CA1133865A - Machine for manufacturing pantie hose with gusset - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus is disclosed for positioning the gussets in a machine which produces panty hose with gussets wherein the machine includes a plurality of movable gripping devices and a fixed gripping device, all having wide, flat jaws the head of each of which comprises a free edge constituted by two inclined at an obtuse angle equal to the largest angle of the rhombic gusset to be applied, and with such a sides development so as to engage the gusset over the whole length of the latter. The jaws heads of the gripping devices are oppositely oriented to jointly make up the perimeter of said rhombic gusset and are provided with through staggered openings to allow their overlapping and inter-penetration.

Description

~133865 This application relates to improvements in the apparatus disclosed in our copending Canadian Application No. 329,562 filed June 12, 1979, and, more particularly, to improvements in apparatus for making panty hose.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for positioning the gussets in a machine which produces panty hose with gussets wherein the machine includes a plurality of movable gripping devices and a stationary gripping device, all having wide, flat jaws the head of each of which comprises a free edge constituted by two edge parts inclined at an obtuse angle equal to the largest angle of the rhombic gusset to be applied, and with such a length as to engage the gusset over the whole length of the latter, the jaws of said gripping devices being oppositely oriented to jointly make up the perimeter of said rhombic gusset and being provided with staggered through openings to allow their overlapping and interpenetration.
In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a machine embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating part of this machine;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view corresponding to Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an end elevation view corresponding to Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing another part of the machine;
Figure 6 is an end elevation view of the part of the machine shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the machîne part shown in Figures 5 and 6; and Figure 8 is a view, partly in plan and partly in section along the line B-B in Figure 5, of a detail. .~

