EP0932714B1 - Method for producing a knitted fabric containing a flock yarn in a flatbed knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a knitted fabric containing flock yarn on a flat knitting machine, like it is for making velor-like seat covers is needed.

So far, velor fabrics have been woven, whereby for the production of Seat covers are made up, i.e. a cutting and sewing individual textile webs is required.

From EP-A-0 627 516 a process for the production was a velor-like three-dimensional shape with chenille yarn on a flat knitting machine in which the chenille yarn is knitted with the basic threads.

It is an object of the present invention with simple Means to produce a velor-like fabric that is not made up can be brought into three-dimensional shapes.

This object is achieved by the features of the claim 1 solved. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The fabric has a velor-like character a flock thread is used, i.e. a thread the one with a multitude of protruding transverse to the thread course little hair is provided. Such flock threads are freely available in stores.

However, such threads are relatively stiff, which is why these threads So far only in web technology to achieve a velor fabric were used. The incorporation of a flock thread in a knitted fabric has so far been extremely difficult because a stitching of the relatively stiff flock thread in the knitted fabric could hardly be realized by machine. According to the invention the flock thread will not become a common mesh thread meshed in the knitted fabric, but as a weft and / or warp thread integrated into the basic knitted fabric. This Weft and / or warp threads can either be caught by a mesh thread be involved or be caught at certain intervals.

In particular, the incorporation of a flock thread offers itself as Weft and / or warp in the outer, i.e. top layer of a multi-layer knitted fabrics, if this knitted fabric e.g. as a car seat cover or used as a mobile seat cover should.

Preferably the flock threads are used as weft or warp threads run in the knitted fabric, bound by a binding thread. The course of the twine, e.g. vertical, parallel or can be inclined to the flock thread, not only can through its integration into the knitted fabric for the integration of the Flock thread can be used, but it can be replaced by an appropriate one variable guidance of the binding thread in the knitted fabric in the Interaction with the flock thread achieved a certain pattern be so that the twine is not just a fastening function for the flock thread in the knitted fabric, but also still serves an optical purpose. The color or the material of the flock thread can be changed within the knitted fabric. If e.g. the materials of the twine in the knitted fabric changed can be different requirements for areas the seat cover is taken into account. For example, the seat is much more stressed than the back of one Seat cover. Accordingly, one could then in the seat much more robust binding thread are used than, for example on the backrest. A more robust area leaves also generate themselves when the twine is in a denser weave is tied, or partially a thicker thread is involved. Furthermore, by changing the color the binding thread has a certain desired optical effect, e.g. a logo can be applied to the surface of the cover. A desired optical effect can be achieved in addition to partial Change of color, material or thickness of the twine also through a targeted guidance of the binding thread in relation to the flock thread or through a special binding of the binding thread. For example, partially the Cover the flock thread completely with the binding thread, so that in In these areas only the binding thread instead of the flock thread optically stands out. This way both the flock thread stabilized in the knitted fabric as well as a desired optical Effect achieved. The binding thread can also be made from an elastic or thermally shrinkable material, that contracts after a thermal aftertreatment and only then for the correct stabilization of the flock thread in the knitted fabric.

The flock thread is preferably thermal before binding treated so that the hair of the flock thread straightens up. For this, the flock thread can go through a heating tunnel or over a thermal brush or heating roller.

In order to achieve a good integration of the flock thread in the knitted fabric, the flock thread is preferred in the flat knitting machine by sinkers and / or strippers with a defined Force pressed into the knitted fabric. You can use it to knit areas with a specifically adjustable stability or Establish elasticity. The increased stability can also be by binding the flock thread through a meshed binding thread generate through which the flock thread is pressed into the knitted fabric becomes.

As already expressed in advance, the integration of the flock thread through the binding thread across the width of the needle bed and / or can be varied from course to course, whereby you only have a certain defined areas Can create velor character. One could, for example the velor character alone on the upward-facing seat and restrict the backrest area facing the person and the side areas spanning the seat frame avoiding.

Very nice optical effects can be achieved if the flock thread and the binding thread dyed and / or equipped differently are. A very advantageous way of defining the Flock thread through the binding thread is achieved when the flock thread is tied up by the twine by catching. To this The flock thread is hardly deformed by the integration and the integration is technically very easy on a flat knitting machine to realize. The flock thread can also be selected put on a mesh thread or binding thread on catch be, the catch mesh preferably a distance from two to ten stitches or double crochets depending on the division to have. Of course, the flock thread can also be added in Mesh distances, the distance between the meshes larger should be chosen because the formation of a mesh with the relatively stiff flock thread a heavy load on the Knitting machine.

The flock thread is also in through an additional binding thread the knitted fabric can be fixed in a two-bed machine 1x1 offset front / back, then the flock thread inserted as a weft and by stitch transfer of the binding thread front / rear and / or rear / front is integrated.

A velor cover, produced by the method according to the invention can therefore be very well partially in terms of required train mechanical capacities and is both regarding its shape and pattern very individual executable.

