EP2376688A1

EP2376688A1 - Knitting machine for producing knitted goods provided with patterns and needle board for the same

Info

Publication number: EP2376688A1
Application number: EP09771675A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Axel Flad
Original assignee: Sipra Patententwicklungs und Beteiligungs GmbH
Current assignee: Sipra Patententwicklungs und Beteiligungs GmbH
Priority date: 2008-12-11
Filing date: 2009-10-21
Publication date: 2011-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-21
Also published as: WO2010066219A1; TW201030200A; JP2012511639A; CN102227526A; CN102227526B; WO2010066219A9; DE102008061699A1; JP5636553B2; TWI504793B; EP2376688B1; BRPI0922815A2

Abstract

A knitting machine for producing knitted goods provided with a pattern is disclosed. The knitting machine comprises at least one board (40), knitting tools (7) mounted to be movable on the board (40), at least one knitting section, movable relative to the board (40) defining at least two different tracks for the knitting tools (7) and at least one pattern device by means of which the knitting tools (7) in sequential section steps are distributed along the at least two tracks according to the pattern. According to the invention, the pattern device is designed such that in each selection step at least two knitting tools (7) lying adjacent on the board (40) are simultaneously selected and controlled in one and the same of the at least two tracks.

Description

Knitting machine for the production of patterned knitwear and dedicated needle bed

The invention relates to a knitting machine of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and a needle bed according to the preamble of claim 16.

Knitting machines of this type, which may be formed as a circular or flat knitting machines, od as a needle cylinder, dial, flat bed. Like. Trained and provided with a plurality of parallel grooves bed. In the grooves predominantly designed as tongue or slide needles and provided with feet knitting tools are slidably mounted. The production of knitwear with patterns takes place in that the feet of the knitting tools are optionally distributed at least one work site to one of at least two, predetermined by lock parts of a castle tracks. One of these tracks leads the knitting tools z. B. in a for receiving a thread, a sliver od. Like. Specific position, whereas the other. Track is a so-called non-knit or continuous web, so that the knitting tools run by her at the job concerned no thread od. Like. Record (2- way technique). Such arrangements are particularly suitable for the production of color samples. If, on the other hand, it is desired to produce or only bind or structure patterns, then the lock provides a third path, which guides the selected knitting tools into a catch position (3-way technique).

For pattern distribution of the knitting tools on the various tracks are pattern or selection means, which are known in numerous variants and for acting on the knitting tools or these individually assigned, in the knitting tools themselves or at least in the same grooves of the bed like these arranged bumpers, sinkers , Control springs, bending oscillators od. Like. Serve, which can be brought by mechanical, pneumatic, electric, magnetic or electromagnetic means working individually and sequentially in one of two or three positions, thereby the associated knitting tools in one of two or to direct three webs (eg DE 15 85 243 A1, DE-PS 1 173 609, DE 21 15 332 C3, DE 21 64 632 A1, DE 37 12 673 C1, DE 16 35 844 C3, EP 0 319 007 bl).

Since each selection step for a knitting tool must be made within a very short period of time in the case of high performance knitting machines, e.g. B. 0.5 ms to 1.0 ms, it is also known juxtaposed knitting tools, control boards or the like. With arranged at different heights feet and the selector in each of these heights od with a control in the form of a individually controllable dial blade. Like. To provide (eg DE 21 17 713 C3). Thereby, the time periods available for a selection step can be multiplied and the selection operations can be performed with a greater certainty.

A hitherto unsolved problem with regard to the pattern-based selection of knitting tools arises when knitting machines with small pitches or high finenesses are used. While pitch is understood to mean the center distance of two knitting tools lying side by side in bed, the fineness indicates the number of needles in the bed next to each other per inch. A 60s fineness thus means z. Example, that 60 needles per inch or 5655 knitting tools are arranged on the circumference of a needle cylinder having a diameter of 30 ", resulting in a pitch of 0.4 mm.The thickness of a web and a knitting tool in such a case is only approx. 0.2 mm instead of 0.4 mm or more with a fineness of E 30. A safe selection of such fine knitting tools can be carried out at comparatively low machine speeds and / or purely mechanical selection devices B. only periods of about 0.2 ms to 0.5 ms are available, safe selection only possible if the knitting tools, control boards or the like., As provided in the above example, with arranged at different heights feet However, it is undesirable because it requires a complex machine design. However, due to fashionable trends, knitwear manufacturers are increasingly demanding not only knitting machines with very great finishes, such as knitwear. B. E60, but also suitable for selecting. For the reasons mentioned above, this requirement can hitherto only be satisfied with comparatively expensive and / or slowly working knitting machines.

