The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an integral shoe embryo, and particularly to a method for manufacturing an integral shoe embryo including a reinforcement piece that reinforces structural strength of a shoe.
In a conventional shoe manufacturing method, a shoe is usually spliced from multiple shoe pieces, as disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 8,572,866. However, with the evolving changes and trends of the footwear manufacturing industry, knitted/woven shoes have become available, such as Nikeā¢ Free Run Flyknit. Patents associated with knitted footwear may be referred from the U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2015/0223561, 2015/0250256, 2016/0058099, 2016/0089578, 2016/0219966, 2016/0208421 and 2017/0000216.
Further, the European Patent No. 2805638A1 discloses a footwear and knitting method for knitting a fabric. Although the footwear is seamlessly woven by a flat knitting machine, the footwear completed using the European Patent No. 2805638A1 is identical to the foregoing patents; that is, once the footwear is shaped, the shoe upper is formed merely by a piece of thin fabric. Such fabric provides limited structural strength and may not withstand frequent uses, in a way that the knitted shoe may not have a short lifespan.
Further, the European Patent No. 2805638A1 discloses that, one of the yarns (e.g., the second knitting yarn specified in the European Patent No. 2805638A1) used for weaving the knitted shoe is clad with a material having a lower melting point, such that the woven footwear may have a fixed shape through a thermal process. However, the structural strength formed by only at least two yarns adhered to each other still falls short in meeting requirements of numerous application scenarios.
It is an object of the present invention to solve unsatisfactory structural strength of a conventional knitted shoe.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an integral shoe embryo. The method includes following steps.
In an interweaving step, an initial shoe edge is woven by knitting at least two yarns in an interwoven manner.
In a shoe upper weaving step, a first shoe upper connected to the initial shoe edge is woven by knitting the at least two yarns, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when a shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second shoe upper that faces the first shoe upper, and the first shoe upper is woven in a reverse direction again according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step, a reinforcement piece is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the shoe upper weaving step, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece, and the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
In a continual shoe upper weaving step, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are cyclically woven by knitting the at least two yarns, and a shoe opening is formed.
In a side overturning step, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are folded from the shoe opening to locate the reinforcement piece in an in-shoe space defined by the overturned first shoe upper and second shoe upper to complete the shoe embryo.
In one embodiment, the reinforcement piece may be located at a vamp section or a heel section of the shoe embryo.
In one embodiment, the continual shoe upper weaving step further includes a sub-step, in which, another reinforcement piece is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached while weaving the first shoe upper or the second shoe upper, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the another reinforcement piece, and the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the another reinforcement piece, the first shoe upper ad the second shoe upper.
In one embodiment, before the interweaving step, the method further includes an outside-upper extension weaving step, in which an extension is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns. One knitted end of the extension is for continuing weaving the initial shoe edge. After the shoe embryo is completed, the extension may be a toe support piece disposed at a lower end of the in-shoe space or a sole piece adhered to the second shoe upper.
In one embodiment, one of the two yarns is clad with a hot melt layer.
In one embodiment, the extension stitch count is greater than the shoe upper stitch count.
The present invention further provides another method including the following steps.
In an outside-upper extension weaving step, an extension is woven by knitting at least one of at least two yarns.
In an interweaving step, an initial shoe edge connected to the extension is woven by knitting the at least two yarns in an interwoven manner.
In a shoe upper weaving step, a first shoe upper connected to the initial shoe edge is woven by knitting the at least two yarns, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when a shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second shoe upper that faces the first shoe upper by knitting the at least two yarns, and the first shoe upper is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step, a reinforcement piece is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the shoe upper weaving step, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece, and the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
In a continual shoe upper weaving step, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are cyclically woven by knitting the at least two yarns.
In a lining weaving step, a first lining connected to the first shoe upper is woven by knitting the at least two yarns, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second lining that faces the first lining and is connected to the second shoe upper by knitting the at least two yarns, and the first lining is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first lining and the second lining, with ends of the first lining and second lining forming a shoe opening.
