Patent Publication Number: US-6698250-B2

Title: Circular knitting machine with knitted item removal/transferring device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine with device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process, particularly for automating the closure of the toe of hosiery items. 
     As is known, according to conventional manufacturing processes tubular articles, particularly hosiery items, are generally manufactured by means of circular machines and are unloaded from the machine that manufactures them with both axial ends open. These articles must therefore be subjected to a subsequent sewing or looping operation, which closes one end of the article, constituted by the toe for hosiery items, in order to obtain the finished product. 
     Since this operation for closing an axial end of the article is an additional production step that requires time and the use of labor, with the associated costs, in recent years methods have been devised and perfected which seek to close one end of the article directly on the manufacturing machine or to automate the transfer of the article from the manufacturing machine to a sewing or looping machine, so as to reduce the overall manufacturing costs of the articles. 
     The methods that consist in closing an axial end of the article, directly on the manufacturing machine, have the drawback that they penalize considerably the production potential of the machine, since the time required to close the article is a time during which the machine cannot proceed with the production of other articles. 
     The methods that automate the transfer of the article from the manufacturing machine to a looping or sewing machine and therefore close an axial end of the article externally with respect to the manufacturing machine have the advantage that they allow, after removing the article from the manufacturing machine, to resume production on the part of the machine; therefore they penalize to a lesser extent the production potential of the machine. However, these methods still penalize significantly the productivity of the machine, since the removal of the article from the manufacturing machine still requires a certain time, which cannot be used for manufacturing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems cited above, by providing a circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine with a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process, particularly for automating the operation of closing the toe of hosiery items, which allows to reduce considerably the time taken away from the manufacturing of the machine, so as to not penalize, or penalize minimally, the productivity of the machine. 
     Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine that allows to achieve correct closure of the toe of hosiery item even in the case of high-gauge hosiery items. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the automated transfer of a tubular article, particularly a hosiery item, from a circular double-cylinder machine to a sewing machine, which makes it economically convenient to perform this transfer. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine with a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process that is highly reliable and precise in operation. 
     This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine with a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process, particularly for automating the closure of the toe of hosiery items, which comprises a lower needle cylinder, which has a vertical axis, and an upper needle cylinder, which is arranged above said lower needle cylinder and coaxially thereto, said needle cylinders being actuatable with a rotary motion about their own axis, characterized in that it comprises a device that is provided with a removal element that can be inserted from above into the upper needle cylinder and is provided with first grip means that can engage a region of the article being manufactured that is proximate to the final end of said article, said removal element being removable upwardly from the upper needle cylinder in order to move the article away from the machine, a transfer element being further provided which is arranged above the upper needle cylinder and is adapted to remove the article from said removal element and to feed it to a sewing machine in order to close said final end of the article. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the machine according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic axial sectional view of the machine according to the invention, illustrating a part of the device for removing and transferring the article before said device begins working; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic axial sectional view of the removal element in its operating position that corresponds to its complete insertion in the upper needle cylinder of the machine; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the detail of the machine shown in FIG. 2, in a first step of the operation of the article removal element; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the same detail of the machine shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in a second step of the operation of the removal element; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the same detail of the machine in a third step of the operation of the removal element; 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the same detail of the machine shown in FIGS. 3 to  6 , with the removal element in a fourth step of operation; 
     FIG. 8 is a partially sectional lateral elevation view of the transfer element; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of FIG. 8 in a first step of the operation of the transfer element; 
     FIG. 10 is a view of the same detail of FIG. 9, in a second step of the operation of the transfer element; 
     FIG. 11 is a view of the same detail of FIGS. 9 and 10, in a third step of the operation of the transfer element; 
     FIG. 12 is another view of the same detail of FIGS. 8 to  11 , in a fourth step of the operation of the transfer element. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures, the circular double-cylinder hosiery knitting machine according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral  1 , comprises in a per se known manner a lower needle cylinder  2 , whose axis  3  is orientated vertically, and an upper needle cylinder  4 , which is arranged above the lower needle cylinder  2  and coaxially thereto. 
