Knitting systems and knitting machine needles

Abstract

The knitting system 18 and needle 1 include a bent portion 9 with at least one recess 11 arranged on at least one side surface 23 of the needle 1 and / or are formed so that there is a shank offset S in the circumferential direction U between the working portion 10 of the needle 1 and the shank portion 8 of the needle 1, which exhibits greater stability and reduced power consumption during the knitting process.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Over the years, a wide variety of knitting machines and loop-forming needles have been known. In knitting machines, a needle guide means is usually used that includes a groove facing the working direction, and the loop-forming needle is guided in this groove and can move translationally along the longitudinal direction of the groove. In circular knitting machines, these needle guide means are typically a knitting tube that is basically cylindrical, with its cylindrical axis facing the working direction. The groove is located on the cylindrical bottom surface of the knitting tube. In flat knitting machines, these needle guide means are typically a needle bed that is basically rectangular in shape. The groove in such a needle bed is located on the planar bottom surface of the needle bed, and this planar bottom surface is oriented in the height direction. The height direction is perpendicular to the working direction. Both the needle bed of a flat knitting machine and the knitting tube of a circular knitting machine constitute a needle guide means. In most cases, the needle has a loop-forming element (mostly hook-shaped) at its front end, which allows loops to be formed during the knitting process. The needle guide means has a plurality of grooves arranged side by side at a predetermined distance apart along the circumferential direction of the needle guide means, the distance corresponding to the pitch. Here, the circumferential direction is perpendicular to the working direction and the height direction and extends along the bottom region of the needle guide means. Therefore, in the case of a knitting tube, the circumferential direction always extends tangentially along the cylindrical bottom region of the knitting tube. Each needle includes at least one drive butt portion, which allows it to move translationally. For this purpose, the drive butt portion of the needle engages with a cam having a curved outer shape in the circumferential direction of the needle guide means. The relative circumferential motion of the cam and the guide means initiates the translational motion of the drive butt portion of the needle in the working direction.

[0002] International Publication No. 2012 / 055591 discloses a knitting machine having needles guided in a sliding groove or guide groove at the rear shank portion and guided in a loop-forming groove or edge groove at the front working portion. The guide groove and edge groove are located on the knitting tube, and the associated guide groove and edge groove are offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the knitting tube. Each loop-forming needle is guided in its own guide groove and edge groove, and this offset can be compensated for by elastic bending. In this way, a needle that is originally straight can be guided in both the guide groove and the edge groove which is circumferentially offset with respect to the guide groove. However, known loop-forming needles with a large needle pitch, i.e., a large shank width, are not designed to accommodate such loads. Therefore, such loop-forming needles have a shorter service life and consume more power than ordinary loop-forming needles. [Overview of the project]

[0003] Therefore, based on prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a knitting system and needle that exhibits higher stability, is less prone to wear, and requires less power than conventionally known knitting systems and needles.

[0004] This objective is achieved by the means of claims 1 and 11. The knitting system comprises a needle guide means having a bottom surface oriented in the height direction, and at least one guide groove positioned on the bottom surface of the needle guide means and extending substantially in the working direction. The working direction is perpendicular to the height direction. At least one edge groove is positioned on the bottom surface of the needle guide means and is offset in the circumferential and working directions with respect to at least one guide groove. The circumferential direction extends on the bottom surface of the needle guide means perpendicular to the working direction and the height direction. At least one needle has a working portion with a loop-forming element incorporated at a first end facing the positive working direction, and a shank portion at a second end facing the negative working direction. A bent portion is interposed between the shank portion and the working portion such that at least one needle has a bend having circumferential and working direction components. The working portion of at least one needle is housed in the loop-forming groove, and the shank portion of at least one needle is housed in the guide groove. It is advantageous that at least one of the curved portions of a needle has at least one recess oriented circumferentially or vertically on at least one of its side surfaces, and / or that at least one of the curved portions of a needle is formed to be plastic in such a way that it creates a plastic shank offset between the working portion and the shank portion in the circumferential direction. In this specification, a side surface refers to a surface that forms a boundary of the needle in the circumferential and vertical directions. It is particularly advantageous that at least one of the curved portions of a needle has at least two recesses oriented circumferentially or vertically on at least one of its side surfaces. For example, multiple recesses may be formed on the same side surface, or one recess may be formed on each of two side surfaces. It is also possible to have at least one recess on a side surface oriented circumferentially and at least one recess on a side surface oriented vertically. The circumferential offset between the edge groove and the guide groove is compensated by the needle through the elastic or plastic bending of its curved portion. In this way, for the first time, it becomes possible to house the shank portion of the needle in the guide groove and the working portion of the needle in the edge groove that is circumferentially offset from the guide groove. The shank portion and working portion of the needle, having a recess in the bent portion, can be made more stable without requiring a high bending force to bend the bent portion.For example, the height of the needle can be increased. Increasing the height of the needle in the shank portion allows the driving force transmitted from the cam to the needle's drive butt to be better supported in the guide groove with a lower load due to the prying effect. As a result, this type of needle not only exhibits greater stability but is also less prone to wear and requires less power. The guide groove and edge groove can be manufactured in different ways, for example, by machining. Alternatively, the groove (both guide groove and edge groove) can be formed by walls inserted into the bottom surface, which protrude above the bottom surface, forming grooves with adjacent walls. In a knitting system according to the present invention, the guide groove and edge groove can be made by any conventionally known manufacturing and construction methods for this purpose. For at least one needle recess, it is advantageous to manufacture the recess by machining processes such as grinding or milling, and / or forming processes such as rolling, and / or cutting processes such as punching. Grinded recesses are particularly advantageous. Recesses, particularly ground recesses, can be manufactured inexpensively and accurately by machining and forming methods. In the recessed area, the cross-sectional area of ​​the needle is smaller than in the surrounding area.

