WEAVING MACHINES, WEAVING MACHINE OPERATION METHODS, AND SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Abstract

The invention relates to a weaving machine, a method of operating a weaving machine, and a system component. More specifically, the invention relates to a weaving machine (1) that can be operated at high speed and at the same time have low energy consumption, and a method of operating a weaving machine (1), as well as a system component (2) for a weaving machine (1). The weaving machine (1) in the invention comprises a system component (2) elastically fitted by a spring element (4), wherein the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) changes depending on the control travel of the control surface of the system component (2). This allows for the provision of the smallest spring force by the spring element (4), and at the same time maintains the spring force at a low level during long operating periods of the weaving machine (1) in such a way that the friction loss is minimized during operation and low energy consumption is achieved.

Description

Textile machine, method for operating the textile machine and system part

[0001] The present invention relates to a textile machine for producing knitwear, a method for operating this textile machine, and a system component for the textile machine. Various types of textile machines are known, for example flat knitting machines, circular knitting machines, or warp knitting machines. Textile machines for producing knitwear are characterized by the fact that they comprise stitch-forming means with which stitches can be formed. In order to control stitch formation, and in particular to create complex patterns during the production of knitwear, textile machines are frequently equipped with control devices that enable the stitch-forming means to be individually controlled or selected via a system component. The stitch-forming means can be formed as a single piece onto the system component or be a component of an individual textile tool that functionally interacts with the system component.The control can also be carried out via several system components that work together functionally.

[0002] Control is usually achieved by a system part engaging or disengaging from the drive device(s) of the textile machine depending on the position of a control surface of the system part. Common drive devices include cams, cylinders, or dials. In order to adjust the position of the control surface along a predetermined control path, a control force can be exerted on the system part using the control device. The system part usually rests with a support surface in a groove of the textile machine so that it is supported against the control force. A spring element of the system part is arranged between the support surface and the control surface. This spring element compresses when the control surface is subjected to the control force, thus enabling the control surface to be deflected by a control path.The spring force of the spring element acts as a counterforce to the control force and causes the control surface to return to its original position when no or a lower control force is applied to the control surface. Since the spring force is directly dependent on the control force. depends on the control path, it behaves qualitatively like the control force over the control path, but can have a different amount. Usually, the system part in its starting position is in contact with a drive device of the textile machine and can be brought into a position in which the system part has no contact with a drive device of the textile machine by deflecting the control surface. In this way, it is possible to control whether the system part is driven or not. In the same way, a textile machine can also be designed in such a way that its system part in its starting position, when no control force is exerted on the system part, is not in contact with a drive device and can only be brought into contact with a drive device of the textile machine when the control force is applied.

[0003] Such a textile machine is known from DE102010017950A1. The textile machine has a selection plate, which is a system component by means of which a textile tool with a stitch-forming means can be individually selected. Selection is possible via an end section that is pivotally attached to a resilient section of the selection plate. When the end section is pivoted into a selection position, a drive force can be transmitted to the selection plate via a drive surface. To control whether the end section is pivoted into the selection position or a non-selection position, a force can be exerted with a magnet that counteracts the spring force of the resilient section. The magnet thereby assumes the function of the control device. To determine the end positions of the pivoting movement of the end section, the selection part has stops. The pivoting movement is limited by contact of the resilient section with these stops.Once it has come into contact with the stops, the end section cannot be deflected any further. The use of such selection boards or similar system components with a spring element has already proven itself many times in textile machines. However, textile machines are constantly being further developed and, in particular, operating speeds are being increased ever further. It has been shown that textile machines in which the stitch formation means is controlled via known system components with spring elements are not suitable for high operating speeds because the return of the system components via the spring element is too slow. Increasing the return speed by making the spring element stiffer is undesirable because this would also increase the frictional forces in the textile machine and thus the energy consumption. Since a textile machine often comprises 1,000 or even more system components, even a small... Increasing the spring force on each of these system components can lead to a significant increase in energy consumption and wear.

[0004] Based on the prior art, the object of the invention is therefore to provide a textile machine with a system component that can be operated at high speeds while consuming little energy. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a method for operating the textile machine and a system component for the textile machine.

