GB2117805A

GB2117805A - A method of producing a knitted product

Info

Publication number: GB2117805A
Application number: GB08308285A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kunio Washio; Tsutomu Fujiwara; Yuzuru Kasuya; Masakiyo Kimura
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-25
Filing date: 1983-03-25
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB2117805B; CA1183360A; JPS58169501A; GB8308285D0

Abstract

The invention relates to knitted products, for example tights. The specification discloses: a method of producing a knitted product comprising the steps of commencing to knit a region, e.g. the ankle region, of relatively tight knitting and terminating at a region, e.g. the thigh region, of relatively loose knitting, a knitted structure of blended fibres of the polyacrylic, wool, elastic and polyamide fibre families; a knitted garment provided with stretch zones; a method of raising the pile in situ in a course direction, and a circular knitting machine (K) as shown in the figure, having a raising brush (B) mounted above the rounded surface (r) upon which the fabric is raised, while being knitted by the machine (K). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of producing a knitted product The present invention relates to knitted products particularly knitted garments.

The term "knitted garments", as used herein includes, but is not limited to, some parts of girdles and pants and tights.

In a preferred embodiment of products of this automated method, for example, tights, are provided with stretch zones whereby a supporting effect is produced.

Conventionally, circular knitting machines producing knitted fabrics for knitted underwear are not generally placed in juxtaposition with raising machines. Furthermore, the stitch density adjusting device of a conventional machine is designed to commence knitting fabrics for the thighs which are of high stitch density and to end knitting fabrics for the angles which are of relatively lower stitch density.

A disadvantage caused by this conventional arrangement is to produce non-uniform raising, with the further defect that the knitted yarn frequently begins to come loose from a lower part.

That is, the ankle parts of the knitted underwear come loose.

In order to produce, for example, tights, meeting a current demand and requirement of possessing a stretch zone around their knee parts, there is a particular necessity that interaction between a sinker loop device, stationary brush, insertion of elastic yarn, and adjustment of stitch density should be automated.

One aim of the present invention, is to provide a method which efficiently and automatically produces knitted articles without the abovementioned disadvantages.

The invention will be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of tights produced by a method according to the invention; Figure 2 is a central and longitudinal section, partly broken, of a knitting machine according to the invention; Figure 2a is a central and longitudinal section partly broken, of the upper part of a knitting machine according to the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the stitch density adjusting device; Figure 4 is an enlarged structural view of part of the stretch zone I of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged structural view of part of the stretch zone II of Figure 2; Figure 6 is an enlarged structural view of part of the stretch zone Ill of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 2a, there is shown therein a circular knitting machine (K). (S) denotes a sinker loop device, and (R) a movable ring provided at the upper end of a cylinder of the circular knitting machine. An upper corner of the movable ring (R) has a round part (r) which is adapted to be rotatably united in one with a cylinder oven by bevel gears (1) and (2). A brush (B), actuated by a spriny, is provided over the above-mentioned movable ring (R).The surface of a control drum (D) is equipped with the stitch density adjusting device (4), which is designed to be operated in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Figure 3, part 4a controlling the stitch density of the ankle parts which are of relatively low stitch density and part 4b controlling the stitch density of the fabrics for the thigh parts which are of relatively higher stitch density. The ankle parts are knitted first and the thigh parts last while gradually the knitted fabrics with advancement from the ankle parts to the thigh parts.

When the knitting station faces up to the stitch density adjusting device (4) mounted on the surface of the control drum (D), feed of a rack wheel (5) is commenced through a lever (not shown) touching the fabrics so that a change in knitting gauge is made from small stitch density in the fabrics for ankle parts to large stitch density in the fabrics for thigh parts, following a cam-shaped form of the stitch density adjusting device (4).

Conventionally, the cams are arranged on the stitch density adjusting device (4) in such a manner that the knitting process ends with small stitch density parts, such as the toe parts of conventional tights, after having commenced with parts which are large in stitch density such as the thigh parts. In such a conventional knitting machine, the adjustment of stitch density can be made easily.

