JP4943932B2 - Knitting machine equipped with elastic yarn feeding function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a knitting machine having an elastic yarn supplying function capable of using an elastic yarn for knitting a knitted fabric.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in knitting machines for gloves and socks, elastic yarns having elastic characteristics called rubber yarns are used. The elastic yarn is used to give stretchability to the knitted fabric, and is used as a knitting yarn for knitting the knitted fabric itself or an insertion yarn inserted into the knitted fabric knitted with the knitting yarn. Materials that give elastic properties to the elastic yarn include polyurethane fibers and polyether / ester fibers. Since these elastic fibers become core fibers and the surface is covered with other fibers, the elastic yarn is also called a covered yarn or a core spun yarn.

  In a knitted fabric knitted using elastic yarn, the yarn tension during knitting is increased by applying tension in the opposite direction to the feed direction to the knitting machine, and the stitches after knitting shrink. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). By controlling the supply length and yarn tension of the elastic yarn, knitted fabrics having different textures can be knitted (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  The yarn tension of the knitting yarn during the knitting of the knitted fabric changes with time in the process of forming the stitch. In knitting a weft knitting structure with a flat knitting machine or a circular knitting machine, a knitting yarn is fed on a new knitting course to a knitting needle that locks a stitch loop formed on a preceding knitting course. When a new stitch loop is formed by drawing the knitting yarn fed by the knitting needle, the locked stitch loop is knocked over as an old loop. When knocking over, the amount of knitting yarn is maximized and the yarn tension is also maximized. In order to reduce the yarn tension at the time of knockover, a weft knitting method in which an air flow injection port is provided between a knitting yarn feed device and a knitting needle has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

In FIG. 2 of Patent Document 3, high-pressure air of about 100 to 500 kPa is blown from an angle inclined toward the inside of the yarn introduction tube through which the knitting yarn fed from the feeding device is inserted, and the knitting yarn is positively fed. The cross-sectional structure of the airflow injection port sent out to is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-130443 Table 2004-094712 JP 2002-348761 A

  In Patent Document 1, a rubber yarn feeding rotor of a rubber yarn supplying device for supplying elastic yarn is rotated to apply a reverse tension to the elastic yarn. When increasing the yarn tension, the length of the elastic yarn returned in the reverse direction increases. For example, when knitting the knitted fabric is repeated while gradually reducing the yarn tension, it is necessary to return the yarn tension reduced to the minimum tension to the maximum tension between the knitted fabrics. In order to increase productivity, it is necessary to increase the yarn tension from the minimum tension to the maximum tension in a short time.

  However, if the length of the elastic yarn to be returned increases suddenly, the elastic yarn may loosen and become entangled around the yarn feeding device or the like, and may not be able to smoothly feed the yarn when it is next fed forward. is there. Even if an air flow injection port as disclosed in Patent Document 3 is used for sending out the elastic yarn, the elastic yarn entangled in the supply path is simply pulled and supplied. is there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine having an elastic yarn supplying function capable of preventing an elastic yarn from slackening and being entangled with a yarn feeding device even when the elastic yarn is suddenly returned. .

The present invention is a knitting machine having a yarn feeding function of an elastic yarn that can be fed by changing the yarn tension using the elastic yarn as a knitting yarn,
A yarn tension applying device provided in a path for supplying elastic yarn from below to above, and capable of applying a yarn tension in a direction opposite to the supply direction for knitting to the elastic yarn;
An air flow forming device that is provided below the yarn tension applying device in a path for supplying the elastic yarn, and has a nozzle that can form an air flow in a downward direction in parallel with the elastic yarn;
A control device that controls the yarn tension applying device and the air flow forming device, and causes the air flow forming device to form an air flow downward when the yarn tension applying device increases the yarn tension in the opposite direction to the elastic yarn; ,
Including
The yarn tension applying device is
A feed roller on which the elastic yarn is wound, and the yarn tension in the reverse direction is applied to the elastic yarn by controlling the rotation by the control device;
A guide member having a guide hole for passing the elastic yarn supplied from below and guiding it to the feed roller;
Including
The air flow forming device is a knitting machine having an elastic yarn supplying function, wherein the air flow forming device is provided below the guide member at an interval .

In the present invention, the air flow forming device is
The passage through which the elastic yarn is inserted in the vertical direction includes a passage block formed as a groove opening on the route side,
The nozzle injects air downward from the upper part of the passage of the passage block in parallel with the elastic yarn .
It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, the passage formed as a groove in the passage block has a lower sectional area than the upper portion.

