Control of yarn feed on multi-feeder knitting machine involves using one feeder as master and controlling other feeders at same rate

摘要

A knitting machine has a number of yarn feeders (1 to 8) supplying yarn at a controlled rate to a number of stitch forming cams (9 to 16). One feeder (1) is taken as the master and the rate at which it supplies yarn according to the measured tension is used to control the rate on all the other feeders (2 to 8). Optionally the yarn tension at the other feeders can be corrected by a correcting signal to the stitch forming cams (9 to 16). Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) a knitting machine with the electronic control elements necessary for this process; (b) yarn feeders for knitting machine linked to an interface (19) to a control unit (18), e.g. a personal computer, to provide yarn speed control and yarn tension measurement functions.