U.S. patent application number 11/837477 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for knitted net for enveloping round bales, and method and device for the production thereof.
Invention is credited to Kurt Gebhardt, Lutz Kaufmann, Juergen Piazzi, Horst WILLNER.
Application Number | 20080053158 11/837477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36087744 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080053158 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WILLNER; Horst ; et
al. |
March 6, 2008 |
KNITTED NET FOR ENVELOPING ROUND BALES, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR
THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
Abstract
A netting, knitted from fringes and weft threads is provided in
which at least one fringe in at least one marginal region of the
netting is shorter than the remaining fringes of the netting. The
invention relates, furthermore, to a method for producing the
netting on a knitting machine, during the knitting of the netting
shorter loops for forming stitches from which the fringes are
knitted being generated in at least one marginal region than in the
remaining regions of the netting. Moreover, a knitting machine for
producing a netting is described, which comprises a first lay bar
for feeding the weft threads, a second lay bar for feeding the
longitudinal threads, a needle bar with needles and a take-up
device, at at least one position on the needle bar at which the
marginal region of the netting is knitted the needle being
positioned higher than the remaining needles.
Inventors: |
WILLNER; Horst; (Erbach,
DE) ; Gebhardt; Kurt; (Erbach, DE) ; Kaufmann;
Lutz; (Michelstadt, DE) ; Piazzi; Juergen;
(Michelstadt, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MG-IP Law, PLLC
P.O. BOX 1364
FAIRFAX
VA
22038-1364
US
|
Family ID: |
36087744 |
Appl. No.: |
11/837477 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP06/00678 |
Jan 26, 2006 |
|
|
|
11837477 |
Aug 10, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/193 ;
206/83.5; 66/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B 27/06 20130101;
D04B 35/06 20130101; D10B 2505/10 20130101; D04B 27/34 20130101;
D04B 21/10 20130101; A01F 2015/0745 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
066/193 ;
206/083.5; 066/062 |
International
Class: |
D04B 23/00 20060101
D04B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 006 110.9 |
Claims
1. A netting that is knitted from fringes and weft threads, the
netting comprising: a plurality of fringes; and at least one fringe
that is provided in at least one of two marginal regions of the
netting being shorter than the remaining fringes of the
netting.
2. The netting as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one fringe
in the marginal region is shorter than the remaining fringes.
3. The netting as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the fringes, in
each case a longitudinal thread is knitted into stitches lined up
with one another, and wherein the stitches of at least one fringe
in at least one of the two marginal regions are smaller than the
stitches of the remaining fringes of the netting.
4. The netting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal
threads from which the shorter fringes in the marginal regions are
knitted have a greater cross section than the longitudinal threads
from which the remaining fringes are knitted.
5. The netting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal
threads from which the fringes are knitted and the weft threads are
polyolefin strips.
6. A method for producing a netting on a knitting machine, the
method comprising: providing at least one fringe in at least one of
two marginal regions of the netting; and generating, during the
knitting of the netting, shorter loops for forming stitches from
which the fringes are knitted in at least one marginal region than
in the remaining regions of the netting.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shorter loops are
generated, in that the netting is taken up from the knitting region
of the knitting machine over a shorter distance at positions at
which the shorter fringes are knitted.
8. A knitting machine for producing a netting having at least one
fringe that is provided in at least one of two marginal regions of
the netting, the at least one fringe being shorter than the
remaining fringes of the netting, the knitting machine comprising:
a first lay bar for feeding weft threads; a second lay bar for
feeding longitudinal threads for knitting fringes; a needle bar
with needles; and a take-up device having a take-up roller which
has a region of smaller diameter at least one position at which the
shorter fringes are knitted wherein at least one position on the
needle bar at which at least one shorter fringe in at least one
marginal region of the netting is knitted, and wherein the needle
is positioned higher than the remaining needles.
9. The knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the higher
position of the needles is achieved with longer needles.
10. The knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the higher
position of the needles takes place by lengthening a height of a
fastening nose on the needle.
11. The netting according to claim 1, wherein the netting is for
wrapping agricultural products.
12. The netting as claimed in claim 11, wherein the agricultural
products are round bales.
13. The netting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the netting wraps
silage bales, bales with chopped corn, bales with pressed pulp,
bales with shredded plastic waste or bales with comminuted
household garbage.
Description
[0001] This nonprovisional application is a continuation of
International Application No. PCT/EP2006/000678, which was filed on
Jan. 26, 2006, and which claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 102005006110, which was filed in Germany on Feb.
