Textiles: knitting – Independent-needle machines – Circular
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-19
2001-03-27
Worrell, Danny (Department: 3765)
Textiles: knitting
Independent-needle machines
Circular
C066S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205821
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to circular stocking knitting and knitting machines, and specifically pertains to an improvement concerning the means for a working of the knitted parts with reciprocating motion on these machines, as in the manufacture of the heel or of the toe of stockings, socks, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known to persons skilled in the art, the use of devices operated electronically by a computer, which are capable of actuating such parts and/or capable of controlling some functions depending on the rotation and the angular position of the cylinder with needles has already been established in circular stocking knitting machines. These devices are able to reveal, moment by moment, the angular position of the rotating cylinder and therefore of the needles and to manage the signals that derive from them for carrying out a knitting program stored in the electronic computer for a knitting design, either with continuous rotating motion or with reciprocating rotating motion of the cylinder.
Thus, and for example, a previous Italian Patent No. 1180375 of the same applicant describes a multiple-feed circular stocking knitting machine, which comprises a cylinder with needles that is controlled, either with continuous rotating motion or with reciprocating rotating motion, by a motor apparatus controlled by an electronic computer and capable of providing signals for determining the angular position of the cylinder moment by moment, at least one unit for selecting the needles corresponding to the feed stations of the control cams of the vertical movements of the needles selected at each feed station, and in which each feed unit is electronically controlled for selecting needle by needle either in the forward stroke or return stroke of the reciprocating motion of the cylinder and depending on the signals which indicate the angular position of the rotating cylinder. However, in such an embodiment, it is necessary to protect all the feeds with special cams as the needles that are inactive always pass by high, for which reason it is necessary to prevent their interference with other parts.
A circular stocking knitting machine, still operated electronically and having structure for the manufacture of knitted parts with reciprocating motion, as in the heel or in the toe of a stocking, sock or the like, which structure includes the so-called needle-lifter and needle-lowerer pickers, which are arranged and act in such a manner as to reduce the angle of rotation of the cylinder when it moves with reciprocating motion, was then proposed in a subsequent patent of the same applicant.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Starting from such a state of the art which is represented indicatively by the above-mentioned patents, the object of the present invention is to propose an improved circular stocking knitting machine, which makes it possible to work the knitted parts with reciprocating motion in an innovative manner without the presence of the usual pickers, with the possibility of limiting the angle of rotation of the cylinder depending on the number of the needles actually active from time to time during the phases of the increases and decreases in the stroke of the manufacture of a shaped knitting zone. This is thanks to a preselection of the active needles, which is done either during a stroke (the forward stroke: counterclockwise direction) of the cylinder, using one of the selection units normally used for the selection of the needles with continuous motion, for which needles are selected for the increases or decreases even before initiating the inverse return stroke (clockwise direction) of the cylinder without the needles having to reach a selection unit beyond the forward stroke as usually occurs.
In addition then, the inactive needles, i.e., those on the middle of the cylinder, which do not participate in the knitting with reciprocating motion, are kept completely lowered so as to eliminate, in the multiple-feed machines, the need for special protection cams in the feed stations, which stations do not participate in the knitting in the course of the operations of the knitted parts with reciprocating motion.
According to the invention, a circular stocking knitting machine is provided comprising a grooved cylinder which is controlled by a motor apparatus. The motor apparatus is electronically operated to rotate with continuous rotating motion and with reciprocating motion, and to provide a signal which indicates the angular position of the cylinder moment by moment. On half of the cylinder there is mounted needles having a long bottom part, and on the other half of the cylinder, the needles have a short bottom part. A lower needle is associated with each of the mounted needles through an intermediate pusher. A fixed shell is provided having a series of cams for controlling the operating movements of the said lower needles. The pushers and the needles, during the rotation of the said cylinder, are provided around the cylinder. At least one thread-feed and knitting-formation station is provided. Selection units are provided acting at least on the lower needles for an operating selection of the needles. In bottom parts of the said needles, a central cam is arranged above and in an intermediate position between two right and left knitting cams. Two right and left lateral cams for ascent and descent on opposite parts of the knitting cams, in a higher position than them and lower than the central cam. A right needle ascent cam and a left needle ascent cam are provided on opposite parts of the knitting cams, lower than them and lower than the lateral cams. At the lower needles, at least one first selection unit with one associated right lower-needle ascent cam and a second selection unit with one associated left lower-needle ascent cam and a said pusher ascent cam are provided. The various cams in the bottom parts of the said needles are intended and/or can be positioned to interact with the needles having a long bottom part. These do participate in the knitting with reciprocating motion, while the needles having a short bottom part are kept inactive following a low course. The first selection unit is arranged, in the direction of counterclockwise rotation of the cylinder, in front of the feed station in order to select the needles having a long bottom part which during a forward stroke (A) of the cylinder must be inactive and must follow a course (
2
) of temporary exclusion from activity. The needles having a long bottom part that are not selected follow a course of activity and knitting formation. The second selection unit is arranged within the limits of the feed station in order to carry out, during the same forward stroke and after the formation of the knitting, a preselection of the needles, which follow the course of activity and which must be excluded from activity following the course of temporary exclusion during the said return stroke (R) of the said cylinder. During the forward stroke (A) of the cylinder, the right and left lateral cams act as ascent and descent cams of the needles having a long bottom part, respectively, and define, together with the central cam, the course of momentary inactivity of the needles selected by the first selection unit, while, vice versa, during the return stroke (R) of the said cylinder. The left lateral cam acts as the ascent cam and the right lateral cam acts as the descent cam of the needles having a long bottom part, defining, together with the central cam, the course of momentary inactivity of the needles preselected by the second selection unit.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4956981 (
McGlew & Tuttle P.C.
Sangiacomo S.p.A.
Worrell Danny
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