ITBO930451A1 - MACHINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MEN'S SOCKS PARTICULARLY CONFIGURING THE HEEL - Google Patents

Description

"MACHINE FOR? TREATMENT OF MEN'S SOCKS PARTICULARLY CONFIGURING THE HEEL"

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a machine for treating men's socks particularly configuring the heel.

It is known that in the production of men's socks these are subjected to appropriate heat treatments, before being sent for packaging. In particular, the stockings are generally subjected to ironing and / or fixing treatments. To carry out the ironing step, special infrared ray devices are used, for example, while to carry out the fixing step, which gives the fabric a permanent deformation, particularly pressurized steam chambers are used.

Machines are currently known for drying and ironing men's socks consisting of a carousel provided with suitable shapes, on which the socks themselves are threaded and stretched. The socks inserted on the last are carried by the carousel into a fixing chamber, for example by steam, and subsequently inside a drying and ironing chamber, for example by infrared rays; le raii? =? they are then extracted for forwarding to further packaging steps.

The socks are inserted, treated and extracted individually from the aforementioned carousel, so that? during the packaging phase, the socks themselves must be suitably paired. Such an operation? hampered by the fact that the stockings obtained are not all perfectly the same, since? they generally take on different lengths as a result of the heat treatments undergone. Therefore, the staff must provide for a manual selection of the socks to be matched, with an obvious increase in production costs related to labor and an evident limitation of productivity. of the plant.

The fact of working individually on the socks, in the aforementioned carousel, then leads to considerable dimensions and a proportionately high construction costs, in relation to productivity.

Due to a technical prejudice, hitherto never questioned, the shapes used for the treatment of men's socks consist of a full shape having the profile of the socks to be made; such a silhouette? made for example by an elongated metal plate, conforming to the top? the profile of the foot. The sock is manually inserted on the last by the staff, who then proceeds to stretch it evenly and also to check? the presence of any defects.

The extraction of the sock from the last? instead it is carried out automatically, in a special station arranged downstream of the envisaged treatment stations.

The steps of introducing and removing the stockings from the relative shapes are rather difficult and require a certain effort on the stocking. Is it necessary in fact to overcome the discontinuity? consisting of the folded section of the shape corresponding to the foot and the heel of the sock.

The stocking is also generally removed from the last along an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stocking itself and coinciding in practice with the inclination of the foot of the last; usually this inclination? of 45? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the form. There? can easily produce defects along the sock leg.

In order to facilitate the aforesaid operations, forms that can be shrunk during the insertion and extraction of the stockings have been proposed. Shapes of this type are constituted, for example, by a pair of metal elements hinged to each other and adapted to be alternately approached or removed by means of suitable mechanisms. Such forms result for? evidently complex and expensive, and also do not solve satisfactorily the problem of introducing and removing stockings, since? is the discontinuity not significantly modified? consisting of the foot and the heel of the socks.

It also comes? complained that the aforementioned forms are pre? they feel in the stocking introduction station at a relatively high temperature, consequent to the thermal treatments undergone. There? requires special precautions from the staff, to avoid burns during the insertion of the stockings on the forms themselves.

Purpose of the present invention? that of initiating the aforementioned problems, devising a machine for treating men's socks particularly configuring the heel that allows automatically pairing the socks to be sent to the subsequent packaging steps.

As part of this task,? A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for treating men's socks of a simple conception, with reliable operation and versatile use. This aim and this object are both achieved, according to the invention, by the present machine for treating men's socks particularly configuring the heel, which is characterized by the fact that it comprises a carousel having a plurality of peripherally distributed parts. of pairs of tubular shapes on which respective pairs of men's socks are intended to be inserted, said carousel being able to be stepped at a station for introducing said pairs of socks onto said tubular shapes, at least one treatment station of the stockings themselves, and a station for extracting said pairs of stockings from said shapes in which the aforementioned stockings are paired with one another.

The details of the invention will become more evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the machine for treating men's socks, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the machine in question;

Figure 2 shows a partially sectioned front view of a pair of said tubular shapes;

figure 3 shows a side view of a pair of molds arranged at the aforementioned extraction station of the machine;

Figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d schematically show, in a perspective view, successive operating steps of the machine in question.

With particular reference to these figures, yes? indicated as a whole with 1 a circular carousel bearing a peripherally distributed plurality of of pairs of tubular shapes 2a, 2b on which respective pairs of men's socks are intended to be inserted. Carousel 1? rotatable, according to a vertical axis, on a base 3 and? able to be carried out in steps in correspondence with suitable work stations in which the relative heat treatments are carried out, such as the fixing and / or ironing of the stockings.

In particular, in the case represented,? a station 4 for introducing the stockings onto the tubular shapes 2a, 2b is provided; a station 5 for fixing such stockings; a drying and ironing station 6; and a station 7 for extracting the stockings themselves from the shapes 2a, 2b for sending them to a suitable outlet group 8.

