阅读说明：本技术 一种制作毛圈线圈的圆型针织机及在圆型针织机中制作毛圈线圈的方法 (Circular knitting machine for producing terry loops and method for producing terry loops in a circular knitting machine ) 是由 R·罗贝托 B·法比奥 于 2020-02-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种圆型针织机,其包括多个位于径向凹槽(6)中并具有片颚(13)的脱圈沉降片(7),片颚(13)被配置用于配合针(3)以制作针织面料,在每枚脱圈沉降片(7)旁边放置有变形沉降片(8),其中,所述变形沉降片(8)相对于相应的所述脱圈沉降片(7)可移动,并且独立于相应的所述脱圈沉降片(7),其中所述变形沉降片(8)具有放置在相应的脱圈沉降片(7)上方的片鼻(16),所述片鼻(16)被配置成与所述针(3)配合形成毛圈线圈。选针片(10)与每枚变形沉降片(8)可操作地联动,并且在静止位置和工作位置之间的径向平面上摆动,其中在工作位置,选针片(10)直接或间接作用于变形沉降片(8),从而使变形沉降片(8)偏离轨迹。选针器(26)可以根据命令与选针片(10)嵌合,并且被配置为使选针片(10)从静止位置切换到工作位置。(Circular knitting machine comprising a plurality of knockover sinkers (7) located in radial recesses (6) and having jaws (13), a jaw (13) being configured for engaging a needle (3) to make a knitted fabric, a deformation sinker (8) being placed beside each knockover sinker (7), wherein said deformation sinker (8) is movable with respect to the respective knockover sinker (7) and is independent of the respective knockover sinker (7), wherein said deformation sinker (8) has a nose (16) placed above the respective knockover sinker (7), said nose (16) being configured to form terry loops in cooperation with said needle (3). The selector (10) is operatively associated with each of the deforming sinkers (8) and oscillates on a radial plane between a rest position and a work position in which the selector (10) acts directly or indirectly on the deforming sinkers (8) to deviate the latter (8) from the trajectory. The selector (26) can be fitted to the selector (10) on command, and is configured to switch the selector (10) from the rest position to the operating position.)

1. A circular knitting machine for making terry knitted fabric comprising:

a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) having a plurality of longitudinal grooves (4) arranged around a central axis (X-X) of the needle-holding needle cylinder (2);

a plurality of needles (3), each needle (3) being housed in a respective longitudinal groove (4);

at least one yarn feeding system operatively associated with the needles (3);

a sinker seat (5) arranged around the needle-holding needle cylinder (2) and having a plurality of radial grooves (6);

-at least one guide ring operatively associated with the sinker seat (5), wherein the sinker seat (5) is rotatable with respect to the guide ring and about a central axis (X-X);

-a plurality of knockover sinkers (7), each knockover sinker (7) being housed in a radial recess (6) and being radially movable in said radial recess (6), each knockover sinker (7) having a jaw (13) for cooperating with the needle (3) and a heel (14) engaged with a first guide (28) formed around the central axis (X-X); wherein the first guide (28) is adapted to radially displace the knockover sinker (7) along the corresponding radial groove (6) when the sinker seat (5) rotates around the central axis (X-X) with respect to the guide ring;

-deforming sinkers (8) placed beside each knockover sinker (7), wherein the deforming sinkers (8) are movable with respect to and independently of the respective knockover sinker (7), wherein the deforming sinkers (8) have noses (16) above the respective knockover sinkers (7), wherein the noses (16) are intended to cooperate with the needles (3) to make loops, wherein the deforming sinkers (8) have butts (17), said butts (17) being fitted with second guides (29) obtained in the guide rings and rotating around the central axis (X-X), wherein the second guides (29) define a plurality of trajectories for the deforming sinkers (8), wherein the second guides (29) are intended, when the sinker holder (5) is rotated around the central axis (X-X) with respect to the guide rings, radially moving the deformation sinkers (8);

a selector (10) operatively associated with said at least one deformation sinker (8), wherein the selector (10) is movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position, wherein in the working position the selector (10) acts directly or indirectly on said at least one deformation sinker (8) to deviate the butt (17) of the deformation sinker (8) from the trajectory of the second guide (29);

at least one selector (26) oriented transversely to the sinker carrier (5) and fixed with respect to the guide ring, the selector (26) being able to engage under control with the selector (10) and being intended to switch the selector (10) from the rest position to the operating position.

2. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each knockover sinker (7) can be operatively disconnected from the selector jack (10).

3. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each selector jack (10) is smoothly fitted in a circular track (27) in the guide ring and rotates around the central axis (X-X) in order to rotate with said at least one deformation sinker (8).

4. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of pushers (9), each associated with a corresponding selector jack (10) and with a corresponding deformation sinker (8); wherein, in the working position, the selector jack (10) rests on the pusher (9), and the pusher (9) is used to push the deformation sinker (8).

5. The circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the push jack (9) has a heel (19), which heel (19) can be fitted with a third guide (32) in a guide ring which rotates about the central axis (X-X) and sets a plurality of trajectories.

6. Circular knitting machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pusher (9) has an abutment surface (21) facing the radially outer end of the deformation sinker (8); wherein said abutment surface (21) substantially conforms to the shape of the radially outer end of said deformation sinker (8).

7. Circular knitting machine according to claim 6, characterized in that at least a portion of said abutment surface (21) is inclined with respect to the central axis (X-X) and in that the lower portion of said at least one inclined portion is closer to the central axis (X-X) than the upper portion of said at least one inclined portion.

8. Circular knitting machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the selector (10) has a base (23) intended to oscillate about an axis tangent to a horizontal circumference, the centre of which is on the central axis (X-X); the selector (10) also has a support (24) at a distance from the base (23), which is directed towards the central axis (X-X) and is intended to rest on the pusher (9).

