 to perform needle selection control, and to knit a knitted fabric of a predetermined pattern. This is a control device that performs the processing described above.

As described above, the operation control of the needle selecting device 7 is performed by the computer control by the patterning controller 9. The control is performed in accordance with a knitting procedure stored in a storage medium such as paper, force-set tape, a floppy disk, or a memory card in the patterning controller 9 to enable knitting of a knitted fabric having a desired pattern structure. To

As the needle selecting device 7, various types of needle selecting devices using electromagnets have been conventionally proposed (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-933396). But what power? In such an electromagnetic needle selection device,! There is a limit to the increase in response speed in needle selection, "there is a problem such as high power consumption, # the needle selection device becomes large due to the use of electromagnetic coils, and so on.

On the other hand, the present inventors have conventionally proposed a piezoelectric type needle selecting device in which a knitting needle is selected using a piezoelectric element instead of such a knitting machine needle selecting device using an electromagnet. Various devices have been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-28451). An example of the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in a case 14, piezoelectric bodies 15 having piezoelectric elements are arranged in multiple stages, for example, in eight stages. Then, a pulse (voltage) is applied from the patterning controller 9 to the piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric body 15 to bend the piezoelectric element and cause the selecting operation of the knitting needle 6 to occur. .

According to the needle selecting device 70 using such a piezoelectric element,! High cycle pulse can be applied. "Needle selection action can be performed at high speed.% Because of this, complex pattern knitting can be knitted at high speed. There are many advantages such as that the size can be further reduced as compared with the needle selecting device.

In particular, the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 proposed by the present inventors is capable of further increasing the speed, and is also a piezoelectric element that has been a problem in the past. It has the advantage of improving the service life.

In this piezoelectric needle selecting device 70, an intermediate position between the front end and the rear end of the piezoelectric body 15 is fixed to a rotating body 16 rotatably attached to a case (support) 14. The rear end of the body 15 is movably supported in the groove 17 of the case 14, and the front end is movably connected to a needle 18 (hereinafter simply referred to as a finger). . By supporting the piezoelectric body 15 in such a configuration, the piezoelectric body 15 can further improve the speed of the needle selection operation, for example, because its bending motion is not hindered. 5 has a longer service life, and further has the advantage that the applied voltage can be further reduced.

In addition, the power consumption efficiency of conventional magnets is extremely low. Most is dissipated due to heat, etc., and the power consumption increases.In contrast, according to the piezoelectric needle selection device 70 having the above configuration, no heat is generated, the power consumption is significantly reduced, and the size of the device itself is increased. The size can be further reduced. Since a large number of needle selecting devices 70 are provided in the knitting machine, it is important to reduce the size of the devices.

The piezoelectric needle selection device 70 will be described in more detail. As shown in the figure, a spherical body 19 is attached to the tip of the piezoelectric body 15, and the spherical part of the spherical body 19 is grooved in the case 14. The piezoelectric member 15 is held in the groove 17 so that the tip of the piezoelectric member 15 can be rotated in the groove 17. A similar spherical body 19 is also attached to the rear end of the piezoelectric body 15 and the spherical body 19 is connected to the finger 18 so that the spherical body 19 is within the open end 180 of the finger 18 It is designed to be movable.

As shown in the figure, the strip-shaped portion at the tip of the finger 18 is connected to the rectangular piezoelectric body 15 so as to be aligned (in the same direction) with the piezoelectric body 15. The distal end of the finger 18 projects from the opening 20 (part of the stopper) 20 of the case 14 as shown in the figure. The stopper portion 20 is configured to have a width and a size corresponding to the finger 18 so that the finger 18 can perform the above operation.

The intermediate position between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the piezoelectric body 15 is fixed to the rotating body 16 rotatably attached to the case 14 via the bracket 21 as described above. The rotating body 16 moves so as not to hinder the bending movement of the piezoelectric body 15 as the piezoelectric body 15 moves. By fixing the position between the front end and the rear end of the piezoelectric body 15 to the rotating body 16 rotatably attached to the bracket 21 in this way and providing a fulcrum on the way, the fingers are markedly marked. The operation speed of 18 can be improved. Next, the needle selecting operation of the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the needle selection operation is a press-type needle selection device that selects the needle of the knitting needle 6 depending on whether or not the finger 23 presses (presses) the pad 23 of the jack 22. The case where the present invention is applied to a circular knitting machine will be described. The needle selecting operation of the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 is performed by pressing the knots 23 of the jacks 22 with the fingers 18 in the knitting cylinder 11 direction. When the jack 22 is brought into contact with the knitting cylinder 11 due to such pressing, the jack 22 cannot be engaged with the lifting force 24 at the lower portion of the cylinder 11. Therefore, the knitting needle 6 abutting on the upper part of the jack 22 does not move upward, and as a result, the stitch is not formed by the knitting needle 6. On the other hand, when the knot 23 is not pressed, the knitting needle 6 is engaged with the lifting cam 2 at the bottom of the cylinder 11, and the knitting needle 6 abutting on the top of the jack 22 is raised. The knitting operation is performed.

