U.S. patent application number 15/743334 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for knitted fabric and knitted fabric joining method.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshinori SHIMASAKI, Isao YUMIBA.
Application Number | 20180199668 15/743334 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57884489 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180199668 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YUMIBA; Isao ; et
al. |
July 19, 2018 |
KNITTED FABRIC AND KNITTED FABRIC JOINING METHOD
Abstract
Provided is a knitted fabric in which a first knitted fabric
portion and a second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other
in the thickness direction are joined to each other so as to be
easily rotated about a joint position of the two knitted fabric
portions, which serves as a rotation axis. The knitted fabric
includes: a passage location (7) at which stitches (4a to 4d) of
the n-th knitting course (4A) of the second knitted fabric portion
(4) are passed through gaps between stitches in the first knitted
fabric portion (2) from one surface side to the other surface side,
so that the up and down positions in the thickness direction of the
first knitted fabric portion (2) and the second knitted fabric
portion (4) are reversed with respect to each other. Furthermore, a
terminal portion (4y) of the second knitted fabric portion (4) is
subjected to an unravel treatment in the vicinity of the passage
location at which the second knitted fabric portion (4) is passed
through the first knitted fabric portion (2), so that the first
knitted fabric portion (2) and the second knitted fabric portion
(4) are joined to each other at the passage location (7) . Here,
the gaps are each surrounded by two adjacent stitches (2a and 2b
through 2d and 2e) in the m-th knitting course (2A) of the first
knitted fabric portion (2), a sinker loop that connects the
adjacent stitches, and a sinker loop in the (m+1)-th knitting
course (2B).
Inventors: |
YUMIBA; Isao; (Wakayama-shi,
Wakayama, JP) ; SHIMASAKI; Yoshinori; (Wakayama-shi,
Wakayama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. |
Wakayama-shi, Wakayama |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD.
Wakayama-shi, Wakayama
JP
|
Family ID: |
57884489 |
Appl. No.: |
15/743334 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
July 7, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/070193 |
371 Date: |
January 10, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2403/0332 20130101;
D04B 7/30 20130101; A43B 23/02 20130101; D10B 2501/043 20130101;
A43B 23/26 20130101; A41D 27/204 20130101; D04B 1/22 20130101; D04B
1/106 20130101; A41D 2500/10 20130101; D04B 1/24 20130101; D04B
7/04 20130101; A43B 23/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/02 20060101
A43B023/02; A41D 27/20 20060101 A41D027/20; A43B 23/26 20060101
A43B023/26; D04B 1/24 20060101 D04B001/24; D04B 7/04 20060101
D04B007/04; D04B 7/30 20060101 D04B007/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2015 |
JP |
2015-151242 |
Claims
1. A knitted fabric in which a first knitted fabric portion and a
second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other in a
thickness direction in a two-layer independent state are joined to
each other, comprising: when n and m are suitable natural numbers,
a passage location at which stitches in an n-th knitting course of
the second knitted fabric portion are passed through gaps between
stitches in the first knitted fabric portion from one surface side
to another surface side, so that up and down positions in the
thickness direction of the first knitted fabric portion and the
second knitted fabric portion are reversed with respect to each
other, wherein a terminal portion of the second knitted fabric
portion is subjected to an unravel treatment in the vicinity of the
passage location, so that the first knitted fabric portion and the
second knitted fabric portion are joined to each other at the
passage location, and the gaps are each surrounded by two adjacent
stitches in an m-th knitting course of the first knitted fabric
portion, a sinker loop that connects the adjacent stitches, and a
sinker loop in an (m+1)-th knitting course.
2. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein the stitches in
the n-th knitting course are respectively passed through the
plurality of gaps lined up in a predetermined range of the m-th
knitting course.
3. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein the first
knitted fabric portion is a shoe upper, and the second knitted
fabric portion is a tongue, and a start portion of the shoe upper
is formed in the vicinity of the passage location.
4. A knitted fabric joining method for joining a first knitted
fabric portion and a second knitted fabric portion that overlap
each other in a thickness direction in a two-layer independent
state, using a flat knitting machine with two needle beds,
comprising: when n and m are suitable natural numbers, a step of
holding an m-th knitting course of the first knitted fabric portion
on one needle bed, and holding an n-th knitting course of the
second knitted fabric portion on the other needle bed; a step of
moving stitches in the m-th knitting course to the other needle bed
and moving stitches in the n-th knitting course to the one needle
bed, so that the front and back positions of the first knitted
fabric portion and the second knitted fabric portion are reversed
with respect to each other in a state in which the stitches in the
n-th knitting course are passed through spaces between the stitches
in the m-th knitting course; a step of subjecting the n-th knitting
course to an unravel treatment, or knitting several knitting
courses that follow the n-th knitting course in a wale direction
and then performing an unravel treatment; and a step of knitting
several knitting courses that follow the m-th knitting course.
