EP0960966B1

EP0960966B1 - Method and apparatus for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: EP0960966B1
Application number: EP99109216A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francesco Lonati; Ettore Lonati; Tiberio Lonati; Fausto Lonati
Original assignee: Lonati SpA
Current assignee: Lonati SpA
Priority date: 1998-05-27
Filing date: 1999-05-21
Publication date: 2003-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-21
Also published as: DE69907318T2; KR19990088550A; EP0960966A3; ITMI981178A1; KR100580435B1; EP0960966A2; JPH11350315A; DE69907318D1

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines.
It is known that in double-cylinder circular knitting machines, when it is necessary to feed the needles with two yarns simultaneously, the yarns are generally dispensed by means of one or more yarn fingers which laterally face the needle cylinders and have, at their end that faces the needle work area, passages for the yams located at vertical elevations which allow the needles to engage the yarns ( see for example US 4,041, 735 A).
In some kinds of knitting, such as for example during the formation of the toe or heel of hosiery which, as is known, are produced by actuating the needle cylinders with an alternating motion about their own axis, it is necessary to interrupt the dispensing of the yarn and resume it every time the motion of the needle cylinders reverses.
During these kinds of knitting, when the feeding of the yarn is interrupted due to the reversal of the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders it is necessary to take up the excess yarn in order to resume knitting with correctly tensioned yarns.
When these knittings require the simultaneous feeding of two or more yarns that must be knitted in together by the needles, yarn take-up can be a problem.
In this case the two yarns are in fact dispensed by the corresponding yarn fingers at substantially identical vertical elevations and therefore interfere with each other during take-up.
If at least one of the two yarns has a non-uniform and downy surface, interference with the other yarn during take-up can cause the yarns to entangle and be incorrectly handled during take-up.
This non-uniformity in yarn take-up can lead to knitting errors and to rupture of the knitted fabric.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above problem by providing a method and an apparatus for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines which effectively avoid mutual interference of the yarns during their take-up toward the yarn finger or yarn fingers that dispensed them.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus which can be adopted without problems in conventional double-cylinder circular knitting machines.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus which, by avoiding interference between the yarns during their take-up, allows to resume dispensing the yams in a very uniform manner and therefore protects the knitting being formed from defects and ruptures.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a method, according to the invention, for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines, comprising a step for feeding the needles of the machine, by means of a yarn finger assembly having at least two dispensing points for at least two yarns, with at least two yarns, with yarn dispensing points located at substantially mutually identical vertical elevations; and a step for taking up the excess portion of said two yarns at the end of the engagement of the yarns by the needles of the machine; characterized in that at the end of said feeding step and before the beginning of said takeup step the yarn dispensing point of one of said two yarns is vertically staggered with respect to the dispensing point of the other yarn in order to vertically space one of said yarns with respect to the other.
The method according to the invention is preferably performed by means of an apparatus for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines, comprising a yarn finger assembly which laterally faces the needle cylinders of the machine and has at least two dispensing points for at least two yarns, characterized in that at least a first one of said dispensing points can move on command with respect to a second dispensing point or with respect to the other dispensing points in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of the needle cylinders, for the vertical staggering of at least one of said dispensing points with respect to the other dispensing point or points.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the method according to the invention and of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the apparatus for performing the method, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figures 1 to 7 illustrate the execution of the method according to the invention by means of an apparatus in a first embodiment, and more particularly:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the step for simultaneously feeding two yarns of the method according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view of a detail of Figure 1, taken from a different angle;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the end of the step for feeding the two yarns;
Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 3, taken from a different angle;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the step for taking up the two yarns;
Figure 6 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 5, taken from a different angle;
Figure 7 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of the yarn finger assembly of a first embodiment of the apparatus for performing the method according to the invention, in an operating position;
Figure 9 is a partially sectional lateral elevation view of the same detail as Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same detail as Figure 8 in another operating position;
Figure 11 is a partially sectional lateral elevation view of the detail of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of the yarn finger assembly of a second embodiment of the apparatus for performing the method according to the invention, in an operating position;
Figure 13 is a lateral elevation view of the same detail as Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a partially sectional perspective view of the same detail as Figure 12, in another operating position;
Figure 15 is a lateral elevation view of the detail of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a view of the yarn finger assembly in the second embodiment, arranged so as to laterally face the needle cylinders of a circular knitting machine, in the operating position that corresponds to Figures 12 and 13;
Figure 17 is a view of the yarn finger assembly in the second embodiment, arranged so as to laterally face the needle cylinders of a circular knitting machine, in the operating position that corresponds to Figures 14 and 15.
