EP0985757A1 - Device for internally guiding of tubular knitwear - Google Patents

Abstract

Inner guide system for tubular knitted fabrics, between the needle beds of the circular knitter and the take-off rollers, has two hollow tubes (20,21) fitted to the center housing (18) by struts (22,23). Two V-shaped units (24,25) have arms (28,29) with elbow extensions, to slide in the hollow tubes, so that the four extensions (26,27) and the two hollow tubes form the two rectilinear sections. A control gives a simultaneous and opposing movement to the two V-shaped structures from the center housing (18) to the two arms (28,29) and each V-shaped unit (24,25). The control handwheel (25) is mounted on the center housing (18). A gearing mechanism is within the housing (18), operated by the control handwheel (25), with a control tube parallel to the two hollow tubes (20,21) mounted at the two housing walls (31). Two bevel gears, at right angles to each other, are keyed to the control handwheel (25) and control tube. Two threaded spindles (36,37) project from the housing (18), with their threads in opposite directions, to be turned by the inner control tube to move the V-shaped components (24,25) in opposite directions. The control movements can also be through an electromotor, operated by remote control. Each strut (22,23) has two telescopic rods, where one rod (49) is mounted to the center housing (18) and the other rod (48) is attached to a hollow tube (20,21). The assembly can have a number of paired V-shaped components, with different peak angles fitted together.

Description

The present invention relates to the guidance of a tubular knit in space located between the needle bed of a circular knitting machine and the rolls. It relates more particularly to a simplified device allowing this guidance.

A tubular knit produced by a circular knitting loom leaves the bed in the form of a tube and is then laid flat passing between two call cylinders to be wound on a receiving support. The passage from a circular shape to a flattened shape over a fairly small distance, depending on the height of the loom, can cause wrinkles when winding, which we try to avoid by placing inside the knitting , just above the call cylinders, a guiding device or conformator.

A device of this type has already been proposed in the documents FR.2.416.185 and FR.2.436.835. This device, marketed under the CADRATEX name by SODEMAT, has the advantage major, compared to other conformers, to avoid distortion of rows of meshes and to obtain a great homogeneity of tension on all the fabric of the trade.

The principle behind CADRATEX is based on the observation that the knitting has a circular cross-section having a determined circumference P when reaches a state of equilibrium after a certain retraction at the end of the trade. So that the winding can be done in good conditions, it is necessary, according to previous documents, that the width of the knit, at its introduction between the support cylinders, equal to half the circumference P. The special feature of CADRATEX is that it guides the knit so that it goes through an intermediate section of shape rectangular and advantageously square, two sides of which are parallel to the winding line and whose perimeter is also equal to P. Thanks to this particular configuration of the guide means, the cross section of knitting maintains a constant perimeter P between the rectangular guide or preferably square and winding. In addition, all around the knit, the generator paths remain equal between these same two zones.

The width of the knitting winding can vary, on the same profession, depending on the material used and the operating conditions, it was already provided in the above documents to be able to make an adjustment allowing the dimensions of the inner guide to be varied. However for respect the concept that is the basis of this invention, all means of adjustment required a homothetic transformation of the elements of guidance relative to the central axis. So when we vary the length on one side of the rectangular or square frame of a given quantity, it is necessary to vary the distance between the spacers, at level of the call cylinders, double this quantity. The solutions to achieve this has proven to be complex and therefore costly, which did not provide them with significant industrial development.

Other, simpler solutions have been proposed, in particular in document FR.2.436.835, but these solutions did not present the possibility of a central adjustment allowing to vary the configuration of the device easily by the operator while the device is on the job.

The goal set by the applicant is to propose a device for guidance which overcomes the aforementioned drawback.

This object is perfectly achieved by the device of the invention. It's about of an internal guide device for a tubular knit between the needle bed of a circular knitting loom and a pair of call cylinders. So known from documents FR.2.416.185 and FR.2.436.835, this device includes a central control unit, an axial suspension part of the knitting machine housing as well as guide elements, with two straight portions coplanar, parallel and symmetrical about the axis of the axial part and two V-shaped portions, each extending the portions coplanar with an inclination relative to the plane thereof.

