EP4019681B1 - Knitting cam for a flat knitting machine, flat knitting machine and method for operating said flat knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a knitting cam for a flat knitting machine with a guide cam part arranged in the edge area of the knitting cam. The invention also relates to a flat knitting machine and a method for operating a flat knitting machine.

When producing knitted fabrics on knitting machines, increasingly higher demands are placed on patterns and designs as well as special properties, such as the strength of the entire knitted fabric or areas thereof.

In order to meet these requirements, flat knitting machines have already been developed whose thread guides can be moved independently of the carriage or knitting cam over the needle bed(s) by means of separate drives.

In order to create further possibilities for thread insertion, corresponding possibilities for moving the thread guide in a vertical direction and for pivoting the thread guide rails on which the thread guides are guided have been developed. Using these technologies, A wide variety of new types of weave can be realized, as it is now possible to guide threads between the needles, loop them around them and insert the threads into the knitted fabric as warp threads.

In order to enable the simultaneous insertion of one or more threads on knitting machines for processing as weft, plating, intarsia or standing threads, the needles selected for this purpose must be brought into a defined, advanced position. The carriage then takes up a position outside the knitting or needle bed area. For this purpose, a special lock is provided at the end of the carriage, which moves selected needles into an advanced position as they run out. Since the lock has no take-off parts, the normal knitting functions cannot be carried out. As they run in, only the needles that were advanced before the carriage was reversed can be processed and retracted.

A knitting machine with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from JP H06 4092 U became known.

EP 2 025 785 A1 , DE 21 44 271 A and JP H08 74146 A disclose a knitting machine with which warp threads in knitted sections can be inserted into slider needles of the front needle bed by means of tubular thread guides.

Another knitting machine, where warp threads can be inserted into needles of the front needle bed by means of tube thread guides, is from the EP 1 972 706 A1 known.

The object of the present invention is to provide a knitting lock with which inserts for a warp thread function can be advanced and yet all knitting functions can be carried out with the knitting lock.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a knitting cam for a flat knitting machine having the features of patent claim 1.

In particular, it can be provided that the at least one guide lock section can be brought into a position lowered towards the lock plate for an inactive position, or can be moved into, under or over another lock part, in particular another guide lock section, and thus switched to inactive. When the guide lock section is lowered, it can be at least partially sunk into the lock plate. It is also conceivable that the guide lock section is arranged at a distance above the lock plate in an active position, i.e. there is "air" between the guide lock section and the lock plate. The guide lock section can be lowered for an inactive position so that the distance to the lock plate is reduced, no longer exists, i.e. the underside of the guide lock section is at the level of the lock plate, or the guide lock section is at least partially sunk into the lock plate.

When the guide lock section is displaced for an inactive position, in particular displaced parallel to the top of the lock plate, it can be displaced into, over or under another lock part, in particular another guide lock section. The other lock part can have a pocket in which the displaced guide lock section can be received.

By being able to switch away at least one guide cam section, an additional cam track can be created that can be used by inserts that have been advanced for a warp thread insert. However, if the guide cam section is used in its active position, the guide cam part can be used in its conventional function.

The guide cam part can have three guide cam sections. At least one guide cam section can be switchable. This makes it possible, for example, to form a channel between the other two guide cam sections by deactivating one guide cam section. In particular, this makes it possible to keep the control feet of inserts that have been pushed forward and those that have not been pushed forward separate. This supports the reliability of the knitting process.

In particular, a guide cam section can be provided for stabilizing control feet of knitting needles when they pass through a cam track formed by another guide cam section.

It is particularly advantageous if the pusher part is arranged below the take-off part, which is also arranged at the same height as a pusher part provided to form a tuck handle. If a take-off part is provided, the usual, normal knitting functions can be carried out. By providing a further additional pusher part in the area of the take-off part, however, it can be prevented that the control feet of inserts that have a advanced position, are pulled off the take-off part. The inserts thus remain in an advanced position and warp thread applications can be carried out. In knitting locks, a pusher part is often already provided in the area of a take-off part, but this is located on a different track than a pusher part that is intended for catching. In the arrangement according to the invention, two pusher parts are therefore preferably provided below a take-off part. Depending on which knitting function was carried out with an insert that is to remain in an advanced position, a pusher part in the area of the take-off part can be used to prevent the insert from being pulled off, so that the insert remains in an advanced position.

