Patent Description:
In general, a flat-knitting machine or the like knitting machine is employed to manufacture clothing. The flat-knitting machine knits cloth with a programmed pattern while a carriage feeds a plurality of needles arranged in a needle unit with threads by reciprocating left and right above the needle unit. A principle of actuating a conventional flat-knitting machine is as follows. The needle of the needle unit is formed with a butt, and the carriage is formed with a track corresponding to the butt on the rear thereof, so that the butt can move along the track while the carriage reciprocates. With this structure, the needles move forward or backward as a whole, thereby performing knitting. Document <CIT> discloses a needle actuating device for a circular knitting machine, wherein a multiplicity of needles are mounted to a knitting cylinder, which is rotatable in a prescribed direction about its own axis, for independent longitudinal displacement in a direction parallel to the axis of the knitting cylinder, with each needle having a shank with first and second butts formed thereon with a spacing in its longitudinal direction. Document <CIT> discloses a cam-support carriage for a knitting machine, comprising movable cams for controlling knitting needles and adapted to be put out of operation by an electro-magnetic positioning device. Document <CIT> discloses a method for knitting a flat knitted fabric, wherein all knitting needles of the flat knitting machine are individually connected to an actuator, and each actuator of the corresponding knitting needle is activated in accordance with the predetermined knitting plan, and a flat knitting machine for implementing the above-mentioned knitting method. Document <CIT> discloses a circular knitting machine with improved pneumatic service circuit comprising a needle cylinder and pneumatically actuated service devices which are arranged around the needle cylinder. The machine is provided with an annular body which surrounds the needle cylinder, and a main duct is defined in the annular body.

However, a conventional knitting machine has had a problem that the carriage needs to move the needle unit forward and backward while reciprocating between both ends of the arranged needle unit, and it is therefore impossible to separately move only a specific needle unit forward and backward.

An aspect of the disclosure is to solve such conventional problems, and provide a knitting machine, with an actuating system using the existing carriage and a new actuating system.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine in which only a specific needle is separately movable forward and backward while using the carriage.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a knitting machine, the knitting machine including: a needle module in which a plurality of needle units are arranged side by side, the needle unit including a needle hook formed in an end portion and a plurality of protrusions formed in a middle region; a first actuation module including a carriage for the flat-knitting machine, a rear of which is formed with a track to be linked with one of the plurality of protrusions, and provided to be movable left and right; a second actuation module including a connector formed with a screw thread for meshing with another one of the plurality of protrusions, and an actuator for actuating the connector to move, and provided to be movable left and right; a first movement unit allowing the first actuation module to move up and down to be in contact with the needle module; and a second movement unit allowing the connector of the second actuation module to move up and down with respect to the needle module, wherein, when the protrusion of the needle unit is linked to the track as the first movement unit moves the first actuation module toward the needle module, the needle unit moves forward or backward by the connection between the track of the carriage and the protrusion as the carriage moves left and right, and wherein, when the second movement unit moves the connector of the second actuation module toward the needle module, the needle unit meshing with the screw thread moves forward or backward as the actuator actuates the connector to rotate while the screw thread is connecting with the protrusion of the needle unit.

Here, the protrusion of the needle unit may include two protrusions of a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion corresponding to the first actuation module and the second protrusion corresponding to the second actuation module.

The knitting machine for clothing may further include a selector to selectively move the needle unit up and down.

Here, the selector comprises a solenoid valve and selectively moves the needle unit up and down.

Further, the connector may include a plurality of connectors arranged side by side, and the connectors are fewer than the needle units.

The actuator of the second actuation module may be rotatable forward and backward, and include an encoder to sense the number of rotations, thereby controlling the number of rotations of the actuator.

The first actuation module and the second actuation module may together move left and right. Alternatively, the first actuation module and the second actuation module may individually move left and right.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a clothing-manufacturing 3D printer with an actuating system using the existing carriage and a new actuating system.

Further, there is provided a clothing-manufacturing 3D printer in which only a specific needle unit is separately movable forward and backward while using the carriage.

Further, there is provided a clothing-manufacturing 3D printer in which forward and backward movement of a needle unit is freely adjustable.

