GB2104564A - Inspection, stretching and fixing machine for hosiery articles of the pantie hose or tights kind - Google Patents

Abstract

A turntable structure carries a plurality of stretching forms 101 cyclically between a mounting station (A) and an extraction station (G); in the mounting station, an assembly comprises: raisable and lowerable chain-driven carriage means 57 provided with arms 70 which can pivot between an inner position and an outer position; appendices 72A, 72B, 74A, 74B, Fig. 21 , provided at the free ends of the arms 70 and arranged to engage the edge of the waist portion of a hosiery article and to open it out as they move into their inner position, in which said appendices present the hosiery article above the pair of forms 101 which lie in the mounting position; and means for controlling the pivotal movements of the arms 70 and the lowering of said carriage means 57 in order to mount the hosiery article on to the forms 101. Preliminary inspection forms 82 upon which each is mounted manually may be provided. Inspection of both sides of each article is carried out either with the aid of a mirror panel or by rotating the form 82. The article is stripped from the forms 82 by the appendices 72B, 74B riding in channels between ribs 84 and is then mounted on the stretching forms 101. At station (G) stripping means, Figs. 10 and 13-15 (all not shown), is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Inspection, stretching and fixing machine The invention relates to an apparatus for facilitating the handling and treatment of manufactured articles of the pantie hose type (tights) by limiting operator intervention to a minimum and by facilitating inspection. This and further objects and advantages will be apparent to the expert from reading the text given hereinafter.

For the purposes of inspecting manufactured articles of the pantie hose type and for stretching and fixing them, a machine of this kind comprises a turntable structure with a plurality of stretching forms designed to be moved cyclically between a mounting station and an extraction station.

According to the invention, in the mounting station there is provided an assembly comprising: raisable and lowerable carriage means (or the like) adjacent to a station for inspecting and mounting the manufactured articles; arms provided on said carriage means and which swivel between an inner position and an outer position; appendices provided at the mobile ends of said arms and arranged to engage the edge of the waist portion of the manufactured article and to open it out as they move into their inner position, in which said appendices present the manufactured article above the pair of forms which lie in the mounting station; and means for controlling the swivel movements of said arms and the lowering of said carriage means in order to mount the manufactured article on to the forms, with the aid of auxiliary means acting centrally between the forms and along the outer edges of the forms.

On each side of the mounting station there can be provided a pair of arms with double hinged connecting rods forming an articulated parallelogram, and provided with offset appendices which when the arms are in one position have approached each other and when the arms are in the opposite position have withdrawn from each other. Said appendices can be provided with extensions facing upwards for engaging the edge of the manufactured article.

The machine can be provided with a horizontal edge lying in front of and above the forms when in the mounting station, and along which the manufactured article slides during its transfer, in order to accompany it during its mounting on the forms.

There can also be provided an inspection form disposed in a position lying in front of the forms located in the mounting position, and on which the manufactured articles are mounted; said inspection form comprises in its outer edges channels in which the extensions of the appendices slide upwards in order to collect the edge of the manufactured article and to transfer it.

Said inspection form can be made able to rotate about a central vertical axis in order to carry out inspection on the two faces. Furthermore, said inspection form can be carried by an articulated framework, so that it can be taken out of service.

Alternatively, in the mounting station there can be provided a horizontal mobile assembly provided with pairs of appendices and arranged to assume a position in which the appendices face the operator, who mounts the edge of the manufactured article on them, and a position in which the appendices face upwards such that the edge of the manufactured article is collected by the extensions of the swivel-mounted arms when they are caused to approach each other for their lifting stroke. A lead-in contour can be combined with said appendices.

To operate the carriages, endless chains can be provided, guided over sprocket wheels at the ends of the chain paths of travel, and each connected to an arm hinged to the carriage and to the chain respectively. These hinged arms can be linked to the swivel-mounted arms for transferring the manufactured article, in order to cause them to carry out their swivel movements when the carriages reach the ends of their paths of travel.