Lastly knitting machines are known whose knitting tools are controlled exclusively by lock parts and therefore have no pattern or selection devices. The control of the knitting tools takes place here in that their feet successively reach the area of lock curves (eg DE-PS 535 173). In particular, locks with a plurality of stacked lock channels are known in this context, in each of which a foot of a knitting tool is guided. Depending on the height at which the feet are arranged on the knitting tools, they can each be assigned to a selected one of the lock channels. It is known z. For example, to distribute the feet of the knitting tools at several heights with a so-called diagonal or diagonal insert and with a single or double arrangement (eg BS Vetter "right / left large circular knitting machines - patterning options, mode of operation (part L)" in ITB Strickerei / - Knitting / Confectionery / Garment 1976, Volume 2, pp 55 to 60). With lock arrangements of this type, however, only relatively small patterns can be produced, which are also changeable only by the exchange or the switching of lock parts. Since an individual, independent selection of each individual knitting tool is not possible, no arbitrary, freely selectable pattern can be generated in this way, as previously possible only with the aid of the above-mentioned pattern devices.

Based on this state of the art, the present invention, the technical problem of proposing a knitting machine and a needle bed of the genera mentioned above, by means of which can be made with any freely selectable patterns provided knitwear without a significantly increased design and Cost must be taken into account if great subtleties are desired. This problem is solved according to the invention in that the patterning device is designed so that in each selection step at least two, adjacent in bed knitting tools are selected in the same way and controlled in one and the same of at least two tracks.

The invention is based on the confirmed by experiments knowledge that in knitwear that with great subtleties of z. As E50 or E60 are made, a pattern changing from stitch to stitch pattern is not perceived in the manner as for a product with lower fineness of z. B. to E30 or less applies. Therefore, if two or more immediately adjacent knitting tools are selected simultaneously and in the same way in each selection step according to the invention, this results in the significant advantage that on the one hand the time available per selection step is correspondingly multiplied and, on the other hand, the selection of the knitting tools with the same components - Can be taken, which are generally used for knitting tools with low fineness. The patterning of knitwear with great fineness therefore does not, or at least not significantly, lead to increased design and cost. The fact that the pattern can only be changed after every second or more stitch hardly appears optically.

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

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

Figure 1 is a schematic radial section through a needle cylinder and an associated lock known construction.

FIG. 2 shows a view from the inside of a development of the lock according to FIG. 3 in the area of a workstation; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the needle cylinder of Fig. 3;

5 to 8 are schematic sections through two further embodiments of a needle cylinder according to the invention;

9 shows a further embodiment of the invention in a schematic radial section; and

10 is a section along the line X - X of Fig. 9th

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder having a diameter of 30 ".For the sake of understanding, first the construction and operation of a known circular knitting machine will be described, followed by an illustration of the essential parts of one according to the invention designed circular knitting machine connects.

Fig. 1 shows a circular knitting machine with a bed 1 in the form of a conventional needle cylinder, which is mounted on a support ring 2. This is rotatably mounted in a machine frame, not shown, and provided with an outer ring gear 3 which is connected to a drive gear, not shown, which can be driven by a drive motor. On a stationary mounted on the machine frame not shown lock plate 4, a lock is attached, which has a bed 1 surrounding lock carrier 5, which carries on its inside a plurality of lock sections, which are arranged in the circumferential direction of the bed 1 side by side and form jobs or knitting systems , In Fig. 2, such a lock portion 5a is shown in a view from the inside. The bed 1 has a plurality of grooves formed by webs 6, which are arranged here parallel to the axis of rotation of the bed 1 and needle cylinder and record knitting tools 7, the here z. B. are formed as conventional latch needles. Below each knitting tool 7 and in the same groove of the bed 1 as this, a selector board 8 is arranged. In the embodiment, the knitting tools 7 are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation slidably in the grooves, while the Auswählplatinen 8 are mounted both parallel to the axis of rotation slidably and radially to this pivotally mounted in the grooves.

