Patent Publication Number: US-7591152-B2

Title: Double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine and more particularly, to a double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine, which has an inner annular needle cylinder holder and an outer annular needle cylinder holder configured to show a 50°˜60° double bevel profile. Further, a sinker may be coupled to the inner needles or the outer needles of the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine to assist in holding down the knitted fabric, for enabling the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine to knit double knit fabrics as well as double-faced reversible fabrics and double-faced irregular shaped fabrics. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional double knit circular knitting machine generally comprises a disc having a horizontal needle cylinder holder and a vertical needle cylinder holder, a plurality of sector-shaped horizontal cam adjustment members horizontally abutted against one another along the surface of the horizontal needle cylinder holder, a plurality of horizontal cam blocks respectively arranged at the bottom side of the sector-shaped horizontal cam adjustment members, a plurality of horizontal needles reciprocatable in a respective horizontal needle track in each of the horizontal cam blocks to perform a knitting process; a plurality of sector-shaped vertical cam adjustment members abutted against one another along the surface of the vertical needle cylinder holder, a plurality of vertical cam blocks respectively arranged at the bottom side of the sector-shaped vertical cam adjustment members, and a plurality of vertical needles reciprocatable in a respective vertical needle track in each of the vertical cam blocks to perform a knitting process. During reciprocating motion of the horizontal needles and the vertical needles, yarns feeding from a yarn feeder above the disc are knitted into a fabric. 
     The aforesaid conventional double knit circular knitting machine is still not satisfactory in function. Because the horizontal needles and the vertical needles are reciprocating in different directions during a knitting operation, the effect of force distribution may result in uneven loop lengths or escape of loops. The knitted fabric has low elasticity. Further, this design of double knit circular knitting machine is practical for knitting double-faced reversible fabrics, double-faced irregular shaped fabrics, or fine gauge fabrics (20 G/inch or 24 G/inch). 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a double knit circular knitting machine that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine that eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional double knit circular knitting machines. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine comprises an inner annular needle cylinder holder and an outer annular needle cylinder holder extending around the inner annular needle cylinder holder. The inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder slope in two reversed directions at a same sloping angle, for example, 50°˜60°, to show a double bevel profile. Further, a sinker may be coupled to the inner needles or the outer needles to assist in holding down the knitted fabric. Therefore, the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine is practical for knitting double knit fabrics as well as double-faced reversible fabrics and double-faced irregular shaped fabrics. 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine comprises a disc, the disc comprising an inner annular needle cylinder holder and an outer annular needle cylinder holder extending around the inner annular needle cylinder holder, the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder sloping in two reversed directions at a same sloping angle to show a double bevel profile; an inner base member fixedly mounted on an inner side of the inner annular needle cylinder holder; a plurality of sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members fixedly mounted on a top side of the inner base member and abutted against one another along an inner surface of the inner annular needle cylinder holder; a plurality of inner cam blocks respectively provided at a bottom side of each of the sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members, the inner cam blocks each defining a respective needle track; a plurality of inner needles respectively arranged between the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the inner cam blocks and reciprocatable in the needle tracks of the inner cam blocks to perform a knitting process; an outer base member fixedly mounted on an outer side of the outer annular needle cylinder holder; a plurality of sector-shaped outer cam adjustment members fixedly mounted on a top side of the outer base member and abutted against one another along an outer surface of the outer annular needle cylinder holder; a plurality of outer cam blocks respectively provided at a bottom side of each of the sector-shaped outer cam adjustment members, the outer cam blocks each defining a respective needle track; and a plurality of outer needles respectively arranged between the outer annular needle cylinder holder and the outer cam blocks and reciprocatable in the needle tracks of the outer cam blocks to perform a knitting process. Because the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder slope in two reversed directions at a same sloping angle to show a double bevel profile, the invention facilitates tuck and withdrawal operation of the needles to knit a fabric having better elasticity, evenness, tightness, and solidity. 
     Further, the sloping angle of the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder is preferably at 50°˜60°, or most preferably at 55°. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a disc of a double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a part of the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the inner annular needle holder and outer annular needle holder of the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4   a ˜ 4   e  are schematic drawings of the present invention, showing the moving flow of two needles during knitting. 
         FIGS. 5   a ˜ 5   e  are schematic drawings of the present invention, showing the moving flow of one outer needle and one sinker during knitting. 
         FIGS. 6   a ˜ 6   e  are schematic drawings of the present invention, showing the moving flow of one sinker and one inner needle during knitting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1˜3 , a double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a disk  1 . The disk  1  comprises an inner annular needle cylinder holder  10 , and an outer annular needle cylinder holder  20  around the inner annular needle cylinder holder  10 . The inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  and the outer annular needle cylinder holder  20  slope in two reversed directions at a same sloping angle to show a double bevel profile. The sloping angle of the double bevel profile is preferably at 50°˜60°, most preferably 55°. 
