JP2009019327A - Circular knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a circular knitting machine freely controlling tension of fabric knit down from knitting section, during knitting, from outside. <P>SOLUTION: The circular knitting machine 1 is provided with a knitting section 4 knitting thread 2 into a piece of fabric 3, thread feeding section 5 for feeding thread 2 to the knitting section 4, a winding section 6 for winding up the piece of fabric 3 knitted at the knitting section 4, a tension controlling means 46 which allows tension control of the fabric W knitted down from the knitting section 4 from outside in operation of the circular knitting machine 1, wherein the tension controlling means 46 is constituted of an air spring 42 alone allowing adjustment of air pressure from outside or a spring 39 allowing control of the tension by a combination of this with a controlling screw mechanism 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine.

A conventional circular knitting machine has been provided in which a fabric knitted by a knitting unit is wound at a speed mechanically linked to the knitting speed of the knitting unit (see Patent Document 1).
JP 61-296155 A

In a conventional circular knitting machine, a knitting structure whose knitting length changes, for example, a fabric knitted by repeating a sparse / dense pattern at regular intervals, is knitted from the knitting unit during the operation of the circular knitting machine. There is a problem in that a dense pattern cannot be formed by freely changing the tension of the fabric to be formed from the outside.
The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the object is to freely adjust the tension of the fabric knitted from the knitting unit during operation of the circular knitting machine from the outside. It is to provide a circular knitting machine that can be changed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a knitting unit that knits yarn into a fabric, a yarn feeding unit that supplies yarn to the knitting unit, and a winding unit that winds the fabric knitted by the knitting unit. A tension adjusting means for adjusting the tension of the fabric knitted from the knitting section from the outside during the operation of the circular knitting machine, and the tension adjusting means. Is characterized in that it is constituted by an air spring that can adjust the air pressure from the outside or a combination of this and a spring that can adjust the tensile force by an adjusting screw mechanism.
According to this configuration, when knitting a knitting structure whose knitting down length changes, for example, when knitting a fabric that repeats a sparse / dense pattern at regular intervals, the tension adjusting means allows the knitting unit to rotate from the knitting unit. The tension of the fabric to be knitted can be adjusted freely from the outside, and it is not necessary to stop the circular knitting machine each time, so the dense pattern of the stitches can be formed with high efficiency, workability and production Can be improved. Therefore, the above configuration is like knitting a piece knitted fabric called garment length (garment-length fabric: a generic term for fabrics that are knitted continuously while separating by length in a circular knitting machine or automatic flat knitting machine) After knitting, it is necessary to adjust the unwinding tension at regular intervals, as in the case of knitting a yarn with a low tension such as a separating yarn, in order to facilitate separation at the separation part for each length. This is particularly effective in some cases.

  The tension adjusting means is constituted by an air spring that can adjust the air pressure from the outside or a combination of this and a spring that can adjust the tensile force by the adjusting screw mechanism, so that the air pressure of the air spring can be adjusted in advance. By incorporating the adjustment time and return time into the control program, it is possible to automatically knitted fabric that repeats the sparse / dense pattern at regular intervals. It can be executed without stopping the knitting machine.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the circular knitting machine which can freely adjust and change the tension | tensile_strength of the fabric knitted from a knitting part during rotation of a knitting machine from the outside can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the circular knitting machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a knitting unit 4 that knits a yarn 2 to form a fabric 3, and a yarn supply that supplies the yarn 2 to the knitting unit 4. A part 5 and a winding part 6 for winding the fabric 3 knitted by the knitting part 4 are provided.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), the knitting unit drive and the yarn feeding unit drive are performed separately, and the CPU 7 issues commands to the knitting unit 4 and the yarn feeding unit 5, respectively. 5 is synchronized.

