JP5963393B2 - Flat knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat knitting machine capable of calculating and supplying the length of a knitting yarn necessary for knitting a knitted fabric based on knitting data of the knitted fabric.

  Conventionally, in flat knitting machines, it has been desired to stabilize the stitch loop length of the knitted fabric to be knitted to achieve uniform product. For example, such a request may be performed by correcting the stitches so that the knitted fabric is knitted without excess or deficiency with the calculated length of knitting yarn, while calculating and supplying the length of the knitting yarn necessary for knitting. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the flat knitting machine 1 disclosed in FIG. However, the reference numerals are changed for convenience of explanation. The flat knitting machine 1 supplies the knitting yarn 4 from a yarn supplying port 3a of a yarn supplying member 3 such as a yarn feeder to a knitting needle (not shown) in order to knit the knitted fabric 2. The side cover 5 of the flat knitting machine 1 is provided with a yarn supplying device 6 for supplying the knitting yarn 4 to the yarn supplying member 3. A buffer arm 7 is provided in a path through which the knitting yarn 4 is supplied from the yarn supplying device 6. The buffer arm 7 is capable of swinging and displacing a hook-like portion up to the distal end side 9 with the proximal end side 8 as a fulcrum.

  The yarn feeding device 6 feeds the knitting yarn 4 to the buffer arm 7 side or pulls the knitting yarn 4 back from the buffer arm 7 side while sandwiching the knitting yarn 4 between the main roller 10 and the slave roller 11. Can do. The main roller 10 is attached to the rotating shaft of the servo motor 12. The slave roller 11 is driven by a servo motor 12 via a driven mechanism 13 formed by a combination of a plurality of gears. The cone 14 for supplying the knitting yarn 4 is installed above the frame of the flat knitting machine 1. The knitting yarn 4 taken out from the cone 14 is guided between the main roller 10 and the sub roller 11 of the yarn supplying device 6 through the relay roller 15.

  The buffer arm 7 is urged in a direction in which the distal end side 9 moves away from the side cover 5 by a torque spring 16 provided on the proximal end side 8. When the knitting yarn 4 is passed through the distal end side 9 of the buffer arm 7, the buffer arm 7 is inclined at an angle where the urging force and the tension of the knitting yarn 4 are balanced. The buffer arm 7 has a buffer function for retracting and storing the knitting yarn 4 or sending the knitting yarn 4 by increasing or decreasing the inclination angle. Thus, since the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 is related to the length in which the knitting yarn 4 is stored, the inclination angle sensor 17 for detecting this inclination angle is provided.

  In the flat knitting machine 1, a needle bed 18 for knitting the knitted fabric 2 is provided in a straight line. The needle bed 18 is provided with a large number of knitting needles that are slidably displaced perpendicularly to the linear direction. The knitting needle is selectively driven by a knitting cam mounted on a carriage 19 that reciprocates along the needle bed 18. When the knitting needle advances and retreats to the mouth formed on one side of the needle bed 18 and advances to the tooth mouth, the knitting yarn 4 supplied from the yarn feeding port 3a of the yarn feeding member 3 accompanied by the carriage 19 is transferred to the needle bed 18. When pulled in, a stitch loop is formed. The knitting operation by the flat knitting machine 1 is controlled by the knitting controller 20. The knitting controller 20 controls the carriage 19 and the knitting cam according to the knitting data created in advance to knitting the knitted fabric. The yarn feed controller 21 calculates the length of the knitting yarn 4 supplied from the yarn feeding device 6 based on the knitting data for the knitted fabric to be knitted. When the knitted fabric for one course is knitted, the total loop length of the stitches constituting one course is the theoretical knitting yarn length. The knitting controller 20 corrects the stitches so as to be knitted into the knitted fabric without excess or deficiency while supplying a knitting yarn having a theoretical length. In the second correction, the pull-in amount when the knitting cam pulls the knitting needle into the needle bed 18 is corrected. By using both the supply of the knitting yarn 4 and the stitch correction in the necessary yarn feeding mode, a high-quality knitted fabric with a uniform loop length of the stitch can be obtained.

