U.S. patent application number 11/717307 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for linear knitting machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANTONI S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Tiberio Lonati.
Application Number | 20070214844 11/717307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38335755 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070214844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lonati; Tiberio |
September 20, 2007 |
Linear knitting machine
Abstract
The present invention relates to a linear knitting machine
comprising: a first (2) and a second (3) needle-bed, each one
having at least one bar (4) extending longitudinally along said
machine, and at least one row of needles (5) supported by the bar
(4); a plurality of thread-guides (10) for arranging at least one
respective thread into the needles (5); a motor (11) for moving at
least one bar (4) of every needle-bed (2, 3) with a forward and
backward motion getting away from/towards the thread-guides (10);
and motion transmission means (12) associated to the bar (4) of
every needle-bed (2, 3) and having at least one rotating element
(14) for every needle-bed (2, 3) associated to the motor (11), and
a rod (13) for every needle-bed (2, 3) having a first end (13a)
stiffly engaged to said bar (4) and a second end (13b), opposed to
the first one (13a), operatively associated to said rotating
element (14) which is provided with at least one cam guide
(16).
Inventors: |
Lonati; Tiberio; (Brescia,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
1801 EAST 9TH STREET, SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-3108
US
|
Assignee: |
SANTONI S.P.A.
Brescia
IT
|
Family ID: |
38335755 |
Appl. No.: |
11/717307 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B 23/02 20130101;
D04B 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
66/208 |
International
Class: |
D04B 23/00 20060101
D04B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2006 |
IT |
BS2006A000060 |
Claims
1. A warp linear knitting machine comprising: a first (2) and a
second (3) needle-bed, each one having at least one bar (4)
extending longitudinally along said machine, and at least one row
of needles (5) supported by said bar (4); a plurality of
thread-guides (10) for arranging at least one respective thread
into said needles (5); a motor (11) for moving said at least one
bar (4) of every needle-bed (2, 3) with a forward and backward
motion getting away from/towards the thread-guides (10); and motion
transmission means (12) associated to said at least one bar (4) of
every needle-bed (2, 3) and having at least one rotating element
(14) for every needle-bed (2, 3) associated to the motor (11);
characterized in that said transmission means (12) further comprise
at least one rod (13) for every needle-bed (2, 3) having a first
end (13a) stiffly engaged to said bar (4) and a second end (13b),
opposed to the first one (13a), operatively associated to said
rotating element (14) which is provided with at least one cam guide
(16).
2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said rod
(13) of every needle-bed (2, 3) has a stiff shape and a
longitudinal development basically parallel to a forward-backward
direction of movement (A) of said rod (13).
3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said
transmission means (12) further comprise: a transmission pulley
(22) associated to a gear and to said motor (11); at least one
connection element (24) for every needle-bed (2, 3), associated to
said gear of said pulley (22) for rotating around a respective
axis; and at least one rotating shaft (21) having a first end (21a)
fitted onto the connection element (24), and a second end (21b)
opposed to the first one (21a) interference fitted onto the
rotating element (14).
4. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said
rotating element (14) comprises at least one cam disc (15) turning
around a respective axis (X), said at least one cam guide (16)
being defined on said cam disc (15).
5. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said
second end (13b) of the rod (13) comprises a roller (18) sliding
inside said cam guide (16) obtained in said cam disc (15); said cam
guide (16) having a shape developing around the axis of rotation
(X) of said cam disc (15).
6. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said cam
disc (15) has at least two cam guides (16) so as to define two
discrete tracks (31a, 31b), and in that said second end (13b) of
the rod (13) comprises at least two movement bearings (30) for
sliding in each of said two tracks (31a, 31b), respectively.
7. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that every
needle-bed (2, 3) further comprises at least one bar (9) holding
stitch-combs (8) basically parallel to the bar (4) supporting said
row of needles (5); each bar (4, 9) being stiffly associated to at
least one respective rod (13).
8. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that every
needle-bed (2, 3) further comprises at least one bar (7) holding
latches (6) basically parallel to the bar (4) supporting said row
of needles (5); each bar (4, 7) being stiffly associated to at
least one respective rod (13).
9. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that every
rotating element (14) includes at least two cam discs (15) coaxial
to one another and fitted onto the respective rotating shaft
(21).
10. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that every
bar (4, 7, 9) of every needle-bed (2, 3) is stiffly associated to
two respective rods (13) housed on opposite ends of said bar (4, 7,
9).
11. The machine according to claim 10, characterized in that it
comprises two rotating elements (14) for every needle-bed (2, 3),
each of them being arranged on opposite ends of said bars (4, 7, 9)
so as to be associated to the rods (13) engaged to the bar (7)
holding the latches (6), to the bar (9) holding the stitch-combs
(8) and to the bar (4) supporting said row of needles (5),
respectively.
12. The machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it
further comprises two box-shaped bodies (17) arranged on respective
opposite ends of said bars (4, 7, 9) and each one containing at
least two rotating elements (14), each of them being associated to
a respective needle-bed (2, 3).
13. The machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said
connection elements (24) include respective gears (24a) engaged on
opposite sides of said gear of said pulley (22) for rotating in
opposite directions.
14. The machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said
rotating elements (14) housed within a respective box-shaped body
(17) are adjacent to one another for turning around corresponding
parallel axes (X) and in the same or opposite directions; every
rotating element (14) having a first (15a) and a second (15b) cam
disc coaxial to and spaced away from one another, at least one of
said cam discs (15a, 15b) of a rotating element (14) being housed
between two cam discs (15a, 15b) of the adjacent rotating element
(14).
15. The machine according to claim 14, characterized in that said
first cam disc (15a) comprises an active surface facing said second
cam disc (15b) and having said cam guide (16); said second cam disc
(15b) having two opposite active surfaces, each of them having a
cam guide ((16).
16. The machine according to claim 15, characterized in that said
cam guide (16) comprises a recess on the corresponding active
surface of a respective cam disc (15a, 15b).
17. The machine according to claim 16, characterized in that said
motor (11) is arranged between the opposite ends of said bars (4,
7, 9); said transmission means (12) including two rotating shafts
(21) for every needle-bed (2, 3) extending on opposite sides of the
motor (11) and each of them being associated to a rotating element
(14) arranged in the respective box-shaped body (17).
18. The machine according to claim 17, characterized in that every
shaft (21) comprises: at least one first portion (25) near the
motor (11) and engaged to a respective connection element (24), and
a second portion (26) associated to the respective rotating element
(14); and a connection joint (27) for joining said first and second
portion (25, 26) coaxially to one another.
19. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it
further comprises guide means (19, 29) operatively acting upon said
rods (13) for preventing said rods (13) from deviating from the
direction of movement (A).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a linear knitting
machine.
[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a
Raschel-type, tricot or similar warp linear knitting machine with
single or double needle-bed, commonly also known as Raschel-type
warp loom, used for manufacturing knitted items.
[0003] As is known, Raschel-type linear knitting machines with
double needle-bed are provided with two rows of needles, each one
being housed in a respective needle-bed and supported by a
respective bar. Every needle-bed is further equipped with a series
of latches that can be coupled to the needles for so-called
"compound" systems, and a series of "stitch-combs" commonly used
for preventing the loop from being taken upwards when the needle
gets up for discharging the stitch and taking a new thread. Also
the series of latches and stitch-combs are supported by respective
bars, which are parallel to the needle bars and develop
longitudinally along the whole machine.
[0004] Needle bars, latch bars and stitch-comb bars are moved
synchronously with a forward-backward motion by means of (more or
less complex) systems consisting of compound levers suitably
arranged (in the form of quadrilaterals), accurately calculated and
apt to make the movements they are designed for.
