Apparatus for transferring knitted fabric from circular knitting machine
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a knitted fabric from a circular knitting machine while preventing twisting of the knitted fabric which is a cylindrical fabric used to produce socks, panty hose, tights or the like. 
     Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-20587 published Jun. 10, 1972 discloses an apparatus for taking out a cylindrically knitted fabric knitted by a circular knitting machine. The apparatus comprises an upright hollow guide cylinder disposed concentrically within the needle cylinder so as to rotate in synchronism with the needle cylinder. The guide cylinder is perforated, and a cylindrically knitted fabric produced in the knitting region adjacent to the top portion of the needle cylinder is fed downward within the guide cylinder to be delivered through a bottom opening of the guide cylinder. There is provided a suction device that evacuates air around the perforated guide cylinder to cause the cylindrically knitted fabric to be pressed against the inner surface of the guide cylinder. The suction is exerted from a lateral side of the guide cylinder, as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     In the known apparatus described above, the knitted fabric being fed downward under suction tends to be biased and sucked against only a lateral portion of the inner wall of the perforated guide cylinder because of the exertion of the suction from only a lateral side. As a result, the knitted fabric within the guide cylinder is urged only partially onto the inner wall of the guide cylinder while being fed downward due to the weight of the succeeding part of the fabric. This often causes rubbing of the fabric on the guide cylinder and on a gear box in the vicinity of the lower portion of the guide cylinder. As a result of this, the knitted fabric is contaminated and damaged with consequent twisting and degradation thereof. 
     Furthermore, in the known apparatus described above, the knitted fabrics fed downward through the guide cylinder are dropped through the bottom opening of the guide cylinder and are then stored in a storage box provided below the bottom opening. The fabrics stored in the storage box must be manually picked up to convey them to a next processing step for producing socks, panty hose or tights. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the above stated problems and to provide an apparatus for reliably transferring a knitted fabric from a circular knitting machine without contamination, damage, twisting and degradation of the fabric. 
     The present invention also aims at providing an apparatus of the above kind wherein the knitted fabrics can be reliably transferred to a next processing step without manual labor. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for transferring a knitted fabric from a circular knitting machine having a rotating upright needle cylinder carrying knitting needles, and a dial mechanism provided above the top of the needle cylinder, said needle cylinder having therein an upright hollow guide cylinder which rotates in synchronism with the needle cylinder and through which a cylindrical fabric knitted in a knitting region adjacent to the top of the needle cylinder is fed downward, and means for pneumatically drawing the knitted fabric against the inner surface of the cylindrical guide, said apparatus comprising a conical air nozzle provided in the top of the needle cylinder concentrically therewith and having a downwardly converging frustoconical outer surface, said nozzle being so disposed directly below said knitting region as to guide the cylindrically knitted fabric downward along and around said frustoconical outer surface and as to eject air downward into the cylindrically knitted fabric to pneumatically urge the fabric against the inner surface of the guide cylinder; opening means provided around said air nozzle for blowing air downwardly to cause the cylindrically knitted fabric around the air nozzle to be pneumatically moved downward; and knitted fabric pickup means provided below the needle cylinder for picking up the knitted fabric deposited below said guide cylinder and for transferring the fabric away from the knitting machine. 
     The present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a circular knitting machine installed with an apparatus for transferring a knitted fabric from the knitting machine, according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of an essential part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on a more enlarged scale, of a conical nozzle shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conical nozzle with some members thereof removed; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevation, with some portions in vertical section, showing a knitting fabric pickup device for transferring the fabric to a succeeding processing step; 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical section of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, taking a different state; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly including a conical gripper and a mechanism for moving the conical gripper toward and away from a bottom part of a guide cylinder; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mechanism for picking up a cylindrically knitted fabric from the bottom part of the guide cylinder; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 8, the mechanism being shown in a position swung below the bottom part of the guide cylinder; 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 8, in a different state during picking up of a knitted fabric; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing a different state in which the knitted fabric has been completely picked up; 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevation similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a mechanism for picking up a knitted fabric, used in the apparatus of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the mechanism of FIG. 13; 
     FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are front views of the mechanism of FIG. 14, showing different operational states; and 
     FIG. 18 is a vertical section showing an essential part of a known apparatus for transferring a knitted fabric. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Prior to the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the above described apparatus for transferring knitted fabrics from a knitting machine will be briefly described. 
