A circular textile knitting machine includes a drive chain for each needle inserted in a respective longitudinal groove, located below a respective needle and operatively interposed between the respective needle and actuating cams. The drive chain includes a sub-needle arranged below the needle and engaged with the needle to be axially moved in the respective longitudinal groove together with the needle. The sub-needle includes a movable butt radially movable between an operating position, in which it is extracted to be engaged with respective first paths defined by first actuating cams and cause activation of the needle, and a non-operating position, in which it is retracted to not be engaged with the first paths. A selector is partly located below the sub-needle and partly alongside the sub-needle and is configured for oscillating between an active position, in which it pushes the movable butt into the operating position, and a rest position, in which it allows the movable butt to return into the non-operating position. The selector is axially uncoupled from the sub-needle and from the needle in a manner such that the needle and the sub-needle are never pushed or pulled axially by the selector. A selecting device acts upon command on the selectors so as to cause the passage thereof into the active position.

A circular textile knitting machine includes a drive chain for each needle inserted in a respective longitudinal groove, located below a respective needle and operatively interposed between the respective needle and actuating cams. The drive chain includes a sub-needle arranged below the needle and engaged with the needle to be axially moved in the respective longitudinal groove together with the needle. The sub-needle includes a movable butt radially movable between an operating position, in which it is extracted to be engaged with respective first paths defined by first actuating cams and cause activation of the needle, and a non-operating position, in which it is retracted to not be engaged with the first paths. A selector is partly located below the sub-needle and partly alongside the sub-needle and is configured for oscillating between an active position, in which it pushes the movable butt into the operating position, and a rest position, in which it allows the movable butt to return into the non-operating position. The selector is axially uncoupled from the sub-needle and from the needle in a manner such that the needle and the sub-needle are never pushed or pulled axially by the selector. A selecting device acts upon command on the selectors so as to cause the passage thereof into the active position.

A circular knitting machine for manufacturing open-work knitted fabric includes a crown arranged around a needle-holding cylinder and having a plurality of radial grooves and a guiding ring operatively associated to the crown. Each of a plurality of knockover sinkers is housed in one of the radial grooves, is radially movable in the respective radial groove and has a pin configured for cooperating with the needles. At least one shaped sinker is placed beside each of the knockover sinkers and is movable with respect to the respective knockover sinker. The shaped sinker has a protrusion offset laterally with respect to the respective knockover sinker and configured for elongating an interstitch, arranging it on an adjacent needle and forming an open work. A selector is operatively coupled with the shaped sinker and is oscillating in a radial plane between a rest position and an operating position, wherein in the operating position the selector acts indirectly upon the shaped sinker so as to deviate the trajectory of the shaped sinker. A selecting actuator faces laterally the crown and can be engaged upon command with the selectors for causing the selectors to switch from the rest position to the 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.

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 flat part for a knitting machine includes a main flat body and a pair of springs protruding on opposed sides of the main flat body and resting against opposed surfaces of a respective groove in the needle-holding cylinder of a knitting machine. Each spring, when the flat part is inserted into the groove, pushes against the respective surface of the groove, so as to make it easier for the flat part to oscillate in the groove and/or to stabilize the positioning of the flat part in the groove.

A method for the production of portions of manufacture by means of a circular knitting machine with needle cylinder, which comprises the following steps: identifying a group of contiguous needles in the needle cylinder; dividing the group of needles into two contiguous needle subgroups, respectively a first needle subgroup and a second needle subgroup; moving to knit at a feed or drop of the machine a needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession.

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.

A method for the production of portions of manufacture by means of a circular knitting machine with needle cylinder, which comprises the following steps: identifying a group of contiguous needles in the needle cylinder; dividing the group of needles into two contiguous needle subgroups, respectively a first needle subgroup and a second needle subgroup; moving to knit at a feed or drop of the machine a needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession; moving to knit at the feed the other needle subgroup of the two needle subgroups during the rotation of the needle cylinder in one direction of rotation and in the subsequent rotation in the opposite direction to form two partial rows of knitting in succession.