EP3081680B1

EP3081680B1 - Method for knitting single knit-jacquard pattern and composite knitted fabric obtained using the same

Info

Publication number: EP3081680B1
Application number: EP16161822.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yasushi Onishi
Original assignee: Precision Fukuhara Works Ltd
Current assignee: Precision Fukuhara Works Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-17
Filing date: 2016-03-23
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-23
Also published as: ES2898176T3; PT3081680T; JP2016204769A; TWI774641B; TW201641764A; CN106048869B; EP3081680A1; CN106048869A

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for knitting a mesh-jacquard structure, a pile-jacquard structure, and/or an inlay-looking-jacquard structure using a single-knit circular knitting machine including an apparatus for electrically controlling cylinder needles and sinkers, and a single-knit knitted fabric using the same, which is a composite knitted fabric having the mesh-jacquard structure, the pile-jacquard structure, and the mesh-looking-jacquard structure.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a method for knitting a mesh-jacquard structure using an ordinary single-knit circular knitting machine. At a first feeder F1, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting, and receives a ground yarn 3 fed thereto, after which the cylinder needle is lowered to a position immediately before a position where it knocks over the old loop. At a second feeder F2, the cylinder needle is selected either for knitting 1k or for welting 1w. The cylinder needle selected for knitting 1k receives a mesh yarn 4 fed thereto, after which the cylinder needle is lowered to a position where it knocks over the old loop, thereby forming a double loop consisting of the ground yarn 3 and the mesh yarn 4. The cylinder needle selected for welting 1w does not receive the mesh yarn 4, and the cylinder needle is lowered to a position where it knocks over the old loop, thereby forming a loop consisting only of the ground yarn 3. Accordingly, a mesh-jacquard knitted fabric in the structural diagram shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.
FIG. 2 shows a method for knitting a pile-jacquard structure. At the first feeder F1, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting 5k, and receives a ground yarn 7 fed thereto, and a sinker is selected either for a pile position 6p or for a non-pile position 6n. The cylinder needle corresponding to the sinker selected for the pile position 6p receives a pile yarn 8 that is fed in a state of being caught on the sinker nose, and the cylinder needle is lowered to a position where it knocks over the old loop. As shown in FIG. 4, a pile loop 8l and a ground loop 7l are formed. Meanwhile, the cylinder needle corresponding to the sinker selected for the non-pile position 6n receives the pile yarn that is fed in a state of being caught on the sinker top, and the cylinder needle is lowered to a position where it knocks over the old loop, thereby forming a double loop consisting of the ground yarn 7 and the pile yarn 8.
Single-knit knitted fabrics of the mesh-jacquard structure or the pile-jacquard structure knitted using single-knit circular knitting machines are obtained using a ground yarn and a mesh yarn, or a ground yarn and a pile yarn, in individual mesh knitting machines or pile machines.

Conventional Technique 1

"Method for knitting mesh knitted fabric with lining fabric and connected knitted fabric obtained by the method" according to JP 2001-355157A provides a method for knitting a mesh knitted fabric with a lining fabric, and a connected knitted fabric using the same. This document describes a method for knitting a new mesh knitted fabric with a lining fabric, in knitting a single mesh knitted fabric produced by a double knit knitting machine, by also knitting a dial side and connecting a dial knitted fabric to a single mesh knitted fabric using tucking.

