Yarn guide for a knitting machine and flat knitting machine

Abstract

A yarn guide for a knitting machine, in particular a flat knitting machine, with a yarn guide arm (3) at the free end of which a yarn eyelet (5) is attached, is characterized in that the yarn eyelet (5) is attached to the yarn guide arm (3) in a way that allows for non-destructive removal and at least one tool engagement (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) for a tool for removing the yarn eyelet (5) is provided on the yarn guide arm (3) and / or the yarn eyelet (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a thread guide for a knitting machine, in particular a flat knitting machine, having a thread guide arm to whose free end a thread eyelet is attached. Furthermore, the invention relates to a flat knitting machine with a thread guide according to the invention.

[0002] To increase the efficiency of a flat knitting machine in the production of knitted items, various proposals have been made for quickly and easily replacing parts and components of the flat knitting machine, minimizing downtime. This applies to periods when the machine is down, for example, when switching to a new knitting pattern, or when repairing or replacing damaged or worn parts.

[0003] Until now, it has been common practice to replace the entire thread guide when changing to a thread with a different diameter, since the openings of the thread guide heads (also called nuts or thread eyes) are designed with different diameters to guide the thread.

[0004] Even in the event of damage to the yarn guide head, the entire yarn guide had to be removed from the flat knitting machine and replaced with another one. Replacing the yarn guide head alone was not possible until now.

[0005] Changing the yarn guide increases the downtime of the flat knitting machine, resulting in significant production losses. The inventory costs for different yarn guide types are also very high.

[0006] From GB 728 046 A it is known to replace a thread eyelet by using a tool to widen the two legs of the thread guide arm by engaging a tool in a slot.

[0007] DE 529 120 C describes that a tube can be snapped in from the side using a pliers-like tool, whereby the new tube is placed against the old tube from the side and a certain pressure is exerted.

[0008] DE 31 29 512 A1 discloses a thread guide nut comprising a nut head and a nut shaft, which is attached to a thread guide bar that moves over the needle beds of a flat-knitting machine. The nut head and nut shaft are made of a single piece from elastic plastic and are equipped with threaded nuts for screwing. A tube made of hardened steel or ceramic is injected or glued into the nut head.

[0009] DE 33 10 723 C1 discloses a thread guide for flat knitting machines in which a lens-shaped thread eyelet is inserted into a thread guide arm. The thread eyelet is an insert part. It is also mentioned that the thread eyelet can be a replaceable part and can be replaced. However, it is not clear how the thread eyelet can be replaced without damaging the thread guide arm.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to further develop a thread guide in such a way that the thread eyelet can be replaced without having to remove the thread guide or thread guide arm from a flat knitting machine.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention by a thread guide according to claim 1. This thread guide for a knitting machine, in particular a flat knitting machine, is equipped with a thread guide arm, to the free end of which a thread eyelet is fastened, wherein the thread eyelet is fastened to the thread guide arm in a non-destructively detachable manner and at least one tool engagement for a tool for releasing the thread eyelet is provided on the thread eyelet. The tool engagement makes it possible to apply a tool to the thread eyelet and / or to the thread guide arm and thereby release the thread eyelet from the thread guide arm. For this purpose, it is not necessary to remove the thread guide or thread guide arm if they are installed on a knitting machine. Furthermore, it is of course possible to replace the thread eyelet on a thread guide arm removed from the flat knitting machine.This eliminates the need to keep different thread guides with different thread eyelets in stock and replace them as needed. Instead, it is possible to replace the thread eyelet on a thread guide arm. This can be done without removing the thread guide arm or the entire thread guide from the knitting machine. This can significantly improve the productivity of a flat knitting machine. Because the invention provides at least one tool engagement point on the thread guide arm and the thread eyelet, it is also possible to remove the thread eyelet from the thread guide arm without causing any damage.

[0012] It is particularly preferred if the thread eyelet is held positively on the thread guide arm. This makes it possible to attach the thread eyelet to the thread guide arm without additional fastening means, such as adhesive.

[0013] The thread eyelet can be made of hardened steel, ceramic, or other material. It can also have a coating to prevent wear.

[0014] According to the invention, at least one tool engagement for a tool for releasing the thread eyelet is provided on the thread guide arm.

[0015] The thread guide arm can be elastically deformable in at least one region, and the tool engagements can be arranged such that the thread guide arm can be elastically deformed by the tool. If the thread guide arm is elastically deformed by the tool, the positive connection between the thread guide arm and the thread eyelet can be released, and the thread eyelet can be removed from the thread guide arm. Likewise, it is possible to move the thread eyelet into its fastening position by elastically deforming the thread guide arm.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a locking element for locking the thread eyelet can be provided on the thread guide arm, which locking element is designed asymmetrically. This ensures, in particular, that the thread eyelet can only be removed from the thread guide arm in one direction. This ensures that the thread eyelet does not accidentally fall into the flat knitting machine when changing the thread eyelet.

