Method and apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like

Abstract

A method for executing the transfer of a knitted tubular manufacture (20), at the end of its production cycle, to a sewing or linking station (50), which comprises: - an initial step of production of the manufacture (20) up until the execution of the last course of knitting; - a step of translating the knitting loops, which were previously held in the head (12) of the corresponding needle, along the shank (11) of the needle (12), until they are brought below the corresponding latch (12a) in the "dropped" position; - positioning, coaxially to the needle cylinder (14), an annular pickup device (2) provided with pickup elements (4) which have an engagement portion (4a) which extends downward; - transferring, by means of pusher elements (30) associated with the pickup device (2), the knitting loops from the "dropped" position toward the respective engagement portion (4a) of the pickup elements (4); - a step of positioning the manufacture (20) held by the engagement portions (4a) and by the pushing and holding portions (30a) of the pickup device (2) at the sewing or linking station (50); - a step of individually transferring the knitting loops from the engagement portions (4a) to spikes (41) of an annular handling device (40); - a step of turning the manufacture (20) inside out; - a step of disengaging the pushing and holding portions (30a) from the respective sinker loops or linking loops; - a step of disengaging the engagement portions (4a) from the respective knitting loops.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXECUTING THE CLOSING OF A KNITTED TUBULAR MANUFACTURE AT AN AXIAL END THEREOF, AT THE END OF ITS PRODUCTION CYCLE ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR HOSIERY OR THE LIKE

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like.

[0003] As is known, knitted tubular manufactures, such as for example hosiery items, are generally produced using circular knitting machines for hosiery and are unloaded from the machine with both their axial ends open.

[0004] In the case of hosiery items, after being unloaded from the machine that has produced them, it is necessary to proceed to close the toe, an operation that is executed by way of sewing or linking machines.

[0005] Since this operation requires the use of additional machines and labor, which significantly affects the overall production costs of the hosiery items, various techniques have been devised in order to automate the closing of the toe of hosiery items or, more generally, the closing of an axial end of knitted tubular manufactures produced with circular knitting machines for hosiery or the like.

[0006] The various techniques devised to date can be divided into two main categories: a first category which comprises the techniques based on the execution of the closing directly on the machine that produces the manufacture, at the beginning of its production, and a second category which comprises the techniques based on the execution of the closing in a dedicated sewing or linking station, which is located away from the machine for producing the manufacture.

[0007] The first category has the drawback of significantly limiting the productivity of the machines, since the closing operation requires a certain amount of time during which the machine cannot produce a new manufacture.

[0008] The second category, to which for example the technique described in IT 1,300,622 belongs, can at least partially obviate this problem since the productive potential of the machines is penalized only in terms of the time required to remove the manufacture from the machine that produced it, after which the machine can start producing a new manufacture while the previous manufacture is subjected to sewing or linking.

[0009] On the other hand, the operations to transfer the manufacture from the production machine to the linking station often require the use of complex apparatuses which need to ensure extremely precise operation.

[0010] In the use of these apparatuses, it has been found that the operation to pick up the manufacture from the needles of the machine that produced it, is particularly critical, since it significantly affects the total transfer time of the manufacture and since it is not always capable of ensuring the precision required.

[0011] EP2250305B1, in the name of Lonati, describes a method for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, which comprises an initial step of production of the manufacture up until the execution of the last course of knitting, at the axial end of the manufacture opposite to the axial end at which knitting began, retaining the knitting loops of the last course of knitting in the head 12a of the needles 12 of the machine that formed them, and which is characterized in that it comprises the following further operating steps of:

[0012] - individual gripping the knitting loops by way of pickup elements arranged against the region of the shank 11 of each needle 12 located proximate to the latch 12b on the opposite side to the head 12a;

[0013] - removing the manufacture from the machine that produced it, holding each knitting loop of the last course of knitting formed using the pickup elements; - positioning the manufacture at a sewing or linking station;

[0014] - individual transition of the knitting loops from the pickup elements to spikes of an annular handling device which is composed of two semiannular portions, one of which is reversible with respect to the other about a diametrical axis;

[0015] - turning inside out the manufacture that is held by the handling device;

[0016] - superimposing each one of the knitting loops of one half-course of knitting on a corresponding knitting loop of the other half-course of the last course of knitting on a same spike of the handling device by way of the overturning, through an arc substantially of 180° about the diametrical axis, of one of the two semi-annular portions of the handling device with respect to the other semi-annular portion;

[0017] - sewing or linking the mutually-superimposed pairs of knitting loops;

[0018] - disengaging the manufacture from the handling device.

