JP2005501186A - Device for transporting a tubular knitted article from a machine for making the tubular knitted article to a means for closing its toes - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a first tubular member (5A) and a second tubular member (5B) as follows, each of which can be selectively disposed at the first station and the second station (3). An air transfer tube (17) capable of interacting with the knitting machine (2) for making the article and carrying the closed article from the knitting machine to the first station; to the first station, the article at the first station at the first station; A plurality of placement members disposed on the tubular member and the second tubular member and provided with an opening means for opening the article exiting the air transfer tube; means for pulling the toe of the tubular article at the second station; and closing means for closing the toe And an air conduit (17, 23) for lowering articles after closing the toes.

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a device for transporting tubular articles, for example tubular knitted articles such as stockings, socks etc., from the machine making it, for example a circular knitting machine, to a means for closing the toes of the article (outside the knitting machine). is there.
[0002]
The invention also relates to a method of making a tubular knitted article with closed toes and a knitting machine equipped with such an apparatus.
[Background]
[0003]
One of the most serious problems in manufacturing socks, stockings and other tubular knitted articles is represented by the need to sew or join the edges of the article to form a closed toe of the article itself. Yes. Usually, this operation is performed at a separate location using a special machine other than the knitting machine that greatly distributes the labor.
[0004]
Attempts have been made to overcome such problems, automate the production of socks and other similar knitted tubular products, and reduce the space required for individual machines.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0005]
A knitting machine with special devices for closing the toes during the initial and / or final stage of the knitting process of the article is designed for this purpose. This approach creates structural problems and is not practical for ordinary knitting machines. This is because the knitting machine cannot be deformed to have such a device.
[0006]
International patent application WO-A-00 / 011869 describes a procedure and apparatus for closing the toe of a tubular article by stitching, wherein the sewing machine is arranged under the needle cylinder of a knitting machine. Before the tubular article is completely released from the needle of the knitting machine by the holding means, it is gripped and carried to the lower sewing machine by an intermediate system that turns the tubular article over. After sewing, the article is turned over again and removed from the machine. This apparatus and method again brings about the problems necessary for the internal deformation of the knitting machine. Such obstructions may or may not always occur depending on the size of the mechanical member and the available space under the needle cylinder and the longitudinal dimensions of the article being made.
[0007]
European Patent Application EP-A-1118700 discloses an apparatus comprising a system in which an article is removed from a knitting machine by a tubular guide that is formed coaxially with respect to the needle cylinder, the tubular article being formed in and around the needle cylinder. It is described. The removed article is then transported to a toe-closing system that is located outside the knitting machine, for example, near its sides. This system is related to the previous one and has the advantage of being easier to implement on current types of knitting machines. However, this solution is also limited. This is because considerable axial dimensions of the knitting machine are necessary to implement the adaptation.
[0008]
Normally, the knitting machines, especially those used to make socks, stockings and pantyhose legs, utilize a pneumatic system that draws the product out of the knitting machine by sucking the product through the inside of the tube when the product is released by the needle doing. Tubular articles with open toes are then collected in a container and they are transported to a special point where the toes are stitched together for further action. For example, in the case of pantyhose, two legs (made separately by a knitting machine) are joined to form a finished garnet alone. Machines that work with fairly high production efficiencies are used to perform their operations, although very complex and expensive. Each machine receives a tubular article from a container by a manufacturing department that forms several different circular knitting machines. Each machine consists of various stations, on which items are placed, the direction is established, turned over, the toe area is sewn, stretched and extracted again. This type of single device can be manufactured on several knitting machines. An example of a device for stitching pantyhose legs is described in Nils Modig, “Hosiery Machines: Their Development, Technology and Practical Use”, Meisenbach Bamberg, 2nd edition, 1988, et seq.
[0009]
This type of machine is not suitable for the automatic formation of socks. This is because it often requires labor intensive operations, and because the machine is only suitable for large scale manufacturing, socks are usually made in small bundles.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0010]
The object of the present invention is to make the device easily applicable to conventional knitting machines and to be used for closing the toes of tubular articles made by knitting machines outside the machine itself.
[0011]
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new method of manufacturing a tubular knitted article so that the toes automatically close at the end of the knitting process without requiring complicated handling or labor.
[0012]
In essence, the present invention relates to a device for closing the toe of a tubular knitted article exiting a knitting machine,
A support comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, each of which can be selectively disposed at the first and second stations;
An air transfer tube capable of interacting with an articol producing machine and carrying a closed article from said machine to said first station;
A disposing member for disposing the article on the first and second tubular members disposed on the first station;
Means for pulling the toe of the tubular article to the second station; and closing means for closing the toe;
An air conduit for withdrawing the article after closing a toe that may be at least partially placed in the same tube used to carry the article before stitching;
In combination,
The positioning member comprises an opening means for opening the article exiting from the air transfer tube.
[0013]
This type of device can easily interact with a single knitting machine or several knitting machines by means of an air transfer tube. Thus, the article is withdrawn from the prior art machine with the toes open, and no type of collection device, equipment or mechanism need be inserted into the machine other than a simple air transfer tube or conduit. The product received from the machine is placed in place, flipped, stitched, tied or done to close the toe, flipped over again, and finally removed and another action is taken. Continuous machining in two separate stations.
[0014]
Articles are then transported from one station to another by a system of two movable tubular members. In this way, the operation can be performed in parallel on two articles. This is a partial overlap of the machining process of the two articles: while closing the toe of one article, it is arranged to close the next article. This substantially reduces the time required for the cycle of operations performed on each article, and a single transfer device and individual means place all tubular articles from one or more knitting machines in place. Can be used to flip, close and close.
