WO1994010365A1

WO1994010365A1 - Magnetic pattern-selection means for knitting machines

Info

Publication number: WO1994010365A1
Application number: PCT/EP1993/002965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Engelfried
Original assignee: Terrot Strickmaschinen Gmbh
Priority date: 1992-11-05
Filing date: 1993-10-26
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Also published as: DE4237380A1; DE4237380C2; JPH08502791A

Abstract

Magnetic pattern-selection means for function parts that move relative to these selection means, in particular sinkers (10) or needles, in knitting machine comprise permanent holding poles (34), mainly electrically driven control poles (36) which are counteractive to the holding poles and armature feet (30) on the function parts which can be selectively applied to the holding poles (34) or detached from the holding poles by means of the control poles (36). The holding poles are separated from one another by intermediate spaces, and the control poles are arranged in the area of the intermediate spaces, with a lateral displacement from the holding poles, so as to bridge the intermediate spaces and overlap the segments of the holding poles bordering the intermediate spaces.

Description

Magnetic pattern selection means for knitting machines

The invention relates to magnetic pattern selection means for functional parts which are movable relative to these selection means, in particular sinkers or needles of knitting machines with permanent holding poles, with temporarily electrically actuable control poles which counteract the holding poles and with feet which act on the functional parts and act as anchors and which optionally can be placed on the holding poles or detached from the holding poles by the control poles.

Such magnetic pattern selection means are described in German patent application P 42 17 419. The holding poles in the circumferential direction of the functional parts (needles, sinkers) are designed like rail-shaped tracks, along which the feet of the functional parts acting as anchors run. The control poles are in line with and aligned with the holding poles, with small air gaps being provided between the control and holding poles, over which the feet of the functional parts run.

With these magnetic selection means, it has proven to be disadvantageous that the magnetic fields of the holding poles and control poles, which are closely adjacent and aligned with one another, can interfere with one another, as a result of which, in particular when the control poles are switched over, rapid detachment of the feet acting as anchors can be impeded . In addition, the fact that the feet of the Functional parts, in particular at high working speeds of the knitting machines, abut the holding and control poles in the area of the air gaps and are thereby mechanically worn out in a relatively short time.

It is an object of the invention to design generic magnetic selection means in such a way that the magnetic fields of the holding and control poles influence one another less and the feet of the functional parts, in particular circuit boards and needles, acting as anchors, smoothly and without touching the holding and control poles run away.

The object is achieved in that the holding poles are separated from one another by spaces and the control poles are laterally offset in the region of the spaces relative to the holding poles in such a way that they bridge the spaces and overlap the portions of the holding poles delimiting the spaces.

Due to the lateral offset of the control poles with respect to the holding poles, the magnetic fields of these poles are spatially separated, so that they no longer interfere with one another. The overlapping of the holding and control poles enables a smooth overflow through the feet of the functional parts.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention serves in conjunction with the accompanying drawing for further explanation. Show it:

Figure 1 shows schematically an axial partial section of a circular knitting machine. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial view from FIG. 1 in the area of magnetic selection means;

Fig. 3 is a plan view in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a corresponding plan view as in

3 in a known arrangement of magnetic pattern selection means;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment modified compared to FIG. 3;

6 and 7 further modified embodiments;

8 and 9 the arrangement of coils on control poles and

10 and 11 a cranked control pole with two coils.

The circular knitting machine shown schematically and only partially in FIG. 1 conventionally comprises a needle cylinder 1 which is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation and which is surrounded by a multi-part, fixed lock casing 2. On the outside of the needle cylinder 1 are arranged in side by side longitudinal slots in conventional Licher way axially slidably knitting needles 3 stored. Each knitting needle 3 has a control foot 4 which interacts with a lock part 5 in order to carry out the downward movement of the knitting needle 3. Each knitting needle 3 is connected at its lower end in a conventional manner to a plunger 6 which has a control foot 7. This control foot 7 cooperates with a lock part 8, which triggers the upward expulsion movement of the plunger 6 and the knitting needle 3 connected to it. The lower end of the plunger 6 is axially slidably received by a fork-shaped claw 9 of a pattern plate 10, which is pivotally supported at its lower end with a projection 11 in a groove of a part (not shown) of the needle cylinder 1.

