GB1351616A - Tubular knitted fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

1351616 Knitting BENTLEY ENG CO Ltd 6 Oct 1971 [23 Oct 1970 2 Dec 1970 12 March 1971] 50450/70 57198/70 and 6925/71 Headings D1C and D1K In a method of closing a tubular knitted fabric, e.g. a stocking, on a circular knitting machine, the fabric is shaped by stitch transfer, and the last course of stitches drawn together by a yarn or yarns passing through them and pulled tight. In a first procedure a stocking is knit on a cylinder and dial machine, and the last course of stitches transferred to the dial. A needle and cooperating looper sew a seam through the loops, which are cast off one-by-one. Consequently as a constant pull is maintained in the fabric, adjoining wales are pulled together. When the last loop is cast off, the seaming yarns are cut and may be heat-set to ensure a permanent closure. In a second procedure the wales in the toe are progressively reduced by stitch transfer. After knitting the last course the needles 28, Fig. 5, are raised to an inactive level. The yarn Y1 is wrapped around the needles and severed. The loop 33, Fig. 6, on the last needle to knit is pulled through the previous loop 24' by a hook 34. One-by-one the needles knit the yarn, and the free end Y2 is drawn through previous loops. The free end is drawn through the last loop, to lock the yarn Y1. A single strand draw-thread is thus formed through the last course. Loops are transferred with the aid of instruments 109 Fig. 11 mounted in a cylindrical bed (108 Fig. 8 not shown) inside the upper cylinder. The bed is rotated at a slightly different rate to the cylinders so that a loop engaged by an instrument is spread to the desired extent in a quarter turn. The bed is rotated at the desired rate or rates by a gear train or trains (123-6 Fig. 9 not shown) from the cylinder drive shaft (106). If a loop is to be transferred its needle 135 is transferred to the upper bed 101 and engaged by the instrument. When spread it is engaged by a receiving needle 134a, and released from the instrument and previous needle. In a third procedure Figs. 20, 22 the last loop 143a of the last course is repeatedly passed through loops of that course. The needle 135a carrying the loop 143a is transferred to the upper cylinder and holds the loop on its latch 142 which is supported on guard 144. The loop is enlarged by instrument 109. The receiving needle 140 draws a loop of yarn through its old loop 147. Needles are transferred to the upper cylinder one at a time so that their loops can be spread and then taken by an adjacent needle in the lower cylinder. The last needle to knit, knits a chain to secure the yarn, which is then cut. Its free end is drawn through the previous loop, as the fabric is drawn down. In a modification of the above procedure (Figs. 29-34 not shown) movement of the lower slider cooperating needle latch ensures that the loop is spread while in the needle hook, rather than supported on the latch.