10, 2005, and which are both herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a netting which is knitted
from fringes and weft threads, to a method for producing the
netting, to a knitting machine for producing the netting and to the
use of the netting.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] Fringes are to be understood as meaning threads which,
during the manufacture of the netting, run longitudinally in the
production direction, and weft threads are to be understood as
meaning threads which, during the manufacture of the netting, run
in the transverse direction. Threads are in this context preferably
to be understood as meaning film strips, that is to say strips
which are generated by the longitudinal cutting of sheet-like films
and which assume the character of a thread by drawing in the
longitudinal direction.
[0006] Knitted nettings of such a type are employed, for example,
in agriculture for the wrapping of round bales. The round bales are
generally straw or hay bales. Furthermore, nettings of such a type
are employed, for example, for the wrapping of silage bales, bales
with chopped corn, bales with pressed pulp, bales with shredded
plastic waste or bales with comminuted household garbage.
[0007] Nettings, such as are known from the prior art and are sold
commercially, often contract when they are being wound around the
round bales, so that the round bales are then not covered by the
netting at their edges. The result of this is that the round bales
may fray and become unstable at the margins. Also, for visual
reasons, the customers for such nettings do not want the round
bales to fray at the margins.
[0008] Edges of a generally cylindrical round bale are in this
context to be understood as meaning the edges at which the surface
area of the cylinder adjoins the circular base. In this case, the
base and the surface area of the cylinder form, in general, an
angle of about 90.degree..
[0009] Raschel nettings, as they are known, are often already
employed for wrapping the round bales. These Raschel nettings are
distinguished in that the fringes are connected to the weft
threads, consequently running in a "zigzag" manner and diagonally
in relation to the fringes, to form a netting. The construction of
such Raschel nettings employed as round bale nettings is described,
for example, in DE-U 200 08 520.
[0010] A netting which can be drawn around the edge of the round
bale is known from EP-A 0 304 104, which corresponds to U.S. Pat.
No. 4,917,008. In this round bale netting, an elastic marginal
thread is used, by means of which the netting is drawn over the
edge of the round bale. This avoids the situation where the netting
contracts on the bale, which will lead to the margins of the round
bale not being covered by the netting.
[0011] The round bale netting with an elastic marginal thread has
the disadvantage that, during the production of the netting, an
additional thread consisting of another material has to be provided
in the marginal region. Also, due to aging, the elasticity of an
elastic marginal thread may diminish. Moreover, the latter may
become brittle and tear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a netting which is knitted from fringes and weft threads
and which, in practical use, lays itself around the edge of a round
bale, so that a fraying of the round bale in the edge region is
prevented. Further objects of the present invention are to provide
a method and a device for producing the netting.
[0013] The object is achieved by means of a netting which is
knitted from fringes and weft threads and in which at least one
fringe in at least one of the two marginal regions of the netting
is shorter than the remaining fringes of the netting. The at least
one shorter fringe, that is to say the at least one fringe which is
shorter than the remaining fringes of the netting, is preferably at
least 0.5%, more preferably at least 1% and, in particular, at
least 2% shorter than the remaining fringes of the netting. What is
in this context considered to be a marginal region is in each case
that 20% of the netting, preferably in each case that 10% of the
netting, which forms the lateral margin running parallel to the
fringes.
[0014] Furthermore, the object is achieved by means of a method for
producing a netting on a knitting machine, during the knitting of
the netting shorter loops for forming stitches from which the
fringes are knitted being generated in at least one marginal region
than in the remaining regions of the netting.
[0015] Finally, the object is achieved by means of a knitting
machine for producing the netting, the knitting machine comprising
a lay bar for feeding the longitudinal threads for knitting the
fringes, a lay bar for feeding the weft threads, a needle bar with
needles and a take-up device. At least one position on the needle
bar at which the at least one shorter fringe in at least one
marginal region of the netting is knitted, the needle is positioned
higher than the remaining needles, and/or the take-up device
comprises at least one take-up roller which has a region of smaller
diameter at least one position at which a shorter fringe is
knitted.
[0016] The at least one shorter fringe in at least one marginal
region of the netting ensures that, when the marginal region having
the shorter fringe is being wound around the round bale, the
netting fits snugly around at least one of the edges of the round
bale, and a contraction of the netting on the round bale and
therefore a fraying of the round bale edge region are thus
avoided.
[0017] In each case the marginal fringes, that is to say the
fringes which form the lateral termination of the netting on each
side, are preferred as shorter fringes. If more than one fringe in
the marginal region is shortened, the shorter fringes preferably
lie next to one another; one of the shorter fringes is in this case
preferably the marginal fringe.
