Knitting method, knitting program, and storage medium

Abstract

This invention provides a method for knitting fabric that allows for tightening of stitches in any given row of stitches. [Solution] A method for knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine comprising a plurality of needle beds facing each other, a yarn feeder that supplies knitting yarn between the plurality of needle beds, and a movable gripper that grips the knitting yarn, wherein the movable gripper is configured to move in a direction along the length of the plurality of needle beds, comprising the following steps A to C: Step A: Using the yarn feeder, knit a first row of stitches which is part of the fabric. Step B: Before or after step A, grip the yarn extending from the first row of stitches to the outside of the knitting range of the first row of stitches with the movable gripper. Step C: Applying tension to the yarn connected from the movable gripper to the first row of stitches.

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] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for knitting a knitted fabric that uses a flat knitting machine having a front needle bed and a rear needle bed facing each other to knit a knitted-out portion and a knitted fabric portion following the knitted-out portion in the wale direction. The knitted-out portion of this method for knitting a knitted fabric includes a zigzag-shaped row of stitches knitted alternately on the front needle bed and the rear needle bed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] If the stitches in the row of stitches constituting the knitted-out portion are in a crowded state, that is, each stitch in the row of stitches constituting the knitted-out portion is small and the interval between two adjacent stitches is narrow, the quality of the knitted fabric is improved. Also, in a portion other than the knitted-out portion in the knitted fabric, if the stitches in the row of stitches constituting the portion are in a crowded state, the quality of the knitted fabric may be improved. Therefore, there is a need to form stitches in a more crowded state than the minimum stitches according to the hardware configuration of the flat knitting machine used for knitting the knitted fabric.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, one object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting a knitted fabric capable of making the stitches of an arbitrary row of stitches in a more crowded state than at the time of knitting. Another object of the present invention is to provide a knitting program for causing a flat knitting machine to execute the above method for knitting a knitted fabric, and a storage medium storing the knitting program. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] <1> The present invention relates to a method for knitting a fabric, which involves knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine comprising a plurality of needle beds facing each other, a yarn feeder that supplies knitting yarn between the plurality of needle beds, and a movable gripper that grips the knitting yarn, wherein the movable gripper is configured to move in a direction along the length of the plurality of needle beds, and comprises the following steps A to C. Step A involves using the yarn feeder to knit the first row of stitches, which is part of the knitted fabric. Step B, which is performed before or after step A, involves gripping the yarn extending from the first row of stitches to the area outside the knitting range of the first row of stitches with the movable gripper. Step C, which follows steps A and B, is a step in which tension is applied to the knitting yarn connected from the movable gripper to the first row of stitches.

[0007] Methods for applying tension to the yarn connected from the movable gripper to the first row of stitches include, for example, moving the movable gripper, performing knitting while the movable gripper holds the yarn, or racking the needle bed while the movable gripper holds the yarn. In the latter method, performing knitting causes the first row of stitches to be fed downwards from the teeth. When the first row of stitches is lowered downwards from the teeth while the movable gripper holds the yarn, tension is applied to the yarn extending from the first row to the movable gripper due to the weight of the knitted fabric and the pulling force from the fabric lowering device. In other words, the same effect as pulling the yarn by moving the movable gripper is obtained.

[0008] <2> the above <1> In step C of the knitting method for knitted fabric described above, tension may be applied to the knitting yarn by moving the movable gripper to pull the knitting yarn.

[0009] <3> the above <1> or <2> In step C of the knitting method for knitted fabric described above, the movable gripper may be moved to cross a specific stitch, which is one of a plurality of stitches fixed to the needle bed, when step C is performed, and after the movable gripper has crossed the specific stitch, the specific stitch may be moved to the opposing needle bed, thereby winding the knitting yarn around the specific stitch. Here, in process C, the opposing needle bed refers to the needle bed that faces the needle bed to which a specific stitch was held before the yarn feeder crosses that specific stitch.

[0010] <4> The knitting program of the present invention is a knitting program readable by a computer that controls a flat knitting machine comprising a plurality of needle beds facing each other, a yarn feeder that supplies knitting yarn between the plurality of needle beds, and a movable gripper that grips the knitting yarn, wherein the movable gripper is configured to move in a direction along the length of the plurality of needle beds. The knitting program of the present invention is as described above. <1> from <3> The knitting method for the fabric described in any of the above instructions is to be executed on the flat knitting machine.

