EP1988196A1 - Circular knitting machine with a replaceable needle cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a support ring (3) having a surface for supporting an underside of a replaceable needle cylinder (7). An attachment (9) axially projects above the underside to facilitate replacement of the needle cylinder. The supporting surface is arranged below an upper edge of the attachment and into a mounting position. Lifting parts contain eccentrics which are arranged between the support ring and the needle cylinder that are placed to be rotatable around rotational axes arranged transverse to a machine axis (4).

Description

The invention relates to a circular knitting machine of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and a suitable needle cylinder.

Circular knitting machines with a replaceable needle cylinder have been known for a long time ( DE 177 577 A ). If the circular knitting machine has only one needle cylinder, its installation and removal is relatively easy. The installation and removal can serve both repair and maintenance purposes as well as the purpose to operate the same circular knitting machine with needle cylinders of different pitch and / or different diameters. Since the space above the needle cylinder is largely free, the needle cylinder and possibly the associated support rings need only be lifted from above from the machine frame or inserted into this.

In contrast, the installation and removal of a needle cylinder from above are not readily possible if the circular knitting machine additionally arranged above the needle cylinder component, z. As a dial or a thread changing device has, since a removal of such components would make a nearly complete disassembly of the circular knitting machine required. It is therefore already known for these cases ( EP 0 413 608 A1 . EP 0 436 313 A1 ) to provide a facility by means of which the relative position between the needle cylinder and the component in the direction of the needle cylinder axis is adjustable so that the needle cylinder in a direction perpendicular to the needle cylinder axis direction can be expanded or removed, with or without said component. However, such an installation and removal of the needle cylinder is still problematic even with a sufficiently raised component. One reason for this is that the needle cylinder is usually arranged with its lower edge in a recess of the cylinder support ring and / or provided with additional centering means that make a considerable lifting of the needle cylinder during installation and during installation requires a corresponding lowering of the needle cylinder. These movements must be performed manually by the operator involved in the conversion. As a result, removal and installation measures are particularly difficult if the needle cylinder additionally by a stored on it component, eg. B. a dial, is loaded.

To avoid these disadvantages, it is known ( DE 195 33 844 A1 ), the needle cylinder generally expand together with the stored on him dial and thereby, if it is large circular knitting machines, the dial to be detachably mounted on a Rippscheibenträger. This Rippscheibenträger is lowered before the radial removal of the needle cylinder and the dial through a special Hubvorrrichtung down through the needle cylinder through so deep that its upper edge comes to rest below the lower edge of the needle cylinder and thereby can not hinder the radial removal of the needle cylinder.

Finally, a circular knitting machine of the type described is known ( DE 196 57 761 B4 ), the means for adjusting the needle cylinder in the axial direction has such that the needle cylinder can be set either in a normal operating position or in a raised, the insertion and removal enabling mounting position. These means consist either in the support ring of the needle cylinder mounted, can be applied to the underside of the needle cylinder jackscrews or assembled between the needle cylinder or the support ring, non-circular cross-sections having lifting rails. While the use of the jackscrews makes comparatively cumbersome work when replacing a needle cylinder required, the replacement of a needle cylinder with the help of the lifting rails because of the large forces to be applied by a single operator hardly feasible. This is especially true when it is comparatively heavy needle cylinder large circular knitting machines and together with the needle cylinders and rims or other components must be removed. Apart from that requires the replacement of a needle cylinder as in the other known circular knitting a variety of steps, which further complicates the replacement process.

Based on this, the technical problem underlying the invention, the circular knitting machine of the type described in such a way that the installation and removal, regardless of whether he od with or without dial. The like., With a smaller number of steps feasible and overall essential is simplified.

To solve this problem, a circular knitting machine with the features of claim 1 and a needle cylinder with the features of claim 13 are used.

The invention has the advantage that it is practically only necessary to remove the needle cylinder by means of the eccentric in the mounting position and then move laterally out of the machine for removing a needle cylinder, after the usual preparation work has been carried out, while it during installation of a sufficient new needle cylinder, settle this on the eccentrics and then lower to the operating position.

