Transferring Fabric Patents (Class 66/148)
  • Patent number: 11015270
    Abstract: A turning device for knitted tubular articles, particularly for turning inside-out tubular articles with pockets that protrude from the lateral surface thereof. The turning device in question comprises a main supporting structure which supports a tubular body arranged with its axis substantially vertical. The tubular body has its upper axial end beveled along a plane that is inclined with respect to its axis. The turning device comprises first actuation means which can be activated to perform a translation of the tubular body along its axis with respect to the main supporting structure. The tubular body is insertable, with its upper axial end, through an axial end of a tubular article in order to turn it inside out. The turning device comprises second actuation means which can be activated to rotate the tubular body about its own axis, through an angle of preset breadth, with respect to the main supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Patent number: 10145043
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing tubular knitted articles (M) comprises the steps of: a) knitting a tubular knitted article (M) with the needle cylinder (3); b) transferring loops (MA) of a last-formed course of loops from the needles (5) of the needle cylinder (3) onto the pick-up members (27A, 27B) of a transfer unit (21), divided into two circular half-rings (25A, 25B, 27A, 27B) which can be overturned over each other; c) overturning one of the circular half-rings (25A, 25B, 27A, 27B) of pick-up members (27B) onto the other so as to arrange two edge portions of the final edge of the tubular knitted article (M) one onto the other; d) joining the two edge portions to one another by means of joining stitches (A, B, C, D) formed in intermediate spaces between adjacent pick-up members (27A), whereon the knitted tubular article (M) is retained; e) unloading the knitted tubular article (M) with the closed toe from the transfer unit (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: STÄUBLI ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianni Conti, Massimo Venni, Mauro Barbieri
  • Patent number: 9970136
    Abstract: A loop joining apparatus is for joining loops of a tubular knitted article, and includes a reed unit and two loop holding units. The reed unit includes a first reed including a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed including a plurality of second reed teeth. The first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis to transform between an expanded state and a stacked state. Each of the loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the folding axis, to retain the at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth when the reed unit is transformed to the stacked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DA KONG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mustafa Inli
  • Patent number: 9585423
    Abstract: A garment is configured to be worn over a thigh of an individual for protecting the thigh from irritation due to facing surfaces of the thighs of the individual bearing or rubbing against each other. The garment includes an elastic tubular member having a dimension smaller than a length of the thigh of the individual, having a circumference smaller than the circumference of at least a portion of the thigh of the individual, having a top and a bottom, and having an elastic characteristic. The garment also includes gripping member(s) along an inner circumference of the elastic tubular member. Methods of making the garment are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FREOLLA LLC
    Inventors: Gulnara Abasova, Rena Abramoff
  • Patent number: 9562307
    Abstract: The method provides for arranging a pick-up member for the tubular knitted article (M) coaxially with the needle cylinder, when knitting has been completed. The pick-up member (23) is provided with a plurality of pick-up hooks (25A, 25B) arranged according to a circular ring subdivided into two circular half-rings that can be overturned over each other. The tubular article is engaged by the pick-up hooks while the stitches of the last course of the knitted article are still held by the needles (5) of the knitting machine. The stitches of the last curse are then removed from the needles and the tubular article is removed from the needle cylinder (3) by means of the pick-up member (23). The two half-rings of pick-up hooks are overturned one onto the other, putting one of two opposite edges of the toe of the tubular article onto the other. The two edges are then sewn or linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: STAUBLI ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianni Conti, Massimo Venni
  • Patent number: 9273422
    Abstract: A reed tooth for a hosiery stitching machine, which includes a fixed reed, includes a positioning portion for positioning to the fixed reed, first and second sidewalls, and an intermediate wall cooperating with the first and second sidewalls to define a slide groove. The first sidewall has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost tip and an inclined edge. The second sidewall has a length shorter than that of the first side wall, and has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost end, and an inclined edge that extends upwardly from the bottommost end of the second sidewall. The inclined edge of the second sidewall and the inclined edge of the first sidewall cooperatively define a bottom opening of the slide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DA KONG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mustafa Inli
  • Publication number: 20150135776
    Abstract: A reed tooth for a hosiery stitching machine, which includes a fixed reed, includes a positioning portion for positioning to the fixed reed, first arid second sidewalls, and an intermediate wall cooperating with the first and second sidewalls to define a slide groove. The first sidewall has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost tip and an inclined edge. The second sidewall has a length shorter than that of the first side wall, and has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost end, and an inclined edge that extends upwardly from the bottommost end of the second sidewall. The inclined edge of the second sidewall and the inclined edge of the first sidewall cooperatively define a bottom opening of the slide groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: DA KONG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mustafa Inli
