GB1120090A - Apparatus for pneumatically turning tubular blanks, for example circular knitted ladies' stockings - Google Patents

Abstract

1,120,090. Turning inside out. FEINSTRUMPFWERKE ESDA VEB. 4 July, 1967, No. 30691/67. Heading D1X. Means for turning a tubular article inside out comprises an inner tube, an outer tube enclosing the inner tube for a portion of its length, suction tubes connected to the inner and outer tubes, flap means in all of said tubes for controlling the flow of air therethrough, said flap means being controllable via cables connected to levers actuated by driven cam means, means for temporarily clamping an article in the inner tube, and a guide member for the article axially adjustable within the outer tube at the discharge end thereof. A manifold 7 connects a number of circular knitting machines with one end of a pipe 11. The other end of the latter, to the length of an extended stocking, is enclosed by a coaxial tube 12. Tube 11 terminates adjacent an internally flared guide sleeve 17 axially adjustable within tube 12. Sleeve 17 communicates with a discharge tube 13. A vacuum pump 1 is connected by tubes 8, 9, 10' and associated suction heads 14, 14', 15 to the inlet end of tube 11, and by a tube 10 and suction head 16 to the end of tube 12 opposite sleeve 17. Screens 18, 19, 20, 21 prevent a stocking from entering tubes 8, 9, 10', 10. Air flow in tubes 8, 9, 10', 10, 13 is controlled by respective flaps 23, 25, 26, 27, 29. A flap 24 is positioned in tube 11 immediately downstream of suction head 14. A flap 28 is positioned in tube 11 downstream of suction head 14' at a distance equal to the length of a stocking. A photo-electric cell 30 is positioned between suction heads 14 and 14'. Suction head 14' contains an upwardly-pivotable slotted flap 47 and a downwardly-pivotable forked clamping member 48, the arms of which are adapted to pass through the slots of flap 47. Air inlet valves 49, 50 are provided in tube 11 immediately downstream and upstream of suction head 14' and flap 28 respectively. An inlet valve 51 is provided in suction head 16, and an inlet valve 52 is provided in tube 13 between sleeve 17 and flap 29. Flaps 23 to 29, flap 47 and the co-operating clamping member 48, and air inlet valves 49 to 52 are connected by cables 31 to 46 to levers 2 arranged to be oscillated by rotary cams 3 driven by a belt 4 from a motor 5. A stocking blank drawn into tube 11 via duct 7 influences photocell 30 to start motor 5. Flap 28 is thereby closed, while flap 25 remains closed and flaps 23 and 26 remain open. The blank thereby halts with its leading end adjacent suction head 15. Flaps 23, 24, 26 are then closed, while valve 50 is opened and flap 47 is raised. The trailing end of the blank then moves under flap 47, and member 48 descends to clamp the trailing end. Flap 25 is then closed, flaps 27, 28 and valve 48 are opened. The blank is thereby stretched, its leading end being located in the vicinity of flap 28. Member 48 is then raised to release the trailing end, flap 47 is lowered and valve 52 is opened. The blank then travels along tube 11 and the leading end, on emerging from tube 11, is turned on to the outer surface of the latter and travels rearwardly therealong to reverse the stocking upon tube 11. Flaps 27, 28 and valve 52 are then closed, while flaps 23, 26, 29 and valve 51 are opened, whereby the invented blank passes into duct 13.