Now, in general, when the needle selecting device 70 having such a piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the patterning controller 9 and computer control is performed, the following is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the driver circuit 25 of the patterning controller 9 and the plurality of piezoelectric bodies 15 are individually electrically connected, and a needle selection signal is transmitted to each of the piezoelectric bodies 15. Was. In other words, the patterning controller 9 controls and drives each of the piezoelectric members 15 based on the pattern-pattern pattern knitting procedure in the above-described connection form, and performs pattern knitting in the knitting machine.

In the connection configuration shown in FIG. 12, a large number of output lines (cables) 8 are required because the driver circuit 25 of the patterning controller 9 is directly electrically connected to each of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies 15. is there. For example, a needle selection device 70 having eight piezoelectric members 15 needs eight output lines corresponding to the number of the piezoelectric members 15. Therefore, assuming that 10 needle selection devices 70 (No. l to No. 10) are provided, 80 output lines 8 are required. For this reason, mounting the output line (cable) 8 is costly. Further, in the flat knitting machine 1, as described above, the output wire (cable) 8 bends and stretches with the movement of the carriage 5 on which the needle selecting device 70 is mounted. For this reason, when the number of output lines (cables) 8 is large, an extremely large load or stress is applied during the operation of the device, and there is a problem that a trouble is easily generated.

Also, in the driver circuit 25 in the controller 9, for example, the number of transistors is required in accordance with the number, and the driver circuit board on which the transistor is mounted becomes large, or a large number of driver circuit boards are required. However, the size of the controller 9 is increased, and the circuit in the controller 9 is complicated.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the present inventors conducted parallel electrical connection between a plurality of piezoelectric needle selection devices 70 or blocks formed by assembling the needle selection devices 70 by wiring 26. It was proposed that the connection could be made more efficiently and the number of output lines could be reduced significantly.

According to this method, when an output signal is output from the driver circuit 25 of the controller 9 to one piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 or a block, then the signal is output to another adjacent piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 or a block. The output signal is output for each piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 or for each block in order, such as shifting to outputting the corresponding output signal. For this reason, it is possible to control the total piezoelectric body with eight output lines 8 corresponding to the number of piezoelectric bodies 15 in the piezoelectric body needle selecting device 70 or the number of piezoelectric bodies 15 in the block body (eight in the above example). . Therefore, the output line 8 can be greatly reduced, and the number of transistors in the driver circuit 25 in the controller 9 is also reduced. As a result, the size of the driver circuit board and the controller 9 was reduced, and the circuit in the controller 9 was not complicated. Although the number of the wirings 26 is shown as one for simplification of the drawing, the number of the wirings 26 is required in accordance with the number of the output lines 8.

Such a control method becomes possible because the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 having the above-described characteristics is used. That is, in the needle selecting device using the electromagnet, the rise is slow, and it takes a lot of time for the electromagnet to perform the above-described needle selecting operation after applying the pulse current. For this reason, in the rotation of the knitting cylinder 11 or the scanning of the flat knitting machine 1, each time the knitting needle 6 positioned in front of the needle selecting device 70 is shifted by one, the output signal corresponding to the pattern data is output. It is difficult to complete the output. On the other hand, in the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70, the piezoelectric charging can be performed in a very short time, and the response speed is quick. When a pulse is charged to one of the divided piezoelectric bodies 15, the pulse is then transferred to the other group, and the pulse is charged. This enables the knitting cylinder 11 of the circular knitting machine to rotate or the flat knitting machine to scan before the needle 6 located in front of the needle selecting device 70 shifts by one. The output of an output signal corresponding to the pattern data from the driver circuit 25 of the controller 9 to the piezoelectric body 15 of the needle selecting device 70 can be completed.

