Abstract: A method for manufacturing socks with a circular knitting machine having at least two feeds or drops, consisting in producing the sock starting from its opposite end with respect to the toe. The toe is produced by using at least two feeds simultaneously and by actuating the needle cylinder with an alternating rotary motion so that two sets of needles, arranged on mutually opposite sides, are made to knit respectively at one of the at least two feeds and at the other one of the at least two feeds, forming stitches simultaneously, and gradually decreasing, for a preset number of rows of stitches, the needles of the two sets that are made to knit.

Abstract: The orientation of textile articles such as stockings and socks having closed or open toe are detected by a method and apparatus, in a plant for the automatic treatment of articles in which the articles are pneumatically moved. A machine (6) requires the articles to arrive in a predetermined orientation, that is, presented with either their toe or opposite portion thereof facing the machine (6). Upstream of machine (6) is a removal device (2) able to pick up one or more articles from a container (1) in which the article are disposed in bulk. The apparatus and method are between removal device (2) and machine (6). A tubular chamber (30) is provided with an input/output section (300) for the articles. A fixed pin (31) is disposed centrally within the chamber (30) and substantially coaxial thereto. The articles are fitted onto the pin 30. A detection device (37) detects the presence of an article fitted onto the pin (31).

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic loading socks on forms (1) comprises a suction unit (20) at the entry, a carousel (10) with several stations, a sock positioning unit (30), a sock tucking up unit (40) and a withdrawing and loading robot (50). The carousel has heads (11) carrying elongated supports (12) on which socks (2) are put partially or completely. The heads (11) rotate integrally to the carousel (10) carrying the elongated supports (12) through four following stations and respectively a station at the entry (2) for opening the socks and putting them onto the elongated supports (12), a positioning station (3), a tucking up station (4) and a withdrawing station (5).

Abstract: An apparatus with at least one tubular support (2) rotating about an axis (102), on which a knitted raw tubular portion (3) is placed. The support (2) has holes (42) in communication with a suction system for causing the tubular portion (3), and eventually a semi-finished garment (60) resulting therefrom, to adhere to the support (2) in order to assure its correct position during operation. The tubular portion (3) can be cut along a desired cutting line (61) that is obtained by combination of the rotation (102) of the tubular support and the translation (D2) of cutting means, which can be of laser type. A plurality of supports (2) may be mounted on a carousel (100) rotatable stepwise about a driven axis and carrying the tubular supports (2) through corresponding cutting (154), moisturizing (151), drawing on the support (152,153), loading (150) and unloading (155), quality checking (150,155) workstations.

Abstract: The method comprises using a set of contiguous needles of the needle cylinder; actuating the needle cylinder with an alternating rotary motion about its own axis, through a rotation angle making the knitting needles to pass in front of n feeds or drops of the machine which are used to form the pouch; gradually decreasing the needles made to knit at least one of the n feeds, excluding every time needles located at the lateral ends of the set in at least one step of the knitting process; and gradually increasing, at the lateral ends of the set, the needles that are made to knit at least one of the n feeds in at least one other step of the knitting process.

Abstract: A method for longitudinal orientation of tubular knitted elements such as socks (2), knee socks or the like, wherein a stretching step of the sock (2) is provided in a duct (3) of orientation with its two ends aligned longitudinally. Then, the position of an end that is either a tip portion (2′) or a band portion is detected by means of sensors (13). At the detecting step the sock (2) is conveyed in the duct (3) in a direction according to which the position is known of the band portion with respect to the tip portion (2′), whereby before the introduction of the sock (2) in a loading duct (3) a step is provided of inversion of the sock (2) if the band portion is not oriented in the chosen direction, or a step of rejection. The sock (2) is selectively conveyed in the duct (3) by an air flow in either direction. Also the preliminary stretching step of the sock (2) is carried out by an air flow after preliminary grasping first end thereof, whereby the second end engages the sensors.

