HK1097011B - Knitted fabric, method and device for producing said fabric - Google Patents

Description

Knitted fabric and method and apparatus for producing the same

Technical Field

The invention relates to a knitted fabric, and also relates to a production method and a production device of the knitted fabric.

Background

The known knitted fabrics of the above-mentioned type have in common that they have or require at least one base knitted fabric made of yarn material. The characteristics of the knitted fabric are determined primarily by the type of yarn material used and the type of weave used in the base knitted fabric in a particular application. For knitted fabrics in the clothing field, special requirements in addition to wearability, such as water absorption capacity, softness, are also required. The term "yarn material" as used herein includes all materials shaped like a yarn, including one or more elongated or infinite length yarns.

The wearability of knitted garments improves with increased softness. In all types of knitted fabrics produced so far, if the knitted fabric is made of a yarn material including yarns and a yarn material mainly containing natural staple fibers or containing mixed fibers of natural staple fibers and chemical fibers, the softness of the knitted fabric is largely determined by the yarn structure and the spinning method for forming such a yarn structure. The spinning process, which aims at arranging the staple fibers to form a yarn by applying a twist to the staple fibers, is critical to the regulation of the tension.

Extremely soft knits cannot be produced from standard ring spun yarns nor from so-called non-conventional yarns such as air spun yarns, small skein (hank) or wrap yarns (wind yarn), because these yarns always have a twist, each wrap causing significant stiffness in the knit. At best, classical ring spun yarns provide loop structures with satisfactory wear properties. The need to obtain extremely soft knitted fabrics is therefore not possible with yarns of known type. The same applies to the case of base knits (DE2804068a1, DE19707053a1) in which lining yarns or loop yarns are added in order to achieve specific properties, and to the case of finishing the yarns or knits in a specific manner.

In particular, so-called plush or synthetic fur fabrics are known as knits with an extremely soft surface (DE3021303a 1). In the production of these fabrics, the fibres supplied by the carding unit are carded into the needles by means of special carding drums. In this type of knitted fabric, the fibers do not form a continuous yarn but merely a batt of fibers extending from the reverse side of the fabric. It is not possible to produce a base knit such as a jersey knit by itself with such a fibrous batt.

Attempts have been made to produce loosely twisted yarns by spinning by special means. However, the spinning process has some limitations on the softness of the yarn because the twist in the yarn reduces the tensile strength and is lost.

The higher cost of spun yarn is another annoyance. This cost increases disproportionately as the fineness increases, so that cost considerations limit the achievement of soft, stretchable knitted yarns. In addition, the yarn used is supplied to the knitting machine in the form of bobbins which are produced in a time and space independent process of the knitting process, which also affects the production costs.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from the prior art, the object of the invention is to shorten the production process and to produce knitted fabrics on the basis of staple fibers, which fabrics have an improved wearing comfort and are extremely soft to the touch, even when no pile or backing yarns are present, no additional fiber batting is added, no special treatment is carried out, etc. In addition, the object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for producing said knitted fabric.

In order to achieve the object of the invention, the yarn material in the knitted fabric described at the outset is characterized in that it comprises a continuous fiber web in which the staple fibers are substantially untwisted and are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

The technical scheme of the method is as follows: a method for producing weft knitted fabrics on a knitting machine, wherein a continuous yarn material is fed to a knitting point of the knitting machine and is formed into a stitch at the knitting point, wherein the yarn material is obtained in such a way that first a continuous web is stretched in a drawing device and then twisted in a spinning device, the yarn material thus obtained being fed directly to the knitting point, the web being spun into an unconventional yarn in the spinning device and being formed into a stitch in this state; and wherein the non-regular yarn is imparted with a strength by the spinning process, which is sufficient to enable it to be transported from the drawing apparatus to the knitting point located on the knitting machine.

The technical scheme of the device for realizing the purpose of the invention is as follows: a device for producing a weft-knitted fabric, comprising a knitting machine provided with needles and at least one knitting point for processing a continuous yarn material fed to the knitting point into loops, and a mechanism for feeding the continuous yarn material, wherein the mechanism for feeding the continuous yarn material comprises a drawing device for drawing a continuous web and a spinning device located between a delivery roller of the drawing device and the knitting point and for providing a twisted web, wherein a yarn guide is provided between the drawing device and the knitting point; and wherein a suction element is provided on the back side of the knitting needle; wherein the spinning device is used for forming an unconventional yarn, comprising a spinning element and a spinning and transport tube connected to the spinning element and ending at a thread guide or knitting point.

