Bella needle

Abstract

To provide a latch needle capable of reducing impact energy when opening or closing a latch by reducing weight of the latch and sufficiently securing a contact area between the latch and a seat receiving part.SOLUTION: A latch 20 has a latch step part 21 to be inserted into a slit 13 and a spoon part 30 that is formed to be wider than the latch stem part 21 at a tip of the latch stem part 21. The latch 20 can rotate between a closed state in which a surface 31 of the spoon part 30 abuts against a hook 12 and an open state in which a rear surface 32 of the spoon part 30 abuts against a seat receiving part 14. Length W1 of the spoon part 30 when viewed from the rear surface 32 is set to be longer than length W2 of the spoon part 30 when viewed from the surface 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a troll needle having a hook and a troll at the tip. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of latch needle has a needle body with a hook-shaped tip and a latch that can be attached to and detached from the hook. The latch is rotatably attached to the needle body and is configured to open and close by alternately contacting the hook and the seat to form a loop. The latch needle is attached to a knitting machine and moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction. As the latch moves back and forth, it is pushed by the yarn and opens and closes, automatically forming a loop and knitting the yarn.

[0003] In order to improve the productivity of knit fabrics in such knitting machines, it is necessary to increase the opening and closing speed and frequency of the latch of the latch needle (for example, it is expected that the latch will open and close 1 million times per day, at a speed of 1.0 m / s or more). When the latch opens and closes at such a high speed, the impact load accumulates when the latch comes into contact with the needle body, which can cause fatigue failure (latch chipping) of the spoon part formed at the tip of the latch. In particular, stress is concentrated on the edge of the spoon part, which makes it prone to latch chipping.

[0004] When a loose end chip occurs, the knitting yarn may break, causing the knitting machine to stop. Furthermore, if knitting continues without the yarn breaking, the broken surface of the loose end chip may come into contact with the yarn, causing pilling, etc. Thus, loose end chips have been a cause of reduced productivity and quality of knit fabrics.

[0005] To address this issue, there is an idea to reduce the mass of the wrench, thereby reducing the impact energy when opening and closing the wrench and preventing wrench chipping. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an opening is formed in the wrench to reduce its mass. Also, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a recess is formed on the outside of the wrench's head to reduce its mass. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-71750 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-299071 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the latch needle described in Patent Document 1 has an opening formed in the latch, which may allow fly to get into the hole during knitting of the fabric, causing problems such as poor opening and closing of the latch or damage to the latch.

[0008] Furthermore, the latch needle described in Patent Document 2 has a recess formed on the outside of the latch, which reduces the contact area between the thread and the latch when the thread moves along the outside of the closed latch. When the thread moves along the outside of the closed latch, the thread tension is at its maximum, so the outside of the latch is prone to uneven wear due to repeated friction with the thread, which may cause fuzzing or thread breakage.

[0009] Furthermore, if the spoon portion of the swivel is made smaller, the mass of the swivel can be reduced, and the impact energy when the swivel is opened and closed can be reduced. However, if the spoon portion is made smaller, the area of ​​the back surface of the spoon portion will be smaller. The back surface of the spoon portion is the part that comes into contact with the seat of the needle body when the swivel is opened. If the area of ​​the back surface of the spoon portion is reduced, the contact area between the seat and the spoon portion will also be reduced, which may make it difficult to disperse the impact and cause the swivel to be damaged.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a latch needle that can reduce the mass of the latch and thereby reduce the impact energy when the latch is opened and closed, and can ensure a sufficient contact area between the latch and the seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a latch needle comprising a needle body with a hook-shaped tip, and a latch that is rotatably attached to the needle body and can be attached to and detached from the hook, wherein the needle body is formed with a slit into which the latch is inserted, and a seat that is wider than the slit is formed at the opening edge of the slit, and the latch comprises a latch stem that is inserted into the slit, and a latch at the tip of the latch stem. The shape of the belly button bulges outward from both sides of the body. The spatula is rotatable between a closed state in which the surface of the spoon part abuts against the hook and an open state in which the back surface of the spoon part abuts against the seat receiving part, and the length of the spoon part when viewed from the back surface is set longer than the length of the spoon part when viewed from the front surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As described above, the present invention is configured such that the length of the spoon portion when viewed from the back side is longer than the length of the spoon portion when viewed from the front side. This allows the back side of the spoon portion that contacts the seating portion to be larger than the front side of the spoon portion that contacts the hook. With this configuration, even if the spoon portion is made smaller to reduce the mass of the spatula, a large contact area with the seating portion can be ensured. Therefore, the mass of the spatula can be reduced, reducing the impact energy when opening and closing the spatula, while also ensuring a sufficient contact area between the spatula and the seating portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are enlarged views of a portion near the tip of the latch hook, in which (a) is a view of the closed state and (b) is a view of the open state. [Figure 2] 1A, 1B, and 1C are enlarged views of a portion of the cheek portion of a trapezoid, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a bottom view. [Figure 3] (a) Plan view, (b) front view, (c) side view, (d) back view, and (e) bottom view of the wrasse. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a wrasse. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the vicinity of the cheek portion of the latch needle in an open state, in which (a) is a partially enlarged perspective view, and (b) is a partially enlarged perspective view seen from a different angle. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are partially enlarged views showing the cheek portion and its surroundings of the open latch needle, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a side view shown with hidden lines. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are partially enlarged views showing the vicinity of the cheek portion of a conventional latch needle, in which (a) is a side view of Conventional Example 1 and (b) is a side view of Conventional Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The latch needle 10 according to this embodiment is attached to a circular knitting machine or a flat knitting machine as a knitting needle for stockinette knitting. As shown in Fig. 1 etc., the latch needle 10 comprises a needle body 11 with a hook-shaped hook 12 at its tip, and a latch 20 rotatably attached to the needle body 11 and detachable from the hook 12. The latch needle 10 knits fabric through the processes of yarn feeding and loop formation by opening and closing the latch 20. The latch 20 is rotatable between a closed state shown in Fig. 1(a) and an open state shown in Fig. 1(b).