The knitting tools 7 and selection boards 8 have particular to their deduction certain feet 7a and 8a, which are assigned in a manner described below in particular deduction of the castle. The selection boards 8 are also provided with prestressing springs 9 attached to them or made in one piece with them, by means of which they are prestressed in the radial direction.

2, each lock section 5a, which represents a workstation or a knitting system of the circular knitting machine, is assigned a selection device 10 which serves the purpose of making the knitting tools 7 different when carrying out relative movements between the bed 1 and the lock carrier 5 as in pure lock controls optionally different webs, in particular a knitting, catching or non-knitting or continuous run through. The selector 10, together with the selection boards 8, form a common pattern device by means of which knitwear having dyeing and / or binding patterns can be produced. In the exemplary embodiment, the pattern device is used to implement the so-called 3-way technique.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the selection boards 8 consist of double-armed levers having first lever arms 11 and second lever arms 12. Rounded bearings 14 are provided between the lever arms 11 and 12, by means of which the selection boards 8 are supported on shelves 15 (FIG. 1) of the grooves of the bed 1. The arrangement in the exemplary embodiment is such that the first lever arm 11 with 2), the foot 8a lies approximately at the level of the bearing 14 and the second lever arm 12 has two superimposed Austriebsfüße 17 and 18, which are directed as the foot 8a radially outward. At an upper end of the selector plate 8 also preferably designed as a support leg 19 end face is provided, which cooperates with the overlying knitting tool 7. The biasing spring 9 is disposed on a bottom 15 of the associated groove facing back of the selector plate 8 and so that the Auswählplatine 8 are pivoted at substantially relaxed biasing spring 9 about the bearing 14 so that its upper, first lever arm 11 at the bottom 15 of associated with the groove and thus the armature surface 16 is retracted into the groove, while the lower, second lever arm 12 is biased radially outwardly by the supported on the bottom 15 of the groove biasing spring 9, so that the Austriebsfüße 17, 18 from the groove radially to protrude outside. On the other hand, if the pretensioning spring 9 is tensioned, as shown in FIG. 1, then the first lever arm 11 is pivoted outwardly and the second lever arm 12 is pivoted inward so that the armature surface 16 protrudes radially outward from the groove and the ejection feet 17, 18 into the relevant groove are withdrawn.

According to FIG. 2, the feet 7a of the knitting tools 7 in each lock section 5a are assigned two lock parts 20, 21 which lie one above the other and which between them are a

Release recess 22 which is provided in a central region with a separating lock part 23. In an area below the lock part 21, one of the selection devices 10 is provided, which are arranged at the entrance to the respective lock section 5a. Here, the term "input" is understood to mean the beginning of the respective lock section 5a, which was first reached by the knitting tools 7 and selection boards 8, when they move in the direction of an arrow v (FIG. 2) relative to the lock. Furthermore, the lock portion 5a below the selector 10 has a lock part 24 associated with the feet 8a of the selection boards 8, which is provided with a recess 25 and a separating lock part 26 analogously to the lock parts 20, 21. Finally, below the lock parts 24 there is a respective lock part 27 associated with the ejection feet 17, 18 of the selection boards 8, each of which has a knitting part 27. curve 28 and a capture curve 29 for the selection boards 8 defined. The knitting curve 28 serves to cooperate with the lower Austriebsfüßen 17 and drives the accumulating on them Austriebsfüße 17 in a knitting position corresponding height. The catching curve 29, however, serves to cooperate with the upper Austriebsfüßen 18 and drives the accumulating on them Austriebsfüße 18 to a catch position corresponding height.

In order to obtain the same pivot positions of the selection boards 8 at the entrances to the lock sections 5 a, only one pressing part 30 is provided in front of the entrance to each lock section 5 a, which acts on the upper raising feet 18 in the radial direction from outside to inside and all the passing select boards 8 are pivoted to a position in which the lower lever arm 12 is swung back into the relevant groove of the bed 1 (FIG. 1).

In the exemplary embodiment, the selection device 10 comprises two control magnets 31, 32 arranged one behind the other in the running direction of the knitting tools 7 and selection boards 8 (arrow v) and a holding magnet 33 connected therebetween and flush with the pole faces of the two control magnets 31, 32.

