EP2924159A1

EP2924159A1 - Apparatus and method for turning a sock

Info

Publication number: EP2924159A1
Application number: EP15156950.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mustafa Inli
Original assignee: Da Kong Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Da Kong Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2015-02-27
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: TW201536975A; CN104947407A

Abstract

A turning apparatus (2) includes a base (30), a press unit (20) disposed above the base (30), a drive unit (40) mounted on the base (30), a carrier unit (50) including a carrier member (53) driven to move upward and downward by a transmission member (44) of the drive unit (40), and two push-pull units (60, 70) respectively mounted on left and right sides of the carrier member (53). Each push-pull unit (60, 70) includes a pivot arm (61, 71) and a press roller (64, 74). The press rollers (64, 74) of the push-pull units (60, 70) are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and are movable between a press position, in which the press rollers (64, 74) are moved toward each other for pressing the sock (100) therebetween, and a non-press position, in which the press rollers (64, 74) are moved away from each other for releasing the sock (100) from being pressed. A method for turning the sock (100) is also disclosed.

Description

This invention relates to a hosiery knitting machine, more particularly to an apparatus and a method for turning a sock.
A conventional hosiery knitting machine uses a transfer device to transfer a sock with an open toe end from a knitting device to a stitching device, and uses a turning apparatus to turn the sock from a right side out to a wrong side out, so that after the toe end of the sock is closed by sewing, the right side out of the sock has an aesthetic appearance. An existing turning apparatus includes an insertion tube that is movable upward and downward. When the sock with the open toe end is conveyed to a position below the insertion tube, the insertion tube is then moved downward and inserted into the sock, after which the sock is sucked into the insertion tube to turn the sock wrong side out.
Although the aforesaid conventional hosiery knitting machine can achieve its purpose of turning the sock, a strong sucking force is necessary to suck the sock into the insertion tube and to smoothly turn the sock, so that not only is there a waste of resources, but also the turning operation of the sock may not be completed if there is insufficient sucking force. Hence, the operational efficiency may be affected.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a turning apparatus and a method for turning a sock that are capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to one aspect of this invention, a turning apparatus for installation on a hosiery knitting machine comprises a base, a press unit, a drive unit, a carrier unit and two push-pull units. The hosiery knitting machine includes a knitting device for knitting a sock that has an open toe end and an open foot insertion end opposite to the open toe end, a stitching device disposed on a side of the knitting device for closing the open toe end, and a transfer device for transferring the sock from the knitting device to the stitching device. The stitching device has a turning unit for turning a half part of the open toe end toward the other half part thereof, after which a needle is used to stitch together the half parts to close the open toe end of the sock.
The base is configured to be fixed to a bottom side of the stitching device. The press unit is disposed above the base and includes a fixed seat configured to be fixed to a top side of the stitching device and configured to extend upwardly therefrom, a receiving tube disposed in and movable relative to the fixed seat, a press ball disposed on an open bottom end of the receiving tube, a first drive assembly disposed in the receiving tube for driving upward and downward movement of the press ball, a first chamber cooperatively defined by the receiving tube and the first drive assembly for receiving the sock, a second chamber cooperatively defined by the receiving tube and the fixed seat, a second drive assembly for driving upward and downward movement of the receiving tube, and a first suction unit connected to the fixed seat and communicating with the first chamber. The press ball is movable relative to the receiving tube between an open position, in which the press ball is moved away from the open bottom end of the receiving tube, and a closed position, in which the press ball closes the open bottom end of the receiving tube.
The drive unit is mounted on the base and includes a first motor fixed to the base, a drive wheel rotatably mounted on the base and driven by the first motor to rotate, a driven wheel rotatably mounted on the base above the drive wheel, and a transmission member looped around the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The carrier unit includes a carrier member driven to move upward and downward by the transmission member. The two push-pull units are respectively mounted on left and right sides of the carrier member. Each of the push-pull units includes a pivot arm, a second motor fixed to the pivot arm, and a press roller driven by the second motor to rotate. The press rollers of the push-pull units are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and are movable between a press position, in which the press rollers are moved toward each other for pressing the sock therebetween, and a non-press position, in which the press rollers are moved away from each other for releasing the sock from being pressed.