When the pattern plate 10 is pivoted clockwise from its position shown in FIG. 1 about the projection 11 serving as the axis of rotation, the plunger 6 is taken along, so that its control foot 7 comes out of engagement with the lock part 8 and thereby the upward movement of ram 6 and knitting needle 3 is prevented or interrupted. The knitting needle 3 thus remains in a certain position with respect to the needle cylinder 1, so that it can later be returned to the starting position around the lock part 5 acting on the control foot 4. In this way, as is known per se, any desired knitting patterns (colored patterns or knitting ties) can be produced by correspondingly controlling the pattern sinkers 10. It is possible to prevent the knitting needle 3 from being driven out in two or more places in the manner described ¬ change or interrupt (three-way or multi-way technology). A return eccentric 13, which is firmly connected to the lock casing 2, cooperates with a control foot 14 of the pattern board 10 and can return the pattern board 10 to the starting position shown in FIG. 1 in a manner known per se.

As can best be seen from the enlarged illustration in FIG. 2, there are slots lying one above the other, aligned with one another, axially or vertically

15 of the pattern board 10, a selection board 16 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the pattern board 10. For this purpose, the selection board 16 engages in the slots 15 of the pattern board 10 with two legs 18 projecting axially from it in opposite directions, which ensures that the selection board 16 is guided without jamming.

The pattern board 10 points in the area of the selection board

16 a bulge 21 directed towards the axis of rotation of the needle cylinder 1. In this bulge 21, a bow spring 22 with two free legs 23, 24 is arranged, which is designed such that the free ends of the legs 23, 24 are normally spread apart from one another with pretension. The free end of the leg 23 engages in a notch in the selection board 16. The free end of the leg 24 is supported in the region of the bulge 21 on the pattern board 10, so that the selection board 16 is normally shifted upward into a first position by the spring 22 in FIG. 2 and held there. In this first position, a nose 25 of the selection board 16 can rest against an edge 26 of a recess of the pattern board 10 which acts as an end stop. 1 and 2, in the needle cylinder 1, behind the sample board 10 shown, there are further, similarly designed sample boards with bulges 21. A selection board 16 is arranged in each of these - the sample boards 10 occupying the circumference of the needle cylinder 1 all around and biased by a spring 22 into its first position. However, in each case two selection boards 16 held in side-by-side sample boards 10 are formed and arranged in mirror image to one another, so that the aforementioned first position of the selection board 16 is alternately in FIG. 2 above and below.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the selection board 16 shown there has a foot 30 projecting to the left in its lower region. Because of the mirror-symmetrical arrangement, this foot 30 of the selection board located behind the selection board 16 lies at the top, as is indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2. Two adjacent sample boards 10 with their selection boards 16 are each offset by half a needle pitch.

As can best be seen from FIG. 2, each selection board 16 in a pattern board 10 interacts with magnetic pattern selection means 32, 33. The magnetic pattern selection means 32 engages the foot 30 of the selection board 16 shown in FIG. 2. 2, the magnetic pattern selection means 33 is arranged in mirror image above the selection means 32 and engages the foot 30 of the selection board 16 which lies behind the selection board 16 shown. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic pattern selection means 32 (the same applies to the selection means 33) each include holding poles 34 designed as permanent magnets and control poles 36, which can be actuated temporarily and provided with coils 35. The holding poles 34 are as in Forming strips running circumferentially of the circular knitting machine, the upper end edges of which form rail-shaped tracks on which the feet 30 of the selection boards 16 run. The feet 30 can abut these tracks or be kept at a small distance from them in order to save frictional losses. The control poles 36 are also designed as strips, which are shorter than the holding poles 34, the feet 30 of the selection boards 16 also abutting against the control poles 36 or can be held at a certain small distance from these control poles.