However, in the above-described method, since the driver circuit 25 is provided on the controller 9 side, if a pulse is charged to one of the piezoelectric body 15 groups to charge the pulse, the charge is not charged. You need to wait for completion and then move on to another. Also, the driver circuit 2 on the controller 9 side In order to charge from 5, it is necessary to provide a select line 27 as the ground (common line of the driver circuit) of each needle selector 70. This select line 27 requires a needle selecting device 70 and select lines 27 corresponding to the number of blocks. Therefore, in the example shown in the figure, ten needle selection devices are used, so ten needles are sufficient, but if the number of needle selection devices 70 or blocks is increased, the number of select lines 27 must be increased accordingly. was there.

Therefore, the present inventors have further proposed a piezoelectric actuator control method as shown in FIG. 14 in order to solve the above increase in the number of select lines. In the control method of the actuator shown in FIG. 14, the needle selecting device 70 having the piezoelectric body 15 and the patterning controller 9 are electrically connected in parallel by the output line 8. A driver circuit 25 is incorporated (or attached) to the needle selecting device 70 having the piezoelectric body 15, and a drive signal from the patterning controller 9 is converted into a drive output by the driver circuit 25. Is applied to the piezoelectric body 15. In such a configuration, the address / data line 80 of the output line 8 includes an address signal for designating one of the plurality of needle selecting devices 70 and a plurality of piezoelectric members 15 in the piezoelectric device. A data signal necessary for drive control of the strobe is carried, and a strobe signal is carried on the strobe line 81. Then, the needle selecting device 70 is specified by the combination of the address signal and the strobe signal, and the driving of each of the piezoelectric bodies 15 in the needle selecting device 70 is realized by the combination of the data signal and the strobe signal.

According to the configuration as shown in FIG. 14 as described above, the driver circuit 25 is provided not on the controller 9 side but on the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 side, and the plurality of piezoelectric needle selecting devices 70 are provided. Are connected by wiring 26. Then, the address signals 90 are used to control the dryness of the plurality of piezoelectric needle selecting devices (No. l to No. 10) 70. As shown in the example of Fig. 13, it is not necessary to wait for the completion of the charging of the pulse and then shift to the next position. . 10) Pulse can be charged (data input) by addressing 70. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a select line in each of the piezoelectric needle selecting devices (No. 1 to No. 10) 70. In the illustrated example, eight address-data lines 80 and one strobe line are provided. Nine output lines with 8 and 1 are enough. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 12, the driver circuit 25 of the controller 9 and the plurality of piezoelectric bodies are individually electrically connected, and a needle selection signal is sent to each piezoelectric body, and the individual piezoelectric bodies are Can be significantly reduced compared to the number of output lines 8 (80 lines) for pattern knitting on a knitting machine based on the pattern knitting procedure of the controller 9. I understand.

In addition, in the example shown in Fig. 13, the number of output lines (cables) 8 is sufficient for eight, and as far as the example shown in Fig. 13 is concerned, the number of select wires 27 is sufficient for ten. However, as the number of piezoelectric needle selection devices (No .;! To No. 10) 70 increases, it is necessary to provide an increased number of select wires 27, whereas in FIG. According to the configuration, there is no need to provide a select line. Therefore, even if the needle selecting device 70 is increased, nine output lines of eight address data lines 80 and one strobe line 81 are sufficient. Therefore, it is effective when the knitting machine becomes larger and the number of needle selection devices 70 must be increased.

As described above, the number of output wires (cables) 8 can be reduced, and as a result, the output wires (cables) 8 can be bent and stretched with the movement of the needle selection device 70 as in the flat knitting machine 1. However, the load and stress applied to the output line (cable) 8 are reduced, and troubles that are likely to occur when the number of output lines (cables) 8 is large can be reduced. In this case, the control device using the electromagnetic coil consumes large power. For this reason, the thickness of the cable 8 had to be increased or the number of the needle selectors 7 had to be reduced accordingly.However, in the piezoelectric needle selector 70 of the above example, the power consumption was small and the cable thickness was small. This is very effective because the number of needle selectors 70 can be increased without increasing the thickness.

However, with a demand for a higher operating speed of the knitting machine and a complicated pattern, a need has arisen to control the needle selecting device at a higher speed. In particular, the drive pattern of each needle selection device for forming a complicated pattern is calculated, and an address signal and a data signal for driving each needle selection device in synchronization with the high-speed operation of the knitting machine are generated. Outputting can be very difficult even with a fast CPU.

Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of signal lines between a controller and a plurality of needle selection devices, and to enable high-speed control of the plurality of needle selection devices.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric actuator control apparatus having the following configuration. That is,

A piezoelectric actuator control device for connecting a plurality of piezoelectric units including a plurality of piezoelectric actuators and controlling the needle as a needle selecting device in a fabric manufacturing apparatus,

Connecting means for connecting a plurality of piezoelectric units in parallel;

An operation means for generating drive pattern data representing the drive of each of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators in the piezoelectric unit and writing the drive pattern data in the storage means; An address signal for selecting one of the plurality of piezoelectric units, operating independently of the arithmetic unit, and driving corresponding to the selected piezoelectric unit obtained by reading from the storage unit. A piezoelectric actuator control device comprising: control means for outputting pattern data via the connection means in synchronization with the operation of the fabric manufacturing apparatus.

Other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the entire description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a piezoelectric needle selecting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the dual port RAM according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart of an output signal by the readout circuit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of a dual port RAM according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the piezoelectric needle selecting device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of an output signal from the readout circuit of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a piezoelectric needle selecting device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view and an operation explanatory view of a main part of the piezoelectric needle selecting device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general flat knitting machine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general circular knitting machine.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of a general piezoelectric needle selection device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of a general piezoelectric needle selection device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of a general piezoelectric needle selection device. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the piezoelectric needle selecting device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a piezoelectric needle selecting device (No. 1) 70 having a plurality of piezoelectric bodies 15 is electrically connected to a pattern controller 9 via an output line 8, and an output signal from the pattern controller 9 is provided. Is output to perform pattern control. In addition, a piezoelectric needle selecting device (No. 1 to No. 10) 70 having a plurality of piezoelectric bodies 15 is connected in parallel by the wiring 26. Although the number of the wirings 26 is shown as one for simplification of the drawing, the number of the wirings 26 is required in accordance with the number of the output lines 8.

Each of the piezoelectric needle selection devices (No. 1 to No. 10) 70 has a built-in driver circuit 25. (The driver circuit 25 may be on the needle selection device side. It can be externally attached).

The output signal from the patterning controller 9 includes an address signal for selecting a control part in the plurality of piezoelectric needle selection devices (N 0. 1 to No. 10) 70 and the piezoelectric needle selection device (No. l). ~ No. 10) Data signals required for control of 70, and strobe signals indicating their addresses and output timing of data signals Number. The strobe signal allows the data signal (input information pulse) to be accurate to the reference time. Also, even if there is a difference in the arrival time of the information to the driver circuit 25 that performs the latch, the strobe signal (strobe pulse) is transmitted at a time later than the arrival time of the latest information. If given and latched, the difference in arrival times will not matter.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that each needle selecting device 70 has eight piezoelectric members 15. Therefore, the output line 8 becomes eight address / data lines 80 and one strap line 81. Then, an address signal or a data signal is placed on the address' data line 80, and a strobe signal is placed on the strobe line 81. That is, in the first embodiment, the output line for transmitting the address signal and the output line for transmitting the data signal are the same output line (address .data line 80), and the address signal and the data signal are transmitted through the address' data line 80. Output to the needle selection device 70 serially.

Next, the patterning controller 9 will be described in detail.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 91 denotes a CPU, which is a driving pattern for driving each of the piezoelectric bodies 15 of the needle selecting device 70 in accordance with the pattern of the knitted fabric generated by the knitting machine. This is the data signal to be set in the device). Reference numeral 92 denotes a dual-port RAM. The address (A 1) and data line (D 1) of one port are connected to the CPU 91, and the address line (A 2) of the other port is connected to the read circuit 93. The data line (D 2) is connected to the address data line 80 of the output line 8. It goes without saying that the output of the dual-port RAM 92 may be sent out onto the output line 8 via a circuit such as a bus driver. A read circuit 93 generates an address for accessing the dual-port RAM 92 based on a clock from an oscillator (0SC) 94. The CPU 91 receives an operation state signal from the knitting machine, writes drive pattern data into the dual port RAM 92 at appropriate timing, and controls the operation timing of the read circuit 93. Also, the readout circuit 93 itself inputs the operation state signal of the knitting machine and synchronizes the operation of reading out from the dual port RAM 92 with the operation of the knitting machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration in the dual port RAM 92 according to the present embodiment. In this example, an 8-bit / address dual-port RAM is used, and the address for designating the needle selecting device and the driving pattern of the piezoelectric body are stored alternately. That is, an even address including 0 contains an address signal for specifying the needle selecting device, and an odd address contains a data signal indicating a driving pattern of the piezoelectric body of the needle selecting device specified by the immediately preceding address. Will be delivered. Then, the read circuit 93 reads the data from the dual port RAM 92 by sequentially incrementing the address in the order of 0000h, 000h, 0002h in synchronization with the clock of the oscillator 94, and reading the address value from 0013. When h is reached, the next address will be 0000 h again. In this manner, the address signals specifying the devices and the data signals representing the drive patterns are sequentially read from the dual-port RAM 92 for the needle selection devices N0.1 to No.10.