[0011] <5> The storage medium of the present invention is the above <4> This is a storage medium that stores the program described in [the document]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the knitting method of the present invention, after knitting the first row of stitches, tension is applied to the yarn extending from the first row of stitches to the movable gripper. The first row of stitches may consist of one stitch or multiple stitches. By applying tension to the yarn extending from the first row of stitches after knitting the first row of stitches, at least one of the stitches constituting the first row can be made tighter than when it was knitted, i.e., when it was formed by knocking over the old stitches. With this knitting method of fabric, by increasing the tension on the yarn, it is possible to form stitches that are even tighter than the minimum stitch size according to the hardware configuration of the flat knitting machine as described later.

[0013] the above <2> In the knitting method described above, the knitting yarn extending from the first row of stitches to the movable gripper is pulled by moving the movable gripper. Therefore, the tension acting on the knitting yarn can be easily adjusted by changing the speed and distance of movement of the movable gripper.

[0014] the above <3> In the knitting method described herein, the yarn held by a movable gripper is wrapped around a specific stitch. During the process of wrapping the yarn around the specific stitch, the yarn extending from the first row of stitches is pulled, making the stitches of the first row tighter than when knitting was performed. Furthermore, because the yarn is fixed by being wrapped around the specific stitch, the tight state of the stitches in the first row is easily maintained. In addition, if the yarn held by the movable gripper is a cut end yarn, the end yarn is fixed by being wrapped around the specific stitch, making it less likely for the entangled end yarn to come loose from the knitted fabric.

[0015] According to the knitting program of the present invention, a flat knitting machine can be made to implement the knitting method of the present invention. The computer that executes the knitting program may be installed in the flat knitting machine or may be connected to the flat knitting machine via wired or wireless connection.

[0016] A storage medium storing the knitting program of the present invention can be used to enable a flat knitting machine to perform the knitting method of the present invention. The storage medium may be installed in the flat knitting machine or connected to the flat knitting machine via wired or wireless connection when the knitting program is executed. The storage medium may also be a portable storage medium such as a USB memory stick. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a flat knitting machine for knitting a fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the knitting process for knitting fabric according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the knitting process for knitting fabric according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a knitting process diagram for explaining the knitting method of the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a knitting process diagram for explaining the knitting method of the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a loop diagram showing a part of the knitted fabric according to Embodiment 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, the knitting method, knitting program, and storage medium of the knitted fabric according to the embodiment will be described based on the drawings.

[0019] <Embodiment 1> ≪Knitted fabric≫ The knitted fabric 5 of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a finger bag of a glove. A knitted-out part 50 is formed at the fingertip part of the finger bag. After branching the part following the knitted-out part 50 back and forth, the finger bag is knitted into a cylindrical shape. That is, the finger bag is knitted starting from the fingertip. The finger bag is knitted into a cylindrical shape by a flat knitting machine. The cylindrical knitted fabric 5 includes a front knitted fabric part 5F and a rear knitted fabric part 5B. Here, the knitted fabric 5 knitted by the knitting method of the knitted fabric of the present invention is not limited to the finger bag, and other cylindrical knitted fabrics may be used. Other cylindrical knitted fabrics may be, for example, knitted wear such as pants or skirts, or industrial materials such as sheet covers. The knitted fabric 5 is not necessarily limited to a cylindrical knitted fabric, and a single-layer knitted fabric may also be used.

[0020] An end yarn 9 extends from the starting end of the knitted-out part 50. That is, the end yarn 9 in this example is the end yarn 9 of the yarn insertion part. A cut end 90 is formed at the end of the end yarn 9. The end yarn 9 is stored in the knitted fabric 5 so as not to be conspicuous. The processing of the end yarn 9 is performed, for example, manually.

[0021] In this example, the flat knitting machine is made to perform a process of making the stitches of the stitch row constituting the knitted-out part 50 in a packed state after knitting the stitch row. Hereinafter, first, the configuration of the flat knitting machine will be described, and then the knitting method of the knitted fabric of the present invention will be described.

[0022] ≪Flat knitting machine≫ Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flat knitting machine 6 for knitting the above-mentioned fabric 5. The flat knitting machine 6 is a two-bed flat knitting machine equipped with a pair of needle beds 6B arranged facing each other in the depth direction of the paper. Each of the pair of needle beds 6B is also called the front needle bed (hereinafter referred to as FB) and the rear needle bed (hereinafter referred to as BB). The flat knitting machine 6 is equipped with a racking mechanism 65 that shifts the relative positions of FB and BB in a direction along the length of FB and BB. Known configurations can be used for the racking mechanism 65. The flat knitting machine 6 for knitting the fabric 5 may also be a four-bed flat knitting machine equipped with a lower front needle bed, a lower rear needle bed, an upper front needle bed, and an upper rear needle bed.

