EFFICIENT AUTOMATIC INTELLIGENT BRAIDING MACHINE

Disclosed is an efficient automatic intelligent braiding machine, which includes a yarn feeding device, a winding device positioned at one end of the yarn feeding device, a mold plate conveying device positioned below the winding device, a preforming device positioned above the winding device, and a thermoforming device positioned close to the mold plate conveying device; the mold plate conveying device is used for holding a mold plate placed thereon, and the mold plate is provided with a plurality of surrounding columns. The braiding machine is an integrated equipment including yarn feeding device, winding device, mold plate conveying device, preforming device, thermoforming device and discharging device, which may realize a whole process of feeding, winding, thermoforming and discharging, with a highly automated operation, high efficiency, and low labor cost. The equipment is able to produce knitted fabrics of different shapes and configurations through various winding trajectory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Chinese patent application 202111124252.1 filed on Sep. 24, 2021. The entire disclosure of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates to the winding and forming of knitwear, in particular, to an efficient automatic intelligent braiding machine.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

Mesh knitted products, such as the mesh surface of shoes, are formed by winding the threads first into required shape and structure followed by thermoforming. However, most of the existing mechanisms for winding and forming the threads exploit robotic arms for automatic thread clamping and winding, which is complicated, and occupies a large space with low winding efficiency, high manufacturing cost and low economic benefit.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient automatic intelligent braiding machine, which is an integrated equipment including yam feeding device, winding device, mold plate conveying device, preforming device, thermoforming device and discharging device. It can realize a whole process of feeding, winding, thermoforming and discharging, with a highly automated operation, high efficiency, and low labor cost. The equipment is able to produce knitted fabrics of different shapes and configurations through various winding trajectory.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the following technical proposals are provided,

an efficient automatic intelligent braiding machine, including a yarn feeding device, a winding device positioned at one end of the yarn feeding device, a mold plate conveying device positioned below the winding device, a preforming device positioned above the winding device, and a thermoforming device positioned close to the mold plate conveying device; the mold plate conveying device is used for holding a mold plate placed thereon, and the mold plate is provided with a plurality of surrounding columns; the winding device is used for winding yarns of different colors from the yarn feeding device around the surrounding columns according to a predetermined trajectory, the preforming device is used for pressing the yarn wound around the surrounding columns by the winding device to produce a preformed product; the mold plate conveying device is also used for conveying the mold plate below the thermoforming device, and the thermoforming device is used for hot pressing the preformed product on the mold plate.

Further, the yarn feeding device includes a thread mounting frame, an anti-breakage mechanism arranged at one end of the thread mounting frame, and a yarn taking mechanism arranged near the anti-breakage mechanism; a plurality of bobbins with the yarn wound thereon are mounted on the thread mounting frame, the yarn taking mechanism includes a plurality of winding head modules, and each of the winding head modules is arranged corresponding to one of the bobbins; the yarn on the bobbins passes through the anti-breakage mechanism and the winding head modules in sequence, and the winding device is used for transferring the winding head modules in order to wind the yarn on the surrounding columns.

Further, the anti-breakage mechanism includes an anti-breakage mounting frame, and a plurality of anti-breakage assemblies mounted on the anti-breakage mounting frame, and each of the plurality of anti-breakage assemblies corresponds to one of the bobbins and one of the winding head modules, and includes a yarn breakage detector and a tensioner.

Further, the winding head modules include a fixing plate, a first electromagnet assembly mounted on one side of the fixing plate, and a magnetic winding head arranged on the first electromagnet assembly.

Further, the yarn taking mechanism also includes a plurality of thread end fixing modules, and a plurality of thread fixing columns mounted on the mold plate, the thread end fixing modules are used for fixing a thread end passing through the winding head modules.

Further, each of the thread end fixing modules is correspondingly arranged on one side of each of the winding head modules, and the thread end fixing modules include a pressing cylinder, a pressing block connected with an output shaft of the pressing cylinder, and a pressing post arranged close to the pressing block. The yarn taking mechanism further includes a plurality of cutting modules, each correspondingly positioned between one of the thread fixing columns and one of the thread end fixing modules.

Further, the winding device includes a first translation mechanism, a second translation mechanism slidably connected with and perpendicular to the first translation mechanism, a first lifting mechanism slidably connected with and perpendicular to the second translation mechanism, and a second electromagnet assembly mounted on the first lifting mechanism.

