CN111826786A - Method for making mesh knitted fabric on circular knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for making mesh knitted fabrics in a circular knitting machine, the method comprising: a needle holding cylinder (2) and a circular sinker seat (4) are rotated in a first rotational direction so that a selected displacement The loop sinkers (9, 10) are moved towards the central axis (X‑X) of the knitting machine and the respective forward position; raising and lowering the needle next to the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) in the forward position (3), while the needle holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate in the first rotation direction and pass through the yarn feeding system, and the textile yarn fed by the yarn feeding system is loaded to the selected transfer stitch on the noses (15) of the sinkers (9, 10) to make elongated extended loops; the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinkers that rotate in the second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction seat (4) to move the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) radially away from the central axis (X‑X), towards their respective rear positions, to raise the needle (3) to the retracted position, in order to remove the extension loop from the nose (15) into the needle (3A) of the needle (3), continue to rotate in the second direction of rotation until it passes the yarn feed system, and then at the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) Lower the needle (3) when it is in the rear position, respectively.

Description

Method for making mesh knitted fabric on circular knitting machine

technical field

The present invention relates to a method for producing a mesh knitted fabric on a circular knitting machine, and to a circular knitting machine for carrying out said method.

In particular, the present invention relates to the sequence of movements of the mechanisms (needles and sinkers) of a circular knitting machine for making mesh knitted fabrics.

For example, the present invention relates to a circular knitting machine (an intarsia machine or a diamond machine) configured to manufacture fabrics with intarsia patterns, enterprises are able to manufacture mesh knitted fabrics.

Background technique

As is known, circular knitting machines comprise a needle holding element (needle holding cylinder and/or needle holding plate) and means for easily controlling the movement of the needles to form the knitted fabric, one or more continuous needles along a circular Paths (circular needle beds) are arranged on the needle holding element. The knockout sinkers are arranged in a radial seat, which is an annular body (sinker seat) surrounding the needle cylinder, and the sinkers cooperate with the needles to make the knitted fabric.

It is known to manufacture mesh knitted fabrics when specific designs are carried out with circular knitting machines.

Document GB449404 discloses a circular knitting machine provided with sinkers between the needles and on which interstitch rings are formed. At least one of the sinkers includes a protruding side portion configured to move the moving expansion loop loops onto adjacent needles to form a mesh in the knitted fabric.

Document GB377794 discloses a circular knitting machine equipped with an unwinding device having a pair of blades arranged on both sides of the sinker, and the unwinding device is configured for unwinding and arranging the loops on one or two adjacent needles.

Document GB410831 discloses a circular knitting machine comprising sinkers provided with hooks or a pair of hooks placed on the sides of conventional sinkers. The hooks are configured and moved to transfer the expansion loops to a pair of adjacent needles and create a mesh fabric in the fabric. When the hook has to work, the selector jack moves the sinker in which the hook is integrated. The selector jack comprises a swing arm provided with a jack that interacts with a plurality of cams belonging to the actuating device.

For example, in EP1620590 to the same applicant, a circular knitting machine (intarsia machine) for making fabrics with an intarsia pattern is disclosed.

Intarsia is a weaving technique that enables the use of different colored yarns in the same course to obtain a pattern. Intarsia techniques are often used to create colorful patterns. As for the woodworking technique of the same name, it seems like a jigsaw puzzle to put together different colors and materials. Unlike other multi-color weaving techniques, only the "active" color is on the specified loop, and the yarn is not woven to the wrong side. When the color of a given row changes, the old yarn will be hung.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the frame of a circular knitting machine as described above, the applicant has found that there are some disadvantages.

First of all, the applicant has observed that the above-mentioned known knitting machine for making mesh knitted fabrics and the method of making mesh knitted fabrics that can be achieved by this known knitting machine do not allow the manufacture of mesh areas that differ from one another of complex fabrics.

In particular, the Applicant has observed that some of said known machines cannot individually select the elements designed to make the mesh, since these elements are guided by a triangle and have to perform all the same movements during each revolution of the machine. As a result, the number, arrangement and other characteristics of the mesh to be made are preset and difficult to change.

The Applicant has further observed that the known machines cannot manufacture fabrics with mesh areas in a fast and flexible manner.

In this context, the object of the present invention is, in various aspects and/or embodiments, to propose a method of making a mesh knitted fabric and a circular knitting capable of producing mesh knitted fabrics with the most varied characteristics machine. .

Another object of the present invention is to propose a method for manufacturing mesh knitted fabrics and a circular knitting machine capable of manufacturing mesh knitted fabrics which can flexibly manufacture different fabrics according to the characteristics of the fabrics. An open piece to get on fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making mesh knitted fabrics and a circular knitting machine capable of making highly complex mesh knitted fabrics in a relatively short manufacturing time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing mesh knitted fabrics and a circular knitting machine capable of manufacturing mesh knitted fabrics, so that more patterns and/or effects of the knitted fabrics can also be obtained, such as , without the need to mechanically reconfigure the machine itself or parts of it.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circular knitting machine configured for the production of fabrics with intarsia patterns (intarsia or diamond), which can also be produced according to the above object Mesh knitted fabric.

These and other possible objects, which will become better from the description below, are essentially by a method of making a mesh knitted fabric and a method for making a mesh according to one or more of the appended claims Circular knitting machines for knitting fabrics are realized. Various combinations, possibly also in combination with the preceding claims, are possible according to the following aspects and/or embodiments.

In this specification and the appended claims, the words "upper," "lower," "above," and "below" refer to the orientation of the machine during normal operation with the central axis of rotation in a vertical position and the barrel The needle of the needle is facing up.

In this specification and the appended claims, the words "axial", "circumferential", and "radial" relate to said central axis.

In this specification and the appended claims, the words "inoperative", "removing the loop" and "dropping out" relate to the position and function of the needle, respectively. In particular, in the rest position, the needle is in a fully lowered or retracted position in the holding cylinder so as not to catch the yarn supplied by the yarn feeding system to form a loop. In the unwinding position, the needle is in a non-working raised position, picking up the textile yarn supplied by the yarn feed system without shedding the knitting loop located inside its needle. In the drop-off position, the needle is in a fully raised position in order to pick up the textile yarn provided by the yarn feed system and to drop the knitting loop on its needle bar.

Some aspects of the present invention are listed below.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a circular knitting machine.

On the one hand, circular knitting machines include:

Needle-holding barrel and circular sinker seat with a common central axis;

A plurality of needles mounted on the needle-holding barrel can be extended and moved along its longitudinal direction, and have needles arranged around a central axis to define a circular needle bed;

a plurality of knockout sinkers mounted on a circular sinker seat, movable in a radial direction relative to the central axis, and having jaws configured to cooperate with needles to make knitted fabrics;

A plurality of transfer sinkers mounted on a circular sinker seat, placed beside the drop-off sinkers, can move in the radial direction relative to the central axis, and have lugs for engaging with needles to Made of mesh knitted fabric;

at least one yarn feed system associated with a corresponding set of needles, a corresponding set of knock-off sinkers, and a corresponding set of transfer sinkers for feeding at least one textile yarn into the circular needle bed;

Among them, the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotatable around the central axis relative to the yarn feeding system.

In one aspect, the machine is configured for making a mesh knitted fabric and/or for carrying out a method of making a mesh knitted fabric.

In one aspect, the method includes or the machine is configured to:

i. Rotating the needle holding barrel and the circular sinker seat around the central axis (X-X), radially driving selected ones of the transfer sinkers towards the central axis (X-X) and towards the respective advanced positions Movement; raising and lowering the selected section moves forward to some needles next to the transfer sinkers, while the needle-holding cylinder and circular sinker seat rotate and move through the at least one yarn feed system, by the feeder The textile yarn fed by the yarn system is loaded on the nose of the selected transfer sinker, thereby making the elongated extension loop;

ii. Rotate the needle holding barrel and the circular sinker seat around the central axis (X-X), radially drive the selected transfer sinkers to move radially toward their respective rear positions and away from the central axis (X-X); raise the needle at least to the unwinding and/or unwinding position in order to remove the extension stitch from the nose into the needle head of the needle, and continue to rotate until the at least one yarn feed system has passed, then lower the needle while the selected transfer stitch the position of the sinkers behind their respective;

Wherein step i is performed while the needle-holding barrel and the circular sinker holder rotate at least along the first rotation direction, and step ii is performed when the needle-holding barrel and the circular sinker holder rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction performed while rotating; or wherein step i is performed while the needle-holding barrel and the circular sinker seat are rotated in a first rotational direction and then rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and step ii is performed when the needle-holding barrel is rotated and the circular sinker holder is performed when rotating in the first direction of rotation.