[0005] The object is achieved by a textile machine having the features of claim 1, a method for operating a textile machine according to the invention having the features of claim 9 and a system part for a textile machine according to the invention having the features of claim 12.

[0006] The textile machine according to the invention for producing knitwear comprises a system part that is accommodated in a groove of the textile machine. The system part has a spring element, which is preferably a spiral spring and / or a leaf spring. Using a control device of the textile machine, a control force can be exerted on the system part at a control surface of the system part in order to control the movement of the system part. The control device can be designed in several parts. In particular, the control device can comprise an intermediate selection part for each system part with at least one selection foot, but preferably with several selection feet arranged next to one another in a comb-like manner. The system part has at least one support surface with which it is supported against the control force. The support surface is preferably a component of the spring element. A support surface that rests in the groove of the textile machine is particularly preferred.Alternatively, the support surface can also rest on another system component or a textile tool. The control force is transmitted from the control surface via the spring element to the support surface, so that the spring element compresses under the influence of the control force. The application of the control force thus also causes a deflection of the control surface by a control travel, depending on the spring constant of the spring element. Advantageously, the system component has a pivot bearing about which the system component can be rotated depending on this control travel. The deflection of the control surface then triggers a rotational movement about this pivot bearing. For the purposes of the present patent application, it is assumed that the spring element can be described, at least in phases, by Hooke's law within individual operating states. The spring constant CF is thus the quotient of the control force Fs and the p s Control travel S: C F= — Surprisingly, it has been shown that with a textile machine Particularly high speeds with low energy consumption are possible if the spring constant of the spring element changes depending on the control travel. The spring constant is then not constant over the entire control travel. Instead, the control travel can be divided into at least two ranges in which the spring constant of the spring element is different. Within each range, however, the spring constant can be constant. It is particularly advantageous if the control travel comprises at least three ranges in which the spring constant is different. The spring constant can increase from range to range with increasing control travel; in this way, a progressive spring behavior with an exponential increase in the spring constant can be achieved, which avoids sudden loads on the textile machine and thus enables very high operating speeds.

[0007] Further advantages arise when the spring constant of the spring element is at its greatest, when the control surface is deflected by at least 90% of the maximum control travel Smax, but preferably by at least 95% of the maximum control travel Smax. When the maximum control travel is reached, a particularly high spring force can be provided by the spring element in order to enable the system component to reset as quickly as possible and thus high machine speeds. At the same time, the spring force only increases towards the end of the control travel, so that a comparatively low spring force acts over a large part of the control travel. Due to the resulting low friction forces, the energy consumption of the textile machine can be kept low. The maximum control travel is understood to be the control travel by which the control surface is deflected at most during operation of the textile machine.The maximum control travel Smax is therefore often specified by the textile machine's control device. However, it can also be specified by the system component itself. For example, the system component can have an end stop that limits the deflection of the control surface.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the textile machine according to the invention, the spring element has a contact surface that can be brought into a contact state by deflecting the control surface, in which the spring element is in contact with a support surface of the system part. In the contact state, the control force is transferable between the contact surface and the support surface, and the spring constant of the spring element is greater than without Contact between the contact surface and the support surface. The control surface can continue to be deflected against the spring force of the spring element even in the contact state. The contact between the contact surface and the support surface therefore does not function as an end stop but serves to change or increase the spring constant of the spring element. The contact surface and the control surface have no contact with each other when the control surface is not deflected, i.e. the control travel is minimal or zero. Preferably, the contact surface and the support surface are spaced apart from the bearing surface. The design of the system part with contact and support surfaces is, on the one hand, a particularly simple and cost-effective way of influencing the spring constant of the spring element. On the other hand, this design is surprisingly particularly suitable for fast operation of the textile machine and is also very durable.In order to provide a spring element with at least three control travel regions in which the spring constant is different, the system component can advantageously have a first and a second contact surface that can be brought into contact with a first and a second contact surface by deflecting the control surface. The control travel after which the second contact surface comes into contact with the second support surface advantageously differs from the control travel after which the first contact surface comes into contact with the first support surface.

