EP2376688B1 - Knitting machine for manufacturing of patterned knits - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to knitting machines of the type specified in the preamble of claims 1 and 7.

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. For example, in a for receiving a thread, a sliver od. Like. Specific position, whereas the other web is a so-called non-knitting or pass-through, 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 leads 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, electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic means individually and sequentially in one of two or three positions, thereby the associated knitting tools in one of two or three lanes steer (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 B1 ).

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. to be provided (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, this requirement can hitherto only be satisfied with comparatively expensive and / or slow-working knitting machines.

Finally, knitting machines are known whose knitting tools are controlled exclusively by lock parts and therefore no pattern or selection devices exhibit. The knitting tools are controlled here by their feet successively reaching the area of cam 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, these can each be assigned to a selected one of the lock channels. It is known z. Example, to distribute the feet of the knitting tools with a so-called oblique or diagonal insert and with single or double arrangement at several heights (eg. S. Vetter "Right / left large circular knitting machines - patterning possibilities, mode of operation (part I.)" in ITB knitting / knitting / knitting / confection 1976, volume 2, P. 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.

A knitting machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 1,719,121 A known. In each case two adjacent knitting tools are selected by a common selection board. According to the US 1,809,057 A For example, this knitting machine is used for the production of patterned knitwear and therefore has a pattern device for driving the selection boards. The grooves of the needle bed in which the selection boards are mounted are twice as wide as the grooves for the knitting tools. The US 2,203,711 A describes a knitting machine with alternating different knitting needles, one of which is shorter and provided with an actuating foot and the other longer and provided with two operating feet. The shorter needle can be driven by the longer needle.

Based on this prior art, the present invention, the technical problem of proposing knitting machines of the genera initially described, by means of which even with any freely selectable patterns provided knitwear can be made without a significantly increased design and cost incurred must be, if great subtleties are desired.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 7.

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 according to the invention in each selection step, then this results in the significant advantage that on the one hand the time available per selection step is multiplied and, on the other hand, the selection of the knitting tools is made with the same components can be used, which have been commonly used for knitting tools with low fineness. The patterning of knitwear with great finenesses therefore does not lead, or at least not significantly, 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.

• Fig. 1 einen schematischen Radialschnitt durch einen Nadelzylinder und ein zugehöriges Schloss bekannter Bauweise;
• Fig. 2 eine Ansicht von innen auf eine Abwicklung des Schlosses nach Fig. 3 im Bereich einer Arbeitsstelle;
• Fig. 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht einen Nadelzylinder einer erfindungsgemäßen Rundstrickmaschine;
• Fig. 4 eine vergrößerte Einzelheit des Nadelzylinders nach Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 bis 8 schematische Schnitte durch zwei weitere Ausführungsbeispiele eines erfindungsgemäßen Nadelzylinders;
• Fig. 9 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einem schematischen Radialschnitt; und
• Fig. 10 einen Schnitt längs der Linie X - X der Fig. 9.

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

• Fig. 1 a schematic radial section through a needle cylinder and an associated lock known construction;
• Fig. 2 a view from inside on a development of the castle Fig. 3 in the field of a job;
• Fig. 3 in perspective view a needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine according to the invention;
• Fig. 4 an enlarged detail of the needle cylinder after Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 5 to 8 schematic sections through two further embodiments of a needle cylinder according to the invention;
• Fig. 9 a further embodiment of the invention in a schematic radial section; and
• Fig. 10 a section along the line X - X the Fig. 9 ,

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 ". To facilitate understanding, first the construction and operation of a known circular knitting machine will be described, followed by an illustration of the essential parts of a circular knitting machine designed according to the invention followed.

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.

In particular Fig. 2 shows, each lock section 5a, which represents a work or a knitting system of the circular knitting machine, associated with a selector 10, which serves the purpose of the knitting tools 7 in the implementation of relative movements between the bed 1 and the lock carrier 5, as opposed to pure lock controls optional to go through different paths, in particular a knitting, catching or non-knitting or pass-through. The selector 10, together with the selection boards 8, form a common pattern device by means of which knitwear having color and / or weave patterns can be made. In the exemplary embodiment, the pattern device is used to implement the so-called 3-way technique.