In a side overturning step, the first lining and the second lining are folded from the shoe opening, and the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are simultaneously drawn from the shoe opening for side overturning to locate the reinforcement piece and the extension in an in-shoe space defined by the overturned first shoe upper and second shoe upper. The extension may be a toe support piece disposed at a lower end of the in-shoe space or a sole piece adhered to the second shoe upper.
In a lining tucking step, the overturned first lining and second lining are tucked towards the in-shoe space, and the ends of the first lining and second lining are secured at the lower end of the in-shoe space to complete a shoe embryo.
In one embodiment, after the lining weaving step, the method further includes an outside-upper another extension weaving step, in which, another extension connected to the end of the first lining or the end of the second lining is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns. Further, in the lining tucking step, the another extension is tucked into the in-shoe opening together with the first lining and the second lining. The extension and the another extension are respectively the toe support piece disposed at the lower end of the in-shoe space and the sole piece adhered to the second lining.
In one embodiment, before tucking the first lining and the second lining into the in-shoe space in the lining tucking step, edges of the first lining and the second lining are sewn.
In one embodiment, the continual shoe upper weaving step further includes a sub-step, in which, another reinforcement piece is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached while weaving the first shoe upper or the second shoe upper, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the another reinforcement piece, and the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the another reinforcement piece, the first shoe upper ad the second shoe upper.
In one embodiment, one of the two yarns is clad with a hot melt layer.
In one embodiment, the extension stitch count is greater than the shoe upper stitch count.
In one embodiment, the weaving length of the extension is shorter than the weaving lengths of the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
The present invention further provides another method including following steps.
In an outside-upper extension weaving step, an extension is woven by knitting at least one of at least two yarns.
In an interweaving step, an initial shoe edge connected to the extension is woven by knitting the at least two yarns in an interwoven manner.
In a lining weaving step, a first lining connected to the initial shoe edge is woven by knitting the at least two yarns, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when a shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second lining that faces the first lining, and the first lining is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first lining and the second lining.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step, a reinforcement piece is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the lining weaving step, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece, and the first lining and the second lining are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper.
In a continual lining weaving step, the first lining and the second lining are cyclically woven by knitting the at least two yarns.
In a shoe upper weaving step, a first shoe upper connected to the first lining is woven by knitting the at least two yarns, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second shoe upper that faces the first shoe upper and is connected to the second lining, and the first shoe upper is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper, with ends of the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper forming a shoe opening.
In a securing step, the reinforcement piece is secured on the first lining, and the extension is folded to come into contact with the first lining or the second lining.
In a side overturning step, the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are folded from the shoe opening to cause the overturned first shoe upper and second shoe upper to clad on the extension and the reinforcement piece, and the ends of the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are connected to complete a shoe embryo. The extension may be a toe support piece disposed at a toe section of the shoe embryo and a sole piece adhered to the second shoe upper.
In one embodiment, after the shoe upper weaving step, the method further includes an outside-upper another extension weaving step, in which, another extension connected to the end of the first lining or the end of the second lining is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns. In the side overturning step, after the first shoe upper and the second shoe upper are connected, the another extension is stacked at the first shoe upper or the second shoe upper. The another extension serves as the toe support piece when stacked at the first shoe upper, or serves as the sole piece when stacked at the second shoe upper.
In one embodiment, the continual lining weaving step further includes a sub-step, in which, another reinforcement is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns when the shoe upper stitch count is reached while weaving the first lining or the second lining, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the another reinforcement piece, and the first lining and the second lining are woven by knitting the at least two yarns according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the another reinforcement piece, the first lining and the second lining.
In one embodiment, one of the two yarns is clad with a hot melt layer.
In one embodiment, the extension stitch count is greater than the shoe upper stitch count.