[0015] This latch needle 10 can be used in a conventionally known knitting machine. Although not shown in the figures, a conventionally known knitting machine has a plurality of parallel grooves for attaching the latch needles 10. The latch needles 10 are slidably housed one by one in these grooves. When the knitting machine is operated, the latch needles 10 reciprocate in the longitudinal direction (the sliding direction D1 of the latch needle 10 shown in Figure 1), and the yarn set in the knitting machine is knitted into a fabric.

[0016] As the latch needle 10 reciprocates, it is pushed by the yarn, causing the latch 20 to open and close, automatically forming a loop and knitting the yarn. Specifically, when the latch needle 10 first moves in the forward direction P1, the loop of the knitting yarn held by the hook 12 disengages from the hook 12 and moves toward the needle body 11 (clear state). At this time, the latch 20 opens toward the needle body 11, opposite the hook 12, due to the tension of the knitting yarn. The latch needle 10 then moves in the direction opposite the forward direction P1. At this time, the yarn is caught on the hook 12 to create a new loop. After that, when the latch needle 10 moves further in the direction opposite the forward direction P1, it is pushed by the loop that was caught on the needle body 11 side, causing the latch 20 to rotate toward the hook 12 and close, and the hook 12 breaks through the loop (knockover state). By repeating this series of actions, a stitch is formed.

[0017] The needle body 11 according to this embodiment comprises a shaft (not shown) that is housed in a groove of a knitting machine, a cheek portion 16 that is provided closer to the tip of the shaft, and a hook 12 that is provided closer to the tip of the cheek portion 16. The cheek portion 16 and hook 12 shown in the figure are formed as a single, inseparable member integral with the shaft. The cheek portion 16 is a portion that supports the turntable 20 and is formed so that it can clamp and hold the turntable 20. As described above, the hook 12 is a hook-shaped portion that is bent in an approximately J-shape and is used to grip the yarn during knitting.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the cheek portion 16 is formed with a slit 13 into which the spatula 20 is inserted. The slit 13 is a groove formed with a constant width in the direction D2 shown in Fig. 2(a). The base end (the end opposite the tip) of the spatula 20 is inserted into the slit 13.

[0019] 2(b), the cheek portion 16 is provided with a rotation shaft 23. This rotation shaft 23 is the rotation axis of the vernier 20, with its axis in the D2 direction. In this embodiment, the rotation shaft 23 is formed by caulking the surface of the cheek portion 16 inward. This rotation shaft 23 is not limited to being caulked, and may also be formed using a pin, for example.

[0020] Also, a seat receiving portion 14 is formed on the opening edge 13a of the slit 13. The width of the seat receiving portion 14 in the direction D2 shown in FIG. 2(a) is formed to be wider than the width of the slit 13. This seat receiving portion 14 is a recess for seating the back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30, which will be described later. This seat receiving portion 14 is formed in a position where the back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30 abuts, corresponding to the shape of the back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30. This seat receiving portion 14 has a substantially oval opening when viewed from above as shown in FIG. 2(a). As shown in FIG. 3, the spatula 20 includes a spatula trunk portion 21 and a spoon portion 30.

