Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a compound needle used in a knitting machine such
as a flat knitting machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a guide
of a slider for a needle member.
Background Art
[0002] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-294541, Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2001-032154, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-206069
disclose compound needles. According to the disclosure of Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2002-294541, a needle member has a fork which is branched from substantially
the central position in the longitudinal direction. The fork extends toward a hook
side at the front end of the needle member. A slider is guided by the lower surface
of the fork and the upper surface of the needle member. A slider butt is provided
in the back portion of the slider, and a pair of support portions are provided at
the lower back end of the slider. The needle member is sandwiched between the support
portions. The support portions are considered to be protrusions provided on the slider.
[0003] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-032154 discloses a compound needle
of a similar type. Instead of providing a fork for the needle member to sandwich the
slider, the upper surface of the slider is supported by a metal belt on a needle bed.
[0004] According to the disclosure of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-206069,
forks are provided for a needle member and a slider, respectively, and the forks engage
each other to position the slider.
[0005] As in the case of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-294541, if the stitch
loop is supported by the tongues at the front end of the slider, a force is generated
to bounce the back end of the slider. In opposition to the force, the pair of support
portions are used for preventing the back end of the slider to move upwardly. The
inventor of the present application found that it is difficult to sufficiently support
the force which bounces the back end of the slider by the pair of support portions
provided at the lower back end of the slider. In the structure, the product life of
the compound needle is short, and it is difficult to accurately limit the height of
the slider butt.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] An object of the present invention is to prevent upward movement of a butt provided
at the back of a slider.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to increase the strength of a needle member,
and simplify processing of the needle member.
[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide structure in which the
slider can move back and forth easily relative to second and third forks.
[0009] According to the present invention, a compound needle comprises a needle member having
a hook at its front end, and a slider slidable over the needle member, and having
tongues at its front end. The needle member and the slider are movable independently
for formation and transferring of knit stitches.
[0010] The needle member has a first fork, a second fork, and a third fork. The first fork
protrudes from a branch portion toward the hook. The branch portion is branched upwardly
from substantially the central position of a region where the slider slides. The front
half of the slider is sandwiched between the first fork and the needle member such
that the slider is guided by the lower surface of the first fork to limit vertical
movement of the front half of the slider.
[0011] The second fork protrudes from the branch portion toward an upper back position of
the needle member, and toward a butt of the slider such that the slider is guided
by the lower surface of the second fork at a position where the slider has moved forward
relative to the needle member.
[0012] The third fork is branched forward from a position of the needle member behind the
butt of the slider, and faces the second fork such that the slider is guided by the
lower surface of the third fork at a position where the slider has moved back relative
to the needle member.
[0013] The second fork and the third fork limit vertical movement of the back half of the
slider.
[0014] The butt is provided in the back half of the slider.
[0015] A slit vertically passes through the slider at a position ahead of the butt, and
the branch portion of the needle member passes through the slit.
[0016] A first fork contact cam surface is provided on the upper surface of the front half
of the slider at a position ahead of the through slit, and the first fork contact
cam surface is guided by the lower surface of the first fork.
[0017] A second fork contact surface is provided on the upper surface of the back half of
the slider at a position ahead of the butt of the slider, and the second fork contact
surface is guided by the lower surface of the second fork.
[0018] A third fork contact surface is provided on the upper surface at the back end of
the slider behind the butt of the slider, and the third fork contact surface is guided
by the lower surface of the third fork.
[0019] In the specification, the front side and the back side are defined based on the longitudinal
direction of the compound needle. The hook and the tongues are provided on the front
side. The slider, the butt, and the third fork are provided on the back side. The
upper side and the lower side are defined based on the state in which the compound
needle is set on a needle bed. The slider is positioned above the needle member, and
rides (slides) over the needle member. The first fork and the second fork are positioned
above the slider. The slider is sandwiched between the first and second forks and
the needle member. The left-right direction and the side direction mean the direction
perpendicular to both of the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, and
such directions are used, e.g., when referring to thin plates on the left and right
sides of the slider of the through slit, or thin plates on the left and right sides
of the skirt.