[0023] Multiple knitting needles are arranged in parallel on the needle bed 6B. These knitting needles are driven by a cam system mounted on a carriage 6C that reciprocates over the needle bed 6B. The cam system includes a transfer cam, which is a stitch transfer mechanism 66 that moves stitches between FB and BB. The knitting needles may be latch needles with latches for opening and closing hooks, or compound needles with sliders for opening and closing hooks. The flat knitting machine 6 further includes multiple yarn feeders 6F that supply yarn 6Y to teeth formed between a pair of needle beds 6B. Each yarn feeder 6F is mounted on one of a plurality of rails 6R and travels along the rails 6R. The plurality of rails 6R extend above the needle beds 6B and parallel to the needle beds 6B. The knitting yarn 6Y is supplied to the yarn feeders 6F from a tension spring device 6T through a side tension device (not shown).

[0024] Here, due to the hardware configuration of the flat knitting machine 6, the smallest possible stitches can be formed when knitting, for example, the following two patterns. Firstly, when knitting the starting section 50 by forming zigzag yarn overs on FB and BB, the stitches in that starting section 50 will be the smallest possible. Secondly, when determining the size of the stitches using the cam system provided in the carriage 6C, the smallest possible stitches can also be formed when knitting with a stitch value of zero.

[0025] The flat knitting machine 6 in this example is equipped with a movable gripper 6G for gripping the knitting yarn. The movable gripper 6G is configured to be movable in a direction along the length of the needle bed 6B. Therefore, the movable gripper 6G can move in a direction along the needle bed 6B while gripping the knitting yarn. Known movable grippers, such as the movable gripper described in International Publication No. 2009 / 084193, can be used as the movable gripper 6G. The movable gripper 6G may also have an integrated cutter (not shown) for cutting the knitting yarn 6Y.

[0026] The knitting machine 6 is equipped with a computer 60 that controls the knitting machine 6. Controlling the knitting machine 6 includes controlling the movement of the carriage 6C, the operation of the cam system mounted on the carriage 6C, and the movement of the yarn feeder 6F.

[0027] The computer 60 comprises a processor 61 and a storage medium 62. The processor 61 is one of various processors suitable for controlling the computer 60. Examples of processors 61 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).

[0028] The storage medium 62 stores a knitting program for causing the flat knitting machine 6 to knit the fabric 5. The knitting program in this example includes commands for the flat knitting machine 6 to execute the fabric knitting method described later. The processor 61 described above causes the flat knitting machine 6 to perform the knitting operation by executing the commands in the knitting program.

[0029] Unlike this example, the computer that controls the knitting machine 6 based on the knitting program in this example may be another computer connected to the knitting machine 6 via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet.

[0030] ≪Knitting Method≫ The specific knitting method for the knitted fabric 5 using the above-mentioned flat knitting machine 6 will be explained based on the knitting process diagram in Figure 3. In the diagram, the 'S + number' enclosed in a square indicates the knitting process number, the black dots indicate the knitting needles provided in the needle bed 6B, and the inverted triangle marks indicate the yarn feeder 6F.

[0031] In step S1, the knitting yarn 6Y extending from the side tension device of the flat knitting machine 6 (Figure 2) to the yarn feeder 6F is grasped by the movable gripper 6G (equivalent to step B). This knitting yarn 6Y is the end yarn 9 of the yarn insertion section. The end yarn 9 has a cut end 90.

[0032] In step S2, the yarn feeder 6F is moved to knit the first row of stitches 1 that constitutes the knitting section 50 (equivalent to step A). ​​In step S2, the yarn feeder 6F is further moved to knit the tubular second row of stitches 2 that continues in the wale direction of the first row of stitches 1, and the tubular third row of stitches 3 that continues in the wale direction of the second row of stitches 2. The second row of stitches 2 and the third row of stitches 3 constitute the portion of the tubular knitted fabric 5 shown in Figure 1 that continues in the wale direction of the knitting section 50. Figure 3 illustrates the first row of stitches 1, the second row of stitches 2, and the third row of stitches 3.

