JPH0359185B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a multilayer piezoelectric element that is incorporated into a circular knitting machine such as an electronic pattern circular knitting machine or a sock knitting machine. This invention relates to an incorporated piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines.

(Prior Art) A piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine, which has already been proposed and is incorporated into a circular knitting machine such as an electronic patterning circular knitting machine or a sock knitting machine, is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is constructed as shown (Utility Application No. 63-133733).

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine incorporated into a circular knitting machine has a piezoelectric needle selection device installed on the outer periphery of a knitting machine cylinder 1 rotatably provided on a base of the circular knitting machine. , a large number of vertical grooves 2 are formed in the axial direction, and each jack 3 having each butt 3a is slidably fitted into each vertical groove 2 so as to move a knitting needle (not shown) up and down. equipped.
Further, a box-shaped support frame 4 is fixed to the base plate (machine frame main body) near the knitting machine cylinder 1, and a fifth support frame 4 is attached to the back plate 5 of the support frame 4.
As shown in the figure, at least one pair of upper and lower holders 6 and 7, each having a tuning fork-shaped cross section, are cantilevered and horizontal to the axis of the knitting machine cylinder 1. It is provided in parallel to the axial direction of the machine cylinder 1 so that the length of the mounting position can be adjusted with an adjustment screw nut 8a. Furthermore, each pair of holders 6 and 7
Inside, each laminated piezoelectric element 8 having each lead,
9 is installed horizontally, and each actuator 10a,
10b is attached.

That is, each actuator 10a, 10b is attached to the tip of each of the laminated piezoelectric elements 8, 9 by welding, and the upper and lower surfaces of each actuator 10a, 10b are connected to each of the above-mentioned holders 6. , 7, and the tips of the actuators 10a, 10b are designed to be guided by the guide surfaces of the tips of the actuators 10a, 10b, when each needle selection lever 11 swings toward the needle selection lever, which will be described later. 11
Fine adjustments can be made by screwing in the adjustment screw nut 8a so that there is no gap between the joint portions 11a and 11b. Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned holders 6 beside each actuator 10a, 10b,
Magnets 12a and 12b, such as permanent magnets, are embedded in the outer end of the needle 7, and the needle selection lever 11 is attracted to the magnets 12a and 12b.

On the other hand, a plurality of T-shaped needle selection levers 11 are pivotally attached to the support frame 4 near the jack 3 having each of the butts 3a so as to be swingable by a pin shaft 13. Each contact portion 11 of the lever 11
a, 11b are the actuators 10a, 10b and the magnets 12, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
a, 12b, respectively, and one end of the needle selection lever 11 is made of hard material such as cemented carbide or fine ceramics, as shown in FIG. A select finger 11c is formed of material, and this select finger 11c is attached so as to selectively push each butt 3a of the jack 3.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine, when the circular knitting machine is operated, the knitting machine cylinder 1 rotates at high speed, and the numerous jacks 3 attached to the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder 1 also rotate. Rotate.

