EP1321552B1 - Needle for weft or warp knitting machines and machine provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A compound needle has a slider (4) moving in a groove in the needle (3) and at least part of the groove has a cover (16). The slider has a hook (4b) that is thicker than the width of the groove while the thickness of the needle hook (3b) is less than the thickness of the needle shaft (3a). <??>An Independent claim is also included for a knitting machine equipped with compound needles of this kind, especially a circular knitting machine with two needle beds, each bed having such needles. <??>Preferred Features: The slider is made in two parts, the butt end being connected by a snap coupling.

Description

The invention relates to a needle of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and a knitting machine according to the preamble of claim 13.

Knitting and knitting machines are today usually equipped with tip, tongue or slider needles.

When using a tip needle, the thread is looped over the needle shaft by a first board, i. and then pushed into the needle hook. Thereafter, the needle hook is closed by means of a pressing member and the still existing on the needle shaft old stitch is pressed over the needle hook, i. repulsed. The advantage of uniform and clean stitching is offset by several disadvantages. These are that for opening and closing the needle hook additional and controllable organs are required, which is why a lot of space is needed, the machines can be provided only with a small number of systems and the achievable benefits and the pattern options are low.

By contrast, the predominant use of latch needles on the other hand, due to the pivotally mounted tongues, enables automatic closing and opening of the hooks, so that additional organs are not required for this purpose. The use of latch needles also brings the benefits of a small footprint and the resulting possibility of a large number of systems and achievable high Performance with it. Finally, with tongue needles, many patterns that are not realizable with lace needles can be created, as shown by many different machine types (eg right / left, right / right and left / left machines). A not insignificant disadvantage of latch needles, however, is that the beginning of a knitting process can not be automated because the automatic process of tongue opening requires that there are already stitches in the needle hook. It is therefore necessary at the beginning of each knitting process to open the needle tongues manually, which is cumbersome and time consuming.

This disadvantage can be avoided by the use of two-piece, hereinafter referred to as "normal" needles, in which the hooks are opened and closed by a movable, controllable with the help of cam parts slide. In addition, there is the advantage over latch needles that there are no pivotable parts that can wear out at high operating speeds or be destroyed by breakage. These advantages, however, are offset by the disadvantages that inserting the threads into the needle hooks is problematic and can not be reliably avoided in the use of two-way knitting machines (e.g., circular knitting machines with needle cylinders and dials) that results in stitching errors. Normal needles have therefore prevailed in circular knitting machines only partially and only in right / left machines. In contrast, such needles have been widely used in warp knitting machines, because the threads inserted here safely by means of the needle needles in the needle hooks and therefore the controlled movements of the slide can be fully utilized.

A hitherto not yet used in practice another type of stitch formation is based on a two-part needle of the type described above ( U.S. Patent 1 385 929 and U.S. Re. 15,741 ). This needle, which is referred to as a "modified" needle, differs, like other comparable needles of this type of the above-described normal slider needle in that its slide part has a catch hook, hereinafter referred to as "slider hook" and in arranged substantially mirror-symmetrical to the needle hook of the associated needle part, that is opened to the front of the needle part. The stitch formation takes place here in that one hanging on the shank of the needle part, in a previous one Maschenbildvorgang incurred mesh is caught by the slide hook and held while simultaneously the needle part is withdrawn to draw a thread inserted into the needle hook through the held by the slide hook "old" stitch through a loop. In the course of the slider hook is then first expelled something to release the old mesh, whereupon the needle part is driven out so that on the one hand the newly formed loop or mesh slips on his shaft and on the other hand, the needle hook can accommodate another thread. Such a needle has the advantage, like a normal needle, that it allows an automatic start of the knitting process. In contrast to a normal needle, the modified needle is above all suitable for machines with two fonts, because the old mesh can always be kept in the pusher hook until the new thread loop has slid safely into the needle hook.