The selection boards 8 are made as Fig. 1 and 2 show, from double-armed levers, the first lever arms 11 and second lever arms 12 have. Between the lever arms 11 and 12 rounded bearing points 14 are provided, by means of which the Auswählplatinen 8 on trays 15 (FIGS. Fig. 1 ) of the grooves of the bed 1 are supported. The arrangement in the exemplary embodiment is such that the first lever arm 11 with a radially outwardly facing armature surface 16 (FIG. Fig. 2 ), the foot 8a is located approximately at the level of the bearing 14 and the second lever arm 12 has two superposed 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. Is the biasing spring 9, however, curious how Fig. 1 shows, then the first lever arm 11 to the outside and the second lever arm 12 is pivoted inwardly, so that the armature surface 16 projects radially outward from the groove and the ejection feet 17, 18 are retracted into the respective groove.

To Fig. 2 are associated with the feet 7a of the knitting tools 7 in each lock section 5a two superposed lock parts 20, 21, which leave free between them a 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. In this case, "input" is understood to mean the beginning of the relevant lock section 5a, which was first reached by the knitting tools 7 and selection boards 8, when they are in the direction of an arrow v (FIG. Fig. 2 ) move 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 each one the Austriebsfüßen 17, 18 of the Auswählplatinen 8 associated lock part 27 is provided, each having a knitting 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 5a, one each is only in front of the entrance to each lock section 5a Fig. 1 apparent pressing member 30 is provided, which acts in the radial direction from outside to inside on the upper Austriebsfüße 18 and pivots all passing Auswählplatinen 8 in a position in which the lower lever arm 12 is pivoted back into the respective groove of the bed 1 ( Fig. 1 ).

The selector 10 includes according to Fig. 2 in the embodiment, two in the running direction of the knitting tools 7 and 8 Auswuchtplatinen (arrow v ) successively arranged control magnets 31, 32 and an intermediate, the pole faces of the two control magnets 31, 32 flush connecting holding magnet 33rd

The operation of the described circular knitting machine is essentially as follows:
When a selection board 8 enters the system section 5a, it first enters the area of action of the pressure curve 30, which is shown in FIG Fig. 1 presses on its upper Austriebsfuß 18 that this is pivoted radially into the associated groove of the bed 1 and at the same time the armature surface 16 is applied to the magnet assembly of the selector 10 (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. You will then during the further transport in the direction of arrow v in the range of action of the knitting cam 28. As a result, the lower raising butt 17 runs onto the knitting curve 28 forming cam, so that the associated selecting jack 8 perpendicular to the arrow V and parallel to the rotational axis of the bed 1 (Arrow w in Fig. 2 ) is expelled. 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 in Fig. 2 indicated by foot positions shown as black rectangles.

On the other hand, if the first control magnet 31 is controlled in such a way 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 is in the off position Fig. 1 apparent pivot position remains and is introduced in this pivotal position to the second control magnet 32.

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 the second control magnet 32, however, controlled so that it continues to attract the armature surface 16, then this passes to a subsequent holding magnet 34 so that the Auswählplatine 8 in a Fig. 1 apparent pivot position remains and the catching curve 29 is moved past, without being lifted 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 complete sorting of the knitting tools 7 in knitting, catching or non-knitting or continuous paths 28a, 29a and 35, all selection boards 8 are acted upon by a withdrawal cam 36 acting on their feet 8a and all knitting tools 7 by a withdrawal curve 37 acting on their feet 7a to the starting position Fig. 1 deducted, 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 A1 known. Fig. 3 and 4 schematically show the essential for the present invention changes in the range of a bed and a pattern device of the circular knitting machine based on a presently considered best embodiment. As can be seen in particular Fig. 3 shows, a circular knitting machine according to the invention includes a bed 40, z. Example in the form of a needle cylinder having two in the direction of a central axis 41 superimposed portions 40 a and 40 b. 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, the entire cylinder circumference extending intermediate or free space 46 is provided.