In one embodiment, in the side overturning step, side overturning of the first shoe upper stops at a connecting position of the first shoe upper and the first lining, and side overturning of the second shoe upper stops at a connecting position of the second shoe upper and the second lining.
The embodiments of the present invention provide following features compared to the prior art. In the present invention, a reinforcement piece is integrally woven during the weaving process of a flat knitting machine, and the reinforcement piece is hidden in the in-shoe space or clamped between the first shoe upper and the first lining in the subsequent side overturning step. Thus, the manufactured shoe embryo is provided with reinforced structural strength through the reinforcement piece as well as better comfort for the foot using a shoe body manufactured from the shoe embryo. Further, during the weaving process of the present invention, at least one extension may be integrally woven. The at least one extension further reinforces the structural strength or decorates an appearance of the shoe embryo.
Referring to
Referring to
In an interweaving step S10, an initial shoe edge 111 is woven by knitting at least two yarns 20 and 21 in an interwoven manner.
In a show upper weaving step S11, the first shoe upper 11 connected to the initial shoe edge 111 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when a shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave the second shoe upper 12 that faces the first shoe upper 11 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the first shoe upper 11 is again woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step S12, a reinforcement piece 160 is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns 20 and 21 when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the shoe upper weaving step S11, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when an extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece 160, and the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21 according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece 160, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
In a continual shoe upper weaving step S13, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are cyclically woven by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the shoe opening 14 is formed.
In a side overturning side S14, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are folded from the shoe opening 14 to locate the reinforcement piece 160 in the in-shoe space 13 defined by the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12, thus completing the shoe embryo 10.
Referring to
Further, the two yarns 20 and 21 forming the shoe embryo 10 may be in different colors, which present different colors at inner and outer surfaces of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. In other words, when the two yarns 20 and 21 are in different colors, a technical front color of a fabric and a technical back color of the fabric are different. Further, one of the two yarns 20 and 21 may be clad by a hot melt layer. Thus, when the shoe embryo 10 is completed, it may be placed into a mold and be appropriately heated to allow one of the yarns 20 and 21 clad with the hot melt layer to melt, and the shoe embryo 10 may then shape according to an appearance of the mold to complete a knitted shoe prototype 100. Further, the two yarns 20 and 21 of the present invention may be intertwined from twisting.
In the present invention, a trigger point for entering the reinforcement piece weaving step S12 from the shoe upper weaving step S11 is determined according to the design of the shoe embryo 10. For example, when the back needle bed 902 reaches the shoe upper stitch count while weaving the second shoe upper 12, and the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 have reached predetermined lengths, the yarn feeding mechanism 903 is controlled to progress in a non-reversed direction and to weave the reinforcement piece 160 along the current weaving direction by knitting the at least one of the yarns 20 and 21. During the process of weaving the reinforcement piece 160, the flat knitting machine 90 controls the nose to weave in a non-reversed manner and the front needle bed 901 to weave the reinforcement piece 160, such that the reinforcement piece 160 protrudes from edges of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 when the reinforcement piece 160 is completely woven to appear like a wing. Further, during the weaving process of the reinforcement piece 160, when the front needle bed 901 reaches the extension stitch count while weaving the reinforcement piece 160, the flat knitting machine 90 continues weaving the reinforcement piece 160 in a reverse direction. After that, when the front needle bed 901 again reaches the extension stitch count, the flat knitting machine 90 controls the front needle bed 901 and the back needle bed 902 to continuously weave the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21. Details of the weaving process of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are as described in shoe upper weaving step S11, and shall be omitted. Further, the extension stitch count of the present invention may be adjusted according to the pattern of the reinforcement piece 160; that is, the extension stitch count may be a variable value. However, the extension stitch count is greater than the shoe upper stitch count. Thus, the length of the reinforcement piece 160 is made greater than the length of the first shoe upper 11 or the second shoe upper 12, so as to more substantially support the first shoe upper 12 or the second shoe upper 12.
