GB1583820A - Method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hoslery and similar goods - Google Patents

Abstract

In this process, stitches (a) consisting of a thicker yarn (P1) than the yarn for knitting the knitted article and then stitches consisting of a thinner yarn (P2) than the yarn for knitting the knitted article are knitted. Further stitches (c) are knitted with the first needles and tuck stitches (b) are knitted with the other needles, after which an elastic yarn (P3) is knitted in by means of the other needles. This ensures that the stitches (a) and the tuck stitches (b) in the stitch wale (1) are located more on one side of the fabric and the stitches (a) and (c) in the stitch wale (2) are located more on the other side of the fabric, so that the edge contracts to a smaller diameter and is sprung in the same way as a double-knitted article. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) METHOD OF KNITTING LOOP COURSES OF ELASTIC WELTS IN HOSIERY AND SIMILAR GOODS (71) We ELITEX -- koncern textilniho strojirenstvi, of 22 Bozeny Nemcové Liberec, Czechoslovakia, a corporate body organized and existing under the laws of Czechoslovakia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hosiery and similar goods in small diameter circular knitting machines.

It is known to knit an elastic welt in small diameter knitting machines for manufacturing mostly socks or half-hose in such a manner that in one feed are formed loops on all needles and in the further feed the knitting process is performed only on even needles, the odd needles only tucking yarn. In the following feed, the elastic yarn is introduced into the needles in the tucking position, either odd or even needles.

For the knitting in both the first and second feed, a yarn of the same or slightly different thickness is used. Consequently, the loops of the second feed which are formed by means of even needles and are arranged in front of the rubber or generally elastic yarn on the face, draw the loops of the first knitting feed, which are also formed by even needles, but situated behind the elastic yam, i.e., on the rear side of the knitted fabric, in the direction towards the face side between the loops of the first feed which are knitted by odd needles, where they contribute to the twisting of the welt and reduce its elasticity. Thus, they restrain the neighbouring loops to be drawn against each other by influence of the slight action of elastic yarn.Thereupon, the necessary welt width is achieved only by means of a considerably tensioned elastic yarn, this, however, reducing its extensibility and causing as is known that elastic welts which are knitted only on lower needles become twisted, have low extensibility, are too tight, and thus also disadvantageous from the viewpoint of health.

The undesired twisting can be partially reduced by reinforcing the starting course of the welt by inserting a plurality of rows of elastic yarn into the first loop course of non-elastic yarn. However, this still more reduces the elasticity of the welt and the required extensibility can be met only by using yarns of very high quality.

It is known that in two cylinder machines for manufacturing socks and similar goods an undesirable welt twisting does not take place, neither is a low elasticity encountered. However, some elastic e.g. nonbraided spandex yarn is not suitable for insertion into the wall of a one-and-one ribbed fabric and therefore said yarns are not commonly used for manufacturing these welts.

The purpose of the present invention consists in mitigating the said disadvantages and to secure knitting of an elastic welt for one and two cylinder small diameter knitting machines. According to the present invention there is provided a method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hosiery and similar goods in small diameter circular knitting machines, comprising the successive steps of knitting on all needles from at least one yarn thicker loops than upon knitting the leg part, knitting on one group of needles normal loops and forming on another group of needles tuck loops from thinner yarn than upon knitting the leg part, and laying-in elastic yarn by the needles which formed the tuck loops from the thinner yarn.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 representing the structure of a welt knitted from thicker and thinner yarn with laid-in elastic yam, and Figure 2 being a section through the knitted fabric wall as shown in Figure 1 in the wale direction at the point at which the wale usually forms normal cleared loops from both thicker and thinner yarns. Figure 3 is a section through the knitted fabric wall in the wale direction according to a known method of manufacturing, when knitting yarn of substantially equal thickness.

An elastic welt is formed of thicker yarn P1, of thinner yarn P2, and of elastic yarn P3. Yarn P1 is thicker than the yarn of which is made the leg part, or ankle part of the knitted fabric, while yarn P2 is thinner than the yarn of which is made said leg part of the knitted fabric.

