EP2302118B1 - Method and knitting machine for producing knitted goods with stripe patterns - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a knitting machine according to the preamble of claim 3.

Most known knitting machines for the production of knitwear with Ringelmustern, in particular large circular knitting machines, have stripers whose thread changing devices with a certain number of z. B. four thread fingers are provided so that at each of a knitting point and a thread changing device knitting system optionally one or more of four different, especially differently colored threads can be inserted into the knitting tools (eg. DE 27 10 045 A1 . DE 28 05 779 A1 . DE 31 29 724 C2 . DE 195 11 949 A1 ,, DE 2 111 212 A1 ).

However, there is often a need for knitwear with striped patterns that can be made from five or more different threads per system. To realize such Ringelmuster z. B. yarn changing devices are provided which have five or more yarn fingers. However, this has the consequence that measured in the knitting direction width of the thread changing devices increases accordingly and therefore either the number of z. B. on the circumference of a circular knitting machine attachable knitting systems must be reduced, or if nevertheless a high system density is desired, not all existing knitting systems a thread changing device can be assigned. Although it would be conceivable to form the yarn fingers and associated parts thinner than usual. For design reasons, however, this is not possible to a sufficient extent and would also be associated with increased wear and lower reliability.

The WO 2008/139713 A1 or the EP 2 161 359 A1 describes a circular knitting machine with a striping apparatus having thread changing devices that can alternatively provide two consecutive knitting systems with thread.

Circular knitting machines have also become known ( EP 1 612 311 B1 ), the stripers with two or more in the knitting direction immediately successive thread changing devices have such that optionally threads can be processed on one and the same knitting system, which are supplied by one and / or other thread changing device. An advantage of this arrangement is that a thread changing device with only a few thread fingers can be attached to each individual knitting system. However, here too there is the undesirable effect that when using large circular knitting machines with a high number of systems, the width of a yarn changing device is greater than the system width, even if each yarn changing device can only supply three or four yarns.

Based on this prior art, the technical problem of the present invention is to remedy this situation and to provide a striping apparatus with a thread changing device, which can be used more flexibly than before and largely accommodates the needs existing in the manufacture of Ringelmustern needs.

This problem is solved according to the invention with the characterizing features of claims 1 and 3.

The invention is based on the idea of assigning a single yarn changing device two or more knitting instead of reversing two or more yarn changing devices of a single knitting point as before. Accordingly, the threadable with a single yarn changing device threads are distributed to knitting tools that are placed at at least two adjacent knitting points in a thread receiving position. This is z. For example, it is possible to control a yarn changing device provided with six yarn fingers as needed so that three yarn fingers supply the knitting tools with a different yarn at a first knitting point and the remaining three yarn fingers at a second knitting point. Advantages of this measure are that on the one hand thread changing devices can be used, the z. B. have more than four thread fingers and therefore have a much greater width than a knitting system, while on the other hand, if not all the threads of a thread changing device are required for ringing, two adjacent knitting supplied by the same thread changing device with threads and for ringing with a correspondingly reduced number of Threads can be used, whereby at the same time the production is increased accordingly. In addition, the advantage is used that the width of a yarn changing device for z. B. six threads is smaller than the total width of two thread changing devices for three threads. This can reduce the system width and increase the number of systems.

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

• Fig. 1 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Rundstrickmaschine;
• Fig. 2 eine schematische Draufsicht auf für die Erfindung benötigte Teile der Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Vorderansicht von vier benachbarten Strickstellen und zwei diesen zugeordneten Fadenwechselvorrichtungen der Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht einer auch aus Fig. 3 ersichtlichen Fadenwechselvorrichtung;
• Fig. 5 und 6 der Fig. 3 entsprechende Vorderansichten von zwei benachbarten Strickstellen und einer diesen zugeordneten Fadenwechselvorrichtung der Rundstrickmaschine bei einer gegenüber Fig. 3 veränderten Arbeitsweise;
• Fig. 7 bis 11 grob schematisch und in vergrößerten Ansichten die Arbeitsweise eines Abstreifelements der Rundstrickmaschine nach Fig. 5 und 6; und
• Fig. 12 eine Möglichkeit zur lösbaren Befestigung des Abstreifelements nach Fig. 7 bis 11 an der Fadenwechselvorrichtung nach Fig. 5 und 6.