Further advantages arise when the knitting lock is designed symmetrically with respect to a central plane. This means that one or more inserts can be brought into an advanced position in both carriage directions and warp thread operations can be carried out.

The scope of the invention also includes a flat knitting machine with a knitting cam according to the invention.

Furthermore, the scope of the invention includes a method for operating a flat knitting machine with the features of claim 8, in which one or more inserts, in particular knitting needles, of a front needle bed and/or one or more inserts, in particular knitting needles, of a rear needle bed are brought into a defined advanced position for a warp thread application, and then a thread is introduced into the advanced inserts. In order to ensure that the inserts are in a advanced position, a pusher part is provided which prevents the advanced inserts from being pulled off. In addition, a guide cam part has a guide cam part section which can be switched to inactive, so that an additional cam track is created and withdrawal of the inserts at this point is prevented. A switchable pusher part can lift the correspondingly selected inserts out of the cam curve via a pull-off part and thus prevent the inserts from being pulled off. A section of the respective trailing guide cam part can be switched to inactive, as a result of which the inserts are moved along the additional cam track created in this way. The selected inserts can therefore remain in their advanced position, which makes it possible to insert warp threads into these inserts. The inserts to be advanced, in particular knitting needles, can be selected and advanced via an extension cam part in the needle bed. Then, depending on the switching position of a pusher part and the selected selection track, a catch handle or a loop can be formed with the advanced inserts. Then, as already explained above, the advanced inserts can be lifted over a trigger part by an activated pusher part so that they reach a lock track.

This means that both inserts used to form a tuck loop and inserts used to form a loop can assume an advanced position for a warp thread application.

A lock track can be created by switching off a guide lock section when entering the lock.

In particular, this can prevent the advanced inserts from being pulled off as they enter the lock.

Furthermore, a pusher part can be activated as the lock is running in to lift the control feet of the advanced inserts over a pull-off part. This makes it possible for the control feet of the corresponding inserts to then reach a lock area with which a knitting operation can be carried out. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a further pusher part is activated as the lock is running in to lift the control feet of the advanced inserts over another pull-off part. This means that the advanced inserts can also remain in an advanced position as the lock is running in.

It is particularly advantageous if the control feet of advanced inserts and non-advanced inserts are kept separate by a guide lock section.

With the method according to the invention, it is possible in particular to drive out all needles or areas of needles or individual needles of the front and/or rear needle bed for warp thread applications into a defined, advanced position. It is also possible to process and loop the needles driven out for warp thread applications into the lock after the carriage has been reversed. One or more additional lock paths for the needles or other inserts of the needle bed can be created by designing the guide lock part so that it can be switched in sections. For this purpose, the guide lock part(s) can be designed in several parts.

The conventional handle part control can have an additional switchable handle part on the lock exit and/or on the lock entry side, which makes it possible to lift the advanced inserts over a trigger part.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, based on the figures of the drawing, which show details essential to the invention, and from the claims. The features shown there are not necessarily to scale and are shown in such a way that the special features of the invention can be made clearly visible. The various features can be implemented individually or in groups in any combination in variants of the invention.

In the schematic drawing, embodiments of the invention are shown in various stages of use and explained in more detail in the following description.

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Strickschloss mit zwei Führungsschlossteilabschnitten;

Fig. 2

ein erfindungsgemäßes Strickschloss mit drei Führungsschlossteilabschnitten;

Fig. 3

den möglichen Weg F zur Fangbildung und zum anschließenden Austrieb zur Kettfadeneinlage;

Fig. 4a, 4b

mögliche Varianten für die Bildung von Fanghenkeln und Maschen in Kombination mit dem Austreiben von Einlegeteilen in eine Position für Kettfadenanwendungen;

Fig. 5a - 5d

das Strickschloss 100 nach einer Schlittenumkehr;

Fig. 6

die Möglichkeit, die schlossauslaufend zur Kettfadeneinlage vorgeschobenen Einlegeteile nach der Schlittenumkehr schlosseinlaufend in die Grundstellung zurückzuziehen;

Fig. 7

ein symmetrisch ausgebildetes Strickschloss.

They show:

Fig. 1

a knitting lock according to the invention with two guide lock sections;

Fig. 2

a knitting lock according to the invention with three guide lock sections;

Fig. 3

the possible path F for tuck formation and subsequent expulsion to the warp thread inlay;

Fig. 4a, 4b

possible variants for the formation of tuck loops and loops in combination with the expulsion of inserts into a position for warp thread applications;

Fig. 5a - 5d

the knitting lock 100 after a carriage reversal;

Fig. 6

the possibility of retracting the inserts which have been pushed forward towards the warp thread insert on the outgoing side of the lock into the basic position after the carriage has been reversed;

Fig. 7

a symmetrically formed knitting lock.

