Abstract: An article and method of manufacturing an authenticatable finished fabric and article comprising the steps of: obtaining an original fabric article comprising authentic fiber, the original fabric article being possessed at some time by at least one person; breaking the original fabric article into authentic fiber components; blending the authentic fiber components with virgin fiber to make a authentic fiber blend; generating a authentic fiber blend yarn; weaving or knitting a finished fabric that is configured to form a binary code from a mixture of the authentic fiber blend yarn and a filling yarn; and creating a first level authentication and an second level authentication of the finished fabric with the first and second level authentication being non-interacting or independent.

Abstract: An article and method of manufacturing an authenticatable finished fabric and article comprising the steps of: obtaining an original fabric article comprising DNA fiber, the original fabric article being possessed by a celebrity at some time; breaking the original fabric article into DNA fiber components; blending the DNA fiber components with virgin fiber to make a DNA fiber blend; generating a DNA fiber blend yarn; weaving or knitting a finished fabric that is configured to form a binary code from a mixture of the DNA fiber blend yarn and a filling yarn; and creating a first level authentication and a second level authentication of the finished fabric.

Abstract: A needle winding machine, particularly for winding poles arranged inside a cylindrical surface, the machine comprising a main supporting structure that supports at least one spindle that is extended around an axis and is provided, at an axial end thereof, with a head that supports a wire guiding tube; the spindle can move on command parallel to its own axis and can rotate on command about its own axis with respect to the main supporting structure; the wire guiding tube can rotate on command, with respect to the remaining part of the spindle, about a rotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wire guiding tube and can move on command, with respect to the remaining part of the spindle, along a direction that is oriented radially with respect to the axis of the spindle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for thread feeding devices, such as those associated with knitting machines and the like. The control unit generates pattern or switch data control signals based on a pattern memory, or otherwise, for the thread feeding devices. In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit adds to or subtracts from the pattern data any advance or lag angles as necessary to account for the structure of the machine and to thus assure effective thread feeding.

Abstract: A needle selector for a knitting machine which selects a working needle by using a piezoelectric body having piezoelectric element is provided, in which an intermediate position between a rear end portion and front end portion of the piezoelectric body movably supported by a housing is rotatably held by the housing by using a rotary member to stabilize vibration of the piezoelectric body, a sectional structure of the rotary member 3 on a plane which is perpendicular to an axis of the rotary member 3 and perpendicular to a plane of the piezoelectric body is formed such that a bend in a widthwise direction of the piezoelectric body 2 is suppressed to be smaller than a bend in the longitudinal direction, so that a vibration speed and torque of the piezoelectric body further increase and energy saving is achieved.

Abstract: A system for selecting the stitch forming organs for textile machines; in particular for circular machines for knitwear, contemplates software management such as to update the status of each individual lever (28) of an activator (20), as well as in predetermined time intervals corresponding to the angular positions that occur every K needles (10) or sinkers (26), where K is the number of levers (28) in line of the activator (20), also in other time intervals corresponding to intermediate angular positions includes between 1 and K; the correct value of these angular positions is determined by the profile of the lever (28) of the activator (20).

Abstract: A needle selection module finger (30) is comprised of a finger member (31) and a finger holding member (40). The finger member (31) has a butt abutting portion (33) and a support (34). The support (34) has projections (35, 36) at its lower part. The finger holding member (40) has, from its one end toward the other end, a connecting portion (41) having concave parts (42, 42a) for accommodating the projections (35, 36) at the lower part of the support (34), a finger pivot support (43), and a piezoelectric body engaging portion (45). The finger member (31) and finger holding member (40) are positioned by inserting the projections (35, 36) of the finger member (31) in the concave parts (42, 42a) of the finger holding member (40), and are integrally connected to each other by inserting a pin 50 in holes (37, 37a) formed in the projection (35) and a connecting portion (41).

Abstract: The tip (26a) of a rear-end mount (26) that fastens the piezoelectric element (6) is tapered. The rearmost part (26b) of the rear-end mount (26) that fastens the piezoelectric element (6) is indented in a U shape. An eccentric pin (30), which extends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element (6), is fitted in this indentation. The rear-end mount (42), which fastens one end of the finger (8), is provided with a pin (46) that extends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element (6). This pin (46) is provided with a spiral groove (48) over practically its entire length.

