CN111793887A

CN111793887A - Flat knitting machine with device for inserting inserts into knitted fabric

Info

Publication number: CN111793887A
Application number: CN202010270513.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 克里斯·希勒; 马丁·多尔克; 弗里德·兰德克
Original assignee: H Stoll GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Carlmeyerstol R & D Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-08
Filing date: 2020-04-08
Publication date: 2020-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-08
Also published as: CN111793887B; EP3722472A1; EP3722472B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weft knitting machine with a device for inserting an insert into a knitted fabric. A flat knitting machine is provided with: at least two needle beds and at least one carriage (20, 20') that can be moved along the needle beds, and a device (10) for inserting inserts (70) into a knitted fabric, wherein the device has a magazine (40) for inserts (70) and a gripping mechanism (50) with which inserts (70) from the magazine (40) can be moved into a comb gap (80) between the needle beds and can be inserted into a knitted fabric produced on the flat knitting machine (100), wherein at least the gripping mechanism (50) is arranged on the carriage (20, 20') or on a guide part of the carriage (20, 20') and can be moved along the needle beds by means of the carriage (20, 20') or by means of a separate drive.

Description

Flat knitting machine with device for inserting inserts into knitted fabric

Technical Field

The invention relates to a flat knitting machine (Flachtstickmaschene) with a device for inserting inserts into knitted fabrics.

Background

Nowadays, increasingly higher demands are made on knitted fabrics produced on flat knitting machines. In particular, increasingly complex designs and designs are required. Furthermore, the number of subsequent processes required after the knitting process is reduced. This is of great importance in particular for so-called intelligent textiles, which perform additional functions by integrating elements such as sensors, chips, batteries or LEDs. These inserts are currently introduced into the knitted goods mostly manually during or after the production of the knitted goods.

However, in the case of the introduction during the production of the knitted goods, the production loom must be permanently monitored by a person, since the loom pauses when the additional element is inserted, i.e. the production of the knitted fabric is interrupted. The result is increased human input. To avoid this, proposals have been made for automatically embedding such elements.

US 7,246,508B 1 describes a device for embedding elements for stabilizing the shape of the neck opening in knitted fabrics made on flat knitting machines, such as jackets. In this case, the stacking motor of the collar insert element is moved along with the slider along the flat knitting machine above the needle bed until the insertion position in the knitted fabric is reached, and one of the collar insert elements can be inserted into the knitted fabric by means of the slider.

DE 4308251C 2 discloses a functional element which works autonomously and can be used in particular to insert additional elements into a knitted fabric. The functional element is fixed to the thread guide rail, thus reducing the number of possible thread guides involved in the knitting process. Furthermore, the functional element interferes with the movement of the thread guides, since it always stays in the same area as the thread guides.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to propose a flat knitting machine with a device for inserting an insert into a knitted fabric, which avoids the disadvantages mentioned.

This object is achieved by a flat knitting machine having: at least two needle beds and at least one carriage which can be moved along the needle beds, and a device for inserting inserts into a knitted fabric, wherein the device has a magazine for the knitted inserts and a gripping mechanism with which the knitted inserts from the magazine can be moved to a comb gap between the needle beds and can be inserted into a knitted fabric produced on a flat knitting machine, characterized in that at least the gripping mechanism is arranged on the carriage or on a guide element of the carriage and can be moved along the needle beds by means of the carriage or by means of a separate drive.

By arranging the gripping mechanism on the carriage of the flat knitting machine, a separate drive for moving the gripping mechanism along the machine can be dispensed with. In the case where the gripping mechanism is not required, the function of the yarn guide and the actual knitting process is not hindered by the gripping mechanism. The tank may be arranged in another position of the flat knitting machine, wherein it is possible whether it is arranged stationary or movably along the machine. It is also advantageous to separate the tank neck inserts. The gripping mechanism can thus be designed to be simpler in construction.

