SET-UP METHOD

Abstract

 A first set-up portion (7) in the lower part of one knitted fabric (4) and a second set-up portion (6) in the lower part of another knitted fabric (2) are set up by a flat knitting machine that includes at least a pair of front and back needle beds (F, B) and a plurality of set-up needles (20). A first row of hooked stitches (10) and a second row of hooked stitches (12) that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion (7) are first knitted, and then a third row of hooked stitches (14) and a fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion (6) are knitted. A set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches (12) are intersected with each other between the front and back needle beds (F, B), and the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) are intersected with each other between the front and back needle beds (F, B). Thereafter, the intersections between the set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches (12) are held by the set-up needles (20) and the intersections between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) are held by the set-up needles (20). Furthermore, hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that are positioned on one needle bed (B) are removed from this needle bed (B), and the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed (F) are maintained, and hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the second row of hooked stitches (12) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F) are removed from this needle bed (F) and the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed (B) are maintained. Thereafter, stitches of the first set-up portion (7) are knitted on the hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the second row of hooked stitches (12) that are positioned on the one needle bed (B), and stitches of the second set-up portion (6) are knitted on the hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F). The front and back knitted fabrics are pulled down independently at the time of setting up.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a set-up method in which front and back knitted fabrics are pulled down independently with each other, and in particular to a set-up method in which a set-up portion is open.

Background Art

[0002] Set-up needles are used at the start of knitting, when a flat knitting machine is used. A representative set-up method is illustrated in FIG. 6. Hooked stitches made by hooking with empty needles are formed with a set-up yarn alternately on a front needle bed F and a back needle bed B, so as to serve as a hooked stitch row 60. A hooked stitch row 62 is formed similarly, and the set-up yarn intersects. Then, set-up needles 20 are moved up to hold the intersections of the set-up yarn. Also, stitch rows 64 and 66 are knitted with the set-up yarn in, for example, several courses on the hooked stitch rows 60 and 62, a further stitch row (not shown) is knitted with a yarn to be removed, and stiches of a main knitted fabric are knitted on the stitch row knitted with the yarn to be removed. A pull-down force is exerted on the knitted fabric from the set-up needles 20 via the hooked stitch rows 60 and 62, and when the knitting advances and the lower end of the knitted fabric is allowed to be held by a downward winding roller, the set-up needles 20 are removed from the set-up yarn and a set-up bed is lowered. Upon completion of the knitting of the main knitted fabric, the knitted fabric is removed from the flat knitting machine, and a set-up portion and the main knitted fabric are separated from each other by removing the yarn to be removed.

[0003] The set-up method of FIG. 6 is not suitable for knitting, for example, a knitted fabric that is constituted by a pair of front and back knitted fabrics and one of the knitted fabrics extends further downward than the other knitted fabric, that is, a knitted fabric of which knitting is started at different heights between its front and back fabrics. In the set-up method of FIG. 6, the set-up yarn is connected between the front and back fabrics in the set-up portion, and thus the set-up portion is closed. When knitting a tubular knitted fabric after the set-up portion, it is not possible to view the inside of the knitted fabric without removing the yarn to be removed. It is also not possible to knit a knitted fabric having uneven front and back parts of which knitting is started at different heights between its front and back parts. An example of the knitted fabric that has uneven front and back fabrics is illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the reference numeral 2 denotes a front knitted fabric and the reference numeral 4 denotes a back knitted fabric, the back knitted fabric 4 extends further downward than the front knitted fabric 2 and has a knitting start position located lower than that of the front knitted fabric 2, and the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4 are connected to each other at both ends to configure a tubular knitted fabric. In 4) of FIG. 6, the stitch row 64 is connected to both of the hooked stitch rows 60 and 62. Furthermore, in 5) of FIG. 6, the stitch row 66 as well is connected to both of the hooked stitch rows 60 and 62. It is assumed, for example, that, thereafter, the front knitted fabric 2 is knitted on the stitch row 64 and the back knitted fabric 4 is knitted on the stitch row 66. Since both of the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4 are connected to the hooked stitch rows 60 and 62, the set-up needles 20 will pull down the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4, which have different knitting lengths to a trick gap. However, since the knitting lengths to the trick gap are different, an appropriate pull-down force is not exerted from the set-up needles 20 on the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4, making the knitting difficult.

