JPH09137343A - Piezoelectric needle-selection apparatus of knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact-sized piezoelectric needle-selection apparatus having a mobile supporting block and a supporting point and deflected by the application of voltage. SOLUTION: This piezoelectric needle-selection apparatus is provided with 1st and 2nd piezoelectric element pairs 17, 18 each composed of upper and lower piezoelectric elements, a rotatable mobile supporting block having a supporting shaft C and holding the rear ends of the 1st and the 2nd piezoelectric elements, a finger 16 having a supporting shaft A connecting the front end of the 1st piezoelectric elements 17 to the rear end of a finger 16 in a movable state and a supporting point B supporting the 2nd piezoelectric elements 18 in a state to enable the movement of the front end of the element. A voltage is applied to the 1st and the 2nd piezoelectric elements 17, 18 to cause the upward or downward deflection of the elements.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a knitting machine, and more particularly to a piezoelectric needle selecting device for selecting a knitting needle by a piezoelectric body using a piezoelectric element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to perform pattern knitting on a knitting machine, it is usual to attach a jacquard pattern producing device for knitting. There are various types of this patterning device, but the object of the present invention is a bimorph type piezoelectric needle selecting device. For example, as a piezoelectric needle selecting device, a device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-94169 has been proposed. According to this conventional device, a finger is attached to a piezoelectric body having a piezoelectric element, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to operate the finger, and the operation of the finger selects a knitting needle of a knitting machine. The knitted fabric having a predetermined pattern structure can be knitted, and the rear end portion of the piezoelectric body is movably supported in the groove portion of the support body or the housing. The finger is connected to the rear end of the finger having a support shaft, and the intermediate positions of the rear end and the front end of the piezoelectric body are clamped by a rotating body rotatably attached to a support or a frame, and the finger is formed. And the piezoelectric body are arranged in a straight line.

[0003]

A first support shaft, which is a groove of a support or a housing movably supporting the rear end of the piezoelectric body, connects the front end of the piezoelectric body and the rear end of the finger. A second support shaft that moves the fingers up and down together with
And, the fulcrum is a three-point support composed of a third support shaft of the rotating body for sandwiching the piezoelectric body rotatably attached to the support body or the housing at the middle positions of the rear end portion and the front end portion of the piezoelectric body, and the piezoelectric body is supported at three points. They are arranged in a straight line. For this reason, the depth in the front and rear of the piezoelectric body becomes long, and when the device is installed in a knitting machine, it is subject to many restrictions due to the structure of the knitting machine. Become. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a response speed that is substantially the same as that of the above-described conventional piezoelectric needle selecting device and to obtain a compact piezoelectric needle selecting device.

[0004]

In the piezoelectric needle selecting device in the knitting machine of the present invention, the knitting needles are controlled by the selector jacks for selectively operating the knitting position and the non-knitting position, and the selector jacks are individually operated. In the piezoelectric needle selecting device in which the pattern butt of the selector jack is selected depending on whether or not the finger movably connected to the piezoelectric body is selected, each pair of the piezoelectric bodies arranged above and below is selected. The first and second piezoelectric bodies and the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies
A rotatable movable support block having a support shaft for fixing each rear end of the piezoelectric body, and a finger having a support shaft in which the front end of the first piezoelectric body is movably connected to the rear end of the finger; A fulcrum that movably supports the front end portion of the second piezoelectric body is provided, and a voltage is applied to the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies to cause the pair of piezoelectric bodies to bend upward or downward. The feature is that it is made to do. Preferably, another pair of the first and second piezoelectric bodies is arranged side by side at the same level adjacent to the pair of the first and second piezoelectric bodies arranged vertically. Also, preferably, a pair of first and second vertically arranged
Another pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies is arranged adjacent to the piezoelectric body in a staggered manner so that the fingers can engage with the pattern butt of another selector jack. In addition, the support shaft of the movable support block is provided close to the side of the first piezoelectric body that is movably connected to the fingers, and the support shaft of the movable support block is provided to obtain stability of the positions of the first and second piezoelectric bodies. It is preferable to be as large as possible.

