EP0541380B1 - Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen - Google Patents

Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0541380B1
EP0541380B1 EP19920310159 EP92310159A EP0541380B1 EP 0541380 B1 EP0541380 B1 EP 0541380B1 EP 19920310159 EP19920310159 EP 19920310159 EP 92310159 A EP92310159 A EP 92310159A EP 0541380 B1 EP0541380 B1 EP 0541380B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cam
needles
landing
knitting machine
stitch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19920310159
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0541380A1 (de
Inventor
John Hancock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PRETTY POLLY Ltd
Original Assignee
PRETTY POLLY Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB919123500A external-priority patent/GB9123500D0/en
Priority claimed from GB929206513A external-priority patent/GB9206513D0/en
Application filed by PRETTY POLLY Ltd filed Critical PRETTY POLLY Ltd
Publication of EP0541380A1 publication Critical patent/EP0541380A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0541380B1 publication Critical patent/EP0541380B1/de
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B15/32—Cam systems or assemblies for operating knitting instruments
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B15/66—Devices for determining or controlling patterns ; Programme-control arrangements
    • D04B15/68—Devices for determining or controlling patterns ; Programme-control arrangements characterised by the knitting instruments used

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multi-feed circular knitting machine and a method of operating such a machine.
  • Lycra When knitting articles in which it is desired to lay-in or knit in elastomeric yarns such as Lycra (RTM), it is known to feed in the Lycra at a knitting station so that certain needles pass by the yarn feed associated with the knitting station at tuck height or higher respectively so as to pick-up the Lycra whilst other needles pass by at miss-knit height so as not to pick-up the Lycra. If the needles passing the knitting station are at tuck height the Lycra is laid into the knitted structure. This is generally performed for the knitting of stockings or tights.
  • a problem associated with laying in Lycra in the above manner is that the knitting machine has to be slowed down during the laying in procedure. This is undesirable as it reduces the production capability of the knitting machine.
  • a face cam is provided adjacent to the landing or upthrow cam for slidingly contacting the shank of the needles so as to retain the needles within their tricks on retraction of the landing and/or stitch cam to its retracted position.
  • a cam assembly for a circular knitting machine including a body for mounting on the knitting machine, the body including a stitch cam and an associated landing cam, the landing cam and/or stitch cam, being movably mounted on the body for movement between an extended position for engagement with all needles of the knitting machine and a retracted position for engagement with a selected group of needles.
  • the stitch cam and landing cam are both movably mounted for movement between extended and retracted positions.
  • the stitch and landing cams are mounted on a common support which is movably mounted on the body.
  • a method of knitting an article on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations including at at least one knitting station retracting a landing and/or stitch cam to permit needles arriving at the knitting station at miss-knit height to pass thereby without the butts of those needles engaging said cam.
  • a group of needles are raised to at least tuck height and a further group of needles are located at miss-knit height.
  • needles of said group and said further group are arranged alternately and preferably all needles have a single butt.
  • the cam cylinder includes first and second knitting stations 12,14 respectively (only part of knitting station 14 being shown).
  • Knitting station 12 is constructed in accordance with the present invention and includes a retractable stitch cam 16, a retractable landing or upthrow cam 18 and a retractable raising cam 20.
  • the raising cam 20 is a tuck cam for raising selected needles to tuck height TH and the stitch cam 16, landing cam 18 and raising cam 20 are all shown at their retracted positions.
  • a group of needles having relatively long butts 22 engage the raising cam 20 when in its retracted position and so rise to pick up yarn.
  • a further group of needles having relatively short butts 24 do not engage the raising cam 20 and so pass thereby at miss-knit height MH.
  • On reaching the retracted landing cam 18 these needles pass thereby without contacting the landing cam 18 and also pass the stitch cam 16 without making contact therewith. Accordingly these needles are unaffected by the landing cam 18 and stitch cam 16 so the machine may be operated at full speed without exposing these needles to possible breakage.
  • a face cam 26 is provided.
  • the face cam 26 is fixedly mounted and has a face 27 which slidingly contacts the shanks of the needles. Accordingly on retraction of the stitch and landing cams the face cam 26 maintains contact with the shanks of the needles and thereby retains the needles within their tricks.
  • a face cam 28 is provided adjacent to the raising cam 20.
  • the face cam 28 has a radially inner face 29 which slidingly engages the shanks of the needles and retains the needles within their tricks on retraction of the raising cam.
  • a first embodiment of the cam assembly is illustrated at 50 in Figures 2 to 4 which includes the stitch cam 16 and landing cam 18.
  • the assembly 50 includes a support block 51 which is adapted for attachment to the frame of the knitting machine (not shown).
  • the stitch cam 16 and landing cam 18 are each mounted onto a support member 53 which has a guide portion 54 slidingly received in a groove 56 formed in a support body 57.
  • the guide portion 54 and groove 56 are preferably of dove-tail cross-section as shown such that the support member 53 is able to move in the axial direction of the knitting machine but is restrained from moving in the radial direction of the knitting machine.
  • a piston and cylinder assembly 60 is mounted on the support body 57 and drivingly connected to the support member 53 for raising or lowering it. Such movement is performed for altering the amount of draw of the needles for effecting loose or tight stitches.
