US3751942A

US3751942A - Method of knitting run-proof fabric

Info

Publication number: US3751942A
Application number: US00065978A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Uhlir
Original assignee: Elitex Zavody Textilniho
Current assignee: Elitex Zavody Textilniho
Priority date: 1969-09-03
Filing date: 1970-08-21
Publication date: 1973-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-14
Also published as: GB1297823A; DE2038567A1; CS161214B1; FR2060900A5

Abstract

Run-proof courses are formed by providing alternate needles of a circular knitting machine with loops formed of independent yarns and thereafter pulling one of said yarns from said alternate loop and interlooping the pulled yarn through an adjacent loop.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Uhlir METHOD OF KNITTING RUN-PROOF FABRIC [75] lnventor: Pavel Uhlir, Trebic, Czechoslovakia [73] Assignee: Elltex, Zavody textilniho strojlrenstvi generalnl, Liberec, Czechoslovakia [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 65,978

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 3, 1969 Czechoslovakia 6013/68 [52] US. Cl 66/14, 66/104, 66/172 R [51] Int. Cl. D041) 9/10, D04b 15/06 [58] Field of Search 66/14, 107, 104,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,379,649 7/1945 Nebel 66/169 A Aug. 14, 1973 1,309,582 7/1919 Miller 66/172 R 2,313,294 3/1943 Garric... 66/172 R 3,046,768 7/1962 Barton 66/172 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,756 9/1956 Germany 66/107 Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Att0rney-Richard Low and Murray Schaffer [57] ABSTRACT Run-proof courses are formed by providing alternate needles of a circular knitting machine with loops formed of independent yarns and thereafter pulling one of said yarns from said alternate loopand interlooping the pulled yarn through an adjacent loop.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the knitting of fabric hosiery and, in particular, to a system for forming a run-proof course or un-rippable course on circular knitting machines.

It has heretofore been required to make substantial constructional modification to adapt circular knitting machines to the knitting of run-proof fabrics and especially to the knitting of a single run-proof course after normal knitting of body fabrics have been made. It has been especially difficult to form the final or binding course in such items as ladies or mens hosiery of the full fashion variety, or the finishing of courses in such gusset parts as formed the heel and toe portion.

In the copending application Ser. No. 872,182, filed on Oct. 29, 1969, there is disclosed, a method of forming run-proof course on circular knitting machines in which the needles of a circular knitting machine are separated in a 1:1 ratio to form two groups. Onto one group. of needles is simultaneously fed a pair of yarns to form double loops thereon. Thereafter a pair of yarns is simultaneously fed over the second group of needles to form an. alternating set of double loops. A single course is then formed by pulling one yarn from each. pair of yarns throughthe loops formed by the alternatively located loops.

While the method disclosed in the aforementioned application produced run-proof courses in an efficient manner, considerable intricacy and complex operation was required to produce the interlooping double yarns.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for producing run-proof courses.

It is another object of the present invention to adapt circular knitting machines to produce secure and high strength run-proof courses.

It is another object of the present invention to adapt a circular knitting machine in. a simple manner to the production of run-proof courses for final binding of hosiery. bodies. or for the binding of gusset portions thereof while the fabric remains upon the circular knitting: machine. I

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a circular knitting machine with a system for improving. fabric construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a system for knitting run-proof courses in a circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles each having associated with it a knock over sinker and adividing sinker cooperating to form, from yarn fed thereto, a plurality of sequential loop courses constituting the body portion of the fabric. The system comprises the steps of separating the needles, after the completion of the body portion, into two equal groups ina 1:1 ratio; thereafter feeding to the needles of one groupayarn, so as to form loops over the edges of the associated knock-over sinkers and sinker loops over the active edges of the dividing sinkers. Subsequently, feeding to the needles of the second group a second yarn, forming sinker loops over the edges of its associated knock-over sinkers and sinker loops over the edges ofthe dividing sinker. Thus, sinker loop courses are formed by two separate yarns in alternate needles respectively. Thereafter pulling each yarn through the loops of the other yarn, thereby interlooping the two yarns to form the run-proof course.

A full description of the system of the present invention together with the various objects and additional advantages thereof is made in the foregoing disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following disclosure makes reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view in developed form of a portion of the upper and lower needle cylinders of a circular knitting machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational section along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the upper and lower needle cylinders in detail;

FIG. 3 is view similar to FIG. 1 showing the progress of knitting;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 showing further progress of knitting;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 showing still further progress of the knitting operation;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4 taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the pattem of the fabric showing the formation of the run-proof course on a body fabric.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the sinkers, cam path and sinker curves effecting the operation of the present invention.

