JPH0364557A - Step operation mechanism and yarn feeding mechanism of tufting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply diverse step operations to needle bars by using a step cam having a specific cam shape as a normal and reverse intermittent operation cam operable at a multiple of an integer based on a unit cam part and controlling operation with an automatic control circuit. CONSTITUTION:A needle bar 1 on the side of a follower is subjected to step operation by rotation of a step cam (3A). A servo motor 7 is connected to an automatic control part 9 for controlling rotation of a cam shaft 4 to construct the step cam (3A) into a normal and reverse intermittent operation cam. The step cam (3A) has a cam curved edge of continued unit cam parts for subjecting one pitch of needles 2 in the needle bar 1 to step operation and normally or reversely rotated by a multiple of an integer of the unit cam parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Industrial Application Field" The present invention is a tufting machine (carpet knitting machine) in which a needle bar step mechanism with a group of needles facing downward, and an embroidery thread attached to the needle group. The present invention relates to an improvement of a yarn feed mechanism that supplies yarn.

"Prior Art" As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional tufting machine has a needle par 1 having a needle group 2 arranged in a row at a fine pitch, and a thread feed section 13 for embroidery thread 11 above the needle par 1. Then, the embroidery threads 11 (hereinafter simply referred to as threads 11) pulled out from the thread feed section 13 are fed to the needle group 2 one by one, and the arrow A shown in the figure is applied to the needle bar l.
The carpet base fabric 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as the base fabric 12) is given a vertical action of , and a step action of left and right swings of the arrow B shown in the figure. , the needle group 2 is pierced through the needle group 2, and the needle group 2, which performs the above-mentioned vertical movement and step movement, and the looper finger metal 117 provided below the base fabric 12 are operated together, and a line graph shape is formed on the base fabric 12. It has a structure in which embroidery patterns 10 are continuously formed.

Specifically, the step operation is performed by connecting the cam follower body 8 having a pair of cam pins 6 that sandwich the step cam 3 to the side ends of the needle bar l via the rod 5, and swinging the needle bar 1 from side to side. In addition to the step operation mechanism, the step cam 3 is formed into a cam contour that forms one unit pattern M of the embroidery pattern 10 from outer circumference to circumference, and based on continuous rotation of the step cam 3 in one direction at a constant speed. , an embroidery pattern 10 in which unit patterns M are continuous for each unit length of the base fabric 12
It is structured to form a

On the other hand, in the yarn feed section 13, two sets of feed rolls 15A15B are arranged in series to feed the yarn group 11 pulled out from the yarn reel around a pair of rollers 14 at a fine pitch and at a constant rate. 1 and a main drive unit 16 of the tufting machine provided above the tufting machine 1. Each thread feed mechanism rotates at a required speed and feeds the thread group 11 to the needle in a fixed amount. In addition, the feed roll 15A
15B has a slight speed difference in order to apply tension to the thread 11.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" According to the conventional step mechanism described above, - For each unit pattern M, a step cam 3 having a unique cam shape is provided.
Moreover, since the types of unit patterns M to be embroidered are extremely large, it is necessary to prepare and manage a large number of step cams 3 having unique and complex cam contours in advance. In addition to being expensive, the location and time required for cam management are also complicated.

・Number of steps of unit pattern M in one rotation (number of steps of needle per 1 to embroider unit pattern M)
A cam profile that satisfies the Therefore, the number of steps of the step cam 3 is generally limited to 30, and the degree of freedom in the shape of the unit pattern M is limited.

Although the step operation speed needs to be extremely high (approximately 5 times the moving speed of the base fabric 12), the step cam 3 has a limit to the step operation speed, so the maximum step amount for one-step operation is the needle pitch. The limit is 3 times that of M, and similarly to the above, the degree of freedom in the shape of the unit pattern is restricted, and the formation of a complex and precise unit pattern M is not possible.

- When adopting a new unit pattern M, it is necessary to prepare a unique step cam 3 in advance, which lengthens the preparation period for starting production of a new product. There are various difficulties mentioned above.

On the other hand, although the yarn feeding mechanism described above is mechanically interlocked with the operation of the needle bar l that shares the main drive unit 16, the needle 2 operates two-dimensionally with vertical operation and step operation.
Since the feeding of the thread 11 is not matched accurately, excessive tension in the thread 11 may cause excessive resistance on the needle (4) 2. To prevent this from occurring, the amount of one step of the step operation of the needle 2 should be adjusted. , there is a problem that requires regulation within 3 pitches of the needle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a step actuation mechanism and a thread feed mechanism that solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional method.