[0009] The system part of the textile machine can have at least one elevation that surrounds the support surface or the contact surface. The elevation allows the contact surface or the support surface to be designed during construction in such a way that, even taking wear into account, contact can always be formed between the contact surface and the support surface in the area of ​​the elevation. The elevation thus ensures that the contact surface is always in the desired location and is contacted when the desired control travel is reached. This allows the spring constant of the spring element to be adjusted precisely and reproducibly, enabling very high operating speeds of the textile machine. Advantageously, the elevation is formed onto the spring element or the shaft of the system part.The system part can have two elevations in order to provide a system part which can be converted into at least three states with different spring constants in a textile machine according to the invention by applying a control force.

[0010] Further advantages arise when the spring element has a free end and the elevation is spaced from the free end of the spring element by a length corresponding to 10% to 90% of the total length of the spring element. Surprisingly, particularly high operating speeds can be achieved with such an elevation. However, it is particularly advantageous if the elevation is spaced from the free end of the spring element by a length corresponding to 20% to 60% of the total length of the spring element. The free end of the spring element has no direct, fixed connection to the system part. Rather, it is only connected to the system part via the spring element itself and the end of the spring element opposite the free end.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the textile machine according to the invention, the raised portion comprises the contact surface. The raised portion is then not a component of the spring element, or rather, it is not integrally formed with the spring element. This allows the mass of the spring element to be kept low. At the same time, the advantages of the raised portion can be utilized. This advantageous combination allows even higher operating speeds of the textile machine to be achieved.

[0012] Further advantages arise when the maximum spring constant CFmax of the spring element is 10% to 200%, but preferably 40% to 100%, greater than the minimum spring constant Crmin of the spring element. This allows the spring element to reset particularly quickly, enabling a higher operating speed of the textile machine.

[0013] Advantageously, the contact surface comes into contact with the support surface at 50% to 100%, but preferably at 65% to 95% of the maximum control travel. Particularly preferably, the contact surface comes into contact with the support surface at 75% to 90% of the maximum control travel. This allows comparatively low control forces to be required for a small deflection of the control surface. Only with a large deflection of the control surface does the contact surface come into contact with the support surface, whereby the spring constant increases and, consequently, a significantly greater increase in the control force is necessary for the further control travel. On the one hand, this allows a large spring force to be generated, which leads to a rapid reset of the system component or the control surface. On the other hand, with small deflections of the control surface, the energy consumption of the textile machine can be reduced because fewer frictional forces are generated. This allows for high operating speeds with low energy consumption.

[0014] In a method according to the invention for operating the textile machine described above, a control force is exerted on the system component by the control device at the control surface of the system component. The control surface is deflected by the action of the control surface, with the spring constant CF of the spring element changing at least once depending on the control travel S. The control surface is deflected further after the spring constant has changed. Thus, a spring force is generated by the spring element, with the spring force being generated in two different regions of the control travel with different spring constants. This allows for high operating speeds with low energy consumption.

[0015] Further advantages arise when the control surface is deflected by the action of the control force in such a way that a contact surface of the spring element comes into contact with a support surface of the textile machine such that the control force is transmitted at the contact surface. This increases the spring constant. The control surface is deflected further during contact between the contact surface and the support surface, with the further deflection occurring against the spring force of the spring element with the increased spring constant. The increase in the spring constant due to the contact at the contact surface causes very little wear and little friction in the textile machine. A textile machine operated using this method can therefore be operated particularly quickly while simultaneously requiring little energy.

[0016] Advantageously, while the first contact surface is in contact with the first support surface, the control surface is further deflected such that a second contact surface comes into contact with a second support surface, wherein the control surface is further deflected during contact at the second contact surface. Preferably, the spring element is in contact with the first and second support surfaces simultaneously via its first and second contact surfaces. In this way, an approximately exponentially increasing spring constant can be achieved with a small spring constant when the spring element is not in contact with one of the support surfaces, a medium-sized intermediate spring constant when the spring element is only in contact with the first of the support surfaces, and a large spring constant when the spring element is in contact with the second support surface. With this method, the textile machine can be operated particularly quickly and in an energy-efficient manner.

