Patent Grant
7152435
The present invention relates to a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers that can press a knitted fabric at an appropriate timing during knitting.
As disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication JP-B2 5-83657 (1993), for example, a sinker apparatus has been conventionally used that includes, between knitting needles arranged on a needle bed in a weft knitting machine, a movable sinker displaced by a cam mechanism provided on a carriage such that the movable sinker is swingingly displaced with, as a supporting point, the vicinity on the side of a needle bed gap of the needle bed, so that the front end of the movable sinker moves forward into the needle bed gap and is withdrawn from the needle bed gap. In this case, the carriage is provided with two separate press cams. The front end of the movable sinker is swingingly displaced by an action of one press cam and moves back and forth with respect to the side of the needle bed gap in conjunction with the travel of the carriage. Thus, the movable sinker can press a knitted fabric, and can be withdrawn from the needle bed gap to prevent, for example, a mechanical contact with other components from being caused in the narrow needle bed gap. A force of a spring is also applied to the movable sinker. When a resisting force from a knitting yarn becomes greater than the force of the spring, there is room in which the front end of the movable sinker moves backward from the needle bed gap, and thus too strong a tensile force can be prevented from being applied to the knitting yarn. When the carriage moves away, a state is kept in which the movable sinker has moved forward into the needle bed gap by the force of the spring.
Furthermore, when a knitted fabric is knitted with the carriage by letting knitting needles move forward into and backward from the needle bed gap, in a case where compound needles are used as the knitting needles, the amount of the back and forth displacement can be made smaller than in a case where latch needles are used, so that a knitting cam provided on the carriage can be made smaller. In a case where compound needles are used, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 7-258946 (1995), for example, a yarn guide member whose front end is moved forward into the needle bed gap in conjunction with a knitting needle to guide a knitting yarn to a hook is used together with a movable sinker in order to reliably feed a knitting yarn to the hook at the front end of the knitting needle. As in the sinker apparatus in JP-B25-83657, the movable sinker is swingingly displaced centering about a supporting point that is supported at the vicinity on the side of the needle bed gap of the needle bed, so that the front end of the movable sinker can move back and forth with respect to the side of the needle bed gap.
The movable sinkers as disclosed in JP-B2 5-83657 and JP-A 7-258946 are swingingly displaced while supported at the vicinity on the side of the needle bed gap of the needle bed. By a cam mechanism provided on the carriage pressing a portion close to the support portion to the side of the bottom face of the needle bed, the swinging displacement is performed in which the front end of the movable sinker moves back and forth with respect to the side of the needle bed gap. On the contrary, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 5-59642 (1993), for example, a configuration is also possible in which a portion close to the support portion of the sinker that is swingingly displaced is engaged with the front end of the sinker jack that is linearly displaced forward into and backward from the needle bed gap, and the sinker is switched between an upper needle bed and a lower needle bed of a weft knitting machine with a double-deck bed.
Furthermore, in a weft knitting machine having the structure in which front and rear needle beds are opposed to each other with the needle bed gap interposed therebetween, various types of knitting is made possible by enabling a pattern with a racking and a fashioned knitted fabric, for example, to be knitted with a racking operation in which the front and rear needle beds are shifted relative to each other. However, in a case where a knitted fabric is knitted using a thick knitting yarn, when a racking operation is performed, there is a possibility of damaging by the front end of the sinker scratching a knitted fabric that is hooked on a knitting needle on the needle bed opposed thereto, and thus it is preferable that the front end of the sinker is moved backward from the needle bed gap. A movable sinker apparatus that is swingingly displaced is provided with rest retaining means for letting the movable sinker be at rest in a state where the front end is moved backward from the needle bed gap, even after the carriage has passed, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 9-31806 (1997). The rest retaining means is achieved as a sinker rest retaining plate that moves forward into and backward from the needle bed gap linearly and in parallel with a knitting needle. When the sinker rest retaining plate is partially brought into contact with a movable sinker, the front end of the movable sinker is held in a state moved backward from the needle bed gap.