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

• Fig. 1 a partially sectioned side view of a circular knitting machine according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of required for the invention parts of the circular knitting machine according to Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 a front view of four adjacent knitting points and two associated with this thread changing devices of the circular knitting machine Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 a side view of a too Fig. 3 apparent thread changing device;
• Fig. 5 and 6 of the Fig. 3 corresponding front views of two adjacent knitting points and a thread changing device associated therewith the circular knitting machine in one opposite Fig. 3 changed way of working;
• Fig. 7 to 11 roughly schematically and in enlarged views the operation of a scraper of the circular knitting machine according to Fig. 5 and 6 ; and
• Fig. 12 a way for releasably securing the stripping after Fig. 7 to 11 at the thread changing device after Fig. 5 and 6 ,

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a circular knitting machine and a presently considered best embodiment.

The circular knitting machine contains for this purpose, such as Fig. 1 to 4 show a carrier 1 in the form of a needle cylinder which is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation and provided with knitting tools in the form of latch needles 2 and 3 sinkers, which are arranged both radially displaceable and axially movable up and down. The movements of the knitting tools 2, 3 are controlled in a known manner with lock parts which are fastened to a stationary mounted in a machine frame lock shell 4. In addition, the carrier 1 is supported on a support ring 5 which is rotatably mounted on a base plate 6 and can be set in rotation by means of a gear 8 fixed to a drive shaft 7.

In an above the carrier 1 located part of the frame, an annular holder 9 is fixedly mounted, on which by means of bearings 1 coaxial with the carrier support ring 10 is rotatably mounted by a likewise fixed to the drive shaft 7 gear 11 synchronously to the carrier 1 in Turns can be offset.

On the holder 9 at least one, but preferably a plurality of thread changing devices 12 is fixedly mounted, the z. B. four, preferably six thread fingers 14 in the embodiment, each having a thread 15, which is subtracted from a supply spool, not shown, can insert into a yarn guide 17, which presents these threads the hook of the knitting tools 2.

Fig. 2 shows schematically mainly the support ring 10 and the gear 11, wherein a rotation axis for the support ring 10 and the non-visible support 1 is indicated by the reference numeral 18. In Fig. 2 Dashed lines indicated parts are accordingly Fig. 1 arranged below the support ring 10. In this case, for the sake of simplicity, only two thread changing devices 12 are shown, which are distributed around the axis of rotation 18 at a small distance around. The thread changing devices 12 normally each form a knitting point at which the knitting tools 2, 3 can be moved into thread-receiving positions in order to receive the threads 15, depending on a knitting system.

To Fig. 3 and 4 Each thread changing device 12 includes a housing formed essentially of two parallel side plates 19 and 20, wherein the side plate 19 in Fig. 4 is omitted to give the view inside the case. The side plates 19 and 20 have in an upper, front part approaches that serve to attach the thread changing devices 12 on the holder 9. A longitudinal axis 24 ( Fig. 3 ) of the housing is vertical, that is arranged parallel to the displacement direction of the knitting tools 2 and preferably parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier 1.

An arranged between the side plates 19, 20 bolts 25 serves for the pivotable mounting of plate-shaped, one-armed pivoting levers 26a and 26b of the thread fingers 14a and 14b. The pivot levers 26a and 26b are by a respective spring 27 in a Fig. 4 apparent basic position biased. Each pivot lever 26a, 26b is pivotally connected to one associated selector lever 28a, 28b, which is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 and above the pivot lever 26a, 26b and with its upper end in a basic position, but especially in a working position to be explained , protrudes upward from the housing of the thread changing device 12. Each selector lever 28a, 28b is under the bias of a spring 29, which transversely to the longitudinal direction and with respect to the circular knitting machine after Fig. 1 and 2 seeks to pivot radially inward.