One feature of the knitted fabric according to the invention is that it is composed of yarn material which is not considered to be yarn. Rather, the yarn material according to the invention comprises a web of staple fibers which are formed from staple fibers which are substantially untwisted and which are substantially parallel with respect to each other. As a result, a knitted fabric having very softness can be obtained.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the loop-forming yarn of the knitted fabric according to the invention is formed from two components, namely a fibre web according to the invention and an auxiliary yarn which preferably runs parallel to the fibre web and is not twisted together therewith. The auxiliary yarn may be a monofilament yarn or a multifilament yarn, which can have a typical protective twist. Independently, the auxiliary yarn can be selected in such a way that the knitted fabric is characterized by a composition which is formed from the fiber web.

The method and the device according to the invention are preferably started before the formation of the loops by drawing down a fibre web formed in roving form in a drawing frame to the desired fineness and processing it into loops directly after this or after a pretreatment, which can be determined according to the convenience of the knitting process. The latter pre-processed case may be implemented, for example, with a flat knitting machine or a circular knitting machine, which may be a right/right, right/left, or left/left circular knitting machine. From this point on, many variations of the invention are possible.

If the knitting machine is a miniature circular knitting machine, it is suitable, for example, for producing tubular knits from a web material. The web is conveniently fed to and immediately forms loops at the point of knitting, which is located directly at a position away from the drawing apparatus.

According to a second variant of the invention, the staple fibres coming out of the drawing device are taken as a web into a spinning device in which they are spun into an unconventional yarn (for example, a package hank or a wound yarn). As a result, the web is compressed so as to be able to be transported over a longer distance to the knitting point of the circular knitting machine. However, the maximum tensile strength achievable here is not critical and it is important to maintain the desired soft feel.

In a third variant, the fiber stream coming out of the drawing frame is spun by the twisting element into a temporary, typically twisted, classic yarn, which is rotated in a yarn tube and conveyed through the yarn tube to the knitting point or to a yarn guide assigned to the knitting point. A soft feel is obtained because the typical twist over the short extension distance between the end of the yarn guide or yarn tube and the knitting point is released again by the false twisting action. The knit obtained is then extremely soft and comfortable to touch.

Finally, in another variant, in addition to the web, an auxiliary yarn is present at the knitting point. The auxiliary yarn is preferably fed before the pair of transport rollers of the drawing apparatus. The auxiliary yarn passes through the pair of conveying rollers and participates in the formation process of the temporary yarn. The yarn material formed in combination comprises said fiber flows and auxiliary yarns, which yarn material forms loops which have an extremely soft feel, in particular due to the absence of twist between the auxiliary yarns and the fiber flows, i.e. the web and the auxiliary yarns run parallel in the loops.

Other aspects of the invention show other advantageous features.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing loops of a knitted fabric;

FIG. 2 shows a yarn material comprising a web of fibers according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a yarn material comprising a web of fibers and auxiliary yarns (monofilaments) according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a situation similar to FIG. 3, except that the auxiliary yarns are made of multifilament yarns;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a point of knitting of a circular knitting machine having a device for processing longer staple fibers in one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a point of knitting corresponding to that of FIG. 1 through a circular knitting machine in one embodiment for processing shorter staple fibers;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a knitting point of a circular knitting machine with a conventional spinning element in one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a knitting point of an embodiment of a circular knitting machine with twisting elements for producing a temporary yarn;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a knitting point of an embodiment of a circular knitting machine with a plurality of twisting elements arranged one after the other;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a knitting point of an embodiment of a circular knitting machine with a delivery tube for an auxiliary yarn;

FIG. 11 is a basic outline view of a circular knitting machine according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view through the circular knitting machine of FIG. 11; and the number of the first and second groups,

fig. 13 is a view of the feed mechanism for the auxiliary yarn in the circular knitting machine shown in fig. 12.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, a loop 1 of a knitted fabric of known type is shown. Which consists of a yarn material 2 and has the usual cross-over points 3, which are illustrated as a single-jersey knit.

