Slide Spring, Slide, Slide Needle, Guide Arrangement, And Method For Producing At Least One Slide Spring

Abstract

A slider spring for a slider used with a slider needle of a loop-forming textile machine includes a closing section for closing a hook opening of the slider needle, a connection section for connecting to a slider body, and a guide section for guiding the slider at a needle body. The slide spring includes at least one bead with a concave bead interior and a convex bead exterior. The slider spring is shaped and configured to be stacked against at least one other slider spring such that the convex bead exterior of the slider spring fits completely within the respective concave bead interior of the at least one other slider spring. A slider for a slider needle includes first and second slider springs as described. A slider needle includes a slider displaceable in a needle longitudinal direction relative to a needle body for opening or closing a hook opening.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A slider spring for a slider used with a slider needle, the slider spring comprising: a closing section for closing a hook opening of the slider needle; a connection section for connecting to a slider body of the slider; and a guide section for guiding the slider spring at a needle body; wherein the slider spring extends in a spring longitudinal direction, in a spring transverse direction, and in a spring height direction; and at least one groove-like shaped bead with a concave bead interior and a convex bead exterior; the slider spring shaped and configured to be stacked against at least one other slider spring such that the convex bead exterior of the slider spring fits completely within the respective concave bead interior of the at least one other slider spring.

16. The slider spring of claim 15, wherein the bead interior and the bead exterior comprise at least approximately similar cross-sectional contours.

17. The slider spring of claim 15, wherein the bead interior and the bead exterior each comprise an arc-shaped cross-sectional contour.

18. The slider spring of claim 17, wherein the bead interior comprises an arc-shaped cross-sectional contour with a radius smaller than a radius of the arc-shaped cross-sectional contour of the bead exterior.

19. The slider spring of claim 15, wherein the slider spring comprises a reduced material thickness at least in a cross section of at least at one bead in the spring transverse direction.

20. A slider for a slider needle, the slider comprising: a slider body extending in a slider longitudinal direction, in a slider transverse direction, and in a slider height direction; a first slider spring; and a second slider spring; the first and second slider springs configured according to claim 15.

21. The slider of claim 20, wherein the first slider spring and the second slider spring are shaped and configured at least approximately in a mirror-symmetrical fashion.

22. A slider needle for a loop-forming textile machine, the slider needle comprising: a needle body including a hook and a slider channel, wherein the hook includes a hook opening; the needle body extending in a needle longitudinal direction, in a needle transverse direction, and in a needle height direction; and a slider according to claim 20, wherein the slider is displaceable in the needle longitudinal direction relative to the needle body between a first position wherein the hook opening is in an open condition, and at least a second position wherein the hook opening is in a closed condition.

23. A guide arrangement for a loop-forming textile machine, the guide arrangement comprising: at least one needle channel for a slider needle, the at least one needle channel extending in a channel longitudinal direction, in a channel transverse direction, and in a channel height direction; and at least one slider needle according to claim 22; wherein the at least one slider needle is guided in the at least one needle channel in the channel longitudinal direction.

24. The guide arrangement of claim 23, wherein: the at least one needle channel includes an open top in the channel height direction; and the respective beads of the first and second slider springs of the at least one slider needle are arranged in the at least one needle channel beneath the open top.

25. The guide arrangement of claim 23, wherein: the respective beads of the first and second slider springs of the at least one slider needle are guided within the needle channel with free play in the channel transverse direction when the hook opening is in the open condition; and the respective beads of the first and second slider springs of the at least one slider needle contact the needle channel in the channel transverse direction when the hook opening is in the closed condition.

