WO2010121803A1

WO2010121803A1 - Flatbed knitting machine having at least one thread guide that can be moved along a thread guide rail

Info

Publication number: WO2010121803A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/002450
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Günther Haltenhof
Original assignee: H. Stoll Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2009-04-23
Filing date: 2010-04-21
Publication date: 2010-10-28
Also published as: JP5531305B2; JP2012524842A; EP2243871A1; EP2243871B1; CN102439208A; CN102439208B

Abstract

A flatbed knitting machine having at least one thread guide (1) which can be moved along a thread guide rail (100) and comprises a thread feed part (2) that can be adjusted in the vertical direction, wherein a control element (3, 5, 8) that can be rotatably driven about an axis extending in parallel to the thread guide rail (100) is provided, with which the thread feed part (2) of the thread guide (1) can be acted on at any position of the thread guide (1) on the thread guide rail (100) and can be adjusted in the vertical position thereof.

Description

Flat knitting machine with at least one länαs a yarn guide rail movable yarn guide

Description :

The invention relates to a flat knitting machine having at least one yarn guide which is movable along a yarn guide rail and has a yarn feed part which can be adjusted in the vertical direction.

With modern high performance flat knitting machines, complex knits can be made, often requiring a large number of different knitting threads to make a single knit. There are always some of the yarn guides for these knitting yarns in an operating position and others in an out of action position. The more knitting threads and therefore yarn guides are in use, the more critical is their positioning such that their threads do not cross over and that they do not impede the needle movements necessary for stitch formation and the movements of adjacent yarn guides. During their out of action position, the thread guides should normally be located at a safe distance above the comb gap between the opposing needle beds. On the other hand, if the thread guides guide the needles to a thread, then it may even be necessary for a secure thread insert to bring the thread guide into the comb gap down to below the needle cross, ie the point of intersection of the expelled needles of both needle beds. In the case of yarn guides whose yarn feed part is of tubular design, it may also be necessary for it to protrude into the comb gap even with its yarn feed part in its off-mode position.

In order to realize the different requirements for the vertical position of a thread guide, self-propelled thread guides have therefore been proposed in WO 2006/056843 whose distance from the comb gap is adjustable. The known yarn guides have vertically movable mounted Fadenzuführteile, which are adjustable by means of a horizontally movable rail in height. The horizontal movement of the rail is translated into a vertical movement of the rail by the rail is mounted by means of inclined slots on connected to the thread guide rail bolt. If now the rail is displaced in the horizontal direction, it also performs a vertical movement, which transmits it to the yarn feed part of the yarn guide.

However, this solution can only be used for knitting machines with a short needle space, since the rail has such a large mass with increasing length that it can only be accelerated and decelerated with difficulty at the required speed. In the cited WO 2006/056843 also a yarn guide is shown with a vertically adjustable yarn feeding, in which the vertical movement of the yarn feeding is achieved by cams. The cams are located in a control plate which is movable parallel to the yarn guide rail. The yarn guide and the control plate are each moved by separate drive units. Due to a short-term difference in speed between the control plate and the thread guide, the thread feed part slides by means of a bolt along the cam and we thereby raised or lowered. For joint guidance of the control plate and the thread guide, this design requires a relatively high thread guide rail, for the modern flat knitting machines usually no installation space is available. In addition, the thread guides and the control plates must be controlled by means of highly dynamic electric motors, which must be exactly synchronized. This solution is therefore complex and costly.

In JP 2001-64854 a separately driven special yarn guide is described, which also has a height-adjustable yarn feeding. The yarn guide is moved over a toothed belt, which is driven by a yarn guide drive motor. The height adjustment of the Fadenzuführteils is effected by controls that are driven by a second toothed belt. As long as both belts have the same speed, there is no change in the height position of the Fadenzuführteils. By a short-term difference in speed of the two toothed belts, however, a height adjustment of the Fadenzuführteils is effected. Also for this solution highly dynamic electric motors and accurate synchronization of the two motors are required, whereby this proposed solution is also costly. The present invention has for its object to provide a flat knitting machine with thread guides, the yarn feeding parts are height adjustable in a simple and cost-effective manner.

The object is achieved with a flat knitting machine having at least one yarn guide which is movable along a yarn guide rail and which has a yarn feed part that can be adjusted in the vertical direction, which is characterized in that a control member rotatably driven about an axis extending parallel to the yarn guide rail is provided in that the thread feed part of the thread guide can be acted on at each position of the thread guide on the thread guide rail and is adjustable in its vertical position.

In the solution according to the invention, the control for height adjustment of the yarn feed part only has to be moved when a

Changing the height position is required. Constant movement of control plates or control mics as with some of the

Embodiments according to the prior art is therefore not necessary here.

