discharge box 5 the length of the rod 24 between the portion which rotatively engages with the dial 16 and entrainment element 33 is preferably slightly longer than the knitted fabric 35 expected to be knitted however it may be made shorter since it is possible for the knitwork to gather at the entrainment element 33 before it is discharged advantageously a microswitch 38 may be provided to automatically operate the machine as the rod 24 is brought into its bottom position of engagement with the entrainment element 33 or to automatically stop the machine in the event that the rod 24 is raised out of its bottom position of engagement with the entrainment element 33 fig2 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the machine according to this invention wherein the entrainment element 39 is arranged within the needle cylinder 40 at the lower portion thereof the cylinder 40 is carried rotatably on a stationary portion 41 of the machine through bearings 42 and extends into a tubular element 43 to the tubular element 42 there is connected through bearings 44 a discharge tube 45 for the knitted fabric 46 the entrainment element 39 which extends across the axis of the needle cylinder 40 and is formed at the top.