TURNING DEVICE FOR TUBULAR KNITTED ITEMS AND METHOD FOR TURNING TUBULAR KNITTED ITEMS
The present invention relates to a turning device (1) for tubular knitted items (100), in particular for sewing or linking stations (S) for automated closing of the tubular knitted items at a first end thereof (A). The device comprises a lower portion (2) and an upper portion (3), arranged below and above an intermediate area (4) on which can be positioned supporting means for the tubular item to be turned, hanging at its first axial end, and at least one tubular body (5) to be inserted from below to above, with the upper axial end (6A) thereof, through the axial end of the item hanging from the supporting means for turning the tubular item. The device comprises: moving mechanisms (30) for positioning the lower portion between a first operating position, in which it is vertically aligned with the upper portion, and a second operating position, in which it is displaced laterally with respect to the upper portion; a manipulating mechanism (40), movable between a non-operating position, in which it does not interact with the tubular item, and an operating position, in which it is placed above the tubular item. The switching of the manipulating mechanism from the non-operating position to the operating position takes place by catching the tubular item picked up by the knitting machine and placed close to the lower portion; the manipulating mechanism, in the operating position, manipulates and raises the tubular item so as to position a second free end (B) thereof on the upper axial open end of the tubular item, thus causing or facilitating the insertion of the tubular item into the tubular body.