Warp knitting module with warp knitting tool and method for producing the warp knitting module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a knitting module (1) for a warp knitting machine and to a method for producing the knitting module (1). In order to be able to coat the knitting module (1) more effectively and achieve a longer service life, at least one plate (2) of the knitting module (1) has a taper (6) in which the plate (2) is thinner in the width direction (b) than in at least one holding region (7) of the plate (2) adjoining the taper (6) in the longitudinal direction (L).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a knitting module with knitting tools for use in a warp knitting machine. Such knitting modules are known in various designs. As a rule, a knitting module contains a plurality of knitting tools, often identical to one another, fixed in a module body. The module body can be designed as a cast body cast in the holding area of ​​the knitting tools. The cast body can comprise plastics and / or metals and / or metal alloys. The knitting tools can be designed, for example, as sinkers for knocking off and / or holding down, guide needles, compound needles, sliders, or any other knitting tools. Knitting modules with sinkers are known, for example, from DD92508. With warp knitting machines in which such knitting modules are used, textiles can be produced by forming stitches with a yarn.In warp knitting machines, different knitting tools are usually used on different bars of the warp knitting machine. The knitting tools of different bars must work together precisely and be aligned with one another during the knitting process. It is therefore common for knitting tools to be straightened after being cast into one or more module bodies of a knitting module in order to precisely align them with the knitting tools of another bar. Straightening is usually done manually and requires a lot of experience from a technician as well as a lot of working time. Knitting tools can also be coated to increase their service life. However, in knitting modules known from the state of the art, it has been shown that poor coating on the side surfaces of the knitting tools often leads to premature wear of the knitting tools.To solve this problem, it is known that knitting tools are coated individually before they are cast into a knitting module.

[0002] EP0485633A1 describes such a method for coating knitting tools, in which the knitting tools are coated individually before being cast into a knitting module. This is intended to achieve a uniform coating. However, coating the knitting tools individually is expensive and time-consuming.

[0003] Based on the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a knitting module whose knitting tools, particularly on their side surfaces, can be coated more effectively to achieve a longer service life of the knitting module. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a method for coating the knitting tools of the knitting module that enables a good coating and is cost-effective.

[0004] The problem is solved by a knitting module for warp knitting machines comprising a plurality of knitting tools that extend predominantly in a longitudinal direction. The knitting tools are held by module bodies and connected to one another to form the knitting module. A first module body surrounds the knitting tools at their longitudinally rear end. A second module body surrounds the knitting tools at their longitudinally front end. The rear end and the front end are the longitudinally opposite ends of the knitting tools. The knitting tools can also protrude from the first and / or second module body with their rear and / or front ends. In any case, the knitting tools are firmly connected to the first and second module bodies to ensure fixed positioning of the knitting tools relative to one another.In a width direction that runs perpendicular to the length direction, the knitting tools are lined up next to one another and spaced from one another by gaps, wherein the gaps are open in a height direction that runs perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction. When the knitting module is used in a warp knitting machine, other knitting tools that work together with the knitting tools of the knitting module can move in the gaps. For example, knitting needles can be guided through the gaps between adjacent sinkers. The knitting tools can be coated particularly well if at least one knitting tool of the plurality of knitting tools is a sinker that has a taper in the length direction between the first module body and the second module body, in which taper the sinker is thinner in the width direction than in at least one adjoining holding region of the sinker in the length direction.A taper within the meaning of this patent application is an area with a smaller thickness in the width direction. The thickness within the taper can be constant. The thickness does not have to change continuously within the taper. In particular, the side surfaces of the blank, which limit the blank in the width direction, can be coated very well in the area of ​​the taper. Neighboring knitting tools can also be coated more effectively due to the taper in the blank. A taper is not a hole that extends completely through the blank in the width direction. In the area of ​​the taper, the blank therefore has a thickness that is greater than zero. A through-hole would weaken the blank too much and the service life of the knitting module would be reduced again. The taper of the blank advantageously begins at its edge, which limits the blank in a plane spanned by the longitudinal and vertical directions.The side surfaces of the circuit board can then be coated more effectively, particularly in the areas adjacent to this edge. This surprisingly significantly increases the service life of the knitting module. Such a knitting module can also be coated particularly cost-effectively because the tapered section allows control over which areas of the knitting tools or the circuit board are coated more heavily and which less heavily. This makes it surprisingly easy to avoid heavily coating areas that require no or only a very thin coating. This saves coating material. Circuit boards with a tapered section within the meaning of this patent application are also referred to as tapered circuit boards.

