JPWO2008078415A1 - Needle selection method and flat knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A needle selection method and a flat knitting machine capable of improving the knitting efficiency by reducing the travel stroke of a carriage. When only the right cam system 4b is used and the left cam system 4a is not used, a preliminary needle selection section indicated by hatching is provided at the right end of the knitting width. The setting of the preliminary needle selection section and the control related to the preliminary needle selection section are performed by the controller 62. In the preliminary needle selection section, the first stage of needle selection is performed by the needle selection mechanism 5b that follows the cam system 4b when the carriage 3 moves to the right. When the succeeding needle selection mechanism 6a enters the preliminary needle selection section, it is controlled by the controller 62 so as not to break the preliminary needle selection state.

Description

  The present invention is a flat knitting machine in which a plurality of sets of cam systems are mounted on a carriage, and a needle selection method for performing two-stage needle selection using needle selection mechanisms arranged on both sides of each cam system, and such The present invention relates to a flat knitting machine that executes a needle selection method.

  Conventionally, in a flat knitting machine, needle selection and knitting drive are performed on a knitting needle arranged on a needle bed by a needle selection mechanism and a cam system that are mounted on a carriage that runs along the needle bed. The ground is organized. The knitting operation of the knitting needle is basically three types: knit, tack, and mistake. In knitting, the hook at the tip of the knitting needle is advanced into the tooth opening to receive a yarn to form a new stitch loop, and the stitch loop held so far is cleared from the hook. In the tack, the stitch loop that has been held so far is advanced to the mouth so that the stitch loop is not cleared from the hook, and a new stitch loop is also formed. In the case of a mistake, the hook is not advanced into the mouth, so a new stitch loop is not formed. In order to select each knitting needle so that at least three types of knitting operations are possible, two stages of needle selection are performed using two needle selection mechanisms that divide the state of the knitting needle into two (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).

  FIG. 6 shows a basic configuration of the flat knitting machine 1 for knitting the knitted fabric. The flat knitting machine 1 includes a needle bed 2 extending in the horizontal direction. Although not shown, the needle bed 2 has a large number of needle grooves extending in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A knitting needle is housed in each needle groove, and is knitted by being driven by cam systems 4 a and 4 b mounted on a carriage 3 that reciprocates along the needle bed 2. In each cam system 4a, 4b, needle selection mechanisms 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b are respectively arranged on both sides in the running direction. Each needle selection mechanism 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b can divide the knitting needles into groups having two different states. The needle selection state by the needle selection mechanisms 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b can be returned to the reference state by the return mechanisms 7a, 7b provided for the respective cam systems 4a, 4b.

  For example, in the case of course knitting in which the carriage 3 travels to the right in the drawing, needle selection for knitting the knitted fabric with the cam system 4a on the trailing side in the traveling direction is the needle selection mechanism 5b behind the cam system 4b. And a needle selection mechanism 6a in front of the cam system 4a. However, when the cam system 4b on the preceding side in the traveling direction carries the knitting operation with the yarn feeder 8, only one stage of needle selection can be performed using the previous needle selection mechanism 6b. Patent Document 1 discloses a needle selection method in which the first stage of needle selection is performed as a preliminary needle selection by the needle selection mechanism 6b behind the cam system 4b on the following side when the preceding carriage 3 moves to the left. ing. By performing preliminary needle selection, when the carriage 3 is reversed and the next course knitting is performed, second needle selection is performed by the needle selection mechanism 6b used for preliminary needle selection, and the knitting needle is generated by the cam system 4b. Can be selectively driven.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the knitting needles 20 arranged side by side on the needle bed 2 of the flat knitting machine 1 of FIG. The knitting needle 20 is in a needle groove arranged in parallel in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the carriage 3 on the needle bed 2 of the flat knitting machine 1 with respect to the mouth to which the knitting yarn is supplied from the yarn feeder 8 of FIG. It is accommodated in a state in which sliding displacement that advances and retreats is possible. In the knitting needle 20, a needle jack 22 is engaged with the rear portion of the needle body 21. The needle jack 22 has a knitting operation butt 22a and a transfer operation bat 22b which receive the action of the cam systems 4a and 4b of the carriage 3, respectively. The select jack 23 acts on the back of the knitting operation bat 22a of the needle jack 22. The select jack 23 has a pressing bat 23a. The selector 24 acting on the select jack 23 includes, for example, eight phantom lines indicated by phantom lines between the upper and lower bats 24a, 24b for positioning to receive the needle selection action by the needle selection mechanisms 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b in FIG. One of these positions has a needle selection bat 24c. Whether or not the selector 24 is in the selected state is determined depending on whether the actuators of the needle selection mechanisms 5a and 6a; 5b and 6b do not press the needle selection butt 24c. The selector 24 in the selected state floats in the needle groove, and the needle selection cam can act on the lower bat 24b. When the needle selection butt 24c is pressed and the selector 24 sinks into the needle groove, the non-selection state is established. The selector 24 in the non-needle selection state returns to the state of floating in the needle groove by pushing up the return portion 24d at the tail end with the return mechanisms 7a and 7b of FIG.

