GB2228750A

GB2228750A - Knitting tubular fabric with fashion lines on a flat machine

Info

Publication number: GB2228750A
Application number: GB9004740A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masahiro Shima
Original assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Current assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg Ltd
Priority date: 1989-03-03
Filing date: 1990-03-02
Publication date: 1990-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-02
Also published as: IT1240788B; IT9047716A0; DE4006877B4; KR900014661A; KR0126222B1; JPH0415301B2; FR2643917B1; JPH02229248A; GB2228750B; GB9004740D0; DE4006877A1; ES2019812A6; IT9047716A1; FR2643917A1

Description

1 METHOD OF KNITTING CYLINDRICAL KNITTED FABRICS The present invention

relates to a method of knitting which is used to integrally knit various portions knitted into a cylindrical configuration,. such as clothing, by the use of a f lat knitting machine. and particularly to a method of knitting cylindrical knitted fabrics which reduces the diameter of the cylindrical knitted fabrics.

It is already known prior to the f!ling of the present application to produce clothing and the like using knitted fabrics knitted by a flat knitting machine, wherein a sheet of knitted fabrics is knitted flat, and predetermined parts of an end edge thereof are sewn together thereby to form a body portion or other portions into a cylindrical shape (Japanese Publication Nos. 23022/1982 and 53455/1962). However, in the thus obtained clothing and the like, the ends of the knitted fabrics are sewn together, and therefore the sewn portion is poor in expansibility, and in addition, the sewn portion projects into the clothing, failing to obtain a satisfactory feel when worn, resulting in a poor fashionability, and sometimes producing fraying of pieced up sections. Moreover, sewing work is necessary, which increases the production steps, and productivity is therefore not high.

In view of the aforemen4Cioned points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of knitting for reducing knitted stitches in continuously and integrally knitting portions corresponding to the sewn parts in the step of knitting knitted fabrics, '%'or knitting clothing which has heretofore been integrally finished by sewing various end edges of the knitted fabrics constituting sleeves, a body and the like, to 1 R 1 2 knit a piece of clothing as a finished product, and to obtain knitted fabrics which are fashionable by selecting the way of overlapping of the loops in the knitting for reducing stitches so that the fashion 5 lines can be produced at suitable positions.

The method comprises, in knitting knitted fabrics into a cylindrical configuration on a flat knitting machine, in a plurality of suitable courses, applying, towards a predetermined loop of a suitable wale, one or more rackings to a loop adjacent to said predetermined loop of the same course and a loop of each wale to an end edge of knitted fabrics, forming an accumulated loop wherein the predetermined loop and the loop adjacent thereto are superposed a suitable number of times thereby to reduce the width of the knitted fabrics, and producing fashion lines by rows of the accumulated loops formed in th e plurality of courses.

When the knitted fabrics are knitted into a cylindrical configuration by a flat knitting machine having opposed needle beds, superimposed on a predetermined loop of a suitable wale is a loop of a wale adjacent thereto, in a suitable course. That is, a loop from a loop adjacent to a predetermined loop to the end of the knitted fabrics is subjected to racking towards a predetermined loop of a suitable wale. This operation is carried out a suitable number of times whereby a plurality of loops are accumulated on the predetermined loop and at the same time the knitting width is reduced. A plurality of said accumulated loops are produced in the suitable course thereby to form fashion lines.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, two embodiments of the method of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawingsi in which:

-il 1 z t 3 Pigs. 1 to 3-12 and Figs. 4 to 6-19 show a first embodiment and a second embodiment. respectivel y.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sweater knitted by a first method of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a design view of set-in sleeve knitting which is the knitting design used to knit said sweater; Figs. 3-1 to 3-12 are knitting views showing, by a sequence of steps, the state of loops of knitted fabrics engaged with needles of two needle beds and the yarn feed; Fig. 4 is a front view of a sweater knitted by a second method of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a design view of gathering which is the knitting design used to knit the sweater of Fig. 4; and is Fig. 6-1 to 6-19 are knitting views showing, by a sequence of steps, the state of loops of knitted fabrics engaged with needles of four needle beds and the yarn feed.

The knitted fabrics to which the present invention is applicable include set-in sleeve knitting, raglan sleeve knitting, etc. These knitted fabrics are knitted by a flat knitting machine having one or two beds abutted before and behind respectively.

