Method for closing a knitted tubular product at its axial ends - Patent application
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023509429
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-10-01
- Filing Date
- 2021-09-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-07
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-09-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for closing the axial ends of knitted tubular products, such as hosiery, require additional machinery and labor, leading to reduced productivity and precision issues during transfer, especially when using complex equipment.
A method involving a pick-up element to grip knitting loops, transfer them to a sewing or linking station, and invert one semi-annular part of a processing device to overlap loops, allowing for precise and efficient closure without complex equipment.
Significantly increases productivity and maintains precise transfer operations while reducing cycle times and costs, ensuring reliable and easy closure of knitted tubular products.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for closing a knitted tubular product at its axial ends at the end of the manufacturing cycle in circular sock knitting machines and the like.
Background Art
[0002] As is well known, tubular knitted products such as sock products are generally manufactured by circular sock knitting machines and are removed from the circular sock knitting machines with both axial ends of the tubular knitted product open.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0003] In the case of sock products, after removing the sock product from the knitting machine that manufactured the sock product, it is necessary to close the toe, and this operation is performed by a sewing machine or a linking machine.
[0004] Such an operation requires the use of additional machinery and labor, which significantly affects the overall manufacturing cost of sock products. Therefore, various techniques have been proposed to automate the closing of the toe of sock products, and more generally, to automate the closing of the axial ends of tubular knitted products manufactured by circular sock knitting machines and the like.
[0005] The various techniques proposed so far can be classified into two main categories. The first category includes techniques based on closing directly at the beginning or end of manufacturing in the knitting machine that manufactures the product. The second category includes techniques based on performing the closing at a sewing station or a linking station provided for this purpose at a distance from the knitting machine that manufactures the product.
[0006] The first category has the drawback of significantly limiting the productivity of the knitting machine because the closing operation requires a certain amount of time during which the knitting machine cannot manufacture a new product.
[0007] For example, the second category to which the technology described in Italian Patent No. 1300622 belongs can eliminate this problem at least partially. This is because the productivity of the knitting machine is only disadvantaged in terms of the time required to remove the product from the knitting machine that has produced it, and the knitting machine can then produce new products while sewing or linking the previous products.
[0008] On the other hand, the process of transferring the product from the knitting machine to the linking station often requires the use of complex equipment that must ensure extremely precise operation.
[0009] When using these devices, the pickup of products from the knitting machine needles that manufactured them is particularly critical, as it significantly impacts the overall product transfer time and does not always guarantee the required precision.
[0010] From European Patent Application Publication No. 2250305, in the name of the same applicant, a method is known for closing one axial end of a knitted tubular product at the end of a manufacturing cycle in a circular sock knitting machine or the like, the method comprising an initial step of manufacturing the product up to the last knitting row at the axial end opposite to the axial end of the product from which knitting was started, and holding the knitting loop on the needle head of the knitting machine that formed the knitting loop of the last knitting row.
[0011] The intent of the present invention is to provide a method for closing organized tubular products that can improve upon the background art in one or more of the embodiments described above.
[0012] Within the scope of this intent, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for closing organized tubular products that enables a significant improvement in the productivity of the method and apparatus.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for closing organized tubular products that can shorten cycle time while maintaining a very precise transfer operation.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for closing organized tubular products that is highly reliable, relatively easy to supply, and competitively priced. [Means for solving the problem]
[0015] This intent, as well as these objectives and other objectives which will become more apparent below, are achieved by a method for closing an organized tubular product according to claim 1, which optionally has one or more features of the dependent claims.
[0016] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become even more apparent from the description of preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the method for closing organized tubular products according to the present invention, as shown in the non-limiting examples of the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0017] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing a circular sock knitting machine, etc. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view showing a portion of a circular sock knitting machine during the initial stages of product manufacturing. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing a part of the circular sock knitting machine shown in Figure 1, representing an intermediate process between the initial stages of product manufacturing and the stage where knitted loops are individually grasped by a pickup element. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a front view showing the mechanical parts. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing a portion of the circular sock knitting machine in Figure 1, during the process of individually gripping the knitted loops with a pickup element. [Figure 6] This is a front view showing a portion of the circular sock knitting machine in Figure 1 during the process of removing the product from the knitting machine. [Figure 7] This figure shows a circular sock knitting machine in the state described in Figure 6, viewed from different partial cross-sectional perspectives. [Figure 8] This is a plan view showing a part of the circular sock knitting machine in Figure 1 during the process of placing the product at the sewing station or linking station 102. [Figure 9] It is a front view showing the mechanical part of FIG. 8.
Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention
[0018] Referring to the drawings, a method for closing the formed tubular product at the axial end when the manufacturing cycle of the circular sock knitting machine 100 etc. according to the present invention ends is as follows: - An initial step of manufacturing the product up to the last knitting row at the axial end opposite to the axial end of the product where knitting has started, and holding the knitting loop on the head 123c of the needle 123 of the knitting machine 100 that forms the knitting loop of the last knitting row; - A step of individually gripping the knitting loops by the pickup element 29 arranged in contact with the region of the shaft 123b of each needle 123 provided in the immediate vicinity of the latch 123d on the opposite side of the head 123c; - A step of holding each knitting loop of the formed last knitting row by the pickup element 29 and removing the product from the knitting machine 100 that has manufactured the product; - A step of placing the product on the sewing station or the linking station 102; - A step of individually transferring the knitting loops from the pickup element 29 to the spikes of an annular processing device composed of two semi - annular parts and capable of reversing one semi - annular part relative to the other around the diameter axis; - A step of turning over the product held by the processing device; - A step of overlapping half of the knitting loops of the last knitting row with the corresponding knitting loops of the remaining half of the last knitting row on the same spike of the processing device by reversing one of the two semi - annular parts of the processing device relative to the other through a substantially 180° arc around the diameter axis; - A step of sewing or linking the pairs of overlapping knitting loops; - A step of removing the product from the processing device, including a first pulling - out preparation step, a second product pulling - out step, and a third product transferring step and has.
[0019] The knitting machine 100 includes a yarn guide plate that can be raised and lowered, a cylinder 101, a stepper motor for moving the internal tube by command to transport the knitted product to the working position, a cylinder fixing piston, a knitted product ejection piston, a pickup arm 43 with a corresponding piston, a yarn guide plate, a knitted product raising internal tube, a reversing piston, and a dial.
[0020] In this method, the first drawer preparation step is - Start withdrawal command, - A command to stop the knitting machine. - A command to raise the thread guide plate, - Command to restart the knitting machine, - A command to put the cylinder 101 of the knitting machine 100 into standby position. - A command to activate the stepper motor in the internal pipe in order to move the assembled components to the work position. - A command to set that deployment has been performed. - A command to operate the cylinder locking piston in the working state. - A command to operate the cylinder's assembly extrusion piston in the working state. - A command to operate the piston of the pickup arm in the working state. - A command to move the pickup arm 43 to an intermediate position. - A command to move the pickup arm 43 to the height required for entry into the knitting machine, - A command to keep the thread guide plate in the draw-out position. - A command to move the pickup arm 43 at an angle in order to enter the knitting machine, - A command to vertically move the pickup arm 43 in order to release the cylinder assembly extrusion piston, - A command to vertically move the pickup arm 43 to an intermediate position. - When the cylinder fixed piston is in the working position, a command is given to activate the non-operating pickup arm piston. - Standby command, and - A command to move the pickup arm 43 vertically to the pickup height. It is characterized by the inclusion of [this feature].
[0021] - A command to stop the knitting machine. - Command to restart the knitting machine, - A command to put the cylinders into standby position. - A command to operate the stepper motor of the inner pipe at the working position. - A command to set that deployment has been performed, and - Command to operate the cylinder locking piston in the working state The instructions, including the above, are carried out substantially simultaneously.
[0022] Conveniently, - A command to operate the piston of the pickup arm in the working state. - A command to move the pickup arm 43 to an intermediate state, and - A command to move the pickup arm 43 to the height required to enter the knitting machine. The instructions, including the above, are carried out substantially simultaneously.
[0023] Conveniently, - A command to move the pickup arm 43 at an angle in order to enter the knitting machine, - A command to vertically move the pickup arm 43 to release the cylinder assembly ejection piston, and - Command to vertically move the pickup arm 43 to the intermediate position. This is performed after the thread guide plate has been moved to a predetermined height by a command to raise the thread guide plate.
[0024] The knitting machine further includes a cylinder-type extruder for knitted material, a stepper motor and electric throttle valve associated with the suction device, a stepper motor for moving the sinker, and a stepper motor associated with the inner tube for raising the knitted material.
[0025] The second product extraction process, which involves extracting the product, - A command to activate the stepper motor of the internal pipe of the trained component that is in a non-operating state, - A command to operate the stepper motor to the working height in order to pick up the product, - A command to operate the cylinder extruder at the working position, - Standby command and, - Commands to operate the stepper motor and electric throttle valve of the suction device, - A command to move the pickup arm 43 vertically to the extension height, - Instructions for placing the product in the pickup element, - A command to activate the stepper motor and move the sinker to a safe height, - A command to activate the stepper motor of the internal pipe for raising the assembly components while in operation, - A command to activate a cylinder-fixed piston in a non-operating state, - A command to operate the knitting machine and bring the needles from the heel exclusion position to the tuck knitting position at the same height. Includes.
