JP2008524454A - Apparatus and method for automatic linking in a knitting machine and machine comprising the aforementioned apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus includes a path for a working thread (FL), a thread guide (33) for a working thread, and a holding member (43, 43A, 43B) for a second thread (FA). And a support portion (35, 39) for the second yarn described above.
The support for the second thread is movable between an idle standby position and an operating position in which the second thread is transferred to the needles (25, 27) of the machine.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a knitting machine, and although not limited thereto, in particular, relates to a large-diameter circular knitting machine for producing a knitted fabric, and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding yarn to a needle.

  Knitting machines, in particular large diameter circular knitting machines, have a large number of feeds which are varied and even worthy of attention. The thread fed to the cylinder and dial needle bed by each feed must be continuously controlled to immediately detect any interruption or breakage. Currently, machines are equipped with a stop system that stops the machine if one of the yarn feeds is missing, for example due to a break. This control and stop system is applied to each feed and a machine stop signal is triggered by a break in any one of the yarns fed to the machine.

  However, due to the inertia of the moving parts, the machine cannot be stopped instantaneously. In fact, large-diameter circular knitting machines have considerable rotation represented by cylinder and dial needle beds, a piece tensioner located below the stitch formation area, and a roller around which the piece being formed is wound. Have mass. Therefore, a constant rate of rotation is normally performed on the feed where the yarn breaks, without feeding the yarn, from the moment the yarn break is detected until the moment the machine is completely stopped.

  The stitches on the feed that are affected by the yarn interruption are removed without picking up the yarn and forming a new stitch. In such a case, the machine cannot operate any further and the formation of the knitted fabric is greatly impaired. If the machine is doing rubber knitting, the stitches will move away from the needles and the machine will literally drop the knitted fabric. Therefore, in order to be able to resume production, it takes time-consuming work to restore the stitches, resulting in considerable idle time and sometimes needle breakage for the machine, with great damage for the knitted fabric being produced, Cause considerable economic loss.

  It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that reduces or overcomes the aforementioned problems associated with working thread breaks or interruptions.

  In essence, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for automatically replacing a working yarn of a knitting machine with a second yarn when the working yarn is broken, the device comprising: A path, a yarn guide for the working yarn, a holding member for the second yarn, and a support portion for the second yarn described above are provided. The support is movable between an idle position for holding the second thread in the standby position outside the working area of the machine needle and a working position for transferring the second thread to the machine needle.

  With the device attached to the machine at each feed level, if the thread fed to the machine is interrupted, a second thread corresponding to the area in which the needle operates is taken. The needle picks up the second thread, which begins to be fed in place of the interrupted working thread. This operation is called automatic linking.

  After a warning signal generated by the interruption of the working thread, the machine may continue to perform some rotations that can be substantial before stopping. Due to the presence of the second yarn, the needle can continue to form stitches, thereby preventing the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional machines due to the fact that it is impossible to stop the movement of the needle bed instantaneously. it can.

  In an embodiment contemplated by the present invention, the second thread support is held in the idle position by the working thread. For example, it can be held at the end of a rod that swings around an axis that is integral with the mechanical structure. The working thread passes along a rod that holds it in the raised position so that the second thread is held away from the working area of the needle. When the working thread breaks, the rod becomes unsupported and swings downward, carrying the second thread directly to the working area of the needle, and the needle picks up the second thread and uses it instead of the working thread.

  This solution is particularly simple and does not require any electronic control. Furthermore, it is not necessary to use an actuator that controls the second yarn. This is advantageous in view of economy and simple construction, and the large number of feeds that characterize the large diameter machines to which the present invention is particularly relevant.

  However, different solutions are also possible. For example, it is possible to detect interruption of the working yarn by associating a sensor such as a microswitch with each feed. In general, this sensor already exists and is used to generate a signal to stop the machine if one of the yarn feeds is interrupted. Characteristically, unlike the conventional machine, according to the present invention, the signal of this sensor controls the actuator acting directly on the support part of the second thread so that the second thread is carried to the working area of the needle. You can also. Since the circular knitting machine has a considerable moving mass, the warning signal generated by the interruption of the working yarn cannot stop the machine immediately, but the support part of the second yarn has a very small mass and is controlled immediately. Thus, the second thread can be immediately transported to the working area of the needle, and the aforementioned results and advantages can be obtained by replacing the working thread with the second thread in this way.

