ITMI20132130A1 - PROCEDURE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPENINGS OR HOLES IN A KNITTED FABRIC IN PLOT WITH A KNITTING MACHINE FOR INLAY WORKINGS, USING ONLY ONE POWER OR FALL. - Google Patents

Description

"PROCEDURE FOR MAKING OPENINGS 0 HOLES IN A WEFT KNITTED FABRIC WITH AN INTARSIA KNITTING MACHINE, USING ONLY ONE FEED 0 FALL"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a method for making openings or holes in a weft knitted fabric with a knitting machine for inlay work, using a single feed or feed.

As is known, in the knitwear sector, the term "inlay work" means a process consisting of areas of knitted fabric made with yarns supplied by different feeds or feeds of the machine and alternated with each other, which does not have floating yarns on the reverse side, i.e. connecting threads between the portions of the same row of mesh spaced apart and made with their own thread, and which does not have cuts of threads at the ends of each portion of rank that make up an area of the processing .

The inlay work is carried out with rectilinear machines or with circular knitting or hosiery machines that offer the possibility of moving the feeds or feeds, in correspondence with which the threads are dispensed, relative to the needle-holder organ, whether it is constituted by a straight needle bed or from a cylinder, or vice versa, that is, which offer the possibility of moving the needle holder element relative to the feeds or feeds, according to two opposite directions of motion, i.e. with a forward motion and with a forward motion return.

Generally, the inlay workings are carried out, in the production of each row of knitting that makes up the inlay work, by correlating and making the needles arranged in a sector of the needle-holder organ work to a feed and by correlating and making the arranged needles work in another sector of the needle holder, adjacent or contiguous, to another supply. The number of feeds and sectors of the needle-holder member related to these varies according to the number of different zones of the work to be carried out and the number of needles of each sector of the needle-holder member can be varied in rank. in rank to vary the conformation of the different areas of the inlay work to be carried out.

The reciprocating motion of the needle holder with respect to the machine feeds is the device that allows to work portions of knitting rows with threads supplied from different feeds without having to proceed with cutting the threads at the end of the relative portion of the knitting rank or having to leave floating, on the reverse side, the yarns that are not used in the processing of a portion of a subsequent row of stitch, waiting to be used again for the formation of a further portion of the row of stitch.

The union between two adjacent processing areas, worked with threads supplied to two different feeds, is obtained by making a needle work, located at the border between the two sectors and belonging to one or the other of these sectors, both to the power supply related to its own group of needles is the power supply related to the adjacent or contiguous group of needles.

Generally, inlay work is used to create designs made up of areas of knitted fabric made with threads that are different from each other by color or by type that are supplied at different feeds.

Inlay work is also used when it is necessary to make an opening or hole in a portion of the shirt. In this case, two areas of knitted fabric are made, located laterally and on opposite sides with respect to the opening to be made, using the needles arranged in two adjacent or contiguous sectors of the needle holder and making the needles work of one sector exclusively to one feed and the needles of the other sector exclusively to another feed and therefore without operating a needle located in the area of a sector bordering the other sector on both feeds. In this way, the two processing areas are "separated" or not joined and therefore the opening or hole is defined between them.

As can be seen, this technique requires the use of two machine feeds or drops.

The aim of the present invention is to devise a method which allows to realize openings or holes in a knitted fabric in weft with a knitting machine by means of an inlay work, using a single feed or drop of the machine.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a method which allows knitwear to be made in an economically competitive manner.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method which can be performed on commercially available knitting machines.

This task, as well as these and other purposes which will appear better later, are achieved by a process for making openings or holes in a weft knit fabric with an inlay knitting machine, using a single feed or feed. , consisting of:

- having a weft knitting machine with at least one feed or feed and with a needle holder supporting a plurality of needles which can be operated to take the threads delivered by said feed and to form knits; said needle holder being movable relative to said feed along a trajectory and said feed being arranged in proximity to said trajectory; said needle holder member being operable relative to said feed along said trajectory with an alternating motion, i.e. according to two opposite directions of motion, respectively a forward motion and a return motion, to bring the needles to face in succession to said feeding and forming a stitch both in the forward motion and in the return motion of said needle-holder member relative to said feed;

- identifying, in said needle holder, two contiguous or adjacent sectors, respectively a first sector and a second sector, each housing relative needles which can be actuated by said feed to form a stitch;

characterized by the fact of understanding:

- a first phase, in which the needles of said first sector and the needles of said second sector are brought to work at said feed and form a stitch;

