GB1250836A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,250,836. Folding stockings. A. STOSSL. 10 April, 1969 [11 April, 1968], No. 18515/69. Heading B8C. Stockings are folded by winding about the prongs 8 of a rotated fork to between which, when stationary in a vertical plane, the stockings are extended on a table 1 in a horizontal plane, across a table cut-out 5 through which the fork rotates. The table 1 is displaceable, about a vertical axis 2, from a position 1<SP>11</SP> where it is manually loaded with the stockings from a conveyer 3, to the winding position 1<SP>1</SP> wherein it is retained by a sprung pawl 4. To accommodate different widths of folded stockings, the prongs of the fork may be adjustably spaced apart, or the fork may be replaceably mounted on a shaft 9 whereby it is rotated by a motor 23, the drive whereof is initiated from a switch 24 and is controlled for a predetermined winding time and to halt the fork with the prongs in a horizontal plane for unloading of the folded stockings. During winding, the stockings are urged against the prongs 8 by a pair of vertically spaced jaws 10 which are resiliently loaded, to follow the changing spacing therebetween, by springs 17 acting about pivots 19 of the jaws 10 on arms 12 which are urged together by a spring 15 and are pivotally mounted to a sleeve 14. The jaws 10 are retracted from the prongs 8, to permit removal of the folded stockings, via a lever mechanism 20 actuated by a foot pedal 21, the jaws 10 optionally being spaced apart from the stockings in the horizontal position of the prongs 8 by cam projections provided on the shaft 9 at the junction thereof with the prongs 8. The prongs are returned to their vertical alignment, permitting displacement of the table 1, by a rotating shaft 9 via a ratchet 26 operated from a foot pedal 28. The wound stockings may be laid between two layers of plastics foil drawn from a reel 30 by a roller 29, the drive whereof is photo-electrically initiated when the stockings are placed thereon and wherefrom a conveyer 31 leads to a package welding device. Alternatively, the stockings may be removed from the prongs 8 within a bag, an open end whereof is pulled over the jaws 10 before they are retracted, the open end of the bag subsequently being closed by welding or pasting.