Flat knitting machine with knitting machine elements in the form of at least one thread guide for feeding one or more separate threads

Description

[0001] Today's demands on knitted fabrics produced on knitting or warp-knitting machines require the knitting of increasingly complex and intricate patterns and designs, as well as the creation of special properties, for example, regarding the strength of the entire fabric or specific sections of it. To meet these requirements, flat-knitting machines have already been developed whose thread guides can be moved over the needle bed(s) independently of the carriage or knitting cam by means of separate drives.

[0002] Further possibilities for thread insertion can be achieved by means of thread guides according to EP 2 243 871 B1, which are vertically movable, as well as by means of pivoting thread guide rails (EP 2 843 095 A1).

[0003] Using these technologies, new types of weave can be realized, as it is now possible to pass threads between the needles, loop them around them and incorporate the threads into the knitted fabric as warp threads.

[0004] However, the standard thread guide eyelets used in existing thread guides can only guide individual or multiple knitting threads together to the knitting needles. Separating the threads is not possible with these state-of-the-art thread guides. Furthermore, the width of the thread guide eyelets is not suitable for moving the thread(s) between the knitting needles on flat-knitting machines with finer needle pitches.

[0005] From EP 3 575 462 A2, it is known to arrange several guide needles next to each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle beds of a flat knitting machine instead of thread guide eyelets at the lower end of a thread guide arm, in order to be able to insert several separate threads into the knitting needles. These guide needles are rigidly attached to an element that has been replaced with a standard thread guide eyelet. Therefore, it is not possible to adapt the guide needles to the pitch of the machine's needle beds. Increasing or decreasing the number of guide needles is also not possible with this known thread guide.

[0006] EP 682 133 B1 discloses an additional device for feeding warp or weft threads to the needles of a flat-knitting machine. This additional device comprises thread feed tubes attached to gusset rails, each gusset rail being detachably connected to a drive belt by means of three coupling plates. However, the thread feed tubes are not adjustable.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of equipping a flat knitting machine with knitting machine elements with the possibility of feeding separate threads to the knitting needles in a manner that allows easy adaptation to different needle pitches and to the desired number of threads to be fed and the use of different threads, whereby this thread feeding can also be deactivated.

[0008] The problem is solved by a flat knitting machine with knitting machine elements having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The interchangeability of the middle module allows the thread guide to be adapted to different needle pitches and / or to a different number of threads to be fed and / or to threads with different properties without having to replace the entire thread guide. For this purpose, the middle module can be expediently interchangeable with other modules with a different width and / or a differently designed thread guide element.

[0010] The two outer modules can be connected to each other by at least one web-shaped connecting element that overlaps the middle module. By replacing the connecting element with elements of a different length or by varying the length of the connecting element, the two outer modules can enclose middle modules of different widths between them. The outer modules themselves do not need to be modified or replaced when the middle module is replaced.

[0011] Further variations for the thread guide are possible if the thread guide element is designed to be interchangeable. This also allows adaptation to a different number of threads and / or needle pitches.

[0012] If the flat knitting machine is intended to incorporate different threads, such as knitting threads, elastane threads, warp, weft, or standing threads, into a knitted fabric, it is also advantageous if the thread feed element(s) are arranged on the thread guide in an adjustable and / or interchangeable manner. Depending on the properties of the threads to be fed and the needle pitch, the appropriate thread feed elements can be arranged and / or aligned on the thread guide.

[0013] The thread guide can comprise several thread feed elements, which can be single-type or any combination of eyelets, guide needles, or tubes. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the thread guide comprises several thread feed elements, which can have different materials and / or thread opening sizes depending on the properties of the threads to be fed.

[0014] The thread guide is also mounted vertically on the thread guide arm, allowing it to be adjusted between an upper resting position away from the comb gap and a lower working position close to the comb gap.

[0015] The thread guide can also be moved horizontally by means of the thread guide arm. This makes it possible to guide threads between needles of a needle bed when the thread guide is in its working position, for example, to loop around a needle. Furthermore, the thread guide can be placed in a horizontal rest position outside the needle area.

[0016] Furthermore, a protective housing can be provided to cover the thread guide. This protective housing protects the thread guide with the thread feed elements, as well as the fed threads, from damage, breakage, and contamination.

[0017] Preferably, a collecting piece with a plurality of openings for threads can also be arranged at the upper end of the thread guide arm. One or more threads can be passed through each opening and then guided to the thread feed elements, where they can be picked up separately and fed to selected needles.

