Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04B—KNITTING
  • D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
  • D04B15/08—Needle latch openers; Brushes
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04B—KNITTING
  • D04B9/00—Circular knitting machines with independently-movable needles
  • D04B9/26—Circular knitting machines with independently-movable needles for producing patterned fabrics
  • D04B9/28—Circular knitting machines with independently-movable needles for producing patterned fabrics with colour patterns
  • D04B9/34—Circular knitting machines with independently-movable needles for producing patterned fabrics with colour patterns by plating

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a thread guide organ of a circular knitting machine, in particular for knitwear or hosiery.
• the invention further relates to a circular knitting machine comprising the guide organ.
• the invention further relates to a method for realizing a "vanise" or "plated” knitting working.
• the present invention relates to the technical sector of circular knitting machines for knitwear, seamless knitting, hosiery and the like.
• Circular knitting machines are typically provided with guide organs of the threads. These guide organs are located externally of the needle cylinder and face the needle cylinder, typically at a thread feed point, or thread feeder, of the knitting machine. In greater detail, the guide organs are usually positioned at the thread feeder devices of the knitting machine (the thread guide groups) which have the task of dispensing the threads to the needles of the knitting machine.
• the guide organs are interposed between the thread guides and the forming plane of the knitting on the cylinder, and exhibit an operating surface that is facing the cylinder needles. This operating surface is for containing the movement of the tongues of the needles in rotation with the cylinder, so as to prevent the tongues from closing accidentally before having received the thread (or threads) necessary for the formation of the knitting stitch.
• the needle during the formation of the knitting stitch the needle must exhibit, wound about the shaft thereof, the knitting loop formed by the preceding thread feeder; as it proceeds in the rotation thereof, the needle begins to rise, thanks to the action of the needle cams, in order to collect the following thread.
• the tongue is brought into the open position and passes above the knitting loop; then the needle, with the tongue open, receives a new thread, after which it descends and, during the descent, the tongue closes (rotating) by effect of the thrust imparted by the knitting loop present on the needle itself.
• the needle, bearing the new thread creates a new knitting loop; the formation cycle of the knitting can then carry on with a new rising of the needle.
• the guide organ with the frontal surface thereof facing the cylinder, prevents the tongues from closing: in this way it is certain that the needles, ready to receive the respective thread, have the tongue thereof correctly open.
• the guide organ is therefore positioned in the knitting machine in such a position as to ensure that the tongues of the needles (which have unloaded the previous stitch and are rising) will be kept open until the collection of the new thread. Subsequently, the tongue can be closed and the presence of the guide organ is no longer required. In fact, at the points where the needles descend there is no surface active on the tongues.
• the guide means of known type are not free of drawbacks and can be improved in various respects.
• feeding threads typically run between the cylinder and the guide organ, i.e. "pass in front of” the operating surface of the guide organ and reach the needles.
• a drawback of circular knitting means is given by the presence, sometimes, of bent and/or "crooked needles", i.e. needles having the head thereof inclined slightly outwards.
• the bent or crooked needles in addition to being difficult to identify, lead to a significant problem: during the passage thereof in front of the guide organ, protruding radially from the seating thereof in the needle cylinder, they can interfere (in particular with the external side of the head thereof) with one or more feeding threads.
• This interference which can typically consist of a contact or a dragging of the needle on the thread, can damage the feeding threads or can disturb it, i.e. by diverting it from the path thereof, displacing it and thus introducing errors or imprecision in the formation of the stitches.
• This phenomenon of interference between bent or crooked needles and feeding threads assumes particular significance in certain knitting processes and increases in entity with the increasing fineness of the needle cylinder (i.e. the number of needles per inch); in fact a greater number of needles corresponds to a greater fineness, which finer needles are slimmer and therefore more subject to bending phenomena.
• the “vanise” process also known as plating.
• This process involves the simultaneous use of two threads in the same needle: a first thread, known as the "bottom thread” and a second thread, known as the "plated thread", each fed by a respective thread guide.
• the result of this process consists in a fabric that has only the bottom thread visible on the outer side, while having only the plated thread visible on its inner side.
• the plating knitting process combines two separate threads (typically having different characteristics) in a single fabric, which is characterized by two sides with different properties, depending on the thread that is visible on each side.
