Improved hosiery and hosiery circular knitting machine and method of closing one end of a tubular article directly on the circular machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a circular machine (1) for producing tubular articles (8) and to the corresponding method. The circular machine comprises a turner (9) arranged above and axially aligned with the needle cylinder (4) of the machine and configured to extract the tubular articles from the needle cylinder (4), turning them inside out, and a transfer device (12) for collecting the respective stitches from at least one preceding half-needle cylinder needle and grouping them with the stitches arranged on the following half-needle cylinder needle, so that there are two stitches that need to be joined by processing at least one yarn (7) through at least said half-needle cylinder needle on each needle of the half-needle cylinder needle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to machines for producing knitted fabrics, and more particularly to apparatus for such machines and methods for closing one end of a tubular article directly on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or knitting. Background Technology

[0002] Hosiery and circular knitting machines generally consist of a rotating cylinder with multiple parallel grooves on its circumference that receive an equal number of vertically arranged, i.e., vertically oriented needles parallel to the cylinder's generatrix. Alternatively, in so-called double-cylinder machines, two rotating cylinders are arranged, one above the other, each with circumferential grooves and mounted vertically to each other such that their respective grooves are aligned. Thus, needles can be slid into one or the other rotating cylinder as needed. Each cylinder rotates, and at least one yarn to be knitted is fed to the needles via one or more yarn feeders (also called feeders) combined with the cylinders.

[0003] The needle includes a so-called hook and a lock adapted to close the hook during the stitch forming step, and can move between a raised position, an intermediate or restricted position and a lowered position in response to stress applied by a cam, which is combined with the outer surface of a rotating needle cylinder to move toward or away from it, thereby intercepting at least one yarn and forming a stitch.

[0004] Therefore, the tubular products produced by these machines are open at both ends. Specifically, if it is necessary to produce bag-shaped parts, such as in the case of socks, where the parts are designed to fit around the wearer's heel and toes, each rotating syringe can rotate in a continuous and reciprocating motion. Typically, socks are produced starting from the edge and ending at the toe.

[0005] In recent years, devices have been developed that allow the edges of an article to be joined together at one end—specifically, at the end corresponding to the toe at the beginning or end of its production—to obtain an almost complete article, except for possible additional elements to be applied after its production, in order to continue possible subsequent dyeing and / or finishing and / or ironing steps.

[0006] In particular, sock knitting machines have been proposed that are configured to connect the end edges of socks using needles from the same machine.

[0007] Specifically, document WO2007 / 110894A2 relates to a machine for closing tubular articles (e.g., socks) from the inside, by which the article is produced starting from the edge but kept being drawn upwards during production. The article is drawn from the beginning of production into a recess formed at the height of a normally non-hollow shaft in the machine component. This recess is very small because, due to structural limitations of the same machine, this shaft cannot have a large diameter. Therefore, it is disadvantageous that the socks are not produced in the conventional way, but rather held on the reverse side during their formation, an extremely complex operation, constantly drawn into a small recess, leading to malfunctions and requiring significant modifications to the normal production methods of the same machine and socks.

[0008] A machine and method according to document US2010 / 319410A1 is also proposed, which relates to an apparatus for closing the end of a tubular stocking article. To transfer the stitch from a first needle arch to an opposing second needle arch, the apparatus includes a semi-circular sector that can be flipped and has multiple elements terminating at a bifurcation, each element having a protrusion adapted to engage the end stitch formed by the corresponding needle and transfer it to the corresponding needle of the second needle arch. Disadvantageously, this arrangement can be used to join the two ends of the tubular article's end while the same article retains its final configuration and therefore does not flip inwards or outwards. Consequently, the seam of the tubular article is located on the outside of the same article, which is unpleasant and generally unacceptable to consumers, who are accustomed to having seams hidden on the inside of the stocking.

[0009] To overcome these drawbacks, the applicant's international patent application WO 2021 / 124067 relates to a method and a circular instrument that provides a step of flipping a cylindrical article before it is closed. According to the proposed solution, the machine is combined with a device for flipping the cylindrical article inside out, the device being laterally displaced relative to the syringe of the machine during the formation of the cylindrical article, and being brought to the syringe only during the flipping step.

[0010] A proposed solution has been developed where the space above the machine cylinder is occupied by the machine head and yarn feeding station during the production of tubular products. However, this solution has proven structurally complex because the lateral movement of the device and its centering relative to the machine cylinder are difficult to achieve and costly. This is particularly true in the production of stockings, where the device's height increases significantly, further complicating its operation and centering. Summary of the Invention

[0011] One object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems described with reference to the prior art by providing a circular knitting machine and method for closing one end of a tubular article from the inside, the tubular article being produced in a conventional manner by means of a circular knitting machine for hosiery and knitwear with at least one lower cylinder, starting from one of its edges which are intended to retain an opening.

[0012] Another objective is to propose a circular instrument and method that allows the ends of a cylindrical article to be closed while maintaining the cylindrical article in its conventional arrangement within the lower syringe during its manufacture.

[0013] Another objective is to propose a system that is simpler and more economical than existing systems, requiring almost no modification to the machine, being more efficient, and less prone to wear and tear.

[0014] Another objective is to propose a closure device for the end of an article that is durable and wear-resistant, aesthetically pleasing, and incorporated into the interior of a cylindrical article.

[0015] These objectives are achieved by an improved circular knitting machine. Specifically, the machine includes: a flipper, which is combined with the same machine to always be axially aligned with at least one syringe and configured to remove the cylindrical article from the syringe while flipping it inside out by bringing it above the syringe and holding it above the syringe; and a transfer device, which is provided with at least means for collecting the needle feet of the first half of the needle from the lower syringe of the machine, and after flipping the cylindrical article inside out, positioning it together with the needle feet originally present on the first half of the needle on the other half of the syringe needle.