5. The knitted fabric according to claim 2, wherein the first
knitted fabric portion is a shoe upper, and the second knitted
fabric portion is a tongue, and a start portion of the shoe upper
is formed in the vicinity of the passage location.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a knitted fabric in which a
first knitted fabric portion and a second knitted fabric portion
that overlap each other in a thickness direction in a two-layer
independent state are joined to each other, and a knitted fabric
joining method for joining a first knitted fabric portion and a
second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other in a
thickness direction in a two-layer independent state.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Flat knitting machines have been used to join a first
knitted fabric portion and a second knitted fabric portion that are
knitted using different yarn feeders. If the first knitted fabric
portion and the second knitted fabric portion are lined up in a
knitting width direction, such methods include one in which
stitches of the first knitted fabric portion and stitches of the
second knitted fabric portion are overlapped with each other to
join the two knitted fabric portions to each other, and one in
which knitting yarn of the first knitted fabric portion and
knitting yarn of the second knitted fabric portion are crossed with
each other, as described in Patent Document 1.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 5695859B
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] On the other hand, if the first knitted fabric portion and
the second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other in a
thickness direction in a two-layer independent state are joined to
each other, typically, stitches of the first knitted fabric portion
and stitches of the second knitted fabric portion are overlapped
with each other, and stitches are knitted to follow the resultant
double stitches in a wale direction, whereby fixing the double
stitches.
[0005] Here, like a tongue (second knitted fabric portion) of a
shoe upper (first knitted fabric portion) , and a pocket flap
(second knitted fabric portion) of knitwear (first knitted fabric
portion), it is sometimes preferable that the second knitted fabric
portion is easily rotated with respect to the first knitted fabric
portion about a joint position of the first knitted fabric portion
and the second knitted fabric portion, which serves as a rotation
axis. However, in the case where the two knitted fabric portions
are joined to each other using double stitches, two stitches of the
double stitch mutually restrain from moving, and thus the second
knitted fabric portion is not easily rotated with respect to the
first knitted fabric portion.
[0006] The present invention was made in view of the
above-described circumstances, and it is an object thereof to
provide a knitted fabric in which a first knitted fabric portion
and a second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other in a
thickness direction are joined to each other so as to be easily
rotated about a joint position of the two knitted fabric portions,
which serves as a rotation axis. Furthermore, it is another object
of the present invention to provide a knitted fabric joining method
for joining a first knitted fabric portion and a second knitted
fabric portion that overlap each other in a thickness direction so
that they can be easily rotated about a joint position of the two
knitted fabric portions, which serves as a rotation axis.
Means of Solving the Problems
[0007] An aspect of the present invention relates to a knitted
fabric in which a first knitted fabric portion and a second knitted
fabric portion that overlap each other in a thickness direction in
a two-layer independent state are joined to each other. When n and
m are suitable natural numbers, the knitted fabric includes a
passage location at which stitches in an n-th knitting course of
the second knitted fabric portion are passed through gaps between
stitches in the first knitted fabric portion from one surface side
to another surface side, so that up and down positions in the
thickness direction of the first knitted fabric portion and the
second knitted fabric portion are reversed with respect to each
other. Furthermore, a terminal portion of the second knitted fabric
portion is subjected to an unravel treatment in the vicinity of the
passage location at which it is passed through the first knitted
fabric portion, so that the first knitted fabric portion and the
second knitted fabric portion are joined to each other at the
passage location. Here, the gaps are each surrounded by two
adjacent stitches in an m-th knitting course of the first knitted
fabric portion, a sinker loop that connects the adjacent stitches,
and a sinker loop in an (m+1)-th knitting course. The sinker loop
in the (m+1)-th knitting course is a sinker loop that connects two
stitches that follow the two adjacent stitches in the m-th knitting
course in the wale direction.
[0008] According to another aspect of the knitted fabric of the
present invention, the stitches in the n-th knitting course may be
respectively passed through the plurality of gaps lined up in a
predetermined range of the m-th knitting course.