  • Publication number: 20140373575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a knitting method for a flat knitting machine and a flat knitting machine making it possible to implement the method. The machine comprises a plurality of storage elements (5, 5?) capable of storing at least one stitch, the storage elements or transfer jacks being situated below the bed(s) of the machine and the storage elements being movable relative to the bed(s) of the machine such that each storage element can alternatively receive a stitch supported by a needle (4, 4?), bring a stitch toward a needle (4, 4?), receive a stitch supported by another storage element (5, 5?), and bring a stitch toward another storage element (5, 5?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Steiger Participations SA
    Inventors: Francois Charnavel, Emilien Galley, Gabriel Martins, Michel Prost
  • Patent number: 8893529
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing a toe end of a tubular hosiery body includes a stitching device having a main body, a fixed reed, a movable reed pivoted to the fixed reed, and a main drive assembly for driving the movable reed to rotate relative to the fixed reed between juxtaposed and stacked positions. A rotary control unit includes a support frame supporting the main body, a rotary disc attached to the main body, a plurality of detent members disposed around the rotary disc, and a plurality of control drive members respectively driving the detent members. The control drive members consecutively operate to consecutively actuate the respective detent members such that the rotary disc together with the stitching device consecutively produces a limited amount of rotation in an intermittent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Da Kong Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mustafa Inli
  • Patent number: 8443633
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a stocking from a knitting machine to a stitching apparatus to close an open-end of the stocking includes strip and transfer members. The knitting machine includes a needle having a hook for forming a loop at the open-end of the stocking, and a latch to move to or away from the hook. The strip member is movable axially upward and downward and radially towards and away from the needle, and is capable of contacting the loop on the needle to push the loop toward or away from the hook. The transfer member is disposed horizontally above the strip member, is movable axially upward and downward and radially toward and away from the needle, and includes a tip region for receiving the loop from the hook when the strip member pushes the loop to the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Da Kong Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mustafa Inli
  • Patent number: 8028546
    Abstract: A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine for hosiery and for transferring the article to a unit adapted to perform additional work thereon. The device comprises an annular pick-up body that supports pick-up members that can slide with respect to the pick-up body along radial directions. The pick-up body can be arranged coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine for hosiery so that each one of the pick-up members faces laterally a needle of the machine. The end of each one of the pick-up members that is directed toward the axis of the pick-up body has a seat that can engage a region of the stem of the needle that is arranged proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 7975513
    Abstract: A turning device for tubular knitted articles, particularly for sewing or looping stations for the automated closing of tubular articles at an axial end thereof comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, which are arranged respectively below and above an intermediate region at which elements are or can be positioned for supporting the tubular article to be turned, which hangs at one of its axial ends and is arranged substantially vertically, a tubular body, which can be inserted from the bottom upwardly, with its upper axial end, through the axial end of the article that hangs from the supporting elements, so as to evert the article onto the outer lateral surface of the tubular body, extracting it progressively from the upper axial end of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 7954343
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like. The method consists in ending the production of an article at one of its axial ends. The article is then picked up from the machine and transferred to a handling device located in a sewing or looping station. The pick-up is performed by transferring individually the loops of the last row of knitting from the needles of the machine to spikes of the handling device, which has an annular body composed of two semiannular elements. The article is then turned, and one of the two semiannular elements is turned over with respect to the other one, so that the spikes of one semiannular element face, and are aligned with, the spikes of the other semiannular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 7908987
    Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (1); means (3, 5, 11) to insert and stretch a tubular knitted article (M) over the outside of said tubular member and over an end thereof; a control unit. It also comprises a crown (101) of detection elements cooperating with the end of the tubular member, and the control unit is programmed to determine the angular position of the tubular article stretched over the tubular member by reading the signal supplied by the detection elements in a definite reciprocal position of said tubular article, of said tubular member and of said detection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Golden Lady Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Nerino Grassi, Antonio Magni
