EP0641879A1 - Method for knitting Intarsia patterns on flat bed knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for knitting Intarsia patterns on flat-bed knitting machines, by simple handling fault-free patterned knits are produced by fixing the Intarsia thread knitting in the Intarsia region (I) at the start and at the end of the Intarsia region (I) by means of a stitch. Fixing is preferably carried out by transferring a stitch previously knitted with the Intarsia thread on one needle bed (h) onto the other needle bed (v) and by the subsequent knitting of the Intarsia thread on the other needle bed (v) in the Intarsia region (I). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for knitting intarsia patterns on flat knitting machines.

In the conventional production of knitted fabrics with intarsia patterns on flat knitting machines, the beginnings and ends of the threads with which the intarsia areas were knitted were free and not fixed on the knitted fabric. During the manufacturing process of the knitted fabric and / or during the assembly, therefore, the free intarsia thread ends in the knitted fabric were often pulled consciously or unconsciously, so that corresponding stitches contracted at the beginning or end of the intarsia pattern area and thus faults in the pattern image occurred, quite apart from the danger that the stitches would dissolve due to the free, not fixed intarsia thread ends. The intarsia thread ends were therefore fixed by hand by knotting the intarsia thread ends, which is very time-consuming and therefore cost-intensive and also does not lead to a uniform structure of the pattern image, since different tensions are exerted on the threads and the stitches when knotting by hand be warped.

The invention has for its object to provide a method for knitting intarsia patterns on flat knitting machines, with which the intarsia thread ends are fixed automatically and evenly in the knitted fabric.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the intarsia thread knitting in the intarsia area is fixed with a stitch at the beginning and at the end of the intarsia area. In this way there is a Uniform pattern with uniform stitches without knotting by hand.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stitch is formed within the intarsia area so that the pattern image is not disturbed by differently colored stitches in another intarsia area or in the basic knitted fabric.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is particularly advantageous in which the stitch is formed by transferring a stitch previously knitted on one needle bed with the intarsia thread to the other needle bed and subsequent knitting of the intarsia thread on the other needle bed in the intarsia area. This process can be carried out with a few machine processes and therefore with little expenditure of time. In addition, the fixation thus formed is not visible on the front of the knitted fabric. According to a further embodiment of the invention, before the transferring, the needle beds are offset by at least one needle pitch in such a way that the transferred stitch comes to lie on the other needle bed within the intarsia area and this ensures that the intarsia thread is opposite it the color of the basic knitting is not visible in the basic knitting.

In the following, the area adjacent to the intarsia thread is referred to as the basic knitted fabric or basic knitted fabric area, even if the area adjacent to the intarsia area can be a further intarsia area.

An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is given by the method steps specified in claim 4.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that the intarsia thread is fed to the intarsia area or is removed from the intarsia area to form tuck handles on a needle bed. This ensures that the respective needles can grip the intarsia thread safely at the beginning or at the end of the intarsia area.

The tuck loops are preferably formed on the one needle bed that has no basic knitting stitches. The stitches can preferably be reassigned from one needle bed to the other needle bed before the tuck handles are formed, so that no basic knitted stitches are present on the needle bed on which the tuck handles are formed.

In order to prevent unwanted tucking of the tuck handles, it is advantageous according to a further embodiment of the invention if basic knitted stitches are temporarily hung on adjacent needles of the needles of the same needle bed carrying the tuck handles. These basic knitted stitches keep the tuck handles below and prevent them from being thrown off in subsequent process steps until the tucking handles are deliberately and intentionally carried out. In order to be able to make needles for transferring the basic knitted stitches onto the needle bed on which the tuck handles of the intarsia thread are located, the tuck handles are preferably not formed on all needles, but on every second, third or fourth needle, with tuck handles on every second Needle, a so-called 1: 1 catch is particularly advantageous. The feeding and removal of the intarsia thread to the intarsia area or from the intarsia area is particularly advantageous in accordance with the method steps specified in claim 11. This means simple and few sled strokes are required Way the feeding and removal of the intarsia thread is carried out. Between the process steps a) and b) on the one hand and the process steps c) and d) on the other hand of claim 11, either a course of the intarsia area is knitted and / or the process steps according to claim 4 for fixing the intarsia thread at the beginning or performed at the end of the intarsia area.

