WO2006056843A1

WO2006056843A1 - Yarn distributor for a straight knitting machine

Info

Publication number: WO2006056843A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/003425
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Baseggio; Michel Prost; Marcello Baseggio
Original assignee: Atelier De Construction Steiger S.A.
Priority date: 2004-11-23
Filing date: 2005-11-16
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Also published as: FR2878261B1; CN101080524B; FR2878261A1; DE13167515T1; EP1815051A1; KR20070089679A; KR101186226B1; EP1815051B1; JP2008520845A; EP2628834B1; HK1112945A1; CN101080524A; JP5042844B2; EP2628834A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a yarn distributor (1), comprising a pad (2) sliding in the track (6) of a guide-bar, a thread guide (3) with a point facing downwards, for guiding a thread to the needles of a knitting machine, a connection (9) with a connector means for connecting the same to an actuator means, the thread guide (3) having a mobile connection with vertical translation relative to the pad (2) such as to arrange the point of the thread guide just above the needle boards in a first knitting configuration and to remove the same from the knitting zone in a second non-knitting configuration. The connection (9) may permit the connector means to go from the first to the second configuration and vice versa, characterised in comprising an intermediate element (14) distinct from the pad (2), engaged with the thread guide (3) by means of a cam. The intermediate element (14) and the pad (2) may be assembled on two different guide tracks and each have a connection to a connector means for an actuator means.

Description

Thread dispenser for rectilinear knitting machine

The invention relates to a yarn dispenser for a straight knitting machine, the knitting machine itself and a knitting method.

The traditional knitting machines, as described in patent EP0246364, comprise two front and rear needle beds on which are arranged needles and on which a cam carriage moves back and forth to actuate certain needles and thus achieve rows of stitches. The carriages front and rear of each bed are integrally connected by a roll bar overlapping the beds so as to ensure the synchronization of their movement, necessary to ensure quality since the two carriages act on the needles handling the same mesh the same knit. These machines include several bar-ray parallel to the beds and arranged above the needle beds and under the arch of the cam holders. These bar-scribers support wire guides or wire distributors that slide along almost the entire length of the machine, which are equipped with a spout-wire to guide the threads to the level of the needles of the machine. Each wire feeder corresponds to one or more specific wire spool (s) and can guide one or more wire (s) to the needles. A wire feeder selection and drive device is disposed on the hoop connecting the two cam carriers, which consists of electromagnet-based devices, for operating a drive finger placed at the gate. above the bar-strippers so that a selected wire distributor can be directly grasped in order to slide it into its strip-bar, in a manner that is integral with and synchronized with the displacement of the cam carriage, in order to bring it up to the needles predefined for a knitting operation and thus allow these needles to manipulate their thread for making meshes. With each movement, the carriage can select one or more different thread distributor (s). In this type of machine, because of the presence of the arches moving parallel to the beds above the needle beds, it is not possible to route the son to the needles from the top of the machine and these son are brought by the sides of the machine almost horizontally to the wire feeders. This solution finally has the following numerous disadvantages:

the path of a wire from a coil to the wire feeder is complex and each wire is subjected to considerable tension, friction and torsion which cause premature wear of the wire, deformation of the meshes, or even breaks in the wire which cause the machine to stop. The delicate yarns are very difficult to knit;

this horizontal distribution of the wire towards the distributor of wire causes a dissymmetry of the operation of the machine;

the preceding constraints limit the speed of displacement of the cam carriage and therefore the efficiency of the machine;

-the maximum number of possible wire distributors is limited since their positioning takes place in a reduced volume between the needle and the arches of the cam carriage. On the other hand, the complexity of feeding the wires to these wire distributors also limits their number. However, to obtain various knitting possibilities, it is necessary to have a large number of son and therefore wire distributors available; the selection and drive devices for the wire distributors undergo rapid and permanent movements and many jolts, which increases their wear and reduces their service life. They also require a power supply, which is complex since they move permanently along the entire length of the knitting machine. In these traditional knitting machines, a mechanism is often provided to disengage a spout from the knitting zone when it is no longer used. For this, some devices such as that described in EP1375720, provide to slightly raise the spout or move away rotation after use, to release the passage for another thread distributor. This small displacement of the spout is made using an actuator disposed on the arch between the carriages just above the distributors of wire and which controls an actuating finger which comes into direct contact with the dispenser. wire for actuating the mechanism for moving the spout. Without such a solution, the ends of the spouts which are all in the same narrow knitting zone on the top of the needles may collide and deteriorate when the thread distributors cross. However, this actuator increases the bulk of the hoop mentioned above. In addition, it has the same disadvantage as previously induced by its permanent displacement.

