ACTIVITY BAR AND METHOD FOR REPLACING AN ACTIVITY BAR

Description

[0001] Warp knitting machines for producing warp-knitted fabrics have been known for many years. Such machines typically comprise several knitting tools—for example, knitting needles, yarn guides, slides, and knitting boards—which incorporate knitting elements. These knitting elements of the aforementioned knitting tools work together functionally during the stitch formation process, with the knitting tools arranged along the longitudinal direction of knitting tool bars on these bars. The knitting tool bars can be driven in a pivoting motion around the axis of rotation of the lever shafts via bar carriers and lever shafts. The term "knitting element" refers to the part or parts of the knitting tools that are functionally involved in the stitch formation process and thereby have at least temporary direct contact with the yarn. For example, in a knitting needle shaped like a hook needle, the knitting element is a hook.The working tools, in their working position, point in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the knitting tool bar. The working tools are typically detachably connected to the knitting tool bars, as they must be replaced regularly due to wear. Along one longitudinal direction of the knitting tool bars, working tools of the same type are arranged side-by-side at equal intervals – or in a row – and adjusted to the working tools of the other knitting tool bars so that they interact without collisions during the stitch formation process. Setting up the warp knitting machine with working tools and adjusting the working tools relative to each other requires stopping the machine. Therefore, it is important to design the adjustment and setup of the working tools in such a way as to reduce setup times. To achieve this, it is known to group several working tools of the same type into modules.In these modules, the working tools are permanently cast in a molten material, already aligned, and positioned at the required distance from one another. When mounting the modules onto the working tool bars, all working tools within a module can be adjusted together to match the working tools on the other bars, thus reducing setup time. The disadvantages are the high weight of the molten material and the fact that an entire module must be replaced whenever one of its working tools becomes worn or defective – even if other working tools within that module are still partially functional. When the new module is mounted, it then needs to be readjusted.Furthermore, instead of modules in which the working tools are permanently cast, working tool carriers are also known that have a plurality of longitudinally arranged recesses, each of which receives a working tool and is "pressed" onto the working tool carrier by means of a cover and a fastening arrangement. The working tools are individually removable on the working tool carrier. If a working tool is worn, it can be replaced individually.

[0002] US Patent 1848293 discloses a bar with a needle spacing bar (#4), where the needle spacing bar is cast firmly into the bar during the primary forming process. This is intended to create a more robust bar with a stronger connection between the bar and the needle spacing bar than would be the case with a screwed-on needle spacing bar. The bar and needle spacing bar form a fixed unit into which needles can be inserted and held in place with a clamping plate (#3).

[0003] US2254201 discloses a bar with a needle bed integrated in one piece. The needle bed includes grooves into which working tools can be inserted. The working tools are clamped onto the bar by a multitude of clamping members (#30). Each clamping member makes contact with a small number of working tools to facilitate repairs and tool replacement. The dividing lines of adjacent clamping members run obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the working tools—that is, they are not parallel to the working tools. This allows some working tools to be clamped by two clamping members simultaneously.

[0004] US5453146 discloses a method for manufacturing a bar consisting of a support member (#2) and a carrier (#1). The support member and carrier are joined together. The support member is then provided with grooves into which working tools can be inserted and divided into a multitude of segments. In the area of ​​the dividing line, the individual segments of the support member are spaced apart by the width of the dividing line. The dividing lines between the segments run within the grooves and are narrower than the groove width, so that a working tool can also be inserted into grooves through which a dividing line passes.

[0005] EP3354781A1 shows a bar on whose body a tool holder is detachably mounted by means of a first fastening arrangement. The tools are detachably mounted on the tool holder by means of a cover and a second fastening arrangement. When the second fastening arrangement is detached, the tools can be exchanged individually, while the tool holder remains attached to the bar by the first fastening arrangement. When the first fastening arrangement is detached, the tool holder, together with the tools, can be adjusted relative to the tools of the other bars or completely replaced. The tools can be exchanged individually without having to readjust the tool holder. The use of two independent fastening arrangements increases the weight, especially the rotating masses in the case of a pivoting movement about the axis of rotation of a lever shaft.