  Further advantageous features of the device according to the invention are indicated in the appended dependent claims and are described below with reference to possible embodiments.

  According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a knitting machine, generally a circular knitting machine, and particularly to a large diameter circular knitting machine, comprising at least one working yarn feed, the working yarn being interrupted for any reason. If so, a device of the aforementioned type is associated with said at least one feed and is characterized in that it immediately carries the second yarn to the work area.

According to yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for automatically replacing a working yarn of a knitting machine with a second yarn when the working yarn is broken,
Holding one end of the second yarn in an idle position in proximity to a region where the working yarn is fed to the needle of the knitting machine, and the second yarn is not engaged by the needle;
Feeding the working yarn to the needle of the knitting machine to form a knitted fabric;
Diverting the position of the second yarn from the idle position to an operating position that is interrupted and engaged by the needle of the knitting machine when the working yarn is interrupted.

  In practice, this method advantageously also generates a machine warning or stop signal when the working thread is interrupted.

  In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the transfer of the second thread from the idle position to the working position is caused directly by a break or in any case by interruption of the working thread. In another embodiment, the transfer of the second thread to the working area of the needle is performed indirectly by the generation of a warning signal by a sensor that detects the interruption of the working thread, the signal being transmitted to the control unit or other Control the actuation of the actuator that operates the second thread in an appropriate manner.

  When the second yarn operates directly due to the work yarn breakage or interruption, the second yarn can actually be supported by the mechanical support held in the idle position by the working yarn, By interrupting the yarn, for example, due to its own weight, the mechanical support and the second yarn can be moved to the operating position.

  Further advantageous features and embodiments of the method according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims and are described below with reference to the examples.

  The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description and the accompanying drawings showing non-limiting examples of the invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a large-diameter circular knitting machine indicated generally by 1. Reference numeral 3 indicates a load-bearing structure, numeral 5 indicates a casing surrounding the stitch formation and yarn feeding area, and numeral 7 indicates a part of a cam or lock group for controlling the needles of the rotating cylinder. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the needle bed (a sector of the cylinder cam 9 and a sector of the dial cam 11) and the load-bearing structure 3 by a radial surface.

  A first embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in FIGS.

  3 and 4 are an axonometric view and a front view in which a stitch formation region having a plurality of feeds (two in FIG. 3 and three in FIG. 4) is enlarged. Reference numerals 21 and 23 indicate a group of cams or locks for controlling the dial needle 25 and the cylinder needle 27. The feed of the working yarn FL is associated with each group of control cams. Each feed yarn FL is fed from an upper reel (not shown), and passes through a ceramic material eye 29 fixed to a machine structure by a bracket 31. Under the eye 29, the working thread FL passes through each thread guide 33, and the thread guide 33 feeds the thread to the needles of the two needle beds.

  The support portion of the second yarn FA is associated with each yarn guide 33. The support part comprises a rod 35 whose one end is 37 and is hinged to the respective thread guide. When this rod is gently hinged and not supported, it swings downward due to its own weight for the purpose described below.

  The distal end of the rod (that is, the end opposite to the end hinged to the thread guide 33) is provided with a sleeve 39 through which the second thread FA passes, which is the aforementioned second thread engaging member. Form.

  Each second yarn FA comes from an upper reel or bobbin (not shown) and passes through a substantially vertical (in the drawing) pipe 41 connected to the respective yarn guide 33. Each tube 41 is provided at its lower end with a helical spring 43 that is used to hold and restrain the tip of the second yarn FA coming from the adjacent tube and thus related to the adjacent feed.

  As can be seen in particular detail from FIG. 3, each second yarn FA defines a region between the two ends of two adjacent tubes 41 along which the sleeve 39 associated with the respective feed. Engage with. Referring to FIG. 4, when the machine is rotated clockwise, each second thread FA comes from a tube 41 located on the right side of the respective sleeve 39, and its free end is a tube 41 located on the left side of the sleeve 39. Is connected to the spiral spring 43 associated with the.