The present invention is shown in connection with a conventional circular knitting machine, particularly of the two cylinder variety with multi-feed' means for the yarn. In the drawings, only those portions of a circular knitting machine are shown which are necessary for a full understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious that those portions not shown are of conventional design and are used in their conventional and well known manner. Additionally, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be adapted to other circular knitting machines of the singular type orof the single cylinder construction.

Briefly, the circular knitting machine comprises a pair of opposed cylinders l and 12, the lower needle cylinder 1 is mounted on a carrying sleeve 20 and is arranged with a plurality of horizontally parallel needle beds 2, in each of which a knitting needle 3 is mounted. Intermediate sinkers, patterning sinkers and similar elements are not shown in order to maintain the drawings as simple as possible.

Each knitting needle 3 is provided-with a hook 4 and a cooperating latch 5 so as to catch and hold the yarn during the looping operation. The upper part of the lower cylinder 1 is provided with an integrally formed sinker ring 6 from which is spaced a fixed control ring 7 provided with a cam groove. The ring 7 is secured to a circular member 11 forming the inner throat of the cylinder 1. In the space between the

rings

6 and 7, there is provided a plurality of knock-over sinkers 8 each having a butt 9 located in the cam groove. There is one knock-over sinker 8 for each needle 3. Each knockover sinker 8 has a hook I0 which cooperates with the respective needle hooks 4 to form a yarn loop.

Mounted above and coaxially with the needle cylinder 1 is the upper needle cylinder 12. The needle cylinder 12 is also provided with a longitudinally parallel needle bed 13 and with a grooved ring 14 from which is spaced a fixed control ring 18 having a cam groove formed therein. In the space between the grooved ring 14 and the control ring 18 are arranged a plurality of dividing sinkers 15, one each for each needle. Each dividing sinker 15 has an edge 16 which is adapted to engage the yarn in similar fashion as the sinker hook l and is also provided with a butt 17 which rides in a cam groove formed in a control ring 18 which is fixed to a circular member 19 forming the inner mouth of the cylinder l2. Yarn guides and feeds are not shown but are included in the obvious manner.

Turning to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the knitted fabric, according to the present invention, is formed from a base yarn 21 from which the complete body of a hose, for example, in plain or in simple knit, is made and a run-proof course comprising a set of paired

yarns

22 and 24 knitted into the hose in a 1:1 ratio. The first yarn is initially knitted to half of the terminal loops of the base yarn in what will hereafter be called a first knitting system to form loops 23. The second yarn 24 is thereafter knitted on to the remaining base loops in what will hereafter be called a second knitting system to form loops 25. The thus formed alternating

loops

23 and 25 of each of the knitting systems are then knitted together in a third knitting system to form a final runproof course of

needle loops

26 and 27 on either side of themselves on the other alternate needles. Each may have dissimilarcharacteristics or they may be the same. Elastic or crimped yarn may be used.

For the purpose of fully explaining the procedure by which the present invention produces the fabric of FIG. 9, reference is made to FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6, in particular, which show progressive stages of the procedure. Each figure is a developed form of the front elevation of the upper and lower needle cylinders l and 12 in the proximity of the knocking-over plane. FIG. 1 shows the initial stages of the first knitting system, FIG. 3 shows the advanced stages of the first knitting system, FIG. shows the stage of the second knitting system while FIG. 6 shows the third knitting system and the interknit of the run-proof loops.

The needles 3 are grouped into two sets, one labled a, the second set labled b. The groups are determined in a lzl ratio by which the needles are alternately separated. Each needle of each group is given an ordinal sub-number l, 2, and 3 designating the operative position of the needle at any given moment. The numeral 1 designating the lay-up or rest position of the needle, the numeral 2 designating the drawing in or knock-over position respectively of the needle and numeral 3 designating the kinking position of the needle. The arrow S as seen in the drawings designates the direction of movement of the cylinders l and I2 and the direction by which knitting or looping takes place.

Specifically, the apparatus is operated so that the main body of the fabric is formed from the yarn 21 by rotational knitting in the conventional manner. Upon finishing the last of the predetermined courses of the body from the yarn 21, all of the needles 3 are drawn down into the lower needle cylinder 1 and thereafter are divided into their 1:1 ratio forming the groups of needles 3a, 3a: 3a; and the second group of

needles

3b, 3b: 3b;,.

