Abstract
A loop-forming process includes moving at least two system components (11, 12) in one groove (16) of a needle bed in a first longitudinal direction (y). The system components contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between two adjacent system components (11, 12) moved in the groove (16), whereby this spacer (10) contributes to distance (21) adjustment between loop-forming portions in the direction () of the grooves' (16) width. The at least one spacer (10) moves together with a first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) and is at least temporarily moved inside a section (41) of the longitudinal (y) extension where the spacer (10) and the second system component (12) are in mechanical contact and/or in which the spacer (10) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer (10) moved together with the second of the two system components (11, 12).
Claims
1. Loop-forming process, comprising: moving at least two system components (11, 12) in one groove (16) of a needle bed relative to said needle bed (14) in a first direction (y) which corresponds to longitudinal direction, said system components (11, 12) contacting threads (23) for forming loops with their loop-forming portions (20, 24), contributing to adjusting a distance (21) between the loop-forming portions (20, 24) with at least one spacer (10) placed between two adjacent system components (11, 12) of the system components, the distance adjusted in a second direction (x) which corresponds to a direction of a width of the grooves (16) of the needle bed (14), whereby said at least one spacer (10) abstains from the loop-forming process, moving the at least one spacer (10) together with a first one of said two adjacent system components (11, 12), at least temporarily moving the at least one spacer (10) inside a section (41) of the longitudinal (y) extension of the groove (16), wherein one or both of: a first spacer of the at least one spacer (10) and a second one of said two adjacent system components (12) are in mechanical contact with each other, and the first spacer (10) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer (10) of the at least one spacer which is moved together with the second one (12) of said two adjacent system components (11, 12).
2. Loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising: moving the needle bed (14) relative to a cam holder of the knitting machine with a first velocity (vk), so that butts (17) of the system components (11, 12) pass through cams (18) connected with a cam holder of the loop-forming machine, whereby the butts (17) receive force for movement of the system components (11, 12), the system components (11, 12) performing periodic movements in their longitudinal direction (y) and that the system components (11, 12) reach minima and maxima during these movements, the loop-forming portions (20, 24) of a first adjacent system component (11) and a second adjacent system component (12) of the two adjacent system components reaching minima and maxima (37) of their movements with a delay of time bigger than half of a first quotient or equal to said first quotient, whereby the first quotient is a quotient of a distance (21) between the loop-forming portions of the two adjacent system components in the second direction (x) and the first velocity (vk).
3. Device for loop-forming, comprising: a needle bed, a plurality of system components (11, 12) comprising loop-forming portions (20, 24) and configured to be involved in loop-forming at least for a period of time during a loop forming process, the needle bed (14) is provided with a plurality of grooves (16) which have an extension in a first direction (y) which corresponds to a longitudinal direction (y) of the system components (11, 12), whereby said system components (11, 12) are movably arranged in said grooves (16) and individual grooves house at least two system components (11, 12), at least one spacer (10) configured to contribute to adjustment of distance (21) between the loop-forming portions (24) of two adjacent system components (11, 12) of the plurality of system components of one of the grooves (16) in a second direction (x) which corresponds to a direction of width of the grooves (16) of the needle bed (14), wherein a first spacer of the at least one spacer (10) is immovably connected with at least a first one of said two adjacent system components (11, 12) at a position of the longitudinal extension (y) of the system components (11, 12) which is during the loop-forming process at least temporarily housed by a section of one of the grooves (16), wherein one or both of: the first spacer (10) and a second one (12) of the adjacent system components (12) are in mechanical contact with each other, and the first spacer (10) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer (10) of the at least one spacer which is immovably connected with the second one of said two adjacent system components (12).
4. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3 wherein a first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) is provided with and immovable connected to one of the at least one spacer (10).
5. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3 wherein the two system components (11, 12) are provided with two spacers (10) of the at least one spacer, and a first of the two spacers (10) is immovably connected with the first (11) of said two adjacent system components and a second of the two spacers (10) is immovably connected with the second (12) of said two adjacent system components.
6. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3, wherein the distance (21) in the second direction (x) between the loop-forming portions (20, 24) of the two system components (11, 12) of one groove (16) is equal to at least one distance between the loop-forming portions of two other adjacent system components of the needle bed (14) in the second direction (x), whereby the two other adjacent system components (11, 12) are separated by an immovable wall (15) of a groove (16) of a needle bed (14).
7. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3, wherein the distance in the second direction (x) which is adjusted by the at least one spacer (10) between the loop-forming portions (20, 24) of the two system components (11, 12) is approximately equal to a width of a shank (39) in the second direction (x) of at least one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12).
8. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spacer (10) is integral with the system component (11, 12) with which the at least one spacer (10) is immovably connected.
9. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3 wherein the at least one spacer (10) comprises a bend (51) of a shank (39) of the first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) with which it is immovably connected.
10. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3 wherein the at least one spacer (10) comprises a bend (51) of a shank (39) of the first one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) with which it is immovably connected and that at least a section of the bend's (51) side surface which is directed towards the second one of the adjacent system components (11, 12) is parallel to a surface of an immovable wall (15) of the groove (16) in which the respective system components (11, 12) are housed.
11. Device for loop-forming according to claim 3 wherein the at least one spacer (10) is an additional part (38) connected in a mating process with the one of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) with which it is immovably connected.
12. Device for loop-forming according to claim 11 wherein the at least one additional part (38) comprises materials which are not included in the system component (11, 12).
13. Device for loop-forming according to claim 12 wherein the additional part is connected to the system component (11, 12) with which the spacer (10) is connected by at least one of: splice, weld joint (42), solder joint, splint (44), or combinations thereof.
14. System component for loop forming which comprises: a shank (39) configured to glide in a needle groove (16) of a needle bed (14) which essentially extends in a first longitudinal direction (y) and has a width in a second direction (x), means for loop forming (20, 24) which are placed on one longitudinal end of the shank (39), a butt (17) configured to interact with a cam (18) of a knitting machine, whereby the butt (17) has an extension in a third direction (z) which corresponds to a height direction (z) of the shank and overtowers the shank (39), a spacer (10) which is placed immovably on the shank (39) wherein a width of the butt (17) in the second direction (x) is smaller than a maximum combined extension of the shank (39) and the spacer (10) in the second direction (x) at at least one position of an extension (45) of the butt (17) in the first direction (y).
15. System component for loop forming according to claim 14 wherein the butt (17) has a first width (46) in the second direction (x) in an end section (43) of its extension (45) in the first direction (y), the butt has a second width (47) in the second direction (x) in at least one middle section (49) of its extension (45) in the first direction, and the second width (47) is bigger than the first width (46).
Description
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first needle bed which is equipped with first and second system components, each of them equipped with a spacer with an equal width.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows one of the system components which equip the first needle bed which is shown in FIG. 1.
[0052] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the first and the second system component in a groove of the first needle bed.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second needle bed which is equipped with first and second system components. The first system components are equipped with a spacer which adjusts the whole distance between the loop forming means of two adjacent system components of one groove.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a pair of two needles which were extracted from one groove of the second needle bed and which consist of a first needle with a spacer and a second needle without one.
[0055] FIG. 6 provides a cross-sectional view of the second needle bed with one pair of system components.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows a pair of needles consisting of two needles each one is provided with a spacer which is essentially an additional part.
[0057] FIG. 8 shows the passage of a cam with two butts of system components.
[0058] FIG. 9 provides a first symbolic arrangement of cams.
[0059] FIG. 10 shows a plain view of a third needle bed.
[0060] FIG. 11 is a plain view of a forth needle bed which is provided with a first and a second kind of system components with bends in its shanks.
[0061] FIG. 12 is a plain view of a fifth needle bed.
[0062] FIG. 13 provides a second symbolic arrangement of cams.