• a plating process requires a precise positioning of the bottom thread and the plated thread internally of the head of the needle, and this - in turn - requires that the two threads, fed by respective thread guides, assume a respective given feeding trajectory from the thread guide to the needle, so as to perform a correct positioning of the threads.
• a hook-shaped needle has a "tip”, i.e. the end of the needle that is openable and closable by the tongue, and a "shoulder", at which the head is connected to the needle shaft.
• the tip of the head is located in a more external position, i.e. more distant from the main axis of the cylinder, while the shoulder of the head is located in a more internal position, i.e. nearer to the main axis of the cylinder.
• the plated thread (intended to be on an internal side of the fabric) has to be positioned internally of the head of the needle, towards the tip of the head itself, while the bottom thread (intended to be on the outside the fabric) must also be positioned internally of the head of the needle but towards the shoulder of the head. In this way, the bottom thread is positioned closer (radially) to the axis of the cylinder, while the plated thread is positioned further (radially) from the axis of the cylinder.
• Another known solution consists in selecting the respective heights of the thread guides bearing the bottom thread and the plated thread, in order to try to feed the two threads in the head of the needle with a certain inclination and obtain the correct positioning of the two threads inside and outside the head.
• this solution requires a registration (or calibration) of the position of the thread guides that is complex to obtain.
• this solution also has limitations in the positioning of the two threads in the head, which may differ from the desired positioning or vary among the thread guides between the different feeders of the machine.
• the aim underlying the present invention in the various aspects and/or embodiments thereof, is to provide a guide organ for the threads of a circular knitting machine, a circular knitting machine comprising the organ, and/or a method for realizing a plating knitting process that is able to obviate one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ for the threads of a circular knitting machine, which guide organ can keep the tongues of the rotating needles open with the aim of enabling the needles to correctly collect the feeding threads.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ of the threads of a knitting machine, which guide organ is capable of precisely defining the trajectory of one or more feeding threads.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ that is particularly suitable for plating knitting processes.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ able to correctly position, internally of a needle head, the threads necessary for the realization of a plating knitting textile processing, in particular a plated thread.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ able to prevent any bent or crooked needles that may be present from damaging one or more in-feeding threads, in particular a plated thread.
• a further aim of the present invention is to disclose a guide organ for the threads of a circular knitting machine, and a method for realizing a plating knitting process, which enables obtaining a plated fabric that is high-quality and/or free from imperfections.
• the invention relates to a guide organ for the threads of a circular knitting machine, the guide organ being destined to be mounted to a fixed structure of a circular knitting machine, in such a way as to be positioned externally of the needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine housing a plurality of needles and being rotatable about a main axis of the needle cylinder.
• the guide organ comprises at least an operating surface destined to be facing the needle cylinder and to extend along at least an angular portion of the needle cylinder, the operating surface being configured for keeping the tongues of the needles open, in rotation with the needle cylinder, during the passage of the needles in front of the operating surface, and for defining trajectories of the threads.
• the operating surface is destined to be positioned at a feeding point of thread to the needles, in such a way that the tongues of the needles are kept open and the needles are able to receive the respective thread or threads.
• the guide organ further comprises a guide surface, distinct from the operating surface, configured for guiding a plated thread, borne by a thread guide of the knitting machine, the plated thread sliding on the guide surface so as to form, together with a bottom thread, a plating knitting operation.
• the operating surface has a curved progression and develops concentrically to the needle cylinder, the operating surface having a centre of curvature located on the main axis of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface is defined by a step recessing from the operating surface, distancingly from the main axis of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface is realized by means of a beveling (or ramp), defining the step, recessing from the operating surface towards an outside of the needle cylinder.
• the operating surface develops on a first diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter occupied by the tongues of the needles in rotation with the needle cylinder.
• the operating surface is destined to be positioned, when the guide organ is mounted to the knitting machine, at a height corresponding to a maximum height reached by the tongues of the needles in rotation with the needle cylinder, and/or at the maximum height reached by the tongues of the needles when they exit the "knitting plane".
• the step defining the guide surface defines an abutting surface developing on the second diameter and substantially concentric to the operating surface, the guide surface being radially interposed between the operating surface and the abutting surface.