Conventional Technique 2

Furthermore, "knitting tool controller in circular knitting machine" according to JP H09-021042A describes a method for knitting a concave-convex jacquard pile knitted by selecting sinkers either for piling or for non-piling.
However, to date, there has not been a knitted fabric on the market that has both of two types of structures consisting of the mesh-jacquard structure and the pile-jacquard structure described above.
Furthermore, there has not been a composite knitted fabric having both of a mesh loop and a pile loop for one ground loop in one course. The reason for this is that a knitted fabric using a mesh-jacquard structure focuses on air permeability and the like, whereas a knitted fabric using a pile-jacquard structure focuses on heat-retention and cushioning properties, that is, these fabrics are used for opposite purposes, and thus selecting either one of them is sufficient as a product, and the idea of combining them was not conceived as combining them was not necessary.
Thus, there has not been a jacquard knitted fabric having features of both of a concave-convex pile-jacquard knitted fabric of a jacquard pattern using a ground yarn and a pile yarn and an openwork mesh-jacquard knitted fabric of a jacquard pattern using a ground yarn and a mesh yarn as in the above-described knitted fabrics, and thus having excellent functions such as cushioning properties, heat-retention, air permeability, and the like, and excellent designs.
Furthermore, although mesh-jacquard knitting methods and pile-jacquard knitting methods are generally known, to date it has not been considered to combine these methods and thereby forming a significantly wide variety of loops in one course.
Further examples of knitting methods are known from documents EP 1 513 373 A1 , CN 1 523 150 A , US 4 986 090 A and EP 0 335 618 A1 .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a knitting method according to claim 1.
With this method, it is possible to obtain a single-knit knitted fabric including a course having both of a mesh-jacquard structure and a pile-jacquard structure.
It is also possible that four steps (i) to (iv) obtained by adding a step (iv) below to the three steps described above are selectively performed (Claim 2);
(iv) selecting the cylinder needle for welting and selecting the sinker for piling, thereby forming an inlay-looking loop.
With this method, it is possible to obtain a single-knit knitted fabric including a course having all of a mesh-jacquard structure, a pile-jacquard structure, and an inlay-looking-jacquard structure (Claim 4).
Furthermore, it is also possible that the method for knitting a single-knit knitted fabric further uses a third feeder, and further includes: at the third feeder, feeding a third yarn and selectively performing two steps (v) and (vi) below in another course (Claim 3),

(v) selecting a sinker for mesh, thereby forming a loop having a size that is larger than an ordinary size, and
(vi) selecting a sinker for non-mesh, thereby forming a loop having the

With this method, it is possible to obtain a single-knit knitted fabric including a course having all of a mesh-jacquard structure, a pile-jacquard structure, and an inlay-looking-jacquard structure in the course, and further including a sinker mesh-jacquard structure with a loop having a size that is larger than the ordinary size (Claim 5).
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a single-knit jacquard knitted fabric having a course in which any one of knitting structures A or B below is formed (Claim 6):

A; (a) a pile loop, (b) a knit loop, (c) an inlay-looking loop, and (d) a mesh-looking welt,
B; (a) a pile loop, (c) an inlay-looking loop, and (d) a mesh-looking welt.

It is also possible that a loop having a size that is larger than an ordinary size and a loop having the ordinary size are knitted in the same course so as to be positioned adjacent to the course knitted in claim 6 (Claim 7).
As described above, with the knitting method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a jacquard knitted fabric of knitting structures having functions such as cushioning properties, heat-retention, air permeability, and the like, in desired portions of clothing, the knitted fabric having, on a surface thereof, features of concave-convex pile-jacquard knitting and openwork mesh-jacquard knitting, and having excellent functions and excellent designs.
With the knitting method of the present invention, a mesh/pile yarn can be used to knit:

a) a pile loop (indicated by 12p in FIG. 6), if needle selection for knitting (9k) and selection for piling (10p) are performed at a second feeder;
b) a double knit loop with a ground yarn (indicated by 12k in FIG. 6), if needle selection for knitting (9k) and selection for non-piling (10n) are performed at a second feeder;
c) an inlay-looking loop (indicated by 12i in FIG. 6), if needle selection for welting (9w) and selection for piling (10p) are performed at a second feeder; and
d) a mesh-looking welt (indicated by 12w in FIG. 6), if needle selection for welting (9w) and selection for non-piling (10n) are performed at a second feeder.

