Tool holder for compound needles, and shipping unit

Abstract

For keeping knitting tools (2) in readiness and mounting them on knitting machines or other loop-forming machines, a tool holder (4) is provided, which is formed by or contains a transport rail (5). The transport rail (5) has two clamping legs (9, 11), which are parallel to one another and are provided with regularly distributed slots (16, 17). The slots firmly clamp inserted knitting tools by frictional engagement. With the knitting tools (2), the transport rail (5) forms a manipulable unit, in which when it is freely handled, the knitting tools (2) do not fall out of the transport rail (5). The pitch of the transport rail preferably matches the pitch of a needle bed of a machine to be equipped. The equipping of the machine is done by placing the transport rail on the needle bed or attaching it to it and pressing the knitting tools away, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the back portion (6) of the transport rail (5), out of their frictionally engaged mounting into their needle channel. Multi-part knitting tools are thus securely held together in every stage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.