Another knitting machine is described in EP0526406. It includes two needle beds whose associated cam holders are independent and have their own drive means in the form of belts. These drive means are mutually slaved to obtain the synchronization of the displacements of the two cam carriers. This solution therefore eliminates the clutter that was present above the needle beds because of the hoops used and thus has the advantage of allowing a feed of the son to the yarn distributors from above, so-called "direct threading" solution. In addition, each wire feeder has its own small electric motor to move on its bar-rayer. This solution therefore also increases the number of bars and tracks and therefore the number of wire distributors. The movements of these different independent elements, namely the two cam carriers and the wire distributors, are controlled and synchronized by a programmable logic unit microprocessor. This solution no longer has the disadvantages of the previous solution. However, it no longer allows direct interventions on the yarn distributors that were possible in the previous solutions by a simple actuating finger disposed above the bar-strippers on the hoop, and no longer allows to release a spout. wire by a vertical movement or rotation. Thus, all the spouts of this solution remain attached to their wire feeder and are always arranged at the same height very close to the needles, in the same area. When they cross, they collide, which causes their deterioration, or even their break.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine which has the advantages of the solutions of the prior art without the disadvantages.

More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine that avoids shocks between the yarns during movement of the wire distributors.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine which allows an advantageous distribution of son.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine which allows the use of a large number of yarn dispensers.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive knitting machine. The invention is based on a wire feeder comprising a slider capable of sliding in the track of a bar-stripper, a spout-wire comprising a point directed downwards able to guide a wire towards the needles of a knitting machine. , a connection with a connecting means for connecting it to a drive means, characterized in that the spout has a movable connection with respect to the pad in order to be able to arrange the tip of the spout just above the needle beds in a first knitting configuration and away from the knitting zone in a second configuration of non-knitting and in that the connection is adapted to allow the connecting means to make the passages from the first to the second configuration and vice versa.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the spout is rotatably mounted about an axis on the pad and the connection with a connecting means for connecting it to a drive means comprises a link a point, distinct from the axis, of the spout with the connecting means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the spout is movably mounted in vertical translation on the pad and the connection with a connecting means for connecting it to a drive means consists of a support allowing longitudinal sliding. on a rod-type connection means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the spout is movably mounted in vertical translation on the pad and the thread distributor comprises an intermediate element connected to the spout-yarn by a cam.

According to a variant, the intermediate element can slide relative to the pad between two extreme positions and comprises a slot in which a spool pin penetrates. According to another variant, the wire distributor comprises a separate pad and a separate intermediate element, able to be mounted on two different guide tracks, and each having a connection with a connection means to a drive means.

The spout may be mounted movable in vertical translation on the pad and the intermediate element can rotate relative to the pad between two extreme positions and connected to the spout-yarn by an eccentric connection.

Alternatively, the spout may be bonded to the slider via a channel of the slider or by at least two spindle pins placed in a vertical lumen of the slider, to allow only its relatively vertical movement. on the skate.

The yarn dispenser according to the invention may comprise a locking system to maintain the yarn-beak in one or more stable positions relative to the pad.

The spout may comprise a blade movably mounted relative to the remainder of the spout so as to be able to vary the tension of a thread, an elastic thread, or a knitting gum.

Several spouts and / or spikes may be movably attached to the same pad, simultaneously or independently.

The invention is also based on a straight knitting machine comprising at least one thread distributor comprising a slider able to slide in the track of a bar-stripper, a spout comprising a point directed downwards able to guide a thread to the needles of the knitting machine, a driving means fulfilling a first function of longitudinal displacement of the yarn dispenser in its track characterized in that it comprises a yarn dispenser as defined above, in that the drive means is positioned in an area of the machine where it does not interfere with the distribution of the yarns and in that it performs a second function of moving the spout. thread relative to the pad to disengage the tip of the spout from the knitting zone above the needle beds, and in that it comprises a connecting means for remotely connecting the drive means and the yarn dispenser.

According to one embodiment of the machine, the spout is rotatably mounted about an axis on the pad and the drive means consists of a motor and an actuator and the connecting means consists of a string or wire or belt or cable connecting the motor to the shoe and a string or wire or belt or cable connecting the actuator to the spout at a point separate from the spindle, the actuator being able to pinch the twine to cause spindle rotation -fil relative to the skate around the axis.

According to another embodiment, the spout is movably mounted in vertical translation on the pad and the drive means comprises an actuator for filling the second function, connected to the spout-wire by a rod, so that the spout It rests and can slide on the rod, and the actuator can change the vertical position of the rod, thus changing the vertical position of the spout.

According to another embodiment, the spout is movably mounted in vertical translation on the pad, the thread dispenser comprises an intermediate element movable relative to the pad and connected to the spout-yarn so as to allow its vertical movement relative to the pad, the connecting means is a string or wire or belt or cable connected to the pad and / or the intermediate element. The straight knitting machine may comprise two strings or wires or belts or cables connected to the pad and the intermediate element. The drive means may comprise two separate motors for respectively driving the two strings or wire or belt or cable.

