Method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine with one or more feeders

Abstract

In the method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine where for forming the knitting stitch a needle and a sinker cooperate, the created knitting stitch is moved by a movement of the sinker to a rest position of the knitting stitch.

Claims

1. A method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine comprising the steps of: forming the knitting stitch by having a needle and a sinker cooperate; moving the knitting stitch by a movement of the sinker to a rest position on the sinker; and providing a first wall or knitting plane on the sinker where the knitting stitch is to be created and providing a second wall or knitting plane on the sinker, whereby the second wall or knitting plane defines said rest position, and are positioned at different levels on the sinker, wherein an axial position of the needle at one feed remains unvaried during a passage of the knitting stitch through the needle.

2. The method for making the knitting stitch in the knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein providing said first wall or knitting plane comprises the first wall or knitting plane being provided on at least one holding beak of said sinker.

3. The method for making the knitting stitch in the knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein moving the knitting stitch comprises moving the knitting stitch from the first wall or knitting plane to the second wall or knitting plane by selective movement of the sinker with respect to the needle.

4. The method for making the knitting stitch in the knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the first wall or knitting plane has a smooth profile, either flat or curved but free of sharp edges.

5. A knitting machine comprising a computer program for moving the needle and the cooperating sinker to make knitting stitches with the method according to claim 1.

6. The knitting machine according to claim 5, wherein the knitting machine is a circular machine.

7. A method for making a knitting stitch using a knitting machine comprising a needle and a sinker in cooperation, the method of the knitting stitch comprising the steps of: moving the knitting stitch to a rest position on the sinker; providing one of a first wall or first knitting plane on the sinker; providing one of a second wall or second knitting plane on the sinker, defining said rest position; and positioning one of the first wall or the first knitting plane at a different level on the sinker than the second wall or the second knitting plane, wherein an axial position of the needle at one feed remains unvaried during a passage of the knitting stitch through the needle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will more fully emerge from the description of a method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine with one or more feeders according to the invention, illustrated by way of non limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sinker that can be used in a knitting machine in compliance with the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b respectively show the sequential steps of the movement of a needle through a feeder in which the needle has been selected and a subsequent feeder in which the needle has not been selected, in parallel in a machine programmed to operate in the prior art and respectively in a machine programmed to operate according to the method in compliance with the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b respectively show the rest position in a prior art example of traditional formation of a knitting stitch with movement into the rest position performed by the needle, and in an example of formation in compliance with the invention of a knitting stitch with movement into the rest position performed by the sinker; and

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b respectively show the different positions of the needles that perform the closure of flaps of the double collar of an upper for shoes, between a prior art example of traditional formation of a knitting stitch with movement into the rest position performed by the needle, and in an example of formation in compliance with the invention of a knitting stitch with movement into the rest position performed by the sinker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) With reference to the cited figures, a method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine with one or more feeders is shown.

(7) Reference will be made below to a circular knitting machine comprising a rotating needle bed formed by a cylinder circumferentially having axial grooves for guiding the needles, a sinker crown, and one or more feeders on each of which a yarn guide (auto-striper) is mounted, for feeding the yarn to the needles in the formation of the stitch.

(8) The sinkers 1 rotate solidly with the cylinder and are radially slidable to the cylinder and each cooperate with a corresponding needle 8 for the formation and knitting of the knitting stitch 9.

(9) Each sinker 1 comprises an activation heel 2, a guide 3, a holding beak 4 and a groove 5 (see FIG. 1).

(10) Finally, each feeder comprises a cam system for the activation of the needles 8 in the stitch, loop or bridle position.

(11) In particular, an uphill cam 6 is provided for the selection of one of the positions and a knitting cam 7.

(12) Obviously, the field of application also extends to a circular machine with a double needle bed or a rectilinear knitting machine.

(13) The method of making the knitting stitch 9 envisages moving the created knitting stitch 9, by a movement of the sinker 1, into a rest position in which its tension is at least partially discharged.