[0015]
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the following description.
[0016]
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support of the tubular member selectively displaces the first tubular member and the second tubular member on the first station and the second station on the axis (intermittent but always Or you can turn the same direction alternately). The two tubular members can be arranged parallel or inclined to each other. Preferably, the tubular members are parallel to each other and parallel to the rotation and swing axes of the individual supports, although other configurations are possible.
[0017]
The tubular article from the knitting machine can be brought to the tubular member at the first station to the end of the member corresponding to the position where the toes are placed and closed. Preferably, however, the article is fed from the opposite side to the tubular member. In other words, the outlet of the air transfer tube in this case faces in the direction of the interior of the tubular member temporarily located at the first station. The article is sucked in by appropriate suction, exits the air transfer tube and enters the inside of the tubular member, where the article is stopped near the end opposite to the end into which it has penetrated. The opening and the arrangement means are provided at a position having means for arranging the edge portion to be stitched upside down.
[0018]
This kind of arrangement can provide a very simple, cost-effective and reliable structure, reduce the number of parts and reduce the time to handle the article. The article passes through the tubular member with the edge opposite the toe that initially closes, i.e., the toe is directed along the air transfer tube and upstream with respect to the advancement of the article along the tubular member.
[0019]
Further advantageous features and forms of embodiment of the device according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims.
[0020]
Various types of means for opening the tubular article can be used. Known types of devices can be used for this purpose, which may differ from those described below, resulting in a particularly advantageous form of the innovative and presently preferred embodiment.
[0021]
According to an advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the gripping means (in the case of an article in the form of a sock, in the case of an article in the form of a sock, the gripping means ( For example, air means are preferably provided. The gripping means opens the telescopic edge and turns the article over on the outer surface of the tubular member.
[0022]
A method of manufacturing a tubular knitted article with closed toes can be performed using an apparatus of the type described herein, the method of manufacturing comprising the following steps:
Knitting the tubular article in a knitting machine;
Withdrawing the finished tubular article with the toes open from the knitting machine and guiding the tubular article directly into the air transfer path;
Supplying the article by the air transfer path to a first station for opening and placing the article;
Carrying the placed article to a second station to close the toe, while opening the second tubular article to be placed at the first station;
Is included.
[0023]
Indeed, for an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the end of the tubular article opposite the toes is opened at the first station and the article is turned over.
[0024]
The operations performed on the tubular article can be variously divided between the first station and the second station. Articles can be supplied to the first station, carried to the second station, and removed from the second station. Optionally, the article can then be returned to the first station and removed from the first station by air.
[0025]
For example, consider the following stages:
Attaching and placing a first article on the first tubular member or second tubular member temporarily located at the first station;
The first tubular member having the first article disposed thereon is transported to the second station, and the first tubular member and the second tubular member are disposed by attaching the second article after removing the previously closed toe article. Bringing the other to the first station while closing the toe of the first article at the second station;
Is included.
[0026]
You can actually consider the following order:
Opening the end of the first article opposite the closed toe and turning it over at the outer surface of the tubular member;
Turning the article over and attaching it to the outer surface of the tubular member;
Carrying the goods to the second station;
Closing the toes at the second station;
Removing the article;
Is included.
[0027]
In an alternative embodiment, after closing the toes, the article can be removed by reversing from the outside to the inside of the tubular member and by suction through the tubular member at the first or second station.
[0028]
In a possible embodiment, the method comprises the following steps:
a) placing a first tubular member at the first station;
b) guiding the first article to the first tubular member;
c) turning the first article over on the outer surface of the first tubular member;
d) transporting the first tubular member to the second station and placing the second tubular member at the first station;
e) closing the toe of the first article, while temporarily guiding the second article to the second tubular member located at the first station, turning it over on the outer surface of the tubular member;
f) transporting the second tubular member to the second station and the first tubular member to the first station;
g) flipping over the first article again, inserting it into the first tubular member, and pulling the first tubular article apart by sucking into the first tubular member;
Is included.
[0029]
The apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in connection with an embodiment that implements special innovative means of directing, positioning and opening a single article. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be practiced with other means of orientation, positioning and opening.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0030]
The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following drawings, which illustrate practical and non-limiting embodiments and the following description.
[Example 1]
[0031]
1, 1A and 2 show an apparatus according to the invention applicable to a knitting machine, typically a circular knitting machine for the manufacture of tubular articles such as socks, stockings and the like. The apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 and reference numeral 2 in FIG. 2 represents a circular knitting machine of a known type diagrammatically and is essentially combined with the apparatus 1.
[0032]
The apparatus 1 includes a support portion 3 that supports tubular members 5A and 5B that are parallel to each other. The support part 3 rotates on an axis AA parallel to the axis of the second tubular members 5A, 5B. The rotation operation of the support unit 3 is controlled by an actuator 7 that is disposed on the fixed frame 9 and supported by the fixed frame. The rotational movement can be performed by the inevitable upward movement of the support and the tubular member, which is utilized to avoid collisions (during rotation) with the mechanical parts surrounding the lower end of the tubular member. .
[0033]
The support 3 rotates 180 ° about the axis A-A, and the two tubular members 5A, 5B are selectively disposed at two adjacent stations. The operation can be an alternating operation or an intermittent rotation operation without reversing the direction of rotation.
[0034]
The opening means is located at the first station, where the tubular member 5A is located in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The opening means comprises a gripping means, which is fed into the tubular member at the first station for holding the expanding and contracting edge of each article that opens the expanding and contracting edge on the outer surface of the tubular member itself. is there. In addition, means are provided for reversing the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular member. The combined configuration of these placement members is generally indicated at 11 in FIG. 1 and has been removed in FIG. 1 to make some of those members more clear.
