US 6,178,782 B2Granted

Stitch loop retaining method by using a flat knitting machine

AssigneeShima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.

InventorsKoji Takeda, Toru Ekawa

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Abstract

A method for knitting without retaining double or more stitches on a needle when a loop transferring is performed in the fabric knitting including a stitch narrowing knitting and the like. The method includes the steps that a stitch loop is rested on the tongue of the compound needle on the first bed; that the stitch loop retained by the knitting member on the second bed is guided to a position where it can be transferred to the compound needle on the first bed; that the hook of the needle proper is advanced into the stitch loop retained on the knitting member on the second bed positioned at the transferring position; that the knitting member on the second bed is retracted to allow the stitch loop retained thereon to be retained by the compound needle on the first bed; and that the compound needle on the first bed is retracted to knock over the stitch loop rested on the tongue of the slider of the compound needle on the first bed, whereby the stitch loop is retained on the stitch loop transferred to the compound needle on the first bed.

A method of retaining a stitch loop using a flat knitting machine having (i) at least one first bed with a plurality of arrays of compound needles mounted thereon, each needle having a needle proper with a hook at a top end thereof and a slider having a tongue comprising two combined blades such that the needle proper and the slider are individually moveable forward and backward, and (ii) at least one second needle bed with a plurality of arrays of knitting members that transfer and receive stitch loops to and from the compound needles mounted thereon, wherein when a stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) retained by the knitting member on the second bed is transferred to the compound needle on the first bed retaining a stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105), the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) retained by the compound needle on the first bed is knocked over from the compound needle, to retain the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) on the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) transferred from the knitting member on the second bed to the compound needle on the first bed, the stitch loop retaining method comprising the steps of:

(a) resting the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) on the tongue of the slider of the compound needle on the first bed;
(b) operating the knitting member on the second bed to guide the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) retained by the knitting member to a transferring position where the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) is transferred to the confronting compound needle on the first bed;
(c) maintaining the compound needle on the first bed in a state in which the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) is rested on the tongue of its slider, and advancing the hook of the needle proper into the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) retained on the knitting member on the second bed confronting the compound needle and positioned at the transferring position;
(d) retracting the knitting member on the second bed to allow the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) retained thereon to be retained by the hook of the compound needle on the first bed;
and
(e) retracting the needle proper and the slider of the compound needle on the first bed so that the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) rested on the tongue of the slider of the compound needle on the first bed is knocked over beyond an end of the tongue and the hook, wherein the stitch loop (65, 85, 97, 105) is retained on the stitch loop (66, 86, 98, 106) transferred to the compound needle on the first bed.

3 more elements

Abstract

Claims9