Memory controlled electromagnetic passive controllers
OwnerEdmundas Vambutas, John Felthaminventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In flat-bed knitting machines and the like, where a plurality of machine levers are used to determine the type of stitch and pattern of the fabric being produced, the positioning of these levers is determined by solenoid-operated elements providing programmable stops for the machine levers. The knitting pattern is determined by the particular solenoids which are energized, which in turn is controlled by a program contained in an integrated circuit memory such as a PROM (programmable read only memory). The program and hence the pattern can be instantly changed by re-programming the PROM or by plugging in a different PROM.
Claims19
A controller for a machine having a plurality of movable members each adapted to determine one or more functions of said machine in correspondence with any one of a plurality of positions of said member, said machine being adapted to have a sequence of statuses with each status corresponding to one set of positions of said movable members, said controller comprising
- one or more movable stop elements adapted to interact with each of said movable members, each stop element being adapted in one position to determine a respective position for its respective member,
- an electromagnetic device adapted to interact with a respective stop element to cause it to assume its one position determining the position of its respective movable member,
- a counter actuated by each change of status of said machine for producing a counter signal representative of the number of such changes,
- a memory device coupled to said counter and adapted to contain a set of stored data for each value of said number, each stored data set representing a set of actuations of said electromagnetic devices corresponding to a set of desired positions of said machine members,
- said memory device also including a circuit responsive to said counter signal for producing signals representing the stored data set corresponding to the number represented by said counter signal, and
- a control circuit for actuating said electromagnetic devices in response to said last-named signals.
A programmed controller for arresting in one or more position is each of a plurality of individually positionable machine members of a flat-bed knitting machine or the like in correspondence with each advancement of said machine from one status to a subsequent status, said controller comprising:
- a stop device cooperatively associated with each of said machine members and including one or more stop elements each adapted to arrest movement of its respective machine member at an individual stopping position,
- an electromagnetic device associated with each stop device to place a stop element thereof in stopping position upon actuation of said electromagnetic device,
- a sensor responsive to advancement of said machine from one status to another,
- a counter actuated by said sensor for producing a counter signal representative of the number of such advancements,
- a memory device adapted to contan a set of stored data for each value of said number, each stored data set representing a set of actuations of said electromagnetic devices corresponding to a set of desired arrested positions of said machine members,
- said memory device including a circuit responsive to said counter signal for producing signals representing the stored data set corresponding to the number represented by said counter signal,
- a driver circuit responsive to said last-named circuit signals for actuating said electromagnetic devices in accordance therewith,
- whereby at each advancement of said machine its machine members are arrested at position is determined by said stored data.
A controller for a machine having a plurality of separately positionable members, each adapted to be arrested in any one of a plurality of positions, comprising
- a multiply-notched movable bar associated with each positionable member, each said bar being resiliently urged in one direction against its respective machine member,
- one or more movable stop elements cooperatively associated with each of said notched bars, each stop element cooperating with a respective notch of said notched bar and each having a rest position and a stopping position at which movement of its respective bar in an opposite direction is arrested, whereby each positionable member is adapted to be arrested as to movement in said opposite direction at a position corresponding to the particular stop element which is in its stopping position, and
- an electromagnetic device associated with each stop element to move it from its rest position to its stopping position.
A controller for sequentially controlling the states of a knitting machine or the like having a plurality of machine members having individually settable positions, each set of machine member positions determining a state of said machine, said controller comprising
- a pulse generator for producing a pulse signal representing a desired change of state of said machine,
- a counter responsive to said pulse signal for producing a counter signal representing the number of states through which the machine has passed,
- a memory device for storing sets of data, each set corresponding to one desired state of said machine,
- a detector responsive to said counter signal for deriving from said memory device data a set of control signals corresponding to said counter signal, and
- machine-member-controlling means for setting said machine members in positions corresponding to said control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.