EP2045385B1 - Warp knitting tool assembly and warp knitting tool - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a knitting tool assembly having a tool holder having a plurality of parallel grooves, and a plurality of knitting tools having two side edges, each of which has a holding portion disposed in one of the grooves and a working end.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a knitting tool with two side edges, a holding area and a working end.

The invention will be described below with reference to a knitting needle, in particular a needle, as an example of a knitting tool. But it is also applicable to other knitting tools that are involved in a stitch formation process in a knitting machine in a corresponding manner.

The knitting needles are inserted into grooves of a bar, wherein between the grooves webs are provided which provide a predetermined distance between adjacent knitting needles and support the knitting needles laterally.

In many cases, the knitting needles are held by lids or other holding elements in the bar.

When knitting, i. During operation of the knitting machine, certain loads act on the knitting needles, in particular lateral thread tensions. Thus, the knitting needles must be strong enough to withstand these stresses without deforming beyond a certain extent.

The finer a knitted fabric should be, the denser the knitting needles must be adjacent. The number of knitting needles per inch (25.4 mm) is also referred to as "fineness". Up to a fineness of E36, i. With 36 needles per inch, conventional techniques are sufficient to provide the knitting needles and tool holder, i. the barre so stable that they can withstand the forces occurring during the stitch formation.

However, if the fineness is higher, ie if the number of knitting needles increases, then the width or thickness of the webs between the grooves must be reduced to such an extent that these webs can no longer ensure sufficient lateral support force. Under unfavorable conditions, the webs are so weak that they break when lateral distortion forces act on the needles. Another disadvantage arises from the fact that when straightening the knitting needles, the webs can be damaged, since when straightening a lateral pressure is usually exerted on the webs. Even with a change of a damaged knitting needle there is a risk that the weak Nutenstege be damaged.

Simply reducing the thickness of the knitting needles would lead to the disadvantage that the knitting needle loses its lateral stability. The laterally acting thread tension would pull the knitting needle laterally out of position with its working area. This results in the risk of collision with the guide needles. In addition, it is foreseeable that results in an uncontrollably deforming knitting needle a knitted fabric with reduced quality.

From the prior art it is known to make knitting tools narrower in the area of the working end than in the holding area. So shows, for example DE 2 133 366 A1 a knitting tool arrangement with a tool holder 12, wherein a plurality of knitting tools are inserted in grooves. The holding area is formed as a wider part 6 and extends within the grooves of the kneading tool, but also out of these grooves out in the direction of the working end.

From the post-published EP 1 988 199 A1 is a knitting machine tool is known, which is formed in a holding area 5 wider than in a working section 4 (column 7, lines 24/25). Among other things in the holding area 5, the knitting tools in D2 are dimensioned such that only a narrow gap 9 is present between them. For holding the knitting tools in a tool holder positioning means 11 are provided, which extend between the tool holder and the knitting tools.

Out DE 44 14 703 A1 is a knitting needle is known, which is provided in the holding area with bulges. These bulges define the width of the holding region, so that a defined mounting of the kneading tool in grooves of a tool holder is possible.

The invention has for its object to allow the highest possible fineness in a knitted fabric.

This object is achieved with a knitting tool arrangement of the type mentioned above in that between adjacent knitting tools at least one filling element with which adjacent knitting tools can support each other in a lateral train, is provided on at least one side edge, which is arranged between the holding portion and the working end , wherein the filling element is in the mounted state outside of the grooves.

By the filling element adjacent knitting tools can be supported, so to speak, each other. By this measure, the thickness of the knitting needles (or other knitting tool) can be significantly reduced, without this having a negative effect on the resilience of the knitting needles. Although it is accepted that deforms over the filling element projecting end of the work area. However, since the available length for the deformation has been shortened considerably by the filling element, such a deformation is still acceptable. The risk of a collision with perforated needles or a deterioration of the knitted fabric quality is still sustainable. A thinner but supported knitting needle also has the advantage that a favorable ratio From needle thickness to the width of the lane of the tee board arises. This achieves that a sufficiently large space remains from the lateral flanks of the knitting needles to the lateral flanks of the boards. This reduces the risk of collision during the kneading process, even if there is some thermal expansion. An additional advantage is that a thinner knitting needle also has a lower mass, which has a positive effect on the load of the needle bar and its control elements. The additional mass that brings the filler with it, however, can be neglected. Another advantage results from the fact that a complex straightening of the knitting needles to each other can be omitted or at least easier, since the support and thus the forced positioning of the knitting needles takes place in a region which is closer to the work area, ie at the needle point. Thinner knitting needles also result in narrower grooves, with the result that the webs between the grooves remain correspondingly thicker and thus more stable, so that they can better absorb lateral loads on the knitting needles.

