AU693342B2

AU693342B2 - A composite hosiery knitting machine

Info

Publication number: AU693342B2
Application number: AU52341/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Oreste Schiavello
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-16
Filing date: 1996-05-16
Publication date: 1998-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-16
Also published as: AU5234196A

Description

1- P/00v1001 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 6 06*e66 6 6.66 0 *60 00 *6 *6 6* 0* 66 6 6 0

ORIGINAL

66 6 6 6060 6*06 00 0 66 0 6 *6 0 0666 6~@666 0 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service ORESTE SCHIAVELLO ORESTh SCHIAVELLO in Australia: CARTE R SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Invention Title: A COMPOSITE HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE Details of Associated Provisional Application: PN2987 filed 16 MAY 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us -2- FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a machine for knitting finished hosiery articles such as tights, panty hose or the like garments in a single operation and in particular relates to an improved composite knitting machine comprising three circular knitting machines in combination adapted to form a panty section on two leg sections when the leg sections have been knitted in their machines. The invention also resides in the formation of two leg sections on a panty section when the panty section has been knitted in its machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Hitherto, in the manufacture of hosiery articles such as panty hose it has been necessary to separately knit long leg sections with the upper parts usually of thicker 0 knit than the lower leg parts on a circular knitting machine and cutting or splitting *0 and joining the upper parts of the two leg sections by sewing in known manner to form the panty section in a separate machine involving stitching and overlocking of the seams in the panty section which is not desirable from a comfortable or graceful point of view to the wearer.

Also this prior procedure is time wasting, expensive in the provision of a further machine, and involves additional operators.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved composite 20 circular knitting machine capable of producing, in a continuous operation, a 4* completely finished hosiery article such as tights, panty hose, and the like garments thus obviating the requirement of further processing of two separately knitted leg sections to provide a panty section on the upper open ends thereof.

The present invention is conveniently applied to two conventional vertical circular knitting machine rotatable cylinders mounted within and on the underside of a horizontal rotatable annular knitting machine section, the upper ends of the vertical cylinders being located opposite each other in parallel fashion within the annular section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surface of the rotatable annular section.

AWC:RR: 17868SCIH.SPC 16 May 1996 -3- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a composite circular knitting machine for the manufacture of hosiery articles including panty hose, tights and like garments comprising a pair of vertically disposed rotatable knitting machine cylinders located in separate opposed parallel spaced-apart disposition within the underside of a horizontally disposed rotatable annular knitting machine section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surface of the rotatable annular section.

The knitting of the legs of the tights or panty hose is firstly carried out in the vertically disposed cylinders on a circumferentially disposed array of vertical knitting o 10 needles under operation by a computer programmed operation of cams and without any operable knitting interaction of the vertically disposed cylinders and a horizontally movable array of knitting needles in the annular panty knitting 00 section.

The clearance between the upper ends of the two vertically disposed cylinders and the inner surface of the horizontal annular knitting section is such that effective transfer can be made between the vertically movable array of knitting needles of the vertical sections of the stitches around the upper ends of the two legs of the tirghts or panty hose and the horizontally movable array of knitting needles of the annular S section at the commencement of knitting the panty section.

0* 0 According to another feature of the invention, the knitting of the panty section of the tights or panty hose is firstly carried out in the horizontally disposed rotatable annular panty knitting machine section on a circumferentially disposed array of sOe« horizontal knitting needles under control of a computer programmed operation of cams and without any operable knitting interaction of the horizontal panty knitting section and a vertically movable array of knitting needles in the vertically disposed leg knitting cylinders.

The clearance between the inner surface of the horizontal annular knitting section and the upper ends of the two vertically disposed cylinders is such that effective transfer can be made between the horizontally movable array of knitting needles of the annular knitting section of the stitches around the lower end of the AWC:RR:17868SCILSPC 16 May 1996 I I -4knitted panty section and the vertically movable array of knitting needles of the two vertically disposed cylinders at the commencement of knitting the leg sections.

According to another feature of the invention, there is provided a method of producing in a continuous operation a completely finished article of hosiery such as panty hose, tights or similar garments in a composite circular knitting machine comprising two vertical circular knitting machine rotatable cylinders having a vertical array of needles mounted within and on the underside of a horizontal rotatable annular knitting machine section having a horizontal array of needles and wherein the vertical cylinders are located opposite each other in parallel fasl an 10 within the annular section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surfa.

foe: of the rotatable annular section.

'According to another embodiment of the invention, the needles are cam o.

S* operated and the control of the composite machine is by computer programming 0° wherein the needle operating cams can be controlled as a stitch cam, a rising cam, a lowering cam, and a stitch control cam.

