Textiles: knitting – Cleaning attachments
Patent
1996-06-03
1997-10-14
Calvert, John J.
Textiles: knitting
Cleaning attachments
15301, D04B 3532
Patent
active
056759916
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a knitting machine having a cleaning system for removing lint.
The generation of lint when knitting cotton yarn occurs in two main areas: firstly, around wheels which feed the yarn to the machine (where there are many contact points at which fibers are released from the yarn), and secondly at the knitting points themselves (again due to contact between the yarn and the machine components, but also due to yarn-yarn contact during loop formation). It is undesirable that this lint should become deposited on sensitive mechanisms of the knitting machine. Accordingly, current practice is to mount fans on the machine which rotate or reciprocate in the appropriate areas.
Typically, axial fans are mounted to rotate/reciprocate in the center of the machine, on the one hand at the level where the feed wheels are mounted, and on the other hand inside the needle cylinder, blowing air outwardly through the needles, yarn feed points, etc. There are, however, drawbacks with this existing technology. Because the air around the machine is generally lint laden, blowing such air at parts required to be kept clean is not good practice. Inevitably, this lint laden air is entrained through the fans and therefore directed at the sensitive mechanisms. Moreover, many of the air streams created by these fans are at best horizontal (in the case of the needle cylinder fans, blowing radially outwards) and in many cases are pointed partially upwards. For this reason, lint which is removed is directed to float off into the surroundings, causing problems of contamination on adjacent machines, etc. In addition, the air flow over a given part of the machine is intermittent due to the rotation/reciprocation of the fan assemblies to cover all areas. Furthermore, these fan systems require "slip ring" electrical transmission boxes and multiple fans to reach the relevant areas, giving rise to maintenance problems.
As an alternative to this, cleaning can be performed by means of compressed air. Although this has the advantage that the air blown over the various parts of the machine is clean, compressed air systems are nevertheless rather expensive.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a knitting machine in which yarn is knitted at knitting points and is fed to the knitting points by feed devices, the knitting machine comprising at least one suction duct disposed at or closely adjacent to the knitting points, air circulation means operative to draw air in through the suction duct or ducts and thereby create a localized suction effect at the knitting points, duct means to which air is passed by the air circulation means and from which said air is emitted towards the yarn feed devices, and filter means through which the air passes in between being drawn in through the suction duct or ducts and being emitted from the duct means.
Desirably, the air is emitted from the duct means towards the yarn feed devices in a downward direction.
Conveniently, the air circulation means comprises a single fan unit which is connected to the suction duct or ducts by way of a duct or ducting.
Preferably, the air circulation means comprise a centrifugal fan unit.
Desirably, said at least one suction duct comprises an annular or arcuate duct which extends across the knitting points.
Advantageously, the air circulation means and the filter means are disposed remotely from the knitting machine.
Conveniently, the air circulation means and the filter means are positioned at or around ground level, and are connected to the suction duct or ducts by way of ducting which is of arched configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic sectional side view of a knitting machine according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM
REFERENCES:
patent: 3459010 (1969-08-01), Ferri
patent: 3535895 (1970-10-01), Krauss
patent: 5373711 (1994-12-01), Takemoto et al.
patent: 5379614 (1995-01-01), Igarashi
patent: 5437732 (1995-08-01), Igarashi et al.
patent: 5497531 (1996-03-01), Kuhrau et al.
patent: 5557949 (1996-09-01), Mori et al.
Shelton Mark Alan
Shelton William Ewart Alan
Alan Shelton Limited
Calvert John J.
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