[0019] The conventional solutions, although valid, in some cases are complex from the point of view of construction.

[0020] Furthermore, in conventional solutions it is often necessary to carry out combined movements of needles and pickups in order to ensure a correct transfer of the knitting loops, and sometimes this creates problems with the relative movement of the elements.

[0021] The aim of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, that are capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0022] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be installed on a wide variety of circular knitting machines for hosiery or the like.

[0023] A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is structurally simple, with reduced bulk, and which can be produced at low cost.

[0024] Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, that are highly reliable, relatively easy to implement and at low cost.

[0025] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a method and an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, according to the independent claims, optionally provided with one or more characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0026] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the method and apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 is a front elevation view, with parts in cross-section, of a first embodiment of a single-cylinder machine in the configuration for end of weaving and with the needles lifted with the last course of knitting in the dropped position;

[0028] Figures 2 to 3 show, in views similar to that of Figure 1, the lifting, by a pickup device, of the last course of knitting along the extension of the needles in order to be brought to the spikes of the pickup device;

[0029] Figures 4 to 8 are schematic views of, in sequence, the steps of positioning the manufacture at a sewing or linking station and the subsequent transfer of the manufacture from the pickup device to the annular body;

[0030] Figure 9 is a side view of a pickup member;

[0031] Figure 10 is a side view of a first embodiment of a pusher element;

[0032] Figure 11 is a front elevation view, with parts in cross-section, of a second embodiment of a single-cylinder machine in the configuration for end of weaving and with the needles lifted with the last course of knitting in the dropped position;

[0033] Figures 12 to 13 show, in views similar to that of Figure 11, the lifting, by a pickup device, of the last course of knitting along the extension of the needles in order to be brought to the spikes of the pickup device;

[0034] Figures 14 to 18 are schematic views of, in sequence, the steps of positioning the manufacture at a sewing or linking station and the subsequent transfer of the manufacture from the pickup device to the annular body;

[0035] Figure 19 is a side view of a pickup member;

[0036] Figure 20 is a side view of a first embodiment of a pusher element;

[0037] Figures 21 to 24 show, in sequence, a first example of the step of translating the knitting loops held in the head 12a of the corresponding needle 12 in the “dropped” position;

[0038] Figures 25 to 28 show, in sequence, a second example of the step of translating the knitting loops held in the head 12a of the corresponding needle 12 in the “dropped” position”.

[0039] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture 20 at an axial end 20a thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine 10 for hosiery or the like, preferably singlecylinder. However, there is no reason why the circular knitting machine 10 cannot be of the twin-cylinder type.

[0040] The apparatus 1 comprises a pickup device 2 provided with an annular body which supports pickup elements 4, which can engage the needles 12 of the circular machine 10 and are adapted to individually pick up the knitting loops held on the needles 12.

[0041] The pickup device 2 is movable on command from a pickup position (shown in Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 11 to 13), in which it is arranged with its body coaxially around the needle cylinder 14 of the circular machine 10, to a release position (shown in Figures 4 to 8 and Figures 14 to 18) in which it is arranged with its body at a sewing or linking station (not shown) which is laterally spaced apart from the machine.

[0042] The apparatus 1 further comprises a handling device 40 which is arranged at the sewing or linking station and is provided with an annular body 40 composed of two semi-annular portions 42a, 42b with spikes 41 which are arranged along a cylindrical surface, the axis 101 of which coincides with the axis 200 of the body of the handling device 40, and are oriented axially.

[0043] The spikes 41, as is known, can be “male” and “female”.

[0044] The “female” spikes have a frontal recess designed to accommodate a portion of the tip of a “male” spike at the end of a step of overturning, so as to facilitate the transfer of the knitting loops.

[0045] One of the two semi-annular portions 42b is reversible with respect to the other semi-annular portion 42a about a diametrical axis 202 in order to individually face and align its spikes 41 with the spikes 41 of the other semi-annular portion in order to allow the passage of the knitting loops from the spikes of one semi-annular portion to the spikes of the other semiannular portion of the body of the handling device 40.

[0046] The apparatus 1 comprises a conventional device for turning tubular manufactures 20 inside out, which is arranged at the sewing or linking station and can be actuated in order to perform the turning of the tubular manufacture 20inside out, that is held, at an axial end thereof, by the spikes 41 of the handling device 40.