Typically according to the invention, the device comprises two hollow tubes, fixed to the central box and on either side of it by spacers, and two V-shaped elements; the two branches of each said V-shaped elements comprising bent extensions, suitable for slide in the two hollow tubes so that the four extensions and the two hollow tubes constitute the two rectilinear portions; more the device comprises a control unit for simultaneous movement and antagonist of the two V-shaped elements, this set being controlled from of the central box and connected to the two branches of each V-shaped element

Thus, contrary to the teaching of the aforementioned documents, the adjustment of the device is no longer done according to a homothetic transformation but by a deformation in one direction of the guide elements and this without respecting the condition that the variation in length on one side of the square or rectangular guide of a given quantity involves the variation of the distance between the spacers, at level of the call cylinders, double this quantity. In the case present we have exactly the same variation and not a variation of the double, as will emerge more clearly upon examination of the description which will be made below of a specific example of embodiment.

The applicant has in fact noted that despite the non-compliance with this homothetic transformation condition, for settings generally used on circular knitting looms, processing by moving in one direction still gives satisfaction with the winding quality of the knitting and as for the uniformity of tension on the needles.

The device of the invention achieves this result thanks to a symmetrical and homogeneous displacement of the two elements in V with respect to the central box, itself positioned along the axis of the circular loom.

a) monté sur le boítier central, un organe de commande,

b) montés à l'intérieur du boítier central :

• un tube de commande parallèle aux deux tubes creux et dont la paroi interne des deux extrémités est filetée,
• deux pignons de renvoi d'angle , le premier fixé autour du tube de commande et le second solidaire de l'organe de commande,

c) montées extérieurement sur le boítier central : deux tiges filetées à pas inversé, chacune ayant une extrémité pénétrant dans le tube de commande et coopérant avec celui-ci, l'autre extrémité étant solidaire d'une tige en V.

In a preferred embodiment, the control assembly for the simultaneous and antagonistic movement of the V-shaped elements comprises:

a) mounted on the central box, a control member,

b) mounted inside the central box:

• a control tube parallel to the two hollow tubes and the internal wall of the two ends of which is threaded,
• two bevel gear, the first fixed around the control tube and the second secured to the control member,

c) externally mounted on the central housing: two threaded rods with inverted pitch, each having one end penetrating into the control tube and cooperating therewith, the other end being integral with a V-shaped rod.

Thanks to this particular structure, the actuation of the drive control, via the rotation of the bevel gear and the control rod, moving the two threaded rods in opposite directions from each other, and therefore from the two V-shaped elements relative to the two tubes hollow which remain in a fixed position relative to the central housing.

In a simplified variant embodiment, the control member is a flywheel which allows, manually, the rotation of the two pinions of angle reference.

However, this variant has the disadvantage that it requires have direct access to the steering wheel to adjust the device, which requires opening the circular knitting placed on the loom. We overcome this disadvantage in a second variant embodiment, in which the control unit is an electric motor which allows rotation automatic transmission of the two bevel gear, said motor being operated remotely by a remote control, for example modulating frequency.

In addition, in order to standardize the manufacture of the different models of devices, each spacer making it possible to link a tube hollow and the central box consists of two telescopic rods, one fixed to the central box and the other to the hollow tube. In this case, the spacing between the two straight guide portions is given by the angle at vertex of the two elements in V. So it is possible to use the same central box and the same hollow tubes for devices to be mounted on different trades, provided that you use V-shaped elements whose conformation is adapted to the type of trade.

• La figure 1 illustre très schématiquement , en perspective, le principe de guidage connu de l'art antérieur ,
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de guidage à point central de réglage, connu du document FR.2.436.835,
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un premier exemple du dispositif de l'invention,
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique partielle de dessus du dispositif de la figure 3.
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un second exemple du dispositif de l'invention , et
• La figure 6 est une vue schématique partielle de dessus du dispositif de la figure 5.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of two embodiments of a simplified guide device, with a single adjustment point, of a tubular knitted fabric between the needle bed of a knitting machine circular and call cylinders, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 very schematically illustrates, in perspective, the guiding principle known from the prior art,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a guide device with a central adjustment point, known from document FR.2.436.835,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first example of the device of the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view from above of the device of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second example of the device of the invention, and
• FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view from above of the device in FIG. 5.

It is recalled first of all the general principle of guidance as it appears from the prior art constituted by the documents FR.2.416.185 and FR.2.436.835. Figure 1 illustrates this general principle.

Tubular knitting 1, coming from the needle bed of the circular knitting loom with a diameter D naturally shrinks to a diameter d where the knitting reaches a state of equilibrium. This knitted fabric 1 is wound on itself, after having been laid flat thanks to two call rolls 2. The guiding principle resides in passing the tubular knitted fabric 1 through an intermediate rectangular or advantageously square shape, the perimeter P of which is equal to the circumference of the circle having the diameter d . In FIG. 1, this passage has been represented by a square shape ABCD. At the level of the two call cylinders 2, the knitting winding width (EF) must be equal to half of the perimeter P. These conditions being met, the knitting is guided according to the polyhedron having as its base the rectangle or the square ABCD and as respective edges the straight lines connecting the vertices of said base at points E and F. Thus on this route, the stitches of the knitted fabric, over the entire periphery thereof, run through equal lengths between the intermediate guide, rectangular or square ABCD and the winding line EF.