[0017] A system part according to the invention for the textile machine comprises a shaft that extends in a longitudinal direction and is suitable for being accommodated in a groove of the textile machine so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The system part also comprises a control surface via which a control force can be exerted on the system part, acting in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. However, the control force can also have relatively small force components in the longitudinal direction or transverse to the longitudinal and vertical directions. The control force acts on a spring element that extends in the longitudinal direction and is connected to the shaft. Under the action of the control force, this spring element can compress, so that the control surface can be deflected by a control travel by exerting the control force, depending on the spring constant of the spring element.Surprisingly, textile machines can be operated particularly quickly if the spring constant of the spring element changes depending on the control travel.

[0018] Further advantages arise if the system part comprises a first individual part and a second individual part, wherein the first individual part preferably comprises the spring element, and wherein the second individual part preferably comprises the control surface. The first individual part and the second individual part can be connected to one another by means of a coupling, wherein the coupling preferably enables rotation between the first individual part and the second individual part, so that the coupling also takes on the function of a pivot bearing. System parts made up of several individual parts can be manufactured with particular precision and enable the use or combination of different materials. Textile machines with such system parts can therefore be operated at particularly high speeds, particularly due to the high level of precision.

[0019] Advantageously, one end of the spring element is fixed and directly connected to the system component, while the other end is free. The spring element can be firmly connected to the system component by a form-fitting, force-fitting, or material-fitting connection. A spring element with a free end is particularly suitable for high operating speeds because the free end has no direct, fixed connection to the system component and is therefore subject to little wear when the spring element is deflected. The spring element of such a system component behaves similarly to a bending beam or a spiral spring in terms of its spring properties. Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the textile machine (1) according to the invention. Fig. 2 Figure 2 shows the textile machine (1) from Figure 1, wherein the contact surface (9) of the spring element (4) changes into a contact state. Fig. 3 Figure 3 shows the textile machine (1) from Figures 1 and 2, wherein the spring element (4) is compressed by the maximum control travel (Smax). Fig. 4 Figure 4 shows a schematic force-displacement diagram for system part 2 from Figures 1 to 3. Fig. 5 Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the system part 2. Fig. 6 Figure 6 shows a schematic force-displacement diagram for system part 2 from Figure 5. Fig. 7 Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the system part 2. Fig. 8 Figure 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the system part 2. Fig. 9 Figure 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the system part 2. Fig. 10 Figure 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the system part 2.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a section through a groove 10 of the textile machine 1 according to the invention. The textile machine 1 comprises a system part 2, which functionally interacts with a control device 6 and a drive device 18. The control device 6 comprises two parts: a selection part 21 and a force element 22, wherein the force element 22 can exert a control force Fs on a control foot 11 of the selection part 21. The selection part 21 engages with a selection foot 20 in a selection device 19 and is driven by the latter in such a way that it moves largely synchronously with the system part 2 in the groove 10 of the textile machine 1. Through contact of the selection part 21 with the control surface 3 of the system part 2, the control force Fs is transmitted to the system part 2.The system part 2 is supported on a support surface 5, which in the present embodiment is located at the free end 8 of the spring element 4, at the bottom of the groove 10 against the control force Fs. The control force Fs therefore causes the spring element 4 to compress as a function of its spring constant CF and to deflect the control surface 3 by a control path S. At its fixed end 17, however, the spring element 4 is firmly connected to the shaft 14 of the system part 2. When the spring element 4 compresses, the shaft 14 therefore rotates about the pivot bearing 12 of the system part 2. Depending on the strength of the control force Fs, the system part 2 can be transferred into different states. In an initial state 25, which is shown in Fig. 1, the control force Fs is very weak or equal to zero, so that it only. causes very little or no deflection of the spring element 4, whereby the system part 2 is in contact with a drive device 18 via its drive foot 23. In this initial state 25, the spring constant CF of the spring element is also minimal, so that the minimum spring constant CFmin is effective. The drive device 18 then drives the system part 2 during operation of the textile machine 1 to an alternating longitudinal movement along the groove 10. A typical drive device 18 for the system part 2 would be, for example, a cam part, a cylinder or a dial of a knitting machine. If a larger control force Fs is exerted on the system part 2, the spring element 4 can be deflected further such that the system part 2 no longer has contact with the drive device 18, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Otherwise, Figures 2 and 3 show the same textile machine 1 as in Figure 1.For better clarity, all reference symbols have been omitted in Figures 2 and 3.

