Flat knitting machine

Abstract

To provide a flat knitting machine capable of inhibiting a yarn feeding port from being separated, with vertical movement of the yarn feeding port, from a region allowing yarn to be fed to a position which is on a needle bed gap side, and at which the yarn is caught.SOLUTION: A flat knitting machine 100 includes: needle beds 110; a yarn guide rail 130 installed above the needle beds 110; a yarn feeder 1 having a yarn feeding port 23a for feeding knitting yarn to a knitting needle 111; and a yarn-feeding-port-position adjusting long hole 24a and a screw 40 for adjusting a height of the yarn feeding port 23a when the yarn is fed. The yarn feeder 1 includes: a feeder rod 20 having the yarn feeding port 23a; a raising-energization-part guide groove 11 for guiding the feeder rod 20 in a guide direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction; and a yarn-feeding-port-side guide part 31 and a carrier-base-side guide part 32 for converting a movement direction of the yarn feeding port 23a to a direction such that the movement direction of the yarn feeding port 23a comes closer to the vertical direction than the guide direction in response to a change in the height of the yarn feeding port 23a, at least within a height range of the yarn feeding port 23a, the height range allowing the yarn to be fed to a position at which the yarn is caught.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for a flat knitting machine equipped with a yarn feeder. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, technology for flat knitting machines equipped with yarn feeders has been publicly known, as described in Patent Document 1, for example.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a flat knitting machine having a yarn carrier (yarn feeder). The yarn carrier has a feeder rod that can move up and down and a feeder rod guide that guides the movement of the feeder rod, and the lower end of the feeder rod is provided with a yarn feed port for feeding yarn to the knitting needles. The feeder rod descends when feeding yarn and ascends when on standby, with the yarn feeder retracting relative to the needle gap. The feeder rod has a rod portion with a yarn feed port at its lower end and an upward biasing portion provided above the rod portion, and the rod portion and the upward biasing portion are connected by inserting a screw into a long hole provided in the rod portion.

[0004] With this configuration, the height of the yarn feeder during yarn feeding can be adjusted according to the knitting conditions by changing the fixing position of the screw in the long hole. Specifically, for example, the yarn feeder may be lowered in knitting with continuous error sections (floating jacquard). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3044370 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the position of the yarn feeder moves toward the front needle bed or the rear needle bed as the yarn feeder moves up and down, and there is a risk that the yarn feeder will move away from the area on the needle gap side where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a flat knitting machine that can prevent the yarn feeder from moving away from the area where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught on the needle opening side, as the yarn feeder moves up and down. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention has been described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0009] That is, the flat knitting machine according to the present invention includes a needle bed on which at least two knitting needles are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, the needle bed being opposed to each other in the front and rear with a needle gap therebetween, a yarn guide rail installed above the needle bed, a carrier base provided movably along the yarn guide rail in a part of a path for supplying knitting yarn to the knitting needles, a yarn feeder having a yarn feeder for supplying knitting yarn to the knitting needles and the carrier base, and a yarn feeder height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the yarn feeder when feeding yarn, the yarn feeder includes a feeder rod having the yarn feeder, the feeder rod guide is supported on the carrier base and supports the conversion means; and a guide means is provided on the feeder rod and the feeder rod guide, and converts the movement direction of the yarn feeder in a direction closer to the vertical than the guide direction in response to a change in height of the yarn feeder, at least within a range of heights of the yarn feeder that allows yarn to be fed to a position where the yarn is caught. By configuring in this manner, as the yarn feeder moves up and down, the yarn feeder moves closer to the vertical direction than the guide direction by the guiding means, so that the yarn feeder can be prevented from moving away from the area on the needle mouth side where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught.

[0010] Further, the feeder rod includes a yarn supplying section in which the yarn supplying port is provided, and the converting means includes a yarn supplying port-side guide receiver provided on the yarn supplying port side in either the yarn supplying section or the feeder rod guide, a carrier base-side guide receiver provided on the carrier base side in either the yarn supplying section or the feeder rod guide, a yarn supplying port-side guiding section provided on the yarn supplying port side in the other of the yarn supplying section or the feeder rod guide, which guides the yarn supplying port-side guide receiver on a locus parallel to the guiding direction, and a carrier base-side guide section provided on the carrier base side in the other of the yarn supplying section or the feeder rod guide, which guides the carrier base-side guide receiver in a direction in which an upper end of the yarn supplying section is inclined away from the needle port in the front-rear direction from the guiding direction. By configuring in this manner, it is possible to prevent the yarn feeders from becoming bulky in the thickness direction near the yarn gap where multiple yarn feeders are densely packed, thereby enabling space saving.