- a second phase, in which only the needles of said first sector are brought to work at said feed and form stitches for a predetermined number of rows of knitting performed by operating said needle holder with reciprocating motion, relative to said feed, while the needles of said second sector are kept inactive and retain the last loop of knitting formed in said first phase;

- a third phase, in which only the needles of said second sector are brought to work at said feed and form a stitch, for a predetermined number of rows of knitting performed by operating said needle holder with reciprocating motion relative to said feed, while the needles of said first sector are kept inactive and retain the last loop of knitting formed in said second phase;

- a fourth phase, in which the needles of said first sector and the needles of said second sector are brought to work at said feed and form a stitch.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the method according to the invention illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the working scheme of a portion of fabric, seen from the reverse side, produced with the method according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of a portion of fabric, seen from the reverse side, produced with the method according to the invention and deriving from the processing steps indicated by box X in the diagram of Figure 1;

Figure 3 schematically illustrates the arrangement of the needle sectors and of the feed or feed used for carrying out the method according to the invention on a circular knitting machine;

Figure 4 illustrates the working scheme of a portion of fabric, seen from the reverse side, produced with a variant of the method according to the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged detail of a portion of fabric, seen from the reverse side, produced with the method according to the invention and deriving from the processing steps indicated by box Y in the diagram of Figure 4.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, for carrying out the method according to the invention, a weft knitting machine is used with at least one feed or feed and with a needle holder that supports a plurality of needles that can be operated, in a way that is per se known, to take the yarns delivered by this feed and to form knits.

The needle holder member is movable relative to the feed along a trajectory and this feed is arranged in proximity to this trajectory. The needle-holder member can be operated relative to the feed, along the aforementioned trajectory, with an alternating motion, i.e. according to two opposite directions of motion, respectively a forward motion and a return motion, in such a way as to bring the needles to face the aforementioned feed and form a stitch both in the forward motion and in the return motion of the needle holder member relative to the feed.

In the needle-holder member, two contiguous or adjacent sectors are selected, respectively a first sector and a second sector, and each of these sectors houses relative needles which can be operated upon feeding to form a stitch.

In the illustrated embodiment, the machine is constituted by a circular knitting machine and therefore the needle holder is constituted by the needle cylinder 1 of the machine which is arranged with its axis 2 vertically and which can be operated with rotary motion around its axis 2 relative to the feeds or feeds 3, 4, 5, 6 of which only one, indicated with the reference number 3, is used for carrying out the method according to the invention.

In this case, the needle holder, consisting of the needle cylinder 1, describes a circular trajectory around its axis 2 and the feed 3 faces laterally the needle cylinder 1 and is arranged in proximity to the trajectory described by the cylinder of the needles 1 during its rotation in such a way as to supply the thread to the needles, arranged in the cylinder of the needles 1, which are brought to work at this feed 3 and operated to form a stitch.

The cylinder of the needles 1 can be operated, in a per se known manner, with an alternating rotary motion around its axis 2 so as to form a stitch both in the forward motion and in the return motion, as required in inlay work.

Since it is a circular machine, the sectors 11 and 12 in which the needles that are selected to work at the feeding 3 are arranged are circular sectors.

In the illustrated case, the needles used for carrying out the method according to the invention are arranged in the first sector 11 and in the second sector 12. For the sake of completeness of description, it must be said that, in Figure 3, a third sector 13 of the cylinder of the needles 1 in which needles are housed which are not used for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The method according to the invention comprises a first phase A, in which the needles of the first sector 11 and the needles of the second sector 12 are brought to work at the feed 3 and form a stitch.

Subsequently, a second phase B is performed, in which only the needles of the first sector 11 are brought to work at the feed 3 and form stitches for a predetermined number of rows of stitches which are performed by activating the cylinder of the needles 1 with alternating rotary motion around its axis 2 relative to the feed 3, while the needles of the second sector 12 are kept inactive and retain the last loop of knitting formed in the first phase A.

In a third phase C, only the needles of the second sector 12 are brought to work at the feed 3 and form a knit, for a predetermined number of rows of knits which are performed by activating the cylinder of the needles 1 with alternating rotary motion around its axis 2 relative to the feed 3, while the needles of the first sector 11 are kept inactive and hold the last loop of knitting formed in the second phase B.

In a fourth step D, the needles of the first sector 11 and the needles of the second sector 12 are brought to work at the feed 3 and form a stitch.

With particular reference to Figure 1, which schematises the various stages of the process according to the invention, diversified according to the actuation of the needles arranged in the various sectors and the various stages of the process, the rectangle 21 refers to the first stage A of the processing in which, at the feed 3, both the needles arranged in the first sector 11 and the needles arranged in the second sector 12 work. 2 regarding power supply 3.

