IE74241B1 - A method for producing a knitted garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A knitting machine produces all the panels 1 which are used to make a garment. The panels 1 are colour coded with a tag 2 which is removed after inspection. At a blind stitching station 5 the panels 1 are stacked and folded over so that the side edges are aligned. The side edges are blind stitched and a stack of the blind stitched panels are cut together at a cutting station 10 to form a pattern cut folded panel 15. The folding and blind stitching ensures that the side edges are aligned during cutting. To prevent yarn snags, yarn guides 30 of a V-bed knitting machine used in the method of the invention are bridged by sections of plastics tubing 35.

Description

A method for producing a knitted garment' The invention relates to a method for producing a knitted garment.

There are considerable difficulties in producing high quality knitted garments. One of the major flaws that often arises is that the pattern from one panel of the garment is not correctly aligned with the corresponding pattern from another panel of the garment. This adversely affects the quality of the garment and leads to a significant proportion of rejects. There are also problems in ensuring that knitting machines used in garment production are maintained in operation for the longest possible periods without breakdowns caused by yarn breakages and snagging of yarn. In addition, there are problems in tracking the knitting panels through the production process.

This invention is directed towards providing an improved method for producing a knitted garment which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for producing a knitted garment comprising the steps of:leading yearn from yarn packages to a bed of a knitting machine; knitting a plurality of back panels of a garment; knitting a plurality of front panels of a garment; knitting a plurality of sleeve panels of a garment; - 2 coding the panels to identify the machine on which the panels are knit; grouping the back, front and sleeve panels associated with a garment; inspecting each panel for defects; folding each panel over and aligning the side edges of the panel; blind stitching the folded aligned side edges of the panel; pressing each blind stitched panel; cutting the panel to a desired pattern shape; removing the blind stitching; assembling the cut panels associated with a garment; and stitching the panels together to form a finished garment.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a number of similar pressed blind stitched panels are arranged in a stack and the stack of panels are cut in a desired pattern in a single cutting operation.

Preferably a group of four similar blind stitched panels are arranged in the stack.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, prior to cutting a desired pattern is marked out on the uppermost blind stitched panel in the stack.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the back, front and sleeve panels of a particular garment are knitted on the same knitting machine and each of the panels from that knitting machine are coded with an identical code.

In one arrangement, the code is a colour coded tag which is attached to a knit panel. Preferably the colour coded tag is removed during inspection of a panel for defects.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, to assemble and stitch a garment the shoulders of the front and back panels are attached, a neck portion is inserted, arm holes are formed, the sleeves are attached to the arm holes, and the side seams of the garment are stitched.

In one embodiment of the invention, to prevent snagging of yarn drawn from yarn packages, guides over which the yarn is led are interconnected by a bridging piece.

Preferably the yarn guides are interconnected by a bridging piece comprising a length of plastics tubing.

The invention also provides a knitted garment whenever produced by a method of the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:4 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of holding cages used in the method for producing knitted garments according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a blind 5 stitching step in the method of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cutting step in the method of the invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of part of the yarn guide arrangement of a knitting machine used in the method of the invention; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the yarn guide arrangement of Fig. 4.

In a method for producing a knitted garment according to the invention, a plurality of panels of a garment are first knitted using a V bed knitting machine. The same knitting machine is used for producing a plurality of back panels 1 of a particular garment, a plurality of front panels 1 of the garment and finally, a plurality of sleeve panels 1 of the garment. After knitting, panels 1 are colour coded using a colour coded tag 2 attached to each panel. The front, back and sleeve panels 1 associated with the particular garment knitted on the same knitting machine and bearing the same colour coded tag 2 are arranged in groups in holding areas which in this case are provided by mobile trolley cages 3. A number of cages 3 are provided, one associated with each particular garment.

Groups of the front, back and sleeve panels 1 associated with the garment are then transferred to an inspection station where each individual panel 1 is inspected for defects and the colour coded tag 2 is removed. In the event of any defects being recognised at the inspecting station, the colour coded tags 2 may be used to trace the origin of the panel and hence assist in correct of the defect.

