U.S. patent application number 10/364621 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for method for producing a tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery article, closed at one end, without a seam, with a circular machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to LONATI S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Lonati, Ettore, Lonati, Fausto, Lonati, Tiberio.
Application Number | 20030159474 10/364621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11449361 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030159474 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lonati, Ettore ; et
al. |
August 28, 2003 |
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TUBULAR KNITTED ARTICLE, PARTICULARLY A
HOSIERY ARTICLE, CLOSED AT ONE END, WITHOUT A SEAM, WITH A CIRCULAR
MACHINE
Abstract
A method for producing a closed end hosiery seamless knitted
article, on a circular machine, comprising: knitting of the article
starting from the end to be closed, forming a knot for retaining a
closure thread by way of a set of contiguous needles, weaving the
closure thread and feeding it to a preset number of needles to
connect needles arranged opposite with respect to a central plane
passing through the needle cylinder axis and through a central
region of the set of contiguous needles, interrupting feeding the
closure thread to the needles forming a few rows of knitting by
using other threads and at least part of the needles of the
machine, applying traction to the closure thread to close the
initial end of the article, and continuing production of the
article to completion.
Inventors: |
Lonati, Ettore; (Brescia,
IT) ; Lonati, Fausto; (Brescia, IT) ; Lonati,
Tiberio; (Brescia, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILANO
20123
IT
|
Assignee: |
LONATI S.p.A.
|
Family ID: |
11449361 |
Appl. No.: |
10/364621 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B 1/26 20130101; D04B
9/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
66/148 |
International
Class: |
D04B 009/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2002 |
IT |
MI2002A000365 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for producing a hosiery article, which is closed at one
end, without a seam, with a circular machine including at least one
needle cylinder, needles with hooks, weave feeding, knockover
sinkers, comprising: a first step, in which the knitting of the
article is started from an end to be closed, forming a retention
knot for retaining a closure thread by way of a set of contiguous
needles; a second step, in which said closure thread is included in
the weave, feeding it to a preset number of needles so that it
mutually connects needles that are arranged opposite with respect
to an imaginary central plane that passes through an axis of the
needle cylinder of the machine and through a central region of said
set of contiguous needles; a third step, in which the feeding of
said closure thread to the needles of the machine is interrupted; a
fourth step, in which a few rows of knitting are formed by using
another thread or threads and at least part of the needles of the
machine; a fifth step, in which traction is applied to said closure
thread in order to close the initial end of the article; a sixth
step, in which the production of the article is completed.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein during operation from said first
step to said sixth step, the needle cylinder of the machine is
actuated with a continuous rotary motion about the axis
thereof.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein during said fourth step said
closure thread is inserted in some of the stitches formed in said
fourth step.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said retention knot is produced
by way of three needles of said set of contiguous needles by
feeding, during a first turn of the needle cylinder, said closure
thread to said three needles raised at tuck-stitch height,
repeating the same feeding of the closure thread at a second turn
of the needle cylinder to the same three needles, raised
respectively to tuck-stitch height, to drop-stitch height and to
tuck-stitch height, and feeding the closure thread at a third turn
of the needle cylinder to the same three needles, which are raised
respectively to drop-stitch height, to tuck-stitch height and to
drop-stitch height; during said three turns of the needle cylinder,
the needles arranged between said three active needles being kept
inactive with their hook below the knockover sinkers.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said set of contiguous needles
comprises nine needles, of which the first, fifth and ninth are
moved so as to work in order to form said retention knot.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein upon completion of said third
turn of the needle cylinder, mutually spaced needles are moved so
as to work at tuck-stitch height and are fed with said closure
thread in order to form woven tuck-stitch knitting.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein upon completion of said third
turn of the needle cylinder, needles at tuck-stitch height are
moved so as to work at tuck-stitch height and are fed with said
closure thread, forming woven knitting with 1:7 selection.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein during said second step, at each
turn of the needle cylinder, one needle to the left and, at a
following turn, one needle to the right of said set of contiguous
needles is selected in each instance and moved so as to work at
tuck-stitch height, according to a selection that affects only part
of the needles of the machine.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein during said second step, at each
turn of the needle cylinder, one needle to the left and, at a
following turn, one needle to the right of said set of contiguous
needles is selected in each instance and moved so as to work at
tuck-stitch height according to a 1:7 selection.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein during said fourth step rows of
knitting with varied needle selections are alternated.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein during said fourth step a first
row of knitting is formed according to a first needle selection in
which, for every five contiguous needles, a first needle is moved
so as to work at tuck-stitch height, second, fourth and fourth
needles are inactive, with their hook below the level of the
knockover sinkers, and a fifth needle works at drop-stitch height,
and a second row of knitting is formed according to a second needle
selection in which, with reference to the same five contiguous
needles, a first needle is moved so as to work at drop-stitch
height, second, third and fourth needles are inactive, with their
hook under the level of the knockover sinkers, and a fifth needle
works at tuck-stitch height.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein during said fourth step, after
forming said second row of knitting, the needles moved so as to
work are increased, forming a third row of knitting according to a
third needle selection in which, for every three contiguous
needles, a first needle is moved so as to work at tuck-stitch
height, a second needle is inactive, with its hook below the level
of the knockover sinkers, and a third needle is moved so as to work
at drop-stitch height, forming a fourth row of knitting according
to a fourth needle selection in which, with reference to the same
three contiguous needles, the first needle is moved to work at
drop-stitch height, the second needle is inactive, with its hook
below the level of the knockover sinkers, and the third needle is
moved so as to work at tuck-stitch height, and forming a fifth row
of knitting according to a fifth needle selection in which, with
reference to said three contiguous needles, the first needle is
moved so as to knit at drop-stitch height, the second needle is
inactive, with its hook below the level of the knockover sinkers,
and the third needle is moved so as to work at drop-stitch
height.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein during said fourth step, after
said fifth row, a few rows of knitting are formed by repeating
several times, in sequence, said third selection and said fourth
selection with an intermediate row produced by way of said fifth
selection.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein during said fourth step, after
forming said few rows, needles that have not worked yet are moved
so as to work at tuck-stitch height.