[0011] The feeder rod may include a rod portion guided in the guiding direction by the guiding means and driven to move up and down by a vertical movement drive mechanism, and a yarn supplying portion connected to the rod portion and provided with the yarn supplying port. By configuring in this manner, the yarn supplying section of the waiting yarn feeder can be retracted relative to the needle mouth, thereby reducing the risk of the yarn supplying section of the traveling yarn feeder colliding with the yarn supplying section of the waiting yarn feeder.

[0012] In addition, the yarn supplying section may be formed separately from the rod section, and the yarn supplying port may be connected to the rod section so as to be movable in a direction different from the guiding direction of the feeder rod relative to the rod section and in a direction in which the yarn supplying port changes its front-to-rear position relative to the rod section. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the feeder rod when the yarn supplying section moves relative to the rod section.

[0013] Further, the feeder rod may include a connecting portion that is provided between the rod portion and the yarn supplying portion and connects the rod portion and the yarn supplying portion, and the connecting portion may be fixed to the rod portion below the yarn guide rail and connected to the yarn supplying portion so that a vertical position of the connecting portion with respect to the rod portion can be adjusted by the yarn feeder height adjustment means. With this configuration, the height of the connecting portion relative to the rod portion can be adjusted while avoiding the yarn guide rail, so that the height of the yarn feeder port during yarn feeding can be easily adjusted.

[0014] The guide means may be provided on the carrier base, and the yarn guide rails may be arranged radially with respect to the centers of the front and rear needle beds in a side view. By configuring in this way, it is possible to apply the effect of radially arranging the yarn guide rails, that is, the width in the front-rear direction can be made smaller than when the yarn guide rails are arranged horizontally. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The present invention has an effect of preventing the yarn feeder from moving away from the area on the needle opening side where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught, as the yarn feeder moves up and down. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a flat knitting machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a view taken along the arrow A in FIG. 1 , showing a yarn guide rail and a yarn feeder. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] (a) is a front view showing the yarn supplying section, (b) is a side view showing the yarn supplying section. [Diagram 5] Cross section taken along CC in Figure 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing the yarn feeder after the yarn feeder has been raised. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a yarn feeder of a flat knitting machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing the yarn feeder after the yarn feeder in the second embodiment has been raised. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a yarn feeder of a flat knitting machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing the yarn feeder after the yarn feeder in the third embodiment has been raised. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] In the following description, the directions indicated by arrows U, D, F, B, L and R in the figures are defined as upward, downward, forward, backward, leftward and rightward, respectively.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flat knitting machine 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a needle bed 110, a carriage 120, a yarn guide rail 130, and a vertical movement drive mechanism 140.

[0019] The needle beds 110 are arranged so as to face each other in the front and rear with the needle gap S in between. The front and rear needle beds 110 are arranged in an inverted V shape in side view, inclining upward toward the front and rear center (the sides facing each other). Each needle bed 110 is provided with a large number of knitting needles 111 aligned along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the needle bed 110.

[0020] A pair of carriages 120 are arranged in front and behind so as to face the front and rear needle beds 110 from above. The front and rear carriages 120 are connected by a gate arm 120a arranged so as to straddle a plurality of yarn guide rails 130. The carriage 120 can be reciprocated along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds 110 by a servo motor (not shown). The carriage 120 is provided with a needle selecting mechanism (not shown) and a cam mechanism (not shown) for selectively operating the knitting needles 111 of the needle beds 110.

[0021] The yarn guide rails 130 are installed above the needle beds 110 and are arranged in a plurality of ways so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds 110. The yarn guide rails 130 are arranged radially from the centers of the front and rear needle beds 110 in a side view. Here, "the centers of the front and rear needle beds 110" means the yarn feeding position in a side view. On the front and rear surfaces of the yarn guide rail 130, a yarn feeder 1 that feeds the knitting yarn is supported in a part of a path that supplies the knitting yarn to the knitting needles 111 so as to be movable along the yarn guide rail 130. The knitting yarn from a yarn package (not shown) is fed to the yarn feeder 1 via an appropriate yarn feeding path.

