US 6,164,091 A · Method and apparatus for seaming edges of knitted articles

Abstract

Operational method for seaming the edges of a tubular knitted article (C) comprising the preliminary steps of knitting the article in a knitting station (T), removing the stitches of the last knitted rank with stitches-removing means mounted on a first unit movable between said station (T) and a hook-up station (R), overturning through 180.degree. the first semirank of stitches about an axis which virtually subdivides the last knitted rank into said first and second semiranks so as to dispose the thus overturned stitches in correspondence of the stitches of the other semirank, hooking-up the thus disposed stitches of the first and second semiranks, characterized in that it comprises, following the step for the removal of the stitches of the last knitted rank, the transfer of the stitches of at least one semirank onto means other than those which operate the above said removal, said transfer means supporting the stitches of said at least one semirank during said overturning step.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for seaming the edges of a tubular knitted article, the method comprising the steps of:

knitting the article in a knitting station to provide a knitted article with a last knitted rank;
removing the stitches of the last knitted rank with a stitches-removing device mounted on a first unit movable between the knitting station and a hook-up station;
subsequent to the step of removing the stitches of the last knitted rank, transferring the stitches of at least one semirank onto a transfer device other than the stitches-removing device;
overturning through 180.degree. a first semirank of stitches about an axis which substantially subdivides the last knitted rank into the first semirank and a second semirank so as to dispose the overturned first semirank of stitches in a stitch position corresponding to the stitches of the second semirank;
supporting the stitches of the at least one semirank during the overturning step with the transferring device;
hooking-up the thus disposed overturned first semirank of stitches in a stitch position corresponding to the stitches of the second semirank.

3 more elements

An apparatus for seaming the edges of a tubular knit article the apparatus comprising:

a knitting station with a circular machine for the preliminary knitting of the article;
a hooking-up station;
a first moveable unit;
a stitch removal device removing the last knitted rank, said stitch removal device being mounted on the first movable unit and moveable between said knitting station and the hooking-up station;
a transferring device transferring the stitches of at least one semirank and for overturning the at least one semirank of stitches through 180.degree. about an axis which substantially subdivides the last knitted rank into a first semirank of stitches and a second semirank of stitches;
and
a stitch support for supporting the stitches of the first and second semiranks thus disposed for the hooking-up thereof.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for seaming edges of knitted articles

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for seaming edges of knitted articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19