Abstract: In a knitting member selection actuator (1) of a knitting machine, there is provided between a pair of yokes a magnetic property means (35a, 35b, 45a, 55a, 55b) for making a magnetic reluctance between the confronting yokes (32a, 32b, 42a, 42b, 52a, 52b) of an uncontrolled attraction region (7, 8, 9) larger than a magnetic reluctance between the yokes of the uncontrolled attraction region and the knitting member attracted to attraction surfaces and also smaller than a magnetic reluctance between the yokes of the uncontrolled attraction region and attraction surfaces of the adjacent controlled attraction region (5, 6).

Abstract: The tip (26a) of a rear-end mount (26) that fastens the piezoelectric element (6) is tapered. The rearmost part (26b) of the rear-end mount (26) that fastens the piezoelectric element (6) is indented in a U shape. An eccentric pin (30), which extends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element (6), is fitted in this indentation. The rear-end mount (42), which fastens one end of the finger (8), is provided with a pin (46) that extends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element (6). This pin (46) is provided with a spiral groove (48) over practically its entire length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rapidly switching selector feet (52) between activate and deactivate selection positions by friction coupling them to vibratory piezoelectric motors (58) and a fast selector (50) for a knitting machine comprising selector feet friction coupled to piezoelectric motors.

Abstract: A needle selector for knitting machines is provided, which includes a finger actuating device, a power supply means for feeding electric power to the finger actuating device, and power supply terminals for supplying power to the power supply means, wherein said finger actuating device fast and steadily operates piezoelectric bodies 7 including piezoelectric elements by bending them while supporting the piezoelectric bodies 7 at the tip, rear end and a prescribed position between the tip and the rear end, and using a power supply means including of bar-shaped electrodes 28 each including at least two conductive parts with an insulating part in-between, resulting in a substantial reduction in size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling needles of a knitting machine based upon comparing a plurality of predetermined position control patterns defining target positions with the position of a yarn feeder and a needle. When the positions are not the same, each needle is incrementally moved based upon the present position of the needle and the determined target position of the needle.

Abstract: A knitting machine and needle selection mechanism is provided including a piezoelectric body movable between upper, lower and neutral positions corresponding to knit, tuck and welt positions of the knitting needles, a first driving circuit for displacing the piezoelectric body upwardly, a second driving circuit for displacing the piezoelectric body downardly, a third driving circuit for displacing the piezoelectric body to the neutral position, and a control device for controlling the driving circuits in accordance with a pre-set program.

Abstract: A needle position detecting system for a circular knitting machine inputs the needle position to a computer which controls the needles to perform jacquard knitting. The knitting machine includes a needle cylinder carrying a plurality of needles, a driven gear fixedly mounted on the needle cylinder and driven to turn it by a motor driven gear. An optical encoder coaxially connected to the drive gear counts the number of rotations of the drive gear and the needle cylinder and sends a signal to the computer for calculating a respective needle position.

Abstract: A heald rod retention device for a jacquard system includes a mounting frame encasing a ferromagnet, a pair of retention plates pivotably mounted on the frame, each retention plate encasing coils and defining a lower hooked end, and two springs mounted on the frame. The springs respectively exert a laterally pushing force of the retention plates so that the lower hooked ends thereof are forced to move toward each other. A pair of heald rods are slideably mounted on the frame and respectively define upper hooked ends which are engaged with the lower hooked ends when the coils are energized and separated therefrom when the coils are not energized. Each heald rod further defines a protrusion for contact with a knife bar. A rope-pulley system is provided for connection with the heald rods and a jacquard needle.

Abstract: A shedding selection device for Jacquard-type weaving- and knitting machines can simply make use of bimorf or piezo-electric bending elements (9), under the condition that the complementary hooks (2,12) are resilient hooks which are resiliently mounted on one of the ascending- and descending parts of the shedding devices. Additionally the selection of shedding devices can be realized with only one such bending element (9) per harness cord (25).