On the other hand, by alternately applying a pulse signal to each of the laminated piezoelectric elements 8 and 9 based on a patterning signal inputted in advance to a patterning control device (not shown) of the circular knitting machine, One of the laminated piezoelectric elements 8 is applied with a pulse voltage, converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, and expands to about 20 to 50 micrometers.
0a is pushed with an impact, and this actuator 10a pushes the contact portion 11a against the attraction force of the magnet 12a,
Since no pulse voltage is applied to the other laminated piezoelectric element 9, the needle selection lever 11 swings around the pin shaft 13, and the selection finger 11c of the needle selection lever 11 selects each butt 3a of the jack 3. By selectively pushing and moving, knitting needles (not shown) are slid in the vertical direction, thereby creating a pattern in stockinette knitting.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine described above must incorporate at least a pair of upper and lower laminated piezoelectric elements 8 and 9 into the narrow and limited support frame 4. In addition, the needle selection lever 1 is activated by each actuator 12a, 12b of both laminated piezoelectric elements 8, 9.
1 swings around a pin shaft 13, and the needle selection lever 11 indirectly pushes each butt 3a of the jack 3. This increases the number of components and reduces time lag. However, there are disadvantages in that the needle selection lever 11 is worn out and must be replaced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and includes a laminated piezoelectric element incorporated into a limited and narrow support frame, and an actuator of the laminated piezoelectric element that directly pushes each butt of the jack. A piezoelectric selector for knitting machines that reduces the number of laminated piezoelectric elements by half, reduces the number of other components, and enables high-speed needle selection operation. The purpose is to provide a needle device.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means and effects for solving the problem) The present invention forms a large number of vertical grooves on the outer periphery of a knitting machine cylinder, and allows each jack to freely slide in each vertical groove so as to move the knitting needles up and down. In a circular knitting machine in which each jack is moved up and down by being pushed by a push cam and a raising cam provided on a cam holder that is integrated with a board near the knitting machine cylinder, a support frame is mounted on the board. A holder is cantilevered on this support frame so that it can be adjusted horizontally toward the axial direction of the knitting machine cylinder. An actuator is attached to the tip of the element so as to directly push each butt of each jack, a magnet and a holding member are provided at one end of the support frame, and each butt of each jack is attached with the magnet. At the same time, each jack is directly pushed by the actuator of the laminated piezoelectric element, a part of each jack is moved onto the path of the raising cam, and this raising cam pushes each jack upward. In this system, the knitting needles are moved up and down, and a laminated piezoelectric element is incorporated into a limited and narrow support frame to reduce the number of components and enable high-speed needle selection operation.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to an illustrated example.

Note that the present invention will be described with the same reference numerals assigned to the same constituent members as those in the above-described specific example.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a knitting machine cylinder that is integrated with a sleeve 1a that is rotatably provided on a base plate of a circular knitting machine. A vertical groove 2 is formed in the axial direction, and each jack 3 having each butt 3a, 3b, 3c is slidably moved in the vertical groove 2 so as to move a knitting needle (not shown) up and down. It is fitted. In addition, the above knitting machine cylinder 1
A box-shaped support frame 14 is fixed to the substrate (machine frame main body) near the base plate, and a back plate 15 of the support frame 14 has a structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The adjustment screw 16a and the nut 17 are fixed so that the holder 16, which has a tuning fork-shaped cross section, is cantilevered and is horizontal to the axis of the knitting machine cylinder 1.
It is provided so that the length of the mounting position can be adjusted. Furthermore, a laminated piezoelectric element 18 having a lead wire 18a is mounted horizontally in this holder 16, and this laminated piezoelectric element 1
An actuator 119 is attached to each tip of the actuator 8 . That is, a chip-shaped actuator 19 is welded to each tip of the laminated piezoelectric element 18, and the upper and lower surfaces of the actuator 19 are connected to each of the holders 1 and 19.
The tip of the actuator 19 is guided by the guide surface of the tip 16b of the actuator 19.
It is positioned so as to directly push the butt 3a of the jack 3.

On the other hand, the jack 3 having the butt 3a
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cam holder 21 that is integral with the table 20 is provided on the substrate near the cam holder 2.
At the inner end of 1, there is a ring-shaped raising cam member 2.
2 is fixed in such a manner as to push up the lower part 3c of the jack 3. Also, this raising cam member 2
As shown in Fig. 1, a part of the upper surface of 2 has
An arcuate push cam member 23 is attached to push the lower part of the jack 3 outward, and this push cam member 23 and the lift cam member 2
2 are designed to jointly push the lower part of the jack 3 outward and push it up at the same time. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cam guide member 24 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is provided at the lower part of the support frame 14 of the board. A permanent magnet 25 and a magnetic plate 26 made of a non-magnetic material are fixed to the inner end of the member 24 with set screws, and the permanent magnet 25 is provided so as to attract the butt 3c of the jack 3. .

Therefore, in the present invention, when the circular knitting machine is operated, the knitting machine cylinder 1 rotates at high speed, and a large number of jacks 3 attached to the outer circumference of the knitting machine cylinder 1 rotate.
also rotates together. Then, the lower part of the jack 3 is pushed outward by the push cam 23 and rotates together with the knitting machine cylinder 1 while being attracted by the permanent magnet 25.