[0035]
Angular positioning means and tensioning means are located at the second station, said means being indicated generally by the reference 13 and closing the toe of the tubular article, closing means 15, In particular, the sewing machine is for closing the toes of an article by stitching or another action (for example, stitching).
[0036]
Each step of preparing and closing the toe of the article is described in detail below.
[0037]
The tubular article made by the knitting machine 2 has a terminal curved portion 17A formed at an angle of 90 ° and faces one first end of the tubular members 5A, 5B temporarily located at the first station. It is supplied to the apparatus 1 through the air transfer pipe 17, and the tubular member 5A is in the position shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 1A, and FIG. An air transfer tube 17 is connected to a conduit 19 extending from the lower part of the needle cylinder of the knitting machine 2. Interception means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 21, is arranged between the tube 17 and the conduit 19.
[0038]
The suction required for the article made by the knitting machine 2 and withdrawn from the needle is generated via the tubular member 5A or 5B, as described below, which keeps the intercepting member 21 open. .
[0039]
After the tubular article is closed by the sewing machine 15 at the second station, it is transported back to the first station where it is aspirated and removed via the air bleed conduit 23. For this purpose, the conduit 23 is connected to the air transfer tube 17 and then to a mounting 25 which is connected to a suction device (not shown).
[0040]
The article is reinserted after closing the toes and the article is sucked in from the inside of the tubular member 5A or 5B and reaches the box 27 along the tube 17 and further through the conduit 23, where it is in a substantially known manner. Extracted. At this stage, the intercepting means 21 is closed. After extracting the finished article, a new article is drawn through the conduit 19 and the transfer tube 17.
[0041]
The device described in this regard works as follows. The first article made by the machine 2 is sucked through the conduit 19 and the transfer pipe 17 and reaches the tubular member 5A. Since the article made by the machine 2 begins with a telescopic edge and ends with a toe, the article reaches the tubular member A, the telescopic edge first, and then downstream, with respect to the direction of advancement. Upon reaching the lower end of the tubular member 5A, the article is flipped over the outer surface of the tubular member 5A by the member normally indicated at 11, which will be described in detail below.
[0042]
After the placement, the support part 3 is turned 180 °, the positions of the tubular members 5A and 5B are turned over, the tubular member 5A is placed at the second station, and the tubular member 5B is taken by the first station. Here, the toes of the article are pulled and sewn in a manner essentially similar to that described in EP-A-1118700 and the like.
[0043]
During the tensioning and stitching operation, another article from the machine 2 is inserted into the tubular member 5B temporarily located at the first station. The article is turned over on the outer surface of the tubular member 5B, ready to close the toe.
[0044]
After the toe of the first article is closed at the second station and the second article is placed at the first station, the support portion 3 is rotated 180 ° to place the tubular members 5A, 5B in the form shown in FIG. return. As the first article is aspirated and withdrawn along the tube 17 and the conduit 23, the next article can be guided while the toe of the second article is closed at the second station.
[0045]
After closing the toes at the first station or the second station, the article can be turned over a second time, both the first station or the second station being provided with means for performing the operations as illustrated below.
[0046]
As described above, it is clear that the device 1 can perform a toe closing operation by simultaneously working on two articles at two stations, during which the articles are carried by mechanisms 3, 5A, 5B. is there. In this way, it is necessary to close the overlapped part. As a result, the total time required to close the toes is reduced and all items from the knitting machine 2 with which the device 1 is associated can be closed.
[0047]
3-7 show in detail a member in which a tubular article is supplied individually by means of an air transfer tube 17 inside one or the other of the other tubular members 5a, 5b and the tubular article is opened and turned over.
[0048]
The assembly of members 11 is supported by an annular structure 31 which is temporarily arranged coaxially with the tubular member 5A or 5B at the first station. The annular structure 31 is supported by the sliding portion 33 (FIGS. 1 and 1A), and the sliding portion moves on the vertical guide portion 36 parallel to the axis of the tubular members 5A and 5B. An annular structure supports a plurality of radially movable pressing portions 35, each of which is associated with an individual actuator (37) (see in particular FIG. 4). As will be described in detail below, the pressing portion 35 reverses the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular member 5A or 5B and functions in an auxiliary manner.
[0049]
The annular structure 31 supports four actuators 39, for example, cylinder piston actuators, on the pressing portions 35 arranged radially, and the movement of the individual sliding portions 41 that move along the guide portions 43. The sliding part is perpendicular to the axis of the tubular members 5A, 5B. Each sliding portion 41 supports the air gripping member. A first pair of gripping members (facing each other) is indicated by reference numeral 45A, and a second pair of gripping members is indicated by reference numeral 45B. The operation of the guide member and the sliding portion 41 is indicated by a double arrow f41.
[0050]
Each gripping member is provided with a suction head 47 attached to a first end of a tube 49, and a second end of the tube is connected to a suction line by a flexible tube. The flexible tube and the suction line are not shown to simplify the drawing.
[0051]
An individual stem 51 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B for details) is associated with each gripping member 45A, 45B. The stem forms an opening means that opens the edge of the tubular article opposite the toe of the article to be closed.
[0052]
Each stem is supported by a sliding portion 53 that moves on a guide portion 55 that is integral with the individual sliding portion 41. Each sliding portion 53 is fixed to an attached portion 59 incorporated in each sliding portion 41 by a traction spring 57, and four stems 51 are arranged in the axial direction of the annular structure portion 31 and the tubular members 5A and 5B. Elastic stress is applied and is described below.