In the configuration of the present embodiment as described above, control is performed as follows. The read circuit 93 reads an address signal from the dual-port RAM 92, sends an address signal on the address / data line 80, and sends a strobe signal via the strobe line 81 (rises the strobe signal). By this operation, one of the piezoelectric needle selecting devices (No. 1 to No. 10) 70 is selected. Then, the read circuit 93 reads data (indicating the drive pattern of the piezoelectric body of the selected piezoelectric needle selecting device) from the next address of the dual port RAM 92 and sends out the data on the address / data line 80, and the strobe. Send the signal via strobe line 81 (turn down strobe signal).

Each piezoelectric needle selecting device recognizes at the rising edge of the strobe signal that the data on the address / data line 80 indicates an address, and determines whether or not it indicates itself. The needle selecting device that has determined that the address is pointing to itself latches the data on the address data line 80 as a data signal for driving the piezoelectric body in synchronization with the fall of the strobe, and Driving eight piezoelectric elements according to the signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the control timing of the dual-port RAM 92 by the read circuit 93.

When the read circuit 93 receives the enable signal from the CPU 91, the read circuit 93 synchronizes the clock (not shown in FIG. 2) input from the oscillator 94 with the address (A2) for accessing the dual port RAM 93. Generate. Then, at an appropriate timing after outputting the address, the memory read signal (MRD) is output, and the data (D2) is read from the dual port RAM 93. Then, the strobe signal rises at the timing when the data read from the dual port RAM 92 (the address signal is read first) is placed on the output line 8. Each needle selecting device recognizes the signal on the output line as an address signal in synchronization with the rising of the strobe signal. Next, the read circuit 93 generates the next read address, Output to RAM 93 and output MRD signal. As a result, drive pattern data for driving the piezoelectric body 15 is output from the dual port RAM 92 and is placed on the output line 8. When the strobe signal is lowered at this timing, the needle selector selected by the immediately preceding address signal recognizes the signal on the output line as drive pattern data in synchronization with the fall of the strobe signal. The driver circuit 25 drives each piezoelectric body 15 according to the drive pattern data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 91 according to the first embodiment. CPU 91 calculates the drive pattern of each needle selecting device based on the given handle. Before the knitting operation by the knitting machine is started, the address of each needle selecting device and the initial drive pattern are written in the dual port RAM92.

Next, in step S101, the operation state of the knitting machine is monitored based on the operation state signal, and the start timing of the knitting machine operation and the timing of changing the drive pattern are checked. When the start timing of the knitting machine operation is detected, the process proceeds from step S102 to step S104, and the enable signal shown in FIG. Start reading data. If the change timing of the drive pattern is detected, the process proceeds from step S103 to step S105, and the drive pattern that needs to be updated is updated according to the result of the pattern calculation in step S100. .

As described above, the CPU 91 only needs to update the drive pattern at the required timing, and the readout circuit 93 outputs a signal to the output line 8. For this reason, the CPU 91 synchronizes the address signal, the data signal, and the storage with the operation of the knitting machine. It is not necessary to output the lobe signal to the output line 8, and the CPU 91 can have a margin for processing. Therefore, the operation of the knitting machine can be accelerated.

With the above-described configuration and control, No. 1 to No. 10 of the ten needle selectors 70 are sequentially selected, and drive pattern data is set for each of them. For example, according to the present embodiment, high-speed needle selection control in which 16 sec is assigned to one needle selection device and a drive pattern is set can be realized. When such a time setting is performed, for example, when ten needle selection devices are connected, data is set to all the needle selection devices with one cycle of 160 sec.

In addition, the setting of 16 seconds per one needle selection device is required to stabilize the signal on the output line 8 if this time is enough, and about 1 ms even if 64 units are connected. It is a force that sets data to all needle selection devices with ec as one cycle.