Citation List

Patent Literatures

[0004] 

[Patent Literature 1] JP H3-77298B

[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent No. 3377700B

Summary of the Invention

Technical Problem

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a set-up method in which one knitted fabric and another knitted fabric are pulled down independently with each other.

[0006] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a set-up method in which a knitted fabric having uneven front and back fabrics is reliably knitted.

Means for Solving Problem

[0007] The present invention relates to a set-up method for setting up a first set-up portion in a lower part of one knitted fabric and a second set-up portion in a lower part of another knitted fabric by a flat knitting machine that includes at least a pair of front and back needle beds, and a plurality of set-up needles, and the method is characterized by the steps for:

a: knitting a first row of hooked stitches and a second row of hooked stitches that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion and then knitting a third row of hooked stitches and a fourth row of hooked stitches that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion, and intersecting a set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches with a set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches between the front and back needle beds and intersecting a set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches with a set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches between the front and back needle beds;

b: causing the set-up needles to hold intersections between the set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches and the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches and causing the set-up needles to hold intersections between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches;

c: removing hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches and the fourth row of hooked stitches that are positioned on one needle bed from this needle bed, and maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed;

d: removing hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches and the second row of hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed from this needle bed, and maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed; and

e: knitting stitches of the first set-up portion on the hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches and the second row of hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed, and knitting stitches of the second set-up portion on the hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches and the fourth row of hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed, the steps being performed in the stated order. Note that the intersections between the set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches and the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches are arranged at positions at which the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches or the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches does not pass. Similarly, the intersection between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches are arranged at positions at which the set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches or the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches does not pass.

[0008] In the present invention, by executing steps a to e, the rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion are caught only by the needles of the one needle bed, and the rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion are caught only by the needles of the other needle bed, so that the rows of hooked stitches are separated from each other. Furthermore, each set-up needle holds the set-up yarn of the rows of hooked stitches on the first set-up portion or the set-up yarn of the rows of hooked stitches on the second set-up portion, instead of the set-up yarns of both set-up portions. Accordingly, when rows of stitches of the first set-up portion and the one knitted fabric are knitted after the rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion, and rows of stitches of the second set-up portion and the other knitted fabric are knitted after the rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion, the two knitted fabrics are pulled down independently by the set-up needles. Therefore, even if, for example, knitting is started at different heights between the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric, these knitted fabrics are reliably knitted. Note that it is arbitrary which one of front and back is set as "first" or "the second".

[0009] In the present invention, the first set-up portion is connected only to the one knitted fabric and the second set-up portion is connected only to the other knitted fabric, and thus the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric are knitted while being pulled down independently by the set-up needles. Accordingly, either one of the knitted fabrics is knitted so as to extend further downward than the other one. In other words, the knitting start position of the one knitted fabric may be set to be lower than the knitting start position of the other knitted fabric. This increases the degree of freedom in the design of a tubular knitted fabric or the like. Furthermore, in the present invention, a knitted fabric whose set-up portion is open is knitted, and thus it is possible to view the inside of the knitted fabric without removing yarn to be removed.

[0010] In the present invention, the hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches and the hooked stitches of the fourth row of hooked stitches that are knitted later are removed first from the needles of the needle bed, and the hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches and the hooked stitches of the second row of hooked stitches that are knitted earlier are removed later from the needles of the needle bed, achieving reliable removal of the hooked stitches. Furthermore, in the present invention, the larger number of hooked stitches are pulled down with each set-up needle holding two sections of the set-up yarn. Accordingly, the knitted fabrics are pulled down reliably without an excessive force being exerted on the set-up yarn.

[0011] More preferably, when, in step a, the first row of hooked stitches and the second row of hooked stitches are knitted, the set-up yarn is positioned on the one needle bed side and no hooked stitches are formed on the other needle bed, at positions at which the intersections between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches are to be held by the set-up needles. Accordingly, the set-up yarn of the first and second rows of hooked stitches will not get caught by the set-up needles that are holding the third and fourth rows of hooked stitches.

