US3859823A

US3859823A - Control system for high pile circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3859823A
Application number: US243036A
Authority: US
Inventors: Crawford M Ellis
Original assignee: United Merchants and Manuf Inc
Current assignee: United Merchants and Manuf Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-13
Filing date: 1972-03-13
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of a knitting machine to produce knit pile fabric having a blended pile layer whereby fibers in silver form having different characteristics, e.g., color, lustre, denier, etc, may be intermittently fed to the machine carding unit from the drafting heads, by application of a selected one of a plurality of control programs as a control function to selectively alternate operation of the drafting heads within the span of a single machine cycle.

Description

United States Patent 1 [191 Ellis Jan. .14, 1975 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HIGH PILE 3,153,335 10/1964 Hill 66/9 B UL NI MACHINES 3,248,902 5/1966 Radtke 3,269,147 8/1966 Radtke et al.... [75] Inventor: Crawford M. Ellis, LaFollette, 3 427 2/1969 wiesinger U Tenn. 3,563,058 2/1971 Schmidt 66/9 B 3,610,941 10/1971 West 250/219 DD [73] Assgnee- U'med MBPFhaMS and 3,709,002 1/1973 Brandt et a1. 66/9 B Manufacturing, Inc., New York,

N Y FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Filed: p 1972 1,165,368 9/1969 Great Britain 66/154 A 1 PP 36 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jules E, Goldberg; John P. [52] U.S. c1 66/9 B McGan 51 Int. (:1 D04b 9/14 [58] Field 01Search....; 66/9 B, R, 154 A; 7] AB T 250/219 18/480 A system for controlling the operation of a knitting machine to produce knit pile fabric having a blended References Cited pile layer whereby fibers in silver form having. differ- UNITED STATES PATENTS ent characteristics, e.g., color, lustre, denier, etc, may 1,894,596 1/1933 Moore 66/9 B be intermittently fed the machine carding fmm 2,323,998 7/1943 Hutton, Jr. et al 66/50 R the drafting heads, y application of a Selected one of 2,370,619 3/1945 /50R X a plurality of control programs as a control function to 2,773,371 12/1956 66/9 B selectively alternate operation of the drafting heads 4,432 12/1960 B within the span of a single machine cycle. 3,117,266 l/1964 318/480 x 6 3,122,904 3/1964 Brandt 66/9 B 7 Clams, 4 Drawlng Flgures 5 58 6O 62 64 c 70d AMPLIFIER 74 UPPER HEAD CLUTCH 50 RE LAY 5233 2; SWITCH/N6 82 NET WORK LOWER HEAD CLUTCH CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HIGH PILlE CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a pile fabric knitting machine, and particularly to a control system for variable operation thereof. More specifically, the invention involves a control system whereby operation of the drafting heads of the machine may be alternated within the span of a single machine rotation.

Knit pile fabric of the type manufactured by the apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a knit backing layer and a pile formed by interlacing fibrous material through the interstices of the base layer. During the knitting operation, pile fibers are secured to the backing layer by being looped about the strands thereof, with the ends of the pile fibers extending on one side of the backing layer to form the pile surface.

An important aspect of the processes for manufacturing knit pile fabrics relates to the blending of pile slivers of different colors in order to produce a desired effect in the resulting fabric. By appropriate selection of the colors of the pile fibers, fabrics may be produced which will be aesthetically appealing and commercially more valuable. For example, fabrics which simulate animal skins may be produced and sold as synthetic furs. Additionally, textile fabrics may be produced with a variety of color patterns to enhance their marketability and sales appeal. I

Accordingly, the ability to control the pile fabric knitting apparatus in a manner which enables blending of colors to any desired pattern is a characteristic of great commercial significance. The control apparatus for such machines should be dependable and consistent in operation in order to accurately produce a desired blended pattern according to the dictates of the programmer. Furthermore, the equipment should be able to consistently produce first quality goods in order to avoid wastage.

Another characteristic of importance in such apparatus is the precision with which the apparatus is able to allocate the differently colored pile fibers of the base layer. Greater operating precision of the knitting equipment will enable the achievement of greater versatility and realism with regard to the pile fabrics which are produced. With greater precision, a wider range of color blends and patterns may be effected and the blending of one color into another may be achieved with a more aesthetically pleasing and decorous result.

