Abstract: On the disc (5) carrying the hooks (7) are two concentric pipes (12, 14) for tensioning the tubular fabric and for inverting it at the conclusion of the formation of the article. To close the toe: the loops of half of the needles (3A) are loaded onto the corresponding hooks (7A) and a first non-run lip (21) is formed and released onto the hooks (7A); the needles (3B) of the other half of the needles are used to form a second non-run lip (23) which is then transferred to the fabric-free needles (3A) of the opposite half, which engage the fabric along the second non-run lip (21) is passed from the hooks (7A) to the needles (3A), and a third non-run lip (25) is formed.

Abstract: The antitwist device for circular knitting machines comprises a perforated tube (15E) rotating with the needle cylinder (1) of the knitting machine and a fixed outer tube (15A) essentially coaxial with the perforated tube (15E), inside which is generated a vacuum through a side air connection (15D), a space being defined between said perforated tube (15E) and the outer tube (15A). Inside this space, there is at least one cleaning element (45) attached to an actuator device (43) that moves the cleaning element into contact with the outer surface of the perforated tube (15E).

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for producing a tubular knitted article having a closed end. The apparatus includes a circular knitting element for forming the tubular knitted article and a closure assembly located downstream of the circular knitting element for forming the closed end. An accumulator assembly is located between the circular knitting element and the closure assembly to provide tension to the tubular knitted article when the closure assembly is closed, thereby permitting the circular knitting element to continuously form the tubular knitted article during the operation of the closure assembly. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a cutting assembly is located between the accumulator assembly and the closure assembly, the cutting assembly being selectively operable to cut the tubular knitted article during the operation of the closure assembly.

Abstract: A sock or other tubular article with one closed end and with rib fabric--that is, with face and reverse stitches--is formed in a double-cylinder circular machine (1, 3), in which the toe is closed at the end of the process of forming the tubular fabric, by a device (41, 51, 53, 49) that transfers the stitches of one semicircle to the stitches of the opposite semicircle.

Abstract: An attachment for the cylinder apparatus of a circular knitting machine which produces lock stitched hosiery. The attachment further includes an additional attachment which provides a mechanism to gather and sever a tubular hosiery segment intermediate its distal ends, creating two equal sized hosiery segments each having a closed end and an open end for use as foot covers, or footies, and having the advantage of creating two footies per cut with virtually no waste. A collar connecting device interconnects an extension cylinder to a standard cylinder tube on an existing knitting machine. The collar connecting device permits a double cylinder arrangement with an intermediate gathering, sealing and cutting device which yields a pair of hosiery footies with a single cutting action thus doubling the standard output, and eliminating the usual waste product.

Abstract: A unit is disclosed for transmitting motion to the hosiery suction tube in a circular knitting machine of the type having a fixed supporting plate to which a cylinder support with a vertical axis, an internal hosiery passage tube that is coaxial to the cylinder support, and an underlying perforated tube are rotatably coupled. The unit has respective flanges rigidly coupled below the cylinder support and above the perforated tube and supporting respective pluralities of permanent magnets that are distributed in an annular fashion and constitute a magnetic coupling between the flanges for the rotary actuation of the perforated tube. A collar of a material that has high magnetic reluctance is arranged in the air gap formed between the rings of facing magnets and has a device for rotary coupling to the hosiery passage and a device for selective coupling to said flanges or to said fixed supporting plate for causing or stopping the rotation of the hosiery passage tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal pre-fixing of stockings directly from a circular knitting machine has a cylindrical treatment chamber with an inlet valve and an outlet valve and is connected to a hosiery knitting machine through a conduit an to a suction conduit to transfer the stockings. The chamber has a blade valve for the admission of air during the expulsion of the treated stockings, a by-pass conduit connected to each end of the chamber with the interposition of a valve, an optical sensor upstream of the treatment chamber for detecting the arrival of a stocking and a heat exchanger to heat the treatment air.

