Textiles: knitting – Independent-needle machines – Circular
Patent
1997-08-15
1999-07-20
Falik, Andy
Textiles: knitting
Independent-needle machines
Circular
66148, 66149S, 66 18, D04B 956
Patent
active
059243090
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to produce a sock or other tubular article with rib stitches and with one end closed directly on the machine that produces the article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
These tubular articles are usually made on so-called double-cylinder machines, that is machines having two opposing coaxial cylinders with symmetrical and transferable needles that can be engaged alternately by the so-called sliders of first one then the other cylinder, thereby forming "rib" fabric, that is, fabric with face and reverse stitches for at least a cuff or the like.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to have the same machine close one end of the article, such as the toe of a stocking or sock, thus avoiding the need for operations to be performed after the tubular structure has been finished.
A first subject of the invention is a method for forming a tubular article with a closed end and with rib fabric (face and reverse) at least for the edge or cuff at the opposite end to the closed end, in a circular machine with two needle beds and in particular with two cylinders. The toe is closed at the end of the process of forming the tubular fabric, by transferring the fabric formed by the needles of one semicircle to, and engaging it on, the needles of the opposite semicircle.
Advantageously, the article being formed is tensioned upwards around a temporarily inactive pneumatic transport duct, and is folded inside out and hence upside down in said pneumatic transport duct after the toe has been closed.
In one possible embodiment, the end of the fabric to be transferred to and engaged on the needles of the opposite semicircle is formed with an elastic yarn present, which yarn arranges the to be transferred fabric diametrically with respect to the needle cylinder when this fabric is released by the needles of the first of said semicircles; the transfer fabric is then progressively brought towards and engaged on the needles of the opposite semicircle.
Another subject of the invention is a double-cylinder type circular knitting machine, with needles that can be transferred from one cylinder to the other and with sliders that can be slid in each cylinder to operate the needles. According to the invention, the machine comprises means for transferring--at the end of the process of forming the tubular article--the end fabric formed by one semicircle of needles to the needles of the opposite semicircle, and means for operating the needles of said opposite semicircle to engage the fabric when this is transferred to them.
The present machine advantageously comprises: an additional yarn feeder guide for an elastic yarn, actuated to feed said elastic yarn to at least the needles of the semicircle of needles forming the fabric that is to be transferred, whose final stitches may also be formed with elastic yarn; means--that do not move with the revolving cylinders--for bringing said final stitches progressively towards the needles of the opposite semicircle; and pushers capable of further pushing the already transferred fabric, in a centrifugal direction until it intercepts the path of the needles of the opposite semicircle, activated at the right moment to pass across the end portion of said transferred fabric.
More particularly, the machine may comprise, inside one of the cylinders, a mechanism that does not move with the revolving cylinders and that possesses a shaped plate which, as the cylinders revolve, progressively pushes the transfer fabric over to the semicircle of needles that are to engage said transfer fabric, and that also possesses two radial pushers and means for reciprocating them, in order to progressively move the transfer fabric centrifugally and engage the transfer fabric on the needles of the other semicircle, which are still carrying the loops that they themselves have formed.
Other known solutions may also be used for the transfer.
In one advantageous embodiment, the machine comprises a pneumatic transport duct coaxial with
REFERENCES:
patent: 1554248 (1925-09-01), Williams
patent: 4122690 (1978-10-01), Moreni
patent: 5211035 (1993-05-01), Hanson, II
patent: 5231856 (1993-08-01), Lonati et al.
patent: 5570591 (1996-11-01), Frullini et al.
patent: 5617744 (1997-04-01), Conti
Falik Andy
Golden Lady S.P.A.
LandOfFree
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