Preferably, the filling element fills a gap between adjacent knitting needles with a game. So there is a small gap provided, which has a size of a few hundredths of a millimeter. This gap is used, inter alia, to compensate for any thermal expansion of the knitting needles. In addition, it facilitates the removal and installation of knitting needles on the bar or another tool holder.

Preferably, the filling element is arranged on a side edge of the knitting tool and leaves a leading edge free. Thus, the leading edge remains freely accessible, which is advantageous for example in a needle, because you can act on the slide here.

Preferably, the filling element is attached to a knitting tool. Thus, the filling element is automatically positioned with an installation of the knitting tool in the tool holder. The filler is automatically in the correct position relative to the knitting tool.

Preferably, the kneading tool on two filling elements on opposite side edges. Each filling element then virtually bridges half the distance between two knitting tools. This allows all knitting tools that are attached to a bar or other tool holder, educate the same. This facilitates the assembly.

Preferably, the filling element is formed by a thickening of the knitting tool. Such a thickening can be formed in the production of the knitting tool with the same. The filling element or the filling elements are thus formed integrally with the knitting tool. So they are, so to speak, captive.

Alternatively, the filling element can be clipped onto the kneading tool, glued, sprayed, soldered or welded. The filling element may in this case consist of a different material than the knitting tool. For example, the filling element may be formed from a plastic which has a lower specific Has mass as the material of the knitting tool. A relatively simple possibility is to use a matched to the size of the gap between two knitting tools foil, which is adhered to the side edge of the knitting tool. It is also possible to use a plastic injection method to apply or spray a filling element onto the knitting needle.

The filling element can also be shaped out of the kneading tool. This can be done by embossing, stamping or deep drawing. In this case, the mass of the kneading tool is not increased by the filling element. Also in this case, the filling element is formed integrally with the knitting tool.

Another alternative is formed in that a plurality of filling elements are connected together. For example, it is possible to use a plastic web which at the same time fixes the knitting tools to one another at a predetermined distance. Such a plastic bar facilitates installation.

Preferably, the filling element bears against the tool holder. The filling element is then additionally used for positioning the knitting tool on the holder. A system is particularly advantageous in the area of the side edges.

The object is achieved in a kneading tool of the type mentioned above in that it has at least one filler element on at least one side edge between the holding area and the working end. The holding region can be arranged in one of the grooves of the tool holder and the filling element can support adjacent knitting tools in a lateral pull together.

If the knitting tool is installed in the tool holder, then the filling element ensures that adjacent knitting tools can support one another in a lateral pull, which can occur in a stitch formation. The free length, which is available for a deformation of the knitting tool is reduced by the filling element. The term "filler" is to be understood here as functional, i. it does not have to be an independent body, which is placed between the action tools. Since the filling element is arranged between the holding region and the working end, it is located in the assembled state of the kneading tool outside of the grooves. As a result, the thickness of the knitting tool can be reduced, which results in the advantages enumerated above in connection with the knitting tool arrangement.

Preferably, the filling element is formed by a thickening of the knitting tool. Such a thickening can be molded in the production of the knitting tool equal. The thickening is formed integrally with the knitting tool, i. she is held captive.

In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the filling element is clipped onto the kneading tool, glued, sprayed, soldered or welded. In any case, there is a reliable connection between the knitting tool and the filling element.

It can also be provided that the filling element is shaped out of the kneading tool. For this purpose, one can emboss, punch or deep draw the knitting tool, for example. Also in this case, the filling element is held captive on the knitting tool. A mass increase of the kneading tool is not effected by the filling element.

Preferably, the filling element leaves a leading edge free. Thus, the leading edge is available, so that, for example, in the case of a slider needle, the slide is freely accessible despite existing filling element.

