CN111826788A - Circular knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A circular knitting machine, comprising: a plurality of sinkers of a first type housed in the radial grooves and engageable with the needles to make the coils of the first type; a plurality of sinkers of a second type, which are housed in the radial recesses and can cooperate with the needles to make the coils of the second type. The first selector jacks are operatively associated with sinkers of a first type, each first selector jack being able to oscillate in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein in the active position the first selector jack acts indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the first type, so as to deviate the butt of the sinker of the first type from the trajectory of the first guide. The second selector jacks being operatively associated with sinkers of a second type, each second selector jack being oscillatable in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein in the active position the second selector jack acts indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the second type so as to deviate the butt of the sinker of the second type from the trajectory of the second guide.

Description

Circular knitting machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a circular knitting machine for producing knitted fabrics. In particular, the invention relates to the structure of the elements that enable the production of said knitted fabric by cooperating with different sinkers and needles. More specifically, the invention relates to the individual selection of the elements that are able to make specific stitches in the knitted fabric by cooperating with only some of the needles, while the adjacent needles make other stitches. Preferably, the invention relates to a circular knitting machine (intarsia machine or diamond machine) for manufacturing fabrics with intarsia patterns.

Background

Circular knitting machines are known which comprise a needle-holding element (needle-holding cylinder and/or needle-holding plate) on which one or more successive needles are arranged along a circular path (circular knitting head), and means apt to control the movement of the needles in order to form the knitted fabric. The knockover sinkers are arranged in radial seats formed in an annular body (sinker seat) surrounding the needle-holding needle cylinder and which cooperate with the needles so as to make the knitted fabric.

In the production of specific designs with circular knitting machines, it is currently known to produce mesh knitted fabrics by specific movements of some suitable forming sinkers and/or to produce terry loops by specific movements of other suitable forming sinkers. The shaped sinkers are generally different from conventional knockover sinkers used to make plain knitted fabrics.

Document GB449404 discloses, by way of example, a circular knitting machine provided with sinkers between the needles and on which an expansion coil ring (interlertitch ring) is formed. At least one of the sinkers includes a protruding side portion configured to movably expand the loop of the stitch onto an adjacent needle to form an opening in the knitted fabric.

Document GB377794 discloses a circular knitting machine equipped with an unfolding device having a pair of blades arranged on either side of a sinker, and configured for unfolding a stitch and arranging it on one or two adjacent needles

Document GB410831 discloses a circular knitting machine comprising sinkers provided with an upper hook or a pair of hooks placed on the sides of a traditional sinker. The hooks are configured and movable to displace the cross-stitch seam over a pair of adjacent needles and produce a mesh fabric in the fabric. When the hook has to be operated, the selector jack moves the sinker in which the hook is integrated. The selector jack comprises a swing arm provided with an abutment which interacts with a plurality of cams belonging to the actuating device.

It is further known that prior art MI2003a001995 discloses a device for selecting sinkers comprising selector jacks (for each radial groove housing a sinker) oscillating in a radial plane with respect to said sinker jack in order to switch between an operating position and a non-operating position and vice versa. The selector jack is connected to a respective sinker arranged in a respective radial groove, so as to cause different actuations of the sinkers depending on whether the selector jack is in the inactive position or in the active position. Furthermore, a selector is provided, which laterally faces the sinker jack and acts on command with the selector to switch it from the inactive position to the active position. When the selector is in the inactive position, the selector does not intervene, actuating the sinkers by pushing on the cams only, so that the sinkers cooperate with the needles to perform plain stitch loops or other loops than terry loops. When the selector plate is switched to the active position, said sinker is pushed more towards the axis of the sinker holder than the movement produced by pushing only the triangle, cooperating with the needle to make the terry loop.

For example, prior art MI2003a001995 discloses a device for selecting sinkers comprising selector jacks (for each radial groove housing a sinker) oscillating in a radial plane with respect to the sinker jack in order to switch between an operating position and a non-operating position and vice versa. The selector jack is connected to a respective sinker arranged in a respective radial groove, so as to cause different actuations of the sinkers depending on whether the selector jack is in the inactive position or in the active position. Further, a selector is provided which laterally faces the sinker jack and engages with the selector jack on command to switch it from the inactive position to the active position. When the selector is in the inactive position, the selector does not intervene, actuating the sinkers solely by pushing on the triangle, and the sinkers follow the first path in order to cooperate with the needle to perform plain stitches or other stitches than terry stitches. When the selector plate is switched to the working position, the same sinker is pushed towards the axis of the sinker seat, engaging and following different paths defined by the pushing triangle. This different path causes the knockover sinkers to move radially in advance towards said central axis, with respect to the movement induced by the first path, so as to cooperate with the needles to make terry loops.

For example, in EP1620590 to the same applicant, a circular knitting machine (intarsia machine) for manufacturing a fabric with an intarsia pattern is disclosed. Intarsia is a knitting technique that enables patterns to be obtained using yarns of different colours in the same knitted layer. The technique of intarsia is commonly used to create colour patterns. As far as the carpentry technique is concerned, it seems like a jigsaw puzzle to piece together different colors and materials. Unlike other multi-color knitting techniques, only the "active" color is present on a given stitch, and the yarn does not move on the reverse side of the cloth. When the color of a given row changes, the old yarn will be hung.

Disclosure of Invention

In the frame of the circular knitting machine described above, the applicant has found that there are some drawbacks.

First of all, the applicant has observed that some known knitting machines cannot select individually the stitches involved to make a mesh or terry stitch, or more generally a stitch different from that of a plain weave, since these elements are guided by the cams and necessarily perform all the same movements during each revolution of the knitting machine. As a result, the number, arrangement and other characteristics of the mesh fabric and or terry loops to be produced are preset and difficult to change.

The applicant has observed that, in the above solutions, the control of the elements designed to make the mesh fabric (sinkers with projecting sides in GB449404, a pair of blades in GB377794, sinkers with hooks in GB 410831), i.e. configured to selectively determine whether and when these elements should be intervened, is put into a complex mechanism of difficult configuration (rollers in GB449404, Dawson wheels and triangles in GB377794, selector cams in GB 410831).

The applicant has observed that the known knitting machines described, for example, in MI2003a001995 show little flexibility, since the movements of the mechanism designed for making the terry loops (lug) must be firmly connected to the movements of the knockover sinkers, in particular the movements of the jaws of the knockover sinkers. As a result, the formation of loop loops/terry loops of a particular shape/length is limited because the radial travel of the loop nose is limited by structural constraints acting on the sinker jaw, or conversely, the formation of plain loops is limited because the radial travel of the jaw is limited by structural constraints acting on the sinker loop nose.

More generally, the applicant has observed that the known circular knitting machines do not allow to manufacture complex needle fabrics, i.e. areas where there are both terry loops, mesh fabrics and other possible types of loops than plain fabrics, and to arrange these areas as desired.

The applicant has also observed that the known circular knitting machines cannot be quickly set up and/or reconfigured to make complex fabrics different from each other.

In these cases, in various objects and/or embodiments, it is an object of the present invention to propose a circular knitting machine which is capable of producing a needle fabric with very different characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to propose a circular knitting machine which is able to produce knitted fabrics, for example with areas of mesh fabric or with areas of terry loops or of other types, and which can be easily configured according to the characteristics and the position of the fabric to be obtained.

Another object of the invention is to propose a circular knitting machine which is capable of producing complex needle fabrics, is compact and relatively simple from a structural point of view, and is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a circular knitting machine that is capable of producing the complex needle fabric in a relatively short production time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a circular knitting machine configured as an intarsia machine (intarsia machine or diamond machine) for manufacturing fabrics with intarsia patterns, which is also capable of manufacturing complex knitted fabrics according to the above mentioned objects.