The gripper mechanism preferably has a gripper with at least one movable gripper jaw. The gripper can thus reliably pick up inserts of different shapes and deliver them to the receiving area of the knitted fabric produced on the flat knitting machine.

The gripper may have a structured surface and/or be made of a material with good holding power. This ensures that the insert is held reliably by the gripper even during rapid movements. As material for the gripping jaw or at least for its surface, non-magnetic material is considered for the magnetic insert, or also plastic, rubber or the like.

The gripper can be moved motor-driven at least between a rest position, which does not interfere with the knitting process, and an insertion position. If the magazine is arranged stationary on the machine and/or if there is no delivery mechanism on the gripper, a third position for the gripper is required, in which the gripper can remove the insert from the magazine.

Further advantages result if the insert can be moved completely or partially below the cross of the knitting needles of the flat knitting machine by means of the gripper. The recess or other knitted fabric receiving portion for the insert is made prior to insertion of the insert. The opening of the receptacle is therefore also located below the needle cross. If the gripper can press the insert under the needle cross, the insert can be inserted reliably and completely into the receptacle of the knitted fabric.

The gripper can also have a removal device for removing the insert into the knitted fabric. This ejection mechanism supports the ejection of the insert after the gripping jaws have opened. The ejection mechanism can also be responsible for pressing the insert into a receptacle in the knitted fabric and fixing it there.

The invention also relates to a method for inserting inserts into a knitted fabric produced on a flat knitting machine, wherein the flat knitting machine has at least two needle beds, at least one carriage movable along the needle beds, a magazine for inserts and a gripping mechanism arranged on the carriage, characterized by the following steps:

a. a knitted fabric with one or more receiving areas for one or more inserts;

b. moving the gripping device to the magazine or the magazine to the gripping device and taking the insert from the magazine by means of a gripper arranged on the gripping device;

c. moving the gripping mechanism with the carriage or a separate drive to a knitting needle region of the needle bed, in which a knitting receiving region for the insert is arranged;

d. the gripper is moved over the comb gap and the insert is lowered completely or partially below the needle cross and is thereby inserted into the receiving region of the knitted fabric.

In this case, the gripping jaws of the gripper can preferably be opened in order to grip the insert, then the gripping jaws can be closed and opened again after the gripper has been moved into the insertion position, wherein the ejection mechanism on the gripper presses the insert into the receiving region of the knitted fabric and holds it there.

Subsequently, after step d, the gripper can be brought back into its rest position and the knitting process is continued. The gripper does not impede the movement of the carriage nor of the thread guide or the knitting needle. In a subsequent knitting process, the knit receiving region for the insert, for example the recess, can preferably be completely or partially closed, and the insert is thereby fixed in the knit.

Drawings

An embodiment of the flat knitting machine according to the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial view of a flat knitting machine with a device for inserting an insert;

FIG. 2a is a detailed perspective view of a gripper mechanism of the apparatus for inserting inserts of FIG. 1 with the gripper in a rest position;

FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the flat knitting machine in the area of a gripping mechanism with the gripper in the position of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3a is a detailed perspective view of a gripper mechanism of the apparatus for inserting inserts of FIG. 1 with the gripper in a receiving position of the insert;

FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the flat knitting machine in the area of a gripper mechanism with the gripper in the position of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4a is a detailed perspective view of a gripper mechanism of the apparatus for inserting inserts of FIG. 1 with a gripper with an insert received;

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the flat knitting machine in the area of a gripper mechanism with the gripper in the position of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5a is a detailed perspective view of a grasping mechanism of the apparatus for inserting inserts of FIG. 1 with a grasper in a delivery position of the insert;

FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the flat knitting machine in the area of a gripper mechanism with the gripper in the position of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6a is a detailed perspective view of a gripping mechanism of the apparatus for inserting inserts of FIG. 1 with a gripper after the inserts are inserted into the knitted fabric;

fig. 6b is a cross-sectional view of the flat knitting machine in the area of a gripping mechanism with a gripper in the position of fig. 6 a.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a partial region of a flat knitting machine 100 known per se with front and rear needle beds not shown here. Along the needle beds, the front and rear carriages 20, 20 'are moved, on which knitting cams (strickschlosers) 30, 30' are fixed.

