Knitting method, knitting program, and storage medium

Abstract

This invention provides a knitting method for fabrics that is less prone to yarn breakage when performing internal decreases and end joining. [Solution] This is a method for knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine, in which internal decreases and end joining are performed during the process of knitting a tubular first knitted fabric section and a second knitted fabric section. In the internal decreases, the first intermediate stitch and the second intermediate stitch of the first knitted fabric section are overlapped. In the end joining, the first end stitch of the first knitted fabric section and the second end stitch of the second knitted fabric section are joined. The end joining involves steps A, which move the first end stitch and the second end stitch to a position closer to the center in the knitting width direction; step B, which follows step A, which involves overlapping the first end stitch and the second end stitch; and step C, which involves knitting a new row of stitches continuously in the wale direction of the row of stitches including the overlap formed in step B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for knitting a knitted fabric, a knitting program for causing a flat knitting machine to execute the method for knitting the knitted fabric, and a storage medium storing the knitting program.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a method for knitting a knitted fabric in which, using a flat knitting machine having a first needle bed and a second needle bed facing each other, during knitting of a first knitted fabric part and a second knitted fabric part that are connected in a tubular shape with the first needle bed and the second needle bed respectively, internal reduction and end joining are performed. For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to make the shoulder line of a set-in type sweater have a shape along the shape of the human body, internal reduction for reducing the knitting width of the back body and end joining for joining the end stitches of the back body and the end stitches of the front body are performed.

[0003] The procedure for performing internal reduction and end joining will be described based on FIG. 6. In the left column of FIG. 6, 'S + number' indicates the number of the knitting process. In the right column, the knitting state in each knitting process is shown. The black dots in the right column indicate the knitting needles provided in the flat knitting machine. The capital letters described below or above the black dots indicate the positions of the knitting needles. The elongated rectangles shown between the black dots indicate sinkers. In the figure, FB indicates the front needle bed and BB indicates the back needle bed. FB and BB are configured to be relatively rackable. In this specification, the position of BB with respect to FB shown in step S1 is referred to as the reference position.

[0004] Step S1 shows the state where the first knitted section 1 is attached to BB and the second knitted section 2 is attached to FB. The first knitted section 1 is the back body, and the second knitted section 2 is the front body. Step S1 shows a part of the right shoulder of the sweater. The part corresponding to the left shoulder of the sweater is omitted. In the subsequent knitting, internal reduction of the first knitted section 1 and end joining of the first knitted section 1 and the second knitted section 2 are performed. In internal reduction, the knitting width of the first knitted section 1 is reduced by overlapping the first intermediate stitches 15, 16 and the second intermediate stitches 17, 18, which are in the middle of the knitting width range of the first knitted section 1. In end joining, the first end stitch 10 of the first knitted section 1 and the second end stitch 20 of the second knitted section 2 are joined.

[0005] In step S2, as part of the internal decrease process, a row of stitches consisting of the first end stitch 10 to the first intermediate stitch 16, which are locked to the BB, is moved to FB. In step S3, after racking the BB four pitches to the left, the row of stitches moved in step S2 is moved to the BB. As a result, an overlap 31 is formed on the knitting needle M of the BB, where the first intermediate stitch 15 and the second intermediate stitch 17 overlap, and an overlap 32 is formed on the knitting needle O of the BB, where the first intermediate stitch 16 and the second intermediate stitch 18 overlap.

[0006] In step S4, the BB is racked one pitch to the right, moving the second end stitch 20 of the FB to the BB. As a result, an overlap 30 is formed on the knitting needle G of the BB, where the first end stitch 10 and the second end stitch 20 overlap. In step S4, the yarn 3 that connects the second end stitch 20 and the stitch that is secured to the knitting needle F of the FB in step S3 becomes a connecting yarn between the FB and the BB. Therefore, the yarn 3 that connects the second end stitch 20 and the stitch that is secured to the knitting needle F of the FB is stretched longer than in the state in step S3. Also, the connecting yarn that connects the end stitch of the first knitted section 1 and the end stitch of the second knitted section 2 at the shoulder line of the left shoulder (not shown) is stretched longer than the yarn 3 because the BB is racked three pitches to the left from its standard position.