     The lower needle cylinder  2  and the upper needle cylinder  4  are supported by a supporting structure  5  so that they can rotate about the axis  3 , and they can be actuated, in a per se known manner, with a rotary motion about the axis  3 . 
     In a per se known manner, the lower needle cylinder  2  and the upper needle cylinder  4  contain a device for tensioning the article. Said article tensioning device comprises a lower suction tube  6 , referenced hereinafter as “lower tube” for the sake of brevity, which is arranged internally and coaxially with respect to the lower needle cylinder  2 . The lower tube  6  is rigidly coupled to the lower needle cylinder  2  in rotation about the axis  3  and can move on command along the axis  3  with respect to the lower needle cylinder  2 . 
     More particularly, the lower tube  6  is supported, so that it can slide axially, inside the lower needle cylinder  2  and is connected, proximate to its lower end, to the stem  7   a  of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder  7 , which is supported by the supporting structure  5  of the machine and is orientated so that one of its axes is parallel to the axis  3 . A bearing  8  is conveniently arranged between the stem  7   a  and the lower tube  6  in order to allow the rotation of the lower tube  6  about the axis  3 . 
     The stroke of the pneumatic cylinder  7  is such as to allow to move the lower tube  6  from a lowered position, in which its upper end lies directly below the upper end of the lower needle cylinder  2 , to a raised position, in which the lower tube  6  protrudes partly into the upper needle cylinder  4 , and vice versa. 
     A plug-like element  9  is accommodated internally and coaxially to the lower tube  6 . Said plug-like element  9  can move on command along the axis  3  with respect to the lower tube  6  and to the lower needle cylinder  2 . More particularly, the plug-like element  9  is fixed to the upper end of the stem  10   a  of the piston  10  of a pneumatic cylinder  11 , which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine. 
     The plug-like element  9  can move, by virtue of the action of the pneumatic cylinder  11 , along the axis  3  from an inactive position, in which it is fully accommodated within the lower needle cylinder  2  and is spaced downward from the upper end of said lower needle cylinder  2 , to an active position, in which it engages the lower end of an upper suction tube  12 , referenced hereinafter as “upper tube” for the sake of brevity, which is accommodated in the upper needle cylinder  4 , as will become better apparent hereinafter. 
     The piston  10  of the pneumatic cylinder  11  can move upward in contrast with a spring  13  that actuates the descent of the plug-like element  9  when the pneumatic cylinder  11  is discharged. 
     The upper tube  12 , which is also part of the article tensioning device, is arranged above the upper needle cylinder  4  and coaxially thereto and protrudes with its lower end into the upper needle cylinder  4 . 
     A tensioning tube  15  is arranged around the upper tube  12  and can move on command, in a per se known manner, along the axis  3  in order to pass from a raised position, in which its lower end is level with, or arranged above, the lower end of the upper needle cylinder  4 , to a lowered position, in which its lower end protrudes inside the lower needle cylinder  2  around the plug-like element  9 . 
     The movement of the tensioning tube  15  can be actuated, in a per se known manner, by way of a pneumatic device, generally designated by the reference numeral  16 , which is substantially constituted by a pneumatic cylinder  17 , which is provided with a piston  18 , which is in turn connected, at its axial ends, to the ends of a cable or belt  19 . The cable or belt  19  winds around two pulleys  20   a  and  20   b , which have horizontal axes, so that one portion of said cable, which runs between the pulleys  20   a  and  20   b , is arranged vertically laterally to the tensioning tube  15 . Said portion is connected, with the interposition of a bearing  21 , to the tensioning tube  15  so that the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder  17  causes the upward or downward axial translational motion of the tensioning tube  15 . 
     The lower tube  6  can be connected on command, in a per se known manner, to suction means, and likewise the upper tube  12  can be connected to suction means in order to generate, when required, a partial vacuum inside said tubes  6  and  12 . 
