CN118302568A

CN118302568A - Knitting tool and method for producing a knitting tool

Info

Publication number: CN118302568A
Application number: CN202280078238.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·奥莱; P·海塞尔
Original assignee: Groz Beckert KG
Current assignee: Groz Beckert KG
Priority date: 2021-11-25
Filing date: 2022-09-21
Publication date: 2024-07-05
Also published as: EP4187006A1; TW202328528A; WO2023094047A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a knitting tool (1) for a knitting machine. The knitting tool (1) has a braking device (7) which is bent in the elastic section (5) in such a way that the braking device provides an elastic force during knitting operation. By means of this elastic force, a holding force is provided in the knitting operation, which prevents unintentional movement of the knitting tool (1) during the knitting operation. The side of the knitting tool (1) is processed in the elastic section (5) in such a way that it has a smaller area per unit length than in at least one shank section (8) adjoining the elastic section. Surprisingly, with a knitting tool (1) having this feature, the accumulation of dirt and fiber abrasive particles can be reduced. Which can be manufactured advantageously and with a quality that remains the same.

Description

Knitting tool and method for producing a knitting tool

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a knitting tool for knitting machines. Knitting tools have been known for many years and have an elongated shank which is suitable for use in an elongated slot (needle tract) of a knitting machine. The knitting tool is thereby guided such that it can perform a knitting movement in the longitudinal direction of its shank. In general, a large number of knitting tools are arranged side by side in the width direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle in knitting machines. Knitting tools typically have stitch forming devices that are in contact with the yarn at least in stages during the knitting process. The coil forming means may be, for example, a hook coupled to the handle in the longitudinal direction. Different embodiments of knitting tools are known which have elastic braking means in order to brake the knitting tool in the needle tract in the knitting machine. The elastic braking means is here a section of the shank which is curved in the width direction. In the knitting machine, the braking device is elastically deformed by contact with the needle path, and thus provides an elastic force acting in the width direction. Due to the friction at the contact point with the needle track, this friction results in a braking force in the knitting machine acting perpendicular to the width direction. The braking force prevents unintentional movements of the knitting tool, which movements may be caused, for example, by gravity or vibrations of the knitting machine. However, the braking force must additionally be overcome by the drive of the knitting tool in order to be able to perform the intended knitting movement in the knitting machine. Furthermore, friction causes wear at the knitting tool and in the needle tract. The elastic force provided by the braking means thus has a direct influence on the dynamic behaviour of the knitting tool, the power requirements of the knitting machine and the wear of the knitting tool and the knitting machine. It is therefore desirable to set the spring force in a targeted manner, so that, on the one hand, the knitting tool can also be braked and, on the other hand, no excessive wear and power demands are caused.

Background

US664808a shows a knitting tool with a braking device as described before. In order to reduce the spring force of the brake device, the knitting tool has a shank section which tapers in the width direction. However, such a taper can only be produced in the known production methods for knitting tools in additional processing steps (for example by milling) and thus increases the production costs. Another disadvantage, which is manifested in particular in knitting tools with a taper milled in the width direction, is the elasticity behavior and thus the fluctuation of the elastic force due to manufacturing tolerances. As such, the elastic properties of individual knitting tools may vary even within a production lot. Furthermore, dirt (e.g., fiber abrasive particles) may accumulate in the taper and be distributed throughout the height of the needle tract. Thereby, friction in the needle track and wear of the knitting tool are increased.

EP143890A1 likewise shows a knitting tool with a braking device. The detent means is likewise thinned in the width direction by the recess. However, attempts have been made to prevent the accumulation of dirt in the recess by filling the recess with a material that dampens vibrations. At the same time, the risk of handle breakage due to vibrations of the knitting tool should be reduced by the material damping the vibrations. The shank of the knitting tool and the vibration damping material form a material composite. However, not only the manufacture of the recess but also the introduction of the vibration-damping material requires an additional manufacturing step, respectively.

