Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a light-transmitting sheet material capable of transmitting sufficient amount of light and providing high blinding effect. A sheet material (1) includes a front fabric (2), a back fabric (3), and light-shielding layers (4), and is shaped such that the front fabric (2) and the back fabric (3) are held with a predetermined distance therebetween by fixing entire constituent yarns by resin treatment. The front fabric (2) and the back fabric (3) are formed into a planar shape by arranging stitch rows of chain stitches, knitted in a warp direction, in a weft direction at a predetermined interval and by knitting an insertion yarn alternately in adjoining stitch rows by a predetermined length.

Abstract: For longitudinal shifting, a needle in accordance with the invention is provided with a longitudinal slit 14 that is disposed to accommodate a bearing element (19), for example, having the form of a strip (20). Whereas known needles are set in a guide channel and thus are held or guided between two guide flanks, the needle in accordance with the invention extends around a strip (20) and is guided on said strip. Thus, the needle is guided on two surfaces of the guide element (19) and the strip (20), respectively, said surfaces facing away from each other. The support section (4) and the bearing element (19) form a highly precise positioning or guide device.

Abstract: An actuator system for activating a latch needle, which latch needle has a shaft, comprising: a flat planar extension of said shaft having first and second parallel planar surfaces; at least one piezoelectric micromotor having a first surface region for transmitting motion to a moveable element, which first surface region is resiliently pressed to said first surface and at least one additional piezoelectric motor having a second surface region for transmitting motion to a moveable element which second surface region is resiliently pressed to said second surface; and wherein vibratory motions of said first and second surface regions apply forces to said flat extension that cause motion in said latch needle.

Abstract: An optical position monitor for determining the position of a latch needle (104) in a knitting machine is provided that comprises: at least one fiducial (102) at a known fixed cation on the body of the latch needle; a fiducial imager that produces at least one optical image (262) of the at least one fiducial on at least one light sensitive surface (260) wherein the at least one optical image changes with changes in position of said at least one fiducial; and a controller that receives at least one signal responsive to the changes in the at least one image and uses the at least one signal to determine the position of the at least one fiducial (102) and thereby of the latch needle (104).

Abstract: A method and device for knitting of hosiery eliminates disadvantages of the conventional techniques. With this method of knitting, the number of loop-formation steps are reduced and loop transfer does not depend on loop formation, both stops being performed simultaneously. Yarn pulling-out is replaced with pushing-out from the bobbin to the needle. Thus, the yarn is not over-stretched and the duration of the process of loop knitting is shortened. This method employs a device for knitting where the milled needle slots, loop-forming edges, the yarn pressing mechanism and the fabric straining mechanism have are not employed. This device instead comprises a needle fixing mechanism and a specific mechanism for taking back and pressing the yarn called a Chet Jack. The needle is set-in-motion, not by a knitting system or individual motors but by a mechanism of type herein called “gun” that employs electromagnetic, mechanical or pneumatic operation.

Abstract: A flat bed knitting apparatus and method of knitting are provided in which needles movably carried in opposing needle beds are selected and actuated for movement between various positions required for stitch formation independently of any other needles while completing the formation of a stitch on each selected needle prior to the actuation of the next needle in sequence and while varying the length of needle movement to its stitch forming position as required for uniform stitches throughout the fabric and in which a covered spandex yarn is fed to the needles while varying the tension thereof for uniform stitch formation. The needle selection and actuation further includes tapering the knit fabric by transferring stitches from selected needles in one needle bed onto adjacent needles in the other needle bed so that the knit fabric formed is a tapered, tubular knit product.

Abstract: A knitted article is produced on a flat knitting machine with a carriage and at least one cam system, wherein the carriage speed is controlled within a knitting row in dependence on pattern types produced by individual needles or needle groups, as well as on the properties of knitting thread or threads continuously so that the carriage at each location of the knitting row is moved with a maximum possible speed at which it is guaranteed that no knitting thread is torn.

Abstract: The invention's object generator utilizes two frames, a y-frame that is atop an x-frame. The y-frame (or the x-frame) is divided into two halves. Each half of the y-frame (or the x-frame) contains a number of needles and latches. The needles in one half of the y-frame are opposed by the needles in the other half of the y-frame. Similarly, The needles in one half of the x-frame are opposed by the needles in the other half of the x-frame. The invention also includes a "head" which comprises a bobbin/tensioning mechanism along with other components. The object generator's head is movable to any location on a grid formed by the y-frame and x-frame. The head dispenses yarn under direction of a custom control software. A computer operating the invention's object generator has stored therein a three dimensional image of the object to be generated. The computer dissects the three dimensional image into two dimensional layer data.

Abstract: A knitting machine comprising a needle bed and a plurality of grooves in the needle bed for receiving knitting needles with a hooked knitting needle positioned in each of the grooves. Each of the knitting needles has an associated plate guided in the same groove. The plate includes a longitudinally extended finger directed toward the hook of the needle. The needle includes a shank portion having a recess therein below the hook of the needle for receiving the finger of the plate with the plate being moveable longitudinally and transversely with respect to the needle for widening a stitch formed therearound.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a plurality of threads to a knitting machine wherein the thread guides are moving in endless path about the needle bed one after the other in one direction.

Abstract: A knitting machine having a plurality of knitting tools for producing fabrics in accordance with a pattern comprising: a plurality of eccentric cam discs which are arranged with an angular staggered relationship on a driving shaft; a plurality of driving elements being permanently drivingly coupled with an associated one of said cam discs; and a plurality of movable coupling elements, wherein each coupling element may selectively drivingly couple an associated one of said driving elements and an associate one of said knitting tools for selecting said associated knitting tool in accordance with a pattern.

Abstract: A flat knitting machine based on a flat Vee-bed arrangement has four opposed needle beds comprising front and back main needle beds and front and back auxiliary needle beds located above the main beds. A carriage traversible the length of the beds includes a cam assembly for imparting knitting and loop transferring motions to the needles in all the beds. By selective co-operation of the several beds flat and tubular knitted fabrics of any known design can be produced.