  When the working yarn FL is complete and is correctly fed by the respective yarn guides 33 to the needles 25 and 27, a stitch extending between the eye 29 and the yarn guide 33 is defined, and the front surface of each rod 35 is defined. And pass below. Therefore, in practice, the rod is in a position inclined with respect to the vertical, and interrupts the path of the working yarn FL. The rod hinge 37 is above and on one side of the thread guide 33, and the second thread engagement member associated with the free end of the rod, represented by the sleeve 39, is higher than the thread guide 33, but the hinge 37 And on the opposite side of the hinge 37 described above. Therefore, the working yarn FL supports the rod so that the rod can be sufficiently held in the raised position. In this raised position, the sleeve 39 through which the second thread FA passes holds the latter outside the work area of the needle 25 and needle 27. Therefore, in this arrangement, the support portion of the second yarn FA is in the idle and standby positions.

  For example, when the feeding of the yarn FL is interrupted due to cutting or the like, the rod is not supported, swings downward due to its own weight, and is placed on the fixed stop 51 (see particularly FIG. 3), which is the second yarn. The working position of the support portion of the FA is defined, and the support portion is formed by the rod 35 and the sleeve 39. The lowered position of the rod 35 is shown in FIGS. The range of the second thread FA extending between two adjacent tubes 41 is therefore positioned in the working area of the dial needle 25 and the cylinder needle 27. The yarn FA is picked up by the needle and automatically replaced with the interrupted working yarn FL.

  Like conventional machines, sensors are preferably arranged along the path of each working yarn FL, and the aforementioned sensors detect yarn interruptions and take into account the operating speed and inertia and are appropriate within the required time. It is possible to generate a warning signal to stop the machine. Thanks to the operation of the second thread, the machine can be completely stopped even after a substantial partial rotation without significant inconvenience.

  In order to prevent accidental operation of the second yarn when the corresponding yarn FL is being fed correctly, a tension sensor is provided along the path of the second yarn to send a signal for the control unit Can be generated. This unit can detect malfunction when the yarn FA is operated when the yarn FL is not interrupted. When this occurs, the control unit generates a stop and warning signal. FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of control of one feed. The bobbins of the working yarn FL and the second yarn FA are indicated by BL and BA, respectively. Two sensors along the path of the yarn FL and yarn FA are shown at 53 and 55, and a control unit connected in a known manner to the machine drive and, if necessary, the user interface is shown at 57. In practice, the control unit 57 will interface with as many sensors as the number of working threads and second threads of the machine equal to the number of feeds.

  The above apparatus has the following advantages.

  The signal for device operation is directly from the breakage of the working yarn or feed because of the physical constraints of the rod. This ensures that the rod receives a signal indicating that the yarn is broken and remains unbalanced.

  The movement of the rod is instantaneous because it is caused by the effect of its own weight. The device can operate as soon as the feed or working yarn reaches zero tension.

  With the aforementioned device, it is very easy to re-establish machine productivity. In fact, a feed with a working thread cut on it will not continue unfeeding and the needle will not drop the stitch. Simply return the cut working yarn to the stitch formation cycle, remove the second yarn from the stitch formation area, pass it through the rod sleeve, and hold it in the raised position again with the restored working yarn to restore normal operating conditions. Can be established.

  7 and 8 show a modified embodiment in the same view as in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the sleeve 39 at the end of the rod forming the engagement member of the second thread FA is the end of the rod 35. It is replaced with a specific seat indicated by 39A obtained by molding the part. The rest of the device is the same as described above.

