Flat knitting machine and method of knitting fabric

Abstract

To provide a flat knitting machine that can accurately determine the degree of knitting and where sinker loops are less likely to get caught between the fixed sinker and the movable sinker. [Solution] The flat knitting machine includes a movable sinker and a loop stopper. The movable sinker includes a yarn-catching portion and a first projection. The flat knitting machine includes a rocking mechanism that rocks the movable sinker between a retracted position and a pressed position. In the retracted position, the tip of the first projection overlaps with the yarn extending from the hook to the fixed sinker when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. When the rocking mechanism rocks the movable sinker from the retracted position to the pressed position, it rocks the movable sinker so that the tip moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper, and then rocks the movable sinker toward the pressed position. While the tip moves along the outer shape, the first projection overlaps with the yarn extending from the fixed sinker to the hook when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flat knitting machine provided with a movable sinker and a knitting method for a knitted fabric using the movable sinker. [Background Art]

[0002] A flat knitting machine that automatically knits knitted fabrics has a pair of front and back needle beds facing each other across a needle gap. A plurality of knitting needles are arranged in parallel on each needle bed. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a flat knitting machine including a fixed sinker and a movable sinker near the needle gap in the needle bed. The needle gap is a gap formed between the pair of front and back needle beds. In the following description, "upper" and "lower" are defined with reference to the installation surface of the flat knitting machine. Furthermore, "above the needle bed" and "below the needle bed" refer to directions perpendicular to the advancing and retreating direction of the knitting needles as viewed from the needle bed.

[0003] Figure 8 is a partial top view of the needle bed 2 of a flat knitting machine 100 including a fixed sinker 3 and a movable sinker 400. The depth direction of the drawing sheet of Figure 8 is the direction toward the lower side of the needle gap 11. A plurality of needle plates 20 are arranged in parallel at intervals on the needle bed 2. A knitting needle 21 is disposed between adjacent needle plates 20. On the left side of each knitting needle 21, the movable sinker 400 and the fixed sinker 3 are disposed. The fixed sinker 3 is a member that forms a sinker loop 91 connecting stitches by pressing the knitting yarn supplied to the hook 21F of the knitting needle 21 to prevent the entire knitting yarn from being drawn into the needle bed 2 when the knitting yarn is drawn into the needle bed 2. While forming the sinker loop 91 with the fixed sinker 3, the size of the stitch formed on the hook 21F is determined by adjusting the drawing amount of the knitting needle. Determining the size of the stitch is referred to as "stitch sizing".

[0004] The flat knitting machine 100 is equipped with a loop stopper (corresponding to the yarn locking wire in Patent Document 1) 22 that holds the old loop 93 in place when knitting a new loop 92 which is a stitch that continues in the wale direction of the old loop 93 which is a stitch that is locked to the knitting needle 21. When the knitting needle 21 is pulled in to knit the new loop 92, the loop stopper 22 holds the old loop 93 in place, causing the old loop 93 to be knocked over from the hook 21F, and stabilizing the shape of the new loop 92. When knitting a new stitch that continues in the wale direction of the new loop 92 shown in the figure, the new loop 92 in the figure becomes the old loop.

[0005] The movable sinker 400 is primarily a component that holds down the sinker loop 91 of the old loop 93 when the knitting needle 21 is advanced toward the tooth opening 11 to knit the new loop 92 that follows the wale direction of the old loop 93. The movable sinker 400 is oscillated to push the sinker loop 91 downward toward the tooth opening 11. The portion of the movable sinker 400 that pushes down the sinker loop 91 is called the yarn receiving portion or yarn capturing portion. In this specification, this portion is called the yarn capturing portion 420. The yarn capturing portion 420 is formed on the downward-facing end face of the needle bed 2 in the movable sinker 400, as shown by the dotted line.

[0006] In a flat knitting machine 100 equipped with a fixed sinker 3 and a movable sinker 400, when the yarn-catching portion 420 of the movable sinker 400 contacts and presses down on the yarn, there is a possibility that the yarn may get caught in the gap between the parallel fixed sinker 3 and the movable sinker 400. To address this problem, the movable sinker 400 of Patent Documents 1 and 2 is equipped with a projection 410 positioned further from the tooth opening 11 than the yarn-catching portion 420. The projection 410 is formed on the end face of the movable sinker 400 facing downward on the needle bed, as shown by the dotted line. Before the movable sinker 400 begins to swing, the projection 410 is positioned above the needle bed (towards the front of the page in Figure 8) than the sinker loop 91 and does not contact the sinker loop 91. When the movable sinker 400 swings, the projection 410 intervenes between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3, preventing the yarn from getting caught. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-89033 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-56553 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Depending on the knitting conditions when forming the new loop 92, it may be difficult to insert the projection 410 between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3. The sinker loop 91 extending from the fixed sinker 3 located at the left end of Figure 8 extends to the opposing needle bed, which is not shown. If the opposing needle bed is racked to the left from this state, for example, the sinker loop 91 will be strongly pulled to the left. In that case, the sinker loop 91 may become difficult to bend, or the gap between the fixed sinker 3 and the sinker loop 91 may become smaller, making it impossible to insert the projection 410 between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3. In addition, if the knitting needle 21 is moved far back from the tooth opening 11, the gap between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3 will become smaller, making it impossible to insert the projection 410 between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3.