Abstract: The method comprises using a set of contiguous needles of the needle cylinder; actuating the needle cylinder with an alternating rotary motion about its own axis, through a rotation angle making the knitting needles to pass in front of n feeds or drops of the machine which are used to form the pouch; gradually decreasing the needles made to knit at at least one of the n feeds, excluding every time needles located at the lateral ends of the set in at least one step of the knitting process; and gradually increasing, at the lateral ends of the set, the needles that are made to knit at at least one of the n feeds in at least one other step of the knitting process.

Abstract: In a double-cylinder circular stocking knitting machine, an actuation element, composed of a slider and a sub-slider, is arranged, at least in the lower needle cylinder, below each needle, inside the same axial slot of the curved surface of the lower needle cylinder. The sub-slider has an actuation element provided with two heels which oscillates to assume a first, a second, or a third position, in which the heels assume different positions. A cam box is arranged around the curved surface of the needle cylinders and comprises a plurality of cams, which define paths for actuation of the sub-slider and of the overlying slider.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling textile articles, comprising means to engage a portion (30) of same articles in a station for the removal thereof and to operate the handling thereof in a predetermined direction (F) up to a station for either the unloading or the release thereof, characterized in that it comprises means (6), acting between said removal and handling means and said article portion (30) engaged by the latter, in order to move said article portion forward by rotating it in said direction (F) about a respective fold axis (u—u): said means (6) being in an active condition in correspondence of the unloading of the articles (3) and, respectively, in a rest condition in correspondence of the removal and handling thereof.

Abstract: A method and a device for stretching hosiery articles such as socks, knee socks and the like comprises a steaming form having a straight portion opposite a foot shape. The steaming form has a friction surface for engaging the band portion of a sock and means for varying the friction surface so as to engage the sock for steaming and release the sock after steaming. The friction surface generally comprises a plate having a plurality of holes, a plurality of retractable tangs that communicate with the holes, and means for reciprocating the retractable tangs with respect to the holes. In this manner the tangs are operatively arranged to hook the band portion of a sock when they protrude from the holes and leave the sock free to slide on the plate when they are retracted. The reciprocation between plate and sheet causes the movement of the tangs to protrude or to retract with respect to the holes.

Abstract: A needle actuation device comprises a cam box facing a needle holder and supporting at least one lowering cam whose profile is inclined with respect to the direction of the motion of the needle holder with respect to the cam box. The profile of the lowering cam engageable by a needle or needle pusher heel, protruding from the needle holder. The lowering cam is movable along an adjustment direction in which at least one component is parallel to the direction of the sliding of the needles in the needle holder, to vary length of knitting loops, and rotatable to vary inclination of the profile with respect to the motion direction. Adjusters are provided to vary inclination of the profile of the lowering cam both correlated to the loop length variation and independently of the loop length variation.

