Circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like and method for providing a tubular item

A method for providing a tubular item, comprising the sequential steps of:

• producing, using at least one needle cylinder, a tubular item having a first axial end and a second axial end;
• picking up, using a pickup device, said tubular item at said first axial end;
• transferring said first axial end of the tubular item from a pickup position, at said at least one needle cylinder, to a release position at a further processing station of said tubular item;
• moving a lifting element from an inactive position, in which it is arranged externally with respect to a region affected by a movement of said pickup device and of the tubular item associated therewith during a transition of a lower portion of said a turning device from a second position to a first position, to an active position, in which said lifting element is adapted to interact with at least one portion of said tubular item;
• a first lifting of said lifting element to said active position along a lifting trajectory in order to engage with a portion of said tubular item so as to determine a disengagement of the second axial end of said tubular item, opposite to said first axial end, from said at least one needle cylinder;
• moving the lower portion of said turning device which has an access mouth between the first position, in which said access mouth is aligned with an upper portion of said turning device to allow a turning of said tubular item, and the second position, in which said access mouth is arranged laterally with respect to said upper portion and substantially below said second axial end of said tubular item in order to allow the transfer of said tubular item from said at least one needle cylinder into said lower portion of said turning device wherein said lower portion of said turning device is inclined about a pivoting axis in order to pass from said first position to said second position;
• aspirating said tubular item in order to retain and transfer the tubular item, through said access mouth, to said lower portion of said turning device;
• moving said lifting element from said active position to said inactive position;
• moving said lower portion of said turning device from said second position to said first position.