  • Patent number: 7900483
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for closing the toe of a knit circular product, and particularly of a stocking, without a significant interruption of the sewing operation. In one embodiment, a circular device is inserted inside the cylinder used for producing the stocking, which, appropriately programmed, catches the knit fabric from under the needles and carries it to the sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: N.T.A. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 7882711
    Abstract: To transfer the stitches from a first needle arc (7X) to a second opposed needle arc (7Y), a overturnable semicircular sector (19) presents elements (25) terminating in a bifurcate way (25F) (flanking inside the respective sinkers (11) the relevant needle (7X) of the first arc), each of which has an upper fork projection (25A) embracing the needle (7X) and forming a rear recess (25X) and a front recess (25C) suitable to engage an end stitch (M1) formed by the corresponding needle (7X), said stitch (M1) then being transferred and engaged on a corresponding needle (7Y) of the second needle arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Massimo Bianchi
  • Publication number: 20100313607
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like. The method consists in ending the production of an article at one of its axial ends. The article is then picked up from the machine and transferred to a handling device located in a sewing or looping station. The pick-up is performed by transferring individually the loops of the last row of knitting from the needles of the machine to spikes of the handling device, which has an annular body composed of two semiannular elements. The article is then turned, and one of the two semiannular elements is turned over with respect to the other one, so that the spikes of one semiannular element face, and are aligned with, the spikes of the other semiannular element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Publication number: 20100199723
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for closing the point of a stitch circular product, and particularly of a stocking, without a significant interruption of the sewing operation. In one embodiment, circular device is inserted inside the cylinder used for producing the stocking, which, appropriately programmed, catches the stitch from under the needles and carries it to the sewing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 7640880
    Abstract: An automatic sewing device (1), particularly for hosiery knitting machines, characterized in that it comprises a supporting arm (2, 3, 4) for an oscillating means (7, 8), which comprises at least one first oscillating assembly (7), constituted by a semicircular ring, and at least one second oscillating assembly (8), constituted by a second semicircular ring, a means (11, 12) for actuating the oscillating assemblies which is suitable to produce at least one open position, in which the oscillating assemblies substantially form a ring which has the same size as the needle cylinder (24) from which it picks up a hosiery item at the end of the knitting process, and at least one closed position, in which the oscillating assemblies close the hosiery item in a semicircular arrangement, ready to be sewn, in a sewing station, the support being movable from at least one position for gripping the hosiery item from the needle cylinder to at least one position for applying the hosiery item to the sewing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Cesare Colosio, SPA
    Inventor: Colosio Gianfranco
  • Patent number: 7530242
    Abstract: A method for transferring a portion of knitting produced by a group of needles to another group of needles of a bed in circular hosiery knitting machines with two beds comprising a step, performed by engagement elements arranged in a first sector of the second bed, for engaging a row of knitting formed by the needles arranged in a first sector of the first bed and a step for angular offset of the second bed with respect to the first bed, in order to move the first sector of the second bed closer to a second sector of the first bed; a step for releasing the row of knitting previously engaged by the engagement elements, to the needles arranged in the second sector of the first bed and, during the engagement release step, a reversal of the orientation of the row of knitting affected by the transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Santoni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Ettore Lonati
  • Publication number: 20090049867
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for handling tubular knitted articles having a first end and a second end, comprising in combination: a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member (51A, 51B) for the tubular articles, which can be actuated alternatively to engage one end of the tubular articles; detection means to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article and a control unit. The two pick-up members are controlled to alternatively engage the tubular article according to the orientation of the tubular article detected by said detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Antonio Magni, Nerino Grassi
  • Patent number: 7290409
    Abstract: A method to orient a tubular knitted article, such as a sock or the like, with respect to a pocket of fabric, for example the heel or toe pocket of said article. The method comprises the phases of: stretching an article on a tubular member (1) so that an intermediate part of the band (F) surrounding an end to be sewn of said article (M) is positioned along a line intersecting in two points the end edge of the tubular member and the remaining part is disposed along the outer side surface of the tubular member; detecting the angular position of said band on the tubular member; identifying the position of a pocket of fabric of the article on the basis of the angular position of said band with respect to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Golden Lady Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Nerino Grassi, Antonio Magni
