EP1582613B1 - Method of seaming a knitted fabric piece - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for crimping a knitted piece on a flat knitting machine with at least two opposing needle beds.

There are already known various Abkettelverfahren that require two Umhängevorgänge to Abketteln a stitch. They are therefore relatively time consuming. Especially in the production of tubular round-finished knits, these time-consuming methods are undesirable. These knits are completely formed on the flat knitting machine. The total machine running time required for its manufacture is composed of times for carriage movements forming rows of knitting and times for carriage movements in which only stitches are transferred. So that the entire knitted piece can be produced economically, the times for carriage movements without loop formation must be minimized as far as possible.

At the same time, it is necessary to produce a firm knit finish that is sufficiently elastic and visually appealing. These requirements, too, can only be met inadequately with hose round finished knits using the prior art method of joining.

A method for linking according to the preamble of claim 1 is from EP-A-1 262 585 known.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to propose a method by which a knitted piece can be abgeschettelt in a short time and with high quality.

1. a) Umhängen mindestens einer Start-Kettelmasche vom ersten auf das zweite, ansonsten keine Maschen des Gestricks tragende Nadelbett;
2. b) Versatz des zweiten Nadelbetts, bis die mindestens eine Kettelmasche der mindestens einen nächsten abzukettelnden Masche auf dem ersten Nadelbett gegenüberliegt;
3. c) Umhängen der mindestens einen nächsten abzukettelnden Masche auf die Nadel oder die Nadeln mit der mindestens einen Kettelmasche des zweiten Nadelbetts;
4. d) Abstricken der beiden in dem oder den Nadelhaken hängenden Maschen und dadurch Bildung mindestens einer neuen Kettelmasche;
5. e) Wiederholung der Schritte b) - d).

The object is achieved with a method for binding a knitted piece on a flat knitting machine having at least two opposing needle beds, which is characterized by the steps:

1. a) transferring at least one start-Kettelmasche from the first to the second, otherwise no stitches of the fabric supporting needle bed;
2. b) displacement of the second needle bed until the at least one Kettel mesh of the at least one next stitch to be stitched on the first needle bed is opposite;
3. c) transferring the at least one next stitch to be stitched to the needle or the needles with the at least one keying stitch of the second needle bed;
4. d) knitting off the two stitches hanging in the needle hook (s) and thereby forming at least one new stitching stitch;
5. e) repetition of steps b) - d).

The method according to the invention requires only one transfer operation for binding off a stitch, in contrast to two transfer operations in the prior art method, and is therefore to be carried out in a significantly shorter time than the known methods.

In addition, the Kettelmaschen are not umgehängt in the process of the invention. Rather, the next stitches to be linked are hung on the needles with the chain stitches. Then the two stitches are knitted on the needles or Kettelnadeln and formed a new Kettelmasche. Since the Kettelmaschen are not even umgehängt, they experience no overstretching, as they would arise with each Umhängevorgang. They are therefore elastic on the wales. In addition, the Kettel mesh can be formed in a defined size, so that a visually beautiful finish can be achieved. Since a loop connected to the knit stitch is hung over the knit stitch, the looped stitch is a stitch on which a pull-off force still acts, whereby the knitting operation can proceed relatively reliably.

If, during the binding off process, the maximum offset path of the needle bed carrying the needle (s) with the at least one keying stitch is reached, the at least one keying stitch can be transferred to a free needle of the opposing needle bed and the needle bed carrying the needling pins can be moved in the opposite direction from the previous one extreme offset position are brought before the Abkettelvorgang is continued.

For multi-ply knitted fabrics, all stitches can be transferred to the first needle bed prior to binding, so that the required offset movements can be made with the second needle bed. In the case of tubular knits, the stitches of the second needle bed can be transferred to empty needles of the first needle bed prior to the binding-off operation. In this way, tubular round-finished knitted fabrics can be easily tied off at the neckline or else at upper pockets, lapels and the like.

In the following, a binding method according to the state of the art and a binding method according to the invention are explained in more detail in each case using the example of a tubular round finished knitted fabric.

Fig. 1.1 + Fig. 1.2

eine Maschenverlaufsdarstellung eines Abkettelvorgangs nach dem Stand der Technik zum Abketteln eines Schlauch-Rund-Fertiggestricks;

Fig. 2.1 - Fig. 2.8

eine Maschenverlaufsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Abketteln eines Schlauch-Rund-Fertiggestricks.

