EP2505705B1

EP2505705B1 - Knit design device and design method

Info

Publication number: EP2505705B1
Application number: EP10833110.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kenji Nishida; Kazuhiro Ariura
Original assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Current assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-26
Filing date: 2010-11-17
Publication date: 2016-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-17
Also published as: KR20120074322A; KR101356987B1; JP5632389B2; CN102666955B; EP2505705A4; CN102666955A; WO2011065263A1; EP2505705A1; JPWO2011065263A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to knit design, and particularly relates to conversion from pattern data (pattern paper data) to knitting data and the like.

Background Art

Patent Literature 1 discloses generating outer shape data (data representing the knit structure) of a knitted fabric based on pattern data of the knitted fabric, and inputting design data such as intarsia or jacquard into the generated data. Pattern data refers to length-based vector data for each part of a knitted fabric. In order to convert pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches, data is necessary including not only the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch but also the shrinking or stretching ratio in finishing process and the degree of the knitted fabric deformed by its own weight and the like. Regarding this aspect, Patent Literature 2 discloses measuring the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch after finishing, and converting pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches based on the measured size. However, even using the technique in Patent Literature 2, considerable skill is required to convert pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches. A knitted fabric is, for example, easily deformed by its own weight and the like. For example, a neck hole is easily widened by the weight of sleeves, and a thin knitted fabric such as a sleeve is easily stretched.
In the next step performed after the pattern data has been converted to data expressed in the number of stitches, a shaping line has to be formed in order to perform increase or decrease. Here, fashion marks formed by increase or decrease have to be regularly and attractively arranged, and parts have to be provided with trim outlines. Furthermore, a shaping line has to be set such that knitting is easily performed in consideration of efficiency in knitting by a flat knitting machine, strain on a yarn, and the like. Accordingly, considerable skill is required to form a shaping line. Thus, generally, the work is divided such that a designer generates pattern data and a knitting technician converts the data to data expressed in the number of stitches.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP H7-70891 corresponding to EP 0 640 707 A .
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent No. 2676182 corresponding to EP 0 652 317 A .

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

It is a basic object of the present invention to enable data expressed in stitches to be easily generated from pattern data.
It is another object of the present invention to assist selection of an optimal shaping line.
It is still another object of the present invention to enable feedback from the generated data expressed in stitches to be provided to the subsequent designing operations.

Means for Solving the Problem

The present invention is directed to a knit design device that converts pattern data of a knitted fabric to data expressed in stitches, characterized by including:

first pattern data generating means for receiving input of a finished size of each part of a knitted fabric, and generating first pattern data of the part as vector data representing the input size;
second pattern data generating means for converting the first pattern data of each part to second pattern data as vector data representing a size in proportion to a number of stitches; and
raster data generating means for generating raster data representing each part in stitches by converting the second pattern data of the part to data expressed in a number of stitches and forming a shaping line at a side end of the part.

Also, the present invention is directed to a method for converting pattern data of a knitted fabric to data expressed in stitches using a knit design device, characterized by:

causing the knit design device to perform the steps of
- receiving input of a finished size of each part of a knitted fabric, and generating first pattern data of the part as vector data representing the input size,
- converting the first pattern data of each part to second pattern data as vector data representing a size in proportion to a number of stitches, and
- generating raster data representing each part in stitches by converting the second pattern data of the part to data expressed in a number of stitches and forming a shaping line at a side end of the part.

Also, the present invention refers to a program for converting pattern data of a knitted fabric to data expressed in stitches using a knit design device, which program causes the knit design device to execute the steps of

receiving input of a finished size of each part of a knitted fabric, and generating first pattern data of the part as vector data representing the input size,
converting the first pattern data of each part to second pattern data as vector data representing a size in proportion to a number of stitches, and
generating raster data representing each part in stitches by converting the second pattern data of the part to data expressed in a number of stitches and forming a shaping line at a side end of the part.

