EP0884412B1 - Knitting machine, particularly flat bed knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Knitting machines with hold-down plates arranged between the needles are already known. With the help of the hold-down boards, knitting is possible without the help of a knitting device below the comb gap. The hold-down boards have a functional part with edges and protrusions acting in the stitch formation area. The functional part can be pivoted between an open and a closed position. Exemplary embodiments of hold-down boards are described, for example, in DE 36 09 539 C2 and DE 39 35 763 C2. These known hold-down boards are guided in board beds arranged above the needle beds, on the surface of which slide parts slide along, which move the hold-down boards into their open or closed position. However, the sinker beds are arranged relatively close to the comb gap so that they hinder the view of the knitting process and manual interventions in the comb gap. Hold-down boards have therefore already been proposed which are divided into two elements: a functional part which executes a pivoting movement and a linearly movable shaft part. The two parts are articulated together. As a result, the linear movement of the driven shaft part into the required pivoting movement of the functional part between the open and closed positions the board are translated. Examples of such boards are known, for example, from FR 1 207 319 and EP 0 567 282. The advantage of the two-part hold-down boards is that the shaft parts can be actuated at some distance from the comb gap. However, these hold-down boards are of course more complex to construct than one-piece boards.

One-piece hold-down boards according to the preamble of claim 1 with an integrally molded resilient leg for the elastic prestressing of the boards in the direction of knitting withdrawal are known from EP-A-0 397 011. These boards are also controlled near the comb gap.

The present invention has for its object to provide a knitting machine with hold-down plates, which are in one piece and yet do not have to be controlled in the vicinity of the comb gap area.

The object is achieved with a knitting machine, in particular a flat knitting machine, with sinkers arranged between the needles, and a front functional part with edges engaging in the stitch formation area, which can be pivoted about an axis running along the needle bed between a front and a rear position have a shaft part aligned essentially parallel to the needles for driving the sinkers, the functional part and the shaft part being connected to an integral component by an elastically resilient web. The elastically resilient web makes it possible to transfer the translational movement of the shaft part into a rotational movement of the functional part. This means that the board can be driven on the shaft part and thus away from the comb gap. The resilient design of the web also brings about a restoring force which automatically moves the board back into an initial position. The functional parts of the boards can be in the front or in the rear position or in an intermediate position between the front and the rear position in the relaxed state of the webs. Depending on the rest position, the circuit board must either only in one of the two directions - closing direction or opening direction - Or be actively driven in both directions. The boards can be one-piece stamped parts, but can also be composed of several parts, for example by welding. The functional parts of the sinkers can be guided laterally in a manner known per se in order to ensure the required exact position of their engagement in the stitch formation area.

There are different options for driving the boards. The boards can be controlled by a board lock engaging the board shafts. The shaft parts of the sinkers can have a foot protruding vertically from the needle bed, on which the lock parts of the sinker lock can engage. The circuit board lock can be arranged at a relatively large distance from the comb gap, so that the comb gap area remains freely accessible from above. However, the boards according to the invention can also be connected to the adjacent needles by frictional and / or positive engagement and thereby move with the needles. As a result, the hold-down boards according to the invention can also be used in sledless knitting machines with single-motor needle drives. A variety of constructive solutions are conceivable for coupling the needle drive to the board drive. For example, the shaft parts of the sinkers can be provided laterally with flat spring elements which engage in recesses on the needle shafts. In a preferred embodiment, the needle shafts can each be provided with two recesses arranged one behind the other, into which the flat spring element of the shaft part of the adjacent board can be inserted one after the other when the needle is advanced by the functional part of the board being supported on a stop after reaching a front end position, as a result of which the flat spring element slides out of the front recess and to the rear recess. The coupling between the needle shaft and the platinum shaft takes place here alternately via a positive and a frictional connection. If the board bridge is designed in such a way that the functional part of the board is open in its idle state, there is no need to actively control the board to open the functional part. Rather, the circuit board opens automatically as soon as the flat spring element engages in the rear recess.

