Patent Publication Number: US-2023146969-A1

Title: Needle bed and needle combination for flat knitting machine and needle selection mechanism

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/CN2021/080910, filed on Mar. 16, 2021, which is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010316107.2, filed on Apr. 21, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of flat knitting machines, and in particular to a needle bed and needle combination for a flat knitting machine, and a choosing one from two needle selection mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the traditional manufacturing process, the front piece, back piece, sleeves, and collar of a sweater are knitted by a flat knitting machine and linked together by a garment worker using a special dial linking machine. The traditional manufacturing process is complex, labor-intensive, inefficient, and costly. In order to overcome these problems, some sweater manufacturers use an ordinary flat knitting machine with double needle beds to carry out knitting complete garment at once by using every other needle, that is, the overcoat, sleeves, and collar are knitted at one time, also known as three-dimensional knitting. This approach has high efficiency and low production cost. However, the distance between every other needles does not achieve the standard gauge of the ordinary flat knitting machine, and the distance is greatly increased, which results in a long sinker loop between the needle loops, leading to low stitch density, and requires knitting yarn with high elasticity and strength. Since the normal gauge is not achieved, the knitted sweater has an inferior overall texture. In the prior art, there is also a four-bed flat knitting machine. Two needle beds are added above the two original ones to form the flat knitting machine with four needle beds. The knitting needles in such knitting machine are arranged up and down, but due to the structural reason, the upper knitting needles cannot be as close as the lower knitting needles to the strip-shaped opening formed by the needle bed and the sinkers during knitting, which makes it difficult for the upper knitting needles to make a knit stitch. This results in high requirements on the strength and elasticity of the wool yarn, complex on-machine process, complex structure, difficulty in making special knitting needles, and high production cost. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a needle bed and needle combination and a needle selection mechanism for a flat knitting machine with double needle beds for normal-gauge three-dimensional knitting. The present disclosure adopts the following technical solutions: 
     A needle bed and needle combination is provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame of a flat knitting machine, and includes: a needle bed provided with a plurality of needle grooves, a plurality of parallel sinkers provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles and stitch elements provided in the needle grooves. A strip-shaped opening is formed by the sinkers and the front end of the needle bed for forming a knitted fabric. Two knitting needles are arranged on the left and right in the needle groove between every two adjacent sinkers, and are separately configured to make a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. The two knitting needles are arranged in parallel or are arranged at an angle with each other in a length direction in respective needle grooves, and a front end of each of the two knitting needles is positioned in close proximity to the strip-shaped opening. 
     As for the two parallel knitting needles, there are two arrangement modes relating to the needle groove and the stitch element. In a first arrangement mode, one needle groove is provided between every two adjacent sinkers on the needle bed, and two knitting needles are provided in parallel in the needle groove. The needle bed and needle combination further includes a needle selection unit. The stitch element includes elastic stitch elements and a control stitch element. Two elastic stitch elements are connected to the two knitting needles, respectively. The control stitch element is located above and engaged with the two elastic stitch elements. The needle selection unit is provided above the two elastic stitch elements, and is configured to operate on the elastic stitch elements. When being operated on, the elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element, so as to idle the knitting needle connected to the elastic stitch element. In a second arrangement mode, two needle grooves are provided between every two adjacent sinkers on the needle bed. Each of the two knitting needles is provided in a corresponding needle groove, and a control stitch element is provided on each knitting needle. 
     When the two knitting needles are arranged at an angle with each other in a length direction in respective needle channels, a control stitch element is provided on each knitting needle. 
     The needle selection unit includes a control element provided on a cam plate, a first pressing piece provided with a first pressing portion and a first control portion, and a second pressing piece provided with a second pressing portion and a second control portion. The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are located above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, respectively. The first control portion and the second control portion are respectively located at different positions in a length direction of the needle groove. The control element operates on the first control portion or the second control portion to move the first pressing piece or the second pressing piece. The first pressing portion or the second pressing portion then presses the corresponding elastic stitch element, such that the pressed elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element, so as to idle the corresponding knitting needle connected to the elastic stitch element. 
     In a further design of the aforementioned needle selection unit, the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are movable up and down, and are arranged side by side in the needle groove. Each of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece includes a main body and a protrusion. The protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece are provided at upper side ends of corresponding main bodies respectively to form a first control portion of the first pressing piece and a second control portion of the second pressing piece. The lower sides of the main bodies of the two pressing pieces are provided with the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion, respectively. The control elements may be two pressing plates provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine, and located above the protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece, respectively. Each of the two pressing plates is provided with an inclined surface. When moving with the cam plate, the corresponding pressing plate operates on the protrusion of the corresponding pressing piece through the inclined surface, such that the corresponding pressing piece moves downward to press the corresponding elastic stitch element. After the operation of the control element on the pressing piece is removed, a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element makes the corresponding pressing piece return to an original position. Alternatively, the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are provided coaxially rotatable in the needle groove. Each of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece includes a main body and a protrusion. The protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece are located at staggered positions with different distances from a rotation center respectively to form a first control portion of the first pressing piece and a second control portion of the second pressing piece. The lower sides of the main bodies of the two pressing pieces are provided with the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion, respectively. The control element is provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine. When the control element operates on the first control portion or the second control portion, the first pressing piece or the second pressing piece is rotated downward to press the corresponding elastic stitch element. After the operation of the control element on the pressing piece is removed, a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element makes the corresponding pressing piece return to an original position. 