[0012] More preferably, the set-up needles are biased downward, and after step e, one of the knitted fabrics is knitted and knitting the other one of the knitted fabrics is delayed so that lower ends of the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric are at different positions. That is, since the set-up needles are biased downward and are slidable up and down with respect to the set-up bed or the like, the heights of the set-up needles are changed. Accordingly, it is easy to set the lower ends of the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric at different positions.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a set-up method for setting up first set-up portion in a lower part of one knitted fabric and second set-up portion in a lower part of another knitted fabric by a flat knitting machine that includes at least a pair of front and back needle beds, and a plurality of set-up needles, and the method is characterized by the steps for:

a: knitting a row of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion with a set-up yarn and a row of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion with a set-up yarn such that each of the rows of hooked stitches is spanned between the front and back needle beds;

b: causing the set-up needles to hold the set-up yarn at positions at which the set-up yarn of the row of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion and the set-up yarn of the row of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion are spanned between the front and back needle beds and other than intersections of the set-up yarns, the set-up needles each holding one section of the set-up yarns;

c: removing hooked stitches of the row of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion that are positioned on the other needle bed from this needle bed while maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed, and removing hooked stitches of the row of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion that are positioned on the one needle bed from this needle bed while maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed; and

d: knitting stitches of the first set-up portion on the hooked stitches of the first set-up portion that are positioned on the one needle bed, and knitting stitches of the second set-up portion on the hooked stitches of the second set-up portion that are positioned on the other needle bed, the steps being performed in the stated order.

[0014] By executing steps a to d, the rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion are caught only by the needles of the one needle bed, and the rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion are caught only by the needles of the other needle bed, so that the rows of hooked stitches are separated from each other. Furthermore, each set-up needle holds the set-up yarn of the rows of hooked stitches on the first set-up portion or the set-up yarn of the rows of hooked stitches on the second set-up portion, instead of the set-up yarn on both set-up portions. Accordingly, when rows of stitches of the first set-up portion and the one knitted fabric are knitted after the rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion and rows of stitches of the second set-up portion and the other knitted fabric are knitted after the rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion, the two knitted fabrics are pulled down independently by the set-up needles. Therefore, even if, for example, knitting is started at different heights between the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric, these knitted fabrics are reliably knitted. Note that it is arbitrary which one of front and back is set as "first" or "the second".

[0015] In the present invention, the first set-up portion is connected only to the one knitted fabric and the second set-up portion is connected only to the other knitted fabric, and thus the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric are knitted while being pulled down independently by the set-up needles. Accordingly, either one of the one knitted fabrics is knitted so as to extend further downward than the other one. In other words, the knitting start position of the one knitted fabric may be set to be lower than the knitting start position of the other knitted fabric. This increases the degree of freedom in the design of a tubular knitted fabric or the like. Furthermore, in the present invention, a knitted fabric whose set-up portion is open is knitted, and thus it is possible to view the inside of the knitted fabric without removing yarn to be removed.

[0016] Preferably, the set-up needles are biased downward, and after step d, one of the knitted fabrics is knitted and knitting the other one of the knitted fabrics is delayed so that lower ends of the one knitted fabric and the other knitted fabric are at different positions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] 

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a knitted fabric in which a back knitted fabric extends further downward than a front knitted fabric.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the knitted fabric of FIG. 1, as well as the set-up portions and the yarn removal portions thereof.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a knitting process of the first half of knitting of the set-up portions of the knitted fabric 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the knitting process from the latter half of the knitting of the set-up portions of this knitted fabric of FIG. 2 to knitting of the yarn removal portions.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a knitting process of the first half of knitting of set-up portions according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a knitting process of knitting set-up portions according to a conventional example.

Description of Embodiment

[0018] Hereinafter, the best mode for implementing the present invention will be described.

Embodiment

[0019] A flat knitting machine is used that includes, for example, a pair of front and back needle beds, or four needle beds in total, namely, front upper, back upper, front lower, and back lower needle beds, and is configured such that racking of any one of, for example, the front and back needle beds with respect to the other needle bed is performed and stitches are transferred between the needle beds. Note that in a modification of FIG. 5, racking and stitch transfer are not necessary. A space between the needle beds is referred to as a trick gap, and a knitted fabric is knitted by the needles of the needle beds (hereinafter, referred to simply as "needles") moving into the trick gap. A portion of an obtained knitted fabric that is of value as a product is referred to as a main knitted fabric, and a knitted fabric includes, in addition to the main knitted fabric, a set-up portion and a yarn removal portion. Furthermore, a set-up yarn is a yarn for use in setting-up (starting knitting), and a yarn to be removed is a yarn for use in knitting a portion between the set-up portion and the main knitted fabric. By removing the yarn to be removed, the set-up portion and the main knitted fabric are separated from each other. Note that if a water-soluble yarn is used as the yarn to be removed, the removing operation will be omitted, and if a yarn with the water solubility or the like is used as the set-up yarn, no yarn to be removed will be needed.