[0016] Advantageously, the inverter can be translated between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the inverter moves away from the syringe and is located above the head of the machine. In the lowered position, the inverter moves closer to the syringe of the machine.

[0017] This arrangement prevents the flipper from making any lateral movement, allowing only vertical movement from top to bottom and bottom to top. This ensures that the flipper is always correctly centered relative to the syringe and, by being positioned in the raised position relative to the machine head, maintains alignment with the syringe even during the production of tubular products.

[0018] Due to the action of the flipper, the inner surface of the tubular product is on the outside. Therefore, once the tubular product is flipped inside out again for use, the seams of the tubular product, especially the free yarn segments formed at its end joints, remain within the same tubular product.

[0019] Advantageously, during production, the article is held inside the lower syringe as usual, so that it is in its final configuration rather than on the reverse side. The cylindrical article can only be turned inside out after it is completed and before one end is closed.

[0020] Preferably, after positioning the paired needles on half of the syringe needle, the flipper repositions the cylindrical article inside the syringe.

[0021] Advantageously, the flipper is used to engage the transfer device, particularly the sleeve combined with the transfer device. For this purpose, the flipper is preferably combined with a circular knives by means of a frame, on which the flipper is movably mounted between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the flipper is located above the head of the machine, and in the lowered position, the flipper moves closer to the syringe, or vice versa.

[0022] The flipper includes a housing or outer tube, inside which a cylindrical element is slidably mounted.

[0023] Preferably, the suction device is combined with a container and / or a tubular element to assist in the steps of withdrawing the tubular article from the syringe and turning it inside out, and to retain the tubular article in the container during the steps required to join the opposite pins of the last wire diameter to each other.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, at the lower end of the cylindrical element, at least two anchoring forks extending from opposite sides are combined and configured such that they can generally remain inside the cylindrical element and can extend from the cylindrical element during the step of flipping the cylindrical article inside out.

[0025] Advantageously, the tube, typically combined with a syringe to accommodate the cylindrical article during its formation, can be moved upward to push the last wire diameter needle under the lock of the corresponding needle. To facilitate this operation, the tube may have an outwardly flared end portion.

[0026] The transfer device can move between a position where it is laterally displaced relative to the machine's cylinder and a position where it is located at the machine's cylinder and vertically aligned with it. To allow the use of a flipper and to position the transfer device at the machine's cylinder, the head and yarn feeding station are combined with the circular knitting machine so that they can move between a first position at the cylinder and a second position away from the cylinder, thus making room for the positioning device.

[0027] Preferably, the head and the yarn feeding station are combined with a support element that allows lateral or upward rotation, thereby enabling the head to move upward or laterally along an arc corresponding to an angle between 45° and 90°, preferably between 60° and 90°.

[0028] Preferably, the head and yarn feeding station are laterally movable and are engaged with the transfer device via a mechanical idler wheel device, which ensures that the transfer device moves synchronously and is correctly centered relative to the needle cylinder. In fact, due to this mechanical idler wheel, the head is initially vertically aligned and centered relative to the needle cylinder; as the head moves laterally, it drags the positioning device, thereby aligning it vertically and centering it relative to the needle cylinder. Preferably, the mechanical idler wheel device pivots to the head support device and the device supporting the transfer device.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the transfer device is configured to collect the corresponding pins of the last thread diameter from each needle, pair the pins together, and position each pair of pins on half of the syringe needle. Specifically, the transfer device may include a support element having a fixed portion and a movable portion, each portion carrying a plurality of transfer members, the number of which is equal to half the number of syringe needles. The movable portion is initially aligned with and coplanar with the fixed portion and is rotatable 180° relative to this position so that each transfer member approaches or contacts a corresponding transfer member of the fixed portion. The transfer members may be arranged in the same direction as the needle or in a direction perpendicular to the needle.

[0030] Advantageously, the needle foot can be collected from the syringe needle by an auxiliary collecting member and then transferred from the syringe needle to a transfer member, or this transfer can be achieved by means of the upward movement of the flared end of the tube combined with the syringe.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a method for closing one end of a cylindrical article by means of a needle used directly from a syringe in the formation of the article. The method includes: flipping the cylindrical article inside out and removing it from the syringe by means of a flipper integrated with a machine, so as to always be axially aligned with the main syringe of the machine; collecting the corresponding needle of the last yarn diameter from half of the adjacent syringe needles; arranging the collected needles on the corresponding needles of the next half of the adjacent syringe needles; repositioning the cylindrical article within the syringe; and processing at least one yarn with the half of the syringe needles to close the end of the cylindrical article. During the positioning of paired needles on the half of the syringe needles, the needles in the half of the syringe needles may be held in a raised or unloaded position, or held in an intermediate or reserved position, depending on the processing type.

[0032] After collecting at least half of the last wire diameter, the article can be turned inside out.

[0033] The method includes using a flipper that includes a cylindrical element having at least two anchoring forks arranged on opposite sides of its lower end, and includes inserting the cylindrical element into a cylindrical article until its lower end comes out of the cylindrical article, holding the free end of the cylindrical article by means of the anchoring forks and moving the cylindrical element upward to drag the cylindrical article and flip it inside out.

[0034] Preferably, the anchoring fork is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, in which the anchoring fork is inserted into the cylindrical element, and in the extended position, the anchoring fork is removed from the cylindrical element, so that the anchoring fork can remain within the same cylindrical element during insertion of the cylindrical element into the cylindrical article, and subsequently, the anchoring fork can be withdrawn to keep the free end of the cylindrical article securely positioned on the cylindrical element.

[0035] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method includes pushing each needle foot of the last thread diameter under the lock of the corresponding needle by moving an upwardly positioned tube in the syringe, wherein the tube may include a flared end portion to facilitate needle foot displacement.

