EP4019682A1 - Knitting machine with at least one yarn guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A knitting or warp-knitting machine with at least one thread guide (100) movable along a thread guide rail (101) and having a thread guide arm (120) with a thread guide element (4) arranged at its lower end, the thread guide element (4) having one or more thread feed elements (41) for feeding threads to the knitting needles of the flat knitting machine and wherein a protective housing (5) is provided to cover the thread feed element or elements (41) of the thread guide element (4).

Description

Today's demands on knitted fabrics that are produced on flat knitting or warp knitting machines require the knitting of increasingly more elaborate and complicated patterns and designs as well as the creation of special properties, for example with regard to the strength of the entire knitted fabric or areas thereof.

In order to meet these requirements, flat knitting machines have already been developed whose thread guides can be moved over the needle bed(s) independently of the carriage or cam by means of separate drives.

Other possibilities of thread insertion are using thread guides according to EP 2 243 871 B1 , which are vertically movable, as well as swiveling thread guide rails ( EP 2 843 095 A1 ) achievable.

Using these technologies, new types of weave can be realized, since it is now possible to feed threads between the needles, to loop them around and to tie the threads into the knitted fabric as warp threads.

However, the thread guide eyelets used as standard in the known thread guides can only feed one or more knitting threads together to the knitting needles. A separation of the threads is not possible with the thread guides according to this prior art. Also, the width of the thread guide eyelets is not suitable for moving the thread or threads between the knitting needles in flat knitting machines with finer needle gauges.

From the EP 3 575 462 A2 it is known to arrange several guide needles side by side in the longitudinal direction of the needle beds of a flat knitting machine instead of yarn guide eyelets at the lower end of a yarn guide arm in order to be able to insert several separate threads into the knitting needles.

However, the free-standing placement of the guide needles above the comb gap between the needle beds of the knitting machine cannot ensure that they or their thread guide will not be damaged by other thread feed or knitting elements such as thread guides, knitting needles or sinkers during normal knitting operations.

The object of the present invention is to provide a flat knitting or warp knitting machine with the possibility of being able to feed one or more separate threads per thread guide to the needles of the knitting machine in a safe manner by means of a thread guide.

The object is achieved by a flat knitting or warp knitting machine with at least one thread guide that can be moved along a thread guide rail and has a thread guide arm at the lower end of which a thread guide element is arranged, which is characterized in that the thread guide element has one or more thread feed elements for feeding threads to Has knitting needles of the flat knitting or warp knitting machine and that a protective housing is provided to cover the yarn guide.

The protective housing protects the yarn guide element with the yarn feed elements and the fed yarns from damage, breakage and dirt.

The thread guide element and the protective housing can expediently be arranged on the thread guide arm so that they can be moved relative to one another, such that the thread guide element is covered by the protective housing in a first relative position between the protective housing and thread guide element, which defines a rest position of the thread guide element, and in a second relative position, which defines a working position of the thread guide element defined, is located outside the protective housing.
In the rest position of the yarn guide, the protective housing protects the yarn guide from damage, while in the working position, the unimpeded feeding of yarns to the knitting needles by the protective housing is ensured.

The relative movement between the protective housing and the thread-guiding element can be made possible in that the thread-guiding element is arranged on the thread guide arm so that it can move vertically. Alternatively or additionally, the protective housing can be arranged so that it can move vertically on the yarn guide arm. Thus, the rest position and the working position of the thread guide can be realized solely by a movement of the protective housing or the thread guide or by a superimposed vertical movement of protective housing and thread guide.

Further advantages arise when the rest position and the working position of the yarn guide element can be adjusted. The thread feeding elements can thus be optimally positioned for the thread insert in the working position of the thread guide element. The resting position can be optimized in such a way that the yarn guide element remains safely out of reach of other devices of the knitting machine such as carriages, needles, sinkers or the like when not in use.

