Patents by Inventor Francesco Lonati

Francesco Lonati has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12129580
    Abstract: A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular pick-up body which supports pick-up elements which can slide relative to the pick-up body along radial directions. The end of each one of the pick-up elements has a seat which can engage a region of the stem of the needle located proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle. The device comprises actuation elements formed by elastic elements which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding toward the axis of the pick-up body and radial pushers which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding away from the axis of the pick-up body in contrast with the action of the elastic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Lonati, Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 12091789
    Abstract: A removal device for removing a knitted tubular manufacture from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular removal body which supports a plurality of removal members arranged around the axis of the removal body, the removal body being arrangeable coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, wherein the removal members are supported by a first annular portion and a second annular portion which can rotate with respect to each other about an oscillation axis to pass between a removal condition, in which they are arranged so as to form a circumference that is coaxial with the axis of the removal device, and a sewing condition, in which the annular portions are arranged so as to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20240263368
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine with a needle cylinder configured to provide a tubular item and comprising a pickup device passing between a pickup position, in which it is arranged coaxially around the cylinder to pick up the item, and a position for its release at a station which is spaced laterally from the cylinder, at the station is a turning device comprising a lower portion forming an access inlet, the lower portion of the turning device being designed to accommodate coaxially the item to turn it, the circular machine comprises traction means acting on command at the outer surface of the tubular item and adapted to convey one portion of it at one accumulation region, the turning device being associated with suction means to transfer one portion of the tubular manufacture conveyed in the accumulation region toward the lower portion of the turning device through the access inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI
  • Publication number: 20240240373
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery, comprising at least one needle cylinder configured to provide a tubular item, and a pickup device which is adapted to pass between a pickup position and a release position at a further processing station, a turning device being provided which comprises a lower portion designed to accommodate coaxially the tubular item, wherein the circular machine comprises a lifting element which is adapted to pass between an inactive condition, in which it is arranged externally with respect to the region affected by the movement of the pickup device and of the corresponding tubular item and an active position, in which the lifting element is adapted to interact with at least one portion of the tubular item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI
  • Patent number: 12024801
    Abstract: A semi-finished component for the manufacture of knitted uppers, comprising a plain knitting and a purl knitting, and at least one longitudinally extended channel which is formed within the knitting between the plane formed by the plain knitting and the plane formed by the purl knitting, the at least one longitudinally extended channel being engageable by an elongated engagement element which forms a lace or a reinforcement element designed to engage with a lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Patent number: 11939710
    Abstract: A device for feeding yarn or yarns for knitting machines for hosiery or the like, comprising a supporting structure which supports at least one yarn finger having an elongated shape and being pivoted, at an intermediate portion thereof, to the supporting structure about a corresponding rotation axis and having, proximate to a longitudinal end thereof, a passage for the yarn or yarns to be fed to the needles of the knitting forming machine, the device for feeding yarn or yarns comprising an electromagnetically actuated device which comprises at least one magnet which is fixed to the at least one yarn finger and at least one electric coil which is laterally adjacent to the at least one yarn finger and is connected to the supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20240044055
    Abstract: A removal device for removing a knitted tubular manufacture from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular removal body which supports a plurality of removal members arranged around the axis of the removal body, the removal body being arrangeable coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, wherein the removal members are supported by a first annular portion and a second annular portion which can rotate with respect to each other about an oscillation axis to pass between a removal condition, in which they are arranged so as to form a circumference that is coaxial with the axis of the removal device, and a sewing condition, in which the annular portions are arranged so as to face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20240011203
    Abstract: A method for closing a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, comprising:—producing the manufacture up to execution of the last course of knitting;—gripping the loops;—removing the manufacture, retaining each loop of the last course formed;—positioning the manufacture at a sewing station;—transitioning the loops from pickup elements to spikes of a handling device;—inverting the manufacture retained by the handling device;—superimposing each one of the loops of one half course of knitting on a corresponding loop of the other half course of the last course of knitting;—sewing pairs of loops of knitting that are mutually superimposed;—disengaging the manufacture from the handling device, the s removal step of the manufacture comprising a first extraction preparation step, a second manufacture extraction step, and a third manufacture transfer step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI
  • Publication number: 20230002940
    Abstract: A circular hosiery knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder which can be actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis, arranged vertically, and on the skirt of which there is a plurality of axial grooves, each accommodating a needle, a tubular body being arranged internally and coaxially to the needle cylinder and being adapted to receive the manufactured item during its forming; the tubular body is supported so that it can slide along an axial direction within the needle cylinder; and actuation means which act on command on the tubular body in order to actuate its axial movement with respect to the needle cylinder, the actuation means being associated with means for controlling the speed of the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Patent number: 11492734
    Abstract: A method for providing intermediate manufactures for production of manufactures such as an inshoe, footlet, no-show sock, shoes or the like with double thickness, with a circular hosiery knitting machine and an intermediate manufacture obtained with the method. The method has the particularity that it comprises at least the following steps: a step of providing a first tubular portion of knitted fabric; a casting-off step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a casting-on step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a step of providing a second tubular portion of knitted fabric by actuating the needle cylinder with a continuous rotary motion about its own axis in one direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20220307167
