EP1203839A1

EP1203839A1 - Method and apparatus for the orientation of tubular products such as hosiery articles and similar textile products

Info

Publication number: EP1203839A1
Application number: EP01830659A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pier Lorenzo Migliorini
Original assignee: Macchine Tessili Circolari MATEC SpA
Current assignee: Macchine Tessili Circolari MATEC SpA
Priority date: 2000-10-23
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2002-05-08
Also published as: ITFI20000216A1; IT1314987B1

Abstract

Apparatus for the orientation of tubular products (2) having a portion provided with elastic band (20), comprising a plurality of rollers (1a; 1b) on which said portion with elastic band (20) is to be fitted, the said rollers (1a; 1b) being disposed on two opposite fronts with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry (L-L) and being associated with corresponding actuators (3a; 3b) which drive them into rotation about respective longitudinal axes, characterized in that at least one of said rollers is motor-driven; that said rollers (1a; 1b) are mounted on corresponding supports (5a; 5b); that at least one of them is movable to and from said plane (L-L); and that the said rollers (1a; 1b) are inside a conduit defined by said supports (5a; 5b).

Description

The present invention refers to a method and an apparatus for the orientation of tubular products such as hosiery articles and similar textile products.
Stockings are known to be manufactured by using tubular elements which are open in correspondence of both ends, one of which is intended to form the toe after the closing thereof by a suitable sewing operation. The other end being possibly worked so as to result either considerably more elastic and of greater thickness or consistency, and to define therefore a so-called "elastic band", or to have the same consistency. Before sewing the toe, it is necessary to locate either the band or, in any case, the end opposite to the foot, suitably oriented with respect to the foot end. An improper mutual orientation of these two portions of the stocking would bring about an imperfect seam and the impossibility to wear the article.
The present invention therefore provides for allowing, in a simple and efficient manner, the most correct orientation of tubular articles, such as those used in the manufacturing of stockings and socks. This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by providing an operating process and an apparatus having the characteristics indicated in the independent claims. Further characteristics being set forth in the dependent claims.
The present invention makes it possible to correctly orient the product's portion opposite to the toe or foot, by using the same apparatus allowing the positioning thereof in a condition useful for operating said orientation. Moreover, the same apparatus allows the product to be placed in a condition allowing the removal and transfer thereof to a separate station for such a treatment as, for example, the turning inside-out thereof onto tubes of a toe-closing machine or the transfer thereof onto the shapes of an ironing machine. Moreover, an apparatus according to the invention is relatively easy to make, cost-effective, reliable even after a prolonged service life, and takes up only one operating station.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, in which the elastic band of one stocking is shown in opening or stretching apart condition;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in a working step for the cooperation with a tube of a toe-closing machine;
Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram relating to a feasible embodiment of the means which control the various operations.