The invention will be more apparent from the description and accompanying drawing, which shows a practicai embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, and in which: Figure 1 is a view in partial section on the line I-I of Figure 3; Figure 2 is a view in partial section on the line Il-Il of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a plan view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section on the line IV--IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partial section on the line V-V of Figure 3; Figures 6 and 7 represent a view on the line VI-VIl of Figure 5, showing two positions of members for stretching the manufactured article over the stretching forms;; Figures 8 and 9 are sections on the lines VIll-VIll and IX-IX of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 4; Figures 11 and 12 are a section on the line Xl-Xl of Figure 1, showing transfer members in two positions; Figures 13, 14, 1 5 are a local section on the line Xlll-Xlll of Figures 1 and 3, showing the constituent members in three successive positions; Figure 1 6 is a section on the line XVl-XVl of Figures 2 and 3; Figures 1 7 and 1 8 are two orthogonal views of a central operating and selection unit;; Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are perspective views of some stages of the cycle comprising the inspection and mounting of the manufactured article; Figures 23, 24 and 25 show the ends of the stretching forms; Figures 26 and 27 show a modification of the system for presenting the manufactured article; Figures 28 and 29 show a modification for controlling the alternating motion of the carriages which carry the mounting arms.

The machine overall comprises a frame 31 with portals 33, and cross members 35, 36, 37 etc which inter alia support a central structure 39 comprising a drive unit 40 overlying a stepwise rotating part 42 which constitutes the turntable for a series of pairs of stretching forms, which are transferred cyclically into a plurality of stations A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, of which the station A represents the mounting station and the station G the extraction station, all as described in detail hereinafter. The structure 39 also supports further control and selection means for removing defective articles, Figures 1 to 11,12, and 19 to 22 show the equipment of station A for mounting the pantie hose articles (tights) on to the forms for undergoing stabilisation heat treatment, i.e.

stretching.

In said station A, the article can also be inspected in two possible ways, i.e. by a preliminary presentation on an inspection form, or by direct mounting on to the heat treatment form for stretching purposes. In the first case, inspection can be carried out either directly on the inspection form, which is mobile into two opposing positions about a vertical axis, or by using rear mirror inspection. In the second case, rear inspection takes place by means of a mirror.

In said station A, there are provided two opposing lateral structures 51 which extend vertically in the form of cowlings, to form vertical guides 53 and 55 for respective carriage means 57. The structures 51 are connected together by a frame 59. In each structure 51 there is provided a chain 120 which is reversed at the ends of said structure over sprocket wheels 122 and 124. The carriage 57 can be securely connected to one branch of the chain 120 and this latter be driven in both directions in order to effect the raising and lowering path of travel of the carriage 57.

Alternatively, an intermittent drive always in the same direction can be provided for the chain 120, and the carriage 57 be alternately coupled to one and the other of the two rising and descending branches of the chain. Two arms 70 are hinged on spaced-apart pivots 68 to each of the carriages 57, and are connected together in an articulated manner by two connecting rods 72 and 74. The connecting rods and the arms 70 on each carriage form articulated parallelograms. The connecting rod 72 comprises an appendix 72A with a right angled extension 72B in a position displaced from the centre line of said connecting rod 72.In a manner substantially symmetrical to the connecting rod 72, the connecting rod 74 comprises an appendix 74A with a right angled extension 74B in a position displaced from the centre line of the connecting rod 74 in the opposite direction to the displacement of the appendix 72B from the centre line of the appendix 72. Each of the two articulated systems 68, 70, 72, 74 can assume two substantially symmetrical positions about the centre line defined by the pairs of axes of the pins 68.In one of the two angular positions of the arms 70, the appendices 72A, 72B and 74A, 74B are substantially brought together in that the displacements from the centre line of the connecting rods 72 and 74 are subtracted from each other, whereas in the other opposing and approximately symmetrical position, the two appendices 72A, 72B and 74A, 74B are withdrawn from each other. The movement from one position, in which the two appendices 72A, 72B and 74A, 748 are together, into the other position in which they are withdrawn from each other takes place within the top part of the path of travel of the carriages 57 along the branches of the chain 120.The movement from the position in which the extensions 72B, 748 are withdrawn from each other into the position in which said extensions are brought together, takes place in the bottom part of the alternating path of travel of the carriages 57.

The position of the operator is indicated on the drawing by 0, and on the frame 51,59 at an intermediate level between the two structures 51 there is provided a support 80 on which there is placed a double inspection form comprising two side-by-side forms 82, each of which comprises a pair of outer tapering ribs 84 which form a channel 86. The channels 86 of the two forms 82 extend vertically on the outside of the pair of said forms 82.

The two forms 82 can be in a fixed position and coplanar in a transverse plane forming the inspection face. In this case, to the rear of the two forms 82 (i.e. on the opposite side of the two forms 82 to the operator) there can be provided a mirror reflecting panel 90 which is adjacent to a frame 92 comprising an upper edge 92A. The panel 90 extends below said edge, i.e.

approximately through the height of the forms 82, the upper edge 92A of the frame 92 being in a higher position than the upper ends of the forms 82, and also being withdrawn from them.

