Sa. Grishanov et al., A MODEL OF THE LOOP FORMATION PROCESS ON KNITTING MACHINES USING FINITE AUTOMATA THEORY, Applied mathematical modelling, 21(7), 1997, pp. 455-465
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Operatione Research & Management Science",Mathematics,"Operatione Research & Management Science",Mathematics,Mechanics
Computer control systems, currently available for industrial knitting
machines, have been developed by individual machine manufacturers. The
result is that each system is applicable only to a particular machine
type. This work is aimed toward the determination of a generic contro
l system that could be applied to a wide range of knitting machine typ
es. A model of a knitting needle operation is proposed. This takes the
form of a multitape controlling automaton and an operational automato
n functioning together. The conformity between the technological funct
ions of the separate parts of knitting machines and the functions of a
n automaton is determined. Diagrams of states and alphabets of input,
stack, and output symbols of an operational automaton are defined. The
functioning of this automaton is reduced to the performance of nine o
perations, which are its system of instructions This enables the proce
sses of basic structural element formation, i.e., knitted loop, tuck l
oop, and float, on needles of different types and on knitting machines
of various constructions to be modelled uniformly. The model proposed
also describes the process of a loop transfer, the new knitted fabric
commencing on empty needles and finished fabric press-off Furthermore
, consideration has been given to the operation of a multitape control
ling automaton that would be integrated in. the design of a knitting m
achine. An algorithm for output symbol determination has been develope
d that provides independent automaton control of the number of cam lay
ers, the identification of cam track, and the number of needles in use
. The software for minimization of the disjunctive normal form of Bool
ean functions, based on the methods of Quine and Gorbatov, has been de
veloped. The possibility of modelling knitting machine malfunctions is
described enabling deviations from the correct process, such as hook
or latch damage, to be studied. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.