Sliding-tongue needle with spring
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2026/058243
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-10-23
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-01
Smart Images
Figure EP2026058243_01102026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Groz-Beckert KG Parkweg 2 72458 Albstadt March 10, 2026 Sliding clapper with spring
[0001] The present invention relates to a slider needle for knitting machines. Slider needles for knitting machines have been known in various designs for many years and are commonly used in flat knitting machines or warp knitting machines. Some large circular knitting machines that also used slider needles are even known from the past. They consist of a needle part with a hook and a slider part with a closing mechanism. The slider part is movable relative to the needle part so that the closing mechanism of the slider part can open and close the hook of the needle part. The alternating opening and closing of the hook is necessary for stitch formation during knitting.Unlike tongue needles, where a tongue opens and closes the hook through a rotational movement, the opening and closing of the hook in slider needles is achieved through a relative movement along the length of the needle between the slider and the needle body. The closing element is typically housed in a slot in the needle body and guided along the bottom of the slot. Due to this relative movement, which must be very precisely controlled during the knitting process, and the complex design of such slider needles, they are prone to failure at increasing knitting speeds. Because of the typically much higher knitting speeds of circular knitting machines compared to flat knitting and warp knitting machines, slider needles are therefore very rarely used in circular knitting machines. For use in circular knitting machines, however, highly simplified slider needles optimized for the high knitting speeds of these machines are required.
[0002] EP4389951A1 shows a slider needle suitable for use in circular knitting machines. The slider part of this slider needle is guided in a groove (often also referred to as a "slot") in the needle body of the slider needle. The bottom of the groove is flat. Therefore, the slider part moves in a straight line along the length of the needle when it slides relative to the needle body along the bottom of the groove. This very simple, straight movement of the slider part makes the slider needle suitable even for very high-speed circular knitting machines. The slider needle is designed so that a stitch formed with the slider needle exerts a tension force on the slider part during knitting, pressing it firmly against the bottom of the groove. This prevents any movement of the slider part and the ingress of dirt between the slider part and the bottom of the groove.
[0003] JP2001032155A shows a slider needle for flat knitting machines. The closer of the slider is held in a slot in the needle part and, during the relative movement of the slider along the needle's longitudinal axis, is guided along the bottom of the slot. The bottom of the slot has a cam contour with ridges and depressions that cause a vertical stroke of the closer perpendicular to the needle's longitudinal axis as the closer slides along the bottom during the slider's relative movement. The closer is connected to the slider shaft via an S-shaped spring. This spring causes an additional stroke of the closer during the slider's relative movement. This stroke of the closer allows for a smaller rise in the jaw of the needle part, which extends backward along the needle's longitudinal axis to the hook.In the knitting process, such a sliding needle is intended to produce finer stitches. However, the S-shaped spring has a very high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the needle, which is why this sliding needle is not suitable for high knitting speeds with rapid changes of direction in the longitudinal direction of the needle – such as in circular knitting machines. Additionally, for the sliding needle to operate in a knitting machine, a metal bar is required on the machine to cover the needle channel and support the sliding needle within it, because otherwise the S-shaped spring would push the sliding part out of the needle channel. Such a metal bar is not provided on circular knitting machines and would collide with the locking mechanism of the machine. The sliding needle shown is therefore not suitable for use in circular knitting machines.
[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a slider needle suitable for use in high-speed circular knitting machines and enabling the formation of very fine stitches. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT
[0005] The problem is solved by a slider needle with the features of claim 1. A slider needle according to the invention comprises a needle part having a needle shaft extending predominantly in a longitudinal direction of the needle, and a hook forming the front end of the needle part in the longitudinal direction of the needle. The hook is typically open upwards in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle to allow a thread to be inserted into the hook during knitting. The slider needle according to the invention also comprises a slider part with a slider shaft extending predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the needle, and a closing element arranged at the front end of the slider part in the longitudinal direction of the needle.The closer can open and close the hook by a longitudinal movement of the slider relative to the needle in the longitudinal direction of the needle, wherein the longitudinal movement of the slider causes a lifting movement of the closer in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle. The longitudinal movement of the slider occurs in the longitudinal direction of the needle. The slider includes a spring that exerts a tension force on the closer that opposes the lifting movement in the vertical direction. When used in a knitting machine, the lifting movement of the closer can be an alternating upward and downward movement, so that the tension force can only act in the same direction as the lifting movement in phases. The tension force preferably acts downwards on the closer when the closer makes a lifting movement upwards. The tension force acts from the needle to the slider within the slider needle.The force flow required to provide this tension in the vertical direction is therefore closed within the slider needle. The slider needle does not need to be supported by any components of a knitting machine. However, a driving force can be applied externally to the slider needle in the longitudinal direction of the needle to drive the slider needle in a longitudinal movement along the needle. The tension force, which acts in the opposite direction to the stroke, guides the closer securely even at high knitting speeds, thus preventing it from lifting off the needle. Preferably, the spring is tensioned relative to the needle during the entire longitudinal movement of the slider needle, so that the tension force acts continuously. The tension force can be exerted directly on the closer needle as a spring force from the spring or as a counterforce to the spring force – in accordance with Newton's third law.
