GB2100761A

GB2100761A - Device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine

Info

Publication number: GB2100761A
Application number: GB08213595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Max Fuchs; Hans Schieber; Reinhold Schimko
Original assignee: Dr Rudolf Schieber GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Henkel Dorus GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1981-06-19
Filing date: 1982-05-11
Publication date: 1983-01-06
Also published as: JPS588171A; ES8305070A1; DE3124130A1; IT8221435A0; ES513218A0

Abstract

A device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine comprises a plurality of endless webs (2) which are guided for movement close to the needle beds (23, 24), which are arranged next to one another along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds, and which are driven in the withdrawal direction, these webs in combination with a counterpressure member (15) defining a springy withdrawal gap beneath the needle beds (23, 24). For simple construction and operation of the device and in order to achieve a trouble-free withdrawal right from the beginning of the knitting of a piece of knitting (18), at least some of the webs (2) are guided by a common shaft (3) and are driven by this shaft, the counterpressure member (15) is a narrow pressure strip, and, on the carriage of the flat knitting machine, there is provided at least one stroking- in device (16) for moving the first row of stitches of the piece of knitting (18) into the withdrawal zone of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine This invention relates to a device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine, the device comprising a plurality of endless webs which are guided for movement close to the needle beds, which are arranged next to one another along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds, and which are driven in the withdrawal direction, these webs, in combination with a counterpressure member below the needle beds, defining a springy delivery gap.

Various different constructions of withdrawal device are known for pulling away the knitted piece during the knitting operation. One frequently used device incorporates delivery rollers with pressure rollers which are mounted along and beneath the needle bed combs. The delivery rollers may be rollers extending over the full working length of the machine or they may be sub-divided into a number of smaller rollers which are subjected to the action of torsion springs independently of one another.

In order to achieve a uniform tension in the pulling away of the knitted piece, the knitted piece should be held as close as possible to the needles which form the stitches. Abutment plates for example are known for this purpose which engage between the needles and which hold the stitches down, or alternatively, stitch stroking-in wires can be used which press the last row of stitches down as a new row of stitches is formed. However, with such devices it is not possible to exert a uniform, controllable tension on a piece of knitting in a downward direction. Furthermore, such withdrawal devices have disadvantages in respect of their functional reliability and economics.

One device for withdrawing pieces of knitting of the type first referred to above is known for example from Swiss patent specification 501755.

This known device indeed makes it possible to withdraw a piece of knitting with substantially uniform withdrawal tension and substantially avoiding dragging of the piece of knitting by the device, but it is relatively expensive in terms of its construction and operation and cannot be effective at the beginning of the knitting of a piece of knitting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for withdrawing pieces of knitting of the type first referred to above which is simple in construction and in its method of operation, and by means of which it is possible to carry out a trouble-free and uniform delivery of the knitted piece right from the knitting of the first row of stitches of a piece of knitting.

This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine, comprising a plurality of endless webs guided for movement close to the needle beds, arranged adjacent to one another along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds and driven for movement in the direction of withdrawal, counterpressure means arranged beneath the needle beds to define a springy withdrawal gap between said counterpressure means and the webs, in which at least some of said webs are guided by a common shaft and are driven by said shaft, the counterpressure means comprises a narrow pressure strip, and at least one stroking-in means is provided on the carriage of the flat knitting machine for bringing the first row of stitches of a piece of knitting into the withdrawal zone of the device.

The device of the present invention is simple and robust in construction and in operation, and ensures a uniform withdrawal of the piece of knitting from the start, i.e. right from the formation of the first row of stitches.

Preferably, for each web, there is provided an individual frame comprising a narrow upper crosspiece over which the web travels. By means of this, the withdrawal tension can be set to different values across the width of the piece of knitting, and, additionaliy, one ensures a simple construction of the device and a device which can be positioned close to the zone where the stitches are formed.

Preferably, a tension spring is provided between each frame and a plate which extends the full working length of the machine and which is mounted on the machine frame so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the needle beds. By displacement of the plate, for example by means of a threaded spindle, the pressure of the webs against the pressure strip can be adjusted jointly for all the webs over the full length of the machine in a simpler manner.

In a preferred arrangement each tension spring is connected to its associated frame by an adjusting screw. The adjusting screw makes it possible to carry out a simple individual setting of the pressure of individual webs against the common pressure strip.

