Inchline’s new input wheel represents a huge step forward in the self-cleaning technology used in elastomeric knitting.

 

The titanium tube used in Inchlines’ new conversion to what is regarded as the standard unit for feeding elastomeric packaged yarn into the knitting machine. This replaces the entire wheel, bearing and axle assembly.

Inchlines show the way
Knitting International Magazine (February 2007)

Two products from UK firm Inchlines look set to radically improve elastomeric knitting. Mike Steele, who has been supervising the trials of both products, reports on the company’s impressive innovations.

Stretch fabrics, performance, appearance, shape retention -these are some of the benefits of the elastomeric revolution that have been enjoyed by the retailer and general public, but
what benefits are brought to the knitter?

Conversion of this fabric class, though not difficult, does place additional demands on the knitter, primarily due to the static generation and subsequent lint attraction from staple fibres, which result in tedious and time-consuming cleaning schedules to maintain all-important cleanliness of the knitting head and localised environ.

Also of concern is the ease of cleaning and the time spent threading the difficult and sometimes inaccessible elastomeric guide wheels by less than dexterous operators and technicians. If not adhered to, misplaiting and knitting defects, not to mention increased stoppages and poor productivity, manifest themselves vehemently.

UK knitting machinery accessory specialists Inchlines Ltd have produced two revolutionary products (patent pending) which will improve efficiency both at the point of knitting and for the operator/technician: a completely re-designed input wheel for elastomeric yarns; and a revolutionary new conversion to what is a well-known unit for feeding elastomeric packaged yarn into the knitting machine.

Input wheel
The concept behind the re-designed input wheel was two-fold: the design must enable the operator/technician to quickly and simply remove/replace the wheel; and it must be easy to thread/confirm rotation. In addition the brief included a degree of self cleaning and static discharge.

To achieve this novel concept Inchlines have used an advanced
copolymer with correlated dielectric properties for the casting material. A new mold has been manufactured to facilitate the integral rotor, the purpose of which is to create a vortex during the wheel run and thus discharge the short staple yarn through turbulence in the air flow surrounding the wheel.

In addition, the dielectric properties of the wheel itself will inhibit lint attraction to the wheel, bearing and axle. The wheels are printed to provide a focal point for confirmation of rotation, both visually and with a strobe for greater accuracy. It’s even possible to print the company name into the wheel. Bearings are plain and integral, and the wheel is a push lock fit onto the axle, facilitating easy and rapid removal when elastomeric yarn is not required.

For greater security from lint residual, a guard is available. This forms the basis of a shield which prevents lint ingress into the bearing surface, again cast in the same copolymer as the wheel. Featuring slide on/off technology it offers a useful and purposeful compliment to the wheel.

Push lock technology offers precise fitting of guards and wheels, due to preset axle limiters that provide the correct alignment with the feeder. This is a real plus point when refitting the wheels and requiring the assurance that a first shot fabric with no misplaiting is all but guaranteed.

The quality is of the highest standard, and in production the wheels have been run up to 14,000rpm on both jersey and rib machines in an industrial environment for a trial period in excess of 6 months. As the supervisor of these tests, I can personally warrant that all Inchlines’ claims hold true. The wheel represents a quantum leap forward in self-cleaning technology and also offers very straightforward maintenance. The major differences between the new rotor wheel and previous fitments are found in the dielectric material and cast-in rotor.

New conversion
Inchlines have brought further innovation with its revolutionary new conversion to what is regarded as the standard unit for feeding elastomeric packaged yarn into the knitting machine.

Convention in this activity has dictated the use of a roller based largely on the tension reduction theory, which with hindsight may have been applied somewhat erroneously. The wheel is permitted to stagger on, oscillating at the whim of the difference between the bearing and axle diameter, until fate takes over, clogs the axle with lint and the cleaning loop – or even worse misplaiting, with the whole process starting again.

Inchlines’ conversion removes the tiresome roller from the axle spindle, along with its antiquated support bearings, thereby removing the frustration of fumbling and ultimately loosing the support bearings when cleaning the devices. Moreover, the entire wheel, bearing and axle assembly is removed and thrown away, and replaced with a titanium tube (no fold line here) and two copolymer shields. The benefits are manifold: no rotation (and thus no hassle), a perfect fit, 15-second replacement, limited drag betwixt the elastomeric and titanium, and a traverse controlled by the copolymer shields.

I can again personally attest, as the supervisor of the conversion’s trials, that it has been proven to work with 20 denier to 140 denier elastomeric yarns - a reasonable medium of
usage in most textile mills. Plaiting performance was shown to be higher than with the previous system of wheels and bearings, with a greater control of tension at the point of input than previously experienced.

The raison d’être of Inchlines is producing excellent fittings custom-made for all types of machine. With two replacement technologies to carry the overburdened converter forward and remove some of the variables that have plagued elastomeric fabrics for so long, Inchlines have once again lived up to their reputation for providing groundbreaking solutions.