EP1816247B1 - System component for a knitting system, and handling process - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system part for a knitting system, such as a knitting machine needle, a selection part, a board, a coupling part or the like.

Such system parts are present in knitting machines, for example flat knitting machines or circular knitting machines, in large numbers. The machines mentioned have beds in which side by side guide channels for receiving the system parts are arranged. In flat knitting machines, the guide channels are arranged in a flat bed parallel to each other. Likewise with knitting cylinders of a circular knitting machine. The bed can also be a dial or a sinker ring of a circular knitting machine. The guide channels are arranged radially here, so that adjacent guide channels form an acute angle with each other.

For cleaning of knitting machine needles and / or boards as well as other system parts, it may be necessary to have the system parts from the machine, ie to remove their respective bed, feed a cleaning process and then insert back into the bed. Even with a change of pitch on a knitting machine, the system parts are often removed, in which case the procedure is similar. The needles or other system parts of adjacent guide channels are aligned with each other by the bed in which they are located. In addition, the system parts are arranged in a specific order. This is particularly important if different system parts are arranged in the successive guide channels. For example, these may be knitting machine needles with feet arranged at different positions. The system components, once removed from the bed and reinserted into it, must be returned to the desired orientation and order. Removing the system parts from the bed and mixing them is a time-consuming, tedious process. In addition, disordered system parts are difficult to clean.

It is known, in particular, for stitch-forming machines in which many system parts are moved completely in synchronism with one another, for example by being fastened to a bar, to firmly connect the system parts to one another. Such reveal the DE 199 20 673 C2 , the DE 102 27 532 A1 or the DE 198 54 191 A1 , According to these documents boards or hole needles are held by plastic body in fixed alignment with each other, which extend in the manner of rods or blocks through openings of the boards. Similarly, the US 6,925,841 B2 a module formed from several boards, in which the individual boards are held by inserted plates to each other in a fixed orientation.

In these modules, it depends on the permanent fixation of the individual boards in relation to each other. A change of the pitch or independent movement of the individual boards against each other is not provided.

The DE-AS 1,103,233 discloses a package for needles of a Raschel machine. The packaging contains a soft mass into which the needles can be pressed.

Another approach is pursued by the DE 102 44 315 A1 , This discloses a transport packaging for slide needles and a correspondingly formed shipping unit. The transport packaging includes a rail made of plastic, for example, with a U-shaped cross section. In the two legs of the U-shaped cross-section parallel slots are formed which hold a knitting tool therein frictionally. The pitch of the slots of the rail can be matched to the pitch of guide channels in a knitting cylinder, so that the knitting tools can be easily transferred from the transport rail to the knitting cylinder. Special aids for the transfer of needles from the knitting cylinder in the transport packaging are not provided.

From the US 2004/0055916 A1 a holder for knitting tools is known, which is formed by a U-profile rail. The legs of this U-profile rail are provided with slots in which the individual knitting tools can be held by friction.

On this basis, it is an object of the invention to improve the handling of system parts for a knitting system.

This object is achieved with the system part according to claim 1 and also with the method according to claim 15:

The system part according to the invention comprises a body which is provided for receiving in a guide channel of a stitch forming machine, such as a knitting machine, and has means for temporary connection to a holder. This means is located at a location of the system part that is accessible when the system part is seated in the guide channel. The location may be outside of the guide channel or in an interruption thereof.

For example, the means is provided on a projection which is provided with a recess which serves for temporarily receiving a holder. The holder can be inserted into this recess and thereby holds the system part. The projection is, for example, a foot of the system part, as it may be provided for driving the same by means of a lock. The foot usually protrudes out of the guide channel of the bed of the stitch forming machine, while the rest of the body of the system part is substantially received by the guide channel. Thus, the foot is accessible, so that the holder can be easily connected by hand to the projection, while the system part is still in the guide channel.

In place of the foot, any other projection can be used for the stated purpose, wherein the projection can be integrally, seamlessly connected to the body of the knitting machine needle. It is also possible that the projection is associated with a part of the knitting needle, with the body of the same is coupled or connected, but can be regarded as a separate part.