     Referring to FIG. 18, an outer body b in the form of a cylinder is disposed upright at a base portion of a supporting frame a of a circular knitting machine, and a conventional needle cylinder c is rotatably fitted in the upper end portion of the outer body b. The needle cylinder has a plurality of longitudinally extended grooves and knitting needles d are fitted into the respective grooves in such a way that the needles d can vertically slide by a cam mechanism (not shown). Disposed at the upper stroke end of the needles d are conventional sinkers e in such a way that they are caused to slide in radial directions by sinker cams in union with the vertical movement of the needles d. Furthermore, a conventional dial mechanism f is mounted on a machine frame (not shown) immediately above the cylinder c in such a way that it can rotate in synchronism with the needle cylinder c. 
     A frusto-conical guide cylinder g is mounted on a cover b1 of the outer body b in such a way that the knitted fabric knitted by the co-action of the knitting needles d and the sinker e is guided. Connected to a portion of the outer body b located below the guide cylinder g is a horizontally extended suction pipe h with a suction port h1 so that air is drawn outwardly. A gear box i is mounted at the lower end of the outer body b and bearings j1 and j2 are mounted on upper portions of the gear box i and the outer body b. A perforated guide cylinder m integral with a gear k is rotatably supported by the bearings j1 and j2, and a large number of air holes m1 formed through the cylindrical wall of the perforated guide cylinder are communicated with the suction port h1 so that air is sucked and discharged to the exterior. A pinion is in mesh with the gear k which rotates the perforated guide cylinder m in synchronism with the rotation of the cylinder c. The lower end portion of the gear box i is connected to a discharge pipe o through which the knitted fabric W is guided toward a storage box (not shown). 
     In the knitting operation, the above-described apparatus, knitted fabrics such as socks, panty hose, tights or the like are guided downwardly through the guide cylinder g, and the gear k is rotated through the pinion in the gear box i in synchronism with the rotation of the needle cylinder c, while air is evacuated through the air port h1 of the suction pipe h. Consequently, each knitted fabric is withdrawn into the lower discharge pipe o while the knitted fabric is being sucked against the inner cylindrical wall surface of the perforated guide cylinder m. 
     In the apparatus for transferring knitted fabrics of the type described above, the air holes m1 formed through the perforated guide cylinder m are communicated with the suction port h1 so that when the knitted fabric W approaches the inner wall surface of the guide cylinder m, it is biased and sucked on a lateral portion of the wall surface of the guide cylinder m so that part of the knitted fabric W is sucked laterally outwardly through the air holes m1 and then is fed downward due to the weight of the succeeding part of the knitted fabric. As a result, the knitted fabric is rubbed within the gear box i in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the perforated guide cylinder m so that part of the knitted fabric is contaminated and damaged and consequently the knitted fabric is twisted and degraded in quality. 
