EP0641879B1 - Method for knitting Intarsia patterns on flat bed knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

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

In the traditional manufacture of knitted fabrics with intarsia patterns the beginnings were on flat knitting machines and ends of the threads used to knit the intarsia areas were free and not fixed to the knitted fabric. While the manufacturing process of the knitted fabric and / or at the assembly was therefore often at the free intarsia thread ends consciously or unconsciously drawn in the knitted fabric, so that there are appropriate stitches at the beginning or end of the intarsia pattern area and thus Noises occurred in the pattern picture, not to mention the Danger that the stitches are not due to the free dissolve fixed intarsia thread ends. The fixation the intarsia thread ends were therefore made by knotting the Inlaid thread ends made by hand, which is very time consuming and is therefore expensive and not too leads to a uniform structure of the pattern image, because when knotting by hand different tension on the threads exercised and the stitches are warped.

DE-A-33 22 392 describes a method and a flat knitting machine known for knitting intarsia patterns, in which or where the needles are selected for each intarsia area are fed and the thread by a separate needle guide receive. The thread guides are each from one outside of the total knitting area starting position moved over the respective intarsia area, the up to the beginning or end of the knitted area, floating thread sections for processing in a subsequent operation be brought back to the machine. This procedure serves the Purpose, the individual intarsia areas on a flat knitting machine also with changing width with full machine performance to be able to produce without having to readjust the thread guide limiter is required.

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

The object is achieved according to the invention solved the features of claim 1, this results in a uniform pattern with uniform stitches, without that knotting must be done by hand. This process can with only a few machine processes and therefore with little Expenditure of time. Furthermore is the resulting fixation on the front of the knitted fabric not visible. According to a further embodiment the invention becomes an offset before transferring the needle beds by at least one needle pitch such that the looped stitch inside the Inlaid area to lie on the other needle bed comes and this ensures that the intarsia thread with its different from the basic knitted fabric Color is not visible in the basic knitted fabric.

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

The following is the area attached to the intarsia thread adjacent, as a basic knitted fabric or basic knitted fabric area referred to, even if the one adjacent to the intarsia area Area will be another intarsia area can.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention Process is by the process steps specified in claim 3 given.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention consists of the intarsia thread forming Catch handles on a needle bed fed to the intarsia area or is carried away from the intarsia area. On this ensures that at the beginning or at At the end of the intarsia area, the respective needles make up the intarsia thread can seize safely.

The tuck handles are preferably on one needle bed formed that has no basic knitting stitches. Preferably, before the formation of the tuck handles Stitch from one needle bed to the other needle bed be reassigned so that on the needle bed on which the Tuck handles are formed, no basic knitted stitches available.

To prevent unwanted shedding of the handle it according to a further embodiment of the invention advantageous if the catch handle on adjacent needles temporarily carrying needles of the same needle bed Basic knit stitches can be hung. These basic knitted stitches keep the tangs down and prevent that Dropping in subsequent process steps as long as until the dropping of the tuck handles is carried out specifically and intentionally becomes. Around needles for transferring the basic knitted stitches to be able to make on the needle bed with the tuck handles of the intarsia thread the tentacles are preferred not on all needles, but on every second, third or fourth needle trained, with tuck handles on every second needle, So 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 according to the claim 11 specified process steps are particularly advantageous. This means simple and few sled strokes are required How to feed and remove the intarsia thread carried out. Between process steps a) and b) on the one hand and process steps c) and d) on the other of claim 10 is either a course of the intarsia area are knitted and / or they are Method steps according to claim 3 for fixing the intarsia thread at the beginning or end of the intarsia area carried out.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in that especially when removing the intarsia thread the intarsia area at the end of it in a certain Distance from the intarsia area at least one stitch of the basic knitted fabric, which are at a certain distance, for example at a distance of 10 stitches from the intarsia area located in the basic knitting area, on one The needle of the needle bed remains on which the tuck handles of the intarsia thread for guiding it out were. So not all stitches in the basic knitting area the previously on the tuck handles of the intarsia thread exhibiting bed were strapped again hung back so that at least one stitch of the basic knitted fabric over at least one tuck handle of the intarsia thread remains and holds it down. This ensures that the needles knitting the basic knitted fabric can't take this thread and knit along, because it cannot get into 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 process sequence for feeding the intarsia thread to an intarsia pattern and for automatically fixing 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 the slide running direction shown with a horizontal arrow from left to right all stitches of the Basic knits from the back h to the front v needle bed reassigned if stitches of the basic knitted fabric are on the the rear needle bed h.