1~33865 In the copending application referred to above, there is disclosed a machine for forming a pair of tights from two separa~e, preformed, tubular hose parts which includes gripping and manipulating means for supporting the hose parts whilst an upper portion of each hose part is slit longitudinally, and for opening out said upper portions after slitting, whilst gripping the same, during stitching of a gusset and stitching of the two hose parts together.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the units for holding the hose parts, opening the latter out after slitting the same and retaining the hose parts during stitching to one another and to the gusset pieces are of sub-stantially the same form as described in that application, the units being mounted on appropriate conveying means for circulating each unit around a closed path, the units being arranged in two groups with each group being circulated around a respective path parallel with the path of the other group, the two units which cooperate with one another during formation of one particular pair of tights being disposed in different said groups. In each unit, one of the two arms 1, 2 is fixed to the respective conveying ! means whereas the other arm is connected with the respective conveying means only via the respective pivot 32 and the fixed arm. The units are arranged to be circulated around their respective conveying paths inter-mittently in the direction indicated in Figure 1 by the arrow P, the fixed jaws 6 of the units extending from the points of their connections with the respective arms 2, 1 in the direction of the arrow P towards the free ends of the fixed jaws 4, 6. (The movable jaws 5, 7 have been omitted in Figure 1 in the interests of clarity).
In the arrangement of Figure 1, however, the means for holding the rhombic gusset pieces in place whilst the latter are stitched to the hose par~s differs from that described in copending Application 329,562. In the arrangement of Figure 1, the gusset clamping means comprises two distinct types of clamping device, one type, indicated at 51, being carried on the conveying means of one of said two groups of units, a plurality of such units 51 being provided, and the other type, indicated at 52, being stationary and being disposed in a sewing station through which both conveying paths pass.
Each clamping device 51 has two flat jaws pivotally connected with the conveying means for pivoting about an axis extending in the conveying direction, each said jaw having its free end defined by two equal straight edges which meet in an obtuse angle corresponding to the obtuse angles of the rhombic gussets, said edges corresponding in length with the respective edges of the rhombic gussets and these two edges being interrupted by respective slots or openings 53 formed in the flat jaws. The clamping device 52 also comprises two flat jaws mounted for pivoting about an axis extending parallel with the conveying direction through the sewing station, each of the jaws of the clamping device 52 having at its free end two out-wardly extending limbs which terminate in respective outer edges the relative inclination of which corresponds with the obtuse angle of the rhombic shaped gussets to be handled. The arrangement is such that with a clamping device 51 disposed in the sewing station, the jaws of either device may be pivoted about their respective axes to passthrough the jaws of the other, i.e. the two limbs of a jaw of the clamping device 52 are able *o pass through the two slots 53 formed in the respective jaws of the device 51, without the jaws of either clamping device striking those of the other.
In operation, at respective stations upstream of the sewing station a clamping device 51 mounied on the conveying means associated with one group of units receives, and firmly clamps, a rhombic gusset piece supplied 1~33865 thereto, the gusset piece being clamped so that the inclined free edges of the clamping device 51 lie adjacent to and parallel with the corresponding edges of the gusset piece, but the gusset piece projects by a marginal seam portion slightly from said free edges of the clamping device, the remainder of the gusset piece lying, of course, closer to the pivotal axis between these jaws than said projecting marginal seam portions. ~leanwhile, a unit of the group associated with the other conveying means duly receives a tubular hose portion thereon and, possibly in a succession of stations, supports the hose portion whilst the latter is slit, then moves into the unfolded position to open out the respective hose portion, substantially as described in copending Application 329,562, and the unit, carrying the stretched out hose portion and the clamping device 51 carrying the rhombic gusset clamped therein, both move into the sewing station with the appropriate projecting marginal portions of the gusset overlapping the appropriate projecting marginal portions of the respective hose portion. The overlapping marginal portions are then connected by means of a seam sewn by a sewing unit, it being understood that during this phase the jaws of the stationary clamping unit 52 are swung back out of the conveying path. Once the sewing of the rhombic gusset to the first hose part has been completed, the jaws of the clamping device 52 are closed so that the limbs thereof pass through the slot 53 in the jaws of the clamping unit 51 to engage and clamp the gusset portion, the slots 54 defined between the two limbs of the respective jaw of unit 52 receiving the central limb, defined between the two slots 53, of the respective jaw of the clamp device 51. ~ith the gusset piece now firmly clamped by the jaws 52, the jaws of the clamping device 51 are opened and swung away from the conveying plane and the clamping device 51 conveyed away from the sewing station while a unit of the group associated with the same conveying means as the devices 51, the last mentioned unit carrying, in a slit and stretched out attitude, a second tubular hose part which has been previously applied and operated on in the manner already explained, this second hose portion being juxtaposed with the other hose portion and the gusset portion in the sewing station so that the protective marginal edge portions of the stretched out second hose part overlap the respective marginal portions of the first tubular hose portion and the gusset portion and these marginal portions are again connected by a seam sewn by the sewing unit. The jaws of the clamping unit 52 are now opened and swung away from the conveying plane and both units, bearing the now formed pair of tights, are conveyed downstream of the sewing station to positions where the units are moved again to their folded positions and the finished tights drawn therefrom to prepare the units for a further operating cycle.
Figure 1 also illustrates schematically a mounting device for tubular hose portions, which device has the function of shaping the profile of the stitched seam ultimately to be formed connecting the hose portion with a corresponding hose portion and a gusset portion and also of varying, according to the fabric type, the width of the marginal portion which projects from the respective edges of the jaws of one of the units during sewing to the corresponding other hose portion and gusset portion with which it will form ultimately a finished pair of tights, the mounting device also making it easy for an operator to ensure that the tubular hose portions are appropriately applied to the fixed jaws of the respective units, without it being necessary for the operator to draw the tubular hose portions directly onto the jaws of said ~ulits.
The mounting device comprises two supports 61, one for the units of each of said two groups, each support 61 being, for example, constructed of metal rod or wire. Each support 61 is preferably mounted for movement into and out of the conveying path of the respective group of units, for example, as shown in Figure 1, being mounted at the downstream end of an upper horizontal conveying run and being reciprocable rectilinearly in a direction parallel with the conveying direction, as indicated by the arrows, into and out of the conveying path.
Each support 61 is elongate in the direction of such rectilinear reciprocation thereof and is carried by a mounting member, (not shown), the support being secured, adjacent the end of the support 61 which is furthest upstream in the conveying direction P of the upper conveying run, to said mounting member, the support 61 being cantilevered from said mounting member and having its opposite end unsupported.
Each support 61 may comprise, as shown, two wire loops, the two loops being symmetrical with one another about a median plane lying between the loops, the two loops being, over most of their extent, relatively close to the median plane but being more widely separated from one another, and from the plane, over a side of the support. Furthermore, part of the two loops which define said side of the support preferably diverge progressively from one another, and from the median plane, from the unsupported end of the support 61 towards the other end thereof. As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, each support 61 is mounted with its median p]ane substantially coincident with the plane of symmetry of the units, in a folded condition, of the respective group proceeding along the upper conveying run, the arrangement being such that each frame 61, when disposed in its operative position furthest upstream in the upper conveying run, is able to pass without obstruction longitudinally between the adjoining fixed jaws of each unit, in the folded condition, of the respective group conveyed longitudinally over the support.