[0022] The vertical movement drive mechanism 140 has a cam plate 141 that is provided above the yarn feeder 1 and is capable of pressing down the feeder rod 20 of the yarn feeder 1, and can lower the feeder rod 20 by operating the cam plate 141. The vertical movement drive mechanism 140 has a spring 142 that is inserted into an upward biasing portion 21 (described later) and biases the feeder rod 20 upward, and can raise the feeder rod 20 by the spring 142.

[0023] Next, the configuration of the yarn feeder 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6. Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6 show the rearmost yarn feeder 1 among the multiple yarn feeders 1.

[0024] The yarn feeder 1 includes a traveling roller 1a and is configured to be able to travel along the yarn guide rail 130 in the longitudinal direction of the yarn guide rail 130. A belt is fixed to the yarn feeder 1, and the yarn feeder 1 can be caused to travel by driving the belt with a motor. The yarn feeder 1 may be one that is accompanied by a carriage 120 and travels.

[0025] The yarn feeder 1 comprises a carrier base 10 , a feeder rod 20 and a feeder rod guide 30 .

[0026] The carrier base 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3 supports a feeder rod 20 and a feeder rod guide 30, which will be described later. The carrier base 10 is provided on the upper part of the yarn feeder 1. As shown in Figure 2, the carrier base 10 is formed with an upward biasing portion guide groove 11, which is an example of the guiding means of the present invention. The upward biasing portion guide groove 11 is formed so as to extend in the vertical direction at the center of the left and right of the carrier base 10, and is configured to be able to guide an upward biasing portion 21 of the feeder rod 20, which will be described later.

[0027] The feeder rod 20 moves up and down to avoid collision with a yarn feeder port 23a for supplying knitting yarn to the knitting needles 111. The feeder rod 20 is supported by the carrier base 10 and is provided radially from the center of the front and rear needle beds 110 in a side view. The feeder rod 20 includes an upward biasing portion 21, a rod portion 22, a yarn feeder portion 23, and a connecting plate 24.

[0028] 2 and 3 is provided on the upper part of the feeder rod 20, and a spring 142 of the vertical movement drive mechanism 140 is inserted therein. The upward biasing part 21 is biased upward by the spring 142, and a push-down part 21a provided on the upper part of the upward biasing part 21 is provided so as to be able to be pressed downward by a cam plate 141 of the vertical movement drive mechanism 140. The upward biasing part 21 is formed so as to extend in the extension direction of the upward biasing part guide groove 11, and is guided by the upward biasing part guide groove 11 and driven to move up and down by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140.

[0029] 2 and 3 is provided below the upward urging part 21, and is formed so as to extend linearly in the extension direction of the upward urging part 21. The rod part 22 is connected to the upward urging part 21, and is driven to move up and down together with the upward urging part 21 by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140. A protrusion 22a protruding rearward is provided on the lower part of the rod part 22.

[0030] The yarn supplying section 23 is provided below the rod section 22, and a yarn supplying port 23a is provided at the lower end of the yarn supplying section 23. The position of the yarn supplying port 23a is not limited to the lower end of the yarn supplying section 23. The yarn supplying section 23 is formed separately from the rod section 22, and is connected to the rod section 22 via a connecting plate 24 described later. The yarn supplying section 23 is connected to the rod section 22 via the connecting plate 24, so that the yarn supplying section 23 is movably connected to the rod section 22. When the yarn supplying section 23 moves relative to the rod section 22, the yarn supplying port 23a moves in a direction different from the guide direction of the feeder rod 20 by the upward biasing section guide groove 11 when the feeder rod 20 moves up and down by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140, and in a direction in which the front-rear position changes relative to the rod section 22. The yarn supplying section 23 includes a yarn supplying port side guide receiving portion 23b and a carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c.

[0031] The yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5 is guided by a yarn feeder side guide groove 31a, which will be described later. The yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b is formed so as to protrude left and right at a vertical midpoint of the yarn feeder unit 23 above the yarn feeder 23a. The yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b is formed in a rectangular or diamond shape with two diagonal corners chamfered in side view to enable movement of the yarn feeder unit 23 in a direction different from the guiding direction of the rod unit 22 by the upward biasing unit guide groove 11. Alternatively, the yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b may be formed in a circular or elliptical shape in side view.

