EP3779009A1

EP3779009A1 - Compound needle of flat knitting machine

Info

Publication number: EP3779009A1
Application number: EP20159247.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pingfan Sun; Weidong Xu; Yueyong HU; Licheng ZOU; Christophe Michel LVTHI
Original assignee: Ningbo Cixing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ningbo Cixing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-13
Filing date: 2020-02-25
Publication date: 2021-02-17
Also published as: CN110438655B; CN110438655A

Abstract

The invention discloses a compound needle of a flat knitting machine, which includes a main needle and a needle sleeve sheathed on the main needle, wherein the main needle includes a head portion and a middle portion, the head portion has a needle hook, the main needle is provided with a boss below the needle hook, and accommodating grooves are arranged on two sides of the boss; a limiting strip is arranged on a right side of the middle portion and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the middle portion; the needle sleeve includes a front section and a main body section, the front section is provided with an apical angle, the apical angle is provided with a first hollow structure, the main body section is provided with a second hollow structure, and bottom portions are grooved and connected; the main body section is arranged at an opening of the U-shaped structure, the limiting strip passes through the second hollow structure, the middle portion is embedded into a groove on a left side of the needle sleeve, and two opposite surfaces between the U-shaped structure of the main needle and the needle sleeve are matched in a point-to-surface contact mode, so that when the needle sleeve moves, the apical angle moves from the accommodating groove of the main needle to the needle hook closing the main needle. According to the invention, a contact area is reduced through contact of a salient point and a track surface, so that a friction force is reduced, and stable sliding of the needle sleeve in the needle groove is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention belongs to the field of knitting mechanical technologies, and more particularly, to a compound needle of a flat knitting machine.

Background Art

At present, a compound needle is more commonly used in a flat knitting machine, and a better action can be completed through a mutually matched movement of various components in the compound needle. However, the currently used compound needle has a complex structure, which increases a processing difficulty and a rejection rate to some extent, resulting in relatively high production costs. This type of compound needle is composed of a main needle and a needle sleeve, parts thereof have a simple structure, are easy to process independently, and then are combined for use, and many functions can be realized through a mutually matched movement among the parts. A latch needle in the prior art has a needle latch which can rotate on a needle rod, and actions such as loop formation, loop knocking over, loop tucking, loop clearing, rib transfer, split stitch and the like of a needle latch of a loop are completed through opening and closing of the needle latch matched with the main needle and yarn. Since the needle latch needs a space to rotate, the main needle is provided with a reed for rib transfer, so that the needle can complete these knitting functions only through a large up-down traverse, and an opening action of the needle latch also needs to be completed through a brush or yarn. If the brush is poor or an installation position is not in place, defects such as missed stitch and the like are easy to occur, so that requirements on a service life and an installation accuracy of the brush are relatively higher.
The 2018100430370 previously applied by the applicant discloses a compound needle used in a flat knitting machine, which includes a main needle and a needle sleeve sheathed on the main needle; the main needle is divided into a head portion, a middle portion and a tail portion, the head portion is provided with a needle hook, a blocking end is arranged at a junction of the middle portion and the tail portion, an elongated limiting strip is arranged on a right side of the middle portion of the main needle, and the limiting strip forms a U-shaped structure with a front end of the middle portion; a right side at a junction of the head portion and the middle portion of the main needle protrudes outwardly to form a bump, a left side of the main needle opposite to a position thereof is bent inwardly to form a concave avoidance groove, and front and rear sides of the bump are provided with concave needle grooves; the needle sleeve is divided into a front section, a main body section and a tail section, and the front section and the tail section have a hollow structure; the needle sleeve is installed at the middle portion of the main needle, the main body section of the needle sleeve is arranged at an opening of the U-shaped structure of the main needle, the front section of the needle sleeve is provided with a sharp apical angle, a rear of the apical angle is recessed inwardly to form a wiring groove, and the wiring groove extends backwardly and protrudes outwardly to form a limiting end; and one side of the middle portion of the main needle facing the needle sleeve is provided with a first track surface, one side of the main body section of the needle sleeve facing the main needle is provided with a second track surface, when the needle sleeve moves along the main needle, the first track surface is matched with the second track surface, so that when the needle sleeve moves, the apical angle moves from a position of the needle groove of the main needle to the needle hook closing the main needle.
The compound needle with the structure above can complete the actions such as loop knocking over, loop formation, rib transfer, split stitch and the like of the loop through matching the main needle with the needle sleeve, thus replacing the needle latch. However, the main needle and the needle sleeve are moved through matching surface to surface, which has a large friction force and a large movement resistance. Meanwhile, the apical angle of the needle sleeve is inclined towards the main needle, so that when the apical angle closes the needle hook, a width of a closed place is increased, thus making a passing loop larger and affecting a knitting effect.