Fixing is carried out by means of pressurized steam inside a chamber 9, defined by a pair of shells 10, 11 adapted to be associated at respective front edges; the shells 10, 11 are movable between an open position and a closed position of the chamber 9, upon command of respective linkages 12, 13. The ironing is instead performed inside a chamber 14 equipped with infrared ray lamps 15 to medium wavelength; room 14? arranged downstream of the introduction station 4 according to the direction of rotation A of the carousel 1.

The shapes 2a, Zb consist of respective tubular elements suitably folded so as to shape the profile of the foot 2c configuring the heel 2d in an upper part. In particular, this foot 2c is inclined by an angle not exceeding 25? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the last, indicated by X in fig. 2; in the case represented, this inclination? of about 15 ".

The shapes 2a, 2b can be spread apart from each other, so as to lie on the same vertical plane, to facilitate the insertion of the stockings at the station 4; the shapes 2a, 2b, on the other hand, can be placed side by side on parallel planes, to effect the extraction (the socks in station 7, as well as to fix them in station 5, as better specified below.

To this end, the aforesaid tubular elements are engaged in a respective pair of sleeves 16, 17 which constitute an extension of the vertical portions of the tubular elements themselves; the sleeves 16, 17 of each shape 2a, 2b are associated at the bottom with relative supports 18, 19 of the shapes themselves. The support 18 of the first form 2a? constrained to an attachment 20 which can rotate on a pin 21 with respect to the carousel 1, upon actuation of known means, not shown in the drawing. The support 19 of the second form 2b? instead constrained to a relative attachment 22 fixed to the carousel 1 on a vertical plane substantially tangential to the carousel 1 itself.

It should be noted that the shapes 2a, 2b are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, in the aforementioned divaricated position, so as to present a corresponding profile in the position of mutual approach. In the case shown, the shapes 2a, 2b have the relative feet 2c converging in the spread position (see fig.2); obviously ? for? It is possible to foresee that these feet are instead divergent.

It is also? can it be foreseen that the forms 2a, 2b are suitably shrinkable at the base, exploiting the elasticity? proper of the aforesaid tubular elements, so as to facilitate the insertion of the stockings. There? ? obtainable, for example, by controlling the transversal sliding of the relative sleeves 16 in suitable slots made in the supports 18, 19.

The quill 16 of the shapes 2a, 2b? closed at the end? lower by means of a cap 23; the quill 17? instead placed in communication with a duct 24, 25 made respectively in the attachment 20 and in the support 19 and opening outwards in correspondence with a hole 26, 27 facing outwards in the aforementioned position of approach of the shapes 2a, 2b.

The holes 26, 27 are adapted to be engaged, at the stocking extraction station 7, by respective coupling members 28, 29 in connection with conventional compressed air delivery means. Said coupling members 28, 29 can be operated by relative actuator members 30, 31 acting in a substantially radial direction to the carousel 1, so as to couple with the aforementioned holes 26, 27, as schematically indicated by dashed lines 28a, 29a in fig.3.

The compressed air supplied through the coupling members 28, 29? destined to escape through a plurality? of holes 32 drilled at the top? of the forms 2a, 2b, at the tip of the relative feet 2c, so as to produce a blow able to direct the corresponding toe of the stockings towards the removal members provided in the extraction station 7. Preferably these removal members are of the type illustrated in patent application N.93? 000423, presented by the same Applicant.

In particular, the extraction station 7 provides a gripping device 33 for the top? of the forms 2a, 2b, acting in correspondence with the foot 2c (fig. 3). This gripping device 33 provides a double pair of arms 34 which can be oscillated on a horizontal plane and each carrying a sponge pad or the like. The arms 34 are carried, in an adjustable position, by a pair of vertical rods 35, which can rotate around their own axis. The rods 35 are guided sliding, by means of suitable bushings, through a plate 36 integral with the fixed frame of the machine and are rotatably supported by a frame 37 which is in turn guided sliding on a pair of columns 38 connected above the plate 36.

The rods 35 are fitted with respective toothed wheels 39, in gear with each other, suitable for determining the reverse angular rotation of the rods themselves and consequently of the arms 34 bearing the pads. Such a rotation? operated by an actuator member, not visible in the drawing, acting on one of the rods 35 by means of a suitable lever mechanism.

The columns 38 are connected at the bottom to a crosspiece 40 which supports an actuator member 41 having a vertical axis. The stem of this actuatone 41? constrained to the frame 37, so as to control the vertical displacement of the gripping device 33, as indicated schematically by the relative dashed line 34a for greater simplicity. to only one of the arms above the extraction station 7? the outlet unit 8 which provides a conveyor belt 42 which winds on a pair of rollers 43, 44 carried rotatably on one side of a vertical plate 45. With roller 43? adapted to cooperate, in the extraction phase, a counter-rotating check roller 46, brought to the end? free of an arm 47 pivoted on an axis 48 to the plate 45; the roller 46 takes motion from the roller 43 by means of suitable transmission means.

