EP3168350A1

EP3168350A1 - Setup equipment for flatbed knitting machine

Info

Publication number: EP3168350A1
Application number: EP16197900.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reiji Arikita; Takekazu Shibuta; Yuhei OTAKI
Original assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Current assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-12
Filing date: 2016-11-09
Publication date: 2017-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-09
Also published as: JP6214616B2; CN106702583A; EP3168350B1; KR101803711B1; CN106702583B; JP2017089061A; KR20170055916A

Abstract

[Problem to be solved] It is an object of the present invention is to provide a set up equipment for a flatbed knitting machine in which an elevating guide only in an elevating mechanism is enough even when a plurality of set up plates are included.

[Solution] A holder 6 accommodates a plurality of set up plates 3, 4, and 5 at an interval in a front-back direction and is capable of being moved in the front-back direction. Elevating mechanisms 7 are provided with elevating guides 10 and have elevators 11 moving the connected set up plate 4 in an elevation manner by guiding with the elevating guides 10. Selecting mechanisms 8 move the holder 6 frontward and backward, select the one set up plate 4, and adjust the set up plate 4 to a position at which substrates 4a are capable of being connected to the elevators 11 of the elevating mechanisms 7. Connecting mechanisms 9 are capable of switching connection or disconnection between the substrates 4a of the selected set up plate 4 and the elevators 11 in a state where the elevators 11 of the elevating mechanisms 7 are lowered and it is therefore sufficient that the elevating guides 10 are provided only in the elevating mechanisms 7.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a set up equipment of a flatbed knitting machine, which includes a plurality of set up plates that are used when a flatbed knitting machine starts knitting of a fabric and in which set up needles pulling down the fabric while capturing and holding a set up part of the fabric are provided on each of the set up plates.

[Background Art]

Conventionally, a set up equipment is installed under a needle bed gap of a flatbed knitting machine and is used when knitting of a fabric is started. A set up plate that can be elevated is provided in the set up equipment. The set up plate has set up needles projecting upward, captures a set up part of a fabric with the set up needles that have been elevated to the needle bed gap, and pulls down the fabric while holding the set up part and being lowered.
Set up equipment capable of selecting a plurality of set up plates in order to start knitting while separately knitting parts of a fabric, which have different knitting widths, has been known (for example, see Patent Literature 1). The set up equipment has elevating guides to guide the respective set up plates to the vicinity of a needle bed gap from positions under the needle bed gap and includes an elevator selecting and elevating any one of the set up plates by an oscillating rod. Although not shown in the drawings, an elevating mechanism including an elevating guide is provided in order to elevate the elevator.
In a flatbed knitting machine, a lowering equipment which nips a fabric knitted between rollers and lowers the fabric, is also used in some cases (for example, Patent Literature 2). A set up equipment therein is provided with a mechanism to release a set up part from set up needles on a single set up plate. When the set up plate pulls down the fabric to a position at which the fabric can be lowered, the mechanism releases the set up part from the set up needles, and subsequently, the lowering equipment lowers the fabric.

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]

Patent Literature 1: JP S47-49789 B
Patent Literature 2: JP H3-77298 B

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]

When a short-sleeved sweater or the like is knitted without seam, fabrics for both sleeves are knitted using knitting needles at the outer sides relative to knitting needles for knitting a body in a knitting width. In case a set up equipment is provided with only one set up plate, set up parts for both sleeves are also required to be formed and pulled down together with that for the body. With the knitting needles for knitting both sleeves, the fabrics actually forming both sleeves are required to be knitted after large waste knitting fabrics subsequent to the set up parts are knitted. In case a set up equipment is provided with a plurality of set up plates as in Patent Literature 1, fabrics can be knitted while holding and pulling down respective set up parts using different set up plates for a body and both sleeves, so that waste knitting, required when the same set up plate is used for the body and the both sleeves, can be reduced by starting to knit the both sleeves after starting to knit the body.
However, the set up equipment in Patent Literature 1, each of the plurality of set up plates needs the elevating guide to guide it and the elevating mechanism including the elevating guide is further required for the elevator. The elevator and the plurality of elevating guides needs spaces for installation thereof to the vicinity of the needle bed gap and they are required to be elevated slantwise toward the needle bed gap.
An object of the present invention is to provide a set up equipment for a flatbed knitting machine in which an elevating guide only in an elevating mechanism is enough even when a plurality of set up plates are included.