Thus, the drive of the control can be made relatively simple

2o the and is exposed to relatively low loads.

Another advantage of the flat knitting machine according to the invention is that the thread guides do not have to have a separate drive. Rather, they can also be moved by means of drivers through the 25 slides of the flat knitting machine. Furthermore, the solution according to the invention of adjusting the height of the yarn feeding parts of the thread guide can also be used in machines with very long needle beds and thus very long travel paths of the thread guides. It is advantageous if the control extends parallel to the yarn guide rail over the entire range of motion of the yarn guide. In this way, it is ensured with the least possible effort that the position of the yarn feeding part of the yarn guide can be adjusted to 5 any arbitrary position of the yarn guide in his space of movement.

Further advantages are obtained when the thread feed part can be locked by the control in its vertical position. Arranging does not require any additional components.

The yarn feed part can be acted upon by the control either directly or indirectly via one or more intermediate members. The more complex solution with pontics may be preferable to i5 especially if this allows a more favorable power transmission from the control element to the thread supply part.

In a preferred embodiment of the flat knitting

20 machine, the control can be mounted on the thread guide rail. The storage can be done not only at the ends of the control, but also at intermediate points, so that a precise height adjustment of Fadenzuführteils is ensured even in machines with a large needle space. It can not be wrong

25 come due to deflections of the control.

The height adjustment of the Fadenzuführteils can be done in stages or preferably continuously. A stepless adjustability of the vertical position of the yarn feeding part allows the best adaptation to the respective knitting conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the flat knitting machine, the control element is substantially wave-shaped or tubular and has on its surface one or more longitudinally extending projections or depressions, with which the thread supply part or at least one cooperating with this intermediate member can be brought. The design of the control element as a drivable shaft or tube gives it a high rigidity and also allows easy pivoting and storage of the control.

In a first variant of a thus designed control element, the control element can only have a longitudinal projection whose free longitudinal edge has a substantially circular cross-section and can be brought into positive engagement with a recess in the yarn feed part or in an intermediate member connected to the yarn feed part. The thread feed part or the associated intermediate member can slide during the movement of the yarn guide along this projection. If the control element is not pivoted during the sliding of the yarn feed part along the projection, then the projection provides for locking the height position of the yarn feed part. If, on the other hand, the vertical position of the yarn feed part is to be changed, then the control element can be pivoted during the movement of the yarn guide or when the yarn guide is at a standstill and the yarn feed part can thereby be raised or lowered.

In this case, the recess in the thread feed part or in the intermediate member may preferably be formed as a substantially U-shaped groove which engages around the free longitudinal edge of the projection in a form-fitting manner. In this way, a simple conversion of the rotational movement of the control elements in the required translational movement of Fadenzuführteils possible.

In a further variant, the control element can have on its surface a toothing extending along the control element, with which toothing arranged on the thread supply part or on an intermediate element can be brought into engagement. Even with this solution, the rotational movement of the control can be translated in a simple manner in the vertical movement of the Fadenzuführteils. At the same time, the toothing on the control element serves to lock the once set vertical position of the thread supply part. An adjustment of the vertical position is also possible here during the movement of the thread guide or in its breastfeeding.

In a further embodiment, the control member may have the shape of a longitudinally slotted tube and inside the tube an intermediate member rotatably and longitudinally displaceably mounted, which has a passing through the slot of the control outward protrusion or toothed portion with which the yarn feed is engaged or is engageable. In this solution, therefore, the transmission of the rotational movement of the tubular control element via an intermediate member mounted in the control takes place. This is displaceable inside the tubular control element and along it. The outwardly projecting projection or toothed area can be brought into engagement with the thread supply part of the thread guide, thereby fixing or adjusting its height position. These functions can be performed while the thread guide is moving or when it is at a standstill. But the control can also have the form of a shaft on which a provided with a projection or a toothing intermediate member is rotatably mounted and longitudinally displaceable. The intermediate member can for this purpose completely or partially surround the shaft and act on the projection or the toothing on the Fadenzuführteil.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of thread guides with height-adjustable Fadenzuführteilen and their drive devices according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In detail show:

Fig. Ia is a front view of a yarn guide, a yarn guide rail and a first control;

Fig. Ib is a view in the direction of arrow X on the yarn guide

Fig. Ia;

Ic is a schematic representation of the vertical displacement path of the yarn feeding part of the yarn guide of Fig. Ia;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the yarn guide of FIG. 1a along the line A-A; FIG.

