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US 11,408,105 B2Granted
Knitting feeder with a cutting device
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsStuart W. Dealey, Adrian Meir, Gagandeep Singh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeder for a knitting machine may include: a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine; and a cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, where the cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the yarn to disengage an upper portion of the yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.
Claims16
A feeder for a knitting machine, the feeder comprising:
- a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine;
- a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a first yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine;
- a first cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, wherein the first cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the first yarn to disengage an upper portion of the first yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine,
- wherein the feeder arm includes a first outlet located at a distal end of the feeder arm, and a second outlet located at the distal end of the feeder arm, the first outlet being configured to direct a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of the first yarn to a needle of the needle bed during a starting procedure;
- a second cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, wherein the second cutting device includes a second cutting edge for cutting a second yarn to disengage an upper portion of the second yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine, and wherein the second outlet is configured to direct a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of the second yarn to a needle of the needle bed during the starting procedure;
- and
- a first yarn opening configured for directing the distal end of only the first yarn, and a second yarn opening configured for directing the distal end of only the second yarn, the first yarn opening being located below the first cutting device and the second yarn opening being located below the second cutting device.
4 more elements
A feeder for a knitting machine, the feeder comprising:
- a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine;
- and
- a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a first dispensing area configured for supplying a first yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine,
- a first outlet located at a distal end of the feeder arm, and a second outlet located at the distal end of the feeder arm, the first outlet being configured to direct a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of the first yarn and the second outlet being configured to direct a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of the second yarn to a needle of the needle bed during a starting procedure;
- and
- a first cutting device configured to cut the first yarn without cutting the second yarn, and a second cutting device configured to cut the second yarn without cutting the first yarn, and
- a first yarn opening configured for directing the distal end of only the first yarn, and a second yarn opening configured for directing the distal end of only the second yarn, the first yarn opening being located below the first cutting device and the second yarn opening being located below the second cutting device, and
- wherein during the starting procedure, the pressurized gas moves through the first outlet and the second outlet.
5 more elements
A method, the method comprising:
- knitting with a first yarn with a feeder such that the first yarn moves through a first yarn opening;
- cutting the first yarn with a first cutting device, the first cutting device being coupled to an arm of the feeder, wherein the first cutting device is located below the first yarn opening;
- gripping the first yarn with a first gripping device, the first gripping device being coupled to the arm of the feeder;
- and
- knitting with a second yarn with the feeder such that the second yarn moves through a second yarn opening,
- wherein the arm of the feeder includes a first outlet that is located at a distal end of the arm of the feeder, and a second outlet that is located at the distal end of the arm of the feeder, wherein the first outlet is configured for directing a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of only the first yarn, and wherein the second outlet is configured for directing a pressurized gas to guide a distal end of only the second yarn.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.