[0053]
A moving unit is disposed under the annular structure 31. The moving unit forms the upper end of the suction tube 61 supported by the support 63, and the support is movable and controlled in the vertical direction by an actuator (represented schematically by reference numeral 64) with respect to the arrow f63. Is done. Tube 61 is connected to a suction source by a flexible tube (both not shown in the drawing).
[0054]
As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the suction tube 61 is shown separated from other components of the device, the upper part of the suction tube 61 forms a housing through which the gripping members 45A, 48B pass, which is referred to This is indicated by the reference numeral 65. Under the housing 65, an intercepting member 67 comprising a gripping portion is provided, which stops the sucked tubular member from penetrating the inside of the tube.
[0055]
Four contouring appendages are individually indicated by reference numerals 71A, 71B and 73A, 73B and are made on the suction tube 61 between the four housings 65. The attachment portions 71A and 73B are symmetrical to each other. Similarly, the attached portions 71B and 73B are symmetrical with each other.
[0056]
Mutually symmetric contoured appendages 71C, 73C are provided within each of the tubular members 5A, 5B and are shown separately from the individual tubular members in FIG. The shapes of the contouring attachment portions 71C and 73C are complementary with respect to the contouring attachment portions 71A, 71B, 73A and 73B, and are integral with the suction tube 61, and the attachment portion 71C forms the contouring body 71A and 71B. The shape of the attachment member is symmetrical with respect to that formed by the attachment portions 73A, 73B, and 73C when the attachment portion 73C is inserted between the attachment portions 73A and 73B. Two symmetrical contoured bodies are generally indicated by reference numerals 71 and 73 in FIGS. 6A and 6B, which are shown as made of a single part, and clearly define the shape of the contoured body. The tubular members 5A and 5B are removed for the purpose of showing.
[0057]
The suction tube 61 is movable in the direction of the double arrow f63 with respect to the tubular member 5A or 5B temporarily located at the first station of the device 1, and the device 1 is gripping members 45A, 45B as described in detail below. Can open the tubular article.
[0058]
Contoured bodies 71, 73 formed by joining the attached portions 71A, 71B, 71C and 73A, 73B, 73C guide and define the direction of the tubular article reaching the lower end of the tubular member 5A or 5B Forming means. For this purpose, the contouring bodies 71 and 73 are provided with three different main contouring surfaces. Each body has a reference S ₇₁ And S ₇₃ Are provided, corresponding to the inner cylindrical surfaces of the tubular members 5A or 5B. In addition, each body has a reference X ₇₁ And X ₇₃ A surface is provided for determining and guiding the direction indicated by. Their surface developments are essentially flat, inclined in the upper region and essentially spiral in the lower region. Surface X ₇₁ And X ₇₃ Faces the end of the tubular member, from which the tubular knitted article is directed and guided out. Further, each of the contour forming bodies 71 and 73 is denoted by a reference symbol Y ₇₁ And Y ₇₃ Provided in the lower region of the two contoured bodies near the outlets of the tubular members 5A, 5B and longitudinally crossing each other. Parallel to the axis of the individual tubular members 5A, 5B that define the passage area of the knitted article in the plane.
[0059]
The combination of the contour forming bodies 71 and 73 directs and guides the tubular article that reaches the inside of the tubular member 5A or 5B. The effect of the structure of the contouring bodies 71, 73 in place on the tubular article is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7A-7F, where FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the two contouring bodies 71, 73, FIGS. 7F is a cross-section with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member 5A or 5B at the position indicated by reference numerals B, C, D, E, F in FIG. 7A. In these drawings, reference numeral M denotes a tubular article and illustrates a cross section of the stretchable edge of the article itself. In FIG. 7A, the article M has a surface Y ₇₁ , Y ₇₃ With respect to the right angle. This is one possible form in which the article can come out of the air transfer tube 17. In general, the article M will always be properly folded in this manner, but will be folded in any angular direction on the axis of the tubular member.
[0060]
Advancing in the arrow fM on the contour forming bodies 71 and 73, the article M is surface X ₇₁ And X ₇₃ The first position or surface Y ₇₁ , Y ₇₃ Suppose that it is turned up to 90 ° with respect to the parallel arrangement. When the article M interferes with the contoured bodies 71, 73, the surfaces X71, X73 are shown in FIGS. 7A-7F, with the surface X71, X73 turned to the final position indicated by reference numeral M1 or 180 ° relative to this position. Surface Y as ₇₁ , Y ₇₃ It is possible to rotate it to bring the article to a position that is always parallel. This facilitates opening and turning the article with the previously described members not shown below.
[0061]
6A and 6B, and also in detail in FIG. 8A, one upper end of the tubular member 5A, 5B is shown, each of which consists of two coaxial tubular elements, in FIG. The element and the outer element are denoted by reference numerals 5X and 5Y, respectively. The tubular element 5X can slide a short distance inside the tubular element 5Y supported directly by the support 3. A helical compression screw 6 housed in the gap between the two tubular elements 5X and 5Y serves to stress the inner tubular element 5X upward, i.e. project from the top of the tubular element 5Y. The contouring bodies 71, 73 (or precisely their portions 71C, 73C) are incorporated into the inner tubular element 5X of the individual tubular elements 5A, 5B.
[0062]
The member shown in FIG. 8B and described below allows the inner tubular element 5X to be pushed downward and slides inside the tubular element 5Y to exceed the spring 6 elasticity.
