Yarn re-gripping method and flat knitting machine

Abstract

A yarn re-gripping method and a flat knitting machine capable of suppressing a yarn gripped by a gripper from having a long tail are provided. A yarn re-gripping method includes: a first re-gripping step of moving a standby yarn being gripped by a first gripper (2) provided on an opposite side of the needle bed with respect to a cutter (46), and causing a second gripper (49) provided on the side of the needle bed of the cutter (46) to grip the standby yarn; a second re-gripping step of moving the standby yarn to the opposite side of the needle bed, and causing the first gripper (2) to grip the standby yarn; a cutting step of causing the cutter (46) to cut the standby yarn; and at least one of a threading step and a yarn clipping step, the threading step including: causing a yarn feeder (120) to move the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper (2) and causing the second gripper (49) to grip the working yarn or causing a knitting needle (111) to catch the working yarn; and the yarn clipping step including: moving the working yarn to be clipped to a position permitting the first gripper (2) to grip the working yarn; causing the first gripper (2) to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure relates to a yarn re-gripping method and a technique for a flat knitting machine.Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for a flat knitting machine including a cutter for cutting a yarn and a gripper for gripping the yarn has been known. One example of such a technique is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.

[0003] In the flat knitting machine described in Patent Literature 1, two grippers are provided on the side opposite to a needle bed with respect to a cutter. If the grippers are provided on the same side of the cutter as the needle bed, when a yarn extending from a knitting needle to the yarn feeder is to be cut, the gripper cannot grip the yarn between the yarn feeder and the cutter. The gripper is therefore usually provided on the opposite side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter, as in the flat knitting machine described in Patent Literature 1.

[0004] Grippers are sometimes caused to re-grip a yarn, in a case where a gripper already gripping a yarn is to newly grip another yarn, or in a case where one gripper gripping a plurality of yarns is to release only some of the yarns. However, there is a problem that, as a yarn is re-gripped, the yarn is pulled out of a feed port of a standby yarn feeder having the yarn gripped by a gripper, and the yarn gripped by the gripper ends up having a long tail. More specifically, while one of two grippers is gripping a yarn, by causing the other gripper to grip the yarn, the yarn stretches between the two grippers. When the grip of the one gripper is then released, the tail ends up being longer by the amount of the yarn having been stretched between the two grippers. When a yarn has a long tail, for example, the yarn may clog the tube of a suction nozzle because the tail to be suctioned by the suction nozzle after the yarn is cut is longer in length, or the tail of the yarn being gripped by one gripper may become erroneously gripped during a gripping operation of the other gripper.Citation ListPatent Literature

[0005] Patent Literature 1: JP 2010-156086 ASummary of InventionTechnical Problem

[0006] The disclosure has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the disclosure is to provide a yarn re-gripping method and a flat knitting machine capable of suppressing a yarn gripped by a gripper from having a long tail.Solution to Problem

[0007] The problem to be addressed by the disclosure has been described above. Means for solving the problem will now be explained.

[0008] That is, a yarn re-gripping method according to the disclosure includes: a first re-gripping step of moving a yarn feeder for feeding a standby yarn to a side of a needle bed, while the standby yarn is being gripped by a first gripper provided on an opposite side of the needle bed with respect to a cutter capable of cutting a yarn including a working yarn and the standby yarn, and causing a second gripper provided on the side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter to grip the standby yarn; a second re-gripping step of moving the yarn feeder for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the second gripper to the opposite side of the needle bed, and causing the first gripper to grip the standby yarn; a cutting step of causing the cutter to cut the standby yarn being gripped by at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper; and at least one of a threading step and a yarn clipping step, in which the threading step is a step including: moving a yarn feeder so as to bring the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper, to a position permitting a knitting needle, among a plurality of knitting needles that are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction of the needle bed, to catch the working yarn; at least one of causing the second gripper to grip the working yarn and causing the knitting needle to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper to release grip of the working yarn or cutting the working yarn off from the first gripper, and the yarn clipping step is a step of moving the working yarn to be clipped to a position permitting the first gripper to grip the working yarn; causing the first gripper to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn.

[0009] With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the yarn gripped by the gripper from having a long tail.

[0010] Furthermore, in the yarn clipping step, by having the first gripper grip the working yarn as well as the standby yarn, when the first gripper is caused to grip the standby yarn in the second re-gripping step, the cutter may be caused to cut the working yarn between the first gripper and the second gripper.

[0011] With such a configuration, the yarn can be clipped without leaving a long tail.

[0012] Furthermore, in the yarn clipping step, by having the first gripper grip the working yarn as well as the standby yarn, when the first gripper is caused to grip the standby yarn in the second re-gripping step, a cutting device different from the cutter may be caused to cut the working yarn between the second gripper and the knitting needle holding the working yarn.

[0013] With such a configuration, the yarn can be clipped without leaving a long tail.

[0014] Furthermore, in the threading step, after causing the second gripper to grip the working yarn during the execution of the first re-gripping step, the cutter may be caused to cut the working yarn between the first gripper and the second gripper.

[0015] With such a configuration, the yarn can be threaded without leaving a long tail.

[0016] Furthermore, in the threading step, after causing the second gripper to grip the working yarn during the execution of the first re-gripping step, a cutting device different from the cutter may be caused to cut the working yarn between the second gripper and the knitting needle holding the working yarn.

[0017] With such a configuration, the yarn can be threaded without leaving a long tail.

[0018] The yarn re-gripping method may further include a suctioning step of causing a suction nozzle to suction the yarn having been cut.

[0019] With such a configuration, it is possible to remove the yarn having been cut.