[0033] In step S3, the movable gripper 6G is moved to pull the end yarn 9, making at least some of the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 tighter than when knitted (equivalent to step C). The state in which the stitches 10 of the first row of stitches 1 are tighter than when knitted means that each stitch 10 is smaller than in the first row of stitches 1 in step S2, and the spacing between adjacent stitches 10 is smaller. Of the multiple stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1, the stitches 10 that are closer to the end yarn 9 tend to become smaller, while the stitches 10 that are farther from the end yarn 9 do not tend to become smaller.

[0034] In this example, the direction in which the movable gripper 6G is moved is away from the first row of stitches 1, as indicated by the white arrow. Although the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 are less likely to become slightly crowded, the movable gripper 6G may also be moved in the opposite direction to the white arrow to pull the end yarn 9. Unlike this example, the movement of the movable gripper 6G may be performed after the second row of stitches 2 and before the third row of stitches 3, or after the stitches following the third row of stitches 3 (not shown).

[0035] According to the knitting method of this example, after the first row of stitches 1 comes off the needle bed 6B, the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 can be made tighter than when they were knitted. According to the knitting method of this example, it is possible to form stitches that are tighter than the smallest stitches knitted by the hardware configuration of the flat knitting machine 6. Since the first row of stitches 1 in this example makes up the starting section 50 of the finger pocket, which is the knitted fabric 5 shown in Figure 1, the stitches that make up the starting section 50 become tighter. As a result, the stitches of the stoppers that branch off from the starting section 50 are tighter, making it less likely for holes to form at the tip of the finger pocket, and improving the quality of the finger pocket.

[0036] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 describes an example of knitting in which the stitches of the first row of stitches 1, which are locked to the knitting needles of the needle bed 6B, are packed together on the needle bed 6B, with reference to Figure 4. The way to read Figure 4 is the same as in Figure 3.

[0037] In step S10 of Figure 4, the movable gripper 6G grips the end yarn 9, which is the knitting yarn 6Y, when the yarn is inserted (equivalent to step B). In step S11, following step S10, the yarn feeder 6F is moved to knit the first row of stitches 1 (equivalent to step A). ​​In step S12, following step S11, before knitting the row of stitches (not shown) that continues in the wale direction of the first row of stitches 1, the movable gripper 6G is moved to pull the end yarn 9, making the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 tighter than when knitted (step C).

[0038] According to the knitting method of this example, the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 can be made more dense than when the first row of stitches 1 was knitted. Therefore, a dense knitted fabric 5 can be knitted.

[0039] <Embodiment 3> Embodiment 3 describes a knitting example in which the first row of stitches 1 connected to the yarn-out section is made tightly knitted, that is, a knitting example in which the knitting yarn 6Y is grasped by the movable gripper 6G after knitting the first row of stitches 1, based on Figure 5. The way to read Figure 5 is the same as in Figure 3.

[0040] In step S20 of Figure 5, the yarn feeder 6F is moved to knit the first row of stitches 1 (process A). In step S21 following step S20, the knitting yarn 6Y extending from the last knitted stitch 10 in the first row of stitches 1 to the yarn feeder 6F is grasped by the movable gripper 6G (process B). In step S22 following step S21, before knitting the row of stitches (not shown) that continues in the wale direction of the first row of stitches 1, the movable gripper 6G is moved to pull the end yarn 9, making the stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 tighter than when they were knitted (process C).

[0041] The knitting method used in this example allows for a tighter distribution of stitches 10 that make up the first row of stitches 1 compared to when the first row of stitches 1 was knitted. As a result, a dense knitted fabric 5 can be created.

[0042] <Embodiment 4> Embodiment 4 describes a knitting example in which the movement of the movable gripper 6G differs from that of Embodiments 1 to 3, based on the knitting process diagram in Figure 6. In Figure 6, FB and BB are shown by thick lines. The upper capital letters in the upper margin indicate the position of the knitting needles. The 'T + number' in the left column indicates the knitting process number. The straight arrows indicate the direction of movement of the stitches or the movable gripper 6G.

[0043] In Embodiment 4, after knitting the first row of stitches 1 shown in Figure 3 of Embodiment 1, a cylindrical second row of stitches 2 following the first row of stitches 1 is knitted. Step T1 in Figure 6 shows the state after the knitting of the second row of stitches 2 has been completed. The end yarn 9 extending from the first row of stitches 1 (Figure 3) is held by a movable gripper 6G.