[0006] US2902847A shows a tool holder, the associated tools, and their arrangement on a bar. The tools and tool holder are detachably mounted on the bar by means of a cover and a single common fastening assembly. Each tool holder on the bar is functionally connected to only one cover. By loosening the fastening assembly of its associated cover, a single tool or the entire tool holder can be replaced. In both cases, all tool holders that are clamped to the cover of the loosened fastening assembly must be readjusted before the fastening assembly is re-tightened so that their tools interact without collision with the tools on other bars.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a knitting tool bar arrangement and a method for exchanging knitting tools of a knitting tool bar arrangement that enables high working speeds of the warp knitting machine as well as short setup and maintenance times.

[0008] The problem is solved according to the invention by claims 1 and 13. A working tool bar arrangement with a working tool bar for moving a quantity of working tools which can be arranged side by side in their working position along the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar, wherein working elements of these working tools point in a working direction which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar, has the following features: at least one tool carrier for receiving a subset of the set of tools, which is detachably connected to the tool bar, at least one fastening arrangement for holding the at least one tool carrier on the tool bar. The working tool bar according to the invention is characterized in that the fastening arrangement comprises at least a set of n covers that are suitable and positioned—or positionable—for holding the first working tool carrier, wherein the natural number n is greater than or equal to two, and wherein the first working tool carrier can already be held by a subset of the set of n covers, this subset comprising at most n-1 covers. The number n can be any number from a set N for which N=n∈ℕn≥2=2;3;4;5;… The covers are designed to clamp and hold the knitting tool holder to the knitting tool bar. The covers are removable and can be precisely positioned along the length of the knitting tool bar and aligned with the knitting tool holders to achieve an advantageous arrangement. If, for example, a cover needs to be removed for maintenance, the knitting tool holder is held in place by at least one other cover on the knitting tool bar. This eliminates the need to readjust the position of the knitting tool holder relative to other knitting tool holders and knitting tools. Maintenance time and costs are reduced. The initial set of knitting tools can include, for example, knitting needles, yarn guides, slides, and / or knitting plates.

[0009] An advantageous feature is a lid where the ratio of the lid width b D to the working tool carrier width bw is b D b w ≤ 1 , preferably, however b D b w ≤ 0,5 The following applies: The cover width and the working tool carrier width extend in the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar. With a ratio of bD / bW = 1, the covers can be arranged relative to the working tool carriers such that each cover overlaps half of any two adjacent working tool carriers and can thus hold both of them. This ratio is therefore considered advantageous. Further advantages arise when the ratio of cover width to working tool carrier width bD / bW ≤ 0.5; with a suitable arrangement of the covers, at least three covers are then designed to hold one working tool carrier by at least partially overlapping it.In particular, if a subset of working tools can be held by two lids simultaneously, this can ensure that the working tool holder is held by its third lid when the two other lids holding this subset of working tools are loosened - for example, to replace one of the working tools in this subset of working tools.

[0010] It is also advantageous if at least one cover of the at least one fastening arrangement can support at least a second tool holder. This allows for the use of wider covers than would be possible if each cover only supported one tool holder. To achieve this, the covers can be arranged relative to the tool holders such that the covers that overlap and thus support a tool holder at its edge also at least partially overlap and support a second adjacent tool holder. Larger cover widths then reduce the setup time at the tool bar.

[0011] It is advantageous if the working tool bar includes a longitudinal recess extending along its length, and at least one working tool carrier includes a longitudinal projection extending largely along the length of the working tool bar, preferably allowing for a positive fit into the longitudinal recess – similar to a groove running along the length of the working tool bar. The positive fit (positive fit even with the covers removed in the working direction of the working tools) of the working tool carrier on the working tool bar facilitates its alignment. The working tool carrier can then be adjusted along the length of the working tool bar relative to other working tool carriers and working tools, while its position in the working direction of the needles is determined by the positive fit.