(14) In substance, a first wall or knitting plane 10 is selected on the sinker 1 where the knitting stitch 9 is created and a second wall or knitting plane 11 where the created knitting stitch 9 is moved to the rest position.

(15) The first wall or knitting plane 10 and the second wall or knitting plane 11 are positioned at different levels on the sinker 1.

(16) In particular the level where the first wall or knitting plane 10 is positioned is above the level where the second wall or knitting plane 11 is positioned.

(17) The first wall or knitting plane 10 has a smooth profile, that is to say its profile may be flat or curved but free of sharp edges.

(18) It was found to be convenient to create the knitting stitch 9 on a wall or knitting plane 10 of the sinker 1 that does not correspond at all to the wall or knitting plane traditionally identified on a sinker.

(19) In fact, the first wall or knitting plane 10 where the knitting stitch 9 is now created is identified on the holding beak 4 of the sinker 1, while the second wall or knitting plane 11 that identifies the rest position of the knitting stitch 9 corresponds precisely to the wall or knitting plane that is traditionally used for the creation of the knitting stitch.

(20) Advantageously, the knitting stitch 9 is moved from the first wall or knitting plane 10 to the second wall or knitting plane 11 by selective movement of the sinker 1 with respect to the needle 8.

(21) Consequently, the axial position of an unselected needle 8 at a feeder remains unchanged during the passage of the knitting stitch 9 through the unselected needle 8.

(22) With specific reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b it is possible to make a more detailed comparison between a traditional example of formation of a knitting stitch 9 with movement into the rest position performed by the needle 8, and an example of formation of a knitting stitch 9 with movement into the rest position performed by the sinker 1.

(23) In the description that follows, corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference number.

(24) In the two examples being compared, the formation of a knitting stitch 9 is assumed with a length equal to 3 mm and a distance of 2 mm between the formation position of the knitting stitch 9 and the rest position of the knitting stitch 9.

(25) In this hypothesis, in the method in compliance with the invention a sinker 1 is used having a distance equal to 2 mm between the first wall or knitting plane 10 and the second wall or knitting plane 11.

(26) Reference is made to FIG. 2a which illustrates the traditional way of making the knitting stitch 9.

(27) In step A the needle 8 is in position 3 (indicated as POS 3) and starts to rise to take the yarn 12, while the sinker 1 is in position 1 (indicated as POS 1) of advancement towards the center of the cylinder.

(28) In step B the needle 8 is in the position to take the yarn 12 from the yarn guide 13 while the sinker 1 remains in position 1.

(29) In step C the needle 8 has taken the yarn 12, while the sinker 1 comes into position 2 (indicated as POS 2) to start to create the knitting stitch 9 on the traditional wall or knitting plane 11.

(30) In step D the needle 8 moves into position 4 (indicated as POS 4) and forms a 3 mm knitting stitch 9 that is equal to the distance from the eye of the needle 8 to the wall or knitting plane 11. The sinker 1 is in position 2 to create the knitting stitch 9 on the wall or knitting plane 11.

(31) In step E the needle 8 rises again by 2 mm and comes into the rest position 3.

(32) In step F the sinker 1 returns to position 1 to keep the knitting stitch 9 just constructed inside the groove 5 on the wall or knitting plane 11.

(33) In steps G and H the needle 8 is selected on the second feeder.

(34) In step I the knitting stitch 9 is maintained with the same tension as the previous feeder, due to the fact that the same distance of 3 mm is maintained from the eye of the needle 8 to the wall or knitting plane 11, with the result that the knitting stitch 9 previously made continues to be stressed.

(35) In step L the needle 8 rises again by 2 mm and comes into the rest position 3.

(36) In step M the sinker 1 returns to position 1 to keep the knitting stitch 9 inside the holding beak 4 on the wall or knitting plane 11.

(37) Reference is made to FIG. 2b which illustrates a way of making a knitting stitch in compliance with the invention.

(38) In step A the needle 8 is in position 3 and starts to rise to take the yarn 12, while the sinker 1 is in position 1 of advancement towards the center of the cylinder.