The Fig. 1 shows a knitting lock 100 as part of a knitting system not shown in detail. The knitting lock 100 comprises a guide lock part 1, take-off parts 3, pusher parts 5 arranged in the area of the take-off parts 3 and a pusher part 4. The take-off parts 3 and the pusher parts 4, 5 are usually present on knitting locks. These lock parts are used to drive out and pull off insert parts, in particular knitting needles, for the production of knitted fabrics and for holding the insert parts in the same position as the comb. The pusher parts 4, 5 are used to press selected control feet of the insert parts.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the guide lock part 1 has guide lock sections 1a, 1b, whereby in the embodiment shown the guide lock section 1b is switchable. This means that the guide lock section 1b can be lowered in the direction of the lock plate 7 or can be moved into, under or over another lock part, e.g. the guide lock section 1a. The Guide lock section 1a is fixed, ie not arranged to move relative to lock plate 7. In principle, however, it would also be conceivable to design guide lock section 1a to be switchable and guide lock section 1b to be rigid or to provide both guide lock sections 1a, 1b as switchable guide lock sections. A switchable guide lock section 1a, 1b can be lowered or switched using a slide, lever, motor, magnet, hydraulically or pneumatically.

In contrast to conventional knitting locks, according to the invention an additional, also switchable, presser part 2 is provided on the outgoing side of the switchable presser part 4 for catching. The presser part 2, just like the presser part 5, can be used to press the control foot of a selected insert into the needle bed (not shown here) and thus lift it out of the lock curve via the take-off part 3, thereby preventing the selected insert from being pulled back or curled.

The control feet of the selected inserts that are lifted over the take-off part 3 enter an additional cam track Z that is created when the guide cam section 1b is lowered. This keeps the inserts in their advanced position and allows them to be used in this position for warp thread applications.

The trigger part 2 is located on the same track as the trigger part 4 for the catch. In addition, like the trigger part 5, it is also located below the right trigger part 3.

The Fig. 2 essentially corresponds to the Fig. 1 with the difference that the guide lock part 1 has three sections. In particular, the guide lock part sections 1a, 1b are again provided, with the guide lock part section 1b being designed to be switchable. In addition, a guide lock part section 1c is provided. When the guide lock part section 1b is lowered, a channel 11 is created between the guide lock parts sections 1a, 1c. The guide lock part section 1c allows the control feet of insert parts that have an advanced position to be kept separate from the control feet of insert parts that do not have an advanced position. The control feet of insert parts that do not have an advanced position move along the underside of the guide lock part section 1c.

The Fig. 3 shows the possible path F (solid line) for the formation of the catch and the subsequent expulsion to the warp thread inlay of control feet of inlay parts (not shown in detail here) during the formation of the stitch in a lock 100 according to the invention. The carriage movement direction is in the Fig. 3 represented by the arrow L.

The selected control foot or the selected control feet first pass the drive cam part 6, whereby the inserts are pushed forward from their comb-equal position in the needle bed. The control feet of the selected inserts are pressed into the needle bed by means of the pusher part 4 for catching. Catch handles are initially formed here with these inserts. As they continue along the path, the control feet are also pressed into the needle bed by the additional switchable pusher part 2, whereby they cannot be pulled back by the trailing take-off part 3. The trailing guide cam section 1b is thereby moved to an inactive position. switched, i.e. lowered. The control feet are guided through the additional lock track Z. The selected inserts remain in their advanced position and can be used for warp thread applications.

Furthermore, a possible path MB (dashed line) for stitch formation and subsequent expulsion for warp thread insertion of the control feet of inlay parts (not shown in detail here) during stitch formation is shown.

The selected control feet again pass through the drive cam part 6, whereby the inserts are pushed forward from their position in the needle bed, which is the same as the comb. This is where stitches are initially formed. As the path MB continues, the control feet are pressed into the needle bed by the pusher part 5 running out of the cam, whereby they cannot be pulled back by the trailing take-up part 3. The trailing guide cam section 1b is switched to an inactive position. The control feet are guided by the additional cam track Z. The selected inserts remain in their advanced position and can thus be used for warp thread applications.

Since the inserts in this case were selected for stitch formation, the presser feet of the inserts are on a different track, which is why presser part 5 was used instead of presser part 2.