Alternatively, the two forms 82 can be carried by a mobile assembly 95 rotatable about a vertical axis represented by a pin 98, so that the operator can rotate the unit comprising the two forms 82 so as to inspect from opposite sides an article mounted on said forms, without using the mirror panel 90. A resilient peg retention system can be provided in order to define two inspection positions 1 80O apart.

A pair of stretching forms 101 becomes cyclically positioned behind the portal 92, 92A after each intermittent advancement movement of the platform or turntable 202, described in detail hereinafter, which carries a plurality of stretching forms 101. If the positions into which the arms 70 are moved are symmetrical about the vertical, then the forms 101 will be in a position which, with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry parallel and intermediate to the hinges 68 of the two pairs of arms 70, is on the opposite side to the position of the forms 82 but at the same distance from said plane as these latter.The arrangement of the forms 82 and 101 and the control system for the pairs of arms 70 must be such that when said arms are inclined towards the outside of the machine, i.e. towards the operator 0, their pairs of extensions 72B, 74B are brought together and aligned with the channels 86 of the two forms 82, whereas when the arms 70 are inclined towards the inside, i.e. towards the turntable of the forms 101, the extensions 72B. 74B are withdrawn from each other and are on opposite sides of the plane defined by the forms 101.

The alternating angular movements of the two pairs of arms 70 are carried out by means of the described mechanisms in order to perform the following functions. At the beginning of an operation involving the mounting of an article M which is to be inspected and fed to heat treatment on the machine, the operator grips the edge BM along the waistline of the body or pantie portion, and mounts it over the two forms 82, by drawing the edge BM of the article towards the bottom of the two forms 82 and thus into a position corresponding with the ribs 84 and channels 86.

The leg portions GM of the article thus lie on the individual forms 82 and are simultaneously inspected during this operation. Inspection can be carried out directly on the front face of the forms 82 and indirectly on the rear face of the forms 82 by way of the image reflected by the mirror 90.

Alternatively, the operator can inspect the article on the front face of the arms 82, and then rotate the mobile assembly 96, 82 and repeat the inspection on the other face of the forms 82.

Inspection is carried out while the arms 70 are in positions such as not to interfere with the aforesaid operations of mounting the article and inspecting it. On termination of the inspection, the arms 70 are moved outwards with the extensions 728, 74B on each side brought together in a position corresponding with the channels 86, and below these latter. When inspection has ended, the control is given for raising the carriages 57. As said carriages rise, the two pairs of touching extensions 72B, 74B penetrate into the channels 86 and collect the edge BM of the article, thus raising it and consequently raising the article itself.

As the carriages 57 rise, the article M thus remains held by the extensions 72B, 74B, and with the toe portions PM displaced and hanging towards the operator 0.

When the carriages 57 have completed their rising movement, the two pairs of arms 70 are moved angularly away from the operator towards the turntable of the forms 101, until they lie above the pair of forms 101 which are in the mounting station A lying between the two structures 51.

During this angular movement, the appendices 72A, 74A and the extensions 72B. 74B of each pair of arms 70 withdraw from each other and thus widen the edge BM into an approximately elongated rectangular shape, which surrounds the forms 101 (with respect to the plan view) and lies above said forms. The article M is thus ready for mounting on the forms 101, with the toe portions PM resting on the upper edge 92A.

At this point, the mounting of the article on the pair of forms 101 (located in station A) begins by lowering the carriage 57 and thus the pairs of wide-apart extensions 728, 748, which reach their lowered position while still wide apart. When in this position, the edge BM of the article M has withdrawn from the extensions 72B, 74B, which continue to move downwards after the article M has been completely mounted, this mounting being aided by a finger-shaped mounting member to be described, and which acts during its own lowering stroke between the two forms 101 on the crotch of the article.Further suitable means comprising soft appendices in the form of stretching pads for the article -- these also to be described hereinafter -- are also provided for facilitating the mounting of the article on the forms 101. Having attained their lowered position, the pairs of arms 70 are moved angularly from the position in which they extend towards the turntable into a position in which they extend outwards towards the operator, while the carriages remain lowered, so that the extensions 72B, 74B are again brought together and are positioned below the channels 86, in order to repeat the cycle.