[0012] Further advantages arise if at least one cover and / or at least one die carrier and / or the die bar are essentially made of a fiber-reinforced plastic. Fiber-reinforced plastics comprising carbon fibers and / or glass fibers are advantageous. A fiber-reinforced plastic comprising both a first set of fibers with a first fiber orientation largely aligned with the working direction of the dies and a second set of fibers with a second fiber orientation largely aligned with the longitudinal direction of the die bar is particularly advantageous. The addition of further fibers with other fiber orientations can also have a beneficial effect on the mechanical and thermal properties.Such covers, die carriers, and die bars, designed to suit the material and the component stresses occurring, enable a weight reduction compared to components made of metallic materials. This lower weight allows for higher operating speeds of the die-cutting machine.

[0013] It is also advantageous if the tool holder includes recesses – preferably grooves – that extend in the working direction of the tools and are suitable for detachably receiving the tools, wherein the recesses are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the tool bar by projections – in the case of grooves, preferably by webs. Tools that are positively engaged in the recesses of the tool holder are advantageous. Those projections of the tool holder to which recesses of the same tool holder adjoin on both sides in the longitudinal direction are internal projections. In contrast, external projections are those projections of a tool holder to which a recess of the same tool holder adjoins only on one side in the longitudinal direction. On the other side in the longitudinal direction, external projections form the end of the tool holder.Internal and external projections, like projections in general, can be designed as webs. Webs are projections that define grooves. It is particularly advantageous if the width in the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar of at least one internal projection—that is, the internal projection width—determines the distance between at least two adjacent working tools. In this way, when a working tool is replaced, the effort required for adjusting and aligning the new working tool in the working tool holder can be reduced.

[0014] It is advantageous if at least one fastening arrangement includes at least one cover that secures the working tools in the recesses of the working tool holder, allowing the working tools to project vertically beyond the projections of the working tool holder. The covers thus hold the working tools in the recesses of the working tool holder. The working tools, in turn, hold the working tool holder to the working tool bar. The covers rest only on the working tools, on cover bearing surfaces that correspond to the surfaces of the working tools, which define the working tools' working position in the direction of the covers. In this way, no separate fastening arrangement is required to hold the working tools. This saves weight, which in turn increases the operating speed of the knitting machine.

[0015] It is also advantageous if at least a subset of the working tools can be held in the recesses of at least one of the two lids. Particularly in the edge region of the lids, a gap between adjacent lids can prevent individual working tools from making full contact with one of the lids. This can lead to the working tool not being held securely. Therefore, if the working tools that are held in place by the edge of one lid are also at least partially held by a second lid, it can be ensured that these working tools are also held securely.

[0016] An advantageous feature is a lid in which at least one lid flank and the working direction enclose a flank angle greater than 25 degrees and less than 45 degrees. The vertical direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar and perpendicular to the working direction. In this way, the lid bearing surfaces of the working tools in the edge region of such a lid are always partially in contact with a second lid of the same shape and are thus also held by it. Further advantages are offered by a flank angle between 30 degrees and 40 degrees, particularly a flank angle of 35 degrees. It is especially advantageous to select the flank angles such that at least one lid has the shape of a parallelogram and / or a trapezoid in the plane defined by the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar and the working direction of the working tools.Lids shaped like a parallelogram can be placed next to each other in the same orientation. However, adjacent lids shaped like a trapezoid can be placed rotated 180 degrees around their vertical axis.

[0017] Further advantages arise if a gap with a gap width s exists between adjacent working tool carriers in the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar. A gap width of s is advantageous for the 0,005 mm ≤ s ≤ 0,5 mm applies. However, a gap width is particularly advantageous for the 0,01 mm ≤ s ≤ 0,1 mm This applies. The gap allows the working tool carriers on the working tool bar to be moved longitudinally relative to each other, at least within the limits of the gap width, and to be aligned or adjusted. This allows small manufacturing inaccuracies to be compensated for and ensures that the working tools from different working tool bars are arranged longitudinally in such a way that they move relative to each other without collisions during the stitch formation process.

[0018] A working tool bar is also advantageous if it includes a working tool carrier in which the inner projections in the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar have a width biv and the outer projections have a width b AV, where the following applies to the ratio of the widths: b AV = 0,5 ⋅ b IV − s . The working tools are then arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal axis of the working tool carrier, and the previously described gap exists between adjacent working tool carriers. This shape of the projections facilitates the adjustment of the working tools on the working tool carriers as well as the alignment of the working tool carriers with respect to adjacent working tool carriers.

