GB2374090A

GB2374090A - Apparatus for boarding hosiery

Info

Publication number: GB2374090A
Application number: GB0207010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Morrissey; Timothy Martin Healy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-02
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2002-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-25
Also published as: IES20010335A2; GB0207010D0; GB2374090B; IE20020135A1

Abstract

Apparatus for boarding hosiery of different types, e.g. tights 3 or socks, comprises forms 15 which are indexed through an autoclave and a drying chamber and is provided with an unloading station where a transfer mechanism 50 is located and having means for urging the hosiery off the forms which discriminates between the hosiery types. Sock and tights sensors 87,88 detect which type is carried on the form and first and second clamps 61,62 for urging the hosiery off the form are operated in response to the sensors, only the first clamps 61 being operated when socks are detected and both clamps 61,62 when tights are detected.

Description

"Apparatus for boarding hosiery"

The present invention relates to apparatus for boarding hosiery, such as pantyhose more commonly referred to as "ladies'tights", and ladies'socks, which are commonly referred to as"knee-highs".

The term"boarding"is a term used in the hosiery industry to mean the steaming of hosiery for the purpose of removing creases in the hosiery after manufacture to provide a sheer look to the hosiery prior to packaging. After manufacture, pantyhose and socks tend to be excessively creased, and indeed, tend to give the impression of being badly crumpled. In the sale of pantyhose and socks, presentation of the goods is of particular importance. It is particularly important that the pantyhose and socks are smartly presented, and in particular, that any creases or crumpling is removed, so that the hosiery when presented in packaging has a sheer appearance.

Apparatus for boarding hosiery is known. In general, such apparatus comprises a carousel which carries a plurality of forms onto which the hosiery is stretched, and the carousel is indexable for indexing the forms sequentially through an autoclave and a drying chamber. During autoclaving the hosiery is subjected to steam for removing creases and crumpling for in turn smoothing the hosiery. The smoothed hosiery is then subjected to hot air in the drying chamber for drying. The dried hosiery is then removed from the form and transferred by a transfer conveyor to a collecting carousel onto which the hosiery is stacked in bundles as the collecting carousel is sequentially indexed through a plurality of positions. This facilitates the stacking of the hosiery in side by side bundles of predetermined numbers of pieces of hosiery.

While such apparatus is suitable for boarding pantyhose, it is unsuitable for boarding socks, since removal of the socks from the forms and the transfer of the socks from the forms to the collecting carousel cannot be adequately carried out by such known apparatus.

There is therefore a need for apparatus which is suitable for boarding both pantyhose and socks, and indeed, hosiery generally.

The present invention is directed towards providing apparatus for boarding hosiery.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for boarding hosiery, the apparatus comprising an autoclave for steaming the hosiery for removing creases therefrom, a drying chamber for drying the steamed hosiery, a carrier means for carrying at least one form for stretching and supporting the hosiery in the autoclave and the drying chamber, the carrier means being indexable through at least four positions for sequentially indexing each form from a loading position for receiving the hosiery through a steaming position with the form located in the autoclave, through a drying position with the form located in the drying chamber, to an unloading position at which the hosiery is transferred from the form, a transfer means for transferring the hosiery from each form in the unloading position to a collecting means on which the dried hosiery is collected, an urging means for urging the hosiery from each form in the unloading position to the transfer means, a sensing means for sensing the presence and type of the hosiery on each form in the unloading position, and a control means for operating the urging means, the control means being responsive

to the sensing means for selectively operating the urging means in response to the presence and type of hosiery on each form in the unloading position.

In one embodiment of the invention each form comprises a pair of spaced apart form members extending side by side relative to each other from respective proximal ends mounted on the carrier means to respective free distal ends, the form members being dimensioned for extending into and stretching respective foot and leg portions of the hosiery, and being arranged for receiving the hosiery from the distal end thereof, each form member defining a first region extending from the distal end for engaging a sock and a foot and a part of the leg portion of pantyhose, and a second region extending from the first region towards the proximal end for engaging the rest of the leg portion and the panty part of pantyhose.