     The present invention has been made to overcome the above and other problems encountered in the conventional apparatus and will become apparent from a description of preferred embodiments below. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, the knitting machine shown has a machine frame 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a bearing 2 is disposed at the center portion 1a of the machine frame 1 in such a way that the bearing 2 can be vertically moved by a cam mechanism (not shown). A bevel gear 3 is rotatably supported by the bearing 2, and a driving gear 4 in mesh with the bevel gear 3 is securely carried by a drive shaft 4a which in turn is rotatably supported by the machine frame 1, whereby the driving gear 4 in mesh with the bevel gear 3 rotates the gear 3. The bevel gear 3 has a hollow cylindrical portion 3a integral and coaxial therewith. A conventional needle cylinder 5 is rotatably fitted through a sliding key 6 over the cylindrical portion 3a so as to be slidable in the axial direction (that is, in the vertical direction). A large number of needle grooves 7 are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of the needle cylinder 5 so as to extend in the lengthwise direction of the cylinder. Conventional jacks (not shown) and knitting needles 8 are vertically slidably fitted in the respective needle grooves 7. The needle cylinder 5 is fitted in such a way that it can be rotated and can be vertically moved by means of the bearing 2 which can be vertically moved by the cam mechanism and through a plurality of raising rods 9. A known raising cam (not shown) is mounted on the machine frame at a position below the path of rotation of the lower ends of the jacks in such a way that the jacks and the knitting needles 8 will be vertically moved together. A conventional sinker bed 10 is mounted on the upper end of the needle cylinder 5 and a number of sinker grooves are formed on the surface of the sinker bed 10 so as to extend in radial directions with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder 5. Each sinker 11 for knitting the stitches is loosely fitted in each sinker groove and is slidably moved toward and away from the axis of the needle cylinder 5 by a sinker cam 13 of a sinker cap 12 disposed on an upper table fixed to the machine frame 1. 
     A patterning device (needle selecting device) 14 is disposed at the outer portion of the machine frame 1 in opposing relationship with the jacks. 
     A dial cap 16 of a conventional dial mechanism 15 is coaxially fitted over a hollow shaft 1b of the machine frame 1, extending upwardly beyond the needle cylinder 5. A rotary hollow shaft 17 is fitted in a hollow shaft 1b inside a hollow shaft 16a of the dial cap 16 in such a way that the shaft 17 can be rotated in synchronism with the needle cylinder 5. An air supply passage 18 is defined within the shaft 17. A dial 19 is extended horizontally from the rotary hollow shaft 17 to an extent above the outer periphery of the needle cylinder 5. A conventional transfer jack 20 is attached to an outer end portion of the dial 19. The dial cap 16 and the dial 19 immediately above the transfer jack 20 are equipped with a yarn cutter 21 consisting of a stationary cutter and a movable circular cutter so as to cut the trailing end of the yarn. 
     A transmission gear 22 is securely carried by the upper portion of the rotary hollow shaft 17 to rotate the same in synchronism with the needle cylinder 5. A pipe joint 23 is loosely fitted through a sealing member at the upper end of the rotary hollow shaft 17, and a supply pipe 24 of the pipe joint 23 is communicated through a solenoid control valve 25 with a compressed air source 26. 
     An outer cylinder 27 and an inner cylinder 28, which are extended coaxially and define an air passage 29 therebetween, are mounted on a holder 1c fixed to an inner lower end of the machine frame 1. A portion of the holder 1c located below the lower ends of the outer and inner cylinders 27 and 28 has connected thereto an air supply conduit 30 for supplying compressed air. Formed through an upper connecting member 31 between the outer and inner cylinders 27 and 28 are openings 32 for blowing air downwardly so as to move the cylindrically knitted fabric W downward. A bearing case 33 is fixed to the lower portion of the holder 1c for housing bearings 34. A short hollow shaft 36 integral with a twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 is supported by the bearings 34 in such a way that the short hollow shaft 36 will be rotatable in unison with the needle cylinder 5. The upper portion 35a of the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 is extended upwardly as high as the upper portion of the inner cylinder 28 and is fixed thereat. A pulley 36a  is fixedly mounted to the short hollow shaft 36 and is coupled through a timing belt 39 to the output shaft 38a of a stepper motor 38 mounted on a supporting stand 37 extending from the holder 1c. 