Of course, color is not the only characteristic which may be varied and it should be understood that reference to color characteristic is used for exemplary purposes only. Other characteristics which may be selectively varied by application of the invention are luster, shrinkage properties, denier, staple length and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides knitting apparatus comprising means for feeding fibers of at least two different types to a knitting station, means located a switching mechanism whereby a particular control ratio of each of said types of fibers which is fed to said knitting station during a cycle span, and selection means for determining which of said plurality of programs is applied as a control function for each cycle span.

In knitting apparatus comprising a knitting head, the predetermined cycle of operation may be selected to be a single revolution of the knitting machine and, consequently, by application of one of said plurality of control programs, selective variation of the types of pile fibers which are fed may be accomplished within the span of a single machine revolution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation partially in perspective showing parts of a knitting machine with which the control system of the present invention may be utilized; I FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control system ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram showing in more detail parts of the control system depicted in FIG. 2; and i FIG.- 4 is a schematic sectional elevation of the function may be selectively applied for each machine revolution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF 'THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify similar parts throughout the various figures thereof, there is shown in FIG. I'parts of a conventional knitting machine for feeding pile fibers in the form of slivers to a knitting station where the pile fibers are knit with the strands of a backing layer in the formation of afinished knit pile fabric. The pile fibers or slivers are fed through a pair of

drafting heads

10 and 12 to a carding unit 14 which includes a main cylinder or transfer roll 16 and a conventional doffer roll 18. A knitting cylinder 20 comprising a plurality of knitting needles 12 is operatively positioned to rotate relative to the doffer roll 18 in a manner whereby the knitting needles 22 may draw tufts 24 of sliver from the doffer roll 18 for the purpose of knitting the tufts 24 and yarns 26 forming the pile fabric. During the knitting operation, the strands 26 are drawn from a guide member 28 and are knit together with the tufts 24 to form a cylindrically shaped piece of knit pile fabric. The knitting operation is accomplished by forming'the strands 26 into a backing layer having tufts 24 looped about each strand 26 with the ends of the tufts 24 extending on one side of the backing layer to form the pile surface.

Each of the

drafting heads

10 and 12 derive the pile fibers which are fed to the main cylinder 16 from a pair of

rovings

30 and 32 of such fibers with the drafting heads operating to attenuate and flatten the

rovings

30 and 32 into thin webs of nearly parallel fibers which are fed to the cylinder 16. Each drafting

head

10 and 12 comprises three pairs of

counter-rotating meshing rollers

34, 36 and 38, each respectively fixed to rotatable support shafts. In the operation of the

drafting heads

10 and 12, the rovings 30 and 32'are fed through the

roller pairs

34, 36 and 38 for attachment to the main cylinder 16 in the form of parallel fibers or slivers 40. In the operation of the carding unit 14, the slivers are transferred from the cylinder 16 to the roll 18 from which they are withdrawn by the needles 22.

The structure and operation of the apparatus described thus far, including the drafting heads and 12, the main cylinder 16 and the doffer roll 18 are in accordance with conventional prior art structures and are well known. Accordingly, it is not deemed necessary for the purpose of the present invention to describe these elements in greater detail. Furthermore, the knitting machine with which the present invention is utilized may include additional elements other than those depicted and described herein, but inasmuch as a complete understanding of the present invention may be had without reference to these additional elements, further description of the conventional knitting apparatus is deemed unnecessary. It should be further understood, and it will become apparent from the description that follows, that the control system of the present invention may be utilized in a wide variety of knitting apparatus, and accordingly reference to the elements depicted in FIG. 1 in describing the principles of the present invention should not be taken in a limiting sense. For example, a'knitting apparatus with which the present invention is utilized may comprise a greater number of drafting heads than the two depicted in FIG. 1. A plurality of pairs of drafting heads as well as additional carding units may be positioned circumferentially about the knitting cylinder 20. These and other modifications may be introduced intoconventional knitting machines without impairing the ability of the present invention to effect the intended control function.