[0019] Another advantageous embodiment of the teaching according to the invention arises in which the working tool bar has at least one working tool carrier with a working tool carrier width bw for which applies. 1 Zoll 25,4 mm ≤ b W ≤ 10 Zoll 254 mm , preferably, however, 3 Customs (76.2 mm ) ≤ b W ≤ 6 Customs (152.4 mmTool holders with a large tool width offer the advantage that more tools can be held at once, meaning the tool bar can be fully equipped with fewer tool holders than with tool holders of a narrower width. This reduces setup time because fewer tool holders need to be aligned or adjusted. Tool holders with a narrower width, on the other hand, offer the advantage of being easier to handle due to their smaller size and lighter weight. Therefore, the aforementioned tool holder width ranges are particularly advantageous.

[0020] Advantageously, a method is employed for replacing at least one working tool of a working tool bar arrangement with a working tool bar, wherein a set of working tools containing the at least one working tool is arranged side by side in their working position along the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar. The working elements of the working tools point in a working direction that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the working tool bar, wherein a subset of the set of working tools containing the at least one working tool is received in a working tool carrier that detachably connects this subset of working tools to the working tool bar. At least one fastening arrangement holds a first working tool carrier on the working tool bar.An advantageous method involves the mounting arrangement holding the first tool holder with a set of n covers, where n is greater than or equal to two, and at most n-1 covers being released, thereby freeing at least one tool and exchanging that tool for at least one other tool. Being able to exchange the tool while only having to release n-1 covers offers the advantage that the tool holder itself remains in place during the exchange of at least one cover. Thus, the tool holder retains its position despite the exchange and does not require readjustment after the tool has been replaced.

[0021] The inventive method offers further advantages if the at least one working tool is replaced through a maintenance gap, wherein the maintenance gap is created between the working tool carrier and at least one of the (at most n-1) loosened covers when the cover is loosened. The (at most n-1) covers are loosened just enough to create a maintenance gap between the working tool carrier and the working tool, which is sufficiently large to allow the working tool to be replaced to pass through this gap. It is advantageous if the maintenance gap is set such that it corresponds at least to the maximum base height of the working tool. In this way, it is ensured that the maintenance gap is always large enough to allow the working tool to pass through.Depending on the geometry of the die carrier, the die itself, and the cover, it may also be possible to replace the die through a maintenance gap that is smaller than the maximum base height of the die. Many die bars have an elastic insert between the cover and the dies. In such die bars, the maintenance gap is created between the die carrier and the elastic insert.

[0022] Another advantageous method involves reattaching the previously detached (at most n-1) covers after replacing at least one knitting tool, thereby generating clamping forces that hold at least one knitting tool holder at least partially on the knitting tool bar. After replacing the knitting tool, the knitting tool bar must be returned to a state in which it can be operated in a warp knitting machine. All n covers, together with the knitting tools and the knitting tool holders, can be securely clamped onto the knitting tool bar for this purpose. Fig. 1 Figure 1 Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a working tool bar 1 with a working tool carrier 2, a working tool 3 and a fastening arrangement 5. Figure 2 Fig. 3 shows a fastening arrangement 5 comprising three covers 4 and two screws 6 and two perforated washers 7, each cover 4. Figure 3 shows a detailed view of section A from Fig. 2 Two tool carriers 2 and several tool holders 3 are shown. Fig. 4 Figure 4 shows the sectional view from Figure 1 during the exchange of the working tool 3

[0023] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the working tool bar 1 with a working tool carrier 2, the longitudinal projection 17 of which engages positively in a longitudinal recess 18 of the working tool bar 1. The section shown runs through a groove 11 of the working tool carrier 2, which is bounded by a web 10. The working tool 3 has a working element 8 in the form of a hook at its end pointing in the working direction y and is arranged in a groove 11 that is not in the plane of the section. The working tool 3 projects beyond the web 10 in the vertical direction z. The fastening arrangement 5 comprises several covers 4 - in the sectional view all covers 4 except one are hidden - , several screws 6 and several perforated washers 7. The screws 6 generate clamping forces which clamp the covers 4 together with an elastic insert 9, the working tools 3 and the working tool carrier 2 against the working tool bar 1 and hold them in position.

