JP2011226054A - Knitting needle for knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple knitting needle which can perform three functions.SOLUTION: In a knitting needle 10 for a knitting machine including a needle base 11 with a needle hook 12 and at least one driving butt 15 provided on the needle base and making the needle 11 move, only one driving butt 15 is provided on an end opposite to the needle hook 12 of the knitting needle 10 and can move against spring force from the descended position to at least one ascended position or from the ascended position to at least one descended position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a knitting needle for a knitting machine, and relates to a needle stem provided with a needle hook and at least one drive bat provided on the upper side for moving the needle.

  In recent knitting machines, the knitting needle can satisfy three functions. That is, formation of stitches, insertion of tack loops, and retention at non-operating positions. These functions are obtained by the cooperative action of the knitting needle and the knitting system sliding over the needle bed, the knitting system performs needle selection and drives the needle according to the desired function to be performed. The knitting needle drive butt then engages different cam curves in the knitting system.

  The possibility of guaranteeing three different functions of the knitting needle is the use of a so-called pressing cam. The drive bat of the knitting needle or the drive element connected to the knitting needle protruding upward from the needle bed is pushed into the needle bed at a selected position while the bat passes through the cam curve path, and thus engages with the cam. Removed. The corresponding drive bat rises again from the needle bed and can re-engage with the cam when the pressure is released. At that time, it is also possible to push back only a part of the drive bat to the needle bed, so that the drive bat can be captured by another cam portion and the function of the knitting needle can be continued. The use of a pressing cam with a complicated structure requires the use of a driving element having a driving bat as well as a knitting needle. Furthermore, if a heavy load is applied in the longitudinal direction of the needle, there is a risk that the knitting needle will inadvertently enter the needle bed, resulting in malfunction.

  In addition to using a press cam, the use of a lift cam is also known. Here, the knitting needle or the drive bat of the attached drive element is first lowered to the needle bed, and then raised from the needle bed at a predetermined location in the cam passage. The drive bat can thus be engaged with different cam curves. After passing the cam, the drive bat is positively pushed back to the needle bed, and the engagement is released. Such a lifting cam is described, for example, in EP 0 189 602. The disadvantage of using a lift cam is that the needle bat must be positively pushed back to the needle bed after passing the cam, thereby creating a large spacing between the individual knitting systems. Furthermore, the needle bat must be supported from below at some point during the passage of the cam to prevent undesired lowering to the needle bed. In connection with the raising cam, the use of a knitting needle in which the drive bat is lowered into the needle bed by a spring force is also known. However, these knitting needles must be provided with a second drive bat for returning the knitting needles to the tooth opening. These known knitting needles are therefore relatively long, which requires an appropriate size of the needle bed in the needle longitudinal direction.

  In another knitting cam known from Chinese Patent Application No. 101314887, the knitting needle or the associated drive element can be operated at different locations. In this cam, a driving element is always necessary in addition to the knitting needle. The drive element is brought into place and fixed in an elastically stressed position. The element is fixed at a predetermined position in the cam passage. In that case, the stress of the element causes the drive butt to engage the cam. The remaining residual stress prevents the drive bat from being immersed while passing through the cam. However, this residual spring force is negligible. This is because this residual spring force must be further overcome when the drive element is re-fixed as necessary after passing the cam.

  Finally, the knitting needles known from EP 1569065 have only one drive bat, but the entire needle stem is configured as a flexible element. However, due to this configuration, the knitting needle is easily twisted when subjected to a side load, and the knitting needle may cause the drive bat to descend to the needle bed.

  The problem underlying the present invention is that it is simple to construct and has an additional function on the needle bed in order to selectively implement one of three functions: stitch formation, tuck loop insertion or non-operational retention. It is to provide a knitting needle for a knitting machine that can be driven by a knitting system without a driving element.

