U.S. patent application number 15/510008 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for method for manufacturing tubular articles provided with a grip region by way of circular hosiery knitting machines, and tubular article obtained with the method.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALZIFICIO PINELLI S.R.L.. The applicant listed for this patent is CALZIFICIO PINELLI S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Enzo PINELLI, Luca PINELLI, Michele PINELLI.
Application Number | 20170241051 15/510008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54330720 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170241051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PINELLI; Enzo ; et
al. |
August 24, 2017 |
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TUBULAR ARTICLES PROVIDED WITH A GRIP
REGION BY WAY OF CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES, AND TUBULAR
ARTICLE OBTAINED WITH THE METHOD
Abstract
A method for manufacturing tubular articles provided with a grip
region on their reverse side, particularly for providing hold-up
stockings, by way of circular hosiery knitting machines, comprising
the use of a circular hosiery knitting machine that has at least
two feeds or drops, of which at least one first feed is capable of
dispensing a bare elastomer yarn; at the first feed, at least one
needle of at least one group of contiguous needles is moved to a
"tuck" position or to a "drop" position knit in order to pick up
the bare elastomer yarn while the other needles of the group of
needles are held in or moved to the "miss" position and therefore
excluded from picking up the bare elastomer yarn.
Inventors: |
PINELLI; Enzo; (Castel
Goffredo, IT) ; PINELLI; Michele; (Castel Goffredo,
IT) ; PINELLI; Luca; (Desenzano Del Garda,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CALZIFICIO PINELLI S.R.L. |
Castel Goffredo |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
CALZIFICIO PINELLI S.R.L.
Castel Goffredo
IT
|
Family ID: |
54330720 |
Appl. No.: |
15/510008 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
September 9, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/070642 |
371 Date: |
March 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B 1/26 20130101; D04B
1/18 20130101; D04B 1/106 20130101; D04B 1/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D04B 1/26 20060101
D04B001/26; D04B 1/10 20060101 D04B001/10; D04B 1/18 20060101
D04B001/18; D04B 1/08 20060101 D04B001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 11, 2014 |
IT |
MI2014A001568 |
Jul 13, 2015 |
IT |
102015000033270 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A method for manufacturing tubular articles provided with a
grip region on their reverse side intended to be directed toward a
user's skin by way of circular knitting machines, which comprises
the use of a circular hosiery knitting machine that has at least
two feeds or drops, of which at least one first feed is capable of
dispensing a bare elastomer yarn, devices for selecting needles in
order to move some of the needles of the machine to pick up the
yarn or yarns dispensed at said feeds, while other needles are
excluded from picking up the yarn or yarns dispensed at said feeds,
cams for actuating the needles in order to move said needles to
pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed by said feeds to a "tuck"
position or to a "drop" position or in order to move said needles
to a "miss" position for their exclusion from picking up the yarn
or yarns dispensed at said feeds, said method comprising, at said
first feed, at least one needle of at least one group of contiguous
needles being moved to knit in order to pick up the bare elastomer
yarn while the other needles of said at least one group of needles
are held in or moved to the "miss" position and therefore excluded
from picking up said bare elastomer yarn, and the needles of said
at least one group of needles being actuated at at least one
subsequent feed in order to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at
said subsequent feed and form knitting at least with the needles
that were held in the "miss" position at said first feed, and
wherein at said at least one subsequent feed, the at least one
needle, which picked up the bare elastomer yarn at said first feed,
is actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed by said at least
one subsequent feed in the "tuck" position.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein, at said first feed,
said at least one needle is actuated in order to pick up said bare
elastomer yarn in the "tuck" position.
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein, at said first feed,
said at least one needle is actuated to pick up said bare elastomer
yarn in the "drop" position.
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said bare elastomer
yarn is fed to said at least one needle in a pre-tensioned
condition.
25. The method according to claim 21, wherein, after the production
of a preset number of rows of knitting by said other needles of the
at least one group of needles, at said at least one subsequent
feed, said at least one needle is actuated to pick up the yarn or
yarns in the "drop" position in order to form new loops of
knitting, knocking over the loops of knitting formed previously and
held in the head of said at least one needle.