[0009] To solve the above problems, it is conceivable to lengthen the projection 410 toward the bottom of the needle bed (towards the back of the page in Figure 8) so that the projection 410 is always positioned between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3. In that case, when the knitting needle 21 is moved back to form a new loop 92, the projection 410 may come into contact with the sinker loop 91, and there is a risk that the degree of the new loop 92 cannot be accurately determined.

[0010] One object of the present invention is to provide a flat knitting machine that can accurately determine the degree of knitting and in which sinker loops are less likely to get caught between the fixed sinker and the movable sinker. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting a fabric that can accurately determine the degree of knitting and in which sinker loops are less likely to get caught between the fixed sinker and the movable sinker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] <1> The flat knitting machine of the present invention comprises: a needle bed in which a plurality of knitting needles are arranged to move forward and backward; a fixed sinker fixed immovably to the tooth-mouth side of the needle bed and forming a sinker loop of knitted fabric that is locked to the needle bed; a movable sinker positioned parallel to the fixed sinker on the needle bed and oscillated to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth-mouth; and a loop stopper that stops the old loop when the knitting yarn is pulled in by the hook of the knitting needle to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop. The movable sinker comprises a yarn-catching portion that captures the sinker loop when it pushes the sinker loop downward, and a first projection positioned further from the tooth-mouth than the yarn-catching portion and interposed between the fixed sinker and the sinker loop when it pushes the sinker loop downward. The flat knitting machine comprises a swinging mechanism that swings the movable sinker between a retracted position and a pressed position. The retracted position is the position in which the yarn-catching portion is positioned furthest from the sinker loop. The pressing position is the position in which the thread-catching portion is positioned to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth opening. In the retracted position, the tip of the first projection is positioned so as to overlap with the thread extending from the hook to the fixed sinker when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed, and the swinging mechanism swings the movable sinker from the retracted position to the pressing position, first swinging the movable sinker so that the tip moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper, and then swinging the movable sinker toward the pressing position. While the tip moves along the outer shape, the first projection overlaps with the thread extending from the fixed sinker to the hook when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

[0012] <2> the above <1> In the flat knitting machine described above, the first projection in the retracted position may overlap with the knitting yarn extending from the hook to the loop stopper when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

[0013] <3> the above <1> or <2> In the flat knitting machine described above, the movable sinker may include a first working piece comprising the yarn-catching portion and the first projection. In this case, the first working piece of the movable sinker in the retracted position may be positioned inside the outer edge of the fixed sinker when viewed from the longitudinal direction.

[0014] <4> the above <3> In the flat knitting machine described above, the first working piece is provided with a second projection positioned on the tooth side of the yarn-catching portion, and the yarn-catching portion may be positioned between the first projection and the second projection. In this case, the second projection of the movable sinker in the retracted position may be positioned above the needle bed, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the knitting needle, when viewed from the longitudinal direction, relative to the knitting yarn extending from the fixed sinker to the hook.

[0015] <5> the above <3> or <4> In the flat knitting machine described above, the oscillating mechanism may include a plurality of cam portions formed on the movable sinker and a plurality of cam receiving portions that engage with each of the plurality of cam portions. In this case, the plurality of cam receiving portions may be fixed immovably to the needle bed.

[0016] <6> the above <5> In the flat knitting machine described above, the movable sinker may have a restricting portion formed at a position closer to the loop stopper than the plurality of cam receiving portions. In this case, the restricting portion may engage with a fixing member fixed to the needle bed when the movable sinker is in the retracted position, thereby restricting the movement of the movable sinker upward of the needle bed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement and retraction of the knitting needles.

[0017] <7> the above <6> In the flat knitting machine described above, the movable sinker may be formed below the first working piece and may include a second working piece that acts on the knitted fabric to push the fabric downward below the teeth opening. In that case, the regulating portion may be formed on the second working piece.

[0018] <8> the above <1> from <7> In a flat knitting machine as described in any of the above, the loop stopper may be composed of a wire with a circular cross-section that passes through the fixed sinker.

[0019] <9> The present invention relates to a method for knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine. The flat knitting machine comprises a needle bed in which a plurality of knitting needles are arranged to move forward and backward, a fixed sinker fixed immovably to the tooth-side of the needle bed and forming a sinker loop of the knitted fabric that is locked to the needle bed, a movable sinker positioned parallel to the fixed sinker on the needle bed and oscillated to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth-side, a swinging mechanism that oscillates the movable sinker between a retracted position and a pressed position, and a loop stopper that stops the old loop when the knitting yarn is pulled in by the hook of the knitting needle to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop. The movable sinker comprises a yarn-catching portion that captures the sinker loop when pushing the sinker loop down, and a first projection positioned further away from the tooth-side than the yarn-catching portion and interposed between the fixed sinker and the sinker loop when pushing the sinker loop down. The rocking mechanism moves the movable sinker such that, in the retracted position, the thread-catching portion is positioned as far away from the sinker loop as possible, and the tip of the first projection is positioned so as to overlap with the thread extending from the hook to the fixed sinker when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. The rocking mechanism moves the movable sinker such that, in the pressed position, the thread-catching portion is positioned so so that it pushes the sinker loop downward toward the teeth opening. The rocking mechanism further moves the needle toward the teeth opening and rocks the movable sinker from the retracted position to the pressed position, rocking the movable sinker so that the tip moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper, and then rocking the movable sinker toward the pressed position. While the tip moves along the outer shape, the first projection overlaps with the thread extending from the fixed sinker to the hook when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] In the flat knitting machine described in <1> above, when the movable sinker swings from the retracted position to the pressing position, the tip end of the first projection of the movable sinker swings along the outer contour of the loop stopper, so that a sinker loop is less likely to be caught between the movable sinker and the fixed sinker. Further, in the retracted position, if the tip end of the first projection is disposed at a position overlapping the knitting yarn extending from the hook to the movable sinker, the first projection is less likely to interfere with the sinker loop. Therefore, the first projection of the movable sinker in the retracted position is less likely to affect the stitch forming of a new loop.