The drive command for the knitting unit 4 is transmitted from the CPU 7 to the motor 10 via the shuttle rotation motor controller 8 and the driver 9. A servo motor is used for the motor 10.
The knitting unit 4 includes a disk-shaped upper hook 11 called a dial and a cylindrical lower hook 12 called a cylinder. A plurality of dial needles (not shown) are arranged on the upper hook 11 so that the needle axis is horizontal. A plurality of cylinder needles (not shown) are arranged in the lower hook 12 at regular intervals around the cylinder with the needle axis being vertical.

The upper hook 11 and the lower hook 12 are synchronously driven by the motor 10, and the dial needle and the cylinder needle are respectively connected by a dial cam and a cylinder cam (not shown) fixedly installed corresponding to the upper hook 11 and the lower hook 12. The yarn 2 supplied from the yarn supplying section 5 is knitted into a cylindrical shape in order, and is taken up via the winding section 6.
A drive command for the yarn feeding section 5 is transmitted from the CPU 7 to the motor 15 via the yarn feeding control motor controller 13 and the driver 14. A servo motor is used for the motor 15.

The yarn supplying unit 5 includes a plurality of active yarn supplying devices 16 corresponding to the number of stitches of the knitting unit 4, and these active yarn supplying devices 16 are attached to an annular support frame 17 in the circumferential direction of the support frame 17. It is provided at equal intervals.
The active yarn feeding device 16 is rotationally driven by the motor 15 and feeds the yarn 2 to the dial needle of the upper hook 11 of the knitting portion 4 and the cylinder needle of the lower hook 12, and the yarn 2 feeding speed (feeding speed). The motors 10 and 15 are driven by a drive command from the CPU 7 so that the yarn speed) is synchronized with the knitting speed (hook speed) of the knitting unit 4.

  The CPU 7 is capable of setting a control program corresponding to the knitting structure to be knitted, in which necessary setting items are displayed on an input guide screen, for example, a button switch or a keyboard switch on the guide screen. It is input and set by a pressing operation or the like. For example, according to the thickness and type of the yarn 2 to be used, the size of the fabric 3, the gauge, the stitch amount, etc., the number of needles, the stitches, the hook speed, the knitting length, the yarn feeding speed, etc. are set. The active yarn feeding device 16 of the present invention employs a device having a function of setting the stitch amount and tension based on the circumferential yarn length of the circular knitted fabric.

  Further, when a yarn breakage detection sensor 20 is provided in the yarn guide path 19 from the yarn feed portion 5 to the knitting portion 4, for example, in the yarn guide portion 19, and a yarn breakage occurs during operation, a detection signal from the sensor 20 Cam position switching means 21 and 22 for stopping the operation of the circular knitting machine 1 through the CPU 7, that is, stopping the motors 10 and 15 and switching the needle of the knitting unit 4 from the knit position to the tack position instantaneously are provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the means 21 and 22 are provided with swing cams 25 and 26 on a part of the cylinder cam 23 and a part of the dial cam 24. When a thread breakage is caused by an actuator such as an air cylinder or an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown), an operation is instantaneously switched from a knit position (chain line) to a tack position (solid line) through a command from the CPU 7. The cylinder cam 23 is installed corresponding to the lower hook 12 and controls the vertical movement of the cylinder needle. The dial cam 24 is installed corresponding to the upper hook 11 and controls the operation of the dial needle in the horizontal direction.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, the winding unit 6 includes a pair of fabric winding frames 27 and 27, and a fabric lowering roller shaft 28 rotatably supported between the frames 27 and 27. A dough winding roller shaft 29 is rotatably supported between the frames 27 and 27 below the roller shaft 28.
The pair of fabric winding frames 27, 27 are attached to a rotating frame 31 that is rotatably supported by a fixed frame 30 of the circular knitting machine 1, as shown in FIG. The rotating frame 31 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the lower hook 12 by a driving mechanism 32. An annular fixed cam 33 is attached to the fixed frame 30.

