KNITTING TOOL CONTROLLING APPARATUS IN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR KNITTING JACQUARD KNITTED FABRIC USING THE SAME

Abstract

 Provided is a controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine, in which the distance moved by sinkers back and forth is reduced. A controlling apparatus of the present invention has a rocking piece base member 4 for controlling a knitting tool 2, the rocking piece base member being mounted in the same groove as the knitting tool, and at least one rocking piece 5 supported so as to be capable of rocking on the rocking piece base member 4. At least one pair of attracting members 13a and 13b are provided respectively corresponding to both ends of the rocking piece 5. The controlling apparatus further has at least one rocking piece retracting cam 10 for retracting the rocking piece 5, and a control cam 7, 8 for controlling knitting tools.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a knitting tool controlling apparatus for knitting a pile/jacquard structure while electromagnetically controlling an operation of a knitting tool such as a sinker in a circular knitting machine, and a method for knitting a jacquard knitted fabric using the same.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] "Knitting tool controlling apparatus in circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-21042A describes a method for knitting a concave-convex jacquard pile knitted fabric by selecting sinkers for piling or for non-piling.

[0003] Furthermore, "pile pattern forming apparatus of circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-41247A describes a method for causing a controlling apparatus including a plurality of sinker cams, actuators, and a plurality of jack cams to control pile sinkers and pile jacks that are arranged so as to be slidable in horizontal grooves of a sinker bed arranged along the outer circumference of the upper portion of a knitting needle cylinder.

[0004] "Knitting tool controlling apparatus in circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-21042A is directed to a controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine, in which a knitting tool is movably mounted, including: a rocking piece base member for controlling the knitting tool, the rocking piece base member being mounted in the same groove as the knitting tool; at least one rocking piece supported so as to be capable of rocking on the rocking piece base member; at least one pair of attracting members respectively corresponding to both ends of the rocking piece; at least one rocking piece raising cam for raising the rocking piece; a control cam for controlling the knitting tool; and an intermediate cam for controlling the rocking piece base member. A typical knitting tool is a sinker mounted in a sinker groove of a sinker dial secured to the upper portion of a rotating cylinder, and controlled by a control means capable of independently controlling operation thereof. The rocking piece base member is preferably provided with at least one butt. Furthermore, it is stated that further including an intermediate member having at least one butt capable of independently moving between the rocking piece base member and the sinker, and an intermediate member raising cam for raising the intermediate member is preferable, wherein the intermediate member is advanced by the intermediate member raising cam, and the intermediate member increases the movement amount of the sinker. In this manner, it is necessary to provide an intermediate member raising cam in order to increase the movement amount of a sinker, and thus the number of required parts is large. Furthermore, the sinker is selected from a retracted position to an advanced position, so that the movement distance of the sinker increases, as a result of which, a space in the circumferential direction is required, and the number of feeders cannot be increased.

[0005] Furthermore, in "pile pattern forming apparatus of circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-41247A, pile sinkers and pile jacks that are arranged so as to be slidable in horizontal grooves extending in the radial direction of a sinker bed arranged along the outer circumference of the upper portion of a knitting needle cylinder are controlled by a controlling apparatus including a plurality of sinker cams, actuators, and a plurality of jack cams, but description was made only for the control method in which pile sinkers are pushed toward the center of the circular knitting machine by pile jacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is directed to a controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine, in which a knitting tool is movably mounted, including: a rocking piece base member for controlling the knitting tool, the rocking piece base member being mounted in the same groove as the knitting tool; at least one rocking piece supported so as to be capable of rocking on the rocking piece base member; at least one pair of attracting members respectively corresponding to both ends of the rocking piece; at least one rocking piece retracting cam for retracting the rocking piece; a control cam for controlling the knitting tool; and an intermediate cam for controlling the rocking piece base member (Claim 1).

[0007] The rocking piece retracting cam has a retracting side face that is inclined downward, and the retracting side face can be engaged with a first inclined side face portion positioned at an end portion of the rocking piece (Claim 2).