Each of the

drafting heads

10 and 12 are operated by a conventional motor and clutch mechanism (not shown) which drives the

roller pairs

34, 36 and 38 to feed sliver 40 to the carding unit 14. As will be apparent, each drafting

head

10 or 12 may have fed

thereinto rovings

30 and 32 of different types. For example, the roving 30 may comprise a material whichis differently colored from the roving 32. Of course, it will be apparent that other differences in the roving material, such as differing textures, may be desirable in which case appropriate roving material may be introduced into the

drafting heads

10 or 12. If a knit pile fabric of varying color blends is desired, then

rovings

30 and 32 of the desired colors may be introduced. By selectively controlling the operation of the

drafting heads

10 and 12, the pattern and blend of the colors which are knitted into the end product produced by the knitting cylinder may be controlled. Thus, it will be apparent that by appropriate control of the control of the individual motor and clutch units (not shown) which are utilized to drive the

drafting heads

10 and 12, there may be effected control of the color patterns of'the pile surface which is produced by the knitting cylinder 20. Obviously, the greater the precision with which the

drafting heads

10 and 12 are controlled the greater will be the precision with which the differently colored slivers 40 are allocated upon the backing layer formed in the knitting operation.

Again, it should be emphasized that color is not the only characteristic which may be varied. The rovings and 32 may comprise materials ofdifferent luster, shrinkage properties, denier, staple length, etc., and these characteristics may be varied in a manner similar to that described herein with reference to color variation.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 depict the control system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of

clutches

50 and 52 are connected to the control system of the invention to enable selective intermittent engagement and disengagement thereof. It will be appar ent that the

clutches

50 and 52 may be connected to control activation of the

drafting heads

10 and 12. For the purposes of the present disclosure, it will be assumed that clutch 50 may be engaged and disengaged to produce, respectively, actuation and termination of the operation of the drafting head 10. Clutch 52 may similarly control the drafting head 12.

The invention further provides program means preferably in the form of a rotating drum 54 which includes a plurality of

control programs

56, 58, 60, 62 and 64. Thecontrol programs 56-64 may be affixed to the drum 54 by imprinting them thereupon, or by any other suitable means. For example, the programs may comprise strips of tape adhesively affixed about the circumference of the drum 54. Each of the control programs 56-64 includes light areas 56a-64a and dark areas 56b-64b. As will be further explained hereinafter, the ratios of dark to light areas extending about the circumference of the cylinder 54.for any given program 56-64 will determine the relative period of time during which either of the

clutches

50 and 52 is engaged-within the span of a single machine revolution. In the example set forth in FIG. 2, the control program 56 includes light and dark areas in a ratio of 1090. That is 10 percent of the total circumference of the drum 54 at this location comprises dark area 56b while 90 percent of the circumference comprises light area 56a. The remaining programs have light and dark areas allocated thereabout in a similar manner. Thus, the program 58 comprises 30 percent dark area 58b and'70 percent light area 58a, the program 60 comprises 50 percent

dark area

60b and 50 percent light area 60a, the program 62 comprises 30 percent light area 620 and percent dark area 62b, and the program 64 comprises 10 percent light area 64a and percent dark area 64b.

From the discussion which follows it will become apparent that the specific arrangement of program ratios set forth above is merely exemplary, and that any other similar arrangement of programs with different allocations of light and dark areas may be provided depending upon the manner and type of control required for operation of thedrafting heads 10 and 12.

Photoelectric cells 70 are provided for reading each of the control programs 5664, there being arranged one photocell 70a-70e adjacent each of the programs 56-64. Again, it will be apparent that any number of programs may be provided on the drum 54 with a commensurate number of photocells 70 being provided, with one photocell being assigned to read each of the control programs provided on the drum.

The outputs from the photocells 70a-70e are transmitted through an amplifier 72 to a relay switching network 74 which enables control of the

operation of'the clutches

50 and 52, and consequently of the drafting heads 10 and 12, in accordance with the control program being applied. The relay switching network is operatively associated with a sequencing network 76 which operates to determine which of the programs 56-64 are to be applied to control operation of the

clutches

50 and 52. Thus, depending upon the condition of the sequencing network 76, a signal will be transmitted from the sequencing network 76 to the relay switching network 74. Depending upon the nature of this signal, a selection will be made whereby one, and one only, of the control programs 56-74 will be selected and applied to control operation of the

clutches

50 and 52. Subsequently, the

clutches

50 and 52 will be engaged and disengaged during a rotation of the drum 54 with a ratio between engagement time and disengagement time being determined by the ratio of light and dark areas on the program selected. For example, assuming that the sequencing network 76 transmits a signal to the relay switching network 74 which determines that the control program 60 is to be selected, then the photocells 70c will be activated to sense the pattern of light and

dark areas

60a and 60b of the program 60. The photocell 700 will emit signals in accordance with the pattern of light and dark areas sensed and these signals will be transmitted throughthe amplifier 72, to the relay switching network 74. The relay switching network 74 will operate to enable engagement of clutch 50 for one-half the time required for a rotation of the drum 54 with the clutch 52 being engaged for the other half of the drum rotation. Thus, it will be seen thatthe ratio of engagement and disengagement of the

clutches

50 and 52 will be determined by the ratio of light and

dark areas

60a and 60b on the control program 60.