[0005] It is even more advantageous if at least one recess on a circumferentially oriented side has a recess depth of 10 μm to 100 μm, preferably 30 μm to 70 μm, and / or at least one recess on a height-oriented side has a recess depth of 150 μm to 500 μm, preferably 200 μm to 400 μm. Recess depth as used herein is the depth to which the surface of the recess (recessed surface) is recessed compared to the side on which the recess is formed. Therefore, in the case of a recess on a circumferentially oriented side, the recessed surface also faces circumferentially, and in the case of a recess on a height-oriented side, the recessed surface also faces height. If the recess is too deep, the needle becomes too weak at the bending portion. In this case, the advantages resulting from improved needle support by the driving force cannot be realized, particularly in the shank portion. On the other hand, if the recess is not deep enough, the stability of the needle in the shank portion and working portion cannot be sufficiently improved. The above range of selection has proven advantageous for ordinary needles with a width of less than 0.6 mm and a height of less than 4 mm.

[0006] It is advantageous for at least one recess to extend across the entire height of the needle in the vertical direction perpendicular to the working direction and circumferential direction. A recess extending across the entire height of the needle requires less complex manufacturing methods than a recess extending across only a portion of the needle's height. However, a recess extending up to 90%, preferably up to 80%, of the needle's height is also advantageous. It is also possible to optimize the bending properties of the needle using a recess that does not extend across the entire height of the needle.

[0007] It is advantageous if at least one recess extends over the entire length of the bent portion of the needle in the working direction. Thus, the length of the bent portion in the working direction is the same as the length of the recess corresponding to the extension of the recess in the working direction. Further advantages are obtained if at least one recess extends over up to 80%, preferably up to 50%, of the bent portion in the working direction. In this way, the length of the recess is less than the length of the bent portion in the working direction. In particular, the needle can be bent even where there is no recess. It is particularly advantageous if at least two recesses are formed on one of the circumferentially facing sides of the needle. In this way, multiple recesses are defined on the same side. It is also possible to have one or more recesses on each of multiple sides. It is advantageous if at least two recesses provided on a side are spaced apart from each other in the working direction and / or the height direction.

[0008] Particularly advantageous is the case in the knitting system where at least one recess of at least one needle is completely outside at least one edge groove and / or at least one guide groove in the extended and / or retracted state. As described above, the needle is capable of translational movement in the working direction within the edge groove and guide groove. In this case, the extended state of the needle is the state in which the loop-forming element of the needle protrudes furthest from the edge groove in the working direction. The retracted state of the needle is the state in which the loop-forming element protrudes the shortest distance from the edge groove in the working direction. In both the extended and retracted states, the working portion is housed in the edge groove and the shank portion is housed in the guide groove. The knitting system is configured such that the recess of the bent portion of the needle does not engage with either the edge groove or the guide groove when the needle is in the extended or retracted state, thereby preventing large amounts of dirt (e.g., lint, worn metal, or dust) generated during the knitting process from being introduced into the guide groove and edge groove via the recess. This reduces friction and is advantageous in terms of wear and power consumption of the knitting system.

