Electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine and control method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electromagnetic stepping three-dimensional rotary knitting machine, which includes a knitting machine chassis, its movement mechanism, an electromagnetic assisting system, a fabric pulling device, and an electronic control system. The movement mechanism of the knitting machine chassis is composed of adjacent cross-shaped shift forks, which drive the yarn carrier to move correctly according to a predetermined rule. The electromagnetic assisting system realizes the yarn carrier's position movement and stay between the movable members. The fabric pulling device lifts the woven fabric at a predetermined speed. The electronic control system transmits yarn carrier movement commands. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing three-dimensional structured fabrics using this machine. The electromagnetic stepping three-dimensional rotary knitting machine of the present invention innovatively realizes control of the yarn carrier's movement and stay using the electromagnetic assisting system. The mechanical structure and transmission mode are significantly simplified compared to conventional stepping rotary knitting machines, and it is easy to realize automatic digital formation of complex structured three-dimensional knitted fabrics.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of knitting machines, and more specifically to electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machines and control methods.

Background Art

[0002] Three-dimensional knitted fabrics can be used as composite material reinforcements, with stable structures, high designability, and can be integrally formed into near-net shapes. They have been successfully applied in the fields of aerospace, rail transportation, automobiles, and ships, and the corresponding three-dimensional knitting forming technologies and equipment have also developed better.

[0003] The three-dimensional knitting forming technology manufactures a three-dimensional knitting preform with a spatial three-dimensional network structure by driving a yarn carrier around which a spun yarn is wound by a knitting machine to draw the spun yarn and circulate and interweave it. The three-dimensional knitting preform can be manufactured by a matrix three-dimensional knitting machine and a rotary three-dimensional knitting machine. The rotary three-dimensional knitting machine moves the chassis movable member to rotate so that the yarn carrier regularly circulates and moves to interweave the spun yarn, and can be divided into a continuous rotary knitting machine and a stepping type rotary knitting machine.

[0004] The stepping type rotary knitting machine has an operation sequence for the rotation of the movable member, but can realize digital control of the movement trajectory of the yarn carrier, and is more suitable for forming three-dimensional knitting preforms with complex cross-sections. However, currently, the stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine for manufacturing three-dimensional knitting preforms has a complex structural configuration, and due to problems such as collisions and interferences between movable members during the operation process, it is difficult to be effectively controlled, resulting in a high failure rate of the equipment, affecting the weaving efficiency, and further restricting further popularization and application in the process field.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and enables the efficient molding of three-dimensional knitted preforms with complex cross-sections. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention further provides a control method for an electromagnetic stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to the present invention may employ the following technical solutions.

[0008] An electromagnetic stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine comprising an upper support plate, a plurality of cross-shaped shift forks attached to the support plate, a drive device for driving and rotating the cross-shaped shift forks, and a plurality of yarn carrier assemblies engaged with the cross-shaped shift forks, wherein the plurality of cross-shaped shift forks are uniformly mounted on the upper support plate in rows and columns, each cross-shaped shift fork includes a central rotation axis perpendicular to the surface of the upper support plate and inserted into the support plate, and four finger portions extending from the central rotation axis in four directions, each finger portion being an electromagnet structure and independently controlled for energization, the drive device drives all cross-shaped shift forks to rotate simultaneously, and the rotation directions of two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks are opposite, the yarn carrier assembly includes a yarn carrier base and a yarn carrier installed on the base, a support post made of ferromagnetic material for engaging with the finger portions is provided in the center of the yarn carrier base, and when energization is applied to the finger portion of one of the cross-shaped shift forks, it generates a magnetic force that attracts the support post and simultaneously moves the yarn carrier base to rotate.

[0009] Furthermore, the upper support plate is provided with multiple guide grooves, and one guide groove is provided in the center of each of two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks. A guide electromagnet is provided at the bottom of each guide groove. When current is applied to the fingers of one cross-shaped shift fork, the guide electromagnet is energized to generate an even greater magnetic force on the fingers, thereby attracting the support post into the guide groove.