[0005] In particular, examples of known machines belonging to this
type can be found in documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,520, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,568,470, U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,358, U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,149,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,942, DE 3620259 and WO03/071018.
[0006] Modern computer-assisted design technologies enables to
study accurately the laws of motion of said compound levers with a
perfect synchronism between the various fabric-forming elements,
starting from the same cam set into motion by a drive shaft.
[0007] This system is based on very delicate balances between
levers, fulcrums, speeds, accelerations, paths, trajectories and
any other factor constituting the mechanism as a whole.
[0008] Moreover, said compound levers are designed by analyzing the
shape changes of the concerned elements due to working defects,
temperature changes and clearances that cannot be avoided in order
to operate the knitting machine within the tolerance limits the
knitting system can tolerate. As a matter of fact, it should be
pointed out that yarns have given limits of mechanical resistance,
within which they have to be worked so as to avoid their breaking,
stress deformation, bad fabric-formation, which all mean bad
quality. Therefore, compound levers are also designed as a function
of the type of thread used and of the thread tensioning and feeding
values determining the fabric width.
[0009] That is why the machine is normally carried out for
manufacturing a given item according to the customer's needs. In
other words, movements and size of the compound levers are adjusted
and calibrated (in textile jargon "sampled") for manufacturing a
specific item. However, known machines as described above have
great drawbacks.
[0010] A first drawback is the little versatility of said machines
for manufacturing different items.
[0011] As a matter of fact, it should be pointed out that in order
to change the layout of the machine so as to obtain movements
differing from the predefined ones, very delicate and complex
adjustments are carried out, requiring the intervention of
personnel having specific instruments and knowledge. For instance,
if a yarn whose characteristics differ from the ones previously
worked is used, the compound levers should be modified by
specialized personnel, changing the path of the elements involved
in fabric formation.
[0012] As a matter of fact, needles, latches and stitch-combs
(which are regarded as consumables) can be replaced by personnel
working in the knitwear factory; whereas for other parts, such as
for instance a cam replacement, personnel working in the
manufacturing firm should intervene, since this involves various
disassembling and recalibrating operations.
[0013] That is why only a technician working for the firm
manufacturing the knitting machine can make changes, if necessary,
to said knitting machine trying to simulate and calculate possible
implications of the system as a function of the changes required by
the customer.
[0014] The intervention of specialized personnel is highly
expensive because of idle times in which the machine is not used
and of costs involving operators' transfer.
[0015] A further disadvantage of knitting machines as described
above consists in that the mechanisms of movement should
necessarily be carried out with highly precise physical elements
that show almost inexistent deformations under stress. This means a
high accuracy in the choice of materials, shapes, size, working
tolerances, which results in high manufacturing costs.
[0016] Moreover, it should also be pointed out that the aforesaid
compound levers, beyond being quite bulky, require quite large
spaces for their movement. Also the positioning of the cams, as is
known spaced from one another, and the positioning of the motor
involve a particularly large overall size of the whole machine.
[0017] A further disadvantage consists in the shape of the rotating
shaft associated to the control cams and set into rotation by the
motor. Said shaft, which extends on the whole longitudinal
development of the machine (needlebeds have a length above 3.5
meters), involves serious problems as far as working, balancing,
vibration reduction, assembly are concerned, which problems result
exactly from the size of said shaft.
[0018] Under these circumstances, the technical task underlying the
present invention is to provide a linear knitting machine that is
able to substantially obviate the drawbacks referred to above.
[0019] Within said technical task, an important aim of the
invention is to conceive a linear knitting machine that is
versatile and can be easily adapted to different working types,
without requiring the intervention of specialized personnel.
[0020] Another technical task is to propose a linear knitting
machine that is cheap, with small overall size and simple from a
structural point of view.
[0021] The technical task and the aims referred to above are
basically achieved by a linear knitting machine characterized in
that it comprises one or more of the technical solutions claimed
below.