[0006] Advantageously, the closer includes the spring. The spring is then supported on the needle section in such a way that the tension force is exerted by the needle section on the Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT closer as a counterforce to the spring force. In accordance with the present patent application, the counterforce to the spring force is generated by the spring itself, because the counterforce is only produced by tensioning the spring. The spring is preferably a section of the closer extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the needle, which has a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle that changes by a maximum of 50% along the length of the needle. Preferably, however, the cross-section changes by a maximum of 20%.
[0007] The slider and / or needle assembly are advantageously manufactured as a single piece. This means that the slider and / or needle assembly are each a monolithic component, not produced by joining multiple individual parts. The closer, the spring, and all other components of the one-piece slider assembly are then manufactured from a single piece, for example, by stamping from a sheet of metal. In this way, the slider and / or needle assembly can be manufactured very easily and are also suitable for very high knitting speeds because the structure of the slider and / or needle assembly is not weakened by joints.
[0008] Further advantages arise when the closer rests on a cam of the needle section in the downward direction and is guided on the cam. Simultaneously, the closer rests against a contact surface of the needle section in the upward direction and is guided by this contact surface. Advantageously, the clamping force, which opposes the stroke movement, is exerted on the slide section via the contact surface of the needle section. The cam guides the closer and therefore, by its shape, also determines the stroke movement of the closer. For this purpose, the cam can be convexly curved upwards in the vertical direction or designed as a slope that forms an angle with the longitudinal direction. A convex cam is particularly advantageous because it enables very smooth movement of the closer in the vertical direction without jerky changes in speed. The contact surface can also be convexly curved, with the curvature directed downwards in the vertical direction.The cam and the contact surface are preferably spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle. This allows for better and more stable guidance of the closer, even at high knitting speeds in circular knitting machines. The distance in the longitudinal direction of the needle between the cam and the contact surface is advantageously 2 mm to 30 mm, but particularly preferably 4 mm to 15 mm.
[0009] Advantageously, the slide shaft is additionally supported downwards in the vertical direction against the needle shaft. The slide shaft then glides during the longitudinal movement of the The Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT slider element runs along the needle shaft in the longitudinal direction, providing even better guidance. Combined with the guidance of the closer on the cam and at the contact surface, this results in vertical guidance of the slider element at three different points. This ensures that the slider element and its closer are guided very securely and reliably, even at very high knitting speeds. In this embodiment, the spring can be easily formed by the portion of the closer element that extends in the longitudinal direction between the contact point of the slider element with the cam and the contact point with the needle shaft.
[0010] Particularly secure guidance of the closer can be achieved with a closer that includes an upwardly projecting ridge which, through contact with the contact surface, holds the closer in place when the hook is open. During knitting, the hook opens so that a stitch formed by the hook can slide out of the hook onto the needle shaft. To ensure that the stitch is not obstructed by the closer during its sliding motion, it is important that the closer is held firmly and securely in its predetermined vertical position when the hook is open. In this predetermined position, the tip of the closer lies completely within the needle part and does not protrude from it.The raised section on the closer, in conjunction with the contact surface, ensures that even when the hook is open, sufficient tension is exerted on the closer to guarantee secure positioning. This allows the slider needle to ensure reliable stitch formation even at very high knitting speeds on circular knitting machines.
[0011] Further advantages arise if a recess is formed in the closer, extending vertically in the direction of the needle's longitudinal axis behind the raised section. "In the direction of the needle's longitudinal axis behind the raised section" means extending from the raised section in the direction away from the hook of the needle section. The contact surface comes into contact with the area behind the raised section when the closer, from the open position, makes a longitudinal forward movement to close the hook. During this movement, the closer makes an upward stroke, thus also moving towards the contact surface. The recess in the slide behind the raised section therefore prevents excessive spring tension caused by the closer's stroke. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT This allows higher knitting speeds to be achieved with the slider needle without the slider needle wearing out too quickly.
[0012] The slider needle is suitable for particularly high knitting speeds if the closer has a longitudinal extent in the needle direction that is at least five times greater than its vertical extent. However, it is particularly advantageous if the longitudinal extent is at least ten times greater than the vertical extent. This gives the closer very high stability and rigidity in the needle direction. It is therefore particularly suitable for use in high-speed circular knitting machines, where extremely high forces are at work due to the rapid changes in direction of the slider needle in the needle direction. High stability of the closer in the needle direction is therefore a great advantage in this application.
[0013] Further advantages arise when the height of the needle section increases from the hook along the length of the needle towards the rear, following a rise in the jaw, until a high point is reached. This high point lies below the hook tip in the vertical direction. Therefore, the high point is lower than the hook tip. It is positioned behind and spaced from the hook tip along the length of the needle. This low height results in less spread of the stitch as it slides over the rise in the jaw during knitting. Consequently, finer stitches can be formed with such a sliding needle.