Summary of the Invention

In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, the present invention lies in providing a compound needle of a flat knitting machine, which has the advantages of a reduced knocking-over resistance of a loop, a reduced loop clearing traverse, a high knitting speed and reliable rib transfer.
The technical solutions adopted in the present invention are as follows.
A compound needle of a flat knitting machine includes a main needle and a needle sleeve sheathed on the main needle, wherein the main needle is divided into a head portion, a middle portion and a tail portion, the head portion has a needle hook, a bending direction of the needle hook is defined as a right side, a reverse direction of bending of the needle hook is defined as a left side, two planes of the main needle are defined as a front side and a rear side, the main needle is provided with a boss protruded outwardly below the needle hook, and accommodating grooves recessed inwardly are arranged on front and rear sides of the boss; an elongated limiting strip is arranged on a right side of the middle portion of the main needle and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the middle portion, and a support column is arranged at a junction of the middle portion and the tail portion;
the needle sleeve is divided a front section, a main body section and a tail section, the front section is provided with an apical angle, a wiring groove is recessed below the apical angle, the wiring groove extends downwardly and protrudes outwardly to form a limiting end, the apical angle is provided with a first hollow structure, the main body section is provided with a second hollow structure, and bottom portions of the first hollow structure and the second hollow structure are grooved and connected; the main body section of the needle sleeve is arranged at an opening of the U-shaped structure of the main needle, the limiting strip of the main needle passes through the second hollow structure, the middle portion of the main needle is embedded into a groove on a left side of the needle sleeve, and two opposite surfaces between the U-shaped structure of the main needle and the needle sleeve are matched in a point-to-surface contact mode, so that when the needle sleeve moves, the apical angle moves from the accommodating groove of the main needle to the needle hook closing the main needle. According to the present invention, a contact area is reduced through contact of a salient point and a track surface, so that a friction force is reduced, and stable sliding of the needle sleeve in the needle groove is ensured.
Further, left and right sides above the main body section are respectively provided with a first track surface and a second track surface, an upper end portion of the limiting strip of the main needle is provided with a first salient point facing a surface of the middle portion of the main needle, a position of the middle portion of the main needle relative to the first salient point is provided with a second salient point, and the first salient point and the first track surface, as well as the second salient point and the second track surface are in abutting fit.
Further, a clamping strip extends below the main body section to a direction of a side of the main needle, and a side surface of the clamping strip facing the main needle is provided with a fastener buckled with the left side of the middle portion of the main needle. When the needle sleeve of the present invention moves, simultaneous actions of pressing and reverse buckling are realized with an action of the fastener, thus ensuring double safety and stable sliding of the needle sleeve in the needle groove.
Further, the clamping strip of the needle sleeve is matched with the support column of the main needle in a contact mode for limiting, and at this time, two side pieces of the front section of the needle sleeve are embedded into the accommodating grooves.
Further, a restricting site is arranged above the tail section of the needle sleeve, the restricting site is located on the support column and can translate along the support column, and the restricting site also plays a role in making the needle sleeve slide stably in the needle groove.
Further, front and rear sides of the middle portion of the main needle are provided with a first bump and a second bump. The first bump and the second bump have an effect of avoiding the sliding of the needle sleeve, and play a role in strengthening the main needle at the same time.
Further, the first track surface and the second track surface are composed of a plurality of smooth concave-convex surfaces.
Further, an inclination direction of the apical angle of the needle sleeve is consistent with an inclination direction of a tip of the needle hook, and a left side of the apical angle is a guide chamfer structure.
Further, an elongated restricting strip is arranged on a right side of the main body section of the needle sleeve, and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the main body section. Arrangement of the restricting strip on the needle sleeve is to ensure a holding force of the needle sleeve in the needle groove.
The present invention has the beneficial effects as follow.