[0063]
For this reason (see FIG. 8B), the air transfer tube 17 terminates in a telescopic extension 17C provided with a collar 17D. The downward extension of portion 17C is controlled by a pair of cylinder piston actuators 18, one of which can be seen in FIG. 8B, both of which can be seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 1A, FIG. By moving the portion 17C downward, the collar 17D stops at the corresponding collar 5Z, which is incorporated into the inner tubular element 5X of the tubular member 5A or 5B, and pushes the tubular element 5X downward to the first station. Located temporarily. As a result, the inner tubular element 5X is slid in the inner tubular element 5Y, the air transfer pipe 17 is pneumatically connected to the tubular member 5A or 5B, and the article is transferred from the machine 2 from the transfer pipe 17 to the tubular member 5A or 5B. Carry to. The associated telescoping function of the tubular elements 5X, 5Y will become apparent in the paragraph describing how to turn the tubular article upside down.
[0064]
The operation of the apparatus for placing the tubular article on the tubular member 5A or 5B located at the first station for closing the toes will now be illustrated.
[0065]
The operations described below are selectively performed in the tubular member 5A and the tubular member 5B. The described operation will be described with reference to the tubular member 5A. Assume that the tubular member 5A receives the tubular article M from the machine 2. The actuator 7 arranges the support portion 3 at an angular position where the tubular member 5A is arranged at the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. The actuator 63 moves the suction pipe 61 upward, passes the inside of the tubular member 5A through the attached portions 71A, 71B, 73A, 73B combined with the suction pipe, and (with the attached portions 71C, 73C) the contour forming body 71 , 73 is completed. The telescopic part 17D is lowered, and the pipe 17 is connected to the inside of the tubular member 5A by air pressure. A vacuum is generated in the conduit 19, the air transfer tube 17 and the tubular member 5A by the suction tube 61 (opening the intercepting means 21). As soon as the article knitted by the machine 2 is completed, the article is released by the needle and sucked towards the tubular member 5A. The article is opened along both the telescoping edge and the toe. The article moves along the air path with the telescoping edge forward and the toe back.
[0066]
The vacuum inside the air path pulls the tubular article M until the tubular article M collides against the grid 67 combined with the suction tube 61. By providing the contour forming bodies 71 and 73 that form the guide and direction setting means, when the article reaches the tubular member 5A at any position and the article contacts the grid 67, the gripping members 45A and 45B With respect to the axis of the tubular member 5A brought close to it, it is arranged in one of two positions, schematically illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B showing a cross section at right angles.
[0067]
Prior to the arrival of the article M, the gripping members 45A, 45B are arranged as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B: the gripping members 45A facing each other are more spaced than the gripping members 45B facing each other. The member 45A has a surface Y at the lower part of the contour forming bodies 71, 73. ₇₁ , Y ₇₃ And the member 45B is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the larger dimension portion.
[0068]
Since the gripping means 45A, 45B are arranged directly on the grip 67, they are arranged with stretchable edges or tubular articles of socks reaching from the knitting machine 2 and can grip this edge as described below. The article is opened and turned over on the outer surface of the tubular member 5A.
[0069]
When the article M reaches one or the other position shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the suction by the suction pipe 61 is cut off, and the gripping members 45B arranged opposite to each other can be closed to each other, as shown in FIG. Press against the tubular article M. When this position is reached, suction can be applied via the gripping member 45B, and the gripping member can grip the edge of the tubular article in two opposing placement regions. At the same time, the suction pipe 61 can be moved downward by the actuator and pulled apart. In this manner, a gap is formed around the gripping members 45A and 45B, and the gripping member is located below the lower edge of the tubular member 5A.
[0070]
The opening action of the gripping member 45B controlled by the individual actuators 39 thereby opens the tubular article M, which assumes the position shown in FIG. 11 in the region protruding from the lower outlet of the tubular member 5A.
[0071]
Subsequently, the gripping members 45A are brought close to each other, and are pressed against the edge of the tubular article M in a region between the two gripping members 45B as shown in FIG. After pushing the tubular article M between the two front surfaces of the gripping article 45A, the article is acted on by the generation of a suction force inside and the tubular article is drawn by the member. The gripping member 45A then opens to fully open the article M, which assumes the position shown in FIG.
[0072]
FIG. 14 shows a longitudinal section of the tubular member 5 </ b> A, and the stretchable edge of the article M is opened. Reference numeral MB indicates the stretchable edge of the article and reference numeral MP indicates the toe, i.e. the edge that serves to form a closed toe of the article after it has approached the second station of the device 1. It is. 15 and 20 show the operation of turning the tubular article M upside down on the tubular member 5A with the same cross section.
[0073]
In FIG. 15, the stem 15 is inserted inside the opening edge MB of the tubular article M. After stopping the gripping member and the fibers of the edge MB that are no longer attached to it, the stem holds the edge. Actuator 39 opens stem 51 to reach the position shown in FIG. 16, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. Here, four stems 51 (only two are shown in the cross section) are in a wide open position with the edge MB of the article M being arranged away from the entrance of the tubular member 5A. It includes that the opening action is performed by different means, for example by a single set of machine-type gripping means. However, the individually described arrangement is particularly reliable because it avoids accidental damage to the fibers forming the article.
[0074]
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the edge MB of the article M is opened, the inner tubular element 5X is in the retracted position, that is, the position retracted along the tubular member 5Y. This is obtained by returning the collar 17D and the portion 17C of the air transfer tube 17 upward (FIG. 8B). Conversely, in FIG. 16, the inner tubular member 5X is pushed again to the lower position, aligning the inlet with the inlet of the outer tubular element 5Y. This operation changes the position of the attachment portions 71C and 73C integral with the tubular element 5X with respect to the lower entrance of the tubular member 5A.
[0075]
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the upward movement of the annular structure 31 supporting the stem 51 by the arrow f <b> 31 is reversed on the outer surface of the tubular member 5 </ b> A. The stem 51 is retracted.