[0014] Advantageously, the needle section is bounded vertically downwards by a needle back, which is a flat surface along the longitudinal extension of the jaw rise. This flat surface lies in a plane defined by the needle's longitudinal and lateral directions. The longitudinal extension of the jaw rise is the area along the needle's length where the jaw rise extends. The longitudinal extension of the jaw rise terminates posteriorly at the highest point along the needle's length. Anteriorly, the jaw rise terminates at the hook or the neck of the hook. The flat surface of the needle back has no depression, recess, or groove in the vertical direction. During knitting, the needle back slides along the bottom of a needle channel of a knitting machine in direct contact with the needle and supports the pusher needle within the channel.The area of the jaw rise is a section of the slider needle that, during knitting, is at least temporarily removed from the needle channel. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCThervorsteht. If the needle back is not flat in this area, an outward-facing gap inevitably forms between the needle back and the needle channel during knitting. It has been shown that dirt and debris enter this gap, especially on high-speed circular knitting machines. This leads to increased wear, damage, and knitting defects, and prevents the circular knitting machines from operating at full speed. The formation of an outward-facing gap between the needle back and the needle channel can be prevented by making the needle back a flat surface in the area of the jaw rise. This significantly reduces the amount of dirt entering the space between the needle back and the needle channel.Additionally, the flat needle back provides better support for the slider needle against the pulling forces exerted on the slider by the removal of the already formed stitches. Because the support with the flat needle back surface is very close to the hook, the part of the slider protruding from the needle channel is bent less by these pulling forces. This reduces irregularities and defects in the stitches, even at very high knitting speeds.
[0015] Further advantages arise from the closure point, where the closure mechanism terminates, and the hook point, where the hook terminates. When the hook is open, the closure point is positioned vertically below the hook point. The hook is (fully) open when the slider is in its rearmost position relative to the needle body, viewed along the length of the needle. The hook point and the closure point are offset from each other along the length of the needle. This means that the closure point is not directly below the hook point. However, there is a vertical offset between the closure point and the hook point because the closure point is positioned lower than the hook point. In this case, the needle body can be designed with a significantly lower rise or peak than is typical for standard circular knitting slider needles.The slider needle allows for the creation of very fine stitches. However, since the slider tip is positioned vertically above the hook tip when the hook is closed, a slider needle with these characteristics is only feasible if the closing mechanism performs a lifting motion during the longitudinal movement of the slider part relative to the needle part. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT
[0016] The distance between the closing mechanism tip and the hook tip is advantageously 0.05 mm to 1 mm in the vertical direction when the hook is open. Preferably, however, the distance is 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm in the vertical direction. A distance within this range allows for the formation of fine stitches during knitting. At the same time, such a distance does not require excessive stroke movement of the closing mechanism during knitting, which allows for high knitting speeds.
[0017] Advantageously, the closing mechanism extends above the highest point of the hook when it is closed. During its longitudinal movement to close the hook, the closing mechanism rises and takes over a stitch lying on the needle part as soon as it extends beyond the highest point. This ensures that the stitch is transferred to the closing mechanism particularly gently, even at high knitting speeds. The stitch can then slide along the closing mechanism over the closed hook to be released from the slider needle.
[0018] Even greater knitting speeds can be achieved if the longitudinal movement of the slider forward along the length of the needle (this is the closing movement of the slider to close the hook) causes an upward stroke of the closer, followed by a downward stroke before the closer comes into contact with the hook. As soon as the closer comes into contact with the hook, the hook is closed. In this state, a stitch previously formed with the slider needle can slide along the closer over the closed hook to be released from the slider needle. The downward stroke of the closer immediately before it comes into contact with the hook results in a particularly gentle closure of the hook. In particular, this prevents increased wear on the slider tip and the hook point.The sliding needle can thus be operated at even higher knitting speeds without being subject to premature material failure. Additionally, the downward stroke pushes any thread previously inserted into the hook into place. This ensures that the thread remains in the hook even at high speeds of the sliding needle during the closing process.
[0019] Advantageously, the closer is guided in a slot in the needle part. The slot is bounded on both sides in the width direction by walls of the needle part. In the height direction, the slot has at least one opening, allowing the slide part to pass through. The Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT opening can be inserted into the slot. The closer is guided particularly well and securely in the slot, even at high knitting speeds.
[0020] The slot may have an opening that completely penetrates the needle part vertically, such that the slot is open on both sides in the area of the opening. This opening facilitates easier assembly of the slider part within the slot.
[0021] Further advantages arise from a slider shaft and a needle shaft that have the same width in the lateral direction, and a closer that has a narrower width in the lateral direction than the needle part. Both the slider shaft and the needle shaft can thus be directly supported in the lateral direction against the groove walls of a needle channel in a knitting machine. However, in order for the closer to be guided within the needle part itself, preferably in a slot, the closer has a narrower width in the lateral direction than the needle shaft. The slider shaft can advantageously slide on the needle shaft and is supported on the needle shaft in the vertical direction. When the slider shaft is supported on the needle shaft in the vertical direction, a supporting force is exerted on the slider shaft from the needle shaft in the vertical direction.
[0022] As described above, the slider and the needle can be moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle. In a knitting machine, the needle and slider are driven to move in this direction by drive devices. To transmit the necessary drive forces to the needle and slider particularly efficiently, each comprises a drive element, allowing the needle and slider to be driven independently of each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle via their respective drive elements. The drive element can be a drive foot that projects vertically above the needle shaft or slider shaft and engages in a drive device, such as a locking mechanism, of the knitting machine.However, the driving means can also be a recess in the vertical direction in the needle shaft or slide shaft, into which, for example, a pin or a coupling part of the knitting machine engages to drive the needle part and the slide part.
