Abstract: A device for selectively feeding threads in knitting machines or the like, which comprises a set of fixed stripers (3) arranged mutually side by side on the outer side of the needle bed or beds (4a,4b) of the machine. Each striper (3) has a passage (5) for a thread (6) to be fed to the needles (7) of the machine, and an element (8) for clamping and cutting the thread (6) arriving from the corresponding striper (3) is provided for each striper (3).

Abstract: A device for tensioning knitted fabrics in knitting machines, particularly in large-diameter circular machines device comprises a plurality of tensioning rollers which are arranged side by side so as to contact substantially all the transverse extension of the fabric, said rollers being arranged below the needle work area of the machine. Each tensioning roller cooperates with a contrast roller which acts on the face of the fabric that is opposite to the face that makes contact with the tensioning rollers and is orientated so that its axis is parallel to the axis of the corresponding tensioning roller. There are actuators for actuating the tensioning rollers so that they rotate about their respective axes in order to apply traction to the fabric being formed. The actuators comprise, for each tensioning roller, a motor which can be actuated independently or in correlation with the actuation of the motors that actuate the other tensioning rollers.

Abstract: A pneumatic thread feeder in knitting machines or the like having at least one tube in which a passage is provided having an outlet to be directed towards the needle work region of a knitting machine; injection means for injecting air through the tube; means for actuating the injection means; and abutments that form a path for the approach of the thread to the inlet of the tube. The tube is served by a thread takeup element that is arc-shaped and is pivoted to a supporting structure about an axis located on the concave side of the body of the takeup element. The takeup element has, proximate to one of its ends, a passage for the thread, and is arranged so as to move transversely with respect to a portion of the path for the approach of the thread to the tube when it is turned about the axis.

Abstract: This subsea exploration apparatus comprises a ballast tank and a shuttle (7) with a watertight enclosure (10) which contains instrumentation for measurement, control and transmission of signals to a surface buoy. The enclosure is guided along a cable (1) fixed to the ballast tank and is provided with a chamber (26) whose lower opening is equipped with a hatch (29). When the shuttle is in high position, a load of ballast is transferred from the tank (5) into the chamber (26), causing the shuttle to descend. This load is jettisoned in a low position of the shuttle, by opening the hatch (29), in order to permit it to reascend.

Abstract: The circular knitting machine, for manufacturing open fabric, has a thread clamping and cutting device arranged inside the needle cylinder and there is a thread engagement element which is controllably movable from the inside of the needle cylinder toward the outside, and vice versa, in the needle cylinder region which faces the dial, so as to engage the threads at the end of their knitting and so as to carry the threads to undergo the action of a presser element, and a cutting element.

Abstract: The machine has needles accommodated in grooves defined in a needle-holder element. The needles are controllably movable along the related groove from an extraction position, in which the tip of the needles protrudes from the related groove to grip at least one thread fed by a thread guide, to a retracted position, in which the tip of the needles is retracted in the related groove to form a loop of knitting with the engaged thread, and vice versa. A plurality of sinkers are arranged alternated with the needles, each sinker being arranged laterally to a needle. Each of the sinkers has an end which is located proximate to the tip of the related needle in retracted position and has a tip directed toward the bottom of the related groove and curved toward the related needle. Actuation elements act on each sinker to insert their tip in the loop being formed on the related needle proximate to the retracted-position.

Abstract: The machine has a needle holder element which has a plurality of grooves. Each groove accommodates at least one needle and one selector which faces, with one of its longitudinal ends, the base of the needle. Each needle has at least one heel which protrudes from the related groove of the needle holder element and is engageable in paths defined by cams which face the needle holder element, in order to actuate the needles with a reciprocating longitudinal motion along the grooves for forming knitting. Each needle is oscillable in a plane which is substantially parallel to the sides of the related groove for the passage of its heel from a position in which it is sunk in the groove to an extracted position in which it protrudes from the related groove.

Abstract: The device includes at least one selection lever, one end whereof is arranged laterally facing the needle cylinder at the level of a heel of selection elements accommodated in the grooves of the needle cylinder below the selectors or sub-needles. The selection lever is movable towards or away from the needle cylinder from a first position, in which its end engages the heel of the selection elements, to a second position in which it does not interfere with said heel. The end of the selection lever has a rising portion which in the first position raises the selection element when the needle cylinder rotates with respect to the selection lever. As an effect of this lifting, the overlying selector is engaged by a lifting cam arranged facing the needle cylinder so that the overlying needle is moved to knit.

