Circular Knitting Machine Loop Transfer Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knitted-fabric transferring methods for circular knitting machines face issues with stable transfer of loops due to displacement of knitting needles and removal members, leading to misalignment and breakage, and the complexity of the apparatus increases with additional components like transfer bits and guide rings.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where transferring needles and knitting needles are advanced axially to be continuous, and transferring sinkers with tapered engagement portions are used to push final loops into the knitting needle cylinder, allowing for stable transfer without the need for a knitting-needle guide ring, reducing component count and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If removal members with notches are used to receive knitted fabric from knitting needles, then the knitted fabric can be transferred, but displacement of knitting needles or removal members causes misalignment and loop breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ring acts as an intermediary component between the knitting needles and removal members. It provides a reference surface that ensures proper alignment of both elements during the transfer process, eliminating the misalignment issues that occur when knitting needles or removal members displace independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple components (guide ring, knitting needles, removal members) into an integrated alignment system. The guide ring works in conjunction with the knitting needles and removal members to create a composite structure that maintains precise relative positions throughout the transfer operation.
2Ease of operation
If transfer bits and knitting-needle guide rings are added to transfer the sock, then the transfer can be achieved, but the apparatus structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ring serves multiple functions: it guides the knitting needles, aligns the removal members, and provides a reference surface for the entire transfer mechanism. By making this single component multi-functional, the need for separate transfer bits and guide rings is eliminated, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automatic transfer capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a knitted-fabric transferring method for a circular knitting machine, capable of surely transferring a knitted fabric which is knitted by a circular knitting machine and has a surplus portion such as a toe portion from knitting needles to transferring needles, and a knitted-fabric transferring apparatus. Transferring needles (34) are advanced in an axial direction of knitting needles (21), such that the transferring needles (34) and the knitting needle (21) are continuous with each other in the axial direction. A transferring sinker (49) is inserted into a space between adjacent knitting needles (21) from outside to inside in a radial direction of a knitting-needle cylinder. Final loops (26) of the knitted fabric (27) caught on the knitting needles (21) are pushed to the inside of a knitting-needle cylinder (19) by engagement claws (49e) of the transferring sinkers (49). A gap (G1) is formed between an internal surface of each of the knitting needles (21) and an inner loop (26a) preceding the final loop (26). The transferring sinkers (49) are moved from the knitting needles (21) to the transferring needles (34) in an axial direction of the knitting needles (21), such that the final loops (26) are transferred from the knitting needles (21) to the transferring needles (34) by the transferring sinkers (49). The gap (G1) enables smooth transferring of the knitted fabric (27) to the transferring needles (34) while preventing the final loops (26) from being engaged by a connecting portion between the transferring needle (34) and the knitting needle (21).