15. A hosiery article, provided according to claim 1.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a
tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery article, closed at
one end, without a seam, with a circular machine.
[0002] As is known, tubular articles, particularly hosiery
articles, according to conventional production methods are
generally manufactured by using circular machines and have both
ends open when they are unloaded from the machine that forms them.
Such articles must therefore undergo subsequent sewing or looping,
which closes one end thereof, constituted by the toe for hosiery
articles, in order to obtain the finished product.
[0003] Since this operation of closing one end of the article is an
additional production step that requires time and the use of labor,
with the associated costs, methods aimed at closing one end of the
article directly on the manufacturing machine, or aimed at
automating the transfer of the article from the production machine
to a looping or sewing machine, so as to achieve a reduction in the
overall production costs of the articles, have been devised and
optimized in recent years.
[0004] These methods are generally used with satisfactory results
on low-gauge articles.
[0005] In the field of production of high-gauge articles, such as
for example women's stockings, a method is known which is disclosed
in Italian patent no. 832,312 and allows to produce, with a
circular hosiery knitting machine, tubular articles, particularly
hosiery articles, which are closed at one end without a seam. The
method consists in inserting, in the production of the end portion
meant to be closed of each article, a closure thread, looping it
for a first portion, weaving it in for a few turns or portions of
turn of the needle cylinder of the machine and then looping it
again in the end portion. This thread is then pulled so as to
gather the loops with which it has been woven into a very small
circle, which closes the affected end of the article, and is then
fixed in order to keep the article closed.
[0006] Although this method allows to obtain tubular articles,
particularly hosiery articles, including high-gauge articles, which
are closed at one end, it has the drawback that it produces
articles that have, at the loops gathered to close the article,
wrinkles which in the case of hosiery articles can be uncomfortable
for the user and can produce an article that is not fully
satisfactory from an aesthetic standpoint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problem
noted above, by providing a method that allows to produce, with a
circular machine, a tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery
article, which is closed at one end and is fully satisfactory as
regards comfort and the aesthetic aspect.
[0008] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is
to provide a method that allows to produce a tubular knitted
article, particularly a hosiery article, including high-gauge
articles, which is closed at one end directly during its
manufacture and therefore does not require subsequent sewing
operations to obtain the finished product.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a method that
can be performed with currently commercially available circular
hosiery knitting machines on the basis of a preset program for the
actuation of the machine.
[0010] This aim and these and other objects that will become better
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a method for producing a
tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery article, which is
closed at one end, without a seam, with a circular machine,
characterized in that it comprises:
[0011] a first step, in which the knitting of the article is
started from the end to be closed, forming a knot for retaining a
closure thread by means of a set of contiguous needles;
[0012] a second step, in which said closure thread is included in
the weave, feeding it to a preset number of needles so that it
mutually connects needles that are arranged opposite with respect
to an imaginary central plane that passes through the axis of the
needle cylinder of the machine and through a central region of said
set of contiguous needles;
[0013] a third step, in which the feeding of said closure thread to
the needles of the machine is interrupted;
[0014] a fourth step, in which a few rows of knitting are formed by
using another thread or threads and at least part of the needles of
the machine;
[0015] a fifth step, in which traction is applied to said closure
thread in order to close the initial end of the article;
[0016] a sixth step, in which the production of the article is
completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not
exclusive embodiment of the method according to the invention,
illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 21 are schematic perspective views showing the
sequence of the steps of the method according to the invention in
the production of a tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery
article, which is closed at one end.