EP496048B1 shows a multi-piece knitting tool consisting of a slider part and a needle part, which are moved relative to one another in the longitudinal direction during the knitting operation. Both the needle part and the slider part have braking means which are curved in the width direction. The detent (# 16) of the slider component is not an integral part of the shank (# 10). However, it is connected to the shank of the slider part via a coupling means (# 13). In order to improve the spring properties, the braking device has an elongated recess which tapers the width of the braking device in the bending region. During knitting operations, dirt may accumulate in the recess. Conversely, the detent (# 4) of the needle part is embodied as an integral part of the shank of the needle part. The braking device has no taper in the width direction. However, the height of the detent means decreases with increasing distance from the needle hook (# 3) in the longitudinal direction, and an end of the needle part facing away from the needle hook is formed in the longitudinal direction. Such a brake device (# 4) is also called a tracking part Nachf u hrung and is widely known from the prior art in multi-piece knitting tools that are actuated via a coupling or selection element. The tracking has a height which decreases in the longitudinal direction, since otherwise the tracking would extend over the range of motion of the coupling part or selection part of the knitting tool and collide with it during the knitting operation. Thus, its geometry is preset by the range of motion of the coupling or selection member and may not be individually adapted to set the elastic properties of the tracking portion. Also, if it is desired to influence the elastic properties of these tracking portions, they are therefore generally made thinner in the width direction.

Thus, for example, JP2001032154a shows a knitting tool having a trace portion with a thinned portion in the width direction (fig. 3, # 28). Fig. 1 of JP2001032154a shows the assembly of a multi-piece knitting tool. During knitting operation, the selection member (# 91) can perform a pivotal movement about the coupling site (fig. 3, # 27). The profile of the tracking with the lowered height is thus preset by the pivoting movement of the selection part (# 91) that occurs during the knitting operation and cannot be adapted to influence the elastic properties of the tracking in a targeted manner.

US2603958a describes a knitting tool with hook-shaped loop forming means. The knitting tool is guided in the needle tract during knitting operation and has a brake in the rear shank section. For this purpose, the shank has a slit extending in the longitudinal direction, which divides the shank into an upper fin and a lower fin in the region of the braking device. The upper fin and the lower fin are bent opposite to each other in the width direction of the knitting tool. Thus, in use in a needle track, one of the two fins rests against each of the two channel walls of the needle track. In this way, the stitch forming device of the knitting tool should be prevented from deflecting laterally when the knitting tool is ejected farther from the needle tract. The two fins are thinner than the rest of the shank of the knitting tool. Thus, even in such knitting tools, dirt can intrude in the region of the fins and as such cause increased wear.

US2240761a shows a knitting tool with a braking device which is intended to hold the knitting tool during knitting operation, in particular when the loops are transferred by friction in the needle track. The knitting tool has a rear handle section that is thinner than the rest of the handle and is oriented by a bend having an angular offset from the longitudinal direction of the handle. In the region of the curvature, the knitting tool has lateral notches. Dirt may accumulate in the region of the lateral recess, which dirt increases the wear of the knitting tool during the knitting operation.

Disclosure of Invention

In the context of the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to specify a knitting tool with a braking device which reduces the accumulation of dirt and fiber abrasive particles during the knitting operation compared to the knitting tools known at present, which can be produced in a suitable manner, which braking device can be adapted to set the elastic properties of the braking device, and which braking device has less fluctuations in the elastic properties within a production batch.