[0005] Further advantages arise when at least one holding area extends longitudinally into the first and / or second module body. In other words, this means that the holding area of ​​the circuit board is enclosed by the first and / or second module body. The greater width in the holding area increases the stability of the active module, enabling a greater taper of the circuit board without limiting the functionality of the active module. With the greater taper, the active tools can be coated even better, more precisely, and more cost-effectively.

[0006] Advantageously, the taper extends vertically across the entire height of the board at its respective location. The taper then extends at the position of the taper in the longitudinal direction of the board across the entire height of the board. The side surfaces of such a board can then be coated even better. A taper across the entire height of the board can be easily created by ensuring that the sheet metal from which the board is punched already has this taper across its entire height. Such sheets are known as "tailored blanks" and can be obtained relatively inexpensively. A board with a taper that extends across its entire height can be manufactured particularly easily and inexpensively in this way.

[0007] Advantageously, the sinker has at least one loop-forming means arranged longitudinally between the first module body and the second module body, which loop-forming means is in contact with a yarn during operation of the knitting module. The knitting module can be operated in any conventional warp knitting machine for loop formation. The taper of the sinker is preferably located in the area of ​​the loop-forming means. Wear can occur particularly in the area of ​​the loop-forming means due to constant contact with yarn during the knitting process. If the taper is arranged in this area, the knitting tool can be particularly well coated in this area to counteract this wear. The loop-forming means preferably comprises a hold-down edge and / or a knock-over edge.A hold-down edge is a well-known stitch-forming device that is used to hold down a stitch formed with a needle or to hold it in position when the needle makes an upward movement in its lengthwise direction. This causes the previously formed stitch to slide out of the hook of the needle and onto the shank of the needle. A cast-on edge, on the other hand, is a well-known stitch-forming device that is used to cast off a stitch when the needle makes a downward movement opposite to the upward movement. The cast-on edge causes the stitch to slide from the shank of the needle towards the hook and over the closed hook off the needle. The hook is usually closed by a tongue on the needle. Alternatively, the hook can also be closed by a slider or any other means for closing a hook.

[0008] Particularly long service life of the knitting module can be achieved if the loop-forming element overlaps the tapered portion for at least 80% of the loop-forming element's length in the longitudinal direction. Increased wear occurs, particularly on loop-forming elements of sinkers. If the loop-forming element completely overlaps the tapered portion, the sinker can be coated particularly well in the area of ​​the loop-forming element to effectively counteract wear on the loop-forming element.

[0009] The stitch-forming means preferably comprises a groove. Sinkers with grooves are typically suitable for holding down and knocking off stitches. The groove is typically a concave recess on the sinker, preferably located between a hold-down edge and a knock-off edge, connecting them. The groove is preferably open on one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] Further advantages arise if the circuit board comprises a coating, preferably a metallic coating, a metal nitride coating, a metal oxide coating, a metal carbide coating, or a DLC coating. A DLC coating is also referred to by those skilled in the art as a carbon coating. The coating described above reduces wear and thus increases the service life of the active module. However, such a coating is difficult to apply to the side surfaces of circuit boards or other active tools. This problem can be solved by combining the coating with the tapered portion of the circuit board. In the tapered portion, a reliable, simple, and thus cost-effective coating of the side surfaces of the active module's active tools is possible. The coating is advantageously a metallic coating containing aluminum, zirconium, titanium, chromium, and / or nickel.The DLC layer can be implemented as a hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon layer (aC:H). The metal nitride coating can contain, for example, titanium nitride and / or aluminum nitride and / or aluminum titanium nitride and / or chromium nitride and / or titanium carbonitride. The metal carbide coating can contain, for example, titanium carbide and / or aluminum carbide and / or chromium carbide. The metal oxide coating can contain, for example, aluminum oxide. The coating can be applied using a physical or chemical process, such as a PVD process, a CVD process, or a PACVD process. The coating can be applied using a galvanic and / or chemical dipping process and / or by thermal spraying. In conjunction with these processes, circuit boards with a tapered surface can be coated particularly well. The coating is preferably electrically insulating.