The knitting of the elastic welt is performed in the following manner: in the first feed is introduced yarn P1 into all needles and normal plain loops are formed which are denoted by a. In the second feed is introduced yarn P2 in such a manner that, e.g., the odd needles catch yarn P2 and thus form in the wales 1 tucking loops b, while the even needles clear yarn P2 and thus form in the wales 2 normal plain loops c.

In the third feed, elastic yarn P3 is introduced into the odd closed needles and is laid in. In the following, i.e. the first feed, yarn P1 is introduced again into all needles. In this manner an elastic welt is formed in the wales 1 of which, formed by odd needles, normally formed plain loops a of thicker yarn P1 are encountered, to which are fastened tucking loops b from thinner yarn P2. In the even wales 2 formed by even needles, plain loops a are formed of thicker yarn P1 which, however, have not the normal known shape, but are deformed, as the smooth loops c of thinner yarn P2 cannot make loops a of thicker yarn P1 to take up their characteristic loop shape, thus resembling only a long open-lace sinker loop.In Figure 2 it can be observed that in the knitted fabric wall, thin loops c on the the rear side do not press loops a into the known position, as will be specified in connection with Figure 3 and that their mutual position could be called an open one. Consequently, loops a are arranged, together, with loops b, in wales 1 more towards the face side of the knitted fabric, while loops a and c in wales 2 are arranged more towards the rear side of the knitted fabric. Thus, said knitted fabric is circumferentially contracted to a smaller diameter and becomes more elastic, like a one-andone ribbed fabric.

Figure 3 represents the arrangement of loops when using substantially equally voluminous yarns P2', P1' and P3' introduced as yarn P1, P2 and P3, in which loops a', c', are knitted like loops a, c, and in which loops c' pull loops a' to the rear side of the knitted fabric. Thus, said knitted fabric is a one face knitwork.

In order to achieve the desired effect, i.e., mutual action of thicker yarn upon thinner yarn, it is suitable to use a thicker yarn which is at least five times thicker than the thinner yarn. The same effect can be achieved also in such a manner, that instead of one thicker yarn are laid simultaneously two or possibly even more yarns, so that the loops made in the knitted fabric should be different in their volume.

Thus, substantially loops of high and low volume are formed, and it is extremely advantageous to knit the loops of lower volume from crimped polyamide.

Upon knitting the first course of loops in the elastic welt, it is suitable to knit this course, in view of the initial knitting conditions, i.e., the start course on empty needles, without loops of different volume, and to link on said yarns of different thickness after having knitted the first course.

During the first procedure, it is suitable to knit this knitted fabric on more feeds, most advantageously on three. However, it is also possible to knit said fabric in only two feeds or one feed when changing accordingly the yarn guides and the needle distribution.

The main advantage according to the present invention consists in that a knitted fabric is formed which is similar in its properties to those of a one-and-one ribbed fabric, while needles from only one needle bed are used, and that this method can be applied to all small diameter machines, particularly for manufacturing hosiery goods, without performing large adaptations of the machine.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS : 1. A method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hosiery and similar goods in small diameter circular knitting machines, comprising the successive steps of knitting on all needles from at least one yarn thicker loops than upon knitting the leg part, knitting on one group of needles normal loops and forming on another group of needles tuck loops from thinner yarn than upon knitting the leg part, and layingin elastic yarn by the needles which formed the tuck loops from the thinner yarn.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the yarn or yarns of the thicker loops is or are together at least five times thicker than the thinner yarn.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinner yarn is crimped poly

