Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the material tension in a knitting machine, particularly a circular knitting machine, by employing a permanent magnet-excited d.c. motor and an associated circuit to drive a motor torque-dependent material take-off mechanism through the generation of a variable magnitude, pulsed current to power the motor. The magnitude of the current may be set by the operator, with the pulse/no pulse ratio of the current being controlled by the operating mode of the knitting device. In a preferred embodiment, an additional circuit monitors the operation of the current control circuit to detect and signal malfunctions.

Abstract: An arrangement for producing synchronization pulses for pattern control of the knitting needles of a circular knitting machine. The arrangement includes a plurality of control units mounted on, for example, the cam housing, which units coact with the butts of the knitting needles mounted on the needle cylinder. The number of control units per knitting system is equal to (n) which corresponds to the number of different types of selector elements. A raster system, forming part of a ring which rotates with the needle cylinder, coacts with a pick-up unit mounted on the cam housing. The pick-up unit includes a plurality of pick elements which emit signals in accordance with the scanning of the raster system.