JP2012207335A - Flat-knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flat-knitting machine in which the static electricity can be removed from the charged elastic yarn with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A flat-knitting machine 1 comprises a discharging electrode 30 attached to a post 1a to face between a yarn tensioning unit 8 and an air flowing unit 9. Since the yarn tension is added at the yarn tensioning unit 8, the static electricity is removed by corona discharging between an elastic yarn 5 and the discharging electrode 30, even though the elastic yarn 5 is charged when the elastic yarn 5 is returned into the air flowing unit 9. Since the elastic yarn 5 is discharged, the yarn is neither clung nor stuck on the circumference metal part including the post 1a. The useless resistance and the like can be avoided when the elastic yarn 5 is fed into the yarn tensioning unit 8.

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat knitting machine having a function of returning a knitting yarn, which is necessary when an elastic yarn called a rubber yarn is used as a knitting yarn and supplied to a knitting needle while controlling the yarn tension.

  Conventionally, knitted fabrics having different textures can be knitted by using elastic yarns when knitting a knitted fabric with a flat knitting machine and controlling the supply length and yarn tension. In order to control the yarn tension, a yarn tension adding device is provided in the course of supplying the elastic yarn to the knitting needle. On the side of the path for supplying the elastic yarn to the yarn tensioning device, it is also necessary to guide the elastic yarn with an air flow so that the elastic yarn is slackened and does not get entangled when the elastic yarn is returned (for example, patent Reference 1).

JP 2008-274474 A

  In the yarn tension applying device of Patent Document 1, the elastic yarn is sandwiched between the feed roller and the presser roller, and when returning, the rotation direction is reversed from that when sending the rotation direction. The elastic yarn has a structure in which the core material is covered with a covering material, and depending on the material and the surrounding dry state, static electricity is likely to be applied when sandwiched between rollers. When static electricity is applied to the elastic yarn and charged, the elastic yarn returned from the yarn tension applying device adheres to the surrounding metal parts such as struts by static electricity, and even if it tries to guide it in the direction to return it with the air flow forming device, it smoothly There is a risk that it cannot be restored.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a flat knitting machine capable of removing static electricity from a charged elastic yarn with a simple configuration.

The present invention provides a yarn tension applying device that applies elastic yarn as a knitting yarn and supplies a set yarn tension to a knitting needle while feeding or returning.
A discharge electrode that faces a path for supplying elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device and is provided with an interval that generates corona discharge with the elastic yarn during charging,
It is a flat knitting machine characterized by including.

In the present invention, the discharge electrode may be
Needle-shaped,
The tip is directed to a path for supplying the elastic yarn while being inclined in the return direction.

According to the present invention, in the path for supplying the elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device, when the elastic yarn is returned from the yarn tension applying device, an air flow parallel to the elastic yarn is formed in the returning direction. An air flow forming device for guiding
The discharge electrode is provided between the yarn tension applying device and the air flow forming device.

In the present invention, the discharge electrode may be
The interval between the elastic yarns can be switched between an interval at which the corona discharge occurs and a retreat interval larger than the interval.
Only when the elastic yarn is returned by the yarn tension applying device, the interval between the discharge electrode and the elastic yarn is changed so as to generate a corona discharge, and the others are switched so as to become a retracting interval.

  According to the present invention, the discharge electrode faces the path for supplying the elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device, and is provided with an interval for generating corona discharge with the elastic yarn during charging. When the elastic yarn is returned from the yarn tension applying device, it is easily charged and clings to the surrounding metal portion. Even if the elastic yarn is charged, the static electricity is removed by corona discharge between the elastic yarn and the discharge electrode even if the elastic yarn is charged. be able to.

  Further, according to the present invention, the discharge electrode is needle-shaped, and the tip is directed to the path for supplying the elastic yarn while being inclined in the elastic yarn return direction. Therefore, when the elastic yarn is returned from the yarn tension applying device, It is possible to make it difficult for the elastic yarn to be caught on the tip of the discharge electrode.

  According to the present invention, the elastic yarn returned from the yarn tension applying device is guided by the air flow formed by the air flow forming device and can be returned quickly. Since the discharge electrode is provided between the yarn tension applying device and the airflow forming device, it is possible to prevent the elastic yarn charged during this time from adhering to the metal portion or the like.

  Further, according to the present invention, only when the elastic yarn is returned from the yarn tension applying device, the static electricity is removed between the discharge electrode and the elastic yarn, and the rest is withdrawn to discharge the elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device. When being supplied to the battery, it can be prevented from being caught by the tip of the discharge electrode.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram showing a flat knitting machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing the vicinity of the discharge electrode 30 of FIG. 1 in a simplified manner.

  Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of a flat knitting machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the description of FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the portions shown in FIG. 1 described earlier, and duplicated descriptions are omitted, or not shown in FIG. 2 but only in FIG. 1. May refer to the part to be done.