[0018] In an embodiment, the fringes are in each case produced from
a longitudinal thread which can be knitted into stitches lined up
with one another. The at least one shorter fringe is generated in
that the stitches of the at least one shorter fringe are smaller
than the stitches of the remaining fringes of the netting. As a
result, even while the netting is being knitted, a shorter fringe
is generated in a simple way in each case at the positions at which
the fringes with smaller stitches are knitted.
[0019] In a further embodiment, the longitudinal threads from which
the shorter fringes are knitted can have a greater cross section
than the longitudinal threads from which the remaining fringes are
knitted. This is achieved, for example, in that, when film strips
are used, the strips from which the shorter fringes are knitted are
cut wider than the film strips from which the remaining fringes are
knitted, the thickness of the film being the same. Alternatively to
this, even for the shorter fringes, strips may be used which
consist of a thicker film and which are cut exactly as wide as the
film strips from which the remaining fringes are knitted. It is
also conceivable that both the thickness and the width of the film
strip from which the shorter fringe is knitted are greater than the
thickness and width of the film strip from which the remaining
fringes are knitted. With an approximately circular cross section
of the thread, preferably, the diameter of the thread from which
the shorter fringe is knitted is greater than the diameter of the
threads from which the remaining fringes are knitted. When a thread
of greater cross section is used, smaller stitches arise during
knitting because of the greater cross section, with the loop length
being the same, since, on account of the greater cross section, the
additional thread volume reduces the space surrounded by the
loop.
[0020] Preferably polyolefin strips including, in particular,
polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of these or of other
co-components, are used as fringes and/or (in particular, and) as
weft threads. By polyolefin strips being used, weather-resistant
nettings are obtained which may be employed, for example, in
agriculture for the wrapping of round bales.
[0021] Further suitable materials for producing the fringes and/or
weft threads are, for example, plant fibers or starch-based threads
and also mixtures of fibers and/or starch and polyolefins.
[0022] In another aspect, the shorter loops can be generated in
that the netting is taken up from the knitting region of the
knitting machine over a shorter distance at the positions at which
the shorter fringes are knitted. Since the netting is taken up from
the knitting region of the knitting machine over a shorter distance
at the positions at which the shorter fringes are knitted, the
longitudinal threads from which the fringe is knitted are drawn
over a shorter distance through the stitch last knitted. Shorter
loops are thereby generated.
[0023] The fact that the netting is taken up from the knitting
region of the knitting machine over a shorter distance at the
positions at which the shorter fringes are knitted is preferably
achieved in that the knitting machine comprises a take-up device
with a take-up roller which has a smaller diameter at the positions
at which the shorter fringes are knitted.
[0024] In a further embodiment, to generate the shorter loops,
needles are used which, at the position of the needle bar at which
the shorter fringes are knitted, are positioned higher than the
remaining needles. This is achieved, for example, in that longer
needles are used.
[0025] Owing to the higher position of the needles, the
longitudinal thread from which the shorter fringes are knitted is
drawn over a shorter distance through the stitch already knitted.
This gives rise to a shorter loop. The renewed drawing of the
longitudinal thread through the shorter loop thus gives rise to a
smaller stitch.
[0026] In the knitting machines, known from the prior art, for the
knitting of nettings, the needles with which the fringes are
knitted have a fastening nose. The needles are positioned at the
fastening nose coming to abutment in a groove on the needle bar. By
the height of the fastening nose being reduced, with the result
that a lengthening of the effective needle length is achieved, a
higher position of the needle is likewise achieved.
[0027] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a netting designed according to the invention
with shorter fringes in the marginal region,
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a section through a knitting region of a
knitting machine,
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the knitting region of a knitting
machine with a take-up device,
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a needle,
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a fastening nose of a needle,
[0034] FIG. 6 shows the generation of a loop for a shorter
fringe,
[0035] FIG. 7 shows the generation of a loop for an unshortened
fringe,
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a top view of a needle bar with needles
positioned at different heights, and
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a take-up roller with a smaller diameter at the
positions at which the shorter fringes are knitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a knitted netting having shorter fringes in a
knitting region.
[0039] A knitted netting 1 comprises fringes 2 and weft threads 3.
The fringes 2 are in this instance knitted in each case from a
longitudinal thread. In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal
threads from which the fringes 2 are knitted and the weft threads 3
are polyolefin strips which are cut from a polyolefin film and
subsequently drafted.
[0040] To produce the fringes 2, loops 4 are formed from the
longitudinal thread, through which loops the longitudinal thread is
drawn so as to form a new loop. A loop through which the
longitudinal thread is drawn so as to form a further loop is
designated in general as a stitch.
