US3226954A

US3226954A - Fregeolle method of knitting

Info

Publication number: US3226954A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1966-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-04

Description

Jan. 4, 1966 D. FREGEOLLE 3,226,954

METHOD OF KNITTING Filed April 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwmwm n n n n n ii ii n H I! f I. II

2:91 DONAT H. FREGEOLLE BY WM 0% A TTORNE Y Jan. 4, 1966 METHOD OF KNITTING Filed April 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DONAT HFREGEOLLE.

BY QM QCZKM A TTORNE Y D. H. FREGEOLLE 3,226,954

Jan. 4, 1966 D. H. FREGEOLLE METHOD OF KNITTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

DONAT H. FRESEOLLE A TTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 H. FREGEOLLE 3,226,954

METHOD OF KNITTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

DONHT H. FREGEOLLE.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent C 3,226,?54 METHOD OF KNITTlNG Donat H. Fregeolle, Cumberland, 18.1., assignor to The Banner Company, Central Falls, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,539 Claims. (Cl. 66-125) This invention relates to knitting and more particularly to an improvement in the method of forming various pattern effects in tubular fabrics.

It is a general object of the invention to provide certain needles that are instrumental in the formation of pattern effects in tubular fabric with an increased amount of yarn in excess of that normally consumed in conventional stitch formation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and means for selectively controlling the amount of yarn fed to individual groups of needles which in effect determine the resultant pattern design in the fabric.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a method employing a horn member around which the yarn is caused to be wrapped prior to being fed to each group of needles and which is also selectively movable to and from yarn engaging position.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

The present invention is applicable to knitting machines of known construction, such as the well-known SCP or SCOP machines, and such machines are completely described in United States Patent No. 2,217,022 and later patents. Since this patent may be referred to for a detailed description of the type of machine to which the current invention relates, it is considered unnecessary at this point to insert herein the details of the general aspects of construction and operation of the machine.

Patent application Serial No. 208,315, filed July 9, 1962, under the title of Knitting Method and Article, relates to a method of knitting articles of hosiery in which any one or a combination of various pattern effects is formed, such as lacework or filet patterns of any desired configuration.

The present invention relates to an improved method that is adapted to function in conjunction with that invention for producing a patterned effect in hosiery by selectively controlling the amount of yarn fed to certain needles while knitting those pattern areas and which takes place entirely in one direction of operation of the machine or in rotary work.

The method employed to produce these patterned efl'ects comprises knitting consecutive partial courses one each during individual revolutions of the needle cylinder with some of the stitches in any given partial course overlapping some of the stitches in the previously knitted partial course. The mechanism employed to carry out the invention includes a centrally disposed and selectively engageable horn member around which the yarn is wrapped when it is being fed to each group of needles knitting a partial course. By wrapping the yarn around the horn in this manner, the amount of yarn that is fed to each group is increased and, being caused to knit in overlapping relation with the previous knit partial course, the increased amount of yarn fed to a group of needles is partially consumed in some of the stitches of that group with the majority thereof remaining as a float between the consecutive partial courses. This extra yarn is particularly advantageous in providing additional stretch to the finished article of hosiery and permits the wearer of said hosiery greater ease of slipping this article of clothing over and off the heel portion of his foot.

ice

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top portion of a knitting machine showing the selectively engageable horn member in operating position with yarn wrapped therearound as it is fed to the first needle of the raised group shown;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the horn member withdrawn to an inactive position;

FIG. 3 is a view like that of FIG. 2 but shown as seen looking from the back of the machine; and

PEG. 4 is a stitch diagram, looking from the inside of the fabric, of one type of patterned. hosiery which ray be knitted according to the invention.

Now referring to the figures of drawing which show the upper portion of a knitting machine, the usual sinker cap is shown at It} and the carrier ring at 11 which supports the yarn feeding fingers generally indicated by numeral 12. Each finger is controlled by known means to lower its yarn at the precise moment to be taken and to be knit by the needles 13.