• the abutting surface is configured for radially containing the plated thread positioned and slidable on the guide surface.
• the guide surface has an extension, in a radial direction with respect to the main axis of the needle cylinder, that is such as to contain at least a portion of thickness of a plated thread, preferably the whole thickness of a plated thread, preventing the thread from being located at a smaller distance than or equal distance to the first diameter.
• the operating surface is configured for being positioned at the diameter wherein the tongues of the needles move through during the rotation of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface develops longitudinally between an initial end, corresponding to the point at which the plated thread, in the feeding direction from the thread guide to the point where the plated thread, begins to slide on the guide surface, and a final end, corresponding to the point at which the plated thread, in the feeding direction from the thread guide to the needles, separates from the guide surface and proceeds beyond the guide surface.
• the initial end of the guide surface is positioned, in the guide organ, at a height that is equal to or higher than a vertical height of a meeting point between a trajectory of the heads of the rotating needles in a needle-retracted position and the plated thread.
• the initial end of the guide surface is destined to constitute the initial contact point between the plated thread and the guide organ.
• the final end of the guide surface is destined to constitute the terminal contact point between the plated thread and the guide organ.
• the guide surface and/or the abutting surface are configured for being the only surfaces of the guide organ in contact with the plated thread.
• the guide surface transversally crosses the guide organ so as to completely separate the operating surface from the abutting surface.
• the guide organ is configured for directing the plated thread to the needles according to a determined configuration, with the aim of obtaining a correct plating knitting processing by means of the plated thread and the bottom thread.
• the head of a hooked needle exhibits a "tip”, i.e. the end of the needle that is openable and closable by the tongue, and a "shoulder", at which the head is connected to the shaft of the needle, the tip of the head being in a more external position, i.e. more distanced from the main axis of the cylinder, while the shoulder of the head is in a more internal position, i.e. nearer to the main axis of the cylinder.
• the plating knitting process includes inserting a pair of threads, i.e. a bottom thread and a plated thread, into the head of a same needle, the bottom thread being positioned towards a shoulder of the needle head and the plated thread being positioned towards the tip of the needle head, in such a way that the bottom thread is radially neared to the axis of the needle cylinder and the plated thread is radially distanced from the cylinder head.
• a pair of threads i.e. a bottom thread and a plated thread
• the plating knitting process realizes a fabric characterized by an external side and an internal side.
• the bottom thread (positioned towards the shoulder of the needle head) is destined to be on the external side of the knitted fabric, while the plated thread (positioned towards the tip of the needle head), is destined to be on the internal side of the knitted fabric.
• the guide surface is conformed, orientated and shaped (in particular the guide surface and/or abutting surface thereof) so as to guide the plated thread so that it reaches the needle, positioning, internally of the needle head, towards the tip of the head, i.e. in a radially more external position with respect to the position assumed by the bottom thread in the head of the needle, the bottom thread positioning towards the shoulder of the head, i.e. in a radially closer position to the axis of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface, on which the plated thread slides, entering the guide organ with respect to the operating surface and being at a greater diameter with respect to the operating surface is configured for preventing contact (and/or interference or interaction) of the rotating needles (in particular the heads of the needles) with the plated thread.
• the guide surface and the abutting surface are configured for containing, in a radial direction with respect to the main axis, a plated thread, preventing the thread from contacting the operating surface and/or from radially distancing beyond the abutting surface.
• this containing process is achieved by a cooperation of the guide surface and the abutting surface, which define a containing space in which the plated thread slides.
• the operating surface is configured so as to radially contain the motion of the tongues of the needles of the needle cylinder.
• the guide organ comprises:
• a mounting portion configured so as to enable mounting the guide organ to a fixed structure of a circular knitting machine
• the present invention relates to a knitting machine, in particular a circular knitting machine for knitwear, hosiery or the like, comprising:
• the fixed structure comprises a support ring developing circumferentially about the needle cylinder (arranged about the needle cylinder and concentric thereof), the guide organ being mounted to the support ring.
• the support ring is a part of a knitting head of the knitting machine.
• the knitting machine comprises a plurality of guide organs, distributed, preferably uniformly, on the support ring and each positioned at a respective feeding point of the knitting machine.