1. The knocking-over resistance of the loop is reduced, the loop clearing traverse is reduced, and the knitting speed is high.
2. A knitting needle at a relative position is guided to a position of rib transfer, the rib transfer is reliable, and an action is simple and quick.
3. The compound needle slides stably in the needle groove and a cloth surface is smooth.
4. A size of the loop is stable, which is beneficial for smoothness of the cloth surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front-view structure diagram of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a front-view structure diagram of a main needle of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a right-view structure diagram of the main needle of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a rear-view structure diagram of the main needle of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a front-view structure diagram of a needle sleeve of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a right-view structure diagram of the needle sleeve of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a rear-view structure diagram of the needle sleeve of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a section view of an A-A direction in Fig. 5 of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a diagram of a sliding track of the needle sleeve on the main needle of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a state diagram of a loop clearing process of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a state diagram of a rib transfer process of the present invention.

In the drawings, 1 refers to main needle, 11 refers to needle hook, 12 refers to boss, 13 refers to accommodating groove, 14 refers to limiting strip, 141 refers to first salient point, 15 refers to second salient point, 16 refers to first bump, 17 refers to second bump, 18 refers to support column, 2 refers to needle sleeve, 21 refers to apical angle, 22 refers to wiring groove, 23 refers to limiting end, 24 refers to first track surface, 25 refers to second track surface, 26 refers to fastener, 27 refers to first hollow structure, 28 refers to second hollow structure, 29 refers to restricting site, and 30 refers to restricting strip.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention is further described hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art should realize that the present invention covers all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the scope of the claims.
In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, it is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and it is not to indicate or imply that the indicated device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Moreover, the terms "first" and "second" if any are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating a number of technical features. Thus, the feature defined by "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined.
In the present invention, the terms "installation", "connected", "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in broad sense unless otherwise specified and defined. For example, they can be fixed connection, removable connection or integrated connection; can be mechanical connection or electrical connection; can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be connected inside two components. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in a specific case by those of ordinary skills in the art.
In the present invention, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may include that the first feature is directly contacted with the second feature, and may also include that the first feature is contacted with the second feature through another feature therebetween and is not directly contacted with the second feature. Moreover, the first feature being "on", "above" and "over" the second feature includes that the first feature is right above and inclinedly above the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature "under", "below" and "underneath" the second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and inclinedly below the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature level is lower than that of the second feature.
With reference to Fig. 1, the embodiment provides a compound needle of a flat knitting machine, which includes a main needle 1 and a needle sleeve 2 sheathed on the main needle 1.
With reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, the main needle 1 in the embodiment is divided into a head portion, a middle portion and a tail portion. The head portion is provided with a needle hook 11, a bending direction of the needle hook 11 is defined as a right side, a reverse direction of bending of the needle hook 11 is defined as a left side, and two planes of the main needle 1 are defined as a front side and a rear side. The main needle 1 is provided with a boss 12 protruded outwardly below the needle hook 11, and accommodating grooves 13 recessed inwardly are arranged on front and rear sides of the boss 12. An elongated limiting strip 14 is arranged on a right side of the middle portion of the main needle 1 and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the middle portion, an upper end portion of the limiting strip 14 of the main needle 1 is provided with a first salient point 141 facing a surface of the middle portion of the main needle 1, a position of the middle portion of the main needle 1 relative to the first salient point 141 is provided with a second salient point 15, and the first salient point 141 is matched with the second salient point 15 to clamp the needle sleeve 2. Front and rear sides of the middle portion are provided with a first bump 16 and a second bump 17 for avoiding sliding of the needle sleeve, which play a role in strengthening the main needle, a support column 18 is arranged at a junction of the middle portion and the tail portion, and the support column 18 is matched with a restricting site 29 of the needle sleeve 2 to support stable sliding of the needle sleeve 2.