The guide device, with central adjustment point, which is proposed in the document FR.2.436.835 is based, like all the others, on a transformation by homethecy with respect to its center of the guide intermediate while respecting the condition that the variation of the length of one side of the intermediate guide of a given quantity must necessarily cause the variation of the distance between the elements of knitting spacing at its winding of double this amount.

This device 3, illustrated in FIG. 2, comprises a central box of control 4, an axial part 5 for suspending said housing 4 from the structure knitting loom as well as straight guide elements, among which two elements 6,7 are coplanar, parallel, and symmetrical by relative to axis 8 of the axial suspension part, while others guide elements 9, 10 are V-shaped elements which extend the previous elements 6,7, with an inclination relative to the plane thereof. All of these rectilinear elements 6 to 10 materialize the polyhedron ABCDEF of figure 1.

According to the teaching of document FR.2.436.835, the central point of adjustment of the device 3 makes it possible to rotate one or more at the same time upper gears 11 driving racks 12 commander enlargement or reduction of the upper square (delimited by parallel and coplanar guide elements 6, 7) and one or more lower pinions 13 making it possible to widen or reduce the width of the part bottom of the device 3, that is to say the spacing between the two vertices of the two V-shaped guide elements 9, 10. The pinion gear 11, 13 is calculated so that the simultaneous variations of the upper dimensions and are compatible and comply with the general conditions of operation of the device 3, as explained above.

Of course the deformation of the upper square requires that the vertex elements 9,10 in V is articulated with possibility of displacement angular of the two branches 14,15 of the V around this vertex 16. This deformation, in volume, of the guiding device 3 also required the implementation of sliding parts telescopically, one by compared to others in multiple directions, which added to the complexity of the manufacturing of this device.

The present invention provides a version of a guide device 17 which is particularly simplified compared to the prior state of the technical. The principle which is the basis of this device 17 is to realize, when adjusting the device according to the type of knitting, deformation of the guide in one direction and no longer homothetically as previously. Contrary to what one might have thought, this displacement in only one direction, which does not respect the conditions imposed until then, nevertheless makes it possible to obtain a good quality of knitting winding and a homogeneous tension at the hands.

The device 17, a first embodiment of which is illustrated in Figure 3 includes a central housing 18 which is fixed to the knitting machine circular by an axial suspension piece 19, said piece being called axial because it is arranged along the vertical axis of the loom. The device 17 also includes guide elements, rectilinear, some being parallel and coplanar and others being V-shaped

More particularly two hollow tubes 20,21, parallel and coplanar are mounted, symmetrically with respect to the central box 18, thanks to two spacers 22, 23. The V-shaped elements 24.25 have extensions 26.27 bent at the ends of the lateral branches 28.29 of the V. These extensions 26,27 are provided to come to be fitted inside hollow tubes 20,21 and be able to slide therein telescopically.

Figure 4 shows the different organs of this first example which allow the telescopic movement of the two V-shaped elements 24.25, simultaneously and antagonistically.

Inside the central box 18 is mounted a hollow tube of control 30 whose inner wall is threaded, at least at its two ends 31,32 which open out of the housing 18. Two pinions 33.34 with bevel gear transform the manual rotation of a control wheel 35 mounted externally to the housing 18 in a rotation control tube 30 on itself. The first pinion 33 is integral flywheel 35 while the second pinion 34 is mounted around the tube control 30. Two threaded rods 36, 37, with reverse pitch, are mounted partially inside the control tube 30, one at each of 31.32 threaded ends thereof. Thus the rotation of the control tube 30 will cause the simultaneous and antagonistic movement of the two rods threaded 36, 37.

The ends 36 ′, 37 ′ of the two threaded rods 36,37 are provided with a end piece 38, 39 itself fixed to a V-shaped piece 40,41, the ends of which two lateral branches are themselves fixed to the lateral branches of the 24.25 V guide elements.