A further embodiment of the invention is that, in particular when the intarsia thread is removed from the intarsia area at the end of the intarsia area at a certain distance from the intarsia area, at least one stitch of the basic knitted fabric that is at a certain distance, for example at a distance of 10 stitches from the intarsia area in the basic knitted area, remains on a needle of the needle bed on which the tuck handles of the intarsia thread for guiding it out were formed. Not all stitches of the basic knitted area that were previously transferred to the bed with the tuck handles of the intarsia thread are hung back again, so that at least one stitch of the basic knitted fabric remains over at least one tuck handle of the intarsia thread and holds it down. This ensures that the needles knitting the basic knitted fabric cannot grasp and thread along with this thread, since it cannot reach the needle area.

Fig. 1

eines Verfahrensablauf für das Zuführen des Intarsia-Fadens zu einem Intarsia-Muster und für das automatische Fixieren des Intarsia-Fadens zu Beginn des Intarsia-Bereichs, und

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel für das Herausführen des Intarsia-Fadens am Ende des Intarsia-Bereichs und ein Verfahren zum Fixieren des Intarsia-Fadens am Ende des Intarsia-Bereichs.

The invention and further advantages and method steps are explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a procedure for feeding the intarsia thread to an intarsia pattern and for that automatic fixing of the intarsia thread at the beginning of the intarsia area, and

Fig. 2

an embodiment for the removal of the intarsia thread at the end of the intarsia area and a method for fixing the intarsia thread at the end of the intarsia area.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the intarsia thread is fed from left to right. In a first method step according to FIG. 1a, all stitches of the basic knitted fabric are reassigned from the rear h to the front v needle bed in the carriage running direction shown with a horizontal arrow, provided stitches of the basic knitted fabric are on the rear needle bed h.

The transfer is indicated in Fig. 1a and in the figures to be described below by vertical lines between the needle beds, each with a correspondingly pointed arrowhead. The direction of carriage travel is indicated by arrows between the needle beds, the arrow directions of which indicate the direction of carriage travel.

With a further slide movement in the slide running direction from left to right according to FIG. 1b, a catch handle is formed on the second needle bed h on every second needle in the basic knitting area G, which reaches up to the first needle 1 of the intarsia knitting area I. In the intarsia knitting area I, a handle is formed on its first needle 1 in the front needle bed v and a handle is alternately and continuously formed on the rear and front needle bed. The stitches of the method step according to FIG. 1a, if applicable, on the front needle bed of the strapped basic knitted fabric are indicated in FIG. 1b by a stitch-like symbol.

The process can of course be carried out with both single-system and multi-system flat knitting machines. In two-system flat knitting machines, the method steps according to FIGS. 1a and 1b can be carried out in one stroke.

1c with the carriage running from right to left, every second stitch of the basic knitted fabric opposite the free needle of the rear needle bed is reassigned from the front needle bed to the free needles of the rear needle bed. The basic knitted stitches on the rear needle bed mean that the tuck handles of the intarsia thread remain in the needles and cannot be thrown off. During the process step according to FIG. 1d, a stitch is also formed from right to left, for example in a two-system machine with the second lock, with the intarsia thread on the rear needles 3 and 1 of the intarsia area and on the needle 2.

In the method step according to FIG. 1e, an oblique arrow between the schematically indicated needle beds schematically indicates an offset and a subsequent transfer of the intarsia thread stitch from the second needle in the rear needle bed h to the third needle in the front needle bed v. This transfer process takes place from left to right during a sled lift

During the method step according to FIG. 1f, the catch handles on the third and first needle of the rear needle bed h are thrown off in the inlaid area during a slide stroke from right to left, which is symbolically represented by an asterisk.