Fig. 3 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 with a second

Configuration of a control element and a Fadenzuführteils; Fig. 4 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 of a third

Embodiment of a control element and a Fadenzuführteils;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding to FIG. 2 representation of a fourth

Embodiment of a control element and a Fadenzuführteils;

Fig. 6 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 of a fifth embodiment of a control element and a

Fadenzuführteils;

Fig. 7 is a corresponding to Fig. 2 representation of a sixth

Embodiment of a control element and a Fadenzuführteils.

In Fig. Ia, a yarn guide 1 is shown, which has a Fadenzuführteil 2, which is mounted in a height adjustable in a bearing piece 11 which is arranged on a yarn guide box 10. The yarn guide 1 is longitudinally movably mounted on the yarn guide box 10 on a yarn guide rail 100 and can be moved by a driver attached to a carriage of a flat knitting machine, not shown here, or by a separate drive in the direction of the double arrow HB. The yarn feeding part 2 is in the illustrated example in such a vertical position that the lower end 21 of the yarn feeding 2 is located above the needle NK and thus can not supply thread here not shown. To change the height position of the yarn feed part 2, a control 3 is provided, with which the upper end 22 of the yarn feed 2 is positively connected. The control 3 is at least as long as the movement By a device not shown here, a rotational movement can be introduced into the control 3, which causes movements of the yarn feed 2 in the directions of the double arrow VB.

As the side view of Fig. Ib shows, the control element 3 is formed by a shaft 31 having a longitudinal projection 32. Depending on its length, the shaft 31 is pivotally mounted in a plurality of bearing blocks 4 such that a circular groove 41 of the bearing blocks 4 comprises the shaft 31 of the control element 3 at an angle of> 180 °. The bearing blocks 4 are connected to the thread guide rail 100. The free edge of the projection 32 is also formed in cross-section substantially circular, as in particular, the detailed representation in Fig. 2 shows. The upper end 22 of the yarn feeding member 2 has a substantially U-shaped groove 23 (FIG. 2) which includes the circular cross-sectional area of the projection 32.

In FIG. 1c, the maximum adjustment path VBS of the thread feed part 2 is shown schematically. The lower tip 21 of the Fadenzuführteils 2 can assume a lowest position, which is below the needle cross and is designated UNK. In the highest position ONK of the tip 21, this lies clearly above the needle cross NK. Between two positions UNK and ONK, the yarn feeding part 2 can be moved continuously by means of the control element 3. This is achieved by a corresponding pivotal movement of the control element 3, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 2. Once the yarn guide 1 is moved along the yarn guide rail 100, the U-shaped groove 23 of the yarn feed 2 moves along the circular cross-sectional area of the projection 32 of the control 3. Thus, the projection 32 also serves to fix the Vertical position of the yarn feed 2 during the movement of the yarn guide 1 and at its standstill.

In the following FIGS. 3 to 7, further embodiments of control elements in connection with the upper end 22 of the yarn feed part 2 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 are shown. Components with the same functions as the components in Fig. 2 are provided with identical reference numerals. In all examples shown, a rotational movement of the control element is translated into a translatory movement of the yarn feed part 2.

Fig. 3 shows a control, which is designed as a control shaft 5. The drive device of the shaft 5 is not shown here. The bearing of the control shaft 5 is identical to the mounting of the shaft 31 of the control element 3 in Fig. 2. The control shaft 5 has a rod-shaped portion 51 which is held in a bearing block 4. On the surface, the control shaft 5 has a toothed region 52 which extends over the entire length of the control shaft 5. At the upper end 22 of the yarn feed 2 a toothing 24 is also provided in this embodiment, which is in engagement with the teeth 52 of the control shaft 5. If the yarn guide 1 is moved along its yarn guide rail, the toothing 24 of the upper end 22 of the yarn feed part 2 also moves along the toothing 52 of the control shaft 5.

4 and 5 show variants in which the control is again configured in the form of a shaft, the transfer of the movement to the upper end 22 of the Fadenzuführteils 2 but indirectly via intermediate links. In the variant shown in Fig. 4, the control shaft 5 is a profiled shaft which comprises of a U-shaped holder 110 and is fixed in its height position. The holder 110 is attached to the bearing piece 11 of the yarn guide box 10 (FIG. 1a). On the control shaft 5 is a s lever 6 rotatably as an intermediate member and guided longitudinally displaceable. The lever 6 has at its free longitudinal edge on a circular cross-sectional area 61, which is surrounded by a U-shaped groove 23 of the upper end 22 of the yarn feed 2. As soon as the thread guide is moved along its thread guide rail, it also moves the lever 6 along the control shaft 5. The height position of the thread feed part 2 is determined by the pivot position of the control shaft 5 and thus also of the lever 6.