In fig. 2, a yarn material 4 according to the invention is shown which is suitable for producing the knitted fabric shown in fig. 1. The yarn material consists of yarns in the form of fibers 5, the fiber web 5 being formed continuously or indefinitely as in a normal yarn, said fiber web being formed of staple fibers 6, which staple fibers 6 extend parallel to the longitudinal extension of the yarn material 4 and are not twisted.

The web 5 shown in fig. 2 has no strength by itself. However, due to the cross-over points 3 within the loops 1, it has surprisingly been found that the web 5 obtains sufficient strength, in particular tensile strength, and is therefore well suited for producing knitted fabrics, such as clothing knitted fabrics.

If an external force is applied to the knitted fabric made from the fibre web 5, the staple fibres come together at the crossing points 3 and take up the force by means of a frictional connection. The stitches 1 and the knitted fabric formed of the stitches are as strong as the knitted fabric formed of the yarn. An important difference of the present invention is the softness to the touch. The knitted fabric made of the yarn material 4, which is formed of the fiber web 5, has an extremely soft touch feeling.

When using yarn material 7, a similar tactile sensation can be achieved if the sensation is not very soft. The yarn material 7 is composed of a fibre web 5 and an infinitely long auxiliary yarn 8 (fig. 3). The characteristics of the yarn material 7 are advantageously brought about by the fibre web 5. This applies in particular when the web 5 dominates over the material ratio web 5/auxiliary threads 8. Particularly good properties can be achieved with a material distribution of, for example, 70% of the fibre web 5/30% of the auxiliary yarns 8.

The auxiliary threads 8 can be formed, for example, from monofilaments 8 (fig. 3) or multifilaments 9 (fig. 4). A combination of a web according to the invention with auxiliary yarns 8 of the type in which the auxiliary yarns 8 consist of staple fibers, such as ring spun yarns, packet twisted yarns or wound yarns or the like, is also possible, but in this case the material ratio of web 5 and auxiliary yarns 8 should preferably be sufficiently large so that the required softness of the knitted fabric according to the invention is not impaired by the auxiliary yarns 8 or 9. Since, as described above, all knitted fabrics 1 with a fibre web 5 should according to the invention have a particularly soft feel, this soft feel is very different from the feel of knitted fabrics made of yarns of the known type.

The restoring moment in the knitted fabric is zero when the web 5 is used, or substantially zero when the web 5 is used in combination with the auxiliary yarn 9. The two coil legs of the coil 1 do not appear unbalanced but are completely symmetrical.

The manner of production of the fiber web 5 according to the invention can in principle be freely selected. One possible type is, for example, that the cross-section of the fiber band (roving) from the drawing equipment or the like is reduced to a value suitable for knitting by using further drawing equipment. By "roving" is understood here a roving of untwisted fiber tapes of a large number stored in a can or the like. Alternatively, the fibre web 5 can also be produced from carded sliver and the required final fineness is achieved by the drawing apparatus.

For the purposes of the present invention, it is important that the web 5 shown in fig. 2 forms a continuous (infinitely long) yarn, which is used to form loops and which can be used, for example, to produce a conventional base knit in the form of a smooth jersey, in contrast to, for example, plush fabrics. Other patterns are possible, as are the yarns used. Both longer staple fibres (e.g. wool) and shorter staple fibres (e.g. cotton), and other fibres not obtained from textile materials, such as metal material or plastics material fibres, may be used.

The device according to the invention can be used to produce knitted fabrics from the yarn material 4 or 7 described, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to fig. 5 to 13, and can be described, for example, as a spinning/knitting device (spinning/knitting device).

The invention is illustrated by way of example in figure 5, which is a circular knitting machine with a needle cylinder 11, the needle cylinder 11 having a very small diameter (e.g. 1 "). Such circular knitting machines are particularly suitable for processing longer staple fibers, which can be used as web material, and for producing knits. As shown in fig. 5, the web shown in fig. 2 is used as the yarn material 4, which is continuously fed from a conventional feed roll 12 of a drawing apparatus, schematically indicated by reference numeral 14, to a yarn guide 15. The yarn material 4 is composed of fibres 6, see fig. 2, which fibres 6 have not been twisted and are arranged in a substantially parallel manner and are processed to form a coil immediately after being formed in the drawing apparatus 14, i.e. without intermediate spooling. The thread guide 15 feeds the thread material 4 to a schematically shown knitting point 16, at which it is hooked by projecting needles 17, for example said needles 17 being normal latch needles, which are movably mounted in the needle slots of the needle cylinder 11 and process the thread material 4 into loops similar to those shown in figure 1.