  On both sides of the pair of fabric winding frames 27, 27, a fabric winding mechanism 34 operated by the fixed cam 33 is provided symmetrically. As shown in FIG. 3, the fabric winding mechanism 34 has a three-way swinging reciprocating motion via a first branch lever 35 a that abuts the cam follower 35 a ′ against the fixed cam 33 by the rotation of the pair of fabric winding frames 27 and 27. Drive lever 35, a first ratchet mechanism 36 that intermittently rotationally drives the fabric pulling roller shaft 28 in the fabric pulling direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) by the second branch lever 35b of the trifurcated drive lever 35, and A second ratchet mechanism 38 that intermittently rotationally drives the fabric winding roller shaft 29 in the fabric winding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) via the connecting rod 37 by the third branch lever 35c of the trifurcated drive lever 35; It is made up of.

  The trifurcated drive lever 35 is loosely fitted to the end portion of the fabric pulling roller shaft 28 so as to swing and rotate. Then, the cam follower 35a 'of the first branch lever 35a is constantly pressed against the cam surface (waveform-valley-shaped surface having a certain height difference) of the fixed cam 33, and the shape of the cam surface causes the trifurcated drive lever 35 to move to the fabric pulling roller shaft. 28, the fabric pulling roller shaft 28 is operated to rotate intermittently in the fabric lowering direction via the first ratchet mechanism 36, and the fabric winding is performed via the second ratchet mechanism 38. The take-up roller shaft 29 operates so as to be intermittently rotated in the material winding direction. Hereinafter, these configurations and operations will be described in detail.

  The first ratchet mechanism 36 includes a first ratchet wheel 36a fixed to an end portion of the fabric pulling roller shaft 28, and a first feed lever loosely reciprocally fitted to the end portion of the fabric pulling roller shaft 28. When the first feed lever 36b is rotated in the fabric pulling-down direction (clockwise in FIG. 3), the wheel 36a is engaged with the first ratchet wheel 36a (the clockwise direction in FIG. 3). When the first feed lever 36b is turned in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), the first feed lever 36b is slid on the tooth surface of the first ratchet wheel 36a and returned. The feed claw 36c provided on the upper side and the first ratchet wheel 36a are allowed to rotate in the fabric pulling-down direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) and are prevented from rotating in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). To do And a reverse rotation preventing claw 36d provided on the fabric winding frame 27.

  The first feed lever 36b is connected to a spring 39 that applies a tensile force in the fabric pulling direction (clockwise in FIG. 3). The spring 39 is installed so that the tensile force can be adjusted via the adjusting screw mechanism 41 with respect to the bracket 40 provided integrally with the fabric winding frame 27. The bracket 40 is additionally provided with an air spring 42 that can control air pressure from the outside in parallel with the spring 39. The adjusting screw mechanism 41 can adjust the tensile force of the spring 39 by rotating the handle portion 41a. However, since the fabric winding frame 27 rotates during the operation of the circular knitting machine 1, the adjusting operation is not performed. Can not. However, the air spring 42 can freely adjust the tensile force by changing the air pressure from the outside even during the operation of the circular knitting machine 1. That is, the air spring 42 is composed of a piston with a rod and a cylinder that slidably accommodates the piston. By adjusting the air pressure acting on both sides of the piston from the outside, the tension force by the spring 39 is increased or decreased. To do. Specifically, compressed air is supplied and introduced into the cylinder chambers on both sides of the piston from an external air pressure supply source (for example, a compressor or the like) via a rotary air joint portion 43 provided in the lower center of FIG. A pressure regulating valve (not shown) is installed in the middle of the air supply introduction path, and the opening degree of the pressure regulating valve is adjusted and changed by a command from the CPU 7, or the pressure of the air supply source is commanded by the CPU 7. The air supply introduction path adjusted by a plurality of pressure regulating valves is arranged in parallel, and one of them is selectively selected according to a command from the CPU 7 to be switched and connected. It is implemented by either.

