Stitch-bonding machine and stitch-bonding process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stitch-bonding machine with horizontally aligned slide needles arranged at a stitch-bonding station of the stitch-bonding machine, at least one weft thread laying device for laying at least one weft thread in a weft thread laying area of ​​the stitch-bonding machine, and opposing, circulating weft thread transport chains. The invention further relates to a stitch-bonding method in which, on a stitch-bonding machine, when properly set up for operation, at least one horizontally extending weft thread is produced with a reciprocating weft thread laying device, which is fed to horizontally moving slide needles arranged at a stitch-bonding station of the stitch-bonding machine by means of opposing, circulating weft thread transport chains.In the stitch-bonding machine according to the invention, when properly installed, the weft thread laying device is arranged above the stitch-bonding station, and the weft thread transport chains run from top to bottom throughout the entire weft thread laying area. In the stitch-bonding method according to the invention, the at least one weft thread is continuously fed from above to the stitch-bonding station by the weft thread transport chains.

Description

The present invention relates to a stitch-knitting machine having horizontally oriented slide needles arranged at a stitch-knitting location of the stitch-knitting machine, at least one weft thread laying device for laying at least one weft thread in a weft thread laying region of the stitch-knitting machine and mutually opposite, revolving weft thread transport chains. The invention further relates to a stitch-knitting method in which at least one horizontally running weft thread is produced on a stitch-knitting machine when it is set up functionally with a reciprocating weft thread laying device, which weft thread is supplied by means of opposing, revolving weft thread transport chains to horizontally moving slide needles arranged at a stitch-knitting location of the stitch-knitting machine.On a stitch-knitting machine or in a stitch-knitting method, yarn layers, fibre fleece or other textile surfaces or substrates are over-sewn and textile fabrics are thus produced. The layers of threads are formed by laying a larger number of threads arranged side by side. A distinction is made here between weft thread layers, which are also referred to as transverse thread layers, and warp thread layers, which are also referred to as standing thread layers.The weft thread layer is produced by a weft thread laying device. In this, for example, a plurality of weft threads are drawn in side by side. In principle, however, it is also possible for only one weft thread to be produced by the weft thread laying device. The at least one weft thread is guided by the reciprocating weft thread laying device and is suspended in hooks or pins of two weft thread transport chains, which delimit the working width of the stitch-knitting machine and are continuously drawn off. In order to avoid an oblique position of the weft threads, an offset rake is used, for example, in the stitch-knitting machine described in the publication DE 3641640 C1 during the weft thread laying.In the known sewing machines, the weft yarn laying device is located in each case in a weft yarn laying region provided behind the sewing location, in which the weft yarn transport chains extend horizontally. In order that the at least one horizontally oriented weft thread produced by the weft thread laying device during the knitting process lies at an angle of 90° with respect to the horizontal slide needle movement, the at least one weft thread must run into the stitch-bonded location from above. This is achieved in known stitch-knitting machines and stitch-knitting methods in that the weft thread transport chains are deflected downwards by 90° in the direction of the stitch-knitting point just before the stitch-knitting point.Due to the necessary change of direction of the at least one weft thread or the formed weft thread bundle, the hook chains are spread open, which leads to position displacements and thus to inhomogeneously formed gaps between the weft threads, which impairs the quality of a stitch-bonded fabric formed on the stitch-bonded knitting machine.From the publication DE 25 19 762 A1 a drive for the yarn feeder of a raschel machine with weft insertion is known. In this case, yarn groups are deposited on a multiple store over the machine width at an angle of 360° and are fed to a stitch-bonded location.The document DE 197 42 721 C1 describes an apparatus and a method for laying weft threads in hooks of transport chains of a warp knitting machine. The weft thread guide is thereby guided substantially parallel to the laid scrim to be produced horizontally.It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a stitch-bonding machine and a stitch-bonding method with horizontal slide needle movement, in which the weft threads are homogeneously bound into the stitch-bonding fabric to be formed.The object is achieved on the one hand by a stitch-knitting machine with horizontally movable slide needles arranged at a stitch-knitting point of the stitch-knitting machine, at least one weft thread laying device for laying at least one weft thread in a weft thread laying region of the stitch-knitting machine and mutually opposite, revolving weft thread transport chains, in which, when set up correctly in function, the weft thread laying device is arranged above the stitch-knitting point and the weft thread transport chains run from top to bottom in the entire weft thread laying region.In the present invention, all information regarding the arrangement and orientation of elements of the stitch-knitting machine, such as, for example, the slide needles or the weft thread transport chains, the threads or layers used thereon and the fabric formed therewith relate to a functionally appropriate placement of the stitch-knitting machine.The stitch-knitting machine according to the invention differs from the stitch-knitting machines known from the prior art in particular in the differently configured weft yarn laying device and the other weft yarn transport chain guide.In the present invention, the weft yarn laying device is not located behind, but above, the stitch-bonded knitting location. In this case, a sufficient distance between the weft yarn laying device and the stitch-forming knitting machines of the stitch-forming knitting machine is ensured, so that these do not come into collision with one another. "Above" is to be understood in this case such that the weft yarn laying device is located in a height range located above the stitch-forming point. The weft thread laying device may, however, not be located directly above the stitch-bonded location. The weft thread laying device is, however, located so far above the stitch-bonded