Flat Knitting Machine Cam Allocation for Shorter Carriage Stroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat knitting machines require longer carriage strokes and increased knitting time due to the need for separate cam systems and yarn feeders for each tubular part in knitwear, such as pullovers, which complicates the knitting process and increases production time.
Innovation Solution
A method and allocation device that allocate knitting data to cam systems on a flat knitting machine to knit multiple tubular parts in parallel, utilizing cam systems for both knitting and stitch transfer, allowing for efficient allocation of knitting tasks along the carriage's travel direction, thereby shortening the carriage stroke and knitting time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate cam systems are allocated to each tubular part (sleeves and body), then each part can be knitted independently, but the carriage stroke becomes longer and knitting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling cam systems to perform both knitting and stitch transfer operations. The carriage is designed with cam systems that can alternatively execute knitting stitches or transfer stitches between needle beds, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cam systems for each function and reducing overall carriage stroke length.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate cam systems are allocated to each tubular part (sleeves and body), then each part can be knitted independently, but the carriage stroke becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling cam systems to perform both knitting and stitch transfer operations. The carriage is designed with cam systems that can alternatively execute knitting stitches or transfer stitches between needle beds, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cam systems for each function and reducing overall carriage stroke length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple dedicated cam systems into fewer multi-functional cam systems. By combining knitting and stitch transfer capabilities into the same cam system, the physical length of the carriage stroke is reduced while maintaining the ability to independently knit multiple tubular parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cam systems are used for both knitting and stitch transfer, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by designing cam systems that can alternatively perform knitting or stitch transfer functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cam systems for each operation, simplifying the overall carriage structure while maintaining full functional versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Parts of knitwear (2) comprising plural tubular parts (4, 5, 6) are knitted in parallel on needle beds of a flat knitting machine (20). For courses of the carriage (12, 16, 22) without stitch transfer between the needle beds (21), the knitting of a forward part in the travel direction of the carriage (12, 16, 22) in the course is allocated to a cam system (14a, 14b, 14c) of the carriage (12, 16, 22) at a forward position in the travel direction of the carriage (12, 16, 22) in the course. For courses of the carriage (12, 16, 22) with stitch transfer between the needle beds (21), the knitting of all of the parts to be knitted in the course is allocated to one or plural cam systems (14a, 14b, 14c) of the carriage (12, 16, 22). The carriage strokes are shortened and thereby, the knitting time for knitwear (2) is shortened.