A generally vertical extending member 14 is supported and pivotally attached intermediate its ends as at 15 to a centrally disposed plate-like bracket 16 which is suspended above the needle cylinder on the inner end of a generally L-shaped arm 17 (FIG. 3).

Member 14 is provided with a laterally extending foot portion or horn 18 of arcuate configuration, and is adapted to be selectively moved by a mechanism to be more fully explained hereinafter, into close proximity with the inner side of the knitting instrumentalities (FIG. 1). The upper end of member 14 is provided with an integrally formed and laterally extending portion 19 the underside of which serves as a camming means to pivot the born 18 to an inactive position. The extending portion 19 is provided on the free end thereof with an obliquely extending cam member 20 which is attached to portion 19 by means of screws 21. The underside of cam member 20 is adapted to cooperate with portion 19 when camrning the born 13 to an inactive position (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The inner end of the L-shaped arm 17 supports and has journaled therein a bar member 22 which is selectively movable in a vertical direction. The upper end of bar member 22 is provided with an outwardly directed L-shaped rod 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the free end of rod 23 passes beneath and is in contact with the ex tending portion 19 of member 14 when the horn 18 is in operating position. FIGS. !2 and 3 show the bar member 22 raised to an elevated position and rod 23, being fixedly positioned on the upper end thereof, is caused to move across the underside of the extending portion 19 and cam member 2%, thus pivoting member 14 and placing born 13 in an inactive position.

Member 14 is spring biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by means of a coil spring 24 one end of which is attached to the plate-like bracket 16 by means of screw 25 and the opposite end is attached to member 14 immediately above its pivot point 15 by means of a screw 26. When bar member 22 is moved upwardly to swing the horn 18 to an inactive position, spring 24 is expanded and when bar 22 is selectively lowered, the tendency of the spring to return to its free length causes member 14 to pivot and move the horn 18 into close proximity with the inner side of the knitting instrumentalities. The born 18 is not permitted to contact the knitting instrumentalities and is restricted from doing so by means of the upper and inner portion of member 14 coming into contact with the side of rod 23 to limit its pivotal movement.

sagas-e4 Bar member 22 is selectively raised and lowered by a control mechanism which includes a lever arm 27 one end of which is pivotally attached to the lower portion of bar 22. This lever arm is pivot-ed intermediate its ends as at 28 (FIG. 3) and the opposite end thereof is provided with a slot 29 into which a pin 30 is adapted to be received. Pin 39 is fixedly attached to one end of a second lever arm 31 which is also pivoted intermediate its ends as at 32. The opposite end of this second lever arm is pivotally connected to a generally vertical link rod 33 which through known linkages interconnected with its opposite end is caused to reciprocate vertically according to the dictates of the main pattern drum (not shown) situated in the lower portion of the machine itself.

Although patterning may be incorporated in any or all portions of an article of hosiery, it is desirable to incorporate these patterned effects in the leg portion after completing the top thereof.

A cutter and binder unit U of conventional design is adapted to function in timed relation with the aforementioned mechanism utilized in forming a fabric of desired configuration by cutting and holding yarn A and elastic yarn B which form the top. A yarn C or body yarn is then fed to the needles 13 and is wrapped around horn 13 when fed to the first needle of each group knitting consecutive partial courses. The yarn measured around the horn is shed therefrom as the needle cylinder moves in a counterclockwise direction.

This cutter and binder unit is like that disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,024,635 and it obtains its means of actuation in a like manner; however, the actual unit itself is positioned on the opposite side of arm 17 and is supported by a mounting bracket 34 which is attached to the free end of said arm 17. To actuate the cutter and binder on this side of arm 17, a U-shaped lever 35 is utilized which passes over the top of said arm and thence downwardly to a point where its free end contacts the upper portion of the spring biased cutting and binding blade at. The other end of lever 35 is formed to extend outwardly from the needle cylinder and is pivoted at 23 along with lever arm 27. The remaining linkages interconnected with lever 35 are similar to and are actuated in a like manner and in timed relation with movement of lever arm 27.