[Solution to Problem]

The present invention is a set up equipment for a flatbed knitting machine, which is installed under a needle bed gap, has a plurality of set up plates that are aligned in a front-back direction and on which set up needles are arranged in parallel in a knitting width direction, selects one set up plate to elevate the set up needles to the needle bed gap, causes the set up needles to capture a set up part of a fabric, and hold and lower the captured set up part in the flatbed knitting machine in which at least a pair of needle beds are arranged so as to oppose each other at front and back sides, characterized in that the set up equipment comprises:

a holder that accommodates the plurality of set up plates at an interval in the front-back direction and is capable of being moved in the front-back direction;
an elevating mechanism that is provided with an elevating guide and has an elevator moving the set up plate in an elevation manner by guiding with the elevating guide;
a selecting mechanism that moves the holder frontward and backward to select one set up plate by adjusting its position to that of the elevator of the elevating mechanism; and
a connecting mechanism that is capable of switching connection between the set up plate and the elevator, or disconnection between the set up plate and the elevator, in a state where the elevator of the elevating mechanism is lowered to a position of the set up plate which is accommodated in the holder, wherein
the set up plates include a set up plate having no set up needle in at least a partial section of a knitting width.

In the present invention,
the set up equipment having two of said set up plates, and
said connecting mechanism causes said elevator in said lowered state to act on either one of the two set up plates, and to switch said connection or said disconnection, with movement of said holder by said selecting mechanism.
In the present invention,
a connecting hole is formed in each of said set up plates,
said connecting mechanism includes:

a pin that is provided on said elevator in a standing manner so as to project in said front-back direction and is capable of being inserted through said connecting hole of said set up plate that is selected; and
a lever that is provided on each of said set up plates and is capable of being engaged with a leading end of the pin which is inserted through the connecting hole,

In the present invention,
a connecting groove that opens to a side facing said elevator is formed in each of said set up plates,
said connecting mechanism includes:

a cam that is capable of being moved in said front-back direction with movement of said holder;
front lock members that are used as a pair at an interval in an up-down direction and having leading end parts oscillating while being supported by supporting points provided on the elevator at a front side, which extend backward; and
back lock members that are used as a pair at an interval in the up-down direction and have leading end parts oscillating while being supported by supporting points provided on the elevator at a back side, which extend frontward, wherein
the leading end parts of the front lock members and the back lock members are overlapped at intermediate positions in the front-back direction and overlapped parts are separated from each other in the up-down direction, and

being in a state in which the upper and lower leading end parts are inserted into the connecting groove of said selected set up plate from the front side and the back side respectively,
having long holes which are provided in one of the leading end parts and pins which are provided on other of the leading end parts in the overlapped state, and being engaged with each other in a state where the pins are inserted through the long holes, and
being capable of switching connection and locking of the lock members which oscillate with pins driven by the cam moving with movement of the holder by the selecting mechanism to press the connecting groove in the up-down direction from an inner side so that a site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts opens in the up-down direction, or disconnection and unlocking of the leading end parts by releasing pressure when the site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts closes in the up-down direction.

In the present invention,
said set up plate having no set up needle in at least the partial section of said knitting width includes a range in which knitting needles are arranged to use for knitting a body of a knitwear in the needle bed, and
the set up plate having no set up needle in the section has set up needles in sections corresponding to ranges in which knitting needles for knitting both sleeves in the needle beds are arranged at outer sides relative to the section in the knitting width.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