[0005]

According to the piezoelectric needle selecting device in the knitting machine of the present invention,
When a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric bodies, one piezoelectric body is displaced upward. Since the other piezoelectric body is displaced downward, the movable support block is rotated clockwise, and this rotation causes the fingers to rotate counterclockwise about the spindle. When the displacement direction is reversed by changing the polarity of the power source and a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric bodies, one piezoelectric body is displaced downward. Since the other piezoelectric body is displaced upward, the movable support block is rotated counterclockwise, and this rotation causes the fingers to rotate clockwise as a support shaft. By thus disposing the pair of piezoelectric bodies and fixing one end of each of the pair of piezoelectric bodies to the movable support block, a compact piezoelectric needle selecting device can be obtained.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the knitting part,
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates a cylinder.

On the outer periphery of the cylinder 1, a large number of needle grooves 1a arranged in a circle and extending in the axial direction are formed. A knitting needle 2 slidable in the vertical direction is accommodated in each needle groove 1a, and each knitting needle 2 has at least one actuating butt 2a.

Immediately below the knitting needle 2, a spring jack 3 having an inherent elasticity for selectively raising the knitting needle 2 is accommodated. The spring jack 3 includes a shoulder portion 3a, an upright outer edge portion 3b, a stem 3c, a raising butt 3d, and a lowering bat 3.
e, having a droop extension 3f. When the spring jack 3 rises, the shoulder portion 3a comes into contact with the bottom portion of the knitting needle 2 and pushes up the knitting needle 2. The upright outer edge portion 3b always presses the back portion of the knitting needle 2 outward by the elastic force of the spring jack 3. Stem 3
Reference character c is a relatively thin elastic body that can automatically return to its original position when the depending extension 3f of the spring jack 3 is pushed inward.

A cam holder 4 facing the cylinder 1 has at least one control cam 5 for controlling or operating the knitting needle 2 and a selection cam 6 for engaging and disengaging a selection butt 3d of a spring jack 3. And a lowering cam 7 for lowering the spring jack 3 are provided.

A selector jack 8 is housed in the cylinder groove 1a corresponding to the spring jack 3. On the stem 8a of the selector jack, bat rows that are adjacent to each other and are inclined at a distance from each other are formed. One of them is indicated by reference numeral 8b. The selector jack 8 can swing in the radial direction of the cylinder axis within a limited range with the annular coil spring 9 as a fulcrum.

Below the cylinder is a drive gear 10 which is integrally attached to the cylinder, and rotates at the same speed as the cylinder 1 when driven by a drive source normally arranged in the machine.

The lower cam ring 1 is adjacent to the drive gear 10.
1 is provided. 4 evenly spaced on the lower cam ring
There are up to 6 supports 12 on which the upper cam ring 13 is fixed. A piezoelectric needle selecting device 14 having a patterning operation mechanism, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, is arranged on the lower cam ring 11 via a holder 15.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a part of a pair of piezoelectric pairs, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 and 3, the piezoelectric needle selecting device 14 includes a finger 16 for pushing the pattern butt 8b of the selector jack 8 inward and a pair of rectangular first and second piezoelectric bodies 17, 1.
8, a movable support block 19 which is fixed at one end of each of the pair of piezoelectric bodies and is rotatable, and a frame 2
Consists of zero.

Piezoelectric elements 17b, 17c; 18b, 18c are attached to both surfaces of the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17, 18 with the plates 17a, 18a sandwiched therebetween. As the piezoelectric element, for example, a bimorph type ceramic actuator manufactured and sold by Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (Amagasaki, Hyogo) can be used. When a negative voltage is applied to the plate 17a in this state, the piezoelectric element 17b extends in the direction perpendicular to the application direction, and conversely, the piezoelectric element 1b.
Since 7c contracts, the first piezoelectric body 17 is displaced upward. On the other hand, when a positive voltage is applied to the plate 18a, the second piezoelectric body 18 is displaced downward. The first and second piezoelectric bodies 17,
Columnar bodies 17d and 18d fixed to the piezoelectric body are attached to the front end of 18, respectively.

