EP0805885B1 - Device for vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine, in particular a flat-bed knitting machine - Google Patents
Device for vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine, in particular a flat-bed knitting machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0805885B1 EP0805885B1 EP96900153A EP96900153A EP0805885B1 EP 0805885 B1 EP0805885 B1 EP 0805885B1 EP 96900153 A EP96900153 A EP 96900153A EP 96900153 A EP96900153 A EP 96900153A EP 0805885 B1 EP0805885 B1 EP 0805885B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- fabric
- claws
- roller
- abutment plate
- presser plates
- 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
Links
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 title claims description 81
- 238000009940 knitting Methods 0.000 title claims description 14
- 210000000078 claw Anatomy 0.000 claims description 27
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003831 antifriction material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000003323 beak Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- D04B15/88—Take-up or draw-off devices for knitting products
- D04B15/90—Take-up or draw-off devices for knitting products for flat-bed knitting machines
Definitions
- the present invention relates to manufacturing of automatic knitting machines, in particular flat-bed knitting machines.
- flat-bed knitting machines are usually equipped with a couple of needle beds, along which a carriage moves longitudinally with alternate motion.
- the carriage bears suitable actuator units that move selectively, according to a prefixed programme, needles which are introduced inside transversal slits made at regular distances along the needle beds.
- the above mentioned actuator units actuate the needles in succession, according to the commands provided by an electronic control unit, programmed with a suitable knitting programme, so as to achieve formation, in succession, of a series of so-called fabric rows.
- Knitting machines need to stretch vertically the fabric being formed.
- the traditional devices used for this purpose generally include one or more rollers placed below the needle beds and parallel thereto. These rollers are designed to clamp and pull the fabric while being formed.
- a known device of this type provides a couple of rollers tangent to each other and rotated in opposite directions, for a preset time interval, at the end of each carriage stroke.
- the US Patent N. 5.271.250 belonging to the same applicant, describes a device that obtains a uniform vertical stretching of adjacent portions of fabric even in the presence of areas of different lengths.
- This device provides a series of clamping members for the fabric, situated below the needle beds, regularly spaced out, and including each one a couple of jaws articulated to supporting element integral with slides, operated vertically with reciprocating intermittent motion, from a raised position, in which the fabric is clamped, to a lowered position, in which the fabric is released.
- Suitable cams are designed to close the clamping members in suitable phase relation with formation of the fabric rows, when the slide is in the raised position. Therefore, these clamping members cyclically clamp the fabric, perform a pulling stroke, and then release the fabric.
- the stroke of the holding parts can be varied from a maximum to a minimum, relative to the desired stretching degree that depends on the knitting type and the number of fabric forming operation that can- be obtained with a single stroke of the carriage.
- the possibility to increase the stretching is limited to the maximum stroke that can be imparted to the holding parts.
- gripper elements cooperating with the clamping members, hold the fabric when the clamping members are open and return to the raised position.
- the above mentioned device performs an effective stretching action when the manufacturing is of the type including one or at most two fabric forming operations for each stroke of the carriage.
- the object of the present invention is to propose an improved device that performs a uniform vertical stretching of fabric in knitting machines, in particular that varies the stretching in accordance with the kind of manufacturing technique and the number of fabric forming operation per carriage stroke.
- a device for the vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine in particular a flat-bed knitting machine, which includes two longitudinal needle beds below which the fabric being formed exits, and that further includes a series of clamping members for the fabric, arranged below the needle beds regularly spaced apart, and respectively consisting of oscillating claws, articulated to a supporting element along a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the needle beds, a stationary abutment plate cooperating with the claws, and presser plates articulated to the claws along a longitudinal axis and designed for pressing fabric on a longitudinal roller arranged below the abutment plate and driven to rotate with a continuous motion according to a direction in agreement with the descent of the fabric being formed.
- a slide element is connected to the supporting element and is actuated so as to slide vertically stepwise with a reciprocating motion, between a raised position, in which the fabric is clamped and a lowered position, in which the fabric is released.
- Cam means are provided for rotation of the claws to close the clamping elements, in suitable phase relation with formation of the rows of the fabric, when the slides are located in the raised position.
