EP1467010B1 - Flat knitting machine having at least two needle beds - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a flat knitting machine with at least two needle beds, in which needles are arranged longitudinally displaceable, wherein each needle is associated with a pivotally mounted, acted upon by lock parts of the slide hold-down plate with a Kulierkante, and a method zus production of a knit fabric with such a flat knitting machine.

In knitting machines, efforts have always been made to provide means for holding the stitches with a certain tension on the needle shank without moving the stitches during the advancing movement of the needles. This has led to the development of hold-down boards associated with each needle which can pivot between an open and a closed position. In the closed position, they hold back the stitch when the needle is expelled.

In a widespread design, this hold-down plate is at the same time hold-down element and stitch patterns and therefore has a weft edge. Such hold-down boards are described for example in DE 11 72 396. The stitches are formed around a breast surface of these boards. By a pivoting movement of the board upwards, the stitch slides on the board breast surface, which lies behind the retaining hook, and is thereby covered by the retaining hook.

EP-A 0 897 027 describes the interaction of a stitch pattern and a hold-down plate, both of which are movable independently of each other. However, the hold-down board here has a pure retention function and does not participate in the calculation of the stitch.

Another retaining plate is described in EP 0 578 458 B1. This hold-down plate is associated with a Fadeneinweisblech, which is rigidly arranged on the needle bed. The breast surface of the hold-down board fulfills the stitch pattern function. By pivoting the hold-down plate up, the stitch slides onto a board surface that is behind a groove. Subsequently, the hold-down plate moves downwards by spring force and holds the loop in the throat. The Fadeneinweisblech also has a further surface, which favors the insertion of the knitting thread in the needle hook. A very similar solution of a combination of a hold-down plate and a thread insertion element is described in EP 0 672 769 A2. The Fadeneinweiselement is mounted linearly displaceable here and has in addition to a backup of the thread insert in the needles sliding a retention function of the mesh when opening the hold-down board.

EP 0 238 797 discloses hold-down plates which can fulfill their function in single-bed and double-bed knitted fabrics. In the case of single-bed knitted fabrics, the stitch is formed around a weft edge of the hold-down plate. By a subsequent pivotal movement down the loop slides into a throat on the board and is held there. In this case, boards of the front and rear needle bed are always opened and closed simultaneously. When all hold-down boards are in their closed position, the hold-down boards of the opposing needle beds almost touch and form thereby a bridge covering the comb gap. This formation of bridges in double-sided knitted fabrics retains the stitches on their thighs as the needles make their advancing movements.

The object of the present invention is to improve the known hold-down devices for flat knitting machines in such a way that, in addition to an improved hold-down function, a qualitative improvement of the stitch-forming function is achieved.

The object is achieved by a flat knitting machine with the features of claim 1.

The retaining plate thus improves the retention function of the hold-down plate, which may have a throat for retaining the loop in a conventional manner below the Kulierkante. If during an opening movement of the hold-down plate, the stitch should pop out of this throat, it is still held by the retaining plate in the mesh. Due to the separate controllability of the retaining plate compared to the hold-down plate, the retaining plate can also be used to optimize the mesh curl. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the retaining plate a first active surface, with which in a corresponding pivot position of the retaining plate in forming a stitch with the associated needle of the same needle bed, the position of the thread or threads on the Kulierkante the hold-down board is determined, and a second effective surface, with which in a corresponding pivot position of the retaining plate when opening the hold-down plate, the mesh is retained. In this case, the retaining plate can be configured and positioned in such a way that the mesh of the opposing needle can be retained with the first active surface in a corresponding pivoting position of the retaining plate when it is in the ejection movement. It is particularly advantageous if the first active surface of the retaining plate and the driven opposite needle close the comb gap. For this purpose, the retaining plate may preferably be positioned such that Almost touch the opposite needle in the advanced position and the retaining plate in the front pivot position or overlap in different height positions.

The retaining plate can be pivotable about a guided along the needle bed wire. This wire serves as a pivot bearing for all retaining plates of the needle bed.

For the hold-down plates mounted on the needle bed bearing elements can be provided as a pivot bearing. The bearing element may have a curved surface on which slides the hold-down with a correspondingly shaped groove. Since the bearing element is a separate component, it may preferably be made of a material with good sliding properties.

Further advantages arise when the position of the bearing element of the hold-down plate on the needle bed for changing the comb gap width is adjustable. The comb gap can thus be varied in the range of individual needles in width. As a result, quite different pattern effects can be achieved in comparison to knitting machines according to the prior art.