[0009] According to another aspect of the knitted fabric of the
present invention, the first knitted fabric portion may be a shoe
upper, and the second knitted fabric portion may be a tongue, and a
start portion of the shoe upper may be formed in the vicinity of
the passage location.
[0010] An aspect of the present invention relates to a knitted
fabric joining method for joining a first knitted fabric portion
and a second knitted fabric portion that overlap each other in a
thickness direction in a two-layer independent state, using a flat
knitting machine with two needle beds. The knitted fabric joining
method of the present invention includes: when n and m are suitable
natural numbers, the following steps; [0011] a step of holding an
m-th knitting course of the first knitted fabric portion on one
needle bed, and holding an n-th knitting course of the second
knitted fabric portion on the other needle bed; [0012] a step of
moving stitches in the m-th knitting course to the other needle bed
and moving stitches in the n-th knitting course to the one needle
bed, so that the front and back positions of the first knitted
fabric portion and the second knitted fabric portion are reversed
with respect to each other in a state in which the stitches in the
n-th knitting course are passed through spaces between the stitches
in the m-th knitting course; [0013] a step of subjecting the n-th
knitting course to an unravel treatment, or knitting several
knitting courses that follow the n-th knitting course in a wale
direction and then performing an unravel treatment; and [0014] a
step of knitting several knitting courses that follow the n-th
knitting course.
Effects of the Invention
[0015] In the knitted fabric according to the present invention,
the first knitted fabric portion and the second knitted fabric
portion are joined to each other by reversing the up and down
positions in the thickness direction of the first knitted fabric
portion and the second knitted fabric portion, and thus it is
possible to easily rotate the second knitted fabric portion with
respect to the first knitted fabric portion about the passage
location at which the up and down positions of the two knitted
fabric portions are reversed, which serves as a rotation axis.
Furthermore, in the knitted fabric of the present invention, the
terminal portion of the second knitted fabric portion is provided
in the vicinity of the above-described passage location, and thus
the part of the second knitted fabric portion that is arranged on
the other surface side of the first knitted fabric portion is small
. In a knitted fabric for use in a case where one surface side of
the first knitted fabric portion is located on the front surface
side, it is difficult to rotate the second knitted fabric portion
if the part of the second knitted fabric portion that is arranged
on the other surface side (back surface side) of the first knitted
fabric portion is large. Such a problem is unlikely to occur if the
part of the second knitted fabric portion that is arranged on the
other surface side of the first knitted fabric portion is
small.
[0016] By passing the stitches in the n-th knitting course
respectively through the plurality of gaps lined up in a
predetermined range of the m-th knitting course, it is possible to
improve the joint intensity of the first knitted fabric portion and
the second knitted fabric portion.
[0017] By reversing the up and down positions in the thickness
direction of the shoe upper and the tongue to join the shoe upper
and the tongue to each other, a comfortable shoe upper can be
obtained. This is because the foot insertion opening is enlarged by
rotating the tongue when a wearer wears the shoe upper.
[0018] According to the knitted fabric joining method of the
present invention, it is possible to knit the knitted fabric of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a shoe upper of an
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the shoe upper taken
along a line II-II.
[0021] FIG. 2B is a loop diagram schematically illustrating the
vicinity of a joint position of the shoe upper and a tongue.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a knitting image diagram schematically
illustrating an example of a procedure for knitting the shoe
upper.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a knitting step diagram illustrating an example of
a procedure for forming the vicinity of the joint position.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
[0024] Embodiment 1 will describe a shoe upper 1 (see FIG. 1) that
includes a portion knitted by a knitted fabric joining method
according to the present invention. The position to which the
knitted fabric joining method of the present invention is applied
is a portion in which an instep cover 2 and a tongue 4, which will
be described later, are joined to each other. The following will
describe constituent components of the shoe upper 1, then a
procedure for manufacturing the shoe upper 1, and lastly a specific
procedure for joining the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4.
<<Shoe Upper>>
[0025] The shoe upper 1 is a knitted fabric knitted using a flat
knitting machine, and includes an instep cover 2 that covers a
portion on the instep side of a wearer, and a sole cover 3 that
covers the sole portion of the wearer. A shoe opening 5 is formed
in the upper portion of the instep cover 2, and the shoe opening 5
includes a foot insertion opening 5i through which the wearer
inserts his or her foot, and a slit 5s that extends from the foot
insertion opening 5i toward the toe side. The tongue 4 is provided
at a position in the slit 5s, and eyelets 6 are formed at positions
of the instep cover 2 near the slit 5s.