location that a bundle of weft threads produced by it can be produced continuously from top to bottom. This is possible in that the weft thread transport chains run from top to bottom in the entire weft thread laying region, i.e. where the at least one weft thread is laid. Furthermore, the weft thread laying device is located so far above the stitch-bonded location that a share of weft threads produced by it can be fed continuously from top to bottom of the stitch-bonded location starting from the weft thread laying device."From top to bottom" can mean here "vertical" but also "obliquely from top to bottom". That is, the weft transport chains are uprightly oriented in the present invention. In the present invention, "upright" is understood to mean a non-horizontal orientation of the weft thread transport chains, which comprises a vertical orientation of the weft thread transport chains but also an oblique orientation of the weft thread transport chains relative to a horizontal plane in which the horizontally movable slide needles of the stitch-knitting machine are oriented. For example, the oblique orientation of the weft thread transport chains can comprise a position of the weft thread transport chains at an angle in an angle range of -30° to +30°, preferably in an angle range of -45° to +45°, particularly preferably in an angle range of -60° to + 600° relative to the horizontal plane in which the slide needles of the stitch-knitting machine are oriented.A weft thread bundle laid by the weft thread laying device and extending from one of the weft thread transport chains to the respectively opposite one of the weft thread transport chains thus does not lie in a horizontal plane, but extends vertically or lies obliquely.In this vertical or oblique orientation, the weft thread bundle in the present invention can be fed continuously to the stitch-bonded knitting location without the need for deflection thereof.Accordingly, in the stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention, the weft thread layer does not spread open and undesirable, uneven gas formation between the weft threads does not occur. As a result, particularly homogeneous textile fabrics can be produced on the stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention.The stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention also has the advantage of a significantly reduced installation surface requirement compared to previously known stitch-bonded knitting machines, since the production of weft threads as well as the feeding of weft threads does not take place next to, but over, the stitch-bonded knitting point.In the stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, the weft yarn supply can be separated spatially from a substrate supply much more easily than in the prior art. This also results in increased flexibility of the stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention, in which regions which are located behind the stitch-bonded knitting machine can be used, for example, for feeding at least one substrate, such as a nonwoven layer, to the stitch-bonded location.In addition, the stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention has the advantage that the warp threads do not have to be tensioned so much and nevertheless a secure binding of the at least one weft thread into the stitch-bonded location takes place.The stitch-knitting machine according to the invention preferably has a single weft-yarn laying device with two weft-yarn transport chains lying opposite one another. The weft thread transport chains extend parallel to one another.In other embodiments of the present invention, the stitch-knitting machine according to the invention can also have more than one weft thread laying device, for example two, three, four or more than four weft thread laying devices. Then, preferably at least two of the weft yarn laying devices each have two weft yarn transport chains which are situated opposite one another in parallel and are oriented at different angles relative to the stitch-bonded knitting point. However, it is also possible for a plurality of weft thread laying devices to respectively serve a pair of mutually opposite weft thread transport chains.For example, an embodiment of the stitch-knitting machine according to the invention can have at least two weft thread laying devices aligned at an angle to one another, wherein each of the weft thread laying devices is assigned separate pairs of mutually opposite, revolving weft thread transport chains.In a preferred embodiment of the stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, the weft-yarn laying device has at least one horizontally movable weft-yarn feeder which stands on a linear guide arranged above the stitch-knitting location or depends downward from a linear guide arranged above the stitch-knitting location. By the weft thread layer being arranged upright on the linear guide or extending downward from the linear guide, at least one weft thread can advantageously be fed to the weft thread transport chains with the weft thread layer or at least one weft thread guide element mounted thereon and can be suspended therein or in weft thread holding elements provided thereon during a simultaneous downward movement of the weft thread transport chains.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stitch-knitting machine has a weft offset rake which can be moved horizontally with the weft yarn feeder and can be displaced in its height at the weft yarn feeder. The at least one weft thread can be held on the weft thread offset rake. Since the height of the weft thread offset rake on at least one of the weft thread transport chains, preferably on both of the weft thread transport chains, can be offset only counter to the direction of movement of the weft thread transport chains and subsequently back into its starting position, a 90° suspension of weft threads both appropriate for knitting and not appropriate for knitting can be realized in the weft thread transport chains or in weft thread transport elements mounted thereon.In an alternative, likewise advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the weft yarnlayer has a weft yarn guide and a weft offset rake that can be displaced in its height is arranged next to each of the weft yarn transport chains of the respective weft yarn laying device. In this embodiment of the invention, the weft offset rakes are not moved horizontally, but are only offset in their height, whereby a 90° suspension of weft threads both true to stitch and not true to stitch can be realized in the weft thread transport chains or in weft thread transport elements mounted thereon.Preferably, the weft offset rake / s each comprise a plurality of weft thread pick-up loops arranged one above the other. By virtue of the fact that-unlike in the prior art-the weft thread pick-up loops are not arranged horizontally next to one another