[0018] It is also possible to link multiple thread guides together for a common movement. This coupling allows all thread guides to move together in the longitudinal direction of the thread guide rail, as well as in the vertical and horizontal directions. The distance between the thread guides can be varied.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of a thread guide of a flat knitting machine according to the invention and its use on the machine are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1a front view of a thread guide; Fig. 2an exploded view of the thread guide from Fig. 1 and a thread guide rail; Fig. 3a - 3dschematic sectional views of the lower end of the thread guide from Fig. 1 in different positions with respect to driven needles of a flat knitting machine; Fig. 4a - 4cperspective views of the lower end of the thread guide from Fig. 1 in different positions of the thread guide member; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a thread guide rail with several thread guides coupled together.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a front view of a thread guide 100, which, independently driven, can supply one or more threads to the needles of a flat knitting machine (not shown in detail here). It has a thread guide arm 120, at the lower end of which a thread guide element 4 is arranged.

[0022] The thread guide 100 comprises a first and a second module 1, 2, which can be suspended from a thread guide rail and are connected to one another by means of one or more web-shaped connecting elements 6. Thus constructed, the thread guide 100 can be mounted on a thread guide rail 101 ( Fig. 2 ) can be mounted movably.

[0023] The modules 1, 2 enclose a central module M between them, which is essentially formed by a support part 7, which forms the central part of the thread guide arm 120 and at whose lower end the thread guide element 4 is arranged. The support part 7, together with the thread guide element 4, is interchangeable and can therefore also be replaced by a support part 7 of a different width. By correspondingly exchanging or adjusting the length of the connecting elements 6 between the modules 1, 2 (not shown here), the thread guide 100 can therefore be constructed in different widths, independent of the pitch.

[0024] At the upper end of the thread guide 100 is a collecting piece 3, which has a plurality of openings 30 for the passage of one or more threads (not shown here) to be fed to the needles of the flat knitting machine. The openings can be designed as simple holes or apertures. Alternatively, inserts can be provided which are inserted into the openings 30. The collecting piece 3 serves to collect and separate the threads entering the thread guide 100. The carrier part 7 guides the threads running from the collecting piece 3 to the thread guide element 4 and protects them from external influences.

[0025] The thread guide member 4 comprises a support 42 and a support plate 40, on or in which thread feed elements 41 are attached for feeding the thread or threads to the knitting needles of the flat knitting machine. The elements 41 can be designed in the form of eyelets, tubes, guide needles, or as simple openings in a bar provided for this purpose (not shown here). The components 40, 41, and 42 (in Fig. 1 not numbered) can also be designed as a single component. The number of thread feed elements 41 and their design can be varied by exchanging the entire support plate 40 or individual elements 41. In the example shown, six thread feed elements 41 are installed in the thread guide 100. More or fewer elements 41 can also be used here. Just a single element 41 is also possible. This means that the thread guide 100 can also be used for normal stitch formation, enabling the creation of stitches, tuck loops, etc.

[0026] The thread guide 4 is also enclosed by a protective housing 5. The protective housing 5 is attached to the lower end of the thread guide arm 120 on the modules 1, 2. A device not shown here allows the adjustment of the protective housing 5 in the horizontal and / or vertical direction, thus ensuring precise alignment of the protective housing 5 relative to the thread guide 4 and other moving components in the flat knitting machine that may come into contact with the thread guide 100.

[0027] The thread guide member 4 can be moved vertically relative to the thread guide 100 and the protective housing 5 by means of the support part 7, so that in its upper rest position it is located partially or completely within the protective housing 5 and in its lower working position outside the protective housing 5. However, it is also conceivable that the protective housing 5 can move relative to the thread guide member 4 and the thread guide 100.

[0028] In the upper rest position of the thread guide member 4, the support plate 40 with the thread feed elements 41 and the thread(s) passing through them are protected from damage, breakage or contamination by other components of the flat knitting machine.

[0029] In the lower working position of the thread guide member 4, threads can be brought to driven-out knitting needles by moving the thread guide 100 on the thread guide rail 101 and moving the thread guide 100 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

[0030] The respective positions of the thread guide element 4 can be variably adjusted manually and / or by means of appropriate mechanical or motor devices.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the thread guide 100 again in the exploded view together with a thread guide rail 101.

