EP0882829B1 - Apparatus for the spreading of an end portion of a tubular article - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for opening or spacing the end of a fabric tubular manufactured product, such as for example a knitted stocking.

It is known by those skilled in the art that the manufacture of manufactured goods like stockings and tights provides for a number of phases in predetermined sequence and the nature of which depends essentially of the type of manufactured product that must be manufactured (see document WO-A-9 527 097). For example, in the manufacture of tights it is planned to leave a pair of tubular manufactured products knitted with the point of the toe open and with an opposite shaped end portion of so as to have elastic characteristics predetermined. Each manufactured product is invested in the tubes of a sewing machine points which, in several phases, provides for the stitching of the aforementioned tip portion. Once discharged, two manufactured products can be directed to a machine called "line-closer" which provides the longitudinal section of the portion more elastic of manufactured products, appropriately invested in pairs of shapes support twinned, to allow assembly in pairs by means of a seam in matching edges that have been cut.

One of the most felt problems in this sector of the technique is that of automating different phases of the manufacturing cycle of manufactured products, which are low or sticky.

The main object of the present invention is that of proposing a device specially usable in the manufacture of products manufactured of the above type which allows integrating several parts of a productive installation including machines for closing the tip and / or for assembly of tights and automation of transfer phases of manufactured products in way from one machine to another.

Another object of the present invention is that of achieve a good reduction in time relating to total processing cycle of manufactured products and, at the same time, improving the quality of finished manufactured product.

This result was achieved, in accordance with the invention, by adopting the idea of producing a device having the characteristics described in the characterizing part of the claim 1.
Other features are the subject of the dependent claims.

The advantages which derive from the present invention basically consist of what is possible operate automate product transfer manufactured from one machine to another from the production facility, regardless of the nature of the manufactured product, i.e. either whether they are tubulars intended for production of each stocking and either be tubular intended for the assembly of tights; that it is possible to reduce the time and cost of each production cycle; that a device according to the invention is manufacturing simple, economical and reliable even after a while extended use.

• la Fig. 1 représente schématiquement une vue in coupe longitudinale d'un dispositif conformément à l'invention;
• la Fig. 2 représente schématiquement le dispositif de la Fig. 1 associé à une machine à coudre les pointes avec des moyens de tranfer du produit manufacturé du dispositif à la machine;
• la Fig. 3 représente une vue laterale du l'ensemble de la Fig. 2.

These advantages and characteristics of the invention as well as others will be more and better understood by each person skilled in the art in the light of the description which follows and with the aid of the appended drawings given by way of practical example of a concrete embodiment, but not to be considered in the limiting sense, on which:

• Fig. 1 schematically represents a view in longitudinal section of a device according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 schematically represents the device of FIG. 1 associated with a stitch sewing machine with means for transferring the manufactured product from the device to the machine;
• Fig. 3 shows a side view of the assembly of FIG. 2.

Reduced to its essential structure and in reference in the figures of the appended drawings, a device for the opening or spacing of the end elastic (10) of a tubular manufactured product (1) knitted, such as a stocking, comprising a body (T) of basically tubular shape, with an inlet section (I) at the end elastic (10) of manufactured products (1) to dealing and communicating with a separate section (S) slaved to air suction means in programmable sequence, where between said two sections (I) and (S) is arranged a conduit (2) converge-divergent downstream of which, at a distance predetermined, there is a pin member (3) on which the elastic end (10) of the product manufactured is intended to invest spontaneously by effect of the suction carried out through said section (S) and expansion or opening following its passage in the zone (20) downstream of the conduit (2): said body (T) being in two separable portions from a plane central longitudinal (X-X) at least in correspondence of said pin member (3) for allow the removal of the manufactured product (1) with elastic (10) in the relaxed position determined for the separation of said two parties of the body (T). The head (30) of said pin (3) can be conveniently shaped as a warhead.

For greater constructive simplicity of the device, said body (T) can be produced by two equal coincident parts, in position closed, in correspondence of the simmetry plane longitudinal (X-X). Said two parts of the body (T) are opposite with respect to the plane (X-X) in position of the elastic (10) manufactured product (1).

Advantageously, in accordance with the invention, in input section correspondence, (I), means for regulating the forward speed of the manufactured product (1) in the body are provided, with a pair of slave calender rollers (4) to elastic means - not shown - and intended to compress the fabric of the product manufactured (1) in progress. Means of speed regulation of the manufactured product (1) functionally equivalent to those that have been described can also be used.

Advantageously, in accordance with the invention, in intermediate position between section (I) inlet of the manufactured product (1) and the conduit (2), the body (T) has a plurality of holes peripherals (5) to create a zone corresponding turbulance in the body (T) which promotes the opening of the elastic (10) in the case it is wrapped on itself or in flattened position.

Near section (S) subject to resources suction body (T) can have advantageously a plurality of openings or slots (6) capable of promoting greater uniformity of suction in correspondence of the pin (3).

In addition, advantageously, it is possible to use means with buffer (7) movable from and to the pin (3) and acting on the tissue invested on this to compress it in the spacing phase of elastic, to guarantee even more retention sure of the elastic (10) of the manufactured product (1) on the pin (3).

Food for manufactured products (1), that is to say the introduction of products through the mouth or entry section (I) of the body (T) can be done by hand or by placing the body (T) at the outlet of an apparatus for automatic debit of manufactured products of a container, for example of the type described in the IT patent application FI96A163.