In description of various embodiments, like elements referenced by like numerals will be representatively described in a first embodiment, and other elements different from those of the first embodiment will be described in other embodiments.

Below, a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to a first embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a main configuration of a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to the disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating first and second actuation modules of a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to the disclosure. As shown therein, the clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to the disclosure includes a needle module <NUM>, a first actuation module <NUM>, a second actuation module <NUM>, a first movement unit <NUM>, a second movement unit <NUM>, and a supporter <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a needle unit. As shown therein, the needle section module <NUM> includes a plurality of needle units <NUM> arranged side by side, and one needle unit <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> formed long in a lengthwise direction, a needle hook <NUM> formed at one end of the main body <NUM> and hooking a thread, and a first protrusion <NUM> and a second protrusion <NUM> formed in certain regions of the main body <NUM>. The needle hook <NUM> has a structure by which a thread positioned in front thereof is hooked as the needle unit <NUM> is moved forward, and the hooked thread is pulled backward as the needle unit <NUM> is moved backward. The first protrusion <NUM> and the second protrusion <NUM> protrude outward from the certain regions of the main body <NUM> and mesh with the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a first actuation module. As shown therein, the first actuation module <NUM> includes the features of the carriage <NUM> used in the existing flat-knitting machine. In other words, a track <NUM> for inserting the first protrusion <NUM> therein is formed on the rear of the carriage <NUM> moving left and right on the needle module <NUM>. Therefore, the first protrusion <NUM> moves along the track <NUM> as the carriage <NUM> moves left and right on the needle module <NUM>, thereby moving the needle unit <NUM> forward and backward.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a second actuation module. As shown therein, the second actuation module <NUM> includes a connector <NUM> formed with a screw thread <NUM> to mesh with the second protrusion <NUM>, and an actuator <NUM> for rotating the connector <NUM>. The connector <NUM> transmits a rotational force generated by the actuator <NUM> to the needle unit <NUM> so that the needle unit <NUM> can move forward and backward, and has a body formed with a screw thread <NUM> with which the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> meshes.

A width of a groove of the screw thread <NUM> may be the same as or a little wider than the width of the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM>, so that the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> can be inserted in the groove. Therefore, when the connector <NUM> rotates, the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> inserted in the groove of the screw thread <NUM> moves forward or backward along the screw thread <NUM> while interlocking with the rotation of the connector <NUM>. The forward or backward moving distance of the needle unit <NUM> is varied depending on the number of rotations of the connector <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is embodied by a motor <NUM> that can rotate the connector <NUM>. In this embodiment, the motor is described by way of example. However, any actuator may be used as long as it can rotate the connector <NUM>. Further, the actuator <NUM> may include an encoder <NUM> to sense the number of rotations of the connector <NUM> and control the forward and backward moving distance of the needle unit <NUM>.

The connectors <NUM> may be provided fewer than the needle units <NUM>, and be selectively in contact with the individual needle units <NUM> while the connector <NUM> moves left and right within the arrangement of the needle module <NUM>, thereby transmitting an actuation force to the needle unit <NUM>.

The first movement unit <NUM> is provided to move the first actuation module <NUM> closer to or far away from the needle module <NUM>. In other words, when the needle unit <NUM> of the needle module <NUM> is actuated by the first actuation module <NUM>, the first movement unit <NUM> moves the first actuation module <NUM> toward the needle module <NUM> so that the first protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> can be inserted in the track <NUM> formed in the carriage <NUM> of the first actuation module <NUM>. Therefore, like the operation of the general flat-knitting machine, the needle unit <NUM> moves forward and backward as the carriage <NUM> moves left and right. When the second actuation module <NUM> operates, the first actuation module <NUM> needs to be released from the first protrusion <NUM> in order to avoid interference, and therefore the first movement unit <NUM> moves the first actuation module <NUM> far away from the needle module <NUM>, thereby releasing the first actuation module <NUM> from the needle module <NUM>.