Although conventional mesh-jacquard knitting can realize only d+b and conventional pile-jacquard knitting can realize only a+b, the knitting method of the present invention combining the mesh-jacquard knitting and the pile-jacquard knitting can realize a+b+c+d.
When forming an apparel product using these knitted fabrics, for example, in the case of a shirt, if knitting is performed so as to partially arrange mesh knitting having good air permeability at portions corresponding to the armpits where heavy sweating may occur and to arrange pile knitting patterns having good cushioning properties at portions corresponding to the shoulders, it is not necessary to separately knit and sew mesh knit portions, or to separately produce shoulder pads. Furthermore, a person wearing this apparel product is free from the discomfort of coarse seams.
According to conventional techniques, it is also conceivable to knit either a mesh-jacquard structure or a pile-jacquard structure in each course and form a knitted fabric having both structures. However, since different structures in respective courses are arranged in a mixed manner, the features of the structures hardly appear and the structures look sparse in the knitted fabric. According to the present invention, since both a mesh-jacquard structure and a pile-jacquard structure are arranged in the same course, the same structure of the mesh-jacquard structure or the pile-jacquard structure can be arranged in adjacent courses, and, thus, the structures look dense in the knitted fabric, and the features of the structures are prominent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a movement line diagram of cylinder needles and sinkers according to a conventional mesh knitting method.
FIG. 2 shows a movement line diagram of cylinder needles and sinkers according to a conventional pile knitting method.
FIG. 3 shows a structural diagram of conventional mesh-jacquard knitting.
FIG. 4 shows a structural diagram of conventional pile-jacquard knitting.
FIG. 5 shows a movement line diagram of cylinder needles and sinkers according to Example 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a structural diagram of pile-jacquard knitting and mesh-jacquard knitting according to Example 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a movement line diagram of cylinder needles and sinkers according to Example 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a structural diagram of pile-jacquard knitting, mesh-jacquard knitting, and sinker mesh knitting according to Example 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows a pile loop 12p and an inlay-looking loop 12i in a state of being caught on a sinker nose 22 of a sinker 20 selected for piling 10p.
FIG. 10 shows a knit loop 12k and a mesh-looking welt 12w in a state of being caught on a sinker top 21 of the sinker 20 selected for non-piling 10n.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to tables and drawings. Codes used in the tables are as described above.
The knitting methods and knitted fabrics in the following examples are realized by implementing the settings of the present invention, using a circular knitting machine including an apparatus for electrically controlling cylinder needles and sinkers.

Example 1

Hereinafter, the knitting method according to Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the movement line diagram of cylinder needles and sinkers in FIG. 5 and the knitting structural diagram in FIG. 6.
At the first feeder F1, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting, and receives a ground yarn 11 fed thereto, after which the cylinder needle is lowered by a cam to a position immediately before a position where it performs knock-over, and moves to the next second feeder F2. At this time, the sinker is pushed toward the center of the circular knitting machine, and the ground yarn is positioned on the sinker top and in the hook of the cylinder needle. Subsequently, before reaching the second feeder, the sinker is pulled down from the center of the circular knitting machine toward the outside, and the ground yarn is kept on the sinker top. Note that there is no limitation to the configuration in which, at the first feeder, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting, and the needle may be selected either for knitting or for tucking, which makes it possible to perform pique knitting and the like.
At the second feeder F2, the cylinder needle is selected either for knitting 9k or for welting 9w according to a desired pattern, and the sinker is selected either for piling 10p or for non-piling 10n according to the desired pattern. At the second feeder F2 in FIG. 5, the solid line of the cylinder movement lines indicates needle selection for knitting 9k, and the dotted line indicates needle selection for welting 9w. Furthermore, the dotted line of the sinker movement lines indicates selection for piling 10p, and the solid line indicates selection for non-piling 10n.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a relationship between a sinker and formed loops along the A-A cross-section in FIG. 5. FIG. 9 shows a pile loop 12p and an inlay-looking loop 12i in a state of being caught on a sinker nose 22 of a sinker 20 selected for piling 10p. FIG. 10 shows a knit loop 12k and a mesh-looking welt 12w in a state of being caught on a sinker top 21 of the sinker 20 selected for non-piling 10n.
A cylinder needle selected for knitting 9k is lifted to a tuck position and catches a mesh/pile yarn 12, after which a sinker selected for piling 10p moves without being pulled down, and the mesh/pile yarn 12 is caught on the sinker nose in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle. Meanwhile, since the ground yarn is kept on the sinker top, it is caught on the sinker top in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle. The cylinder needle is further lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, and pulls both the mesh/pile yarn 12 and the ground yarn 11. At that time, the mesh/pile yarn 12 is caught on the sinker nose, and a sinker loop SL constituted by the mesh/pile yarn 12 forms a pile loop 8l, and a needle loop NL constituted by both the mesh/pile yarn 12 and the ground yarn 11 pulls both yarns, thereby forming a double loop. Meanwhile, a sinker selected for non-piling 10n moves while being pulled down, the mesh/pile yarn 12 is kept caught on the sinker top in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle, and the cylinder needle is further lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, and pulls both the mesh/pile yarn 12 and the ground yarn 11, thereby forming a double loop consisting of both a sinker loop SL and a needle loop NL.
Furthermore, the mesh/pile yarn 12 is not fed to a cylinder needle selected for welting 9w that is kept at a lower position immediately before a position where it performs knock-over, a sinker selected for piling 10p moves without being pulled down, and the mesh/pile yarn 12 is caught on the sinker nose in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle. The cylinder needle is further lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, thereby forming an inlay-looking loop 12i of the mesh/pile yarn 12 as a sinker loop SL, and a loop 11l of the ground yarn 11 as a needle loop NL. Meanwhile, a sinker selected for non-piling 10n moves while being pulled down, and is kept in a welt state in which the mesh/pile yarn 12 is caught on the sinker top in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle, and the cylinder needle is further lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, thereby forming a loop 11l of the ground yarn 11 as a needle loop NL.
Subsequently, the processing at the first feeder F 1 and the second feeder F2 is repeated to form a knitted fabric with a one-repeat pattern in one course. FIG. 6 shows a knitting structure constituted by four types of loops consisting of the mesh-looking welt 12w, the knit loop 12k, the pile loop 12p, and the inlay-looking loop 12i formed by the knitting method of Example 1.
Accordingly, it is possible to form an openwork mesh-jacquard knitted fabric by combining the mesh-looking welt 12w and the knit loop 12k according to a desired jacquard pattern, a concave-convex pile-jacquard knitted fabric by combining the pile loop 12p and the knit loop 12k according to a desired jacquard pattern, and a thick inlay-looking-jacquard knitted fabric by combining the inlay-looking loop 12i and the knit loop 12k according to a desired jacquard pattern. Furthermore, it is possible to form a wide variety of jacquard knitted fabrics by combining these knitted fabrics.
It is preferable to use a yarn thinner than the mesh/pile yarn 12, such as a monofilament yarn, as the ground yarn 11, in order to make the openwork of a mesh-jacquard structure conspicuous.