     The double-cylinder knitting machine is not described further, since it can be constituted by a circular double-cylinder knitting machine of a known type with a fabric tensioning device. For example, the machine can be constituted by a double-cylinder machine of the type disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 08/595,112 by the same Applicant. 
     The machine according to the invention comprises a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process. 
     Said removal and transfer device comprises a removal element, generally designated by the reference numeral  22 , and a transfer element, generally designated by the reference numeral  23 . 
     The removal element  22  can be inserted from above into the upper needle cylinder  4  and is provided with first grip means  24 , which can engage a region of the article  25  being manufactured that is proximate to the final end of said article  25  and can be extracted upwardly from the upper needle cylinder  4  in order to move the article  25  away at the end of its knitting. 
     The transfer element  23  is arranged above the upper needle cylinder  4 , and is adapted to remove the article  25  from the removal element  22  and feed it to a sewing machine that is capable of closing the final end of the article  25 , as will become better apparent hereinafter. 
     The removal element  22  includes internally the upper tube  12 , which as mentioned can be connected on command to suction means to form aspirating means. In this manner, the removal element  22  comprises means for aspirating the article  25  that allow to aspirate the article  25  upward inside said upper tube  12 , so as to arrange the article  25  upside down. 
     The removal element  22  substantially comprises a hollow outer cylinder  31  (“outer cylinder” for the sake of brevity), a hollow intermediate cylinder  32  (“intermediate cylinder” for the sake of brevity), and a hollow inner cylinder  33  (“inner cylinder” for the sake of brevity), which are coaxial and are supported by a supporting structure  34  so that they can rotate about their own axis, which coincides with the axis  3 . Said supporting structure  34  is substantially composed of an upper head  35  and a lower head  36 , which are connected to each other by vertical rods, not shown in the figures, and by a housing  26 , which surrounds the upper part of the removal element  22 . The upper head  35  and the lower head  36  are slidingly supported by vertical guiding columns  37 , which are fixed to the supporting structure of the machine above the upper needle cylinder  4 . 
     The inner cylinder  33  is rigidly coupled to the inner tube  12  and is supported, together with said inner tube, so as to allow rotation about the axis  3 , by the upper head  35 , by interposing a bearing  14 , and by the lower head  36 , by interposing a bearing  38 . The upper head  35  is connected to the stem  39   a  of a pneumatic cylinder  39 , which is fixed by means of its body to a block  40  that is rigidly coupled to one of the guiding columns  37  and is arranged so that its axis is parallel to the axis  3 . By actuating the pneumatic cylinder  39 , i.e. on command, the assembly constituted by the outer cylinder  31 , the intermediate cylinder  32  and the inner cylinder  33 , and by the upper tube  12  and the tensioning tube  15  together with its actuation device  16 , is made to perform a translational motion along the axis  3 . 
     Said assembly constituted by the three cylinders  31 ,  32  and  33  can be connected, in its rotation about the axis  3 , to the upper needle cylinder  4 . More particularly, the inner cylinder  33  is provided with a flange  41 , which protrudes outside the intermediate cylinder  32  and the outer cylinder  31  and to which a tooth  42  is fixed which, when the removal element  22  is inserted in the upper needle cylinder  4 , engages in a seat  43 a provided, in a specific angular position around the axis  3 , in a flange  43  that is rigidly coupled to the upper needle cylinder  4 . 
     The cylinders  31 ,  32  and  33  are jointly coupled, in rotation about the axis  3 , by using tabs or rotational couplings of another kind, which are only partially visible in the figures. Furthermore, the intermediate cylinder  32  can move axially with respect to the inner cylinder  33 . More particularly, the intermediate cylinder  32  has, at its upper end, at least one extension  32   a , which passes through suitable passages formed in the flange  41  and is fixed to the inner ring of a bearing  44 . 
     The outer ring of the bearing  44  is connected to the stem  45   a  of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder  45 , which is arranged so that its axis is parallel to the axis  3  and is mounted on the supporting structure  34 . The first grip means  24  comprise punches  46 , which are fixed to the lower end of the intermediate cylinder  32  and are orientated so that their tip is directed downward. 