In the present invention, first, first pattern data is generated as vector data. This data represents a finished size (instructed size) of a part. Regarding this data, there is no need to consider the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch, the shrinking or stretching in finishing process after knitting, and the like. In this manner, the first pattern data is data representing the shape of necessary parts, and there is no need to consider issues unique to a knitted fabric such as shrinking or stretching, deformation, and the like of a knitted fabric. Next, the first pattern data is converted to second pattern data as vector data representing a size in proportion to the number of stitches. In this manner, the problem in which it is impossible to obtain a size as instructed is solved through the process that converts the first pattern data to the second pattern data. Then, raster data representing the part in stitches (data expressed in stitches) is generated by converting the second pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches of the part and forming a shaping line at a side end of the part. Then, the raster data is converted to knitting data by the knit design device or another design system. As a result, a configuration is obtained in which, if a designer designs first pattern data, the first pattern data is easily converted to raster data, and moreover, a regular shaping line that makes knitting easy is formed.
It is preferable that the raster data is converted to knitting data of a knitted fabric by converting means.
It is preferable that the knit design device further includes editing means for modifying the shaping line by allowing the raster data to be edited in a state where the raster data and the second pattern data are displayed in a superimposed manner on a monitor. Accordingly, a configuration is obtained in which, when there are a large number of shaping lines corresponding to the second pattern data, an optimal shaping line is easily selected.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the knit design device further includes inverse converting means for inversely converting the raster data to the second pattern data. Accordingly, a configuration is obtained in which second pattern data of a design that has gained popularity in the market is obtained, and this information is used as a reference in the subsequent designing operations and in the determination as to which shaping line is to be formed from the second pattern data.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a knit design device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating conversion from fabric pattern data to knitting data according to the embodiment.
FIG 3 shows a flowchart illustrating conversion from knitting data to knit pattern data according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows a diagram of fabric pattern data.
FIG. 5 shows a diagram of knit pattern data obtained by converting the data in FIG 4.
FIG 6 shows a diagram of knit pattern data.
FIG 7 shows a diagram of knit pattern data and shaping line candidates displayed in a superimposed manner.
FIG. 8 shows diagrams of knit pattern data and a shaping line displayed in a superimposed manner.
FIG. 9 shows views of design results according to the embodiment and a conventional example.
FIG. 10 shows a diagram of original knit pattern data and pattern data that is obtained by converting knitting data or raster data, which are displayed in a superimposed manner.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, an optimal embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described. The scope of the invention should be construed in view of the description of the claims together with the possibility of change according to well known techniques.