  A hook 21a is provided at the tip of the needle body 21, and advances to the tooth opening to receive the supply of knitting yarn. The hook 21a is opened and closed by a spatula 21b. At a position slightly retracted from the hook 21a of the needle body 21, a blade 21c that holds a stitch loop on the stitch transfer side at the time of stitch transfer is provided. As the knitting needle 20, not only such a latch needle but also a compound needle that opens and closes a hook with a slider is used, but the configuration for selecting a needle is the same.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a for selectively driving the knitting needle 20 of FIG. 7 with the carriage 3 of FIG. For example, two sets of cam systems 4 a and 4 b are mounted on one carriage 3. Each cam system 4a, 4b divided by the center line 3b includes a transfer transfer cam 31, a fixed needle raising cam 32, a movable needle raising cam 33, stitch cams 34, 35, and needle guide cams 36, 37. The transfer-use transfer cam 31 acts on the transfer operation bat 22b shown in FIG. A fixed needle raising cam 32, a movable needle raising cam 33, and stitch cams 34, 35 act on the knitting operation bat 22a.

  The needle guide cams 36 and 37 act on the pressing butt 23a of the select jack 23 of FIG. 7, and the tack presser 41 and the half presser 42 or the fixed presser 43 act on the needle selection state. In the two-stage needle selection by the needle selection mechanisms 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b, the position of the pressing butt 23a is determined to be one of the three positions A, H, B. A presser is not disposed at the A position, and the pressing bat 23a is not pressed. In the H position, the pressing butt 23 a is pressed by the tack presser 41 and the half presser 42. However, the tack presser 41 and the half presser 42 can switch between the action and the non-action, and if the action is not made, the pressure butt 23a is not pressed. The fixed presser 43 always presses the pressing butt 23a at the B position.

  The needle selection mechanisms 5a, 6a; 5b, 6b on both sides of each cam system 4a, 4b include needle selection actuators 50a, 51a; 50b, 51b, selector raising cams 52a, 53a; 52b, 53b, and a raising selector guide cam 54. , 55 respectively. The needle selection mechanisms 6a and 5b also include raising protrusions 54a and 54b of the raising selector guide cam 54, respectively. The needle selection mechanisms 5a and 6b also include raising protrusions 55a and 55b of the raising selector guide cam 55, respectively. The needle selection mechanisms 6a and 5b also include lowering protrusions 56a and 56b of the lowering selector guide cam 56, respectively. The needle selection mechanisms 5a and 6b also include lowering protrusions 57a and 57b of the lowering selector guide cam 57, respectively.

  The lowering projections 56a, 56b, 57a, 57b act on the butt 24a on the selector 24 shown in FIG. 7, and the selector raising cams 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b and the raising projections 54a, 54b, 55a, 55b are the selector 24. Acts on the lower bat 24b. The selector floating cams 59a and 59b included in the return mechanisms 7a and 7b act on the return portion 24d of the selector 24 in a state where the upper butt 24a is lowered to the reference state corresponding to the B position by the lowering guide cam 58. . The pressing claw 60 of the needle selection actuators 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b acts on the selection bat 24c of the selector 24. Each of the needle selection actuators 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b is provided with a plurality of pressing claws 60 according to the type of position of the selection bat 24c. The pressing claw 60 is electromagnetically controlled by a solenoid or the like, and is displaced so as not to press the selection bat 24c in the selected state, and presses the selection butt 24a in the non-selected state to bring the selector 24 into the needle groove. Sink. Since the width of the pressing claw 60 shown in the horizontal direction in the drawing is larger than the arrangement pitch of the knitting needles, the selector 24 is arranged so that the position of the selection bat 24c is shifted between the adjacent knitting needles 20. Acts on a single selection bat 24c. The selector raising cam 52a and the selector raising cam 53a, and the selector raising cam 52b and the selector raising cam 53b are switched so that the leading side protrudes and the trailing side is immersed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