     The actuation of the pneumatic cylinder  45 , that constitutes actuation means for the intermediate cylinder, causes the translational motion, along the axis  3 , of the intermediate cylinder  32  with respect to the inner cylinder  33  in order to achieve its passage from an inactive position, in which the punches  46  are arranged so that their tip is at a higher level than the lower end of the inner cylinder  33 , to an active position, in which the punches  46  are arranged so that their tip lies below the lower end of the inner cylinder  33  in order to engage them with the article  25 , as will become better apparent hereinafter. 
     The outer cylinder  31  can move axially with respect to the intermediate cylinder  32  in order to pass from a raised position, in which it is arranged with its lower end substantially at the level of the tip of the punches  46 , to a lowered position, in which it is arranged so that its lower end lies below the lower end of the punches  46 . 
     Elastic means are interposed between the intermediate cylinder  32  and the outer cylinder  31  and are constituted, in the illustrated embodiment, by spring-loaded pistons  47 , which contrast the passage of the outer cylinder  31  from the lowered position to the raised position. 
     It should be noted that the outer cylinder  31  has, on its cylindrical wall, an axial shoulder  48  which, when the removal element  22  is inserted in the upper needle cylinder  4 , is designed to rest against an abutment  49  provided correspondingly on the inner cylindrical wall of the upper needle cylinder  4 . Said outer cylinder  31  is further provided, on its inner cylindrical wall, with an abutment  50  that is adapted to be engaged by an axial shoulder  51  provided on the outer cylindrical wall of the intermediate cylinder  32  in order to delimit the downward stroke of the intermediate cylinder  32  when the removal element  22  is accommodated inside the upper needle cylinder  4 . 
     The first grip means  24  comprise at least two pairs of grip elements, which can engage two diametrically opposite regions of the article  25 . The grip elements of a same pair are spaced one another, so as to leave a portion of the article  25  free between the two grip elements of a same pair. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, in which the first grip means are constituted by the punches  46 , there are at least two pairs of punches, which are arranged in two diametrically opposite regions at the lower end of the intermediate cylinder  32 . The punches of a same pair are spaced one another so as to leave free a portion of the article  25  between the two punches of a same pair. Furthermore, the outer cylinder  31  has, at these regions, two passages  52   a  and  52   b , which are arranged in two diametrically opposite regions starting from the lower end of the outer cylinder  31 , so as to allow second grip means  53  of the transfer element  23 , described in greater detail hereinafter, to act on the article  25 . 
     Conveniently, first means are provided for locking the article  25  before it is engaged by the first grip means  24 . Said first locking means can engage a region of the article  25  that is closer to the axis of the article  25  than the region that can be engaged by the first grip means  24 . 
     More particularly, the first locking means cited above comprise the plug-like element  9 , which by way of the actuation of the piston  10  of the pneumatic cylinder  11  can engage the lower end of the upper tube  12 , while the article  25  is aspirated into said upper tube so as to lock said article  25 . 
     The plug-like element  9 , again thanks to its ability to move axially by actuation of the pneumatic cylinder  11 , can follow at least partially or move jointly with the removal element  22  during its upward motion when the removal element  22  is extracted from the upper end of the upper needle cylinder  4 . 
     Advantageously, there are also second means for locking the article  25  before it is engaged by the first grip means  24 . Said second locking means can engage a region of the article  25  that is located between the region that can be engaged by the first grip means  24  and the region that can be engaged by the first locking means. 
     Said second locking means comprise the lower tube  6 , which thanks to its ability to perform a translational motion along the axis  3 , actuated by way of the pneumatic cylinder  7 , can engage against the lower end of the inner cylinder  33 . 
     The lower end of the inner cylinder  33  is conveniently shaped so as to allow effective locking of the article  25  on the part of the upper end of the lower tube  6 . 
