EP1477600A2 - Circular knitting machine, particularly for the production of spacer fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

Circular knitting machine includes two needle beds for fixing a vertical and a horizontal comb spacing and a stitch spacing. The stitch spacing has a value of >=6 mm. The knitting needles of the needle bed(s) are configured as compound needles having hooks (5a, 15.1). Circular knitting machine comprises a first needle bed in the form of a needle cylinder having grooves in which first knitting needles are slidably mounted. A second needle bed is in the form of a dial having grooves in which second knitting needles are slidably mounted. First and second cams (3) control the first and the second knitting needles, respectively. The two needle beds fix a vertical and a horizontal comb spacing and a stitch spacing. The stitch spacing has a value of >=6 mm. The knitting needles (2, 5) of the needle bed(s) are configured as compound needles having hooks.

Description

The invention relates to a circular knitting machine in the preamble of claim 1 specified genus.

In circular knitting machines of this type (e.g. DE 41 28 372 A1) the relative position of the needle cylinder and the dial set three dimensions that hereinafter referred to as "axial comb spacing", "radial comb spacing" and "mesh spacing" be designated. The axial comb distance is determined by the distance between the upper end face or the stitching edge of the needle cylinder and the Bottoms of the grooves that receive the needles and are formed in the dial given, while the radial comb distance is determined by the distance between the outer End face or the knitting edge of the dial and the bottoms of the Cylinder needle receiving grooves formed in the needle cylinder is given. The The two comb spacings defined in this way ultimately define this as the mesh spacing designated dimension, which is essentially determined by the distance between two circular lines results, one of which through the outer circumferential line of the dial in Height of their groove bottoms and the other through the outer circumferential line of the needle cylinder is given in the amount of the groove bottoms.

In the manufacture of knitwear using both the needle cylinder and the dial is also often desired, especially large ones of the usual size Values deviating values for the distances mentioned, in particular the mesh spacing, to choose. This applies e.g. when using circular knitting machines genus initially referred to for the production of so-called spacer fabrics. This means knitwear that essentially consists of two alone with the Needles of the needle cylinder or produced solely with the needles of the dial Material webs exist that are interconnected by thin intermediate layers (e.g. DE 74 25 934 U1, DE 28 50 823 A1). These intermediate layers will be formed in that between those intended for the production of the two webs Process steps a mostly thin, monofilament connecting thread both in the cylindrical needles and in the dial needles and by these processed in the manner of catch mesh. The lengths of the between the two Sections of this connecting thread lying on the material webs and thus also the The total thickness of the spacer fabric depends essentially on the size of the Stitch spacing and are larger, the further the two mentioned above, the Mesh lines defining circular spacing are spaced apart.

When using conventional circular knitting machines that are also suitable for other purposes with needle cylinders and dials, the mesh spacing is comparatively small, because e.g. the maximum axial comb distance is approx. 5.6 mm and the radial comb distance is a maximum of approx. 1 mm. Even with circular knitting machines where the axial Comb distance due to axial displacement of the dial relative to the needle cylinder is changeable, as is also the case for the known circular knitting machines mentioned above applies, the maximum axial comb distance that can be produced is usually less than 6 mm, while the radial comb distance through the outer diameter of the needle cylinder and the dial is fixed with a value of approx. 1 mm.

The small size of the maximum axial comb distance is one of them Due to the commonly used latch needles and the low latch or Hinge lengths of latch needles. Because the connecting thread at Integration in the catch position on the one hand essentially simultaneously in both Cylinder and rib needles must be insertable, on the other hand the cylinder and Rib needles in thread take-up are driven out as far as possible may that the (old) stitches in their hooks are still on the open needle tongues remain and not beyond the tongues on the needle shafts slip, the axial comb distance is essentially due to the tongue length of the knitting needles used. There are corresponding restrictions with regard to the radial comb distance and in the manufacture of other goods as a knitted spacer.

It is already known in connection with the production of spacer fabrics (US 2002/0152776 A1) to enlarge the mesh spacing in that the two Comb distances at least twice and preferably three to four times as large as with standard machines. That would be considering the above However, explanations assume that the cylinder and / or rib needles accordingly can be driven out far and with correspondingly long tongues are provided, which despite the increased budding an arrangement of the knitting needles in enable a catch position.

