Computers and Flat Bed Knitting Machines

Computers are being first Electronically keep the data alive faster and with more
used in all stages of Controlled machines within even while the accuracy as well. The
manufacture: design, were introduced in machine was switched designs knitted by a
scheduling, 1975 by H. Stoll off and could be knitter could now be
management, GmbH& Co. the programmed in a stored and could be
manufacturing, and models were ANVH simple language downloaded on the
testing. The and ANV. These called Sintral. machines for repeat
integration of these machines were NC orders in no time at a
phases of computer machines, where the fraction of a cost. On
involvement is called movements of mechanical machines
computer aided machine tools were for small knitter it
manufacturing. After assigned numerical was not possible to
the World War II the values to facilitate the store the design data
possibility of using it replacement of in long chains of
for a wide range of punched cards and punched cards. The
industrial, chains by control knitter could now
administrative, and logic. offer, not only more
scientific applications Stoll ANVH B machine patterns but could
was quickly realized. offer the same designs
The early computers, The main factors for repeat orders
however, were large which made the without spending a lot
and expensive electronic machines of money and space in
machines, and their more popular over the the factory.
general application well tried and tested
was delayed until the technology of purely
invention of the mechanical machines
transistor was the reduction of
revolutionized time taken in
computer technology. adaptation to new
It did not take long The first Electronically designs. The program
for the computers to controlled Knitting data of mechanical
become an integral Machine Stoll ANVH machine was stored
part of Knitting ( 1975) on punched cards,
Machines. steel cards, peg
The needle selection drums, the layout of
arrangement could be high butt and low butt Stoll ANVH BLM
stored in the machine (1983)
arrangements. To
memory but the cam store these data was By 1983 fully
control paper tape computer controlled
not only expansive
though very small as but it took more space machines were
compared to its introduced, Stoll
too. In early computer
counterpart of a machines though the Universal and Dubied
mechanical machine the leaders of Flat
program data was
would still move to saved on to floppies, Knitting Machines
and fro to feed the were taken aback with
paper tapes or
A mechanically data to the numeric Magnetic tapes, the a surprise by a totally
controlled Stoll control of the unknown company of
Knitting Machine
finer adjustments
machine. Later this were still done Japan “Shima Seiki”.
Model AJUM ( 1938 ) problem was
the needle selection was mechanically like
overcome when stitch quality control
done with steel bit
computers were
cards the control of fabric
developed which take down and the
Before the could memorise and racking movements.
introduction of retain data of cam
Computerised movement as a part of The other advantages
Knitting Machines the knitting programme. of Electronically
machines functions The first CNC controlled machines
were mechanical and Controlled Knitting over Mechanically
for a very short time, machines were controlled machines
electronically introduced by the Shima Seiki SEC 202
were the size, cost
controlled machines same company in Whereas the
reduction, accuracy
which could not retain 1979 the models now Europeans displayed
and speed. The
the memory were were called ANVH B their computerised
machines could not
manufactured. The or the B machines. Knitting machines
only knit better but
These machines could which could knit
Jacquards, Cable and speeds, but the quick
Aran patterns, at the carriage reversals
9th ITMA exhibition gave great advantage
in Milano, Italy, to the knitters. The
Shima Seiki displayed machine offered the
its full product line. knitters what they
The main attraction of dared to dream. The
Shima's exhibit, the machine was way
Total Knitting ahead of all the
System, gained high competition and left
recognition from all other operators
international gasping for breath.
participants. Their Technologically near
models could not only perfect the machine
knit Jacquard, Cable not only gave new
and Aran designs but dimension to knitting
could also do techniques which
fashioning and knit were unheard of but
simple Intarsia the overall design
designs, The took care of
machines could be ergonomics as well.
used for making fully
fashion Knitwear as The knitting process
well as for Cut and though still remains to
sew Knitwear. At the be of mechanical
same time Steiger of nature. The raising of
Switzerland also the needle to take up
manufactured their yarn and the dip of
Electra Models which the needle to form a
could knit fully new stitch is
fashioned panels. completely
mechanical in nature.
The technological The overall control of
Challenge thrown by the machine, the
Shima was well needles and the cams
accepted by Stoll and is a computerised
the year saw a function. Whereas in
completely new the mechanical
picture of Knitting machines all the
Machines in their new movements were
CMS Models in10th linked and triggered
ITMA held in 1987 at by the traverse of the
Paris. With these carriage and the
models the Computers revolution of the
took the complete machine, on a to lubricate at preset
charge of the Knitting computerised
Machine functions, If machine the data can
NC machines can be be mechanized
termed as the dawn intermittently as well,
the CMS machines the sequences can be
appeared on the dispersed and
horizon as rising sun operated separately.
in the clear skies.
Electronics has had a
great impact of Flat
The Stoll CMS Bed Knitting
machine set the bench Machines as a major
mark for the computer factor in the
controlled knitting development of new
machines, it marked knitting techniques. It
the new era in the is only due to the
technology of the computers that it is
knitting machines. possible to have
Not only the machine Intarsia Knits, correct
could run at higher selvedges of a fully
fashion garments, the
multi-gauge effects,
the differential stitch
control , the appliqué
work and of course
knitting the complete
garment. Apart from
Technical Textiles,
these are a few
features which could
be developed only
because of
introduction of The Stoll Knit and
computers in the Wear Machine
Knitting Machines.
But the invasion of The next generation
computers has not machines to follow
been limited to the were equipped with
development of new new features, Both
techniques alone, the Shima and Stoll came
computers have taken out with new models
overall controls of the with new features and
machine, they not kept the competition
only send and receive at bay. The new
data from the technologies in
machines but also electronics helped the
track the production manufacturers to
data, the time taken addon plethora of
for various features, the models
operations, on new by Stoll had touch
machines you can control and at the
program the same time Shima
production data of the came out with their
machine and keep the First Generation
track of production. machines. It is
The machines are possible to knit true
equipped with R/R fashioned
technology which can garments, to have
not only change size Multi-gauge effects in
and production data a single row, and to
but can also remind knit a ready to wear
the operator of his garment.
jobs. The machines
stop and remind you
intervals, the
machines stop and
can provide assistance
to the operators at
specified times in
between changing of
The New Shima Whole
the designs which Garment Machine
they are capable to What future holds for
download on their knitters has become
own from preset predictable because
paths. the fast moving
technology in
computers has
brought dreams and
reality closer to each
other. Today the gap
between our dreams
and reality is
achievable, what we
dream today can
become reality
tomorrow.