EP0534188B1 - Apparatus for smoothing tubular stretchable materials - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for smoothing tubular stretchable material with at least one closed end, in particular for forming stockings or tights, with at least one device for loading and stretching the material on an elongated form, and with at least one device for heating the material on the mold, the device for feeding and clamping the material having a gathering device.

Such a device is known from GB-A-2 181 465.

Stockings or tights go through a dyeing process in their manufacture, which can result in shrinkage of the fabric and which at least partially results in the fabric sticking together, so that the stockings are in a crumpled form.

In order to bring the stockings into a smooth shape suitable for the consumer, they first have to be drawn onto a mold and then subjected to a heat treatment in order to relax the stockings. In a conventional manner, the stockings are first pulled onto two U-shaped brackets from top to bottom.

The stockings are then visually checked for defects by a light box. The stockings then arrive in a conventional manner in a heating chamber, in which they are briefly heated to temperatures above the previous dyeing process, that is to say to a temperature of approximately 100 to 110 ° C. This results in relaxation on smoothing the stockings.

The stockings are moved from the heating chamber to a pull-off station, at which the stockings are pulled off the hangers.

From here, the stockings are transferred in a conventional manner to a packaging machine in which the stockings are packed ready for sale by means of a conveyor belt or the like.

With such an arrangement there is only a very low throughput speed of the stockings through the molding machine. Since the stockings on the U-shaped brackets must be pulled up manually by an operator, the throughput speed is hereby greatly restricted. Since the stockings are exposed to strong tensile stresses when being pulled onto the U-shaped stirrups, the pulling-on process must also be carried out relatively slowly in order to avoid tearing of the stockings.

In addition, the pulling movement on the brackets from top to bottom leads to signs of fatigue in the operator after a relatively short time.

The conventional arrangement also has the disadvantage that the stockings are removed from the hangers while still warm and are transported to the subsequent packaging machine. This leads to post-shrinking processes and changes in shape, so that the dimensional accuracy of the stockings is impaired and a correct position in the sales packaging is not guaranteed.

In the arrangement known from GB-A-2 181 465, the tights are drawn onto an elongated shape, which consists of two flat strips arranged side by side, with the aid of endless belt drives. Here, the belt drives are integrated into the flat strips such that the strands protrude laterally over the narrow end faces and thus, after putting on a pair of tights on the end of the flat strip, the tights are completely stretched onto the two adjacent flat strips by the circumferential strands. In order to enable a transfer to the shaping device after passing through the control device, U-shaped holders are inserted into the tights from the open end and moved along the lasts in order to overlap the tights from the flat lasts to the two holders and on the latter to pick up. From the two holders, the tights are then transferred to the subsequent shaping device on substantially U-shaped brackets, for which purpose the holders are moved along the brackets.

It has been found to be disadvantageous in this arrangement that the stockings are first completely stretched over a flat, elongated shape, then taken up again by this shape and finally have to be transferred to another shape. The very first tensioning process, which is carried out with the aid of elongated belt drives integrated into the mold, can damage the tights, as this can be overstretched when stretched on the mold. A further disadvantage arises when the tights are taken over from the elongated shape by being slipped onto the holders by moving them from the open end of the tights along the two flat lasts. There is a risk of locally heavy stress on the tights, so that overstretching and damage occur are not excluded. There is also a risk of direct mechanical damage to the tights, since the holders have to be moved directly along the elongated flat shapes. Finally, the known arrangement is very complicated and requires numerous moving parts, including a cam drive.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for smoothing tubular, stretchy material with at least one closed end, in particular for shaping stockings or tights, which largely prevents damage to the material and ensures trouble-free operation.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a device according to the type mentioned at the outset in that the gathering device has at least one belt drive with at least one endlessly rotating belt for pre-gathering the material on the gathering device, and in that the gathering device is assigned gripping elements for taking over the pre-gathered material from the gathering device which is movable along the elongated form to apply the pre-gathered material to the form.