[0022] The following is a description of a preferred but not
exclusive embodiment of a linear knitting machine according to the
invention to an indicative and nonlimiting purpose, as is shown in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in lateral elevation, some
parts being removed so as to better show others, of a knitting
machine according to the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in front elevation, some parts
being removed so as to better show others, of the knitting machine
according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3A is a view in lateral elevation of a constructive
detail of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to a first
execution variant;
[0026] FIG. 3B is a view in lateral elevation of a constructive
detail of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to a second
execution variant;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a plan view of another constructive detail of the
knitting machine;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic view in lateral elevation of a lower
portion of the knitting machine;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view in lateral elevation, some
parts being removed so as to better show others, of a knitting
machine according to an alternative embodiment with respect to the
one shown in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a section of FIG. 6 along lines VII-VII.
[0031] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1
globally refers to a linear knitting machine according to the
present invention.
[0032] In particular, the present invention can advantageously
apply to Raschel-type linear knitting machines with single or
double needle-bed.
[0033] The knitting machine 1 comprises a first 2 and a second 3
needle-bed (FIG. 1), which extend longitudinally along said machine
1. Every needle-bed 2, 3 is provided with a bar 4, developing along
the whole longitudinal development of the machine 1 and housing a
respective row of needles 5.
[0034] Advantageously, every needle-bed 2, 3 can be further
equipped with a plurality of latches 6 for needles 5 commonly known
as "compound" needles, which are known and will not be therefore
described in detail in the present disclosure.
[0035] The latches 6 operate synchronously with the needles 5 and
are supported by a respective bar 7 placed in every needle-bed 2,
3.
[0036] Known needles 5 with oscillating latch can also be used. In
this case, accordingly, the latch bars 7 are not used in the
knitting machine 1.
[0037] Moreover, the machine 1 can further be equipped with a
plurality of stitch-combs 8, used for preventing the loop made by
the machine 1 from being taken upwards when the needle 5 gets up
for discharging the stitch and taking a new thread. The
stitch-combs 8, which are also known in the specific technical
field and will be therefore schematically shown and not described
in detail, are supported by a respective bar 9 arranged in every
needle-bed 2, 3.
[0038] Under these circumstances, the bar 4 holding the needles 5,
the bar 7 holding the latches 6 and the bar 9 holding the
stitch-combs 8, which are present in every needle-bed 2, 3, are
placed side by side and parallel to one another and extend along
the whole longitudinal development of the machine 1.
[0039] Above said needles 5, a plurality of thread-guides 10
further develops, which are also known and will not be therefore
described in further detail, which arrange a series of threads
between the needles 5 of the two needle-beds 2, 3. Thus, the
combined movement of the thread-guides 10 synchronized with the
movement of the needles 5, of the latches 6 and of the stitch-combs
8 results in fabric formation, which is not shown in the
accompanying figures for higher clarity.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, it should be pointed out
that the machine 1 is further provided with a motor 11, preferably
arranged centrally in the machine 1 as will be described better in
the following.
[0041] The motor 11 moves the aforesaid bars 4, 7, 9 with a
forward-backward motion getting towards/away from said
thread-guides 10 for enabling the needles 5 to take or release the
thread.
[0042] In particular, the motor 11 is connected to the bars 4, 7, 9
through suitable transmission means 12 comprising stiff rods 13
connected to the bars 4, 7, 9 on respective opposite ends.
[0043] In further detail, every bar 4, 7, 9 is stiffly connected to
three rods 13, each being positioned on said opposite ends of the
respective bar.
[0044] As is better shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, every rod 13 is
made up of one stiff body, having an elongated shape and a
longitudinal development parallel to a respective direction A of
forward-backward movement.
[0045] Every rod 13 has a first end 13a stiffly engaged to a
respective bar 4, 7, 9, and a second end 13b, opposite the first
one 13a, operatively connected to a rotating element 14.
