Knitting Machine Take-Down Assembly Angular Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Open-type circular knitting machines face challenges in maintaining the angular position of the take-down and collecting assembly relative to the dead zone, affecting the quality of the knitted fabric due to variations in the number of active needles, leading to uneven take-down forces and fabric piling issues.

Innovation Solution

An open-type circular knitting machine with an adjustable take-down and collecting assembly that maintains a fixed angular position relative to the dead zone, allowing for precise adjustment based on the number of active needles to optimize fabric take-down and collection, ensuring correct distribution of forces and preventing fabric defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of active needles is varied to produce width-variable web, then the adaptability of the machine is improved, but the angular position of the take-down and collecting assembly relative to the dead zone becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidth-variable web production capabilityVSAvoidangular position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an adjustable angular positioning mechanism for the take-down and collecting assembly that allows dynamic reconfiguration based on the number of active needles. This enables the system to adapt its geometry to different production modes (tubular vs. open web) while maintaining optimal angular relationships, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the take-down and collecting assembly is fixed in position, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different fabric heights is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric take-down precisionVSAvoidfabric height variability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an adjustable angular positioning system that allows the take-down and collecting assembly to be reconfigured for different fabric heights and production modes. This dynamic adjustability maintains manufacturing precision across varying conditions by optimizing the angular position for each specific configuration, rather than requiring a fixed position that would limit versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the angular position is not adjusted according to active needle count, then the device complexity is reduced, but fabric defects occur due to uneven force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning system complexityVSAvoidfabric quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a positioning mechanism that is pre-configured with adjustment capabilities for different numbers of active needles. By establishing the correct angular position before fabric production begins, the system prevents force distribution issues and fabric defects without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation, thus maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3204545B1Open-type circular knitting machine for the open and width-variable web production with a knitted fabric take-down and/or collecting assembly
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 SANTONI SPA
  • EP3204545B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3204545B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3204545B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an open-type knitting machine for the open and width-variable web production with a fabric take-down and/or collecting assembly, comprising: a basement (3); a knitting head (4) mounted onto the basement (4) and comprising: at least a needle-holding element (5) having at least a plurality of needles (6, 7) arranged around a central axis (X-X). A first active needle (6a, 7a) and a last active needle (6b, 7b, 6b', 7b ' ) of the plurality delimit between them a dead zone (11 ) of the needle-holding element (5) without needles and/or without active needles, and an operating zone (10) shaped as an arc of circle and provided with active needles. Control means are operatively connected to the active needles so as to selectively actuate these active needles in order to produce a partially tubular knitted fabric. A take-down and/or collecting assembly (2) for the knitted fabric (T) under production is arranged downstream from the knitting head (4) with respect to a feeding direction of said knitted fabric (T) under production, and it is integral with the needle- holding element (5) during the production of the knitted fabric (T). The circular machine (1) further comprises devices (34) for adjusting the angular position of the take-down and/or collecting assembly (2) with respect to the dead zone (11) of the needle-holding element (5) around the central axis (X-X).