According to the invention, the stretchable material is therefore not clamped directly onto the mold, but is first pulled up spatially separately on a gathering device, for which purpose it only has to be placed by hand with an open end on the end of the gathering device. The stretchable material is then pre-gathered on the gathering device and then taken over by the gathering device and finally stripped onto the elongated shape. By pre-gathering the material on the gathering device, which can be carried out in a gentle manner, the material is drawn onto the elongated shape in an extremely gentle and uniform manner in the subsequent stripping process. The device required for this purpose to take over the pre-gathered material from the gathering device and then to strip it onto the elongated form can have a particularly simple construction and only requires gripping elements which can take over the gathered material from the gathering device and can then be moved in the longitudinal direction along the elongated form to pick up the gathered material on them.

Since the material is only pre-gathered by means of the gathering device and is not immediately fully stretched, an uneven load and an overstretching are largely avoided in this process.

The result of this was that, according to the method and the device according to the invention, the risk of damage when the material is clamped on the mold is considerably reduced compared to conventional methods and conventional devices.

In an advantageous further development, the gripping elements in the device according to the invention can at least partially be moved laterally into the gathering device and can be spread outwards against one another in order to take over the gathered material.

This results in a simple structure and a simple movement sequence when the pre-gathered material is taken over from the gathering device by means of the gripping elements.

In an additional development of the invention, at least one gripping element is arranged such that it can be tilted with respect to the other gripping element.

It has been shown that the use of gripping elements which can be tilted relative to one another enables a particularly uniform clamping of the material on the mold. In contrast to mutually parallel gripping elements, the transfer of the gathered material to the mold can be controlled by the tilting process. This largely prevents uneven loading of the stretchable material and uneven clamping. The particularly even clamping of the material ensures that it is easy afterwards a visual inspection for errors can be carried out without having to carry out a transfer to another form, as is conventional.

In an advantageous development of the invention, each tiltable gripping element can be tilted against a stop element, so that the gathered material is held between the gripping element and the stop element and is only released for transfer to the mold when the gripping element is in a position parallel to the other, non-tiltable gripping element is moved.

The tilting element limits the tilting angle of each tiltable gripping element, so that overstretching of the material due to too much tilting and thus local spreading is avoided. In addition, the gathered material is clamped between the gripping element and the stop element as soon as a tiltable gripping element strikes the stop element. This prevents premature slipping of several layers of the gathered material onto the mold during the stripping process.

In an advantageous development of the invention, each tiltable gripping element can be alternately tilted against the stop element and moved into a position parallel to the other gripping element, while the gripping elements are moved relative to the mold in order to grip the gathered material onto the mold starting with the closed end.

This periodic tilting of the gripping element relative to one another results in a particularly gentle gripping of the gathered material onto the mold. Furthermore, the material is stretched particularly evenly since irregularities are automatically compensated for by the periodic tilting.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the tilting frequency can be controlled as a function of the relative speed between the gripping elements and the shape. Since it is possible to work with a different relative speed depending on the material when gripping the gripping elements onto the mold, it is possible in this way to achieve a particularly uniform, gentle clamping even with different materials.

In a further embodiment of the invention, two outer gripping elements, which have a gripper finger, are tiltably arranged on both sides of a central, essentially U-shaped gripping element, the two legs of which are designed as gripper fingers.

Due to the finger-like design of the gripping elements, the gathered material can be stripped onto the shape in a particularly gentle manner; In addition, removal of the gathered material from the gathering device is facilitated, since the gripping elements can, for example, move laterally into corresponding recesses in the gathering device.

By means of two outer, finger-like, tiltable gripping elements and a central, essentially U-shaped gripping element, tights which are gathered on two shirring devices arranged next to one another can advantageously be removed from the shirring devices and then stretched over two forms.

In a development of the invention, each stop element is designed as a rubber buffer.