[0026] The shoe upper 1 of the present example differs from
conventional ones in the configuration of joining the instep cover
(first knitted fabric portion) 2 and the tongue (second knitted
fabric portion) 4. The following will describe a configuration of a
joint position of the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 in detail
with reference to a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A taken along a
line II-II, and a loop diagram of FIG. 2B.
[0027] In FIG. 2A, the left side in the drawing shows the front
surface side (one surface side) of the instep cover 2, the right
side shows the back surface side (the other surface side) of the
instep cover 2, the upper side shows the toe side, and the lower
side shows the heel side. As shown in FIG. 2A, the joint position
of the present example includes, between a start portion 2x and a
terminal portion 2y in a wale direction of the instep cover 2, a
passage location 7 at which stitches in a knitting course between a
start portion 4x and a terminal portion 4y in a wale direction of
the tongue 4 are passed through the instep cover 2 from the one
surface side to the other surface side. The shorter the part of the
tongue 4 that is arranged on the back surface side of the instep
cover 2, the less likely the tongue 4 is to come into contact with
the instep of the wearer, and the shoe upper 1 of FIG. 1 will
provide good foot comfort.
[0028] The state of stitches in the vicinity of the joint position
including the passage location 7 will be described with reference
to the loop diagram of FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, the instep cover 2 is
denoted by thin lines and the tongue 4 is denoted by thick lines.
As shown in the drawing, in the passage location 7, stitches 4a to
4d in an n-th (where n is a suitable natural number) knitting
course 4A of the tongue 4 are passed through gaps between stiches
in the instep cover 2, and there is no overlap of stitches between
the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4. The gaps through which the
stitches 4a to 4d are passed are gaps each surrounded by two
adjacent stitches in an m-th (where m is a suitable natural number)
knitting course 2A of the first knitted fabric portion 2, namely,
two adjacent stitches 2a and 2b through stitches 2d and 2e, a
sinker loop that connects the corresponding adjacent stitches,
namely, the stitches 2a and 2b through stitches 2d and 2e, and a
corresponding sinker loop in an (m+1)-th knitting course 2B. In the
present example, all the stitches 4a to 4d of the tongue 4 are
passed through different positions, and thus the stitches of the
instep cover 2 and the stitches of the tongue 4 are crossed with
each other one by one in the front-back direction, like comb teeth
meshing with each other. Here, a plurality of stitches (for
example, the stitches 4a and 4b) can also be passed through a
single gap.
[0029] The (m+1)-th knitting course 2B constituted by new stitches
2f to 2j is formed to follow the stitches 2a to 2e of the instep
cover 2 in the wale direction, and an (n+1)-th knitting course 4B
constituted by new stitches 4f to 4i is formed to follow the
stitches 4a to 4d of the tongue 4 in the wale direction. With the
knitting courses 2B and 4B, the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 are
joined to each other so as not to disengage. For example,
subjecting the (n+1)-th knitting course 4B of the tongue 4 to an
unravel treatment will prevent the tongue 4 from disengaging from
the instep cover 2 even if the tongue 4 is pulled forward, because
sinker loops of the knitting course 4B are caught by the instep
cover 2. Note that the knitting course of the tongue 4 that is
subjected to an unravel treatment is not limited to the (n+1)-th
knitting course 4B.
[0030] As described above, in the shoe upper 1 of the present
example, the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 are joined to each
other in the passage location 7 by reversing the up and down
positions in the thickness direction of the instep cover 2 and the
tongue 4 with respect to each other. Accordingly, the tongue 4 can
easily be rotated about the passage location 7 in which the tongue
4 is passed through the instep cover 2, which serves as a rotation
axis. In the case of the shoe upper 1 of the present example shown
in FIG. 1, the tongue 4 can easily be rotated toward the near side
in the drawing, and thus a shoe upper 1 into which a foot can
easily be inserted is obtained.
[0031] Moreover, by reversing the positions of the instep cover 2
and the tongue 4 in the thickness direction with respect to each
other to join the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4, it is also
possible to achieve an effect of suppressing color mingling in the
vicinity of the passage location 7 even if the instep cover 2 and
the tongue 4 are knitted with knitting yarn of different
colors.