9. Circular knitting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the support (24) is in a higher position than the abutment surface (21).

10. Circular knitting machine according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the push jack (9) has a horizontal portion (18) which is partially vertically superposed with respect to the deformation sinker (8), and a vertical portion (20) arranged at the radially outer end of the push jack (9) which defines an abutment surface (21) and a heel (19) of the push jack (9).

11. Circular knitting machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said abutment surface (21) is in a lower position than said horizontal portion (18) and said heel (19) projects upwards from said horizontal portion (18).

12. Circular knitting machine according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said at least one deformation sinker (8) is housed together with the corresponding knockover sinker (7) in one of said radial recesses (6); the circular knitting machine also comprises a partition (11), the partition (11) being arranged in a radial recess (6) between the deformation sinker (8) and the knockover sinker (7).

13. Circular knitting machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the partition (11) is a plate which in the unstressed state lies outside a plane; wherein the partition (11) is interposed between the deformed sinker (8) and the knockover sinker (7) to laterally press the deformed sinker (8) and the knockover sinker (7).

14. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 13 characterized in that the at least one selector (26) comprises at least one selector blade (35), which selector blade (35) is movable between a first position, in which it is at a distance from the selector (10), and a second position, in which it acts when the selector (10) is moved from in front of the selector (26) to move the selector (10) from the rest position to the working position, when the sinker jack (5) rotates relative to the guide ring and around the central axis (X-X).

15. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the first guide (28) is radially more inside with respect to the second guide (29); wherein the second guide (29) defines a radially outer track (30), at least one radially inner track (31) and a plurality of connecting portions between the radially outer track (30) and the at least one radially inner track (31).

16. The circular knitting machine according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 15 when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the third guide (32) defines a radially outer trajectory (33) and at least one radially inner trajectory (34) having the other end connected to the radially outer trajectory (33).

17. The circular knitting machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the second guide (29) is radially more inside with respect to a radially outer trajectory (33) of the third guide (32).

18. The circular knitting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the circular track (27) is radially more outside with respect to the third guide (32).

19. The circular knitting machine of any preceding claim, further comprising:

a needle-holding plate (36) having a plurality of radial grooves (37) with respect to the central axis (X-X);

a plurality of sub-needles (38), each sub-needle being received in a respective radial recess (37) of the needle-holding plate (36);

wherein, the needle holding plate (36) is positioned above the needle holding needle cylinder (2), and the periphery of the needle holding plate is positioned near the needles (3) of the needle holding needle cylinder (2); wherein the knockover sinker (7) can move below the needle holding plate (36); wherein the deformation sinkers (8) are radially movable between a position at a distance from the needle-holding plate (36) and a position close to said needle-holding plate (36) without interfering with the latter.

20. A method for manufacturing a knitted fabric using a circular knitting machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 19, wherein the method comprises: the selector (10) is kept in the rest position while the sinker holder (5) rotates with respect to the guide ring and about the central axis (X-X) to move the deformed sinker (8) along the radially external trajectory (30) of the second guide (29) and the knockover sinker (7) along the first guide (28) to produce a plain knit fabric; wherein, when the selector blade (10) is in the rest position, the pusher blade (9) moves along a radially external trajectory (33) of the third guide (32); wherein the push plate (10) is radially distanced from the corresponding deformation sinker (8).

21. Method for manufacturing a knitted fabric with a circular knitting machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 19, wherein the method comprises:

-engaging said at least one selector (26) with said at least one selector (10) so as to move said at least one selector (10) in the active position in at least one radial position of the sinker jack (5) rotating about the central axis (X-X); so that at least one deformation sinker (8) associated with at least one selector (10) moves on a radially internal trajectory (31) of the second guide (29), the pile nose (16) moving in at least one radial position of the sinker seat (5) rotating about the central axis (X-X); the loop noses (16) of the deformation sinkers (8) are thus used to produce loop loops in the knitted fabric by engaging with at least one pair of needles (3).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a circular knitting machine for producing terry loops and to a method for producing terry loops in a circular knitting machine. In particular, the invention relates to a moving mechanism of sinkers designed to make terry loops. More specifically, the invention relates to the construction of the elements of the sinkers making a designed loop coil by converting the relative rotational movement of the sinker holder supporting the sinkers into a given radial movement of the sinkers themselves. Preferably, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a circular knitting machine (known as an intarsia machine or diamond machine) for making fabrics with intarsia patterns.

Background

Circular knitting machines are known which comprise a needle-holding element (needle-holding cylinder and/or needle-holding plate) on which one or more successive needles are arranged along a circular path (circular bed), and means apt to control the movement of the needles in order to form the knitted fabric. The knockover sinkers are arranged in a radial seat, which is an annular body (sinker seat) surrounding the needle-holding needle cylinder and cooperate with the needles of the needle-holding needle cylinder and/or of the needle-holding plate, so as to make the knitted fabric.

For a specific design, i.e. when performing a pattern of protrusions, it is known to make terry loops, i.e. curled loops of a given length, by a specific movement of the sinkers (intended to move the sinkers radially towards the needles) different from when performing plain loops. For this purpose, each sinker of the known knockover sinkers has a jaw for making plain stitches and an upper pile lug integral with the jaw for making pile stitches. The knockover sinkers are one piece, with the nose and jaw being integral and therefore moving together.

For example, prior art MI2003a001995 discloses a device for selectable sinkers comprising a selector for each radial groove housing a sinker, one selector being oscillated in a radial plane with respect to said sinker jack in order to switch between an operating position and a non-operating position and vice versa, the selector being connected to a respective sinker arranged in the respective radial groove so as to cause different actuations of the sinkers depending on whether the selector is in the non-operating position or the operating position. Further, a selector is provided which laterally faces the sinker jack and engages with the selector on command to switch it from the inactive position to the active position. When the selector is in the inactive position, the selector does not intervene and the sinkers are actuated only by the actuation triangle and follow the first path in order to cooperate with the needles to make plain stitches or stitches other than terry stitches. When the selector plate is switched to the operating position, the same sinker is pushed towards the axis of the sinker seat, engaging and following the different paths defined by the actuation triangles. This different path moves the knockover sinkers radially towards said central axis in advance, with respect to the movement induced by the first path, so as to cooperate with the needles to make terry loops.