• the knitting machine comprises a plurality of devices for feeding thread to the needles, or thread guide groups, each comprising a plurality of thread feeder organs, or thread guides, the thread guides being configured for feeding the needles of the knitting machine with the threads necessary for formation of the stitches, each of the thread guide groups being mounted to the support ring at a respective feed point, or thread feeder, of the knitting machine, each of the guide organs being mounted to a respective thread guide group.
• the present invention relates to a method for realising a plated thread processing, the method comprising steps of:
• the step of feeding the needles of the knitting machine comprises a step of guiding the plated thread by means of the guide surface of the guide organ.
• the guide surface is conformed and orientated so as to guide the plated thread in such a way that is reaches the needle, becoming positioned in the head of the needle towards the tip of the head of the needle, i.e. in a radially more external position with respect to the position assumed by the bottom thread in the head of the needle, the bottom thread being towards the shoulder of the head of the needle, i.e. in a radially closer position to the axis of the needle cylinder.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a guide organ of the threads of a circular knitting machine according to the present invention
• figure 2 is a view from above of the guide organ of figure 1 ;
• figure 3 is a larger-scale view of a portion of figure 1 ;
• FIG. 4 is a possible embodiment of a circular knitting machine, comprising a guide organ of the needles according to the present invention; some parts have been removed and in particular the needle cylinder and a device for feeding thread to the needles of the knitting machine (or "thread guide group") are shown, located at a feeding point, or "thread-feeder", of the knitting machine;
• FIG. 5 is a larger-scale view of a portion of figure 4, showing in particular the thread-feeding device (or thread guide group) and the guide organ of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 and 7 are further enlargements of portions of figure 4, showing in detail the guide organ of the present invention: visible are a pair of needles (shown by way of example here and in the "unloaded" needle position), two thread guides and the two threads (bottom thread and plated thread) for manufacturing a plating knitting process;
• figure 7A is similar to figure 7, with the difference that the two needles are shown by way of example in the needle "retracted” position;
• FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a needle for knitting machines.
• the reference number 1 denotes in its entirety a guide organ, for a circular knitting machine, in accordance with the present invention.
• the same reference number is used for the same or similar elements, possibly in their variant embodiments.
• Figure 1 illustrates a possible embodiment of a guide organ for the threads of a knitting machine according to the present invention
• figure 4 instead illustrates a possible embodiment of a knitting machine according to the present invention, with some parts removed.
• the illustration of the knitting machine is focused on the needle cylinder, on the device for feeding thread to the needles and on a guide organ; the elements shown are those which are functional to the understanding of the present invention.
• the base of the knitting machine, the command organs of the knitting head, the section comprising the central processing unit and other parts of the knitting machine are not shown in detail in the figures, as known perse and of conventional type.
• the guide organ 1 is intended to be mounted to a fixed structure 51 of a circular knitting machine 50, in such a way as to be positioned externally of a needle cylinder C of the circular knitting machine, which houses a plurality of needles N and is able to rotate around a main axis X of the needle cylinder.
• Figure 8 schematically illustrates a needle N, comprising a shaft, a head H and a tongue T able to open and close with respect to the head H by means of a rotation with respect to a fulcrum thereof.
• the needle cylinder C can have a variable diameter depending on knitting requirements; for example the diameter can be 4 inches, 8 inches, 16 inches, 24 inches, etc..
• the needle cylinder can be, in an equivalent manner, a needle plate.
• the guide organ 1 comprises at least an operating surface 5 intended to be facing the needle cylinder and to extend along at least an angular portion of the needle cylinder.
• the operating surface 5 is configured to maintain tongues T of the needles open, in rotation with the needle cylinder, during the passage of the needles in front of the operating surface, and to define the trajectories of the in-feeding threads.
• the operating surface 5 is intended to be positioned at a feed point F of thread to the needles, or "thread feeder", in such a way that the tongues T of the needles are kept open and the needles are able to receive the respective feeding thread or threads.
• the guide organ 1 further comprises a guide surface 7, distinct from the operating surface 5, configured so as to guide a plated thread B, borne by a thread guide 61 of the knitting machine.
• the plated thread B flows between the guide surface 7 and the abutting surface 9 so as to form, together with a bottom thread A, a plating knitting process.
