A pickup device for picking up a knitted tubular manufacture from a circular knitting machine for hosiery and for transferring it to a unit adapted to perform additional operations on the manufacture, comprising an annular pickup body that supports a plurality of pickup elements, which are arranged radially around the axis of the pickup body and can slide with respect to the pickup body along radial directions; the pickup body can be arranged coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine for hosiery, with each one of the pickup elements laterally facing a needle of the machine; actuation elements being provided which act on the pickup elements for their movement along the radial directions.

A turning device for sewing or grafting stations for automated closing of the tubular knitted items at a first end thereof includes a lower portion and an upper portion, arranged below and above an intermediate area on which can be positioned supporting means for the tubular item to be turned, hanging at its first axial end, and at least one tubular body to be inserted from below to above, with the upper axial end thereof, through the axial end of the item hanging from the supporting means for turning the tubular item. The device includes moving mechanisms for positioning the lower portion between a first operating position, in which it is vertically aligned with the upper portion, and a second operating position, in which it is displaced laterally with respect to the upper portion; a manipulating mechanism, movable between a non-operating position, in which it does not interact with the tubular item, and an operating position, in which it is placed above the tubular item. The switching of the manipulating mechanism from the non-operating position to the operating position takes place by catching the tubular item picked up by the knitting machine and placed close to the lower portion; the manipulating mechanism, in the operating position, manipulates and raises the tubular item so as to position a second free end thereof on the upper axial open end of the tubular item, thus causing or facilitating the insertion of the tubular item into the tubular body.

A turning device for sewing or grafting stations for automated closing of the tubular knitted items at a first end thereof includes a lower portion and an upper portion, arranged below and above an intermediate area on which can be positioned supporting means for the tubular item to be turned, hanging at its first axial end, and at least one tubular body to be inserted from below to above, with the upper axial end thereof, through the axial end of the item hanging from the supporting means for turning the tubular item. The device includes moving mechanisms for positioning the lower portion between a first operating position, in which it is vertically aligned with the upper portion, and a second operating position, in which it is displaced laterally with respect to the upper portion; a manipulating mechanism, movable between a non-operating position, in which it does not interact with the tubular item, and an operating position, in which it is placed above the tubular item. The switching of the manipulating mechanism from the non-operating position to the operating position takes place by catching the tubular item picked up by the knitting machine and placed close to the lower portion; the manipulating mechanism, in the operating position, manipulates and raises the tubular item so as to position a second free end thereof on the upper axial open end of the tubular item, thus causing or facilitating the insertion of the tubular item into the tubular body.

A method and related apparatus for assembling a fabric strip to a knitted article. The method includes the steps of loading a knitted article onto a loading form, wrapping at least an end portion of the knitted article so that an open end thereof is accessible, loading a fabric strip onto loading members, and wrapping it thereon so that a first welt is accessible. Additionally, the method includes mutually positioning the loading form and the loading members by aligning the loading form with respect to the loading members, introducing the loading form into an inner space of the loading members so that the fabric strip surrounds outside the end portion of the knitted article, and letting the first welt overlap and match the open border.

A method and related apparatus for assembling a fabric strip to a knitted article. The method includes the steps of loading a knitted article onto a loading form, wrapping at least an end portion of the knitted article so that an open end thereof is accessible, loading a fabric strip onto loading members, and wrapping it thereon so that a first welt is accessible. Additionally, the method includes mutually positioning the loading form and the loading members by aligning the loading form with respect to the loading members, introducing the loading form into an inner space of the loading members so that the fabric strip surrounds outside the end portion of the knitted article, and letting the first welt overlap and match the open border.

A circular knitting machine for hosiery, comprising at least one needle cylinder configured to provide a tubular item, and a pickup device which is adapted to pass between a pickup position and a release position at a further processing station, a turning device being provided which comprises a lower portion designed to accommodate coaxially the tubular item, wherein the circular machine comprises a lifting element which is adapted to pass between an inactive condition, in which it is arranged externally with respect to the region affected by the movement of the pickup device and of the corresponding tubular item and an active position, in which the lifting element is adapted to interact with at least one portion of the tubular item.

A circular knitting machine for hosiery, comprising at least one needle cylinder configured to provide a tubular item, and a pickup device which is adapted to pass between a pickup position and a release position at a further processing station, a turning device being provided which comprises a lower portion designed to accommodate coaxially the tubular item, wherein the circular machine comprises a lifting element which is adapted to pass between an inactive condition, in which it is arranged externally with respect to the region affected by the movement of the pickup device and of the corresponding tubular item and an active position, in which the lifting element is adapted to interact with at least one portion of the tubular item.

The linking device (9) includes a first bowed needle (17) mounted on a first shaft (13) and a second bowed needle (19) mounted on a second shaft (15). The first shaft (13) and the second shaft (15) are mutually inclined to each other and are controlled in order to pivot alternatingly around a pivot axis (A-A) of the first shaft (13) and a pivot axis (B-B) of the second shaft (15), respectively. The first shaft (13) is rigidly coupled to a first pin (27) pivoting therewith; the second shaft (15) is rigidly coupled to a second pin (31) pivoting therewith; and a slider (35) is slidingly mounted on the first pin (27) and on the second pin (31).

The linking device (9) includes a first bowed needle (17) mounted on a first shaft (13) and a second bowed needle (19) mounted on a second shaft (15). The first shaft (13) and the second shaft (15) are mutually inclined to each other and are controlled in order to pivot alternatingly around a pivot axis (A-A) of the first shaft (13) and a pivot axis (B-B) of the second shaft (15), respectively. The first shaft (13) is rigidly coupled to a first pin (27) pivoting therewith; the second shaft (15) is rigidly coupled to a second pin (31) pivoting therewith; and a slider (35) is slidingly mounted on the first pin (27) and on the second pin (31).

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.