``Means for Solving the Problems J'' The present invention that solves the above technical problems is as follows: ``A step cam is provided on the fish section side, and the operation of the cam causes the needle bar on the follower side to move perpendicularly to the traveling direction of the base fabric. In a tufting machine that provides a step action that swings left and right, the step cam is made into a continuous cam shape, and the unit cam part that performs one-pitch step action of the needle of the needle bar is made into a continuous cam shape, and the integral multiple of the unit cam part is made into a positive number. Rotation or reverse rotation is configured with a forward/reverse intermittent operation cam that stops.
Furthermore, a first invention of ``a step actuation mechanism characterized by a structure incorporating an automatic control circuit that controls the operation of the step cam based on an arbitrary program adopted in advance; In a tufting machine having a yarn feeding mechanism consisting of a feed roll, the feed roll is configured as an inconstant rotation roll or an intermittent rotation roll, and the feed roll is linked with a forward and reverse intermittent operating cam of the step mechanism. The yarn feeding mechanism is characterized by a structure incorporating an automatic control circuit for operating the yarn.

Note that the driving force of the forward and reverse intermittent operating cam and the feed roll is achieved by a servo motor, hydraulic actuating means, or the like.

"Operation" The step operation mechanism of the first invention is such that the step cam performs forward and reverse intermittent operation at integral multiples of the unit cam portion that performs step operation corresponding to one pitch of the needle, and Since the unit cam portions are substantially infinitely continuous, an extremely large number of operating programs can be created by combining the forward rotation, reverse rotation, and stoppage in any permutations with arbitrary step amounts. Then, by operating only the common step cam according to those operating programs, it is possible to continuously form an extremely wide variety of complex and elaborate unit patterns M on the base fabric, as shown in FIG. 2. .

Then, just by inputting the operating program,
Any unit pattern can be formed instantly, and the unit pattern M
The restriction on the number of steps (conventionally about 30) is relaxed, and the degree of freedom in selecting the first-place pattern M is improved.

In addition, in the latter second invention, since the feed roll of the yarn 11 works in conjunction with the step operation of the needle par 1, for example, when the step amount of the needle par 1 is large, a large amount is fed out at high speed, and when it is small, a small amount is sent out at a low speed. Since the yarn feed can be controlled to match the needle operation, it has the effect of preventing abnormal tension in the delivery yarn and abnormal resistance of the needle accompanying it.

"Example" Hereinafter, description will be made based on the example. Mazu,
(7) A first embodiment showing an embodiment of the step operating mechanism of the first invention.
Referring to the figure, a needle par 1 in which a large number of needle groups 2 are suspended and arranged at a fine pitch, and a cam follower body 8 that has cam pins 6 upright and slides left and right are connected to an operating rod 5.
At the same time, a step cam 3A of a heart cam serving as a fish joint is attached to a cam shaft 4 having a servo motor 7 as a driving part, and the outer periphery is connected to a cam pin 6.
The needle par 1 on the follower side is configured to perform a required step operation by the rotation of the step cam 3A.

The servo motor 7 is connected to an automatic control section 9 that automatically controls the rotation of the camshaft 4 based on a pre-selected operating program. The cam is configured as a forward/reverse intermittent operating cam that repeats forward rotation, reverse rotation, or stop based on the rotation speed.

Further, the step cam 3A has a rotation angle θ, and the needle bar 1
The unit cam part 18 has a continuous (8) cam curved edge, and rotates forward or backward by an integer multiple of the rotation angle O based on the operation progera t1. When the rotation is stopped, the cam pin 6 is configured to stop exactly at the starting point of the unit cam section 18 (the end point of the previous unit cam section 18).

According to the step mechanism of the embodiment in FIG. 1, since the step cam 3A imparts the same amount of movement to the follower for the same rotation angle, the common step cam 3A is used to convert the unit cam portion 18 into units. By permuting forward/reverse rotation and stop, the needle bar l is given various step operations,
The unit pattern M illustrated in FIG. 2 can be formed (
Note that 20 in the figure is a needle hole on the base fabric 2).

Since the unit cam portions 18 of the step cam 3A are substantially continuous, it is possible to continuously form a complex and precise unit pattern M consisting of, for example, 40 or more steps.