In the figure, when the carriage 3 travels to the right and the knitting drive is performed by the cam system 4a, two-stage needle selection is performed by the needle selection mechanisms 5b and 6a. In the first stage of needle selection by the needle selection actuator 50 b, the selector 24 in the needle selection state has the lower butt 24 b pushed up by the raising protrusion 54 a of the raising selector guide cam 54. Next, after the upper butt 24 a is pushed down by the lowering projection 56 c of the lowering selector guide cam 56, the lower butt 24 b is pushed up from the raising projection 54 a of the raising selector guide cam 54, so that the selector 24 is Pushed up. By pushing up the selector 24, the select jack 23 is pushed up to the H position. If the second stage of needle selection is also performed in the needle selection actuator 51a, the protruding selector raising cam 53a acts on the bat 24b below the selector 24, and pushes the select jack 23 to the A position via the selector 24. When the knitting operation is performed by the cam system 4b, two-stage needle selection is performed using the preliminary needle selection only by the needle selection mechanism 6b.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 61-20670 JP-A-5-156553

  Even when a plurality of cam systems 4a and 4b as shown in FIG. 6 are mounted on the carriage 3, not all the cam systems 4a and 4b are always used in each course knitting. If the knitted fabric is knitted by bringing the yarn feeder 8 to each cam system 4a and 4b and supplying the knitting yarn, the two courses of knitted fabric can be knitted by one carriage 3 travel. Knitting yarn will be used alternately for each course. When the knitted fabric is continuously knitted with the same knitting yarn, only one cam system is used. In some cases, the cam systems 4a and 4b are separately used for stitch loop formation and transfer.

  In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the left cam system 4a of the two cam systems 4a and 4b mounted on the carriage 3 is not used. When the cam system 4a that is not used for knitting is included as described above, the cam system 4a that is not used does not have to come out to the right side of the knitting width W when the carriage 3 moves rightward with respect to the needle bed 2. As shown in the figure, the two needle selection mechanisms 6a and 5b that perform two-stage needle selection for the cam system 4b at the next left-hand side are pulled out to the right side of the knitting width W, and the knitting needle is returned to the knitting end by the return mechanism. It is sufficient to stop the carriage 3 at the position returned to the state. When the carriage 3 moves to the left, it is preliminarily selected by the needle selection mechanism 6b after the cam system 4b to be used, and then the carriage 3 is moved at a position where the second stage of needle selection by the needle selection mechanism 6b is possible. Stop. A distance S1 between positions where the carriage 3 stops on both sides of the needle bed 3 is a travel stroke of the carriage 3.

  The travel stroke of the carriage 3 is desirably as small as possible with respect to the knitting width W. This is because when the traveling stroke is increased with respect to the knitting width W, the proportion of time during which the knitting operation is not performed increases, and the knitting efficiency is reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a needle selection method and a flat knitting machine that can improve the knitting efficiency by reducing the travel stroke of a carriage.

The present invention is a flat knitting machine in which a carriage equipped with a plurality of sets of cam systems for knitting driving reciprocates along a needle bed to knit a knitted fabric, and two knitting needles are provided on both sides in the running direction of each cam system. In the needle selection method of providing a needle selection mechanism that divides into groups and performing two-stage needle selection between the cam systems when using the adjacent cam systems together,
All of the cam systems arranged on the other side of the cam cam system currently used for knitting the knitted fabric when traveling to one side of the carriage and then traveling to the other side with the traveling direction reversed If you do not use
When the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric, the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use can stop the carriage at a position at least passing through the knitting width.
Even when the carriage reverses and travels to the other side, the needle selection mechanism that precedes the needle selection mechanism on the other side cannot perform needle selection. One stage of needle selection is performed as a preliminary needle selection by the other needle selection mechanism, and the preliminary needle selection state is not destroyed by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that performed the preliminary needle selection. This is a needle selection method characterized in that

In the present invention, the carriage is equipped with three or more cam systems,
If the unused cam system is on both sides of the cam system to be used, the preliminary needle selection is performed at both ends of the knitting width.

Further, in the present invention, each cam system is provided with a return mechanism that returns the needle selection state of all the knitting needles to the reference state inside the needle selection mechanisms on both sides,
In the preliminary needle selection, the needle selection mechanism that remains in the knitting width is adjacent to the needle selection mechanism that performs the preliminary needle selection from the end of the range in which the return mechanism returns the knitting needle to the reference state before the carriage stops. It starts until the start end of the range in which needle selection is possible when the running direction is reversed, and ends at the end of the knitting width.