[0011] Advantageously, the circuit board is delimited in the width direction by side surfaces, wherein the side surfaces in the at least one holding area are uncoated. This ensures better connection of the circuit board to the module bodies in the holding area and increases the service life of the knitting module. However, even in this embodiment, the side surfaces in the tapered area can have a coating to reduce wear on the loop-forming means and thus also increase the service life of the knitting module.

[0012] Further advantages arise if the blank has a width-direction thickness in the taper area that is 5% to 50%, but preferably 10% to 30%, smaller than the width-direction thickness in at least one holding area of ​​the blank adjacent to the taper. The thickness of the blank corresponds to the local extent of the blank in the width direction. If the blank has too great a remaining thickness in the taper area, the blank or adjacent knitting tools cannot be coated sufficiently, even despite the taper. If the remaining thickness of the blank in the taper area is too small, the blank becomes unstable and loses its service life. Surprisingly, it has been shown that the side surfaces of a blank or an adjacent knitting tool can be coated particularly well and evenly if the aforementioned selection ranges are taken into account.

[0013] The side surfaces of the circuit board can be coated particularly well if the longitudinal taper has a length that is 10% to 100% of the longitudinal distance between the first module body and the second module body. In this way, a good coating can be applied over a large area along the longitudinal extent of the circuit board. If the length of the longitudinal taper is at least 50% of the longitudinal distance between the first module body and the second module body, the taper can usually be arranged so that all edges of functional areas of the circuit board have a good coating. The service life of the active module can thus be significantly increased. Functional areas are those areas of the circuit board that actively participate in the stitch formation during operation, such as stitch formation agents.However, it is particularly preferred if the taper in the longitudinal direction has a length which is 20% to 90%, but preferably 25% to 75% of the longitudinal distance between the first module body and the second module body.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit board is tapered only on one side in the width direction. This means that only one of the side surfaces that define the circuit board in the width direction is offset or stepped in the area of ​​the taper compared to the holding area of ​​the circuit board. This makes the circuit board particularly easy and cost-effective to manufacture because only one side surface of the circuit board needs to be machined. At the same time, a knitting module with such a circuit board can still be coated more effectively than a knitting module with circuit boards without a taper.

[0015] Advantageously, each knitting tool of the knitting module is a sinker that is tapered at least on one side. This allows all sinkers of the knitting module to be coated evenly and prevents premature wear on a single knitting tool that would require the entire knitting module to be replaced. Preferably, the sinkers are all tapered on the same side in the width direction, ensuring even wear across all sinkers. Furthermore, this allows a uniform stitch pattern to be achieved in the produced textile. In this embodiment of the invention, a subset of the sinkers can also be tapered on both sides in the width direction. The sinkers of the knitting module can then be coated even better.

[0016] Advantageously, at least one knitting tool of the knitting module is a blank that is tapered on both sides in the width direction. In such a blank, both side surfaces are stepped or stepped in the area of ​​the taper. Preferably, both side surfaces are stepped to the same extent. The blank is then symmetrical to a plane of symmetry spanned by the longitudinal and vertical directions and running centrally through the blank. With this design, both side surfaces of the blank can be coated very well.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if every second knitting tool of the knitting module is a blank that is tapered on both sides in the width direction. Since the knitting tools adjacent to blanks tapered on both sides can also be coated more effectively, all knitting tools of a knitting module can be coated more effectively if only every second knitting tool is a blank tapered on both sides. This means that fewer tapered blanks are needed to produce an entire knitting module. A knitting module according to the invention can thus be manufactured particularly cost-effectively. At the same time, the blanks can be coated better and more evenly than the knitting modules known from the prior art.