[0026] especially, - A command to activate the stepper motor of the internal pipe of the assembly that is not in operation, and - Command to move the stepper motor to the working height to pick up the product. These two actions are performed essentially simultaneously.
[0027] Conveniently, - A command to activate the stepper motor of the internal pipe for raising the assembly while in operation, and - Command to activate a cylinder-locked piston in a non-operating state These two actions are performed essentially simultaneously.
[0028] The knitting machine further includes a piston associated with a lower turning unit, a sensor for transferring the product, a sewing machine step motor and electric choke valve, and a blower for pulling out tubular products.
[0029] The third product transfer process, which involves transferring the product, - A command to wait for the needle height adjustment to finish, - Commands to activate the lower inverting unit, - A command to lower the dial while in operation, - A command to move the pickup arm 43 by angle to move the pickup arm 43 to an intermediate position, - Commands to control the sensor in order to move the tubular product, - An operating command to move the pickup arm 43 to a predetermined height by angle, - A command to operate the sewing machine's step motor and electric draw valve from the lower inverted unit in order to move to the first draw height, - A command to activate the stepper motor and tilt the lower inverted unit to a preset height, - A command to set the step motor and electric throttle valve of the suction device to zero, - A command to activate the stepper motor and tilt the lower inverted unit to a preset height, - Standby command and, - A command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower inverted unit to zero height, - A command to activate a blower to facilitate the extraction of tubular products, - A command to operate the sewing machine's step motor and electric diaphragm valve to pull the lower inverting unit to the second diaphragm height, - A command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower inverted unit to zero height, - A command to move the pickup arm 43 at an angle to zero height, - An operating command for fixing the lower inverted unit 130 in a non-operating state, - An operating command to lower the dial in a non-operating state, - Standby command and Includes.
[0030] To have an advantage, - An action command to move the pickup arm to an intermediate position by changing its angle. - Commands for controlling sensors to move tubular products, and - An actuation command to move the pickup arm to a predetermined height. These two actions are performed essentially simultaneously.
[0031] In particular, related to the first draw preparation process, - Start withdrawal command, - A command to stop the knitting machine, and - Command to raise the thread guide plate Processes including, - A command to operate the piston of the pickup arm in the working state. - A command to move the pickup arm to an intermediate position, and - Command to move the pickup arm to the entry height into the knitting machine. The process that includes the following is: They overlap at least partially during execution.
[0032] The movement of the machine to prepare the products for extraction is carried out simultaneously with the process described above.
[0033] By employing a stepper motor with a closed-loop driver, it became possible to increase the moving speed of the device being operated on.
[0034] By employing a closed-loop driver in the yarn guide plate lifting device, it is possible to further eliminate from the sock program the multiple free rotations necessary to allow the yarn guide plate lifting device to wait for it to return to its starting position. Referring to the third product transfer process, if a video camera or alternative control sensor is installed, the restart of the knitting machine immediately after the sock product has passed is optimized without delaying the mechanical sensor control process.
[0035] In fact, the present invention has been shown to achieve its intended purpose and objectives by providing a method that can significantly increase the productivity of knitting machines.
[0036] The present invention, as conceived in this manner, can be subjected to numerous modifications and changes, all of which fall within the scope of the attached claims, and all of its details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.
[0037] In fact, the materials used, as well as their associated shapes and dimensions, may be any, depending on the requirements and the current technology, as long as they are suitable for the specific application.
[0038] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102020000023137, to which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
[0039] Any technical feature described in any claim is followed by a reference numeral, but these reference numerals are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the clarity of the claim and therefore do not in any way limit the interpretation of any element identified by such reference numerals.