Furthermore, the present invention is equipped with a plurality of sets of knitting drive cam systems, and includes a carriage for knitting the knitted fabric while reciprocating along the needle bed, and two groups of knitting needles are provided on both sides in the running direction of each cam system. In a flat knitting machine that is provided with a needle selection mechanism that divides into two, and performs two-stage needle selection between cam systems when using adjacent cam systems together,
When traveling to one side of the carriage, do not use the entire cam system arranged on the other side of the cam system currently used for knitting, and also when traveling to the other side after reversing the traveling direction, Setting means for setting a preliminary needle selection section at one end of the knitting width when not using the entire cam system on the other side;
In the preliminary needle selection section set by the setting means, one stage of needle selection is performed as preliminary needle selection by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system being used when traveling to one side before reversing. When each of the needle selection mechanisms is controlled so that the preliminary needle selection state is not destroyed by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that has performed the needle movement, the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric. And a control means for controlling the carriage so that the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use stops at least at a position where it passes through the knitting width.
It is a flat knitting machine characterized by including.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of sets of knitting drive cam systems are mounted on the carriage of the flat knitting machine, and each cam system is provided with a needle selection mechanism for dividing the knitting needles into two groups on both sides in the running direction. deep. When using the cam system on one side without using the cam system on the other side when the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric, the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use is at least The carriage can be stopped at a position where it passes through the knitting width. It is possible to improve the knitting efficiency by bringing the carriage stop position closer to the end of the knitting width and shortening the travel stroke of the carriage. The needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system used for traveling to one side before reversing the carriage performs one-stage needle selection as a preliminary needle selection, and the other side of the needle selection mechanism that performed the preliminary needle selection. In this needle selection mechanism, the preliminary needle selection state is not broken. A carriage that performs two-stage needle selection is provided with a return mechanism that returns all the knitting needles to a reference state after an interval so as to guide the knitting needles to different paths according to the needle selection result after needle selection. When the carriage stop position is brought close to the end of the knitting width, even if the knitting needle at the end of the knitting width passes the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that performed the preliminary needle selection, Therefore, if the preliminary needle selection state is not broken, the second needle selection can be performed after the carriage is reversed by the needle selection mechanism that has performed preliminary needle selection. If the knitting needle that has undergone preliminary needle selection before reversing the carriage reaches the return mechanism, the first needle selection is performed by the other needle selection mechanism after the carriage is reversed, and the knitting needle is selected in the same way as the preliminary needle selection. As a result, the preliminary needle selection state can be prevented from being broken.

  Further, according to the present invention, since three or more sets of cam systems are mounted on the carriage, and the unused cam system is on both sides of the used cam system, the preliminary needle selection is performed at both ends of the knitting width. The travel stroke can be reduced on both sides of the carriage travel.

  Further, according to the present invention, even if each cam system is provided with a return mechanism for returning the needle selection state of all the knitting needles to the reference state inside the needle selection mechanisms on both sides, the section for performing the preliminary needle selection is returned. The travel stroke of the carriage can be shortened as a range not affected by the mechanism.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, the flat knitting machine includes setting means and control means. The setting means does not use the entire cam system disposed on the other side of the cam system currently used for knitting when traveling to one side of the carriage, and then reverses the traveling direction to the other side. Even during traveling, the preliminary needle selection section is set when the entire cam system on the other side is not used. Such a setting can be performed based on a result specified over a plurality of continuous courses or based on a result determined based on knitting data for controlling the flat knitting machine. When the preliminary needle selection section is set, the control means performs one-stage needle selection as preliminary needle selection with the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system used when traveling to one side before reversing. Each needle selection mechanism is controlled so that the preliminary needle selection state is not destroyed by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that has performed the needle. As a result, when the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric, the carriage selection is stopped at a position where the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use passes through the knitting width, thereby shortening the travel stroke. Thus, the knitting efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a flat knitting machine 61 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a of the carriage 3 in FIG. 1 and the preliminary needle selection section. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic system configuration of the controller 62 that enables the preliminary needle selection operation as described above in the flat knitting machine 61 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic control procedure by the CPU 100 of the controller 62 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a needle selection method involving setting of a preliminary needle selection section in a flat knitting machine 111 as another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a conventional flat knitting machine 1. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the configuration of the knitting needle 20. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a and the knitting width in the carriage 3 of the flat knitting machine 1 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

61, 111 Flat knitting machine 2 Needle bed 3, 113 Carriage 4a, 4b, 4c Cam system 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c Needle selection mechanism 7a, 7b, 7c Return mechanism 8 Yarn feeder 20 Knitting needles 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b Needle selection actuator 54, 55 Selector guide cam for raising 59a, 59b Selector floating cam 62, 112 Controller

  FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a flat knitting machine 61 as an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, parts corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. In the flat knitting machine 61, the knitting width of the two cam systems 4a and 4b is used only in the right cam system 4b and the left cam system 4a is not used as in the flat knitting machine 1 in FIG. A pre-selection section indicated by hatching on the right end is provided. Note that the cam systems 4a and 4b determine the case where they are used for knitting, such as knit, tuck, and miss stitch forming operations with transfer of the yarn feeder 8 or transfer operations. The setting of the preliminary needle selection section and the control related to the preliminary needle selection section are performed by the controller 62. In the flat knitting machine 1 of FIG. 6, illustration of the controller that controls the carriage 3, the cam systems 4a and 4b, and the needle selection mechanisms 5a and 6a; 5b and 6b is omitted. The controller 62 in FIG. 1 has the same function as the controller of the conventional flat knitting machine 1 and a function related to the setting of the preliminary needle selection section at the end of the knitting width.

