Patent Publication Number: US-6705130-B2

Title: Knitting system component

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 101 11 930.5 filed Mar. 12, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a system component, particularly for knitting machines or similar textile machines. 
     The term system component encompasses all parts of a knitting system, particularly parts of a knitting system of a knitting machine that are seated to move. This term especially refers to components that move in translatory fashion and are directly involved in knitting, or any other loop forming process as well as parts that produce a desired structure, such as cutting needles and the like. The invention can notably be used with knitting-machine needles. Aside from needles, system components include selector parts, coupling elements, sinkers, springs, etc. 
     For knitting machines, known system components such as needles or other knitting tools are seated to be longitudinally displaced in the needle groove of a needle cylinder or a circular-knitting dial. A so-called drive ring having a cam serves to drive the system components. For purposefully actuating system components such as needles, the components are often provided with or coupled to so-called selector parts, elements, or devices which have a butt that can engage and disengage from the cam. The selector part transmits its longitudinal movement onto the needle or knitting tool. 
     In the servicing of knitting machines or other stitching machines, the knitting tools, which are present in large numbers, frequently must be removed from their guide channels and reinserted, or replaced with new system components or other knitting tools. If a selector element that is separate from the system component or the needle is associated with the component or needle, and there is no fixed connection between the base body of the system component and the selector element, the task of inserting the system component, with the selector element, into the needle groove requires tremendous dexterity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to improve the handling of such system components. 
     This object generally is achieved with a system component according to the invention, having a selector element that is connected to the base body of the system component for permitting the back-and-forth movement of the system component. The selector element is also seated to move such that it engages and disengages from a drive device. A fastening element or securing means, secures the selector element to the base body so as to protect it against a lateral misalignment in at least one transverse direction. Thus, the system component and the selector element form a unit that can manageably be inserted into the needle groove or another guide conduit and removed from it. This ensures that the base body and the selector element do not come apart during assembly, i.e., the insertion of the system component into the needle groove or other conduit. 
     The selector device or part is, for example, a separate selector element that is seated on the base body so as to pivot about a pivot axis. The pivot axis extends perpendicular to the flat sides of the base body (needle body), and is therefore oriented transversely to the direction of needle movement. If the system component is a needle, the selector element is disposed, for example, on the side facing away from the needle back, and is seated to pivot toward and away from the needle back. The selector element can be seated with a suitable hinge element, whose bearing surfaces virtually occupy the entire width of the needle body, measured from flat side to flat side of the needle body. This ensures a precise, durable seating of the selector element on the needle body. 
     The selector element is preferably resiliently prestressed in a pivot direction. A spring element, for example in the form of a leaf spring inserted into the base body or the selector element, can serve this purpose. It is also preferable to produce the leaf spring and the selector element, or the base body, in an integral manner, i.e., in one piece. The entire length of a spring element of this type preferably has essentially the same thickness as the rest of the base body and the rest of the selector element (measured from flat side to flat side). 
     Also conceivable are embodiments in which the spring element is tapered from its point of connection to the needle body or the selector element toward its end. 
     The spring element can serve in resiliently prestressing the selector element against a stop. This arrangement simultaneously effects the prestressing of the securing element. 
     The selector element can be embodied as an elongated selector element that is seated to move in a recess of the base body. Its thickness preferably matches the thickness of the base body (needle body). In the assembled state, the flanks of the needle or guide groove guide the selector element, so it is impossible to separate the selector element and the base body without affecting the fastening element as well. When the needle (system component) is being handled outside of the needle groove (guide conduit), however, the fastening element holds the needle body (base body) and selector device together. 
     The securing element or means is preferably embodied in the form of the pairing of a protrusion and a recess, which are engaged in the inoperative position of the selector element. The inoperative position is the position assumed by the selector element when it is not subjected to any external forces. For example, the spring element prestresses the selector element against stops or protrusions. At least in this state, the at least one protrusion and aforementioned at least one recess effect a form-fitting connection between the selector element and the base body (needle body) for preventing the selector element from slipping laterally off of the needle body. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the spring element effects a lateral guidance. One end of the spring element is connected to either the selector element or the base body (needle body). Its other end rests resiliently against the selector element or the base body (needle body). In the region of the resilient contact, a form fit can be effected by a groove-like recess in the surface opposite the end of the spring. The end of the spring is tapered, so it extends into this groove in the countersurface and provides lateral guidance due to the prestressing and the contact of the spring with the side walls of the groove. In another possible embodiment, the end of the spring would not be tapered, but the spring would have a protrusion that would extend into this groove A converse embodiment is also possible: A groove would be embodied in the spring, while the countersurface would have a protrusion that would extend into this groove. 