A problem encountered in experiments with the modified needle is that the pusher hook does not always take over the old mesh hanging on the shaft of the needle part. In particular, when using hairy yarns and filament yarns, it has been observed that the slider hook only partially takes over the old stitch and double stitches are formed. When knitting small stitches also errors result in that the needle hook partially pierced in the thread of the old, held by the slide hook stitch. Therefore, despite their advantages, the modified slider needles can not generally be used to replace tip needles, latch needles, or standard slider needles, especially when knitted fabrics are to be made with small, dense stitches. Practical applications of the modified slider needles have therefore not become known.

A main reason for the disadvantages described seems to be that in the previously known needles of this type, the legs of the newly formed, held by the slide hook stitch, at least at the moment in which the thread carrying the new needle hook should be moved through the old mesh , Because of the selected needle construction are very close together and therefore the gap between the mesh legs of the needle hook can not be easily passed. This difficulty is due to the operation of a knitting or knitting machine unavoidable vibrations are amplified. Also, the leadership of the slider part on the needle part by means of a groove / spring connection and the slider parts on the outer circumference wraparound Kranzfeder do not contribute to improving the stitch formation. Finally, the known needle construction requires additional machining of the pusher hook, so that it safely enters into a recess formed in the needle shank in the acquisition of the old mesh, whereby sharp corners and edges are formed, which can damage the delicate thread material.

Against this background, the present invention, the technical problem underlying the needle of the type described above in such a way that the needle hook can safely enter the old mesh under the prevailing conditions in practice and therefore the risk of damage to the old mesh or the thread forming it is largely avoided. In particular, the needle according to the invention should be suitable for use also in the production of small and strong stitches as well as in the application of critical yarns such as e.g. hairy yarns or filament yarns to produce a clean and uniform mesh image without tearing the threads used or cut completely.

The solution to this problem is achieved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 13.

The invention has the advantage on the one hand, that the slide member is slidably mounted in a manner on the needle part, which has been proven in normal needles and also in the inventive modified needles ensures that the slide part during operation of a knitting or knitting machine under all conditions occurring, in particular the usual temperature increases, safely and with narrow tolerances on the needle part is performed. As a result, radial and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for a clean implementation of the needle hook by the old mesh harmful relative movements between the needle part and the slider part are largely eliminated. On the other hand, according to the invention, the principle of comparatively small thickness of the slide shaft at the point where the stitch formation takes place, compensated by the fact that either the slide hook is thicker than the guide groove in the needle part corresponds, or the thickness of the Reduced needle hook against the needle shaft and thereby approximates the width of the guide channel. In this way, the distance of the mesh legs in the moment in which the old stitch is passed by the needle hook, sufficiently spread and thereby avoided in conjunction with the secure guidance of the slide part on the needle part that the needle hook or its free tip in the Mesh leg punctures and this damaged or even forms double stitches. Finally, a particular advantage of the needle construction according to the invention consists in the fact that neither individual sections of the pusher shaft or pusher hook nor individual sections of the needle hook have to be processed in a manner which leads to sharp edges or the like and thus to damage of the sensitive yarns in the stitch formation process.

Further advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

• Fig. 1 einen schematischen Vertikalschnitt durch eine mit einer erfindungsgemäße Nadel ausgerüstete Rundstrickmaschine sowie eine vergrößerte Einzelheit in einem Maschinenbildungsbereich;
• Fig. 2 bis 9 je eine vergrößerte Einzelheit der Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1 im Maschenbildungsbereich entsprechend Fig. 1 und in verschiedenen Stellungen der Schiebernadel während eines Maschenbildungsvorgangs;
• Fig. 10 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Nadelteils einer erfindungsgemäßgen Schiebernadel;
• Fig. 11 eine Vorderansicht des Nadelteils nach Fig. 10;
• Fig. 12 eine vergrößerte Teilansicht des Nadelteils nach Fig. 10 zur Erläuterung der Herstellung eines Führungskanals;
• Fig. 13 eine Seitenansicht eines Schieberteils der erfindungsgemäßen Schiebernadel;
• Fig. 14 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XIV - XIV der Fig. 13;
• Fig. 15 eine Vorderansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Schiebernadel bei der Montage;
• Fig. 16 und 17 je eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Schiebernadel in unterschiedlichen Montagestellungen;
• Fig. 18 eine vergrößerte, teilweise geschnittene Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Schiebernadel im Bereich ihrer Maschenbildungsabschnitte;
• Fig. 19 einen vergrößerten Schnitt längs der Linie XIX - XIX durch die Schiebernadel nach Fig. 18;
• Fig. 20 und 21 je eine vergrößerte Vorderansicht und Seitenansicht des Hakens des Schieberteils nach Fig. 13; und
• Fig. 22 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 7 in Richtung eines Pfeils X.

