Segmented Half-Ring Pick-Up Device for Tubular Knitted Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for automatically picking up and closing the toe of tubular knitted articles from circular knitting machines are complex, costly, and prone to mechanical inaccuracies due to strict tolerances, leading to inefficiencies and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A pick-up device with a circular ring divided into two half-rings, each equipped with pivotable pick-up hooks and abutment surfaces, allows for the alignment and engagement of the open toe of the tubular article, facilitating its transfer from the needle cylinder to a sewing or linking machine, where the toe is closed by overlapping the half-rings and using closure latches to secure the stitches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual picking-up method is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity is low and production costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The pick-up device is divided into two independent half-rings that can operate separately and then be joined together. Each half-ring contains its own set of pick-up hooks, allowing the device to pick up stitches in two stages and transfer them to opposite sides for toe closing, thereby achieving automation while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-up hooks are designed to automatically engage with the stitches and the half-rings automatically overturn and join together without requiring complex external control mechanisms. The device performs its own picking-up, transferring, and joining operations through its inherent mechanical design, improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity
2Reliability
If pick-up hooks are arranged in a full circular ring, then complete coverage is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arrangement of pick-up hooks is segmented into two separate half-rings instead of forming a complete circle. Each half-ring independently picks up stitches from its respective side and the two halves are then joined at the center, achieving complete coverage and reliable picking-up while reducing structural complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-up operation is extended into the temporal dimension by performing picking-up in two sequential stages with two half-rings, rather than attempting to do everything simultaneously with a single complex circular structure. This dimensional approach improves reliability while managing complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If strict mechanical tolerances are enforced for high quality linking, then product quality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The linking process is divided into two separate operations performed by two half-rings at opposite sides, with each half-ring handling its own set of stitches independently. This segmentation allows for quality control at each stage without requiring the entire system to maintain extremely tight tolerances simultaneously, achieving high linking quality while managing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-up hooks engage with the stitches and hold them in position before the actual linking operation begins. This preliminary engagement ensures proper alignment and positioning, allowing the subsequent linking to achieve high precision without requiring the entire device to maintain strict tolerances throughout all operations
Data Source
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AI summary
A pick-up device (21) comprises a circular ring (23) with a symmetry axis (B-B), divided into two half-rings (23A, 23B) that can be overturned one on the top of the other around an overturning axis (C-C) approximately orthogonal to the symmetry axis (B-B) of the circular ring (23); Each half-ring (23A, 23B) is provided with a respective plurality of pick-up hooks (31), which are movable with respect to the circular half-ring (23 A, 23B) and each of which comprises a pick-up spike (31B) for the pick-up of loops (MP) of the tubular knitted article (M). Each pick-up hook (31) comprises, near the pick-up spike (31B), an abutment surface (39S) so configured and arranged as to position the knitted fabric of the tubular knitted article (M) with respect to the pick-up hook (31).