In this way, damage to the gathered material when tilting a gripping element against the stop element is avoided, on the other hand, good adhesion is achieved, so that unintentional loosening of different layers of the gathered material when slipping onto the form is avoided even with a low contact pressure.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the gathering device has two spaced plates, between which belt drives with endless belts are arranged, which at least partially protrude outward beyond the plates.

By means of the belt drives, the stretchable material can be picked up in a reliable manner, without the need for a precisely defined position of the material during the previous clamping by hand onto the lower end of the gathering device.

The stretchable material, e.g. a woman's stocking is simply pulled up with the open end of its stocking leg onto the lower end of the gathering device. A short switch-on of the belt drives is sufficient to gently lift up the stocking.

In a preferred development, two double belt drives are provided in this arrangement, each double belt drive each having two belts running in parallel, each rotating in the opposite direction to the belts of the other double belt drive.

This configuration results in a particularly even gathering of the material, since even material placed unevenly on the gathering device is evenly transported through the four outer strands.

In an additional development of the invention, guide strips are provided between the plates, via which the straps are partially guided outwards beyond the longitudinal end faces of the plates.

This measure additionally increases the frictional engagement between the material to be gathered and the belt.

As far as the stretchable material is women's stockings or pantyhose, it is advantageous if the shape has at least one bow which is essentially U-shaped.

This results in a particularly good adaptation to the shape of the stockings or tights, which supports an even pulling on the shape. If tights are to be processed, two such U-shaped brackets are expediently provided next to one another in an aligned arrangement.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a carousel rotatable about its vertical axis is provided, on which a plurality of shapes are arranged, the loading and clamping device and the heating device being designed as separate stations, between which the carousel can be rotated.

With such an arrangement, a particularly space-saving design and simple cyclical operation of the device according to the invention can be achieved. Several devices of this type can be coupled, for example, via intermediate conveyor belts in order to increase the capacity.

Furthermore, in order to enable the material to be pulled off the molds automatically, it is expedient to connect a pulling station downstream of the heating station for pulling the material off the form.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the brackets are suspended from the carousel, with their roundness pointing downward.

Signs of fatigue in an operator are thereby effectively avoided, since the stretchable material can be pulled onto the gathering device directly at the handle level at the feed station, the clamping process then being carried out automatically.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the stockings are moved back to an application station for visual inspection for defects in front of a planar light source after being stretched on the brackets, so that a visual inspection is possible while at the same time the next piece, for example the next pantyhose, is already on the brackets can be raised.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stirrups on the carousel are pivotably secured via a stirrup holder between an arrangement which is in alignment with one another and an arrangement which is laterally displaced from the escape.

This ensures a largely smooth clamping in tights even in the area of the gusset. In this way, the gusset is spatially spanned approximately saddle-shaped, so that the gusset is held completely under tension between the two brackets. As a result, pantyhose can also be subjected to a reliable visual inspection for defects in the area of the gusset, whereas in a conventional arrangement a visual inspection is not possible because of the crumpled tissue in the area of the gusset.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the stirrups for pulling off the material can be pivoted parallel to one another along a longitudinal axis of the stirrups, and the pulling station has two pulling belts which can be adjusted laterally on the stirrups to pull off the stockings from the hangers.

This ensures that the material is gently pulled off the brackets.

In an advantageous development of the invention, a folding device for transverse folding of the material is connected downstream of the pull-off tapes.

Since, according to this proposal, the folding device for transverse folding of the material directly adjoins the pull-off tapes, a change in the position of the material in the folding device is excluded, since the material is still partially held between the pull-off tapes during the folding process. The material is still under tension while cross folding is already being initiated. This ensures a smooth layer of the material during folding and correct folding.

The folding device can have parallel belts for transporting the material, between which a folding slide can be inserted laterally.

This makes it possible to ensure the correct position of the folded edge when folding tights or stockings.

In an additional development of the invention, the folding device has a wrapping sheet feed for feeding a wrapping sheet.