Another advantage arises when the hold-down plate can be latched to the bearing element and then removable together with this from the needle bed and fastened to another location of the needle bed. To release a tool can be used, which engages the hold-down board and this separates together with the bearing element from the needle bed. One Changing the comb gap width is thus quickly and easily possible without major disassembly work on the needle bed.

The hold-down plate can be secured and guided in the vertical direction to the needle bed by a sliding surface formed on a needle guide against loosening. When pivoted upward needle guide the hold-down plate can be secured by a in a groove in the bearing element, which runs parallel to the top of the bearing element, engaging legs against falling out. This ensures that when opening the needle guide, which is necessary for a needle replacement, the hold-down board does not fall out.

Laterally, the hold-down plate between a needle bed web and a wire guide plate can be performed. Through these guides, the hold-down board and lateral forces that can be caused by the voltage applied to her mesh record.

Further advantages arise when the hold-down board always assumes a defined basic position. For this purpose, the hold-down plate, if it is not acted upon by cam parts, are held by a spring in its forwardmost pivot position. The spring can be a lockable with the needle bed, and fixable in different locking positions leg spring. Due to the different locking positions, the retaining force of the hold-down plate can be adjusted at its throat, with which the mesh leg is held down. By locking connection with the needle bed, this adjustment of the position of the spring without disassembly of the needle bed is possible. The leg spring may preferably engage the bottom of the trailing end of the hold down plate.

The top of the bearing element, the groove in the bearing element, the sliding surface on the needle guide and the spring and cooperating with these areas areas of the hold-down plate may preferably be shaped so that after placing the rear end of the hold-down on the spring with open needle guide alone by the Closing movement of the needle guide the hold-down plate in its working position, d. H. in her foremost pivot position, can be brought. In such a configuration, the replacement of the hold-down board is extremely simple compared to prior art knitting machines. The hold-down board can also be removed and replaced without the bearing element.

• a) Rückzug der Nadeln und kurzes Nachobenschwenken der Niederhalteplatinen, damit die Maschenschenkel in die Kehlen der Niederhalteplatinen gleiten, anschließendes Verschwenken der Niederhalteplatinen in die vorderste Schwenkstellung, während die Rückhalteplatinen nach vorne verschwenken, bis ihre zweiten Wirkflächen die alten Maschen sicher in einer Position halten, von der sie in die Kehlen der Niederhalteplatinen gelangen;
• b) Austrieb der Nadeln zur Maschenbildung und Verschwenken der Rückhalteplatinen in die vorderste Schwenkstellung, in der sie gegebenenfalls auf den gegenüberliegenden Nadeln vorhandene Maschen zurückhalten;
• c) Rückzug der Nadeln und Einlegen eines oder mehrerer Fäden in ihre Nadelhaken, während die Rückhalteplatinen so verschwenkt werden, dass ihre ersten Wirkflächen den oder die Fäden in eine Anlageposition an der Kulierkante der nach wie vor in ihrer vordersten Schwenkstellung befindlichen Niederhalteplatinen bringen, die einen kürzest möglichen und bei mehreren Fäden außerdem einen gleichmäßig langen Fadenstrang zum Nadelhaken ergibt;
• d) weitere Rückzugsbewegung der Nadeln und dabei Hindurchziehen der Nadelhaken mit ihrer Fadeneinlage durch die alten Maschen;
• e) in der tiefsten Kulierstellung der Nadeln kurzzeitiges Öffnen und anschließendes Schließen der Niederhalteplatinen, wobei die Maschenschenkel in die Kehlen der Niederhalteplatinen gleiten, und Bewegen der Rückhalteplatinen in die Maschenrückhalteposition wie in Schritt a).

The invention also relates to a method for producing a knitted fabric on a flat knitting machine according to the invention, which is characterized by the steps:

• a) Retracting the needles and briefly pushing up the hold down plates to allow the mesh legs to slide into the throats of the hold down plates, then pivoting the hold down plates to the forwardmost pivot position while the retainer plates pivot forward until their second active surfaces securely hold the old meshes in position. from which they get into the throats of the hold-down boards;
• b) ejection of the needles for stitching and pivoting the retaining plates in the foremost pivotal position in which they possibly retain existing on the opposite needles meshes;
• c) retracting the needles and inserting one or more threads into their needle hooks, while the retaining plates are pivoted so that their first active surfaces bring the thread or threads in an abutment position on the Kulierkante the still in its forward pivot position hold down, the one the shortest possible and also results in a plurality of threads a uniformly long thread strand to the needle hook;
• d) further retraction movement of the needles while pulling the needle hooks with their thread insert through the old stitches;
• e) in the deepest setting position of the needles, momentary opening and then closing of the hold down plates, with the mesh legs sliding into the throats of the hold down plates, and moving the retaining plates into the loop retention position as in step a).