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

• Fig. 1 einen Vertikalschnitt durch einen Teil einer Rundstrickmaschine;
• Fig. 2 eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende, jedoch vereinfachte Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Rundstrickmaschine mit einem Nadelzylinder in einer Montagestellung;
• Fig. 3 einen der Fig. 2 entsprechenden Schnitt, wobei sich der Nadelzylinder jedoch in einer Betriebsstellung befindet;
• Fig. 4 einen erfindungsgemäßen Exzenter in vergrößerter Darstellung;
• Fig. 5 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht von oben auf einen in die Rundstrickmaschine eingebauten Exzenter unter Weglassung einer Schlossplatte;
• Fig. 6 eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 5 dargestellten Teils der Rundstrickmaschine bei in Montagestellung befindlichem Exzenter;
• Fig. 7 eine der Fig. 6 entsprechende Ansicht bei in Betriebsstellung befindlichem Exzenter;
• Fig. 8 und 9 den Fig. 2 und 3 entsprechende Darstellungen eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung; und
• Fig. 10 in einer schematischen, perspektivischen Darstellung eine beispielhafte Anwendung des Ausführungsbeispiels nach Fig. 8 und 9 sowie einer vergrößerten Einzelheit X davon.

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

• Fig. 1 a vertical section through a part of a circular knitting machine;
• Fig. 2 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding but simplified sectional view of a circular knitting machine according to the invention with a needle cylinder in a mounting position;
• Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 2 corresponding section, but the needle cylinder is in an operating position;
• Fig. 4 an eccentric according to the invention in an enlarged view;
• Fig. 5 a schematic, perspective view from above of a built-in circular knitting machine eccentric, omitting a lock plate;
• Fig. 6 a side view of the in Fig. 5 shown part of the circular knitting machine located in the mounting position eccentric;
• Fig. 7 one of the Fig. 6 corresponding view with befindlicher in operating position eccentric;
• Fig. 8 and 9 the Fig. 2 and 3 corresponding representations of a second embodiment of the invention; and
• Fig. 10 in a schematic, perspective view of an exemplary application of the embodiment according to Fig. 8 and 9 and an enlarged detail X thereof.

To Fig. 1 to 3 in which only the essential parts of the invention are shown, a circular knitting machine includes a non-illustrated, arranged in a machine frame base plate as usual, on which a bearing ring 1 is arranged with bearings 2, in which a support ring 3 to one in the rule vertical machine axis 4 is rotatably mounted. The support ring 3 is bounded on a radially inner side by a machine axis 4 coaxially surrounding, vertically arranged side wall 5, which on its upper side a support surface 6 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) having. On this bearing surface 6, the underside of a needle cylinder 7 is supported, which protrude with fastening screws 8, the holes of the side wall 5 and are screwed from the bottom into the needle cylinder 7, fixed to the support ring 3 is connected.

For exact coaxial centering of the needle cylinder 7 with respect to the machine axis 4, the side wall 5 is bounded on its upper side by a support surface 6 above the upstanding centering projection 9, which faces the needle cylinder 7 radially from the inside and z. B. is a few millimeters high. The centering lug 9 serves to receive radially arranged centering screws 10, which lie against the needle cylinder 7 from the inside. In the conventional drive of the support ring 3 by a drive motor, not shown, the needle cylinder 7 is therefore rotated coaxially about the machine axis 4.

On the base plate of the circular knitting machine a stationary support ring 11 is further attached, which carries a lock plate 12, are mounted on the usual, provided with lock parts 14 lock segments 15 by means of fastening screws 16. An internally threaded collar 17 which is screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the lock plate 12 and rotatably mounted in the support ring 11 can be used to adjust the height of the lock segments 15 parallel to the machine axis 4 centrally.

In the needle cylinder 7 are usual, in particular z. B. designed as latch needles knitting tools 18, which are arranged vertically and can be moved up and down with the help of the lock parts 14 in the usual way to process threads, not shown, into stitches.

According to the invention, how Fig. 2 and 3 at a time considered best Embodiment show, the rotatable support ring 3 is provided with eccentrics 19 which can be rotated about preferably arranged perpendicular to the machine axis 4 axes 20. The eccentric 19 have on their front sides, in particular Fig. 4 shows, substantially circular eccentric discs 21 and are rotatably mounted in the support ring 3. For this purpose, they are also preferably provided with rearward, radially inwardly projecting cylindrical lugs 22. These lugs 22 are expediently mounted axially loosely in bores of the side wall 5 of the support ring 3. So that they do not fall out radially forward stop pins 23 are also mounted in the support ring 3, which are supported on the radially outer side of the eccentric discs 21.