In a similar manner, if any of the

other control programs

56, 58, 62 or 64 are chosen for application in controlling the

clutches

50 and 52, the respective photocells assigned to each of these control programs will emit signals which will enable clutch operation in a ratio of engagement and disengagement which is determined by the ratio of light and dark areas on the

programs

56, 58, 62 and 64.

The control system of the present invention depicted schematically in FIG. 2, is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. A DC, power supply is applied across a pair of

input terminals

80 and 82 with a conventional filter network including a capacitor 84 and a resistor 86 being connected thereacross. The sequencing network 76 comprises a plurality of microswitches 90-102 which operate to determine which of the programs 56-64 will be applied as control functions to the

clutches

50, 52.

The specific structural arrangement of the switches 90-102 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4 and comprises a control wheel 110 which has affixed about the periphery thereof a plurality of switch actuating chain links 113. The links 113 are operatively positioned to engage actuating arms 115 which are operatively associated with the microswitches 90-102. Each of the microswitches 90-102 includes a separate actuating arm 115. The microswitches 90-102 are suspended from a support plate 117 and are held in a position whereby the actuating arm 115 may be engaged by the chain links 113 during rotation of the chain wheel 110. Each of the microswitches 90-102 has assigned thereto a chain link 113. The chain links 113 are spaced longitudinally of the chain wheel 110, as are the actuating arms 115 and it will be apparent that each of the links 113 and each of the arms 115 will be separated a distance from each adjacent link and arm in a direction extending perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 4.

The chain wheel 110 is synchronized with the rotation of the cylinder 20 and is arranged to advance circumferentially a distance equivalent to the circumferential spacing between adjacent links 113 for each cycle of the knitting machine. Thus, each time that the knitting cylinder 20 completes one full cycle, the chain wheel 110 will advance by rotation through one link turn. Therefore, for each cycle of the knitting cylinder 20, a selection will be made whereby one of the microswitches -102 will be closed by engagement of a chain link 113 with an actuating arm 115. Accordingly, for each cycle of the knitting machine, a selected one of the

microswitches

90, 92, 94, 96, 98, or 102 will be closed and will remain closed throughout the knitting machine cycle The selection of a microswitch to be closed will be dependent upon the longitudinal spacing of the links 113.

The relay switching network '74 comprises a series of two-pole double throw relay switches 112-120. Each of the relay switches 112-120 includes a first switch side ll2a-l20a and a second switch side 112b-l20b. It may be assumed that the switch sides 1l2b-l20b are normally closed while the switch sides 112a-120a are normally opened. 7

The relay switches 112-120 receive signals from the photocells 70a-70e, respectively. The photocells operate in accordance with the programs 56-64 to control opening andclosure of the switch sides ll2a-120a and 1l2b-l20b. Thus, when a relay switch 112-120 is receiving an input signalv from one of the photocells 70a-70e, a determination will be made regarding which of the sides 112a-120a or 112b-120b will be in a closed condition, and depending upon the side of the relay switch which is closed, there will be applied a power signal to one of the

clutches

50 or 52.

It will be noted that each of the sides of the relay switches 112-120 includes, respectively, a diode D1-Dl0 to insure unidirectional current passage therethrough.