The invention will be explained in more detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a schematic vertical section through a equipped with a needle according to the invention circular knitting machine and an enlarged detail in a machine-forming area;
• Fig. 2 to 9 depending on an enlarged detail of the circular knitting machine Fig. 1 in the stitch formation area accordingly Fig. 1 and in various positions of the slider needle during a stitch forming operation;
• Fig. 10 a partially sectioned side view of a needle portion of a slide needle according to the invention;
• Fig. 11 a front view of the needle part after Fig. 10 ;
• Fig. 12 an enlarged partial view of the needle part after Fig. 10 to explain the preparation of a guide channel;
• Fig. 13 a side view of a slider part of the needle according to the invention;
• Fig. 14 a section along the line XIV - XIV of Fig. 13 ;
• Fig. 15 a front view of the needle according to the invention during assembly;
• FIGS. 16 and 17 depending on a side view of the needle according to the invention in different mounting positions;
• Fig. 18 an enlarged, partially sectional view of the needle according to the invention in the region of its stitch forming sections;
• Fig. 19 an enlarged section along the line XIX - XIX by the needle after Fig. 18 ;
• FIGS. 20 and 21 depending on an enlarged front view and side view of the hook of the slider part Fig. 13 ; and
• Fig. 22 a schematic plan view of the circular knitting machine according to Fig. 7 in the direction of an arrow X

In Fig. 1 only the essential parts of a circular knitting machine for understanding the invention are shown, by means of which the needle according to the invention will be explained below representative of all other knitting and knitting machines in question. The circular knitting machine includes a schematically illustrated, preferably rotatably mounted in a machine frame needle cylinder 1, whose in Fig. 1 invisible axis of rotation is arranged vertically. At its periphery, the needle cylinder 1 has a plurality of radial webs 2, whose distances depend on the pitch of the circular knitting machine and between which modified slide needles are mounted according to the present invention.

The needle needles 3 each contain a needle part 3 and a slide part 4. The needle part 3 contains a needle shaft 3a, a needle hook 3b molded onto its upper end, and a needle hook 3a Needle foot 3c, which is formed in a middle or lower part of the needle shaft 3a. In this case, as in the case of normal needles, the needle hook 3b is opened radially outward and the needle foot 3c extends radially outward. Similarly, the slider member 4 has a slider shaft 4a, a slider hook 4b integrally formed on the upper end thereof, and a slider foot 4c provided in a middle or lower part of the slider shaft 4a. In this case, the non-existent with normal needles slider pushers 4b opposite to the needle hook 3b, that is bent radially inwardly and opened, while the pusher foot 4c as the needle butt 3c points radially outward.

The spool shaft 4a abuts with its inner (rear) end face on the outer (front) end face of the needle shaft 3a. Since each pair of needle part 3 and slide part 4 is also arranged in each case an associated channel formed between two webs 2, both in this channel can perform vertical up and down movements, as in Fig. 1 is indicated by a double arrow v , which runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of both the needle shaft 3a and the slide shaft 4a. These movements are preferably generated by schematically indicated lock parts 5 and 6, which are provided in a known manner on a needle cylinder 1 surrounding the lock shell. In addition, the needle cylinder 1 is preferably associated with a sinker ring in the usual Einschließ- and tee boards 7 are mounted horizontally and radially displaceable. Finally, the circular knitting machine not shown yarn guide with which the needle hook 3b, a yarn 8 is fed to form from this mesh.

