Method and apparatus for producing a knitted fabric interlaced with insert elements

Claim 2

An improved circular weft knitting machine of the type which feeds warp insert elements between selected adjacent wales of a basic knitted fabric; wherein said improvement comprises: means for directing said warp insert elements inwardly and outwardly of the circumferential plane of the knitting needles during knitting of said knitted fabric which is consequently supplied by alternating interior and exterior knitting feed stations to locate each said warp insert on the outside of a knitting course of connecting elements of loops originating from said exterior feed stations; at least one weft insert element feed station mounted outside of said plane of said needles in a circumferentially and radially fixed disposition with respect to said exterior knitting feed stations to directly feed a weft insert element inwardly of said plane of said needles to cause said weft insert element to extend along the inside surface of said knitted fabric between said warp insert elements and said knitted fabric, whereby, said directing of said warp insert elements outside of said plane of said needles and forming the next said knitting course originating from said interior knitting feed stations secures said weft insert element between said warp insert elements and said knitted fabric.

Claim 3

The improved knitting machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said weft insert element feed station comprises: means circumferentially located between one of said exterior knitting feed statons and an adjacent one of said interior knitting feed stations and in a fixed radial position with respect to said plane of said needles for directly guiding said weft insert element from outside of said plane of said needles to a point of discharge inside of said plane of said needles and outside of said inwardly directed warp insert elements; and means mounted outside of said plane of said needles for supplying said weft insert element to said means for guiding of said weft insert element.

Claim 4

the improved knitting machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for guiding said weft insert element includes a tubular member, said tubular member having an opening therethrough with a cross-section having dimensions greater than the corresponding dimensions of said weft insert element passing therethrough, said tubular member having a portion thereof located in said plane of said needles and having predetermined outside dimension which prevent it from interferring with the relative movement thereby of said needles and the means for directing said warp insert elements inwardly and outwardly of said plane of said needles.

Claim 5

The improved knitting machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said tubular member includes a smooth camming surface for deflecting said warp insert elements being directed outwardly of said plane of said needles from the path of said member to prevent said warp insert elements from interferring with said weft insert element as it is being directed toward said inside surface of said knitted fabric.

Claim 6

The improved knitting machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said weft insert element is a flat strip having a surface which is substantially greater than that of the yarn of said knitted fabric and said tubular member includes a discharge end that extends inwardly of said plane of said needles and is generally aligned with and closely adjacent to said inside surface of said knitted fabric depending from said needles.

Claim 7

The improved knitting machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tubular member includes a smooth camming surface for deflecting said warp insert elements being directed outwardly of said plane of said needles from the path of said member to prevent said warp insert elements from interferring with said weft insert element as it is being directed toward said inside surface of said knitted fabric.

Claim 8

A circular weft knitting machine comprising: A circular array of needles; a plurality of pairs of knitting feed stations disposed about said array of needles with relative circular movement therebetween during knitting of a basic knitted fabric; means for guiding warp insert elements between selected adjacent wales of said basic knitted fabric and for directing said warp insert elements inwardly and outwardly of said array of needles and said feed stations so that first and second knitting feed stations of each of said pairs of knitting feed stations are respectively interior and exterior of said warp insert elements; and at least one weft insert element feed station mounted outside of said array of said knitting needles in a circumferentially and radially fixed disposition with respect to each of said pairs of knitting feed stations to directly feed a weft insert element inwardly of said plane of said needles to cause said weft insert element to extend along the inside surface of said basic knitted fabric inwardly of said needles which are raised for said knitting at said first knitting feed station, whereby, said directing of said warp insert elements outside of said array of said knitting needles forming the next knitting course originating from said first knitting feed station interior of said warp insert elements secures said weft insert element between said warp insert elements and said basic knitted fabric.

Claim 9

A circular weft knitting machine comprising: A circular array of needles; a plurality of pairs of knitting feed stations disposed about said array of needles with relative circular movement therebetween during knitting of a basic knitted fabric; means for guiding warp insert elements between selected adjacent wales of said basic knitted fabric and for directing said warp insert elements inwardly and outwardly of said array of needles and said feed stations so that first and second knitting feed stations of each of said pairs of knitting feed stations are respectively interior and exterior of said warp insert elements; and at least one weft insert element feed station mounted outside of said array of said knitting needles in a circumferentially and radially fixed disposition with respect to each of said pairs of knitting feed stations to directly feed a weft insert element inwardly of said plane of said needles to cause said weft insert element to extend along the inside surface of said basic knitted fabric inwardly of said needles which are raised for said knitting at said first knitting feed station, whereby, said directing of said warp insert elements outside of said array of said knitting needles forming the next knitting course originating from said first knitting feed station interior of said warp insert elements secures said weft insert element between said warp insert elements and said basic knitted fabric.