Stoll’s ADF technology: a new field for flat knitting machines?

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Leading German flat knitting machine manufacturer Stoll has launched an exciting prototype flat knitting machine equipped with direct yarn feeder and electric yarn feeder. The CMS 530 HP-ADF, a company headquartered in Reutlingen, was unveiled at the ITMA ASIA + CITME 2012 recently held in Shanghai, which aroused great interest. Stoll’s R&D director Michael Sedlag introduced the company’s latest high-tech flat knitting machine to the knitting industry company.
CMS 530 HP-ADF is named ADF under the name of Autarkic direct feed, and the word autarkic comes from the German autark, which means independent or self-sufficient-refers to the independently controlled yarn feeder.
Two CMS 530 HP-ADF models were exhibited. A machine knits intricate multi-color intarsia patterns with extremely fine 18 gauge needles, while the E7.2 machine produces complex multi-color reverse pleated striped intarsia fabrics.
CMS530 HP-ADF is very different from Stoll’s current machine scope. The former scope is that the feeder moves in and out of the knitting area through a cam box or carriage, and the yarn path to the needle passes through the bobbin at the back of the machine Top-mounted yarn control units and side-mounted friction feed wheels on both sides of the machine.
For ADF machines, by directly feeding the top-mounted yarn control unit into the needle between the opened or split carriages, the yarn path can be simplified-there is no forbidden bow between the front and rear cam boxes.
It is said that direct feeding can not only reduce the yarn tension, but also make the yarn tension uniform when the carriage moves forward and backward, thereby improving the quality of the fabric.
The yarn feeder of the ADF is completely unaffected by the movement of the carriage and is independently controlled by the motor.
The ADF is equipped with eight double-sided radially positioned paper feed guides, and can be equipped with 16 paper feeders at each end of the machine, providing up to 32 paper feeders. Each of the 32 feeders is driven by two motors via belts-the larger motor controls the horizontal movement of the feeder, while the smaller motor controls the up and down movement of the feeder.
It is said that the radial feeder guide helps to maintain the precise feeder position during knitting, especially where precision is required in intarsia knitting. The electric movement of the vertical feeder eliminates the need to swing or rotate the feeder in complex knitting situations, and eliminates wasted feeder rebound due to carriage movement.
At first glance, the ADF is similar to the Steiger Aries series of machines with its electric paper feeder and direct paper feeder. However, the machine is actually very different when it is checked carefully. Its programmable electric control of the vertical feeder movement makes it unique-or as Michael Sedlag put it-”gives it a new dimension.”
For intarsia fabrics, up to 32 feeders are used in the two knitting systems, and the third system is reserved for stitch transfer so that “full production” can be achieved on each stroke of the carriage.
“Usually, it takes twice and a half to knit fabric on a standard machine using feeder recoil,” explains Michael Sedlag.
Mr. Sedlag said: “When needed, the feeder can enter and exit in a small area-no feeder rebound.”
The multi-color applique woven on the E18 ADF machine shows the possibility of this machine in narrow areas and the benefits of having independent feeder control. When the machine is running, the feeder movement between the knitting systems can be clearly seen.
Now, the color gamut for intarsia knitting on ADF machines may be narrower. Stoll said the narrowest color gamut may be about half an inch, but it may shrink further in the future.
Another technical function of ADF is the ability to introduce what Stoll calls “interlaced warp” (IWT). In fact, this is a weft yarn, but it is woven in a way that makes a single wale (warp) look like it. On many braids, the appearance of the inner tube can be “stretched”.
IWT technology can be performed on standard machines, but requires a lot of rebounders, which Stoll says makes knitting impractical because it may take ten times as long to produce
In the case of intarsia knitting, when using IWT to connect between two colors, very neat small stitches appear on the front of the fabric, and a “stitched over” appearance appears on the back of the fabric.
ADF can also weave braided intarsia patterns, which in theory can always be done on standard machines, but so far has not been practical. Since the automatic paper feeder adjustment is carried out through the machine’s touch screen controller, the position and height of the paper feeder can be precisely controlled without manual adjustment and setting.
Stoll said that the high precision required for intarsia knitting can be achieved. Michael Sedlag called it “more than two degrees of freedom-or the new dimension of flat knitting machines.”
Reverse braiding in intarsia, on the E7.2 model, proved the combination of the same color front and back bed weaving and other colors/structures in the same process. Some stripes in the pattern are also knitted in semi-gauge, while others use all needles. The overall effect is amazing, similar to some multi-color structural effects that can only be achieved by hand-knitting by designers so far.
The ADF machine uses two feeder technologies when pleating, which is widely used on standard flat knitting machines. However, each paper feeder can only be set relative to another paper feeder through the touch screen controller, and set in the height position.
Mr. Sedlag is enthusiastic about the company’s new ADF prototype and its potential. He said that its arrival is similar to when we changed from “typewriter to printer”.
Although the CMS 530 HP-ADF is a prototype and is not a finished product by definition, the concept seems to have been well thought out and even includes some nice modifications, such as an integrated fabric tray, which does not extend from the machine, but leaves enough Space. Used for fabric collection.
A truly impressive feature is the access to the rear needle bed through a pair of sliding doors with integrated creels. According to Stoll, all mechanical principles of the machine can be accessed through this innovative access point, and even the needle bed can be removed.
Another feature is the V-shaped bracket that can accommodate the yarn control unit. The purpose of this is to avoid entanglement of the cross yarns during the knitting process. This is especially useful when knitting with the maximum number of feed heads in “long wool” yarns or filament yarns.
The ADF machine also introduces an updated clamping and cutting system, which can directly go from weaving to clamping and cutting. The current CMS model requires the use of “empty pen holder stroke” for clamping and cutting, which often occurs in multi-color intarsia production.
The standard feeder of ADF can be used for regular weaving, intarsia, knitting and inlay. Stoll says there is no longer a need to replace feeders for specific applications.
The ADF is obviously a “high-tech basic” machine that will control its maximum 32 feeders at the price of its 64 motors. However, the machine does use many proven Stoll technologies, such as spring latch needles, CMS needle beds, coilers and standard CMS HP cam box carriages, and the distance between the knitting systems is 5 inches-but the most important thing is , ADF provides some novel design terms.
According to Michael Sedlag, Stoll focuses on the design creativity of the ADF concept, and its goal is to “provide designers with more free artistic development space.”
Mr. Sedlag said: “Stoll usually doesn’t show prototypes because we don’t want to show machines that are not ready or not working properly.”
Mr. Sedlag finally explained that the debut of these machines at ITMA ASIA in Shanghai rather than ITMA in Barcelona last year is not important. Mr. Sedlag said: “It is more about preparing the machine for display, and of course choosing to launch new products in the relatively conservative current market.”
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TypeI contacted Mongolia has 530 stoll willing to buy 12 winches can cost a few dollars You leave a comment here
Very interesting technology, can’t wait to have one of them… is in the process of establishing a knitting factory in Durban, South Africa. We will specialize in intarsia knitting, especially diamonds. I have contacted your local branch in Johannesburg.


Post time: Oct-17-2020
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