     It is also advantageous for the ends of the elongated selector element to rest, at least on one side, against the base body (needle body) relative to the transverse direction defined by the hinge axis. 
     Advantageous details of embodiments of the invention ensue from the drawing, the description and the dependent claims. The drawing illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention. Shown are in: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a needle in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional representation of the head of the needle according to FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a selector element of the needle according to FIG. 1, on a different scale. 
     FIG. 4 shows the selector element according to FIG. 3, cut along the sectional line IV—IV and on a different scale, 
     FIG. 5 shows the selector element according to FIG. 3, cut along the sectional line V—V. 
     FIG. 6 shows the needle according to FIG. 1, in an enlarged, side view. 
     FIG. 7 shows the needle according to FIG. 6, cut along the sectional line VI—VI. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a needle having a movable selector element. 
     FIG. 9 shows the movable selector element of the needle according to FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a cutout view of the needle according to FIG. 8, in a schematic, plan view. 
     FIG. 11 shows the needle according to FIG. 8, cut along the sectional line XI—XI. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a modified embodiment of a selector element, in a side view partially in section. 
     FIG. 13 shows the selector element according to FIG. 12, cut along the sectional line XIII—XIII. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a modified embodiment of a needle in accordance with the invention, with a cutout, perspective representation of the needle body and the end of the selector element. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a modified embodiment of the needle, with the hinge region in a cutout representation. 
     FIG. 16 illustrates a further embodiment of a needle in accordance with the invention, in a perspective representation. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENTS 
     A system component is described below by way of the example of a needle  1 , such as is used in a knitting machine. FIG. 1 depicts the needle  1 , also called the selector needle. The needle  1  has a needle body  2  as the base body, which body supports a head  3  at one end. The head is shown separately in FIG.  2 . It has a latch  4  that is seated to pivot, and opens and closes the hook  5  at the end. 
     The needle  1  is seated to move back and forth in a direction of movement that is symbolized by an arrow  6  in FIG.  1 . To this end, the needle  1  is accommodated in a needle (guide) groove (not shown), in which it is guided by its two oppositely-located substantially parallel flat sides  7 ,  8 . 
     For driving purposes, the needle  1  has one or more butts  11 ,  12 , which extend away from the needle body, starting from the side or edge opposite the needle back  14 . 
     For targeted driving, the needle  1  also has a selector element  16  as a selector device. This element  16  serves in switching the needle  1  actively or passively for a certain movement, that is, selecting or not selecting the needle. The selector element  16  is received by or mounted in a recess  17  of the needle body, which recess is open toward the side extending away from the needle back  14  and is limited at the front and back, with regard to the direction of movement of the needle  1 , by a respective stem  18 ,  19 . The selector element  16  is formed by an elongated, rod-like segment whose lateral flanks  21 ,  22  end flush with the flat sides  7 ,  8  of the base body  2 . The selector element  16  thus has the same thickness as the needle or base body  2 . At the end remote from the head  3 , the selector element  16  is seated on the needle body  2  so as to pivot about a pivot axis  23 , This axis is defined by a hinge  20 , as is particularly apparent in FIG.  6 . The selector element  16  shown separately in FIG. 3 has a disk-shaped head  24  at its end adjacent to the stem  19 . The head  24  is held in a circular bearing opening  25  that passes transversely through the needle body  2 . The bearing opening  25  is open toward the flat sides  7 ,  8 . It is also open at an edge, with its open edge being occupied by a connecting stem  26  (FIGS.  3  and  6 ). The connecting stem connects the head  24  to a longitudinal stem  27  of the selector element  16 . 
     The side or edge of the longitudinal stern  27  that is remote from the needle back  14  is provided with a selector butt  29 , which projects at a right angle away from the longitudinal stem  27  and serves in pivoting the selector element  16 . The longitudinal stem  27  also supports at least one further butt  28 , which projects away from the longitudinal stem  27  at a right angle, like a flag, and is rendered active or passive through the pivoting of the selector element  16 , that is, it can serve in the targeted driving process. 
