Knitting Machine And Method For Knitting A Fabric By Yarn Plating With Multiple Yarns

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a knitting machine ( 100 ) for knitting a fabric by yarn plating. The knitting machine ( 100 ) comprises: a yarn feeder set ( 120 ) configured for reciprocating motion along the bed ( 102 ) and for feeding yarns ( 122 ) to the knitting needles ( 104 ), the yarn feeder set ( 120 ) comprising: a first hole ( 124 a ) for feeding a first yarn ( 122 a ) at a first angle with respect to the bed ( 102 ); a second hole ( 124 b ) for feeding a second yarn ( 122 b ) at a second angle with respect to the bed ( 102 ), the second angle greater than the first angle; and a third hole ( 124 c ) for feeding a third yarn ( 122 c ) at a third angle with respect to the bed ( 102 ), the third angle greater than the second angle, wherein knitting needles ( 104 ) form plated yarn loops comprising the third yarn ( 122 c ) interposed between the first and second yarns ( 122 a , 122 b ).

1 . A knitting machine for knitting a fabric by yarn plating, the knitting machine comprising:
 an elongated bed;   a plurality of knitting needles arranged along the bed, each knitting needle configured for reciprocating motion; and   a yarn feeder set configured for reciprocating motion along the bed and for feeding yarns to the knitting needles, the yarn feeder set comprising:
 a first hole for feeding a first yarn at a first angle with respect to the bed; 
 a second hole for feeding a second yarn at a second angle with respect to the bed, the second angle greater than the first angle; and 
 a third hole for feeding a third yarn at a third angle with respect to the bed, the third angle greater than the second angle, 
   wherein the reciprocating motion of the knitting needles repetitively engage and disengage the first to third yarns collectively to thereby form plated yarn loops on the fabric, each plated yarn loop comprising the third yarn interposed between the first and second yarns.   
     
     
         2 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 1 , the yarn feeder set comprising a sole yarn feeder device comprising the first to third holes. 
     
     
         3 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 2 , wherein the sole yarn feeder device is configured such that at least one of the first to third holes is positionally adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 2 , wherein the sole yarn feeder device comprises:
 a sleeve structure for receiving the first to third yarns therethrough; and   a plurality of peripheral structures arranged with the sleeve structure to form the first to third holes.   
     
     
         5 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the peripheral structures is moveable along the sleeve structure to positionally adjust at least one of the first to third holes. 
     
     
         6 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 1 , the yarn feeder set comprising: 
 a first yarn feeder device comprising two of the first to third holes; and   a second yarn feeder device comprising the remaining hole,   wherein the first and second yarn feeder devices are configured to move in tandem with each other such that the first feeder device always leads or trails the second feeder device along a displacement direction of the yarn feeder set.   
     
     
         7 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 6 , further comprising a set of solenoid actuators and/or servo motors for moving the first feeder device and second feeder device such that the first feeder device always leads or trails the second feeder device along the displacement direction of the yarn feeder set. 
     
     
         8 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 6 , wherein the first yarn feeder device comprises the first and second holes and the second yarn feeder device comprises the third hole. 
     
     
         9 . The knitting machine according to  claim 6 , the second yarn feeder device comprising:
 a first feeder component comprising the one of the two holes; and   a second feeder component comprising the other one of the two holes,   wherein the second feeder component is rotatably coupled to the first feeder component such that the second feeder component always leads or trails the first feeder component along a displacement direction of the yarn feeder set.   
     
     
         10 . The knitting machine according to the  claim 1 , the yarn feeder set comprising: 
 a first yarn feeder device comprising the first hole;   a second yarn feeder device comprising the second hole; and   a third yarn feeder device comprising the third hole,   wherein the first to third yarn feeder devices are configured to move in tandem with each other.   
     
     
         11 . A method for machine knitting a fabric by yarn plating, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of knitting needles along an elongated bed;   reciprocating a yarn feeder set for feeding yarns to the knitting needles, the yarn feeder set comprising a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole;   feeding a first yarn through the first hole at a first angle with respect to the bed;   feeding a second yarn through the second hole at a second angle with respect to the bed, the second angle greater than the first angle;   feeding a third yarn through the third hole at a third angle with respect to the bed, the third angle greater than the second angle;   reciprocating the knitting needles to repetitively engage and disengage the first to third yarns collectively; and   forming plated yarn loops on the fabric by the repetitive engagement and disengagement of the first to third yarns collectively, each plated yarn loop comprising the third yarn interposed between the first and second yarns.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to the  claim 11 , the yarn feeder set comprising a sole yarn feeder device comprising the first to third holes. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to the  claim 11 , the yarn feeder set comprising:
 a first yarn feeder device comprising two of the first to third holes; and   a second yarn feeder device comprising the remaining hole,   wherein the first and second yarn feeder devices are configured to move in tandem with each other such that the first feeder device always leads or trails the second feeder device along a displacement direction of the yarn feeder set.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , the second yarn feeder device comprising: 
 a first feeder component comprising the one of the two holes; and   a second feeder component comprising the other one of the two holes,   wherein the second feeder component is rotatably coupled to the first feeder component such that the second feeder component always leads or trails the first feeder component along a displacement direction of the yarn feeder set.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to the  claim 11 , the yarn feeder set comprising:
 a first yarn feeder device comprising the first hole;   a second yarn feeder device comprising the second hole; and   a third yarn feeder device comprising the third hole,   wherein the first to third yarn feeder devices are configured to move in tandem with each other.   
     
     
         16 . A yarn feeder device for yarn plating, the yarn feeder device comprising:
 a body structure;   a first hole formed on the body structure for feeding a first yarn;   a second hole formed on the body structure for feeding a second yarn; and   a third hole formed on the body structure for feeding a third yarn.   
     
     
         17 . The yarn feeder device according to the  claim 16 , comprising:
 a sleeve structure for receiving the first to third yarns therethrough; and a plurality of peripheral structures arranged with the sleeve structure to form the first to third holes.   
     
     
         18 . The yarn feeder device according to the  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the peripheral structures is moveable along the sleeve structure to positionally adjust at least one of the first to third holes. 
     
     
         19 . A fabric product formed by a method for machine knitting by yarn plating, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of knitting needles along an elongated bed;   reciprocating a yarn feeder set comprising a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole;   feeding a first yarn through the first hole at a first angle with respect to the bed;   feeding a second yarn through the second hole at a second angle with respect to the bed, the second angle greater than the first angle;   feeding a third yarn through the third hole at a third angle with respect to the bed, the third angle greater than the second angle;   reciprocating the knitting needles to repetitively engage and disengage the first to third yarns collectively; and   forming plated yarn loops on the fabric product by the repetitive engagement and disengagement of the first to third yarns collectively,   wherein the fabric product comprises a network of the plated yarn loops, each plated yarn loop comprising the third yarn interposed between the first and second yarns.   
     
     
         20 . The fabric product according to the  claim 19 , further comprising a spacer, wherein each side of the spacer comprises the first to third yarns.