In the context of the invention, the recess, which receives a holder for temporary connection, may also be arranged in a region of the system part which has no projection. Decisive for the arrangement of the recess in the system part is the accessibility of the recess after the arrangement of the system part in the knitting machine. If the recess is not arranged on a projection which protrudes from the guide channel, then this guide channel is to be provided with recesses, so that the recess is accessible and a holder can be inserted or removed.

If system parts are used with different geometric shapes in a knitting machine, the recess for receiving the holder is preferably arranged at one and the same location of the system parts. This means that the distance from a reference edge of the system part, e.g. the hook or the needle end, to the recess is the same size in all system parts, so that the recesses lie in a common plane or on a common straight or slightly curved line. Preferably, the recesses of adjacent system parts are arranged side by side in alignment.

If the recess is formed, for example, by an open-edged recess opening into the end face of the foot, a more or less elastic holder can be introduced into it. In this case, the recess is preferably provided with an opening which is slightly narrower than the recess itself. This allows the holder to connect to the system part latching. This is especially true when the width of the opening is 70% to 90% of the width of the recess. Preferably the recess is provided with an edge following an arc or a polygon. Also, a polygonal edge may have arcuate corners. A polygonal edge shape has the advantage that a rotation of the system part against the holder is difficult.

The holder is preferably formed of or provided with an elastic material. For example, the holder may be formed by a rubber cord. This consists of an elastomeric material, such as EPDM or another suitable elastically deformable material. The rubber cord preferably has a circular cross-section, which facilitates the introduction into the recess. In this case, the cross section of the holder, in particular the rubber cord can be larger than the cross section of the recess. This ensures that the system part is axially immovable and non-rotatably mounted on the holder. For secure mounting of the holder, it may be advantageous if this is designed in the form of a tube or hose. The holder then has an inner cavity which is surrounded by an elastic jacket. As a result, the difference in diameter between the recess, the holder receptacle and the outer diameter of the holder can be easily bridged. It is then easy to install in the recess and has the necessary elasticity to keep the system parts safe.

While the holder may preferably be formed as a part to be inserted into the recess, such as a rubber cord, it may alternatively also be designed such that it engages over the relevant projection of the system part. In this case, the projection, for example the foot of the system part, preferably at its front in the direction of movement and rear edges on recesses, which receive parts of the holder, for example corresponding latching projections. Also in this case, the system parts can be secured in the correct position to each other with the help of the holder, as long as they are in the recording, for example, the needle bed, and removed in this state as a block from the recording and returned to this. When cleaning the system parts of the holder keeps the respective system parts to each other at a distance, so that cleaning fluids can pass unhindered between the system parts. If the needles are re-introduced into the receptacle after cleaning, they automatically receive the required alignment and order. If the holder is elastic, a change of pitch can also be carried out. Preferably, the holder is elastic not only in the transverse direction but also in the longitudinal direction (in the case of a rubber cord this is the line direction). It should be noted that when stretching the holder in the longitudinal direction of the diameter decreases in cross section and releases the system parts from a certain reduction.

Further details of advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, the description or subclaims.

• Figur 1 ein Systemteil in Form einer Strickmaschinennadel in einer schematisierten Seitenansicht,
• Figur 2 eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform eines Systemteils in Form einer zweifüßigen Strickmaschinennadel in einer ausschnittsweisen schematisierten Seitenansicht,
• Figur 3 die Strickmaschinennadel nach Figur 1 in ausschnittsweiser Perspektivdarstellung in einem anderen Maßstab,
• Figur 4 die Strickmaschinennadel nach Figur 3 mit einem Halter in Form einer Gummischnur,
• Figur 5 ein Bett einer mäschenbildenden Maschine mit darin gelagerten Systemteilen und Halter,
• Figur 6 die aus dem Halter und den Systemteilen gebildete Einheit nach der Herausnahme aus dem Bett gemäß Figur 5,
• Figur 7 ein Systemteil mit einem Halter in schematisierter ausschnittsweiser Seitenansicht und einer anderen Ausführungsform.
• Figur 8 ein Systemteil mit einer Ausnehmung zur Aufnahme des Halters, angeordnet im Schaftbereich des Systemteils in einer ausschnittsweisen schematisierten Seitenansicht.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a system part in the form of a knitting machine needle in a schematic side view,
• FIG. 2 a modified embodiment of a system part in the form of a bipedal knitting machine needle in a fragmentary schematized side view,
• FIG. 3 the knitting machine needle behind FIG. 1 in a fragmentary perspective view on a different scale,
• FIG. 4 the knitting machine needle behind FIG. 3 with a holder in the form of a rubber cord,
• FIG. 5 a bed of a mash-forming machine with system parts and holders stored therein,
• FIG. 6 the unit formed by the holder and the system parts after removal from the bed according to FIG. 5 .
• FIG. 7 a system part with a holder in a schematic fragmentary side view and another embodiment.
• FIG. 8 a system part with a recess for receiving the holder, arranged in the shaft region of the system part in a fragmentary schematic side view.