In another embodiment of the invention the sensing means comprises a pantyhose sensor for monitoring the second region of at least one of the form members for detecting the presence of pantyhose in the second region of the at least one form member.

In a further embodiment of the invention the sensing means comprises a sock sensor for monitoring the first region of at least one of the form members for detecting the presence of a sock or pantyhose in the first region of the at least one form member.

Preferably, the urging means comprises a first urging means co-operating with the first region of each form member for urging the hosiery in the first region of the form members towards the respective distal ends thereof, and a second urging means co

operable with the second region of each form member for urging the hosiery in the second region towards the first region.

Advantageously, the first and second urging means are selectively operable under the control of the control means so that only the first urging means is operable in response to hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and not by the pantyhose sensor, and both the first and second urging means are operable in response to hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and the pantyhose sensor.

Ideally, the first and second urging means are selectively deactivated in the absence of hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and the pantyhose sensor.

In one embodiment of the invention each first and second urging means comprises a pair of clamps operable for engaging the hosiery on the respective form members on respective opposite sides thereof.

Preferably, the side clamps of each first and second urging means are transversely movable relative to the form members from a disengaged position whereby the clamps are spaced apart from the form members when the form members are in the unloading position to an engaged position whereby the clamps engage hosiery on the respective form members in the unloading position.

Advantageously, the respective first and second urging means are movable longitudinally relative to the respective form members for urging the hosiery on the respective form members towards the distal ends thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention the transfer means comprises an elongated transfer conveyor extending from a receiving end in the unloading position of the forms for receiving the hosiery from the distal end of each form in the unloading position to a discharge end from which the hosiery is discharged onto the collecting means.

In another embodiment of the invention the transfer conveyor is pivotally mounted adjacent its receiving end for laying the hosiery on the collecting means. Preferably, the transfer conveyor is pivotal adjacent its receiving end for progressively urging its discharge end towards a surface of the collecting means simultaneously as the hosiery is being discharged onto the collecting means for progressively laying the hosiery on the collecting means.

In one embodiment of the invention a pivoting means is provided for pivoting the transfer conveyor about its receiving end, the pivoting means being operable under the control of the control means for altering the rate of pivoting of the transfer conveyor in response to the type of hosiery detected by the sensing means.

Preferably, the pivoting means is operated under the control of the control means for pivoting the transfer conveyor at a first pivoting rate in response to hosiery being detected in the first and second regions of the forms in the unloading position by the sensing means, and at a second rate in response to hosiery being detected by the sensing means in the first region only of the form. Advantageously, the first pivoting rate is faster than the second pivoting rate.

In another embodiment of the invention a detecting means is provided for detecting hosiery on the transfer conveyor, the control means being responsive to the

detecting means detecting hosiery on the transfer conveyor for operating the pivoting means.

In a further embodiment of the invention a timing means is provided for timing a delay period between the time the detecting means detects hosiery on the transfer conveyor and the time the pivoting means is to be operated for pivoting the transfer conveyor.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of boarding apparatus according to the invention for boarding hosiery, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of another portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the portion of Fig. 4 in use, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the apparatus of Fig. 1,

Figs 7 (a) to (c) are side elevational views of another portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in use, and Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated apparatus according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for boarding hosiery 2, which in this embodiment of the invention is suitable for boarding both pantyhose 3 and socks 4.

The apparatus 1 comprises a main framework (not shown) within which is mounted an autoclave 10 within which the hosiery 2 is steamed for removing creases and wrinkles for smoothing the hosiery, and a hot air drier 12 which forms a hot air chamber 14 within which the steamed hosiery is dried. A plurality of forms 15 for stretching and supporting the hosiery 2 during steaming and drying are carried on a carrier means comprising an indexable table 17 for sequentially indexing the forms 15 through the autoclave 10 and the hot air drier 12. The indexable table 17 is circular and is rotatable about its central vertical geometric axis by a main drive means, namely, a drive motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow X. In this embodiment of the invention forms 15 are provided and are located at equi-spaced apart intervals circumferentially around the periphery of the table 17. The table 17 is indexable through six index positions from a loading position A whereby hosiery 2 is placed on each form 15 to an unloading position F at which smoothed hosiery is transferred from each form 15 onto a collecting means, namely, a collecting carousel 20. A transfer means comprising a transfer mechanism 21, which is described in more detail below, is located adjacent the unloading position F for transferring the hosiery from the forms 15 when in the unloading position F to the collecting carousel 20.