As a first embodiment, a method for set-in sleeve knitting which knits a sweater 1 as shown in Fig. 1 by the use of a 2-bed knitting machine including a front bed F and a rear bed B will be described hereinafterThe sweater 1 is knitted into a cylindrical configuration by first separately knitting a body portion 2 from the waist 3 and sleeves 4, 4 from the lower edge of a sleeve 5 respectively, and when three portions have been knitted to a predetermined length the three portions are integrally knitted from the lower portion of armholes 6,6, and thereafter a shoulder 9 is knitted. As an example of the set-in 4 sleeve knitting which will be described later, there is mentioned a course of a portion wherein a fashion line 7 extending upwardly from the armhole 6 terminates at a curved portion in a vertical line.

In the aforementioned portion of the sweater 1 sleeve cap lines 8 r 8 at both lef t and right side ends of the knitted fabrics are inclined, and therefore the width of the knitted fabrics needs to be successively reduced. Therefore. stitch transfer is done stitch by stitch to the adjacent wale in two courses to reduce the knitting width. By this stitch transfer, there is formed a fashion line wherein a portion having two loops superimposed extends in a vertical direction.

Knitting of knitted fabrics by set-in sleeve knitting of which a design is shown in Fig. 2 will be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3.

The design view of set-in sleeve knitting shown in F-Lg. 2 shows the state where the knitted fabrics knitted into a cylindrical configuration by front and rear needle beds are superimposed before and behind. The bold line indicates the knitted fabrics knitted by the front bed F, while the fine line indicates the knitted fabrics knitted by the rear bed B. The design view of Fig. 2 only shows the right end portion of the width of the knitted fabrics, and the knitted fabrics of similar design present on the left end portion is symmetrically (left and right) knitted by reciprocation of a carriage (not shown). Here, knitting of the right end portion will be described.

The course I in Fig. 2 is knitted by a needle of the front bed F. In Fig. 3-1, yarns are supplied to needles A, C, 0 0 0 0. Q of the f ront bed F to knit the front knitted fabrics, and the carriage is reversed whereby the yarns are knitted by needles R, P,... D, B of the rear bed B to form course II of the rear knitted 1 fabrics (Fig. 3-2). The yarns having been subjected to the knitting of course II are inverted at the left end of the design view (not shown) to knit course III of the front knitted fabrics. In course III, the front knitted fabrics are knitted, similarly to course It by needles A. C,.. 0, Q of the front bed P (Fig. 3-3), and the carriage is then inverted whereby course IV of the rear knitted fabrics are knitted by needles R, P, .00 D of the rear bed B. similarly to course II (Fig.

3-4). Then, the knitting width is reduced by one stitch every 'Lour courses from course III and course 1V (every two courses in a state where front and back knitted fabrics are developed). That is, a loop of course 1V engaged with needles B, D, F and H of the rear bed B is transferred to needles B, D, F and H of the front bed F (Fig. 3-5). The loop of course III engaged with needles K, M, 0, Q of the f ront bed P is transferred to needles K, Mr Qt Q of the rear bed B (Fig. 3-6). In this state, racking of the rear bed B for two needles in a left direction is made so that needles A, B,... X of the front bed F are opposed to needles C, D, 0.0 Z of the rear bed B (Fig. 3-7). The loop of course IV engaged with needles L. Nj P, R of the rear bed B is transferred to needles J, L, N, P of the front bed F, and the loop of course III transferred to needles K, M, 0, Q of the rear bed B is transferred back to needles I, Kt Mr 0 of the front bed F. Thereby, the loop of needles K, Mi 0, Q of the front bed F of course III moves to adjacent needles I. K, M, 0 and therefore the loop of needle K is superimposed on to the loop of needle 1 (Fig. 3-8). This is an overlap of loops indicated at 71. that is. an accumulation of loops, and a part of the fashion line 7 of the front knitted fabrics is formed. Next, racking is returned so that needles A to Z of the front bed P and rear bed k 6 B are opposed to one another (Fig. 3-9), and the loop of course IV transferred to needles B. Dr... N, P of the front bed F is transferred back to needles B, D,. 0 a N, P of the rear bed B (Fig. 3-10). The loop of course IV engaged with needles L, N, Pi R of the rear bed B moves to needles J. Lr Ny P and therefore the loop of needle L is superimposed on the loop of the needle J. This is an overlap of a loop indicated at 72 in Fig. 2, and a f ashion line of the rear knitted fabric (not shown) is formed.