     When the two pressing pieces are movable up and down in the needle groove, there may be at least two arrangement modes. 
     In a first arrangement mode, the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece have a same structure and shape in the main body and the protrusion, respectively. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are arranged side by side in the needle groove, with respective main bodies overlapped with each other, and are located above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, respectively. The protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece are located at an upper left end of the first pressing piece and an upper right end of the second pressing piece, respectively, and staggered from each other in a direction of the needle groove. The main body is provided with two vertical guide surfaces at left and right sides and a vertical guide groove at a lower central position. The guide groove divides the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion at a lower side of the first pressing piece or the second pressing piece into two parts. The needle bed is provided with guide steel wires at positions corresponding to the two guide surfaces and the guide groove, respectively. The first pressing piece or the second pressing piece is movable up and down along the guide steel wires. 
     In a second arrangement mode, the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece have a same structure and shape in the main body and the protrusion. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece touch each other on the left and right, are arranged side by side in the needle groove, and are located above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, respectively. The protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece are located at an upper left end of the first pressing piece and an upper right end of the second pressing piece, respectively, and staggered from each other in a direction of the needle groove. Both of the main body and the protrusion have a thickness adapted to a width of the needle groove. A lower side of the main body is provided with a recess structure to form a lower side edge that is not greater than half the width of the needle groove. The main body is provided with a guide surface and a sliding surface at left and right sides, respectively. The needle bed is provided with guide steel wires corresponding to a side of the guide surface. The first pressing piece is movable up and down along the guide steel wires corresponding to a side of the guide surface of the first pressing piece and the sliding surface of the second pressing piece. The second pressing piece is movable up and down along the guide steel wires corresponding to a side of the guide surface of the second pressing piece and the sliding surface of the first pressing piece. 
     When the two pressing pieces are rotatable in the needle groove, there may be at least two arrangement modes. 
     In a first arrangement mode, the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece have a same structure and shape in the main body and the protrusion, respectively. The protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece are located on an upper side of the main body of the first pressing piece and an upper side of the main body of the second pressing piece, respectively, and are staggered from each other. The main body of the first pressing piece and the main body of the second pressing piece are respectively provided with rotating holes at identical positions on the same side. The needle bed is provided with a rotating steel wire corresponding to the rotating holes, and provided with a limiting steel wire located above upper sides of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are provided in the needle groove and rotatable by the rotating steel wire passing through the rotating holes. The limiting steel wire limits movement of the pressing pieces caused by a returning force. The control elements may be two pressing plates provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine at positions corresponding to the protrusion of the first pressing piece and the protrusion of the second pressing piece, respectively. Each of the two pressing plates is provided with an inclined surface. When moving with the cam plate, the corresponding pressing plate presses the protrusion of the corresponding pressing piece downward through the inclined surface, such that the first pressing piece or the second pressing piece is rotated downward around the rotating steel wire. 
     In a second arrangement mode, the needle selection unit further includes a push piece. The push piece is provided with a needle butt and a push pin at upper and lower sides, respectively. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece have a same structure and shape in the main body. The protrusion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion is provided with a climbing surface, a descending surface, and an upper end surface connecting upper ends of the climbing surface and the descending surface. The second protrusion is provided with at least a climbing surface and an upper end surface connected to an upper end of the climbing surface. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are provided on an upper side of the main body of the first pressing piece and an upper side of the main body of the second pressing piece, respectively. Furthermore, a distance between the first protrusion and the rotation center is smaller than a distance between the second protrusion and the rotation center. The main body of the first pressing piece and the main body of the second pressing piece are respectively provided with rotating holes at identical positions on the same side. The needle bed is provided with a rotating steel wire at a position corresponding to the rotating holes, and provided with a stopper and guide steel wires at positions corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the push piece, respectively. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are provided in the needle groove and rotatable by the rotating steel wire passing through the rotating holes. The push piece is located above the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece, and is slidable between the stopper and the guide steel wires. The control element is a push plate provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine, and movable in a direction of the needle groove. The push plate is provided with a guide groove adapted to the needle butt. When the corresponding push plate moves with the cam plate, the needle butt of the push piece is inserted into the push plate through the guide groove. Through the movement of the control element in the direction of the needle groove, the push pin operates on the climbing surface of the first protrusion or the second protrusion, so as to rotate the corresponding pressing piece downward. 
     In a further design of the aforementioned needle selection unit, a lower side of the elastic stitch element is provided with a limiting protrusion, and a bottom of the needle groove is provided with a limiting groove. When the elastic stitch element falls into the limiting groove due to elastic deformation, the limiting groove limits front-back movement of the elastic stitch element. Moreover, a support rod is provided in the needle groove, and the control stitch element is supported by the support rod to be located above the two elastic stitch elements. 
     The present disclosure has the following advantages.  1 ) Two knitting needles are arranged between every two sinkers, increasing the number of knitting needles without increasing the number of sinkers. The number of the knitting needles arranged on the needle bed with the same spacing between the sinkers is doubled, maximizing usage of the lateral space of the needle bed. In this way, the flat knitting machine with double needle beds can produce three-dimensional knitted fabric with a standard gauge.  2 ) The two knitting needles arranged on the left and right between every two adjacent sinkers are positioned in close proximity to the strip-shaped opening, so the two knitting needles which knit separately have the same knitting effect. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a simple on-machine process, is easy to operate and easy to be accepted by the user, has no special requirements on knitting yarn, and is useable in many knitting applications.  3 ) The present disclosure features a knitting machine with simple structure that affords an easy production process, convenient maintenance, and low production cost. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an A-direction view of the needle bed and needle combination shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a B-direction view of the needle bed and needle combination shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a C-direction view of the needle bed and needle combination shown in  FIG.  4    (as well as  FIGS.  18 ,  29 , and  42   ). 