According to another aspect of this invention, a method for turning a sock comprises the steps of preparing the hosiery knitting machine and the turning apparatus; transferring the open toe end of the sock from the knitting device to a bottom side of the turning unit by the transfer device; moving the receiving tube, the drive rod and the press ball of the press unit downward to enter the sock so that the sock is located on an outer surface of the receiving tube; moving the press rollers of the push-pull units to the press position so as to press the sock therebetween; rotating the press roller of one of the push-pull units in a counterclockwise direction and rotating the press roller of the other one of the push-pull units in a clockwise direction simultaneously to push the open toe end of the sock toward a top end of the receiving tube until the foot insertion end of the sock is located outside an open bottom end of the receiving tube; moving the press ball away from the open bottom end of the receiving tube, and activating the first suction unit so that a suction force is generated in the first chamber; rotating the press roller of the one of the push-pull units in a clockwise direction and rotating the press roller of the other one of the push-pull units in a counterclockwise direction to pull the sock toward the open bottom end of the receiving tube until the open foot insertion end of the sock is sucked into the first chamber; moving the receiving tube, the drive rod and the press ball upward and moving the press rollers downward after the sock is sucked into the first chamber with the open toe end thereof located outside the open bottom end of the receiving tube, the sock being turned with the wrong side out during this time; and moving the press ball to the closed position to close the open bottom end of the receiving tube, and transferring the open toe end of the sock to the turning unit using the transfer device so that the turning unit (121) can turn a half part (1012) of the open toe end (101) toward the other half part (1011) thereof, after which a needle (122) is used to stitch together the half parts (1011, 1012) so as to close the open toe end (101) of the sock (100).
The efficiency of the turning apparatus and the method of turning the sock according to the present invention resides in that, because the press rollers of the two push-pull units can be used to press and push/pull the sock with the open toe end, it is only necessary to use a small suction force to accomplish turning of the sock. Further, the success rate of turning the sock can be increased so as to enhance the operational efficiency. Moreover, the sock with the closed toe end can be automatically turned and removed, so that the operation efficiency of making the sock can be enhanced.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a hosiery knitting machine that incorporates a turning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view of the embodiment, illustrating a relation between a sleeve unit and a guide unit of the embodiment;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view of a press unit of the embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the press unit of the embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment, but without the press unit and the guide unit;
Fig. 6 is a partly exploded perspective view of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 illustrates press rollers of two push-pull units of the embodiment in a press position;
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating the press rollers in a non-press position;
Fig. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in a first turning of a sock according to a method of the embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in a second turning of the sock according to the method of the embodiment;
Fig. 11 illustrates an initial state of the embodiment, wherein the press rollers are in the non-press position and are disposed below an open bottom end of a receiving tube of the press unit;
Fig. 12 illustrates a sock with an open toe end being transferred to a position below the open bottom end of the receiving tube;
Fig. 13 illustrates the receiving tube, a drive unit, and the press ball of the press unit being moved down to enter into the sock via the open toe end of the sock;
Fig. 14 illustrates the press rollers pressing against the sock;
Fig. 15 illustrates how rotation of the press rollers in opposite directions can push the sock upward along the receiving tube;
Fig. 16 illustrates the press ball being moved down and away from the open bottom end of the receiving tube;
Fig. 17 illustrates how the sock is pulled down through reverse rotations of the press rollers until an open foot insertion end of the sock is sucked into the receiving tube via the open bottom end thereof, thereby turning the sock from the right side out to the wrong side out;
Fig. 18 shows the receiving tube, a first drive assembly and the press ball of the press unit being moved upward and the press rollers being moved downward after the open toe end of the sock is located externally of the open bottom end of the receiving tube;
Fig. 19 shows how the open toe end of the sock is closed by sewing;