The needle shaft 3a has in the embodiment between the needle hook 3b and the needle foot 3c on the needle hook 3b subsequent, radially outwardly bent or extended, usually referred to as a needle breast breast section 3d and a subsequent thereto in the direction of the needle butt 3c jaw section 3e. The jaw portion 3e is extended in the longitudinal direction (arrow v ) and provided with a slot-shaped recess 3f, which is incorporated into the radially outer end face and open towards it and upwards. The relative positions of the two hooks 3b and 4b are chosen so that they can be moved past each other in the direction of the arrow v without touching each other, but that an inwardly projecting tip 10 of the Slider hook 4b at least partially radially into the slot-shaped recess 3f occurs when the slide member 4 is moved relative to the needle part 3 to below.

Knitting machines of this type are well known (eg US Pat. No. 1 385 929 ) and therefore need not be explained to the person skilled in the art.

A stitching process is performed using a circular knitting machine Fig. 1 , as is well known, in about Fig. 2 to 9 apparent manner and is briefly explained below.

In Fig. 2 It is assumed that the needle part 3 and the slide part 4 are in a non-knit position and in the needle hook 3b the "old" stitch 9 formed in a preceding stitch formation process is seated. From this position, the needle part 3 at the beginning of a stitch-forming operation by means of the lock member 5 in the Fig. 3 expelled or raised position apparent, whereby the old mesh 9 first on the radially outwardly curved chest section 3d and then how Fig. 4 shows, comes on the jaw portion 3e of the needle shaft 3a and the jaw portion 3e comes to lie close to the edge of the needle cylinder 1. At the same time, the slide part 4 is raised slightly by means of the lock part 6, so that the inwardly projecting slide hook 4b is moved out of the region of the breast section 3d. These movements continue until they reach the level Fig. 4 apparent positions continue until the old mesh 9 sits on the jaw portion 3e.

It is now the slide part 4 by means of the lock part 6 in the off Fig. 5 deducted apparent position in which the slide hook 4b is arranged close to the upper edge of the needle cylinder 1. In this case, its inwardly projecting tip 10 penetrates into the slot-shaped recess 3f and thereby lies down over the old mesh 9 from above. Fig. 5 ) the needle part 3a further raised, then holds the slide hook 4b the old mesh 9 until the needle part 3 assumes its highest, the Austriebsstellung corresponding position. In this position, the new thread 8 is fed by means of a thread guide 11, whereupon the needle part 3 is withdrawn again ( 6 and 7 ). The slide part 4a remains in the position after Fig. 5 ,

In the course of the needle part 3 is pulled even deeper ( Fig. 8 ), so that successively first the jaw portion 3e ( Fig. 6 ), then the chest section 3d ( Fig. 7 ) and then the needle hook 3b and thus also inserted in this new thread 8 ( Fig. 8 ) are pulled through the old mesh 9, creating a new loop 12 from it. Finally, in this position of the needle part 3, the slide part 4 is raised ( Fig. 9 ) until the slide hook 4b is slightly above the upper edge of the needle cylinder 1 and thereby releases the old mesh 9, which is then drawn by the train of already finished knitted fabric in the usual way in the needle cylinder 1.

The next stitching process begins with the renewed expulsion of the needle part 3 accordingly Fig. 2 , Thus, in this case, the now sitting on the needle shaft 3a new mesh 12 is not raised by this, in a known manner, the in Fig. 2 to 9 not shown boards 7 ( Fig. 1 ) to enclose the old stitch 12. Accordingly, in the stitch forming process, after Fig. 9 be provided to control the boards 7 so that the new thread 8 over the bevel edges, which are approximately at the level 14 in Fig. 1 lie, deducted or is to a loop.