[0019] The method according to the invention can be performed
preferably with a single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machine
of the type currently commercially available that allows
needle-by-needle electronic selection.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] With reference to the figures, the method according to the
invention comprises a first step, shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which
the knitting of the article 1 begins starting from the end of said
article that is to be closed and by forming a knot 2 for retaining
a closure thread 3 by means of a set of contiguous needles.
[0021] In a second step, shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the closure thread
3 is included in the weave, feeding it to a preset number of
needles so that it mutually connects needles that are mutually
opposite with respect to an imaginary central plane that passes
through the axis of the needle cylinder 4 of the machine and
through a central region of the set of contiguous needles used to
form the retention knot 2.
[0022] In a third step, the feeding of the closure thread 3 to the
needles of the machine is interrupted.
[0023] In a fourth step, shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, a few rows of
knitting are formed by using another thread or threads and at least
part of the needles of the machine.
[0024] In a fifth step, shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, traction is
applied to the closure thread 3 in order to close the initial end
of the article 1.
[0025] Finally, in a sixth step, shown in FIG. 21, the production
of the article 1 is completed in a per se known manner.
[0026] The method according to the invention, by way of the
particular knitting of the initial portion of the article 1, allows
to close said initial end by pulling the closure thread 3 without
producing substantial wrinkles at the closure region, which is
substantially flat, does not cause discomfort to the user and
provides, for the article, a fully satisfactory aesthetic
appearance.
[0027] An example of practical embodiment of the method according
to the invention in the production of a hosiery article 1 on a
circular hosiery knitting machine with four hundred needles is
described in detail hereinafter merely by way of non-limitative
example, without altering the fact that the method according to the
invention can be performed also on circular machines that are
different from the one shown.
[0028] It should be noted that the method according to the
invention is performed preferably by actuating the needle cylinder
4 of the machine in a single direction of rotation, indicated by
the arrow A, and with a continuous motion.
[0029] For better comprehension of the description that follows, it
should be noted that the expression "at tuck-stitch height" is used
to indicate the lifting of a needle so as to work, at a feed of the
machine, so that the needle engages the thread dispensed at said
feed without releasing the loop of knitting possibly formed in a
preceding step under the latch of the needle.
[0030] The expression "at drop-stitch height" instead designates
the lifting of a needle so as to work, at a feed of the machine, so
that the needle engages the thread dispensed at said feed, dropping
below its latch any loop of knitting possibly formed in a preceding
step.
[0031] The hosiery article 1 is produced starting from its end
(toe) to be closed.
[0032] Knitting starts by providing, by means of a suitable thread
guide 10, the closure thread 3 to a set of contiguous needles so as
to form the retention knot 2.
[0033] Said retention knot 2 is formed by using three needles,
designated by the reference numerals 11, 12 and 13, of a set of
nine contiguous needles, in which the first needle 11, the fifth
needle 12 and the ninth needle 13 are moved to work at the feed
where the thread guide 10 is located. During the first turn of the
needle cylinder 4 about its own axis, the closure thread 3 is fed
to the three needles 11, 12 and 13, which are raised, at the feed
being considered, at the tuck-stitch height (FIG. 1). At the second
turn of the needle cylinder 4, the closure thread 3 is fed to the
same three needles 11, 12 and 13, which are raised respectively as
follows: the needle 11 is raised to the tuck-stitch height, the
needle 12 is raised to the drop-stitch height, and the needle 13 is
raised to the tuck-stitch height (FIG. 2). At the third turn of the
needle cylinder 4, the closure thread 3 is again fed to the needles
11, 12 and 13, which are raised respectively as follows: the needle
11 is raised to the drop-stitch height, the needle 12 is raised to
the tuck-stitch height, the needle 13 is raised to the drop-stitch
height (FIG. 3). During these three turns of the needle cylinder 4,
the needles that are arranged between the active needles 11, 12 and
13 are kept inactive so that their beak lies below the knockover
sinkers 14.
[0034] During the completion of the third turn of the needle
cylinder 4 (FIGS. 4 and 5), mutually spaced needles 16 are moved to
work at the tuck-stitch height, at the feed or drop where the
closure thread 3 is dispensed, and are fed with said closure thread
3; said needles 16 are raised from each other, at the feed where
the closure thread 3 is dispensed, at tuck-stitch height so as to
perform woven held-stitch knitting. Preferably, this knitting is
performed in 1:7 selection, i.e., by moving to knit, at the feed
where the closure thread 3 is fed, one needle 16 every eight
contiguous needles.