As Fig. 4 further shows, the eccentric discs 21 each have a peripheral portion with a preferably planar support surface 21a. This support surface 21a has a largest radial distance from the eccentric rotation axis 20, while a diametrically opposite peripheral portion 21b (FIG. Fig. 4 ) has a smallest radial distance from the axis of rotation 20. The intermediate circumferential sections have correspondingly larger or smaller radii.

As Fig. 4 shows further, the projections 22 of the eccentric 19 are provided on its inner side with a respective means 24 for applying a tool, for example with a hexagonal hole for receiving an Allen wrench. In the assembled state of the eccentric 19 ( Fig. 2 and 3 ) These means 24 are accessible from the inside of the needle cylinder 7 ago.

Finally, the eccentric discs 21, as seen from Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen, preferably provided with a circumferentially formed centering rib 25. This centering rib 25 extends in particular along that peripheral portion 21b of the eccentric disc 21, which has the smallest distance from the eccentric rotation axis 20, and serves the purpose of turning the eccentric 19 in a Fig. 3 apparent operating position in a centering groove 26 ( Fig. 2 ) engage, which is incorporated from below into the bottom of the needle cylinder 7 and the needle cylinder or

Machine axis 4 is formed circumferentially.

Fig. 5 shows that only a few eccentrics 19 are present on the circumference of the rotatable support ring 3. With particular advantage, only two diametrically opposite, ie offset by approximately 180 ° arranged eccentric 19 are provided. These are preferably arranged so that they can be operated by a single operator, possibly with one hand and at the same time.

The removal and installation of the needle cylinder 7 of the circular knitting machine Fig. 1 to 5 can be done in the following way:

There are first the centering 10 and the mounting screws 8, by means of which the needle cylinder 7 in its usual operating position, which it occupies in the implementation of knitting processes with the circular knitting machine, held and centered on the support ring 3, released from below. This operating position is in Fig. 3 and 7 shown. The preferably two eccentric 19 take in the operating position a rotational position such that the peripheral portions 21b are located above and therefore the centering ribs 25 are arranged in the centering grooves 26 of the needle cylinder 7, while the wings 21a point downwards. Since the peripheral portions 21b have their smallest distance from the eccentric rotation axis 20, the needle cylinder 7 is in its axially lowest position, in which its underside rests substantially on the bearing surface 6 of the support ring 3 and is therefore surmounted by the centering projection 9. Between the upper edge of the spigot 9 and the underside of the needle cylinder 7, therefore, there is a distance h according to Fig. 3 which is also schematically shown in FIG Fig. 7 is indicated.

After loosening the screws 8 and 10, the two eccentric 19 are rotated by preferably exactly 180 ° about their axes of rotation 20. The exact rotational positions z. B. by a respective attached to the insides of the lugs 22 marking 27 ( Fig. 4 ) to be controlled. The rotation of both eccentrics 19 takes place as simultaneously as possible in order to enable a tilt-free lifting of the needle cylinder 7, and ends with the wings 21a at the top and the peripheral portions 21b at the bottom ( Fig. 2 and 6 ).

The rotation of the eccentric 19 by 180 ° has the consequence that the needle cylinder 7 is now in the off Fig. 2 and 6 apparent assembly position is raised, in which the dimension h is substantially zero. This means that the preferably flat underside of the needle cylinder 7 is arranged substantially at the same height or flush with the upper edge of the spigot 9. In other words, correspond to the distances of the support surfaces 21a of the axes of rotation 20 of the eccentric 19 is substantially the height at which the centering projection 9 projects above the support surface 6 of the support ring 3 upwards.

In the assembly position, the needle cylinder 7 can now be moved radially (arrow v in Fig. 2 ), wherein the centering projection 9 serves as a sliding surface. A previous further raising or lowering of the needle cylinder 7 beyond the set with the eccentric 19 level is not required. However, the centering lug 9 and / or the underside of the needle cylinder 7 could be provided with recesses which allow the insertion of mounting rails on which the needle cylinder 7, possibly after a slight back or further rotation of the eccentric 19, is moved out of the circular knitting machine, as is known in the art (eg DE 196 57 761 B4 ). In this case, the dimension h would expediently be somewhat greater than corresponds to the height of the centering projection 9.