26. The method according to claim 21, wherein it uses a circular
hosiery knitting machine with four feeds or drops arranged in
sequence around the axis of the needle cylinder of the machine
along a direction of rotation of the needle cylinder with respect
to said feeds or drops, and wherein, for each one of said at least
one group of needles: at said first feed, said at least one needle
is moved to knit in order to pick up the bare elastomer yarn
dispensed by said first feed while the other needles of said at
least one group of needles are moved to or held in the "miss"
position and therefore excluded from picking up said bare elastomer
yarn; at said second feed, the needles of said at least one group
of needles are actuated in order to pick up the yarn or yarns
dispensed at said second feed and form knitting at least with the
needles that were previously held in the "miss" position at said
first feed, the needles that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at
said first feed being moved to knit at said second feed in the
"tuck" position; at said third feed, said at least one needle is
moved to knit in the "tuck" position, for a preset number of
rotations of the needle cylinder about its own axis, in order to
pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at said third feed, while the
other needles of said at least one group of needles are moved to
knit in the "drop" position in order to pick up the yarn or yarns
dispensed by said third feed; at said fourth feed, the needles of
said at least one group of needles are actuated in order to pick up
the yarn or yarns dispensed at said fourth feed, the needles that
picked up the bare elastomer yarn at said first feed being moved to
knit at said fourth feed in the "tuck" position.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said preset number of
rotations of the needle cylinder about its own axis is comprised
between four and nine.
28. The method according to claim 26, wherein after said preset
number of rotations of the needle cylinder about its own axis, said
at least one needle, at said third feed, is actuated in order to
pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop" position in order to form
new loops of knitting, knocking over the loops of knitting formed
previously and held in the head of said at least one needle.
29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the needles of the
needle cylinder of the machine are composed of a preset number of
groups of needles, each one composed of a preset number of
contiguous needles, which are selected and actuated at the feeds or
drops of the machine like said at least one group of needles.
30. The method according to claim 29, wherein each one of said
groups of needles comprises from seven to sixteen contiguous
needles and in that, at said first feed, each group of needles is
selected according to a first selection comprised between 1:6 and
1:15, i.e., with one needle actuated to pick up said bare elastomer
yarn in the "tuck" position and with from six to fifteen contiguous
needles in the "miss" position.
31. The method according to claim 21, wherein each one of said
groups of needles comprises from eight to seventeen contiguous
needles and wherein, at said first feed, each group of needles is
selected according to a first selection comprised between 2:6 and
2:15, i.e., with two contiguous needles actuated to pick up said
bare elastomer yarn in the "tuck" position and with from six to
fifteen contiguous needles in the "miss" position.
32. The method according to claim 26, wherein, at said second feed
and/or said fourth feed, each one of said groups of needles is
selected according to a second selection chosen from among 1:1,
with one needle actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "tuck"
position and one needle actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in
the "drop" position for every two contiguous needles of the group
of needles, or 2:2, with two contiguous needles actuated to pick up
the yarn or yarns in the "tuck" position and two contiguous needles
actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop" position for
every four contiguous needles of the group of needles, or 2:1, with
two contiguous needles actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the
"tuck" position and one needle actuated to pick up the yarn or
yarns in the "drop" position for every three contiguous needles of
the group of needles, or 1:2, with one needle actuated to pick up
the yarn or yarns in the "tuck" position and two contiguous needles
actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop" position for
every three contiguous needles of the group of needles.
33. A knitted tubular article provided with a grip region on a
reverse side thereof intended to be directed toward a user's skin,
said grip region being defined by floating portions or bridles of
bare elastomer yarn which protrude on the reverse side of the
article, which is intended to be directed toward the skin of the
user, and are knitted in with the other yarns that compose the
article, wherein said bare elastomer yarn is knitted in with the
yarns that compose the remaining part of the article by way of
tuck-stitch knitting.