The article can also be mounted on the forms 101 without carrying out a preliminary inspection stage on the forms 82, any inspection being in this case carried out after it is extended on the forms 101. In this case the forms 82, their support means and, if present, the mirror 90 are dispensed with, whereas the frame 92, 92A remains in operation without hindering easy visibility of the pair of forms 101 which lie in the rearward station A.In this case, instead of mounting the article on the forms 82, the operator, again engaging the edge BM of the article, mounts it directly on to the pairs of touching extensions 72B, 74B either while they are in their lowered and externally advanced position, or while the carriages 57 and thus said pairs of touching extensions are rising, in the absence (as stated) of both the support structure 80 for the forms 82 and these latter. By way of the extensions 72B, 74B, the article thus reaches the raised position, from which it is transferred in the described manner into the position overlying the forms 101, for mounting on to the pair of said forms 101 located in the station A. In the limit, the entire assembly 51, 59 can be excluded, for example by rotation.

In order to control the vertical alternating movements of the carriages 57, respective chains 120 are mounted - as already stated - in the two opposing structures 51, and are guided about sprocket wheels 1 22 and 124, one of which acts as the drive wheel and is driven by a geared motor 126. The two chains can be driven either by the same drive source or by two drive sources which are independent but acting synchronously.

Reversal can be obtained either by reversing the geared motor 126, or by changing-over the coupling of the carriages 57 to one or other branch of the respective chains alternately. In either case, limit switches 128, 130 (Figure 5) of the microswitch or similar type can be provided for reversal purposes, cooperating with a stop on the respective chain or on one of the chains 1 20.

Alternatively, a control system such as that illustrated hereinafter in Figures 26 and 27 can be provided.

The arms 70, hinged at 68 to the carriages 57, as already stated can swivel between an outwardly inclined position and an inwardly inclined position, when the carriages 57 reach their raised position, in order to withdraw the ends 72B, 74B from each other as they are brought above the forms 101. The reverse swivel movement towards the outside, during which the ends 72B, 74B reapproach each other, must be made at the end of the downward stroke.To attain this movement, fixed stops 132 (Figures 2, 11,19 and 20) are provided on the structures 51, and with which there cooperate appendices 1 34 of the arms 70 which project radially from the hinge 68 of one of the arms, in order to cause the arms to swivel inwards in the direction of the arrows f1 on termination of the rising stroke, Similar stops 136 on the bottom of the structure 51 cause the arms 70 to swivel in the reverse direction, i.e. outwards in the direction of the arrows f2, on termination of the downward stroke of the carriages 57.

As stated, the wide-apart ends 72B, 74B of the pairs of arms 70 mount the article M on the forms 101 by engaging the edge BM of its waistline and causing it to move downwards. During this movement, the article gradually slides over the edge 92A as it is pulled downwards, and the leg portions GM of the article thus become mounted on the forms 101. This operation is carried out not only by said two ends 72B, 74B, but also by a finger-shaped member 140 which is angularly mobile about a hinge 142 carried by a carriage 144.This carriage can slide along a central vertical guide 146 which is carried by a rear structure 148 supported by the central structure 39, and is disposed symmetrically relative to the two vertical structures 51, within the crown formed by the pairs of forms 101 . The fingershaped member 140 is raised into an angularly raised position by spring means 140, and said finger-shaped member comprises a right angled appendix with a control roller 150, which can cooperate with a fixed contour 1 52 arranged to cause said finger 140 to lower (against the action of the return spring 149) so that it becomes disposed between the two hot forms 101 lying in the mounting position A, i.e. in front of the structure 148.The angular lowering of the member 140 is caused by the contour 1 52 as soon as the carriage 1 44 begins a downward stroke. By this means, the mounting of the article on the hot forms 101 is also facilitated by the action of the finger 140, which acts on the crotch so as to urge the body portion downwards, thus adding to the action of the ends 1 72B, 1 74B. The carriage 144 is caused to rise and fall by one of the two chains 1 54, 1 56, which are mounted in the structure 148 and pass suitably over sprocket wheels, one of which, for each chain, is driven by a respective geared motor 1 58,1 59. The carriage 144 is connected to that branch of one of the chains which is adjacent and parallel to the guide 146, for example the chain 1 54. The lowering of this carriage is controlled by a programme which activates in such a manner that the lowering takes place only after the ends 72B, 74B have begun to mount the article on the hot forms 101. The carriage 144 can be made to rise again by a suitable lower limit switch, until it stops in the raised position, where the finger 140 also returns to the upward raised angular position by the effect of the control contour 1 52.