  In the preliminary needle selection section, the first needle selection similar to the preliminary needle selection of Patent Document 1 is performed by the needle selection mechanism 5b that follows the cam system 4b when the carriage 3 moves to the right. However, the needle selection mechanism 6a can also enter the preliminary needle selection section. When entering the preliminary needle selection section, the needle selection mechanism 6a is controlled by the controller 62 so as not to break the preliminary needle selection state. In order not to break the preliminary needle selection state, for example, all the knitting needles may be selected. When the knitting needle 20 sunk in the needle groove at the time of non-needle selection as shown in FIG. 7 is once brought into the non-needle selection state, it is levitated in the needle groove until the selector levitation cams 59a and 59b of the return mechanisms 7a and 7b are actuated. I can't. By providing the preliminary needle selection section, the stop position when the carriage 3 moves to the right can be set, for example, to a position where the needle selection mechanism 5b has passed through the end of the knitting width. Even if the stop position when the carriage 3 is on the left side is the same as that of the flat knitting machine 1 shown in FIG. it can. The traveling stroke S2 in FIG. 1 can be shortened by, for example, about several tens of millimeters from the traveling stroke S1 in FIG. 6, and the knitting efficiency can be improved by several percent by stacking the shortening.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a case where only the right cam system 4b is used among the two cam systems 4a and 4b mounted on the carriage 3. When only the left cam system 4a is used, a similar preliminary needle selection section may be provided on the left side of the knitting width W.

  FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a of the carriage 3 and the preliminary needle selection section. Although the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a is the same as in FIG. 8, the right end of the knitting width can be on the right side of the center line 3b. When all the needle selection actuators 51a of the needle selection mechanism 6a are in the needle selection state when the carriage 3 that performs preliminary needle selection is in the right direction, the needle selection bat of the selector 24 of the knitting needle 20 selected by the needle selection actuator 50b. 24c is not pressed, and the selector 24 keeps the selected state floating in the needle groove. The lower bat 24b is lifted as shown on the left side of the dashed arrow by the action of the protruding selector raising cam 53a. As the selector 24 is raised, the upper bat 24a is also raised as shown on the left side of the dashed arrow, the select jack 23 is also pushed up, and the pressing butt 23a is also raised as shown on the left side of the dashed arrow. . Since the pressing butt 23a rises to the A position and is not pressed by the half presser 42 at the H position or the fixed presser 43 at the B position, the knitting operation bat 22a of the needle jack 22 is indicated by a broken arrow pointing to the left. The knitting needle 20 moves upward in the needle groove toward the tooth opening side as the fixed needle raising cam 32 rises along the inclination. As described above, when the carriage 3 continues to the right, the knitting operation butt 22a of the needle jack 22 belonging to the same knitting needle 20 as the selector 24 that has moved relatively to the left and passed through the needle selection actuator 51a is connected to the cam system 4a. Approaching the stitch cam 35. However, since the stitch cam 35 is on the leading side and is raised to the 0th position, there is no problem as long as the knitting operation bat 22a approaches the stitch cam 35. This is because, when the carriage 3 is reversed, the raised selector 24 and select jack 23 return to their original positions as shown on the right side of the dashed arrow. The knitting operation bat 22a of the needle jack 22 maintains the raised position without returning as shown by the right-pointing broken arrow, but there is no problem as long as it is a small raised amount that reaches the lower part of the stitch cam 35.

  However, depending on the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a, the knitting operation butt 22a of the needle jack 22 may be guided by a mountain-shaped knit route formed on the fixed needle raising cam 32 and the movable needle raising cam 33. . When the knitting operation bat 22a is guided to the upper part of the knit route, the hook 21a at the tip of the knitting needle 20 may advance into the tooth opening. In such a case, a presser that operates at the time of preliminary needle selection is provided in a path through which the pressing butt 23a of the needle jack 23 passes at the A position, and the pressing butt 23a is pressed to place the needle jack 22 in the needle groove. It is sufficient that the knitting operation bat 22a is not guided along the route passing through the knit route.

