Modular tool for design of self-folding knit fabrics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11859321-B2
Application number	US-202217710915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2022
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A method for designing a knitted textile or fabric, the method includes receiving graphical input from a user regarding a knit pattern comprised of different types of individual stitches to be included in a textile or fabric design. The method further includes graphically displaying a representation of the textile or fabric design. The method further includes merging sections of continuous stitches of the same type into at least one block. The method further includes graphically displaying the textile or fabric design as a pattern of the at least one block. The method further includes applying edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators to the displayed pattern of the at least one block, where the edge rolling and/or folding indicators respectively and graphically illustrate predicted edge rolling and folding behaviors of a physical textile or fabric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for designing a knitted textile or fabric, the method comprising:
displaying, to a user, blocks representing individual stitches;
receiving graphical input from the user regarding a knit pattern comprised of different types of individual stitches to be included in a textile or fabric design, wherein receiving graphical input includes allowing the user to graphically lay out the blocks in a desired pattern;
graphically displaying the desired pattern as a grid of the blocks;
selecting edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators based on stitch pattern conditions of the displayed pattern and a plurality of rules that specify edge rolling and/or folding indicators for different stitch pattern conditions, where the stitch pattern conditions include orientations of edges of segments of stitches of a given type and orientations of boundaries between segments of stitches of different types; and
applying the selected edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators to the displayed pattern, wherein the edge rolling and/or folding indicators respectively and graphically illustrate predicted edge rolling and folding behaviors of a physical textile or fabric.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving graphical input from the user regarding the knit pattern, stitch geometry, and stitch type includes receiving input from the user regarding knit and purl stitches to be included in the textile or fabric design.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators to edges of blocks of knit and purl stitches oriented at non-oblique angles with respect to a course or wale direction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators comprises applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators to edges of blocks of knit and purl stitches that are oriented at oblique angles with respect to a course or wale direction and applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators at non-oblique angles with respect to the course or wale direction along longest continuous segments of knit or purl stitches.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes automatically applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators using the rules.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes receiving user input for graphically placing the edge rolling and/or folding indicators on the displayed pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising determining scaled dimensions of the displayed pattern according to measured or predicted forces driving edge rolling and/or folding behavior.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising scaling the displayed pattern according to the scaled dimensions.

9. A system for designing a knitted textile or fabric, the system comprising:
a computing platform including at least one processor and a memory; and
a fabric design tool comprising computer executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor for displaying, to a user, blocks representing individual stitches, receiving graphical input from the user regarding a knit pattern comprised of different types of individual stitches to be included in a textile or fabric design, wherein receiving graphical input includes allowing the user to graphically lay out the blocks in a desired pattern graphically displaying the desired pattern as a grid of the blocks, selecting edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators based on stitch pattern conditions of the displayed pattern and a plurality of rules that specify edge rolling and/or folding indicators for different stitch pattern conditions, where the stitch pattern conditions include orientations of edges of segments of stitches of a given type and orientations of boundaries between segments of stitches of different types, applying the selected edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators to the displayed pattern, wherein the edge rolling and/or folding indicators respectively and graphically illustrate predicted edge rolling and folding behaviors of a physical textile or fabric.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein receiving graphical input from the user regarding the knit pattern, stitch geometry, and stitch type includes receiving input from the user regarding knit and purl stitches to be included in the textile or fabric design.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators to edges of blocks of knit and purl stitches oriented at non-oblique angles with respect to a course or wale direction.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators comprises applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators to edges of blocks of knit and purl stitches that are oriented at oblique angles with respect to a course or wale direction and applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators at non-oblique angles with respect to the course or wale direction along longest continuous segments of knit or purl stitches.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes automatically applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators using the rules.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein applying the edge rolling and/or folding indicators includes receiving user input for graphically placing the edge rolling and/or folding indicators on the displayed pattern.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the fabric design tool is configured to determine scaled dimensions of the displayed pattern according to measured or predicted forces driving edge rolling and/or folding behavior.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the fabric design tool is configured to scale the displayed pattern according to the scaled dimensions.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:
displaying, to a user, blocks representing individual stitches;
receiving graphical input from the user regarding a knit pattern comprised of different types of individual stitches to be included in a textile or fabric design, wherein receiving graphical input includes allowing the user to graphically lay out the blocks in a desired pattern;
graphically displaying the desired pattern as a grid of the blocks;
selecting edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators based on stitch pattern conditions of the displayed pattern and a plurality of rules that specify edge rolling and/or folding indicators for different stitch pattern conditions, where the stitch pattern conditions include orientations of edges of segments of stitches of a given type and orientations of boundaries between segments of stitches of different types; and
applying the selected edge rolling indicators and/or folding indicators to the displayed pattern, wherein the edge rolling and/or folding indicators respectively and graphically illustrate predicted edge rolling and folding behaviors of a physical textile or fabric.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein receiving graphical input from the user regarding the knit pattern, stitch geometry, and stitch type includes receiving input from the user regarding knit and purl stitches to be included in the textile or fabric design.

19. The non-transitory computer r

Assignees

• Univ Drexel
• Univ Pennsylvania

Inventors

• Dion Genevieve Eugenie
• Amanatides Chelsea Elizabeth
• Kamien Randall

Classifications

• D04B37/00 Primary

  Auxiliary apparatus or devices for use with knitting machines (Jacquard cards, pattern chains, apparatus for punching same D03C) · CPC title

• D04B1/102

  with stitch pattern (D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• D04B15/80

  characterised by the thread guides used · CPC title

• D04B21/06

  Patterned fabrics or articles (open-work fabrics D04B21/10) · CPC title