[0020] It is preferable that the back half of the slider is solid, and has substantially
the same thickness from the third fork contact surface to the second fork contact
surface.
[0021] Further, it is preferable that the slider is separated into two parts on the left
side and the right side from a position below the second fork contact surface to the
through slit, and the upper surface and the lower surface of the slider are cut at
the through slit to form the through slit.
[0022] Preferably, an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper back to the lower
front is provided at the back end of the second fork;
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper front to the lower back is provided
at the front end of the third fork;
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper back to the lower front is provided
at the front end of the second fork contact surface; and
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper front to the lower back is provided
at the back end of the third fork contact surface.
[0023] It is preferable that the upper surface of the needle member includes an expanded
portion expanded upwardly at a position behind the hook of the needle member;
upper part of the front half of the slider forms a solid portion, and lower part of
the front half of the slider forms a skirt separated into two parts; and
when the tongues close the hook, a support portion provided at the bottom of the solid
portion above the skirt is supported by the expanded portion at a position on the
hook side.
[0024] In particular, it is preferable that, in the front half of the slider, the bottom
of the solid portion around the support portion forms a recess which is curved upwardly,
and the recess is provided behind a borderline extending from the upper front to the
lower back at the front end on the hook side of the solid portion.
Advantages of the Invention
[0025] Operation and advantages of the present invention will be described. When the needle
member moves forward from the slider, and the hook moves forward, the front half of
the slider is pressed downwardly by the lower surface of the first fork. As a result,
a force which presses the slider butt at the back of the slider upwardly is generated.
At this time, the third fork supports the third fork contact surface, on the upper
surface at the back end of the slider. Thus, upward movement of the slider butt is
prevented. Further, in a state in which the tongues close the hook, by the force from
the stitch loop, a force which bounces the slider butt upwardly is generated. This
force is supported by the contact between the second fork contact surface and the
second fork of the needle member. Thus, bouncing of the slider butt can be prevented.
Since unwanted upward movement of the slider butt is prevented, it is possible to
accurately limit the height of the slider butt. Therefore, operation of the slider
becomes easy. The height of the slider butt is limited by the second fork, the third
fork, and the second fork contact surface and the third fork contact surface. These
members can be formed with sufficient strength. Therefore, improvement in the reliability
and durability of the needle spring is achieved.
[0026] The back half of the slider is formed to have substantially the same thickness from
the third fork contact surface to the second fork contact surface. In the structure,
the strength of this portion is increased, and improvement in the durability of the
slider is achieved.
[0027] The slider is separated into two parts on the left side and the right side from a
position below the second fork contact surface to the through slit, and the upper
surface and the lower surface of the slider are cut at the through slit. In this manner,
the slider can be fabricated easily by cutting. Further, by separating the slider
at a position below the second fork contact surface into the two left and right parts,
the border between the solid portion near the slider butt and the portion having the
two left and right parts near the through slit becomes long. Therefore, damage due
to the stress concentration to the border can be prevented.
[0028] The tapered portions oriented obliquely from the upper back to the lower front are
provided at the back end of the second fork and at the front end of the second fork
contact surface. In the structure, it is possible to smoothly guide the second fork
contact surface under the second fork. Likewise, the tapered portions oriented obliquely
from the front to the lower back are provided at the front end of the third fork and
the back end of the third fork contact surface. In the structure, it is possible to
smoothly guide the third fork contact surface by the lower surface of the third fork.
[0029] At the position where the hook is closed, while the tongues are held by the stitch
loop, a force is applied from the stitch loop to the tongues to cause flexure in the
lateral direction. Therefore, preferably, at the expanded portion of the upper surface
of the needle member on the hook side, the bottom of the solid portion above the skirt
is supported by the upper surface of the needle member. It should be noted that the
position of the upper surface of the needle member supporting the bottom of the solid
portion is referred to as the support portion. Since the distance between the tongues
and the support portion is small, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the tongues,
and prevent flexure deformation or the like of the tongues. Thus, at the time of knitting
using a hard knitting yarn or knitting a yarn in dense stitches, knitting operation
can be performed easily.