The second movement unit <NUM> is provided to move the second actuation module <NUM> closer to or far away from the needle module <NUM>. In other words, when the needle unit <NUM> of the needle module <NUM> is actuated by the second actuation module <NUM>, the second movement unit <NUM> moves the second actuation module <NUM> toward the needle module <NUM> so that the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> can be in contact with the connector <NUM> of the second actuation module <NUM>. Therefore, the needle unit <NUM> moves forward and backward based on the operation of the connector <NUM>. When the first actuation module <NUM> operates, the second actuation module <NUM> needs to be released from the second protrusion <NUM> in order to avoid interference, and therefore the second movement unit <NUM> moves the second actuation module <NUM> far away from the needle module <NUM>, thereby releasing the second actuation module <NUM> from the needle module <NUM>.

The second movement unit <NUM> may be actuated by a solenoid valve to move each individual connector <NUM> up and down. In other words, the solenoid valves are respectively connected to the connectors <NUM>, and individually move the connectors <NUM> up and down, thereby individually moving the needle units <NUM> forward and backward.

Therefore, above the needle module <NUM>, the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM> are respectively positioned corresponding to the first protrusion <NUM> and the second protrusion <NUM>, and the first movement unit <NUM> and the second movement unit <NUM> are respectively arranged to move the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM> up and down.

Further, the supporter <NUM> may be provided to not only support the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM> but also move the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM> left and right above the needle module <NUM>. The supporter <NUM> supports the first actuation module <NUM> and the second actuation module <NUM> to move left and right together. The supporter <NUM> includes a first supporting member <NUM> and a second supporting member <NUM>, and the first supporting member <NUM> is mounted onto a rail <NUM> and movable left and right, i.e., in a direction intersecting a lengthwise direction of the needle unit <NUM>. On the first supporting member <NUM>, the first actuation module <NUM> is supported by the first movement unit <NUM>, and at the same time the second supporting member <NUM> is supported by the second movement unit <NUM>.

The second supporting member <NUM> is provided with as many as the number of connectors <NUM> and the number of actuators <NUM>, installed with the connectors <NUM> and the actuators <NUM>, and moved by the second movement unit <NUM> up and down from the first supporting member <NUM>. In other words, the second movement unit <NUM> is actuated by the solenoid valve to move the second supporting member <NUM> up and down. Therefore, the second movement unit <NUM> actuates the second supporting member <NUM> to independently move up and down, so that the connector <NUM> and the needle unit <NUM> can mesh with or be released from each other for linking or unlinking.

From now on, the actuation of the clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to the disclosure will be described.

<FIG> and <FIG> are operational views illustrating operation of a clothing-manufacturing knitting machine according to the disclosure.

As shown therein, to move the needle unit <NUM> forward and backward, the first actuation module <NUM> is first moved toward the needle module <NUM> by the first movement unit. Therefore, the first protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> is inserted in the track <NUM> of the carriage <NUM> of the first actuation module <NUM>. When the first actuation module <NUM> moves left and right with the first <NUM> inserted in the track <NUM>, the needle unit <NUM> moves toward the thread or backward along the pattern of the track <NUM>. The forward or backward movement of the needle unit <NUM> is the same as that of the needle unit of a general flat-knitting machine. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture clothing or the like shaped as desired based on the pattern of the track <NUM>. In this case, the second actuation module <NUM> keeps a distance from the protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> so as not to affect the operations of the first actuation module <NUM>.

Next, the operations of the second actuation module <NUM> will be described. To operate the second actuation module <NUM>, the second actuation module <NUM> is moved toward the needle module <NUM> by the second movement unit <NUM>. In this case, the first actuation module <NUM> keeps a distance from the needle module <NUM> in order to avoid interference.

As the second actuation module <NUM> approaches the needle module <NUM>, the connector <NUM> also moves toward the needle unit <NUM>, and the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> is inserted in the grove of the screw thread <NUM> of the connector <NUM>. Then, the actuator <NUM> actuates the connector <NUM> to rotate, and the rotation of the connector <NUM> causes the second protrusion <NUM> meshing with the screw thread <NUM> to move forward, thereby moving the needle unit <NUM> forward. At this time, the number of rotations of the connector <NUM> is sensed by the encoder <NUM>, and the forward moving distance of the needle unit <NUM> is adjusted based on the number of rotations of the connector <NUM>.

