EP0261049A2

EP0261049A2 - Improvements introduced in the stretching means of rectilineal knitting machines

Info

Publication number: EP0261049A2
Application number: EP87500058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Abril Cullell
Original assignee: ABRIL CULLELL
Current assignee: ABRIL CULLELL
Priority date: 1986-09-18
Filing date: 1987-09-17
Publication date: 1988-03-23
Also published as: ES2001971A6; JPS63112758A; EP0261049A3

Abstract

The invention refers to the stretching means (4, 5) used in rectilineal knitting machines, and is centered in the fact that such means adopt a modular configuration along the machine, in a way that each of said modules has an independent actuation.

In this way, by means of the active participation of a variable number of such modules, the adequate stretching level at each moment is attained, that is, a changing or variable stretching, especially ideal for the modern structures of the knitting and for the new types of fibers used to that purpose.

Specifically, the invention sets forth the use of a fixed axle, on which it is established a plurality of stators corresponding to respective electromotors, in each of which the rotor houses said stator and is recovered at the same time by a layer of rubber or synthetic rubber, through which said rotor actuates on the fabric to attain the expected stretching.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION.-

The present invention refers, as expressed in the title of this specification, to a series of improvements introduced in the stretching means of rectilineal knitting machines, improvements which are centered in the establishment, along the machine, of a plurality of modules or sections, operatively independent, each of them materialized in an individual motor and driven independently from the others, so that different stretching areas can be established, in a variable number, along tht textile piece to be obtained and that, in consequence, the global stretching tension for the textile piece in its whole may also be varied at will not only from one piece to another, but also within one same piece, and in a fully automatic mode, concretely through the electronic means of government of the machine, which will also govern the actuation of such motors in accordance with a program set forth to that purpose.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE INVENTION

Presently, the conventional stretchers of the rectilineal knitting machines do not offer an adequate stretching that serves for the majority of the new structures of the knit and for the different types of fibers that have been incorporated to the present collection. The number of sets per passing of the carriage has been increasing, so that as from the classical solution with a unique set or system, it was later on passed to two, afterwards to three, until getting to the four sets which are used at present, with which number of sets, the stretching systems used, more than inefficient, result insufficient. In fact, and as it is known, it is frequent that during the weaving of the complex present samples, the structure of said samples be changed several times in one same sector, that is, that at a certain moment it may result convenient a null stretching, and some passings afterwards it may be necessary a supplementary stretching, with which we get to the conclusion that, in practice, it would be desirable to have available a changing or variable stretching system.
However, the solutions known up to the present time consist in a simple couple of rollers, a driving one and a pressure one, which actuate uniformly or constantly along the whole width of the textile piece to be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improvements in the stretching means of rectilineal knitting machines which the invention proposes, have been conceived to solve this problem at full satisfaction, allowing, concretely, to have available stretching means which effectivity results variable according to the specific needs of each moment and in accordance with the program set forth to that purpose.
Therefore and in a more concrete mode, said improvements consists in sectioning the stretching means in a plurality of consecutive and operatively independent modules, so that each of these modules, apart from what may happen with the others, will result operative or not at each moment, in accordance with the previously cited programming.
From the theoretical point of view and when a further number of sections or modules participate in the stret ching means, better provisions will offer the system in its whole, for which, in practice, this trend must be conjugated to a maximum number of modules with the capacity of same, according to their sizes, to shelter the corresponding drive group and so that there exists an ideal relationship between the provisions obtained by the system and its own cost.
It has been specifically provided that each module materializes in a motor which stator is located in the inner part and is conveniently fastened to an axle, common to all the modules and which is kept static, whilst the rotor results in a housing for the cited stator, is mounted with freedom of rotation on said axle through bearings and incorporates a perimetral recovering on basis of rubber, synthetic rubber or any other adequate material so that, when inciding on its rotation over the surface of the fabric and against the corresponding and classical adjustable pressure roller, it provokes the dragging and consequent stretching pursued.
This modularity in the stretching means allows, by means of the adequate control of the motors corresponding to their different modules, that tractions on the fabric take place, in specific areas of same, in the absence of traction in other areas, and that all of these may be variable at will, without any limitation to that purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help to a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, we enclose to the present specification, as an integral part of same, a unique sheet of drawings in which, with an illustrative and not limitative character, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a frontal elevation view of a rectilineal knitting machine provided with stretching means made in accordance with the improvements object of the present invention.
Figure 2.- Shows a schematic profile of the same machine.
Figure 3.- Shows, finally, an extended detail of such stretching means, partially and diametrically sectioned, to show its structure clearly.