NexiZ, course V of the front knitted fabrics is knitted by needles A, C,.. . M, 0 of the front bed F (Fig. 3-11), and course VI of the rear knitted fabrics is knitted bv needles P, N,... D, B of the rear bed B (Fig. 3-12). After knitting of course VI, courses VII and VIII are knitted similarly to courses III and IV; the steps from Figs. 3-3 to Fig. 3-12 are repeated for knitting. The loop is transferred and loops are accumulated and the knitting width is reduced in a manner similar to that as described above (knitting view is omitted).

A second embodiment of method for knitting a sweater 101 as shown in Fig. 4 using a 4-bed knit.-.ing machine including front beds FU, FD and rear beds BU, BD will be described hereinafter. A fashion line formed by the gathering is indicated at 102. The design of that portion is shown in Fig. 5. Knitting of gathering knitted fabrics shown in the design view of Fig. 5 will be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 6.

The gathering design view shown in Fig. 5 shows the state where the front and rear knitted fabrics knitted into a cylindrical configuration by front and rear needle beds are developed. The bold line indicates front knitted fabrics 103 knitted by upper and lower z k 4 7 front beds FUy FD and the fine line indicates rear knitted fabrics 104 knitted by upper and lower rear beds BU, BD. Stitch transfer of the knitted fabrics 103 and 104 is made to the adjacent wale every two stitches every two courses to reduce the knittin width. By this stitch transfer. there is formed a fashion line 102 wherein a portion having three superimposed loops extends obliquely.

Court 1 in Fig. 5 is knitted by needles of the 10 lower front bed D. In Fig. 6-1, yarns are supplied to needles B, C,... J, K of the lower front bed FD to knit front knitted fabrics, and the carriage is inverted whereby the yarns are knitted by needles K, J,.0. C, B of the lower rear bed BD to form course II-of the rear knitted fabrics (Fig. 6-2). In the course III after the knitting of course II, front knitted fabrics are knitted similarly to course i by needles B, C,... J, K of the lower front bed FD (Fig. 6-3), and then the carriage is inverted whereby course IV of the rear knitted fabric is knitted by needles K, Jt... Cy B of the lower rear bed BD similarly to course II (Fig. 64). The knitting width is reduced by two stitches every one course for both surface and back sides from the next course V and course VI. Reduction in knitting width is carried out as follows. The loop of course II engaged with needle H of the lower front bed FB is transferred to needle h of the upper rear bed BU (Fig. 6-5). Then, racking of the upper and lower rear beds BU, BD is made to the left by one pitch (Fig. 6-6), and the loop of course III engaged with needles B, C,... F, G of the lower front bed FD is transferred to needles c,d,... g, h of the upper rear bed BU (Fig. 67). Next, racking of the upper and lower rear beds BU, BD is made to the right by one pitch and the loop of course III engaged with needles c#d... g, h of the k 8 upper rear bed BU is transferred to needles C, D, G, H of the lower front bed FD (Fig. 6-8). Thereby. in the design view shown in Fig. 5, a double loop is provided only on a wale H in course V, and the knitting width is reduced by one pitch. The illustrated design shows that in course V, the knitting width is further reduced by one pitch (2 pitches in total). but one pitch portion further reduced is again effected in course V after the reduction in knitting width of course VI in the rear knitted fabrics (indicated by the fine line). That is, racking for superimposing loops in the front and rear knitted fabrics is carried out alternately.

Next. in course IV of the rear knitted fabrics, the 15 knitting width is reduced by one stitch. The loop of course IV engaged with needle H of the lower rear bed BD is transferred to needle h of the upper front bed FU (Fig. 6-9). Then, racking of the upper rear beds BU, BD is made to the right by one pitch (Fig. 6-10), and the loop of course IV engaged with needles B, C, F, G of the lower rear bed BD is transferred to needles c,d.... g, h of the upper front bed FU (Fig. 6-11). Next, racking of the upper and lower front beds FU, FD is made to the lef t by one pitch, and the loop of course IV engaged with needles c,d,... g, h of the upper front bed FU is transferred to needles C. Di woo G, H of the lower rear bed BD (Fig. 6- 12). Thereby, in the design view shown in Fig. S# a double loop is provided only on a wale H in course VI, and the knitting width is reduced by one pitch. In the illustrated design it can be seen that in course VI the knitting width is further reduced by one pitch (two pitches in total), but one pitch portion reduction is again effected in course VI after the further reduction in knitting width of course V in the surf ace side 1 k is 9 (indicated by the bold line).