With the above-described configuration, the tensile force adjusted by the spring 39 and the air spring 42 is always applied to the fabric pulling roller shaft 28 from the feed claw 36c of the first feed lever 36b through the first ratchet wheel 36a (FIG. 3). (Clockwise).
A roller 28a is integrally fixed to the dough lowering roller shaft 28, and guide rollers 44 and 45 are arranged on both sides of the roller 28a so as to be separated from each other. As shown in FIG. 4, these three rollers 28 a, 44, and 45 are meshed and connected via gears (not shown) having the same number of teeth so as to reversely rotate at the same speed. The fabric 3 to be knitted down is guided and sandwiched in an S-shape and pulled down, and tension is applied to the fabric 3 with the knitting portion 4. And it sends out toward the fabric winding roller 29a below.

  In the pulling-down operation of the fabric 3 by the three rollers 28a, 44, 45, first, the cam follower 35a ′ of the first branch lever 35a of the trifurcated drive lever 35 is pushed down by the cam surface (mountain shape portion) of the fixed cam 33. As a result, the pressing member 35b 'of the second branch lever 35b presses the first feed lever 36b in the anti-fabric pulling-down direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) against the tensile force of the spring 39 and the air spring 42 in this direction. And the spring force is stored in the spring 39 and the air spring 42 to stand by. At this time, that is, with respect to the rotation of the first feed lever 36b in the above direction, the first ratchet wheel 36a is prevented from being reversed by the reverse rotation prevention claw 36d. The first ratchet wheel 36a does not rotate because it slides on the tooth surface and moves in the anti-fabric lowering direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). Then, the cam follower 35a 'of the first branch lever 35a fits into the cam surface (valley-shaped portion) of the fixed cam 33 and rises, so that the pressure on the second branch lever 35b is released, whereby the first feed lever 36b is The spring 39 and the air spring 42 are rotated in the fabric pulling direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) by the stored spring force, and the feed ratchet 36c is used to rotate the first ratchet wheel 36a in the fabric pulling direction (clockwise in FIG. 3). The three rollers 28a, 44, 45 rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1B, the above operation is performed by the fabric winding mechanisms 34, 34 provided on the fabric winding frames 27, 27 on both sides, and the phase of the push-down operation of the first branch lever 35a by the cam surface of the fixed cam 33. It is configured so that the phases of the peaks and valleys of the cam surface are reversed, and in the fabric take-up mechanism 34 on one side, while the spring force is accumulated in the spring 39 and the air spring 42, the fabric on the opposite side is stored. In the take-up mechanism 34, the three springs 39 and the air springs 42 apply the rotational force in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3 to the roller shaft 28 via the feed pawl 36c and the first ratchet wheel 36a by the spring force accumulated. The rollers 28a, 44, and 45 are configured to apply a force in the fabric pulling-down direction, and this operation is performed alternately and continuously on both sides.

As a result, a tension corresponding to the tensile force of the spring 39 and the air spring 42 is always applied to the fabric 3 knitted from the knitting unit 4. Since the air pressure of the air spring 42 can be freely adjusted from the outside, the fabric knitted from the knitting portion 4 by using the air spring 42 alone or by combining the spring 39 and the air spring 42 as in the present embodiment. The tension adjusting means 46 is configured to freely adjust and change the tension of 3 from the outside during the operation of the circular knitting machine 1.
The action of the tension adjusting means 46 is effective, for example, when a circular knitting machine 1 is used to knit a fabric 3 having alternating dense portions 3a and sparse portions 3b as shown in FIG. That is, when such a fabric 3 is knitted, the sparse portion 3b is formed by adjusting the tension on the fabric 3 knitted down by the knitting portion 4 to be larger than the tension of the dense portion 3a. If the tension is adjusted only with the spring 39, the circular knitting machine 1 is operated at the end of the dense portion 3a because the handle 41a of the adjusting screw mechanism 41 is rotated in FIG. To temporarily adjust the tensile force of the spring 39, restart the operation of the circular knitting machine 1 to knitting the sparse part 3b, and once the sparse part 3b is knitted, stop the operation of the circular knitting machine 1 again. Then, the tension force of the spring 39 is returned to the original state, the operation of the circular knitting machine 1 is resumed to perform the knitting of the dense portion 3a, and this must be repeated thereafter. However, by providing the air spring 42 and adjusting the air pressure of the air spring 42 from the outside, the spring force (tensile force) is adjusted without stopping the operation of the circular knitting machine 1, and the knitting portion 4 is knitted down. The tension | tensile_strength of the cloth 3 to be changed can be changed.