Reduced to its basic structure, and reference being made to the figures and the attached drawings, an apparatus according to the invention comprises a plurality of rollers (1a, 1b) parallel to each other and onto which the elastic band (20) of a stocking (2), that is, the portion opposite to the foot thereof, can be positioned, that is, fitted. The said rollers (1a; 1b) are in number of four, in the example shown in the figures of the attached drawings, and are disposed like the vertexes of a quadrilateral. Each pair of vertically aligned rollers (1a, 1b) is associated with a corresponding electrical motor (3a, 3b), so that each motor (3a, 3b) drives into rotation a corresponding pair of rollers. The axes (10a; 10b)) of said rollers (1a, 1b) are connected to the shaft of the respective motor (3a; 3b) by a belt (4a; 4b).
Advantageously, each pair (or, more generally, each group) of vertically aligned rollers (1a; 1b) is mounted, with the respective motor (3a; 3b), on a support (5) allowing each pair of rollers to be moved close (AV) to or away from (AL) each other.
For example, the said support (5) may be provided in two parts (5a, 3b), complementary to a longitudinal plane of symmetry (L-L), which define a conduit (I) for the introduction therein of the products to be worked, and inside said conduit there is provided a substantially cylindrical pin (6) longitudinally developed along an axis lying on said plane (L-L). Designated by (A) is a section of the conduit connectable to an aspirator (not shown).
The said pin (6) is also in two complementary parts (6a; 6b), each of which is solid to, and inside a corresponding semi-conduit (5a, 5b).
Such a conduit formed into two symmetrically complementary parts is described in the document (IT) FI97A135 to which reference may be made for further details.
According to the invention, and reference being made to the example shown in the drawings, each semi-pin (6a, 6b) is associated with a corresponding pair of vertically aligned rollers (1a, 1b).
More in particular, as shown in the examples of Figs. 1-3, each pair of rollers (1a, 1b) is in correspondence of the external side of each semi-pin (6a, 6b), that is, in correspondence of the side opposite to said plane (L-L).
The moving of the two semi-conduits closer to, and away from each other, together with the respective semi-pins, is achieved by means of an actuator (50) (shown schematically only in Fig. 4) acting on the outer surface of one of the two semi-conduits, the other semi-conduit being solid to a stationary structure (not shown).
The present apparatus also comprises an optical detector (7) (for example, a photocell) whose optical axis lies, for example, on said plane (L-L). The said detector (7) is intended to sense the presence of a mark provided on the band (20), that is, on the part opposite to the product's toe (2). The said mark may consist, for example, of a thread having colour and consistency other than those used for knitting the product.
Also provided advantageously are two buffers (8a, 8b), each of which is associated with a corresponding actuator (80a, 80b). Each of said actuators (80a, 80b) is solid to a corresponding semi-conduit (5a, 5b) and drives the corresponding semi-pin (6a, 6b) for blocking the product and for releasing it, as described below. Each of said buffers is mounted on the free end of the rod of the respective actuator, and each of said semi-conduits has an opening in order to receive the relevant buffer and provide for a passage of the corresponding rod. Provided upstream and downstream of each buffer (8a, 8b) is a corresponding optical sensor (81a, 81b) having the respective optical axis oriented towards a corresponding semi-pin (6a, 6b) in order to verify whether the product is fitted onto the same semi-pins and, thereby, onto the rollers (1a, 1b).
Also advantageously, provision may be made for the presence of other two optical sensors (82a, 82b), located downstream of those previously mentioned, in order to check for the presence of the product's leg at a location further downstream.
The control of said actuators and electrical motors, as well as the reading of signals from the sensor (7) are performed by a programmable electronic unit (UE) in a fashion known per se to those skilled in industrial automation. (Fig. 4).
Described herebelow is the operation of the above mentioned apparatus, reference being made to its use when feeding the tubes of a toe-closing machine located immediately downstream of the same apparatus.
The product (2) is aspirated into the conduit formed by the elements (5a, 5b) moved closely to each other, with the portion of the band (20) facing forward. The latter, therefore, fits onto the pin (6) and rollers (1a, 1b). Afterwards, the sensors (81a, 81b) check for the presence of the product fitted onto the pin (6) and rollers (1a, 1b), and the unit (E) starts the actuators (80a, 80b) which move the buffers (8a, 8b) onto the product by engaging the latter with the pin (6) and rollers (1a, 1b). Subsequently, the portion of the toe is suitably aspirated into the mouth (TB) of a tube T) of the toe-closing machine. Then, the semi-conduits (5a, 5b), along with relevant pins (6a, 6b) and pairs of rollers (1a, 1b), are driven away (AL), thereby causing the elastic band (20) to open or stretch apart. At this point, the unit (E) drives the buffers (8a, 8b) backwards, and the rollers (1a, 1b) into a concordant rotation with clockwise and anticlockwise direction, by activating the respective motors (3a, 3b) until the mark on the band (20) is intercepted by the optical axis of the detector (7). When this interception takes place, the motors (3a, 3b) come to a stop and, accordingly, the band (20) is also stopped being oriented as desired, that is, with the mark lined up with the sensor (7) or, anyway, being disposed in a preset portion. Alternatively, instead of stopping the motors (3a, 3b) immediately, a delayed stop may be programmed to dispose said mark not in correspondence of the sensor (7), but at a predetermined distance therefrom. With the band (20) thus oriented, the product (2) can be unloaded, that is, turned inside-out onto the tube (T), while the toe portion is kept by suction inside the mouth (TB) of the same tube with the use of any suitable discharge and overturning mechanism such as, for example, the mechanism described in document (IT) FI97A135 previously mentioned; the latter provides for a carriage movable parallel to said plane (L-L) and equipped with hooks for the engagement of the free edge of the band (20) fitted onto the rollers (1a; 1b) in stretched apart condition (AL), in order to turn the product (2) inside-out onto the tube (T) by moving the carriage, with the hooks engaging the free edge of the elastic band, along the axis of the tube (T) until the band is released from the carriage.
To supply the tube (5) with products being oriented with the portion of their band forward, use can be made, for example, of a toe-elastic band or hem feeding and orienting mechanism of a type disclosed in document US 5884822.
The said tube (T) is of a conventional type used in the toe-closing machines. The steps following those for turning inside-out the product (2) are those typical for sewing the toe and, accordingly, will not be described in greater detail. Toe-closing machines are described in documents US 5014634, US 5272993 and US 4020775.
The assembly of the rollers (1a, 1b) on the corresponding supports able to be mutually moved cles to or away from each other, and which define a conduit into which the product in the course of formation is to be taken in by suction, allows the products (2) to be fitted more easily onto the rollers, by disposing the supports in close position, and allows also the band (20) to be properly oriented with the supports located further away from each other.
The present invention provides for the presence of at least one roller (1a, 1b) of suitable diameter in correspondence of each of said semi-pins (6a, 6b), that is, for each of the two parts (5a, 5b) of support (5). At most, provision may be made for only one motor-driven roller on one of the semi-pins, and for an idle roller (driven into rotation by the friction exerted by the sticking material when the motor-driven roller is in rotation) on the other. Otherwise, only one motor-driven roller may be provided in correspondence of one of said semi-pins, by exploiting the surface of the other semi-pin as a sliding surface for the product being driven into rotation by the motor-driven roller.

