EP3309282A1 - Flat knitting machine for loading weft threads - Google Patents

Abstract

Flat knitting machine, which is set up to insert a first thread in the same knitting series as a weft and knit with him, with at least a first and a second knitting system (S1, S2) and a the first knitting system (S1) associated with the first thread guide (FF1) a first thread, and at least one hold-down device (NH) arranged between the knitting systems (S1, S2) for holding down the first thread, and a needle selection arranged in the region of the first knitting system (S1) leads, if appropriate Selecting control to form stitches, wherein the first thread is inserted as a weft thread when the needle selection is not activated.

Description

The invention relates to a flat knitting machine which is adapted to insert a first thread in the same knitting row as a weft thread and to knit with it. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for knitting a knit fabric on a flat knitting machine, in which a thread in the same knitting row is inserted as weft and entangled.

It is known to introduce weft threads into a knit fabric during the production of knitted fabrics on flat knitting machines. This may be necessary for design purposes in fashion, but also in the production of technical textiles. For example, a knit by the insertion of a weft yarn, a certain property, such as lower ductility or higher tensile strength can be given.

For this purpose, it is customary to use a separate yarn guide for the insertion of a weft thread. There is also the problem of securing the weft thread in the fabric.

From the DE 10 2014 116 558 A1 It is known to produce a knit with a weft. How the knitting machine is formed, with which it is possible to include a weft thread, but is not known from this document.

Object of the present invention is to provide a flat knitting machine, with which it is possible to insert a thread in a row of knitting both as weft and to entangle. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for inserting a weft thread.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a flat knitting machine which is adapted to insert a first thread in the same knitting series as a weft and knit with him, with at least a first and a second knitting system, and a first yarn guide associated with the first yarn guide, the first yarn and at least one hold-down device arranged between the knitting systems for holding down the first thread below the level of the needles, and a needle selection arranged to select needles in the region of the first leading knitting system, with appropriate control to form stitches the first thread is inserted as a weft thread if the needle selection is not activated.

For certain applications, it is advantageous in the production of knitted fabrics, if a thread which is provided for stitch formation, can also be introduced simultaneously as a weft thread in the fabric. This is possible with the flat knitting machine according to the invention. The thread should z. B. are inserted after a certain number of stitches made with him as weft, after which again a stitch formation takes place with him. It is advantageous that the inserted weft at the same time by the stitch formation a backup, for example, against displacement in the fabric receives. With the flat knitting machine according to the invention, it is possible that weft insertion and stitch formation can be repeated several times in a row of knitting. Furthermore, it is possible to use standard thread guides for the weft insertion. There is no need for a separate weft yarn guide. Under standard thread guide is understood to be a thread guide, which is carried in the system, in particular in the direction of movement of the system is arranged to the center of the system. In contrast, a conventional weft yarn guide moves in front of the system center.

The first knitting system is preferably a leading knitting system with respect to one knitting direction and the second knitting system following the first knitting system. The assignment of the first thread guide to the first (leading) knitting system applies to a knitting direction, i. H. a sleigh ride. If the knitting direction changes, the (second) knitting system following in the previous knitting direction becomes the leading (first) knitting system, and the first yarn guide is then assigned to this knitting system.

The hold-down device holds threads and, if present, underlying knits down so that subsequently expelled needles can come over the threads / the fabric.

According to one embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the hold-down device is designed as a stripper or board. With such an embodiment of the hold-down device, it is particularly easy, the weft just before the needle ejection in the trailing knitting system, ie in particular the second Knitting system, to bring knitting / changing under the level of the needles.

Particular advantages arise when the hold-down device can be activated and deactivated. In particular, the hold-down device can be activated when a thread is inserted as a weft thread by the first knitting system by means of the first thread guide. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the hold-down device is activated when a previously inserted as a weft thread to be over-knitted by a subsequent, in particular second, knitting system to secure it in the fabric. By activating / deactivating the needle selection in the corresponding knitting system, it is decided according to the invention whether the thread is to be introduced as a weft thread or whether stitching should take place with the thread. It can thus be decided solely with the needle selection and determine whether a thread is inserted as a weft or knitted with this thread, d. H. For example, stitches are formed.

The first yarn guide may be fixedly associated with the first knitting system during knitting in a knitting direction, in the sense that it is movable only in a central region of the first knitting system relative to the first knitting system without leaving the first knitting system. In particular, it may be provided that the yarn guide can only be arranged to the left or right of the center of the system, depending on the direction in which the knitting system is knitted. In particular, the yarn guide seen in the knitting direction can always be arranged behind the center of the system. The yarn guide is therefore movable only in a narrow range relative to the knitting system.