[0009] It is even more advantageous if, in the retracted state, at least one recess of at least one needle is outside at least one guide groove for at least 60%, preferably 80%, of the length of the recess corresponding to the extension of the recess in the working direction, and / or if, in the stretched state, at least one recess of at least one needle is outside at least one edge groove for at least 60%, preferably 80%, of the length of the recess. Depending on the requirements imposed on the knitting system and the knitted fabric produced, it may not be possible to configure the knitting system such that the recess is completely outside the guide groove in the retracted state and / or outside the edge groove in the stretched state. In this case, it is advantageous that at least 60% of the recess length corresponding to the extension of the recess in the working direction is outside the guide groove and / or edge groove. In this case, the amount of dirt introduced into the guide groove and / or edge groove will not be so as to negate the described advantages of the knitting system according to the present invention.

[0010] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the knitting system includes at least one drive butt portion positioned on the shank of at least one needle and projecting above the surrounding shank portion in the height direction, and a bending portion clearance corresponding to the distance in the working direction between the at least one drive butt portion and the bending portion, wherein the bending portion clearance is at least the same in magnitude as the stretch length corresponding to the path of the needle in the working direction between the retracted state and the stretched state. In this way, the area of ​​the drive butt portion of the needle is always housed in the guide groove, and the driving force acting on the drive butt portion is better supported. The portion of the needle that is in direct contact with the boundary of the drive butt portion is subjected to high mechanical loads. Similarly, the bending portion of the needle is constantly (alternatingly during the knitting process) elastically bent and therefore must withstand high mechanical loads. To avoid such high loads overlapping in the transition region, it is advantageous that the drive butt portion is sufficiently far from the bending portion.

[0011] Further advantages are gained if the working portion and shank portion of at least one needle extend substantially parallel to each other in the working direction. When the working portion and guide portion extend parallel to each other in the working direction and the needle moves in translational motion, the loop-forming element performs linear motion in the working direction. If there is an angular offset between the shank portion and the drive portion, additional circumferential movement of the loop-forming element may occur. This can lead to defects in the stitches and an uneven loop structure. Furthermore, the force between the working portion and the edge groove of the needle increases, resulting in increased wear and power consumption. In this context, the parallel movement of the two parts is ideal. In most cases, manufacturing tolerances and play between the needle and their respective guide grooves and edge grooves result in a small angular offset between the working portion and the shank portion. The expression "substantially parallel" in this case means that the working portion and the shank portion are as parallel as possible within the technical tolerances of the manufacturing methods commonly used.

[0012] Furthermore, advantageously, a knitting system according to the present invention includes at least one guide wall that restricts at least one guide groove in the circumferential direction, and at least one additional bar adjacent to the at least one guide wall in the working direction and positioned on the bottom surface of the needle guide means. Guide wall width (b FS ) and additional bar width (b HS The width ratio (V) (i.e., V = b FS / b HS Regarding ), 2.0 ≤ V ≤ 2.5, Preferably, 2.1 ≤ V ≤ 2.4 The following holds true. The use of additional bars to support sinker holders (also called sinker rings in relation to the knitting tubes of a circular knitting machine) in which sinker grooves are located for additional knitting tools (e.g., sinkers) involved in the knitting process has been known for many years. However, additional bars known hitherto generally have the same width in the circumferential direction as the adjacent guide walls. In the case of the knitting system according to the present invention, the additional bar and the bent portion of the needle are located at the same height in the working direction. In order to prevent collision and friction between the bent portion of the needle and the additional bar, it is advantageous to configure the additional bar to be narrower than the guide wall, and in particular the above-mentioned size ratio is taken into account. Since contact points can be avoided, the power consumption of the entire knitting system is reduced, and wear is also reduced. In order to ensure correct function, it is not necessary to provide an additional bar adjacent to every guide wall. Rather, the number of additional bars may be less than the number of guide walls.

[0013] There is a circumferential shank offset S between a working portion center line extending centrally of the working portion along the longitudinal direction of the tool and a shank portion center line extending centrally of the shank portion along the longitudinal direction of the tool, which is a plastic shank offset S PL and an elastic shank offset S resulting from elastic deformation EL , that is, S = S PL + S EL , which is further advantageous. Here, for the shank offset, as a function of the pitch t and the shank width d S , S = (t - d S ) / 2 holds true. In order to compensate for the shank offset between the guide groove and the edge groove, in addition to complete elastic bending and complete plastic bending, it is advantageous to superimpose plastic bending and elastic bending on the bent portion. The plastic component of the bending reduces the proportion of shank offset that must be compensated by elastic bending, and as a result, the bending force and component load caused by elastic deformation are reduced. This is advantageous particularly when the pitch is large, that is, when the shank offset is large.

