Knitting feeder with a cutting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018282914-A1
Application number	US-201815941037-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A feeder for a knitting machine may include: a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine; and a cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, where the cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the yarn to disengage an upper portion of the yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A feeder for a knitting machine, the feeder comprising:
a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine; and a cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, wherein the cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the yarn to disengage an upper portion of the yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.

2 . The feeder of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping device coupled to the feeder arm for gripping a distal end of the yarn when the yarn is cut by the cutting device.

3 . The feeder of claim 2 , wherein the gripping device is configured to be disengaged with the yarn when the yarn is being dispensed to the needle bed by the dispensing area of the feeder arm.

4 . The feeder of claim 1 , further comprising a starting device configured to engage a distal end the yarn with the needle bed.

5 . The feeder of claim 4 , wherein the starting device includes an outlet for dispensing a pressurized gas to guide the distal end of the yarn to a needle of the needle bed during a starting procedure.

6 . The feeder of claim 1 , wherein the feeder arm further includes a second dispensing area configured for supplying a second yarn to the needle bed of the knitting machine.

7 . The feeder of claim 6 , further comprising a second cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, wherein the second cutting device includes a second cutting edge for cutting the second yarn to disengage an upper portion of the second yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.

8 . The feeder of claim 7 , further comprising a second gripping device adjacent to the second cutting device for engaging the second yarn when the second yarn is cut.

9 . A feeder for a knitting machine, the feeder comprising:
a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; and a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a first dispensing area configured for supplying a first yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine and a second dispensing area configured for supplying a second yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine.

10 . The feeder of claim 9 , wherein the feeder comprises a first cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, wherein the first cutting device is configured to cut the first yarn to disengage the first yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.

11 . The feeder of claim 10 , further comprising a first gripping device coupled to the feeder arm for gripping a distal end of the first yarn when the first yarn is cut by the first cutting device.

12 . The feeder of claim 11 , further comprising a second gripping device coupled to the feeder arm for gripping a distal end of the second yarn when the second yarn is cut by a second cutting device.

13 . The feeder of claim 11 , wherein the first gripping device is configured to be disengaged with the first yarn when the first yarn is being dispensed to the needle bed at a dispensing area of the feeder arm.

14 . The feeder of claim 9 , further comprising a starting device configured to engage a distal end of at least one of the first yarn and the second yarn with the needle bed.

15 . The feeder of claim 14 , wherein the starting device includes an outlet for dispensing a pressurized gas to guide the distal end of the first yarn to a needle of the needle bed during a starting procedure.

16 . The feeder of claim 9 , wherein the feeder comprises a first cutting device that is actuated through movement of an actuation arm coupled to the carrier.

17 . A method, the method comprising:
knitting with a first yarn with a feeder; cutting the first yarn with a first cutting device, the first cutting device being coupled to an arm of the feeder; gripping the first yarn with a first gripping device, the first gripping device being coupled to the arm of the feeder; and knitting with a second yarn with the feeder.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
cutting the second yarn with a second cutting device coupled to the arm of the feeder; gripping the second yarn with a second gripping device coupled to the arm of the feeder; and again knitting with the first yarn with the feeder.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of engaging the second yarn with a needle bed using a starting device prior to knitting with the second yarn.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein engaging the second yarn with the needle bed includes releasing pressurized gas to guide the second yarn to the needle bed.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dealey Stuart W
• Meir Adrian
• Singh Gagandeep

Classifications

• D04B15/48 Primary

  Thread-feeding devices · CPC title

• D04B15/565 Primary

  Associated thread-clamping or thread-severing devices · CPC title

• D04B15/70

  in flat-bed knitting machines · CPC title

• D04B7/14

  with provision for incorporating internal threads in laid-in fabrics · CPC title

• D04B15/96

  in flat-bed knitting machines · CPC title