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(11) | EP 1 055 022 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO KNITTING MACHINES VERBESSERUNGEN AN ODER IN BEZIEHUNG AUF STRICKMASCHINEN AMELIORATIONS APPORTEES A DES MACHINES A TRICOTER |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to knitting machines and, in particular, to an adjustment device for simultaneously varying the length of the stitch loops in a multi feed circular knitting machine.
[0002] In circular knitting machines, in order to knit fabrics of different thickness and density, it is necessary to alter the length of the stitch loops. In a conventional circular knitting machine, it is the usual practice to change the length of the stitch loops by vertically adjusting the individual stitch cams at each of the knitting stations of the operating paths of the knitting needles. This is quite a time consuming task which requires a skilled operator in order to ensure that all the knitting stations are adjusted to produce stitch loops of the same length around the circular knitting machine.
[0003] FR-A-2,391,300 describes an adjustment device for simultaneously adjusting the stitch length at each feed of a multi feed circular knitting machine, comprising a main body and a plurality of knitting cams arranged in a circle and supported by a common support member, the support member being linearly movable relative to the body but prevented from rotating relative to the body. The device also includes a rotatable actuating device, a transmission device operable to transmit movement of the actuating device to the support member, the transmission device including a conversion device to convert rotational movement of the actuating means into linear movement of the support member.
[0004] The present invention provides an adjustment device for simultaneously adjusting the stitch length at each feed of a multi-feed circular knitting machine of the type having a main body and a plurality of knitting cams arranged in a circle, the adjustment device comprising a common support member for supporting the knitting cams, the support member being linearly movable relative to the body but prevented from rotating relative to the body, a rotatable actuating device, a transmission device operable to transmit movement of the actuating device to the support member, the transmission device including a conversation device to convert rotational movement of the actuating device into linear movement of the support member, characterised in that the conversion device comprises at least one projection on the transmission device which extends into a respective slot formed in the support member, wherein the slot defines part of a helical curve extending around the periphery of the support member, such that the at least one projection and the respective slot co-operate with a cam action to convert rotational movement of the actuating device into linear movement of the support member.
[0005] The adjustment device of the present invention thus simplifies the process of height adjustment of the knitting cams which is required for knitting fabric of different thickness and density. It eliminates the complication of adjusting the knitting cams individually.
[0008] In one embodiment, the actuating device comprises a first gear rotatably mounted on the body and the transmission device comprises a transmission element rotatably mounted on the body and supporting a second gear which engages with the first gear.
[0009] Conveniently, the first gear comprises a pinion, the second gear comprises a rack and the transmission element is a ring rocatably mounted on the body by means of bearings.
[0010] In one aspect, the conversion device comprises at least one projection on the transmission element which extends into a respective slot formed in the support member, wherein the slot defines part of a helical curve extending around the periphery of the support member.
[0012] Typically, the body comprises a bed plate and a ring plate secured thereto, the ring plate surrounding the support member, wherein locking means is disposed between the ring plate and the support member to preclude relative rotation but to permit relative linear movement.
[0013] In such an arrangement, the actuating device may be mounted in an aperture in the ring plate.
[0014] Preferably, the actuating device defines a recess engageable by an actuating tool to facilitate rotation of the actuating device.
[0015] The present invention also provides a circular knitting machine incorporating the aforementioned type of adjustment device.
[0016] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through the needle ring of a circular knitting machine, taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Figure 3, and illustrating an adjustment device in accordance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 3, at an enlarged scale; and
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the knitting cam block seat ring and associated parts.
[0017] With reference to the Figures, a circular knitting machine incorporating an embodiment of the present invention comprises a bed plate 1 which supports a conventional drive gear 13 and an annular ring plate 2 which is held in position on the bed plate 1 by screws 20. Between the ring plate 2 and the drive gear 13 is located a knitting cam block seat ring 8. The knitting cam block seat ring 8 supports conventional cam holder blocks 9 which in turn support knitting cams 12, a needle ring 11 and knitting needles 10. The cam block seat ring 8 is prevented from rotating relative to the ring plate 2 by a number of guide pins 16 (best seen in Figures 2 and 3) which engage in opposing semi-cylindrical recesses in the ring plate 2 and knitting cam block seat ring 8 and which are secured to the latter by screws 17.
[0018] Although it is not rotatable, the knitting cam block seat ring 8 is supported inside the ring plate 2 so as to allow independent vertical movement of the seat ring 8 by means of the structure described below.
[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a rotatable ring 5 is supported on the bed plate 1 by means of ball bearings 21. A number of circumferentially spaced setting plates 3 are secured by respective screws 22 onto the bed plate 1 so as to slightly overhang the rotatable ring 5. Thus, the rotatable ring 5 is able to slide along the lower surfaces of the setting plates 3.
[0020] An arcuate toothed rack 14 is secured on the upper surface of the rotatable ring 5 by screws 23, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3. A pinion 15 is supported by a guide collar 19 which is rotatably seated in an aperture in the ring plate 2. The pinion 15 is positioned so that its teeth engage the teeth extending around the outer peripheral surface of the rack 14. Thus, rotation of the pinion 15, e.g by inserting an Allen key into a socket 18 in the top of the pinion 15, imparts rotation to the ring 5 via rack 14.