This object is achieved by a knitting tool having the features of claim 1 and a method for producing a knitting tool having the features of claim 10. The knitting tool is adapted for movement in its longitudinal direction in the needle tract of the knitting machine. The movement is usually performed linearly or translationally. The knitting tool has the following features: a shank, two sides, an upper boundary surface and a lower boundary surface. The shank extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the knitting tool and is bounded by two sides in a width direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The two sides are suitable for guiding the knitting tool during the knitting operation by contact with the usual needle tracks of the usual knitting machine. The upper and lower boundary surfaces limit the knitting tool in a height direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The lower boundary surface is adapted to slide on the bottom of the needle track of the knitting machine during the knitting operation. The shank of the knitting tool is composed of a bending-rigid, resilient, elastic shank material, such as metal, in particular steel, and has a braking device. A material that is bending-rigid is a material that can bend elastically under force, but here provides a restoring force due to its rigidity. When no force is more applied to the material, the reset force causes a reset to the initial state. The material that is bending-rigid behaves elastically, at least in stages. In these phases, the material behavior can be described at least approximately using hooke's law. The handle of the knitting tool is preferably not constructed of a number of different materials. Therefore, it is preferably not a material composite. When a plurality of members composed of different materials are joined into one member by a suitable joining method, then a material composite exists. The knitting tool may advantageously be made of a composite material (e.g. CFK or GFK). Composite materials are composed of a plurality of interconnected materials. The composite material can be processed and treated as the sole material. The braking device includes an elastic section that is curved in the width direction. That is, the elastic section flexes at least segment by segment. the braking device furthermore has a braking means which is suspended at the elastic section and is deflected by the curvature of the elastic section at an angle to the longitudinal direction. However, if the knitting tool is used in the needle tract of a knitting machine during the knitting operation, the braking means are in contact with the needle tract in the width direction and are oriented essentially linearly in the longitudinal direction by the resilient curvature. Here, the elastic force acts in the width direction. At the contact point between the braking means and the needle track, a braking force acting on the knitting tool in the longitudinal direction and/or in the height direction is generated by friction from this elastic force. In the elastic section, the cross-sectional area of the shank material in the plane spanned by the width direction and the height direction is smaller than in the adjoining shank section of the shank. That is, only the section of the shank in which the cross-sectional area of the shank material is smaller than in the adjoining shank section may be an integral part of the elastic section. The knitting tool is characterized in that the projection of the sides of the elastic section in a plane spanned by the height direction and the longitudinal direction of the knitting tool has a smaller area per unit length than the projection of the sides of at least one adjoining handle section, preferably however at least two adjoining handle sections, in the same plane. The area per unit length is the quotient of the projected area of the side and the length of the projection of the side in the longitudinal direction Thus, the two sides have a smaller height in the height direction in the elastic section than in at least one handle section adjoining the elastic section in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the elastic section has a recess which penetrates completely through the shank in the width direction in the elastic section and reduces the projected area of the side face. It has been shown that by reducing the surface area of the side surfaces, the dirt input in the needle track can be reduced and the production costs can be reduced. In this way, the introduction of recesses by milling or grinding in additional method steps can be dispensed with in such a knitting tool. Furthermore, it has been shown that the elastic properties of the produced knitting tool are subject to smaller tolerance-induced fluctuations than in the case where this is the case in knitting tools with tapers milled in the width direction. Furthermore, it has been shown that by this measure the elastic properties of the different knitting tools of a production batch have a smaller dispersion than in knitting tools which taper in the width direction.

Advantageously, the width of the shank of the knitting tool at any point of the elastic section is as large as the width of the shank in the shank section adjoining to the elastic section. In this case, the sides of the elastic section and the sides of the adjoining handle section are substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, the sides of the elastic section and the sides of the adjoining handle section are substantially parallel to each other at least in the linear regions of these sections. The straight areas of these sections are sections in which no bends are present. The shank of such a knitting tool does not have a taper in the width direction. As a result, less dirt than usual reaches the needle track of the knitting machine.

Particularly advantageous is a knitting tool with a stitch-forming device which is in contact with the yarn during knitting operation and is preferably hook-shaped. Advantageously, the knitting tool with the hook-shaped loop forming means additionally has a tongue which can open and close the hook interior enclosed by the loop forming means by a rotational movement about a rotational axis directed in the width direction. Such knitting tools are known to the person skilled in the art as latch needles. It is particularly advantageous if the loop-forming means are molded to the shank of the knitting tool in such a way that the knitting tool is one-piece with the shank and the loop-forming means. The loop forming means of the knitting tool are advantageously arranged in a loop forming region which is coupled to the shank of the knitting tool in the longitudinal direction and which closes the knitting tool at its front end.