Each form 15 comprises a pair of form members 23 which extend side by side relative to each other from a proximal end 24 to a distal end 25 over which the hosiery is passed onto the respective form members 23. Each form member 23 is formed by a tubular steel member 26 which is bent into an inverted U shape. Each tubular steel member 26 extends upwardly from a cross-member 27 at the proximal end 24, and the cross-members 27 are carried on a mounting base 29. The mounting bases 29 of the forms 15 are mounted on the indexable table 17. One of the cross-members 26 of each form 15 is pivotally carried in the mounting base 29 on the table 17 so that one of the form members 23 can be pivoted relative to the other from a loading position with the respective form members 23 extending upwardly from the mounting base 29 in a common plane as illustrated by the form 15 in the loading position A of Fig. 1, through 180. to an operating position, whereby the respective form members 23 lie in respective side by side planes extending parallel to each other as illustrated by the forms 15 in the remaining index positions in Fig. 1.

A plurality of secondary drive means, namely, secondary drive motors mounted within mounting bases 29 are provided for pivoting the pivotal one of the form member 23 of each form 15 between the loading and operating positions.

The form members 23 are shaped and dimensioned for extending into and stretching the feet and leg portions 30 of the hosiery 2. The spacing between outer legs 32 of the form members 23 adjacent the proximal end 24 thereof is sufficient for stretching the panty part 33 of pantyhose 3 when the form members 23 are in the loading position. Additionally, the spacing between the outer legs 32 and inner legs 34 of the form members 23 adjacent the proximal end 24 is also such that when the pivotal one of the form members 23 is pivoted into the operating position, the panty part 33

of pantyhose 3 is still adequately stretched for boarding in the autoclave 10. Each form member 23 defines a first region 35 extending downwardly from the distal end 25 along which socks 4 are supported, and also along which the foot and leg portions 30 of pantyhose 3 are supported. A second region 36 extending from the first region 35 to the proximal end 24 of the form members 23 supports the panty part 33 and the remaining leg portion 30 of pantyhose 3. Air jets 37 located at the distal ends 25 of the form members 23 are supplied with air through form members 23 from an air compressor 65 beneath the table 17 for facilitating removal of the hosiery 2 from the forms 15 in the unloading position F.

The main drive motor (not shown) indexes the table 17 from the loading position A to a first operating position B, where the secondary motors (not shown) pivot the pivotal one of the form members 23 of the forms 15 from the loading position to the operating position. After the forms 15 have been indexed through the first operating position B, they are indexed through an autoclaving position C with the form located in the autoclave 10. From the autoclave position C the forms 15 are sequentially indexed through two drying positions D and E with the respective forms 15 remaining in the drying chamber 14 for two index positions of the table 17, after which the forms 15 are sequentially indexed into the unloading position F.

A light box 40 forming a light panel 41 is located in the apparatus 1 and is fixedly mounted to the main framework (not shown) for providing a lighted background against which hosiery 2 stretched onto the forms 15 in the loading position A of the table 17 can be visually inspected for flaws, tears, holes and the like. A suction unit 43 is mounted on the main framework (not shown) at the loading position A above the forms 15 when in the loading position for drawing the feet and leg portion 30 of

the hosiery 2 upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1 for facilitating ease of placing of the hosiery 2 onto the forms 15 in the loading position A. The suction unit 43 is formed by a hollow duct 44 which in turn communicates with a vacuum drawing means, typically, a vacuum or suction pump for drawing a vacuum in the duct 44.