Abstract: A single-cylinder circular knitting machine with anti-twist device includes a needle cylinder in which there is a cavity which is open upward and can be connected, through a perforated region which extends around the needle cylinder axis, to a suction device so as to retain the product during its forming against the walls of the cavity. An inner tubular body is arranged inside the cavity and can be connected to a suction device for drawing the finished product through the inner tubular body. The inner tubular body is controllably movable along an axial direction from a first position, in which its upper end is proximate to the upper end of the needle cylinder, to a second position, in which its upper end is proximate to the bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus which provides for servo regulation of a yarn furnisher for a circular knitting machine which permits the knitting machine to operate at a higher speed, controls and varies the tension of the yarn supplied to a knitting machine, and provides a two-bagging unit receptacle for the directing and receiving of the knitted products.

Abstract: A duct (12) movable axially within a tubular wall (1) is provided so as to form with the latter a cavity (I) with grill (14) and an expansion piece (7) shaped so as to cooperate with the upper edge of the duct (12) when the latter is raised so as to close it off and when the latter is lowered so as to form an annular space. A body (18) with holes (20) for entry of the air into the cavity (I) is provided at the end of the tubular wall (1). The duct (12) is movable through a central hole (18A) of the body (18) and has a collar (24) which closes off the holes (20) when the duct (12) is raised, and has holes (26) which, when the duct (12) is raised, are located above the body (18) and, when the duct (12Is lowered, are closed off by the wall of the hole (18A). The suction current is created in the duct (12) during the two phases of tensioning and reversing.

Abstract: The twin-cylinder circular knitting machine with knitted fabric tensioning device having members for retaining the fabric proximate to a knitting forming region. A first fluid-activated piston is accommodated in the upper needle cylinder and is provided with a hollow stem which is open at its ends. The lower end of the stem is engageable, by means of the sliding of the piston parallel to the axis of the needle cylinders, with the knitted fabric being formed in order to apply tension thereto. The retention members have dimensions for allowing the stem to slide outside of the retention members. The tensioning device also has an auxiliary actuation piston which acts on the piston to achieve its descent at a controlled rate at least until the lower end of the stem of the piston makes contact with the fabric in the region comprised between the retention members and the knitting forming region.

Abstract: A cylindrically knitted fabric is produced in a knitting region adjacent to the top of a needle cylinder of a knitting machine. The knitted fabric is guided downward around a conical nozzle and fed downward in a twisting-preventive guide cylinder rotating in synchronism with the needle cylinder. Air is ejected downward from air openings around the conical nozzle so that the knitted fabric is moved downward. Air is ejected downward from the nozzle into the cylindrical knitted fabric, which is thereby pressed against the inner surface of the guide cylinder. Upon being thus delivered from the bottom of the guide cylinder without contamination and twist, the knitted fabric is received on a conical gripper and is then conveyed by a pickup mechanism to a next processing step for producing socks, panty hose or tights.

Abstract: A device for pneumatically tensioning and reversing tubular manufactured articles such as socks, upon completion, by a circular knitting machine. The device includes a small diameter rotating needle cylinder. The device has an external tubular casing and an internal element for forming an interspace with an annular cross section for pneumatic tensioning. The internal element forms an axial passage inside which the manufactured article is turned inward and reversed during a pneumatic operation where the article is reversed and conveyed away. Both the tubular casing and the internal element consist of two sections with different diameters. Upper sections with a smaller diameter are accommodated within the needle cylinder and the lower sections with a larger diameter are located outside and adjacent to the needle cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for finishing hosiery, coupled to an individual knitting machine (2) includes a tube and valve (4, 6) for conveying completed articles to a chamber (10) formed by a sleeve heated by a resistance element (12) contained in the chamber (10). A pair of parallel control rods (18) move a slide (16), and articles are heated simultaneously with the knitting cycle of the next article to effect partial relaxation and shrinkage in step with the knitting machine.

Abstract: A knitwork tensioning device has a fabric locking mechanism normally disposed in the lower needle cylinder of a double cylinder circular knitting machine. The fabric locking mechanism has a set of locking fingers capable of fluid pressure actuation for locking the fabric being knitted against the bottom end of an inner movable tube within the upper needle cylinder. The fabric locking mechanism is itself capable of fluid pressure actuation for movement into the upper needle cylinder. Locked against the inner movable tube by the locking fingers, the fabric is stretched as the fabric locking mechanism travels with the inner movable tube up into the upper needle cylinder under fluid pressure. The upper needle cylinder has also mounted therein an outer movable tube slidably fitted over the inner movable tube.

