Patents by Inventor Katsuji Minakata

Katsuji Minakata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7493188
    Abstract: An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to stably feed a yarn by suppressing the effect of inertia in a buffer mechanism provided in a yarn feeding path. In at least one embodiment, a yarn feeder of the weft knitting machine feeds a knitting yarn from either of ends of a needle bed through a yarn feeding member to a knitting needle which carries out knitting motion based on knitting data while reciprocating the yarn feeding member in a longitudinal direction of the needle bed. A buffer rod is provided in the feeding path for the knitting yarn. Before the yarn feeding member starts to feed the knitting yarn to the knitting needle. a yarn feed controller carries out control to feed out the yarn to the buffer rod beforehand in a moving direction in which the feeding path is extended and to pull back the yarn stored in the buffer rod in a moving direction in which the feeding path is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Minakata, Hirokazu Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Komura
  • Publication number: 20080148782
    Abstract: An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to stably feed a yarn by suppressing the effect of inertia in a buffer mechanism provided in a yarn feeding path. In at least one embodiment, a yarn feeder of the weft knitting machine feeds a knitting yarn from either of ends of a needle bed through a yarn feeding member to a knitting needle which carries out knitting motion based on knitting data while reciprocating the yarn feeding member in a longitudinal direction of the needle bed. A buffer rod is provided in the feeding path for the knitting yarn. Before the yarn feeding member starts to feed the knitting yarn to the knitting needle, a yarn feed controller carries out control to feed out the yarn to the buffer rod beforehand in a moving direction in which the feeding path is extended and to pull back the yarn stored in the buffer rod in a moving direction in which the feeding path is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Katsuji Minakata, Hirokazu Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Komura