The design of a circular knitting machine taking these requirements into account is possible in principle, but with the disadvantage of a comparatively large width the knitting systems and / or a comparatively low maximum speed connected. Depending on the speed at which the needle cylinder and the dial can be rotated relative to a stationary cylinder and rib lock (or vice versa), namely the expulsion and withdrawal curves of the cylinder and The dial lock does not exceed a preselected maximum slope to break the needle to avoid. This inevitably has a certain minimum width for the individual Knitting systems and leads to circular knitting machines that are at the perimeter of a Needle cylinders with a diameter of 30 inches maximum 48 knitting systems (about 1.6 knitting systems per inch). Be for a full Row of stitches, as is often the case, six stitches side by side horizontal knitting systems are required per revolution of the needle cylinder A maximum of approximately eight full courses or knitted sections are created.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the technical problem to design the circular knitting machine of the type described at the outset so that it despite a comparatively large maximum mesh spacing with smaller ones System widths and / or higher speeds can be operated.

Characteristic features of claim 1 serve to solve this problem.

The invention is based on the idea that when using pushpins should be possible, the needle parts and thus the hooks of comparable To drive out speeds with steeper lock parts much higher than with latch needles is possible, while opening and closing the hook using the To control slide parts so that the old stitches can also be used at a high level Sprouting the needle parts form catch stitches, i.e. do not slide out of the needle hook can. Experiments have confirmed that this assumption is correct and with Slider needles can be realized without further comb distances of 14 mm or more. In addition to the known advantages of sliding needles (e.g. DE 38 21 213 C2) the main advantage is that the invention is a high-performance machine leads, with a needle cylinder diameter of 30 inches with 72 and more knitting systems can be equipped and operated at speeds that are common in the previously known machines. The resulting increase in performance is 50%.

Further advantageous features emerge from the subclaims.

Fig. 1 einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Rundstrickmaschine mit einem Nadelzylinder und einer Rippscheibe;

Fig. 2 schematisch die Herstellung eines Abstandsgestricks unter Anwendung der Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 schematisch die Abwicklung eines Schlosses der erfindungsgemäßen Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1; und

Fig. 4 bis 11 schematisch Schnitte durch die Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1 längs der Linien IV - IV bis XI - XI der Fig. 3.

The invention is explained in more detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section through a circular knitting machine according to the invention with a needle cylinder and a dial.

FIG. 2 shows schematically the production of a spacer knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 shows schematically the processing of a lock of the circular knitting machine according to the invention according to Fig. 1; and

4 to 11 schematically sections through the circular knitting machine according to FIG. 1 along the lines IV - IV to XI - XI of FIG. 3.

1, a circular knitting machine shown only schematically contains a first Needle bed in the form of a rotating needle cylinder 1, which is not shown axially parallel grooves is provided, in which the first knitting needles in the form of Cylinder needles 2 are slidably mounted in the vertical direction. A the needle cylinder 1 surrounding, first lock in the form of a cylinder lock 3 does not have shown lock parts, with the feet of the cylinder needles, also not shown 2 cooperate to give them the necessary expulsion and withdrawal movements granted.

Above the needle cylinder 1 there is a second needle bed in the form of a dial 4 arranged with radial and not shown, perpendicular to the grooves of the Needle cylinder 1 extending grooves is provided, in which second knitting needles in Form of rib needles 5 are mounted radially. Above the dial 4 is a second lock in the form of a rib lock 6, which is not shown Has lock parts, which also have feet (not shown) of the needles 5 cooperate to give them the necessary expulsion and withdrawal movements To give.

Moreover, it is clear that along the circumference of the needle cylinder 1 and the surface the dial 4 is arranged a plurality of knitting systems, each of which required for expelling or withdrawing the cylinder and / or rib needles 2, 5 Have lock parts.

In circular knitting machines of this type, a size x, for the purposes of the present invention , which corresponds to the distance between an upper end face or stitch wedge edge of the needle cylinder 1 and the bottoms of the grooves of the dial 4 receiving the needles 5, as a vertical comb distance, a dimension y between the outer end face or knock-off edge of the dial 4 and the bottoms of the grooves of the needle cylinder 1 receiving the cylindrical needles 2, on the other hand, are referred to as the horizontal comb distance. In addition, a dimension z is referred to as a measure, which is essentially given by the distance between two circular lines 7 and 8, one of which through the outer circumferential line of the dial 4 at the level of its groove bottoms and the other through the outer circumferential line of the needle cylinder 1 in Height of its groove bottoms is given.