[0030] The borderline of the solid portion of the front half of the slider, on the hook
side, extending from the upper front to the lower back will be considered. The borderline
is a borderline between the tongues and the skirt separated into two parts, and the
solid portion. When the tongues close the hook, and part of the expanded portion near
the hook contacts the recess as the support portion to support the bottom of the solid
portion of the slider, the recess can be provided at a position relatively close to
the tongues. Therefore, improvement in the rigidity of the tongues is achieved.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0031]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing main parts of a needle member of a compound needle according
to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a needle body in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing main parts of a needle member of a compound needle according
to a modified embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a slider of the compound needle according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the slider in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing main parts in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing a second fork and a third fork of the needle
member and a second fork contact surface and a third fork contact surface of a slider
in the compound needle according to the modified embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which the needle member has moved forward
in the compound needle according to the modified embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which a hook of the needle member is closed
by tongues of the slider in the compound needle according to the modified embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which the slider has moved further forward
from the state in FIG. 9 in the compound needle according to the modified embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the state of the compound needle in FIG. 9.
Embodiment
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments in the most preferred form for carrying out the present
invention will be described.
[0033] An embodiment and its modified embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 to 11. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a needle member according to a first embodiment. The needle
member 2 includes a main body 4 and an extension 6. A hook 8 is provided at the front
end of the needle member 2. A branch portion 10 is provided near the center of the
main body 4. On the upper side of the main body 4, the branch portion 10 is branched
into a first fork 12 on the front side, and a second fork 14 on the back side. The
lower surface of the first fork 12 on the front side of the branch portion 10 forms
a guide 13 for guiding the upper surface of a slider. The lower surface of the second
fork 14 on the back side of the branch portion 10 forms a guide surface 15. The needle
member 2 is curved upwardly from a position near the back end of the main body 4.
A third fork 16 protrudes forward from a position obliquely behind, and above the
back end of the main body 4. The lower surface of the third fork 16 forms a guide
surface 17. At the back end of the second fork 14, a tapered portion 18 is provided.
The tapered portion 18 is tapered obliquely from the upper back to the lower front.
At the front end of the third fork 16, a tapered portion 19 is provided. The tapered
portion 19 is tapered obliquely from the upper front to the lower back.
[0034] In the specification, the front side and the back side are defined based on the longitudinal
direction of the needle member 2 or the slider 30. The hook 8 is provided on the front
side, and the third fork 16 or the like are provided on the back side. The needle
member 2 is accommodated in a needle bed (not shown), and slides back and forth along
the needle bed. The lower side and the upper side are defined by the lower sides and
upper sides in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. Side surfaces of the needle member 2 mean two side
surfaces along the longitudinal direction in FIG. 2. It should be noted that two side
surfaces shown on the upper and lower sides in FIG. 4 are left and right side surfaces
of the slider 30.
[0035] In the needle member 2, a cheek 20 is provided at a position slightly backward from
the hook 8 where the height is increased upwardly. The cheek 20 includes a dimple
portion 21. Upper part of the dimple portion 21 (upper surface of the needle member)
is swelled upwardly to form an upwardly expanded surface 22. When the hook 8 is closed
by tongues 32 of the slider 30, a portion of the expanded surface 22 near the hook
8 supports the bottom of a solid portion 38 of the slider 30. As shown in FIG. 2,
the dimple portion 21 is provided by dimple formation process of the needle member
2 at the portion of the cheek 20. For example, the dimple portion 21 has a rectangular
shape, and is oriented obliquely from the lower back to the upper front. The front
side of the dimple portion 21 is on the side of the hook 8. When the hook 8 is fully
opened (FIG. 8), the tongues 32, 32 are depressed into the left and right dimple portions
21, 21 such that the tongues 32, 32 do not protrude from the side surfaces of the
needle member 2. A reference numeral 23 schematically denotes a needle butt for moving
the needle member 2 back and forth.