The first grooves 43 serve to receive the in Fig. 4 only partially illustrated knitting tools 7, as in Fig. 1 and 2 z. B. usual latch needles and have the feet 7a. In contrast, the second grooves 45 are used to hold the Auswählplatinen 8, in the embodiment as well as the Auswählplatinen 8 after Fig. 1 and 2 are formed. Therefore, for the knitting tools 7 and the selection boards 8 in FIG Fig. 3 and 4 the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 and 2 used.

An essential difference to the known circular knitting machine Fig. 1 and 2 is, however, 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 about 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 accordingly Fig. 3 and 4 Above a second groove 45, two first grooves 43 and an intermediate first web 42 are arranged. 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). to come to rest, like 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, such as Fig. 4 clearly shows.

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, thereby the knitting tools 7 in the basis of Fig. 2 to lift described and 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.

After another, in Fig. 5 In the exemplary embodiment of the invention described, the double selection described is realized in that every second first web 42 (eg 42r, 42s) is extended on a lower side facing the webs 44 in the axial direction up to the lower section 40b of the bed 40, and therefore the intermediate or free space 46 after Fig. 3 and 4 bridged. The length of the respective first webs (eg 42t, 42u) lying between them remains unchanged, however, so that between in Fig. 5 At the lower ends of the extended first webs (eg, 42r, 42s), a free space 46a is created, which, like the free space 46 in FIG Fig. 4 from upper ends of the second webs 44 to the lower ends of the unextended first webs (eg 42t, 42u) and thus extends across the gap between the two sections 40a, 40b of the bed 40. The free space 46 after Fig. 3 and 4 is therefore subdivided here into a plurality 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 is in Fig. 3 to 5 preferably made as above based on the Fig. 2 is described. This is made clear by the fact that in Fig. 2 the feet 17, 18 of the selection boards 8 are twice as thick as the feet 7a of the knitting tools 7. 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, ie a Auswaltsplatine 8 with the feet 17i or 17j lifts two knitting tools 7 with the feet 7ai, 7aj or 7ak, 71 in the knitting path 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 essentially according to the embodiment Fig. 3 and 4 equivalent. 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 regions 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 together 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 according to Fig. 3 to 5 For example, the knitting tools 48 are arranged at a pitch t1 that is about half the pitch t2 of the selection boards.

The embodiment according to Fig. 7 in which like parts have the same reference numerals as in FIG Fig. 6 are different from that 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 in FIG Fig. 7 is indicated by a Auswählplatine 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 in Fig. 8 shown. It is different from the one after Fig. 7 especially in two ways.

First, each knitting tool 48 is only so long that it is always arranged with its lower portion in a first groove 43. In contrast, those parts that are in Fig. 7 the second portions 48a, 48b and the transition regions 48c are formed as separate intermediate plates (or auxiliary plates) 50 which have paired transition regions 50a bent towards 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, it is analogous to Fig. 5 each second first web 42 (eg, 42r, 42s) extends 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 are given downwards by the non-elongated webs (eg 42t, 42u), while the selection boards 8 are arranged in the second grooves during their entire stroke. In addition, the intermediate pushers 50 are moved during the various movement strokes so that their transition areas 50a always in the also from Fig. 5 visible free spaces 46a remain and therefore can not hit against the unequaled 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 shows Fig. 8 in 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 in an analogous manner according to the embodiments Fig. 6 and 7 be provided.

A corresponding extension of each first web 42 (eg 42r, 42s) can also be found in the exemplary embodiments Fig. 6 and 7 be provided to achieve 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 color or weave pattern, two stitches adjacent to each other in the fabric are always identical, ie formed with the same color or type of weave. As a result, in particular with an electromagnetic selection of the selection boards 8, the further advantage that twice as much time is available for the selection process and the Auswählplatinen 8 can be twice as thick as if they formed with a high degree of fineness of the knitting tools corresponding fineness and should be selected.