34. The knitted tubular article according to claim 33, wherein said
grip region is defined by at least one circumferential band
composed of multiple turns or rows of said floating portions of
bare elastomer yarn arranged mutually side by side along the axis
of the article.
35. The knitted tubular article according to claim 34, wherein said
grip region is defined by multiple circumferential bands, each one
composed of multiple turns or rows of said floating portions of
bare elastomer yarn arranged mutually side by side along the axis
of the article, said circumferential bands being mutually spaced
apart along the axis of the article.
36. The knitted tubular article according to claim 33, wherein said
bare elastomer yarn is made of silicone rubber.
37. The knitted tubular article according to claim 33, having, at
said grip region, elastically extensible gathered portions.
38. The knitted tubular article according to claim 37, wherein said
gathered portions are produced by said bare elastomer yarn that
have been pre-tensioned.
39. The knitted tubular article according to claim 33, wherein
stitches for knitting-in said bare elastomer yarn with the yarns
that compose the remaining part of the article, row by row, are
mutually aligned parallel to the axis of the article.
40. The knitted tubular article according to claim 33, wherein said
floating portions of the bare elastomer yarn are extended for a
number of wales of stitches that is comprised substantially between
six and fifteen.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing
tubular articles provided with a grip region on their reverse side,
particularly for providing hold-up stockings, by way of circular
hosiery knitting machines, and to a tubular article obtained with
the method.
[0002] As is known, hold-up stockings are provided, proximate to
their upper end, with a band that is intended to grip the upper
region of the thigh of the user in order to perform a stocking
hold-up effect, thus avoiding the use of suspenders.
[0003] In some cases, the grip of the stocking on the skin of the
user is obtained simply by providing, at the upper end of the
article, an elastic band which is knitted as a double welt and
tightens around the thigh of the user. This solution has the
drawback of achieving insufficient grip, since, owing to the
conical shape of the thigh, with use the elastic band tends to slip
downward and roll up along the article.
[0004] In other cases, an elastic band, generally made of lace, is
applied to the upper end of the article and a strip or multiple
strips of silicone are spread on the inner side thereof, which have
the effect of increasing the adhesion of such band to the skin of
the user, thus contrasting the descent of the band along the thigh
of the user.
[0005] This solution achieves a better hold-up effect than the
previous solution, although often this effect is still insufficient
to prevent the descent and roll-up of the article during use.
Furthermore, the application of the elastic band spread with
silicone significantly increases the production cost of these
articles.
[0006] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems
described above, by devising a method that makes it possible to
manufacture tubular articles, in particular hold-up stockings, by
way of circular hosiery knitting machines, by providing a grip
region on the reverse side of the articles directly during the
production of the article with the circular hosiery knitting
machine.
[0007] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a
method that makes it possible to manufacture tubular articles,
particularly hold-up stockings, which are provided with a greater
grip effect than that obtainable with methods of known type, while
also preventing the roll-up of the article along the thigh of the
user.
[0008] A further object of the invention is to propose a method
that makes it possible to manufacture articles, particularly
hold-up stockings, with highly competitive production costs.
[0009] A still further object of the invention is to propose a
method that can be carried out with circular hosiery knitting
machines, preferably of the single-cylinder type, with electronic
selection of known type without the need to perform structural
modifications thereof but simply by performing software
modifications that are simple to carry out.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to propose a method that
makes it possible to manufacture comfortable articles.
[0011] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will
become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for
manufacturing tubular articles provided with a grip region on their
reverse side, particularly for providing hold-up stockings, by way
of circular knitting machines, which comprises the use of a
circular hosiery knitting machine that has at least two feeds or
drops, of which at least one first feed is capable of dispensing a
bare elastomer yarn, devices for selecting needles in order to move
some of the needles of the machine to pick up the yarn or yarns
dispensed at said feeds, while other needles are excluded from
picking up the yarn or yarns dispensed at said feeds, cams for
actuating the needles in order to move said needles to pick up the
yarn or yarns dispensed by said feeds to a "tuck" position or to a
"drop" position or in order to move said needles to a "miss"
position for their exclusion from picking up the yarn or yarns
dispensed at said feeds, said method being characterized in that,
at said first feed, at least one needle of at least one group of
contiguous needles is moved to knit in order to pick up the bare
elastomer yarn while the other needles of said group of needles are
held in or moved to the "miss" position and therefore excluded from
picking up said bare elastomer yarn, and in that the needles of
said at least one group of needles are actuated at at least one
subsequent feed in order to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at
said subsequent feed and form knitting at least with the needles
that were held in the "miss" position at said first feed.