- the two needle beds of a flat-bed automatic knitting machine are indicated with 1 and 2, and a portion of a knitted fabric being formed is indicated with 3.
- the needle beds 1 and 2 feature regularly spaced apart transverse slits, well known in the art, in which the needles 4 are inserted and actuated by respective operative systems.
- the needle beds 1 and 2 are supported by a stationary frame that includes a couple of platforms 5 situated respectively below the needle beds 1 and 2; the platforms 5 are fixed to the needle beds 1,2 surfaces with interposition of a plurality of spacer elements 6.
- a cross-member 7, that defines a vertical surface extending lengthwise along the needle beds 1, 2, is fixed to a first of the platforms 5.
- connection plate 8 is fixed to the second platform 5, adjacent thereto, forms a vertical wall extending lengthwise along the machine, below the top of the first needle bed 1, and supports an abutment plate 9.
- connection plate 8 bears also a rotating knurled roller 10 (see also Fig. 6), arranged below the abutment plate 9 and operated, by suitable motor means, with a continuous motion at low speed, according to a rotation direction in agreement with the descent of the fabric being formed.
- a rotating knurled roller 10 (see also Fig. 6), arranged below the abutment plate 9 and operated, by suitable motor means, with a continuous motion at low speed, according to a rotation direction in agreement with the descent of the fabric being formed.
- a vertically sliding angular element 11 is fitted alongside the cross-member 7.
- Suitable pads 12 made of antifriction material, designed to reduce the sliding friction, are placed between the angular element 11 and the cross-member 7.
- the pads 12 are inserted in corresponding openings made on the angular element 11 and are blocked by a plate 13 placed longitudinal to the same angular element 11.
- a series of prongs 15, suitably spaced out, are articulated to the angular element 11 by related hinges 14.
- the prongs 15 have an upper portion 15a, designed to face the cross-member 7, and a lower portion 15b facing downwards; the downward facing portion 15b is located below the angular element 11.
- the hinge 14 features two seats for receiving of respective pins 18 and 19 for the pivotal connection to the angular element 11 and the lever 16; the pins 18,19 have horizontal axes that are parallel to the machine.
- the lever 16 protrudes over the cam shaft 17 in a kind of beak 16a.
- the lever 16 normally rests against the downward facing part 15b of the prong 15 being held in position by elastic action of a spring 20 fitted in a housing made in the same lever 16.
- the spring 20 is retained by a knob 21 inserted in the above mentioned housing of the lever 16; the head of this knob 21 rests against the lower surface of the downwards facing portion 15b of the prong 15.
- each prong 15 there is situated a clamping member 22, aimed at cooperating with the stationary abutment plate 9 for holding the fabric 3 to be stretched.
- the clamping member 22 includes a claw 23 equipped with couples of teeth 23a arranged along the upper edge.
- the presser plates 25 push lightly the roller 10, due to the elastic action exerted by a spring 26, that urges the prong 15.
- the presser plates 25 On their surface turned toward the roller 10, the presser plates 25 feature a series of vertical grooves 27; these grooves 27 are designed to receive the threads that separate the rows of the fabric 3 being formed, extended in known way in direction parallel to the same fabric.
- the presser plates 25 have a section 25a bent toward the prong 15.
- the presser plates 25 In correspondence with the ends of the needle beds 1,2, there is a pair of symmetrical slides 28, only one of which can be seen in the drawing; the slides 28 are fitted in known way to the angular element 11.
- Each slide 28 has a rack profile 29 that meshes with a pinion 30, supported rotatably by the stationary frame 31 of the machine and designed to be stepwise operated by related drive parts.
- the slide 28 On the side opposite to the rack 29, the slide 28 is guided by a counter-roller 32, also supported rotatably by the stationary frame 31 of the machine.
- the action of the rack 29 is also balanced by a spring 33 suspended vertically on the frame 31 and hooked to a pin 34 protruding transversally to the lower end of the slide 28.
- the presser plates 25 follow the downward movement imposed to the claws 23 by the slides 28. Due to reciprocal adaptations, the lowering of the claws 23 determines also rotation of the presser plates 25 with the roller 10 acting as a pin.
