Circular Knitting Machine for Hosiery or the Like and Method for Producing a Tubular Manufacture

Abstract

A circular knitting machine with a needle cylinder configured to provide a tubular item and comprising a pickup device passing between a pickup position, in which it is arranged coaxially around the cylinder to pick up the item, and a position for its release at a station which is spaced laterally from the cylinder, at the station is a turning device comprising a lower portion forming an access inlet, the lower portion of the turning device being designed to accommodate coaxially the item to turn it, the circular machine comprises traction means acting on command at the outer surface of the tubular item and adapted to convey one portion of it at one accumulation region, the turning device being associated with suction means to transfer one portion of the tubular manufacture conveyed in the accumulation region toward the lower portion of the turning device through the access inlet.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising at least one needle cylinder which has a cylinder axis and is configured to provide a tubular manufacture, said circular machine comprising a pickup device adapted to pass between a pickup position, in which the pickup device is arranged coaxially around said needle cylinder in order to pick up said tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof from said needle cylinder, and a position for a release of said tubular manufacture at a station for a further processing of said tubular manufacture which is spaced laterally from said needle cylinder, at said further processing station there being a turning device which comprises a lower portion which forms in an upper region an access inlet, which is extended around a respective axis of extension, said lower portion of said turning device being designed to accommodate coaxially said tubular manufacture in order to turn the tubular manufacture, said circular machine further comprising traction means which act on command at an outer surface of said tubular manufacture and are adapted to convey at least one portion of said tubular manufacture at at least one accumulation region, said turning device being associated with suction means adapted to transfer at least one portion of said tubular manufacture conveyed in said accumulation region toward said lower portion of said turning device through said access inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said accumulation region is arranged proximate to said access inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said turning device comprises said lower portion and an upper portion, which are arranged respectively below and above an intermediate region at which supporting means for the tubular manufacture to be turned, which hangs at an axial end thereof, are configured to be arranged, a tubular body being provided which can be inserted upward from below, with its upper axial end, through said axial end of the tubular manufacture which hangs from said supporting means after aspirating the tubular manufacture through said upper axial end of the tubular body, in order to evert the tubular manufacture, which is retained by said supporting means. 
     
     
         17 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said traction means comprise at least one extraction roller associated with motor means. 
     
     
         18 . The circular machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one extraction roller is arranged proximate to said accumulation region. 
     
     
         19 . The circular machine according to  claim 17 , wherein an outer surface of said at least one extraction roller is adapted to make contact with the outer surface of said tubular manufacture in order to induce a traction of at least one portion of said tubular manufacture toward said accumulation region with said pickup device in the release position. 
     
     
         20 . The circular machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said traction means comprise at least one contrast roller which is arranged, during a rotational actuation of said at least one extraction roller, opposite with respect to the respective extraction roller with respect to said tubular manufacture. 
     
     
         21 . The circular machine according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one contrast roller is supported by said pickup device and in that said at least one extraction roller is supported by said turning device. 
     
     
         22 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said traction means are functionally associated with sensor means adapted to control a conveyance of the portion of said tubular manufacture toward said at least one accumulation region. 
     
     
         23 . The circular machine according to  claim 20 , wherein said traction means comprise a lever which is supported by said pickup device and is designed to convey said tubular manufacture below said contrast roller during transition from the pickup position to the release position. 
     
     
         24 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said lower portion of said turning device is configured to be inclined on command with respect to said axis of extension with said tubular body supported by said lower portion and in a lowered position. 
     
     
         25 . The circular machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said accumulation region is arranged between said traction device and said supporting means. 
     
     
         26 . A method for providing a tubular manufacture, comprising:
 a step of production, by means of at least one needle cylinder, of a tubular manufacture;   a step of pickup, by means of a pickup device, of said tubular manufacture at an axial end;   a step of transfer of said axial end of the tubular manufacture from a pickup position, at said needle cylinder, toward a release position at a station for the further processing of said tubular manufacture;   a step of traction, by virtue of traction means which act on command at the outer surface of said tubular manufacture, of at least one portion of said tubular manufacture in order to convey at least one portion of the tubular manufacture at at least one accumulation region;   a step of suction, by virtue of suction means, of at least one portion of the tubular manufacture conveyed at the accumulation region, in order to transfer the tubular manufacture, through an access inlet, toward a lower portion of a turning device designed to accommodate coaxially said tubular manufacture in order to turn the tubular manufacture.