In other words, when the needle cylinder and the circular sinker block are rotated in an alternating rotational motion, the textile yarn is applied one or more times on the nose of the transfer sinker selected for making the spreader stitches , then place the extension coil located on the nose into the needle.

The applicant has found that the present invention is capable of solving the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art, thereby attaining the intended objects.

Applicants have first discovered that the present invention enables the manufacture of expansion loops by alternating motion of the machine by working to manufacture highly complex mesh knitted fabrics in a relatively short period of time.

Applicants have also found that the present invention enables the manufacture of various types of mesh knitted fabrics with different characteristics through a specific selection of the transfer sinkers required to manufacture the mesh to be manufactured.

In fact, the applicant has found that the machine according to the invention is highly flexible, as it allows to switch from one way of making one knitted fabric to another in a quick and relatively simple way.

Other aspects of the invention are listed below.

On the one hand, the circular knitting machine is an intarsia machine, ie a machine configured for making fabrics with an intarsia pattern (intarsia or diamond).

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine is configured for alternating rotary motion.

On the one hand, circular, for example, intarsia knitting machines comprising at least two yarn feed systems, or at least four yarn feed systems, work with selected needles on an arcuate segment of reciprocating rotational movement around a central axis.

In one aspect, the at least two yarn feed systems cooperate to form each course by rotating in two directions.

In one aspect, at least one motor is operably connected to the needle barrel and the sinker block to rotate them about a central axis.

In one aspect, a cam and/or other type of device is arranged around the needle-holding barrel in order to convert the rotational movement of the needle-holding barrel into axial movement of the needle.

In one aspect, the knitting machine comprises at least one needle selector transversely facing the circular cylinder, which can directly or indirectly select said respective set of transfer sinkers on command.

On the one hand, the selected transfer sinker is selected by means of the needle selector.

In one aspect, the at least one yarn feeding system is spaced apart from the corresponding needle selector by a distance on the circumference.

On the one hand, the needle holding barrel and the circular sinker holder are rotatable about the central axis relative to the needle selector.

In one aspect, the knitting machine includes a plurality of needle selectors, eg, each placed on a yarn feed system operatively associated with a different needle selector.

In one aspect, the yarn feed system is offset relative to the corresponding needle selector by an angle, for example, by an angle of 90° to 180°, in order to make the mesh.

In one aspect, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers operatively associated with the yarn feed system and the needle selector have an angular extension, eg. Less than or equal to 180°, such as 90° or less, such as 45°.

In one aspect, the knitting machine includes a four-way yarn feed system at an angle (ie, 90°) relative to each other and four needle selectors at an angle (eg, 90°) relative to each other. Each of the yarn feeding systems is angularly offset, eg, 90°, with respect to the respective needle selector in order to make a mesh.

On the one hand, each yarn feeding system includes a yarn feeder.

On the one hand, the yarn feeder can be moved between a working position and a resting position.

On the one hand, in the working position, the yarn feeder is located radially outside the cylinder so that the needle can capture the textile yarn.

On the one hand, in the rest position, the yarn feeder is located radially on the inside of the cylinder to prevent the needle from snagging the textile yarn.

In one aspect, at least some of the knockout sinkers are arranged on one side with transfer sinkers.

On the one hand, the transfer sinkers help to form the respective extension coils.

On the one hand, there are right shifting sinkers and left shifting sinkers on both sides of at least some of the decoupling sinkers, that is, each decoupling sinker is flanked by a pair of shifting sinkers, and each pair of shifting sinkers is Coil sinkers help form an extended coil.

In one aspect, each transfer sinker or pair (left and right) of the transfer sinker cooperates with a single needle or a pair of adjacent needles to form a respective extension stitch.

On the one hand, the right-moving ring sinker and the left ring-moving sinker are installed, and the knock-off sinker is used alternately with a single knock-off sinker, that is, there is no right-moving ring sinker and left ring-moving sinker.

In one aspect, the transfer sinkers have respective lugs that are offset to one side relative to the respective knock-off sinkers.

On the one hand, the right and left shifting sinkers have respective noses which are offset to one side towards the opposite side of the respective knock-off sinker and are eg placed above the respective knock-off sinker. In one aspect, the lugs are configured for loading and extending the expansion loops and disposing them on respective single needles or two respective adjacent ones of respective knockout sinkers disposed on opposite sides needle and form the mesh. By using two transfer sinkers with one drop sinker, a larger and better mesh can be created for a balanced knit without twisting or wrinkling.

On the one hand, each knock-off sinker equipped with a ring-moving sinker, or with a right-hand ring-moving sinker and a knock-off sinker with a left-hand ring-moving sinker is connected to the ring-moving sinker, or with the right The transfer sinker and the left transfer sinker are accommodated together in the corresponding grooves.

On the one hand, each knock-off sinker equipped with a ring-moving sinker, or a knock-off sinker with a right-hand ring-moving sinker and a knock-off sinker with a left-hand ring-moving sinker, is in the respective groove relative to the moving ring sinker. The ring sinkers slide radially.

In one aspect, the transfer sinker, or the right transfer sinker and the left transfer sinker, slide radially in the respective groove and relative to the respective knock-off sinker.

In one aspect, each individual knockout sinker is received in a respective groove for radial sliding in said groove.

On the one hand, the selected transfer sinker is selected by the needle selector laterally facing the circular needle bed, and the transfer sinker can cooperate directly or indirectly with each transfer sinker of a group of transfer sinkers on command.

On the one hand, step i. is performed only in the first rotational direction, wherein the textile yarn is loaded at least twice to the nose of the selected transfer sinker, so that at least the first and second yarn feeding systems Double expansion coils are formed in turn.

According to an aspect of the preceding aspect, step ii is performed only in the second rotational direction, wherein the double expansion loops on the nose are taken off on the second yarn feed system.

According to the description of the previous two aspects, when the needle cylinder and the circular sinker block rotate in the first direction of rotation, the textile yarn is loaded on the transfer sinker on the first yarn feeding system, and again on the second yarn feeding system. The yarn feed system is loaded onto the same transfer sinker to make two elongated extension loops. Then, when the needle-holding cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the second rotational direction, the two elongated expansion loops, on the second yarn feeding system, come off into the needle head.

On the other hand, before performing step i, the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the first direction of rotation and then in the second direction of rotation, and the textile yarn is loaded to the selected transfer stitch On the nose of the sinker at least twice, make a double expansion loop on the same yarn feed system.

According to an aspect of the preceding aspect, step ii is performed while the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in a first rotational direction, wherein the double expansion stitches on the nose are removed from the single-pass yarn feed system The tablet is removed from the nose.

According to the description of the first two aspects, when the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the first rotation direction, the textile yarn is loaded on the transfer sinker on the yarn feed system, and then again on the same yarn feed system are loaded onto the same transfer sinker, while the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the second rotational direction, thereby forming two elongated extension stitches. Then, when the needle holding cylinder and the circular sinker block are rotated in the first rotational direction, the two elongated expansion loops are unwound into the needle head on the same yarn feed system.

In one aspect, prior to step i, the method includes (or configures the knitting machine to):

- upstream of the respective needle selector with respect to the first direction of rotation, moving the set needles, a set of knock-off sinkers and a set of transfer sinkers, wherein the transfer sinkers are located at the rear;

- start the needle selector;

- rotating the needle holding barrel and the circular sinker seat around the central axis and in the first rotational direction, thereby selecting at least a portion of the transfer sinkers in a set of transfer sinkers, The center axis and the respective advance positions are moved.