  • Patent number: 7213418
    Abstract: One-cylinder circular knitting machine for production of hose-like knitwear, such as socks, etc., that are closed at one of their ends, is provided with an dial plate (3) situated above the needle cylinder of the machine and equipped with dial sinkers (4, 4?) for cooperation with needles (1) during transferring the knitting. The machine is provided with a device for transferring the retained knitting of the toe pouch (V) knitted on a half-circle of needles (1) from one half of the dial sinkers (4) to the other half of the dial sinkers (4?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Uniplet Trebic, A.S.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Maxa, Petr Maxa, Petr Machovec, Miroslav Kopecny
  • Patent number: 7107797
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method and apparatus for joining the edges of a tubular knitted article, such as a stocking, upon the completion of the latter on a circular machine; the apparatus comprises a movable carrier able to be associated with a knitting head of a circular machine, and the said carrier supports means for the removal of stitches of the last knitted rank, in which the means operate the removal of one semi-rank, that is, of half the stitches of said last knitted rank, and the means operate the removal of the other semi-rank; the movable carrier being provided with driving means and transfer means able to move the stitches of one semi-rank onto the means which remove the other semi-rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Fabritex S.r.l, Sangiacomo, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Frullini, Alberto Frullini
  • Patent number: 6848280
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for producing a tubular knitted article having a closed end is disclosed. The apparatus includes a knitting cylinder for forming the tubular knitted material; an accumulator downstream of the knitting cylinder for permitting the knitting cylinder to continuously form the tubular knitted material; and a stitching closure assembly downstream from the accumulator. The stitching closure assembly includes a sewing head, a fabric positioner, a conduit for connecting the fabric positioner to the accumulator and a fabric guide. Further, the circular knitting machine may include a fabric control system for selectively actuating the sewing head, the fabric positioner and the fabric guide for automatically producing the tubular knitted article having a closed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Larry W. Honeycutt
  • Patent number: 6826930
    Abstract: Method of handling or moving the stitches of a textile article, the method comprising removing the stitches from the needles of a textile machine by with the transferring article is formed at a first station, transferring the article from said first station to a second operating station, said transfer being operated by engaging the said stitches with a plurality of members intended for the removal of same stitches form the needles of the textile machine and transferring said members from said first station to said second station, characterized in that it comprises the reversible transfer of at least one portion of said removal members from a first support or carrier which is being movable from said first and second stations to a second support or carrier intended for temporary retaining the said at least one portion of removal members along with the stitches being removed by them, and/or the reversible transfer of a plurality of members, intended for the temporary retention of the stitches and not involved in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignees: Fabritex S.R.L., Sangiacomo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Frullini, Alberto Frullini
  • Publication number: 20040216497
    Abstract: A device for precise placement of the toe of a hosiery item during automated insertion in the conveyor of a sewing machine for closing the toe, composed of two laminas arranged side by side on a substantially horizontal plane so as to form therebetween a passage for a portion of the hosiery item proximate to the opening of the toe to be closed; the device comprises, proximate to the inlet of the passage, tensioning elements, arranged below the pair of laminas to engage a portion of the toe of the hosiery item, hanging at the toe opening to be closed with two flaps of the opening facing each other and actuated in order to tension the hosiery item downwardly during insertion in the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: LONATI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 6810697
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a circular machine for manufacturing socks with closed toes with the use of picking-up means placed on several linked sectors, which are movable between an annular position corresponding to the cylinder with needles of the machine and a linear position on two parallel touching lines. The sock is picked-up from the cylinder by the pick-up means in the first position and transferred away from the machine, and while the machine can be restarted, the sock is turned upside down, the linked sectors supporting the pick-up means closed to form to parallel rows and the ends of the sock joined so as to close the toe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sangiacomo S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fulvio Sangiacomo
  • Patent number: 6698250
    Abstract: A circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine with a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process, comprising a lower and an upper needle cylinders with vertical axis, a device with a removal element insertable from above into the upper needle cylinder, provided with first grippers that engage the final end of the article and a transfer element, arranged above the upper needle cylinder to remove the article from the removal element and to feed it to a sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 6688140