    Abstract: A removal device for removing a tubular knitted manufacture from a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising an annular removal body which supports a plurality of removal members arranged around the axis of the removal body, which is arrangeable coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine; the removal members are supported by first and second annular portions, which can move by rotation with respect to each other about an oscillation axis in order to pass between a removal condition and a sewing condition, in which the annular portions are arranged so as to face each other, the removal members forming a respective removal head which can move on command along a removal trajectory which has a component that is parallel to the axis of the removal body and at least one radial component away from the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20220142289
    Abstract: A semi-finished component for the manufacture of knitted uppers, comprising a plain knitting and a purl knitting, and at least one longitudinally extended channel which is formed within the knitting between the plane formed by the plain knitting and the plane formed by the purl knitting, the at least one longitudinally extended channel being engageable by an elongated engagement element which forms a lace or a reinforcement element designed to engage with a lace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20220034007
    Abstract: A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular pick-up body which supports pick-up elements which can slide relative to the pick-up body along radial directions. The end of each one of the pick-up elements has a seat which can engage a region of the stem of the needle located proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle. The device comprises actuation elements formed by elastic elements which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding toward the axis of the pick-up body and radial pushers which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding away from the axis of the pick-up body in contrast with the action of the elastic elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Francesco LONATI, Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI
  • Publication number: 20210324553
    Abstract: A method for providing intermediate manufactures for production of manufactures such as an inshoe, footlet, no-show sock, shoes or the like with double thickness, with a circular hosiery knitting machine and an intermediate manufacture obtained with the method. The method has the particularity that it comprises at least the following steps: a step of providing a first tubular portion of knitted fabric; a casting-off step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a casting-on step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a step of providing a second tubular portion of knitted fabric by actuating the needle cylinder with a continuous rotary motion about its own axis in one direction of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI
  • Patent number: 11047075
    Abstract: A method for the production of portions of manufacture by means of a circular knitting machine with needle cylinder, which comprises the following steps: identifying a group of contiguous needles in the needle cylinder; dividing the group of needles into two contiguous needle subgroups, respectively a first needle subgroup and a second needle subgroup; moving to knit at a feed or drop of the machine a needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Patent number: 11015270
    Abstract: A turning device for knitted tubular articles, particularly for turning inside-out tubular articles with pockets that protrude from the lateral surface thereof. The turning device in question comprises a main supporting structure which supports a tubular body arranged with its axis substantially vertical. The tubular body has its upper axial end beveled along a plane that is inclined with respect to its axis. The turning device comprises first actuation means which can be activated to perform a translation of the tubular body along its axis with respect to the main supporting structure. The tubular body is insertable, with its upper axial end, through an axial end of a tubular article in order to turn it inside out. The turning device comprises second actuation means which can be activated to rotate the tubular body about its own axis, through an angle of preset breadth, with respect to the main supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LONATI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20210062376
    Abstract: A method for the production of portions of manufacture by means of a circular knitting machine with needle cylinder, which comprises the following steps: identifying a group of contiguous needles in the needle cylinder; dividing the group of needles into two contiguous needle subgroups, respectively a first needle subgroup and a second needle subgroup; moving to knit at a feed or drop of the machine a needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of r
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI
  • Patent number: 10895027
    Abstract: A pickup device for picking up a knitted tubular manufacture from a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like and for transferring it to a unit adapted to perform additional operations on the manufacture, comprising an annular pickup body that supports a plurality of pickup elements, which are arranged radially around the axis of the pickup body and can slide with respect to the pickup body along radial directions; the pickup body can be arranged coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, with each one of the pickup elements laterally facing a needle of the machine; actuation means are provided which act on the pickup elements for their movement along the radial directions at least from a first position, in which the pickup elements are closer to the axis of the pickup body, to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Patent number: 10718075
    Abstract: A method for preparing a tubular article, such as a sock or the like, for automated pickup at the end of its forming on a double cylinder circular machine with at least one feed or drop, and to a double cylinder circular machine for the execution thereof. The method in question is executed on a machine with at least one feed or drop (100) and with the needle cylinders (4, 5) actuatable with a rotary motion about their own axes (3) with respect to needle actuation cams, to cams (34) for actuating the knockover sinkers (33) and to the feed or drop (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Lonati S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Francesco Lonati
  • Publication number: 20200181817
    Abstract: A device for feeding yarn or yarns for knitting machines for hosiery or the like, comprising a supporting structure which supports at least one yarn finger having an elongated shape and being pivoted, at an intermediate portion thereof, to the supporting structure about a corresponding rotation axis and having, proximate to a longitudinal end thereof, a passage for the yarn or yarns to be fed to the needles of the knitting forming machine, the device for feeding yarn or yarns comprising an electromagnetically actuated device which comprises at least one magnet which is fixed to the at least one yarn finger and at least one electric coil which is laterally adjacent to the at least one yarn finger and is connected to the supporting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Ettore LONATI, Fausto LONATI, Francesco LONATI