[0008] A typical knitting tool is a sinker mounted in a sinker groove of a sinker dial secured to an upper portion of a rotating cylinder, and controlled by a control means capable of independently controlling operation thereof (Claim 3).

[0009] It is preferable that a rear end portion of the sinker has a first engagement portion, a front end portion of the rocking piece base member has a second engagement portion, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can be engaged with each other with play and can advance and retract the counterpart each other (Claim 4).

[0010] It is preferable that a rear end portion of the sinker is provided with a downward projecting portion. The downward projecting portion is engaged with play in a sliding direction with an upward recessed portion provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member. A downward recessed portion is further provided adjacent to the downward projecting portion of the sinker. The downward recessed portion is engaged with play in the sliding direction with an upward projecting portion provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member. That is to say, the projecting portions of the sinker and the rocking piece base member are engaged with play respectively with the recessed portions of the rocking piece base member and the sinker (Claim 5).

[0011] It is preferable that, when knitting for one-repeat pattern has ended, the sinker is moved to an advanced position by a sinker control cam, and the rocking piece base member is kept in an advanced position (Claim 6).

[0012] The present invention is further directed to a circular knitting machine including the controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 6 (Claim 7).

[0013] The present invention is further directed to a combination of a rocking piece base member and a sinker. The sinker has a first engagement portion provided at a rear end portion of the sinker, the rocking piece base member has: a second engagement portion provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member; at least one rocking piece supported so as to be capable of rocking; and at least one pair of attracting members respectively provided at both ends of the rocking piece, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with each other with play (Claim 8).

[0014] It is preferable that the sinker has a downward projecting portion provided at a rear end portion of the sinker, and a downward recessed portion provided adjacent to the downward projecting portion. The rocking piece base member has an upward recessed portion provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member, an upward projecting portion provided adjacent to the upward recessed portion, at least one rocking piece supported so as to be capable of rocking, and at least one pair of attracting members respectively provided at both ends of the rocking piece. The downward projecting portion is engaged with play in a sliding direction with the upward recessed portion, and the downward recessed portion is engaged with play in the sliding direction with the upward projecting portion (Claim 9).

[0015] The present invention is further directed to a method for producing a jacquard knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to claim 7 with at least two feeders. The method includes: a step of, at the first feeder, selecting every cylinder needle for knitting, or for knitting or tucking, thereby feeding a ground yarn thereto, lowering the cylinder needle to a position immediately before a knock-over position with a cam, and then moving the cylinder needle toward the next second feeder, and, at this time, pushing a sinker toward a center of the circular knitting machine, and positioning the ground yarn on a sinker top and in a hook of the cylinder needle; a step of, before the second feeder, pulling down the sinker from the center of the circular knitting machine in an outer circumferential direction, and holding the ground yarn on the sinker top; and a step of, at the second feeder, selecting the cylinder needle for knitting or for welting according to a desired pattern and feeding a pile yarn thereto, and selecting the sinker for piling or for non-piling according to the desired pattern (Claim 10).

[0016] The present invention is further directed to a method for producing a jacquard knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to claim 7 with at least one feeder. The method includes: a step of, at the first feeder, selecting every cylinder needle for knitting, and then causing the cylinder needle to catch a ground yarn while being lowered; a step of moving a sinker selected for meshing without retracting the sinker, and allowing the ground yarn to be caught on a sinker nose, and a step of lowering the cylinder needle to a knock-over point with a stitch cam, and allowing the ground yarn to be caught on the sinker nose and form a large loop; and a step of moving the sinker selected for non-meshing while retracting the sinker, keeping a state in which the ground yarn is caught on the sinker top while the cylinder needle is being lowered, further lowering the cylinder needle to the knock-over point with the stitch cam, and allowing the ground yarn to be caught on the sinker top and form a loop having an ordinary size (Claim 11).