Fig. 20 shows the receiving tube, the first drive assembly, and the press ball being moved downward toward a tubular sleeve of the sleeve unit after the open toe end of the sock is closed, after which the press ball is moved further downward to push a closed toe end of the sock against a top end of the tubular sleeve and the press rollers are moved to abut against the sock;
Fig. 21 shows how the sock is pulled down by the rotation of the press rollers in opposite directions to move the sock away from the receiving tube;
Fig. 22 shows how the sock is sleeved on the tubular sleeve through continuous rotation and downward movement of the press rollers;
Fig. 23 shows the press ball being moved upward to close the open bottom end of the receiving tube, and the press rollers being moved upward to push the sock upward until the closed toe end thereof is moved away from the top end of the tubular sleeve;
Fig. 24 shows the press ball being moved down again to press the sock against the top end of the tubular sleeve while the closed toe end of the sock is sucked into a guide tube of the guide unit;
Fig. 25 shows the press rollers being rotated and being moved downward to pull down the open foot insertion end of the sock toward a bottom end of the tubular sleeve, thereby turning the sock from the wrong side out to the right side out;
Fig. 26 shows the press ball being moved upward again to close the open bottom end of the receiving tube and away from the sock; and
Fig. 27 shows how the sock with the closed toe end being sucked into the guide tube.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, a turning apparatus (2) for turning a sock according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown to be incorporated in a hosiery knitting machine (1). The hosiery knitting machine (1) includes a knitting device (11) for knitting a tubular sock (100) which has an open toe end (101) (see Fig. 12) and an open foot insertion end (102) (see Fig. 12) opposite to the open toe end (101), a stitching device (12) disposed on a side of the knitting device (11) for closing the open toe end (101), and a transfer device (13) for transferring the sock (100) from the knitting device (11) to the stitching device (12) . The stitching device (12) has a turning unit (121) for turning a half part (1012) of the open toe end (101) toward the other half part (1011) thereof, after which a needle (122) is used to stitch together the half parts (1011, 1012) to close the open toe end (101) of the sock (100). Since the assembly and operation of the knitting device (11), the stitching device (12) and the transfer device (13) are known in the art, can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, and are not the main features of this invention, a detailed description thereof is dispensed herewith.
The sock (100), as shown in Fig. 12, further has a right side (103) and a wrong side (104).
With reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the turning apparatus (2) of this embodiment comprises a press unit (20), a base (30), a drive unit (40), a carrier unit (50), two push-pull units (60, 70), a sleeve unit (80) and a guide unit (90).
The press unit (20) includes a longitudinal fixed seat (21) configured to be fixed to a top side of the turning unit (121) and configured to extend upwardly therefrom, a receiving tube (22) disposed in and movable upward and downward relative to the fixed seat (21), a press ball (24) disposed on an open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), a first drive assembly (23) disposed in the receiving tube (22) for driving upward and downward movement of the press ball (24), a first chamber (25) cooperatively defined by the receiving tube (22) and the first drive assembly (23) for receiving the sock (100), a second chamber (26) cooperatively defined by the receiving tube (22) and the fixed seat (21), a second drive assembly (27) for driving upward and downward movement of the receiving tube (22), and a first suction unit (28) connected to the fixed seat (21) and communicating with the first chamber (25).
The first drive assembly (23) includes a fixed pipe (231) axially disposed in the receiving tube (22), a drive rod (232) axially disposed in the fixed pipe (231), a top plug (233) fixed to a top end of the drive rod (232) and movable within the fixed pipe (231), a bottom plug (234) fixed to a bottom end of the fixed pipe (231) for extension of the drive rod (232) therethrough to stabilize movement of the drive rod (232), an air cylinder (235) mounted on a top end of the fixed pipe (231), and an elastic member (236) sleeved on the drive rod (232) and limited between the top and bottom plugs (233, 234). The fixed pipe (231), the air cylinder (235) and the top plug (233) cooperatively define an air chamber (237). Abottomportionofthedriverod (232) extends through the bottom plug (234), and is connected to the press ball (24), so that the press ball (24) is movable along with the drive rod (232).
The elastic member (236) is configured as a compression spring in this embodiment.
When the air cylinder (235) is activated, compressed air enters the air chamber (237) and pushes the top plug (233) and the drive rod (232) to move downward, thereby compressing the elastic member (236) to store a restoring force. Through the restoring force of the elastic member (236), the top plug (233) and the drive rod (232) can be pushed upward to restore to their original position. The press ball (24) is movable upward and downward along with the drive rod (232). The press ball (24) is movable relative to the receiving tube (22) between an open position, in which the press ball (24) is moved away from the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), and a closed position, in which the press ball (24) is moved toward the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22) so as to close the same.