SIn order that the invention and its manner of performance may be more fully understood reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of the composite knitting machine of the invention; Figure 2 is a part sectional view of the composite knitting machine of the invention taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1; •Figure 4 is a cross section of the horizoutal knitting part and a vertical knitting part of the composite machine o" the invention taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a similar view tc, Figure 4 at another stage of the knitting cycle; Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4 along the line 6-6 at another stage of the knitting cycle; Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 at yet another stage of the knitting cycle; AWC:RR.17868SCILSPC 16 May 1996 -I Is =I Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 at yet another stage of the knitting cycle of the transfer from the knitted leg to the commencement of knitting the panty; Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8 taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 1 at the commencement of knitting the panty; Figure 10 is a similar view to Figure 9 showing a further stage of the knitting of the panty; Figure 11 is a similar view to Figure 10 showing a further stage of the knitting of the panty; and Figures 12 and 13 illustrate stages in the reverse method of knitting the panty 10 first and transferring to the knitting of the legs.

090 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows in general form a plan view of the composite machine illustrating the location of the leg knitting rotatable vertical cylinders 5 within the panty knitting horizontal rotatable annular section 6 of the machine and showing the extent and range of rotary interaction between the cylinders 5 and annular section 6.

The legs 7 are knitted in known manner without any operable knitting interaction of cylinders 5 with annular section 6. The knitting of the legs is carried out on a circumferentially disposed array of vertical needles 8 under programmed operation by cams 14. These vertical needles 8 according to the invention are of known hook 9 and latch 10 form at their upper ends and in the rectangular body of see**: the needle 8 below the hook and latch there are provided two transversely tapered grooves 11 on directly opposite sides of the needle body, the grooves tapering in transversely opposite directions. The loops 12 of the knitted thread 13 are shown in Figure 4 at the end of the knitting of the legs 7 with needles 8 on the rise through the end loops.

At this stage the needles 15 of the horizontal annular panty knitting machine part 6 are actuated in controlled sequence to extend inwardly towards needles 8 and Figure 6 illustrates the entry of hook 16 of needle 15 into an end loop of leg 7 AWC:RR.17868SCILSPC 16 May 1996 1 ~I ag 6whilst that loop is resting on ledge 17 of needle 8. It will be noted that groove 11 allows needle 15 to pass closely to needle 8 for ease of entry into the end loop.

Needle 8 in the operable camming system moves downwards, Figure 7, with its latch 10 closing the hook 9 for passage past needle 15 to a holding or "memory" position as shown in Figure 8 where at that stage needle 15 has withdrawn outwardly with its latch 18 in open position to commence the panty knitting process.

Figures 9, 10, 11 illustrate further stages in the knitting of the panty, Figures and 11 showing the latch 18 in its closed position for forming a further loop as is known.

S 10 The panty knitting part of the composite machine may be programmed to any 00o particular type of stitch as desired and to introduce an elasticised thread for the waist *0 of the panty if desired.

In Figures 12 and 13 the reverse procedure is illustrated in which needle 19, -v9 of the same design as needle 8 of the previous embodiment is operated in the horizontal direction for the formation of the hose legs after the panty has been knitted with vertical needles 20 of similar configuration to needles 15. Transfer of stitches from the panty to the needles for the legs is similar in the reverse fashion of knitting the panty article as in the previous embodiment of Figures 4 to 11.

The control of the composite machine of the invention is by computer programming wherein the needle operating cams can be controlled as a stitch cam, a rising cam, a lowering cam, and a stitch control cam. In all actions the needles are lowered or withdrawn to lock the stitch and raised or extended to clear the stitch.

In use the composite machine of the invention is not limited to a particular thickness of thread or wool.

AWC:RR:I7868SCI 6Fy 16 May 1996 ~kl~ ~L ~Y -e L ~l

Claims

1. A composite circular knitting machine for the manufacture of articles of hosiery including panty hose, tights or similar garments, comprising a pair of vertically disposed rotatable hosiery leg knitting machine cylinders located in separate opposed parallel spaced-apart disposition within the underside of a horizontally disposed rotatable annular panty knitting machine section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surface of the rotatable annular section.

2. A composite knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the knitting of 0#Oe the legs of the panty hose is firstly carried out in the vertically disposed cylinders 6S 10 on a circumferentially disposed array of vertical knitting needles under operation by 0. s: a computer programmed operation of cams and without any operable knitting 04 V interaction of the vertically disposed cylinders and a horizontally movable array of knitting needles in the annular panty knitting section. A composite knitting machine according to claim 2 wherein the clearance 15 between the upper ends of the two vertically disposed cylinders and the inner surface o of the horizontal annular knitting section is such that effective transfer can be made 0o a between the vertically movable array of knitting needles of the vertical cylinders of the stitches around the upper ends of the knitted two legs of the hose and the horizontally movable array of knitting needles of the annular section at the 0t. 20 commencement of knitting the panty section.