  The selector 24 of the knitting needle 20 that is in the non-needle selection state by the preliminary needle selection sinks in the needle groove because the needle selection butt 24c is pressed by the needle selection actuator 50b, and is not affected by the needle selection actuator 51a. The butt 24b under the selector 24 that is submerged in the needle groove is not subjected to a pushing action by the raising projections 54b and 54a of the raising selector guide cam 54 or the selector raising cam 53a. As described above, the knitting needle 20 is lifted after passing the needle selection actuator 51a by pushing up the selector raising cam 53a against the bat 24b below the selector 24. If the selector raising cam 53a can be moved in and out independently and is inserted in the preliminary needle selection section, even if the knitting needle 20 is in the needle selection state by the preliminary needle selection, it will not rise at all. However, since the knitting operation butt 22a of the knitting needle 20 that has been preliminarily selected maintains the route of the H position, the knitting operation butt 22a enters the knit route in the case of the mechanism arrangement on the cam plate 3a as described above. May be guided to the top. In such a case, the half presser 42 may be operated even in the H-position route to prevent the knitting operation butt 22a from entering the knit route.

  When the preliminarily selected knitting needle 20 enters the range in which the selector lifting cam 59a acts, the selector 24 submerged in the needle groove by the preliminary needle selection is returned so as to float. For the restored selector 24, the first stage needle selection may be performed by the needle selection actuator 51a when the carriage 3 moves to the left, but it is not necessary to perform preliminary needle selection. Therefore, the boundary on the left side of the section where the preliminary needle selection is performed can be set to the position where the operation of the selector floating cam 59a is started to the maximum. In addition, preliminary needle selection must be performed in an area where the first stage needle selection cannot be performed by the needle selection actuator 51a at the left side of the carriage. In a state where the needle selection bat 24c of the selector 24 is stopped in the middle of the range of the pressing claw 60 of the needle selection actuator 51a, all the needle selection actuators 51a from the needle selection state to the first stage of needle selection due to mechanical interference. Cannot switch to the state. Since the switching of the needle selection state by the needle selection actuator 51a is effective in the region on the left side of the left end of the pressing claw 60, it is necessary to perform preliminary needle selection on the right side of the left end of the pressing claw 60. . Therefore, the left boundary of the section where the preliminary needle selection is performed is at least the position of the left end of the pressing claw 60.

  The right boundary of the section in which the preliminary needle selection is performed is a position where the preliminary needle selection by the needle selection mechanism 5b ends when the carriage 3 stops at the right end of the knitting width. Preliminary needle selection is the first stage of needle selection by the needle selection actuator 50b. If the butt 24b below the selector 24 is pushed up to the top of the raising projection 54b of the raising selector guide cam 54, the needle selection state is confirmed. To do. Further, the vicinity of the position of the center line 3b of the cam plate 3a can be set as the right boundary of the knitting width. Therefore, the right boundary of the knitting width, that is, the right boundary of the preliminary needle selection section may be provided within the range from the center line 3b to the position of the raising protrusion 54b of the raising selector guide cam 54. . By moving this position to the right side of the drawing as much as possible, the travel stroke of the carriage 3 can be shortened.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic system configuration of the controller 62 that enables the preliminary needle selection operation as described above in the flat knitting machine 61 of FIG. In the flat knitting machine 61, it is assumed that the needle bed 2 is provided before and after the tooth opening, and the carriage 3 is provided for each of the front and back needle beds 2. Needle selection of the knitting needle 20 by the needle selection actuators 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b mounted on the carriage 3 is performed by determining the position of each carriage 3 with respect to the needle bed 2. The position of the carriage 3 can be directly detected by the position sensor 70 with respect to the needle bed 2. It can also be detected by a position sensor 70 from a needle selection gauge separately provided on the frame of the flat knitting machine 61 in parallel with the needle bed 2. The needle selection gauge is disclosed in, for example, RE2003-091490.

  The controller 62 controls the carriage 3 provided on each needle bed 2 before and after the flat knitting machine 61 by the front carriage control unit 71 and the rear carriage control unit 72. The position of the carriage 3 on each needle bed 2 is based on the output of a position sensor 70 that magnetically or optically detects irregularities, bright and dark stripes, etc. provided in the needle selection gauge corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the knitting needles 20. Carriage position two-phase signal detection unit 73 detects. The front actuator ON / OFF output unit 74 and the rear actuator ON / OFF output unit 75 are driven by the needle selection actuators 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b of the carriage 3 of the front and rear needle beds 2, respectively.