     The dial 19 of the dial cap 16 is connected to a conical nozzle 40 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The nozzle 40 communicates with the air supply passage 18 so that the air can be ejected downwardly. More specifically, the conical nozzle 40 consists of a frustoconical body 41 and a nozzle body 42 with a plurality of air ejection passages 43. The nozzle body is joined to the frustoconical body 42 by bolt 44. At the lower portion of the nozzle body 42, injection openings 45 are provided which are directed downwardly and communicated with the injection passages 43. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, the lower ends of the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 and the short hollow shaft 36 are joined to a disk-shaped rotating ring 46, and a plurality (four in FIG. 2) of guide rods 47 depend from the lower surface of the rotating ring 46. Also an actuating rod 48 is extended downwardly beyond the lower ends of the guide rods 47 and radially outwardly thereof to engage a L-shaped rod 49a of a vertically movable conical holder 49 as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The actuating rod 48 and the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 are adapted to rotate about a conical gripper 49 and its pivot shafts 49b. 
     A pneumatic cylinder 51 is supported by a bracket 50 which is fixed to the machine frame 1 on the opposite side of the stepper motor 38. A lift ring 52 is securely joined to the lower end of an output shaft 51a which is extended downwardly from the cylinder 51. The lower end of a guide rod 53 with a topmost stopper flange 53a is securely joined to the lift ring 52. The guide rod 53 extends in parallel with the output shaft 51a. Engaging projections 52a project radially inwardly from the inner annular peripheral surface of the lift ring 52. A circular holding member 54 for holding the knitted fabric thereon is rotatably carried on the engaging projections 52a in such a manner that the holding member 54 will not drop. The guide rods 47 and the actuating rod 48 are loosely fitted vertically through the holding ring 54 in such a way that they are movable vertically. Furthermore, the holding ring 54 can rotate through the guide rods 47 and the actuating rod 48 in unison with the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 and the short hollow shaft 36. The conical gripper 49 is adapted to engage through the knitted fabric W an opening 54a of the holding ring 54, thereby gripping or clamping the knitted fabric. 
     A pair of first and second sensors S1 and S2 such as proximity switches are disposed in the vertical passage of the lift ring 52 and are spaced apart from each other by a suitable distance, thereby limiting the vertical stroke of the lift ring 52. Furthermore, a third sensor S3 such as a proximity switch is disposed to detect the lower portion Wa of the knitted fabric W. In response to an output signal from the third sensor S3, the pneumatic cylinder 51 is actuated to move the lift ring 52 and the holding ring 54 downwardly so that the opening 54a of the holding ring 54 will engage the conical gripper 49 through the knitted fabric W, thereby gripping or clamping the knitted fabric W. 
     Next the mode of operation of the first embodiment with the above-described construction will be described. 
     It is now assumed that stockings, panty hose or tights are to be knitted. The driving force generated by a driving power source drives the driving gear 4 mounted on the drive shaft 4a whereby the bevel gear 3 in mesh with the driving gear 4 is rotated, and consequently the needle cylinder 5 coupled to the bevel gear 3 with the sliding key is rotated. The needle cylinder 5 causes the knitting needles 8 to vertically reciprocate and by the cooperation with the sinkers 11 and the dial mechanism 15, yarns supplied from cones are knitted into stockings, panty hose or tights by the conventional knitting method. The knitted fabric W is guided downward into the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35. 
     Meanwhile, compressed air supplied through the supply conduit 30 is supplied through the air passage 29 and blown through the opening 32 downward. On the other hand, the stepper motor 38 is also energized so that the output shaft 38a of the stepper motor 38 drives through the timing belt 39 the pulley 36a which in turn drives the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 in synchronism with the needle cylinder 5, whereby the knitted fabric W is prevented from being twisted. 
     Simultaneously with the transfer of the cylindrically knitted fabric W into the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35, the compressed air supplied from the air supply conduit 30 is sent upwardly through the passage 29 and blown through the openings 32 downward so that the fabric W is moved downward. When the solenoid operated valve 25 is opened, the compressed air from the compressed air source 26 is supplied to the air supply passage 18 in the dial cap 16 of the dial mechanism 15 and is caused to blow downwardly through the downwardly-directed nozzle opening 45 of the conical nozzle 40, thereby forcing the knitted fabric W against the inner surface of the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 which is rotating in synchronism with the needle cylinder 5. 