  FIG. 1 shows a simplified overall configuration of the flat knitting machine 1. The relative orientation and size of each component may be changed for convenience of explanation. The flat knitting machine 1 knits the knitted fabric while the carriage 3 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2. A large number of knitting needles are arranged in parallel on the needle bed 2 and are driven by a cam mechanism mounted on the carriage 3 to perform a knitting operation. When the carriage 3 travels, the yarn feeder 4 is entrained to supply knitting yarn for forming a knitted fabric to the knitting needle. The flat knitting machine 1 is provided with a plurality of yarn feeders 4, and the knitting yarns can be switched by switching the yarn feeders 4 that the carriage 3 entrains. The elastic yarn 5 is also supplied through one yarn feeder 4. Although the yarn other than the elastic yarn 5 is used as the knitting yarn, the illustration is omitted.

  The elastic yarn 5 is supplied from a yarn cone 6 serving as a supply source to a knitting needle of the needle bed 2 via a yarn breakage detection switch 7. A yarn tension applying device 8 is provided in the middle of the path for supplying the elastic yarn 5 from below to the pulley 7b provided at the tip of the arm 7a of the yarn breakage detection switch 7 from the yarn cone 6. The yarn tension applying device 8 can adjust the feeding direction and the yarn tension so that the elastic yarn 5 is fed to the upper yarn breakage detection switch 7 side or the yarn tension is increased.

  An air flow forming device 9 is provided in the supply path of the elastic yarn 5 to the yarn cone 6 below the yarn tension applying device 8. A passage 9 a through which the elastic yarn 5 is inserted vertically is provided in the air flow forming device 9. In the elastic yarn 5 inserted through the passage 9a, air can be ejected from a nozzle 9b provided in the upper part of the air flow forming device 9 to form an air flow from the upper side to the lower side. Even if the elastic yarn 5 is returned from the yarn tension applying device 8 at high speed, it is expected that the air flow forming device 9 can reliably guide the elastic yarn 5 downward and prevent entanglement.

  For overall control of the flat knitting machine 1, a control device 10 is provided. The control device 10 includes an operation input unit 11, a display unit 12, a CPU 13, a memory 14, a knitting drive unit 15, a yarn feed drive unit 16, and a nozzle drive unit 17 that controls the blowing of air from the nozzle 9b. An instruction from the operator is input to the operation input unit 11. The display unit 12 displays the operation state of each unit. The result of the operation input to the operation input unit 11 is input to the CPU 13. Signals from various parts such as the thread breakage detection switch 7 are also input to the CPU 13. The CPU 13 can also perform control so as to automatically perform the tension setting operation of the elastic yarn 5 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 14 in advance. The memory 14 also stores in advance a response related to an operation input to the operation input unit 11 and a control program related to display on the display unit 12.

  The CPU 13 controls the yarn tension applying device 8 via the yarn feeding drive unit 16. In the memory 14, for example, the length of the elastic yarn 5 and the yarn tension to be sent out for each stroke of the carriage 3 are set as control data in the middle of knitting each knitted fabric product. The nozzle driving unit 17 drives an on-off valve 18 provided in a compressed air supply path to the air flow forming device 9. The control device 10 controls the blow-out from the nozzle 9 b of the air flow forming device 9 for the compressed air supplied from the on-off valve 18 via the air pipe 19.

  A feed roller 20 and a presser roller 21 are provided in the yarn tension applying device 8, and the elastic yarn 5 is sandwiched between the rollers. When the feed roller 20 is rotated forward or backward, it is fed to the yarn breakage detection switch 7 side. The return to the air flow forming device 9 can be switched. When the elastic yarn 5 is fed to the yarn breakage detection switch 7 side, the elastic yarn 5 is folded back by the pulley 7b and supplied to the lower knitting needle. In such a path from the yarn tension applying device 8 to the knitting needle, the elastic yarn 5 is in a stretched state due to the yarn tension being added, so that even if charged, there is little possibility of being entangled with the surroundings. However, since the yarn tension is hardly applied on the side of the air flow forming device 9 from the yarn tension applying device 8, the elastic yarn 5 is easily loosened. When charged, the elastic yarn 5 adheres to surrounding metal parts such as the support pillar 1 a. It becomes easy to get tangled. Even if the air flow forming device 9 is provided and the elastic yarn 5 is guided downward by the air flow, if the elastic yarn 5 is loosened and entangled with the surroundings, it becomes difficult to guide smoothly and the direction of the elastic yarn 5 is reversed. When it is fed to the yarn tension applying device 8, it becomes easy to cause troubles such as receiving resistance or being caught around.

  In the present embodiment, the discharge electrode 30 is attached to the support column 1a so as to face the path between the yarn tension applying device 8 and the airflow forming device 9. Even when the elastic yarn 5 is charged when the elastic yarn 5 is returned from the yarn tension applying device 8 toward the airflow forming device 9, static electricity is not in contact between the elastic yarn 5 and the discharge electrode 30. It is removed by corona discharge generated in Since the elastic yarn 5 is neutralized by the discharge electrode 30, it is difficult to cling to the surrounding metal portion and the like, and is difficult to get caught. When the elastic yarn 5 is returned to the yarn tension applying device 8 after the elastic yarn 5 is returned, the elastic yarn 5 can be smoothly supplied without any resistance or trouble.