[0076]
After the edge MB of the article M is returned on the outer surface of the tubular member 5A, the radial arrangement pressing part is pushed against the edge itself, and the structure 31 supporting the radial arrangement pressing part is also moved upward. (See FIGS. 19 and 20). In this way, the radially arranged pressing portion 35 moves the tubular article M from the inside to the outer surface of the tubular member 5A while turning it over, and the edge MP formed by the edge of the closed toe is placed on the outer surface of the tubular member. Take. This is necessary for articles that require one or more movements of the structure 31, and the pressing portions 35 that are opened and arranged radially are moved upward, and are moved downward again by the radially arranged pressing portions 35 that are closed in the tubular member 5 </ b> A. .
[0077]
When bringing the edge MP onto the outer surface of the tubular member 5A to form a closed toe, i.e., when the article M is fully turned over and is on the outer surface of the tubular member, the sequence is tubular. The support part 3 that supports the member 5A is raised, rotated 180 °, and lowered to the second station that closes the toe.
[0078]
First, the edge MP needs to be aligned and parallel to the inlet edge of the tubular member 5A. This operation can be performed at the first station or the second station and is illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. In FIG. 21A, the article M is turned over entirely on the outer surface of the tubular member 5A, and the edge MP for forming a closed toe is in a temporarily irregular retracted position with respect to the distal edge of the tubular member 5A. Be placed. Radial arrangement pressing portions 35 are arranged below the edge MP corresponding to the end region of the tubular member and approach the outer surface of the tubular member. To align the edge MP, the pressing portion is raised, and the edge MP is slid upward by a distance sufficient to ensure that all the pressing portions 35 are stationary (FIG. 21B). In this way, the edge MP is preferably arranged on a typical circumference located on the top tangent plane. At this point, the pressing portion 35 is opened, moved further upward to a height just above the edge MP, closed, and the tubular article M is pushed. At the next stage, the closed pressing portion is lowered to align the edge MP with the lower end edge of the tubular member 5A in the form of FIG. 21D. The process can be controlled by, for example, an optical sensor (not shown). In FIG. 21D, the edge MP is aligned with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member and including the lower edge of the tubular member 5A. The procedure of aligning the edges MP can also be performed at the second station by a similar radial placement press, which is provided at said station for another function as illustrated below.
[0079]
FIG. 22 shows a longitudinal section of the tubular member 5A with the edge MP of the article aligned prior to turning the article over and rotating the support 3 carrying the tubular member 5A to the second station by 180 °. After the operation including.
[0080]
FIGS. 23 and 27 illustrate the action of pulling the tubular article at the second station before closing the toe.
[0081]
An annular structure 81 similar to the structure 31 is arranged at the second station and supported by a sliding portion 83 that moves on the vertical guide portion 85 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The annular structure 81 is provided with a radial arrangement pressing part 87 which is actuated by an actuator 89, which are similar to the radial arrangement pressing part 35 and the individual actuators 37. The annular structure 81 is provided with a radially arranged pressing portion attached thereto, and can be moved angularly on the same axis as the axis of the tubular member 5A or 5B temporarily arranged at the second station. Angular movement is performed by the actuator 90 (FIGS. 1-2).
[0082]
In this way, the radial arrangement pressing part 87 can be pushed against the surface of the tubular article M, the edge MP of the tubular article can be angularly arranged with respect to the tubular member 5A and joined to form a toe with the two edges closed. And aligning the edges along the distal region of the outer tubular element 5Y with two slots or grooves 5D that are radially opposite from that edge, which is particularly seen in FIG. . If the tubular member 5A is angularly fixed with respect to the support portion 3 or knows its angular position, the angular position of the slot 5D can be known in advance. A light cell or other light sensor 91 (shown in FIG. 25) is used to confirm the exact angular position of the tubular article M, for example by markings knitted with the appropriate colored thread. The angle determination operation of the tubular article with respect to the tubular member to which the article is attached can also be performed at the first station instead of the second station. Furthermore, this can be done either by turning the tubular member or by holding the article angularly stopped by the radially arranged pressing part. In general, the angle determination is obtained as a result of moving the articles relative to each other with respect to the tubular member, where one or the other can be a fixed element.
[0083]
After the tubular article M is angularly aligned (FIGS. 23 and 24) or during the operation described above, the two brackets 13A attached to the tensioning means 13 can be guided from the bottom into the tubular member. (FIGS. 24 and 25). After the bracket 13A protrudes outward from the tubular member through the radially facing slot 5D and is angularly arranged, the bracket 13A can be opened (FIG. 26), and the edge MP of the article is as shown in FIG. Pull on. The bracket 13A is then moved downward so that the edge pulled below the lower edge of the tubular member is brought to the area where it is sewn by the sewing machine 15 or another suitable means, for example, the sewing machine Equipped with a machine, the fiber of the edge MP penetrates there. Since the closing operation is performed in a manner known per se, it is not described here.
[0084]
After closing the toe, the article M penetrating the inside of the tubular member 5A can be turned over again and removed. This operation is performed again by the radially arranged pressing portion. In the example shown, there is only one air transfer tube 17 used to supply a new article to be closed and to move and release the closed article, including turning the article over and pulling it apart. The second operation is performed at the first station where the tubular member 5A is returned by newly rotating the support 3 by 180 °. As a result, in this case, the second operation including turning over the article is performed by the radially arranged pressing portion 35, and upward suction is generated in the tubular member 5A during that time. FIG. 28 shows the first stage of the second flipping operation that is carried out until one or more selective strokes of the radial placement press 35 sucks the telescopic edge MB into the tubular member 5A. ing.