A second carriage 1 60 also carrying means for ensuring the mounting of the article on the pair of hot forms 101 is slidably mounted on the guide 146 (Figures 5 to 7 and 9). This second carriage 1 60 comprises a cross member 162, on which two pairs of symmetrical right angled brackets 1 64 are hinged at 1 63. The right angled brackets of each pair carry at their upper ends soft appendices 1 66 which project in a cantilever manner, and are arranged to act on the two longitudinal edges of a respective form 101, against which they are urged by a spring 1 68. The pairs of square brackets 1 64 can be controlled, against the action of the respective springs 168, by cylinder-piston systems 170, which act by way of a respective cross member 1 72 against those ends of the arms of the square brackets 1 64 of each pair which are distant from the ends carrying the soft appendices 1 66. When a cylinder-piston system 1 70 withdraws its respective cross member 1 72 upwards, this latter causes the tops of the levers 1 64 to spread apart, and thus causes the appendices 1 66 to withdraw from each other.

The mobile assembly 1 60, 1 62 is controlled by the chain 156, which is driven by the geared motor 1 59 independently of the chain 1 54 but synchronised therewith, and using a programme for commencing its lowering movement, a limit switch for reversing its movement, and a further limit switch for halting it in the raised position. The mobile assembly 1 60, 1 62 commences its lowering movement after the ends 72B, 74B, by their downward movement, have begun to mount the article on the forms 101 of the pair which has reached the mounting station A, and after the carriage 144 of the finger 140 has also commenced its active lowering stroke.With the lowering of the mobile assembly 1 60, 162, the pairs of soft appendices 1 66 - pulled by the springs 1 68 - act delicately on the article which is being mounted on to the hot forms 101, said appendices 1 66 resting on the longitudinal edges of the forms. In this manner, the mounting of the article becomes complete, and in particular the toe portions PM of the leg portions GM. When the soft appendices 1 66 have completed their task, the cylinder-piston systems 1 60 pull the cross members 1 72 upwards, so causing the soft appendices 1 66 to withdraw from each other, and cease their action on the article. At this point, the mobile assembly 160, 1 62 can be raised again by the reverse drive of the chain 1 56. The raising movement commences immediately before or simultaneously with the raising of the carriage 144, which has accompanied the action of the appendices 72B, 74B. The cumulative action of the appendices 72B, 74B, of the finger 140 and of the pairs of soft appendices 1 66 ensures complete and regular extending of the articles M over the pairs of hot forms 101 as they gradually present themselves at the mounting station A, so enabling regular stretching of the articles to be obtained.

The example shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises eight pairs of hot forms 101 which are disposed by way of arms 202 on a platform structure 200 in the form of a turntable, and which are moved with intermittent motion from the mounting station A in the direction of the arrow f800 to successively attain the stations indicated by B, C, D, E, F, G, H.

Along the path between stations B and F, the article is stretched by heating, possibly accompanied by moistening. The treatment can be carried out by said hot forms 1 01, and also by the action of an environment defined by a tunnel, which can extend along at least part of the path between the stations B and F.

The pairs of forms 101 are coplanar and sideby-side in stations A to F. Said forms are hinged on the respective arms 202 of the turntable platform 200 about a common central vertical axis defined by hinge pins 206. The two forms 101 of each pair can therefore be moved from their coplanar position to a position in which they are parallel and facing each other as shown in station G, which is reached after the stretching operation.

In order to cause the angular movement of the forms 101 of each pair about their respective vertical hinge 206, the two forms (Figures 3, 4, 10) are connected by rods 208 to a lever 210, which is hinged at 212 to the respective arm 202.

The lever 210 is provided with feeler means 214 arranged to cooperate with a channel cam contour 216 extending between the station F and the station H. The contour 21 6 is such that, by way of the rods 208, a symmetrical angular movement is imposed on the two forms 101 about the hinges 206 towards the centre of the platform 200 during their movement from station F to station G, and a further reverse symmetrical angular movement is imposed on said forms in their passage from station G to station H, in order to cause the forms to reach the mounting station A in the correct position for receiving the article.