[0023] Particularly high knitting speeds can be achieved with the slider needle if the needle section is rounded at the transition between the drive foot and the needle shank or the needle shank guide with a needle radius Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT, and if the slider section is rounded at its rear end (longitudinally) and its lower end (vertically) with a slider radius larger than the needle radius. If the slider section or the needle section fails during knitting at very high speeds, there is a risk of the needle section and the slider section colliding at high relative speed in the longitudinal direction of the needle. If the slider section is rounded with a larger radius than the needle section, at least the lift-off of the slider section in the vertical direction from a needle channel towards the carriage of the knitting machine can be prevented in the event of such a collision.This prevents major damage to the knitting machine, even at high knitting speeds.
[0024] A needle section for the slide pin described above can be manufactured particularly advantageously using a method in which the slot for guiding the closer is formed by several overlapping partial slots, wherein a first partial slot is introduced vertically into the needle section from above, and wherein a second partial slot is introduced vertically into the needle section from below. In such a method, even complex slots suitable for reliably guiding the closer even when the closer performs a stroke movement in addition to the longitudinal movement of the slide section can be easily produced. In particular, a slot can be manufactured very simply that is partially open only upwards, partially open only downwards, and partially open on both sides vertically, thus also including a through-hole.
[0025] Further advantages arise when a third partial slot is introduced vertically from above into the needle part, with the second partial slot being positioned longitudinally between the first and third partial slots in such a way that the second partial slot connects the first and third partial slots. This makes manufacturing the needle part even simpler.
[0026] In an advantageous method for assembling a sliding pin described above, which has a slot with an opening, the sliding pin part is inserted into the slot of the pin part from rear to front in the longitudinal direction, the opening of the slot being covered downwards in the vertical direction before the sliding pin part is inserted. The novel design of the sliding pin with a spring makes assembly of the sliding pin more difficult because the spring must be tensioned during assembly to prevent the The Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT closer is positioned relative to the needle part. Covering the opening prevents the closer of the slider part from being pulled out through the opening on the underside of the needle part, thus preventing incorrect assembly of the slider needle. Simultaneously, covering the opening allows the spring to be tensioned during assembly, as the closer can rest against the closed opening. The opening can be covered with an auxiliary tool. Assembly can also be carried out in this manner in a knitting machine needle channel if the bottom of the needle channel covers the opening vertically.
[0027] Further advantages arise if the fastener has a recess on its underside, which limits its height downwards, to accommodate the hook point when the hook is closed by the fastener. The recess interrupts the underside. It is therefore an opening in the underside of the fastener. It has been shown that, especially at very high knitting speeds and with fine stitches, damage to the stitches can occur from the hook point when the hook is closed. The risk of damage is particularly high when knitting with multiple strands of yarn. Surprisingly, by accommodating the hook point in a recess in the fastener, damage can be reduced even at very high knitting speeds and in the case of very fine stitches.A slider needle of this type is therefore particularly suitable for use in high-speed circular knitting machines and for forming very fine stitches. It is especially advantageous if the hook point extends far enough into the recess of the closer that it is vertically spaced from the underside of the closer or from the opening of the recess. In this case, the hook point has completely passed through the opening of the recess and is fully enclosed within it. This effectively prevents damage to fine stitches, even on very high-speed knitting machines.
[0028] Advantageously, the recess is opened forward in the direction of the hook along the length of the needle, allowing the hook tip to be inserted into the recess by a movement of the closer in the same direction. This enables the hook tip to be inserted into the recess with particularly simple and straightforward movements of the closer and the hook. This also allows for operation at very high pressures. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT knitting speeds prevent a collision between the hook tip and the closing mechanism. The slider needle can therefore be used at faster knitting speeds.
[0029] Further advantages are achieved if the closer comprises at least two jaws that enclose the recess on both sides in the width direction. The jaws of the closer separate the hook tip laterally in the width direction from any meshes hanging in or on the closer, thus effectively reducing damage to fine meshes. The shape of the jaws can be adapted to the contour of the hook to enclose the hook or hook tip in the width direction with minimal play – preferably without any play at all.
[0030] It has proven particularly advantageous if the hook has at least one chamfer that reduces its width in such a way that the chamfer guides the hook when the hook point is inserted into the notch. The chamfer is a beveled surface positioned on the hook in such a way that it tapers towards the top of the hook. It is especially advantageous if at least one cheek of the fastener is shaped to match the chamfer of the hook, ensuring that the chamfer aligns with the cheek of the fastener. In this way, the hook and fastener are always correctly aligned when the hook is closed, allowing for faster knitting speeds.
