Method and device comprising deformable spring contraints for needle selection in a circular knitting machine

An electromagnetic device for selecting needles in a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, comprising:

• a) a jack for activating a corresponding needle, wherein said jack is slidably housed in a groove of the cylinder and is biased toward an active position;
• b) a cam for radially moving said jack from said active position to an inactive position;
• c) a spring corresponding to said jack, and positioned below said jack and substantially within the circumference of the needle cylinder, wherein said spring is biased for engaging said jack in said inactive position, and wherein said spring is axially deformable for releasing said jack from said engagement thereby allowing said jack to return to its active position;
• and
• d) a stationary selection electromagnetic device located proximate said spring, wherein said selection device has a permanent magnet for attracting said spring and an electromagnet, wherein said electromagnet is selectively de-energized or is selectively energized for creating a concurrent force with said permanent magnet for selectively attracting said spring out of engagement with said jack when said jack is to be placed in said active position and said electromagnet is selectively energized for creating a counter force to said permanent magnet for selectively repelling said spring thereby allowing said spring to engage said jack when said jack is to be placed in said inactive position.