Further, the mold plate conveying device includes two parallel first limiting guide rails spaced apart, a third translation mechanism disposed along a length direction of the first limiting guide rails, and a pushing plate connected with the third translation mechanism for pushing the mold plate along the first limiting guide rails.

Further, the preforming device includes a second lifting mechanism and a first pressing plate connected with the second lifting mechanism; a plurality of avoidance holes are provided on a bottom part of the first pressing plate corresponding to the surrounding columns on the mold plate; the thermoforming device includes a heating plate assembly arranged below a position between the two first limiting guide rails and located at one end thereof, a third lifting mechanism arranged above the heating plate assembly, and a hot-pressing plate assembly connected with the third lifting mechanism.

Further, the high-efficiency automatic intelligent knitting machine further includes a discharging device for transferring and discharging a hot-pressed product produced by the thermoforming device.

Advantageous effects of the above-mentioned proposals provided by the present disclosure are as follows,

(1) the yarn feeding device, winding device, mold plate conveying device, preforming device, thermoforming device and discharging device are integrated, which may realize a whole process of feeding, winding, thermoforming and discharging, with a highly automated operation, high efficiency, and low labor cost. The equipment is able to produce knitted fabrics of different shapes and configurations through various winding trajectory;

(2) the magnetic winding head is magnetically attached with the first electromagnet assembly, and the winding device attracts different magnetic winding heads through the second electromagnet assembly to complete the winding process at different stages, which is convenient to use. The anti-breakage mechanism prevents the yarn from breaking during winding and ensure the continuity of drawing of the yarn;

(3) the cutting module can automatically cut the yarn after the winding is completed, so that the mold plate conveying device can transfer the mold plate;

(4) a plurality of limiting mechanisms limit and fix the mold plate, so that the mold plate is pressed by the preforming device and the thermoforming device. At the same time, a first positioning column is provided on the top of the mold plate, for guiding the pressing plate to ensure the accuracy when it is pressed downward;

(5) a foam cotton is used for hot pressing, which may relieve the pressure, and at the same time, allows the surrounding columns to pass through to form avoidance holes, thereby ensuring a close fitting during pressing process.

REFERENCE SIGNS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed embodiments.

Referring toFIGS.1to8, the present disclosure provides an efficient automatic intelligent braiding machine, which includes a yarn feeding device1, a winding device2positioned at one end of the yam feeding device1, a mold plate conveying device3positioned below the winding device2, a preforming device4positioned above the winding device2, and a thermoforming device5positioned close to the mold plate conveying device3; the mold plate conveying device3is used for holding a mold plate6placed thereon, and the mold plate6is provided with several surrounding columns; the winding device2is used for winding the yarns of different colors from the yam feeding device1on the surrounding columns according to a predetermined trajectory, the preforming device4is used for pressing the yarn wound around the surrounding columns by the winding device2to form a primary product; the mold plate conveying device3is also used for conveying the mold plate6underneath the thermoforming device5, and the thermoforming device5is used for hot pressing the primary product formed on the mold plate6.

The yarn feeding device1includes a thread mounting frame11, an anti-breakage mechanism12arranged at one end of the thread mounting frame, and a yarn taking mechanism13arranged near the anti-breakage mechanism12; several bobbins14with wound yarn thereon are mounted on the thread mounting frame11, the yarn taking mechanism13includes several winding head modules, and each winding head module is arranged corresponding to each of the bobbins14respectively; the yarn on the bobbins14passes through the anti-breakage mechanism12and the winding head module in sequence, and the winding device2is used for transferring the winding head module in order to wind the yarn on the surrounding columns. The anti-breakage mechanism12includes an anti-breakage mounting frame121, and a plurality of anti-breakage assemblies mounted on the anti-breakage mounting frame121, and each of the plurality of anti-breakage assemblies corresponds to one of the bobbins14and one of the winding head modules, and includes a yarn breakage detector122and a tensioner123. The winding head module includes a fixing plate131, a first electromagnet assembly132mounted on one side of the fixing plate131, and a magnetic winding head133arranged on the first electromagnet assembly132.