Abstract: An electrically controlled jacquard apparatus capable of selectively controlling individual warp yarns. Each warp yarn is controlled by a selector body which is engaged by at least two and preferably three parallel support members and is adapted to be reciprocated by sliding longitudinally of the support members. One of the support members is static and the other two support members are reciprocated longitudinally out-of-phase with each other. The selector body is selectively latched to the three members so as to be moved in either direction or to be supported at a static position.

Abstract: A traction member (22) is connected to a yarn (6) which is to be controlled. A coupling assembly (38) serves for coupling the traction member (22) to a lifting device (32). A coupling assembly (38) contains a link pin (40), which can reciprocate between a neutral position and a coupling engaged position, with two piezoelectric switching members (50, 52) which function respectively alternately as actuator and sensor being allocated to said link pin 40. This results not only in a particularly simple coupling construction, rather also in a monitoring of the switching function of the coupling, wherein switching errors and switching malfunctions can be avoided.

Abstract: The needle selection device has multiple selectors arranged in axial grooves formed in the skirt of the needle cylinder, each selector arranged below a needle and oscillatable in a radial plane of the needle cylinder from an active position, in which a butt protrudes radially from its groove, for the engagement of the butt with cams for actuating the selectors arranged around the needle cylinder to move the selectors along their groove in the needle cylinder so as to activate the overlying needle, to an inactive position, in which the selector is positioned in its groove in the needle cylinder so that it does not interfere with the selector actuation cams. The device has selector extraction elements to transfer the selectors from the inactive position to the active position and selection elements to transfer the selectors from the active position to the inactive position or to keep them in the active position.

Abstract: There is provided a warp knitting machine with a jacquard control mechanism. Piezoelectric transducers are provided to each individual guide of a guide bar. These transducers can displace the guides by the application of a control potential. In particular, the piezoelectric transducers are formed as deflecting transducers. These transducers can comprise a plate-like carrier upon which there is provided at least one active layer of piezoelectric material. A holding arrangement of the guide bar can rigidly support one end segment of the plate, whose other end can carry the guide. This gives rise to a very easily constructed jacquard arrangement.

Abstract: A method of preparing pattern information for a jacquard fabric produced on an electronically controlled knitting machine is disclosed. Yarn color information that is to be fed to yarn feeders for the courses in a knit fabric is prepared. This information is resolved into information for knitting and welting which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder. Tucking information for the different colored yarns is separately prepared. This tucking information is resolved into tucking and welting pattern information. The knitting and welting information which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder is combined with the separately prepared information on tucking and welting to form synthesized pattern information for knitting, welting, and tucking.

Abstract: A device for controlling the cyclic operation of a machine, in particular a textile machine, is of the type able to self-learn each machine working cycle. It is arranged to compare data obtained by suitable sensors during normal operation of the machine with data obtained by the same sensors during the self-learning cycle, and a control unit arranged to halt the machine when a discrepancy between the data occurs. The central unit modifies the data of the self-learning cycle when an error which is repeated constantly with time is noted for one and the same sensor.

Abstract: The switching device is designed for switching on or off an electrical switching element assigned control to at least one functional unit of a knitting machine, including a timing generator and a pattern controlling device delivering binary control signals used for the selection or the non-selection of knitting needles according to a desired pattern. The switching device includes an electrical switching circuit having a first input connected to a pattern controlling device and an output connected to the electrical switching member, and further includes a device which, at the output, produces a switching, on or off signal when the input receives a predetermined sequence of the binary control signals of the same binary value, or when, after the predetermined sequence, there occurs a control signal of the other binary value or when this other conrol signal of the other binary value occurs after a predetermined time delay.