Example 2

The present invention is not limited to the knitting method in FIG. 5, and it is also possible to perform knitting using an additional sinker mesh feeder at a third feeder as in FIG. 7. Knitting methods and loops formed using the same according to Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
The knitting methods at the first feeder F1 and the second feeder F2 are similar to those in Example 1, and, thus, a description thereof has been omitted.
At a third feeder F3 in FIG. 7, the solid line of the cylinder movement lines indicates needle selection for knitting. Furthermore, the solid line of the sinker movement lines indicates selection for non-mesh 14s, and the dotted line indicates selection for mesh 14b. At the third feeder F3, a sinker is selected either for mesh or for non-mesh according to a desired pattern.
That is to say, at the third feeder, every cylinder needle is selected for knitting, and catches a second ground yarn 17 in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle, after which a sinker selected for mesh 14b moves without being pulled down, and the second ground yarn 17 is caught on the sinker nose. The cylinder needle is lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, and the second ground yarn 17 is caught on the sinker nose, thereby forming a large loop 17b. Meanwhile, a sinker selected for non-mesh 14s moves while being pulled down, the second ground yarn 17 is kept caught on the sinker top in accordance with the lowering of the cylinder needle, the cylinder needle is further lowered by a stitch cam to the knock-over point, and the second ground yarn 17 is caught on the sinker top, thereby forming a loop 17s having the ordinary size.
Subsequently, the processing at the first feeder, the second feeder, and the third feeder is repeated to form a one-repeat pattern in two courses.
FIG. 8 shows the loop 17b having a size that is larger than the ordinary size and the loop 17s having the ordinary size, formed in the second course at the third feeder. In the portion selected for mesh, the size of the sinker loop SL increases and a loop 17b having a size that is larger than the ordinary size is formed, whereas, in the portion selected for non-mesh, the size of the sinker loop SL does not increase and a loop 17s having the ordinary size is formed. These loops are formed adjacent to the group of the loops formed in the first course at the first feeder and the second feeder shown in FIG. 6.
Accordingly, it is possible to form a mesh-jacquard knitted fabric from one yarn by combining large loops and loops having the ordinary size.