     It should be noted that the lower end of the inner cylinder  33  can be shaped in a different manner along its circumferential extension, so as to allow correct engagement of the article  25  between the inner cylinder  33  and the lower tube  6  despite the presence of various shaped portions of the article  25  along its circumferential extension. For example, in the case of hosiery items, it is possible to provide a different shape of the lower end of the inner cylinder  33 , so as to allow to grip the article correctly even in regions, for example at the toe, where there is an excess of knitting. 
     The lower tube  6 , by virtue of the action of the pneumatic cylinder  7 , can follow at least partially or move jointly with the removal element  22  during its upward motion when it is extracted upward from the upper needle cylinder  4 , so as to maintain the locking of the article  25  at least along part of said upward motion. 
     As mentioned, the removal element  22 , particularly the assembly constituted by the outer cylinder  31 , the intermediate cylinder  32 , and the inner cylinder  33 , can be coupled, in rotating about the axis  3 , to the upper needle cylinder  4  by way of the coupling of the tooth  42  within the seat  43   a  in a preset angular position about the axis  3 . This assuredly allows engagement of the punches  46  with specific regions of the article that substantially correspond to the lateral ends of the opening of the article to be closed through the subsequent sewing operation. In the case of hosiery items, said regions are constituted by the ends of the opening of the toe to be closed. 
     In order to allow the correct coupling of the tooth  42  with the seat  43   a  and allow correct positioning of the removal element  22  with respect to the transfer element  23 , there are means for actuating the removal element  22  with a controlled rotary motion about the axis  3  with respect to the supporting structure  34 . Said actuation means comprise a motor  55 , which is mounted on the supporting structure  34  and is connected, by way of its output shaft, to a gear  56 , which is keyed on an extension of the inner cylinder  33 . The motor  55  is a motor of the electric type, for example a step motor or a brushless motor, in which the angular rotation can be controlled, and said motor can be optionally connected, by means of an electronic control system of the axis-following type, to the motor for actuating the needle cylinders  2  and  4  so as to assuredly achieve, during the insertion of the removal element  22  in the upper needle cylinder  4 , an alignment of the tooth  42  with the seat  43   a . The angular position of the inner cylinder  33  and therefore of the entire assembly constituted by the cylinders  31 ,  32  and  33  can also be controlled directly by means of a known type of sensor  57 . 
     The number of punches  46  can vary according to the requirements, but without changing the presence of two pairs of punches that can engage two diametrically opposite regions of the article  25 . As an extreme option, it is possible to provide a ring of punches  46  that runs all around the axis  3 , although, as shown, a smaller number of punches  46  is sufficient to keep free from the article  25  the regions of said article that have to be engaged by the second grip means  53 , i.e., the regions located between the punches of the two pairs of punches that can engage two mutually diametrically opposite regions of the article  25 . 
     The transfer element  23  can move on command, i.e. upon selective and purposely actuation, along a substantially horizontal transfer direction  58  from a position for gripping the article  25 , in which it is arranged with the second grip means  53  below the lower end of the removal element  22  in the position in which it is extracted upwardly from the upper needle cylinder  4 , to a transfer position, in which it is moved laterally away from the upper needle cylinder  4 , and vice versa. 
     More particularly, the transfer element  23  is mounted on a supporting structure  60 , which is in turn mounted so that it can slide on horizontal guiding bars  61 . The supporting structure  60  is further fixed to the portion of a toothed belt  62  that winds around a pair of pulleys  63   a  and  63   b  that have horizontal and mutually parallel axes. One of these pulleys, the pulley  63   b  in the illustrated embodiment, is connected to the output shaft of an electric motor, which can be actuated in order to produce the sliding, in one direction or in the opposite direction, of the supporting structure  60  along the guiding bars  61 . 
