Abstract: A multiple system circular knitting machine for knitting stockings, having a reciprocating device for knitting the heel cup using at least two feeds. The needles are advanced solely by jacks in the reciprocating mode, in the rotation mode they are controlled solely by needle advancing cams. A high knitting speed in the rotation mode as well as in the reciprocating mode is achieved by providing that the advancing cams used for advancing the needles in the rotation mode are deactivated in the reciprocating mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for knitting stockings on a circular knitting machine, wherein the reciprocating mode knitting is performed with at least two feeds, the needles are retracted to their rest positions to be raised solely by means of jacks, and a heel cup is formed by initially narrowing and subsequently widening one needle at the beginning of each reciprocating stroke. The invention aims at achieving smaller and more uniform openings along the narrowing and widening boundaries. This is achieved by narrowing, or widening respectively, a further needle at the end of each reciprocating stroke.