[0020] A flat knitting machine according to the disclosure includes: a needle bed on which a plurality of knitting needles are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction; a cutter that is provided on a side of the needle bed and is capable of cutting a yarn including a working yarn and a standby yarn; a first gripper that is provided on an opposite side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter, and is capable of gripping the yarn; a second gripper that is provided on a side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter and is capable of gripping the yarn; and a control unit that controls operations of the cutter, the first gripper, and the second gripper, in which the control unit is enabled, by controlling the operations of the cutter, the first gripper, and the second gripper: to move a yarn feeder for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the first gripper to the side of the needle bed, and to cause the second gripper to grip the standby yarn; to move a yarn feeder for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the second gripper to the opposite side of the needle bed, and to cause the first gripper to grip the standby yarn; to cause the cutter to cut the standby yarn being gripped by at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper; and to perform at least one of a threading step and a yarn clipping step, in which the threading step is a step including: moving a yarn feeder so as to bring the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper to a position permitting a knitting needle, among the plurality of knitting needles, to catch the working yarn; at least one of causing the second gripper to grip the working yarn and causing the knitting needle to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper to release grip of the working yarn or cutting the working yarn off the first gripper, and the yarn clipping step is a step including: moving the working yarn to be clipped to a position permitting the first gripper to catch the working yarn; causing the first gripper to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn.

[0021] With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the yarn gripped by the gripper from having a long tail.

[0022] The second gripper may be enabled to switch to grip and to release the yarn by making opening and closing operations, and may be caused to make the opening and closing operations synchronously with opening and closing operation of the cutter, by a common drive source shared with the cutter.

[0023] With this configuration, cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.

[0024] The second gripper may include a gripping portion enabled to grip the yarn before the cutter is closed to cut the yarn, and a spring that exerts an elastic force in a direction closing the second gripper in a state in which the yarn is interfering with the gripping portion.

[0025] With such a configuration, the yarn can be gripped reliably.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0026] As an advantageous effect achieved by the disclosure, the yarn to be gripped by the gripper can be suppressed from having a long tail.Brief Description of Drawings

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a gripper and a cutter-gripper interlock mechanism included in a flat knitting machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the gripper; FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism; FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism; FIG. 5A is a diagram of parts of a cutter; FIG. 5B is a diagram of parts of a connecting rod; FIG. 5C is a diagram of parts of a gripper on the side of a needle bed; FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the flat knitting machine; FIGS. 7A to 7D are schematic diagrams for explaining an operation of the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism, in which FIG. 7A illustrates a configuration in which an actuating plate is at the lowest position; FIG. 7B illustrates a configuration in which the actuating plate is at a position higher than the lowest position; FIG. 7C illustrates a configuration in which the actuating plate is at an even higher position; and FIG. 7D illustrates a configuration in which the actuating plate is at the highest position; FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a threading method and a yarn clipping method; FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic front views for explaining an operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of threading, in which FIG. 9A illustrates a schematic front view illustrating a state after one gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed has gripped yarns; FIG. 9B illustrates a state after the working yarn has been threaded; and FIG. 9C illustrates a state after the standby yarn feeders are moved toward the needle-bed side; FIGS. 10A to 10C are schematics for explaining the operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of threading, in which FIG. 10A is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the needle-bed side gripper has gripped the yarns and a cutter has cut the yarns; FIG. 10B is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed has released the yarn; and FIG. 10C is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the standby yarn feeders have been moved back to the original positions; FIG. 11 is a schematic for explaining the operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of threading, and is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed has gripped the standby yarns and the needle-bed side gripper has released the grip of the standby yarns; FIGS. 12A to 12C are schematics for explaining an operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of yarn clipping, in which FIG. 12A is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed has gripped the standby yarns; FIG. 12B is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the standby yarn feeder has been moved toward the side of the needle bed; and FIG. 12C is a schematic front view illustrating a state after the needle-bed side gripper has gripped the yarns and the cutter has then cut the yarns; FIGS. 13A to 13C are schematics for explaining an operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of yarn clipping, in which FIG. 13A is a schematic front view of a state after the gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed has released the grip of the yarns; FIG. 13B is a schematic front view illustrating a state in which the standby yarn feeders are moved to back to the original positions; and FIG. 13C illustrates a state after the working yarn is clipped; and FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematics for explaining the operation of the flat knitting machine at the time of yarn clipping, in which FIG. 14A is a front schematic view illustrating a state after the gripper on the opposite side of the needle bed gripped the yarn, and the needle-bed side gripper has released the grip of the yarn, and FIG. 14B is a front schematic view illustrating a state after the cutter has cut the yarn. Description of Embodiments

[0028] In the following description, the directions indicated by arrows U, D, F, B, L, and R in the drawings are defined as an upward direction, a downward direction, a frontward direction, a backward direction, a leftward direction, and a rightward direction, respectively.

[0029] A flat knitting machine 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure illustrated in FIG. 6 mainly includes a needle bed 110, a yarn feeder 120, a control unit 130, and a tail processing mechanism 200.

[0030] The needle beds 110 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 9A to 9C, and the like are disposed in a manner facing each other, with a needle bed gap therebetween, and have a configuration in which the knitting needles 111 are disposed side by side along the longitudinal direction. The yarn feeders 120 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 9, and the like are enabled to supply yarns to the needle beds 110, by moving within a knitting width of the needle bed 110. The control unit 130 illustrated in FIG. 6 is enabled to control the operations of the yarn feeders 120, and of a first drive motor 6 and a second drive motor 7 to be described later. The control unit 130 can control the operations of the cutter 46, and a first gripper 2 and a second gripper 49, to be described later, by controlling the operations of the first drive motor 6 and the second drive motor 7.

[0031] The tail processing mechanism 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured to process a tail of a yarn. The "tail" herein means a part on the tip side of the yarn gripped by the first gripper 2 and the second gripper 49, which will be described later, the tip side being a tip side with respect to the position gripped by the first gripper 2 and the second gripper 49. The tail processing mechanism 200 mainly includes a gripper support member 1, a first gripper 2, a guide member 3, a cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4, a suction nozzle 5, a first drive motor 6, and a second drive motor 7.

