GB2051146A

GB2051146A - Improvements Relating to Pattern Drives for Guide Bar Control in Warp Knitting Machines

Info

Publication number: GB2051146A
Application number: GB8019567A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sulzer AG; Gebrueder Sulzer AG
Current assignee: Sulzer AG
Priority date: 1979-06-14
Filing date: 1980-06-16
Publication date: 1981-01-14
Also published as: IT8022362A0; JPS564754A; IT1130773B; BR8003617A; FR2459311A1; DE2925404B1

Abstract

A warp knitting machine has in pattern drive comprising output elements (5) controlled in accordance with a pattern control (12, 13) and constructed as eccentric discs and carrying out controlled shogging of the guide bars (2). The output elements operate as an additive system, strokes of the output elements (5) being matched to the corresponding needle spacing. The output elements (5) act on tension elements such as bands (4) each connected to a guide bar or strip (2). Those ends of the tension elements (4) which are remote from the guide bars (2) are connected to a driving means (6) which can be driven stepwise to move the tension element in the shogging direction. The driving means (6) is constructed as a pin roller which by means of a drive (10) can be driven stepwise under the control of the program carrier (12) of the pattern control. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements Relating to Pattern Drives for Guide Bar Control in Warp Knitting Machines This invention relates to warp knitting machines and is concerned with pattern drives for guide bar control. In one form of pattern drive, the guide bars are controlled by tension elements at least portions of which reciprocate in the lapping direction and in turn are actuated by the output elements of a pattern control unit in accordance with the pattern. The strokes of the output elements, which are disposed one after the other, correspond to the needle spacing and are controlled by a program carrier.In an additive system of this construction, an example of which is described in German Patent Specification 2,610,888, the output elements operate transversely on the tension element, e.g. a band, one end of which is secured to the guide bar whereas its other end is anchored to the machine.

In another example described in East German Patent Specification 124,662, externally controllable force transmission elements take the form of a digitally controllable piston system and, by means of a reader, can be optionally converted into a rigid push-rod or a longitudinally variable final control element.

These previously proposed mechanisms are bulky and therefore restricted with regard to the length of the attainable shogging motion and consequently in their usefulness.

According to the present invention, a warp knitting machine has guide bars and a pattern drive comprising tension elements which are connected to the guide bars and at least part of which reciprocate in the shogging direction, a pattern control unit having output elements acting on the tension elements transversely of their length to move the guide bars, and drive means acting on each tension element at a region of the tension element remote from the guide bar to move the tension element in the shogging direction.

Since the drive means need not greatly increase the length of the tension element, e.g. a band, in the direction governed by the pattern mechanism, since the tension element can be rolled up or deflected into another direction and since the drive means can also cause the tension element to carry out longitudinal strokes which can be controlled as required and are added to those produced by the output elements, shogging length can be considerably increased without increasing the length of the pattern drive.

Preferably the drive means comprises a drive roller around which the tension element passes and which is connected to a drive. Conveniently the output elements are coupleable to the said drive so that the output elements and the drive means operate from the same power source.

Advantageously, the drive of the drive means is reversible under the control of the pattern control unit.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but the pattern drives of two warp knitting machines embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a pattern drive comprising a change-speed gear, and Figure 2 shows a pattern drive which is similar to that shown in Figure 1 but comprises a reversible motor.

The pattern drive shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of guide bars each of which is separately controlled but only one of which is visible and will be described.

A tension belt 4 longitudinally guided by rollers 3 is connected to the guide bar 2 which is biased by a spring 1. In the spans of the belt between the supporting rollers 4, the belt is acted upon by eccentrics 5 constituting the output elements of a pattern control unit which also includes a program control comprising pattern program carriers 1 2 and readers/amplifiers 13. The eccentrics 5 can be coupled to a diagrammatically represented transmission 1 6 by electromagnetic ciutches which are individually under the control of the program control through signal lines 17.

The transmission 1 6 is driven from a main shaft 1 5 through a stepping clutch 14. During each knitting cycle, certain of the eccentrics 5 depending on the pattern are caused to rotate and deflect the tension element 4 between the rollers, the effects of the rotated eccentrics being added together to produce a shogging movement of the guide bar 2. In addition, a further movement may be given to the guide bar by means now to be described.

The end of the belt 4 remote from the guide bar 2 passes around a roller 6 and is connected to one end of a spring 7 the other end of which is anchored. The roller 6 carries drive pins 6a which engage in corresponding perforations in the belt 4. In the construction shown in Figure 1 , the roller 6 can be driven by a gear wheel 8 which can be driven step-wise simultaneously with the output elements or eccentrics 5 by the transmission 1 6. In practice, since the axis 9 of wheel 8 is advantageously aligned with the axes of the elements 5, the two drives can be coupled together. A forward, neutral and reverse gear 10 under the control of the pattern control unit 12, 1 3 is dispersed between the two drives, for controlling the operation and direction of motion of the roller driving means.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 2 which is otherwise the same as that shown in Figure 1, the gear 10 is replaced by a reversible motor 11 which during each knitting cycle rotates a given number of times in the desired direction in accordance with information supplied by the datacarrier 1 2.