So that the described stitch forming process can be carried out optimally and without affecting the old and new stitch 9 or 12, the modified needle according to the invention is designed as described below with reference to FIG 10 to 20 will be explained in more detail, which show a currently held for best embodiment of the invention.

To FIGS. 10 to 12 The needle part 3 includes a back 3g supporting it at the bottom of the associated needle cylinder channel, and a front side 3h. The needle shaft 3a is provided at its front end face with an incorporated therein, parallel to the longitudinal direction extending guide channel 15 which over the entire length or, as Fig. 10 shows can be extended over only a part of the length of the needle shaft 3a. In the embodiment, the guide channel 15 in a guide portion 3i (see, in particular Fig. 12 ) formed in an upper portion of the needle shaft 3a adjacent to the jaw portion 3e and extending perpendicular to the back surface 3g to a height greater than the remainder of the needle shaft 3a. The guide channel 15 is at least partially with a lid 16 toward the front 3h provided, the two lateral, the guide channel 15 forming jaws together. The production of the guide channel 15 takes place, for example by ( Fig. 12 ), that the needle shaft 3a in the region of the guide portion 3i from its front and back 3g and 3h forth, each with a small and moving in the direction of the arrows circular saw 17 and 18 is processed. In this case, the circular saw 17 penetrates from the rear side 3g to the cover 16 into the guide section 3i, whereby a part of the guide channel 15 open to the rear side 3g is formed. In contrast, with the circular saw 18 placed on the front side 3 h on the one hand, the slot-shaped or groove-shaped recess in the jaw section 3 e and, on the other hand, a part of the guide channel 15 is produced on the side of the needle hook 3b Cover 16 is located and only partially penetrates into the needle shaft 3a. As a result, the guide channel contains a slot-shaped section penetrating the needle shaft 3a and a groove-shaped section delimited by a bottom 15a towards the rear side 3g.

The slide shaft 4 has after Fig. 13 on the one hand a height h which is substantially equal to the distance of the bottom 15a from the bridge 16 measured in the same direction and perpendicular to the back 3g. On the other hand, the thickness d1 of the spool shaft 4a measured perpendicular to the height h and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction v is substantially equal to the width of the guide channel 15 measured in the same direction and preferably equal to the entire length of the spool shaft 4a. It is therefore possible to insert the slide shaft 3a into the guide channel 15 so that it is guided at the rear at the bottom 15a, at the front on the underside of the bridge 16 covering it and laterally by the walls of the needle shaft 3a delimiting the slide channel 15. Incidentally, between the guide portion 3i and the slider 4c part lying portion of the slide shaft 4a can rest with its back on the front side 3h of the needle shaft 3a and thereby possibly be performed in an additional groove of the needle shaft 3a.

The thickness of the slider hook 4b increases accordingly for reasons which will be explained in detail later Fig. 15 within a transition range from the dimension d1 to a greater extent d2, which is greater than the width of the guide channel 15. It is therefore not possible to insert the slide part 4 in the guide channel 15, since on one side of the too high slide foot 4c and on the other side of the thick slide hooks 4b disturbs. According to the invention, to avoid this problem, the slide part 4 is designed in two parts ( FIGS. 13 to 17 ) And to provide a first, the majority of the spool shank 4a and the slide hook 4b exhibiting element and a second, the slider 4c exhibiting element 19. In particular FIGS. 13 and 14 show, the second member 19 has a thickness corresponding, for example, the thickness of the needle shaft 3a, and on a slide shaft 4a side facing a U-shaped receiving groove 20, in which a lower, away from the slide hook 3b end 4j of the slide shaft 4a are inserted can.