[0041] The netting 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is what is known as a
Raschel netting in which the weft threads 3 run in each case in a
"zigzag" manner between two fringes 2. A fastening of the weft
thread 3 and the fringe 2 takes place in that the weft thread 3 is
drawn through a stitch of the fringe 2 during the knitting of the
netting 1. The weft thread 3 is thereby connected to the fringe
2.
[0042] In order to achieve a stable wrapping of a round bale, in
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 fringes are knitted with
shorter loops 4.1 in the marginal region. This gives rise to
shorter fringes 2.1. Owing to the shorter fringes 2.1, the netting
1, when being wound around a round bale, is drawn over the edges of
the round bale, thus achieving a wrapping of the round bale over
the entire round bale width, without the netting 1 contracting and
therefore without the round bale being capable of fraying in the
edge region.
[0043] In addition to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, in
which in each case the two outer fringes 2.2 are shortened in
relation to the remaining fringes 2 of the netting and form the
marginal region, it is also possible that only the marginal fringe
26, that is to say the outermost fringe, more than in each case two
fringes 2,2.2, 26 on each side or in any other fringe 2 in the
marginal region of the netting is knitted shorter than the
remaining fringes 2 of the netting 1.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a section through a knitting region of a
knitting machine for producing a netting.
[0045] A knitting region 5 of a knitting machine comprises a first
lay bar 6 and a second lay bar 7. In the first lay bar 6, a weft
thread, not illustrated here, is guided in an eye 8 which is
arranged on that side of the first lay bar 6 which faces a needle
10.
[0046] A longitudinal thread, likewise not illustrated here, from
which a fringe 2 is knitted, is guided in an eye 9 which is located
on that side of the second lay bar 7 which faces the needle 10. For
this purpose, the needle 10, by means of a hook 11 arranged at its
end facing the eyes 8, 9, grips the longitudinal thread guiding the
eye 9 and then moves away from the eye 9 in the direction of a
knockover bit bar 12. The longitudinal thread gripped by means of
the hook 11 is drawn through a loop 4 which has formed around the
needle 10. A stitch of the fringe is thereby generated.
[0047] The needle 10 is fastened to a needle bar 13 which, to knit
the netting, moves in the directions illustrated by the double
arrow 14. The needle 10 has, at its end facing away from the hook
11, a fastening nose 15 which engages into a groove 16 in the
needle bar 13. This prevents the needle 10 from slipping out of
place during the knitting of the netting 1.
[0048] The fastening of the needle 10 in the needle bar 13
preferably takes place via a clamping connection. For this purpose,
the needle 10 is pressed with a clamping shoe 17 against the needle
bar 13. In the embodiment illustrated here, the fastening of the
clamping shoe 17 takes place via a cramp 18 which is screwed into
the needle bar 13 with the aid of a screw 19. However, any other
possibility, known to a person skilled in the art, for fastening
the needle may also be envisaged.
[0049] Furthermore, a slide bar 20 is arranged in a knitting region
5 of the knitting machine. By means of the slide bar 20, a slide,
not illustrated here, in the needle 10 is controlled and closes or
releases the hook 11. When the longitudinal thread is gripped, the
hook 11 is released. The needle 10 moves in the direction of the
knockover bit bar 12, with the result that a loop is drawn. As soon
as the needle 10 moves back in the direction of the eye 9, the loop
4 formed is laid around the needle 10. The needle 10 grips the
longitudinal thread once again with the hook 11 and moves in the
direction of the needle bar 13 again. During this time, the loop 4
which lies around the needle 10 is displaced on the needle 10 in
the direction of the hook 11. So that the longitudinal thread can
be drawn through the loop 4, the slide closes the hook 11, so that
the loop 4 is guided along the slide via the hook 11, and the
longitudinal thread gripped by the hook 11 is drawn through the
loop 4. A stitch is thereby formed.
[0050] The knitted netting is taken up from the knitting region 5
of the knitting machine by a take-up device. The take-up device
preferably comprises at least one take-up roller 21. So that the
netting 1 is taken up from the knitting region 5 of the knitting
machine by means of the take-up roller 21 and does not slip off on
the take-up roller 21, the take-up roller 21 is preferably provided
with a coating to which the netting 1 adheres. A suitable coating
is, for example, a polymer foam with a rough surface. The netting 1
is held on the surface of the take-up roller 21 by frictional force
and is thus taken up from the knitting region 5 of the knitting
machine.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the knitting region of a knitting
machine with a take-up device.
