EP0126035B1 - Device for producing knitted pockets with the aid of a circular machine for products manufactured in a tubular way with continuous unidirectional movement, and machine equipped for this device - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for knitting tubular fabrics by using a cylindrical array of (double barbed) needles is complemented by an external concentric shell and cam with oblique edges and an adjacent peg such that for each full cycle of the machine, the shell can accelerate to one angular position and halt for the cam to control selection of needles between thread pick-up and release positions, to allow formation of partial rows of meshes, then restores the needle positions while rotating to the start position for the next cycle.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for forming knitted pockets with a circular machine for tubular manufactured products with continuous unidirectional movement and a circular machine thus equipped.

A method is known for forming a mesh pocket in a tubular manufactured product with a circular hosiery machine with continuous rotary movement which consists in providing an additional yarn for the partial rows of stitches which is continuous and is supplied by a yarn guide. additional, rotating around the needle cylinder with varied movement, stopping, at each turn, in correspondence of a first position of stitch formation to supply the needles with an arc of needles which pass in front of it, therefore exceeding said needles until correspondence of a second stitch formation position and from here continuing with constant speed, but greater than that of the needle cylinder and finally, after a complete revolution, stopping in the initial position.

EP-A-0114153 (representing the state of the art according to article 54 (3) EPC) from the same co-owner there is also known a device for feeding the wire from the additional wire guide intended for training of the second partial row of stitches according to the aforementioned method, which device makes it possible to accumulate a quantity of yarn to the correct extent required for the formation of the second partial row of stitches, without tension.

It is also known from document US-A-3,270,527 a circular knitting machine for tubular manufactured products with continuous movement in the same direction whose thread guide feeds the needles selected for the formation of a pocket with two feeds per turn , one in stop and one in movement and equipped with a device for the formation of knitted pockets which comprises a fall external concentric to the needle cylinder with a cam having two active edges disposed in V, which fall rotates with a variable speed in the same direction as the needle cylinder so that it stops in a position where one edge of the cam operates a first fall, when stopped, of the needles selected for the formation of a pocket; it accelerates to a constant speed greater than that of the cylinder to exceed said needles and operate a second fall, in motion, of the same needles; then it decelerates to stop in the initial position. This known machine also includes a thread guide rotating at the head and in harmony with the needle cylinder and in phase with said drop so that, each turn, this thread guide stops behind the drop, then it accelerates to exceed the fall, then it rotates with the same speed as the fall and finally it decelerates until it stops in the initial position; several needles for the formation of partial rows of stitches distributed according to one or more partial arcs of the needle cylinder; means for carrying in rotation with varied movement the drop and the thread guide; and means for bringing the position of the thread guide into phase with the position of the fall during their respective rotation.

The machine described in this document is complex, of complicated adjustment and of high cost.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a different machine for carrying out the above process, very simple and efficient, so as to obtain a circular machine of great reliability and versatility and low cost.

This has been achieved in accordance with the present invention by producing a circular machine for tubular manufactured products with continuous movement equipped with a device for the formation of knitted pockets comprising an external fall and concentric with the needle cylinder with a cam having two active edges, a cam follower located below and a stake positioned forward, in the direction of rotation, with respect to said cam, which fall turns in harmony with the needle cylinder with varied and intermittent movement, so that that, at each turn, it stops in a position (A) one of the edges of the cam of which operates a first fall, when stopped, of the needles predisposed for the formation of a pocket; then the fall accelerates to a position (B) from which it continues to a position (C) with a constant speed greater than that of the cylinder to pass said needles and allow the stake to raise the needles from the "retained" level to the "discharged" level, and the other of the edges of the cam operates the second falling movement of the same needles; after which the fall decelerates to stop in the initial position (A); this machine also comprising at least one additional thread guide rotating at the head and in harmony with the needle cylinder and in phase with said fall so that, each turn, it stops at (A ') behind the fall which is positioned in (A), then it accelerates up to (B ') to exceed the fall positioned in (B), then it rotates with the same speed from the fall to (C) and finally it decelerates to stop in the initial position (A '); several double heel needles, for the formation of partial rows of stitches, distributed according to one or more partial arcs of the needle cylinder; means for carrying in rotation with varied movement the drop and the additional thread guide; means for bringing the position of the additional thread guide into phase with the position of the drop during the respective rotation; characterized in that said means for rotating the chute and the wire guide comprise a planetary gear with axes coinciding with the main wheels and the planet wheels connected by a moving train carrier alternately rotating and whose instantaneous position is determined by the contact of a wheel of the train carrier with the edge of a cam.