The flat knitting machine 100 has a device 10 for inserting an insert 70 (fig. 4b) into a knitted fabric produced on the flat knitting machine, which device is composed of a magazine 40 for the insert 70, which magazine is arranged rigidly beside the left side of the needle bed, not shown here, and a gripping mechanism 50 for the insert 70.

The tank 40 is designed for storing and dispensing inserts 70, which can be stored for this purpose in the tank container 41 and dispensed when required by means of a delivery mechanism not shown in detail here. The conveying device can thereby reach a predetermined delivery position of the insert 70. The predetermined output position can be adjusted according to the different possible sizes of the insert 70 to be inserted. Sensors are also provided which monitor the presence of the insert 70, the position of the insert in the tank container 41 and the position of the delivery mechanism.

The transport device may have, for example, slide elements which bring the respective insert 70 into a predetermined position for receiving by means of a gripper of the device for inserting the insert 70. The movement can be introduced into the slide in a motor-driven manner by means of a gear pair, a toothed rack, a belt drive or the like.

Furthermore, the NFC writer 47 is mounted on the magazine 40, thereby making it possible to transmit data to the microchip integrated in the insert 70.

The gripper mechanism 50 is fastened laterally to the carriage 20 and is therefore carried along by the carriage. The gripping mechanism 50 takes the inserts 70, which are brought by the magazine 40 to a defined delivery position, from the magazine 40 and inserts them into predetermined receiving areas inside a knitting element, not shown here, which has just been produced on the flat knitting machine 100.

The following fig. 2a to 6b show in each case, by means of a perspective view (a) and a sectional view (b) of a carriage of the flat knitting machine 100, a schematic illustration of a process for inserting the insert 70 with the gripper 50, which begins in the rest position of the gripper 51 of the gripper 50.

Fig. 2a, 2b show a gripper mechanism 50 with a gripper 51, wherein the gripper 51 is in a rest position. The gripper is pivoted for this purpose into a rear end position. In this position, the gripper 51 does not collide with components such as the yarn guides 60, when the carriages 20, 20' are moved along the bed in order to load the components necessary for knitting, such as the needles or sliders (Platinen).

If the insert 70 is to be inserted into the knitted fabric, the carriage 20, 20' is moved to the position shown in fig. 3a, 3b before the magazine 40, which is not shown here for the sake of clarity. The gripper 51 of the gripper mechanism 50 is moved from its rear end position or rest position by the drive of the first motor 58 into a vertical position in which it can reliably grip the insert 70. At the same time, the gripper jaws 52, 52' of the gripper 51 are moved away from one another by the drive of the second motor 59, thus freeing up space for receiving the insert 70. In the example shown, only one of the gripper jaws 52, 52' is moved for this purpose. The opposing gripping jaws 52 are of rigid design. However, it is also conceivable to move the two gripping jaws 52, 52'.

Fig. 4a, 4b show a view in which the insert 70 is moved by the advancing mechanism of the storage tank 40, not shown here, between the gripping jaws 52, 52 'into the defined receiving position, and the gripping jaws 52, 52' are moved toward one another by means of the second motor 59, so that the insert 70 remains clamped between them.

Fig. 5a, 5b show the gripper mechanism 50 after the carriages 20, 20 'have been moved through the knitting area of the flat knitting machine 100 into a position in which the insert 70 held between the gripper jaws 52, 52' of the gripper 51 is to be inserted into the formed knitted fabric. For this purpose, recesses can be formed in the knitted fabric in a previous knitting process, for example, as receiving regions for the insert 70.

Next, the gripper 51 moves toward the comb gap 80 of the flat knitting machine 100. In the example shown, the movement is a pivoting movement, which is induced by the first motor 58. Alternatively, the displacement can also be performed linearly or in any combination of a rotational movement and a linear movement.