Fig. 1

eine stark schematisierte Darstellung eines Ausschnitts aus einer Wirkmaschine,

Fig. 2

eine Wirknadelbarre in perspektivischer Darstellung von vorne,

Fig. 3

die Wirknadelbarre in perspektivischer Darstellung von hinten,

Fig. 4

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel,

Fig. 5

eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel,

Fig. 6

eine dritte Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel,

Fig. 7

eine vierte Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel,

Fig. 8

eine fünfte Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel und

Fig. 9

eine sechste Ausführungsform einer Wirknadel.

The invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. Herein show:

Fig. 1

a highly schematic representation of a section of a knitting machine,

Fig. 2

a needle bar in perspective from the front,

Fig. 3

the needle bar in perspective from behind,

Fig. 4

a first embodiment of a knitting needle,

Fig. 5

a second embodiment of a knitting needle,

Fig. 6

a third embodiment of a knitting needle,

Fig. 7

A fourth embodiment of a knitting needle,

Fig. 8

a fifth embodiment of a knitting needle and

Fig. 9

a sixth embodiment of a knitting needle.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a section of a knitting machine 1, namely the effective range of the knitting machine.

Knitting needles 2 are attached to a needle bar 3. The knitting needles are designed as slide needles. In order to actuate the slide of the knitting needles 2, a slide plate 4 is provided which is fixed to a circuit board bar 5.

To form stitches threads are guided via perforated needles 6, 7, which in turn are arranged on guide bars 8, 9.

Both the knitting needles 2 and the hole needles 6, 7 are multiple times. They are arranged one behind the other in a direction perpendicular to the drawing plane, so that in the representation of Fig. 1 only one element is recognizable.

The finer the knitwear is to be, the denser the knitting needles 2 must be adjacent to each other. The number of knitting needles 2 per inch (2.54 mm) is also referred to as "fineness". A fineness of E24 means that 24 knitting needles per inch are provided. A fineness of E36, i. 36 knitting needles per inch, can be achieved with conventional means.

The knitting needles 2 are, as is known from the FIGS. 2 and 3 can be seen arranged in grooves 10 which are located in the knitting needle bar 3. The knitting needles 2 are held there by a lid 11. Between the grooves 10 webs 11 are formed. The higher the fineness, the narrower the webs 11 must be. Usually, all grooves 10 are occupied with knitting needles 2. For the sake of explanation, some knitting needles 2 have been removed here.

The knitting needles 2 are inserted with a holding portion 12 in the grooves 10. At the bottom (referring to the illustration of the Fig. 2 to 9 ) is a foot 13 which rests from below on a projection 14 of the knitting needle 3. At the opposite end is a needle tip 15 which is bent like a hook to detect a thread can. In a manner not shown, but known per se, an opening 16, which is formed on the needle tip 15, are closed by a slide, which is operated by the slide plate 4. From the top 15, a working area 17 extends towards the foot 13.

In operation, lateral forces act on the knitting needles 2 in the stitch formation. With a high fineness, for example a fineness> E36, the thickness of the knitting needles 2 is reduced in order not to have to reduce the width of the webs 11 too much. However, such a reduced thickness of the knitting needles 2 then results in that the knitting needle is no longer able to absorb the thread tension occurring during the stitch formation without deformation. The laterally acting thread tension would laterally pull the tip 15 of the knitting needle 2 out of its position, so that the risk of a collision of the knitting needle 2 with the piercing needles 6, 7 results. Furthermore is foreseeable that then results in a poor quality of knitwear produced.

To remedy this problem, the knitting needles 2 are provided with filling elements 18. These filling elements 18 fill a gap between adjacent knitting needles 2 almost completely. There remains a small game in the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter, for example, to accommodate certain thermal expansions of the knitting needles 2 and also to allow removal and installation of the knitting needles 2 from the knitting needle 3. Like from the FIGS. 2 and 3 can be seen, are the filling elements 18 of the knitting needles 2 on the knitting needle bar 3, so that they can support together with the feet 13, the knitting needles 2 in the direction of movement of the knitting needle bar 3.