In one aspect, in step ii, the needles do not pick up textile yarns from the yarn feeding system when the rotation continues to the at least one yarn feeding system. Therefore, the needle does not make a coil by only contributing to the mesh.

On the one hand, the yarn feeder of the yarn feed system is moved to a rest position so that the needles do not pick up the textile yarn from the yarn feed system.

On the one hand, in step ii, when the rotation continues to the at least one yarn feeding system, the needle hooks another yarn, and cooperates with the knock-off sinker to make a loop. In this variation, in addition to contributing to the mesh, the needles also make loops.

On the one hand, the yarn feeder of the yarn feed system is kept in the working position, so that the needles can pick up further textile yarns from the yarn feed system.

In one aspect, step ii includes (or the knitting machine is configured to):

- Selected transfer sinkers are moved radially away from the central axis by keeping the needle in the rest position and/or in a position below the unwinding position (i.e. the position where the needle cannot catch the yarn) ;

- Raise the needle at least in the unwinding position so that the nose of the selected transfer sinker is next to the needle;

- further moving the selected transfer sinker radially from the central axis to said rear position to unhook the extension loop on the lug into the needle;

- Continue to rotate until the yarn feed system is passed without the needle picking up the textile yarn from the yarn feed system, or the needle reaches the drop and/or unloop position and takes additional yarn from the yarn feed system to settle with the drop loop Pieces are matched to make coils;

- After taking off the extension stitch, lower the needle when the selected transfer sinker is in the backward position.

In one aspect, the needle holding cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the second rotational direction until the set needles, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers move back upstream of the respective needle selectors.

In one aspect, in steps i and ii, all transfer sinkers in a set of transfer sinkers are selected to produce a mesh knitted fabric.

According to another aspect, in steps i and ii, only some of the transfer sinkers in the set of transfer sinkers are selected to manufacture partial mesh knitted fabrics.

In one aspect, moving the selected transfer sinker radially at the center position radially away from the central axis includes moving the transfer cam to catch and deflect the butt portion of the selected transfer sinker.

In one aspect, further moving the selected transfer sinker to the rear position includes moving the auxiliary transfer cam to de-track the butt of the selected transfer sinker.

On the one hand, once the set needles, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers are moved back upstream of their respective selectors, if the needles do not pick up textile yarn from the yarn feed system and do not knit stitches, the selector will Remain in the rest position and rotate the holding barrel and the circular sinker seat in the first direction of rotation, keeping each transfer sinker in a set of transfer sinkers in the rearward position until the yarn is fed by The system stops, while the transfer sinker remains in the backward position and the needle remains in the lowered position, so that the sequence of operations can be reset without making stitches.

On the one hand, once the operation sequence without any stitching is reset, the rotation direction of the needle holding barrel and the circular sinker seat is restored to the original direction by raising and lowering the needle, so as to cooperate with the knock-off sinker The textile yarn supplied by the yarn feeding system to make the loop, the needle holding cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the second rotational direction until the set needle, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers are relative to the first The direction of rotation is again moved back upstream of the respective selector.

In one aspect, once the set of needles, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers are moved back upstream of the respective needle selectors, the method includes:

- keep the needle selector in an inoperative state;

- Keeping each transfer sinker of a set of transfer sinkers in the rear position, the needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated around the central axis and in the first direction of rotation.

- Raising and then lowering the needles to make loops in cooperation with the textile yarns fed by the yarn feeding system and the knock-off sinkers, while the needle-carrying cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the first rotational direction until passing through until the yarn feeding system;

- Reversing the direction of rotation of the needle holding cylinder and the circular sinker holder, by raising and then lowering the needle to make loops together with the knock-off sinkers with the textile yarn fed by the yarn feeding system, the needle holding The needle cylinder and the circular sinker seat are rotated in the second rotational direction until the set needles, the set of knock-off sinkers and the set of transfer sinkers are again moved back upstream of the respective needle selectors with respect to the first rotational direction.

In one aspect, the knitting machine includes at least one guide ring operatively associated with a circular sinker seat, wherein the circular sinker seat is rotatable relative to the guide ring and about a central axis.

In one aspect, each knockout sinker has a butt that engages with a first guide in the guide ring and rotates about a central axis. Wherein the first guide is configured to radially move the knockout sinkers along the corresponding radial grooves when the circular sinker seat is rotated about the central axis relative to the guide ring.

On the one hand, each transfer sinker has a butt that engages or can engage with a second guide in the guide ring and rotates about a central axis, wherein the second guide Sets multiple trajectories for the transfer sinker. Wherein the second guide is configured to radially move the transfer sinker when the circular sinker holder is rotated relative to the guide ring and about the central axis.

In one aspect, the machine includes selector jacks operably linked to each transfer sinker, wherein the selector jacks are movable, eg oscillating. Oscillation in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position, in which the selector jack acts directly or indirectly on the transfer sinker so that the butt of the transfer sinker is offset from the second guide traces of.

In one aspect, each knock-off sinker has a terry tab configured to cooperate with a needle to create a terry tissue.

In one aspect, the machine includes a selector jack operably linked to each dropper sinker, wherein the selector jack is movable, eg, oscillating. Oscillates in the radial plane between the rest position and the working position, in which the selector jack acts directly or indirectly on the knocker sinkers, thereby following the trajectory of the first guide.

On the one hand, the selector faces transversely with respect to the fixed guide ring a circular sinker seat which can act under control with the selector jacks and is configured to enable the selector jacks from the rest position Change to work position.

In one aspect, the machine includes a plurality of jacks, each associated with a selector jack and a transfer sinker or a drop sinker.

On the one hand, in the working position, the selector jacks bear against the pusher jacks, which are configured to bear against the transfer or knock-off sinkers.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a third guide extending around the central axis and setting a plurality of trajectories.

On the one hand, each push piece has a butt that can engage with the third guide or can engage with it.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a circular track extending around a central axis.

In one aspect, each selector jack, eg the base of each selector jack, is slidably engaged in a circular track for rotation with the at least one transfer or knock-off sinker.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the method for producing a mesh knitted fabric according to the present invention and a preferred embodiment of a circular knitting machine for producing a mesh knitted fabric .

Description of drawings

The present specification is described below, for purposes of illustration only and therefore non-limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a part of a circular knitting machine according to the invention, with some parts omitted in order to better show others;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the assembly of elements belonging to the knitting machine of Figure 1;

- Fig. 3 shows the assembly of Fig. 2, a plurality of elements coupled to each other;

- Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a different assembly of elements belonging to the knitting machine of Figure 1;

- FIG. 5 shows the assembly of FIG. 4 , a plurality of elements are coupled to each other;

- Fig. 6 shows a schematic plan view of the part of the knitting machine of the preceding views including the guide ring;

- Figures 7A to 30A schematically show plan views of the knitting machines of the preceding figures, in which the respective operating steps are indicated in a schematic way;

Figures 7B to 30B show specific parts of the knitting machine of the previous views in operation steps corresponding to those of Figures 7A to 30A.

Detailed ways

With reference to the above figures, the reference number 1 refers as a whole to the part of the knitting head of the circular knitting machine according to the invention. The circular knitting machine shown is a machine (intarsia or diamond) configured for making fabrics with intarsia patterns. The circular knitting machine comprises a frame, not shown because it is of a known type, which frame constitutes the support structure of the knitting machine and on which the knitting head 1 is mounted.

The knitting machine head 1 is equipped with a needle-holding cylinder 2 with a plurality of needles 3 mounted on the needle-holding cylinder 2, and also with a control device, not shown, which is easy to selectively drive all the needles. The plurality of needles 3 are described in order to ensure the production of the fabric. The needle-holding barrel 2 is usually mounted on the frame in a vertical position, so that the plurality of needles 3 are arranged vertically and protrude beyond the upper edge of the needle-holding barrel 2 . The needles 3 have needles 3A arranged around a central axis "X-X", defined as a circular needle bed.

