Patent GB-1200473-A (GB)
Title: Controller for knitting machines
Inventor: CONNELLY JOHN ALFRED
IPC: D04B15/66
Filed: 1967-09-26
Abstract: 1,200,473. Programmed control systems. S.A. MONK (SUTTON IN ASHFIELD) Ltd. and INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS Ltd. Sept.23, 1968 [Sept.26, 1967], No.43844/67. Heading G3N. [Also in Division D1] A controller for an automatic knitting machine operating according to a programme has instructions recorded in groups on separate recording means, respectively relating to garment fashioning, patterning, and sub-patterning, each co-operating with separate reading means arranged to provide electrical readout signals which, without buffer storage, directly and simultaneously supply all the instructions relating to garment fashioning or patterning in a course of knitting, and a logical sequence control for causing relative movement between each recording and reading means in order to select a sequential group of instructions in the course of production. A panel control switchboard directs the logical sequence control to the appropriate routine(s) from the programmed instructions. The three co-operating recording and reading means 2, 4, 6, may utilize punched card, magnetic tape or punched tape which may be in the form of a continuous loop. Each tape may carry groups of instructions as a transverse line of punched holes across each tape which is held stationary as long as a group of instructions is to be read. The means 2 may control main operations and means 4 and 6 subordinate operations. The machine carries switches 8 providing signals relating to the progress of each course together with other signals indicating a faulty operation, and signals may also be derived from manually operated switches 12 arranged on a panel, both of which are passed to a logic means 18 controlling the direction and the speed of traverse of the machine bed. Counters and comparators 22, 24 receive signals from the machine relating to the knitting of plain courses or fashionings etc. and compare them with corresponding read-out signals from the reading means 2. On coincidence of correspondence signals an output is delivered to unit 26 which supplies signals controlling widening, narrowing and related operations to the machine 16 via A.C. controls 28 and D.C. controls 34. A pattern course counter and comparator 30 similarly receives signals from the machine and pattern tape reading means 4, and on coincidence  of corresponding signals an output is delivered to OR gates 32. Signals can also be delivered from unti 4 through unit 20 to sub-pattern tape reader 6 to select the next group of instructions. Reader 6 is also controlled through unit 20 from machine switches 8 and switches 12 which can also select the sub-patterns recorded therein. Signals from OR gates 32 are also passed to machine 16 via D.C. controls 34 and A.C. controls 36, the latter also controlling a standard stitch logic device 38 controlling cams on the carriage of the knitting machine through a D.C. control 39 which alternatively may also be controlled through logic device 38, the latter additionally having an input from a counter 44 determining the number of courses. A logic device 40 receives signals from OR gate 32 and switches 12 which are passed to an A.C. control 42 determining the stitch length. The machine 16 incorporates various machine control soleniods driven by controls 21, 28, 34, 36, 39, and 42 the control 21 controlling the stopping, starting and traverse of the machine carriage, the control 26 controlling fashioning e.g. narrowing or widening, the control 34 selecting the groups of needles required, the control 36 selecting yarn carriers and a hydraulic vain for moving the machine bed by one needle, and control 39 ensuring that machine cams only operate at the end of a course.