[0014] It is advantageous if the shank portions of at least two needles are accommodated in one same guide groove. Walls are required to form the guide grooves. Lateral forces acting on the drive butt portions of the needles are discharged onto these walls. When two or more needles are accommodated in the same guide groove, the number of guide grooves required for a predetermined number of needles, and consequently the number of guide walls, is reduced, so that installation space can be utilized more effectively. As a result, it becomes possible to operate more needles to obtain a finer pitch without changing the circumferential dimension of the needle guide means (for example, in the case of a knitting cylinder, without increasing the circumference or diameter of the cylinder).

[0015] a loop forming element arranged at a first end that is the positive working direction of the needle, a shank portion that is suitable for being accommodated in a guide groove of a needle guide means and arranged at a second end facing the negative working direction of the needle, a working portion in which the loop forming element is incorporated and which is suitable for being accommodated in an edge groove of the needle guide means, a bent portion interposed between the shank portion and the working portion in the working direction, wherein in the bent portion of the needle, at least one recess facing the circumferential direction or the height direction is provided on at least one side surface of the needle, and / or the bent portion is formed to have plasticity so as to produce a plastic shank offset between the working portion and the shank portion in a width direction perpendicular to the working direction, and a needle having this feature is also advantageous. This plastic shank offset exists even when no external force acts on the needle. In the case of a needle guide means in which the guide groove and the edge groove are arranged such that the needle compensates for the circumferential offset between the working portion and the shank portion, conventionally known needles are subjected to high elastic deformation. In such a case, since the needle undergoes plastic deformation, the elastic deformation and the force required for the elastic deformation are also reduced.

[0016] It is advantageous that at least one recess on the circumferentially oriented side surface has a recess depth of 10 μm to 100 μm, preferably 30 μm to 70 μm, and / or at least one recess on the height-oriented side surface has a recess depth of 150 μm to 500 μm, preferably 200 μm to 400 μm. If the recess is too deep, the needle will be too weakened at the bending portion. On the other hand, if the recess is not deep enough, the stability of the needle in the shank and working portion cannot be sufficiently improved. The above selection range has proven advantageous for ordinary needles with a width of less than 0.6 mm, as it provides a favorable effect with respect to the stability and wear resistance of the shank and working portion, while simultaneously preventing the needle from becoming too weakened at the bending portion.

[0017] It is even more advantageous if at least one recess extends across the entire height of the needle in the height direction perpendicular to the working direction and width direction. A recess that extends across the entire height of the needle requires less complex manufacturing methods than a recess that extends across only a portion of the needle's height.

[0018] However, recesses that extend in the height direction over up to 90%, preferably up to 80%, of the needle height are also advantageous. It is particularly advantageous if the height of the recess in the height direction (i.e., recess height) is up to 90%, preferably up to 80%, of the needle height. By using recesses that do not extend over the entire height of the needle, the bending properties of the needle can be particularly adapted to the knitting system. Thus, the height extension of the recess relative to the height of the needle affects the stiffness and strength of the needle at the bending portion.