The yarn taking mechanism13also includes a number of thread end fixing modules, and a plurality of thread fixing columns134mounted on the mold plate6, the thread end fixing modules are used for fixing a thread end passing through the winding head module. Each of the thread end fixing modules is correspondingly arranged on one side of each winding head module, and the thread end fixing module includes a pressing cylinder137, a pressing block138connected with an output shaft of the pressing cylinder137, and a pressing post139arranged close to the pressing block138. The yarn taking mechanism13further includes a plurality of cutting modules135, each correspondingly positioned between each of the thread fixing columns134and each of the thread end fixing modules. The winding device2includes a first translation mechanism21, a second translation mechanism22slidably connected with and perpendicular to the first translation mechanism21, a first lifting mechanism23slidably connected with and perpendicular to the second translation mechanism22, and a second electromagnet assembly24mounted on the first lifting mechanism23. The mold plate conveying device3includes two first limiting guide rails31arranged in parallel and spaced apart, a third translation mechanism32disposed along a length direction of the first limiting guide rails31, and a pushing plate33connected with the third translation mechanism32for pushing the mold plate6along the first limiting guide rails31.

The preforming device4includes a second lifting mechanism41and a first pressing plate42connected with the second lifting mechanism41; a plurality of avoidance holes43are provided on a bottom part of the first pressing plate42corresponding to the surrounding columns on the mold plate6. The thermoforming device5includes a heating plate assembly51arranged below a position between the two first limiting guide rails31and located at one end thereof, a third lifting mechanism52arranged above the heating plate assembly51, and a hot-pressing plate assembly53connected with the third lifting mechanism52. The high-efficiency automatic intelligent knitting machine further includes a discharging device7for transferring and discharging the hot-pressed product produced by the thermoforming device5.

The working principle of the present invention will be described below.

Referring back toFIGS.1to8, in the present embodiment, the braiding machined further includes a rack8, an installation platform9is arranged in the rack8, and the preforming device4is installed on the top of the rack8. The yarn feeding device1, the winding device2, the mold plate conveying device3, the thermoforming device5and the discharging device7are installed on the installation platform9. A front side of the rack8is provided with a cabinet door, a three-color indicator light is provided on the top of the rack8, and wheels and foot cups are provided underneath the rack8.

In the yarn feeding device1of the present embodiment, the number of bobbins14is two (a plurality of bobbins14may also be provided, and the types and colors of the yarns on the bobbins14may be different, so as to produce different types of knitwear, and other types of thread may be used), and two first threading frames are installed on the thread mounting frame11. Each of the first threading frames is provided with a first threading hole, through which the yarn from each of the bobbins14passes. The number of the anti-breakage assemblies of the anti-breakage mechanism12is two, each including a yarn breakage detector122and a tensioner123, and the yarn passing through the first threading hole passes through the yarn breakage detector122and the tensioner123in sequence. This may avoid yarn breakage and ensure the continuity of drawing of the yarn. The number of the winding head modules is two, respectively located below each of the anti-breakage assemblies. The magnetic winding head133is made of magnetic material, and is attachable to the first electromagnet assembly132. A second threading hole is provided on the top of the magnetic winding head133, and a winding nozzle136is provided on the bottom of the magnetic winding head133, and the yarn passing through the tensioner123is lead to pass through the second threading hole and the winding nozzle136in sequence. Then, a thread end of the yarn passing through the winding nozzle136is wound between the pressing block138and the pressing post139, and the pressing cylinder137drives the pressing block138to move towards the pressing post139to press and fix the thread end. When winding starts, the winding device2attracts the magnetic winding head133, so as to wind the yarn around the surrounding columns on the mold plate6according to a preset trajectory, which is simple and efficient.

The thread fixing columns134are provided, as the yarn on each magnetic winding head133cannot be consumed at one time during the winding process. When the winding device2completes a process with one of the magnetic winding heads133, the yarn is wound around one of the thread fixing columns134(which includes a fixing shaft and a fastening cover sleeved thereon, the yarn is manually wound around the fixing shaft, and the fastening cover is pressed and fastened) to be fixed until the next process. A cutting module135is further provided between each of the thread fixing columns134and each of the thread end fixing modules, for cutting the yarn extending between the magnetic winding head133and the surrounding columns after the winding is completed, so as to convey the mold plate6to the thermoforming device5by the mold plate conveying device3. In this embodiment, the cutting module135includes a cutting mounting plate mounted on the bottom of the installation platform9, a cutting lifting cylinder arranged vertically on the cutting mounting plate, and a scissor assembly connected with the cutting lifting cylinder. A first through-hole is provided on the installation platform9, and the cutting lift cylinder drives the scissor assembly to pass through the first through-hole in order to cut the yarn.

