GB2066861A - Methods of forming loops in knitting machines and sinker for said loop forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

In circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery and similar goods, yarn fed for knitting is at first drawn by the needles on the upper edges of modified sinkers which, on being retracted allow the loops to slide on to the lower edges thereof, the overall length of the loops being determined by further sinking of the needles and projection of the sinkers, the formed loops sliding below the latches of the needles as they rise again. The sinker has as its front part an obliquely rising lower edge above which is formed a hose with an obliquely rising upper edge.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of forming loops in knitting machines and sinker for said loop forming method The present invention relates to forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers.

It is known that loops are formed in small diameter circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar by closing cylinder needles, said formed loops being secured against release from needles by radial displacement of sinkers. Furthermore, knitting methods are known in which the sinkers are swung out during operation, this making it possible to form a longer loop, or a knitwork of higher quality, the power proportions in the tensioned yarns being thus improved and having a favourable effect on loop forming. However, these methods are aiready ineffective at high knitting speeds, i.e. about 1000 rpm of the needle cylinder.

The purpose of the present invention consists in securing the formation of a high quality knitwork even at extremely high knitting speeds.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers, wherein the laid yarn is at first cleared by a needle via upper edges of the sinkers, while said sinkers are retracted, whereupon the formed loops are transferred by retraction of sinkers to lower edges thereof, while drawing of loops by the needles is continued, the overall length of the loops being finished thereafter during continuing sinking of needles and projection of the sinkers, the formed loops being transferred, by lifting the needles, below the latches of the needles, while remaining on the lower edges of the lifted sinkers.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a sinker for the above loop forming method, wherein its front part is provided with an obliquely rising lower edge finished by a press-off radius, above which is formed a nose with an obliquely rising upper edge finished by a run-out radius.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figures 1 to 8 represent the knitting procedure by needle and sinker in the separate loop forming phases; and Figure 9 represents the front part of the sinker for co-operation with the needle.

A small diameter circular knitting machine for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar is provided with a needle cylinder (not shown), in the longitudinal tricks of which are mounted needles 1 co-operating with sinkers 2 mounted in a sinker ring (not shown). Both needles 1 and sinkers 2 are controlled by not represented cams, which are mounted on the cylinder cambox, or in the sinker cap.

The sinkers 2 are provided in their not represented rear part with butts for the purpose of co-operation with sinker cams. In its front part, each sinker is provided with an obliquely rising lower edge 3, a nose 4 starting behind the half of edge 3 and an obliquely rising upper edge 5 which is continued by a run-out radius 6. Below nose 4, clearing edge 3 is continued by a press-off radius 7.

The method of forming loops by the specified sinker 2 and needle 1 is performed as follows: Upon laying new yarn P, needle 1 is in its cleared position, while the old loop 0 is below the needle latch caught up in the press-off radius 7 of projected sinker 2, as shown in Figure 1. Yarn P is laid into the hook of needle 1, which begins its closing motion, as shown in Figure 2, and which kinks yarn P via upper edges 5 of the neighbouring sinkers 2, as shown in Figure 3.

Sinker 2 is projected in front of the shank of needle 1.

As soon as the loop of yarn P, drawn by needle 1, is begun to be threaded through old loop 0 as shown in Figure 4, sinker 2 begins to retract, and yarn P kinked via upper edge 5, begins to slide therealong until reaching the end of nose 4 as shown in Figure 5. At that phase, needle 1 sinks actually only for the gradient value of upper edge 5, the loop thus being not drawn, but only threaded through loop 0. In the following phase, sinker 2 is retracted in such man ner, as shown in Figure 6, that the sinker loops of yarn P are no longer supported by upper edges 5. By further sinking of needle 1, the sinker loops of yarn P are transferred to the lower edges 3, as shown in Figure 7. Needle 1 is further sunk, while sinker 2 is projected back, and a new loop 01 is formed of yarn P.

By projecting sinker 2 into its front position, and by action of press-off radius 7 the final dimension of loop 01 is formed, which is thus retained on needle 1, which begins to be lifted, as shown in Figure 8, and thus gets below the latch of needle 1. In that manner, a loop course is formed of loops 01, which continues the loop course of loops 0. This knitting method can be applied also in other types of knitting machines.

The main advantage of the present invention consists in the fact, that the yarn of which the loop is formed, is drawn mostly between the sinker and the needle hook and has a lower friction resistance and friction upon threading between the old and the newly formed loop, this making it possible to draw, in the time of closing, a longer piece of yarn and to form, by releasing the loop and repeated closing, a knitwork of higher uniformity.