    Abstract: When a loop is transferred from a transfer jack to a knitting needle of a lower needle bed, a needle hook (21a, 21b) of the knitting needle (13a, 13b) is inserted into the loop (88) retained on the transfer jack (57); then the transfer jack is moved forward so that the loop can be pushed to be placed in an advancing and retracting track of the needle hook of the knitting needle; and the slider (19a, 19b) is moved forward so that the needle hook can be closed by the slider to capture and keep the loop in the needle hook, whereby possible occurrence of drop stitch is prevented to ensure that the loop is transferred from the transfer jack to the knitting needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takekazu Shibuta
  • Patent number: 6665578
    Abstract: A linking method including the steps of opposing knitted fabrics to be linked to each other, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a course direction, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a wale direction, picking up an image of linking loops of each of the stretched knitted fabrics, detecting the positions of the linking loops based on a multiple gray-scale image, inserting a point needle through each of the linking loops, sewing a linking loop in the vicinity of an edge of each of the knitted fabrics, and linking together the linking loops other than the sewn linking loop by using the point needle; and an apparatus for linking knitted fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Dan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomasa Ochi, Ryosuke Mori, Takahiro Wada
  • Patent number: 6615617
    Abstract: A method for producing a closed end hosiery seamless knitted article, on a circular machine, comprising: knitting of the article starting from the end to be closed, forming a knot for retaining a closure thread by way of a set of contiguous needles, weaving the closure thread and feeding it to a preset number of needles to connect needles arranged opposite with respect to a central plane passing through the needle cylinder axis and through a central region of the set of contiguous needles, interrupting feeding the closure thread to the needles forming a few rows of knitting by using other threads and at least part of the needles of the machine, applying traction to the closure thread to close the initial end of the article, and continuing production of the article to completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Publication number: 20030159474
    Abstract: A method for producing a closed end hosiery seamless knitted article, on a circular machine, comprising: knitting of the article starting from the end to be closed, forming a knot for retaining a closure thread by way of a set of contiguous needles, weaving the closure thread and feeding it to a preset number of needles to connect needles arranged opposite with respect to a central plane passing through the needle cylinder axis and through a central region of the set of contiguous needles, interrupting feeding the closure thread to the needles forming a few rows of knitting by using other threads and at least part of the needles of the machine, applying traction to the closure thread to close the initial end of the article, and continuing production of the article to completion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: LONATI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Patent number: 6609396
    Abstract: A flat knitting machine comprising a transfer jack bed (9) holding transfer jacks (7) in such a manner as to freely advance and retract, wherein when a loop is transferred from the transfer jack (7) to the needle (19), the loop retaining portion (53) of the transfer jack (7) put in its advanced position is moved down to its lowered position, first; then, a back side (39b) of a needle hook of the needle (19) is made to go into the loop (111) retained on the loop retaining portion (53) of the transfer jack (7); then the loop retaining portion (53) is raised up to its raised position; and thereafter, a front side (39a) of the needle hook of the needle is made to go into the loop, whereby the transfer of loop can be ensured with a reduced burden on the loop in the transfer of loop through the use of a common track for the needles of the front bed (13a) and for the needles of the back bed (13b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Morita, Takekazu Shibuta
  • Patent number: 6591637
    Abstract: A closing device (4) is provided for closing a tube-shaped knit fabric on one end, for example for producing stockings or socks, which has plates (9) and counter-plates (13). The latter each have loop-carrying sections (18, 41), whose ends are designed to be complementary to each other and can engage each other in an interlocked manner. Here, the plates (9) have a receiving end, and the counter-plates (13) a penetrating end. The receiving end is constituted by a receiving funnel (28), formed by the ends of two legs (22, 23). These can be resiliently bent away from each other. This has the advantage that the penetrating counter-plate (13) cannot cause any damage to the plate (9) if it is moved too far in the direction toward the plate (9). There is the further advantage that in the course of the dipping movement of the needle into the free space of the plate, as well as during the relative movements between the needle and the plate, damages are almost impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventor: Eric Jürgens
  • Patent number: 6397637
    Abstract: A device for lifting a knitted item made on a circular knitting machine for knitwear and hosiery. The device includes a lifting pipe 15 coaxial inside the cylinder, rotating with this, moveable in height between a lowered position and a raised position, and one bearing a summit bell 16 with a flared lip 19, which extends above the internal sinker crown to the close vicinity of the needs and which has radial slits 20 in line with the sinkers 12. The pipe with the summit bell is raised from the lowered position by dedicated control structure to raise the item, especially at areas closest to the needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sangiacomo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fulvio Sangiacomo
  • Patent number: 6397121
    Abstract: There are provided a process and an apparatus for detecting loop stitches of a tubular knitted fabric and an apparatus for linking the tubular knitted fabric, which can automatically detect each of loop stitches formed in the tubular knitted fabric. According to the process for detecting the loop stitches, the tubular knitted fabric is extended by inserting a penetration element through the interior of the fabric having the loop stitches, and a multi-gradation image including an image of the loop stitches of the tubular knitted fabric extended by the penetration element is picked up. The locations of the loop stitches are detected by processing the multi-gradation image. The apparatus for detecting the loop stitches includes the penetration element, an image pickup device for picking up the multi-gradation image, and a loop stitch detecting section for detecting the locations of the loop stitches by processing the multi-gradation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Dan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Kawamura, Akira Ishii, Takahiro Wada, Takuya Fukitsuke, Yushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6389849
    Abstract: A method is described for the production of a tubular knitted article on a circular knitting machine, in which a needle cylinder knits said tubular article (M) beginning at an initial end and finishing at a final end. At the end of the knitting of said tubular article, the latter is partly released from the needles (5), engaged by transfer members (21, 23) and then released completely from the needles and transferred to means for closing said second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Metalworking and Finance Group International S.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 6381991
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing tubular items, particularly hosiery items, closed at an axial end. The method consists in forming the tubular item on a circular knitting machine by way of the needles of the needle cylinder, starting from the opposite axial end of the item with respect to the axial end to be closed and retaining on the needles of the needle cylinder the last formed row of knitting. The loops of the last row of knitting are then transferred individually from the needles of the needle cylinder to an auxiliary element provided with elements for individually supporting the loops. The supporting elements of at least one half-row of the last row are suitable to receive two loops and to form knitting. The item is reversed before or after transferring it and the loops of one half-row are transferred from the corresponding supporting elements to the supporting elements engaged with the loops of the other half-row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Matec S.p.A.
    Inventor: Jan Ando′
  • Publication number: 20010052248
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing tubular items, particularly hosiery items, closed at an axial end. The method consists in forming the tubular item on a circular knitting machine by way of the needles of the needle cylinder, starting from the opposite axial end of the item with respect to the axial end to be closed and retaining on the needles of the needle cylinder the last formed row of knitting. The loops of the last row of knitting are then transferred individually from the needles of the needle cylinder to an auxiliary element provided with elements for individually supporting the loops. The supporting elements of at least one half-row of the last row are suitable to receive two loops and to form knitting. The item is reversed before or after transferring it and the loops of one half-row are transferred from the corresponding supporting elements to the supporting elements engaged with the loops of the other half-row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Jan Ando'
  • Publication number: 20010039816
    Abstract: A method of sewing the toe of a sock is provided which can automatically take out a sock pattern of knitted fabric from a sock knitting machine and sew up the selvedge at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric thus improving both the efficiency of production and the energy saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Toshifumi Fujiwara, Takeshi Nakahira, Takahiro Ueda, Yusuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 6286342
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery, with a device for producing tubular items closed at an axial end, and relative method. The machine has a diverter accommodated inside the needle cylinder disengaged from the rotation of the needle cylinder about its own axis with respect to the needle actuation cams and to the lowering sinker actuation cams. The diverter has a profile which protrudes from an internal region of the needle cylinder gradually toward the wall of the needle cylinder. The profile is engaged by an end portion of the item lying inside the needle cylinder between two needles mutually angularly spaced around the axis of the needle cylinder in order to achieve sliding of the item portion along the profile following rotation of the needle cylinder with respect to the diverter. The machine has sinkers for retaining the item portion against the profile during its sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Matec S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Truffelli, Stefano Gabbrielli
  • Patent number: 6282925
    Abstract: The method consists in forming a tubular item on a circular machine by means of the needles of the needle cylinder, starting from the opposite axial end of the item with respect to the axial end to be closed and retaining on the needles of the needle cylinder the last formed row of knitting. The loops of the last row of knitting are then transferred individually to an auxiliary element provided with supporting elements for individually supporting the loops, and the supporting elements of at least one first half-row of the last row are suitable to receive two loops and to pass one of the two loops in the other loop. The item is furthermore reversed before and after the transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Matec S.p.A.