FIG. 6 shows a partial configuration including the yarn feeding device 6 and the buffer arm 7 of FIG. The buffer function by the buffer arm 7 is exhibited when the inclination angle is within a certain range. For example, if the tension of the knitting yarn 4 becomes too large, the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 remains near the lower limit. If the tension of the knitting yarn 4 becomes too small, the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 remains near the upper limit. The tension of the knitting yarn 4 also has a great influence on the size of the stitch loop formed by drawing the knitting yarn 4 by the knitting needle. Therefore, even in the arm angle constant mode in which the supply state of the knitting yarn 4 is controlled so that the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 is kept constant, the loop length of the stitch can be made uniform in combination with stitch correction. Expected (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent No. 40106030 Japanese Patent No. 3606031

  The supply of the knitting yarn 4 in the constant arm angle mode cannot be performed so as to keep the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 completely constant. The length at which the knitting yarn 4 is knitted when the knitted fabric 2 is knitted increases rapidly when the knitting needle is pulled in under the action of the mountain cam. It is difficult to instantaneously supply this sudden increase from the yarn supplying device 6, and the knitting yarn 4 stored in the buffer arm 7 is supplied. The knitting yarn 4 is supplied from the yarn supplying device 6 to the buffer arm 7 until the next knitting needle is drawn. Therefore, even when the knitting yarn 4 is supplied in the arm angle constant mode, the change in the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 must be allowed.

  In the flat knitting machine 1 as shown in FIG. 5, since the yarn supplying device 6 is provided on one side of the needle bed 18, the tension of the knitting yarn 4 is also related to the traveling direction of the carriage 19. The tension of the knitting yarn 4 also varies depending on whether or not the range in which the carriage 19 entrains the yarn supplying member 3 is within the knitting width of the knitted fabric 2. Accordingly, the supply of the knitting yarn 4 in the constant arm angle mode is performed only within a range in which the knitting yarn 4 is supplied to the inside of the knitting width, excluding a portion having a length of about several tens to 100 mm at the end.

  In the necessary yarn feed mode, the length of the necessary knitting yarn 4 can be calculated over the entire knitting width of the knitted fabric 2, and the stitch correction can be performed. Therefore, it is expected that the required yarn feed mode has a smaller error in the supply length of the knitting yarn 4 than the constant arm angle mode.

  In order to control the supply state of the knitting yarn, one course or a plurality of courses is determined in advance as a knitting cycle. When the supply length of the knitting yarn in one knitting cycle is increased, even a small error is accumulated, and the change range of the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 may approach the upper limit or the lower limit. The buffer arm 7 is used in the range of 10 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, with the lower limit being 0 degrees and the upper limit being 100 degrees, for example. The range below 10 degrees is close to the lower limit, and the range above 90 is close to the upper limit. Therefore, there is a possibility that the lower limit and the upper limit are easily reached by mechanical inertia. When the buffer arm 7 reaches the lower limit or the upper limit, the tension of the knitting yarn 4 rapidly increases or decreases, so that the stitch loop length also varies. For this reason, highly accurate stitch adjustment in the necessary yarn feed mode is impossible, and if stitch correction is performed, the stitch loop length may be greatly disturbed.

  Therefore, when the knitting yarn 4 is supplied in the necessary yarn feed mode in a certain knitting course, the relief process is performed when the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 deviates from the use range. In the relief process, the necessary yarn feeding mode is switched to the constant arm angle mode, and the remaining knitting of the knitting course is performed. In such a relief process with mode switching, since the supply length of the knitting yarn for the constant arm angle mode is not measured, the correction is not performed, so the accuracy of the supply length of the knitting yarn 4 is maintained. I can't.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a flat knitting machine capable of maintaining the accuracy with respect to the supply length of a knitting yarn even if relief processing is performed during the supply of the knitting yarn in the necessary yarn feed mode.