The rectangles indicated with the reference numbers 22 and 23 indicate two different actuations of the needles arranged in the sectors 11 and 12 in the second phase B of the procedure: the rectangle 22 indicates that the needles arranged in the first sector 11, in this second phase B, are brought to work at feed 3 and form knits for a predetermined number of knitting rows following the actuation of the needle cylinder 1 with reciprocating motion around its axis 2 relative to the feed 3 itself, while the rectangle 23 it indicates that the needles arranged in the second sector 12, in this second phase B, are not brought to work and retain the last knitting loop, formed during the first phase A, on their stem while waiting to resume working.

The rectangles indicated with the reference numbers 24 and 25 indicate two different actuations of the needles arranged in the sectors 11 and 12 in the third phase C of the procedure: the rectangle 24 indicates that the needles arranged in the first sector 11, in this third phase C, are not brought to work and retain the last knitting loop, formed during the second phase B, on their stem waiting to resume processing, while the rectangle 25 indicates that the needles arranged in the second sector 12, in this third phase C, they are brought to work at the feed 3 and form knits for a predetermined number of rows of knits following the actuation of the cylinder of the needles 1 with reciprocating motion around its axis 2 relative to the feed 3 itself.

The rectangle 26 refers to the fourth phase D of the process in which both the needles arranged in the first sector 11 and the needles arranged in the second sector 12 work at the feed 3. In this fourth phase D, the needle cylinder 1 can be operated with continuous rotary motion or with reciprocating rotary motion around its axis 2 relative to the power supply 3.

The rectangles indicated with the numbers 27 and 28 refer to the possible production of knits with needles that are arranged in other sectors of the needle cylinder 1, that is, which are arranged in sector 13 and are not arranged in sectors 11 and 12 and which therefore they are of no interest for the purposes of explaining the method according to the invention. The result obtained with the method according to the invention described up to now and schematized in figure 1, is illustrated in figure 2, in which the knitted structure seen from the reverse side has the rows of knitting loops marked with the numbers from 31 to 40, while, as regards the rows of knitting, the rows of knitting performed by needles belonging to the two different sectors 11 and 12 and knitted in two distinct phases of the process are marked differently.

In particular, the rank of knit made up of the portions of rank m and m 'worked by the needles belonging to the two sectors 11 and 12 is the last rank of knit produced during the first phase A (this moment of the knitting corresponds to the rectangle 21 of figure 1) . The rows of knitting n-t are those that are produced by the needles of the first sector 11 during the second phase B (this moment of the knitting corresponds to the rectangle 22 of figure 1) while the needles of the second sector 12 hold the loops of the last portion of the row of stitch m 'formed during the first phase A (this moment of the knitting corresponds to the rectangle 23 of Figure 1). The rows of knitting n'-t 'are those that are produced by the needles of the second sector 12 during the third phase C (this moment of the knitting corresponds to the rectangle 25 of figure 1) while the needles of the first sector 11 hold the loops of the last row of mesh t formed during the second phase B (this machining moment corresponds to the rectangle 24 of Figure 1). The row of knitting made up of the portions of rank u and u 'worked by the needles belonging to the two sectors 11 and 12 is the first row of knitting produced during the fourth phase D, respectively by the needles of the first sector 11 which resume working at feed 3 and by the needles of the second sector 12 which continue the working (this moment of the working corresponds to the rectangle 26 of Figure 1).

It should be noted that the ranks n-t and n'-t 'although they are aligned, are not portions of ranks, but are distinct ranks from each other as they are carried out in successive phases.

The rectangles 23 and 24 of Figure 1, corresponding respectively to a moment of the second phase B and to a moment of the third phase C, do not correspond to portions of knitting rows, since in these moments, respectively the needles of the second sector 12 and the needles of the first sector 11 do not work, but limit themselves to retaining the last knitting loops formed during the previous phase on their stem.

In this way, as can be seen, an opening or hole 50 is defined between the n-t and n'-t 'row portions which is obtained using a single feed or feed 3.

Obviously, the number of rows of knitting performed in the various steps of the method according to the invention may vary according to requirements.

The knitted fabric obtained with the method according to the invention has two adjacent knit areas 61, 62 separated by the opening or hole 50 and these two areas 61, 62, being produced using a single feed 3, can be composed of one same yarn 51 or from different yarns if in the realization of the rows t or n 'a change of yarn guide is performed at the same feed 3 and consequently of yarn different in type or color. If several threads are supplied to the needles at the same time at the feed 3 used, each knitting loop of the two zones 61, 62 could be composed of several threads.

Figures 4 and 5 show a variant embodiment of the method according to the invention.