To obtain the spacing of the elastic (10), this is introduced through section (I) of body (T), with suction activated, so that, after the product portion has passed manufactured with elastic (10) across the conduit (2), the elastic (10) is open in downstream of the conduit (2) since the edge of the elastic tends to follow the lines of the air flow which opens around the pin (3). And, seen there superiority of the suction effect, the elastic with the edge thus spread or open is arranged spontaneously on the pin (3) by invessing it.

With the successive opening of the body (T), i.e. with the separation of its parts by relation to the central longitudinal plane (x-x), the elastic is moved aside later, as it is illustrated in Fig. 2, and it can be withdrawn even with mechanical means, for example of the type described later.

Said separable parts of the body (T) can both be mobile on command of one or several mechanical or pneumatic devices separation correspondents or, as shown in Fig. 2, one part (A) is fixed and the other (B) movable and slaved to a pneumatic cylinder (100) which moves it from and to fixed part (A).

It goes without saying that means of realization automatic of the described operational phases are provided, said means comprise a system of air flow interceptors suction systems controlled by control means already known by the industrial automation technicians and, therefore, not described in detail.

As schematically illustrated in Figg. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, a device according to the invention can be used to feed the tubes (8) of a needle sewing machine (MC): the device is placed upstream of the machine (MC) and to that -this is associated with a transfer device for manufactured products (1) with the spread elastic, for example comprising a plurality of hooks (90) carried by movement chains (9) slaved to a drive member (92) with a chain transmission (93) closed in a ring and placed on two opposite sides of the device itself, which is arranged, for example, so as to result parallel to the tubes (8) and with the section (I) sufficiently close to the surface of the mouths ( 81) of these. When the device is in the open elastic position (10), the hooks (90), advancing in the direction of tubes (8) of the stitch sewing machine (MC), take the manufactured product in correspondence with the 'elastic (10) to place it on the lateral fins (80) of the tubes (8).
The activated suction in the tubes (8) therefore determines the introduction into the latter of the end of the manufactured product (1) opposite that of the elastic (10).
In this phase, can be advantageously used a nozzle capable of blowing air - not shown - placed lower in the intermediate position between the tube (8) and the body (T), whose breath pushes said second end of the manufactured product towards the mouth of the tube (8). In this way, we obtain the transfers of the manufactured products from the device (T) to the tubes (8) of the stitch sewing machine (MC), with the elastic invested on the fins (80) of the same, as requested for the correct functioning of the stitch sewing machine (MC).
Said chains (9) are mounted on corresponding flat supports (94) moved from and towards the body (T) of the device in question, by means of producing cylinders which for simplicity are not shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

The stitch sewing machine (MC) is in itself already known. US patents 5,014,634, US 5,272,993 and US 4020775 describe sewing machines spikes for stockings.

The device in question can also be used for feed the shapes of a sewing machine tights of the so-called "line-closer" type already known to those skilled in the art. US patents 4444140, US 5345889 and US 4303026 describe sewing machines for tights. For alimentation of a line-closer machine, we can use a transfer apparatus at all analogous to that described with reference to Figg. 2 and 3 and intended for invest manufactured products with elastic open to the forms of the line-closer machine at place only on the tubes (8) on mentioned.

It is understood that manufactured products treatable by the present device can be also manufactured tubular fabric products non-elastic and that in the case of stocking manipulation, the elastic portion intended at the opening can be either the one in body correspondence as illustrated in the Figg. 2 and 3 of the drawings, that of the tip of the foot.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for the opening or stretching apart of one end (10) of a tubular article (1), characterized in that it comprises a body (T) of substantially tubular shape, with an entry section (I) of the end (10) of the articles (1) to be treated and communicating with means for aspirating air in a programmable sequence, in which downstream of the section (I) a converging - diverging conduit (2) is provided downstream of which, at a predetermined distance, there is a pin member (3) on which the end (10) of the article is allowed to spontaneously fit by virtue of the suction and of the expansion or opening caused by its transit along the region (20) downstream of the conduit (2): the said body (T) being made up of two portions separable with respect to a central longitudinal plane (X - X) at least in correspondence of the above mentioned pin member (3) to allow the removal of the article (1) with its end (10) in stretched condition.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (T) is made up of two like parts which match, when in closed condition, in correspondence of the longitudinal plane of symmetry (X - X) and which result on opposite sides of the same plane (X - X) when the elastic (10) of the article (1) is in a stretched apart condition.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in correspondence of the entry section (I), means are provided for adjusting the advancement speed of the article (1) within the body (T) with a pair of calander rollers (4) associated to elastic means and intended to compress the fabric of the advancing article (1).
4. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that, in an intermediate position between the section (I) for the admission of the article (1) and the conduit (2), the body (T) exhibits a plurality of peripheral holes (5).
5. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that, in proximity of the section (S) associated to the suction means, the body (T) may advantageously exhibit a plurality of apertures or slits (6).
6. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises buffer means (7) movable from and to the pin (3) and acting on the fabric fitted thereon to compress it upon the stretching apart of the elastic, in order to ensure an even safer retention of the elastic (10) of article (1) onto the pin (3).
7. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said body (T) is associated to means for the mechanical removal of the articles (1) from a container.
8. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the article is a stocking.
9. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that the end (10) of the article (1) is in correspondence of the bodice or the toe.
10. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for feeding a toe - closer machine (MC).
11. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for feeding a line - closer machine for the assembly of pantyhose articles.

Images