[0044] In steps T2 to T5, the end yarn 9 is wrapped around a specific stitch 4 that is secured to the knitting needle E of BB (equivalent to step C). In this example, the specific stitch 4 is the stitch of the second row of stitches 2 that is secured to BB at step T1. Unlike this example, the specific stitch 4 may be another row of stitches that continues in the wale direction of the second row of stitches 2, for example, the stitch of the third row of stitches 3 shown in Figure 3.

[0045] In step T2, the specific stitch 4, which is secured to the BB needle E, is moved to the FB needle F. In step T3, the movable gripper 6G is moved to the left so that it crosses the specific stitch 4. In step T4, the specific stitch 4 is returned to the BB needle E. The end yarn 9 wraps around to the outside of the specific stitch 4. In step T5, the movable gripper 6G is moved to the right so that it crosses the specific stitch 4. Through this series of steps, the end yarn 9 is wrapped around the specific stitch 4. Also, because the end yarn 9 is pulled as the movable gripper 6G moves during this series of steps, the stitches that make up the first row of stitches 1 (Figure 3) connected to the end yarn 9 become tighter than when knitting. In this example, the knitting process from step T2 to step T5 in Figure 6 is repeated once more.

[0046] The state in which the end yarn 9 is wrapped around the specific stitch 4 will be explained based on the loop diagram in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows only the portion of the knitted fabric 5 that is knitted with BB. The dotted lines in Figure 7 indicate connections to parts that are not shown. The end yarn 9 is shown with a thick line. The part of the end yarn 9 opposite the cut end 90 is connected to the first row of stitches 1. As shown in Figure 7, when step T5 is completed, the end yarn 9 is wrapped around the specific stitch 4 so as to circle around it.

[0047] In this example, after the second step T5, the third row of stitches 3 is knitted in the wale direction of the second row of stitches 2, and the knitting process from step T2 to step T5 is repeated once more. As a result, as shown in Figure 7, the end yarn 9 is wrapped around specific stitches 4 of the third row of stitches 3 that follow the wale direction of the second row of stitches 2. The wrapping of the end yarn 9 around the two specific stitches 4 makes it difficult for the end yarn 9 to come off the knitted fabric 5. The more times the end yarn 9 is wrapped around the specific stitches 4, the more knitting steps are required, but the stronger the fixation of the end yarn 9 to the knitted fabric 5 becomes. As a result, the end yarn 9 is less likely to come off the knitted fabric 5. The number of times the yarn is wrapped is not limited, but two to three times is preferable. Of course, it is also possible to wrap it once. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 1st stitch row, 10th stitch 2 Second stitch row 3 Third stitch row 4 Specific stitch 5 knitted fabric, 5B second knitted fabric section, 5F first knitted fabric section 50. Editing section 6 Flat knitting machine 6B Needle bed, 6C Carriage, 6F Yarn feeder 6G movable gripper, 6R rail, 6T top spring device, 6Y braided yarn 60 Computer, 61 Processor, 62 Storage medium 65. Racking mechanism, 66. Scale transfer mechanism 9 end thread, 90 cut end

Claims

1. A method for knitting a fabric using a flat knitting machine comprising a plurality of needle beds facing each other, a yarn feeder that supplies knitting yarn between the plurality of needle beds, and a movable gripper that grips the knitting yarn, wherein the movable gripper is configured to move in a direction along the length of the plurality of needle beds, Step A involves using the yarn feeder to knit the first row of stitches, which is part of the knitted fabric. Step B, which is performed before or after step A, involves gripping the yarn extending from the first row of stitches to the outside of the knitting range of the first row of stitches with the movable gripper, The process includes, after steps A and B, step C, which brings the knitting yarn connected from the movable gripper to the first row of stitches into a state where tension is applied. Methods for knitting fabrics.

2. The method for knitting a knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein in step C, tension is applied to the knitting yarn by moving the movable gripper to pull the knitting yarn.

3. The method for knitting a knitted fabric according to claim 2, wherein in step C, the movable gripper is moved to cross a specific stitch which is one of a plurality of stitches that are locked to the needle bed when step C is performed, and after the movable gripper has crossed the specific stitch, the specific stitch is moved to the opposing needle bed, thereby winding the knitting yarn around the specific stitch.

4. In a knitting program readable by a computer controlling a flat knitting machine, the machine comprises a plurality of needle beds facing each other, a yarn feeder that supplies knitting yarn between the plurality of needle beds, and a movable gripper that grips the knitting yarn, wherein the movable gripper is configured to move in a direction along the length of the plurality of needle beds, A knitting program that causes a flat knitting machine to execute the knitting method of a knitted fabric described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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

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