[0020] The main knitted fabric is wound downward by a downward winding roller of the flat knitting machine, and before the knitted fabric reaches the downward winding roller, set-up needles hold and pull down rows of hooked stitches of the set-up yarn. The set-up needles are attached to a set-up bed such that, for example, each set-up needle is provided for two needles of the needle bed, and are preferably configured to be slidable up and down with respect to the set-up bed and to be biased downward. The height of the hooks of the slidable set-up needles vary depending on the dimension of a force exerted on the set-up needles from the set-up yarn. Furthermore, the set-up bed is configured to move up and down, namely, the set-up bed moves up at the time of setting-up to hold rows of hooked stitches of the set-up portion, moves down at the start of knitting, and release the set-up needles from the hooked stitches of the set-up yarn when the knitted fabric is allowed to be held by the downward winding roller.

[0021] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the main knitted fabric to be knitted, with the reference numeral 2 denoting a front knitted fabric and the reference numeral 4 denoting a back knitted fabric. The front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4 are connected to each other at both ends so as to be tubular, and, for example, the back knitted fabric 4 extends further downward than the front knitted fabric 2. Note that when all the hooks of the set-up needles are directed to one needle bed, and all the needle stems of the set-up needles are directed to the other needle bed, it is preferable that the knitted fabric on the needle bed side to which the hooks are directed extend downward.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a tubular knitted fabric 5 including a front set-up portion 6, a back set-up portion 7, a front yarn removal portion 8, and a back yarn removal portion 9, in which dot-dash lines denote the connection relationships between the knitted fabric on the front side and the knitted fabric on the back side. The front set-up portion 6 and the back set-up portion 7 have, for example, the same number of courses, and the front yarn removal portion 8 and the back yarn removal portion 9 as well have, for example, the same number of courses. When the front yarn removal portion 8 and the back yarn removal portion 9 have been knitted, knitting of an area 4a of the back knitted fabric 4, which protrudes downward, is started, then knitting of areas 4b, 4c, 2b, and 2c is started, and ultimately knitting of an area 2d of the front knitted fabric 2, which is retracted upward, is started. Note that the front yarn removal portion 8 and the back yarn removal portion 9 are not necessarily knitted.

[0023] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a process from knitting of the front set-up portion 6 and the back set-up portion 7 to knitting of the front yarn removal portion 8 and the back yarn removal portion 9 according to the embodiment, in which some courses are omitted. In 1), a first hooked stitch row 10 is knitted with a set-up yarn, and in 2), a second hooked stitch row 12 is knitted with the set-up yarn. The hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 are rows of hooked stitches for setting up the back knitted fabric 4, that is, rows of hooked stitches of first set-up portion, and are knitted in a pattern with a period of eight needles. The hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 are spanned between the back and front needle beds B and F, and intersect with each other at every fourth needle to form intersections 18. The positions of the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 are determined so that the set-up yarn does not pass intersections 19 (described later) between hooked stitch rows 14 and 16. Furthermore, the intersections 18 are arranged at positions other than the positions at which the set-up yarn of the hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 passes.

[0024] In 3), the third hooked stitch row 14 is knitted with the set-up yarn, and in 4), and the fourth hooked stitch row 16 is knitted with the set-up yarn. The hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 are rows of hooked stitches for setting up the front knitted fabric 2, namely, rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion, and are knitted in a pattern with a period of eight needles. The hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 are spanned between the back and front needle beds B and F, and intersect with each other at every fourth needle to form the intersections 19. The intersections 19 are arranged at positions other than the positions at which the set-up yarn of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 passes. The intersections 18 and 19 are alternately positioned, and as a whole are arranged at every second needle. At the position of every intersection 19 for the front knitted fabric 2, the set-up yarn of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 for the back knitted fabric 4 is arranged on the back needle bed B side in the trick gap. Set-up needles 20 are moved up so as to hold the set-up portion at the positions of the intersections 18 and 19 (step 5) of FIG. 3). Note that the set-up yarn for use in forming the hooked stitch rows 10 to 16 is the same yarn for example, but a plurality of set-up yarns may be used.

[0025] In 6), the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 of the second set-up portion that are on the back needle bed B side are removed from the needles, so that hooked stitch rows 15 and 17 are formed. At this time, since the hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 are knitted after the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12, when the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch rows 14 and 16 are removed from the back needle bed B, the set-up yarn moves to the front needle bed F side while passing above set-up needles 20a.

[0026] In 7), the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 of the first set-up portion that are on the front needle bed F side are removed from the needles, so that hooked stitch rows 11 and 13 are formed. Since the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 are knitted prior to the hooked stitch rows 14 and 16, the set-up yarn will not pass above set-up needles 20b that are holding the intersections 19 between the hooked stitch rows 15 and 17. However, since, at the position of every intersection 19, the set-up yarn of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 is arranged on the back needle bed B side, the set-up yarn does not get caught by the set-up needles 20 when the hooked stitches on the front needle bed F side are removed from the needles in 7). By performing the removing operations of 6) and 7), the set-up needles 20 are separated into two types of set-up needles, namely, the set-up needles 20a for holding only the hooked stitch rows 11 and 13 for the back knitted fabric 4 and the set-up needles 20b for holding only the hooked stitch rows 15 and 17 for the front knitted fabric 2, and the set-up needles 20a and 20b are positioned alternately.

[0027] Note that a step of 5)' may be performed between 5) and 6) to knit a stitch row 22 for the front knitted fabric 2 and a stitch row 24 for the back knitted fabric 4, in order to perform the removal operations of 6) and 7) more reliably. In the embodiment, half of the stitches of the stitch row 22 are obtained by knitting the set-up yarn using empty needles. The stitches of the stitch rows 22 and 24 are provided only at positions at which stitches are knitted as the front set-up portion 6 and the back set-up portion 7, rather than on all the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch rows 10, 12, 14, and 16.

[0028] In 8) of FIG. 4, a stitch row 26 is knitted on the front needle bed F, and then the hooked stitch rows 15 and 17 are removed from the front needle bed F. Furthermore, in 9), a stitch row 28 is knitted on the back needle bed B, and the hooked stitch rows 11 and 13 are removed from the back needle bed B. Since all the hooked stitches are removed from the back needle bed B, regions including three successive stitches are created in the stitch row 28. Note that if 5)' of FIG. 3 is performed, the stitch row 26 will be knitted on the stitch row 22, and the stitch row 28 will be knitted on the stitch row 24 and the hooked stitches remaining without being removed.

[0029] In 10), stitch rows 27 and 29 are knitted in one to several courses on the stitch rows 26 and 28. In 11), by transferring each central stitch of three successive stitches of the stitch row 29 to overlap it with another stitch, a stitch row 30 in which the stitches are arranged at every second needle is formed. In 12) and 13), stitch rows 32 and 34 are knitted in one to several courses with yarn to be removed. After the stitch rows 32 and 34 have been knitted with the yarn to be removed, the main knitted fabric of FIG. 2 that is constituted by the knitted fabrics 2 and 4 is knitted. Note that a knitting method such as interlock knitting that prevents unraveling is preferably used at the position at which the knitting of the main knitted fabric is started.

[0030] The embodiment has the following features.

1) The set-up needles 20a pull down only the back knitted fabric 4, and the set-up needles 20b pull down only the front knitted fabric 2. In other words, the front set-up portion 6 and the back set-up portion 7 are not connected to each other, and are pulled down individually by the set-up needles 20a and 20b.

2) Therefore, even when one of the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4 extends further downward than the other one, the knitted fabrics 2 and 4 are pulled down and set up individually.

3) At the position of every intersection 19, the set-up yarn of the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 for the back knitted fabric 4 is positioned on the back needle bed B side. Therefore, when the hooked stitch rows 10 and 12 are removed from the needles, the set-up yarn does not get caught by the set-up needles 20b.

4) The set-up needles 20 are slidable up and down with respect to the set-up bed, and are biased downward. Therefore, the set-up needles 20b move up to the positions higher than those of the set-up needles 20a and thereby pull down the short front knitted fabric 2, and the set-up needles 20a pull down the long back knitted fabric 4. Note that even if the set-up needles 20 are fixed to the set-up bed, the knitted fabrics 2 and 4 having different lengths are set up. In this case, it is preferable to perform a measure for making, for example, the number of courses of the front set-up portion 6 on the short front knitted fabric 2 side larger than the number of courses of the back set-up portion 7 on the back knitted fabric 4 side, a measure in which a set-up yarn having higher stretchability is used, for the front set-up portion 6, than a set-up yarn of the back set-up portion 7, or other measures.