[0021] In Figure 2, the system part is in an intermediate state 26 in which the spring element 4 is further compressed than in Fig. 1. However, the control surface 4 is not yet fully deflected by the maximum control travel Smax. The arrow, which represents the control force Fs and is longer than in Fig. 1, shows that the control force Fs in the intermediate state 26 of the system part 2 shown in Fig. 2 is greater than in the first state 25 shown in Fig. 1. The spring element 4 is thus in a position in which the contact surface 9 of the elevation 7 comes into contact with the support surface 24 of the spring element 4, which was already described above as the contact state of the contact surface 9. Due to this contact, the characteristics of the spring element 4 change, in simple terms, from those of a bending beam to those of a leaf spring. This increases the spring constant CF of the spring element 4, so that the maximum spring constant Cp max acts. The control path S, at which the contact surface 9 comes into contact with the support surface 24, is also referred to below as the contact control path SK.

[0022] In Figure 3, the system part 2 is in a final state 27, in which the control surface 3 is deflected by the maximum control travel Smax. The control force Fs is even greater than in the states of the system part 2 previously shown in Figures 1 and 2. In order to move from the intermediate state 26 to the final state 27, the spring element 4 was subjected to the maximum spring constant Cp. m ax further compressed. As a result, when the control surface 3 is deflected by the maximum control travel Smax, the spring element 4 provides a particularly large spring force, which enables a quick return of the system part 2 into the initial state 25 from Fig. 1 when no more control force Fs is exerted on the system part 2.

[0023] On the left-hand side of Figure 4, a schematic force-displacement diagram of system part 2 is shown. In the diagram, the data points at which system part 2 is in the initial state 25, the intermediate state 26, and the final state 27 are marked with crosses. For clarity, system part 2 is shown again on the right-hand side of Figure 4 in these three states, which can also be seen in Figures 1 to 3. The diagram shows the control force Fs as a function of the control displacement S. However, the spring force of the spring element 4 behaves as a counterforce to the control force Fs in qualitatively the same way as the control force Fs. In the initial state 25, the control force Fs is at its smallest. If the spring element 4 is completely relaxed in the initial state 25, the control force Fs is zero.With increasing control travel S, the control force Fs increases linearly with the minimum spring constant CFmin until, after the spring element 4 has been compressed by the contact control travel SK, the contact surface 9 comes into contact with the support surface 24 in the intermediate state 26. In the present embodiment, the contact control travel SK corresponds to 70% of the maximum control travel Smax. Due to the contact, the spring constant CF of the spring element 4 increases, so that the maximum spring constant CFmax is effective. With further increasing control travel S while maintaining contact between the contact surface 9 and the support surface 24, the control force Fs increases even further until the maximum control travel Smax is reached, whereby the force increase is steeper due to the larger maximum spring constant Cpmax.Thus, a relatively large control force Fs upon reaching the maximum control travel Smax also generates a large spring force, which enables a rapid return of the system part to its initial state 25 when no more control force Fs is exerted on system part 2. At the same time, however, in the operating states between the initial state 25 and the intermediate state 26, only a low friction force is generated due to the smaller minimum spring constant CFmin, which makes the textile machine particularly energy-efficient and low-wear.

[0024] Figure 5 shows a second advantageous embodiment of a system part 2 for a textile machine 1 according to the invention. The structure of the system part 2 is similar to the system part 2 shown in Figures 1 to 4. Therefore, only the differences will be discussed below. The spring element 4 of the system part 2 shown in Figure 5 has a first contact surface 109 and a second contact surface 209. It therefore has a contact surface more than the system part 2 from Figures 1 to 4. The first contact surface 109 and the second contact surface 209 are components of a first elevation 107 and a second elevation 207 of the spring element 4, respectively. The elevations 107, 207 are used to specifically design the contact surfaces 109, 209 so that the behavior of the spring element 4 is predictable. Due to the additional contact surface, the spring constant CF of the spring element 4 can be increased twice as a function of the control travel S. For this purpose, the first contact surface 109 can be brought into contact with a first support surface (not shown in Figure 5) of the textile machine 1 during operation of a textile machine 1 according to the invention, the system part being in a first intermediate state 126. The system part 2 is then in contact with another component of the textile machine at the support surface 5 and the first contact surface 109.The spring constant CF increases for the first time, so that an intermediate spring constant CFI acts which is greater than the minimum spring constant. The first support surface can, for example, be the bottom of a groove 10 of the textile machine 1. In a further exemplary embodiment, the first contact surface 109 could also be arranged such that it can come into contact with a first support surface which is a component of the shaft 14 of the system part 2. After contact has been established at the first contact surface 109, the second contact surface 209 can also be brought into contact with a second support surface 224 as the control path S increases, so that the system part 2 is placed in a second intermediate state 226. The characteristic of the spring element 4 changes, and in this second intermediate state 226 it behaves like a leaf spring.This increases the spring constant a second time, so that a maximum spring constant CTmax acts, which is larger than the intermediate spring constant CFI.