[0010] Furthermore, the drive device includes a motor located below the upper support plate and a plurality of gear shafts arranged in rows and columns and parallel to each other, with one gear shaft coaxially connected to the central rotation axis of one cross-shaped shift fork, and each gear shaft having one gear, with two adjacent gears in each row or column meshing with each other, and one of the gear shafts being connected to the motor output shaft as the drive gear shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, the knitting machine is located above the yarn carrier assembly and further includes a fabric traction device for pulling the spun yarn wound around the yarn carrier assembly.

[0012] Furthermore, the yarn carrier base further includes an upper mounting block and a lower sliding block, the support post being located between the upper mounting block and the lower sliding block, and the bottom surface of the lower sliding block being boat-shaped, lower in the center and gradually rising at both ends, in order to engage with a guide groove.

[0013] Furthermore, although the support post is cylindrical, the tip of the finger portion has an arc-shaped groove that fits the cylindrical support post.

[0014] Furthermore, the knitting machine is further equipped with a lower support plate located below the upper support plate, the bottom of the gear shaft is attached to the lower support plate by a bearing, and a support shaft is provided between the upper and lower support plates, the bottom of which is fixed to the lower support plate, but the top of which is fixed to the upper support plate, and a through hole is provided in the center of the support shaft for introducing spun yarn in the axial direction.

[0015] The beneficial effects are as follows: Based on conventional stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machines, the present invention achieves control of the movement and stay of the yarn carrier using an electromagnetic adsorption method. Instead of the conventional stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine that moves the yarn carrier by linking casters and dials, the present invention provides an electromagnetic stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine. The electromagnetic stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine of the present invention has a simpler mechanical structure and transmission mode compared to conventional stepping-type three-dimensional rotary knitting machines, reducing the degree of friction and collision between moving mechanisms and the equipment failure rate, and making it easier to realize automatic and digital shaping of complex three-dimensional knitted fabrics.

[0016] The present invention further provides technical proposals for a control method of the electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine, and the selectable technical proposals are: Step S1 involves placing the yarn carrier assembly on the upper support plate according to the knitting needs, Step S2 involves activating the electromagnet structure in the finger to attract the yarn carrier assembly, Step S3 drives all the cross-shaped shift forks to rotate them simultaneously by 90°, Step S4 involves turning off the power to the electromagnet structure of the finger that is energized in S2, energizing the electromagnet structure of another cross-shaped shift fork finger adjacent to the finger that has been turned off, and sliding the yarn carrier assembly onto the energized finger. Step S5 involves raising the height of the fabric according to the design requirements of the fabric structure, The process includes step S6, in which the knitting machine repeats the above mechanical steps to cyclically form a woven fabric structure along a predetermined trajectory.

[0017] And, a technical proposal for another selectable control method is, Step S1 involves placing the yarn carrier assembly on the upper support plate according to the knitting needs, Step S2 involves activating the electromagnet structure of one finger to attract the yarn carrier assembly, Step S3 drives all the cross-shaped shift forks to rotate them simultaneously by 90°, Step S4 of activating the electromagnet in the guide groove until the yarn carrier assembly slides from the finger portion into the guide groove; Turn off the electromagnet structure of the finger portion during energization in S2, and energize the electromagnet structure of the finger portion of another cross-shaped shift fork adjacent to the finger portion that has been powered off until the yarn carrier assembly slides onto the finger portion during energization; Step S5; Step S6 of increasing the height of the fabric according to the design requirements of the fabric structure; Step S7 in which the knitting machine repeatedly performs the above mechanical steps to cyclically form a fabric structure in a predetermined trajectory, including.

[0018] Furthermore, the height of the fabric in Step S6 is

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Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the chassis of a knitting machine device and its moving mechanism according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view of a knitting machine moving mechanism and an electromagnetic auxiliary system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an oblique side view of a knitting machine moving mechanism and an electromagnetic auxiliary system according to the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a knitting machine yarn carrier base according to the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a knitting machine yarn carrier base and its yarn carrier according to the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the yarn carrier assembly during the knitting machine weaving process according to the present invention, showing the state in which the yarn carrier assembly is adsorbed by the first finger. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the yarn carrier assembly in the knitting machine weaving process according to the present invention, showing the state in which the yarn carrier assembly is moved so as to rotate by 90° by the first finger. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the yarn carrier assembly in the knitting machine weaving process according to the present invention, showing the state in which the yarn carrier assembly enters the guide groove while being attracted by an electromagnet in the guide groove. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the yarn carrier assembly in the knitting machine weaving process according to the present invention, showing the state in which the yarn carrier assembly is attracted by the second finger adjacent to the first finger. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic perspective diagram that summarizes the movement of the yarn carrier assembly shown in Figures 7 to 10 into a single figure. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the trajectory cover position of the yarn carrier according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the present invention discloses an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine comprising a knitting machine chassis 2, a fabric traction device 1, and an electronic control system 3. The fabric traction device 1 is for lifting the woven fabric at a predetermined speed. The electronic control system 3 transmits movement commands for the yarn carrier 5 and enables digital control of the movement trajectory of the knitting machine carrying the spun yarn.