The present invention provides a yarn supplying means capable of supplying a knitting yarn to a knitting needle that operates to knit a knitted fabric, and capable of controlling a supply state;
Based on the knitting data of the knitted fabric, the length of the knitting yarn necessary for knitting the knitted fabric is calculated for each predetermined knitting cycle, and the knitting yarn having a length corresponding to the calculation result is supplied by the supply state of the yarn supplying means. Control means for controlling to be in the necessary yarn feed mode;
Measuring means for measuring the length of the knitting yarn supplied from the yarn supplying means between the initial stage and the end of each knitting cycle;
A correction unit that compares the length of the knitting yarn measured by the measurement unit with the length of the knitting yarn according to the calculation result of the control unit, and performs a correction on the basis of the comparison result;
A buffer means that is provided in a supply path of a knitting yarn from the yarn supplying means and is capable of temporarily storing the knitting yarn with a state change corresponding to the tension within a predetermined length range;
Including flat knitting machines,
The control means monitors the buffer means for each knitting cycle, and when the state change exceeds a predetermined range in the middle of the knitting cycle, the supply state of the knitting yarn from the yarn supplying means in the remaining period of the knitting cycle Is switched to a buffer condition mode for controlling the state change in the buffer means to satisfy a predetermined condition,
The measuring means is capable of measuring the length of the knitting yarn between the initial stage and the final stage in accordance with the control at both the necessary yarn feeding mode and the buffer condition mode for each knitting cycle,
When the control means switches the supply state of the yarn supplying means from the necessary yarn feed mode to the buffer condition mode in the middle of the knitting cycle, the correcting means is measured between the initial stage and the end of the buffer condition mode in the knitting period. The flat knitting machine is characterized in that the stitch length is corrected by comparing the length of the knitting yarn with the length of the knitting yarn according to the calculation result of the control means.

In the present invention, the measuring means may be
In the necessary yarn feed mode, the initial and final measurements are performed so as to include a start part and an end part of the knitting cycle,
In the buffer condition mode, the initial measurement and the final measurement are respectively performed so as to exclude a start portion and an end portion of the knitting cycle.

  In the present invention, the knitting cycles of the necessary yarn feed mode and the buffer condition mode correspond to the same course for knitting the knitted fabric.

In the present invention, the knitting cycle in the necessary yarn feeding mode corresponds to a course for knitting the knitted fabric,
The knitting cycle in the buffer condition mode includes a knitting cycle in a continuous necessary yarn feed mode.

  According to the present invention, the control means calculates the length of the knitting yarn necessary for knitting the knitted fabric for each predetermined knitting cycle based on the knitting data of the knitted fabric, and the supply state of the yarn supplying means is the calculation result. The yarn supplying means is controlled so as to be in a necessary yarn feeding mode for supplying a knitting yarn having a length corresponding to the above. The measuring means measures the length of the knitting yarn between the initial stage and the final stage in accordance with the control in both the necessary yarn feed mode and the buffer condition mode for each knitting cycle. The control means monitors the buffer means for each knitting cycle, and when the state change exceeds a predetermined range in the middle of the knitting cycle, the supply state of the knitting yarn from the yarn supplying means in the remaining period of the knitting cycle Is switched to a buffer condition mode in which the state change in the buffer means is controlled so as to satisfy a predetermined condition. When the control means switches the supply state of the yarn supplying means from the necessary yarn feed mode to the buffer condition mode in the middle of the knitting cycle, the correcting means is measured between the initial stage and the end of the buffer condition mode in the knitting period. The stitch length is corrected by comparing the length of the knitting yarn with the length of the knitting yarn according to the calculation result of the control means. Therefore, even if the relief process is performed during the supply of the knitting yarn in the necessary yarn feed mode, the accuracy of the knitting yarn supply length can be maintained by the correction.

  Further, according to the present invention, the length of the knitting yarn can be measured at an appropriate timing even when the relief process is performed during the necessary yarn feeding mode and the buffer condition mode is switched.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a relief process for switching from the necessary yarn feeding mode to the buffer condition mode for each identical course for knitting the knitted fabric.