Due to the bipartite of the slide part 4, it is possible, the slide shaft 4a with its end 4j accordingly Fig. 15 from the side of the needle hook 3b ago in the guide channel 15 to introduce and advance in this, until the slide shaft 4a in the longitudinal direction v from FIGS. 16 and 17 apparent position relative to the needle part 3 occupies. Should it not be possible to move past the pusher hook 4b slightly rearwardly and to be placed on the bottom 15a of the guide channel 15 Schieberschaftrücken past the outer tip of the needle hook 3b, the pusher shaft 4a due to its due to the small thickness d1 elasticity something bent elastically and thereby be introduced laterally past the needle hook 3b in the guide channel 15, as in Fig. 15 is indicated.

When the spool shaft 4a is properly located in the guide channel 15 ( Fig. 16 ), the member 19 is fixedly or detachably connected to the lower end 4j of the spool shaft 4a. The funds used for this purpose are arbitrary. In the exemplary embodiment, it is proposed to provide the end 4j and the element 19 with coupling elements which interact in the manner of snap connections. For this purpose, the element 19, for example, two the receiving groove 20 transversely projecting pins 21 which are connected to the receiving groove 20 bounding walls of the element 19 by welding, soldering or otherwise, while the end 4j on its front corresponding, on the pins 21 clipped , open-edged recesses 22 receives. After clipping the element 19, the slider part 4 is then fixed and captive, but in the direction of the double arrow v slidably connected to the needle part 3. It is assumed that the slide shaft 3a and the element 19 are made of the usual in needles of the type of interest here materials, especially metals.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show in enlarged views the thickening of the pusher hook 4b according to the invention. If the slide hook 4b has a thickness d2 (FIG. Fig. 15 ), which corresponds approximately to the thickness of the needle part 3, it can not be easily inserted into the recess 3 f incorporated in the front side 3 h of the needle shank 3 a, as it is known, for example. B. after Fig. 5 and 6 would be required during a stitch forming operation. The invention therefore provides ( Fig. 19 ), the needle shaft 3a in the region of its two cheeks 3e forming side cheeks 23 to the sides, ie in the direction of the thickness d2 out so far to widen that measured in this direction clear width of the recess 3f (= measure d3 in Fig. 19 ) is slightly larger than the thickness d2 of the slide hook 4b corresponds. As a result, the slider hook 4b can surely enter the recess 3f even if it does Fig. 19 shows almost the same thickness as the needle shaft 3a has.

Otherwise, after FIGS. 20 and 21 be provided, the slide hook 4b in a comparatively long transition region 24 ( Fig. 20 ) to increase from the thickness d1 to the thickness d2, which is achieved in an outer hook portion 25, and in its a free hook tip 26 having, the needle part 3 facing portion 27 to make in any appropriate manner. In particular, it is advantageous to form the section 27 asymmetrically in the side view, such as Fig. 20 shows. Thereafter, the section 27 on its side facing the needle shaft 3a on a substantially parallel to the rear side 3g formed surface 28, which promotes the threading and guiding the hook tip 26 in the recess 3f. In contrast, the surface facing away from the needle shaft 3a of the said hook portion 27 is provided with an obliquely arranged to the back 3g of the needle shaft 3a surface 29, which in the movement of the slide member 4 from the position to Fig. 4 in the position after Fig. 5 the acquisition of the old mesh 9 facilitates and promotes.

Fig. 22 Finally, in a schematic plan view of the needle and slide dividing position Fig. 7 some juxtaposed needle bars 2 of the needle cylinder 1, between these formed needle channels 30 and a pair of needle bars 2 arranged pair of a needle part 3 and a slide part 4. In the plan view, essentially only the two side cheeks 23 with the recess therebetween 3f (see . also Fig. 19 ), the needle hook 3b and the slider hook 4b visible, noticeable. The hook portions 25, 27 after Fig. 20 and two corresponding needle hook portions 31, 32 are in Fig. 22 indicated by dashed lines.