With the sinker apparatus in JP-B2 5-83657 and JP-A 9-31806, it is necessary that a cam mechanism for swingingly displacing the movable cam and for pressing the movable cam during a stitch determination is provided on the side of the carriage. Accordingly, the carriage has to cover the surface of the needle bed up to the range that is close to the needle bed gap, and thus a wide space cannot be secured at the needle bed close to the needle bed gap, which is an area for knitting a knitted fabric.
Furthermore, in order to increase the amount in which the front end of the movable sinker is displaced on the side of the needle bed gap, it is necessary to shorten the distance from the support portion of the movable sinker to the drive portion with respect to the distance from the support portion to the front end. In the configuration in which the movable sinker is swingingly displaced with a pressure from the carriage to the side of the bottom face of the needle bed as in JP-B2 5-83657 and JP-A 7-258946, it is necessary that a mechanism such as a press cam is provided on the side of the needle bed gap of the needle bed. Thus, the carriage is formed so as to cover the needle bed up to the vicinity of the needle bed gap, and thus becomes large.
In the most commonly used type of weft knitting machine, a pair of needle beds of the front and the rear face each other in the shape of a mountain with a needle bed gap interposed there between such that the needle beds become lower as being away from the needle bed gap. Thus, in the vicinity of the needle bed gap, which is an area for knitting a knitted fabric, the front and rear needle beds are close to each other and thus the space between the needle beds is narrow. In addition, it is necessary to provide a plurality of yarn feeders for feeding a knitting yarn and other components in this space. Accordingly, in order to make the weft knitting machine smaller and in order to make it possible to knit various types of knitted fabrics, it is necessary to secure a wide space in the vicinity of the needle bed gap.
Furthermore, in the movable sinker as in JP-B2 5-83657, a knitted fabric is pressed by a force of a spring, and when a resisting force of a knitting yarn becomes greater than the force of the spring, the movable sinker moves backward from the needle bed gap, and thus a tensile force applied to the knitting yarn can be relaxed, so that it is possible to prevent too strong a tensile force from being generated. However, it is necessary that the carriage is provided with a mechanism for pressing the vicinity of the support potion of the movable sinker, such that the movable sinker is swingingly displaced in the vicinity on the side of the needle bed gap of the needle bed, and thus the carriage has to cover the needle bed up to the vicinity on the side of the needle bed gap.
Furthermore, the sinker in JP-A 5-59642, a sinker that is swingingly displaced is shared between an upper needle bed and a lower needle bed of a double-deck bed, and the sinker is remotely driven via the sinker jack at the position away from the needle bed gap such that the sinker is operated for knitting a knitted fabric on either one of the needle beds. Thus, it is not necessary to provide, for example, a press mechanism for letting the sinker operate in the vicinity of the needle bed gap. The sinker is swingingly displaced in order to switch the operation object between the upper needle bed and the lower needle bed, and thus the sinker always acts on the knitted fabric that is knitted in either one of the needle beds. Furthermore, a force applied from the cam of the carriage to the sinker jack is transmitted, via the sinker that is swingingly displaced, to the knitting yarn, and there is no space in which the sinker can move backward from the needle bed gap even when a resisting force from the knitting yarn is received, and thus there is a possibility that too strong a tensile force is generated in the knitting yarn.
It is an object of the invention to provide a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, which can secure a wide space at a needle bed that is close to an area for knitting a knitted fabric, and which can be at rest in a state where an action on the area for knitting a knitted fabric is stopped.
It is another object of the invention to provide a small size weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, which can secure a wide space at a needle bed that is close to an area for knitting a knitted fabric.
It is another object of the invention to provide a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, which can secure a wide space at a needle bed that is close to an area for knitting a knitted fabric, and which can move backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric when a resisting force from a knitting yarn becomes strong in the area for knitting a knitted fabric, so that a tensile force generated in the knitting yarn can be relaxed.
