Knitting International 03-04/2013

Modules for electronic single needle selectionl

Johnson Matthey (JM) Piezoproducts has decades of experience in the pro-duction of Piezoelectric ceramics. At the same time, the company has core competencies in the development of electronics and the design of mechanical components. Based on these competen-cies and in close partnership with leading manufacturers of textile machinery JM Piezoproducts developed modules with Piezoceramic actuators for electronic single needle selection. The modules for circular knitting machines are already well established on the market under the brand name of SITEX. By collaborating with other leading manufacturers of cir-cular knitting machines JM has steadily expanded and perfected the functionality and performance of its modules.As Udo Zipfel, JM Piezoproducts Sales and Purchasing Director, sums it up: “Our Piezoelectric modules for electronic single needle selection provide a mature and consequently reliable solution.“Several million Piezoceramic bending actuators are incorporated in segments

and modules of machines for single needle selection used by numerous ma-nufacturers worldwide. The first jacquard machines with Piezoceramic compo-nents mounted on actuating electronics produced by Johnson Matthey were introduced onto the market in the early nineties. Segments and modules with Piezoceramic actuators, some equipped with electronics, for warp knitting and circular knitting machines, followed in the mid-nineties.

As Udo Zipfel comments: “Our products can also be used for other textile machi-nery, as we always work out customer-specific solutions. Another advantage: Our Piezo modules can also be employed to convert used machines with mechani-cal selection to electronically controlled machines. The reliability and the stability of the Piezo actuators essential in the textile industry are especially appreciated by the users.“

Technical features of Piezoelectric actuators

Due to the activation of the Piezoelectric actuator being exclusively in the direc-tion of polarization with the associated refreshment, the SITEX circular knitting modules have a lifetime of far more than a billion operations.

A special coating on the Piezoelectric and the electronic components ensures optimal protection against harsh environmental conditions and most aggressive oils and thus allows for a long life time, significant-ly increasing reliability and performance in comparison to other solutions. The actuating electronics are protected and compactly integrated into the module housing. The construction and design of the module ensure even heat distribution thus maintaining the properties of the Piezoelectric ceramics.

All from one Source

JM Piezoproducts develops and manufac-tures nearly all of the components itself and can thus offer a solution from a single source where all components are perfectly matched. As Udo Zipfel continues: “Our customers appreciate the fact that the Piezoelectric ceramics are developed and produced by ourselves and are combined in our company with other components e.g. electronic and mechanical parts to offer a perfect reliable segment, module or system“. This makes Johnson Matthey very flexible for special inquiries and also enables savings in logistics, in training of service personnel and in the storing of spare parts. „As a strong and globally represented partner Johnson Matthey has the necessary staying power to provide sustainable security for the future to its partners in the textile machinery manufac-turing branch.“ by Wolfgang Deil

Piezo Technology provides for Reliability

Modules with Piezoceramic bending actuators for single needle selection in textile machines

The core of the electronics in this kind of machine is the needle selection system that is used. Due to the technical advantages of Piezo technology, Piezoceramic selection is in many ways better than the traditional magnetic selection. The high selection speed of the actuators increases productivity, low energy consumption reduces energy costs. As the module hardly heats up, it does not require cooling. The compact design of the Piezoelectric ele-ments allows a high number of modules to be fitted into the machine. The reliability of the individual components ensures a long life time.

Machines with electronic single needle selection offer considerable advantages compared to conven-tional machines with mechanical selection. They allow for more patterning possibilities and achieve shorter pattern change-over times with more flexibility. Needle selec-tion systems based on Piezo actua-tors offer even further advantages.

Johnson Matthey Piezoproducts

For over 40 years Johnson Matthey Piezoproducts has developed and manufac-tured Piezoelectric ceramics, Piezoelectric ceramic components and complete modules with mechanical and electronic components and has distributed them worldwide. Each Piezoelectric bending actuator and every module solution is customer-specifically developed, planned and implemented. To date Johnson Matthey has produced over 100 million Piezoceramic components and sold them worldwide. The company is the world’s leading supplier of Piezoelectric ceramics for many applications.

Contact:Udo ZipfelJohnson Matthey PiezoproductsFon + 49 9574 81466Fax + 49 9574 81-98466E-mail: [email protected]

The advantages of Piezo technology for single needle selection include:

High actuating speed Highest productivityMinimal energy consumption Energy cost savingsNo self-heating Cooling is not requiredCompact design Innovative machine design High reliability Low downtimeSpecial protection coating Superior lifetimeCustomized solutions Application optimization

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