List of Reference Numerals

1 Cylinder needle movement line according to conventional technique (mesh-jacquard structure)
1k Needle selection for knitting
1w Needle selection for welting
2 Sinker movement line according to conventional technique (mesh-jacquard structure)
3 Ground yarn according to conventional technique (mesh-jacquard structure)
3l Ground loop
4 Mesh yarn according to conventional technique (mesh-jacquard structure)
4l Mesh loop
4w Mesh-looking welt
5 Cylinder needle movement line according to conventional technique (pile-jacquard structure)
6 Sinker movement line according to conventional technique (pile-jacquard structure)
6p Selection for piling
6n Selection for non-piling
7 Ground yarn according to conventional technique (pile-jacquard structure)
7l Ground loop
8 Pile yarn according to conventional technique (pile-jacquard structure)
8l Pile loop
9 Cylinder needle movement line according to Example 1 of present invention
9k Needle selection for knitting according to Example 1 of present invention
9w Needle selection for welting according to Example 1 of present invention
10 Sinker needle movement line according to Example 1 of present invention
10p Selection for piling according to Example 1 of present invention
10n Selection for non-piling according to Example 1 of present invention
11 Ground yarn according to Example 1 of present invention
11l Ground loop
12 Mesh/pile yarn according to Example 1 of present invention
12i Inlay-looking loop
12k Knit loop
12p Pile loop
12w Mesh-looking welt
13 Cylinder needle movement line according to Example 2 of present invention
13k Needle selection for knitting
13w Needle selection for welting
14 Sinker needle movement line according to Example 2 of present invention
14p Selection for piling
14n Selection for non-piling
14b Selection for mesh (large loop)
14s Selection for non-mesh (loop having ordinary size)
15 Ground yarn according to Example 2 of present invention
16 Mesh/pile yarn according to Example 2 of present invention
17 Second ground yarn according to Example 2 of present invention
17b Large loop
17s Loop having ordinary size
20 Sinker
21 Sinker top
22 Sinker nose
F1 First feeder
F2 Second feeder
F3 Third feeder
NL Needle loop
SL Sinker loop

Claims

A method for knitting a single-knit knitted fabric using at least two feeders including a first feeder (F1) and a second feeder (F2), in a circular knitting machine including an apparatus for electrically controlling cylinder needles and sinkers, comprising:
- at the first feeder (F1), feeding a first yarn (11, 15) and selecting all cylinder needles for knitting, thereafter lowering all cylinder needles to a position immediately before a position where they perform knock-over; and

- at the second feeder (F2), feeding a second yarn (12, 16), the method being characterized by performing at the second feeder three steps (i) to (iii) below in the same course,
(i) selecting a cylinder needle for knitting (9k) and selecting a corresponding sinker for piling (10p), thereby forming a pile loop (12p),

(ii) selecting a cylinder needle for knitting (9k) and selecting a corresponding sinker for non-piling (10n), thereby forming a knit loop (12k), and

(iii) selecting a cylinder needle for welting (9w) and selecting a corresponding sinker for non-piling (10n), thereby forming a mesh-looking welt (12w).
The method for knitting a single-knit knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein four steps (i) to (iv) obtained by adding a step (iv) below to the steps according to claim 1 are performed;
(iv) selecting a cylinder needle for welting (9w) and selecting a corresponding sinker for piling (10p), thereby forming an inlay-looking loop (12i).
The method for knitting a single-knit knitted fabric according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein after steps (i)-(iii) or (i)-(iv), respectively, the cylinder needles are lowered to a knock-over point so that a first course is formed; the method further comprising:
using a third feeder (F3), and feeding a third yarn at the third feeder (F3) and selectively performing two steps (v) and (vi) below so that loops are formed in a second course,
(v) selecting a sinker for mesh (14b), thereby forming a loop (17b) having a size that is larger than an ordinary size, and

(vi) selecting a sinker for non-mesh (14s), thereby forming a loop (17s) having the ordinary size.
A single-knit knitted fabric knitted by the method according to claim 2, comprising a course having all of a mesh-jacquard structure, a pile-jacquard structure, and an inlay-looking-jacquard structure.
A single-knit knitted fabric knitted by the method according to claim 3, comprising a course having all of a mesh-jacquard structure, a pile-jacquard structure, and an inlay-looking-jacquard structure, and further comprising a sinker mesh-jacquard structure with a loop having a size that is larger than the ordinary size.
A single-knit jacquard knitted fabric having a course in which any one of knitting structures A or B below is formed:
A. (a) a pile loop (12p), (b) a knit loop (12k), (c) an inlay-looking loop (12i), and (d) a mesh-looking welt (12w),

B. (a) a pile loop (12p), (c) an inlay-looking loop (12i), and (d) a mesh-looking welt (12w).
The single-knit knitted fabric according to claim 6,
wherein a loop (17b) having a size that is larger than an ordinary size and a loop (17s) having the ordinary size are knitted in the same course so as to be positioned adjacent to the course knitted in claim 6.