4 shows the previously known arrangement of the holding poles 34 and control poles 36. As illustrated, the control poles 36 are aligned with the holding poles 34, small air gaps being formed between the holding poles 34 and control poles 36. The feet of the selection boards 16 acting as anchors penetrate into these air gaps at least temporarily for a short time as they run over the poles 34, 36, so that there is a stop at the respective subsequent edge of the holding or control pole , which leads to undesirable mechanical wear of the foot 30. In addition, in the arrangement according to FIG. 4, the holding and control poles 34 and 36 are closely adjacent to one another over relatively large surface areas, so that the respective magnetic fluxes mutually can influence and disrupt, which is disadvantageous in terms of rapid and reliable control of the switching process.

In order to remedy this situation, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the control poles 36 are laterally offset with respect to the holding poles 34. Furthermore, the control poles 36 are somewhat longer than the spaces 37 between the adjacent holding poles 34. The control poles 36, which laterally bridge the spaces 37, therefore overlap the sections of the holding poles 34, which each delimit the spaces 37. As can be seen from FIG. 2, a shaft of the control pole 36 carrying the coil 35 lies in the plane of the holding pole 34. Only the upper part of the control pole 36 is bent, so that it mentioned the opposite of the holding poles 34 occupies a laterally offset position. The holding and control poles are ground on their upper side facing the foot 30 so that they lie exactly in the same plane.

Due to the lateral displacement of the control pole 36 and the spatial separation of this pole from the holding pole 34 thereby achieved, the magnetic fields of these poles are not adversely affected and the switching function of the control pole 36, which is intended to neutralize the effect of the holding poles 34 in the region of the intermediate space 37 becomes more manageable. In addition, the laterally offset arrangement of the control poles 36 eliminates the air gaps between the poles 34, 36 mentioned in connection with FIG. 4. Since the control poles 36 continue to overlap with the holding poles 34 in the region of the intermediate spaces 37, they can cross over to the poles 34 , 36 facing feet 30 of the selection Boards 16 bumpless and without falling into air gaps, over which the surfaces of the poles 34, 36 lie flush in one plane.

The arrangement of the magnetic pattern selection means 32, 33 is such that when, after a corresponding switching operation, electrical current flows through the coils 35, the polarity of the control pole 36 is opposite to the polarity of the adjacent holding pole sections and the effect of the holding poles 34 in Area of the control pole. In this case, the control foot 30 is no longer held by the holding poles 34 when the intermediate space 37 overflows, so that the selection board 16 can now be moved freely. As a result, the spring 22 can move the selection board 16 in FIG. 2 upward into a position in which, in a manner known per se, a control cam (not shown) attached to the lock jacket 2 at a corresponding height on a vertical control edge 50 of the selection board 16 attack and this selection board 16 together with the pattern board 10 (in Fig. 1 and 2) can move to the right, whereby, as already mentioned, the control foot 7 of the plunger 6 comes out of engagement with the lock part 8 and the upward movement of the plunger 6 and knitting needle 3 is thereby prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as mentioned, the control poles 36 are bent and are thereby laterally offset from the holding poles 34. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the arrangement is reversed: there the holding poles 34 are in the region of the intermediate spaces 37 cranked, and the control poles 36 are thereby Free space created laterally offset to the sections of the holding poles 34 delimiting the interstices 37. Furthermore, the control poles 36 in turn overlap the end sections of the holding poles 34 which delimit the interstices 37. The same advantages as the embodiment according to FIG. 3 are thus achieved with the embodiment according to FIG. 5.

In principle, only a single path formed by holding poles 34 and control poles 36 is sufficient for the control function of the magnetic pattern selection means, to which the control feet 30 of the pattern boards 16 run transversely. In the illustrated and described embodiments, however, two adjacent and mutually parallel tracks formed by holding poles 34 and control poles 36 are provided, which increases the functional reliability. As can be seen from the drawing, both tracks are identical. If desired, the holding and control poles 34 and 36 may have a mask 38 (Fig. 2), e.g. made of plastic or other non-magnetic material, which surrounds the poles 34, 36 of the adjacent tracks at the top and - in particular the control poles 36 - keeps them at a predetermined, fixed distance.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, control magnets 36 equipped with coils 35, the shafts of which, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, are not cranked but rather straight, are arranged laterally offset to the holding poles 34. 6, the control poles 36 are located on the outer sides of the formed tracks. In FIG. 7, which corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 6 with respect to the straight design of the control poles 36, these control poles 36 lie on the inner sides of the tracks formed by the holding poles 34 or between these tracks. Also in the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the shafts of the control poles 36 are not cranked, but are formed in a straight line in the same way as in the embodiments according to FIGS. 6 and 7.