In contrast, a circular knitting machine (intarsia machine) for producing a fabric with an intarsia design is disclosed, for example, in EP1620590 to the same applicant. Intarsia is a knitting technique that enables patterns to be obtained using different colored yarns in the same knitting course. The technique of intarsia is commonly used to create colour patterns. As far as the carpentry technique is concerned, it seems like a jigsaw puzzle to piece together different colors and materials. Unlike other multi-color knitting techniques, only the "active" color is on a given stitch, and the yarn does not move on the reverse side. When the color of a given row changes, the old yarn will be hung.

Disclosure of Invention

In the frame of the circular knitting machine described above, the applicant has found that there are some drawbacks.

First of all, the applicant has observed that the known machines as described above have little flexibility, since the movement of the mechanism designed to make the terry loop (lug) must be linked closely to the movement of the knockover sinkers, in particular the jaws of the knockover sinkers. As a result, the formation of terry loops/terry loops of a particular shape/length is limited because the radial travel of the tab nose is limited by structural constraints located on the sinker jaw, or conversely, the formation of plain loops is limited because the radial travel of the tab jaw is limited by structural constraints located on the sinker jaw.

For example, although not necessarily, if the machine is of the double needle bed type with an upper needle-holding plate, the radial movement of the knockover sinkers, as described above, may be limited by the lug, since they should obviously not be affected by said needle-holding plate.

The applicant has also observed that in the known solutions disclosed above, the modification of the shape of the tab noses to produce different looped coils necessarily involves the replacement of all the knockover sinkers, since they integrate said looped tab noses, with consequent high costs for the parts to be replaced and the time required for replacement.

In these cases, the invention is based on the object of firstly proposing, in its various aspects and/or embodiments, a circular knitting machine which is capable of producing knitted fabrics with complex terry loops of different characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to propose a circular knitting machine which is able to produce knitted fabrics with terry loops and which can be easily configured according to the characteristics and the position of the pattern of the terry fabric to be obtained on the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to propose a circular knitting machine which is able to manufacture knitted fabrics with terry loops, and which is compact and relatively simple from a structural point of view, and which is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circular knitting machine which is capable of producing highly complex knitted fabrics with terry loops in a relatively short production time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a circular knitting machine which is capable of producing knitted fabrics having functionally different complex terry loops without having to significantly reconfigure the machine itself or parts of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circular knitting machine for making fabrics with intarsia designs (intarsia machines or rhomboidity machines) which is also capable of making knitted fabrics with terry fabric according to the above mentioned object.

These and other possible objects, which will become clearer from the following description, are substantially achieved by a circular knitting machine and by a method for making terry loops in a circular knitting machine, according to one or more of the appended claims and according to various combinations of the following aspects and/or embodiments, possibly in combination with the above claims.

In the present description and in the appended claims, the words "upper", "lower", "above" and "below" refer to the positioning of the machine during normal operation, with the central axis of rotation in a vertical position and the cylinder needle pointing upwards.

In the present description and in the appended claims, the words "axial", "circumferential" and "radial" relate to the central axis.

Some aspects of the invention are listed below.

In one aspect, a circular knitting machine for making terry knitted fabric, comprising:

a needle-holding needle cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged around a central axis of the needle-holding needle cylinder;

a plurality of needles, each needle received in a respective longitudinal groove;

at least one yarn feed system operatively associated with the needles;

a sinker seat arranged around the needle-holding cylinder and having a plurality of radial grooves;

-at least one guide ring operatively associated with the sinker seat, wherein the sinker seat is rotatable with respect to the guide ring and about the central axis;

a plurality of knockover sinkers, each knockover sinker being housed in one of the radial grooves and being radially movable in said radial groove, each knockover sinker having a jaw for engaging with the needle and a heel for engaging with a first guide rotating about the central axis; the first guide piece is used for enabling the knockover sinker to move along the corresponding radial groove in the radial direction when the sinker seat rotates around the central axis relative to the guide ring;

a sinker arranged beside each knock-over sinker, wherein the sinker is movable relative to and independently of the respective knock-over sinker, wherein the sinker has a loop nose arranged above the respective knock-over sinker, wherein the loop nose is intended to cooperate with a needle for making a loop of loops, wherein the sinker has a butt that engages with a second guide obtained in the guide ring and spread out around the central axis, wherein the second guide defines a plurality of trajectories for the sinker, wherein the second guide is intended to move the sinker radially when the sinker holder is rotated relative to the guide ring around the central axis;

a selector operatively associated with said at least one deformation sinker, wherein the selector is movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position in which it acts directly or indirectly on said at least one deformation sinker to deviate the butt of the deformation sinker from the trajectory of the second guide;

at least one selector, which is oriented transversely to the sinker carrier and is fixed relative to the guide ring, can be engaged under the control of the selector and is used to switch the selector from the rest position to the operating position.

The applicant has found that the present invention is capable of solving the problems listed above in connection with the prior art, thus obtaining the intended objects.

The applicant has first found that the present invention enables the manufacture of highly complex knitted fabrics with terry loops in a relatively short time.

The applicant has also found that the present invention enables the production of knitted fabrics having terry loops of various types and with different characteristics. In fact, the invention makes it possible to precisely select the deformation sinkers required for making a terry loop by activating or deactivating the corresponding selector. Furthermore, since the deformation sinkers are independent with respect to the knockover sinkers, their movement and function are not limited and/or hindered by the presence and/or position and/or movement of said knockover sinkers. This allows, for example, certain areas with certain types of terry loops and other areas with other types of terry loops to be manufactured in the desired locations on the knitted article.