but one above the other, weft threads can advantageously be suspended in the weft thread transport chains running from top to bottom or in weft thread transport elements mounted thereon, without the need for a reversal of direction during the feeding of the weft thread.It is particularly favorable if the weft offset rake / s each have / have weft thread guide loops arranged at an angle to the weft thread pick-up loops.Weft threads supplied by a netting of the stitch-knitting machine can be initially picked up via the weft thread guide loops and then supplied at the angle to the weft pick loops corresponding to the weft thread transport chains.The weft thread laying device can also have a weft thread laying robot instead of the weft thread layer or in addition to the weft thread layer. If the weft yarnlayer is replaced by the weft yarnlayer robot, the linear guide is also not necessary.It is also possible to omit the weft offset rake or rakes. Then, with the weft yarn layer or the weft yarn laying robot, the weft yarn laying is possible in cross weft.Preferably, the weft thread transport chains have horizontally projecting transport hooks or pins which are arranged one above the other in the weft thread laying region and serve as weft thread transport elements. Unlike in the prior art, the transport hooks or pins are not arranged horizontally next to one another in the weft thread laying region but one above the other. As a result, during the downward movement of the weft thread transport chains, they can pick up weft threads one after the other in an advantageous manner.In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the weft yarn laying device does not have a weft offset rake. In this embodiment, a weft thread guide is formed on the weft thread layer. For example, weft thread pick-up loops arranged one above the other can be integrated into the weft thread lay-up.In order to be able to guide the weft thread weft layer in a stable horizontal manner, it is advantageous if at least one weft thread layer guide element is provided on a lower side and on an upper side of the weft thread layer. A guide roller or a slide rail can be used, for example, as the weft yarn laying guide element.It is particularly practicable if, in the present invention, the weft thread transport chains have an O-shaped course, wherein they respectively reverse their direction at a head region of the stitch-knitting machine and below the stitch-knitting point. The reversal of the direction of the weft thread transport chains thus takes place in regions remote from the weft thread laying region and a transport region for the at least one laid weft thread, whereby the reversal of the weft thread transport chains does not cause a reversal of the direction of the at least one weft thread, whereby spreads of a weft thread bundle can be prevented.The object is furthermore achieved by a stitch-knitting method in which at a stitch-knitting machine, when it is set up functionally with a reciprocating weft yarn laying device, at least one horizontally running weft yarn is produced, which is supplied by means of opposing, revolving weft yarn transport chains to horizontally moving slide needles arranged at a stitch-knitting location of the stitch-knitting machine, wherein the at least one weft yarn is supplied continuously from above to the stitch-knitting location by the weft yarn transport chains.In the stitch-bonded knitting method according to the invention, when a plurality of weft yarns are laid, these are laid vertically spaced apart from one another by the weft yarn laying device. The weft threads are laid in such a way that they are spaced apart from one another in their height above the stitch-bonded location during as well as after the laying. This produces a weft thread bundle which extends vertically or obliquely from top to bottom.In the stitch-bonded knitting method according to the invention, the at least one laid weft thread is fed continuously from above to the stitch-bonded knitting location.The weft thread transport chains serving as longitudinal conveyors for the at least one weft thread run towards the stitch-bonded knitting tools and after the formation of the stitch-bonded knitting run away from the stitch-bonded knitting location again.Insofar as a plurality of weft threads are produced in the form of a weft thread bundle in the method according to the invention, these are produced continuously from top to bottom and in this form are moved immediately further up to the stitch-bonded location. This has the advantage that spreading of the weft thread bundle and an inhomogeneous gas formation between the weft threads associated therewith can be avoided. In addition, the procedure according to the invention reduces the area requirement for the stitch-knitting machine, since the weft thread laying and the weft thread transport are carried out in a region above the stitch-knitting location and no space has to be reserved for this purpose behind the stitch-knitting location.Particularly preferably, the weft thread transport chains are not deflected on the path on which the at least one laid weft thread is fed to the stitch-knit location. Thus, no single deflection or bending of the weft thread bundle takes place both in the weft thread laying region and on the subsequent transport path of a weft thread bundle up to the stitch-bonded location, whereby the weft thread bundle can be sewn particularly homogeneously with warp threads and optionally at least one further thread or layer structure or a substrate to form a stitch-bonded structure. As a result, very wide and thus very stable weft hanger rims can also be used.In the method according to the invention, the at least one weft thread is preferably laid by means of a horizontally movable weft thread layer standing on a linear guide or hanging from a linear guide. Since the weft yarn feeder stands upright on the linear guide when laying the at least one weft yarn or is oriented downward starting from the linear guide, its orientation is adapted to the movement of the weft yarn transport chains running from top to bottom, whereby the at least one weft yarn can be easily taken over by the weft yarn transport chains or by weft yarn transport elements provided thereon.In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a weft offset rake oriented upright thereon, on which the at least one weft thread is held, is moved horizontally with the weft feeder, wherein the weft offset rake in each case moves into a distance between transport hooks or pins of a weft thread transport chain and is then displaced in its height counter to the direction of movement of the weft thread transport chains into an offset position, after each of which at least one of the weft threads is transferred to one of the transport hooks or pins, after which the weft offset rake is displaced back into its initial position in the direction of movement