Preferred embodiments of hold-down boards according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt durch ein Nadelbett einer Flachstrickmaschine mit einer Niederhalteplatine in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 2

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung mit Bezeichnung der Funktionsflächen der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 3.1

eine Seitenansicht einer Niederhalteplatine in geschlossenem Zustand;

Fig. 3.2

eine der Fig. 3.1 entsprechende Darstellung der Niederhalteplatine in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch ein Nadelbett mit der Seitenansicht einer Nadel und einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 4.1

eine vergrößerte Teilansicht aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 4.2

eine Ansicht von oben auf die Nadel und die Platine aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 4.3

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht aus Fig. 4.2.

In detail show:

Fig. 1

a cross section through a needle bed of a flat knitting machine with a hold-down plate in the open state;

Fig. 2

a representation corresponding to Figure 1 with the designation of the functional surfaces of the hold-down board.

Fig. 3.1

a side view of a hold-down board in the closed state;

Fig. 3.2

a representation corresponding to Figure 3.1 of the hold-down plate in the open state.

Fig. 4

a cross section through a needle bed with the side view of a needle and a second embodiment of a hold-down plate;

Fig. 4.1

an enlarged partial view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4.2

a top view of the needle and the board of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4.3

an enlarged detail view of Fig. 4.2.

1 shows in partial cross-section a needle bed 10 of a flat knitting machine with a hold-down plate 11. The plate 11 has a functional part 12 which engages in the stitch formation area of the knitting machine and thus enables knitting without a knitted fabric deduction below the needle cross. The design of the functional part 12 can vary depending on the desired functions. The circuit board 11 also has a shaft part 13 which is mounted in the needle bed 10 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. On the shaft part 13, a sinker base 14 is arranged, on which lock parts 15 of a sinker lock engage. The shaft part 13 and the functional part 12 are connected to one another by an elastically resilient web 16. The functional part 12 is pivotally mounted about an axis 17. If the plate foot 14 is acted upon by the lock parts 15, this results in a translational movement of the shaft part 13, which is converted via the web 16 into a rotational movement of the functional part 12. The opening movement of the circuit board 11 is limited by a contact section 18, while the closing movement is limited by the contact section 22. The functional part 12 is also guided laterally by a guide surface 19.

As shown in Fig. 2, the geometric shape and cross section of the web 16, the position of a node K and the distance A of the fulcrum 17 from the plane T of the translational movement of the platinum shaft 13 are designed so that by translating the translational movement of the Shaft 13 in a rotational movement of the functional part 12 in the web 16 one such Great tension arises that the resulting restoring force moves the functional part 12 and the platinum shaft 13 exactly back to their starting position. As a result, the circuit board lock can be built very flat, since the movement of the circuit board only has to be initiated in one direction. The restoring forces of the hold-down boards can be absorbed in the same lock level.

3.1 shows a circuit board 11 'which is in the closed position in the relaxed state. In order to open the board, a force must be applied in the direction of arrow 20. 3.2, on the other hand, shows a circuit board 11 ″ which is in the open position in the idle state. To close the circuit board 11 ″, a force must be exerted on the circuit board base 14 ″ in the direction of arrow 21.