Circular knitting machines of this type and their function are known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. from the Document DE 41 28 372 A1 generally known, hereby to avoid Repetitions by reference to the subject matter of the present disclosure is made.

If a knitted spacer is to be produced with the circular knitting machine according to FIG. 1, can e.g. 2, in which the cylinder and dial needles 2, 5 schematically by lines and with the cylinder and dial needles 2, 5 formed stitches are schematically indicated by circles 9 and 10. In one The first method step or system S1 becomes, for example, a first thread alone picked up by the needles 5 and processed into stitches 9, whereby a Rib tube 23 (see also FIG. 4) formed on the dial 4 is formed. In one second process step or system S2 becomes a second thread, for example, alone taken up by the cylinder needles 2 and processed into stitches 10, whereby a cylinder tube 26 formed on the needle cylinder 1 (see also FIG. 5) arises. Finally, in a third process step or knitting system S3 Connecting thread 11 in both selected cylinder and selected Ribbed needles 2, 5 inserted and processed by them as a catch stitch, which is shown in FIG. 2 is indicated by a solid line. It is provided the connecting thread 11 only in every second, each indicated by a long line Insert cylindrical and dial needles 2, 5, while those shown as short lines Cylinder and rib needles 2, 5 do not take up the connecting thread 11. Long and Short lines mean that the associated needles are more or less wide have feet spaced from the needle head and with these associated lock parts to be selected.

This takes place in a further two process steps or knitting systems S4 and S5 Stitching analogous to the knitting systems S1 and S2. In contrast, in one sixth process step or knitting system S6 as in knitting system S3, but with the difference is that now a connecting thread 12 only by the short lines indicated cylinder or rib needles 2, 5 added and to a Catch stitch is processed. For a complete cycle or section of the Spacing knits are therefore six consecutive knitting systems S1 to S6 needed. However, numerous other types of knitting are also possible, such as that Known specialist. For further details, refer to the documents DE 74 25 934 U1, DE 28 50 823 A1 and US 2002/0 152 776 A1 refer to the hereby incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present disclosure be made. For the rest, it goes without saying that the finished spacer fabric consists of two layers or surfaces produced independently of one another, which are characterized by a third intermediate layer formed with the connecting threads 11, 12 held together become.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mesh spacing z determines the length of the sections of the connecting threads 11, 12 running from the cylindrical needles 2 to the rib needles 5 or vice versa, and thus also the thickness of the intermediate layer. This thickness is comparatively small in standard machines, since the dimension x is, for example, 5.5 mm and the dimension y is, for example, 1.05 mm. On the one hand, it is remarkable that standard machines are equipped with latch needles, which, as shown in FIG. 1 using the example of the needles 5, have needle hooks 5a and pivotable tongues 5b. In the usual stitch formation, the needle tongues 5b are therefore either pivoted into the open position shown in FIG. 1 or a closed position in which they rest on the needle hook 5a and keep it closed. On the other hand, it is remarkable that the rib needles 5, if they are to receive together with the cylinder needles 2 a connecting thread fed by a thread guide 14 (for example the connecting thread 11 in FIG. 2), are not driven out radially beyond the position shown in FIG. 1 may, since otherwise the old stitches held by the needle hooks 5a slide under the tongues 5b onto the shafts of the needles 5 and would then be processed into a stitch. The formation of catch stitches, which would result from the additional insertion of the connecting thread 11 or 12 into a needle hook 5a, which also contains the old stitch, would then be impossible. The same applies to the cylinder needles 2.

In contrast, the invention provides for at least one of the two needle beds, which in the exemplary embodiment is the needle cylinder 1, to be equipped with slide needles. The cylinder needles 2 are consequently parallel and in the vertical direction Relatively displaceable needle parts 15 and slide parts 16 are provided are slidably mounted in slots of the needle parts 15 (cf. in particular FIG. 3). The Needle parts 15 have needle hooks 15.1 at their upper ends, while the Slider parts 16 are provided with slider tips 16.1 at their upper ends, by means of which they open the needle hooks 15.1 in a manner known per se or can close. The cylinder lock 3 surrounding the needle cylinder 1 has in this case not individually shown lock parts, which are also not shown Feet of the needle and slide parts 15, 16 cooperate to this the for opening or closing the needle hook 15.1 and for picking up threads to give necessary movements. Needles and their controls are also known to those skilled in the art so that e.g. the document DE 38 21 214 C2 Avoid repetitions hereby the subject of the present disclosure is made.