[0063] FIG. 14 provides a plain view of a first groove equipped with system elements
[0064] FIG. 15 provides a plain view of a second groove equipped with system elements
[0065] FIG. 16 provides a plain view of a third groove equipped with system elements
[0066] FIG. 1 shows a needle bed 14 which is provided with grooves 16 which are delimited by immovable walls 15. In the grooves 16 of this first embodiment of a needle bed 14 there are two system components 11 and 12. The power for the movement of the system components is transferred with butts 17 to the system components 11 and 12. Each system component 11, 12 is provided with loop forming means. In the case shown in FIG. 1 the system components 11 and 12 are latch needles and therefore their loop forming means are hooks 20 and latches 24, which extend in a loop forming zone 19. FIGS. 2 and 3 are about the same embodiment of the needle bed 14 and its system components 11, 12. FIG. 2 shows a system component 11 of the kind used in the needle bed 14 of FIG. 1. As said before the system component 11 is a needle with a butt 17 and a shank 39. The system component 11 is also provided with a spacer 10 with which it is immovably connected. In the case shown the spacer 10 and the shank 39 of the system component 11 are of one piece. FIG. 3 shows a section of the needle bed 14 of FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view. In FIG. 3 the distance 21 which is also the distance between the loop forming means 20, 24 of two adjacent loop forming components 11, 12 of one groove 16 is clearly shown. The line 40 symbolizes the limitation between spacers 10 and shank 39 which does not really exist since these two members of the first embodiment are of one piece. In the first embodiment the first 11 and the second 12 system component are each provided with one spacer 10. These spacers 10 have the same width so that each of the spacers adjusts half of the distance 21. As already said before those spacers are of one piece with the shanks 39 of the system components 11, 12 with which they are immovably connected.
[0067] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the needle bed and its respective system components. The only significant difference between the first and the second embodiment shown in this publication is that in the second embodiment two adjacent system components 11, 12 of one groove 16 are only provided with one spacer 10 which is immovably connected with the first 11 of the two system components. This means that the whole distance 21 between the loop forming means 20, 24 of the two system components 11, 12 is adjusted only by means of only one spacer 10. This spacer 10 is once again of one piece with the system component with which it is connected. In both embodiments shown so far one can easily see that there are segments 41 of the longitudinal extension of the grooves 16 in which the spacers 10 are housed or moved. An arbitrary segment of the longitudinal extension of the grooves is symbolized by the bracket 41. In the first embodiment the two spacers 10 are in contact with each other when the system components 11, 12 are moved in the grooves 16. In the second embodiment only the first system component 11 is provided with a spacer 10 and the spacer 10 touches the second system component 12 when moved and even when the knitting machine does not work. The segments 41 of the grooves 16 in which this condition applies (the spacer 10 touches the adjacent system component 11) are very long (more than 90% of the system components' length.
[0068] FIG. 7 shows a pair of system components 11, 12 which is very similar to the pairs of system components 11, 12 which are housed in the grooves 16 of the first embodiment: Both system components 11, 12 are immovably connected with one respective spacer 10. Unlike the needles of the first embodiment the needles shown in FIG. 7 are not of one piece with their respective spacer 10. Therefore, this spacer 10 is an additional part 38 which is mated with the shank 39 of the respective system component 11, 12 with several weld points 42. Therefore the line 40 has in FIG. 7 a very physical significance since it denotes the limitation between two members 11, 10, or 12, 10. In most cases the joints or connections of very similar materials could be welt points or welt lines. Solder points or lines can mate similar or at least slightly different materials like different metals. In other cases very different materials can also be used and mated with other connections like splints or adhesives or the like. One possibility is to manufacture the shank 39 of the system component 11, 12 presumably of metal and use a material with a very low friction and/or self-lubricating properties like graphite or Teflon for the spacer 10.
[0069] The embodiments of the system components which are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (first embodiment) and the system components shown in FIG. 7 have a butt in common which has a width which is smaller than the combined (maximum) extension of its spacer 10 and its shaft 39 in the second direction (x). The same applies with regard to the first system components 11 according to the second embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. In contrast to the embodiment shown directly below the system components of FIGS. 1 to 7 have this smaller width in all sections of their whole longitudinal extension 45.