[0017] It is preferable that, at the first feeder, when the cylinder needle is lowered from a knit position to a tuck position, an old loop that has once come off a latch is moved around to a back side of the latch by a sinker throat portion of the sinker at an advanced position, so that a knit state is maintained (Claim 12).

[0018] In "knitting tool controlling apparatus in circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-21042A, an intermediate member is provided between the sinker and the rocking piece base member, and the intermediate member is advanced by the intermediate member raising cam. In this manner, it was necessary to provide an intermediate member raising cam in order to increase the movement amount of a sinker. However, according to the invention of the present application, before passing the attracting members for needle selection, the sinker is moved to an intermediate position that is almost the middle between the retracted position and the advanced position of the sinker, and whether the sinker is kept at that position or retracted from that intermediate position is selected, so that the distance moved by the sinker back and forth can be reduced, as a result of which, a space in the circumferential direction can be reduced. Thus, the number of feeders can be increased, and the production amount of knitted fabric can be increased. Furthermore, the number of parts related to the intermediate member can be reduced, the size of the sinker dial in the radial direction can be made shorter, and thus the overall size of the machine can be made smaller.

[0019] Furthermore, as another advantageous effect, needle selection errors called "overlapping" (see FIG. 12) can be prevented from occurring. "Overlapping" refers to a state in which an old loop that has once come off a latch when a needle selected for knitting is lowered is again brought onto the latch while the needle is being lowered, and a loop that is intended to form a knit stitch accidentally forms a tuck stitch. One of the general roles of a sinker is such that a sinker throat portion pushes an old loop that has come off a latch when a needle is lowered, thereby moving the old loop around to the back side of the latch so that a knit stitch is formed. In "knitting tool controlling apparatus in circular knitting machine" according to JP H9-21042A, no sinker can be provided at that position. In order to avoid "overlapping", the time to lower a needle has to be after the needle passes a sinker selecting portion and an old loop is moved around to the back side of a latch, and a space is required for such an arrangement, which prevents the number of feeders from being increased. According to the present application, at the first feeder of Example 1 or the first feeder of Example 2, when a needle is lowered from a knit position (the X-X cross-section of FIG. 1: see FIG. 11(a)) to a tuck position (the Y-Y cross-section of FIG. 1: see FIG. 11(b)), an old loop that has once come off a latch is moved to the back side of the latch by a sinker throat portion of the sinker at an advanced position, so that a knit state is maintained. With this mechanism, "overlapping" can be prevented.

[0020] According to the invention of the present application, if sinkers are selected for piling, the sinkers operate substantially along the circumferential direction, and do not operate back and forth constantly as in conventional examples. Depending on a desired jacquard pattern, knitting may be performed using a smaller number of feeders, and if sinkers are selected for piling with the smaller number of feeders, the sinkers do not perform unnecessary movement, and thus a knitted fabric can be prevented from being adversely affected, and, moreover, wear of the sinkers can be reduced.

[0021] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] 

FIG. 1 is an arrangement diagram of a cam, needle, sinker, rocking piece, and rocking piece base member, showing Example 1 of pile/jacquard knitting of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing sinker control processing taken along the A-A cross-section of FIG. 1 showing Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing sinker control processing taken along the B-B cross-section of FIG. 1 showing Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing sinker control processing taken along the B-B cross-section of FIG. 1 showing the example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing selection for non-piling in sinker control processing taken along the C-C cross-section of FIG. 1 showing Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing selection for piling in sinker control processing taken along the C-C cross-section of FIG. 1 showing Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing sinker control processing taken along the D-D cross-section of FIG. 1 showing Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an arrangement diagram of a cam, needle, sinker, rocking piece, and rocking piece base member, showing Example 2 of mesh/jacquard knitting of the present invention

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of pile/jacquard knitting that can be knitted in Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a structural diagram of mesh/jacquard knitting that can be knitted in Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 11(a) shows the X-X cross-section of FIG. 1, and FIG. 11(b) shows the Y-Y cross-section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which a cylinder needle and a sinker are in an "overlapping" state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The knitting tool controlling apparatuses in the following examples are realized by implementing the settings of the present invention, using a circular knitting machine including an apparatus for electromagnetically controlling sinkers.