[0031] Advantageously, the hook comprises at least two chamfers inclined to each other in such a way that, in a cross-sectional plane defined by the vertical and horizontal directions, the chamfers form at least a partially trapezoidal contour of the hook. This allows for even better positioning of the hook and the closer relative to each other. Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a spatial view of a sliding hammer (1) according to the invention. Fig. 2 Figure 2 shows spatial component views of the needle part (2) and the slider part (3) of the slider needle (1) from Figure 1. Fig. 3 Figure 3 shows the needle part (2) in a side view. Fig. 4 Figure 4 shows the sliding part (3) in a side view. Fig. 5 Figure 5 shows the slide pin (1) with open hook (6) in a side view. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCTFig. 6 Figure 6 shows the slide pin (1) with closed hook (6) in a side view. Fig. 7 Figure 7 shows the hook (6) and the closer (7) in an enlarged sectional view, the section passing through the slot (16) of the slide pin (1) and the closer (7) being shown in different positions. Fig. 8 Figure 8 shows the front part of the slide pin (1) in a sectional view through the slot (16). Fig. 9 Figure 9 shows the same detailed view as Figure 8, in which the force flow within the slide needle (1) is schematically sketched. Fig. 10 Figure 10 shows the front part of a second embodiment of the slide needle (1) in a perspective view. Fig. 11 Figure 11 shows the front part of the second embodiment of the slide needle (1) in a side view. Fig. 12 Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the second embodiment of the sliding hammer (1) through the section plane (42) marked in Figure 11.
[0032] Figure 1 shows a spatial view of a sliding needle 1 according to the invention. The sliding needle 1 is composed of a needle part 2 and a sliding part 3, which is displaceable relative to the needle part 2.
[0033] Figure 2 shows the needle part 2 and the slide part 3 of the slide needle 1 in a three-dimensional view as individual components. This means that the needle part 2 and the slide part 3 are not yet assembled or mounted to form the slide needle 1 as shown in Figure 1. The slide part 3 has a slide shaft 5 that extends predominantly in the longitudinal direction X of the needle and is connected at its front end to the closer 7. In this embodiment, the closer 7 comprises the spring 9, which is elastically bendable in the vertical direction Y and has high stiffness in the longitudinal direction X of the needle. A drive element 24 is connected to the slide shaft 5 at the rear end in the longitudinal direction X of the needle, via which the slide part 3 can be driven independently of the needle part 2. The needle part 2 has a needle shaft 4 that extends predominantly in the longitudinal direction X of the needle.A hook 6 is attached to the front end of the needle shaft 4, forming the end of the needle part 2 in the longitudinal direction X. The needle part 2 has a slot 16 that penetrates the needle shaft 4 in the vertical direction Y and is bounded on both sides in the horizontal direction Z by walls 17 of the needle part 2. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT. The slot 16 is very narrow in the horizontal direction Z. To nevertheless clearly show the slot 16, the front part of the needle part 2 with the slot 16 is shown enlarged in an additional detail view 26 in Figure 2. As can be seen in Figure 1, the closing element 7 of the slide part 3 is received in the slot 16 of the needle part 2 when assembled. For this purpose, the closing element 7 is tapered in the horizontal direction Z relative to the slide shaft 5 and the needle shaft 4.
[0034] Figure 3 shows the needle part 2 in a side view. In this view, the slot 16 is concealed by the wall 17. The concealed contours of the slot 16 are therefore shown as dashed lines. The contour of the slot 16 forms a cam 11 and a contact surface 12 in the needle part 2. The cam 11 limits the slot 16 downwards in the vertical direction Y and is convex upwards in the vertical direction Y. The contact surface 12 limits the slot 16 upwards in the vertical direction Y and is convex downwards in the vertical direction Y. The contact surface 12 is thus shaped opposite to the cam 11. In the assembled state, as shown, for example, in Figures 5 and 6, the closer 7 can be guided very well and securely in the vertical direction Y between the cam 11 and the contact surface 12.The needle part 2 shown in Figure 3 has a rounded needle radius 35 at the transition between the drive foot 24 of the needle part 2 and the needle shaft 4. This radius is smaller than the slider radius 36 with which the slider part 3 from Figure 4 is rounded at its rear, lower end. This ensures that, in the assembled state of the slider needle 1, when the slider part 3 collides with the needle part 2 in the longitudinal direction X, the rounding of the needle part 2 does not cause it to be moved upwards out of the needle channel of a knitting machine in the vertical direction Y.
[0035] Figure 4 shows the slide part 3 in a side view. In addition to the features of the slide part 3 already described above in connection with Figure 2, Figure 4 shows that the closer 7 of the slide part 3 has a projection 13 and a shaft rise 14 on its upper surface, which points upwards in the vertical direction Y. A recess 15 is formed between the projection 13 and the shaft rise 14. The projection 13 and the recess 15 extending behind the projection 13 in the longitudinal direction X ensure that the closer 7 is securely guided in the slot of the needle part 2 in the assembled state, without the stresses within the closer 7 becoming too great. The closer 7 has in Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT The needle closer 7 has a longitudinal extent 33 in the needle direction X that is more than ten times greater than its vertical extent 34 in the vertical direction Y. This makes the closer 7 particularly stable under loads in the needle longitudinal direction X and thus also suitable for very high-speed knitting machines, where the closer is subjected to high loads due to rapid changes in direction in the needle longitudinal direction X. At the same time, the closer 7 is elastically resilient in the vertical direction Y.