         FIG.  6    is a D-direction view of the needle bed and needle combination shown in  FIG.  4    (as well as  FIGS.  18 ,  29 , and  42   ). 
         FIG.  7    is a structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is an E-E sectional view of the needle bed and needle combination shown in  FIG.  7    (as well as  FIGS.  19 ,  30 , and  43   ). 
         FIG.  9    is a structural view of a needle selection unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is an F-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a structural view of a pressing piece including a main body and a protrusion. 
         FIG.  12    is a left view of the pressing piece shown in  FIG.  11   . 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic view showing that a pressing plate of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  9    moves downward, such that an inclined surface of the pressing plate presses a protrusion of the corresponding second pressing piece. 
         FIG.  14    is a schematic view showing that the second pressing piece shown in  FIG.  13    is completely pressed down by the inclined surface of the pressing plate. 
         FIG.  15    is a G-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  14   . 
         FIG.  16    is a schematic view showing that an elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from a control stitch element under an operation of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic view showing that the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  9    is restored to an original state after removal of the operation on the elastic stitch element. 
         FIG.  18    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  19    is a structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  20    is a structural view of a needle selection unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  21    is an H-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  20   . 
         FIG.  22    is a structural view of a pressing piece. 
         FIG.  23    is a left view of the pressing piece shown in  FIG.  22   . 
         FIG.  24    is a schematic view showing that a pressing plate of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  21    moves downward, such that an inclined surface of the pressing plate presses a protrusion of the corresponding second pressing piece. 
         FIG.  25    is a schematic view showing that the second pressing piece shown in  FIG.  24    is completely pressed down by the inclined surface of the pressing plate. 
         FIG.  26    is an I-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  27    is a schematic view showing that an elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from a control stitch element under an operation of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  20   . 
         FIG.  28    is a schematic view showing that the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  20    is restored to an original state after removal of the operation on the elastic stitch element. 
         FIG.  29    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  30    is a structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  31    is a structural view of a needle selection unit according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  32    is a J-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  31   . 
         FIG.  33    is a structural view of a first pressing piece. 
         FIG.  34    is a left view of the first pressing piece shown in  FIG.  33   . 
         FIG.  35    is a structural view of a second pressing piece. 
         FIG.  36    is a left view of the second pressing piece shown in  FIG.  35   . 
         FIG.  37    is a schematic view showing that a pressing plate of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  31    moves downward, such that an inclined surface of the pressing plate presses a protrusion of the corresponding second pressing piece. 
         FIG.  38    is a schematic view showing that the second pressing piece shown in  FIG.  37    is completely pressed down by the inclined surface of the pressing plate. 
         FIG.  39    is a K-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  38   . 
         FIG.  40    is a schematic view showing that an elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from a control stitch element under an operation of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  31   . 
         FIG.  41    is a schematic view showing that the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  31    is restored to an original state after removal of the operation on the elastic stitch element. 
         FIG.  42    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  43    is a structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  44    is a three-dimensional structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  45    is a structural view of a needle selection unit according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  46    is an M-direction sectional view of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  45   . 
         FIG.  47    is a schematic view showing that the first pressing piece is operated on by a push piece and is completely pressed down by a push pin. 
         FIG.  48    is an N-direction sectional view of the push piece and the first pressing piece shown in  FIG.  47   . 
         FIG.  49    is a schematic view showing that an elastic stitch element is deformed elastically to disengage from a control stitch element under an operation of the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  45   . 
         FIG.  50    is a schematic view showing that the needle selection unit shown in  FIG.  45    is restored to an original state after removal of the operation on the elastic stitch element. 
         FIG.  51    is a schematic view showing that the second pressing piece is operated on by the push piece. 
         FIG.  52    is an O-direction sectional view of the push piece and the second pressing piece shown in  FIG.  51   . 
         FIG.  53    is a structural view of a needle bed and needle combination provided on a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  54    is a structural view of the needle bed and needle combination according to Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  55    is a schematic view showing that a knitting needle  52  is ejected while a knitting needle  51  is not ejected and is positioned in close proximity to a strip-shaped opening. 
         FIG.  56    is a schematic view showing that the knitting needle  51  is ejected while the knitting needle  52  is not ejected and is positioned in close proximity to the strip-shaped opening. 
     
    
    
     Reference Numerals:  1 . needle bed;  11 ,  111 . needle groove;  112 ,  113 . needle channel;  12 . support rod;  13 . sinker;  14 . separating piece;  15 . steel piece;  161 . support steel wire;  162 . guide steel wire;  163 . limiting steel wire;  164 . rotating steel wire;  17 . stopper;  18 . limiting groove;  19 . shim;  3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d.  needle selection unit;  3   a   1 ,  3   b   1 ,  3   c   1 ,  3   d   1 . first pressing piece;  3   a   2 ,  3   b   2 ,  3   c   2 ,  3   d   2 . second pressing piece;  3   d   3 . push piece;  3   aa,    3   ba,    3   ca,    3   da.  main body of pressing piece;  3   ab,    3   bb,    3   cb,    3   db.  protrusion of pressing piece;  3   ac,    3   bc,    3   cc,    3   dc.  pressing portion of pressing piece;  3   aa   1 ,  3   ba   2 ,  3   ba   3 . guide surface of main body;  3   aa   2 . guide groove of main body;  3   ba   1  . sliding surface of main body;  30 . control element;  301 ,  302 . pressing plate;  3021 . inclined surface;  31 . push plate;  311 . guide groove;  51 ,  52 . knitting needle;  60 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 ,  66 . control stitch element;  61 ,  62 . elastic stitch element;  611 ,  621 . limiting protrusion;  8 . knitted fabric;  9 . frame; and  91 . strip-shaped opening. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3   , this embodiment provides a needle bed and needle combination. The needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed provided with a plurality of needle grooves  11 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles  51 ,  52  and stitch elements provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . The biggest difference between the needle bed and needle combinations of the present disclosure and the prior art is that in the present disclosure, the two knitting needles  51 ,  52  are arranged on the left and right between every two sinkers on the needle bed  1 , and the two knitting needles are separately configured to make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. 