[0024] Figure 2shows a different view of the already in Fig. 1The elements shown are shown. The fastening arrangement 5 comprises three covers 4 with the same cover width bD and two screws 6 and two perforated washers 7 per cover 4. The ratio of the cover width bD to the working tool carrier width bw is less than 0.5. In addition to the width ratios described above as advantageous, width ratios for which bD / bW > 1 are also conceivable. However, this results in a limitation in the number of covers 4 or working tool carriers 2. This case is only advantageous with a clever arrangement of the covers 4 and up to a maximum number of working tool carriers 2. The covers 4 have a cross-section in the xy-plane with the shape of a parallelogram and are inclined at the cover flanks 20 relative to the working direction y by a flank angle 19.Furthermore, three tool carriers 2 with a tool carrier width bw are visible, whereby two of the three tool carriers 2 are not completely shown – this is indicated in the drawing by the limiting break lines. The grooves 11 of the in the . Fig. 2 The middle tool carrier 2 is equipped with tooling tools 3, with the exception of one groove 11. The grooves 11 of the in the Fig. 2 The right and left tool carriers 2 are empty – i.e., not fitted with tool carriers 3. This illustration is for demonstration purposes only. In an operational state, all grooves 11 can be fitted with tool carriers 3. The cover edge area 21 shows that one of the tool carriers 3 is held within this cover edge area 21 by two covers 4. Fig. 2 the middle and the left of the three lids 4. These two lids 4 both have contact with the respective lid support surfaces 12 of these working tools 3 in the lid edge area 21.

[0025] Figure 3 Detail A shows Fig. 2 Two tool carriers 2 and the gap s between the two tool carriers 2 are shown. The one in the Fig. 3 The left tool carrier 2 is shown with five grooves 11, four of which are fitted with tools 3 and one is empty. Both tool carriers 2 are held in the area of ​​detail A by a cover 4. Between the grooves 11, or rather the tools 3, internal projections 15 with an internal projection width biv are shown. The outer projections 10, which directly adjoin the gap s, are external projections 16 with an external projection width b AV. The ratio of the size of the external projection width b AV to the size of the internal projection width biv corresponds to the aforementioned formula.

[0026] Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the working tool bar 1 at the same position as the sectional view from Fig. 1The cover 4 is not in its working position, but in a maintenance position, in which a maintenance gap 14 exists between the elastic insert 9 of the cover 4 and the groove base 24 of the working tool carrier 2. The groove base 24 limits the groove 11 in the vertical direction z. The working tool 3's maximum foot height 22 is shown, which in this embodiment is less than the maintenance gap height 23. The working tool 3 can be removed from or inserted into the working tool carrier 2 through the maintenance gap 14 without completely detaching the cover 4 from the working tool bar 1. Reference symbol list 1 Tool bar 2 Tool carrier 3 Tool 4 Lid 5 Mounting arrangement 6 screw 7 Perforated disc 8 active ingredient 9 Elastic insert 10 ledge / footbridge 11 Recess / Groove 12 Lid support surface 13 gap 14 Maintenance gap 15 Internal projection 16 Outside edge 17 longitudinal projection 18 longitudinal recess 19 Flank angle of the lid 4 20 lid flank 21 Lid edge area 22 Maximum foot height of the working tool 3 23 Maintenance gap height of the maintenance gap 14 24 Groove base of groove 11 x Longitudinal direction of the working tool bar 1 y direction of work z Altitude b D lid width b W Tool carrier width s Gap width b AV Outside projection width b IV inner projection width

Claims

1. Knitting tool bar arrangement with a knitting-tool bar (1) for moving a first set of knitting tools (3), • wherein these knitting tools (3) are arrangeable, in their working position, in a row one beside the other in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1), • wherein the knitting means (8) of these knitting tools (3) point in a working direction (y), which runs at right angles to the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1) • and wherein the knitting-tool bar arrangement has the following features: • at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) for receiving a subset of the first set of knitting tools (3), said knitting-tool carrier (2) being connected releasably to the knitting-tool bar (1), • at least one fixing arrangement (5) for clamping the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) to the knitting-tool bar (1), characterised in • that the fixing arrangement (5) comprises at least a set of n covers (4), which is suitable and positioned for clamping a first knitting-tool carrier (2) to the knitting tool bar (1), wherein the natural number n is greater than or equal to two • and that the first knitting-tool carrier (2) is already clampable by a subset of the set of n covers (4), this subset comprising a maximum of n-1 covers (4).

2. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterised by at least one cover (4), for which the ratio of the cover width bD, which extends in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1), to the knitting-tool carrier width bw, which extends in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1) is • b D b W ≤ 1 , • preferably however b D b W ≤ 0.5 .

3. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least a second knitting-tool carrier (2) can be secured by at least one cover (4) of the at least one fixing arrangement (5).

4. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in • that the knitting-tool bar (1) comprises a longitudinal recess (18) extending in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1) • that at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) comprises a longitudinal protrusion (17), which also extends substantially in the longitudinal direction (x) • and which is insertable into the longitudinal recess (18).

5. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one cover (4) and / or at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) and / or the knitting-tool bar (1) consist substantially of a fibre-reinforced polymer.

6. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) comprises recesses (11) which run in the working direction (y) of the knitting tools (3) and are suitable to releasably receive the knitting tools (3), wherein the recesses (11) are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1) by protrusions (10).

7. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the at least one fixing arrangement (5) comprises at least one cover (4) with which the knitting tools (3) are securable in the recesses (11) of the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2).

8. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterised in that at least a subset of the knitting tools (3) is securable in the recesses (11) of the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) by two covers (4).

9. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one cover (4) in the case of which at least one cover flank (20) and the working direction (y) enclose a flank angle (19), wherein the flank angle (19) is greater than 25 degrees and less than 45 degrees.

10. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, a gap (13) with a gap width s exists, in the longitudinal direction (x), between adjacent knitting-tool carriers (2).

11. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterised by at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) in the case of which, in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1), those protrusions (10) of the knitting-tool carrier (2) that are adjoined longitudinally on both sides by recesses (11) of the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) - the inner protrusions (15) - have a width biv and those protrusions (10) of a knitting-tool carrier (2) that are adjoined longitudinally on one side only by a recess (11) of the same knitting-tool carrier (2) - the outer protrusions (16) - have a width bAV, wherein the widths are related by the following formula: b AV = 0.5 ⋅ b IV − s 12. Knitting-tool bar arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) with a knitting-tool carrier width bw for which • 1 inch 25.4 mm ≤ b W ≤ 10 inches 254 mm , applies, preferably however • 3 inches 76 .2 mm ≤ b W ≤ 6 inches 152 .4 mm .

13. Method for replacing at least one knitting tool (3) of a knitting tool bar arrangement with a knitting-tool bar (1) • wherein a first set of knitting tools (3) comprising the at least one knitting tool (3) are lined up, in their working position, in a row one beside the other in the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1), • wherein the knitting means (8) of the knitting tools (3) point in a working direction (y), which runs at right angles to the longitudinal direction (x) of the knitting-tool bar (1), • wherein a subset of the first set of knitting tools (3), which comprises the at least one knitting tool (3), is mounted in a knitting-tool carrier (2) that releasably connects this subset of knitting tools (3) to the knitting-tool bar (1), • and wherein at least one fixing arrangement (5) clamps the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2) to the knitting-tool bar (1), characterised in that the fixing arrangement (5) clamps a first knitting-tool carrier (2) with a second set of n covers (4), wherein the natural number n is greater than or equal to 2, that a maximum of n-1 covers (4) are released in order to release the at least one knitting tool (3), and that the at least one knitting tool (3) is exchanged for at least one other knitting tool (3).

14. Method according to the preceding claim, characterised in that • at least one knitting tool (3) is exchanged through a maintenance gap (14), • wherein the maintenance gap (14) is created between knitting-tool carrier (2) and at least one of the maximum n-1 covers (4) when this is released.

15. Method according to the preceding claim, characterised in that • after the at least one knitting tool (3) has been exchanged, the previously released maximum n-1 covers (4) are fixed again, • wherein clamping forces are generated which secure the at least one knitting-tool carrier (2), at least partially, to the knitting-tool bar (1).