Abstract: Upon entry into a graphic unit, in coded colors or color codes, of pattern information on a fabric to be knit on a flat knitting machine, as analyzed into units of pattern information, each unit representing one or two stitches formed by one or both of a pair of opposed needles, front and back, the units of pattern information are displayed on a graphic color monitor in the coded colors and in dots, one dot representing one unit of pattern information, and they are stored into storage means in a process unit. Units of pattern information so stored are read in sequential order of knitting and those for each knitting course are translated into pattern data for needle selection in each knitting course and/or into control data for controlling knitting, transfer, racking and the like operations in each knitting course. The pattern and/or control datas are recorded on a desired medium such as paper tape, magnetic tape or floppy desk.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the knitting densities of respective courses when a flat knitted fabric is to be produced. The knitted yarn length having been used in the reference section is compared in the subsequent knitting operation with the reference yarn length to actuate the knitting density drive unit on the basis of the compared values so that the knitting cam is so rose or lowered as to increase or decrease the knitting density and the comparisons of the reference yarn length and the knitted yarn length are compared until the two lengths become coincident.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat knitting machine capable of changing the stitch size of an optional wale in every course, and this flat knitting machine comprises a selector actuator for selecting needles to be raised to a knitting or tucking position, select jack pressers for locating at lower butt positions butts of select jacks for operating needles or corresponding jacks raised to a knitting or tucking position, and a pair of upper and lower piled knitting cams, the upper knitting cam being a knitting cam for higher butts, which is brought into butting contact with higher butts, and the lower knitting cam being a knitting cam for lower butts, which is brought into butting contact with lower butts, wherein the stitch size can appropriately be changed by changing the position to which the needles are brought down by said knitting cams.

Abstract: In a V-bed flat knitting machine, a set-up comb having a plurality of teeth which are hook shaped at their upper ends is up and down movably disposed beneath a gap between a pair of needle beds. When the set-up comb is elevated until the tooth ends thereof extend above the gap, the hooks at the tooth ends hook up loops to form a set-up course. If released at this stage, the comb is allowed to lower by its own weight the set-up course end of the fabric being knitted as knitting progresses while giving adequate tension to the fabric. There is provided a knockover plate such that when the set-up comb is lowered to a predetermined position the plate may push the hook-engaged fabric at a portion adjacent the lower end thereof and from the back side of the hooks. If the set-up comb is slightly elevated or the knockover plate is slightly lowered while the fabric is so pushed, then the set-up course is disengaged from the hooks.

Abstract: In a flat knitting machine wherein needles or jacks connected thereto, each has two butts, front and rear and wherein there is provided a space below a center cam and between a pair of raising cams in a knitting lock, there is disposed in the space a loop-receiving raising cam having a cam face adapted to act on the rear butt to raise the needle to a loop receiving path and also present therein a loop-receiving lowering cam face formed of a bottom portion of the center cam and adapted to lower the needle to the loop receiving path. Preferably, a retractable guide cam is located above the center cam and there is disposed above the guide cam a loop-transfer lowering cam having a cam face adapted to act on the rear butt to lower the needle. Further, above this loop transfer lowering cam is there retractably disposed a loop-transfer raising cam which has a cam face adapted to act on the front butt to raise the needle.

Abstract: A stitch pressing device for flat knitting machine consists essentially of a combination of stitch pressing means and sub-presser means, both provided on a carriage. The forward end portion of a L-shaped stitch presser bar operative at same phase as a knitting lock on the carriage is adapted to enter into and retract from a gap between a pair of needle beds through movement involving a circular motion above a knockover comb. A sub-presser element which operates at a different phase from that of the stitch presser bar has its front portion constantly positioned in the gap between the needle beds and is urged downwardly deeper into the gap than the presser bar. A brush provided at substantially same phase as the horizontal portion of the stitch presser bar is adapted to retract from its operative position relative to needles in synchronism with the early phase of retraction of the presser bar so as for it not to damage the hair ends of the brush during such retracting movement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a needle selecting method and needle selecting apparatus in a flat knitting machine. For electrically selecting the three needle positions, that is, the knit, tuck and welt positions, by using an electromagnet, needle selecting members are arranged on both the sides of one lock mounted on a carriage. Preliminary selection of needles is carried out by the needle selecting member located on the rear side of the direction of advance of the carriage to divide the needles into two groups, and at the time of reversion of the moving direction of the carriage, needles of one group of said two preliminarily selected groups are selected and divided into another two groups by the needle selecting member, whereby the above-mentioned three positions are selected for the needles.

Abstract: In a flat knitting machine wherein needle jacks are longitudinally movably disposed in needle tricks, behind needles, the butts of the needle jacks being depressible into a needle bed, and wherein there are provided in the needle tricks, behind and above the needle jacks, selector jacks adapted to be selectively moved forwardly and backwardly by electromechanical needle selector means provided on a carriage, the improvement including means acting on the needle jacks to depress the butts thereof into the needle bed, said means comprising pushers disposed longitudinally movably in the needle tricks, behind the butts of the needle jacks and between the selector jacks, disposed above the pushers, and the needle jacks, disposed below the pushers, the front portion of the pushers being pivotally movable, the pushers being selectively controlled, for forward and backward movement, by the cooperative action of the selector jacks and cam means provided on the carriage, the pushers being adapted to depress the needle j

Abstract: A loop support device of the present invention is used for transferring loops from needles of one needle bed to the needles of the opposite bed in a flat knitting machine. The loop support device comprises a plate-like main loop support having a notch which main loop support is slidably mounted below the lower face of hooks of the needles and a plurality of rodlike auxiliary loop supports which are disposed parallel to the top edge of the main loop support which can project slidably toward the notch in the main loop support.