With reference to the above Figures, the method according to the invention is preferably performed by means of an apparatus which, in a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, comprises a yarn finger assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, which laterally faces the cylinders 2 and 3 of the machine and has at least two dispensing points for at least two yarns 4 and 5.
At least one of the two yarn dispensing points can move on command with respect to the other dispensing point or points in a direction which is substantially parallel to the vertical axis 6 of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 in order to vertically stagger one of the yarn dispensing points with respect to the other dispensing point or points.
More particularly, the yarn finger assembly or unit 1 comprises a support 7 which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine in a per se known manner which is not shown for the sake of simplicity and supports, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders 2 said 3, an arm 8 a portion of which is pivoted to the support 7 about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis 9.
At the end of the arm 8 that is directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3 there is a passage 10 for a yarn; said passage 10 constitutes a first dispensing point for a first yarn, which is the yarn 5 in the illustrated case.
The passage 10 is formed in a region of the arm 8 that is spaced from the pivoting axis 9 toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3, so that a rotation of the arm 8 about the pivoting axis 9 varies the vertical elevation of the position of the passage 10.
Actuation means act on command on the arm 8 in order to produce its rotation about the pivoting axis 9, so as to vary the vertical position of the passage 10.
Said actuation means preferably comprise a fluid-actuated cylinder 11, which is mounted on the support 7 and acts, with its piston 12, on the arm 8 in order to produce its rotation about the pivoting axis 9.
On the support 7 there are also stop abutments which delimit the breadth of the rotation angle of the arm 8 about the axis 9, forming two stop positions for the arm 8; i.e., a first position, in which the arm 8 is arranged so that the passage 10 is in a lowered position, and a second position, in which the passage 10 of the arm 8 is raised with respect to the first position.
The rotation of the arm 8 about the pivoting axis 9, in passing from the first position to the second position, is contrasted by a spring 13 which is interposed between the support 7 and a portion 8a of the arm 8 that protrudes from the pivoting axis 9 in the opposite direction with respect to the portion that is provided with the passage 10.
The support 7 has, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3, a passage 15 for the yarn which forms a second dispensing point for a second yarn, which is the yarn 4 in the illustrated case. Said passage 15 is located at an elevation which is substantially equal to the vertical elevation of the passage 10 formed in the arm 8 when said arm is in the lowered position.
As an alternative, the passage 15 for the second yarn 4 may be formed in a yarn finger arranged laterally adjacent to the support 7 instead of in the support 7.
The operation of the apparatus in its first embodiment in executing the method according to the invention is now described with reference to the formation of the toe or heel of a hosiery item with a double-cylinder circular machine.
During the feeding of the two yarns 4 and 5 to the needles 20, the yarn finger unit 1 faces, with its end in which the passages 10 and 15 are formed, the needle work area located between the lower needle cylinder 2 and the upper needle cylinder 3.
During the feeding of the yarns 4 and 5, the arm 8 is in the lowered position and the dispensing point formed by the passage 10 for the yarn 5 is located substantially at the same elevation as, or at a slightly higher elevation than, the passage 15 that constitutes the dispensing point for the yarn 4 (Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9).
In this manner, the yarns 4 and 5 are engaged by the needles 20 and used to knit and to form loops of knitting, while the needle cylinders 2 and 3 are actuated with a rotary motion in one direction about their axis 6.
At the end of the knitting in one direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 about the axis 6, i.e., when the last needle 20 of the set of needles made to knit at the feed served by the yarn finger unit 1 has engaged the two yarns 4 and 5, the fluid-actuated cylinder 11 is actuated, causing the rotation of the arm 8 about the axis 9 and bringing the passage 10 to a higher vertical elevation than the preceding one and therefore to a position which is spaced upwards with respect to the passage 15 (Figures 3, 4, 10 and 11).
Preferably, the passage 10, by way of the rotation of the arm about the axis 9, is brought to a vertical elevation which is higher than, or equal to, the elevation of the secondary sinkers 21 of the machine, so that the yarn 5 rests on them or rests on, and is supported by, the dovetail end, if provided, of said secondary sinkers 21. In this manner the yarn 5 is prevented with absolute certainty from interfering with the yarn 4, since it is spaced upwards with respect to it and it is rested on the secondary sinkers 21 or inside the dovetail end of the secondary sinkers 21. The yam 4 instead rests on elements known as bluffs 22 which are actuated, in a per se known manner, by the sliders 23 of the lower cylinder 2, so that the yarn 4 cannot be engaged by the sinkers 24 (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7).
