EP1522617B1 - Flat knitting machine having at least one needle bed - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a flat knitting machine with at least one needle bed with longitudinally displaceable needles and between the needles limited pivotally mounted, controllable by lock parts of the carriage and provided with at least one Maschenniederhalte- and / or mesh surface boards.

Such flat knitting machines are for example from the EP 0 238 797 and EP 0 424 717 known. The blanks of the flat knitting machine after the EP 0 238 797 B1 are at the same time hold-down elements and stitches, while the blanks of the flat knitting machine from the EP 0 424 717 B1 merely exert a hold-down function and interact with a stitch pattern arranged rigidly on the needle bed. However, the boards of both known flat knitting machines have the same disadvantages in common. With both boards it is not possible to suppress meshes of different sizes at different depths in the comb gap, which would, however, be necessary for a secure holding function with large meshes and a not too large tensile load of smaller meshes. In addition, both known boards can not be moved far enough into the comb gap to be able to hold back very large mesh safely. Another Disadvantage of the known boards is that they do not assume a defined state, as soon as their application is completed by the lock parts of the carriage.

From the FR 1 207 319 are pivotally mounted mesh images known, which are additionally provided with a stitch retention hook. The pivoting movement of these mesh images is initiated by translationally movable slides, which are arranged below the pivot point and below the stitch retention hook. For this, the slides are acted upon by control curves in the lock plate. These mesh images have the advantage that they have a relatively large tilt angle. This is made possible by the slides. On the other hand, these slides require extra grooves in the needle beds between the grooves provided for the knitting needles. Thus, this known construction is only suitable for flat knitting machines with a coarse needle pitch. With a very dense needle spacing, this solution can no longer be used. In addition, no different treatment of meshes of different sizes is possible in these known mesh images with stitch retention function.

The EP 0 567 282 shows pivotable stitches with stitch retention hooks for flat knitting machines with a single needle drive. Again, the pivoting movement of the mesh images is initiated by translationally moving slider. These slides are frictionally connected to the needles so that they can only perform movements in the same direction to the needle. A variation of the stitch retention and stitching function, for example, depending on the mesh size is also not given here.

The present invention is based on the object, a flat knitting machine of the type mentioned in such a way that the holding down meshes of different sizes is possible in an optimal manner. To solve this problem proposes the EP-A-0 672 769 already spring-loaded boards for retaining the formed platinum meshes. However, the resilient elements are acted upon by stationary components.

The object is achieved with a flat knitting machine of the aforementioned type according to the invention that acts on each board acted upon by the lock parts spring element which exerts depending on the pivot position of the board in the direction and strength varying spring force on the board. By the action of the spring element, the board does not remain rigid in its respective pivot position but can under the train of the knitting yarn, which acts on the at least one mesh holddown surface, limited feathers. In this way, an optimal hold down function can be exercised for meshes of different sizes. When holding very large meshes, the board remains in its deepest pivot position, while holding down smaller meshes, the boards from the lowest position due to the train of shorter mesh legs can pivot against the spring force upwards.

Further advantages arise when the board by means of the spring elements are infinitely adjustable in any pivot position within the pivoting range of the boards can be brought. Since the size of the individual stitches for each row of knitting is known in advance, it makes sense to adjust the boards in such a way that the largest stitches occurring in a knitting row are held down with the optimum spring force for them. Accordingly, therefore, the maximum closed position of the boards can be adjusted before each knitting row. This avoids that on the stitches of the knitting row an unnecessarily large spring force is applied.

The spring element can exert in the fully upwardly pivoted position of the board one of the closing movement of the board down counteracting spring force and in all other positions of the board a pivotal movement of the board upwardly counteracting spring force. The spring element thus ensures the complete open position of the board as well as the hold down positions for the meshes of different sizes.

The spring element may also be designed so that it has abutment surfaces which limit the movement of the board against the spring force. This ensures that the hold-down function always remains secure even with a Nachobenfedern the board.

In a preferred embodiment, the spring element may have a substantially U-shaped spiral spring portion whose free leg is bent outwards and rests against the circuit board. In this case, the spring element can be arranged displaceable by the lock parts with respect to the needle bed, wherein a displacement of the spring element triggers a pivoting movement of the board. Preferably, the spring element can not be guided in the needle bed itself but in a slide bed arranged above the needle bed. As a result, even flat knitting machines with a very fine needle pitch can be equipped with the hold-down devices according to the invention.