The autoclave 10 is formed in two halves 45 which together define a hollow interior autoclaving region 47 for accommodating each form 15 with hosiery 2 carried thereon for steaming the hosiery, see Fig. 2. The halves 45 of the autoclave 10 are slideably mounted on the main framework (not shown) from positions spaced apart from each other for facilitating entry and exit of the forms 15 into and from the autoclave 10 to a closed position with the two halves 45 sealably engaging each other for forming the hollow interior region 47. The hot air drier 12 comprises a housing 49 rigidly mounted on the main framework (not shown) which forms the drying chamber 14 within which each form 15 is accommodated in the two drying positions D and E of the table 17 for ensuring adequate drying of the hosiery 2, see Fig. 3. Ends 48 of the housing 49 are open for accommodating the forms 15 into and out of the drying chamber 14.

The transfer mechanism 21 which is located at the unloading position F comprises a pair of co-operating take-off conveyors 50, namely, an upper take-off conveyor 51 and a lower take-off conveyor 52 which abut each other for gripping and sandwiching the hosiery 2 therebetween as it is being urged from the corresponding form 15 and for drawing the hosiery 2 from the form 15, and in turn delivering the hosiery 2 onto a transfer means, namely, a transfer conveyor 54. The transfer conveyor 54 transfers the hosiery 2 onto the collecting carousel 20. The upper and lower take-off conveyors 51 and 52 each comprise respective endless conveyor belts 55 and 56

which are passed around respective driven and idler rollers 57 and 58. Tensioning rollers 60 tension the respective belts 55 and 56 for ensuring tight gripping of the hosiery 2 therebetween.

An urging means for initially urging the hosiery 2 from the forms 15 in the unloading position F comprises a first urging means provided by a pair of first urging clamps 61 and a second urging means provided by two pairs of second urging clamps 62. The first urging clamps 61 co-operate with the first region 35 of the respective form members 23 for urging the feet and leg portions 30 of the hosiery 2 upwardly along the form members 23 towards the distal end 25 thereof. The second urging clamps 62 co-operate with the second region 36 of the form members 23 for urging the panty part 33 and upper leg portion of pantyhose 3 upwardly along the form members 23 towards the distal end 25. Clamp drive means comprising respective pneumatic rams 63 AND 64 are provided for respectively urging the first and second clamps 61 and 62 transversely into and out of engagement with the hosiery 2 on the form members 23, and upwardly for urging the hosiery from the form members 23, and downwardly for returning the first and second clamps 61 and 62 in preparation for urging the hosiery 2 from the next form 15. The rams 63 and 64 are illustrated only in Fig. 8. Valves 74 and 75 also illustrated in Fig. 8 control the operation of the rams 63 and 64, respectively. As will be discussed below, the compressor 65 is operated for supplying air to the air jets 37 for blowing the hosiery 2 from the forms 15 to the take-off conveyors 50 as the first and second urging clamps 61 and 62 are urging the hosiery upwardly from the forms 15.

The transfer conveyor 54 extends between a receiving end for receiving hosiery 2 from the take-off conveyors 50 and a discharge end from which the hosiery 2 is

discharged onto the carousel 20. The transfer conveyor 54 comprises an endless conveyor belt 66 supported on drive and idler rollers 67 and 68, respectively. The transfer conveyor 54 is pivotal about a pivot axis defined by the idler roller 68 at the receiving end for facilitating laying and stacking of the hosiery 2 in bundles 69 on the collecting carousel 20. A pivoting means, namely, a pivot drive motor 70 carried on the main framework (not shown) pivots the transfer conveyor 54 about the pivot axis defined by the idler roller 68 as will be described below. A first manifold 71 comprising a plurality of air jets 72 is mounted on the main framework (not shown) and connected to the compressor 65 for delivering a curtain of air towards the upper take-off conveyor 51 adjacent the drive roller 57 for blowing the hosiery 2 from the upper take-off conveyor 51 onto the transfer conveyor 54 in the event of hosiery 2 tending to adhere to the upper take-off conveyor 51. A second manifold 78 located at the discharge end of the transfer conveyor 54 comprises a plurality of air jets 79 for directing a curtain of air upwardly towards the transfer conveyor 54 upwardly and outwardly of the transfer conveyor 54 for directing hosiery from the transfer conveyor 54 into the respective bundles 69 on the collecting carousel 20. The second manifold is supplied with compressed air from the compressor 65.