The suction element 18 is arranged on the side of the yarn guide 15 remote from the conveyor roller 12 and behind the knitting needle 17. The web 5 coming out of the drawing device 14 is sucked by the suction element 18 through the yarn guide 15 towards the needle cylinder 11 and is immediately processed into loops. The thread guide 15 is spaced from the knitting needle 17 by only a few millimeters. It is thus possible to achieve the formation of the stitch, i.e. the material of thread 4 is first sucked by the suction elements 18 radially arranged with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder and is held under tension so that this material of thread 4 can be hooked by the needles 17 which are raised into a thread-receiving position at the knitting point 16, at which time these needles 17 are lowered into a looping position so that the material of thread is processed into a stitch.

In this way, a knitted fabric is formed which is composed of the mutually intertwined yarn materials 4. The yarn material 4 is not a yarn, however, although it is composed of staple fibers. This type of knitted fabric is soft and cheap to manufacture, since the actual spinning process is eliminated.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a knitting point of the circular knitting machine corresponding to fig. 5, but for processing shorter staple fibers. The structure is thus similar to that in fig. 5, but the conveyor roller 12 carries a conveyor belt 19. As a result, the distance from the nip point 20 of the fibre web 5, which nip point 20 is the last position in the direction of the circular knitting machine and is formed by the conveyor belt 19, up to the thread guide 15 or the looping point can be very small, in particular equal to or less than the tear-out length of the fibres 6, which is necessary for a correct looping. The device is knitted to form a very soft and cheap knitted fabric, since the actual spinning process is dispensed with.

Although fig. 5 and 6 show knitting with the yarn material 4 shown in fig. 2, the embodiment shown in fig. 7 is based on an apparatus for processing a yarn material 21, which yarn material 21 is an unconventional yarn. The skilled person will understand this "unconventional yarn" as a yarn having a twist, but which is different from the typical twist formed by ring or spinning. One advantage of such a yarn material 21 is that it may be given an increased tensile strength compared to the fibre material 4 shown in fig. 2. In this way, the fibrous material 21 can be adapted to be delivered under considerable stretching, which is required in large circular knitting machines (cylinder diameters of, for example, 30 "or more), or at least in the case of circular knitting machines of the type described with reference to figures 5 and 6, which have a larger cylinder diameter. The use of the yarn material 21 enables the selection of a greater distance between the delivery roller 12 of the drawing device 14 and the knitting point 16 than in the case shown in figures 5 and 6.

In fig. 7, a section through a knitting point 16 of a circular knitting machine for processing short staple fibers by means of a spinning element of a known type is shown. Between the drawing device 14 and the knitting point 16, a spinning element 22 is arranged for spinning an unconventional yarn 21, from which spinning element 22 the yarn 21 is led into a tube 23 to a thread guide 24, which thread guide 24 is formed by the discharge end of the tube 23. The suction element 18 shown in fig. 5 and 6 is then arranged opposite the opening or thread guide 24 of the tube 23.

The yarn material 4 coming out of the drawing-off device 14 is here spun into an unconventional yarn 21, which may be, for example, a small package yarn (bundle yarn) or a wound yarn (wind yarn). The spinning process is adjusted in such a way that it produces a yarn of sufficient strength. However, the maximum strength to be achieved is not specified. The strength requirement achieved is only large enough that the yarn material 21 can be transported to the knitting point 16 extending 50 to 100 cm in the tube 23, as is required in the large circular knitting machines described above.

The production yields a sufficiently soft knitted yarn. The production process is less expensive than the conventional process, because the time consumption is reduced in the knitting process due to the elimination of the spooling process.

The embodiment shown in fig. 8 relates to a device by means of which a "temporary" yarn 25 is first produced. This yarn 25 is referred to as "temporary" because typical conventional twists are formed in the yarn, which twists are completely removed just before the yarn reaches the loop point in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 8 is similar to fig. 7 and shows a section through the knitting point 16 of the knitting machine, but with a twisting element 26 to produce a temporary yarn 25. Between the drawing frame device 14 and the knitting point 16, in this embodiment, there is a twisting element 26, in which twisting element 26 air turbulences 28 are formed by compressed air 27, which suck the web out of the drawing frame device 14 and spin it into a temporary yarn 25. The temporary yarn 25 is typically twisted and has classical properties. The temporary yarn passes through a spinning tube 29, and in this spinning tube 29, the temporary yarn is rotated at high speed. The outlet of the yarn tube 29 is located at a yarn guide 30, which yarn guide 30 can also be formed by the end of the yarn tube 29, which is directed towards the circular knitting machine.