The applicant has also found that the machine according to the invention is highly flexible, since it allows switching from the type of knitted fabric with terry loops to another type by means of the selector in a quick and relatively simple manner.

Other aspects of the invention are listed below.

In one aspect, at least one more motor is operatively connected to the needle-holding cylinder and the sinker seat to rotate them about the central axis.

In one aspect, a cam and/or other type of device is disposed about the needle-holding barrel to translate rotational motion of the needle-holding barrel into axial motion of the needles.

In one aspect, the knitting machine comprises a plurality of yarn feed systems, preferably two or four.

In one aspect, the at least one selector is placed on the at least one yarn feeding system, preferably on each yarn feeding system.

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine is an intarsia machine, i.e. a machine for making fabrics with intarsia patterns (known as intarsia machine or diamond machine).

In one aspect, the knitting machine further comprises: a needle-holding plate exhibiting a plurality of radial grooves relative to a central axis; a plurality of sub-needles, each sub-needle being received in a respective radial recess in the needle-holding plate.

On the one hand, the needle-holding plate rotates together with the needle-holding needle cylinder about a central axis, preferably by means of a motor.

In one aspect, the cam is interlocked with the needle holding plate and guides the radial movement of the sub-needles of the needle holding plate when the needle holding plate rotates.

In one aspect, the needle-holding plate is placed above the needle-holding cylinder with its periphery adjacent to the needles of the needle-holding cylinder.

On the one hand, the ends of the sub-needles of the needle-holding plate (the heads) and the ends of the needles of the needle-holding cylinder (the heads) are placed close to each other to define the double bed of the machine.

In one aspect, the knockover sinker is movable below the needle-holding plate.

In one aspect, the deformed sinker is radially movable between a position at a distance from the needle-holding plate and a position close to the needle-holding plate without affecting the needle-holding plate. The movement of the knockover sinkers is not limited by the deformed sinkers. The knockover sinkers can move under the needle-holding plate and radially closer to the central axis than the deformation sinkers, but the deformation sinkers limit the travel distance of the knockover sinkers.

In one aspect, the knockover sinkers, the deformation sinkers and the selector jacks define an assembly of flat parts housed in respective grooves. The radial groove accommodates the entire first assembly to reduce the overall size.

In one aspect, each knockover sinker is operatively separated from the selector jack. The selector does not interact with the knockover sinker and does not cause movement. The oscillation of the selector jacks between the rest position and the working position does not affect the movement of the corresponding knockover sinkers.

On the one hand, the deformation sinker is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

On the one hand, each sinker comprises a body above which the loop nose is arranged when the sinker is correctly mounted in the textile machine.

In one aspect, the body includes a horizontal panel and a vertical panel formed from the horizontal panel, wherein the loop tab nose is disposed at an upper end of the vertical panel.

In one aspect, the main body and the loop piece nose lie in the same plane.

On the one hand, the heels of the deformation sinkers are flat and extend perpendicularly from the horizontal plate.

In one aspect, the heels of the deformation sinkers are located at the radially outer end of the body.

On the one hand, the heel of the deformation sinker is directed downwards.

On the one hand, the selector jack acts indirectly on the end of the deformation sinker diametrically opposite the lug nose.

On the one hand, the selector jack is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the selector jack has a base for oscillation about an axis tangential to the horizontal circumference, centered on the central axis.

On the one hand, the selector jack has a support at a distance from the base, which is directed towards the central axis and is intended to act indirectly on the deformation sinkers.

On the one hand, the selector jack has at least one tooth directed radially outwards, i.e. on the side opposite the central axis, and intended to interact with the selector jack.

On the one hand, the support portion of the selector jack is located at a higher position than the abutting surface of the pusher.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a circular track that rotates about a central axis.

On the one hand, each selector jack, preferably the base of each selector jack, is slidingly engaged in a circular trajectory so as to rotate together with said at least one deformation sinker.

In one aspect, the knockover sinker is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the knockover sinker comprises a body and the respective jaws are disposed above the body.

In one aspect, the body lies substantially in a plane.

In one aspect, the body includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate formed from the horizontal plate, wherein the jaw is disposed at an upper end of the vertical plate.

In one aspect, the heel of the knockover sinker is flat and extends perpendicularly from the horizontal plate.

In one aspect, the heel of the knockover sinker is located at the radially outer end of the body of the knockover sinker.

On the one hand, the heel of the knockover sinker points upwards.

On the one hand, when the knockover sinkers are interlocked with the deformed sinkers in the respective recesses, the heels of the knockover sinkers are placed radially between the heels and the noses of the deformed sinkers.

In one aspect, the knitting machine comprises a plurality of pushers, each associated with a respective selector and with a respective deformable sinker.

In the working position, on the one hand, the selector jacks rest on the pushers, which are configured to push the deformation sinkers.

The selector jack may act indirectly on the deformation sinkers by using a pusher operatively placed between the selector jack and the deformation sinkers.

In one aspect, the push plate is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a third guide extending about the central axis and defining a plurality of trajectories.

In one aspect, each pusher has a heel that engages or can engage with the third guide.

In one aspect, the pusher comprises a horizontal portion, preferably shaped as a horizontal plate, wherein said heel is located at a radially outer end of the horizontal plate.

In one aspect, the horizontal portion of the push tab vertically overlaps the deformed sinker portion.

In one aspect, the butt of the pusher is flat and extends perpendicularly from the horizontal panel.

On the one hand, the heel of the push jack points upwards.

In one aspect, the push tab includes a vertical portion disposed proximate to a radially outer end of the push tab and preferably pointing downward.

In one aspect, the propulsion unit has an abutment surface facing the radially outer end of the deformation sinker.