[0012] The article obtained with the method according to the
invention has a grip region on its reverse side and is
characterized in that said grip region is defined by floating
portions or bridles of bare elastomer yarn which protrude on the
reverse side of the article and are knitted in with the other yarns
that compose the article.
[0013] 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 and
of an article obtained with the method, which is illustrated by way
of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of an article obtained with the method
according to the invention, as it is unloaded from the circular
hosiery knitting machine used for its production;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged-scale and partially cross-sectional
view of a portion of the article obtained with the method according
to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the article
turned inside out, relating to the grip region;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of the same detail as FIG. 3, tensioned at
right angles to the axis of the article.
[0018] With reference to the figures, the method according to the
invention, for providing a tubular article provided with a grip
region on its reverse side, in particular a hold-up stocking of the
type shown in the figures, comprises the use of a circular hosiery
knitting machine that has at least two feeds or drops, of which at
least one first feed is equipped to dispense a bare elastomer yarn
to the needles of the machine that pass at this feed. The circular
machine used to carry out the method according to the invention is
provided with electronic needle selection devices of known type,
which make it possible to select the needles of the machine that
must be actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at the
feeds or drops of the machine while other needles are excluded from
picking up this yarn or these yarns. Furthermore, such machine is
provided, in a manner known per se, with needle actuation cams in
order to move the needles to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed by
the feeds in a "tuck" position or in a "drop" position or in order
to move the needles to a "miss" position in order to exclude them
from picking up the yarn or yarns dispensed at the feeds.
[0019] It should be noted that in the present description the
expression "reverse side" of the article is understood to mean the
side of the article that is intended to be directed toward the skin
of the user.
[0020] The circular hosiery knitting machine that can be used to
carry out the method according to the invention is obviously
provided, in a manner known per se, with other elements and
devices, such as for example sinkers, yarn feeders, etc.
[0021] More particularly, in the preferred hypothesis of using a
single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machine and of
manufacturing the article with the needles located in the needle
cylinder which is arranged with its axis vertically, the picking-up
of the yarn or yarns by needles in the "tuck" position is performed
by lifting, by way of the corresponding actuation cams, the needles
to a height level such that their tip or head is extracted upward
by the sinkers, but to a height level that is not sufficient to
allow the loop or loops of knitting which were formed previously to
slide below the latch of the corresponding needle. In this manner,
upon the subsequent descent, caused by the corresponding actuation
cams, these needles will form a new loop of knitting without
knocking over the loop or loops formed previously, which remain,
together with the new loop, in the head or tip of the corresponding
needle.
[0022] The picking-up of the yarn or yarns by needles in the "drop"
position is performed by lifting, by way of the corresponding
actuation cams, the needles to a height level such that their tip
or head is extracted upward by the sinkers in order to pick up the
yarn or yarns at a height level that is sufficient to allow the
loop or loops of knitting which were formed previously to slide
below the latch of the needle. In this manner, upon the subsequent
descent, caused by the corresponding actuation cams, these needles
will form a new loop of knitting, knocking over or dropping the
loop or loops of knitting which were formed previously.
[0023] When the needles are in the "miss" position, their head or
tip is located below the knockover plane of the sinkers and holds
the loop or loops of knitting which were formed previously. In this
position, the needles cannot pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at
the corresponding feed and therefore cannot form knitting.
