JPH0342065Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention uses a laminated piezoelectric element that is incorporated into a circular knitting machine such as an electronic pattern circular knitting machine or a sock knitting machine. This invention relates to an incorporated piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines.

(Prior Art) A needle selection device for a knitting machine, which has already been proposed and is incorporated into a circular knitting machine such as an electronic patterning circular knitting machine or a sock knitting machine, is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. (Utility Model Application No. 63-167187).

That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a large number of vertical grooves 2 are formed in the axial direction on the outer periphery of a knitting machine cylinder 1 rotatably provided on a base of a circular knitting machine. Each vertical groove 2 has a butt 3.
A jack 3 having a shape is slidably fitted to move the knitting needle (not shown) up and down.
Further, a box-shaped support frame 4 is fixed to the base (machine frame main body) near the knitting machine cylinder 1 with respective mounting bolts 5.
As shown in FIG. 8, the back plate 6 is provided with a pair of flat plate-shaped piezoelectric elements 7 and 8 that are cantilevered and horizontal to the axis of the knitting machine cylinder 1. Moreover, they are provided in parallel toward the axial direction of the knitting machine cylinder 1. Furthermore, each free end of each of the piezoelectric elements 7, 8 forms a pair of upper and lower clamping parts 7a, 8a having an arc shape, and these pair of upper and lower clamping parts 7a, 8a are connected to a plurality of needle selection levers. One end 9a of 9 is held between the top and bottom.

That is, a plurality of needle selection levers 9 are pivotally mounted to the support frame 4 in the vicinity of the jack 3 having each of the butts 3a so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with a pin shaft 10. One end 9a of 9 is held between the above-mentioned holding parts 7a and 8a from above and below,
A selection finger 9b made of a hard material such as cemented carbide or fine ceramics is attached to the other end of the needle selection lever 9 so as to selectively push each butt 3a of the jack 3. has been done. Furthermore, a pair of upper and lower stoppers 11a and 11b are provided on the support frame 4 near the holding portions of the piezoelectric elements 7 and 8.
is formed so as to restrict the range of vertical movement of each free end.

Therefore, the needle selection device for a knitting machine using the piezoelectric elements 7 and 8 described above is installed on the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder 1 while the knitting machine cylinder 1 rotates at high speed when the circular knitting machine is operated. A number of jacks 3 also rotate.

On the other hand, by applying a pulse signal to each of the piezoelectric elements 7 and 8 based on a patterning signal inputted in advance to a patterning control device (not shown) of the circular knitting machine, one piezoelectric element The piezoelectric element 7 alternately expands and contracts in response to an electric signal at the resonant frequency of the positive electrode + to produce flexural vibrations in the vertical direction, and the other piezoelectric element 8 alternately expands and contracts in response to an electric signal at the resonant frequency of the negative electrode to generate flexural vibrations up and down. Since the gripping portions 7a and 8a swing the needle selection lever 9 upward and downward around the pin shaft 10, the selection finger 9b of the needle selection lever 9 moves toward the jack. By selectively pushing each of the butts 3a of 3, knitting needles (not shown) are slid in the vertical direction, thereby creating a pattern in the stockinette knitting.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, since the above-mentioned needle selection device for a knitting machine is composed of extremely thin plate-shaped piezoelectric elements 7 and 8, it is susceptible to operating stress over a long period of time. It is difficult to withstand, and there is a risk of breakage or breakage due to long-term use due to vibration.In addition, the amount of displacement to move the butt from the selected position to the non-selected position cannot be obtained, and furthermore, the selected position and the non-selected position cannot be moved. It lacks the holding force with the selected position, making it impossible to obtain an effective and appropriate high speed, resulting in unstable operation (chattering operation), causing "pattern pattern irregularity phenomenon" and making it difficult to improve quality. .

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it skillfully converts the electrical energy of each laminated piezoelectric element into mechanical energy to enable high-speed operation of each of the laminated piezoelectric elements. It should be sufficiently durable so that there is no risk of breakage or breakage, and the amount of displacement to move the butt from the selected position to the non-selected position should be sufficient to ensure high-speed, stable and reliable operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine, which prevents irregular patterns in pattern placement and improves quality.

