Circular Knitting Machine for Hosiery or the Like and Method for Producing a Tubular Manufacture

A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, comprising at least one needle cylinder which has a cylinder axis and is configured to provide a tubular manufacture, said circular machine comprising a pickup device adapted to pass between a pickup position, in which the pickup device is arranged coaxially around said needle cylinder in order to pick up said tubular manufacture at an axial end thereof from said needle cylinder, and a position for a release of said tubular manufacture at a station for a further processing of said tubular manufacture which is spaced laterally from said needle cylinder, at said further processing station there being a turning device which comprises a lower portion which forms in an upper region an access inlet, which is extended around a respective axis of extension, said lower portion of said turning device being designed to accommodate coaxially said tubular manufacture in order to turn the tubular manufacture, said circular machine further comprising traction means which act on command at an outer surface of said tubular manufacture and are adapted to convey at least one portion of said tubular manufacture at at least one accumulation region, said turning device being associated with suction means adapted to transfer at least one portion of said tubular manufacture conveyed in said accumulation region toward said lower portion of said turning device through said access inlet.

A method for providing a tubular manufacture, comprising:

• a step of production, by means of at least one needle cylinder, of a tubular manufacture;
• a step of pickup, by means of a pickup device, of said tubular manufacture at an axial end;
• a step of transfer of said axial end of the tubular manufacture from a pickup position, at said needle cylinder, toward a release position at a station for the further processing of said tubular manufacture;
• a step of traction, by virtue of traction means which act on command at the outer surface of said tubular manufacture, of at least one portion of said tubular manufacture in order to convey at least one portion of the tubular manufacture at at least one accumulation region;
• a step of suction, by virtue of suction means, of at least one portion of the tubular manufacture conveyed at the accumulation region, in order to transfer the tubular manufacture, through an access inlet, toward a lower portion of a turning device designed to accommodate coaxially said tubular manufacture in order to turn the tubular manufacture.