GB666280A - Improvements in apparatus for turning stockings and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

666,280. Turning articles inside out. CHARNWOOD ENGINEERING CO., Ltd. June 22, 1950 [April 26, 1949], No. 11038/49. Class 112. Apparatus for turning inside out stockings and other tubular articles comprises at least one female article-receiving member transported between a loading station and a turning station at which a male turning member enters the receiving member to force the article through it. Preferably several receiving members are moved in rotation past the two stations, pausing at each. A gripper may be provided to draw the article away from the receiving member after turning. In the embodiment shown, four tubular receiving members 1 are fixed to links 6 connecting spiders 2, 3 which are mounted on parallel shafts spaced apart by the length of the links and are rotated step-by-step through Geneva gear by an electric motor 15 controlled by a pedal 17. An article is put over each member 1 when it is in its lower right-hand position, and when it reaches its upper left-hand position a plunger 8 is operated by lazy-tongs 24, actuated by a connecting rod 32 from the Geneva driver, to force the article down inside the tube 1. To obviate the need for a long stroke of the plunger 8, a gripper 36 is actuated to engage the end of the article and withdraw it on to a tray 37 which is then swung down to discharge the article. The gripper 36 is carried by an arm 34 pivoted at 35 and actuated by a cam on the Geneva driving shaft through a lever 39 and link 38, the gripper 'being guided by a link 47 connected to a pivot 48 sliding in a track 41 and connected to the arm 34 by a link 50; a slot 43 in the arm 34 provides for adjustable attachment of the link 38 to vary the stroke of the gripper. The gripper has a pivoted, gravity-opened jaw normally held closed by a spring-pressed rod but allowed to open when the gripper approaches its forward and rearward positions by engagement of the rod with stops 58 on the spider 3 and by a lever actuated through a flexible cable 63 by the lever 39, respectively. The tray 37 is lowered by camactuated mechanism against the action of a spring. The number of articles turned may be registered by a counter actuated preferably through a feeler on the plunger 8 or a member actuated by the article being pulled away from the bottom of each tube 1. The gripping mechanism may be dispensed with, the articles being drawn away by hand instead. The members 1 may be moved in any suitable path, and may be carried by a wheel or an endless chain. The tubes 1 may be replaced by rings suitably supported.