Referring to
The implementation of the side overturning step S14 may be completed through a machine or a human operation without involving the flat knitting machine 90. At the beginning of the implementation, the reinforcement piece 160 may be placed on the first shoe upper 11 or the second shoe upper 12, ends of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are held firmly, and the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are folded from the shoe opening 14. Thus, the reinforcement piece 160 becomes located in the in-shoe space 13 defined by the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12, hence completing the shoe embryo 10. Accordingly, by performing an appropriate processing on the shoe embryo 10, e.g., a heating process or a paint spray process, a knitted shoe prototype 100 (as shown in
Referring to
Further, the weaving method of the reinforcement piece 160 is not limited being performed by single-sided weaving shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
An outside-upper extension weaving step S20, the extension 170 is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns 20 and 21.
In an interweaving step S21, the initial shoe edge 111 connected to the extension 170 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21 in an interwoven manner.
In a shoe upper weaving step S22, the first shoe upper 11 connected to the initial shoe edge 111 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave the second shoe upper 12 that faces the first shoe upper 11 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the first shoe upper 11 is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step S23, the reinforcement piece 160 is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns 20 and 21 when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the shoe upper weaving step S22, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece 160, and the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21 according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece 160, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
In a continual shoe upper weaving step S24, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are cyclically woven by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21.
In a lining weaving step S25, a first lining 18 connected to the first shoe upper 11 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave a second lining 19 that faces the first lining 18 and is connected to the second shoe upper 12 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the first lining 18 is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first lining 18 and the second lining 19. Ends of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 form the shoe opening 14.
In a side overturning step S26, the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are folded from the shoe opening 14, and the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are simultaneously drawn to be overturned, so as to locate the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 in the in-shoe space 13 defined by the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12. The extension 170 may be the toe support piece disposed at the lower end of the in-shoe space 13 or the sole piece adhered to the second shoe upper 12.
In a lining tucking step S27, the overturned first lining 18 and second lining 19 are tucked towards the in-shoe space 13, and ends of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are secured to the lower end of the in-shoe space 13 to complete the shoe embryo 10.
Referring to
The continual shoe upper weaving step S24 is performed after the reinforcement piece weaving step S23 is completed. The continual shoe upper weaving step S24 is similar to the weaving method in the shoe upper weaving step S22. In the continual shoe upper weaving step S24, from the weaving ending point of the reinforcement piece weaving step S23, the front needle bed 901 and the back needle bed 902 continue weaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. The lining weaving step S25 follows after the reinforcement piece weaving step S24 is completed. In the lining weaving step S25, a weaving starting point is the end of the first shoe upper 11 or the second shoe upper 12, e.g., an intersection of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. The flat knitting machine 90 causes the front needle bed 901 and the back needle bed 902 to weave the second lining 19 connected to the second shoe upper 12 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21. When the back needle bed 902 reaches the shoe upper stitch count while weaving the second lining 19, the flat knitting machine 90 performs unbroken-yarn weaving and causes the yarn feeding mechanism 903 to perform yarn feeding in a reverse direction to weave the first lining 18 connected to the first shoe upper 11 by the front needle bed 901, hence cyclically weaving the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 in an unbroken-yarn manner to complete the weaving process. Further, although the weaving process of the second lining 19 is given as an example in this embodiment, the weaving sequences of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 may be modified according to weaving scheduling settings in practice. Further, the weaving method of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 may be identical to that of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. Further, the weaving lengths of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 may be similar to those of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
The side overturning step S26 is performed after the weaving process of the lining weaving step S25 is completed. The side overturning step S26 may be completed through a machine or a human operation without involving the flat knitting machine 90. At the beginning of the implementation, the reinforcement piece 160 is placed on the first shoe upper 11 or the second shoe upper 12, ends of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are held firmly, and the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are folded from the shoe opening 14. During the process of folding the first lining 18 and the second lining 19, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are simultaneously drawn to be overturned, so as to locate the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 in the in-shoe space 13 defined by the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12. At this point, the position of the extension 170 may be adjusted in a way that the extension 170 may serve as the toe support piece or the sole piece. The lining tucking step S27 is performed after the side overturning process is completed. During the implementation of the lining tucking step S27, edges of ends of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 may be first sewn, i.e., the shoe opening 14 is sewn. The first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are then tucked into the in-shoe space 13 according to a method shown in
In this embodiment, the two yarns 20 and 21 forming the shoe embryo 10 may be in different colors, which present different colors at inner and outer surfaces of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. In other words, when the two yarns 20 and 21 are in different colors, a technical front color of a fabric and a technical back color of the fabric are different. Further, one of the two yarns 20 and 21 may be clad by a hot melt layer. Thus, when the shoe embryo 10 is completed, it may be placed into a mold and be appropriately heated to allow the yarn 20 (or 21) clad with the hot melt layer to melt, and the shoe embryo 10 may then shape according to an appearance of the mold to complete a knitted shoe prototype 100. Further, the two yarns 20 and 21 of the present invention may be intertwined from twisting.
