Loop-forming method and device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934642-B2
Application number	US-201615748967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2016
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A loop-forming process includes moving a plurality of system components (11, 12) relatively to a needle bed (14). The system components (11, 12) contact threads (23) for forming loops. At least one spacer (10) is placed between at least two adjacent system components (11, 12) of the plurality of system components (11, 12) and defines the distance (21) between the two adjacent system components (11, 12), the spacer (10) being in mechanical contact to the two adjacent system components (11,12). The spacer (10) is placed away from and does not contact threads (23) and is moved with respect to the needle bed (14). The spacer (10) is also moved with respect to both of the two adjacent system components (11, 12) at least for a period of time during the loop forming process. An equivalent device is also disclosed and claimed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A loop-forming process comprising:
moving a plurality of system components relative to a needle bed ( 14 ),
said system components contacting threads ( 23 ) for forming loops,
placing at least one spacer ( 10 ) between at least two adjacent system components of said plurality of system components to define a distance ( 21 ) between said two adjacent system components, the at least one spacer ( 10 ) overlapping said two adjacent system components in a longitudinal direction of said at least one spacer ( 10 ), the at least one spacer ( 10 ) being in mechanical contact with said two adjacent system components,
moving said at least one spacer ( 10 ) with respect to the needle bed ( 14 ),
moving the at least one spacer ( 10 ) with respect to both said at least two adjacent system components at least for a period of time during the loop forming process,

wherein said at least one spacer ( 10 ) is placed away from and does not contact threads.

2. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising at least temporarily moving the at least one spacer ( 10 ) during the loop-forming process
with a first relative velocity (Vsb) with respect to the needle bed ( 14 ),
with a second relative velocity (VsN1) with respect to a first of the at least two system components ( 11 ),
and with a third relative velocity (VsN2) with respect to a second of the at least two system components ( 12 ).

3. The loop-forming process according to claim 2 further comprising:
performing periodic movements with the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and the at least two adjacent system components relative to the needle bed ( 14 ) during which the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and the at least two adjacent system components reach minima ( 1 ) and maxima ( 2 ) in a length-direction (y) of the at least two adjacent system components' shanks,
the movements relative to the needle bed ( 14 ) have periods (P) of time moving between respective minima ( 1 ) and maxima ( 2 ) with a same duration,
and wherein the first relative velocity (Vsb) is higher than or equal to one or both of the second relative velocity (VsN1) and the third relative velocity (VsN2) during at least 85% of the duration of the periods (P).

4. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising providing force for the at least one spacer's ( 10 ) movement by at least one cam ( 18 ) which is moved relative to the needle bed ( 14 ).

5. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising performing same relative movements with the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and the at least two adjacent system components with respect to the needle bed ( 14 ) whereby the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and the at least two adjacent system components perform the relative movements with a delay.

6. The loop-forming process according claim 1 further comprising the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and the at least two adjacent system components successively receiving force for their relative movements from a same at least one cam ( 18 ).

7. The loop-forming process according to claim 5 further comprising the at least one spacer ( 10 ) receiving force for its relative movements from at least one cam ( 18 ) which does not provide the at least two adjacent system components with force for their relative movements.

8. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising:
the at least one spacer and the at least two adjacent system components performing movements which have minima ( 1 ) and maxima ( 2 ) in a length direction (y) of the at least two adjacent system components' shanks,
moving the needle bed ( 14 ) relative to a cam holder,
and the at least one spacer ( 10 ) reaching at least one minima ( 1 ) and maxima ( 2 ) at a position different from the minima ( 1 ) and the maxima of the at least two adjacent system components.

9. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising the at least one spacer ( 10 ) receiving force for its relative movements from at least one of the at least two adjacent system components.

10. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising:
the at least two adjacent system components performing movements with regard to the needle bed ( 14 ) movements which comprise phases ( 60 ) in which the at least two adjacent system components have no acceleration with regard to each other,
and at least temporarily accelerating the at least one spacer ( 10 ) which is placed between the at least two adjacent system components with regard to the at least two adjacent system components during at least one of the phases ( 60 ).

11. The loop-forming process according to claim 1 further comprising the at least one spacer ( 10 ) not controlling directly or indirectly via another element the movement of loop forming portions ( 20 ) which take part in the loop forming process.

12. A device for loop-forming, comprising:
a needle bed ( 14 ),
a plurality of system components comprising portions configured to engage in loop-forming and being involved in loop-forming at least for a period of time during a loop forming process,
said plurality of system components being movably arranged in said needle bed ( 14 ),
at least one spacer ( 10 ) arranged between at least two adjacent system components of said plurality of system components and configured to define a distance between said at least two adjacent system components the at least one spacer ( 10 ) overlapping said two adjacent system components in a longitudinal direction of said at least one spacer ( 10 ) and being in mechanical contact with said at least two adjacent system components,
whereby said at least one spacer ( 10 ) is devoid of loop-forming structure ( 20 , 24 ),
whereby said at least one spacer ( 10 ) is movably arranged in said needle bed ( 14 ),

wherein said at least one spacer ( 10 ) is also movably arranged with respect to both of said at least two adjacent system components.

13. The device for loop-forming according to claim 12 further comprising a number of said plurality of system components which is higher than two and a number of the at least one spacer ( 10 ) which is higher than one.

14. The device for loop-forming according to claim 12 further comprising at least two grooves ( 16 ) configured to accommodate the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and said plurality of system components whereby the two grooves ( 16 ) are delimited by a wall ( 15 ) which is as broad in a direction of the grooves' ( 16 ) width as a shank of the at least one spacer ( 10 ).

15. The device for loop-forming according to claim 14 further comprising at least one means ( 31 , 32 ) for limiting movement of the at least one spacer ( 10 ) in a length direction (y) of the grooves ( 16 ).

16. The device for loop-forming according to claim 12 further comprising at least one groove ( 16 ) which has a width which is equal to or bigger than 0.8 times a pitch ( 52 ) of the respective needle bed ( 14 ) and which has a length bigger than 60% of the plurality of system components' length.

17. The device for loop-forming according to claim 12 wherein the at least one spacer ( 19 ) is devoid of means for guiding or establishing mechanical contact with the plurality of system components or with a further member configured to control the plurality of system components.

18. The device for loop-forming according to claim 12 wherein the at least one spacer ( 10 ) is devoid of recesses, protrusions, or juts configured to guide or establish mechanical contact with the plurality of system components

Assignees

• Groz Beckert Kg
• Santoni & C Spa

Inventors

• Wörnle Martin
• Sauter Jörg
• Stingel Uwe
• Jürgens Eric
• Haug Hans-Jürgen
• Andreoli Marco
• Rizzi Stefano

Classifications

• D04B35/02 Primary

  Knitting tools or instruments not provided for in group D04B15/00 or D04B27/00 (needle manufacture B21G1/00) · CPC title

• D04B15/06 Primary

  Sinkers · CPC title

• D04B35/04 Primary

  Latch needles · CPC title