Alternatively, the drive means of the knitting machine may comprise an actuator arranged to be able to pinch the string or wire or belt or cable.

The drive means may comprise a motor for driving the string or wire or belt or cable and a clutch system for either driving the second string or wire or belt or cable or not driving it.

The yarn dispenser pad may be mounted on a first guide track and the intermediate member may be mounted on a second parallel guide track, and the connecting means comprises two strings or yarns or cords or cables connected to the slider and the intermediate element on the one hand and a drive means on the other hand.

According to one variant, the drive means may comprise an actuating finger on a cam-carrying carriage, a driver arranged on a strip-bar close to the cam-carrying carriage so as to be driven by the actuating finger, and the linking means may consist of a string or wire or belt or cable and several pulleys to connect the trainer to the wire feeder disposed in another bar-scratcher than that of the trainer.

The invention also relates to a method of knitting a knitting machine comprising a yarn dispenser, comprising a pad and a yarn-spike movably attached to the pad to be able to occupy a first knitting configuration and a second non-knitting, comprising a step of disengaging the tip of the spout-yarn of the knitting zone, characterized in that it comprises the following step:

pinching a string-type connection means, wire, belt or cable connected to the spout-wire or to an intermediate element between the spout-wire and the pad, during the race of the thread dispenser.

Alternatively, the knitting process of a knitting machine comprising a yarn dispenser, comprising a slider and a yarn-wiper movably connected to assume a first knitting configuration and a second non-knitting, comprises a step of clearing the tip of the spout-yarn of the knitting zone, and comprises the following step:

stopping of the longitudinal movement of the thread distributor and slight stroke in the opposite direction of the pad or of an intermediate element between the pad and the spout.

These objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in detail in the following description of particular embodiments given as non-limiting in relation to the appended figures among which:

Figure 1a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 1b schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 2b schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 2c schematically shows an N-II sectional view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 3b schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the third embodiment of the invention; Figure 3c schematically shows a sectional view III-III of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 4b schematically shows a sectional view IV-IV of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 4c schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5b schematically shows a sectional view VV of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to the fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5c schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5d shows schematically a sectional view VV of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 6a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; Figure 6b schematically shows a sectional view Vl-Vl of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to the sixth embodiment of the invention; Figure 6c schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the sixth embodiment of the invention; Figure 6d schematically shows a sectional view Vl-Vl of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the sixth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7a schematically shows a view of a yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; Figure 7b schematically shows a view of a wire feeder in a rest configuration according to the seventh embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 schematically shows a view of the lower part of the yarn spout of the yarn dispenser in a knitting configuration according to the seventh embodiment of the invention. In the different embodiments, the same references will be used for the same means or equivalent means.

FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of the invention in which a wire feeder 1 comprises a shoe 2 and a spout 3, connected to the shoe 2 by a movable connection about an axis 4 of rotation. The yarn dispenser 1 is moved in the track 6 of a bar-stripper placed above the needle beds 50 of a knitting machine by a motor 5, mounted laterally, via a string 7 fixed from and the other of the pad 2 at points 9. The string 7 is driven by a shaft set in motion by the motor 5 and makes a round-trip over the entire length of the needle beds 50 around pulleys 8. A second string 10 is fixed at the spout 3 at a point 11 offset from the axis 4, linking the spout 3 and the pad 2, and also makes a round trip over the entire length of the needle bed around two longitudinal pulleys 12. A actuator 13 can occupy two stable positions, a first position shown in Figure 1a in which it does not interact with the string 10 and a second position shown in Figure 1b in which it pinches the string 10. The two strings 7 and 10 are positioned within track 6 and their encomb is very small and does not affect the yarn distribution.

In the first configuration shown in Figure 1a, the spout-wire 3 is vertical and able to distribute a needle needle needle for knitting operations. For this, the wire feeder 1 is driven by the motor 5 via the string 7 connected to the pad 2 to follow the movement of the cam carriage and distribute the wire to the activated needles. This movement of the thread distributor 1 induces the simultaneous movement of the spout 3 and the string 10 which is linked to it. The spout 3 maintains this vertical position by means of a locking device, not shown so as not to weigh down the diagram, which can rest for example on a spring or a ball screw.

When the yarn dispenser 1 is no longer used for knitting operations, it is stopped and put in its resting or parking or non-knitting configuration shown in FIG. 1b, in which the spout 3 occupies a new one. position relative to the pad 2 following a rotation in the direction of the arrow A about its axis 4. To obtain this passage in the second configuration, the actuator 13 pinches the string 10 while the motor 5 drives the string 7 and therefore the pad 2 in the direction of the arrow B. The point 11 of the spout 3 is thus held fixed by the string 10 while the point 4 of the same spout moves longitudinally to the right in the direction of the arrow B. This causes sufficient effort on the spout-wire to release it from its locking in vertical position and cause its rotation in the direction of the arrow A around the axis 4. A slight rotation of the spout-thread 3 is enough to raise enough its tip 3a of the knitting zone located above the needle beds to no longer interfere with the movement and crossing with other son-spits during knitting operations; the motor 5 is therefore programmed for a short displacement following the pinch by the actuator 13. The maintenance of this second configuration is achieved by maintaining the pinch and stopping the engine 5. Alternatively, another locking system is provided to maintain the spout in this second position stably, which can then allow the relaxation of the nip.