The finger 16 has a front end formed with a working head for selectively engaging the pattern butt 8b of the selector jack 8 against the elasticity of the spring jack 3.
This head is composed of an inclined portion 16a that gradually pushes the selector jack 8 into the cylinder, and a linear portion 16b that pushes the selector jack 8 to the deepest portion, and a rear end that is sandwiched and connected to the cylindrical body 17d of the first piezoelectric body 17. Open end 16c
And has a spindle A.

The second piezoelectric member 18 is a cylindrical member 18d at the front end.
Is rotatably supported in the concave groove 20a serving as the fulcrum B. The cylindrical body 18d and the side wall of the recessed groove 20a are always in contact with each other so that a gap is not formed because the second piezoelectric body is bent.

The rear ends of the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 are
It is fixed to the movable support block 19 by an adhesive agent, a bolt or the like so as to be rotatable about the support shaft C. The movable support block 19 is made of synthetic resin or the like. The support shaft C of the movable support block 19 has the first and second piezoelectric bodies 1
It is preferable to make it as large as possible in order to obtain the stability of the 7 and 18 positions. Further, the spindle C is connected to the first piezoelectric body 17
It is also possible to increase the force of the second piezoelectric body 18 on the lower side by changing the position to the side like the support shaft C ′ and increasing the lever ratio. The respective spindles A and C are fixed to the frame 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17,
When a voltage is applied to 18, one of the piezoelectric bodies 17 is displaced in the upward direction and the other piezoelectric body 18 is displaced in the downward direction, so that the movable support block 19 is rotated in the clockwise direction. The finger 16 rotates counterclockwise as the spindle A. By changing the polarity of the power source from the state of FIG. 4, the displacement directions are reversed, and when a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17, 18 as shown in FIG.
Since the piezoelectric body 18 is displaced downward and the other piezoelectric body 18 is displaced upward, the movable support block 19 is rotated counterclockwise.
This rotation causes the finger 16 to rotate clockwise about the spindle A. In addition, when the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 are discharged, the first and second piezoelectric bodies are in a state without bending as shown in FIG. 2, so that the fingers 16 are substantially horizontal.

The driving of these first and second piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 is performed by a controller (not shown) provided separately.
A knitting position (two positions of knit, welt or knit, tuck, welt) is determined depending on whether or not the finger 16 movably connected to the first and second piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 is moved up and down according to a program preset in the controller. 3 positions) are selected, and the selector jack 8 is engaged with or released from the pattern butt via the knitting needle or the spring jack 3 arranged at the lower end of the knitting needle.

When the rotary cylinder 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 3 and 1, when the finger 16 is not vertically moved, the selector jack 8 is located outside,
Continue to move laterally in that state. At this time, the raising butt 3d of the spring jack 3 is raised by the raising cam 6 and reaches the maximum position when the cylinder 1 continues to rotate. After that, the raising butt 3d and the lowering bat 3e of the spring jack 3 lower the spring jack 3 by the downwardly inclined portions of the raising cam 6 and the lowering cam 7. When the knitting needle 2 also continues to rise and reaches the highest position (knit position), the yarn is caught for knitting, and then the operating butt 2a is lowered by the control cam 5.

When the finger 16 is vertically moved, the selector jack 8 is pushed inward against the elastic force of the spring jack 3. Along with this, the hanging extension 3f of the spring jack 3 is also pushed inward at the same time, whereby the raising butt 3d of the spring jack 3 escapes from the transition path of the raising cam 6, and the front face of the cam 6 is removed. pass. Further, when the cylinder 1 continues to rotate, the inner pressure is weakened after the pattern butt 8b of the selector jack 8 passes through the straight portion, and the elasticity of the spring jack 3 automatically causes it to move to the normal position, that is, to the outside. The spring butt 3d of the spring jack is returned and enters the path of the lifting cam 6 again, and continues to move laterally in this state. Knitting needle 2
Does not rise (welt position) and continues to move laterally.

FIG. 6 shows a first arranging method showing another arranging method of the piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 at the above-mentioned two positions of the knit and the welt. A pair of piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 are arranged on the right side and the left side, the left side is arranged in the same manner as in FIG. 3, and the pair of the right side piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 are arranged upside down on the left side, that is, the piezoelectric body. Finger 1 connected to 17
6 are arranged on the lower side.