Station G is equipped for the extraction of the stretched article by means of a withdrawal system. In order to attain withdrawal or extraction of the article from the forms 101 facing each other in station G (Figures 10, 13 to 16), there is provided a fixed structure 300 which forms a vertical guide 302 for the sliding of a carriage 304, which can slide between an upper position 304A and a lower position 304B (Figure 10) by way of intermediate positions such as that indicated by 304. The carriage 304 is moved by a chain system 306 carried by the structure 300 and controlled by a geared electric motor 308 which can be driven in both directions for raising and lowering, by means of a programmed system and suitable limit switches.By way of a hinge 310 the carriage 304 carries an extraction finger 312, which is rigid with an arm 314 comprising a feeler roller 316 which can act on a vertical cam contour 318, said feeler roller 316 being urged against said contour 318 by a spring 320. The contour 318 is constructed in such a manner that when the carriage is in its lower position 304B, the finger 312 assumes a lowered position 31 2B which is to the side of the forms 101 disposed facing each other in station G, so that the pair of forms 101 can move in order to reach and then pass beyond station G. When the carriage 304 is raised from its lower position 304B, the contour 318 causes the finger 312 to assume a horizontal raised position between the two facing forms 101 in station G.The raising stroke of the finger 312 therefore results in a lifting action on the article M mounted on the forms 101, by acting on the edge BM of the waistline. This action of the finger 312 facilitates extraction and removal, which is carried out by the device described hereinafter. At the end of the lifting operation, the carriage 304 returns to its lowered position, and the finger 312 returns to the position 312B, to allow intermittent movement of the turntable platform 200.

A slide seat is provided longitudinally inside each form 101 (see also Figures 23 to 25) for a rod 320, which comprises a profiled heat 322 at its upper end. This head can slide into and along an end cavity 324 provided in each form, said cavity extending through the entire thickness of the form. When the head 322 is raised, it completes the profile of the upper end of the form 101, whereas when the head 322 is lowered, it leaves the cavity uncovered at the top end of the form, so as to allow grippage of the toe portion PM of the article, which extends tautly about the end of the article and thus into the region of the cavity 124. The raised head 322 ensures continuity of the profile at the end of the form, to allow easy mounting of the article. When the head 322 is lowered, the toe portion of the article can be gripped at the cavity 324.

A double gripper device 328 carried by a carriage 330 able to make horizontal movements is provided for gripping the toe portion of the article and for its withdrawal from the forms 101 in station G. In practice, two carriages 330 with respective gripper devices 328 can be provided, engaged -- spaced apart from each other - by a pair of chains 332 slidably guided in tracks in a horizontal structure 334, on which the guide sprockets for the chains are also provided. An intermittently operated geared motor 336 is provided for withdrawing the stretched article and resting it on a surface 338 disposed below the active branch of the conveyor represented by the chains 332.Each carriage 330 comprises vertical guide means 330A for raising and lowering the gripper assembly 328, when this latter together with a pertinent carriage 330 reaches the extraction position above the forms 101 in station G. The structure 334 is supported by a shelf 340 combined for example with the top part of the structure 300. A cylinder-piston control system 342 is fitted to the shelf 340, and its rod 344 comprises a ledge 346 arranged to engage in a notch formed in the body of the gripper 328.

Consequently, a gripper which is in the extraction position above the forms 101 situated in station G can be lowered and then raised again, in order to withdraw the article by engaging it with a double gripper at the recesses 324. On the ledge 346, a support 350 carries a control system 352 which by means of a rod 354 can control the control element of the double gripper, in order to cause it to open before completing its lowering movement, and to close it again before its lifting movement for extracting the article. The gripper assembly 328 comprises a central appendix 328A which during the lowering operation can penetrate between the two toe portions of the facing forms 101.The central appendix 328A is flanked by a pair of symmetrical arms 328B which are symmetrically hinged to the gripper body, and can be withdrawn from the appendix 328A by the action of the rod 354 on a transmission rod 328C mounted in the body of the gripper 328. In this manner, the control system 352 causes opening and closure of the double gripper 328A, 328B, and thus the gripping of the two toe portions PM of the article to be extracted. The article engaged by its toe portions in the said manner is extracted from the facing forms 101 by the lifting and translatory movement of the body of the gripper 328.The raising movement, imparted by the system 342, is preceded by the raising of the extraction finger 312, which causes the body portion of the article to slide upwards along the forms 101, thus facilitating completion of the extraction operation by the double gripper 328.

Besides being raised along the guides 330A, this gripper is also made at the correct time to translate in the direction of the arrows f338 along and above the surface 338, so that besides being extracted from the forms 101 the article is also extended on said surface, from which it can be withdrawn for packaging or other operations.

The heads 322 and thus the rods 320 are controlled by a control system 370 carried by the machine frame, and which moves a ledge 372 vertically at the extraction position G, possibly with a certain degree of advance. The ledge 372 engages in the slot in a lower head 374 of the rods 320 of the pairs of forms as they present themselves in position G or close to it. In this manner the control system 370 causes the head 322 to lower at the correct time for the gripping of the toe portions by the gripper 328 at the recesses 324. Said system 370-372 raises the head 322 again when the relative pairs of forms commence their movement towards station A.