Alternatively it can be provided that the first yarn guide is a self-propelled yarn guide, which is movable when knitting a row of knitting from the first knitting system to the hold-down device, without coming into the sphere of influence of the second knitting system. Thus, the range of motion of a self-propelled yarn guide is limited. However, by being movable from the first knitting system to the hold-down device, the distance between the thread guide and the hold-down device can be reduced. As a result, it can be ensured that the weft thread can be reliably grasped, pressed down and held by the hold-down device. In particular, the thread guide can then be moved if no needle is selected in the first knitting system, or it can be left standing until just before the hold-down device. In this case, the first knitting system would be free for further needle work, such as looping stitches.

The flat knitting machine may have at least one entrainment device for carrying a yarn guide. In particular, the thread guide can be taken with a knitting system.

The second knitting system may be associated with a second yarn guide. Thus, with the second knitting system, a second thread can be entangled and thereby, for example, a first thread inserted as a weft thread are knitted in the fabric and secured in the knitted fabric.

Further advantages arise when a hold-down device is provided on both sides of the first knitting system. Thus, in both knitting directions of the first thread can be inserted as a weft thread, as seen in the knitting direction behind the first knitting system always a hold-down device is present.

Preferably, the first and second knitting systems are arranged on a common carriage, so that they jointly perform a carriage stroke.

The invention also includes a method of knitting a knit on a flat knitting machine having first and second knitting systems in which a first thread is passed through a first thread guide and if a needle selection associated with the first knitting system is deactivated and no needle is selected is, the first thread is inserted as a weft and is held down to perform a capping operation or knitting operation with a second thread, and with the first thread at least one stitch is formed when the first knitting system associated needle selection is activated and at least one needle is selected.

With such a method, it is possible to repeat weft insertion and stitching with a first thread several times in a row of knitting as often as desired. By activating and deactivating the needle selection in the corresponding knitting system, it is possible to decide whether a thread is to be inserted as a weft or whether looping should take place with the thread.

In particular, it can be provided that in the same carriage stroke in at least one region of a knitted fabric, the first thread is inserted as a weft thread and knitted in at least a second region of the first thread.

According to a further development, it can be provided that in regions of the knitted fabric in which the first thread has been inserted as a weft thread, the first thread is secured by a second thread by forming at least one stitch with the second thread or with the second thread Thread or a third thread formed stitches, in particular by means of another knitting system, are moved by needles of a needle bed on needles of another needle bed. It is not necessary that in all areas of the knitted fabric in which the first thread was inserted as a weft thread, the first thread is secured by a second thread.

To ensure that the thread inserted as a weft thread can be secured by the second thread, which is knitted with a second, in particular trailing, knitting system and supplied with a second thread guide, it can be provided that the first thread guide in the direction of one between the first, in particular leading, and the second knitting system arranged hold-down device is moved before forming or umgehängt with the second knitting system stitches.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the first thread guide is moved only relative to the first, in particular leading, knitting system when no needle is selected for the first knitting system. The first yarn guide is therefore only moved relative to the first knitting system, if it is not needed for a stitch formation.

The scope of the invention also includes a programming system for programming a flat knitting machine for carrying out the method according to the invention, with a grouping device for grouping the instructions, inserting the first thread with a first knitting system as a weft, activating the hold-down device and, in another knitting system, the weft thread and a means to translate the instructions into machine-related data, which ensures that the order of the grouped instructions in the machine-related data is retained.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing showing essential details, and from the claims. The features shown there are not necessarily to scale and presented in such a way that the features of the invention can be made clearly visible. The various features may be implemented individually for themselves or for a plurality of combinations in variants of the invention.

In the schematic drawing embodiments of the invention are shown in various stages of use and explained in more detail in the following description.

Fig. 1

einen Teil einer Flachstrickmaschine mit zwei Stricksystemen;

Fig. 2a, 2b

Ablaufdiagramme der beispielhaften Herstellung von zwei Strickreihen;

Fig. 3a - 3d

einen beispielhaften Ablauf der Herstellung eines Gestricks;

Fig. 4

ein gemäß dem Ablauf in der Fig. 3 hergestelltes Gestrick;

Fig. 5a - 5h

einen weiteren Ablauf zur Herstellung eines Gestricks;

Fig. 6

ein gemäß der Fig. 5 hergestelltes Gestrick.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a part of a flat knitting machine with two knitting systems;

Fig. 2a, 2b

Flowcharts of the exemplary production of two rows of knitting;

Fig. 3a - 3d

an exemplary sequence of the production of a knitted fabric;

Fig. 4

one according to the procedure in the Fig. 3 knitted fabric;

Fig. 5a - 5h

another process for the production of a knitted fabric;

Fig. 6

one according to the Fig. 5 knitted fabric.