These and other possible objects, which will become better apparent from the following description, are substantially achieved by a circular knitting machine for manufacturing needle fabrics according to any one or more of the appended claims and according to the following aspects and/or embodiments, possibly in various combinations with the above claims.

In this description and in the appended claims, the words "upper", "lower", "above" and "below" relate to the positioning of the machine during normal operation, with the central axis of rotation of the machine in a vertical position and the heads of the cylinder needles facing upwards.

In the present description and in the appended claims, the words "axial", "circumferential" and "radial" relate to the central axis.

Some aspects of the invention are listed below.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a circular knitting machine for making knitted fabrics.

The circular knitting machine of the invention comprises:

-a needle-holding needle cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal slots arranged around a central axis of the needle-holding needle cylinder;

-a plurality of needles, each needle being housed in a respective longitudinal groove;

-at least one yarn feeding system operatively associated with the needles;

-a sinker seat arranged around the needle-holding cylinder and having a plurality of radial grooves;

-at least one guide ring operatively associated with the sinker seat, wherein the sinker seat is rotatable with respect to the guide ring and about the central axis.

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine of the invention comprises:

a plurality of sinkers of a first type received in and radially movable in the radial grooves; each sinker of the first type being configured to cooperate with a needle to make a stitch of the first type; each sinker of the first type comprises a heel which is engaged with the first guide in the guide ring and moves around the central axis; wherein the first guide is configured to radially displace the first type of sinker when the sinker holder rotates relative to the guide ring and about the central axis;

a plurality of sinkers of a second type received in and radially movable in the radial recesses; each sinker of the second type being configured to cooperate with a needle to make a stitch of the second type; each sinker of the second type comprises a heel which is embedded with the second guide piece of the guide ring and moves around the central axis; wherein the second guide is configured to radially displace a second type of sinker when the sinker holder rotates relative to the guide ring and about the central axis

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine of the invention comprises:

a plurality of first selectors operatively associated with the sinkers of the first type, each of which is movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein in the active position the first selector jack acts directly or indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the first type, so as to deviate the butt of the sinker of the first type from the trajectory of the first guide.

A plurality of second selectors operatively associated with the sinkers of the second type, each of which is movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein, in the active position, the second selector jack acts directly or indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the second type, so as to deviate the butt of the sinker of the second type from the trajectory of the second guide.

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine comprises:

at least one selector, which laterally faces the sinker jack and is fixed with respect to the guide ring, can be engaged under control with the first and/or second selector, and is configured to switch the first and/or second selector from the rest position to the working position.

The applicant has found that the present invention is able to solve the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art, thus obtaining the intended objects.

The applicant has first found that the present invention enables the manufacture of highly complex needle fabrics in a relatively short time.

The applicant has also found that the present invention enables the manufacture of complex needle fabrics of various types and with the most diverse characteristics.

In fact, the invention enables the precise selection of the desired shaped sinkers for producing the knitting area, with or without activation of the corresponding selector jack.

In particular, the machine of the invention allows to activate the selector jacks acting on the sinkers with different functions, so as to produce knitting areas with different characteristics, such as, but not necessarily, mesh fabric knitting areas and areas with terry loops.

The applicant has also found that the machine according to the invention is highly flexible, since it allows acting on the selector to switch from the type of knitted fabric produced to the other in a quick and relatively simple manner.

Other aspects of the invention are listed below.

In one aspect, the circular knitting machine is an intarsia machine, i.e., a knitting machine (intarsia machine or diamond machine) configured for making fabric with intarsia patterns.

In one aspect, the circular intarsia knitting machine comprises at least two yarn feeding systems, preferably four yarn feeding systems. Each yarn feeding system is configured for working with a respective corresponding set of needles arranged along an arc of a circle, which is achieved by an alternating rotational movement of the needles about a central axis.

In one aspect, the at least two yarn feed systems cooperate to form each of the knitting courses by rotating in two directions.

In one aspect, at least one motor is operatively connected to the needle-holding cylinder and the sinker seat to rotate them about the central axis.

In one aspect, the cams and/or other types of devices are arranged around the needle-holding cylinder in order to convert the rotational movement of the needle-holding cylinder into an axial movement of the needles.

In one aspect, the knitting machine comprises a plurality of selectors, preferably each placed on the yarn feeding system.

In one aspect, the first type of sinker alternates with the second type of sinker about the central axis.

In one aspect, a first type of sinker is received in a respective first recess of the plurality of radial recesses and a second type of sinker is received in a respective second recess of the plurality of radial recesses.

In one aspect, the first grooves alternate with the second grooves about the central axis.

In one aspect, the first type of sinker or the second type of sinker is a knock-over sinker, each sinker having a jaw configured for engagement with a needle in the manufacture of plain knit fabric.

In one aspect, the first type of sinker or the second type of sinker is a loop sinker, each loop sinker having a loop nose configured to engage a needle when making a loop.

In one aspect, the sinkers of the first or second type are transfer sinkers, each having a laterally offset projection configured for engagement with a needle in the manufacture of the mesh fabric.

In one aspect, the first type of sinker or the second type of sinker is a knockover/terry sinker, each knockover/terry sinker having a jaw configured for engagement with a needle to produce plain needle fabric and a nose disposed above the jaw, the nose configured for engagement with the needle to produce terry loops.

In one aspect, the second type of sinker is a transfer sinker, each having a projection laterally offset to one side and configured for engagement with a needle to make a mesh fabric, and the first type of sinker is a knockover/terry sinker, each knockover/terry sinker having a jaw configured for engagement with a needle to make a plain fabric and a nose disposed above the jaw configured for engagement with a needle to make a terry loop.

In one aspect, the second type of sinker is a transfer sinker, each having a projection laterally offset to one side and configured for cooperating with a needle to make a mesh fabric, and the first type of sinker is a loop sinker, each having a loop nose for cooperating with a needle to make a loop coil.

In one aspect, the knitting machine further includes a plurality of primary knockover sinkers interlocked with and guided by the first guide, wherein the primary knockover sinkers are not interlocked with both the first selector jack and the second selector jack.

In one aspect, each second groove houses a main knockover sinker flanked by at least one transfer sinker, preferably a right transfer sinker and a left transfer sinker, wherein the at least one transfer sinker, preferably the right and left transfer sinkers, are operatively associated with at least one second selector jack.

In one aspect, each first groove receives a knockover/terry sinker, the knockover/terry sinker first selector being operatively interlocked.

In one aspect, each first groove houses a primary knockover sinker flanked by terry sinkers, wherein the terry sinkers are operatively associated with the first selector jack.

In one aspect, the knitting machine may include a plurality of n-type sinkers (e.g., "n" is 3 to 6) received in and radially movable in the radial recess. Each sinker of the nth type is configured to cooperate with a needle to carry a coil of the nth type. Each n-th type sinker includes a butt that is fitted to the n-th guide in the guide ring and is formed around the central axis; wherein the nth guide is configured to radially move the nth type of sinker when the sinker holder rotates relative to the guide ring and about the central axis.

In one aspect, the knitting machine shown may include a plurality of nth selectors operatively associated with the sinkers of nth type, wherein each nth selector is movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and an operating position. Wherein in the active position the nth selector jack acts directly or indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the nth type, so as to deviate the butt of the sinker of the nth type from the trajectory of the nth guide.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a circular trajectory extending about the central axis.

In one aspect, the first selector jack is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the first selector jack has a base configured to oscillate about a tangent to a horizontal circumference centered on the central axis.

In one aspect, the first selector jack has a support at a distance from the base, which is directed towards the central axis and is configured for acting directly or indirectly on the sinkers of the first type.

In one aspect, the first selector jack has at least one tooth directed radially outward, i.e. in a direction away from the central axis, and is configured to interact with the selector.

In one aspect, the second selector jack is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the second selector jack has a base configured to oscillate about a tangent to a horizontal circumference centered on the central axis.