Note that the step cam of the present invention is not limited to the bar L-cam shown in the first figure, but also includes the unit cam part 8 described above, although not shown.
A grooved cam that moves forward and backward with a cam groove that satisfies the above conditions, or
The unit cam portion 18 may be changed to a continuous rotating cam having a unique uneven curved edge, and the unit cam portion 18 continuous to the step cam does not necessarily have to be continuous with the same shape. .

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the yarn feed mechanism of the second invention will be described. That is, in the tufting machine having the step mechanism of the first invention and the thread feeding section 13, two groups of threads 11 with a fine pitch are wound around two feed rollers 14, and two sets are provided for feeding the threads to and from the needles 2. In the yarn feed section 13 in which four feed rolls 15A and 15B are arranged in series, four feed rollers 14
One of them becomes a driving roller 14A, and this driving roller 14A is provided with a dedicated driving section 21 consisting of a servo motor, and this driving section 21 is connected to the automatic control section 9 of the step operation mechanism, It is configured to operate in conjunction with the step cam 3A that operates intermittently in forward and reverse directions.

That is, the feed rolls 15A and 15B rotate continuously so as to continuously feed out the yarn 11, and when the needle bar 1 is in one-pitch step or stop of the needle, the feed roll 15A and 15B are operated at low speed for steady feeding, and the needle bar l is in a large amount of two or more pitches of the needle 2. When it is a step amount, it operates at high speed and sends out a large amount of yarn 11, so that the yarn delivery is matched to the step amount of the needle bar.

Note that the feed rollers 14 other than the driving roller 14A are
The belt hook is linked with the moving roller 14A at a required advancement ratio.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the amount of yarn delivered and the step operation of the needle bar are correlated, and the trouble of causing unnecessary tension on the yarn 11 and abnormal resistance on the needle 2 is eliminated, and the needle bar has a pitch of 3 or more. It becomes possible to perform a large number of step operations, and the degree of freedom in designing the unit pattern M is improved.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, the step mechanism and thread feed mechanism of the tufting machine of the present invention are capable of continuously forming a variety of complex (11) intricate unit patterns M using a common step cam. This makes it possible to knit high-quality carpets and improves machine performance.

・Since the step function with a single step cam is greatly improved, the number of step cams is drastically reduced, improving the productivity of cam management and reducing costs.

・By simply organizing and inputting an automatic control program, new embroidery patterns can be produced immediately, improving productivity.

- Harmful resistance applied to the embroidery thread and needle is eliminated, preventing operational troubles, and the amount of step operation can be expanded compared to conventional means, improving the degree of freedom in designing embroidery patterns.

There are various effects mentioned above.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1: Shows the step operation mechanism of an embodiment of the first invention,
(A) is a perspective view showing the structural concept, (B) is a front view of the step cam, Fig. 2: An illustration of an embroidery pattern by the step operation mechanism of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 (↓2) Fig. 3: The yarn feeding mechanism of the second invention-embodiment is shown, (
A) is a front view showing its structural concept, (B) is an enlarged side view of the main parts of (A), Fig. 4 shows the basic structure of a conventional tufting machine, (A) is its entire front view, ( B) is a perspective view showing the step operation mechanism, (C) is a partial enlarged perspective regeneration code of (B), 1: needle bar, 2: needle, 3 step cam, 3A: step cam of the present invention, 4: cam shaft,
5: Rondo, 6: Cambin, 7: Servo motor, 8:
Cam follower body, 9: automatic control section, 10: embroidery pattern, 11:
Embroidery thread, 12: Carpet base fabric, 13: Thread feed mechanism, 14: Feed roller, 14A: Drive roller, 15A
15B: Feed roll, 16: Main driving section, 18: Unit cam section, 20: Needle hole, 21: Drive section, M: Unit pattern

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a tufting machine, a step cam is provided on the original joint side, and the needle bar on the follower side of the cam is given a step action of left and right swinging in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the base fabric. The unit cam section that operates the needles of the needle bar in one pitch step is formed into a continuous cam shape, and an integer multiple of the unit cam section is configured as a forward/reverse intermittent operating cam, and furthermore, an arbitrary program adopted in advance is formed. A step operating mechanism for a tufting machine characterized by a structure incorporating an automatic control circuit for controlling the operation of the cam based on the above. (2) A tufting machine having a step operating mechanism according to claim (1) and a yarn feeding mechanism consisting of a feed roll, wherein the feed roll is configured as an inconstant rotation roll or an intermittent rotation roll. A yarn feed mechanism for a tufting machine, characterized in that it incorporates an automatic control circuit that causes the feed roll to operate in conjunction with a forward and reverse intermittent operation cam of the step operation mechanism.