The second drive assembly (27) includes a partition ring (271) disposed between the receiving tube (22) and the fixed seat (21) to divide the second chamber (26) into a top receiving chamber (261) and a bottom receiving chamber (262), a top air cylinder (272) communicating with the top receiving chamber (261), and a bottom air cylinder (273) communicating with the bottom receiving chamber (262). When the top air cylinder (272) is activated, compressed air enters the top receiving chamber (261) to push the receiving tube (22) to move downward. When the bottom air cylinder (273) is activated, compressed air enters the bottom receiving chamber (262) to push the receiving tube (22) to move upward.
When the first suction unit (28) is activated, a suction force is generated in the first chamber (25).
With reference to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the base (30) is configured to be fixed to the stitching device (12), and is located on a bottom side of the press unit (20). That is, the press unit (20) is disposed above the base (30).
The drive unit (40) includes a first motor (41) fixed to a rear side of the base (30) in proximity to a bottom end thereof, a drive wheel (42) rotatably mounted on a front side of the base (30) and driven by the first motor (41) to rotate, a driven wheel (43) rotatably mounted on the front side of the base (30) and spacedly above the drive wheel (42), a transmission member (44) looped around the drive wheel (42) and the driven wheel (43), and a lock member (45) and a counterweight member (46) respectively fixed to left and right sides of the transmission member (44).
The transmission member (44) may be in the form of a belt or a chain. In this embodiment, the transmission member (44) is in the form of a belt.
The carrier unit (50) includes a guide rail (51) fixed to the front side of the base (30) and extending along the length thereof, a slide member (52) slidably disposed on the guide rail (51), and a carrier member (53) fixedly connected to the slide member (52).
The carrier member (53) is further connected to the lock member (45), so that the carrier member (53) can move upward and downward along with the transmission member (44) and can drive the slide member (52) to slide along the guide rail (51). The counterweight member (46) can produce a gravitational balancing effect during rotation of the transmission member (44).
The push-pull units (60, 70) are respectively mounted on left and right sides of the carrier unit (50). Each of the push-pull units (60, 70) includes a pivot arm (61, 71) disposed on a front side of the carrier member (53), a second motor (62, 72) fixed to a rear side of the pivot arm (61, 71), a transmission tube (63, 73) mounted on a front side of the pivot arm (61, 71) and driven by the second motor (62, 72) to rotate, a press roller (64, 74) sleeved on and driven by the transmission tube (63, 73) to rotate therealong, a bottom shaft (65, 75) disposed between the pivot arm (61, 71) and the carrier member (53), and a swing drive assembly (66, 76) to drive pivoting movement of the pivot arm (61, 71) about the bottom shaft (65, 75).
The swing drive assembly (66, 76) includes at least one cam member (661, 761) fixed to a side surface of the base (30), a link arm (662, 762) mounted on the rear side of the pivot arm (61, 71) and extending in a front-rear direction, and a roller (663, 763) rotatably mounted on a rear side of the link arm (662, 762) and rollable on the cam member (661, 761) . In this embodiment, two cam members (661, 761) are illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The pivot arm (61, 71), the link arm (662, 762) and the roller (663, 763) are positioned and fixed to each other using a fastening bolt (664). When the roller (663, 763) is rolled on the cam member (661, 761), a top portion of the pivot arm (61, 71) is driven to pivot outward, as shown in Fig. 8. When the roller (663, 763) is rolled away from the cam member (661, 761), the top portion of the pivot arm (61, 71) is driven to pivot inward, as shown in Fig. 7.
In this embodiment, the press rollers (64, 74) of the push-pull units (60, 70) are respectively bonded to the transmission tubes (63, 73) thereof, so that the press rollers (64, 74) can be driven by the transmission tubes (63, 73) to rotate therealong. However, the use of threaded connection may also produce the aforesaid effect.
This embodiment further comprises an elasticmember (600) disposed between the link arms (662, 762) of the swing drive assemblies (66, 76) of the push-pull units (60, 70) to bias the pivot arms (61, 71) to pivot inwardly toward each other. The elastic member (600) in this embodiment is a compression spring.