[0019] It is also advantageous if the working portion and the shank portion extend substantially parallel to each other in the working direction. During the knitting process, knitting machine needles generally perform a complete translational motion in the working direction of the needle. The parallelism of the working portion and the shank portion is advantageous for precise knitting motion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1]Figure 1 shows a part of the needle guide means 3 having a guide groove 4 and an edge groove 6, an additional bar 21, a needle 1, and a sinker holder 17. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of needle 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a top view of the needle 1 in a state where there is neither plastic nor elastic deformation in the bent portion 9. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail A in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a top view showing the bottom surface 12 of the needle guide means 3 having guide grooves 4 and edge grooves 6, an additional bar 21, and needles in an extended state and a retracted state. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a magnified view of the details in Figure 5, showing the distance between the two shank portion centerlines 27, corresponding to the pitch t, ​​shank offset S, and shank width dS. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the loop-forming needle 1 that has undergone plastic deformation at the bent portion 9. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the needle 1 that has undergone plastic deformation at the bent portion 9, and the state in which the loop-forming needle 1 has undergone both plastic and elastic deformation in conjunction with it. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows a needle 1 having a recess 11 that extends in the height direction H over less than 80% of the needle's height 13. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the HU surface passing through needle 1 in Figure 9 at the location of recess 11. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows a needle 1 having two recesses 11 located on a side surface 23 facing the height direction H. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows a cross-section of the HU surface passing through the needle 1 in Figure 11 at the location of the recess 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a part of a needle guide means 3 having multiple guide grooves 4. The guide grooves 4 are arranged on the bottom surface 12 of the needle guide means 3, spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction U by guide walls 5. Multiple edge grooves 6 are offset from the guide grooves 4 in the working direction A and the circumferential direction U and are arranged on the bottom surface 12 of the needle guide means 3. The multiple edge grooves 6 are also spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction U by edge walls 7. Additional bars 21 are adjacent to every other guide wall 5 in the working direction A and support sinker holders 17 suitable for guiding sinkers into sinker grooves 20 that extend in the height direction H. Multiple needles 1 are arranged in the guide grooves 4 and edge grooves 6. In this case, two needles 1 are always arranged together in one guide groove 4, and each needle 1 is always arranged individually in the edge grooves 6.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a side view of the needle 1. The needle 1 has a working portion 10 at its front end facing the working direction A, into which a hook-shaped loop-forming element 2 is incorporated. The working portion 10 is suitable for being housed in the edge groove 6 of the needle guide means 3. The needle 1 includes a shank portion 8 at the other end, away from the loop-forming element 2. This shank portion 8 is suitable for being housed in the guide groove 4 of the needle guide means 3. A bent portion 9 is interposed between the shank portion 8 and the working portion 10. The needle height (height of the needle) 13 is the height in the height direction H at the bent portion 9 of the needle 1. The side surface 23 forms the boundary of the needle 1 in the circumferential direction U and the height direction H. At the bent portion 9, the recess 11 is formed on the side surface 23 facing the circumferential direction U and extends along the entire length of the bent portion 9 in the working direction A and along the entire needle height 13 in the height direction H. A drive butt portion 16 is positioned on the shank portion 8, and the distance between the drive butt portion 16 and the bent portion 9 (i.e., the bent portion clearance 19) is greater than the drive butt portion length 14. When the needle 1 is in operation, the drive butt portion 16 is driven to perform translational motion in the operating direction A by the introduction of force in the drive butt portion 16. The needle is formed to be elastically deformable and / or plastic at the bent portion 9, thereby offsetting the working portion 10 and the shank portion 8 from each other in the circumferential direction U. From an ideal viewpoint, the working portion 10 and the shank portion 8 are always precisely parallel to each other along the working direction.

[0023] Figure 3 is a top view showing the needle 1 of Figure 2 in a state where there is no plastic or elastic deformation in the bent portion 9. The divisions of the shank portion 8, the bent portion 9, and the working portion 10 correspond to the divisions in Figure 2. The shank portion 8, the bent portion 9, and the working portion 10 are precisely located on the centerline 15 without offsetting each other in the circumferential direction U. The needle 1 has a loop-forming element 2 formed as a hook at its front end in the working direction A. The bent portion 9 has recesses 11 formed on both sides 23 facing the circumferential direction U. However, in all embodiments of the knitting system, a needle 1 having only one recess 11 formed on one side 23 of the bent portion 9 facing the circumferential direction U or one side 23 facing the height direction H is also advantageous. Figure 3 also shows the position of the fine A, which is shown in an enlarged view in Figure 4.

[0024] Figure 4 is a detailed view of Figure 3, part A. Each of the two recesses 11 is the width of the circumferential U of the needle 1 in the bent portion 9, i.e., the width d of the bent portion. B The shank portion width d S and working section width d A Compared to that, the recess depth is reduced by 22. The recess depth 22 is within the selection range described above. To make the recess 11 clearer, the recess depth 22 is not drawn to scale in the figure, but is enlarged in comparison to the other components of the needle.

