Abstract: A combination of a membrane, such as a silicone rubber membrane, and a valve having a chamber within it, such as a solenoid valve. The present invention is suitable, for example, for use with a mass spectrometer. The membrane partitions the chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The valve has at least three passageways into it. The first two passageways lead to the first chamber portion. The third passageway leads to the second chamber portion. A solenoid plunger is used to close off the third passageway when desired. When used with a mass spectrometer, the third passageway is connected to the vacuum inlet of the mass spectrometer and a sample is flowed into and out of the first chamber portion via the first two passaageways. A component of interest in the sample can permeate across the membrane into the second chamber portion and can flow via the third passageway to the mass spectrometer. When desired, the plunger can be used to close the third passageway.

Abstract: A jacquard circular knitting machine provided with a needle cylinder driving mechanism capable of optionally and readily controlling the rotary motion of the needle cylinder according to the pattern to be knitted. A motor interlocked through gears or the like with the needle cylinder rotates according to a needle cylinder rotating procedure stored previously in a magnetic memory medium. Actuators operate according to a pattern forming procedure stored in another magnetic memory medium as a signal is provided by a sensor for detecting the rotary motion of the needle cylinder. Thus a jacquard circular-knitted fabric having predetermined patterns can be knitted efficiently. In addition to the above, a machine is provided with a third magnetic memory medium for storing a yarn feed element switching procedure to carry out a plurality of yarn feed element switching operations at optional timings when necessary while a single course of a fabric is knitted.

Abstract: Methods for circular weft knitting of variegated articles and selectively programmable circular weft knitting machine apparatus for carrying out such methods including means for effecting selective, controlled two dimensional displacement of compound needle member components and associated sinker elements so as to provide each such needle member with the selectable capability of performing a knit, tuck or float operation at each yarn feed location independent of the direction of knitting needle approach thereto.

Abstract: A variable speed drive motor is provided for imparting rotation to the improved and simplified gear assembly of the present invention so that the main drive shaft may be rotated at selected rates of speed. The drive gears includes a segment gear continuously moved in a back-and-forth movement and being operable to selectively impart reciprocatory motion to a cylinder drive shaft. Resilient means, in the form of a compression spring, is supported by the frame of the machine and is positioned to be engaged by the segment drive gear during at least one end portion of the back-and-forth movement thereof to reduce the noise and vibration of the gear assembly and to permit operation of the knitting machine at increased rates of speed during both rotary and reciprocating knitting.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine in which for switching from continuous rotary motion to reciprocating motion and vice versa there is provided a coupling member rotatively rigid with a shaft and axially displaceable between two pinions, idly arranged on the shaft. One pinion is constantly reciprocated by a reciprocable toothed sector, while the other pinion is constantly rotated. The coupling member is alternately engageable with a respective one of the pinions, so as to cause the shaft, which is operatively connected to the needle cylinder(s), to reciprocate or rotate. A control lever is pivoted to the stationary structure of the machine and has one end slideably engaging the coupling member and the other end slideably engaging two rotatable cams, which provide angular displacement of the control lever to cause axial displacement of the coupling member. The cams can be uncoupled from a cam driving shaft rotated by the main drive of the machine.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for knitting hosiery has a program drum which can be advanced through short or longer-pitch movements in dependence on an arrangement of removable pins located in seats around the drum. The presence, absence, and length of the pins is sensed mechanically by a control device associated with an incremental advance mechanism for the drum. The speed of the needle cylinder is also controlled in dependence on the arrangement of pins. By changing the arrangement, articles of different size can be produced on the machine.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for doffing fabric rolls formed on a winding shaft from a circular knitting machine. When the knitting machine is stopped after a predetermined length of knitted fabric is wound on a winding shaft, the angular position of the winding shaft with respect to the common rotational center of the knitting device and the winding mechanism is controlled by means of a particular mechanism so that the winding shaft occupies a predetermined angular position. Then the knitted fabric is cut at a position adjacent to the winding shaft. Thereafter, both ends of said winding shaft, whereon a full size fabric roll is formed, are simultaneously released from the supporting members of the winding mechanism and the fabric roll doffed from the winding mechanism is received by a receiving plate of a truck positioned at its standby position right below the winding mechanism.

Abstract: A double-cylinder revolving cam-box circular knitting machine including pawl and ratchet structure which is selectively operable to perform a racking motion wherein one of the coupled cylinders of the knitting machine mounted at top and bottom is revolved in the circumferential direction concentrically with respect to the other.

Abstract: Rotations of a circular knitting machine are counted and encoded into electrical signals. After a prescribed number of revolutions a programmer and program indicating disc signal a switching mechanism to shift a cam drum to the next position in the pattern. A first circuit is provided for operating the needle cylinder at a slower speed during the aforesaid shifting operation, and a second circuit is provided for running the machine at maximum and intermediate speeds during the knitting operation in response to a preselected pattern. The programmer includes two types of output signals for controlling the production of fabric according to type or size.