EP1087049B1 - Latch opener for a knitting machine - Google Patents
Latch opener for a knitting machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1087049B1 EP1087049B1 EP20000307938 EP00307938A EP1087049B1 EP 1087049 B1 EP1087049 B1 EP 1087049B1 EP 20000307938 EP20000307938 EP 20000307938 EP 00307938 A EP00307938 A EP 00307938A EP 1087049 B1 EP1087049 B1 EP 1087049B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- latch
- opening section
- opening
- section
- magnet
- 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
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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
- D04B15/08—Needle latch openers; Brushes
Definitions
- the knitting of fabric on a knitting machine frequently requires that the yarn or yarns being fed to the knitting needles be changed or replaced, such as,when a yarn is cut or when a transferring pattern is being knit.
- the latches of the knitting needles must be opened to receive the new or transferred yarn and a needle-type or brush-type latch opener is conventionally used for opening a closed latch.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Knitting Machines (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to knitting machines and, more particularly, to an apparatus for opening the latches on knitting needles of knitting machines.
- The knitting of fabric on a knitting machine frequently requires that the yarn or yarns being fed to the knitting needles be changed or replaced, such as,when a yarn is cut or when a transferring pattern is being knit. The latches of the knitting needles must be opened to receive the new or transferred yarn and a needle-type or brush-type latch opener is conventionally used for opening a closed latch.
- A typical needle-type latch opener is disclosed in JP-U-4-123281 and includes a pin-like needle-type latch opener rotatably mounted on the knitting machine in position to open a latch on the end of a needle by inclining the latch through a predetermined angle relative to the needle. This latch opener also includes a control ring which is turned through a predetermined arc or angle to turn or rotate the latch opener through a sufficient angle to apply the requisite opening force to the latch, and a latch guard control ring which is turned in the same direction as the latch opener control ring for bringing up a yarn feeder to its proper position.
- Several problems and disadvantages have been encountered in the use of needle-type latch openers, such as that described above. For example, ring yarns or special yarns having significant fuzz thereon are prone to be caught on the tip end of the latch opener which interferes with the knitting operation with unsatisfactory results. Also, such latch openers require a plate-like latch guard to prevent the opened latch from closing again and are maintained in their operational positions by spring mechanisms which increase the size of the latch opening mechanisms making it difficult to install on the knitting machine where space is always limited and at a premium. Further, such latch openers are formed by a three-dimensional bending operation and variations in fabrication precision are prone to occur resulting in frequent difficulty in mounting these needle-type latch openers properly.
- Finally, when the fabric pattern being knit is dense, the loops formed are small and the timing of opening of the latches on the needles by the old loops thereon is prone to be delayed. If this occurs, the latch opener and latch may collide and the latch may be damaged.
- With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plate-type latch opener for a knitting machine which obviates and overcomes the aforementioned problems and disadvantages of needle-type latch openers.
- This object of the present invention is accomplished by providing a latch opener for a knitting machine which includes an opening section for opening a closed latch and a holding section on which the opening section is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin or rotation shaft. The opening section can thereby move between an operational position where the latch is opened and a non-operational position where the latch is not opened. Additionally, a first magnet is mounted on the opening section and at least two additional magnets (second and third magnets) are mounted on the holding section in position whereby the second magnet attracts the first magnet when the opening section is in the operational position and the third magnet repels the first magnet when the opening section is in the non-operational position.
- It is preferable that the opening section of the latch opener of the present invention include a plate-like tip end portion and a magnet-embedded portion. It is also preferable that knitting needles used in knitting machines equipped with the latch opener of the present invention have a polished tip end of the hook and a latch that is about 0.1 mm longer than the latch on a normal or conventional needle. With this design, a V-portion is formed between the latch and the hook on these needles, which improves the latch-opening process. Finally, cleaning and inspection of the knitting needles in a knitting machine equipped with the latch opener of the present invention after a latch opening operation and after the opening section has been moved to the non-operational position is highly recommended. To this end, it is preferred that such knitting machines be equipped with a stop mechanism for stopping the knitting machine so that such cleaning and inspection can be performed.
- In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a latch opener of the present invention shown adjacent to a yarn carrier on a dial of an interlocking circular knitting machine;
- Figure 2a is a view similar to figure 1 illustrating the latch opener in operational and non-operational positions;
- Figure 2b is a fragmentary side elevational view of the latch opener shown in Figure 2a;
- Figure 3a is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of a knitting machine showing the latch opener of the present invention mounted on the dial thereof; and
- Figure 3b is an enlarged, fragmentary, somewhat schematic view of a knitting needle and the opening section of the latch opener in position for opening the latch thereof.