[0022] An improvement in the structure for controlling the movement of the yarn carrier 5 in the chassis 2 of the knitting machine is a significant improvement over the prior art in this invention. The chassis 2 includes an upper support plate 6, a plurality of cross-shaped shift forks 10 attached to the support plate, a drive device for driving and rotating the cross-shaped shift forks 10, and a plurality of yarn carrier assemblies 23 engaged with the cross-shaped shift forks 10.

[0023] The plurality of cross-shaped shift forks 10 are uniformly mounted on the upper support plate 6 in rows and columns, and each cross-shaped shift fork 10 includes a central rotation axis 19 perpendicular to the surface of the upper support plate 6 and inserted into the upper support plate 6, and four finger portions 22 extending in four directions from the central rotation axis 19. Each finger portion 22 is an electromagnet structure and its energization is controlled independently. In this embodiment, the four finger portions 22 of the cross-shaped shift fork 10 extend perpendicularly to each other, so the whole thing takes on a "cross" shape. The drive device is for driving all the cross-shaped shift forks 10 to rotate simultaneously, and the rotation directions of two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks 10 are opposite. The electromagnet structure has finger portions made of ferromagnetic material and an energizable solenoid 13 enclosed.

[0024] The yarn carrier assembly 23 includes a yarn carrier base 14 and a yarn carrier 5 mounted on the base. A support post 18 made of ferromagnetic material is provided in the center of the yarn carrier base 14 for engaging with the finger portion 22. When current is applied to the finger portion 22 of one of the cross-shaped shift forks 10 within the base, a magnetic force is generated to attract the support post 18 and simultaneously cause the yarn carrier base 14 to rotate.

[0025] The drive device includes a motor located below the upper support plate 6 and a plurality of gear shafts arranged in rows and columns and parallel to each other, with one gear shaft coaxially connected to the central rotation axis 19 of a cross-shaped shift fork 10, and each gear shaft is provided with one gear 9, with two adjacent gears in each row or column meshing with each other, and one of the gear shafts being connected to the motor output shaft as the drive gear shaft. To support the gear shafts, this embodiment further includes a lower support plate 7 located below the upper support plate 6, the bottom of the gear shafts being attached to the lower support plate 7 by bearings, and a support shaft 8 being provided between the upper and lower support plates, the bottom of which is fixed to the lower support plate 7 but the top of which is fixed to the upper support plate 6, and a through hole for introducing axially oriented spun yarn is provided in the center of the support shaft 8.

[0026] As shown in Figure 7, as a further improvement, the upper support plate 6 is further provided with multiple guide grooves 11, one guide groove is provided in the center of each of the two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks 10, and one guide electromagnet 12 is provided at the bottom of each guide groove. When current is applied to the finger portion 22 of one cross-shaped shift fork 10 to rotate the support post 18 to a position facing the guide groove, the guide electromagnet 12 is energized to generate an even greater magnetic force on the finger portion 22 to attract the support post 18 into the guide groove. The guide grooves 11 act as an intermediate structure between the two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks 10, providing a positioning and retention device for the central trajectory when the yarn carrier assembly 23 moves between the two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks 10, thereby preventing the yarn carrier assembly from becoming misaligned. Furthermore, multiple guide grooves 11 and electromagnets 12 between the guide grooves may be installed on the four edges of the upper surface of the upper support plate 6, and when the finger portion 22 of the outermost cross-shaped shift fork 10 rotates the yarn carrier assembly 23 to the positions of the four edges of the upper surface of the upper support plate 6, the guide grooves 11 and electromagnets 12 on the four edges may be for the purpose of keeping the yarn carrier assembly 23 in place.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5-6, the yarn carrier base 14 further includes an upper mounting block 16 and a lower sliding block 17, and the support post 18 is located between the upper mounting block 16 and the lower sliding block 17, and the bottom surface of the lower sliding block 17 is boat-shaped, lower in the center and gradually rising at both ends in order to engage with the guide groove 11. The support post 18 is cylindrical, but the tip of the finger portion 22 is an arc-shaped recessed groove that fits the cylindrical support post 18. One or more yarn carriers 5 may be attached to the upper mounting block 16, and the amount of yarn spun by the knitting machine can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the number of yarn carriers 5.