A detecting means in this embodiment of the invention provided by an output photo sensor 80 is mounted on the main framework (not shown) above the transfer conveyor 54 for detecting the leading and trailing ends 81 and 82, respectively, of hosiery 2 being transferred along the transfer conveyor 54 for determining if the hosiery 2 is pantyhose 3 or socks 4.

A control means in this embodiment of the invention provided by a programmable logic controller 84 located in the main framework (not shown) controls the pivot drive

motor 70 for commencing downward pivoting of the transfer conveyor 54 in the direction of the arrow Y for facilitating laying the hosiery 2 on the collecting carousel 20. A timing means, namely, a timer 85 co-operable with the programmable logic controller 84, commences to time a time delay when the leading edge 81 of the hosiery 2 is detected by the output photo sensor 80 for delaying activation of the pivot drive motor 70 until the leading edge 81 of the hosiery reaches the discharge end of the transfer conveyor 51 so that the transfer conveyor 54 does not commence to pivot in the direction of the arrow Y until the leading edge 81 of the hosiery 2 is at the discharge end of the transfer conveyor 54. The programmable logic control 84 in response to signals received from the output photo sensor 80 determines the length of the hosiery 2 on the transfer conveyor 54 for determining if the hosiery 2 is pantyhose 3 or socks 4. The speed of pivoting of the transfer conveyor 54 by the pivot drive motor 70 is also set by the programmable logic controller 84 in response to the type of hosiery 2 detected. The speed at which the transfer conveyor 54 pivots in the direction of the arrow Y is faster for socks 4 than for pantyhose 3 for facilitating smooth and accurate laying of the hosiery 2 on the carousel 20.

A sensing means comprising a sock photo sensor 87 for sensing hosiery 2 on the first region 35 of the form 15 and a pantyhose photo sensor 88 for sensing hosiery 2 on the second region 36 of the forms 15 are located on the main framework (not shown) adjacent the unloading position F. The sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 are directed towards the form members 23. If hosiery 2 is detected only in the first region 35 by the sock sensor 87 the hosiery is socks 4. If hosiery 2 is detected in the first and second regions 35 and 36 by the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88, respectively, the hosiery 2 is pantyhose 3. The programmable logic controller 84 is responsive to the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 for controlling the valves

74 and 75 for in turn operating the rams 63 and 64 of the first and second clamps 61 and 62. On the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 detecting pantyhose on a form 15 in the unloading position, all three clamps, namely, the first clamps 61 and the two second clamps 62 are operated for urging the pantyhose from the form 15.

On the sock sensor 87 only detecting socks 4 on a form 15 in the loading position, and the pantyhose sensor 88 failing to detect any hosiery 2, the second clamps 62 are deactivated, and only the first clamps 61 are operated for urging the socks 4 from the form 15. In the event that neither the sock sensor 87 or pantyhose sensor 88 detect hosiery 2, then the first and second clamps 61 and 62 are deactivated.

In use, the indexable table 17 is continuously indexed from position to position, dwelling in each position for a time period of approximately 5.5 seconds. On each form 15 passing from the unloading position F to the loading position A, the pivotal one of the form members 23 is pivoted from the operating to the loading position so that when the form 15 is indexed into the loading position A, the form members 23 are in their loading position as illustrated in Fig. 1. An operator manually places the hosiery 2 onto the form 15, and placing of the hosiery 2 onto the form 15 is assisted by the suction unit 43. When the hosiery to be placed on the form 15 in the loading position A is pantyhose 3, the panty part of the tights 3 is pulled over the form members 23 from the distal end 25 and the respective leg portions 30 of the pantyhose 3 are extended over the respective form members 23. The pantyhose 3 is then pulled firmly down to the proximal end of the form 15 where a gripping mechanism (not shown) mounted on the mounting base 29 of each form 15 grips and retains the tights 3 stretched onto the form 15.