     The inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  has fixedly mounted on its inner side an inner base member  11 . A plurality of sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members  12  are fixedly mounted on the top side of the inner base member  11  and abutted against one another along the inner surface of the inner annular needle cylinder holder  10 . An inner cam block  13  is respectively provided at the bottom side of each sector-shaped inner cam adjustment member  12 . Multiple inner needles  14  are arranged between the inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  and the inner cam blocks  13 . The inner cam blocks  13  each have a predetermined needle track  131 . Thee inner needles  14  are reciprocating in the needle tracks  131  of the inner cam blocks  13  to perform the knitting process. 
     The outer annular needle cylinder holder  20  has fixedly mounted on its outer side an outer base member  21 . A plurality of sector-shaped outer cam adjustment members  22  are fixedly mounted on the top side of the outer base member  21  and abutted against one another along the outer surface of the outer annular needle cylinder holder  20 . An outer cam block  23  is respectively provided at the bottom side of each sector-shaped outer cam adjustment member  22 . Multiple outer needles  24  are arranged between the inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  and the outer cam blocks  23 . The outer cam blocks  23  each have a predetermined needle track  231 . The outer needles  24  are reciprocating in the needle tracks  231  of the outer cam blocks  23  to perform the knitting process. 
     The inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  and the outer annular needle cylinder holder  20  are so arranged to show a double bevel profile, and therefore, the sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members  12  and the sector-shaped outer cam adjustment members  22  are arranged in a double bevel manner and sloping at, for example, 55°, the inner needles  14  and the outer needles  24  are also arranged in a double bevel manner and sloping at 55°. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1˜3 , the sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members  12  and the sector-shaped outer cam adjustment member  22  are respectively affixed to the inner base member  11  and the outer base member  21  with screws  50 . The inner annular needle cylinder holder  10  and the outer annular needle cylinder holder  20  are affixed to the machine base with screws  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4   a ˜ 4   e,  as stated above, the sector-shaped inner cam adjustment members  12  and the sector-shaped outer cam adjustment members  22  are arranged on the disc  1  in a double bevel manner and sloping at 55°, the inner needles  14  and the outer needles  24  are also arranged on the disc  1  in a double bevel manner and sloping at 55°. As stated above the inner needles  14  and the outer needles  24  are symmetrically disposed at two sides and kept at the same sloping angle. This double bevel arrangement facilitates tuck and withdrawal operation of the needles  14  and  24 . When compared to conventional double-knit circular knitting machine, the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine of the present invention is more compact and light. Further, because the inner needles  14  and the outer needles  24  are respectively arranged in the sector-shaped inner and outer cam adjustment members  12  and  22  in a symmetrical relationship and kept at the same sloping angle, the ribbed structure of the knitted fabric has better elasticity, evenness, tightness, and solidity. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4   a ˜ 4   e,  during knitting, the inner needles  14  and the outer needles  24  are respectively reciprocating in the needle tracks  131  of the inner cam blocks  13  and the needle tracks  231  of the outer cam blocks  23  subject to a predetermined knitting pattern to knit yarns  31  from a yarn feeder  30  into a knitted fabric  32 . Because the procedure of reciprocating the needles  14  and  24  in the needle tracks  131  and  231  of the cam blocks  13  and  23  to knit a knitted fabric  32  is of the known technique, no further detailed description in this regard is necessary. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5   a ˜ 5   e,  a sinker  40  may be coupled to a predetermined number of outer needles  24  so that the sinker  40  assists in holding down the knitted single knit fabric  33  during knitting. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6   a ˜ 6   e,  a sinker  40  may be coupled to a predetermined number of inner needles  14  so that the sinker  40  assists holding down the knitted single knit fabric  33  during knitting. 
     The application of the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of unequal loop lengths or escape of loops that are commonly seen in conventional double knit circular knitting machines, of the type having horizontal needle cylinder holders and vertical needle cylinder holders arranged at right angles, during a knitting action due to the effect of force distribution upon knitting stroke of the needles. Because the invention has the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder be arranged in a double bevel manner at 50°˜60°, the inner needles and the outer needles are reciprocating at two sides at the same sloping angle during knitting. Therefore, the invention facilitates tuck and withdrawal operation of the needles to knit a fabric having better elasticity, evenness, tightness, and solidity. 
     Further, because the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder be arranged in a double bevel manner at 50°˜60°, the knitted fabric fall to the bottom side through the gap between the inner annular needle cylinder holder and the outer annular needle cylinder holder, eliminating the drawback of the conventional double knit circular knitting machines in which the sloping face of the vertically extending needle holder hinders curving of the knitted fabric. Further, sinkers may be used and coupled to the inner needles or the outer needles to assist in holding down the knitted fabric, keeping the knitted fabric smooth. Further, the double bevel type double-knit circular knitting machine is practical for knitting double-faced reversible fabrics or double-faced irregular shaped fabrics that are not achievable by conventional double knit circular knitting machines. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.