With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8, the needle sleeve 2 in the embodiment is divided a front section, a main body section and a tail section. The front section is provided with an apical angle 21, an inclination direction of the apical angle 21 of the needle sleeve is consistent with an inclination direction of a tip of the needle hook, that is, the apical angle 21 is bent towards a side deviating from the main needle 1, and a left side of the apical angle 21 is a guide chamfer structure. A wiring groove 22 is recessed below the apical angle 21, the wiring groove 22 extends downwardly and protrudes outwardly to form a limiting end 23, the apical angle 21 is provided with a first hollow structure 27, the main body section is provided with a second hollow structure 28, and bottom portions of the first hollow structure 27 and the second hollow structure 28 are grooved and connected. The first hollow structure 27 of the front section and the guide chamfer structure at the apical angle 21 can guide a knitting needle at a relative position to a rib transfer position, thus realizing an action of rib transfer, and the action of rib transfer is simple and quick. The main body section of the needle sleeve 21 is arranged at an opening of the U-shaped structure of the main needle 1, the limiting strip 14 of the main needle 1 passes through the second hollow structure 28, the middle portion of the main needle 1 is embedded into a groove on a left side of the needle sleeve 2, left and right sides above the main body section are provided with a first track surface 24 and a second track surface 25, and the track surfaces are composed of a plurality of smooth concave-convex surfaces. A clamping strip extends below the main body section to a direction of a side of the main needle 1, and a side surface of the clamping strip facing the main needle 1 is provided with a fastener 26 buckled with the left side of the middle portion of the main needle 1. The first salient point 141 and the second salient point 15 on the main needle 1 clamp the needle sleeve 2, and stably slide on the first track surface 24 and the second track surface 25 respectively, that is, the first salient point 141 and the first track surface 24, as well as the second salient point 15 and the second track surface 25 are in abutting fit. A contact area is reduced through contact of the salient point and the track surface, so that a friction force is reduced. Simultaneous action of pressing and reverse buckling is realized with an action of the fastener, thus ensuring double safety of sliding of the needle sleeve 2 and stable sliding of the needle sleeve 2 in the needle groove. Certainly, two opposite surfaces between the U-shaped structure of the main needle and the needle sleeve 2 are matched in a point-to-surface contact mode, the matching mode is not limited to the point-to-surface contact mode, which may also be that opposite surfaces of the U-shaped structure of the main needle are respectively provided with the first track surface and the second track surface, and two side surfaces of the needle sleeve are respectively provided with the first salient point and the second salient point matched with the first track surface and the second track surface, and matching of the two pairs of points and surfaces enables the needle sleeve to slide more stably without shaking. An elongated restricting strip 30 is arranged on a right side of the main body section of the needle sleeve 2, and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the main body section. Arrangement of the restricting strip 30 on the needle sleeve 2 is to ensure a holding force of the needle sleeve 2 in the needle groove.
With reference to Fig. 9, when the needle sleeve 2 in the embodiment moves along the main needle 1, the apical angle 21 moves from the accommodating groove 13 of the main needle 1 to a position where the main needle 1 is closed. The left and right sides of the needle sleeve 2 are provided with the track surfaces, the salient points are matched with the track surfaces, the needle sleeve 2 slides on the main needle 1 through the needle sleeve 2 to open and close the needle hook, and a mutually matched movement between the main needle 1 and the needle sleeve 2 replaces traditional actions of loop formation, loop knocking over, loop tucking and loop clearing of a latch needle, thus capturing and knocking over looped yarn. When the needle hook 11 is closed, a sliding track of the front section of the needle sleeve 2 is firstly traversed to the right to ensure that the front section of the needle sleeve 2 does not collide with the tip of the needle hook 11 and then traversed to the left to prevent the tip of the needle hook 11 from deforming. Front and rear side pieces of the front section of the needle sleeve 2 wrap the needle hook 11, and a right side surface of the front section is flush with a right side surface of the tip of the needle hook 11. Compared with the traditional latch needle, a width of a closed place is decreased, thus reducing a knocking-over resistance of a loop and a size of the loop knocked over. Moreover, design of sliding a needle latch rod to open and close the needle hook also reduces a knocking-over traverse of the loop, thus improving a knitting speed of a fabric and improving a production efficiency.
With reference to Fig. 10, when the loop knocking over is required, the loop has been formed on the needle hook 11 of the main needle 1, and a triangle pushes the main needle to move upwardly. The clamping strip of the needle sleeve 2 is matched with the support column 18 of the main needle 1 in a contact mode for limiting, at this time, the two side pieces of the front section of the needle sleeve 2 are embedded into the accommodating grooves 13, and at this time, the loop slides to the limiting end 23 of the needle sleeve 2. When the loop formation is required again, the main needle 1 operates the needle hook 11 upwardly to hook new yarn, and at this time, an old loop is above the front section of the needle cover 2. The main needle 1 hooks the new yarn and moves downwardly until the needle hook 11 is closed, and at this time, the needle sleeve 2 needs to move downwardly together with the main needle 1. The yarn hooked by the main needle 1 forms a new loop, and meanwhile, the old loop on the needle sleeve 2 separates from the needle hook 11 with a downward movement of the main needle 1.
With reference to Fig. 11, when the rib transfer is required, a needle sleeve b2 moves upwardly to reach the rib transfer position, a main needle a1 and a needle sleeve b1 move upwardly, pass through the loop and then pass through the hollow structure of the front section of the needle sleeve to ensure that after the tip of the needle hook exceeds an upper surface of the loop, the main needle b2 moves downwardly, and separates from the loop. The loop falls onto the main needle a1, and rib transfer actions of front and rear beds are completed.
The front section of the needle sleeve of the present invention is provided with the hollow structure and the guide chamfer, so that the knitting needle at the relative position can be guided to the rib transfer position, thus realizing the rib transfer action, and the rib transfer action is simple and quick. The limiting structure above the main needle, the support column and the fastener structure on the needle sleeve play a dual effect on stable sliding of the compound needle in the needle groove, which is beneficial for smoothness of a cloth surface. During the loop knocking over, the clamping strip of the needle sleeve touches the support column of the main needle for limiting, and at this time, the two side pieces of the front section of the needle sleeve are embedded into the accommodating grooves of the main needle, which is beneficial for stabilizing the size of the loop.