In one aspect, the second selector jack has a support at a distance from the base, which is directed towards the central axis and is configured for acting directly or indirectly on the sinkers of the second type.

In one aspect, the second selector jack has at least one tooth directed radially outward, i.e. in a direction away from the central axis, and is configured to interact with the selector.

In one aspect, the first selector jack is the same or substantially the same as the second selector jack.

In one aspect, the first selector jack is slidably fitted in the circular trajectory of the guide ring and moves around the central axis so that the first selector jack rotates together with the first type of sinker and the second type of sinker.

In one aspect, the second selector jack is slidably fitted in the circular trajectory of the guide ring and moves around the central axis so that the second selector jack rotates together with the first type of sinker and the second type of sinker, preferably in the same circular trajectory as the first selector jack.

In one aspect, each of the first selector jack and each of the second selector jack has a base with a circular profile, the base being configured for oscillating in a circular trajectory and oscillating with an axis tangent around a horizontal circumference (the center of the horizontal circumference being on a central axis (X-X)), and each of the first selector jack and each of the second selector jack has a support at a distance from the base.

In one aspect, the knitting machine includes a plurality of first pushers, each first pusher being associated with a respective first selector jack and with at least one respective sinker of the first type.

In one aspect, in the operating position, the first selector abuts against a first pusher and the first pusher is configured to push at least one sinker of a first type.

In one aspect, the first push tab is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the knitting machine includes a plurality of second pushers, each second pusher being associated with a corresponding second selector jack and at least one corresponding sinker of the second type.

In one aspect, in the working position, the second selector jack abuts against the second pusher, and the second pusher is configured to push at least one sinker of the second type.

In one aspect, the second push tab is a flat element, preferably made of metal.

In one aspect, the first push tab is the same or substantially the same as the second push tab.

In one aspect, the guide ring includes a third guide extending about the central axis and defining a plurality of trajectories.

In one aspect, each first pusher has a heel that is engaged or engageable with a third guide in the guide ring, the third guide extending about the central axis and defining a plurality of tracks.

In one aspect, each first pusher is received in one of said radial recesses together with a respective sinker of the first type. The supporting part of each first selector jack faces the radial outer end of the first push jack.

In one aspect, each second pusher has a heel that is engaged or engageable with a third guide in the guide ring, the third guide extending about the central axis and defining a plurality of tracks.

In one aspect, each second pusher is received in one of the radial recesses with a respective sinker of the second type. The supporting portion of each second selector jack faces the radially outer end of the second push jack.

The use of first and second pushers, operatively located between the first selector or the second selector and the first type of sinker or the second type of sinker, allows the selector to act indirectly on the sinker.

In one aspect, each of the first and/or second pushers comprises a horizontal panel, wherein the butt is positioned on a radially outer end of the horizontal panel.

In one aspect, the heel of the first and/or second pusher is flat and extends vertically from the horizontal panel.

In one aspect, the heel of each first and/or second pusher is directed upwardly.

In one aspect, each first and/or second pusher has an abutment surface facing the central axis, the abutment surface being configured for abutment against a respective sinker of the first and/or second type.

In one aspect, the at least one selector includes at least one selector blade that is movable between a first position and a second position. When the needle selection blade is at the first position, the needle selection blade is away from the first needle selection blade and the second needle selection blade by a certain distance; in the second position, when the sinker jack rotates with respect to the guide ring and around the central axis (X-X), the selector blades trigger the first selector and/or the second selector moving in front of the selector, so as to move them from the rest position to the working position.

In one aspect, the selector is of the magnetic or piezoelectric type.

In one aspect, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a knitted fabric using the knitting machine according to one or more of the preceding aspects.

In one aspect, the first type of sinker is a knockover/terry sinker, each knockover/terry sinker having a jaw configured to cooperate with a needle to make plain needle fabric and a nose disposed above the jaw, the terry nose configured to cooperate with the needle to make terry loops; the second type of sinker is a transfer sinker, each having a laterally offset projection configured to cooperate with a needle to make a mesh fabric; and the method of manufacturing a knitted fabric includes: the first selector jack and the second selector jack are held in the stationary positions while the sinker holder is rotated relative to the guide ring and rotated about the central axis to move the knockover/terry sinker along the second trajectory and the first trajectory of the first guide, thereby causing the lug nose to produce a plain stitch fabric by engaging with the needle and holding the transfer sinker in the inoperative position along the radially outer trajectory of the second guide.

In one aspect, the first jack and the second jack move along a radially outer trajectory of the third guide when the first selector jack and the second selector jack are in the rest positions; wherein the first push sheet is radially spaced from the corresponding knocking-over/terry sinker by a certain distance; wherein, the second push plate is radially separated from the corresponding mesh knocking-over sinker by a certain distance.

In one aspect, the method comprises: and causing the at least one selector to act on at least one of the selector jacks so as to move at least one second selector in the operating position on at least one rotary portion of the sinker jack about the central axis, wherein the first selector is held in the rest position so as to move the at least one transfer sinker, which is interlocked with the at least one second selector, on a radially inner trajectory of the second guide and to move the projection, which is laterally offset to one side, on at least one rotary portion of the sinker jack about the central axis, thus causing a mesh fabric to be produced in the fabric by engagement with at least one needle.

In one aspect, the second pusher interlocked with the second selector jack is radially pushed by the corresponding second selector jack toward the central axis to enter the radially inner trajectory of the third guide, and pushes the at least one transfer sinker on the radially inner trajectory of the second guide.

In one aspect, the method comprises: and causing the at least one selector to act on at least one of the first selectors so as to cause the at least one first selector in the operating position to move in at least one rotational portion of the sinker jack about the central axis, wherein the second selector is held in the rest position so as to cause the at least one knockover/terry sinker, which is interlocked with the at least one first selector, to move on the second trajectory of the first guide so that the terry nose of the knockover/terry sinker engages with at least one needle to produce a terry loop.

Further features and advantages will be illustrated by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a circular knitting machine for manufacturing needle fabrics according to the invention and of a method for manufacturing the needle fabrics of the invention.

Drawings

The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and therefore non-limiting, and in which:

figure 1 shows a portion of a circular knitting machine according to the invention with some parts removed to better illustrate the other portions;

figure 2 shows a portion of figure 1 with other parts removed in order to better show other elements of the machine as in the previous figures;

fig. 3 shows a different partial section of the part of fig. 1;

figure 4 shows an exploded view of the assembly of elements belonging to the knitting machine of the previous figures, which can be seen in figure 3;

figure 5 shows the assembly of figure 4 with the elements in linkage with each other;

figures 6 and 7 show a variant of the elements in figures 4 and 5;

fig. 8 shows a different partial section of the part of fig. 1;

figure 9 shows an exploded view of the different assemblies of elements of the knitting machine of the previous figures, as can be seen in figure 8;

figure 10 shows the assembly of figure 9 with the elements interlocked with each other;

figure 11 shows a schematic plan view of a portion of the machine of the previous figures comprising a guide ring; and

figures 12 to 16 show the part of figure 11 in which the various operating steps of the machine of the invention are indicated in a schematic way.

Detailed Description

With reference to the mentioned figures, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a portion of a knitting head of a circular knitting machine of the invention. The circular knitting machine shown is a knitting machine (intarsia machine or diamond machine) configured to make a fabric with an intarsia pattern. The circular knitting machine comprises a base which constitutes the support structure of the machine, not shown since it is of known type. The knitting head 1 is mounted on a base.

The knitting head 1 is equipped with a needle-holding needle cylinder 2 on which a plurality of needles 3 are mounted, and the knitting head 1 has control means (not shown) apt to selectively actuate the needles 3 to produce the fabric. The needle-holding cylinder 2 is usually mounted on the base in a vertical position, wherein the needles 3 are arranged vertically and project at the upper edge of the needle-holding cylinder 2.