[0036] Figure 5 shows the needle part 2 and the slider part 3 assembled to form the slider 1. This illustration clearly shows how the closer 7 is guided securely and without play in the slot 16 between the cam 11 and the contact surface 12. In Figure 5, the slider part 3 is positioned relative to the needle part 2 in the longitudinal direction X of the needle in a position where the hook 6 is open. The closer 7 is thus shifted so far backward in the longitudinal direction X of the needle that the closer tip 18 lies completely within the slot 16. In this state, during knitting, a stitch previously formed with the hook 6 can slide out of the hook 6 onto the needle shaft 4 without the risk of the closer tip 18 touching and damaging the stitch.To ensure particularly secure positioning of the closing tip 18 in this position, the closing tip 7 is pressed downwards by contact of the projection 13 with the contact surface 12. This exerts a clamping force 10 on the closing tip 7 at the contact point between the projection 13 and the contact surface 12. An enlarged view of the closing tip 7, projection 13, contact surface 12, and the clamping force 10 is shown in Fig. 9 for better understanding.
[0037] Figure 6 shows a similar representation of the slide needle 1 as Figure 5. In contrast to the representation in Figure 5, the slide part 3 in Figure 6 is positioned relative to the needle part 2 in the needle longitudinal direction X such that the hook 6 is completely closed. In this position, the closer 7 completely covers the hook 6 with its closing tip 18. The closer 7 protrudes from the slot 16 of the needle part 2 in the needle longitudinal direction X and in the needle height direction Y. Thus, when the hook 6 is closed, the closer 7 is positioned higher in the needle height direction Y than when the hook 6 is open. To achieve this, the closer 7 performs an upward stroke movement 8 in the needle height direction Y, guided by the cam 11, during the transition from the position with the hook 6 open (see Figure 5) to the position with the hook 6 closed (see Figure 6). To avoid excessive clamping force 10, the stroke movement 8 of the closer 7 is stopped at the position, Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCTan, where the closer 7 is in contact with the contact surface 12, is compensated for by the recess 15. Therefore, when the hook 6 is closed, the contact surface 12 is no longer in contact with the projection 13 of the closer but with the recess 15. The longitudinal movement 37 in the needle longitudinal direction X and the stroke movement 8 in the vertical direction Y are described in more detail below in connection with Figure 7.
[0038] Figure 7 shows an enlarged detail view of the hook 6 and the closer 7 of the slide needle 1. The closer 7 is depicted in a closed position 30, an open position 31, and an intermediate position 32. To better distinguish the positions, the closer is shown with a solid line in the open position 31 and with a dashed line in the other two positions. Starting from the open position 31, the closer 7 makes a longitudinal movement 37 forward in the needle's longitudinal direction X to first reach the intermediate position 32 and then the closed position 30. The closer 7 is guided along the cam 11, whereby, starting from the open position 31 to the intermediate position 32, the closer 7 makes an initial upward stroke 8, 108 in the vertical direction Y along the contour of the cam 11.The closing tip 18 of the closer 7 is then, in the intermediate position 32, higher in the vertical direction Y than the hook tip 19 of the hook 6. During the further longitudinal movement 37 from the intermediate position to the closed position 30, the closer 7 then makes a second stroke 8, 208 downwards in the vertical direction Y, thus lowering itself from above onto the hook 6 in the vertical direction Y to close the hook 6. This final second stroke 8, 208 downwards in the vertical direction Y reduces the friction between the closer 7 and the hook 6 during the longitudinal movement 37 of the closer 7. This allows the slider needle 1 to be used in knitting machines at particularly high knitting speeds.
[0039] Figure 8 shows the front part of the slide pin 1 in a sectional view through the slot 16. This illustration schematically depicts how the slot 16 is composed of three overlapping partial slots 116, 216, 316 in the longitudinal direction X of the pin. The contours of the three partial slots 116, 216, 316 are shown as dashed lines for illustrative purposes, although their respective contours are no longer fully visible in the finished component due to the overlap. The first partial slot 116 and the third partial slot 316 are machined into the pin part 2 from above in the vertical direction Y. The second partial slot 216, on the other hand, is machined into the pin part 2 from below in the vertical direction Y. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT The second partial slot 216 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the needle between the first partial slot 116 and the third partial slot 316 and overlaps both the first partial slot 116 and the third partial slot 316. In this way, the second partial slot 216 connects the first partial slot 116 with the third partial slot 316 such that the continuous slot 16 is formed. By assembling the slot 16 from several partial slots 116, 216, 316, the slot 16 can be manufactured very simply despite its complex geometry. Further advantageous features of the sliding shank 1 are clearly shown in Figure 8 near the hook 6. Starting from the hook 6, the height of the needle shaft 4 increases in the vertical direction Y along a shaft rise 23 in the longitudinal direction X to the rear until a high point 22 is reached. From the highest point 22, the height of the needle shaft 4 does not increase directly.In the illustrated embodiment, the height of the needle shank 4 even decreases again behind the highest point 22. The highest point 22 of the needle shank 4 is lower in the vertical direction Y than the hook tip 19. Similarly, the closing point 18, in the open position 31 shown in Figure 8, is lower than the hook tip 19, a fact further emphasized in Figure 8 by the indicated distance 20. This allows the needle shank 4 to be implemented with a particularly low height in the area of the jaw rise 23. To ensure that the closing point 18 is higher than the hook tip 19 in the closed position of the closing mechanism 7, the closing mechanism 7 must perform lifting movements 8 in the vertical direction Y during knitting.The low height of the needle shank 4 in the area of the jaw rise 23 allows for the formation of finer stitches than with conventional pusher needles 1 for circular knitting machines, where the closer 7 does not perform any lifting movements 8 and the needle shank 4 is correspondingly taller in the area of the jaw rise 23. A further advantage made possible by the low height is the ability to design the needle back 21 as a flat surface in the area of the longitudinal extension 25 of the jaw rise 23. Conventional pusher needles 1 with a taller needle shank 4 in the area of the jaw rise 23 have a groove or a depression in the vertical direction Y in this area to prevent excessive widening of the stitches due to the tall needle shank 4.Since the needle shaft 4 of the sliding die 1 according to the invention can be designed with a lower height, the needle back 21 in the area of the longitudinal extension 25 of the jaw rise 23 can be formed as a flat surface, i.e., without a groove or depression. The sliding die 1 is... The Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCTso is supported closer to hook 6 in the knitting machine during knitting operation, and can therefore knit particularly precisely and evenly at high knitting speeds.