Embodiment

FIGS. 1 to 10 show a knit design device 2, a knit design method, and a knit design program according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, 4 denotes a bus, 6 denotes a CPU, and 8 and 10 each denote a memory. The memory 8 stores programs such as a knit design program, and the memory 10 stores data such as design data and knitting data. 12 and 16 each denote an interface. The interface 12 is an interface with an external storage, and performs data exchange with an external storage 14 such as a CD-ROM or a USB memory. The network interface 16 is connected to the Internet and the like. Knit design programs stored in the external storage 14 are stored in the memory 8.
Furthermore, 18 denotes a color monitor, 20 denotes a mouse, 22 denotes a keyboard, and 24 denotes a color printer. The knit design device 2 is a computer that uses constituent elements from the bus 4 to the color printer 24 to realize constituent elements from a fabric pattern data generator 26 to an inverse converter 38. The fabric pattern data generator 26 generates, as vector data, pattern data of a part of a knitted fabric such as a front body, a rear body, and a sleeve. For example, if a designer inputs an instructed size, an attribute, a type, and the like of a part from the keyboard 22 or the like, fabric pattern data (first pattern data) is generated. Examples of the attribute of a part include a type of the part such as a front body, a rear body, and a sleeve, and a portion in the part such as an arm hole, a neck hole, and a rib hem. The fabric pattern data represents each part, for example, in actual size. For example, at the same time as generation of the fabric pattern data, data indicating the material of a yarn used (e.g., the type and the thickness), the gauge of a flat knitting machine, the type of finishing, and the like are input. These sets of data may be input when converting the fabric pattern data to knit pattern data (second pattern data).
A knit pattern data generator 28 converts the fabric pattern data to knit pattern data (second pattern data), which is vector data representing the number of stitches. This conversion uses a macro storage unit 30. The macro storage unit 30 stores, for example, the shrinking or stretching ratio (shrinking ratio) in finishing process after knitting, the deformation ratio of each portion, and the like. The shrinking ratio may be stored for each combination of material and finishing type, or may be stored simply for each finishing type. For example, regarding the deformation of each portion, a neck hole is easily widened because it is pulled by sleeves, and, regarding the deformation for each part type, a thin knitted fabric such as a sleeve is easily stretched. The correction ratios for these deformations are stored in the macro storage unit 30. Note that which portion in a part corresponds to a neck hole and the like is indicated as an attribute of the part.
It is preferable that, for one standard instructed size, a large number of sets of data are generated for each knitted fabric size and for each body shape. When changing the size of a knitted fabric, it is not sufficient to merely perform homologous deformation on standard pattern data, and, thus, data indicating how to change the height and the width of the part is stored in the macro storage unit 30. Furthermore, data indicating which size of which part is to be changed at which ratio according to the body shape is also stored in the macro storage unit 30. Then, the knit pattern data generator 28 converts the fabric pattern data to knit pattern data using the attribute and the size (instructed size) in the fabric pattern data, according to a macro stored in the macro storage unit 30. Here, instead of the macro storage unit 30, a database may be used.
A raster data generator 32 converts the knit pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches in the height direction and the width direction, and forms a shaping line at a side end of the part. In order to perform conversion to data expressed in the number of stitches, for example, the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch or the numbers of stitches per unit height and per unit width are input from the keyboard 22 or the like at any stage. If the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch is applied to the knit pattern data, the number of stitches of the part, that is, the number of stitches in each course in which stitches are arranged in the width direction and the number of courses in the height direction are determined. If the number of stitches is determined, whether increase or decrease is to be performed by how many stitches at which course is determined. A shaping line is a line on which increase or decrease is to be performed. Here, there are cases in which increase or decrease is performed inside the part, and in which increase or decrease is performed at an end of the part. If increase or decrease is performed inside the part, a fashion mark appears at that location. Whether increase or decrease is to be performed inside the part or at an end of the part is input from the keyboard 22 or the like at any stage. The raster data generator 32 forms a shaping line according to the shape (typically, a straight line) of the side end in the knit pattern data. A shaping line is obtained by linking short line segments, and is in the shape of a curved line. A shaping line that has regularly arranged fashion marks, that makes knitting by a flat knitting machine easy, and that has an attractive outline of the part is formed by the raster data generator 32 according to an empirical rule. Data representing the shape of a part in stitches is raster data.
Typically, there are a plurality of shaping line candidates. Even in the case where there is only one candidate, that candidate provided in the initial stage may not be an optimal one. A synthesizer 34 displays the raster data and the knit pattern data in a superimposed manner on the color monitor 18. In this state, an editor 35 enables the shaping line to be edited by a designer using the mouse 20, the keyboard 22, or the like.