In the event that the hosiery is socks 4, each sock of a pair of socks is placed one on each form member 23 in similar fashion as the tights 3 are placed on the form members 23. With the hosiery 2 stretched onto the form 15 in the loading position, the operator visually inspects the hosiery 2 against the light panel 41 for flaws, such as tears, rips, holes or the like. After the appropriate dwell time, the table 17 is indexed through one position so that the form 15 which had been in the loading position A is now in the first operating position B and the pivotal one of the form members 23 is pivoted into the operating position. After the appropriate dwell time, the index table 17 is again indexed and the form 15 which had been in the first operating position B is transferred into the autoclave 10 where the hosiery 2 is subjected to steaming. The next indexing of the table 17 transfers the steamed hosiery 2 into the drying chamber 14 for drying the hosiery 2, and a further indexing of the table 17 moves the form into a second position in the drying chamber 14 so that each form 15 has a dwell time in the drying chamber of twice the dwell time of the indexing table in each position. This ensures thorough drying of the steamed hosiery. The next indexing of the table 17 indexes the form from the second position in the drying chamber 14 into the loading position F. In the loading position F the hosiery 2 is transferred to the take-off conveyors 50 by the air through the air jets 37 and the simultaneous operation of the first and second clamps 61 and 62 or the first clamps 61 only, depending on whether the hosiery detected on the form 15 by the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 is socks or pantyhose. The take-off conveyors 50 transfer the hosiery 2 to the transfer conveyor 54, which in turn discharges the hosiery 2 onto the collecting carousel 20 As the hosiery 2 is detected by the output photo sensor 80, the programmable logic controller 84 activates the timer 85 for timing the appropriate period until the leading

edge 81 of the hosiery reaches the discharge end of the transfer conveyor 54, at which time the pivoting motor 70 is activated for pivoting the transfer conveyor 54 in the direction of the arrow Y for laying the hosiery sequentially onto the bundles 69 of the collecting carousel 20. The speed of the pivoting motor 70 is determined by the type of hosiery on the transfer conveyor 54. On each piece of hosiery 2 being laid onto the collecting carousel 20, the pivoting motor 70 is operated by the programmable logic controller 84 for pivoting the transfer conveyor 54 in the reverse direction, namely, in the direction of the arrow Z, for returning the transfer conveyor 54 to a position ready for commencing transfer of the next piece of hosiery 2.

The advantages of the invention are many. The most important advantage of the invention is that it permits the boarding of socks on apparatus which without the invention is only suitable for the boarding of pantyhose. By virtue of the fact that the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 are provided and furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the programmable logic controller is responsive to the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88, the operation of the first and second clamps 61 and 62 can be controlled so that when each form 15 in the unloading position contains only socks, the second clamps 62 are deactivated. This avoids damage to the second clamps 62 and to the forms 15 which would otherwise occur if the second clamps 62 were rubbing on the forms 15. Additionally, both the first and second clamps 61 and 62 can be deactivated in the event that neither pantyhose or socks are detected by the sock and pantyhose sensors 87 and 88 on the form 15 in the unloading position, thereby similarly avoiding wear and damage to the first and second clamps 61 and 62 and the form 15. A further advantage of the invention is achieved by virtue of the fact that the output photo sensor 80 in conjunction with the programmable logic controller 84 determines the type of hosiery on the transfer conveyor 54, and thus the speed of pivoting of the transfer conveyor 54 in the direction of the arrow Y can be set at two speeds, namely, a faster speed for discharging socks 4, and a slower speed for discharging pantyhose 3 onto the collecting carousel 20. This facilitates accurate and smooth placing of the hosiery 2 in stacks 69 on the collecting carousel 20.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for boarding hosiery, the apparatus comprising an autoclave for steaming the hosiery for removing creases therefrom, a drying chamber for drying the steamed hosiery, a carrier means for carrying at least one form for stretching and supporting the hosiery in the autoclave and the drying chamber, the carrier means being indexable through at least four positions for sequentially indexing each form from a loading position for receiving the hosiery through a steaming position with the form located in the autoclave, through a drying position with the form located in the drying chamber, to an unloading position at which the hosiery is transferred from the form, a transfer means for transferring the hosiery from each form in the unloading position to a collecting means on which the dried hosiery is collected, an urging means for urging the hosiery from each form in the unloading position to the transfer means, a sensing means for sensing the presence and type of the hosiery on each form in the unloading position, and a control means for operating the urging means, the control means being responsive to the sensing means for selectively operating the urging means in response to the presence and type of hosiery on each form in the unloading position.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which each form comprises a pair of spaced apart form members extending side by side relative to each other from respective proximal ends mounted on the carrier means to respective free distal ends, the form members being dimensioned for extending into and stretching respective foot and leg portions of the hosiery, and being arranged for receiving the hosiery from the distal end thereof, each form member defining a first region