When the needle unit <NUM> moves forward up to a given position, the thread is hooked to the needle hook <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM>. Then, the actuator <NUM> is reversely rotated to move the needle unit <NUM> backward, and therefore the thread hooked to the needle hook <NUM> is also moved backward. With such an actuation mechanism, the needle unit <NUM> moves forward and backward to perform knitting, and the second actuation module <NUM> reciprocates left and right to manufacture clothing having a desired size or a desired shape.

Because the second movement unit <NUM> individually moves the connector <NUM> up and down by the solenoid valve, the needle unit <NUM> is selectively moved forward or backward. In other words, by the individual operation of the solenoid valve, only the second supporting member <NUM>, of which the corresponding solenoid valve works, is moved toward the needle unit <NUM> among the second supporting members <NUM> of the supporter <NUM>. Then, the connector <NUM> supported on the second supporting member <NUM> moved by the operation of the second movement unit <NUM> is moved toward the needle unit <NUM>, but the connectors <NUM> corresponding to the second supporting member <NUM>, of which the corresponding solenoid valves do not work, stay in place without moving toward the needle unit <NUM>. Therefore, the second protrusion <NUM> of the needle unit <NUM> is inserted in the groove of the screw thread <NUM> of the selected connector <NUM>. Then, the actuator <NUM> actuates the selected connector <NUM> to rotate, and the rotation of the connector <NUM> causes the second protrusion <NUM> meshing with the screw thread <NUM> to move forward, thereby moving only the selected needle unit <NUM> forward or backward. In this manner, not all the needle units <NUM> but only the selected needle unit <NUM> is selectively moved forward and backward.

In other words, the first actuation module <NUM> actuates all the needle units <NUM> corresponding to a certain corresponding region to move forward or backward along the track <NUM> as the first protrusion <NUM> is connected to the track <NUM>, but the second actuation module <NUM> selectively actuates the needle unit <NUM> to move forward or backward and controls the forward or backward moving distance of the needle unit <NUM> by adjusting the rotation amount of the connector <NUM>. Therefore, the second actuation module <NUM> is used in printing a knitting structure having a specific shape while clothing is manufactured.

The scope of the disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A knitting machine, comprising:
a needle module (<NUM>) in which a plurality of needle units (<NUM>) is arranged side by side, the needle unit (<NUM>) comprising a needle hook (<NUM>) formed in an end portion and a plurality of protrusions (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed in a middle region:
a first actuation module (<NUM>) comprising a carriage (<NUM>) for the knitting machine, a rear of which is formed with a track (<NUM>) to be linked with one (<NUM>) of the plurality of protrusions (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a second actuation module (<NUM>);
a first movement unit (<NUM>) allowing the first actuation module (<NUM>) to move up and down to be in contact with the needle module (<NUM>); and
a second movement unit (<NUM>),
wherein, when the protrusion of the needle unit (<NUM>) is linked to the track as the first movement unit (<NUM>) moves the first actuation module (<NUM>) toward the needle module (<NUM>), the needle unit (<NUM>) moves forward or backward by the connection between the track (<NUM>) of the carriage (<NUM>) and the protrusion (<NUM>) as the carriage (<NUM>) moves,
characterized in that the carriage (<NUM>) is for a flat knitting machine and provided to be movable left and right wherein the second actuation module (<NUM>) comprises a connector (<NUM>) formed with a screw thread (<NUM>) for meshing with another one (<NUM>) of the plurality of protrusions (<NUM>, <NUM>), and an actuator (<NUM>) for actuating the connector (<NUM>) to move, and the second actuation module (<NUM>) is provided to be movable left and right; wherein the second movement unit (<NUM>) allows the connector (<NUM>) of the second actuation module (<NUM>) to move up and down with respect to the needle module (<NUM>); wherein, when the second movement unit (<NUM>) moves the connector (<NUM>) of the second actuation module (<NUM>) toward the needle module (<NUM>), the needle unit (<NUM>) meshing with the screw thread (<NUM>) moves forward or backward as the actuator (<NUM>) actuates the connector (<NUM>) to rotate while the screw thread (<NUM>) is connecting with the protrusion (<NUM>) of the needle unit (<NUM>).