The protective housing can also be arranged on the thread guide arm in such a way that it is outside the range of movement of carriages, knitting needles, sinkers and other elements of the flat knitting machine during the knitting operation of the machine.

The movement of the protective housing and/or the yarn guide member can be motorized, for example, via a belt drive or by means of shift gates.

It is also advantageous if other thread guides of the flat knitting machine can be displaced by means of the protective housing. As a result, the thread guide can be integrated into normal knitting operations.

The protective housing and the yarn guide element can also be movable or adjustable in the horizontal direction. This movement can be initiated, for example, by the thread guide arm. This makes it possible to pass threads between needles of a needle bed in the working position of the thread guide element, for example in order to loop around a needle. In addition, a resting position can be taken in the horizontal direction outside the needle area.

The yarn guide element can have eyelets, perforated needles or small tubes as yarn feed elements of a single type or in any combination.

If different threads such as knitting threads, elastane threads, warp, weft or stationary threads are to be introduced into a knitted fabric with the flat knitting or warp knitting machine, it is also advantageous if the thread feed elements are arranged interchangeably on the thread guide element. Depending on the threads to be fed, the appropriate thread feed elements can be arranged on the thread guide element.

Each thread feeding element can feed one or more threads with needle precision. The thread guide is thus able to feed a large number of threads separately to different needles.

For this purpose, a collecting piece with a multiplicity of openings for the passage of threads can also be arranged at the upper end of the thread guide arm. A thread or a plurality of threads can be passed through each opening and then guided to the thread feed elements and taken up separately by them and fed to selected needles.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of a thread guide of a flat knitting or warp-knitting machine according to the invention and its use on the machine are described in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines an einer Fadenführerschiene angeordneten Fadenführers;

Fig. 2a, b

einen schematischen Teilquerschnitt durch den Kammspaltbereich einer Flachstrickmaschine mit einem Fadenführer gemäß Fig. 1 mit einem Fadenleitorgan in einer Ruheposition und in einer Arbeitsposition;

Fig. 3a - d

schematische Schnittansichten des unteren Endes des Fadenführers aus Fig. 1 in unterschiedlichen Positionen bezüglich ausgetriebener Nadeln der Nadelbetten einer Flachstrickmaschine;

Fig. 4a - c

perspektivische Ansichten des unteren Endes des Fadenführers aus Fig. 1 in verschiedenen Positionen des Fadenleitorgans;

Fig. 5a, b

Längsschnitte durch den Fadenführer aus Fig. 1 in Ruhe- und Arbeitsposition des Fadenleitorgans.

Show in detail:

1

a schematic view of a thread guide arranged on a thread guide rail;

Fig. 2a, b

according to FIG 1 with a yarn guide element in a rest position and in a working position;

Fig. 3a - d

schematic sectional views of the lower end of the thread guide 1 in different positions with respect to driven-out needles of the needle beds of a flat knitting machine;

Figures 4a - c

perspective views of the lower end of the thread guide 1 in different positions of the yarn guide;

Fig. 5a, b

Longitudinal cuts through the thread guide 1 in the rest and working position of the yarn guide.

1 shows a perspective view of a thread guide 100, which is driven independently and is movably mounted on a thread guide rail 101. The thread guide 100 can feed one or more threads to the needles SN1, SN2 ( 2 ) of a flat knitting or warp knitting machine not shown here.

The thread guide 100 includes a first and a second carriage part 1, 2, which are connected to one another by means of a web 6 or a plurality of webs 6. At the upper end of the thread guide 100 a claw 3 is attached.

The collecting piece 3 has a multiplicity of openings 30 for the passage of one or more threads, not shown here, which are to be fed to the needles SN1, SN2 of the flat knitting machine. The openings 30 can be designed purely as bores or openings. Alternatively, inserts can be provided which are inserted into the openings 30. The collecting piece 3 serves to collect and separate the threads entering the thread guide 100 .