  For correct operation of the device, it is desirable to keep the machine parts close so that fibers that scatter from the yarn do not accumulate. In fact, this principle of operation is based on the fact that the rod can fall when it is no longer supported by the yarn feed. The accumulation of dust at the height of the hinge point of the rod may hinder the downward movement of the rod even when the yarn FL is broken. In order to keep this clean, a part of the machine is surrounded by the casing 5 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and air is continuously fed in and extracted from the internal volume of the casing. It is preferred that the air not only be removed by suction, but also the inflow of air only through the points of the unsealed casing. More suitably, air is blown into the volume surrounding the casing by a specific compressed air pipe for generating turbulence therein, leaving the fibers flying out of the yarn floating. In this way, it is possible to remove the fibers by suction and to clean the area related to the operation of the automatic linking device.

  By elastically loading the rod 35 within the limit possible depending on the range supported by the working yarn FL, the operation of the apparatus can be made more reliable and quick.

  10 to 18 show an improved embodiment of the device according to the invention. The same numbers indicate the same or equal parts with respect to the embodiments shown in FIGS.

  The first difference between the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 18 and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 8 is that the free end of each second yarn FA is different from that of the second yarn feed pipe 41A of the adjacent device. The fact is that it is not held by the spring 43 connected to the lower end, but is held by the spring 43A connected to the mechanical structure. At the opposite end of the hinge 37, the rod 35 has an eye 39B having the same function instead of the sleeve 39.

  Furthermore, the tube 41A (equivalent to the tube 41) in this case is much shorter and is carried by a support block 61 which forms a support member to which the yarn guide 33 is also connected. This support member 61 carries the reel BA of the second yarn FA. This unwinds upward and passes through the upper horizontal guide tube 63 and extends downward through the tube 41A and engages with the spring 43A.

  The operation of the apparatus is essentially the same as the description of the operation with respect to the previous embodiment, and as can be easily understood from the drawings, the working yarn FL is correctly fed in FIGS. The rod 35 is suspended and held so that the second thread FA is positioned away from the picking area by the needle 25 and the needle 27. On the other hand, in FIGS. 13 and 16, the working thread FL is interrupted, and the rod 35 swings downward to carry the second thread FA to the needle. The yarn FA is fed from the corresponding bobbin BA until the machine stops.

  Figures 16 to 19 show further embodiments. The same numbers indicate the same or corresponding parts as those in the previous embodiment.

  With respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 10-15, in this case, the free end of each second thread is one end of an L-shaped bracket or bar 65 rigidly connected to a member 61 that supports the second thread FA and the bobbin BA of the tube 41A. Is held by a spiral spring 43B connected to the. The rest of this configuration is essentially the same as that of FIGS.

  The drawings merely illustrate embodiments of the invention, and the form and layout may be changed without departing from the scope of the concept on which the invention is based.

An axonometric view of the entire large-diameter circular knitting machine. The figure which shows a stitch formation area in the local cross section by the surface containing the axis | shaft of a cylinder and a dial. A perspective view of two continuous feeds in which a part of the needle bed and the working yarn operate correctly. The front view of a part of needle bed provided with three feeds in a normal operation state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a needle bed and a feed in which a working yarn is interrupted and a second yarn is operating. The front view of a part of the needle bed and the feed in which the working yarn is interrupted and the second yarn is operating. The figure similar to FIG. 5 which shows the modification of an Example. The figure similar to FIG. 6 which shows the modification of an Example. The block diagram of a control system. FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of a needle bed with three feeds in normal working conditions in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a needle bed including an apparatus manufactured as shown in FIG. 10 in a normal operation state. FIG. 12 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a front view similar to FIG. 12 in a state where the working yarn is cut and the second yarn is in operation. FIG. 12 is an axonometric view similar to the view of FIG. 11 in a state where the working yarn breaks and the second yarn is in operation. FIG. 15 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 10 to 14 isolated from the machine. FIG. 15 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 10 to 14 isolated from the machine. FIG. 15 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 10 to 14 isolated from the machine. FIG. 15 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 10 to 14 isolated from the machine. FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of a needle bed with an automatic linking device according to the present invention in a further embodiment. FIG. 17 is an enlarged front view of one of the devices of FIG. 16 in a normal operating state in which the working yarn is fed correctly. FIG. 18 is an axonometric view of two successive devices of the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17 in a normal operating state. FIG. 19 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 16-18 isolated from the machine. FIG. 19 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 16-18 isolated from the machine. FIG. 19 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 16-18 isolated from the machine. FIG. 19 is an axonometric view at various angles of the apparatus of FIGS. 16-18 isolated from the machine.