[0036] Advantageously, in order to close the end of the tubular article, the cylinder reciprocates at least three revolutions, preferably at least five revolutions, and particularly seven and a half revolutions, during which the needles are brought to the raised position, where they intercept the yarn to be processed and bring the needle feet they support to the unloading position, which allows them to be unloaded from the corresponding needle feet. These half-rotations form multiple partial diameters for engaging the needle feet in each pair together, thereby engaging the two opposing halves of the last diameter of the tubular article together.

[0037] To achieve particularly robust closure of the workpiece end, the yarn is fed to the needle by means of a yarn guide during at least the first half of the rotation. The yarn guide is arranged to feed the yarn to the needle at a height lower than the height the needle must reach, so as to be able to catch the yarn fed by other yarn guides. This allows pairs of needles to engage firmly and more effectively with adjacent pairs of needles.

[0038] Advantageously, at least one additional yarn is fed to the needle by means of at least one corresponding auxiliary yarn guide, which is positioned before the feeding station of the yarn guide including the base yarn, with respect to the rotation direction of the needle cylinder. Specifically, since the semi-rotation occurs through reciprocating motion, two auxiliary yarns can be fed by means of two auxiliary yarn guides, which are positioned on opposite sides of the feeding station of the yarn guide including the base yarn, and each auxiliary yarn guide is activated according to the rotation direction of the needle cylinder. Advantageously, the two yarns are held together, thereby achieving a further improved and even more durable seam.

[0039] Preferably, the at least one auxiliary yarn guide can be a yarn guide commonly used for feeding so-called colored yarn.

[0040] As an alternative to or supplement to at least one additional yarn, another yarn can be fed into the machine's needles, particularly using elastic yarn fed by a so-called elastic yarn guide, which is part of the so-called elastic yarn selection component. This approach allows a second knitting reinforcement yarn to be added to the main yarn, making the seam very robust, especially suitable for athletic or work socks subjected to high stress during use.

[0041] Preferably, during at least the first half of the rotation, at least two, preferably at least four, additional needles are brought to the raised position and adjacent to the first and / or last needle of the pair of needles carrying the last thread diameter, in addition to the half needle carrying the last thread diameter.

[0042] To ensure a better seal, the tubular product can be closed by alternating half-rotations that form tightly knitted stitches and half-rotations that form loosely knitted stitches.

[0043] To enable the steps of flipping, collecting, assembling, and arranging the needles on half of the syringe needles, the method includes displacing the head and the yarn feeder away from the syringe; arranging the transfer device at the syringe; and engaging the lower portion of the container with a sleeve combined with the transfer device to define a sealed connection. For this purpose, the flipper can be positioned in a lowered position, in which the flipper is located at the transfer device, its end portion inserted into the sleeve.

[0044] Advantageously, the method includes collecting the corresponding pins of the last thread diameter of the article from each needle individually; pairing the pins together in pairs; and positioning each pair of pins on half of the syringe needle.

[0045] To perform these operations, a transfer device with multiple transfer members is used to collect the last needle diameter, each transfer member being adapted to collect the corresponding needle from the corresponding needle and configured to move the opposite needles closer together and position each pair of opposite needles on the corresponding needles in half of the adjacent syringe needles. Attached Figure Description

[0046] The invention will be better illustrated in the following description with reference to the indicative and non-limiting drawings, in which:

[0047] Figure 1 A front view of a circular sock machine or knitting machine equipped with a flipper and transfer device according to the invention is shown at the end of tubular product production under normal operating conditions;

[0048] Figure 1b It shows Figure 1 A magnified view of a part of the machine under different operating conditions;

[0049] Figure 2It is shown under the second use condition. Figure 1 The machine;

[0050] Figure 3 Shown in partial sectional view Figure 2 A machine in which the flipper is in the active position;

[0051] Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 It shows Figure 3 An enlarged view of the machine section within the frame, in which the flipper and transfer device are in different steps of flipping the cylindrical article inside out and collecting the pins at one end of the same cylindrical article;

[0052] Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 The three subsequent steps required to assemble the previously collected pins are shown;

[0053] Figure 10 and Figure 11 The steps required to transfer a pair of needles onto a half syringe needle are shown;

[0054] Figure 12 It shows something similar to Figure 1 The machine view shows the final needle of the tubular product arranged on half of the syringe needle;

[0055] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the syringe after the needle insertion is completed is shown;

[0056] Figure 14 Two machine needles are shown in two different positions;

[0057] Figure 15 Some machine needles are shown, each with a pair of pins;

[0058] Figure 16 The diagram shows the different heights the machine needles can reach when they are in the raised position, in which they intercept at least one yarn.

[0059] Figure 17 The image shows two needles of a machine used during the process of closing the end of a workpiece; and

[0060] Figure 18 The machine needle is shown under three different conditions during the first step of closing the end of the article. Detailed Implementation

[0061] In these diagrams, circular knitting machines used for socks or knitwear are generally identified by the number 1. This machine can be of a type suitable for producing short or long socks. These diagrams depict, by way of example, a single-tube type machine, also known as a single-tube machine, but the machine can also be of a double-tube type.

[0062] The circular needle machine 1 includes a base 2, a head 3, and at least one main syringe or lower syringe 4, which is coupled to the base and can rotate at least partially (referred to as a stroke). Multiple vertically arranged needles 5 are slidably mounted side-by-side to form a circle, which includes a first semicircle SC1 and a second semicircle SC2, both having the same number of needles. Figure 13 As shown. The machine may also include an upper syringe (not shown) that is combined with the head and mounted above and aligned with the syringe 4, allowing the needle 5 to slide into any of these syringes to form a straight or reverse stitch. Depending on the production steps, each syringe can be selectively operated to rotate in a continuous or reciprocating motion.

[0063] For simplicity, the following description will refer to single-cylinder machines, i.e., machines with only one syringe, but this does not preclude the following description from also being applicable to double-cylinder machines, i.e., machines that also have an upper syringe.