Next, a f urther reduction in stitch in the wale H of course V of the surf ace knitted f abrics will be described.

By the rightward movement of the carriage. the loop of course III engaged with needles C, Dr... F, G of the lower front bed FD is transferred to needles c. d,... f, g of the upper rear bed BU (Fig. 6-13). Then, racking of the upper and lower rear beds BU, BD is made to the right by one pitch (Fig. 6-14), and the loop of course III engaged with needles c, d,... g, h of the upper rear bed BU is transferred to needles D, Er.00 G, H of the lower front bed FD (Fig. 6-15). Thereby, in the design view shown in Fig. 5, a triple loop is provided only on t-he wale H in course V and the knitting width is reduced by two pitches.

Next, knitting of the rear knitted fabrics proceeds.

That is, the loop of course VI engaged with needles C, D,... F, G of the lower rear bed BD which is subjected to racking to 'L-.he right by one pitch is transferred to needles d, e,... f, g of the upper front bed FU (Fig. 6-16). Racking of the upper and lower rear beds BUt BD is made to the left by one pitch, and the loop of course III engaged with needles D, E,... G, H of the upper front bed FU is transferred to needles d, e,... g, h of the lower rear bed BD (Fig. 6-17).

Thereby a triple loop is provided in the wale H of courses V and VII for both front and rear knitted fabrics, and the knitted fabrics reduced in knitting width by two stitches are obtained.

Next, knitting of courses VII and VIII is carried out.

Course VII is knitted by feeding yarns to needles 1 Di E,... Jt K of the lower front bed (Fig. 6-18), and the carriage is inverted whereby yarns are f ed to needles K. Jt 0 0 0 E, D of the lower rear bed BD whereby course VIII is knitted (Fig. 6-19).

For courses IX and X in Fig. 5 the aforementioned knitting is repeated.

The knitted fabrics may be adjustably reduced in knitting width depending on the degree of accumulation of loops at loop-accumulated points 171. 1721 173, 174 of courses reduced in knitting width by the aforementioned knitting and the number of wales in which loops are accumulated.

Rows of said loop-accumulated points, that is 71, 737... and 171, 173 for the front knitted fabrics, and 72r 741... 172j, 174 for the rear knitted fabrics, constitute fashion lines 7 and 102. Accordingly, if the accumulation of said loops is made to produce-in the same wales, the fashion lines 7 and 102 form a vertical and straight line. In the case where the wales produced are moved successively, the fashion lines are produced obliquely.

The present invention employs the method as described above. In obtaining knitted fabrics knitted into a cylindrical configuration wherein in the process of knitting the knitting width is reduced and any sewing work is not required, the fashion lines produced by the knitting which extends at the desired angle and length may be produced by changing the order of movement of loops. rate of reduction of stitches to courses or walesi the number of stitches transferred, and times of transfer.

A

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of knitting knitted fabrics on a f lat knitting machine, the method comprising, in knitting knitted fabrics into a cylindrical configuration, in a plurality of suitable courses, applying, towards a predetermined loop of a suitable wale, one or more rackings to a loop adjacent to said predetermined loop of the same course and a loop of each wale to an end edge of knitted fabric, forming an accumulated loop wherein said predetermined loop and the loop adjacent thereto are superimposed an appropriate number of times thereby to reduce the width of the knitted fabric. and producing fashion lines by rows of said accumulated loops formed in the plurality of courses.

2. A method of knitting knitted fabrics according to claim 1, wherein setin sleeve knitting is knitted by using a two-bed knitting machine including a front bed and a rear bed, and stitch transfer is done stitch by stitch to the adjacent wale in two courses to reduce the knitting width.

3. A method of knitting knitted fabrics according to claim 1, wherein raglan sleeve knitting is knitted by using a four-bed knitting machine including two front beds and two rear beds, and stitch transfer of a front and rear knitted fabric is made to the adjacent wale every two stitches every two courses to reduce the knitting width.

4. A method of knitting substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 at The Patent Otftce. State House,68171 High lic)lbn-.], ondon WC1R4TP. Purther copies maybe obtainedtrom The Patent Otftce.