[0032] The gripper support member 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 supports the first gripper 2, to be described later. The gripper support member 1 is fixed to a block (not illustrated) provided in a manner facing a side surface of the needle bed 110. The gripper support member 1 is provided with two grooves 1a, 1b extending in the vertical direction.

[0033] The first gripper 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is enabled to grip a yarn. The yarn includes a working yarn for knitting a knitted fabric, and a standby yarn in a standby state. The first gripper 2 is provided on the opposite side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46, which will be described later. "The opposite side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46" means a position on the opposite side of the needle bed 110 with respect to the cutter 46, in the direction of the movement of the yarn feeder 120. In the drawings of the present application, the direction in which the yarn feeder 120 moves is indicated as a front-back direction. Two first grippers 2 are provided in total, on the front side and the rear side, respectively. Hereinafter, the front first gripper 2 on the side nearer to the needle bed 110 will be referred to as a first gripper 2A, and the rear first gripper 2 on the side farther away from the needle bed 110 will be referred to as a first gripper 2B.

[0034] The first gripper 2A is mainly used for gripping the yarn to be used in a middle part of knitting, to re-grip the yarns at the time of threading and yarn clipping. The "threading" herein is a process of moving the yarn feeder 120 to a position where the knitting needle 111 can catch a working yarn, while the working yarn is being gripped by the first gripper 2; at least causing the second gripper 49 to grip the working yarn or causing the knitting needle 111 to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper 2 to release the grip of the working yarn, or cutting the working yarn off the first gripper 2. The "yarn clipping" is a process of moving the working yarn to a position where the first gripper 2 can grip the working yarn; causing the first gripper 2 to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn. The first gripper 2B is mainly used for gripping a bunch of yarns only used in a knitting-starting part of a knitted fabric, after the use. Because the first gripper 2A and the first gripper 2B have the same configuration, the first gripper 2A will be described below, and the description of the first gripper 2B will be omitted.

[0035] The first gripper 2A includes a nip claw attachment plate 11, a nip claw 12, a nip claw shaft 13, a pinion 14, an operation plate 15, a first connecting rod 16, a first connecting rod shaft 17, a first spring 18, a rocking claw 19, a rocking claw shaft 20, a hook 22, a hook shaft 23, and a second spring 24.

[0036] The nip claw attachment plate 11 is for attaching the nip claw 12, which will be described later. The nip claw attachment plate 11 has a long plate-like shape, and is provided in a manner having the longitudinal direction oriented in the vertical direction, and the plate surfaces facing the front-back direction.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2, substantially at the center of the nip claw attachment plate 11, a long hole 11a is provided in a manner extending along the vertical direction. On the left side of the nip claw attachment plate 11, a cam groove 11b is provided. On the right side surface of the nip claw attachment plate 11, a rack 11c is provided.

[0038] The nip claw 12 is a part that grips the yarn. The nip claw 12 is provided as a pair, on the right and the left sides, respectively. Hereinafter, the nip claw 12 on the left side will be referred to as a nip claw 12A, and the nip claw 12 on the right side will be referred to as a nip claw 12B. On the nip claw attachment plate 11, both of the nip claws 12A, 12B are rotatably supported about the nip claw shaft 13 that is provided at the center of an upper part of the nip claw attachment plate 11, in the left-right direction. The nip claws 12A, 12B are provided symmetrically to each other, and the nip claw 12B is disposed between two nip claws 12A that are on the front side and the rear side.

[0039] The pinion 14 illustrated in FIG. 2 is rotatably supported by the gripper support member 1. The pinion 14 is provided in mesh with the rack 11c on the nip claw attachment plate 11.

[0040] The operation plate 15 has a long plate-like shape, and is provided in a manner having the longitudinal direction oriented in the vertical direction, and the plate surfaces facing the front-back direction. The operation plate 15 is fitted slidably in the groove 1a in the vertical direction, and in a manner laid over the nip claw attachment plate 11, on the front side of the nip claw attachment plate 11.

[0041] Substantially at the center of the operation plate 15, a long hole 15a is provided in a manner extending along the vertical direction. The long hole 15a is provided to a position mostly overlapping with the long hole 11a in a front view.

[0042] On a part of the left end of the operation plate 15, a first cutout 15b is provided. The first cutout 15b has a width becoming larger toward the bottom. On a part of the bottom end of the operation plate 15, a second cutout 15c is provided. The second cutout 15c has a shape of a long hole with the longitudinal direction oriented vertically. In a part adjacent to the right end of the second cutout 15c on the operation plate 15, a third cutout 15d is provided.

[0043] The first connecting rod 16 is for causing the nip claws 12 to operate. The first connecting rod 16 is provided as a pair, on the right and the left sides, respectively. Hereinafter, the first connecting rod 16 on the left side will be referred to as a first connecting rod 16A, and the first connecting rod 16 on the right side will be referred to as a first connecting rod 16B. Both of the first connecting rod 16A and the first connecting rod 16B have their bottom ends supported on the operation plate 15, in a manner rotatable about the first connecting rod shaft 17 that is provided at the center of an upper part of the operation plate 15 in the left-right direction. The first connecting rods 16A, 16B are provided symmetrically to each other. The first connecting rods 16A, 16B have the respective upper ends connected to the nip claws 12A, 12B, respectively.

[0044] The first spring 18 illustrated in FIG. 2 stretches between the nip claw attachment plate 11 and the operation plate 15, inside the long hole 11a and the long hole 15a, and exerts a biasing force to the operation plate 15 in a manner raising the operation plate 15 with respect to the nip claw attachment plate 11.

[0045] The rocking claw 19 illustrated in FIG. 2 restricts the operation of the operation plate 15. The rocking claw 19 has a substantially L shape in a front view. The rocking claw 19 is supported by the gripper support member 1 in a manner allowed to rock about the rocking claw shaft 20 provided in the gripper support member 1.