[0064] At least one yarn feeding station 6 is combined with a head for feeding at least one yarn 7 (also called base yarn) to be processed onto the needles to produce a tubular article 8, which consists of a series of stitches of at least the yarn forming multiple consecutive course diameters. The term "course diameter" refers to a stitch formed in one stroke, i.e., a full turn or less of the cylinder. Typically, at least one second yarn (called main yarn) and possibly other types of yarn (e.g., so-called colored yarn) are fed to the machine needles to produce patterns, pictures, or text, as well as elastic yarns or various other types of yarns.

[0065] To create a stitch, a needle typically includes a portion called a hook 5' to catch and hold the yarn to be processed, and a lock 5' for closing the hook during stitch formation. Each needle can optionally be brought to:

[0066] - Lowered position: In this position, the hook will not intercept the yarn, but will unload the stitches created in the previous stroke.

[0067] - In either the raised or unloaded position, the hook intercepts the yarn, and as... Figure 14 As shown, the pin formed in the previous stroke is brought under the lock so that it can be removed when the pin is brought to the lowered position, or

[0068] -Limited to maintaining the middle position of position B, at which position, such as Figure 14As shown, the hook will hold the stitches formed in the previous stroke above the lock and intercept the yarn.

[0069] Specifically, the tubular product can be a sock, and its manufacture begins with its edge portion, followed by the leg portion (if any) to be worn on at least a part of the user's leg, then the foot portion, and ends with the toe portion to be worn on the user's toes. At the end of the product's manufacture, there is a needle 8” on the needle of the syringe, which forms the last thread diameter 8’ of the product, that is, the knitted loop that constitutes the end of the product.

[0070] The tubular article is retained in the machine syringe 4 during its formation and drawn downwards by means of a suction device typically found on machines of the type intended for this invention. This eliminates the need for any modifications to the machine, except for necessary changes to close the ends of the tubular article and, in particular, the toe portion of the sock.

[0071] According to the invention, the machine includes a flipper 9 configured to operate directly above the syringe 4 of the machine and always arranged coaxially with the at least one syringe. The flipper is configured to flip the cylindrical article after it has been formed, thereby turning it inside out. Preferably, the flipper includes a frame 10 for securing it to the base of the circular knitting machine and is movable from top to bottom, or conversely, to move closer to or away from the syringe. For this purpose, the flipper can be constrained to a support frame by a support device 11 that can slide relative to the frame, such as a sliding device. Advantageously, the support device can be motorized so that its lowering and raising strokes can be performed automatically.

[0072] The machine can also be combined with a transfer device 12, which is adapted to collect corresponding pins of at least the first half of the last thread diameter 8' from at least half of the continuous needles of the needle 5 of the syringe, i.e. from at least one first semicircle SC1, and position the collected pins on the other half of the needles of the syringe, i.e., on another semicircle SC2, or vice versa, such that each of these needles no longer supports a single pin, but supports a pair of pins, one pin belonging to the first half of the last thread diameter and the other pin belonging to the second half of the last thread diameter.

[0073] Preferably, the transfer device is combined with a base by means of a support member 13, the support member 13 having an arm 13' rotatable about the same support member, so that the transfer device can be positioned such that... Figure 1 and 12 The rest position shown is similar to... Figure 2-11 The device moves between the indicated positions; in the rest position, the transfer device is laterally displaced relative to at least one syringe of the machine; in the operating position, the transfer device is located at and aligned with the syringe of the machine.

[0074] Using a transfer device, the pins initially positioned in the first semicircle SC1 and forming the first half of the last thread diameter are combined with the pins originally supported by the pins in the second semicircle SC2 and forming the second half of the last thread diameter, and then positioned together on the pins belonging to the second semicircle. This results in the two pins 8” initially positioned opposite each other relative to the diameter D separating the two semicircles being located on the same pin belonging to the second semicircle. Figure 14 , Figure 15 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown. The term "needle located relative to each other with respect to the diameter of the cylinder" refers to a needle that is symmetrical about the diameter axis. This operation is often called "needle flipping" and allows the first and second halves of the last yarn diameter—that is, the two knitted semicircles that make up one end of the tubular article—to come together.

[0075] Once the needles have been collected from the needles in the first half of the syringe, they can be brought to the lowered position to avoid interfering with subsequent processes.

[0076] Preferably, the transfer device is designed to collect the corresponding pin of the last thread diameter 8' from all the needles of the syringe, pair the pins together, and position each pair of pins on a needle belonging to the first or second semicircle.

[0077] The transfer device itself is known. Specifically, the transfer device 12 may include a support element 14, which preferably has an annular shape and carries a plurality of transfer members 15, the number of which is equal to the number of needles in the machine, to collect all the needles present on the needles of the machine. The transfer members may be arranged in the same direction as the needles, as shown, with each transfer member located above a corresponding needle, such that the free end 16 of each transfer member can contact the upper part of a corresponding machine needle and collect the needles present thereon. Alternatively, the transfer members may be arranged perpendicular to the needles and radially movable relative to the syringe barrel to be able to collect the needles from the corresponding needles.

[0078] Before or after transferring the last thread diameter needle to the corresponding transfer member, the flipper 10 flips the tubular article to turn it inside out, then pairs the opposing needles together and arranges the paired needles on the half of the syringe needle. Subsequently, the flipper repositions the tubular article inside the lower syringe to close the end.

[0079] Preferably, before flipping the cylindrical product inside out, the flipper moves from a raised or idle position to a lowered or active position. In the raised or idle position, the flipper moves away from the positioning device; in the lowered or active position, the lower portion of the flipper is located at the positioning device, such as... Figure 3-11 As shown.

[0080] The transfer device may include a sleeve 12' that is combined with its upper portion to ensure proper engagement with the flipper when positioned in the lowered position.