     In this embodiment, two parallel needle grooves  111  are arranged between every two sinkers on the needle bed. Specifically, the needle groove  11  formed through division by two steel pieces  15  is further divided by a separating piece  14  to form two parallel needle grooves  111  between every two sinkers. Each of the two knitting needles  51 ,  52  is provided in one of the corresponding needle grooves  111 , respectively. The knitting needles  51 ,  52  are driven by the corresponding control stitch elements  63 ,  64  to move in the needle grooves  111 , respectively, and the control stitch elements  63 ,  64  are driven by a corresponding cam on a cam plate. The stitch elements are the control stitch elements directly connected to the knitting needles as in this embodiment, and may also be composite stitch elements formed by combining two or more stitch elements. 
     The knitting needles provided in the needle grooves are provided in parallel, with respective front ends positioned in close proximity to a strip-shaped opening (tooth-shaped opening)  91  formed by the sinkers  13  and the front end of the needle bed  1  for forming a knitted fabric  8  (Since the sinker is called tooth-shaped bit, the strip-shaped opening is also called tooth-shaped opening). 
     Embodiment 2 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  to  7   , as in Embodiment 1, the needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed  1  provided with a plurality of parallel needle grooves  11  formed through division by steel pieces  15 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles  51 ,  52  provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . Similarly, the two knitting needles  51 ,  52  are arranged in parallel on the left and right in the needle groove between every two sinkers, and the two knitting needles are separately configured to make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. 
     However, in this embodiment, one needle groove  11  is provided between every two sinkers on the needle bed, and two knitting needles are provided in parallel in the same needle groove  11 . When the two knitting needles perform their separate knitting actions, a needle selection unit  3   a  cooperates with a composite stitch element that includes elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  and a control stitch element  60  to select one of the knitting needles to work (i.e., to be ejected) while the other is idled. In this way, the two parallel knitting needles in the same needle groove can separately make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. Therefore, in this embodiment, the needle bed and needle combination is further provided with a needle selection mechanism, where the needle selection mechanism includes at least the needle selection unit  3   a  and the composite stitch element that includes the elastic stitch elements and the control stitch element. 
     The two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  are connected to the two parallel knitting needles  51 ,  52 , respectively. For example, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  are engaged with the two parallel knitting needles  51 ,  52 . In this way, the two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  are in one-to-one correspondence with the knitting needles  51 ,  52  and are arranged side by side in the needle groove  11 . The control stitch element  60  is located above the two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 , and is engaged with the two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 . In this embodiment, a support rod  12  supports the control stitch element  60 , such that the control stitch element  60  is located above the two elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 . The support rod  12  is detachably provided in the needle groove  11  through two support steel wires  161  arranged on the needle bed. When it is necessary to select one of the knitting needles to work (i.e., to be ejected) while the other knitting needle is idled (i.e., not to be ejected), the needle selection unit operates on the elastic stitch element connected to the knitting needle that does not need to be ejected, such that the elastic stitch element is pressed and deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element. As a result, the knitting needle is not connected to the control stitch element  60  through the elastic stitch element and thus cannot be driven by the control stitch element  60  to perform the knitting action. Since the other elastic stitch element is not operated on by the needle selection unit  3   a  and maintains the connection with the control stitch element  60 , then the elastic stitch element can be driven by the control stitch element  60 , so the knitting needles can make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. When the two knitting needles do not need to be selected, that is, in a non-selection state, both of the two elastic stitch elements are not operated on by the needle selection unit, and the needle selection unit is in an initial state at this time. 
       FIGS.  8  to  10    show the needle selection unit  3   a  of this embodiment. The needle selection unit  3   a  includes at least a control element  30 , a first pressing piece  3   a   1 , and a second pressing piece  3   a   2 . The first pressing piece  3   a   1  is provided with a pressing portion configured to press the corresponding elastic stitch element and a first control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. Similarly, the second pressing piece  3   a   2  is provided with a pressing portion and a second control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. The two pressing pieces are respectively arranged above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, and the pressing portions of the two pressing pieces respectively face the corresponding elastic stitch elements. The first control portion and the second control portion are respectively located at different positions staggered from each other in a length direction of the needle groove, so as to be respectively operated on by the control element and moved downward after being operated on. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   , in this embodiment, the first pressing piece  3   a   1  and the second pressing piece  3   a   2  have the same structure and shape, and each of the first pressing piece  3   a   1  and the second pressing piece  3   a   2  includes a main body  3   aa  and a protrusion  3   ab.  The protrusion  3   ab  of the first pressing piece and the protrusion  3   ab  of the second pressing piece are provided at a side of upper ends of corresponding main bodies  3   aa  respectively to form a first control portion of the first pressing piece and a second control portion of the second pressing piece. A lower side of the main body of each of the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece forms a corresponding pressing portion  3   ac.  The first pressing piece  3   a   1  and the second pressing piece  3   a   2  are arranged side by side in the needle groove, with respective main bodies overlapped with each other. In this way, the protrusion  3   ab  of the first pressing piece and the protrusion  3   ab  of the second pressing piece are located at an upper left end of the first pressing piece  3   a   1  and an upper right end of the second pressing piece  3   a   2 , respectively, and staggered from each other in a direction of the needle groove. Moreover, the first pressing piece  3   a   1  and the second pressing piece  3   a   2  are located above the elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 , respectively. 