In detail show:

Fig. 1.1 + Fig. 1.2

a knitting course illustration of a state of the art pre-bonding process for crimping a tubular Rund-Fertiggestricks;

Fig. 2.1 - Fig. 2.8

a stitch course representation of a method according to the invention for binding a tubular Rund-Fertiggestricks.

Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2 show the example of a tubular knitted fabric a Abketteltechnik according to the prior art for the formation of a tight knit finish, as required for example in necklines or collars. The second needle bed, here the rear needle bed H can perform misalignment movements. The front needle bed V is not displaceable in the example shown. Of course, the role of the needle beds V, H but could also be reversed. In addition, it is also possible in principle to arrange both needle beds displaceable.

In the row R0 in Fig. 1.1, the last knitting course of the tubular round finished knitted fabric is shown. It is formed on the front and rear needle bed V, H. In this case, each occupied with a mesh needle is an empty needle of the other needle bed opposite. In row R1 , the fabric back, which is located on the back needle bed H, is started to be unstacked. For this purpose, a stitch is formed with the outermost needle 95 of the rear needle bed H, which is the start-Kettelmasche. In row R2 , this stitch is then transferred to the needle 95 of the front needle bed V. Subsequently, in row R3, the rear needle bed H is offset by two needles to the right and hung the Kettel mesh to the already in the needle 93 mesh of the knitted fabric. Subsequently, the two stitches are knitted in row R4 with the now outermost needle 93 and thus formed a new Kettel mesh. By repeating the operations shown in rows R2 to R4, the entire fabric back can be bound off.

Fig. 1.2 shows the procedure for the Abkeleln the knitted front side, which is located on the front needle bed V. The row R0 shows again the hose knit before beginning the binding off process. It corresponds to the row R0 in Fig. 1.1. In row R1, a stitch is formed with the outermost needle 96 of the front needle bed V, which is the starting stitching stitch. Subsequently, the rear needle bed H in row R2 is moved to its normal position and the Kettel mesh is transferred to the opposite needle 96 of the rear needle bed H. In row R3 there is an offset of the rear needle bed H by two needles to the left and a transfer of the Kettel mesh from the rear needle bed H on the needle 94 to there mesh of the front fabric part. Subsequently, with the outermost needle 94, the two meshes knitted on it are knitted and thereby formed a new Kettel mesh. By repeating the steps shown in rows R2 to R4, the entire knitted fabric front can be bound off.

Figures 1.1 and 1.2 illustrate that the Kettelmaschen are each umgehängt twice before by knitting a new Kettel mesh can be formed. In particular, at the first transfer the Kettel mesh is overstretched and loses its elasticity. During the second transfer, the chain stitch is transferred from a needle, which otherwise does not carry any stitches. Therefore acts on the Kettel mesh not sufficient trigger force to make the Umhängevorgang this already overstretched mesh safely.

The prior art method also requires three needle movements per keying operation and is therefore very time consuming. By overstretching Kettelmasche the Abkettelvorgang is partially uncertain and also leads to a relatively inelastic and visually not very complacent knitted finish.

FIGS. 2.1 to 2.8 show a method according to the invention which avoids these disadvantages. It is shown again as in Figs. 1.1 and 1.2 of the Abkettelvorgang the example of the Abkettelns a hose knit. The rear needle bed H is the one needle bed that can perform offset movements. As in the example shown in Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2, the Kettelnaht here is a mesh wide. It could also extend over several needles. Such a broader embodiment would also be possible with the method according to the prior art according to FIGS. 1.1 and 1.2. The connection of wales to wales is done with only one Kettelmasche. The connection could also be done with multiple stitches.

Fig. 2.1 to Fig. 2.8 show the complete Abkettelvorgang for the back and for the front of the knitted fabric. The writing off process for the back side is starting on the right side and the one for the front side on the left side starting. Of course, the linking off of the back could also start on the left and that for the front on the right.

In row R0 the hose knit is shown after its last normal knitting course. Every other needle of the front and back needle bed V, H is covered with a stitch. Each stitched needle is an empty needle located opposite. In row R1, all stitches of the fabric backing are transferred from the back needle bed H to the opposite needles of the front needle bed V. The result then is the stitch pattern shown in row R01 . The even needles carry stitches of the knit front and the odd needles stitches of the fabric back.