According to the present invention, when a connecting mechanism connects a selected set up plate and an elevator to each other, the set up plate can be moved in an elevation manner, so that an elevating guide only in an elevating mechanism is enough even when a plurality of set up plates are included, A set up plate having no set up needle in at least a partial section of a knitting width enables no set up needle to be hooked on a fabric that has been already knitted while being elevated for holding and pulling down a set up part of the fabric outside the knitted fabric after knitting of the fabric is started in the section.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the connecting mechanism causes the elevator in a state of being lowered to a position corresponding to the set up plates accommodated in a holder to act on any one of two set up plates between the set up plates so as to switch connection or disconnection. The elevator is not required to be moved in the knitting width direction, thereby simplifying a selecting mechanism.
In addition, according to the present invention, the elevator and the set up plate are connected to each other by inserting a pin of the elevator through a connecting hole of the set up plate and the connecting state is locked by causing the leading end of the inserted pin to be engaged with a lever provided on the set up plate, thereby elevating the set up plate with the elevator reliably.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, leading end parts of lock members provided on the elevator are inserted into a connecting groove that is formed in the set up plate and opens to the side facing the elevator. The lock members are driven by a cam, which moves with movement of the holder by the selecting mechanism and can switch connection and locking between the leading end parts and the connecting groove or disconnection and unlocking therebetween. It is sufficient that the connecting groove is provided in the set up plate, thereby simplifying the structure related to the connection and the locking in the set up plate.
Moreover, according to the present invention, even when a set up part for a body of a knitwear is held and pulled down first, and then, set up parts for both sleeves are held and pulled down, the set up needles pulling down the set up parts for both sleeves do not interfere with a fabric of the body, which has been already knitted. When both sleeves are short like the short-sleeves, knitting of both sleeves can be started after knitting of the body is started, thereby eliminating the necessity of waste knitting that is required when they are knitted simultaneously.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a basic structure of a set up equipment 1 for a flatbed knitting machine as an embodiment of the present invention in a simplified manner.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a state where a set up plate 23 and an elevator 31 are disconnected together with a selecting mechanism 28 in a set up equipment 21 as Example 1 of the set up equipment 1 in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a state where the set up plate 23 and the elevator 31 are connected in the set up equipment 21 as Example 1 of the set up equipment 1 in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a right side view of a selecting mechanism 28 in Fig. 2 and is a right side view of a connecting mechanism 29.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a plan view of the set up equipment 21 in Fig. 3.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a front view showing the set up plate 23 having set up needles 2 over an entire knitting width and a set up plate 24 having no set up needle 2 in a partial section.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a right side view showing an example of another selecting mechanism 68 corresponding to the selecting mechanism 28 in Fig. 4.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a state where a set up plate 53 and an elevator 61 are connected in a set up equipment 51 as Example 2 of the set up equipment 1 in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of the set up equipment 51 in Fig. 8.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a left side cross-sectional view showing operations of the set up equipment 51 in Fig. 8 in a simplified manner.

[Description of Embodiments]

Hereinafter, Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a set up equipment 1 as an embodiment of the present invention in a simplified manner. Although Fig. 1 shows three set up plates 3, 4, 5, Fig. 2 and the subsequent drawings shows cases in which two set up plates are included. Example 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 7 and Example 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 8 to Fig. 10. In the embodiment and Examples 1 and 2, the same reference characters denote corresponding parts and overlapped description is omitted in some cases. Furthermore, parts that are not shown in the drawing as a description target are referred by using reference characters as shown in other drawings in some cases.
The set up equipment 1 is provided under a needle bed gap in a flatbed knitting machine, which is omitted to be shown. As shown in Fig. 1, the set up equipment 1 has the plurality of set up plates 3, 4, 5 on which set up needles 2 are arranged in parallel in the knitting width direction on the upper ends thereof. The set up equipment 1 selects one, for example, the set up plate 4 to elevate the set up needles 2 thereon into the needle bed gap, and causes them to capture a set up part that is formed when knitting of a fabric is started and hold and lower the captured set up part. Each set up plate 3, 4, 5 include substrates 3a, 4a, 5a which are provided at both sides of the knitting width and a functioning plate part 3b, 4b, 5b which is supported between the substrates 3a, 4a, 5a, respectively. The set up needles 2 are arranged in parallel on the upper ends of the functioning plate parts 3b, 4b, 5b. The set up equipment 1 includes a holder 6, elevating mechanisms 7, selecting mechanisms 8, and connecting mechanisms 9. The set up plates 3, 4, 5 have a length equivalent to a length of needle beds as the knitting width of the flatbed knitting machine and the elevating mechanisms 7, the selecting mechanisms 8, and the connecting mechanisms 9 are provided at both sides of the knitting width of the flatbed knitting machine.
The holder 6 accommodates therein the substrates 3a, 4a, 5a of the plurality of set up plates 3, 4, 5 at an interval in the front-back direction and can be moved in the front-back direction. The elevating mechanisms 7 are provided with elevating guides 10 and have elevators 11 that move the connected set up plate 4 in an elevation manner by guiding with the elevating guides 10. The selecting mechanisms 8 move the holder 6 frontward and backward to select the one set up plate 4 and adjust it to a position at which the set up plate 4 can be connected to the elevators 11 of the elevating mechanisms 7. The connecting mechanisms 9 can switch connection between the substrates 4a of the selected set up plate 4 and the elevators 11 or disconnection between the elevators 11 and the substrates 4a in a state where the elevators 11 of the elevating mechanisms 7 are lowered. The set up plate 3 has the set up needles 2 over the entire knitting width. The set up plate 4 has the set up needles 2 in an intermediate section of the knitting width, for example, a section including a section in which a body of a knitwear is knitted on the needle beds and the set up plate 5 has no set up needle 2 in this section. The set up plate 5 has the set up needles 2 in sections in which sleeves are knitted outside the section in which the body is knitted.
The set up equipment 1 for the flatbed knitting machine in the present embodiment can move the set up plate 3, 4, 5 in the elevation manner when the connecting mechanisms 9 connect the substrates 3a, 4a, 5a of the selected set up plate 3, 4, 5 and the elevators 11, so that, even when the plurality of set up plates 3, 4, 5 are included, the elevating guides 10 only in the elevating mechanisms 7 is enough. By using the set up plate 3 or the set up plate 4 having the set up needles 2 in at least a partial section of the knitting width when knitting of the body of the knitwear is started, and then, using the set up plate 5 when knitting of the sleeves is started, waste knitting is not required even if the sleeves are short. Furthermore, the set up needles 2 on the set up plate 5 can be prevented from being hooked on the fabric forming the body, which has been knitted, when the set up plate 5 is elevated to the needle bed gap.