[0070] FIG. 8 shows two butts 17 of system components 11, 12 which pass through the passage 35 of a cam 18. The reason for the butts' 17 passing through the passage 35 is the relative movement vk (see the respective pointer in FIG. 8) between cam holder and cams on one side and the needle bed 14 (not shown in FIG. 8) and system components 11, 12 with their butts 17 on the other side. The cam 18 is not completely shown in FIG. 8. The limitations 48 of the passage 35 are however shown. They are surrounded by a hatching which symbolizes parts of the cam 18. The viewer of FIG. 8 can see the two butts 17 through the passage 35 (the cam holder is for the viewer transparent) so that invisible parts of the system components shanks (the parts covered by the cam) have to be shown with broken lines. Both butts 17 have an extension 45 in the first direction y. The width 46 of the butts 17 in the end sections 43 is smaller than their width 47 in their middle sections 49. This definition does not include end sections of state-of the art butts with rounded edges or edges which are in any other ways chamfered. The aforementioned feature (different widths in different sections, see above) is advantageous with regard to any embodiment of the present invention. It is however even more advantageous with regard to embodiments which are equipped with butts which have a maximum width in the second direction x which is bigger than the extension of the respective system component's 11, 12 loop forming means 20, 24. In this case, it is advantageous if there are end sections 43 of the butt 17 with a width which is equal to the width of the loop forming means 20, 24. It is even more advantageous if there are sections in the middle part which are provided with a width which is equal to the maximum width of the system component and the spacer combined (in x direction). In most cases the end sections will have a somewhat wedge-shaped end. The very end section of the butts 17 could be rounded.
[0071] FIG. 10 provides a plain view of a needle bed 14 which is equipped with system components 11, 12 which have the same butts which are shown in more detail in FIG. 8. Once again a pair of system components 11 and 12 is housed in one groove 16 which is delimited by immovable walls 15. The butts of the different system components are arranged with regard to each other as if they were passing a passage 35 of a cam 18 as the ones shown in FIG. 9.
[0072] FIG. 9 shows two cams 18. The second one is placed above the first one. Each of the cams 18 is provided with a passage 35 and a maximum 37. FIG. 13 also shows two cams being arranged above each other. The maxima 37 of the two cams 18 are displaced or shifted in the second direction x with regard to each other. This shift 50 is a very advantageous possibility to adjust the delay between adjacent system components which are therefore driven by different groups of cams 18 whereby each of the groups defines one cam track. Usually, the cams are fixed on a cam holder. Circular knitting machines usually have a cam holder which is fixed on the machine frame. Flat knitting machines are often provided with a carriage which performs a relative movement with regard to the needle bed. In most cases the distance 50 shall be a linear distance in flat-knitting machines and a distance which comprises circular components in circular knitting machines. There are additional benefits if this measure is used with regard to needles which are provided with butts 17 which have a width in the second direction x which is equal or nearly equal to the combined joint width of spacer 10 and system component 11, 12.
[0073] FIG. 11 once again shows a plain view of a third needle bed 14 in which pairs of system components 11, 12 are moved in one groove 16. The said grooves 16 are once again delimited by immovable walls 15. It is necessary to emphasize that the present invention has also its benefits with regard to needle beds which house 3, 4, 5, 6 or even more system components. The first system components 11 and the second system components 12 have their butts 17 in different longitudinal y positions. Hence the first and second system components 11, 12 are moved along different cam tracks. Most interestingly, the spacers 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 are bends 51 of the shanks of the respective system components 11, 12. The bends 51 of the first system components 11 are in contact with the shanks 39 of the second system components 12 and vice versa. Therefore, no bend 51 or spacer 10 (which are the same in this embodiment) touches another spacer's surface and all spacers touch another's system components side surface.