In FIG. 1 a system part 1 of a stitch-forming machine using the example of a knitting machine needle 2 is illustrated. The knitting machine needle 2 is for illustrative purposes only. The invention is also to be realized on other system parts, such as circuit boards, selections or the like.

The knitting machine needle 2 has a body 3 which, like FIG. 5 shows, is to be inserted into a guide channel 4 of a bed 5. The bed 5 is, for example, the flat bed of a flat knitting machine, the knitting cylinder of a circular knitting machine or its dial. It has a plurality of juxtaposed guide channels 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, etc., in which knitting machine needle 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, etc., with their bodies 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, etc. are held longitudinally displaceable.

On the body 3 of the knitting machine needle 2, a shaft 6 and at one end of a hook 7 or other functional portion is formed. In operation, the knitting machine needle 2 performs a reciprocating oscillating movement in the shaft longitudinal direction. On the body 3 there is further formed a protrusion in the form of a foot 8 which serves to effect this longitudinal movement by engaging the lock track of a lock. The castle track and the bed 5 move relative to each other, so that the foot 8 slides along the castle track.

The foot 8 (8a, 8b, 8c) sticks out, like FIG. 5 shows, from the respective guide channel 4, 4a, 4b, 4c out, while the rest of the body 3 is at least largely taken up by the bed 5. As FIG. 1 and particularly FIG. 3 illustrate, the system part 1 and the knitting machine needle 2 is a flat sheet metal part, for example made of steel. The foot 8 protrudes from its narrow side 9 away. Its thickness usually corresponds to the thickness of the rest of the body 3, which has two flat sides, which gradually and completely pass into the flat sides of the foot 8.

The foot 8 preferably has a substantially rectangular contour with a narrow front and a narrow rear edge 10, 11, which come into contact with the castle tracks of the castle. They are substantially perpendicular to the narrow side 9. The foot 8 also has an end face 12 with a narrow edge 13. In the foot 8, a recess 14, for example in the form of a circular opening formed, which has an orifice 15 on the end face 12 and is open on the flat sides. The recess 14 has an edge 16, which preferably follows edge-shaped and steplessly following an Ω-shape into the edge 13. The edge 16 is thus formed at least partially arcuate. It may also have straight-lined sections, if desired.

The orifice 15 is preferably significantly narrower than the width of the recess 14 to be measured parallel to the edge 13. The width of the orifice 15 to be measured in the same direction is preferably in the range of 70% to 90% of the diameter or the width of the recess 14. The size of the recess 14 is also preferably such that it does not extend into the region of the body 3. The foot 8 thus has two legs 8-1, 8-2 which bound the recess 14 and extend away from the body 3, via which they are connected to each other.

The arrangement of the recess 14 is arbitrary. It can also be arranged on demand and accessibility elsewhere on the projection 8. So she can e.g. be arranged on the edges 10, 11.

FIG. 4 illustrates a holder 17 to which one or more system parts are to be temporarily stored. The holder 17 consists in the illustrated embodiment of a rubber cord 18, ie a (very) slender cylinder of a rubber-elastic material, such as EPDM. The cylinder longitudinal direction of the flexible undeformed cylinder forms the line longitudinal direction. The rubber cord 18 preferably has a circular cross-section, wherein its diameter is preferably larger than the diameter of the recess 14.

