Abstract: A circular knitting machine (1) for knitwear or hosiery, comprising a bearing structure, needle cylinder (C), a plurality of needles, and a dial group. The dial group comprises a support ring (4), a hook plate (5), and a thread feeding and cutting organ. The knitting machine comprises rotation transmission means (10) comprising: a drive pulley (11), a hook plate shaft (12), a flange (13) and an engaging mechanism (20) which operates between an engaged configuration, in which it constrains the pulley and the flange to one another, and a disengaged configuration, in which the flange is free from constraints.

Abstract: A knit design system comprising grading line directing device (24) for directing grading lines (48, 90) at locations of size changes with respect to a design (34, 86) displayed on a monitor (8); grading line setting device (28) for setting information on design modification (34, 86) with respect to the grading lines (48, 90); operating device (26) for making size changes of the design (34, 86) with reference to the grading line (48, 90) directed by the grading line directing device (24) and the modification data set by the grading line setting device (28).

Abstract: A device for the display and editing of knitting patterns to be produced by means of a flat-bed knitting machine has an image memory containing the knitting pattern loop by loop in an arrangement by lines and columns, which is on its input side connected with a horizontal and a vertical address counter and on its output side with a monitor, furthermore a CPU for the programmed control of the image memory and of the monitor, and a data entry device. In order to obtain in such a device a change in the knitting pattern, especially the stretching of loops, in a simpler and quicker way and with a lesser need for memory locations, a device is provided for the pre-determined change by line or point of at least parts of the data content read from the image memory, in which image memory a memory location each is associated with a corresponding loop of the knitting pattern, as well as for displaying of both the changed part of the data content and the unchanged part of the data content on the monitor.

Abstract: The invention provides a circular knitting machine having a control mechanism with a rackable cam drum. A rackable timing drum carrying control elements for the speed of progress of the timing drum and activation of the cam drum racking, and a quick re-zeroing control for racking the cam drum quickly to a zero position independently of the control elements in which a racking means is arranged to rack the timing drum at every stroke with a length of stroke in excess of the timing drum racking strokes during normal knitting. A control member controls the racking means to inactivate it during normal knitting and activate it when re-zeroing so as to re-zero both the cam drum and the timing drum quickly while all knitting stations are inoperative.

Abstract: In a circular knitting machine, a cam drum which controls control members co-operating with the needle cylinder is disposed coaxially with the cylinder. A program drum which advances as a function of the rotation of the needle cylinder is also coaxial with the needle cylinder. A rapid control mechanism acts on a ratchet toothed ring gear of the program drum to change the programmed cycle phases and to move it to a zero position, that is a cycle commencement position. A control device acts on a ring gear for the advancement of the cam drum and is activated when the program drum attains the zero position in order to also move the cam drum into the zero position.

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: Operation conditions of a knitting machine for respective courses are marked on predetermined columns of a program sheet and are thus stored, the program sheet is rotated in the normal direction or reverse direction by one pitch per course, and marks are read out at every step of the program sheet by a mark reader to operate the knitting machine under conditions indicated by the read marks. In the apparatus for saving instuctions of a program sheet according to the present invention, when the operation of a knitting machine is continuously conducted under the same conditions, the stepwise advance of the program sheet is stopped and when the operation of the knitting machine is repeated according to a certain operation cycle, the program sheet is rotated in the normal direction or reverse direction according to said operation cycle.

Abstract: Wide variations of the knitting program determined by the program drum of a circular knitting machine may be achieved by providing a plurality of rotatable program discs having peripheral seats for removable pins for determining supplementary programs and by providing followers co-operable with the program discs and linked to the means for advancing the program drum to selectively render the advancing means inoperative in dependence on the supplementary program. A driving linkage actuated by a cam track on the program drum is provided to allow relatively large angular advancement of the program drum when desired. Another driving linkage actuated by another cam track on the program drum is provided for reducing the speed of the needle cylinder.

Abstract: A control device for striper units in a circular knitting machine having a plurality of cam disks, the profil whereof is followed by a respective lever operating a respective thread finger by means of a Bowden cable. Each cam disk is secured to a respective toothed wheel meshing with a further toothed wheel which may be coupled with and uncoupled from, a drive shaft constantly rotating with a predetermined rotational speed. Coupling and uncoupling of the further toothed wheel is controlled by the main chain of the machine so as to selectively cause a rotation of substantially 180.degree. of a respective selected cam disk to bring the corresponding thread finger in operation and another rotation of substantially 180.degree. to bring the corresponding thread finger out of operation. Other cam disks are provided to control in the same manner corresponding thread cutting and gripping means each time an associated thread finger is controlled.

Abstract: For advancing the main drum in a circular knitting machine there is provided a device comprising a ratchet wheel rigid with the drum and having five rows of teeth axially spaced thereon. Five pawls are movable back and forth for engagement with the teeth of a respective row. A primary pawl can be disengaged from the ratchet wheel under control of the main chain, and four secondary pawls reciprocate in regular succession so as to perform two back and forth movements in the span of two revolutions of the needle cylinder(s). The secondary pawls have a front end wider than the axial width of the teeth. Between the rows of teeth there are arcuate members having a circumferential length depending on the knitting program and a height such as to disengage the pawls from the respective teeth. The arcuate members may be easily replaced to provide further advancing sequences for the main drum.

Abstract: For stepwise advancing a pattern drum in a circular knitting machine there is provided a device comprising a peripheral tooth formation on the pattern drum, a pawl capable of engaging the tooth formation and pivotally supported on a support which is caused to swing at each revolution of the needle cylinder under the action of a cam rigid with the needle cylinder. The cam has a first radially increasing part extending preferably for a half of a circle, a following second radially increasing part considerably steeper than the first part, and a progressively radially decreasing part. The cam causes the pawl to advance the pattern drum by two steps. When the pattern drum is to be advanced by a single step the pawl is disengaged from the tooth formation by an angle lever which is controlled by control pegs arranged on the pattern drum according to a control pattern.