of the weft thread transport chains. This allows both a stitch-true and a non-stitch-true 90°-laying of the at least one weft thread.In an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, which likewise leads to a 90° lay of the at least one weft thread that is true to the stitch or not true to the stitch, the at least one weft thread is held on the weft thread layer and, in addition to the weft thread transport chains, a respective weft offset rake is arranged, which is offset in its height after a transfer of the at least one weft thread to a transport hook or pin of the respective weft thread transport chain and is then displaced back again into its initial position.Preferred embodiments of the stitch-bonded knitting machine according to the invention and of the nutrient-bonded knitting method embodied thereon are explained in more detail below with reference to figures, wherein FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of a weft thread transport chain of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention; FIG. 2 schematically shows a possible embodiment of a weft yarn laying device of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention; FIG. 3 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains arranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting location and a reciprocating weft thread layer in a perspective side view, wherein the weft thread layer is arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine and behind the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine, and wherein in each of the weft thread transport chains their feed and driven strands are arranged opposite each other in the direction of movement of the weft thread layer and the weft thread transport chains move mirror-symmetrically to each other; FIG. 4 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 3 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 5 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains which are arranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point and are formed parallel to one another and move parallel to one another, and a back-and-forth weft thread layer in a perspective side view, wherein the weft thread layer is arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine and behind the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine, and wherein in each of the weft thread transport chains their feed and driven strand are arranged orthogonally to the direction of movement of the weft thread layer opposite one another; FIG. 6 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 5 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 7 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains which are arranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point and are formed parallel to one another and move parallel to one another, and two back-and-forth weft thread layers in a perspective side view, wherein the two weft thread layers are arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine, a first of the weft thread layers is arranged in front of the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine and a second of the weft thread layers is arranged behind the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 8 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 7 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 9 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains arranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point and formed parallel to one another and moving parallel to one another and two weft thread layers moving back and forth in each case in a perspective side view, wherein the two weft thread layers are arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine and wherein a first of the weft thread layers is arranged between the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine and a second of the weft thread layers is arranged behind the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 10 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 9 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 11 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention in a perspective side view, in which two weft thread transport chains formed parallel to one another and moving parallel to one another are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point, wherein in the case of the weft thread transport chains respectively opposite one another their feed and the driven strand are arranged opposite one another in the direction of movement of the weft thread layer and the weft thread transport chains move mirror-symmetrically to one another, and wherein the stitch-knitting machine has two weft thread layers respectively moving back and forth, wherein the two weft thread layers are arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine and wherein a first of the weft thread layers is arranged in front of the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine and a second of the weft thread layers is arranged behind the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 12 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 11 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 13 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention in a perspective side view, in which two weft thread transport chains formed next to one another and moving mirror-symmetrically to one another are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point, whereby two pairs of weft thread transport chains arranged opposite one another are formed with weft thread transport chains running parallel to one another and moving, and wherein the stitch-knitting machine has two weft thread layers moving back and forth in each case, which are arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine, wherein the weft thread layers are arranged between the feed and the output strands of a pair of weft thread transport chains arranged opposite one another in each case, in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 14 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 13 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine; FIG. 15 schematically shows elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention in a perspective side view, in which two weft thread transport chains aligned at an acute angle to one another and moving towards one another are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point, whereby two pairs of weft thread transport chains arranged opposite one another are formed with weft thread transport chains running parallel to one another and moving towards one another, and wherein the stitch-knitting machine has two weft thread layers moving towards one another, which are arranged between the weft thread transport chains in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine, wherein a first of the weft thread layers is arranged between a first pair of the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine and a second of the weft thread layers is arranged between a second pair of the weft thread transport chains in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine; and FIG. 16 schematically shows the elements of the stitch-knitting machine from FIG. 15 in a side view of the stitch-knitting machine.FIG. 1 schematically shows a weft thread transport chain 1 of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention. In the stitch-knitting machine, the weft thread transport chain 1a shown is opposed by a further weft thread transport chain 1b shown, for example, in FIG. 5. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bare each circumferential. Hooks are located on the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b for receiving at least one weft thread.In the embodiment shown, the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bhave an O-shaped course. The weft thread transport chains 1 move towards a stitch-bonded knitting location 2 of the stitch-bonded knitting machine from top to bottom in order to feed at least one weft thread to the stitch-bonded knitting location 2. This direction of movement of the weft thread transport chain 1a is marked in FIG. 1 with the arrow A. After the stitch-knitting step has been completed, the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b move away from the stitch-knitting location 2 from bottom to top, which movement direction is indicated by the arrow A' in FIG. 1.The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are each deflected in a head region 25 of the stitch-knitting machine and a lower region 26 of the stitch-knitting machine located below the stitch-knitting point 2.The stitch-bonded site 2 has a slide needle bar 21 with slide needles horizontally movable thereon, a closing wire bar 22 with closing wires guided thereon, a perforated needle bar 23 with perforated needles guided thereon, and a standing thread bar 24. The mentioned stitch-bonded fabrics of the stitch-bonded knitting station 2 are held on a machine carrier 27 of the stitch-bonded knitting machine.FIG. 2 schematically shows a possible embodiment of a weft yarn laying device 3 of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention.The weft thread laying device 3 has a movable weft thread layer 31, which is designed in the form of a weft carriage. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the shooting cart is designed in the form of a frame tower formed from struts, but can be designed differently. The rack tower narrows from bottom to top.In other embodiments of the present invention, which are not shown, the weft yarnlayer 31 can also hang downward from a linear guide 32.In the embodiment shown, the weft yarn feeder 31 stands upright on a linear guide 32. The linear guide 32 is a rail guide in the embodiment shown, but can also be a carriage guide or another linear guide. Arranged on an underside of the weft feeder 31 on this weft feeder guide elements 36 are in the form of guide rollers which are guided on a correspondingly configured guide rail of the linear guide 32. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a further weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft thread weft.In another embodiment of the present invention, not shown, instead of the guide rollers, slide rails may also be provided.Along the linear guide 32, the weft thread feeder 31 can move back and forth between at least two weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 b, one of which is shown, for example, in FIG. 1.A weft offset rake 33 is mounted on the weft feeder 31. The weft offset rake 33 has a plurality of weft thread pick-up loops 34 arranged one above the other for picking up one weft thread each, which are moved between the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bto transfer the weft threads to the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bor to weft thread transport elements arranged thereon. Furthermore, the weft offset rake 33 has a plurality of weft thread guide loops 35 which are aligned at an acute angle to the weft thread receiving loops 34 and by which the weft threads which are fed by a not shown netting of the stitch-knitting machine are first picked up and then fed to the weft thread receiving loops 34.FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 show schematically elements of various embodiments of the stitch-bonding machine according to the invention, each in a perspective side view. FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 show the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 schematically in the corresponding side view, respectively. In FIGS. 3 to 16, the respective stitch-bonded joint 2 is represented in simplified form by a horizontal needle tip direction.FIG. 3 shows elements of a stitch-knitting machine in which a weft thread transport chain 1 a, 1 bis arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point 2 of the stitch-knitting machine. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are oriented upright. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bhave mutually opposite movement directions A, B. The circulating weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bmoves from top to bottom towards the stitch-knit site 2 and back from the stitch-knit site 2 from bottom to top.The respective feed strands 10 a, 10 bof the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bare oriented in the embodiment shown such that they are directly opposite one another, i.e. point inwards and look at one another. The respective output strands 11 a, 11 bof the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bare facing away from one another, i.e. point outwards.In the description of the various embodiments of the present invention, the terms feed strand and output strand of one and the same weft thread transport chain do not identify strands that differ from one another in terms of the subject matter or are adjacent to one another, but rather indicate in which position the respective weft thread transport chain is located. This means that the feed strand merges into the output strand after reversal of the direction of movement of the respective weft thread transport chain and vice versa.The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bare operated by the same weft thread laying device 3 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. That is, the weft yarn laying device 3 alternately inserts at least one weft yarn into the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b, respectively. For this purpose, as shown by the arrow C, a weft yarnlayer of the weft yarn laying device 3 moves back and forth between the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b. In this case, the weft thread laying device 3 is located between the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bin a front view of the stitch knitting machine and behind the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bin the schematic side view of the stitch knitting machine shown in FIG. 4.