[0021] In the flat knitting machine described in <2> above, among the knitting yarns extending from the hook through the loop stopper to the fixed sinker, the first projection is disposed particularly in a portion extending from the hook to the loop stopper. The first projection disposed at this position is extremely unlikely to interfere with the sinker loop during stitch forming of a new loop. Therefore, it can be avoided that the first projection affects the stitch forming of a new loop.

[0022] In the flat knitting machine described in <3> above, it is possible to prevent the first acting piece from interfering with the knitting yarn supplied from above the needle gap and extending to the knitting needle. Therefore, when a new loop is formed by the knitting needle, the shape of the new loop is easily stabilized.

[0023] In the flat knitting machine described in <4> above, since the second projection of the movable sinker disposed at the retracted position does not interfere with the knitting yarn, the sinker loop is easily caught by the knitting yarn catching portion.

[0024] In the flat knitting machine described in <5> above, the movable sinker can be displaced with a simple configuration such that the tip end of the first projection follows the outer contour of the loop stopper.

[0025] In the flat knitting machine described in <6> above, movement of the movable sinker toward above the needle bed can be restricted, and the first projection can be prevented from slipping out from between the fixed sinker and the knitting yarn. Further, the position of the first acting piece of the movable sinker can be determined with high accuracy.

[0026] the above <7> In the flat knitting machine described, the second working piece can push the knitted fabric downwards from the teeth opening. Furthermore, by providing a regulating section on the second working piece, which is positioned close to the loop stopper, it is easier to prevent the movable sinker from moving upwards from the needle bed.

[0027] the above <8> With the flat knitting machines described, if a circular wire is used, the load on the knitting yarn can be reduced.

[0028] the above <9> In the knitting method described, when the movable sinker swings from the retracted position to the pressed position, the tip of the first projection of the movable sinker swings along the outer shape of the loop stopper, making it difficult for the knitting yarn to get caught between the movable sinker and the fixed sinker. Therefore, the knitting is more stable. In addition, because the first projection traces such a swinging trajectory, the first projection of the movable sinker in the retracted position is less likely to affect the determination of the new loop, making it easier to maintain a stable stitch size. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the area near the tooth opening of the needle bed in a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the movable sinker of the flat knitting machine shown in Figure 1 is positioned in the retracted position. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the movable sinker of the flat knitting machine shown in Figure 1 is positioned in the pressed position. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the trajectory of the swing of the movable sinker near the loop stopper. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a movable sinker provided in a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a cam system mounted on the carriage of a flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the area near the tooth opening of the needle bed in the flat knitting machine according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 8]Figure 8 is a schematic top view showing the area near the tooth openings in the needle bed of a conventional flat knitting machine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] <Embodiment 1> The following describes a flat knitting machine 1 according to an embodiment, based on Figures 1 to 6. The flat knitting machine 1 according to this embodiment may be a two-bed flat knitting machine or a four-bed flat knitting machine. Figure 1 shows only one needle bed 2 of a two-bed flat knitting machine 1. In an actual flat knitting machine 1, needle beds with the same configuration as the needle bed 2 shown are arranged symmetrically on either side of the tooth opening 11. Also, Figure 1 shows only the needle body having a hook 21F among the knitting needles 21 provided on the needle bed 2. The knitting needle 21 is a latch needle. The knitting needle 21 may also be a composite needle comprising a needle body with a hook and a slider.

[0031] The flat knitting machine 1 is equipped with a carriage 10 that moves back and forth over the needle bed 2. The direction of reciprocation of the carriage 10 is along the length of the needle bed 2, that is, the depth direction of the paper in Figure 1. The carriage 10 is equipped with a cam system (not shown). The cam system acts on the butt (not shown) of the knitting needle 21, causing the knitting needle 21 to advance toward the teeth opening 11 or to retract from the teeth opening 11. As the knitting needle 21 moves forward and backward, the knitted fabric 9 is formed. The knitted fabric 9 formed by the knitting needle 21 hangs down below the teeth opening 11. In Figures 1 to 4, the knitted fabric 9 is simplified, but in reality, the knitted fabric 9 is formed by multiple loops continuing in the wale direction.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the needle bed 2 of the flat knitting machine 1 has multiple plate grooves 2G arranged in parallel at regular intervals along the length of the needle bed 2 (depth direction of the paper), and a needle plate 20 is fitted into each plate groove 2G. The space between two adjacent needle plates 20 functions as a needle groove. Knitting needles 21 are housed in these needle grooves. At the tip of the needle bed 2 on the tooth opening 11 side, a fixed sinker 3 and a movable sinker 4 are provided in parallel. From the front of the paper to the back of the paper, the knitting needles 21, movable sinker 4, and fixed sinker 3 are arranged in that order. The main difference between the flat knitting machine 1 of this embodiment and the conventional configuration lies in the configuration of the movable sinker 4. In the following description, the configurations of the flat knitting machine 1 that are closely related to the movable sinker 4 will be mainly described.