Of course, if the flock thread is inserted as a weft there is not a flock thread in every stitch row. One can therefore by selecting the distances between the individual flock threads freely define the density of the velor. In in the same way there is not a flock thread in every wale be introduced if this runs as a chain in the knitted fabric. Here too, the individual attitude of the distance generate a defined velor density. It can alternately none or in a defined pattern also normal threads introduced as weft and / or warp threads become. Any pattern can be achieved in this way. Through a defined selection of the binding stitches, i.e. of stitches of the binding thread, also in combination with a stitch transfer on other needles or needle beds, can be interesting Create patterns. The flock thread can also be used as Weft and warp threads with interweaving in the knitted fabric (using the flat knitting machine). The flock thread passages can be sequential with the binding thread passages be combined.

It is preferably suitable for fixing the flock thread on the Knitted by means of the binding thread a single-surface binding to Production of a so-called bag cover by different Selection of the needle width or also in a contoured version. What is important here is a homogeneous connection of the corresponding ones Edge stitches.

All of the above techniques of integration and individual Patterning can be achieved with optimized use of materials.

A flock thread must not only consist of one, but can also be made of several carrier threads exist on which the flock hairs cross applied to the direction of the carrier thread preferably by gluing are. Flock threads of this type are generally available.

The relative control of the flock thread entry is important to other knitting components such as twine, i.e. Binding thread, Pile thread for multi-layer knitted fabrics and weft / warp threads from normal thread materials, i.e. not flock yarn. By also individually controlled integration of a flock thread by means of a binding thread, which is usually the normal one Meshing thread, targeted contours, Create structures and patterns. The binding thread can in principle be formed as a normal mesh thread, the forms the knitted fabric through its mesh. The thread or even several binding threads can also be used as additional second mesh thread or weft and / or warp thread introduced his. The type of meshing of one or more additional ones Binding threads with the mesh thread and / or the Flock thread can then be placed next to the integration of the flock thread use to achieve a desired optical effect. If an elastic or shrinking material as a binding thread is selected, the stability of the cover and / or further improve the velor density. With a multi-layer knitted fabric a very positive effect can be achieved if in the first Location of the flock thread structure is arranged and this first Layer connected to a second layer via a pile thread structure which contains a velcro structure or loops Knitted fabric on a carrier with a complementary velcro structure fix (Velcro). Of course, the The layers were not connected by means of a pile thread structure his.

The velcro structure can of course also be found on the back of a single-surface knitted fabric, the loops of Velcro structure through the mesh thread, the binding thread or even the flock thread itself can be formed.

Figures 1 and 2 show two stitch patterns, for example Knitted fabrics containing flock yarn according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a basic mesh image of a flock thread containing Knitted fabric. The flock thread is on in the first stitch row 1 a first binding thread, which is the mesh thread, in each second stitch on catch. Row 2 shows the mesh of the first thread. In the third row is a second binding thread with the mesh thread every second stitch meshed. This second binding thread is used to press in the Flock thread in the knitted fabric, and can in principle also be omitted be when the flock thread through strippers in the knitted fabric is pressed. Row 4 is the repetition of row 1 Etc..

Fig. 2 shows a flock thread knit in a jacquard pattern. The The first two rows of stitches correspond to the basic knitted fabric Fig. 1. The third row shows a second binding thread, the partially (with the first six stitches) with the first binding thread is meshed, i.e. neutral with regard to the flock thread is (not covering it) and partial (in the second six Stitches) 1x1 on both needle beds. in these areas it covers the flock thread almost completely and kicks thereby optically stand out instead of the flock thread. Through targeted Control of these overlapping and non-overlapping areas can thus be a desired pattern, in the present case a jacquard pattern.

Claims (13)

1. A method of producing a knit containing a flock yarn of a looped lacing thread on a flat bed knitting machine wherein the flock yarn is enlaced in the knit at least in part as a weft and/or warp thread selectively tucked and/or tuck looped by a lacing thread.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the knit is a multi-ply knit and the flock thread is enlaced only in a first ply of the knit.
3. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the run and/or material of the lacing thread varies over the width of the needle bed and/or the various courses.
4. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lacing thread of elastic and/or thermoshrink or stabilizing material is used.
5. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flock thread is thermally treated prior to enlacing.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the flock thread is passed through a heating tunnel or over a thermal brush or heating roll.
7. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flock thread is urged into the knit by sinkers and/or inserters.
8. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flock thread is enlaced by a lacing thread and enlacing the flock thread by the lacing thread is varied over the width of the needle bed and/or from course to course.
9. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flock thread and lacing thread is used differingly dyed and/or finish treated.
10. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the knit is single-ply and that the flock thread runs on the one side of the knit whilst twinings are included in the knit on the other side which form a Velcro structure.
11. The method as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flock thread is selectively looped on a spacing of several loops.
12. A knit produced by a method as set forth in any of the preceding claims wherein in the knit a flock thread is enlaced at least in part as a weft and/or warp thread and the weft or warp thread is selected in the knit as a tucked loop and/or tuck looped by a lacing thread.
13. A seat cover using a knit as set forth in claim 12.

Images