• the "plating" knitting process comprises insertion of a pair of threads, namely a bottom thread A and a plated thread B, into the head H of a same needle N, the bottom thread A being positioned towards the shoulder of the needle head and the plated thread B being positioned towards the tip of the needle head, in such a way that the bottom thread is radially closer to the axis X of the needle cylinder and the plated thread is radially distanced from the axis X of the cylinder.
• the plating knitting process creates a fabric characterized by an external side and an internal side. In plating knitting processing the bottom thread (positioned towards the shoulder of the head of the needle) is intended to be on the outer side of the finished fabric, while the plated thread (positioned towards the tip of the head of the needle) is intended to be on the inner side of the finished fabric.
• the operating surface 5 is preferably curvilinear and develops concentrically to the needle cylinder C, the operating surface having a centre of curvature located on the main axis X of the needle cylinder.
• the operating surface 5 preferably lies substantially on a cylindrical surface that is concentric with respect to the needle cylinder C.
• the guide surface 7 and the abutting surface 9 preferably define (or are defined by) a step 8 recessed from the operating surface 5 distancingly from the main axis X of the needle cylinder C.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably positioned in the guide organ so that, when the guide organ 1 is mounted to the knitting machine 50, the guide surface 7 is adjacent to a thread guide 61 holding the plated thread B.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably orientated transversally with respect to the operating surface 5.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably in the form of a bevelling (or ramp), defining the above- mentioned step 8, recessed from the operating surface 5 towards the outside of the needle cylinder C.
• the operating surface 5 preferably develops on a first diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter occupied by the tongues T of the needles N in rotation with the needle cylinder.
• the operating surface 5 is preferably intended to be positioned, when the guide organ is mounted to the knitting machine, at a height corresponding to the maximum height reached by the tongues of the needles in rotation with the needle cylinder.
• the step 8 defining the guide surface 7 preferably recesses from the operating surface 5 up to a second diameter, greater than the first diameter (i.e. more distanced from the main axis of the needle cylinder).
• the step 8 defining the guide surface preferably also defines the abutting surface 9 developing on the second diameter and substantially concentric to the operating surface.
• the guide surface 7 is radially interposed between the operating surface 5 and the abutting surface 9.
• the abutting surface 9 is preferably configured for radially containing the plated thread B positioned and sliding on the guide surface 7.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably transversal to the abutting surface 9.
• the guide surface 7 is configured for guiding the plated thread B and radially positioning it, while keeping it at a distance from the main axis that is greater than the first diameter.
• the guide surface 7 and the abutting surface 9 preferably cooperate to guide the plated thread B.
• the trajectory of the plated thread B, guided by the guide surface 7 and/or the abutting surface 9, is shown by way of example in figure 7, in which the two needles N are represented in the "unloaded" needle position.
• the guide surface preferably has an extension, in a radial direction with respect to the main axis of the needle cylinder, such as to contain at least a portion of the thickness of a plated thread B, more preferably the entire thickness of a plated thread, preventing the thread from being positioned at a distance of less than or equal to the first diameter.
• the guide surface 7 preferably terminates frontally (i.e. towards the needle cylinder) on a front edge 7a shared with the operating surface 5.
• the guide surface 7 preferably terminates posteriorly (i.e. distancingly from the needle cylinder) on a rear edge 7b shared with the abutting surface 9.
• the guide surface and the abutting surface define between them a "corner" (corresponding to the said rear edge) configured for guiding the plated thread.
• the operating surface 5 is preferably configured for being positioned at the diameter travelled by the tongues T of the needles during the rotation of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface 7 preferably develops longitudinally between an initial end 11 , corresponding to the point where the plated thread B, in the feeding direction from the thread guide towards the needles, starts to slide on the guide surface, and a final end 12, corresponding to the point where the plated thread, in the feeding direction from the thread guide towards the needles, separates from the guide surface and proceeds beyond it.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably inclined downwards, the initial end 11 lying at a higher height than the final end 12.
• the initial end 11 of the guide surface is preferably positioned in the guide organ at a height equal to or greater than the vertical dimension of a meeting point between the trajectory of the heads H of the needles N rotating in the retracted needle position and the plated thread B.