[0033] ≪Needle Plate≫ The needle plate 20 is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, a metal material. The movable sinker 4, which will be described later, and the lever 6 that swings the movable sinker 4 are positioned in front of the needle plate 20 in the viewer's view. The needle plate 20 has a recess 20C into which the elastic leg piece 43 of the movable sinker 4, which will be described later, is fitted. The elastic force of the elastic leg piece 43 biases the portion of the movable sinker 4 on the tooth opening 11 side downwards toward the tooth opening 11.

[0034] A support plate 24 is attached to the needle plate 20, which supports the movable sinker 4 (described later) from the back of the paper. The left portion of the support plate 24, that is, the portion furthest from the tooth opening 11, is attached to the surface of the needle plate 20 opposite to the surface facing the lever 6. The right portion of the support plate 24, that is, the portion closer to the tooth opening 11, protrudes from the needle plate 20 toward the tooth opening 11. This protruding portion overlaps the movable sinker 4 when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2, makes surface contact with the movable sinker 4, and supports the movable sinker 4. By adjusting the position of the support plate 24 relative to the needle plate 20, the position of the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 (described later) can be adjusted. A wire extending in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2 passes through this support plate 24. As shown in Figure 2, this wire functions as cam receiving portions 25 and 26 that engage with the cam portions 4X and 4Y of the movable sinker 4. The cam receiving portions 25 and 26 do not need to be made of wire; for example, they may be bosses protruding from the support plate 24 toward the front of the paper. The support plate 24 may be integrated with the needle plate 20.

[0035] Fixed Sinker The fixed sinker 3 is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, a metal material. The fixed sinker 3 comprises a bent, elongated arm portion 30 and a flat, plate-shaped angle-setting portion 31 formed at the tip of the arm portion 30. One end of the arm portion 30 (the end opposite to the angle-setting portion 31) is fixed to the lower part of the needle bed 2. The fixed sinker 3 is immovable relative to the needle bed 2. On the other hand, the angle-setting portion 31 protrudes toward the tooth opening 11. A hole is formed in the tooth opening 11 side portion of this angle-setting portion 31, and a loop stopper 22 (see also Figure 4) extending in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2 is inserted through this hole.

[0036] The functions of the fixed sinker 3 and loop stopper 22 described above are the same as those of Patent Document 1. That is, as shown in Figure 2, the fixed sinker 3 is a component that holds down the knitting yarn 90 at the degree setting part 31 so that the entire knitting yarn 90 is not pulled towards the needle bed 2 when the knitting yarn 90 is pulled towards the needle bed 2 side (the side away from the teeth opening 11) with the hook 21F of the knitting needle 21, thereby forming a sinker loop 91 of the knitted fabric 9. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the loop stopper 22 stops the old loop 93 that was locked to the hook 21F when the knitting yarn 90 is pulled towards the hook 21F of the knitting needle 21 to knit a new loop 92. When the old loop 93 is stopped by the loop stopper 22, the old loop 93 is knocked over from the new loop 92.

[0037] In this example, the loop stopper 22 is formed from a wire with a circular cross-section. A loop stopper 22 with a circular cross-section reduces stress on the knitting yarn 90 that contacts the loop stopper 22. The cross-section of the wire constituting the loop stopper 22 may not be circular; for example, it may be a polygon such as a square. Unlike this example, the loop stopper may be formed from the tip of the needle bed 2 on the tooth opening 11 side, as in the flat knitting machine described in Japanese Patent No. 4408803.

[0038] ≪Movable Sinker≫ The movable sinker 4 is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, a metal material. The movable sinker 4 has a bent arm shape, as shown in Figure 5. The portion of the movable sinker 4 located on the tooth opening 11 side (see Figure 2, etc.) is provided with a first working piece 41 and a second working piece 44. The second working piece 44 is not essential.

[0039] The first working piece 41 is the part that acts on the sinker loop 91 and comprises a first projection 4A, a thread-catching part 4B, and a second projection 4C. The first projection 4A and the second projection 4C extend downward toward the tooth opening 11 when attached to the needle bed 2 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The first projection 4A is an essential component, but the second projection 4C is not. The thread-catching part 4B is the part that catches the sinker loop 91 and, in this example, is a recess formed between the first projection 4A and the second projection 4C. The thread-catching part 4B is recessed toward the needle bed when attached to the needle bed 2 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. As will be described later, the thread-catching part 4B is the part where the sinker loop 91 is positioned when the sinker loop 91 is pushed down by the movable sinker 4. When the sinker loop 91 is pushed down, the second projection 4C prevents the sinker loop 91 from easily coming off the braided thread catching part 4B and above the tooth opening 11.