According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to cope with an increase in the speed of a knitting machine while retaining all the advantages of the configuration described above with reference to FIG.

(Second embodiment)

In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which one set of drive patterns of all needle selection devices is stored in the dual port RAM 92. However, it is also possible to configure so that a plurality of sets of drive patterns are stored in the dual-port RAM 92.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the dual port RAM 92 according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, 00001! No. 1 to 00 13 h The first set of addresses and drive patterns of the needle selectors up to No. 10 are stored (stored in a form similar to that shown in FIG. 2). Store the address of the needle selection device from No. l to No. 10 and the second set of drive patterns in h003h, and store multiple sets of drive patterns. Although the example of FIG. 5 shows the storage state of up to four sets, it goes without saying that the number of sets can be stored as much as the memory capacity allows. The operation of the CPU 91 according to the second embodiment will be described as follows. Here, the description will be made using the flowchart of FIG. First, the drive pattern of all the needle selection devices is calculated by the pattern calculation in step S100, and 00001! Store the data in 00h to 13h. The CPU 91 continues the pattern calculation, and if the drive pattern changes according to the pattern to be knitted, sets the drive patterns of all the needle selection devices including the drive pattern after the change to 00201! Write to ~ 0033h. As described above, a set of a plurality of drive patterns is written into the dual-port RAM 92. Then, when the drive pattern needs to be changed in the course of the operation of the knitting machine, the offset value is supplied to the readout circuit 93 in order to partially access the drive pattern set to be used. give.

The read circuit 93 counts 0h to 13h cyclically in synchronization with the clock of the oscillator 94, adds the coefficient result to the offset value given from the CPU 9, and sets the dual port. This is the access address to RAM92. That is, if the offset value 00h is given from the CPU 91, the first drive pattern set is used, and if the offset value 20h is given from the CPU 91, the second drive pattern set is used. The set will be used. As described above, according to the second embodiment, the CPU 91 only needs to give the offset value in synchronization with the operation of the knitting machine, so that the load on the CPU 91 can be further reduced. (Third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the piezoelectric needle selector according to the third embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the piezoelectric needle selecting device (No. l to No. 10) 70 with or without the driver circuit 25 is electrically connected to the patterning controller 9. In the output line 8, the output line for transmitting the address signal and the output line for transmitting the data signal are the same output line, that is, the address signal 9 0 and the data signal 91 with eight address' data lines 80. The control method that outputs the data in two steps has been described. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, an output line 8 for electrically connecting a piezoelectric actuator 70 having a built-in or external driver circuit 25 to the controller 9 and an output line for transmitting an address signal ( Address line) 800 and an output line (data line) 800 1 for sending a data signal, and the address signal 90 and the data signal 91 are put together through each output line 800,801. Output.

As shown in the figure, it is composed of eight address lines 800 and eight data lines 81, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. 8 1 is arranged. Although the number of the wirings 26 is shown as one for simplification of the drawing, the number of the wirings 26 is required in accordance with the number of the output lines 8. The design controller 9 includes a CPU 91, a dual-port RAM 92, a read circuit 93c, and an oscillator 94, as in the first embodiment. Readout circuit 9 3c is almost the same as the read circuit 93 described in the first embodiment, except that latch commands are output to the latches 93a and 93b at a predetermined timing. The latch 93a latches the data of the dual-port RAM 92 and outputs the contents to the address line 800. The latch 93 b latches the data of the dual port RAM 92 and outputs the content to the data line 81.

In the third embodiment, since the address line 800 and the data line 800 are present separately, the address signal and the data signal read from the dual-port RAM 92 are latched 93a and 93b, respectively. It is configured to hold in b. Therefore, the operation of the read circuit 93c is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the timings of the enable signal, the address (A 2), the MRD signal, and the data (D 2) are the same as those described in FIG.

When the read circuit 93c accesses the dual port RAM 92 with an even address to read the address signal, it outputs a latch command (latch A) to the latch 93a to hold it. Subsequently, when the dual-port RAM 92 is accessed with an odd address and a data signal is output, a latch command (latch B) is output to the latch 93b and held. At this point, since the address signal and the data signal are output on the output line 8, the strobe signal rises.

Each of the needle selectors 70 takes in the data on the address line 800 and the data line 800 in synchronization with the rising edge of the strobe signal, and specifies itself based on the data on the address line 800. It is determined whether or not the piezoelectric element has been specified, and if it is specified, the piezoelectric body is driven according to the data on the data line 801. The configuration for realizing such control is limited to the above configuration. However, various modifications are possible, such as a configuration using two dual-port RAMs 92 for address signals and data signals.

