TWI770031B - Method and auxiliary arrangement for adjusting a warp knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for adjusting a warp knitting machine (1) is provided, in which a knitting tool area (3, 5) is monitored and adjustment signals are generated.

The object is to be able to make the adjustment simply.

For this purpose it is provided that to monitor the knitting tool area (3, 5) a camera (10) is used and the knitting tool area (3, 5) is displayed on a display (11).

Description

Method and auxiliary facility for adjusting a warp knitting machine

The present invention relates to a method for adjusting a warp knitting machine, wherein a knitting tool area is monitored and adjustment signals are generated.

The invention also relates to an auxiliary device for adjusting the warp knitting machine, which has an auxiliary device for monitoring the knitting tool area, and an actuating element for generating adjustment signals.

In the operation of a warp knitting machine, the knitting tools work together to form loops. For example, guide needles or other yarn guides must be moved relative to the knitting needles, also known as working needles, in order to be able to form loops. The series of knitting needles are arranged on a knitting needle bar. The series of guide pins are arranged on one or more guide rods. Depending on the so-called fineness of the machine, ie the number of knitting needles per inch of width, the knitting needles are separated from each other by a small distance.

Through this gap, also called "needle lane", the yarn guides must pass through to the knitting needles without collision. It is therefore important to position the yarn guides as centrally as possible between the two knitting needles, and adjust the yarn guides accordingly, when the machine is in the zero or natural position. Another possibility is to perform a so-called "pattern movement" while the machine is stationary. This enables the yarn guides to be adjusted near one of the knitting needles of the needle bar.

For proper settings, the operator uses a magnifying glass through which he observes the knitting tool area. Depending on the perceived positions of the knitting tools relative to each other, the operator will actuate different switches or buttons on a control panel to generate adjustment signals. The control panel is connected to the controller of the warp knitting machine via a cable, and changes the position of a bar according to the adjustment signal.

The CN 104 131 410 B patent discloses the use of a control panel, which is wirelessly connected to the controller of the warp knitting machine.

Using the magnifying glass and the control panel simultaneously requires a certain level of proficiency on the part of the operator. In many cases, the majority of the operator must also act simultaneously when controlling on the control panel, such as turning an activation switch to a certain position and holding it there, and simultaneously moving some buttons.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the work of adjusting a warp knitting machine.

This objective can be achieved in a procedure of the kind described above, wherein a camera is used to monitor the knitting tool area and the knitting tool area is presented on a display.

The camera and the display then enable the knitting tool area to be viewed. The operator can monitor the movement of the respective bars and the knitting tool attached thereto in order to generate the adjustment signals.

Preferably a camera with a variable focus function is used. The knitting tools can then be shown on the display in enlarged form, so the operator can easily identify how the knitting tools are relative to each other positioned in each other. A magnifying glass will no longer be required.

Preferably a display is used in which the actuating elements used to generate the adjustment signals are assigned. Therefore, the operator only needs to operate the display or a device carrying the display to generate the required adjustment signal. This means that it can easily and immediately detect the effect of the resulting adjustment signal.

Preferably a touch sensitive display is used, which has a display field designated as the actuating element. Therefore the display is designed as a "touch screen". For example, tapping the right edge of the display can cause one of the bars to move to the right, and tapping the left edge of the display can cause the corresponding bar to move to the left.

The designated areas are preferably represented as such on the display. The designated areas may be labeled "left" and "right", for example, to simplify the operator's work.

A communication device with a camera is preferably used, especially a mobile phone or a portable computer, such as a tablet computer. Cameras are already installed in most mobile phones. Many portable computers, especially so-called tablet computers, also have built-in cameras. Both communication devices can also operate applications, so-called "apps", so the adjustment of the warp knitting machine will be supported by this application. When the actuating elements are actuated, the application program will forward corresponding control commands as adjustment signals to the warp knitting machine.

Preferably, the communication device is connected to a controller of the warp knitting machine by wireless means. For example, this connection can be via a WLAN cause. The only prerequisite for this to be possible is that the communication device has a suitable interface with the warp knitting machine, or more precisely, the controller of the warp knitting machine.

Alternatively, a wired connection can also be used. For example, it is possible to use a fixed mounted and hardwired camera that sends its image to the display. Thereby, the bar will be able to be adjusted. Of course, it is also possible to use a fixed camera, which transmits the corresponding image information to the display by wireless means.

The display is preferably part of a display facility and part of the display facility is provided on the warp knitting machine. The display facility can in principle have a plurality of displays. For example, one display may be provided on the communication device, while another display is provided on the warp knitting machine. In this case, the display on the warp knitting machine can be used, which is already provided for the controller of the warp knitting machine. The operator can then select on a display where to view the knitting tool area.