Accordingly, after the shoe embryo 10 of the embodiment is manufactured, the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 are clamped among the first shoe upper 11, the second shoe upper 12, the first lining 18 and the second lining 19. Thus, the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 cannot be directly contacted in the in-shoe space 13, so as to prevent direct damages of the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 caused by wearing. Further, by performing an appropriate processing on the shoe embryo 10, e.g., a heating process or a paint spray process, the knitted shoe prototype 100 may be completed, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In an outside-upper extension weaving step S30, the extension 170 is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns 20 and 21.
In an interweaving step S31, the initial shoe edge 111 connected to the extension 170 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21 in an interwoven manner.
In a lining weaving step S32, the first lining 18 connected to the initial shoe edge 111 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave the second lining 19 that faces the first lining 18 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the first lining 18 is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first lining 18 and the second lining 19.
In a reinforcement piece weaving step S33, the reinforcement piece 160 is woven by knitting at least one of the yarns 20 and 21 when the shoe upper stitch count is reached in the lining weaving step S32, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the extension stitch count is reached while weaving the reinforcement piece 160, and the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21 according to the shoe upper stitch count when the extension stitch count is again reached, hence cyclically weaving the reinforcement piece 160, the first lining 18 and the second lining 19.
In a continual lining weaving step S34, the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 are cyclically woven by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21.
In a shoe upper weaving step S35, the first shoe upper 11 connected to the first lining 18 is woven by knitting the at least two yarns 20 and 21, weaving in a reverse direction is performed when the shoe upper stitch count is reached to weave the second shoe upper 12 that faces the first shoe upper 11 and is connected to the second lining 19 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21, and the first shoe upper 11 is woven in a reverse direction according to the shoe upper stitch count, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. Further, ends of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 form the shoe opening 14.
In a securing step S36, the reinforcement piece 160 is secured on the first lining 18, and the extension 170 is folded to come into contact with the first lining 18 or the second lining 19.
In a side overturning step S37, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are folded from the shoe opening 14, such that the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12 clad on the extension 170 and the reinforcement piece 160, and the ends of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are connected to complete the shoe embryo 10. The extension 170 may be the toe support piece disposed at a toe section 150 of the shoe embryo 10 or the sole piece adhered to the second shoe upper 12.
