Circular Knitting Machine Inclined Sinker Yarn Interchanging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current circular knitting machines face issues with unsmooth yarn interchanging due to limited space in the needle hook, where the bottom yarn is closer to the needle latch, causing blocking and inefficiency in yarn position changes, and the sinker's two-dimensional movement is not feasible in these machines.

Innovation Solution

A circular knitting machine structure with inclined sinkers and controlled knitting needle tracks allows for one-dimensional sinker movement and positions the surface yarn higher than the bottom yarn, enabling smooth interchanging by leveraging inclined planes on the sinkers to change the surface yarn's position relative to the bottom yarn during different knitting tracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bottom yarn is used for interchanging position with the surface yarn, then the interchanged plating can be achieved, but the yarn interchanging becomes unsmooth due to limited space in the needle hook where the bottom yarn is closer to the needle latch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyarn interchanging capabilityVSAvoidsmoothness of yarn interchanging

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the bottom yarn to interchange positions (conventional method), this patent inverts the approach by moving the surface yarn against the inclined plane of the sinker. This reversal allows the surface yarn to be pushed into the needle hook from above, creating sufficient space and avoiding interference with the needle latch, thereby achieving smooth yarn interchanging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sinker is used for two-dimensional movement to stir the bottom yarn, then the yarn interchanging can be achieved, but this movement is not feasible in circular knitting machines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyarn interchanging capabilityVSAvoidsinker movement mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

This patent extracts the complex two-dimensional movement requirement from the sinker mechanism. By removing the need for two-dimensional sinker movement, the design simplifies the device structure while achieving yarn interchanging through the inclined plane that guides the surface yarn into the needle hook during the knitting cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sinker track is segmented into distinct segments (first segment, second segment, third segment) with specific functions. The inclined plane is positioned on a specific segment to perform the yarn pushing action, while other segments handle different phases of the knitting cycle. This segmentation allows complex yarn manipulation to be achieved through simple, sequential sinker movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the bottom yarn position is changed for interchanging plating, then the interchanged plating can be produced, but the limited space in the needle hook causes blocking and inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterchanged plating production efficiencyVSAvoidyarn blocking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the bottom yarn upward to interchange positions (which causes blocking in the limited needle hook space), this patent inverts the approach by moving the surface yarn downward against the inclined plane. This reversal creates sufficient space in the needle hook and prevents yarn blocking, thereby improving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design prevents yarn blocking and ensures smooth interchanging by maintaining the surface yarn in a wider part of the needle hook, allowing for efficient interchanged plating production without the limitations of conventional methods.

Implementation Method 1

one side of each of the plurality of sinkers facing each of the plurality of knitting needles is formed with an inclined plane, wherein when each of the plurality of knitting needles is used for knitting, a surface yarn and a bottom yarn are fed into each of the plurality of knitting needles... when one of the plurality of knitting needles moves on the second half knitting track, the surface yarn transitorily leans against the inclined plane of one of the sinkers, and the position of the surface yarn is changed relative to the bottom yarn

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInclined plane: Inclined Plane

Data Source

PatentUS11781253B1Circular knitting machine structure

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 PAI LUNG MACHINERY MILL CO LTD

AI summary

A circular knitting machine structure comprises knitting needles and sinkers. Each knitting needle is controlled to move on a first half knitting track or a second half knitting track. A retracting time point of the first half knitting track is later than that of the second half knitting track. One side of the sinker facing the knitting needle is formed with an inclined plane. When the knitting needle is used for knitting, a surface yarn and a bottom yarn are fed therein. When the knitting needle moves on the first half knitting track, a standard plating is knitted without changing the position of the surface yarn. When the knitting needle moves on the second half knitting track, the surface yarn leans against the inclined plane of the sinker transitorily, the position of the surface yarn is changed relatively to the bottom yarn, and an interchanged plating is knitted.