As is known, the needle-holding cylinder 2 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed on the radially outer surface of the needle-holding cylinder 2. The longitudinal slots are arranged around (perpendicular to) the central axis "X-X" of the needle-holding needle cylinder 2 and parallel to said central axis "X-X". Each longitudinal slot accommodates a respective needle 3 and a respective drive chain comprising a plurality of flat portions. The pushing cams are arranged as housings around the needle-holding cylinder 2 and face the radially outer surface of the needle-holding cylinder 2 and thus the longitudinal slots and the drive chain. These pushing triangles are defined by, for example, plates and/or grooves arranged on the inner surface of the housing.

In one embodiment, the housing of the pushing cams is substantially stationary, while the needle-holding cylinder 2 is rotated by a suitable motor about the central axis "X-X" (with continuous or alternating movement in both directions), so as to generate a relative rotational movement between the driving chain and the pushing cams and to transform the rotational movement of the needle-holding cylinder 2 into an axial movement of the needles 3 in order to produce a knitted fabric by means of said needles 3.

The machine also comprises a sinker holder 4, which sinker holder 4 is arranged around the needle-holding cylinder 2 and has a plurality of first 5 and second 6 recesses, which radial 5 and second 6 recesses are on the radially inner edge of the sinker holder 4, i.e. towards the central axis "X-X". The first grooves 5 and the second grooves 6 alternate in the circumferential direction of the sinker seat 4, i.e. each first groove 5 is flanked by two second grooves 6 and each second groove 6 is flanked by two first grooves 5. The sinker seat 4 is moved in rotation, together with the needle-holding cylinder 2, for example by the same motor, around the central axis "X-X".

Suitable devices (not shown) feed the yarn to be knitted on one or more yarn feeding systems (called yarn feeding systems) usually arranged above the needle-holding needle cylinder 2. The circular intarsia knitting machine shown comprises four yarn feeding systems, each configured for working with a respective group of needles 3 arranged along a set of circular arcs (for example 90 ° arc), by means of an alternating rotary motion of the needles 3 about the central axis "X-X". The four yarn feeding systems cooperate together by rotation in both directions to form each knitting course.

Each second radial groove 6 houses an assembly of metallic flat portions, which first metallic assemblies can slide radially in the respective second radial groove 6 and relative to each other. This assembly, which is better shown in fig. 4 and 5, comprises a knockover/terry sinker 7, a right transfer sinker 8, a left transfer sinker 9, two pushers 10 (one associated with the right transfer sinker 8 and the other with the right transfer sinker 9), and a selector 11 for each pusher 10.

The knockover/terry sinker 7 comprises a main body in the shape of a horizontal plate 12 and a vertical flat upright formed from the horizontal plate 12. The horizontal plate is oriented along the second groove 6, i.e. in the radial direction. A pin 13 of per se known shape is arranged at the upper end of the vertical flat upright, and the jaw 13 faces the central axis "X-X" when the assembly is correctly mounted on the machine. The knockover/terry sinker 7 further comprises a flat heel 14 extending vertically upwards from the horizontal panel 12, and the heel 14 is at a distance from the radially outer end (with respect to the central axis "X-X") of the horizontal panel 12. The knockover/terry sinker 7 consists of a single flat metal part (e.g., a cut piece).

The right transfer sinker 8 comprises a body in the shape of a horizontal plate 15 and a vertical flat upright extending from the horizontal plate 15. A projection 16 is arranged at the upper end of the flat upright. When the assembly is properly mounted on the machine, the projection 16 extends like an arm towards the central axis "X-X" and is laterally offset to one side with respect to the lying plane of the respective body. The right-hand transfer sinker 8 further comprises a flat heel 17 extending vertically upwards from the horizontal plate 15 and placed in the vicinity of the radially outer end (with respect to the central axis "X-X") of the horizontal plate 15. The right-hand transfer sinker 8 consists of a single flat metal part, for example a cut, stamped and/or bent part.

The left transfer sinker 9 comprises the same elements as the right transfer sinker 8. The two are identical or corresponding in structure, except that the respective projection 16 is offset/displaced to the other side with respect to its body. The right and left transfer sinkers 8 and 9, respectively, thus have projections 16 which are laterally displaced in opposite directions relative to their body and relative to the knockover/terry sinker 7 located between them.

When the combination is properly mounted in the respective second recess 6, the right side transfer sinker 8 and the left side transfer sinker 9 are arranged on both sides of the respective knockover/terry sinker 7 (fig. 5). The right and left transfer sinkers 8, 9 have corresponding projections 16, which projections 16 are directed towards both sides of the knockover/terry sinker 7, are offset laterally to one side and are located above the jaws 13 of the respective knockover/terry sinker 7. Furthermore, the butt 14 of the knockover/terry sinker 7 is located radially between the projection 16 and the butt 17 of the respective transfer sinker 8, 9.

The two second push pieces 10 of the assembly are identical. Each second pusher 10 comprises a horizontal plate 18 and a flat heel 19. The heel 19 is placed at the radially outer end of the horizontal panel 18 with respect to the central axis "X-X" and extends vertically upward. The second pusher 10 also has an abutment surface 20 facing the central axis "X-X", which abutment surface 20 is configured for abutment against a respective transfer sinker 8, 9. The abutment surface 20 of the second pusher 10 is placed in the vicinity of the heel 19 of said second pusher 10, i.e. close to said radially outer end of the horizontal plate 18. More specifically, a portion of the pusher located in the vicinity of said radially outer end extends vertically upwards and defines an abutment surface 20 and a respective heel 19. The second push plate 10 is also made of a single flat metal part, for example a cut part.

When the assembly is properly mounted in the respective second recess 6 (fig. 5), the horizontal plate 18 of each pusher 10 is located below and in contact with the plate 15 of the respective transfer sinker 8, 9, and the abutment faces towards the radially outer end of the respective transfer sinker 8, 9. The knockover/terry sinker 7 is placed between the right side transfer sinker 8 and the left side transfer sinker 9.

Each of the two second selector jacks 11 is a metallic, substantially flat element. When properly mounted in the knitting machine, the element is mainly vertically arranged. The second selector 11 has a base 21 of circular profile and is configured for oscillating about an axis that is tangent to the horizontal circumference (the centre of which is on the central axis "X-X"). The second selector jack 11 is placed on the radial plane and vibrated. The second selector jack 11 also has a support 22 at a distance from the base 21, which support 22 is directed towards the central axis "X-X" and is configured for acting indirectly on the respective transfer sinker 8, 9 through the respective second pusher 10. The second selector jack 11 also has teeth 23, which teeth 23 are located on the edge of the flat element, which edge is diametrically opposite and radially outward of the support 22, i.e. on the opposite side of the central axis "X-X".

The support portion 22 has a circular projection shaped and dimensioned to abut a radially outer end of the horizontal plate 18 of the respective second pusher 10 of the assembly.

Each second selector jack 11 oscillates in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position. In the rest position, the support portion 22 of the second selector jack 11 is located at a radially outer position and does not contact the corresponding second push jack 10. In the working position, the second selector jack 11 is rotated toward the central axis "X-X", and the support 22 of the second selector jack 11 is located at a radially inner position and is configured to abut and push the corresponding second pusher 10 toward the central axis "X-X". The second pusher 10 is in turn configured for pushing the transfer sinkers 8, 9.

The switching of the second selector jack 11 from the rest position to the working position is caused by the selection of the second group of blades of the selector 24 (fig. 2, 3 and 8) acting on the teeth 23 of the second selector jack 11, the specific structure of which will be described in more detail below. In the embodiment shown by way of example, there are four selectors 24, which are fixed with respect to the casing and are arranged around the sinker holder 4 at the same angular distance (90 ° from each other). In particular, each of said selector 24 is located on the yarn feeding system.

