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US5533366A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Warp knitting machine having at least one guide bar and replacement unit for such a warp knitting machine

Assignee: Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH
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Filing: 1995-05-24
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2015-05-24
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Abstract

Abstract A warp knitting machine having at least one guide bar (1) comprises a plurality of retaining segments (11) releasably attached to the guide bar (1). The retaining segments receive in each case a subassembly (17) of piezoelectric bending transducers (9) for displacing the guides by a knitting needle space. The control lines leading to the bending transducers (9) are provided with connector contacts (37) for the purpose of being releasably connected to the control device (42). In this way, it is possible to replace rapidly guide, bending transducers or control lines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kresimir Mista
  • 👤 Hans J. Hohne

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:40
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B27/00; D04B27/02; D04B27/10; D04B27/24; D04B27/32

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A warp knitting machine comprising: at least one guide bar; a retaining device having a plurality of retaining segments releasably attached to the guide bar; a plurality of subassemblies each having a plurality of strip-shaped piezoelectric bending transducers, each of the bending transducers having: (a) a group of control lines for controlling that one of the bending transducers, (b) a proximal end attached at said retaining device, and (c) a distal end having a guide; a control device for transmitting control signals signifying displacement of the guides by one needle space; and a plurality of connector contacts separately connected to different associated ones of the control lines of said bending transducers for releasably connecting to the control device and conveying said control signals to said control lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
A warp knitting machine comprising: at least one guide bar; a retaining device having a plurality of retaining segments releasably attached to the guide bar; a plurality of subassemblies each having a plurality of strip-shaped piezoelectric bending transducers, each of the bending transducers having: (a) a group of control lines for controlling that one of the bending transducers, (b) a proximal end attached at said retaining device, and (c) a distal end having a guide; a control device for transmitting control signals signifying displacement of the guides by one needle space; and a plurality of connector contacts separately connected to different associated ones of the control lines of said bending transducers for releasably connecting to the control device and conveying said control signals to said control lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the connector contacts of the control lines are grouped to form for each of the subassemblies, a multi-contact connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein the control lines comprise: a plurality of ribbon cables each having at least two wires connected to a corresponding one of said bending transducers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 2, wherein said multi-contact connector comprises: a plurality of head parts each molded around a portion of the control lanes of a corresponding one of said bending transducers at their junctions with said connector contacts; and a casing for releasably holding the head parts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 48 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein said head parts each have a projecting member, the casing having a plurality of parallel grooves sized to hold the projecting members provided on the head parts, said machine including means for locking said projecting members in said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 3, comprising: a plurality of sleeves each separately encircling the control lines of each subassembly to form a plurality of cable bundles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein each of the sleeves comprise either fabric or knitted material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 71 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein the control device is mounted on a stationary portion of said machine, said machine comprising: a knitting needle bar mounted to reciprocate in a stroke direction, the control lines being attached to the guide bar and to the control device and having a length sized to allow said guide bar to shog and to swing between an overlap and an underlap position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the guide bar has a support bearing, the control lines having a length sized to allow the guide bar to be removed from said bearing without releasing the connector contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 6, comprising: a plurality of locking devices for holding the cable bundles to the guide bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 10, wherein the control lines and cable bundles extend from the guide bar to the control device in the form of a 360° loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the retaining segments have a plurality of parallel grooves in which the bending transducers of the subassemblies are separately disposed and attached.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 12, wherein the bending transducers are attached in the grooves by applying either an adhesive or synthetic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 12, wherein the grooves each have a flared, distal, open end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 54 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein the guide bar has a longitudinal channel, the retaining segments each having one side with grooves and an opposite side sized to mount into said longitudinal channel, said machine including a strip releasably attached to the guide bar for holding said retaining segments in place.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 48 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein the bending transducers comprise: a strip-shaped carrier; and a pair of active layers mounted on opposite sides of said strip-shaped carrier, each of said layers having a piezoelectric material overlaid on opposing sides with an inner and outer electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 45 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 16, wherein the carrier comprises an electric insulating material, the outer electrode of each of the layers being grounded, the inner electrode of each of the layers being separately connected to a corresponding one of the control lines.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 77 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein the bending transducers (9) comprise: an electrically conductive, strip-shaped carrier; and a pair of active layers mounted on opposite sides of said strip-shaped carrier, each of said layers having a piezoelectric material externally overlaid on with an outer electrode, the carrier acting as an inner electrode for said layers, said outer electrode of each of the layers being separately connected to a corresponding one of said control lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 29 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of small walls interdigitated with the distal ends of the bending transducers for limiting motion of the guides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 35 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 16, wherein the active layer and the carrier are adhesively connected, the outer and inner electrodes each being adhesively connected to a corresponding one of the control lines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 34 words
A warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said subassemblies each have a guide holder attached at the distal end of the bending transducer, said guide being releasably attached in said guide holder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 51 words
Replacement unit for a warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said strip-shaped, piezoelectric bending transducers include a plurality of electrodes connected about the proximal end of said transducer to corresponding ones of the control lines, each of the control lines having a connector contact positioned remotely from the transducers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 44 words
Replacement unit according to claim 22, wherein the connector contacts of the control lines are grouped to form for each of the subassemblies, a multi-contact connector whose corresponding subassembly of bending transducers is attached to the guide bar by one of the retaining segments.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4092838A Cited
US4549414A Cited
EP0210790A2 Cited
US4841750A Cited
US5027619A Cited
EP0544527A1 Cited
EP0583631A1 Cited
GB2283501A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-07-09 2000-01-08 2000-07-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-07-09 2004-01-08 2004-07-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-07-09 2008-01-08 2008-07-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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