[0085]
Consider the possibility of dropping a closed article at the second station. For example, a suction conduit similar to the transfer tube 17 may be provided and placed on the transfer means in a straight line with the tubular member 5A or 5B, which is temporarily located at the second station. In this case, a second action including turning the tubular article over after closing the toe is performed at the second station by the radial placement push 87.
[0086]
Of course, in this case, the classification of each stage between the two stations is also different. In any case, the sequence needs to open the telescopic edge MB and close the toe MP at two different stations, the first station and the second station. On the other hand, the remaining actions can be performed on one or the other of the two stations, and can be classified according to need or operator choice, in order to minimize the total time required to close the toes Always consider. In particular, the angular direction setting of the article (FIGS. 23 and 24) can be performed at the first station, in which case the annular structure 31 can move in the angular direction. The alignment of the edges MP (FIGS. 21A to 21D) at the second station can be performed by the radial arrangement pressing part 87. As described, a second action can be performed at the second station, including turning the article over and taking it down.
[Example 2]
[0087]
FIGS. 29 and 30 show another embodiment of a device having two cross sections, similar to the cross section shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The same reference numerals represent the same or corresponding parts as those in FIGS. 6A and 6B. This second embodiment differs from the prior art with respect to another form of means for guiding and orienting upward with respect to the gripping means. In this case, the end portions (downward) of the tubular members 5A, 5B consist of an internal frustoconical surface 101 which guides the telescopic edge MB of the tubular article towards the four cylindrical surfaces 103, The cylindrical surface is arranged corresponding to the gripping means. In this way, the edge of the tubular article is clamped in the axial direction of another tubular article and is gripped by the gripping means. The solution is less advantageous than the conventional one. This is because the position where the article is arranged is not defined, and it is necessary to repeat the operation of the gripping members 45A and 45B several times in order to open the article.
[0088]
The second embodiment is different from the conventional one because in the first embodiment, the collar 8 is provided to reduce the cross-section of the tubular members 5A and 5B. The collar has a cross-section that forms and retracts to facilitate passage through the tubular article. This prevents the article from colliding with the contoured bodies 71, 73 and places the product by restricting the incoming product for the next direction setting.
[0089]
The drawings are merely exemplary, and many variations may be made to the structure and embodiments of the invention contemplated herein within the scope of the invention. The presentation of reference signs in the appended claims is intended to facilitate understanding of the claims with reference to the description and does not limit the scope of protection indicated by the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0090]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for flipping, carrying and closing tubular articles.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with several parts removed.
2 is a perspective view of a knitting machine including the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gripping member unit that opens an article.
4 is a perspective view different from the perspective of the unit of FIG. 3, showing an open pressing member that turns the tubular article upside down.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view with separated means for guiding and orienting articles supplied to a device that opens, flips over and closes in the toe area.
FIG. 6A is a view showing one of the tubular members along a plane orthogonal to each other in the longitudinal direction, together with a gripping member for opening the tubular article and guiding and direction setting means for the tubular article.
FIG. 6B is a view showing one of the tubular members along a plane perpendicular to each other in the longitudinal direction, together with a gripping member for opening the tubular article and guide and direction setting means for the tubular article.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the guide and direction setting means for the article that has reached the tubular member.
FIG. 8A is a perspective partial cross-sectional view with respect to the longitudinal plane of the tubular member awning.
FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the end portion of the air transfer tube and the tubular member support.
FIG. 9A illustrates two possible positions: a position where the tubular article can be placed when the tubular article reaches the end of the tubular member, and a position where the tubular article is turned over before closing the toe in the final stage. Figure.
FIG. 9B illustrates two possible positions: a position where the tubular article can be placed when the tubular article reaches the end of the tubular member, and a position where the tubular article is turned over before closing the toe in the final stage. Figure.
FIG. 10 shows four successive stages of opening motion involving the telescopic edge of the tubular article in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member.
FIG. 11 shows four successive stages of opening motion including the telescoping edge of the tubular article in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member.
FIG. 12 shows four successive stages of opening motion involving the stretchable edge of the tubular article in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member.
FIG. 13 shows four successive stages of opening motion involving the telescopic edge of the tubular article in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member.
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing successive stages of the reversing operation of the expansion / contraction edge of the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular fine crime.
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing successive stages of the reversing operation of the expansion / contraction edge of the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular fine crime.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing successive stages of the reversing operation of the expansion / contraction edge of the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular fine crime.
FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing successive stages of the reversing operation of the expansion / contraction edge of the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular fine crime.
FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing successive stages of the reversing operation of the expansion / contraction edge of the tubular article on the outer surface of the tubular fine crime.
FIG. 19 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing two successive stages of tubular article reversing motion on the outer surface of the tubular member.
FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view showing two successive stages of tubular article reversing motion on the outer surface of the tubular member.
FIG. 21A shows four consecutive stages of aligning the edges of a tubular article.
FIG. 21B shows four consecutive stages of aligning the edges of the tubular article.
FIG. 21C shows four successive stages of aligning the edges of a tubular article.
FIG. 21D shows four successive stages of aligning the edges of a tubular article.
FIG. 22 shows the tubular member with the article flipped on its outer surface before being transported to the second station to close the toe.
FIG. 23 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing successive stages of pulling the article to close the toe and the beginning of the stage of closing the toe and pulling out the article.
FIG. 24 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a continuous stage of pulling an article to close a toe and an initial stage of closing the toe and extracting the article.
FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the successive stages of pulling the article to close the toe and the beginning of the stage of closing the toe and extracting the article.