The operation of the described circular knitting machine is essentially as follows:

When entering a selection board 8 in the system section 5a, this first passes into the effective range of Andrückkurve 30, which presses as shown in FIG. 1 on their upper Austriebsfuß 18, that this is pivoted radially into the associated groove of the bed 1 and at the same time the anchor surface 16 to the Magnet arrangement of the selector 10 is applied (see also Fig. 1).

If the control magnet 31 is controlled so that it does not attract the armature surface 16, but the Auswählplatine 8 releases or let go, then this is pivoted under the influence of the biasing spring 9 to the bearing 14 so that their am second lever arm 12 mounted Austriebsfüße 17, 18 are moved radially outward and radially emerge from the respective groove of the bed 1. As a result, the lower Austriebsfuß 17 runs on the knitting curve 28 forming the lock part, so that the associated Auswählplatine 8 perpendicular to the arrow v and parallel to the axis of rotation of the bed. 1 (Arrow w in Fig. 2) is driven out. The knitting curve 28 is formed in the direction of the arrow v and is so long that the support legs 19 of the selected selection boards 8 rest against the lower ends of associated knitting tools 7 and their feet 7a are lifted above the separating lock part 23. This knitting tools 7 are thereby also raised to their highest, the knitting position corresponding position and therefore undergo a knitting path 28a. This is indicated in FIG. 2 by foot positions shown as black rectangles.

On the other hand, if the first control magnet 31 is controlled so that it continues to attract the armature surface 16, then it reaches the following holding magnet 33 so that the associated selection circuit board 8 remains in the pivot position shown in FIG. 1 and in this pivotal position against the second control magnet 32 is introduced.

If the second control magnet 32 is controlled at this time so that it does not attract the armature surface 16, but releases the selector plate 8, then this is pivoted about the bearing 14 under the influence of the biasing spring 9 so that its on the second lever arm 12 mounted Austriebsfüße 17th , 18 are pivoted radially outward. However, since her lower Austriebsfuß 17 in this position has just passed the foremost, rising part of the knitting curve 28, this Austriebsfuß 17 lays against an inner surface facing him the lock part 27, without getting to the knitting curve 28. Instead, in the course of the Austriebsfuß 18 this Auswählplatine 8 in the range of the catching curve 29, which raises the Austriebsfuß 18 to a catch position corresponding height, which has the consequence that the support leg 19 of the respective selection board 8 the associated Knitting tool 7 expels in a catching track 29a.

If, on the other hand, the second control magnet 32 is controlled such that it continues to attract the armature surface 16, then it arrives at a following holding magnet 34 so that the selection circuit board 8 remains in a pivoting position shown in FIG. 1 and is moved past the catching curve 29 without to be raised by this. The feet 7a of the associated knitting tools 7 then pass through a passage track 35 below the separating lock part 23.

After completion sorting of the knitting tools 7 in knitting, catch or Nichtstrickbzw. Continuous paths 28a, 29a and 35, all selection boards 8 are withdrawn by acting on their feet 8a trigger curve 36 and all knitting tools 7 by acting on their feet 7a trigger curve 37 back to the starting position of FIG. 1, so that in the subsequent lock section or system a new selection process can begin.

Circular knitting machines and pattern devices of this type and other details thereof are for. B. from the document DE 103 21 737 Al, which is hereby made by reference to them the subject of the present disclosure.

Figures 3 and 4 show schematically the changes essential to the present invention in the area of a bed and a pattern device of the circular knitting machine on the basis of what is currently considered to be the best embodiment. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, a circular knitting machine according to the invention contains a bed 40, e.g. B. in the form of a Nadelzy Linders, the two in the direction of a central axis 41 superposed portions 40 a and 40 b has. At the periphery of the portion 40a radially projecting and parallel to the central axis 41 arranged, first webs 42 are formed, between which first grooves 43 are present. At the periphery of the other portion 40b radially projecting and parallel to the central axis 41 arranged, second webs 44 are formed, between which second grooves 45 are present. Between the sections 40a and 40b, one of the webs 42, 44 is free, preferably provided along the entire circumference of the cylinder extending intermediate or free space 46.

The first grooves 43 serve to receive the knitting tools 7, which are only partially shown in FIG. 4, which, as shown in FIGS. B. usual latch needles and have the feet 7a. In contrast, the second grooves 45 serve to receive the selection boards 8, which are formed in the embodiment exactly as the Auswählplatinen 8 of FIG. 1 and 2. Therefore, the same reference numerals as used in Figs. 1 and 2 are used for the knitting tools 7 and the selection boards 8 in Figs.