For controlling the intermittent movement of the turntable platform 200-202, a device 402 is provided on the central structure 39 (see Figures 2 to 4, 17, 18) which is in the form of a Maltese cross or the like, and acts on a pinion 404 engaging with a ring gear 406 rigid with a cage structure 408 forming part of said turntable. The device 402 is driven by a motor 410 by way of a belt drive, and manual control means 412 can also be provided.

A programme assembly combined with the various activation elements and limit switches is associated with the central structure 309 of the machine, and its operation is apparent from the aforegoing description. The programme assembly also comprises a selector arranged to memorise the rejects detected by the operator by the inspection carried out in station A, using the inspection form 82 and/or the mirror system. The operator has a pushbutton available, which he operates when a defective article to be rejected is present. The signal from this pushbutton is memorised in such a manner as to determine a removal command from the defective article when it reaches the extraction position G. The memory device could be of electronic type, electromechanical type or electropneumatic type.

The drawing shows a memory device comprising a selector 430 comprising pegs 432 which are raised or lowered according to the information given by said pushbutton. The selector 430 moves synchronously with the turntable 200 and, for example, activates a suction port 434 (see Figure 3) which removes the defective article when this latter reaches the extraction position and becomes extracted, and ceases its action immediately after the defective article has been removed and before the further movement of the machine for extracting a further article.

In the modification shown in Figures 26 and 27, a mounting assembly indicated overall by 501 cooperates with the gripping extensions 72B, 74B, and is disposed on the support 80 to replace the members such as 82, 84, 86 of the preceding embodiment, and to allow comfortable presentation of the articles to the gripping means represented by said extensions. The assembly 501 comprises a support 503 forming a rotation seat of transverse horizontal axis for a mobile assembly comprising a cross member 505 and two pairs of right angled strip-like appendices 507, which extend from the ends of the cross member 505 orthogonally to its axis, this axis being also the axis of angular movement of said cross member.

The strip-like right angled appendices 507 are spaced apart in a like manner to the ribs 84 to define interspaces corresponding to the channels 86. A strip-like lead-in element 508 is advantageously combined with the appendices 507 in order to assist the mounting of the article.

Means - not shown but easily apparent -- are provided in the support 503 for causing the cross member 505 and appendices 507 to assume two positions in which the appendices 507 are disposed horizontally in an outward direction (Figure 26) and the appendices are disposed vertically upwards (Figure 27) respectively.

In order to feed the article M such that it becomes taken-up by the machine, the operator, with the appendices 507 and the element 508 in a horizontal outwardly facing position (i.e. towards the operator), can easily mount the edge BM of the article on the appendices 507 by moving the edge BM through a short horizontal distance towards the body of the machine. Having done this, the cross member 505 is rotated about its axis so that the appendices 507 move in an upwardly pointing vertical position, this position corresponding to the position of the ribs 84 and channels 86.Consequently, by means of the already described movement of the parallelogram arms 70 and extensions 72B, 74B, these latter penetrate into the interspace between the pairs of appendices 507, to take hold of the edge BM and withdraw the article by raising it, in order to then transfer it on to the hot forms 101 by widening the extensions 72B, 74B apart and mounting the article on to the hot forms 101 in the manner already described.

This arrangement facilitates the repeated operations of the operator during his working shift, when the forms 82 are dispensed with.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 28 and 29, an alternative control is provided for the carriages 57 which allows deceleration and acceleration at the ends of the alternating paths of travel of the carriages, as motion is reversed, and which can also allow continuous movement of the chain 120, which passes upperly over the sprocket wheel 122 and lowerly over the sprocket wheel 124. In this embodiment, by means of an arm 601 pivoted at 603, each carriage 57 is connected to the respective chain 120 at a hinge shoe 605 engaged with one link of the chain. The result of this is that when said shoes move - even continuously - with the chains 120 through the chain reversal arcs, the swivel arms 601 swivel between two extreme positions assumed along the vertical branches of said chains.Along the chain reversal arcs about the sprockets 122 and 124, the movement of the carriages 57 follows a deceleration and acceleration law which approximates to a sinusoidal law, and thus with gradual deceleration and acceleration. The chains can either by driven continuously or can stop approximately at the highest (and/or lowest) point of the shoes 605 along the active trajectory of the sprockets, i.e. approximately halfway along the reversal arc of the chain 120 on the respective sprocket.

An arrangement of this kind can also be used for driving the other carriages or shoes using chains, as already indicated for example for controlling the carriages 144 and 1 60 and/or the carriage 304.