Row R2 shows the beginning of the binding-off process for the back fabric side. The rear needle bed H is offset to the right until the end position of the offset path is reached. Subsequently, the outermost loop of the fabric back is transferred from the needle 95 of the front needle bed V to the opposite needle in the back needle bed H. This needle remains over the entire offset range of the rear needle bed H (eg four inch needle space) the knitting needle KN for the back of the fabric. In row R3, the rear needle bed H is offset by two needles to the left. As a result, the warp needle KN of the rear needle bed H faces the needle 93 of the front needle bed V, which currently carries the outermost loop of the fabric back. This stitch is applied to the needle KN of the back needle bed H umgehängt. In row R4, the two stitches hanging on the needle KN are then knitted. This newly formed stitch then lies as a chain stitch horizontally on the vertically extending wale. Due to the size of this Kettel mesh, the elasticity of the knitted finish can be influenced.

In row R5 , the rear needle bed H is offset by two needles to the left, so that the warp needle KN again faces the needle of the front needle bed V, which currently carries the outermost loop of the fabric back. This stitch is then transferred to the needle KN of the rear needle bed H before a row of stitches is again formed in row R6 with the needle KN, which connects the two stitches in the needle hook, ie the preceding loop stitch and the edge stitch, and thus horizontally creates a connection from one wale to the next.

After this series the binding cycle is completed. There were two Kettelmaschen formed. The knitting lock and the thread guide can be moved in the same direction as in row R3. The bind-off cycle is repeated until the back of the fabric has been folded off or the rear needle bed H has reached the left end position of its offset path.

In row R7 is shown what measures are taken when the left end position of the needle bed offset path is reached. The loop of the chaining needle KN is then transferred to its opposite free needle of the front needle bed V. Subsequently, the rear needle bed H is offset to the right until the end position of the offset path is reached. The Kettel mesh is then back to the Passing opposite needle of the rear needle bed H. This needle is again denoted by KN. It remains the Kettelnadel until the entire fabric back is begged off or the rear needle bed H has reached its extreme left offset position.

In row R8 , the rear needle bed H is displaced to the right until the end position of the displacement path is reached. The Kettel mesh is transferred to its opposite needle of the rear needle bed H. This needle is again as long as the Kettelnadel KN until the back of the fabric has ketted off or the rear needle bed H has made movements to the left over the entire offset path.

In row R9 then another Abkettelzyklus begins, which extends to row R12 . The needle KN of the rear needle bed H is located at positions other than the rows R3 to R6 with respect to the front needle bed V. However, the sequences of rows R3 and R9, R4 and R10, R5 and R11, R6 and R12 are identical. Remains a single needle, the stitch is still abzuketteln, leaving the Abettelzyklus, as shown in rows R13 and R14 .

In row R13, the rear needle bed H is offset by two needles to the left. The Kettelnadel KN is now opposite the last needle of the fabric back. This stitch is transferred to the needle KN. Then a stitch is formed in row R14 with the Kettelnadel KN, which connects the previous Kettel mesh with the last stitch of the fabric back. Thus, the back of the fabric is completely off-bound.

It then begins the Abkeleln the knitted front. For this purpose, the rear needle bed H is offset by a needle to the right in row R15 . The Kettel mesh is transferred to the needle of the front needle bed V, which carries the outermost left loop of the fabric front. In row R16 , the rear needle bed H is displaced to the right until the end position of its offset travel is reached. With the exception of the outermost loop on the left side, the stitches of the knitted front side are transferred to the opposite needles of the back needle bed H. They hang there in the even-numbered needles. In the odd-numbered needles of the rear needle bed H, which are empty, a separating thread is inserted, which fixes the stitch, which is transferred to the Kettelnadel, in the position of their wale, as shown in row R17 . In row R18 , the thread guide is moved so far to the right that in the needle of the front needle bed V, the thread can be inserted from the right side. Subsequently, a stitch is formed in row R19 with the Kettelnadel KN of the front needle bed V, which connects the last Kettel mesh of the fabric back with the outermost loop of the fabric front.

In row R20 then begins the actual Abkettelzyklus. The back needle bed is moved two pins to the left. As a result, the needle KN faces the needle 4 of the rear needle bed H, which currently carries the outermost loop of the fabric front. This stitch is transferred to the needle KN of the front needle bed V. In row R21 the Kettel mesh is formed with the needle KN, which connects the two located in the needle hook stitches, so the previous Kettel mesh and the edge mesh, and thus creates a horizontal connection that extends from one wale to the next.

In row R22 , the rear needle bed H is then again offset by two needles to the left. The Kettelnadel KN of the front needle bed V is again opposite to that needle of the rear needle bed H, which currently carries the outermost left loop of the fabric front. This stitch is hung on the needle KN. Subsequently, in line R23 with the needle KN, as described in row R21, a Kettel mesh is formed. After this series the binding cycle is completed. There were two Kettelmaschen formed. The knitting lock and the thread guide can be moved in the same direction as in row R20. The bind-off cycle shown is repeated until either the front of the fabric has been folded off or the rear needle bed H has reached its left end position of the offset path.