A further advantage results if the at least one recess penetrates completely through the shank in the width direction in the elastic section and bounds the elastic section on one side in the height direction. The recess thus extends in the elastic section over the entire width of the shank. In a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the height direction, the recess has a boundary line which starts at a first point and ends at a second point which does not correspond to the first point. Thus, it is limited on one side or open on one side in the height direction. With such a recess, the projected area of the side can be reduced in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the recess is limited in height by the face. The face is a notch face. It is particularly advantageous if the recess surface is an integral part of the upper boundary surface and/or of the lower boundary surface.

It is also advantageous if the at least one recess in the elastic section which penetrates completely through the shank in the width direction is a hole, preferably a long hole or an oval hole, with a closed boundary line. Oval is a generic concept of circular and elliptical, wherein not only oval holes but also elliptical holes are an advantageous embodiment of the recess. In the plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the height direction, the recess has a closed boundary line. Therefore, the boundary line does not have a clear start point and end point. In the plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the height direction, it completely encloses a surface, wherein the surface corresponds in its shape and size to a surface whose projection around its side is reduced by the aperture. In other cases, the aperture may have any arbitrary shape. However, the hole is preferably a long hole having a flat section in the longitudinal direction and two half oval ends adjoining to the flat section on both sides in the longitudinal direction. Here, a half oval is a generic concept of a semicircle and a half ellipse (thus, a long hole may also have a semicircular end or a half oval end). Particularly preferred are oval holes, wherein the term "oval hole" also includes elliptical holes or circular holes. Advantageously, the elastic section has at least two notches, preferably however at least three notches. In the case of the recess with the closed boundary line, the lateral surface of the shank in the elastic section is reduced in such a way that no additional open space is thereby created during the knitting operation, into which dirt can penetrate. Instead, during knitting operation, the lateral opening of the recess, which is directed in the width direction, is covered or closed by the groove wall of the needle track. Thus, no open space is formed by the recess, since the recess is surrounded by the shank material of the knitting tool or by the groove wall of the needle tract in all spatial directions during the knitting operation. Advantageously, the needle has a recess which limits the elastic section only on one side in the height direction and a recess with a closed boundary line.

According to the invention, the elastic section is curved in the same direction over the entire height of the handle in the height direction at least one point of its longitudinal extension. In the knitting operation, the brake device is thereby applied to only one wall of the needle track on one side in the needle track, wherein the wall of the needle track delimits the needle track in the width direction.

A further advantage results if the drive foot and/or the coupling element are arranged in front of the elastic section in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction in the knitting tool is directed here in the direction of the coil forming means or in the direction of the coil forming region. The elastic section is then thus arranged in the longitudinal direction between the coil forming means and the drive leg or the coupling element. However, the drive foot and/or the coupling element may in alternative embodiments be arranged behind the elastic section in the longitudinal direction. The driving foot of the knitting tool is in any case suitable for transmitting the driving force to the knitting tool during the knitting operation. Which protrudes in the height direction beyond the region of the knitting tool adjoining thereto. The coupling element is suitable for connecting individual parts of a multi-piece knitting tool to one another, preferably in a form-fitting manner. Which comprises a recess into which a counterpart of the coupling element can be positively engaged. Advantageously, the coupling piece comprises an undercut, so that there is a form fit in all directions, which directions have no directional share in the width direction. The drive foot and/or the coupling element are advantageously spaced apart from the elastic section in the longitudinal direction (for example by a section of the braking means which does not belong to the drive foot and/or the coupling element).