[0040] Figure 9 schematically illustrates the forces acting on the slider needle 1 during knitting and the force flow for providing the tension force 10 in the slider needle 1. In the longitudinal direction X of the needle, the drive force 27 acts on the slider part 3 and drives the slider part 3 to a longitudinal movement 37 relative to the needle part 2. During this longitudinal movement 37, the closer 7 is pushed upwards in the vertical direction Y by contact with the cam 11. The cam 11 exerts a lifting force 28 on the closer 7 in the vertical direction Y. The closer 7 encompasses the spring 9, which is supported upwards in the vertical direction Y against the contact surface 12. Due to the lifting movement of the closer 7, the spring 9 is therefore tensioned, so that it produces a tension force 10, which is exerted on the closer 7 by the needle part 2 via the contact surface 12. The clamping force 10 counteracts the stroke force 28 and thus also the stroke movement 8 of the closer 7.The clamping force 10 and the stroke force 28 act in the longitudinal direction X of the needle, offset from each other, and thus produce a torque about an axis of rotation pointing in the lateral direction Z on the closer 7. To prevent the closer 7 from rotating, the slide shaft 5 is supported in the vertical direction Y on the needle shaft 4, so that a support force 29 acting in the vertical direction Y is exerted by the needle shaft 4 on the slide shaft 5. The support force 29 counteracts the torque caused by the clamping force 10 and the stroke force 28. The torque can thus be balanced in such a way that rotation of the closer 7 is prevented. The clamping force 10, the stroke force 28, and the support force 29 all act exclusively between the needle part 2 and the slide part 3. This means that the force flow within the slide 1 is closed. The force flow is therefore not transmitted via other components of knitting machines, such as a metal strip.
[0041] Figures 10 to 12 show a second embodiment of the slide pin 1. Unlike the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9, the slide pin 1 in the second embodiment has a recess 39 in the underside 38 of the closer 7, the recess 39 receiving the hook tip 19 when the closer 7 closes the hook 6. Otherwise, the second embodiment is identical to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9. Therefore, only the following description will be made of the Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT Differences of the second embodiment compared to the previously described embodiment were discussed.
[0042] Figure 10 shows the front part of the second embodiment of the slide pin 1 in a perspective view, looking obliquely from below in the vertical direction at the underside 38 of the closer 7 and into the recess 39. The closer 7 is in a position in which it closes the hook 6 of the slide pin 1. The hook 6 is received in the recess 39 with its hook point 19. The hook point 19 is concealed by the closer and is therefore not shown in Figure 10.
[0043] The hook point 19 is shown in Figure 11, which depicts a side view of the sliding fastener 1 according to the second embodiment. In this figure, hidden edges such as those of the hook point 19 are shown with dashed lines to illustrate the teaching according to the invention. It can therefore be seen from this view that the hook point 19 is completely enclosed in the recess 39, i.e., it does not protrude from the recess 39. The closer 7 also covers the hook point 19 laterally in the width direction Z. These measures reduce the risk of the hook point 19 damaging the meshes held in the hook 6 or on the closer 7.
