Loop-Forming Method, Device and System Component

Abstract

A loop-forming process includes moving at least two system components ( 11, 12 ) in one groove ( 16 ) of a needle bed in a first longitudinal direction (y). The system components contact threads ( 23 ) for forming loops. At least one spacer ( 10 ) is placed between two adjacent system components ( 11, 12 ) moved in the groove ( 16 ), whereby this spacer ( 10 ) contributes to distance ( 21 ) adjustment between loop-forming portions in the direction (χ) of the grooves' ( 16 ) width. The at least one spacer ( 10 ) moves together with a first one of the two adjacent system components ( 11, 12 ) and is at least temporarily moved inside a section ( 41 ) of the longitudinal (y) extension where the spacer ( 10 ) and the second system component ( 12 ) are in mechanical contact and/or in which the spacer ( 10 ) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer ( 10 ) moved together with the second of the two system components ( 11, 12 ).

1 . Loop-forming process, comprising:
 moving at least two system components ( 11 ,  12 ) in one groove ( 16 ) of a needle bed relative to said needle bed ( 14 ) in a first direction (y) which corresponds to longitudinal direction,   said system components ( 11 ,  12 ) contacting threads ( 23 ) for forming loops with their loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ),   contributing to adjusting a distance ( 21 ) between the loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ) with at least one spacer ( 10 ) placed between two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) of the system components, the distance adjusted in a second direction (x) which corresponds to a direction of a width of the grooves ( 16 ) of the needle bed ( 14 ), whereby said at least one spacer ( 10 ) abstains from the loop-forming process,   moving the at least one spacer ( 10 ) together with a first one of said two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ),   at least temporarily moving the at least one spacer ( 10 ) inside a section ( 41 ) of the longitudinal (y) extension of the groove ( 16 ),   wherein one or both of:   a first spacer of the at least one spacer ( 10 ) and a second one of said two adjacent system components ( 12 ) are in mechanical contact with each other, and   the first spacer ( 10 ) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer ( 10 ) of the at least one spacer which is moved together with the second one ( 12 ) of said two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ).   
     
     
         2 . Loop-forming process according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 moving the needle bed ( 14 ) relative to a cam holder of the knitting machine with a first velocity (vk), so that butts ( 17 ) of the system components ( 11 ,  12 ) pass through cams ( 18 ) connected with a cam holder of the loop-forming machine, whereby the butts ( 17 ) receive force for movement of the system components ( 11 ,  12 ), 
 the system components ( 11 ,  12 ) performing periodic movements in their longitudinal direction (y) and that the system components ( 11 ,  12 ) reach minima and maxima during these movements, 
 the loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ) of a first adjacent system component ( 11 ) and a second adjacent system component ( 12 ) of the two adjacent system components reaching minima and maxima ( 37 ) of their movements with a delay of time bigger than half of a first quotient or equal to said first quotient, 
 whereby the first quotient is a quotient of a distance ( 21 ) between the loop-forming portions of the two adjacent system components in the second direction (x) and the first velocity (vk). 
 
     
     
         3 . Device for loop-forming, comprising:
 a needle bed,   a plurality of system components ( 11 ,  12 ) comprising loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ) and configured to be involved in loop-forming at least for a period of time during a loop forming process,   the needle bed ( 14 ) is provided with a plurality of grooves ( 16 ) which have an extension in a first direction (y) which corresponds to a longitudinal direction (y) of the system components ( 11 ,  12 ), whereby said system components ( 11 ,  12 ) are movably arranged in said grooves ( 16 ) and individual grooves house at least two system components ( 11 ,  12 ),   at least one spacer ( 10 ) configured to contribute to adjustment of distance ( 21 ) between the loop-forming portions ( 24 ) of two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) of the plurality of system components of one of the grooves ( 16 ) in a second direction (x) which corresponds to a direction of width of the grooves ( 16 ) of the needle bed ( 14 ),   wherein a first spacer of the at least one spacer ( 10 ) is immovably connected with at least a first one of said two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) at a position of the longitudinal extension (y) of the system components ( 11 ,  12 ) which is during the loop-forming process at least temporarily housed by a section of one of the grooves ( 16 ),   wherein one or both of:
 the first spacer ( 10 ) and a second one ( 12 ) of the adjacent system components ( 12 ) are in mechanical contact with each other, and 
 the first spacer ( 10 ) is in mechanical contact with a second spacer ( 10 ) of the at least one spacer which is immovably connected with the second one of said two adjacent system components ( 12 ). 
   
