Flat Knitting Machine Fixed Sinker Head Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat knitting machines with fixed sinkers face inaccuracies in the position of the head, which serves as a reference for attaching needle beds, due to varying contact between the fitting portion and the snap-fit recess, leading to potential deviations from the designed reference position.
Innovation Solution
The flat knitting machine incorporates a linear-member support portion that allows a linear member to be inserted to press a contact portion of the sinker body, causing the head to swing away from the needle-bed gap center, stabilizing its position relative to the reference position, and includes a tapered section to disperse stress and improve machining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fitting portion is snap fitted to the snap-fit recess using spring force from the curved portion, then the fixed sinker can be easily assembled, but the position of the head deviates from the reference position due to varying contact degree
Solution Approach 1:
A linear member (adjustment screw) is introduced as an intermediary element between the contact portion and the head. This linear member allows precise adjustment of the contact force applied to the contact portion, enabling control over the head's position on the wire axis while maintaining the snap-fit assembly mechanism. The linear member acts as a mediator that translates rotational adjustment into linear position correction of the head.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the head is adjusted by changing the contact force parameter applied to the contact portion. By rotating the linear member (adjustment screw), the contact force between the linear member and the contact portion is varied, which in turn changes the position of the head along the wire axis. This parameter change approach allows fine-tuning of the head position to achieve high precision alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the contact portion is pressed to swing the head away from the needle-bed gap center, then the head position accuracy is improved, but stress concentration occurs at the curved portion
Solution Approach 1:
The linear member (adjustment screw) is designed to apply contact force to the contact portion before the snap-fit operation is completed. This preliminary action allows the head position to be pre-adjusted and stabilized before the final assembly, ensuring that the head is positioned accurately without requiring excessive force during the snap-fit process, thereby reducing stress on the curved portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear member serves as an intermediary that distributes the adjustment force more evenly across the contact portion rather than concentrating it at a single point. This intermediary mechanism reduces the peak stress on the curved portion while still achieving the necessary head position adjustment, preventing strength degradation of the curved portion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures the head of the fixed sinker is accurately positioned close to the reference position, enhancing the precision of attaching front and rear needle beds by stabilizing the head's position and reducing stress concentration.
Implementation Method 1
The snap-fit recess allows the fitting portion 23 at the rear end of the body 21 to be snap fitted thereto by using a spring force generated when the curved portion 24 of the body 21 is bent
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Fixed sinkers (2) are arranged side by side at a front end portion of a needle bed (11). Each of the fixed sinkers (2) includes a body (21), which has a curved portion (24) in a middle part thereof in a longitudinal direction, and a head (22) protruding from the body (21) toward a needle-bed gap (G). In the front end portion of the needle bed (11), a needle-bed-front-end support portion (12) and a snap-fit recess (13) are formed.The needle-bed-front-end support portion (12) supports a sinker-front-end support portion (25) via a first wire (31), which extends in a direction in which the bodies (21) are arranged side by side, andallows the head (22) to swing in directions toward and away from a needle-bed gap center (Ga) around an axis (m) of the first wire (31).The snap-fit recess (13) allows a fitting portion (23) to be snap fitted thereto by using a spring force generated when the curved portion (24) of the body (21) is bent.A linear member (34) is inserted into a corner of a linear-member support portion (14) in the front end portion of the needle bed (11), and a contact portion (27) of the body (21) is pressed toward the needle-bed gap center (Ga) to swing the head (22) around the axis (m) of the first wire (31) in the direction away from the needle-bed gap center(Ga).