[0032] The carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5 is guided by a carrier base side guide groove 32a described later. The carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c is formed so as to protrude to the left and right at the upper end of the yarn supplying portion 23 above the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b. The carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c is formed in a rectangular or diamond shape with two diagonal corners chamfered in a side view. Alternatively, the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c may be formed in a circular or elliptical shape in a side view.

[0033] The connecting plate 24 is provided between the rod portion 22 and the yarn supplying portion 23, and connects the rod portion 22 and the yarn supplying portion 23. The connecting plate 24 is formed with a yarn supply port position adjustment slot 24a and a lower end connection portion 24b.

[0034] The yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a shown in FIG. 2 is an example of the yarn feeder height adjustment means of the present invention, and is formed so as to penetrate the connecting plate 24 in the thickness direction and extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 24. The yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a is formed in the upper part of the connecting plate 24. The protruding part 22a of the rod part 22 is inserted into the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a from the front. By inserting the protruding part 22a into the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a, the left-right position of the connecting plate 24 with respect to the rod part 22 is regulated. A screw 40 is inserted into the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a from the rear below the yarn guide rail 130, and the screw 40 is screwed into a female screw hole (not shown) formed in the lower part of the rod part 22. In this way, the connecting plate 24 is fixed to the rod part 22 at the upper part of the connecting plate 24.

[0035] 2 is formed at the lower end of the connecting plate 24, and is engaged with an engaging hole 23d (see FIG. 4) formed in the yarn supplying unit 23. In this way, the connecting plate 24 is connected to the yarn supplying unit 23 so as to be movable in a direction in which the front-rear position of the lower part of the connecting plate 24 changes.

[0036] The feeder rod guide 30 is provided in front of the feeder rod 20 and guides the feeder rod 20. The upper end of the feeder rod guide 30 is supported by the carrier base 10. The feeder rod guide 30 includes a yarn feeder side guide portion 31 and a carrier base side guide portion 32.

[0037] The yarn feeder side guide portion 31 and the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b are an example of a conversion means of the present invention. The yarn feeder side guide portion 31 is provided at both left and right ends of the lower end of the feeder rod guide 30. The yarn feeder side guide portion 31 is formed to extend parallel to the trajectory of the forward and backward movement of the rod portion 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the yarn feeder side guide portion 31 is formed with a yarn feeder side guide groove 31a. The yarn feeder side guide groove 31a is formed to be recessed on the left and right outer sides of the feeder rod guide 30, and the upper and lower ends of the yarn feeder side guide portion 31 are formed to be open. The yarn feeder side guide portion 31 receives the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b.

[0038] The carrier base side guide portion 32 and the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c are an example of a converting means of the present invention. The carrier base side guide portion 32 is formed above the yarn feeder side guide portion 31.

[0039] The carrier base side guide portion 32 is formed so as to extend in a direction different from the trajectory of the forward and backward movement of the rod portion 22 by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140. More specifically, as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the carrier base side guide portion 32 is formed so as to extend in a direction closer to the horizontal direction than the guiding direction of the rod portion 22 by the upward biasing portion guide groove 11.

[0040] 5 and 6, the carrier base side guide portion 32 is formed with a carrier base side guide groove 32a. The carrier base side guide groove 32a is formed so that the lower end of the carrier base side guide portion 32 opens and extends parallel to the extending direction of the carrier base side guide portion 32. The carrier base side guide groove 32a accommodates the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c. As a result, when increasing the height of the yarn feeder 23a, the carrier base side guide portion 32 guides the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c in a direction in which the upper end of the yarn feeder 23 is inclined away from the needle gap S in the front-rear direction from the longitudinal direction of the rod portion 22.

[0041] In the yarn feeder 1 configured in this manner, the yarn supplying section 23 is guided by the yarn supply port side guide section 31 and the carrier base side guide section 32 of the feeder rod guide 30, and is connected so as to be movable relative to the rod section 22 in a direction different from the guiding direction of the rod section 22 by the upward biasing section guide groove 11, and in a direction in which the front-to-rear position changes relative to the rod section 22.