Also, the knockover/terry sinker 7 is pushed by the corresponding first jack 10 'and the corresponding first selector jack 11', which are completely similar to the second jack 10 and the second selector jack 11. Accordingly, like elements are marked with the same reference numerals with an apostrophe.

The first selector 11' has a base 21' and a support 22' at a distance from the base 21', which is directed towards the central axis "X-X" and is configured for acting indirectly on the respective knockover/terry sinker 7 through the respective first pusher 10 '.

The first selector 11 'also has teeth 23' which are located on the edge of the flat element, radially opposite and radially outward from the support 22', i.e. the teeth 23 are located on the opposite side of the support 22' with respect to the central axis "X-X". The support portion 22' has a rounded projection configured for abutting against a radially outer end of the respective horizontal plate 18' of the first push tab 10 '.

Each first pusher piece 10 'also has a respective heel 19' and a respective abutment surface 20', said abutment surface 20' being configured for abutment against a respective knockover/terry sinker 7.

The knockover/terry sinker 7 is also provided with a terry piece nose 31 in order to produce terry loops in cooperation with the needles 3.

It can be seen that the position of the tooth 23' of the first selector jack 11' is different from the position of one of the teeth 23 of the two second selector jacks 11, so that the selector 24 can grip either the tooth 23 or the tooth 23', depending on whether the combination is to punch a hole in the fabric or to make a loop stitch, respectively.

The knockover/terry sinker 7 is of a first type and is configured to cooperate with a needle for producing plain needle fabric or, when interacting with the first selector jack 11 'and the first pusher 10', to produce terry loops.

The transfer sinkers 8, 9 are sinkers of a second type, configured so that, upon interaction with the second selector jack 11 and the second pusher 10, they cooperate with the needles to make knitting stitches of a second type, i.e. loops of mesh fabric.

Each first groove 5 houses a respective assembly also consisting of a plurality of metallic flat parts which can slide radially in the respective first groove 5 and relative to each other. This assembly, which is better shown in fig. 9 and 10, comprises an auxiliary knockover/terry sinker 25, a first pusher 26 and a first selector jack 27.

The knockover/terry sinker 25 comprises a main body in the shape of a horizontal plate 28 and a vertical flat upright formed from the horizontal plate 28. Said horizontal plate 28 is oriented in line with the first groove 5, i.e. in a radial direction. A jaw 29 of a shape known per se is arranged at the upper end of the vertical flat upright and, when the assembly is correctly mounted on the machine, the jaw 29 is directed towards the central axis "X-X". The knockover sinker 25 also comprises a flat heel 30 extending vertically upwards from the horizontal plate 28, and the heel 30 is distanced from the radially outer end (with respect to the central axis "X-X") of the horizontal plate 28. The knockover/terry sinker 25 also comprises a terry piece nose 31 located above the jaw 29, and the terry piece nose 31 is configured for producing terry loops in cooperation with the needles 3. The loop/terry sinker 25 is substantially identical to the loop/terry sinker 7. The knockover/terry sinker 25 is composed of a single flat metal part (e.g., a cut piece).

The first push tab 26 of the combination is substantially identical to each of the first and second push tabs 10 and 10' of the first combination. The first push tab 26 comprises a horizontal panel 32 and a flat heel 33, the heel 33 being located at a radially outer end of the horizontal panel 32 with respect to the central axis "X-X" and extending vertically upwards. The first push tab 26 also has an abutment surface 34 facing the central axis "X-X", which abutment surface 34 is configured for abutment against a respective knockover/terry sinker 25. The abutment surface 34 of the first push tab 26 is placed in the vicinity of the heel 33 of said first push tab 26, i.e. in the vicinity of said radially outer end of the horizontal plate 32. More specifically, a portion of the first push tab 26, close to said radially outer end, extends vertically upwards and defines an abutment surface 34 and a respective heel 33. The first push tab 26 is also comprised of a single flat metal component, such as a cut piece.

When the above-described assembly is properly mounted in the corresponding first recess 5 (fig. 8), the horizontal plate 32 of each first pusher 26 is located below and in contact with the plate 28 of the corresponding knockover/terry sinker 25, respectively, and the abutment surface 34 faces the radially outer end of the corresponding knockover/terry sinker 25.

The first selector jack 27 of the assembly is similar to the second selector jack 11 and the first selector jack 11' of the first assembly. The first selector jack 27 is a flat element of metal, which, when properly mounted in the knitting machine, develops mainly vertically. The first selector jack 27 has a seat 35 with a circular profile and configured for oscillating about an axis tangent to a horizontal circumference (centered on the central axis "X-X"). The first selector jack 27 is placed on a radial plane and swung. The first selector jack 27 also has a support 36 at a distance from the base 35, which support 36 is directed towards the central axis "X-X" and is configured for acting indirectly on the respective knockover/terry sinker 25 through the respective first pusher 26. The first selector jack 27 also has teeth 37, which teeth 37 are located on the edge of the flat element, which edge is diametrically opposite and radially outward of the support 36, i.e. on the opposite side of the central axis "X-X". The support portion 36 has a rounded projection configured for abutting against a radially outer end of each horizontal plate 32 of the first push tab 26.

The first selector jack 27 oscillates in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position. In the rest position, the support portion 36 of the first selector jack 27 is located at a radially outer position and does not contact the corresponding first push jack 26. In the operating position, the first selector jack 27 is rotated toward the central axis "X-X". The supporting portion 36 of the first selector jack 27 is located at a radially inner position, and is configured to abut against and push the first push jack 26. The first push tab 26 is configured for pushing the knockover/terry sinker 25. The switching of the first selector jack 27 from the rest position to the working position is caused by the first set of blades of the same selector 24 as described above.

The knockover/terry sinker 25 is of a first type and is configured for cooperating with a needle for producing plain fabric or, when interacting with the first selector jack 27 'and the first pusher 26', for producing knitted loops, i.e. terry loops, as described above.

Thus, in the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2, the sinkers 7, 25 of the first type and the sinkers 8, 9 of the second type are arranged alternately around the central axis "X-X". The first recess 5 accommodates a first type of sinker 25, while the second recess 6 accommodates a first type of sinker 7 and a second type of sinker 8, 9.

In a variant of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 and 7, the knockover sinkers 7' (which are not referred to as primary sinkers) do not have noses 31 for making the terry loop and do not interlock with the corresponding first jacks 10' and the corresponding first selector jacks 11 '. Furthermore, the assembly is provided with only one second selector jack 11, which second selector jack 11 acts simultaneously or almost simultaneously on the radially outer ends of the horizontal webs 18 of the two second pushers 10.

The knockover sinker 7' of the variant of the assembly of fig. 6 and 7 is operatively separate from the second selector jack 11 and from the second pusher 10, which is in conjunction with the transfer sinkers 8, 9. That is, the second selector jack 11 and the second pusher 10 do not interact with the knockover sinker 7' because they do not cause/control their movement. In this variant of fig. 6 and 7, the use of the knockover/terry sinker 25 (of the type shown in fig. 9 and 10) of another assembly (used with the tab nose 31) allows terry loops to be made, while the use of the knockover sinker 7', as a variant (shown in fig. 6 and 7), does not allow terry loops to be made.

In the embodiment of fig. 6 and 7, the first recess 5 accommodates a first type of sinker 25, while the second recess 6 accommodates a second type of sinker 8, 9 and a primary knockover sinker 7'. They are both separated from the first and second selector jacks.

In other embodiments, not shown, the first type of sinker and the second type of sinker may be different from a structural and geometric point of view, and they may be arranged in different ways. For example, a first type of sinker is received in a respective first recess, a second type of sinker is received in a respective second recess, and the first and second recesses alternate about the central axis.

In other embodiments, not shown, there may also be more than two sinkers in linkage with the respective selector jack.