[0046] A claw 19a is provided to the bottom part of the rocking claw 19. The rocking claw 19 is biased, by a spring, not illustrated, in the counterclockwise direction, in a front view, and the claw 19a is enabled to become engaged into the first cutout 15b on the operation plate 15. On an upper right part of the rocking claw 19, a cam follower 19b enabled to abut against the cam groove 11b on the nip claw attachment plate 11 is provided.

[0047] The hook 22 restricts the operation of the operation plate 15. The hook 22 is supported in a manner enabled to rock toward the left and the right sides about the hook shaft 23 provided to the nip claw attachment plate 11. The hook 22 is biased, by the second spring 24, in the counterclockwise direction in a front view, and is engaged with the third cutout 15d on the operation plate 15.

[0048] The guide member 3 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 is fixed to the block (not illustrated) provided in a manner facing a side surface of the needle bed 110. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the guide member 3 has a groove 3a extending in the vertical direction.

[0049] The cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 has a function of gripping a yarn, and a function of cutting the gripped yarn. The cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4 includes an actuating plate 41, a pinion 42, a guide plate 43, an upper shaft 44, a lower shaft 45, the cutter 46, a second connecting rod 47, a right shaft 48A, a left shaft 48B, and the second gripper 49.

[0050] The actuating plate 41 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 has a long plate-like shape, and is provided in a manner having the longitudinal direction oriented in the vertical direction, and the plate surfaces facing the front-back direction. The actuating plate 41 is vertically slidably fitted in the groove 3a on the guide member 3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, on the right side surface of the actuating plate 41, a rack 41a is provided.

[0051] The pinion 42 illustrated in FIG. 4 is rotatably supported by the guide member 3. The pinion 42 is provided in mesh with the rack 41a of the actuating plate 41.

[0052] The guide plate 43 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a long plate-like shape, is provided in a manner having the longitudinal direction oriented in the vertical direction, and the plate surfaces facing the front-back direction. The guide plate 43 is provided in front of the actuating plate 41, and is provided at a position slightly offset from the actuating plate 41 in an upward direction. The guide plate 43 is provided on the side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46, which will be described later. "The side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46" herein means a side where the needle bed 110 is positioned, with respect to the cutter 46 as a reference, in the direction of the movement of the yarn feeders 120. The guide plate 43 is supported on an upper part of the actuating plate 41, by an upper shaft 44 provided on the actuating plate 41. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the guide plate 43 is provided to each of the front and the rear side, that is, two in total, in a manner laid over each other in the front-back direction, with a space therebetween in the front-back direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a long hole 43a extending in the vertical direction is provided to the bottom part of the guide plate 43. The lower shaft 45 provided to the guide member 3 is inserted into the long hole 43a.

[0053] The cutter 46 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5A is provided on the side of the needle bed 110, and capable of cutting a yarn. The cutter 46 includes a cutter 46A and a cutter 46B. Hereinafter, the cutter 46 the upper part of which is on the left side when the cutter 46 is opened will be referred to as a cutter 46A, and the cutter 46 the upper part of which is on the right side when the cutter 46 is opened will be referred to as a cutter 46B. The cutters 46A, 46B are provided symmetrically to each other. The cutter 46A has a substantially L-shape, with the bottom end bending rightward in a front view, and the cutter 46B has a substantially L-shape with a lower end bending leftward in a front view. Both of the cutters 46A, 46B are supported, on the actuating plate 41, in a manner enabled to rock in the left-right direction about the upper shaft 44. The cutter 46A has a blade 46a in a part facing the cutter 46B in the opened state, and the cutter 46B has a blade 46b in a part facing the cutter 46A in the opened state.

[0054] The second connecting rod 47 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5B connects the actuating plate 41 and the cutter 46. The second connecting rod 47 has a long plate-like shape, and is provided in a manner having the longitudinal direction oriented in the vertical direction, and the plate surfaces facing the front-back direction. The second connecting rod 47 includes a second connecting rod 47A and a second connecting rod 47B. Hereinafter, the second connecting rod 47 the upper part of which is on the left side will be referred to as a second connecting rod 47A, and the second connecting rod 47 the upper part of which is on the right side will be referred to as a second connecting rod 47B. The second connecting rods 47A, 47B have outer shapes that are symmetrically to each other. The second connecting rod 47A has a shape vertically extending from the bottom end toward a middle portion in the vertical direction, and bending from the middle portion toward the upper left side. The second connecting rod 47B has a shape vertically extending from the bottom end toward a middle portion in the vertical direction, and bending from the middle portion toward the upper right side.

[0055] The second connecting rods 47A, 47B have long holes 47a, 47b, respectively, that extend vertically in the respective middle portions. The lower shaft 45 provided to the guide member 3 is inserted into these long holes 47a, 47b. The second connecting rod 47A has an arc-shaped hole 47c provided below the long hole 47a. The second connecting rod 47B has a pin 47d projecting forward below the long hole 47b, and the pin 47d is inserted into the arc-shaped hole 47c.

[0056] The upper end of the second connecting rod 47A is connected to the left end of the cutter 46B, rotatably about the left shaft 48B provided to the cutter 46B. The upper end of the second connecting rod 47B is connected to the right end of the cutter 46A, rotatably about the right shaft 48A provided to the cutter 46A.

[0057] The second gripper 49 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5C is a part for gripping the yarn. The second gripper 49 is used for temporarily gripping the yarn being gripped by the first gripper 2, at the time of re-gripping the yarn. The second gripper 49 is nipped between the two guide plates 43 provided on the front side and the rear side, respectively, and is provided on the side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46.

[0058] The second gripper 49 is supported, on the actuating plate 41, in a manner enabled to rock in the left-right direction about the upper shaft 44 provided to the actuating plate 41. The left end of the second gripper 49 has a base portion 49b connected to the upper end of the second connecting rod 47A. The second gripper 49 has a serrated gripping portion 49a enabled to grip the yarn, on the side facing the guide plate 43. The base portion 49b and the gripping portion 49a are connected to each other via a spring 49c for applying an elastic force to the gripping portion 49a. The spring 49c is provided so as to exert an elastic force in the direction closing the second gripper 49 when the yarn interferes with the gripping portion 49a and a force in the direction opening the second gripper 49 is exerted to the gripping portion 49a.