Obviously, a symmetrical configuration (not shown) is provided when the wire feeder moves longitudinally towards the left in the opposite direction to the arrow B, before being stopped and put in rest configuration.

For the transition from the second configuration of FIG. 1b to the first configuration of FIG. 1a for a new knitting operation, according to the first solution mentioned above, the thread distributor is provided with a spring, not shown, which recalls the spout-wire in its vertical position as soon as the actuator 13 releases the pinch. Once this position is found, the motor 5 can again move the operating wire dispenser for knitting.

In the case of the variant in which the spout is held in this second position by a locking mechanism, using a ball screw for example, the return of the spout in its first position is achieved by a displacement to the left of the pad 2 while simultaneously pinching the string 10 by the actuator 13.

In this first embodiment of the invention, a motor 5 has been used to cause displacement of the wire feeder but any other equivalent mechanism could be used. For example, the string 7 may be connected by a pulley device to a driver device disposed in another bar-scratch located near the cam carriage and which could be driven by an actuating finger of the carriage itself, thus inducing at a distance the movement of the wire feeder placed on a parallel and further spreader bar. The motor 5 would therefore no longer be necessary but replaced by the motor of the carriage and using a more complex intermediate mechanism but not bulky and less expensive to allow this setting in motion at a distance. Finally, the concept of the invention consists on the one hand in carrying out all the movements of the yarn dispenser by a motor-type drive means, the relatively bulky part of which is placed in an area of the knitting machine where it does not interfere with the operation of dispensing the wire above the beds, by a lateral positioning for example according to the embodiment shown. This drive means is thus remote from the knitting zone and a simple and space-saving intermediate connection means of wire, string, cable, belt or any equivalent type is used to bind it to the wire feeder. In the embodiment shown, this connecting means is a wire disposed in the track of the bar-stripper. On the other hand, according to the concept of the invention, the drive means performs two functions to achieve on the one hand a longitudinal movement of the yarn dispenser for the knitting operations and on the other hand a relative movement of the spout. thread relative to the yarn dispenser pad to clear the spout tip 3a when the yarn dispenser no longer participates in the knitting.

According to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1a and 1b, the drive means consists of a motor 5 and an actuator 13 arranged longitudinally in the knitting machine, at the end of a bar- scriber, and the connecting means consists of two strings 7 and 10. As will be illustrated in the following embodiments, the drive means may consist of one or more devices, such as two motors for example, and the means of binding may also consist of one or more devices, wire, cable (s), belt (s), rod (s), implementing in combination or separately its two functions mentioned above.

Figures 2a to 2c show a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 2a shows a wire feeder 1 in its knitting configuration, wherein the spout-thread 3 occupies a lower vertical position so as to be able to distribute a thread to the needles of the knitting machine. The yarn dispenser 1 comprises a shoe 2 movable in a track 6, a spout 3 connected to the shoe 2 by an intermediate element, the cam 14, disposed within a frame 17 of the shoe 2 so as to be able to slide by relative to the shoe 2 in a longitudinal direction (represented by the arrow B or its opposite direction). The element 14 comprises a slot 15 in the form of a circular arc and the spout 3 is connected to this cam movably by a pin 16 placed in the slot 15. In addition, the spout 3 is positioned in a channel 25 of the pad 2, which allows vertical movement only. The yarn dispenser 1 is moved via a driving device and by a cable 7 fixed to the element 14. This wire feeder driving device is not shown and is the same as the one used in the first execution mode.

In the knitting configuration shown in FIG. 2a, the thread distributor 1 moves longitudinally to the right in the direction of the arrow B under the effect of the driving means which pulls the cable 7 fixed to the connection point 9 to the intermediate element 14. The latter is disposed in its most extreme position on the right within the frame 17, in contact with the wall of the pad 2, and will thus drive the latter in its movement. The pin 16 of the spout 3 occupies an extreme position on the left in the light 15 and is in its lowest position.

When the yarn dispenser 1 is no longer used for knitting, it is placed in its second configuration, illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 2c, in which the spout 3 occupies a raised position which moves it away from the knitting zone. above the needle beds 50. To pass in this second configuration, the thread distributor is first stopped and then the drive means causes a slight displacement in the opposite direction to the arrow B of the intermediate element 14 so that it slides within the pad 2 to occupy a central position, with a stroke equal to half the width of the frame 17. At the same time, the pin 16 of the spout-wire 3 moves in the light 15 to its highest central position on the arc circle. This movement is made possible because it imposes a friction between the pad 2 of the wire distributor and the track 6 greater than the friction between the pad 2 and the intermediate element 14, for example by ensuring a clearance between the latter two elements. This movement of the pin 16 upwards thus raises the whole of the spout 3 in its channel 25 and moves its tip 3a away from the knitting zone.