[0042] More specifically, at least within the yarn feeding range, the yarn feeder side guiding section 31 and the carrier base side guiding section 32 change the movement direction of the yarn feeder 23a in a direction closer to vertical than the guide direction of the rod section 22 by the upward biasing section guide groove 11 in response to a change in the height of the yarn feeder 23a caused by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140 or a change in the fixing position of the screw 40 in the longitudinal direction of the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a. Here, the "yarn feeding range" refers to the range of heights of the yarn feeder 23a that allows the yarn to be fed to the yarn catch position.

[0043] 1 and 2, the manner in which the feeder rod 20 moves forward and backward relative to the needle gap S will be described below. When the yarn feeder 1 feeds yarn, the push-down portion 21a provided on the upper portion of the upward biasing portion 21 is pressed downward by the cam plate 141, and the upward biasing portion 21 is guided by the upward biasing portion guide groove 11 and descends against the biasing force of the spring 142. As the upward biasing portion 21 descends, the rod portion 22 descends, and the yarn feeding port 23a of the yarn feeding portion 23 advances into the needle gap S. By advancing the yarn feeding port 23a into the needle gap S, the knitting yarn can be supplied to the knitting needle 111.

[0044] On the other hand, when the yarn feeder 1 is on standby, the pressure applied by the cam plate 141 to the push-down portion 21a is released. When the pressure by the cam plate 141 is released, the feeder rod 20 rises due to the biasing force of the spring 142, and the yarn supplying portion 23 retreats to the tooth gap S. In this manner, by retreating the yarn supplying port 23a of the yarn feeder 1 that is not supplying yarn to the tooth gap S, it is possible to reduce collision between the yarn supplying portion 23 of the yarn feeder 1 that is supplying yarn and the yarn supplying portion 23 of the yarn feeder 1 that is not supplying yarn.

[0045] The manner of adjusting the height of the yarn feeder 23a will be described below. The yarn feeder 1 can adjust the height of the yarn feeder 23a during yarn feeding in accordance with the knitting conditions. When adjusting the height of the yarn feeder 23a, the vertical position of the connecting plate 24 relative to the rod portion 22 is adjusted by changing the fixing position of the screw 40 in the longitudinal direction of the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a. By adjusting the vertical position of the connecting plate 24 relative to the rod portion 22, the height of the yarn feeder 23a can be adjusted.

[0046] Furthermore, the rod portion 22 and the connecting plate 24 are fixed by the screws 40 below the yarn guide rail 130. Therefore, the height of the connecting plate 24 relative to the rod portion 22 can be adjusted to avoid the yarn guide rail 130, so that the height of the yarn feeder port 23a during yarn feeding can be easily adjusted.

[0047] Here, when adjusting the height of yarn feeder 23a during yarn feeding in accordance with the knitting conditions, if yarn feeder 23 is moved in the same direction as the guiding direction of rod portion 22 by upward biasing portion guide groove 11, the position of yarn feeder 23a will be shifted from the center plane of the front and rear needle beds 110. If this happens, there is a risk that yarn feeder 23a will move away from the area on the needle gap S side where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught, as the yarn feeder 23a moves up and down.

[0048] In addition, by moving the feeder rod 20 back and forth relative to the needle gap S, in plating knitting in which the knitting yarns of the two yarn feeders 1 are knitted simultaneously, the position of the yarn feeder 23a of the plating yarn feeder 1, which is maintained in a delayed state compared to the normal yarn feeder 1, can be raised, and knitting can be performed with a height difference between the main yarn and the auxiliary yarn. In this way, even when moving the yarn feeder 23a up and down by moving the feeder rod 20 back and forth, there is a risk that the yarn feeder 23a will move away from the area on the needle gap S side where the yarn can be fed to the position where it is caught.

[0049] Therefore, in the flat knitting machine 100 according to this embodiment, the configuration of the yarn feeder side guide section 31 and the carrier base side guide section 32, etc., reduces the deviation of the front-rear position of the yarn feeder 23a caused by the up-and-down movement of the yarn feeder 23a. Hereinafter, the operation of the yarn feeder section 23 when the yarn feeder 23a is raised during yarn feeding will be described mainly with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows the state before the yarn feeder 23a is raised. Fig. 6 shows the state after the yarn feeder 23a is raised from the state shown in Fig. 5.

[0050] When the rod portion 22 is raised by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140, or when the yarn feeder position adjustment elongated hole 24a is shifted upward relative to the screw 40, the position of the connecting plate 24 relative to the rod portion 22 is also shifted upward. When the position of the connecting plate 24 is shifted upward, the yarn feeding portion 23 is guided by the feeder rod guide 30 and moves upward.