<<Shoe Upper Manufacturing Procedure>>
[0032] The shoe upper 1 of the present example is obtained by
knitting, using the flat knitting machine, the instep cover 2 to
which the tongue 4 is joined, and attaching the sole cover 3
prepared separate from the instep cover 2 to the instep cover 2.
Unlike the present example, the instep cover 2 and the sole cover 3
may also be knitted as one piece. As the flat knitting machine, a
two-bed flat knitting machine provided with two need beds opposite
to each other in a front-back direction, or four-bed flat knitting
machine may be used. Knitting yarn including heat-fusible yarn or
the like can be used for knitting the instep cover 2 and the tongue
4. Preferably, the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 have at least
partially a thick knitting pattern obtained by knitting (such as a
knitting pattern obtained by combining tubular knitting and rib
knitting) using front and back needle beds.
[0033] The instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 can be knitted in the
procedure shown in a knitting image diagram of FIG. 3. In the
drawing, white arrows show the direction in which knitting advances
(wale direction), and horizontal lines in the components 2 and 4
show the knitting width direction (direction in which stitches are
lined up). Furthermore, in FIG. 3, small letters are added to
positions important for knitting.
[0034] First, a heel cover portion 20, which is a part of the
instep cover 2, is knitted. The heel cover portion 20 is used to
form the portion on the heel side of the instep cover 2 in a shape
conforming to the shape of the foot of wearers, and the knitting
width thereof decreases toward the shoe opening 5 side. In the
drawing, a line a-b is a knitting start portion of the heel cover
portion 20, a line c-d is a knitting end portion, and a line b-d
and a line a-c are side edges in the knitting width direction.
[0035] Then, following the side edge a-c (stitches denoted by signs
"V") of the heel cover portion 20, a left portion of the body
portion 21 is started to be knitted, and following the side edge
b-d of the heel cover portion 20, a right portion of the body
portion 21 is started to be knitted. The left end portion and the
right portion of the body portion 21 are knitted using different
yarn feeders. The left portion and the right portion of the body
portion 21 are knitted in a state in which they are lined up side
by side on the needle beds . Furthermore, independently from the
body portion 21, the tongue 4 is knitted using a yarn feeder
different from those for the body portion 21 (tongue 4 starts from
a line e-f). Then, the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 are joined
to each other on a line g-h, and the instep cover 2 is
complete.
<<Joining Method>>
[0036] The procedure for joining the instep cover 2 (first knitted
fabric portion) and the tongue 4 (second knitted fabric portion)
will be described with reference to the knitting step diagram of
FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, "S+numeric character" denotes the knitting step
number, and black points in the right column denote needles of the
front needle bed (FB) and the back needle bed (BB) . The reference
signs in the drawing correspond to the reference signs of FIG.
2B.
[0037] Step S0 shows the state in which the n-th knitting course 4A
(including the stitches 4a to 4d) of the tongue 4 is held on the
needles of the FB, and the m-th knitting course 2A (including the
stitches 2a to 2e) of the instep cover 2 is held on the needles of
the BB. From the state, the front and back positions of the tongue
4 and the instep cover 2 are to be reversed with respect to each
other. Here, the n-th knitting course 4A is preferably the last
knitting course of the tongue 4 or the knitting course one to five
courses before the last knitting course. Furthermore, the m-th
knitting course 2A is preferably any of the first to fifth knitting
courses from the knitting start portion (start portion 2x) of the
instep cover 2. With this, as shown in FIG. 2A, the terminal
portion 4y of the tongue 4 and the start portion 2x of the instep
cover 2 are arranged in the vicinity of the passage location 7.
[0038] In Step S1, the BB is racked by one pitch in the rightward
direction, and the stitch 2e at the right end of the instep cover 2
that is held on the BB is moved to the FB. Then, in Step S2, the
stitch 4d at the right end of the tongue 4 that is held on the FB
is moved to the needle of the BB that has become empty due to the
movement of the stitch 2e of the instep cover 2 in Step S1.
[0039] In Step S3, the stitch 2d at the right end of the instep
cover 2 that is held on the BB is moved to the needle of the FB
that has become empty due to the movement of the stitch 4d of the
tongue 4 in Step S2. Then, in Step S4, the stitch 4c at the right
end of the tongue 4 that is held on the FB is moved to the needle
of the FB that has become empty due to the movement of the stitch
2d of the instep cover 2 in step S3.