Claims (31)

  A device that automatically replaces the working yarn of the knitting machine with a second yarn when the working yarn is cut, a path for the working yarn, a yarn guide for the working yarn, A holding member for the second thread; and a support part for the second thread, the support part between an idle standby position and a working position for transferring the second thread to the needle of the machine. A device characterized by being movable.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the path of the working yarn is arranged to hold the support portion of the second yarn in the idle position by the working yarn.   The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support portion of the second yarn moves from the idle position to the operating position by the effect of its own weight when the working yarn is interrupted.   The said support part is provided with the rod which has the engaging member engaged with said 2nd thread | yarn at the free end, and is hingedly rocked by the load-bearing structure. A device according to claim 1.   The device according to claim 4, wherein the rod is hinged to a shaft integral with the thread guide.   6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rod extends from a hinge point inclined relative to the vertical and blocks the working thread path upstream of the thread guide.   7. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a stop defining the operating position of the rod is arranged close to the hinge point.   The hinge point is disposed above and on one side of the thread guide, and the engagement member of the second thread associated with the free end of the rod is at a position higher than the thread guide at the idle position, and 8. Device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it is on the opposite side of the hinge point of the rod.   9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein in the operating position, the engagement member of the second thread is at a lower height than the thread guide.   10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tube through which the second yarn is fed.   11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that a helical spring is arranged at the lower end of the tube from which the second yarn exits, forming the holding member for the second yarn of an adjacent device.   11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that a reel of second yarn is associated with the tube.   The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the tube and the reel of second yarn are supported by a common support member.   14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the support for the second thread is hinged to the tube of the second thread and the common support member of the reel.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the holding member of the second yarn is carried by one end of a bracket extending under the support portion of the second yarn. .   The device according to claim 4 or 15, characterized in that the rod is hinged to a support member, to which a bracket carrying the holding members of the second thread is fixed.   Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an air cleaning system.   18. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 17, characterized in that the air purification system comprises a casing that surrounds at least the hinge region of the rod.   The air cleaning system comprises a containment volume defined by a casing, means for generating turbulence of air in the volume, and suction means for sucking air and dust from the volume. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13.   20. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor for detecting any interruption of the working yarn along the path of the working yarn.   21. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects a feeding state of the second yarn along the path of the second yarn.   A knitting machine comprising a feed of at least one working yarn, wherein the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21 is associated with the at least one feed.   The knitting machine according to claim 22, further comprising means for interrupting the operation of the machine when one interruption of the working yarn is detected.   The means according to claim 22 or 23, comprising means for interrupting the operation of the machine when one feed of the second yarn corresponding to an uninterrupted working yarn is detected. Knitting machine. When the working yarn breaks, a method of automatically replacing the working yarn of the knitting machine with a second yarn,
Holding one end of the second yarn in an idle position in proximity to a region where the working yarn is fed to the needle of the knitting machine and the second yarn is not engaged by the needle;
Feeding the working yarn to the needle of the knitting machine to form a knitted fabric;
When the working yarn is interrupted, detouring the position of the second yarn from the idle position to an operating position that is interrupted and engaged by the needle of the knitting machine;
A method comprising the steps of:   26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of generating a warning or stop signal for the machine if the working yarn is interrupted.   27. A method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the interruption of the working thread causes the second thread to be moved directly from the idle position to the operating position.   The second yarn is supported by a mechanical support portion, the support portion is held at the idle position by the working yarn, and the mechanical support portion and the second yarn are moved by the interruption of the working yarn. 28. A method according to claim 27, characterized in that it is moved to a position.   29. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that the downward movement of the mechanical support is caused by the effect of its own weight.   30. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that if one of the working yarns is interrupted, the knitting machine is stopped after the corresponding second yarn has been operated. .   30. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that the knitting machine is stopped when the working yarn and the corresponding second yarn are fed simultaneously.

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