Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
In a knitting machine, in combination, a carrier; a plurality of knitting-needle units, each knitting-needle unit being comprised of a needle portion and a motion-transmitting portion mounted on said carrier for longitudinal reciprocation and movable between an operative position and a non-operative position; motion-transmitting means for imparting longitudinal motion to those of said motion-transmitting portions which are in said operative position; and selecting cam means including a selector cam movable in a predetermined direction between a first position in which said selector cam is operative for causing said motion-transmitting portions to be moved from one to the other of said positions thereof and a second position in which said selector cam is not operative for causing said motion-transmitting portions to be moved from one to said other of said positions, said selector cam having an engagement portion, means for moving said slector cam from one to the other of said positions thereof, and biasing means for normally urging said selector cam to said one of said positions; and cam position control means including at least one cam position control member in the form of a flexural detent member made of a material which upon alternate applications and removal of an energizing signal to said detent member undergoes alternate opposite dimensional changes causing said flexural detent member to bend about a predetermined bending axis oriented approximately parallel to said predetermined direction of movement of said selector cam to become engaged with and disengaged from said engagement portion, said flexural detent member being so disposed that when engaged with said engaging portion said detent member opposes the biasing force of said biasing means by exerting upon said selector cam a holding force in direction approximately parallel to said predetermined bending axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
In a knitting machine, in combination, a carrier; a plurality of knitting-needle units, each knitting-needle unit being comprised of a needle portion and a motion-transmitting portion mounted on said carrier for longitudinal reciprocation and movable between an operative position and a non-operative position; motion-transmitting means for imparting longitudinal motion to those of said motion-transmitting portions which are in said operative position; and selecting cam means including a selector cam movable in a predetermined direction between a first position in which said selector cam is operative for causing said motion-transmitting portions to be moved from one to the other of said positions thereof and a second position in which said selector cam is not operative for causing said motion-transmitting portions to be moved from one to said other of said positions, said selector cam having an engagement portion, means for moving said slector cam from one to the other of said positions thereof, and biasing means for normally urging said selector cam to said one of said positions; and cam position control means including at least one cam position control member in the form of a flexural detent member made of a material which upon alternate applications and removal of an energizing signal to said detent member undergoes alternate opposite dimensional changes causing said flexural detent member to bend about a predetermined bending axis oriented approximately parallel to said predetermined direction of movement of said selector cam to become engaged with and disengaged from said engagement portion, said flexural detent member being so disposed that when engaged with said engaging portion said detent member opposes the biasing force of said biasing means by exerting upon said selector cam a holding force in direction approximately parallel to said predetermined bending axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said engagement portion is a portion having a notch alternately engaged and not engaged by said detent member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said control member is of piezoelectric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said motion-transmitting portions and said selecting cam means are mounted for relative movement in direction transverse to the direction of longitudinal reciprocation of said knitting-needle units, and wherein said selector cam has a cam surface having an inclined leading portion which upon relative movement between said cam means and said motion-transmitting portions pushes motion-transmitting portions from one to the other of said positions of the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said selecting cam means has a cam surface with a leading portion inclined relative to the direction of said relative movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said selecting cam means and said carrier are mounted for relative movement in direction transverse to the direction of longitudinal reciprocation of said knitting-needle units, and wherein said means for moving said selector cam from one to the other of said positions thereof comprises pushing portions on said carrier and operative upon relative movement between said carrier and said selecting cam means for pushing said selector to cause the latter to retract into one of said positions thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a knitting machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said detent member is comprised of piezoelectric material.