On a further bolt, a gear 30 is rotatably mounted, which is in engagement with two parallel toothed racks. The one toothed strip is on in Fig. 4 left edge of a slider 33 and the other rack mounted on the right edge of a slider 34. The upper end of the slider 33 protrudes upward in a basic position out of the housing of the yarn changing device 12. Both slides 33, 34 are guided with slots on bolts 35 movable. With the lower end of the slider 33, the one end of a shutter 36 is pivotally connected, while the slider 34 is preferably connected at its lower end fixedly connected to an opener 37. The shutter 36 is normally biased radially outwardly against a stop 47a by a spring 38, but may be pivoted radially inwardly clockwise and counter to the force of the spring 38 until it contacts a stop 47b. The spring 38 also holds in a basic position the slider 33 in his in Fig. 4 the uppermost position, the slide 34, however, in his in Fig. 4 lowest position. The parts 30 to 35 form a joint operation of the shutter 36 and opener 37 serving deflection gear. The shutter 36 and the opener 37 extend appropriately over the entire width of the housing.

At the upper end of the housing of the thread changing device is a guide body 48 ( Fig. 4 ), in which six control pins 49 are guided parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 with sliding fit. In addition, the guide body 48 is used for sliding bearing of the upper part of the slider 33. The control pins 49 are based on each one of six associated selector levers 50, which are pivotally ge-stored on another bolt and in Fig. 4 substantially horizontally, ie extend perpendicular to the selector levers 28. By engaging at their rear ends springs 52, the preselector 50 are in one Primary position biased clockwise and held in abutment with the lower, protruding from the guide body 48 ends of the associated control pins 49, the upper ends of which protrude upward from the guide body 48. The Vorwählhebel 50 are also in their normal position with their front end faces on locking pins 53, which are attached to the associated selector levers 28 and project laterally from this.

In the lower part of the housing after Fig. 3 and 4 is between and parallel to the side plates 19 and 20, a number of guide discs 54 are arranged, which serve the lateral guidance of the thread fingers 14.

In particular Fig. 1 and 2 show, on the rotatable support ring 10, a dial 56 is mounted, which has a number of the thread fingers 14 and control pins 49 corresponding number of control magnets 57 which are arranged offset in the radial direction corresponding to the control pins 49 and spaced in the circumferential direction. The control magnets 57 are each provided with a horizontal and radially back and forth push rod 58 which is connected via a lever 59 with a control cam 60 and this can optionally arrange in the area of action or outside the range of action of an associated control pin 49.

Furthermore, it shows in particular Fig. 2 three switching curves 63, 64 and 65, which are attached to the underside of the support ring 10. Here, in the rotary or knitting direction (arrow v ) leading, but behind the dialing device 56 running past the front end of the switching curve 63 the selector levers 28 (FIG. Fig. 4 ), the subsequently starting switching curve 64 the slider 33 and the last switching curve 65 also associated with the selector levers 28. Finally, in Fig. 2 and 3 schematically shown on the support ring 10 fixed Einreifer 66, which serves in a conventional manner to the 15 presented by a selected thread finger thread 15 above a web 17a of the thread guide 17 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) and securely insert in a formed behind the web 17 a guide slot 17 b of the yarn guide 17. In particular Fig. 1 shows, the Einreifer 66 is attached to a connected to the support ring 10 arm 67 and held tightly above and behind the hooks of the knitting tools 2.

The rest of the construction and the operation of the yarn changing device described are known and therefore need not be explained in detail. It is so far z. On the documents DE 195 11 949 A1 and EP 1 612 311 B1 Reference is hereby made to the subject of the present disclosure to avoid repetition by reference to them.

The working cycle at a thread change of the yarn changing device described is, moreover, in Fig. 4 indicated. There, a thread is shown by the reference numeral 15b, which is just inserted from the thread finger 14b in the knitting tools 2, while the thread finger 14a, which keeps a newly inserted thread 15a still clamped, just in a working position was controlled. For this purpose, the associated control magnet 57 ( Fig. 1 ) is driven to let the control cam 60 connected to it act on the respective control pin 49 and thereby ensure that the thread finger 14a by means of the control cam 63 and the selector lever 28a in the off Fig. 4 apparent working position is pivoted.

Fig. 3 schematically shows four knitting points 68a to 68d, in the knitting direction v , the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder and the support ring 10 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) corresponds, arranged one behind the other and z. B. by corresponding lock segments 4a to 4d of the lock 4 ( Fig. 1 ) are formed. Each of these lock segments 4a to 4d can move all or selected knitting tools 2 into a thread take-up position 69 indicated only for the knitting points 68b and 68d. According to Fig. 3 The thread changing devices 12 each have six thread fingers 14 lying one behind the other in the direction of knitting v .