Since the material is folded around a wrapping sheet in this way, the material is still fixed correctly under tension, so that later changes in shape and position of the material, as well as shrinking processes are completely excluded.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1

eine vereinfachte Vorderansicht einer erfindungs-gemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 längs der Linie II-II in vereinfachter Darstellung;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Vorderansicht einer Raffeinrichtung zum Vorraffen des Materials;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine Vorderansicht einer Aufspanneinrichtung zur Übernahme des vorgerafften Materials vor der Raffeinrichtung;

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt durch die Aufspanneinrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 von oben in vereinfachter Darstellung;

Fig. 7

eine Prinzipskizze zur Erläuterung des Übernahmevorganges des gerafften Materials von der Raffeinrichtung und des Aufstreifvorganges;

Fig. 8

eine vergrößerte Ansicht der Bügel mit einer aufgespannten Strumpfhose an der Aufgabestation vor einer flächenhaften Lichtquelle zur Sichtkontrolle;

Fig. 9

den Zwickel gemäß Fig. 8 in vergrößerter perspektivischer Darstellung;

Fig. 10

den Zwickel in vergrößerter perspektivischer Darstellung, jedoch nach Verdrehen der beiden Bügel in eine versetzte Anordnung gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 11

eine Aufsicht der Abziehstation in vergrößerter, vereinfachter Darstellung und

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht der Abziehstation in schematischer Darstellung.

Further advantages result from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In it show:

Fig. 1

a simplified front view of an inventive device;

Fig. 2

a section through the device of Figure 1 along the line II-II in a simplified representation.

Fig. 3

an enlarged front view of a gathering device for pre-shirring the material;

Fig. 4

a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

Fig. 5

a front view of a clamping device for taking over the pre-gathered material in front of the gathering device;

Fig. 6

a section through the clamping device according to Figure 5 from above in a simplified representation.

Fig. 7

a schematic diagram to explain the takeover process of the gathered material from the gathering device and the stripping process;

Fig. 8

an enlarged view of the temples with a tights stretched out at the feed station in front of an area light source for visual inspection;

Fig. 9

the gusset of Figure 8 in an enlarged perspective view.

Fig. 10

the gusset in an enlarged perspective view, but after turning the two brackets into a staggered arrangement according to FIG. 2;

Fig. 11

a supervision of the pulling station in an enlarged, simplified representation and

Fig. 12

a side view of the pulling station in a schematic representation.

A device according to the invention is generally designated by the number 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

This device is suitable for shaping tubular, stretchable material with at least one closed end, in particular for shaping tights, but could also be used for other materials, in particular for individual stockings, since these are usually shaped in pairs and then packed. The device and the method according to the invention are described below using the example of a pair of tights 100 which have two closed ends 222 or legs and an open end 221 on the waistband.

The device has a total of six stations through which the tights pass. A carousel 16 is provided on a central, vertical axis of rotation 18, on which a mold 11 consisting of two brackets 12 for tensioning tights 100 is arranged next to one another, each offset by 60 °. The brackets 12 consist of round rods which are bent in a U-shape and are arranged on a bracket receptacle 14 and are arranged with their roundness pointing downwards. The brackets 12 can either be aligned with one another in a manner not explained in more detail using the bracket receptacle, pivoted laterally relative to one another out of alignment about their longitudinal axis, or folded down parallel to one another.

The tights 100 are clamped onto the brackets and are moved from one station to the next in cycles by rotating the carousel 16 by 60 °.

To put the tights on, a loading station 32 is provided, in which the tights are put on two gathering devices 250.

The gathering devices 250 can be pivoted from the loading station 32 clockwise by an angle of approximately 60 ° to a clamping station 30, as indicated by the arrow 26. The clamping station 30 has a clamping device 210, by means of which the tights are taken over by the gathering devices and then automatically clamped on the brackets 12, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

The tights are first pulled on the gathering devices 250 by hand at the loading station 32, then pivoted counterclockwise to the clamping station 30 and clamped on the brackets 12 with the help of the clamping device 210. After the clamping process has ended, the tights are moved back to the loading station 32 by rotating the carousel 16, where they are subjected to a visual inspection for errors in front of a planar light source 20.