To enable a stepless pivoting movement of the boards while the spring elements can be arranged infinitely variable slidable in the valve bed. The guide may preferably be designed so that the spring element is fixed in each position of its displacement frictionally in the slide bed when the lock parts do not act. This will keep the spring elements and thus also the boards always a defined position, even if they are not acted upon by the lock of the carriage. It can come to any unwanted adjustments of the boards, for example, by vibrations.

Another decisive advantage can be achieved if the engagement surface of the spring element on the board has a smaller distance to the pivot point of the board than the at least one stitch holding and / or mesh surface. As a result, large pivoting movements of the hold-down plate can be carried out with relatively short displacement paths of the spring element. The boards can therefore swing further into the comb gap and thus hold down larger meshes than the boards according to the prior art.

Conveniently, the boards can also be dimensioned such that they protrude in flat knitting machines with two needle beds in any pivoting position on the vertical center plane between the two needle beds. It is then not necessary to pay attention to the position of the blanks in front of a needle bed offset. Even in the closed state of the boards a mutual needle bed offset is possible.

In a first embodiment, the blanks may have at least one mesh hold-down surface and at least one mesh image surface. They thus combine both the hold-down and the stitch-forming function. In another variant, the boards may only have at least one mesh hold-down surface and co-operate with mesh images arranged rigidly on the needle beds.

Further advantages arise when the boards have multiple Maschenniederhalteflächen for single and double-bed knitted fabrics. For double-bed knitted fabrics, the stitches are held down by the hold-down boards of the opposite needle bed. This usually requires a different height position with respect to the comb gap than when holding down the stitches of a single-bed knitted fabric in which the hold-down boards hold down the stitches of the own needle bed. If several hold-down surfaces are now provided, the blanks are outstandingly suitable for both single-bed and double-bed knitted fabrics. It is advantageous if the plurality of mesh retaining surfaces are arranged at different, equally or differently spaced peripheral locations of the boards.

In addition, the additional hold-down surfaces can also fulfill a safety function, as long as a stitch should break away from the deepest hold-down surface. This mesh is then picked up by one of the following surfaces.

The plurality of mesh hold down surfaces may have a substantially radial orientation with respect to the axes of rotation of the sinkers. However, they can also be designed hook-shaped.

The axis of rotation of the board may preferably be arranged above the needle shafts. Also by this measure, the hold-down effect of the board can be improved, since the mesh holddown surfaces with relatively high above the needle bed arranged rotary axes better enclose the mesh legs in the lower pivot position.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of flat knitting machines according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt durch ein Nadelbett einer erfindungsgemäßen Flachstrickmaschine mit einer Platine in vollständiger Öffnungsstellung;

Fig. 2

einen der Fig. 1 entsprechenden Querschnitt mit der Platine in vollständiger Schließstellung;

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung mit der Platine in einer Zwischenstellung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung der Steuerkurven des Strickschlosses zur Verstellung der Platinen der Flachstrickmaschine aus den Fig. 1 - 3;

Fig. 5

eine Teilansicht schräg von vorne auf das Nadelbett der Flachstrickmaschine gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

einen Querschnitt durch zwei Nadelbetten einer Flachstrickmaschine mit Platinen gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

einen der Fig. 3 entsprechenden Querschnitt durch ein Nadelbett einer Flachstrickmaschine mit Niederhalteplatinen und festen Maschenbildern.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a cross section through a needle bed of a flat knitting machine according to the invention with a board in the fully open position;

Fig. 2

one of Figure 1 corresponding cross-section with the board in the fully closed position.

Fig. 3

one of Figure 1 corresponding sectional view with the board in an intermediate position.

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of the control cams of the knitting cam for adjusting the blanks of the flat knitting machine of Figures 1 - 3;

Fig. 5

a partial view obliquely from the front of the needle bed of the flat knitting machine of FIG. 2;

Fig. 6

a cross section through two needle beds of a flat knitting machine with boards of FIG. 1;

Fig. 7

a corresponding to FIG. 3 cross-section through a needle bed of a flat knitting machine with hold-down boards and fixed mesh images.

