RUNDKETTENWIRKMASCHINE

A circular warp knitting machine is designed for knitting hosiery pieces and comprises a stationary needle cylinder 1, knitting needles 2, radially movable sinkers 3, two sets of guide needles 4a and 4b, received in grooves of two concentrically arranged annular guide bars 5 and 6, racking mechanisms for racking the guide bars 5 and 6 along the front of the knitting needles 2 and rocking mechanisms for rocking each set of guide needles 4a, 4b between the knitting needles 2. The needle cylinder 1 accommodates a sleeve 14 movable therealong to control movement of the sinkers 3, and a holder 28 movable along the needle cylinder 1 and carrying the knitting needles 2. Sliding frames 80 and 81 of the rocking mechanisms and concentric rotatable casings 82 and 83 carrying the annular guide bars 5 and 6 are coaxial with the needle cylinder 1. Reciprocation of some of the needles can be interrupted while the others continue to reciprocate for knitted curved hosiery portions.