[Example 1]

Fig. 2 to Fig. 6 shows a right-side part of the structure of a set up equipment 21 as Example 1 of the present invention respectively. Left-side parts are symmetrical to the right-side parts with respect to a center between left and right of the knitting width. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are shown as partial cross-sectional front views, Fig. 2 showing a state in which a set up plate 23 is lowered to a lowermost position by elevating mechanisms 27 and Fig. 3 showing a state in which the set up plate 23 is elevated to an upper position relative to the lowermost position by the elevating mechanisms 27. The set up equipment 21 includes set up plates 23, 24, holders 26, the elevating mechanisms 27, selecting mechanisms 28, and connecting mechanisms 29. Connecting holes 23c, 24c are provided in substrates 23a, 24a of the set up plates 23, 24, respectively. Each holder 26 has an engaging part 26c projecting to the selecting mechanism 28 side. Each elevating mechanism 27 includes a timing belt 27a and a clamp 27b. An elevator 31 is joined to the timing belt 27a through the clamp 27b. When the timing belt 27a is driven by a driving device which is omitted to be hown, the elevator 31 can be moved in an elevation manner along an elevating guide 30. Although omitted to be shown in Fig. 3, each selecting mechanism 28 includes a motor 28a, gears 28b, 28c, an oscillator 28d, and a supporting point 28e. Each connecting mechanism 29 includes levers 29a and supporting points 29b. The levers 29a have recesses 29c, 29d. Pins 31a capable of being inserted through the connecting holes 23c, 24c of the set up plate 23, 24 are provided on the elevator 31.
The levers 29a are mounted on the substrates 23a, 24a through the supporting points 29b provided on the substrates 23a, 24a and can be displaced angularly about the supporting points 29b. Rollers 39a, 39b are provided on the levers 29a at positions in the vicinity of the leading ends of arms extending leftward and downward in the drawing from the supporting points 29b, respectively. The recesses 29c, 29d are formed in the levers 29a at positions in the vicinity of the leading ends of arms extending downward and upward from the supporting points 29b, respectively. The right ends of springs 39c, which bias the levers 29a in the counterclockwise direction, are hooked on vicinities of intermediate positions between the recesses 29d and the supporting points 29b. The left ends of the springs 39c are hooked on pins provided on the substrates 23a, 24a. The respective portions constructing the set up equipment 21 are supported by a base 40 or a frame of the flatbed knitting machine. The base 40 is supported by the frame of the flatbed knitting machine. The gear 28b of the selecting mechanism 28 is mounted on an output shaft of the motor 28a and the motor 28a, the gear 28c, the oscillator 28d, and the supporting point 28e are supported by a stand 41 which is mounted on the base 40 in an erected manner. The selecting mechanism 28 can move the holder 26 in the front-back direction along a front-back guide 42 supported by the base 40. A flat part 26a and a project part 26b are provided on the holder 26 and can abut against the rollers 39a, 39b, respectively.
When the elevator 31 and the set up plate 23 are lowered at the lowermost position as shown in Fig. 2, that is, are lowered to the position of the substrate 23a of the set up plate 23 which is accommodated in the holder 26, the roller 39a abuts against the flat part 26a. Abutment of the roller 39a causes the lever 29a to be angularly displaced in the clockwise direction against biasing with the spring 39c and the recesses 29c, 29d are separated from leading end parts of the pins 31a inserted through the connecting holes 23c. When the elevator 31 elevates the set up plate 23 as shown in Fig. 3, the lever 29a is angularly displaced in the counterclockwise direction by biasing with the spring 39c at a predetermined height at which the roller 39a does not abut against the flat part 26a. The angular displacement enables the roller 39b to pass through beyond the project part 26b and the recesses 29c, 29d are engaged with the leading ends of the pins 31a inserted through the connecting holes 23c. The engagement locks the connecting state between the substrate 23a of the set up plate 23 and the elevator 31. Also in case the set up plate 24 is selected, connection and locking, or disconnection and unlocking between the substrate 24a and the elevator 31 are made in the same manner as those between the substrate 23a and the elevator 31. In this example, the connecting state is locked or unlocked at an upper position relative to the lowermost position of the elevator 31 but the position is lower than a position at which the set up part of the fabric is pulled down, so that the state at this position is also included in the state where the elevator 31 is lowered. Although the connecting state is locked by biasing the lever 29a with the spring 39c, the connecting state can also be locked by another structure, for example, causing a solenoid to directly act thereon.