Preferably, the narrow pressure strip is mounted in a longitudinal recess at the underside of one of the needle beds, and the narrow upper crosspieces are positioned in a longitudinal recess at the underside of the other needle bed. In this way the springy withdrawal gap of the device can be positioned immediately next to the zone where the stitches are formed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of device for withdrawing pieces of knitting will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings. In this particular embodiment the device is shown being used on a flat knitting machine with needle beds arranged in a V formation. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the device of the present invention for withdrawing pieces of knitting, taken along the line I-I in Fig. 2; and, Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the device for withdrawing pieces of knitting, omitting the needle beds.

The device of the present invention for withdrawing pieces of knitting comprises a plurality of frames 1 arranged beneath the needle beds 23, 24 of a flat knitting machine and positioned next to one another along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds. Each frame 1 carries and guides an endless web 2 in the form of a band, belt or the like. The frames 1 are fitted on to a shaft 3 which extends the full length of the machine. Each frame 1 comprises two side pieces 4 and 5, together with an upper connecting crosspiece 6, a middle connecting crosspiece 7 and a lower connecting crosspiece 22. Each endless web 2 is guided around the shaft 3 which is common to all the webs, and around the upper crosspiece 6.

In the region of the lower part of each frame 1 there are two bearing members 8 and 9 between which a lever 10 carrying rollers 14 is resiliently mounted. The roller-carrying lever 10 presses the web 2 against the shaft 3 which is arranged to be rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The pressing force exerted by the rollercarrying lever 10 is regulated by means of an adjusting screw 11 connected to a tension spring 12. In order to be able to provide for a simultaneous adjustment of all the webs 2 on the respective frames 1, one end of each of the tension springs 12 is connected to a common plate 13 which extends the full working length of the machine. The plate 13 is displaceable in the direction of the double-headed arrow shown in Fig. 1 by movement of a threaded spindle 21.

The shaft 3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. The web 2, which runs around the shaft 3 and around the upper crosspiece 6, likewise rotates in the direction of the indicated arrows in its untensioned state by virtue of the frictional force which is created between the rollers 14 mounted at the upper end of the lever 10 and the shaft 3, as well as by virtue of the angle of loop of the web 2 around the shaft 3. The upper part of the web 2, in the region of the upper crosspiece 6, the web having been tensioned by the spring 12, traverses a narrow pressure strip 1 5 which extends the full working length of the machine, clamps the knitted piece 1 8 against it, and then pulis the piece of knitting downwards by virtue of the rotary movement of the web and as a result of the surface properties of the web 2.Preferably, the web 2 is treated on both sides to enhance the adhesion.

The pressure strip 1 5 is fitted into a longitudinal recess 25 in the underside of needle bed 24. The upper crosspieces 6 which have the webs 2 running around them are positioned within a further longitudinal recess 26 in the underside of the other needle bed 23.

On the carriage (not shown) of the flat knitting machine there is provided a stroking-in device 1 6 which, when the first row of stitches of the knitted piece 1 8 is formed, pushes the formed row of stitches into the delivery gap between the web 2 and the pressure strip 1 5.

The movement and feed of the webs is always somewhat greater than the knitted piece 1 8 actually requires, so that each web 2 slips slightly against the knitted piece 18 and thus maintains the knitted piece 18 under tension.

The upper portion of each upper crosspiece 6 is provided with a very small radius 1 9 around which the very flexible web 2 slides. By this means the actual withdrawal is effected very close to the needles 20 which form the stitches.

Because of the provison of a number of webs 2 which in aggregate are provided over the full working length of the machine, an individual withdrawal of every wale of stitches can be achieved.

Claims

1. A device for withdrawing pieces of knitting on a flat knitting machine, comprising a plurality of endless webs guided for movement close to the needle beds, arranged adjacent to one another along the longitudinal direction of the needle beds and driven for movement in the direction of withdrawal, counterpressure means arranged beneath the needle beds to define a springy withdrawal gap between said counterpressure means and the webs, in which at least some of said webs are guided by a common shaft and are driven by said shaft, the counterpressure means comprises a narrow pressure strip, and at least one stroking-in means is provided on the carriage of the flat knitting machine for bringing the first row of stitches of a piece of knitting into the withdrawal zone of the device.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which for each web there is provided an individual frame which comprises a narrow upper crosspiece over which the web travels.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which a tension spring is provided between each frame and a plate which extends the full working length of the machine and which is mounted on the machine frame to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the needle beds.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which each tension spring is connected to its associated frame by adjusting screw means.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the narrow pressure strip is fitted in a longitudinal recess at the underside of one needle bed, and said narrow upper crosspieces are positioned in a longitudinal recess at the underside of the other needle bed.

6. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.