In operation, the top of the stocking is formed in a well known manner by means of the top yarn A and the elastic yarn B. On completion of the top portion, these yarns are withdrawn and are cut and held by the binder unit. The leg or body portion of the stocking in knit by yarn C in consecutive partial courses by selected groups of needles during individual revolutions of the needle cylinder. At each subsequent partial course the same number of needles may the selected and at least some of the needles that knit in a previous partial course are selected to knit with newly selected needles to overlap some of the stitches in said previous course. A patterning elfect is thus produced in the body portion as the knitting proceeds from needles which have knitted one or more times during preceding revolutions of the needle cylinder to needles which knit in continuation of such needles in subsequent revolutions.

This pattern effect can be formed around the entire article of tubular fabric and for any desired length thereof by continuing to knit further partial courses with some only of the group of needles which knitted in each immediate previous course until all needles have knit, or the pattern eifect may be incorporated in specific wales of the fabric for any desired length to form a vertical patterned design.

After completing the top of the stocking, bar member 22 is lowered and permits member 14 to pivot placing the horn 13 in close proximity with the knitting instrumentalities. That yarn finger controlling yarn C is lowered in a known manner at this time to commence the leg portion of the stocking. With the leg portion being formed as consecutive partial courses of stitches, the last needle of each selected group of needles to knit holds the yarn and as the needle cylinder moves around to start the next partial course, yarn C is wrapped around horn 18 and is caused to be fed to the needles of the next group that will knit the next partial course. Each course is formed in overlapping relationship with the previously knit partial course and is so accomplished preferably by selecting on each subsequent revolution some of the needles that had knit on the previous revolution plus a sufficient number of additional needles to complete the number desired for each partial course. This manner of needle selection is continued until all of the needles have knit and is then repeated for the remainder of the leg portion or for as far as it is desirous to incorporate the patterned effect.

The yarn which is measured or wrapped around horn 18 slips off of the horn as the needle cylinder rotates in a counterclockwise direction and the extra yarn measured by said horn forms a float between the stitch formed by the last needle of the group that knitted a preceding partial course and is further consumed in the stitches of that group.

This extra yarn allows these stitches to be formed in overlapping relationship without drawing up too tightly between said stitches. Additionally this extra yarn is particularly advantageous in providing additional stretch to the finished stocking which permits the wearer thereof greater ease of putting on and the taking oil of said stocking.

FIG. 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale a partial stitch diagram of a pattern knitted according to the invention described hereinabove. Portions of eight courses of fabric are indicated by arrows numbered 3'7 to 44. The manner in which this typical pattern may be knitted will now be described.

In the first revolution of the needle cylinder prior to the first course of patterning, four needles only are selected to knit yarn C and form stitches 45, as, 47, and 43, or a partial course in the first course 37 of the patterning. All the remaining needles pass inactively through the knitting station and do not knit in this first revolution of the cylinder.

On the second revolution in the patterning, the same four needles are again selected as well as four additional trailing needles. The first group draws stitches 45a 46a, 47a, and 43a as a part of a second partial course in the second course 38 of the patterned area while the four additional needles draw stitches 4-9, 56, 51, and 52 as the remainder of the second partial course but these lie in the first course 37 of the patterned area. Intermediate the first and second partial courses, yarn C leading from the needle which knitted stitch 48 is wrapped around horn 18 to provide excess yarn for the float P which is formed between the stitch and the first stitch 45a of the next partial course.

On the third revolution in the patterning cycle the first group of four needles remains inactive while the second group of four needles is again selected to draw stitches 4%, Stla, 51a, and 520 as a part of a third partial course and which lie in the second course 38, and also a third group of four additional trailing needles is selected to draw stitches 53, 54, 55, and 56 as the remainder of that third partial course and which remainder lies in the first course 37 of the patterned area, the end of the second partial course and beginning of the third partial course also being interconnected by a fioat F formed in an identical manner to the first. In FIG. 4

courses

37 and 33 are indicated by cross hatching.

