IES950264A2 - A knitted garment production process - Google Patents

Abstract

In a production process for a knitted garment, a knitting stage (1) involves connection of panels, such as sleeves, by soluble thread. At a pre-steaming operation (3), there is simultaneous relaxation by up to 25% of the knitted fabric and also disintegration of the soluble thread. This separates the panels, front and back panels being cut (4) at a guillotine-type station which provides a good accuracy for cutting. The shoulder edges are joined at a taping station in which a 5% elasticated tape is fed under tension through a fold-over guide to produce a high-strength join which is hidden to a large extent in the finished product. All material handling takes place by use of fasteners (30) which are extremely simple as they comprise only a length of rope and a jam cleat, the cleat also being used for identification of the bundle as a label is adhered to it. Some operations such as bar tacking (9) and backneck labelling (7) may be carried out on the garments while they are still held together in this manner. An important step is final steaming (11) at which there is further relaxation of the knitted fabric and simultaneously manipulation and tidying for presentation purposes. A high labour efficiency is achieved by the manner in which machines such as the pre-steaming and final pressing machines are used.