Fig. 3 further shows that the width measured in the knitting direction v of a yarn changing device 12 is greater than the width measured in the same direction of the knitting points 68a to 68d and the lock segments 4a to 4d. Therefore, it is not possible to provide each knitting point 68a to 68d with a thread changing device 12 assigned to it alone.

For this reason, the invention provides for each thread changing device 12 to be designed and arranged in such a way that threads 15 supplied with it can optionally be fed to a first and / or a second knitting point. This is in Fig. 3 a yarn changing device 12 shown on the left both a first knitting point 68b and assigned a knitting direction v in front of this arranged second knitting point 68a. Accordingly, another, in Fig. 3 On the right, the yarn changing device 12 is associated with a first knitting point 68d and a second knitting point 68c arranged in the knitting direction v in front of it. In other words, here, unlike the prior art, each thread changing device 12 is associated with two adjacent knitting points 68a, 68b and 68c, 68d, respectively.

The advantages achieved by the invention will become apparent from a comparison of Fig. 3 and 5 ,

Fig. 3 shows the production of a knitted fabric with a striped pattern, which is formed from a comparatively large number of different threads. For this case is provided, which in Fig. 3 left thread changing device 12 only for feeding threads 15 to the first knitting point 68b of the pair 68a, 68b and the in Fig. 3 On the right, the yarn changing device 12 is used only for feeding threads 15 to the first knitting point 68d of the pair 68c, 68d. In contrast, the respective second knitting points 68a and 68c are switched off, ie rendered ineffective by appropriate selection of the lock segments 4a and 4c such that the knitting tools 2 remain at the knitting points 68a and 68c in a circular track 70, ie are not lifted into the thread receiving position 69 , This has the consequence that each of the six threads 15 of the thread changing devices 12 can be inserted into the knitting tools 2 only at every second knitting point 68b, 68d. In this way, it is possible to produce striped patterns with up to six different threads.

On the other hand shows Fig. 5 based on the in Fig. 3 On the left, the thread changing device 12 shown in FIG. 1 shows the production of a knitted fabric with a striped pattern, which is formed from a comparatively small number of different threads 15. In this case, it is provided in the exemplary embodiment to supply the threads 15 of the thread changing device 12 both to the first knitting point 68b and to the second knitting point 68a of the pair 68a, 68b lying in front of it. In particular, the arrangement is z. B. such that a in the knitting direction v of lying group of here by the reference numeral 141, 142 and 143 designated thread fingers their threads in the second knitting point 68a in the thread receiving position 69 raised knitting tools 2 supplies, whereas one in the knitting direction v rear group of here designated by the reference numerals 144, 145 and 146 thread fingers their threads the moving at the first knitting point 68b in the thread-receiving position 69 knitting tools 2 offers. The lock segment 4a is thus different here than in FIG Fig. 3 provided with lock parts that the knitting tools. 2 can also lift into the thread take-up position 69. Incidentally, shows Fig. 5 in that the yarn 15 delivered by the yarn finger 143 is currently processed at the knitting point 68a and the yarn 15 guided by the yarn finger 142 is prepared for a yarn change, while at the knitting point 68b the yarn 15 guided by the yarn finger 146 is processed and the yarn guided by the yarn finger 145 15 is prepared for a thread change.

Accordingly, the arrangement in the range of in Fig. 3 Thread changing device 12 shown on the right and the associated knitting point pair 68c, 68d are taken.

In the exemplary embodiment, the thread changing devices 12 can each lead a total of six threads, according to Fig. 5 three threads 15 of the first knitting point 68b and the other three threads 15 of the second knitting point 68a are supplied. However, other distributions of the thread fingers 141 to 146 to the two knitting points are conceivable, if necessary, and each thread changing device 12 may also have more or less than six thread fingers. In addition, it is clear that the knitting tools 2 in the case of Fig. 3 can be raised at the knitting point 68a or 68c in a thread-receiving position to z. B. od a separate base or Plattierfaden. Like. Insert, for which, however, an additional thread guide would be required.