FIG. 7 shows a second arranging method showing another arranging method of the piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 at two positions of knit and welt. The arrangement of the piezoelectric bodies is the same as that of the first arrangement method of FIG. 6, except that the support shaft C is provided on the finger side connected to the piezoelectric body 17 with its position changed, and Arrange them to be offset from each other. Thereby, the finger 16 can be engaged with the pattern butt 8b of the other selector jack 8.

8 and 9 show a third arrangement method showing another arrangement method of the piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 at the two positions of knit and welt. The arrangement of the piezoelectric bodies is the same as the first and second arrangement methods of FIGS. 6 and 7, except that the action heads of the fingers 16 are located substantially in the center between the piezoelectric bodies 17, 18; They are arranged side by side.

In addition to the needle selection of the knit position and the welt position described above, the needle selection of the tuck position is also possible. As shown in FIG. 10, the piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18 are arranged side by side at the same level on the right side and the left side, and the knit or welt position is selectively set on the left side piezoelectric bodies 17 and 18.
In Nos. 7 and 18, three positions can be selected by selectively setting the tack position or the welt position.

[0026]

According to the present invention, by fixing one end of each of the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies to the movable support block, the depth in the front and rear of the piezoelectric needle selecting device can be shortened. Compared with the piezoelectric needle selecting device, which is a three-point support in which the fingers, the piezoelectric body, and the support shaft are arranged in a straight line, almost the same response speed can be obtained, and it can be compactly attached to the periphery of the knitting part. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a piezoelectric needle selecting device which is not visually restricted and has a neat appearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a knitting essential part in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a part of a main part of a piezoelectric needle selecting device which is a characteristic part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a bending movement of a piezoelectric body according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the bending motion of the piezoelectric body according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an inner front view showing another first arrangement method of the piezoelectric bodies which enables needle selection between two positions of the knit and the welt in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an inner front view showing another second arrangement method of the piezoelectric body which enables needle selection between two positions of the knit and the welt in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an inner front view showing another third arrangement method of the piezoelectric bodies which enables needle selection between two positions of knit and welt in the present invention.

9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the arrangement of the fingers of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an inner front view showing a method of arranging the piezoelectric bodies that enables needle selection at three positions of knit, tuck, and welt in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. . . Cylinder 2. . . Knitting needle 3. . . Spring jack 8. . . Selector jack 16. . . Finger 17. . . First piezoelectric body 18. . . Second piezoelectric body 19. . . Movable support block A. . . Spindle A B. . . Fulcrum B C. . . Support C

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A knitting needle (2) is controlled by a selector jack (8) for selectively actuating a knitting position and a non-knitting position, and the selector jack (8) can be individually actuated. In a piezoelectric needle selecting device, in which a pattern butt (8b) of a jack is selected depending on whether a finger (16) movably connected to the piezoelectric body is selected, each pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies arranged above and below the piezoelectric body is arranged. 1, a second piezoelectric body (17, 18) and a pair of the first and second piezoelectric bodies (1
(7), (18) each having a rear end fixed thereto and having a support shaft (C), which is rotatable and movable (19).
And the front end of the first piezoelectric body (17) has the finger (1
6) A finger (16) having a support shaft (A) movably connected to the rear end portion, and a fulcrum (B) movably supported on the front end portion of the second piezoelectric body (18) are provided. A piezoelectric needle selecting device in a knitting machine, characterized in that a voltage is applied to the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18) to cause upward or downward deflection. 2. Another pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18) are arranged side by side at the same level adjacent to the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18) arranged vertically. The device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18) adjacent to the pair of first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18) arranged above and below are alternately arranged in parallel. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger (16) is engageable with the pattern butt (8b) of another selector jack (8). 4. The support shaft (C) of the movable support block (19) is provided close to the side of the first piezoelectric body (17) that is movably connected to the finger (16). apparatus. 5. A support shaft (C) of the movable support block (19) is made as large as possible in order to obtain positional stability of the first and second piezoelectric bodies (17, 18). Item 3
The described device.