The transferring is in Fig. 1a and in those to be described below Figures with vertical lines between the Needle beds, each with a correspondingly pointed arrowhead indicated. The direction of the sledge is in each case indicated by arrows between the needle beds whose Indicate the direction of the slide in the direction of the arrow.

With another slide movement in the direction of the slide from left to right according to FIG. 1b rear needle bed h on every second needle Tuck in the basic knitting area G formed up to first needle 1 of the intarsia knitting area I is sufficient. in the Intarsia knitting area I is 1 on its first needle in the front needle bed v a handle and alternately and continuously on the back and front needle beds formed a handle. The meshes with the process step 1a, if necessary, to the front The needle bed of the strapped basic knitted fabric is in Fig. 1b indicated by a stitch-like symbol.

The process can of course be both single-system as well as with multi-system flat knitting machines be performed. With two-system flat knitting machines can the process steps according to Fig. 1a and 1b to be run in one stroke.

1c with the carriage running direction from right to left every second, opposite the free needle of the rear needle bed Knit the basic knitted fabric from the front needle bed on the free needles of the back needle bed. The basic knitting stitches on the back needle bed cause that the tuck handles of the intarsia thread in the needles stay and cannot be dropped. While the method step according to FIG. 1d is also from right to left, for example with a dual system Machine with the second lock, with the intarsia thread on the back needles 3 and 1 of the intarsia area Tuck and a stitch formed on the needle 2.

In the method step according to FIG. 1e, there is an oblique Arrow between the schematically indicated needle beds an offset and a subsequent transfer of the intarsia thread stitch from the second needle in the back needle bed h schematically on the third needle in the front needle bed v indicated. This transfer process takes place at one Slide stroke from left to right

During the process step according to FIG. 1f the catch handles in a sled lift from right to left on the third and first needle of the back needle bed h dropped in the inlaid area, what by a star is represented symbolically.

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

During an opposite sled stroke after knitting the first row of intarsia areas will be the Handle of the intarsia thread lying on the back needle bed h dropped in the basic knitted area G according to FIG. 1h and that according to FIG. 1c beforehand from front to back Suspended stitches of the basic knitted fabric are shown in Fig. 1i in a sled stroke from left to right again from rear h transferred to the front v needle bed. Before However, the needle beds were moved back into the Brought home.

After the method step according to FIG. 1i is now the intarsia thread in the basic knitted area G is free again, however, the intarsia thread is particularly due to the 1d and 1e, and the following Knit in the intarsia area according to Fig. 1g fixed securely and reliably.

2 shows the removal of the intarsia thread as well as fixing the intarsia thread at the end of the intarsia area I explained from right to left.

After the rows of an intarsia area are knitted the thread guide is on the left, for example from the intarsia area so that he - to make the fixation to be able - according to method step 2a with a Slide stroke from left to right back into the intarsia area I is brought. In a subsequent one Slide stroke from right to left will be accordingly of 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 Fanghang formed, with a knitting process with Slide stroke from left to right according to FIG. 2c on the Needles 1 and 3 of the rear needle bed catch handle and on the needle 2 forms a stitch with the intarsia thread becomes.

As indicated in Fig. 2d, are also in one Sled lift from left to right basic knitting stitches, which are still in the basic knitting area G on the back Needle bed h are hung on the front needle bed v.

After an offset of the two needle beds according to Fig. 2e in a subsequent process step with the direction of slide travel from right to left the one on needle 2 intarsia thread stitch on the rear needle bed hung on the needle 3 of the front needle bed. While of the knitting sequence according to FIG. 2f with a slide stroke from left to right the two tangs of the Intarsia thread on needles 1 and 3 of the back needle bed thrown off.

With a sled lift from right to left, according to Fig. 2g in every second needle of the rear needle bed h Handle of the intarsia thread formed in the basic knitted area G. After that, with a sled lift in the same Direction of movement or with a trailing Castle stitches of the basic knitting in the basic knitting area G located on the needles of the front needle bed v that have no handles of the intarsia thread Opposite needles of the rear needle bed h these free needles of the rear needle bed h

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

As can be seen from Fig. 2k, of the previously according to Fig. 2h slung from the front to the rear needle bed Stitches of basic knit not all stitches hung back on the front needle bed. Thereby one stitch of the basic knitted fabric remains on the back Needle bed, as shown schematically in Fig. 2b is. This unhooked stitch causes the intarsia thread is held down and not up in reach the needle area and of needles of the basic knitted area can be grasped and involved.

Of course, operations with sled strokes occur in the same direction one after the other at multi-system flat knitting machines in one slide stroke be performed.