[0051] More specifically, the yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b of the yarn feeder side guide section 23 is guided by the yarn feeder side guide groove 31a of the yarn feeder side guide section 31, and the carrier base side guide receiver 23c of the yarn feeder side guide section 23 is guided by the carrier base side guide groove 32a of the carrier base side guide section 32, and the yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b of the yarn feeder side guide section 23 is raised, for example, from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. Here, the yarn feeder side guide groove 31a of the yarn feeder side guide section 31 guides the yarn feeder side guide receiver 23b on a trajectory parallel to the trajectory of the rod section 22 by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140, whereas the carrier base side guide groove 32a of the carrier base side guide section 32 is formed so as to guide the carrier base side guide receiver 23c in a direction inclined such that the upper end is away from the needle gap S in the front-rear direction from the longitudinal direction of the rod section 22. Therefore, when the yarn feeder side guide section 23 moves upward, the inclination of the yarn feeder side guide section 23 changes to a direction close to the horizontal direction.

[0052] By changing the inclination of the yarn feeding section 23 in a direction closer to the horizontal direction, the yarn feeder 23a moves in a substantially vertical direction without displacing the front-rear position of the yarn feeder 23a toward the rear needle bed 110. In this manner, the yarn feeder 23a can be raised while preventing the deviation of the front-rear position of the yarn feeder 23a from the center plane P of the front and rear needle beds 110. Here, the center plane P is a vertical plane passing through the front-rear center between the front and rear needle beds 110. Similarly, the yarn feeder 23a can be lowered, for example, from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 while preventing the deviation of the front-rear position of the yarn feeder 23a from the center plane P of the front and rear needle beds 110.

[0053] In this way, the deviation of the yarn feeder 23a from the center plane P of the front and rear needle beds 110 due to the up and down movement of the yarn feeder 23a can be reduced, and therefore the yarn feeder 23a can be prevented from moving away from the area where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught on the needle opening S side due to the up and down movement of the yarn feeder 23a.

[0054] A flat knitting machine 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In the following, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0055] The flat knitting machine 100 according to the second embodiment differs from the flat knitting machine 100 according to the first embodiment in that the feeder rod guide 30 includes a carrier base side guide portion 33 instead of the carrier base side guide portion 32.

[0056] The lower part of the carrier base side guide part 33, like the carrier base side guide part 32, is formed to extend in a direction closer to the horizontal direction than the guiding direction of the rod part 22 by the upward biasing part guide groove 11. The upper part of the carrier base side guide part 33 is bent so as to extend in a direction closer to the vertical direction than the extending direction of the lower part of the carrier base side guide part 33 at a position where the height of the yarn feeder 23a is above the yarn feeding range. The carrier base side guide part 33 is formed with a carrier base side guide groove 33a in a shape corresponding to the carrier base side guide part 33. The carrier base side guide receiving part 23c is accommodated in the carrier base side guide groove 33a.

[0057] When the rod portion 22 is raised by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140, or when the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a is shifted upward relative to the screw 40, the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b is guided by the yarn feeder side guide groove 31a of the yarn feeder side guide portion 31, and the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c of the yarn feeder 23 is guided by the carrier base side guide groove 33a of the carrier base side guide portion 33, so that the yarn feeder 23 rises, for example, from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8. The carrier base side guide portion 33 moves the yarn feeder 23a in the vertical direction in the yarn feed range. On the other hand, when the yarn feeder 23a is located above the yarn feed range, more specifically, when the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c is located above the bent portion of the carrier base side guide portion 33, the yarn feeder 23a moves in the front-rear direction away from the needle gap S as the yarn feeder 23a rises. This makes it possible to further prevent the yarn supplying units 23 from colliding with each other.

[0058] Hereinafter, a flat knitting machine 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. In the following, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0059] The flat knitting machine 100 according to the third embodiment differs from the flat knitting machine 100 according to the first embodiment in that the feeder rod 20 has an elastic deformation portion 24A instead of the connecting plate 24, the yarn supplying portion 23 has a protrusion 23e, and the feeder rod guide 30 has a guide long hole 34 instead of the yarn supply port side guide portion 31 and the carrier base side guide portion 32.