[0081] After the tubular product has been flipped inside out and repositioned in the syringe, the flipper advantageously returns from the lowered position to the raised position.

[0082] Therefore, the transfer device is configured to collect the last wire diameter needles and position them on the adjacent needles of the machine's needle halfway, while the flipper is configured to extract the tubular article from the machine's syringe and flip the same tubular article inside out while retaining it above the syringe, and then reposition it in the syringe.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the support 14 of the transfer device includes a fixed portion 14' and a movable portion 14'", each bearing the same number of transfer members. The fixed portion and the movable portion are joined together by a joint 17, thereby allowing the movable portion to, for example... Figure 1-7 The movable portion moves between its initial position, which is aligned with and coplanar with the fixed portion, and a position rotated 180° relative to the initial position, such that each transfer member 15 of the movable portion approaches or contacts a corresponding transfer member of the fixed portion, as shown in the figure. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown. The transfer device also includes means for moving the needle from the needle of the syringe to the transfer member—possibly from the transfer member of the movable portion to the transfer member of the fixed portion—and from the transfer member of the fixed portion to the needle of the syringe. The means for moving the needle may include hooks and / or actuating elements (not shown) housed in the transfer device.

[0084] Preferably, the flipper flips the cylindrical article inside out before transferring the last wire diameter pin to the transfer member of the positioning device.

[0085] The rotator 10 includes a housing 18 or a fixed tube in which a cylindrical element 19 is slidably mounted. A nozzle 20 can be combined with the housing, and a suction device (not shown) can also be combined with it. A suction device (not shown) can also be combined with the cylindrical element.

[0086] Advantageously, when the flipper is positioned in the lowered position, the lower portion of the container is inserted into the sleeve 12'. This allows the container to be centered relative to the positioning device and defines a sealing connection to ensure proper aspiration. In the first flipping step, the needle of the last wire diameter is pushed upward by the upward displacement of the tube 21, which is defined as a syringe tube and is typically arranged within the syringe 4 of the machine to receive the cylindrical article during its formation. In this way, each needle of the last wire diameter is pushed below the lock 5” of the corresponding needle. To facilitate this operation, the tube 21 may include a flared portion 21' at its upper end.

[0087] Subsequently, using a flipper located at the transfer device, the cylindrical element is moved downwards so that a portion of it is located inside the cylindrical product.

[0088] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cylindrical element may be provided with at least a pair of anchoring forks 19' near one of its lower ends. The anchoring forks 19' are retractable and can be combined with the cylindrical element in such a way that they can move between their idle positions inside the cylindrical element and their operational positions outside the cylindrical element. Figure 3 As shown. These anchoring forks can be used as an alternative to or supplement to suction devices combined with tubular elements to hold them on the tubular element when it is turned inside out. In fact, it has been observed, particularly in the case of long articles, that suction may not be sufficient to hold them properly engaged with the tubular element during the rising step. Therefore, the tubular element is configured and moved to insert into the tubular article such that its lower end protrudes from the article. Once the anchoring fork is brought to the working position, it prevents the lower end of the tubular article (typically the edge if the tubular article is a sock) from slipping out of the tubular element.

[0089] To limit the height of the flipper, the cylindrical element can be telescopic.

[0090] Once flipped inside out, the cylindrical article is located inside the container 18 or the fixed tube and can be held in the correct position by a suction device combined with the mouthpiece 20.

[0091] Advantageously, combining the flipper with the machine and arranging it above and axially aligned with the syringe allows all the operations necessary to bring the tubular article into a suitable position for closing one end directly at the machine syringe. Furthermore, unlike some prior art solutions, the presence of the device for flipping the tubular article inside out allows for its production in its normal configuration and its holding within the machine syringe, and enables its flipping at the end of production. Another advantage is that it does not need to be laterally displaced relative to the syringe. Additionally, since the flipper has a considerable range in the vertical direction, it is particularly advantageous that it is always arranged above the syringe, thus avoiding the need for lateral movement. Even more advantageously, to ensure it is always held above the syringe, the flipper may be provided with means for vertical movement to hold it above the machine head during tubular article production and to bring it closer to the syringe during the step of flipping the tubular article inside out and transferring the needle foot 8'.

[0092] To allow the flipper to perform the operation required to flip the tubular product and to enable the positioning device to be positioned at the cylinder of the machine, the machine head 3 and the yarn feeding station 6 are combined with the same machine 1 so that they can move between an active position and an idle position. In the active position, they are located near the cylinder and facilitate the formation of the tubular product, such as... Figure 1and 12 As shown, in the idle position, they are moved away from the syringe to completely free up the space above them, as... Figure 2 and 3 As shown.

[0093] For this purpose, the head 3 and the yarn feeding station 6 are carried by a moving device, preferably of a motorized type, comprising a fixed element 22 and a support element 23 that allows movement relative to the fixed element. Specifically, the support element can rotate upward or laterally at an angle relative to its operating position, an angle suitable for releasing space above the syringe barrel sufficient to accommodate the transfer device and allow the flipper to move to a lowered position without interfering with the head and the yarn feeding station. Preferably, this angle is at least 45°, but more preferably about 90°, to completely release the space above the syringe barrel.

[0094] Once the transfer of the paired needles on half of the syringe needles, the inward and outward flipping of the tubular product, and its subsequent positioning in the syringe are completed, the transfer device returns to the rest position, the flipper is brought to the raised position, and the moving device returns the head and the yarn feeding station from the idle position to the working position so that they can help close the end of the tubular product.