[0032] The Fig. 3a - 3d show a movement sequence of the thread guide 100 with the thread feed elements 41 relative to needles SN1, SN2 of a flat knitting machine not otherwise shown.

[0033] In Fig. 3a the thread guide element 4 is in its upper rest position, away from the comb gap.

[0034] In Fig. 3b The thread guide element 4 moves toward the needles SN1, SN2. The thread feed elements 41 leave the protective housing 5.

[0035] In Fig. 3c the thread guide element 4 is in its working position and thus the thread feed elements 41 are in a thread feed position close to the comb gap.

[0036] In Fig. 3d the thread guide 100 was pivoted between needles SN1, ie displaced in the horizontal direction.

[0037] The Fig. 4a - 4c show an enlarged, three-dimensional view of the lower end of the thread guide 100 in different positions.

[0038] In Fig. 4a The thread guide 100 is shown in a position in which the thread feed elements 41 of the thread guide member 4 are located within the protective housing 5. Thus, the rest position, away from the comb gap, is shown here, in which no thread is fed to the needles SN1, SN2. It can also be seen that the thread guide member 4 has a holder 42, to which a support plate 40 for the thread feed elements 41 is attached. The holder 42, in turn, serves to attach the thread guide member 4 to the lower end of the support part 7 of the thread guide arm 120 and to enable the vertical movement of the thread guide member 4.

[0039] Fig. 4b shows the thread guide 100 in a position in which the elements 41 of the thread guide member 4 are located outside the protective housing 5. Thus, the working position near the comb gap is shown here, in which the thread(s) is / are brought to the needles SN1, SN2. The protective housing 5 has a U-shaped recess 50 that allows visual monitoring of the position of the thread guide member 4. Furthermore, a scale 43 is provided on the holder 42, which can be read through the recess 50 and, together with an arrow 51 on the protective housing, facilitates position monitoring.

[0040] In Fig. 4c is again an enlarged view of the thread guide 100 in the Fig. 4b shown position, wherein the elements 41 of the thread guide member 4 are in their working position near the comb gap between the needles SN1, SN2 driven out in this illustration.

[0041] Fig. 5shows three thread guides 100a, 100b, 100c, which are movably mounted together on a thread guide rail 101. The thread guides 100a, 100b, 100c are connected to each other by means of coupling rods KS1 - KS4.

[0042] The coupling rods KS1 and KS2 are shorter than the coupling rods KS3 and KS4. This allows for different distances between the thread guides 100a, 100b, and 100c.

[0043] It can also be seen that the thread guides 100a, 100b are wider than the thread guide 100c.

Claims

1. Flat-knitting machine comprising at least one yarn guide (100) movable along a yarn guide rail (101) and having a yarn guide arm (120), at the lower end of which a yarn directing element (4) having one or more yarn feed elements (41) is arranged for feeding one or more yarns to knitting needles (SN1, SN2) of the flat-knitting machine, the yarn guide (100) being formed from at least three detachably connected modules (1, 2, M), of which two outer modules (1, 2) are provided with rollers for suspension in a yarn guide rail (101) and enclose a middle, interchangeable module (M) therebetween, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) is arranged vertically movably on the yarn guide arm (120).

2. Flat-knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the middle module (M) contains a support part (7) of the yarn guide arm for the yarn directing element (4).

3. Flat-knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two outer modules (1, 2) are connected to one another by means of at least one web-shaped connecting element (6) which overlaps the middle module (M).

4. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the middle module (M) is interchangeable with other modules having a different width and / or a differently designed yarn directing element (4).

5. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) is arranged interchangeably.

6. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more yarn feed elements (41) are arranged adjustably and / or interchangeably on the yarn directing element (4).

7. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) has a plurality of yarn feed elements (41) which are eyelets, guide needles or small tubes, of the same type or in any combination.

8. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) has a plurality of yarn feed elements (41) which have different materials and / or sizes of the yarn openings depending on the properties of the yarns to be fed.

9. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) is adjustable between an upper rest position remote from the comb gap and a lower working position close to the comb gap.

10. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yarn directing element (4) is movable in the horizontal transverse and longitudinal direction by means of the yarn guide arm (120).

11. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a protective housing (5) is provided to cover the yarn directing element (4).

12. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at the upper end of the yarn guide (100), a collection piece (3) having multiple openings (30) is arranged for having yarns passing therethrough.

13. Flat-knitting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of yarn guides (100a, 100b, 100c) can be coupled together for a common movement.