  Since the insides of the front carriage control unit 71 and the rear carriage control unit 72 have basically the same configuration, only the front carriage control unit 71 will be described, and the rear carriage control unit 72 will be omitted. The front carriage control unit 71 includes a carriage speed calculation unit 81, a speed correction unit 82, and a needle selection data storage unit 83 as a software processing unit 80. The hardware processing unit 90 includes a carriage position counter 91, an adder 92, an output position determination unit 93, and an actuator ON / OFF setting unit 94.

  The needle selection data stored in the needle selection data storage unit 83 is for the entire needle bed 2. The needle selection data is output from the CPU 100 that controls the knitting operation of the flat knitting machine 61 as a whole. The CPU 100 combines the data stored in advance in the knitted fabric data storage unit 101 and the knitting machine parameter storage unit 102 and inputs them as knitting data 103, and outputs needle selection data for each knitting course. In the knitted fabric data storage unit 101, data relating to the shape and pattern of the knitted fabric to be knitted, the knitting yarn to be used, and the like is created and stored in advance. The knitting machine parameter storage unit 102 stores parameters necessary for knitting with the flat knitting machine 61. Data about a section for performing preliminary needle selection as shown in FIG. 1 is also stored. Based on the data for each course output by the CPU 100, the carriage drive unit 104 controls the direction, speed, and travel range in which the carriage 3 is driven.

  The position of the carriage 3 with respect to the front and back needle beds 2 is input to the CPU 100 as an output of the adder 92. A carriage speed calculation unit 81, a speed correction unit 82, a carriage position counter 91, and an adder 92 determine the position of the carriage 3 with respect to the needle bed 2. Based on the position of the carriage 3 with respect to the needle bed 2, the CPU 100 can perform control so as to appropriately select the knitting needle 20 related to the preliminary needle selection section.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic control procedure by the CPU 100 of the controller 62 of FIG. The procedure starts from step s0, and knitting data is input for each course in step s1. Near the end of each course, the knitting data near the start of the next course is also input. The end and start ends include a section that may be set as a preliminary needle selection section. In step s2, it is determined whether the cam system mounted on the carriage 3 includes an unused cam system. The presence or absence of an unused cam system can be designated and input in advance by the operator, or may be automatically determined from the knitting data of the previous and subsequent courses. Further, for example, even when the cam system is used within a range that does not cover the preliminary needle selection section due to transfer or partial knitting, it may be determined that it is not used. If it is determined that an unused cam system is included, a preliminary needle selection section is set in step s3. In the next step s4, the carriage 3 is controlled.

  In step s5, it is determined whether or not the needle selection mechanism 5b for the cam system 4b on the subsequent side of use, for example, the right side, is in the preliminary needle selection section. If not, keep judging until you enter. When the needle selection mechanism 5b enters the preliminary needle selection section, preliminary needle selection by the needle selection mechanism 5b is performed in step s6. In step s7, it is determined whether or not an unused cam system, for example, the preceding needle selection mechanism 6a of the cam system 4a is in the preliminary needle selection section. If not, keep judging until you enter. When the needle selection mechanism 6a enters the preliminary needle selection section, in step s8, the needle selection mechanism 6a is brought into the all-needle selection state so as not to break the preliminary needle selection state.

  In the next step s9, it is determined whether or not the stop position of the carriage 3 has been reached. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if the right end of the knitting width reaches the right boundary of the section, it is determined that the carriage 3 has reached the stop position. If the carriage 3 has not reached the stop position, the carriage 3 travels to the stop position while decelerating. When the carriage 3 reaches the stop position, the carriage 3 is stopped in step s10. The selector raising cam 52a and the selector raising cam 53a, and the selector raising cam 52b and the selector raising cam 53b are also switched. In step s11, the traveling direction of the carriage 3 is reversed, for example, the left line is started with respect to the right line. In step s12, control is performed so that the needle selection mechanism 5b on the leading side with respect to the cam system 4b to be used performs the second-stage needle selection for the preliminary needle selection. In step s13, it is determined whether or not the needle selection mechanism 6a on the subsequent side of the unused cam system 4a preceding the cam system 4b has escaped from the preliminary needle selection section. The needle selection mechanism 6a continues the state of all needle selections set in step s8 until it escapes from the preliminary needle selection section. When the needle selection mechanism 6a exits the preliminary needle selection section, in step s14, the first needle selection for performing the knitting operation by the cam system 4b is performed. Next, returning to step s1, at least the knitting data for the remainder of the course that has started running is input.