[0025] Figure 5 is a top view of a portion of the bottom surface 12 of the needle guide means 3. This needle guide means may be a knitting tube for a circular knitting machine or a needle bed for a flat knitting machine. The relevant features of Figure 5 can be applied to both variations of the needle guide means 3. At the left end of the drawing, a plurality of guide grooves 4 are shown, one of which houses two needles 1. That is, the shank portions 8 of these needles 1 are positioned adjacent to each other within the guide groove 4. The working portions 10 of the two needles 1 are each positioned in edge grooves 6. A plurality of guide grooves 4 are shown, spaced apart from each other by guide walls 5. A plurality of edge grooves 6 are similarly shown, spaced apart from each other by edge walls 7. For clarity, only one guide groove 4, one edge groove 6, one guide wall 5, and one edge wall 7 are labeled with reference numerals. The lower needle 1 in Figure 5 is shown in an extended state with the loop-forming element 2 protruding to its maximum extent from the edge groove 6. In contrast, the upper needle 1 of the two needles 1 in Figure 5 is shown in a retracted state where the loop-forming element 2 protrudes minimally from the edge groove 6. In the extended state, the needle 1 is displaced by an extension length 25 in the working direction A relative to its position in the retracted state. In the extended state (lower needle), the recess 11 of the lower needle 1 is completely outside the guide groove 4 and the edge groove 6. Since this is the end position during translational movement in the positive working direction A, the recess 11 does not reach the edge groove 6 at any other position while the needle is moving. In this way, the introduction of dirt into the edge groove is reduced. In the retracted state (upper needle 1), the recess 11 of the upper needle 1 is completely outside the edge groove 6, and two-thirds of the recess length 24 is outside the guide groove 4. Since this is the end position during translational movement in the negative working direction A, there are no other positions during the needle's movement where the recess 11 is outside the guide groove 6 and less than two-thirds of the recess length 24. In Figure 5, an additional bar 21 is adjacent to each of the two guide walls 5. The width of the additional bar b of both additional bars 21 is... HS The guide wall width b FS Smaller than. This prevents the needle 1 from contacting the additional bar 21 at its bent portion 9 in the event of excessive deformation. Guide wall width b FS and additional bar width b HSA favorable range of size ratios between and are already defined herein. In this embodiment, the two additional bars 21 have different additional bar widths b HS It has at least two, preferably all, additional bars 21 with the same additional bar width b. HS Having it is also advantageous.

[0026] Figure 6 is a magnified view of the details of Figure 5. A shank offset S exists in the circumferential direction U between the centerlines 27 of each shank portion 8 and the centerline 28 of the working portion 10 of the needle 1. The distance between the centerlines 27 of the shank portions of adjacent needles 1 is the shank width d S This corresponds to [the specified value]. Furthermore, the pitch t is the circumferential distance between the centerlines 28 of the working portions of adjacent needles 1. For the shank offset S, the shank width d is [the specified value]. S The following equation holds true as a function of pitch t. S=(td S ) / 2

[0027] Figure 7 is a top view of the needle 1. The needle 1 is formed such that in the bent portion 9, a shank offset S exists between the center line 28 of the working portion 10 and the center line 27 of the shank portion 8. This deformation may be plastic deformation and / or elastic deformation. The shank offset S does not change during the translational motion of the needle 1 in the working direction A within the needle guide means 3, whereas the shape of the deformation is not constant and changes according to the deflection of the needle 1. In the bent portion 9, recesses 11 are formed on both sides 23 facing the circumferential direction U, and these recesses 11 reduce the width of the needle 1 in the circumferential direction U in the bent portion 9. A needle 1 having a recess 11 on only one side 23 in the bent portion 9 is also advantageous. The recess depth 22 of the recess 11 on the side 23 facing the circumferential direction U is within the above-mentioned selectable range of 10 μm to 100 μm, and more preferably 30 μm to 70 μm. In Figure 7, the recess depth 22 and shank offset S are not depicted to scale and have been enlarged to show them more clearly.

[0028] Figure 8 shows needle 1 from Figure 5. The shank offset S between the shank centerline 27 and the working centerline 28 is the plastic shank offset S PL and elastic shank offset S EL It consists of the following. Here, the outline of needle 1 in a state of only plastic deformation (no elastic deformation) is shown as a continuous line. The outline of needle 1 in a state where plastic and elastic deformation are superimposed is shown as a dashed line. The recess 11 and shank offset S are not drawn to scale and are enlarged in comparison to the rest of the drawing to make them clearer.

[0029] Figure 9 is a side view of the needle 1. On the side surface 23 facing the circumferential direction U, the needle 1 has a recess 11 that extends in the height direction H over less than 80% of the needle height 13. Although not visible in this drawing, the needle 1 has a second recess 11 on the other side surface 23 facing the circumferential direction U. The recess length 24 of the recess 11 in the working direction A is less than 50% of the length of the bent portion 9 in the working direction A. However, it is also advantageous if the recess length 24 is up to 100% of the length of the bent portion 9, or less than 50%.

[0030] Figure 10 shows a cross-section in the HU plane where the needle 1 in Figure 9 passes through the recess 11. The recessed surfaces 29 face the circumferential direction U, and each recessed surface 29 has a step of recess depth 22 relative to the side surface 23 facing the circumferential direction U. That is, each of the recesses 11 has a bending portion width d in the circumferential direction U. B The recess depth is reduced by 22. The recess height 26 in the height direction H is less than 80% of the needle height 13. This feature can be advantageously combined with any embodiment of the knitting system 18 and needle 1.