[0021] A number of support pins 6 are provided, each of which passes through a respective support block 4. The support blocks 4 are circumferentially spaced around the upper surface of the rotatable ring 5 and fixed thereto by screws 24. Each support pin 6 projects into a cam slot 7 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the knitting cam block seat ring 8. Each cam slot 7 is arcuate and follows the path of a helical curve extending around the outer peripheral surface of the knitting cam block seat ring 8.
[0022] Rotation of the pinion 15 and hence of the rotatable ring 5 as described above causes the support pins 6 to travel along the cam slots 7. However, since the knitting cam block seat ring 8 itself is unable to rotate due to the guide pins 16, a cam action results between the support pins 6 and the cam slots 7 which forces the knitting cam block seat ring 8 to move vertically relative to the ring plate 2 and bed plate 1. Depending on the direction of rotation of the pinion 15, the knitting cam block seat ring 8 is either raised or lowered.
[0023] In this way, rotation of the ring 5 imparts linear vertical adjustment to the knitting cam block seat ring 8 and thereby the height of the needle cams 12 is simultaneously vertically adjusted by the same amount at each of the knitting stations around the circular knitting machine. This ensures that all the stitch loops will be the same length and greatly speeds up the process of vertical adjustment.
[0024] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications to the apparatus described above are possible while still falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, the precise configuration of the gear and cam systems which convert rotational movement into linear movement of the knitting cams is not limited to the details described herein.
1. An adjustment device for simultaneously adjusting the stitch length at each feed of
a multi-feed circular knitting machine of the type having a main body (1) and a plurality
of knitting cams (12) arranged in a circle, the adjustment device comprising a common
support member (8) for supporting the knitting cams (12), the support member (8) being
linearly movable relative to the body (1) but prevented from rotating relative to
the body (1), a rotatable actuating device (15), a transmission device (14, 5) operable
to transmit movement of the actuating device (15) to the support member (8), the transmission
device (14, 5) including a conversion device (6, 7) to convert rotational movement
of the actuating device (15) into linear movement of the support member (8), characterised in that the conversion device (6,7) comprises at least one projection (6) on the transmission
device which extends into a respective slot (7) formed in the support member (8),
wherein the slot (7) defines part of a helical curve extending around the periphery
of the support member (8), such that the at least one projection (6) and the respective
slot (7) co-operate with a cam action to convert rotational movement of the actuating
device (15) into linear movement of the support member (8)
2. An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission device comprises
gear means (14).
3. An adjustment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuating device
comprises a first gear (15) rotatably mounted on the body and the transmission device
comprises a transmission element (5) rotatably mounted on the body and supporting
a second gear (14) which engages with the first gear (15).
4. An adjustment device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first gear comprises a pinion
(15), the second gear comprises a rack (14) and the transmission element is a ring
(5) rotatably mounted on the body by means of bearings (21).
5. An adjustment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the projection comprises
a pin (6) mounted in a block (4) secured to the transmission device.
6. An adjustment device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises
a bed plate (1) and a ring plate (2) secured thereto, the ring plate surrounding the
support member (8), wherein locking means (16, 17) is disposed between the ring plate
and the support member to preclude relative rotation but to permit relative linear
movement.
7. An adjustment device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuating device (15) is mounted
in an aperture in the ring plate.
8. An adjustment device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuating device (15) defines
a recess (18) engageable by an actuating tool to facilitate rotation of the actuating
device.
9. A circular knitting machine incorporating an adjustment device as claimed in any preceding
claim.
1. Einstellvorrichtung zum gleichzeitigen Einstellen der Maschenlänge bei jeder Zuführung
einer Rundstrick/wirkmaschine mit Mehrfachzuführung des Typs mit einem Hauptkörper
(1) und einer Mehrzahl von in einem Kreis angeordneten Strick/Wirknocken (12), wobei
die Einstellvorrichtung umfasst: ein gemeinsames Trägerelement (8) zum Halten der
Strick/Wirknocken (12), wobei das Trägerelement (8) relativ zu dem Körper (1) linear
beweglich ist, eine Drehung relativ zu dem Körper (1) jedoch verhindert ist; eine
drehbare Betätigungsvorrichtung (15); eine Übertragungsvorrichtung (14, 5), welche
in der Lage ist, eine Bewegung der Betätigungsvorrichtung (15) auf das Trägerelement
(8) zu übertragen, wobei die Übertragungsvorrichtung (14, 5) eine Umwandlungsvorrichtung
(6, 7) zur Umwandlung einer Drehbewegung der Betätigungsvorrichtung (15) in eine lineare
Bewegung des Trägerelements (8) umfasst; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Umwandlungsvorrichtung (6, 7) wenigstens einen Vorsprung (6) auf der Übertragungsvorrichtung
umfasst, welcher in einen jeweiligen in dem Trägerelement (8) ausgebildeten Schlitz
(7) hinein verläuft, wobei der Schlitz (7) einen Teil einer schraubenförmigen Kurve
definiert, welche um den Umfang des Trägerelements (8) derart herum verläuft, dass
der wenigstens eine Vorsprung (6) und der jeweilige Schlitz (7) mit einer Nockenwirkung
zusammenwirken, um eine Drehbewegung der Betätigungsvorrichtung (15) in eine lineare
Bewegung des Trägerelements (8) umzuwandeln.
2. Einstellvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Übertragungsvorrichtung Zahnradmittel
(14) umfasst.
3. Einstellvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung
ein erstes Zahnrad (15) umfasst, welches drehbar an dem Körper angebracht ist, und
die Übertragungsvorrichtung ein Übertragungselement (5) umfasst, welches drehbar an
dem Körper angebracht ist und ein zweites Zahnrad (14) trägt, welches mit dem ersten
Zahnrad (15) in Eingriff ist.
4. Einstellvorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei das erste Zahnrad ein Ritzel (15) umfasst,
das zweite Zahnrad eine Zahnstange (14) umfasst und das Übertragungselement ein Ring
(5) ist, welcher an dem Körper durch Lager (21) drehbar angebracht ist.
5. Einstellvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Vorsprung einen
Zapfen (6) umfasst, welcher in einen an der Übertragungsvorrichtung festgelegten Block
(4) montiert ist.
6. Einstellvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Körper eine
Bettplatte (1) und eine daran festgelegte Ringplatte (2) umfasst, wobei die Ringplatte
das Trägerelement (8) umgibt, wobei Verriegelungsmittel (16, 17) zwischen der Ringplatte
und dem Trägerelement angeordnet sind, um eine Relativdrehung auszuschließen und jedoch
eine lineare Relativbewegung zu gestatten.
7. Einstellvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung (15) in eine
Öffnung in der Ringplatte montiert ist.
8. Einstellvorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung (15) eine Ausnehmung
(18) definiert, welche durch ein Betätigungswerkzeug in Eingriff genommen werden kann,
um eine Drehung der Betätigungsvorrichtung zu erleichtern.
9. Rundstrick/wirkmaschine, welche eine Einstellvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche umfasst.
1. Dispositif de réglage pour régler simultanément la longueur de la maille à chaque
chute d'une machine à tricoter circulaire à chutes multiples du type comportant un
corps principal (1) et une pluralité de cames d'ascension (12) agencées en un cercle,
le dispositif de réglage comprenant un élément de support commun (8) pour supporter
les cames d'ascension (12), l'élément de support (8) étant adapté à un déplacement
linéaire par rapport au corps (1) mais empêché de tourner par rapport au corps (1),
un dispositif d'actionnement rotatif (15), un dispositif de transmission (14, 5) adapté
à transmettre le mouvement du dispositif d'actionnement (15) à l'élément de support
(8), le dispositif de transmission (14, 5) comprenant un dispositif de transformation
(6, 7) pour transformer le mouvement de rotation du dispositif d'actionnement (15)
en un mouvement linéaire de l'élément de support (8), caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de transformation (6, 7) comprend au moins une saillie (6) sur le dispositif
de transmission qui s'étend dans une fente respective (7) formée dans l'élément de
support (8), dans lequel la fente (7) définit une partie d'une courbe hélicoïdale
s'étendant autour de la périphérie de l'élément de support (8), de manière que ladite
au moins une saillie (6) et la fente respective (7) coopèrent par effet de came pour
transformer le mouvement de rotation du dispositif d'actionnement (15) en mouvement
linéaire de l'élément de support (8).
2. Dispositif de réglage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de transmission
comprend un moyen d'engrenage (14).
3. Dispositif de réglage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel le dispositif d'actionnement comprend un premier engrenage (15) monté en rotation
sur le corps et le dispositif de transmission comprend un élément de transmission
(5) monté en rotation sur le corps et supportant un deuxième engrenage (14) qui s'engage
avec le premier engrenage (15).
4. Dispositif de réglage selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le premier engrenage comprend
un pignon (15), le deuxième engrenage comprend une crémaillère (14) et l'élément de
transmission est un anneau (5) monté en rotation sur le corps au moyen de paliers
(21).
5. Dispositif de réglage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel la saillie comprend une tige (6) montée dans un bloc (4) fixé au dispositif
de transmission.
6. Dispositif de réglage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel le corps comprend une plaque de base (1) et une plaque annulaire (2) fixée
à celle-ci, la plaque annulaire entourant l'élément de support (8), dans lequel un
moyen de verrouillage (16, 17) est disposé entre la plaque annulaire et l'élément
de support pour empêcher une rotation de l'un par rapport à l'autre mais permettre
un mouvement linéaire de l'un par rapport à l'autre.
7. Dispositif de réglage selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le dispositif d'actionnement
(15) est monté dans une ouverture dans la plaque annulaire.
8. Dispositif de réglage selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le dispositif d'actionnement
(15) définit un évidement (18) adapté à être engagé par un outil d'actionnement pour
faciliter la rotation du dispositif d'actionnement.
9. Machine à tricoter circulaire comprenant un dispositif de réglage selon l'une quelconque
des revendications précédentes.