With the method according to the invention and the knitting machine according to the invention, it is possible to produce both single-bed and double-bed knitted fabrics. For transfer operations, the retention boards ensure that the stitches are retained on the opposite needles. Even with the formation of very large meshes with single-bed knitted fabrics, these stitches can be retained with the active surfaces of the retaining boards on the opposite needle.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a flat knitting machine according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch den vorderen Bereich eines Nadelbetts einer Flachstrickmaschine im Bereich einer Nadel mit zugehöriger Niederhalteplatine und Rückhalteplatine in der Grundstellung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Kurvenbahnen des Strickschlosses zur Ansteuerung der Strick-, Maschenbilder- und Rückhalteelemente der Flachstrickmaschine aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung mit einer Nadel des gegenüberliegenden Nadelbetts und der Rückhalteplatine in vorderster Schwenkstellung;

Fig. 4

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung mit der Nadel und den Platinen beim Erzeugen einer Masche mit drei Fäden;

Fig. 5

eine der Fig. 4 entsprechende Darstellung mit den Kulierelementen beim Erzeugen einer Masche mit fünf Fäden;

Fig. 6

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung mit der Rückhalteplatine beim Halten einer Masche und geöffneter Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt der beiden Nadelbetten der Flachstrickmaschine aus Fig. 1 mit den Nadelbetten in der Grundstellung;

Fig. 8

eine der Fig. 7 entsprechende Darstellung mit unterschiedlich weit ausgetriebenen Nadeln des zweiten Nadelbetts;

Fig. 9

eine der Fig. 8 vom Prinzip her ähnliche Darstellung, wobei sich die Nadeln in Umhängestellung zueinander befinden;

Fig. 10

einen Querschnitt durch ein Nadelbett der Flachstrickmaschine aus Fig. 1 im Bereich der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 11

eine der Fig. 10 entsprechende Darstellung mit versetzter Anordnung der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 12

eine Detaildarstellung der Niederhalteplatine mit Lagerelement bei gegenseitiger Verrastung der beiden Teile;

Fig. 13

eine der Fig. 11 entsprechende Darstellung mit einer zurückgesetzten Feder für die Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 14

einen Ausschnitt einer Ansicht auf das Nadelbett aus Fig. 11 in Pfeilrichtung T;

Fig. 15

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung im Bereich eines Nadelführungskanals mit geöffneter Nadelführung in einer ersten Stellung beim Einsetzen einer Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 16

eine der Fig. 15 entsprechende Darstellung in einer zweiten Position des Einsetzens der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 17

eine der Fig. 15 entsprechende Darstellung einer dritten Position des Einsetzens der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 18

eine der Fig. 15 entsprechende Darstellung einer vierten Position des Einsetzens der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 19

eine der Fig. 15 entsprechende Darstellung in einer fünften Position des Einsetzens der Niederhalteplatine;

Fig. 20

eine der Fig. 15 entsprechende Darstellung in einer sechsten Position des Einsetzens der Niederhalteplatine.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a section through the front portion of a needle bed of a flat knitting machine in the region of a needle with associated hold-down board and retaining plate in the basic position;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the cam tracks of the knitting cam for driving the knitting, stitch pattern and retaining elements of the flat knitting machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

1 corresponding sectional view with a needle of the opposite needle bed and the retaining plate in the front pivot position;

Fig. 4

a representation corresponding to Figure 1 with the needle and the boards in producing a stitch with three threads.

Fig. 5

a representation corresponding to Figure 4 with the Kulierelementen when producing a stitch with five threads.

Fig. 6

a representation corresponding to Figure 1 with the retaining plate while holding a mesh and opened hold-down board.

Fig. 7

a plan view of a section of the two needle beds of the flat knitting machine of Figure 1 with the needle beds in the basic position.

Fig. 8

one of the Figure 7 corresponding representation with differently far driven needles of the second needle bed;

Fig. 9

one of the Figure 8 similar in appearance, with the needles are umhängestellung to each other;

Fig. 10

a cross section through a needle bed of the flat knitting machine of Figure 1 in the region of the hold-down;

Fig. 11

a representation corresponding to FIG. 10 with staggered arrangement of the hold-down plate;

Fig. 12

a detailed representation of the hold-down plate with bearing element with mutual locking of the two parts;

Fig. 13

an illustration corresponding to FIG 11 with a recessed spring for the hold-down;

Fig. 14

a detail of a view of the needle bed of Figure 11 in the direction of arrow T.