[0028] When guide grooves 11 are installed, the control method for manufacturing a three-dimensional structured fabric using an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to the present invention is as follows: As shown in Figure 7, step S1 involves placing a yarn carrier assembly at the end of the cross-shaped shift fork 10, activating the electromagnet structure of the finger portion 22 of the cross-shaped shift fork 10 to supply DC power to the solenoid 13, and continuously increasing its current until it is firmly attracted to the yarn carrier assembly 23. As shown in Figure 8, step S2 involves activating the servo motor 20 mounted on the frame to drive the movement mechanism, causing the cross-shaped shift fork 10 to rotate synchronously by 90°, and simultaneously rotating the yarn carrier assembly 23 by 90° according to the cross-shaped dial. As shown in Figure 9, step S3 involves activating the electromagnet 12 in the guide groove 11 until the yarn carrier assembly 23 slides from the finger portion 22 of the cross-shaped shift fork into the guide groove 11, As shown in Figure 10, step S4 involves turning off the power to the electromagnet structure of the finger portion 22 of the cross-shaped shift fork 10 in step 3, and then energizing the electromagnet structure of the adjacent finger portion 22 of the cross-shaped shift fork 10, continuously increasing the current until it is firmly attracted to the yarn carrier assembly 23. As shown in Figure 11, after completing one knitting cycle, step S5 is performed in which the height of the fabric is raised by the fabric traction device 1 according to the design requirements of the fabric structure. The knitting machine repeatedly performs the above mechanical steps to cyclically form a fabric structure along a set trajectory, including step S6, where Figure 12 shows the range of the movable trajectory 21 of the yarn carrier assembly.

[0029] The electromagnetic power supply system is controlled by the knitting machine's electronic control system 3, and based on set parameters, it may selectively energize the electromagnetic structures of the finger portions 22 of any cross-shaped shift fork 10 and the electromagnets 12 between the guide grooves 11, or turn them off.

[0030] In the above step, there is a predetermined functional relationship between the fabric lifting height and the weaving parameters of the knitting machine, and

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[0031] Furthermore, a control method is provided for another embodiment of a knitting machine that does not have a guide groove 11. By removing step S3 in the above control method, the yarn carrier assembly can be moved directly from one finger to another adjacent finger, thereby achieving knitting control. A detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0032] There are many specific applications of the present invention, and the above description is merely a preferred embodiment. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various further improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine, It comprises an upper support plate (6), a plurality of cross-shaped shift forks (10) attached to the upper support plate (6), a drive device for driving and rotating the cross-shaped shift forks (10), and a plurality of yarn carrier assemblies (23) engaged with the cross-shaped shift forks (10), The plurality of cross-shaped shift forks (10) are uniformly mounted on the upper support plate (6) in rows and columns, and each cross-shaped shift fork (10) includes a central rotating shaft (19) perpendicular to the surface of the upper support plate (6) and inserted into the support plate, and four finger portions (22) extending from the central rotating shaft (19) in four directions, each finger portion (22) being an electromagnet structure and independently controlled for energization, and the drive device drives all cross-shaped shift forks (10) to rotate simultaneously, and the rotation directions of two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks (10) are opposite. The yarn carrier assembly (23) includes a yarn carrier base (14) and a yarn carrier (5) installed on the base, and a support post (18) made of ferromagnetic material is provided in the center of the yarn carrier base (14) for engaging with a finger portion (22), and when current is applied to the finger portion (22) of one of the cross-shaped shift forks (10) therein, a magnetic force is generated to attract the support post (18) and at the same time move the yarn carrier base (14) to rotate, characterized in that the yarn carrier assembly (23) includes a yarn carrier base (14) and a yarn carrier (5) installed on the base, and an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine.