As known, the needle holding barrel 2 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves provided on the radially outer surface of the needle holding barrel 2 . Said longitudinal grooves are arranged around the central axis "X-X" (vertical) of the holding barrel 2 and extend parallel to said central axis "X-X". Each longitudinal groove accommodates a respective needle 3 and a respective drive chain comprising a plurality of flat parts. Actuating cams are arranged around the housing of the needle holding barrel 2 and facing the radially outer surface of said barrel 2 and thus facing the longitudinal grooves and drive chain. These drive cams are for example defined by plates and/or grooves arranged on the inner surface of the housing.

In one embodiment, said housing, such as the drive cam, is substantially stationary, while the needle-holder barrel 2 is rotated (continuously or alternately in both directions) by a suitable motor about a central axis "X-X", thereby creating a drive train Relative rotational movement with the driving cam, and converts the rotational movement of the needle-holding needle cylinder 2 into the axial movement of a plurality of needles 3 , so as to manufacture knitted fabrics through the needles 3 .

Said knitting machine also comprises a circular sinker block 4 arranged around the needle cylinder 2 and having a plurality of radial grooves 5 and auxiliary radial grooves 6, said radial grooves 5 and auxiliary radial grooves The groove 6 opens at the radially inner edge of the circular sinker seat 4, ie toward the central axis "X-X". The radial grooves 5 and the auxiliary radial grooves 6 are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the circular sinker seat 4, that is, each radial groove 5 is bypassed by two auxiliary radial grooves 6, and each auxiliary radial groove 6 is The grooves 6 are bypassed by two radial grooves 5 . For example, by the same motor, the circular sinker block 4 and the needle cylinder 2 rotate together about the central axis "X-X".

A suitable device (not shown) feeds the knitting yarn at one or more yarn feeding points (referred to as yarn feeding systems), usually arranged above the needle cylinder 2 . The circular intarsia knitting machine shown includes four yarn feed systems, each of which is configured to match a corresponding Set of 3 needles to work together. The four-way yarn feed system cooperates by rotating in both directions to form a knitting course.

Each yarn feed system has a yarn feeder 7 (which can be seen schematically in Figs. 7A-30A), for example constituted by eyelets through which the yarn passes so as to face the needles 3 on the cylinder. Each yarn feeder 7 is movable between a working position and a resting position. In the working position, the yarn feeder 7 is located radially outside the cylinder for the needle 3 in order to allow the needle 3A of the needle 3 to pick up the textile yarn (Figs. 7A-24A). In the rest position, the yarn feeder 7 is located radially outside the cylinder of the needle 3 and is raised from the cylinder of the needle 3 to prevent the needle 3A of the needle 3 from snagging the textile yarn (Figures 25A-29A).

Each radial groove 5 accommodates a first assembly consisting of a plurality of metal flat parts which can slide radially in the corresponding radial groove 5 and are mutually Relatively sliding. The first assembly, as better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , includes a knock-off sinker 8 , a right knock-off sinker 9 , a left knock-off sinker 10 , and two knock-out sinkers 11 (one slipper and the right knock-out sinker 11 ) The transfer sinker 9 is interlocked, and the other pusher is interlocked with the left transfer sinker 10 ), and the selector jack 12 with respect to each pusher 11 .

The knockout sinker 8 comprises a body in the shape of a horizontal flat bar oriented with the radial groove 5 , ie in the radial direction, and vertical flat uprights formed from the horizontal flat bar. When the first assembly is properly mounted on the knitting machine, the jaws 13 of a shape known per se are arranged at the upper end of the vertical flat upright and towards the central axis "X-X". The knockout sinker 8 also includes a flat butt 14 extending vertically upward from the horizontal flat bar and at a distance from the radially outer end (relative to the central axis "X-X") of the horizontal flat bar. The knockout sinker 8 is made from a single flat metal part (eg a cut part). The jaws 13 of the knockout sinkers 8 are configured to cooperate with the needles 3 used for the manufacture of jersey knitted fabrics.

The right shift sinker 9 includes a main body in the shape of a horizontal flat bar and a vertical flat upright formed from the horizontal flat bar. A tab 15 is provided on the upper end of the flat upright portion. When the first assembly is properly mounted on the knitting machine, the nose 15 extends like an arm towards the central axis "X-X" and is offset to one side relative to the plane of the corresponding body. The right shift sinker 9 also includes a flat butt 16 extending vertically upward from the horizontal flat bar, and the right shift sinker 9 is placed at the radially outer end (relative to the central axis "X-X") of the horizontal flat bar. The right shift sinker 9 consists of a single flat metal part (eg cut, stamped and/or bent part).

Left shift sinker 10 comprises the same elements as right shift sinker and is identical or corresponding in structure to right shift sinker 9, except that the corresponding nose 15 is offset towards the opposite side relative to its body. The right shifting sinker 9 and the left shifting sinker 10 thus have respective lugs 15 displaced laterally in opposite directions relative to their bodies, with the knockout sinker 8 located between them.

When the first assembly is properly installed in the corresponding radial groove 5, the right shifting sinker 9 and the left shifting sinker 10 are arranged on opposite sides of the corresponding knock-off sinker 8 (FIG. 3). Right-shifting sinker 9 Left-shifting sinker 10 showing respective lugs 15 oriented to opposite sides of the knock-off sinker 8 and located on the tabs of the corresponding knock-off sinker 8 above the jaw 13. Furthermore, the butts 14 of the knock-off sinkers 7 are located radially between the butts 16 and the noses 15 of the respective transfer sinkers 9 , 10 . The two lugs 15 are configured for loading and extending the interstitch and arranging them on a single needle 3 or on two adjacent needles 3 on opposite sides of the respective knockout sinker 8 , and form a mesh. In a variant embodiment, a single lug can be constructed to load and extend the corresponding expansion loop and arrange it on a single needle 3 or on two adjacent needles 3 .

The two push pieces 11 of the first assembly are identical to each other. Each push piece 11 includes a horizontal flat bar and a flat butt 17 located at the radially outer end of the horizontal flat bar with respect to the central axis "X-X" and extending vertically upward. The push piece 11 also has an abutment surface which faces the central axis "X-"X and is configured to abut against the corresponding transfer sinkers 9,10. The contact surface of the push piece 11 is located near the butt 17 of the push piece 11 , that is, adjacent to the radially outer end of the horizontal flat strip. The push piece 11 is also made from a single flat metal part, such as a cut piece. When the first assembly is properly mounted to the corresponding radial groove 5 (FIG. 3), the horizontal flat bar of each push piece 11 is in contact with and below the flat bar of the corresponding transfer sinker 9, 10, and The abutting surfaces face the radially outer ends of the respective transfer sinkers 9 , 10 . The knockout/terry sinker 8 is located between the right shift sinker 9 and the left shift sinker 9,10.

Each of the two selector jacks 12 is a metallic, substantially flat element which, when properly installed in the knitting machine, extends mainly vertically. The selector jack 12 has a base 18 with a rounded profile and configured to oscillate about an axis tangent to a horizontal circumference centered on said central axis "X-X". The selector jacks 12 lie in and oscillate in a radial plane. Said selector jack 12 also has a butt 19 at a distance from said base 18, which points to said central axis "X-X" and is configured to act indirectly on the corresponding transfer sinkers 9, 10. Said selector jack 12 also has teeth 20 located on the edge of the flat element radially opposite the butt 19 and pointing radially outwards, ie on the opposite side with respect to the central axis "X-X" direction. The butt 19 has a protruding portion configured and dimensioned for abutting against the radially outer end of the horizontal flat strip of the push piece 11 of the first assembly.

Each selector jack 12 oscillating in a radial plane between a rest position and an operating position. In the rest position, the butts 19 of the selector jacks 12 are located at the radially outer position and are not in contact with the corresponding pusher jacks 11 . In the working position, the selector jacks 12 are rotated about the central axis "X-X", the butts 19 of the selector jacks 12 are located in the radially inner position and are configured to abut and push against the corresponding pushers 11 towards the central axis "X-X". The pusher 11 is configured to push the transfer sinkers 9 and 10 in sequence. The transition of the selector jacks 12 from the rest position to the working position is caused by the selectors 21 (FIGS. 6, 7A-30A and 7B-30B), which act on the teeth 20 of the selector jacks 12, And the structure will be described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment there are four selectors 21 ( FIG. 6 ), which are stationary relative to the housing and are arranged at the same angle (eg 90° to each other) around the circular sinker seat 4 . In particular, each of the needle selectors 21 is located at a yarn feeding system.