In the variant of Fig. 5, the control is also an i5 profile shaft 5 as in the variant of FIG. 4 and is also stored in an identical manner as this. Here is now on the profile shaft as an intermediate member, a toothed segment 7 rotatably and guided longitudinally displaceable. The toothed segment 7 has a toothing 71, which is in engagement with a toothing 24 at the upper end 22 of the yarn feed part 2. Also here 2o takes the thread guide 1 in its movement along the yarn guide rail 100 with the toothed segment 7, which then slides along the shaft 5.

In the solutions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the control element 25 has the shape of a longitudinally slotted tube. In this intermediate members are used, which are in engagement with the upper end 22 of the yarn feed 2. In the variant according to FIG. 6, the control element in the form of a tube 8 is rotatably mounted in one or more bearing blocks 4. Inside the tube 8, a lever-like intermediate member 6 is arranged, which projects through the longitudinal section 81 of the tube 8 to the outside. An adjustment of the vertical position of the Fadenzuführteils 2 is achieved by a rotation of the tube 8. In the inner surface 82 of the tube 8, a circular cross-sectional area 61 of the lever 6 is guided longitudinally movable. By the boundaries 83, 84 of the slot 81 of the tube 8, the pivotal movement of the tube 8 is transmitted to surfaces 62, 63 of the lever 6 and thereby pivoted with it. The free end 64 of the lever 6 also has a substantially circular cross-section and protrudes into a slot-shaped groove 25 of the upper end 22 of the Fadenzuführteils 2. Once the yarn guide 1 is moved along its yarn guide rail, it also moves the lever 6 along the inner surface 82nd of the tube 8.

In the variant shown in Fig. 7, the control is also a pivotally mounted tube 8, in which a toothed segment 7 rotatably and longitudinally displaceably guided, similar to the lever 6 in the variant of Fig. 6. The toothing 71 of the toothed segment 7 is In this variant, the yarn guide 2 moves the sector gear 7 along the inner surface 62 of the tube 8, as it moves along the Thread guide rail 100 moves.

The embodiments shown are merely exemplary. Other embodiments are possible.

Claims

P a n t a n s p r e c h e

5 1. Flat knitting machine with at least one along a yarn guide rail (100) movable yarn guide (1) having a vertically adjustable yarn feed part (2), characterized in that a parallel to the yarn guide rail (100) extending axis rotatably driven lo Control element (3, 5, 8) is provided, with which the yarn feed part (2) of the yarn guide (1) at each position of the yarn guide (1) on the yarn guide rail (100) can be acted upon and adjusted in its vertical position.

2. Flat knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (3, 5, 8) extends parallel to the yarn guide rail (100) over the entire movement space of the yarn guide (1).

3. flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the yarn feed part (2) by the control

20 (3, 5, 8) can be locked in its vertical position.

4. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn feed part (2) by the control element (3, 5, 8) directly or indirectly via one or more intermediate members (6, 7) can be acted upon.

5. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (3, 5, 8) is mounted on the yarn guide rail (100).

6. flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, 5, characterized in that the vertical position of the yarn feed part (2) is infinitely adjustable.

7. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (3, 5, 8) is substantially rod-shaped or tubular and has on its surface lo one or more longitudinal projections (32, 52) or recesses, with which the yarn feed part (2) or at least one interacting with this intermediate member can be brought into engagement.

8. Flat knitting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the control element (3) has a longitudinal projection

(32) whose free longitudinal edge has a substantially circular cross-section and is in a form-fitting manner with a recess (23) in Fadenzuführteil (2) or with the Fadenzuführteil (2) connected to the intermediate member 20 is engaged or engageable.

9. Flat knitting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (23) in the yarn feed part (2) is designed as a substantially U-shaped groove.

10. Flat knitting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the control element (5) has on its surface a along the control (5) extending toothing (52), with the one at Fadenzuführteil (2) or an intermediate member

5 arranged toothing (24) is engaged or engageable.

11. Flat knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control element (5) has the shape of a longitudinally slotted tube (8) and in the interior of the tube (8) lo an intermediate member (6, 7) rotationally fixed and longitudinally displaceable is mounted, which has a through the slot (81) of the control (8) to the outside passing projection (62) or toothing region (71) with which the yarn feed part (2) is engaged or engageable.

12. Flat knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control element (5) has the shape of a shaft on which a with a projection (61) or a toothing (71) provided intermediate member (6, 7) rotatably and is mounted longitudinally displaceable.

20 13. Flat knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn guide (1) via a driver from the carriage of the flat knitting machine or a separate drive along the yarn guide rail (100) is movable.

25