The return to the operating position of the first configuration is achieved by a drive to the right or left of the element 14.

The element 14 moves within the pad 2 by driving the spout 3 downwards, through the movement of the pin 16 in the lumen 15, until it reaches an extreme position in the frame 17 of the pad 2 in which it is in contact with the edge of the pad 2. During this phase, the pad 2 remains stationary under the effect of the friction forces explained above. The knitting configuration is then reached.

Then, the element 14 always driven in the same direction at the same time drives the shoe 2. The element 14, the shoe 2 and the spout-wire 3 then remain motionless relative to each other and the tip of the spout-wire 3 is in the knitting position.

To obtain the effect described above, a longitudinal stroke of the element 14 in the shoe 2 equivalent to that of the pin 16 in the light 15 is provided by the appropriate dimensions of the light 15 and the width of the light. frame 17 of the pad 2. Alternatively, more dimensions large ones can be chosen for the light 15 to allow the element 14 to possibly adapt to distributors of yarn of different geometry.

In this second embodiment, the connecting means consists of a single cable 7.

Figures 3a to 3c illustrate a third embodiment of the invention which is a variant of the previous. The yarn dispenser 1 likewise comprises a shoe 2, an intermediate element 14 and a spout 3. The thread spout comprises a first pin 16a which passes through a first lumen 18 of the shoe 2 and a second lumen 15 in an arc. of the intermediate element 14. It comprises a second pin 16b passing through the slot 18 of the pad 2. The two pins 16a and 16b only allow vertical movement of the spout 3 relative to the pad 2. The yarn dispenser is moved by via a drive means not shown, and by a string 7 fixed in this variant to the connection point 9 on the pad 2 and no longer on the intermediate element 14. The latter is mounted longitudinally movable within the track 6 of the strip-bar and moves relative to the pad 2 between two extreme positions defined by the two longitudinal stops 19 of the pad 2.

In the knitting configuration shown in FIG. 3a, the intermediate element 14 is positioned in its extreme position to the left with respect to the pad 2, which moves to the right under the effect of the training means which pulls the string 7 to the right in the direction of the arrow

B. The pin 16a of the spout 3 then occupies its lowest position in the two lumens 15 and 18 and likewise, the pin 16b occupies its lowest position within the lumen 18. When this thread distributor is no longer used, it is stopped and the drive means 5 moves the shoe 2 in the opposite direction to the arrow B. This displacement causes the sliding of the shoe 2 relative to the intermediate element 14 which is stopped when this intermediate element occupies its central position. At the same time, the pin 16a moves to its uppermost position in the slots 15 and 18, as shown in Figures 3b and 3c. In this configuration, the spout 3 therefore occupies a raised position which moves its tip away from the knitting zone. This mechanism is possible because frictional forces are chosen between the intermediate element 14 and the track 6 greater than those between the shoe 2 and the intermediate element 14.

The return to the knitting configuration is the same by a longitudinal drive of the pad 2, which leads in a first time the spout-yarn down and then the whole of the yarn dispenser to the needles selected for knitting.

Figures 4a to 4c illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention which is another variant of the two previous embodiments. It differs in that the shoe 2 and the intermediate element 14 are both connected to the drive means by respectively two belts 7 and

10. The belt 7 is driven by a motor 5 and a drive shaft

8. The connection between the drive means and the wire feeder comprises four connection points 9.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show the knitting configuration of the thread distributor 1, in which the drive shaft 8 is integral with a pulley 12 of the same diameter, held in this stable position by the force of a spring 20, which drives the belt 10 so synchronized with the belt 7. By this means, the pad 2 and the intermediate element 14 are driven at the same speed and in the same direction and remain immobile with respect to each other, the spout-thread 3 thus remaining in its lowest operational position.

To cause the passage of the spout 3 in the rest configuration of Figure 4c, the actuator 13 pushes the pulley 12 down against the force of the spring 20 and disengages the motor shaft 8, in the manner of 'a clutch. In this position, the belt 10 is stopped. The motor 5 continues slightly to drive the shoe 2 through the belt 7 until the intermediate element 14 has slid into the frame 17 of the shoe 2 to its extreme position against the wall of the shoe, causing at the same time the displacement of the pin 16 within the lumen 15 and the upward vertical movement of the spout 3 within the channel 25 of the pad 2.

The repositioning of the dispenser in knitting configuration will therefore be done by a first light drive of the shoe 2 on a stroke equal to half the width of its frame 17, to refocus the intermediate element 14 and to lower at the same time the Then, the actuator 13 releases the pulley 12 which fits again in the motor shaft 8 and returns to the configuration shown in Figure 4a.