Abstract: A piezoelectric needle selector utilizes an upstanding knitting cylinder having a multiplicity of needle jacks mounted thereto for independent movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the knitting cylinder. A plurality of piezoelectric actuators, each having a stack of planar piezoelectric elements coupled at one end to a plunger, are mounted via respective holders to a fixed support frame disposed adjacent the knitting cylinder. The selective application of voltage pulses to the piezoelectric actuators results in the linear travel of the associated plungers toward and away from the knitting cylinder. The linear travel of the selected plungers is translated into the movement of the desired needle jacks up and down on the knitting cylinder, as by several needle select levers pivoted by the plungers and acting on the usual butts on the needle jacks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a knitting needle driving mechanism of a jacquard knitting machine for driving knitting needles by using piezo-electric elements in which a rear end portion of a piezo-electric body is movably supported in a groove of a supporting body or a housing, a front end portion of the piezo-electric body is movably connected to a rear end portion of a finger which is arranged so as to be aligned with the piezo-electric body and supported at the rear end portion thereof by the supporting body or the housing, and an intermediate portion between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the piezo-electric body is inserted into a rotatable member rotatably mounted on the supporting body or the housing. This knitting needle driving mechanism is small in size, high in response speed and prolonged in lifetime.

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: A patterning device for a circular knitting machine which is particularly adapted for quick style changes. The device comprises a rotor element with a plurality of lobes around the periphery thereof, a drive motor for rotating the rotor element in synchronous rotational movement with the needle cylinder, and a control for actuating the drive motor according to a predetermined program in order to determine which of the lobes will be brought into registry with a respective needle jack to force it out of engagement with the cam and which of the lobes will be caused to miss a respective needle jack and thereby allow the jack to be cammed.

Abstract: A mechanism selects and controls the raising and lowering of needles in circular and flat bed knitting machines having a plurality of adjacent needles. A rocking pusher is provided for each needle to move each needle back and forth between an outwardly projecting active position and an inward inactive position. Each rocking pusher is engaged with a corresponding cam when the needle is in the engaged position, and is disengaged from the cam in the inactive position. A deflector corresponds to each rocking pusher, and is engageable with a cam profile, which determines the movement of the deflector for its engagement with the rocking pusher. This moves the rocking pusher from the active position to the inactive position. A controllable retaining member engages the deflector to cause the engagement of the deflector with the cam profile. The retaining member is controlled by a control program member, which is controlled by a control program.

Abstract: The device includes a slide movable in a substantially perpendicular direction to the axis of the needle cylinder and being rigidly associated with a knitting cam selectively engageable with the needle butts, and a step motor actuated by an electronic machine control. The step motor is connected to a drive cam which engages with a cam follower carried on the cited slide to produce a preset displacement of the knitting cam with respect to the needle cylinder on account of the knitting cam engaging selectively the needle butts.

Abstract: Input pulses generated by rotation of a knitting machine are used to produce output pulses that energize needle selection mechanisms therein. A control system operates in such a fashion as to advance the output pulses with respect to the input pulses, while keeping pulse frequency constant. The control system is clocked, and a forward counter is programmed with a number which is dependent upon knitting machine speed, and which number is derived from the number of clock pulses intervening between subsequent input pulses. After the forward counter has been so programmed, it is clocked by the clock until the appropriate number of clock pulses has been counted. At that time, a pulse is generated by reverse counter and a monostable multivibrator, which is used to produce an output pulse according to a program stored in a PROM. Provision is made to bypass the counter when the knitting machine is operated at low speeds.

Abstract: A knitting machine provided with patterning mechanisms responsive to pattern-control signals is caused to produce a non-repeating pattern by generating the pattern-control signals randomly, using a random signal generator not operating in synchronism with machine operation and generating potential pattern-control signals, from which actual pattern-control signals are derived in synchronism with machine operation. Although the pattern-control pulses are randomly generated, the overall character of the pattern produced can be altered by adjustment of the random signal generator to thereby alter the probabilities in the random generation of potential pattern-control signals. Also, pattern restraints are imposed upon the randomly produced pattern-control signals in both the horizontal and vertical directions, involving the number of consecutive stitches of a certain type that are to be permitted to adjoin in one course and in one wale, this being selectable in a manner not detracting from randomness.

Abstract: A needle selection mechanism for an automatic knitting machine, comprising at least two selector levers mounted to a carriage which is adapted to move along a needle retainer in which are disposed a plurality of selectors for knitting needles, wherein each selector is individually engageable with one of the selector levers, and different selectors are engageable with different selector levers, and wherein the selector levers set the selectors to either "knit" or "welt" positions.