  As shown in FIG. 2 as a configuration in the vicinity, the discharge electrode 30 is attached to the strut 1 a of the flat knitting machine 1 via an air cylinder 31. However, the configuration related to mounting is omitted. The discharge electrode 30 is electrically connected to the column 1a and the like, and is in a grounded state. Further, a voltage or the like can be applied so as to facilitate discharge. Since the discharge electrode 30 is independently provided at a position between the yarn tension applying device 8 and the air flow forming device 9, the electrical influence by the yarn tension applying device 8 and the air flow forming device 9 is suppressed, and the corona Self-discharge type static elimination by discharge can be performed stably. The discharge electrode 30 has a needle shape, and the tip is inclined downward with respect to the supply path of the elastic yarn 5 in the vertical direction rather than the transverse direction orthogonal thereto. For example, when the elastic yarn 5 is returned downward from the yarn tension applying device 8 by providing a downward inclination of several degrees to several tens of degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, It can be made difficult to get caught at the tip.

  2A shows a state in which the tip of the discharge electrode 30 is brought close to the supply path of the elastic yarn 5 with the air cylinder 31, and FIG. 2B shows the tip of the discharge electrode 30 with the elastic yarn 5 in the air cylinder 31. Each of the states retracted from the supply path is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the air cylinder 31 is supplied with a branch of compressed air sent from the on-off valve 18 to the air pipe 19. Therefore, when a downward air flow is formed by the air flow forming device 9, the air cylinder 31 is also switched so as to be in the state of FIG. In this state, the distance between the discharge electrode 30 and the supply path of the elastic yarn 5 approaches the distance Da that generates a corona discharge without contact. The interval Da is, for example, several mm. When the elastic yarn 5 is charged with static electricity, the air between the vicinity of the tip of the discharge electrode 30 and the elastic yarn 5 is ionized, and a small pulsed discharge is continuously generated over a relatively long time. appear. When the charged elastic yarn 5 leaves the supply path and tries to approach the column 1a, it approaches the tip of the discharge electrode 30 and corona discharge is likely to occur.

  In addition to the case where static elimination is performed by such corona discharge, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the distance between the discharge electrode 30 and the elastic yarn 5 is the interval at which corona discharge occurs, as much as the stroke of the air cylinder 31. It is switched to a retreat interval Db that is larger than Da. By such switching, the discharge electrode 30 can be retracted in other cases except when the elastic yarn 5 is returned from the yarn tension applying device 8. When the discharge electrode 30 is retracted, when the elastic yarn 5 is fed to the yarn tension applying device 8, even if the elastic yarn 5 swings out of the supply path, it does not get caught at the tip of the discharge electrode 30 and is unnecessary for feeding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of excessive resistance.

  In the above description, the discharge electrode 30 is provided between the lower air flow forming device 9 and the upper yarn tension applying device 8 so that the elastic yarn 5 faces the vertical supply path from the bottom to the top. However, even if the supply path is in another direction such as a horizontal direction, the charge removal can be performed in the same manner. As the discharge electrode 30, not only a needle-like electrode but also a brush-like conductive fiber used as a non-contact corona discharge type static eliminator can be used. Although the discharge electrode 30 is projected and retracted with respect to the elastic yarn 5 by the air cylinder 31, it can also be fixed. Although the air cylinder 31 is provided at the appearance of the discharge electrode 30, the discharge electrode 30 may be electrically shown up and down using a solenoid or the like. The discharge electrode 30 is provided independently between the yarn tension applying device 8 and the air flow forming device 9, but can be attached to either the yarn tension applying device 8 or the air flow forming device 9.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flat knitting machine 5 Elastic yarn 8 Yarn tension addition apparatus 9 Air flow formation apparatus 10 Control apparatus 30 Electrode for discharge 31 Air cylinder

Claims (4)

A yarn tension applying device that applies elastic yarn as a knitting yarn and adds a set yarn tension to the knitting needle while feeding or returning the yarn;
A discharge electrode that faces a path for supplying elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device and is provided with an interval that generates corona discharge with the elastic yarn during charging,
A flat knitting machine characterized by including. The discharge electrode is:
Needle-shaped,
The flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the tip is directed to a path for supplying the elastic yarn while being inclined in the return direction. In the path for supplying the elastic yarn to the yarn tension applying device, when the elastic yarn is returned from the yarn tension applying device, an air flow parallel to the elastic yarn is formed in the returning direction to guide the elastic yarn. A forming device is further provided,
The flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge electrode is provided between the yarn tension applying device and an air flow forming device. The discharge electrode is:
The interval between the elastic yarns can be switched between an interval at which the corona discharge occurs and a retreat interval larger than the interval.
Only when the elastic yarn is returned by the yarn tension applying device, the interval between the discharge electrode and the elastic yarn is changed to an interval for generating a corona discharge, and the others are switched to become a retracted interval. The flat knitting machine according to any one of 3 above.

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