[0024] In the method according to the invention, at the first feed,
at least one needle of at least one group of contiguous needles is
moved to knit so that this at least one needle picks up the bare
elastomer yarn while the other needles of the group of needles are
held or moved to the "miss" position and therefore excluded from
picking up the bare elastomer yarn. The needles of the group of
needles are actuated at at least one subsequent feed so as to pick
up the yarn or yarns dispensed at this subsequent feed and form
knitting at least with those needles which, at the first feed, had
been held or moved to the "miss" position.
[0025] Preferably, at the first feed, the at least one needle,
which is actuated to pick up the bare elastomer yarn, is actuated
so as to pick up such yarn in the "tuck" position.
[0026] As an alternative, at the first feed, the at least one
needle, which is actuated to pick up the bare elastomer yarn, is
actuated in order to pick up such yarn in the "drop" position.
[0027] Preferably, at the at least one subsequent feed, the needle
that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at the first feed is
actuated in order to pick up the yarn or yarns, dispensed by the at
least one subsequent feed, in the "tuck" position.
[0028] Conveniently, after the production of a preset number of
rows of knitting by the other needles of the group of needles,
i.e., by the needles that did not pick up the bare elastomer yarn
at the first feed, the needle that picked up the bare elastomer
yarn is actuated, at the at least one subsequent feed, so as to
pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed by this feed in the "drop"
position and so form a new loop of knitting, dropping the loops of
knitting which were formed previously and held in its head.
[0029] Without altering the fact that it is possible to use
machines with a different number of feeds or drops, the method
according to the invention is preferably carried out by using a
circular hosiery knitting machine with four feeds arranged in
sequence around the axis of the needle cylinder of the machine
along the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder with respect
to the feeds or drops.
[0030] Preferably, if one wishes to provide a grip region that is
extended circumferentially on the reverse side of the article,
substantially all the needles of the machine are used, dividing
them into multiple groups of needles, where the needles of each
group are selected and actuated as explained above with reference
to the at least one group of needles.
[0031] Each group of needles is preferably composed of from 7 to 16
contiguous needles and, at the first feed, where the bare elastomer
yarn is dispensed, each group of needles is selected according to a
first selection comprised between 1:6 and 1:15, i.e., a selection
that causes the actuation of one needle to pick up the bare
elastomer yarn in the "tuck" position and the retention or passage
of a number of contiguous or, rather, subsequent needles (which
pass subsequently at the first feed) comprised between 6 and 15 in
the "miss" position.
[0032] As an alternative, each group of needles can comprise from 8
to 17 contiguous needles and the selection of the needles at the
first feed can be comprised between 2:6 and 2:15, i.e., a selection
that causes the actuation of two contiguous needles to pick up the
bare elastomer yarn in the "tuck" position and the retention or
passage of a number of contiguous or, rather, subsequent needles
(which pass subsequently at the first feed) comprised between 6 and
15 in the "miss" position.
[0033] At the at least one subsequent feed, preferably at the
second feed, each group of needles is selected according to a
second selection chosen from among 1:1, with one needle actuated to
pick up the yarn or yarns in the "tuck" position and one needle
actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop" position for
every two contiguous needles of the group of needles, or 2:2, with
two contiguous needles actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the
"tuck" position and two contiguous needles actuated to pick up the
yarn or yarns in the "drop" position for every four contiguous
needles of the group of needles, or 2:1, with two contiguous
needles actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "tuck"
position and one needle actuated to pick up the yarn or yarns in
the "drop" position for every three contiguous needles of the group
of needles, or 1:2, with one needle actuated to pick up the yarn or
yarns in the "tuck" position and two contiguous needles actuated to
pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop" position for every three
contiguous needles of the group of needles.
[0034] At this second feed, the needles that picked up the bare
elastomer yarn at the first feed belong to the needles that are
moved to knit to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "tuck"
position.
[0035] It should be noted that, in the transition from the first
feed to the second feed, the needles that picked up the bare
elastomer yarn at the first feed in the "tuck" position are not
lowered. This is achieved by deactivating the lowering cam of the
needles at the first feed. Owing to the fact that these needles are
not lowered, at the second feed they pick up the yarn or yarns
dispensed by this feed in a position that is slightly higher than
the "tuck" position and therefore drop the previously formed
stitches on their stem.