It is clear that the data storage mode described in the second embodiment can be adopted in the configuration of the third embodiment.

In the above configuration, the dual port RAM 92 stores an address signal and a data signal to be put on the output line 80, but the dual port RAM 92 stores only the data signal in order. The address (A 2) output from the read circuit 93 may be used as an address signal for selecting a needle selecting device (for example, stored in addresses 00 h to 09 h). . In this case, the latch 93a may latch the address signal (A2) of the read circuit 93, and the latch 93b may latch the data signal from the dual-port RAM 92. It will be clear to the trader. According to the third embodiment, the number of output lines 8 increases as compared with the first embodiment, but the address signal 90 and the data signal 91 are output together, so that higher speed can be achieved. This is effective for devices that require higher speed. The controller 9 used in each of the above embodiments includes a storage device, a processing device, and an output device. In performing the pattern processing, the driver circuit 25 receives the pattern formation procedure (pattern information) from the controller 9 and can convert the voltage signal into the power required to drive the piezoelectric element. In addition, the piezoelectric body 15 in the piezoelectric needle selecting device to which the present invention is applied is configured by a ceramic piezoelectric element made of lead titanate or the like. It may be composed only of a piezoelectric element, or may be a material in which a piezoelectric element is attached to a shim (core).

The above shows a piezoelectric needle selection device of a knitting machine as an example of a piezoelectric actuator. However, the present invention can also be applied to a piezoelectric warp control device for controlling a warp of a loom, and may also be applied to a piezoelectric motor or the like. The present invention is particularly effective for a flat knitting machine in which a cable is easily moved and bent.

Although the invention made by the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it can be said that various changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof. Not even. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the respective devices of the piezoelectric needle selecting device 70 having a plurality of multi-stage piezoelectric members 15 are electrically connected to each other. The piezoelectric needle selecting device having 5 can be divided into blocks, and the blocks can be electrically connected.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of output lines can be significantly reduced as compared with the number of output lines in the conventional case, and even if the number of needle selection devices increases, a small number of output lines is sufficient. Even if a large number of needle selection devices are arranged around a large knitting machine and the number of needle selection devices is still insufficient and needs to be increased, the number of needle selection devices can be increased without increasing the output line. .

In addition, as a result of reducing the number of output lines, even when the output line moves with the movement of the needle selecting device, as in a flat knitting machine, the load stress applied to the output line decreases, Troubles that can easily occur when the number of output lines is large can be reduced.

Further, as shown in the second embodiment, the output line is separated into an output line for transmitting an address signal and an output line for transmitting a data signal, and the address signal and the data signal are output through each output line. In this case, even if the number of output lines is slightly increased, the address signal and the data signal are output together, so that a higher speed can be achieved, which is effective for a device requiring a high speed. Further, according to the present invention, the connection between the piezoelectric element and the controller does not require a large number of output lines as compared with the conventional example, so that the number of output lines is reduced. Since the number of driver circuits and the controller device are reduced, and the piezoelectric elements are not controlled and driven one by one, the complexity of the circuit in the controller can be eliminated and the cost can be reduced.

Also, in the present invention, a needle selection device using a piezoelectric method is adopted, and the response speed of the piezoelectric element is rapid, so that the needle selection operation can be performed at a much higher speed than that of a conventionally known electromagnet. In addition, there is no heat generation due to high speed, which is a problem in the conventional needle selection device for circular knitting machines using electromagnets, low power consumption, long life of the piezoelectric element, and compact size. The control device using an electromagnetic coil consumes a large amount of power, so it is necessary to increase the thickness of the cable or reduce the number of needle selection devices. However, the piezoelectric needle selection device of the present invention consumes a small amount of power and can increase the number of needle selection devices without increasing the thickness of the cable, which is very effective. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, since the signal for driving the needle selecting device is output in synchronization with the operation of the knitting machine, the CPU is released, so that the CPU can be used for arithmetic processing for pattern design. Time increases. For this reason, the entire device can be operated at higher speed.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A piezoelectric actuator control device for connecting a plurality of piezoelectric units including a plurality of piezoelectric actuators and controlling the same as a needle selecting device in a fabric manufacturing apparatus,

Connecting means for connecting a plurality of piezoelectric units in parallel;

An operation means for generating drive pattern data representing the drive of each of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators in the piezoelectric unit, and writing the drive pattern data in the storage means; operating independently of the operation means; An address signal for selecting any one of the above and drive pattern data corresponding to the selected piezoelectric unit obtained by reading from the storage means are connected to the connection in synchronization with the operation of the fabric manufacturing apparatus. And a control means for outputting the output via the means.