[0040] The second working piece 44 is formed below the first working piece 41. The second working piece 44 has the function of acting on the knitted fabric 9 and pushing the knitted fabric 9 downwards below the tooth opening 11. The second working piece 44 is roughly triangular in shape, and the corner closest to the tooth opening 11 acts on the knitted fabric 9. The space between this second working piece 44 and the first working piece 41 is recessed upwards toward the needle bed.

[0041] In this example, the second working piece 44 is provided with a restricting portion 4D that extends away from the tooth opening 11. More specifically, the restricting portion 4D is formed at the corner distal to the tooth opening 11 on the substantially triangular second working piece 44. As will be described later, the restricting portion 4D has the function of restricting the movement of the movable sinker 4 upward of the needle bed.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the rear end 42 of the movable sinker 4 protrudes away from the tooth opening 11. The lever 6 of the oscillating mechanism 5, which will be described later, engages with the rear end 42. An elastic leg piece 43 is formed near the rear end 42 of the movable sinker 4. In this example, the elastic leg piece 43 is provided on the bottom side of the needle groove at the rear end 42. The elastic leg piece 43 extends toward the tooth opening 11, then folds back in a U-shape and extends away from the tooth opening 11. The end 43E of the elastic leg piece 43 is formed in a teardrop shape, as shown in Figure 5. The end 43E is fitted into the recess 20C of the needle plate 20, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The elastic force of the elastic leg piece 43 biases the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 downward toward the tooth opening 11.

[0043] The movable sinker 4 in this example is equipped with multiple independent cam sections 4X and 4Y. In this example, the cam sections 4X and 4Y are cam grooves. The cam section 4X in this example is an elongated hole that is bent so as to be convex in the direction away from the tooth opening 11, and the cam section 4Y is an elongated hole that is bent so as to be convex in the direction towards the needle bed 2. As shown in Figure 2, cam receiving sections 25 and 26 extending from the support plate 24 toward the movable sinker 4 are fitted into the cam sections 4X and 4Y. The trajectory of the oscillation of the movable sinker 4 is determined according to the shape of the cam sections 4X and 4Y. In other words, the shape of the cam sections 4X and 4Y should be determined according to the trajectory of the oscillation of the movable sinker 4 that you want to achieve. Unlike this example, the cam sections 4X and 4Y may also be recesses that are recessed in the thickness direction of the movable sinker 4. In this example, there are two cam sections 4X and 4Y, but there may be one or three or more.

[0044] The movable sinker 4 is configured to swing between a retracted position shown in Figure 2 and a pressed position shown in Figure 3. In the retracted position in Figure 2, the yarn-catching portion 4B of the movable sinker 4 is positioned furthest from the sinker loop 91. In the pressed position in Figure 3, the yarn-catching portion 4B of the movable sinker 4 is positioned to push the sinker loop 91 downward toward the teeth opening 11. The downward pushing of the sinker loop 91 by the movable sinker 4 is performed, for example, when advancing the knitting needle 21 toward the teeth opening 11 to knit a new loop 92.

[0045] The trajectory of the movable sinker 4 in this example, shown in Figure 4, differs from the arc-shaped trajectory of a conventional movable sinker. The movable sinker 4 shown by the solid line in Figure 4 is a movable sinker 4 positioned in a retracted position. The tip 4a of the first projection 4A on the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 overlaps with the knitting thread 90 extending from the fixed sinker 3 to the hook 21F, when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2. More specifically, the tip 4a in this example overlaps with the knitting thread 90 extending from the loop stopper 22 to the hook 21F, when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2. In this position, even if the knitting needle 21 is moved far back, the first projection 4A is unlikely to come into contact with the sinker loop 91, and the first projection 4A is unlikely to affect the degree setting of the new loop 92. Here, the tip 4a is a portion having a predetermined size, including the tip of the first projection 4A. The tip 4a in this example has an R shape.

[0046] In this example, as the movable sinker 4 moves from the retracted position to the pressed position, the tip 4a of the first projection 4A first moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22, as shown by the dashed line. More specifically, the tip 4a moves along a predetermined surface 22S of the outer circumferential surface of the loop stopper 22 that faces diagonally upward. The predetermined surface 22S is the outer circumferential surface that includes the portion from the position above the needle bed to the forward position. Here, "forward" refers to the direction in which the knitting needle 21 advances. While the tip 4a moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22, the first projection 4A is interposed between the sinker loop 91 and the fixed sinker 3. Therefore, the sinker loop 91 is effectively prevented from being caught in the gap between the fixed sinker 3 and the movable sinker 4. The clearance between the tip 4a of the first projection 4A and the predetermined surface 22S when moving along the predetermined surface 22S is, for example, less than or equal to the thickness of the knitting yarn 90. With this clearance, the sinker loop 91 is prevented from rotating around to the back side of the first projection 4A (the side with the fixed sinker 3). The clearance can be zero, but having a clearance prevents sliding resistance between the movable sinker 4 and the loop stopper 22, which stabilizes the movement of the movable sinker 4.

[0047] After the tip portion 4a moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22, the movable sinker 4 is swung toward the pressed position. This swung causes the braided thread capturing portion 4B to capture the sinker loop 91 and push the sinker loop 91 downwards toward the tooth opening 11.