Claims

Apparatus for the orientation of tubular products (2) having a portion provided with elastic band (20), comprising a plurality of rollers (1a; 1b) on which said portion with elastic band (20) is to be fitted, the said rollers (1a; 1b) being disposed on two opposite fronts with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry (L-L) and being associated with corresponding actuators (3a; 3b) which drive them into rotation about respective longitudinal axes, characterized in that at least one of said rollers is motor-driven; that said rollers (1a; 1b) are mounted on corresponding supports (5a; 5b); that at least one of them is movable to and from said plane (L-L); and that the said rollers (1a; 1b) are inside a conduit defined by said supports (5a; 5b).
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said rollers (1a; 1b) are in number of four, disposed like the vertexes of a quadrilateral and formed into pairs of rollers vertically aligned in correspondence of each of said supports (5a, 5b) so that each of these supports a correspondent pair of vertically aligned rollers.
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said supports (5a; 5b) are made up of two elements symmetrically disposed with respect to said plane (L-L) and which complement each other to form a conduit into which the product's portion is aspirated, with the band (20) and a substantially cylindrical pin (6) in two corresponding parts (6a; 6b): the said rollers (1a; 1b) being located in correspondence of said semi-pins (6a; 6b), that is, on the sides of the latter opposite to said plane (L-L).
Method of orienting tubular products (2) with elastic band (20), comprising the step of rotating said band until a mark associated to said band results disposed at a preset position by rotating one or more rollers (1a; 1b) on which the elastic band (20) is fitted, characterized in that the fitting of said band (20) onto said rollers (1a; 1b) is operated by pneumatically aspirating the same into a conduit which receive the rollers (1a; 1b), the said rollers being at a closer position during the said fitting step, and further away from each other upon said step for the positioning of the mark associated to the band (20).