The drawings are used to illustrate the invention. They show in
FIG. 1 a detail of a highly schematic knitting cylinder and a rib dial with system components of a tool set;
FIGS. 2 through 5 a schematic side view of various system components of a tool set;
FIG. 6 a side view of a block selection component of a tool set;
FIG. 7 a perspective view of the selection components in accordance with FIG. 6; and,
FIG. 8 the component placement set with various system components of a tool set.
FIG. 1 shows a tool set 1 of a knitting machine that is only shown in a rudimentary manner with reference to a detail of a knitting cylinder and, likewise, to a detail of the shown rib dial 3. For illustration purposes, the tool set 1 consists only of a sinker 4 and a latch-type needle 5. The sinker 4 is supported in a channel of the rib dial 3 so that said sinker can be shifted in radial direction. For the shifting operation, a cam disk is provided in the cam 6. The rib dial 3 has a large number of radially oriented slits for the accommodation of such sinkers 4, whereby each belongs to a tool set.
The knitting cylinder 2 has a large number of slit-like needle channels 7, with latch-type needles 5 seated in each of said channels. The foot 8 of said needles is in engagement with a cam 9. If the knitting cylinder and the cam 9 are rotated relative to each other, the feet 8 of the latch-type needle 5 follow the cam path and are thus moved up and down in axial direction as in FIG. 1.
As a result of the synchronized back-and-forth movement of the sinker 4 and the latch-type needle 5, said movement being caused by the rotation of the needle cylinder 2 or of the rib dial 3, the stitch-forming operation is carried out.
FIG. 2 again shows the latch-type needle 5 in an embodiment as a long-butt needle with a long foot 8. The exemplary embodiment shows the foot 8 arranged on the end opposite its hook 11. However, said foot may also be arranged in a different position. The latch-type needle 5 has a pivotally supported tongue 12. However, it is also possible to consider slider needles, rehanging needles or other needles as the knitting tool or as a part of the tool set.
FIGS. 3 through 5 show various types of intermediate sliders 13, sinkers 14, rehanging components 15, each of which, like the latch-type needle 5, may be a component of a stitch-forming tool set. They may have feet 16, 17, 18 and each is disposed to be moved in longitudinal direction in a corresponding channel. Thus, each of the system components 5, 13, 14, 15 has a foot, as well as a body, which is set up in a system component support for the longitudinally movable support. In addition, each of the system components 5, 13, 14, 15 comprises a functional section, which, in the case of the latch-type needle 5, consists of the hook 11 and the tongue 12. In the case of the sinkers 13, 14, 15, the functional section consists of an appropriately contoured end 19, 20, 21, which, during the stitch-forming process, takes over a function assigned to it. Referring to the sinker 14 and the end 20, this function may be, for example, shooting-in a stitch, for which purpose an appropriate nose-shaped projection 22 is provided.
Referring to pattern-producing knitting machines, selection components 23 as shown by FIGS. 6 and 7 are frequently required. Each of the two Figures shows a larger number of the selection components 23 arranged block-like—flat side to flat side—next to each other.
The selection components 23 are identical to each other, apart from the position of their respective feet 24 through 39. The feet 24 through 39 of the shown sixteen selection components 23 are located in different axial positions. Each selection component has a flat part that can be arranged in a needle channel so as to be movable in longitudinal direction.
The selection components 23 must be placed in the knitting cylinder in a specific order. FIG. 7 shows such an arrangement. In so doing, the feet 24 through 39 are located on a straight line extending diagonally across the block.
The components belonging to a tool set, for example, the components 5, 13, 14, 15, 23, are counted and combined in a component placement set 40, as shown by FIG. 8. Depending on the configuration of the knitting machine, it may happen that a tool set consists of only one sinker and one needle. Likewise, it may happen, that a tool set consists of several sinkers and of one needle, or of several needles and several sinkers, or of several needles and no sinkers. Consequently, the number of system components 5, 13, 14, 15, 23 does not necessarily correspond to the number of tool sets. The number of system components may be an integral multiple or an integral fraction of the number of the tool sets. FIGS. 2 through 5, as well as 6 and 7, respectively, show one system component (5, 13, 14, 15, 23) of one type.