Fig. 15

1 corresponding sectional view in the region of a needle guide channel with open needle guide in a first position when inserting a hold-down plate;

Fig. 16

a representation corresponding to FIG. 15 in a second position of insertion of the hold-down plate;

Fig. 17

an illustration corresponding to Figure 15 of a third position of the insertion of the hold-down board;

Fig. 18

an illustration corresponding to Figure 15 of a fourth position of the insertion of the hold-down board;

Fig. 19

an illustration corresponding to Figure 15 in a fifth position of the insertion of the hold-down board.

Fig. 20

an illustration corresponding to FIG. 15 in a sixth position of the insertion of the hold-down plate.

The sectional view of Fig. 1 shows the area of a needle bed 1, in which the stitch formation takes place. In the needle bed 1, a needle 2 is mounted longitudinally displaceable. Spaced apart by a wire guide plate 3, a retaining plate 4, shown here in its basic position, is arranged parallel to the needle 2. The retaining plate 4 can perform a pivoting movement about an axis 6, wherein the direction and the size of the pivoting movement by a the platinum head 41 acting on cam track C, which is shown in Fig. 2, is influenced. The curved path C exerts forces on the platinum head 41 in the direction of arrow X or X '.

The retaining plate 4 has two active surfaces 42, 43. The function of these active surfaces will be explained later. Directly behind the retaining plate 4 is a lower plate 5 shown in its basic position is arranged, which can perform a pivoting movement about a bearing element 8 which is arranged on the needle bed 1. The hold-down plate 5 is pressed by a force acting in the direction of arrow Z spring force, in which case the spring is not shown here, in the basic position shown in FIG. This position is at the same time the position in which a formed on the board 5 throat 53 assumes its lowest position relative to the hook 21 of the needle 2. The hold-down board is at the same time stitches and stitch retention element. It therefore has, in addition to the throat 53 for retaining a stitch on a Kulierkante 51. At this edge 51, the mesh leg of a loop to be formed by the needle 2 abuts, while the stitch is formed. The hold-down plate 5 also has a stitch-holding surface 52 against which the stitch is applied for a short time before being caught by the groove 53 when the hold-down plate 5 is pivoted downward. The configuration of the hold-down plate corresponds with respect to its Kulierkante 51, the throat 53 and the mesh holding surface 52 largely the prior art.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the cam tracks A, B, C of an otherwise not shown lock part of a carriage of the flat knitting machine of Fig. 1 for controlling the needle 2, the retaining plate 4 and the hold-down board 5. The curve A is the needle 2, the curve B of the hold-down board 5 and the curve C of the retaining plate 4 assigned. The dot-dashed line 101 indicates the common center of the three cam tracks A, B, C. If the carriage is displaced in the direction of the arrow Y, the knitting, stitch pattern and retaining elements 2, 4, 5 execute the movements predetermined by the curved paths A, B, C. in the Curve section a are the needle 2, the hold-down board 5 and the retaining plate 4 in the basic position shown in Fig. 1. In section b, the needles 2 are withdrawn from their basic position. The hold-down board 5 makes a short opening and closing movement while the retaining boards are brought into their loop retention position. This movement of the weft elements 2, 4, 5 is a precautionary movement to ensure that all the stitch legs are in the grooves 53 of the hold-down boards 5 (Figure 1) before the needle-pulling movement for stitching begins.

In section c, the ejection movement of the needles 2 for stitch formation is now shown. During this movement keep hold in single-face knit fabrics 5 with their throat 53, the mesh of the needle 2, to which they are assigned. The retaining plates 4 are brought into their foremost position by a movably arranged curve segment C 'is displaced in the direction of the arrow W. In this foremost position, the retaining plates 4 with their active surface 42 (FIG. 1) can retain the stitches of the needles opposite them, as is necessary for double-surface knitted fabrics. This process is described in more detail in FIG.