  A knitting needle for a knitting machine, which has a needle stem provided with a needle key and at least one drive bat provided on the upper side for moving the needle, and only one drive butt is a needle key of a knitting needle Provided at the opposite end and movable from a lowered position against a spring force to at least one raised position, or from a raised position to at least one lowered position The problem is solved.

  The needle stem of this knitting needle is manufactured from a material that is at least mostly bendable and thereby has the required stability. By providing only one drive bat, the knitting needle is simple in structure and has a relatively small length. Since the spring force generated in the knitting needle itself takes the one end position of the drive bat, it is only necessary to actively drive the drive bat in one movement direction. Therefore, only a small number of drive elements to be provided on the needle bed are required for the knitting needles. This allows a relatively narrow structure of the needle bed in the needle longitudinal direction. A knitting cam for driving the knitting needle can also have a relatively simple structure. Only one drive bat is affected. Furthermore, the direction of movement of the drive bat perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle is taken up by the spring force and therefore does not have to be started actively. There is no need to use a push cam or a lift cam.

  In a preferred configuration, the drive bat can be prevented from protruding upward beyond the needle stem or needle bed in its lowered position. Therefore, the drive bat of the knitting needle is not captured by the cam portion at this position. On the other hand, since the drive butt protrudes upward beyond the needle stem or the needle bed at least in the most raised position, the drive bat can be captured by the cam portion. It is also possible to bring the drive bat to an intermediate position between the most raised position and the most lowered position of the drive bat, where the drive bat also projects upwardly beyond the needle stem. .

  The structure of the knitting needle can be configured differently. In the first modification, the drive bat is provided on the elastic portion of the needle stem. Thus, the knitting needle can be composed of one part. Since the needle stem can be configured to have bending rigidity outside the elastic range, the necessary mechanical stability of the knitting needle is guaranteed.

  In another configuration, the drive bat is supported by a swinging element that is articulated to the needle stem, and the swinging element can swing relative to the needle stem in a direction opposite to the spring force. This two-part configuration of the knitting needle also allows the desired movement of the drive bat. In this case, the spring force can be generated by the elastic part of the needle stem or the spring force can be generated by the elastic part of the oscillating element.

  Another advantage arises if the needle stem has a stopper that limits the movement of the drive bat in at least one of its movement directions. Such a stopper allows the drive bat to take a predetermined end position, and in the case of a knitting needle having an elastic part of the needle stem, at the same time, it helps to stabilize the elastic part.

  Various embodiments of the knitting needle according to the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. All the figures show cross-sectional views of the needle bed in the region of the needle groove in which one knitting needle is inserted.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a first knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a first knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a second knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a second knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a third knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed with a third knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the needle groove of a needle bed with a fourth knitting needle with the drive bat raised.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a fourth knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed with a fifth knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a fifth knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a sixth knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a sixth knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a seventh knitting needle with a raised drive bat.   FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a needle groove in a needle bed having a seventh knitting needle with a driven bat lowered.

  1a, 1b, as in all other figures, the portion of the needle bed 110 forming the needle bottom and the covering strip 110 are shown, the covering strip 110 being the knitting needle from the needle bottom in FIGS. 1a, 1b. It has a role to prevent 10 from leaving. The knitting needle 10 has a needle stem 11 having a needle key 12 at the front end. The needle stem 11 has a substantially U-shape at the rear end thereof, and the lower leg side 13 is also configured to have bending rigidity like the remaining needle stem 11. On the other hand, the upper leg side 14 is provided with a driving bat 15 at the rear end portion which is elastically configured and protrudes upward beyond the needle stem 11 and the covering strip 110 at an unloaded position shown in FIG. 1a. Therefore, it can be captured by a knitting cam (not shown) moved beyond the needle bed.