     In this embodiment, the control elements are two pressing plates  301 ,  302  provided on a cam plate  2  of the flat knitting machine at positions corresponding to the first pressing piece and the second pressing piece, respectively, and adjustable up and down. Each of the two pressing plates is provided with an inclined surface configured to press the pressing piece. When moving with the cam plate, the pressing plate operates on the control portion (that is the corresponding protrusion  3   ab ) through the inclined surface to move the corresponding pressing piece downward. As shown in  FIGS.  13  to  15   , if it is necessary to eject the knitting needle  51  while maintaining the knitting needle  52  to be idled, the second pressing plate  302 , located above the elastic stitch element  62  that is connected to the knitting needle  52 , moves downward, such that the inclined surface  3021  of the second pressing plate  302  presses against the corresponding protrusion  3   ab  of the second pressing piece  3   a   2 . When moving with the cam plate, the pressing plate  302  completely presses down the second pressing piece  3   a   2 , and the elastic stitch element  62  is deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element  60 , as shown in  FIG.  16   . After the pressing operation of the control element on the pressing piece is removed, a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element makes the corresponding pressing piece return to an original position, and the needle selection unit  3   a  returns to an initial state, as shown in  FIG.  17   . 
     The two pressing pieces are movable up and down in the needle groove  11 . The corresponding main body  3   aa  is provided with vertical guide surfaces  3   aa   1  on left and right sides and a vertical guide groove  3   aa   2  at a lower central position. The guide groove  3   aa   2  divides the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion at a lower side of the first pressing piece or the second pressing piece into two parts. The main body has a thickness of not greater than half a width of the needle groove. In order to make the two pressing pieces movable up and down stably in the needle groove, an upper end of the protrusion  3   ab  has a thickness adapted to the width of the needle groove, such that the protrusion  3   ab  is guided by the needle groove. Guide steel wires  162  are arranged on the needle bed, which correspond to the two guide surfaces  3   aa   1  and the guide groove  3   aa   2 , respectively. The first pressing piece  3   a   1  or the second pressing piece  3   a   2  is movable up and down along the guide steel wires  162 . 
     Lower sides of the elastic stitch elements are provided with limiting protrusions  611 ,  621 , respectively. The bottom of the needle groove is provided with a limiting groove  18 . When the elastic stitch element falls into the limiting groove due to elastic deformation, the limiting groove limits front-back movement of the elastic stitch element. 
     Similarly, front ends of the two parallel knitting needles provided in the same needle groove are positioned in close proximity to a strip-shaped opening  91  formed by the sinkers  13  and the front end of the needle bed  1  for forming a knitted fabric  8 . 
     Embodiment 3 
     As shown in  FIGS.  18 ,  19 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8   , as in Embodiment 2, the needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed  1  provided with a plurality of parallel needle grooves  11 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles  51 ,  52  provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . One needle groove  11  is provided between every two sinkers on the needle bed, and two knitting needles  51 ,  52  are arranged on the left and right in the same needle groove  11  in a width direction of the needle groove. When the two knitting needles perform their separate knitting actions, a needle selection unit  3   b  cooperates with a composite stitch element that includes elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  and a control stitch element  60  to select one of the knitting needles to work (i.e., to be ejected) while the other is idled. In this way, the two parallel knitting needles in the same needle groove can separately make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. Therefore, the needle bed and needle combinations of this embodiment and Embodiment 2 essentially only differ in the needle selection unit. 
       FIGS.  20  and  21    show the needle selection unit  3   b  of this embodiment. The needle selection unit  3   b  includes at least a control element  30 , a first pressing piece  3   b   1 , and a second pressing piece  3   b   2 . The first pressing piece  3   b   1  is provided with a pressing portion configured to press the corresponding elastic stitch element and a first control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. Similarly, the second pressing piece  3   b   2  is provided with a pressing portion and a second control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. The two pressing pieces are respectively arranged above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, and the pressing portions of the two pressing pieces respectively face the corresponding elastic stitch elements. The first control portion and the second control portion are respectively located at different positions staggered from each other in a length direction of the needle groove, so as to be respectively operated on by the control element and moved downward after being operated on to press the corresponding elastic stitch elements. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  22  and  23   , in this embodiment, the first pressing piece  3   b   1  and the second pressing piece  3   b   2  have the same structure and shape, and each of the first pressing piece  3   b   1  and the second pressing piece  3   b   2  includes a main body  3   ba  and a protrusion  3   bb.  The protrusion  3   bb  is provided at a side of an upper end of the main body  3   ba  to form the control portion of the corresponding pressing piece. Both of the main body and the protrusion have a thickness adapted to a width of the needle groove, and a side of the lower side of the main body is provided with a recess to form a lower side edge that is not greater than half the width of the needle groove, thereby forming a pressing portion  3   bc  of the corresponding pressing piece. The main body is provided with guide surfaces  3   ba   2 ,  3   ba   3  and a sliding surface  3   ba   1  at left and right sides, respectively. The two pressing pieces symmetrically touch each other with the sliding surface  3   ba   1  as a symmetrical central surface and are arranged side by side in the needle groove, such that the protrusions  3   bb  and the guide surfaces  3   ba   2 ,  3   ba   3  of the two pressing pieces are arranged symmetrically with respect to the symmetrical central surface. The recess forming the pressing portion  3   bc  faces a central surface of the needle groove, and the respective pressing portion  3   bc  is located above the respective elastic stitch element. The needle bed is provided with guide steel wires  162  corresponding to a side of the guide surfaces of the two pressing pieces. The first pressing piece  3   b   1  is movable up and down along the guide steel wires  162  corresponding to a side of the guide surface of the first pressing piece  3   b   1  and the sliding surface of the second pressing piece  3   b   2 . The second pressing piece  3   b   2  is movable up and down along the guide steel wires  162  corresponding to a side of the guide surface of the second pressing piece  3   b   2  and the sliding surface of the first pressing piece  3   b   1 . Therefore, the two pressing pieces are movable up and down relative to each other. 