FIG. 26 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of successive stages of pulling the article to close the toe and the beginning of the stage of closing the toe and removing the article.
FIG. 27 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the successive stages of pulling the article to close the toe and the beginning of the stage of closing the toe and pulling out the article.
FIG. 28 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the successive stages of pulling the article to close the toe and the beginning of the stage of closing the toe and extracting the article.
FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a cross section along two mutually perpendicular longitudinal planes of the guide and direction setting means according to another embodiment.
FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a cross section along two mutually perpendicular longitudinal planes of the guide and direction setting means according to another embodiment.

Claims (23)

In a device for closing the toes of tubular knitted articles from a knitting machine,
A support comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, each of which can be selectively disposed at the first station and the second station;
An air transfer tube capable of interacting with the knitting machine and carrying a closed article from the knitting machine to the first station;
A plurality of arrangement members having an opening means for causing the first station to place the article on the first tubular member and the second tubular member at the first station and opening the article from the air transfer pipe;
Means for pulling the toe of the tubular article to the second station and closing means for closing the toe;
An air conduit for lowering articles after closing the toes;
A device characterized by being configured in combination. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support is rotatable about an axis to selectively place the first and second tubular members at the first and second stations. 4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first tubular member and the second tubular member can be arranged essentially parallel to each other. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tubular members are parallel to a rotation axis of the support portion. In the first station, an article for closing a plurality of arrangement members is arranged at a first end of a tubular member temporarily located at the first station, and the article is air at an opposite end of the tubular member. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is inserted into the tubular member by a transfer tube. 6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an actuator is provided at the second station for turning an article associated with a tubular member temporarily located at the second station. A plurality of members for turning over the tubular article are provided at the first station, and the plurality of members turn the article attached thereto from inside to outside of the tubular member temporarily located at the first station. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims. A plurality of suction means are arranged at the first station for sucking articles into a tubular member temporarily located at the first station. The device described. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plurality of opening means includes gripping means for gripping an end of the article opposite to an end to be stitched. 10. The plurality of opening means comprises a plurality of opening members for extending the end and attaching it to the outside of a tubular member temporarily located at the first station. Equipment. The first station for turning the tubular article upside down by removing the tubular article from the tubular member and bringing the tubular article to an outer surface thereof, wherein the plurality of members for turning the article upside down comprise a plurality of pressing parts. 8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is movable radially and axially along a tubular member which is temporarily located at the bottom. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the actuator for rotating the article and the tubular member on which the article is arranged is arranged at the second station. In a method of manufacturing a tubular knitted article with closed toes,
Knitting the tubular article in a knitting machine;
Removing the finished tubular article with the toes open from the knitting machine and guiding the tubular article directly into the air transfer path;
Supplying the article by the air transfer path to a first station for opening and placing the article;
Carrying the placed article to a second station to close the toe, while opening the second tubular article to be placed at the first station;
Removing the first article after closing the toe;
A method characterized by comprising. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein at the first station, the end of the tubular article opposite the toes is closed and the article is turned over. 15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a first tubular member and a second tubular member are selectively disposed at the first station and the second station. The article is inserted from the air transfer path into the first or second tubular member from one end thereof, by an edge located in a position provided in front of the toe on the side opposite to the closed toe, 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the portion is flipped outside the tubular member, corresponding to the end opposite the end that inserts the article into the tubular member. Attaching and placing a first article on said first tubular member or second tubular member temporarily located at said first station;
The first tubular member having the first article disposed thereon is transported to the second station, and the first tubular member and the second tubular member are disposed by attaching the second article after removing the previously closed toe article. Bringing the other to the first station, while closing the toes of the first article at the second station;
The method according to claim 15 or 16, comprising: Opening the end of the first article opposite the closed toe and flipping it over the outer surface of the tubular member;
Turning the article over and attaching it to the outer surface of the tubular member;
Carrying the goods to the second station;
Closing the toes at the second station;
Removing the article;
The method of claim 17, comprising: 19. The method of claim 18, wherein after closing the toe, the article is turned over again from the inside to the outside of the tubular member and removed by suction through the tubular member. a) placing a first tubular member at the first station;
b) guiding a first article to the first tubular member;
c) turning the first article over on the outer surface of the first tubular member;
d) transporting the first tubular member to the second station and placing the second tubular member at the first station;
e) closing the toes of the first article, while guiding the second article to a second tubular member temporarily located at the first station and turning it over on the outer surface of the tubular member;
f) transporting the second tubular member to the second station and the first tubular member to the first station;
g) flipping the first article again, inserting it into the first tubular member, and removing the first tubular article by sucking it into the first tubular member;
20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, comprising: a) placing a first tubular member at the first station;
b) guiding a first article to the first tubular member;
c) turning the first article over on the outer surface of the first tubular member;
d) transporting the first tubular member to the second station and placing the second tubular member at the first station;
e) Close the toe of the first article, turn the first article over again, while inserting the second article into the second tubular member temporarily located at the first station, which is inserted into the tubular member Turn over on the outer surface of:
f) removing the first article;
g) transporting the second tubular member to the second station and the first tubular member to the first station;
20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, comprising: a) placing a first tubular member at the first station;
b) guiding a first article to the first tubular member;
c) transporting the first tubular member to the second station and placing the second tubular member at the first station;
d) turning the first article over on the outer surface of the first tubular member;
e) closing the toes of the first article while guiding the second article to the second tubular member and turning it over;
f) transporting the second tubular member to the second station and the first tubular member to the first station;
g) turning over the first article again, inserting it into the first tubular member, and removing said first tubular article;
20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, comprising: A knitting machine comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.