Abstract: A button attaching device is provided with a bifurcated needle holding member which can be utilized to adjust the spacing between a pair of needles, and with a needle cover which attaches to the bifurcated member to protect one from injury by the needles and form a unit that can be conveniently carried on the person of a user.

Abstract: A bobbin thread run-out detector having a light source and means for directing a beam of light toward a set of retro-reflecting reflectors on the bobbin and toward a reference reflecting spot on the loop taker. Bobbin thread wound around the bobbin is interposed between the light source and the retro-reflecting reflectors. When a sufficient quantity of thread has been consumed to expose the indentations to the source of light, the light is reflected to a photodetector. Light from the source is also intermittently reflected onto the photodetector by the reflecting spot on the loop taker during each revolution of the loop taker. An electronic circuit compares the light received by the photodetector from the bobbin with the light received from the reflecting spot on the loop taker. When the quantity of light reflected from the bobbin changes relative to the quantity of light reflected from the loop taker a low bobbin thread alarm is activated to warn the operator of the impending exhaustion of bobbin thread.

Abstract: An electronic home knitting machine which functions pursuant to patterning instructions on a program card and in response to the operation of control devices by an operator causing needle actuators on the carriage of the machine to be selectively operated and fabric unit in a prescribed manner on the machine is provided with an acutely discriminating adaptive card reader for detecting instruction marks on the card and means operable to indicate to an operator an error in the reading of the card.

Abstract: A home knitting machine is provided with electronic control means which function pursuant to patterning instructions on a program card and in response to the operation of control devices by an operator causing needle actuators on the carriage of the machine to be selectively operated and fabric knitted in a prescribed manner on the machine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe invention relates to automatic knitting machinery and has particular application to home knitting machines which can be programmed to produce prescribed patterns on a fabric.2. Description of the Prior ArtAutomated home knitting machines are now well known and are exemplified by the machines of the following Patents and applications:U.s. pat. No. 3,885,405 -- issued May 27, 1975French Pat. No. 2,212,830 -- Reg. July 23, 1972Japanese Application No. 85853, laid open Nov.

Abstract: A home knitting machine is provided with electronic control means which function pursuant to patterning instructions on a program card and in response to the operation of row controlling switch means by an operator causing needle actuators on the carriage of the machine to be selectively operated and fabric knitted in a prescribed manner on the machine.

Abstract: A home knitting machine is provided with a reader for reading out patterning instructions on a programmed card, an electronic memory for storing signals read from the card, means enabling an operator to select a needle to knit a particular column of a design unit and to thereby fix the overall position of a design in a width of fabric to be knit, and means for recalling the stored signals from the memory in synchronization with movement of the carriage during knitting and for causing the operations of needle selectors on the carriage in accordance with the recalled signals.

Abstract: A home knitting machine is provided with electronic control means which function pursuant to patterning instructions on a program card and in response to the operation of control devices by an operator causing needle actuators on the carriage of the machine to be selectively operated and fabric knitted in a prescribed manner on the machine.

Abstract: The carriage of a home knitting machine is provided with a reader operable independently of any movement of the carriage of the machine for reading out patterning instructions on a programmed card prior to knitting, an electronic memory for storing the signals read from the card, and means for recalling the stored signals from the memory in synchronization with movement of the carriage during knitting and for causing the operation of needle selectors on the carriage in accordance with the recalled signals to provide for the formation in a fabric of a pattern defined on the card.