Abstract: A double-cylinder circular hosiery knitting machine with device for tensioning the manufacture during its production, comprising a supporting structure which is provided with a footing and supports, so as to allow rotation about its own vertically oriented axis, a lower needle cylinder and an upper needle cylinder, a device for tensioning the manufacture during its production is accommodated inside the needle cylinders and comprises elements for retaining the manufacture, the retention elements comprising a suction tube, which is accommodated internally and coaxially to the lower needle cylinder, and an element for locking the manufacture, which faces the upper end of the suction tube and is supported by the upper needle cylinder, the locking element being movable on command along the axis of the upper needle cylinder to engage or disengage the upper end of the suction tube.

Abstract: A method for preparing a tubular manufacture such as a hosiery item or the like for automated pick-up at the end of its formation on a double-cylinder circular machine including at least the following steps: —a first step, which consists in transferring or retaining all the needles in the lower needle cylinder; —a second step, which consists in moving all the needles to the tuck-stitch position; —a third step, which consists in pushing upward the portion of the manufacture engaged with the needles; —a fourth step, which consists in disengaging the sinkers from the manufacture; —a fifth step, which consists in lifting the needles into the dropped-stitch position.

Abstract: A method for preparing a tubular manufacture such as a hosiery item or the like for automated pick-up at the end of its formation on a double-cylinder circular machine including at least the following steps: —a first step, which consists in transferring or retaining all the needles in the lower needle cylinder; —a second step, which consists in moving all the needles to the tuck-stitch position; —a third step, which consists in pushing upward the portion of the manufacture engaged with the needles; —a fourth step, which consists in disengaging the sinkers from the manufacture; —a fifth step, which consists in lifting the needles into the dropped-stitch position.

Abstract: A double-cylinder circular machine, particularly for knitting hosiery items, with simplified actuation mechanism, comprising a supporting structure which comprises a footing, which supports a lower needle cylinder, and a column which extends substantially vertically, protrudes upwardly from the footing and supports an upper needle cylinder, which is arranged above and coaxially with respect to the lower needle cylinder, and further comprising elements for the actuation of the lower needle cylinder and of the upper needle cylinder with a rotary motion about a common axis, the actuation elements comprising an electric motor which is connected kinematically to the lower needle cylinder and to the upper needle cylinder and is accommodated inside the column.

Abstract: A sewing or looping head, particularly for the automated closing of tubular knitted articles at one of their axial ends comprising a pair of sewing elements, which can move along corresponding actuation paths and cooperate with each other in forming a sewing chain stitch, and a cutting element, which can be actuated to cut the sewing chain stitch; in the sewing or looping head, the cutting element can engage the sewing chain stitch proximate to the crossing point of the paths of the pair of sewing elements or the point where the sewing chain stitch is formed, so as to minimize the length of the sewing chain stitch that exceeds the length needed to sew or loop the article and so as to reduce the time required to perform the sewing or looping operation.

Abstract: A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine for hosiery and for transferring the article to a unit adapted to perform additional work thereon. The device comprises an annular pick-up body that supports pick-up members that can slide with respect to the pick-up body along radial directions. The pick-up body can be arranged coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine for hosiery so that each one of the pick-up members faces laterally a needle of the machine. The end of each one of the pick-up members that is directed toward the axis of the pick-up body has a seat that can engage a region of the stem of the needle that is arranged proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle.

Abstract: A turning device for tubular knitted articles, particularly for sewing or looping stations for the automated closing of tubular articles at an axial end thereof comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, which are arranged respectively below and above an intermediate region at which elements are or can be positioned for supporting the tubular article to be turned, which hangs at one of its axial ends and is arranged substantially vertically, a tubular body, which can be inserted from the bottom upwardly, with its upper axial end, through the axial end of the article that hangs from the supporting elements, so as to evert the article onto the outer lateral surface of the tubular body, extracting it progressively from the upper axial end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like. The method consists in ending the production of an article at one of its axial ends. The article is then picked up from the machine and transferred to a handling device located in a sewing or looping station. The pick-up is performed by transferring individually the loops of the last row of knitting from the needles of the machine to spikes of the handling device, which has an annular body composed of two semiannular elements. The article is then turned, and one of the two semiannular elements is turned over with respect to the other one, so that the spikes of one semiannular element face, and are aligned with, the spikes of the other semiannular element.

Abstract: A sewing or looping head, particularly for the automated closing of tubular knitted articles at one of their axial ends comprising a pair of sewing elements, which can move along corresponding actuation paths and cooperate with each other in forming a sewing chain stitch, and a cutting element, which can be actuated to cut the sewing chain stitch; in the sewing or looping head, the cutting element can engage the sewing chain stitch proximate to the crossing point of the paths of the pair of sewing elements or the point where the sewing chain stitch is formed, so as to minimize the length of the sewing chain stitch that exceeds the length needed to sew or loop the article and so as to reduce the time required to perform the sewing or looping operation.

Abstract: A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine for hosiery and for transferring the article to a unit adapted to perform additional work thereon. The device comprises an annular pick-up body that supports pick-up members that can slide with respect to the pick-up bodyalong radial directions. The pick-up body can be arranged coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine for hosiery so that each one of the pick-up members faces laterally a needle of the machine. The end of each one of the pick-up members that is directed toward the axis of the pick-up body has a seat that can engage a region of the stem of the needle that is arranged proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like. The method consists in ending the production of an article at one of its axial ends. The article is then picked up from the machine and transferred to a handling device located in a sewing or looping station. The pick-up is performed by transferring individually the loops of the last row of knitting from the needles of the machine to spikes of the handling device, which has an annular body composed of two semiannular elements. The article is then turned, and one of the two semiannular elements is turned over with respect to the other one, so that the spikes of one semiannular element face, and are aligned with, the spikes of the other semiannular element.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising a needle cylinder with vertical axis and multiple axial surface slots, each of which accommodates a needle and an actuation element for the needle. The actuation element comprises at least one connecting element. The connecting element is provided with a radially extractable movable heel, that engages connecting element actuation cams facing the lateral surface of the needle cylinder. The cams comprise at least one extraction cam or one retraction cam, which has a portion whose profile is inclined with respect to an ideal plane perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder. The machine comprises extraction means causing extraction of the movable heel and keeping thereof in extracted position over the entire extension of the portion having an inclined profile of the extraction cam or of the retraction cam.