As Fig. 3 and 5 show, a yarn guide 17 is provided only at each first knitting point 68b, 68d of a pair 68a, 68b and 68c, 68d of knitting. In this case, on the one hand, each web 17a extends backwards over most of the second knitting point 68a, 68c so that the threads 15 grasped by the inserter 66 are conveyed securely into the guide slot 17b, regardless of which thread fingers 14 they are offered. On the other hand, each guide slot 17b is arranged such that threads 15 inserted into it are reliably detected by the knitting tools 2 raised in the thread take-up position 69 regardless of which thread finger 14 they are offered.

If a thread changing device 12, however, according to Fig. 5 and 6 used for feeding two knitting points (eg 68a, 68b) of a pair of knitting points, according to the invention, the knitting machine preferably further comprises means which ensure a reliable separation of the two groups of thread fingers 141 to 143 and 144 to 146, respectively supplied threads allows.

According to Fig. 5 and 6 contains this agent z. B. a yarn guide 17, the web 17a extends not only backwards on the lying from the knitting point 68a of the pair 68a, 68b, but in addition a second, also in Fig. 3 having shown guide slot 17c. This second guide slot 17c occupies substantially the same position relative to the second knitting point 68a as the guide slot 17 relative to the first knitting point 68b. One according to Fig. 5 In the guide slot 17c inserted thread 15 is therefore offered in each case the knitting tools 2, which are moved to the second knitting point 68a in the thread-receiving position, whereas a according Fig. 3 and 5 In the slot 17b inserted thread 15 is in each case the knitting tools 2 is offered, which are controlled at the first knitting point 68b in the thread take-up position 69. Accordingly, at the other pairs of knitting points (e.g., 68c, 68d in FIG Fig. 3 ), which is associated with one of the yarn changing devices 12 described.

Inserting the z. B. with the thread fingers 141 to 143 supplied threads 15 in the slot 17c can be effected for example by means of a Einreifers 66 which at its front end such a slanted lower edge 66a ( Fig. 3 and 5 ), that the yarns 15 guided by the first two yarn fingers 141 to 143 come to lie in the slit 17b in the slit 17c and the yarns 15 in the knitting direction v, which are located further back from the yarn fingers 144 to 146.

An even better and currently considered best means of separating the threads 15 is off Fig. 5 and 6 seen. Here, an additional stripping element 71 is arranged between the two groups of thread fingers 141 to 143 and 144 to 146. This stripping element 71 is z. B. from a thin sheet and is formed and arranged so that the supplied from the first group of thread fingers 141 to 143 threads 15, after they have been detected by the lower edge 66 a of the Einreifers 66, placed against the stripping element 71 and from this in Fig. 5 and 6 deflected vertically downwards and inserted into the slot 17c. For this purpose, a lower edge of the stripping element 71, such as Fig. 5 and 6 show, in the knitting direction v immediately behind the slot 17c arranged. This ensures, on the one hand, that the threads 15 supplied by the thread fingers 141 to 143 reach the forward slot 17c, while on the other hand it is ensured that the threads 15 supplied by the thread fingers 144 to 146 are behind the stripping element 71 in the direction of knitting v lie, alone with the help of Einreifers 66 are inserted into the rear slot 17b, as Fig. 6 shows. Also shows Fig. 5 a position of the thread fingers 142 and 145, the working position of the thread finger 14a in Fig. 4 during the preparation of a yarn change corresponds while Fig. 6 showing after the passage of the Einreifers 66 and after the thread change restored, retracted position of the thread fingers 142 and 145.

Fig. 7 to 11 show roughly schematically the insertion of a thread 15 in the guide slot 17c when using the stripping element 71st

While Fig. 7 a thread finger 14 in the working position according to Fig. 4 shows, wherein the Einreifer 66 is arranged in front of the yarn finger 14, shows Fig. 8 how the thread 15 laid across the circle of knitting tools 2 by the thread finger 14 is just grasped by the lower edge 66a of the stripping knitter 66 moved in the direction of knitting v . Fig. 9 shows that the thread 15 is pressed in the direction of knitting v in the knitting direction v on the one hand by the lower edge 66 a down, on the other hand abuts against the stripping element 71, whereby its movement in the knitting direction v is blocked. Therefore, the thread 15, as Fig. 10 shows, only along a leading edge of the scraper 71 continue to move down until it finally in accordance with Fig. 11 safely lands in the guide slot 17c. It is in Fig. 9 to 11 in each case one lying before the Einreifer 66 part of the thread 15 with a solid line and each lying behind the Einreifer 66 part of the thread 15 whose end is still clamped in the thread finger 14, shown with a dashed line.

