Circular Knitting Sinker Selection for Variable Stitch Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circular knitting machines lack the ability to individually select and control holding-down sinkers for creating special stitches on specific needles, limiting the flexibility and versatility in producing knitted fabrics with varied stitch patterns and designs.
Innovation Solution
A circular knitting machine with a needle-sinker assembly that includes a pre-selection element and an activation element, allowing for the selective engagement and movement of sinkers to create both plain and special stitches, such as terry stitches, by aligning the connecting portion of the pre-selection element with the sinker's connecting seat and using the activation element to push the sinker towards the central axis for insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional circular knitting machine is used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to individually select and control holding-down sinkers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sinker control system into independent units, with each needle having its own pre-selection element and activation element that can independently control the corresponding holding-down sinker. This segmentation enables individual sinker selection while maintaining a modular, manageable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces pre-selection elements and activation elements as intermediary components between the needle-holding cylinder and the holding-down sinkers. These intermediaries facilitate the selective engagement and movement of sinkers without requiring direct complex control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual sinker selection is implemented, then production flexibility increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic elements including oscillating pre-selection elements and movable activation elements that can change position during the knitting cycle. This dynamic behavior enables flexible stitch pattern creation through temporal and spatial variation of sinker engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-selection elements oscillate periodically during the needle-holding cylinder rotation, and the activation elements move rhythmically to engage and disengage sinkers. This periodic action creates the necessary timing for selective sinker operation while maintaining systematic control.
3Manufacturing precision
If pre-selection and activation elements are added, then sinker control precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-selection elements perform preliminary engagement with the holding-down sinkers during the needle ascent phase, positioning the sinkers in advance. This preliminary action ensures precise sinker positioning before the actual knitting operation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-selection elements are automatically engaged by the needle's own upward movement, and the activation elements are actuated by the needle's position and the oscillating motion. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for external control systems while maintaining precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
A circular knitting machine for knitwear, comprising a needle-holding cylinder (C), having longitudinal grooves (3) arranged around a central axis (X) and housing a plurality of needles (N), and a needle-holding ring (A), having radial grooves (4) housing a plurality of holding-down sinkers (P), and wherein each needles is paired with at least one respective adjacent sinker so as to form a needle-sinker assembly (1). The knitting machine comprises, for each needle-sinker assembly: a pre-selection element (5), paired with the respective needle and comprising a connecting portion (6) selectively cooperating with the adjacent sinker belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly; an activation element (7), paired with the pre-selection element and comprising an operating portion (8). The pre-selection element is vertically movable, as a result of an ascending motion of the respective needle, to a pre-selection configuration in which the connecting portion is engaged into a connecting seat (9) defined in the sinker belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly, thus causing a pre-selection of the sinker with the ascending motion of the corresponding needle. The activation element (7) is horizontally movable, towards the central axis, until acting upon the pre-selection element, so that the connecting portion (6) causes in its turn a movement of the sinker (P) in the radial groove (4) towards the central axis, thus performing an activation of the sinker.