According to the present invention, a knitting machine capable of supplying elastic yarn can supply yarn by changing the yarn tension using the elastic yarn as a knitting yarn. When the yarn tension is applied by the yarn tension applying device provided in the path for supplying the elastic yarn from below to above, the elastic yarn is returned in the reverse direction from above to below. The air flow forming device provided below the yarn tension applying device in the path for supplying the elastic yarn has a nozzle that can form an air flow in a downward direction in parallel with the elastic yarn. The control device controls the yarn tension adding device and the air flow forming device, and when the yarn tension adding device increases the yarn tension in the opposite direction to the elastic yarn, the air flow forming device forms an air flow downward. Therefore, even if the elastic yarn is suddenly returned, the elastic yarn can be guided by the air flow so that the elastic yarn is not loosened and entangled with the yarn feeder.

Further, the thread tensioning device includes a guide member and the feed roller. The elastic yarn supplied from below is guided through the guide hole of the guide member to the feed roller which is wound with the elastic yarn and applies a yarn tension in the reverse direction to the elastic yarn by controlling the rotation by the control device. The When the yarn tension is rapidly increased, the elastic yarn is rapidly returned from the feed roller to the guide hole of the guide member. Since the air flow forming device is provided below the guide member with a space, if the elastic yarn is guided so as to return smoothly by the air flow, the elastic yarn returned from the feed roller will be guided to the guide hole of the guide member. Is passed back in the opposite direction and returned to the air flow forming device, and does not stay between the guide hole and the feed roller, and the elastic yarn can be prevented from being entangled with the feed roller and the like.

According to the invention, an air flow forming device having a nozzle includes a passage block. In the passage block, the passage through which the elastic yarn is inserted in the vertical direction is formed as a groove that opens to the path side, so that the elastic yarn can be easily passed through the opening of the groove from the upper and lower passage side through the opening. When air is injected into the passage from the nozzle, outside air is also introduced through the opening of the groove, so that the flow of the elastic yarn in the passage can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, the flow velocity of the air flow in the passage can be increased at the lower portion in parallel with the elastic yarn, and below the upper portion where the nozzle for injecting air downward is provided. Can be performed smoothly.

  FIG. 1 shows a simplified overall configuration of a knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn feeding function as an embodiment of the present invention. The relative orientation and size of each component may be changed for convenience of explanation. As a knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function, a flat knitting machine for knitting a knitted fabric while a carriage 3 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of a needle bed 2 will be described. However, regarding the supply of elastic yarn, the present invention can be similarly applied not only to flat knitting machines but also to weft knitting machines including circular knitting machines, and warp knitting machines.

  A large number of knitting needles are arranged in parallel on a needle bed 2 of a knitting machine 1 having a function of supplying elastic yarn, which is a flat knitting machine, and is driven by a cam mechanism mounted on a 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. A knitting machine 1 having a function of supplying elastic yarn 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. A rubber thread 5 which is an elastic thread is also supplied through one yarn feeder 4. Although the yarn other than the rubber yarn 5 is used as the knitting yarn, the illustration is omitted.

  When a knitting machine 1 having a function of supplying elastic yarn as a flat knitting machine is used for exclusive knitting of a knitted fabric product having a relatively small knitting width, such as gloves and socks, the length of the needle bed 2 is a general purpose. Shorter than flat knitting machines. In the knitting machine 1 having such a function of supplying elastic yarn, the knitting yarn is supplied from above to prevent a difference in the knitting yarn supply conditions in the traveling direction of the carriage 3. In order to supply the knitting yarn from above, the direction may be changed above the knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function. For example, in the rubber yarn 5, a rubber yarn cone 6 serving as a supply source is installed below the knitting machine 1. A long rubber thread is wound around the rubber thread cone 6 and stored.

  Above the knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function, a yarn breakage detection switch 7 is provided, and a pulley 7b is provided at the tip of the arm 7a to hang the rubber yarn 5. The rubber yarn 5 supplied from the rubber yarn cone 6 is once turned upward, turned back by the pulley 7b of the yarn breakage detection switch 7, and supplied to the lower yarn feeder 4. When the rubber thread 5 supplied from below by the pulley 7b is folded back to the lower yarn feeder 4, if the rubber thread 5 of the rubber thread cone 6 is used up, the tension of the rubber thread 5 is reduced and the arm 7a is interposed. The microswitch is switched ON / OFF, and is detected as thread breakage. Even when the rubber thread 5 is cut for some reason, the thread breakage detection switch 7 switches ON / OFF.