[0021] The turntable trunk 21 is the part that is inserted into the above-mentioned slit 13. The turntable trunk 21 is formed in a thin plate shape, and its thickness (width as seen in the direction D2 of the rotation shaft 23 of the turntable 20) is constant. By forming the thickness of the turntable trunk 21 to be slightly narrower than the slit 13, the turntable trunk 21 can be inserted into the slit 13. A shaft hole 22 for inserting the rotation shaft 23 is formed through the base end of the turntable trunk 21. By inserting the rotation shaft 23 into this shaft hole 22, the turntable 20 is attached to the needle body 11 so as to be swingable around the rotation shaft 23.

[0022] The spoon portion 30 is a spoon-shaped portion formed at the tip of the swivel trunk portion 21, and is formed wider than the swivel trunk portion 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(a) and other figures, the spoon portion 30 is formed wider than the swivel trunk portion 21 when viewed in the direction D2 of the rotation axis 23 of the swivel 20. In other words, the spoon portion 30 has a shape that bulges outward from both side surfaces of the swivel trunk portion 21. The spoon portion 30 bulges outward more than the width of the slit 13, and therefore does not enter the slit 13.

[0023] The spoon portion 30 has a surface 31 formed with a recess 31a that engages with the hook 12. The back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30 (the surface opposite to the surface 31) forms a curved surface that is approximately ellipsoidal. In the closed state, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the surface 31 of the spoon portion 30 abuts against the hook 12. At this time, the tip of the hook 12 is held in the recess 31a of the spoon portion 30. In the open state, as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 5, the back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30 abuts against the seat receiving portion 14. In this way, the spatula 20 is rotatable between the closed state and the open state.

[0024] Incidentally, the reference numeral 35 shown in FIG. 3(c) denotes the boundary line 35 between the spatula trunk 21 and the spoon portion 30 when the spatula 20 is viewed from the side 33 (a surface perpendicular to the pivot shaft 23). In other words, this boundary line 35 indicates the position where the spoon portion 30 begins to bulge from the side surface 33 of the spatula trunk 21. As shown in FIG. 3(c), when the spatula 20 is viewed from the side surface 33, the boundary line 35 is formed obliquely so as to gradually move toward the tip direction P2 of the spatula 20 as it moves from the back surface 32 to the front surface 31 (as the boundary line 35 is traced from top to bottom in FIG. 3(c)). In other words, the length W1 of the spoon portion 30 when viewed from the back surface 32 is set longer than the length W2 of the spoon portion 30 when viewed from the front surface 31.

[0025] The length of spoon part 30 as viewed from front surface 31 refers to the length of spoon part 30 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to front surface 31, as shown in Figure 3(c). Similarly, the length of spoon part 30 as viewed from back surface 32 refers to the length of spoon part 30 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to back surface 32.

[0026] By forming boundary line 35 in this way and making spoon portion 30 smaller on front surface 31 side and larger on back surface 32 side, it is possible to ensure a large contact area between spoon portion 30 and seat receiving portion 14 in the open state even if the volume of spoon portion 30 is reduced. Note that boundary line 35 may be a straight line or a curved line.

[0027] In the open state, as shown in Figure 6(c), the spatula 20 does not contact the bottom surface 13b of the slit 13. Therefore, the entire load of the spatula 20 is borne by the seat receiving portion 14. According to this embodiment, the back surface 32 of the spoon portion 30 can be enlarged, so that the load can be distributed and borne over a wide area.

[0028] In this embodiment, in the open state shown in Figure 6(c), the boundary line 35 between the main part 21 of the latch hook and the spoon part 30 is formed obliquely with respect to the sliding direction D1 of the latch hook 10 so as to move from the front surface 31 to the back surface 32 (following the boundary line 35 from top to bottom in Figure 6(c)) toward the tip P1 of the latch hook 10.

[0029] In other words, in the open state shown in Figure 6(c), when the end of the boundary line 35 on the back surface 32 side is the first end 35a and the end of the boundary line 35 on the front surface 31 side is the second end 35b, the first end 35a is formed to be positioned further in the tip direction P1 of the latch needle 10 than the second end 35b. Therefore, boundary line 35 runs in a direction that increases the contact area between seat receiving portion 14 and spoon portion 30, and the load can be distributed and received over a wide area.