     Similarly, in this embodiment, the control elements are two pressing plates  301 ,  302  provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine at positions corresponding to the first pressing piece  3   b   1  and the second pressing piece  3   b   2 , respectively, and adjustable up and down. Each of the two pressing plates is provided with an inclined surface. When moving with the cam plate, the pressing plate operates on the control portion (that is the corresponding protrusion  3   bb  ) through the inclined surface. For example, if it is necessary to eject the knitting needle  51  while maintaining the knitting needle  52  to be idled, the second pressing plate  302 , located above the elastic stitch element  62  that is connected to the knitting needle  52 , moves downward, as shown in  FIG.  24   , such that the inclined surface  3021  of the second pressing plate  302  presses against the corresponding protrusion  3   bb  of the second pressing piece  3   b   2 . When moving with the cam plate, the pressing plate  302  completely presses down the second pressing piece  3   b   2 , as shown in  FIGS.  25  and  26   , and the elastic stitch element  62  is deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element  60 , as shown in  FIG.  27   . When the pressing operation of the pressing plate  302  on the pressing piece is removed, a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element  62  makes the second pressing piece  3   b   2  return to an original position, and the needle selection unit  3   b  returns to an initial state, as shown in  FIG.  28   . 
     Other structures and corresponding working principles of the needle bed and needle combination in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 2 and are not repeated herein. 
     Embodiment 4 
     As shown in  FIGS.  29 ,  30 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8   , as in Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 3, the needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed  1  provided with a plurality of parallel needle grooves  11 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles  51 ,  52  provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . One needle groove  11  is provided between every two sinkers on the needle bed, and two parallel knitting needles  51 ,  52  are arranged on the left and right in the same needle groove  11  in a width direction of the needle groove. When the two knitting needles perform their separate knitting actions, a needle selection unit  3   c  cooperates with a composite stitch element that includes elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  and a control stitch element  60  to select one of the knitting needles to work (i.e., to be ejected) while the other is idled. In this way, the two parallel knitting needles in the same needle groove can separately make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. Therefore, the needle bed and needle combinations of this embodiment and Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 3 essentially only differ in the needle selection unit. 
       FIGS.  31  and  32    show the needle selection unit  3   c  of this embodiment. The needle selection unit  3   c  includes at least a control element  30 , a first pressing piece  3   c   1 , and a second pressing piece  3   c   2 . The first pressing piece  3   c   1  is provided with a pressing portion configured to press the corresponding elastic stitch element and a first control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. Similarly, the second pressing piece  3   c   2  is provided with a pressing portion and a second control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. The two pressing pieces are respectively arranged above the corresponding elastic stitch elements, and the pressing portions of the two pressing pieces respectively face the corresponding elastic stitch elements. The first control portion and the second control portion are respectively located at different positions staggered from each other in a length direction of the needle groove, so as to be respectively operated on by the control element and rotate the corresponding pressing pieces downward after being operated on to press the corresponding elastic stitch elements. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  33  to  36   , in this embodiment, the first pressing piece  3   c   1  and the second pressing piece  3   c   2  are provided coaxially rotatable in the needle groove  11 . The first pressing piece  3   c   1  and the second pressing piece  3   c   2  have the same structure and shape, and each of the first pressing piece  3   c   1  and the second pressing piece  3   c   2  includes a main body  3   ca  and a protrusion  3   cb.  The protrusion  3   cb  of the first pressing piece is provided at an upper center right side position of the corresponding main body to form the first control portion of the first pressing piece. The protrusion  3   cb  of the second pressing piece is provided at an upper right end position of the corresponding main body to form the second control portion of the second pressing piece. Lower sides of the main bodies  3   ca  of the two pressing pieces are provided with pressing portions  3   cc  in a downwardly contracted triangular shape. The main body  3   ca  has a thickness of not greater than half a width of the needle groove. The protrusion  3   cb  is provided with an L-shaped recess surface opposite to an inner side of the needle groove. An upper end of the protrusion has a thickness adapted to the width of the needle groove. The L-shaped recess surfaces on the two pressing pieces are symmetrically arranged with respect to a central surface of the needle groove. When the main bodies  3   ca  of the two pressing pieces are overlapped side by side, the protrusions  3   cb  of the two pressing pieces are located at staggered positions. The two pressing pieces are respectively provided with rotating holes at identical positions on the same side. The needle bed is provided with a rotating steel wire  164  corresponding to the rotating holes, and provided with a limiting steel wire  163  located above upper sides of the two pressing pieces. The first pressing piece and the second pressing piece are provided in the needle groove  11  and rotatable by the rotating steel wire  164  passing through the rotating holes  3   cd.  The limiting steel wire  163  limits movement of the two pressing pieces  3   c   1 ,  3   c   2  caused by a returning force of the elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 . 