[0047] A sewing or linking head is positioned at the sewing or linking station, and is provided with sewing or linking elements which interact with the spikes 41 of a semi-annular portion of the body of the handling device 40 in order to perform the closure of the axial end of the manufacture 20 by joining the pairs of knitting loops carried by a same spike 41 of the semiannular portion of the body of the handling device 40.

[0048] According to the present invention, the apparatus 1 comprises means for translating the knitting loops, which were previously held in the head 12a of the corresponding needle 12, along the shank 11 of the needle 12, until they are brought below the corresponding latch 12b in the “dropped” position.

[0049] Such means for translating the knitting loops comprise actuation and control means configured to lift the upper rim 13a of a tube 13, for example a suction tube, which is coaxial to the needle cylinder 14, and to rotate the needle cylinder 14.

[0050] During the rotation of the needle cylinder 14, the knitting loops are held by respective sinkers 50 toward the needle cylinder 14 so as to free the head 12a of the needle 12 from the respective knitting loop.

[0051] The apparatus 1 further comprises pusher elements 30 associated with the pickup device 2, which are configured to transfer on command the knitting loops from the "dropped" position toward the respective engagement portion 4a of the pickup elements 4.

[0052] The pusher elements 30 have at least one respective pushing and holding portion 30a which can engage a respective sinker loop or linking loop and is movable on command along a movement trajectory having at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and at least one lifting component which extends parallel to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a.

[0053] According to an important aspect of the present invention, the pusher elements 30 engage the respective sinker loop or linking loop, exclusively in order to bring it from the dropped position toward the engagement portion 4 a.

[0054] In this manner, it is possible to simplify the structure of the pickup device 2 and of the corresponding pusher elements 30 which engage the respective sinker loop or linking loop only when the knitting loops are in the “dropped” position.

[0055] Preferably, the pickup device 2 has an annular extension about a respective axis of the pickup 200 and the pusher elements 30 extend and are movable on respective radial planes with respect to the axis of the pickup 200.

[0056] According to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, the pusher elements 30 comprise respective oscillating bodies 31 which can rotate on command about a respective reversal axis 201 which is substantially perpendicular to the respective radial plane in order to perform an oscillation of the respective pushing and holding portion 30a along the movement trajectory.

[0057] Alternatively, with reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the pusher elements 30 comprise respective elongated bodies 32 which have at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and can move along a trajectory having at least one first, radial component with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and at least one second, axial component which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a.

[0058] According to a preferred practical embodiment, the body of the handling device 40 is oriented, in the pickup position, with its axis 200 vertical and it is mounted on an arm that can rotate on command, relative to a supporting structure, about a vertical actuation axis which is spaced apart from the axis of the body of the handling device 40 for the transition from the pickup position to the sewing position or vice versa. Preferably, the turning-inside-out device is arranged in the sewing or linking station 50 and comprises a lower portion and an upper portion which are positionable coaxially to each other, along a vertical main axis which coincides with the axis 200 of the body of the handling device 40.

[0059] The turning-inside-out device comprises, for example, a tubular body which can be inserted upward from below through the body of the handling device in order to perform the turning of the manufacture 20 inside out that hung on the spikes for gripping 4, turning it onto its outer lateral surface.

[0060] The lower portion of the tuming-inside-out device comprises lower means of support of the tubular body and lower means of actuating said tubular body along the axis in order to make the tubular body pass through the body of the handling device 40 starting from a lowered position, in which the upper axial end of the tubular body faces below the body of the handling device 40, to a lifted position, in which its upper axial end is placed above the body of the handling device 40 and its lower axial end is proximate to the body of the handling device 40.

[0061] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture 20 at an axial end 20a thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine 10 for hosiery or the like.

[0062] The method comprises an initial step of production of the manufacture (not shown in the figures) up until the execution of the last course of knitting, at the axial end 20a of the manufacture opposite to the axial end at which knitting began, retaining the knitting loops of the last course of knitting in the head 12a of the needles 12 of the machine 10 that formed them (Figures 21 and 25).

[0063] The machines 10 are preferably single- cylinder machines 1, but they can also be constituted by twin-cylinder machines.

[0064] The method according to the invention comprises the following further operating steps of: - translating the knitting loops, which were previously held in the head 12a of the corresponding needle 12, along the shank 11 of the needle 12, until they are brought below the corresponding latch 12b in the “dropped” position, the step of translating comprising a step of lifting the upper rim 13a of a suction tube 13, which is coaxial to the needle cylinder 14, and a step of rotating the needle cylinder 14.