In one aspect, said abutment surface substantially conforms to said radially outer end of said crush lobe.

In one aspect, the abutment surface is supported by a vertical portion.

In one aspect, the vertical portion defines an abutment surface and a heel of the push pad.

On the one hand, the abutment surface is placed at a lower level than the horizontal portion, and the butt grows upward from the horizontal portion.

In one aspect, at least a portion of the abutment surface is inclined with respect to the central axis, and a lower portion of the at least one inclined portion is closer to the central axis than an upper portion of the at least one inclined portion.

In one aspect, at least a portion of the radially outer end of the deformation sinker is inclined with respect to the central axis, and a lower portion of the at least one inclined portion is farther from the central axis than an upper portion of the at least one inclined portion.

The inclined surface prevents the pusher from tilting and stopping when pushed by a selected needle.

On the one hand, the radially outer ends of the deformation sinkers are supported by respective butts.

In one aspect, the at least one deformation sinker is received in one of the radial recesses together with the corresponding knockover sinker.

In one aspect, the knitting machine further comprises a partition arranged in a radial recess between the deformation sinker and the knockover sinker.

In one aspect, the spacer is positioned outside of the plane when unstressed. The baffle prevents the deformed sinker from dragging the knockover sinker and vice versa.

In one aspect, the plate is interposed between the deformation sinkers and the knockover sinkers to deform and laterally urge the deformation sinkers and the knockover sinkers. The plate eliminates or reduces possible vibrations of the deformed and knockover sinkers.

In one aspect, the at least one selector comprises at least one selector blade which is movable, when the sinker jack rotates with respect to the guide ring and about the central axis, between a first position, in which it is at a distance from the selector, and a second position, in which it acts when the selector passes from the front of the selector to move the selector from the rest position to the working position.

In one aspect, the selector is of the magnetic or piezoelectric type.

In one aspect, the first guide (for the knockover sinker) is radially further inward with respect to the second guide.

In one aspect, the second guide (for deforming the sinkers) defines a radially outer trajectory, at least one radially inner trajectory, preferably a plurality of radially inner trajectories, and a plurality of connecting portions between the radially outer trajectory and the at least one radially inner trajectory.

In one aspect, the third guide defines a radially outer track and at least one radially inner track, preferably a plurality of radially inner tracks, having one end connected to the radially outer track.

In one aspect, the at least one radially inner locus is a curve that increasingly approaches the central axis and then departs from the central axis.

In one aspect, the second guide member is radially further inward relative to a radially outer portion of the third guide member.

In one aspect, the circular locus is radially further outward relative to the third guide.

In one aspect, the selector is placed on the at least one radially inner track to deflect the pushers from the radially inner track.

On the one hand, the selector is placed on at least one connecting portion of the second guide so that the deformed sinker is deflected in the connecting portion by the push piece moving in the radially inner trajectory of the third guide.

On the one hand, the two radially internal trajectories of the third guide are arranged symmetrically with respect to the selector, allowing the machine to work in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction.

On the one hand, the two connecting portions of the second guide are arranged symmetrically with respect to the selector, allowing the machine to work in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

In one aspect, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing knitted fabrics, in particular for manufacturing terry loops, using a knitting machine according to one or more of the preceding claims.

In one aspect, the method comprises: and keeping the selector jack at a static position, and simultaneously rotating the sinker seat relative to the guide ring around the central axis in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction so as to enable the deformed sinker to move along the radial outer track of the second guide piece and enable the knockover sinker to move along the first guide piece, thereby manufacturing the plain fabric.

On the one hand, when the selector plate is in the rest position, the pusher is moved along a radially outer trajectory of the third guide, the pusher being radially distanced from the corresponding deformation sinker.

In one aspect, the method comprises: moving at least one radial position of a sinker holder that rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about a central axis of the at least one selector in the operating position by fitting the at least one selector with the at least one selector; so that at least one deformed sinker, which is interlocked with at least one selector, moves on a radially inner trajectory (31) of the second guide, and the pile nose moves in at least one radial position of the sinker seat rotating about the central axis (X-X); the loop noses of the deformation sinkers are thus engaged by at least one pair of needles to produce a loop in the knitted fabric.

Further features and advantages will be shown in the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the circular knitting machine and of the method for manufacturing a knitted fabric according to the invention.

Drawings

The description will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for indicative and non-limiting purposes only, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a circular knitting machine with a portion removed to better illustrate other portions in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of FIG. 1 with other components removed to better illustrate other elements of the circular knitting machine of the previous figures;

FIG. 3 shows a different partial cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the portion of FIG. 3 associated with the needle holder plate;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the assembly of elements belonging to a circular knitting machine as in the previous figures, which can be seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the elements of the exploded view of FIG. 4 in linkage with one another;

fig. 6 is a plan view with tracks of a guiding cams (guiding cams) of the circular knitting machine as in the previous figures.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6 with additional traces;

figures 8-10 show the triangles of figures 7 and 8 in which the various operating steps of the circular knitting machine according to the invention are indicated in a schematic manner.

Detailed Description

With reference to the above figures, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a portion of a knitting head of a circular knitting machine according to the invention. The circular knitting machine shown is, for example, a machine for making fabrics with an intarsia pattern (known as an intarsia machine or diamond machine). The circular knitting machine comprises a frame, not shown, which constitutes the supporting structure of the machine (since it is of a known type) and on which the head 1 is mounted.

The knitting head 1 is equipped with a needle-holding needle cylinder 2 on which a plurality of needles 3 are mounted, and the knitting head 1 has control means (not shown) apt to selectively actuate the needles 3 to produce the fabric. The needle-holding cylinder 2 is usually mounted in a vertical position on a frame, wherein the needles 3 are arranged vertically and project over the upper edge of the needle-holding cylinder 2.