4. A composite knitting machine according to any one of the previous claims wherein the needles of the vertically disposed cylinders are of rectangular shape and of hook and latch form at their upper ends and wherein there are provided in the rectangular body of each needle, below the hook and latch, two transversely tapered grooves on directly opposite sides of the needle body with the grooves tapering in transversely opposite directions so as to allow the needles of the horizontal annular AWC:RR1786SCH.SPCy 16 May 1996 csr -8- section to pass closely to the needles of the vertically disposed cylinders in the transfer of stitches from the hosiery legs at the commencement of the knitting process of the panty section. A composite knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the knitting of the panty section of the hose is firstly carried out in the horizontally disposed rotatable annular panty knitting machine section on a circumferentially disposed array of horizontal knitting needles under control of a computer programmed operation of cams and without any operable knitting interaction of the horizontal panty knitting section and a vertically movable array of knitting needles in the 0 vertically disposed hosiery leg knitting cylinders.

6. A composite knitting machine according to claim 1 or claim 5 wherein the clearance between the inner surface of the horizontal annular knitting section and the upper ends of the two vertically disposed cylinders is such that effective transfer can be made between the horizontally movable array of knitting needles of the annular knitting section of the stitches around the lower end of the knitted panty section and the vertically movable array of knitting needles of the two vertically disposed cylinders at the commencement of knitting the panty leg sections. a 9 *009 0 0 OS B *c a a. m 'at" 006 a SS

7. A composite knitting machine according to claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the needles of the horizontal annular knitting section are of rectangular shape and of 20 hook and latch form at their outer ends and wherein there are provided in the rectangular body of each needle, inward of the hook and latch, two transversely tapered grooves on directly opposite sides of the needle body with the grooves tapering in transversely opposite directions so as to allow the needles of the vertically disposed cylinders to pass closely to the needles of the horizontal annular section in the transfer of stitches from the panty section at the commencement of the knitting process of the hosiery legs. AWC:RR.1786SCH.SPC 16 May 1996 ~aa -9-

8. A composite knitting machine according to any one of the previous claims wherein the needle operating cams are controlled by computer programming as a stitch cam, a rising cam, a lowering camn, and a stitch control cam and wherein in all actions the needles are lowered or withdrawn to lock the stitch and raised or extended to clear the stitch.

9. A method of producing in a continuous operation a completely finished article of hosiery, such as panty hose, tights and similar garments in a composite circular knitting machine comprising the step of providing and using two vertical circular knitting machine rotatable cylinders having a vertical array of needles mounted within and on the underside of a horizontal rotatable annular knitting machine section having a horizontal array of needles and wherein the vertical cylinders are located opposite each other in parallel fashion within the a:nular section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surface of the rotatable annular section. A method according to claim 9 wherein the legs of the panty hose are firstly knitted in the vertical cylinders, the upper loops of the knitted legs being transferred from the vertical needles to the needles of the annular knitting section for knitting o •e of the panty section of the hose to complete the finished article. ei o• U. U

11. A method according to clainm 9 wherein the panty section is firstly knitted in the horizontal annular knitting section, the lower loops of the knitted panty section 20 being transferred from the horizontal needles to the needles of the vertical cylinders e eo for knitting of the legs of the hose to complete the finished article. .e

12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the needles are cam operated and the control of the composite machine is by computer programming wherein the needle operating cams can be controlled as a stitch cam, a rising cam, a lowering cam, and a stitch control cam. MAW:PP:#17868.RSI 8 May 1998 I-

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein in all actions the needles are lowered or withdrawn to lock the stitch and raised or extended to clear the stitch.

14. A composite circular knitting machine for the manufacture of hosiery articles such as panty hose, tights and similar garments substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method of producing in a continuous operation a completely finished article of hosiery substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. et *r a IT o DATED: 16 May 1996 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: a ORESTE SCHIAVELLO AWC:RR:1768SCI.SPC 16 May 1996 ~9111~kBB~ T ABSTRACT A composite circular knitting machine for the manufacture, in a continuous operation, of a completely finished article of hosiery such as panty hose, tights or similar garmnts comprising two conventional vertical knitting machine rotatable cylinders mourned within and on the underside of a horizontal rotatable annular knitting machine section, the vertical cylinders being located opposite each other in parallel fashion within the rotatable annular section and in operable knitting clearance with the inner surface of the rotatable annular section so that effective transfer can be made between the knitting needles of the vertical knitting cylinders 10 of the upper loops of the knitted leg sections of the hose and the knitting needles of the annular section for the continued knitting of the panty section of the hose. a *r f* 0 1 s 0

55.4 I* ae a Ogg a sea a 0 AWC:RR17868SCHLSPC 16 May 1996 st La~- 1