These figures have been made similarly to figures 1 and 2 with the difference that, in figure 5, a greater number of rows of knitting loops are shown, marked with numbers 29-43 which will also be used to identify the needles that form.

According to this variant of execution of the method according to the invention, after phase B, a phase B 'is carried out in which a final knitting of knit Zi, z2 is carried out with the yarn 51 which, after the execution of this knit, is cut. After phase B 'and before phase C, a phase C is carried out in which an initial mesh weaving Wi, w2 is carried out with the yarn 51, as illustrated, or with another yarn still supplied by the same power supply 3. The execution of the interlacing of mesh zl7z2, Wi, w2 makes it possible to stop or block the final or initial end of the thread or threads 51 and to have the opening or hole 50 completely free from threads.

Preferably, the interlacing of the final stitch Zi, z2 is carried out by operating some needles of a group of contiguous needles 32-36 so as to take the thread 51 in the position of the retained stitch and form at least a portion of the final interlacing of the stitch zx, z2, by reversing in advance the direction of motion of the needle holder, constituted in the case illustrated by the needle cylinder 1, so that this at least one portion of the final knit interlacing zi7z2 overlaps the last loop of knitting just formed by the same needles 32 -36.

Preferably, two final stitch weaves are performed, respectively a first final stitch weave portion zx and a second final stitch weave portion z2, reversing the direction of motion of the needle cylinder 1 after the first final weave weave is performed Zi and by varying the needles which take the thread in the position of the retained stitch with respect to the needles which have taken the thread for the execution of the first section of the final weaving of stitch zx.

In the illustrated example, the needles 36, 34, 32 of the group of needles 32-36 which are brought to work at feed 3 in the execution of the first section of the final knit weave zx are alternated, according to a 1X1 selection, with the needles 35, 33 of the group of needles 32-36 excluded from processing which are instead brought to work in the execution of the second section of the final knit weave z2 while the previous ones are excluded from processing, however different dispositions or selections could be used, such as example 1X2 or 1X3.

In figure 4, the small squares 76, 74, 72 and 12, 75 in phase B 'indicate the needles 36, 34, 32 and 33, 35 which are brought to work to take the thread 51 in the position of the stitch held for the formation of the two intertwining sections of the final stitch Zi, z2.

In a similar way, the initial stitch weave w1; w2 is preferably performed, by operating some needles of a group of contiguous needles 37-41 so as to take the thread 51 in the position of the retained stitch and form at least one portion of the initial stitch weave Wi, w2, by subsequently inverting the direction of motion of the cylinder of the needles 1, so that this at least one portion of the initial knit weave w1 # w2 overlaps the last loop of knitting just formed by the same needles 37-41.

Preferably, two initial stitch weaves are performed, respectively a first initial stitch weave portion Wi and a second initial stitch weave portion w2, reversing the direction of motion of the cylinder of the needles 1 after the first weave of knitting is performed. initial wxe by varying the needles which take the thread in the position of the retained stitch with respect to the needles which have taken the thread 51 for the execution of the first section of the initial weave of the stitch

Wx.

In the illustrated example, the needles 37, 39, 41 of the group of needles 37-41 which are brought to work at the feed 3 in the execution of the first portion of the initial knitting weave Wi are alternated, according to a 1X1 selection, with the needles 40, 38 of the group of needles 37-41 excluded from processing which are instead brought to work in the execution of the second section of the initial knit weave w2 while the previous ones are excluded from processing, however different dispositions or selections could be used, such as for example 1X2 or 1X3.

In figure 4, the small squares 77, 79, 81 and 80, 78 in phase C indicate the needles 37, 39, 41 and 40, 38 which are brought to work to take the thread 51 in the position of the stitch held for the formation of the initial mesh weave Wi, w2.

In Figures 4 and 5, the elements which correspond to elements already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 have been marked with the same reference numbers.

The concept underlying the invention, although it has been illustrated for a circular knitting machine, is also applicable to rectilinear machines provided with a rectilinear needle holder which can be operated with reciprocating motion along a rectilinear trajectory with respect to a feed arranged in proximity of that trajectory or vice versa.

To make more openings or holes on the same line, it is sufficient to pre-select several sectors in the needle holder whose needles are made to work at different times at the feed or drop that is used, as described with reference to the two sectors 11 and 12 .

In practice it has been found that the method according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim as it allows to make openings or holes in knitted fabrics with knitting machines for inlay work, using a single feed or feed.