[0018] A knitting module according to the invention with coated knitting tools can advantageously be produced by a method in which the knitting tools are coated with a coating material and cast into the first and second module bodies. The coating can be produced particularly well and inexpensively if the knitting tools are firmly connected to one another before coating to form a tool unit such that they do not move or cannot move relative to one another. The knitting tools are then rigidly connected to one another and, in particular, cannot twist or be twisted relative to one another. A tool unit can be produced, for example, by casting the knitting tools into at least one module body before coating. However, the tool unit can also advantageously be formed using any other means suitable for firmly connecting the knitting tools to one another.The connection between the knitting tools to form a tool unit can advantageously be detachable. A tool unit comprises at least two knitting tools. The more knitting tools are combined to form a tool unit, the more efficiently the knitting tools can be coated. One of the knitting tools is a circuit board which has a taper in the longitudinal direction between the first module body and the second module body, in which the circuit board has a smaller thickness in the width direction than in at least one adjoining holding region of the circuit board in the longitudinal direction. By using such a circuit board, a particularly good coating of the knitting tools can be ensured. The knitting tools are preferably subjected to a jet of coating material in order to coat them. A jet of coating material can be generated, for example, using a nozzle, a spray gun, or by evaporation.At least a portion of the coating material from the jet is deposited on the surface of the knitting tools when the jet is directed onto them. Alternatively or additionally, the knitting tools can also be coated in a bath of liquid or vaporous coating material. The coating can be applied using a physical or chemical process, such as a PVD process, a CVD process, or a PACVD process. The coating can also be applied using a galvanic and / or chemical dipping process and / or by thermal spraying.

[0019] Further advantages arise when the tool unit is rotated around a fixed axis of rotation while the knitting tools are being coated. This ensures a highly uniform coating. In particular, in combination with a jet of coating material that is always immobile and directed in the same direction, a better coating can be produced. But even when coating the knitting tools in a bath of coating material or using a dipping process, rotation around a rotation axis leads to a better coating. The rotation axis preferably points in the vertical direction. The tool unit is then rotated around the rotation axis pointing in the vertical direction.

[0020] A particularly good coating can be achieved cost-effectively by inserting the knitting tools into a carrier with comb-shaped grooves to form the tool unit. Preferably, one knitting tool is inserted into each groove. Webs that are inevitably formed between comb-shaped grooves create an open space between adjacent knitting tools. This is particularly advantageous for coating the knitting tools. Preferably, the knitting tools are releasably fixed in the grooves of the carrier. The knitting tools can also be connected to a tool unit by other means. It is important that the knitting tools are connected to one another in such a way that they can rotate together about a rotation axis during coating. Rotating together about a rotation axis, for the purposes of this patent application, means that the knitting tools do not rotate relative to one another.

[0021] Advantageously, the coating of the weaving tools is carried out before they are cast into the first and second module bodies. This prevents the module bodies from also being coated with the coating material. Thus, coating material can be saved and the coating of the weaving tools can be produced more cost-effectively.

[0022] Further advantages arise when the knitting tools are blanks that are combined into a tool unit before coating in such a way that the blanks are lined up next to each other in the width direction and the mutually facing side surfaces of adjacent blanks rest against each other in at least one holding area. Due to the smaller thickness of the blanks in the taper area, the tapers of adjacent blanks are spaced apart from each other. In the taper area, the blanks can thus also be coated on their side surfaces because the coating material can penetrate into the space between the tapers. At the same time, the blanks can be combined in a particularly space-saving manner and as many blanks as possible can be coated simultaneously in a single work step. This makes coating less expensive.Furthermore, this method allows for particularly simple and cost-effective production of blanks whose side surfaces are not coated in at least one holding area. This allows for particularly simple savings in coating material. In the described assembly or tool unit, the blanks can be received, held, and / or moved together in a coating device. Additionally, the blanks can be pressed together by a clamping device to form the tool unit. However, the clamping device can also be a component of a coating device. Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a spatial view of an active module according to the invention with boards that have a tapered section. Fig. 2 Figure 2 shows a side view of the active module Figure 1 . Fig. 3 Figure 3 shows a top view of the entire active module as well as an enlarged detailed view of the active module's circuit boards. Fig. 4 Figure 4 shows a detailed view as in Fig. 3 on an inventive active module with boards tapered on both sides across their entire height. Fig. 5 Figure 5 shows a detailed view as in Fig. 3 on an active module according to the invention, wherein every second plate is tapered on both sides in the width direction. Fig. 6 Figure 6 shows a side view of a knitting module with a plate that is tapered only in the area of ​​a stitch-forming means. Fig. 7 Figure 7 shows a process for coating active modules.