The sectional view in Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 100 of a flat knitting machine for holding down and forming stitches. From the flat knitting machine, a needle bed 4 is shown in the needles 7 are guided longitudinally displaceable in grooves 41 . The groove bottom is marked 42 . At the front end, the needle bed 4 grooves 43 for receiving board guide pieces 3 on which boards 1 are pivotally guided. The board guide pieces 3 have for this purpose a circular recess 31 into which a circular segment 14 of the board 1 engages. In this way, the circuit board 1 about the rotational axis 18 in the direction of arrow D and in the opposite direction D ' pivotally limited. The stop surface 33 of the sinker guide piece 3 limits the opening movement of the board 1 in the direction of arrow D and the surface 34, the movement down in the direction of arrow D '. The connection of the board guide pieces 3 with the needle bed via a wire 44 which extends over the entire length through the needle bed. The stitching wire 45 for the stitches is passed through slots 19 in all boards 1.

The circuit board 1 has a functional surface 11 for forming stitches, an active surface 12 for holding down stitches of single-bed knitted fabrics and further active surfaces 13, 13.1, 13.2 , which in flat knitting machines with two needle beds hold down the stitches of the opposing needle bed in double-bed knitted fabrics. The pivoting movement of the board 1 in the direction of arrow D or D 'is triggered by a spring element 2 . This spring element 2 is guided in a cylinder disposed above the needle bed 4 slider bed. 6 For this purpose, the slide bed 6 has longitudinal grooves 61 into which the spring elements 2 are inserted. The spring element 2 has a U-shaped spiral spring section with legs 22 , 24 . The free leg 24 is in the section 25 bent outward. With this section 25, the spring element 2 engages the circuit board 1. In the illustrated in Fig. 1 complete open position of the board 1, the section 25 is doing on the surface 16 of the board 1 at. In a pivoting movement of the board 1 in the direction D ', however, the surface 17 of the board 1 is acted upon by the spring element section 25. This is done by a displacement of the spring element 2 in the groove 61 , as also illustrated below in Figs. 2 and 3. The displacement is triggered by lock parts of the carriage of the flat knitting machine, which engage a foot 21 of the spring element 2. The slide bed 6 is connected via a connecting bar 5 with the needle bed 4. For this purpose, the connecting strip 5 has two dovetail-shaped sections 51, 52 , which engage in correspondingly shaped grooves on the needle bed 4 and the slide bed 6, respectively. The displacement movement of the spring element 2 is limited by a wire 63 , which is guided in a slot 23 of the spring element 2. Via the section 25, a displacement movement of the spring element 2 is translated into a rotational movement of the board 1. In order to minimize the required displacement movements of the spring elements 2 to trigger the required pivotal movement of the board 1, the section 25 of the spring element 2 engages at a distance X to the axis of rotation 18 of the board, which is less than the distance of the hold-down surface 12 to the axis of rotation 18th ,

Fig. 2 shows, in contrast to Fig. 1, in which the circuit board 1 is shown in its off-mode, the board 1 in its fully closed position in which it retains a mesh leg 9 in the needle 7 with the surface 12. The board 1 has been so far swiveled in the direction of rotation D 'until its surface 16 rests against a stop surface 34 of the blanking guide piece 3. The spring element is to trigger this rotational movement of the board 1 in the direction of arrow X maximum been moved forward. The section 25 of the spring element 2 now engages the surface 17. However, the board 1 can move in the direction of arrow D against the spring force of the spring element 2 limited move upwards. In Fig. 2, however, the position of the board 1 is shown for large meshes 9, which does not pull the board 1 against the spring force upwards.

Fig. 3, however, shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 while holding smaller mesh 9. The board 1 has now been pivoted against the arrow D 'and against the force of the spring 2 upwards. The pivoting movement is limited by the spring element 2 itself. The free leg 24 of the U-shaped spiral spring portion is now on the leg 22 at. Another Nachobendrücken the board 1 through the mesh 9 is therefore excluded.

The spring element 2 is guided in the grooves 61 of the slide bed 6 with friction. This means that it retains its position in each slide position, when the lock parts are no longer act on it. As a result, all spring elements 2 and thus also the boards 1 can be kept in a defined pivot position.