[0046] Preferably, as is shown in FIG. 2, every needle-bed 2, 3 is
provided with two rotating elements 14 arranged on said opposite
ends of the respective bars 4, 7, 9. Thus, every bar 4, 7, 9 is
moved by means of the synchronous movement of two rotating elements
14 transmitting motion along direction A to the two rods 13
associated to the ends of the bar.
[0047] In detail, every rotating element 14 comprises at least one
cam disc 15 (which is referred to in the following as cam) turning
around a respective axis X. Advantageously, as is better shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4, the rotating element 14 has at least two cams 15
coaxial to one another and mutually engaged.
[0048] Still in further detail, the rotating element 14 has a first
cam 15a equipped with an active surface extending perpendicularly
to said axis X and having a cam guide 16 made up of a recess on
said active surface. Spaced away from the first cam 15a, a second
cam 15b develops, having two active surfaces opposite to one
another and transversal to said axis X. Two respective cam guides
16, also made up of a recess on the respective active surface,
develop on the active surfaces of the second cam 15b.
[0049] Under these circumstances, it should be pointed out that for
every rotating element 14 three cam guides 16 are provided for, two
of them being placed in the second cam 15b and one in the first cam
15a, respectively (FIG. 4).
[0050] Preferably, every cam guide 16 has a basically circular
development and extends around the axis of rotation X of the
respective cam 15 according to a trajectory predefined as a
function of the movement to be transmitted to said bars 4, 7,
9.
[0051] Advantageously, the machine 1 further comprises two
box-shaped bodies 16, each of them being arranged below an end of
the respective bars 4, 7, 9.
[0052] Every box-shaped body 17 is made up of a chamber containing
two rotating elements 14 adjacent to one another, each of them
belonging to a respective needle-bed 2, 3.
[0053] As is shown in FIG. 3A, the rotating elements 14 contained
in every box-shaped body 17 turn in the same directions around
respective axes X parallel to one another, and are immersed in a
lubricating substance, such as oil for instance, so as to reduce
the frictions of the rotating elements 14 during the movement
thereof. Alternatively, by varying the number of gears, said
rotating elements 14 contained in every box-shaped body 17 can turn
in the opposite direction, as is shown in FIG. 3B.
[0054] With particular reference to FIG. 4, it should also be
pointed out that one of the cams 15a, 15b of a respective rotating
element 14 is housed between the two cams 15a, 15b of the adjacent
rotating element 14.
[0055] In other words, inside every box-shaped body 17 the two
rotating elements 14 are adjacent and offset so that the respective
cams 15 can get into one another resulting in highly reduced
overall sizes.
[0056] As is shown in FIG. 1, the second end 13b of every rod 13 is
provided with a roller 18 inserted slidingly into a respective cam
guide 16. Taking into consideration a single needle-bed 2, 3, it
should be pointed out that the three rods 13 associated to the
three bars 4, 7, 9 on a respective end are associated to a rotating
element 14 that is equipped, as described above, with three cam
guides 16 for housing said rollers 18.
[0057] Thus, during the rotation around axis X of every rotating
element 14, the rollers 18 inserted into the cam guides 16 slide
along a path defined by the shape of said guide 16. On wave-shaped
portions 16a of said guide 16, the roller is moved by determining
its shift along direction A of the rod 13 with the forward-backward
motion.
[0058] Moreover, every rod 13 is associated to respective
longitudinal guide means 19, 29. Said guide means 19, 29 comprise
guide bushings 19 designed to guide the rod 13 in its
forward-backward longitudinal movement according to the direction
of movement A, and guide bearings 29 for preventing said rods 13
from rotating around an axis Y, which is perpendicular to the axis
of rotation of the elements 14. In particular, every rod 13 is
suitably worked so that the guide bearings 29 oppose the efforts
tending to make it turn around axis Y.
