Apparatus and method for joining loops of a tubular knitted article

A loop joining apparatus for joining loops of an open end of a tubular knitted article to close the open end, the loops of the open end surrounding a central axis, said loop joining apparatus comprising:

• a reed unit including a first reed that includes a plurality of first reed teeth, and a second reed that is pivotally connected to said first reed and that includes a plurality of second reed teeth,
• wherein:
• said first and second reeds are pivotable relative to each other about a folding axis, which is transverse to the central axis, to transform said reed unit between an expanded state and a stacked state;
• when said reed unit is in the expanded state, said reed unit and the folding axis intersect at two line intersects, said first and second reeds are disposed side by side and symmetrical about the folding axis, and said first and second reed teeth surround the central axis and are adapted for respectively extending through the loops;
• and
• when said reed unit is in the stacked state, said first and second reeds are stacked together, and said first reed teeth respectively mate with said second reed teeth;
• and
• two loop holding units respectively disposed adjacent to the line intersects, each of said loop holding units being adapted to hold at least one of two adjacent ones of the loops that are positioned closest to and symmetrical about a corresponding one of the line intersects, so as to retain said at least one of the two adjacent ones of the loops on a corresponding one of said first and second reed teeth when said reed unit is transformed from the expanded state to the stacked state.