Method for producing a tubular knitted article, particularly a hosiery article, closed at one end, without a seam, with a circular machine

A method for producing a hosiery article, which is closed at one end, without a seam, with a circular machine including at least one needle cylinder, needles with hooks, weave feeding, knockover sinkers, comprising:

• a first step, in which the knitting of the article is started from an end to be closed, forming a retention knot for retaining a closure thread by way of a set of contiguous needles;
• a second step, in which said closure thread is included in the weave, feeding it to a preset number of needles so that it mutually connects needles that are arranged opposite with respect to an imaginary central plane that passes through an axis of the needle cylinder of the machine and through a central region of said set of contiguous needles;
• a third step, in which the feeding of said closure thread to the needles of the machine is interrupted;
• a fourth step, in which a few rows of knitting are formed by using another thread or threads and at least part of the needles of the machine;
• a fifth step, in which traction is applied to said closure thread in order to close the initial end of the article;
• a sixth step, in which the production of the article is completed.