Method for manufacturing socks having a closed toe with a

Abstract

In a first step of the method for manufacturing socks with a single-cylinder circular knitting machine a needle cylinder is oscillated about its own axis with an oscillation angle of about 180.degree. to move half of the needle cylinder that faces a half-platen such that it passes in front of a feed of the machine. During these oscillations, engagement elements are extracted radially from the half-platen towards the needles of the machine, at least one thread dispensed at the feed, and lifting to the knitting position, at each oscillation, 1/n uniformly spaced needles of the mentioned half of the needle cylinder, varying the needles that are moved into the knitting position in the subsequent oscillation or oscillations, and lowering the needles after engaging the thread or threads, which rests on the engagement elements. A second step is then performed, during which the engagement elements are retracted towards the half-platen, retaining the thread or threads that rest thereon. During a third step, heel knitting is performed with the needles of the above-mentioned half of the needle cylinder. During a fourth step, the half-platen is overturned about the diametrical axis such that it faces the other half of the needle cylinder. In a fifth step, the threads previously retained by the engagement elements are passed to the needles of the other half of the needle cylinder. Finally, the machine is actuated for normal operation so as to complete the product.