The invention is directed to a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, in which a needle bed is formed such that a large number of needle plates are arranged in a direction toward an area for knitting a knitted fabric, on a base stage that is disposed facing the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the needle plates are formed so as to have a small plate thickness at end portions on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, needle grooves whose width becomes large on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric are formed between the needle plates, a knitting needle is accommodated in each of the needle grooves, and a movable sinker is accommodated at each of end portions of the needle grooves in which the width becomes large, and in which while letting a carriage travel back and forth on the needle bed along the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the knitting needles are, selectively moved forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, so that a knitted fabric is knitted by an interaction with the movable sinkers,
wherein the end portions, on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, of the needle plates have recess portions for supporting the movable sinkers such that the movable sinkers can be swingingly displaced, and
wherein the movable sinkers have support portions that are supported by the recess portions, passive portions that are driven following a back and forth displacement with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and operation portions that operate as sinkers with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric when a back and forth displacement with respect to the passive portions is converted into a swinging displacement with the support portions serving as supporting points, the passive portions being biased by spring force so that the operation portions move forward into the area for knitting a knitted fabric,
the weft knitting machine, comprising:
a sinker jack that is accommodated in each of the needle grooves, can be displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, is engaged with the passive portion of the movable sinker at an end portion, has a butt projecting in a direction away from the base stage of the needle bed on a side of a base portion extending in a direction away from the area for knitting a knitted fabric with respect to the end portion, and has a groove that extends in a direction of the back and forth displacement in a middle between the end portion and the base portion and in a middle of the needle groove in a depth direction thereof;
a passing-through member that passes through each of the needle plates in a direction along the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and is inserted into the cutout portion of the sinker jack and thus regulates the sinker jack so as to be slidingly displaced without moving away from the needle groove;
a drive mechanism that is provided on the carriage, and is capable of selectively driving the sinker jack, by acting on the butt of the sinker jack, to move backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric such that the operation portion of the movable sinker is withdrawn from the area for knitting a knitted fabric; and
an interlock mechanism that is provided in a position away from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, within a range in which the sinker jack is displaced back and forth, in each of the needle grooves, and that interlocks, at a backward position so as to restrain the back and forth displacement in the needle grooves, the sinker jack driven by the drive mechanism so as to move backward.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the interlock mechanism interlocks a protrusion provided on a side of the base portion of the sinker jack with a member passing through the needle plate in a direction along the area for knitting a knitted fabric.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the drive mechanism uses a solenoid as a driving source, includes a cam that can switch between operation/non-operation in accordance with presence/absence of excitation of the solenoid, and moves, by operation of the cam, the butt backward to a position for interlocking with the interlock mechanism.
The invention is directed to a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, in which a needle bed is formed such that a large number of needle plates are arranged in a direction toward an area for knitting a knitted fabric, on a base stage that is disposed facing the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the needle plates are formed so as to have a small plate thickness at end portions on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, needle grooves whose width becomes large on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric are formed between the needle plates, a knitting needle is accommodated in each of the needle grooves, and a movable sinker is accommodated at each of end portions of the needle grooves in which the width becomes large, and in which while letting a carriage travel back and forth on the needle bed along the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the knitting needles are selectively moved forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, so that a knitted fabric is knitted by an interaction with the movable sinkers,
wherein the end portions, on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, of the needle plates have recess portions for supporting the movable sinkers such that the movable sinkers can be swingingly displaced,
wherein the movable sinkers have support portions that are supported by the recess portions, passive portions that are driven following a back and forth displacement with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and operation portions that operate as sinkers with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric when a back and forth displacement with respect to the passive portions is converted into a swinging displacement with the support portions serving as supporting points, the passive portions being biased by spring force so that the operation portions move forward into the area for knitting a knitted fabric, wherein the knitting needle is disposed with the movable sinker side by side in a width direction in each of the needle grooves, and is a compound needle in which a needle main portion and a slider can be independently displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and wherein each of the needle grooves includes:
a sinker jack that can be displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, is engaged with the passive portion of the movable sinker at an end portion, has a butt projecting in a direction away from the base stage of the needle bed on a side of a base portion extending in a direction away from the area for knitting a knitted fabric with respect to the end portion, and has a groove that extends in a direction of the back and forth displacement in a middle between the end portion and the base portion and in a middle of the needle groove in a depth direction thereof,
a spacer that is disposed in a direction away from the base stage of the needle bed with respect to the knitting needle, whose bottom portion regulates the knitting needle so as not to move away from the base stage, whose side portion regulates the sinker jack so as not to be shifted in a width direction of the needle groove, and whose side portion has a groove that extends in a direction of the back and forth movement, and
a yarn guide that has a base portion that is fitted into the groove of the spacer such that the base portion can slide in the direction of the back and forth movement, and a yarn pressing portion that is formed on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric with respect to the base portion and that can press a knitting yarn by moving forward into the area for knitting a knitted fabric,
the weft knitting machine, further comprising:
a passing-through member that passes through the spacer and the needle plate in each of the needle grooves in a direction along the area for knitting a knitted fabric and thus fixes the spacer and the needle plate on each other, and that is inserted into the cutout portion of the sinker jack and thus regulates the sinker jack so as to be slidingly displaced without moving away from the needle groove.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that:
the base portion of the yarn guide that is fitted into the groove of the spacer and is slidingly displaced is provided with a protrusion, and
the groove of the spacer is provided with a recess for regulating a range in which the protrusion of the yarn guide is displaced.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the spacer is provided with an air path that is open on a side of a surface of the needle bed and that is in communication with a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric of the knitting needle.
