Abstract:

Objective In order to improve the process flow of magnetic levitation flat knitting machine, and to realize the transformation from pattern design to needle knitting action, this paper proposes a technology of magnetic levitation flat knitting machine. Compared with the conventional needle driving method, the magnetic levitation flat knitting machine uses a new weft knitting machine technology that alleviates the problems of noise, heat and needle breakage. The magnetic levitation flat knitting machine has a special driving structure, which requires a corresponding drive solution and process knitting flow.

Method Based on the working principle of the hybrid magnetic levitation flat knitting machine system and the special driving structure, a stepper type magnetic levitation needle drive solution was designed. A mathematical matrix method was adcpted to model the pattern grid of two-color single-layer jacquard fabric on a magnetic levitation knitting flat knitting machine. Finally, the experimental platform for needle driving was built to verify the feasibility of the stepper drive scheme, and the simulation software was adcpted to ensure the accuracy of the pattern grid conversion algorithm.

Results The magnetic levitation flat knitting machine is a weft knitting machine that applies magnetic levitation technology to the knitting driving structure. According to the stepper magnetic needle driving scheme, eight coils in the head work together to complete the knitting motion of the needle. Each coil has a different current signal to raise the needle to a different knitting height. Mathematical form is considered to define the pattern grid of the two-color single-jersey jacquard fabric, then the mathematical matrix method is adopted to convert the pattern of the pattern grid into the form of data matrix, and the data conversion algorithm is obtained which can transform the flower matrix into the braided matrix. According to the weaving method of two-color single-jersey jacquard fabric, the design pattern of pattern grid is converted into weaving action data by mathematical algorithm. The current signal corresponding to the knitting action of the needle is defined according to the drive scheme of the stepper maglev needle, which allows the design of a two-color single-jersey jacquard fabric pattern to be converted into a current signal for knitting on a magnetic levitation flat knitting machine. It was determined that a stepper drive solution would allow the needle to gradually reach the process knitting height through the construction of the experimental platform for the needle drive. The simulation software is adopted to build the design interface of the grid pattern and the data conversion algorithm is adopted to gradually convert the grid pattern into the form of data. The simulation software shows that the two-color single-jersey jacquard conversion algorithm accurately converts the pattern data of the pattern grid into needle-driven weave data.

Conclusion the proposed stepping magnetic levitation needle drive scheme and pattern grid data conversion algorithm completes the knitting process of the magnetic levitation flat knitting machine, and different current signals will be adopted to represent the different knitting motions of the needles. The algorithm converts the two-color single-jersey jacquard design pattern into weave data, and each weave data represents the weave action of each needle. At the same time, it completes the two-color single-jersey jacquard fabric process from grid pattern design to magnetic levitation flat knitting machine, which can allow the magnetic levitation flat knitting machine to weave two-color single-jersey jacquard fabrics with greater ease. Therefore, the feasible route is explored for the process design of magnetic levitation flat knitting machine, which simplifies the process flow of two-color single-jersey jacquard fabric by magnetic levitation flat knitting machine.

Key words: flat knitting machine, needle drive scheme, artisan diagram conversion algorithm, patten design data conversion, magnetic levitation needle