Abstract: A needle actuation device comprises a cam box facing a needle holder and supporting at least one lowering cam whose profile is inclined with respect to the direction of the motion of the needle holder with respect to the cam box. The profile of the lowering cam engageable by a needle or needle pusher heel, protruding from the needle holder. The lowering cam is movable along an adjustment direction in which at least one component is parallel to the direction of the sliding of the needles in the needle holder, to vary length of knitting loops, and rotatable to vary inclination of the profile with respect to the motion direction. Adjusters are provided to vary inclination of the profile of the lowering cam both correlated to the loop length variation and independently of the loop length variation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic orientation of tubular articles, such as stockings and the like, in which one end is thicker than the other, comprising a tubular chamber (1) with an inlet section (I) and an outlet section (U) for, respectively, the admission and exit of the articles (2), characterized in that said chamber (1) is provided with two cascade filter-valves (3, 30) each of which, when in operating condition, prevents the passage of the thicker end (21) and allows the passage of the thinner end (20) of the articles to be treated, said chamber (1) exhibiting a branch (10) whose mouth is in correspondence of the space between said filter-valves (3, 30) and being associated, in conjunction with its branch (10), to an aspirator (9) by means of which an air flow is generated able to convey the in-process articles as desired.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing tubular items, particularly hosiery items, closed at an axial end. The method consists in forming the tubular item on a circular knitting machine by way of the needles of the needle cylinder, starting from the opposite axial end of the item with respect to the axial end to be closed and retaining on the needles of the needle cylinder the last formed row of knitting. The loops of the last row of knitting are then transferred individually from the needles of the needle cylinder to an auxiliary element provided with elements for individually supporting the loops. The supporting elements of at least one half-row of the last row are suitable to receive two loops and to form knitting. The item is reversed before or after transferring it and the loops of one half-row are transferred from the corresponding supporting elements to the supporting elements engaged with the loops of the other half-row.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic orientation of tubular articles, such as stockings and the like, in which one end is thicker than the other, comprising a tubular chamber (1) with an inlet section (I) and an outlet section (U) for, respectively, the admission and exit of the articles (2), characterized in that said chamber (1) is provided with two cascade filter-valves (3, 30) each of which, when in operating condition, prevents the passage of the thicker end (21) and allows the passage of the thinner end (20) of the articles to be treated, said chamber (1) exhibiting a branch (10) whose mouth is in correspondence of the space between said filter-valves (3, 30) and being associated, in conjunction with its branch (10), to an aspirator (9) by means of which an air flow is generated able to convey the in-process articles as desired.

Abstract: A device for transferring digital data between a rotating part and a fixed part of a machine, particularly for hosiery knitting machines and the like, comprising a data transmission unit and a data reception unit, the data reception unit being arranged so as to face the data transmission unit, the data transmission unit and the data reception unit being arranged on two separate parts of the machine, of which one is movable and the other one is fixed.

Abstract: A device for the electronic adjustment of hosiery tension in circular textile machines, whose particularity consists of the fact that it comprises an actuator which is adapted to move a carriage, which is in turn adapted to perform a translatory motion along an axis which is parallel to a diametrical axis of the circular textile machine, the carriage supporting at least one transducer connected to a hosiery advancement device, the transducer being adapted to detect a contrasting force which is due to the advancement of the hosiery item, the contrasting force being processed in a controller which is adapted to emit a speed signal for the actuator, in order to adjust the movement speed of the carriage in contrast with the contrasting force.

Abstract: A device for dispensing at least one thread at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like, particularly for single-cylinder circular machines. The device comprises at least one thread guide which is arranged at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like and has an end for dispensing a thread which laterally faces the needle cylinder proximate to its upper end, in the needle work area of the machine. The thread guide can controllably move with respect to the needle cylinder for shifting its thread dispensing end along a path which has a component which is substantially parallel to the tangent, located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder, to the needle cylinder in a region at which it is arranged.

Abstract: A device for dispensing at least one thread at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like, particularly for single-cylinder circular machines. The device comprises at least one thread guide which is arranged at a feed or drop of a circular machine for knitting hosiery or the like and has an end for dispensing a thread which laterally faces the needle cylinder proximate to its upper end, in the needle work area of the machine. The thread guide can controllably move with respect to the needle cylinder for shifting its thread dispensing end along a path which has a component which is substantially parallel to the tangent, located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder, to the needle cylinder in a region at which it is arranged.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery, with a device for producing tubular items closed at an axial end, and relative method. The machine has a diverter accommodated inside the needle cylinder disengaged from the rotation of the needle cylinder about its own axis with respect to the needle actuation cams and to the lowering sinker actuation cams. The diverter has a profile which protrudes from an internal region of the needle cylinder gradually toward the wall of the needle cylinder. The profile is engaged by an end portion of the item lying inside the needle cylinder between two needles mutually angularly spaced around the axis of the needle cylinder in order to achieve sliding of the item portion along the profile following rotation of the needle cylinder with respect to the diverter. The machine has sinkers for retaining the item portion against the profile during its sliding.