The invention is directed to a weft knitting machine having movable sinkers, in which in which a needle bed is formed such that a large number of needle plates are arranged in a direction toward an area for knitting a knitted fabric, on a base stage that is disposed facing the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the needle plates are formed so as to have a small plate thickness at end portions on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, needle grooves whose width becomes large on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric are formed between the needle plates, and a knitting needle is accommodated in each of the needle grooves, and a movable sinker is accommodated at each of end portions of the needle grooves in which the width becomes large, and in which while letting a carriage travel back and forth on the needle bed along the area for knitting a knitted fabric, the knitting needles are selectively moved forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, so that a knitted fabric is knitted by an interaction with the movable sinkers,
wherein the end portions, on a side of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, of the needles plates have recess portions for supporting the movable sinkers such that the movable sinkers can be swingingly displaced, and
wherein the movable sinkers have support portions that are supported by the recess portions, passive portions that are driven following a back and forth displacement with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and operation portions that operate as sinkers with respect to the area for knitting a knitted fabric when a back and forth displacement with respect to the passive portions is converted into a swinging displacement with the support portions serving as supporting points, the passive portions being biased by spring force so that the operation portions move forward into the area for knitting a knitted fabric,
the weft knitting machine, comprising:
a sinker jack that is accommodated in each of the needle grooves, can be displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, is engaged with the passive portion of the movable sinker at an end portion, has a butt projecting in a direction away from the base stage of the needle bed on a side of a base portion extending in a direction away from the area for knitting a knitted fabric with respect to the end portion, and has a groove that extends in a direction of the back and forth displacement in a middle between the end portion and the base portion and in a middle of the needle groove in a depth direction thereof,
a passing-through member that passes through each of the needle plates in a direction along the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and is inserted into the cutout portion of the sinker jack and thus regulates the sinker jack so as to be slidingly displaced without moving away from the needle groove, and
a spring for applying a force to the movable sinker such that the operation portion moves forward into the area for knitting a knitted fabric,
wherein the passive portion of the movable sinker and the end portion of the sinker jack are engaged with each other by a force applied by the spring such that the passive portion and the end portion abut against each other on one side and a gap is provided for clearance on the other side.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that:
the operation portion of the movable sinker is provided with a catch for pressing a knitting loop that has been knitted, and
the gap at a portion in which the passive portion of the movable sinker and the end portion of the sinker jack are engaged with each other is formed, within a range from a state in which the passive portion and the end portion abut against each other on one side of the gap to a state in which the passive portion and the end portion abut against each other on the other side of the gap, such that a position of the catch of the movable sinker is regulated to be on a side that is different from a position of a yarn feeding port for feeding a knitting yarn to a hook, with respect to a position through which the hook of the knitting needle passes when the knitting needle is displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that:
the passive portion of the movable sinker has a protrusion that projects toward a side of the end portion of the sinker jack,
the end portion of the sinker jack has a recess that is wider than a width of the protrusion, and
the engagement is made with the recess and the protrusion.
Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that:
the end portion of the sinker jack has a protrusion that projects toward a side of the passive portion of the movable sinker,
the passive portion of the movable sinker has a recess that is wider than a width of the protrusion, and
the engagement is made with the recess and the protrusion.
Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more explicit from the following detailed description of example embodiments taken with reference to the drawings wherein:
Now referring to the drawings, example embodiments of the invention are described below.
On a base stage 4 disposed facing the needle bed gap 2, which is an area for knitting a knitted fabric, a large number of needle plates 5 are arranged in the direction toward the needle bed gap 2. The needle plates 5 are formed so as to have a small plate thickness at the end portions on the side of the needle bed gap 2. Needle grooves 6 whose width becomes large on the side of the needle bed gap 2 are formed between the needle plates 5. A knitting needle 7 is accommodated in each of the needle grooves 6. A movable sinker 8 is accommodated at each of the end portions of the needle grooves 6 in which the width becomes large. The needle bed 3 is thus configured. In the weft knitting machine 1, the knitting needles 7 are selectively moved forward into and backward from the needle bed gap 2 while letting a carriage travel back and forth on the needle bed 3 along the needle bed gap 2, that is, in the direction that is perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing, so that a knitted fabric is knitted by an interaction with the movable sinkers 8. The carriage is not shown in the drawing, and a knitting needle operation cam mechanism 9 for letting the knitting needles 7 operate and a sinker operation cam mechanism 10 for letting the movable sinkers 8 operate are shown.
In the needle bed gap 2, it is possible to form knitting loops by feeding a knitting yarn from a yarn feeder 11 to the knitting needle 7. The knitting needle 7 is disposed with the movable sinker 8 side by side in the width direction in each of the needle grooves 6. Furthermore, the knitting needle 7 is a compound needle in which a needle main portion 7a and a slider 7b can be independently displaced forward into and backward from the needle bed gap 2. The end portion, on the side of the needle bed gap 2, of the needle plate 5 has a recess portion 5a that supports the movable sinker 8 such that the movable sinker 8 can be swingingly displaced. The movable sinker 8 has a support portion 8a that is supported by the recess portion 5a, a passive portion 8b that is driven following the back and forth displacement with respect to the needle bed gap 2, and an operation portion 8c that operates as a sinker with respect to the needle bed gap 2 when the back and forth displacement with respect to the passive portion 8b is converted into the swinging displacement with the support portion 8a serving as a supporting point.
A sinker jack 12 that can be linearly displaced forward into and backward from the needle bed gap 2 is accommodated in each of the needle grooves 6. At an end portion 12a, the sinker jack 12 is engaged with the passive portion 8b of the movable sinker 8. Furthermore, on the side of a base portion 12b that extends in the direction away from the needle bed gap 2 with respect to the end portion 12a, the sinker jack 12 has a butt 12c that projects in the direction away from the base stage of the needle bed. Furthermore, in the middle between the end portion 12a and the base portion 12b, the sinker jack 12 has a cutout portion 12d that extends in the direction of the back and forth displacement.
In each of the needle grooves 6, a spacer 13 is disposed in the direction away from the base stage 4 of the needle bed 3 with respect to the knitting needle 7. The bottom portion of the spacer 13 regulates the knitting needle 7 so as not to move away from the base stage 4, and the side portion of the spacer 13 regulates the sinker jack 12 so as not to be shifted in the width direction of the needle groove 6. A yarn guide 14 has a base portion 14a and a yarn pressing portion 14b. The base portion 14a is fitted into a groove formed on the side portion of the spacer 13, which extends in the direction of the back and forth movement, such that the base portion 14a can slide in the direction of the back and forth movement. The yarn pressing portion 14b is formed on the side of the needle bed gap 2 with respect to the base portion 14a, and can press a knitting yarn by moving forward into the needle bed gap 2.
An iron band 15 passes through the spacer 13 and the needle plate 5 in each of the needle grooves 6, in the direction along the needle bed gap, that is, in the direction that is perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing, and thus fixes the spacer 13 and the needle plate 5 on each other. The iron band 15 is inserted also into the cutout portion 12d of the sinker jack 12, and functions as a passing-through member for regulating the sinker jack 12 so as to be slidingly displaced without moving away from the needle groove 6.