[0060] An elastically deformable elastic deformation portion 24A is provided between the rod portion 22 and the yarn supplying portion 23, and the rod portion 22, the yarn supplying portion 23, and the elastic deformation portion 24A are integrally formed. A protrusion 23e that protrudes in the left-right direction is formed on the upper portion of the yarn supplying portion 23.

[0061] The guide slot 34 of the feeder rod guide 30 is formed to extend in a direction closer to the vertical than the guiding direction of the rod portion 22 by the upward biasing portion guide groove 11. The guide slot 34 receives the protrusion 23e.

[0062] When the rod portion 22 is raised by the vertical movement drive mechanism 140, or when the yarn feeder position adjustment slot 24a is shifted upward relative to the screw 40, the protrusion 23e is guided by the guide slot 34 to move from the lower end to the upper end of the guide slot 34, and the yarn feeder 23 rises, for example, from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10. Due to the guidance of the protrusion 23e by the guide slot 34 and the elastic force of the elastic deformation portion 24A, the inclination of the yarn feeder 23 changes to a direction close to the horizontal direction when it moves upward. As the protrusion 23e is guided by the guide slot 34, the yarn feeder 23a moves vertically within the yarn feed range.

[0063] In the third embodiment, since the connecting plate 24 is not provided, the yarn feeder position adjusting long hole 24a is provided in a member provided between the upper and lower parts of the rod part 22. By adjusting the height of the lower part of the rod part 22 relative to the upper part of the rod part 22, the height of the yarn feeder 23a can be adjusted.

[0064] As described above, in each embodiment, the yarn feeder 23a can be moved up and down while preventing the front-to-rear position of the yarn feeder 23a from shifting from the center plane P of the front and rear needle beds 110. Here, the center plane P is a vertical plane passing through the front-to-rear center between the front and rear needle beds 110. Therefore, the yarn feeder 23a can be prevented from moving away from the area on the needle nozzle S side where the yarn can be fed to the position where the yarn is caught, as the yarn feeder 23a moves up and down.

[0065] Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the invention described in the claims.

[0066] For example, the conversion means including the yarn feeder side guide portion 31, the yarn feeder side guide receiver portion 23b, the carrier base side guide portion 32, and the carrier base side guide receiver portion 23c can be applied regardless of the arrangement of the yarn guide rail 130. The yarn guide rail 130 is not limited to being disposed radially with respect to the center of the front and rear needle beds 110 in a side view, and may be disposed horizontally as shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(c) of European Patent Publication EP3115491A1. When the yarn guide rail 130 is provided in this manner, the feeder rod 20 moves up and down in the vertical direction, but the feeder rod 20 is formed to have a bent portion bent toward the needle gap S so that the yarn can be fed by the yarn feeding portion 23 of each feeder rod 20. Even when a yarn feeder height adjustment means such as the yarn feeder position adjustment long hole 24a is provided in a portion below the bent portion, the conversion means including the yarn feeder side guide portion 31, the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b, the carrier base side guide portion 32, and the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c can be applied. In this case, the yarn feeder portion 23 is moved forward and backward along the portion below the bent portion by the guide means.

[0067] Furthermore, the movement direction of the yarn feeder 23a by the conversion means including the yarn feeder side guide portion 31, the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b, the carrier base side guide portion 32, and the carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c does not have to be strictly vertical, but may be a direction closer to vertical than the guiding direction of the rod portion 22 by the upward biasing portion guide groove 11.

[0068] In addition, the vertical movement drive mechanism 140 is not limited to one that moves the feeder rod 20 up and down using a cam plate 141, but may also be one that moves the feeder rod 20 up and down using a drive lever, as described in, for example, JP2012-524842A, or one that moves the feeder rod 20 up and down using a rack and pinion.

[0069] In addition, the yarn feeder height adjusting means for adjusting the height of yarn feeder port 23a during yarn feeding adjusts the height of yarn feeder port 23a during yarn feeding by changing the fixing position of screw 40 in the longitudinal direction of yarn feeder port position adjusting elongated hole 24a. However, as described in Chinese Patent Publication CN210711959U, for example, the height of cam plate 141 may be adjusted by a motor to adjust the height of yarn feeder port 23a during yarn feeding.

