Needle-holding unit for a circular knitting machine

A needle-holding unit (1) for circular knitting machines, configured to be turnably mounted to a supporting structure of a circular knitting machine, the needle-holding unit (1) having a structure shaped as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis (Z), the needle-holding unit being configured for turning around said central axis and for supporting a plurality of needles (N) moving so as to produce a knitted fabric;

• the needle-holding unit (1) having on an outer side thereof at least one working surface (2), wherein a plurality of needle seats (3) placed one beside the other and arranged around said central axis (Z) is defined on the working surface (2);
• each one of said needle seats (3) being configured for movably housing at least one portion of at least a respective needle (N) to be actuated with an alternate motion along the respective needle seat (3) with a motion of extraction, by which the needle (N) is taken out with its head (H) and with a portion of its stem above of the needle-holding unit through an upper end of the respective needle seat (3) so as to discharge on its stem the knitted loop previously formed and/or for taking the yarn or yarns supplied on a machine feed, and with a motion of return, so as to form a new knitted loop by holding down the knitted loop previously formed;
• and
• wherein each needle seat (3) of said plurality of needle seats has a longitudinal development inclined with respect to the central axis (Z), wherein the working surface (2) has a shape as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of said needle seat (3) around the central axis (Z), and wherein the working surface (2) is a non-cylindrical, non-conical three-dimensional surface.