[0007] In step S5, the BB is returned to its reference position, and at least one course of stitch row 4 constituting the first knitted section 1 is knitted. Once the stitch row 4 continuing in the wale direction of the overlapping stitches 30, 31, and 32 is knitted, the overlapping stitches 30, 31, and 32 are fixed in place. The reason the BB is returned to its reference position when knitting a new course is that if the new course of the first knitted section 1 is knitted with the connecting yarn between the FB and BB stretched out to a long length, a large load will be placed on the connecting yarn, and there is a risk that the connecting yarn will break. In particular, the connecting yarn at the shoulder line of the left shoulder (not shown) is stretched out longer than the knitting yarn 3 shown, making it more prone to breaking.

[0008] After step S5, internal decreases and end joining are also performed at the left shoulder position (not shown). The internal decreases and end joining at the left shoulder position are carried out by processes that are symmetrical to the processes shown in steps S2 to S5. Step S6 shows the state of the stitches at the right shoulder position after the processes corresponding to steps S2 and S3 have been performed at the left shoulder position (not shown). The knitting yarn 3 at the shoulder line of the right shoulder is long enough to connect two stitches that are 4 pitches apart in the knitting width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2000 / 012799 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] As explained with reference to Figure 6, in conventional knitting processes, the connecting threads between FB and BB are often stretched to a long length. Depending on the type of knitting yarn, there is a risk that the knitting yarn may break when the connecting threads are stretched. For example, in step S6, the knitting yarn 3 is prone to breaking when it is stretched by 4 pitches in the knitting width direction.

[0011] In view of the above circumstances, one object of the present invention is to provide a knitting method for a knitted fabric that is less prone to yarn breakage when performing internal decreases and end joining. Another object of the present invention is to provide a knitting program that causes a flat knitting machine to execute the knitting method for the knitted fabric, and a storage medium that stores the knitting program. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] <1> The present invention provides a method for knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine equipped with a first needle bed and a second needle bed facing each other, in which internal decreases and end joining are performed during the knitting of a tubular-shaped first fabric section and a second fabric section using the first needle bed and the second needle bed, respectively. In the internal decreases, the first intermediate stitch and the second intermediate stitch of the first fabric section are overlapped. In the end joining, the first end stitch of the first fabric section and the second end stitch of the second fabric section are joined. The end joining involves steps A, moving the first end stitch and the second end stitch to a position closer to the center in the knitting width direction; step B, following step A, overlapping the first end stitch and the second end stitch; and step C, knitting a new row of stitches continuously in the wale direction of the row of stitches including the overlap formed in step B.

[0013] <2> the above <1> In the knitting method of the knitted fabric described above, the internal reduction may include a step X in which the first intermediate stitch is gradually brought closer to the second intermediate stitch, and a step Y in which the second intermediate stitch and the first intermediate stitch are overlapped after step X.

[0014] <3> The knitting program of the present invention is a knitting program that can be read by a computer that controls a flat knitting machine equipped with a first needle bed and a second needle bed facing each other, and the above <1> or <2> This is a knitting program that causes the flat knitting machine to execute the knitting method of the fabric described above.

[0015] <4> The storage medium of the present invention is the above <3> This is a storage medium that stores the program described in [the document]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, the lacking pitch in each of the steps of inner reduction and end joining becomes small, and yarn breakage is unlikely to occur in those steps.

[0017] According to the step <2> above, when performing inner reduction and end joining, yarn breakage is unlikely to occur in the vicinity of the first intermediate stitch and the second intermediate stitch.

[0018] According to the knitting program of the present invention, the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention can be implemented on a flat knitting machine. The computer that executes the knitting program may be provided in the flat knitting machine, or may be connected to the flat knitting machine via wired or wireless means.

[0019] According to the storage medium storing the knitting program of the present invention, the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention can be implemented on a flat knitting machine. The storage medium may be provided in the flat knitting machine when the knitting program is executed, or may be connected to the flat knitting machine via wired or wireless means. The storage medium may be a portable storage medium such as a USB memory.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sweater which is a knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a flat knitting machine for knitting the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a first knitting process diagram showing an example of the method for knitting the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a second knitting process diagram showing an example of the method for knitting the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a third knitting process diagram showing an example of the method for knitting the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a knitting process diagram showing an example of the conventional method for knitting a knitted fabric.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, a method for knitting a knitted fabric according to an embodiment, a knitting program, and a storage medium will be described based on the drawings.