With the yarns 4 and 5 thus spaced, the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 about the axis 6 is reversed and at the same time the yarn take-up units 25 and 26 gradually take up the yarns 4 and 5 as they loosen due to the reversal of the motion of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 about the axis 6.
During the take-up operation, since the yarns 4 and 5 are mutually spaced, mutual interference of these yarns is avoided with absolute certainty and therefore the correct take-up of said yarns by means of the take- up units 25 and 26 is ensured. In this manner the yarns 4 and 5 are prevented from being able to mutually entangle and the correct resumption of the feeding of the yarns 4 and 5 to the needles of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 is ensured when they are returned to the active position to form a new row of knitting.
Before the first needle 20, which must engage the yarns 4 and 5, passes in front of the end of the yarn finger unit 1 that is directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3, the fluid-actuated cylinder 11 is connected to the discharge, so that the spring 13 returns the arm 8 to the lowered position, with the passage 10 substantially at the same level as the passage 15 in order to start a new feed of the needles 20.
At this point the operating cycle resumes as already described, the only difference being that the needle cylinders 2 and 3 rotate in the opposite direction.
When the last one of the needles 20 has engaged the yarns 4 and 5, the fluid-actuated cylinder 11 is actuated again, causing once again the lifting of the arm 8 and spacing the yarn 5 above the yarn 4 before a new yarn take-up by the take- up elements 25 and 26, which precedes a new reversal of the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3.
In the second embodiment, shown in Figures 12 to 17, the apparatus comprises a yam finger unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 101, which laterally faces the needle cylinders 2 and 3 of the machine and has at least two dispensing points for at least two yarns 4 and 5.
The yarn finger assembly or unit 101 comprises a support 107 which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine in a per se known manner which is not illustrated for the sake of simplicity and which has, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3, a resting portion 110 for a first yarn, which is the yarn 5 in the illustrated case. The resting portion 110 forms a first dispensing point at which the yarn 5 is dispensed.
At the end of the support 107 there is a passage 115 for a second yarn, which is the yarn 4 in the illustrated case; said passage 115 constitutes a second yarn dispensing point.
In said second embodiment there are lifting means which are associated with the support 107 and can engage a portion of the yarn 5 proximate to the resting portion 110. Said lifting means can be actuated on command in order to lift the yarn 5 from the resting portion 110, replacing said resting portion in forming the first yarn dispensing point and vertically spacing said first yarn dispensing point from the second yarn dispensing point constituted by the passage 115.
More particularly, the end of the support 107 that is directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3 is preferably stirrup-shaped and the resting portion 110 is constituted by the central portion of the stirrup. The resting portion 110 is laterally delimited by two mutually opposite shoulders 130 and 131.
The passage 115 is located in a median region between the shoulders 130 and 131, directly above the resting portion 110.
The lifting means comprise an arm 108 which is pivoted, with one of its portions, to the support 107 about a pivoting axis 109 which is substantially horizontal.
The arm 108 has, on its side directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3, two side-by- side prongs 132 and 133 which are arranged laterally on opposite sides with respect to the passage 115 that constitutes the second yarn dispensing point. The two prongs 132 and 133 of the arm 108 can engage, with their end directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3 and spaced with respect to the pivoting axis 109, the yarn 5 that rests on the resting portion 110.
The ends of the prongs 132 and 133 that are directed toward the needle cylinders 2 and 3 have two shallower portions 132a and 133a which protrude toward each other; each shallower portion forms a resting point which can engage the yarn 5 depending on whether the needle cylinders 2 and 3 are actuated with a rotary motion in one direction or in the opposite direction, as will become apparent hereinafter.
The lifting means comprise actuation means which act on command on the arm 108 in order to produce its rotation about the pivoting axis 109 with respect to the support 107, so as to raise the ends of the prongs 132 and 133 with the portions 132a and 133a or to lower said ends of the prongs 132 and 133.
Said actuation means are preferably constituted, as in the first embodiment, by a fluid-actuated cylinder 111, which is mounted on the support 107 and acts with its piston 112 on the arm 108 in order to rotate it about the pivoting axis 109 in the direction that raises the ends of the prongs 132 and 133 with the portions 132a and 133a. This rotation of the arm 108 about the pivoting axis 9 is conveniently contrasted by means of at least one spring 113 which is interposed between the support 107 and a portion 108a of the arm 108 that protrudes from the pivoting axis 109 in the opposite direction with respect to the portions 132a and 133a.