On the upper active branch of tape 42? adapted to act a pressure roller 49 adapted to act in a direction perpendicular to the same belt 42; roller 49? movable between a working position lowered on the belt 42 and a position raised by the belt itself. The lowering of the roller 49? controlled, upon arrival of the sock, by suitable photocell sensor members, arranged to support the roller itself; the subsequent lifting? controlled by further sensor members arranged downstream of the aforementioned roller 49.

The operation of the machine described? the following.

At the beginning of each work cycle, the operator, acting at the introduction station 4, inserts and stretches a pair of socks 50 on the tubular shapes 2a, 2b parked in the station 4 itself (fig.4a).

The carousel 1 then rotates in such a way as to bring the stockings inserted on the lasts 2a, 2b inside the chamber 9 of the fixing station 5 (fig.4b). To this end, the first form 2a is previously angularly rotated by 180? around the vertical axis defined by the pin 21, so as to move into the position of approach to the second shape 2b.

The subsequent rotation of the carousel 1 brings the stockings inserted on the tubular shapes 2a, 2b inside the infrared ray chamber 14, where the stockings themselves are ironed. Inside the chamber 14, the shapes 2a, 2b are preferably arranged in a slightly angled apart position, so as to favor the optimal drying and ironing of the socks by the infrared lamps 15, arranged on the opposite walls of the chamber. 14 itself (fig. 4c). However, it is possible to provide that the shapes 2a, 2b maintain the previous position of mutual approach also inside the infrared ray chamber 14; In fact, the adoption of tubular shapes allows adequate drying even in this juxtaposed configuration.

Upon exiting the chamber 14, the forms 2a, 2b are again brought into the position of mutual approach, for the paired extraction of the stockings in station 7 (Fig. 4d). In this extraction station 7, the portion 2c of the molds 2a, 2b forming the foot is clamped between the pads of the arms 34 of the gripping device 33 which close simultaneously, starting from a spreading rest position. The flow of compressed air outgoing from the holes 32 of the tubular shapes 2a, 2b provides for directing the senility. of the stockings paired between the rollers 43, 46 of the outlet assembly 8. At the same time there is actuated the jack 41 which operates the upward sliding of the frame 37, so as to cause the lifting of the arms 34 which tighten the stockings. This lifting accompanies the unthreading of the stockings from the shapes 2a, 2b.

The top paired stockings are introduced between the counter-rotating rollers 43, 46; the closing of the abutment roller 46 on the roller 43, operated by actuator means not shown, causes the dragging of the same socks which are extracted from the forms 2a, 2b and sent along the conveyor belt 42.