Likewise, the knocker sinkers 8 are pushed up by the corresponding jacks 11' and by the corresponding selector jacks 12', which are similar to the jacks 11 and 12 as a whole. Therefore, the same elements may be referenced and marked with the same numerals plus an apostrophe. The selector jack 12' has a base 18' and a butt 19' at a distance from the base 18', the butt 19' pointing towards the central axis "X-X" and configured to act indirectly on the corresponding pusher 11'. Corresponding knock-off sinkers 8. Said selector jack 12' also has teeth 20' located on the edge of the flat element radially opposite the butt 19' and pointing radially outwards, ie on the opposite side with respect to the central axis "X-X" . Said butt 19' has a protruding portion which is configured to abut the radially outer end of the horizontal flat strip of the push piece 11'. Each push piece 11' also has a corresponding butt 20' and a corresponding abutment surface configured to abut against the corresponding knockout sinker 8. The knock-off sinker 8 also has a terry spring 22 to cooperate with the needle 3 to create a terry structure. It can be observed that the position of the teeth 20' of the selector jacks 12' is different from that of the one tooth 20 of the two selector jacks 12, so that accordingly, depending on whether the first assembly should form holes or loops in the fabric, The needle selector 21 can catch the teeth 20' or make the teeth 20'.

Each auxiliary radial groove 6 accommodates a second assembly, which also consists of a plurality of metal flat parts that can slide radially in the corresponding auxiliary radial groove 6, And also slide relative to each other. This second assembly, as better shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a single knockout sinker 8, a corresponding pusher 11' and a corresponding selector jack 12', which are the same as the above-mentioned knockout sinkers, The pusher and selector jacks are identical or substantially identical, so they will not be described again here, and the same reference numerals have been used in FIGS. 4 and 5 for them or parts of them as in FIGS. 2 and 3 . The needle selector 21 can also interact with the second assembly in the same manner as described above for the knockout sinker 8 of the first assembly.

The knock-off sinker 8 with the right shift sinker 9 and the left shift sinker 10 is replaced with a single knock-off sinker 8 , that is, without the right shift sinker 9 and the left shift sinker 10 .

A guide ring 23 (see FIG. 6 ) composed of one or more parts is operatively associated with the circular sinker seat 4 . The guide ring 23 is coaxial with the central axis "X-X" and is stationary like the housing, ie the circular sinker seat 4 can rotate relative to the guide ring 23 around the central axis "X-X". The needle selector 21 is stationary with respect to the guide ring 23 and faces the circular sinker block 4 and the circular needle cylinder laterally, and the needle selector 21 can be indirectly connected to the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 and the knocker sinker 8 on command effect. The needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are rotatable relative to the yarn feeding system and relative to the needle selector 21 about the central axis "X-X".

In the embodiment shown, the guide ring 23 is located above and below the circular sinker seat 4 (FIGS. 7B-30B), and the guide ring 23 has a plurality of guides extending around a central axis "X-X" And it is comprised so that it may join with the metal member of the said 1st assembly and the 2nd assembly. These guides are kept at a distance from the grooves, for example, by cams.

The butt 14 of the knockout sinker 8 of each first assembly and the butt 14 of the knockout sinker 8 of each second assembly are fitted into the first guide 24 on the guide ring 23 . Said first guide member 24 is configured to rotate along the corresponding radial groove 5 and the corresponding auxiliary radial groove 6 when the circular sinker seat 4 rotates relative to the guide ring 23 and about the central axis "X-X" The knockout sinkers 8 are moved radially.

Referring to Fig. 6, the first guide member 24 has widths which radially substantially correspond to the dimensions of the butts 14 of the knockout sinkers 8, and these portions alternate with other wider portions. The larger (wider) portion is for use with the butt 14 defined along the respective radially outer path and the corresponding radially inner path relative to the central axis "X-X". As a result, the first guide 24 defines a first track 25 and a second track 26, the first track 25 is defined as the radially outer path of the wider portion, and the second track 26 is defined as the wider portion. Radial inner path of the wide section. The two paths in the wider section are located upstream and downstream of each yarn feeder and each needle selector 21 .

The butts 16 of the right and left shifting sinkers 9 , 10 of each first assembly fit into the second guide members 27 on the guide ring 23 . The second guide member 27 is located at a radially outer position relative to the first guide member 24 , that is, the second guide member 27 surrounds the first guide member 24 . The second guide 27 includes a plurality of paths defining a substantially circular radially outer track 28, a substantially circular radially inner path 29, and a plurality of radially outer tracks 28 and radially inner tracks 28. Transitions 30 between tracks 29 (FIG. 6).

The butts 17, 17' of the push pieces 11, 11' are fitted into the third guide pieces 31 on the guide ring 23. The third guide 31 also extends around the central axis "X-X" and defines a plurality of trajectories. In particular, the third guide 31 defines a radially outer track 32 and a plurality of radially inner tracks 33 arranged one after the other around the central axis "X-X". The radially outer track 32 of the third guide member 31 is located radially further outward with respect to the second guide member 27 , that is, the radially outer track 32 surrounds the second guide member 27 . Each radially inner track 33 is arcuate and has both ends connected to the radially outer track 32 of the third guide 31 . Each radially inner track 33 is away from the radially outer track 32 of the third guide member 31 and approaches the central axis "X-X", then moves away from the central axis "X-X", and is again aligned with the radially outer track of the third guide member 31 32 connections. Said radially inner tracks 33 overlap the second guide 27 , ie they define part of the transition portion 30 of the second guide 27 . There are eight radially inner tracks 33 in the embodiment shown. Said radially inner track 33 is located upstream and downstream of each four-way yarn feed system and each needle selector 21 .

The bases 18, 18' of all selector jacks 12, 12' are received in circular rails 34 extending about the central axis "X-X" for sliding thereon. A circular track 34 is provided outside the guide ring 23 and defines the outermost of the radially outer track 32 of the third guide 31 , ie the guide ring 23 surrounds the third guide.

Each needle selector 21 is known to be of the magnetic or piezoelectric type, comprising a plurality of levels 35 arranged one above the other and capable of being together in a first position (eg, high position) and a second position (eg low position). In the first position, the blades are at a distance from the teeth 20, 20' of the selector jacks 12, 12' so that the selector jacks 12, 12' do not trigger the teeth 20, 20' in their rest position . In particular, in the first position, the teeth 20, 20' are located between the plurality of blades 35. In the second position, the blade 35 is triggered with the teeth 20 of the selector jack 12 linked with the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 , and/or with the teeth 20 of the selector jack 12 ′ linked with the knocker sinker 8 . ' trigger, when the circular sinker seat 4 rotates relative to the guide ring 23 around the central axis "X-X", the blade 35 moves in front of the selector 21, moving the selector jacks 12, 12' from the rest position to the working position .

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A-30A , the guide ring 23 includes four movable transmission cams 36 and four fixed auxiliary transmission cams 37 configured to act on and offset from the butts 16 of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 .

An electronic control unit, not shown, is operatively connected to the motor or motors that cause the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 to rotate, and in turn to the needle selector 21 and other drive units, as well as the knitting machine of other components. This electronic control unit is constructed/programmed for commanding the motor or motors and the needle selector 21 and said other drive units, as well as other components of the knitting machine. In particular, the electronic control unit is constructed/programmed to selectively oscillate the blades 35 of the selector 21 in order to move the selector jacks 12, 12' in particular from the rest position to the working position.