In section d, the needles 2 are in return movement. In their hook 21 (Fig. 1) one or more knitting threads are inserted. The hold-down boards 5 are in their normal position. By a displacement of the movably arranged cam segment C "in the direction of the arrow V, the retaining plates 4 are pivoted into the position in which the active surface 42 determines the contact position of the thread on the sinking surface 51 of the hold-down plate 5. In the case of several knitting threads, by a corresponding pivoting of the Retaining plate 4 also be achieved that the active surface 42 all knitting threads side by side in an ideal Guide plant position on the sinker 51 so that the threads create there also individually. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

In section e, the needles are in their lowest retraction position, d. H. in culmination position. The hold-down boards 5 make a short opening and closing movement, whereby the formed meshes slide into the throat 53 of the hold-down boards 5. To secure this short opening movement, the retaining plates 4 have been brought into their stitch retention position. This process is explained in more detail in FIG. 6.

In Fig. 3, in a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1, the retention of a stitch 12 'on the needle shank 22' of a needle 2 'of the opposing needle bed, which is not shown here, is shown by the retaining plate 4. The retaining plate 4 is pivoted by being acted upon in the direction of the arrow X in its foremost position. In this position, its action surface 42 can engage the loop leg 12 "of the loop 12 'on the shaft 22' of the needle 2 'and retain the loop 12' while the needle 2 'moves outward So as a retention area.

In Fig. 4 is shown how the active surface 42 acts in forming a stitch with the needle 2 in the needle bed 1 in a knitting with three knitting yarns. The retaining plate 4 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow X 'so far about the axis 6 that the active surface 42 forms an acute angle 120 with the needle hook 41. By this position of the active surface 42, the threads attach individually to the sinker 51 of the hold-down board 5 and are in an optimal investment position on the sinker 51, ie in an investment position at the same height as the needle hook 41st The hold-down board 5 is pivoted by a spring force in the direction of arrow Z in its basic position.

In Fig. 5, the effect of the retaining plate 4 is now shown in generating a mesh of five individual threads. The retaining plate 4 is now so pivoted by a force in the direction of arrow X 'that its active surface 42 forms an angle 130 with the needle bottom, which is greater than the angle 120 of FIG. 4. By this position of the active surface 42 ensures that all Threads adjacent to each other at the Kulierkante 51 of the hold-5. This is important so that all threads form equally long stitch loops. The threads are also again in the same height position as the needle hook 41 and thus at the shortest distance to the needle hook 41, d. H. in ideal culmination position. The dot-dash line 100 shows the center line of the comb gap between the two needle beds, wherein only the needle bed 1 is shown in the figures.

Fig. 6 illustrates the effect of the effective surface 43 of the hold-down 4 when forming a stitch 13 with the needle 2 of the same needle bed 1. The retaining plate 4 is so far in the direction of the arrow X pivoted about the axis 6 that its active surface 43, the leg 13th holds back the mesh 13 when the hold-down plate 5 performs an opening movement, so the mesh leg 13 'so no longer in the throat 53 of the hold-down board 5 is. The mesh leg 13 'now rests on the mesh holding surface 52 of the hold-down plate 5 by pivoting the hold-down plate 5 back around the bearing element 8 by a force Z' acting on the end of the hold-down plate.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the relative position of the knitting, stitch pattern and retaining elements 2, 4, 5 of the needle bed 1 with respect to the mirror-image same elements 2 ', 4', 5 'of the needle bed 1' at different Shown knitting.

In Fig. 7, the needles 2, 2 ', the wire guide plates 3, 3', the hold-down plates 5, 5 'and the retaining plates 4, 4' shown in the basic position of the needle beds 1, 1 'in forming double-surface knitted fabric. The figure makes it clear that the needles 2 and the retaining plates 4 'of the opposing needle bed 1' almost touch. As a result, the opposing retaining plates 4 'can retain stitches resting on the needles 2. The same applies vice versa for stitches formed with the needles 2 'of the second needle bed 1'. These are retained by the opposing retaining plates 4 of the first needle bed 1. This approximate mutual contact is given when the needles 2, 2 'are expelled and the retaining plates 4, 4' are in their forwardmost pivoting position. The comb gap is then closed.

Fig. 8 shows now from the needle bed 1 again all Kulierelemente 2, 4, 5 and the second needle bed, however, only the needles 2 '. The needles 2, 2 'are in basic position to each other. The retaining plate 4 overlaps here with the underside of the needle 2 'and is arranged below the needle 2'.

FIG. 9 shows a representation which corresponds in principle to FIG. 8, in which only the needles 2 'are shown from the second needle bed. The needles 2, 2 'are here in Umhängestellung each other. The retaining plates 4 have no overlap to the underside of the needles 2 'here, but are still close enough to the needles 2' arranged to the stitches on the needles 2 'safely withhold.