26. A method for producing a slider spring for a slider used with a slider needle, the method comprising: obtaining at least one slider spring according to claim 15; and stacking the at least one slider spring against at least one other slider spring such that the convex bead exterior of the at least one slider spring fits completely within the respective concave bead interior of the at least one other slider spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0040] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary slider needle for a knitting machine in a perspective view, in a side view, and in a cross-section along the line C-C,

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary slider spring with a bead,

[0042] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary bead of a slider spring with similar cross-sectional contours in a cross-sectional view, and

[0043] FIG. 4 depicts exemplary stacked slider springs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a slider needle 100 in a perspective view, in a side view, and in a cross-section along the line C-C. The slider needle 100 serves for the use in a knitting machine. The slider needle 100 comprises a needle body 102 and a slider 104.

[0045] The needle body 102 comprises a hook 106 and a slider channel 108. The slider channel 108 comprises two side walls, a bottom, and an open top. The slider channel 108 ends in the hook 106. The hook 106 comprises a hook opening and a hook tip. The hook 106 comprises an arc section of approximately 180 degrees.

[0046] The slider 104 comprises a slider body 110, a first slider spring 112, and a second slider spring 114. The slider 104 serves for opening and/or closing a hook opening. The slider 104 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction l in reference to the needle body 102. The slider 104 is guided in a fashion displaceable in the longitudinal direction l at the needle body 102. The slider 104 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction l between a first end position in which the hook opening is open, and a second end position in which the hook opening is closed.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the first slider spring 112 as an individual part. In the following, the first slider spring 112 is described as an example. This description of the first slider spring 112 also refers to the second slider spring 114. The first slider spring 112 and the second slider spring 114 are embodied in a mirror-symmetrical fashion in reference to each other.

[0048] The slider spring 112 comprises a flat spring-like shape with a circumferential edge. In a transverse direction b, the slider spring 112 comprises a spring interior 116 and a spring exterior 118 opposite said spring interior 116. The slider spring 112 comprises in the height direction h a top and a bottom opposite said top. The slider spring 112 comprises in the longitudinal direction l a hook-side end 120. The slider spring 112 comprises a closing section 122. The closing section 122 serves for closing the hook opening. The closing section 122 is arranged at the hook-side end 120 and extends along the bottom. The slider spring 112 comprises a connecting section 124. The connecting section 124 serves for connecting the slider spring 112 to the slider body 110. The connecting section 124 is arranged at an end of the slider spring 112 opposite the hook-side end 120 in the longitudinal direction l. The slider spring 112 comprises a guide section 126. The guide section 126 serves for guiding the slider spring 112 at the needle body 102. The guide section 126 is arranged at the bottom of the slider spring 112. The guide section 126 comprises a runner-like shape. The guide section 126 is arranged adjacent to the closing section 122.

[0049] The circumferential edge of the slider spring 112 is contoured. The slider spring 112 comprises at its hook-side end 120 a cam-like shape with an end flank 128. Following the edge in the longitudinal direction l the slider spring 112 comprises at its top a loop support section 130, a support flank 132, a top edge 134, a recess 136, and a ramp section 138. The ramp section 138 transitions into the connecting section 124.

[0050] The first slider spring 112 comprises a bead 140. The bead 140 comprises a concave bead interior 142 and a convex bead exterior 144. The bead interior 142 is arranged at the spring interior 116. The bead exterior 144 is arranged at the spring exterior. The bead 140 is arranged in the height direction h in the proximity of the top edge 134. The bead 140 is arranged in the extension of the top edge 134. The recess is arranged between the top edge 134 and the bead 140. Sections of the slider spring 112 adjacent in the height direction h to the bead 140 are located in the transverse direction b in the same level.

[0051] The slider spring 112 is made from steel. The slider spring 112 comprises a reduced material thickness in the proximity of its bead 140 in the transverse direction b. The second slider spring 114 comprises a corresponding bead 146 in a mirror-symmetrical fashion.

[0052] The slider springs 112, 114 are initially produced separated from the slider body 110 and subsequently connected fixed to the slider body 110, for example by caulking or clipping. The slider springs 112, 114 are arranged side-by-side in the transverse direction b. The concave bead interiors, such as 142, of the slider springs 112, 114 point towards each other. The convex bead exteriors, such as 144, of the slider springs 112, 114 point outwardly in the transverse direction b. The slider springs 112, 114 are guided with their guide sections, such as 126, in the slider channel 108 in the longitudinal direction l.