The thread guide 100 has a thread guide arm 120 with a central support plate 7, at the lower end of which a thread guide element 4 is attached, which has thread feed elements 41 for feeding one or more threads to the knitting needles SN1, SN2 of the flat knitting machine. The thread feed elements 41 can be designed in the form of eyelets, tubes, guide needles or simple openings in a strip provided for this purpose, not shown here. The yarn guide element 4 is surrounded by a protective housing 5 . The protective housing 5 is attached to the lower end of the yarn guide arm 120 . A device not shown here allows the adjustment of the protective housing 5 in the horizontal and / or vertical direction, so that a precise alignment of the protective housing 5 relative to the thread guide element 4 and other moving components in the flat knitting machine, which can come into contact with the thread guide 100, is given.

The thread guide element 4 can be moved in the vertical direction relative to the thread guide 100 and the protective housing 5 in such a way that the thread feed elements 41 of the thread guide element 4 are in an upper rest position and partially or completely within the protective housing 5 or - as in 1 shown - are in a lower working position outside the protective housing 5. However, it is also conceivable that the protective housing 5 will move relative to the thread guide element 4 and the thread guide arm 120 .

In the upper resting position, the thread feed elements 41 and the thread or threads running through them are protected from damage, breakage or contamination by other components of the flat knitting machine.

In the lower working position, threads can be brought to driven out knitting needles SN1, SN2 by moving the thread guide 100 on the thread guide rail 101 and moving the thread guide 100 transversely to the thread guide rail direction.

The respective positions can be adjusted manually and/or variably by means of appropriate mechanical or motorized devices.

the Figures 2a, b show a sectional view of the comb gap area of a flat knitting machine, otherwise not shown in detail, with a front and rear needle bed NB1 and NB2 and knitting needles SN1 and SN2 guided therein. Next, a thread guide according to the prior art 110 is shown, which is in the Fig. 2a, b with reference to according to the plane of the drawing behind a thread guide 100 according to the invention 1 located.

Figure 2a shows the thread guide 100 in a position in which the thread guide element 4 is in its upper rest position away from the comb gap. As a result, the thread guide element 4 is located completely within the protective housing 5. The thread guide 110 can pass the thread guide 100, or it can be passed by it, without the thread feed elements 41 and/or the threads to be fed, not shown here, being damaged or soiled. It is also possible that two thread guides 100 can pass each other.

Figure 2b shows the thread guide 100 in a position in which the thread guide element 4 is in its lower working position near the comb gap. As a result, the thread guide element 4 is located completely outside of the protective housing 5. The thread guide 100 can insert the thread or threads to be fed through it into the needles SN1 and/or SN2.

the Fig. 3a - d show a sequence of movements of the thread guide 100 with the thread feed elements 41 relative to the needles SN1, SN2.

In Figure 3a the yarn guide element 4 is in its upper rest position away from the comb gap.

In Figure 3b the yarn guide element 4 moves in the direction of the needles SN1, SN2. The thread feed elements 41 leave the protective housing 5.

In 3c the yarn guide element 4 is in its working position and thus the yarn feed elements 41 are in a yarn feed position close to the comb gap.

In 3d the yarn guide 100 was swung between needles SN2, ie offset in the horizontal direction.

the Figures 4a - c show the lower end of the thread guide 100 in different positions in an enlarged, three-dimensional view.

In Figure 4a the thread guide 100 is shown in a position in which the thread feed elements 41 of the thread guide element 4 are located within the protective housing 5. The upper resting position away from the comb gap is shown here, in which there is no thread feed to the needles SN1, SN2. It can also be seen that the yarn guide element 4 has a holder 42 to which a support plate 40 for the yarn feed elements 41 is attached. The holder 42 in turn is used to attach the yarn guide 4 to the lower end of the yarn guide arm 120 and the vertical movement of the yarn guide 4. It goes without saying that the elements 40, 41 and 42 can also be designed as one component.