The needles of the first group are then lifted into a lay-up position (3a,). The yarn 22 is then fed independently to the hooks 4 of the needles (30 while rotation of the cylinders l and 12 is continued. The needles (30 then move into the kinking position designated 3a at which moment partially completed loops are formed on the hooks 4 of each of the needles (3:1 comprising the first run-proof knitting system. The yarn 22 forms sinker loops 23 over the edge 16 of adjacent dividing sinkers 15. This situation is seen best in FIG. 1. Meanwhile, the needles of the second group (3b remain in their kinking position since they were initially positioned so in the lower cylinder 1.

After all of the needles pass through this first knitting system, all of the needles are then for a short time in the kinking position shown in the left hand side of FIG. 3 and designated (311 or (3b Before the second system begins to take effect, the needles of the first group are maintained in their kinking positions (30 as seen in the right hand side of FIG. 3. This, of course, is the converse of the positions taken during operation of the first system. As seen in FIG. 4 those sinkers 15 holding loops 22 in the active edge 16 are withdrawn slightly from the position of FIG. 2 allowing the ascending needles 4 to rise in front of the loop 22. Now the second systems yarn 24 is fed independently to the hooks 4 of the needles of this second group B and knitting proceeding once again from the initial position (3b,) to the take up position (3b Because of the peculiar shape of the active edges 16 of the sinkers, the yarn 22 is held on the sinkers. While on descent of the needles 4 with the yarn 24, the yarn 24 is engaged to form its own loops. In this condition the active edge 16 of the sinker extends beyond the point where yarn 22 is held so that the yarn 24 is securely held. Thereafter the sinkers move forward to position seen in FIG. 7. Thus, the second system also produces in the hooks of the needles of this group partial loops comprising loops 25 made over the edges '16 of adjacent dividing sinkers 15.

At the moment when all of the needles of the second system are in kinking position (3b then each hook 4 of all of the needles 3 contain a

loop

23 or 25 in such a manner that the loops of the first yarn 22 alternate with the loops of the second yarn 24 in alternate needles respectively as seen in FIG. 5.

The needles then enter the third phase or system. Prior to this, however, all of the needles are again lifted from the kinking position (3a;,) and (3b;,) to the lay-up position (311 and (3b,) to provide the basis for finishing the final course. This situation is shown in FIG. 7 where the needles sinkers are shown having a loop formed of the second yarn 24 while the first yarn 22 caught in the working ends 16 of the dividing sinker. The base yarn 21 and the loop 25 are held by knockover sinker 8. As seen in FIG. 5, the needles 3b having made a loop of the yarn 24 are found below the yarn 22 as the needle begins to ascend into the third system as seen in FIG. 6. Simultaneously, as seen in FIG. 7 the sinkers 15 move forward carrying the loop of yarn 24 in front of the needle, even though these loops also carry the yarn 22. A similar but opposite arrangement can be visualized for the alternate arrangement of

yarns

22 and 24.

In the operation of the third system, the advancing rotation of the cylinders in the direction of arrow S seen in FIG. 6 carries all of the needles downwardly into the kinking position (30 and 3b As the needles descend, the hooks 4 take up the yarns forming the loops over the sinker edges 16 of the dividing sinkers 15. Thus, the needles of the first group a (first system) serially catch within their hooks 4 the second yarn 24 so that as a consequence the second yarn 24 is pulled through the loops 23 made of the yarn 22 are the first system. In a similar manner as seen in FIG. 8, the needles of the second group b (second system) serially catch the first yarn 22 of the first system set and pull the yarn 22 through the loops 25 formed from the second yarn 24 of the second system. Thus, the run-proof course is finally finished with alternating

needle loops

26 and 27 form from the first and

second yarns

22 and 24 respectively.

The action of said sinkers in forming the said ladder-proof stitch course, is obvious from FIG. 10. The graphic representation is based on specified parts heretofore described. The knitting systems, referred to, are denoted respectively as the first I, second II and third Ill knitting system. The course of the controlling butts 17 of the dividing sinkers 15, is represented both in the guiding path formed by fixed controlling rings 18 and graphically by a curve whose extreme positions are denoted by the letters 2,, Z Z 2,. Below this curve a specific adjustment of the sinkers to these extreme positions is shown. Their direction of movement, denoted by arrows, in the needle cylinder 1 and the yarn of which the desired ladderproof course is formed are also shown. Finally, the specified knitting systems are in the figure divided by thin vertical straight lines interlined by two points.

The curve crossing the graphically expressed path 2 of the dividing sinkers 15 is at its verteces denoted by the symbols P, and P and shows the sinking, tuck and lapping positions of the needles being just placed in action in cooperation with the dividing sinkers. The position denoted as P, means the clearing position and the one denoted as P means the sinking position. This marking by the index 1 and 3 is coincident again with that appearing in the previous description. I!