Example 1

[0024] Below, a pile/jacquard knitting method according to Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the movement line diagram of a cylinder needle 1 and a sinker 2 and the cam arrangement diagram of the sinker 2, a rocking piece 5, and a rocking piece base member 4 in FIG. 1.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sinker dial 16 is secured to the upper portion of a rotating cylinder 15 of a circular knitting machine. Sinker grooves are formed in the radial direction of the upper portion of the sinker dial 16, and the sinker 2, the rocking piece base member 4, and the rocking piece 5 are inserted into each sinker groove. A first yarn carrier 61 for feeding a ground yarn GY in pile knitting to the cylinder needle 1 is provided above the sinker 2 at a first feeder F1. A second yarn carrier 62 for feeding a pile yarn PY in pile knitting to the cylinder needle 1 is provided above the sinker 2 at a second feeder F2.

[0026] A sinker cap 17 is provided corresponding to the sinker dial 16. A first sinker control cam 7 and a second sinker control cam 8 are attached to the sinker cap 17, and the sinker 2 slides in the radial direction due to the effect of the first sinker control cam 7 and the second sinker control cam 8. Vertical edge portions 2d and 2e of the sinker 2 are pinched by side end portions 7a, 7b, 8a, and 8b of the sinker control cams, and a butt 2a of the sinker 2 is controlled by a cam track T1 and a cam track T2 formed by the first sinker control cam 7 and the second sinker control cam 8. A downward projecting portion 2g is provided at the rear end of the sinker 2. The downward projecting portion 2g is engaged with play in the sliding direction with an upward recessed portion 4h at the front end of the rocking piece base member 4. Furthermore, a downward recessed portion 2h is provided adjacent to the downward projecting portion 2g of the sinker 2. The downward recessed portion 2h is engaged with play in the sliding direction with an upward projecting portion 4g at the front end of the rocking piece base member 4. That is to say, the projecting portions 2g and 4g of the sinker 2 and the rocking piece base member 4 are engaged with play respectively with the recessed portions 4h and 2h of the rocking piece base member 4 and the sinker 2. Since the sinker and the rocking piece base member are engaged with each other with play therebetween, the sinker and the rocking piece base member are not affected by each other's weight at portions other than those where engagement is necessary, and independently operate in accordance with the cams. Thus, wear and damage of these members are reduced compared with the case where they are always engaged with each other without play.

[0027] Note that the recessed and projecting shapes and orientations of the sinker and the rocking piece base member at their engaged portions are not limited to those described above, and any shape can be applied as long as the sinker and the rocking piece base member can advance and retract the counterpart each other.

[0028] The rocking piece base member 4 is inserted into the sinker groove in the outer circumferential direction of the sinker 2. At least one butt 4a is provided at the upper portion on the inner side of the rocking piece base member 4. Intermediate cams 91 and 92 are attached to the sinker cap along the outer circumferential direction of the first sinker control cam 7 and the second sinker control cam 8. The butt 4a of the rocking piece base member 4 is controlled by a cam track T3 formed by the intermediate cams 91 and 92. A semicircular depression 4e is provided at the upper portion on the outer side of the rocking piece base member 4, and a circular protruding portion 5e projecting from the lower portion of the rocking piece 5 is provided so as to be pivotably supported on the depression 4e. Both end portions of the rocking piece 5 are bilaterally symmetric about the circular protruding portion 5e, wherein a first inclined side face portion 5c and a second inclined side face portion 5d are provided respectively at both end portions of the rocking piece 5, a first attractable portion 5a and a second attractable portion 5b are provided respectively at upper faces of both end portions, and a dent 5f is provided between the two attractable portions.

[0029] A first attracting portion 13a and a second attracting portion 13b are provided in a knitting tool control unit of the sinker cap 17 so as to face the first attractable portion 5a and the second attractable portion 5b of the rocking piece 5. These attracting members 13 selectively attract in the attractable portions 5a and 5b of the rocking piece 5 based on a signal output from the controller according to preset predetermined pattern information. Controlled electromagnets are preferably used as the attracting members 13.