Between the distance of extension between the yarn guide 30 and the looping point 31, which is schematically shown, the typical twist of the temporary yarn 25 is substantially eliminated to zero so that in fact the yarn material 32 processed to form the knitted fabric does not comprise yarns. The yarn material 32 has almost no twist as shown in fig. 2, so that the operating mode in fig. 8 corresponds to the known false twisting principle.

Likewise, the suction element 18 is arranged opposite the spinning tube 29. This type of device, similar to the situation shown in fig. 5 and 6, provides an extremely soft knitted fabric, which is cheap to manufacture, since it avoids the classical spinning process and has no coning process.

The advantage of the false twist principle applied in fig. 8 is also that the yarn 25 transported in the spinning tube 29 meets all strength requirements and can be transported over a long run, whereas the finished knitted fabric has all the advantages offered by the web 5 in fig. 2. The reversal of the temporary yarn 25 to zero or substantially zero automatically takes place on the way to the yarn guide 32 located at the looping point 31, so that no special means are advantageously provided for achieving the reversal. Tests have shown that this is sufficient if the thread guides 30 are arranged, for example, 5 to 7 mm before the looping point 31, so that the free thread path or the spacing between the thread guides 30 and the looping point 31 is smaller than the staple length in the particular case in the fibre web 5.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view through a knitting point 16 of a knitting machine with a plurality of twisting elements 26a, 26b and 26c, which are arranged one after the other and are of substantially identical construction, in an embodiment. This advantageously applies when the delivery roller 12 of the drawing device 14 is far from the knitting point 16 due to the overall geometry. Between two successive twisting elements 26a and 26b or 26b and 26c, the compressed air streams 27a, 27b or 27c required for generating turbulence are preferably discharged outwards through vents 33, for example gaps located on the respective tubes 29.

It is also within the scope of the invention if the twisting elements 26b and 26c located after the first twisting element 26a are configured as a revolving tube operating with a mechanical revolution revolving at high speed. The successive twisting elements 26b and 26c comprising the spinning tubes 29 may be positioned at an angle relative to each other as shown in fig. 9.

The twisting elements 26a to 26c are each supplied with, for example, compressed air and generate a turbulence 28 (see fig. 8). It is reasonable from an energy point of view to stagger the compressed air streams 27a, 27b, and 27c to drive the turbulence 28. Compressed air stream 27a is less intense (e.g., 0.2 bar) than compressed air streams 27b, and 27c (e.g., 3 to 4 bar). The central twisting element 26b can supply the maximum air pressure, while the twisting elements 26c located directly near the knitting point 16 work with an average air pressure. If a device of this type is set into motion, first all the twisting elements 26a to 26c are supplied with compressed air 27a to 27 c. If a stable operating state is achieved, the compressed air flow 27a, 27b can be reduced or completely brought to zero. The compressed air flow 27c is in any case kept fully open.

In fig. 10, a cross-section through a knitting point 16 of a knitting machine with a guide tube 34 for an auxiliary yarn 8 as in fig. 3 is shown in an embodiment. As a result, according to the invention, the fibrous material 7 is fed to the knitting point 16 and contains, in addition to the fibre web 5, also the auxiliary yarn 8 in fig. 3. The auxiliary yarn 8 can be fed to the knitting point 16 by means of an additional yarn guide adjacent to the yarn guide 30 or at a position interposed between the delivery roller 12 and the twisting element 26. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary yarn 8 is fed by means of a yarn guide tube 34 located directly between the delivery rollers 12 of the drawing apparatus 14, as shown in fig. 10. This embodiment is advantageous because yarn breakage is less likely to occur throughout the spinning and knitting process.