The rubber cord 18 and the system parts 2, 2a, 2b, 2c together form a set 19, which in FIG. 6 is separately illustrated. It can, as shown, form a flexible, but as a whole manageable unit, wherein the rubber cord 18 can be separated from the knitting machine needles 2, 2a to 2f, if necessary, or can be connected to them. The system parts 2, 2a to 2f surround with their legs 8-1, 8-2 one in the present example ( FIG. 3 ) Disc-shaped portion 18 a of the rubber cord 18 which is compressed to the smaller diameter of the recess 14. As FIG. 6 illustrates displaced from the portion 18a material of the rubber cord 18 between the system parts 2, 2a to 2f place. The system parts 2, 2a to 2f are frictionally and positively held on the rubber cord.

The system parts 1 are handled in the context of the holder 17 as follows:

In use, the knitting machine needles 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, etc. are in the guide channels 4, 4a, 4b, 4c of the bed 5, as in FIG FIG. 5 illustrated. If the system parts 2, 2a, 2b, 2c are now to be removed and, for example, cleaned, the rubber cord 18 can be inserted into the recesses of the feet 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, etc. It is pressed through the orifices 15, wherein it is elastically compressed and partially relaxed again in the recess 14. Due to its diameter, which exceeds the diameter of the recess 14, it sits under prestress in the recess 14. The edge 16 is frictionally engaged on the rubber cord 18 at. The system parts 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, etc. connected to the rubber cord 18 can now be removed from the bed 5 together with the rubber cord 18, passing through the rubber cord 18 (or other holder 17) in the pitch of the bed 5 appropriate distance from each other and in the given order (order) are kept. The bed 5 removed set 19 is in FIG. 6 shown. As can be seen, cleaning fluids can get between the individual knitting machine needles 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, etc. to 2f.

When the cleaning is performed, the knitting machine needles 2 to 2f can be reinserted into the bed 5. Thereafter, the rubber band 18 can be removed. The knitting machine needles 2 to 2f are thus operational again. The original order is unchanged, regardless of whether the entire knitting machine is equipped with only a single type of system parts 2, 2a, 2b, 2c or with different system parts.

The knitting machine needles 2 to 2f may be formed completely equal to each other. However, this is not mandatory. As mentioned, different knitting machine needles can also be provided which, for example, have different foot positions. In a fully populated operable knitting machine, the corresponding differently shaped knitting machine needles are then placed necessarily in a specific predetermined order. This order or "order" must be maintained when the knitting machine needles are removed from the bed 5 and reinserted into it. The holder 17 ensures that the order or order of the knitting machine needles is maintained when they are removed with the aid of the bed 5 and inserted back into this.

To illustrate needles with multiple feet or different foot positions will open FIG. 2 referenced, which illustrates a knitting machine needle with two feet 8, 20, which may be completely identical with each other, but arranged in different axial positions. For example, the feet 8, 20 can connect via predetermined breaking lines to the body 3, wherein an individualization of the relevant system part can be made by removing the one or the other foot. The thus individualized system parts, with some feet 8 and others feet 20 removed, are thus held in different axial positions when the rubber string 18 is inserted, but the adjacent feet are aligned. The rubber cord 18 ensures that this alignment is maintained even if the set 19 is handled outside the bed 5.

In FIG. 7 a modified embodiment of a system part 1 and an associated holder 17 is illustrated. The system part 1 has, as explained above, a foot 8 which extends away from the body 3. The foot 8 has at least one, preferably two recesses 14a, 14b, which are arranged on its front edge 10 and its rear edge 11. They serve as a recess for receiving portions 21, 22 of the holder 7, which is designed as an otherwise U-shaped locking profile, for example made of plastic or thin steel. Its cross-section is adapted to the contour of the foot 8, wherein its legs 23, 24, which are connected to each other via a back portion 25, can spring toward and away from each other. The sections 21, 22 form lugs which somewhat narrow the interior space enclosed by the legs 23, 24 and the back section 25 and fit into the recesses 14a, 14b. If the recesses 14a, 14b are arranged below an edge 30 of a web 26 of the needle bed 5 (FIG. 9,), then the holder 17 has recesses in the region of the webs 26. It is then comb-like (not shown), with its teeth reaching into the recesses 14a, 14b.