When making other meshes as described below, each feeder system with yarn feeder 7 is configured to work with a corresponding set of needles 3 on an arcuate segment, with corresponding transfer sinkers 9, 10 and drop stitches The sinkers 8 act together, as well as with the needle selector 21, which is offset laterally (by a circumferential distance), eg by 90° with respect to the yarn feeding system. The movable conveying cam 36 and the fixed auxiliary conveying cam 37 work together with the corresponding yarn feeding system and work together with the corresponding needle selector 21 .

For the sake of simplicity, Figures 7A-30A show a yarn feeder system (yarn feeder 7), a needle selector 21 working together with said yarn feed system and offset by 90° relative to the yarn feed system, and with said yarn feeder. The system and the needle selector 21 cooperate with the movable transmission triangle 36 and the fixed auxiliary transmission triangle 37 . 7A-30A further show: a group of needles 3, drop sinkers 8, transfer sinkers 9, 10, which act with the yarn feeding system (yarn feeder 7) and the needle selector 21, and the transmission triangles 36 , 37 . The set of needles 3, knock-off sinkers 8 and transfer sinkers 9, 10 extend over approximately 45°. According to the instructions, the needle selector 21 can indirectly trigger the transfer sinkers 9, 10 and each drop sinker 8 of the group.

In the use of the present invention and in accordance with the present invention, to form a portion of a jersey knitting course (Figs. 7A-15A and Figs. 7B-15B), a set of needles 3, a corresponding set (first and second as described above) the knockout sinkers 8 of the assembly and the corresponding needle selectors of the sets of knockout sinkers 9, 10 (of the first assembly as described above) with respect to the first counter-clockwise rotational direction (FIGS. 7A and 7B) 21 upstream. The needle 3 is in the low position (Fig. 7B), and the transfer sinkers 9, 10 and the knock-off sinker 8 are in the rear position.

The needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 start to rotate in the first counterclockwise direction without the selector 21 swinging, so that the selector jacks 12 and 12 of the transfer sinkers 9 and 10 and the knock-off sinker 8 ' are not contacted by the blades 35 and remain in their rest position. The butts 17, 17' of the push pieces 11, 11' travel along the radially outer track 32 of the third guide 31. The butts 16 of the right transfer sinker 9 and the left transfer sinker 10 of each first assembly travel along the radially outer track 28 of the second guide 27 and thus the corresponding transfer sinkers 9 , 10 The tab noses 15 are held radially at a distance from the central axis "X-X, ie in a rear position or a rest position, where they do not interact with the loop-forming yarns.

The butt 14 of the knockout sinker 8 follows a portion of the second track 26 and a portion of the first track 25 of the first guide 24 , causing radial movement of the knockout/terry sinker 8 . The knock-off sinkers 8 travel backwards or forwards in the respective radial direction, while the needles 3 are raised and then lowered in order to stitch the textile yarn fed by the yarn feeding system, while the needle-holding cylinders 2 and The circular sinker blocks 4 are rotated in the first rotational direction until they pass the yarn feeding system (Figs. 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B).

The needle holding barrel 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are rotated at an angle of about 180° in the first counterclockwise rotation direction and form a loop until the position shown in Fig. 10A is reached, and then the needle holding barrel 2 and the circular sinker block are 4 Start the reverse direction of rotation. Thus, the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are rotated about the central axis "X-X" in the second clockwise direction of rotation, while raising the needle 3 and then lowering the needle 3 in order to cooperate with the knock-off sinker 8 through the yarn feeding The system feeds textile yarns (Figures 11A–14A and 11B–14B) to form loops until the set of needles 3, the set of knock-off sinkers 8 and the set of transfer sinkers 9, 10 are relative to the A counterclockwise rotation is again turned upstream of the selector 21 (FIGS. 15A and 15B).

Now, the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 is changed again (FIGS. 16A and 16B). In order to form part of a course of knitting, the control unit commands the needle selector 21 (controlled by software) to move the first set of blades 35 from the first position to the second position and vice versa, in order to trigger only said needle selection The selector jacks 12 of the transfer sinkers 9 and 10 that move in front of the machine 21 . The transfer sinkers 9, 10, triggered by the selector jacks 12, are moved to the working position, in which the selector jacks 2' of all the knockover sinkers 8 are not triggered and remain in their rest positions. Thus all or part of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 of the set are selected by the needle selector 21 .

In order to trigger only the selector jacks 12 of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 moving in front of the selector 21 . The transfer sinkers 9, 10, which are triggered by the selector jacks 12, are moved to the working position, while the selector jacks 12' of all the knocker sinkers 8 are not triggered and remain inside them. rest position. Therefore, all or part of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 in the group are selected by the needle selector 21 .

For the sake of simplicity, referring to a pair of selector jacks 12 of the first assembly, the selector jacks 12 push the two pushers 11 to the central axis "X-X" respectively, so that the butt 17 of the pusher 11 is in the third position The radially inner track 33 of the guide member 31 deviates, and the radially inner track 33 is located downstream of the needle selector 21, and thereby pushes the first and second transfer sinkers 9, 10 in sequence. The butts 16 of the first and second transfer sinkers 9, 10 travel along one of the transitions 30 of the second guide 27 and enter the radially inner track 29 of the second guide 27 and follow it according to the preset The set rotation angle rotates, and the rotation angle is described by the circular sinker seat 4 and the needle holding needle cylinder 2 in the counterclockwise direction. During this travel, the first and second transfer sinkers 9, 10 move radially towards the central axis "X-X" and towards the respective forward positions, while the needle 3 remains in the low position (Figs. 17A, 17B) . Therefore, the pusher 11 passes through the radially inner track 33 of the third guide member 31, returns to the radially outer track 32 of the third guide member 31, and pushes the selector jack 11 back to the rest position.

At the same time, the needles 3 or the pair of transfer sinkers 9 and 10 are operatively linked, the two needles 3 are raised and then lowered, if necessary, with the other needles 3 to be operated on a given yarn feed system together without extending the stitches, while the holding cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 rotate in said first direction of rotation and pass over the yarn feed system to load the textile yarn fed by said yarn feed system , forming elongated extension coils onto the lugs 15 of the selected transfer sinkers 9, 10 (FIGS. 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B). In other words, when the paired transfer sinkers 9 and 10 of a pair of said first assemblies arrive at the yarn feeding system, a knitting loop with elongated expansion loops (which will form the mesh) is formed, The expansion coils are loaded onto the respective lugs 15 and not onto the jaws 13 of the respective knockout sinkers 8 . During this movement, the movable transfer cam 36 remains in a rest position and does not interact with the butts 16 of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 .

Continue to rotate counterclockwise until the knock-off sinkers 8 and transfer sinkers 9, 10, the group of needles 3 passes the movable transfer cam 36 (FIGS. 21A and 21B).

Now, the movable transfer cam 36 is moved to the working position, and the counterclockwise direction (first rotation direction) of the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 stops and starts to reverse ( FIGS. 22A and 22B ).

In the subsequent clockwise rotation (second rotation direction) of the circular sinker block 4 and the needle cylinder 2 (Figs. 23A-26A and 23B-26B), the selected transfer sinkers 9, 10 are again Move away from the central axis "X-X". In particular, during counterclockwise rotation, the butts 16 of the first and second transfer sinkers 9, 10 first travel along a portion of the radially inner trajectory 29 of the second guide 27, while maintaining the needle in the rest position , and then deflected by the movable transfer cam 36 , in the working position, and on the transition portion 30 corresponding to the intermediate position between the rearward and forward positions of the transfer sinkers 9 , 10 . At the same time, the needle 3 is raised to the unwinding position so that the nose 15 of the selected transfer sinker 9, 10 is located next to the needle 3A of the needle 3, and the yarn feeder 7 is moved to the corresponding rest position (Fig. 25A). and 25B).