Incidentally, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention may be provided, the Einreifer 66 according to Fig. 7 to 11 to be provided with a hook 66b formed on its lower edge. This hook 66 b is formed and arranged so that it detects the inserted into the guide slot 17 c thread 15 and entrained up to the raised into the thread take-up position 69 knitting tools 2 as the dashed line in Fig. 11 schematically indicates. The same effect, the hook 66 b in the area of in Fig. 7 to 11 not shown guide slot 17b have. This makes it possible to safely insert the threads 15 in the knitting tools 2, even if the tracks along which the knitting tools 2 are raised in the thread take-up position 69 are not immediately adjacent to the guide slots 17c, 17b.

The means for the secure separation of the threads 15, which are supplied by the two groups 141 to 143 and 144 to 146 of the thread fingers 14, are preferably designed so that an easy conversion of the knitting machine from the operation to Fig. 3 on the way of working Fig. 5 and 6 or vice versa is possible. For this purpose, the stripping element 71 is easily replaceable mounted in the thread changing device 12 or another component of the knitting machine. It would be possible z. B., on a between the two thread fingers 143 and 144 arranged guide pulley 54 a bolt 72 (FIG. Fig. 12 ) to be mounted on the stripping element 71 can be plugged and then optionally fixed by a press fit or with a screw, not shown. When mounted scraper 71 results then the function after Fig. 5 and 6 while with dismounted stripping 71 the function after Fig. 3 is obtained. Alternatively, it would be z. B. in the case that the insertion of the threads 15 in the guide slot 17 c only with the help of the Einreifers 66, also possible to provide a cap for the guide slot 17 c. In the mounted state of this cap, the threads 15 fed from the first thread fingers 141 to 143 would then automatically move along the guide slot 17c along the web 17a (FIG. Fig. 3 ) slide into the guide slot 17b. In addition, the front guide slot 17 c could be formed on a separate, removable component, which in the case of the operation according to Fig. 5 and 6 firmly connected to the web 17a of the thread guide 17 and in the operation after Fig. 3 is separated from this.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiment, which can be modified in many ways. In particular, the invention is not limited to the fact that only two knitting points 68 are associated with the yarn changing devices 12. Rather, it would also be possible to assign particularly wide, provided with more than six thread fingers thread changing devices 12 three or more knitting points 68, in which case z. B. another stripping element 71 and a further guide slot in the web 17 a of the yarn guide 17 would have to be provided. In the illustrated embodiment could in this way z. B. the threads of the two thread changing devices 12 are each three in the knitting direction v consecutively arranged knitting points 68 are supplied. It is also clear that the circular knitting machine is after Fig. 1 represents only an example and the invention can be implemented in a similar modification to other knitting machines. In addition, other means, in particular other Einreifer and stripping elements can be provided to ensure a safe distribution of the various threads 15 on the individual case Ensure knitting points 68. In addition, instead of the guide slots 17 b and 17 c other guide elements such. B. grooves, edges od. Like. Be provided on the yarn guide 17. Apart from the z. B. a circular knitting machine as many knitting points 68 are provided, as is possible due to their widths, while the thread changing devices 12 are assigned depending on their width in each case two or more knitting points. However, depending on requirements, only a few knitting points could be provided with associated thread changing devices. In principle, a knitting machine, in particular a small circular knitting machine is conceivable that has only one thread changing device 12 and two or more associated knitting points 68. Finally, it is understood that the various features may be applied in combinations other than those described and illustrated.

