Lubricating device for supplying several lubricating points, in particular of a knitting machine, with lubricant, preferably oil, and method

Lubricating device for supplying with lubricant, optionally oil, a plurality of lubricating points or positions, especially for use in a knitting machine, having

• a lubricant supply container (1);
• a single common electromagnetically actuable pulse lubricating pump (9, 10, 11) for said plurality of lubricating points or positions, said pump having a suction side connected to said supply container, and discharging a predetermined amount of lubricant at a predetermined pressure for each operating pulse;
• a plurality of lubricating pipe connecting devices (27, 29) for lubricating pipes which lead to the individual lubricating points or positions;
• a lubricant distributor (16) including
• a lubricating supply means (24) connected to the pressure side of said single lubricating pump;
• a plurality of outlet means (26), each of said outlet means leading to an individual lubricating pipe connection device (27, 29), and
• a movable distributor element (21) for establishing a fluid connection between the lubricant supply means (24) and the selected outlet (26);
• controllable positioning means (40) coupled to said distributor element (21) to position the distributor element to establish a connection between the lubricant supply means (24) and the respectively selected lubricant outlet means (26) associated with a respective lubricant pipe connecting device, and hence a lubricating point or position;
• and
• a settable electric control device (56, 57) connected to and controlling said controllable positioning means for controlling
• a) lubricant supply to a selected lubricant point or position;
• and
• b) the time duration of flow of said lubricant supply to the selected lubricant point or position,
• and, sequentially, controlling lubricant supply and time duration of lubricant flow to selected lubricant points or positions in a sequence determined by said control device (56, 57) as determined by the selected setting of said control device.