Advantageously, the knitting tool is manufactured in one piece (i.e. from one piece). Thus, the knitting tool having the above-described features is composed of one piece and is not connected to each other by the joining method. Such a knitting tool can be produced particularly cost-effectively, since the joining method is omitted, and additional processing steps are omitted. For example, it may be stamped from a metal strip. In addition, further elements can be attached to the knitting tool produced in one piece, for example tongues for opening and closing the hook interior in knitting tools with hook-shaped loop forming means (latch needles). These elements do not have to be manufactured in one piece with the rest of the knitting tool. Thus, if only the hook-shaped loop forming means of the latch needle, the shank of the latch needle and the catch of the latch needle are manufactured jointly in one piece, the latch needle is also a one-piece manufactured knitting tool in the sense of the present patent application.

Advantageously, the lower boundary surface and/or the upper boundary surface of the knitting tool in the region of the braking means and the elastic section extend substantially flat in a plane spanned by the width direction and the longitudinal direction. The upper and/or lower boundary surface then has no recess or recess in the height direction in this region. Otherwise, during knitting operations, small amounts of dirt may also accumulate in these recesses or notches. Thus, the accumulation of dirt during the knitting operation can be reduced by the flat upper and/or lower boundary surface.

A method for manufacturing a knitting tool is described below. The knitting tool is adapted for movement in the longitudinal direction in the needle tract of the knitting machine. The knitting tool may advantageously have all possible combinations of the features of the knitting tool described in the preceding paragraph. In particular, the knitting tool has the features already described previously below: the handle, the two sides, the upper boundary surface, the lower boundary surface and the bending device with the elastic section and the braking device. The shank is made of a shank material that is curved in a rigid manner. In an advantageous production method, the sides of the elastic section are processed in such a way that the projection of the sides of the elastic section in a plane spanned by the height direction and the longitudinal direction of the knitting tool has a smaller area per unit length than the projection of the sides of at least one adjoining shank section in the same plane. Therefore, the projected area of the side surface can be reduced by machining. Such a process can be realized particularly cost-effectively, since it can be integrated into existing processing steps of the knitting tool production. For example, the processing may be achieved by stamping.

A further advantage results if the cutting edge of the tool for machining the side of the elastic section is directed in the width direction during this machining. The tool is designed in such a way that the projected area of the side of the elastic section is reduced (as described in the preceding paragraph). The side of the knitting tool then has a smaller area per unit length in the region of the elastic section than in the handle section adjoining the elastic section.

Advantageously, the tool used for machining the side of the elastic section is moved substantially in the width direction. The tool is then moved such that it moves linearly in the width direction during the processing step. The cutting edge of the tool also performs such linear movement in the width direction. Advantageously, the tool is not moved in the height direction and not in the longitudinal direction during machining of the side surfaces. It is particularly advantageous if the tool for machining the side does not perform a rotational movement (for example about its own axis). In this way, a very simple, linear tool movement is achieved in the processing step. Due to this simplicity, knitting tools can be manufactured cost-effectively.

The braking device can advantageously be manufactured by stamping and retrofitting. The braking device comprises a spring section and a braking means. Advantageously, the geometry of the braking device is produced solely by stamping and retrofitting. But this should not exclude subsequent processing steps for surface finishing (e.g. polishing, surface grinding, deburring). Knitting tools having the above-described features can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively by stamping and retrofitting.

It is particularly advantageous to process the sides of the elastic section in a common working step and to bend the elastic section. Such processing can advantageously be carried out in a single working step with a single tool movement in a single direction. By combining these working steps, the takt time in the manufacture of the knitting tool can be reduced and thus the cost reduced.