It is worth mentioning that, because the second motors (62, 72) of the push-pull units (60, 70) of this embodiment rotate in opposite directions simultaneously, the press rollers (64, 74) also rotate in opposite directions simultaneously. That is, when the second motor (62) at the left side of the carrier unit (50) rotates clockwise, the second motor (72) at the right side of the carrier unit (50) rotates counterclockwise; and when the second motor (62) at the left side of the carrier unit (50) rotates counterclockwise, the second motor (72) at the right side of the carrier unit (50) rotates clockwise. Through this configuration, the sock (100) can be pushed upward and pulled downward. Further, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, through the swing drive assemblies (66, 76) of the push-pull units (60, 70) and the elastic member (600), the press rollers (64, 74) are movable between a press position, in which the press rollers (64, 74) are pivoted toward each other to press the sock (100) therebetween, and a non-press position, in which the press rollers (64, 74) are pivoted away from each other to release the sock (100) from being pressed.
When the transmission member (44) rotates clockwise, the lock member (45) moves downward, bringing along the carrier member (53) and the two push-pull units (60, 70) to move downward. When the transmission member (44) rotates counterclockwise, the lock member (45) moves upward, bringing along the carrier member (53) and the two push-pull units (60, 70) to move upward. Through the guide rail (51) and the slide member (52), the lock member (45), the carrier member (53) and the two push-pull units (60, 70) can move upward and downward smoothly.
The sleeve unit (80) includes a bottom seat (81) fixed to a bottom portion of the base (30) and extending forwardly therefrom, a tubular seat (82) fixed to a top side of the bottom seat (81), and an elongated tubular sleeve (83) having a bottom end axially inserted into the tubular seat (82). Alternatively, the tubular seat (82) may be dispensed herewith, and the tubular sleeve (83) may be directly fixed to the bottom seat (81).
With reference to Fig. 2, the guide unit (90) includes a guide tube (91) disposed on a top side of the tubular sleeve (83), and a second suction unit (92) connected to the guide tube (91) so that a suction force is generated in the guide tube (91).
Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, a method for turning the sock (100) according to the embodiment of this invention comprises a first turning of the sock and a second turning of the sock. In the first turning of the sock, the sock (100) is turned with the wrong side (104) out. In the second turning of the sock, the sock (100) is turned with the right side (103) out. The first turning includes steps S101∼S109, while the second turning includes steps S201∼S209. The steps of the first turning and the second turning of the sock (100, 100) will be described hereinbelow, in combination with Figs. 1 to 8 and 11 to 27.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 9, in step S101, the hosiery knitting machine (1) is first prepared. The hosiery knitting machine (1) includes the knitting device (11), the stitching device (12), the transfer device (13) and the turning apparatus (2) of this invention.
In an initial state, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the press ball (24) is in the closed position to close the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), and the press rollers (64, 74) are in the non-press position and are spacedly located on the left and right sides of the press ball (24). Further, a bottom portion the receiving tube (22) and the press ball (24) are located externally of the fixed seat (21).
In step S102, with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 9 and 12, the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) is transferred by the transfer device (13) from the knitting device (11) to a bottom side of the turning unit (121) of the stitching device (12), more particularly to a position below the receiving tube (22).
In step S103, with reference to Figs. 4, 9 and 13, the top air cylinder (272) is activated to permit compressed air to enter the top receiving chamber (261) so as to push the receiving tube (22) along with the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) to move downward and enter the sock (100) via the open toe end (101) so that the sock (100) is sleeved on an outer surface of the receiving tube (22) . At this time, the press rollers (64, 74) are still in the non-press position.
In step S104, with reference to Figs. 9 and 14, the press rollers (64, 74) are moved from the non-press position to the press position so as to press the sock (100) therebetween.
In step S105, with reference to Figs. 9 and 15, the second motor (62) is activated to rotate the press roller (64) in a counterclockwise direction, and the second motor (72) is activated to rotate the press roller (74) in a clockwise direction simultaneously, so that the sock (100) can be pushed upward until the open foot insertion end (102) of the sock (100) is located outside the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22).
In step S106, with reference to Figs. 9 and 16, the air cylinder (235) is activated to permit compressed air to enter the air chamber (237) (see Fig. 4) and push the top plug (233) and the drive rod (232) to move downward until the press ball (24) is moved away from the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22) toward a top end of the tubular sleeve (83) . Further, the first suction unit (28) (see Fig. 4) is activated so that a suction force is generated in the first chamber (25).
In step S107, with reference to Figs. 9 and 17, the press rollers (64, 74) are actuated to rotate in reverse directions, that is, the press roller (64) is rotated in a clockwise direction, while the press roller (74) is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Through this, the sock (100) is pulled downward by the press rollers (64, 74) until the open foot insertion end (102) thereof is sucked into the first chamber (25).