[0065] During the rotation of the needle cylinder 14, as illustrated in the operative sequence shown in Figures 21 to 24, cam means, arranged for example at the cover of the sinkers, radially keep the sinkers 50 toward the needle cylinder 14 so that, during the rotation of the needle cylinder 14, the knitting loops are held down, freeing the needle 12 from the knitting so it can be taken toward the lower part of the respective latch 12b.

[0066] This condition is maintained for one full turn or tuck stitch turn (Figure 22) of the needle cylinder 14, at the end of which, optionally, the suction inside the suction tube 13 is activated.

[0067] The suction tube 13 is provided, in an upward region, with a closing body 13a, optionally rotating integrally with the suction tube 13, which is configured to isolate any tensions of the tubular manufacture 20 so as to allow the passage of the knitting loops toward the dropped position.

[0068] In this manner the manufacture tends to lift and the sinkers 50, which in this step are in a forward position, block the pulling force.

[0069] There is an additional step of rotating the needle cylinder 14 or drop stitch turn (Figure 23) during which the sinkers 50 move radially away from the cylinder axis so that the knitting loops tend to close the respective latches 12b, so moving above the sinkers 50.

[0070] At this point the needles 12 are lifted until the knitting loops are brought completely below the corresponding latch 12b to the “dropped” position (Figure 24).

[0071] It should be noted that the presence of the closing body 13a, configured to substantially immobilize a portion of the tubular manufacture 10, means that the step of suction of the tubular manufacture 20 is not necessary, since the retaining and the immobilization is ensured by virtue of the action of the closing body 13 a.

[0072] Alternatively, as shown in the sequence illustrated in Figures 25 to 28, the suction tube 13 can be used without the closing body 13a. In this case, the operation is substantially similar and entails that, during the rotation of the needle cylinder 14, cam means, arranged for example at the cover of the sinkers, radially keep the sinkers toward the needle cylinder 14 so that, during the rotation of the needle cylinder 14, the knitting loops are held down, freeing the needle 12 from the knitting so that it can be taken toward the lower part of the respective latch 12b.

[0073] This condition is maintained for one full turn or tuck stitch turn (Figure 26) of the needle cylinder 14, at the end of which the suction inside the suction tube 13 is activated.

[0074] In this manner the manufacture tends to lift and the sinkers 50, which in this step are in a forward position, block the pulling force.

[0075] There is an additional step of rotating the needle cylinder 14 or drop stitch turn (Figure 27) during which the sinkers 50, at at least one predetermined circular sector, move radially away from the cylinder axis so that the knitting loops tend to close the respective latches 12b by moving above the sinkers 50.

[0076] At this point the needles 12 are lifted until the knitting loops are brought completely below the corresponding latch 12b to the “dropped” position (Figure 28).

[0077] The method furthermore entails positioning, coaxially to the needle cylinder 14, an annular pickup device 2 provided with pickup elements 4 which have an engagement portion 4a which extends downward so as to be parallel to the needles 12 and correspond to them, and transferring, by means of pusher elements 30 associated with the pickup device 2, the knitting loops from the "dropped" position toward the respective engagement portion 4a of the pickup elements 4.

[0078] In particular, the pusher elements 30 have at least one respective pushing and holding portion 30a which is engageable with the respective knitting loop and is movable on command along a movement trajectory having at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and at least one lifting component which extends parallel to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a.

[0079] Subsequently, there is a step of positioning the manufacture 20 held by the engagement portions 4a and by the pushing and holding portions 30a of the pickup device 2 at the sewing or linking station 50, and a step of individually transferring the knitting loops from the engagement portions 4a to spikes 41 of an annular handling device 40, and a step of turning inside out the manufacture 20 that is held by the pickup device 2.

[0080] At this point comes a step of disengaging the pushing and holding portions 30a from the respective sinker loops or linking loops, and a step of disengaging the engagement portions 4a from the respective knitting loops.

[0081] Preferably, the step of translating the knitting loops comprises, after the step of rotating the needle cylinder 14, a step of activating the suction inside the suction tube 13 and a step of holding the sinkers 50 in a forward position.

[0082] Subsequently, there is a further step of rotating the needle cylinder 14, during which the sinkers 50 are moved radially away from the axis of the needle cylinder 14 so that the knitting loops tend to close the respective latches 12b by moving above the sinkers 50.

[0083] Conveniently, the step of translating the knitting loops comprises a step of lifting the needles 12 until the knitting loops are brought completely below the respective latch 12b in the "dropped" position.