[0059] The bushings 19 are made up of hollow cylindrical elements
into which the ends 13a, 13b of every rod 13 are inserted. The
bushings 19 engage the respective rods 13 for enabling the movement
of the latter only in the direction of movement A.
[0060] It should also be pointed out that the rods 13 are partially
housed inside the box-shaped body 17 so that the respective rollers
18 are completely immersed in the lubricating liquid.
[0061] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, six rods are
inserted into every box-shaped body 17, three of them being
associated to a rotating element 14 belonging to the first
needle-bed 2 and three of them being associated to a rotating
element 14 belonging to the second needle-bed 3.
[0062] In other solutions of embodiment, every rotating element 14
of every needle-bed 2, 3 can be associated to two, four or more
rods.
[0063] Moreover, every rod 13 is further equipped with a recess 20
inside which develops a rotating shaft 21 fitted onto a respective
rotating element 14 and belonging to said transmission means
12.
[0064] In particular, as is better shown in FIG. 1, every rod 13
develops diametrically beside the active surface in which the
respective cam guide 16 is obtained. In this situation, the recess
20 placed between the first 13a and the second 13b end of every rod
13 gets through the center of the respective cam 15.
[0065] The recess 20 is further basically elliptical in shape so as
to enable the sliding along direction A of the rod 13 around said
shaft 21.
[0066] In particular, the transmission means include four rotating
shafts 21, each of them having a first end 21a associated to the
motor 11 and a second end 21b opposite the first one 21a and fitted
onto a respective rotating element 14.
[0067] The transmission means 12 are further provided with a
rotating pulley 22 associated to the motor 11 by means of a toothed
belt 23 engaged to a rotating pin 11a of said motor 11.
[0068] In particular, the pulley 22 is associated to a toothed
wheel turning around a respective axis of rotation parallel to the
longitudinal development of the machine 1 (FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B).
[0069] The gear associated to the pulley 22 is further engaged to
two connection elements 24 arranged on the sides of the gear
associated to said pulley and fitted onto the first end 21a of
respective shafts 21.
[0070] In particular, the connection elements 24 are made up of
gears 24 associated on opposite sides of the gear associated to the
pulley 22 for rotating in respective directions.
[0071] Every gear 24a is arranged in a respective needle-bed 2, 3
and is associated to the first ends 21a of two respective shafts 21
connected to the rotating elements 14 of said needle-bed 2, 3.
[0072] As mentioned above, the motor 11 is arranged between the
ends of the bars 4, 7, 9 in a basically median position with
respect to the box-shaped bodies 17 (FIGS. 2 and 5).
[0073] Under these circumstances, the shafts 21 of every needle-bed
2, 3 are both fitted onto opposite ends of the same gear 24a and
develop in an opposite direction with respect to the motor 11 and
to the corresponding box-shaped body 17.
[0074] Advantageously, every shaft 21 connected to the respective
rotating element 14 comprises a first portion 25 near the motor 11
and associated to the respective connection element 24, and a
second portion 26 associated to the rotating element 14.
[0075] In other words, every shaft 21 is made up of two portions
25, 26 joined to one another by means of a connection joint 27.
Thus, the joint 27 keeps said portions engaged and coaxial to one
another.
[0076] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the first portion 25 of
every shaft 21 is supported by a suitable support 28 resting onto
the machine body.
[0077] Thus, the whole shaft 21 cannot get does not risk to became
flexed by applying an excessive effort onto said connection joint
27.
[0078] During operation, the motor 11 sets into rotation, by means
of the belt 23, the pulley 22 and thus also the connection elements
24 connected thereto.
[0079] Thus, the two shafts 21 of every needle-bed 2, 3 transmit
the rotation to the respective rotating elements 14 around axis
X.
[0080] It should be pointed out that the shafts 21 associated to
the two rotating elements 14 housed within a respective box-shaped
body 17 rotate in the same directions (FIG. 3A). By adding a gear,
the same shafts 21 can rotate in opposite directions (FIG. 3B).