  Next, the second ratchet mechanism 38 will be described. The second ratchet mechanism 38 includes a second ratchet wheel 38a fixed to the end portion of the fabric take-up roller shaft 29, and a second feed that is loosely reciprocally fitted to the end portion of the fabric take-up roller shaft 29. When the lever 38b and the second feed lever 38b are rotated in the fabric winding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), the lever 38b is engaged with the second ratchet wheel 38a so that the wheel 38a is rotated in the fabric winding direction (FIG. 3 counterclockwise) and when the second feed lever 38b is rotated counterclockwise (clockwise in FIG. 3), it slides on the tooth surface of the second ratchet wheel 38a. Allowing the feed pawl 38c provided on the second feed lever 38b to return and the second ratchet wheel 38a to rotate in the fabric winding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), Direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) In order to prevent the movement, that is, the reverse rotation, the reverse rotation preventing claw 38d provided on the fabric winding frame 27 and the second feed lever 38b are always provided with a rotational force in the fabric winding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). A winding spring 38e for applying. The winding spring 38e may be an air spring similar to that described above, the air pressure being controllable from the outside, and the tension being controlled according to the winding diameter. The second ratchet mechanism 38 is provided on one side of the fabric winding frames 27, 27.

  The operation of the second ratchet mechanism 38 is transmitted to the second feed lever 38b via the connecting rod 37 by the third branch lever 35c of the trifurcated drive lever 35 in FIG. That is, when the cam follower 35a ′ of the first branch lever 35a of the trifurcated drive lever 35 fits into the valley of the cam surface of the fixed cam 33 and floats, the second feed lever 38b of the third branch lever 35c and the connecting rod 37 is lifted. The second feed lever 38b is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by the stored spring force of the take-up spring 38e when the restraint is released, and the second ratchet wheel 38a is turned counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by the feed pawl 38c. The dough 3 is wound around the roller 29a by rotating the dough winding roller shaft 29 in the same direction. When the trifurcated drive lever 35 is rotated in the direction opposite to the above by the crest of the fixed cam 33, the second feed lever 38b is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 to apply a spring force to the winding spring 38e. Accumulate power. At this time, since the reverse rotation of the second ratchet wheel 36a is blocked by the reverse rotation prevention pawl 38d, the feed pawl 38c slides and moves on the tooth surface of the second ratchet wheel 38a to reverse the second ratchet wheel 38a. There is nothing. Thereafter, by repeating this operation, the fabric winding roller shaft 29 is rotationally driven in the fabric winding direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3).

The embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the entire circular knitting machine 1 will be described as follows.
For example, assuming that the fabric 3 having a sparse / dense pattern as shown in FIG. 5 is knitted, the thickness and type of the yarn 2 to be used, the fabric size corresponding to the knitting structure of the dense portion 3a, the gauge, the stitch amount, etc. are determined. Correspondingly, the operation of the knitting unit 4, the yarn feeding unit 5 and the winding unit 6 is stopped when the yarn is broken, and the needles of the knitting unit are knit together with the number of needles, stitches, hook speed, knitting length, yarn feeding speed, etc. A series of control programs for changing the air pressure of the air spring 42 to set the sparse portion 3b when the knitting length is changed from the position to the tack position instantaneously or when the knitting length becomes constant is set in the CPU 7.