In step S108, with reference to Figs. 9 and 18, the sock (100) is sucked into the first chamber (25) until the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) is located outside the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22) . The sock (100) is turned with the wrong side (104) out during this time. The receiving tube (22), the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) are then moved upward with the press ball (24) in the open position. Further, the press rollers (64, 74) are moved downward toward the top end of the tubular sleeve (83).
In step S109, with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 9 and 19, the air cylinder (235) is deactivated so that the press ball (24) can be moved from the open position to the closed position through the restoring force of the elastic member (236) (see Fig. 4), after which the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) is transferred by the transfer device (13) to the turning unit (121). The turning unit (121) then turns a half part (1012) of the open toe end (101) toward the other half part (1011) thereof, after which the needle (122) is used to stitch together the half parts (1011, 1012), so that the sock (100) now has a closed toe end (101') (see Fig. 20). At this time, the press ball (24) is located inside the closed toe end (101').
In step S201, with reference to Figs. 10 and 20, the air cylinder (235) is again activated to move the receiving tube (22), the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) downward. The press ball (24) is further moved downward to press the closed toe end (101') of the sock (100) against the top end of the tubular sleeve (83). Simultaneously, the press rollers (64, 74) are moved to abut against the press ball (24) while pressing against the wrong side (104) of the sock (100).
In step S202, with reference to Figs. 10 and 21, the press roller (64) is actuated to rotate clockwise, while the press roller (74) is actuated to rotate counterclockwise simultaneously so as to pull the sock (100) downward until the open foot insertion end (102) thereof is moved out of the first chamber (25) and the sock (100) is separated from the receiving tube (22).
In step S203, with reference to Figs. 10 and 22, the press rollers (64, 74) are moved downward while rotating so as to quickly pull the sock (100) downward toward a bottom end of the tubular sleeve (83) and so as to sleeve the sock (100) on an outer surface of the tubular sleeve (83). At this time, only the open foot insertion end (102) of the sock (100) is wrong side (104) out, the rest of the sock (100) is already right side (103) out. Further, the press rollers (64, 74) are still pressed against the open foot insertion end (102).
In step S204, with reference to Figs. 10 and 23, the air cylinder (235) is deactivated so as to move the press ball (24) to the closed position to close the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), after which the press rollers (64, 74) are moved upward without rotating so as to quickly push the sock (100) upward until the closed toe end (101') is moved away from the top end of the tubular sleeve (83).
In step S205, with reference to Figs. 10 and 24, the air cylinder (235) is again activated to push the press ball (24) down to the top end of the tubular sleeve (83) so as to press the sock (100) against the top end of the tubular sleeve (83). Simultaneously, the second suction unit (92) (see Fig. 2) is activated so as to suck the closed toe end (101') into the guide tube (91).
In step S206, with reference to Figs. 10 and 25, the press roller (64) is actuated to rotate clockwise, while the press roller (74) is actuated to rotate counterclockwise. Simultaneously, thepressrollers (64, 74) are moved downward while rotating so as to pull down the open foot insertion end (102) toward the bottom end of the tubular sleeve (83), thereby turning the open foot insertion end (102) from the wrong side (104) out to the right side (103) out.
In step S207, with reference to Figs. 10 and 26, the air cylinder (235) is deactivated so as to move the press ball (24) away from the tubular sleeve (83) to the closed position to close the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), thereby releasing the sock (100) from being pressed against the top end of the tubular sleeve (83).
In step S208, with reference to Figs. 10 and 27, the press rollers (64, 74) are moved upward without rotating, and in coordination with the sucking force generated in the guide tube (91) that sucks the closed toe end (101') of the sock (100), the sock (100) can be quickly pushed upward until the open foot insertion end (102) thereof is separated from the tubular sleeve (83) . Hence, the sock (100) with the closed toe end (101') is sucked into the guide tube (91) and is delivered to a collection box (not shown).
From the aforesaid description, it is apparent that through the pressing, pushing and pulling of the press rollers (64, 74) against the sock (100), only a small sucking force is necessary to accomplish the turning operation. Further, the success rate of turning the sock (100) can be increased so as to enhance the operational efficiency. Further, the sock (100) with the closed toe end (101') can be automatically turned and removed, so that the operation efficiency of making the sock (100) can be enhanced.

