Patent ID: 7882711
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: D04B

Abstract:
1. A device for closing the end of tubular hosiery articles on a circular machine that produces the articles, the device comprising: a needle cylinder; a plurality of needles forming a first needle arc arranged in said needle cylinder; another plurality of needles forming a second needle arc arranged in said needle cylinder opposite said first needle arc; a plurality of sinkers cooperating with said plurality of needles to form stitches; a substantially semicircular sector to transfer stitches from said first needle arc to said second opposed needle arc; a plurality of radially projecting appendages arranged in said sector, each of said radially projecting appendages terminating in a bifurcated manner with two shaped elements, each of said two shaped elements being movable into an engagement position where said two shaped elements are flanking a relevant needle of the first needle arc within a respective one of said plurality of sinkers, each of said radially projecting appendages comprising a U-shaped fork projection oriented approximately radially with respect to said semicircular sector and being radially outwardly open, said U-shaped fork projection partly embracing a respective said one of said needles when said shaped elements of said radially projecting appendages are arranged between a respective said needle and a respective one of said sinkers, each of said U-shaped fork projections forming a rear recess extending transversely to said two shaped elements, and two front recesses for engaging an end stitch formed by needles of the first needle arc; a means for raising and lowering the needles of the first arc to unload said end stitch, said end stitch being engaged on said fork projection; a means for rotating said sector through approximately 180° about a diametrical geometrical axis of the cylinder and for taking the end stitches engaged on said recesses in correspondence of the needles of the second arc; a means for raising said needles of the second arc to a retained level to maintain the stitch formed by each of these needles and for engaging the corresponding stitch engaged on said recesses and for forming a rank of double closing stitches with the needles of the second arc; and a means for moving the sinkers radially away, in the operation of forming said end stitches.