A guide ring 38 (see fig. 11) consisting of one or more parts is operatively associated with the sinker seat 4. The guide ring 38 is coaxial with the central axis "X-X" and is fixed to the housing, i.e. the sinker seat 4 is rotatable relative to the guide ring 38 about the central axis "X-X". The selector 24 is therefore fixed with respect to the guide ring 38 and faces laterally the sinker holder 4. In the embodiment shown, the guide ring 38 is partly below the sinker seat 4 and partly above the sinker seat 4 and has a plurality of guides extending around the central axis "X-X" and configured for engagement with the metal parts of the assemblies described above. These guides are for example grooves delimited by triangles.

The butt 14 of the knockover/loop sinker 7 and the butt 30 of the knockover/loop sinker 25 are fitted into the first guide piece 39 in the upper part of the guide ring 38. When the sinker holder 4 rotates relative to the guide ring 38 and about the central axis "X-X", the first guide 39 moves the knockover/terry sinker 7 and the knockover/terry sinker 25 radially along the respective second radial groove 6 and the respective first radial groove 5.

As shown in fig. 11 to 16, some parts of the first guide 39 have a radial width substantially corresponding to the heels 14, 30 of the knockover/loop sinker 7 and the knockover/loop sinker 25, and these parts alternate with other wider parts. The larger portion provides or defines a respective radially outer path and a respective radially inner path (with respect to the central axis "X-X") for the heels 14, 30 and thus for the respective knockover/ terry sinker 7 and 25. As a result, the first guide 39 defines a first trajectory 40 and a second trajectory 41. The first track 40 comprises said radially outer path for part of said wider portion and said radially inner path for the remainder of said wider portion. The second track 41 comprises said radially inner path for all of said wider portions (fig. 12, 13 and 16). Two of said wider portions are located upstream and downstream of each yarn feeding system and each selector 24.

The butts 17 of the transfer sinkers 8, 9 of each assembly are fitted with second guides 42, which second guides 42 are also obtained in the upper part of the guide ring 38. The second guide 42 is located radially outward relative to the first guide 39, and the second guide 42 surrounds the first guide 39. The second guide 42 includes a plurality of paths of a substantially circular radially outer track 43, a substantially circular radially inner path 44, and a plurality of connecting portions 45 between the radially outer track 43 and the radially inner track 44. (FIG. 11)

The butts 19, 19 'of the first and second pushers 10, 10', 26 are fitted into a third guide 46, also obtained in the upper part of the guide ring 38. The third guide 46 also surrounds the central axis "X-X" and defines a plurality of trajectories. In particular, the third guide 46 defines a radially outer trajectory 47 and a plurality of radially inner trajectories 48 placed one after the other around the central axis "X-X". The radially outer track 47 of the third guide 46 is radially further outside with respect to the second guide 42, i.e. it surrounds the second guide 42. Each radially inner track 48 is arcuate and has opposite ends connected to the radially outer tracks 47 of the third guide 46. Each radially inner track 48 is offset from the radially outer track 47 of the third guide 46, close to the central axis "X-X", then again far from the central axis "X-X", and then again connected to the radially outer track 47 of the third guide 46. The radially inner tracks 48 are superimposed to the second guide 42, i.e. they define a part of the connecting portion 45 of one second guide 42. In the embodiment shown, there are eight radially inner tracks 48. The radially inner trajectory 48 is located upstream and downstream of each of the four yarn feeding systems and each selector 24.

The chassis 21, 21', 35 of all the first and second selector jacks 11, 11' are accommodated in a circular track 49 around the central axis "X-X" to slide therein. A circular track 49 is formed in the lower portion of the guide ring 38 and defines a circular track outside the radially outer track 47 of the third guide member 46, i.e., the circular track 49 surrounds the radially outer track 47.

Each selector 24, known per se, is of the magnetic or piezoelectric type and comprises a plurality of blades 50, which blades 50 are arranged one above the other and are movable together between a first position (for example a raised position) and a second position (for example a lowered position).

In the first position, the blade is at a distance from the teeth 23, 23', 37 of the first and second selector jacks 11, 11', 27 so that the blade does not interfere with said teeth 23, 23', 37 when the first and second selector jacks 11, 11', 27 are in the rest position. In particular, in the first position, said teeth 23, 23', 37 are located between the blades 50.

In the second position, when the sinker seat 4 rotates with respect to the guide ring 38 and around the central axis "X-X", the blades 50 trigger the movement of: the teeth 23 of the second selector jack 11 associated with the transfer sinkers 8, 9, and/or the teeth 23 'of the first selector jack 11' associated with the knockover/terry sinker 7, and/or 37 in the first selector jack 27, moving in front of the selector 24. This causes the selector 11, 11', 27 to go from the rest position to the working position.

An electronic control unit (not shown) is operatively connected to the motor or motors, so as to cause the rotation of the needle-holding cylinder 2 and of the sinker holder 4. The electronic control unit is also operatively connected to the selector 24 and to the other actuation units of the knitting machine, if any. The electronic control unit is configured/programmed to command one or more motors and the selector 24 and other actuation units of the machine, if any. In particular, the electronic control unit is configured/programmed to selectively move the blade 50 of the selector 24 to cause the first and second selector jacks 11, 11', 27 to move individually from the rest position to the working position.

In use, according to one or more methods of the invention, to manufacture plain fabric (fig. 12 and 13), the blades of selector 24 remain in the first position when needle-holding cylinder 2 is rotated with respect to the housing and sinker jack 4 is rotated with respect to guide ring 38 and around central axis "X-X". In this first position, the blade does not activate the teeth 23 of the first and second selector jacks 11, 11', 27. Thus, they are both in their respective rest positions.

The butts 19, 19 'of the first and second pushers 10, 10', 26 move along a radially outer trajectory 47 of the third guide 46.

The heel 17 of the transfer sinker 8, 9 of each respective assembly moves along the radially outer trajectory 43 of the second guide 42. Thus, the projection 16 of the respective transfer sinker 8, 9 remains in a radial position. At a distance from the central axis "X-X", i.e. in a retracted or rest position, in which they do not interact with the yarns constituting the loops.

Thus, the butt 14 of the knockover/loop sinker 7 and the butt 30 of the knockover/loop sinker 25 move along a part of the first trajectory 40 and a part of the second trajectory 41 of the first guide 39, thereby causing a radial movement of the knockover/loop sinker 7 and the knockover/loop sinker 25. The knockover/terry sinker 7 and the knockover/terry sinker 25 are moved forward and backward in the respective radial directions so that the jaws 13, 29 engage the needle 3 to produce plain loops (fig. 12 and 13). This mode of operation is achieved when the sinker seat 4 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as shown in fig. 12) or in a counter-clockwise direction (as shown in fig. 13).

To make a mesh fabric in the fabric (fig. 14 and 15), the control unit commands the selector 24 (controlled by software) to move the blade 50 from the first position to the second position and then back, according to the programmed angles of the needle-holding cylinder 2 and of the sinker jack 4. Thereby acting on the specific selector jack 11 of the transfer sinker 8, 9 of the specific combination.

The control unit further commands the device controlling the needle 3 (controlled by software) to move said needle 3 and make them suitably cooperate with:

in the manufacture of the plain knit fabric, in cooperation with the modified knockover/terry sinker 7 of the assemblage (fig. 6 and 7):

in the manufacture of the mesh fabric, in cooperation with the transfer sinkers 8, 9; and

when the loop fabric is produced, it cooperates with the loop/loop sinker 7 (fig. 4) and the loop nose 31, and the loop/loop sinker 25 (fig. 9 and 10) and the loop nose 31.

