A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE AND A METHOD FOR MAKING TERRY STITCHES IN A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE

A circular knitting machine comprises a plurality of knockover sinkers (7), each housed in a radial groove (6) and having a pin (13) configured for cooperating the needles (3) so as to manufacture a knitted fabric, a shaped sinker (8) placed beside each of the knockover sinkers (7), wherein the shaped sinker (8) is movable with respect to the respective knockover sinker (7) and independently from the respective knockover sinker (7), wherein the shaped sinker (8) has a nose (16) placed above the respective knockover sinker (7) and configured for making a terry stitch cooperating with a needle (3). A selector (10) is operatively coupled with each shaped sinker (8) and is oscillating in a radial plane between a rest position and an operating position, wherein in the operating position the selector (10) acts directly or indirectly upon the shaped sinker (8) so as to deviate the trajectory of the shaped sinker (8). A selecting actuator (26) can be engaged upon command with the selectors (10) and is configured for causing the selectors (10) to switch from the rest position to the operating position.