This sequence of movements makes it possible to simultaneously pull new tights on the gathering devices 250 at the loading station 32, while at the same time the tights stretched on the brackets 12 are subjected to a visual inspection, which results in considerable time savings. A further rotation of the carousel 16 counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow 27 transports the tights 100 to a first heating device 34, from which they reach a second heating device with a further rotation by 60 °. With a further pivoting by 60 ° in the direction of arrow 27, the brackets 12 with the clamped Tights pivoted to a cooling station 38, in which the tights are cooled by means of fans 39. Then the tights stretched on the brackets 12 reach a pull-off station 40 by a further rotation of the carousel.

At the pull-off station 40, the stockings are pulled off the brackets 12 which, with a further rotation of the carousel 16 in the direction of the arrow 27, reach the clamping station 30 again.

Details of the gathering device 250 and that of the clamping device 210 can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 8. The two gathering devices 250, which are arranged side by side according to FIG. 1 and only one of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each have two mutually parallel vertical plates 252, which are fastened to a horizontal holder 251 and to their lower one End are connected by a common stump section 253 which is slightly tapered on all sides downwards, so that the pulling up of a stocking leg is facilitated.

Two belt drives 254, 256, which can be driven in opposite directions to one another, are arranged between the two rectangular plates 252. The belt drives 254, 256 are designed as double belt drives, two parallel belts each being guided over a lower roller 266 and an upper roller 268. Guide strips 262, 264 are arranged on the vertical edge sections of the plates 252, by way of which the belts 258, 260 are guided outwards over the end faces of the plates.

The two upper rollers 268 of the belt drives 254, 256 are offset toward the inside of the plates 252. Because the bottom On the other hand, rollers 266 are arranged on the edges of the plates 252, a triangular belt drive 254, 256 is formed, the two upper legs of the belt drives 254, 256 being symmetrically inclined toward the center of the plates 252.

With this arrangement, there is a long, outwardly projecting run on each edge side of the two plates 252, so that there is good contact between a tights to be picked up and the straps.

The straps have a round cross section and are made of plastic, which is preferably weldable.

If a pair of tights 100 is to be gathered up, it is pulled up by hand with its two legs onto the gathering devices 250 arranged next to one another at a corresponding distance at the loading station 32, so that it is held on the two stump sections 253. After the two gathering devices 250 have been turned to the clamping station 30, the tights 100 are completely gathered up by briefly driving the belt drives in the direction of the arrows 271, 272, so that they are held at the upper end below the holder 251.

5 and 6 has gripping elements 214, 216, which can be moved vertically and horizontally and can also be expanded against one another in order to take over tights 100 from the gathering device 250 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 and then, starting with the stocking legs on two brackets 12 arranged side by side.

To enable the gripping elements to be moved vertically and horizontally, there is a horizontally arranged frame 6, which is designated as a whole in FIG. 6 by the number 226. The frame 226 can be moved in the horizontal direction (arrow 247) on two parallel round bars 225, which are guided in a guide block 223. The guide block 223 is arranged vertically displaceably on two vertically arranged round rods 227 (arrow 248 according to FIG. 5).

The gripping elements 214, 216 are attached to a front vertically arranged base plate 224, which forms the front part of the horizontally displaceable frame 226.

The frame 226 is periodically displaceable in the vertical and horizontal directions by means of a vertical chain drive 228, since the chain drive has an endless chain which is guided via an upper deflection pinion (not shown) and a lower drive pinion 274 and which is connected via a driver 230 to a side wall of the frame 226 is connected. A drive unit 276 is provided for driving the chain drive 228. If the chain drive 228 is driven, a closed trajectory 273 results, which is predetermined by the geometry of the chain drive 228 (cf. FIG. 7). The frame 226 thus moves alternately in the vertical direction, then simultaneously in the horizontal and vertical direction, until the driver 226 has completely rotated the upper or lower sprocket of the chain drive 228, then a movement in the vertical direction follows which is opposite to the first vertical movement and finally a combined horizontal and vertical movement until the other pinion is completely rotated by the driver.