[0017] The thread guide arm can have a bevel that allows the thread eyelet to lock into place. This allows the thread eyelet to be guided into its locking position when the thread eyelet is attached, particularly by sliding it into the locking position. This facilitates the installation of the thread eyelet.

[0018] Particular advantages arise when the thread guide arm has a stop surface that forms an angle of ≤ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the thread guide arm, directed away from a free end of the thread guide arm. This prevents the thread eyelet from being removed from the thread guide arm automatically or accidentally in the direction of a needle bed. In particular, the thread eyelet is securely held on the thread guide arm in the direction of the needle bed.

[0019] Changing a thread eyelet is particularly easy if the thread guide arm has two expandable legs at its free end, between which the thread eyelet is arranged. Expanding the legs creates an enlarged slot into which the thread eyelet can be inserted. In particular, the legs can be expanded using the tool. In this context, the bevel provided on the thread guide arm can also be used to expand the legs by moving the thread eyelet along the bevel.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a tool engagement is arranged on the thread guide arm and a tool engagement on the thread eyelet. The tool engagement on the thread guide arm and the tool engagement on the thread eyelet are preferably located on a longitudinal axis of the thread guide arm. Using a suitable tool, such as circlip pliers, the thread eyelet can thus be moved in the longitudinal direction of the thread guide arm relative to the thread guide arm. In particular, a standard tool can preferably be used for the assembly and disassembly of the thread eyelet. The tool can be selected depending on the desired direction of force.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, two tool engagements can be provided on the thread guide arm, in particular one tool engagement on each leg of the thread guide arm. Thus, the legs can be widened by means of the tool engaging the tool engagements, so that a thread eyelet can be inserted or removed.

[0022] The tool engagements can allow force transmission in at least one direction. The direction of force transmission can depend on the tool used.

[0023] The tool grips can have a guide section for the tool. This can prevent the tool from slipping.

[0024] The tool inlets can be designed as blind holes or as through openings.

[0025] Further advantages arise when a tool is mounted on the thread guide. This ensures that a tool is always at hand when a thread eyelet needs to be changed.

[0026] The scope of the invention also includes a flat knitting machine with a thread guide according to the invention.

[0027] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, based on the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details essential to the invention, and from the claims. The features shown therein are not necessarily to scale and are presented in such a way that the special features of the invention can be clearly seen.

[0028] The schematic drawing shows embodiments of the invention in various stages of use and is explained in more detail in the following description.

[0029] They show: Fig. 1a a section of a flat knitting machine; Fig. 1b an enlarged detailed view of the Fig. 1a ; Fig. 2a, 2b show the assembly of a thread eyelet on a thread guide arm according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3a, 3b show the assembly of a thread eyelet on a thread guide arm according to a variant not according to the invention without tool intervention on the thread eyelet; Fig. 4 an enlarged view of a thread guide arm and a thread eyelet.

[0030] The Fig. 1a shows a section 100 of a flat knitting machine (not shown in detail) with thread guide units 1, which are mounted on several thread guide rails 10 so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the thread guide rails 10. In the example shown, the thread guide units 1 have independently driven thread guides, which are driven, in particular, by a motor without the influence of the carriage (not shown here). However, the invention can also be used with thread guides which are displaced, for example, by the carriage using corresponding drive devices.

[0031] The Fig. 1b shows an enlarged view of two of the thread guide units 1 of the Fig. 1a A thread guide arm 3 is arranged on a thread guide box 2, which is fastened to a thread guide rail 10 and extends downward from the thread guide box 2. Only the thread guide arm 3 will be described further below.

[0032] The thread guide arm 3 has a rod 4 that is guided for vertical movement, allowing up and down movements at a free end of the thread guide arm 3 in the area of ​​a thread eyelet 5. To secure the thread eyelet 5, the thread guide arm 3, or the rod 4, is fork-shaped at its free end with legs 6a, 6b. The elastically deformable legs 6a, 6b enclose the thread eyelet 5 between them. The up-down movement is not mandatory. If no up-down movement is intended, the thread eyelet 5 is located in the arm 3.

[0033] The Fig. 2a shows the insertion of a thread eyelet 5 into a fastening position on the thread guide arm 3. A first tool engagement 7a is shown on the rod 4 of the thread guide arm 3. A further tool engagement 7b is arranged on the thread eyelet 5. A tool in the form of a circlip pliers 30 can engage in the tool engagements 7a, 7b by means of its noses 31, 32, which are arranged on legs 33, 34 of the circlip pliers 30.