[0048] When viewed from the length direction of the needle bed 2, the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 is positioned inside the outer edge of the fixed sinker 3 when the movable sinker 4 is in the retracted position. When the knitting needle 21 is pulled into the needle bed to form a new loop 92, the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the retracted position. Therefore, since the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 in the retracted position does not protrude outside the outer edge of the fixed sinker 3, it is possible to prevent the first working piece 41 from interfering with the knitting yarn that is fed from above the teeth opening 11 and extends to the knitting needle 21. In other words, since the first working piece 41 does not interfere with the formation of the new loop 92, the shape of the new loop 92 is stable when the knitting needle 21 forms the new loop 92.

[0049] The restricting portion 4D on the second working piece 44 engages with the stopper member 23, which is fixedly positioned on the needle bed 2, when the movable sinker 4 is in the retracted position. In this example, the stopper member 23 is made of a wire that penetrates the fixed sinker 3 in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2. The engagement point between the restricting portion 4D and the stopper member 23 is located closer to the loop stopper 22 than the multiple cam receiving portions 25, 26. Therefore, the position of the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 can be determined with high precision. In this example, furthermore, since the restricting portion 4D is engaged with the stopper member 23 for a while after the movable sinker 4 moves from the retracted position, the behavior of the movable sinker 4 is stable, and the position of the first working piece 41 near the tooth opening 11 can be determined with high precision. In addition, the restricting portion 4D prevents the first working piece 41 from moving upward on the needle bed while the tip portion 4a of the first projection 4A moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22.

[0050] ≪Oscillating Mechanism≫ The oscillation of the movable sinker 4 in this example is performed by the oscillation mechanism 5 shown in Figure 1. In other words, the oscillation mechanism 5 is a mechanism that oscillates the movable sinker 4 between a retracted position and a pressed position. The oscillation mechanism 5 in this example includes a lever 6 and an operating cam 50 that operates the lever 6. Here, the cam parts 4X, 4Y and cam receiving parts 25, 26 that determine the trajectory of the oscillation of the movable sinker 4 are also included in the oscillation mechanism 5.

[0051] The lever 6 comprises a rotating portion 60, a front arm portion 61 extending from the rotating portion 60 toward the tooth opening 11, and a rear arm portion 62 extending from the rotating portion 60 toward the opposite side of the front arm portion 61. A slit is formed in the rotating portion 60. The slit is fitted onto a shaft portion 27 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2. In this example, the shaft portion 27 is a wire with a circular cross-section. Therefore, the lever 6 is supported on the needle bed 2 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 27.

[0052] The front arm portion 61 extends to the rear end portion 42 of the movable sinker 4. As shown in Figure 1, the lever 6 rotates clockwise when the actuation cam 50 attached to the carriage 10 presses the rear arm portion 62 upward on the sinker bed. The front arm portion 61 presses the rear end portion 42 of the movable sinker 4 downward on the sinker bed. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the first actuation piece 41 is lifted upward on the sinker bed, and the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the retracted position.

[0053] The movable sinker 4 is biased toward the pressed position by the elastic force of the elastic leg piece 43. Therefore, when the upward thrust of the rear arm portion 62 by the operating cam 50 is released, the rear end portion 42 lifts the front arm portion 61 above the needle bed, and the lever 6 rotates counterclockwise. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the pressed position.

[0054] In this case, the lever 6 is not essential in the rocking mechanism 5. In that case, the operating cam 50 can be configured to act directly on the movable sinker 4.

[0055] The shape of the operating cam 50 mounted on the carriage 10 and the timing of the operation of the movable sinker 4 will be explained based on Figure 6. The lower panel of Figure 6 shows the knitting cam 15, the stitch transfer cam 16, and the operating cam 50 mounted on the carriage 10. The knitting cam 15 is a cam mainly used when forming stitches with the knitting needles 21, and the stitch transfer cam 16 is a cam used when moving stitches that are locked to the knitting needles 21 to another knitting needle opposite the knitting needles 21. In the lower panel, the direction towards the viewer is towards the needle bed 2. The upper panel of Figure 6 shows the uneven shape of the operating cam 50 as seen from the tooth opening 11 side. In the upper panel, the direction towards the viewer is towards the needle bed 2. At the timing indicated by the thick vertical dashed line (II) in Figure 6, the configuration on the needle bed 2 is as shown in Figure 2. At the timing indicated by the thick vertical dashed line (III) in Figure 6, the configuration on the needle bed 2 is as shown in Figure 3.

[0056] The dashed line indicating the position of the knitting cam 15 represents the trajectory of the butt of the knitting needle 21 when the carriage 10 moves to the left during knitting with the knitting needle 21. The butt is in a position omitted in Figure 1, i.e., further from the tooth opening 11 than the operating cam 50. The knitting needle 21 is pushed upward toward the tooth opening 11 by the knitting cam 15, and then pulled downward toward the tooth opening 11.