As is known, the needle-holding cylinder 2 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves 4 formed on the radially outer surface of the needle-holding cylinder 2. The longitudinal groove 4 is arranged around (perpendicular to) and parallel to the central axis "X-X" of the needle-holding needle cylinder 2. Each longitudinal groove 4 houses a respective needle 3 and a respective drive chain comprising a plurality of flat parts. The actuation cams are arranged as housings around the needle-holding cylinder 2 and face the radially outer surface of the needle-holding cylinder 2 and thus the longitudinal groove 4 and the drive chain. The actuation triangle is defined by, for example, a plate and/or a groove arranged on the inner surface of the housing.

In one embodiment, the shell of the actuation cams is substantially stationary, while the needle-holding cylinder 2 is rotated by means of a suitable motor about the central axis "X-X" (with continuous or alternating motion in both directions), so as to generate a relative rotational movement between the drive chain and the actuation cams and to transform the rotational movement of the needle-holding cylinder 2 into an axial movement of the needles 3 in order to produce a knitted fabric with said needles 3.

The circular knitting machine also comprises a sinker holder 5, the sinker holder 5 being arranged around the needle-holding needle cylinder 2 and having a plurality of radial recesses 6, said radial recesses 6 being above the sinker holder 5, the slots being open at the radially inner edge (i.e. towards the central axis "X-X"). The radial groove 6 shown in fig. 1 can also be obtained at the upper edge of the needle-holding cylinder 2.

The sinker seat 5, which is combined with the needle-holding cylinder 2, is rotated about the central axis "X-X" by means of, for example, the same motor as described above.

Suitable devices (not shown) are usually arranged above the needle-holding cylinder 2 at one or more feed points (called feed systems) for feeding the yarn to be knitted. The circular knitting machine shown comprises a yarn feeding system which cooperates by means of a rotary motion about a central axis "X-X", with needles 3 arranged along the circumference.

Each radial groove 6 accommodates an assembly of a plurality of metal flat elements which can slide radially in the corresponding radial groove 6 and also with respect to the other assembly.

This assembly is better shown in fig. 4 and 5 to include: a knockover sinker 7, a deformed sinker 8, a push piece 9 linked with the deformed sinker 8, and a selector 10 for the push piece 9. Furthermore, the partition 11 is arranged in a fixed manner in the radial groove 6 between the deformation sinker 8 and the knockover sinker 7. The partition 11 is an elastic plate which, when unstressed, lies outside the plane and pushes laterally the deformation sinkers 8 and the knockover sinkers 7 to limit the oscillation. The partition 11 also prevents the deformed sinker 8 from dragging the knockover sinker 7 in a corresponding movement in the radial direction and vice versa.

The knockover sinker 7 comprises a body 12, the body 12 being defined by a horizontal plate and a vertical plate formed from the horizontal plate. A jaw 13 is disposed above the body 12 at the upper end of the vertical plate. The jaw 13 is intended to cooperate with the needles 3 when producing plain knitted fabric. The heel 14 of the knockover sinker 7 rests on the radially outer end of the body 12 of the knockover sinker 7 and extends vertically upwards from the horizontal plate.

The deformation sinker 8 comprises a body 15, the body 15 being defined by a horizontal plate and a vertical plate formed from the horizontal plate. At the upper end of the vertical flat plate, i.e. above the main body 12, there is arranged a protrusion in the shape of a loop piece nose 16 or a horn, which extends and protrudes towards the central axis "X-X" and lies in the same plane as said main body 12. A heel 17 extending vertically downwards from the horizontal plate is arranged at the radially outer end of the body 12 of the deformation sinker 8.

The pusher 9 comprises a horizontal portion 18 shaped as a horizontal plate and a heel 19 on the radially outer end of its horizontal plate. The butt 19 of the pusher 9 extends vertically upwards from the horizontal panel. The push plate 9 further comprises a vertical portion 20, the vertical portion 20 being configured close to the radially outer end of said push plate 9 and pointing downwards.

When the above-mentioned metal parts are correctly housed in the respective radial recesses 6, the knockover sinkers 7 are located beside the deformation sinkers 8 with the partition 11 interposed between them. The heel 14 of the knockover sinker 7 is placed radially between the heel 19 and the nose 16 of the deformation sinker 8. The horizontal portion of the push tab 9 vertically overlaps the sinker 8, in particular the body 15 of the sinker 8.

The heel 17 of the deforming sinker 8 is substantially parallel to the vertical portion 20 of the pusher 9 (fig. 2, 3 and 5). In particular, the edge of the vertical portion 20 of the pusher 9 directed towards the edge of the heel 17 defines an abutment surface 21. This abutment surface 21 faces the radially outer end of the deformed sinker, i.e. the edge 22 of the heel 17 of the deformed sinker 8, and is substantially complementary in shape to said abutment surface 22 of the heel 17 of the deformed sinker 8 (fig. 3A).

As can be better seen in fig. 3A, a portion of the abutment surface 21 is inclined with respect to the central axis "X-X" and the lower portion of the at least one inclined portion is closer to the central axis "X-X" than the upper portion of the at least one inclined portion. Vice versa, a portion of the edge 22 of the radially outer end of the deformation sinker 8 is inclined with respect to the central axis "X-X", and the lower portion of the at least one inclined portion is closer to the central axis "X-X" than the upper portion of the at least one inclined portion. (the parts are not used and vice versa, the other being interpreted as: a portion of the edge 22 of the radially outer end of the sinker 8 is inclined with respect to the central axis "X-X" and the upper portion of said at least one inclined portion is closer to the central axis "X-X" than the lower portion of said at least one inclined portion.)

The selector jack 10 has an elongated shape in a substantially vertical direction. The selector jack 10 has a base 23, which base 23 has an arcuate profile for oscillation about an axis tangential to the horizontal circumference, centred on the central axis "X-X". The selector jack 10 has, at a distance from the base 23, a support 24, which support 24 is directed towards the central axis "X-X" for acting indirectly on the deformation sinkers 8 through the pushers 9. In particular, the support portion 24 faces the vertical portion 20 of the push-piece 9.