     Similarly, in this embodiment, the control elements are two pressing plates  301 ,  302  provided on a cam plate  2  of the flat knitting machine at positions corresponding to the two pressing pieces, respectively. Each of the two pressing plates is provided with an inclined surface. If it is necessary to eject the knitting needle  51  while maintaining the knitting needle  52  to be idled, the second pressing plate  302 , located above the elastic stitch element  62  that is connected to the knitting needle  52 , moves downward, such that the inclined surface  3021  of the second pressing plate  302  presses against the corresponding protrusion  3   cb  of the second pressing piece  3   c   2 , as shown in  FIG.  37   . When moving with the cam plate, the second pressing plate  302  operates on the protrusion  3   cb  of the second pressing piece  3   c   2  through the inclined surface to rotate the second pressing piece  3   c   2  until a lower end surface of the second pressing plate  302  completely presses the second pressing piece  3   c   2 , as shown in  FIGS.  38  and  39   . The elastic stitch element  62  is pressed to be deformed elastically to disengage from the control stitch element  60 , as shown in  FIG.  40   . When the pressing operation of the second pressing plate  302  on the pressing piece  3   c   2  is removed, a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element  62  makes the pressing piece  3   c   2  return to an original position, and the needle selection unit  3   c  returns to an initial state, as shown in  FIG.  41   . 
     Other structures and corresponding working principles of the needle bed and needle combination in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 2 and are not repeated herein. 
     Embodiment 5 
     As shown in  FIGS.  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8   , as in Embodiments 2 to 4, the needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed  1  provided with a plurality of parallel needle grooves  11 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, and knitting needles  51 ,  52  provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . One needle groove  11  is provided between every two sinkers on the needle bed, and two knitting needles  51 ,  52  are arranged on the left and right in the same needle groove  11  in a width direction of the needle groove. When the two knitting needles perform their separate knitting actions, a needle selection unit  3   d  cooperates with a composite stitch element that includes elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62  and a control stitch element  60  to select one of the knitting needles to work (i.e., to be ejected) while the other is idled. In this way, the two parallel knitting needles in the same needle groove can separately make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. Therefore, the needle bed and needle combinations of this embodiment and Embodiment 2 essentially only differ in the needle selection unit. 
       FIGS.  45  and  46    show the needle selection unit  3   d  of this embodiment. In addition to including a control element  31 , a first pressing piece  3   d   1 , a second pressing piece  3   d   2  as in Embodiment 4, the needle selection unit  3   d  further includes a push piece  3   d   3 . Similarly, the first pressing piece  3   d   1  is provided with a pressing portion and a first control portion configured to be operated on by the control element, and the second pressing piece  3   d   2  is provided with a pressing portion and a second control portion configured to be operated on by the control element. The two pressing pieces are respectively arranged above the corresponding elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 . The first control portion and the second control portion are respectively located at different positions staggered from each other in a length direction of the needle groove. The control element operates on the first control portion or the second control portion through the push piece  3   d   3 . After being operated on, the first control portion or the second control portion rotates the corresponding pressing piece downward so as to press the corresponding elastic stitch element. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  47  and  48   , as in Embodiment 4, in this embodiment, the first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2  are provided coaxially rotatable in the needle groove  11 , and each of the first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2  includes a main body  3   da  and a protrusion. The main bodies  3   da  of the first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2  have the same structure and shape (such as the hatched portion of the first pressing piece in  FIG.  47   ), but the corresponding protrusions are different in structure, that is, there are two types of protrusions, a first protrusion  3   db  l and a second protrusion  3   db   2 . The first protrusion  3   db   1  is provided with a climbing surface  3   dbp,  a descending surface  3   dbx,  and an upper end surface  3   dbs  connecting upper ends of the climbing surface and the descending surface. The second protrusion is provided with at least a climbing surface  3   dbp  and an upper end surface  3   dbs  connected to an upper end of the climbing surface. Furthermore, a distance between the first protrusion and the rotation center is smaller than a distance between the second protrusion and the rotation center. Lower sides of the main bodies  3   da  of the two pressing pieces are provided with pressing portions  3   dc  in a downwardly contracted triangular shape, and the pressing portions  3   dc  are located above the corresponding elastic stitch elements  61 ,  62 . In this embodiment, a first protrusion  3   db   1  and a second protrusion  3   db   2  are provided on upper sides of the main bodies  3   da  of the first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2 , respectively. Rotating holes  3   dd  are respectively provided at identical positions on the same side of the main bodies of the two pressing pieces. A rotating steel wire  164  is provided at a position of the needle bed  1  corresponding to the rotating holes  3   dd  of the two pressing pieces, such that the two pressing pieces are provided coaxially rotatable in the needle groove  11  by the rotating steel wire  164  passing through the rotating holes. 