The arrangement of the present invention, however, is that the cam on the stitch density device (4) is placed in order to set the commencement point of knitting to ankle parts which are of relatively low stitch density (i.e. of a tightly knitted structure) and, furthermore, to make the stitch density increase as the knitting process proceeds towards the thigh parts, which are a more loosely knitted structure.

It is desirable to arrange that the cam surface of the stitch density adjusting device is able to perform a gentle adjustment in various degrees.

The ankle part is knitted first at the stitch density determined for the ankle part (4a). As knitting progresses the control drum (D) rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 3, and finally the thigh part (III) is knitted at the stitch density determined for the thigh part (4b).

In addition to the stitch density adjustment during the above-mentioned knitting process means for the automatic control of the insertion and removal of the yarns (E) and (E2), the forward and backward motion and stop of sinker loop device (S), and the actuation and removal of the stationary brush (B) are provided by the surface of the control drum (D), a timing chain (10), a chain ratchet (1 1), a clutch drum (12), a rack wheel (5), and a belt shifting drum (13).

Three kinds of yarn are used for the knitting yarn: Pile yarn (P) and ground yarn (F) are used as plaiting through one knitting needle and, in addition, elastic yarn (E) is inserted through the former yarns, when knitting a rib stitch type of stretch zone. The blended yarn used as pile yarn (P) consists of staple fibre belonging to the acrylic synthetic fibre family (75% in blend level), staple fibre belonging to the polyamide synthetic fibre family (20%) and wool fibre (5%). The ground yarn is long covered staple fibre belonging to the polyurethane synthetic fibre family. In the present embodiment, the elastic yarns (Et) and (E2) employ polyurethane synthetic long fibre, small in count.

(E,), thicker, is applied with stronger tension, whereas (E2), thinner, is applied with weak tension. The ground yarn (F) illustrated in Figure 2 is preparatory raw yarn.

In Figure 1 (I) is the stretch zone for ankle part, and the structure view illustrating the structure in which a lower end of the above zone starts to be knitted is shown in Figure 4.

(II) is a plain knitted zone for the lower part of leg, and the knitted structure of this portion is illustrated in Figure 5. (Ill) is a raised zone for the thigh parts and it's knitted structure is illustrated in Figure 6. (1') is a lower part of the knee and (I") is an upper part of the knee both these parts have the same knitted structure as that of the ankle part (I). (II') is a gusset and it has the same knitted structure as that of the lower part of leg (II).

Furthermore, both (III'), the upper part of the leg, and (III"), the knee part, have the same raised texture as the thighs (III).

The ground yarn (F) and the pile yarn (P), which serve as plaiting, and the rib stitch structure through which the elastic yarn is inserted constitute the stretch zones (I), (I'), and (I"). The stretch zone (I) causes the lower part of the tights to grip the ankle and a relatively weak tension is applied to the elastic yarn (E2) which is large in count, whereas the stretch zones I' and I" on the upper and lower parts of knee are adapted to firmly fasten then to the extent of tightening spots on them so as to produce a desired supporting effect.

The knitting process commences at the lower end of the ankle (b) in Figure 4 and advances towards an upper position shown by (t). Three strands of elastic yarn (E), (E'), and (E") are inserted through the lower end of the ankle thereby making it difficult for the fibres comprising the ankle to be loosened.

The plain knitted zones (II) and (II') are composed of a knitted combination of the ground yarn (F) and the pile yarn (P) which serve as plaiting. The inner surface of the plain knitted zone for the gusset (II') is permitted to employ such a knitted structure as a raised zone.

Figure 6 illustrates the knitted structure of the raised zones (Ill), (Ill'), and (III"). (C) is the course direction in which the knitting machines rotates and (W) is a vertical row in which knitting-up is performed. In the sinker loop device (S), shown in Figure 2, a thin steel sinker (6), is inserted through the needle groove (not shown) of a sinker ring (8), provided radially with respect to the centre of the movable ring (R) of the sinker, and a sinker cam ring (9), located at the rear and upper end of the sinker (6), is equipped with a projection part (9a) interlocked with the sinker (6) at the top end thereof, whereby an advancement and a retreat of the sinker cam ring (9) shall permit the sinker (6) to move forward and backward respectively.