In this way, the various required movements of the gripping elements 214, 216 can be generated relatively easily.

On the side of the frame 226 opposite the chain drive 228, a guide ruler 231 is arranged for additional guidance, on which the frame is guided by means of two cam rollers 232.

The frame and the chain drive are not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity.

On the vertical base plate 224 of the frame 226, a central, rigid gripping element 214 is fixed via a central holder 238, which is designed as a substantially U-shaped bow, the two parallel legs of which form two gripper fingers 215 pointing vertically downward.

On both sides of the rigid central gripping element 214, two outer, tiltable gripping elements 216 are arranged, each of which can be moved outwards on a moving unit 234 from the central gripping element 214 and can be tilted relative to the latter. The two moving units 234 arranged on both sides of the middle gripping element 214 can be moved horizontally outward from the middle gripping element 214 by means of horizontally arranged lifting cylinders 235, as indicated by the arrows 246. The travel units 234 are each guided on a horizontal guide 236 by means of guide rollers 237. The gripping elements 216, which have an L-shaped cross section and each point vertically downward with their longer leg, which is designed as a gripper finger 217, as shown in FIG. 5, are each attached to the outer free end of a gripper shaft 239, which is designed as a square 240.

The outer gripping elements 216 can be tilted by means of lifting cylinders 242 which engage rocker arms 243. The outer Gripping elements 216 are assigned stop elements 218, which are rigidly fastened to a respective travel unit 234 by means of stop holders 241. The stop elements 218 are designed as rubber buffers and beveled accordingly on their surfaces facing the outer gripping elements 216, so that when the gripping elements 216 are pivoted in the direction of arrow 245 outward, the gripper fingers 217 each strike the stop elements 218 in parallel.

In order to pivot the gripping elements 216 outwards in the direction of the arrows 245, the lifting cylinders 242 are moved inwards in the direction of the arrows 249, so that the desired tilting movement results from the rocker arms 243.

As far as the space permits, the lifting cylinders 242 can of course also engage below the axis of rotation 244 of the tiltable gripping elements 216, so that the lifting cylinders can be extended outwards in order to achieve the desired outward tilting movement in the direction of the arrows 245.

5, a pair of tights 100 is indicated schematically, which was taken off in the gathered state by a gathering device 210 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 and is now held on the gripping elements 214, 216.

The tights 100 can now be pulled onto the brackets 12 from below by means of the gripping elements 214, 216.

For this purpose, the outer gripping elements 216 are spread outward in the direction of the arrows 246 and additionally periodically tilted against the stop elements 218 during the relative movement between the mold 212 and the gripping elements 214, 216, as a result of which the gripping elements 214, 216 are transferred gently the bracket 212 is reached. There is also a loose, uniform tensioning of the tights 100.

After the tights 100 have been fully stretched on the brackets 12, the carousel 16 is now rotated counterclockwise by about 60 °, so that the brackets 12 with the tights 100 stretched thereon return to the feed station 32 in front of the planar light source 20, which is designed as a light box is moved.

In this position, which is shown schematically again in an enlarged manner in FIG. 8, the tights 100 are located above the gathering devices 250, which in the meantime have also been moved back to the loading station 32 for the purpose of further tights. In this position, the tights 100 can be subjected to a visual inspection for errors in front of the planar light source 20, while at the same time further tights are put on the gathering devices 250.

8, the gusset 104 is indicated in the region of the transition between the two stocking legs, which is connected to the waistband of the tights 100 via a front seam 106 and a rear seam. In the position in which the brackets 12 are aligned with one another, the gusset 104 is not fully stretched in accordance with its shape, so that the fabric is crimped, as can be seen from the enlarged illustration in FIG. 9.

