Circular Knitting Machine Hook Plate Engaging Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circular knitting machines face challenges in safely performing maintenance operations due to the continuous rotation of the cutter during maintenance, which poses safety risks and can lead to unintended thread cutting, and existing disengaging mechanisms either compromise synchrony between the hook plate and needle cylinder or are structurally complex and prone to faults.
Innovation Solution
A circular knitting machine with an engaging and disengaging mechanism for the hook plate with respect to the needle cylinder, featuring a pulley and flange system that allows synchronous rotation during production and automatic disengagement during maintenance, enabling the hook plate to be raised without interrupting the pulley's rotation, and automatic re-synchronizing upon return, ensuring precise alignment and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dial group is raised for maintenance operations, then accessibility for maintenance is improved, but the cutter continues to rotate causing safety risks and potential thread cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is segmented into independent components: the pulley system for the needle cylinder and the flange system for the hook plate. This allows the needle cylinder to rotate independently while the hook plate remains stationary during maintenance, eliminating the safety hazard of the cutter rotating when raised.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational drive is extracted from the hook plate during maintenance operations. The engaging mechanism allows selective disconnection of the drive transmission, so the cutter can be stationary while the needle cylinder continues to rotate, enabling safe maintenance work.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a disengaging mechanism is implemented to stop the cutter during maintenance, then safety is improved, but the mechanism becomes structurally complex and prone to faults
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the vertical movement of the dial group. When the dial group is raised, the engaging organ automatically disengages from the seating; when lowered, it automatically re-engages. This eliminates the need for complex external control systems while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement control is shifted from rotational dimension to vertical dimension. Instead of using complex rotational disengagement mechanisms, the patent uses the vertical raising/lowering movement of the dial group to control the engagement state, simplifying the mechanism while maintaining safety.
3Ease of operation
If the hook plate is raised for maintenance, then accessibility is improved, but synchrony with the needle cylinder is lost requiring complex re-synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging mechanism is pre-positioned with a seating that guides the engaging organ into the correct angular position. When the dial group is lowered after maintenance, the engaging organ automatically returns to the seating, pre-establishing the correct synchrony without requiring complex adjustment procedures.
4Stability of the object's composition
If continuous transmission is maintained during raising, then synchrony is preserved, but mechanical stress and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system dynamically adapts its engagement state based on operational requirements. During normal knitting, continuous transmission maintains synchrony; during maintenance, the system automatically disengages to eliminate mechanical stress, then re-engages when maintenance is complete.
Data Source
AI summary
A circular knitting machine (1) for knitwear or hosiery, comprising a bearing structure, needle cylinder (C), a plurality of needles, and a dial group. The dial group comprises a support ring (4), a hook plate (5), and a thread feeding and cutting organ. The knitting machine comprises rotation transmission means (10) comprising: a drive pulley (11), a hook plate shaft (12), a flange (13) and an engaging mechanism (20) which operates between an engaged configuration, in which it constrains the pulley and the flange to one another, and a disengaged configuration, in which the flange is free from constraints. The engaging mechanism comprises an engaging organ (21) and actuating means (30) which enable the passage from the engaged configuration to the disengaged configuration in any angular position assumed by the flange or the pulley, and the passage from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration with the engaging organ positioned at a predetermined number of angular engaging and disengaging positions (40).