[0036] At the second feed, the needles, after picking up the yarn
or yarns, are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0037] At the third feed, the needles that picked up the bare
elastomer yarn at the first feed are actuated again in the "tuck"
position in order to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed by this
feed for a preset number of rotations of the needle cylinder, while
the other needles of the group of needles are actuated in the
"drop" position in order to pick up the yarn or yarns dispensed at
this third feed and form knitting, knocking over the previously
formed loops of knitting. After this preset number of turns, the
needles that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at the first feed
are actuated in order to pick up the yarn or yarns in the "drop"
position so as to form new loops of knitting, dropping the loops of
knitting which were formed previously and held in their head, and a
needle that is contiguous to these is actuated in order to pick up
the yarn or yarns in the "tuck" position. At the subsequent
rotation of the needle cylinder, knitting resumes as for the
previous rotations. In particular, at this third feed, the needles
that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at the first feed are
actuated again in the "tuck" position for another preset number of
rotations of the needle cylinder.
[0038] At the third feed, the needles, after picking up the yarn or
yarns, are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0039] At the fourth feed, the needles of each group of needles are
selected and actuated in a manner similar to what was done at the
second feed.
[0040] At the fourth feed, the needles, after picking up the yarn
or yarns, are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0041] It should be noted that, in the various rotations of the
needle cylinder about its own axis in order to form knitting,
during the formation of the grip region, the selection of the
needles at the various feeds is not changed, apart from the
different actuation, at the third feed, after a preset number of
rotations, of the needles that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at
the first feed, as described.
[0042] The preset number of rotations of the needle cylinder after
which, at the third feed, the actuation in the "drop" position of
the needles that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at the first
feed intervenes, is comprised substantially between 4 and 9.
[0043] It should be noted, furthermore, that, at the second and
fourth feeds, the needles that picked up the bare elastomer yarn at
the first feed are actuated in the "tuck" position to pick up the
yarn or yarns dispensed by these feeds.
[0044] The tubular knitted article that is obtained with the method
according to the invention, which is designated generally by the
reference numeral 1, has, on its reverse side, a grip region 2
which is defined by floating portions or bridles of bare elastomer
yarn 3 which protrude on the reverse side of the article 1 and are
knitted in with the other yarns that compose the article 1. The
floating portions or bridles of yarn 3 are generated by the lack of
pickup of the bare elastomer yarn by the needles of the various
groups of needles that are moved to or held in the "miss" position
at the first feed, as explained above.
[0045] The grip region 2 is preferably defined by one or more
circumferential bands 4, each one composed of multiple turns or
rows of these floating portions of bare elastomer yarn 3, which are
mutually side-by-side along the axis 1a of the article 1.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in the figures, which relates to a
hold-up stocking, the grip region 2 is composed of three
circumferential bands 4, which are mutually spaced apart along the
axis 1a of the article 1.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a hold-up stocking or, rather, a semifinished
article for the production of a hold-up stocking as it is unloaded
from the circular hosiery knitting machine that produced it. Such
semifinished article has both ends open. One of these two ends is
intended to be closed by sewing or looping in order to provide the
finished product.
[0048] The grip region 2 which is obtained with the method
according to the invention is located proximate to the opposite
end, i.e., the end that constitutes the upper end of the hold-up
stocking.
[0049] The bare elastomer yarn that defines the grip region 2 is
preferably made of silicone rubber.
[0050] Conveniently, at the grip region 2, the article 1 is
provided with gathered portions 5 which are produced preferably by
a pre-tensioning of the bare elastomer yarn 3 during its feeding to
the needles of the machine in the production of the article 1.
[0051] The knitting-in of the bare elastomer yarn 3 with the yarns
that compose the remaining part of the article 1, as can be deduced
from the description given above of the method for its production,
is performed by way of tuck-stitch knitting and the knitting-in
stitches, i.e., the stitches for joining the floating portions of
bare elastomer yarn 3 to the remaining part of the article 1, are
preferably mutually aligned parallel to the axis 1a of the article
1.