5) Since the intersections 18 and 19 of the set-up yarn are held by the set-up needles 20 and a pull-down force is exerted on the larger number of hooked stitches from each set-up needle 20 via two sections of the set-up yarn, a stronger pull-down force is exerted on the knitted fabrics 2 and 4 while preventing the set-up yarn from being broken.

[0031] Furthermore, the embodiment has the following features.

6) Since the set-up portion is open, it is possible to view the inside of the knitted fabric without removing the yarn to be removed.

7) Since the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4 of which knitting is started at different heights are knitted, the degree of freedom in the design of a tubular knitted fabric or the like increases.

8) With the use of the set-up needles that are slidable up and down with respect to the set-up bed and are biased downward, the front set-up portion 6 and the back set-up portion 7 may have the same number of courses, and the front yarn removal portion 8 and the back yarn removal portion 9 as well may have the same number of courses.

[0032] The shape of the knitted fabric 5 that is to be knitted is not limited to the tubular shape. For example, by dividing the front knitted fabric 2 of FIGS. 1 and 2 into two pieces along the height direction, namely, into the right and left pieces, a knitted fabric suitable for a cardigan sweater or the like is obtained. Furthermore, a knitted fabric in which, in FIG. 1, one end of the front knitted fabric 2 and one end of the back knitted fabric 4 are connected to each other, and the other ends thereof are separated from each other may be knitted. Furthermore, the knitted fabric 5 is a knitted fabric obtained by connecting front and back knitted fabrics in two layers to each other, and may be a knitted fabric obtained by connecting knitted fabrics in three or four layers to each other. For example, a tubular knitted fabric is obtained by knitting tuck stitches or the like with a connecting yarn between a first-layer knitted fabric and a second-layer knitted fabric to form a spacer fabric, additionally providing a third layer, and connecting both ends of the third layer to both ends of the first layer and the second layer. This knitted fabric serves as a supporter or the like that has a supporting surface on the spacer fabric side. Also in this case, by performing setting up such that one set-up needle pulls down only one layer knitted fabric, the knitted fabric is knitted even if the knitting is started at different heights between the layers.

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a set-up method according to a modification, and in this modification, each set-up needle 20 holds the set-up yarn at one section, instead of an intersection. Other features are the same as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. A hooked stitch row 40 of first set-up portion is knitted with a set-up yarn so as to be spanned between the back needle bed B and the front needle bed F, then a hooked stitch row 42 of the second set-up portion is similarly knitted with the set-up yarn, and the set-up needles 20 are moved up to hold the set-up yarn at positions between the back and front needle beds B and F. This situation is shown in 1), where each set-up needle 20 holds only one section of the set-up yarn. In 2), hooked stitches of the hooked stitch row 42 of the second set-up portion that are held on the back needle bed B are removed from the needles, so that a hooked stitch row 43 is formed. In 3), hooked stitches of the hooked stitch row 40 of the first set-up portion that are held on the front needle bed F are removed from the needles, so that a hooked stitch row 41 is formed. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the removed set-up yarn does not get caught by the set-up needles when passing above the set-up needles in the modification of FIG. 5. Accordingly, the hooked stitches may be removed from the needles in the order from 2) to 3), or in reverse order from 3) to 2).

[0034] In the state of 3), all the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch row 41 of the first set-up portion are held on the needles of the back needle bed B and all the hooked stitches of the hooked stitch row 43 of the second set-up portion are held on the needles of the front needle bed F, and the set-up needles 20a pull down only the hooked stitch row 41 and the set-up needles 20b pull down only the hooked stitch row 43. In other words, there are no set-up needles 20 that pull down the rows of hooked stitches of both set-up portions, and the set-up needles 20 are separated into the set-up needles 20a and the set-up needles 20b. As a result, even if knitting is started at different heights for the front knitted fabric 2 and the back knitted fabric 4, these knitted fabrics are set up. In the modification of FIG. 5, in contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, one set-up needle holds only one section of the set-up yarn, and thus the set-up needles pull down the reduced number of hooked stitches, and a pull-down force that is exerted on the knitted fabric is reduced.