  The microswitch ON / OFF switching can be changed by a contact type such as a contact or b contact or a mechanical drive from the arm 7a. The thread breakage detection switch 7 is used in such a form that it is turned OFF when there is no thread breakage and the tension is higher than a certain level, and is turned ON when the tension is reduced to detect thread breakage. The microswitch includes a snap action mechanism that opens and closes contacts at high speed regardless of the operation speed, and the snap action mechanism operates when a certain load or more is applied. If the tension of the elastic yarn acts on such a snap action mechanism, the yarn breakage can be detected as whether or not a constant load is applied.

  A thread tension applying device 8 is provided in the supply path of the rubber thread 5 from the bottom to the top between the rubber thread cone 6 and the pulley 7b of the thread breakage detection switch 7. The yarn tension adding device 8 feeds the rubber yarn 5 to the upper yarn breakage detection switch 7 side, or returns it to the lower rubber yarn cone 6 side to increase the yarn tension. The thread tension can be adjusted.

  An air flow forming device 9 is provided in the supply path of the rubber yarn 5 between the rubber yarn cone 6 and the yarn tension applying device 8. A passage 9 a through which the rubber thread 5 is inserted vertically is provided in the air flow forming device 9. In the rubber thread 5 inserted through the passage 9a, air can be ejected from a nozzle 9b provided at the upper part of the air flow forming device 9 to form an air flow from above to below. By forming the air flow, even if the rubber yarn 5 is returned from the yarn tension applying device 8 at high speed, the rubber yarn 5 can be reliably guided downward to prevent entanglement. Since the passage 9a opens to the front side of the path of the rubber thread 5, the rubber thread 5 can be easily passed from the front side.

  A control device 10 is provided for overall control of the knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function. 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 an operator who operates the knitting machine 1 is input to the operation input unit 11. The display unit 12 displays an operation state of the knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function. The result of the operation input to the operation input unit 11 is input to the CPU 13. A signal from each part of the knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function such as the yarn breakage detection switch 7 is also input to the CPU 13. The CPU 13 can also perform control so that the tension setting operation of the rubber yarn 5 is automatically performed according to a program stored in the memory 14 in advance. The memory 14 also stores in advance a control program related to a response to an operation input to the operation input unit 11 and a display on the display unit 12.

  In a knitting machine 1 having an elastic yarn supplying function for knitting gloves and socks as a knitted fabric product, needle selection on the needle bed 2 is mechanically performed by a needle selection drum or the like. Further, a cutter for cutting the knitting yarn or the rubber yarn 5, a looper for holding the tip, and the like are also provided. These controls during knitting are performed by the CPU 13 via the knitting drive unit 15. Further, the control of the yarn tension applying device 8 is performed by the CPU 13 via the yarn feeding drive unit 16. In the memory 14, for example, the amount of the rubber yarn 5 to be sent out for each stroke of the carriage 3 is 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 blowing from the nozzle 9 b of the air flow control device 9 with respect to the air supplied from the opening / closing valve 18 through the air pipe 19.

  In the knitting machine 1 having the elastic yarn supplying function configured as described above, after the operator sets the knitting yarn and the rubber yarn 5, the knitted fabric product can be automatically and knitted sequentially. Although the automatic knitting of the knitted fabric product has been conventionally performed, in the knitting machine 1 having the elastic yarn feeding function of the present embodiment, the initial tension of the rubber yarn 5 in units of garment of the knitted fabric product. Settings can also be made automatically. In particular, when the control device 10 performs control such that the tension of the rubber yarn 5 is decreased and then rapidly increased by the yarn tension adding device 8, an air flow is also formed by the air flow forming device 9. The on-off valve 18 is opened to inject air from the nozzle 9b toward the passage 9a. The air jetted from the nozzle 9b is directed downward, and is accelerated when the cross-sectional area of the passage 9a is reduced, so that the elastic yarn 5 can be guided downward.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the yarn tension applying device 8 as viewed from the front side as the yarn tension applying device 8. In the yarn tension applying device 8, the feed roller 20 is attached to the output shaft of the motor and rotationally driven, and the feed amount can be adjusted by the angular displacement of the rotation. The motor that rotationally drives the feed roller 20 can also switch the rotation direction. The rubber thread 5 is sent out when the rotation direction is switched to one side, and the rubber thread 5 is returned when the rotation direction is switched to the other side. The rubber thread 5 is sandwiched between the feed roller 20 and the pressing roller 21 so that the rubber thread 5 reliably contacts the surface of the feed roller 20. The pressing roller 21 is urged by a spring so as to be pressed against the surface of the feed roller 20 that feeds the rubber yarn 5. A guide member 22 is provided in a path for guiding the rubber yarn 5 from the air flow forming device 9 to the feed roller 20. The rubber thread 5 passes through the guide hole 22 a of the guide member 22 and is supplied to the feed roller 20.

  When the rubber thread 5 is returned to the rubber thread cone 6 side by the rotation of the feed roller 20 toward the other side, the rubber thread 5 is loosened. Therefore, the rubber thread 5 accumulates around the guide hole 22a and is fed again when it is fed again. There is also a risk of entanglement with 20 or the like. Even if the rubber yarn 5 does not accumulate, there is a possibility that it will get entangled with the feed roller 20 due to static electricity. As an entanglement preventing mechanism for preventing the entanglement of the rubber yarn 5, the air flow forming device 9 provided below the yarn tension applying device 8 functions effectively.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the air flow forming device 9. (A) is the state seen from the front side as the airflow formation device 9, (b) is the state seen from the right side with a part cut away, (c) shows the state seen from the upper side. The passage 9 a is formed in the passage block 30. As shown in (a), the length of the passage 9a in the vertical direction is constant, and as shown in (b), the width of the passage 9a is large at the top and small at the bottom. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the passage 9a is large at the top and small at the bottom. The nozzle 9b is provided in the upper part of the passage 9a. In the air flow forming device 9 shown in FIG. 1, the passage 9a is formed in the passage block 30 as a groove having an opening 30a on the surface side. The passage block 30 is arranged so that the opening 30a faces the front side of the path for supplying the rubber thread 5 from the lower rubber thread cone 6 to the upper thread tension applying device 8 in FIG. Since the rubber thread 5 can be introduced into the passage 9a from the surface side of the passage 9a of the passage block 30 through the opening 30a, setting and replacement can be easily performed.

  An air pipe 19 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the nozzle 9b through a joint 31. Compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 9b in parallel with the elastic yarn 5 inserted vertically in the passage 9a. Due to the generated air flow, the inside of the passage 9 a becomes negative pressure, and outside air is also introduced through the opening 30 a of the passage block 30. Also by the flow of outside air introduced through the opening 30a, the rubber yarn 5 tends to stay in the passage 9a, and the flow of the rubber yarn 5 in the passage 9a can be improved. In this way, if the nozzle 9b is provided and air or the like is blown out along the rubber yarn 5 returned from the yarn tension applying device 8 to the rubber yarn cone 6 side, the rubber yarn 5 is returned at a high speed as shown in FIG. In the yarn tension applying device 8, the rubber yarn 5 can be reliably guided to the guide hole 22a of the guide member 22, and accumulation around the guide hole 22a can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the whole structure of the knitting machine 1 provided with the yarn supplying function of the elastic yarn as one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the yarn tension | tensile_strength addition apparatus 8 of FIG. It is the front view which shows schematic structure of the airflow formation apparatus 9 of FIG. 1, the right view which cut off a part, and a top view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Knitting machine provided with elastic yarn feeding function 5 Rubber yarn 8 Yarn tension adding device 9 Air flow forming device 9a Passage 9b Nozzle 10 Control device 18 Opening / closing valve 20 Feed roller 22 Guide member 30 Passage block 30a Opening

Claims (3)

A knitting machine having an elastic yarn feeding function capable of changing the yarn tension and feeding the elastic yarn as a knitting yarn,
A yarn tension applying device provided in a path for supplying elastic yarn from below to above, and capable of applying a yarn tension in a direction opposite to the supply direction for knitting to the elastic yarn;
An air flow forming device that is provided below the yarn tension applying device in a path for supplying the elastic yarn, and has a nozzle that can form an air flow in a downward direction in parallel with the elastic yarn;
A control device that controls the yarn tension applying device and the air flow forming device, and causes the air flow forming device to form an air flow downward when the yarn tension applying device increases the yarn tension in the opposite direction to the elastic yarn; ,
Including
The yarn tension applying device is
A feed roller on which the elastic yarn is wound, and the yarn tension in the reverse direction is applied to the elastic yarn by controlling the rotation by the control device;
A guide member having a guide hole for passing the elastic yarn supplied from below and guiding it to the feed roller;
Including
The knitting machine having an elastic yarn supplying function, wherein the air flow forming device is provided below the guide member at an interval . The air flow forming device includes:
The passage through which the elastic yarn is inserted in the vertical direction includes a passage block formed as a groove opening on the route side ,
The nozzle injects air downward from the upper part of the passage of the passage block in parallel with the elastic yarn .
The knitting machine having a yarn feeding function of an elastic yarn according to claim 1 . The knitting machine having a yarn feeding function for an elastic yarn according to claim 2, wherein a passage formed as a groove in the passage block has a lower sectional area than an upper portion.

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