Circular knitting machine with sinker selection and related method for knitting

A method for knitting in a circular knitting machine for knitwear, the method comprising the steps of:

• arranging a circular textile 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;
• 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 of the plurality of radial grooves (4) and configured for moving in a controlled manner inside the respective radial groove;
• wherein the plurality of radial grooves (4) are angularly offset with respect to the plurality of longitudinal grooves (3), so that a circumferential alternation of longitudinal grooves and radial grooves 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 machine globally comprising a plurality of needle-sinker assemblies (1);
• arranging, 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 directly 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);
• performing a knitting operating by means of one or more of said needle-sinker assemblies (1) for making stitches, the steps of performing a knitting operating comprising the steps of:
• vertically moving, in a selective manner, the needle (N) in the respective longitudinal groove of the plurality of longitudinal grooves (3) until the preselection element (5) is engaged;
• vertically moving the pre-selection element (5), as a result of the ascending motion of the respective needle (N), to a pre-selection configuration in which said connecting portion (6) is engaged into a connecting seat (9) defined in the sinker (P) belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly (1), thus causing a pre-selection of the sinker (P) with the ascending motion of the corresponding needle (N);
• horizontally moving the activation element (7) towards said central axis (X), until acting upon the pre-selection element (5) belonging to the same needle-sinker assembly (1);
• by means of the connecting portion (6) of the pre-selection element (5), upon which the operating portion (8) of the activation element (7) acts, moving the sinker (P) in the respective radial groove of the plurality of radial grooves (4) towards the central axis (X), thus activating the sinker (P).

A needle-sinker assembly (1) for circular knitting machines for knitwear, comprising:

• a needle (N), destined to be movably housed in a respective longitudinal groove of a plurality of longitudinal grooves (3) of a needle-holding cylinder (C) of a circular knitting machine having a central axis (X), and configured for moving in a controlled manner inside the longitudinal groove (3);
• at least one knockover sinker (P), destined to be movably housed, at least partially, in a respective radial groove of a plurality of radial grooves (4) of a sinker-holding ring (A) of the knitting machine placed near an upper end of the needle-holding cylinder (C) and coaxial therewith, said at least one knockover sinker (P) being configured for moving in a controlled manner inside the radial groove (4) and being provided, on a lower side thereof, with a connecting seat (9);
• a pre-selection element (5), destined to be paired or operatively associated with the needle (N) and comprising a connecting portion (6) configured for selectively cooperating directly with said at least one adjacent sinker (P);
• an activation element (7), destined to be paired or operatively associated with said pre-selection element (5) and comprising an operating portion (8);
• wherein:
• the pre-selection element (5) is configured for being vertically movable, as a result of an ascending motion of said needle (N), to a pre-selection configuration in which said connecting portion (6) is engaged into said connecting seat (9) of said at least one sinker (P), thus causing a pre-selection of the sinker (P) with the ascending motion of the corresponding needle (N);
• the activation element (7) is configured for being horizontally movable, towards said central axis (X), until acting upon the pre-selection element (5), so that the connecting portion (6) of the pre-selection element, when engaged into the connecting seat (9) of the sinker, causes a movement of the sinker (P) in the respective radial groove of the plurality of radial grooves (4) towards the central axis (X), thus performing an activation/selection of the sinker (P).