• the guide surface preferably begins superiorly at a height that is higher than the height occupied by the heads of the needles in motion (in the retracted needle position) when they reach the plated thread.
• the plated thread is guided (by the guide surface) starting from a vertical height that is greater than the passage trajectory of the heads of the needles in the retracted needle position, so that the heads of the needles cannot interfere with, in particular cannot enter into contact with, the plated thread.
• the initial end 11 of the guide surface is preferably destined to constitute the initial point of contact between the plated thread B and the guide organ.
• the final end 12 of the guide surface is preferably destined to constitute the terminal point of contact between the plated thread B and the guide organ.
• the step 8, defined by the guide surface 7 and the abutting surface, is preferably configured for being the only element of the guide organ in contact with the plated thread B.
• the guide surface 7 preferably transversally crosses the guide organ so as to completely separate the operating surface 5 from the abutting surface 9.
• the abutting surface has a fundamental role for the guide organ, as it enables restricting the radial movement of the plated thread distancingly from the needle cylinder.
• the plated thread can be guided solely by the abutting surface, following a trajectory raised by the guide surface; in this case the plated thread is in contact with the abutting surface, and slides on it.
• the guide organ 1 is preferably configured for directing the plated thread B to the needles N according to a determined configuration, in order to obtain a correct plating knitting processing with the plated thread and the bottom thread.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably shaped and orientated so as to guide the plated thread B so that it reaches the needle N, becoming positioned in the head H of the needle, towards the tip of the needle head, i.e. in a radially more external position with respect to the position assumed by the bottom thread in the head of the needle, the bottom thread being positioned towards the shoulder of the needle head, i.e. in a radially closer position to the axis of the needle cylinder.
• the guide surface is configured for positioning the plated thread at (or towards) the tip of the head of the needle (when the needle picks up the plated thread), or in a (radially) more external position, with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder, than the position assumed by the bottom thread in the head.
• the guide surface or the step are preferably configured in such a way as to prevent contact (and/or interference or interaction) of the needles in rotation with the plated thread.
• the guide surface or the step are configured such as to prevent contact between the plated thread and the outside of the rotating needle heads (especially the needles in retracted needle position).
• the guide surface is preferably step-configured for containing a plated thread in a radial direction with respect to the main axis, preventing it from becoming located at the operating surface or from radially distancing beyond the abutting surface 9.
• the operating surface is preferably configured such as to radially contain the motion of the rotating needles of the needle cylinder, in particular any radial movements, towards the outside of the needle cylinder.
• the guide organ comprises a notch - in place of the above-mentioned step - recessing from the operating surface away from the main axis of the needle cylinder and defining the guide surface, the abutting surface and an upper surface.
• the upper surface is facing superiorly the guide surface, and the abutting surface is interposed between - and connects - the guide surface and the upper surface.
• the upper surface preferably extends parallel to the guide surface.
• the notch is preferably orientated with substantially the same inclination as the above-mentioned guide surface 7.
• the abutting surface is defined by the bottom of the notch.
• the notch is intended to accommodate the plated thread slidably internally thereof, in such a way that the plated thread is inferiorly contained by the guide surface, laterally (in a radial direction) by the abutting surface and superiorly by the upper surface. This embodiment therefore enables containing the plated thread, limiting both the lowering and the raising thereof.
• the guide organ 1 preferably comprises:
• a mounting portion 2 configured so as to enable mounting the guide organ to a fixed structure of a circular knitting machine
• the mounting portion 2 and the operating portion 3 are preferably solidly constrained to one another.
• the guide organ 1 is preferably a single-piece body.
• the guide organ 1 preferably comprises mounting means, for example one or more screws, configured for mounting the mounting portion 2 to the circular knitting machine 50.
• the mounting portion 2 is preferably configured for being mounted, preferably removably, to a thread guide group 60 of a knitting machine 50.
• the guide organ of the present invention is calibrated both in height, i.e. along a direction parallel to the main axis of the needle cylinder, and radially, i.e. in terms of radial distance from the main axis.
• the knitting machine 50 comprises:
• the fixed structure 51 preferably comprises a support ring 52 extending circumferentially around the needle cylinder C (arranged around the needle cylinder and concentric thereto), the guide organ being mounted to the support ring 52.
