Circular knitting machine with assembly for needle and sinker selection

A circular knitting machine, comprising:

• a needle-holding cylinder (C) having a plurality of longitudinal grooves (3) arranged around a central axis (X) of the needle-holding cylinder (C);
• a plurality of needles (N), each being movably housed in a respective longitudinal groove (3) and configured for moving in a controlled manner inside the longitudinal groove;
• a sinker-holding ring (A) placed near an upper end of the needle-holding cylinder (C) and coaxial therewith, the sinker-holding ring (A) having a plurality of radial grooves (4) arranged around the central axis (X) and, in use, being integral with the needle-holding cylinder (C);
• a plurality of knockover sinkers (P), each being movably housed, at least partially, in a respective radial groove (4) and configured for moving in a controlled manner inside the radial groove;
• wherein the radial grooves (4) are angularly offset with respect to the longitudinal grooves (3), so that a circumferential alternation of longitudinal grooves (3) and radial grooves (4) is present around the central axis (X), and wherein each of the plurality of needles (N) is paired with at least one respective adjacent sinker (P) thus forming a needle-sinker assembly (1), the knitting machine globally comprising a plurality of needle-sinker assemblies (1);
• wherein the knitting machine comprises, for each needle-sinker assembly (1) of said plurality of needle-sinker assemblies, or for each of the needle-sinker assemblies (1) of a sub-set of needle-sinker assemblies:
• a pre-selection element (5), paired or operatively associated with the respective needle (N) and comprising a connecting portion (6) configured for selectively cooperating, either directly or indirectly, with said at least one adjacent sinker (P) belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly (1);
• an activation element (7), paired or operatively associated with said pre-selection element (5) and comprising an operating portion (8);
• wherein the activation element (7) is movably housed, at least partially, in the same radial groove (4) housing said at least one adjacent sinker (P) belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly (1);
• and wherein:
• the connection portion (6), in use, is aligned with the radial groove (4) housing said at least one adjacent sinker (P) belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly (1);
• and wherein:
• each of the plurality of radial grooves (4) has a rear section (81) and a front section (91), the front section developing in a continuous manner from said rear section and being open towards said central axis (X) on a front side of each of the plurality of radial grooves (4);
• the front section (91) is wider than the rear section (81);
• the front section (91) is configured for laterally containing, at least partially, and guiding the connecting portion (6) of the pre-selection element (5) in its movements during an operating cycle of the knitting machine.