By the movement of the gripper 51 towards the comb gap 80, the insert 70 is inserted into the groove formed in the previous knitting process.

Fig. 6a, 6b show views of the gripper mechanism 50 after the gripper jaws 52, 52' have been opened by means of the second motor 59 and the ejection mechanism 53 on the gripper 51 has been moved from the upper rest position into the ejection position, towards the comb gap 80, likewise by means of the second motor 59. By this movement of the ejection mechanism 53, the insert 70 is moved out of the region between the gripping jaws 52, 52' and into the receiving region of the knitted fabric.

Subsequently, the carriages 20, 20' are moved towards the magazine 40, counter to their current knitting direction. In this case, the gripper 51 and the ejection mechanism 53 remain in their positions shown in fig. 6a, 6 b. Thereby reliably inserting the insert 70 into the knitted fabric.

After the gripper 51 and the reject mechanism 53 have been moved back to their rest position by means of the first and

second motors

58, 59, the knitting process for the knitted fabric can be performed again. In this case, for example, the recess into which the insert 70 has been inserted can be partially or completely closed.

Claims

1. A flat knitting machine is provided with: at least two needle beds and at least one carriage (20, 20') that can be moved along the needle beds, and a device (10) for inserting inserts (70) into a knitted fabric, wherein the device has a magazine (40) for inserts (70) and a gripping mechanism (50) with which inserts (70) from the magazine (40) can be moved into a comb gap (80) between the needle beds and can be inserted into a knitted fabric produced on the flat knitting machine (100), characterized in that at least the gripping mechanism (50) is arranged on the carriage (20, 20') or on a guide part of the carriage (20, 20') and can be moved along the needle beds by means of the carriage (20, 20') or by means of a separate drive.

2. Flat knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (40) is arranged on the knitting machine (100) either stationary or movable along the machine (100).

3. A flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said tank (40) separates the said inserts (70).

4. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping mechanism (50) has a gripper (51) with at least one movable gripping jaw (52, 52').

5. A flat knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the gripping jaws (52, 52') have a structured surface and/or are made of a material with good holding power.

6. A flat knitting machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the gripping jaws (52, 52') are made of one or more non-magnetic materials.

7. A flat knitting machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the gripper (51) is motor-drivable at least between a rest position and an insertion position, wherein the rest position does not interfere with the knitting process.

8. A flat knitting machine according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the insert (70) can be moved completely or partially below the needle cross of the flat knitting machine by means of the gripper (51).

9. A flat knitting machine according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that said gripper (51) has a kick-out mechanism (53) for feeding out said insert (70) into said knitted fabric.

10. A method for inserting inserts into a knitted fabric produced on a flat knitting machine (100), wherein the flat knitting machine (100) has at least two needle beds, at least one carriage (20, 20') movable along the needle beds, a magazine (40) for inserts (70) and a gripping mechanism (50) arranged on the carriage, characterized by the steps of:

a. a knitted fabric with one or more receiving areas for one or more inserts (70);

b. -moving the gripping means (50) to the tank (40), or moving the tank (40) to the gripping means (50), and taking an insert (70) from the tank (40) by means of a gripper (51) arranged on the gripping means (50);

c. -moving the gripping means (50) by means of the carriage (20, 20') or a separate drive to a knitting needle region of the needle bed, in which a knitting receiving region for the insert (70) is arranged;

d. the gripper (51) is moved along a comb gap (80) and the insert (70) is lowered completely or partially below the needle cross and the insert (70) is thereby inserted into the receiving region of the knitted fabric.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the gripping jaws (52, 52') of the gripper (51) are opened in order to grip the insert (70), then the clamping jaws are closed and opened again after the gripper (51) has been moved to the insertion position, wherein the ejector mechanism (53) on the gripper (51) presses the insert into the receiving region of the knitted fabric and holds it there.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that after step d.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the receiving region for the insert (70) is completely or partially closed while continuing the knitting process.