- This rotaticn carries the bent section 25a of the presser plates 25 to strike against the prongs 15, so as to form with the latters one rigid body capable of clamping with force the fabric to the rotating knurled roller 10 (Fig. 4).
- presser plates 25 causes also a limited rotation of the prongs 15 that rotate with respect to the levers 16, kept in contact with the cam shaft 17.
- the knurled roller 10 can continue the stretching action of the fabric 3, if this is necessary.
- the device allows to vary operation in relation with the length of the rows and the number of the fabric forming operations per each carriage stroke.
- the stretching steps performed by the claws 23, illustrated previously are sufficient in the machines with one or two fabric forming operations, while further stretching performed by the knurled roller 10, during the descent stroke, is advantageously used in the machines with many fabric forming operations, such as three or four operations.
- the presser plates 25, in conjunction with the roller 10, can alsc maintain the fabric 3 taut during the subsequent step, in which the slides 28 rise again (Fig. 5).
- a further rotation of the cam shaft determines the disengagement of the levers 16, that return to form one body with prongs 15.
- the rise does not bring the teeth 23a of the claws 23 to touch the stationary abutment plate 9, since the springs 26 push elastically the presser plates 25 so as to touch a knurled roller 10, thus allowing a light return rotation of the prongs 15, that keeps the same prongs 15 suitably distanced from the abutment plate 9.
- the device in question involves the creation of a sequence of successive clamping steps for the fabric 3 performed by the claws 23 in conjunction with the abutment plate 9, then descent of these claws 23 for the stretching of the fabric 3, and lastly return of the claws 23 to the raised inoperative position.
- the clamping members 22 are normally activated when the carriage, that slides along the needle beds 1, 2, inverts its stroke.
- the fabric 3 is kept taut by the presser plates 25 that clamp it elastically to the knurled roller 10, operated with a continuous motion at a low speed.
- the roller 10 exerts a constant traction action, preventing the fabric from elastic returning.
- the rotating knurled roller 10 allows to continue stretching of the fabric.
- the described device makes it possible to vary the stretching in relation to the number of fabric forming operations and the type of manufacturing.
- the device is also simple to build, thus reducing considerably the costs of production and maintenance.
- the device subject of this invention, has been proposed associated with a flat-bed machine, for example for knit-wear.
- This device can be usefully adopted with any kind of machine that produces fabric in an intermittent kind.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Knitting Machines (AREA)
Description
- Fig. 1 shows a cross-section view of the stretching device being the subject of the present invention;
- Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 show cross-section views of the subject device in subsequent working steps;
- Fig. 6 is a perspective detailed view of fabric gripping members of the subject device.
Claims (7)
- Device for the vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine which includes two longitudinal needle beds (1,2), below which the fabric (3) being formed exits, said device including:a series of regularly spaced apart clamping members (22) for the fabric (3), arranged below said needle beds (1,2), respectively consisting of oscillating claws (23), articulated to a supporting element (11) along a longitudinal axis (18) extending parallel to said needle beds (1,2),slide elements (28) connected to said supporting element (11) and actuated so as to slide vertically stepwise with a reciprocating motion, between a raised position, in which said fabric (3) is clamped and a lowered position, in which the fabric (3) is released;cam means (17) for providing angular rotation of said claws (23) to close said clamping elements (22), in suitable phase relation with formation of the rows of said fabric (3), when the slides (28) are located in said raised position, characterised by a stationary abutment plate (9) cooperating with said claws (23), and presser plates (25) articulated to said claws (23) along a longitudinal axis (24) for pressing fabric on a longitudinal roller (10), arranged below said abutment plate (9) and driven to rotate with a continuous motion in agreement with the descent of the fabric being formed.
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that said claws (23) are fixed to respective prongs (15) articulated to said supporting element (11), with respective levers (16) also hinged to said prongs (15), and subjected to elastic action of springs (20) held by the same supporting element (11).
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that along their upper edge, said claws (23) feature teeth (23a) for clamping said fabric (3) to the said stationary abutment plate (9).
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that each one of said presser plates (25) is constituted by a kind of scoop hinged in its upper part to the said claws (23) and subjected to the action of spring (26) pushing toward said roller (10) that is suitably knurled.