The sinker operation cam mechanism 10 provided on the carriage includes a drive mechanism capable of selectively driving the sinker jack 12, by acting on the butt 12c of the sinker jack 12, to move backward from the needle bed gap 2 such that the operation portion 8c of the movable sinker 8 is withdrawn from the needle bed gap 2. The drive mechanism is described later. With an interlock mechanism 16, the sinker jack 12 that is driven by the drive mechanism so as to move backward is interlocked at the backward position. In the interlock mechanism 16, the sinker jack 12 is interlocked with a wire 17, which is a member passing through the needle plate 5 in the direction along the needle bed gap 2. Since the wire 17 passing through the needle plate 5 is used in order to interlock the sinker jack 12, the interlock mechanism 16 can be made compact. In order to interlock the sinker jack 12 with the wire 17, the sinker jack 12 has an extending portion 12e extending in the direction away from the needle bed gap 2 in its middle portion. The front end of the extending portion 12e is provided with a protrusion 12f. As described later, the protrusion 12f can be interlocked with the wire 17. It should be noted that a similar wire 19 is also used to fix the needle plate 5 on the base stage 4. Furthermore, a position, close to the needle bed gap 2, on the bottom portion of the base stage 4 is provided with a stopper 20 against which the front end of the operation portion 8c of the movable sinker 8 abuts so that the swinging displacement of the movable sinker 8 by a force of a wire spring 18 is regulated.
The swinging displacement of the movable sinker 8 with, as a supporting point, the support portion 8a that is supported by the recess portion 5a of the needle plate 5 can be remotely performed by driving the butt 12c of the sinker jack 12 in the direction of the back and forth displacement with the sinker operation cam mechanism 10 of the carriage. With this remote drive, the movable sinker 8 can be operated between a state indicated by the solid line in which the movable sinker 8 has moved forward into the needle bed gap and a state indicated by the dashed double dotted line in which the movable sinker 8 has moved backward from the needle bed gap 2. Even when the passive portion 8b, which receives a driving force for letting the movable sinker 8 operate from the end portion 12a of the sinker jack 12, is brought close to the support portion 8a in the vicinity of the needle bed gap 2, it is sufficient that the back and forth displacement of the sinker jack 12 is converted into the swinging displacement. Thus, it is not necessary that a mechanism for directly pressing the passive portion 8b is provided on the side of the carriage. Accordingly, the carriage can be made smaller by letting the carriage not cover the needle bed 3 up to the vicinity of the needle bed gap 2, and thus a wide space can be secured at the needle bed 3 close to the needle bed gap 2.
Since the interlock mechanism 16 lets the sinker jack 12 that is driven by the drive mechanism so as to move backward be interlocked at the backward position, it is possible to keep a state in which the sinker jack 12 is held at the backward position and thus the operation portion 8c of the movable sinker 8 has moved backward from the needle bed gap 2 even after the carriage has passed. When the needle bed gap 2 in which the front and rear needle beds are opposed to each other is used as an area for knitting a knitted fabric, it is possible to eliminate a possibility of damaging by scratching a knitted fabric, by letting the operation portion 8c of the movable sinker 8 be withdrawn from the needle bed gap 2 when various types of knitted fabrics are knitted in a racking operation.
A force of the wire spring 18 is applied to the movable sinker 8 such that the operation portion 8c moves forward into the needle bed gap 2. The passive portion 8b of the movable sinker 8 and the end portion 12a of the sinker jack 12 are engaged with each other by a force applied by the wire spring 18 such that the passive portion 8b and the end portion 12a abut against each other on one side and a gap is provided for a clearance on the other side. By providing this gap, when a resisting force from a knitting yarn, which is received by the operation portion 8c of the movable sinker 8, becomes greater than a force applied by the wire spring 18, there is room in which the movable sinker 8 is swingingly displaced such that the operation portion 8c moves backward from the needle bed gap 2, and thus a tensile force generated in the knitting yarn can be relaxed so as not to be too strong.