[0023] The Figure 1shows a spatial view of a knitting module 1 according to the invention, which extends predominantly in a longitudinal direction L. In the knitting module 1, several sinkers 2 are lined up next to one another in a width direction B, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and are spaced from one another by intermediate spaces 5. The intermediate spaces 5 are open in a height direction H, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction B. When using the knitting module 1 in conventional warp knitting machines, other knitting tools that interact with the sinkers can move back and forth in these intermediate spaces 5. Usually, knitting needles are moved in the intermediate spaces 5 between sinkers 2. In the Fig. 1In order to ensure clarity of illustration, only one circuit board 2 and one intermediate space 5 were provided with reference symbols. In the remaining figures, only one of several similar elements shown was provided with reference symbols in order to obtain clear illustrations. The circuit boards 2 of the circuit board shown in the Fig. 1The active module 1 shown is cast at its rear end into a first module body 3 and at its front end into a second module body 4, so that the first module body 3 and the second module body 4 surround the rear and front ends of the circuit boards 2 and firmly connect them to one another. In the longitudinal direction L between the first module body 3 and the second module body 4, the circuit boards 2 each have a taper 6, in which the circuit boards 2 are thinner than in the holding areas 7, which adjoin the taper 6 on both sides in the longitudinal direction L. Such circuit boards 2 can be coated better and more evenly than circuit boards without a taper 6. At the same time, the active modules 1 are given greater stability and a longer service life by the thicker holding areas 7 of the circuit boards 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the tapers 6 of the circuit boards 2 extend in the height direction H over the entire height of the circuit boards 2. The taper is therefore particularly easy to produce.This also ensures that the boards 2 can be coated as evenly as possible over their entire height.

[0024] The Figure 2 shows the active module 1 from Fig. 1in a side view. In this view, the stitch forming means 8 of the sinker 2 is also clearly visible. The stitch forming means 8 is composed of a hold-down edge 9, a knock-over edge 10, and a groove 11 that connects the hold-down edge 9 and the knock-over edge 10. When the knitting module 1 is used in a warp knitting machine, the hold-down edge 9 can be used to hold down stitches previously formed on a needle during the upward movement of the needle, so that the stitches slide out of the needle hook onto the needle shaft. During the subsequent downward movement of the needle, the stitches are then held at the knock-over edge 10, so that the stitches slide along the shaft over the closed needle hook and are thus knocked off. Due to the friction between the yarn of the stitches and the stitch forming means 8, the stitch forming means 8 is subject to wear.Particularly in the area of ​​the stitch-forming means 8, a good coating of the circuit board 2 is therefore important and enables a long service life of the circuit board 2.

[0025] On the right side of the Fig. 3 is a top view of the active module 1 of the Fig. 1 and 2 In this view, the gaps 5, by which the plates 2 are spaced from each other in the width direction B, are clearly visible. The plates 2 of the active module 1 are precision mechanical parts with such a small thickness that the tapers 6 of the plates 2 are hardly visible without magnification. Therefore, on the left side of the Fig. 3an enlarged detailed view 16 of a small section of the front end of the circuit boards 2 is shown. The enlarged detailed view 16 shows the transition area between the holding areas 7, which protrude into the second module body 4, and the tapers 6 of the circuit boards 2. The transition between the holding areas 7 and the tapers 6 is stepped. The thickness T1 of the circuit boards 2 in the area of ​​the tapers 6 is thinner than the thickness T2 of the circuit boards 2 in the holding areas 7 of the circuit boards 2. The thicker holding areas 7 enable high stability and a long service life of the active modules 1. In addition, the circuit boards 2 can be made even thinner in the area of ​​the tapers 6 in order to be able to coat the circuit boards 2 in this area even better.