A stitch formation with subsequent expulsion to the warp thread insert can also be achieved via the other selection track by switching the pusher part 4 for catching to its inactive position and using the pusher part 2.

The Fig. 4a, 4b show possible variants for the formation of tuck loops and loops in combination with the expulsion of inserts into a position for warp thread applications. The path F, on which tuck loops are formed, is shown as a solid line. The path MB, on which loops are formed, is shown as a dashed line.

According to the Fig. 4a Selected control feet of inserts pass the drive cam part 6, whereby the inserts are advanced from their comb-equal position in the needle bed. This happens for both path F and path MB.

The control feet of the inserts that were selected for tuck formation (path F) are pressed into the needle bed by means of the pusher part 4 for tuck formation. These inserts are initially used to form tuck loops. As the path F continues, the control feet of the inserts are pressed into the needle bed by the switchable pusher part 2, meaning that they cannot be pulled back by the trailing take-off part 3. The trailing guide cam section 1b is switched to an inactive position. The control feet are guided by the additional cam track Z. The selected inserts thus remain in their advanced position after tuck formation and can be used for warp thread applications.

The control feet of the inserts selected for stitch formation are not pressed into the needle bed by the pusher part 4 and the selected inserts are driven out to form stitches, according to the path MB. The pusher part 5 is switched to its inactive position and does not act on the control feet. As a result, the control feet come into contact with the trailing take-off part 3 and are pulled off by this to the specified depth of stitch formation. These control feet are therefore guided below the guide cam part 1 on its underside.

In the representation according to the Fig. 4b Control feet of selected inserts pass the drive cam part 6, whereby the inserts are advanced from their comb-equal position in the needle bed. This happens for path F and path MB.

Using the pusher part 4 for catching, the control feet of the inserts that were selected for catching (path F, solid line) are pressed into the needle bed. Catch loops are formed with these inserts. As the path F continues, these control feet are not pressed into the needle bed by the additional switchable pusher part 2, which was switched to inactive for this purpose. As a result, the control feet come into contact with the trailing take-up part 3 and are pulled by it to the specified weaving depth. The corresponding inserts can therefore no longer be used for a warp thread application.

The control feet of the inserts selected for stitch formation are not pressed into the needle bed by the pusher part 4 and the selected inserts are driven out for stitch formation (path MB, dashed line). The additional switchable pusher part 5 is in its active position and acts on the control feet. In addition, the trailing guide cam section 1b is switched to an inactive position. The control feet are guided by the additional cam track Z. The selected inserts thus remain in their advanced position after stitch formation and can be used for warp thread applications. The guide cam section 1c keeps the control feet safely separated from inserts in an advanced position and from inserts in a retracted position.

The Fig. 5a to 5d show the knitting lock 100 after a carriage reversal. The carriage and thus the knitting lock 100 now move in the direction of arrow R.

In the Fig. 5a In the situation shown, the control feet of inserts that were pushed forward for a warp thread application are guided by the cam 100 through the additional cam track Z by switching off the now leading guide cam section 1b. Then, depending on the selection, the control feet are pressed into the needle bed either via the additional switchable pusher part 2 or via the pusher part 5, and thus lifted into the knitting curve via the take-off part 3. In the process, it is selected which of the selected control feet should form a catch (path F, solid line) or a stitch (path MB, dashed line). A selection system not shown here decides which track is selected and whether the pusher part 2 or the pusher part 5 must be switched accordingly.

In contrast to Fig. 5a are in the Fig. 5b the control feet of the inserts that are still pushed forward to the warp thread insert and the inserts that are on the comb level are selected as they enter. The control feet of the inserts that were pushed out to the warp thread insert are now lifted over the take-off part 3 after the carriage is reversed by means of the additional switchable pusher part 2 and brought into the cam track for tuck formation (path F, solid line). The control feet of the needles that are on the comb level and have not been selected for the warp thread insert and pushed out accordingly form stitches after the carriage is reversed (path MB, dashed line).

In the Fig. 5c the control feet of the insert parts, which were driven out in accordance with the warp thread inlay, are lifted over the take-off part 3 after the carriage is reversed by means of the switchable pusher part 5 and brought into the cam track for stitch formation. Stitches are therefore formed here (path MB, dashed line). The control feet of the needles, which are on the same level as the comb and were not selected for the warp thread inlay and driven out accordingly, form a catch after the carriage is reversed (path F, solid line). To do this, the pusher part 2 is brought into its inactive position and the pusher part 4 is activated.