PREFERENT EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

On view of these figures, and more in concrete, of figures 1 and 2, it can be seen how a conventional rectilineal knitting machine is made up as from a framework in which, at the upper part, are established two comb plates 1-1ʹ, with their corresponding sets of needles 2 which, duly actuated by the carriage, give rise to the fabric 3 which is moved vertically and downwardly between said comb plates, dragged by the stretching means, conveniently materialized in a dragging roller 4 and a pressure roller 5, the latter mounted tiltably on a support 6 and provided with adjustable pressure means 7 on the dragging roller 4.
Well then, as from this basic structuration, the improvements preconized are centered in the fact that inside the dragger roller are established a plurality of independent sections or modules 8₁, 8₂, 8₃, ...8_n, all of them mounted on a main axle, fixed 9, concretely the framework of the machine, being all these sections or modules 8 independent in-between from the operational point of view, that is, that whilst a module is found under an active situation, another module adjacent to the former may be found in an inoperative situation, and viceversa, being it attained, in this way, a variable stretching system, according to the needs and shapes with which the fabric is being configurated.
In a more concrete mode, each module 8 is materialized in a motor which stator 10 is solidarized to the axle 9 and in consequence results unmoving, like the latter one, which fastening is carried out by means of the screws 11 or by any other conventional means. On the cited stator 10 the rotor 12 is mounted, with free rotation, by means of extreme bearings 13 and 14, being said rotor provided with a perimetral recovery 15 of rubber or synthetic rubber, adequate for the stretching of the fabric.
As a complement of the structure described, the axle 9 is provided with a longitudinal slot 16, through which the wires 17 pass, for the feeding of the coiling 18 of the stator of each motor, apart from the remaining ones, and in accordance with the signals received by the brain or control system of the machine where, according to the fabric to be obtained, it is duly scheduled the actuation of the needles 1, and, with regard to the improvements of the invention, the instants of actuation and the timing of each of the motors 10-12 to attain the variable stretching required by said fabric.
It is not considered as necessary to make this description more extensive, so that any expert in the subject understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived from it.
The materials, shape, size and disposition of the elements will be susceptible of variation, provided it does not mean an alteration to the essentiality of the invention.
The terms under which this specification has been described should always be taken in a broad and not limitative sense.

Claims

1.- IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN THE STRETCHING MEANS OF RECTILINEAL KNITTING MACHINES, means of the type of those which incorporate a driving or traction roller which actuates on the textile piece duly pressed against same by an adjustable pressure roller, essentially characterized in that they consist in the disposition, in said traction roller, of a plurality of sections or modules, operatively independent in-between, so that at each moment of work of the knitting machine, part of said modules may result inoperative, whilst the others keep an active situation, according to the needs required by the configuration of the fabric, whilst same is being conformated, resulting in consequence, variable, the stretching tension in different areas along the width of the fabric, which areas, at the same time, may be changing along same.

2.- IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN THE STRETCHING MEANS OF RECTILINEAL KNITTING MACHINES, as per claim 1, characterized in that each section or module of the dragging roller is materialized in a motor which rotor results as a housing of the stator and is, in turn, recovered, perimetrally, with a rubber housing, or of synthetic rubber or adequate materials for the stretching of the goods, whilst the cited stator is solidarized with a main axle, by means of screws or by means of any other means, which axle, in turn, is fastened unmovably to the framework of the machine and which is common to all the stators of the different modules.

3.- IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN THE STRETCHING MEANS OF RECTILINEAL KNITTING MACHINES, as per the previous claims, characterized in that each rotor is mounted in an envolving mode on the corresponding stator, with the cooperation of extreme bearings, whilst the feeding of the coiling of the stators is carried out by means of a wiring operatively housed in one or more slots set forth in the main axle, common to all modules.