In the operation of the device of the present invention, let it be assumed that during an upcoming cycle of the knitting machine, a link 113 is in position to engage an actuating arm 115 which produces closure of the switch 96. Closure of the switch 96 will operate to apply control program 60 on the drum 54 through the relay switching network 74 to control operation of the

clutches

50 and 52. With the switch 96 closed, the relay switch 116 will be operated by signals received from the photocell 70c which is positioned to read the program 60. If the photocell 70c is reading the dark area 60b of the program 60, then no signal will be transmitted to the relay switch 116 and the normally closed side ll6b of the relay switch 116 will remain in its normally closed position and the normally opened side 116a will be retained in the opened condition. Thus, a power signal will be transmitted from the terminal 80 through the switch 96, the switch side 11Gb and the diode D6 to the clutch 52 thereby effecting engagement of the clutch 52 and operation of the drafting head 12.-

When the photocell 70c commences to read the light portion 60a of the program 60, a signal will be derived from the photocell 70c which will be amplified by the amplifier 72 and transmitted to the relay switch 116 thereby to actuate the switch to close the side 1160 and open the side 1l6b. The switch will remain in this position during the time that the photocell 700 reads the light area 60a and accordingly, during this period a power signal will be derived from the terminal 80 and will be transmitted through the switch 96, the switch side 116a, and the Diode D to the clutch 50, thereby engaging the clutch 50 and effecting operation of the drafting head 10. Of course, with the switch side 116b in the open condition, clutch 52 will become disengaged and the drafting head 12 will be stopped.

If rotation of the drum 54 is effected in synchronism with rotation of the knitting cylinder 20, it will be apparent that the drafting heads 10 and 12 will each be operating during one-half of the operating rotation of the knitting cylinder due to the fact that the program 60 comprises 50

percent light area

60a and 50 percent dark area 60b.

With each cycle of the knitting cylinder 20, a switch .90-102 will beactuated to the closed condition and as a result, a selection will be made as to which of the programs 56-64 are to be applied through one of the relay switches 112-120 to control operation of the

clutches

50 and 52. During the machine cycle, the total period of time during which either of the sides of the relay switches 112-120 are open and/orclosed will be determined by the pattern of light and dark areas of the control programs, and as a result, the ratio of operating time during the span of a single machine rotation of the drafting heads 10 and 12 may be selectively controlled.

As an additional example of the mode of operation of the control system of the present invention, let it-be assumed that upon the next cycle of the knitting cylinder 20, the chain wheel 110 turns through one chain link portion of a rotation and causes a chain link 113 to engage the actuating arm 115 which is associated with the microswitch 100. Upon closure of microswitch 100, the control program 64 will be applied through the photocell 702 to the relay switch 120 to control operation of the drafting heads 10 and 12. With the photocell 70e viewing dark area 64b, the relay switch 120 will remain in its biased condition with the switch side 120b closed. Accordingly, a power signal will be derived from the terminal 80 through the switch 100 and through the switch side 12% and the diode D10 to actuate the drafting head 12 by engagement of the clutch 52. When the photocell 70e commences to read light area 64a, the relay switch 120 will be actuated to close switch side 120a and to open switch side 120 b thereby terminating actuation of the drafting head 12 and engagement of the clutch 52 and initiating actuation of the drafting head 10 and engagement of the clutch 50.

It will be apparent that continued rotation of knitting cylinder 20 and of the chain wheel 110 will operate to enable continued selection of one of the switches 90-102 in order to apply a selected control program 56-64 to the

clutches

50 and 52 in order to determine the relative ratios of operation of the drafting heads 10 and 12 during the span of a machine cycle.

It will be noted that, as shown in FIG. 3, the

switches

90 and 102 alone are not connected through a relay switch such as the switches 112-120. The

switches

90 and 102 operate to enable one of the drafting heads 10 and 12 to be operated during a complete machine cycle. Thus, if the chain wheel 110 rotates to cause engagement of a chain link 113 with the actuating arm 115 associated with microswitch 90, the microswitch 90 will be closed, and for the period of time during which this switch is closed a power signal will be transmitted to the clutch 50, thereby engaging clutch 50 and effecting operation of the drafting head 10. Since no control program is being applied through a relay switch, the drafting head 10 will operate continuously during the time that the switch is closed which will be across the complete span of a full machine cycle. Conversely, when the drafting head 12 is to be continuously operated through a complete machine cycle, a chain link 113 is positioned upon the chain wheel to close the microswitch 102 which is retained in the closed position during the complete machine cycle to effect actuation of the drafting head 12 throughout this span.