Claims

1. A warp knitting machine having guide bars and a pattern drive comprising tension elements

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements Relating to Pattern Drives for Guide Bar Control in Warp Knitting Machines This invention relates to warp knitting machines and is concerned with pattern drives for guide bar control. In one form of pattern drive, the guide bars are controlled by tension elements at least portions of which reciprocate in the lapping direction and in turn are actuated by the output elements of a pattern control unit in accordance with the pattern. The strokes of the output elements, which are disposed one after the other, correspond to the needle spacing and are controlled by a program carrier.In an additive system of this construction, an example of which is described in German Patent Specification 2,610,888, the output elements operate transversely on the tension element, e.g. a band, one end of which is secured to the guide bar whereas its other end is anchored to the machine. In another example described in East German Patent Specification 124,662, externally controllable force transmission elements take the form of a digitally controllable piston system and, by means of a reader, can be optionally converted into a rigid push-rod or a longitudinally variable final control element. These previously proposed mechanisms are bulky and therefore restricted with regard to the length of the attainable shogging motion and consequently in their usefulness. According to the present invention, a warp knitting machine has guide bars and a pattern drive comprising tension elements which are connected to the guide bars and at least part of which reciprocate in the shogging direction, a pattern control unit having output elements acting on the tension elements transversely of their length to move the guide bars, and drive means acting on each tension element at a region of the tension element remote from the guide bar to move the tension element in the shogging direction. Since the drive means need not greatly increase the length of the tension element, e.g. a band, in the direction governed by the pattern mechanism, since the tension element can be rolled up or deflected into another direction and since the drive means can also cause the tension element to carry out longitudinal strokes which can be controlled as required and are added to those produced by the output elements, shogging length can be considerably increased without increasing the length of the pattern drive. Preferably the drive means comprises a drive roller around which the tension element passes and which is connected to a drive. Conveniently the output elements are coupleable to the said drive so that the output elements and the drive means operate from the same power source. Advantageously, the drive of the drive means is reversible under the control of the pattern control unit. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but the pattern drives of two warp knitting machines embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a pattern drive comprising a change-speed gear, and Figure 2 shows a pattern drive which is similar to that shown in Figure 1 but comprises a reversible motor. The pattern drive shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of guide bars each of which is separately controlled but only one of which is visible and will be described. A tension belt 4 longitudinally guided by rollers 3 is connected to the guide bar 2 which is biased by a spring 1. In the spans of the belt between the supporting rollers 4, the belt is acted upon by eccentrics 5 constituting the output elements of a pattern control unit which also includes a program control comprising pattern program carriers 1 2 and readers/amplifiers 13. The eccentrics 5 can be coupled to a diagrammatically represented transmission 1 6 by electromagnetic ciutches which are individually under the control of the program control through signal lines 17. The transmission 1 6 is driven from a main shaft 1 5 through a stepping clutch 14. During each knitting cycle, certain of the eccentrics 5 depending on the pattern are caused to rotate and deflect the tension element 4 between the rollers, the effects of the rotated eccentrics being added together to produce a shogging movement of the guide bar 2. In addition, a further movement may be given to the guide bar by means now to be described. The end of the belt 4 remote from the guide bar 2 passes around a roller 6 and is connected to one end of a spring 7 the other end of which is anchored. The roller 6 carries drive pins 6a which engage in corresponding perforations in the belt 4. In the construction shown in Figure 1 , the roller 6 can be driven by a gear wheel 8 which can be driven step-wise simultaneously with the output elements or eccentrics 5 by the transmission 1 6. In practice, since the axis 9 of wheel 8 is advantageously aligned with the axes of the elements 5, the two drives can be coupled together. A forward, neutral and reverse gear 10 under the control of the pattern control unit 12, 1 3 is dispersed between the two drives, for controlling the operation and direction of motion of the roller driving means. In the modified construction shown in Figure 2 which is otherwise the same as that shown in Figure 1, the gear 10 is replaced by a reversible motor 11 which during each knitting cycle rotates a given number of times in the desired direction in accordance with information supplied by the datacarrier 1 2. Claims

1. A warp knitting machine having guide bars and a pattern drive comprising tension elements which are connected to the guide bars and at least part of which reciprocate in the shogging direction, a pattern control unit having output elements acting on the tension elements transversely of their length to move the guide bars, and drive means acting on each tension element at a region of the tension element remote from the guide bar to move the tension element in the shogging direction.

2. A warp knitting machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the drive means is arranged to operate stepwise.

3. A warp knitting machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the drive means comprises a drive roller around which the tension element passes and which is connected to a drive.

4. A warp knitting machine as claimed in Claim 3 in which the output elements are coupleable to the said drive.

5. A warp knitting machine as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the drive means is reversible under control of the pattern control unit.

6. A warp knitting machine having a pattern drive constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 1 modified substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.