[0030] A rocking piece retracting cam 10 and an inner guard cam 11 are attached to the sinker cap along the outer circumferential direction of the intermediate cams 91 and 92. Furthermore, an outer guard cam 12 is attached to the sinker cap along the outer circumferential direction of the rocking piece retracting cam 10 and the inner guard cam 11 spaced therefrom.

[0031] A cam track T4 is formed by a space defined by the rocking piece retracting cam 10, the inner guard cam 11, and the outer guard cam 12. The rocking piece 5 is controlled by passing through the cam track T4.

[0032] Next, a state in which the sinker 2, the rocking piece base member 4, and the rocking piece 5 are controlled by the knitting tool control unit will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0033] At the first feeder F1, every cylinder needle 1 is selected for knitting, and clears an old loop OL from a latch 1a (see FIG. 11(a)). Then, the cylinder needle 1 is lowered to a tuck position, and, at the same time, the old loop OL continues to be pushed toward the center of the circular knitting machine by a sinker throat 2i, and thus the old loop OL moves around to the back side of the latch 1a (see FIG. 11(b)). Next, the ground yarn GY is fed to the cylinder needle 1, and the cylinder needle 1 is lowered by a cam to a position immediately before a knock-over position, and moves toward the next second feeder F2. At this time, the sinker 2 is pushed toward the center of the circular knitting machine, and the ground yarn GY is positioned on a sinker top 2f and in the hook of the cylinder needle 1. Subsequently, before reaching the second feeder F2, the sinker 2 is pulled down from the center of the circular knitting machine in the outer circumferential direction, and the ground yarn GY is held on the sinker top 2f. Note that there is no limitation to the configuration in which, at the first feeder F1, every cylinder needle 1 is selected for knitting, and the needle may be selected for knitting or for tucking, which makes it possible to perform pique knitting and the like.

[0034] At the second feeder F2, the cylinder needle 1 is selected for knitting Nik or for welting N1w according to a desired pattern and receives the pile yarn PY fed thereto, and the sinker 2 is selected for piling T2p or for non-piling T2n according to the desired pattern. At the second feeder F2 in FIG. 1, the solid movement lines of the cylinder needle 1 indicates needle selection for knitting Nik, and the dotted line indicates needle selection for welting N1w. Furthermore, the dotted movement lines of the sinker 2 indicates selection for piling T2p, and the solid line indicates selection for non-piling T2n. Also, the dotted movement lines of the rocking piece base member 4 indicates selection for piling T3p, and the solid line indicates selection for non-piling T3n.

[0035] Next, a state in which the sinker 2, the rocking piece base member 4, and the rocking piece 5 are controlled by the knitting tool electromagnetic control unit at the second feeder F2 will be described in more detail with reference to cross-sectional views.

(1) In the A-A cross-section of FIG. 2, the sinker 2 has been advanced by the second sinker control cam 8 to a piling selection position. Then, the sinker 2, the rocking piece base member 4, and the rocking piece 5 move to a position in the B-B cross-section. Note that before the rocking piece 5 enters the attracting portions, the rocking piece 5 in a state of being capable of freely rocking is horizontally set along an inclined face of a rocking piece cancelling cam 14, after which the rocking piece 5 moves to the lower face of the attracting members 13.

(2)-1 In the B-B cross-section of FIG. 3, when the sinker 2 is not being retracted (when selecting the sinker 2 for piling), the second attracting portion 13b receives a signal sent from the controller, and attracts in the second attractable portion 5b of the rocking piece 5 corresponding to the second attracting portion 13b. The first attractable portion 5a of the rocking piece 5 passes the lower face of the rocking piece retracting cam 10, and the sinker 2 moves in a state of being kept in the piling selection position.