Here, 36 denotes a knitting data generator that converts the raster data to knitting data. Knitting data refers not only to data (knitting data in a narrow sense) that may directly drive a flat knitting machine but also to data (knitting data in a broad sense) that represents a type of stitch and may be edited and converted to the knitting data in the narrow sense by the knit design device 2 or the like. The inverse converter 38 inversely converts the knitting data or raster data, from which the knitting data may be generated, to knit pattern data. Then, for example, in response to input from the designer, a combination of the knit pattern data and the raster data is added to the macro storage unit 30 or the like.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate conversion from fabric pattern data to raster data. In Step 1 of FIG 2, fabric pattern data is input. This data is vector data that represents the size of a part and that is generated at the fabric pattern data generator 26 by the designer inputting the instructed size of each portion in the part, the attribute of the part, the type of the part, the size of the part, the material, the gauge of a knitting machine, and the like. If this data is converted in consideration of the shrinking ratio in each portion or in each portion and knit structure, the deformation of a neck hole or sleeves after knitting, and the like, knit pattern data is obtained (Step 2). The knit pattern data is vector data that represents the size in proportion to the number of stitches. Here, when developing the design data into a plurality of sets of data for each size and for each body shape, the data is developed into a plurality of sets of knit pattern data through correction to the height and the width according to the size and the body shape. This process is performed by the knit pattern data generator 28 using a macro stored in the macro storage unit 30.
The number of stitches per knitting height and the number of stitches per knitting width, or the horizontal and vertical size of a stitch is input. Furthermore, the raster data generator 32 converts the knit pattern data to data expressed in the number of stitches in the height direction and the width direction, and approximates the outer shape represented by the knit pattern data to a shaping line. In this manner, the raster data generator 32 generates raster data (Step 3). This data is data expressed in stitches, and, in Step 4, the raster data and the knit pattern data are displayed in a superimposed manner, so that the designer may modify the raster data.
In the case where additional design data such as intarsia or jacquard is present, these sets of data are added (Step 5). Then, the raster data is converted to knitting data (Step 6). According to the thus obtained knitting data, parts are knitted in a separate or joined manner, and finishing is performed thereon, and, thus, a knitted fabric is obtained.
It is convenient if feedback from a design that has gained popularity in the market may be provided to the subsequent designing operations. Thus, in Step 7 of FIG. 3, the knitting data of a popular design is converted to raster data. If the raster data has been stored, Step 7 may be omitted. In Step 8, the raster data is converted to knit pattern data. Then, the obtained data and the original knit pattern data are displayed, for example, in a superimposed manner on a color monitor or the like (Step 9). In this manner, which data is preferable as the knit pattern data is seen, and this information may be used as a reference in the subsequent designing operations. Furthermore, if the macro storage unit 30 or the raster data generator 32 stores the data as preferable exemplary knit pattern data (Step 10), this information may be used as a reference in the conversion to knit pattern data or raster data.
FIGS. 4 to 9 show the procedure of a designing operation. FIG. 4 shows fabric pattern data 40, wherein 41 denotes a front body and 42 denotes a rear body, which respectively each show half the body, and 43 denotes a sleeve. This data is converted to knit pattern data 50 in FIG 5, wherein 51 denotes a front body, 52 denotes a rear body, and 53 denotes a sleeve. In the knit pattern data 50 in FIG 5, the shape of the bodies, the shape of the arm holes, the shape of the neck hole, and the like have been changed.
FIG. 6 shows part of knit pattern data. knit pattern data 60 is configured by sequentially connecting vectors. Note that a grid in the drawing represents a size corresponding to a stitch.
FIG. 7 shows formation of shaping lines 71 and 72 from knit pattern data 70, wherein two shaping lines 71 and 72 are displayed as candidates. The designer selects a preferable shaping line from among those displayed, and edits the data.
In FIG 8, a left displayed image 80 shows an image from which a grid representing stitches has been omitted, and a right displayed image 82 shows an image to which a grid representing stitches has been added. 84 denotes knit pattern data that is data expressing a substantially straight line, and 86 denotes a shaping line candidate corresponding thereto. The pattern data 84 is typically data expressing a substantially straight line, but a flat knitting machine cannot perform increase or decrease exactly as expressed by this data. Pattern data may have any inclined line, but there is limitation on an inclined line that may be used in a shaping line. Accordingly, the shaping line 86 is slightly different from the pattern data 84. Thus, the shaping line 86 is formed according to an empirical rule stored in the raster data generator 32 such that increase or decrease is performed regularly using an easy method, the knitting is efficient, and an attractive outline is provided. The designer may edit the shaping line 86 on the displayed images 80 and 82 in FIG 8.
FIG. 9 shows an exemplary design, wherein a left view shows an example in which a knitting technician manually forms a shaping line from knit pattern data, and a right view shows an example in which the raster data generator 32 automatically forms a shaping line from the same knit pattern data. According to this embodiment, a shaping line that is smoother and is less rough is obtained.
It is convenient if a knitted fabric that has gained popularity in the market may be used as a reference in the subsequent designing operations. Knitting data of the knitted fabric that has gained popularity in the market is inversely converted to raster data, and the raster data is inversely converted to knit pattern data. In FIG 10, 100 denotes original knit pattern data, and 102 denotes knit pattern data obtained by inversely converting raster data. It is seen that designing not as shown in the pattern data 100 but as shown in the pattern data 102 from the beginning is preferable. Furthermore, it is seen that, during conversion from the knit pattern data to the raster data, performing conversion once as shown in the pattern data 102 and then to the raster data is preferable. Such a rule is stored in the macro storage unit 30 or the raster data generator 32.
This embodiment provides the following effects.