[0057] The dashed line indicating the position of the operating cam 50 is the trajectory of the rear arm portion 62 that is pressed by the operating cam 50 when the carriage 10 moves to the left. The operating cam 50 in this example has a movable portion 50M that can slide in the left-right direction, i.e., in the direction of movement of the carriage 10. The vertical line of the dashed line extending from the upper to the lower figure indicates the sliding range of the movable portion 50M. In the example shown in Figure 6, the movable portion 50M slides to the right. Therefore, when the knitting needle 21 advances toward the tooth opening 11, such as when knitting stitches, the rear arm portion 62 is not pressed by the movable portion 50M, and the rear arm portion 62 is pressed by the movable portion 50M when the knitting needle 21 retracts from the tooth opening 11. As already mentioned, when the rear arm portion 62 is not pressed by the operating cam 50, the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the depressed position as shown in Figure 3. Therefore, when the knitting needle 21 advances into the tooth opening 11, the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the pressed position, and when the knitting needle 21 retracts, the movable sinker 4 is positioned in the retracted position. Here, when moving the carriage 10 to the right, the movable part 50M should be slid to the left.

[0058] <Embodiment 2> In Embodiment 2, a flat knitting machine 8 that adjusts the trajectory of the swing of the movable sinker using a different configuration than in Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figure 7. The knitting needles are not shown in Figure 7.

[0059] The movable sinker 4α of Embodiment 2 includes an arc portion 48. Above the needle bed 2α in the arc portion 48, a U-shaped recess 47 is formed that is recessed downwards from the needle bed 2α. Also, closer to the tooth opening 11 than the arc portion 48 in the movable sinker 4α, a U-shaped recess 46 is formed that is recessed toward the tooth opening 11. The recess 46 is smaller than the recess 47. The arc portion 48 of the movable sinker 4α fits into a semicircular recess 20E of the needle plate 20α. The radius of the recess 20E is slightly larger than the radius of the arc portion 48. The arc portion 48 is not only rotatable within the recess 20E, but can also change its position slightly in the direction of the knitting needle's movement.

[0060] The movable sinker 4α is biased toward the depressed position by the elastic force of the wire spring 49. The wire spring 49 has a shape in which a large J-shaped section and a small J-shaped section are connected in a series. The bent portion of the large J-shaped section fits into the recess 47, and the bent portion of the small J-shaped section fits into the recess 46. The end of the large J-shaped section is stopped against a step 20D formed in the needle plate 20α. In Figure 7, the movable sinker 4α positioned in the retracted position is shown by a solid line.

[0061] The operating cam 70 of the swing mechanism 7 in this example, which swings the movable sinker 4α, protrudes from a carriage (not shown) toward the needle bed 2α. The movable sinker 4α is maintained in the retracted position by the operating cam 70 pressing against the rear end 42 of the movable sinker 4α. When the action of the operating cam 70 on the rear end 42 is released, the movable sinker 4α swings toward the pressed position, as shown by the dashed line. The shape of the first working piece 41 in this example is the same as in Embodiment 1, but the shape of the second working piece 44 is different from that of Embodiment 1. In this example, cam receiving parts 28 and 29 are arranged so as to sandwich the second working piece 44, which has a different shape from that of Embodiment 1. The cam receiving parts 28 and 29 in this example are made of wires that extend in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2α. The cam receiving parts 28 and 29 pass through a plurality of fixed sinkers 3α arranged in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 2α. Therefore, the cam receiving parts 28 and 29 are fixed immovably to the needle bed 2α via the fixed sinkers 3α. The cam receiving portions 28 and 29 may also be projections extending from the fixed sinker 3α. The second working piece 44 is guided by the cam receiving portions 28 and 29, causing the tip portion 4a of the first working piece 41 of the movable sinker 4α to swing along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22. In this configuration, the portion of the outer edge of the second working piece 44 that engages with the cam receiving portion 28 functions as the cam portion 4P, and the portion that engages with the cam receiving portion 29 functions as the cam portion 4Q. The cam portion 4P and the cam portion 4Q are composed of different parts of the second working piece 44.

[0062] <Summary> In embodiments 1 and 2, when the knitting needle 21 is advanced toward the tooth opening 11 and the movable sinkers 4 and 4α are swung from the retracted position to the pressed position, the tip 4a of the first projection 4A is moved along the outer shape of the loop stopper 22 in a method of knitting fabric. The configuration of the flat knitting machine 1 is not limited as long as such swinging of the movable sinkers 4 and 4α can be achieved. With this method of knitting fabric involving the swinging of the movable sinkers 4 and 4α, the knitting yarn 90 is less likely to get caught between the fixed sinkers 3 and 3α and the movable sinkers 4 and 4α when knitting the fabric 9, and the shape of the stitches is stabilized. In addition, the degree setting when knitting the new loops 92 can be accurately performed. As a result, the quality of the knitted fabric 9 is improved. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1,8,100 flat knitting machine 10 Carriage, 11 Tooth opening, 15 Formation cam, 16 Eye shift cam 2,2α needle bed, 2G plate groove 20, 20α Needle plate, 20C, 20E Recess, 20D Step 21 knitting needles, 21F hooks 22 Loop stopper, 22S Predetermined surface 23. Fixing member, 24. Support plate 25, 26, 28, 29 Cam receiving section, 27 Shaft section 3.3α Fixed Sinker 30 Arm section 31 Angle setting section 4,4α,400 Movable Sinker 4a Tip part, 4A First protrusion part 4B Yarn catching part 4C Second protrusion, 4D Regulating part 4P,4Q,4X,4Y Cam part 41 First working piece 42 Rear end 43 Elastic leg piece, 43E End 44 Second working piece, 46, 47 Recess, 48 ​​Arc portion, 49 Wire spring 410 Projection, 420 Yarn catcher 5,7 rocking mechanism, 50,70 operating cam, 50M movable part 6 Lever, 60 Rotating part, 61 Front arm part, 62 Rear arm part 9 Knitted fabric, 90 Knitting yarn, 91 Sinker loop, 92 New loop, 93 Old loop