`` 1133865 The devices 61 operate as follows. With each device 61 in its most downstream position in which it is withdrawn out of the conveying path of the respective group of units, the operator draws onto each support 61, from the unsupported end towards the other end~ the open end part of a respective tubular hose part. The dimensions of each support 61 are such that the material of the tubular hose part is held in a stretched condition over the support 61, the open end of the tubular hose part being extended in a generally triangular shape, as viewed in the longitudinal direction (see Figure 4). The supports 61, thus fitted with tubular hose parts, are then moved into their most upstream positions, and the arrangement is such that the free ends of the fixed jaws of the next unit in the respective group proceeding along the upper conveyor run will enter the open end of ; the hose part stretched on the respective support 61 and so the fixed jaws are fully inserted, (the movable jaws having been kept, up to this point, in their open positions). The insertion of the fixed jaws into the tubular hose parts may advantageously stretch the latter further. The movable jaws 5, 7 then move to their closed positions to grip the fabric of the hose part and the tubular hose part is slit longitudinally, whereafter the respective unit is moved further in the upper conveying run to strip the hose part off the support 61, which is then returned to its downstream loading position to receive a further tubular hose part~
Figures 5 to 8 illustrate a part of the apparatus, disposed in the sewing station, for guiding and drawing flat in overlapping relationship the marginal edge parts of the two hose parts to be connected by sewing.
This part of the apparatus includes a baffle 71 having an S shape in cross section, the bends of which baffle are designed to receive and guide the two marginal edge parts 72-73 of the hose parts to be sewn together. Air suction ducts 74, 75 are provided for drawing air in through perforate portions of the bends of the S-section baffle, as shown in Figure 25, thereby serving to extend the edge portions 72, 73 from the respective clamping edges (not shown) of the respective jaws 4, 5 or 6, 7, the suction applied via the two ducts 74 and 75 thus stretching the marginal edge portions 72, 73 in parallel but opposite directions. It will be noted that the middle of the S-section baffle extends substantially in or only slightly above the plane in which the fabric passes through the operative part of the sewing unit, indicated at 78, the ducts 74 and 75 being disposed respectively above and below this plane. There are also provided, respect-ively above and below the sewing plane, ducts 76 and 77 which blow air in directions towards the sewing plane and towards the sewing unit, thereby blowing the upper edge 72 downwards and forwards towards the sewing unit and the lower edge 73 upwards and forwards towards the sewing unit, an air cushion being provided between the fabric and the needle plate 82 of the sewing unit, to achieve correct advancement of the fabric into the sewing unit 78. The fabric guiding and air blowing and sucking unit described may be arranged to be pivotable about the axis of the needle 81 of the sewing unit, or where the latter has more than one needle, about a median axis between the needles.
To facilitate correct entry of the edges 72, 73 into the sewing unit at the beginning of every sewing operation, there is provided an additional air suction duct 80, in the stuffing box hood 83 of the sewing unit, that is to say, immediately downstream with respect to the needles 81. The commencement of the application of air pressure to the ducts 76 and 77 and of partial vacuum to the ducts 74, 75 and 80 are controlled by means, not shown, according to the part of the sewing operation which is in course, and to the shape of the seam to be sewn, for example rectilinear or curved.

` ~33865 Figures 5 to 8 also illustrate features designed to ensure satis-factory automatic starting and carrying out of the operation of stitching the overlapping edges of the fabric to be joined. According to one such feature, the needle plate 82, the front edge 82' of which projects for a few millimetres upstream (in the sewing direction) of the needles 81 and with said plate 82, the surrounding plate 82', can be lowered to allow the device 71 to 76 to guide the edges of fabric to be sewn under the foot 83 of the sewing unit. The sewing unit includes a double stuffing box foot comprising a front foot 83 connected with a rod 84 whereby the foot 83 may be raised, and a rear foot 86 independent of the front foot. The front foot 83 is connected with the suction duct 80 and in operation cooperates with fabric drawing jaws 85, while the rear foot 86, which engages plate 82 and in operation cooperates wit'n fabric drawing jaws 87, serves, with the latter, to draw the sewing thread chain, even when the front foot 83 is lifted.
It will be appreciated that it is not essential that the supports 61 be movable out of the conveying path of the units. If desired, for the sake of simplicity, these supports may be fixed in their operative positions.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE
IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for positioning the gussets in a machine which produces panty hose with gussets wherein the machine includes a plurality of movable gripping devices and a stationary gripping device, all having wide, flat jaws the head of each of which comprises a free edge constituted by two edge parts inclined at an obtuse angle equal to the largest angle of the rhombic gusset to be applied, and with such a length as to engage the gusset over the whole length of the latter, the jaws of said gripping devices being oppositely oriented to jointly make up the perimeter of said rhombic gusset and being provided with staggered through openings to allow their overlapping and interpenetration.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each of said movable gripping devices is fixed to conveying means for one group of units for gripping and manipulating hose parts making up the article, and interposed between two of said units, while the stationary gripping device is located at the sew-ing station; means being provided to control, at different times, the closing and the opening of said gripping means in phase with the holding and releas-ing of a gusset, a movable gripping device holding a gusset until the sewing of half of the perimeter of the gusset has been carried out, and the fixed gripping device holding the gusset during the sewing of the other half perimeter of said gusset.