An essential difference to the known circular knitting machine according to FIGS. 1 and 2, however, is that the selection boards 8 are formed and arranged with a different, preferably about half the fineness of the knitting tools 7 and the second grooves 45 are formed so that their widths approximately the sum of the widths of two first grooves 43 and a first web 42 correspond. Do z. B. the knitting tools 7 a fineness E60, then the Auswählplatinen 8 is given a fineness E30. Do the knitting tools 7 z. As the fineness E50, the selection boards 8 were formed with the fineness E25 and arranged. In addition, the first and second webs 42, 44 and grooves 43, 45 relative to each other z. B. arranged so that, according to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first groove 42 and a first web 42 lying therebetween are arranged above a second groove 45. That is, after insertion of the knitting tools 7 and selection boards 8 having thicknesses substantially equal to the width of the grooves 43, 45, over each selection board (eg 8x) there are two associated knitting tools (eg 7x, 7y). come to rest, as Fig. 4 shows. In addition, the arrangement is such that on the one hand the knitting tools 7 protrude with their lower ends in the free space 46 and on the other hand when expelling each selection board 8 at the same time the lower ends of two adjacent and in bed 40 immediately adjacent knitting tools (eg. 7x and 7y) come to rest on an upper end of the associated selector plate 8x, which in turn is preferably designed as a support leg 19, as clearly shown in FIG. It should also be noted that the mentioned, formed here by the upper end face of the support leg 19 supporting point between the knitting tools 7x, 7y and the Auswählplatine 8x z. B. is arranged close to the free space 46 free from the webs 42, 44 and other obstacles. Thereby, it is possible to shift the upper ends of the thicker selection boards 8 upward beyond the upper ends of the second grooves 45, in pairs to the lower ends of the associated thinner knitting tools (eg 7x, 7y), and then even further to move upward to thereby lift the knitting tools 7 in the manner described with reference to FIG. 2 and to move into the catching track 29a or knitting path 28a. Without the free space 46, it would not be possible in this embodiment to apply the Auswählplatinen 8 at its ejection movement to the lower end faces of the knitting tools 7, since they would encounter the first webs 42.

According to a further embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the described double selection is realized in that each second first web 42 (eg 42r, 42s) on a lower, the webs 44 side facing in the axial direction to the lower Section 40b of the bed 40 is extended and therefore the Zwischenbzw. Free space 46 of FIG. 3 and 4 bridged. By contrast, the length of the respective first webs lying between them (eg 42t, 42u) remains unchanged, so that between each lower end of the elongated first webs (eg 42r, 42s) in Fig. 5 a free space 46a is created how the clearance 46 in Fig. 4 extends from upper ends of the second webs 44 to the lower ends of the unextended first webs (e.g., 42t, 42u) and thus across the gap between the two sections 40a, 40b of the bed 40 is. The free space 46 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 is therefore subdivided here into a multiplicity of laterally substantially closed free spaces 46a. Each of these free spaces 46a has a width which substantially corresponds to the distance between two second webs 44 and the distance between two extended first webs (eg 42r, 42s). In addition, the upper ends of the selection boards 8 are formed so as to fit into the above clearances 46a between the lower ends of the extended first lands 42. Overall, the free spaces 46a in the axial direction are also dimensioned so large that the selection boards 8 unhindered their maximum, can perform in the knitting position leading stroke.