[0059] The suction nozzle 5 illustrated in FIG. 9 is enabled to suction a cut yarn. The suction nozzle 5 is connected to a discharge nozzle, not illustrated, via a duct, and is provided in a manner enabled to suction the air through an intake port, using a negative pressure generated as the compressed air is discharged through the discharge nozzle. The suction nozzle 5 is provided between the first gripper 2A and the cutter 46 in the direction of movement of the yarn feeder 120.

[0060] The first drive motor 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 has a motor shaft fixed to the pinion 14 illustrated in FIG. 2, with an intermediate gear, not illustrated, therebetween, in a manner enabled to drive the first gripper 2. The first drive motor 6 includes a motor 6A for driving the first gripper 2A and a motor 6B for driving the first gripper 2B.

[0061] The second drive motor 7 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 has a motor shaft fixed to the pinion 42 illustrated in FIG. 4, with an intermediate gear, not illustrated, therebetween, in a manner enabled to drive the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4.

[0062] An operation of the first gripper 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 will now be explained. At a standby position where the first gripper 2 is at the lowest position, and an operating position where the first gripper 2 is at the highest position, the nip claws 12A, 12B are in a closed state, and, at positions between the standby position and the operating position, the nip claws 12A, 12B are in an opened state. FIG. 2 illustrates the nip claws 12A, 12B in the opened state, at a position between the standby position and the operating position.

[0063] To begin with, the first drive motor 6 is rotated to cause the pinion 14 and the rack 11c to raise the nip claw attachment plate 11 in the groove 1a of the gripper support member 1. The first spring 18 transmits this upward movement of the nip claw attachment plate 11 to the operation plate 15, to cause the operation plate 15 to start rising. As the operation plate 15 rises, the claw 19a of the rocking claw 19 comes into abutment against the bottom end of the first cutout 15b of the operation plate 15, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the operation plate 15 stops rising.

[0064] Because this abutment also prevents the first connecting rod shaft 17 provided on the operation plate 15 from rising, the tips of the nip claws 12A, 12B rising together with the nip claw attachment plate 11 are caused to open toward the left side and the right side, respectively, by being pulled by the first connecting rods 16A, 16B.

[0065] As the nip claw attachment plate 11 rises further, the cam follower 19b on the rocking claw 19 comes out of the cam groove 11b, and causes the rocking claw 19 to rotate in the clockwise direction in the front view, so that the engagement between the claw 19a of the rocking claw 19 and the first cutout 15b is released. As a result, restriction on the raising movement of the operation plate 15 is released.

[0066] However, because the hook 22 provided to the nip claw attachment plate 11 is in engagement with the third cutout 15d on the operation plate 15, although the operation plate 15 is biased upward by the first spring 18, the operation plate 15 cannot rise with respect to the nip claw attachment plate 11, so that the nip claw attachment plate 11 and the operation plate 15 rise integrally. As a result, the yarn is positioned between the nip claws 12A, 12B thus opened.

[0067] As the nip claw attachment plate 11 and the operation plate 15 are raised further, the hook 22 comes into abutment against the bottom end of the gripper support member 1, and is caused to rotate in the clockwise direction. This abutment releases the engagement between the hook 22 and the third cutout 15d, allowing the operation plate 15 to rise with respect to the nip claw attachment plate 11, by the biasing force of the first spring 18. As the operation plate 15 rises, the nip claws 12A, 12B are caused to rotate in the closing direction, via the first connecting rods 16A, 16B. As a result, the nip claws 12A, 12B can grip the yarn.

[0068] An operation of the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7D.

[0069] With the actuating plate 41 being positioned at the position illustrated in FIG. 7A, the second drive motor 7 is rotated to cause the pinion 42 and the rack 41a to raise the actuating plate 41 inside the groove 3a of the guide member 3. As a result, the yarn is inserted between the open cutters 46A, 46B, and between the guide plate 43 and the second gripper 49.

[0070] As the actuating plate 41 rises further to the position illustrated in FIG. 7B, the bottom ends of the long holes 47a, 47b on the second connecting rods 47A, 47B that are connected to the cutters 46A, 46B come into abutment against the lower shaft 45. With the lower ends of the long holes 47a, 47b coming into abutment against the lower shaft 45, the rising movement of the second connecting rods 47A, 47B is restricted.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 7C, as the actuating plate 41 rises further, the second connecting rods 47A, 47B do not rise but the guide plate 43 rises. Therefore, the second gripper 49 is caused to rotate in a direction approaching the guide plate 43 in the front view, and the cutters 46A, 46B are rotated in the direction of closing with respect to each other. As the result of the second gripper 49 being rotated in the direction approaching the guide plate 43 in the front view, the second gripper 49 can grip the yarn. In the manner described above, the second gripper 49 has such a shape enabled to grip the yarn with the gripping portion 49a, before the cutter 46 is closed and cuts the yarn.

[0072] As the actuating plate 41 rises further, as illustrated in FIG. 7D, the cutters 46A, 46B are further rotated in a direction of closing with respect to each other, so that the cutters 46A, 46B can cut the yarn gripped by the second gripper 49.

[0073] In the manner described above, the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4 can cause the second gripper 49 to grip the yarn as the actuating plate 41 is raised, and cause the cutter 46 to cut the yarn being gripped by the second gripper 49. Furthermore, because the spring 49c is provided, when the yarn is gripped by the gripping portion 49a, the elastic force in the direction of closing the second gripper 49 is exerted on the gripping portion 49a, so that the second gripper 49 can grip the yarn reliably.