     When the lower portion (the portion first knitted) Wa of the knitted fabric W drops down to a position in the vicinity of the L-shaped rod 49a of the conical gripper 49 which is vertically movable, the third sensor S3 detects the lower portion Wa and in response to the detection signal from the sensor S3, the pneumatic cylinder 51 is actuated so that its output shaft 51a is moved downward while being guided by the guide rod 53. Therefore, the opening 54a of the holding ring 54 engages the conical gripper 49 through the knitted fabric W, whereby the fabric W is gripped or clamped. The holding ring 54 and the conical gripper 49 are rotated in synchronism with the rotation of the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 through the actuating rod 48. 
     In the above-described manner, the knitted fabric W is deposited below the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35, and a knitting cycle is finished. Then the pneumatic cylinder 51 is actuated in such a way that its output shaft 51a is moved upward while being guided by the guide rod 53. Thereupon, the upper limit of the vertical stroke of the lift ring 52 is detected by the second sensor S2, and, in response to the detection signal from the sensor S2, the operation of the cylinder 51 for retracting its output shaft 51a is stopped whereby the lift ring 52 is stopped at the upper limit of its stroke. Then the knitted fabric W is pulled downward through the opening 54a of the holding ring 54 along the outer surface of the conical gripper 49. Therefore, the knitted fabric W is prevented from being contaminated, damaged and further twisted so that the quality of the knitted fabric is improved. 
     Thereafter, the knitted fabric deposited below the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 is taken up by a knitted fabric pickup device to be described hereinafter, to be transferred to the following processing step where, for instance, the crotch portion of panty hose is stitched to the cylindrical knitted fabric. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, a holding frame 55, L-shaped in horizontal section, extends horizontally from, and fixed to the machine frame 1 at a position below the holding ring 54, and a square through hole 55b is formed through a bent portion 55a of the holding frame 55. Two guide roller pairs 56 are provided, each pair consisting of an upper guide roller 56a and a lower guide roller 56b spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction by a suitable distance. The roller pairs 56 are spaced apart in the horizontal direction from each other by a suitable distance and are rotatably supported by guide roller shafts extended from one side surface of the holding frame 55. Those guide roller pairs 56 serve to guide reciprocal horizontal motion of a slider 57 with a stopper 57a at its one end. An inverted-U-shaped block 58 is securely joined to the other end of the slider 57 opposite to the stopper 57a. A horizontal pneumatic cylinder 59 is securely attached at one end thereof to the bent portion 55a of the holding frame 55 through a mounting member 60, and the output shaft 59a of the pneumatic cylinder 59 is connected to the block 58 by means of a connecting pin 61. 
     Therefore, when the pneumatic cylinder 59 is actuated, the slider 57 connected to the output shaft 59a of the cylinder 59 is caused to reciprocally slide in the horizontal direction. 
     A vertical pneumatic cylinder 62 is securely joined to the bottom portion of the bifurcated portion 58a of the block 58, and an output shaft 62a of the vertical cylinder 62 is connected at an intermediate portion of a horizontal supporting rod 63 from which is extended upwardly a supporting shaft 49b of the conical gripper 49. The upper ends of a pair of guide rods 64 are securely joined to the horizontal supporting rod 63. The guide rods 64 extend through the block 58 in parallel with the vertical cylinder 62, to allow vertical sliding movement of the block 58 along the guide rods 64. An angularly bent lower stopper 64a is formed at the lower end of one of the guide rods 64. An upper stopper 64b is securely joined to one end of the horizontal supporting rod 63. As best shown in FIG. 5, a fourth sensor S4 and a fifth sensor S5 such as proximity switches are mounted on the block 58 along a path of vertical movement of the lower and upper stoppers 64a and 64b. The fourth and fifth sensors S4 and S5 limit the extent of vertical stroke of the conical gripper 49 supported by the horizontal supporting rod 63. 