With the method step according to FIG. 1g with a carriage stroke from left to right, the first row now becomes knitted the inlaid area, as indicated in Fig. 1g.

During an opposing slide stroke after knitting the first row of intarsia area, the handles of the intarsia thread lying on the rear needle bed h in the basic knitting area G according to FIG. 1h are thrown off and the stitches of the basic knitting previously transferred from front to back according to FIG. 1c 1i are converted from left to right from rear h to front v needle bed in a slide stroke from left to right. Before this, the offset of the needle beds was brought back to the basic position.

After the method step according to FIG. 1i, the intarsia thread is now exposed again in the basic knitted area G, however, the intarsia thread is secure, in particular due to the method steps according to FIGS. 1d and 1e, and the subsequent knitting in the intarsia area according to FIG. 1g and reliably fixed.

The removal of the intarsia thread and the fixing of the intarsia thread at the end of the intarsia area I from right to left are explained with reference to FIG. 2.

After the rows of an intarsia area have been knitted off, the thread guide is located, for example, to the left of the intarsia area, so that - in order to be able to fix it - it is brought back into intarsia area I with a carriage stroke from left to right in accordance with method step 2a becomes. In a subsequent slide stroke from right to left, in accordance with the process according to FIG. 2b, with the intarsia thread on the needles 3 and 1 on the front needle bed v and on the needle 2 of the rear needle bed H in the intarsia area I tuck handles are formed, whereby with a knitting process Slide stroke from left to right according to FIG. 2c on needles 1 and 3 of the rear needle bed catch handle and on stitch 2 a stitch with the intarsia thread is formed.

As indicated in FIG. 2d, basic knitting stitches that are still located in the basic knitting area G on the rear needle bed h are also transferred to the front needle bed v in a carriage stroke from left to right.

After an offset of the two needle beds, the intarsia thread stitch located on the needle 2 of the rear needle bed is hung on the needle 3 of the front needle bed in a subsequent method step with the carriage running from right to left. 2f, the two tuck handles of the intarsia thread on the needles 1 and 3 of the rear needle bed are thrown off with a slide stroke from left to right.

In the case of a carriage stroke from right to left, according to FIG. 2g, handles of the intarsia thread in the basic knitted area G are formed in every second needle of the rear needle bed h. Thereafter, with a carriage stroke in the same direction of movement or with a trailing lock, loops of the basic knitted fabric in the basic knitted fabric area G, which are located on the needles of the front needle bed v and which do not have needles of the rear needle bed h having handles of the intarsia thread, are released onto these Needles of the rear needle bed h hung around.

In a subsequent slide stroke, the tuck handles of the intarsia thread, which are located on needles of the rear needle bed h in the basic knitted area G, are thrown off. In a carriage stroke in the same direction or with a subsequent lock, the basic knitted stitches, which were transferred to the rear needle bed h with the method step according to FIG. 2h, are transferred again to the front needle bed v, as is indicated in FIG. 2k.

As can be seen from FIG. 2k, not all of the stitches of the basic knitted fabric which had previously been transferred from the front to the rear needle bed according to FIG. 2h were hung back onto the front needle bed. As a result, a stitch of the basic knitted fabric remains on the rear needle bed, as is shown schematically in FIG. 2b. This stitch, which is not hung back, has the effect that the intarsia thread is held down and does not get up into the needle area and can be gripped and knitted by needles of the basic knitted area.

Of course, operations that occur in succession with slide strokes in the same direction can be carried out in one slide stroke in multi-system flat knitting machines.