On the other hand, the multilayer piezoelectric element 18 is controlled by applying a pulse signal to the multilayer piezoelectric element 18 based on a pattern control signal inputted in advance to a pattern control device (not shown) of the circular knitting machine. is applied with a pulse voltage and impulsively converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, elongates to about 20 to 50 micrometers and impulsively pushes the actuator 19, which becomes a permanent magnet. The butt 3a of the jack 3 is pushed against the suction force of the jack 25a.
Then, this butt 3a is connected to the knitting machine cylinder 1.
The jack 3 is pushed into the vertical groove 2 of the jack 3.
The butt 3c is the cam part 2 of the raising cam member 22.
2a, so that the jack 3 does not push up knitting needles (not shown) linked thereto.

Therefore, when the laminated piezoelectric element 18 is not energized by a pulse signal, that is, when no pulse voltage is applied, the actuator 19 is not operated.
The butt 3c of the jack 3 is connected to the push cam 23.
The cam member 22 is pushed up in cooperation with the cam portion 22a of the lifting cam member 22, and knitting needles (not shown) linked therewith are slid in the vertical direction, thereby creating a pattern in the stockinette knitting.

In particular, the present invention eliminates the need for a needle selection lever, and the actuator 19 of the laminated piezoelectric element 18 is directly pushed by the butt 3a of the jack 3.
Operation time is not wasted, needle selection time can be obtained effectively, and high-speed needle selection operation can be performed.

That is, since the needle selection lever is not required, the time required for the butt of the jack to pass through the press cam of the needle selection lever can be saved. In other words, for example, in a knitting machine with 400 stitches and a knitting machine cylinder rotation speed of about 400 PRM, this time corresponds to about 3 MS, and since this time can be omitted, the needle selection time can be effectively reduced. This makes it possible to perform a high-speed needle selection operation, and the number of laminated piezoelectric elements 18 can be reduced to 1/2.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of vertical grooves are formed on the outer periphery of a knitting machine cylinder, and each jack is slidably fitted into each of the vertical grooves so as to move the knitting needles up and down. In a circular knitting machine in which each jack is moved up and down by being pushed by a push cam and a raising cam provided on a cam holder integrated with a base plate near the knitting machine cylinder, a support frame is provided on the base plate, and this A holder is cantilevered on the support frame so that it can be adjusted horizontally toward the axial direction of the knitting machine cylinder, and a laminated piezoelectric element is installed in the holder,
An actuator is attached to the tip of this laminated piezoelectric element so as to directly push each butt of each jack, and a magnet and a magnetic plate are provided at one end of the support frame to provide a limited narrow support. A laminated piezoelectric element is incorporated into the frame, and the actuator of this laminated piezoelectric element directly pushes each butt of the jack, reducing the number of components such as the needle selection lever and laminated piezoelectric element. This not only simplifies the configuration and can be provided at low cost, but also allows high-speed needle selection operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same, and FIG.
The figure is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the already proposed piezoelectric needle selection device for knitting machines, and FIG. The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the same as above. 1... Knitting machine cylinder, 3... Jack, 14
... Support frame body, 15 ... Back plate, 16 ... Holding body,
18... Laminated piezoelectric element, 19... Actuator, 21...
...Cam holder, 22... Raising cam, 23... Push cam, 25... Permanent magnet, 26... Magnetic plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A large number of vertical grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the knitting machine cylinder, each jack is slidably fitted into each of the vertical grooves so that the knitting needles can move up and down, and each jack is attached to a substrate near the knitting machine cylinder. In a circular knitting machine that moves up and down by pushing with push cams and lift cams provided on a cam holder integrated with the cam holder, a support frame is provided on the above board, and the holder is cantilevered on this support frame. The above-mentioned knitting machine cylinder is arranged horizontally toward the axial direction and can be freely adjusted, and a laminated piezoelectric element is installed in this holder, and an actuator is attached to the tip of this laminated piezoelectric element to each butt of each jack. A piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine, characterized in that the piezoelectric needle selection device for a knitting machine is attached so as to be pushed directly, and a magnet and a magnetic plate are provided at one end of the support frame.