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 schematic in FIGS. 9 and 10 indicated 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 selection boards 55. By means of a tip 57 a of the shock needle, an elastic shock z. B. be exerted on the Auswountplatine 55 in the manner that these from the in Fig. 9 solid illustrated position in a in Fig. 9 dashed position shown pivoted and thereby a lower foot 55 a retracted into the receptacle 54, a foot 55 b, however, is pivoted out of the receptacle 54. 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 ( Fig. 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. B. of the pattern device according to DE 21 64 632 A1 It would be possible to make each in a conventional pattern drum inserted control in the form of a pin, a cam od. Like. As wide as about twice the pitch of two adjacent bed in the knitting tools corresponds. 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 that, 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. As bending vibrators using pneumatic or electromagnetic means cause. Finally, it is understood that the various features may be applied in combinations other than those described and illustrated.

Claims (9)

1. Knitting machine for the production of knitted goods provided with patterns, comprising: at least one bed (40) which is provided with grooves (43), knitting tools (7, 48, 53) which are mounted displaceably in the grooves (43), at least one cam portion (5a) which is moveable relative to the bed (40) and defines at least two different paths (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 (7, 48, 53) can be distributed to the at least two paths (28a, 29a, 35) in successive selection steps, according to the pattern, the pattern device (8, 10; 54, 56) being configured such that, in each selection step, at least respectively two knitting tools (7, 48, 53) which are situated adjacently in the bed (40) are selected in the same way at the same time and are directed into one and the same of the at least two paths (28a, 29a, 35), in which the pattern device has a selection device (10) and a plurality of sinker selection plates (8) which are assigned respectively to at least two knitting tools (7, 48) which are situated adjacently in the bed (40) and can be brought by the selection device (10), in each selection step, into one of at least two positions, the bed (40) comprising a first portion (40a) with first grooves (43) which respectively receive a knitting tool (48) and a second portion (40b) with second grooves (45) which respectively receive a sinker selection plate (8), the first grooves (43) being disposed with a first division and second grooves (45) with a second division which corresponds at least to twice the first division, and in that the two portions (40a, 40b) of the bed (40) are separated from each other by at least one free space (46, 46a), characterised in that, in the free space (46), upper ends of the sinker selection plates (8) can act on lower ends (48d) of the at least respectively two assigned knitting tools (48) in order to distribute these to the at least two paths (28a, 29a, 35).
2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the knitting tools (48) have first and second portions (48a, 48b) which are connected by transition regions (48c), the transition regions (48c) being disposed in the free space (46) and the second portions (48b) being assigned to the sinker selection plates (8).
3. Knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that auxiliary jacks (50) are disposed between the knitting tools (48) and the sinker selection plates (8).
4. Knitting machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the lower ends (48d) of the knitting tools (48) or lower ends of the auxiliary jacks (50) protrude into the two grooves (45).
5. Knitting machine according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the bed (40) is a needle cylinder in which the two portions (40a, 40b) are at an axial spacing from each other by the at least one free space (46, 46a), the first portion (40a) being disposed in an upper region and the second portion (40b) in a region of the needle cylinder situated therebelow.
6. Knitting machine according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sinker selection plates (8) have a thickness throughout which corresponds to at least twice a thickness of lower ends (48d) of the knitting tools (7, 48).
7. Knitting machine for the production of knitted goods provided with patterns, comprising: at least one bed (40) which is provided with grooves (43), knitting tools (7, 48, 53) which are mounted displaceably in the grooves (43), at least one cam portion (5a) which is moveable relative to the bed (40) and defines at least two different paths (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 (7, 48, 53) can be distributed to the at least two paths (28a, 29a, 35) in successive selection steps, according to the pattern, the pattern device (8, 10; 54, 56) being configured such that, in each selection step, at least respectively two knitting tools (7, 48, 53) which are situated adjacently in the bed (40) are selected in the same way at the same time and are directed into one and the same of the at least two paths (28a, 29a, 35),
   the pattern device comprising sinker selection plates (55) which are assigned individually to the knitting tools (53), are mounted pivotably and/or displaceably and can be brought into at least two positions, characterised in that
   the pattern device has a selection device (56) with a control element (57) such that, in each selection step, at least two sinker selection plates (55) which are situated adjacently in the bed (40) can be brought into one and the same of the at least two positions at the same time.
8. Knitting machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the sinker selection plates (55) are mounted pivotably in receiving means (54) of the knitting tools (53).
9. Knitting machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the control element (57) is a cam needle or a knob inserted in a control drum.

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