Claims

A turning apparatus (2) for installation on a hosiery knitting machine (1), the hosiery knitting machine (1) including a knitting device (11) for knitting a sock (100) that has an open toe end (101) and an open foot insertion end (102) opposite to the open toe end (101), a stitching device (12) disposed on a side of the knitting device (11) for closing the open toe end (101), and a transfer device (13) for transferring the sock (100) from the knitting device (11) to the stitching device (12), the stitching device (12) having a turning unit (121) for turning a half part (1012) of the open toe end (101) toward the other half part (1011) thereof, after which a needle (122) is used to stitch together the half parts (1011, 1012) to close the open toe end (101) of the sock (100), said turning apparatus (2) comprising:
a base (30) configured to be fixed to a bottom side of the stitching device (12);

a press unit (20) disposed above said base (30) and including a fixed seat (21) configured to be fixed to a top side of the stitching device (12) and configured to extend upwardly therefrom, a receiving tube (22) disposed in and movable relative to said fixed seat (21), a press ball (24) disposed on an open bottom end (221) of said receiving tube (22), a first drive assembly (23) disposed in said receiving tube (22) for driving upward and downward movement of said press ball (24), a first chamber (25) cooperatively defined by said receiving tube (22) and said first drive assembly (23) for receiving the sock (100), a second chamber (26) cooperatively defined by said receiving tube (22) and said fixed seat (21), a second drive assembly (27) for driving upward and downward movement of said receiving tube (22), and a first suction unit (28) connected to said fixed seat (21) and communicating with said first chamber (25), said press ball (24) being movable relative to said receiving tube (22) between an open position, in which said press ball (24) is moved away from said open bottom end (221) of said receiving tube, and a closed position, in which said press ball (24) closes said open bottom end (221) of said receiving tube (22);

a drive unit (40) mounted on said base (30) and including a first motor (41) fixed to said base (30), a drive wheel (42) rotatably mounted on said base (30) and driven by said first motor (41) to rotate, a driven wheel (43) rotatably mounted on said base (30) above said drive wheel (42), and a transmission member (44) looped around said drive wheel (42) and said driven wheel (43);

a carrier unit (50) including a carrier member (53) driven to move upward and downward by said transmission member (44); and

two push-pull units (60, 70) respectively mounted on left and right sides of said carrier member (53), each of said push-pull units (60, 70) including a pivot arm (61, 71), a second motor (62, 72) fixed to said pivot arm (61, 71), and a press roller (64, 74) driven by said second motor (62, 72) to rotate, said press rollers (64, 74) of said push-pull units (60, 70) being simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and being movable between a press position, in which said press rollers (64, 74) are moved toward each other for pressing the sock (100) therebetween, and a non-press position, in which said press rollers (64, 74) are moved away from each other for releasing the sock (100) from being pressed.
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 1, further comprising a sleeve unit (80) which includes a bottom seat (81) fixed to and extending forwardly from said base (30), and a tubular sleeve (83) fixed to and extending upwardly from said bottom seat (81).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 1, further comprising a guide unit (90) which includes a guide tube (91) disposed on a top side of said tubular sleeve (83), and a second suction unit (92) connected to said guide tube (91) so that a suction force is generated in said guide tube (91).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said first drive assembly (23) includes a fixed pipe (231) disposed in said receiving tube (22), a drive rod (232) axially disposed in said fixed pipe (231), a top plug (233) fixed to a top end of said drive rod (232) and movable within said fixed pipe (231), a bottom plug (234) fixed to a bottom end of said fixed pipe (231) for extension of said drive rod (232) therethrough, an air cylinder (235) mounted on a top end of said fixed pipe (231), and an elastic member (236) sleeved on said drive rod (232) and limited between said top and bottom plugs (233, 234), and wherein said fixed pipe (231), said air cylinder (235) and said top plug (233) cooperatively define an air chamber (237), a bottom portion of said drive rod (232) extending through said bottom plug (234) and being connected to said press ball (24).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 4, wherein said second drive assembly (27) includes a partition ring (271) disposed between said receiving tube (22) and said fixed seat (21) to divide said second chamber (26) into a top receiving chamber (261) and a bottom receiving chamber (262), a top air cylinder (272) communicating with said top receiving chamber (261), and a bottom air cylinder (273) communicating with said bottom receiving chamber (262).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 5, wherein said drive unit (40) further includes a lock member (45) and a counterweight member (46) respectively fixed to left and right sides of said transmission member (44).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 6, wherein said carrier unit (50) further includes a guide rail (51) fixed to and extending along the length of said base (30), and a slide member (52) slidably disposed on said guide rail (51) and connected to said carrier member (53).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 1, wherein each of said push-pull units (60, 70) further includes a transmission tube (63, 73) mounted on said pivot arm (61, 71) and driven by said second motor (62, 72) to rotate, a bottom shaft (65, 75) disposed between said pivot arm (61, 71) and said carrier member (53), and a swing drive assembly (66, 76) disposed between said pivot arm (61, 71) and said base (30) to drive pivoting movement of said pivot arm (61, 71) about said bottom shaft (65, 75), said press roller (64, 74) being sleeved on and being driven by said transmission tube (63, 74) to rotate therealong.
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 8, wherein said swing drive assembly (66, 76) includes at least one cam member (661, 761) fixed to a side surface of said base (30), a link arm (662, 762) mounted on a rear side of said pivot arm (61, 71), and a roller (663, 763) rotatably mounted on a rear side of said link arm (662, 762) and rollable on said cam member (661, 761).
The turning apparatus (2) according to Claim 9, further comprising an elastic member (600) disposed between said link arms (662, 762) of said swing drive assemblies (66, 76) of said push-pull units (60, 70) to bias said pivot arms (61, 71) to pivot inwardly toward each other.
A method for turning a sock (100), comprising the steps of:
(A) preparing the hosiery knitting machine (1) and the turning apparatus (2) as recited in Claim 1;