[0022] <Embodiment 1> ≪Knitted fabric≫ First, the knitted fabric 5 knitted in the embodiment will be described based on FIG. 1. The knitted fabric 5 of this embodiment is a sweater. The sweater includes a front body 5F and a back body 5B that are connected in a tubular shape. The right sleeve 5R and the left sleeve 5L provided on the sweater are of a set-in type. This sweater is knitted from the hem. Specifically, the front body 5F and the back body 5B are knitted from the hem to the position under the armpit, and the right sleeve 5R and the left sleeve 5L are knitted independently of the bodies 5F, 5B. The bodies 5F, 5B and the sleeves 5R, 5L are joined at the position under the armpit, and knitting is performed up to the position of the collar binding. Finally, the collar 5C is knitted continuously in the weal direction of the collar binding.

[0023] The sweater is knitted by a flat knitting machine. In this example, when forming the shoulder line of the sweater, the method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention is implemented. Here, the knitted fabric knitted by the method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention is not limited to a sweater, and may be, for example, knitted wear such as pants or a skirt, or industrial materials such as a sheet cover.

[0024] ≪Flat knitting machine≫ Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flat knitting machine 9. The flat knitting machine 9 is a two-bed flat knitting machine equipped with a pair of needle beds 9B arranged facing each other in the depth direction of the paper. Each of the pair of needle beds 9B is also called the front needle bed (FB) and the rear needle bed (BB). Multiple knitting needles are provided in parallel on the needle beds 9B, and these knitting needles are driven by a cam system mounted on a carriage 9C that reciprocates on the needle beds 9B. The knitting needles may be latch needles equipped with latches for opening and closing hooks, or compound needles equipped with sliders for opening and closing hooks. The flat knitting machine 9 further includes a yarn feeder 9F that supplies yarn 9Y to the teeth formed between the pair of needle beds 9B. The yarn feeder 9F runs along a rail 9R. The rail 9R extends above the needle beds FB,BB and parallel to the needle beds FB,BB. The knitting yarn 9Y is supplied to the yarn feeder 9F from a top spring device 9T through a side tension device (not shown).

[0025] The knitting machine 9 is further equipped with a computer 90 that controls the knitting machine 9. Controlling the knitting machine 9 includes controlling the movement of the carriage 9C, the operation of the cam system mounted on the carriage 9C, and the movement of the yarn feeder 9F.

[0026] The computer 90 comprises a processor 91 and a storage medium 92. The processor 91 is one of various types of processors suitable for controlling the computer 90. Examples of processors 91 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0027] The storage medium 92 stores a knitting program for the flat knitting machine 9 to knit a fabric. The knitting program in this example includes commands for the flat knitting machine 9 to execute the fabric knitting method described later. The processor 91, as described above, causes the flat knitting machine 9 to perform the knitting operation by executing the commands in the knitting program.

[0028] Unlike this example, the computer that controls the knitting machine 9 based on the knitting program in this example may be another computer connected to the knitting machine 9 via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet.

[0029] ≪Knitting Method≫ The specific procedure for knitting a fabric using the above-described flat knitting machine 9 will be explained based on the knitting process diagrams in Figures 3 to 5. The way to read the knitting process diagrams is the same as in Figure 6 relating to the conventional technology. The flat knitting machine 9 in this example is an unequal-pitch flat knitting machine in which two knitting needles and one sinker are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of FB and BB. This flat knitting machine 9 is suitable for knitting a fabric with tightly packed stitches. When the knitting yarn is thin, there is a risk of the yarn breaking when knitting tightly packed stitches. The knitting method of the fabric shown in Figures 3 to 5 makes it less likely for the yarn to break even when knitting tightly packed stitches with thin yarn using such a flat knitting machine 9.

