Staubli Italia S.p.a.

Conti, Gianni

Venni, Massimo

Loop S.r.l.

Massimo Venni

Gianni Conti

Mauro Barbieri

The method for manufacturing tubular knitted articles (M) comprises the steps of: a) knitting a tubular knitted article (M) with the needle cylinder (); b) transferring loops (MA) of a last-formed course of loops from the needles () of the needle cylinder () onto the pick-up members (A,B) of a transfer unit (), divided into two circular half-rings (A,B,A,B) which can be overturned over each other; c) overturning one of the circular half-rings (A,B,A,B) of pick-up members (B) onto the other so as to arrange two edge portions of the final edge of the tubular knitted article (M) one onto the other; d) joining the two edge portions to one another by means of joining stitches (A, B, C, D) formed in intermediate spaces between adjacent pick-up members (A), whereon the knitted tubular article (M) is retained; e) unloading the knitted tubular article (M) with the closed toe from the transfer unit ().

Method and machine for knitting tubular knitted articles

The method provides for arranging a pick-up member for the tubular knitted article (M) coaxially with the needle cylinder, when knitting has been completed. The pick-up member () is provided with a plurality of pick-up hooks (A,B) arranged according to a circular ring subdivided into two circular half-rings that can be overturned over each other. The tubular article is engaged by the pick-up hooks while the stitches of the last course of the knitted article are still held by the needles () of the knitting machine. The stitches of the last curse are then removed from the needles and the tubular article is removed from the needle cylinder () by means of the pick-up member (). The two half-rings of pick-up hooks are overturned one onto the other, putting one of two opposite edges of the toe of the tubular article onto the other. The two edges are then sewn or linked.

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Florence, Italy

Massimo Venni