[0052] The knitted netting 1 is taken up from the take-up device 22
via the knockover bit bar 12. The netting 1 first runs along the
underside of the take-up roller 21. It is deflected from there via
a second roller 23 and led to a winding device where the knitted
netting 1 is wound up.
[0053] In the knitting machine illustrated in FIG. 3, two nettings
1 are produced simultaneously, parallel to one another, on a
knitting machine. The right marginal region in the production
direction of the left netting 1 is designated by reference symbol
24. Reference symbol 25 designates the left marginal region of the
right netting 1 in the production direction. In order in each case
to obtain a shorter marginal fringe 26 of the nettings, the
diameter of the take-up roller 21 is reduced in the region in which
the marginal fringe 26 is taken up. A lower tensile force is
thereby exerted on the marginal fringe 23 by the take-up roller 21,
as a result of which, when the marginal fringe 26 is being knitted,
shorter loops are obtained and therefore the marginal fringe 26 is
shortened in relation to the remaining fringes 2.
[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a needle, such as is used for knitting a
netting.
[0055] A groove in which a slide 27 is received is formed in the
needle 10. The slide 27 is connected to the slide bar 20 at the
point identified by reference symbol 28. While the netting is being
knitted, the slide bar 20 does not move. The needle 10 is moved in
the direction identified by the double arrow 29. As soon as the
needle 10 moves towards the eye 9 in which the longitudinal thread
for producing the fringes is guided, the hook 11 opens since the
slide 27 remains in its position. The hook 11 can grip the
longitudinal thread. As soon as the hook 11 has gripped the
longitudinal thread, the needle 10 moves in the other direction.
The hook 11 is thereby closed by the slide 27. A loop 4 is thus
formed on the hook 11. As soon as the needle 10 is moved again in
the direction of the eye 9, not illustrated here, the loop 4 slips
over the needle 10 in the direction facing away from the hook 11.
The hook 11 once again grips the longitudinal thread, whereupon the
needle 10 moves back again. In this case, the slide 7 closes the
hook 11. The loop 4 previously formed during the operation slips
over the slide 27 and over the hook 11. Thus, the longitudinal
thread, which therefore forms a new loop 4, is drawn through the
loop 4 previously formed during the operation. A chain of stitches
is obtained.
[0056] In order to move the needle 10, the latter is fastened in
the needle bar 13. With the aid of the fastening nose 15, the
needle 10 is held in its position in the needle bar 13. For this
purpose, the fastening nose 15 engages into the groove 16 in the
needle bar 13.
[0057] In order to lengthen the working length of the needle, that
is to say to position the needle higher in the needle bar 13, the
fastening nose 15 can be reduced. By the region 30 illustrated by
hatching in FIG. 5 being removed, the abutment edge 31 with which
the needle 10 is positioned against an abutment in the needle bar
13 is positioned further away from the hook 11. After the needle 10
has been installed in the needle bar 13, therefore, the needles 10,
the fastening noses 15 of which have been reduced by the amount of
the surface 30, project further out of the needle bar 13 by the
height h.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows a needle bar with needles positioned at
different heights.
[0059] In the needle bar 13 illustrated in FIG. 6, in each case the
two outer needles 10.1 are positioned higher than the remaining
needles 10. By the two outer needles 10.1 in the marginal regions
of the needle bar 13 being positioned higher, in each case two
shorter fringes are generated in the marginal region of the netting
1 during the knitting of the latter. In each case the first and the
second fringe in the left marginal region and the first and the
second fringe in the right marginal region are shortened. The
needles 10, 10.1 are in each case held in the needle bar 13 via a
clamping connection with a clamping shoe onto which a cramp 18
fastened by means of a screw 19 presses.
[0060] FIG. 7 shows the generation of a loop for a shorter fringe
and FIG. 8 the generation of a loop for an unshortened fringe, the
needle 10 in each case being in its lower abutment position.
[0061] In the lower abutment position, the fringe 2 is drawn via
the knockover bit bar 12, a loop 32 being formed. On account of a
smaller knockover depth 33, with the needle 10.1 positioned higher,
as illustrated in FIG. 7, a smaller loop 32 is generated than in
the case of the greater knockover depth 33, such as is illustrated
in FIG. 8, and such as is achieved by means of a needle 10 not
positioned higher.
[0062] The knitted fringe 2 is taken up from the knitting region of
the knitting machine by the take-up roller 21 via the bit bar 12 in
the take-up direction illustrated by the arrow 34.
[0063] A take-up roller with different diameters for generating
fringes of different length is illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0064] The fringes which are taken up in regions of smaller
diameter 35 have a shorter length than the fringes 2 which are
taken up in the region of larger diameter 36.
[0065] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *