EP1300498A1 - Method and system for designing tubular fabric knitted on a flat knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A knitwear garment design and adaptation process operates in conjunction with a flatbed knitting machine which produces a front panel and a rear panel which are joined together as a hose, subsequently joined to sleeves. <??>An Independent claim is also included for a combined computer- aided design system, flatbed knitting machine and a hose knitting machine. The design sequence commences with the generation of a pattern, definition of the contours and their association with the components, linking of the contours with respect to adjacent components, transfer of the contour to the pattern, presentation of the pattern, and conversion of the data into automated knitting commands.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for Design of a flat knitting machine Round tubular knitted fabric with at least one front part and at least one back part.

Due to the constantly increasing personnel costs in the past A trend towards the manufacture of knitted pieces, in which after the production on the knitting machine hardly assembly work is still necessary to observe. at these knitted fabrics are circular tubular finished knitted fabrics, taking advantage of the possibilities of modern electronically controlled, fully automatic flat knitting machines getting produced. The sleeves and the body parts of such a tubular circular knitted fabric are initially formed as an independent tubular circular knitted fabric until the Sleeves must be tied to the torso. From this one The three individual tubular circular knitted fabrics are now in position knitted on as a single circular tubular knit. Different shoulder shapes are attached to this Neckline and collar knitted if necessary. The Knitted piece is thus completely from the flat knitting machine educated. After that there are no more seams to close and in usually only the beginning and the end section of Hand overcast.

In the case of circular tubular finished knitted fabrics that consist of several parts are formed, it is a very complex knitted fabric, for the correspondingly large amounts of knitting data for control the flat knitting machine must be created. This is manually hardly possible anymore. It is therefore in EP 0 763 615 B1 already have a facility and method for designing a. circular knitted article proposed for a flat knitting machine has been a pattern for the knitted fabric is set. Then a contour for the Knitted piece on a selection of items stored on the device Contour shapes selected and with dimensions for the Front and back parts and sleeves provided. After that must manually a knitting process description for each individual contour area be created by those in question Contour area depends on existing pattern structures. From the Knitting process descriptions are then provided by the facility automatically the control data for the flat knitting machine generated.

This known method already enables a high one Degree of automation in the design of circular tubular knitted fabrics, has some disadvantages, however. The knitted piece can not be given any contours, but only Contours in the selection saved on the device are included. Since the knitting process descriptions from the Depend on the contour and the pattern in the corresponding contour area, must for every pattern structure occurring within a contour created its own knitting process description become, which is very complex. Manual changes made after Completion of the design will not be made automatically transferred to the original sample representations, so that no visual inspection of the changes made is possible. Next can only with the known method after completion of the entire design a realistic Representation of the knitted fabric, but not already in the intermediate stages of the design, for example at Pattern assignment to a sleeve or the like.

The present invention is based on the object Method and device for the design of circular tubular knitted fabrics to create that are more user-friendly than that known methods and a higher degree of automation exhibit.

• Erstellen eines Strickmusters für jedes der Vorderteile und jedes der Rückenteile sowie gegebenenfalls weiterer Gestrickteile wie Taschen unabhängig von der Form der Gestrickteile mit Hilfe einer Eingabe- und einer Anzeigeeinrichtung und Abspeichern der Musterdaten,
• Beschreibung der Kontur jedes Vorderteils und jedes Rückenteils mit Hilfe der Eingabe- und Anzeigeeinrichtung und Abspeichern der Konturdaten,
• Festlegen der Konturabschnitte der Gestrickteile, an denen eine Verbindung mit einem anderen Gestrickteil hergestellt werden soll, und Abspeichern der Daten dieser Konturabschnitte,
• Zusammensetzen der Konturen der Gestrickteile zu einem Gesamtgestrickstück und Ermittlung einer Abfolge von Strickreihen, mit denen das Gesamtgestrickstück herstellbar ist,
• für jedes Gestrickteil Anzeigen des Strickmusters und der Kontur auf der Anzeigeeinrichtung, mit Hilfe der Ei.ngabeeinrichtung Verschieben der Kontur auf dem Strickmuster, bis das Strickmuster die Kontur in gewünschter Weise ausfüllt,
• Anzeige des Gesamtgestrickstücks mit den gewählten und abgespeicherten Strickmuster- und Konturdaten für die einzelnen Gestrickteile,
• Ermitteln der Strickinformationen für jede Strickreihe zur Erstellung des Gesamtgestrickstücks gemäß den Muster- und Konturdaten der Gestrickteile.

The object is achieved with a method for the design of tubular circular knitted fabrics produced on a flat knitting machine with at least one front part and at least one back part, which is characterized by the steps:

• Creation of a knitting pattern for each of the front parts and each of the back parts and, if appropriate, further knitted parts such as pockets, regardless of the shape of the knitted parts, using an input and display device and storing the pattern data,
• Description of the contour of each front part and each back part using the input and display device and storing the contour data,
• Determining the contour sections of the knitted parts at which a connection with another knitted part is to be established and storing the data of these contour sections,
• Assembling the contours of the knitted parts into an overall knitted piece and determining a sequence of knitting rows with which the overall knitted piece can be produced,
• for each knitted part, display the knitting pattern and the contour on the display device, using the input device, shifting the contour on the knitting pattern until the knitting pattern fills the contour in the desired manner,
• Display of the entire knitted piece with the selected and saved knitting pattern and contour data for the individual knitted parts,
• Determining the knitting information for each row of knitting to create the overall knitted piece according to the pattern and contour data of the knitted parts.

The knitting information for each row of knitting can be found in knitting data converted for a flat knitting machine and thus one or several flat knitting machines for the production of the Round tubular knitted fabrics can be controlled.

Only a few are left in the method according to the invention Steps performed manually. You limit yourself to that Specification of a knitting pattern for each of the knitted parts the definition of the contours of the knitted parts and the Connecting sections of the individual knitted parts and that Fitting the knitting pattern into the contour of each Knitted rope. If this data is available, it becomes automatically the necessary sequence of knitting rows Production of the overall knitted piece as well as the knitting information generated for each individual knitting course. correction options both the pattern and the contour are in possible at any design stage. When the pattern is corrected or the contour of the overall knitted piece can also the changes made automatically in the saved Pattern and contour data of the individual knitted parts concerned can also be made. Even after a correction the individual representations of the knitted parts and the representation of the overall knitted piece matches.

The knitting patterns can preferably be shown in the stitch pattern or be designed in the thread run display, whereby from the data of one type of representation the data for the other display type are calculated so that Knitting patterns in every design stage of the knitted fabric in both Display types can be displayed. There are further advantages if, when displaying the stitch pattern, a realistic, approximately three-dimensional representation of all elements of the. Knitted pieces, such as stitch, catch and floatation.

A circular tube knitted fabric consists of at least two knitting levels, one for the front and one for the back. With pockets and / or special patterns. can more Knitting levels arise. In a preferred variant of the The method according to the invention can therefore be the individual knitted parts one or more levels of the entire knitted piece be assigned. It is advantageous that too every knitting element, such as stitch, catch, floating of a knitted part one of the knitted fabric levels is assigned. Thereby the user can always see at which level the corresponding knitting elements are formed.

To facilitate the design of the knitting pattern for the Knitted parts can be cutouts from a knitting pattern individual modules can be saved in other places the pattern or designing another's knitting pattern Knitted part can be used again. A big relief this module technology is also possible that the modules when reused in other places correctly inserted into the surrounding knitting pattern can be and if necessary an adjustment of the Knitting level assignment of the individual knitting elements of the modules can be carried out.

The definition of the contour sections of the knitted parts which is connected to another knitted part should preferably be done in that the start and end points of the sections and the type of Connection, for example, with or without length compensation determined and saved between the knitted parts become.

The invention also relates to a design device of circular tubular knitted fabrics produced on a flat knitting machine with at least one front part and at least a back part, with at least one storage device for the design data, at least one display device for. Presentation of design images of the knitted fabric and at least an input device for creating and changing the Design pictures, which is characterized in that it is a Device for assembling the contours of the at least a front part and the at least one back part according to manually entered connection instructions and for calculation which is necessary to produce the contour of the overall knitted piece Knitting rows and for calculating the knitting information for each row of knitwear of the whole piece according to the Has pattern and contour data of the individual knitted parts.

The facility may also be a facility for conversion the knitting information of each knitting course in knitting data for have a flat knitting machine. In a preferred one The display device can be embodied in this way be that at the same time the stitch pattern and thread running representations of the knitted fabric or parts of the knitted fabric can be represented.

Other decisive advantages, especially with corrections of the knitted fabric design, arise when the facility at Change one of the two display types simultaneously other representation also changed.

It can be used to facilitate the design of knitting patterns for combining several knitting elements of a thread or mesh diagram representation for modules and storage devices to save the modules. Farther can use equipment for correct technical insertion of modules into an existing knitting pattern, for scaling down and enlarge, to reproduce and to mirror Modules may be provided.

Below is an embodiment of an inventive Setup and the process of an inventive Process clarified with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Prinzipdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Entwurfseinrichtung zusammen mit einer Flachstrickmaschine. und einem Schlauch-Rund-Fertiggestrick;

Fig. 2 a), b)

eine Teilansicht der Vorderseite eines Schlauch-Rund-Gestricks in Maschenbild- und Fadenlaufdarstellung;

Fig. 3 a) - c)

zwei Maschenbilddarstellungen sowie eine Fadenlaufdarstellung eines Ausschnitts eines Rückenteils eines. Schlauch-Rund-Gestricks;

Fig. 4 a), b)

eine gemeinsame Darstellung des Vorder - und Rückenteils aus den Fig. 2 und 3 in Maschenbilddarstellung und Fadenlaufdarstellung;

Fig. 5 a), b)

eine Darstellung des Vorderteils aus Fig. 2 in Maschenbild- und Fadenlaufdarstellung, die die stricktechnische Herstellung verdeutlicht;

Fig. 6 a), b)

eine Fadenlaufdarstellung eines Musters und eines in das Muster eingesetzten Strickmoduls;

Fig. 7 a) - c)

eine Maschenbilddarsteilung eines Zopfmusters auf dem Vorder- und Rückteil eines Schlauch-Rund-Gestricks;

Fig. 8

eine Darstellung von Konturen verschiedener Gestrickteile eines Schlauch-Rund-Gestricks;

Fig. 9

eine Prinzipdarstellung der Definition von Verbindungspunkten zweier Gestrickteile;

Fig. 10

die Darstellung einer Strickreihenfolge am Beispiel eines Ärmels und eines Rumpfteils mit V-Ausschnitt am Vorderteil;

Fig. 11

eine Prinzipdarstellung des Einpassens eines Strickmusters in verschiedene Gestrickteile;

Fig. 12 a) - c)

verschiedene Darstellungsarten eines aus mehreren Gestrickteilen zusammengesetzten Gesamtgestricks.

Show in detail:

Fig. 1

a schematic diagram of a design device according to the invention together with a flat knitting machine. and a round tubular knitted fabric;

2 a), b)

a partial view of the front of a circular tubular knitted fabric in stitch and thread running representation;

3 a) - c)

two stitch pattern representations and a thread run representation of a section of a back part of one. Tubular round knitted fabric;

4 a), b)

a common representation of the front and back part of Figures 2 and 3 in stitch representation and thread running representation;

5 a), b)

a representation of the front part of Figure 2 in stitch and thread running representation, which illustrates the knitting manufacture.

6 a), b)

a thread representation of a pattern and a knitting module inserted into the pattern;

7 a) - c)

a stitch pattern representation of a cable pattern on the front and back of a circular tubular knitted fabric;

Fig. 8

a representation of contours of different knitted parts of a tubular circular knitted fabric;

Fig. 9

a schematic diagram of the definition of connection points of two knitted parts;

Fig. 10

the representation of a knitting order using the example of a sleeve and a body part with a V-neck on the front part;

Fig. 11

a schematic diagram of the fitting of a knitting pattern in different knitted parts;

Fig. 12 a) - c)

Different types of representation of a total knitted fabric composed of several knitted parts.

Fig. 1 shows a design device for producing a Round tubular knitted fabrics 9 using a flat knitting machine 8. The design device has a computing and storage device 1, a keyboard 2 as the first input device and a graphics tablet 4 as a second input device and a screen 3 as a display device. To the Computing and storage device 1 is also a printer 5 and an external mass storage device 6 is connected.

2 to 7 show different patterns and Design options for a method according to the invention and a device according to the invention.

2 a) shows a detail of the mesh image Exterior view of a front of a right-smooth-tube-round-knitted fabric. The stitches 10 of the front part are right Meshes and shown in Fig. 2 a) as they are in the finished Knitted fabric appear. Fig. 2 b) shows that corresponding to Fig. 2 a) Thread run representation, the stitches 10 here the front needle bed V are formed.

Fig. 3 a) shows the inside view of the back part of a right-smooth-tube round-finished knitted fabric. The stitches 11 are left Mesh and become, like the thread running representation in Fig. 3 b) shows, formed on the rear needle bed H. Fig. 3 c) shows the outside view of the back part of the circular tubular knitted fabric .. Here the stitches 11 appear as right stitches.

Fig. 4 a) now shows the overall view of the front and the Back part from FIGS. 2a) and 3a) as a stitch representation in a common view. The right stitches 10 des Front parts belong to the first level 100 of the overall knitted fabric and the stitches 11 to the second level 200. In this example of a right-smooth-tube-round-knit there are only two Knitting levels, the first knitting level 100 for the front part and the second knitting plane 200 for the back part. Fig. 4 b) shows that of Fig. 4 a) corresponding thread running representation. The Stitches 10 are formed on the front needle bed V and the stitches 11 of the back part on the rear needle bed H.

5 a) shows a further type of representation of the front part 2 a) in a stitch representation, the Stitches 10 are now represented as they actually are in hang on the needles of the front needle bed. 5 b) illustrates that the stitches 10 only with every second needle of the front Needle bed V can be knitted. Therefore, the appear Mesh 10 in Fig. 5 a) pulled further apart than that Mesh 10 in the illustration of FIG. 2 a), which is realistic Representation of the front part is and not the knitting technical Production of the knitted fabric considered.

6 a) and b) illustrate the integration of a knitting module 25 into a knitting pattern 26. The knitting pattern 26 contains in rows 101 to 104 knitting instructions for the first Level of the knitted fabric and in rows 201 to 205 information for the second level of the knitted fabric. Module 25 contains knitting information 101 'to 104' for a single knitting plane. 6 b) now illustrates how the module 25 is inserted a fitting of the module into the knitting pattern 26 automatically 25 in the two different knitting levels 100 and 200 he follows. Since the module 25 only specifies the first level of the Contains knitted fabrics, the rows of the second level 201 remain up to 205 unchanged. For the rows 101 to 104 this includes Module 25 information that in each of these rows left stitches must be formed. So in row 101 at all left The number of stitches that can be formed was automatically taken 101 'generated in which the fifth stitch from the left to the the rear needle bed H is transferred. Was also automatic creates a row 101 '' in which the left stitch from rear needle bed hung on the front needle bed becomes. In the same way, a row became for row 102 102 'generated. The 102 '' / 103 'series also becomes automatic generated. Here the left stitch is opened from the back needle bed the front needle bed hung back and the fourth stitch from on the left side of the needle back so that it fits into the Rows 103 and 104 can form a left stitch. In the same Automatically created row 1.04 '' then becomes the fourth The stitch is hung from the left back onto the front needle bed V.

Fig. 7 a) shows a 2x2 braid in the illustration for a. first knitting level. The stitch pull rising up to the right 15, 16 forms the intersection view side and the top left increasing stitch 17, 18 is covered. The illustrated The knitting level can be, for example, the outer front. Fig. 7 b) shows the braid from Fig. 7 a) in the representation for the second knitting level of a circular tubular knitted fabric, like her looks from the front of the knitted fabric. The second level can, for example, the inside of the back part his. The stitch stitch 15 ', 16' is now covered and rises to the left, and the stitch tension 17 ', 18' rises right and is visible. In Fig. 7 c) the knitted fabric is in shown from the rear. Fig. 7 c) shows So the braid as it looks on the outside of the back part. The 15 '', 16 '' and 17 '', 18 '' loops are now mirrored with respect to the orientation in Fig. 7 a).

In Fig. 8, the contours of a front part 24, one Back part 23 and two sleeves 21, 22 shown. The Contours of parts 21 to 24 can be done by a designer can be chosen completely at will.

9 shows an example for the definition of contour sections, on which a body part 30 and a sleeve 31 together should be connected. This happens through the Define start and end points 32, 33, 34 on the body part 30 and corresponding start and end points of the connecting sections 32 ', 33' and 34 'on sleeve 31. In the area between points 32/32 'and 33/33' the sleeve is attached to the Hull part attached and at the same time rows of production knits made for the sleeve. Between points 33/33 'and 34/34' the sleeve is only attached to the body part and it no more rows of stitches are created for sleeve 31.

10 shows an example of the front part 30 and the sleeve 31 from FIG. 9 shows the sequence of criteria according to which one Knitting order is set. 40 marks the starting row of ropes both the body part 30 and the sleeve 31. From the row of knitting 41, the separate manufacture of the fuselage part ends 30 and sleeve 31 and begins tying at the same time of the sleeve 31 to the body part 30. Both parts and the other sleeves, not shown here, are from this position knitted on as a single circular tubular knit. The tubular knitted fabric is interrupted at position 42 on the front for the creation of a V-neck. At position 43, the sleeve 31 is corresponding to that Contour description ended. Position 44 denotes the last row of sleeves 31 production line corresponding to the Knitting process. Row 45 is the last row of core knits, in which the sleeve 31 is connected to the body part 30. In Knitting row 46 takes place on the back of the body part 30 an interruption of the tubular knitted fabric to produce a Neck cutout. The last one to be produced is number 47 Known row.

After the sequence of knitting courses shown in Fig. 10 is established the fitting takes place in the method according to the invention the knitting pattern previously for the knitted parts have been designed in the contours of sleeves 31, 32 as well of the fuselage part 30. The contours 30 to 32 are so long shifted on the pattern field 50 until the individual Pattern elements 51 and 52 in the correct position in each Knitted part 30 to 32 are arranged (Fig. 11).

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the overall knitted piece can are displayed in different display types. 12 a) shows the standard representation of an overall knitted piece 60, the rows of sleeves for 62 and 63 marked from the sleeve connection with the fuselage part 61 on this are. Be on one. Knitted part, no stitches formed while on the other parts of the knitted fabric a, appears in the respective knitted part Knitting row in a defined color 65, which is the background of the knitted fabric. In the example shown, this is Not forming stitches indicated by a white color. 12 b) shows a variant of the representation of FIG. 12 a), where the knit rows for sleeves 62 and 63 from the torso are solved and in the vertical direction parallel to the fuselage part 61 are shown. 12 c) corresponds to FIG. 12 b), but here with sleeves 62 and 63 on the illustration of those rows of knit that do not have stitches for the sleeves 62 and 63 are formed, is waived. Of course can also create a realistic stitch pattern representation of the entire knitted piece appear to the design result too to be able to check according to purely optical criteria.

Claims (16)

Method for the design of tubular circular knitted fabrics (9, 60) produced on a flat knitting machine (8) with at least one front part (24) and at least one back part (23), characterized by the steps: Creating a knitting pattern (50) for each of the front parts (24) and each of the back parts (23) and optionally further knitted parts (21, 22) with the aid of an input and display device (2, 4; 3) and storing the pattern data, Description of the contour of each knitted part (21, 22, 23, 24) with the aid of the input and display device (2, 4; 3) and storage of the contour data, Determining the contour sections (32/32 ', 33/33', 34/34 ') of the knitted parts (30, 31) at which a connection to another knitted part (30, 31) is to be established and storing the data of these contour sections (32/32 ', 33/33', 34/34 '), Assembling the contours of the knitted parts (30, 31) into an overall knitted piece and determining a sequence of rows of knits (40 to 47) with which the entire knitted piece can be produced, for each knitted part (30, 31, 32) displaying the knitting pattern (50) and the contour on the display device (3), using the input device (2, 4) shifting the contour on the knitting pattern (50) until the knitting pattern (50 ) fills the contour in the desired way, Display of the total knitted piece (60) with the selected and stored knitting pattern and contour data for the individual knitted parts (61, 62, 63), Determining the knitting information for each row of knitting in order to create the overall knitted piece (60) according to the pattern and contour data of the knitted parts (61, 62, 63). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the knitting information for each row of knitting is converted into knitting data for a flat knitting machine (8) and thus one or more flat knitting machines (8) for controlling the circular knitted fabric (9) are controlled. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the pattern (50) or the contour of the overall knitted piece or individual knitted parts (21 to 24) is corrected, the changes made automatically also in the stored pattern and contour data of the individual knitted parts (21 to 24) can be made. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the knitting patterns (50) are designed in the stitch pattern representation or in the thread running representation, the data for one representation type being used to calculate the data for the other representation type, so that the knitting pattern in each design stage of the knitted fabric can be displayed in both display types. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that a realistic, approximately three-dimensional representation of all elements of the knitted piece, such as stitch, catch and float, takes place in the stitch image representation. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the individual knitted parts (21, 22, 23, 24; 30, 31; 61, 62, 63) each have one or more levels (100, 200) of the overall knitted piece (60) be assigned. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each knitting element, such as stitch, tuck, floating of a knitted part is assigned to one of the knitted planes (100, 200). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that sections of the knitting pattern are stored as individual modules (25) in order to reuse these modules (25) elsewhere in the pattern (26) or in the design of the knitting pattern of another knitted part to be able to. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the modules (25) are reinserted correctly into the surrounding knitting pattern (26) when re-used elsewhere and, if necessary, the knitting plane assignment of the individual knitting elements of the modules (25) is carried out. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that when determining the contour sections of the knitted parts (30, 31) at which a connection to another knitted part (30, 31) is to be established, the start and end points (32 / 32 ', 33/33', 34/34 ') of the sections and the type of connection, for example with or without length compensation between the knitted parts (30, 31), being determined and stored. Device for designing tubular circular knitted fabrics (9) produced on a flat knitting machine (8) with at least one front part and at least one back part, with at least one storage device (1) for the design data, at least one display device (3) for displaying design images of the Knitted fabrics and at least one input device (2, 4) for creating and changing the design images, characterized in that they have a device (1) for assembling the contours of the at least one front part and the at least one back part in accordance with manually inputable connection instructions and for calculating the production has the necessary knitting courses (40 to 47) and the calculation of the knitting information for each knitting course of the total knitting piece (60) according to the pattern and contour data of the individual knitting parts (61, 62, 63). Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a device (1) for converting the knitting information of each row of knitting into knitting data for a flat knitting machine (8). Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the display device (3) at the same time can be used to display the stitch pattern and thread running representations of the knitted fabric or the knitted fabric parts. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that when one of the two types of representation changes, it simultaneously changes the other representation. Device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it has a device (1) for combining a plurality of knitting elements of a thread running or stitch image display to form modules (25) and storage devices (1) for storing the modules (25). Device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that it has devices for the mechanically correct insertion of modules (25) into an existing knitting pattern (26), for reducing and enlarging, for duplicating and for mirroring modules (25).

Images