4, 4.1 to 4.3 show a hold-down plate 30 which can be driven by a needle 40. The circuit board 30 is open in the voltage-free state. Your platinum shaft 31 does not have a platinum foot that protrudes vertically from the needle bed, but a laterally attached flat spring 32 (FIG. 4.3), which can form both a positive and a frictional connection to the needle shaft 33 due to its design. Two cutouts 34 and 35 are provided in the needle shaft, into which the flat spring 32 can snap. When the needle 40 is in its basic position, the circuit board 30 is locked in the groove 34 with its flat spring 32. In this position, the functional part of the circuit board 30 is closed to about three quarters. This position is shown in Fig. 4. When the needle 40 now begins its forward movement, it takes the board 30 with it so that its functional part closes in a circle. This retains the stitch in the needle hook during needle advance. When the closing movement of the functional part 36 is complete, the board 30 is supported with its contact surface 37 on a back 38 a lateral guide groove for the functional part 36. If the needle 40 is now advanced further, the rear edge of the recess 34 compresses the flat spring 32. The flat spring 32 then causes a frictional engagement with the needle shaft 33, so that the functional part 36 of the board 30 remains closed. Shortly before the needle 40 has reached the "catch height" position, the flat spring 32 slides into the second recess 35. The circuit board 30 is now decoupled from the needle 40, so that the functional part 36 of the circuit board is decoupled by the restoring force stored in the web of the circuit board 30 30 opens again. This enables unhindered thread insertion of a tuck handle. During the subsequent retraction movement of the needle 40, the functional part 36 remains open. If it is not a tuck handle, but a stitch that is to be formed, the needle is not yet moved back, but is advanced further. Now there is a positive locking of the flat spring 32 with the second recess 35, as a result of which the circuit board 30 is again taken along with the needle 40. As a result, the functional part 36 closes again and remains closed even during the forward movement of the needle. As soon as the needle 40 then begins its retraction movement, an opening movement of the functional part 36 is initiated by a frictional engagement between the needle shaft 33 and the flat spring 32. A surface 39 of the circuit board 30 then comes into contact with the back of the groove 38 and thus limits the opening movement of the functional part 36. The functional part 36 remains open during the entire retraction movement of the needle 40, so that an unimpeded thread insertion is ensured. After the needle 40 has reached its innermost position, it is pushed back into its basic position. Here again a frictional engagement between the needle shaft 33 and the flat spring 32 is effective, whereby the functional part 36 is closed. As soon as the needle 40 reaches its basic position, the flat spring 32 snaps back into the recess 34, as a result of which the circuit board 30 is opened again for the last quarter of its closing path.

Instead of the flat spring 32, which snaps into recesses 34 and 35 on the needle shaft 33, other elements and constructions for producing a frictional and / or positive connection between the needle 40 and the circuit board 30 are of course also conceivable.

Claims (12)

1. Knitting machine, in particular flat knitting machine, comprising sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) arranged between the needles (40) and having a front functional part (12, 36) comprising edges engaging the region of the stitch formation and adjustable about an axis (17) extending along the needle bed between a front position and a rear position, and a longitudinally displaceable shaft part (13, 31) for driving the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) aligned substantially parallel to the needles (40), characterised in that the functional part (12, 36) and the shaft part (13, 31) are connected together to form a one-piece component by means of a resilient bar (16).
2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) are formed in one piece.
3. Knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional part (12, 36), the shaft part (13, 31) and the resilient bar (16) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) are three separate components connected together to form one component by means of laser welding or another microconnection technique.
4. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least the functional part (12, 36) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) is guided laterally by a guide surface (19).
5. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, when the bars (16) are in a relaxed state, the functional parts (12, 36) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) are situated in the front position.
6. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, when the bars (16) are in a relaxed state, the functional parts (12, 36) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) are situated in the rear position.
7. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, when the bars (16) are in a relaxed state, the functional parts (12, 36) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11", 30) are situated between the front position and the rear position.
8. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the sinkers (11, 11', 11") are controlled by a sinker cam (15) engaging the sinker shafts (13).
9. Knitting machine according to claim 8, characterised in that the shaft parts (13) of the sinkers (11, 11', 11") have a butt (14, 14', 14") projecting perpendicularly from the needle bed and engaged by the cam parts (15) of the sinker cam.
10. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the sinkers (30) can be connected to the adjacent needles (40) by means of a frictional and/or positive connection and can thus be moved together with the needles (40).
11. Knitting machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the shaft parts (31) of the sinker (30) are provided laterally with leaf-spring elements (32) which can be introduced into recesses (34, 35) in the needle shanks (33).
12. Knitting machine according to claim 11, characterised in that the needle shanks (33) are each provided with two recesses (34, 35) arranged one behind the other into which the leaf-spring elements (32) of the shaft parts (31) of the adjacent sinkers (30) can be introduced one after the other during the advance of the needle, in that the functional part (36) of the sinker (30) is supported against a stop (38) once it reaches its front position, as a result of which the leaf-spring element (32) slides out of the front recess (34) and into the rear recess (35).