Figs. 4 show the structure of the selecting mechanism 28 in Fig. 4(a) and the structure of the connecting mechanism 29 in Fig. 4(b), respectively. With the selecting mechanism 28, rotation of the motor 28a causes the oscillator 28d to oscillate through the gears 28b, 28c. The oscillator 28d is provided with the supporting point 28e at a position in the vicinity of the lower end thereof and rotation of the gear 28c having a follower 28f causes a functioning part 28g, which is provided at an intermediate position of the supporting point 28e and the follower 28f, to move rightward and leftward in the drawing. The functioning part 28g can move the holder 26 in the right-left direction in the drawing through the engaging part 26c. The holder 26 can also be moved by another structure, for example, a combination of a rack and a pinion, a ball screw, or the like. With the connecting mechanism 29, the position of the elevator 31 can be displaced relatively such that the elevator 31 is connected any one of the substrates 23a, 24a of the set up plates 23, 24 with movement of the holder 26. In the connecting state, the pins 31a projecting in both of the front and back directions from the elevator 31 are inserted through one connecting hole, for example, the connecting hole 23c of the substrate 23a so that the substrate 23a and the elevator 31 are thereby connected to each other. The substrate 23a is provided with the lever 29a. When the recesses 29c, 29d are engaged with small-diameter parts of the pins 31a inserted through the connecting holes 23c at positions in the vicinity of the leading ends thereof, a state where the connection is locked is made as described above.
Fig. 5 shows the connecting state between the elevator 31 and the substrate 23a when seen from the above. The leading ends of the pins 31a provided on the elevator 31 are separated from the connecting holes 24c of the substrate 24a and only the substrate 23a can be moved in the elevation manner. When the elevator 31 and the substrate 23a are lowered to the lowermost position and the holder 26 is moved to a lower position in the drawing, the substrate 24a is selected and the pins 31a of the elevator 31 are inserted into the connecting holes 24c of the substrate 24a, thereby connecting the substrate 24a and the elevator 31. When the substrate 24a is elevated by the elevator 31, the leading end of the pin 31a can be locked by the lever 29a, thereby locking the connection between the elevator 31 and the substrate 24a.
Figs. 6 show the structures of the set up plates 23, 24. The set up plate 23 shown in Fig. 6(a) has the set up needles 2 over the entire knitting width and the set up plate 24 shown in Fig. 6(b) has the set up needles 2 only at both sides of the knitting width and has no set up needle 2 in an intermediate section. The set up plates 23, 24 have the structure in which functioning plate parts 23b, 24b are supported between the substrates 23a, 24a at both sides, respectively. As disclosed in Patent Literature 2, each of the set up needles 2 has a needle body and a slider, so that, by moving the sliders relative to the needle bodies in an elevation manner, it can be switched to hold or to release a set up part. The sliders are driven by a driving device provided in a bottom part of the flatbed knitting machine through wires 43 as disclosed in JP 3612113 B . The wires 43 are used to drive a transversal slide plate 44 of the functioning plate part 23b, 24b in the transverse direction and drive a longitudinal slide plate 46 thereof in the longitudinal direction through a direction switching cam 45. For the set up plate 23, the longitudinal slide plate 46 directly drives the sliders of the set up needles 2. For the set up plate 24, the set up needles 2 are provided on additional functioning plate parts 47 in parallel. The additional functioning plate parts 47 have longitudinal connecting plates 48 which are moved in the longitudinal direction to drive the sliders of the set up needles 2. The lower ends of the longitudinal connecting plates 48 are connected to the upper end of the longitudinal slide plate 46. It is sufficient that the set up needles 2 can switch holding or release of the set up part even when they are of a type other than that in the present example.
As described above, in the set up equipment 21 in Example 1, the connecting holes 23c, 24c are formed in the substrates 23a, 24a of the set up plates 23, 24, respectively. The connecting mechanisms 29 include the pins 31a which are provided on the elevators 31 in a standing manner so as to project in the front-back direction and are capable of being inserted through the connecting holes 23c, 24c of the selected set up plate 23, 24 and the levers 29a which are provided on the substrates 23a, 24a of the set up plate 23, 24 and are capable of being engaged with the leading ends of the pins 31a inserted through the connecting holes 23c, 24c. The connection is made by inserting the pins 31a through the connecting holes 23c, 24c of the selected set up plate 23, 24. The connection is locked by causing the levers 29a to be engaged with the leading ends of the pins 31a inserted through the connecting holes 23c or 24c. The connection locked state can be cancelled by lowering the elevators 31 as shown in Fig. 2 and causing the levers 29a to be disengaged from the leading ends of the pins 31a. Furthermore, the connection can be cancelled by moving the holders 26 in the front-back direction and releasing the pins 31a from the connecting holes 23c, 24c of the substrate 23a, 24a. The connecting mechanisms 29 switch the connection or the disconnection by causing the elevators 31 to act on either one of the two set up plates 23, 24 between the set up plates 23, 24. The elevators 31 are not required to be moved in the knitting width direction, thereby simplifying the selecting mechanisms 28.
Fig. 7 show an example of another selecting mechanism 68 corresponding to the selecting mechanism 28 in Fig. 4. In Fig. 7, the same reference characters denote parts corresponding to those in Fig 4 and overlapped description is omitted. The selecting mechanism 68 uses an oscillation gear 68d instead of the oscillator 28d in Fig 4. The motor 28a drives the oscillation gear 68d through the gear 28b so as to cause the oscillation gear 68d to oscillate about a supporting point 68e as an oscillation center in a constant angle range. A follower 68g is provided between the supporting point 68e of the oscillation gear 68d and tooth tops. The follower 68g is engaged with the engaging part 26c of the holder 26, so that the engaging part 26c can be moved in the same manner as by the selecting mechanism 28 by causing the oscillation gear 68d to oscillate.