Out Fig. 22 In particular, it can be seen that in the stitch formation process, the in FIGS. 7 and 8 shown old mesh 9 is spread across the needle cylinder webs 2 practically only from the section 27 of the pusher hook 4b, and that of a in Fig. 20 Therefore, the slide hook 4b according to the invention is designed so that it is sufficiently thick, in particular in the region of this expansion section 33. As a result, a good spreading effect with respect to the mesh 9 is obtained, so that the slide hook 4b facing outer portion 32 of the needle hook 3b, according to FIGS. 7 and 8 carries the new thread 8, can be easily pulled through the spread from the slide hook 4b old mesh 9, even if the thickness of the expansion portion 33 is about the thickness of the needle shaft 3a (dimension d4 in Fig. 11 ) corresponds.

Incidentally, it is clear that the needle shank thickness is determined essentially by the pitch of the needle cylinder 1. At a pitch of 28 (= 28 needles per inch), the average distance of the needle bars 2, for example, about 0.91 mm, the thickness d4 of the needle shaft, for example, 0.41 mm and the thickness of the needle hook 3b with, for example, 0.38 mm only slightly less. In the exemplary embodiment, the dimension d2 ( Fig. 15 ) is selected for the slide hook 4b substantially the same size as the dimension d4, while the slide shaft thickness d1 is only about 0.2 mm, otherwise the guide channel 15 is not safe to produce. Finally, it is provided in the embodiment, the side cheeks 23 widen so far in the region of the jaw portion 3e that on the one hand, the width of the recess 3f sufficient to accommodate the slide hooks 4b, on the other hand measured on the outside of the distance of the side cheeks 23 is still slightly smaller than the inside width the predetermined by the division needle channels 30 is. If this is not possible with the required backlash, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the needle channels 30 at least in that area in which the expanded jaw portion 3e up and down, slightly wider and the needle bars 2 by a corresponding amount form thinner than is customary for the respective division.

As Fig. 22 shows, the old mesh 9 is formed by the thicker than usual Section 27 and the spreading portion 33 of the pusher hook 4b spread sufficiently. Therefore, it would also be possible to form only this portion 27 or 33 thicker than the spool shaft 4a. However, the described embodiment has the advantage that the slide hook 4b need not be processed separately and therefore can be formed smoothly and without corners and edges, which is favorable to protect the threads to be processed.

Next shows Fig. 22 in that it would also be possible to choose the section 32 of the needle hook 3b or even the entire needle hook 3b thinner than usual and in particular so thin that the section 32 in its downward movement from the position to Fig. 7 in the position Fig. 8 safely through the splayed by the pusher hook 4b old mesh 9 passes without damaging them. The pusher hook 4b could then have the same thickness as the pusher shaft 4a throughout. Alternatively, it would eventually be possible to make the slider hooks 4b somewhat thinner in the above-explained sense as well as the needle hook 3b somewhat thinner.

Experiments have shown that a sufficient spreading of the old mesh 9 is achieved when the thickness d2 of the pusher hook 4b and the portion 27, 33 at least about 80% of the thickness of the needle hook 3b and the thickness of the portion 32 thereof. In addition, the construction described ensures that the slide hook 4b when immersed in the recess 3f ( Fig. 5 ) the old mesh 9 safely captures and takes over without damaging it.

So that the thread 8 ( Fig. 6 ) can be safely inserted into the needle hook 3b when using the modified needle according to the invention, the needle part 3 between the needle hook 3b and the chest portion 3d or in its absence between the needle hook 3b and the jaw portion 3e preferably a here as "thread feeding section" designated further section 3k ( Fig. 6 . 10 and 11 ) on. This has in the longitudinal direction v a length of preferably at least about 2 mm and at its outer or front side a substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction v extending outer contour. This makes it possible, how Fig. 6 shows, suitable for supplying conventional threads, preferably tubular yarn guide 11 with its feed end close to the yarn feed section 3k and thus directly under the needle hook 3b to arrange and to ensure a safe insertion of the thread 8 in the needle hook 3b.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, which can be modified in many ways. This applies in particular to the illustrated and described sizes, divisions and shapes of the various parts, which can be designed in the context of the invention in other ways. It is clear that the thickness of the pusher hook 4b is limited at the top by the maximum width of the Nadelzylindernuten 30 in the individual case, while given a taper of the needle hook 3b, the lower limit essentially by the required for the withdrawal of the thread 8 stability of the needle hook 3b is. Furthermore, the slider needle according to the invention can also be used in flat knitting or knitting machines and above all in circular knitting machines with two needle beds, in particular in the form of needle cylinders and dials, instead of circular knitting machines. Finally, it is understood that the various features can be applied in other than the illustrated and described combinations.