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of a circular knitting machine 35 with a needle cylinder 11. The drawing apparatus 14 is arranged distributed in three groups 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 around the needle cylinder 11 of the circular knitting machine 35. Each group 14.1 to 14.3 has a drive 37.1 to 37.3, which conveniently operates synchronously with the drive (not shown) of the needle cylinder 11. A corresponding number of cans 38, which contain fibre material in the form of rovings or the like, is assigned to each group 14.1 to 14.3 of drawing devices 14. If an auxiliary yarn 8 (fig. 10) is present in operation, a corresponding number of supply bobbins is also allocated to each group 14.1 to 14.3 of drawing devices 14. Each group 14.1 to 14.3 of drawing devices 14 is assigned to a system or a knitting point 16 of the circular knitting machine 35.

Between these circumferential regions of the needle cylinder 11, in which knitting points 16 (fig. 5) are arranged, larger dead zones 39 can be provided, in which dead zones 39 the circular knitting machine has no knitting points 16 or at least is not used during the spinning/knitting process. The purpose of this is to extend the circumferential portions provided with working knitting points 16 over a preferential angle a of, for example, 60 degrees, so as to avoid excessive direction changes in the yarn courses between the drawing device groups 14.1 to 14.3 and the associated knitting points. This is indicated in fig. 11 by the respective two outer lines 40a, 40b, which represent the yarn paths located at the respective outermost sides (e.g. the spinning tubes 29 in fig. 8). Between these two lines 40a, 40b is the yarn path for the yarn material 4 or 7 from the remaining drawing device groups 14.1 to 14.3.

This means in practice that, in the case of large circular knitting machines, only about half of the knitting points 16 or knitting systems arranged in the usual manner are available. However, this is of secondary importance with respect to the price advantage that can be achieved by the yarn materials 4 to 7. In addition, it is also possible to increase the diameter of the needle cylinder 11 in order to be able to accommodate a large number of knitting systems available on its periphery.

Fig. 12 shows a somewhat schematic vertical partial section through the device according to the invention from fig. 10, in which the circular knitting machine 41 is configured as a right/left circular knitting machine. The circular knitting machine 41 with the needle cylinder 11 stands on the floor of the workshop. A channel 42 is provided for operating the needle cylinder 11. The channel 42 is limited by the group of cans 38 (fig. 11) in which the rovings are transported to the drawing apparatus 14 via a transport mechanism 43, which is configured, for example, as a conveyor belt. Drawing apparatus 14 is operable from an operating platform 44, which operating platform 44 is located above channel 42 and is connected to a yarn supply drum 46 by a yarn guide tube 34 and a conveyor 45, which conveyor 45 contains auxiliary yarn 8. With this arrangement, a canopy-like channel 47 can be formed in which an operator can move.

According to this embodiment, the web coming from the drawing-off device 14 is guided to the knitting point 16 via a tube 23 (fig. 7) or a spinning tube 29 (fig. 8 to 10), respectively. In addition, a suction element 18 is provided, into which suction element 18 a separating device 48 is integrated, which serves to set knitting machine 41 into motion, as will be described further below.

The suction elements 18 of the knitting points 16 are preferably connected to a central suction mechanism 49. The central suction device carries away yarn residues or fibers, which are produced as waste during start-up or during production.

Since knitting machine 41 is preferably a large circular knitting machine, it produces knitted fabric having a very large circumference, which is more important if there is a dead zone 39 (fig. 11), in which case waste is preferably placed in basement 50 so that the knitting machine remains operational.

A conveyor (purveyor)45 is provided between the yarn guide tube 34 and the yarn supply bobbin 46. These conveyors 45 make it possible to make the operation of a circular knitting machine of the type described above simple.

As shown in fig. 13, each conveyor 45 preferably has a pressure roller 51 and a drive roller 52 coupled to a drive 53 via a free wheel 54. The auxiliary yarn 8 is guided between said pressure roller 51 and drive roller 52.

The drive 53 is adjusted such that the conveying speed of the conveyor 45 is less than the conveying speed of the associated drawing apparatus 14. It can thus be achieved that the conveyor 45 as a positive conveying means controls the conveying speed of the auxiliary yarn 8 in the yarn guide tube 34 until the auxiliary yarn 8 has reliably moved into the conveying roller 12 of the relevant drawing device 14. After this, during high-speed knitting, the transport speed of the auxiliary thread 8 in the yarn guide tube 34 is determined by the transport roller 12, in contrast, in which case the free wheel 54 becomes active, by means of the transport roller 12 the auxiliary thread 8 being pulled off the associated yarn supply bobbin 46.