  When it is determined in step s2 that the unused cam system is not included, the carriage is driven in step s15, and needle selection control similar to the conventional one is performed in step s16. When the carriage 3 reaches the end of the travel stroke, it is determined in step s17 whether or not the knitting is finished. If not, the process returns to step s1, and if finished, the knitting is finished in step s18. When the preliminary needle selection section is set in step s3, since it is premised that the next course is knitted even when the carriage 3 reaches the end, it is determined whether or not the knitting is finished. Absent.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows a needle selection method involving setting of a preliminary needle selection section in a flat knitting machine 111 as another embodiment of the present invention. In the flat knitting machine 111, the controller 112 is used to control the carriage 113 on which the three cam systems 4 a, 4 c, 4 c are mounted in the same procedure as in FIG. 4, and preliminary needle selection sections are provided on both sides of the knitting width W. Of the three cam systems 4a, 4b, and 4c, only the central cam system 4b is the same as the two cams of FIG. When the knitting operation is used for knitting, for example, the left cam system 4a can be held within the knitting width W during the right row and the right cam system 4c during the left row can be shortened on both sides. .

  When only the right cam system 4c is used among the three cam systems 4a, 4b, 4c, the cam system 4c corresponds to the cam system 4b in FIG. What is necessary is just to perform the needle selection of an area. Similarly, when only the left cam system 4a is used, a preliminary needle selection section may be provided on the left side of the knitting width W, and the needle selection mechanism 6a may perform needle selection in the preliminary needle selection section. For example, even when only the cam system 4b is not used, even if there is an unused cam system 4b among the plurality of cam systems 4a and 4b on the subsequent side of the cam system 4c on the preceding side of the carriage that moves rightward. If the cam system 4a to be used is also present, the carriage 3 must be moved to the right until the cam system 4a to be used passes through the knitting end. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the travel stroke by providing a preliminary needle selection section. Can not. When the preliminary needle selection section is not provided, for example, the preliminary needle selection section may be set to 0 in step s3 of FIG. Even when four or more sets of cam systems are mounted on the carriage and there is an unused cam system, a preliminary needle selection section can be similarly provided to shorten the carriage travel stroke.

Claims (4)

This is a flat knitting machine that knitted fabric while a carriage equipped with multiple sets of cam systems for knitting drive is reciprocating along the needle bed. The knitting needles are divided into two groups on both sides in the running direction of each cam system. In the needle selection method of providing a needle mechanism and performing two-stage needle selection between the cam systems when using the adjacent cam systems together,
All of the cam systems arranged on the other side of the cam cam system currently used for knitting the knitted fabric when traveling to one side of the carriage and then traveling to the other side with the traveling direction reversed If you do not use
When the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric, the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use can stop the carriage at a position at least passing through the knitting width.
Even when the carriage reverses and travels to the other side, the needle selection mechanism that precedes the needle selection mechanism on the other side cannot perform needle selection. One stage of needle selection is performed as a preliminary needle selection by the other needle selection mechanism, and the preliminary needle selection state is not destroyed by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that performed the preliminary needle selection. A needle selection method characterized by preserving. Three or more cam systems are mounted on the carriage,
The needle selection method according to claim 1, wherein if the unused cam system is on both sides of the cam system to be used, the preliminary needle selection is performed at both ends of the knitting width. Each cam system is provided with a return mechanism for returning the needle selection state of all the knitting needles to the reference state inside the needle selection mechanisms on both sides.
In the preliminary needle selection, the needle selection mechanism that remains in the knitting width is adjacent to the needle selection mechanism that performs the preliminary needle selection from the end of the range in which the return mechanism returns the knitting needle to the reference state before the carriage stops. The needle selection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the needle selection method starts at a start end of a range where needle selection is possible when the running direction is reversed and ends at an end of the knitting width. Equipped with multiple sets of cam systems for knitting drive, equipped with a carriage that knits the fabric while reciprocating along the needle bed, and a needle selection mechanism that divides the knitting needles into two groups on both sides in the running direction of each cam system In a flat knitting machine that performs two-stage needle selection between cam systems when using adjacent cam systems together,
When traveling to one side of the carriage, do not use the entire cam system arranged on the other side of the cam system currently used for knitting, and also when traveling to the other side after reversing the traveling direction, Setting means for setting a preliminary needle selection section at one end of the knitting width when not using the entire cam system on the other side;
In the preliminary needle selection section set by the setting means, one stage of needle selection is performed as preliminary needle selection by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system being used when traveling to one side before reversing. When each of the needle selection mechanisms is controlled so that the preliminary needle selection state is not destroyed by the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the needle selection mechanism that has performed the needle movement, the carriage passes through one side of the knitting width of the knitted fabric. And a control means for controlling the carriage so that the needle selection mechanism on the other side of the cam system in use stops at least at a position where it passes through the knitting width.
A flat knitting machine characterized by including.

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