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 representing the structure of a welt knitted from thicker and thinner yarn with laid-in elastic yam, and Figure 2 being a section through the knitted fabric wall as shown in Figure 1 in the wale direction at the point at which the wale usually forms normal cleared loops from both thicker and thinner yarns. Figure 3 is a section through the knitted fabric wall in the wale direction according to a known method of manufacturing, when knitting yarn of substantially equal thickness. An elastic welt is formed of thicker yarn P1, of thinner yarn P2, and of elastic yarn P3. Yarn P1 is thicker than the yarn of which is made the leg part, or ankle part of the knitted fabric, while yarn P2 is thinner than the yarn of which is made said leg part of the knitted fabric. The knitting of the elastic welt is performed in the following manner: in the first feed is introduced yarn P1 into all needles and normal plain loops are formed which are denoted by a. In the second feed is introduced yarn P2 in such a manner that, e.g., the odd needles catch yarn P2 and thus form in the wales 1 tucking loops b, while the even needles clear yarn P2 and thus form in the wales 2 normal plain loops c. In the third feed, elastic yarn P3 is introduced into the odd closed needles and is laid in. In the following, i.e. the first feed, yarn P1 is introduced again into all needles. In this manner an elastic welt is formed in the wales 1 of which, formed by odd needles, normally formed plain loops a of thicker yarn P1 are encountered, to which are fastened tucking loops b from thinner yarn P2. In the even wales 2 formed by even needles, plain loops a are formed of thicker yarn P1 which, however, have not the normal known shape, but are deformed, as the smooth loops c of thinner yarn P2 cannot make loops a of thicker yarn P1 to take up their characteristic loop shape, thus resembling only a long open-lace sinker loop.In Figure 2 it can be observed that in the knitted fabric wall, thin loops c on the the rear side do not press loops a into the known position, as will be specified in connection with Figure 3 and that their mutual position could be called an open one. Consequently, loops a are arranged, together, with loops b, in wales 1 more towards the face side of the knitted fabric, while loops a and c in wales 2 are arranged more towards the rear side of the knitted fabric. Thus, said knitted fabric is circumferentially contracted to a smaller diameter and becomes more elastic, like a one-andone ribbed fabric. Figure 3 represents the arrangement of loops when using substantially equally voluminous yarns P2', P1' and P3' introduced as yarn P1, P2 and P3, in which loops a', c', are knitted like loops a, c, and in which loops c' pull loops a' to the rear side of the knitted fabric. Thus, said knitted fabric is a one face knitwork. In order to achieve the desired effect, i.e., mutual action of thicker yarn upon thinner yarn, it is suitable to use a thicker yarn which is at least five times thicker than the thinner yarn. The same effect can be achieved also in such a manner, that instead of one thicker yarn are laid simultaneously two or possibly even more yarns, so that the loops made in the knitted fabric should be different in their volume. Thus, substantially loops of high and low volume are formed, and it is extremely advantageous to knit the loops of lower volume from crimped polyamide. Upon knitting the first course of loops in the elastic welt, it is suitable to knit this course, in view of the initial knitting conditions, i.e., the start course on empty needles, without loops of different volume, and to link on said yarns of different thickness after having knitted the first course. During the first procedure, it is suitable to knit this knitted fabric on more feeds, most advantageously on three. However, it is also possible to knit said fabric in only two feeds or one feed when changing accordingly the yarn guides and the needle distribution. The main advantage according to the present invention consists in that a knitted fabric is formed which is similar in its properties to those of a one-and-one ribbed fabric, while needles from only one needle bed are used, and that this method can be applied to all small diameter machines, particularly for manufacturing hosiery goods, without performing large adaptations of the machine. WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hosiery and similar goods in small diameter circular knitting machines, comprising the successive steps of knitting on all needles from at least one yarn thicker loops than upon knitting the leg part, knitting on one group of needles normal loops and forming on another group of needles tuck loops from thinner yarn than upon knitting the leg part, and layingin elastic yarn by the needles which formed the tuck loops from the thinner yarn.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the yarn or yarns of the thicker loops is or are together at least five times thicker than the thinner yarn.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinner yarn is crimped poly

amide.

4. A method of knitting loop courses of elastic welts in hosiery and similar goods in small diameter circular knitting machines, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.