List of Reference Numerals

[0035] 

2

Front knitted fabric

4

Back knitted fabric

2b to 2d

Area

4a to 4c

Area

5

Knitted fabric

6

Front set-up portion

7

Back set-up portion

8

Front yarn removal portion

9

Back yarn removal portion

10 to 17

Hooked stitch row

20

Set-up needles

22 to 34

Stitch row

40 to 43

Hooked stitch row

60, 62

Hooked stitch row

64, 66

Stitch row

F

Front needle bed

B

Back needle bed

Claims

1. A set-up method for setting up a first set-up portion (7) in a lower part of one knitted fabric (4) and a second set-up portion (6) in a lower part of another knitted fabric (2) by a flat knitting machine that includes at least a pair of front and back needle beds (F, B), and a plurality of set-up needles (20), the method being characterized by the steps for:

a: knitting a first row of hooked stitches (10) and a second row of hooked stitches (12) that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the first set-up portion (7) and then knitting a third row of hooked stitches (14) and a fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that serve as rows of hooked stitches of the second set-up portion (6), and intersecting a set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches (10) with a set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches (12) between the front and back needle beds (F, B) and intersecting a set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches (14) with a set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) between the front and back needle beds (F, B);

b: causing the set-up needles (20) to hold intersections (18) between the set-up yarn of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the set-up yarn of the second row of hooked stitches (12) and causing the set-up needles (20) to hold intersections (19) between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches (16);

c: removing hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that are positioned on one needle bed (B) from this needle bed (B), and maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed (F);

d: removing hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the second row of hooked stitches (12) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F) from this needle bed (F), and maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed (B); and

e: knitting stitches of the first set-up portion (7) on the hooked stitches of the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the second row of hooked stitches (12) that are positioned on the one needle bed (B), and knitting stitches of the second set-up portion (6) on the hooked stitches of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F), the steps being performed in the stated order.

2. The set-up method according to claim 1,
characterized in that when, in step a, the first row of hooked stitches (10) and the second row of hooked stitches (12) are knitted, the set-up yarn is positioned on the one needle bed (B) side and no hooked stitches are formed on the other needle bed (F), at positions at which the intersections (19) between the set-up yarn of the third row of hooked stitches (14) and the set-up yarn of the fourth row of hooked stitches (16) are to be held by the set-up needles (20).

3. The set-up method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the set-up needles (20) are biased downward, and after step e, one of the knitted fabrics (2, 4) is knitted and knitting the other one of the knitted fabrics (2, 4) is delayed so that lower ends of the one knitted fabric (4) and the other knitted fabric (2) are at different positions.

4. A set-up method for setting up a first set-up portion (7) in a lower part of one knitted fabric (4) and a second set-up portion (6) in a lower part of another knitted fabric (2) by a flat knitting machine that includes at least a pair of front and back needle beds (F, B), and a plurality of set-up needles (20), the method being characterized by the steps for:

a: knitting a row of hooked stitches (40) of the first set-up portion (7) with a set-up yarn and a row of hooked stitches (42) of the second set-up portion (6) with a set-up yarn such that each of the rows of hooked stitches (40, 42) is spanned between the front and back needle beds (F, B);

b: causing the set-up needles (20) to hold the set-up yarn at positions at which the set-up yarn of the row of hooked stitches (40) of the first set-up portion (7) and the set-up yarn of the row of hooked stitches (42) of the second set-up portion (6) are spanned between the front and back needle beds (F, B) and other than intersections of the set-up yarns, the set-up needles (20) each holding one section of the set-up yarns;

c: removing hooked stitches of the row of hooked stitches (40) of the first set-up portion (7) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F) from this needle bed (F) while maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the one needle bed (B), and removing hooked stitches of the row of hooked stitches (42) of the second set-up portion (6) that are positioned on the one needle bed (B) from this needle bed (B) while maintaining the remaining hooked stitches that are positioned on the other needle bed (F); and

d: knitting stitches of the first set-up portion (7) on the hooked stitches of the first set-up portion (7) that are positioned on the one needle bed (B), and knitting stitches of the second set-up portion (6) on the hooked stitches of the second set-up portion (6) that are positioned on the other needle bed (F), the steps being performed in the stated order.

5. The set-up method according to claim 4,
characterized in that the set-up needles (20) are biased downward, and after step d, one of the knitted fabrics (2, 4) is knitted and knitting the other one of the knitted fabrics (2, 4) is delayed so that lower ends of the one knitted fabric (4) and the other knitted fabric (2) are at different positions.

Drawing