It is preferred, of course, that the operation of the knitting machine be performed in a continuous manner and that the yarn be fed to it in a sequential order, to form symmetrical interlocking loops.

At this stage, the individual loops may be removed from the needles in a conventional and well known manner, as by binding off if, it is the final run of the hose or by connection with another gusset portion if it is the gusset end.

It will be appreciated that in order to perform the procedure, the dividing sinkers 15 must have a special shape. Accordingly, they are provided at their ends with a recess for holding a yarn and an active edge 16 for receiving another yarn and while they are mounted in an analogous manner to the knock-over sinkers 8, their movement must be such that at the moment when the hook 4 takes a planar position below the knockover plane or the substantially horizontal plane of sinkers 115, as shown in FIG. 7, each end 16 terminates its grip on the sinker loop. An example of this is shown in FIG. 8. The point at which the dividing sinker must be withdrawn being marked by the numeral 15x in FIG. 6.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple and improved system for utilizing a circular knitting machine for the formation of run-proof has been effected. It will also be seen that the run-proof course is in fact strong, stable and highly effective, having alternating loops of different yarn which are themselves interlooped.

It will also be obvious to those skilled in the present art that the system may be adapted to a single system knitting machine or to a single cylinder knitting machine or even to a multiple system, the essence being in the formation of the loops which can be effected in a variety of ways. It will be appreciated that the needles may be divided into three or even four groups and that multiple yarns maybe used. It is therefore intended that the present disclosure be illustrative only and not limiting of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

ll. The method of knitting a run-proof course on a double cylinder circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles each having an associated knock-over sinker in the lower cylinder and a dividing sinker in the upper cylinder, comprising the steps of knitting on said needles and sinkers a series of knit stitch courses from a base yarn fed thereto, thereafter separating said needles in the lower cylinder in a 1:1 ratio to form two groups therefrom, holding one group of said needles inactive and moving the dividing sinkers forward and feeding to the other of said groups of needles a first independent yam so as to form knit stitches with said first yarn while supporting said yarn on all the dividing sinkers thereof to form a first set of loops, withdrawing the dividing sinkers associated with said needles to permit the needles of said other group to pass in front of the loops held thereon, thereafter holding said other group of needles inactive on said lower cylinder and feeding to said one group of needles a second independent yarn so to form knit stitches with said second yarn while supporting said second yarn on all the dividing sinkers thereof to form a second set of loops, said independent yarns forming a single course of knit stitches of said first and second yarns with the knit stitches of the last course of said base yarn, thereafter moving all of said dividing sinkers forward to permit the needles of both groups to pass to the rear of said first and second sets of loops on said dividing sinkers, raising said needles, withdrawing said dividing sinkers as needles of both groups are lowered to feed said first and second sets of loops on said dividing sinkers to said needles, continuing to lower said needles to pull each of said independent with said needles through the knit stitches of said first and second yarns to form a complete knit stitch course and thereafter finishing off said pulled loops.

Claims

1. The method of knitting a run-proof course on a double cylinder circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles each having an associated knock-over sinker in the lower cylinder and a dividing sinker in the upper cylinder, comprising the steps of knitting on said needles and sinkers a series of knit stitch courses from a base yarn fed thereto, thereafter separating said needles in the lower cylinder in a 1:1 ratio to form two groups therefrom, holding one group of said needles inactive and moving the dividing sinkers forward and feeding to the other of said groups of needles a first independent yarn so as to form knit stitches with said first yarn while supporting said yarn on all the dividing sinkers thereof to form a first set of loops, withdrawing the dividing sinkers associated with said needles to permit the needles of said other group to pass in front of the loops held thereon, thereafter holding said other group of needles inactive on said lower cylinder and feeding to said one group of needles a second independent yarn so to form knit stitches with said second yarn while supporting said second yarn on all the dividing sinkers thereof to form a second set of loops, said independent yarns forming a single course of knit stitches of said first and second yarns with the knit stitches of the last course of said base yarn, thereafter moving all of said dividing sinkers forward to permit the needles of both groups to pass to the rear of said first and second sets of loops on said dividing sinkers, raising said needles, withdrawing said dividing sinkers as needles of both groups are lowered to feed said first and second sets of loops on said dividing sinkers to said needles, continuing to lower said needles to pull each of said independent with said needles through the knit stitches of said first and second yarns to form a complete knit stitch course and thereafter finishing off said pulled loops.