[0074] FIG. 12 shows a top view of a fifth needle bed 14. Needle beds of the kind shown in FIG. 12 are often used in circular knitting machines. In the case of circular knitting machines the needle bed 14 would also be called needle cylinder. FIG. 12 shows an example of a loop-forming process which takes place in the loop-forming zone 19. The needles 11, 12 and especially the hooks 20 and latches 24 take part in the loop forming process and therefore get in contact with the yarn 23. The sinkers 25 also get in contact with the yarn 23. The extension of the loops 33 in x-direction is symbolized by the brackets 33. FIG. 12 also shows some more details of the needles 11, 12 and the needle bed 14 which are well known to the man skilled in-the-art: The latches 24 are pivoted in the saw slot 26. During the loop forming process the latches 24 swing around the pivot 27 so that the interior of the hooks 20 is opened and closed for the yarn 23 by the latches 24. During the loop forming process the needles essentially move in the direction y of their shanks or of the grooves 16 of the needle bed 14. The sinkers 25 essentially move in the direction z of the height of the shanks of the needles 11, 12. The needle bed 14 is provided with slots 28 which look like teeth in the view provided by FIG. 12. The slots 28 guide the sinkers' 25 movements. The differences between the sinkers 25 and the spacers 10 can be summarized as follows:
[0075] The spacers 10 move together with the system components 11, 12. They are mated with them with splints 44 which are symbolized by the dotted lines 44. The spacers 10 are also devoid of loop forming means like hooks 20 and latches 24 and the like and do not take part in the loop-forming process. Moreover, the spacers essentially define the distance between two neighboring or adjacent system components 11, 12 and their loop-forming components 20, 24. Most of the time the sinkers 25 and the respective system components 11, 12 still have a certain distance, so that the distance between these system components 11, 12 is the sum of these distances and the sinkers' 25 width. The areas of the loop-forming zone 19 which are situated between the loop-forming means 20, 24 of the system components 20, 24 of the first needle bed 14 are free from loop forming means which are part of or actuated by loop forming means of this needle bed. The loop forming means of the sinkers 25 are part of the sinkers which are moved in the grooves of another needle bed. The grooves of individual needle beds 14 are usually parallel to each other.
[0076] Most advantageously the immovable walls 15 and/or the shanks 39 of the system components 11, 12 and/or the spacers 10 have the correct width corresponding with the gauge of the respective needle bed 14. In some advantageous embodiments the width of immovable walls 15 and/or the shanks 39 of the system components 11, 12 and/or the spacers 10 is (nearly) equal.
[0077] The above passages partly deal with the distance 21 between the loop forming means 11, 12 of one groove. In cases, in which a system component is provided with several loop-forming meanslike the hooks 20 and latches 24it is advantageous to say that the width of these loop forming means is equal with their broadest extension in the second direction x: As a result, the latch needles of FIG. 12 are provided with loop-forming means which have a width which is identical with the width of their hooks since the hooks 20 are broader than the latches 24.
[0078] On the other hand FIG. 12 also provides a different possibility to define the distance between adjacent loop-forming means: The numeral 52 (see pointer 52) denotes the distance between the centers of the hooks 20 of two adjacent system components. This distance 52 is (of cause) equal to the distance of two adjacent loops which are being formed by the respective hooks. The man-skilled-in-the-art often calls this distance pitch (the pitch denotes this distance in millimetres whereas the gauge is the number of needles per inch). In most loop-forming methods and also in most loop-forming devices this pitch is even (all system components of one needle bed have the same distance with regard to each other). Otherwise the knitted fabric produced by such a machine would be perceived as uneven by the consumer. With regard to the present invention one could also say that the spacer adjusts or helps to adjust the pitch between adjacent needles or system components.
[0079] FIG. 14 provides a plain view of the first groove 16 of the needle bed 14 which is equipped with system components 11, 12. Each of the system components 11, 12 is immovably connected with a spacer 10 by means of a weld point 42. Therefore one could also say, that the system component 11 and the spacer 10 with which it is immovably connected form a system unit 54. The same applies with regard to the other system component 12 and the respective spacer 10.