Claims (12)

1. Process on a knitting machine, which includes knitting tools (2), at least one first knitting point (68b, 68d), a second knitting point (68a, 68c) arranged in front of the first knitting point (68b, 68d) in a knitting direction (v) as well as at least one thread changer (12) for the production of knitted goods with horizontal stripe patterns, wherein at least some of the knitting tools (2) are brought into a thread pick-up position (69) at least at the first knitting point (68b, 68d) and by means of the thread changer (12) at least one selected thread (15) is fed to at least the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d), characterised in that the thread changer (12) is associated with the first and the second knitting point (68b, 68d or 68a, 68c) and is used selectively to feed at least one respective selected thread (15) to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) both at the first and at the second knitting point (68b, 68d or 68a, 68c) or, after converting the machine, to feed at least one thread (15) selected from the total of all the threads of the thread changer (12) only to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68a).
2. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that a thread changer (12) is provided with a multiplicity of thread fingers (141 to 146) arranged one behind the other in the knitting direction (v), wherein during the feed of at least one respective selected thread to the knitting tools brought into the thread pick-up position both at the first and at the second knitting point a group of thread fingers (141 to 143) located in front in the knitting direction (v) is used to feed threads (15) to the knitting tools (2) moved into the thread pick-up position (69) at the second knitting point (68a, 68c) and a group of thread fingers (144 to 146) located behind this in the knitting direction (v) is used to feed threads (15) to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d).
3. Knitting machine for the production of knitted goods with horizontal stripe patterns including:

   at least one support (1) provided with movable knitting tools (2), a cam (4) with at least one first knitting point (68b, 68d) and a second knitting point (68a, 68c) arranged in front of this in a knitting direction (v) for moving selected knitting tools (2) into a thread pick-up position (69) and at least one thread changer (12) for feeding selected threads (15) to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d), wherein the thread changer (12) is convertible and is arranged in such a manner that selectively at least one respective selected thread (15) is fed to the knitting tools (2) moved into the thread pick-up position (69) both at the first and at the second knitting point (68b, 68d or 68a, 68c) or, after converting the machine, at least one thread (15) selected from the total of all the threads of the thread changer (12) is only fed to the knitting tools (2) moved into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d).
4. Knitting machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the thread changer (12) includes a multiplicity of thread fingers (141 to 146) arranged one behind the other in the knitting direction (v), and that during the feed of a respective selected thread to the knitting tools moved into the thread pick-up position both at the first and at the second knitting point a first group of thread fingers (141 to 143) located in front in the knitting direction (v) is used to feed threads (15) to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the second knitting point (68a, 68c) and a second group of thread fingers (144 to 146) located behind the first group in the knitting direction (v) is used to feed threads (15) to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d).
5. Knitting machine according to claim 4, characterised in that it has convertible elements for the secure separation of the threads (15) fed by the two groups of thread fingers (141 to 143 or 144 to 146).
6. Knitting machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the elements include a thread guide (17) with two guide elements (17c, 17b), which are located one behind the other in the knitting direction (v) and are respectively associated with one of the two knitting points (68a, 68b), and an insertion means (66), which, during the feed of a respective selected thread to the knitting tools moved into the thread pick-up position both at the first and at the second knitting point, inserts the threads (15) fed by the first group of thread fingers (141 to 143) into the guide element (17c) located in front in the knitting direction (v) and the threads (15) fed by the second group of thread fingers (144 to 146) into the guide element located behind in the knitting direction (v).
7. Knitting machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the elements include a stripping element (71), which is arranged between the two groups of thread fingers (141 to 143; 144 to 146) and cooperates with the insertion means (66).
8. Knitting machine according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the thread changer (12) is fitted so that threads that can be fed with it can only be fed to the knitting tools (2) moved into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d).
9. Knitting machine according to claim 8, characterised in that the second knitting point (68a, 68c) can be switched off when threads (15) that can be fed with the thread changer (12) are only fed to the knitting tools (2) brought into the thread pick-up position (69) at the first knitting point (68b, 68d).
10. Knitting machine according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the stripping element (71) is removably mounted and when the stripping element is removed, the insertion means (66) inserts threads (15) that can be fed with both groups of the thread fingers (141 to 143; 144 to 146) into the guide element (17b) located behind in the knitting direction (v).
11. Knitting machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the guide element (17c) located in front in the knitting direction (v) can be covered.
12. Knitting machine according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterised in that the guide element (17c) located in front in the knitting direction (v) is fastened to a component detachably connected to the thread guide (17).

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