Figures 5a to 5d illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the wire feeder 1 comprises a pad 2, connected to a drive means 5 not shown by means of a cable 7, an intermediate element 14 and a spout-wire 3. The intermediate member 14 comprises an end 20 in contact with the track 6, an axis 21 passing through the pad 2 through an opening 22 which defines a axis of rotation of the intermediate element 14, then a circular portion 23 off-axis with respect to the axis 21 and placed in an oblong slot 24 of the spout-wire 3. The latter is also maintained in a channel 25 of the skid 2 allowing only its vertical movement.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the yarn dispenser 1 in the knitting configuration. The shoe 2 is driven to the right, the intermediate element 14 occupies a position turned to the left of 45 degrees about its axis of rotation 21, its circular portion being in abutment against the left edge of the oblong slot 24 and the spout-thread occupies its lowest position.

Figures 5c and 5d illustrate the second configuration of the wire feeder 1 in the rest position, the spout 3 being raised. The passage in this configuration is achieved by stopping the drive of the wire feeder and driving it in opposite directions on a small stroke to cause the movement of the pad to the left, causing simultaneously the rotation of the intermediate element 14 around its axis 21 until it reaches its vertical position. The spout is simultaneously raised. The operating principle is of the eccentric rotation type.

Figures 6a to 6d illustrate a sixth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the wire feeder 1 comprises a shoe 2, connected to a drive means not shown by means of a not shown belt, a spur 3 connected to the shoe by a connection 25. allowing it a relative vertical displacement. The spout 3 comprises a pin 16 positioned on a rod 27 connected to a bi-stable actuator 28 positioned longitudinally, which allows the rod to be able to occupy two stable positions, a low position shown in FIGS. 6b in which the spout 3 occupies its lowest position in knitting mode and a high position shown in Figures 6c and 6d in which it occupies a high position, remote from the knitting zone. Alternatively, a motor 28 may be used, allowing the rod to occupy more than two different positions.

In this embodiment, the drive means is composed of two separate devices to fulfill the two displacement functions independently. Likewise, the connecting means consists of two distinct means. Indeed, the motor 28 is dedicated to the vertical displacement of the spout 3 relative to the pad 2 by means of a clean connecting means which is a rod 27, connected to the spout-wire 3 in a single contact 9. The Longitudinal displacement of the wire feeder is achieved by a motor connected to the pad by a cable, these means not being shown. An advantage of this separation and total distinction of the drive functions is to allow optimum flexibility of use, the spout 3 being movable vertically at any time during the longitudinal movement of the wire feeder 1.

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 8 illustrate a seventh embodiment of the invention, in which the strip-bar comprises two superposed tracks 6a and 6b respectively receiving the pad 2 and the intermediate element 14, respectively connected by belts 7 and 10 to motors 5a and 5b. As a variant, the two tracks 6a and 6b could be on either side of the same bar-strip, or even on two different bar-stripers. The spout 3 consists of a first rigid element 3b supporting the tip 3a, shown in Figure 8, and a superimposed blade 3c. This blade 3c is on the one hand connected to the intermediate element 14 by a pin 16a passing through a vertical slot 30 of the first element 3b and a cam path 31 of the intermediate element 14 and secondly connected to the pad 2 by two pins 16b and 16c passing through a vertical light 18 of the shoe 2 and a vertical light of the element 3b. The latter is thus bound by these pins 16a, 16b and 16c in a movable connection vertically relative to the pad 2. It is further connected to the intermediate element 14 via a pin 26 passing through a second cam path 32 of this element 14.

FIG. 7a illustrates the knitting configuration in which the intermediate element 14 and the shoe 2 are at the same level in their respective longitudinal position on the tracks 6b and 6a. This corresponds to the lowest position of the pin 26 of the element 3b in the cam path 32, and therefore induces the lowest position of the tip 3a of the knitting yarn 3 suitable for knitting. As a remark, the blade 3c occupies a raised position, its pin 16a being in the upper part of the cam path 31. This respective position of the element 3b and the blade 3c corresponds to FIG. 8 and will be explained below. .

Figure 7b illustrates an intermediate configuration between that of knitting of Figure 7a and the rest configuration, not shown. The passage in this intermediate configuration is achieved by a shift of the intermediate member 14 relative to the pad 2 on their respective tracks 6b and 6a through the respective two motors 5b and 5a. In this new configuration, the pin 26 of the element 3b occupies a higher position in the cam path 32 and begins to raise the tip 3a of the spout-yarn away from the knitting zone. At the same time, the blade 3c occupies a low position relative to the element 3b. This respective movement of the blade 3c relative to the remainder of the spout allows, simultaneously with the rise of the tip 3a of the spout, to implement a braking function of the thread 40 used for knitting and therefore of variation of the tension of the wire, which also makes it possible to better control its distribution.