FIGS. 10 to 14 illustrate the shaping, mounting and guiding of the hold-down plate 5 and its adjustable arrangement on the needle bed 1. The sectional views are again sections through the needle bed 1 in the region of a hold-down plate 5, which is in its basic position. FIG. 10 illustrates that the bearing element 8 is arranged on a needle bed web 14. This web has for this purpose latching openings 141, 141 '; 142, 142 'on. On the bearing element 8 locking feet 85, 86 are arranged, which can be anchored alternatively in the locking openings 141, 142 or 141 ', 142'. In the example shown, the feet 85, 86 are inserted into the front detent openings 141, 142. This results in a small comb gap width, wherein half the comb gap width K is shown in Fig. 10. By displacing the bearing element 8 into the latching openings 141 ', 142', the comb gap width 2K can be increased.

The bearing element 8 has an arcuate upper side 81, on which the hold-down plate 5 can slide with a correspondingly shaped groove 55. The pivotal movement of the hold-down plate 5 to the right is a loading of a surface 57 on the underside of the rear end of the hold-down 5 caused by a spring 15. For this purpose, the spring 15 has a spring leg 151 which bears against the surface 57. The end position of the closed position of the hold-down plate 5 is defined by the stop surface 58 of the hold-down 5. This needle guide 16 also guides the hold-down plate 5 in the vertical direction to the needle bed 1. It has a surface 161 on which a circular arc surface 56 slides along the upper side of the hold-down plate 5 , The needle guide 16 can be opened by pivoting. With such an opening movement, the hold-down board 5 should not be able to fall out. Therefore, a second fuse in the vertical direction in the form of a Groove 82 in the bearing element 8, which extends approximately parallel to the curved top 81 of the element 8, is provided. In this groove engages a correspondingly shaped legs 59 of the hold-down 5 a.

The force which the hold-down plate 5 exerts on a mesh located in its throat 53 can be changed by an offset of the spring 15 on the needle bed web 14. The needle bed web 14 is therefore provided with further detent openings 143, 143 ', 143 "and 144, 144', 144". This results in three different locking positions for the spring 15, which is provided with locking projections 154, 155. In the example shown in Fig. 10 are the locking feet 154, 155 in the frontmost locking openings 143, 144, whereby the spring 15 introduces the weakest moment in the hold-5. In addition to the locking feet 154, 155 protrudes from the body 153 of the spring 15, a head piece 156 on the upper edge 145 of the web 14 before. At this head, the spring 15 can be detected by means of a tool and released from the latching openings 143, 144 and engaged in other latching openings 143 ', 144' and 143 ", 144 ''.

FIG. 11 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 10, in which, however, the bearing element 8 now engages in the latching openings 141 ', 142' and thus half the comb gap width K is increased correspondingly. In the rear position of the hold-down plate 5 shown in Fig. 11, the pivotal movement is limited to the front by a surface 500 at the top of the hold-down board 5, which comes to rest on a surface 165 of the needle guide 16.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed illustration of the bearing element 8 and the hold-down plate 5 in a position in which the hold-down plate 5 is firmly locked to the bearing element 8. This fixed latching of hold-down plate 5 and bearing element 8 facilitates the displacement of the two elements in the each other latching openings 141, 141 ', 142, 142' of the needle bed web 14. After a mutual locking of the two elements, both can be detected by a tool and offset together. The locking of the elements is achieved in that the fixing wedge shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 17 of the needle guide 16 is removed, the needle guide 16 is pivoted upward and the hold-5 is applied in the direction of arrow Q. As a result, grooves 59 ', 59 "on the limb 59 of the hold-down plate 5 form a latching connection with corresponding projections 82', 82" in the groove 82 of the bearing element 8. The board 5 is then grasped at the locations of the arrows R, R 'with a tool and pulled up. As a result, the locking feet 85, 86 detach from the recesses 141 ', 142'. Subsequently, the unit of hold-down plate 5 and bearing element 8 is moved forward and on the hold-down plate 5 a force S, S 'exerted, whereby the locking feet 85, 86 of the bearing element 8 engage in the detent openings 141, 142 of the needle bed web 14. Thereafter, the hold-down plate 5 is released from its latching with the bearing element 8 by simply pivoting, closed the needle guide 16 and the fixing wedge 17 reintroduced.

Fig. 13 is a representation corresponding to Fig. 11, but now the spring 15 in its rearmost position, ie in the openings 143 ", 144" locked, is shown. 13 also illustrates that the rear end 502 of the hold-down plate 15 is guided between the needle bed web 14 and the wire guide plate 3 in order to be able to absorb occurring transverse forces when the board surface 501 is acted upon in the direction of the arrow Z by a control cam of the lock part.

