A knitting method and an apparatus for a cylindrical biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. The biaxial three-dimensional knitted structure comprises two weft plain stitch structures (7, 7′), a group of spacer yarns (416), two groups of weft inserting yarns (415, 415′) and a group of warp inserting yarns (43), wherein the two groups of weft inserting yarns are used for selective weft inserting on a needle dial (11) or a needle cylinder (13), the warp inserting yarns are positioned between the two groups of weft inserting yarns, the two weft plain stitch structures are connected with each other by the group of spacer yarns, for jointly clamping the weft inserting yarns and the warp inserting yarns, in order to form a biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. Such three-dimensional knitted structure improves the mechanical properties of three-dimensional knitted fabrics; by increasing the interval between the needle dial and the needle cylinder, the thickness of the knitted structure is increased, which is suitable for the reinforced structure of high-performance structural and functional composite materials, and expand the field of the use of the knitted structures.

A knitting method and an apparatus for a cylindrical biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. The biaxial three-dimensional knitted structure comprises two weft plain stitch structures (7, 7′), a group of spacer yarns (416), two groups of weft inserting yarns (415, 415′) and a group of warp inserting yarns (43), wherein the two groups of weft inserting yarns are used for selective weft inserting on a needle dial (11) or a needle cylinder (13), the warp inserting yarns are positioned between the two groups of weft inserting yarns, the two weft plain stitch structures are connected with each other by the group of spacer yarns, for jointly clamping the weft inserting yarns and the warp inserting yarns, in order to form a biaxial weft-knitted three-dimensional knitted structure. Such three-dimensional knitted structure improves the mechanical properties of three-dimensional knitted fabrics; by increasing the interval between the needle dial and the needle cylinder, the thickness of the knitted structure is increased, which is suitable for the reinforced structure of high-performance structural and functional composite materials, and expand the field of the use of the knitted structures.

A circular knitting machine with a needle cylinder (11), in which cylinder needles (13) are mounted to be longitudinally displaceable, and a dial (12), in which rib dial needles (14) are mounted to be radially displaceable, wherein auxiliary elements (15), in particular sinkers, associated with the cylinder needles (13) and auxiliary elements (16), in particular sinkers, associated with the rib dial needles (14), as well as separate thread feeds to the cylinder needles (13) and to the rib dial needles (16) are provided, wherein separate tubular knits (19, 20) can be produced simultaneously or one after the other with the cylinder needles (13) and with the rib dial needles (14).

A circular knitting machine with a needle cylinder (11), in which cylinder needles (13) are mounted to be longitudinally displaceable, and a dial (12), in which rib dial needles (14) are mounted to be radially displaceable, wherein auxiliary elements (15), in particular sinkers, associated with the cylinder needles (13) and auxiliary elements (16), in particular sinkers, associated with the rib dial needles (14), as well as separate thread feeds to the cylinder needles (13) and to the rib dial needles (16) are provided, wherein separate tubular knits (19, 20) can be produced simultaneously or one after the other with the cylinder needles (13) and with the rib dial needles (14).

A needle-holding unit for circular knitting machines has a structure shaped as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis is configured for turning around said central axis and for supporting a plurality of needles moving so as to produce a knitted fabric. The needle-holding unit exhibits on an outer side at least one working surface, on which a plurality of needle seats is defined, which are placed beside one another and arranged around the central axis. Each of the needle seats movably houses at least a portion of at least one respective needle which can be actuated with an alternate motion along the respective needle seat with a motion of extraction and a motion of return, in order to produce knitted fabric. Each needle seat has an inclined longitudinal development with respect to the central axis. The working surface has a shape as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of the inclined needle seats around the central axis, and in particular the working surface is a non-cylindrical, non-conical three-dimensional surface.

A needle-holding unit for circular knitting machines has a structure shaped as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis is configured for turning around said central axis and for supporting a plurality of needles moving so as to produce a knitted fabric. The needle-holding unit exhibits on an outer side at least one working surface, on which a plurality of needle seats is defined, which are placed beside one another and arranged around the central axis. Each of the needle seats movably houses at least a portion of at least one respective needle which can be actuated with an alternate motion along the respective needle seat with a motion of extraction and a motion of return, in order to produce knitted fabric. Each needle seat has an inclined longitudinal development with respect to the central axis. The working surface has a shape as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of the inclined needle seats around the central axis, and in particular the working surface is a non-cylindrical, non-conical three-dimensional surface.

A support and control device, intended to be mounted in a circular knitting machine provided with a supporting structure, a rotating component-holding unit, and a plurality of stitch formation components, includes a support body provided with a mounting portion, which allows the device to be mounted to the supporting structure, with a front side and a rear side. The front side faces the component-holding unit and is provided with at least one cam for controlling the plurality of stitch formation components, which defines a guiding path which interacts with respective butts for controlling each of the stitch formation components; the rear side is opposite to the front side and faces the outside of the knitting machine. The front side is without undercuts or holes or hollow surfaces facing said needle-holding unit.

A support and control device, intended to be mounted in a circular knitting machine provided with a supporting structure, a rotating component-holding unit, and a plurality of stitch formation components, includes a support body provided with a mounting portion, which allows the device to be mounted to the supporting structure, with a front side and a rear side. The front side faces the component-holding unit and is provided with at least one cam for controlling the plurality of stitch formation components, which defines a guiding path which interacts with respective butts for controlling each of the stitch formation components; the rear side is opposite to the front side and faces the outside of the knitting machine. The front side is without undercuts or holes or hollow surfaces facing said needle-holding unit.

A circular knitting machine includes a needle-holding cylinder having plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged around central axis, and plurality of needles, each being housed in longitudinal groove. Drive chain for each needle is inserted into each groove and operatively placed between needle and actuating cams. Drive chain includes sub-needle slidingly arranged in groove and having a butt. Butt is radially movable between operating position, extracted to engage with respective first paths and cause activation of needle and stitch formation, and non-operating position, retracted so as not to engage with first paths. A selector is arranged under sub-needle, and punch is arranged between sub-needle and selector. An activating element is slidingly arranged in groove between sub-needle and selector, can be longitudinally moved with respect to punch and sub-needle, and can be operatively engaged with sub-needle to switch butt of sub-needle into and retain it in operating position.

A circular knitting machine includes a needle-holding cylinder having plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged around central axis, and plurality of needles, each being housed in longitudinal groove. Drive chain for each needle is inserted into each groove and operatively placed between needle and actuating cams. Drive chain includes sub-needle slidingly arranged in groove and having a butt. Butt is radially movable between operating position, extracted to engage with respective first paths and cause activation of needle and stitch formation, and non-operating position, retracted so as not to engage with first paths. A selector is arranged under sub-needle, and punch is arranged between sub-needle and selector. An activating element is slidingly arranged in groove between sub-needle and selector, can be longitudinally moved with respect to punch and sub-needle, and can be operatively engaged with sub-needle to switch butt of sub-needle into and retain it in operating position.