Incidentally, the arrangement in FIGS. 3 to 5 is preferably made as described above with reference to FIG. 2. On the one hand, this is made clear by the fact that the feet 17, 18 of the selection boards 8 are shown twice as thick as the feet 7a of the knitting tools 7 in FIG. On the other hand, the different positions for the feet 7a of the knitting tools 7 show that their selection always takes place in pairs and at the same time on knitting tools 7 lying directly next to one another. A selection board 8 with ejection feet 17i or 17k correspond to z. B. two pairs of feet 7ai, 7aj and 7ak and 7al, d. H. a selection board 8 with the feet 17i or 17j raises two knitting tools 7 each with the feet 7ai, 7aj and 7ak, 71 into the knitting course 28a. On the other hand, select boards 8 having feet 17m or 17o left in a pass path by the selector 10, the paired knitting tools 7 having feet 7am, 7an and 7ao, 7ap are also allowed to pass through the non-web 35. Finally, a selection board 8 with a foot 18r shows that two associated knitting tools 7 with feet 7ar, 7as are simultaneously moved into the catching track 29a.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment which substantially corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. In contrast, the knitting tools 48, however, on first and second portions 48 a, 48 b, which are interconnected by arranged in the free space 46 transition areas 48 c. The first sections 48a are predominantly arranged in the grooves 43 of the bed 40 formed by the first webs 42. The transition areas 48c consist of sections obtained by bending in the shafts of the knitting tools 48, which serve the purpose of arranging lower ends 48d of the knitting tools 48 closer to each other in pairs than corresponds to a conventional division T1 of the knitting tools 48 predetermined by the first webs 42. The reduction of the distance of the lower ends 48b makes it possible to make the thickness of the second webs 44 in the lower portion 40b of the bed 40 somewhat larger without the risk that the end faces of the knitting tools 48 formed at the lower ends 48d may be subject to the expulsion process not full surface Place on the upper end faces of the selection boards 8. As in the embodiments of Figs. 3 to 5, the knitting tools 48 are arranged at a pitch tl which is about half the pitch t2 of the selection boards.

The embodiment of FIG. 7, in which the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 6, differs from that of FIG. 6 in that the selection boards 8 are completely arranged in the grooves 45 formed by the second webs 44. In order to make this possible, the transition regions 48c of the knitting tools 48 are again arranged in the free space 46, but now the second portions 48b of the knitting tools 7 are extended in the direction of the portion 40b of the bed 40 so much that they are in the of the webs 44th formed second grooves 45 protrude and hang up in these on the upper end faces of the Auswählplatinen 8. This results in the advantage that the lower portions 48b are guided in the grooves 45 during the entire expulsion and withdrawal movement of the knitting tools 48, as indicated in Fig. 6 by a selector plate 8z, which is already in an expelled state. As a result, the lower ends 48d of the knitting tools 48 can not unintentionally slip off the upper end faces of the selection boards 8, even if the vibrations of the knitting machine increase.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. It differs from that of FIG. 7 in particular in two respects.

First, each knitting tool 48 is only so long that it is always arranged with its lower portion in a first groove 43. On the other hand, those parts having the second portions 48a, 48b and the transition portions 48c in FIG. 7 are formed as separate intermediate plates (or auxiliary plates) 50 having paired transition portions 50a bent toward each other in pairs. These intermediate pushers 50 are so long that they project with upper ends 50b into the first grooves 43 and with lower ends 50c into the second grooves 44, which have widths which are preferably only slightly greater than twice the width of the ends 50c. The intermediate rams 50 are longitudinal schematically indicated contact surfaces 51 and 52 on the one hand with the lower edges of the knitting tools 48 and on the other hand with the upper edges of the Auswählplatinen 8 in contact, so that they transfer their movements on the knitting tools 48 (or vice versa).

Second, analogously to Fig. 5, every other first land 42 (eg, 42r, 42s) is extended to the portion 40b of the bed 40. In this case, the arrangement is chosen such that the lower regions of the knitting tools 48 are arranged during their entire stroke in the first grooves 43, the axial length of which is given downwards by the non-elongated webs (eg 42t, 42u) during the selection boards 8 are arranged in the second grooves during their entire stroke. In addition, during the various movement strokes, the intermediate slides 50 are moved so that their transitional areas 50a always remain in the clearances 46a also visible in FIG. 5 and therefore can not butt against the unextended first webs 42 ^' (eg 42t, 42u) , The upper and lower ends 50b, 50c of the intermediate pushers 50, however, are permanently guided in the first and second grooves 43 and 45, respectively.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows that the transition regions 50a of the intermediate pushers 50 could also be arranged wholly or partly in the second grooves 45, because their widths are sufficiently large.

The described interposer 50 could be provided in an analogous manner in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7.

A corresponding extension of each first web 42 (eg, 42r, 42s) may also be provided in the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7 to provide better guidance of the lower portions of the knitting tools 48.