[0074] After the yarn is cut, the second drive motor 7 is rotated reversely, the actuating plate 41 is caused to lower inside the groove 3a on the guide member 3, via the pinion 42 and the rack 41a. As a result, the second gripper 49 is rotated in a direction separating from the guide plate 43, and the cutters 46A, 46B are rotated in directions opening with respect to each other. In this manner, after the yarn is cut, the second gripper 49 releases the grip of the yarn.

[0075] An operation of the flat knitting machine 100 at the time of threading will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. Hereinafter, the yarn fed by the yarn feeder 120a will be referred to as a working yarn, and the yarns fed by the yarn feeders 120b, 120c will be referred to as standby yarns.

[0076] To begin with, a first re-gripping step indicated in step S11 in FIG. 8 is performed. In the first re-gripping step, the standby yarns being gripped by the first gripper 2 disposed on the opposite side of the needle bed with respect to the cutter 46 are moved toward the needle bed 110, and gripped by the second gripper 49 disposed on the needle-bed side of the cutter 46. Specifically, with the first gripper 2A gripping the working yarn from the yarn feeder 120a and the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the yarn feeder 120a is moved toward the needle bed 110 so as to bring the working yarn to a position where the knitting needle 111 can catch the working yarn, and then the knitting needle 111 catches the working yarn, as illustrated in FIG. 9B. The standby yarn feeders 120b, 120c are then moved to a side nearer to the needle bed 110 than the second gripper 49, as illustrated in FIG. 9C. The second gripper 49 is then caused to grip the working yarn from the yarn feeder 120a and the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. Note that the operations in FIGS. 9B and 9C may be performed simultaneously.

[0077] The cutting step indicated in step S12 in FIG. 8 is then performed. The cutting step is a step of cutting the standby yarns gripped by the first gripper 2, using the cutters 46A, 46B included in the cutter-gripper interlock mechanism 4. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, the cutter 46 is caused to cut the working yarn from the yarn feeder 120a and the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c that are being gripped by the second gripper 49. The first gripper 2A is then caused to release the grip of the working yarn and the standby yarns having been cut, as illustrated in FIG. 10B. The yarn having been cut and released from the first gripper 2A is suctioned and removed by the suction nozzle 5.

[0078] The second re-gripping step indicated in step S13 in FIG. 8 is then performed. The second re-gripping step is a step of moving the standby yarns being gripped by the second gripper 49 to the opposite side of the needle bed, and causing the first gripper 2 to grip the standby yarns, and then causing the second gripper 49 to release the gripping of the standby yarns. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10C, the standby yarn feeders 120b, 120c are moved to a side nearer to the opposite side of the needle bed 110 than the first gripper 2A, and brought to the original positions illustrated in FIG. 9A. The first gripper 2A is then caused to grip the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c, and the second gripper 49 is caused to release the grip of the standby yarns, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0079] In the manner described above, performed in the process of threading is a threading step of moving the yarn feeder 120 so that the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper 2A is brought to a position where the knitting needle 111 can catch the working yarn; causing the second gripper 49 to grip the working yarn; causing the knitting needle 111 to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper 2A to release the grip of the working yarn or cutting off the working yarn from the first gripper 2A. In the threading step, the operation of causing the second gripper 49 to grip the working yarn and then cutting the working yarn with the cutter 46 between the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49 is performed while the first re-gripping step S11 is being performed. In the threading step, instead of causing the knitting needle 111 to catch the working yarn, the second gripper 49 may be caused to grip the working yarn. In this case, for example, before the second gripper 49 releases the grip of the working yarn in FIG. 11, the knitting needle 111 is caused to catch the working yarn. In this embodiment, in the first re-gripping step S11, the standby yarns and the working yarn are cut using the same cutter 46. Therefore, it is possible to perform the second re-gripping step S13 with the minimum configuration, so that cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.

[0080] An operation of the flat knitting machine 100 at the time of yarn clipping will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12A to 14B.

[0081] To begin with, a first re-gripping step indicated in step S11 in FIG. 8 is performed. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, while the first gripper 2A is gripping the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c, the standby yarn feeders 120b, 120c are moved to a side nearer to the needle bed 110 than the second gripper 49, as illustrated in FIG. 12B. The second gripper 49 is then caused to grip the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c, as illustrated in FIG. 12C.

[0082] The cutting step indicated in step S12 in FIG. 8 is then performed. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 12C, the cutter 46 is caused to cut the standby yarns being gripped by the second gripper 49. The first gripper 2A is then caused to release the grip of the standby yarns having been cut, as illustrated in FIG. 13A. The yarn having been cut and released from the first gripper 2A is suctioned and removed by the suction nozzle 5.

[0083] The second re-gripping step indicated in step S13 in FIG. 8 is then performed. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the standby yarn feeders 120b, 120c are moved to the positions (the original positions illustrated in FIG. 12A) nearer to the opposite side of the needle bed 110 than the first gripper 2A. The yarn feeder 120a is then moved to a position nearer to the opposite side of the needle bed 110 than the first gripper 2A, as illustrated in FIG. 13C, and the second gripper 49 is caused to grip the working yarn. Note that the operations in FIGS. 13B and 13C may be performed simultaneously. The first gripper 2A is then caused to grip the standby yarns and the working yarn, and the second gripper 49 is caused to release the grip of the standby yarns, as illustrated in FIG. 14A. The cutter 46 is then caused to cut the working yarn, as illustrated in FIG. 14B.

[0084] In the manner described above, performed at the time of yarn clipping is a yarn clipping step of moving the working yarn to be clipped, to a position where the first gripper 2A can grip the working yarn, causing the first gripper 2A to grip the working yarn, and then cutting the working yarn. In this embodiment, in the yarn clipping step, the standby yarns and the working yarn are gripped by the same gripper (first gripper 2A), and the standby yarns and the working yarn are cut using the same cutter 46. Therefore, it is possible to perform the second re-gripping step S13 with the minimum configuration, so that cost reduction and space saving can be achieved. A yarn re-gripping method according to the disclosure includes at least one of the threading step and the yarn clipping step.