The component placement set 40 comprises respectively the same system components of one and the same type in different chambers 41, 42, 43, 44. In so doing, the same system components may have the same foot height (long-butt and short-butt components) or have the same foot positions. The chambers 41, 42, 43, 44 are formed by pockets which are defined between flat, superimposed plastic films 45, 46 and form a package. In so doing, the plastic film 46 comprises a reinforcing support, e.g., cardboard. In each case, the pockets are formed between welded seams 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 that extend parallel to each other along the entire length of the component placement set 40. Each pocket or chamber 41 through 44 holds the system components of one type required for the complete equipment of the knitting machine. In so doing, the system components are arranged side by side in an ordered manner. As is obvious from the example of FIG. 7, their order corresponds to the sequence required in the knitting machine. As is further shown by FIG. 8, in exceptional cases, individual chambers may also contain system components of a different type. This is potentially possible, e.g., in the case of system components that are relatively small or are required only in small numbers. As shown by FIG. 8, these system components are preferably arranged at a distance from each other in the chamber 41. To achieve this, the chamber 41 may be divided into two sections 53 and 54, e.g., along a dividing line. The division can be achieved by inlays, welding or cementing spots or strips, or it may also be achieved in that the sections 53 and 54 have separate or spaced-apart plastic film sections. Should the placement in a knitting machine require this, a chamber 41, 42, 43, 44 may comprise more than two sections. Depending on the equipment requirements, it is also possible for different system components to be arranged in one chamber 41, 42, 43, 44. For example, the system components are arranged perpendicular to the welding seams 47, 48.
The chambers 41, 42, 43, 44 are preferably under vacuum, so that the plastic films 45, 46 cling tightly to the packaged system components. In addition, the chambers 41, 42, 43, 44 may be filled with a corrosion-controlling oil, or at least traces of an oil, or with another suitable substance.
The plastic film 45 is preferably a film of a transparent plastic material. The plastic film 46 comprises a stabilizing support, preferably cardboard. Both are—not illustrated in detail—welded to each other on their front ends in a direction transverse to the welding seams 47, 48, 49, 50 in order to hermetically seal all chambers 41, 42, 43, 44 with respect to the outside. Advantageously, the plastic film 45 is larger than the support 46, so that the plastic film 45 can be easily stripped off the support 46.
The plastic film 45 is stripped. To do so, the technician first opens that chamber 41, 42, 43, 44, in which the system components to be placed in the machined first are packaged. Once these system components are used up, the technician opens the next pocket in that he/she strips the plastic film 45 in order to remove the next set of system components and to place them in the knitting machine.
In the manner described here, it is possible to continue equipping the knitting machine until all the system components are used up. If a single system component remains, a placement error has occurred, because the system components are packaged in exactly the required number. If the technician has removed the system components in the pre-specified sequence from the chambers and placed said components in the machine, the correct system component allocation does in fact exist. This applies, in particular, to the selection components 23 in accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7, or to the needles having different foot positions for placement in circular knitting machines having multiple cam paths.
The component placement set in accordance with the invention for equipping a knitting machine consists of the system components that are required for equipping the knitting machine, said system components being sorted according to type and arranged in one package in different chambers. The chambers are closed all around and protect the packaged system components against environmental influences and against loss. Preferably, the package can be opened only by destroying it, in which case the chambers of the package can be opened independently of each other. The order of the system components in the individual chambers preferably corresponds to the order in which they are to be placed in the knitting machine. This applies, in particular, to system components having different foot positions.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
1 Tool set
2 Knitting cylinder, system component support
3 Rib dial, system component support
4 Sinker
5 Latch-type needle
6 Cam
7 Needle channel
8 Foot
9 Cam
10
11 Hook
12 Tongue
13 Sinker, intermediate slider
14 Sinker
15 Sinker, rehanging component
16 Foot
17 Foot
18 Foot
19 Ende
20 Ende
21 Ende
22 Projection
23 Selection components
24 Foot
25 Foot
26 Foot
27 Foot
28 Foot
29 Foot
30 Foot
31 Foot
32 Foot
33 Foot
34 Foot
35 Foot
36 Foot
37 Foot
38 Foot
39 Foot
40 Component placement set
41 Chamber
42 Chamber
43 Chamber
44 Chamber
45 Plastic film, package
46 Plastic film, package, cardboard
47 Welding seam
48 Welding seam
49 Welding seam
50 Welding seam
51 Welding seam
52 Dividing line
54 Section
Patent Application
20080034803