The Fig. 1 shows a part of a flat knitting machine 100 with a first knitting system S1 leading in the direction of knitting 102 and a trailing second knitting system S2, both of which are arranged on a common slide 101. The leading knitting system S1 is associated with a first yarn guide FF1, the trailing knitting system S2 is associated with a second yarn guide FF2. Between the knitting systems S1, S2, a hold-down device NH is provided, which serves to hold down a first thread, which was inserted with the first thread guide FF1 as a weft thread, to ensure that it is not detected by the needles of the second, in particular trailing knitting system S2 becomes.

The leading first knitting system S1 is used in the illustration shown for producing a course of knitting consisting of knitting areas and areas in which the thread is inserted as a weft by the thread guide FF1. The following here second knitting system S2 is used for stitching or overstretching of the weft thread.

The first yarn guide FF1 is located in the knitting direction 102 behind the system center 103 of the first knitting system S1. However, he is still inside the knitting system S1. It is also envisaged that the first yarn guide FF1 can not leave the first knitting system S1 during knitting of a knitting course. However, it is possible to move the yarn guide FF1 limitedly, on the other side of the system center 103, when knitting counter to the knitting direction 102. In order to be able to insert the thread guided by the thread guide FF1 as a weft thread even in a knitting direction counter to the knitting direction 102, it can be provided that a hold-down device is also provided to the right of the first knitting system S1.

Alternatively, the yarn guide 1 for a knitting direction opposite to the knitting direction 102 could be assigned to the system S2 and be arranged behind the system center with respect to this system S2.

The yarn guides FF1 and FF2 are the knitting systems S1, S2 during knitting of a knitting course, i. H. in a carriage stroke, permanently assigned.

If the first thread guide FF1 is an independently driven thread guide, it can be provided that in this case the first thread guide FF1 can be moved out of the first knitting system S1 in the direction of a hold-down device while knitting a course of knitting, but not via the hold-down device NH out. A movement possibility to the right up to a possibly provided there hold-down device can also be provided.

The determination as to whether a stitch is formed with the thread of the first thread guide FF1 or whether the thread is inserted as a weft thread, takes place exclusively via a needle selection which is assigned to the first knitting system S1. If the needle selection is activated, a needle can be driven out and a loop can be formed with the thread of the first thread guide FF1. If, however, the needle selection is deactivated, ie no needle is driven out, the associated thread is inserted as a weft thread by the first thread guide FF1.

The Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for the production of two rows of knitting with in the Fig. 1 illustrated device. In the Fig. 2a is knitted with the leading first knitting system S1 in a knitting direction to the right (indicated by the arrow). In the Fig. 2b is knitted with the trailing second knitting system S2 in the same direction.

In the first row of knit according to Fig. 2a is knitted with the first knitting system S1 in the area 1 by forming stitches on the needles A to D of the front needle bed V with the yarn guide FF1. For this the needle selection was activated. Subsequently, in the region 2 with the same yarn guide FF1, a weft insertion takes place via the needles E to H of the front needle bed V or e to h of the rear needle bed H, ie when the needle selection is deactivated. In area 3, stitches are formed on the needles I to L of the front needle bed V. Subsequently, in the area 4, a weft insertion takes place via the needles M to P of the front needle bed V or the needles m to p of the rear needle bed H. In the areas 2 and 4, the needle selection of the first knitting system S1 is inactive, in the areas 1 and 5 it is active. Thus, following the stitch formation in areas 1 and 3, a weft thread was introduced in the same carriage stroke without system change or other changes in areas 2 and 4. The same thread was entangled in areas 1 and 3.

In the second course according to Fig. 2b In the region 1 with the second knitting system S2 and the second yarn guide FF2 stitches are formed on the needles A to D of the front needle bed V. Before the knitting system S2 reaches the area 2, in that with the leading knitting system S1 in the knitting course according to FIG Fig. 2a a weft was inserted, which was in the Fig. 1 shown hold-down device NH activated to keep the thread of the first thread guide FF1 safely in a low position. It is also conceivable to activate the hold-down device NH before the associated thread is inserted as weft thread with the thread guide FF1.