The method according to the invention was preferred based on Exemplary embodiments explained. However, those skilled in the art are numerous modifications, refinements and additions possible without leaving the idea of invention becomes. For example, the operations to fix the Intarsia thread at the beginning and end of the intarsia area also without the described methods or also with others to feed and discharge the intarsia process possible, and vice versa, the process steps for feeding and removing the intarsia thread too without the procedural steps to form the fixation be performed. Furthermore, in the formation of Catch handles with the intarsia thread in the basic knitted area G instead of a 1: 1 catch a handle formation all three, four or five needles in the basic knitting area G possible on the rear needle bed h.

Claims (12)

1. Method for knitting intarsia patterns on flat bed knitting machines in which the intarsia yarn being knitted in the intarsia region (I) is fixed at the beginning and at the end of the intarsia region (I) by means of a stitch, whereby the stitch is formed by transferring a stitch that was previously knitted with the intarsia yarn on one needle bed (h) onto the other needle bed (v) and subsequent knitting-up of the intarsia yarn on the other needle bed (V) in the intarsia region (I).
2. Method in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the stitch is formed within the intarsia region (I).
3. Method in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that racking of the needle beds (h, v) by at least one needle pitch is effected before the transfer.
4. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised by the following method steps:

   a) forming a stitch with the intarsia yarn on a needle of said one needle bed (h) which is located in the border area of the intarsia region (I);

   b) transferring the stitch of intarsia yarn onto a needle of the other needle bed (v), and

   c) knitting an intarsia-yarn row on the other needle bed (v) in the intarsia region (I).
5. Method in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that the needle beds (h, v) are racked relative to one another by at least one needle pitch prior to the transfer of the stitch of intarsia yarn onto the other needle bed (v).
6. Method in accordance with Claim 5, characterised in that the racking is effected in a direction such that the stitch of intarsia yarn is displaced towards the intarsia region (I).
7. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the intarsia yarn is fed into the intarsia region (I) or is drawn off from the intarsia region (I) by forming tuck stitches on one needle bed (v).
8. Method in accordance with Claim 7, characterised in that the tuck stitches are formed on that one needle bed (h) which does not include any stitches of the basic fabric (G).
9. Method in accordance with Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that stitches of the basic fabric (G) are temporarily hung on needles which are adjacent to the needles carrying the tuck stitches and which are in the same needle bed (h), in order to prevent the tuck stitches from being dropped.
10. Method in accordance with any of the Claims 7 to 9, characterised by the following method steps:

    a) the intarsia yarn is inserted in every other needle of the other needle bed in the basic fabric region (G) up to the beginning of the intarsia region (T) or as from the end of the intarsia region (I);

    b) every other stitch of the basic knitting in the basic fabric region (G) is transferred from the other needle bed (v) onto the oppositely located free needles of the one needle bed (h);

    c) the tuck stitches of intarsia yarn are dropped from the needles of said one needle bed (h) in the basic fabric region (G);

    d) the stitches of the basic knitting in the basic fabric region (G) are rehung from said one needle bed (h) onto oppositely located needles of the other needle bed (v).
11. Method in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised by the following method steps:

    a) each of the stitches of the basic knitting in the basic fabric region (G) is transferred from one needle bed (h) onto the other needle bed (v);

    b) tuck stitches of intarsia yarn are formed on every other needle of the one needle bed (h) in the basic fabric region up to the lateral beginning of the intarsia region (I) or as from the lateral end thereof;

    c) every other stitch of the basic knitting in the basic fabric region (G) is transferred from the other needle bed (v) onto the oppositely located free needles of the one needle bed (h);

    d) tuck stitches of intarsia yarn are formed alternately on every other needle of the one and the other needle beds (h, v) in the intarsia region (I);

    e) a stitch of intarsia yarn is formed on that second or penultimate needle of the one needle bed (h) which is located in the intarsia region and which carries a tuck stitch of intarsia yarn;

    f) the needle beds (h, v) are racked relative to one another by at least one needle pitch;

    g) the stitches of intarsia yarn that were knitted in accordance with method step e) are transferred onto the other needle bed (v);

    h) the needle beds (h, v) are racked relative to one another back into their original position;

    i) at least one intarsia-yarn low is knitted in the intarsia region (I);

    j) the tuck stitches of intarsia yarn formed in accordance with method step h) are dropped from every other needle of the one needle bed (h) in the basic fabric region (G), and

    k) the respective stitches of the basic knitting in the basic fabric region (G) are transferred from one needle bed (h) onto oppositely located needles of the other needle bed (v).
12. Method in accordance with any of the Claims 7 to 11, characterised in that at least one stitch of the basic knitting located at a certain distance from the intarsia region (I) remains on at least one needle of the needle bed (h) upon which the tuck stitches are formed (Figs. 2b or 2k).

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