(B) transferring the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) from the knitting device (11) to a bottom side of the turning unit (121) by the transfer device (13);

(C) moving the receiving tube (22), the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) of the press unit (20) downward to enter the sock (100) so that the sock (100) is sleeved on an outer surface of the receiving tube (22);

(D) moving the press rollers (64, 74) of the push-pull units (60, 70) to the press position so as to press the sock (100) therebetween;

(E) rotating the press roller (64) of one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a counterclockwise direction and rotating the press roller (74) of the other one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a clockwise direction simultaneously to push the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) toward a top end of the receiving tube (22) until the foot insertion end (102) of the sock (100) is located outside an open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22);

(F) moving the press ball (24) away from the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), and activating the first suction unit (28) so that a suction force is generated in the first chamber (25);

(G) rotating the press roller (64) of the one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a clockwise direction and rotating the press roller (74) of the other one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a counterclockwise direction to pull the sock (100) downward until the open foot insertion end (102) of the sock (100) is sucked into the first chamber (25);

(H) moving the receiving tube (22), the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) upward and moving the press rollers (64, 74) downward after the sock (100) is sucked into the first chamber (25) with the open toe end (101) thereof located outside the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), the sock (100) beingturnedwiththewrongside (104) out during this time; and

(I) moving the press ball (24) to the closed position to close the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22), and transferring the open toe end (101) of the sock (100) to the turning unit (121) using the transfer device (13) so that the turning unit (121) can turn a half part (1012) of the open toe end (101) toward the other half part (1011) thereof, after which a needle (122) is used to stitch together the half parts (1011, 1012) so as to close the open toe end (101) of the sock (100).
The method of Claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
(J) moving the receiving tube (22), the first drive assembly (23) and the press ball (24) downward, and further moving the press ball (24) down to a top end of a tubular sleeve (83) of a sleeve unit (80) of the turning apparatus (2) so as to press a closed toe end (101') of the sock (100) against the top end of the tubular sleeve (83), and simultaneously moving the press rollers (64, 74) toward each other to press against the wrong side (104) of the sock (100);

(K) rotating the press roller (64, 74) of the one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a clockwise direction and rotating the press roller (64, 74) of the other one of the push-pull units (60, 70) in a counterclockwise direction to pull down the sock (100) toward a bottom end of the tubular sleeve (83) until the open foot insertion end (102) is moved out of the first chamber (25) and the sock (100) is separated from the receiving tube (22);

(L) moving the press rollers (64, 74) downward while rotating to pull the sock (100) downward toward a bottom end of the tubular sleeve (83) so that the sock (100) is sleeved on an outer surface of the tubular sleeve (83);

(M) moving the press ball (24) to the closed position to close the open bottom end (221) of the receiving tube (22) and moving the press rollers (64, 74) upward to push the sock (100) toward the top end of the tubular sleeve (83) so as to move the closed toe end (101') of the sock (100) away from the top end of the tubular sleeve (83);

(N) moving the press ball (24) down to the top end of the tubular sleeve (83) so as to press the sock (100) against the top end of the tubular sleeve (83);

(O) moving the press rollers (64, 74) downward while rotating to pull down the open foot insertion end (102) of the sock (100) toward the bottom end of the tubular sleeve (83), the sock (100) being turned with the right side (103) out during this time;

(P) moving upward the press ball (24) to the closed position and away from the tubular sleeve (83) to release the sock (100) from being pressed; and

(Q) moving the press rollers (64, 74) upward to push the sock (100) toward the top end of the tubular sleeve (83) until the open foot insertion end (102) is separated from the tubular sleeve (83).