Fig. 4 shows schematically the control cams formed by lock parts 85, 86, 87 for the feet 21 of the spring elements 2. The lock parts 85, 86, 87 are attached to a lock plate, not shown here. While the lock member 86 is fixedly connected to the lock plate, the lock parts 85, 87 slidably disposed on the lock plate, which is indicated by the double arrows K _V / K _A and K _V , / K _A. The lock parts 85, 86, 87 are moved away in the direction of arrow S via the slide bed 6, also not shown here. On the flanks of the castle parts 85, 87 are the Feet 21 of the spring elements 2 in the direction of arrow X moved forward (Fig. 1 - 3), while they are moved by the lock member 86 in the direction of arrow Y (Fig. 1) to the rear. Thus, the boards 1 through the lock parts 85 in action, ie brought into the closed position and by the lock part 86 in the non-active position. The off-mode position is a fixed pivot position of the board 1, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the lock member 86 also movable on the lock plate. If the spring element 2 is in its foremost pivoting position (FIG. 2), the legs of meshes of different sizes can be held down by the functional surface 12. However, the larger the spring force, the smaller the stitches are on the stitches. Since the mesh size for each knitting course is known in advance, it therefore makes sense to suppress the maximum occurring mesh size with the optimum force for them. This can be achieved by moving the lock parts 85, 87 along the double arrows. Thus, for example, the lock member 85 can be moved so far in the direction of the arrow K _A that the spring element no longer occupies its foremost pivot position but an intermediate position when the lock member 85 is moved past the feet 21 of the spring elements. The same applies to the lock part 87. This means that the spring elements 2 can be displaced so far in the direction of the arrow X (FIGS. 2, 3) by the stepless displacement of the lock parts 85, 87 that the section 25 of the spring elements cover the surface 17 of the board 1 is acted upon at a distance from the axis of rotation 18, wherein the force resulting from the spring leg 24 in optimal strength for the respective mesh size can act on the mesh leg 9 resting against the functional surface 12. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the lock member 85 is advanced so far that very large meshes are kept down can, while the control cam 87 is in a middle position, so that can be kept down with the board 1 medium-sized mesh.

Due to the frictional guidance of the spring elements 2 in the slide bed 6, the spring elements 2 retain their once occupied position, even if the lock parts 85, 86, 87 are no longer in contact with them. The respective subsequent lock part, ie the lock part 87 in FIG. 4, determines whether the functional surface 12 of the circuit board 1 is in or out of action when the feet 21 of the spring elements 2 have left the control curve arrangement.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the arrangement of the boards 1 in the needle bed 4, wherein the boards 1 rotatably supported on the board guide pieces 3. Clearly visible are also the spring elements 2, which act on the boards 1. In addition, it can be seen that the boards 1 are each arranged to the right of the knitting needles 7.

Fig. 6 shows in cross section a device 200 for holding down loops of a flat knitting machine with two needle beds 4, 4 '. Each of the needle beds is in the illustrated example with boards 1, 1 ', spring elements 2, 2' and knitting needles 7, 7 ', as shown in Fig. 1, equipped. This means that the device 101 for holding down stitches of the second needle bed 4 'is identical to the device 100 of the needle bed 4. For knitted fabrics whose stitches are formed on both needle beds 4, 4', ie so-called double-bed knitted fabrics, the effect of Hold-down surface 12, 12 ' limited. For secure hold down of the stitches in double-bed knitted fabrics therefore the board 1 of the front needle bed 4 additional functional surfaces 13, 13.1, 13.2 and the board 1 'of the rear needle bed 4' additional functional surfaces 13 ', 13.1', 13.2 ' up. These functional surfaces grasp the mesh legs 9 'of the stitches which are located on the shaft of the needles 7, 7' lying opposite them and hold them back when the needles 7, 7 ' carry out their propelling movement. In the example according to FIG. 6, the functional surface 13 of the board 1 of the front needle bed 4 has grasped the loop leg 9 'of the needle 7' of the rear needle bed 4 '.

FIG. 7 shows a holding-down device 102 which has identical spring elements 2 to the spring elements shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but in which the circuit board 10 is shaped differently in comparison to the circuit board 1. The board 10 has in contrast to the board 1 no mesh image area. Rather, it cooperates with a fixed stitch pattern 50 with a surface 55 . The board 10 is shown in one of the Fig. 3 corresponding position in which it with its hold-down surface 12 " a mesh 9" withholds. Also, the board 10 is equipped with further active surfaces 13 ", 13.1", 13.2 " for double-bed knitted fabrics.