The filling elements 18 ensure that the free length of the knitting needles 2, which could be laterally deflected by a thread tension in a lateral pull, is reduced. Accordingly, although still a small deformation is possible. The deformation is so small that it is acceptable. In the area where the filling elements 18 are arranged, the knitting needles 2 support each other. This has the additional advantage that an elaborate straightening of the knitting needles 2 can be omitted or at least easier, since the support and thus the forced positioning of the knitting needles 2 in one of the tip 15 is substantially less distance. The knitting needle 2 can thus be formed with a reduced thickness, which has the advantage that a favorable ratio of needle thickness to the lane of the tee board 4 is formed. you ensures that sufficient clearance from the lateral flanks 19, 20 of the knitting needle 2 to the lateral edges of the teeing plates 4 remains. A risk of collision is thereby reduced even with low thermal expansion. In addition, a thinner knitting needle 2 also has a lower mass.

The Fig. 4 to 9 now show different versions of each knitting needle. 2

In the presentation of Fig. 4 the filling element 18 is formed by a thickening of the knitting needle 2. In this case, the filling element 18 is simply formed above the holding region 12 in that the shank 21 of the knitting needle 2 is thickened in the production of the knitting needle 2, for example by upsetting.

Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of a knitting needle, wherein the filling element 18, which in the illustration of Fig. 4 is arranged on both sides of the shaft 21, is arranged only on one side. But it has twice the thickness. While in the embodiment after Fig. 4 always two filling elements 18 are required to bridge a distance between two grooves 11, takes over this task in the embodiment Fig. 5 a single filling element 18. This filling element 18 then abuts at a small lateral movement of the knitting needle 2 on the adjacent knitting needle 2.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6 the filling element 18 is formed by two glued-on plastic parts 22, 23. These plastic parts may also be a foil. The two parts 22, 23 can also sprayed on, sprayed on or clipped on. In this embodiment, filling elements are provided on both side edges of the knitting needle 2.

Fig. 7 differs from the design Fig. 6 in that only a single filling element 22 is fastened on a side flank of the knitting needle 2.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 8 the knitting needle 2 has a punched-out formation 23, which forms the filling element 18. This punching extends only to one side. The fact that the punching 23 is formed from the material of the knitting needle 2, this results in no increase in mass.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9 the knitting needle 2 has an expression 24, which forms the filling element 18.

In unspecified manner, another possibility is to connect two or more knitting needles with a kind of plastic web, which simultaneously fixes the knitting needles 2 to each other at a predetermined distance.

Claims (15)

1. A knitting tool arrangement comprising a tool holder 3 having several parallel grooves 10 and several knitting tools 2 with two side flanks 19, 20, wherein each knitting tool 2 includes a holding area 12 that is positioned in one of the grooves 10 and comprises a working end 15, 16 characterized in that at least one filling element 18 being located between adjacent knitting tools 2 on at least on side flank 19, 20 wherein in case of a side tension adjacent knitting tools 2 can support each other by means of the filling element 18 the knitting tool 2 is arranged between the holding area 12 and the working end 17 and in an assembled state the filling element 18 is positioned outside the grooves 10.
2. The arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the filling element 18 is structured to fill, with an allowance, a clearance between the adjacent knitting tools 2.
3. The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filling element 18 is arranged on a side flank 19, 20 of the knitting tool and leaves a front flank free.
4. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filling element 18 is attached to the knitting tool 2.
5. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the knitting tool 2 comprises two filling elements 18 located on side flanks 19, 20 which face away from one another.
6. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling element 18 is formed by a thickening of the knitting tool 2.
7. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling element 18 is at least one of clipped, adhered, sprayed, soldered or welded onto the knitting tool 2.
8. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling element 18 is shaped out of the knitting tool 2.
9. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that several filling elements 18 are connected to one another.
10. The arrangement in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the filling element 18 bears against the tool holder 3.
11. A knitting tool 2 comprising
    two side flanks 19, 20,
    a holding area 12 and
    a working end 15, characterized in that at least one filling element 18 is arranged on at least one side flank 19, 20, between the holding area 12 which is positionable in one of the grooves 10 of a tool holder 3 and the working end 15 wherein in case of a side tension adjacent knitting tools 2 can support each other by means of the filling element 18.
12. The knitting tool in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the filling element 18 is formed by a thickening of the side flanks 19, 20.
13. The knitting tool in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the filling element 18 is at least one of clipped, adhered, sprayed, soldered or welded onto the knitting tool 2.
14. The knitting tool in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the filling element 18 is shaped out of the knitting tool 2.
15. The knitting tool in accordance with one of the claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the filling element 18 leaves a front flank free.

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