A device of the above-mentioned type, which may also be called a spinning/knitting machine, is set in motion, for example, as follows:

the needles 17 of the needle cylinder 11 are not initially extended and are all located in a concentric position. The auxiliary yarn 8 has been inserted into the conveyor 45. The spinning element 22 or the twisting element 26 and the drawing device 14 run at a speed which is synchronized with the rotation of the needle cylinder. However, the rovings from the can 38 have not yet been delivered by the delivery mechanism 43, which acts as a roving stop (roving stops).

First, the conveyor 45 is set in a motion state with a conveying speed smaller than that of the conveying roller 12 of the associated drawing apparatus 14. As a result, the auxiliary yarn 8 passes through the conveyor 45 and through the yarn-guide tube 34 into the drawing apparatus 14, by means of the spinning device 22 or the twisting element 26, to the knitting point 16, where the auxiliary yarn 8 is sucked by the suction element 18 and arranged radially with respect to the loops of the needle cylinder 11. After all knitting points 16 have an auxiliary yarn 8, the drawing apparatus 14 and the conveyor 45 are stopped. The auxiliary yarn 8 located in the suction element 18 and held in this suction element 18 is now covered by the separating device 48, i.e. cut slightly after the knitting needle 17, while the needle cylinder 11 and the drawing apparatus 14 are set to a synchronous motion, with a pre-selected gear ratio, so that the knitting needle 17 protrudes but first only catches the auxiliary yarn 8. The spinning/knitting machine now knits in a conventional manner a so-called bag (sack) which is taken up by a draw-off reel. If the knitting process starts and the draw-off winder works properly, the drawing apparatus 14 is supplied with rovings sequentially and/or in parallel by opening the transport mechanism 43. By "sequential" it should be understood here that the drawing apparatus 14 is not opened simultaneously but, for example, in a consecutive sequence in the circumferential direction of the needle cylinder 11 when starting the circular knitting machine, in order to avoid irregularities and blockages caused by fibres in the region of the needles 17. Thus, a knitted fabric having softness to the touch which has not been obtained so far is produced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified in various ways. In particular, the above-described method can be adapted similarly to be applied to flat bed knitting machines or to circular knitting machines with a fixed needle cylinder and a rotary cam. It is therefore clear that it is possible to use not only circular knitting machines having only one bed (for example the needle cylinder 11) but also circular knitting machines having also another bed (for example the dial). In addition, the dead space 39 in fig. 11 can be filled with other groups of drawing equipment 14, as long as the space conditions on the circular knitting machine allow this, and no obstructive supports and the like are provided on the circumference of the needle cylinder. In this way, it is possible to assign to each set knitting system a drawing device 14 with the elements described above in relation thereto. Finally, it goes without saying that the various features can also be used in combination, not just as illustrated and described above.

Claims (27)

1. A method for producing weft knitted fabrics on a knitting machine, wherein a continuous yarn material (4, 7) is fed to a knitting point (16) of the knitting machine and is formed into a loop (1) at the knitting point, characterized in that the yarn material (4, 7) is obtained in such a way that first a continuous fibre web (5) is stretched in a drawing device (14) and then twisted in a spinning device (22, 23; 26, 29), the yarn material (4, 7) thus obtained being fed directly to the knitting point (16);

wherein the fibre web (5) is spun in the spinning device (22, 23) to an unconventional yarn (21) and formed into a loop in this state; and is

Wherein the non-regular yarn (21) is given a strength by a spinning process, which is sufficient to be transported from a drawing device (14) to the knitting point (16) on the knitting machine.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fibre web (5) is spun in a spinning device (26, 29) to form a temporary yarn (25) with a typical twist and is fed in this state to a knitting point (16) on the knitting machine and is then returned to the untwisted fibre web by false twisting before the yarn (25) is worked to form loops.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that a thread guide (30) is arranged between the spinning device (26, 29) and the knitting point (16), the temporary thread (25) remaining between the thread guide (30) and the knitting point (16).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, before the knitting process is started, the yarn material is traversed by suction through the path of travel of the needles (17) of the knitting machine and is held in this position, and then the knitting process is started, the needles (17) being moved along said path so as to receive said yarn material in a raised manner.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the end of the yarn material held by suction is cut after the last entry into the raised needle (17).