[0085] In the manner described above, in the flat knitting machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the first gripper 2 is provided on the opposite side of the needle bed 110 with respect to the cutter 46, and the second gripper 49 is provided on the side of the needle bed 110 with respect to the cutter 46. Thus, when grip of a yarn is switched from the first gripper 2 to the second gripper 49 or from the second gripper 49 to the first gripper 2, an extra portion of the yarn can be cut with the cutter 46, as illustrated in FIGS. 9B to 10A and FIGS. 12A to 12C. Therefore, the yarn gripped by the first gripper 2A or the second gripper 49 is suppressed from having a long tail. Because the tail of the yarn can be suppressed from becoming long, the tail of the yarn gripped by one of the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49 can be suppressed from being gripped erroneously during the gripping operation of the other one of the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49. Furthermore, it is possible to keep the length of the tail to be suctioned by the suction nozzle 5 after cutting the yarn short; therefore, it is possible to suppress the yarn from clogging the suction nozzle 5.

[0086] Furthermore, yarn gripping and releasing operations of the second gripper 49 are achieved through the closing and opening operations of the second gripper 49, and the second gripper 49 is caused to make the opening and closing operations synchronously with the opening and closing operations of the cutter, with the use of the second drive motor 7 that is a common drive source shared with the cutter 46. Therefore, cost reduction and space saving can be achieved, as compared with a configuration where the drive source is provided for each of the cutter 46 and the second gripper 49.

[0087] Although one embodiment of the disclosure has been described above, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and modifications may be made as appropriate, within the scope of the technical idea of the disclosure defined in the claims.

[0088] For example, the numbers of the first grippers 2 and the second grippers 49 are not limited to those according to this embodiment, and may be any numbers. In the embodiment, the first gripper 2A is used for re-gripping the yarn, but the first gripper 2B may be used for re-gripping the yarns.

[0089] In the embodiment, the cutter 46 cuts the working yarn between the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49 as illustrated in FIG. 10A in the threading step, but a cutting device different from the cutter 46 may be used to cut the working yarn between the second gripper 49 and the knitting needle 111 holding the working yarn. That is, in the threading step, after the knitting needle 111 catches the working yarn in the first re-gripping step in step S11, the working yarn may be cut by the cutter 46 between the first gripper 2 and the second gripper 49 or by a cutting device different from the cutter 46 between the second gripper 49 and the knitting needle 111 holding the working yarn. As a cutting device different from the cutter 46, for example, it is possible to use a finishing tail processing device 8 (see FIG. 6) that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed 110, and processes the finishing tail of a knitted fabric. As the finishing tail processing device 8, for example, the finishing tail processing device described in JP 2024-34234 A may be used. The working yarn having been threaded becomes a finishing tail extending from a knitted fabric. Such a finishing tail needs to be processed, such as by cutting, after knitting of a knitted fabric has finished; however, by cutting the finishing tail at the proximity of the knitted fabric at the time of cutting the working yarn in the threading step, the finishing tail processing, after completing the knitting, is rendered unnecessary. Because the finishing tail cut in the threading step hangs down inside the flat knitting machine 100 while the knitted fabric is being knitted, the finishing tail may interfere with a driving part such as a winding device. Because, by cutting the working yarn at the proximity of the knitted fabric in the threading step, the finishing tail can be kept short, it is possible to reduce the risk of the finishing tail interfering with the driving parts. In the threading step, this operation of causing, after causing the second gripper 49 to grip the working yarn, a cutting device different from the cutter 46, such as the finishing tail processing device 8, to cut the working yarn between the second gripper 49 and the knitting needle 111 holding the working yarn is performed during the execution of the first re-gripping step S11.

[0090] In the yarn clipping step according to this embodiment, the cutter 46 cuts the working yarn between the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49 as illustrated in FIG. 14B, but a cutting device different from the cutter 46 may cut the working yarn between the second gripper 49 and the knitting needle 111 holding the working yarn, in the needle bed 110. In other words, in the yarn clipping step, when the first gripper 2A grips the standby yarn in the second re-gripping step in step S13, the first gripper 2A also grips the working yarn together with the standby yarns. The cutter 46 is then caused to cut the working yarn between the first gripper 2A and the second gripper 49, or the cutting device such as the finishing tail processing device 8 different from the cutter 46 is caused to cut the working yarn between the second gripper 49 and the knitting needle 111 holding the working yarn. With this, in the same manner as in the threading step, the finishing tail processing, after completing knitting, is rendered unnecessary, and the risk of the finishing tail interfering with the driving parts can be reduced.

[0091] The operation illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 14 is an example of operations in which a yarn is threaded or clipped as the yarn is re-gripped, but the operations are not limited thereto. For example, in FIG. 9B, it is possible to cause the second gripper 49 to grip the working yarn from the yarn feeder 120a and the standby yarns from the yarn feeders 120b, 120c and to cut the yarns, and then to move the yarn feeder 120a to the knitting position and to cause the knitting needle 111 to catch the yarn.

[0092] In the embodiment, the suction nozzle 5 that suctions the cut yarn is provided, but the suction nozzle 5 may be omitted if another means for removing the cut yarn is provided.

[0093] In the embodiment, the suction nozzle 5 suctions the cut yarn using the negative pressure at the time of discharging the compressed air, but the suctioning method is not limited thereto, and the suction nozzle 5 may suction the compressed air using any other method. In this embodiment, the suction nozzle 5 is provided between the first gripper 2A and the cutter 46, but the position where the suction nozzle 5 is provided is not limited thereto, and may be provided on the needle-bed side of the second gripper 49, for example.

[0094] The configurations of the first gripper 2, the second gripper 49, and the cutter 46 are not limited to those according to the embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, in this embodiment, the second gripper 49 makes an operation of opening and closing in a manner interlocked with the operations of the cutter, but the second gripper 49 may not necessarily make the opening and closing operation in a manner interlocked with the operations of the cutter 46. In such a case, the cutter 46 cuts the standby yarns being gripped by the second gripper 49 after the first re-gripping step, however, the cutter 46 may cut the standby yarns being gripped by the first gripper 2 after the second re-gripping step.

