CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE WITH HIGH STITCH FORMING PRECISION AND HIGH OPERATING VERSATILITY
A circular hosiery knitting machine with high stitch forming precision and high operating versatility. The machine (1, 1a) comprises a supporting structure (2, 2a) and a needle cylinder (4, 4a) which is oriented so that its axis (3, 3a) is substantially vertical and is provided, on its lateral surface, with a plurality of axial slots (5, 5a), each of which accommodates a needle (6, 6a) which can be actuated with a reciprocating motion along the corresponding axial slot (5, 5a). A sinker ring (7, 7a) is arranged around the upper end of the needle cylinder (4, 4a), is coaxial to the needle cylinder (4, 4a) and is provided with a plurality of radial slots (8, 8a), each of which accommodates a sinker (9, 9a), which can move with a reciprocating motion along the corresponding radial slot (8, 8a). Each sinker (9, 9a) is provided with a heel (10, 10a) which protrudes upward from the corresponding radial slot (8, 8a) and can engage at least one path defined in a sinker cover (12, 12a), which faces in an upper region the sinker ring (7, 7a). The needle cylinder (4, 4a) is actuatable with a rotary motion about its own axis (3, 3a) with respect to the supporting structure (2, 2a) and the sinker cover (12, 12a). The machine (1, la) comprises means (13, 13a) for adjusting the position of the sinker cover (12, 12a) on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis (3, 3a) of the needle cylinder (4, 4a) with respect to the supporting structure (2, 2a) and means (14, 14a) for varying the angular position of the sinker cover (12, 12a) around the axis (3, 3a) of the needle cylinder (4, 4a) with respect to the supporting structure (2, 2a).