  In FIG. 1 b, a knitting needle 10 is shown having a drive bat 15 that is moved downward by a force F. In this lowered position, the drive bat 15 no longer protrudes beyond the needle stem 11 and thus the needle bed, and is thus unable to engage the cam curve path. The elastic leg 14 is bent downwards and thereby preloaded. When the action of the force F is finished, the leg side 14 takes the position shown in FIG. 1a again, and the drive bat 15 is raised at this position.

  FIGS. 2a and 2b show a knitting needle 20 which is exactly similar to the knitting needle 10 which has a needle stem 21 which is again provided at the rear end and has an elastic leg 24 having a drive butt 25. FIG. Therefore, the knitting needle 20 is composed of one part, like the knitting needle 10. However, here, the elastic leg 24 is bent downward with the load removed, that is, the drive butt 25 is lowered into the needle bed at this position and does not protrude beyond the needle bed 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive butt 25 can be brought to the raised position by the spring force F from below. In this position, the drive bat can be captured by the knitting cam. When the action of the force F is finished, the leg side 24 with the drive bat 25 is lowered again to the position shown in FIG. 2a.

  FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show a third knitting needle 30 consisting of one part having a needle stem 31 with elastic leg sides 34, with a drive butt 35 provided at the rear end of the leg side 34. In the state shown in FIG. 3a, the leg side 34 is bent downward, that is, the drive butt 35 is in the lowered position. Here, the needle bed 100 'has a chamfered portion 120 at its rear vertical edge, and the lower portion 36 of the drive bat 35 is supported on this chamfered portion. As shown in FIG. 3b, when the entire knitting needle 30 is moved forward in the direction of the arrow 37, the chamfered portion 120 lifts the drive butt 35, so that the drive bat can be captured by the cam curve path. In the raised position, the portion 36 of the drive bat 35 is on the needle bottom of the needle bed 100 ', so that the drive butt 35 is prevented from being unexpectedly lowered into the needle bed. When the knitting needle 30 is moved backward again in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 37, the knitting needle 30 takes the position shown in FIG. 3a again by the spring stress of the leg 34, and the drive butt 35 is lowered.

  In FIGS. 4a and 4b, another knitting needle 40 according to the invention is shown. The needle stem 41 of the knitting needle 40 has an elastic portion 44 in the rear range, and the elastic portion 44 has a drive butt 45 at its end. The elastic portion 44 is provided between two leg sides 43 and 46 that are rigidly formed in the knitting needle 40, and these leg sides have stoppers 47 and 48 for the elastic portion 44 at their rear ends, respectively. Yes. In the state where the stress shown in FIG. 4 a of the elastic portion 44 is removed, this elastic portion hits the stopper 47 of the leg side 46. The drive bat 45 is in a raised position and protrudes upward from the needle bed. By pushing the drive bat 45 from above, this can be brought to the position shown in FIG. 4b. The elastic part 44 now hits the stopper 48 on the leg side 43. In this position, the drive butt 45 no longer projects upward beyond the needle stem 41 and is therefore no longer captured by the knitting cam.

  The position where the stress is removed from the elastic portion 44 is also a position bent downward, that is, the drive butt 45 is in the lowered position. By pushing the drive butt 45 from below, the drive butt 45 is brought from the position corresponding to FIG. 4b to the position according to FIG. 4a.

  5a and 5b show an embodiment of a knitting needle 50 composed of two parts. The needle stem 51 again has an elastic part 54 in the rear region. However, the knitting needle drive butt 55 is no longer provided on the elastic portion 54 but on a separate oscillating element 56 connected to the needle stem 51 at a pivot point 57. The portion 58 of the oscillating element 56 further surrounds the outer end of the elastic portion 54. In a state where the stress is removed, the elastic portion 54 takes the position shown in FIG. 5a, and the drive butt 55 is raised on the knitting needle 50 at this position. In contrast, FIG. 5b shows the drive butt 55 in the lowered position. At this position, the elastic portion 54 is stressed by the oscillating element 56.