8 and 9 the cranked or rectilinear design of the control poles 36 and the arrangement of the coils 35 on the shaft of the control pole are shown again in detail.

10 and 11 show an embodiment of the control pole 36, in which this pole has two shanks 41, 42 which are designed as parallel legs and each carry a coil 35. The magnetic force of the control pole 36 can be increased accordingly by using two coils. FIG. 11, which is a plan view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10, shows how the control pole 36 provided with two coils 35 is arranged in the space between cranked end sections of holding poles 34. It is furthermore possible to arrange a control pole 36 provided with two coils 35 according to FIG. 10, similar to that in FIGS. 6 and 7, to the side of non-cranked holding poles 34. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, there is sufficient space in the area in addition to the holding poles 34 in order to be able to arrange a control pole 36 equipped with two legs 41, 42 and two coils 35 according to FIG. 10 in a particularly convenient manner. The invention has been described above in connection with a magnetic control of the selection board 16 in the pattern board 10. It is obvious that this was done only by way of example and the described magnetic pattern selection means can also be used to control other functional parts of knitting machines, for example also for direct control of needles.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r u c h e:

Magnetic pattern selection means for functional parts movable in relation to these selection means, in particular sinkers or needles, of knitting machines with permanent holding poles, with temporarily electrically operable control poles which counteract the holding poles and with feet provided on the functional parts and acting as anchors, which can optionally be attached to the Holding poles can be applied or detached from the holding poles by the control poles, characterized in that the holding poles (34) are separated from one another by spaces (37) and the control poles (36) in the region of the spaces (37) with respect to the Holding poles (34) are laterally offset so that they bridge the interstices (37) and overlap the portions of the holding poles (34) delimiting the interstices.

Selection means according to claim 1, characterized in that the portions of the holding poles (34) delimiting the interspaces (37) are cranked and the control poles (36) lie in the alignment of the interstices (37) in the alignment of the holding poles (34).

Selection means according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two rows of holding poles (34) arranged on parallel tracks are provided are, and the control poles (36) are arranged on the inner or outer sides of the tracks.

4. Selection means according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized ge indicates that the control pole (36) has at least one cranked shaft (39) which carries a control coil (35).

5. Selection means according to claim 1, characterized in that the control pole (36) has two bent legs (41, 42), each carrying a control coil (35).

[Received at the International Bureau on March 21, 1994 (March 21, 1994); original claim 1 replaced by amended claim 1; all other claims unchanged (1 page)]

1. Magnetic pattern selection means for functional parts movable in relation to these selection means, in particular sinkers or needles, of knitting machines with permanent holding poles, with temporarily electrically actuable control poles which counteract the holding poles and with feet provided on the functional parts and acting as an anchor, the optional can be applied to the holding poles or detached from the holding poles by the control poles, characterized in that the upper sides of the holding and control poles (34, 36) along which the feet (30) run lie exactly in the same plane , and that the holding poles (34) are separated from one another by gaps (37) and the control poles (36) in the area of the gaps (37) are laterally offset from the holding poles (34) such that they separate the gaps ( 37) bridge and the sections of the holding poles (34) delimiting the interspaces overlap.

2. Selection means according to claim 1, characterized in that the spaces (37) delimiting portions of the holding poles (34) are bent and the control poles (36) in the region of the spaces (37) are in alignment with the holding poles (34).

3. Selection means according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at least two rows arranged on parallel tracks of holding poles (34) are provided INARTICLE 19 MENTIONED STATEMENT

The new claim 1 is against the counter

CH, A, 500312 by inserting a new feature at the beginning of the

Marked part delimited.

The newly added feature is disclosed on page 8, lines 16 to 18 of the original description.