It should be pointed out that the gripping arms 34 operate on the portion of the stockings arranged in correspondence with the feet 2c of the lasts 2a, 2b in such a way as to facilitate overcoming the discontinuity. determined by the 2d heel of the feet themselves. ; The easy extraction of the socks from the shapes 2a, 2b? further favored by the limited inclination of the feet 2c with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the forms themselves. In fact, this inclination is not higher than 25 ?, that is? significantly lower than the inclination of 45? traditionally adopted in the forms known up to now. When the passage of the socks transported on the belt 42 is detected, the descent of the pressure roller 49 is commanded to the lowered position, so as to act on the socks themselves. The roller 49 is automatically raised when the heel of the socks passes, to avoid the formation of an unwanted crease. Similarly, upon passage of the heel, the abutment roller 46 is removed; at that moment, however, it is already? the roller 49 is engaged. The subsequent lowering of the roller 49, after the passage of the heel of the socks,? controlled by suitable timing means. The machine described ultimately allows the treatment of men's socks to be carried out in an optimal manner, simultaneously carrying out the automatic coupling of the socks to be sent to the subsequent packaging stages. ;There? ? obtained in particular thanks to the overcoming of the technical prejudice for which up to now men's socks were treated individually on shapes consisting of full shapes, which exactly reproduced the profile of the socks to be made. The use of tubular shapes arranged in pairs on the carousel, on the other hand, allows the stockings to be coupled before treatment and the coupled stockings to be subsequently treated; the stockings are then extracted paired from the lasts and in this pairing configuration sent to the packaging stages. In other planes, the problem constituted, in the traditional technique, by necessity is solved in the way described above. to pair the stockings manually, by carrying out the preventive selection of pairs of matching size stockings. There? determines a clear reduction in labor costs and a corresponding increase in productivity? of the plant, as well as an obvious benefit in terms of automation of the production process. The machine also has a very compact shape, since? the arrangement in pairs of the tubular shapes allows a suitable reduction of the overall dimensions. Furthermore, the considerable reduction of the inclination of the foot of the last with respect to the longitudinal axis of the same forms represents in turn a significant innovation compared to the traditional technique. it is easy to introduce the stockings themselves onto the lasts, carried out manually, and the subsequent extraction of the paired stockings, carried out automatically, in particular so as to make the stockings overcome the discontinuity. determined by the heel of the foot shaped by the shapes themselves. It should be noted that the solution adopted makes it possible to extract the stockings according to a vertical direction longitudinal to the lasts, and not according to the oblique direction of the foot of the lasts themselves. ; The easy introduction of the stockings on the last? favored also? from the fact that the tubular forms undergo a modest heating during the working of the machine at full speed, passing that? through the subsequent heat treatment stations, sicch? they do not require particular precautions from the personnel assigned to the operation. The tubular shapes are also less expensive than the corresponding solid shapes. This greater economy is all the more? significant in relation to the large number of shapes generally necessary in the production phase, obviously having to provide different shapes for the different sizes of socks to be made. ; The tubular shapes also allow? a significant energy saving compared to the corresponding full shapes. This energy saving derives both from a better exploitation of the steam, in the fixing chamber, and from the drying phase, in the infrared ray chamber; in particular, drying does not require the use of hot heating air, as generally occurs in the known art. In the illustrated case, the machine provides for the fixing and ironing treatment of the stockings, carried out respectively by means of pressurized steam and medium wavelength infrared rays in the relative stations. However, it is possible to foresee that the fixing of the socks is not carried out in an autoclave, but? by steam at atmospheric pressure. It is also? alternatively, it is foreseeable that the machine performs only the infrared ray ironing treatment. ; The choice of the treatment to be performed depends on the type of yarns being processed and the degree of finish to be given to the socks. It should also be emphasized that the aforesaid shapes have a relatively long residence time inside the fixing chamber. Such time? in fact in relation to that necessary for the personnel assigned to load the stockings on the pair of lasts parked in the introduction station. There? it allows to operate at a relatively lower pressure, in the aforementioned fixing chamber, with an advantage for the quality? of the socks made.

Finally, the extraction device used makes it possible to avoid the formation of unwanted creases on the stockings, as well as avoiding damaging the stockings themselves.

In the practical implementation of the invention, the materials used, as well as? the shape and dimensions can be any according to the needs.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1) Machine for the treatment of men's socks particularly configuring the heel, characterized by the fact that it comprises a carousel bearing a plurality of peripheral distribution. of pairs of tubular shapes on which respective pairs of men's socks are intended to be inserted, said carousel being able to be stepped at a station for introducing said pairs of socks onto said tubular shapes, at least one treatment station of the stockings themselves, and a station for extracting said pairs of stockings from said shapes in which the aforementioned stockings are paired with one another. 2) Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said shapes are constituted by respective tubular elements suitably folded in such a way as to conform in an upper part the profile of the foot configuring the heel, said foot being inclined by an angle not exceeding 25? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective shape. 3) Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said tubular shapes are supported movable with respect to each other between a spread position, in which the shapes themselves lie substantially on the same vertical plane, in correspondence with said station of introduction of the stockings, and a position of mutual approach on parallel planes, to carry out the paired extraction of said stockings in said extraction station. 4) Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said pairs of tubular shapes have a first supported shape that can rotate on a vertical axis on said carousel and a second shape constrained in a fixed position on a vertical plane substantially tangential to the carousel itself, said shapes being symmetrically arranged with respect to each other, in the aforementioned spread position, so as to have a corresponding profile in the position of mutual approach. 5) Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said tubular shapes are adapted to be fed with compressed air, destined to escape through a plurality of air. of holes drilled at the top? of the forms themselves, in such a way as to produce a breath able to direct the corresponding extremity? of said stockings towards removal means provided in said extraction station. 6) Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said extraction station provides means for gripping the top? of said tubular forms and of lifting of the extremity? of said paired stockings, equipped with at least one pair of arms that can be removed on a horizontal plane, bearing a relative pad and which can be operated in reciprocal opening and closing on support means intended for alternative vertical sliding, said pads being designed to clamp said tubular shapes in correspondence of an upper part conforming the profile of the foot. 7) Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said stocking treatment stations comprise at least one fixing station inside a chamber fed by steam, in which said pairs of tubular shapes are arranged in a position of mutual approach on parallel planes. 8) Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said sock treatment stations comprise at least one ironing station inside a chamber equipped with infrared lamps, in which said pairs of tubular shapes are preferably arranged in a position divaricata, in which the shapes themselves appear to lie substantially on the same vertical plane. 9) Machine for the treatment of men's socks particularly configuring the heel, according to what can be deduced from the description and drawings.