[0052] Preferably, each floating portion of bare elastomer yarn 3
extends for a number of rows of stitches that is substantially
comprised between 6 and 15.
[0053] The yarns used to produce the article, which are different
from the bare elastomer yarn, can be constituted at least partially
by elastically extensible yarns.
[0054] The method according to the invention makes it possible to
unload from a circular hosiery knitting machine an article 1 that
is already provided with a grip region 2 on the reverse side which
can be used to hold the article 1 to the skin of the user. In
particular, if the article is constituted by a hold-up stocking,
this grip region ensures optimum effectiveness in holding the upper
end of the stocking to the thigh of the user, effectively
contrasting its descent and its roll-up during use.
[0055] In particular, owing to the fact that, during the production
of the grip region 2, the needles that picked up the bare elastomer
yarn 3 at the first feed of the machine are moved to knit in the
"tuck" position at the subsequent feeds, one achieves the effect of
having rows of knitting (the ones formed by the needles that picked
up the bare elastomer yarn 3) that are less elastically yielding
than the other rows of knitting (produced by the needles that did
not pick up the bare elastomer yarn 3). This particular method of
execution of the grip region 2 achieves the effect of elastically
loading this region toward the inside of the article i.e. toward
the skin of the user, effectively contrasting the outward roll-up
of the article.
[0056] The optional, preferred execution of the elastically
extensible gathered portions 5 has the effect of further
reinforcing the resistance to roll-up of the article.
[0057] Merely by way of non-limiting example, below are two
examples are given of practical execution of the method according
to the invention for the production of a hold-up stocking.
EXAMPLE 1
[0058] A single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machine provided
with 400 needles and with four feeds or drops is used.
[0059] The needles of the machine are divided into groups of 12
needles.
[0060] The article 1 to be provided is a hold-up stocking of the
type shown in the figures.
[0061] Production of the article 1 begins from the upper end of the
article 1, i.e., the opposite end with respect to the toe of the
stocking.
[0062] After a preset number of rotations of the needle cylinder,
during which an initial portion of the stocking is provided in a
manner known per se, the provision of the grip region 2 begins and
occurs as follows.
[0063] At the first feed, the knockover cam is extracted, in the
sense that it is rendered inactive so as to not actuate the
needles.
[0064] At this first feed, the bare elastomer yarn 3 is dispensed
and the needles of each group of needles are selected according to
a 1:11 selection, so that one needle of the group is actuated in
order to pick up the bare elastomer yarn 3 in the "tuck" position
while the other 11 needles are moved to or held in the "miss"
position. In view of the deactivation of the knockover cam, the
needle of each group that picked up the bare elastomer yarn 3
passes to the second feed already in the "tuck" position or, more
precisely, in a position in which it is raised only slightly more
than the "tuck" position.
[0065] At the second feed, the needles of each group are selected
according to a 1:1 selection so that, for every two contiguous
needles, one needle is actuated to pick up the yarns dispensed by
said feed, in the "tuck" position, while the other needle is
actuated to pick up the yarns, dispensed by said feed, in the
"drop" position. The needle that picked up the bare elastomer yarn
3 at the first feed is one of the needles which, at this second
feed, pick up the yarns in the "tuck" position. At this second
feed, the needles are fed with three yarns, of which two are 78/46
(with count=78 decitex and 46 strands) and one is 44/34 (with
count=44 decitex and 34 strands). The supply of three yarns at the
second feed has the function of strengthening the grip region 2,
effectively preventing said region from rolling up with use.
[0066] After the pickup of the yarns dispensed by this second feed,
the needles are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0067] At the third feed, for each group of needles, a 1:11
selection of the needles is performed, with one needle being raised
to pick up the yarns in the "tuck" position and 11 needles being
raised in the "drop" position. The needle that is raised to the
"tuck" position is the needle that picked up the bare elastomer
yarn 3 at the first feed. This occurs for a preset number of
rotations of the needle cylinder which is preferably equal to 4,
then, at the fifth rotation and for only one rotation, this needle
is raised to the "drop" position and a contiguous needle is raised
to the "tuck" position. At this feed, the needles, both the ones
that are raised to the "tuck" position and the ones that are raised
to the "drop" position, are fed with two 78/46 yarns (with count=78
decitex and 46 strands).