(2)-2 In the B-B cross-section of FIG. 4, when the sinker 2 is being retracted (when selecting the sinker 2 for non-piling), the first attracting portion 13a receives a signal sent from the controller, and attracts in the first attractable portion 5a of the rocking piece 5 corresponding to the first attracting portion 13a. The first inclined side face portion 5c of the rocking piece 5 is engaged with a retracting side face 10a of the rocking piece retracting cam 10, the rocking piece 5 is retracted together with the rocking piece base member 4, and thus the sinker 2 is also retracted because the upward projecting portion 4g at the front end portion of the rocking piece base member 4 and the downward projecting portion 2g at the rear end portion of the sinker 2 are engaged with each other. Then, the sinker 2, the rocking piece base member 4, and the rocking piece 5 move to a position in the C-C cross-section.

(3)-1 In the C-C cross-section of FIG. 5, when the sinker 2 is not being retracted (when selecting the sinker 2 for piling), the first attractable portion 5a of the rocking piece 5 passes the lower face of the rocking piece retracting cam 10, and the sinker 2 moves in a state of being kept in the piling selection position, as in the B-B cross-section.

(3)-2 In the C-C cross-section of FIG. 6, when the sinker 2 is being retracted (when selecting the sinker 2 for non-piling), the first inclined side face portion 5c of the rocking piece 5 is engaged with the retracting side face 10a of the rocking piece retracting cam 10, the rocking piece 5 is retracted together with the rocking piece base member 4 to a lowermost portion 10b of the rocking piece retracting cam 10, and thus the sinker 2 is also retracted because the upward projecting portion 4g at the front end portion of the rocking piece base member 4 and the downward projecting portion 2g at the rear end portion of the sinker 2 are engaged with each other, so that no pile yarn PY is caught on a sinker nose 2b and no pile loop PL is formed.

(4) In the D-D cross-section of FIG. 7, every sinker 2 is advanced to a knock-over position of an old loop on the knitting needle by the second sinker control cam 8, and thus the rocking piece base member 4 is also advanced together with the sinker 2 because the downward projecting portion 2g at the rear end portion of the sinker 2 and the upward projecting portion 4g at the front end portion of the rocking piece base member are engaged with each other.

[0036] Subsequently, the processing at the first feeder F1 and the second feeder F2 is repeated to form a pile/jacquard-pattern knitted fabric with a one-repeat pattern in one course. When knitting for one-repeat pattern has ended, the sinker is moved to the advanced position by the sinker control cam, and the rocking piece base member is kept in the advanced position.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 9, if the sinkers are selected for piling, pile loops PL and ground loops GL are formed. On the other hand, if the sinkers are selected for non-piling, double loops are formed from a ground yarn GY and a pile yarn PY. Note that a loop formed by a needle is indicated as a needle loop NL, and a loop formed by a sinker is indicated as a sinker loop SL.

Example 2

[0038] Below, a mesh/jacquard knitting method according to Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the movement line diagram of a cylinder needle and a sinker, and the cam arrangement diagram of the sinker 2, the rocking piece 5, and the rocking piece base member 4 in FIG. 8.

[0039] At the first feeder F1 in FIG. 8, a movement line N11 of a cylinder needle indicates needle selection for knitting. Furthermore, the solid line of the cylinder movement lines of the sinker 2 indicates selection for non-meshing T22n, and the dotted line indicates selection for meshing T22m. At the first feeder F1, the sinker is selected for meshing or for non-meshing according to a desired pattern.

[0040] That is to say, at the first feeder F1, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting, and then catches a ground yarn GY while being lowered, after which the sinker 2 selected for meshing T22m moves without being retracted, and the ground yarn GY is caught on the sinker nose 2b. The cylinder needle is lowered to the knock-over point by a stitch cam, and the ground yarn GY is caught on the sinker nose 2b, thereby forming a large loop 17b. Meanwhile, the sinker 2 selected for non-meshing T22n moves while being retracted, the ground yarn GY is kept caught on the sinker top 2f while the cylinder needle is being lowered, and the cylinder needle is further lowered to the knock-over point by the stitch cam, and the ground yarn GY is caught on the sinker top 2f, thereby forming a loop 17s having an ordinary size.