[0026] The Fig. 4 shows the same views as the Figure 3 However, in the Fig. 4A second embodiment of the active module 1 is shown, which differs from the previously described embodiment in that the blanks 2 are tapered on both sides in the width direction B, which is particularly evident in the enlarged detailed view 16 through the steps 17 on both side surfaces 18 of the blanks 2. The thickness T1 of the blanks 2 in the area of ​​the tapers 6 can thus be significantly reduced again. This ensures an even better coating of the blanks 2. In this second embodiment, all blanks 2 of the active module 1 are tapered on both sides. This allows all blanks 2 of the active module 1 to be coated effectively.

[0027] In the Fig. 5 A third embodiment of an active module 1 according to the invention is shown. Fig. 5 The views shown correspond to the views of the Figures 3 and 4. However, the third embodiment differs from the previously described embodiments in that only every second board 2 of the active module 1 is tapered. In the active module 1, therefore, untapered boards 2 and tapered boards 2 are arranged alternately next to each other, spaced apart by gaps 5. In particular, in the enlarged detailed view 16 on the left side of the Fig. 5This is clearly visible. In this third embodiment, in the width direction B, a non-tapered blank 2 is followed by a blank 2 that tapers on both sides, then another non-tapered blank 2, and so on. In this way, 18 non-tapered and 18 tapered blanks 2 are arranged alternately next to one another in the knitting module 1. However, the total number of blanks 2 is irrelevant for the implementation of the teaching of the invention. Of course, tapered and non-tapered blanks 2 can be arranged alternately next to one another for any desired total number of blanks 2 in a knitting module 1.

[0028] In the Figure 6 is a fourth embodiment of an active module 1 according to the invention in a side view comparable to the view from Fig. 2 In contrast to the Fig. 2In the illustrated embodiment, the taper 6 of the plate 2 in the fourth embodiment does not extend in the height direction H over the entire height of the plate 2. Instead, the taper 6 is arranged substantially in the region of the stitch-forming means 8, so that in particular the stitch-forming means 8 and the surfaces of the plate 2 adjacent to the stitch-forming means 8 can be well coated. Fig. 6The tapered area is clearly visible through the step 17 on the side surface 18. The step 17 delimits the taper 6 from the holding area 7, which is thicker in the width direction B than the taper 6 and adjoins the taper 6 in the longitudinal direction L towards the second module body 4. The holding area 7 projects into the first module body 3 and the second module body 4, whereby the stability of the knitting module 1 is maintained despite the taper 6. The stitch-forming means 8 overlaps with the taper 6 over its entire length 24 in the longitudinal direction L. In this way, the entire stitch-forming means 8 can be well coated. The longitudinal extension 13 of the taper 6 in the longitudinal direction L is 40% to 50% of the distance 12 between the first module body 3 and the second module body 4. In this way, the circuit board 2 can be well coated in the area of ​​the taper 6 and at the same time the stability of the active module 1 is maintained.

[0029] The Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a method for producing an active module 1 according to the invention with coated blanks 2. The blanks 2 are inserted into grooves 22 of a carrier 21 and are thus detachably connected to one another to form a tool unit 14. The blanks 2 cannot thus rotate and / or move relative to one another. A coating material 19 is sprayed onto the blanks 2 via a nozzle 20. The nozzle 20 generates a jet of coating material 19 which is directed onto the blanks 2. In order to achieve an even better coating result, the tool unit 14 is rotated about a fixed axis of rotation 15, which runs parallel to the height direction H, while the coating material 19 is sprayed onto the blanks 2. The rotation about the axis of rotation 15 is in the Fig. 7 shown schematically by the arrow pointing in the direction of rotation 23. List of reference symbols 1 Active module 2 circuit board 3 First module body 4 Second module body 5 space 6 rejuvenation 7 Holding area 8 Stitch-forming agents 9 Hold-down edge 10 tee edge 11 throat 12 Distance between the first and second module bodies (3, 4) 13 Longitudinal extension of the taper (6) 14 tool unit 15 axis of rotation 16 Detailed view 17 Level 18 side surface 19 Coating material 20 nozzle 21 carrier 22 Nut 23 Direction of rotation 24 Length of the stitch forming means (8) B Latitude direction H Altitude direction L Longitudinal direction T1 Thickness of the board 2 in the area of ​​the taper 6 T2 Thickness of board 2 in holding area 7