Since a compound needle that is constituted by the needle main portion 7a and the slider 7b is used as the knitting needle 7, a stroke in the back and forth displacement that is necessary for knitting a knitted fabric can be made smaller than that of a latch needle, so that the knitting needle operation cam mechanism 9 provided on the carriage can be made smaller. Since the movable sinker 8 and the yarn guide 14 are provided in each of the needle grooves 6, it is possible to reliably knit a knitted fabric with the compound needle.
The rest cam 37 is provided only on one side of the carriage 21, but it is also possible to provide the rest cam 37 on both sides. It is natural that even when provided only on one side, it is sufficient to set a dummy course if necessary such that the rest cam 37 operates without fail before a racking operation. The carriage 21 is provided also with a slider cam 38 that acts on a butt 7bc of the slider 7b. A cam that acts on a butt 14c for the yarn guide 14 is also disposed, but is not shown in the drawing.
As described above, the rest cam 37 uses the solenoid 22 shown in
On the face of the spacer 13 that is opposed to the face provided with the inclined groove 13b, also is provided a groove 13c that extends in the direction of the back and forth movement. The groove 13c has the shape that fits the base portion 14a of the yarn guide 14. In a state fitted into the groove 13c of the spacer 13, the base portion 14a of the yarn guide 14 is disposed in the direction away from the base stage of the needle bed with respect to the knitting needle 7, and on the bottom portion, the knitting needle 7 is slidingly displaced in the direction of the back and forth movement, and thus the yarn guide 14 can be compactly accommodated in each of the needle grooves 6.
Furthermore, the base portion 14a of the yarn guide 14, which is fitted into the groove 13c of the spacer 13 and is slidingly displaced, is provided with a protrusion 14d. The groove 13c of the spacer 13 is provided with a window 13d serving as a recess for regulating the range in which the protrusion 14d of the yarn guide 14 is displaced. With the window 13d provided at the groove 13c of the spacer 13, into which the base portion 14a of the yarn guide 14 is fitted and is slidingly displaced, the range in which the protrusion 14d provided on the base portion 14a of the yarn guide 14 is disposed is limited, so that the range in which the yarn guide 14 operates can be regulated.
A state as shown in
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Furthermore, all variations and modifications falling within the range of equivalency of the appended claims are intended to be embraced in the scope of the invention.
According to at least one embodiment of the invention, when a butt of a sinker jack is driven with a cam mechanism of a carriage in the direction of the back and forth displacement, it is possible to swingingly displace a movable sinker, and thus an operation portion of the movable sinker can be moved forward into and backward from an area for knitting a knitted fabric. Even when a passive portion of the movable sinker is brought close to a support portion in the vicinity of the area for knitting a knitted fabric, it is not necessary that a mechanism for directly pressing the passive portion is provided on the side of the carriage. Accordingly, the carriage can be made smaller by letting the carriage not cover the vicinity of the area for knitting a knitted fabric on the needle bed, and thus a wide space can be secured at the needle bed close to the area for knitting a knitted fabric.
An interlock mechanism lets the sinker jack driven by a drive mechanism so as to move backward be interlocked at the backward position. Thus, even after the carriage has passed, it is possible to keep a state in which the sinker jack is held at the backward position and thus the operation portion of the movable sinker has moved backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric. When a needle bed gap in which the front and rear needle beds are opposed to each other is used as the area for knitting a knitted fabric, it is possible to eliminate a possibility of damaging by scratching a knitted fabric, by letting the operation portion of the movable sinker be withdrawn from the needle bed gap when various types of knitted fabrics are knitted in a racking operation.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, a member passing through the needle plate is used in order to interlock the sinker jack, and thus it is possible to make the interlock mechanism compact.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, when a cam is operated by electrically exciting a solenoid mounted on the carriage, the butt of the sinker jack is driven such that the sinker jack is moved backward to the position at which the sinker jack is interlocked in the interlock mechanism, and thus a rest state can be kept even after the carriage has passed.