Claims (15)

1. Compound needle for knitting or hosiery machines, containing: a needle part (3) with a needle shaft (3a) and a needle hook (3b) formed on the latter, the needle shaft (3a) having a front side (3h) with a slot-shaped recess (3f), a rear side (3g), a longitudinal direction (v) and a guide channel (15) extending in the longitudinal direction, and a slide part (4) with a slide shaft (4a), which is insertable into the guide channel (15) and is moveable to and fro in the latter, and with a slide hook (4b) which is formed on said slide shaft and is open in the opposite direction to the needle hook (3b), said slide hook being insertable at least partially into the recess (3f) in order to take over a stitch (9) located on the needle shaft (3a), characterised in that the guide channel (15) has a cover (16) bridging the slide shaft (3a) at least on a part of its length and in that the thickness (d2) of the slide hook (4b) is greater at least in a spread portion taking over the stitch (9) and keeping it wide than the width of the guide channel (15), and/or the thickness of the needle hook (3b) is smaller than the thickness (d4) of the needle shaft (3a).
2. Compound needle according to claim 1, characterised in that the recess (3f) is configured in a widened cheek portion (3e) of the needle shaft (3a).
3. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the entire slide hook (4b) is thicker than the width of the guide channel (15).
4. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the thickness (d2) of the spread portion (33) of the slide hook (4b) is at least approximately 80% of the thickness of a portion (32) of the needle hook (3b) which is orientated towards the slide hook (4b).
5. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the thickness (d1) of the slide shaft (4a) on its total length is essentially the same as the width of the guide channel (15).
6. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the guide channel (15) is open towards the rear side (3g) of the needle shaft (3a) at least in the region of the cover (16).
7. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the needle part (3) has a thread feed portion (3k), which is disposed between the needle hook (3b) and the cheek portion (3e), and is intended for disposing a thread guide (11).
8. Compound needle according to claim 7, characterised in that the thread feed portion (3k) has a length measured in the longitudinal direction (v) of the needle shaft (3a) of at least 2 mm.
9. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the slide part (4) is configured in two parts and has one element (4a) which has the slide hook (4b) and one element (19) which is provided with a slide butt (4c).
10. Compound needle according to claim 9, characterised in that the two parts (4a, 19) have coupling elements (21, 22) which are detachably connectable to each other.
11. Compound needle according to claim 10, characterised in that the coupling elements (21, 22) comprise snap-on connection elements.
12. Compound needle according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the needle hook (3b) is tapered relative to the needle shaft (3a) in such a manner that the width of the guide channel (15) is at least approximately 80% of the thickness at least of one portion (32) of the needle hook (3b) orientated towards the slide hook (4b).
13. Knitting machine, having at least one needle bed (1), which is provided with a multitude of needle webs (2) and channels (30) disposed between these, in which channels compound needles (3, 4) are mounted displaceably, characterised in that the compound needles (3, 4) are configured according to one or more of the claims 1 to 12.
14. Circular knitting machine according to claim 13, characterised in that the channels (30) are configured to be wider in regions in which the widened cheek portions (3e) of the needle parts (3) are mounted and the needle webs (2) forming the latter are configured to be correspondingly thinner than in the remaining regions.
15. Knitting machine according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that it is configured as a circular knitting machine which has two needle beds in the form of a needle cylinder and a dial respectively, and in that both needle beds are equipped with compound needles (3, 4) according to one or more of the claims 1 to 12.

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