Compared to the explanatory diagram in Figure 1, the rectangle or the intermediate square ABCD is materialized, in the device 17 of the invention, by the bent parts 42,43,44,45 of the guide elements 24.25 in V, said bent parts being between the lateral branches 28.29 of V and the extensions 26.27. In addition, the EF spacer line at level of the call cylinders is materialized by the vertices 46,47 of V-shaped guide elements

Of course when mounting the device 17 on a knitting machine circular, we try to respect as much as possible the condition provided in the prior state that the perimeter of the guide rectangle must be equal to the circumference of the circular knit in its state of equilibrium and must be double the distance between the knitting stitches at the winding.

However, this condition will no longer be respected during adjustments of the device 17 depending on the type of material used to produce the knitting and operating conditions.

To make this adjustment, the operator just has to rotate in the desirable direction the flywheel 35, which has the effect as explained above to move the two rods simultaneously and antagonistically threaded 36,37 and correspondingly the two V-shaped guide elements 24,25, which can move freely by sliding in the two tubes hollow 20.21.

The applicant sought to standardize as much as possible the manufacturing of its device for equipping circular knitting looms of different diameters. For this, the spacer 22,23 which links a hollow tube 20,21 to the central box 18 consists of two sliding parts 48,49. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the part 48 is a rod fixed to a tube hollow 20 while the part 49 is a hollow tube fixed to the central box 18. The external dimension of the device 17, fulfilling the guiding function, is given by the two V-shaped guide elements 24.25, since these are the bent parts 42,43,44,45 and the two vertices 46,47 which materialize , as seen above, the guide polyhedron. The only pieces specific to a given type or range of trades are therefore the V-shaped guide elements 24.25. The variation parameters will be the angle at the top 46, the angle at the elbows 42 and the length of the branches lateral 28. In a preferred version, illustrated in FIG. 3, the V-shaped part 40 is welded to the two lateral branches 28.

All other parts of device 17 are standard parts whatever the diameter of the loom on which the device 17 is mounted.

Preferably, the device is sold as a kit with several pairs of V-shaped elements with different angles at the top; advantageously said pairs are nestable in each other, which allows reduce the volume of the device when it is packaged for delivery.

The second embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 does not differ of the first that by the control member able to rotate the two gears (33,34) for angle transmission. The manual steering wheel (25) has the disadvantage that you have to open the knitting in place on the loom so that the operator can activate it. The second example overcomes this disadvantage by replacing the manual flywheel (25) with an electric motor (50), double direction of rotation, which can automatically rotate both bevel gear (33,34); the motor (50) is operated remotely, and in particular through the thickness of the knit, by a remote control (51) by example with frequency modulation.

Claims (7)

Device for internal guidance of a tubular knit between the needle bed of a circular knitting machine and a pair of call cylinders, comprising a central control box (18), an axial piece (19) for hanging the box (18 ) in the knitting machine as well as guide elements, with two straight coplanar portions, parallel and symmetrical with respect to the axis of the axial piece (19) and two V-shaped portions, each extending the coplanar portions with an inclination relative to in terms of these, characterized in that it comprises: a) two hollow tubes (20,21), fixed to the central box (18) on either side of it by spacers (22,23) and two V-shaped elements (24,25), the two branches (28,29) of each of said V-shaped elements comprising bent extensions (26,27), capable of sliding in the two hollow tubes (20,21) so that the four extensions (26,27) and the two hollow tubes (20,21) constitute the two rectilinear portions; b) an assembly for controlling the simultaneous and antagonistic movement of the two V-shaped elements, this assembly being controlled from the central box (18) and connected to the two branches (28,29) of each V-shaped element (24,25). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control assembly for the simultaneous and antagonistic movement of the V-shaped elements comprises: a) mounted on the central box (18), a control member (25.50), b) mounted inside the central box (18): a control tube (30) parallel to the two hollow tubes (20,21) and the internal wall of the two ends (31,32) of which is threaded, two bevel gears (34,33), the first (34) being fixed around the control tube (30) and the second (33) integral with the control member (25,50), c) externally mounted on the central box (18): two threaded rods (36,37) with inverted pitch, each having one end penetrating into the control tube (30) and cooperating therewith, the other end being integral of a V-shaped element (24.25). Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the member control is a handwheel (25) allowing, manually, the rotation of the two gears (33,34) for angle transmission. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the member control is an electric motor (50) allowing rotation automatic of the two pinions (33,34), of angle transmission and in that said device comprises a remote control (51) for actuation at distance from said electric motor (50). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each spacer (22,23) for connecting a hollow tube (20,21) and the central box (18) consists of two telescopic rods (49,48), one (49) fixed to the central box (18) and the other (48) to the hollow tube (20,21). Device according to claim 5 characterized in that it is presented as a kit and in that it comprises several pairs of V-shaped elements, from angles to different top. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the pairs V elements are nestable in each other.

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