[0025] The left side of Figure 6 shows the force-displacement diagram for system part 2 from Figure 5. In the diagram, the data points at which system part 2 is in the initial state 25, the first intermediate state 126, the second intermediate state 226, and the final state 27 are marked with crosses. For clarity, system part 2 is also shown in these four states on the right side of Figure 6. In the initial state 25, the control force Fs is minimal. When the spring element 4 compresses, starting from the initial state 25 until the first contact control displacement SKI is reached, at which the first contact surface 109 comes into contact with the first support surface, the minimum spring constant Ci mm acts, resulting in a slow force increase. Upon reaching the first contact control displacement SKI, which in the present embodiment is 70% of the maximum control displacement Smax, system part 2 enters the first intermediate state 126. and the spring constant CF of the spring element 4 increases for the first time, so that in this state, upon further deflection until the second contact control travel SK2 is reached, the larger intermediate spring constant CFI acts. The second contact control travel SK2 corresponds to the control travel S at which the second contact surface 209 comes into contact with the second support surface 224 and, in this exemplary embodiment, is 85% of the maximum control travel Smax. The spring constant CF of the spring element 4 increases for a second time, so that the system part 2 is in a second intermediate state 226. In this state, the maximum spring constant CTmax acts, whereby upon further deflection of the spring element 4 until the final state 27 of the system part 2 is reached, a particularly strong increase in the control force Fs occurs.Thus, the spring element 4 is pre-tensioned to such an extent that a particularly rapid return of the system part 2 to its initial state 25 is possible and thus very fast operating speeds of the textile machine 1 can be achieved.

[0026] Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of system part 2, which is also suitable for use in a textile machine according to the invention. System part 2 largely corresponds to system part 2 from Figures 1 to 3 and differs primarily in that the elevation 7 is not formed on the shaft 14 of system part 2, but rather on the spring element 4.

[0027] Figure 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the system part 2 for a textile machine 1 according to the invention. The system part 2 differs from that of the third embodiment essentially in that the control surface 3 is spaced apart from the spring element 4 in the longitudinal direction L. In this embodiment, the system part 2 is particularly suitable for use in textile machines 1 that have a control device 6 with a magnetic force element 22. A magnetic force element 22 is, for example, an electromagnet.

[0028] Figure 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the system part 2 for a textile machine 1 according to the invention. The system part 2 is composed of a first individual part 15 and a second individual part 16. The first individual part 15 comprises the spring element 4 and the second individual part 16 comprises the control surface 3. The free end 8 of the spring element 4 bears against the system part 2, so that a control force Fs exerted on the control surface 3 can be transmitted via the spring element 4 to the support surface 5 of the first individual part 15. The first individual part 15 and the second individual part 16 are connected by means of a coupling 13, wherein the first individual part 15 and the second individual part 16 can rotate relative to one another about the coupling 13 in such a way that the coupling 13 also has the function of a pivot bearing 12. If the spring element 4 is compressed far enough, starting from the initial state 25 shown in Fig. 9, the contact surface 9 on the elevation 7 of the second system part 16 can be brought into contact with the support surface 24 of the spring element 4, so that the spring constant CF of the spring element 4 increases.