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bare aligned such that their feed strand and their driven strand, i.e. the feed strand 10 aand the driven strand 11 aor the feed strand 10 band the driven strand 11 b, are arranged opposite each other in the movement direction C of the weft thread layer of the weft thread laying device 3. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bmoves in the embodiment shown mirror-symmetrically to one another.FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show elements of a further embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, in which a weft thread transport chain 1 a, 1 bis arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point 2 of the stitch-knitting machine. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are arranged parallel to each other. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are oriented upright. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bhave mutually parallel, unidirectional movement directions D.The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bmoves from top to bottom towards the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 and back from the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 from bottom to top.The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are operated by the same weft thread laying device 3. That is, the weft yarn laying device 3 alternately inserts at least one weft yarn into the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b, respectively. For this purpose, as shown by the arrow C, a weft yarnlayer of the weft yarn laying device 3 moves back and forth between the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b. In the embodiment shown, in each of the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 b, their feed strand 10 a, 10 band their driven strand 11 a, 11 bare arranged opposite one another orthogonally to the movement direction C of the weft thread laying device 3.In this case, the weft thread laying device 3 is located between the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bin a front view of the stitch knitting machine and behind the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bin the schematic side view of the stitch knitting machine shown in FIG. 6.FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically show elements of a further embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 barranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point 2 and configured parallel to one another and moving parallel to one another. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are oriented upright. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bhave parallel, unidirectional movement directions D. The circulating weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bmoves from top to bottom towards the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 and from bottom to top back from the stitch-bonded knitting site 2.The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a weft yarn laying device 3 with two back and forth moving weft yarn layers 31, 31'. The two weft yarn layers 31, 31' are arranged between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine. In this case, a first of the weft yarn layers 31 is arranged in front of the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine shown in FIG. 8, and a second of the weft yarn layers 31' is arranged behind the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine. The two weft yarn layers 31, 31' are thus located outside the range of movement of the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view.In the embodiment shown, in each of the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b, their feed strand 10a, 10b and their driven strand 11a, 11b are arranged orthogonally to the movement direction C of the weft thread layers 31, 31' of the weft thread laying device 3 opposite each other.In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first of the weft yarn layers 31 runs on the feed strands 10 a, 10 bof the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b, while the second of the weft yarn layers 31' runs on the output strands 11 a, 11 bof the weft yarn transport chains 1 a, 1 b.FIGS. 9 and 10 schematically show elements of a further embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention with two weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 barranged in each case on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point 2 of the stitch-knitting machine and configured parallel to one another and moving parallel to one another. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b are oriented upright. The weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bhave parallel, unidirectional movement directions D. The circulating weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 bmoves from top to bottom towards the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 and on their output side from bottom to top back from the stitch-bonded knitting site 2.Between the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b, two weft thread layers 31, 31' of a weft thread laying device 3 of the stitch-knitting machine move back and forth in the movement directions schematically indicated by the arrows C, C'. The two weft yarn layers 31, 31' are arranged between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine. In this case, a first of the weft yarn layers 31 is arranged between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b, i.e. on the inside, in the side view of the stitch knitting machine, and a second of the weft yarn layers 31' is arranged behind the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b, i.e. on the outside, in the side view of the stitch knitting machine.This makes it possible to insert twice the number of weft threads into the weft thread transport chains 1 a, 1 b simultaneously and in a space-saving manner. This allows the laying speed to be reduced since only every other hook of the respective weft thread transport chain 1 a, 1 bto be overlaid with a weft thread.The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has the advantage over the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 that here the weft threads do not have to be guided on the output side over the upper deflection position.In the embodiment shown, in each of the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b, their feed strand 10a, 10b and their driven strand 11a, 11b are arranged orthogonally to the movement direction C of the weft thread layers 31, 31' of the weft thread laying device 3 opposite each other.FIGS. 11 and 12 schematically show elements of an embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, in which two weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' and 1b, 1b' are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point of the stitch-knitting machine, which weft thread transport chains are formed parallel to one another and move parallel to one another. The weft transport chains 1a, 1a', 1b, 1b' are oriented upright.The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' arranged on a first side of the stitch-knit site 2 have mutually parallel movement directions A, A'.The weft thread transport chains 1b, 1b' arranged on a second side of the stitch-knit site 2 opposite the first side have mutually parallel movement directions B, B'. The weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' on the one hand and the weft thread transport chains 1b, 1b' on the other hand have mutually opposite movement directions A, A' on the one hand and B, B' on the other hand. The circulating weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a', 1b, 1b' each move from top to bottom towards the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 and back from the stitch-bonded knitting site 2 from bottom to top again.The stitch-knitting machine has two weft yarn layers 31, 31' of a weft yarn laying device 3 which move back and forth in the movement directions C and C', respectively.In the case of the weft thread transport chains 1a and 1b or 1a' and 1b' respectively opposite one another, their feed strand and their driven strand are respectively arranged opposite one another in the movement directions C, C' of the weft thread layers 31, 31'. That is, the feed strand 10a of the weft thread transport chain 1a is arranged opposite the output strand 11a of the same weft thread transport chain 1a in the direction of movement C of the weft thread lay 31, the feed strand 10a' of the weft thread transport chain 1a' is arranged opposite the output strand 11a' of the same weft thread transport chain 1a' in the direction of movement C of the weft thread lay 31, the feed strand 10b of the weft thread transport chain 1b is arranged opposite the output strand 11b of the same weft thread transport chain 1b in the direction of movement C' of the weft thread lay 31', and the feed strand 10b' of the weft thread transport chain 1b' is arranged opposite the output strand 11b' of the same weft thread transport chain 1b' in the direction of movement C' of the weft thread lay 31'. Thus, the inwardly arranged feed strands 10a, 10a' on the one side and the feed strands 10b, 10b' on the other side are in contact with one another, while the output strands 11a, 11a' on the one side and the outer output strands 11b, 11b' are facing away from one another.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' move on the one hand and the weft thread transport chains 1b, 1b' located on the other side of the stitch-knit site 2 move on the other hand in mirror symmetry with respect to one another. The weft transport chains 1a, 1a', 1b, 1b' are oriented upright.In this case, the two weft yarn layers 31, 31' are arranged between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1a' on the one hand and 1b, 1b' on the other hand in a front view of the stitch knitting machine, wherein a first of the weft yarn layers 31 is arranged in front of the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view of the stitch knitting machine shown in FIG. 12 and a second of the weft yarn layers 31' is arranged behind the weft yarn transport chains 1a', 1b' in the side view of FIG. 12.FIGS. 13 and 14 schematically show elements of a further embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, in which two weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' on the one hand and 1b, 1b' on the other hand, which are formed next to one another and move mirror-symmetrically to one another in the movement directions D and D', respectively, are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting point 2.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, two pairs of weft thread transport chains, 1a and 1b or 1a' and 1b', which are located opposite one another, are each formed with weft thread transport chains which run parallel to one another and move.The stitch-knitting machine shown has two reciprocating weft yarn layers 31, 31' of a weft yarn laying device 3 of the stitch-knitting machine. In a front view of the stitch-knitting machine, the weft yarn layers 31, 31' are arranged between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b and 1a', 1b', respectively, wherein a first of the weft yarn layers 31 is arranged between the feed and the output strands of the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine shown in FIG. 14 and a second of the weft yarn layers 31' is arranged between the feed and the output strands of the weft yarn transport chains 1a', 1b' in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine shown in FIG. 14.FIGS. 15 and 16 schematically show elements of a further embodiment of a stitch-knitting machine according to the invention, in which two weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' are arranged on opposite sides of a stitch-knitting site 2 at an acute angle to one another, but nevertheless uprightly oriented weft thread transport chains 1a, 1a' which move towards one another in accordance with the movement directions D, D' on a first side of the stitch-knitting site 2 and 1b, 1b' on a second side of the stitch-knitting site 2 opposite the first side.In this case, two pairs of weft thread transport chains 1a, 1b on the one hand and 1a', 1b' on the other hand which are situated opposite one another are each formed with weft thread transport chains which run parallel to one another and move.The stitch-knitting machine further comprises two reciprocating weft yarn layers 31, 31' of a weft yarn laying device 3 of the stitch-knitting machine. The weft yarn layers 3 are arranged in a front view of the stitch-knitting machine between the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1a' on the one hand and 1b, 1b' on the other hand. In this case, a first of the weft yarn layers 31 is arranged between a first pair of the weft yarn transport chains 1a, 1b in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine shown in FIG. 16, and a second of the weft yarn layers 31' is arranged between a second pair of the weft yarn transport chains 1a', 1b' in the side view of the stitch-knitting machine shown in FIG. 16.In the embodiments shown in the figures, there is the possibility that, in addition to the weft insertion by means of the uprightly oriented weft thread transport chains, a further weft insertion system with vertically or horizontally oriented weft thread transport chains can be provided on the same sewing knitting machine. As a result, a single stitch-forming and a non-stitch-forming weft insertion can be carried out on a single stitch-forming knitting machine, for which separate stitch-forming knitting machines had to be used up to now.