Claims

1. Knitting module (1) for warp knitting machines comprising a) a plurality of knitting tools extending predominantly in a longitudinal direction (L), b) a first module body (3) surrounding the knitting tools at their rear end in the longitudinal direction (L), c) a second module body (4) surrounding the knitting tools at their front end in the longitudinal direction (L), d) wherein the knitting tools are firmly connected to the first and second module bodies (3, 4), e) wherein the knitting tools are lined up next to one another in a width direction (B) running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and are spaced apart from one another by intermediate spaces (5), f) and wherein the intermediate spaces (5) are open in a height direction (H) running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and perpendicular to the width direction (B), characterized in thatat least one of the knitting tools is a circuit board (2) which has a taper (6) in the longitudinal direction (L) between the first module body (3) and the second module body (4), in which taper the circuit board (2) is thinner in the width direction (B) than in at least one holding region (7) of the circuit board (2) adjoining the taper (6) in the longitudinal direction (L).

2. Active module (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that the at least one holding region (7) projects in the longitudinal direction (L) into the first and / or the second module body (3, 4).

3. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the taper (6) extends in the height direction (H) over the entire height of the board (2) at its respective location.

4. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in thatthe sinker (2) has at least one stitch-forming means (8) in the longitudinal direction (L) between the first module body (3) and the second module body (4), which is in contact with a yarn for stitch formation during operation of the knitting module (1), wherein the stitch-forming means (8) preferably comprises a hold-down edge (9) and / or a knock-over edge (10) and / or a groove (11).

5. Active module (1) according to the preceding claim 4 characterized in that the stitch-forming means (8) overlaps with the taper (6) over at least 80% of the length (24) of the stitch-forming means (8) in the longitudinal direction (L).

6. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the circuit board (2) comprises a coating, preferably a metallic coating, a metal nitride coating, a metal oxide coating, a metal carbide coating, a DLC coating.

7. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by thatthe board (2) is limited in the width direction (B) by side surfaces (18), and that the side surfaces (18) in the at least one holding area (7) have no coating.

8. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the board (2) in the region of the taper (6) has a thickness in the width direction (B) which is 5% to 50%, but preferably 10% to 30%, smaller than the thickness in the width direction (B) in the at least one holding region (7).

9. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the taper (6) has a longitudinal extension (13) in the longitudinal direction (L) which is 10% to 100% of the distance (12) pointing in the longitudinal direction (L) between the first module body (3) and the second module body (4).

10. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the board (2) is tapered in the width direction (B) only on one side.

11. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that each knitting tool is a plate (2) which is tapered at least on one side in the width direction (B).

12. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the board (2) is tapered on both sides in the width direction (B).

13. Active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that that every second knitting tool is a plate (2) which is tapered on both sides in the width direction (B).

14. A method for producing an active module (1) according to one of the preceding claims with coated active tools, comprising the following method features: • Coating the active tools with a coating material, and • Casting the active tools into the first module body (3) and the second module body (4) characterized in that• the knitting tools are connected to one another to form a tool unit (14) before coating in such a way that they do not move relative to one another, • wherein at least one of the knitting tools is a circuit board (2) which has a taper (6) in the longitudinal direction (L) between the first module body (3) and the second module body (4), in which taper the circuit board (2) has a smaller thickness in the width direction (B) than in at least one holding region (7) of the circuit board (2) adjoining in the longitudinal direction (L).

15. Method according to the preceding claim 14 characterized in that the tool unit (14) is rotated about a fixed axis of rotation (15) while the knitting tools are coated.

16. Method according to one of claims 14 to 15 characterized in that the coating of the knitting tools is carried out before pouring into the first and / or the second module body (3, 4).

17. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16 characterized in thatthe knitting tools are blanks (2) which are connected to form a tool unit prior to coating in such a way that the blanks (2) are lined up next to one another in the width direction (B) and the mutually facing side surfaces (18) of adjacent blanks (2) abut one another in the at least one holding region (7).

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