Knitting machine with a sinker and biased cam member for actuating the sinker
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorAdrian Meir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knitting machine may include a sinker configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The knitting machine may have a sinker actuator system having a first configuration and a second configuration. The sinker actuator system, in the first configuration, may be configured to actuate the sinker from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker may be configured to change the sinker actuator system from the first configuration to the second configuration when the sinker receives an input force above a predetermined threshold in the movement from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker actuator system, in the second configuration, may allow the sinker to move away from the closed position toward the open position.
Claims16
A knitting machine comprising:
- a sinker configured to move between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a sinker actuator system having a first configuration and a second configuration,
- wherein the sinker actuator system, in the first configuration, actuates the sinker from the open position toward the closed position,
- wherein the sinker is configured to change the sinker actuator system from the first configuration to the second configuration when the sinker receives an input force above a predetermined threshold when moving from the open position toward the closed position,
- wherein the sinker actuator system, in the second configuration, allows the sinker to move away from the closed position toward the open position, and
- wherein the knitting machine further comprises a yarn feeder, wherein a first ramped surface of the yarn feeder is configured to contact the sinker to provide the input force when the sinker impacts the yarn feeder.
A knitting machine for knitting a knitted component comprising:
- a sinker movable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a sinker cam assembly for actuating the sinker to move the sinker between the open position and the closed position, the sinker cam assembly including:
- a cam member movable between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a biasing member that biases the cam member toward the first position with a predetermined threshold force,
- wherein the cam member, in the first position, is configured to move relative to the sinker to actuate the sinker away from the open position toward the closed position,
- wherein the cam member is configured to receive an input force from the sinker that moves the cam member away from the first position to the second position when the input force exceeds the predetermined threshold force, thereby allowing the sinker to move away from the closed position toward the open position, and
- wherein the knitting machine further comprises a yarn feeder, wherein a first ramped surface of the yarn feeder is configured to contact the sinker to provide the input force when the sinker impacts the yarn feeder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.