Figure 8 illustrates the lower part of the spout 3 in its knitting configuration. The first element 3b of the spout comprises a guide 35 for the thread 40, comprising two protuberances 36a and 36b. The blade 3c passes through this guide 35 and forms a loop 37 oriented towards the protuberances 36, thus forming a chicane-type circuit for the knitting yarn 40. When the blade 3c moves vertically relative to the element 3b, the loop 37 approaches one of the protuberances 36, which causes an increase in friction on the wire 40 and the increase of its voltage. For example, in the configuration of Figure 7b, the loop 37 has moved closer to the protuberance 36a. In the rest configuration not shown, which would be obtained by a greater displacement to the left of the intermediate element 14, so as to position on the one hand the pin 16a in its lowest position and the pin 26 in its position the highest, thus raising the tip 3a of the spout-wire, the loop 37 bears against the protrusion 36a, which causes the pinching of the wire 40 completely preventing its scrolling.

The spout-thread described above thus implements this braking function of the wire through a blade movable vertically relative to the rest of the spout-wire, this vertical movement being directly combined with that of parking the spout-wire . This respective movement of the two elements 3b and 3c of the spout is defined by the shape of the cam paths 31 and 32. As illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the slope of the cam path 32 begins. before that of the path 31, which allows the blade to start a braking of the wire 40 to slow it while the spike tip is still in knitting operation. All other variants are possible among which: braking the yarn during knitting, for a particular application that would require tensioning the yarn during knitting;

braking and pinching of the yarn only when the spout is in the rest or non-knitting position. As the movements of the intermediate element 14 and the pad 2 are made by a drive means comprising two independent motors 5a and 5b, their respective positioning can be dynamically modified during the work of the distribution of the wire during the operation knitting, in order to implement the functions of tension of the thread and / or resting.

This function of braking or variation of the tension of the thread is particularly useful in the field of orthopedics for which products are knitted using an eraser. In this type of application, it is necessary, especially when parking the rubber dispenser, to keep the rubber under tension. It is also suitable for knitting from an elastic yarn.

In the various previous embodiments 1 to 7, the means used have a symmetry to allow to obtain an identical result irrespective of the direction of movement of the wire feeder, from left to right or vice versa. Such a result can be envisaged with a combination of non-symmetrical elements but with different relative motions.

In the various embodiments 1 to 6, the spout 3 has been simplified into a single element for the sake of clarity but can alternatively consist of several elements. For example, it may consist of a first rigid portion attached to the pad, serving as a support for a softer and lighter, movable part, which includes the tip of the spout-yarn. The Thus, the movement of the spout may consist of a movement of a light element at the tip of the spout, this movement being transmitted by other elements of the spout-thread positioned towards the pad.

The invention may also be applied to a yarn dispenser comprising a plurality of spouts, or a yarn spout comprising a plurality of spikes, able to move simultaneously or independently of each other to be clear of the knitting zone.

The above variants have described solutions for clearing the tip of a spout-yarn of a knitting zone above the needle beds by a rotational movement or vertical lift. However, the principle of the invention could be taken over for any other type of movement of the tip of the spout with respect to the needle beds, causing its release from the knitting zone, for example by cam paths of different shapes for the adapt to particular situations. In addition, the various elements of the different embodiments described, such as the drive means, the connecting means, the mechanical connection between the pad and the spout, could be combined to lead to other modes of operation. execution.

Finally, the solution according to the invention achieves the desired objects and has many advantages, among which:

it allows a release of the tip of the spouts-son in rest in order to avoid their friction, shock and discomfort with another spout in knitting operation and / or with the needles in ascension;

it allows an advantageous distribution of knitting yarns from the top, by a minimum size of the volume located above the needle beds. The last execution mode also allows a further improvement of the yarn distribution by controlling its tension;

it can be implemented with a large number of wire distributors; it is simple and inexpensive.

Claims

claims

1. Thread dispenser (1) comprising a pad (2) adapted to slide in the track (6) of a bar-rayer, a spout (3) comprising a tip directed downwards adapted to guide a wire to the needles of a knitting machine, a link (9) with connecting means for connecting it to a drive means, the spout (3) having a movable connection in vertical translation with respect to the pad (2). ) in order to be able to arrange the tip of the spout just above the needle beds in a first knitting configuration and away from the knitting zone in a second configuration of non-knitting, the link (9) being able to allow the connecting means of carrying out the passages from the first to the second configuration and vice versa, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate element (14) separate from the pad (2) connected to the spout-thread (3) by a cam, the intermediate element (14) and the shoe (2) being able to be mounted on two different guide tracks rents, and each having a connection with a connecting means to a drive means.

2. Thread dispenser (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the spout (3) is connected to the pad (2) via a channel (25) of the pad or by at least two pins ( 16b, 16c) placed in a vertical slot (18) of the pad (2), to allow only its vertical movement relative to the pad (2).

