Method of manufacturing a knitted component

摘要

An article of footwear and a variety of other products may incorporate a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.

主权项

1. A method of knitting comprising:
providing a knitting machine having a first feeder that dispenses a yarn, a second feeder that dispenses a strand, and a needle bed that includes a plurality of needles; wherein a first portion of the plurality of needles being located on a first plane, and a second portion of the plurality of needles being located on a second plane, the plurality of needles being movable from a first position to a second position, the plurality of needles being spaced from an intersection of the first plane and the second plane when in the first position, and the plurality of needles passing through the intersection of the first plane and the second plane when in the second position; moving at least the first feeder along the needle bed to form a first course of a knit component from the yarn; and moving the first feeder and the second feeder along the needle bed to (a) form a second course of the knit component from the yarn and (b) inlay the strand into the knit component, the second feeder being located in front of the first feeder, and a dispensing tip of the second feeder being located below a dispensing tip of the first feeder; and wherein inlaying the strand into the knit component further comprises moving the dispensing tip of the second feeder from a retracted position that is located above the intersection of the first plane and the second plane to an extended position that is located below the intersection of the first plane and the second plane to inlay the strand.