[Structure of the idea]

(Means and effects for solving the problem) In the present invention, a large number of vertical grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder, and each jack is slidably fitted into each of the vertical grooves so as to move the knitting needles up and down. In a circular knitting machine in which the respective jacks are selectively pushed by needle selection levers provided near the knitting machine cylinder, a support frame is provided on a base near the knitting machine cylinder; At least a pair of upper and lower holders are provided on a part of the support frame horizontally in the direction of the axis of the knitting machine cylinder in a cantilevered manner, and each magnet member is attached to each tip of the holder to the needle selection lever. Each laminated piezoelectric element is mounted in each of the holders, and each actuator is attached to each tip of each laminated piezoelectric element by loosely penetrating each of the above magnet members and moving forward. The tip of each laminated piezoelectric element can be slightly protruded by attaching the needle selection lever in such a way as to be pushed in an alternating manner, and applying a pulse voltage alternately to each of the laminated piezoelectric elements. By selectively pushing the needle selection lever with each actuator attached to the needle, it is possible to sufficiently withstand high-speed operation and prevent the risk of breakage or breakage. The amount of displacement for moving from the to the non-selected position is also sufficient to ensure high-speed, stable and reliable movement, to prevent irregularities in pattern development over a long period of time, and to improve quality. .

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to an illustrated example.

It should be noted that the present invention will be described with the same reference numerals attached to the same constituent members as those of the above-described embodiment.

That is, in FIGS. 1 to 5, the code 1 is
This knitting machine cylinder is rotatably provided on the base of a circular knitting machine. On the outer periphery of this knitting machine cylinder 1, a large number of vertical grooves 2 are formed in the axial direction. , each jack 3 having each butt 3a is slidably fitted in such a manner that a knitting needle (not shown) can move up and down. Further, a box-shaped support frame 4 is fixed to the base (machine frame main body) near the knitting machine cylinder 1, and a back plate 6 of this support frame 4 is fixed to the base (machine frame main body). As shown in FIG. 4, at least the upper and lower pairs of holders 14 and 15 are cantilevered and horizontal to the axis of the knitting machine cylinder 1, and the knitting machine cylinder 1 The length of the mounting position can be adjusted with an adjustment screw 16 parallel to the axial direction of the shaft. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, laminated piezoelectric elements 17 and 18 having lead wires 17a and 18a are mounted in each pair of holders 14 and 15, and each laminated piezoelectric element 17 and 18 has lead wires 17a and 18a, respectively. Each actuator 19a, 19b is attached to the tip of each of the shaped piezoelectric elements 17, 18. That is, each actuator 19a, 19b is attached to each tip of each of the laminated piezoelectric elements 17, 18, and each actuator 19a, 19b is attached to the tip hole of each of the holders 14, 15. Each actuator 19 is designed to be guided by a guide surface.
The tips of a and 19b are connected to each needle selection lever 2, which will be described later.
1, the needle selection levers 21 are finely adjusted by screwing in the adjustment screws 16 so that there is no gap between the contact portions 21a and 21b of the needle selection levers 21. Furthermore, each actuator 19a, 19
For example, a seat plate (washer) such as a permanent magnet is attached to the tip of each of the holding bodies 14 and 15 beside b.
Magnet members 20a and 20b each having a shape are attached, and each of these magnet members 20a and 20b is adapted to attract a needle selection lever 21, which will be described later.

In particular, each of the actuators 19a, 19b loosely penetrates the center portion of each of the magnet members 20a, 20b and protrudes slightly forward, and each of the actuators 19a, 19b alternately moves the needle selection lever 21. It is becoming more and more popular.

Note that the protruding distance of each of the actuators 19a, 19b is preferably approximately 0.1 mm to 0.15 mm with respect to the front surface of each of the magnet members 20a, 20b.

Therefore, when one end of the needle selection lever 21 is attracted to one of the magnet members 20a, the needle selection lever 21 has a diameter of about 0.1 mm to
Since it is spaced apart by 0.15 mm from the front surface of the magnet member 20a, when pushed by each of the actuators 19a and 19b, it operates stably and reliably without chattering, and can speed up the operation. can.

On the other hand, a plurality of T-shaped needle selection levers 21 are pivotally attached to the support frame 4 near the jack 3 having each of the butts 3a by means of a pin shaft 22. Each contact portion 21 of the lever 21
a, 21b are the actuators 19a, 19b and the magnets 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
a, 20b, respectively, and one end of the needle selection lever 21 is made of hard material such as cemented carbide or fine ceramics, as shown in FIG. A select finger 21c is formed of material, and this select finger 21c is attached so as to selectively push each butt 3a of the jack 3.

The operation of the present invention will be explained below.

Therefore, when the circular knitting machine is in operation, the knitting machine cylinder 1 rotates at a high speed, and the numerous jacks 3 attached to the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder 1 also rotate together.

