Plunger systems and multi-function feeders for a knitting machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018282916-A1
Application number	US-201815941032-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 a rail of the knitting machine and a feeder arm extending from the carrier. The feeder arm may include a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine, and the carrier may include a first actuation surface, a second actuation surface, and a third actuation surface, where the feeder performs a first knitting function when a plunger actuates the feeder by applying a force on the first actuation surface, where the feeder performs a second knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the second actuation surface, and where the feeder performs a third knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the third actuation surface.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A plunger system for a knitting machine, the plunger system comprising:
a first plunger and a second plunger configured to move parallel to a rail of the knitting machine, wherein the first plunger is attached to the second plunger in a substantially fixed manner, wherein the first plunger leads the second plunger when moving along the rail in a first direction, and wherein the first plunger trails the second plunger when moving along the rail in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

2 . The plunger system of claim 1 , further comprising a third plunger attached to the second plunger in a substantially fixed manner,
wherein the second plunger leads the third plunger when moving along the rail in a first direction, and wherein the second plunger trails the third plunger when moving along the rail in a second direction.

3 . The plunger system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first set of plungers, the first set of plungers including the first plunger and the second plunger, wherein each plunger of the first set of plungers is configured to actuate a feeder coupled to a first rail; and a second set of plungers, wherein each plunger of the second set of plungers is configured to actuate a feeder coupled to a second rail.

4 . The plunger system of claim 3 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are spaced in a first direction corresponding with a longitudinal direction of the first rail, and wherein the first set of plungers and the second set of plungers are spaced in a second direction being substantially perpendicular from the first direction.

5 . The plunger system of claim 3 ,
wherein the second set of plungers includes a third plunger and a fourth plunger, wherein the third plunger is attached to the fourth plunger in a substantially fixed manner, wherein the third plunger leads the fourth plunger when moving along the rail in a third direction, and wherein the third plunger trails the fourth plunger when moving along the rail in a fourth direction, the fourth direction being opposite the third direction.

6 . The plunger system of claim 1 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are coupled to a carriage of the knitting machine.

7 . 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 a rail of the knitting machine; and 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, wherein the carrier includes a first actuation surface, a second actuation surface, and a third actuation surface, wherein the feeder performs a first knitting function when a plunger actuates the feeder by applying a force on the first actuation surface, wherein the feeder performs a second knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the second actuation surface, and wherein the feeder performs a third knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the third actuation surface.

8 . The feeder of claim 7 , wherein the first actuation surface is located at a first height, wherein the second actuation surface is located at a second height, and wherein the third actuation surface is located at a third height.

9 . The feeder of claim 8 , wherein the first height corresponds with a first degree of extension of a plunger, wherein the second height corresponds with a second degree of extension of the plunger, and wherein the third height corresponds with a third degree of extension of the plunger.

10 . The feeder of claim 9 , wherein the first height corresponds with a first extension of a plunger, wherein the second height corresponds with a second extension of the plunger, and wherein the third height corresponds with a third extension of the plunger.

11 . The feeder of claim 7 , wherein the carrier includes a first side with the first actuation surface, the second actuation surface, and the third actuation surface, and wherein the carrier further includes a second side with a fourth actuation surface, a fifth actuation surface, and a sixth actuation surface.

12 . The feeder of claim 11 , wherein the fourth actuation surface is at a height of the first actuation surface, wherein the fifth actuation surface is at a height of the second actuation surface, and wherein the sixth actuation surface is at a height of the third actuation surface.

13 . The feeder of claim 7 , further comprising a fourth actuation surface, wherein the feeder performs a fourth knitting function when the plunger actuates the feeder by contacting the fourth actuation surface.

14 . The feeder of claim 13 , wherein the first knitting function includes inlaying the yarn, wherein the second knitting function includes knitting the yarn, wherein the third knitting function includes plating the yarn, and wherein the fourth knitting function includes reverse plating the yarn.

15 . The feeder of claim 7 , wherein at least one actuation surface is located on an actuation arm that is movable with respect to the remainder of the carrier to cause vertical movement of the feeder arm.

16 . A method of knitting on a knitting machine, the method comprising:
moving a carrier of a feeder along a rail of the knitting machine, wherein the carrier includes a first actuation surface, a second actuation surface, and a third actuation surface, and wherein the movement of the carrier along the rail is caused by contact between a plunger on at least one of the first actuation surface, the second actuation surface, and wherein the third actuation surface.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the degree of extension of the plunger such that the plunger is positioned to contact a different one of the first actuation surface, the second actuation surface, and the third actuation surface.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first actuation surface is located at a first height, wherein the second actuation surface is located at a second height, and wherein the third actuation surface is located at a third height.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first actuation surface is located on an arm that is movable with respect to the remainder of the carrier.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the carrier includes a first side with the first actuation surface, the second actuation surface, and the third actuation surface, and wherein the carrier further includes a second side with a fourth actuation surface, a fifth actuation surface, and a sixth actuation surface.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dealey Stuart W
• Meir Adrian
• Singh Gagandeep

Classifications

• D04B7/14

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

• D04B15/48 Primary

  Thread-feeding devices · CPC title

• D04B15/70 Primary

  in flat-bed knitting machines · CPC title

• D04B15/565 Primary

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

• D04B15/96

  in flat-bed knitting machines · CPC title