(1) It is possible to design a part as fabric pattern data without considering attributes unique to a knitted fabric such as shrinking or stretching, deformation of each portion, and the like. When the design of the part is obtained, raster data may be generated via knit pattern data.
(2) With conversion to raster data, it is possible to edit a shaping line in a state where the raster data and the knit pattern data are displayed in a superimposed manner.
(3) It is possible to accumulate information indicating which data is preferable as knit pattern data of a design that has gained popularity in the market.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

2: Knit design device
4: Bus
6: CPU
8, 10: Memory
12, 16: Interface
14: External storage
18: Color monitor
20: Mouse
22: Keyboard
24: Color printer
26: fabric pattern data generator
28: knit pattern data generator
30: Macro storage unit
32: Raster data generator
34: Synthesizer
35: Editor
36: Knitting data generator
38: Inverse converter
40: fabric pattern data
41: Front body
42: Rear body
43: Sleeve
50, 60: knit pattern data
51: Front body
52: Rear body
53: Sleeve
70: knit pattern data
71, 72: Shaping line
80, 82: Displayed image
84, 100, 102: knit pattern data
86: Shaping line

Claims

A knit design device (2) converting pattern data of a knitted fabric to data expressed in stitches, characterized by:
first pattern data generating means (26) for receiving input of a finished size of each part of a knitted fabric, and generating first pattern data (40) of the part as vector data representing the input size;

second pattern data generating means (28) for converting the first pattern data (40) of each part to second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84) as vector data representing a size in proportion to a number of stitches; and

raster data generating means (32) for generating raster data representing each part in stitches by converting the second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84) of the part to data expressed in a number of stitches and forming a shaping line (71, 72, 86) at a side end of the part.
The knit design device (2) according to claim 1, further characterized by converting means (36) for converting the raster data to knitting data of a knitted fabric.
The knit design device (2) according to claim 1, further characterized by editing means (35) for modifying the shaping line (71, 72, 86) by allowing the raster data to be edited in a state where the raster data and the second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84) are displayed in a superimposed manner on a monitor (18).
The knit design device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized by inverse converting means (38) for inversely converting the raster data to the second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84).
A method for converting pattern data of a knitted fabric to data expressed in stitches using a knit design device (2), characterized by:
causing the knit design device (2) to perform the steps of
receiving input of a finished size of each part of a knitted fabric, and generating first pattern data (40) of the part as vector data representing the input size,

converting the first pattern data (40) of each part to second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84) as vector data representing a size in proportion to a number of stitches, and

generating raster data representing each part in stitches by converting the second pattern data (50, 60, 70, 84) of the part to data expressed in a number of stitches and forming a shaping line (71, 72, 86) at a side end of the part.