Knit Design Apparatus Automatic Wale Insertion Shift

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing knit design apparatuses face difficulties in editing knit products without disturbing the design when inserting or deleting wales or courses, particularly due to the need to carefully manage functional data and avoid disrupting the fabric structure.

Innovation Solution

A knit design apparatus and method that includes detection means to identify functional data within the input range for wale or course insertion/deletion, shifting the insertion/deletion position to exclude such data, ensuring the design integrity is maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an operator designates an insert line passing through an area with functional data (dart color, flechage, stitch shift, C-knitting), then the wale insertion operation can be performed, but the design of the knit product is disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom in designating insert line positionVSAvoidintegrity of knit product design
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of functional data in the designated insert line range before executing the wale insertion. If functional data is detected, the system automatically shifts the insert line to a position without functional data, preventing design disturbance before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects and resolves conflicts between insert lines and functional data without requiring operator intervention. The automatic shifting mechanism serves itself to maintain design integrity while preserving operator intent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the operator must carefully check the position for wale insertion to avoid functional data, then the design integrity is maintained, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of knit product designVSAvoidcomplexity of wale insertion operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects functional data and shifts insert lines without operator intervention, making the system self-protective against design disturbances. This eliminates the need for complex manual checking procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automatic feedback by detecting the presence of functional data in the designated range and responding by shifting the insert line position, creating a closed-loop control that prevents errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the operator must manually find proper positions for inserting or deleting wales on both faces of a tubular knit product, then the design integrity is maintained, but the productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of knit product designVSAvoidefficiency of wale insertion operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system handles both faces of tubular knit products with a single automated process. The insert line designation and automatic shifting mechanism works universally for any face, eliminating the need for separate manual positioning operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages the complexity of coordinating insertions on both faces of tubular products, serving itself to maintain design integrity while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2492384B1Knit design apparatus and knit design method
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 SHIMA SEIKI MFG LTD
  • EP2492384B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2492384B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2492384B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Data regarding the design of a knit product input by an operator is converted into design data of the knit product, and the arrangement and the connection of stitches are displayed on a color monitor (6). If an instruction to insert or delete a wale or course of stitches is input, whether or not functional data is included in the input range is detected, and an insert or delete position is shifted so as not to include functional data if functional data is included in the input range.