Abstract: The control device comprises a switching valve acting on the pneumatic circuit for passing from a first tensioning phase to a second transport phase and vice versa, and a step motor operated by an electronic machine control member and operatively connected to the cutoff element of the switching valve. The step motor allows to perform, according to a preset program, the passage from the first phase to the second phase and vice versa, and to achieve, at least in the first phase, a choking of the flow which crosses the switching valve to adjust the tension to which the product is subject.

Abstract: Device and process for pulling with reversing circular knitting frames, comprising a cylindrical shell coaxial with the needle cylinder or the needle cylinders of the frame, and positioned above the plane of formation of the knitted fabric. A cylindrical sleeve is positioned coaxially with the shell, and axially slidable within the shell. A rotatable expandable tensioning piston is positioned coaxially with the sleeve and axially movable within said sleeve to expand and clamp the knitted tubular fabric inside the sleeve and drag upwardly the sleeve as well as the tubular knitted fabric.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine has a take-down mechanism with a pair of sequentially reciprocable annular resilient members (4) movable alongside a take-down throat (31) internally of needles (14) in a cylinder (18).Annularly arranged cams (20,21) reciprocate the members (4) while rotating concentrically but separately of the cylinder (18). The cams (20,21) are driven by gears (22,24) to rotate at a speed lower than the cylinder (18) to give a surprisingly improved take-down effect.

Abstract: A knitwork drawing device which has a hollow piston rod movable axially through one of the needle cylinders in a double cylinder circular knitting machine, and a knitwork retaining member arranged at the height of the stitch-formation area and rotatable with the needle cylinders. The hollow piston rod is secured to a fluid-operated piston slidable in a cylindrical chamber coaxial with the needle cylinders. Tensioning of the knitwork is effected by leaving the hollow piston rod to rest on the knitwork being knitted, which is held at its initial portion by the retaining member internally of the hollow piston rod and by the needles which continue to knit externally of the hollow piston rod. The whole stroke of the piston and hollow piston rod is thus the half of the whole length of the knitwork and the axial dimension of the knitting machine is considerably reduced.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine, in particular for knitting hosiery, is disclosed, wherein the dial is rotated by the needle cylinder through a rod extending coaxially with the cylinder and dial and rotatively connected to the latter. The rod can be shifted axially from a position of engagement with a drive element rigid with the cylinder, to a position of disengagement therefrom, and viceversa. In the former condition, the dial will be rotated in timed relationship with the cylinder, whereby the fabric is knitted normally, whereas in the latter condition, the knitted fabric is discharged. The rod axial movement may be obtained by pneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinder, whose piston is rotatably connected to the rod itself. It is further possible to make the dial raisable vertically through a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, such as to make the loop formation area fully accessible.

Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.

Abstract: A knitwork drawing device which has a hollow piston rod movable axially through one of the needle cylinders in a double cylinder circular knitting machine, and a knitwork retaining member arranged at the height of the stitch-formation area and rotatable with the needle cylinders. The hollow piston rod is secured to a fluid-operated piston slidable in a cylindrical chamber coaxial with the needle cylinders. Tensioning of the knitwork is effected by leaving the hollow piston rod to rest on the knitwork being knitted, which is held at its initial portion by the retaining member internally of the hollow piston rod and by the needles which continue to knit externally of the hollow piston rod. The whole stroke of the piston and hollow piston rod is thus the half of the whole length of the knitwork and the axial dimension of the knitting machine is considerably reduced.

Abstract: Machine for knitting a tubular fabric, in particular stocking articles, comprising a needle cylinder, a cylinder holder, a dial, suction and discharge ducts for the produced tubular fabric and means for driving the cylinder holder. A shaft extends coaxially through the needle cylinder and the cylinder holder and is affixed to the dial. A tube-like body is mounted coaxially within the cylinder holder wherewith it rotates. The tube-like body is displaceable axially in the cylinder holder from a position whereat it is coupled directly to and made rigid for rotation with the shaft, to a position whereat it forms with the shaft at least one annular passage for communication with the suction and discharge ducts for the produced tubular fabric. A control member is provided of essentially lever-like configuration for axially displacing the tube-like body.