Claims

A compound needle of a flat knitting machine, comprising a main needle and a needle sleeve sheathed on the main needle, wherein the main needle is divided into a head portion, a middle portion and a tail portion, the head portion has a needle hook, a bending direction of the needle hook is defined as a right side, a reverse direction of bending of the needle hook is defined as a left side, two planes of the main needle are defined as a front side and a rear side, the main needle is provided with a boss below the needle hook, and accommodating grooves are arranged on front and rear sides of the boss; a limiting strip is arranged on a right side of the middle portion of the main needle and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the middle portion, and a support column is arranged at a junction of the middle portion and the tail portion;
the needle sleeve is divided a front section, a main body section and a tail section, the front section is provided with an apical angle, a wiring groove is recessed below the apical angle, the wiring groove extends downwardly and protrudes outwardly to form a limiting end, the apical angle is provided with a first hollow structure, the main body section is provided with a second hollow structure, and bottom portions of the first hollow structure and the second hollow structure are grooved and connected; the main body section is arranged at an opening of the U-shaped structure, the limiting strip of the main needle passes through the second hollow structure, the middle portion of the main needle is embedded into a groove on a left side of the needle sleeve, and two opposite surfaces between the U-shaped structure of the main needle and the needle sleeve are matched in a point-to-surface contact mode, so that when the needle sleeve moves, the apical angle moves from the accommodating groove of the main needle to the needle hook closing the main needle.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein left and right sides above the main body section are respectively provided with a first track surface and a second track surface, an upper end portion of the limiting strip of the main needle is provided with a first salient point facing a surface of the middle portion of the main needle, a position of the middle portion of the main needle relative to the first salient point is provided with a second salient point, and the first salient point and the first track surface, as well as the second salient point and the second track surface are in abutting fit.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein a clamping strip extends below the main body section to a direction of a side of the main needle, and a side surface of the clamping strip facing the main needle is provided with a fastener buckled with the left side of the middle portion of the main needle.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the clamping strip of the needle sleeve is matched with the support column of the main needle in a contact mode for limiting, and at this time, two side pieces of the front section of the needle sleeve are embedded into the accommodating grooves.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a restricting site is arranged above the tail section of the needle sleeve, and the restricting site is located on the support column and can translate along the support column.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 5, wherein front and rear sides of the middle portion of the main needle are provided with a first bump and a second bump.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the first track surface and the second track surface are composed of a plurality of smooth concave-convex surfaces.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein an inclination direction of the apical angle of the needle sleeve is consistent with an inclination direction of a tip of the needle hook, and a left side of the apical angle is a guide chamfer structure.
The compound needle of the flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein an elongated restricting strip is arranged on a right side of the main body section of the needle sleeve, and forms a U-shaped structure with a left side of the main body section.