[0035] In the second step, at each turn of the needle cylinder 4
one needle 17 to the left (FIG. 6) and, at the next turn, one
needle 18 to the right are selected in each instance and moved to
knit at the tuck-stitch height, preferably with a 1:7 selection,
lifting the selected needles to the tuck-stitch height level in
order to grip the closure thread 3 dispensed at the feed used in
the preceding step. In this manner, the closure thread 3 is applied
flat over the entire needle cylinder 4 and is engaged alternately
in an upward region by needles 17 and 18; respectively, one needle
17 lies on one side of an imaginary central plane that passes
through the axis 4a of the needle cylinder 4 and through a central
region of the set of needles used to form the initial knot 2 of the
closure thread 3; the other needle lies on the other side of said
imaginary central plane (FIGS. 7 to 11).
[0036] At this point (third step), the feeding of the closure
thread 3 is interrupted.
[0037] In the fourth step, a few rows of knitting are formed with
needle selections that change starting from one needle, for example
the second one, adjacent to the last needle 18 that engaged the
closure thread 3. In particular, by means of another thread or
threads 20, dispensed for example at another feed or drop of the
machine, a first row of knitting is formed according to a first
needle selection in which, for every five contiguous needles, a
first needle 21 is moved so as to work at tuck-stitch height,
second, third and fourth needles are inactive and are not shown in
the figures, with their hook below the level of the knockover
sinkers 14, and a fifth needle 22 works at drop-stitch height (FIG.
12), and a second row of knitting is formed with a second needle
selection in which, with reference to the same five contiguous
needles, the first needle 21 is moved so as to work at drop-stitch
height, second, third and fourth needles are inactive and have
their hook arranged below the level of the knockover sinkers 14,
and a fifth needle 22 works at tuck-stitch height.
[0038] In the fourth step, after forming the second row of
knitting, as described, the needles moved so as to work are
increased, forming a third row of knitting according to a third
needle selection in which, for every three contiguous needles, a
first needle 23 is moved so as to work at tuck-stitch height, a
second needle is inactive and its hook is arranged below the level
of the knockover sinkers 14, and a third needle 24 is moved so as
to work at drop-stitch height (FIG. 13). A fourth row of knitting
is then formed according to a fourth needle selection, in which,
with reference to the same three contiguous needles, the first
needle 23 is moved so as to work at drop-stitch height, the second
needle is inactive and has its hook below the level of the
knockover sinkers 14, and the third needle 24 is moved so as to
work at tuck-stitch height, and a fifth row of knitting is formed
according to a fifth needle selection in which, with reference to
the same three contiguous needles, the first needle 23 is moved so
as to work at drop-stitch height, the second needle is inactive and
its hook lies below the level of the knockover sinkers 14, and the
third needle 24 is moved so as to work at drop-stitch height (FIG.
14).
[0039] In the fourth step, after the fifth row of knitting, a few
rows of knitting, for example thirty, are formed by repeating
several times sequentially the third selection and the fourth
selection, interposing an intermediate row performed by means of
the fifth selection.
[0040] During the production of the article performed by means of
the thread or threads 20, the closure thread 3, which runs from the
last point of the article where it was looped in with the thread
guide 10, is gradually inserted in the knitting being formed,
engaging it by means of a needle 25 which is moved so as to work at
the feed where the closure thread 3 is dispensed once every three
or four turns of the needle cylinder 4, so that the closure thread
3 is inserted partly in the knitting formed during the fourth step
(FIGS. 15 and 16).
[0041] At the end of this operation, the needles of the machine
that had not yet worked are moved so as to work at tuck-stitch
height (FIG. 17) in order to increase the diameter of the article
(the end of the hosiery article has been completed and the forming
of the foot begins).
[0042] In the fifth step, the closure thread 3 is subjected to
traction, for example by means of a device, not shown, which is
located proximate to the upper end of the needle cylinder 4 and
which, by taking up the closure thread 3 upstream of the thread
guide 10 that dispenses it causes the gradual mutual approach of
the loops formed in the second step of the method. In this manner,
closure of the initial end of the article (FIGS. 18 to 20) is
achieved.
[0043] Thanks to the particular knitting performed at the beginning
of the formation of the article, said closure is flat, i.e.,
without wrinkles at the closure region.
[0044] Once closure has been completed, the closure thread 3 is cut
and the production of the article continues in a per se known
manner (FIG. 21).
[0045] In practice it has been found that the method according to
the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it allows to
produce tubular knitted articles, particularly hosiery articles,
which are closed at one end and therefore do not require an
additional sewing operation, by means of a circular machine, even
with a high gauge, achieving a wrinkle-free closure that does not
cause discomfort to the user and is fully satisfactory from an
aesthetic standpoint.
[0046] Another advantage of the method according to the invention
is that it allows to produce tubular articles that are closed at an
axial end with a continuous actuation about its own axis of the
needle cylinder of the machine, thus allowing to obtain tubular
articles that are closed at one end without compromising
excessively the productivity of the machine used.
[0047] The method thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with
other technically equivalent elements.
[0048] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions,
may be any according to requirements and to the state of the
art.
[0049] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
M12002A000365 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *