Method of knitting a fabric using a knitting machine and a knitting machine
AssigneeUnmade Ltd.
InventorsBenjamin Alun-Jones, Benjamin Vosper, Kirsty Emery, Hal Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for knitting a fabric using a knitting machine. The knitting machine is arranged to knit with a plurality of yarns using a corresponding plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of the plurality of yarns. The method controllably varies the stitch length for each stitch in dependence on the pattern to be knitted.
Claims19
A method of knitting a fabric using a knitting machine, wherein the knitting machine is arranged to knit with a plurality of yarns using a plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of the plurality of yarns;
- the method comprising:
- controllably varying the stitch length for each stitch in dependence on a pattern to be knitted, in which a density of a knitted fabric is defined as a ratio of swaps to stitches present in the knitted fabric and in which the stitch length is varied in dependence on the density of the pattern of the knitted fabric;
- in which density for the knitted fabric may be determined by taking, as an input, an initial graphical representation of the pattern to be knitted and then executing the following steps:
- generating an initial density map based on the pattern to be knitted;
- and
- applying a filter to the initial density map to generate a processed density map.
A knitting machine for knitting a fabric, the knitting machine comprising:
- a plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of a plurality of yarns;
- a controller to controllably vary stitch length for each stitch in dependence on a pattern to be knitted;
- wherein a density of the knitted fabric is defined as a ratio of swaps to stitches present and in which the stitch length is varied in dependence on the density of the pattern of the fabric to be knitted;
- in which density for the knitted fabric may be determined by taking, as an input, an initial graphical representation of the pattern to be knitted and then executing the following steps:
- generating an initial density map based on the pattern to be knitted;
- and
- applying a filter to the intial density map to generate a processed density map.
A controller for a knitting machine, said knitting machine being arranged to knit a fabric using a plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of a plurality of yarns, the controller being arranged to:
- receive details of a pattern to be knitted in order to determine stitch lengths and/or tensions to be applied to the plurality of yarns during knitting in dependence on the received details of the pattern to be knitted, wherein a density of the knitted fabric is defined as a ratio of swaps to stitches present and in which the stitch lengths are varied in dependence on the density of the pattern to be knitted
- in which density for the knitted fabric may be determined from a processed density map itself determined by taking, as an input, an initial graphical representation of the pattern to be knitted and then executing the following steps:
- generating an initial density map based on the pattern to be knitted;
- and
- applying a filter to the initial density map to generate a processed density map.
A method of determining stitch lengths for stitches on a knitting machine, to be applied across a fabric during knitting thereof, the method comprising:
- in dependence on a density of swaps within the fabric, varying the stitch lengths accordingly, in which a density of a knitted fabric is defined as a ratio of swaps to stitches present in a pattern of the knitted fabric, and in which the stitch length is varied in dependence on the density of the pattern of the knitted fabric;
- wherein density for the knitted fabric is determined by taking, as an input, an initial graphical representation of the pattern to be knitted and then;
- generating an initial density map based on the pattern to be knitted;
- and
- applying a filter to the initial density map to generate a processed density map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.