  Further, according to the present invention, the knitting cycle in the buffer condition mode includes the knitting cycle in the continuous necessary yarn feed mode. Therefore, even if the knitting width of the knitted fabric is relatively small, the accuracy of the stitch correction in the buffer condition mode Can keep.

3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a flat knitting machine 31 as one embodiment of the present invention, and a timing chart showing a measurement timing of a length for supplying the knitting yarn 4. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing an outline of an operation for supplying the knitting yarn 4 in a necessary yarn feed mode for each course in the flat knitting machine 31 of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing a yarn feeding procedure in which the flat knitting machine 31 of FIG. 1 is accompanied by a mode change as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an operation for making a range of a constant arm angle mode to be switched when performing a repair process different from a necessary yarn feed mode as another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the flat knitting machine 1 by a prior art. It is a front view which shows the partial structure containing the yarn feeder 6 and the buffer arm 7 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Knitted fabric 3 Yarn feeding member 4 Knitting yarn 6 Yarn feeding device 7 Buffer arm 17 Inclination angle sensor 21 Yarn feeding controller 31 Weft knitting machine 32 Encoder 33 Knitting controller

  FIG. 1A shows a schematic configuration of a flat knitting machine 31 as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a measurement timing of a length at which the knitting yarn 4 is supplied. In the flat knitting machine 31, parts corresponding to the flat knitting machine 1 shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, in the flat knitting machine 31, for example, the rotation angle of the main roller 10 of the yarn feeding device 6 as a yarn feeding means is detected by an encoder 32 as a measuring means. As in the case of the flat knitting machine 1 in FIG. 5, the flat knitting machine 31 makes the arm angle constant as a relief process when the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 as the buffer means approaches the lower limit or the upper limit in the middle of the necessary yarn feeding mode. Switch to mode. However, the knitting controller 33 as correction means performs the second correction even in the relief process.

  The length of the knitting yarn 4 fed from the main roller 10 and the slave roller 11 toward the buffer arm 7 can be calculated based on the difference in the rotation angle detected by the encoder 32. As described above, the buffer arm 7 has a buffer function of temporarily storing the knitting yarn 4 or sending the stored knitting yarn 4 to the yarn supplying member 3 side by changing the inclination angle. In the vicinity of the end of the knitting width of the knitted fabric 2, the variation in the supply amount of the knitting yarn 4 and the variation in the tension are large, so that the variation in the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 also increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the measurement timing by the encoder 32 for the knitting controller 33 to perform the stitch correction in the buffer arm constant mode is made to correspond to the inside of the knitting width. As described above, the supply of the knitting yarn 4 in the constant arm angle mode is performed only within a range in which the knitting yarn 4 is supplied to the inside of the knitting width, excluding a portion having a length of about several tens to 100 mm at the end. Because.

  In the flat knitting machine 31, the buffer function of the buffer arm 7 is used to temporarily store and feed the knitting yarn 4, but the buffer function can be realized by other configurations. For example, if the knitting yarn 4 is hung by its own weight between two rollers or is lowered by another roller, the buffer function can be realized by increasing or decreasing the amount of sag or the amount of sag. In addition, the buffer function can be realized in an active manner such as winding or rewinding on a roller or the like. However, in any buffer function, the length of the knitting yarn 4 that can be temporarily stored is limited. Further, the length of the knitting yarn 4 to be supplied is limited to the length of the stored knitting yarn 4. Therefore, even in other configurations, it is necessary to operate in the buffer condition mode in which the buffer function can be sufficiently exhibited in response to the arm angle constant mode of the buffer arm 7.