     When the vertical pneumatic cylinder 62 is actuated, its output shaft 62a is shifted vertically under guidance by the guide rods 64 to vertically shift the conical gripper 49, while the fourth and fifth sensors S4 and S5 limit the extent of the vertical stroke of the conical gripper 49. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a mount 65 is adjustably secured to the machine frame 1 below the knitted-fabric holding ring 54, and an actuator 66 such as a rotary actuator is horizontally mounted on one side of the mount 65. As best shown in FIG. 8, a horizontal shaft 67 in the form of a rod square in cross section is securely fitted over an output shaft 66a of the actuator 66. The base end of each of a pair of divergently arranged legs 68 is pivoted to the horizontal supporting shaft 67 by a pivot pin 69 in such a way that each leg 68 can pivot in a horizontal plane. One pair of sliders 70 is fitted over the free end portion of each leg 68 in such a way that the slider pair 70 is movable in the lengthwise direction of each leg 68. A pair of pickup rods 71 extend downwardly in such a way that they can enter the region surrounded by the L-shaped rods 49a. 
     Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, a mounting plate 72 is extended from the lower side of the horizontal supporting shaft 67 between the pivot pins 69. A stopper mounting member 73 is horizontally attached to the free end of the mounting plate 72 perpendicular to the legs 68. A pair of stoppers 74a and 74b are attached to each end of the stopper mounting member 73 in such a way that they can adjust the angle of pivotal motion of each legs 68. A leg opening cylinder 75 is interconnected between the legs 68 in the vicinity of the stoppers 74a and 74b. 
     More specifically, the main body 75a of the cylinder 75 is joined to one of the legs 68 by means of a bracket 76 and an output shaft 75b of the cylinder 75 is connected to the other leg 68 through a bracket 77 and a pin 78. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of sixth and seventh sensors S6 and S7 such as proximity switches are mounted on the mount 65 in order to detect the terminal positions of pivotal motion (180°) of each leg 68, thereby limit the stroke of the output shaft 75b of the cylinder 75. 
     It follows therefore that when the actuator 66 is actuated to cause the pickup rod pairs 71 to enter the region surrounded by the L-shaped rods 49a to receive the knitted fabric W, the horizontal supporting shaft 67 integral with the output shaft 66a of the actuator 66 is rotated through 180°, to rotate the legs 68 from the position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 8 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 8, whereby the pickup rod pairs 71 enter the inside region of the L-shaped rods 49 as shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the cylinder 75 is actuated such that its output shaft 75b is extended from the cylinder main body 75a until the legs 68 engage their corresponding stoppers 74b and are then stopped. As a result, the pickup rod pairs 71 move out of the region of the L-shaped rods 49a, whereby the knitted fabric W is transferred from the L-shaped rod 49a onto the pickup rod pairs 71. Next the vertical cylinder 62 is actuated to move the L-shaped rods 49a downwardly as shown in FIG. 11, and the knitted fabric W is completely received by the pickup rod pairs 71. Thereafter, the rotary actuator 66 is actuated in reverse rotation so that the horizontal supporting shaft 67 integral with the output shaft 66a of the actuator 66 is rotated together with the legs 68 in the clockwise direction through 180° to the initial or home position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 8 and the knitted fabric thus picked up is transferred to the next processing step. 
     The mode of operation of the knitted-fabric pickup device will be described below. 
     When the knitted fabric W is received below the twisting-preventive cylinder 35 as shown in FIG. 5 and one knitting step has been completed, the output shaft 51a of the pneumatic cylinder 51 is retracted upward under the guidance by the guide rod 53, whereby the holding ring 54 is moved upward. The holding ring 54 is stopped at the upper end of its vertical stroke in response to the detection signal from the second sensor S2. Then the knitted fabric W deposited below the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 is picked up by the knitted fabric pickup device to be transferred to the next processing step where, for instance, the crotch portion of the panty hose is stitched. 