Now, the butts 16 of the first and second transfer sinkers 9, 10 are deflected by the fixed auxiliary transfer cam 37 on the radially outer track 28 of the second guide 27 and move the selected transfer sinker 9, 10 to the rear position in order to unhook the expansion loop on the lug 15 into the needle 3A of the needle 3 (Figures 26A and 26B). Continuing the clockwise rotation with the needle 3 in the lower position, the group of needles 3, transfer sinkers 9, 10 and drop sinkers 8 pass through the yarn feeding system, and the needle 3 does not pick up the textile yarn because the yarn The mouth 7 is in the rest position. The needle holding needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker seat 4 are rotated in the second rotation direction until the needle group 3, the knockout needle sinker group 8 and the transfer sinker group 9 and 10 groups are directed to the corresponding needle selector 21. Moving upstream, the needle 3 is lowered and the transfer sinkers 9 and 10 are in the rear position (FIGS. 27A and 27B). During the above-mentioned clockwise rotation, the needle 3 does not form any stitches, but helps to hook and unravel the expanded stitches of the tab nose 15 into the needle 3A of the needle 3, thereby making a mesh.

Once the set of needles 3 , the set of knock-off sinkers 8 and the set of transfer sinkers 9 , 10 move to the rear of each, above the selector 21 , the rotation will stop and reverse again. The needle selector 21 is kept in the inactive position, the needle holding barrel 2 and the circular sinker seat 4 are rotated about 180 degrees in the first counterclockwise rotation direction (Fig. 28A-Fig. 30A and Fig. 28B-Fig. 30B), and The sinkers 9, 10 are kept in the backward position, the needle 3 is lowered to the rest position, and the yarn feeder 7 is placed in the rest position to reset the sequence of operations without making any stitches. Now, after moving the yarn feeder 7 back to the working position, the above working mode can be restarted, as shown in Figures 10A, 10B.

In a variant of the method according to the invention, the clockwise rotation ( During the second direction of rotation), the yarn feeder 7 does not move to the rest position, and the needle 3 picks up another yarn in order to cooperate with the knock-off sinker 8 to make a loop. Therefore, in this variation, in addition to helping to increase the mesh, the needles 3 also form loops. As a result, there is no need to reset the sequence of operations without doing any coils, ie to follow the sequence of Figures 28A-30A and 28B-30B, but resume work directly from Figures 10A, 10B.

In a further embodiment not shown in the figures, double extension coils are formed on the noses 15 of the right shift sinker 9 and the left shift sinker 10 .

In one embodiment, the double expansion stitches are formed by cooperating the needles 3 and transfer sinkers 9, 10 with a first yarn feed system and a second yarn feed system located downstream of the first yarn feed system. When the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker holder 4 rotate in the first rotation direction, the textile yarn is loaded on the nose 15 of the selected transfer sinkers 9, 10, for the first time in the first feeding on the yarn system and a second time on the second yarn feed system. Therefore, in this step, the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are rotated by an angle greater than 180°, eg, greater than 270°. Then, the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 rotate in opposite directions, and when they rotate in the second direction of rotation, the two elongated expansion loops are unwound to the needle head of the needle 3 in the second yarn feeding system 3A (ie the first yarn feed system they encounter after reverse rotation).

In a different embodiment, double spread stitches are made by cooperating needles 3 and transfer sinkers 9, 10 with a one-way yarn feed system. The textile yarn is loaded on the transfer sinkers 9, 10 on the single-pass yarn feeding system, while the holding cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are rotated in the first rotational direction and then loaded again To the same transfer sinkers 9, 10 on the same yarn feed system, the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker block 4 are now rotated in the second rotational direction. The needle holding cylinder 2 and the circular sinker seat 4 reverse the direction again, while they are still rotating in the first direction of rotation, the two elongated expansion loops are taken off to the needle 3 on the single-pass yarn feeding system. Needle 3A.

In order to fabricate the terry weave into the fabric, the control unit commands the needle selector 21 to move the second set of blades 35 from Move the first position to the second position, and then set the angle of the needle cylinder 2 and the circular sinker seat 4 according to the program, and vice versa. , thereby triggering the specific selector jack 12 ′ of the knock-off sinker 8 . The selector jacks of the transfer sinkers 9, 10 are not triggered but remain in their rest positions.

For the sake of simplicity, the single selector jacks 12' of the knock-off sinkers 8 are supplemented, which push the respective jacks 11' towards the central axis "X-X", thus the butts of the jacks 11' After passing through the needle selector 21, 17' deviates downward from the radially inner track 33 of the third guide member 31 immediately, and then pushes the corresponding knock-off sinker 8 along its radial direction.

The knockout sinker 8 is applied radially when it is in one of the widest parts of the first guide 24 and moves the knockout sinker 8 from the first trajectory 25 to the second trajectory of the first guide 24 26, ie, as described above, the radial advance of the knockout sinker 8 of the cam of the first guide 24 when it is desired to form a plain stitch. Accordingly, the loop tab nose 22 of the knock-off sinker 8 cooperates with a pair of needles 3 (in a known manner, which will not be described further here) to form the loop structure. This mode of operation is achieved when the circular sinker holder 4 is rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

The present invention has important advantages from both a structural and functional point of view.

In fact, with the method according to the present invention, the required selector jacks and/or auxiliary selector jacks can be easily worked to produce complex jersey, mesh and/or terry knitted fabrics, all on the same machine The fabric with the most different functions on the machine with high flexibility and speed.

- The machine according to the invention can produce mesh and/or terry and other types of patterns at high speed, thereby significantly reducing the production time of complex tubular knitted fabrics.

Claims (20)

1. A method of manufacturing a mesh knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine,

wherein the circular knitting machine comprises:

a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and a circular sinker seat (4) having a common central axis (X-X);

a plurality of needles (3) mounted on a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) movable in the longitudinal direction thereof and having a needle head (3A) arranged around a central axis (X-X), defining a circular needle bed;

a plurality of knockover sinkers (8) mounted on a circular sinker seat (4) and movable in a radial direction with respect to said central axis (X-X) and having jaws (13) configured for cooperating with the needles (3) to produce a knitted fabric;

a plurality of transfer sinkers (9, 10) mounted on the circular sinker seat (4) and located beside the knockover sinkers (8), able to move in a radial direction with respect to said central axis (X-X) and having lugs (15) configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to make a mesh knitted fabric;

at least one yarn feeding system associated with the corresponding group of needles (3), the corresponding knockover sinkers (8) and the corresponding transfer sinkers (9, 10) to feed at least one textile yarn to the circular needle bed;

wherein the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) can rotate around a central axis (X-X) relative to the yarn feeding system;

wherein, the method comprises the following steps:

i. -rotating the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) around a central axis (X-X), radially driving selected ones (9, 10) of said transfer sinkers (9, 10) towards the central axis (X-X) and towards respective advanced positions; raising and then lowering selected portions of the group of needles (3) forward to some needles (3) next to the transfer sinkers (9, 10), while the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker jack (4) rotate and move through said at least one feed system, the textile yarn fed by said feed system being loaded onto the noses (15) of the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10), thereby producing elongated expansion loops;

-rotating the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) around the central axis (X-X) to radially actuate the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) radially towards the respective rear positions and away from the central axis (X-X); raising the needle (3) at least to the withdrawal and/or knockover position, so as to strip the expanded stitch from the lug (15) into the head (3A) of the needle (3) and continue its rotation until the at least one yarn feed system is turned, then lowering the needle (3) with the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) in respective rear positions;

wherein step i is performed while the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in at least a first direction of rotation, and step ii is performed while the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation; or wherein step i is performed when the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate in a first direction of rotation and then in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, and step ii is performed when the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate in the first direction of rotation.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is selected by means of a selector (21) facing transversely to the circular needle bed, which can act under control, acting directly or indirectly on each transfer sinker (9, 10) of the respective set of transfer sinkers (9, 10), respectively; wherein the at least one yarn feeding system is circumferentially spaced from the corresponding selector (21); wherein the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) are rotatable around a central axis (X-X) with respect to the selector (21).

3. The method of claim 2, comprising, prior to step i:

-moving the set of needles (3), the set of knockover sinkers (8) and the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) upstream with respect to the first direction of rotation of the respective selector (21), with the transfer sinkers (9, 10) in a rear position, with respect to the first direction of rotation;

starting the needle selector (21);

-rotating the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker hub (4) around the central axis (X-X) and in said first direction of rotation, so that at least some of the transfer sinkers (9, 10) of the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) are selected and moved radially towards the central axis (X-X) and the respective forward position.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein in step ii, the needles (3) do not pick up textile yarns from the yarn feeding system or, in cooperation with a knockover sinker (8), pick up another yarn to form loops, before continuing rotation until the at least one pass of the yarn feeding system.

5. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein step ii comprises:

-moving the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) radially to an intermediate position, away from the intermediate axis (X-X), by keeping the needles (3) in the inactive position and/or below the withdrawal position;

raising the needle (3) to a withdrawal position so that the nose (15) of the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is located beside the head (3A) of the needle (3);

further moving the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) as radially as possible away from the central axis (X-X) to a rearward position for disengaging the expanded loop from the lug (15) into the head (3A) of the needle (3);

the rotation is continued until passing through the yarn feeding system without the needle (3) catching the textile yarn from the yarn feeding system, or bringing the needle (3) to a knockover and/or knockover position, or catching another yarn from said yarn feeding system, cooperating with a knockover sinker (8) to form a stitch.

After the expanded loop is released, the needle (3) is lowered when the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is in the backward position.

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the yarn mouth (7) of the yarn feeding system is moved to a rest position so that the needles (3) do not catch the textile yarn from the yarn feeding system; or wherein the mouth (7) of the yarn feeding system is kept in a working position so that the needles (3) take up further textile yarns from the yarn feeding system.

7. Method according to claim 4, 5 or 6, as appended to claim 2 or 3, wherein the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) are rotated in the second direction of rotation until the group of needles (3), the group of knockover sinkers (8) and the group of transfer sinkers (9, 10) are transferred back upstream of the respective selector (21).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in steps i and ii all transfer sinkers (9, 10) of the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) are selected to make a mesh knitted fabric, or wherein only some transfer sinkers (9, 10) of the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) are selected to make a partial mesh knitted fabric.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising:

the needle selector (21) is in a non-operating state;

the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) are rotated in a first direction of rotation so that each transfer sinker (9, 10) of the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) remains in the rear position until passing through the yarn feeding system, while the transfer sinkers (9, 10) remain in the rear position and the needles (3) remain in the lowered position, in order to reset the operating sequence without making any stitches.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate along the second rotation direction until the group of needles (3), the group of knockover sinkers (8) and the group of transfer sinkers (9, 10) return to the upstream of the needle selector (21) in the first rotation direction; the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotating in opposite directions, the yarn-feeding system feeds the textile yarn by lifting and then lowering the needles (3) in cooperation with the knockover sinkers (8), producing the loops.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

the needle selector (21) is in a non-operating state;

rotating the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) around a central axis (X-X) and in a first direction of rotation, while each transfer sinker (9, 10) of a set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) is held in a rear position;

the needle (3) is lifted and then lowered, the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate along the first rotating direction until passing through the yarn feeding system, the yarn feeding system is matched with the knockover sinker (8) to feed textile yarns to manufacture coils,

the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate along the second rotation direction until one group (3), one group of knockover sinkers (8) and one group of transfer sinkers (9, 10) return to the upstream of the corresponding needle selector (21) in the first rotation direction again, the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) rotate in opposite directions, and the yarn feeding system is matched with the knockover sinkers (8) to feed textile yarns by lifting and then lowering the needles (3) to manufacture coils.

12. A method according to claim 5, wherein the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is radially distanced from the central axis (X-X) to an intermediate position comprising: -moving the transfer cam (36) to catch and deflect the heel (16) of said selected transfer sinker (9, 10).

13. Method according to claim 5 or 12, characterized in that moving the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) further to the rear position comprises: -moving the other transfer cam (37) to catch and deflect the heel (16) of said selected transfer sinker (9, 10).

14. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each of the knockover sinkers (8) is placed beside a pair of transfer sinkers (9, 10), and each pair of transfer sinkers (9, 10) contributes to the formation of one expansion coil.

15. A circular knitting machine comprising:

a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and a circular sinker seat (4) having a common central axis (X-X);

a plurality of needles (3) mounted on a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) movable in the longitudinal direction thereof and having a needle head (3A) arranged around a central axis (X-X), defining a circular needle bed;

a plurality of knockover sinkers (8) mounted on a circular sinker seat (4) and movable in a radial direction with respect to said central axis (X-X) and having jaws (13) configured for cooperating with the needles (3) to produce a knitted fabric;

a plurality of transfer sinkers (9, 10) mounted on the circular sinker seat (4) and located beside the knockover sinkers (8), movable in a radial direction with respect to said central axis (X-X) and having lugs (15) configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce a mesh knitted fabric;

at least one yarn feed system operatively associated with the respective set of needles (3), with the respective set of knockover sinkers (8) and with the respective set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) to feed at least one textile yarn to the circular bed;

wherein the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) can rotate around a central axis (X-X) relative to the yarn feeding system;

wherein the circular knitting machine is adapted to:

I. -rotating the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker holder (4) around a central axis (X-X) to drive the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) of said set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) towards the central axis (X-X) and the respective front positions; raising and then lowering some of the needles (3) next to the transfer sinkers (9, 10) of the group of needles (3) selected in the forward movement, while the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker jack (4) rotate and move past said at least one feed system, the textile yarn fed by said feed system being loaded onto the noses (15) of the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10), thus producing extended loops;

-rotating the needle-holding cylinder (2) and the circular sinker jack (4) around the central axis (X-X), radially actuating the selected portions of the transfer sinkers (9, 10) of said set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) to move away from the central axis (X-X), raising the needles (3) at least to the withdrawal and/or knockover position, so as to pad the expanded stitches withdrawn from the lug (15) into the needles (3A) of the needles (3), and continuing the rotation until the passage of said at least one yarn-feeding system, and then lowering the needles (3), while the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) are in the respective rear position;

wherein step i is performed while the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in at least a first direction of rotation, and step ii is performed while the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation; or wherein step i is performed while the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in a first direction of rotation and then in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, and step ii is performed while the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) are rotating in the first direction of rotation.

16. Circular knitting machine according to claim 15, comprising at least one selector (21) facing transversely to the circular bed, said selector (21) being able to act under control, directly or indirectly, on each transfer sinker (9, 10) of the respective group of transfer sinkers (9, 10); wherein the at least one yarn feeding system is circumferentially spaced from the corresponding selector (21); wherein the needle holding needle cylinder (2) and the circular sinker seat (4) can rotate around a central shaft (X-X) relative to the needle selector (21); wherein the transfer sinkers (9, 10) are selected by the selector (21).

17. The circular knitting machine of claim 15 or 16, wherein the knitting machine is configured to:

-moving the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) radially away from the intermediate axis (X-X) along a central position by keeping the needles (3) in the inactive position and/or below the withdrawal position;

raising the needle (3) at least to the withdrawal position so that the nose (15) of the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is located beside the needle head (3A);

-further moving the selected transfer sinkers (9, 10) radially away from the central axis (X-X) to said backward position, so as to knockover the expanded coil located on the lug (15) to the head (3A) of the needle (3);

the rotation is continued until passing through the yarn feeding system without the needle (3) catching the textile yarn from the yarn feeding system, or bringing the needle (3) to a knockover and/or knockover position, or catching another yarn from said yarn feeding system, cooperating with a knockover sinker (8) to form a stitch.

After the expanded loop is released, the needle (3) is lowered when the selected transfer sinker (9, 10) is in the backward position.

18. Circular knitting machine according to claim 16, characterized in that for the manufacture of said meshes, said yarn feed system is angularly offset with respect to the corresponding selector (21).

19. Circular knitting machine according to claim 16 or 18, wherein the set of needles (3), the set of knockover sinkers (8) and the set of transfer sinkers (9, 10) operatively associated with the yarn feed system and with the selector (21) have an angular extension.

20. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 16, 18 or 19, wherein the knitting machine comprises four yarn feeding systems, which are angularly offset from each other, and four selector jacks (21), which are angularly offset from each other, and wherein each yarn feeding system is angularly offset with respect to a respective selector jack (21) for the purpose of making a mesh.

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