     Furthermore, the supporting structure  60  is formed by multiple parts that move with respect to each other. More particularly, the supporting structure  60  is composed of a sliding element  64 , which can only perform a translational motion along the guiding bars  61  and is fixed to the portion of the belt  62 . The sliding element  64  supports, so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis  65 , a supporting element  66 , which supports the second grip means  53 . Said supporting element  66  is provided with a sleeve  67 , whose axis coincides with the axis  65  and is supported, by interposing bearings  68 , so that it can rotate about the axis  65  on the part of the sliding element  64 . A pinion  69  is keyed on said sleeve  67 , and a rack  70  engages therewith and is actuated by means of a pneumatic actuator  71 . The actuation of said pneumatic actuator  71  causes the rotation of the supporting element  66 , and therefore of the second grip means  53 , about the axis  65  in order to overturn the article  25 , which is engaged by the second grip means  53 , as will become better apparent hereinafter. 
     The second grip means  53  of the transfer element  23  comprise two grippers, respectively a first gripper  54   a  and a second gripper  54   b , which are mounted on said supporting element  66  and can move together with it along the guiding bars  61 . 
     Furthermore, the two grippers  54   a  and  54   b  can also move along a substantially vertical direction with respect to the supporting element  66 , so as to enter with a jaw of each one of the grippers through the lower end of the outer cylinder  31 . 
     The inner or first jaw  72   a  of the first gripper  54   a  is fixed to the supporting element  66 , so as to perform a translational motion rigidly therewith along the transfer direction  58 , while the other or second jaw  73   a  of said first gripper  54   a  is connected to the piston  74   a  of a pneumatic cylinder  75   a , which can be actuated to move the jaw  73   a  toward or away from the jaw  72   a.    
     Likewise, the second gripper  54   b  is also constituted by a first jaw  72   b , is which is rigidly coupled, in translational motion along the transfer direction  58 , to a portion  66   a  of the supporting element  66 . The other, second jaw  73   b , in this second gripper  54   b , is connected to the piston  74   b  of a pneumatic cylinder  75   b , which can be actuated to move the jaw  73   b  toward or away from the jaw  72   b . The jaws  72   a  and  73   a  of the first gripper, together with the pneumatic cylinder  75   a  that actuates the jaw  73   a , are in turn mounted on the piston  76   a  of another pneumatic cylinder  77   a , which has a vertical axis and can be actuated in order to lift and lower the first gripper  54   a . The body of this pneumatic cylinder  77   a  is formed directly in the supporting element  66 . 
     Likewise, the jaws  72   b  and  73   b  of the second gripper  54   b  are in turn mounted, together with the pneumatic cylinder  77   b  that actuates the jaw  73   b , on the piston  76   b  of another pneumatic cylinder  77   b , which has a vertical axis and can be actuated so as to lift and lower said second gripper  54   b . The pneumatic cylinder  77   b  that actuates said lowering and lifting of the second gripper  54   b  is provided in the portion  66   a  of the supporting element  66 . 
     The portion  66   a  is associated, so that it can slide along a direction that is parallel to the transfer direction  58 , with the supporting element  66 , and is connected, by means of a threaded shaft  78 , whose axis is horizontal and parallel to the transfer direction  58 , to a female thread  79  that is formed in a bush  80  that is inserted coaxially in the sleeve  67 . The bush  80  is locked axially and can rotate within the sleeve  67 , which is rigidly coupled to the pinion  69 . The bush  80  is rigidly coupled to a toothed pulley  81 , which is connected, by means of a toothed-belt connection  82 , to the output shaft of an electric motor  83 , which can be actuated in order to turn the bush  80  about the axis  65 . This rotation of the bush  80  causes, as a consequence of the threaded coupling with the shaft  78 , a translational motion of the portion  66   a  of the supporting element  66  and therefore of the second gripper  54   b  with respect to the first gripper  54   a  parallel to the transfer direction  58 . The movement of the second gripper  54   b  with respect to the first gripper  54   a , parallel to the transfer direction  58 , has the effect of causing the article  25  to widen when it is engaged with the grippers  54   a  and  54   b , and therefore of flattening the region of the article  25  that is engaged by said grippers, as will become better apparent hereinafter. 