On the other hand, a pulse signal is alternately applied to each of the laminated piezoelectric elements 17 and 18 based on a pattern pattern signal inputted in advance to a pattern pattern control device (not shown) of the circular knitting machine. , one of the laminated piezoelectric elements 17 is applied with a pulse voltage to impulsively convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, and generates approximately
The one actuator 19a is pushed with an impact by elongating to about 20 to 50 micrometers, and this actuator 1
9a pushes the abutting portion 21a against the attraction force of the magnet member 20a, and no pulse voltage is applied to the other laminated piezoelectric element 18, so that the needle selection lever 21
swings around the pin shaft 22, and this needle selection lever 2
1 select finger 21c is the jack 3
By selectively pushing each of the butts 3a, knitting needles (not shown) are slid in the vertical direction, thereby creating a pattern in stockinette knitting.

In particular, each laminated piezoelectric element 17, 1 according to the present invention
8, when a pulse voltage is applied in proportion to the laminated length, electrical energy is impulsively converted into mechanical energy and elongated.
A sufficient amount of displacement can be obtained to move each butt 3a of the jack 3 from the selected position to the non-selected position, and the operating force during operation is much larger than that of a flat plate-shaped piezoelectric element. Because you can get
It is possible to achieve high speed and stable pattern production. Moreover, each magnet member 20a of the present invention,
20b is each contact portion 21a, 21 of the needle selection lever 21.
b alternately, and the needle selection lever 2
1. When one end 21a is attracted to one magnet member 20a, the magnet member 2 is removed by about 0.1 mm to 0.15 mm.
Since it is spaced apart from the front surface of 0a, it not only operates stably and reliably, but also operates at high speed.The chattering of this needle selection lever 21 is also eliminated, allowing for high-speed operation. It can operate reliably.

Next, in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, each magnetic plate (magnetic material) made of electromagnetic soft iron material is provided on the front surface of each of the magnet members 20a, 20b.
23a, 23b are attached, and each magnetic plate 23a, 23b is attached to each actuator 19.
Each of the above magnet members 20a, 20 for a, 19b
By suppressing the influence of the magnetic lines of force b, the needle selection lever 21
This prevents chattering due to rebound of the contact portions 21a and 21b, resulting in more reliable operation.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of vertical grooves 2 are formed on the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder 1, and each jack 3 is slidably fitted into each vertical groove 2 so as to move the knitting needles up and down. In a circular knitting machine in which each jack 3 is selectively pushed by a needle selection lever 21 provided near the knitting machine cylinder 1, a support frame is mounted on the base near the knitting machine cylinder 1. 4, and at least a pair of upper and lower holders 14 are provided horizontally in a part of this support frame 4 facing toward the axis of the knitting machine cylinder 1, and each magnet is attached to each tip of each holder 14. The members 20a and 20b are attached so as to attract the needle selection lever 21, and the laminated piezoelectric elements 17 and 18 are installed in the respective holders 14,
Each actuator 19a, 19b is attached to each tip of each of the laminated piezoelectric elements 17, 18.
It loosely penetrates 20b and protrudes slightly towards the front,
Moreover, since the needle selection lever 21 is attached in such a way that it can be pushed and moved alternately, there is not only no risk of it breaking or breaking unlike the plate-shaped piezoelectric elements that have already been proposed. , it is possible to obtain a sufficient amount of displacement to move the butt from the selected position to the non-selected position, the operation time of the needle selection lever 21 is shortened, and moreover, the needle selection lever 21 can operate stably and reliably at high speed, It is possible to prevent the irregular output phenomenon and the jumping phenomenon (chattering) and improve the quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, FIG. 3 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 4 is a summary of the operating state of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. The figures are diagrams of piezoelectric needle selection devices for knitting machines that have already been proposed. 1...knitting machine cylinder, 3...jack, 4...
...Support frame body, 6... Back plate, 14, 15... Holder, 17, 18... Laminated piezoelectric element, 19a, 1
9b... Actuator, 20a, 20b... Magnet member,
21... Needle selection lever, 22... Support shaft.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A large number of vertical grooves are formed on the outer periphery of a knitting machine cylinder, each jack is slidably fitted into each of these vertical grooves so that the knitting needles can be moved up and down, and each jack is In a circular knitting machine, a support frame is provided on a base near the knitting machine cylinder, and one part of the support frame is At least a pair of upper and lower holders are provided horizontally in the axial direction of the knitting machine cylinder, and magnetic members are attached to each tip end of each holder so as to attract the needle selection lever. each of the laminated piezoelectric elements is installed in each of the holders, and each actuator is attached to each tip of each of the laminated piezoelectric elements so as to loosely pass through each of the magnet members and protrude slightly forward; A piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine, characterized in that a needle selection lever is attached so as to be pushed and moved alternately. 2. A piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each magnetic plate is attached to the front surface of each magnetic member.