Accordingly, also the rotating elements 14 belonging to the two
needle-beds and housed within a respective body 17 are set into
rotation in the same or in opposite directions.
[0081] As a result of the rotation of the cams 15, the roller 18
slides within the respective guide 16 and cannot slide in a
transversal direction with respect to the longitudinal development
of the respective rod 13. As a matter of fact, the guide bearings
29 enable the movement of the rod 13 only in said direction A and
prevent, as described above, the rotation of the rods 13 along axis
Y.
[0082] When the roller 18 meets a wave-shaped portion 16a of the
guide 16, said roller is moved in direction A so that the whole rod
13 and therefore the respective bar 4, 7, 9 are shifted.
[0083] Under these circumstances, it should be pointed out that the
rotation of the rotating elements 14 of every needle-bed 2, 3
occurs coordinately so as to move in a balanced manner the
respective bars 4, 7, 9 and, accordingly, the needles 5, the
latches 6 and the stitch-combs 8 associated thereto.
[0084] It should also be pointed out that the cam guides 16
obtained in every cam 15 can have any shape so as to obtain
differentiated movements of the rods 13 associated thereto.
[0085] Another embodiment of the knitting machine 1, shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, can be carried-out by using double profile cams 15 moving
the rods 13 by means of two movement bearings 30 associated
thereto. Said movement bearings 30 slide externally on two tracks
31a, 31b obtained on said cams 15.
[0086] The invention achieves important advantages.
[0087] First of all, the machine is very simple from a structural
point of view, especially as far as the rod moving elements are
concerned.
[0088] As a matter of fact, motion is transmitted by the rotating
element only by means of the stiff rod and there are no
quadrilaterals or other complicated compound levers.
Advantageously, in order to change the movement of the bars, the
cams having said guide cams causing the movement of said bars are
replaced.
[0089] In other words, depending on the type of thread, on the type
of item or on an error in the movement of a bar detected during the
operation of the knitting machine, cams having guides adapted to
the specific purpose are carried out and those in use are
replaced.
[0090] Thus, after carrying out cams with suitable guides, several
variations in bar movement are provided.
[0091] The simple construction of the rods enables cam replacement
also by a non-specialized operator, who does not have to execute
any adjustment on the machine. Acting upon the box-shaped body, the
operator can easily disassemble the cams and reassemble replacement
cams. Advantageously, the intervention of specialized personnel is
avoided, which enables to save money.
[0092] Moreover, every cam can be associated to a type of item or
yarn to be worked, stored and then used whenever a given item has
to be manufactured.
[0093] Another important advantage of the present invention is the
simple structure, the small overall size and, therefore, the low
manufacturing costs.
[0094] As a matter of fact, as referred to above, the rotating
elements can get one into the other and enable to save much space.
As a consequence, also the box-shaped body will be small-sized.
Moreover, the rods are simply made up of stiff elements, carried
out as one piece and not subject to particular adjustments and/or
jointed movements.
[0095] It should further be pointed out that the rotating shafts
are slim in structure since they are made up of separate portions
that are much shorter than the longitudinal development of the
whole machine. Therefore, problems involving assembly and the
excessive weight of the shafts are eliminated.
[0096] Furthermore, the joints eliminate torsional phenomena that
might occur with very long shafts, involving a different rotation
of the elements contained in the same body, which rotate with an
angular offset due to said torsion of the shaft.
[0097] Moreover, as referred to above, the shafts of the first
needle-bed, and therefore also the elements, can rotate in the same
direction or in an opposite direction with respect to the one of
the second needle-bed.
[0098] As a consequence, in case of rotation in opposite direction,
the masses in movement are counterbalanced, thus avoiding the
accumulation of energy due to unavoidable vibrations. Said energy
is therefore advantageously dispersed thanks to the
counter-rotation of the shafts.
* * * * *