| CPC D04B 15/32 (2013.01) [D04B 15/68 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
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1. A circular knitting machine, comprising:
a needle-holding cylinder (2) having a plurality of longitudinal grooves (4) arranged around a central axis (X-X) of the needle-holding cylinder (2);
a plurality of needles (3), each being housed in a respective longitudinal groove (4);
actuating cams (C) arranged around the needle-holding cylinder (2) and movable with respect to said needle-holding cylinder (2) around the central axis (X-X) for causing or allowing the movement of the needles (3) along the longitudinal grooves (4) so as to enable stitch formation by said needles (3);
a drive chain (5) for each needle (3) inserted into the respective longitudinal groove (4), located below the respective needle (3) and operatively interposed between the respective needle (3) and said actuating cams (C); wherein said drive chain (5) comprises:
a sub-needle (6) arranged below the needle (3) and engaged with the needle (3) in order to be axially moved in the respective longitudinal groove (4) together with said needle (3); wherein the sub-needle (6) comprises a movable butt (14) radially movable between an operating position, in which it is extracted from the needle-holding cylinder (2) in order to be engaged with respective first paths defined by first actuating cams (39) and cause the needle (3) to be activated, and a non-operating position, in which it is retracted in the needle-holding cylinder (2) in order to not be engaged with said first paths;
a selector (7) partly located below the sub-needle (6) and partly alongside the sub-needle (6), wherein the selector (7) is configured for oscillating between an active position and a rest position, so as to control a shifting of the movable butt (14) between the operating position and the non-operating position;
at least one selecting device (36, 37) acting upon command on the selectors (7) for controlling the passage thereof between the active position and the rest position;
the circular knitting machine comprising a guide (30) arranged around the needle-holding cylinder (2); wherein said needle-holding cylinder (2) is movable with respect to the guide (30) around the central axis (X-X); wherein a butt (24) of the selector (7) located at a lower end of said selector (7) is engaged with the guide (30); wherein the guide (30) is configured for blocking or releasing the oscillation of the selector (7) according to the position of the selector (7) around the central axis (X-X).
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