[0041] Subsequently, the processing at the first feeder is repeated to form a knitted fabric with a one-repeat pattern in one course. When knitting for one-repeat pattern has ended, the sinker is moved to the advanced position by the sinker control cam, and the rocking piece base member is kept in the advanced position.

[0042] FIG. 10 shows the loops 17b having a size that is larger than the ordinary size and the loops 17s having the ordinary size, these loops being formed at the first feeder. In the portions selected for meshing, the size of the sinker loops SL increases, and thus the loops 17b having a size that is larger than the ordinary size are formed, whereas, in the portions selected for non-meshing, the size of the sinker loops SL does not increase, and thus the loops 17s having the ordinary size are formed.

[0043] Accordingly, a mesh/jacquard knitted fabric is formed from one yarn by combining the large loops 17b and the loops 17s having the ordinary size.

[0044] Note that knitting can be performed also by combining the first example and the second example.

List of Reference Numerals

[0045] 

1

Cylinder needle

1a

Latch

2

Sinker

2a

Butt of sinker

2b

Sinker nose

2d, 2e

Sinker vertical edge portion

2f

Sinker top

2g

Sinker downward projecting portion

2h

Sinker downward recessed portion

2i

Sinker throat

4

Rocking piece base member

4a

Butt of rocking piece base member

4e

Depression

4g

Upward projecting portion of rocking piece base member

4h

Upward recessed portion of rocking piece base member

5

Rocking piece

5a

First attractable portion

5b

Second attractable portion

5c

First inclined side face portion

5d

Second inclined side face portion

5e

Circular protruding portion

5f

Dent

61

First yarn carrier

62

Second yarn carrier

7

First sinker control cam

7a, 7b

Side end portion

8

Second sinker control cam

8a, 8b

Side end portion

91, 92

Intermediate cam

10

Rocking piece retracting cam

10a

Retracting side face of rocking piece retracting cam

10b

Lowermost portion of rocking piece retracting cam

11

Inner guard cam

12

Outer guard cam

13

Attracting member

13a

First attracting portion

13b

Second attracting portion

14

Rocking piece cancelling cam

17b

Large loop

17s

Loop having ordinary size

F1

First feeder

F2

Second feeder

GY

Ground yarn

PY

Pile yarn

SL

Sinker loop

NL

Needle loop

OL

Old loop

Claims

1. A controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine, in which a knitting tool is movably mounted, comprising:

a rocking piece base member (4) for controlling the knitting tool, the rocking piece base member being mounted in the same groove as the knitting tool;

at least one rocking piece (5) supported so as to be capable of rocking on the rocking piece base member (4);

at least one pair of attracting members (13a, 13b) respectively corresponding to both ends of the rocking piece (5);

at least one rocking piece retracting cam (10) for retracting the rocking piece (5);

a control cam (7, 8) for controlling the knitting tool; and

an intermediate cam (91, 92) for controlling the rocking piece base member (4).

2. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rocking piece retracting cam (10) has a retracting side face (10a) that is inclined downward, and the retracting side face (10a) can be engaged with a first inclined side face portion (5c) positioned at an end portion of the rocking piece (5).

3. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the knitting tool is a sinker (2) mounted in a sinker groove of a sinker dial (16) secured to an upper portion of a rotating cylinder (15), and controlled by a control means capable of independently controlling operation thereof.

4. The controlling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a rear end portion of the sinker (2) has a first engagement portion, a front end portion of the rocking piece base member (4) has a second engagement portion, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can be engaged with each other with play and can advance and retract the counterpart each other.