[0036] The needle member 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is considerably long. Therefore, the needle
member 2 cannot be processed easily, and it is laborious to fit the needle member
2 into the slider 30. A needle member 3 shown in FIG. 3 includes a main body 5 and
a needle jack 7 separately. A fitting recess 24 is provided in the main body 5, and
a fitting protrusion 25 is provided in the needle jack 7. The fitting recess 24 and
the fitting protrusion 25 are fitted to each other to combine the main body 5 and
the needle jack 7 together. Alternatively, the fitting protrusion may be provided
on the side of the needle body 5, and the fitting recess may be provided on the side
of the needle jack 7. In the case of the needle member 3 in FIG. 3, since the third
fork 16 is provided on the side of the needle jack 7, attachment/detachment of the
slider 30 is easy, and it is possible to produce the slider 30 easily.
[0037] The difference between the needle member 2 and the needle member 3 is whether the
main body and the needle jack are separated into two components or formed integrally
into one piece. The needle member 2 and the needle member 3 are the same in other
respects. Description about the needle member 2 is applicable to the needle member
3, and description about the needle member 3 is applicable to the needle member 2.
In the embodiments, the same constituent elements are labeled with the same reference
numeral.
[0038] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the slider 30. At the front end of the slider 30, a pair of left
and right tongues 32, 32 are present. A slit 33 is formed between the tongues 32,
32. The tongues 32, 32 are spaced away from each other toward the left side and the
right side from the slit 33 at the central position. The tongues 32, 32 are bent such
that the front ends of the tongues 32, 32 contact each other. Tongues or a hook of
another slider can be inserted into the slit 33. At a position slightly backward from
the tongues 32, a nose 34 is present. The nose 34 is expanded upwardly for preventing
backward movement of the stitch loop held by the tongues 32, beyond the nose 34. At
the center of the slider 30, a through slit portion 36 is provided. At the through
slit portion 36, the slider 30 is separated into the left part and the right part.
A through slit 37 is formed between the left part of and the right part of the through
slit portion 36. The through slit portion 36 is swelled to the left and right for
generating friction with, e.g., the wall surface of the needle groove of the needle
bed to prevent unwanted movement of the slider 30. A front solid portion 38 is provided
on the front side of the through slit portion 36, and a back solid portion 40 is provided
on the back side of the through slit portion 36. The slider 30 is solid in these solid
portions 38, 40. The thickness is constant in the solid portion 38, and the thickness
is constant in the solid portion 40.
[0039] A first fork contact cam surface 39 is formed on the upper surface of the solid portion
38. The first fork contact cam surface 39 contacts the guide 13 on the lower surface
of the first fork 12 for limiting vertical movement of the solid portion 38. On the
front side and the lower side of the solid portion 38, the slider 30 is separated
into the left part and the right part to form the tongues 32, the nose 32, and a skirt
41. The skirt 41 slides on the main body 4 or 5 from a portion facing the lower side
of the first fork 12 to the portion of the cheek 20. The expanded surface 22 supports
the bottom surface of the solid portion 38 to prevent the front half of the slider
from being depressed.
[0040] At the center of the back solid portion 40, a slider butt 42 protrudes upwardly.
A second fork contact surface 44 is present on the front side of the slider butt 42.
A tapered potion 45 is formed at the front end of the second fork contact surface
44. The tapered portion 45 is oriented from the upper back to the lower front. A third
fork contact surface 46 is present on the back side of the slider butt 42. A tapered
portion 47 is formed at the back end of the third fork contact surface 46. The tapered
portion 47 is oriented from the upper front to the lower back. A borderline 48 between
the solid portion 40 and the through slit portion 36 is in parallel with the second
fork contact surface 44. Since the length of the borderline 48 is large, the stress
applied to the borderline 48 can be distributed broadly.
[0041] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing an area around the solid portion 38 in the front
half of the slider 30. The borderline 50 is an oblique borderline on the front side
of the solid portion 38. The tongues 32 and the nose 34 are provided on the front
side of the solid portion 38. An upwardly curved recess 52 is formed on the back side
of the borderline 50. The front half of the recess 52 forms a support portion 53.