More specifically, referring to
The continual lining weaving step S34 is performed after the reinforcement piece weaving step S33 is completed, and is similar to the lining weaving step S32. In the continual lining weaving step S34, the front needle bed 901 and the back needle bed 902 continue weaving from the weaving ending point of the reinforcement piece weaving step S33 to weave the first lining 18 and the second lining 19. The shoe upper weaving step S35 is performed after the continual lining weaving step S34 is completed. The weaving starting point of the shoe upper weaving step S35 is an end of the first lining 18 or the second lining 19, e.g., an intersection of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19. The flat knitting machine 90 causes the back needle bed 902 to weave the second shoe upper 12 connected to the second lining 19 by knitting the two yarns 20 and 21. When the back needle bed 902 reaches the shoe upper stitch count while weaving the second shoe upper 12, the flat knitting machine 90 performs unbroken-yarn weaving and causes the yarn feeding mechanism 903 to perform yarn feeding in a reverse direction to weave the first shoe upper 11 connected to the first lining 18 by the front needle bed 901, hence cyclically weaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 in an unbroken-yarn manner to complete the weaving process. Further, although the weaving process of the first shoe upper 11 is given as an example in this embodiment, the weaving sequences of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 may be modified according to weaving scheduling settings in practice. Further, the weaving lengths of the first lining 18 and the second lining 19 may be similar to those of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12.
In continuation, the securing step S36 is performed after the shoe upper weaving S35, and may be completed through a machine or a human operation without involving the flat knitting machine 90. At the beginning of the implementation of the securing step S36, the reinforcement piece 160 is secured on the first lining 18, and the extension 170 is folded to come into contact with the first lining 18 or the second lining 19 according to a set function of the extension 170. Further, the extension 170 serves as a toe decoration piece when in contact with the first lining 18, or serves as the sole piece when in contact with the second lining 19. Further, during the weaving process of the present invention, at least one additional part having an identical pattern as the extension 170 may be woven in continuation from the extension 170. The additional part and the extension may be stacked to increase the structural strength provided by the extension 170.
The side overturning step S37 is performed after the securing step S36 is completed. During the implementation of the side overturning step S37, ends of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are held firmly and are folded from the shoe opening 14, such that the overturned first shoe upper 11 and second shoe upper 12 clad on the extension 170 and the reinforcement piece 160. Further, in the side overturning step S37, side overturning of the first shoe upper 11 stops at a connecting position of the first shoe upper 11 and the first lining 18, and side overturning of the second shoe upper 12 stops at a connecting position of the second shoe upper 12 and the second lining 19. Further, when the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 reach a predetermined folding level, the ends of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 are connected to complete the shoe embryo 10.
Further, in the embodiment, the two yarns 20 and 21 forming the shoe embryo 10 may be in different colors, which present different colors at inner and outer surfaces of the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12. In other words, when the two yarns 20 and 21 are in different colors, a technical front color of a fabric and a technical back color of the fabric are different. Further, one of the two yarns 20 and 21 may be clad by a hot melt layer. Thus, when the shoe embryo 10 is completed, it may be placed into a mold and be appropriately heated to allow the yarn 20 (or 21) clad with the hot melt layer to melt, and the shoe embryo 10 may then shape according to an appearance of the mold to complete a knitted shoe prototype 100, as shown in
Accordingly, after the shoe embryo 10 of the embodiment is manufactured, the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 are clamped among the first shoe upper 11, the second shoe upper 12, the first lining 18 and the second lining 19. Thus, the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 cannot be directly contacted in the in-shoe space 13, so as to prevent direct damages of the reinforcement piece 160 and the extension 170 caused by wearing. Further, by performing an appropriate processing on the shoe embryo 10, e.g., a heating process or a paint spray process, the knitted shoe prototype 100 may be completed, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Known from the weaving details disclosed by the schematic diagrams of the weaving processes of the present invention, the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 of the present invention may respectively be woven from different yarns (20 and 21). That is to say, if the needle beds (i.e., the front needle bed 901 and the back needle bed 902) perform weaving using different yarns, when the needle bed (e.g., the front needle bed 901) currently performing weaving reaches an end, yarn stitching and securing is assisted by a needle of the other needle bed (e.g., the back needle bed 902) at the opposite side, thereby interweaving the first shoe upper 11 and the second shoe upper 12 to form a tubular shape.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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106108081 | Mar 2017 | TW | national |