(39) In step B the needle 8 is in the position to take the yarn 12 from the yarn guide 13 while the sinker 1 remains in position 1.

(40) In step C the needle 8 has taken the yarn 12, while the sinker 1 remains in position 1.

(41) In step D the needle 8 moves into position 3 and forms a 3 mm knitting stitch 9 that is equal to the distance from the eye of the needle 8 to the first knitting wall 10. In step E the sinker 1 moves into position 2, after creating the knitting stitch 9 on the first wall or knitting plane 10, and the knitting stitch 9 performs the rest position by lowering onto the second wall or knitting plane 11 positioned at a level 2 mm lower than the first wall or knitting plane 10.

(42) In step F the sinker 1 returns to position 1 to keep the knitting stitch 9 just constructed inside the groove 5 on the second wall or knitting plane 11.

(43) In steps G and H the needle 8 is selected on the second feeder.

(44) In step I, the needle 8 is brought back below the tip of the knitting cam 7 but the 3 mm knitting stitch 9 is not stressed as it is not positioned on the first wall or knitting plane 10 where it was previously formed, rather on the second wall or knitting plane 11 positioned at a level 2 mm lower: in this way it is guaranteed that the needle 8 does not stress the knitting stitch 9 with a tolerance of 2 mm equal to the distance between the first wall or knitting plane 10 and the second wall or knitting plane 11. In the event of a variation of the length of the knitting stitch 9 formed at the subsequent feeder, it will therefore be possible on this subsequent feeder not to stress the knitting stitch 9 formed at the previous feeder if the length variation of the knitting stitch 9 created at the subsequent feeder does not increase by 2 mm with respect to the knitting stitch 9 created at the previous feeder. The needle 8 can therefore form a new knitting stitch 9 having a length of 5 mm without stressing the 3 mm knitting stitch 9 previously created.

(45) The knitting machine operating according to the method compliant with the invention can as mentioned be a circular machine or a rectilinear machine and can be intended for the formation of a stocking or an upper of a shoe.

(46) With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b one of the advantages of performing the knitting stitch 9 directly on the holding beak 4 of the sinker 1 can be clearly appreciated.

(47) When the double collar of an upper according to the teachings of the present invention (FIG. 4b) is made, the hook or radial needle 8′ that performs the join of the flaps of the double collar can pass at a very near distance (e.g. 0.1 mm) from the wall or knitting plane 10 on the holding beak 4 of the sinker 1 where the knitting stitch 9 is performed, so that the joining chain of the flaps of the double collar has a very contained height and is not clearly visible.

(48) On the contrary, when the double collar of an upper (FIG. 4a) is made in the traditional way, the hook or radial needle 8′ that performs the join of the flaps of the double collar passes at a significant distance (e.g. 2.1 mm) from the wall or knitting plane 11 of the sinker 1 where the knitting stitch 9 is performed, so that the joining chain of the flaps of the double collar has a much greater height and is clearly visible.

(49) In conclusion, by using a first wall or knitting plane on the sinker for the formation of the knitting stitch and moving the sinker so as to move the knitting stitch created into a rest position on a second wall or knitting plane of the sinker placed at a different level from the first wall or knitting plane, it is possible not to place the knitting stitch in tension when the needle that created it is not selected on the other feeders or when the needle that created it is not selected at the next step on the same feeder, as happens for example in the event of a movement inversion of the cylinder necessary for the formation of an inlay.

(50) This allows the formation of annoying marks to be prevented which would be very visible on the final product.

(51) To prevent the undesired slipping of the knitting stitch 9 from the first wall or knitting plane 10, the holding beak 4 can have a particular profile, e.g. its surface opposite the groove 5 which defines the first wall or knitting plane 10 can describe a ramp that in order to be overtaken requires a slight over-tensioning of the yarn. The method for making a knitting stitch in a knitting machine as conceived herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the invented concept; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

(52) In practice the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the needs and the state of the art.