[0095] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the head with the yarn feeding station is rotated laterally by at least 45° relative to its operating position, preferably about 90°. To ensure accurate centering of the transfer device relative to the cylinder and synchronization of various movements, the transfer device can be connected to the head by means of a mechanical idler wheel device 24, such that the head is displaced in a first direction to move away from the cylinder corresponding to the displacement of the transfer device to place it at the cylinder of the machine, and conversely, the head can be displaced in a second direction opposite to the first direction to place the head at the cylinder corresponding to the displacement of the transfer device to move away from the cylinder. Preferably, the mechanical idler wheel device 24 pivots on one side to the arm 13' carrying the transfer device and on the other side to the support element 23 of the head and the yarn feeding station.

[0096] After positioning the paired stitches of the last yarn diameter of the tubular article on half-cylinder needles, after repositioning the tubular article in cylinder 4, and after returning the head and yarn feeding station to their operational positions, at least one yarn 7 is fed to these needles again, thereby joining the stitches together by directly knitting them together with the yarn fed to the needles. To perform this operation, the cylinder is rotated in a reciprocating motion to perform at least three, preferably at least five, and particularly seven, opposite-direction half-rotations, and to bring the needles to different positions to produce the stitches required to knit the two half-yarn diameter stitches 8” of the last yarn diameter 8’ together with each other. This allows the two half-yarn diameters of the ends of tubular articles, particularly socks, to be directly joined in the machine using the same cylinder needles used for producing the articles.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, during the step of transferring the needle to halfway onto the syringe needle, the needle is held in the raised position A. This allows for reduced seam time and improved seam quality, especially when seaming with a single yarn.

[0098] Preferably, during at least three and a half rotations, at least one yarn 7 is fed to the needle that has been brought to the raised position A.

[0099] Each yarn feeding station is equipped with one or more yarn guides to bring the yarn to a position where it can be intercepted by a needle—which is brought to the raised position A.

[0100] Advantageously, at least one yarn 7 is fed to the machine by means of a yarn guide called a bottom yarn 25, because the yarn guide is in a lowered position relative to a yarn guide that typically feeds the so-called main yarn or the so-called colored yarn. Thus, in order to intercept the yarn 7, the needle is brought to a first height h relative to the plane P, which is lower than the heights h' and h' that must be reached to intercept the main yarn and the colored yarn respectively.

[0101] Preferably, at least for the first half-rotation, at least one additional yarn 7' is fed to the needle by means of at least one auxiliary yarn guide 25', which may be a yarn guide typically used for feeding colored yarn, and is positioned before the feeding station of the yarn guide including the base yarn 25 with respect to the rotation direction R of the needle cylinder. Since the needle cylinder rotates in a reciprocating motion, it is also easily rotated in a second rotation direction R' opposite to the rotation direction R, such as... Figure 17 As indicated by the arrow in the diagram. Therefore, the auxiliary yarn guide (not shown) can be positioned before the yarn feeding station of the yarn guide including the base yarn 25, in the direction of rotation R' of the needle cylinder.

[0102] As a replacement or supplement to at least one additional yarn, another yarn can be fed into the machine's needles. Specifically, this yarn can be an elastic yarn, fed by means of a so-called elastic yarn guide, which is part of an elastic selection component (not shown) typically found in knitting or circular knitting machines for stockings. This adds another reinforcing yarn to the main yarn, making the seam stronger and more durable, thus particularly suitable for athletic or work socks subjected to high stress during use.

[0103] Advantageously, during at least one half-rotation of the cylinder, at least two needles, preferably at least four needles, adjacent to and preceding the half-cylinder needle, carrying paired stitches of the last yarn diameter of the tubular article, and / or at least two needles, preferably at least four needles, adjacent to and following the half-cylinder needle, carrying paired stitches of the last yarn diameter of the tubular article, are brought to the raised position. This allows two small stitch segments to be formed at the end of the seam, which prevent yarn slippage when the closed end of the tubular article is subjected to stresses in different directions.

[0104] Preferably, the seam is made by means of at least three, preferably at least five, opposite-direction half-rotations, especially seven half-rotations, depending on the type of article and the type of yarn used to manufacture the article.

[0105] Advantageously, the half-rotation that forms a tight knit stitch is alternated with the half-rotation that forms a loose knit stitch.

[0106] Therefore, the method according to the invention involves closing the ends of the tubular article, particularly the toe portion of a sock, directly on a circular knitting machine without the aid of any connecting or sewing equipment combined with the machine. This closure can be achieved by turning the tubular article inside out, positioning the paired stitches of the last stitch on a half-cylinder needle, each pair comprising a stitch initially carried by a needle belonging to one half-cylinder needle and a stitch initially carried by a corresponding needle of the other half-cylinder needle about the diameter D of the cylinder. Thus advantageously, the ends of the article, particularly the toe portion (if it is a sock), are closed or joined by means of a portion of the cylinder needle, thereby facilitating the formation of the remaining portion of the article, wherein the article is turned inside out to achieve a seam retained therein, and after the article has been made in the conventional manner, it is held in position and drawn into the lower cylinder 4 of the machine as usual during its formation.

[0107] Preferably, the needle of the first semicircle SC1 is positioned on the needle of the second semicircle SC2, but this does not preclude the pair of needles originally supported by opposite syringe needles from combining with each other and then rotating at the desired angle, after which each is arranged on a needle of an adjacent half of the syringe needles.

[0108] To achieve the engagement of the article ends, the cylinder is rotated at least three times, preferably at least five times. Preferably, the cylinder is rotated in a reciprocating motion to make at least three half-rotations in opposite directions, advantageously five to seven half-rotations, wherein, at the yarn feeding station, the needle is brought to the raised position to weave at least one yarn, wherein each pair of needles is carried by each needle of half the cylinder needle.

[0109] At the end of the step where the stitches at the ends are joined, the article is removed from the machine, with one end already closed. Thus, this method allows articles to be manufactured in a conventional manner, starting from one end—in the case of socks, from the edge—that is, designed to remain open, and ending at the opposite end, which is directly closed by the machine needle, at the end of article production.