Figure 4b shows the thread guide 100 in a position in which the elements 41 of the thread guide element 4 are outside of the protective housing 5. The lower working position, close to the comb gap, is thus shown here, in which the thread or threads are brought to the needles SN1, SN2. The protective housing 5 has a U-shaped recess 50 which allows the position of the yarn guide element 4 to be checked visually. A scale 43 is also provided on the holder 42, which can be read through the recess 50 and, together with an arrow 51 on the protective housing, makes it easier to check the position. A center mark 52 is also provided on the protective housing.

In Figure 4c is again an enlarged view of the thread guide 100 in FIG Figure 4b shown position, the elements 41 of the yarn guide member 4 are in their working position near the comb gap between the driven out in this representation needles SN1, SN2.

the Fig. 5a - b show sectional views of the thread guide 100, the vertical movement of the thread guide element 4 in the direction of the comb gap not shown here or the knitting needles not shown here being shown relative to the protective housing 5.

A vertical movement via a contact area 82 is introduced into a U-shaped element 9 of the thread guide 100 by means of an element 8 by initiating a rotational movement about a pivot point 81 , whereby a vertical movement of the thread guide element 4 is realized via the carrier plate 7 .

In Figure 5a the thread guide 100 is shown in a position in which the thread guide element 4 was brought into its lower working position near the comb gap by rotating the element 8 in the direction of an arrow U. This position can be adjusted exactly by varying the rotational movement of the element 8 .

Figure 5b shows the thread guide 100 in a position in which the thread guide element 4 was brought into its upper rest position away from the comb gap by rotating the element 8 in the direction of an arrow 0. By varying the rotational movement of the element 8, this position can also be adjusted exactly.

As an alternative or in addition, the protective housing 5 could also be adjusted vertically in a similar way to the yarn guide element 4 via a rotatable element.

Claims (12)

Knitting or warp-knitting machine with at least one thread guide (100) which is movable along a thread guide rail (101) and has a thread guide arm (120) on whose lower end a thread guide element (4) is arranged, characterized in that the thread guide element (4) has one or has several thread feed elements (41) for feeding threads to knitting needles (SN1, SN2) of the flat knitting machine and that a protective housing (5) is provided to cover at least the thread feed element or elements (41) of the thread guide element (4). Knitting or warp-knitting machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the thread guide element (4) and the protective housing (5) are arranged on the thread guide arm (120) so that they can be moved relative to one another, such that the thread guide element (4) in a first relative position between the protective housing (5 ) and thread guide element (4), which defines a rest position of the thread guide element (4), is covered by the protective housing (5) and is located outside the protective housing (5) in a second relative position, which defines a working position of the thread guide element (4). Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread guide member (4) is arranged to be vertically movable on the thread guide arm (120). Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective housing (5) is arranged so that it can move vertically on the yarn guide arm (120). Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rest position and the working position of the thread guide element (4) can be adjusted. Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective housing (5) is arranged on the thread guide arm (120) in such a way that it is outside the range of movement of carriages, knitting needles (SN1, SN2), sinkers and other elements of the flat knitting machine during the knitting operation of the machine. Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the movement of the protective housing (5) and/or the thread guide element (4) takes place by motor, via a belt drive or by means of shift gates. Knitting or warp-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that other thread guides (110) or other protective housings 5 of the flat knitting machine can be displaced by means of the protective housing (5). Knitting or warp knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective housing (5) and the thread guide element (4) can be moved in the horizontal direction by means of the thread guide arm (120). Knitting or warp-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread-guiding element (4) has thread-feeding elements (41) of a single type or in any combination of eyelets, guide needles or small tubes. Knitting or warp-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread-feeding elements (41) are arranged on the thread-guiding element (4) in an exchangeable manner. Knitting or warp-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collecting piece (3) with a large number of openings (30) for the passage of threads is arranged at the upper end of the thread guide (100).

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