When manufacturing the mesh fabric, the selected second selector 11 or second selectors is/are moved to the operating position, while the selectors of transfer sinkers 8, 9, the first selector 11' of all knockover/terry sinkers 7 and the first selector 27 of knockover/terry sinker 25 of the non-selected combination are not activated and remain in their rest position. For the sake of simplicity, with reference to a single second selector jack 11, said second selector jack 11 pushes the respective two second pushers 10 towards the central axis "X-X" so that the butt 19 of the second pusher 10 is deviated into the radially inner trajectory 48 of the third guide 46, the third guide 46 being immediately below the selector 24. And the second pusher 10 pushes the transfer sinkers 8, 9 in sequence along the trajectory 48. The butts 17 of the right-hand and left- hand transfer sinkers 8 and 9 move along one of the connecting portions 45 of the second guide 42 and enter the radially inner trajectory 44 of the second guide 42 and rotate along a predetermined angle thereof. This rotation is in the counterclockwise direction (fig. 14) of the sinker seat 4 and of the needle-holding cylinder 2.

During this movement, starting first from the yarn feeding system at the stitch formation, the right transfer sinker 8 and the left transfer sinker 9 are then moved radially along the central axis "X-X" while keeping the needles 3 in the low position and then in the front position.

Therefore, the second jack 10 returns to the radially outer trajectory 47 of the third guide 46 by following the radially inner trajectory 48 of the third guide 46, and pushes the second selector jack 11 back to the rest position. When the pair of transfer sinkers 8 and 9 reaches the feed system at the stitch making, an extended stretch stitch (mesh fabric) is formed having an elongated stretch stitch, since the extended stretch stitch is loaded on the projection 16 instead of the jaw 13 of the respective knockover/terry sinker 7.

During the continued rotation of the sinker seat 4 and of the needle-holding cylinder 2 in the clockwise direction (fig. 15), the butt 17 of the transfer sinkers 8, 9 follows a portion of the radially inner trajectory 44 of the second guide 42 and is then deflected again on the radially outer trajectory 45 of the second guide 42 by the movement cams 51. During this travel, the transfer sinkers 8, 9 move radially away from the central axis "X-X" and then hold them in this position, while raising the needle 3 to the extraction and withdrawal position to catch the thread on the projection 16.

To make a loop on the fabric (fig. 16), the control unit commands the selector 24 to move the blade 50 from the first position to the second position and then back, according to the programmed angles of the needle-holding cylinder 2 and of the sinker jack 4. To act on the specific first selector jack 11' of the knockover/terry sinker 7 of the specific combination and/or on the specific first selector jack 27 of the specific combination. The second selector of the transfer sinkers 8, 9, the first selector 11' of the other knockover/terry sinker 7 and the first selector 27 of the other combination are not gripped and held in their rest positions.

For the sake of simplicity, with reference to a single first selector jack 27, said first selector jack 27 pushes the corresponding first pusher 26 towards the central axis "X-X" so that the butt 33 of the first pusher 26 is deviated in the radially inner trajectory 48 of the third guide 46, the third guide 46 being immediately below the selector 24. And the pushers 26 in turn push radially the corresponding knockover/terry sinker 25 along the trajectory 48. When the knockover/terry sinker 25 is located in one of the widest parts of the first guide 39, a radial pushing force is exerted and the knockover/terry sinker 25 is moved from the first path 40 onto the second path 41 of the first guide 39. That is, when the plain stitch is manufactured as described above, the loop release/sinker 25 is advanced radially into only the triangle of the first guide 39. Thus, the noses 31 of the knockover/terry sinker 25 cooperate with a pair of needles 3 (in a manner known per se and not described further here) to form terry loops. This mode of operation can be achieved when the sinker seat 4 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as shown in fig. 16) or in a counter-clockwise direction.

The invention has important advantages from a structural and functional point of view.

In fact, by programming the control unit of the command selector, it is possible to easily operate the first and/or second selector required, so as to produce complex fabrics with the most different characteristics, for example mesh fabrics and/or terry stitch fabrics.

The simultaneous knockover/terry sinker for producing plain or terry loops and the transfer sinker for producing mesh fabrics have the possibility of alternating movements for producing plain, terry and mesh knitted fabrics with high flexibility and high flexibility on the same knitting machine.

The knitting machine of the invention also allows to produce mesh fabrics and/or terry loops and other types of patterns and loops at high speed, thus significantly reducing the more complex and cumbersome production times of tubular knitted fabrics.

The control elements of the knockover/terry sinker 25 and the knockover/terry sinker 7, which are placed beside the transfer sinkers 8, 9, make the sinkers placed very close to each other, so that the knitting machine is compact. In fact, since the selector jacks 11, 11', 27 do not act directly on the transfer sinkers 8, 9 and the knockover/ terry sinkers 7, 25, but run by deviating the trajectory of the first and second pushers 10, 10', 26, which in turn push the transfer sinkers 8, 9 and the knockover/ terry sinkers 7, 25, the first and second selector jacks 11, 11', 27 and the selector 24 can be kept at a radial distance from the needle 3 and from the area where the stitch is formed, and the transfer sinkers 8, 9 and the knockover/ terry sinkers 7, 25 can be moved close to each other in the circumferential direction.

From a constructional point of view, such a machine is relatively simple and therefore easy to maintain.

Furthermore, since many of the elements are similar or identical (e.g., first and second pushers, first and second selectors, knockover/terry sinkers, right and left side stitch sinkers), their manufacturing costs can be kept low, thereby positively affecting the overall manufacturing costs of the knitting machine.

Claims (18)

1. A circular knitting machine, comprising:

-a needle-holding needle cylinder (2) having a plurality of longitudinal slots arranged around a central axis (X-X) of the needle-holding needle cylinder (2);

-a plurality of needles (3), each needle (3) being housed in a respective longitudinal groove;

-at least one yarn feeding system operatively associated with the needles (3);

-a sinker seat (4) arranged around the needle-holding cylinder (2) and having a plurality of radial grooves (5, 6);

-at least one guide ring (38) operatively associated with the sinker seat (4), wherein the sinker seat (4) is rotatable with respect to the guide ring (38) around a central axis (X-X);

-a plurality of sinkers of a first type (7, 25) housed in radial grooves (5, 6) and radially movable in said radial grooves (5, 6); each sinker of the first type (7, 25) being configured to cooperate with a needle (3) to make a stitch of the first type; each sinker of the first type (7, 25) comprises a heel (14, 30), said heel (14, 30) being fitted with a first guide (39) in a guide ring (38) and being formed around a central axis (X-X); wherein the first guide (39) is configured for radially moving the first type of sinker (7, 25) when the sinker seat (4) rotates relative to the guide ring (38) and around the central axis (X-X);

-a plurality of sinkers of a second type (8, 9) housed in a radial groove (6) and radially movable in said radial groove (6); each sinker of the second type (8, 9) being configured to cooperate with the needle (3) to make a stitch of the second type; each sinker of the second type (8, 9) comprises a heel (17), said heel (17) being fitted with the second guide (42) of the guide ring (38) and being formed around the central axis (X-X); wherein the second guide (42) is configured to rotate about the central axis (X) when the sinker seat (4) rotates relative to the guide ring (38)

-X) moving radially the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) while rotating;

-a plurality of first selectors (11', 27) operatively associated with the sinkers of the first type (7, 25), each first selector (11', 27) being movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein in the active position the first selector jack (11', 27) acts directly or indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the first type (7, 25) so as to deviate the butt (14, 30) of the sinker of the first type (7, 25) from the trajectory of the first guide (39);

-a plurality of second selectors (11) operatively associated with the sinkers of a second type (8, 9), each second selector (11) being movable, preferably oscillating, in a radial plane between a rest position and a working position; wherein, in the active position, the second selector jack (11) acts directly or indirectly on the corresponding sinker of the second type (8, 9) so as to deviate the butt (17) of the sinker of the second type (8, 9) from the trajectory of the second guide (42);

-at least one selector (24) transversely facing the sinker jack (4), said selector (24) being fixed with respect to the guide ring (38), the selector (24) being able to act under control with the first and/or second selector (11', 27, 11) to switch the first and/or second selector (11', 27, 11) from the rest position to the working position.

2. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first selector jack (11', 27) is identical or substantially identical to the second selector jack (11).

3. Circular knitting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first selector jack (11', 27) and said second selector jack (11) are slidingly engaged in a circular track (49) formed around said central axis (X-X) in said guide ring (38) so as to rotate together with the sinkers of the first type (7, 25) and of the second type (8, 9), respectively.

4. The circular knitting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said first selector jack (11', 27) and each of said second selector jack (11) has a base (21', 35, 21) with a circular profile configured for oscillating in a circular track (49) and around an axis tangent to a horizontal circumference centred on a central axis (X-X), and in that each of said first selector jack (11', 27) and each of said second selector jack (11) has a support (22 ', 36, 22) at a distance from the base (21', 35, 21).

5. Circular knitting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a plurality of first pushers (10', 26), each first pusher (10', 26) being associated with a respective first selector jack (11', 27) and with at least one respective sinker (7, 25) of the first type; wherein, in the working position, the first selector jack (11', 27) abuts against a first pusher (10', 26) and the first pusher (10', 26) is configured to push at least one sinker (7, 25) of a first type.

6. Circular knitting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the first pushers (10', 26) has a heel (19 ', 33), the heel (19 ', 33) being fitted or able to be fitted with a third guide (46) in the guide ring (38), which extends around the central axis (X-X) and defines a plurality of trajectories.

7. Circular knitting machine according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that each first pusher (10', 26) is housed in one of said radial grooves (5, 6) together with a corresponding sinker (7, 25) of the first type, the support (22', 36) of each first selector jack (11', 27) facing the radially outer end of said first pusher (10', 26).

8. Circular knitting machine according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising a plurality of second pushers (10), each second pusher (10) being associated with a corresponding second selector jack (11) and with at least one corresponding sinker of the second type (8, 9); wherein, in the operating position, the second selector jack (11) abuts against the second pusher (10) and the second pusher (10) is configured to push the at least one sinker of the second type (8, 9).

9. Circular knitting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each second pusher (10) has a heel (19), which heel (19) is fitted or can be fitted with a third guide (46) in a guide ring (38), which third guide rotates about the central axis (X-X) and defines a plurality of trajectories.

10. Circular knitting machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each second pusher (10) is housed in one of said radial grooves (6) together with the corresponding sinker (8, 9) of the second type, and the support (22) of the corresponding second selector jack (11) faces the radially outer end of the second pusher (10).

11. The circular knitting machine according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the first push tabs (11', 26) are identical or substantially identical to the second push tabs (11).

12. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the sinkers of the first type (7, 25) alternate with the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) around the central axis (X-X).

13. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sinkers of the first type (25) are housed in respective first recesses (5) of the plurality of radial recesses and the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) are housed in respective second recesses (6) of the plurality of radial recesses.

14. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 13 characterized in that the at least one selector (24) comprises at least one selector blade (50), the selector blade (50) being movable between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the needle selection blade (50) keeps a certain distance from the needle selection blades (11', 27) and the second needle selection blade (11); in the second position, when the sinker jack (4) rotates relative to the guide ring (38) and rotates around the central axis (X-X), rotating from the front of the selector (24), the selector blade (50) triggers the first selector jack (11', 27) and/or the second selector jack (11) in order to move said first selector jack (11', 27) and/or said second selector jack (11) from the rest position to the working position.

15. The circular knitting machine according to any of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the sinkers of the first type (7, 25) and the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) are selected from the group comprising: knockover sinkers, each having a jaw (13) configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to make plain-knit fabric; loop sinkers, each having a loop nose (31) configured for cooperation with a needle (3) for producing a loop coil; transfer sinkers (8, 9) each having a laterally offset projection (16) configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to make a mesh fabric; knockover/terry sinkers (7, 25) each having a jaw (13, 29) and a terry lug (31) disposed above the jaw (13, 29), the jaws (13, 29) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce plain needle fabric, the terry lug (31) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce terry loops.

16. A method of manufacturing a needle fabric using the circular knitting machine according to any of claims 1 to 15,

wherein the sinkers (7, 25) of the first type are knockover/terry sinkers each having a jaw (13, 29) and a terry lug (31) disposed above the jaw (13, 29), the jaws (13, 29) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce plain needle fabric, the terry lug (31) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce terry loops;

wherein the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) are transfer sinkers, each having a laterally offset projection (16) configured to cooperate with the needle (3) to make a mesh;

wherein, the method comprises the following steps: -keeping the first selector jack (11', 27) and the second selector jack (11) in a rest position, while the sinker carrier (4) rotates with respect to the guide ring (38) and rotates about the central axis (X-X) to move the knockover/terry sinker (7, 25) along the second trajectory (41) and the first trajectory (40) of the first guide (39), so that the lug noses (13, 29) make a plain fabric by cooperating with the needles (3) and the transfer sinkers (8, 9) are kept in a rest position along the radially outer trajectory (43) of the second guide (42);

wherein the first jack (10', 26) and the second jack (10) move along a radially outer trajectory (47) of the third guide (46) when the first selector jack (11', 27) and the second selector jack (11) are in the rest position; wherein the first pushers (10', 26) are radially distanced from the respective knockover/terry sinker (7, 25); wherein the second push plate (11) is at a certain distance from the corresponding mesh knocking-over sinker (8, 9) in the radial direction.

17. A method of manufacturing a knitted fabric using the circular knitting machine according to any of claims 1 to 15,

wherein the sinkers (7, 25) of the first type are knockover/terry sinkers, each knockover/terry sinker having a jaw (13, 29) and a terry lug (31) disposed above the jaw (13, 29), the jaws (13, 29) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce plain needle fabric, the terry lug (31) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce terry loops;

wherein the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) are transfer sinkers, each having a projection (16) laterally offset to one side, configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to make a mesh fabric;

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-engaging the at least one selector (24) with at least one of the second selectors (11) so as to move the at least one second selector (11) in the active position in at least one rotary portion of the sinker jack (4) about the central axis (X-X), while the first selectors (11', 27) remain in the rest position, so as to move the at least one transfer sinker (8, 9) in conjunction with the at least one second selector (11) on a radially internal trajectory (44) of the second guide (42) and to move the projection (16) laterally offset to one side in at least one rotary portion of the sinker jack (4) about the central axis (X-X), wherein a mesh is made in the fabric by engagement with at least one needle (3);

wherein the second pusher (10) associated with the second selector jack (11) is pushed radially by the corresponding second selector jack (11) towards the central axis (X-X), reaches the radially inner trajectory (48) of the second guide (46), and pushes the at least one transfer sinker (8, 9) into the radially inner trajectory (48) of the second guide (46).

18. A method of manufacturing a needle fabric using the circular knitting machine of any of claims 1 to 17.

Wherein the sinkers (7, 25) of the first type are knockover/terry sinkers, each knockover/terry sinker having a jaw (13, 29) and a terry lug (31) disposed above the jaw (13, 29), the jaws (13, 29) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce plain needle fabric, the terry lug (31) being configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to produce terry loops;

wherein the sinkers of the second type (8, 9) are transfer sinkers, each having a laterally offset projection (16) configured to cooperate with the needles (3) to make a mesh fabric;

wherein the method comprises the following steps: -the at least one selector (24) is made to act on at least one of the first selector jacks (11', 27) so as to move the at least one first selector jack (11', 27) to the operative position for at least one portion of rotation of the sinker jack (4) about the central axis (X-X), wherein the second selector jack (11) is kept in the rest position so as to move the at least one knockover/terry sinker (7, 25) associated with the at least one first selector jack (11', 27) on the second trajectory (41) of the first guide (39) so that the terry nose (31) of the knockover/terry sinker (7, 25) produces a terry loop by cooperating with at least one needle (3).

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