The process thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (11)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. Process for making openings or holes in a weft knitted fabric with an inlay knitting machine, using a single feed or feed, consisting of: - having a weft knitting machine with at least one feed or feed (3) and with a needle holder (1) supporting a plurality of needles which can be operated to take the threads delivered from said feed (3) and to form knits; said needle holder (1) being movable relative to said feed (3) along a trajectory and said feed (3) being arranged in proximity to said trajectory; said needle holder (1) being operable relative to said feed (3) along said trajectory with an alternating motion, i.e. according to two opposite directions of motion, respectively a forward motion and a return motion, to carry the needles to appear in succession to said feed (3) and form a stitch both in the forward motion and in the return motion of said needle holder (1) relative to said feed (3); - identify, in said needle holder (1), two contiguous or adjacent sectors (11, 12), respectively a first sector (11) and a second sector (12), each housing relative needles which can be operated at said feed (3) to form mesh; characterized by the fact of understanding: - a first phase (A), in which the needles of said first sector (11) and the needles of said second sector (12) are brought to work at said feed (3) and form a knit; - a second phase (B), in which only the needles of said first sector (11) are brought to work on said feed (3) and form stitches for a predetermined number of rows of stitches (n-t) performed by activating said carrier member needles (1) with reciprocating motion relative to said feed (3), while the needles of said second sector (12) are kept inactive and retain the last loop of stitch formed in said first phase (A), - a third phase ( C), in which only the needles of said second sector (12) are brought to work by said feed (3) and form a stitch, for a predetermined number of rows of stitches (η'-t ') performed by activating said carrier member. needles (1) with reciprocating motion relative to said feed (3), while the needles of said first sector (11) are kept inactive and retain the last loop of knitting formed in said second phase (B); - a fourth phase (D), in which the needles of said first sector (11) and the needles of said second sector (12) are brought to work on said feed (3) and form a knit. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, at the end of said second phase (B), a final stitch (zi, z2) intertwining with said at least one yarn (51) to operate its tie-off or locking. 3. Process according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that, following the execution of said interlacing of final stitch (zi, z2), said at least one thread (51) is cut. 4. Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, before said third step (C), an initial knitting (wi, w2) is carried out with said at least one yarn (51) or with another yarn supplied by said power supply (3) to operate its tie-off or locking. 5. Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said final stitch weave (zi, z2) is composed of at least one final stitch weave section (zi, z2) which is performed by operating some needles of a group of needles (32-36) contiguous to take said at least one thread (51) in the position of the retained stitch; the direction of motion of said needle holder (1), before the formation of said at least one portion of final stitch weaving (z1, z2), being inverted. 6. Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said initial knit weave (wx, w2) is composed of at least one initial knit weave section (wi, w2) which is performed by operating some needles of a group of needles (37-41) contiguous to take said at least one thread (51) or other thread in the position of the retained stitch; the direction of motion of said needle holder (1), after the formation of said at least one portion of initial stitch weaving (wi, w2), being reversed. 7. Process, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said final stitch weave (z1 # z2) is produced by performing in succession a first stretch of final stitch weave (zi) and a second stretch of stitch weave final stitch (z2), by inverting the direction of motion of said needle holder (1) at the end of the execution of said first section of final stitch weaving (zx) and varying the needles (33, 35) which are brought to work , in the position of the retained stitch, to said feed (3), during the execution of said second stretch of final stitch weaving with respect to the needles (36, 34, 32) of said group of needles (32-36) used for the execution of said first portion of the final stitch weave (zj.). 8. Process, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said initial knit weave (wx, w2) is produced by performing in succession a first initial knit weave portion (wi) and a second mesh weave portion initial (w2), reversing the direction of motion of said needle holder (1) at the end of the execution of said first stretch of initial stitch weaving (wi) and varying the needles (40, 38) which are brought to work , in the position of the retained stitch, to said feed (3), during the execution of said second portion of initial stitch weaving (w2) with respect to the needles (37, 39, 41) of said group of needles (37-41) used for the execution of said first portion of the initial stitch weave (wx). 9. Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needles of said group of needles (32-36, 37-41) operated on said feed (3) in the execution of each of said lengths of final (zi, z2) and / or initial (wi, w2) stitch interlacing are alternated with the needles of said group of needles excluded from knitting (32-36, 37-41) according to a 1X1 selection. 10. Process according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said needle holder (1) is constituted by the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, said needle cylinder (1) being operable with reciprocating rotary motion around its axis (2) relative to said feed (3) arranged in proximity to the circular trajectory described by said needle cylinder (1) in its reciprocating rotary motion around its axis (2). 11. Knitted fabric with inlay work, comprising two adjacent knitted areas (61, 62) separated by an opening or hole (50), characterized in that said two knitted areas (61, 62) are composed of one same wire or wires (51).