1. A method of forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers, wherein the laid yarn is at first cleared by a needle via upper edges of the sinkers, while said sinkers are retracted, whereupon the formed loops are transferred by retraction of sinkers to lower edges thereof, while drawing of loops by the needles is continued, the overall length of the loops being finished thereafter during continuing sinking of needles and projection of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of forming loops in knitting machines and sinker for said loop forming method The present invention relates to forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers. It is known that loops are formed in small diameter circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar by closing cylinder needles, said formed loops being secured against release from needles by radial displacement of sinkers. Furthermore, knitting methods are known in which the sinkers are swung out during operation, this making it possible to form a longer loop, or a knitwork of higher quality, the power proportions in the tensioned yarns being thus improved and having a favourable effect on loop forming. However, these methods are aiready ineffective at high knitting speeds, i.e. about 1000 rpm of the needle cylinder. The purpose of the present invention consists in securing the formation of a high quality knitwork even at extremely high knitting speeds. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers, wherein the laid yarn is at first cleared by a needle via upper edges of the sinkers, while said sinkers are retracted, whereupon the formed loops are transferred by retraction of sinkers to lower edges thereof, while drawing of loops by the needles is continued, the overall length of the loops being finished thereafter during continuing sinking of needles and projection of the sinkers, the formed loops being transferred, by lifting the needles, below the latches of the needles, while remaining on the lower edges of the lifted sinkers. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a sinker for the above loop forming method, wherein its front part is provided with an obliquely rising lower edge finished by a press-off radius, above which is formed a nose with an obliquely rising upper edge finished by a run-out radius. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figures 1 to 8 represent the knitting procedure by needle and sinker in the separate loop forming phases; and Figure 9 represents the front part of the sinker for co-operation with the needle. A small diameter circular knitting machine for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar is provided with a needle cylinder (not shown), in the longitudinal tricks of which are mounted needles 1 co-operating with sinkers 2 mounted in a sinker ring (not shown). Both needles 1 and sinkers 2 are controlled by not represented cams, which are mounted on the cylinder cambox, or in the sinker cap. The sinkers 2 are provided in their not represented rear part with butts for the purpose of co-operation with sinker cams. In its front part, each sinker is provided with an obliquely rising lower edge 3, a nose 4 starting behind the half of edge 3 and an obliquely rising upper edge 5 which is continued by a run-out radius 6. Below nose 4, clearing edge 3 is continued by a press-off radius 7. The method of forming loops by the specified sinker 2 and needle 1 is performed as follows: Upon laying new yarn P, needle 1 is in its cleared position, while the old loop 0 is below the needle latch caught up in the press-off radius 7 of projected sinker 2, as shown in Figure 1. Yarn P is laid into the hook of needle 1, which begins its closing motion, as shown in Figure 2, and which kinks yarn P via upper edges 5 of the neighbouring sinkers 2, as shown in Figure 3. Sinker 2 is projected in front of the shank of needle 1. As soon as the loop of yarn P, drawn by needle 1, is begun to be threaded through old loop 0 as shown in Figure 4, sinker 2 begins to retract, and yarn P kinked via upper edge 5, begins to slide therealong until reaching the end of nose 4 as shown in Figure 5. At that phase, needle 1 sinks actually only for the gradient value of upper edge 5, the loop thus being not drawn, but only threaded through loop 0. In the following phase, sinker 2 is retracted in such man ner, as shown in Figure 6, that the sinker loops of yarn P are no longer supported by upper edges 5. By further sinking of needle 1, the sinker loops of yarn P are transferred to the lower edges 3, as shown in Figure 7. Needle 1 is further sunk, while sinker 2 is projected back, and a new loop 01 is formed of yarn P. By projecting sinker 2 into its front position, and by action of press-off radius 7 the final dimension of loop 01 is formed, which is thus retained on needle 1, which begins to be lifted, as shown in Figure 8, and thus gets below the latch of needle 1. In that manner, a loop course is formed of loops 01, which continues the loop course of loops 0. This knitting method can be applied also in other types of knitting machines. The main advantage of the present invention consists in the fact, that the yarn of which the loop is formed, is drawn mostly between the sinker and the needle hook and has a lower friction resistance and friction upon threading between the old and the newly formed loop, this making it possible to draw, in the time of closing, a longer piece of yarn and to form, by releasing the loop and repeated closing, a knitwork of higher uniformity. CLAIMS

1. A method of forming loops in knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines for manufacturing hosiery goods and similar, by means of needles and sinkers, wherein the laid yarn is at first cleared by a needle via upper edges of the sinkers, while said sinkers are retracted, whereupon the formed loops are transferred by retraction of sinkers to lower edges thereof, while drawing of loops by the needles is continued, the overall length of the loops being finished thereafter during continuing sinking of needles and projection of the sinkers, the formed loops being transferred, by lifting the needles, below the latches of the needles, while remaining on the lower edges of the lifted sinkers.

2. A sinker for the loop forming method as claimed in claim 1,wherein its front part is provided with an obliquely rising lower edge finished by a press-off radius above which is formed a nose with an obliquely rising upper edge finished by a run-out radius.

3. A sinker as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nose with the upper edge is formed in one half of the lower edge.

4. A method of forming loops in knitting machines, substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A sinker for the loop forming method as claimed in claim 4, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.