  • the support body 57 has a guide portion 61 depending from its lower surface which is located in a guide channel (not shown) formed in the upper surface of the support block 51 and which extends generally in the radial direction of the knitting machine.
  • the guide portion 61 and guide channel are preferably of dove-tail cross-section so as to restrain movement of the support body 57 in an axial direction relative to the support block.
  • the support body 57 is biased in a radially inwards direction by resilient means such as a spring (not shown) so as to locate the stitch cam 16 and landing cam 18 at their radially inner position for normal knitting with all needles. ( Figure 4).
  • resilient means such as a spring (not shown) so as to locate the stitch cam 16 and landing cam 18 at their radially inner position for normal knitting with all needles.
  • retraction means for example a cam operated cable (not shown), is connected to the support body 57 via a connector 69 for causing retraction of the support body 57 in a radially outwards direction in order to move the stitch cam 16 and landing cam 18 to their retracted position whereat short butted needles pass by without contact ( Figures 2 and 3).
  • An adjustable stop 65 is provided, preferably in the form of an adjustable set screw, for limiting the radial inward movement of the support body 57 and thereby define the retracted position of the stitch and landing cams.
  • the face cam 26 is mounted on the radially inner end of the support block 51 and so remains in a fixed position during movement of the support body 57 or member 53.
  • the machine may be operated at full speed.
  • the leading edge 113 of the face cam 126 preferably extends obliquely to the path of travel T of the needle butts up to and preferably above the tuck height TH of the needle butts, more preferably to a position above knitting height KH of the needle butts.
  • the edge 113 merges into the upper edge 114 at a pointed corner portion 115.
  • the corner portion 115 is rounded in a radially outward direction of the knitting machine. In this way the corner portion 115 does not present a flat face extending in a radial plane of the knitting machine and facing the direction of travel of the needles and provides a lead-in for needles projecting slightly above their tricks. As the needles pass by the corner 115 in direction T they are acted upon in the axial direction by a progressively wider portion of the face 127 of cam 126.
  • the guide portion 154 is retained within the groove 156 by virtue of a fixing bolt 190 which is secured at one end in guide portion 154 and projects through a slot (not shown) in the support body 157 to receive an adjustable locking nut assembly 191.
  • the locking nut assembly 191 is adjusted to draw the end face 192 of portion 154 into abutment with the base of the groove and to maintain that abutment during sliding motion of the guide portion 154 within the groove 156. Accordingly play in the radial direction of the knitting machine is eliminated.
  • the guide portion 161 is retained within the channel by means of a cover plate 163 secured to the support block 151 so as to span the guide channel 162.
  • the cover plate 163 serves to maintain the guide portion 161 in abutment with the base of the channel 162 and thereby eliminate play in the axial direction of the knitting machine.
  • the support body 157 includes an abutment portion 167 and is biased in a radially inwards direction by resilient means, preferably in the form of a spring 165.
  • the spring 165 is supported on a rod 168 which is secured at one end to abutment portion 167 and slidingly passes through a support block 183 to receive a stop, preferably in the form of lock nuts 140.
  • the lock nuts 140 on engaging the support block 183 define the radially innermost limit of travel of the abutment portion 167 and hence support block 151 in the radially inwards direction of the knitting machine.
  • Retraction means preferably in the form of a cam operated cable 181 is provided which on actuation pulls the support body 157 in a radially outwards direction until the abutment portion 167 abuts against an adjustable stop 170 mounted in a support block 183 fixed to the support block 151.
  • the stitch and landing cams 116,118 are located at a fully retracted position whereat the butts of the knitting needles pass without making contact.
  • both cables 181 and 195 are retracted to cause radial outward retraction of the stitch and landing cams 116,118 and to set the stop means 175 i.e draw stock 176 into contact with sleeve 198.
  • This is shown in Figure 8.
  • cable 181 is relaxed and the cable 195 is held by its associated cam.
  • support body 151 moves radially inwardly under the bias of spring 165 until face 169 of the abutment portion abuts against head 178.
  • the support body 151 is then positively retained at this position (as shown in Figure 9) until cable 195 is relaxed to enable the support body 151 to then return to its radially innermost position.
  • the radial height of the face cam 126 ie the radial distance of face 127 from the needle cylinder is critical to ensure that needles are properly held in the tricks; in this respect the accuracy of the positioning of the radial height of the face cam 126 is preferably in the region of ⁇ 0.02mm.
  • This accuracy is achieved in accordance with the present invention by mounting the face cam 126 on a support post 200 manufactured from a relatively soft easily machinable material such as mild steel and setting the radial height of the face cam using the landing cam as a datum.
  • the support post 200 is mounted on the support block 151 so as to be easily removable and yet accurately remounted after removal. This enables the post 200 to be removed for replacement or machining for setting the position of the face cam 126.
  • the mounting is achieved in the illustrated embodiment by providing the support block 151 with a rebated recess 210 having an accurately machined face 211 which sets the radial height of face 211 to accurate tolerances.
  • the post 200 is secured to the support block 151 by a single removable bolt 220 having a chamfered head 221, the axis of the bolt 220 extending in the circumferential direction of the knitting machine, i.e. at right angles to the radial direction.