[0040] Thereafter, moving the stitch on one end side (right end
side) of the instep cover 2 to the needle of the FB that has become
empty due to the movement of the stitch of the tongue 4 (knitting
corresponding to Step S3), and moving the stitch on one end side
(right end side) of the tongue 4 to the needle of the BB that has
become empty due to the movement of the stitch of the instep cover
2 (knitting corresponding to Step S4) are repeated. As a result, as
shown in Step S5, the front and back positions of the instep cover
2 and the tongue 4 are reversed with respect to each other, and the
state as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained in which the stitches 4a to
4d of the tongue 4 are respectively passed through the spaces
between adjacent stitches 2a and 2b through stitches 2d and 2e of
the instep cover 2 from the one surface side of the instep cover 2
to the other surface side.
[0041] After Step S5, the (n+1)-th knitting course 4B (see FIG. 2B)
is knitted to follow the n-th knitting course 4A of the tongue 4
that is held on the needles of the BB, and the (m+1)-th knitting
course 2B (see FIG. 2B) is knitted to follow the m-th knitting
course 2A of the instep cover 2 that is held on the needles of the
FB. The two new knitting courses 2B and 4B are knitted
independently. The (n+1)-th knitting course 4B of the tongue 4 may
be subjected to an unravel treatment using bind-off stitches or the
like, or several (for example one to five) knitting courses may be
knitted to follow the (n+1) -th knitting course 4B in the wale
direction, and then the last knitting course maybe subjected to an
unravel treatment. With the unravel treatment, the joint of the
instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 are fixed.
[0042] Here, it is also possible to subject the n-th knitting
course 4A of the tongue 4 in Step S5 to a binding-off treatment.
Furthermore, as an example of an unravel treatment other than the
binding-off treatment, a measure is also possible in which the last
knitting course of the tongue 4 is knitted with heat-shrinkable
knitting yarn, and the tongue 4 is subjected to a heat
treatment.
<<Modifications>>
[0043] In FIG. 4, the front and back positions of all the stitches
of the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 are reversed with respect to
each other, and then the joint of the instep cover 2 and the tongue
4 is fixed. In contrast, each time the front and back positions of
a stitch of the instep cover 2 and a stitch of the tongue 4 are
reversed with respect to each other, a new stitch may be knitted to
follow the stitch of the tongue 4. Furthermore, each time the front
and back positions of a stitch of the instep cover 2 and a stitch
of the stitches of the tongue 4 are reversed with respect to each
other, the stitch of the tongue 4 may be subjected to a binding-off
treatment. Alternatively, the front and back positions of all the
stitches of the instep cover 2 and the tongue 4 may be reversed at
once with respect to each other.
[0044] Moreover, it is also possible to form a joint position
similar to that in FIG. 2B by crossing knitting yarn based on the
front-back positional relationship between the yarn feeders. By
feeding the FB with knitting yarn from the yarn feeder on the BB
side, and feeding the BB with knitting yarn from the yarn feeder on
the FB side, the knitting yarns fed from the two yarn feeders are
crossed with each other between the FB and the BB. Accordingly, by
operating the two yarn feeders so that the stitches of the tongue 4
are passed through the spaces between adjacent stitches of the
instep cover 2, it is possible to form a joint position similar to
that in FIG. 2B.
<Embodiment 2>
[0045] The scope to which the knitted fabric joining method of the
present invention is applied is not limited to a shoe upper. For
example, when forming a pocket flap of knitwear, the knitted fabric
joining method of the present invention can be applied to join the
flap to a body. Furthermore, the knitted fabric joining method of
the present invention may also be used for knitting industrial
materials other than shoe uppers and knitwear.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0046] 1 Shoe upper (knitted fabric) [0047] 2 Instep cover (first
knitted fabric portion) [0048] 2x Start portion [0049] 2y Terminal
portion [0050] 20 Heel cover portion [0051] 21 Body portion [0052]
3 Sole cover [0053] 4 Tongue (second knitted fabric portion) [0054]
4x Start portion [0055] 4y Terminal portion [0056] 5 Shoe opening
[0057] 5i Foot insertion opening [0058] 5s Slit [0059] 6 Eyelet
[0060] 7 Passage location [0061] 2A m-th knitting course [0062] 2B
(m+1)-th knitting course [0063] 2a to 2e, 2f to 2j Stitches of
instep cover [0064] 4A n-th knitting course [0065] 4B (n+1)-th
knitting course [0066] 4a to 4d, 4f to 4i Stitches of tongue
* * * * *