[0110] In order for the transfer device to be positioned above the syringe and for the flipper to be able to move close to the transfer device during the flipping, collecting and positioning steps, the head and the yarn feeding station are moved to an idle position by flipping or lateral displacement.

[0111] After the tubular article is turned inside out and withdrawn from the syringe, half of the stitches of the last thread diameter are collected by the transfer member of the movable part, while the other half may be collected by the transfer member of the fixed part. In this case, the stitches are paired together by flipping the movable part onto the fixed part and pushing and pulling the stitches present on the movable part, causing them to pass through the fixed part. In an alternative, the tubular article can be turned inside out after the stitches are collected from the syringe needle.

[0112] Finally, after removing the movable part, the assembled needles are moved from the fixed part through half of the syringe needles in a suitable manner. If only half of the needles are collected, at the end of collection, the movable part is flipped directly onto the needles of the second half of the syringe, and the needles it supports are brought onto those needles. The tubular article is then positioned inside the syringe.

[0113] At this point, the head and the yarn feeding station are returned to the working position to help close the end of the product by processing the yarn with the help of the half-cylinder needles arranged thereon.

[0114] Therefore, the present invention is based on the concept of: flipping a tubular article inside out, collecting at least half the last thread diameter of the tubular article arranged on adjacent syringe needles, displacing the collected needles so that pairs of needles originally arranged on opposite syringe needles are located on half of the syringe needles, and joining these needles by processing the yarn fed to at least the needles in the other half of the needles, thereby directly closing the end of the tubular article by the same needles that help form the article. Therefore, to meet incidental and specific needs, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the invention or the illustrated and described embodiments, all of which are included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A circular knitting machine (1) for producing cylindrical articles (8), said cylindrical articles comprising a plurality of continuous wire diameters, each wire diameter comprising a plurality of pins, wherein, The circular knitting machine includes: a head (3); at least one syringe (4) housing a plurality of vertically arranged needles (5), the needles being arranged side-by-side to form first and second semicircles (SC1, SC2); and one or more yarn feeding stations (6) for feeding at least one yarn (7) to the needles, wherein the needles are readily movable up and down during operation to form a plurality of needle feet of the at least one yarn (7), the tubular product (8) being held inside the at least one syringe (4) during its production, characterized in that the circular knitting machine includes a flipper (9) which is combined with the circular knitting machine to always be axially aligned with the at least one syringe (4) and configured to be able to extract the tubular product from the syringe (4) and simultaneously flip the tubular product inside and out. The circular knitting machine includes a transfer device (12) for collecting the corresponding needle (8”) of at least half the diameter of the last thread diameter (8’) of the cylindrical article from at least the first half of the continuous needles of the syringe needle (5), and arranging two needles on each needle in half of the syringe needle when the cylindrical article is flipped inside out, the two needles needing to be joined by processing at least one yarn (7) passing through at least the half of the syringe needle, the flipper (9) being configurable to reposition the cylindrical article within the syringe (4) after the needle (8”) of the last thread diameter (8’) of the cylindrical article has been positioned on half of the syringe needle.

2. The circular knitting machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The flipper (9) includes a housing (18) and a cylindrical element (19) slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the lower end portion (18') of the housing is for engaging with a sleeve (12') combined with the transfer device (12), wherein the housing and possibly the cylindrical element have a suction device combined therewith, and wherein the flipper is movable between a raised position and a lowered position, or vice versa, wherein in the raised position the flipper is above the head (3) and in the lowered position the flipper is at the transfer device.

3. The circular knitting machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The cylindrical element includes at least two anchoring forks (19') extending from opposite sides at its lower end, the anchoring forks being retractable and combinable with the cylindrical element.

4. The circular knitting machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The syringe (4) has a tube therein for receiving the cylindrical article during its formation, and the tube is movable upward to push each pin (8”) of the last wire diameter (8’) below the lock (5”) of the corresponding needle (5), and the tube is capable of including a flared portion (21’) at its upper end.

5. The circular knitting machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The transfer device is movable between a rest position and a working position, in which the transfer device is laterally displaced relative to the at least one needle cylinder, and in the working position, the transfer device is located at the needle cylinder and vertically aligned with the needle cylinder, wherein the head (3) and the at least one yarn feeding station (6) are combined with the circular knitting machine by means of a moving device to move between two positions: -Actuation position, in which the head (3) and the at least one yarn feeding station (6) are located at the cylinder to facilitate the formation of the tubular article (8) and to facilitate the closure of the ends of the tubular article, and - Idle position, in which the head (3) and the at least one yarn feeding station (6) are away from the at least one needle cylinder so as to allow the flipper (9) to enter the working position, the head and the at least one yarn feeding station being able to be combined with the transfer device for synchronous movement by means of a mechanical idler wheel device (24).

6. The circular knitting machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The transfer device (12) includes a plurality of transfer members (15) equal in number to the syringe needles (5), for collecting the last thread diameter needle from each needle, pairing the needles in pairs, and positioning each pair of needles on half of the syringe needle. The transfer device (12) includes a support element (14) having a movable portion (14') and at least one fixed portion (14'). The at least one fixed portion carries a plurality of transfer members (15), the number of which is equal to half the number of syringe needles. The movable portion and the fixed portion carry the same number of transfer members. The movable part is capable of moving between an initial position in which the movable part is aligned with and coplanar with the fixed part and a position rotated 180° relative to the initial position, wherein each of the transfer members (15) of the movable part approaches or contacts any corresponding transfer member of the fixed part, and wherein the transfer members are arranged in the same direction as the needle, each transfer member being located above the corresponding needle such that the free end (16) of the transfer member can contact the upper part of the corresponding machine needle and collect the needle foot thereon, or wherein the transfer member is arranged perpendicular to the needle and moves radially relative to the syringe barrel in order to collect the needle foot from the corresponding needle.