In area 2, according to the Fig. 2b the weft thread of the first thread guide FF1 is secured by forming stitches on the needles e,, F, g, H with the second knitting system S2.

Alternatively, it would be conceivable to stitch the needles E, G, e, g with another knitting system, z. B. the knitting system S2 umzuhängen.

In area 3 will be in accordance with Fig. 2b Maschen on the needles I to L of the front needle bed V formed. Before the second knitting system S2 reaches the area 4, in which a weft thread was inserted with the leading knitting system S1, was again in the Fig. 1 The hold-down device NH activated or was already activated to hold the thread of the first thread guide FF1 safely in a low position.

The in the Fig. 2a, 2b Mesh formation on the front needle bed could also alternatively take place on the back needle bed or on both needle beds V, H.

The Fig. 3a shows the procedure for the production of a knit by means of in the Fig. 2 described technique. The knitted fabric is divided into the areas 1 to 5. At the beginning, the knitting direction is according to Fig. 3a from left to right, which is indicated by the arrowhead on the left side of the figure.

According to Fig. 3a is formed with the leading first knitting system S1 in area 1 with the associated first yarn guide FF1 a double-surface knit on the needles A to E of the front needle bed V and the needles A to D of the rear needle bed H. In areas 2, 3 and 4, the thread of the thread guide FF1 is introduced as a weft thread, ie the needle selection is deactivated. Subsequently, in the region 5 with the thread of the thread guide FF1, the production of a double-surface knit on the needles V to Z of the front needle bed V and the needles v to y of the rear needle bed H. The thread of the thread guide FF1 is thus integrated into the fabric, by forming in the areas 1 and 5 stitches with the thread of the thread guide FF1.

In the knitting row according to Fig. 3b are in the area 3 with the trailing second knitting system S2, which also moves from left to right, with the thread of the thread guide FF2 stitches on the needles I to Q of the front needle bed V and on the needles i to q of the rear needle bed H to manufacture a double-sided knitted fabric formed. The inserted in the areas 2, 3 and 4 as a weft thread of the thread guide FF1 receives by running with him stitch formation in the areas 1 and 5, a backup in the fabric. He also receives a backup in that he was over-knit in area 3 with the thread of the thread guide FF2.

In areas 2 and 4, no stitches are formed by the thread of the thread guide FF2. The inserted in these areas weft thread of the first yarn guide FF1 is thus not involved here in the fabric, but is free.

By repeating the steps according to the Fig. 3a and 3b , what in the Fig. 3c, 3d is shown, only in the reverse knitting direction, the weft, ie the thread of the first thread guide FF1, is integrated into the fabric. Knitting the rows according to the Fig. 3a, 3b or the Fig. 3c, 3d in reverse knitting direction can be repeated as often as you like. Corresponding to the needle bed width, the areas 1 to 5 can be set as often as desired one behind the other.

The Fig. 4 shows a picture of a knitted fabric 200, soft according to the in the Fig. 3a to 3d described method was prepared. The areas 1 to 5 are also marked here.

The Fig. 5a to 5h show a further process for the production of a knitted fabric based on the in the Fig. 2 described technique. In this case, two weft threads are introduced from opposite sides over the areas 1 and 3 in the fabric and connected to this in the area 2 mesh.

According to Fig. 5a With a second (in this case leading) knitting system S22 with the yarn guide FF2 in area 1, a double-surface knit on the needles A to J of the front needle bed V and the needles A to J of the rear needle bed H is formed. In the adjoining area 2, stitches are formed on the needles k to q of the rear needle bed H. Thereafter, stitches are formed on the needles R to Z of the front needle bed V and the needles r to Y of the back needle bed H in the area 3 for producing a double-surface knitted fabric. The knitting direction in Fig. 5a is according to the pictured arrow from left to right.

In the Fig. 5b the knitting direction is also from left to right. Here, with the first thread guide FF1, the associated thread is introduced as a weft thread from the left via the needles A to K of the front needle bed V and the needles a to k of the rear needle bed H into the fabric. With the needle L of the front needle bed selected in a first (in this case trailing) knitting system S11, a stitch is formed in the area 2.

In the knitting row according to Fig. 5c is the knitting direction from right to left. With a first yarn guide FF3, which is assigned to the first knitting system S22 in this case, a weft thread is introduced from the right via the needles Z to P of the front needle bed V and the needles z to o of the rear needle bed H. With the needle O of the front needle bed V, a loop is formed in region 2 after the needle selection of the first knitting system S22 has been activated.