A nib (6a) is mounted on the top end of the sinker (6). The ground yarn (F) is put on the lower part of the nib (6a) and the pile yarn is put on the upper part of the nib (6a) so that the pile system (P) forms a pile on the inner surface of the knitted fabrics. At that time, the spring (3) and the brush are capable of co-operating to cause raising of the inner surface of the knitted fabrics made on the upper part of the movable ring (R), in the course direction (C). Thus the pile is formed by arranging that the sinker 6 enmeshes the pile yarn (P) around the ground yarn (F), while a simultaneous activation of the brush will cause raising of the knitted structure in the course direction (C). This method solves the defect of the conventional process in that the fabrics, are conventionally removed from the knitting machine, and raised upon a separate raising machine.In such a conventional process raising is non-uniform in a vertical direction (i.e. in a well direction). With the present invention the raising (N) is long in pile and without stripe.

The process provides tights having not only a long pile but uniform raising of a mohair tone.

Since the above knitting process is efficiently automated, this method provides a control for a smooth change between the knitting processes for stretch zone, plain knitted zone, and raised zone.

Furthermore, it presents, as a preferred embodiment, a method of production of the tights possessing the supporting effect which meets the current demand. Due to the fact that three strands of elastic thread are inserted through the lower end of the ankle part and that the knitting commences at the lower end thereof, the knitted yarns have less opportunity to become loose from the direction of the lower end, even when the position of each stretch is first cut for reconditioned utilization of such garments.

Claims

1. A method of producing a knitted product, comprising the steps of, i) commencing knitting at a region of relatively low stitch density, and ii) terminating knitting at a region of relatively high stitch density.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knitted product is adapted to surround one or more limbs of a person, and wherein the region of relatively low stitch density is adapted to surround the distal part of the limb, or limbs and wherein the region of relatively higher stitch density is adapted to surround the proximal part of the limb or limbs.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the stitch density varies continuously between the low stitch density and the relatively higher stitch density.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said variation of the stitch density is accomplished by the co-operation of a cam, mounted upon a control drum with a stitch density adjustment device.

5. A knitted structure, being substantially tubular comprising a blended pile yarn constituted of a staple fibre of the polyacrylic fibre family, a staple fibre of the polyamide fibre family and a wool fibre, a ground yarn, and an elastic yarn.

6. A knitted structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ground yarn is constituted of a fibre of the polyurethane synthetic fibre family.

7. A knitted structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ground yarn is a long covered staple belonging to the polyurethane synthetic fibre family.

8. A knitted structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic yarns comprise a polyurethane synthetic long fibre which is small in count.

9. A knitted structure as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures 4, 5 and 6.

10. A knitted garment, wherein at least a lower part of the ankle, and an upper part and a lower part of the knee are provided with a stretch zone, said tights comprising a knitted structure constituted of a blended pile yarn, a ground yarn and an elastic yarn, and wherein the stretch zone for the upper and lower parts of said knee are adapted to hold, provide a stronger elastic force than the stretch zone of said ankle.

11. A knitted garment as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figure 1.

12. A method of producing a knitted structure comprising the steps of raising the top of a loop of pile yarn in a course direction.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a pile formed by a sinker loop device, and simultaneously a brush is activated to raise the pile in a course direction.

14. A circular knitting machine for the production of knitted fabrics, wherein means are provided for raising the knitted fabric in a course direction.

1 5. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for raising the knitted fabrics comprise a brush, and a means for moving the brush relative to the fabric.

1 6. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 15, in which the brush is capable of being disengaged from the fabric.

17. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the brush is stationary during raising, and the fabric is carried upon a moving ring.

18. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 17, in which the movable ring is partially internal to and coaxial with the cylinder of the circular knitting machine.

19. A circular knitting machine for the production of knitted fabrics, wherein means are provided for the adjustment of stitch density such that knitting commences at a region of relatively low stitch density and terminates at a region of relatively high stitch density.

20. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 19 in which the means provided for the adjustment of stitch density comprise a cam mounted on a control drum and a stitch density adjustment device.

21. A circular knitting machine as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures 2, 2a and 3.