For visual inspection, the two brackets 12 are briefly pivoted against one another with the aid of the bracket receptacle 14, so that the gusset is spatially spanned in a saddle-shaped manner in accordance with FIG. In this position there is one perfect visual inspection also guaranteed in the area of the gusset. After the visual inspection has ended, the brackets 12 are pivoted back into an aligned arrangement and the carousel 16 is moved further by approximately 60 ° in the direction of the arrow 27 counterclockwise to the first heating station 34. In the first heating station 34 and in the subsequent second heating station 36, the tights are subjected to heat by means of infrared radiators, so that they are briefly heated to a temperature of approximately 100 to 110 ° C. Alternatively or additionally, warm air blowers can also be provided for heating. This achieves the desired relaxation of the previously crimped fabric and the desired smoothing and drying of the tights if necessary.

From the second heating station 36, the tights reach the cooling station 38 when the carousel 16 is pivoted further. In the cooling station 38, the tights are cooled by means of two radial fans 39. The cooling station 38 can optionally also be dispensed with.

A rapid cooling of the tights on the hangers 12 avoids a post-shrinking process and ensures a high dimensional accuracy of the tights, as well as a perfect smooth position of the tights after the later removal from the hangers.

A further rotation of the carousel 16 by about 60 ° brings the tights from the cooling station 38 to the pull-off station 40. As indicated by the arrows 108 in FIG. 11, the stirrups 11 at the pull-off station 40 are first pivoted parallel to one another, so that the flat stretched stockings are parallel to each other.

In this position, two vertically arranged pull-off tapes 110 are pivoted laterally from the position indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 11 in the direction of arrows 109 to the narrow sides of bracket 12, so that the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 11 results. In order to pivot the pull-off tapes 110, they are each fixed to a pivoting device 112, which in each case enables a pivoting movement of 90 ° and the lower pivoting device is combined with a drive.

11 are pulled in opposite directions to one another, so that the tights 110 according to FIG. 13 are gently pulled vertically downward from the brackets 12 in the direction of arrow 111. Below the peel-off tapes 110 there is a folding device, generally designated with the number 120, for transverse folding of the tights, which has a lateral wrapping sheet feed, which is generally designated with the number 130.

The tights are transported further downwards by means of two belts arranged vertically below the peeling belts 110, which can be pivoted parallel to one another at their upper end. One of these two bands 122 is extended obliquely outwards via a deflection roller. Another band 124 is arranged parallel to this band part. In the area between these two parallel bands 122, 124, which point obliquely outwards, a folding slide 118 is guided so as to be displaceable in the horizontal direction. The folding slide 118 can be displaced in the direction of the arrow 119 up to the starting area between the two parallel bands 122, 124, as a result of which the pantyhose 100, whose foot region is already folded on a further band 126, slants outwards in the opposite direction to the parallel bands 122, 124 points, rests, is initiated.

In this case, a wrap sheet 116 can additionally be fed onto the upper side of the folding slide 118 from a winding sheet magazine 114 which is arranged above the folding slide 118. The winding sheet 116 is fed between the two parallel bands 122, 124 during the feed movement of the folding slide 118, so that the folding takes place around the front edge of the winding sheet 116.

The correct point in time when the wrapping sheet 116 is folded in or fed in is controlled with the aid of a light barrier 113 which emits a switching signal as soon as the collar of the tights 100 has passed the light beam during the vertical movement with the aid of the pulling strips 110.

The tights 100 are finally completely pulled off the brackets 12 and, in the folded state, reach the outside in the direction of the arrow 123 and fall onto a conveyor belt, which is indicated by the number 128. From here, the tights 100, once folded, are moved to the subsequent folding and packaging device.

In an alternative embodiment, the folding and packaging device can also be combined with the aforementioned folding device 120.