  Similarly, the configurations of the yarn feeding device 6, the encoder 32, the knitting controller 33, and the like can be realized by other configurations having equivalent functions. The arrangement of the measuring means such as the encoder 32 may be any one of the supply paths of the knitting yarn 4 from the yarn supplying device 6 to the yarn supplying member 3.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the operation of supplying the knitting yarn 4 in the necessary yarn feed mode for each course in the flat knitting machine 31 of FIG. FIG. 2A shows an outline of an operation for performing stitch correction while supplying the knitting yarn 4 in either the necessary yarn feed mode or the constant arm angle mode. For comparison, FIG. 2B shows an outline of an operation for switching to the constant arm angle mode as a relief process in the middle of the necessary yarn feeding mode by the flat knitting machine 1 of FIG. FIG. 2C shows an outline of an operation for switching to the constant arm angle mode as a relief process in the middle of the necessary yarn feeding mode by the flat knitting machine 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotation angle is detected in parallel by the encoder 32 necessary for the operations in the necessary yarn feeding mode and the constant arm angle mode. The necessary yarn feed mode and the constant arm angle mode can be switched at the start of the course, but normally, the necessary yarn feed mode in which the stitch correction is highly accurate is selected. If the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 is less than a predetermined range exceeding 10 degrees or exceeding 90 degrees during the thread feeding in the necessary thread feeding mode, an error occurs and a relief process is performed. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), in the conventional flat knitting machine 1, the supply of the knitting yarn 4 is only switched to the constant arm angle mode as the relief process, and no correction is performed. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), in the flat knitting machine 31, even if the arm angle constant mode is switched to the relief process, the encoder 32 detects the rotation angle at the beginning of the course and performs the initial measurement. If the final measurement is performed at the end of the course, the second correction based on the difference between the final measurement value and the initial measurement value can be performed.

  FIG. 3 shows a yarn feeding procedure in which the flat knitting machine 31 is accompanied by mode switching as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the knitting cycle for controlling the supply state of the knitting yarn is set as one course, and the length of the knitting yarn 4 required in the course for each course of knitting the knitted fabric 2 is supplied as control means. The yarn controller 21 calculates it. In step s1, the knitting controller 33 stores the initial value of the tilt angle of the buffer arm 7 indicated by the tilt angle sensor 17. In step s2, the knitting controller 33 detects the rotation angle with the encoder 32 and stores it as an initial value in the necessary yarn feed mode. From step s3, the yarn feeding controller 21 controls the yarn feeding device 6 to start feeding the knitting yarn 4 in the necessary yarn feeding mode.

  When the timing for measuring the initial value of the constant arm angle mode is reached in step s4 during the necessary yarn feed mode, the rotation angle of the encoder 32 is stored. In step s5, the knitting controller 33 determines whether the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 indicated by the inclination angle sensor 17 is out of the predetermined range and the relief process is necessary. If relief processing is not necessary, steps s5 and s6 are repeated until it is determined in step s6 that the course has ended. If it is determined in step s6 that the course has ended, the knitting controller 33 stores the rotation angle of the encoder 32 as the final value in the necessary yarn feed mode in step s7. The knitting controller 33 also stores the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 indicated by the inclination angle sensor 17 in step s8.

  If it is determined in step s5 that relief processing is necessary, the mode is switched from step s9 to the constant arm angle mode. The yarn feeding controller 21 controls the yarn feeding device 6 so that the inclination angle of the buffer arm 7 is within the angle range in the constant arm angle mode. When the end of the constant arm angle mode is reached, the knitting controller 33 stores the rotation angle of the encoder 32 as the end value. When step s8 or step s9 is completed, the stitch correction controller 33 controls the stitch correction in step s10, and the procedure for one course is completed.