[0053] The slider body 110 comprises a bottom edge 148 for guiding at the needle body 102. The beads 140, 146 of the slider springs 112, 114 are arranged in the proximity of the bottom edge 148 in the height direction h. The beads 140, 146 of the slider springs 112, 114 are arranged in the extension of the bottom edge 148.

[0054] The second end position shown in FIG. 1 engages the hook tip between the slider springs 112, 114 and pushes the slider springs 112, 114 elastically apart in the transverse direction b at the engagement area according to a width of the engaging hook tip. Due to the fact that the slider springs 112, 114 are clamped with their connecting sections, such as 124, at the slider body 110 and are arranged with their guide sections, such as 126, in the slider channel 108, the slider springs 112, 114 are pushed apart by a deviating width in other sections in the transverse direction b. In the first end position the hook tip is not engaging between the slider spring 112, 114 and the slider springs 112, 114 sectionally contact each other, if applicable in a stressed fashion.

[0055] The knitting machine in which the slider needle 100 is used comprises needle channels to receive slider needles, such as 100. The needle channels extend respectively in the longitudinal direction l and each comprise side walls, which limit the needle channel in the transverse direction b, a bottom which limits the needle channel in the height direction h towards the bottom, and an open top. When the slider needle 100 is arranged in a needle channel, the beads 140, 146 are arranged in the needle channel in the height direction h below the open top. The slider needle 100 is displaceable in the needle channel in the longitudinal direction l. The slider needle 100 and the corresponding needle channel, in which the slider needle 100 is arranged, form a guide arrangement. When the hook opening is open, the slider needle 100 is guided with room for maneuver in the needle channel in the transverse direction b. When the hook opening is closed the slider needle 100 rests with the beads 140, 146 in the needle channel in the transverse direction b.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows in a cross-sectional view a bead 200 of a slider spring, such as the slider spring 112, 114 according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with similar cross-sectional contours. The bead interior 202 and the bead exterior 204 comprise similar cross-sectional contours. The bead interior 202 and the bead exterior 204 respectively comprise an arc-shaped cross-sectional contour. The concave bead interior 202 comprises an arc-shaped cross-sectional contour with a smaller radius. The convex bead exterior 204 comprises an arc-shaped cross-sectional contour with a greater radius. For the rest, reference is made additionally to FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as the corresponding description, in particular.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows stacked slider springs, such as 300, such as slider springs 112, 114 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The slider springs 300 comprise beads 302 with similar cross-sectional contours, such as bead 200 according to FIG. 3. Due to the beads 302 with similar cross-sectional contours the slider springs 300 can be stacked safely and in a stable fashion.

[0058] The slider springs 300 form a stack 304. The stack 304 is formed either only from first slider springs or only from second slider springs. The slider springs 300 are stacked with their circumferential edges in a superimposable fashion. The slider springs 300 are stacked with their beads nesting. Here, respectively one bead exterior is received by one bead interior.

[0059] Based on the material thickness being reduced in the transverse direction b between the stacked slider springs 300, such as 306, here channels form. The channels respectively comprise a sickle-shaped cross-section. The slider springs 300 are stacked for implementing production steps, for example for cleaning, for transportation, and/or for storage. The slider springs 300 are manually or automatically stacked.

[0060] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0061] 100 slider needle
102 needle body
104 slider
106 hook
108 slider channel
110 slider body
112 first slider spring
114 second slider spring
116 spring interior
118 spring exterior
120 hook-side end
122 closing section
124 connecting section
126 guide section
128 end flank
130 loop support section
132 support flank
134 upper edge
136 recess
138 ramp section
140 bead
142 concave bead interior
144 convex bead exterior
146 bead
148 bottom edge
200 bead
202 concave bead interior
204 convex bead exterior
300 slider spring
302 bead
304 stack
306 channel