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus for smoothing tubular stretchable material (100) having at least one closed end (222), especially for shaping stockings or tights, with at least one device (30, 32) for the feed and tentering of the material (100) on an elongate form (11), and with at least one device (34, 36) for heating the material (100) on the form (11), the device (30, 32) for the feed and tentering of the material (100) having a gathering device (250), characterized in that the gathering device (250) has at least one belt drive (254, 256) with at least one endlessly rotating belt (258, 260) for pregathering the material (100) on the gathering device (250), and in that the gathering device (250) is assigned a tentering device (210) with gripper elements (214, 216) for taking over the pregathered material (100) from the gathering device (250), the said gripper elements being movable along the elongate form (11), in order to slip the pregathered material (100) onto the form (11).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the gripper elements (214, 216) can be at least partially moved laterally into the gathering device (250) and can be spread outwards relative to one another in order to take over the gathered material (100).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which at least one gripper element (216) is arranged tiltably in relation to the other gripper element (214).
4. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each tiltable gripper element (216) can be tilted against a stop element (218), in order to hold the gathered material (100) between gripper element (216) and stop element (218) and to release the gathered material (100) for transfer onto the form (11) when the gripper element (216) is moved into a position parallel to the other non-tiltable gripper element (214).
5. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each tiltable gripper element (216) is alternately tilted against the stop element (218) and moved into a position parallel to the other gripper element (214), whilst the gripper elements (214, 216) are moved relative to the form (11) in order to slip the gathered material (100) onto the form (11).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the tilting frequency can be controlled in dependence on the relative speed between the gripper elements (214, 216) and form (11).
7. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which two outer gripper elements (216), which have a gripper finger (217), are arranged tiltably on both sides of a middle essentially U-shaped gripper element (214), the two legs of which are designed as gripper fingers (215).
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 4 to 7, in which each stop element (218) is designed as a rubber buffer.
9. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the gathering device (250) has two plates (252) which are spaced from one another and between which are arranged belt drives (254, 256) having endlessly rotating belts (258, 260) which project at least partially outwards beyond the plates (252).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, in which two double belt drives (254, 256) are provided, each double belt drive (254, 256) having in each case two belts (258, 260) which rotate in parallel and which in each case rotate in the opposite direction to the belts (260, 258) of the other double belt drive (256, 254).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, in which there are provided between the plates (252) guide battens (262, 264), via which belts (258, 260) are guided so as partially to project outwards beyond the longitudinal end faces of the plates (252).
12. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the form (11) has at least one bar (12) bent in an essentially U-shaped manner.
13. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, with a turntable (16), which is rotatable about its vertical axis (18) and on which a plurality of forms (11) is arranged, the feed and tentering device (30, 32) and the heating device (34, 36) being designed as separate stations (30, 32; 34, 36), between which the turntable (16) can be rotated.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the heating station (34, 36) is followed by a draw-off station (40) for drawing off the material (100) from the form (11).
15. Apparatus according to Claim 12, 13 or 14, in which the bars (12), suspended on the turntable (16), are arranged with their rounding facing downwards.
16. Apparatus according to one of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the feed station (32) has a sheet-like light source (20) for illuminating material (100) tentered on the forms (11) for the purpose of a visual check.
17. Apparatus according to one or more of Claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the bars (12) are fixed to the turntable (16) via a bar receptacle (14) so as to be pivotable between an arrangement in which they are aligned with one another and an arrangement in which they are displaced laterally out of alignment.
18. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the bars (12) can be pivoted parallel to one another for the purpose of drawing off the material (100) along a longitudinal axis of the bars (12), and in that the draw-off station (40) has two draw-off bands (110) which can be applied laterally to the bars (12) for the purpose of drawing off the material (100) from the bars (12).
19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, characterized in that the draw-off bands (110) are followed by a folding device (120) for the transverse folding of the material (100).
20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, characterized in that the folding device (120) has a folding slide (118) which can be moved laterally in between parallel bands (122, 124) for folding-up purposes.
21. Apparatus according to Claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the folding device (120) has a wrapping-sheet delivery (130) for delivering a wrapping sheet (116).

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