    Inventor: Jan Ando′
  • Publication number: 20010017046
    Abstract: The equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip comprises a device for gripping the sock from the area of formation of the same on a circular machine for socks and at least one device for transferring the gripping device to a predetermined final position for feeding the sewing machine, which comprises rotation means of the gripping device adapted to impart a rotation speed to it that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder of the circular machine when the gripping device is in a predetermined position inside the needle cylinder so as to form an annular gap with the latter, inside which the sock arranges during its formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Guerrino Rumi
  • Patent number: 6223564
    Abstract: A method for producing tubular items, such as hosiery items and the like, which are closed at an axial end, using a single-cylinder circular knitting machine provided with a half-dial which faces, in an upward region, a first half of the needle cylinder and has hooks which can move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder, each hook being arranged between two contiguous needles of the half of the needle cylinder that it faces. The half-dial can turn over about a diametrical axis of the needle cylinder so that its hooks face the needles of the second half of the needle cylinder. The hooks can move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder in order to engage portions of loops of knitting formed by the needles of the first half of the needle cylinder before the half-dial turns over and in order to release the portions of loops of knitting to the needles of the second half of the needle cylinder after the half-dial has turned over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Lonati, Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 6199409
    Abstract: A double knit circular knitting machine is provided having a first needle bed in which transfer needles are mounted and a second bed in which ordinary needles devoid of transfer function are mounted in a double density to that of the transfer needles for knitting a high density fabric in any one of several predetermined patterns. A method of knitting high density fabric is provided utilizing such transfer and ordinary needles to form courses of stitch loops and, as dictated by the pattern, to transfer stitch loops from selected transfer needles to correspondingly selected ordinary needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Precision Fukuhara Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Shibata
  • Patent number: 6164091
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignees: Fabritex S.R.L., Sagiacomo S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Frullini, Alberto Frullini
  • Patent number: 6164093
    Abstract: A knit necktie which is entirely formed from a tubular knit fabric knitted continuously and has a triangular apron tipping portion which is formed from a triangular bag-shaped knit fabric formed by raising needles in a semicircle of a circular knitting machine to a non-knitting level and starting semicircle knitting by forward and reverse rotation of a cylinder, decreasing stitches one by one stitch on each of the opposite left and right sides for each one forward and reverse rotation, repeating the decreasing step until only two central stitches remain, thereafter increasing the stitches one by one stitch on each of the opposite left and right sides for each one forward and reverse rotation of the cylinder, and repeating the increasing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Knitting Machine Supply Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 6158252
    Abstract: On the disc (5) carrying the hooks (7) are two concentric pipes (12, 14) for tensioning the tubular fabric and for inverting it at the conclusion of the formation of the article. To close the toe: the loops of half of the needles (3A) are loaded onto the corresponding hooks (7A) and a first non-run lip (21) is formed and released onto the hooks (7A); the needles (3B) of the other half of the needles are used to form a second non-run lip (23) which is then transferred to the fabric-free needles (3A) of the opposite half, which engage the fabric along the second non-run lip (21) is passed from the hooks (7A) to the needles (3A), and a third non-run lip (25) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Golden Lady S.P.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 6155081
    Abstract: Apparatus for driving stitches of textile articles is provided with, at least one element (1) including of a body with a stem (10) associated to a support means and with its free end exhibiting a seat (12) for a leading portion or end of a member having a stitch (7) thereon to be exchanged between said body and said element (1) after the housing of the leading portion or end of said member (12) into the seat (12) of said element (1). The at least one element (1) is provided, in correspondence of its free end on one side of the seat (12), with a substantially wedge-shaped appendix (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Fabritex S.R.L., Sangiacomo S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Frullini, Paolo Frullini