The advantages obtained thanks to the present invention essentially consist in the fact that various manufactured products are obtained with pockets of various shapes, sizes and positions, with continuous wire and with unidirectional movement of the circular machine; that among the manufactured products achievable there are stockings and socks with heel and pocket stitch, panties with bellows and stockings with semi-bellows for pantyhose with bellows; that pockets can be obtained with several yarns of different nature, fineness and color; that it is possible to use circular machines, single or double needle cylinder, with many feeds for the formation of the tubular and with two or multiple of two additional feeds for the formation of mesh pockets; it is possible to select needles to obtain pockets with patterned fabric; that it is possible to operate with great reliability and safety even at a much higher speed than that obtained today with circular machines with reciprocating motion; that a production far superior to that of said alternative machines is obtained; that the product obtained is of very good quality; that the relative simplicity of construction makes it possible to equip a circular machine for hosiery at a very studied and competitive cost.

The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which show only one embodiment.

In table 1 fig. 1 shows the plan view of a fall according to the invention, excluding work; fig. 2 represents the fall of FIG. 1 in the work phase during training in stoppage of the first partial row of stitches; fig. 3 represents the fall of FIG. 1 in working phase during the movement training of the second partial row of meshes; in table 2 fig. 4 shows the sections at different speed of one turn of the chute and of the additional wire guide with, in the center, the cam for obtaining the relative speeds; in table 3 fig. 5 shows an axial vertical section of a circular hosiery machine equipped with a device according to the invention; fig. 6 shows the plan view of the detail of a device for phasing the additional wire guide associated with the drop according to the invention; in table 4 fig. 7 shows the plan view of a device for controlling the rotation of the chute and of the additional wire guide according to the invention; in table 5 fig. 8 shows the developed section of a part of the device of FIG. 7; in table 6 fig. 9 shows the developed section of the remaining part of the device of FIG. 7.

• une chute (200) concentrique et extérieure au cylindre (1) des aiguilles, avec une came (201) à deux bords actifs (211-212) avec la fonction d'opérer deux chutes distinctes des aiguilles, une contre-came (202) au-dessous de la came (201) et un piquet (203) en face de ladite came (201) dans le sens de rotation avec la fonction de soulever les aiguilles du niveau de « retenu à à celui de « déchargé » : ladite chute, qui est reliée au boîtier (53) des platines situé ci-dessus, tourne à l'unisson avec le cylindre (1) dans une seule direction, avec mouvement varié et intermittent et d'une telle sorte qu'elle s'arrête en (A) de fig. 4 en correspondance d'une première zone de formation maille pour permettre au profil (211) de la came (201) d'obtenir une chute des aiguilles (3) d'un arc partiel (par exemple 135°) d'aiguilles et ainsi former un premier rang partiel de mailles ; puis elle accélère jusqu'à (B) de fig.4 où elle atteint une plus grande vitesse de travail (par exemple : double) que celle du cylindre des aiguilles, et d'ici elle poursuit jusqu'à (C) de fig. 4 avec vitesse constante pour dépasser les aiguilles dudit arc partiel et permettre au piquet (203), en collaboration avec le profil (212) de la came (201), d'obtenir un soulèvement suivi d'une chute desdites aiguilles dépassées et former ainsi un deuxième rang partiel de mailles ; enfin de la position (C) la chute décélère pour se reporter et s'arrêter en (A) de fig. 4. Ladite chute est en outre, par des moyens connus, déplaçable radialement au regard du cylindre des aiguilles pour en varier la distance et engager ainsi les aiguilles d'arcs distincts partiels des aiguilles par rapport à la poche à réaliser (par ex. le talon ou la pointe avec fermeture dans la partie inférieure du pied d'un bas).

Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the accompanying drawings, a device for the formation of knitted pockets with continuous movement of a circular machine for tubular manufactured products according to the invention comprises:

• a fall (200) concentric and external to the cylinder (1) of the needles, with a cam (201) with two active edges (211-212) with the function of operating two distinct falls of the needles, a cam follower (202) below the cam (201) and a stake (203) in front of said cam (201) in the direction of rotation with the function of raising the needles from the level of "retained to that of" discharged ": said fall , which is connected to the housing (53) of the plates located above, rotates in unison with the cylinder (1) in one direction, with varied and intermittent movement and in such a way that it stops in (A) of fig. 4 in correspondence with a first mesh formation zone to allow the profile (211) of the cam (201) to obtain a drop of the needles (3) of a partial arc (for example 135 °) of needles and thus form a first partial row of stitches; then it accelerates to (B) in fig.4 where it reaches a higher working speed (for example: double) than that of the needle cylinder, and from here it continues to (C) in fig. 4 with constant speed to exceed the needles of said partial arc and allow the stake (203), in collaboration with the profile (212) of the cam (201), to obtain an uplift followed by a fall of said exceeded needles and thus form a second partial row of stitches; finally from position (C) the fall decelerates to refer and stop in (A) of fig. 4. Said drop is also, by known means, radially displaceable with respect to the cylinder of the needles to vary the distance and thus engage the needles with separate arcs of the needles relative to the pocket to be produced (for example the heel or toe with closure in the lower part of the foot of a stocking).

• un guide-fil supplémentaire (98) disposé radialement en tête du cylindre (1) et au-dessous du plateau (92) et porté en rotation par un arbre (97) creux, passant dans l'arbre vertical du plateau (92) : la cavité dudit arbre (97) est utilisée pour le passage du fil de formation de la poche et de l'air aspiré par le goulot (100) prévu au service dudit guide-fil supplémentaire.

And a circular machine for tubular manufactured products equipped for said device comprises:

• an additional wire guide (98) disposed radially at the head of the cylinder (1) and below the plate (92) and carried in rotation by a hollow shaft (97), passing through the vertical shaft of the plate (92): the cavity of said shaft (97) is used for the passage of the pocket forming wire and the air sucked through the neck (100) provided for the service of said additional wire guide.

The rotation of the additional thread guide (98) which is in harmony with that of the cylinder (1) takes place with varied and intermittent movement and so that, at each turn, it is stopped in (A ') of fig. 4 behind the cam (201) of the above-mentioned fall (200) during the first feeding, then it accelerates sharply until (B ') of fig.4 and from here it continues until (C) of fig. with constant speed to provide the yarn for the second feeding; finally from position (C) it decelerates to stop in the initial position (A ').

Said additional wire guide (98) is also notoriously displaceable radially to the cylinder (1) so that its mouth results, in the working phase. projecting outwards from the head of the needles and. out of work, it results in proximity to said neck (100).

It goes without saying that when auditing an additional thread guide (98), one or more similar thread guides can be associated, positioned, superimposed or approached, to allow feeding with several pieces.

Several tongue needles (3) with double heel (130) distributed along the partial arc of needles provided for the formation of a pocket, including the upper heel, at each turn of the cylinder (1) is engaged by a (211) of the two profiles of the cam (201) for the first fall and by the stake (203) for the successive lifting of "retained to" unloaded and by the other (212) profile of the cam (201) for the second fall.

The needles (3) belonging to different partial arcs, that is to say intended to form separate knitted pockets of the same manufactured product, have the upper heel of different length to be selected by the fall (200) beforehand positioned at corresponding distances from the cylinder (1).

A cog to obtain, in harmony with the rotation of the cylinder (1), the unidirectional rotation of the chute (200) and at the same time of the additional wire guide (98) with the varied and intermittent movement previously described, which includes a train planetary with coincident axes, with main wheels (221-225) on axis (220), planet wheels (222-224) on axis (223) and carrier (226) with a caster (227 ) in contact, forced by a spring (246), with the edge of the cam (228) wedged on the motor shaft (231); the movement derived from the cylinder holder (229) by means of the wheel (230) wedged on the shaft (231) is transmitted to the main wheel (221) by said planetary gear by means of the clutch (232) and the wheels (233-234-234 '); and by the main wheel (225) of the same planetary gear train it is transmitted, by means of the wheels (235-235'-236-236 ') to the transmission shaft (237) and by the latter to the fall (200 ) by means of the wheel (238). Furthermore, the movement is transmitted by said shaft (237) to the shaft (97) of the additional thread guide (98) by means of an epicyclic train with coincident axes, with the main wheels (239-241) on the axle (237), the satellite wheels (240-242) on the axle (243), the train carrier (245), the wheel (241 ') and a toothed belt (246).