The selector jack 10 has radially outward teeth 25, i.e. on the side opposite the central axis "X-X", and is intended to interact with a selector 26 described below.

The knockover sinker 7 is operatively separated from the selector jack 10, i.e., the selector jack 10 does not interact with the knockover sinker 7 and does not cause its motion. The deformation sinkers 8 are movable with respect to and independently of the respective knockover sinkers 7.

The heel 14 of the knockover sinker 7 and the heel 19 of the pusher 9 can be fitted in the guide of the upper guide ring, while the heel 17 of the deformation sinker 8 and the vertical portion 20 of the pusher 9 can be fitted in the guide of the lower guide ring. The upper and lower guide rings are fixed and operatively associated with the sinker seat 5, and the sinker seat 5 is rotatable together with the needle-holding cylinder 2 with respect to the guide rings and around the central axis "X-X".

The lower guide ring has a circular track 27 (fig. 6) rotating about the central axis "X-X". The base 23 of each selector jack 10 is slidingly engaged in the circular track 27 so as to rotate about the central axis "X-X" together with the corresponding deformed sinker 8.

The upper guide ring has a first guide 28 which rotates about a central axis "X-X". The heel 14 of the knockover sinker 7 is smoothly fitted with said first guide 28, said first guide 28 being intended to cause the radial displacement of the knockover sinker 7 along the corresponding radial groove when the sinker holder 5 with the knockover sinker 7 is rotated about the central axis "X-X" with respect to the guide ring.

The lower guide ring has (fig. 7) a second guide 29, which second guide 29 is formed around the central axis "X-X" further radially outside with respect to the first guide 28 and further radially inside with respect to the circular track 27. The butts 17 of the deformed sinker 8 are smoothly fitted with the second guide 29. The second guide 29 is intended to cause the deformation sinkers 8 to move radially along the respective radial groove when the sinker holder 5 with the deformation sinkers 8 rotates with respect to the guide ring and around the central axis "X-X". The second guide 29 defines a plurality of trajectories for the deformed sinker 8. In particular, the second guide 29 defines a circular radially outer track 30, a pair of circular-arc-shaped radially inner tracks 31, and a pair of connecting portions between the radially outer track 30 and the two radially inner tracks 31.

The upper guide ring has a third guide 32 (fig. 6) rotating about the central axis "X-X", and the butt 19 of each pusher 9 is fitted with the third guide 32. The third guide 32 defines a circular radially outer track 33, radially between the circular path 27 and the second guide 29, and a pair of radially inner tracks 34, the radially inner tracks 34 having opposite ends connected to the radially outer track 33. As can be seen in fig. 6, each radially inner locus 34 is a curve gradually approaching the central axis "X-X" and then moving away from the central axis "X-X".

The selector 10 oscillates in a radial plane between a rest position and an operating position, in which, by means of the pusher 9, the selector 10 acts on the respective deformed sinker 8, so as to deviate the butt 17 of the deformed sinker 8 from the radially outer trajectory 30 of the second guide 29 of the radially inner trajectory 31. In particular, in the active position, the selector jack 10 rests on the pusher 9 and the pusher 9 is deviated by its butt 19 from the radially external trajectory 33 of the third guide 32 in a radially internal trajectory 34 and pushes against the deformation sinkers 8.

For this purpose, the circular knitting machine according to the non-limiting embodiment shown comprises a selector 26 facing transversely to the sinker jack 5, which selector 26 is fixed with respect to the guide ring and can be engaged on command with the selector jack 10. The selector 26 is used to switch the selector jack 10 from the rest position to the operating position.

The selector 26 (fig. 2, 3 and 3A) is of the magnetic or piezoelectric type, comprising a plurality of blades 35, said plurality of blades 35 being arranged one above the other and being movable between a first position (for example, a raised position) and a second position (for example, a lowered position). In the first position, the blade 35 is at a distance from the teeth 25 of the selector jack 10 so as not to interfere with said teeth 25 when the selector jack 10 is in the rest position. In particular, in the first position, the teeth 25 are located between the blades 35. In the second position, when the sinker jack 5 rotates with respect to the guide ring and around the central axis "X-X", the teeth 25 of the selector jack 10 move past in front of the pusher blade 35 of the selector 26, moving the selector jack 10 from the rest position to the working position.

An electronic control unit (not shown) is operatively connected to one or more electric motors to rotate the needle-holding cylinder 2 and the sinker jack 5, to the selector 26 and also to the other actuation units of the machine, if any. The electronic control unit is configured/programmed to command the motor or motors and the selector 26 and the other actuation units of the machine, if any. In particular, the electronic control unit is configured/programmed to selectively move the blades 35 of the selector 26 in order to move the selector 10 individually from the rest position to the working position.

The pair of radially inner loci 31 of the second guide member 29 and the pair of radially inner loci 34 of the third guide member 32 are arranged symmetrically with respect to one selector 26. In particular, the two connecting portions of the second guide 29 are arranged symmetrically with respect to said selector 26. This arrangement allows the circular knitting machine to operate in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the selector 26 is placed on the two radially inner tracks 34 of the third guide 32 and on the two connecting portions of the second guide 29, so that the push piece 9 is deviated to one of the two radially inner tracks 34 of the third guide 32 and, therefore, the deformed sinker 8 at one of the two radially inner tracks 31 of the second guide 29 is deviated depending on the direction of rotation.