Depending on the application, the knitting system S22 may be the first or second knitting system.

In the Fig. 5d is shown that the two in the Fig. 5b, 5c on the front needle bed V formed stitches on needles of the rear needle bed H are umgehängt. The carriage movement direction in this case is from left to right. Sx means: Umhängereihe.

In the Fig. 5e The knitting of the row is done according to Fig. 5a repeated, causing the in the series according to Fig. 5d suspended stitches are incorporated into the fabric. The knitting direction in the Fig. 5e is contrary to the knitting direction according to the Fig. 5a ,

In the knitting row according to Fig. 5f is the yarn guide FF1, which the weft in Fig. 5b from left into the knitted fabric, moved to the left, after a catching stitch was formed with it on the needle L of the front needle bed V. The thread of the thread guide FF1 is thus inserted in the area 1 as weft.

In the row according to Fig. 5g is the yarn guide FF3, which the weft according to Fig. 5c moved from right to left in the knit, moved to the right, as well as the knitting system S22. On the needle O of the front needle bed V a tearing stitch is formed. In area 3, the thread of the thread guide FF3 is inserted as a weft thread.

The Fig. 5h shows that the two in the ranks according to Fig. 5f, 5g on the front needle bed V formed stitches on needles of the rear needle bed H are umgehängt. The in the Fig. 5a to 5h described procedures can be repeated as often as desired.

The Fig. 6 shows a representation of a knitted fabric 300, which according to the sequence according to the Fig. 5a to 5h was produced. The areas 1 to 3 are in the Fig. 6 shown.

Claims (15)

A flat knitting machine configured to lay and knit a first thread in the same course as a weft, comprising at least a first and a second knitting system (S1, S11, S2, S22) and a first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) associated first yarn guide (FF1, FF3), which carries a first thread, and at least one hold-down device (NH), which is arranged between the knitting systems (S1, S11, S2, S22), for holding down the first thread below the level of the needles, and a needle selection which is adapted to select needles in the region of the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) with appropriate control for the formation of stitches, wherein the first thread is inserted as a weft thread if the needle selection is not activated. Flat knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the hold-down device (NH) is designed as a stripper or board. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hold-down device (NH) can be activated and deactivated. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first yarn guide (FF1, FF3) is fixedly associated with the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) during knitting in a knitting direction, in the sense that it is exclusively in a central region of the knitting machine first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) is movable relative to the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) without leaving the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22). Flat knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first yarn guide (FF1, FF3) is a self-powered yarn guide, the knitting of a row of knitting from the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) to the hold-down device (NH) movable is, without coming into the sphere of influence of the second knitting system (S2, S22). Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one entrainment device for carrying a yarn guide (FF1, FF2, FF3) is provided. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second knitting system (S2, S22) is associated with a second yarn guide (FF2). Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hold-down device (NH) is provided on both sides of the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22). Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second knitting system (S1, S11, S2, S22) are arranged on a common carriage (101). A method of knitting a knit on a flat knitting machine having first and second knitting systems (S1, S11, S2, S22) in which a first thread is passed through a first thread guide (FF1, FF3) and, when a first knitting system (S1 , S11, S22) is deactivated and no needle is selected, the first thread is inserted as a weft thread and held down in order to be able to perform a capping operation or knitting operation with a second thread, and with the first thread at least one stitch is formed, when the needle selection associated with the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) is activated and at least one needle is selected. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that in the same carriage stroke in at least one region of a knitted fabric (200, 300) of the first thread is inserted as a weft thread and knitted in at least a second region of the first thread. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that in regions of the knitted fabric (200, 300) in which the first thread was inserted as a weft thread, the first thread is secured by a second thread by at least one stitch is formed with the second thread or With the second or a third thread formed stitches of needles of a needle bed (H, V) on needles of another needle bed (H, V) are umgehängt. Method according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the first yarn guide (FF1, FF3) in the direction of between the first and second knitting system (S1, S11, S2, S22) arranged holding-down device (NH) is moved before The second knitting system stitches are formed or umgehängt. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first yarn guide (FF1, FF3) is moved only relative to the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) if no needle for the first knitting system (S1, S11, S22) is selected , Programming system for programming a flat knitting machine for carrying out the method according to one of claims 10 to 14, comprising a grouping device for grouping the instructions to insert the first thread with a first system (S1, S11, S22) as a weft, activate the hold-down device and in a another system to secure the weft, and means for translating the instructions into machine-related data, which ensures that the order of the grouped instructions is retained in the machine-related data.

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