- Referring to the accompanying drawings and specifically to Figure 1, a yarn carrier 8 for supplying yarn to a knitting
needle 7 is supported by ayarn carrier holder 9 in each of the yarn feed mechanisms of a knitting machine. Theyarn carrier holder 9 is mounted on adial cam holder 10 or on a yarn carrier ring (not shown). - A latch opener, generally indicated at 11, is positioned adjacent the yarn carrier 8 and is supported by a
latch opener holder 12 also mounted on the dial cam holder 10 (Figure 3a) or on a yarn carrier ring (not shown).Latch opener 11 includes anopening section 1 for opening alatch 7a of the knittingneedle 7, and aholding section 2 for supporting or holding the opening section 1 (Figure 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b). Theopening section 1 is positioned such that theopening section 1 is situated between the closedlatch 7a and ahook 7b when knit or tuck is selected for the knittingneedle 7 and the knittingneedle 7 is in a predetermined raised position. It is preferred that theopening section 1 comprise a tip endthin plate 1a and a magnet embedded portion 1b which are coupled or connected so as to be separable. Preferably, thetip end plate 1a has a thickness of about 0.2 mm. Theholding section 2 is mounted on thelatch opener holder 12 such that the position of theholding section 2 can be adjusted vertically. Theholding section 2 thus connects thelatch opener holder 12 and theopening section 1. - If the
knitting needle 7 rises with thelatch 7a closed and with thelatch opener 11 in the operational position A (Figure 3a) thetip end 1a of theopening section 1 will enter the V-portion between thelatch 7a and thehook 7b (Figure 3b) and will push upon thelatch 7a as theneedle 7 rises and will open thelatch 7a by causinglatch 7a to pivot downwardly about itspivot pin 14. It is preferable that knittingneedle 7 have a polished tip end of thehook 7b and thatlatch 7a be of a length about 0.1 mm longer than the latch on a normal or conventional needle. - When lint or dust accumulates on
pivot pin 14 oflatch 7a and thelatch 7a cannot be smoothly opened or closed, an abnormal load may be applied to thelatch 7a by the selecting cam (not shown) and a butt on needle 7 (also not shown) which control the knitting needle. If an attempt is made to open the latch 7a forcibly, damage to thelatch 7a or to the butt onneedle 7 may result. Consequently, theopening section 1 is pivotally mounted or supported onholding section 2 by a pivot pin orrotation shaft 5, so that openingsection 1 can move from operational position A to non-operational position B to avoid any damage to the needle 7 (Figure 2a). Apositioning pin 13 carried by theholding section 2 limits the pivotal movement of theopening section 1 to the operational position A, but does not interfere with pivotal movement thereof toward the non-operational position B. - At least one
first magnet 3 is embedded in a contact surface of theopening section 1 with respect to the holding section 2 (Figures 1 and 2b). At least one second magnet 4a is embedded in a contact surface of theholding section 2 in a position slightly out of phase with or off-set from thefirst magnet 3 when theopening section 1 is in the operational position A, but with sufficient overlap to attract thefirst magnet 3 and stabilize the position of theopening section 1. - At least one third magnet 4b is embedded in the contact surface of the
holding section 2 in a position and with a polarity that third magnet 4b will repel thefirst magnet 3.First magnet 3 and third magnet 4b have such strong magnetic forces that after theopening section 1 moves to the non-operational position B, theopening section 1 can be brought swiftly back to the operational position A. - Since it is highly recommended and probably necessary that the knitting
needles 7 be cleaned and inspected once theopening section 1 is moved to the non-operational position B, it is preferred that suitable stop means (not shown) be provided for stopping the knitting machine when this occurs. - Although the
latch opener 11 is shown as being mounted on adial cam holder 10 of a double-knit machine for opening thelatches 7a ofcylinder needles 7, it should be understood that thelatch opener 11 may be suitably mounted on any type of knitting machine for use in opening the latches of dial needles as well as the needles of single-knit machines.
Claims (3)
- A latch opener for a knitting machine having a latch needle (7), comprising an opening section (1) for opening a closed latch (7a) and a holding section (2) for holding said opening section (1), characterised in that the opening section (1) is pivotally supported on the holding section (2) by means of a shaft (5) such that the opening section (1) is movable between an operational position (A) in which the latch (7a) is opened and a non-operational position (B) in which the latch (7a) is not opened, at least one first magnet (3) is secured to the opening section (1), and at least two magnets (4a,4b) are secured to the holding section (2), one (4a) of said at least two magnets (4a,4b) being secured to the holding section (2) so as to attract, in said operational position (A), said first magnet (3) secured to the opening section (1), and the other one (4b) of said at least two magnets (4a,4b) being secured to the holding section (2) so as to repel, in said non-operational position (B), the said first magnet (3) secured to the opening section (1).
- A latch opener according to claim 1, wherein the opening section (1) comprises an opening section tip end (1a) and a magnet-embedded portion (1b).
- A latch opener according to claim 2, wherein the opening section tip end (1a) is a plate-like shape.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP25816999A JP4177941B2 (en) | 1999-09-13 | 1999-09-13 | Knitting machine latch opener |
JP25816999 | 1999-09-13 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1087049A2 EP1087049A2 (en) | 2001-03-28 |
EP1087049A3 EP1087049A3 (en) | 2003-02-12 |
EP1087049B1 true EP1087049B1 (en) | 2007-03-14 |
Family
ID=17316497
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20000307938 Expired - Lifetime EP1087049B1 (en) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-09-13 | Latch opener for a knitting machine |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1087049B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4177941B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60033897T2 (en) |
TW (1) | TW470094U (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE502008003199D1 (en) | 2008-12-12 | 2011-05-26 | Groz Beckert Kg | Circular knitting machine without hold-down boards |
IT1394981B1 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2012-08-07 | Pilotelli Macchine Tessili Srl | "PROCEDURE AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE" |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB846972A (en) * | 1958-02-07 | 1960-09-07 | Stibbe G & Co Ltd | Improved circular knitting machine of the superimposed needle cylinder type |
JPS6211990Y2 (en) * | 1981-04-06 | 1987-03-24 |
-
1999
- 1999-09-13 JP JP25816999A patent/JP4177941B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-09-07 TW TW89215520U patent/TW470094U/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-09-13 DE DE2000633897 patent/DE60033897T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-09-13 EP EP20000307938 patent/EP1087049B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4177941B2 (en) | 2008-11-05 |
DE60033897T2 (en) | 2008-01-10 |
EP1087049A2 (en) | 2001-03-28 |
TW470094U (en) | 2001-12-21 |
EP1087049A3 (en) | 2003-02-12 |
DE60033897D1 (en) | 2007-04-26 |
JP2001081654A (en) | 2001-03-27 |
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