Device for detecting broken heads of knitting machine needles

摘要

Device for a knitting machine operative to detect knitting needles having broken heads and to actuate a stop motion to shut down the machine. The device includes a needle sensing unit connected electrically to the stop motion and having a retractable sensor element for sensing broken needles, and a needle deflecting roller for deflecting unbroken needles away from the needle sensor element. An adjustable support bracket mounts the needle sensing unit and needle deflecting roller on a knitting machine to locate the needle deflecting roller in the needle path to contact the hooks of unbroken needles and to locate the needle sensor element in the needle path to contact the stems of broken needles. Needles having broken heads are not deflected by the needle deflecting roller, but are sensed by the needle sensing unit to activate the stop motion.