The method according to the invention was explained on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments. However, numerous modifications, refinements and additions are possible for the person skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept. For example, the processes for fixing the intarsia thread at the beginning and at the end of the intarsia area are also possible without the described methods or with others for feeding and discharging the intarsia method, and vice versa the method steps for feeding and removing the intarsia Thread can also be carried out without the method steps for forming the fixation. Furthermore, when forming tuck handles with the intarsia thread in the basic knitted area G, instead of a 1: 1 catch, a handle is formed all three, four or five needles in the basic knitting area G on the rear needle bed h possible.

Claims (13)

Method for knitting intarsia patterns on flat knitting machines, characterized in that the intarsia thread knitting in the intarsia area (I) is fixed with a stitch at the beginning and at the end of the intarsia area (I). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stitch is formed within the intarsia area (I). Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stitch is transferred to the other needle bed (v) by transferring a stitch previously knitted on one needle bed (h) with the intarsia thread and subsequent knitting of the intarsia thread on the other needle bed (V ) is formed in the intarsia area (I). Method according to claim 3, characterized in that before the transferring, the needle beds (h, v) are offset by at least one needle pitch. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following method steps: a) forming a stitch with the intarsia thread on a needle of the one needle bed (h) located in the edge region of the intarsia region (I); b) transferring the stitch of the intarsia thread to a needle of the other needle bed (v), and c) Knitting an inlaid thread row on the other needle bed (v) in the inlaid area (I). Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that before the stitch of the intarsia thread is transferred on the other needle bed (v) the needle beds (h, v) are displaced by one needle pitch. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the offset is carried out in the direction that the stitch of the intarsia thread is displaced in the direction of the intarsia region (I). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intarsia thread is fed into the intarsia area (I) or is removed from the intarsia area (I) to form tuck handles on a needle bed (v). A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the tuck handles are formed on the one needle bed (h) which has no stitches of the basic knitted fabric (G). Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in order to prevent the dropping of the tucked loops, loops of the basic knitted fabric (G) are temporarily hung on adjacent needles of the needles of the same needle bed (h) carrying the tucked loops. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by the following method steps: a) insert the intarsia thread in every second needle of the other needle bed in the basic knitted area (G) up to the beginning of the intarsia area (I) or from the end of the intarsia area (I); b) transferring every second stitch of the basic knitted fabric in the basic knitted area (G) from the other needle bed (v) to the opposite, free needles of the one needle bed (h); c) dropping the tangs of the intarsia thread from the needles of the one needle bed (h) in the basic knitted area (G); d) hanging the stitches of the basic knitted fabric in the basic knitted area (G) from one needle bed (h) to opposite needles of the other needle bed (v). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following method steps: a) transferring all stitches of the basic knitted fabric in the basic knitted area (G) from one needle bed (h) to the other needle bed (v); b) formation of tuck handles of the intarsia thread in every second needle of the one needle bed (h) in the basic knitted area up to the lateral start or from the lateral end of the intarsia region (I); c) transferring every second stitch of the basic knitted fabric basic knitted area (G) from the other needle bed (v) to the opposite, free needles of the one needle bed (h); d) forming tuck handles of the intarsia thread alternately in every second needle of one and the other needle bed (h, v) in the intarsia area (I); e) forming a stitch of the intarsia thread on the second or penultimate needle in the intarsia area of the one needle bed (h), which has a tuck handle of the intarsia thread; f) moving the needle beds (h, v) to one another by at least one needle pitch; g) transferring the stitch of the intarsia thread knitted according to process step e) onto the other needle bed (v); h) returning the needle beds (h, v) to one another in the basic position; i) knitting at least one row of intarsia threads in the intarsia area (I); j) throwing off the tuck handles of the intarsia thread formed according to method step b) from every second needle of the one needle bed (h) in the basic knitted area (G)) and k) transferring the respective stitch of the basic knitted fabric in the basic knitted area (G) from one needle bed (h) to opposite needles of the other needle bed (v). Method according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that at least one stitch of the basic knitted fabric located at a certain distance from the intarsia area (I) remains on at least one needle of the needle bed (h) on which the tuck handles are formed (Fig. 2b or 2k).

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