[0068] After the pickup of the yarns dispensed by this third feed,
the needles are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0069] At the fourth feed, the needles of each group are selected,
as at the second feed, according to a 1:1 selection so that for
every two contiguous needles one needle is actuated to pick up the
yarns dispensed by this feed in the "tuck" position, while the
other needle is actuated to pick up the yarns dispensed by this
feed in the "drop" position. The needle that picked up the bare
elastomer yarn 3 at the first feed is one of the needles that, at
this fourth feed, pick up the yarns in the "tuck" position. At this
fourth feed, the needles are fed with three yarns, of which two are
78/46 (with count=78 decitex and 46 strands) and one is 44/34 (with
count=44 decitex and 34 strands). In this case also, the provision
of three yarns has the function of strengthening the grip region 2,
effectively preventing such region from rolling up with use.
[0070] After picking up the yarns dispensed by this fourth feed,
the needles are lowered in order to form new loops of knitting.
[0071] With this technique, three circumferential bands 4 are
provided with portions of bare elastomer yarn 3 that float on the
reverse side of the article 1. The circumferential regions located
between the circumferential bands 4 provided with bare elastomer
yarn 3 can be provided in a manner known per se, or as described,
but omitting to feed the bare elastomer yarn 3 to the needles.
[0072] Optionally, before beginning the provision of the grip
region 2, it is possible to perform a few rotations of the needle
cylinder (three rotations are performed in the example shown),
during which some needles, preferably different from those which
are actuated at the first feed during the provision of the grip
region 2, are fed with the bare elastomer yarn 3 (optionally
dispensed always at the first feed), while the other needles are
excluded from picking up the bare elastomer yarn 3 so as to obtain
a circumferential band 6 of reduced height, again with portions of
bare elastomer yarn 3 that float on the reverse side of the article
1, optionally offset with respect to the floating portions of bare
elastomer yarn 3 of the grip region 2.
[0073] After the provision of the grip region 2, the production of
the article 1 continues in a manner known per se up to the
provision of the toe of the article 1, after which the article 1 is
unloaded from the machine.
EXAMPLE 2
[0074] A single-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machine provided
with 400 needles and with four feeds or drops is used.
[0075] The needles of the machine are divided into groups of 12
needles as in example 1.
[0076] In this second example of practical embodiment of the method
according to the invention, the same operations already described
in example 1 are carried out, with the difference that, at the
first feed of the machine, the needle of each group of needles that
is actuated in order to pick up the bare elastomer yarn 3 is moved
to knit in the "drop" position instead of in the "tuck"
position.
[0077] In practice it has been found that the method according to
the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it makes it
possible to manufacture articles provided with a grip region on
their reverse side, particularly hold-up stockings, which is
provided directly during the formation of the article with a
hosiery knitting machine, without requiring the execution of a
double welt and/or additional knitting in order to provide such
grip region.
[0078] Another advantage of the method according to the invention
is that it allows the provision of articles in which roll-up of the
grip region during use does not occur.
[0079] The method thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced
with other, technically equivalent elements. Thus, for example, the
manufacture of the article can begin from one axial end thereof or
from the opposite axial end, i.e., in hosiery, from the toe or from
the top.
[0080] Although the invention has been conceived in particular for
the production of hold-up stockings, it can also be used to
manufacture other types of hosiery, such as for example knee-highs,
or for other types of finished or semifinished tubular
articles.
[0081] In practice, the materials used, unless otherwise specified
above, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the
requirements and the state of the art.
[0082] The disclosures in Italian Patent Applications No.
MI2014A001568 (102014902292281) and No. 102015000033270 from which
this application claims priority are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0083] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed
by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for
the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims
and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting
effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of
example by such reference signs.
* * * * *