The foregoing description of the mode of operation of the invention is based upon the assumption that the drum 54 is rotated through a single rotation for each cycle of knitting machine operation. Although the apparatus may be operated in this manner, the preferred mode of operation is to rotate the drum 54 at a much faster rate. By so doing, greater variation of the pile fibers within the span of a machine cycle may be accomplished. If the drum 54 is rotated through a plurality of full turns for each single rotation of the knitting cylinder 20, the drafting heads 10 and 12 will be intermittently turned on and off within the span of a machine cycle a number of times which will be dependent upon the number of turns made by the drum 54. [n this manner, the signals delivered to the

clutches

50, 52 will be pulsated and the

heads

10 and 12 will effect rapid intermittent operation to produce a much finer blending of the pile fibers delivered from the

rovings

30 and 32.

Furthermore, it will be apparent that a finer blending of pile fibers may also be accomplished by selection of the patterns of the control programs 56-64. For example, instead of allocating to the control programs one continuous strip of light area followed by one continuous strip of dark area, there may be provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced light and dark areas for each control program thereby further increasing the variation in pile fibers which may be accomplished within the span of a machine cycle.

It will be apparent that many modifications may be provided in the apparatus of the present invention, without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the photocells 70'may be arranged for reverse operation with regard to the light and dark areas which are read. This, of course, would reverse the operation of the relay switches 112-120 in a manner whereby the normally closed sides 112b-120b would remain closed while a photocell 70 was reading a light area on the drum 54. Thus, the relationship between the normally opened sides 1l2a-120a and the normally closed sides 112b-120b relative to the light and dark areas of the control programs of the drum 54 may be reversed. Similarly, it will be obvious that the relay switches 112-120 may likewise have theirnormally opened and normally closed sides reversed to reverse the relationship between the light and dark areas of the drum 54 and the periods of actuation of the drafting heads 10 and 12.

It will be apparent that these and other modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be effected by those skilled in the art without departure from the scope and purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circular high pile knitting machine including a rotatable knitting cylinder for knitting fibers and yarn fed thereto into a high pile fabric, said fibers being incorporated in the form of a pile into a backing layer formed of said yarn, means for feeding yarn to said cylinder, and at least one carding means including a plurality of selectively operable fiber feeding means for delivering fibers of at least two different types to said cylinder, the combination comprising program means for said one carding means including a plurality of different control programs, selection means including a plurality of means responsive to rotation of said knitting cylinder each individually related to one of said control programs and operable to individually select said control programs in accordance with knitting cylinder rotation in a predetermined order comprising any desired sequence, and control means for serially applying said selected programs in the order selected as control functions to said one carding means to determine in accordance with said selected programs the ratio of each of said types of fiber which is fed to said knitting cylinder by each of said fiber feeding means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said program means comprises a rotatable drum having said plurality of control programs applied thereabout in the form of circumferential signal patterns, and wherein -said control means includes means for individually trol means include means for applying said output signals to control selective operation of said plurality of fiber feeding means, with the ratio of said different types of fibers fed to said knitting cylinder coinciding with the ratio of the light and dark areas of the selected control program applied to said carding means.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of individually related means comprise a plurality of first switches each related to one only of said control programs and operable to select said related program for application as a control function upon. individual actuation of said first switches, and switch actuating means operably associated with said knitting cylinder to selectively individually actuate said first switches in accordance with rotation of said knitting cylinder.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said switch actuating means operates to selectively actuate one of said first switches each time that said knitting cylinder moves through a single complete rotation.

7. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said control means include a plurality of pairs of second switches, each of said pairs operatively related to one of said control programs, said control means individually applying one of said programs as a control function to each of said second switch pairs to determine selective actuation of one or the other of the switches of said pair in accordance with said program, whereby actuation of one of the switches in said pair operates to effect, respectively, feeding of one of said types of fibers to said knitting cylinder.

Claims

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said program means comprises a rotatable drum having said plurality of control programs applied thereabout in the form of circumferential signal patterns, and wherein said control means includes means for individually reading said signal patterns.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said programs comprise discreet strips of white and dark areas and wherein said control means for each program includes photoelectric means operative to sense said light and dark areas and to emit an output signal representative thereof.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said control means include means for applying said output signals to control selective operation of said plurality of fiber feeding means, with the ratio of said different types of fibers fed to said knitting cylinder coinciding with the ratio of the light and dark areas of the selected control program applied to said carding means.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of individually related means comprise a plurality of first switches each related to one only of said control programs and operable to select said related program for application as a control function upon individual actuation of said first switches, and switch actuating means operably associated with said knitting cylinder to selectively individually actuate said first switches in accOrdance with rotation of said knitting cylinder.