     The push piece  3   d   3  is provided above the first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2 . The push piece has a thickness adapted to a width of the needle groove. The push piece  3   d   3  is provided with a needle butt  3   d   31  and a push pin  3   d   32  at upper and lower sides, respectively. The corresponding main bodies  3   da  and protrusions of the two pressing pieces have the same thickness, which is not greater than half a width of the needle groove. When the main bodies  3   da  of the two pressing pieces are overlapped side by side, the protrusions  3   db  of the two pressing pieces are located at staggered positions, so as to be operated on by the push pin  3   d   32  of the push piece separately. The upper and lower sides of the push piece  3   d   3  are respectively provided with a stopper  17  and guide steel wires  162 , such that the push piece is slidable between the stopper and the guide steel wires  162 . The first pressing piece  3   d   1  and the second pressing piece  3   d   2  are provided in the needle groove  11  and rotatable by the rotating steel wire  164  passing through the rotating holes  3   dd.    
     In this embodiment, the control element  31  is a push plate  31  provided on a cam plate of the flat knitting machine, and movable in a direction of the needle groove. The push plate  31  is provided with a guide groove  311  adapted to the needle butt. When the corresponding push plate moves with the cam plate, the needle butt of the push piece is inserted into the push plate through the guide groove. The push plate  31  is movable in the direction of the needle groove to move the push piece  3   d   3  to an initial position where the push pin  3   d   32  of the push piece  3   d   3  does not touch the first protrusion or the second protrusion, as shown in  FIGS.  45  and  46   . The push piece  3   d   3  is also moved to a position where the push pin  3   d   32  of the push piece  3   d   3  touches the first protrusion  3   db 1   , as shown in  FIGS.  47  and  48   . The push pin  3   d   32  touches the climbing surface of the first protrusion to rotate the first pressing piece  3   d   1  downward until the push pin  3   d   32  operates on the upper end surface  3   dbs  along the climbing surface  3   dbp,  such that the pressing portion of the first pressing piece is at a lowermost position, thereby pressing the elastic stitch element  61  below to produce maximum elastic deformation to disengage from the control stitch element  60 , as shown in  FIG.  49   . When the push pin of the push plate leaves the upper end surface and moves forward, since the front side of the upper end surface is the descending surface that is lower than the upper end surface, the pressing operation of the push piece on the first pressing piece is removed, the elastic stitch element  61  is no longer pressed by the first pressing piece, and the pressing piece returns to an original position due to a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element  61 , as shown in  FIG.  50   . The push plate  31  is also moved to a position where the push pin  3   d   32  touches the second protrusion  3   db   2 , as shown in  FIGS.  51  and  52   . The push pin touches the climbing surface of the second protrusion to rotate the second pressing piece  3   d   2  downward until the second pressing piece  3   d   2  presses against the corresponding upper end surface, such that the corresponding elastic stitch element  62  is deformed elastically to disengage from the corresponding control stitch element  60 . When the push pin of the push plate leaves the second protrusion, that is, when the push pin of the push plate is completely separated from the second pressing piece  3   d   2 , the pressing operation of the push piece on the second pressing piece is removed, the elastic stitch element  62  is no longer pressed by the second pressing piece, and the pressing piece returns to an original position due to a returning force of elastic deformation of the elastic stitch element  62 . 
     Other structures and corresponding working principles of the needle bed and needle combination in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 2 and are not repeated herein. 
     Embodiment 6 
     As shown in  FIGS.  53  and  54   , this embodiment provides a needle bed and needle combination. The needle bed and needle combination includes a needle bed  1  provided with a plurality of needle grooves  11 , a plurality of parallel sinkers  13  provided at a front end of the needle bed, knitting needles  51 ,  52  and control stitch elements  65 ,  66  provided in the needle grooves. The needle bed and needle combinations are provided on each of the front and back sides of a frame  9  of a flat knitting machine through the needle bed  1 . Two knitting needles  51 ,  52 , are arranged on the left and right in the needle groove  11  between every two sinkers in a width direction of the needle groove, and are arranged at an angle with each other in their respective needle channels in a length direction. The knitting needles  51 ,  52  are respectively connected to the control stitch elements  65 ,  66 , and the two knitting needles are separately driven by the corresponding control stitch elements to make knitting actions including a knit stitch, a tuck stitch and a loop transfer stitch. 
     The two needle grooves corresponding to the two knitting needles are a needle channel  112  and a needle channel  113 , which are formed through further divided by a shim  19  from needle groove  11  formed through division by two steel pieces  15 . The needle channel  113  has a bottom surface that is substantially parallel with an upper end surface of the needle bed  1 . Bottom surfaces of the needle channel  113  and the needle channel  112  are relatively inclined to form an angle α, where a is generally not greater than 40°. Therefore, the bottom surfaces of the needle channel  113  and the needle channel  112  are different surfaces, such that the two knitting needles  51 ,  52  provided in the needle channel  113  and the needle channel  112  are at an angle α in a length direction. Front ends of the two knitting needles  51 ,  52  are positioned in close proximity to a strip-shaped opening in an initial state, as shown in  FIGS.  55  and  56   . 
     Overall, in the present disclosure, two knitting needles are arranged between every two sinkers with the same spacing, increasing the number of knitting needles without increasing the number of sinkers, and maximizing usage of the lateral space of the needle bed. In this way, the flat knitting machine with double needle beds can produce three-dimensional knitted fabric with a standard gauge. In addition, since the two knitting needles arranged on the left and right between every two adjacent sinkers are positioned in close proximity to the strip-shaped opening, so the two knitting needles which knit separately have the same knitting effect. Therefore, the flat knitting machine of the present disclosure has a simple on-machine process and is easy to operate.