3. Thread dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a locking system to maintain the spout-thread (3) in one or more stable positions relative to the pad (2).

4. Thread dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the spout comprises a blade (3c) mounted movably relative to the remainder of the spout so as to be able to vary the tension of a yarn (40), an elastic yarn, or a knitting gum.

5. Thread dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spouts (3) and / or several spikes (3a) movably connected to the same pad (2), so simultaneous or independent.

6. Flat knitting machine comprising at least one yarn dispenser

(I) comprising a shoe (2) capable of sliding in the track (6) of a scribing bar, a spout (3) comprising a point directed downwards able to guide a thread towards the needles of the machine knitting machine and a link (9) with a connecting means (7, 10) for remotely connecting it to a drive means filling a first function of longitudinal displacement of the thread distributor (1) in its track (6) characterized in that the spout (3) has a movable connection with respect to the pad (2) in order to be able to arrange the tip of the spout just above the needle beds in a first knitting configuration and to move it away from the knitting zone in a second non-knitting configuration and in that the driving means is positioned in an area of the machine where it does not interfere with the distribution of the threads and in that it performs a second function of moving the spout. -fil (3) relative to the pad (2) to clear the tip (3a) of the yarn-spout of the z knitting over the needle beds (50).

7. Flat knitting machine according to claim 6 characterized in that the spout (3) is rotatably mounted about an axis (4) on the pad (2) and in that the drive means consists of a motor and an actuator (13) and the connecting means consists of a string (7) or wire or belt or cable connecting the motor to the shoe (2) and a string (10) or wire or belt or cable connecting the actuator (13) at the spout (3) at a point

(II) separate from the axis (4), the actuator being able to pinch the string (10) to causing the spindle (3) to rotate relative to the shoe (2) about the axis (4).

8. Flat knitting machine according to claim 6 characterized in that the spout (3) is mounted movable in vertical translation on the pad (2) and in that the drive means comprises an actuator (28) for filling the second function, connected to the spout (3) by a rod (27), so that the spout (3) rests and can slide on the rod (27), and in that the actuator (28) can change the vertical position of the rod (27), thus changing the vertical position of the spout (3).

9. Flat knitting machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the spout (3) is mounted movably in vertical translation on the pad (2), in that the thread distributor (1) comprises an intermediate element (14). ) movable relative to the pad (2) and connected to the spout (3) so as to allow its vertical movement relative to the pad (2), in that the connecting means is a string (7; 10) or thread or belt or cable connected to the shoe (2) and / or the intermediate element (14).

10. Flat knitting machine according to one of claims 7 or 9 characterized in that it comprises two strings (7, 10) or son or straps or cables connected to the shoe (2) and the intermediate member (14). .

11. Flat knitting machine according to claim 10 characterized in that the drive means comprises an actuator (13) arranged to be able to pinch the string (10) or wire or belt or cable.

Flat knitting machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the drive means comprises a motor for driving the string (7) or wire or belt or cable and a clutch system (12, 13). to drive the string (10) or wire or belt or cable or not to drive it.

13. Flat knitting machine according to claim 10 characterized in that the drive means comprises two separate motors for respectively driving the two strings (7, 10) or wire or belt or cable.

14. Flat knitting machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the shoe (2) is mounted on a first guide track (6a) and in that the intermediate element (14) is mounted on a second guide track (6b) parallel and in that the connecting means comprises two strings (7, 10) or wires or belts or cables connected to the shoe (2) and to the intermediate element (14) on the one hand and to a means drive (5a, 5b) on the other hand.

15. Flat knitting machine according to one of claims 6 to 14 characterized in that the drive means comprises an actuating finger on a cam carrier carriage, a trainer arranged on a bar-stripe close to the trolley cam of to be able to be driven by the actuating finger, and in that the connecting means consists of a string or wire or belt or cable and several pulleys for connecting the trainer to the wire distributor disposed in another bar-scratcher than that of the coach.

16. A method of knitting a knitting machine comprising a yarn dispenser (1), comprising a pad (2) and a yarn-spout (3) movably connected to the pad to be able to occupy a first knitting configuration and a second non-knitting, comprising a step of disengaging the tip (3a) of the spout (3) of the knitting zone, characterized in that it comprises the following step: pinching a string-like connection means, wire, belt or cable connected to the spout (3) or to an intermediate element (14) between the spout (3) and the pad (2), during the race of the wire feeder.

17. A method of knitting a knitting machine comprising a yarn dispenser (1), comprising a pad (2) and a yarn-spout (3) movably connected to the pad to be able to occupy a first knitting configuration and a second non-knitting, comprising a step of disengaging the tip (3a) of the spout-thread (3) of the knitting zone, characterized in that it comprises the following step: -stopping the longitudinal movement of the thread distributor (1) and slight stroke in the opposite direction of the pad (2) or an intermediate element (14) between the pad (2) and the spout (3).