This general cycle is repeated until two complete courses of fabric have been knitted. It will be apparent that the cycle except for the intial selection of four needles comprises knitting a partial course with a first group of eight needles during one revolution of the needle cylinder, then on a subsequent revolution knitting a further partial course with a second group of eight needles which second group includes some only of the first group and also some additional needles, so that each group of four needles knits during each of two revolutions of the cylinder and is rendered inactive on the third revolution.

Each time that a new group of needles is selected to knit, openings or holes H are produced in the fabric between adjacent stitches in each group.

When the two

courses

37 and 38 are completed, the same cycle is repeated with respect to courses 39 and 40 (dotted courses in FIG. 4) immediately following except that the needle selection is displaced by two needles, that is, instead of commencing with the needles which knitted stitches 45 to 48, the needles which knitted stitches 45 and 46 and the immediately preceding two needles are selected to knit the first partial course in course 39 of the fabric. Then, the following partial course is knitted on a following revolution using these same four needles and a further immediately trailing group of four needles, and so on, until courses 3% and 40 are completed. This variation in needle selection as to

courses

39 and 40 results in holes or openings H which are offset two stitches course-wise with respect to holes H Next,

courses

41, 42, 43, and 44 are knitted in the same manner and are exact duplicates of

courses

37, 38, 39, and 40 and the cycle of four courses is repeated for as long as desired.

Obviously, the offsetting of the needle selection in

courses

39 and 40 is entirely arbitrary and results in a different pattern effect than if the same grouping of needles were re-selected for each of the pairs of courses.

The size of the holes may be increased merely by knitting three or more times on each group of four needles before selecting additional new needles to knit instead of only twice as in the pattern described and shown in FIG. 4.

Additionally, the needle selection may be varied in many different ways and in groups of at least two or any greater number to produce unusual hole patterns. The selection as to number of needles in each group need not be repeated. Not all of the needles of a particular group need to be re-selected to knit on the second partial course but some may be selected to tuck on that course to produce still other variations.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of knitting a tubular fabric on an independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needles which comprises the steps of knitting a plurality of partial courses each on individual revolutions of said cylinder and in the same direction by selected groups of needles and wrapping yarn being knitted around a horn prior to its being fed to said groups of needles.

2. A method of knitting a tubular fabric on an independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needles which comprises the steps of alternatingly wrapping yarn around a horn and knitting a plurality of partial courses each on individual revolutions of said cylinder and in the same direction, at least one of the needles which knits in any given partial course being a needle which has knitted in the preceding partial course, thereby providing yarn to each group of needles in excess of that normally drawn.

3. A- method of knitting a tubular fabric on a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needles which comprises the steps of (a) knitting a first partial course on a first group of needles,

(b) knitting a second partial course with at least some of said first group of needles and with some additional trailing needles,

(c) continuing the knitting of further partial courses with some only of the group of needles which knitted in the immediately previous partial course until all of the needles have knitted, and

(d) providing to one of the needles in each partial course a greater amount of yarn than to the remaining needles.

4. A method of knitting a tubular fabric on a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needles which comprises the steps of (a) knitting a first partial course on a first group of needles,

(0) continuing the knitting of further partial courses with some only of the group of needles which knitted in the immediately previous partial course until all of the needles have knitted,

(d) providing to one of the needles in each partial course a greater amount of yarn than to the remaining needles, and

(e) repeating steps a, b, c, and d for as long as desired.

5. A method of knitting a tubular fabric on a circular independent needles knitting machine having a needle cylinder and needles which comprises the steps of (a) knitting a partial course on a first group of needles,

(b) knitting at least one additional partial course with said first group of needles,

(c) knitting a subsequent partial course with at least one of the needles of said first group with a second group of additional needles,

(d) knitting at least one additional partial course with said second group of needles,

(e) providing to one of the needles in each partial course a greater amount of yarn than to the remaining needles, and

(f) continuing the knitting until a tubular article is completed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.