When the tongues 32 hold a stitch loop, and the hook 8 is closed, the support portion
53 contacts the expanded surface 22 to prevent flexure deformation of the tongues
32. In the structure, the expanded surface 22 is positioned on the upper front half
of the dimple portion 21. Since the distance between the support portion 53 and the
tongues 32 is small, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the tongues 32.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the second fork 14 and the second fork contact
surface 44, and the relationship between the third fork 16 and the third fork contact
surface 46. When the slider 30 has moved forward, the second fork contact surface
44 is supported by the second fork 14. When the slider 30 has moved back, the third
fork contact surface 46 is supported by the third fork 16. When the second fork contact
surface 44 contacts the second fork 14, or the third fork contact surface 46 contacts
the third fork 16, the solid portion 40 is guided by the tapered portions 18, 45 or
the tapered portions 19, 47. Further, the solid portion 40 is solid having the constant
thickness in the wide range extending from the third fork contact surface 46 to the
second fork contact surface 44. Therefore, the strength of the solid portion 40 is
high. Further, the stress applied to the border between the solid portion 40 and the
through slit portion 36 is distributed by making the borderline 48 longer.
[0043] FIGS. 8 to 10 show three states of the compound needle. A reference numeral 60 denotes
a metal band on the needle bed side. The metal band 60 contacts the upper surface
of the first fork 12 or the upper surface of the second fork 14 to prevent the compound
needle from floating above the needle groove of the needle bed.
[0044] FIG. 8 shows a state in which the hook 8 has moved forward to the front end position,
and the slider 30 has moved back to the back end position with respect to the needle
member. At this time, the guide 13 at the lower surface of the first fork 12 applies
a force to push the first fork contact cam surface 39 downwardly, and the force is
operated to move the slider butt 42 upwardly. In the meanwhile, the third fork contact
surface 46 contacts the third fork 16 to prevent the slider butt 42 from moving upwardly.
At this time, the tongues 32 are depressed into the left and right dimple portions
21 of the needle main body 2, and do not protrude to the sides of the needle main
body 2. Therefore, the stitch on the hook 8 can be transferred to the tongues 32 easily.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 9, in a state in which the tongues 32 close the hook 8, by the force
from a stitch loop held by the tongues 32 or the like, a force which bounces the slider
butt 42 upwardly is generated. This force is supported by the second fork contact
surface 44 and the second fork 14 to prevent the unwanted upward movement of the slider
butt 42. This mechanism is also applicable to a case of FIG. 10 in which the tongues
32 have moved further forward. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the slider 30 has moved
forward to the front end position with respect to the needle member 3.
[0046] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the state of FIG. 9. A stitch loop 62 is held
by the tongues 32. Since tension is applied to the knitted fabric, e.g., by racking
operation of the needle bed or drawing the knitted fabric downwardly, a force in the
left-right direction is applied to the tongues 32. Further, a force is applied from
the stitch loop 62 to the tongues 32 downwardly. At the tongues 32, the slider 30
is separated into the left part and the right part. Therefore, the rigidity of the
tongues 32 is low. For example, this is required for moving the stitch loop by inserting
tongues or a hook of another compound needle into the gap between the tongues 32,
32. The support portion 53 is positioned slightly backward from the oblique borderline
50 at the front of the solid portion 38. The support portion 53 contacts the expanded
surface 22 on the side of the needle member 3. Thus, the bottom surface of the solid
portion 38 is supported. In this manner, the distance between the support portion
53 and the tongues 32 is reduced, and flexure deformation of the tongues 32 is prevented.
[0047] In the embodiments, the following advantages are obtained.
- (1) It is possible to limit vertical movement of the slider by the first to third
fork, the first fork contact cam surface, and the second and third fork contact surfaces.
In particular, it is possible to limit the force to move the slider butt upwardly
by the second fork and the third fork or the like, and accurately limit the height
of the slider butt.
- (2) Since the portion, ranging from the third fork to the slider butt and to the second
fork, is formed to have the constant thickness, the strength of this portion is high.
- (3) When a force is applied from the stitch loop to the tongues, the slider is supported
at a position near the tongues. Therefore, flexure deformation of the tongues is small.
Thus, at the time of knitting using a hard knitting yarn or knitting a yarn in dense
stitches, knitting operation can be performed stably.
