A pick-up device for picking up a tubular knitted article from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular pick-up body which supports pick-up elements which can slide relative to the pick-up body along radial directions. The end of each one of the pick-up elements has a seat which can engage a region of the stem of the needle located proximate to the latch of the needle on the opposite side with respect to the head of the needle. The device comprises actuation elements formed by elastic elements which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding toward the axis of the pick-up body and radial pushers which act on the pick-up elements for their sliding away from the axis of the pick-up body in contrast with the action of the elastic elements.

A method for closing automatically an axial end of a tubular manufacture and for unloading it in inside-out configuration comprising a step of positioning the manufacture, in a right-way-out configuration, at a sewing or linking station, arranged so that its axis is substantially vertical and so that it hangs, by means of a first axial end to be closed by sewing or linking, from an annular handling device. Then a step is performed for inserting the manufacture, retained by the handling device, into an upper reversing tube that is or can be positioned, with its lower axial end, above the handling device. A step of closing the first axial end of the manufacture by sewing or linking is then performed. Then a step of disengaging the manufacture from the handling device and a step of removing the manufacture through the upper axial end of the upper reversing tube are performed.

A method for closing automatically an axial end of a tubular manufacture and for unloading it in inside-out configuration comprising a step of positioning the manufacture, in a right-way-out configuration, at a sewing or linking station, arranged so that its axis is substantially vertical and so that it hangs, by means of a first axial end to be closed by sewing or linking, from an annular handling device. Then a step is performed for inserting the manufacture, retained by the handling device, into an upper reversing tube that is or can be positioned, with its lower axial end, above the handling device. A step of closing the first axial end of the manufacture by sewing or linking is then performed. Then a step of disengaging the manufacture from the handling device and a step of removing the manufacture through the upper axial end of the upper reversing tube are performed.

A loop joining apparatus is for joining loops of a tubular knitted article, and includes a reed unit and two loop holding units. The reed unit includes a first reed including a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed including a plurality of second reed teeth. The first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis to transform between an expanded state and a stacked state. Each of the loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the folding axis, to retain the at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth when the reed unit is transformed to the stacked state.

A loop joining apparatus is for joining loops of a tubular knitted article, and includes a reed unit and two loop holding units. The reed unit includes a first reed including a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed including a plurality of second reed teeth. The first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis to transform between an expanded state and a stacked state. Each of the loop holding units holds at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about the folding axis, to retain the at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of the first and second reed teeth when the reed unit is transformed to the stacked state.

A toe closing method for closing a toe end with first and second circumferential portions includes the steps of: folding the first circumferential portion to super-impose over the second circumferential portion such that the toe end is formed with opposed first and second end points; knitting a stitching thread by threading the same through the loops of the superimposed circumferential portions to form a first loose thread and an initial stitch segment; continuously knitting the thread around the superimposed circumferential portions until the second end point is reached to form a joining segment; and continuously knitting the thread around a part of the joining segment to form at least one tail portion and a second loose thread.

A toe closing method for closing a toe end with first and second circumferential portions includes the steps of: folding the first circumferential portion to super-impose over the second circumferential portion such that the toe end is formed with opposed first and second end points; knitting a stitching thread by threading the same through the loops of the superimposed circumferential portions to form a first loose thread and an initial stitch segment; continuously knitting the thread around the superimposed circumferential portions until the second end point is reached to form a joining segment; and continuously knitting the thread around a part of the joining segment to form at least one tail portion and a second loose thread.

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 hosiery knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder which can be actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis, arranged vertically, and on the skirt of which there is a plurality of axial grooves, each accommodating a needle, a tubular body being arranged internally and coaxially to the needle cylinder and being adapted to receive the manufactured item during its forming; the tubular body is supported so that it can slide along an axial direction within the needle cylinder; and actuation means which act on command on the tubular body in order to actuate its axial movement with respect to the needle cylinder, the actuation means being associated with means for controlling the speed of the tubular body.