In this case it is preferred to connect the communication device to a remote maintenance device. By using remote maintenance, it is possible to carry out the adjustment from a geographically distant point, such as by the manufacturer of the warp knitting machine, using a remote maintenance device or a remote service.

This object is achieved by an auxiliary facility of the kind as described above, since the auxiliary facility has a camera with which a knitting tool area can be captured, and a display is provided on which the knitting tool area can be displayed .

Using the display, the operator can display the area and check that the adjustment signals have the desired effect. The camera can also be moved to different positions on the warp knitting machine and, for example, allow the knitting tool area to be monitored from the front or the rear for the adjustment.

Preferably the camera has a variable focus function. The knitting tool area can be displayed on the display as a magnified image, which facilitates the adjustment.

Preferably the display is designed as a touch sensitive display and the control elements are formed by designated areas of the display. By touching the display, or more precisely, touching a designated area of the display, the adjustment signals can be generated.

The camera is preferably mounted on a communication device, especially a mobile phone or a portable computer, such as a tablet computer. The operator then just has to keep the communication device on the machine and position it so that the camera can capture the knitting tool area. Any person, for example using the communication device, can also generate the required adjustment signal.

It is also advantageous if the auxiliary device is wirelessly connected to a controller of the warp knitting machine. Such a wireless connection can be established eg using a WLAN connection. All that is required for this purpose is that the warp knitting machine and the auxiliary device are each provided with a suitable interface. In this case, it can also be provided such that, for example, the knitting tool section is displayed on a display on the warp knitting machine. Such a display can already be used in many cases as a component part of the controller of the warp knitting machine. The control elements for generating the adjustment signal can also be provided here.

1: warp knitting machine

2: Guide rod

3: Guide needle

4: Knitting needle bar

5: Knitting needle

6: Machine Controller

7, 11: Display

8: Antenna

9: Auxiliary device

10: Camera

12, 13: Control element area

The present invention is described in the following paragraphs with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. The drawing shows: FIG. 1 is a height schematic view of a warp knitting machine with an auxiliary facility for its adjustment.

A warp knitting machine 1 includes a guide bar 2 on which a plurality of guide needles 3 are arranged. Instead of these guide pins 3, other yarn guides can also be provided.

Furthermore, the warp knitting machine comprises a knitting needle bar 4 on which a series of knitting needles 5 are tied and arranged side by side. When the warp knitting machine 1 is in operation, the guide needles 3 and knitting needles 5 cooperate to form loops. As part of this procedure, for example, the guide needles 3 pass near the knitting needles 5 .

The guide pins 3 are spaced apart from each other by a small distance. For example, in the case of a fineness level of E20, 20 guide pins 3 are provided per inch. Therefore, the distance between the guide pins is tied to a size dimension of about 1 mm. The same applies to the spacing of the knitting needles 5 relative to each other. In order to facilitate the collision-free interaction between the guide needles 3 and one of the knitting needles 5 , the guide needles 3 are preferably arranged as centrally as possible relative to the knitting needles 5 .

The illustration of the warp knitting machine is greatly simplified here. There will actually be more knitting tools available, such as common hooks, leveling hooks and the like. Illustrations of these knitting tools have been omitted for clarity. The knitting tools must be adjusted relative to other knitting tools in the same way.

The warp knitting machine 1 includes a machine controller 6 which includes a display 7 . The machine controller 6 is also provided with an antenna 8 or other receiving device for In a WLAN, that is, a wireless network.

To be able to make the required adjustments, an operator must monitor the knitting tool area and generate adjustment signals based on the positions of the guide needles 3 and knitting needles 5 relative to each other, and the machine controller 6 uses the signal to adjust the position of the guide bar 2 and the knitting needle bar 4 relative to each other. In most cases, it is sufficient to adjust the position of one of the two bars 2, 4 parallel to its longitudinal direction. The adjustment signals may for example be pulses, wherein at each pulse the machine controller 6 will shift the particular bar 2, 4 being addressed or controlled by a fraction of a millimeter, eg 0.05mm or 0.1mm. The operator can then visually monitor whether the adjustment of the guide needles 3 and knitting needles 5 relative to each other is successful or not, or whether further adjustment is required.

This monitoring was previously done through a magnifying glass, allowing the knitting tool area to be seen on a larger scale. However, this processing method can be cumbersome.

In front of the warp knitting machine 1, an aid 9 for viewing the knitting tool area is shown enlarged. The auxiliary device will form part of an auxiliary device for adjusting the warp knitting machine 1, or even form the auxiliary device completely. This is further explained later.