[0034] The thread eyelet 5 is inserted into the recess 6 between the legs 6a, 6b. The lugs 31, 32 of the circlip pliers 30 are inserted into the tool recesses 7a, 7b. When the circlip pliers 30 are operated, the lugs 31, 32 are moved away from each other by spreading the legs 33, 34. This means that a movement is initiated into the thread eyelet 5 in the direction of arrow E. Because the legs 6a, 6b have bevels 6c, 6d that interact with corresponding bevels of the thread eyelet 5, the legs 6a, 6b are widened in the direction C, D. The thread eyelet 5 can thus slide downwards into a locking position. This position is in the Fig. 2b shown.

[0035] The thread eyelet 5 is released in the opposite direction. In this case, the legs 33, 34 of the retaining ring pliers 30 are pressed together, whereby the thread eyelet 5 moves upwards with the legs 6a, 6b expanding until it can be removed from the thread guide arm 3 in the area of ​​the recess 6. In the embodiment according to the Fig. 2a, 2b the tool engagements 7a, 7b can be designed as blind holes.

[0036] In particular, the tool engagement 7b of the thread eyelet can be designed as a blind hole, the tool engagement 7a of the thread guide arm 3 can be designed as a through opening.

[0037] A variant not according to the invention is described in the Fig. 3a, 3b Elements that correspond to the Fig. 2a, 2b shown elements have the same reference numerals.

[0038] In the embodiment according to the Fig. 3a, 3b the tool engagements 8a, 8b are provided only on the legs 6a, 6b of the thread guide arm 3 or the rod 4 and are designed as through-openings. In this case, the legs 6a, 6b can be expanded laterally by lugs 31', 32' of a tool which is designed as a circlip pliers 30' and has legs 33', 34', so that the thread eyelet 5 can either slide downwards automatically or can be pressed downwards manually until, after being displaced in the direction of arrow R, it is in the position shown in the Fig. 3b shown position. The thread eyelet 5 locks into place and is held securely.

[0039] The thread eyelet 5 is released in the reverse order by using a circlip pliers 30' to widen the legs 6a, 6b in the direction of arrow F, G so that the thread eyelet 5 can be removed upwards.

[0040] An enlarged view of the free end of the thread guide arm 3 is shown in the Fig. 4 shown. Here it can be seen that the thread guide arm 3 has locking elements 20, 21 in the region of its free end, in particular on the legs 6a, 6b, which in turn have lugs 22, 23. It can be seen that the locking elements 20, 21 are asymmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane. At their lower end, the locking elements 20, 21 have stop surfaces 24, 25, which are horizontally aligned in the embodiment shown. In particular, they have an angle α to the longitudinal axis, which is directed away from the free end, of ≤ 90°. It can also be seen that the downwardly tapered thread eyelet 5 can slide along the aforementioned bevels 6c, 6d, in particular into a locking position. The lugs 22, 23 have a greater distance D than the legs 6a, 6b at their free end, where the distance is d.

[0041] The thread eyelet 5 has bevels 5a, 5b. The bevels 5a, 5b offer advantages during assembly of the thread eyelet 5, as the bevels 5a, 5b are designed to rest on the upper bevel of the lugs 22, 23 during assembly. This provides protection against twisting and tilting during assembly.

[0042] In the Fig. 4 In the embodiment shown, a total of four tool interventions are shown corresponding to the reference symbols 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b in the Figuren 2 or 3 shown.

Claims

1. Thread guide, suitable for a knitting machine, with a thread guide arm (3), to the free end of which a thread eyelet (5) is attached, wherein the thread eyelet (5) is attached to the thread guide arm (3) in a non-destructively detachable manner, wherein at least one tool engagement (7a, 8a, 8b) is arranged on the thread guide arm (3) and one tool engagement (7b) is arranged on the thread eyelet (5) for a tool (30, 30') for releasing the thread eyelet (5), characterized in that the thread guide arm (3) has at its free end two expandable legs (6a, 6b) between which the thread eyelet (5) is arranged.

2. Thread guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread eyelet (5) is held positively on the thread guide arm (3).

3. Thread guide according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread guide arm (3) is elastically deformable in at least one region and the tool engagements (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) are arranged such that the thread guide arm (3) is elastically deformable by means of the tool.

4. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking element (20, 21) that is designed asymmetrically and is for locking the thread eyelet (5) is provided on the thread guide arm (3).

5. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread guide arm (3) has a slope (6c, 6d) leading to the locking of the thread eyelet (5).

6. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread guide arm (3) has a stop surface (24, 25) for the thread eyelet (5) which has an angle to the longitudinal axis of the thread guide arm (3) and directed away from the free end of the thread guide arm (3) of ≤ 90°.

7. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tool engagement (8a, 8b) is provided on each leg (6a, 6b) of the thread guide arm (3).

8. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool engagements (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) allow a force transmission in at least one direction.

9. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool engagements (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) have a guide section for the tool (30, 30').

10. Thread guide according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool engagements (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) are designed as blind holes or as through-openings.

11. Flat-knitting machine having a thread guide according to any of the preceding claims.

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