     
     
         4 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3  wherein a first one of the two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) is provided with and immovable connected to one of the at least one spacer ( 10 ). 
     
     
         5 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3  wherein the two system components ( 11 ,  12 ) are provided with two spacers ( 10 ) of the at least one spacer, and a first of the two spacers ( 10 ) is immovably connected with the first ( 11 ) of said two adjacent system components and a second of the two spacers ( 10 ) is immovably connected with the second ( 12 ) of said two adjacent system components. 
     
     
         6 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3 , wherein the distance ( 21 ) in the second direction (x) between the loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ) of the two system components ( 11 ,  12 ) of one groove ( 16 ) is equal to at least one distance between the loop-forming portions of two other adjacent system components of the needle bed ( 14 ) in the second direction (x), whereby the two other adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) are separated by an immovable wall ( 15 ) of a groove ( 16 ) of a needle bed ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3 , wherein the distance in the second direction (x) which is adjusted by the at least one spacer ( 10 ) between the loop-forming portions ( 20 ,  24 ) of the two system components ( 11 ,  12 ) is approximately equal to a width of a shank ( 39 ) in the second direction (x) of at least one of the two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         8 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one spacer ( 10 ) is integral with the system component ( 11 ,  12 ) with which the at least one spacer ( 10 ) is immovably connected. 
     
     
         9 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one spacer ( 10 ) comprises a bend ( 51 ) of a shank ( 39 ) of the first one of the two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) with which it is immovably connected. 
     
     
         10 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one spacer ( 10 ) comprises a bend ( 51 ) of a shank ( 39 ) of the first one of the two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) with which it is immovably connected and that at least a section of the bend's ( 51 ) side surface which is directed towards the second one of the adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) is parallel to a surface of an immovable wall ( 15 ) of the groove ( 16 ) in which the respective system components ( 11 ,  12 ) are housed. 
     
     
         11 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one spacer ( 10 ) is an additional part ( 38 ) connected in a mating process with the one of the two adjacent system components ( 11 ,  12 ) with which it is immovably connected. 
     
     
         12 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one additional part ( 38 ) comprises materials which are not included in the system component ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         13 . Device for loop-forming according to  claim 12  wherein the additional part is connected to the system component ( 11 ,  12 ) with which the spacer ( 10 ) is connected by at least one of:
 splice, 
 weld joint ( 42 ), 
 solder joint, 
 splint ( 44 ), or 
 combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         14 . System component for loop forming which comprises:
 a shank ( 39 ) configured to glide in a needle groove ( 16 ) of a needle bed ( 14 ) which essentially extends in a first longitudinal direction (y) and has a width in a second direction (x),   means for loop forming ( 20 ,  24 ) which are placed on one longitudinal end of the shank ( 39 ),   a butt ( 17 ) configured to interact with a cam ( 18 ) of a knitting machine, whereby the butt ( 17 ) has an extension in a third direction (z) which corresponds to a height direction (z) of the shank and overtowers the shank ( 39 ),   a spacer ( 10 ) which is placed immovably on the shank ( 39 )   
       wherein a width of the butt ( 17 ) in the second direction (x) is smaller than a maximum combined extension of the shank ( 39 ) and the spacer ( 10 ) in the second direction (x) at at least one position of an extension ( 45 ) of the butt ( 17 ) in the first direction (y). 
     
     
         15 . System component for loop forming according to  claim 14  wherein
 the butt ( 17 ) has a first width ( 46 ) in the second direction (x) in an end section ( 43 ) of its extension ( 45 ) in the first direction (y), 
 the butt has a second width ( 47 ) in the second direction (x) in at least one middle section ( 49 ) of its extension ( 45 ) in the first direction, 
 and the second width ( 47 ) is bigger than the first width ( 46 ).