[0031] Figure 11 is a side view of the needle 1. The needle 1 has recesses 11 on each of its two sides 23 facing its height direction H, extending in the circumferential direction U across the entire width of the bent portion 9. The recess depth 22 of the recesses 11 on the sides 23 facing the height direction H is within the above-mentioned select range of 150 μm to 500 μm, and more preferably 200 μm to 400 μm. The recess length 24 of the two recesses 11 in the working direction A is less than 50% of the length of the bent portion 9 in the working direction A. However, for all embodiments of the knitting system 18 and the needle 1, the recess length 24 may be up to 100% or less than 50% of the length of the bent portion 9.

[0032] Figure 12 shows a cross-section in the HU plane through which the needle 1 in Figure 11 passes at the position of the recess 11. The recess 11 has a bending portion width d. B It extends throughout the entire surface. The recessed surface 29 faces the height direction H, and there is a step of recess depth 22 relative to the side surface 23 which faces the height direction H, so each of the recesses 11 reduces the cross-section of the bent portion in the height direction H by recess depth 22. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 1: Needle 2: Loop-forming elements 3: Needle guide means 4: Guide groove 5: Guide wall 6: Edge groove 7: Edge wall 8: Shank portion 9: Bent part 10: Working part 11: Recess 12: Bottom surface of needle guide means 3 13: Needle height 14: Drive Bat Department Manager 15: Center line 16: Drive Bat Section 17: Sinker holder 18: Knit System 19: Distance between the drive butt section 16 and the bent section 9 20: Sinker groove 21: Additional bar 22: Depth of recess 23: Side view 24: Recess length 25: Stretched length 26: Recess Height 27: Shank centerline 28: Working part center line 29: Recessed surface S: Shank Offset S PL Plastic shank offset S EL Elastic shank offset t: pitch b HS : Additional bar width b FS : Guide wall width d A :Width of work area 10 d B :Width of the bent portion 9 d S Shank width of 8 in the shank section A: Working direction H: Height direction U: Circumferential direction

Claims

1. A loop-forming element (2) positioned at the first end of a needle (1), wherein the first end is oriented in the positive working direction (A), Suitable for being housed in the guide groove (4) of the needle guide means (3), the shank portion (8) is positioned at the second end of the needle (1) and the second end faces the negative working direction, The loop-forming element (2) is incorporated into a working portion (10) suitable for being housed in the edge groove (6) of the needle guide means (3), A needle (1) including a bent portion (9) interposed between the shank portion (8) and the working portion (10) in the working direction (A), In the bent portion (9) of the needle (1), at least one recess (11) is provided on at least one side surface (23) that is oriented in a circumferential direction (U) perpendicular to the working direction (A) or in a height direction (H) perpendicular to both the working direction (A) and the circumferential direction (U). The at least one recess (11) on the side surface (23) facing the circumferential direction (U) has a recess depth (22) of 10 μm to 100 μm, preferably 30 μm to 70 μm. and / or, the at least one recess (11) on the side surface (23) facing the height direction (H) has a recess depth (22) of 150 μm to 500 μm, preferably 200 μm to 400 μm. The needle (1) is characterized in that, in the region of at least one recess (11), the cross-sectional area of ​​the needle (1) is smaller than that of the surrounding region.

2. The needle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) extends in the height direction (H) over the entire height (13) of the needle.

3. The needle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) extends in the height direction (H) over a maximum of 90% of the needle height (13).

4. The needle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) extends in the height direction (H) over a maximum of 80% of the needle height (13).

5. The needle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the working portion (10) and the shank portion (8) extend substantially parallel to each other in the working direction (A).

6. The bent portion (9) has a plastic shank offset (S) between the working portion (10) and the shank portion (8) in the circumferential direction (U) perpendicular to the working direction (A). PL The needle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is formed to be plastic in such a way that it causes ).