     As ensues from FIG. 6, a leaf-spring element  31  is provided in the recess  17 . At one end, this spring element  31  is integrally connected, i.e., in one piece, to the needle body  2 . The leaf-spring element  31  extends away from the portion of the needle body  2  that is embodied as the hinge  20 , in the direction of the stem  18 . The leaf-spring element  31  is prestressed such that it prestresses the selector element  16  for pivotable movement about the pivot axis  23 , i.e., counterclockwise in FIG.  6 . 
     The needle  1  is provided with a fastening element  32  for securing the selector element  16  in the recess  17  in situations in which the needle  1  is not accommodated in a needle or guide groove. The fastening element  32  may include a plurality of individual securing elements  34 ,  35 ,  36 , which fix the selector element  16 , for example in a form-fit, relative to the transverse direction  33 . 
     The individual securing element  34  is formed by, for example, a protrusion  38  that extends away radially from the head  24 , as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The protrusion  36  can be embodied as a catch approximately half as thick as the rest of the head  24 . The catch  38  can be disposed in the center or, as shown in FIG. 5, off-center. Accordingly, this catch  38  has an associated recess  35 , which directly adjoins the bearing opening in the needle body  2 . The recess  39  is limited in the transverse direction  33  by a side wall that is embodied at the needle body  2  and prevents the catch  38 , and therefore the head  24 , from moving out of the bearing opening  25 . FIG. 7 depicts the form-fitting contact of the catch  38  with the laterally-limiting recess  39 , otherwise, the head  24  rests with at least its outside, cylindrical circumferential surface against the cylindrical wall of the bearing opening  25 . 
     The individual securing element  35  is visible in FIGS. 3,  4  and  6 . On it side facing the needle body  2 , the longitudinal stem  27  has two narrow, wall-like, parallel extensions  41 ,  42 , which define a slot-like space  43  between themselves and, on the outside, end flush with the flat sides  7 ,  8  of the selector element  16 . In the corresponding region, the width of the leaf-spring element  31  corresponds to the spacing between the extensions  41 ,  42 , or is slightly smaller. In other words, this region of the leaf spring  31  is narrower than the rest of the spring. Thus, the leaf-spring element  31  can extend into the intermediate space  43 , as shown in FIG.  6 . With respect to the transverse direction  33 , therefore, a form-fitting connection is produced between the leaf-spring element  31  and the selector element  16 . 
     The individual securing element  36  is disposed at the end of the selector element  16  remote from the hinge  20 . The individual securing element  36  includes an extension  44 , which extends away from the longitudinal stem  27  in the longitudinal direction. The width of the extension  44  is distinctly smaller than the remaining width of the longitudinal stem  27 . The extension engages a recess  45  (FIG. 6) extending over the height of the stem  18 . At the end of the stem  18  remote from the needle back  14 , the stem  18  is provided with a catch  46  that overlaps the recess  17  in order to form a stop element for the selector element  16 . The catch  46  also limits the recess  45 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 6, the individual securing element  34  prevents the head  24  from moving in a first transverse direction  33   a  (out of the drawing plane), while the individual securing element  36  prevents a movement in a second transverse direction  33   b  (into the drawing plane). The individual securing element  35  blocks in both transverse directions. The selector element  16  is therefore seated on the needle body  2  such that it cannot be lost and can be safely handled. 
     The needle  1  described to this point functions as follows: 
     The selector element  16  serves in controlling the movement of the needle  1 . As ensues from FIG. 6, the selector element is seated on the needle body  2  to be pivoted by the hinge  20 . The leaf-spring element  31  presses the selector element  16  upward in FIG. 6, that is, away from the needle back  14 , thereby bringing a finger  47 , which extends beneath the catch  46  and is embodied on the selector element  16 , into contact with the catch  46 . The extension  44  rests loosely against a lateral surface of the stem  13  that is lower due to the recess  45 . This serves in laterally securing the front end of the selector element  16  in the direction  33   b . The protrusion  38  resting against the side wall of the recess  39  secures the rear end of the selector element in the opposite transverse direction  33   a  in the hearing opening  25 . In this state, the needle  1  can be safely handled without the risk of the selector element  16  jumping out of the recess  17 . The selector element can be inserted into or removed from needle grooves. 
     In operation, the selector element  16  can be pivoted from the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6 into the position shown in solid lines. This is effected counter to the prestressing force of the leaf-spring element  31  until the front end of the selector element  16  comes into contact with the needle body  2 . The hinge  20  permits a corresponding pivoting movement. This displaces the butts  28 ,  29  for shifting the needle  1  into different operating modes. 
     FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate a modified embodiment of the needle  1 . This embodiment differs from the above-described ones solely because the leaf-spring element  31  is embodied or disposed on the selector element  16 . Preferably, as shown, one of the ends of the leaf-spring spring element is connected in one piece to or integral with the longitudinal stem  27 . The connection is preferably produced near the head  24  as shown. 
     A slot (recess)  51 , which is laterally limited by a respective flank, is provided on the inner edge of the back  14  of the needle body  2  facing the recess  17 , namely in the region in which the free end of the leaf-spring element  31  rests against the back  14  of the needle body. A longitudinal stem (form-fit element)  52 , which is formed at the free end of the leaf-spring element  31 , specifically on the side of the leaf-spring element  31  facing the back  14  of the needle body  2 , extends into the slot  51 . The longitudinal stem  52  provides lateral guidance for the leaf-spring element  31 , and, at the same time, ensures that the selector element  16  is seated such that it cannot become lost. The longitudinal stem  52  approximately corresponds in length to the diameter of the head  24 . If needed, it can also be longer it therefore serves simultaneously in preventing relative rotation, so the respective one-sided contact of the individual securing elements  34 ,  36  sufficiently secures the selector element  16  to the needle body  2 . FIG. 11 particularly illustrates the extension of the stem  52 , or a correspondingly flattened end of the leaf-spring element  31 , into the slot  51 . The other, above-described reference characters used in FIGS. 1 through 7 are also used here. 
     If necessary or desired, the leaf-spring element  31  can also be formed onto the needle body  2 . In such case, a selector element  16  in accordance with FIGS. 12 and 13 should be used in this modified embodiment. The side or edge of this selector element  16  that faces the back  14  of the needle body  2  is provided with a slot  53 , which is limited by two side walls  54 ,  55 . These are apparent in FIG.  13 . The slot  53  serves in receiving the tapered or laterally flattened end of the leaf-spring element  31 . 
     In the above-described embodiments, the individual securing element  34  and the individual securing element  36  are only designed to work on one side or in one direction, with the individual securing element  35  being provided for support. As can he seen in FIG. 14, however, a possible alternative is for the individual securing element  36  to actively effect a form fit in both transverse directions  33   a ,  33   b . In this case, the top side of the finger  47  can be provided with a groove-like depression  56  that extends in the longitudinal direction of the needle. The depression  56  has an associated rib-like protrusion  57 , which is provided on the underside of the catch  46  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the needle. The protrusion  57  is embodied to fit into the depression  56 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 15, the individual securing element  34  can also be designed to act in both transverse directions  33   a ,  33   b . In this instance, at least one, but possibly more, dent-like depressions  58  can be cut into the two oppositely-located flat sides of the head  24 . Catches  59  embodied at the edge of the bearing opening  25  cover the depressions. 
     If the two ends of the selector element  16  are secured by a form fit at both ends, as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, for example, the individual securing element  35 , which is otherwise formed by the leaf-spring element  31 , can be omitted. It is also possible that, in some applications, an individual securing element  34 ,  35 ,  36  suffices, and secures the selector element to the needle in a form fit. 
     FIG. 16 illustrates a modified embodiment of the needle  1  as the needle  11 . It differs from the above-described needle  1  through the arrangement of the hinge  20  approximately in the center of the selector element  16 . The selector element can be provided with a respective individual securing element at the hinge element  20 , as well as at its leaf-spring element  31  and its two ends  61 ,  62 , as described above. Individual securing elements  36  can be provided at the two ends  61 ,  62 , as shown in FIG. 6 for the front end of the selector element  16 . 
     In summary, to improve the handling of a needle  1  having a selector element  16  that is seated to pivot on the needle body  2 , a fastening element  32  is additionally provided. This element  32  secures the selector element  16  to the needle body  2  in a form fit. One or more individual securing element  34 ,  35 ,  36  acting in the transverse direction  33  serves or serve as a fastening element  32 . The individual securing elements ( 34 ,  35 ,  36 ) can act in one direction or in both transverse directions. They are embodied to prevent the selector element  16  from falling out of the needle body  2  in both lateral directions. For this purpose, at least one individual securing element  34 ,  35 ,  36  that acts in the transverse directions  33   a ,  33   b  is provided. It is possible to combine all of the individual securing elements  24 ,  35 ,  36 . 
     The invention now being fully described, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth herein.