Flat Knitting Machine Transfer Comb for Needle Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In flat knitting machines, needles are unable to perform other operations while storing meshes, leading to inefficiencies due to the presence of stored meshes, tension issues, and potential fiber mixing.
Innovation Solution
A method where meshes are transferred between needles and storage elements, allowing needles to be freed for other operations, with storage elements being movable to facilitate mesh transfer and reduce tension, and prevent fiber mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If meshes are stored on needles to free other needles for operations, then needle availability is improved, but the stored needles cannot perform knitting operations during storage period
Solution Approach 1:
A transfer comb is introduced as an intermediary device between the needle bed and the yarn supply. The transfer comb temporarily holds meshes that are transferred from knitting needles, enabling the needles to be freed for new knitting operations while the meshes are held in the transfer comb rather than remaining on the needles
Solution Approach 2:
The knitting system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the needle bed for active knitting, the transfer comb for temporary mesh storage and transfer operations, and the yarn supply area. This segmentation allows simultaneous operations in different zones, improving overall productivity
2Productivity
If meshes are stored between needles, then needle capacity is utilized, but space between beds is occupied and tension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage function is moved from the horizontal space between needles to a vertical arrangement using the transfer comb structure. Meshes are held in slots within the transfer comb body, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than occupying horizontal space between needles or beds
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer comb acts as a mediator that reduces tension on stored meshes by providing a structured holding mechanism with slots designed to accommodate meshes in a relaxed state, rather than forcing them into tight spaces between needles
3Adaptability or versatility
If meshes are stored on needles for extended periods, then needle flexibility is improved, but fiber mixing between stored and new meshes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer comb serves as a physical barrier and intermediary container that isolates stored meshes from new yarn being fed to the needles. The structured slots and compartments of the transfer comb prevent fiber contamination between different mesh batches
Solution Approach 2:
Meshes are extracted from the needle context and placed into the dedicated storage slots of the transfer comb. This separation removes the stored meshes from the active knitting zone, preventing any potential fiber mixing with new yarn while the needles are reused
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3E
Figure 4A~4E
AI summary
The invention relates to a knitting method for a flat knitting machine and a flat knitting machine making it possible to implement the method. The machine comprises a plurality of storage elements (5, 5') capable of storing at least one stitch, the storage elements or transfer jacks being situated below the bed(s) of the machine and the storage elements being movable relative to the bed(s) of the machine such that each storage element can alternatively receive a stitch supported by a needle (4, 4'), bring a stitch toward a needle (4, 4'), receive a stitch supported by another storage element (5, 5'), and bring a stitch toward another storage element (5, 5').