[0030] In most conventional latch hooks 10, as shown in FIG. 7, the length of the spoon portion 30 when viewed from the back surface 32 is equal to the length of the spoon portion 30 when viewed from the front surface 31. Furthermore, in the open state, the boundary 35 between the latch main body 21 and the spoon portion 30 slopes toward the rear end of the latch hook 10 from the front surface 31 to the back surface 32. In this conventional configuration, in order to increase the contact area between the seat 14 and the spoon portion 30, it was necessary to enlarge the spoon portion 30 as shown in FIG. 7(a). However, enlarging the spoon portion 30 increases the impact load due to acceleration, which may result in the latch chipping. Furthermore, if an attempt is made to reduce the size of the latch 20 by reducing the spoon portion 30, the contact area between the seat 14 and the spoon portion 30 decreases as shown in FIG. 7(b), which makes it difficult to distribute the impact load and may result in the latch chipping.

[0031] In this regard, with the latch hook 10 according to this embodiment, the back surface 32 of the spoon part 30 that abuts against the seating portion 14 can be ensured to be larger than the front surface 31 of the spoon part 30 that abuts against the hook 12. Therefore, even if the spoon part 30 is made smaller and the mass of the latch 20 is reduced, a large contact area can be ensured between the spoon part 30 and the seating portion 14. In other words, by reducing the mass of the latch 20, the impact energy when the latch 20 is opened and closed can be reduced, and by ensuring a sufficient contact area between the latch 20 and the seating portion 14, the impact when clearing can be dispersed.

[0032] Note that seat receiving portion 14 according to this embodiment is formed to match the shape of back surface 32 of spoon portion 30 so as to maximize the contact area with spoon portion 30. As shown in FIG. 2(b), seat receiving portion 14 has seat surface 14c that comes into contact with spoon portion 30. It is desirable that the entire seat surface 14c comes into contact with spoon portion 30. To achieve this, it is desirable to form seat surface 14c along the shape of back surface 32 of spoon portion 30.

[0033] For example, reference numeral 14a in FIG. 2(b) indicates the position closest to the tip of the latch needle 10 in the opening of the seat receiving portion 14 (opening front end 14a). Reference numeral 14b indicates the position closest to the opposite tip of the latch needle 10 in the opening of the seat receiving portion 14 (opening rear end 14b). Reference numeral 14d indicates the position closest to the tip of the latch needle 10 in the seating surface 14c (seat surface front end 14d). In this case, since the seating surface front end 14d is located further in the tip direction P1 of the latch needle 10 than the opening front end 14a, the seating surface 14c is formed to be recessed further inward than the opening. In this way, the seating surface 14c may be formed to be recessed further in the tip direction P1 of the latch needle 10 than the opening of the seat receiving portion 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Bella needle 11 Needle body 12 Hooks 13 Slit 13a Opening edge 13b Bottom 14 Seat 14a Opening front end 14b Rear end of opening 14c seat surface 14d Front end of seat surface 16 Cheek 20 Bella 21 Bella Executive 22 shaft hole 23 Rotating shaft 30 Spoon section 31 Surface 31a Depression 32 Back side 33 Side 35 Borderline 35a 1st end 35b 2nd end D1 Sliding direction of the latch needle D2 Rotation axis direction of the bellows P1 Tip direction of the hook P2 Tip direction of the wrasse W1 Length of spoon when viewed from the back W2: Length of spoon when viewed from the surface

Claims

1. A needle body with a hook-shaped tip, a rake attached to the needle body so as to be rotatable and detachable from the hook; A latch hook comprising: The needle body is formed with a slit into which the verruca is inserted, and a seat portion wider than the slit is formed at the opening edge of the slit, The spatula comprises a spatula trunk inserted into the slit, and a spoon portion formed at the tip of the spatula trunk in a shape bulging outward from both side surfaces of the spatula trunk, The spatula is rotatable between a closed state in which the surface of the spoon part abuts against the hook and an open state in which the back surface of the spoon part abuts against the seat, The length of the spoon portion when viewed from the back side is set to be longer than the length of the spoon portion when viewed from the front side. Bella needle.

2. The boundary line between the spatula trunk and the spoon part is formed obliquely so as to go from the back surface to the front surface when viewing the spatula from the side, The troll needle according to claim 1.

3. In the open state, the boundary line between the latch stem and the spoon part is inclined with respect to the sliding direction of the latch needle so as to move from the front surface to the back surface toward the tip of the latch needle. The troll needle according to claim 1.

4. When the boundary line between the spatula trunk part and the spoon part is defined as a first end and a second end, In the open state, the first end is formed to be located further toward the tip of the latch needle than the second end. The troll needle according to claim 1.

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