Claims

A stitch-knitting machine having stitch-knitting tools arranged at a stitch-knitting point (2) of the stitch-knitting machine and having horizontally aligned slide needles (21), at least one weft thread laying device (3) for laying at least one weft thread in a weft thread laying region (30) of the stitch-knitting machine and mutually opposite, revolving weft thread transport chains (1), characterised in that, when the stitch-knitting machine is set up correctly in function, the weft thread laying device (3) is arranged above the stitch-knitting point (2) and the weft thread transport chains (1) extend from top to bottom in the entire weft thread laying region (30).Stitch-knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the weft-yarn laying device (3) has at least one horizontally movable weft-yarn layer (31, 31'), which stands on a linear guide (32) arranged above the stitch-knitting point (2) or hangs down from a linear guide (32) arranged above the stitch-knitting point (2).Stitch-knitting machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the stitch-knitting machine has a weft offset rake (33), which can be moved horizontally with the weft yarn feeder (31, 31') and can be displaced in its height (h) on the weft yarn feeder (31).Stitch-knitting machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the weft yarnlayer (31, 31') has a weft yarn guide and a weft offset rake (33), which can be displaced in its height (h), is arranged next to each of the weft yarn transport chains (1) of the respective weft yarn laying device (3).Stitch-knitting machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the weft offset rake / rakes (33) each comprise / have a plurality of weft thread pick-up loops (34) arranged one above the other.Stitch-knitting machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the weft offset rake / s (33) has / have weft thread guide eyes (35) arranged at an angle to the weft thread pick-up eyes (34).Stitch-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weft thread transport chains (1) have horizontally projecting transport hooks or pins which are arranged one above the other in the weft thread laying region.Stitch-knitting machine according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that at least one weft-thread-laying guide element (36, 37) is provided on an underside and on an upper side of the weft-thread layer (31, 31').Stitch-knitting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weft thread transport chains (1) have an O-shaped course, wherein they respectively reverse their direction at a head region (25) of the stitch-knitting machine and below the stitch-knitting point (2).The stitch-knitting machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the stitch-knitting machine has at least two weft thread laying devices (3) aligned at an angle to each other, wherein each of the weft thread laying devices (3) is assigned separate pairs of mutually opposite, circumferential weft thread transport chains (1) or wherein the at least two weft thread laying devices (3) are assigned a pair of mutually opposite, circumferential weft thread transport chains (1).A stitch-knitting method in which at least one weft thread is produced on a stitch-knitting machine during its functionally correct placement with a reciprocating weft thread laying device (3), which weft thread is supplied by means of opposing, revolving weft thread transport chains (1) to horizontally moving needles arranged at a stitch-knitting point (2) of the stitch-knitting machine, characterised in that the at least one weft thread is supplied continuously from above to the stitch-knitting point (2) by the weft thread transport chains (1).Stitch-knitting method according to claim 11, characterised in that on the path (A) along which the at least one laid weft thread is fed to the stitch-knitting location (2), the weft thread transport chains (1) are not deflected.Stitch-knitting method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the at least one weft thread is laid by means of a horizontally movable weft threadlayer (31, 31') standing on a linear guide (32) or suspended from a linear guide (32).Stitch-knit method according to claim 13, characterised in that a weft offset rake (33), which is oriented upright thereon and on which the at least one weft thread is held, is moved horizontally with the weft feeder (31, 31'), wherein the weft offset rake (33) in each case moves into a distance between transport hooks or pins (5) of a weft thread transport chain (1) and is then offset in its height (h), whereby the at least one weft thread is transferred to one of the transport hooks or pins.Stitch-knitting method according to claim 13, characterised in that the at least one weft thread is held on the weft thread layer (31, 31') and a respective weft offset rake (33) is arranged next to the weft thread transport chains (1), which is offset in its height (h) after a transfer of the at least one weft thread to a transport hook or pin (5) of the respective weft thread transport chain (1).

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