[0030] Step S1 in Figure 3 shows the state in which the first knitted section 1 is secured to BB and the second knitted section 2 is secured to FB. In other words, in this example, BB is the first needle bed and FB is the second needle bed. The first knitted section 1 is the back body 5B (Figure 1), and the second knitted section 2 is the front body 5F (Figure 1). A portion of the right shoulder of the sweater is shown in Step S1. The portion corresponding to the left shoulder of the sweater is omitted. In the subsequent knitting, internal decreases are made in the first knitted section 1, and the ends of the first knitted section 1 and the second knitted section 2 are joined. In internal decreases, the knitting width of the first knitted section 1 is reduced by overlapping the first intermediate stitches 15, 16 and the second intermediate stitches 17, 18, which are in the middle of the knitting width range of the first knitted section 1. In end joining, the first end stitch 10 of the first knitted section 1 and the second end stitch 20 of the second knitted section 2 are joined.

[0031] In step S2, the stitches of the first knitted fabric section 1, which are locked to the knitting needles C, E, G, I, K of BB, are moved to the knitting needles C, E, G, I, K of FB (part of process A and part of process X). The series of stitches to be moved include the first end stitches 10 and the first intermediate stitches 15, 16.

[0032] In step S3, after racking BB two pitches to the left, the first end stitch 10, which is locked to the FB needle C, is moved to the BB needle E, and the second end stitch 20, which is locked to the FB needle D, is moved to the BB needle F (part of process A). This movement causes the first end stitch 10 to move to a position closer to the center in the width direction than its locking position in step S1, that is, closer to the center in the width direction of the first knitted fabric 1 than the BB needle C. In step S3, stitches locked to the FB needles E and G are further moved to the BB needles G and I (part of process X).

[0033] In step S4, after racking BB one pitch to the right, the second end stitch 20, which is locked to the knitting needle F of BB, is moved to the knitting needle E of FB (part of process A). This movement moves the second end stitch 20 to a position closer to the center in the knitting width direction than its locking position in step S1, that is, closer to the center in the knitting width direction of the second knitted fabric 2 than the knitting needle D of FB. Furthermore, in step S4, the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16, which are locked to the knitting needles I and K of FB, are moved to the knitting needles J and L of BB (part of process X). This movement brings the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 closer to the second intermediate stitches 17 and 18 than their locking position in step S1.

[0034] In step S5 of Figure 4, after racking BB two pitches to the right, the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 that are locked to the needles J and L of BB are moved to the needles K and M of FB (part of process X).

[0035] In step S6, after racking BB two pitches to the left, the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16, which are locked to the needles K and M of FB, are moved to the needles L and N of BB (the remainder of step X). This movement brings the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 even closer to the second intermediate stitches 17 and 18.

[0036] In step S7, the BB is returned to its reference position by racking it one pitch to the right, and then stitches are knitted that continue in the wale direction of the stitches that are locked to the BB's needles G, I, L, and N. The stitches newly knitted on the BB's needles L and N are considered to be the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16. This step S7 is a knitting process that facilitates the movement of stitches in subsequent processes. Step S7 is not a mandatory step and may be omitted.

[0037] In step S8, after racking BB one pitch to the left, the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16, which are locked to the knitting needles L and N of BB, are moved to the knitting needles K and M of FB (part of process Y).

[0038] In step S9 of Figure 5, after racking BB one pitch to the right, the stitches secured to the needles G and I of BB are moved to the needles G and I of FB. This movement is part of the process to reduce the gap between the first intermediate stitch 15, which was widened by steps S5 and S6 of Figure 4, and the stitch to its left, and is not essential.

[0039] In step S10, after racking BB one pitch to the left, the first end stitch 10, which is locked to the knitting needle E of BB, is moved to the knitting needle D of FB (part of process B). In step S11, after racking BB two pitches to the left, the first end stitch 10 from step S10 is moved to the knitting needle G of BB (part of process B).

[0040] In step S12, after racking BB one pitch to the right, the second end stitch 20, which is locked to the needle E of FB, is moved to the needle G of BB, the stitches locked to the needles I and K of FB, and the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16, which are locked to the needles M and O of FB, are moved to the needles M and O of BB. The movement of the second end stitch 20 creates an overlap 30 on the needle G of BB, which is the first needle bed, where the first end stitch 10 and the second end stitch 20 are superimposed (remaining part of process B). Also, the movement of the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 creates overlap 31 and 32 on the needles M and O of BB, where the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 and the second intermediate stitches 17 and 18 are superimposed (remaining part of process Y). The first end stitch 10 and the second end stitch 20 may also be superimposed on FB, which is the second needle bed.