Claims

1. A needle bed in which multiple knitting needles are arranged to move freely, A fixed sinker is immovably fixed to the tooth-side of the needle bed and forms a sinker loop of the knitted fabric that is locked to the needle bed, A movable sinker is positioned parallel to the fixed sinker in the needle bed and is swung to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth opening, The knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop, and the knitting needle's hook holds the old loop in place, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the new loop that holds the old loop in place, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn, and the knitting needle's hook, and the knitting needle's hook holds The aforementioned movable sinker is A braided thread catching section that captures the sinker loop when the sinker loop is pushed down, In a flat knitting machine, a first projection is positioned further from the tooth opening than the yarn-catching portion and interposed between the fixed sinker and the sinker loop when the sinker loop is pushed down, The movable sinker is equipped with a swinging mechanism that swings it between a retracted position and a pressed position. The aforementioned retraction position is the position where the thread-catching portion is located furthest from the sinker loop. The pressing position is a position in which the thread-catching portion is positioned to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth opening. The tip of the first projection in the retracted position is positioned so as to overlap with the braiding thread extending from the hook to the fixed sinker when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. The rocking mechanism, when rocking the movable sinker from the retracted position to the pressed position, rocks the movable sinker so that its tip moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper, and then rocks the movable sinker toward the pressed position. While the tip moves along the outer shape, the first projection overlaps the braiding thread extending from the fixed sinker to the hook when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. Flat knitting machine.

2. The flat knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the first projection in the retracted position overlaps with the knitting yarn extending from the hook to the loop stopper when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

3. The movable sinker comprises a first working piece including the thread-catching portion and the first projection, The flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first working piece of the movable sinker in the retracted position is positioned inside the outer edge of the fixed sinker when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

4. The first working piece includes a second projection positioned closer to the tooth opening than the thread-catching portion, The yarn-catching portion is positioned between the first projection and the second projection, The flat knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the second projection of the movable sinker in the retracted position is positioned above the needle bed, perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the knitting needle, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, compared to the knitting yarn extending from the fixed sinker to the hook.

5. The rocking mechanism comprises a plurality of cam portions formed on the movable sinker, and a plurality of cam receiving portions that engage with each of the plurality of cam portions. The flat knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of cam receiving parts are fixed immovably to the needle bed.

6. The movable sinker includes a restricting portion formed at a position closer to the loop stopper than the plurality of cam receiving portions, The flat knitting machine according to claim 5, wherein the restricting portion engages with a stopper member fixedly positioned on the needle bed when the movable sinker is in the retracted position, thereby restricting the movement of the movable sinker upward on the needle bed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement and retraction of the knitting needles.

7. The movable sinker is formed below the first working piece and includes a second working piece that acts on the knitted fabric to push the knitted fabric downwards below the teeth opening. The regulating portion is formed on the second working piece, as described in claim 6 of the flat knitting machine.

8. The flat knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loop stopper is composed of a wire with a circular cross-section that passes through the fixed sinker.

9. This is a method of knitting fabric using a flat knitting machine. The aforementioned flat knitting machine, A needle bed in which multiple knitting needles are arranged to move freely, A fixed sinker is immovably fixed to the tooth-side of the needle bed and forms a sinker loop of the knitted fabric that is locked to the needle bed, A movable sinker is positioned parallel to the fixed sinker in the needle bed and is swung to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth opening, A rocking mechanism that rocks the aforementioned movable sinker between a retracted position and a pressed position, The knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop, and the knitting needle's hook holds the old loop in place, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form a new loop that continues in the wale direction of the old loop, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the new loop that holds the old loop in place, and the knitting needle's hook pulls in the yarn to form The aforementioned movable sinker is A braided thread catching section that captures the sinker loop when the sinker loop is pushed down, It comprises a first projection positioned further from the tooth opening than the braided thread capturing portion, which is interposed between the fixed sinker and the sinker loop when the sinker loop is pushed down, The aforementioned rocking mechanism is, In the retracted position, the movable sinker is moved such that the thread-catching portion is positioned furthest from the sinker loop, and the tip of the first projection is positioned so as viewed from the length direction of the needle bed, it overlaps with the thread extending from the hook to the fixed sinker. At the aforementioned pressed position, the movable sinker is moved so that the thread-catching portion is positioned to push the sinker loop downward toward the tooth opening. Furthermore, when the knitting needle is advanced toward the teeth opening and the movable sinker is swung from the retracted position to the pressed position, the movable sinker is swung so that the tip moves along the outer shape of the loop stopper, and then the movable sinker is swung toward the pressed position. While the tip moves along the outer shape, the first projection overlaps the braiding thread extending from the fixed sinker to the hook when viewed from the length direction of the needle bed. Methods for knitting fabrics.

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