The train carrier (226) of the first planetary gear can move in both directions, with respect to a central position for which the gear transmission ratio is that defined by the number of teeth of the wheels (equal to one) while '' it is positive or negative with the movement of the train carrier in one direction or the other: so the instantaneous position of the train carrier (226) controlled by the position of the caster (227) on the cam (228) determines the instantaneous speed of the fall (200) and of the additional thread guide (98). Similarly, the train carrier (245) of the second planetary gear train, which has two possible working positions defined by the contact of a caster with a cam fixed on the shaft (237) and not shown for simplification, determines the instantaneous position of the additional wire guide (behind or in front) compared to the chute (200).

As a replacement for the reciprocating movement from front to rear of the train carrier (226), provision is made for obtaining a varied and discontinuous unidirectional movement using a cam (228) with a snail profile or an irregular Archimedes' spiral, the edge engages, one at a time, several rollers (227) of the train carrier (226).

In order to increase the size of the knitted pockets and even the number of additional double feeds, it is planned to rotate the needle cylinder with variable speed rather than constant speed, by slowing down or stopping in the row knitting phase. partial meshes with the drop (200) in motion.

Claims (8)

1. Circular machine for products manufactured in a tubular way with continuous unidirectional movement, equipped of a device for producing knitted pockets comprising a fall (200) external and concentrical to the cylinder (1) of the needles with a cam (201) with two active edges (211, 212), a cam follower (202) disposed below, and a post (203) disposed foreward, in the sens of rotation, respected to said cam (201 said fall (200) rotates in a harmonized way with the cylinder (1) of the needles with variate and intermittent movement. so that, at each turn, it stops in a position (A) in which the edge (211) of the cam (201) operates a first fall, in stopped position, of the needles (3) predisposed for producing a pocket, then the fall (200) accelerates up to a position (B) from which it continues up to a position (C) with a constant speed higher than the speed of the cylinder (1) to overtake said needles (3) and alloy the post (203) to operate the lift of the needles (3) from a « retained level up to a « discharged level, and the edge (212) of the cam (201) to operate the second fall, in motion, of the same needles (3) ; after what the fall (200) decelerates untill stopping in the initial position (A) ; this machine further comprising at least an additional thread-guide (98) that rotates overhead and in harmony with the cylinder (1) of the needles and in phase with said fall (200) so that, at each turn, it stops in (A') behind the fall positioned in (A), then it accelerates up to (B') to overtake the fall (200) positioned in (B), then it rotates with the same speed than the fall (200) up to (C), and finally it decelerates up to stop in the initial position (A); a plurality of double butt needles (3) for producing partial rows of stiches, distributed along one or more partial arcs of circle of the cylinder (1) of the needles ; means for driving into rotation with variate movement the fall (200) and the additional thread-guide (98) ; means for phasing the position of the additional thread-guide (98) with the position of the fall (200) during the corresponding rotation ; characterized in that said means for driving into rotation the fall (200) and the thread-guide (98) comprise and epicycloidal gear train with coincident shafts (220, 223), with the main wheels (221, 225) and the planet wheels (222, 224) coupled through a train carrier (226) with alternative motion of rotation and whose instantaneous position is determined by the contact between a roller (227) of the train carrier (226) with the edge of a cam (228).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper butt (130) of the needles (3) has a different height according to the corresponding partial arc of circle of the cylinder (1).

3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, with the first additional thread-guide (98), are associated one or more analogous thread-guide, superimposed or near one from the other, to produce several different yarns.

4. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour of said cam (228) is predetermined with respect to the diagram of the speed of the fall (200).

5. Machine according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said train carrier (226) moves with a discontinuous and variate unidirectional movement of rotation, and its instantaneous position is determined by the contact between one or more rollers (227) and the edge of a cam (228) having a form of an irregular spiral of Archimedes.

6. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that means for phasing the additional thread-guide (98) with respect to the fall (200) comprise an epicycloidal gear train with coincident shafts (237, 243), with the main wheels (239, 241) and the planet wheels (240, 242) coupled through a train carrier (245) which has two working positions to which correspond the positions of the thread-guide (98), respectively behind and in front of the fall (200), and whose instantaneous position is determined by the contact between a roller of the train carrier (245) and a cam locked up on the shaft (237).

7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the contour of said cam (237) is predetermined with respect to the diagram of the speed of the fall (200).

8. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that cylinder (1) of the needles rotates with variate unidirectional movement, with decelerations. and/or stops in phase of production of partial stiches rows with the fall (200) in motion.

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