[0080] The line 53 is a symmetry line which is directed in the longitudinal direction y parallel to the side surfaces of the needles' shanks 39 and which crosses the centre of the needles' hook 20. FIG. 14 shows that the system component 11 is symmetrical with regard to the symmetry line 53. This figure also shows that the system unit 54 which moves together during the loop-forming process is not symmetrical with regard to the line 53. The same applies with regard to the system component 12 its spacer 10 and the unit 54 which is formed by the two aforementioned elements. FIG. 15 shows a slightly different excellent groove which is equipped with two system components 11, 12 and one spacer 10 which provides for the whole distance between the loop-forming means 20, 24 of the two adjacent system components 11, 12. The respective spacer 10 is immovably connected by a plurality of weld points 53 (only one weld point is shown by FIG. 15) with the system component 11 so that the system components 11 and the spacer 10 once again form a system unit 54 which is moved together during the loop forming process. The system component 11 is symmetrical with regard to symmetry line 53. Once again the unit 54 which is formed by the system components 11 and the spacer 10 is not symmetrical with regard to the aforementioned line 53. The system component 12 can be a standard needle which is symmetrical to the other line 53 which cuts the respective system component in two halfs. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 show that inventive embodiments are most of the time provided with system units which are not symmetrical with regard to symmetry line 53 which is parallel to the side surfaces of the respective system component 11, 12 and which crosses the centre of the hook 20. In this regard FIG. 16 shows an exceptional embodiment of a further groove 16 which is delimited by the immovable walls 15 and the bottom of the groove 55. The system component 11 which is placed in the middle of the groove and surrounded by two other system components 12 is immovably connected with two spacers 10 whereby each of the spacers 10 is placed on one of the system component's 11 two different side surfaces. Therefore the system component 11 and the two spacers 10 with which it is connected form another system unit 54. This system unit 54 is symmetrical with regard to the symmetry line 53. The same applies with regard to the other two system components 12 which can be stand-up needles. This is to say that the inventive embodiments shown in FIG. 16 can be equipped with system units (elements which form a unit which is moved together during the loop forming process) which are symmetrical with regard to the symmetry line 53. As mentioned above, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are provided with at least one system unit which is not symmetrical with regard to the symmetry line 53. This feature is generally of benefit for inventive embodiments.
[0081] FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 elucidate another property of the invention. The grooves 16 are broader (possess a bigger width in the direction x) than state-of-the-art needle beds 14. Needle beds which are appropriate for the present invention have a width which is bigger 0,7 times the pitch 52, or even bigger than the pitch 52 are even bigger than 1 times the pitch 52. The grooves which are provided with the aforementioned pitch can have a length which equals 95, 90, 85, 80, 70 or 60% of the system components' length. The respective grooves are easy to clean and the oil consumption of the overall new device is smaller than in most state-of-the-art devices. The broad grooves or channels are cheap and easy to grind (especially if a small pitch is required).
TABLE-US-00001 List of numerals 10 Spacer/element 11 First Needle/element/system component 12 Second Needle/element/system component 14 Needle bed 15 Immovable wall which delimits two grooves of a needle bed 16 Groove/channel for guiding elements 17 Butt of the elements 18 Cams 19 Loop-forming zone 20 hook 21 Distance between the needles 11 and 12 23 Yarn/Thread 24 Latch 25 Sinker 26 Saw slot 27 Pivot of the latch 28 Tooth of the needle bed 33 Bracket signifying the extension of a loop 35 Passage for the butts 17 in the cam 18 37 Extrema of a passage 37 (in y-direction) 38 Additional part 39 Shank 40 Thick line which symbolizes the limitation between spacer and shank 41 Segments of the longitudinal extension of the grooves/Bracket signifying such a segment 42 weld point 43 End section of the butt (in the first direction y) 44 Splint, dotted line signifying such a splint 45 Extension of the butt in the first direction y 46 First width of the butt (end section) 47 Second width of the butt (Middle section) 48 Limitation of the passage 35 49 Middle section of the butt 50 Distance between the extreme are of two cams of a different contract 51 bends 51 of the shanks of the respective system components 52 Distance between the centre of two adjacent hooks or pitch 53 symmetry line 54 System unit comprising a system component und the spacer(s) with which it is connected 55 bottom of a groove x Direction of the width of the shanks of the elements/grooves y Direction of the length of the shanks of the elements/grooves z Direction of the height of the shanks of the elements/grooves vk First velocity/velocity of needle bed, relative velocity cam holder/needle bed