The winding device2includes a first translation mechanism21, a second translation mechanism22, and a first lifting mechanism23arranged on the installation platform9, so that the second electromagnet assembly24is driven to perform 3-axis motion, and attracts the magnetic winding head133to perform winding according to the predetermined trajectory. In this embodiment, the first translation mechanism21, the second translation mechanism22and the first lifting mechanism23are all linear motor assemblies. By cutting off power supplied to the first electromagnet assembly132and supplying power to the second electromagnet assembly24, the magnetic winding head133is attracted to proceed with the winding process.

The second lifting mechanism41of the preforming device4includes a first mounting plate mounted on the top of the rack8, a first pressing cylinder and a plurality of first lifting guide columns mounted on the first mounting plate. The top part of the first pressing plate42is connected with the first pressing cylinder and the first lifting guide columns, and the bottom part of the first pressing plate42is provided with a number of avoidance holes43which correspond to the surrounding columns on the mold plate6. After the yarn is wound around the surrounding columns by the winding device2according to the preset trajectory, the first pressing cylinder drives the first pressing plate42to move downward, so as to press the yarn on the surrounding columns, thereby preforming the knitwear (the knitwear is three-dimensional during winding, and is in a flat surface after being pressed). In addition, a first positioning column44is provided at each side of the top part of the mold plate6, and first positioning holes are provided at the bottom part of the first pressing plate42corresponding to the first positioning columns44, so that the first pressing plate42is guided when pressing downward to ensure accuracy.

The two first limiting guide rails31of the mold plate conveying device3are arranged on the top of the installation platform9in parallel and spaced apart, and a first sliding hole is provided on the top of the installation platform9between the two first limiting guide rails31. The first sliding hole is opened along the length direction of the first limiting guide rails31, and the third translation mechanism32includes a first synchronous belt module installed on the bottom part of the installation platform9along the length direction of the first limiting guide rails31, a first slider connected with the first synchronous belt module, and a first motor for driving the first synchronous belt module. The pushing plate33is mounted on the first slider, and a pushing block extending upward through the first sliding hole is provided on the top of the pushing plate33. The pushing block is driven by the first synchronous belt module to push the mold plate6along the first limiting guide rails31. In addition, the mold plate conveying device3also includes a plurality of limiting mechanisms34mounted on one side of the first limiting guide rails31. The limiting mechanisms34include a limiting cylinder and a limiting block connected with the limiting cylinder. The first limiting guide rail31is provided with a first notch, and the limiting cylinder drives the limiting block to protrude from the first notch, for limiting and fixing the mold plate6in order to be pressed by the preforming device4and the thermoforming device5.

The heating plate assembly51of the thermoforming device5is arranged at one end of the first sliding hole, and includes a heating plate and plurality of heating tubs installed in the heating plate. The third lifting mechanism52includes a hot-pressing frame mounted above the heating plate on the installation platform9, and a second pressing cylinder and a plurality of second lifting guide columns mounted on the hot-pressing frame. The hot-pressing plate assembly53is connected with the second pressing cylinder and the second lifting guide columns, and the hot-pressing plate assembly53includes a connecting plate, a plurality of heat insulation plates and foam cotton arranged in sequence from top to bottom. When the product mold plate6is moved onto the heating plate, the mold plate6is heated by the heating tubes, and then the second pressing cylinder drives the foam cotton to press down, so that the preformed product on the mold plate6is hot-pressed. This allows high production efficiency. The foam cotton is used for hot pressing, which may relieve the pressure applied, and at the same time, allow penetration of the surrounding columns to form avoidance holes43in order to ensure a close fitting.

The discharging device7includes two second limiting guide rails71arranged in parallel and spaced apart on the installation platform9, a discharging translation mechanism72arranged on the installation platform9along the length direction of the second limiting guide rails71, and a discharging push plate73connected with the discharging translation mechanism72. The discharging translation mechanism72operates by means of the synchronous belt, which drives the discharging push plate73to push the mold plate6to slide along the second limiting guide rails71for discharging.

An operating process of the present disclosure is as follows,

(1) the winding device2attracts the magnetic winding head133, and winds the yarn on the surrounding columns according to the preset trajectory;

(2) the preforming device4is pressed down to produce a preformed product after the winding is completed;

(3) the mold plate conveying device3transfers the mold plate6below the thermoforming device5, and the thermoforming device5hot-presses the preformed product; and

(4) the hot-pressed product is transferred and discharged by the discharging device7.

The above are merely examples of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Various equivalent changes or substitutions may be made within the technical scope disclosed in the present disclosure by those skilled in the art, and these changes or substitutions shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.