Abstract: A portable, compact, unitized device for transferring articles by pneumatic means from a processing machine to a collection receptacle includes a chamber divided into two compartments by a perforated plate, and having a releasable closure cap at one end and a trap door at the opposite end. A port in one compartment is coupled to a vacuum source, and a work inlet port in the other compartment communicates with a work processing means. An actuator, completely encompassed within one compartment and mounted upon the releasable closure, includes a shutter moveable axially of the vaccum source port for controlling air flow through the compartments.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine includes a pneumatic tensioning duct which receives the article being knitted on the rotating needle cylinder of the machine. In order to prevent the article from twisting in the duct during knitting of the article, the article is retained in a rotating portion of the duct by a very flexible tubular grid structure which is located in the rotating portion and which has a constriction to prevent passage of the article. At the end of knitting, the constriction in tubular grid structure is temporarily removed to permit passage of the article.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating hosiery produced on a circular knitting machine. The hosiery is knitted as a continuous tubular fabric with a weakened portion being formed between articles to be separated. The separating apparatus includes a frame mounted below the knitting machine, a gripping and separating arm pivotally mounted on the frame, and a fixed clamping arm mounted on the frame below the gripping and separating arm. The gripping arm and the clamping arm each include a pair of jaws which are intermittently actuated to engage the tubular fabric adjacent the weakened portion of the articles. The gripping arm is pivoted to exert an arcuate pulling force upwardly away from the clamping arm to cause the articles to be separated along their weakened portions. The separation action is arranged so as to prevent stretching of the fabric coming from the knitting machine. A fabric guide and a pneumatic transport for the separator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic take-down device for a circular knitting machine of the rotating cylinder type has a take-down tube mounted in the cylinder for rotation therewith and opens into an article receiving chamber in a housing that is mounted on the tube for rotation therewith. Suction is applied to the housing through perforations so that a suction take-down tension is applied to an article being knit to draw the article into the housing chamber and retain it therein without relative twisting during the knitting operation. The tube opens transversely to feed articles transversely to the perforations and also opens across the tube for in line discharge of articles through a discharge opening in the housing when suction is drawn through the discharge opening and discontinued through the perforations upon completion of knitting of an article. The tube has a cylindrically reduced portion adjacent the needle end of the cylinder for concentrated article tensioning suction thereat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating and separately collecting stockings and toe end waste therefrom, incorporated with a toe end closing apparatus for a circular knitting machine where the stocking is gathered in a clamp at the toe end and closed thereat, with a short waste end portion being severed therefrom by the closing operation, and including a movable stop for the clamp actuator to stop clamp opening at a partially open position to retain the entirety of the waste end temporarily while the stocking is conventionally sucked away from the clamp through a conduit to a collection station, after which the stop is moved to allow full opening of the clamp for release of the waste end into the suction current created by an air jet temporarily blowing across the conduit for transporting the entirety of the waste end in fabric form to a separate waste collection station.

Abstract: In a circular knitting machine, means for tensioning the fabric as it is knitted, comprising one or more reciprocating resilient annular members within the needle cylinder for alternately trapping and downardly tensioning the fabric as it passes over the guide surface of a throat piece. Immediately thereafter the fabric is drawn further downwardly over a smooth annular rim of a suction tube, and entrained upwardly through the suction tube by air flow, thereby obtaining an even mechanical downward tensioning while drawing the fabric off upwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for turning, separating, stacking and counting hosiery directly on a knitting machine. A hosiery positioning tube is suspended below the knitting cylinder of the machine with the hosiery string being knitted around the tube. The tube is suspended on a hanger extending through a hollow star rod of the machine. Intermittently driven feed rollers are positioned on opposite sides of the tube to step feed the hose string down the tube. Gripping fingers mounted on a swinging arm just below the bottom of the tube separate each hose in turn. An air orifice on the inner finger positioned in the mouth of tube intermittently blows the final hose on the string up into the tube to provide an everting operation.