The circular knitting machine shown also comprises (fig. 3B) a needle-holding plate 36, the needle-holding plate 36 having a plurality of radial recesses 37 rotating radially with respect to the central axis "X-X", and a plurality of sub-needles 38, each sub-needle 38 being accommodated in a corresponding radial recess 37 of the needle-holding plate 36. The needle-holding plate 36 is located above the needle-holding cylinder 2, with its periphery located in the vicinity of the needles 3 of the needle-holding cylinder 2. In the active position of the needle-holding plate 36, the ends of the sub-needles 38 and of the needles 3 are placed close to each other, thereby defining the double bed of the circular knitting machine. By lifting the needle-holding plate 36 with a suitable actuating device (not shown), the needle-holding plate 36 can be moved away from the needles 3 of the needle-holding needle cylinder 2 and into the inactive position.

Preferably, the needle-holding plate 36 is rotated together with the needle-holding syringe 2 about the central axis "X-X" by means of said motor. A cam (not shown) is associated with the needle-holding plate 36 and guides the radial movement of the sub-needles 38 of the needle-holding plate 36 while said needle-holding plate 36 rotates about the central axis "X-X".

In the method used and according to the invention, in order to produce plain knitted fabric (fig. 8), when the needle-holding cylinder 2 rotates about the central axis "X-X" with respect to the casing and the sinker jack 5 with respect to the guide ring, the blades of the selector 26 remain in the first position in which they do not interact with the teeth 25 of the selector jack 10, and therefore the teeth 25 of the selector jack 10 are all in their respective rest positions. The heel 19 of the pusher 9 moves along the radially outer trajectory 33 of the third guide 32.

The heels 17 of the sinker 8 move along the radially outer trajectory 30 of the second guide 29, so that the loop noses 16 of the corresponding sinker 8 remain in a position at a radial distance from the central axis "X-X", i.e. in a retracted or rest (non-operative) position, in which they do not participate in the yarn making of a stitch.

The heel 14 of the knockover sinker 7 follows the first guide 28, causing a radial movement of the knockover sinker 7. The knockover sinkers 7 are moved forward and backward in respective radial directions so that the jaws 13 engage the needle 3, in a known manner (and therefore not further described), if necessary to make a plain stitch with the sub-needle 38. This mode of operation can be achieved when the needle-holding cylinder 2, the sinker holder 5 and the needle-holding plate 36 are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

As can be seen by observing fig. 3B, the knockover sinker 7 can work together with the needle 3 and the sub-needle 38 when the needle-holding plate 36 is in its working position, and the deformed sinker 8 is kept in a position radially distanced from the central axis "X-X" and does not interfere with the needle-holding plate 36. In fact, the knockover sinkers 7 can move under the needle-holding plate 36 without interfering with said needle-holding plate 36.

To make a terry loop in the knitted fabric (fig. 9 and 10), the control unit commands the drive holding the needle plate 36 to a non-operative raised position. The control unit commands the selector 26 to move the blade 35 from the first position to the second position and then back, according to the programmed angles of the needle-holding needle cylinder 2 and of the sinker jack 5. Thereby acting on the specific deforming sinker 8 interlocked with the specific selector jack 10. To simply act on a single selector 10, it is moved to the working position in which, as shown in fig. 9, when it rotates counterclockwise with respect to the guide ring, the corresponding support 24 is moved towards the central axis "X-X". The butt 19 of the pusher 9 deviates into a radially inner trajectory 34 of a third guide 32, which third guide 32 is placed below the selector 26 and follows it (fig. 9) pushing radially the corresponding deformed sinker 8.

Then, the butt 19 and the jack 9 return to the circular radially outer trajectory 33 of the third guide 32 and push the corresponding selector jack 10 backward (fig. 9).

The heels 17 (fig. 10) of the deformed sinker 8 move from the radially outer trajectory 30 to the radially inner trajectory 31 of the second guide 29, so that the deformed sinker 8 moves radially towards the central axis "X-X". The heel 17 of the deformed sinker 8 is then guided back by the cam (fig. 10) to the radially outer trajectory 30 of the second guide 29, so that the deformed sinker 8 is pushed back again. By means of the radial movement of the deformation sinkers 8 as described above, the noses 16 cooperate with the needles 3 suitably moved by means of respective cams (in a known manner, not described further here) in order to form terry loops in the knitted fabric. This mode of operation can be achieved when the sinker holder 5 is rotated either counter-clockwise (as shown in fig. 9 and 10) or clockwise.

The invention achieves important advantages both from a structural and a functional point of view.

In fact, the required needle selector can be easily operated by commanding the needle selector through the programming control unit, so that the complex terry knitted fabric with different characteristics can be manufactured.

In particular, the structure of the knitting machine according to the invention allows the production of terry loops at any position on the fabric.

The simultaneous presence of the deformation sinkers for making the terry loops and of the knockover sinkers placed beside them allows to make plain and terry knitted fabrics with high flexibility on the same machine.

The independence of the knockover sinkers with respect to the deformation sinkers for the loops further enables working with the auxiliary plate of the holding plate to produce plain knitted fabric without any limitation by interference of the plate with the deformation sinkers. For example, only the deformed sinkers may be replaced with other sinkers having different characteristics to make different loop loops (terry loops).

The machine according to the invention also allows to produce terry loops and other types of patterns at high speed, thus greatly reducing the production times, even for complex tubular knitted fabrics.

The control elements of the deforming sinkers 8 enable said sinkers to be placed very close to each other, so that a compact knitting machine is obtained. In fact, since the selector 10 does not act directly on the deformation sinkers 8, but is instead effected by modifying the trajectory of the pusher 9, which in turn pushes the deformation sinkers 8, the selector 10 and the selector 26 can maintain the radial distance from the needle 3 and the area where the stitch is formed, and the deformation sinkers 8 and the knockover sinkers 7 can move circumferentially close to each other.

Structurally, the machine is simpler and therefore easier to maintain.

Furthermore, since many of the elements are similar or identical (pushers, selector jacks, knockover sinkers and deformation sinkers), the manufacturing costs thereof can be kept at a low level, which has a positive effect on the manufacturing costs of the entire machine.