extending from the distal end for engaging a sock and a foot and a part of the leg portion of pantyhose, and a second region extending from the first region towards the proximal end for engaging the rest of the leg portion and the panty part of pantyhose.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the sensing means comprises a pantyhose sensor for monitoring the second region of at least one of the form members for detecting the presence of pantyhose in the second region of the at least one form member.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the sensing means comprises a sock sensor for monitoring the first region of at least one of the form members for detecting the presence of a sock or pantyhose in the first region of the at least one form member.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 in which the urging means comprises a first urging means co-operating with the first region of each form member for urging the hosiery in the first region of the form members towards the respective distal ends thereof, and a second urging means co-operable with the second region of each form member for urging the hosiery in the second region towards the first region.
6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which the first and second urging means are selectively operable under the control of the control means so that only the first

urging means is operable in response to hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and not by the pantyhose sensor, and both the first and second urging means are operable in response to hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and the pantyhose sensor.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 in which the first and second urging means are selectively deactivated in the absence of hosiery being detected by the sock sensor and the pantyhose sensor.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7 in which each first and second urging means comprises a pair of clamps operable for engaging the hosiery on the respective form members on respective opposite sides thereof.
9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which the side clamps of each first and second urging means are transversely movable relative to the form members from a disengaged position whereby the clamps are spaced apart from the form members when the form members are in the unloading position to an engaged position whereby the clamps engage hosiery on the respective form members in the unloading position.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9 in which the respective first and second urging means are movable longitudinally relative to the respective form members for urging the hosiery on the respective form members towards the distal ends thereof.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the transfer means comprises an elongated transfer conveyor extending from a receiving end in the unloading position of the forms for receiving the hosiery from the distal end of each form in the unloading position to a discharge end from which the hosiery is discharged onto the collecting means.
12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 in which the transfer conveyor is pivotally mounted adjacent its receiving end for laying the hosiery on the collecting means.
13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 in which the transfer conveyor is pivotal adjacent its receiving end for progressively urging its discharge end towards a surface of the collecting means simultaneously as the hosiery is being discharged onto the collecting means for progressively laying the hosiery on the collecting means.
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 12 or 13 in which a pivoting means is provided for pivoting the transfer conveyor about its receiving end, the pivoting means being operable under the control of the control means for altering the rate of pivoting of the transfer conveyor in response to the type of hosiery detected by the sensing means.
15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 in which the pivoting means is operated under the control of the control means for pivoting the transfer conveyor at a first

pivoting rate in response to hosiery being detected in the first and second regions of the forms in the unloading position by the sensing means, and at a second rate in response to hosiery being detected by the sensing means in the first region only of the form.
16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 in which the first pivoting rate is faster than the second pivoting rate.
17. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16 in which a detecting means is provided for detecting hosiery on the transfer conveyor, the control means being responsive to the detecting means detecting hosiery on the transfer conveyor for operating the pivoting means.
18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 in which a timing means is provided for timing a delay period between the time the detecting means detects hosiery on the transfer conveyor and the time the pivoting means is to be operated for pivoting the transfer conveyor.
19. Apparatus for boarding hosiery, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.