Nowadays knitting tools are usually punched from metal strips, preferably steel strips. Knitting tools are also called needle blanks after stamping from a metal strip. The needle blank is usually further processed in a further manufacturing step following the stamping. The needle blank essentially has the outer contour of the knitting tool. Advantageously, the braking device of the knitting tool is also manufactured when the needle blank is punched. Advantageously, in the working step, the needle blank having the outer contour of the knitting tool and comprising the braking means is punched from a metal strip (preferably however from a steel strip). The manufacture of the braking device can in this way be integrated into existing manufacturing steps (manufacture of the needle blank). Thereby, the manufacturing duration is not prolonged. For this production method, the tool for needle production has only to be adapted in such a way that it produces the geometry of the needle blank with the braking device. In this way, knitting tools can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a knitting tool 1 according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the knitting tool 1 in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the knitting tool 1 according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the knitting tool 1 in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of the knitting tool of fig. 3 and 4 in the needle tract 23 of the knitting machine.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a knitting tool 1. The knitting tool 1 has hooks 20 at its front end in the longitudinal direction L. The hook 20 is a stitch forming device suitable for forming stitches in a knitting operation. For this purpose, in the knitting operation with the hook 20, the yarn is generally pulled through the previously formed loop, which is wound around the shank 2 of the knitting tool 1 and thereby forms a new loop. The hooks 20 are arranged in the stitch forming zone 25, in contact with the yarn during knitting operation and directly participate in the stitch forming process as previously described. In the longitudinal direction L, the shank 2 of the knitting tool 1 is coupled to the stitch forming region 25. At the end of the knitting tool 1 remote from the rear of the hook 20, the shank 2 has a drive foot 15 which, in knitting operation, transmits a drive force to the knitting tool 1 and drives the knitting tool into a knitting motion. The drive leg 15 protrudes beyond the surrounding area of the knitting tool 1 in a height direction H extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In a width direction B extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H, the shank 2 is bounded on both sides by a respective one of the side faces 3 (i.e. by a total of two side faces 3). In the drawing, one of the two sides 3 is arranged on the back side of the knitting tool and is therefore not shown. In the height direction H, the shank 2 is bounded by an upper boundary surface 18 and a lower boundary surface 17. A part of the end of the handle 2 facing away from the hook 20 is configured as a brake 7. The braking device 7 comprises an elastic section 5 and a braking means 4, wherein the braking means 4 is directly suspended or adjoined at the elastic section 5 and extends up to the rear end of the handle 2. In this embodiment, the braking device 4 also comprises a drive foot 15. In the elastic section 5, the shank 2 has two recesses 9 which penetrate completely through the shank 2 in the width direction B. The recesses 9 are arranged such that the recess surface 21 bounding the respective recess 9 in the height direction H is an integral part of the upper boundary surface 18 or the lower boundary surface 17. The two recess surfaces 21 have a linear course in the plane spanned by the height direction H and the longitudinal direction L, which is referred to as the boundary line 12. In the embodiment shown, the boundary line 12 has a start point and an end point, wherein the start point and the end point are spaced apart from each other. This means that the starting point and the ending point are not identical, i.e. the boundary line is not closed, but rather open. In this way, the projection of the side surface 3 in the elastic section 5 in the plane spanned by the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H has a smaller area per unit length than in the two adjoining shank sections 8. The height 19 (in the height direction H) of the side face 3 in the elastic section 5 is therefore also smaller than in the adjoining handle section 8.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the knitting tool shown in fig. 1. The shank 2 has a curvature 6 in the elastic section 5, which curvature has a curvature direction 14 in the width direction B. The shank 2 is likewise strongly curved or arched over the entire height of the knitting tool 1 in the height direction H at the location of the bend 6. The braking device 4 is thereby deflected at an angle 22 to the longitudinal direction L. In knitting operation, the braking device is kept in constant contact with the wall of the needle tract in the needle tract of the knitting machine. The shank 2 has the same width 10 at each of its longitudinally extending portions. Thereby, in the needle tract of the knitting machine, in the width direction B, no pocket or cavity is formed between the knitting tool 1 and the needle tract in which dirt may accumulate. Thus, the disadvantages of the lateral milling of knitting tools known from the prior art are overcome.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the knitting tool 1. Like the knitting tool 1 in fig. 1 and 2, it has hooks 20 in the loop-forming region 25, a shank 2, a side surface 3, a lower boundary surface 17, an upper boundary surface 18 and a braking device 7, which comprises an elastic section 5 and a braking means 4. However, instead of the drive foot, the shank 2 has a coupling element 16 into which a further knitting tool component can be inserted in a form-fitting manner. For example, the selection means or the coupling means can be connected with the knitting tool 1 via the coupling element 16. The coupling element 16 is arranged in front of the elastic section 5 in the longitudinal direction L. In the elastic section 5 of the knitting tool 1, a hole 11 with a closed boundary line 12 is provided. The hole 11 has a long hole shape. The hole 11 penetrates completely through the shank 2 in the width direction B and thus reduces the size of the side face 3. In this embodiment, in the longitudinal direction L, not only before but also after the elastic section 5, respectively, an adjoining shank section 8 is also connected, in which the projection of the side 3 in the plane spanned by the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H has a larger area per unit length than in the elastic section 5. The shank 2 has the same width 10 at each location. Thus, in the knitting operation in the knitting machine, no cavity is formed between the shank 2 and the needle tract in which dirt may accumulate. In addition, the lower boundary surface 17 and the upper boundary surface 18 extend flat in the area of the braking device in a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction L and the width direction B. They therefore do not have a recess or depression in the height direction H in which dirt can accumulate during the knitting operation. The cavity in the shank 2 created by the hole 11 is surrounded on both sides by the shank material of the shank 2 in the height direction H and the longitudinal direction L, respectively. In the width direction B, this cavity is covered by the abutment wall 24 of the needle track 23 during the knitting operation. Thus, dirt is also not possible to accumulate here. The wall 24 and needle track 23 are shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of the knitting tool 1 of fig. 3 and 4, which is inserted into the needle tract 23 of the knitting machine. The needle track 23 of the knitting machine is bounded on both sides in the width direction B by a respective one of the walls 24. By inserting the knitting tool 1 into the needle track 23, the braking means 4 are advantageously oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction L. However, depending on the tolerances, a very small angle 22 is usually produced, which is enclosed by the braking device 4 with the longitudinal direction L. For illustration purposes, the angle 22 is shown enlarged in the illustration. The shank 2 of the knitting tool 1 does not have a taper in the width direction B that reduces the width of the shank 2 laterally. In this way, no large intermediate space is created between the handle 2 and the wall 24 of the needle track 23 in which dirt may accumulate. Furthermore, the figure illustrates that the two walls 24 of the needle track 23 laterally cover the holes 11 of the knitting tool 1 in the width direction B. Of course, a small gap 13 always results between the wall 24 of the needle track 23 and the knitting tool 1 due to manufacturing tolerances. However, in this illustration, the gap 13 is shown greatly enlarged. The size of the gap 13 is in fact comparable to the size of the gap 13 created in knitting tools without braking means or elastic sections in the needle track.