Claims
1. 1. A method for closing an axial end of a knitted tubular article at the end of a production cycle, such as in a circular hosiery machine, comprising: - an initial step of producing a knitted product at the axial end opposite to the axial end of the knitted product where knitting has started, up to the last knitting row, and holding said knitted loops on the heads of the needles of a circular hosiery knitting machine which has formed the knitted loops of said last knitting row; - gripping said knitted loops individually by means of pick-up elements arranged in contact with the area of the axis of each needle, located opposite said head and immediately adjacent to the latch; - removing the knitted product from the circular hosiery knitting machine on which it was produced by holding each knitted loop of the last knitted row formed by said pick-up element; - placing said knitted product at a sewing or linking station; - transferring the knitted loops individually from said pick-up elements to the spikes of an annular processing device, which consists of two semi-annular parts, one of which can be turned around a diametric axis relative to the other, - turning over the knitted product held by the processing device; - overlapping, with identical spikes of the processing device, the knitted loops of one half of the last knitted row on the corresponding knitted loops of the other half of the last knitted row by inverting one of the two semi-annular parts of the processing device relative to the other semi-annular part through an arc of substantially 180° about the diametric axis; - sewing or linking pairs of knitted loops superimposed on one another; - removing the knitted product from the processing device; having The step of removing the knitted product from the circular hosiery knitting machine includes a first step of preparing to pull out the knitted product, a second step of pulling out the knitted product, and a third step of transferring the knitted product, The first drawer preparation step is executed by a control means, - Start withdrawal command, a command to stop the circular hosiery knitting machine, - a command to raise the thread guide plate with a closed loop driver, a command to restart the circular hosiery knitting machine, - a command to wait for the placement of a cylinder, - a command to operate a stepper motor with a closed-loop driver of the inner tube to bring the assembly into a working position; - a command to establish that the placement has been carried out, a command for actuating the fixed piston of said cylinder in the working state, - a command for activating the product ejection piston of said cylinder in the working state, - a command for actuating the pick-up piston in the working state, - a command to move the pick-up arm to an intermediate state, - a command to move the pick-up arm to an entry height into the circular hosiery knitting machine, a command to wait for the thread guide plate to be in the withdrawal position, - a command to move the pick-up arm angularly for entry into the circular hosiery knitting machine, - a command to move the pick-up arm vertically to release the product ejection piston of the cylinder, - a command to move the pick-up arm vertically to an intermediate position, a command to activate an inactive pick-up piston when the fixed piston of said cylinder is in said working state, - Standby command, - a command to move said pick-up arm vertically to the pick-up height Including, - said command to stop said circular hosiery knitting machine, - said command for restarting said circular hosiery knitting machine, - said command to wait for placement of said cylinder, - said command for activating a step motor of said inner tube in a working position, - said command to establish that the placement has been carried out, - said command for actuating the fixed piston of said cylinder in the working state; 4. A method for substantially simultaneously executing instructions including:
2. - a command for activating said pick-up piston in the working state, - a command to move the pick-up arm to the intermediate state, - a command to move the pick-up arm to an entry height into the circular hosiery knitting machine The method of claim 1 , further comprising substantially simultaneously executing instructions including:
3. - a command to move the pick-up arm angularly for entry into the circular hosiery knitting machine, - a command to move the pick-up arm vertically to release the product ejection piston of the cylinder, - a command to move the pick-up arm vertically to the intermediate position 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: a) executing a command for raising the thread guide plate after bringing the thread guide plate to a preset height;
4. The second knitted product pulling step is executed by the control means, - a command to activate the step motor of the inactive train lift inner tube, - a command to operate said stepper motor to a working height for picking up a unit; - a command to activate the knitting pusher of said cylinder in the working position, - Standby command, - commands for operating the stepper motor and the electric throttle valve of the suction device, - a command to move the pick-up arm vertically to the pull-out height, - instructions for placing the knitted item on said pick-up element, - a command to activate the stepper motor to move the sinker to a safe height, - a command to activate the step motor of the inner tube for lifting the formation in the working state, a command to activate the fixed piston of said cylinder, which is inactive; - a command to operate said circular hosiery machine so that the needles are levelled from the heel exclusion position to the tuck knitting position; Including, - said command for activating the step motor of the inactive inner tube of the train lift; - said command for operating said stepper motor to a working height for picking up a unit; The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steps are carried out substantially simultaneously.
5. - said command for activating the step motor of said train-lifting inner tube in the working state, - said command for actuating a fixed piston of said cylinder which is in an inactive state; The method of claim 4 , wherein:
6. The third knitted product transfer step is executed by the control means, - A command to wait for the needle height adjustment to finish, - a command to activate the lower turn-over unit, - command to lower the dial in working condition, - an actuation command for angularly moving the pick-up arm to bring it to an intermediate position, - instructions for controlling the sensor to move the tubular structure, - an actuation command for angularly moving said pick-up arm to a predetermined height, - a command from said lower turning unit to operate the stepper motor and the electric throttle valve of the sewing machine to bring it to a first throttle height; - a command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower turning unit at a preset height, - a command to zero the stepper motor and the electric throttle valve of the suction device, - a command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower turning unit at a preset height, - Standby command, - a command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower turning unit at zero height, - instructions for activating the blower to facilitate the drawing of the tubular arrangement; a command to activate the stepper motor and the electric throttle valve of the sewing machine to suck said lower inside-out unit to a second throttle height; - a command to activate the stepper motor to tilt the lower turning unit at zero height, - a command for moving said pick-up arm angularly at zero height, - an activation command for fixing said lower turning-over unit in an inactive state, - an activation command to lower the inactive dial, - Standby command Including, 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuation command for angularly moving the pick-up arm to bring the pick-up arm to an intermediate position, the command for controlling the sensor to transfer a tubular braid, and the actuation command for angularly moving the pick-up arm to a predetermined height are executed substantially simultaneously.