[Example 2]

Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 9 show a state where a set up plate 53 and an elevator 61 are connected to each other in a right-side part of a set up equipment 51 as Example 2 of the set up equipment 1 in Fig. 1. A left-side part is symmetrical to the right-side part with respect to a center between right and left of the knitting width. The set up equipment 51 includes set up plates 53, 54, holders 56, elevating mechanisms 57, selecting mechanisms 58, and connecting mechanisms 59. In the set up plate 53, 54 the structures of parts other than substrates 53a, 54a are equivalent to those of the set up plates 23, 24 in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 8(b), a connecting groove 53c that opens to the right side in the drawing is formed in the substrate 53a. A similar connecting groove 54c thereto is also formed in the substrate 54a. A cam 56a is provided under the connecting grooves 53c, 54c. An elevating mechanism 57 includes the elevator 61 that is elevated along the elevating guide 30. A selecting mechanism 58 moves the cam 56a which receives support by a base 60 in the direction perpendicular to a paper plane of the drawing by driving with a combination of a rack 58b and a pinion 58a. The base 60 is supported by a frame of a flatbed knitting machine. Grooves, into which the lower ends of the substrates 53a and 54a are inserted, are provided in the cam 56a and left end parts of the substrates 53a, 54a which are accommodated in longitudinal grooves of the holder 56. When the cam 56a is driven so as to be moved, the holder 56 is also driven through the substrates 53a, 54a to move under a guide by a front-back guide 72. The cam 56a also could be moved so as to follow the holder 56, by driving the holder 56 by the selecting mechanism 58. Each connecting mechanism 59 includes lock members 59a, 59b acting on the connecting groove 53c, 54c which are driven by the cam 56a.
The lock members 59a, 59b are arranged at the front and back sides. The lock members 59a at the front side are used in pair at an interval in the up-down direction, and have leading end parts 59e which oscillate while being supported by supporting points 59g provided on the elevator 61 at the front side, and extend backward. The lock members 59b at the back side are used in pair at an interval in the up-down direction, and have leading end parts 59f, which oscillate while being supported by supporting points 59h provided on the elevator 61 at the back side, and extend frontward. The leading end parts 59e, 59f at the front and back sides are overlapped with each other at intermediate positions in the front-back direction at an interval in the up-down direction. The leading end parts 59e, 59f at the upper and lower sides are inserted into the connecting groove 53c, 54c of the selected set up plate 53, 54 from the front and back sides, respectively. Long holes 59i are provided in the leading end parts 59e and pins 59j are provided on the leading end parts 59f. In the overlapped state, the leading end parts 59e, 59f are engaged with each other in a state where the pins 59j are inserted through the long holes 59i. The lock members 59a, 59b oscillate by driving of the pins 59j with the cam 56a moved by the selecting mechanism 58 and a site between the overlapped part of the leading end parts 59e, 59f at the upper side and the overlapped part of the leading end parts 59e, 59f at the lower side opens or closes in the up-down direction. When the site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts 59e, 59f opens in the up-down direction, the connecting groove 53c, 54c is pressed in the up-down direction from the inner side so that connection and locking state are made. Release of the pressure when the site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts 59e, 59f closes in the up-down direction cancels the connection and locking state. The locking state is maintained by biasing with springs 59c, 59d that are stretched between end parts of the lock members 59a, 59b at the upper and lower sides.