2. The electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guide grooves (11) in the upper support plate (6), one guide groove (11) in the center of each of two adjacent cross-shaped shift forks (10), one guide electromagnet (12) provided at the bottom of each guide groove, and when current is applied to the finger portion (22) of one cross-shaped shift fork (10) to rotate the support post (18) to a position facing the guide groove (11), current is applied to the guide electromagnet (12) in order to generate an even greater magnetic force on the finger portion (22) and attract the support post (18) into the guide groove (11).

3. The drive device includes a motor located below the upper support plate (6) and a plurality of gear shafts arranged in rows and columns and parallel to each other, wherein one gear shaft is coaxially connected to the central rotation axis (19) of one cross-shaped shift fork (10), and each gear shaft is provided with one gear (9), two adjacent gears in each row or column mesh with each other, and one of the gear shafts is connected to the motor output shaft as a drive gear shaft, as described in claim 2.

4. The electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a fabric traction device (1) located above the yarn carrier assembly (23) for pulling the spun yarn wound around the yarn carrier assembly (23).

5. The electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the yarn carrier base (14) further includes an upper mounting block (16) and a lower sliding block (17), the support post (18) is located between the upper mounting block (16) and the lower sliding block (17), and the bottom surface of the lower sliding block (17) is boat-shaped, lower in the center and gradually rising at both ends, in order to engage with a guide groove (11).

6. The electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the support post (18) is cylindrical, but the tip of the finger portion (22) is an arc-shaped groove that fits the cylindrical support post (18).

7. The electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 3, further comprising a lower support plate (7) located below the upper support plate (6), wherein the bottom of the gear shaft is attached to the lower support plate (7) by a bearing, and a support shaft (8) is provided between the upper support plate and the lower support plate, the bottom of the support shaft (8) is fixed to the lower support plate (7), but the top is fixed to the upper support plate (6), and a through hole for introducing axially oriented spun yarn is provided in the center of the support shaft (8).

8. A control method for an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Step S1 involves placing the yarn carrier assembly (23) on the upper support plate (6) according to the knitting needs, Step S2 involves activating the electromagnet structure of the finger portion (22) to attract the yarn carrier assembly (23), Step S3 involves driving all the cross-shaped shift forks (10) and rotating them simultaneously by 90°, Step S4 involves turning off the power to the electromagnet structure of the energized finger portion (22) in S2, energizing the electromagnet structure of another cross-shaped shift fork (10) finger portion (22) adjacent to the finger portion that has been turned off, and sliding the yarn carrier assembly (23) onto the energized finger portion (22), Step S5 involves raising the height of the fabric according to the design requirements of the fabric structure, A control method for an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine, characterized by including step S6, in which the knitting machine repeats control steps S1 to S5 to cyclically form a woven fabric structure along a predetermined trajectory.

9. Step S1 involves placing the yarn carrier assembly (23) on the upper support plate (6) according to the knitting needs, Step S2 involves activating the electromagnet structure of one finger portion (22) to attract the yarn carrier assembly (23), Step S3 involves driving all the cross-shaped shift forks (10) and rotating them simultaneously by 90°, Step S3' involves activating the electromagnet in the guide groove (11) until the yarn carrier assembly (23) slides from the finger portion into the guide groove (11), Step S4 involves turning off the power to the electromagnet structure of the energized finger portion (22) in S2, and energizing the electromagnet structure of another cross-shaped shift fork (10) adjacent to the energized finger portion (22) until the yarn carrier assembly (23) slides onto the energized finger portion (22), Step S5 involves raising the height of the fabric according to the design requirements of the fabric structure, A control method for an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes step S6, in which the knitting machine repeats the control steps S1 to S5 to cyclically form a woven fabric structure along a predetermined trajectory.

10. The height of the fabric in step S5 is, [Math 3] Constrained by the equation, In the formula, v is the lifting speed of the fabric by the lifting mechanism (1), H is the pitch height of the fabric, W is the rotational angular velocity of the cross-shaped shift fork (10), and ΔT １ This is the time during which the electromagnet structure of the finger portion (22) generates a magnetic force when current is applied, and ΔT ２ The control method for an electromagnetic stepping type three-dimensional rotary knitting machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the time is the time during which an electromagnet in the guide groove (11) is energized to generate a magnetic force.

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