[0095] In the embodiment, the second gripper 49 has the spring 49c exerting the elastic force to the gripping portion 49a, but the spring 49c does not necessarily need to be provided.

[0096] Furthermore, although the tail processing mechanism 200 is disposed on the rear side of the needle bed 110 in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the tail processing mechanism 200 may also be disposed on the front side of the needle bed 110.Reference Signs List

[0097] 2first gripper 5suction nozzle 7second drive motor 46cutter 49second gripper 49agripping portion 49cspring 100flat knitting machine 110needle bed 111knitting needle 120yarn feeder 130control unit

Claims

1. A yarn re-gripping method comprising: a first re-gripping step of moving a yarn feeder (120) for feeding a standby yarn to a side of a needle bed (110) while the standby yarn is being gripped by a first gripper (2) provided on an opposite side of the needle bed (110) with respect to a cutter (46) capable of cutting a yarn including a working yarn and the standby yarn, and causing a second gripper (49) provided on the side of the needle bed (110) with respect to the cutter (46) to grip the standby yarn; a second re-gripping step of moving the yarn feeder (120) for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the second gripper (49) to the opposite side of the needle bed (110), and causing the first gripper (2) to grip the standby yarn; a cutting step of causing the cutter (46) to cut the standby yarn being gripped by at least one of the first gripper (2) and the second gripper (49); and at least one of a threading step and a yarn clipping step, in which the threading step is a step including: moving a yarn feeder (120) so as to bring the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper (2), to a position permitting a knitting needle (111), among a plurality of knitting needles (111) that are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction of the needle bed (110), to catch the working yarn; at least one of causing the second gripper (49) to grip the working yarn and causing the knitting needle (111) to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper (2) to release grip of the working yarn or cutting the working yarn off from the first gripper (2), and the yarn clipping step is a step of moving the working yarn to be clipped to a position permitting the first gripper (2) to grip the working yarn; causing the first gripper (2) to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn.

2. The yarn re-gripping method according to claim 1, wherein, in the yarn clipping step, by having the first gripper (2) grip the working yarn as well as the standby yarn, when the first gripper (2) is caused to grip the standby yarn in the second re-gripping step, the cutter (46) is caused to cut the working yarn between the first gripper (2) and the second gripper (49).

3. The yarn re-gripping method according to claim 1, wherein, in the yarn clipping step, by having the first gripper (2) grip the working yarn as well as the standby yarn, when the first gripper (2) is caused to grip the standby yarn in the second re-gripping step, a cutting device different from the cutter (46) is caused to cut the working yarn between the second gripper (49) and the knitting needle (111) holding the working yarn.

4. The yarn re-gripping method according to claim 1, wherein, in the threading step, after causing the second gripper (49) to grip the working yarn during execution of the first re-gripping step, the cutter (46) is caused to cut the working yarn between the first gripper (2) and the second gripper (49).

5. The yarn re-gripping method according to claim 1, wherein, in the threading step, after causing the knitting needle (111) to catch the working yarn during execution of the first re-gripping step, a cutting device different from the cutter (46) is caused to cut the working yarn between the second gripper (49) and the knitting needle (111) holding the working yarn.

6. The yarn re-gripping method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a suctioning step of causing a suction nozzle (5) to suction the yarn having been cut.

7. A flat knitting machine (100) comprising: a needle bed (110) on which a plurality of knitting needles (111) are disposed side by side in a longitudinal direction; a cutter (46) that is provided on a side of the needle bed (110) and is capable of cutting a yarn including a working yarn and a standby yarn; a first gripper (2) that is provided on an opposite side of the needle bed (110) with respect to the cutter (46), and is capable of gripping the yarn; a second gripper (49) that is provided on a side of the needle bed (110) with respect to the cutter (46) and is capable of gripping the yarn; and a control unit (130) that controls operations of the cutter (46), the first gripper (2), and the second gripper (49), in which the control unit (130) is enabled, by controlling the operations of the cutter (46), the first gripper (2), and the second gripper (49): to move a yarn feeder (120) for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the first gripper (2) to the side of the needle bed (110), and to cause the second gripper (49) to grip the standby yarn; to move a yarn feeder (120) for feeding the standby yarn being gripped by the second gripper (49) to the opposite side of the needle bed (110), and to cause the first gripper (2) to grip the standby yarn; to cause the cutter (46) to cut the standby yarn being gripped by at least one of the first gripper (2) and the second gripper (49); and to perform at least one of a threading step and a yarn clipping step, in which the threading step is a step including: moving a yarn feeder (120) so as to bring the working yarn to be threaded and being gripped by the first gripper (2) to a position permitting a knitting needle (111), among the plurality of knitting needles (111), to catch the working yarn; at least one of causing the second gripper (49) to grip the working yarn and causing the knitting needle (111) to catch the working yarn; and then causing the first gripper (2) to release grip of the working yarn or cutting the working yarn off the first gripper (2), and the yarn clipping step is a step including: moving the working yarn to be clipped to a position permitting the first gripper (2) to catch the working yarn; causing the first gripper (2) to grip the working yarn; and then cutting the working yarn.

8. The flat knitting machine (100) according to claim 7, wherein the second gripper (49) is enabled to switch to grip and to release the yarn by making opening and closing operations, and is caused to make the opening and closing operations synchronously with opening and closing operation of the cutter (46), by a common drive source (7) shared with the cutter (46).

9. The flat knitting machine (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second gripper (49) includes: a gripping portion (49a) enabled to grip the yarn before the cutter (46) is closed to cut the yarn; and a spring (49c) that exerts an elastic force in a direction closing the second gripper (49) in a state in which the yarn is interfering with the gripping portion (49a).

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