In the support 107 there is another passage 140 for the yarn 5, which arrives from a yarn take-up device, for example of the type shown in Figure 5, so as to make the yarn 5 pass below the passage 115 and above the supporting portion 110.
In practice, by virtue of the actuation of the fluid-actuated cylinder 111 it is possible to transfer the arm 108 from a first lowered position, in which the portions 132a and 133a of the prongs 132 and 133 are arranged at the same level or below the resting portion 110, to a second raised position, in which the portions 132a and 133a of the prongs 132 and 133 are arranged above the resting region 110.
In the first operating position, the yarn 4 passes through the passage 115, while the yarn 5 rests on the portion 110. In this manner, the two yarn dispensing points constituted by the passage 115 and by the resting portion 110 lie substantially at the same vertical elevation. Depending on whether the needle cylinders 2 and 3 are actuated with one direction of rotation or with the opposite direction of rotation, the yarn 5 rests against the shoulder 130 or against the shoulder 131.
In the second operating position, the yarn 5, depending on whether the passage of the arm 108 from the first position to the second position occurs when the yarn 5 rests against the shoulder 130 or when it rests against the shoulder 131, is engaged by the portion 132a or by the portion 133a, which raises it with respect to the passage 115, replacing the resting portion 110 in providing the first yarn dispensing point. In this manner, the first yarn dispensing point, through which the yarn 5 is dispensed, is raised with respect to the second yarn dispensing point, constituted by the passage 115, through which the yarn 4 is dispensed.
The operation of the apparatus in the second embodiment is similar to what has been described with reference to the first embodiment, since during the formation of the knitting the arm 108 is in the first position and therefore the yarns 4 and 5 are dispensed through two dispensing points which are located substantially at the same vertical elevation (Figures 12, 13 and 16). At the end of the knitting performed in one direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3, i.e., when the last needle of the set of needles made to knit at the feed served by the yarn finger unit 101 has engaged the yarns 4 and 5, the fluid-actuated cylinder 111 is actuated, causing the rotation of the arm 108 about the axis 109 and producing the lifting of the first dispensing point for the yarn 5 by one of the prongs 132 or 133, depending on the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3, with respect to the second dispensing point for the yarn 4 constituted by the passage 115 (Figures 14, 15 and 17).
In this manner, the yarn 5 is spaced above the yarn 4 and interference between the two yarns 4 and 5 is assuredly avoided.
In this second embodiment also, the yarn 5 can be brought to a vertical elevation which is equal to, or greater than, the elevation of the secondary sinkers 21, so that the yarn 5 rests on said secondary sinkers or rests on, and is supported by, the dovetail end, if provided, of said secondary sinkers 21.
The yarn 4 can rest on the elements known as bluffs 22, as already described with reference to the first embodiment of the apparatus.
After the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 has been reversed, the fluid-actuated cylinder 111 is deactivated, so that the spring 113 returns the arm 108 to the first position, i.e., to the lowered position. In this manner, the yarn 5 rests on the resting portion 110 again and the yarns 4 and 5 are fed again, substantially at the same vertical elevation, to the needles of the needle cylinders 2 and 3.
At this point the operating cycle resumes as already described.
It should be noted that during the reversal of the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders 2 and 3 the yarn 5 passes below the yarn 4, sliding along the resting portion 110 between the shoulders 130 and 131. In this manner, the mutual position of the yarns 4 and 5, in the second embodiment of the apparatus, is not altered by the reversal of the motion of the needle cylinder and the apparatus is therefore particular adapted for performing knitting of the vanisé type.
In practice it has been observed that the method and the apparatus according to the invention fully achieve the intended aim, since by ensuring the spacing of the yarns fed simultaneously to the needles of the needle cylinders in a double-cylinder circular machine, before their take-up by the yarn take-up elements begins, it assuredly eliminates the possibility of interference between the two yarns during take-up and therefore ensures correct resumption of yarn feeding in a subsequent step for feeding said yarns.
Although the method and the apparatus according to the invention have been described with particular reference to the feeding of two yarns, they may in any case be used advantageously to vertically space one yarn with respect to a plurality of yarns in other kinds of knitting.