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that along their lower edge each one of said presser plates (25) features a section (25a) that is bent towards the side opposite to said roller (10) and that rests, when located in an operative position, against a prong (15), fixed to said claws (23).
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that on their surface turned toward said roller (10) each one of the said presser plates (25) features a series of vertical grooves (27) which receive the threads that separate the rows of the fabric (3) being formed.
- Device, according to claim 1, characterised in that said abutment plate (9) includes a vertical wall, that extends longitudinally below the top of a first needle bed (1), in front of said claws (23).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT95BO000016A IT1278165B1 (en) | 1995-01-23 | 1995-01-23 | IMPROVED DEVICE FOR VERTICAL STRINGING OF THE FABRIC OF AN AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY STRAIGHT LINE |
ITBO950016 | 1995-01-23 | ||
PCT/IB1996/000041 WO1996023094A1 (en) | 1995-01-23 | 1996-01-18 | Device for vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine, in particular a flat-bed knitting machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0805885A1 EP0805885A1 (en) | 1997-11-12 |
EP0805885B1 true EP0805885B1 (en) | 1999-07-14 |
Family
ID=11340216
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96900153A Expired - Lifetime EP0805885B1 (en) | 1995-01-23 | 1996-01-18 | Device for vertical stretching of fabric in an automatic knitting machine, in particular a flat-bed knitting machine |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0805885B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH10512930A (en) |
BR (1) | BR9606775A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69603254T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2133923T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1278165B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996023094A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT1279655B1 (en) * | 1995-10-16 | 1997-12-16 | Emm Srl | IMPROVED DEVICE FOR VERTICAL STRETCHING OF FABRIC IN AN AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY STRAIGHT LINE. |
KR100521798B1 (en) * | 1996-11-06 | 2006-01-12 | 가부시키가이샤 시마세이키 세이사쿠쇼 | Letter lowering device in flat knitting machine |
CN1912219A (en) * | 2006-08-28 | 2007-02-14 | 吴宇芯 | Roller set |
CN103898672A (en) * | 2013-12-11 | 2014-07-02 | 常熟市国光机械有限公司 | Roller rolling mechanism of computerized flat knitter |
CN112877893B (en) * | 2021-01-11 | 2022-04-12 | 桐乡市强隆机械有限公司 | Double-layer traction roller device of flat knitting machine |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2803135C2 (en) * | 1978-01-25 | 1986-10-09 | H. Stoll Gmbh & Co, 7410 Reutlingen | Knitted fabric take-off device for flat knitting machines |
ES265992Y (en) * | 1982-05-25 | 1983-08-01 | NEEDLE BED FOR AUTOMATIC STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES. | |
CH659269A5 (en) * | 1982-08-04 | 1987-01-15 | Stoll & Co H | DEVICE DEVICE FOR A FLAT KNITTING MACHINE. |
JPH05214645A (en) * | 1991-07-18 | 1993-08-24 | Emm Srl | Apparatus for stretching raw fabric in vertical direction in automatic knitting machine such as flat knitting machine |
-
1995
- 1995-01-23 IT IT95BO000016A patent/IT1278165B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1996
- 1996-01-18 BR BR9606775A patent/BR9606775A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-01-18 EP EP96900153A patent/EP0805885B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-01-18 ES ES96900153T patent/ES2133923T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-01-18 WO PCT/IB1996/000041 patent/WO1996023094A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-01-18 DE DE69603254T patent/DE69603254T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-01-18 JP JP8522752A patent/JPH10512930A/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69603254T2 (en) | 1999-12-16 |
ITBO950016A0 (en) | 1995-01-23 |
JPH10512930A (en) | 1998-12-08 |
DE69603254D1 (en) | 1999-08-19 |
EP0805885A1 (en) | 1997-11-12 |
IT1278165B1 (en) | 1997-11-17 |
BR9606775A (en) | 1998-01-06 |
ITBO950016A1 (en) | 1996-07-23 |
ES2133923T3 (en) | 1999-09-16 |
WO1996023094A1 (en) | 1996-08-01 |
MX9705578A (en) | 1998-06-28 |
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