According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a compound needle is used as the knitting needle. Thus, a knitting cam provided on the carriage can be made smaller, and it is possible to reliably knit a knitted fabric with the compound needle when using the movable sinker and a yarn guide. The needle groove is provided with a spacer whose bottom portion regulates the knitting needle so as not to move away from the base stage, whose side portion regulates the sinker jack so as not to be shifted in the width direction of the needle groove, and whose side portion has a groove that extends in the direction of the back and forth movement. A base portion of the yarn guide is fitted into the groove of the spacer and is slidingly displaced. Thus, the yarn guide can be compactly accommodated in each needle groove.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, with a recess provided at the groove of the spacer, into which the base portion of the yarn guide is fitted and is slidingly displaced, the range in which a protrusion provided on the base portion of the yarn guide is displaced is limited, so that the range in which the yarn guide operates can be regulated.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, when air is led to flow from the side of the surface of the needle bed, via an air path provided in the spacer, it is possible to clean up the vicinity of the front end of the knitting needle.
According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the passive portion of the movable sinker and the end portion of the sinker jack are engaged with each other by a force applied by a spring such that the passive portion and the end portion abut against each other on one side and a gap is provided for clearance on the other side. Thus, when a resisting force from a knitting yarn, which is received by the operation portion of the movable sinker, becomes greater than a force applied by the spring, there is room in which the movable sinker is swingingly displaced such that the operation portion moves backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric, and thus a tensile force generated in the knitting yarn can be relaxed so as not to be too strong.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, the gap at a portion in which the passive portion of the movable sinker and the end portion of the sinker jack are engaged with each other is formed such that the position of a catch for pressing a knitting loop that has been knitted, on the operation portion of the movable sinker, is regulated to be on the side that is different from the position of a yarn feeding port for feeding a knitting yarn to a hook, with respect to the position through which the hook of the knitting needle passes when the knitting needle is displaced forward into and backward from the area for knitting a knitted fabric. For example, when a knitting yarn is fed from the upper side of the needle bed gap with respect to the knitting needle, the catch of the movable sinker is regulated so as to be below the bottom of the needle. Thus, even at the rearmost position of the movable sinker, it is possible to form a normal knitting loop by pressing a knitted fabric with the catch of the operation portion of the movable sinker.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, a protrusion, which is on the passive portion of the movable sinker and which projects toward the side of the end portion of the movable sinker, is engaged with a recess, which is on the side of the end portion of the sinker jack and which is wider than the width of the protrusion. When a force of the spring is applied, the protrusion and one side of the recess abut against each other, so that the knitted fabric can be pressed. When a resisting force from the knitted fabric becomes greater than a force applied by the spring, the movable sinker can be swingingly displaced such that the protrusion abuts against the other side of the recess, and thus a tensile force generated in the knitting yarn can be relaxed, so that too strong a tensile force is not applied.
Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, a protrusion, which is on the end portion of the sinker jack and which projects toward the side of the passive portion of the movable sinker, is engaged with a recess, which is provided on the side of the passive portion of the movable sinker and which is wider than the width of the protrusion. When a force of the spring is applied, the protrusion and one side of the recess abut against each other, so that the knitted fabric can be pressed. When a resisting force from the knitted fabric becomes greater than a force applied by the spring, the movable sinker can be swingingly displaced such that the protrusion abuts against the other side of the recess, and thus a tensile force generated in the knitting yarn can be relaxed, so that too strong a tensile force is not applied.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-283040 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |
| 2003-283041 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |
| 2003-283043 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2004/010729 | 7/28/2004 | WO | 00 | 1/30/2006 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2005/012613 | 2/10/2005 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4741181 | Plath | May 1988 | A |
| 5134865 | Shima et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5231845 | Sumitani et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5333473 | Miyamoto | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5475991 | Yabuta et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
| 5918483 | Schmid et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 6079233 | Shima | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6568222 | Morita | May 2003 | B1 |
| 20050183466 | Morita et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0 672 769 | Sep 1995 | EP |
| 5-59642 | Mar 1993 | JP |
| 5-83657 | Nov 1993 | JP |
| 7-96740 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 7-258946 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 3333304 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 9-31806 | Feb 1997 | JP |
| 10-25647 | Jan 1998 | JP |
| 11-107143 | Apr 1999 | JP |
| 2001-32151 | Feb 2001 | JP |
| 3140990 | Mar 2001 | JP |
| WO 0136730 | May 2001 | WO |
| WO 03102285 | Dec 2003 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060243001 A1 | Nov 2006 | US |