[0084] Preferably, the annular handling device 40 comprises two semiannular portions 42a, 42b. The method according to the invention comprises:

[0085] - a step of superimposition of each one of the knitting loops of one half-course of knitting on a corresponding knitting loop of the other halfcourse of the last course of knitting on a same spike 41 of the handling device 40 by means of the overturning, through an arc of substantially 180° about the diametrical axis 202 of the annular handling device 40, of one of the two semi-annular portions 42b of the handling device 40 with respect to the other semi-annular portion 42a; and

[0086] - a step of sewing or of linking the mutually-superimposed pairs of knitting loops.

[0087] Finally, there is a step of disengaging the manufacture 20 from the handling device 40.

[0088] Conveniently, the pickup device 2 has an annular extension about a respective axis of the pickup 200 and the pusher elements 30 extend and are movable on respective radial planes with respect to the axis of the pickup 200.

[0089] With reference to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, the pusher elements 30 comprise respective oscillating bodies 31 which can rotate on command about a respective reversal axis 201 which is substantially perpendicular to the respective radial plane in order to perform an oscillation of the respective pushing and holding portion 30a along the movement trajectory.

[0090] With reference to the second embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the pusher elements 30 comprise respective elongated bodies 32 which have at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and can move along a trajectory having at least one first, radial component with respect to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a and at least one second, axial component which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension of the engagement portion 4a. In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof that makes it possible to simplify the operations of transferring the manufacture from the circular machine to the sewing or linking station.

[0091] In particular, the invention effectively makes it possible to use a pickup device that is structurally extremely simple to manage the pickup in a reliable manner.

[0092] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0093] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0094] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000027294 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0095] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for executing the transfer of a knitted tubular manufacture (20) at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like (10) to a sewing or linking station (50), which comprises:- an initial step of production of the manufacture (20) up until the execution of the last course of knitting, at the axial end (20a) of the manufacture (20) that is opposite to the axial end at which knitting began, holding the knitting loops of said last course of knitting in the head (12a) of the needles (12) of the machine (10) that formed them, characterized in that it comprises the following further operating steps of:- translating the knitting loops, which were previously held in the head (12a) of the corresponding needle (12), along the shank (11) of the needle (12), until they are brought below the corresponding latch (12b) in the "dropped" position, said step of translating the knitting loops comprising a step of lifting the upper rim (13b) of a tube (13), which is coaxial to a needle cylinder (14), a step of rotating said needle cylinder (14), during said step of rotating the needle cylinder (14) said knitting loops being held by respective sinkers (50) toward said needle cylinder (14) so as to free the head of the needle (12) from the respective knitting loop, a step of lifting the tubular manufacture to free them from the sinkers (50), a step of lifting said needles (12) being furthermore provided in order to bring said respective knitting loops to the dropped position;- positioning, coaxially to the needle cylinder (14), an annular pickup device (2) provided with pickup elements (4) which have an engagement portion (4a) which extends downward so as to be parallel to said needles (12) and correspond to them;- transferring, by means of pusher elements (30) associated with said pickup device (2), said knitting loops from said "dropped" position toward the respective engagement portion (4a) of said pickup elements (4), saidpusher elements (30) having at least one respective pushing and holding portion (30a) which is engageable with a respective sinker loop or linking loop and is movable on command along a movement trajectory having at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a) and at least one lifting component which extends parallel to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a);- positioning the manufacture (20) held by said engagement portions (4a) and by said pushing and holding portions (30a) of said pickup device (2) at said sewing or linking station (50);- individually transferring the knitting loops from said engagement portions (4a) to spikes (41) of an annular handling device (40);- turning inside out the manufacture (20) that is held by said pickup device (2);- disengaging said pushing and holding portions (30a) from the respective sinker loops or linking loops;- disengaging said engagement portions (4a) from the respective knitting loops.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step of translating the knitting loops comprises, after said step of rotating said needle cylinder (14), a step of activating suction inside said tube (13) i.e., a step of locking a portion of said tubular manufacture substantially at the upper end of said tube (13) and a step of holding the sinkers (50) in a forward position, a further step of rotating the needle cylinder (14) being provided during which said sinkers (50) are moved radially away from the axis of the needle cylinder (14) so that said knitting loops tend to close the respective latches (12a) by moving above the sinkers (50).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said step of translating the knitting loops comprises a step of lifting said needles (12) until said knitting loops are brought completely below the respective latch(12b) in the "dropped" position.