  • the post 200 has an enlarged through bore having a chamfered mouth for accommodating the shaft of the bolt 220 with clearance so that on tightening of the bolt the chamfered head pushes the post 200 into tight abutment with both faces and so holds the post rigid relative to the support block 151.
  • a dowel pin is provided extending parallel to the axis of the bolt 220 and passing through the post and into the support block 151.
  • the post 200 has a radially projecting arm portion 230 which has a terminal end abutment face 231 to which the face cam 126 is removably secured in abutment by for example a bolt 232.
  • the above sequence is repeated. If a radial inward adjustment is required, the post 200 is replaced by another post 200 having a longer radial cam portion 230 to thereby position face cam 126 at a radially inner position relative to face 118a and thereby enable the adjustment sequence involving grinding of face 231 recited above to be performed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen (12, 14) und einer Vielzahl von Nadeln, wobei mindestens eine Strickstelle (14) einen Heber (20), einen Senker (16) und ein mit dem Senker (16) zusammenwirkendes Ansetzschloß (landing cam) (18) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest das Ansetzschloß und/oder der Senker (18, 16) für Radialbewegung relativ zur Rotationsachse der Maschine zwischen einer normalen Betriebsstellung und einer zurückgezogenen Stellung bewegbar gelagert ist, die Nadeln der Strickmaschine eine Gruppe von Nadeln mit vergleichsweise langen Füßen (22) und mindestens eine weitere Gruppe mit vergleichsweise kurzen Füßen (24) umfassen, (und) die vergleichsweise kurzen Füße (24) so (ausgebildet) sind, daß dann, wenn sich Ansetzschloß bzw. Senker (18, 16) in seiner zurückgezogenen Stellung befindet, die kurzen Füße (24) an Ansetzschloß bzw. Senker (18, 16) ohne Berührung damit vorbeilaufen können, während die vergleichsweise langen Füße (22) so (ausgebildet) sind, daß sie mit Ansetzschloß bzw. Senker (18, 16), wenn dieses bzw. dieser sich in der zurückgezogenen Stellung befindet, in Berührung zu gelangen vermögen.
  2. Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 1, wobei alle Nadeln Einzel-Füße aufweisen.
  3. Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 1 und 2, wobei der Heber (20) ebenfalls bewegbar gelagert ist für Bewegung in eine zurückgezogene Stellung entsprechend der zurückgezogenen Stellung von Ansetzschloß und/oder Senker (18, 16).
  4. Rundstrickmaschine nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei ein Flächenschloß (face cam) (27) neben dem Ansetzschloß für gleitende Berührung des Schafts der Nadeln vorgesehen ist, um die Nadeln beim Zurückziehen von Ansetzschloß und/oder Senker (18, 16) in seine zurückgezogene Stellung innerhalb ihrer Nadelkanäle zu halten.
  5. Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Vorderkante (113) des Flächenschlosses (127) in der Richtung der Rotationsbewegung der Nadeln schräg zur Bewegungsbahn der Nadelfüße (24) bis auf mindestens eine Fanghöhe der Nadelfüße verläuft.
  6. Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Vorderkante (113) in einem Eckabschnitt (115) ausläuft, der in einer radialen Auswärtsrichtung der Strickmaschine gerundet ist.
  7. Rundstrickmaschine nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Heber (20) zurückziehbar ist und neben ihm ein Flächenschloß (face cam) (29) für gleitende Berührung des Schafts der Nadeln angeordnet ist.
  8. Strickschloß (50) für eine Strickmaschine, welches Strickschloß (50) einen Körper (57) für Montage an der Strickmaschine aufweist, welcher Körper einen Senker (16) und ein zugeordnetes Ansetzschloß (landing cam) (18) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Ansetzschloß und/oder der Senker (18, 16) am Körper (57) für Bewegung zwischen einer vorgeschobenen Stellung für Angriff an allen Nadeln der Strickmaschine und einer zurückgezogenen Stellung für Angriff an einer ausgewählten Gruppe von Nadeln bewegbar gelagert sind.
  9. Strickschloß nach Anspruch 8, wobei Senker und Ansetzschloß (16, 18) an einem gemeinsamen Träger (53) montiert sind, der am Körper (57) bewegbar montiert bzw. gelagert ist.
  10. Strickschloß nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Träger (53) mit einem Leitabschnitt (54) versehen ist und der Körper (57) eine Nut (56) für gleitfähige Aufnahme eines Leitabschnitts (54) aufweist, und wobei Leitabschnitt (54) und Nut (56) jeweils vorzugsweise einen rechteckigen Querschnitt besitzen.
  11. Strickschloß nach Anspruch 8, 9 oder 10, ferner umfassend ein Flächenschloß (26, 126) neben dem Ansetzschloß (18), welches Flächenschloß (26, 126) radial festgelegt ist und an Ansetzschloß und Senker (18, 16), wenn sich diese in ihren vorgeschobenen Stellungen befinden, angrenzt.
  12. Strickschloß nach Anspruch 11, wobei das Flächenschloß (26, 126) am Körper (57) über einen Tragpfosten (200) abnehmbar montiert ist, welcher Tragpfosten (200) einen radial vorstehenden Armabschnitt (230) aufweist, an welchem das Flächenschloß (26, 126) angebracht ist.
  13. Verfahren zum Stricken eines Artikels auf einer Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen (12, 14), dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß bei diesem Verfahren an mindestens einer Strickstelle (14) ein Ansetzschloß und/oder Senker (18, 16) zurückgezogen wird, um Nadeln, die in einer Nichtstrickhöhe an der Strickstelle ankommen, vorbeilaufen zu lassen, ohne daß die Füße (24) dieser Nadeln an Ansetzschloß bzw. Senker angreifen.
  14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, wobei an der mindestens einen Strickstelle (14) eine Gruppe von Nadeln auf zumindest eine Fanghöhe angehoben und eine weitere Gruppe von Nadeln in einer Nichtstrickhöhe angeordnet werden.
  15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13 und 14, wobei die Nadeln der einen Gruppe und der weiteren Gruppe einander abwechselnd angeordnet sind.
EP19920310159 1991-11-06 1992-11-05 Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen Expired - Lifetime EP0541380B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9123500 1991-11-06
GB919123500A GB9123500D0 (en) 1991-11-06 1991-11-06 Multi-feed circular knitting machine
GB9206513 1992-03-25
GB929206513A GB9206513D0 (en) 1992-03-25 1992-03-25 Cam assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0541380A1 EP0541380A1 (de) 1993-05-12
EP0541380B1 true EP0541380B1 (de) 1997-03-05