The subsequent installation of another needle cylinder z. B. has the same diameter, but a different needle pitch, takes place in that the described method steps are performed in the reverse order. Once the bottom of the needle cylinder 7 rests on the support surfaces 21a of the eccentric 19, they can be rotated back or further to lower the needle cylinder 7 due to its gravitational force in the normal operating position. The invention preferably offers the advantage here that when the eccentric 19 is being turned back or further, the centering ribs 25 gradually enter the centering groove 26 of the needle cylinder 7 and thereby already largely center radially with respect to the machine axis 4. Does the needle cylinder 7 therefore the operating position ( Fig. 3 and 7 ), only a final fine adjustment needs to be made with the aid of the centering screws 10, which is possible due to a slight play between the centering groove 26 and the centering ribs 25. Finally, the fastening screws 8 are then mounted and tightened to fix the new cylinder 7 in its operating position.

It can be seen from the above description that the replacement operation can be performed in a few steps and usually by a single operator, in particular if the leverage ratios which become effective when rotating the eccentrics 19 are adapted to the weight of the needle cylinder 7 and possibly further components.

While in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 7 the eccentric 19 are rotatably mounted in the side wall 5 of the support ring 3, show Fig. 8 to 10 an embodiment with rotatably mounted in the needle cylinder 7 eccentrics 32. The same parts are in Fig. 8 to 10 with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 to 7 Mistake.

According to Fig. 8 and 9 the eccentric 32 analogous to the eccentrics 19 depending on an eccentric disc 33 which in one of the underside of the needle cylinder 7 forth in this incorporated recess 34 (FIG. Fig. 8 ) is arranged. In addition, the eccentric 32 are provided with radially inwardly projecting, integrally formed on the eccentric disc 33 approaches 35. These lugs 35 are rotatably mounted in bores which are formed in lower side walls 36 of the needle cylinder 7, which limit the recesses 34 on its radially inner side. For introducing the lugs 35 into the recesses 34, the latter can be detachably connected to this on the radially outer side limiting side wall of the needle cylinder 7. Alternatively, it would also be possible to form the eccentric 32 in two parts.

Otherwise, the arrangement is in Fig. 8 and 9 largely identical to the post Fig. 1 to 7 , ie the eccentric discs 33 have a preferably as a support surface 33 a ( Fig. 9 ) formed peripheral portion with a comparatively large distance from a rotation axis 37 and a diametrically opposite peripheral portion 33 b ( Fig. 8 ) with a comparatively small distance from the axis of rotation 37. The wings 33a serve as the wings 21a in Fig. 2 the purpose of selectively raising the needle cylinder parallel to the machine axis 4 in a mounting position ( Fig. 8 ), in which its underside is arranged substantially flush with the upper edge of the spigot 9 and in which the support surfaces 33a protrude from the recesses 34 downwards, or due to its gravity into an operating position (FIG. Fig. 9 ), in which its underside rests on the support surface 6 of the support ring 3 and in which the eccentric 32 are fully retracted into the recesses 34. A difference too Fig. 2 and 3 only consists in that the needle cylinder 7 according to Fig. 8 held in the mounting position, that the eccentric discs 33 with their wings 33 a on one of the best Fig. 8 supporting support surface 38 which is formed radially outside the support surface 6 for the needle cylinder 7 on the support ring 3, and that the needle cylinder 7 is held axially by the lugs 35 in the raised position. In contrast, the needle cylinder 7 in Fig. 2 held in the mounting position that the lugs 22 of the eccentric 19 are held axially in the radial direction of the machine axis 4 arranged holes of the support ring 3 and the needle cylinder is supported with its underside on the support surfaces 21 a of the eccentric discs 21. It is common in both embodiments, that the support surfaces 21a, 33a of the eccentric 19, 32 serve to produce the mounting position.

The rotation of the eccentric 32 takes place according to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 7 Also, the replacement operation is performed in the same manner as explained in detail above. In addition, only the fact that the eccentric 32 after the first pushing on the spigot 9 again in the off Fig. 9 apparent position must be turned back.