7. A needle guide means (3) having a bottom surface (12) facing the height direction (H), At least one guide groove (4) is located on the bottom surface (12) of the needle guide means (3), extends substantially in the working direction (A), and the working direction (A) is perpendicular to the height direction (H), At least one edge groove (6) is located on the bottom surface (12) of the needle guide means (3), and is offset in the circumferential direction (U) and the working direction (A) with respect to the at least one guide groove (4), the circumferential direction (U) being perpendicular to the working direction (A) and the height direction (H), The device comprises at least one needle (1), which includes a working portion (10) with a loop-forming element (2) incorporated into a first end facing the positive working direction (A), and a shank portion (8) with a second end facing the negative working direction (A), A bent portion (9) is interposed between the shank portion (8) and the working portion (10) such that the at least one needle (1) has a bend having a circumferential (U) direction component and a working direction (A) direction component. The knitting system (18) comprises the following configuration: the working portion (10) of at least one needle (1) is housed in the edge groove (6), and the shank portion (8) of at least one needle (1) is housed in the guide groove (4), In the bent portion (9) of the at least one needle (1), at least one recess (11) is provided on at least one side surface (23) facing in the circumferential direction (U) or the height direction (H). The at least one recess (11) on the side surface (23) facing the circumferential direction (U) has a recess depth (22) of 10 μm to 100 μm, preferably 30 μm to 70 μm. and / or, the at least one recess (11) on the side surface (23) facing the height direction (H) has a recess depth (22) of 150 μm to 500 μm, preferably 200 μm to 400 μm. A knitting system (18) characterized in that in the region of at least one recess (11), the cross-sectional area of ​​the needle (1) is smaller than that of the surrounding region.

8. The knitting system (18) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) extends in the height direction (H) over the entire height (13) of the needle.

9. The knitting system (18) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) of the at least one needle (1) is completely outside the at least one edge groove (6) and / or the at least one guide groove (4) in the stretched and / or retracted state.

10. A knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) of the at least one needle (1) in a retracted state has at least 60% of the recess length (24) corresponding to the extension of the recess (11) in the working direction (A) outside the at least one guide groove (4), and / or the at least one recess (11) of the at least one needle (1) in an extended state has at least 60% of the recess length (24) outside the at least one edge groove (6).

11. The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one recess (11) of the at least one needle (1) in a retracted state has at least 80% of the recess length (24) corresponding to the extension of the recess (11) in the working direction (A) outside the at least one guide groove (4), and / or the at least one recess (11) of the at least one needle (1) in an extended state has at least 80% of the recess length (24) outside the at least one edge groove (6).

12. The at least one needle (1) has at least one drive butt portion (16) positioned on the shank portion (8) and projecting in the height direction (H) above the surrounding shank portion (8), The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, comprising a bending clearance (19) corresponding to the distance in the working direction (A) between at least one drive butt portion (16) and the bending portion (9), wherein the bending clearance (19) is at least the same size as the stretched length (25) corresponding to the path of the needle (1) in the working direction (A) between the retracted state and the stretched state.

13. The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the working portion (10) and the shank portion (8) of at least one needle (1) extend substantially parallel to each other in the working direction (A).

14. At least one guide wall (5) restricts at least one guide groove (4) in the circumferential direction (U), At least one additional bar (21) is adjacent to the at least one guide wall (5) in the working direction (A) and is positioned on the bottom surface of the needle guide means (3), with a guide wall width (b FS ) and additional bar width (b HS Regarding the width ratio (V) of ), V = b ＦＳ / b ＨＳ as, 2.0 ≤ V ≤ 2.5, The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the above holds true.

15. At least one guide wall (5) that restricts at least one guide groove (4) in the circumferential direction (U), At least one additional bar (21) is adjacent to the at least one guide wall (5) in the working direction (A) and is positioned on the bottom surface of the needle guide means (3), and the width ratio (V) of the guide wall width (b FS) to the additional bar width (b HS) is given by V = b FS / b HS, 2.1 ≤ V ≤ 2.4 The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the above holds true.

16. A circumferential (U) shank offset (S) exists between the centerline (28) of the working portion (10) extending to the center along the longitudinal direction (z) of the tool and the centerline (27) of the shank portion (8) extending to the center along the longitudinal direction (z) of the tool, and this shank offset is a plastic shank offset S ＰＬ and elastic shank offset S caused by elastic deformation ＥＬ Composed of, S = S ＰＬ + S ＥＬ which is Furthermore, regarding the shank offset (S), the pitch (t) and shank width (d) are considered. S ) as a function of, S=(t-d Ｓ ) / 2 A knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the following relationship holds.

17. The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the shank portions (8) of at least two needles (1) are housed in the same guide groove (4).

18. The bent portion (9) of the at least one needle (1) has a plastic shank offset S between the working portion (10) and the shank portion (8) in the circumferential direction (U). ＰＬ The knitting system (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 17, characterized in that it is formed to be plastic in order to produce the following.

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