[0044] Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the second embodiment of the sliding hook 1 through the section plane 42 marked with the dashed line “AA” in Figure 11. The sectional view in Figure 12 shows that the hook 6 has two chamfers 41 that are inclined towards each other, forming a trapezoidal upper edge of the hook 6. This trapezoidal upper edge of the hook 6 projects into the recess 39 of the closer 7. The closer 7 encloses the hook 6 with two cheeks 40 in the width direction Z. The cheeks 40 are shaped to fit the two chamfers 41 such that the hook 6 is held in the recess 39 without play. This makes this second embodiment of the sliding hook 1 particularly well-suited for use in high-speed knitting machines. Reference symbol list 1 slider needle 2 needle part 3 slider part Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT4 Needle Shaft 5 skis rather sharp 6 hooks 7 closers 8 lifting movements 9 spring 10 Tension force 11 cams 12 Plant area 13 Survey 14 Shaft ascent 15 In-depth study 16 slots 17 Wall 18 closing tip 19 Hook tip 20 From stand 21 needle backs 22 High point 23 Cheek rise 24 propulsion devices 25 Longitudinal extent of the cheek rise (23) 26 Detail view 27 Driving force 28 Lifting capacity 29 From support force 30 Closed Position 31 Open Positions 32 Intermediate position 33 Longitudinal extent of the closer 7 34 Height extension of the closer 7 35 needle radius Groz-Beckert KG 1721 -PCT36 Slide radius 37 Longitudinal movement 38 Underside of the closer 7 39 Recess of the closer 7 40 Side of the closer 7 41. Chamfer of the hook 6 42 Section plane 108 First lifting movement 8 116 First part slit 208 Second lifting movement 8 216 Second part slot 316 Third part slit X Needle longitudinal direction Y Altitude direction Z Latitude direction Groz-Beckert KG 1721 -PCT
Claims
Groz-Beckert KG Parkweg 2 72458 Albstadt March 10, 2026 Patent claims 1. Slider needle (1) for use in knitting machines with • a needle part (2) comprising a needle shaft (4) extending predominantly in a needle longitudinal direction (X) and a hook (6) forming the front end of the needle part (2) in the needle longitudinal direction (X), • a slider part (3) with a slider shaft (5) extending predominantly in the longitudinal direction (X) of the needle, and a closing element (7) arranged at the front end of the slider part (3) in the longitudinal direction (X) of the needle, • wherein the slider part (3) is guided slidably on the needle part (2) in the longitudinal direction (X) of the needle, • wherein the closer (7) can open and close the hook (6) by a longitudinal movement (37) of the slider part (3) relative to the needle part (2) in the needle longitudinal direction (X), • wherein the longitudinal movement (37) of the slide part (2) causes a lifting movement (8) of the closer (7) in a vertical direction (Y) perpendicular to the needle longitudinal direction (X) characterized by the fact that the sliding part (1) includes a spring (9) which exerts a clamping force (10) on the closer (7) in the direction of height (Y) in the opposite direction to the lifting movement (8).
2. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the closer (7) encompasses the spring (9).
3. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the slide part (3) is made in one piece. Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT4. Slide needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 3, characterized in that that the closer (7) rests downwards in the vertical direction (Y) on a cam (11) of the needle part (2) and is guided on the cam (11), and that the closer (7) rests against a contact surface (12) of the needle part (2) in the vertical direction (Y) upwards and is guided on the contact surface (12).
5. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the slider shaft (5) is supported downwards in the vertical direction (Y) on the needle shaft (4).
6. Slide needle according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the closer (7) includes a raised section (13) pointing upwards in the vertical direction (Y) which, by contact with the contact surface (12), causes the closer (7) to be held down when the hook (6) is open.
7. Slide needle according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that In the needle longitudinal direction (X) behind the elevation (12) a depression (15) in the vertical direction (Y) is formed in the closer (7).
8. Slide needle according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the closer (7) has a longitudinal extent in the needle longitudinal direction (X) that is at least five times greater than a vertical extent of the closer (7) in the vertical direction (Y).
9. Slide needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT that the height of the needle part (2) increases from the hook (6) in the longitudinal direction of the needle (X) towards the rear along a jaw rise (23) until a high point (22) is reached, and that the high point (22) lies below the hook tip (19) in the vertical direction (Y).
10. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the needle part (2) is bounded downwards in the vertical direction (Y) by a needle back (21), wherein the needle back (21) is a flat surface in the area of a longitudinal extension (25) of the jaw rise (23).
11. Slider needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by a closing tip (18) at which the closing device (7) terminates, and a hook tip (19) at which the hook (6) terminates, wherein the closing tip (18) is located below the hook tip (19) in the vertical direction (Y) when the hook (6) is open.
12. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that The distance (20) of the closing tip (18) to the hook tip (19) in the vertical direction (Y) is 0.05 mm to 1 mm when the hook (6) is open.
13. Slide needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that The closing device (7) extends above the high point (22) in the vertical direction (Y) when the hook (6) is closed.
14. Slide needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that The longitudinal movement (37) of the slide part (3) forward in the needle longitudinal direction (X) causes a lifting movement (8) of the closer (7) upward in the vertical direction (Y), at Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT, which is followed by a downward stroke (8) of the closer (7) in the vertical direction (Y) before the closer (7) comes into contact with the hook (6).
15. Slide needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the closer (7) is guided in a slot (16) of the needle part (2).
16. Slider needle (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that The closer (7) has a recess (39) on a bottom side (38) which limits the closer (7) downwards in the vertical direction (Y) and which receives the hook tip (19) when the hook (6) is closed by the closer (7).
17. Slide needle (1) according to the preceding claim 16 characterized by the fact that the recess (39) is opened forward in the direction of the needle longitudinal direction (X) in such a way as to allow the hook tip (19) to be inserted into the recess (39) by a movement of the closer (7) in the direction of the needle longitudinal direction (X).
18. Slide needle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 17 characterized by the fact that the closer (7) comprises at least two cheeks (40) which enclose the recess (39) on both sides in the width direction (Z).
19. Slide needle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 18 characterized by the fact that the hook (6) has at least one chamfer (41) which reduces the extension of the hook (6) in the width direction (Z) such that the at least one chamfer (41) is suitable to guide the hook (6) into the recess (39) when the hook tip (19) is inserted.
20. Slide needle according to the preceding claim 19 Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT characterized by the fact that the hook (6) comprises at least two chamfers (41) which are inclined to each other in such a way that the chamfers (41) form an at least partially trapezoidal contour of the hook (6) in a section plane (42) spanned by the height direction (Y) and the width direction (Z). Groz-Beckert KG 1721-PCT