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a yarn material (7) is used, the fibre web (5) of which is provided with an additional auxiliary yarn (8).

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a yarn material (7) is used, the fibre web (5) of which is provided with an additional auxiliary yarn (8).

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a yarn material (7) is used, the fibre web (5) of which is provided with an additional auxiliary yarn (8).

9. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the knitting process is such that firstly only the auxiliary yarn (8) is processed into loops by itself until the knitted fabric has reached a preselected length, by which time the yarn material (7) and the auxiliary yarn (8) constituting the web (5) are also processed into loops.

10. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the knitting process is such that firstly only the auxiliary yarn (8) is processed into loops by itself until the knitted fabric has reached a preselected length, by which time the yarn material (7) and the auxiliary yarn (8) that constitute the web (5) are also processed into loops.

11. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the knitting process is such that firstly only the auxiliary yarn (8) is processed into loops by itself until the knitted fabric has reached a preselected length, by which time the yarn material (7) and the auxiliary yarn (8) constituting the web (5) are also processed into loops.

12. A device for producing weft knitted fabrics, comprising a knitting machine provided with needles (17) and at least one knitting point (16) and a mechanism for feeding a continuous yarn material (4, 7), the knitting point (16) being intended for processing the continuous yarn material (4, 7) fed to the knitting point into a loop (1), characterized in that the mechanism for feeding a continuous yarn material (4, 7) comprises a drawing apparatus (14) for drawing a continuous web (5) and a spinning device (22, 23; 26, 29) between a delivery roll (12) of the drawing apparatus (14) and the knitting point (16) and intended for providing a twisted web (5);

wherein a thread guide (15, 24, 30) is arranged between the drawing device (14) and the knitting point (16); and is

Wherein a suction element (18) is arranged on the back side of the knitting needle (17);

wherein the spinning device is used for forming an unconventional yarn (21) and comprises a spinning element (22) and a spinning and conveying pipe (23) connected with the spinning element (22) and ending at a yarn guide (24) or a knitting point (16).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the spinning device is intended to form a temporary yarn (25), the spinning device comprising at least one twisting element (26) and a spinning tube (29) connected to the twisting element and ending in a thread guide (30) or knitting point (16).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the twisting element (26) operates with air pressure.

15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the spinning device comprises a plurality of spinning zones, each comprising a twisting element (26a, 26b, 26c) and a spinning tube (29) connected to the twisting element, wherein the spinning tube (29) located last in the transport direction of the fibre web ends with a yarn guide (24, 30) at the knitting point (16).

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the twisting elements (26a, 26b, 26c) are operated with air pressure, the centrally located twisting element (26b) being operated with the highest air pressure, the twisting element (26a) adjacent to the drawing apparatus (14) being operated with the lowest air pressure, and the twisting element (26c) adjacent to the yarn guide (30) being operated with the average air pressure.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the twisting elements (26a) and the central twisting element (26b) of adjacent drawing devices (14) can be stopped after the temporary yarn (25) has been spun.

18. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that a venting opening (33) is assigned to at least one spinning tube (29).

19. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that there are also means for feeding an auxiliary yarn (8) to the yarn material (7).

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that the device for feeding an auxiliary yarn (8) to the yarn material (7) comprises a feed duct (34) which is arranged before the delivery roller (12) of the drawing apparatus (14) and which feeds the auxiliary yarn (8) to the spinning device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the knitting machine is a circular knitting machine, on the circumference of which a plurality of drawing devices are arranged.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the drawing devices are combined to form drawing device groups (14.1-14.3), the dead zones (39) of the inactive knitting points (16) being arranged on the circumference of the circular knitting machine.

23. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a separating means (48) is assigned to the suction element (18).

24. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that a can (38) containing rovings is assigned to the drawing apparatus (14), a conveying mechanism (43) for the rovings being arranged between the can (38) and the drawing apparatus (14).

25. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that a conveyor (45) is provided between the supply pipe (34) and the supply bobbin (46) of the auxiliary yarn (8).

26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the conveyor (45) has a pressure roller (51) and a drive roller (52) provided with a freewheel (54).

27. A device as claimed in claim 26, characterised in that the drive roller (52) is driven at a peripheral speed which is lower than that of the conveyor roller (12).