In an embodiment of the invention which is currently considered to be the best, it is further provided that the vertical comb distance x with the horizontal comb distance y unchanged is selected to be substantially larger than in standard machines and, for example, to give it a value of 14 mm, which with y = 1.05 mm a value of approx. 14.04 mm for dimension z . As explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11, no special measures need to be taken for this.

3, e.g. the needle part 15 of the slide needle 2 has a shaft 15.2 one lying on the bottom of an associated groove of the needle cylinder 1 Back 15.3. A chest section 15.4 adjoins the shaft 15.2 at the top on, along a section 15.5 receding obliquely towards the rear in the Needle hook 15.1 passes over. The formed in the shaft 15.2 and in the chest section 15.4, the slider part 16 receiving slot is formed so that the needle part 15th between a position in which its hook 15.1 essentially below The upper edge of the needle cylinder 1 (circular line 8) is withdrawn, and that from FIG. 1 apparent expulsion position, in which the needle hook 15.1 above adjacent Rib needles 5 is arranged, moved back and forth and the slider 16 in a position can be held in which the slide tip 16.1 either accordingly Fig. 1 directly below the upper edge of the needle cylinder 1 or slightly higher or is arranged lower, as will be described in more detail below. In addition, the Breast section 15.4 in the axial direction preferably at least on its from Needle cylinder 1 facing away continuously formed straight to the not to impede or enable the formation of stitches explained below.

FIG. 3 shows the exemplary knitting curves for the stitch formations explained using the systems S1 to S3 in FIG. 2, the running direction of the needles 2, 5 being indicated by an arrow v . In addition, a solid line 18 shows a curve along which the needle hooks 15.1 of the cylinder needles 2 move. A dashed line 19 indicates the course of the slide tips 16.1 of the cylinder needles 2. Finally, a chain-dotted line 20 shows a path along which the hooks 5a of the needles 5 move through the systems S1 to S3.

A series of a finned tube is produced on the system S1 analogously to FIG. 2. To for this purpose, the needles 5 are along a path section 20.1 which is on a path section 20.2 corresponding to the knitting position ends radially outwards advanced to open the hooks 5a and then along a path section 20.3 withdrawn radially inwards around a thread 21 from a thread guide 22 to take up, to make a stitch and thereby a first goods area or layer, i.e. to form a ribbed hose 23 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The slider needles 2 are held in a continuous position in system S1.

In system S2, the needles 5 remain in a retracted continuous position, while the needle parts 15 of the needles 2 initially along a path section 18.1 are driven out. The slide parts 16 initially remain in one Position in which the slide tips 16.1 are below the upper edge (circular line 8 in FIG. 1) of the needle cylinder 1 are arranged. This opens the needle hooks 15.1, when a path section 18.2 is reached, so that one of a thread guide 24th supplied second thread 25 can be inserted into it when the needle parts 15 withdrawn again along a path section 18.3 and at the same time the slide parts 16 first driven somewhat along a track section 19.1 and then together with the needle parts 16 are withdrawn along a path section 19.2, thereby to close the hooks 15.1. As a result, the thread 25 from the hook 15.1 recorded and processed into stitches, whereby one on the needles 2 formed goods area or layer, i.e. a cylinder tube 26 is formed (Fig. 2 and 5 to 7).

In the further course, the dial needles 5 are first along one in the system S3 Track section 20.4 expelled, the one corresponding to the catch position Track section 20.5 ends. With a slight delay, the needle parts 15 driven out along a path section 18.4 until a position corresponding to the catching position Track section 18.5 is reached. The slide parts 16 remain in their deep, retracted position below the upper edge of the needle cylinder 1 (Fig. 8). In this position, however, the slide tips 16.1 are in the middle Area of the breast section 15.4 such that it is also below old ones the breast sections 15.4 hanging and formed in a previous system Stitches 27 are arranged. It is clear that the cylinder and rib needles 2.5 can be selected in the system S3 according to FIG. 2, while the others Needles 2.5 are left in through positions not shown.