However, the lateral guidance of the hold-down board 5 is not limited only to its rear end portion 502. As FIG. 14 shows, it is also guided in the region behind the sinking edge 51 between the wire guide plate 3 and the needle bed web 14.

15 to 20 describe the insertion of a new hold-down board, for example, when replacing the hold-down board after the damage. FIGS. 15 to 20 are again sectional views of the needle bed 1 in the region of the needle channel for the needle 2.

Fig. 15 shows the needle guide 16 in the open state, wherein this open position is a detent position. The locking is achieved by grooves 165, 165 'of the pivot opening of the needle guide 16, which engage in the guide wires 11. The hold-down plate has been inserted with its rear end 502 ahead in its associated longitudinal groove in the needle bed, said longitudinal groove is bounded laterally by the needle bed web 14 and the wire guide plate 3. The insertion is limited by the concerns of the surfaces 57 and 504 of the hold-down plate 5 on the leg 151 of the spring 15. There is then arranged at the rear end 502 of the hold-down plate 5 rolling surface 503 below a guide surface 146 of the needle bed web fourteenth

In FIGS. 16 to 20 it is now shown how the hold-down plate 5 is brought into its working position by a simple closing movement of the needle guide 16.

In FIG. 16 it is shown that by a first pivoting of the needle guide 16, the guide surface 166 bears tangentially against the circular arc surface 56 on the upper side of the hold-down plate 5. The hold-down board 5 also lies with the surfaces 57 and 504 on the leg 151 of the spring 14 and is supported with its rolling edge 503 on the surface 146 of the web 14 from.

In the further pivotal movement of the needle guide 16 shown in FIG. 17, the hold-down plate 5 is now supported with a surface 501 on the surface 146 of the needle bed web 14. As a result, the hold-down board 5 moves both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction.

In a further closing movement of the needle guide 16, as shown in Fig. 18, the hold-down plate 5 continues with its surface 57 on the leg 151 of the spring 15, while their circular arc surface 56 now bears against the guide surface 161. As a result, the hold-down board 5 experiences an increased vertical movement downwards.

In Fig. 19 it is shown how the spring when further closing the needle guide 16 at arrow P now rests with its groove 55 on the upper side 81 of the bearing element 8. The limb 59 of the hold-down plate 5 contacts the surface 87 of the groove boundary of the bearing element 8. The hold-down plate 5 also continues to rest with its surface 57 on the spring 151.

Fig. 20 shows the needle guide 16 just before its closed position. The hold-down board 5 continues to lie with its surface 57 on the leg 151 of the spring 15. The surface 55 is now practically the entire surface of the surface 81 of the bearing element 8 at. The leg 59 is still outside the groove 82. However, once the needle guide 16 is fully closed, the spring 15 pushes the hold-down board 5 in its basic position.

FIGS. 15 to 20 thus illustrate that, by means of a corresponding configuration of the boundary surfaces of the hold-down plate, which with corresponding guide surfaces on the needle guide, the needle bed web 14 and the bearing element 8 cooperate, and by the spring 15, the hold-down plate 5 by simply inserting its rear end 502 on the spring element 15 and a closing movement of the needle guide 16 can be brought into its basic position. This makes replacement of the hold-down board extremely easy.

Claims (19)