The method and the apparatus thus conceived are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI98A001178 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A method for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines, comprising a step for feeding the needles (20) of the machine by way of a yarn finger unit (1,101), said yarn finger unit (1,101) comprising a support (7,107) which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine and has supports proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), at least two dispensing points for at least two yarns, with at least two yarns (4,5), the yarn dispensing points (10,110,15,115) being located at substantially mutually identical vertical elevations; and a step for taking up the excess portion of said two yams (4,5) at the end of the engagement of the yarns by the needles (20) of the machine; characterized in that at the end of said feeding step and before the beginning of said take-up step the yarn dispensing point (10,110) of one (5) of said two yarns (4,5) is vertically staggered with respect to the dispensing point (15,115) of the other yarn (4) in order to vertically space one of said yarns (4,5) with respect to the other.
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing point (10,110) of one of said two yarns (5) is raised, with respect to the other yarn (4), to a position which is adapted to rest it on or against the secondary sinkers (21) of the machine.
An apparatus for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns in double-cylinder circular knitting machines, comprising a yarn finger unit (1,101) which laterally faces the needle cylinders (2,3) of the machine, said yarn finger unit (1,101) comprising a support (7,107) which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine and has supports proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), at least two dispensing points (10,110,15,115) for at least two yarns (4,5), characterized in that at least a first one (10,110) of said dispensing points can move on command with respect to a second dispensing point (15,115) or with respect to the other dispensing points in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis (6) of the needle cylinders (2,3), for the vertical staggering of at least one of said dispensing points (10,110) with respect to the other dispensing point or points (15,115).
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said support (7,107) which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine supports, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), an arm (8,108) in which there is a first passage (10,110) for a first yarn (5), which constitutes said first dispensing point; a portion of said arm (8,108) being pivoted to said support (7,107) about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis (9,109) and said passage (10,110) being formed in a region which is spaced from said pivoting axis (9,109) toward the needle cylinders (2,3); actuation means (11,111) being provided which act on said arm (8,108) for its rotation about said pivoting axis (9,109) in order to vary the vertical position of said passage (10,110) from a first lowered position to a second raised position.
An apparatus according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said support (7,107) has, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), a second passage (15,115) for a yarn which forms said second dispensing point for a second yarn (4), said second passage (15,115) being located at a level which is substantially equal to the level of the first passage (10,110) formed in said arm (8,108) in said first lowered position.
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said yarn finger unit (101) comprises a support (107) which is associated with the supporting structure of the machine and has, proximate to its end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), a resting portion (110) for a first yarn (5) which forms the first yarn dispensing point (110) and the second passage (115) for a second yam (4) which constitutes a second yarn dispensing point (115), lifting means (108) being provided which are associated with said support (107) and can engage a portion of the first yarn (5) proximate to said resting portion (110), said lifting means (108) being actuatable on command in order to lift the first yarn (5) from said resting portion (110), replacing said resting portion (110) in forming said first dispensing point (110), vertically spacing said first dispensing point (110) from said second dispensing point (115).
An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said end of said support (107) has a stirrup-like configuration, with said resting portion (110) formed at the central portion of the stirrup; said resting portion (110) being laterally delimited by two mutually opposite lateral shoulders (130,131); said second passage (115) that constitutes said second dispensing point (115) being arranged in an intermediate region between said two lateral shoulders (130,131) and being arranged directly above said resting portion (110).
An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting means comprise an arm (108), a portion of which is pivoted to said support (107) about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis (109), said arm (108) having, on its side directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), two side-by-side prongs (132,133) which are arranged laterally on opposite sides of said second passage (115) that constitutes said second dispensing point (115) and can engage, with one of their ends which is spaced from said pivoting axis (109), the first yarn (5), which is rested on said resting portion (110); actuation means (111) being provided which act on command on said arm (108) for its rotation about said pivoting axis (109) for the passage of the end of said prongs (132,133) of the arm (108) that can be engaged with the first yarn (5) from a first lowered position to a second raised position.
An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said prongs (132,133) of the arm (108) have, at their free end directed toward the needle cylinders (2,3), shallower portions (132a,133a) which protrude toward each other and form resting regions for the first yarn (5) as a replacement of said resting portion (110).
An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shallower portions (132a,133a) of the prongs (132,133) of the arm (108) are arranged at the same level as, or at a lower level than, said resting portion (110) in said first position, and are arranged above the level of said resting portion (110) in said second position.
An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arm (108) can rotate on command about said pivoting axis (109) from said first lowered position to said second raised position, in which said first yarn dispensing point (110) is located substantially at the level of the secondary sinkers (21) of the machine or above the secondary sinkers (21) of the machine.
An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise a fluid-actuated cylinder (111) which is associated with said support (107) and acts, with its piston (112), on said arm (108) for its rotation about said pivoting axis (109) relative to said support (107).