5. The controlling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a rear end portion of the sinker (2) is provided with a downward projecting portion (2g), the downward projecting portion (2g) is engaged with play in a sliding direction with an upward recessed portion (4h) provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member (4), a downward recessed portion (2h) is further provided adjacent to the downward projecting portion (2g) of the sinker (2), the downward recessed portion (2h) is engaged with play in the sliding direction with an upward projecting portion (4g) provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member (4), and the projecting portions (2g, 4g) of the sinker (2) and the rocking piece base member (4) are engaged with play respectively with the recessed portions (4h, 2h) of the rocking piece base member (4) and the sinker (2).

6. The controlling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, when knitting for one-repeat pattern has ended, the sinker (2) is moved to an advanced position by a sinker control cam, and the rocking piece base member (4) is kept in an advanced position.

7. A circular knitting machine including the controlling apparatus for a jacquard knitted fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A combination of a rocking piece base member (4) and a sinker (2), wherein the sinker (2) has a first engagement portion provided at a rear end portion of the sinker (2),
the rocking piece base member (4) has:

a second engagement portion provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member (4);

at least one rocking piece (5) supported so as to be capable of rocking; and

at least one pair of attractable portions (5a, 5b) respectively provided at both ends of the rocking piece (5), and

the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with each other with play.

9. The combination according to claim 8,
wherein the first engagement portion of the sinker (2) has a downward projecting portion (2g) provided at a rear end portion of the sinker (2), and a downward recessed portion (2h) provided adjacent to the downward projecting portion (2g),
the second engagement portion of the rocking piece base member (4) has an upward recessed portion (4h) provided at a front end portion of the rocking piece base member (4), and an upward projecting portion (4g) provided adjacent to the upward recessed portion (4h),
the downward projecting portion (2g) is engaged with play in a sliding direction with the upward recessed portion (4h), and
the downward recessed portion (2h) is engaged with play in the sliding direction with the upward projecting portion (4g).

10. A method for producing a jacquard knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to claim 7 with at least two feeders (F1, F2), comprising:

a step of, at the first feeder (F1), selecting every cylinder needle (1) for knitting, or for knitting or tucking, thereby feeding a ground yarn (GY) thereto, lowering the cylinder needle (1) to a position immediately before a knock-over position with a cam, and then moving the cylinder needle (1) toward the next second feeder (F2), and

at this time, pushing a sinker (2) toward a center of the circular knitting machine, and positioning the ground yarn (GY) on a sinker top (2f) and in a hook of the cylinder needle (1);

a step of, before the second feeder (F2), pulling down the sinker (2) from the center of the circular knitting machine in an outer circumferential direction, and holding the ground yarn (GY) on the sinker top (2f); and

a step of, at the second feeder (F2), selecting the cylinder needle (1) for knitting (Nik) or for welting (N1w) according to a desired pattern and

feeding a pile yarn (PY) thereto, and selecting the sinker (2) for piling (T2p) or for non-piling (T2n) according to the desired pattern.

11. A method for producing a jacquard knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to claim 7 with at least one feeder (F1), comprising:

a step of, at the first feeder (F1), selecting every cylinder needle (1) for knitting, and then causing the cylinder needle (1) to catch a ground yarn (GY) while being lowered;

a step of moving a sinker (2) selected for meshing (T22m) without retracting the sinker (2), and allowing the ground yarn (GY) to be caught on a sinker nose (2b), and

a step of lowering the cylinder needle (1) to a knock-over point with a stitch cam, and allowing the ground yarn (GY) to be caught on the sinker nose (2b) and form a large loop (17b); and

a step of moving the sinker (2) selected for non-meshing (T22n) while retracting the sinker (2), keeping a state in which the ground yarn (GY) is caught on the sinker top (2f) while the cylinder needle (1) is being lowered, further lowering the cylinder needle (1) to the knock-over point with the stitch cam, and allowing the ground yarn (GY) to be caught on the sinker top (2f) and form a loop (17s) having an ordinary size.

12. The method for producing a jacquard knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, at the first feeder (F1), when the cylinder needle (1) is lowered from a knit position to a tuck position, an old loop that has once come off a latch is moved around to a back side of the latch by a sinker throat portion of the sinker (2) at an advanced position, so that a knit state is maintained.

Drawing