The embodiments described so far are all based on the principle that the pattern device works with selection boards 8, which have an increased thickness in comparison to the knitting tools 7, 48 and therefore with a conventional Selector can be selected according to the pattern. In contrast, the knitting tools, which have only about half the thickness, in pairs expelled from the Auswählplatinen 8, ie each driven Auswählplatine 8 drives with the help of the lock parts described after each by an electromagnet od. Like. Selection step simultaneously two adjacent knitting tools. 7 z. B. in a catch or knitting web. Therefore, in a dyeing or binding pattern always two stitches in the fabric side by side are identical, ie formed with the same color or type of binding. This results in particular in an electromagnetic selection of the selection boards 8, the further advantage that twice as much time is available for the selection and the

Selection boards 8 can be formed twice as thick as if they had to be formed and selected with a fineness of the knitting tools corresponding fineness.

The same advantages can be obtained if the selection boards 8 are formed with the same pitch as the knitting tools 7 and 48, respectively, and arranged in the same grooves as these. In this case, the selector is to be designed so that it simultaneously and in a selection step pivots or shifts two selection boards 8 located next to one another in the bed 40 into a predetermined position. This is roughly schematically indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in which a pattern device according to EP 0 319 007 B1 is shown. In this embodiment, knitting tools 53 are provided with receptacles 54 in which selection boards 55 are pivotally mounted. The selection is made here by means of an electromagnetic selector 56, which has a control element 57 in the form of a push pin movable in the direction of the selector boards 55. By means of a tip 57 a of the shock needle, an elastic shock z. Example, be exerted on the Auswountplatine 55 in such a way that it pivots from the solid position shown in Fig. 9 in a dashed line in Fig. 9 shown position and thereby retracted a lower foot 55a in the receptacle 54, a foot 55b, however the receptacle 54 is pivoted out. In contrast, according to the invention, the control element 57 is provided with a thickness which is at least about the same size as the sum of the thicknesses of two selection boards 55 and a web 58 lying between two selection boards 55 is (Figure 10). Alternatively, it would be sufficient to provide only the tip 57a with such a thickness. By both measures, instead of the previous individual selection in each selection step, two knitting tools 53 lying next to each other in the bed can be selected simultaneously and directed into a selected path. The frequency with which the control element 57 must be moved is therefore half as large as if only one selection board 55 had to be pivoted per push.

An analogous pattern device can also be made by purely mechanical means. Starting z. Example of the pattern device according to DE 21 64 632 Al, it would be possible to make any inserted into a conventional pattern drum control in the form of a pin, a cam od. Like. To make as wide as about twice the pitch of two adjacent in bed knitting tools , Also in this case, the patterning device would allow to select two fine-pitch knitting tools per selection step by using selection boards of corresponding fineness and controls of greater fineness associated therewith.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments of the knitting machine and the needle bed, which can be modified in many ways. This applies in particular to the number of knitting tools that can be selected per selection step. Notwithstanding the double selection described above, it would be possible in each selection step more than two, in particular z. B. to select three or four knitting tools simultaneously and thereby in one and the same path, z. B. to direct a knitting web. It is clear that the invention can be used in particular for knitting machines with high finenesses and with particular advantage for subtleties from about E40 meaningful. Further, the invention is not limited to the selection boards described, since other selection boards and selection members can be used in their place. It might even be possible to omit the selection boards altogether and the selection device or its controls to act directly on the optionally pivotable knitting tools. Apart from this, it is clear that the selection of knitting tools according to the invention can also be used for the production of patterns on plush and / or high-pile (fur) knitting machines and on flat knitting machines, and the invention is realized with particular advantage on circular knitting machines, whose bed could also be designed as a dial. In addition, other selectors may be used. In principle, the selector can be designed in any desired manner and a selection of the selection boards or controls z. B. with mechanical, purely electrical, z. B. bending vibrators use, bring about pneumatic or electromagnetic means. Finally, it is understood that the various features may be applied in combinations other than those described and illustrated.

Claims

claims

A knitting machine for producing patterned knitwear, comprising: at least one bed (40) provided with grooves (43), slidably mounted knitting tools (7, 48, 53) in the grooves (43), at least one relative to the bed (40 ) movable lock section (5a) which defines at least two different tracks (28a, 29a, 35) for the knitting tools (7, 48, 53), and at least one pattern device (8, 10; 54, 56) by means of which the knitting tools (8) 7, 48, 53) in successive selection steps according to pattern on the at least two tracks (28a, 29a, 35) are distributed, characterized in that the pattern device (8, 10, 54, 56) is formed so that in each selection step at least two knitting tools (7, 48, 53) lying side by side in the bed (40) are selected in the same way and controlled in one and the same of the at least two webs (28a, 29a, 35).

A knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern device comprises a selector (10) and an at least two knitting tools (7, 48) juxtaposed in the bed (40), by the selector (10) in each of the selection steps in one of has at least two positions mountable selection board (8).

3. Knitting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the pattern device comprises a plurality of such selection boards (8), wherein each

Selection board (8) at least two each in bed (40) lying adjacent knitting tools (7, 48) are associated and in each selection step one of the selection boards (8) from the selector (10) in one of at least two positions can be brought.

4. Knitting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the bed (40) has a first portion (40a) with first, each a knitting tool (48) receiving grooves (43) and a second portion (40b) with the second, each a Auswählplatine ( 8) record- wherein the first grooves (43) are arranged with a first pitch and second grooves (45) with a second pitch that is at least twice the first pitch, and that the two portions (40a, 40b) of the bed (40) are separated from each other by at least one free space (46, 46a).

5. knitting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that in the free space (46) upper ends of the Auswählplatinen (8) on lower ends (48d) of the at least two associated knitting tools (48) can act to these on the at least two tracks ( 28a, 29a, 35).

6. Knitting machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the knitting tools (48) first and second, by transition regions (48c) connected portions (48 a, 48 b), wherein the transition regions (48 c) arranged in the free space (46) and the second portions (48b) are associated with the selection boards (8).

7. Knitting machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that between the knitting tools (48) and the Auswählplatinen (8) intermediate ram (50) are arranged.

8. knitting machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the lower ends (48d) of the knitting tools (48) or lower ends of the intermediate ram (50) into the second grooves (45) protrude.

9. Knitting machine according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the bed (40) is a needle cylinder, in which the two portions (40a, 40b) by the at least one free space (46, 46a) axially spaced from each other, wherein the first portion (40a) is disposed in an upper portion and the second portion (40b) is disposed in a portion thereof below the needle cylinder.

10. Knitting machine according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the selection boards (8) have a thickness which is at least twice a thickness of lower ends (48d) of the knitting tools (7, 48).

11. knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the Mustervor- direction the knitting tools (53) individually associated, pivotally and / or displaceably mounted, in at least two positions engageable selection boards (55) and the pattern device includes a selector (56) with a Control element (57) such that in each selection step at least two, in bed (40) side by side Auswählplatinen (55) in one and the same of the at least two positions can be brought simultaneously.

12. Knitting machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the Auswählplatinen (53) are pivotally mounted in receptacles (54) of the knitting tools (53).

13. Knitting machine according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the control element (53) is a shock needle.

14. Knitting machine according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the control is an inserted into a control drum cam.

15. Knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the knitting tools (7, 48, 49) are arranged with a fineness of at least E40 in the bed (40).

16. Needle bed for a knitting machine having a plurality of grooves for receiving knitting tools (7, 48) and selection boards (8), characterized in that it has a first portion (40a) with first, for receiving the knitting tools (7, 48) Grooves (43) and a second portion (40b) with second, for receiving the Auswahlplatinen (8) certain grooves (45), wherein the first grooves (43) with a first pitch and the second grooves (45) with a second pitch are arranged, which corresponds to at least twice the first division, and that the two sections (40a, 40b) are separated from one another by at least one free space (46, 46a).

17. Needle bed according to claim 16, characterized in that the first grooves (43) by first webs (42) and the second grooves (45) by second webs (44) are formed, wherein a part of the first webs (42) of long Webs (42r, 42s) which have extensions projecting beyond the first section (40a), while the remaining first webs (42) are short webs (42t, 42u) not extended beyond the first section (40a), then a separate free space (46a) is formed between each two extensions of the long first webs (42r, 42s) projecting beyond the first portion (40a).

Needle bed according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that it is a needle cylinder in which the two sections (40a, 40b) are spaced apart by the at least one free space (46, 46a), the first section (40a ) in an upper portion and the second portion (40b) is disposed in a lying below it portion of the needle cylinder.

19. Needle bed according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the first grooves (43) corresponding to a fineness of at least E40 and the second

Grooves (45) are formed according to a fineness of at most E20.