Family

ID=26299811

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920310159 Expired - Lifetime EP0541380B1 (de) 1991-11-06 1992-11-05 Rundstrickmaschine mit mehreren Strickstellen

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EP (1) EP0541380B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69217828T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2101812T3 (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU701293B2 (en) * 1994-04-07 1999-01-21 Pretty Polly Limited Knitted fabric and method of producing

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2260579A (en) * 1939-08-15 1941-10-28 Jacquard Knitting Machine Co Inc Knitting machine
DE1144872B (de) * 1960-01-08 1963-03-07 Masch Fabrik Carl Merz K G Schloss fuer eine mehrsystemige Rundstrickmaschine
IT1067621B (it) * 1976-07-20 1985-03-16 Micheletti Fabrizio Complesso di camme di comando degli aghi e sotto aghi nelle maccine da maglieria ed in specie da calze con camma angolare antistante una camma mobile a paletto o simile
IT1206415B (it) * 1977-12-16 1989-04-21 Chietti Giovanni Macchina circolare da calze e simile con camme di salita mobili sia radialmente che angolarmente
JPS6433589U (de) * 1987-08-25 1989-03-01

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0541380A1 (de) 1993-05-12
ES2101812T3 (es) 1997-07-16
DE69217828T2 (de) 1997-08-07
DE69217828D1 (de) 1997-04-10

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