The auxiliary device 9 includes a camera 10 and a display 11 . The camera 10 includes a variable focus function, ie the knitting tool area can be presented on the display 11 in a magnified form, thus the needle guide bar 2 with the guide needles 3 and the knitting needle with the knitting needles 5 The needle bar 4 can be better identified. Preferably, the magnification can be adjusted so that the operator can display the knitting needle area, ie the knitting needles 3, 5, in a desired size.

The auxiliary device can be designed, for example, as a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone, such as a "smart phone" or a portable computer, such as a tablet PC, a notebook computer, or the like.

The display 11 is designed as a touch-sensitive display. The display 11 contains certain areas designed as control elements. The areas 12 , 13 can be displayed on the display 11 . These areas 12, 13 can also display information that will inform them of their usefulness. In this embodiment, the area 12 is marked with an "L", and the area 13 is marked with an "R". Therefore, if it is lightly buckled on the area 12, the guide rod 2 will move to the left, and if it is lightly buckled on the area 13, the guide rod 2 will move to the right.

In a method not shown in detail, a list of available bars can be pre-displayed on the display, and using a specific area of the touch-sensitive display 11, the appropriate bar can be selected.

The corresponding adjustment signal will be transmitted to the antenna 8 of the machine controller 6 , so that the machine controller 6 can cause the desired movement of the guide bar 2 or the knitting needle bar 4 .

It can also be provided so that the image displayed on the display 11 of the auxiliary device can also or only be displayed on the display 7 of the machine controller 6 . If the display 7 is also designed as a touch-sensitive display, the adjustment can also be made directly after one of the auxiliary devices is properly positioned so that the camera 10 records the knitting tool area with the knitting tools 3, 5 performed on the machine controller 6 .

It can also be provided so that the relevant information, ie the image of the knitting tool area with the knitting tools 3, 5, is transmitted to a remote device, For example, one of the manufacturers of the warp knitting machine has a remote service. By returning one of the corresponding adjustment signals, the adjustment can also be performed over a longer distance.

For this adjustment, it is only necessary for the auxiliary device 9 assigned to the warp knitting machine 1 to use suitable measured values. This can be achieved eg by means of an IP address. It also requires that the auxiliary device, as mentioned above, be assigned to a specific bar, which will be adjusted in a special case. But this is also easily doable.

In order to be able to effect this adjustment, a so-called application program (“app”) can be run on the auxiliary device 9 . This app, or application, can be provided by the manufacturer of the warp knitting machine.

1: warp knitting machine

2: Guide rod

3: Guide needle

4: Knitting needle bar

5: Knitting needle

6: Machine Controller

7, 11: Display

8: Antenna

9: Auxiliary device

10: Camera

12, 13: Control element area

Claims (14)

A method for adjusting a warp knitting machine, wherein a knitting tool area is monitored and wherein: a camera is used for monitoring the knitting tool area, and the knitting tool area is displayed on a display, the method being characterized by: A number of adjustment signals are generated, resulting in the movement of a number of individual rods and the knitting tool connected thereto, wherein a number of actuating elements for generating the adjustment signals are assigned to the display. The method of claim 1, wherein a camera with a variable focus function is used. The method of claim 1, wherein a touch-sensitive display is used and designated areas of the display are used as the actuating elements. The method of claim 3, wherein the designated areas are shown on the display. The method of claim 1, wherein a communication device having a camera is used. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication device is wirelessly connected to the controller of the warp knitting machine. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication device is connected to the controller of the warp knitting machine by a cable. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the display is part of a display facility, and a portion of the display facility is provided on the warp knitting machine. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the communication device The device is connected to a remote maintenance device. An auxiliary device for adjusting a warp knitting machine, which has an auxiliary device for monitoring a knitting tool area, wherein the auxiliary device includes a camera with which a knitting tool area can be recorded, and the auxiliary device is provided with a A display on which the knitting tool area can be displayed, the auxiliary facility is characterized in that: a plurality of actuating elements for generating a plurality of adjustment signals are assigned to the monitor, and the actuating elements cause a plurality of individual The movement of the rod and the knitting tool connected to it, wherein the auxiliary device includes an application program for generating the adjustment action. The auxiliary facility of claim 10, wherein the camera includes a variable focus function. The auxiliary device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the display is designed as a touch-sensitive display, and the actuating elements are formed by designated areas of the display. The auxiliary facility of claim 10 or 11, wherein the camera is provided on a communication device. The auxiliary device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the auxiliary device is wirelessly connected to a controller of the warp knitting machine.

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