[0029] A sixth embodiment of the system part 2 for a textile machine 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 10. The structure of this system part 2 is similar to that of Figure 7. A key difference, however, is that the control surface 3 is formed with a foot on the shaft 14 of the system part 2, so that the control surface 3 is raised relative to the shaft 14 in the height direction H. In this embodiment, the system part 2 is particularly suitable for use in textile machines 1 according to the invention without a selection part 21 and selection device 19.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Textile machine (1) for producing knitwear, comprising a system part (2) which is received in a groove (10) of the textile machine (1) and has a spring element (4), a control device (6) with which a control force (Fs) can be exerted on the system part (2) at a control surface (3) of the system part (1), wherein the system part (2) has a support surface (5) with which it is supported against the control force (Fs), wherein the control force (Fs) can be transmitted from the control surface (3) via the spring element (4) to the support surface (5), wherein the control surface (3) can be deflected by a control travel (S) as a function of the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) by exerting the control force (Fs), characterized in that the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) changes as a function of the control travel (S).

2. Textile machine (1) according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) is greatest when the control surface (3) by at least 90% of the maximum control travel (S max ), but preferably by at least 95% of the maximum control travel (Smax).

3. Textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the spring element (4) has a contact surface (9) which can be brought into a contact state by deflecting the control surface (3), in which the contact surface (9) has contact with a support surface (24) of the system part (2), wherein in the contact state the control force (Fs) between the contact surface (9) and the Support surface (24) is transferable and the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) is greater than without contact between the contact surface (9) and the support surface (24), and wherein the control surface (3) is further deflectable in the contact state.

4. Textile machine (1) according to the preceding claim 3, characterized in that the system part (2) has at least one elevation (7) which comprises the support surface (24) or the contact surface (9).

5. Textile machine (1) according to the preceding claim 4, characterized in that the elevation (7) is formed onto the spring element (4).

6. Textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the spring element (4) comprises a free end (8), and that the elevation (7) is spaced from the free end (8) of the spring element (4) by a length corresponding to 10% to 90% of the total length of the spring element (4).

7. Textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum spring constant (CFmax) of the spring element (4) is 10% to 200%, but preferably 40% to 100% greater than the minimum spring constant of the spring element (4).

8. Textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the contact surface (9) comes into contact with the support surface (24) at 50% to 100%, but preferably at 65% to 95% of the maximum control travel (Smax).

9. Method for operating a textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8, wherein a control force (Fs) is exerted on the system part (2) by means of the control device (6) on the control surface (3) of the system part (2), wherein the control surface (3) is deflected by the action of the control force (Fs), characterized in that the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) changes at least once as a function of the control path (S).

10. Method for operating a textile machine (1) according to the preceding claim 9 characterized in that the control surface (3) is deflected by the action of the control force (Fs) in such a way that a contact surface (9) of the spring element (4) comes into contact with a support surface (24) of the textile machine (1) in such a way that the control force (Fs) is transmitted to the contact surface (9), wherein the spring constant (CF) increases, and wherein the control surface (3) is further deflected during the contact between the contact surface (9) and the support surface (24).

11. Method according to the preceding claim 10, characterized in that the control surface (3) is further deflected while the first contact surface (9, 109) is in contact with the first support surface (24, 124) in such a way that a second contact surface (209) comes into contact with a second support surface (224), wherein the control surface (3) is further deflected during the contact at the second contact surface (209).

12. System part (2) for a textile machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 with - a shaft (14) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and adapted to be received in a groove of the textile machine (1) so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction (L), - a control surface (3) via which a control force (Fs) can be exerted on the system part (2) which acts in a height direction (H) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), - a spring element (4) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) and connected to the shaft (2), - wherein the control surface (3) can be deflected by a control path (S) by exerting the control force (Fs) as a function of the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4), characterized in that the spring constant (CF) of the spring element (4) changes as a function of the control path (S).

13. System part (2) according to the preceding claim 12, characterized in that the system part (2) has a contact surface (9) with which the spring element (4) can be brought into contact by deflecting the control surface (3), that the control force (Fs) can be transmitted to the contact surface (9), and that the control surface (3) can be further deflected upon contact of the spring element (4) with the contact surface (9).

14. System part (2) according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 13, characterized in that the system part (2) comprises a first individual part (15) and a second individual part (16), wherein preferably the first individual part (15) comprises the spring element (4), and wherein preferably the second individual part (16) comprises the control surface (3).

15. System part (2) according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 14, characterized in that one end of the spring element (4) is a fixed end (17) which is directly connected to the system part (2), and another end of the spring element (4) is a free end (8).

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