1. Flatbed knitting machine comprising at least two needle beds (1, 1') in which needles (2, 2') are arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable, a pivotally mounted retaining plate (5), controlled by closure portions of the carriage and having a loop-forming edge (51), being associated with each needle (2, 2'), characterised in that also associated with each needle (2, 2') is a pivotally mounted retaining plate (4, 4'), which is controllable by closure portions of the carriage independently of the retaining plate (5, 5') and with which a stitch (12', 13) of the adjacent needle (2, 2') of the same needle bed (1, 1') may be restrained during an opening movement of the retaining plate (5, 5') and/or during a raising movement of the needle (2, 2'), holding the stitch (12', 13), of the opposing needle bed (1, 1').
2. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that, below the loop-forming edge (51), the retaining plate (5, 5') comprises a channel (53) for restraining the stitch (13) sunk with the associated needle (2, 2') of the same needle bed (1, 1').
3. Flatbed knitting machine according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the retaining plate (4, 4') comprises a first active surface (42) with which, in a corresponding pivotal position of the retaining plate (4, 4'), the position of the yarn or yarns on the loop-forming edge (51) of the retaining plate (5) may be determined, forming a stitch (13) with the associated needle (2) of the same needle bed (1), and a second active surface (43) with which, in a corresponding pivotal position of the retaining plate (4, 4'), the stitch (13) may be restrained during opening of the retaining plate (5, 5').
4. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 3, characterised in that, in a corresponding pivotal position of the retaining plate (4, 4'), the stitch (12') of the opposing needle (2') may be restrained using the first active surface (42) during the raising movement of said needle.
5. Flatbed knitting machine according to either claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the first active surface (42) of the retaining plate (4) and the advanced opposing needle (2') close the nip of the comb.
6. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the retaining plate (4) may be swivelled about a wire (6) guided along the needle bed (1, 1').
7. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the retaining plate (5, 5') may be swivelled about a bearing element (8) fastened to the needle bed (1, 1').
8. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the bearing element (8) comprises a curved upper side (81) on which a correspondingly shaped recess (55) in the retaining plate (5, 5') slides.
9. Flatbed knitting machine according to either claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the bearing element (8) is made from a material having good sliding characteristics.
10. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the position of the bearing element (8) of the retaining plate (5, 5') on the needle bed (1, 1') is adjustable for varying the width (2K) of the nip of the comb.
11. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the retaining plate (5, 5') may be locked to the bearing element (8) and then removed, together with said bearing element, from the needle bed (1, 1') and fastened to the needle bed (1, 1') at a different location.
12. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the retaining plate (5, 5') is prevented from disengaging and is guided, in the vertical direction with respect to the needle bed (1, 1'), by a sliding surface (161) formed on a needle guide (16).
13. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that, when the needle guide (16) is swivelled upward, the retaining plate (5, 5') is prevented from falling out by a leg (59) engaging with a groove (82) in the bearing element (8), which groove extends parallel to the upper side (81) of the bearing element (8).
14. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the retaining plate (5, 5') is laterally guided between a needle bed web (14) and a wire guide sheet (3, 3').
15. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that when the retaining plate (5, 5') is not being acted on by closure portions, it is held in its front pivotal position by a spring (15).
16. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 15, characterised in that the spring (15) is a leg spring which may be locked to the needle bed (1) and fixed in different locking positions.
17. Flatbed knitting machine according to claim 16, characterised in that the leg spring acts on the lower side (57) of the trailing end (502) of the retaining plate (5, 5').
18. Flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 7 to 13 and 15 to 17, characterised in that the upper side (81) of the bearing element (8), the groove (82) in the bearing element (8), the sliding surface (161) of the needle guide (16), the spring (15) and the regions (55, 56, 59), cooperating with these elements (81, 82, 161, 15), of the retaining plate (5, 5') are shaped in such a way that once the trailing end (502) has been placed onto the spring (15), the needle guide (16) being open, merely the closure movement of the needle guide (16) is able to bring the retaining plate (5, 5') into its basic position.
19. Method for producing a knitted item on a flatbed knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterised by the following steps:

    a) withdrawing the needles (2, 2') and briefly swivelling the retaining plates (5, 5') upward, so the stitch shanks slide into the channels (53) in the retaining plates (5, 5'), subsequently swivelling the retaining plates (5, 5') into the front pivotal position, while the retaining plates (4, 4') swivel forward until their second active surfaces (43) secure the old stitches in a position from which they enter the channels (53) in the retaining plates (5, 5');

    b) raising the needles (2, 2') to form a stitch and swivelling the retaining plates (4, 4') into the front pivotal position, in which they restrain any stitches which may be present on the opposing needles;

    c) withdrawing the needles (2, 2') and inserting one or more yarns into the hooks (21) of said needles, while the retaining plates (4, 4') are swivelled in such a way that their first active surfaces (42) bring the yarn or yarns into a position of abutment against the loop-forming edge (51) of the retaining plates (5, 5'), still in their front pivotal position, which abutment position produces an optimally short yarn strand, which, in the case of a plurality of yarns, is also of uniform length, to the needle hook (21);

    d) further withdrawal movement of the needles (2, 2') and drawing of the needle hooks (21), with the yarns inserted therein, through the old stitches; and

    e) brief opening and subsequent closing of the retaining plates (5, 5') in the deepest-sunk position of the needles (2, 2'), the stitch shanks (13') sliding into the channels (53) in the retaining plates (5, 5'), and moving of the retaining plates (4, 4') into the stitch-restraining position as in step a).

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