  Then, the automatic operation of the circular knitting machine 1 is started. As a result, a drive command is simultaneously issued from the CPU 7 to the knitting unit 4 and the yarn feeding unit 5. This drive command matches the knitting operation of the knitting unit 4 (the rotational speed of the shuttle) and the yarn feeding amount of the yarn feeding unit 5 (the yarn feeding speed by the motor 15 of the positive yarn feeding device 16, that is, the yarn feeding speed). As described above, the CPU 7 outputs the material in parallel at the same time, so that a good fabric knitting is performed without a response delay from the start of operation. In the case of the fabric 3 having the pattern shown in FIG. 5, the knitting of the dense portion 3 a is performed in advance, and when a constant knitting length is reached, a command to change the air pressure of the air spring 42 is issued, whereby the sparse portion The knitting 3b is automatically performed continuously during the operation of the circular knitting machine 1. The time for changing the air pressure of the air spring 42 is set by, for example, a timer, and after the set time of the timer has elapsed, the knitting of the dense portion 3a is automatically started by returning to the original air pressure. Thereafter, this is repeated until a predetermined knitting length is reached. If a thread breakage occurs during this time, the thread breakage detection sensor 20 operates to send a signal to the CPU 7, and a command to stop the driving of the motors 10 and 15 in FIG. The two swing cams 25 and 26 are switched, and the needle of the knitting unit 4 is switched from the knit position to the tack position. As a result, the occurrence of a large “fall” is suppressed (for example, approximately 1/10 of the conventional level). At the time of this yarn breakage, display or notification is performed, and when the broken yarn is connected or replenished, “falling” is repaired and the automatic operation of the circular knitting machine 1 is resumed. If it is necessary to change the yarn feed amount of the yarn feeder 5 during the operation of the circular knitting machine 1, a change in the yarn feed amount is set via the input means to the CPU 7 after a temporary stop by a program command. When the execution command is given, the knitting speed of the knitting unit 4 and the yarn feeding speed of the yarn feeding unit 5 corresponding to the yarn feed amount are calculated in the CPU 7, and a drive command based on this calculation result is supplied to the knitting unit 4. It is put out at the same time to the thread part 5.

  The configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention are as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be freely changed within the meaning and scope described in the claims. Can be implemented.

(A) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive system of the circular knitting machine according to the present invention, (B) is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the circular knitting machine. (A) and (B) are the principal part front views of a cylinder cam and a dial cam installed in the knitting part of the circular knitting machine of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the main structures of the winding-up part of the circular knitting machine of this invention. It is a side view which simplifies and shows the structure of the cloth pulling-down roll part and cloth take-up roll part in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the fabric pattern knitted with the circular knitting machine of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circular knitting machine 2 Yarn 3 Fabric 4 Knitting part 5 Yarn feeding part 6 Winding part 7 CPU
8 Rotation motor controller 9 Driver 10 Motor 11 Upper hook 12 Lower hook 13 Yarn feed control motor controller 14 Driver 15 Motor 16 Active yarn feeding device 17 Support frame 19 Thread guide section 20 Thread breakage detection sensor 21, 22 Cam position switching Means 23 Cylinder cam 24 Dial cam 25, 26 Swing cam 27 Fabric take-up frame 28 Fabric pulling roller shaft 29 Fabric take-up roller shaft 30 Fixed frame 31 Rotating frame 32 Drive mechanism 33 Fixed cam 34 Fabric take-up mechanism 35 Trifurcated drive lever 36 first ratchet mechanism 36a first ratchet wheel 36b first feed lever 36c feed claw 36d reverse rotation prevention claw 37 connecting rod 38 second ratchet mechanism 38a second ratchet wheel 38b second feed lever 38 Feed pawl 38d reverse rotation preventing claw 38e winding spring 39 spring 40 Bracket 41 Adjustment screw mechanism 42 air spring 43 rotating air joints 44, 45 roller 46 tensioning means

Claims (1)

  In the circular knitting machine, comprising: a knitting unit that knits yarn into a fabric; a yarn supplying unit that supplies the yarn to the knitting unit; and a winding unit that winds the fabric knitted by the knitting unit. The take-up portion is provided with tension adjusting means that can adjust the tension of the fabric knitted from the knitting portion from the outside during the operation of the circular knitting machine, and the tension adjusting means can adjust the air pressure from the outside. A circular knitting machine comprising an air spring alone or a combination of the air spring and a spring capable of adjusting a tensile force by an adjusting screw mechanism.

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