     The transfer element  23  is arranged, along at least one portion of its path along the transfer direction  58 , above a feeder guide  84  of a sewing machine, of a known type which is shown only partially for the sake of simplicity, so as to actuate, during its translational motion laterally away from the double-cylinder machine, the insertion of the axial end of the article  25  to be sewn in said feeder guide  84 . 
     The operation of the machine with a device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process according to the invention is as follows. 
     For the sake of greater clarity, the operation of the machine according to the invention is described with reference to the production of a hosiery item, without altering the fact that the machine can also be used to manufacture other articles meant to be closed at one of their axial ends. 
     The hosiery item is produced starting from the top, i.e., from its axial end that lies opposite the axial end or toe to be closed by sewing. 
     Furthermore, it should be noted that the hosiery item, as usually occurs in conventional manufacturing processes, is finished at the toe by forming a few rows of stitches, or border, that are meant to be removed during sewing and are formed indeed to allow the precise and correct insertion of the toe to be sewn in the feeder guide  84  of a sewing machine. 
     While the machine is completing the knitting of the article  25 , the removal element  22  is inserted and coupled to the upper needle cylinder  4  in its rotation about the axis  3 . 
     The article  25  is aspirated into the upper tube  12  and is therefore upside down (FIG.  3 ). 
     Preferably, while the machine is completing the knitting of the last rows of stitches, the plug-like element  9  is moved, by way of the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder  11 , so that it engages the lower end of the upper tube  12 , thus locking the article  25 . It should be noted that this operation can also be performed in a preceding step, if the intervention of the article tensioning device constituted by the plug-like element  9 , the upper tube  12  and the tensioning tube  15  is required. 
     Then the pneumatic cylinder  7  is actuated, lifting the lower tube  6 , which by engaging the lower end of the inner tube  33  produces a further locking of the article  25  (FIG.  4 ). At this point, the pneumatic cylinder  45  is actuated, causing the descent of the intermediate cylinder  32  and therefore the passage of the punches  46  through the article  25  (FIG.  5 ). 
     It should be noted that the passage of the punches  46  through the article  25  occurs while the article  25  is locked by the plug-like element  9 , by the upper tube  12 , and between the inner cylinder  32  and the lower tube  6  and while the article  25  is still engaged by the needles of the machine. In this manner, the punches  46  assuredly pass through the article  25 . The descent of the intermediate cylinder  32  is limited by the abutment  50  of the outer cylinder  31 , which in turn rests against the abutment  49 . The descent of the intermediate cylinder  32  loads the spring-loaded pistons  47  that are interposed between the intermediate cylinder  32  and the outer cylinder  31 . 
     At this point, the needles of the machine have ended the manufacture of the article  25  and release the last formed row of stitches. Then the pneumatic cylinder  39  is actuated and starts to extract the removal element  22  upwardly from the upper needle cylinder  4 . For part of the upward motion of the removal element  22 , the lower tube  6  follows the removal element  22 , keeping the article  25  locked. Likewise, for part of the upward motion, the plug-like element  9  follows the removal element  22 , also keeping the article  25  locked in the upper tube  12 . 
     It should be noted that at the beginning of the upward motion of the removal element  22  the outer cylinder  31  is kept against the abutment  49 , by way of the action of the spring-loaded pistons  47 , while the remaining part of the removal element  22  is rising. For this reason, the lower end of the outer cylinder  31  gradually descends below the tip of the punches  46 , bending downward the rim of the article  25  that lies outside the punches  46  and protecting said rim from contact with other elements of the machine during its extraction (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). 
     The upward motion of the removal element  22  continues until the removal element  22  is fully extracted upward from the upper needle cylinder  4 . It should be noted that the disengagement of the removal element  22  from the upper needle cylinder  4  and the disengagement of the plug-like element  9  from the upper tube  12  have the effect of disengaging these two elements in rotation about the axis  3 ; therefore, once the removal element  22  has been extracted upwardly from the upper needle cylinder  4 , it can be in any angular position around the axis  3 . For this reason, the motor  55  is actuated, arranging the removal element  22  in a preset angular position around the axis  3 . Said preset angular position is such as to move the passages  52   a  and  52   b  of the outer cylinder  31  into alignment with the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  mounted on the transfer element  23 . 