• the support ring 52 is preferably part of the knitting head of the knitting machine.
• the knitting machine preferably comprises a plurality of guide organs, distributed - preferably uniformly - on the support ring and each positioned in a respective feed point F, or "thread feeder", of the knitting machine.
• the knitting machine 50 preferably includes a plurality of devices 60 for feeding thread to the needles, or "thread guide groups” 60, each comprising a plurality of thread feed organs, or “thread-guides", the thread guides being configured for supplying threads, necessary for the formation of the stitches of the fabric, to the needles of the knitting machine.
• Each of the thread guide groups is mounted on the support ring at a respective thread feeder of the knitting machine.
• Each guide organ is preferably mounted to a respective thread guide group.
• the bottom thread A and the plated thread B, used in plating knitting processing are fed by two separate and preferably non-adjacent thread guides of a same thread feeding device, or thread guide group.
• the plated thread B is fed by one of the first thread guides (denoted in the figure by the number 61). More in detail, the plated thread is usually the first thread added to the knitting under formation (the thread guide "closest to the thread feeder").
• the guide surface 7 is therefore made , in the guide organ 1 , preferably in a position that is such as to properly guide the plated thread, considering that it comes from the first thread guide 61.
• the bottom thread A is instead typically fed by one of the following thread guides, furthest from the knitting stitching point; this thread guide is denoted by way of example by reference numeral 62.
• the present invention further relates to a method for realising a plating knitting.
• the method comprises the following steps:
• a knitting machine 50 preferably a circular knitting machine
• the step of feeding the needles of the knitting machine preferably comprises a step of guiding the plated thread B by means of the guide surface 7 of the guide organ 1.
• the guide surface 7 is preferably shaped and orientated so as to guide the plated thread so that it reaches the needle and is positioned in the head H of the needle at the tip of the needle head, i.e. in a radially outermost position relative to the position assumed by the bottom thread at the same needle head, the bottom thread being at the shoulder of the needle head, i.e. in a position radially closer to the axis of the needle cylinder.
• the present invention encompasses alternative embodiments, different to the embodiment shown by way of example in the figures, in terms of size, shape and/or orientation of the guide surface 7, all having in common the function of guiding the plated thread B and/or protection of the plated thread from the passage of any bent and/or "crooked" needles.
• the size, shape and/or orientation of the guide surface can vary depending on the application, for example depending on the size of the cylinder, the fineness of the needles and/or as a function of the thread guides that feed the plated thread and the bottom thread.
• the invention attains important advantages. Firstly the invention enables obviating at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art.
• the guide organ 1 of the present invention which enables realising a plating knitting process, in fact exhibits the dual function of guiding the plated thread so that it correctly reaches the needle head (becoming positioned towards the tip of the needle head, with respect to the bottom thread, which is positioned towards the shoulder of the head), and of protecting the plated thread from the passage of any bent or crooked needles.
• the bottom surface has a very precise height and inclination, enabling creation of the conditions for the plated thread to be fed in and positioned correctly in the needle head, and the resulting plating processing knitting is of excellent quality.
• the guide organ of the present invention combines, in a single device, the traditional function of keeping the tongues of the needles open with the innovative feature of the guiding of the plated thread, using the guide surface 7 or the entire step 8.
• the same guide surface brings a further advantage, which is to protect the plated thread from impacts or interference with the needles in rotation, thus obviating the drawback represented by the bent or crooked needles.
• the present invention enables having a precise reference, represented by the guide surface, that the operator can easily use to correctly position the plated thread.
• a precise reference represented by the guide surface
• the guide surface keeps the plated thread guided and at the right height, in particular preventing it from lowering.
• the present invention enables reducing the setup time of the knitting machine and increases productivity.
• the positioning errors of the plated threads can be limited, facilitating maintenance operations. Overall, a more efficient knitting process is achieved and in particular knitted fabrics of high quality and uniformity can be achieved.
• the guide organ of the plated threads of the present invention is characterized by a competitive cost and by a simple and rational structure.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Knitting Machines (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-06-26 CN CN201410293394.4A patent/CN104775227B/zh active Active
  • 2014-12-23 WO PCT/IB2014/067265 patent/WO2015107406A1/en active Application Filing

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