  Since the position where the stress of the elastic portion 54 is removed may be a position bent downward, the drive butt 55 is in the lowered position. By pushing the drive bat 55 from below, this can be brought to the position shown in FIG. 5a.

  FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show another example of a knitting needle 60 having two parts, in which the drive butt 65 is again provided on the oscillating element 66. The oscillating element 66 is supported in a pivotable position 67 between the two leg sides 63 and 68 having two bending rigidity of the needle stem 61 so as to oscillate. The entire needle stem 61 of the knitting needle is configured to have bending rigidity. The spring force is likewise generated by the elastic part 64 of the oscillating element 66 which is introduced between and supported between the leg sides 63 and 68 of the needle stem. In the position where the stress of the spring element 64 shown in FIG. 6a is removed, the drive butt 65 is in the raised position. In contrast, FIG. 6b shows the drive butt 65 in the lowered position. The oscillating element 66 is oscillated downward. The spring element 64 can be bent upward so that it can be preloaded to bring the drive butt 65 back to its raised initial position after the application of the force to the drive bat 65.

  Also in this case, since the position where the stress of the spring element 65 is removed may be curved upward, the drive butt 65 is in the lowered position. By pushing the drive bat 65 from below, the drive bat can be brought to the position shown in FIG. 6a.

  7a and 7b show a two-part knitting needle 70 similar to the knitting needle 60, in that both rigid leg sides 73 and 78 of the knitting needle 70 have stoppers 73a and 78a for the oscillating element 76, respectively. The knitting needle 70 is different from the knitting needle 60. Since the spring element 74 provided on the oscillating element 76 is bent upward in a state where the stress shown in FIG. 7a is removed, the oscillating element 76 hits the stopper 78a and the drive butt 75 is raised from the needle bed. ing. By pushing the drive butt 75, it is lowered as shown in FIG. 7b. The swing element 76 swings downward until it hits the stopper 73a. The spring element 74 can be bent upwards and thereby preloaded to bring it to its raised initial position after the end of the action of force on the drive bat 75.

  However, the position where the stress of the spring element 74 is removed may be a position bent upward, and the drive butt 75 is in the lowered position at this position. By pushing the drive butt 75 from below, this can be brought to the position shown in FIG. 7a.

  The illustrated knitting needles 10 to 70 are tongue needles. Obviously, the knitting needle can be configured as a compound needle.

Claims (8)

  A knitting needle for a knitting machine, which is provided on a needle stem (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) having a needle hook (12) and for moving a needle (10-70) provided on the upper side thereof In the one having at least one drive bat (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75), only one drive bat (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75) has a knitting needle (10 20, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) at the end opposite to the needle key (12), from the lowered position against the spring force to at least one raised position A knitting needle characterized in that it is movable from a raised position to at least one lowered position.   The drive bat (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75) is moved upward beyond the needle stem (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) at the lowest position. The knitting needle according to claim 1, wherein the knitting needle does not protrude.   The drive bat (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75) is moved upward beyond the needle stem (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) at least at the most raised position. The knitting needle according to claim 1, wherein the knitting needle protrudes.   Drive bat (15, 25, 35, 45) is provided on the elastic part (14, 24, 34, 44) of the needle stem (11, 21, 31, 41), characterized in that The knitting needle according to one of 3.   The drive bat (55, 65, 75) is supported by the oscillating element (56, 66, 76) that is articulated to the needle stem (51, 61, 71), and the oscillating element is in a direction opposite to the spring force. The knitting needle according to claim 1, wherein the knitting needle is swingable with respect to the needle stem (51, 61, 71).   6. A knitting needle according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring force can be generated by the elastic part (54) of the needle stem (51).   6. A knitting needle according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring force can be generated by the elastic part (64, 74) of the oscillating element (66, 76).   The needle stem (41, 71) has a stopper (47, 48; 43a, 78a) that limits the movement of the drive bat (45, 55, 75) in at least one of its movement directions, The knitting needle according to claim 1.

Images