Apparatus for setting a pattern to a pattern wheel in a circular knitting machine

In an apparatus for applying a pattern through a tape reader to a rotatable pattern wheel having a plurality of spaced-apart blades for a circular knitting machine, said blades constituting walls between which jacks are movably confined, the combination which comprises means supporting said pattern wheel, said means including a holding member, a high-frequency proximity switch for detecting the positions of the blades of said pattern wheel and for transmitting a signal, said proximity switch including a pick-up head arranged and positioned near said pattern wheel and operatively associated with said blades to detect the proximity thereof to said pick-up head, a first blade adjacent to said pick-up head, a first jack adjacent to said first blade and operative for setting the pattern of said pattern wheel, a presser connected for pushing said jack radially inwardly of the pattern wheel, means for advancing said presser to push said first jack just after the time when said first blade is detected by said proximity switch and then retracting said presser before the next successive blade is detected by said proximity switch, and means for transmitting said signal from said proximity switch through said tape reader and to said presser actuating means.