2. The control means outputs a strobe signal for notifying the output timings of the address signal and the drive pattern signal to the plurality of piezoelectric units via the connection means. 2. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to 1.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a read unit that increments an address value for accessing the storage unit by a predetermined increment and sequentially reads data from the storage unit. Piezoelectric actuator control device.

4. The arithmetic means alternately stores the address for designating the needle selecting device and the generated driving pattern data in the storage means, and the control means reads out from the storage means by the reading means. By reading data sequentially, 4. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to claim 3, wherein the address signal and the drive pattern are sequentially output on the connection means.

5. The arithmetic means alternately stores an address for designating the needle selecting device and the generated driving pattern data in the storage means, and the control means reads the data from the storage means by the reading means. 4. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to claim 3, wherein the data is sequentially read, held, and output simultaneously on the connection means.

6. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic unit updates the drive pattern data in the storage unit so as to form a predetermined pattern in synchronization with the operation of the cloth manufacturing apparatus. .

7. The arithmetic means stores all drive pattern data of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators for forming a predetermined pattern as one data set in the storage means, and stores the plurality of data sets in the storage means. In synchronization with the operation of the data set, the read means is notified to the read means, and the control means reads the drive pattern data in the notified data set from the storage means. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to claim 1, wherein

8. The notification of a data set by the arithmetic means uses an offset value for specifying an area where each data set is stored in the storage means. A piezoelectric actuator control device.

9. The piezoelectric actuator control device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means includes a dual port memory.

10. A piezoelectric actuator that connects a plurality of piezoelectric units including a plurality of piezoelectric actuators in parallel and controls them as a needle selecting device in a fabric manufacturing apparatus. A method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator using a control device, comprising: using an arithmetic unit for performing an operation for patterning; and driving pattern data representing each drive of a plurality of piezoelectric actuators in a piezoelectric unit. An operation step of generating and writing this to storage means;

An address signal for selecting one of the plurality of piezoelectric units using a control circuit that operates independently of the operation of the arithmetic unit, and the selection signal obtained by reading from the storage unit. A control step of outputting drive pattern data corresponding to the selected piezoelectric unit via the connection means in synchronization with the operation of the fabric manufacturing apparatus.

A piezoelectric actuator control method, comprising:

11. The control step is characterized in that a strobe signal for notifying the output timings of the address signal and the drive pattern signal to the plurality of piezoelectric units is output via the connection means. 10. The method of controlling piezoelectric actuators according to claim 10.

12. The control step includes the step of incrementing an address value for accessing the storage means by a predetermined increment and sequentially reading data from the storage means, and reading the drive pattern data from the storage means. 10. The method according to claim 10, wherein the readout is performed.

13. In the calculating step, an address for designating the needle selecting device and the generated driving pattern data are alternately stored in the storage means, and the control step is sequentially performed from the storage means by the reading circuit. 13. The piezoelectric actuator control method according to claim 12, wherein an address signal and a driving pattern are sequentially output to the connection means by reading data from the piezoelectric actuator.

14. The arithmetic means generates an address for designating the needle selecting device and the generated address. Driving pattern data are alternately stored in the storage means, and the control means sequentially reads data from the storage means by the reading means, holds the data, and outputs the data simultaneously on the connection means. 13. The piezoelectric actuator control method according to claim 12, wherein:

15. The piezoelectric device according to claim 10, wherein the calculating step updates drive pattern data in the storage unit for forming a predetermined pattern in synchronization with an operation of the cloth manufacturing apparatus. 15. Actuator control method.

16. The calculating step includes, as one data set, all the drive pattern data of the plurality of piezoelectric actuators for forming a predetermined pattern, storing a plurality of data sets in the storage means, The reading means is notified of which data set is to be used in synchronization with the operation of the fabric manufacturing apparatus, and the control step reads the driving pattern data in the notified data set from the storage means. The piezoelectric actuator control method according to claim 10, wherein

17. The data set notification by the arithmetic means uses an offset value for specifying an area where each data set is stored in the storage means. The described method of controlling a piezoelectric actuator.

18. The piezoelectric actuator control method according to claim 10, wherein said storage means includes a dual port memory.