     More specifically, as best shown in FIG. 5, the pickup rod pairs 71 enter the inside region surrounded by the L-shaped rods 49a holding the knitted fabric W to pick up the same. That is, the rotary actuator 66 is energized, and the horizontal supporting shaft 67 on the output shaft 66a of the actuator 66 is rotated together with the legs 68 through 180°, to cause the pickup rod pairs 71 to enter the inside region of the L-shaped rods 49a. Thereafter, as best shown in FIG. 10, the output shaft 75b of the cylinder 75 is extended to open the legs 68 and stopped when the legs 68 engage their corresponding stoppers 74b, respectively, whereby the knitted fabric W is transferred from the L-shaped rods 49a to the pickup rod pairs 71. Thereafter the output shaft 62a of the cylinder 62 is retracted so that the L-shaped rods 49a are moved downward. Then the output shaft 59a of the horizontal cylinder 59 is retracted and the rods 49a are returned to their initial position, whereby the knitted fabric W is completely transferred onto the pickup rod pairs 71. 
     Thereafter, the rotary actuator 66 is reversed in rotation so that the square rod 67 on the output shaft 66a of the actuator 66 is rotated together with the legs 67 through 180° in the clockwise direction to return to its initial position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 8. Then the knitted fabric W is transferred to the next processing station. 
     As described above, after the pickup rod pairs 71 have received the knitted fabric W from the L-shaped rods 49a, the rod pairs 71 are rotated through 180° in the opposite direction to automatically transfer the knitted fabric W to the next processing step so that the manual operation is eliminated and labor-saving is attained. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 12 through 17, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, a mount 155 is joined to one side of the machine frame 1, and a rotary actuator 156 is horizontally mounted on one side of the mount 155. As shown in FIG. 14, the base of a swing lever 157 is securely connected to a horizontally extending output shaft 156a of the actuator 156 in such a way that when the actuator 156 is actuated, the lever 157 is caused to swing through about 120° about the axis of the output shaft 156a. A supporting shaft 49b of a conical gripper 49 is slidably supported by a frustoconical bearing 157a securely attached to the free end of the swing lever 157. Strong and weak coil springs 158a and 158b are fitted over the supporting shaft 49b in such a way that these springs 158a and 158b are prevented from falling off from the supporting shaft 49b and that the degree of freedom can be adjusted in the case of the engagement of the conical gripper 49 with the holding ring 54. The gripper 49 is normally biased rearward by the springs 158a and 158b. 
     A main body 159a of an assisting pneumatic cylinder 159 is pivoted at an end 157b of the swing lever 157 with a pivot pin 160, and an output shaft 159b of the assisting cylinder 159 is pivoted at one end of an assisting lever 162 which in turn is pivoted to the midpoint between the ends of the swing lever 157 with a pivot pin 161. The other end of the assisting lever 162 is extended to push forwardly the tail end 49c of the supporting shaft 49b against the coil springs 158a and 158b. 
     When the actuator 156 is energized, its output shaft 156a is rotated through about 120° in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 14 so that the swing lever 157 which is pivoted to the output shaft 156a is rotated about the output shaft 156a in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 15. As a result, the conical gripper 49 integral with the supporting shaft 49b supported by the bearing 157a of the swing lever 157 is inserted into the opening 54a of the knitted-fabric holding ring 54. Therefore, as indicated in FIG. 16, the L-shaped rods 49a of the conical gripper 49 are brought into engagement with the actuating rod 48 so that the conical gripper 49 is rotated in synchronism with the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 through the actuating rod 48. When the assisting cylinder 159 is energized, the assisting lever 162 pushes the tail end 49c of the supporting shaft 49b against the coil springs 158a and 158b. As a result, the engagement of the conical gripper 49 with the opening 54 a of the holding ring 54 through the knitted fabric W can be elastically assisted so that the knitted fabric W can be elastically supported while the holding ring 54 and the conical gripper 49 are rotated in synchronism with the twisting-preventive cylinder 35 through the actuating rod 48. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, a rotary actuator 163 is horizontally mounted on the other side of the mount 155 fixed to the machine frame 1. The bases 164a of a pair of horizontal supporting members 164 are securely joined to the output shaft 163a of the actuator 163 and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The bases of a pair of legs 165 are pivoted with pivot pins 170, respectively, on the upper portions 164b, respectively, of the horizontal supporting members 164 in such a way that legs 165 can pivot in the horizontal direction. A pair of sliders 166 are slidably fitted over the free end portion of each leg 165 in such a way that the lengthwise adjustment can be made. A pair of pickup rods 167 depend from the slider pair 166 in such a way that they can be inserted into region of the L-shaped rods 49a. The pair of the leg 165 are interconnected by a horizontal pneumatic cylinder 168 for opening or closing them, adjacent to the supporting members 164. 