Fig. 10 shows that the needle cylinder 7 on its underside with additional recesses 39 can be provided, which serve for receiving or for subsequent insertion of the above-mentioned, indicated here by the reference numeral 40 mounting rails. When using these mounting rails 40 of the needle cylinder 7 in the mounting position is appropriate so much above the spigot 9 (or other elevated parts of the support ring 3 and / or the lock plate 12) that the mounting rails 40 can be easily inserted into the recess 39. Depending on the design, it may also be expedient to adjust the lock plate before the replacement process using the adjusting ring 7 in its lowest position. Subsequently, the eccentric 32 can be rotated back or further to settle the needle cylinder 7 on the mounting rails 40. A preferred variant also provides to secure the mounting rails 40 at least for the replacement operation by means of fastening screws 41 on the support ring 3 so that they do not slip radially or laterally when moving the needle cylinder 7.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiment, which can be modified in many ways. This applies in particular to the training and provided in each case position of the eccentric 19. Instead of two eccentrics 19, if necessary, for. B. three, each offset by 120 ° eccentric 19 or four, each offset by 90 ° eccentric 19 are provided. Further, the invention is not limited to circular knitting machines with rotatable needle cylinders, but in an analogous manner also applicable to circular knitting machines with stationary needle cylinders and rotary lock parts. Furthermore, it is clear that before replacing a needle cylinder, the usual preparation work must be performed, including in particular the removal of the lock segments 15, an existing circuit board ring or the replacement process hindering yarn guide. In addition, any existing dial can be solved and stored on the upper edge of the needle cylinder in a conventional manner. Depending on the design provided in the individual case, a central lowering of the lock plate 12 by means of the adjusting ring 17 may be required if the lock plate 12 accordingly Fig. 1 and 3 is arranged in the normal operating position by more than the measure h above the lower edge of the needle cylinder 7, thereby making room for the radial displacement of the needle cylinder 7 to create (see Fig. 2 ). It is also clear that any existing centering pins 29 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) are to be mounted for the lock segments 15 so that they do not hinder the lateral pulling away of the needle cylinder 7. The lugs 22 of the eccentric 19 can also with recessed in circumferential grooves rubber rings 30 (FIG. Fig. 2 and 4 ), which bear against the associated bore walls and serve the axial clamping of the projections 22. Finally, it is understood that the various features may be applied in combinations other than those described and illustrated.

Claims (16)

Circular knitting machine with a replaceable needle cylinder (7), comprising a support ring (3) with a support surface (6) for the needle cylinder (7), at least one projection (9) projecting axially from the underside thereof and a device facilitating the replacement of the needle cylinder (7), by means of which the needle cylinder (7) optionally in an operating position, in which its underside rests on the support surface (6) and below an upper edge of the projection (9) is arranged, and in an assembly position on the needle cylinder (7) acting lifting parts is adjustable, in which its underside is held by the lifting parts in a raised position, so that it is at least flush with the upper edge of the lug (9), characterized in that the lifting parts between the support ring (3) and the needle cylinder (7 ) arranged eccentric (19, 32) which are rotatably mounted about transversely to a machine axis (4) arranged axes of rotation (20, 37). Circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the eccentric (19) with cylindrical, in bores of the support ring (3) mounted lugs (22) are provided. Circular knitting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the support ring (3) with the eccentrics (19) associated stop pins (23) is provided. Circular knitting machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes in a side wall (5) is formed, which limits the support ring (3) on a radially inner side. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the eccentric (19, 32) are provided with a means (24) for applying a tool. Circular knitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that these means (24) are accessible from an inner side of the needle cylinder (7). Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the underside of the needle cylinder (7) has a circumferential centering groove (26) and the eccentric (19) with for engaging in the centering groove (26) certain centering ribs (25) are provided. Circular knitting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the centering ribs (25) are formed on the eccentrics (19) that they engage only in the operating position of the needle cylinder (7) in the centering grooves (26). Circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the eccentrics (32) are provided with cylindrical projections (35) mounted in bores of the needle cylinder (7). Circular knitting machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the eccentrics (32) are arranged in recesses (34) of the needle cylinder (7) which are open towards their underside and the bores receiving the projections (35) are in a side wall (36) bounding the recesses (34) ) are formed. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that they have only two, substantially diametrically opposed eccentric (19). Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the underside of the needle cylinder (7) is arranged in the mounting position substantially at the same height with the upper edge of the spigot (9). Needle cylinder with a bottom for a circular knitting machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is on the underside provided with means for cooperation with the eccentrics (19, 32) certain means. Needle cylinder according to claim 13, characterized in that the means comprise at least one for receiving the centering ribs (25) of the eccentric (19) suitable centering groove (26). Needle cylinder according to claim 13, characterized in that the means comprise at least two rotations for each eccentric certain recesses (34) which are bounded on radially inner sides by a side wall (36), the bores for receiving the projections (35). the eccentric (32). Needle cylinder according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the underside is provided with further, for receiving support rails (40) certain recesses (39).

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