Abstract: A double-cylinder circular knitting machine for hosiery or other knitted articles comprises a lower needle cylinder with a vertical axis and an upper needle cylinder arranged above and coaxially to the lower needle cylinder. Aligned axial slots are formed on the lateral surface of the lower and upper needle cylinders. Each of the axial slots of the lower and upper needle cylinders accommodates an actuation element which can engage a needle to be actuated and is provided with a fixed heel, and with a heel which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. The transfer of a needle from one needle cylinder to the other is performed by fixed cams and by a selection device producing transition into the extracted position of the movable heel exclusively of the actuation elements that correspond to the needles to be moved to the lower needle cylinder.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, which comprises at least one needle cylinder which has a vertical axis and on the lateral surface of which there are axial slots. Each of these axial slots accommodates a needle (106) and an actuation element (110) for the needle (106) which can engage, with one of its ends, the needle (106) arranged in the same axial slot. The needle (106) or the actuation element (110) is provided with a fixed heel (103a), which protrudes radially from the axial slot, and a movable heel (104a) which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. Actuation cams are arranged around the needle cylinder and can be engaged by the fixed heels (103a) and by the movable heels (104a) in the extracted position. The machine can perform the usual knitting of known types of machine despite having an actuation cam set which has an extremely small number of actuation cams which can move for activation or deactivation, or none at all.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprises at least one needle cylinder with vertical axis and has, on its lateral surface, a plurality of axial slots, each of which accommodates a needle and an element for actuating the needle. The actuation element comprises at least one connecting element and a selector. The connecting element is provided with a radially actuatable movable heel, and the selector protrudes with a portion between the bottom of the axial slot and the connecting element in any operative position of the machine. The selector is oscillatable on a radial plane of the needle cylinder to produce oscillation of the connecting element and extract its movable heel from the axial slot to achieve engagement with connecting element actuation cams facing the lateral surface of the needle cylinder.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising a needle cylinder with vertical axis and multiple axial surface slots, each of which accommodates a needle and an actuation element for the needle. The actuation element comprises at least one connecting element. The connecting element is provided with a radially extractable movable heel, that engages connecting element actuation cams facing the lateral surface of the needle cylinder. The cams comprise at least one extraction cam or one retraction cam, which has a portion whose profile is inclined with respect to an ideal plane perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder. The machine comprises extraction means causing extraction of the movable heel and keeping thereof in extracted position over the entire extension of the portion having an inclined profile of the extraction cam or of the retraction cam.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, which comprises at least one needle cylinder which has a vertical axis and on the lateral surface of which there are axial slots. Each of these axial slots accommodates a needle (106) and an actuation element (110) for the needle (106) which can engage, with one of its ends, the needle (106) arranged in the same axial slot. The needle (106) or the actuation element (110) is provided with a fixed heel (103a), which protrudes radially from the axial slot, and a movable heel (104a) which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. Actuation cams are arranged around the needle cylinder and can be engaged by the fixed heels (103a) and by the movable heels (104a) in the extracted position. The machine can perform the usual knitting of known types of machine despite having an actuation cam set which has an extremely small number of actuation cams which can move for activation or deactivation, or none at all.

Abstract: A double-cylinder circular knitting machine for hosiery or other knitted articles comprises a lower needle cylinder with a vertical axis and an upper needle cylinder arranged above and coaxially to the lower needle cylinder. Aligned axial slots are formed on the lateral surface of the lower and upper needle cylinders. Each of the axial slots of the lower and upper needle cylinders accommodates an actuation element which can engage a needle to be actuated and is provided with a fixed heel, and with a heel which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. The transfer of a needle from one needle cylinder to the other is performed by fixed cams and by a selection device producing transition into the extracted position of the movable heel exclusively of the actuation elements that correspond to the needles to be moved to the lower needle cylinder.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprises at least one needle cylinder with vertical axis and has, on its lateral surface, a plurality of axial slots, each of which accommodates a needle and an element for actuating the needle. The actuation element comprises at least one connecting element and a selector. The connecting element is provided with a radially actuatable movable heel, and the selector protrudes with a portion between the bottom of the axial slot and the connecting element in any operative position of the machine. The selector is oscillatable on a radial plane of the needle cylinder to produce oscillation of the connecting element and extract its movable heel from the axial slot to achieve engagement with connecting element actuation cams facing the lateral surface of the needle cylinder.

Abstract: A method of forming an openwork knitted fabric formed of closely knitted, fine gauge yarns formed into knitted loops utilizing at least 11 needles per inch and having at least 25 courses per inch. The fabric is formed by using needles having a hook formed in a top end of a needle shank and a latch pivotally mounted on the needle shank below the hook for opening and closing the hook, and including a deflector for deflecting a loop of yarn being formed by a needle into the vertical plane of an adjacent needle, and a needle cam mounted for reciprocal movement between first and second vertically-spaced positions. The fabric is characterized by having a fine, dense background with small, closely-spaced holes which enable a highly-detailed pattern suitable for a wide range of undergarments and hosiery products. The density and fineness of the fabric provides both the comfort and lack of show through necessary for many garments of this type.