In its application to the control of the carriages 57, the aforesaid arrangement -- comprising the arms 601 - can be also advantageously used for causing angular movements of the arms 70 which are more gradual than those obtained by means of stops, and which are attained more simply. For this purpose, a gear wheel 607 is provided concentric to the pivot 603 and rigid with the arm 601 of each carriage. The gear wheel 607 engages with a toothed sector 609 rigid with one of the arms 70 and concentric to the respective pivot 68.In this manner, the angular swivel movement of the arm 601 along each of the reversal trajectories of the chain about the sprockets 122 and 124 leads to a corresponding angular movement of the two arms 70 (one of which is driven by that rigid with the toothing 609) which follows a similar acceleration and deceleration law. The two movements of the pairs of arms 70, namely from the outside of the machine towards the hot forms 101 into the position for receiving the article, and from the inside towards the outside when they reach the bottom of their alternating path of travel, are obtained by suitably choosing the pivot 68 for coupling to the gear wheel 607.

Under such conditions, the chains 120 can be driven with continuous motion.

The operator who mounts the articles on the device 501 or other equivalent device can either carry out no visuai check on the article or check only one face of the article on the forms 101 located in station A or in transit towards station B.

Another operator situated further downstream can then be responsible either for the inspection or for completing the inspection, possibly using mirrors.

The drawing shows only one embodiment, which is merely a practical demonstration of the invention, and which can vary in shapes and arrangements. The purpose of any reference numerals in the accompanying claims is to facilitate the reading of the claims with reference to the description and drawing, and in no way poses any limitations on the scope of the protection represented by the claims.

Claims (11)

1. A machine for inspecting, stretching and fixing manufactured articles of the pantie hose or tights kind, comprising a turntable structure with a plurality of pairs of stretching forms designed to be moved cyclically between a mounting station and an extraction station, characterised in that in the mounting station (A) there is provided an assembly comprising: raisable and lowerable carriage means (57) (or the like) adjacent to a station for inspecting and mounting the manufactured articles; arms (70) provided on said carriage means and which swivel between an inner position and an outer position; appendices (72B--74B) provided at the mobile ends of said arms and arranged to engage the edge of the waist portion of the manufactured article and to open it out as they move into their inner position, in which said appendices present the manufactured article above the pair of forms (101) which lie in the mounting station (A); and means for controlling the swivel movement of said arms and the lowering of said carriage means in order to mount the manufactured article on to the forms (101), with the aid of auxiliary means acting centrally between the forms and along the outer edges of the forms.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that on each side of the mounting station there is provided a pair of arms (70) with double hinged connecting rods (72-74) forming an articulated parallelogram, and provided with offset appendices (72A-74A) which when the arms (70) are in one position have approached each other and when the opposite position have withdrawn from each other.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said appendices (72A-74A) are provided with extensions (72B-74B) facing upwards for engaging the edge of the manufactured article.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a horizontal edge (92A) lying in front of and above the forms when in the mounting station, and along which the manufactured article slides during its transfer, in order to accompany it during its mounting on the forms (101).

5. A machine as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterised by further comprising an inspection form (82) disposed in a position lying in front of the forms (101) located in the mounting position, and on which the manufactured articles are mounted; said inspection form (82) comprising in its outer edges channels (86) in which the extensions (72B-74B) of the appendices slide upwards in order to collect the edge of the manufactured article and to transfer it.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said inspection form (82) can be rotated about a central vertical axis in order to carry out inspection on its two faces.

7. A machine as claimed in claims 5 and 6, characterised in that said form (82) is carried by an articulated framework, so that it can be taken out of service.

8. A machine as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterised by comprising, in the mounting station, a horizontal mobile assembly (505) provided with pairs of appendices (507) and arranged to assume a position in which the appendices (507) face the operator, who mounts the edge of the manufactured article on them, and a position in which the appendices (507) face upwards such that the edge of the manufactured article is collected by the extensions (72B--74B) of the arms (70) when they are caused to approach each other for their lifting stroke; a leadin contour being able to be combined with said appendices.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that to operate the carriages (57), there are provided endless chains (120) guided over sprocket wheels (122-1 24) at the ends of the paths of travel of the carriages, and swivelmounted arms (601) hinged to the carriages and to the chains respectively.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said swivel-mounted arms (601) are linked (607-609) to the arms (70) for transferring the manufactured article, in order to cause said arms (70) to swivel when the carriages (57) reach the ends of their paths of travel.

11. A machine for inspecting, stretching and fixing pantie hose articles and the like; all as heretofore described and represented by way of example on the accompanying drawing.