Figs. 10 show operations of the set up equipment 51 in Fig. 8 when viewed from the left side. Fig. 10(a) shows a state where a set up plate 53 is selected and is connected and locked to the elevator 61, Fig. 10(b) shows a state where selection of the set up plate 53 is stopped and connection and locking are cancelled, Fig. 10(c) shows a state where the set up plate 54 is about to be selected, and Fig. 10(d) shows a state where the set up plate 54 is selected and is connected and locked to the elevator 61. It should be noted that the selecting mechanism 58 and the cam 56a are shown only in Fig. 10(a) and only acting parts 56b, 56c of the cam 56a are indicated by bold solid lines in Figs. 10(b), 10(c), 10(d).
In the state shown in Fig. 10(a), the acting parts 56b, 56c of the cam 56a do not act on the pins 59j provided on the lock member 59b, so that the site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts 59e, 59f of the lock members 59a, 59b is opened in the up-down direction by biasing with the springs 59c, 59d and the connecting groove 53c is pressed in the up-down direction in the drawing from the inner side. The overlapped parts of the leading end parts 59e, 59f deviate from the connecting groove 54c of the set up plate 54, so that only the set up plate 53 can be elevated in the connected and locked state by elevating the elevator 61. In the same manner, in the state shown in Fig. 10(d), only the set up plate 54 can be elevated in the connected and locked state. It should be noted that in the states shown in Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(d), the acting part 56c deviates from an elevation path of the pins 59j and the pins 59j can also be elevated by elevation of the elevator 61 because the front-back width of the acting part 56c at the upper side is made smaller.
Although the two set up plates 53, 54 are switched in Example 2, equal to or more than three set up plates can also be switched to be connected and locked to the elevators 61 by causing the cams 56a to fit thereto as long as the set up plates have connecting grooves similar to the connecting grooves 53c, 54c on substrates thereof. Furthermore, the respective set up plates 3, 4, 5; 23, 24; 53, 54 have the structures in which the substrates 3a, 4a, 5a; 23a, 24a; 53a, 54a supported at both sides of the knitting width support the functioning plate parts 3b, 4b,5b; 23b, 24; 53b, 54b on which the set up needles 2 are provided in parallel. Alternatively, the substrate 3a, 4a, 5a; 23a, 24a; 53a, 54a and the functioning plate parts 3b, 4b, 5b; 23b, 24; 53b, 54b can be integrated with each other. When they are integrated with each other, they can also be formed to have one rectangular plate shape.
The connecting mechanisms 29 , 59 in Example 1 and Example 2 are not required to move the elevators 31, 61 in the knitting width direction, so that the connecting mechanisms can be simplified. However, even with the set up equipment 1 in Fig. 1, movement of the elevators 31 in the direction of being distanced from the substrates of the set up plates in the knitting width direction enables the holder, which accommodates therein the set up plates, to be also moved in the front-back direction by the selecting mechanisms. Even when equal to or more than three set up plates are accommodated, a selected set up plate can be elevated by returning the elevators to the set up plate side after selecting the set up plate.

[Reference Signs List]

1, 21, 51: Set up equipment
2: Set up needle
3, 4, 5, 23, 24, 53, 54: Set up plate
6, 26, 56: Holder
7, 27, 57: Elevating mechanism
8, 28, 58: Selecting mechanism
9, 29, 59: Connecting mechanism
10, 30: Elevating guide
11, 31, 61: Elevator
23c, 24c: Connecting hole
29a: Lever
31a, 59j: Pin
39c, 59c, 59d: Spring
53c, 54c: Connecting groove
56a: Cam
59a, 59b: Lock member
59e, 59f: Leading end part
59g, 59h: Supporting point
59i: Long hole

