Textiles: knitting – Independent-needle machines – Circular
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-03-13
Worrell, Danny (Department: 3741)
Textiles: knitting
Independent-needle machines
Circular
C066S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199408
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cooling apparatus for knitting components (needle cylinder, cam holder, needle-selecting actuator and other peripheral parts) in a circular knitting machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a circular knitting machine is in operation, frictional heat is generated between its components. The frictional heat causes thermal expansion and deformation of the components. Such expansion and deformation cause damage to knitting tools such as knitting needles and jacks, and brings about abnormalities of the needle selecting apparatus, producing pattern errors. This is a long-standing problem, which has become more serious in recent years. The speed of operation is increasing, and knitting machines are getting larger and larger, resulting in greater thermal friction. The increase in the use of electronic parts has also added to the amount of heat generation.
As a way of solving this problem, a number of methods for cooling the cylinder by air or water were proposed in the past.
For example, JP-A-4-245963 (1992) discloses a cylinder that is provided with a fluid path through which the air or fluid medium can flow to cool the cylinder. Forming a fluid path directly on the cylinder, however, entails a high manufacturing cost. It is also suspected that the direct cooling effect extends only to the cylinder, leaving the peripherals insufficiently cooled.
According to JP-A-6-287844 (1994) by the present applicant, an orifice is provided between the cylinder and the fabric in the lower part of the knitting section of the knitting machine to cool the cylinder and its peripherals as well as to remove and discharge fiber dust, etc. According to this prior invention, not only the cylinder but also the peripherals are cooled.
According to JP-A-10-60759 (1998), an annular air chamber is established between the cylinder and the dial, and a pressurized airflow is fed into it. The invention of this Japanese application was originally intended to provide an apparatus for preventing airborne cotton or dust, and the cooling of the knitting components per se is not mentioned at all in the specification. However, as long as an airflow is generated around the cylinder, a cooling effect on the cylinder would be expected. At first glance, this configuration resembles that of the present invention. Therefore, this prior apparatus will be discussed further in the section describing the effects of the prior apparatus by way of comparison with the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to produce an apparatus that exhibits an improved cooling effect on the knitting components as an improvement on the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned JP-A-10-60759 (1998).
The cooling apparatus for knitting components in a circular knitting machine of the present invention is a cooling apparatus for knitting components in a circular knitting machine equipped with a needle selecting actuator for knitting a jacquard fabric. The needle selecting actuator is surrounded by an upper shield at the top, a lower shield at the bottom, a needle cylinder inside and a cover outside, and a cylindrical chamber is formed between the needle selecting actuator and the cover. The cover is equipped with ventilation means for feeding the air into the cylindrical chamber, and the cylindrical chamber has an opening through which the air passes. In this way, the outside air is fed into the cylindrical chamber by the ventilation means and passes through the opening to cool the needle cylinder and its peripheral knitting components.
The opening of the cylindrical chamber is, for example, a gap in the periphery of the cover. It is preferable to form the upper end of the cover in an inverted L shape orientated towards the other peripheral working components. The size of the gap in the periphery of the cover is, for example, 5-50 mm.
The opening of the cylindrical chamber can also consist of holes that penetrate the upper shield. These holes are preferably slanted so as to be orientated towards the other peripheral working components. The size of each hole is, for example, 5-20 mm, and the number of holes is, for example, 10-100.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3535895 (1970-10-01), Krauss
patent: 5129240 (1992-07-01), Schindler
patent: 5408850 (1995-04-01), Kawase et al.
patent: 5689977 (1997-11-01), Yorisue et al.
patent: 5737942 (1998-04-01), Gutschmit
Alston & Bird LLP
Precision Fukuhara Works, Ltd.
Worrell Danny
LandOfFree
Cooling apparatus for knitting components does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cooling apparatus for knitting components, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cooling apparatus for knitting components will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544768