7. A method for closing the end of a cylindrical article (8), the cylindrical article comprising a plurality of continuous wire diameters, each wire diameter comprising a plurality of stitches, the stitches being generated by means of a circular knitting machine (1), the circular knitting machine (1) comprising: At least one syringe (4) housing a plurality of vertically arranged needles (5), the needles being arranged side by side to form a first semicircle (SC1) and a second semicircle (SC2); a head (3); and one or more yarn feeding stations (6) for feeding at least one yarn (7) to the needles, wherein the needles are readily movable up and down during operation to form a plurality of needle feet of the at least one yarn (7), the tubular article being held inside the at least one syringe (4) during its production, wherein the method comprises the following steps after the steps required for the production of the tubular article up to the last yarn diameter (8'): a) The tubular article is extracted from the syringe by means of a flipper (9) which is combined with the circular machine to be always axially aligned with the at least one syringe (4) and the tubular article is flipped inside out such that the outer part of the tubular article is inside, or vice versa; b) Using a transfer device (12), collect the corresponding needle foot (8”) of the last thread diameter (8’) from each needle in at least half of the continuous needles of the syringe needle (5); c) Arrange the needles of half the last wire diameter collected in step b) on the corresponding needles of the second half of the syringe needles, such that each needle in the second half of the syringe needles carries a pair of needles of the last wire diameter, the pair of needles initially arranged on opposite syringe needles with respect to the diameter (D) of the syringe. d) Position the tubular product inside the syringe; e) Feeding the at least one yarn (7) to the syringe needle; f) By processing the at least one yarn with the needles in the latter half of the syringe needle, the paired needles are joined together to close the end of the tubular article (8); Steps a) and b) can be reversed, and step f) includes knitting the stitches together by treating the at least one yarn (7) with a portion of the same needle that helps form the tubular article, without using any connecting or sewing device outside the circular knitting machine or in combination with the circular knitting machine or any particular needle.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The flipper includes a cylindrical element (19) having at least two anchoring forks (19') extending from opposite sides at its lower end, the anchoring forks being retractable into the cylindrical element, and wherein step a) includes - The cylindrical element is inserted into the cylindrical article such that the lower end of the cylindrical element protrudes from the cylindrical article. - Pull out the anchoring fork to secure the free end of the cylindrical article, and - Move the cylindrical element upwards so that the cylindrical article is dragged along with the cylindrical element and flipped inside and out.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The syringe (4) has a tube (21) therewith for receiving the cylindrical article during the formation of the cylindrical article, and wherein, prior to step a), the tube is moved upward to push each needle foot (8”) of the last wire diameter (8’) below the lock (5”) of the corresponding needle (5), wherein the tube includes a flared portion (21’) at its upper end.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, In step f), the syringe is rotated at least three times in a reciprocating motion, wherein during the half-rotation, the needle is brought to a raised position (A), in which the needle intercepts the yarn (7), and the needle brings the paired needle feet they support to the appropriate position to be removed from the respective needles.

11. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The at least one yarn is fed to the needle by means of a bottom yarn guide (25), the bottom yarn guide being adapted to feed the yarn to the needle at a first height (h), the first height (h) being lower than the height (h', h”) that the needle must reach in order to obtain yarn fed by other yarn guides, and wherein at least one additional yarn (7') can be fed to the needle by means of at least one auxiliary yarn guide (25'), the auxiliary yarn guide being arranged in the direction of rotation (R', R”) of the needle cylinder prior to the yarn feeding station including the bottom yarn guide (25).

12. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, At least one additional yarn is fed to the needle, the yarn being an elastic yarn and capable of being fed to the needle by means of a yarn guide for the elastic yarn.

13. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, During at least the first half-rotation, at least two additional needles of the first needle of the second half of the pair of needles carrying the last yarn diameter and / or at least two additional needles of the last needle of the second half of the pair of needles carrying the last yarn diameter are brought to the raised position (A) where they intercept the yarn (7).

14. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, One or more half-rotations to form a tight knit stitch are alternated with one or more half-rotations to form a loose knit stitch.

15. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, Before step a), - Remove the head (3) and the one or more yarn feeding stations (6) from the syringe to free up space above the syringe suitable for accommodating the transfer device; - The lower end portion (18') of the flipper is combined with the sleeve (12') by bringing the flipper to its lowered position at the transfer device, the sleeve (12') being combined with the transfer device, and In step b), the corresponding pins of the last wire diameter (8') of the article are individually collected from each syringe needle (5), and in step c), the pins are paired up and each pair of pins is positioned on half of the syringe needle.

16. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The needles of the last wire diameter are collected by means of a transfer device (12), the transfer device including a support element (14) having a plurality of transfer members (15), the transfer device being movable between a rest position and a working position, in which the transfer device is laterally offset relative to the at least one syringe, and in the working position, the transfer device being located at the syringe, wherein the support element includes a fixed portion (14') and a movable portion (14"), the fixed portion carrying a plurality of the transfer members, each transfer member corresponding to a corresponding needle in one half of the syringe needles belonging to the first semicircle (SC1), wherein the movable portion carrying a plurality of the transfer members, each transfer member corresponding to a needle in the second semicircle (SC1) The movable portion is a corresponding needle in one half of the syringe needles of the second semicircle (SC2), and wherein the movable portion is rotatable to move from an initial position to a position rotated 180°, wherein in the initial position each transfer member is located in a corresponding needle in one half of the syringe needles belonging to the second semicircle (SC2), and in the position rotated 180°, each transfer member is close to or located at a corresponding transfer member of the fixed portion, and wherein step c) comprises the following steps: c') moving the pins present on each transfer member of the movable portion to the corresponding transfer member of the fixed portion, c”) returning the movable portion to its initial position, and c''') moving the paired pins from the transfer members of the fixed portion to the rear half of the syringe needles.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The syringe is rotated at least five and a half times in a reciprocating motion.

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