[0070] Furthermore, the flat knitting machine 100 does not necessarily have to include the up-down movement drive mechanism 140 that moves the feeder rod 20 up and down. In this case, the yarn supplying section 23 does not necessarily have to be connected to the rod section 22, and may be connected to the feeder rod guide 30.

[0071] In the first embodiment, the feeder rod 20 is provided with guide receiving portions (yarn feeder side guide receiving portion 23b and carrier base side guide receiving portion 23c) and the feeder rod guide 30 is provided with guide grooves (yarn feeder side guide groove 31a and carrier base side guide groove 33a). However, the feeder rod guide 30 may be provided with guide receiving portions and the feeder rod 20 may be provided with guide grooves. In this case, the guide grooves can be provided on the side surface of the yarn supplying section 23. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Yarn Feeder 10 Carrier base 20 Feeder Rod 22 Rod section 23 Yarn feeding section 23a Yarn feed port 23b Yarn feeder side guide receiving part 23c Carrier base side guide receiving part 24 Connecting part 24a Long hole for adjusting yarn feeder position 30 Feeder rod guide 31 Yarn feeder side guide 32,33 Carrier base side guide 34 Guide slot 40 Screw 100 flat knitting machine 110 Needle bed 111 Knitting needles 130 Thread guide rail

Claims

1. At least two needle beds are arranged in front and behind each other with a needle gap therebetween, and the knitting needles are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction; A yarn guide rail installed above the needle bed; a carrier base portion provided movably along the yarn guide rail; A yarn feeder is provided in a part of a path for supplying a knitting yarn to the knitting needle, the yarn feeder having a yarn feeder port for supplying the knitting yarn to the knitting needle and the carrier base; a yarn feeder height adjusting means for adjusting the height of the yarn feeder during yarn feeding; In a flat knitting machine including The yarn feeder includes: A feeder rod having the yarn feeder; A conversion means for converting a moving direction of the yarn feeder; a feeder rod guide supported by the carrier base and supporting the conversion means; a guide means for guiding the feeder rod in a guide direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction; Equipped with The conversion means is a guide member for guided movement of the yarn feeder, the guide member being provided on the feeder rod and the feeder rod guide, and adapted to change a moving direction of the yarn feeder in a direction closer to the vertical direction than the guiding direction in response to a change in height of the yarn feeder, at least within a range of heights of the yarn feeder that allows the yarn to be fed to a position where the yarn is caught; Flat knitting machine.

2. The feeder rod is The yarn supplying section includes the yarn supplying port, The conversion means is a yarn feeder side guide receiving portion provided on the yarn feeder side in either the yarn feeder section or the feeder rod guide; a carrier base side guide receiving portion provided on the carrier base side in either the yarn supplying portion or the feeder rod guide; a yarn feeder side guide portion provided on the yarn feeder side in the other of the yarn feeder section or the feeder rod guide, the yarn feeder side guide portion being configured to guide the yarn feeder side guide receiving portion along a trajectory parallel to the guiding direction; a carrier base side guide portion provided on the carrier base side in either the yarn supplying portion or the feeder rod guide, the carrier base side guide receiving portion being guided in a direction in which an upper end of the yarn supplying portion is inclined away from the needle gap in the front-rear direction from the guiding direction; Equipped with The flat knitting machine according to claim 1.

3. The feeder rod is a rod portion that is guided in the guiding direction by the guiding means and is driven to move up and down by a vertical movement drive mechanism; a yarn supplying section connected to the rod section and provided with the yarn supplying port; Equipped with The flat knitting machine according to claim 1.

4. The yarn supplying section includes: the yarn feeder is formed separately from the rod portion, and the yarn feeder is connected to the rod portion so as to be movable in a direction different from the guiding direction of the feeder rod and in a direction in which the front-rear position of the yarn feeder changes with respect to the rod portion; The flat knitting machine according to claim 3.

5. The feeder rod is A connecting portion is provided between the rod portion and the yarn supplying portion, and connects the rod portion and the yarn supplying portion, The connecting portion is a yarn feeder height adjusting means for adjusting a vertical position of the yarn feeder relative to the rod portion, the yarn feeder height adjusting means being connected to the yarn feeder height adjusting means so as to be adjustable in vertical position with respect to the rod portion; The flat knitting machine according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The guide means is provided on the carrier base, The yarn guide rails are arranged radially with respect to the centers of the front and rear needle beds in a side view. The flat knitting machine according to claim 3 or 4.

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