Rows R24 and R25 explain the procedure when the left end position of the needle bed offset path is reached. Then, the loop of the needle KN is transferred to its opposite needle of the back needle bed H, as shown in row R24. Then in row R25, the rear needle bed H is moved to the right until it has reached its right end position. Then the Kettel mesh is again transferred to the opposite needle of the front needle bed V, which is the Kettelnadel KN.

In row R26 another decommissioning cycle begins which extends to row R29 . The chaining needle KN is located at different positions to the rear needle bed H than in the rows R20 to R23, but otherwise the operations shown in the rows R26 to R29 are identical to those in the rows R20 to R23. The bind-off cycle is repeated until the front of the fabric is off-hook or the back needle bed has reached its left end position of the offset path. Remains a single needle, the stitch is still abzuketteln, so the quench cycle is left, as shown in rows R30 and R31 .

In row R30, the rear needle bed H is offset by two needles to the left so that the warp needle KN faces the last needle of the fabric front. This stitch is transferred to the needle KN of the front needle bed V. In row R31, a stitch is then formed with the Kettelnadel CN, which connects the previous Kettel mesh with the last stitch of the knitted front. Thus, the knit front is completely off-bound. However, this last stitch has a connection to the separating thread. Therefore, it is reloaded in row R32 on its opposite needle of the rear needle bed H. Subsequently, in row R33, the rear needle bed H is shifted to the right until the end position of the offset path is reached. With the needles that have formed the fabric back, now a series of stitches is formed with the separating thread. Subsequently, the rear needle bed H is brought into its basic position in row R34 . The separation thread meshes are transferred to their opposite needles of the front needle bed V. Thus, both the front and the back are completely abgekapelt.

The binding method shown in FIGS. 2.1 to 2.8 is characterized in that only two needle movements are necessary for the fabric back side and the fabric front side in each case in order to hook off a loop of the knitted fabric. As a result, the Kettelvorgang shortens compared to the prior art significantly. Since the actual Kettel mesh is not umgehängt, it undergoes no overstretching by the hanging, but lies elastically on the wale. In addition, the Kettel mesh can be formed in a defined size, so that the Abkuchelnaht can be visually optimally designed.

Since not the Kettel mesh but a mesh of the fabric is umgehängt, acts on this mesh a defined trigger force, so that the transfer process is relatively safe.

The Abkettelvorgang is as long as a continuous process, as the needle bed carrying the sprocket needle can be added. Once the end of the offset path is reached, the Kettel mesh is relocated to its opposite needle and brought the needle bed in the outermost position against the previous direction of misalignment. Thereafter, the Kettel mesh is transferred to its opposite needle of the displaceable needle bed. It can then continue the Abkettelvorgang continuously.

The method was shown using the example of a tubular knitted fabric. It can be with this method but all knitted fabrics off, where all stitches of the knitted fabric can be placed on a needle bed.

Claims (5)

1. Method for binding off a piece of knitted fabric on a flat knitting machine having at least two opposing needle beds (V, H), characterised by the steps:

   a) transferring at least one start loop stitch onto the second needle bed (H, V) otherwise not carrying any stitches of the knitted fabric;

   b) racking the second needle bed (H) until the at least one loop stitch is opposite the at least one next stitch to be bound off on the first needle bed (V);

   c) transferring the at least one next stitch to be bound off onto the needle (KN) or the needles with the at least one loop stitch of the second needle bed (H);

   d) casting off the two stitches hanging in the needle hook or hooks and thereby forming at least one new loop stitch;

   e) repeating steps b) to d).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that after reaching the maximum racking path of the needle bed (H) which carries the needle(s) (KN) with the at least one loop stitch, the at least one loop stitch is transferred onto a free needle of the opposing needle bed (V) and the needle bed (H) carrying the needle(s) (KN) is brought into its outermost racking position opposite the previous racking direction, before the binding off procedure is continued.
3. Method according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that where there are multilayer knitted fabrics, all the stitches are transferred onto the same needle bed (V, H) before the binding off procedure.
4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that where there are multilayer knitted fabrics, one knit layer, for example the front of the knitted fabric is initially bound off, followed by the second knit layer, for example the reverse of the knitted fabric.
5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that where there are tubular knitted fabrics, the stitches of the second needle bed (H) are transferred onto empty needles of the first needle bed (V) before the binding off procedure.

Images