Abstract: This knitting machines includes a device for adjusting the stitch density and for offsetting the stitch cam with respect to adjacent knitting cams. The device comprises a stitch cam associated with a knitting cam supporting structure which is arranged facing a needle supporting element and is movable relatively thereto actuate the needles by means of the knitting cams. The stitch cam is controllably movable relatively to the knitting cam supporting structure along a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of the engaged needles. The stitch cam is furthermore controllably movable relatiely to the knitting cam supporting structure along a direction which is substantially parallel to the tangent to the path of the knitting cam supporting structure in the motion relative to the needle supporting element to anticipate or delay the engagement of the stitch cam with the needles.

Abstract: This device for tensioning knitted fabric in a circular knitting machine. In particular of the large-diameter type, comprises a plurality of tensioning rollers arranged with their respective axes in succession along a broken line inscribed in a circumference which is concentric to the machine; the tensioning roller co-operate with presser counter-rollers to retain the knitted fabric, and actuation elements act on the tensioning rollers and rotate them to tension the knitted fabric while it is being formed. The actuation elements are constituted by hydraulic motors, each motor being arranged inside a respective one of the tensioning rollers and acting on the roller to controllably rotate it about its axis.

Abstract: The process has: a first step of formation of an elastic border, a second step of formation of a tubular body of knitting starting from the elastic border for a preset number of complete rows, a third step in which a first group of needles and a second group of needles of the machine, which operate on mutually angularly spaced portions of the tubular body, are excluded from working to define a pair of missing portions which constitute the leg apertures of the briefs; the needles excluded from working gradually increase in number for a widening of the missing portions. In the second step, during the knitting of the last complete rows of the tubular body, a preset number of needles, which operate in the mutually angularly spaced regions, and, in the third step, a preset number of needles proximate to the first group and to the second group of needles, are fed with yarn and with elastic thread for the formation of an elastic border around the leg apertures.

Abstract: This device for the selection of the needles comprises a selector accommodated below a needle in a same groove of a needle bed of the machine. The selector is controllably movable from an extraction position, in which a heel thereof protrudes from the groove to engage with selection cams facing said needle bed, to a sunk position, in which the heel is accommodated in the groove so as to not engage with the selection cams. Between the selector and the bottom of the groove an elastic element is interposed which keeps the selector in the extraction position and a sinking cam is provided, rigidly associated with the selection cams, which causes the passage of the selector from the extraction position to the sunk position in contrast with the elastic element. A rod is engageable with the elastic element to keep the selector in the sunk position and actuators controllably act on the rod to cause disengagement thereof from the elastic element so as to obtain the passage of the selector to the extraction position.

Abstract: This device for supporting cops in circular knitting machines, particularly in fixed needle cylinder knitting machines, comprises a plurality of frames which are arranged close together around the machine axis and carry the machine feed cops. Each frame is translatable parallel to itself along a direction having a substantially parallel component to the machine axis from a first raised working position to a second depressed position away from the machine axis to enable a floor-based operator to get at the cops of one frame when the latter occupies the second position; the device also comprises hooks for locking the frames in the first position.

Abstract: The device is provided with electric signal emitting members associated with one machine portion, electric signal receiving members associated with another machine portion, a first and second optical fiber element respectively attached to a first and second stationary machine portion, a third and fourth optical fiber element attached to a rotating machine portion included between the first and second stationary machine portion. The ends of the first and second optical fiber element mutually face respective ends of the third and fourth optical fiber elements, the ends thereof laying coaxial with the axis of the rotating machine portion and the first and third optical fiber elements being autonomous from the second and fourth optical fiber elements for contemporaneously transmitting different signals having different frequencies from one of the machine portion to the other.

Abstract: The device comprises a small plate elastically flexible, longitudinally flanked by a needle for plain knitting, or purl knitting, and movable in a direction longitudinal with respect to it. The needle has on one of its sides an inclined area with which at least one inclined area engages, defined by a bend of the small plate at the moment of its motion relatively to the needle. In this manner an elastic flexing of the small plate is obtained moving away from the needle which defines a loop within which a needle for purl or plain knitting can be inserted, in order to transfer a loop of knitting retained around the loop.

Abstract: To transfer electric control signals between a stationary portion and rotary portion of a machine, in particular a circular knitting machine, a device is disclosed which comprises two optical fiber cables respectively attached, the one to the stationary portion and the other to the rotary portion, and arranged to axially face each other on the rotation axis of the machine rotary portion such that the light flux can be transferred from one fiber to the other. An electro-optical element converts the electric signals, which may be of the digital type, into optical signals, which are applied to one of the optical fiber cables and then received on the other cable through a coupling for free relative coaxial rotation. The signals are again converted into electric signals through an opto-electric element, and then processed to control machine actuators. The transfer arrangement is free of any sliding electric contacts and unaffected by noise and interference.