Needle-Sinker Selection Assembly for Complex Circular Knitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circular knitting machines lack the ability to individually select knockover sinkers for specific needles, limiting the flexibility in producing special stitches and alternating plain and special stitches as desired, thereby restricting the manufacturing of complex patterns and high-quality knitted fabrics.
Innovation Solution
A circular knitting machine with a needle-sinker assembly system that includes pre-selection and activation elements, allowing for individual selection and control of sinkers through pre-selection elements aligned with radial grooves and activation elements, enabling selective movement of sinkers to create desired stitch patterns and complex designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional circular knitting machines use uniform needle-sinker arrangements, then the machine structure is simple, but the ability to produce complex stitch patterns and special stitches is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sinker ring is divided into multiple independent selectable zones, with each zone containing sinkers that can be individually selected or deselected. This segmentation allows different portions of the sinker ring to perform different functions (plain knitting vs. special stitches), enabling complex pattern production without requiring complete machine reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine incorporates selectable sinker mechanisms that can dynamically change their state between active and inactive, or between different stitch formation modes, during operation. This dynamic capability allows the same physical sinkers to serve multiple functions at different times, increasing versatility without adding permanent structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual sinker selection mechanisms are added to enable special stitches, then manufacturing flexibility increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The same physical sinkers in the sinker ring are designed to perform multiple functions: they can participate in plain knit stitch formation, special stitch formation (such as waffle or rib stitches), or be completely selected out of operation. This multi-functionality is achieved through the selectable sinker mechanism that allows a single set of sinkers to serve different purposes based on programming, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sinkers for each stitch type.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection of which sinkers to activate for special stitches is predetermined through programming before the knitting process begins. The control system pre-configures the sinker selection pattern based on the desired stitch design, allowing the mechanical selection mechanism to simply follow pre-planned instructions rather than requiring complex real-time decision-making hardware.
3Manufacturing precision
If knockover sinkers are made selectable for individual needles, then the production of high-quality knitted fabrics with complex patterns is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sinker ring is organized into distinct selectable zones where sinkers in specific angular regions can be independently controlled. This local quality approach allows precise control over which portions of the knitted fabric receive special stitch treatment versus plain knitting, enabling high-quality pattern production with controlled complexity rather than uniform complexity across the entire machine.
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) aligned with the radial groove (4) and selectively cooperating with the adjacent sinker belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly. Each radial groove has a rear section (81) and a front section (91), open on the front side towards the central axis; the front section is wider than the rear section. The front section is configured for laterally containing and guiding the connecting portion of the pre-selection element in its movements during the operating cycle of the knitting machine.