At a blind stitching station 5 illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the panels 1 are stacked and each panel is individually folded over on itself so that the side edges are aligned. The side edges are then blind stitched using a blind stitching machine 6 to form a blind stitch 7 along the aligned side edges of the folded panel 8. Each blind stitched panel 8 was then individually pressed. The blind stitched panels 8 are then arranged in a stack, usually of four, and the stack of four blind stitched folded panels 8 are arranged at a cutting station 10 which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. At the cutting station 10, a template or pattern 12 is laid on the uppermost folded blind stitched panel 8 and an operator uses a cutting knife 15 to cut through the stack of four folded panels 8 to form a desired pattern. The blind stitch 7 is removed from each of the folded panels forming a pattern cut folded panel 15.

The folding and blind stitching of the panel and grouping of them into groups of four ensures that the panels are correctly aligned and prevents curling of the side edges. On assembly, the panels are correctly aligned allowing a garment with a high quality finish as evidenced by the alignment of the pattern of the panels.

The folded panels are arranged in groups of four and these groups travel through the remainder of the process. In a first stage, the front and back panels are attached to form the shoulders. A neck piece is then inserted and the piece is usually hand finished. Arm holes are then formed and the sleeves are attached. The side seams of the panels are then stitched together and the neck label is applied. A final inspection of the finished garment is then carried out.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, we have found that using high speed V bed knitting machines for knitting panels at a high speed, yarn 26 from yarn packages 25 which are led over yarn guides 30, may become snagged resulting in yarn breakage and consequent defects in the panel and interruption of the operation of the knitting machine.

To overcome this problem, we have interconnected the guides 30 over which the yarn 26 is led by a bridging piece provided by a length of plastics tubing 35. By this simple expedient, we have effectively substantially reduced the snagging of the yarn as if the yarn becomes detached from the guide 30, it does not normally become snagged and broken but will instead ride on the tubular bridging piece 35 allowing knitting to continue. The yarn can be easily and quickly reinserted in the guide 30 allowing knitting to continue.

Many variations on the specific embodiments of the invention described will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A method for producing a knitted garment comprising the steps of:- 5 leading yearn from yarn packages to a bed of knitting machine; a knitting a plurality of back panels of garment; a knitting a plurality of front panels of garment; a 10 knitting a plurality of sleeve panels of garment; a coding the panels to identify the machine on which the panels are knit; grouping the back, front and sleeve panels 15 associated with a garment; inspecting each panel for defects; folding each panel over and aligning the side edges of the panel; blind stitching the folded aligned side edges of 20 the panel; pressing each blind stitched panel; cutting the panel to a desired pattern shape; removing the blind stitching; assembling the cut panels associated with a Ii 5 garment; and stitching the panels together to form a finished garment. 5 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a number of similar pressed blind stitched panels are arranged in a stack and the stack of panels are cut in a desired pattern in a single cutting operation. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein a group of 10 four similar blind stitched panels are arranged in the stack. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein prior to cutting a desired pattern is marked out on the uppermost blind stitched panel in the stack. 15 5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the back, front and sleeve panels of a particular garment are knitted on the same knitting machine and each of the panels from that knitting machine are coded with an identical code. 20 6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the code is a colour coded tag which is attached to a knit panel. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the colour «1 coded tag is removed during inspection of a panel for 25 * defects. 8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein to assemble and stitch a garment the shoulders of the front and back panels are attached, a neck portion is inserted, arm holes are formed, the sleeves are attached to the arm holes, and the side seams of the f garment are stitched.

2. 5 9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, to prevent snagging of yarn drawn from yarn packages, guides over which the yarn is led are interconnected by a bridging piece.

3. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the yarn 10 guides are interconnected by a bridging piece comprising a length of plastics tubing.

4. 11. A method for producing a knitted garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. 12. A knitted garment whenever produced by a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.