Patent GB-1370245-A (GB)
Title: Knitting machine
IPC: D04B9/26
Filed: 1972-11-28
Abstract: 1370245 Knitting machines ERBA MASCHINENBAU AG 28 Nov 1972 [30 Nov 1971] 54901/72 Heading D1C The needles or jacks of a knitting machine are selected by drive devices which move them to operative position under the control of a device comprising an intermittently moved surface 1 on which the pattern is indicated by conductive and non-conductive areas scanned by an element 1 moving transversely to the movement of the surface and producing output signals according to the area engaged which determine whether or not a particular selecting element moves its drive device so that the path is free for the needle or jack adjacent the element to move to operative position. Non-conducting areas 1b of element 1 are produced by coating these parts with lacquer. Element 1 is held by a magnetic arrangement on mounting 3 carried on spindle 2 and is driven through a magnetic coupling and suitable gearing to move it the equivalent of one course in the pattern at a time. Element 1 is scanned by a fine wire 10a carried on a threaded spindle 11 parallel to the axis of element 1. Head 10 is adjustable relative to element 1 by means of knob 12 and is held in position on spindle 11 by a spring-biassed member 10b which can be manually released. In an industrial machine, the spindle is preferably stepped on mechanically or electro magnetically by a ratchet wheel. Wheel 3 and mounting 4 are provided with graduations to facilitate adjustment. Lines may be produced on element 1 by lacquering and then electroplating so that, when the lacquer is removed the lines are left. Plating gold on silver or silver on gold may be used, e.g. for boundaries, the rest being filled in by hand. For large scale production of elements 1 silk screen printing may be used. The control elements may, alternatively, be strips or loops e.g. of metal or synthetic plastics and the element has transport holes 1d at its edges engaged by pins 16a on a transport roller 16. In a circular knitting machine, the jacks 20 mounted in the cylinder tricks below the needles 26 are biassed upwardly by springs 21 and held down by the lower edge of a cam 22 with a gap 23 which is blocked by a movable cam 24 engaging butts 20a. When cam 24 is moved slightly by a control magnet on a signal from the control element, the "butt" 20a of the next jack is no longer held and the jack rises so that the butt slides up and over cam 22 to lift the associated needle. In a flat knitting machine, jacks 20 are mounted so as not to slide easily in the tricks and one is only lifted when a rod 25 pushes its butt through the gap between cams 22. Rod 25 is controlled by an electro-magnet controlled by a pulse from the control element. In another arrangement, jacks 30 are each biassed downwardly by a spring 31 and each has an offset portion by which it is raised by platform 33 and will slip into a gap 34 between platform 33 and a sliding wedge 36. If a jack is to be held in its operative position, a cover plate 35 is moved by its electromagnet to close the cap 34 and the projection slides up the side of wedge 36. The control element may be of non-conducting e.g. synthetic plastics material to which a conductive layer is applied. In a flat bed machine, the conducting areas may produce a signal in one direction and the non conducting areas in the other so that the two colours are knitted in successive movements of the cam carriage.