With the holder 17 according to FIG. 7 are several side by side with the same outline arranged system parts 1 to hold and aligned to keep distance. Again, a set 19 is formed which can be handled as a unit.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment. In this case, a system part 1 in the form of a knitting machine needle 2 has two projections 8 and 20 in the form of needle feet. The recess 28 substantially corresponds to the recess 14 and thus the above description of the recess 14 is also applicable to the recess 28. The recess 28 is in one Arranged portion of the knitting machine needle 2, which is associated with the shaft thereof. Since the shaft does not project beyond the edge 30 of the web 26 of the guide channel 4 of the needle bed 5 in this area, the web 26 is exposed in the region of the recess 28. The web 26 contains a recess 27 for this purpose. This makes it possible to insert the rubber cord 18 into the recess 28 and to remove the system parts 1 in an orderly manner from the needle bed 5 of the knitting machine.

A system part 1 provided for a stitch forming machine, such as a knitting machine needle 2, has a recess 14 adapted to receive a portion of a holder 17. This can be clipped into the recess to hold a plurality of such system parts in a predetermined order and in a lateral distance and in alignment with each other. The temporarily interconnected system parts can be handled as a unit and so removed from the bed 5, treated, for example, cleaned, and used in the same order and orientation again in the bed 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

system part

2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f

Knitting machine needle

3, 3a, 3b, 3c

body

4, 4a, 4b, 4c

guide channel

5

bed

6

shaft

7

hook

8, 8a, 8b, 8c

foot

9

narrow side

10, 11

edge

12

front

13

edge

14

recess

15

muzzle

16

edge

8-1, 8-2

leg

18

rubber cord

18a

section

17

holder

19

set

20

foot

21, 22

sections

23, 24

leg

25

back section

Claims (16)

1. System part (1) for a knitting system,
   with a body (3), which is provided to be received in a guide groove (4) of a stitch-forming machine and is provided with at least one means (14) for temporary connection to at least one section (18, 18a) of a holder (17), characterised in that the means (14) is an open-edged recess with a mouth (15), the width of which is smaller than the width of the recess (14).
2. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (3) has a projection (8), on which the means (14) is arranged.
3. System part according to claim 2, characterised in that the projection (8) is a butt.
4. System part according to claim 2, characterised in that the butt (8) is provided for driving the system part (1) by means of a cam.
5. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the width of the mouth (15) is smaller than the diameter of the holder (17).
6. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the width of the mouth (15) amounts to 70% to 90% of the width of the recess (14).
7. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (14) is a recess (14), which has an edge (16), which follows a curve.
8. System part according to claim 5, characterised in that the means (14) is a recess (14), which has an edge (16), which follows a polygon.
9. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder (17) is an element made from an elastic material.
10. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder (17) is a rubber cord (18).
11. System part according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder (17) has a round cross-section.
12. System part according to claim 4, characterised in that the holder (17) has a cross-section, which is larger than the recess (14).
13. Set consisting of at least one system part according to claim 1 and the holder (17) associated with it.
14. Set (19), consisting of:

    a) a system part (1) for a knitting system and

    b) a holder (17),

    wherein the system part (1) has a body (3), which is provided to be received in a guide groove (4) of a stitch-forming machine and is provided with at least one means (14) for temporary connection to at least one section (18, 18a) of the holder (17),
    wherein the body (3) has a butt (8), which is provided for driving the system part (1) by means of a cam and on which the means (14) is arranged, and
    wherein the holder (17) has two legs (23, 24) to hold the butt (8) between them.
15. Method for handling system parts of a knitting system,
    which have a body (3), which is provided to be received in a guide groove (4) of a stitch-forming machine and is provided with at least one open-edged recess (14) for temporary connection to at least one section (18, 18a) of a holder (17), wherein the open-edged recess has a mouth (15), the width of which is smaller than the width of the recess (14),
    wherein in the method, so long as they are located in a bed (5), the system parts (1) are temporarily connected to one another for handling by means of the holder (17),
    in this form the system parts (1) are removed from the bed (5) and inserted into the bed (5) again, and
    the holder (17) is removed when the system parts (1) are inserted into their bed (5).
16. Method according to claim 15 for handling system parts of a knitting system, in which the holder (17) is inserted into recesses (14) of the system parts (1) with elastic deformation.

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