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said annular handling device (40) comprises two semiannular portions (42a, 42b), said method comprising:- a step of superimposition of each one of the knitting loops of one half-course of knitting on a corresponding knitting loop of the other halfcourse of said last course of knitting on a same spike (41) of said handling device (40) by means of the overturning, through an arc of substantially 180° about the diametrical axis (202) of said annular handling device (40), of one of said two semi-annular portions (42b) of the handling device (40) with respect to the other semi-annular portion (42a);- a step of sewing or of linking the mutually-superimposed pairs of knitting loops;- a step of disengaging the manufacture (20) from said handling device (40).

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pickup device (2) has an annular extension about a respective axis of the pickup (200), said pusher elements (30) extending and being movable on respective radial planes with respect to the axis of the pickup (200).

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher elements (30) comprise respective oscillating bodies (31) which can rotate on command about a respective reversal axis (201) which is substantially perpendicular to the respective radial plane in order to perform an oscillation of the respective pushing and holding portion (30a) along said movement trajectory.

7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher elements (30) comprise respective elongated bodies (32) which have at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion(4a) and can move along a trajectory having at least one first, radial component with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a) and at least one second, axial component (302) which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a).

8. An apparatus for executing the closing of a knitted tubular manufacture (20) at an axial end thereof, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine (10) for hosiery or the like, which comprises:- a pickup device (2) provided with an annular body which supports pickup elements (4), which can engage the needles (12) of the circular machine (10) and are adapted to individually pick up the knitting loops held on said needles (12) said pickup device (2) being movable on command from a pickup position, in which it is arranged with its body coaxially around the needle cylinder (14) of the circular machine (10), to a release position, in which it is arranged with its body at a sewing or linking station which is laterally spaced apart from the machine;- a handling device (40) which is arranged at said sewing or linking station and is provided with an annular body (40) composed of two semiannular portions (42a, 42b) with spikes (41) which are arranged along a cylindrical surface, the axis (100) of which coincides with the axis (I la) of the body of the handling device (40), and are oriented axially, one of said two semi-annular portions (42b) being reversible with respect to the other semi-annular portion (42a) about a diametrical axis (202) in order to individually face and align its spikes (41) with the spikes (41) of the other semi-annular portion in order to allow the passage of the knitting loops from the spikes of one semi-annular portion to the spikes of the other semiannular portion of the body of the handling device (40);- a turning-inside-out device (130) for tubular manufactures (101), which is arranged at said sewing or linking station and can be actuated in order to perform the turning inside out of a tubular manufacture that is held, at an axial end thereof, by the spikes (41) of said handling device (40);a sewing or linking head arranged at said linking station and provided with sewing or linking elements which interact with the spikes (41) of a semi-annular portion of the body of said handling device (40) in order to perform the closure of the axial end of the manufacture by joining the pairs of knitting loops carried by a same spike (41) of said semi-annular portion of the body of the handling device (40); characterized in that it comprises means for translating the knitting loops, previously held in the respective head (12a) of the corresponding needle (12), along the shank (11) of said needle (12), until they are brought below the corresponding latch (12a) in the "dropped" position, said means for translating the knitting loops comprising actuation and control means configured to lift the upper rim (13a) of a tube (13), which is coaxial to said needle cylinder (14), and to rotate said needle cylinder (14), during the rotating of said needle cylinder (14) the knitting loops being held by respective sinkers (50) toward said needle cylinder (14) so as to free said head (12a) of the needle (12) from the respective knitting loop, pusher elements (30) being furthermore provided which are associated with said pickup device (2) and are configured to engage with a respective sinker loop or linking loop so as to transfer said knitting loops on command from said "dropped" position toward the respective engagement portion (4a) of said pickup elements (4), said pusher elements (30) having at least one respective pushing and holding portion (30a) which can engage the respective sinker loop or linking loop and is movable on command along a movement trajectory having at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a) and at least one lifting component which extends parallel to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a).

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said pickup device (2) has an annular extension about a respective axis of the pickup (200), said pusher elements (30) extending and being movable on respective radial planes with respect to the axis of the pickup (200).

10. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that said pusher elements (30) comprise respective oscillating bodies (31) which can rotate on command about a respective reversal axis (201) which is substantially perpendicular to the respective radial plane in order to perform an oscillation of the respective pushing and holding portion (30a) along said movement trajectory.

11. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said pusher elements (30) comprise respective elongated bodies (32) which have at least one component which extends radially with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a) and can move along a trajectory having at least one first, radial component with respect to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a) and at least one second, axial component (302) which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension of said engagement portion (4a).

Images