As shown in FIG. 8 in particular, in this position the needle parts 15 are driven out into a position so high that their hooks 15.1 are arranged above the rib needle plane despite the large comb distance x . On the other hand, the needles 5 are advanced radially outwards so far that their hooks 5a are on the front sides of the cylinder needles 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting thread 11 (cf. also FIGS. 1 and 2) can be inserted simultaneously into both types of needle, for which purpose the thread guide 14 also shown in FIG. 1 is used.

The needle parts 15 and with them the hooks 15.1 are now along a path section 18.6 withdrawn again, while essentially the needles 5 are withdrawn along a path section 20.6. Here remain how 9 shows, in particular, the slide parts 16 in their retracted position Position until the old stitches 27 on the between the breast sections 15.4 and the hook 15.1 located, sloping towards the rear sides 15.5 of the needle parts 15 (Fig. 3) and thereby by pulling the cylinder tube 26 are pulled towards the rear of the needle parts 15. Different to when forming stitches, the slide parts 16 are only along a path section 19.3 raised (Fig. 3 and 10) when the old stitches 27 securely on the Inside of the slide tips 16.1. Therefore, the old stitches 27 in In contrast to FIGS. 6 and 7 not thrown off, but when the further deduction Needle parts 15 are conveyed back along the path section 18.6 into the needle hooks 15.1 (Fig. 11). The hooks 15.1 are therefore at the end of the track section 18.6 both the old stitches 27 and loops 28 of the newly inserted thread 11, as is customary in the case of catch bindings (FIGS. 10 and 11). Accordingly, the Rib needles 5 along the web section 20.6 so drawn that also in their hook 5a the loops 28 of the thread 11 are tied as catch stitches and long thread loops 28, which extend between the knitting tubes 23 and 26, result. Then the needles 2 and 5 are returned to their basic position (Fig. 11), so that in a subsequent system S4 (Fig. 2) the described Operations can be repeated.

What has been explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11 for a circular knitting machine with a large comb distance x can be realized accordingly in a circular knitting machine with a large comb distance y by selecting the diameter of the dial 4 to be sufficiently small. In this case, the needles 5 would be designed as sliding needles. It would of course also be possible to provide a large mesh spacing z in that both the cylindrical and the rib needles are designed as sliding needles and both the vertical and the horizontal comb spacings x and y are chosen to be larger than usual.

In all the cases described, the special advantage is achieved that the system width be kept relatively small due to the use of pusher needles can and when using normal speeds without further system widths of 2.4 Systems per inch of the needle cylinder diameter are realizable, which is one in Corresponds to the measured system width of approx. 33 mm. It will used according to the invention, the circular knitting machine with more than 48, preferably to equip at least 72 knitting systems.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described, which is based on can be modified in many ways. This applies e.g. for those based on FIG. 3 described needle curves which e.g. could be changed in that the Needle parts 15 in system S2 are driven out to the same height (cf. track section 18.5) as is the case with the S3 system. Next the term "slide needle" also include modified needles (e.g. U.S. 1,385,929, U.S. Re 15 741). Finally, it goes without saying that the different characteristics also in others can be applied as the combinations described and shown.

Claims (5)

Circular knitting machine with a first needle bed in the form of a groove for first knitting needles (2) having a needle cylinder (1), a first lock for controlling the first knitting needles, a second needle bed in the form of a groove for second knitting needles (5) and a dial (4) second lock (6) for controlling the second knitting needles (5), the two needle beds (1, 4) defining a vertical and a horizontal comb distance ( x , y ) and a stitch distance ( z ), characterized in that the two needle beds ( 1,4) to form a stitch spacing ( z ) of at least 6 mm and the knitting needles (2) of at least one needle bed (1) are designed as hook needles (15.1) having sliding needles. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mesh spacing (2) of at least 6 mm is mainly achieved by a correspondingly large axial comb spacing ( x ) and the first knitting needles (2) are designed as sliding needles. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two locks (3, 6) are designed such that both the first knitting needles (2) and the second knitting needles (5) can be brought into a catch position in which their hooks ( 15.1, 5a) are arranged above or in front of the other knitting needles (5.2). Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first and the second knitting needles (2,5) are designed as sliding needles. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two needle beds (1, 4) are assigned a plurality of knitting systems (S1 to S6) whose widths are smaller than 1.6 systems per inch of the needle cylinder diameter.

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