Method of joining knitted fabrics and joined knitted fabric

• US 20030106344A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Original Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Inventors: Okamoto, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,658,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 66/64
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/243 upper parts of panties; pants
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/246 Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0333 with tubular portions of variable diameter or distinct axial orientation

Abstract

When a first knitted fabric (6) and second and third knitted fabrics (4, 5) sandwiching the first knitted fabric (6) therebetween are knitted and then loops of final courses of the second and third knitted fabrics (4, 5) are laid over loops of the first knitted fabric (6) at side ends thereof sequentially from one side thereof closer to the first knitted fabric (6) toward the other side, to join together the first knitted fabric and the second and third knitted fabrics (4, 5), the second knitted fabric (4) and the third knitted fabric (5) are held on different needle beds arranged in front and back, respectively, and the first knitted fabric (6) and the third knitted fabric (5) are both shifted toward the second knitted fabric. Then, after the first knitted fabric (6) is switched between the front and back needle beds, the loops of the first knitted fabric (6) at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side and the loops of the second knitted fabric (4) at a side end thereof are laid over each other and the loops of the third knitted fabric (5) at a side end thereof and the loops of the first knitted fabric (6) at a side end thereof on the third knitted fabric side are laid over each other. Thereafter, a yarn is fed to the first knitted fabric (6) to form loops of the next course. This knitting repeated can reduce the number of times for the loops of the knitted fabrics to be transferred between the front and back needle beds, so as to join together the knitted fabrics, as compared with the knitting wherein the moving of the knitted fabrics to be close to each other and the joining of the same can be provided solely by switching the knitted fabrics between the front and back needle beds by the loop transfer therebetween.

Claims

1. A knitted fabric joining method for knitting at least two tubular fabrics, each comprising front and back knitted fabric parts opposite to each other in front and back, and joining together the at least two tubular fabrics in an overlapping relation by using a flat knitting machine comprising at least a pair of first and second needle beds, which are extended laterally and confront each other in front and back;

each of which has a large number of needles; and

at least either of which can be racked laterally to transfer loops between the front and back needle beds,

the method comprising a knitted fabric joining step that loops of a final course in a joining region of a tubular fabric to be joined, which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at a side end portion thereof, and loops of a final course in a joining region of another tubular fabric are laid over each other in such a relation that the loops located at near side from a boundary between the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combined with each other and the loops located at far side therefrom are combined with each other, so as to be bound off, whereby a machi is formed at a joining point of the two tubular fabrics, and an integrated tubular fabric is knitted continuously from that joined tubular fabric.

2. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps:

a) that in the process of knitting first and second knitted fabrics in a half-gauge knitting and joining together those knitted fabrics, one of first and second needle beds is racked in a first direction with respect to the other needle bed and then a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the second knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at the side end thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the first knitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction so that the loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed,

b) that the one needle bed is racked in the first direction and then a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of the loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the second knitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction so that the loops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can all be retained on the first needle bed,

c) that the loops of the first knitted fabric are all retained on the first needle bed;

the loops of the second knitted fabric are all retained on the second needle bed;

after the one needle bed is racked in the first direction so that a loop in the joining region of the first knitted fabric and a loop in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can correspond in position to each other in front and back, the loops in the joining regions of the first and second knitted fabrics are laid over each other so as to be bound off, and

d) that the one needle bed is racked in the second direction and then a loop of the tubular fabric into which the first knitted fabric and the second knitted fabric are joined and which is retained on the second needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the first needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof on the second needle bed, whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps:

a) that the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric is transferred to the second needle bed and the back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed,

b) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in a lateral direction, loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric are sequentially laid over loops of the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof, in parallel with loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric being bound off in the direction of being away from the first knitted fabric, and

c) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in the lateral direction, loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric are sequentially laid over loops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof, in parallel with loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric being bound off in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric, whereby the first knitted fabric and the second knitted fabric are joined together.

4. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps:

a) that the first knitted fabric, the second knitted fabric and a third knitted fabric are knitted in such a relation that the first knitted fabric can be positioned between the second and third knitted fabrics, and the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed and the back knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric is transferred to the second needle bed,

b) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in a first direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric and loops of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric and loops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel,

c) that the back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric is transferred to the second needle bed and the front knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric is transferred to the first needle bed, and

d) that while the either needle bed is racked in a second direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the second knitted fabric and loops of the back knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric part of the third knitted fabric and loops of the front knitted fabric part of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other performed in parallel at both ends of the first knitted fabric.

5. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps:

a) that one of first and second needle beds is racked in a first direction with respect to the other needle bed and then a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the second knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of the loop located at the side end of the first knitted fabric retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, so that the first knitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction so that the loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed,

b) that the one needle bed is racked in the second direction and then a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the side end on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of the loop located at the side end of the second knitted fabric retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, so that the second knitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction so that the loops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can all be retained on the second needle bed,

c) that while either of front and back needle beds is racked in the first direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric are bound off in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric, and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed are laid over each other are performed to join together the joining region of the second knitted fabric and the joining region of the first knitted fabric, and

d) that while the either needle bed is racked in the second direction, a loop of the first knitted fabric retained on the first needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed, and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed is transferred to outside of the loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in the first direction.

6. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 1, which comprises the steps:

a) that the first knitted fabric, the second knitted fabric and a third knitted fabric are knitted in such a relation that the first knitted fabric can be positioned between the second and third knitted fabrics; and

after one needle bed is racked in a first direction with respect to the other needle bed, a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the second knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the third knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the first knitted fabric at a side thereof on the third knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, this knitting being-repeated, whereby the first knitted fabric is made to circle in the first direction so that the loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side can be retained on the first needle bed and the loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side can be retained on the second needle bed,

b) that after the needle bed is racked in a second direction, the knitting (i) wherein a loop in a joining region of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed and a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the first knitted fabric, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the second knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the second knitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction so that the loops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric can be retained on the first needle bed; and

the knitting (ii) wherein a loop in a joining region of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof on the first knitted fabric side, which loop is retained on the first needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed and a loop of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof opposite to the first knitted fabric, which loop is retained on the second needle bed, is transferred to outside of a loop of the third knitted fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the third knitted fabric is made to circle in the second direction so that the loops in the joining region of the third knitted fabric can be retained on the second needle bed are performed in parallel,

c) that while either of the front needle bed and the back needle bed is racked in the first direction, the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the second knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the second knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the second knitted fabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the first knitted fabric on the third knitted fabric side are bound off in the direction of being away from the third knitted fabric and the knitting wherein loops in the joining region of the third knitted fabric and loops of the first knitted fabric at a side end thereof are laid over each other are performed in parallel, and

d) that while the either needle bed is racked in the second direction, the knitting wherein a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed, the tubular fabric being formed by joining together the first, second and third knitted fabrics, is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second bed, and a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the second needle bed is transferred to outside of a loop of the tubular fabric at a side end thereof retained on the first needle bed, this knitting being repeated, whereby the tubular fabric is made to circle in the second direction.

7. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the joining of the joining regions of the front knitted fabric part and the joining of the joining regions of the back knitted fabric part are performed independently and a circle knitting wherein a loop of the knitted fabric having a larger number of loops retained on either of the needle beds is transferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabric retained on the opposite needle bed is performed in parallel with the joining knitting.

8. The knitted fabric joining method according to claim 4 or 6, wherein the joining between the first knitted fabric and the second knitted fabric and the joining between the first knitted fabric and the third knitted fabric and/or the joining of the front knitted fabric parts and the joining of the back knitted fabric parts are performed independently and a circle knitting wherein a loop of the knitted fabric having a larger number of loops retained on either of the needle beds is transferred to outside of a loop of the knitted fabric retained on the opposite needle bed is performed in parallel with the joining knitting.

9. The knitted fabric joining method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of loops in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part and the number of loops in the joining region of the back knitted fabric are made different from each other.

10. A knitted fabric formed by joining together at least two tubular fabrics, each comprising front and back knitted fabric parts knitted opposite to each other in front and back, by using a flat knitting machine comprising at least a pair of first and second needle beds, which are extended laterally and confront each other in front and back;

each of which has a large number of needles; and

at least either of which can be racked laterally to transfer loops between the front and back needle beds,

wherein loops of a final course in a joining region of a tubular fabric to be joined, which comprise a proper number of wale and are located at a side end portion thereof, and loops of a final course in a joining region of another tubular fabric are laid over each other in such a relation that the loops located at near side from a boundary between the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are combined with each other and the loops located at far side therefrom are combined with each other, and are bound off, whereby a machi is formed in the knitted fabric and an integrated tubular fabric knitted continuously from that joined tubular fabric.

11. The knitted fabric according to claim 10, wherein the at least two tubular fabrics are a right leg part and a left leg part of a legwear.

12. The knitted fabric according to claim 10, wherein the at least two tubular fabrics are a body and right and left sleeves of a sweater.