Claims

A set up equipment (11,31,61) for a flatbed knitting machine, which is installed under a needle bed gap, has a plurality of set up plates (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) that are aligned in a front-back direction and on which set up needles (2) are arranged in parallel in a knitting width direction, selects one set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) to elevate the set up needles (2) to the needle bed gap, causes the set up needles to capture a set up part of a fabric, and hold and lower the captured set up part in the flatbed knitting machine in which at least a pair of needle beds are arranged so as to oppose each other at front and back sides,
characterized in that the set up equipment comprises:
a holder (6,26,56) that accommodates the plurality of set up plates (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) at an interval in the front-back direction and is capable of being moved in the front-back direction;

an elevating mechanism (7,27,57) that is provided with an elevating guide (10,30) and has an elevator (11,31,61) moving the set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) in an elevation manner by guiding with the elevating guide (10,30);

a selecting mechanism (8,28,58) that moves the holder (6,26,56) frontward and backward to select one set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) by adjusting its position to that of the elevator of the elevating mechanism (7,27,57); and

a connecting mechanism (9,29,59) that is capable of switching connection between the set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) and the elevator (11,31,61), or disconnection between the set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) and the elevator (11,31,61), in a state where the elevator (11,31,61) of the elevating mechanism (7,27,57) is lowered to a position of the set up plate (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) which is accommodated in the holder (6,26,56), wherein

the set up plates (3,4,5;23,24;53,54) include a set up plate (5,24) having no set up needle(2) in at least a partial section of a knitting width.
The set up equipment (21) for the flatbed knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein
the set up equipment (21) having two of said set up plates (23,24), and
said connecting mechanism (27) causes said elevator (31) in said lowered state to act on either one of the two set up plates (23,24), and to switch said connection or said disconnection, with movement of said holder (26) by said selecting mechanism (28).
The set up equipment (21) for the flatbed knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein
a connecting hole (23c,24c) is formed in each of said set up plates (23,24),
said connecting mechanism (29) includes:
a pin (31a) that is provided on said elevator (31) in a standing manner so as to project in said front-back direction and is capable of being inserted through said connecting hole (23c,24c) of said set up plate (23,24) that is selected; and

a lever that is provided on each of said set up plates (23,24) and is capable of being engaged with a leading end of the pin (31a) which is inserted through the connecting hole (23c,24c),
said connection and said disconnection are made by insertion of the pin (31a) through the connecting hole (23c,24c) and release of the pin (31a) from the connecting hole (23c,24c) respectively in the state where the elevator (31) is lowered, and
the lever (29a) unlocks the connection by being disengaged from the leading end of the pin (31a) in the state where the elevator (31) is lowered and locks a state where the set up plate (23,24) and the elevator (31) are connected to each other by being engaged with the leading end of the pin (31a).
The set up equipment (51) for the flatbed knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein
a connecting groove (53c,54c) that opens to a side facing said elevator (61) is formed in each of said set up plates (53,54),
said connecting mechanism (59) includes:
a cam (56a) that is capable of being moved in said front-back direction with movement of said holder (56);

front lock members (59a) that are used as a pair at an interval in an up-down direction and having leading end parts (59e) oscillating while being supported by supporting points (59g) provided on the elevator (61) at a front side, which extend backward; and

back lock members (59b) that are used as a pair at an interval in the up-down direction and have leading end parts (59f) oscillating while being supported by supporting points (59h) provided on the elevator (61) at a back side, which extend frontward, wherein

the leading end parts (59e,59f) of the front lock members (59a) and the back lock members (59b) are overlapped at intermediate positions in the front-back direction and overlapped parts are separated from each other in the up-down direction, and
the front and back lock members (59a,59b)
being in a state in which the upper and lower leading end parts (59e,59f) are inserted into the connecting groove (53c,54c) of said selected set up plate (53,54) from the front side and the back side respectively,

having long holes (59i) which are provided in one of the leading end parts (59e) and pins (59j) which are provided on other of the leading end parts (59f) in the overlapped state, and being engaged with each other in a state where the pins (59j) are inserted through the long holes (59i), and

being capable of switching connection and locking of the lock members (59a,59b) which oscillate with pins (59j) driven by the cam (56a) moving with movement of the holder (56) by the selecting mechanism (58) to press the connecting groove (53c,54c) in the up-down direction from an inner side so that a site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts (59e,59f) opens in the up-down direction, or disconnection and unlocking of the leading end parts by releasing pressure when the site between the overlapped parts of the leading end parts (59e,59f) closes in the up-down direction.
The set up equipment (21,51) for the flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
said set up plate (5,24) having no set up needle (2) in at least the partial section of said knitting width includes a range in which knitting needles are arranged to use for knitting a body of a knitwear in the needle bed, and
the set up plate (5,24) having no set up needle (2) in the section has set up needles in sections corresponding to ranges in which knitting needles for knitting both sleeves in the needle beds are arranged at outer sides relative to the section in the knitting width.