Claims (17)

1. Flat bed knitting machine comprising at least one needle bed (4, 4') with longitudinally displaceable needles (7, 7') and sinkers (1, 1', 10) which are arranged so as to be pivotable to a limited extent between the needles and which can be controlled by needle cams (85, 86, 87) of the carriage and which are provided with at least one loop hold-down surface and/or loop formation surface (11, 12, 13, 13.1, 13.2, 12', 13', 13.1', 13.2'), characterised in that, engaging on each sinker (1, 1', 10), is a spring element (2, 2') which can be acted upon by the needle cams (85, 86, 87) and which exerts resilient force varying in terms of direction and intensity on the sinker (1, 1', 10) according to the pivot position of the sinker (1, 1', 10).
2. Flat bed knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the sinkers (1, 1', 10) may be brought into any desired pivot position in a continuously adjustable manner within the pivot range of the sinkers (1, 1', 10) by means of the spring elements (2).
3. Flat bed knitting machine according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements (2) exert resilient force opposing the downwards closing movement of the sinkers (1, 1', 10) when the sinkers (1, 1', 10) are pivoted completely upwards, and exert resilient force opposing an upwards pivot movement of the sinkers (1, 1', 10) when the sinkers (1, 1', 10) are in all other positions.
4. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the spring elements (2) comprise stop surfaces which limit the movement of the sinkers (1, 1') against the resilient force.
5. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the spring elements (2) comprise a substantially U-shaped curved spring portion, the free arm (24) of which is bent outwards and rests on the sinker (1, 1', 10).
6. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the spring elements (2) are arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the needle bed (4, 4') by way of the needle cams (85, 86, 87), displacement of the spring elements (2) triggering pivoting of the sinkers (1, 1', 10).
7. Flat bed knitting machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the spring elements (2) are guided in a slider bed (6, 6') arranged above the needle bed (4, 4').
8. Flat bed knitting machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the spring elements (2) are arranged so as to be continuously displaceable to a limited extent in the slider bed (6, 6').
9. Flat bed knitting machine according to either claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the spring elements (2) are fixed in the slider bed in a frictionally engaged manner at any point along their displacement path when not acted upon by the needle cams (85, 86, 87).
10. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the contact surfaces (16, 17) of the spring elements (2) on the sinkers (1, 1', 10) have a smaller interval to the rotational axis (18) of the sinkers (1, 1', 10) than the at least one loop hold-down surface and/or loop formation surface (12, 12', 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13', 13.1', 13.2').
11. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the sinkers (1, 1', 10) are dimensioned such that, in flat bed knitting machines comprising two needle beds (4, 4'), they do not project, in any pivot position, beyond the perpendicular centre plane (8) between the two needle beds (4, 4').
12. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the sinkers (1, 1') comprise at least one loop hold-down surface (12, 12', 13, 13', 13.1, 13.1', 13.2, 13.2') and at least one loop formation surface (11).
13. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the sinkers (10) comprise at least one loop hold-down surface (12", 13", 13.1", 13.2") and cooperate with loop formation means (55) rigidly arranged on the needle beds (4, 4').
14. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the sinkers (1, 1', 10) comprise a plurality of loop hold-down surfaces (12, 12', 12", 13, 13', 13", 13.1, 13.1', 13.1 ", 13.2, 13.2', 13.2") for single and double bed knitwear.
15. Flat bed knitting machine according to claim 14, characterised in that the plurality of loop hold-down surfaces (12, 12', 12", 13, 13', 13", 13.1, 13.1', 13.1", 13.2, 13.2', 13.2") are arranged at regular or differing intervals on various peripheral locations of the sinkers (1, 1', 10).
16. Flat bed knitting machine according to either claim 14 or claim 15, characterised in that the plurality of loop hold-down surfaces (12, 12', 12", 13, 13', 13", 13.1, 13.1', 13.1", 13.2, 13.2', 13.2") are oriented substantially radially relative to the rotational axes (18) of the sinkers (1, 1', 10).
17. Flat bed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the rotational axes (18) of the sinkers (1, 1', 10) are arranged above the needle shafts.

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