In the Fig. 5d the control feet of the inserts which were driven out for warp thread inlay are moved after the carriage reversal in the cam track Z formed by the guide cam section 1b and then lifted over the take-off part 3 by means of the additional switchable pusher part 2 and brought into the cam track for stitch formation. A stitch is then formed again (path MB, dashed line). The control feet of the inserts which are on the comb level and not selected for warp thread inlay and have been driven out accordingly, also form a stitch after the carriage is reversed (path MB, solid line).

The Fig. 6 shows the possibility of retracting the inserts that are pushed forward to the warp thread insert on the way out of the lock and then back into the basic position on the way in after the carriage has been reversed. By activating the leading guide lock section 1b, which closes the additional lock track Z, the inserts that are pushed forward to the warp thread insert can be retracted into their comb-equal position without prior selection. The inserts can then be selected for all knitting functions.

The Fig. 7 shows a symmetrically designed knitting lock 100. In particular, it is shown that the guide lock sections 1a, 1b, 1c and the additional switchable pusher part 2 can be provided on both sides of the lock 100. This structure of the lock 100 allows the needles selected for warp thread insertion to remain in their position even during normal operation of the lock 100 for stitch formation. It is shown here that the guide lock sections 1b have been at least partially sunk, so that corresponding lock tracks Z are created through which the feet of inserts are guided.

Claims (14)

1. Knitting cam (100) for a flat knitting machine, comprising a guide cam part (1) arranged in the edge region of the knitting cam (100), the guide cam part (1) having at least two guide cam part portions (1a, 1b, 1c), and at least one guide cam part portion (1a, 1b, 1c) being able to be switched between an active position and an inactive position, characterized in that a presser part (2, 5) and a take-down part (3) are provided, the presser part (2, 5) being able to be activated on the output side of the cam in order to lift control feet of insert parts over the take-down part (3), and a cam path (Z) for the control feet of the insert parts being created by the at least one guide cam part portion (1a, 1b, 1c) being switched to inactive mode.
2. Knitting cam (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one guide cam part portion (1a, 1b, 1c) can be brought into a lowered position for an inactive position, or can be moved into, under or over another cam part and thus switched to inactive mode.
3. Knitting cam (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the guide cam part (1) has three guide cam part portions (1a, 1b, 1c).
4. Knitting cam (100) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that a guide cam part portion (1c) is provided for stabilizing control feet of insert parts when the insert parts pass through a cam path (Z) formed by another guide cam part portion.
5. Knitting cam (100) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the presser part (2) is arranged below the take-down part (3), which presser part is further arranged at the same height as a presser part (4) provided to form a tuck loop.
6. Knitting cam (100) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that it is configured symmetrically with respect to a central plane.
7. Flat knitting machine comprising a knitting cam (100) according to any of the preceding claims.
8. Method for operating a flat knitting machine comprising a knitting cam (100) according to any of the preceding claims 1-6, in which one or more insert parts of a front needle bed and/or one or more insert parts of a rear needle bed are brought into a defined advanced position on the output side of the cam for a warp thread application, whereupon a thread can then be introduced into the advanced insert parts, characterized in that a presser part (2, 5) is activated on the output side of the cam in order to lift control feet of the advanced insert parts over a take-down part (3), and a cam path (Z) is created for the control feet of the advanced insert parts by switching a guide cam part portion (1a, 1b, 1c) to inactive mode, in particular by lowering it, or by moving it into, under or over a different cam part.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that insert parts to be advanced are selected and advanced via a drive cam part (6) in the needle bed and then, depending on the switching position of a presser part (4), a tuck loop or a stitch is formed using the advanced insert parts.
10. Method according to either of the preceding claims 8 or 9,
    characterized in that on the entry side of the cam a cam path (Z1) is created by switching out a guide cam part portion (1b).
11. Method according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 10,
    characterized in that on the entry side of the cam a presser part (2, 5) is activated in order to lift control feet of the advanced insert parts over a take-down part (3).
12. Method according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 11,
    characterized in that on the entry side of the cam another presser part (5) is activated in order to lift control feet of the advanced insert parts over another take-down part.
13. Method according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 12,
    characterized in that the control feet of advanced insert parts and of non-advanced insert parts are held separately by a guide cam part portion (1c).
14. Method according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 13,
    characterized in that knitting needles are used as insert parts.

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