List of reference numerals

1. Knitting tool

2. Handle portion

3. Side surface

4. Braking device

5. Elastic section

6. Bending part

7. Braking device

8 Adjoin the handle section at the elastic section (5)

9 Notch

10 Width of handle (2)

11. Hole(s)

12. Boundary line

13. Gap of

14. Direction of bending

15. Driving foot

16. Coupling element

17. Lower boundary surface

18. Upper boundary surface

19. Height of side face

20. Hook

21. Notch surface

22 Angle to the longitudinal direction L

23 Needle tracks

24 Needle track 24 wall

25. Coil forming region

B width direction

H height direction

L longitudinal direction

Claims

1. A knitting tool (1) adapted for movement in a needle tract of a knitting machine in a longitudinal direction (L) thereof, the knitting tool having:

A shank (2) extending substantially in a longitudinal direction (L),

Two lateral surfaces (3) which delimit the shank (2) in a width direction (B) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) and are suitable for guiding the knitting tool (1) by contact with the needle tract of a knitting machine during a knitting operation,

An upper boundary surface (18) and a lower boundary surface (17) which delimit the knitting tool (1) in a height direction (H) extending perpendicularly to the two directions,

Wherein the shank (2) of the knitting tool (1) is composed of a shank material that is bending-rigid and has a braking device (7) having the following features:

An elastic section (5) which is curved in the width direction (B),

A braking device (4) which is suspended at the elastic section (5) and is deflected by an angle to the longitudinal direction (L) as a result of a curvature (6) of the elastic section (5),

Wherein the cross-sectional area of the shank material in the elastic section (5) is smaller in the plane spanned by the width direction (B) and the height direction (H) than in the adjoining shank section (8) of the shank (2),

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The projection of the lateral surface (3) of the elastic section (5) in a plane spanned by the height direction (H) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the knitting tool (1) has a smaller area per unit length than the following

Projection of the side faces (3) of at least one adjoining handle section (8), preferably however at least two adjoining handle sections (8), in the same plane, wherein the area per unit length is the quotient of the projected area of the side faces (3) and the length of the projection of the side faces (3) in the longitudinal direction (L),

And the elastic section (5) is curved in the same direction over the entire height of the handle (2) in the height direction (H) at least one point of its longitudinal extension.

2. Knitting tool (1) according to the preceding claim,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The width of the shank (2) at any point of the elastic section (5) is as large as the width of the shank (2) in the adjoining shank section (8).

3. Knitting tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that

A loop forming means which is in contact with the yarn during knitting operation and which is preferably hook-shaped.

4. Knitting tool (1) according to the preceding claim,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

-A drive foot (15) and/or a coupling element (16) arranged in front of the elastic section (5) in a longitudinal direction (L), wherein the longitudinal direction is directed in the direction of the coil forming means.

5. Knitting tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

At least one recess (9) penetrates completely through the shank (2) in the width direction (B) in the elastic section (5),

And the at least one recess delimits the elastic section (5) on one side in the height direction (H).

6. Knitting tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

And the at least one recess (9) is a hole (11), preferably a long hole (13) or an oval hole, with a closed boundary line (12).

7. Knitting tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The knitting tool (2) is produced in one piece.

8. Knitting tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The lower boundary surface (17) and/or the upper boundary surface (18) of the shank (2) in the region of the braking means (4) and the elastic section (5) extend substantially flat in the plane spanned by the width direction (B) and the longitudinal direction (L).

9. Method for manufacturing a knitting tool (1) suitable for movement in a longitudinal direction (L) in a needle tract of a knitting machine, the knitting tool having:

A shank (2) extending substantially in a longitudinal direction (L),

Two lateral surfaces (3) which delimit the shank (2) in a width direction (B) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) and which are suitable for guiding the knitting tool (1) by contact with the needle tract of a knitting machine during a knitting operation,

An elastic section (5) which is curved in the width direction (B),

Wherein the cross-sectional area of the elastic section (5) of the shank material is smaller in the plane spanned by the width direction (B) and the height direction (H) than in the adjoining shank section (8) of the shank (2),

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The lateral surface (3) of the elastic section (5) is processed in such a way that the projection of the lateral surface (3) of the elastic section (5) in a plane spanned by the height direction (H) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the knitting tool (1) has a smaller area per unit length than the following

Projection of the side faces (3) of at least one adjoining handle section (8) in the same plane, wherein the area per unit length is the quotient of the projected area of the side faces (3) and the length of the projection of the side faces (3) in the longitudinal direction (L),

Wherein the elastic section (5) is curved in the same direction over the entire height of the handle (2) in the height direction (H) at least one point of its longitudinal extension.

10. The method according to the preceding claim,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The cutting edge of a tool for machining the side (3) of the elastic section (5) is directed in the width direction (B) during the machining.

11. The method according to the preceding claim,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The tool is moved substantially in the width direction (B).

12. The method according to any one of claim 10 to 12,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The braking device is manufactured by stamping and retrofitting.

13. Method for manufacturing a knitting tool (1) according to any of the claims 10 to 13,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

In a common working step

-Machining the side (3) of the elastic section (5), and

-Bending the elastic section (5).

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to 14,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

In the working step, the needle blank having the outer contour of the knitting tool (1) and comprising the braking device (7) is punched from a metal strip, preferably from a steel strip.