  The second correction is performed corresponding to the necessary thread feeding mode or the constant arm angle mode, respectively, according to the determination regarding the relief processing in step s5. For the necessary yarn feed mode, the difference between the inclination angles of the buffer arm 7 detected by the inclination angle sensor 17 in steps s1 and s8, and the initial value and the end of the rotation angle detected by the encoder 32 in steps s2 and s7. Based on the value difference, the length of the supplied knitting yarn 4 is calculated. For the constant arm angle mode, based on the difference between the initial value of the rotation angle detected by the encoder 32 in step s4 and the final value of the rotation angle detected by the encoder 32 in step s9, the supplied knitting yarn 4 Calculate the length. The stitch correction is based on the knitting data and the theoretical value of the stitch loop length at the entire course for the required yarn feed mode and the middle portion of the knitting width for the constant arm angle mode. The difference from the supply length of 4 is reduced.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, the range of the constant arm angle mode that is switched when the relief process is performed when the tilt angle of the buffer arm is outside the predetermined range in the necessary yarn feeding mode. It shows the operation to be different. Such an operation is effective when the knitting width of the knitted fabric 2 to be knitted becomes relatively small and the error is increased when the second correction is performed only in the middle except for the vicinity of the end of the knitting width. For example, in the necessary yarn feed mode, the knitting cycle for controlling the supply state of the knitting yarn is corrected by setting the second course corresponding to the reciprocation of the carriage 19 as one round, whereas the constant arm angle mode is performed in three modes. The course will be corrected once every round. In the second correction, the supply length of the knitting yarn 4 is calculated using the initial value and the final value of each mode. For this reason, the initial value and the end value for the necessary yarn feed mode are detected every two courses, and at the same time, the initial value and the end value for the constant arm angle mode are detected every three courses.

  If an error occurs in b of courses a and b in one round in the necessary yarn feeding mode, the remaining section of course b is shifted to the arm angle constant mode by the relief process. The supply of the knitting yarn 4 is returned to the necessary yarn feeding mode in the course c. Therefore, although the knitting yarn 4 is supplied in the constant arm angle mode only from the middle of the course b, the stitch correction is performed through the courses a, b, and c corresponding to the constant arm angle mode.

Claims (4)

Yarn supplying means capable of supplying a knitting yarn to a knitting needle that operates to knit the knitted fabric and controlling the supply state;
Based on the knitting data of the knitted fabric, the length of the knitting yarn necessary for knitting the knitted fabric is calculated for each predetermined knitting cycle, and the knitting yarn having a length corresponding to the calculation result is supplied by the supply state of the yarn supplying means. Control means for controlling to be in the necessary yarn feed mode;
Measuring means for measuring the length of the knitting yarn supplied from the yarn supplying means between the initial stage and the end of each knitting cycle;
A correction unit that compares the length of the knitting yarn measured by the measurement unit with the length of the knitting yarn according to the calculation result of the control unit, and performs a correction on the basis of the comparison result;
A buffer means that is provided in a supply path of a knitting yarn from the yarn supplying means and is capable of temporarily storing the knitting yarn with a state change corresponding to the tension within a predetermined length range;
Including flat knitting machines,
The control means monitors the buffer means for each knitting cycle, and when the state change exceeds a predetermined range in the middle of the knitting cycle, the supply state of the knitting yarn from the yarn supplying means in the remaining period of the knitting cycle Is switched to a buffer condition mode for controlling the state change in the buffer means to satisfy a predetermined condition,
The measuring means is capable of measuring the length of the knitting yarn between the initial stage and the final stage in accordance with the control at both the necessary yarn feeding mode and the buffer condition mode for each knitting cycle,
When the control means switches the supply state of the yarn supplying means from the necessary yarn feed mode to the buffer condition mode in the middle of the knitting cycle, the correcting means is measured between the initial stage and the end of the buffer condition mode in the knitting period. A flat knitting machine characterized in that the stitch length is corrected by comparing the length of the knitting yarn with the length of the knitting yarn according to the calculation result of the control means. The measuring means includes
In the necessary yarn feed mode, the initial and final measurements are performed so as to include a start part and an end part of the knitting cycle,
2. The flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein in the buffer condition mode, the initial measurement and the final measurement are performed so as to exclude a start portion and an end portion of the knitting cycle.   The flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the knitting cycles of the necessary yarn feeding mode and the buffer condition mode correspond to the same course for knitting the knitted fabric. The knitting cycle of the necessary yarn feeding mode corresponds to the course of knitting the knitted fabric,
The flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the knitting cycle in the buffer condition mode includes a knitting cycle in a continuous necessary yarn feeding mode.

Images