     More specifically, the main body 168a of the pneumatic cylinder 168 is pivoted with a pivot pin 169a to one of the legs 165 while the output shaft 168b of the cylinder 168 is pivoted with a pivot pin 169b to the other leg 165. 
     When the actuator 163 is energized, the supporting members 164 fixed to the output shaft 163a of the actuator 163 are rotated together with the legs 165 through about 180° in the counterclockwise direction from the state indicated in FIG. 14 to the state shown in FIG. 15 so that the pickup rods 167 are advanced into the region of the L-shaped rods 49a. Thereafter, the cylinder 168 is energized so that its output shaft 168b is extended and then stopped when the legs 165 are angularly spaced apart from each other by a predetermined angle. As a result, the knitted fabric W is transferred from the L-shaped rods 49 to the pickup rods 167. Then the actuator 156 is reversed in rotation and the output shaft 159b of the assisting cylinder 159 is retracted so that the knitted fabric W is completely transferred to the pickup rods 167. When the actuator 163 is reversed in rotation, the supporting members 164 mounted on the output shaft 163a of the actuator 163 are rotated reversely together with the legs 165 through about 180° so that the pair of legs 165 are returned to their initial position and the knitted fabric W is transferred to the next processing step. 
     The mode of operation of this embodiment is as follows. 
     It is assumed that the knitted fabric W is deposited below the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 after one knitting cycle and the needle cylinder 5 is stopped. Then, the pneumatic cylinder 51 is energized so that its output shaft 51a is moved upward under the guidance by the guide rod 53. When it is moved upward to the top end of its vertical stroke, this is detected by the second sensor S2 and in response to the detection signal therefrom, the upward movement of the output shaft 51a and the holding ring 54 is stopped. The knitted fabric W below the twisting-preventive guide cylinder 35 is then transferred to the knitted-fabric pickup device which in turn transfers it to the next processing step. 
     In order to transfer the knitted-fabric W, the actuator 163 is energized so that the pair of the legs 165 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction through about 180° as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Therefore, the pickup rod pairs 167 are inserted into the region of the L-shaped rods 49a. Then, the cylinder 168 is energized so that its output shaft 168b is extended and stopped when the legs 165 and the pickup rods 167 are angularly spaced apart from each other by a predetermined angle. As a result, the knitted fabric W is transferred from the L-shaped rods 49a to the pickup rod pairs 167. Thereafter, when the actuator 156 is reversed in rotation to move the conical gripper 49 away and the output shaft 159a of the assisting cylinder 159 is retracted, the knitted fabric W is completely transferred to the pickup rod pairs 167. Then, when the actuator 163 is reversed in rotation, the pair of legs 165 are swung in the clockwise direction through about 180° to their initial position indicated in FIG. 14, and the knitted fabric W is transferred to the next processing step. 
     As described above, after the pickup rod pairs 167 have received the knitted fabric W from the L-shaped rods 149a, they are swung together with the legs 165 through about 180° in the clockwise direction to their initial positions, respectively and the knitted fabric is automatically transferred to the next processing step. As a result, manual operation can be eliminated and the labor saving can be attained.