[0041] In step S13, a new row of stitches 4 is knitted in the wale direction, continuous with the row of stitches BB including the overlapping stitches 30, 31, and 32 (step C). Row of stitches 4 constitutes a part of the first knitted fabric section 1.

[0042] After step S13, internal reduction and end joining are performed at the left shoulder position (not shown). Internal reduction and end joining at the left shoulder position are carried out by processes that are symmetrical to the processes shown in steps S2 in Figure 3 to step S13 in Figure 5. Step S14 shows the state of the stitches at the right shoulder position when the processes corresponding to steps S2 and S3 in Figure 3 are performed at the left shoulder position (not shown).

[0043] As explained above, the racking pitch in the internal reduction and end joining processes of this embodiment is at most 3. Therefore, yarn breakage is less likely to occur in each of the internal reduction and end joining processes. The reason why the racking pitch can be made smaller than conventional methods is that in the end joining process, the first end stitch 10 and the second end stitch 20 are moved to a position closer to the center in the width direction of the knitted fabric than their initial locking position, and then the first end stitch 10 and the second end stitch 20 are overlapped. In addition, in the internal reduction process, gradually bringing the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 closer to the second intermediate stitches 17 and 18, and then overlapping the first intermediate stitches 15 and 16 with the second intermediate stitches 17 and 18 also contributes to making the racking pitch smaller than conventional methods.

[0044] <Other Embodiments> The flat knitting machine 9 used in the fabric knitting method of the present invention may be an equipitch flat knitting machine in which knitting needles and sinkers are arranged alternately. Furthermore, the flat knitting machine 9 used in the fabric knitting method of the present invention is not limited to a two-bed flat knitting machine, but may also be a four-bed flat knitting machine.

[0045] In Embodiment 1, internal reduction is performed by overlapping multiple first intermediate stitches 15, 16 and multiple second intermediate stitches 17, 18. Alternatively, internal reduction may be performed by overlapping a single first intermediate stitch and a single second intermediate stitch. In that case, even without performing step X, which gradually brings the first intermediate stitches closer to the second intermediate stitches, the racking pitch of each step in internal reduction and end joining is less likely to increase. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1. Part 1: Land 10 first end stitch, 15,16 first intermediate stitch, 17,18 second intermediate stitch 2 Part 2: Land 20 Second end stitch 3 knitting yarn 30, 31, 32 overlaps 4th stitch row 5 knitted fabric 5B Back panel, 5C Collar, 5F Front panel, 5L Left sleeve, 5R Right sleeve 9 Flat knitting machine 9B Needle bed, 9C Carriage, 9F Yarn feeder 9R rail, 9T top spring device, 9Y knitting yarn 90 Computer, 91 Processor, 92 Storage medium

Claims

1. Using a flat knitting machine equipped with a first needle bed and a second needle bed facing each other, internal reduction and end joining are performed during the process of knitting the tubular-shaped first knitted section and the second knitted section using the first needle bed and the second needle bed, respectively. In the aforementioned reduction, the first intermediate stitch and the second intermediate stitch of the first knitted section are overlapped. In the aforementioned end joining method, the first end stitch of the first knitted fabric section and the second end stitch of the second knitted fabric section are joined together. In the aforementioned end joining process, step A is performed to move the first end stitch and the second end stitch to a position closer to the center in the knitting width direction, After step A, step B is performed in which the first end stitch and the second end stitch are overlapped. Step C is performed to knit a new row of stitches continuously in the wale direction of the row of stitches including the overlap formed in step B. Methods for knitting fabrics.

2. The aforementioned reduction involves a step X in which the first intermediate stitch is gradually brought closer to the second intermediate stitch, A method for knitting a fabric according to claim 1, wherein after step X, step Y is performed to overlap the second intermediate stitch and the first intermediate stitch.

3. In a knitting program readable by a computer that controls a flat knitting machine equipped with a first needle bed and a second needle bed facing each other, A knitting program that causes the flat knitting machine to execute the knitting method of the knitted fabric described in claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A storage medium storing the programming program described in claim 3.

Images