Pin insertion machine for needle selecting cylinders of circular knitting machines

Apparatus for inserting pins in the holes of a needle selecting cylinder for a circular knitting machine which includes an electronic device having means for reading a pattern to be reproduced, said apparatus comprising a cylinder spindle having a spindle axis which is supported in a substantially horizontal position for horizontally supporting a needle selecting cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder spindle about said spindle axis, means for turning said spindle about a horizontal axis which is disposed perpendicular to said spindle axis, a support mechanism, means for moving said support mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to said spindle axis when said spindle axis is supported in said substantially horizontal position, a pin insertion mechanism carried by said support mechanism comprising a reciprocating pusher member and spring means for biasing said pusher member in a first direction, a control lever, a first portion of said control lever being connected to said pusher member, a second portion of said control lever including a cam follower, a control cam having a cam surface for engaging said cam follower, said control cam having a splined connection to a rotatably driven shaft and being connected to said support mechanism for movement therewith, said cam surface being operative on said cam follower and said control lever for allowing said pusher member to be driven in said first direction under the influence of said spring means and for thereafter driving said pusher member in a second direction against the bias of said spring means, means for feeding a pin into the path of said pusher as it is being driven in said first direction comprising means for supporting a plurality of pins in substantially parallel relationship and for permitting a pin to fall from said supporting means under the influence of gravity and into the path of said pusher, means for blocking movement of said pusher member in said second direction for disabling said pin insertion means, electromagnetic means for actuating said blocking means, a pin support extending beneath said needle selecting cylinder when said needle selecting cylinder is in a horizontal position for preventing inserted pins from falling from said needle selecting cylinder, said means for rotating said spindle, said means for moving said support mechanism and the means for controlling the movement of said pusher and said blocking means being controlled by signals from said electronic pattern reading device.