Brief Description of the Symbols
[0048]
- 2, 3
- Needle Member
- 4, 5
- Main Body
- 6
- Extension
- 8
- Hook
- 10
- Branch Portion
- 12
- First Fork
- 14
- Second Fork
- 13
- Guide
- 14
- Second Fork
- 16
- Third Fork
- 15, 17
- Guide Surface
- 18, 19
- Tapered Portion
- 20
- Cheek
- 21
- Dimple Portion
- 22
- Expanded Surface
- 23
- Needle Butt
- 24
- Fitting Recess
- 25
- Fitting Protrusion
- 30
- Slider
- 32
- Tongue
- 33
- Slit
- 34
- Nose
- 36
- Through Slit Portion
- 37
- Through Slit
- 38,40
- Solid Portion
- 39
- First Fork Contact Cam Surface
- 41
- Skirt
- 42
- Slider Butt
- 44
- Second Fork Contact Surface
- 46
- Third Fork Contact Surface
- 45,47
- Tapered Portion
- 48,50
- Borderline
- 52
- Recess
- 53
- Support Portion
- 60
- Metal Band
- 62
- Stitch Loop
1. A compound needle comprising: a needle member having a hook at a front end of the
needle member; and a slider slidable over the needle member and having tongues at
a front end of the slider, the needle member and the slider being movable independently
for formation and transferring of knit stitches, characterized in that
the needle member comprises a first fork, a second fork and a third fork;
the first fork protrudes from a branch portion toward the hook, the branch portion
is branched upwardly from a substantially central position of a region of the needle
member where the slider slides, and a front half of the slider is sandwiched between
the first fork and the needle member such that the slider is guided by the lower surface
of the first fork to limit vertical movement of the front half of the slider;
the second fork protrudes from the branch portion toward an upper back position of
the needle member, and toward a butt of the slider such that the slider is guided
by the lower surface of the second fork at a position where the slider has moved forward
relative to the needle member;
the third fork is branched forward from a position behind the butt of the slider of
the needle member, and faces the second fork such that the slider is guided by the
lower surface of the third fork at a position where the slider has moved back relative
to the needle member; and
the second fork and the third fork limit vertical movement of the back half of the
slider, and that
the slider comprises the butt, a slit, a first fork contact cam surface, a second
fork contact surface and a third fork contact surface;
the butt is provided in the back half of the slider;
the slit vertically passes through the slider at a position ahead of the butt, and
the branch portion of the needle member passes through the slit;
the first fork contact cam surface is provided on the upper surface of the front half
of the slider at a position ahead of the slit to be guided by the lower surface of
the first fork;
the second fork contact surface is provided on the upper surface of the back half
of the slider at a position ahead of the butt of the slider to be guided by the lower
surface of the second fork; and
the third fork contact surface is provided on the upper surface at the back end of
the slider behind the butt of the slider to be guided by the lower surface of the
third fork.
2. The compound needle of claim 1, characterized in that the back half of the slider is solid and has substantially the same thickness from
the third fork contact surface to the second fork contact surface.
3. The compound needle of claim 1, characterized in that the slider is separated into two parts on the left side and the right side from a
position below the second fork contact surface to the slit, and the upper surface
and the lower surface of the slider are cut at the slit to form the slit.
4. The compound needle of claim 1, characterized in that an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper back to the lower front is provided
at a back end of the second fork;
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper front to the lower back is provided
at a front end of the third fork;
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper back to the lower front is provided
at a front end of the second fork contact surface; and
an oblique tapered portion oriented from the upper front to the lower back is provided
at a back end of the third fork contact surface.
5. The compound needle of claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the needle member includes an expanded portion expanded upwardly
at a position behind the hook of the needle member;
an upper part of the front half of the slider forms a solid portion, and a lower part
of the front half of the slider forms a skirt separated into two parts; and
when the tongues close the hook, a support portion provided at the bottom of the solid
portion above the skirt is supported by a hook side position of the expanded portion.
6. The compound needle of claim 5, characterized in that, in the front half of the slider, the bottom of the solid portion around the support
portion forms a recess which is curved upwardly, and the recess is provided behind
a borderline extending from the upper front to the lower back at the front end on
the hook side of the solid portion.