     At this point, the grippers  54   a  and  54   b , by way of the actuation of the belt  62 , are arranged below the lower end of the removal element  22 , with the jaws  73   a  and  73   b  spaced from the jaws  72   a  and  72   b  (FIGS.  8  and  9 ). The grippers  54   a  and  54   b , previously in the lowered position, are raised by way of the actuation of the pistons  76   a  and  76   b  of the cylinders  77   a  and  77   b  so as to insert the jaws  72   a  and  72   b  in the article  25 . 
     Then the pistons  74   a  and  74   b  of the cylinders  75   a  and  75   b  are actuated, moving the jaws  73   a  and  73   b  toward the jaws  72   a  and  72   b , gripping the regions of the article that are located at the passages  52   a  and  52   b  (FIG.  10 ). 
     At this point, by way of the actuation of the pistons  76   a  and  76   b  of the cylinders  77   a  and  77   b , the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  are lowered and at the same time the intermediate cylinder  32 , by way of the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder  45 , is lifted together with the outer cylinder  31 , so that the article  25  disengages assuredly from the removal element  22  and remains anchored to the grippers  54   a  and  54   b.    
     The grippers  54   a  and  54   b , by way of the actuation of the belt  62 , are moved away, along the transfer direction  58 , laterally to the machine, actuating the extraction of the article  25  from the upper tube  12  (FIG.  11 ). 
     Once the article  25  has been removed by the grippers  54   a  and  54   b , the removal element  22  is lowered again and inserted in the upper needle cylinder  4 , coupling to the tooth  42  in the seat  43   a . The tooth  42  is positioned correctly with respect to the seat  43   a  by way of the actuation of the motor  55 . 
     During this movement of the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  away from the machine, the rack  70  is also actuated and, by causing the rotation of the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  about the horizontal axis  65 , turns over the article  25 , orientating it so that the border, i.e., the end to be sewn, is directed upward. At the same time, or in any case during the movement of the transfer element  23  along the guiding bars  61  away from the double-cylinder machine, the motor  83  is also actuated and, by causing the rotation of the bush  80 , causes the movement of the second gripper  54   b  away from the first gripper  54   a , tensioning the article  25  at the region gripped by the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  and thus causing its flattening, with mutual movement of the two flaps of the border stretched between said grippers. 
     In the final portion of the translational motion of the transfer element  23  along the guiding bars  61 , the article  25  is inserted, with its portion proximate to the end gripped by the grippers  54   a  and  54   b , into the feeder guide  84  of the sewing machine (FIG.  12 ). 
     At this point, the article  25  is released by the grippers  54   a  and  54   b  and its advancement along the feeder guide  84  of the sewing machine is performed by way of means of a known type with which the sewing machine is provided and which are not described for the sake of brevity. 
     It should be noted that after the lower tube  6 , together with the plug-like element  9 , has been returned into the lower needle cylinder  2 , i.e., while the removal element  22  is still completing the extraction of the article  25  from the upper needle cylinder  4 , the machine can resume knitting, starting to form a new article. The article being manufactured in this step can be tensioned by applying suction to the lower tube  6 . 
     In this manner, the time during which the machine is not manufacturing is reduced significantly with respect to the unproductive times that can be observed in currently commercially available machines capable of performing the automated transfer of articles from the manufacturing machine to a sewing machine in order to close an axial end of the articles. 
     In practice it has been found that the machine with device for removing and transferring the article at the end of the knitting process according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since by reducing considerably the time during which the machine is unable to manufacture an article due to the transfer of the previously manufactured article, it is not penalized or is penalized to a minimal extent as regards its productivity. 
     The machine with device for removing and transferring the article thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2002A001384 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.